"Marriage is a mosaic you build with your spouse - millions of tiny moments that create your love story. Jennifer Smith"
When Nick came back to their bedroom he blinked a few times in the dark and closed the door. He was alone in the room, Judy probably still with Evelin. He fetched his big towel from the back of a chair and left the room again, walking across the corridor and entering the bathroom. It was half an hour past midnight and most of the residents were already sleeping. He took his time, taking a hot and steamy shower, then enwrapping in his towel and wiping the mirror with his paw. The image in the mirror looked back to him with tired eyes. In fact, he didn't get a lot of sleep and had a few stressful days. But everything worked just perfectly as planned. It even felt somehow unreal, was he just dreaming in the end and would wake up every moment in their apartment from the alarm, having to go to work? He shivered when a draft blew through his damp fur; a door was opened on the corridor and someone was walking down the hall. Nick didn't feel like having some small-talk with anyone now, so he waited until another short draft signalized him that whoever there was, he or she was back in one of the rooms. He wrapped the towel somewhat tighter around his body, left the bathroom and tiptoed back to the big guest room.
Nick closed the door behind him, turned around and leaned his head against the doorframe. His thoughts were running through his head and the blood was pounding inside his ears. He tried to take a deep breath, but his throat was tightened with a sudden fear and his heart started throbbing even harder. He clenched his paws around the door frame and whimpered quietly, holding his eyes shut. "Nick?" Judy's voice seemed like being from far away. "Nick, is everything okay?" He couldn't answer, the voice seemed to be in his head but the feeling of panic was too strong to recognize her. Suddenly something was gently touching his arm and he turned around all of a sudden. Judy was standing right beside him, still having her paw on his arm and looking worried; even more when she realized Nick's frightened and scared look on his face.
She came back from Evelin just a few minutes ago and sat on the bed when Nick entered the room without noticing her. But the moment she wanted to greet him, she already noticed that something was strange. Nicks heart was palpitating and his breathing was quick and flat. It was not very often that she experienced this with her fox, but he was clearly terrified of something. When he didn't react on her calling his name, she walked over to him and put her paw onto his arm. Immediately he turned around like being hounded and now mousetrapped. It made Judy cringe to see Nick in such a state; holding his paw in hers she tried to ease him. It worked and after a few minutes they both sat on the floor, Judy tickling through the fox's fur.
"Are you okay again?" Judy asked quietly and with a worried sub-tone.
"Yes." Nick said even more quietly. "Thank you, carrots."
"Don't mention it, foxtrot." She smiled softly, leaning her head against his body. Of course she wanted to ask what happened but Judy felt like she should wait for him to talk first.
It took Nick another few minutes to calm down completely. He smiled at her, put his arms around her shoulders and legs, and got back on his feet, holding her in his arms. Judy giggled quietly when she noticed that he lost his towel while walking her back to the bed. After laying her down he climbed beside her and the dim light from the nightstand was reflecting in his green eyes while watching her closely cuddling with his fluffy tail. When she finished she looked back at him with a smile. Her eyes where clearly offering him to talk about what just happened, but still she didn't say anything.
After a while enjoying the moment, Nick cleared his throat. "Sorry for earlier, carrots. Didn't want to scare you."
"Wanna talk about it?" She offered him with a smile and tickled along his tail. When Nick shrugged with his shoulders, Judy decided to go a bit further. "You were in panic… there must be something really scary to frighten you so much."
"It was just…" Nick tried to explain what he was feeling right before his panic attack and sighed.
"What was it, Nick?" Judy's voice was gently and soft. He could do nothing but smile at her, then he continued.
"The last year was like nothing I could compare it to. Always being on my own was a great time, but I never knew what I was missing. Everything was working out so fine, you have really a great family and I couldn't think of any animal being as cute as you are." Judy's nose twitched when he called her cute but didn't interrupt him. "I really tried my very best to keep up with you, and everything was just working out so perfectly up to this point when you really agreed to marry a dumb fox like me. And it became clear to me that I'm completely at your mercy. A-and that everything could be just a dream, or even worse a big hustle. I broke my vow to never let someone ever be in the position to hurt me again; and suddenly I panicked, feeling like a helpless prey and haunted by some cruel reality, a-and …"
Judy put her finger on Nick's lips and shushed, smiling. "Dumb fox."
"I know." Nick sighed, but Judy shook her head.
"You have to say 'Sly bunny'!" she winked at him and Nick replied with a small smile. "Amazing, you always seem to be the hard and sly fox, but deep inside you are a fluffy prey." Judy giggled and before Nick could say anything she leaped up and hopped on his stomach, bending her head down near his. "Listen, Nick: This isn't neither a dream nor a big hustle. And I'm definitely not going to hurt you." She stroked his face with her paw. "It's okay to have a bit of a panic attack. Evelin helped me with mine just a few hours ago. Well, she and a bit of sparkling wine that is." She winked and Nick smiled at her. "It's really okay, Nick. And you can always count on and talk with me. Neither of us has to go alone through this, and together we can manage everything." Judy gave him a kiss and Nick put his arms around her hip to hold her tight.
"Did I already tell you, that I love you, Judy Hopps?" he whispered in her ears and Judy giggled.
"Not in the last ten minutes."
"Well, let me show you how much I do…" he replied with a wink and started to kiss her passionately.
It was early in the morning when a few impatiently rabbits knocked on the door of Nicks and Judys bedroom. After Judy drowsy ensured that she and Nick were both covered under the blanket, she called halfheartedly "Come in" and immediately covered her eyes from the bright light coming from outside their room.
"Judy! You didn't get up yet?! Come on darling, you have to hurry!" Bunny Hopps was rushing into the room, accompanied by Jenny and Clara.
Before Judy could say knife she was dragged out of the bed and wrapped in a bathrobe, all three other bunnies talking to her without cease and finally pushing her with them out of the room and into the bathroom.
