The bunny stood across the street watching animals come and go at the ice cream parlor. Why was she so drawn to ice cream parlors? She didn't like ice cream. At least, she didn't think she liked ice cream. She couldn't be sure of anything and she clutched the fox repellent for a moment and then tucked it away in her pocket. She still didn't know why she had bought it, nor why she had been so quick to use it on that fox cop when he approached her. She felt a little sick remembering how he had fallen, yelping in pain, and she closed her eyes for a moment. She had been so afraid of him, and yet what she had done to him felt so wrong. She sighed and resumed watching the ice cream parlor and her ears popped up at seeing another fox, this one dressed in a green Hawaiian shirt, go inside. She followed, hanging back as he went up to the counter.
The big elephant at the counter leaned over. "I don't want no trouble in here, fox. Get out."
"I don't want trouble," said the big fox meekly. "I just want to buy a jumbo pop for my little boy."
The bunny drew in her breath. Next to the fox, holding tightly to his paw, was a little fox with huge ears, wearing a grey jumpsuit. "Isn't he adorable?" asked the big fox, looking dotingly at the little one. "He loves elephants, wants to be an elephant." The little fox pulled the hood of his suit over his head, covering his face with an elephant mask complete with huge ears and a trunk. He tooted the trunk a couple of times and the big elephant regarded him with a sour expression. "You can get lost too, kid."
The little fox started to cry and the big one bent down. "I'm sorry, little buddy. This is the worst birthday ever. Please don't be mad at me." The little one kissed his father and they started sadly out the door.
The bunny went up to the counter. "You should sell that nice dad a jumbo pop." She took out a twenty dollar bill and put it on the counter. "Keep the change."
The two foxes came back and the little one chose a giant red popsicle. The elephant handed it begrudgingly over to the father and the three animals started out the door. "This is so kind of you," said the big fox. "Can I pay you back?"
The bunny shook her head. "My treat."
He handed the popsicle to his son. "Two paws." The bunny reached for the door and the fox pulled it open for her. She stopped, looking up at him. His eyes were hidden by sunglasses but he was smiling at her and she smiled back uncertainly and proceeded outside, where she stopped again, curiously reluctant to let him walk away. "Just a minute."
The two foxes looked at her, waiting, and she said slowly, "I'm not a dumb bunny."
The big fox grinned. "And that's not wet cement."
She looked down at her feet. The pavement was solid beneath her, but for a moment she could have sworn she was sinking into it. She stared at the big fox, her eyes widening as a kaleidoscope of images chased themselves across her mind. They were all of this fox, smirking at her, calling for her, smiling proudly and giving her a thumbs up. She saw him clinging to her as they swung through the air, eating a treat out of a cup so tiny it was barely visible in his paw, holding up a carrot pen, shouting at a big sheep. A final image dominated all the others, him snarling at her and lunging and grabbing her throat in his jaws. It should have been terrifying, but all she felt was complete trust and she put out a paw and touched his arm. "Nick?"
He leaned down. "That's right, Carrots."
"It's Judy," she said haltingly. "Officer Judy Hopps." She looked at the little fox. "And you're Finnick and you don't want to be an elephant when you grow up."
"Nope, he's all grown up already," said Nick. "Nice touch, Finn, giving Daddy a kiss."
Finnick dropped the popsicle, pulled off the elephant hood, and snarled, "Mention that again and I'll bite your face off! You okay now, Judy?"
"I don't know. It's all so hazy. I was driving someone…" She gasped in horror. "Nick! I was taking a witness to court!"
"Relax. She made it and gave her testimony. You're the one we were worried about."
"I wasn't worried," said Finnick.
Judy smiled at him. "I know."
He smiled back, then said gruffly, "I'm outta here, Nick. I gotta get back to the garage before your boss puts me out of business."
He walked off and Judy asked, "Your boss?"
"Chief Bogo. Remember him?" Judy shook her head and Nick grinned wryly. "He'll love that. He's the chief of police at the ZPD. He told that jerk elephant to cooperate with us and covered the garage so Finn could help me. The doctor said you must have hit your head and gotten amnesia and it sounded like in your mind you were back at your first day as a cop. Finn and me hung out here and when you showed up, we went into our act hoping it would jog your memory."
"Doctor?" It was as if that was the only word Judy heard and she reached for Nick's sunglasses and pulled them off before he could stop her, her eyes filling with tears at the sight of his burns. "Oh, Nick, what did I do to you?"
He pulled her into a fierce hug. "It's okay, Judy. As long as you remember me, that's all I care about.