- A Year Later -
A Big Surprise
"This is officer Hopps! In pursue!" Nick heard through the walky-talky. He chuckled as he drove around the police car. Judy had jumped out of the car to chase the thief through the alleys. Nick was going around him at the moment. If he drove the police vehicle fast enough, he would be able to block the thief so he'd have no way of escaping.
He was almost there. Zoogle maps showed that there was no way for the thief to get away if he blocked the exit. He was almost there, a quick swerve and –
"And congratulations to Officer Wilde and Hopps for catching their twelfth bad guy in a month." Bogo said. "As you all know, Xavier Notron had been wanted in Zootopia for five whole months. That was his tenth robbery. It's no wonder that my best officers caught him. Class dismissed." Said Bogo.
Everyone patted Nick and Judy with congratulations on the back as they left. The moment they reached their office Nick slammed the door behind him and puled Judy up for a deep kiss. He set her down and smiled airily, feeling dizzy. "We have to tell them eventually." He said. "It has been a year."
Judy rolled her eyes. "Nick, they probably all know already. It's good to keep up appearances anyway." She closed her eyes abruptly and almost fell down before Nick caught her.
"Judy, these sudden dizziness attacks are occurring a bit more often than I'd like to lately. Why not go see a doctor?" Nick asked, his voice full of compassion and concern.
Judy looked up at him with loving eyes. "Honestly, Nick. I'm just overworking myself, I'll be more than fine."
"Are you sure? Alex is in town. He's as competent a doctor as any. Even more so."
"Nick," Judy said, touching his face gently. "I'm fine."
"If you say so." He sighed.
Judy left his arms to stand straight. "See? I'm perfectly fine!" She said. Then dropped on the floor.
The fact that Alexander Rayke had a nearly-private hospital in his house, Nick thought, was a tribute to how arrogant the fox was. And how rich. However, it did have its advantages. Instead of an uncomfortable hospital mat, Judy was lying on a rather king-sized bed.
"So where's Alex?" She asked.
"He's completing the diagnosis" Nick said in a half-mocking tone.
"Well what did he say?" She asked.
"He said he wasn't one hundred per-cent sure and had to check. He took some of your blood."
"Is it serious?" Judy asked.
"He didn't exactly give me a straight answer. He said it is extremely serious if he's right but not threatening to your health."
"Then, how is it serious?"
"How would I know." Nick said exasperatedly. "I wanted to punch him. Can't give a straight answer."
Judy laughed. "Nick, he's your best friend."
Nick sighed. "And Gazelle became your best friend. Somehow."
Judy chuckled. "We had a really good time at the Zooldives the four of us. We bonded. Plus Alex found that blonde-fox boyfriend of his."
Nick looked away. "He's become stupider ever-since."
"Has he? He's just become kinder in a way. More humane. It comes with falling in love." Judy put her paw over Nick's.
"Whatever."
She brushed her thumb over Nick's. "You're just a bit protective. It's natural. Alex has been a wonderful friend to the both of us."
Nick sighed. "I know."
At that moment, Alex entered the room. "So, I have good news."
"Oh, so she's fine?" Nick asked.
"Relatively speaking. Congratulations, Judy, you're pregnant."
When Nick was a little kid he used to wonder if time-travel was possible. Now, he was one hundred percent positive time had stopped. "I can't be!" Judy exclaimed, breaking the time loop.
"Well, you haven't been using protection, have you?" Alex pointed out.
"But I'm a predator!" Nick said in disbelief.
"Hardly." Alex replied. "In fact, you're about 75% prey and 25% predator. I told you. You're evolved, Nick. Thus, conceiving was possible." Alex sighed. "You both need to take this into careful consideration. Your child will be possibly one of a kind. It will have a hard life. It will need your life to survive it. I'll leave you alone to talk." He said and left the room and closed the door behind him.
"Well… what do you think?" Nick asked.
Judy stared at Nick dumb-struck before she snapped. "What I think? I think it's totally ludicrous to imply that we're not having this child, Nick. Sure, it'll be hard. But we both had hard childhoods growing up. This child will have our combined love. I think that's enough."
Nick stared into Judy's eyes awed and feeling more in love than ever. He smiled at her. "Yes, it is." Because it was. Because all would be well.
=Author's Notes=
I'm going on Vacation this upcoming Thursday, but since I only want to upload on weekends, you'll get the next and final chapter tomorrow! (This chapter is a sort of epilogue on its own, and the last chapter is one that offers a bit more closure).
Goodbyes are due but not yet! See you all tomorrow, don't forget to leave a review!