Chapter 24:

The Truth

Nick and Judy were under the covers in Judy's room holding each other close. They hadn't let go of each other since he walked through the door. It seemed surreal being next to each other right now. After three months of being apart and not knowing it they were ever going to be together again, they had never been so happy to be next to each other.

"I can't believe you've been stuck in this shitty house for three months," Nick said.

"It's insane," Judy said. "We're basically building it from scratch. When Clara said she needed help with renovations I didn't think it would be more than painting and fixing a few things."

"I'm just glad I found the place. I haven't heard anything from you since you left. I wasn't sure if you had left for good or you were hurt…"

"Wait, you haven't heard anything from me?" Judy said confused.

"No," Nick said. "I've been calling you and texting you every day and I never got a response. I even tried calling your parents and couldn't get in contact with them."

"I don't know why my parents wouldn't answer but there's no cell reception here and Clara hasn't installed the phones. I've been sending you letters. I put the address in the first letter I sent you."

"I didn't get any letters. I found the address from the police database."

Judy was confused. "How could this have happened?"

"It seems like a certain sister may have something to do with it baby," Nick pointed out.

"Why would Clara do this? It's not like her."

"Let's not worry about it right now sweet bunny," Nick said running his fingers across her cheek.

Judy felt tears spring into her eyes. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."

"I do," Nick said feeling choked up as well. "I was so broken without you Judy. I've never felt this way in my entire life. I didn't know if you were hurt, or if you were even coming back…"

She wiped the tears from his eyes. "I'll always come back to you. No matter where I am, I'll always be there for you. This has been the hardest three months of my life. I'm so glad you found me."

He started to kiss her. His mouth moved on hers desperately. It had been such a long time since he had been able to feel her touch. Having her tiny warm body this close to him was the most incredible feeling in the world. The need for her was starting to grow. He rolled on top of her still kissing her. She wrapped her legs around him drawing him closer, breathing him in, wanting what they had missed for such a long time.

He ran his fingers through her hair cradling her in his arms as he looked into her eyes. "Never leave me again."

"Never," she said. "I'll be by your side forever."

He went back in to kiss her. "I love you," he whispered against her lips.

She became lost in his kisses before she could respond. But through the actions that passed between them next, he already knew.

*WW*

The next morning, Nick and Judy came down for breakfast and found Clara sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. She looked very nervous and she looked like she had been crying. She looked up when she saw them come in. "Nick, Judy, I um, I didn't hear you come down."

Judy and Nick sat across from her. "Clara, I'm going home today."

"What?! Judy…"

"I've been here for three months. We're halfway done with the house. They need me at work." She held Nick's hand and looked up at him. "And I can't be away from Nick any longer."

"Judy, I can't do this all on my own," Clara said.

"You have mom and dad to help. And if you really need me I'll come down on the weekends. I just can't stay any longer."

Clara wanted to protest, but she just didn't have the energy for it. She felt defeated.

"And also, Nick told me he hasn't been getting any of the letters I sent him," Judy said.

Clara froze. Her eyes darted back and forth and finally settled on looking into her coffee avoiding eye contact with both of them.

It didn't slip past Judy and Nick and they exchanged a confused look.

"Do you know anything about it Clara?" Nick asked.

Clara shook her head quickly. "No, I don't know what you're talking about."

Before anything more could be said the doorbell rang.

Clara hopped up from her chair. "I'll get it."

Judy and Nick remained in the kitchen more confused than ever.

"Dad!" Clara said when she opened the door.

"Where are they?" Mr. Hopps said.

"In the kitchen," Clara said.

Seconds later Clara came back with Mr. and Mrs. Hopps.

"Mom, dad…" Judy began. Before she could say anything more, Mr. Hopps' glare was focused on Nick.

"How did you find this place?" he said angrily.

"I'm a police officer, I have resources," Nick said simply.

"You're not supposed to be here."

"I couldn't stay away from Judy forever."

"You were supposed to!" Mr. Hopps said. "You're a fox! You're not supposed to be with my daughter! I don't care what you say, a fox is not to be trusted! I want you out of our lives!"

"Stu, what has gotten into you?!" Mrs. Hopps exclaimed in shock.

"What's going on?!" Judy said. "Why are you being so mean to Nick?!"

"Because he's not good enough for you!"

"Of course he is! Nick is incredible! What's really going on?! I know you're hiding things from me! No more lies, just tell me what's been going on!"

Judy looked back and forth between everyone in the room. Clara was in the corner looking at the floor and looking more nervous than she was before. Mrs. Hopps was just as confused and Judy was. Nick looked hurt and angry. Mr. Hopps' angry exterior faltered and he sighed.

"We tried to keep you and Nick away from each other," he admitted.

"What?" Judy said in shock.

"Dad…" Clara began.

"There's no use keeping it covered up anymore. After Thanksgiving, Clara and I talked. I convinced her to buy this house. I looked for the place myself. It was just far enough away to isolate you and it was a nice house for Clara to live in once it was all fixed up. I've been paying the bills and paying for all of the renovations. I changed the house phone number so Nick couldn't reach us. The idea was to keep you away long enough that Nick would think you abandoned him and wouldn't wait for you and move on."

"And my letters?"

"Clara and I hid them."

Judy was utterly shocked. She never would have imagined that her father and her sister would be so desperate to get her away from her boyfriend, the greatest thing that had ever happened to her in her life, that they would go to such great lengths to orchestrate this plan.

"I would never have moved on from Judy," Nick said. "I would have waited for her for the rest of my life if I had to. I never stopped thinking about her and I never stopped trying to find her. Judy is the most important person in my life. And even if you don't care about how I feel, I would think that her own family members would care about her feelings enough to put their own biases aside and let her be happy."

"Stu, Clara, I'm disappointed," Mrs. Hopps said. "I really am disappointed in both of you."

Judy wiped a tear from her eye. "We're going home. There's no need for us to stick around."

She and Nick started to leave the kitchen.

"Judy, wait!" Clara said trying to stop her.

Judy didn't pay any attention. She had never felt so betrayed in her life, by her own family nonetheless!

Her and Nick went upstairs. As Judy was about to pick up her suitcase, Nick put his hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Judy shrugged. "I don't know what to think."

He took the suitcase from her and put it on the floor. Then he gave her a hug. They stood there for a moment just holding each other silently letting each other know that they were there for each other. Then Nick picked up the suitcase and they went downstairs. They ignored the muffled sounds of voices from the kitchen and went out to Nick's car. They drove off and didn't look back.