Nick was awake, too, of course. He searched sleepy for the clock on the wall: quarter to six! Rolling his eyes his head sank back into his pillow. They had just slept for a few hours and the ceremony would start in about four hours at ten o'clock. Woman are always in need of a bit more time to get ready, but such a hectic rush so early in the morning seemed a bit exaggerated to him. He was just drifting away in a light sleep again when another one was coming through the still open door. "Nicholas Piberius Wilde! You are still in bed? It's nearly six o'clock, you have to hurry!" Nick opened his eyes in a blink of a second and sit up. He would recognize this voice anytime.
"Mom?!"
"And when Mister Hopps offered to pick me up from the station I took the first train to Bunnyburrow, so I can spend a few more hours with my son before he will marry."
Nick and his mom were sitting in one of the smaller kitchens and drinking some hot coffee together.
"I would have picked you up, too, if you would have called that you are arriving earlier, mom."
"I know my dear." She smiled and put her paw onto his. "I am really happy for you, and I know your father would be, too."
Nick smiled at her. "Thanks, mom." He hesitated for a moment. "It does matter a lot to me that you are here."
"Are you joking, Nick? I would never miss my only son's wedding!" she laughed. "You know, it's not long ago when I thought that I will never live to see this day, and I was blaming myself for it."
Nick frowned. "Not this again, mom. You and dad were great parents."
"We tried our best, yes. But you had a difficult childhood. Don't think that I didn't notice how often you were in trouble." Nick's mother smiled when her son was contritely rubbing his neck with his paw.
"Mom, I …" he started, but his mom just waved with her hand, smiling.
"I was always hoping that someday you will find someone special. I would have never guessed that it could be a prey. And I was still skeptical when you introduced me to Judy last year. You know, you were a little Don Juan." She smiled. "And today you are marrying this little cutie-pie. You have no idea how proud I am of you, my dear."
"Thanks, mom…" Nick replied with an embarrassed smile and took another big sip from his coffee.
"The only way to make me even prouder would be some grandchildren." She winked and started to laugh when her son started to choke on his beverage and coughed.
"Mom!" Nick blurted and his mother patted his paw.
"Well, we should start with the last preparations and get you accoutered." the older vixen said while getting up from her chair. "You don't want to marry in this tracksuit, do you?"
While two of her sisters, Meika and Anika, where brushing Judy's fur, two other sisters where manicuring her paws. Evelin was sitting across the room, having also a few of her sisters around her. Their mother had acquired the big living room and channeled it into the preparation room for the two brides. Nearly three dozen rabbits were running all mixed up, discussing details, bringing accessories, clothes, makeup, towels and all kind of different things. Most of the space was reserved for Evelin and Judy, but the bridesmaids were also there to dress up and running through the complete schedule to make everything perfect.
"Green carrot!", Anika started to rant and stopped brushing Judy's head and ears. "Can somebody bring me a pair of scissors, please!", and addressing Judy: "When was the last time you trimmed your fur? It's all unequally cut around your ears!" – she was nearly screaming with a high pitched voice.
"Oh come on, really? I was at a furcutter the day before we came to Bunnyburrow!" Judy sounded stressed and also a bit nerved. She was never a mannequin or model. Of course she was always well-tended, but she was never getting all dolled up. There were a few occasions that she wore a tiny bit of make-up when going out with Nick, but all of this now? She wasn't feeling comfortable in her own skin. In the meanwhile, some younger siblings had brought some scissors and a comb and Anika was making sure that each and every hair of her fur was of the same length.
"You may as well give in to them, Juju." Evelin snickered. "I'm undergoing all of this since a full week. And it was really hard to keep them all away from you. So you have to undergo the whole beautifying treatment in just a few hours now."
"I didn't know, that… ouch!" Meika was still brushing her legs and wasn't considering too much if it was comfortable for Judy, mumbling something about a primeval forest of fur. "…that I need to be beautified – ouch! Sweet cheese and crackers, Meika! You are pulling off my fur instead of brushing it!"
"Keep still, Judith!" Anika ordered her, pushing her head back against the chair and cutting a millimeter or two of another few hairs.
"Judy, my darling, of course you are beautiful. But this is a very special day and everything has to be perfect!" Bonnie was trying to talk calmly, holding a cardboard with over a dozen different colors beside her cheeks. "I think we will go with hue number 29 for her cheeks, but for her eyes I need the lighter sample board!" Their mother seems to be talking to no one special while already disappearing again within the crowd of rabbits.
"If it wasn't so funny I could be a little envy of all the attention you are getting, Juju." Evelin giggled.
"Oh, please let us switch seats, Eve!" Judy moaned.
"No way, sis. I already suffered enough." The younger sister winked.
"By the way suffering, why didn't the tailor bring the adjusted wedding dress yet? They promised to bring it until 9 o'clock, and it is nearly quarter past nine already!" Bonnie screamed nervously while running with two new cardboards full of different make-up colors across the room to Judy.
"Is Ralph back again already?" Stu Hopps asked no one special in the other living room, now the counterpart for last preparations of the grooms.
"Who is Ralph?" Nicks mother asked her son while adjusting some creases of his button-down shirt.
"One of Judy's brothers and my best man." Nick replied, trying to sound as calm as he could.
"Your best man went missing?" the older vixen sounded startled.
"No, mom. He is not missing but drove to town to get the rings from the jewelry."
"I don't believe this, you are going to marry in less than two hours and you not even have the rings ready?"
"Come on, mom. I proposed to Judy about 36 hours ago and we choose the rings just yesterday. Mister Charmander, the jeweler, had to fit in the new diamonds and make the engravings. But he promised that they will be ready in time." Nick tried to explain with a calm voice, but it was shortly before ten o'clock and Ralph was indeed still missing in action. The fox took a deep breath and let his looks roam across the room. Sven was surrounded by half a dozen other rabbits, most of them unknown to Nick. They must be some of his siblings, he guessed. The groomsmen were standing together in their suits, talking. Three of Judy's brother, who had helped him in the last few hours with his suit and fur, were gone with his jacket to iron it again – despise his and his mother's protests. Right now there was nothing left to do and he started to get nervously walking up and down.
"Nick, my dear, can you tell me where I will find Judy?" the vixen suddenly asked him.
