"Hmm it sucks that I can't go home for mother's day," Judy whined into her phone, "I have to work that morning and this'll be my first mother's day away from home."

A few more months had passed since Nick and Judy began going to the gym. Nick was more than halfway through his program at the academy and thanks to Judy's excellent training, he was passing all his courses with near perfect marks. He did think about that first day at the gym on rare occasions though. Sometimes he would even dream about alternate endings for that day. Most of them resulted in him waking up in a cold sweat.

He realized that he had become madly attracted to the little bunny but he was determined to keep this a well guarded secret and suppress the feelings. He enjoyed his time with her immensely, but she was a good girl who would never go for a fox so it was best to keep his distance. Yes, the attraction was so strong it was painful sometimes, but he was accustomed to hiding his feelings and he was quite good at it.

"Tell me about what you're doing," the bunny continued, "Maybe it will cheer me up."

"I'm just doing the same thing I do every year," Nick said plainly back through the phone.

"Well tell me about it. I don't know anything about your mom." Judy pressed.

"Why do you want to know about my mom, carrots? It's not like I ask you about your parents?" Nick didn't like talking about his family. He never knew his dad but his mom worked harder than two parents combined to make sure Nick had everything he needed growing up. She was a strong vixen that Nick couldn't be more proud of.

"Because you don't have to," Judy shot back, "notice that I was talking about your mom and you came back asking about my parents. Like, you just assumed that my parents are still together, which they are. And, the first day we met you were able to correctly guess that they were carrot farmers. What more could I tell you that you haven't already ascertained yourself."

Judy could hear the smile in his voice as he called her a sly bunny, to which she gave the customary response of calling him a dumb fox. Nick paused before relenting, "Every year I take my mom out for dinner. This year we are going to the Fish and Fowl around eight which is fine except she is bringing her boyfriend. who. is. a. tool."

"Boyfriend? Tell me more!" Judy perked up.

"Eh," Nick groaned into the phone, "he's OK I guess. He just rubs me the wrong way and it makes things awkward and I want to rip his face off for no reason whenever I have to even listen to him breathe. But I'm a grown ass fox and have to behave myself." Nick had never actually said these words out loud to anyone but it felt surprisingly good to let it out.

"Oh," Judy said and then paused like she was trying to figure something out before blurting "Hey, what if I came with you to dinner!"

Nick almost laughed. "You want to come to an awkward dinner? Why? I did mention we were going to the Fish and Fowl right? Do you know what that is?"

"Yeah" Judy chirped sounding way too excited, "they cater to predators right? It'll be perfect. Everyone will be so distracted by the bunny sitting and eating with predators that I'll absorb all the awkwardness and leave none for you."

"Judy, I don't kn-"

"Ooh and i can go shopping for a pretty dress! I haven't been dress shopping in so long!"

"I'm not su-"

"Oh my gosh and I can get my fur done up all nice. Nick, I'm looking forward to this so much!"

There was a sigh on the phone. "Fine, just don't over do it bunny. It's dinner with my mom, not the prom." Nick then had to hold his phone away from his ears as a high pitched happy bunny screech blasted at him. "Carrots? I hope you know I'm deaf now." Judy apologize with a giggle. "Sorry I couldn't hear you because my ears no longer work. I will pick you up at seven. Maybe I will be able to hear again by then."

Nick and Judy finally made it to the Fish and Fowl by quarter to eight. Nick had on a royal blue button up shirt and black trousers. After Judy tucked his shirt into his pants and straightened his tie, he really did look like a "slick" nick. Judy, on the other hand, had found a lovely, purple dress that paired beautifully with her eyes along with a simple gold chain around her neck and several thin, jingly gold hoops on her left wrist. Nick didn't expect to actually arrive on time and so the two ventured to the bar to grab a couple of drinks. Nick was suckling on a lager from the bottle whereas Judy gingerly sipped on a fruity cocktail.

"Quit your pouting." Judy spoke into her glass.

Nick glared down at Judy through hooded eyes. "I'm not pouting."

"Yes you are, your ears have been laid back all night. Relax and try to enjoy yourself." Judy gave nick a sweet smile and he tried to return the gesture but his heart wasn't in it. He couldn't stand his mother's boyfriend and it felt strange getting all dressed up and going to a nice dinner with Judy.

