Following the revelation that Judy may be falling for Nick Judy had been left to her own devices. She sat there processing it for about 15 minutes before she realized it made sense, and it wasn't a bad thing. Was she going to pursue where it could go? No. "It's just my dumb bunny emotions. This is just a little crush is all and it will go away. Nick is a phenomenal guy, but this is just an infatuation of mine and it'll go away with time. I'm not gonna bother Nick about this, he deserves a nice vixen and a good life. This little crush is just the result of close proximity, him saving my life, defending me and my dreams, and being the only male who truly treated me with decency and respect. That's all it is."

Judy said this aloud to herself trying to convince herself that all this was a circumstantial crush. She was mostly successful in convincing herself of the fact and for her that had to be good enough for now. Especially since her stomach rumbled telling her food now foxy thoughts later. So Judy got up and padded her door, pausing at the mirror to make sure she was still presentable before exiting and heading towards the kitchen.

As she was on her way she paused at Nick's room finding it open and empty. Judy let out a "huh." Before continuing onwards. She knew he wouldn't be in one of the communal bathrooms because his guest room was equipped with one. So he was either still outside with the kits or on the porch.

A minute or two of walking later she reached the kitchen and entered making her way towards her mother barking out orders. "Come on let's move it, service starts in five minutes! Jackie if that soup isn't on the out window in the next thirty seconds it's your hide! Marcie, that's sugar you're reaching for, not salt, pay attention!"

Judy gave a few greetings to passing by siblings before reaching her mother who immediately greeted her. "Hey Jude. Nick's already in the dining hall waiting on you, Julie showed him where you always sat and put him there. He's eating alfredo the same as you, now go on out of the kitchen!"

Judy didn't even get a chance to reply before being ushered out of the kitchen. Judy was surprised to hear that after the nonstop day of activity with hundreds of kits he was choosing to dine with them plus a few hundred adults. Making her way into the dining hall she was quick to spot her foxy companion at the head table located in the middle of the room. He was currently surrounded by a bunch of kits and their parents chatting away.

Judy looked at Nick's body language and could tell he was tired, but not uncomfortable about the situation. Judy approached the table and Nick smelled her before she got halfway there ending his conversation to spot her. Once he did he gave her a smile and said, "hey carrots! Come on over, I saved you a seat!"

Judy returned Nick's smile and finished her approach saying, "I'm surprised that after the day you had you decided to eat on the porch."

Nick shrugged and replied, "what can I say I'm feeling social today. That and the kits begged me to eat here."

Judy saw an opportunity. "I'm surprised you're not at the kits table then, and not because you played with them but because you're a kit in a grown fox's body."

The bunnies around them laughed at Judy's joke and Nick's ears splayed to the side in annoyance and he said "har har very funny."

Judy simply smiled cheekily at him as she took a seat next to him and replied, "I know it was."

Nick rolled his eyes at her and she stuck out her tongue in response as the group that had been talking to Nick dispersed to find their seats. Dinner service was about to start and the duo were now focused on eachother, they probably wouldn't even notice immediately that they left, and they didn't.

Nick only noticed when the bell rang signaling that dinner service was ready. "Oh I guess everyone went and found their seats." Quipped Nick as all the food was wheeled out on large carts. He then watched in fascination as with almost machine like precision the Hopps bunnies in charge of the carts served everyone. Everyone got a salad and then chose from three dishes, one of which Nick knew was fettuccine alfredo.

It was truly like a well oiled machine, in a matter of just a few minutes half the Warren had been served. It only took two more for the servers to reach Nick and Judy, both being served the alfredo and salad only in the case of Judy.

"Hey Slick, did anyone walk you through protocol here?" Judy asked after they were finished being served.

Nick nodded in the affirmative. "No one eats until everyone is served, the matriarch and patriarch arrive, and grace is said."

"Correct, since you're a guest you don't have to bow your head and such if you don't want to." Judy informed.

Nick didn't get a chance to respond as Bonnie and Stu arrived taking their seats at the head of the table Nick and Judy were sitting. Bonnie saying once she took her seat, "Now Nicholas dear have you been filled in on the protocol here?"