Nick raised his eyebrows. "It's a little bit too late to tell her what a terrible choice I am, mom." He tried to play coolly and winked.
"Maybe, but I have to try at last." She winked and grinned even wider when she realized Nicks slightly shocked expression.
"Well, I guess she is in the big living room, I will show you the…"
"No, you can't! Don't you know it will bring ill luck if you see the bride before the ceremony, my dear?"
Nick looked defeated and shrugged, looking around the room. "Hey, Stu…!" he waved to Nicks father who was still lingering around the room without knowing what to do. He repeated his name another time when the older rabbit didn't react and finally shouted: "Hey, dad!"
The room didn't go exactly silent, but it got a lot quieter and a most of the heads turned around to Nick, who was grinning from ear to ear. But he achieved his goal and Stu Hopps walked towards him with a grin on his face.
"Yes, my son?" he said when he reached Nick and winked at him.
"Could you accompany my mother to the big living room? She wants to talk with Judy what a big mistake she is going to make." Nick smiled a bit, carrying the joke along.
"I am afraid that this will be a pointless attempt, but of course I will show you the way ma'am." Stu smiled to the vixen and lead the way to the door.
Nick put his paws into his pockets and sighed, standing along near the chimney. Then he took a small note from his pocket and slowly read it again. It was the vow he wrote for Judy that he would have to say aloud in about an hour in front of a few hundred mammals. He really was starting to get nervous…
"I'm back from the smithery Eregions!" a rabbit exclaimed with a grin while entering the room, a small black package in his paws.
"Ralph!" Nick turned around with a relieved smile on his face.
When Nick's mother knocked on the door, Stu was already on his way back. She waited a few moments, but there were so much noises on the other side of the door that she guessed that nobody would hear her knocking. After knocking again, she slowly entered the room, where most of the rabbits were surrounding Evelin, Judy and a few other rabbits the vixen guessed are the bridesmaids. The two brides were already wearing their dresses and they really looked stunning. The vixen made a few steps in their direction and hemmed.
"Martha!" Judy exclaimed joyful and waved her nearer.
"Hey Judy, hey Evelin! You two really look gorgeous!" the vixen smiled at the both brides.
"Thank you, Miss Wilde." Evelin beamed with joy.
"Call me Martha, please." Nicks mother replied with a smile, then turning her head back to Judy. "I know, it's not the perfect moment, but do you have a minute for me, Judy?"
"Of course, maybe we go over to the couch over there?" Judy suggested, relieved to get away from all the attraction of her siblings for a moment, and stepped down from a stool. They both sit down on a smaller couch, the same one that was standing near the framed picture of Judy and Nick.
"Did you have a nice journey down to Bunnyburrow?" Judy asked smiling.
"Oh, it was quite an experience to leave Zootopia. I'm not traveling too much these days and I never was in Bunnyburrow before."
"Maybe we will find some time to show you the town and the surroundings later." Judy suggested.
Martha Wilde laughed. "I don't think that we will have enough time for this. After all, this is your wedding and your most important day!" she smiled. "And that brings me to the reason I want to talk to you, my dear."
Judy consorted with Nick's mother quite well since their first meeting. And after the rough start her own family gave Nick when they revealed their relationship, it was freshening how inclusive Nick's mom was towards her from the beginning.
"What is it?" Judy asked curiously.
The vixen put her paw into her purse and got a small box from it. "As you know, Nick is my only child. My husband and I never had a daughter. But…" she opened the little box, and within was a small brooch made of gold and silver with an engraving in a foreign language Judy couldn't read. "This brooch runs in our family for five generations, passed from the mother to her oldest daughter when she marries." Her paws ran over the engravings. "It's Sanskrit and means 'Luck' and 'Family'. You are what comes closest to a daughter to me, Judy, and I want to hand it over to you." She took the small brooch from the case and presented it to Judy, who didn't say a word. The vixen seemed to become a bit uneasy. "I know, it's not very valuable and quite old-fashioned…"
"It is beautiful…" Judy finally said emotionally. "I'm really touched and don't know what to say, Martha." Judy smiled and tried hard to not start crying right now. Nick's mother smiled, took Judy's paw and lay the brooch into it.
"You don't have to say anything, darling. It's not this brooch or the wedding that makes you part of our family. You already are since a very long time and I couldn't hope for a better daughter than you are."
Judy laughed and started to weep at the same time, embracing the vixen in a tight hug.
"Cheese and carrots, Judy! Are you crying? Your whole make-up will be a mess and it is already half past ten!" A few rabbits rushed across the room, armed with clothes and new make-up. Judy rolled her eyes laughing and rubbing with the back of her paw over her nose.
"Thank you, Martha!" she sniveled smiling and got up from the couch.
"I have to thank you, Judy. And now I will go back and have a look after Nick. See you in a bit!" the vixen replied her smile and got up from the couch, too. When Nick's mother was leaving the room, Judy was already conducted back on the stool and surrounded by even more rabbits.
The big community hall near the Hopps farm was filled to capacity and the muttering of nearly six hundred mammals filled the air. Most of them were of course rabbits, more or less the complete Hopps family and the – slightly smaller – family of Sven. Coming along were of course friends and neighbors from all over Bunnyburrow. But quite a sight were Nick's and Judy's friends and colleagues from Zootopia; big mammals like buffalos, cheetahs, polar bears, rhinos and lions were not often seen in Bunnyburrow. A few of the rabbits outside the Hopps family were a bit nervous at first, but it was an overall great atmosphere and the older rabbits could quickly settle the few reservations.
Chief Bogo and Clawhauser were both wearing an elegant suit with bowties; and while the buffalo was standing dead still with his hands folded behind his back, Clawhauser was trying hard to not completely loose it, being all giddy with excitement. Emmitt Otterton wear a suit, too, and was talking with his wife about the beautiful flower arrangements while she was adjusting his bowtie with a smile.
River, Clara and Jenny – Judy's bridesmaids – were nervously whispering and giggling with the bridesmaids from Evelin. Sven's groomsman were all rabbits, too, and impatiently waiting for the beginning of the ceremony.
