Dear Readers,

A few of you have been requesting even more WildeHopps. While I maintain that Nick/Stu is WildeHopps, I am pleased to say that we are going to have Nick and Judy interacting again for the first time, after the bunny-boxing-blowout. This chapter is also the longest one yet (a little make up for last chapter being so short... and happy). So without further ado,

-Enjoy

"Mmmmmm…" Nick's brain slowly recalibrated as his neurons continually misfired.

Nicks face had become one with the carpet of the living room, and he realized that that he was absolutely buried under a pile of bunnies. Nick struggled to free himself from the mountain of mammals as he blinked himself into consciousness. "Stu? Where you at big-shoots?"

Nick was met by a surprisingly close groan as he realized that the old bunny was buried under the same pile of Kits as he was. Looking about the living room, Nick's memory gradually returned.

He recalled spinning tall-tales for the hoard of excited kits, telling jokes and laughingly wrestling with the army of bunnies. However, his brain seemed to have misplaced a portion of his memories from the night.

"Did we kill that whole bottle?" questioned Nick as he stoked the groggy ears of one of the bunny kit that desperately clung to sleep.

Stu shook the empty bottle in his left paw as he remarked. "I think we've got to be the shitiest parents ever." The pair chuckled as Stu continued, "I 'Spose it's a good thing Bon' didn't come back last night…"

Nick's eyes widened as he searched the room for his shirt. "We gotta go apologize or something." Nick slipped the confines of his still-sleeping bunny blanket.

Stu wriggled out from under the hoard of sleeping children as he remarked, "apologize for what?" Stu turned to face Nick, whom was attempting to wrestle his shirt away from a pile of slumbering bunnies. "I didn't do anything to her."

Nick took a break from his tug-of-war match to scold Stu, "You and I both know what they're mad about…" Nick tugged on his shirt again as he teased "you're not scared are you?"

Stu's cold silence told Nick more than any retort could have. "You'll get into a boxing-match with a fox, but you're too afraid to say you're sorry to your wife?" Nick stared at the giant rabbit in disbelief.

"That's not the point," retorted Stu, as his ears pinned down in shame. "Those ladies have been up all night, working themselves into a fury over us two." Stu wrung his paws nervously. "These ladies can keep hundreds of bunnies in check…" Gesturing to the piles of snuggling bunnies for emphasis, Stu continued. "If we go waltzing in there… it'll be a blood-bath."

Nick stretched as he felt more than a couple vertebrae pop back into position. "Then I guess we'll just have to die like true alpha-males." Nick's posture returned to a more relaxed pose as he scrubbed the last of the sleep from his eyes. "You know I'm right…"

"I know you're right…" reported Stu as the pair shuffled their way around cuddling-bunny-piles and out of the living room. "But I'm still scared…."

Time passed, and in all too short a moment the pair found themselves parked out-front of Debra's bunny-hill.

"So we're gonna march in there," Nick pointed at the front door of the burrow for emphasis. "Say we're sorry, tell them we love them and get out with Bonnie and Judy." Nick turned to Stu for confirmation of his tactics.

"Are you mad?" hissed Stu as his ears pinned flat in fear. "If you open that front door, you might as well go hoppin' in a mine field." Nick's ears folded back as Stu continued. "It'll be a slaughter house in there. We might as well punch each other in the snouts and leave again with that plan…"

"Fine," retorted Nick, throwing his paws up in defeat. "Then what do you suggest, Hannibal."

"We'll go around back…" Stu wrung his paws as he fought hard to formulate their attack. "I'll bet money that they'll all be out in Debra's garden. We stay out of the house, that way when we need to escape; we can just hop the fence and run." Stu turned a nervous smile to Nick, but was met with disapproval.

"We're not running," assured Nick as the pair exited the truck. "That's the thing about the animal you love. You'd do anything for them, even if you're scared."

Stu gave Nick an unspoken knowing glance before the pair ducked and ran to the edge of the burrow. Silently, the pair slid along the side of the house ducking under windows and hiding behind bushes all the way. Their ears began to twitch as the din of spiteful bunnies grew louder and louder.

Arriving at the white-wooden fence which encircled the garden patio, the pair zeroed in on the tall gate which separated them from the would-be carnage. Steeling their nerves before braving the harem of hares, Nick reached out a paw to open the way but was swatted down by Stu.