Nick glanced around the restaurant's waiting area. He noticed that Judy was receiving a lot of stray looks from the other patrons. Maybe it was because she was a prey in a carnivorous themed restaurant like Judy predicted would happen, but when Nick noticed that the stray glances were mostly coming from other males, he began to suspect different reasons. Judy's dress was one of those styles that had the long slit down the side that went all the way up her thigh. She was sitting on a bench with the wrong leg crossed over the other, leaving that long leg exposed. Nick stole his own glance and he could see where the curve of her thigh met with the curve of her butt.

Nick took a quick swig of his drink to wash away any sexy bunny thoughts. As he did so, he glanced out the front windows to see his mother and her boyfriend walking up to the door. He gave Judy a nudge and they both moved towards the door. His mother spied nick right away and threw her arms wide open for a hug as she called his name. Nick swept in and gave her a tight squeeze, then he turned to the other fox and gave him a strong, polite pawshake.

"Hey boy," the older male fox said, "where's our table? You didn't forget to make the reservations did you?"

"Hmm," Nick smiled. Judy recognized the smile right away and knew that behind it Nick was thinking something that was the opposite of friendly, it was unfriendly. "Good to see you too Paul and no, I didn't forget to make the reservations but it is still early. I'm sure our table is being cleaned off for us right now. Mom, Paul this is my friend Judy that I told you about. Judy this is my mother, Ruby, and her boyfriend, Paul."

Judy leaned in to shake both their paws. Nick's mother looked just like him except she had rich brown eyes, instead of Nick's bright green, and the fur was speckled with grey fur. The other fox, Paul, looked much different. His eyes were a lighter brown and his muzzle had a slight downward curve, opposite of nick and his mother. Paul's coat also lacked the vibrancy of Nick's and he had a rather large beer belly.

"Oh it is wonderful to meet you, dear. Nicky has told me so much about you. First rabbit officer is that right?" Rudy patted Judy's hand lovingly. Her voice was low and gravely but full of warmth.

"She's a rabbit," Paul said to Nick disapprovingly. Judy noticed Nick's chest puff up slightly but it was Ruby who backhanded the portly fox in his great belly.

"You knew that." Ruby scolded, before turning to Judy and sweetly adding "Please don't mind Paul, he can be a bit of an ass when he is hungry."

"Sorry, I just thought that when the boy said he was bringing over a lady friend I thought he meant a lady lady friend." Paul blurted out without thinking. Judy could now see why Nick disliked the guy so much. She looked over at him, his ears were laid back and his smile was gone. Nick looked like he was ready to hit the guy.

Nick fought to bite his tongue for his mother's sake when he heard a sweet voice call his name, "Mr. Wilde? Your table is ready." A pretty little ocelot waitress with an arm full of menus smiled sweetly at the foxes. Ruby steered Paul after the server and placed herself between the two male foxes. Before following after his mother Nick felt a small paw on his arm. Judy looked up at him with her large eyes as if to ask if he was OK but no words came from her mouth. Nick sighed and felt some of the tension leave his body. He gave Judy a quick nod before following the foxes and ocelot.

It had been a long time since Nick had allowed anyone to aggravate him so much, but hearing the person he could stand the least insult the person he admired the most made his blood boil.

They sat at their table and began perusing the menus. Aware of the tension, Ruby tried making conversation about all the choices and asked the other members at the table what they were ordering. Judy, however, was the only one who seemed to pick up on the hint and the two females got into a spirited discussion of their species' different dietary needs.

The effort seemed to be paying off as their combined voices chatting pleasantly seemed to be putting Nick in a more relaxed mood. The ocelot returned shortly to take the party's orders. After she left, Ruby turned to Nick with a smile and asked with a laugh, "So tell me about your classes. How is school?"

"School? Aren't you a little old to be going back to school?" Paul inquired. First Nick was a "boy" and now he was too old? Could this guy make up his mind?

"Actually," Judy answered on Nick's behalf, "Nick has been acing all his theory and law courses and we have been working together to improve his physical abilities to improve his PE courses." Judy beamed with pride at Nick's direction.

"What's this? Ya can't pass gym class?" Paul mocked.

"Oh, the physical components are actually quite grueling at the academy." Judy corrected, "When I was there I learned how to take down animals of all sizes from tiny mice to large elephants. Plus the obstacle course is no joke!"