Nick gave her a smile and a nod, "Yes ma'am I sure have." He then addressed Stu, "and good evening to you Mr. Hopps, all go well in the fields?"

Stu adjusted his cap and replied, "well enough. Now if I remember correctly Mr. Wilde you stated you wouldn't mind getting put to work?"

"That's correct. I'm used to getting up with the sun and working, and being that I am not really an expected guest I figured I should help out a little bit." Was Nick's reply.

"Well then I'll hold you to that tomorrow then, we could use some help in the berry fields…Nicholas."

Nick's ears and tail perked at that for two reasons, one that Stu had called him by his first name instead of Mr. Wilde. Two, "did you say the berry field?"

Stu gave him a small confused look. "Yes that's correct."

"Is there blueberries?" Nick said with an excited tone, his tail starting to swish.

Stu's confused look increased. "It's a berry field, so yes."

Nick's tail at this point began swishing wildly and Judy took the opportunity to explain. "He's a blueberry addict dad, like hardcore."

Stu and Bonnie laughed at that Stu saying, "well as a reward for your help I'll let you keep a small basket for yourself."

Nick's eyes widened and he pointed at Stu. "You're now my favorite mammal Mr. Hopps."

At that Judy joined in the laughter at Nick's kitish antics for a minute before another bell signaled service was now complete. Stu then quelled his laughter and spoke in a loud commanding voice, "everyone, excluding guests if they so wish, bow your heads and join me in thanks."

After grace was said everyone dug into their meals. During the meal pleasant and light conversation transpired at the table with every so often a different Hopps coming up to speak to Nick. Mostly by thanking him for playing their kid and being so good with them. It was heartwarming to see, there were even a few of her siblings that had been on the fence about him.

Now while this was all heartwarming and Judy was nearly floored that her dad was being amicable towards Nick, she could tell Nick was dead tired. She caught him several times nearly nodding off and had to give a little nudge under the table. She was getting ready to call it and send him to bed so the tod would be ready for berry picking in the morning.

However, before she could tell Nick and announce that she was putting him to bed before he passed out face first in a mostly empty bowl of alfredo a familiar voice interrupted that.

"Excuse me everyone, may I please have your attention!" The voice came from Blake Hopps and Judy immediately got angry assuming he was about to go on a speciesist tirade regarding Nick. Judy went to get up and shut him up before he started but Nick grabbed her arm gently real quick and shook his head saying, "no Judy, let's hear him out. He's entitled to whatever he's going to say, and if it's negative I'm sure your mom will handle it."

He then looked to Bonnie who had materialized a wooden spoon from somewhere and said, "he's right sweetie, one speciesist remark and it's his hide."

Nick then stood and saw more than a few bunnies of the Warren surrounding Blake so Nick didn't hesitate to yell out. "Everyone! Let him speak! If he's going to speak negatively, it'll be about me and he's entitled to his opinion and the whooping from his momma! So let him speak!"

Everyone present around Blake took a step back at Nick's words and Bonnie called out after him, "Nicholas is right! Everyone sit down now! Let him speak!"

At the matriarchs words everyone took their seats again sans Blake and gave a nod to Nick and said, "thanks Nick. Mom." He then took a breath and said loud enough for the whole dining hall to hear, "I have been thinking about how to tell you all this for awhile now, how I should handle this. But no matter how many ways I thought to do it none of them ever felt good enough. So I've decided now with the Warren all gathered here and after my behavior towards Nick it's now or never. I have been living a lie for the last year, and my initial behavior towards Nick was a lie, an act I thought I had to keep up for appearances…and I am ashamed of that fact. I have abandoned speciest bigotry in my heart for over a year now even though I never showed it on the outside…I know most if not all of you don't believe me of the fact, so I decided the only way to prove it is to show you proof."

Blake then pulled out a portable projector and plugged his phone in, and before he turned it on he announced. "The proof is this, I am in love with a beautiful coyote named Stella and have been for an entire year." He then turned on the portable projector and it displayed a picture of Blake kissing his girlfriend with the date and time of the picture in the bottom right corner, dated almost a year ago.