"What do you think you're doing?" hissed Stu making sure he wouldn't be heard by the angry house-bunnies on the other side of the wall.

"I'm going to apologize to Judy…" assured Nick, raising a single confused eye-brow at Stu. "And then you're going to apologize the Bonnie… remember?"

"You can't just go stomping in on a nest of bunny-mommas like that…" scolded Stu, as Nick rolled his eyes at the fearful rabbit. "Just… follow my lead." Stu took a deep breath as he reached for the gate-latch.

"Hold up," Nick grabbed Stu by the shoulder pulling him away from the gate. "You got some… stuff on you…" Nick plucked a few red-hairs from the fur on the side of Stu's face before straitening the collar of the rabbit-father's shirt. "Ok, go."

Stu puffed up his chest, and threw open the garden gate casting the garden into silence. Nick tried his best to follow Stu's lead, but felt woe-fully inadequate.

"Well look who it is!" chimed one female.

"If it ain't mister rumble-in-the-jungle himself" quipped another, setting the garden ablaze in laughter.

Nick swallowed hard as he looked about the small court-yard. His paws began to sweat as he counted the angry faces of eight different older female bunnies who sat in chairs, scattered about the garden. However, his heart broke as he caught the truly crushed expression of one Judy Hopps.

"What are you two doing here?" came another biting tone.

"You know she don't want to see you…" The remark was aimed squarely at Stu. However, Nick felt that there were some spillover implications to be had.

The tirade settled for a moment as Stu opened his mouth to plead his case. "B-Bonnie…" choked the iron-bunny. "I don't know what to say…"

"You could start by saying you're sorry!" came one of the bunnies before being shushed by Bonnie. Turning to face Stu, the bunnies waited for him to continue.

"I… I'm sorry…" Stu looked to Nick for support, whom gave him a reassuring nod. "You see… I realized last night; that you're my better half…"

Nick's eyes bulged as he realized Stu was about to steal his speech.

"You see," repeated Stu. "You go through life, thinking you're whole. But then you meet someone, who you realize completes you…"

Nick's ears folded back in exasperation as he recognized his own words coming from Stu's mouth.

"And that's the thing about meeting you're other half," continued Stu. "Once you find that other half, you'll never feel whole without them…"

Stu got down on one knee in front of Bonnie as Nick slapped a paw to his face in disbelief. "Bonnie, I know there's a reason why you fell in love with me, twenty five years ago… make me whole again, and love me for twenty five more…"

"Oh Stu," cooed Bonnie, taking the Kneeling rabbit's paws in her own, "There's the old romantic I fell in love with." Bonnie gave the old rabbit a kiss on the head before they both stood to hugged.

The patio full of bunny women cooed at the tender embrace before turning their fiery gaze to Nick. Nick sought refuge in the soft gaze of both Bonnie and Stu.

Nick locked eyes with Judy and opened his mouth to speak. However, his knees nearly gave way as Judy silently turned and exited through the back-door of the house, which butted up to the garden. The ferocious bunnies exploded in laughter as Nick turned to Bonnie and Stu.

Bonnie's reaction was of pure shock, however Stu mouthed "go get her" over his wife's shoulder. Taking the hint, Nick chased Judy. Pushing past the hoard of cackling bunnies Nick stumbled and followed Judy through the burrow.

"Judy!" yelled Nick as he followed his would-be-bunny bride out the front door.

"Carrots, come on…" Nick caught Judy's wrist, turning her around to face him. However, his throat threatened to close entirely as he caught the deep sorrow that lived in her lilac eyes. "Carrots, I… I wanted to impress your father…"

"By getting in a fist fight with him?" seethed the damaged rabbit.

"No, it's… it wasn't like that…" defended Nick.

"Really Nick," retorted Judy, fighting her own emotions. "What's it like then?"

"W-well…" stuttered Nick, under Judy's glare. "It's funny really..."

"Is this funny to you!" Judy practically screamed at Nick. "Is beating up my father what qualifies as funny to you!" Judy jabbed a claw into Nick's chest in furious emphasis.

"He forced me into it!" defended Nick as he realized the walls were closing in on him.

