"Oh, no, Mrs. Wilde, I'm perfectly capable of walking–"
"My Dear, you'll never get better with that attitude! Now, have a seat."
"Really, I insist that I walk–"
"And I insist that you sit."
"Mrs. Wilde–"
"Sit."
"Yes, ma'am."
Feeling like a child, Judy sat in the wheelchair that Nick's mother had made such a fuss over obtaining. On Judy's bed sat all of their items, as well as all of the gifts the couple had been brought during their recovery, packed in several different bags in various sizes. It was nearly noon, and Nick was currently at the reception desk, signing all of the needed forms to complete the process of checking them out of the hospital. After spending nine and a half days in the hospital, the couple was more than happy to be going home. After Judy's bleeding scare, the couple had recovered nicely and had been lucky enough to leave within a span of two weeks and to leave together. Within the time of their stay, Judy and Nick had endured a few physical therapy sessions to work out their stiff limbs, several different visitors for hours at a time, Nick's mother, several nurses and doctors always asking the same questions, and a few really crappy hospital meals. When they had finally received the news that they were free to go home, they had been more than relieved. Judy had packed the majority of their things, while Nick had bothered her the entire time. When it finally came time to leave, Nick's mother had demanded that Judy be placed in a wheelchair on the journey from their hospital room to their SUV that had been brought and left in the hospital's parking lot by another ZPD officer days before. Although Judy was perfectly capable of walking, she allowed Mrs. Wilde to baby her. Judy's parents had left the day after her surgery, as the sitter was really struggling with the mass of her siblings, so it was Nick's mother who played the parent game for both her and Nick, which she was more than grateful for.
"Mom, she can walk."
Judy looked up and smiled at the sight of Nick, who was standing in the doorway. He was on crutches now due to his broken leg. His nearly healed ribs still ached slightly, but the incision from his surgery and the bruises were nearly gone, making him look like the same old Nick Wilde she knew. She remembered dressing him that morning when they were finally able to remove the prison uniforms they had come to know as hospital gowns. Both had been very slow in dressing, as they were still sore and stiff in several different areas, but they had accomplished it. Nick hadn't been able to button up his famous green Hawaiian shirt because of his broken leg, which prevented him from staying balanced long enough to button the shirt up all of the way, and since it was too painful to sit down and then stand back up, Judy came to the rescue.
"Those are looking better," she had said as she noticed the healing gashes that covered his upper body as she buttoned the shirt with her good paw.
The bandages had been removed from a few of the gashes on both of their bodies, but not on some of the worse ones. It was apparent that they both would have some pretty nasty scars for a very long time, but Nick said they were "sexy," so Judy didn't complain.
"I know she can walk. I'm not blind, Nicholas," Nick's mother replied haughtily.
"Then let her get up from the chair."
"Nicholas, how insensitive are you that you'd make your pregnant life mate walk when she doesn't have to?"
"She's only eleven weeks pregnant, Mom."
"Almost twelve!" Judy chimed in with a smile.
Nick looked down at her and grinned.
"Hey, Carrots."
"Hi, Nick."
"How ya feeling?"
"Great! You?"
"Better now that I've seen you. Come on, let's go home."
With everyone carrying a bag of belongings, Mrs. Wilde wheeled Judy out of the hospital, while Nick limped along on his crutches.
"I missed our car," Judy commented once they arrived to their large black ZPD SUV.
"Me too," Nick agreed as he took the bag Judy was holding and threw it into the back seat.
Once everything was packed into the back, Nick tossed the car keys to Judy.
"You're driving, my leg's broken."
"Nicholas, I am perfectly able to drive you two home."
"I know Mom, but you won't."
"Why not?"
"Two reasons," Nick began nonchalantly. "First, it's Judy's left arm that is broken, and she's right-pawed. She can manage driving with one paw; I've seen her drive with her feet before, so I know she can do it. Second, I don't want you driving my car."
"Uh, it's my car, Nick," Judy stated with raised eyebrows.
Nick rolled his eyes before he wheeled Judy over to the driver's side of the car. After opening the car door and leaning his crutches against the car, Nick swept Judy up into his arms and placed her in the driver's seat. Grudgingly, Nick's mother agreed that Judy could drive, but only if she could follow them to their home and help them get settled.
