Chapter 29 To Have a Fox, or Lose a Fox

Edited by Euphonemes

AN: There is artwork that goes along with this chapter that was created by the amazing yasminoliveira534 over on Tumblr. I will be posting the picture of it onto my DeviantArt page, (Cimar-WildeHopps), so please go check it out as it shows both Judy's and Nick's outfits. And I'm sure you'd love to see those. ;)

At the end of their talk nearly an hour later, an apologetic Weidii excused herself. The margay glanced back at the sullen bunny, frowning at the news she had given the poor mammal. Without another word, Weidii slipped out the door and into the hallway, the only sound the click of the door shutting. The feline paused in the corridor and placed a paw over her heart. She could tell from their conversation that what she had told the bunny had been rough on her. Though she had been surprised as well at how Judy hadn't even let a tear stain her cheeks throughout the telling of the tale of Don Wilde and Capitán Skye.

To Weidii, it was one of the most heart-wrenching tales. Heartache from a missing love, never knowing why she disappeared, just that she had. Nicholas had been a near-constant guest in her tavern for a month after Skye had disappeared, drowning his sorrows in the morning after avenging his unrequited love during the night.

And now, Judy knew what she was getting into with Don Nicholas de la Wilde.

I'm sorry Judy, but you asked and now you know...hopefully you won't let this get to you. I haven't seen Nick this happy in such a long time.

When the door clicked behind the feline, Judy was finally left with only her thoughts. The talk with Weidii had distracted her from her own sorrows though had the intended effect the feline had hoped for. All Judy could think about now was Nick. To finally find the love of your life, only to have them disappear without a trace? The pain that Nick must feel tore through her heart like a heated knife.

Like his life couldn't have gotten any worse after he thought he was in heaven.... She suddenly felt the emptiness of the room as she glanced around, the only comfort coming from Nick's lingering scent from the bed they had shared. Now how can I help him, knowing what I know and what I found from Bellwether's journals. Slipping off the bed, she paced throughout the room, paws clasped behind her back as she tried to strategize a way to help Nick.

Even if that did mean that she'd be helping Nick find his missing fiancée. Dread creeped upon her at the thought.

Do you want him to find her again? Or do you want Nick all to yourself? You can't have both...

The idea gave her pause. At first, it horrified her. She hated the very idea that she wouldn't help a mammal in need to benefit herself. But then again...

Could I live with myself if I didn't help Nick? Even if it means...giving up my own happiness?

She had come to realize when she woke up next to Nick that the fox had given her a level of joy she had never known. With the skills learned in the army, she felt rather safe at all times; however, the feeling of security she had while awakening in his arms, his scent overwhelming her, was more than anything in her life. Judy had always been a quick thinker, and there was only one reason why she would feel that way about waking up in the arms of a fox...

She was in love with Don Nicholas de la Wilde.

Sure, maybe the whiskey had helped in pushing her forward a little bit, but every bit of her hangover had vanished after that first kiss. The euphoria that spread through her body was tantamount to an overpowering drug...and one she craved as she thought of how tenderly he had kissed her, cared for her, and watched over her while she wept into his arms.

A silent smile slid across her face. One filled with overwhelming amounts of both joy and sadness. A part of her heart screamed at her, tried to convince her that her imminent decision was the wrong move. That the choice would bring her infinite and unimaginable sorrow and jeopardize her future with Don Wilde. The larger part of her heart, the one she listened to, reminded her what kind of friend she'd be to Nick if she didn't follow through on her promise to Zorro. She may have made a promise to a different fox, but Nick still deserved answers about his missing fiancée.

To have a fox, or to lose a fox...

"I know what I have to do," she whispered to her heart.

With that single thought, Judy shrugged off the blanket, put her bolero upon her head, pocketed her two epaulets and headed downstairs. A small smile crept upon her muzzle. She had a ball to attend.

It took a few hours for Nick to assemble all the arrangements for the party. With how many years he had hosted the gala, each of his servants knew exactly what they needed to do.

"Let's see...Rosalita has the floral arrangements..." he mused as he passed a jaguar pushing a wheelbarrow of potted plants. Nick smiled as he spotted a vixen in the distance, very noticeable by the tuft of blue-dyed fur on her head. "Looks like Carmelita has the candles and lamps going up."

Nick walked a complete circuit of his manor, double-checking that every facet of the event was going according to plan. The kitchen staff was busy whipping up a delectable feast suitable for Emperor Napawleon of Furance. Nick snickered at the thought of the pygmy goat, his paw in his pocket and oversized hat tipped awkwardly over his horns, suddenly appearing at his masquerade.