Nick was standing side by side with Sven in the middle of the scene, both trying to look as calm and confident as possible. It was already a few minutes past eleven o'clock when Ralph and another rabbit in a similar suit walked down the aisle, chatting with each other. Nick guessed correctly, that the other rabbit must be the best man from Sven. The both grooms were wearing a suit all in white with a silk bowtie and looked as clean-cut as possible. When the both best men arrived, they took up position right beside them, their paws folded behind their back, smiling at the two grooms. Sven was stepping nervously from one feet onto the other and Nick slowly took a deep breath.
"This was a lot less intimidating in my imagination." Nick said quietly with a look over the whole crowd in front of them.
"You don't say." Sven mumbled with a nervous smile.
Finally, Bonnie Hopps and Martha Wilde entered the hall through a side entrance and, after a short wink to the two grooms, took place in the first row. The band of the Bunnyburrow volunteer fire department was finished tuning their instruments and seems to wait for a signal. Sven's ears twitched a little bit in Nick's direction. He never really payed attention to the fox's heartbeat. It was rather slow compared to one of a rabbit and he blocked out those sounds normally. But now, standing right beside of Nick, it was rather difficult to ignore it – and despite Sven was a bit nervous for his part, Nick's heart was beating even faster than his own this time and sounded quite alarming to him.
"Is everything okay, Nick?" the rabbit asked gently.
"M-hm…" Nick hummed without moving and starring along the aisle and clenching his paws behind his back.
All of a sudden the strings of the orchestra started to play (YouTube: mJ_fkw5j-t0) and the whole crowd in the hall was standing up and went silent immediately. All bridesmaids and groomsman as well as Sven and Nick straighten oneself and all heads turned around to the main entrance. The violins were accompanied by two cellos, but the third Cello – played by the oldest Hopps daughter Jana – was still waiting. Finally, Jana started to play the main-part, too, (0:58) and at the same time the main door opened. First came Annabelle, Bobby, Lukas and Annie, walking as flower people and scattering white, pink, purple and red petals on the floor. Stu Hopps was slowly following them, on his left arm Judy, on his right Evelin, both in their wedding dresses and with a pink (Evelin) and purple (Judy) veil on their head. In their arms were beautiful bouquets and while walking down the aisle there were some oohs and aahs while they were passing the different rows. Everything around Nick was blanked out, the only thing he was taking in at the moment was Judy, like he had never see her before. In the last few days he had tried to imagine how she would look in a wedding dress, but his most beautiful fantasy couldn't live up to this very moment. Judy was smiling like Nick had never see on her before and her whole appearance was radiating with joy and confidence; the soft light around her dress and veil made it look like she was glowing from the inside.
When the two brides and Stu finally arrived the end of the aisle, the old rabbit first hugged Judy, then shook hands with Nick while looking into his eyes with pride and joy; finally, he took Judy's paw and laid it inside Nicks. Then he repeated the same with Evelin and Sven before he smiled a last time at the two couples, slowly retreating and taking place beside Bonnie. His wife put her own paws around his and smiled at him while Stu was twitching his nose, trying hard not to crying. The last sounds of the orchestra were fading away, and while everybody was taking seat again the two bridal couples turned around to face an old rabbit that Nick knew as 'Uncle Michael' and who would lead the ceremony as justice of the peace.
After everyone had sat down again, Michael raised his voice.
"Dear Friends and Family. Today we all have gathered together to celebrate the marriage of Evelin Katherine Hopps and Sven Winston Brooks, and Judith Laverne Hopps and Nicholas Piberius Wilde.
Marriage - it is the promise between two animals who love each other, who trust each other, who honor one another as individuals in that togetherness, and who wish to spend rest of their lives with each other. It enables two separate souls to share their desires, dreams, longings, joys and sorrows, and to help each other through all uncertainties of life.
Marriage is commitment to take life's joy deep; deeper than happiness, deep into the discovery of who you most truly are. It is a commitment to a spiritual journey, to a life of becoming – in which joy can comprehend despair, running through rivers of pain into joy again.
And thus marriage is even deeper than commitment. It is a covenant – a covenant that says:
I love you. I trust you. I will be here for you when you are hurting, and when I am hurting, I will not leave. It is a covenant intended not to provide haven from pain or from anger and sorrow. Life offers no such haven. Instead, marriage is intended to provide a sanctuary safe enough to risk loving, to risk living and sharing from the center of oneself. This is worth everything."
The two bridal couples each shared a look, smiling. Then, Michael turned first to Evelin and Sven.
"Sven Winston Brooks, will you take Evelin Katherine Hopps, to be your lawful wedded wife? Will you love, comfort, honor and protect her; forsaking all other to be faithful to her until death do you apart?"
Sven answered determined but with a little thin voice: "I do."
"Evelin Katherine Hopps, will you take Sven Winston Brooks, to be your lawful wedded husband? Will you love, comfort, honor and protect him; forsaking all others to be faithful to him until death do you apart?"
Evelin answered smiling: "I do."
Now, Michael turned around and faced the other couple. Judy heard Nick's heart skip a beat or two and she chuckled to herself.
"Nicholas Piberius Wilde, will you take Judith Laverne Hopps, to be your lawful wedded wife? Will you love, comfort, honor and protect her; forsaking all other to be faithful to her until death do you apart?"
"Yes. Yes, I do." Nick said in his deepest voice, sounding rather calm.
"Judith Laverne Hopps, will you take Nicholas Piberius Wilde, to be your lawful wedded husband? Will you love, comfort, honor and protect him; forsaking all others to be faithful to him until death do you apart?"
Judy looked directly into Nicks eyes through her veil: "Yes, I do."
A short whispering was going through the hall and Michael smiled. Then he continued:
"Both couples have prepared a vow for each other." He made a short gesture to Sven, who harrumphed and turned to Evelin, taking her paws into his.
"Dear Evelin. I will dedicate myself to you wholeheartedly. I will make time for you and support you in everything you do. I will help you to raise our children to become loving people, and support you in the fundamental role of parent."
