After they arrived at the fair, Nick and Judy were able to escape the giant Hopps clan to enjoy the fair. With the lights blinking, the music playing and animals swarming the grounds, the fair was far from the creepy scene Nick experienced the previous night.
Nick and Judy rode all the rides at least once, both preferring the faster twisting rides. They ate ice cream, funnel cakes and candied apples till their bellies were sore, then they moved to the midway. Judy tried her luck at the rubber duckie pool and Nick was able to win a giant stuffed bunny at the sharp shooter booth. Nick had never shot a gun before he entered the academy but once he did he found he was quite proficient at it. He had the keen eyes and mental control necessary for an instructor to recommend him for a sniper's course. He did well and enjoyed the satisfaction of hitting a difficult target. He presented the bunny to Judy who squeezed it affectionately.
The two animals were having such a great time that they forgot about trying to keep their relationship low key. They were consistently touching each other's shoulders, waists and paws as they traveled across the fairgrounds.
Evening fell and Judy dragged Nick back onto the ferris wheel for the fifth time, only now things were getting dark and all the lights were shining brightly. Nick and Judy stared out over the grounds, and Judy placed her head on Nick's shoulder. In response he placed one paw across her shoulder.
"So did I win the bet?" Judy asked flirtatiously.
"I guess this wasn't so bad," Nick admitted. He looked down into her large amethyst eyes and she tilted her head up and gave him a small kiss. The ferris wheel spun around and Judy kissed Nick again with more passion before setting her head back on Nick's shoulder. She loved how just touching him made her chest tighten with emotion. The ride ended and Judy and Nick exited hand in hand.
"JUDITH LAVERNE HOPPS!" Judy instantly recognized the voice shouting her name as her father's. She cringed as she saw him standing at the base of the ferris wheel platform. He must have seen her kissing Nick.
Stu was thumping one foot hard against the ground as Judy and Nick came down the ramp and in stood front of her father. He glared first at Judy, then at Nick, then back to Judy.
"Well do one of you want to explain what I think I saw? Because what I think I saw was my daughter kissing a fox and I know my little girl wouldn't do something to foolish!" Stu yelled.
Nick opened his mouth to tell a convincing lie but Judy cut him off.
"Daddy, I know this might be difficult to understand, but Nick and I have a a very deep and emotional relationship. Nick is my boyfriend and I love him. I know I should have told you but I knew how you would react. I wanted you to meet him first and see what a great guy he is." Judy blurted out. "I mean he's saved my life and career multiple times!"
"So you've intentionally kept this information from me? You knew it was wrong but you did it anyways. Judy how could you! You know how dangerous foxes are!" Stu yelled pointing to Nick for emphasis.
"Nick is not dangerous!"
"Bullshit! You were attacked by a fox once before what's to stop it from happening again."
"You can't just lump all foxes into one group and call them the same! I am 26 years old, I am an adult now and I can take care of myself and make my own decisions." Judy was yelling back at her father with eyes full of tears.
"You are still my daughter and it is still my job to look after you! Foxes are shifty, conniving sneaky predators and I will not have one putting his paws all over my daughter!"
"Well you're too late there!" Judy yelled. Her paws shot over her mouth as she realized what she just revealed before she turned and stormed off.
Stu huffed in disgust before he turned to Nick. Rather than chase after Judy, the fox just stood in place with his hands buried in his pockets. He looked in the direction Judy fled with a disinterested look on his face.
"Well? What are you still doing here?" Stu snapped.
"Oh, should I have gone after her? I suppose that is something a considerate boyfriend would do, but I am just a conniving fox," Nick looked down at Stu through his classic hooded eyes. "No, Judy is strong and she will survive this. She is strong and smart and brave and kind. She is the most amazing person I have ever met and she makes me want to prove that I am more than a sneaky, untrustworthy fox. I love Judy and I just want you to know that I would never do anything to hurt her. Quite the opposite, I would put her safety and personal interest above my own, even if that means trying to help patch up her relationship with someone who hates me rather than running off to collect sad bunny snuggles, which would certainly be easier to do."
Stu was speechless and just stood staring, amazed at the audacity of the tall fox. Nick gave the tan rabbit a hard stare before he nodded and strolled off in the direction Judy had gone. He hoped what he said might sink in with the older rabbit but he didn't have the time to think about that now. He had to hunt down his sad bunny.
Nick tried calling Judy but he received no answer. Nick sighed because he realized that he only had one option to find her. He knew it was far from dignified and would probably gain him some weird looks but Judy had been out of his sight for too long he didn't have much choice if he wanted to find her.
He made sure he was out of Stu's vision before he knelt down and started sniffing around the ground. The smell of rabbit was everywhere but he was confident that he could pick out Judy's particular scent from the others. Once he thought he had it he started to follow the scent through the midway. Sure enough, a full grown fox slinking along the ground, did get him some suspicious glances but they didn't distract him from his mission. He followed the trail out of the fair and through a field to a large tree. He could hear the sniffling before he reached the tree.
"Hey carrots," Nick called gently as he approached the tree. Judy quickly rubbed her eyes as he sat down beside her. He put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.
"He can just be so closed minded," Judy sniffled.
Nick kissed her head. "Try not to be so hard on him. If my daughter were dating a lynx or a wolf, I would probably be concerned too."
Judy looked up into his face, "How can you defend him after those awful things he said about you?"
"He didn't say those things about me, he doesn't know me. He was speaking out of fear and ignorance. Besides, I've heard it all before and worse. He is just worried about his little girl." Nick shrugged.
"So you're not mad then?"
"Of course not fluff. They can't see that they get to you if they don't actually get to you, ya know?" Nick gave Judy another kiss on her head. "Besides, we won't be able to win him over without being the better mammal."
"How did you get to be so amazing?" Judy sighed.
The next morning Nick and Judy prepared to leave for the city. Waiting outside Judy's room was Jill looking quite anxious.
"Judy, is it true that you and the fox?" Jill asked eyeing Nick nervously.
"You know, I'm getting awfully sick of people calling him 'the fox.'. He has a name, it's Nick!" Judy scolded her younger sister.
"Ok, ok! So is it true that you and Nick are a thing?" Jill wrung her her paws together, "I only ask because people are talking and I just want to know for sure."
Judy sighed, "Yes, Nick and I are a 'thing.' Happy?"
Jill's eyes lit up, "Oh, in that case, have you two, you know?".
Nick rolled his eyes. Judy's vision went red and she puffed up her fur. "That is none of your's or anyone else's business other than Nick and I."
Jill took the hint and hopped out of the room calling, "That's a yes! I'm texting you later for all the details!"
Judy grabbed her bag and slung it angrily over her shoulder before she and Nick walked towards the door. Upstairs Stu was waiting for the duo. He stood up as they approached
"Judy, I'm sorry if I was out of line yesterday. You are an adult and I need to trust you to make good decisions. This is your life to live, not mine to control."
Judy smiled and gave her father a big hug. "I'm sorry we fought too. I love you, dad."
"I love you too." He ended the hug and then turned to Nick. Stu held out his hand and Nick took it. "Watch out for my little girl." Nick just nodded and then they both left for home.