"Oh, sweet cheese and crackers," Judy sighed as she stared down at the illuminated screen of her cellphone that depicted a picture of her parents.

"You don't have to answer it," Nick said, placing a paw on Judy's leg reassuringly. "You can talk to them later."

The two watched the phone quietly, letting it ring a few more times until it went silent. Judy exhaled slowly and dropped her phone in her lap, turning her attention to the world passing by outside of the car window as they drove to Mrs. Wilde's home. She tried to lean back in her leather seat and relax, as they were almost to their destination. She would be able to hold and kiss her children soon. Judy smiled at the thought, wondering what her four beautiful children were doing at that moment, but she was interrupted by her phone ringing loudly once more.

"I have to answer it," she said tiredly after she silently read the caller identification on the screen.

"They're probably just worried," Nick reasoned.

"What am I supposed to even say?" Judy muttered.

Nick shook his head sadly as the car came to a stop in front of Mrs. Wilde's comfortable looking home.

"We'll be inside," the Chief said gruffly as he opened his car door.

Nick and Judy watched the two officers follow the Chief from the vehicle and up the slope of the small lawn to Mrs. Wilde's front porch, where they knocked on the door.

"Nick?"

"Yes?" Nick responded, turning to face the bunny.

Judy's phone was still ringing.

"Do you think I could have a minute?" she asked with a gesture toward her cellphone.

"Of course, Carrots," Nick replied quickly, kissing her on the cheek before opening the car door. He gave her one last small smile, then shut the door and turned toward the house.

Now completely alone in the car, Judy took a deep breath and braced herself. She then slid her paw across the screen, accepting the call. She tried to put on a bold face as the camera loaded and a video image of her mother appeared.

"Is it true?"

Her mother's voice was anxious and hurried. Judy opened her mouth to play dumb, to ask what her what she was talking about, to pretend that everything was perfectly fine, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything in defense. She felt a crushing pressure building in her chest, a sob now building in her throat as tears began to sting her eyes.

"Yes," she cried quietly.

"Oh, Judy," her mother sighed, heartbreak in her voice. "I just saw the news."

"I was afraid you would. I should have told you."

"How far along were you?"

"Eight weeks," Judy said as she wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, I know that's not very far along, but–"

"Judy, don't apologize; it doesn't matter how far along you were, Honey. It's still going to hurt, and animals understand that. I can see why you didn't tell anyone, and I'm sorry you have to now. This isn't fair to you."

"I know, I just–" Judy sobbed, unable to continue.

She shook her head, lowering it into her free paw.

"I know, Honey, I know," her mother said gently. "Take a moment to breathe. Just take your time."

Judy inhaled shakily, trying to calm herself with little success.

"I just wish you were here," she finally choked out.

"I'll head up there then."

"No, no," Judy said quickly with a small smile, wiping the last of her tears away as she spoke. "I'm okay. Don't come all of the way out here."

"Well, alright," Judy's mother nodded, still not looking entirely convinced. "But you let me know if you need me, and I'll be there as fast as I can, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you, Mom."

"Now, tell me what happened, Dear."

Judy recounted the events of the honeymoon trip to her mother, trying to include as many details as she could remember. Her mother listened intently, asking questions here and there. It took Judy a while to talk about the explosion and its aftermath, as it still made her emotional, but she was able to get through it and she felt the pressure in her chest lighten as she finally let her feelings out. It was almost an hour later when she finished, and once she completed the story, she found that she was crying again, and that her mother was near tears.

"You were so brave, Judy, so brave," her mother sniffled. "I am so proud of you and all you have accomplished."

"Thank you for talking to me, Mom; I really needed it."

"You will get through this, Judy. Give yourself time to grieve. I love you, Honey."

"I love you, too, Mom."

With that, the call ended. Judy lowered her phone and sighed heavily.

"I will get through this," she repeated to herself quietly. "I will get through this."

During that hour that Judy and her mother talked, a similar conversation was being had inside Mrs. Wilde's home, as Nick explained to his mother what had happened on their trip while she boiled water in a kettle for tea. Chief Bogo and the two accompanying officers sat in the living room adjacent to the kitchen, watching Nick and Judy's four children – an uncomfortable responsibility for the three who had no real experience with children.

"I don't know how to be there for her right now, Mom," Nick said with a shake of his head after he had brought her up to speed. "Usually I know what to say or do, but this is something that affects her internally more than it does me. I'm upset, of course, but it's clear that this is just… eating at her. She feels so far away, and I don't know how to reach her."

"Nicholas, I don't think you'll ever be able to reach her on this. She's been through so much – you both have! But this… this is something that truly questions her very being. Right now, she's blaming herself because she genuinely thinks that this miscarriage proves she isn't capable enough – that she isn't strong enough – to protect her own children."

"But that isn't true at all!"

"Exactly," Mrs. Wilde said gently. "But Judy has always been afraid of failure, and to her, this is the ultimate failure. And on top of all of that, now the whole city knows – thanks to the media! None of us can possibly understand how she's feeling right now."

Mrs. Wilde retrieved the kettle from the stovetop and refilled her mug, sighing deeply as she did so. Nick watched her quietly, knowing from experience that his mother had more to say.

"Nicholas," she continued. "Judy is a brilliant rabbit; she's an excellent officer, mother, and wife. When I first met her about four years ago, you two were in the hospital after that polar bear accident and you had just learned you were expecting. At first, I thought 'Nicholas, a father? Oh, dear.' But when I met that rabbit, I knew you two were going to be just fine. You couldn't have picked a better animal, Nicholas."

"Thank you, Mom," Nick smiled.

"We know that Judy is phenomenal, but right now, she doesn't know that. We need to remind her."

Nick mulled this over for a minute before looking up at his mother with a grin. "Do you think you could watch the kids for one more day?"

"Of course, Dear. Is everything okay?"

"I think I have an idea."