There was a light glitter in Evelin's eyes, then after a shot moment she replied to him with a slightly prankfully smile:
"Sven, my darling. I promise to be true to you, to uplift and support you, to frustrate and challenge you, and to share with you the beautiful moments of life. Someday, if the stars align, I might even let you win an argument."
There was a silent laugher around in the hall, then all looks went to Nick. The now not-so-sly fox slowly turned around to face Judy, taking both her paws into his. He took a long and deep breath and after a few moments, he finally said:
"My beloved Judy. I see these vows not as promises but as privileges: I get to laugh with you and cry with you; care for you and share with you. I get to run with you and walk with you; build with you and live with you. You know me better than anyone else in this world and somehow still you manage to love me." – he smiled even a bit wider. "You are my best friend and one true love. There is still a part of me today that cannot believe that I'm the one who gets to marry you. All that I have, all that I am, all that I will ever be, is yours. Forever."
It took Judy a moment to calm down enough to speak with a firm voice:
"I remember once how I told you I did not believe in soul mates. I will never forget your reaction: Shocked and a little hurt that I did not think we were. But as time went by, your love made me believe." – she blinked a few times, then continued. "In this beautiful garden I dedicate myself to you. Although our lives may change like the seasons, I will love you. As our love grows like a seed to a beautiful flower, I will love you. When the winds of doubt blow through, I will love you. We will stand together, strong, nurtured by each other's love until the end."
Michael nodded to Nick's and Sven's best man, who each reached into their pockets getting the rings and giving one of them each to Nick and Sven. Then Michael said with a quick nod to the two grooms:
"Repeat after me: This ring, which has no beginning and no end, symbolizes the love and trust between us that will never cease. May its presence on your hand remind you of my love and vow. I place it on your finger as a visible sign of the promises which have made us husband and wife."
While holding Judy's paw Nick slowly put the ring onto it while repeating the sentence, looking deep in her eyes despite the veil; Sven did the same with Evelin and both repeated the vow unison. Then the best men gave the ring counterparts to Judy and Evelin. Michael said again:
"You, too, repeat after me: This ring, which has no beginning and no end, symbolizes the love and trust between us that will never cease. May its presence on your hand remind you of my love and vow. I place it on your finger as a visible sign of the promises which have made us husband and wife."
Both brides slowly put the rings on their grooms' paws while repeating the vow, too. Michael nodded, then continued:
"Until now Evelin and Sven, just as Judith and Nicholas, have spent each moment of their lives as separate individuals. But from this day on, and every day after this day shall be shared and spent by each couple as one. By the power enthroned in me, by the city of Zootopia and the district of Bunnyburrow, I now pronounce you (nodding to Evelin and Sven) and you (nodding to Judy and Nick) husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride." – he spread his arms and smiled to them.
Nick took Judy's veil with both paws and raised it above her head. It was the first time he saw her face and eyes today unveiled. She was as beautiful as always, but something was different. When he stroked over her cheeks with his thumbs, her fur felt different – smooth as if it were made out of silk, and he could recognize a touch of make-up and some glitter on it that was very subtle, but emphasized her natural beauty in a very unique way. He slowly drew her closer, Judy looking dreamy at him with a tear in the corner of her eyes. While leaning in to kiss her, they both closed their eyes and when their lips finally met it was like time was coming to a halt. Nick felt like he had never kissed Judy before; well, in fact he didn't kiss Judy in front of a few hundred people – including her whole family – before, so this was a first-time in some way. But it felt quite different and every bit of tension was gone at once.
It took a perceived eternity until Judy and Nick parted their lips again. Judy took Nick's paw and hold it tight, turning to Michael again. She felt Sven's and Evelin's smirking looks on her face and heard an amused humming in the hall. While nibbling on her lower lip she even started to blush under her fur and envied Nick – not for the first time – for his fur color. Michael smiled and finally said:
"Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends and family, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Hopps-Brooks…", he pointed to Evelin and Sven, "and Mr. and Mrs. Hopps-Wilde.", he pointed to Judy and Nick. Both newlywed couples turned around and all guests stood up, clapping their hands. Stu and Bonnie were both weeping and embracing each other's, as were quite a few other guests, and all four just married animals were beaming of pride and joy. The band started playing again (YouTube: 7McYoKNbYRw) and the newlyweds started to go really slowly, arm in arm along the aisle, passing all their guests who were still standing and applauding them. The four flower kits were running ahead again, throwing new petals on the floor again; all followed by the witnesses of the marriages and finally the cheering crowd of guests.
After throwing and catching the brides' flowers and like a million photos, shake-hands, hugs and kisses, they all walked in a long caravan to the Hopps' farm but the two married couples which were each carried in a sedan by their corresponding groomsmen – quite a look for the one carried by a rabbit, an otter, a buffalo and a cheetah.
"You will pay for this, Wilde." was everything that Chief Bogo said to this, but with a smile and after congratulating them. And he did in fact had his revenge when he had a short speech and talked about the more embarrassing missions Nick was involved in, including some photos. The one where Nick and Judy were filmed just in underwear making out in a safe-house after they had protected a witness for a weekend was the last one – "After that incident it was necessary to put up signs, that our safe-houses are video monitored 24/7. Something that I thought was obvious." But it was all still fun and they all had quite a few good laughs.
Ralph talked about the first time he had met Nick and a short and moderated version of the first encounter of Nick and Judy as a couple with her parents. But he also took the opportunity to emphasize what a great character and person Nick is and how he is a half a rabbit in the meanwhile, despite his body size and ears; even when he preferred his own kind of 'carrots' to eat, winking to Judy.
The last one speaking for them was Evelin as Judy's chief bridesmaid. And of course she insisted on talking about a few not-so-common stories out of late-bloomer Judy's life, quite to her embarrassing. But of course she made it clear what a great sister and friend she is, how she had planned-ahead her career as a police officer (Nick could swear he saw Chief Bogo grinning while the short video of Judy's school play) and like everyone in the Hopps family feared that she would end as an old damsel someday, never getting warm with any of her numerous admires. When she finished her speech, everybody had a good – and friendly – laugh, including Judy. Then the groomsmen of Sven had their turn, and Judy had her pay-back with quite a few stories and photos, showing Evelin as being always the feral little sister. But in the end, both sisters were hugging each other firmly, both being on the verge of tears and with loud applause from the guests.
