Valentine's Day arrived and Judy was giving Amanda a pep talk at breakfast.
"Remember, he doesn't like to talk much, just ask him simple questions and you'll be fine."
"Thank you so much for arranging this, Judy, I was afraid that I would end up sitting in my dorm eating ice cream and watching my soaps on my laptop. I had this whole day planned out for Dave and me before… you know… but then you go and do me a huge favor."
"It's no favor. I just didn't like the idea of you being alone here while Nick and I go enjoy ourselves."
"Either way, I am grateful to you. But you're sure he won't push it like trying to impress me with flowers or try to kiss me? Because I am still healing here."
"He won't. He's just going to keep you company. He likes to keep to himself a lot so no worries of him trying something."
"Okay." then she gave a sly grin, "So… what are you and Wilde going to be doing today?"
Judy noticed how a few other girls at their table stopped eating to listen in. She sighed internally as she told Amanda, "We're going out to eat, I know this restaurant that Nick knew about and I wanted to go back to it for the occasion, afterwards we plan on going dancing."
"Sweet! You go have fun, girl!"
Judy chuckled, "Thanks, I plan to."
Judy stood in front of the mirror as she looked herself over. She was wearing a light purple dress to match her eyes. It kept her modest yet showed some of her curves. She smiled to herself how that would impress her fox and had put on a touch of makeup.
Fru squealed when seeing her best friend, "Judy, you look so gorgeous!"
Giselle smiled, "You certainly are."
Dawn smiled, too, "Gorgeous and stunning."
"Thank you, girls. I sure hope he think so too."
Fru beamed, "Of course he will!"
Dawn added, "He'll be blind if he doesn't notice your beauty."
Judy blushed and grabbed her purse, "Well, I'm off, he'll be waiting by the entrance." she was about to take off when she felt her purse vibrating and took out her phone, figuring it would be just her parents wishing her a Happy Valentine's Day but when she checked, she found a video.
The video began playing and her eyes widen.
It was her and Roland on one their karaoke dates back in Bunnyburrow. She could see them on screen singing together as they sang the song 'Love is an Open Door' from Floatzen.
Fru questioned, "Judy, what is…?"
Judy just went back to them and showed them the video and they could hear the music playing.
"'Cause like I've been searching my whole life to find my own place and maybe it's the party talking or the chocolate fondue…"
"But with you…"
"But with you I found my place…"
"I see your face…"
"And it's nothing like I've never known before! Love is an open door! Love is open door! Love is an open door…"
The music kept on playing as Judy watch in horror of how much fun she was having. When it finally stopped the two rabbits leaned in for a kiss. Judy looked away in shame.
Why did I ever kiss him? Those kisses meant nothing to him…
Dawn snapped out of her thoughts, "What is this anyway? Is that who I think it is?"
Judy quietly said, "Yes, that was Roland."
"But why would you have a video of the two of you?" Fru asked.
A text then popped with the message: Happy Val Day, Jude! From your love bunny, Rollie ;)
All the girls sucked in a breath.
Giselle uttered, "He didn't…"
Dawn scowled, "He did."
Fru shouted, "How could he do this to you? And on Valentine's Day!"
Judy had downcast look, "He wants to remind me of the date we on a Valentine's Day a couple of years back. We would always have karaoke dates as it was our thing. In fact it was how we got set up by his sister, she had us perform a duet together on the karaoke machine and that's how we went out ever since."
"Speaking of which. Why did you two sing that song from Floatzen?" Dawn asked, "That's actually a hidden villain song."
Judy gave a tiny smile, "Ironic, isn't it? At the time, Roland suggested singing it as a way to prove that the song could be used for good by a couple who actually loved each other, 'course the joke was on me." she sighed as she stared at the text and slowly became angry that she threw her phone on her bed.
"Well, I am not going to have him spoil my day with Nick! I'm going to go out with the fox I love and prove to myself that I can get on with my life without little reminders of the past popping up!"
