"That was just about the coolest thing I've ever seen you do. I take back every time I ever made fun of you."
"Shut up and hug me," Judy laughed as she pulled Nick toward her.
As Nick embraced the tiny, injured bunny, he watched Officer Grizzoli (with other officers following close behind) pull an incredibly bitter Valerie to her feet and lead her out into the daylight, where she would be shoved into the back of a police vehicle. The Chief meandered up to the couple and clapped Nick on the back with a little more strength than what was necessary.
"Good to have you back, Hopps," the cape buffalo stated in a rough voice before he turned back toward the door.
In the following moments, several more officers walked by and slightly hugged or patted Nick and Judy, congratulating them or giving out words of gratefulness for Judy's safety. Though the small gestures of physical contact and remarks were very much appreciated, Judy and Nick only remained embraced, focused on one another until it was only the two of them left in the lobby of the abandoned office building. It was then with a small twinge of regret that Judy and Nick pulled back from the hug to look at one another.
"You look awful," Nick snickered.
"I feel awful," Judy giggled. "Talk about a long day at the office."
"That was a terrible joke, just downright horrible," Nick laughed as he smoothed a small patch of Judy's fur on the side of her face, which she accommodated by leaning her head toward his paw.
"I missed you," she sighed, a content smile on her face.
"Tell me about it," he scoffed. "I think I lost my mind at least four times while you were gone, Fluff."
"Well, it took you long enough."
"Hey, I got here, didn't I?"
"Yes. Yes, you did. Thank you for coming to save me," Judy sighed as she took ahold of Nick's paw and squeezed it lightly.
"I would say 'you're welcome' if I had been the who saved you," Nick chuckled. "That was some serious bad-ass stuff you just pulled in front of me, Carrots. You were like – 'pow!' – and then – 'you have the right to remain silent' – I mean, I was terrified."
The two burst out in laughter at Nick's imitations.
"Yeah, you laugh now, but that was your ex-girlfriend."
"She's my ex for a reason, though," Nick exhaled with a false pained expression.
"You better not have been sleeping with her while you were with me."
"Yikes, I knew I forgot to tell you something."
"Har-har," Judy mocked. "That's very funny."
"I'm only here for you, Carrots," Nick stated as he began planting kisses on Judy's face, neck, and shoulders. "I even kept up the wedding planning. Got you a dress and everything."
"Is it incredibly ugly?"
"Oh, incredibly. It's hot pink and everything."
"Hot pink? You shouldn't have!" Judy giggled, to which Nick admitted he was only joking, but that he had kept up a few of the plans when he could.
"How are the kids?" Judy asked.
"Don't worry, I only lost two of them while you were gone."
"Nick, that's not funny," Judy laughed as she punched him lightly in the arm, making Nick laugh with her.
"They're good. They've missed you a lot, Alan especially. It might just be me, but I definitely think he likes you more."
"Well, I am the more likeable one out of the two of us."
"Our friends would disagree," Nick said in a sing-song voice, making Judy laugh loudly to the point where she nearly snorted.
Her laughter was cut short, however, when she inhaled sharply and clutched her side in obvious pain. Nick's smile disappeared.
"Alright, Carrots, let's get you to a hospital," he said softly as he gently scooped Judy up into his arms.
Once in the ambulance and in the paws of several paramedics, Judy was strapped to a gurney and bandages were temporarily applied to her more serious injuries. Nick thanked the Chief and the other officers before he boarded the ambulance with Judy, and the two were on their way to the Hospital of Zootopia. The entire ride to the hospital, Nick held Judy's paw, and barely took his eyes off of her. He loved how the two of them just continued chatting as if everything that just happened never actually happened, even though the feelings this ordeal had created would surely stay with both of them for some time. On the ride, Nick texted his mother and Judy's parents – the latter of which were currently watching over Robin, Red, Alan, and Violet – to let them know of Judy's safety and their current journey to the hospital where the family was more than welcome to meet them.