After all speeches were finished, the banquet officially started and more than a dozen stewards brought the first course to the tables. The band was now composed of just a few rabbits playing the percussion, two guitars and Jana again with the cello, a cat sitting at the piano and two sheep playing saxophone and the trumpet – much less than the big band from earlier in the community hall, but with a great repertoire of songs. Two harts and a beaver were accompanying them as singers. During the different courses of the dinner a sustaining muttering and clinking with the silverware and dishes was pervading the air in the large tent.
While Nick was talking with Bogo and Clawhauser, Judy and Evelin were more giggling than talking. Suddenly Sven started to chuckle quietly and when Evelin and Judy turned their heads to him he had his wedding ring in his paw.
"Really?" he winked at Evelin with a short nod to the ring.
Eve grinned from ear to ear, eagerly nodding. "You bet!"
"What is it?" Judy asked curiously and Sven handed her his ring. When Judy read the engraving Eve had made for him, she started to snort – 'Mine.' was the only word that was engraved, followed by todays date. "Well, it seems as if you have marked your territory quite well, sis."
Evelin and Ralph both laughed and Judy gave him the ring back. "And yours?" she asked Eve, even more curiously. Her little sister took the ring from her paw and gave it to Judy with a grin – 'Always.'
"You both are really complementing each other, but it's clear who is wearing the breeches." she winked at them both and Sven gave his wife an affectionate kiss.
"What about your ring, sis?" Eve asked full of curiosity, peering to her paw.
Judy blushed a bit, looking down to her ring and shrugged. "I didn't have had the courage to take a look, yet…" she mumbled.
Evelin's eyes grew big and Sven raised his eyebrows. "You haven't agreed with Nick the engravings in advance?" her sis asked unbelieving.
"It seemed like a romantic idea… I think…" Judy was playing nervously with her new ring.
"You have two seconds to take off this ring and read it aloud until I will take charge of it, sissy-sis."
Judy grinned and took the ring from her paw. "Okay, okay" – after rotating it a bit, she read the engraving – 'Now I am complete - Nick', followed by todays date. Judy smiled moony and Evelin put her arms around her shoulders, grinning with joy.
"And what's engraved in his?" she asked.
Judy grinned again and turned around to Nick, who was currently looking through a few photos Clawhauser was showing him on his smartphone, and nudged him with her elbow. The fox turned around with a questioning look.
"Hm? What is it, carrots?" he smiled at her, then suddenly leaning in with his head and giving her a nice and quick kiss.
"Eve and Sven were asking, what the engraving on your ring was saying."
"Oh… of course." he slyly grinned. "It says 'My first. My only. – Judy' with today's date." he winked at both.
Sven mumbled something like 'Too much information…' but Evelin laughed and gave Judy a kiss on her cheek.
"Maybe you are her first – and only – but you unerringly picked the most ambitious out of all Hopp's kits, so I bet she is eagerly catching up on it with you." the younger sister was smirking and Judy was punching her lightly on her arm.
"Ey!" Judy protested and blushed heavily.
"I can assure you she had a lot of practice in the meantime." Nick laughed with a sly grin, then asked curiously: "What are your engravings saying?"
"I wrote 'Mine' on Sven's ring." Eve grinned and winked. "And on mine ring he wrote 'Always'."
The fox smiled agreeing, then Judy put her arm around his neck and gave him a sweet kiss on his cheek. "I really love your engraving, Nick." She whispered in his ear. Nick smiled:
"As I do yours" he replied her kiss, but then started to nibble on her neck with a grin.
Judy giggled: "Shh! Not now and here, you naughty fox!"
Nick playfully pulled a sulky face. "It's easy for you to talk, you have obviously no idea what an olfactory pheromone challenge this wedding is for such a sensitive nose like mine!" he sighed. "I could devour a whole rabbit right here and now on this table!" he licked over his lips with a sly grin.
"Whatever, but don't forget about the few hundred witnesses with lots of cameras and the half police precinct that's present. You will end up on the front page of all newspapers, but … bon appétit!" Judy smiled slyly at him, running at the same time her paw higher on Nick's thigh.
Nick closed his eyes and whimpered while Judy grinned even wider, stroking his inner thigh.
"I think it is time for the first dance of our bridal couples!" Stu and Bonnies voice were tearing them out of their thoughts, and the four newlywed stood up behind their tables.
Evelin whispered to Nick: "Rescued by the parents, but I bet not for long." she winked at him.
"I don't know if I will survive this…" Nick sighed quietly while they were all slowly walking to the dance floor.
"I thought you can dance really great, foxy?" Evelin looked curiously but Sven interrupted them with a harrumph.
"I guess that's not what Nick was referring to..." Sven mumbled to Eve with a wink.
Nick just shrugged with his shoulders, obviously exerting himself for a professional manner, but his nose was still twitching suspiciously. Judy however was walking a few steps ahead, beaming like never before; this was the best day of her life and she wanted to savor each and every moment of it.
Evelin chuckled: "Let me handle that for you, Nicky…" she gave him a thumb-up, then caughed up with Judy and linking her arm with her sisters. They whispered for a few moments, and neither Sven nor Nick had any idea what they were up to. Then Judy eagerly hopped in the direction of the band while Evelin turned back to the two waiting husbands.
"Well, my darling…" she put her arm around Sven's hip and dragged him with her to the border of the dance floor. "We decided, that Judy and Nick can have the first dance and we will have ours directly after them." Her pleased grinning made Nick gulp a bit.
"I don't think, we…" he began, but the very same moment the first beats of "Crazy something normal" (YouTube: I1iZwnP_hc8) were playing and Judy already started to walk towards him with her arms and paws reaching alternating in the air, striking over her stomach and breasts on their way up. Nick was immediately turned-on again, but this song and them dancing to it had definitely something magic.