Fru-Fru cheered, "You go, girl!"
Dawn smirked, "You do that."
Giselle nodded, "We'll support you all the way."
Judy got them into a group hug. She felt so lucky to have such wonderful friends.
"One heart shape carrot cake as requested!" Gideon came into the room with the cake as Nick was putting on his black tie to go with his black slacks and white shirt.
"Ah, excellent, Gid!" he exclaimed while turning to his roommate.
Ben was already practically drooling when seeing it. "Mmm-hm! That looks good!"
Fin pointed at Clawhauser's belly, "Remember, you can't have any."
Ben sighed in disappointment, remembering he had to cut down on the sweets.
Gideon patted his friend's back, "Besides, the cake's got Nick and Judy's initials on them so eating it anyway would be a big no-no."
Nick examined the initials: NW + JH on the cake and smirked.
"You really outdid yourself, Gid. Carrots' is going to love it."
"I aim to please." the stout fox smiled.
Nick made sure his tie was straighten before he grabbed the cake and started heading out, "Well, this is it. Carrots' is on her way to the entrance and I got to get there before she counts me tardy."
Ben called out, "You go, boyfriend!"
Nick just shook his head in amusement when he was out the door.
Nick stood by the wall waiting when suddenly a beautiful bunny came right to him wearing a stunning outfit. He felt his eyes popped out and it must have shown since Judy gave a smirk and said.
"Like what you see?" she strike a sexy pose.
He shook his head out of it and gave his usual smirk before presenting her with the cake.
"NW + JH?" she questioned. "You just love having top billing, don't you?" she smiled.
"Naturally! I am the star of my own band after all."
"You better not said that around the rest of your band mates or else it's going to break up just like every other band that's broken up."
He chuckled and asked, "As according to the terms of our unfair bet, where is the lady taking me tonight?"
She rolled her eyes before replying, "Some place you'll like." she took the cake, "But first, let me take this back to my room for safekeeping."
"I'll be waiting." he smiled.
She smiled back with a loving glance and quickly headed back to her room where it was empty now as she set the cake down on her desk and her heart pounded crazy at the tasty treat. He no doubt had to ask Gideon to help make this and reminded herself to return the favor to the talented fox and to think of something special for her lover fox later. She was about to leave when her phone buzzed again. She didn't want to answer it if it was Roland with another video and text but what if this time it was her parents and she didn't want to worry them if she didn't answer their call. So with hesitation she grabbed her phone and found another text message that said: You'll always be my number one girl. Rollie ;)
"Argh!" she yelled out and ran out the room.
Nick was humming a tune when he spotted his girlfriend coming back but this time she didn't look happy, instead she looked upset.
"Carrots? Is everything okay?"
She put on forced smile, "Everything's fine. Nothing to worry about." she turned to go.
"Judy."
Her eyes widen when hearing her real name and looked back to see the frown on his face.
"Something is going on. What is it?" he crossed his arms.
She let out a sigh and took out her phone and showed him the texts.
Nick's eyes widen before he scowled further and the muttered the word, "Asshole." and faced Judy. "This is bordering on harassment, Carrots, you got to report this."
"It's not harassment unless he keeps sending me texts but I know he'd be too smart for that. He's just doing it to bring up how much fun we had even though he knows I don't have any feelings for him anymore. Look, I am not going to let him get to me, after all what do you always say?"
He stated, "Never let them see they get to you. But this is different, Judy."
"It's not. Look, he maybe be a jerk by texting me but that's all there is." she grabbed onto his tie and had him face her at eye level. "Now we are going to go on our date and have the best time and no bastard from my past is going to ruin it for us."
He looked at her skeptically but when he saw the determination in her eyes, he said, "Alright. But for the record this discussion is not over."
"Fine. But for now, I want to make this the perfect Valentine's Day. So, ready to have the time of your life, Mr. Wilde?" she offered her arm.