"I don't care, Nicholas P. Wilde!" Hissed Judy as her emotions boiled over and tears began to escape her piercing eyes. "I don't care what happened, that is unacceptable!"

"Carrots," pleaded Nick reaching out to try and sooth the love of his life. "Calm down, it's ok."

"No!" shouted Judy as she swatted away Nick's paw. "Don't touch me, this is n-not okay…" Judy took a deep breath in an attempt to still the rising flood-waters for her final sentence, " if you're the type of mammal who's going to resort to physical violence whenever he can't get along with another animal… Then I do not want to raise a litter with you, Nicholas…"

Nick's breath escaped him as he felt as though he had been stabbed squarely in the heart. His knees threatened to buckle as he managed to only whisper, "Judy, I…"

"The engagement is off…" Judy broke Nick's emerald gaze and stared directly at the ground. A soft cry escaped Judy's lips before she turned and walked back into the bunny-burrow.

Nick didn't say a word, his heart wouldn't let him. He simply turned on his heels, and walked out into a field.

Time passes and the morning has turned to day; Stu and Bonnie's renewal was barely an hour away

Stu looked deep into the sad eyes of Judy as she straitened her father's bowtie. Ears folded down Stu asked, "You okay Judes?"

"Yeah" assured Judy with a small sniffle. "I'm fine… you look very handsome, daddy." Judy gave her father a quick peck on the cheek as she finished centering the elder rabbit's bow.

Stu's eyes wandered out the window of Bonnie and his' room on the top floor of the bunny hill. He watched as countless bunnies scurried about the patio prepping for the nights festivities. Stu caught a glimpse of a rabbit setting up a microphone for the live band, and was reminded of Nick. He wondered where Nick might be.

"You better not cry this time," came Judy, interrupting Stu's train of thought. "Mom said you cried last time."

Stu chuckled nervously as he flattened the front of his suit jacket. The old rabbit felt very out of his element in the black suit and bow as he turned his attention back to his oldest daughter. "sweetie," spoke Stu prompting Judy's ears to perk up. "Why don't you call Nicholas?" Judy turned to face away from her father as he continued. "He's probably waiting on the five-o'clock train, and we're busy having a party; get his red butt over hear. Besides, the kits are gonna be heartbroken if he isn't here."

Stu walked over to place a paw on Judy's shoulder. His heart could hardly stand the sight of his little girl. She was absolutely gorgeous in her flowing yellow sundress, however her eye's betrayed the ache in her heart. "How many times did he call you last night?" asked Stu.

"Twenty five," whispered Judy without turning to face her father.

"Twenty five?" repeated Stu in shock as he turned Judy to face him. "Twenty five? He called you twenty five times, and you can't even call him once?"

Judy refused to return her father's gaze as he continued. "Judith, don't be so hot-headed. A hot head will only serve to freeze your heart."

"It's… it's not that…" whispered Judy, fighting to contain herself.

"Then what is it?" Stu lifted his daughters chin, attempting to lift her gaze to his.

The pair stood quietly as Judy trembled with emotion. Judy let out a soft cry as she met her father's concerned gaze, "I was gonna marry him…"

Stu's breath caught as he watched his daughter pull her engagement ring out from its hiding place on a thin silver chain that she wore around her neck. "We were gonna grow old together…" Judy sniffled and attempted to wipe away the offending water-works. "He accidentally proposed the day before we left." A small laugh escaped Judy's teary visage as she turned to face away from her father. "We were trying to figure out how we were going to tell you two…"

The pair stood in silence as Stu's mind raced. "But I have you to thank," continued Judy while her father wrung his paws. "Because you saved me a great big heart-ache…"

Judy turned around to face her father and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Stu felt absolutely numb as he watched his broken daughter wipe tears from her gray fur. "I better not let mom see me like this…" Judy sniffled as she attempted to clean herself up. "Now you stay handsome, I'm gonna make sure the setup is going okay." Stu forced a smiled as Judy exited his bedroom.

Turning around, Stu caught his own look in the mirror. His mind raced as he realized that he was entirely to blame for Judy's somber state. The old rabbit ground his teeth together as his realization grew ever grimmer. "Damnit Stu," grumbled the old rabbit as he grabbed the keys to the farm truck before bolting out the door.