The entire dining hall was utterly quiet so before the bomb exploded Blake quickly said "I love Stella with my entire being and I am so ashamed of the way I have acted just trying to keep up appearances and how I have hidden my love for her. I plan to make her my mate and wife someday soon I think and given that most of you will shun me for this I will be leaving the Warren tonight to go move in with her. Thank you for your time."

Blake then took his phone out of the projector and walked as quickly as he could to the nearest exit which was about ten feet from him. Blake made his exit and it was at that point the dining hall exploded and descended into near chaos. Bonnie and Stu after getting over their initial shock got up trying to rein it in as best the could.

Nick took this opportunity to tap Judy on the shoulder who was still sitting there in shock. Judy snapped out of it and looked at Nick and through the chaos he said, "let's get out of here Judy, I'm beat and this isn't going to calm down for a while."

Judy gave him a nod and stood leading Nick out of the dining hall. Not a soul noticed their departure and once they were a safe distance away Judy looked at Nick and asked, "Slick did you know that was going to happen? You didn't seem surprised at all."

"Yeah, after your mom called all the kits in to get ready for dinner I stayed to clean up. Blake approached me and apologized, I didn't believe him at first thinking he was just saving face. But, then he told me about Stella and showed me that same picture. Truth be told I'm probably the reason he just did that, I kinda scolded him for keeping up appearances." Nick explained.

Sure the middle part of his explanation had been a lie but Judy didn't need to know about that. He still needed to think on the whole inter thing Blake had brought up. Judy nodded accepting Nick's explanation saying, "wow…I'm just…wow. Of all of my siblings he's the last one I could have expected…I..wow."

"Yeah I was floored when he showed me too. But also good for him ya know? He's moved past his speciesist ways, found a girl he's absolutely crazy about, and had the courage to announce it to the world…I mean I would have gone about it a different way…I also feel like he probably didn't inform Stella he was going to do that so that should be interesting…but good for him." Nick replied.

Judy nodded slowly, still coming off the shock of what just happened. "I..think that I will join you in the berry fields tomorrow. I also…think that we'll stick just to the blueberry patch and once we're done I think we should get out of the Warren. It's going to be really chaotic tomorrow after that debacle."

Nick could only agree. "Yeah, that seems like a good idea. I'll definitely be taking my breakfast on the porch that's for sure."

"I think I'll join you. I have no want to be a part of the craziness and gossip that'll be in that dining hall tomorrow." Judy replied.

After that the two walked in silence all the way to Nick's room. The duo telling each other goodnight before Nick shuffled into his guest room and shut the door. Judy then continued her short distance to her own room and got ready for bed. Once she was finished she laid down and her body quickly started shutting down, Judy mastering how to fall asleep quickly while in the academy. One of the final thoughts she had before she fell asleep however was, "I need to talk to Blake on what it's like to date a predator."

*the next morning*

Judy awoke at her usual five am and got ready for the day. Once ready she made her way towards Nick's guest room and the hallways that were normally bustling with activity and noise was more quiet and subdued. It was a very odd feeling. Judy arrived at Nick's room and knocked, immediately hearing Nick say, "it's unlocked."

Judy opened the door to find Nick finishing buttoning up a green plaid shirt. On top of the green plaid shirt he was wearing a lighter pair of blue jeans making him look like a true farmer fox. "Well well slick you almost look like a true country fox. All you need is a cowboy hat."

Nick looked down at his attire and replied, "it's not my style choice at all, this is definitely my brother's clothes. However, they are the most suited clothes for working in the fields."

"What with those pawaiian shirts? You don't have a style Slick." Judy quipped.

Nick scoffed and replied, "I'll have you know those pawaiian shirts are my work shirts thank you very much. You've never seen me wear my non-work clothes."

Judy crossed her arms and playfully replied, "I'll have to see it to believe it."

"Deal, now let's see what's for breakfast."

Nick and Judy made their way out of the guest room and started the trek to the kitchen. Nick after a minute of walking and noticing the atmosphere asked, "I take it it's not usually this…subdued?"

Judy shook her head, "not unless someone died. But with what happened last night it may as well be. Blake is probably going to be shunned from the Warren for who he chose to love."

Nick shook his head at that, "what a shame."