"Agreed!" Judy shouted from her seat before Nick could object.
With a smirk that read "I won," Mrs. Wilde kissed her scowling son on the cheek and gave Judy a big hug. The couple waited for her to get into her car before Judy started the SUV and began the drive home.
"Carrots, let's get these jams rolling," Nick stated as he turned on the radio to one of their favorite stations.
"It's been so long since we've been home, or to work. I'm excited to be out of the hospital," Judy smiled.
"You know you are staying home, right?" Nick asked, somewhat hesitant.
"I'm going back to work, Nick."
"Nuh-uh, Carrots. You're staying home for a few more days."
"Nice try, but I already talked to the Chief, I'm back to work with you first thing tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow? Isn't that a bit soon?"
Judy threw a curious glance in Nick's direction.
"If I could, I'd be on my way to work right now."
"I believe it. Tomorrow morning it is," Nick sighed.
A few minutes later, they were pulling into the parking lot that sat in front of the apartment building they lived in. Judy hopped out of the car and helped guide Nick from his seat before they began unloading their bags. Nick's mother was more than happy to carry things, and before too long, the three were standing in front of Judy and Nick's apartment. Nick pulled out his key and put it into the lock, opening the door.
"Home sweet home!" Judy cheered as she flicked on the lights.
Surfaces were covered in a thin layer of dust, but otherwise, their apartment was the same old same old: one bedroom, one bathroom, a combined kitchen and living room, and one hallway to connect it all together. Taking a look around, a thought entered Judy's mind. Nick was arguing with his mother about where to put their packed items when he noticed a peculiar look on Judy's face.
"Carrots? You okay?"
"It's too small."
"What's too small?"
"The apartment."
At her words, Nick looked around and saw what she saw. The apartment was no longer a large place that the two of them shared; it was now a small area of space that would never fit six animals.
"Oh," Nick sighed. "Right."
"We'll just have to go home hunting then," Nick's mother laughed, making Judy smile again. "We can start looking after you two start work again. Now, where does this bag go?"
Nick's mother helped them unpack all of their belongings, all while commenting on the apartment or some other aspect of the couple's life. She also managed to throw a few choice comments at Nick, who easily tossed out rebuttals to them. It wasn't until late evening that she left, kissing and hugging the two before her exit.
"Call me if you need anything, Judy!"
"I will! Thank you, Mrs. Wilde," Judy smiled as she closed the door behind the elegant fox.
With a sigh, Judy then turned to Nick.
"We're home," she laughed quietly as she rested her back against the closed door.
"And finally alone," Nick muttered with a roll of his eyes.
"Oh, stop. Your mother is wonderful."
"I know, I know. Quit lecturing me."
"Ha, am I becoming the new Mrs. Wilde?"
Nick stood up from his spot on the couch and made his way over to Judy, limping slowly without his crutches. Coming into her personal space, he rested a paw beside her head on the door.
"In that way, no… but in another way, yes."
"What does that mean?"
"I just mean that before too long, you really will be taking the title of Mrs. Wilde."
A large grin broke out on Judy's face. She gave Nick a quick kiss on the cheek.
"I'm glad to hear that."
"You act like I wasn't going to eventually ask."
"To be honest, I was pretty worried, so I started thinking 'what's a way I can get him to ask me to marry him?' and then I thought 'well, duh! Get pregnant!'"
Nick couldn't help but laugh, watching the bunny's facial expressions as she made her joke.
"I love when you smile," he commented.
"Thank you, I picked this smile out myself," Judy grinned.
"Alright, Mrs. Wilde, I see you're in a good mood. How about we take this to the bedroom?"
"You know we are both too sore for that."
"Yes, but I bet I can still make you scream."
"Nick!" Judy's face flushed a deep shade of red at the comment, making Nick laugh. "That was horrible, but I do have to admit that you are looking very handsome with those bruises almost healed."
"What, you like my battle scars, Rabbit?"
"I have to say I do."
"Well then come on," Nick smirked and extended his left arm for Judy to take hold of with her right.
"Oh, how gentleman like."
"You know me, all gentleman."
Judy giggled as she looped her arm through his. Together, the two made their way down the hallway and into their bedroom, where the door shut with a satisfying click.