"Stranger things have happened," he laughed to himself as he stood before his mirror in his room. He smiled as he looked over his outfit once more. The green jacket and pants he chose for the occasion, their gold trim and black lapel and sash, were absolutely perfect for the occasion. Turning this way and that, he wondered what Judy would think of it when she saw him.

The fox flinched as recognition dawned on him. Turning, he spotted the time on the massive grandfather clock standing in the corner of the room.

"Ay caramba..." Nick groaned. "Past four and I have yet to pick up Judy." Double-checking his outfit one last time, Nick hurried towards the door, nearly running over Finnick in the process. Nick managed to catch himself, stumbling only slightly, but avoided toppling over the desert fox in his haste to leave the manor.

Judging by the expression on Finnick's face, the smaller mammal was just slightly annoyed. Maybe...

"Yes Finnick, what is the matter?" the red fox asked as he began walking down the hall. Finnick matched his pace and signed his reply. Nick nodded. "Good. So Gideon will be able to play the part we need him to tonight?"

Finnick nodded, then began signing again. Nick watched with rapt attention until his friend finished.

"Yes, Capitán Hopps will be here tonight."

Nick frowned as the smaller fox grinned, then made a quick kissing face.

"No...that isn't the reason why," Nick said with a grimace while folding his arms across his chest. "As I said before, while I do have feelings for Judy..."

He halted when Finnick grinned even wider at him. The Don stopped completely, his foot thumping against the floor several times before he halted the motion as Finnick pointed and grinned even wider.

"...Capitán Hopps," Nick corrected. "It would be improper of me to display too much of the feelings I have for her. I will not treat her as a kissing post. Only with the respect and dignity a señorita of her beauty and heart deserves."

While Nick was talking, he couldn't help but grow slightly irritated at the now silently snickering fox standing before him. His ears lowered in embarrassment when the smaller fox motioned to his left paw, pointing at his ring finger while grinning and swishing his tail back and forth.

"Really, that song, Finnick?" Nick breathed in irritation. "I like her, but I'm not about to put a ring on her finger. And I can't believe you're a fan of Beyaxee."

The Finnick frowned, glared at Nick, then again pointed at his finger before angrily pointing to the ground.

"To...tonight?" Nick gulped, taking a step back. "You want me to do that tonight?"

The nod from the small fox, accompanied by a grin, was all the answer Nick needed. The red fox shook his head.

"No...it's too soon, Finnick, and she just lost her dream job and yeowch!"

Nick grabbed his knee, which had just taken a punch from the smaller mammal.

"Fine, I'll think about it!" Nick groaned while rubbing his tender leg. The fennec fox huffed, throwing his paws into the air before storming off. Nick watched him go, sighing as the desert fox disappeared down another hall. "It isn't as easy as you'd want it to be, Finnick," Nick said to himself. Especially with the events of this morning.

Nick found himself sighing again, which simply frustrated him further. He made his way downstairs and to an outbuilding, his mind lost in his thoughts as he travelled. He had already experienced such emotional highs and lows that day, and was sure more were to come. That's what I get for falling for Capitáns...he thought with a wry smile, one which quickly vanished under a veil of guilt.

The remembrance of Judy's lips pressed against his own spread warmth through his body, though he chilled as he recognized that Judy hadn't been entirely in her right mind at the time. Did I take advantage of her this morning? he asked himself. She had clung to an empty liquor bottle, and even though he nearly slipped in a rather large puddle of whiskey dripping from the desk when he'd entered, he knew a sloshed bunny when he saw one.

Nick was no stranger to the bottle. After Skye's disappearance, if he wasn't out causing strife with the local Capitáns as revenge for her disappearance, he could be found in Weidii's bar, nursing a bottle of whiskey very similar to Judy's. He knew the liquid courage that could be found within, and that repressed feelings could be liberated with enough of the stuff. Judy had been helping herself quite liberally to the bottle's contents, Nick had judged. And she had lost her dream job...she had told him during one of their walks about how hard she had worked for almost her whole life to be a capitán. To have it taken away so cruelly...Nick suddenly felt more guilt about letting his passion overwhelm his thoughts with an inebriated Judy.

Again, the question prodded his thoughts: Did I take advantage of her?

He shook his head. It was a question he'd have to ask her. He could not answer it truthfully himself. He hoped that it wasn't just the bottle guiding her actions. He pined, wanting to know if his feelings were returned.

But most of all, he thought back to his actions after his morning visit with Judy. He'd gone straight to his room and wept in front of the picture of Skye and himself. The two smiling foxes looking down upon a sobbing Nicholas. Then, in the hardest move of his life...