Tires barked as Stu's truck skid to a halt in front of the Bunny Burrows train station. His eyes widened as he looked at the train that had already pulled into the platform. Stu threw open his door and ran from the truck without even collecting his keys.

The old bunny's lungs felt as though they would burst by the time he reached the train platform. Stu's ears folded back as he watched the train slide down the rails out of the station. His heart sunk in defeat as he realized he was too late.

Stu ground his teeth once more as he realized there was no saving his daughter's heart. However, as Stu turned to leave, he recognized the sad outline of a fox sitting on a bench. Approaching the shell of a mammal, Stu took a seat next to Nicholas P. Wilde.

"You miss your train?" asked Stu from besides the fox.

"There'll be another in a half hour…" replied Nick.

"You going to be on that one?"

"I should have been on the last two…"

The pair sat in silence as the platform cleared of any bunnies that had been there to see off loved-ones. Stu folded and unfolded his paws before breaking the silence, "Son, if you marry Judy…it ain't going to be easy."

Nick sat silently as Stu continued. "There's a generation of mammals out there who are going to… They're going to think what you and Judy share is wrong." Stu paused to look at Nick, whom hadn't moved a muscle.

"How'd you know we were getting married…" mumbled Nick, not turning to look at Stu.

"I told you Mr. Wilde, nothing escapes these ears." Stu pointed at his long grey ears for emphasis.

"Judy told you," whispered Nick, dismissing Stu's claim.

"That to," chuckled Stu before continuing. "Let's be honest… What you and I did was respectable, careless and stupid…" Stu looked off into the distance as he continued, "If you lose your temper at every animal that disproves of the two of you; then you're not going to make it."

"That's not it," whispered Nick, as he turned to face Stu.

"Well if it's not," replied Stu with a hint of confusion. "then what is it, son?"

"I never had a father…" mumbled Nick so quietly that Stu almost couldn't hear him. "My father walked out on my mom and I when I was five. When I saw how angry you were with the idea of Judy and I even dating, I got worried. I figured that there was no way this rabbit was gonna stand by and let some fox take his little girl. I was worried that if you found out we were going to get married..." Nick watched as the aged rabbit pondered the damage he'd done. "I worried that you would force Judy into a position where she'd have to choose me, or her family... And frankly that wasn't a decision that I wanted to win. I've already lost all of my family; I wasn't going to be the reason why Judy lost hers." Nick's gaze shifted back to the train tracks as the pair sat in sober silence once again.

"How'd you do it," whispered Nick after an age of silence. "How'd you win Bonnie's father over?"

"I didn't," replied Stu, straitening his posture. "I proved him wrong. I hung up my gloves, and I started a family with the woman I loved, because nobody's opinion mattered when I had her by my side."

Stu turned to face Wilde whose posture hadn't changed. "I know Judy still loves you, Nick. And I can tell you now, she'll be lucky to have you."

"I think it's time for me to go," replied Nick as his ears caught the sound of the coming train. "I've cause her enough pain, I don't need to hurt her anymore."

"She's just hurt," assured Stu as he placed a sad paw in Nick's shoulder. "She's got a hot head; but an even bigger heart that's full of love for you. Don't walk out on her."

Nick shook his head in silence as he heard the train draw closer.

Stu's mouth dried as he realized his damage had been done. Looking away from the fox, Stu's heart sank as the train pulled into the station.

"Well son, the 5:30 is here." Stu stood as he took out his wallet. "Every animal is free to choose their own destiny… regardless of what their father did."

Stu gave Nick a folded five-dollar bill from his wallet as he whispered, "For the ticket." He then pat Nick on the head as he turned to leave the station.

Nick's heart swam with emotion as he smoothed out the bill between his paws. His ears perked up as he heard the train doors open in front of him.

Nick stood, attempting to make heads-or-tails out of his emotions. Nick felt as though his insides were tied in knots as he examined the wrinkled-old-five-dollar bill.

A sad shutter escaped Nick's lungs as he realized he had become his father.

Oh hot-diggity!

Did you just read the entire FanFiction? I think just did... or did you? I'm not sure. I guess the only way to find out is to wait for Sunday when I post the next cha- I mean credits... this Sunday when I post the credits.

-Thank you all for such an amazing ride. I love you all