After that statement the duo continued on in silence for the last few minutes. Nick and Judy wasted no time entering the kitchen and it was still running like a machine with Bonnie in the center barking orders. However, the bite wasn't in her barking and her eyes had a dimmer tone. It was painfully clear her thoughts were elsewhere.

That didn't stop her from noticing Nick and Judy's approach though. "Judith, Nicholas. I take it you'll want to dine out on the porch?"

Nick nodded, "Indeed, I feel like it's a Hopps affair in there after last night."

Bonnie bobbed her head from side to side seeing his standpoint. "You're not entirely wrong there Nicholas. I was going to suggest you eat breakfast out there. I'll have your blueberry pancakes delivered to you on the porch."

Nick's pupils immediately dilated, "you're now my new favorite mammal."

Bonnie laughed at Nick and Judy shook her head with a small smile before saying, "I will also be joining him on the porch, I honestly don't want to be a part of the inevitable talks that are going to happen this morning. I don't have the energy for it mom."

Bonnie nodded in understanding and said, "I get it honey. You're not the only one. I got all of the kits eating at the pavilions today being watched by a few siblings that opted out of the discussions. Julie and her kits are actually already on the porch, she's burnt out after last night. She was in the thick of it, and escorted all of the kits out."

Judy cringed at that, "that bad huh?"

Bonnie nodded, "and then some. But enough of all that you two go ahead and head out there your food will arrive their shortly."

Nick and Judy nodded and went to leave when Bonnie called out, "oh and Nicholas?"

Nick paused and looked over his shoulder to address her, "yes Bonnie?"

"How do you like your coffee?"

Nick gave her an appreciative grin and said, "black as night."

Judy and Nick then exited the kitchen and made their way to the porch. When they entered they were immediately greeted by a call of "auntie Judy uncle Nick!" The call came from Julie's daughters, they were nearly identical twins and mini versions of Julie. Their names were Cotton and Anna, Cotton was an exact replica of Julie and the only difference with Anna was the gray splotch was on her other eye.

The two greeted the kits with alternating hugs and Judy asked, "uncle Nick?"

Cotton looked up at Judy and said, "uh-huh, mommy said you two are a pack..pack..package deal! So that makes him uncle Nick!"

Anna jumped in with a "yeah!" As Judy blushed and Nick and Julie laughed.

"Well I guess I'm an honorary Hopps!" Quipped Nick.

Judy just shook her head and stood to greet her sister while Nick kept entertaining the kits. "Hey sis, I heard you had a rough time last night."

Julie let out a tired sigh and replied, "it was like a bomb went off in there. I tried to calm things down with mom and dad but in the end I just had to focus on getting the little ones out. I mean…good for Blake and I feel bad for talking so much trash about him but he could have made it less of a spectacle."

Nick stood from his kneeled position and said, "I'm sorry about that Julie. I may have been responsible for his spur of the moment public announcement."

Julie cocked her head at that, "what do you mean?"

Nick proceeded to give the same explanation he gave Judy and when he was done Julie flicked one of his ears. "Ow! Hey I didn't tell him to announce it in front of the entire Warren and show a picture of him tongue kissing his coyote for proof!"

Everyone present laughed at Nick's expense and Julie replied, "I don't care! While you two slipped out the back I was in the center of it all literally! And I had to hear a lot of things that hurt me! So I'll flick your ear if I want to!"

Nick tilted his head at the hurt part and Judy tapped him on the shoulder saying, "I'll explain later."

Nick accepted the explanation as a couple Hopps bunnies arrived with everyone's breakfast serving them quickly and leaving. But not before one of the does whispered in Nick's ear "I left something a little extra under your mug." Before joining the rest in leaving.

Nick's eyebrow raised in confusion and he lifted the coffee mug to see a hand scrawled note. "Text me if you want to have a knotty time because I do foxy!- Jessable." And a phone number. Nick blinked a few times in shock before the note was promptly snatched by a gray bunny paw. The paw of course belonged to Judy who read the note, grinded her teeth, balled it up and lit it on fire with a candle setting it on the table they were around."

Nick then looked at Judy in surprise and with a irritated tone Judy said, "I'll kill her after I give you the tour of the town. For now let's eat."

Judy then began passive aggressively eating her pancakes and Nick and Julie looked at each other with a confused look before shrugging and digging in themselves.