OH M GOODNESS! Over 100 followers! That's so exciting! Thank you guys!
It was only a few days after Nick was released from the hospital when Bellwether was caught. Nick and Judy both wished they could have been the officers to arrest her but they were at least able to go down to the station to see her behind bars with their own eyes. They were both relieved, considering Judy's condition.
As it turned out, they had enough concerns with Judy's pregnancy that not worrying about Bellwether came as a blessing to them. Nick knew they were going to receive a lot of negativity over their children but he didn't expect it to come from the doctors themselves. Many of them scolded the couple for "putting themselves in this predicament," while others refused to treat them all together. One doctor had even gone so far as to insist on an abortion to which Nick had to hold back his furious girlfriend, lest he would have to turn around and arrest her for assault.
They had gone to see ten doctors before they had finally found one who seemed even remotely interested in the welfare of their unborn children. The doctor was a young lynx who was very interested in the challenges and possible outcomes of the pregnancy. He warned the couple that the mixed genetics could cause a slew of unknowable conditions from sterilization, mental or physical handicaps or it would be possible that none of the children would be able to survive outside the womb, but he promised that he would do everything in his power to ensure that each kit had the best possible chance at life that he could give. He scheduled out every possible test for Judy to take throughout the pregnancy, including an amniocentesis and three ultrasounds. He wanted to see her every other week during the first trimester, which Judy found excessive and annoying but she agreed.
The first ultrasound revealed six little kits and the second showed two boys and four girls and the two animals busied themselves with finding a home that could fit eight small mammals.
With only one month to go before the kits would arrive, Judy could no longer even do the meter maid work and had been moved to a temporary part time position for her light duty which, once again, annoyed her despite the reasonableness of it. The two mammals had finally picked a small three bedroom townhouse that was close to a local park. Nick, not wanting the little bunny to overexert herself, insisted on completing the paperwork and picking up their keys by himself on his day off before picking up the round bunny from work.
"Hey carrots!" Judy waddled through the reception area where she could see Nick leaning against Clawhouser's desk. He was wearing a large white smile and waving an even whiter envelope as he called to her, "You'll never guess what I've got!"
"I hope it's the keys to our new home, mind you I have no idea when we'll get to moving our stuff," she called back as she rubbed her large tummy.
"Ah, don't even worry about that fluff. It's not like we have a lot of stuff between us anyways," Nick shrugged.
Judy looked over to the bouncing cheetah as she took the envelope from Nick. "Are you ok, Benny?"
The large mammal let out a high pitched squeal and clapped his paws, "Open it! I want to see you open it."
"It's just a set of house keys, relax. I mean it's our first house, so I guess that is kind of exciting," Judy scoffed as she opened the envelope and let the contents fall into her palm. Sure enough out slid two normal looking keys attached to an odd key ring. She peered at the key ring, noting its circular shape and the fancy, tiny sapphires that that surrounded one large diamond set in gold. Shock washed over her as she realized that this was no ordinary key ring. She looked at Nick who had bent down on one knee. Even his best con man act couldn't hide the loving grin that stretched from ear to ear.
"So, I know that inter-species marriages aren't really a thing just yet, but, laws are changing all the time and I know that this has been a hot button issue for the politicians so maybe some day soon you and I could, well, you know," Nick bit his lip and turned his face away, his smile flashing between love, embarrassment and joy. " Ah, I just can't say it. Hey guys, help me out," Nick called out the last part.
Judy heard a shout in response, "We've got your back, Wilde!" Soon animals in blue uniforms came pouring from every nook and cranny. Judy's eyes began to water as she saw that the officers were arranging themselves and held sheets of paper with a single large letter printed on each one. She let out a single laugh and felt a tear run down her cheek. Her heart swelled as she was finally able to read the message. "Marry me, carrots?"
"So, yeah, what they said. As soon as the opportunity arrives, I want to make you my wife. So what do you say?" Nick beamed as he held Judy's small paw but confusion and panic struck him as she shook her head with tears streaming down her face.
"Dumb fox, you have to say it!" she demanded through laughing tears.
"Fine, Judith Laverne Hopps, will you make me the happiest fox in the world and marry me?" Nick laughed.
This time Judy nodded before she leaped into his arms. She squeezed the fox tightly as she laughed, "Yes, I will. One hundred percent!"
The entire building burst into cheers and Judy couldn't imagine a better proposal as all her friends came rushing forward to give their congratulations.
Nick gave Judy a tight squeeze around her shoulders, so as not to upset her belly too much. She nuzzled into his neck and then froze. He could feel the tension in her grasp change as she squeezed him less with her arms but rather with her fingers. He released his bunny and looked at her and saw a shadow of concern fall over her face.
"Hey carrots, are you alright? Is this too much for you?" he asked, his own face full of worry.
Judy took a deep breath and smiled back at the fox, "Yeah I'm fine but I think I just had a contraction. We should probably get to the hospital soon."