When the first verse started (0:44), Judy moved her mouth as if she was singing, and Nick started to dance along with her. It took only a few moments until they were both rushing over the dance floor to the fast up-beat of the song. It was a mix of dancing skin to skin, dancing together but each on his own and Nick even throw her into the air two times just to catch her again under loud howling and applause.
It wasn't until the end of the song, when the singers of the band were finishing the song with the verses "If you don't know where come follow me.", repeating it four times. Judy was slowly walking backwards from the stage, repeating the verse with her mouth and a wide smile, waving Nick with her with her both paws. The fox made a little show as if he wants to hesitate but finally followed her, and when the last sounds of the song were dying away, the whole tent was filled with applause and wolf whistling. On a signal by Evelin the band started to play the next song (YouTube: ogDGrZEapDw) – Sven and Evelin's song! – and Evelin sang along the first verse until Sven finally came onto the stage, too, and they both shared a great dance with quite a lot dancing interludes they had trained together. It didn't even attract anybody's attention, that Judy and Nick had actually left the tent at the end of their song through a side entrance…
"Sweet carrots." Sven murmured to Evelin after they finished their dance.
"What do you mean?" she stroked her husband's cheek with her paw.
"You don't notice it?" he smirked. When his wife shook her head, he continued: "Even when any of your sisters was in heat during your pregnancy, your scent always was the strongest I could recognize in any room. But currently…" he hesitated.
"Mh?" Eve raised her eyebrows and glanced to Sven for a second. "What do you talk about?"
Sven took a deep breath: "Judy is currently emitting more pheromones than two pregnant bunnies in heat. And I would bet any male rabbit here already noticed. Do you want to guess what effects that will have on her scent-linked partner and now-husband, not to speak a fox with even better olfactory cognition than any other mammal I know?"
Evelin started to grin and her grin even widened while Sven was speaking. "You are right, what do you think why I arranged this little timeout for them." She winked and they started another dance.
Nick stumbled to a nearby tree and supported himself against it. "I-I-I have to… fresh a-air!" Nick gasped and spoke quietly, grinding slowly his teeth. Nobody was outside with them at the moment, but Nick didn't want to be seen like that, now his whole body was shivering and only hardly under his control. He made a few fast steps and entered the Hopps house through the kitchen backdoor.
Judy rolled up her dress so it wouldn't drag along the floor, then hopped afterwards Nick. After the first corner she already saw him, entering their house through the backdoor of the kitchen. With a few large jumps she was at the door, too. It was closed, but she could definitely hear him whimpering and panting behind it. With a big grin she pushed the door open and Nick flinched, standing with his back to the wall. When he saw Judy standing in the open door with her sly grin and her paws put on her hips, he could just gasp out: "You!"
"Oh, yeah. It's me, foxtrot…" starting to grin she made a few steps inside the kitchen, letting the door slam close behind her. Without turning around, she grabbed behind to the lock and turned the key in the door, the quiet 'click' sounding nearly menacing. Nick was still standing there, noticeably endeavored for his composure. The wedding ceremony was like an aphrodisiac for them both, but Judy – surrounded by so many of her sisters – had her heat-cycle linked since this morning and additionally, no shot from Dr. Allisson was lowering the effects this time. She really needed Nick now. No, she needed her husband!
"Be careful, Judy! I'm not sure what you had in mind, but I can hardly withhold myself now…" he panted, his tail and nose twitching dangerously while starring at her. But Judy, still just grinning, grabbed with her paws to her back, opening one button of her dress after another, and after a minute or so she stripped out of the dress, letting it fall to her parent's kitchen floor. Standing in front of Nick just in her lace lingerie two meters away, she could hear her fox's heart and breathing getting really fast. She was impressed that he could still stand it!
"This is your parent's kitchen!" Nick gasped helpless, sounding like being tormented.
Judy made a few small steps in his direction, now standing right before him.
"So?" she put her head to the side and looked at him with her big and innocent eyes. When another heat wave flooded her body, Judy shivered involuntary; Nick closed his eyes while Judy's scent became rampant, but it was too late. With a quick jump forward he pinned Judy down to the floor, baring his teethes and catching after her neck with them.
It was early evening, the band was playing popular songs animating a lot of guests to dance, and the intermediate arranged cake buffet was currently being replaced by warm and cold dishes. When Nick and Judy entered the tent again a few hours ago, no one mentioned their absently hour. Even when Evelin was collecting all of Judy's bridesmaids again and accomplished with them Judy back to the house, Bonnie and Stu Hopps talked with Nick like they hadn't noticed their disappearance. Half an hour later Judy also looked fresh and all spruced up again; not like she had just rotted with a fox like there was no tomorrow.
Bonnie and Nick were dancing to 'Drive by' (YouTube: UmlwZImNOIo), as was Stu with Nick's mother Martha. Evelin walked over to Judy and nudged her grinning with her elbow.
"May I have this dance, sis?"
They joined all others on the dance floor, the small band still heating up the atmosphere with constantly playing more energetic and faster songs over the last few hours. After dinner most of the older guests would slowly dismiss themselves, but for the younger generation a long party night was ahead. Jana started to play the introductory solo of "Rather be" (YouTube: ZnE75pSZmQo) on her Cello, and the parents of Sven, Evelin, Judy and Nick all were exhausted going back to their seats, so the couples remixed again: Sven with Judy and Evelin with Nick were dashing over the dance floor this time. Judy's and Evelin's parents as well as Sven's parents and Nick's mother were sitting at one table, chatting together. When Joshua with his wife came to them, he stood behind Bonnie and Stu with his arms put on their shoulders.
"I think we will call it a day, the kits are rather tired and we drive nearly half an hour."
"Thank you for coming, Josh." His father said with a bright smile, and Bonnie added:
"Yes, I think Judy and Evelin really enjoyed you being here. I hope you had some fun, too."
"It was a really great wedding…" he hesitated for a moment, then added with a smile: "…both of them. I'm honestly glad that both of my sisters found their designated significant other." He was watching them dancing with a dreamy face. "They really look as happy as never before, don't they?"
Stu and Bonnie both nodded with a big smile and finally said goodbye to one of their oldest sons.