...he had taken down the painting.

Finnick is right. It is time to move on...Nick thought to himself as he reached his destination. It still didn't stop the one tear from running through his fur. Wiping it away, he opened the wide double doors to the outbuilding and put on a fresh smile, hoping it would transfer into a lifting of his mood. The green and gold pedal cart sat before him. Running his paw along the sleek, mahogany finish, he thought back, one last time, to the arctic vixen whom he had shared so many memories within the carriage .

Now, as he hopped inside, pulled up on the brake lever and began pedaling it out into the sun, his thoughts turned to the grey rabbit with violet eyes who would soon sit next to him.

Judy stood still as Weidii helped her pull the violet dress over her ears and arms before adjusting it over her shoulders.

"Do you think he'll like this?" Judy asked tepidly, fingers fiddling with the dropped shoulder sleeves made from a delicate black lace. She had never worn anything so risqué back home and felt a little embarrassed by showing off her entire shoulder. As well as a healthy dose of my chest...she thought, eyeing her sweetheart neckline. "Are you sure I should wear this?" Judy repeated. "I think we still have time to go for something with more fabric and..."

"Look, you love this fox, don't you?" Weidii interrupted.

"...yes," Judy shyly replied.

"You want to hold him?"

"Yes..." Judy answered, feeling suddenly pressured by the force in the margay's words.

"Please him?"

"Yes!" Judy shouted in exasperation.

"Then you got to, got to, try a little shoulder-less dress. I know Nick loves that type of clothing on a beautiful lady."

"Really?"

Weidii huffed. "Are you serious? Have you ever dated someone like Nick before?"

Judy blanched under her fur. "I haven't...but I don't see how-"

"Look," the margay placed her paws upon Judy's shoulders. "I know Nicholas better than the back of my paw, and I know he loves you. He just needs a large push to finally understand those feelings...especially after Skye."

"But..."

"No 'buts', Judy!" Weidii commanded. "I can tell that among Capitáns, you are one of the best I've ever seen. But you are clueless when it comes to love. Skye left Nick and he needs to get over that. And if you wearing this dress does that for him, then you will be the stunning rabbit that hides herself under all those layers of your uniform."

Judy was silent for a moment, staring down at the floor. "Can I...at least bring my sword?"

The groan of frustration from Weiidii was probably heard from a mile away, as well as the startled yelp from Judy as the margay tightened the cinch of her dress around the bunny's waist.

Nick suppressed a grin as he saw the open door to Judy's room. After arriving and spying nobody else in the pub, he made his way upstairs to find his date for the evening. Hearing voices from the room, he slowed his pace as he walked towards the door, careful not to step on any creaking boards so as to sneak up on his date for the evening. I hope she likes these flowers...he thought as he turned the corner, a whisper of a greeting on his lips before all rational thoughts stopped.

Nick's mouth dropped open as he stared at the image in front of him, all words lost at what he saw.

Behind a thin screen placed neatly in the center of the room were two figures. The sunlight filtering in through the window backlit their silhouettes perfectly, as well as blocking him from their view.

"Oh Judy, you are going to knock Nick's socks off with this dress," Weidii gushed as her feline figure walked around the bunny's shadow projected against the room divider. The sleek design of the dress was evident to the fox by the way it hugged Judy's slim figure, and her natural beauty outlined whatever Weidii had outfitted for her.

"Thank you, I...I hope Nick likes it." Said fox listened to Judy as she twirled once.

If her shadow is that captivating...how does the rest of her...look...

Rational thoughts ceased as he saw the two shadows cross the length of the divider. Nick couldn't even move his feet in an attempt to hide or leave the room as they rounded the screen, so numbed at the sight.

"Nick?" he heard Judy nervously say.

"How long were you there, Nicholas?" came from a much more annoyed Weidii.

"Uh...um..." Nick smacked his lips, feeling his mouth suddenly become quite dry as he finally looked at Judy's outfit. The sleeveless, violet dress did indeed hug the bunny's curves all too well. The sheer fabric laced over her shoulders added even more feminine charm to the doe, who was absolutely radiating beauty standing in the bright sunlight. "I...was here...um...wow..."

Judy giggled at the stunned fox standing there with his mouth hanging open. The burning sensation running through her ears showed her embarrassment. How long was he there? Sweet cheese and crackers...what did he see? The blush deepened as she tried to hide it by smoothing down her ears against her back.

