Judy was quick to follow after her fox. She did not have the nose to track him down like he did her, but the doe had a good idea where he was retreating to. She quickly made her way to their bedroom, where inside she found Nick lying on his back on their bed breathing rapidly.
Judy quickly but carefully positioned herself next to him. In a quiet voice, "Nick sweetheart, I'm right here. Focus on my voice." She brings her paw up to his cheek and strokes it through the tufts of fur.
The tod looked up at her, "You're having a panic attack," Judy continued in the same soothing tone. "Try to breath slow and deep." Judy listens closely to Nick's breathing as he makes an effort to get it under control.
"Count out loud with me. One… Two… Three…" Nick joins her. Soon, the bunny can hear the beating of his heat slow. They continue like that until her fox regains a normal steady rhythm.
"Thanks Carrots," he finally says, "I love you."
"I love you, too."
They don't venture back out into the house. Instead, Judy changes into a full set of pajamas, while Nick opted to wear only his pajama bottoms. It was a matching set of pajamas that Bonnie had gifted them. Green with carrot print.
Initially, Nick found them amusing and even a little tacky by his own taste in fashion. But he secretly enjoyed wearing the matching outfits with his mate. Judy made it clear that no one outside of the Burrow was to see the two of them in matching pajamas. Bonnie, however, thought the two of them looked cute and would share pictures with Mary.
Nick also suspected the pajamas were Bonnies subtle way of asking them to refrain from any funny business before they were married.
The two of them lay together in their oasis away from the day-to-day craziness of burrow life. That oasis being Judy's old childhood bedroom. Still on the walls are drawing of police officers and recruitment posters. Shelves lined with nicknacks and toy police equipment, as well as books about detectives and crime solving.
In addition to all the doe's childhood wonderment, now, are photos of herself and Nick and their combined families. Drawings made for Nick by his many young bunny nieces and nephews proudly tacked to the walls of the earthy chamber as well.
It was Judy's room, but now it's their room. Not just recognized as such by themselves, but universally by the Hopps clan. Though, not much has changed about the room after their engagement besides who belongs to it. The most change came in way of the much larger bed that Stu and Bonnie had put in. One as big as could comfortably fit in the room for the comfort of the two mates. To this day they are not sure how her parents managed to get the mattress down the hall and through their bedroom door.
The other noticeable, yet smaller, changes made, were a lock installed on the door for their privacy. The name plaque on the exterior of the door that once read, "Judy," was replaced with one that read "Wilde." Along the edges a minimal yet styled illustration of a primitive fox and bunny decorated it.
Soon after, a whole new room was constructed in the burrow, or more accurately, renovated and repurposed, for John and Mary. The burrow did have a whole corridor dedicated to putting up visiting in-laws, however all the in-law suites were built with rabbits in mind and would not accommodate foxes very well.
Instead, the heads of the warren took the opportunity to repurpose an ill-used storage room adjacent to their master bedroom into a space that could comfortably sleep Nick's parents. The two couples developed a strong friendship over the unique nature of their children's relationship.
They went so far as to connect the two rooms with Bonnie and Stu's study, originally only accessible through the master bedroom. The four of them would often find themselves sitting and enjoying a morning cup of coffee in the study, away from boisterous kits.
Back in Judy and Nick's room, the two mammals opted to skip dinner and take refuge until morning. Still in their pajamas, they lay on the duvet. Judy is lying on her side facing Nick. Her head in the crook of his shoulder while his arm wraps around her back. She combs her fingers through his cream-colored chest fur as they enjoy each other's closeness in silence.
A knock at the door breaks the tranquility of the moment. The two of them begrudgingly sit up and scoot back against the headboard. Judy chooses to lean against Nick.
"It's unlocked," Judy not quite hollers.
The knob twists and the door creeks open. In walks her father, precariously holding a tray with one paw while opening the door with the other. "Mornin' you two. Bon wasn't sure if you were going to come up for breakfast, she wanted to make sure you had something to eat since you disappeared before dinner last night."
Stu sets the tray with their breakfast and two cups of coffee down on the nightstand beside the bed. Or rather the edge of the desk that was being improvised as a nightstand.
The pair reply at the same time,
"Morning, dad"
Once Stu's paws are free, he leans into the bed so that he can give both of them a hug.
He pulls his baseball cap off his head and clutches it with both paws. "I want to apologize for yesterday, Nick. I wasn't away of your run-in with some bad scouts as a kit."
"Oh," Nick's ears splay back, "Mom told you about that?"
Stu nods. For a moment, Nick was not sure what to think of his parents sharing such a private piece of information. But then he remembered that he is a part of a much larger family now that genuinely cares about him and do not care for a moment that he is a fox. That they'll be here to support him and have his back like Judy did all those years ago.
"It's no biggie, Stu. I was just caught by surprise is all. And this pack is not that pack from all those years ago." Nick gave Stu a forgiving smile.