"It's great to see, that you still have such a great relationship with your kits, even after they have married." Martha said, taking a sip from her glass of claret.
"Some relationships are more easy than others." Stu winked, but Bonnie raised her eyebrow and put a paw on Martha's arm.
"You are missing him already, don't you?" she smiled softly and the older vixen returned her smile.
"Children grow up and if everything is going well they will found their own family. But I have to agree that I always feared he would never find someone he would share such a strong connection with. I'm so happy for him, really, and Judy is such a cutie-pie! But now he finally is having his very own life and family with her, and I don't know if I will still be a part of it."
"Oh, I wouldn't overthink that, now! All that we saw about Nick is indicating that he is a really great family man, not only as a husband and father, but also as a son." Bonnie said and Stu added instantly:
"And we being now all a big family altogether, you are of course always welcomed to our house, too!"
"Thank you, both of you!" Martha smiled, but then suddenly raised her eyebrows. "Wait, you said that he will be a great father?"
Bonnie lowered her face and Stu harrumphed silently. "Well, just a thought…" he finally said a bit uneasy.
"He comes along really great with our youngest kits, Judy always had a big family and…" Bonnie added, but then hesitated. Stu helped her out:
"All our children had at least one or two litters with their partners. So … we were somewhat … hoping."
Martha smiled softly: "Oh, that would be so great, really! I have to agree I always wanted to be a grandmother, but wasn't too sure… I mean, not all interspecies couples are compatible to have biological kits. Do you know, if…?"
Bonnie and Stu shook their head simultaneously. "We don't know any Fox-Rabbit-Partnerships, and to be honest we didn't have the guts to talk with them about it, yet." Stu said, Bonnie supportively putting her paw on his.
The band finished their song and one of the rabbits switched to an Oboe – playing the first tunes of the next song, "Criminal" (YouTube: srjPtc7ykiw). The drums and electric piano supplemented it and when one of the two harts started to sing the refrain, the colorful lights started to blink and illuminate the stage; a fog machine created some great effects together with some well-placed lasers. Judy and Evelin put both their shoulders to the wheel and performed a great dancing show, moving skin-to-skin along their husbands, rubbing up and down their bodies and licking lasciviously their own lips and the neck of their partners. Both Sven and Nick had opened their jackets and shirts and were moving along with Judy and Eve, making all guests wolf whistling and applauding them and giving them the most erotic show their parents probably ever saw from one of her kits. While Stu and also Sven's parents were holding their paw in front of their mouths in shock, Bonnie and Martha were sheering and laughing at the show. Stu turned his head to his wife and couldn't decide whose behavior – his daughters or his wife's – he found more disturbing right now.
Without interruption the band continued with the next song "My Way" (YouTube: b4Bj7Zb-YD4) in a medley-style, and a bunch of the younger guests – including quite a lot siblings from Sven and the Hopps-Sisters – were joining the four on the dance floor. The lights were flashing to the rhythms and the cheer was getting more and more hilarious with the next songs. When somebody had been afraid that this small country-side band could be somewhat boring they were now finally teaching them better. The piano turned out to be a full-blown synthesizer, the guitar players switched to electronic versions of their instruments and Jana now played an electronic violin instead of her cello. The trumpet and saxophone were the only two with the same instruments, but instead of slow and silent backing, they belted out the modern rock and pop songs, still accompanied by the two harts and the beaver as singers. In the meantime a few of the waiters arranged a cocktail bar partly where the buffet was over the day, serving both beer, wine and cocktails as well as non-alcoholic spritzer and beverages.
After dancing for about seven songs straight, both Sven and Evelin as well as Nick and Judy need a break and walked exhausted but with beaming smiles over to their parents table.
"I'm getting too chubby for this…" Evelin laughed while stroking her pregnant belly.
"Oh, you should spare some more energy for later, whiskers!" Sven winked with a sly grin and his father as well as Stu started to laugh, too.
Nick and Judy weren't as exhausted as Sven and Evelin, but a short break and having a freshening drink always was a good idea. While sipping on their cocktails through their straws they looked around. Suddenly Nick nudged Judy with his elbow and pointed with his snout to the dance floor where Clawhauser was currently dancing with two of Judy's bridesmaids surprisingly agile. Judy snorted in her drink and grinned from ear to ear.
"That's just like Clara and River." She winked to Nick, who nodded.
"I'm really glad that everyone seems to have fun. I even saw Bogo dancing earlier!" he chuckled.
"Really? And I missed it, cheese and carrots!"
"Don't worry, my dear. Ralph, Terrence and Beka are making quite a lot of photos and videos, I'm sure they will have filmed it." Bonnie said with a wink. "I hope you like your party, too?"
All four newlyweds nodded their head immediately, still grinning from ear to ear.
"It's just perfect and exactly like I always imagined it! I really love it!" Evelin said.
Judy suddenly jumped off her seat and embraced Evelin with a bone crushing hug. "Yes, it is and I'm sooooo thankful that we are sharing all of this in so many ways! No wedding or party I would have planned could be nearly as great as this!" she was beaming from joy but also had a tear in her eyes again. Evelin replied her hug and grinned, now near to tears herself.
"Without you this day wouldn't be as perfect as it is now, sis." She snuffled and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"And of course it wouldn't be without you, too, Nick!" Sven added with a big smile. The double-wedding really was a fantastic idea!"
"It is still a big honor that you are sharing this day with us, I never saw Judy as happy as today." Nick snickered with a wink to his wife. "And of course also thank you to you!" he continued with a look to their parents, who just stopped him with a wave of their paws.
"No words could describe the feeling how happy we are right now, so just enjoy your party!" Stu winked and Bonnie and Martha nodded agreeing.
When a new song started (YouTube: RF0HhrwIwp0), Judy jumped from her seat, eagerly taking Nick's paws. "Ready for another round, foxtrot?"
"Time to show those kits how to dance, carrots!" Nick stood up laughing and being dragged to the stage by Judy, where both started to sing along with the band and rocking hard to the really great cover version of it.
Obviously, this party had only just begun.