You know what's strange? I feel at home. The Traffic Department still remembers me. Honestly who could forget the bunny walking through the door the first time. My vest and hat are still hanging where I left them so long ago. Funny, the smallest layer of dust sits just on my old stuff and nothing else around them. I blow off the dust layer and strap on my vest. My hat still has stray fur in it from the last time I wore it. This feels right.

As I approach the dimly lit storage garage, I am greeted by other officers. New and old in the Traffic Department. There have been a few more small mammals which have joined the force since Nick and I had, they all come over and say hi. Somehow, I am still a hero to them. I say hi back, but all I want to do is get to the garage door, and there it is. I see it. That three wheeled, open door, endlessly flashing jokemobile. My old jokemobile. Looks like no one has touched this either. Little pieces of cement still are littered on the floor behind the pedals. Seeing those, I start to tear up, but I hold back with the smallest smile on my face. This feels right.

I turn the key. Vroom. Good, it still turns on. What's this blinking? Oh right. That's what I get for not filling up the tank on my way back from my last day. This time, I make sure not to leave the parking brake on again. I make my way out of the storage garage and out onto the street. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the sunny day outside. I stop by the nearest gas station and fill up the jokester's tank.

"What time is it?" I mumble to myself while looking at my watch under my wrist wear.

10:21

Off to start my day as a Meter Maid once again. Though, I don't think I'll beat my record before noon. I decide to stay close the police station for the most part, just in case I do decide to take Bogo's offer and go home a little early. I get thirty-seven tickets in my first hour. Not exactly great, but I'm able to keep going on. It almost becomes therapeutic, for the first time in a while I don't feel disgusted at myself. Is that so bad? This feels right.

By two o'clock in the afternoon, I actually gained back the hopp in my step. I made a whopping ninety-three tickets so far today, and only got yelled at twice! I'm in such a good mood I think I'll call up Nick and see if he wants to go out for a late lunch.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

"Hello?" Nick answers.

"Nick!" I squeal. "Please tell me you haven't had lunch yet!"

"No, not yet, I was about to head down to the cafeteria. I've been busy with this new case report Bogo assigned to me after you left." Nick yawns. "You want to come back here? I can't really leave with all the work I still have to do."

"You know what?" I tell him. "I'll be right over! I'll be there in ten minutes." Staying near the station really paid off.

As I pull into the parking lot I see him. Nick is there waiting for me, and I see him just smiling. I step out of the jokester and start walking towards him waiting at the door. I take my goofy hat off and just grin as wide as I can.

"Well if it isn't Officer Toot Toot!" Nick smirks with unyielding happiness.

"You stop it!" I jump up and thump the hat on his head. "You know, you'd actually make a pretty good Meter Maid."

Nick takes the hat under his arm. "In your dreams, Carrots. Let's head on in now, shall we?" Nick goes through the door and closes it on me, holding it shut.

"Nick! You open this door!" I yell annoyed at him.

"You know you love it." Nick says as he turns and lets go of the door.

"You keep pushing it and I may not for much longer!" I joke running in the door after him.

"We'll see, Carrots. We'll see. After you." Nick holds the door open to the cafeteria for me and gives me back my hat.

The cafeteria is completely empty by now. After all it's… wow it's twenty past two. No wonder the place has cleared out. At least Nick and I will have the place to ourselves.

Nick sits down at a table at the end of the room. I join him on the other side of his table. "How has your day been Carrots? I couldn't believe it when the Chief told me you went to Parking Duty. I thought you hated it over there."

"I did. It's not something I'll do again for a while either. I just.. I just needed to have a day where the worst thing I needed to worry about was a red meter." I just stare down at the table.

"Hopps." Nick prods. "Judy, talk to me, did something happen out there today?"

"No, no, no. In fact today was much better than a lot of other days I've had recently. No fights to break up, no paperwork, no worries." I look up. "Thank you for helping me over the last few years Nick." I say gratefully. "I am better because of you and your goofy face."

"You never have to feel bad Judy. We all make mistakes." Nick can see the pain seeping out my soul. "Some of us," he grins, "some of us make the mistake of eating a late lunch with you." He jabs my shoulder playfully. I know he means well.

"I really want you to come over later. Do you think you could leave around five?" I ask.

"Absolutely Rabbit, I'll actually work today, for you." Nick takes my paw and I can't help myself. I have to look away. I have to be strong. I can't let him see.

"Thank you. I.. I moved into my new apartment last month." I say still looking away, holding my crumbling self together. "Do you recall how to get there?"

"Of course Judy." He replies. "I only helped you move in."

"I know. I just wanted to make sure you remembered." I muster out.

Nick shifts as he reaches into his pocket. "I got you something." As I turn to look I feel a tear crawl down my face. Oh no, not now.

"Judy." Nick gets up and comes to sit next to me. He puts his paw on mine and lets me let it all out. For what seems like forever I can't stop crying. This is the first time I have let myself break down like this in front of anyone. It won't stop.

"Here." Nick says. "I've always kept this with me, but I want you to have it now. It's been two years since I met you. I know it aches inside of you, but you can't blame yourself for everything that has happened. You've done so much good."

I look down with my blurry eyes to see what he has placed on my arm. "Nick. You can't give me this." It was his Junior Ranger Scouts Neckerchief.

"I kept it around as a reminder of the city I knew before you." Nick begins to speak heavier. "But you changed that. You showed me this city is worth fighting for. You showed me you are worth fighting for. Please, take it, as a reminder that you have made my world a better place."

I don't know what to say. "I love you Nick." I squeeze through breaths.

"Love you too, Carrots. Listen, I'll see you later ok? We'll walk over to your place together." Nick hugs me and I won't let go.

"Thank you Nick. I'd like that." I finally let go of Nick and wave him goodbye as he grabs a drink from the cafeteria vending machine and heads back to his cube.

I sit for a few more minutes and collect myself. I fold Nick's gift and place it in my pocket. As I head over to get a drink from the vending machine, I see something. There is a drink, carrot juice, with a note on it. I smile. It reads Carrots for Carrots. Nick, you are one sly fox.