Once at the hospital, Judy was quickly taken to the Immediate Care Unit. Nick made his way to the waiting room, where he met with his mother, Judy's parents, and the children. It didn't take long for practically the entire ZPD police force to also arrive, making the waiting room just as packed and eventful as almost two years before after Judy had just delivered four tiny babies. It was in the waiting room that Nick received news that Culpeo had been found on one of the upper floors of the abandoned office building doing something as stupid as attempting to scrub blood from the carpet, and that he been taken into custody with Valerie. With that news, the group of animals decided that a celebration was definitely in order. When the group was fairly sure no doctors or nurses were around to scold, several champagne bottles were snuck in, opened, and passed around to fill small Styrofoam cups stolen from a nearby attendants' lounge.
They then had to quickly hide all of the paraphernalia almost fifteen minutes later when Judy's doctor came in to notify them of her condition. Nick was pretty sure that the doctor saw at least a glimpse of the champagne going around before they hid everything and most definitely smiled a little, but refrained from saying anything, which the fox was grateful for.
According to the doctor, Judy was going to be fine and recover nicely, but she would be in more than just a little bit of pain for several weeks, and the recovery journey certainly wouldn't be easy on top of all of that. The list of injuries and problems was also quite dizzying: several cuts and scratches all over her body that required more than a dozen stitches each, three broken ribs, major blood loss that resulted in a transfusion, severe dehydration, extreme malnutrition, sleep deprivation, and an ankle broken in two places. The doctor also heavily suggested therapy for Judy following the traumatic ordeal.
As the doctor spoke about the need for lots of bed rest, fluids, and a diet plan that basically allowed Judy whatever she wanted whenever she wanted it, Nick was only half listening. The important things rang clear in his ears, but he also couldn't help but drift into thought over how strong Judy had been. This was something that Judy had never been trained to deal with physically or mentally, yet the bunny had not only persevered, but also still had her wits, sass, and optimism about her. She had suffered for weeks all because of a fox seeking revenge, all because of Nick, and not once did her ambition or strength falter.
After the doctor finished informing the group, he showed them to Judy, who had been moved from the ICU to the floor of general patients. The door to her room was shut and the shades over the window were drawn. Nick placed his paw on the door handle, hesitated, then removed his paw.
"Come here, kiddos," he beckoned.
He placed Violet on his shoulders, picked Alan up, and held onto Red and Robin as they crowded his feet. Then, with a deep breath and one last reassuring look from his mother standing close by, he opened the door.
"Mommy!"
"Hey!" Judy smiled, tears immediately springing to her eyes as she extended her arms to her children.
Red and Robin were the first to reach her, racing to the bed (which Nick had to help them up onto), then filling her arms and hugging her tightly. Violet was next, easily slipping from Nick's shoulders into her mother's arms, where she received several long kisses. Finally, a quiet Alan was passed from Nick's paws to Judy's. The tiny fox wrapped his arms around Judy's neck and hugged her tightly.
"Missed you," the little fox said softly.
Eyes on a smiling Nick, Judy hugged the baby tighter, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I missed you more," she cried as she turned and kissed his forehead.
Nick chuckled lightly and leaned in, kissing first Alan on the head, then Judy.
"Just so you know," he whispered so that only Judy would hear. "You're being a total baby right now."
Judy scoffed before she broke down into a fit of laughter with Nick.
For the next ten minutes, a lot of crying and hugging took place in that hospital room as Nick stepped aside for Judy's parents, Mrs. Wilde, Chief Bogo, and several other officers. Then, the champagne made its way around the room again, to which Judy promptly said "Nick!" in a very exasperated voice.
A few hours later, after Judy's parents had tried to convince Judy she needed to find a safer job and after the Chief had tried to inform Judy she would need therapy before returning to work – both of which were directly shot down by the rabbit – the crowd thinned. With a few final remarks and several toasts, the Chief and the ZPD officers departed, Bonnie and Stu Hopps left to acquire a hotel (they insisted to stay for at least a few more nights), and Mrs. Wilde insisted on taking the four children back to Judy and Nick's home and properly put them to bed after they had fallen asleep on a nearby armchair.
It was quickly nearing eleven, the sky outside a velvety black with very few glimmering stars, and Nick and Judy found they were together and properly alone for the first time in a long time.
"You need to sleep, Carrots," Nick sighed as he sat on the edge of Judy's bed.
In response, she pretended to think about it, then shook her head with a laugh.
"Not happening," she challenged.
"Aren't you tired?"