Nick was shocked by her nonchalant attitude as he raced to find transportation and get her to the doctor. Judy on the other hand calmly pulled out her phone and had a quiet conversation with a nurse to let them know she was coming before calling her mom.
Having seen her mother and sisters and sister-in-laws go through this same process, Judy would have been completely unconcerned if not for the potential dangers her children would face once they were out in the cold bright world. Judy couldn't help but worry. What if their internal parts didn't match up. Could a fox sized child survive with a bunny sized heart or set of lungs? Could a fox sized brain fit inside a rabbit sized skull? But, this was Judy's turn to put on a brave mask while her partner showed every emotion from fear to anger to joy and back again.
Judy entered the prepped delivery room and calmly changed into her delivery gown. Her doctor showed up only a few minutes after them and the nurses proceeded to hook up various monitors to check Judy's contractions and heart rate. Nick was surprised at how lengthy the process was. It had to be almost two hours since they arrived before Judy seemed like she was feeling any real discomfort, aside from the occasional contraction that increased in frequency and intensity.
"Hey doc, we're here awfully early aren't we?" Nick asked nervously, referring more to the date than the time.
The lynx gave Nick a friendly smile. He had changed into his scrubs and was putting on his gloves when he replied, "Yes, but I'm not surprised by this. I've got NNICU on standby and we aren't so early that there is much to fear. I imagine the kits just got too big for their little mamma." He gave Judy a gentle pat on the knee. She smiled though her breathing was becoming more labored. A nurse draped a blanket over Judy's knees as the doctor hiked up her gown and began examining her.
"Should be any minute," the lynx shared and Nick squeezed Judy's paw nervously. "Ok, next time you feel like a contraction is coming, I want you to hold your breath and bear down." Judy nodded and within moments Nick could feel her squeeze his hand as she strained her little body through the contraction for as long as she could. "Good, that was very good. We'll have to do that again very soon. How are you doing mama?"
Judy nodded her head as she concentrated on her breathing. Nick felt another squeeze and she let out another push. He stroked her hand feeling completely useless. Here was this tiny bunny putting forth so much effort and all he could do was stand like an idiot and offer moral support. He leaned down and nuzzled her ears.
"I can't believe this is happening. You are amazing and I love you so much," he whispered in her ear as the contraction passed. She reached over and grasped his hand with her other hand and managed a small smile.
"I love you too," she huffed before she began straining again.
"I can see a head," The doctor called out as the next contraction hit. Nick's ears perked up and his tail wagged as he tried to look past the blanket covering her knees. His efforts were futile and he returned his attention to the little bunny.
"Push Judy! We almost have the first one out!" the lynx ordered.
"You've got this fluff," Nick comforted her as she grunted with effort.
"Ok, the first one is out," the doctor declared but when Nick moved towards the newborn the lynx glared at the new father, "No! You stay there, we still have five more to go." Nick just nodded and stroked his bunny's head. He listened but he could hear no cry as the doctor handed the baby to a nurse. The nurse took the baby to the opposite side of the room and Nick grew worried as he watched the nurse's back.
Another contraction hit and Judy squeezed Nick's hand and grunted.
"Make this one count!" the lynx ordered.
Judy squeezed again and let out a long grunt as yet another kit joined the world. Still Nick couldn't hear any cries. He thought babies were supposed to cry when they were first born. Was he mistaken? He kissed her paw and felt a pit grow in his stomach.
The next kit came out with only one push and Nick squeezed his eyes closed. He didn't know how much more suspense he could take. Relief washed over him as he finally heard a baby's cry. The doctor whispered something to one of the nurses and she placed the infant into a small gurney and wheeled it out the door.
What the hell is going on down there? Nick wondered, he could feel the tears well in his eyes, though he never left Judy's side.
Once again the next baby slid out after one good push and once again Nick could hear it cry, only this one didn't leave the room. Instead he watched the nurse wash the infant with a dry towel and place it in a bassinet.
The next baby came out and joined its sibling as did the last. Nick kissed Judy's small paw and congratulated her. She look exhausted but happy.
"Ok, the hard part is over," the doctor declared, "Welcome to the land of diapers, bottles and spit up. You two are officially parents. Congratulations," the nurses moved the squirming infants to their mother's chest. Nick's heart swelled. He couldn't believe how the wrinkly, hairless, red creatures could be so beautiful, just like their mother, whose fur was matted and stuck up in odd places. And just as quickly, his heart broke for his someday wife.
"Where are the others?" Judy asked after she stroked each infant.
The doctor gave a heavy sigh, "I'm afraid that the first two were stillborn. There was nothing I could do. The third, well, let's just say I don't expect it to survive the night. I am very sorry. You can see them if you'd like but I don't recommend it. You've done the impossible, Ms. Hopps. I ask that you enjoy the three healthy children you have."
Judy looked up into Nick's eyes before she responded, "We will, thank you doctor."
The doctor ungloved his paws and shook the new father's hand and patted the new mother on the shoulder.
"I wish the both of you, and your children, a long and happy life. Congratulations."