"And I wouldn't be able to do it without Judy's training," Nick chimed in giving Judy's hand a grateful squeeze.

"Eh, it still doesn't sit right with me, the idea of a fox cop." Paul leaned back in his chair and scratched his big belly. "A fox is too cunning for handing out tickets. Sales, that is where foxes belong. You know Nicholas, when this whole cop thing doesn't pan out I can always get you a position at my mattress store. You'd make a great salesman. Foxes always do."

Nick felt the heat rise in his head again but Judy kept rolling, "Actually, Chief Bogo and I agree that a fox's unique perspective could be an invaluable resource, one that helped considerably on my first case. You might remember when those animals went missing only to turn up in a savage state outside the city a few months ago. We were the ones who found them and the perpetrators behind their condition," Judy added with a touch of smugness.

"So you're the bunny cop that made things difficult for us predators for a while. Really hurt my mattress sales then and caused a bit of grief for some of my buddies," Paul glared at Judy and Nick could see Judy shrink a bit in shame.

"Tensions have always wavered between preds and prey. If it weren't for Judy, things would have only gotten worse and maybe your buddies deserve some of the shit they get," Nick fought to keep his cool but he could tell he was losing it.

Both Judy and Ruby glanced at Nick, perfectly aware of the tone in Nick's voice. There was a challenge there, as if Nick was daring Paul to say just one bad thing about Judy.

"Yes, but-"

It was then the server brought their meals and Paul was instantly sidetracked. The ocelot handed out a baked haddock with a side of roasted veggies for Ruby, shrimp scampi for Nick, chicken caesar salad, hold the chicken, for Judy and an order of chicken wings, fried calamari and a plate of spaghetti with meatballs for Paul. With all the food Paul was now too preoccupied to hold a conversation leaving Nick and his mother to freely catch up. It took sometime for Nick's mood to lighten up as the three animals spoke.

Things were going well at the call center where she worked and Nick talked about joining the gym with Judy and other things related to his classes. Ruby even asked Judy various questions about her life such as why she chose to be a cop and what her biggest obstacles were to becoming one. Judy asked about Nick as a kit and Ruby was more than happy to share some mildly embarassing stories. Nick was pleased that his mother and Judy were getting along so nicely.

The end of the meal was equally as pleasant, apparently a full Paul was much more tolerable Paul. Nick paid for the meal and the four of them walked out of the restaurant together. Paul waddled off to find his car and while he was away the ladies said their goodbyes.

"It was wonderful meeting you dearie." Ruby said rubbing Judy's hands warmly.

"it was great meeting you as well," Judy said brightly. She then turned to nick and said, "how about I give you two a few moments to say goodbye, I'll be right over there."

Nick watched judy saunter off.

"You know Nicky, it might be a good thing she's not a vixen," Ruby said also watching Judy, "if she were id have to do everything in my power to make sure you marry that girl. You'd hate me for it.". Ruby looked up into Nick's eyes giving him a knowing look.

"Oh, Mom, i-it's not like that," Nick stammered.

"No, no of course not. She's a bunny, you're a fox I didn't mean to suggest anything," Ruby nodded a little too enthusiastically, "it's just," she paused, "you seemed different tonight. I know Pauly gets to you but tonight?". Ruby gave a shrug, "You usually don't let people get under your skin so much but when Pauly insulted your little friend there, well you were puffed so big I swore you were gonna bite the fatso.". Ruby chuckled then turned to Nick and held his head in her hands. She looked deep into his eyes, "that's a good thing Nicky. You've had these walls up and hid behind them for twenty some odd years. It warms my heart that you've finally met someone who can pull them down. You can't be truly happy when you're hiding all the time. Please, take a chance at happiness."

Ruby raised her eyebrows high, daring Nick to refute her. Instead he just wrapped his arms around her and gave her a big hug. "I can never hide anything from you can I ma?"

"Of course, who taught you how to read people in the first place? You didn't learn that in any school." Ruby shrugged. She gave him a last warm smile before turning to find Paul.

"Oh," Ruby called without turning around, "I've still got your gramma's ring. Not that I'm suggesting anything. I'm just saying."

With that Nick smiled and turned to find his bunny.