Her father bids them a good morning before vacating the room. After talking with Bonnie and Mary. They have decided not yet to talk to Nick about tagging along on their first camping trip of the new year. They want Nick and Judy to enjoy this week and not think about the scouts for the time being. After New Years eve, they will broach the topic with Nick.
Before long, Christmas Eve is on their heels. Family and friends start to pour in from out of town and the burrow becomes a hive of activity, compared to its normal day-to-day operations. Nick's sister Anne makes it in that evening and one of Judy's siblings takes her to get settled in.
A sea of bunnies begins to out pour into the yard by nightfall, many taking up residency at the long tables in the big white tent, catching up since last year. The night is chilly with gentle snowfall. But that does not detract from the merriment. Everyone stays huddled together by the heaters that have been set out days prior.
Gallons of hot chocolate prepared and served in large, insulated orange containers, normally used to dispense sports drinks. A line of young bunnies queued up to get their fill.
Inside the barn, is the atmosphere of a smoke-filled honky tonk. Not many family members still smoked, but this old barn was the only indoor space Bonnie would allow it. A group of Hopps bucks up on a stage performed popular Christmas songs with a classic rock twist that matches the energy of the evening. The dance floor in front of the stage hosts several pairs of bunny feet shuffling back and forth.
A wooden railing illuminated by strings of warm lights separates the dance floor from the seating area. Many bunnies leaned against the railing with drinks in their paws. They watch the dancing while chit chatting away with their immediate neighbors.
Near the entrance to the barn, a handful of Stu's children who were of age manned the bar. Mostly serving warm cocktails such as a pleasant cider drink with spiced run. All the beer was set up on a table outside, the nighttime temperature more than enough to keep it cold.
Nick was making the rounds, finding all of Judy's brothers who he had befriended over the years to catch up with. A perk of having so many bunnies under one roof is that a number of them will have overlapping interests. Something the fox was glad for as visits to the warren can sometimes be slow and mundane if nothing is going on.
Judy seeked out some of her friends who were attending the Christmas Eve party. The festivities did not exclusively entertain the Hopps and their extended family, or even just bunnies. Several friends and community members who they were close to are openly invited every year to participate. This included Gideon and Sharla. Both of whom Judy made a point to catch up with. But if she missed this tonight, they'd most likely be back on another night between now and New Years eve.
Towards the tail end of the night. Nick and Judy gravitated towards a small table in the corner of the barn where they sat with hot drinks in their paws. They listened to the jolly music and watched as the other mammals in the room danced to it.
The next song to be played by the band is, "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree." A loud cheer erupts as many bunnies start to mill out of the barn. Some are faster than others, some dancing as they do.
Nick grins as he sees Judy's eyes light up. "I guess it's time, isn't it Fluff?" Nick swallows down the last of his drink and sits the mug on the table. He'll come back to collect it. Judy leaps out of her seat as she hops out of the barn, Nick follows.
They all meandered out to a large Christmas tree that sat squarely in the yard. Unlike many Christmas trees that are cut down and set up somewhere else. This tree was planted in the yard many decades ago. Each year it grows a little bigger. Each year decorations and lights are put up and taken down and the tree is pruned a little. It has been here through all of their Christmases and holds a special place in the hearts of all the Hopps clan.
Throughout the day, kits would decorate it. Then they do as they're doing now. They save the tree lighting ceremony for the end of the night, prompted by the song being played now.
It's far from the only Christmas tree on the Hopps property. Several have been erected in the many halls of the burrow along with many other decorations. But this tree was special as it signified the start of the week that celebrates the many new marriages in the family this year. Including Nick's and Judy's.
"Who's ready to see this tree be lit up?" the singer from the band shouts into his microphone as the song is wrapping up.
The group cheers.
"I can't year you!"
An even louder cheer erupts in response.
"On the count of ten, we'll light this tree, ten!..."
As they count down, Nick and Judy huddle together. His arms wrapped around her. His tail too for good measure.
"two… one… Merry Christmas, everybody!"
In a dazzling display, the strands of lights illuminate the tree and the surrounding barn and farmhouse. The band starts playing "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" again, but just the instrumental and no vocals.
This year's tree is a little different than years prior. A group of Judy's more tech savvy siblings got together to devise a computer controlled light show. It can be plugged into the audio system in the barn like it is now to sync up the light display with the music.
Though it can be set to more gentle and rhythmic fade ins and fade outs afterwards so as to not annoy anyone with an above ground window in the burrow. The lights will be left on until New Years Day as several will enjoy the lights in the peace and quiet of the night while most are in bed.
The fox and the bunny stand there watching the light show. While this has not been Nick's first Christmas at the Hopps compound, it is the first as the husband to the now Judy Wilde. This week will be a very special one that they will remember for years to come.