He smirked, "I'm always ready, Miss Hopps." he took her arm and they walked off.
Nick was impressed by Judy's choice. They were back at the Bella Notte restaurant. As they made it through the door, she explained how the last time they were here it wasn't an official date but now that they were dating it seemed fitting to come back.
Isabella had served them as she commented with a wink how great it was to see them again.
Nick was still bugged how his date's ex would just text her out of the blue and on Valentine's Day of all days. But when looking at how lovely Judy was he was distracted from his thoughts and for that he was grateful as he focused on what she was telling him.
"Dawn and I are already top qualifiers for the Games so we doing our best to do our homework while studying a little on the side. After seeing some of the competition and especially Ruby we decided to crack down hard on the curriculum so we can beat them by the time the Games come around."
"Sounds like you're prepared for the worst."
"Where MP is concerned we can't let up especially now that we know they were the reason that Ruby put up that graffiti."
"Well, I am not going to let you face them alone. It'll be hard but I can work my ass off to make it in the top ten."
She smiled, "I'm starting to think I'm your motivation for everything."
He smirked as he reached for her paw across the table, "And if you are?"
She smirked back while grasping his paw, "Hey, I'm not complaining. I find it rather sweet and touching."
They started leaning for a kiss when Tony came in with a plate of spaghetti between them.
He apologized with a bashful smile, "Sorry, I did not mean to come between you like that but its hard carrying two trays at once."
Nick chuckled, "No worries, Tony. Carrots and I can always redo it."
She smugly said, "And I know how." she twirled up a strand of spaghetti while saying; "You said you wanted to reenact that scene, remember?"
He had wide eyes before grinning away and twirled up the same strand on his fork and began swallowing the strand and Judy did the same. Tony had quickly backed away and put on some romantic music. He was joined by his daughter as she whispered.
"Oh, Papa, isn't it wonderful? Nicky has finally found his one true love."
Tony smiled and replied, "Indeed he has my Bella, for I can remember two mammals falling in love in that same spot. Tonight, Nicky finally has the one thing his parents had so long ago. May their lives forever be joyful and promising."
"That is a beautiful blessing, Papa, would you say that for me when I find my true love?"
"For you my little ragazza. Anything."
They watched as Judy and Nick reached to the end of their strand and kissed right on the lips but they didn't break away anytime soon. They lingered on the kiss for as long as they could.
Once they did break away they stole loving glances as they kept eating, until Judy broke the silence, "Nick?"
"Yes, Carrots?"
"Your parents met in this very restaurant, right?"
"Right…" he slowly replied, unsure what she was getting at.
"And spend most of their dates here as well, right?"
"That would be correct." still not sure what she was asking.
"Would you like that? To come here every once and awhile and to repeat what they did?" she gave a tiny smile.
His eyes widen before releasing a smile and took her paw, "As sweet as that is… I think we should have our own thing… We owe that to ourselves. What my parents had was great and so did your parents, but we shouldn't have to be like them. I mean, after all, we are dating different species from our own. So we're already doing something they never did."
She blushed realizing how true that was.
He moved from her paw and touched her cheek, "I wouldn't mind coming back here from time to time, but we shouldn't have to be here all the time. This place did start my parents' romance but that's not how we fell in love…" he smirked.
She did slight laugh, thinking how they met on her very first day of school and how their glorious rivalry was born from that day on. Every challenge that was thrown at the other just brought them closer together and they didn't even know it. It truly amazed her how they ended up calling a truce and found out more about the other realizing they fell in love and how they couldn't imagine life without the other.
Judy thought to herself, In a strange way I should be thankful that Roland broke my heart… Without the extra need to push myself to stay in school, I wouldn't be where I am now… A top student of my class and being Nick Wilde's girlfriend. I still can't forgive him for what he did, and I'm fine with that because I don't regret my decision of breaking up with him. I have found my mate for life. Fox or not, I love you, Nicholas Wilde, with all my heart…
Her eyes told him just that.