"Señor Wilde, do you normally make a habit of watching a Señorita change?" Judy asked. She was pleased to see that he was still dumbstruck, his eyes wandering over the dress she wore just as her eyes travelled over his own vestments. His deep green jacket was outlined by a gold filigree while the black sash tied around his waist complimented the rest of the colors.

"Sorry..." Nick replied as he forced his eyes to stop roving over the grey rabbit's' body. She is such an image of beauty right now...he thought. He saw Judy's blush in her cheeks deepen as a pleased grin spread across her face.

"Yes, she is an image of beauty, Nick. Now stop staring," Weidii commanded from across the room. Her folded arms and harsh tone was betrayed by the snarky grin she wore.

"Did I say that out loud?" Nick whispered, ears shooting up in panic. When the margay nodded, his eyes darted back to the bunny standing before him.

"You look quite the dashing hildalgo yourself, Don Wilde," Judy replied, once again giving his outfit a once-over. "The colors really match your eyes and fur."

"As well your dress matches your own," Nick replied instantly. Recouping himself from his earlier embarrassment at being caught, he pressed forward and placed a kiss upon Judy's paw.

"You're quite poor with your aim today," Judy laughed. "After this morning, I had expected you'd know where to place those." She pointed up at his muzzle, grinning to hide her mortification at being so forward.

Why are you doing this? her mind yelled at her. You know what you've decided to do and you can't get attached to him further! It will only break your hear-

The voice in her mind suddenly found itself bound and gagged by the feelings in her heart as they overpowered any reasoning logic.

"Are you sure?" Nick stammered. His heart was racing as he realized where Judy was going with this. "I didn't know since this morning...and the bottle that..."

He was cut off by Judy pulling him down into a kiss, one just as passionate as that morning's. As they pulled apart, Nick could only focus on wanting more of what he just tasted.

"I know you are the perfect gentle-mammal, Nick," Judy began as she pulled away further, but not before clasping his paw in her own. "I also have done some poking and prodding and now know your big secret."

"You do?" Nick gulped. Not good...not good...NOT...GOOD!

She pulled him down slowly by his white cravat, her eyes not leaving his own for a moment. "I...know...you...are..." she left off her sentence as they stared into each other's eyes, muzzle to muzzle and so close they could nearly taste each other's lips.

Oh no...oh no..don't say it! Nick thought, preparing for the worst.

"...enraptured...by me."

After several seconds, Nick felt an immense weight slide off his shoulders. All at once, his snarky wit returned full force as he realized she still didn't know his larger secret.

"Oh, is that so?" he replied, a grin plastering itself upon his lips. "And pray tell how you figured that out, no?"

The smirk Judy had was far better than the one he held. "You just did it for me."

Nick blinked.

Then blinked again.

"What?"

Judy tried, but failed, to stifle a giggle as she placed a kiss at the edge of his nose, watching in amusement as it crinkled several times, like her own nose would when flustered. "You just said, how, I figured it out."

Her words drifted slowly into his mind before a lazy smile came upon his lips. "You...are a clever bunny."

Judy smiled. "It's called a hustle, Cariño."

"I don't care what it's called," Weidii called from the other side of the room as she approached them. The margay herself was in quite a dashing white flamenco dress that lay off her shoulders. The orange and red accents highlighted the dress, and the way she sashayed about the room had Nick blinking. Weidii snapped her fingers in front of the fox's face. "Deja de mirarme!" she shouted, then pointed towards Judy.

"Apologies, Weidii," Nick said swiftly. "I saw the dress and wondered what Judy would look like in it."

There was a long pause before the feline smirked. "Good answer. Now come on, I don't want to be late for this gala." The feline waltzed past the fox and rabbit and out the door. "Are you coming or not?" she yelled. "I can leave you two alone in here if you'd like for the night. Put up a "We're Closed" sign, perhaps?"

Both fox and rabbit's ears shot up. With a quick look at each other, both noting the heavy blushes under their fur, even through the red tone of Nick's, the two grabbed each other's paws and rushed out of the room after the feline.

Nick noted the smirking feline in the hallway. "About time...and Nick, I'm driving. I want to see you two cuddling in the backseat all the way to the Masquerade."

"Works for me."

Both rabbit and fox looked at each other in stunned silence when they realized they had both said the same thing. Weidii rolled her eyes. "You guys are disgusting together."

"Hey!" both shouted in unison, earning another cackle from the margay. Oh boy...she thought as she walked down the stairs. This is going to be a night to remember.

AN: Anyone getting excited for the Masquerade? Coming next week. ;) Think you had enough fluff? Well, there's more where that came from. ;)