"Oh, exhausted, but being here with you is so much better."
"I'm not going anywhere, trust me," Nick smiled, which Judy returned easily.
"Nick," Judy sighed, her smile faltering. "We have been through a lot."
"We have," Nick nodded.
"But that…that was…" Judy stifled a small sob and looked away. "That was rough."
Nick moved closer and pulled her head to his chest, wrapping his arms around her as she cried.
"I know, Judy, I know."
"I thought I was going to die there all alone, Nick," Judy sobbed loudly. "I thought they were going to kill me, and I was so scared that I would never see you or the kids or my family again."
Nick had never been one to cry often, but that didn't mean he didn't cry at all. He cried when those Junior Ranger Scouts muzzled him once during his childhood, he cried when his father died, he cried when Judy nearly had her throat ripped out by that silver fox years ago, he cried when he and Judy had officially come to terms with being parents, he had cried when Judy agreed to marry him, and he found himself crying now as he listened to Judy express her feelings.
Through sobs that racked her body more than once, she told him everything from the second she woke up that late night and heard a noise downstairs.
She told him how she had tried to fight back, but wasn't strong enough. She told him how she had tried to call for help by making noise any way possible, but it hadn't worked.
She told him how she woke up to a bucket of freezing water, and a cold and dark warehouse. She told him about Valerie's taunts; about Culpeo's claws, and how much pain and fear they inflicted; about how she had lost track of time.
She told him about how one day Valerie shoved a phone in her hand, demanding that she call and give him a message; about how she had given up Valerie's name and Culpeo knocked her out; about how she woke up in a new location without her engagement ring.
She told him how the zip ties hadn't been tight enough when they tied her to a new chair at the new location and how she had managed to get free of the restraints. She told him how she had made it down to the lobby of the building before Culpeo had grabbed her. She told him how she had screamed out as Valerie held her down and Culpeo broke her ankle.
She told him about how she had taunted Valerie; about how she had gotten free earlier that day when sitting on the floor; about how she had forced herself to gain the courage to stand up and fight back.
She talked for almost an hour, Nick listening and holding her when she needed it.
"…and then there you were," she smiled. "There you were."
She hugged him tightly, pressing her face against his shirt.
"Thank you for being there, Nick."
Drying his eyes, Nick stood up.
"Come on," he said, his paw outstretched toward her.
"What are we doing?"
"We're going to dance."
"I can't walk," she snorted.
"Hey, don't sass me, I saw you stand right up on that broken ankle and use it to kick down a fox before you called her a bitch, so I know you can walk," Nick laughed. "Plus, I'll let you stand on my feet."
"I can't dance, Nick, you know that – I suck at dancing. You especially suck at dancing!"
"Quit making excuses and just dance with me."
Looking incredulous, Judy took Nick's paw. Carefully, Nick pulled her from her bed, and brought her to an empty space in the room. He helped her onto his feet, before he pulled out his cellphone, pulled up "The Carrots Mix" in his music playlists, and pressed play, turning up the volume as loud as it would go.
At the first song, Judy laughed and rolled her eyes. Nick tossed his phone onto the bed before sliding his left paw around Judy's waist and his right paw into her left. He then began slowly moving to the music, twirling here and there, careful not to move too quickly and harm Judy.
One song passed, then another, then another.
As the time passed, the two chatted and joked, Judy giggling and Nick smiling.
"Oh, before I forget," Nick grinned as he reached into his shirt pocket. "Ta-da!"
Judy gasped at the sight of the sparkling – now clean – engagement ring.
"You found it! I thought it was gone for sure!"
"Hey, I paid a lot for this, I wasn't going to let somebody just throw it away, Carrots. Here."
Choosing not to mention that the ring had been left behind as a taunt, Nick slipped the ring back onto Judy's paw, watching her eyes glaze over with tears again.
"Stop crying, Carrots, you're going to make me cry."
"What are you talking about, you're already crying!" Judy laughed as Nick leaned her into a dip before kissing her fully on the mouth.
She pulled back slightly, smiling, and wrapped her arms around his neck before she melted back into him, kissing him deeply. After a few lingering moments, the two broke apart, still in each other's arms.
"I love you, Nick."
"I love you too, Darling."