Here is the 44th installment. Hope you enjoy.

Notes now live at the end of the chapter, so on with the obligatory, and on with the show.

Sadly, I do not own and thus can claim no rights to Zootopia or its characters. They belong to Disney.

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Wednesday Morning after the Wedding

Victoria looked over the mammals around the small family breakfast table in the kitchen that she claimed as her own. Her son, his mate, (a tiger of all mammals), a fox and a bunny, also mated, and both of which, her son and mate selected as their Firsts. Shaking her head, she found that, given everything she knew about the mammals in question, the fox and rabbit were the perfect Firsts for her son and his unconventional mate. Glancing to her own mate who gave her a warm knowing smile and nod, seeming to know her thoughts.

With a chuckle, Victoria turned back to the rest of the table. "I have to say. The wedding you put together in such a short time felt like something that had months of planning involved in it. How many favors did you have to burn to make it happen?"

Nick chuckled in response. "Actually. I need to do an accounting, but I am relatively certain that Judy and I came out ahead. Potentially way ahead, depending on how the promotion and such plays out starting this evening."

Victoria considered that for a second and smiled. "Then that is even more impressive."

Nick shrugged. "It is the reason I have so many favors owed to me to begin with, and so few owed to others. Many will just call in a favor, and I am not above that, but I'm far more interested in being owed, than owing. It is generally safer that way. So I'll call a mammal and make them an offer, their services for something that is of value to them other than money. Consider the photographer. He didn't charge anything because he gets to use the photos in promotional materials. All he has to do is get a sign off from Judy and I, Mike and Lizz, and you. That way we can be sure it only contains tasteful photos, and he gets to showcase his skills. Not only that, but he gets to brag that he was the photographer for the wedding of the Wolford Alpha Designate. Based on that, since I called him instead of dozens of other equally qualified photographers, he now owes me. The flowers were a favor asked and granted by Judy. The Ottertons really are the premier florists in Zootopia. They're going on a vacation next week, so all the flowers they used for the wedding would have had to be scrapped. Instead, they get access to the photos to use in their own promotional materials when they get back, they get to brag about doing the flowers for the wedding, and they now also have a relationship with a professional photographer. Plus, the flowers that would otherwise be thrown away, got used in a beautiful wedding they got to attend as a bonus."

Judy nodded. "We got lucky getting them. After Friday, they'll be on a three week family vacation as Nick said. As it was last minute and the middle of the night. Nick and I paid them a nominal amount, basically a gratuity. And when they get back from their vacation, they get to rightly claim that they did the flowers for the wedding as Nick said. Such exposure for a business like theirs that is mostly word of mouth, is invaluable. From what Emmett said to me last night, he ran out of business cards last night and ended up having mammals taking pictures of the last one he had. The fact that everyone will know how quickly it was put together will boost the value of it as the arrangements looked so amazing. Leaving the favor bucket a wash, or slightly in my favor."

Victoria nodded. "I see. So despite the speed, you may have ended up on the positive side of the ledger as far as favors go. All while creating a wedding that was, if I can be so bold, one of the most romantic and well put together I have ever seen. And I say that while holding it up against weddings that were planned over months. You even managed to pull off guests, a DJ and catering all in one. So what is your next trick?"

Judy grinned. "Arranging the move for Nick and I, as well as Mike and Lizz. We turned over the rental agreements last night on the way here. We have the keys and codes, I just need to make a quick call." Brandishing her phone.

Victoria smiled. "Okay, I'd like to see this magic trick then."

Judy dialed her phone and put it on speaker. A few moments later her mom answered. "Hi Bun-bun, what's up?"

"Calling to arrange the moving crew, mom. We'd like to get it done and over with. Especially with Lizz having to deal with those stairs at her current place. Think we can make it happen tomorrow?"

The smile in Bonnie's voice was obvious. "You're giving me a whole day to decide who to send? How many do you think you'll need?"

"Well, we want to engage the crew to move Lizz and Mike, as well as Nick and I. They need to be able to work around predators without freaking out, a wolf and tiger. Pizza will be provided. So I was estimating seventy five would probably be good, with two foremammals. Basically a bus worth, plus a dozen trucks to do the hauling with. We can split the work, and may even have a mega-fauna vehicle to assist, though that's not a sure thing."

Bonnie laughed. "I was going to send a hundred, give or take a handful. Think I still will. So, starting in the late morning, finish by the afternoon, feed them and send them home? That your plan?"

"That's the size of it, mom."

"Okay. I'll have everyone organized and on the road at dawn. Anything else you need?"

"No. Thank you for this mom."

"Happy to do it. You and Nick need to visit once you give birth. You have sapphires to select after all."

Nick spoke up with a smile. "We look forward to it Bonnie. How else are we going to get any sleep?"

Bonnie laughed lightly. "You should drag Lizz and Mike along too."

Lizz chuckled. "You sure you want a wolf and tiger in your burrow, Bonnie?"

"Considering that we are building towards a Great Pact, as well as mending the rift between the Hopps and Wildes, I think it is something we need to get used to. Besides, we could use the input on the new section that we're digging out. Make sure we make things big enough."

"Sounds good. We will make sure Nick and Judy let us know when they are going so we can tag along."

Bonnie sighed as a crash was heard in the background. "Well, y'all let me know. I have to go investigate that." A chorus of I didn't do it, sounded just as she hung up.

Judy smiled up at Victoria. "There we go. We'll be moved into our new places by the end of the day tomorrow."

Victoria and Arron share a glance, Victoria turning to Judy. "What was this about a Great Pact?"

Judy shrugged. "I suppose keeping it from you is silly. I just hope you don't choose to fight us on it, or interfere. In the ancient past, the rabbit tribe known as Hopp at the time, my ancestors, and the tribe of foxes named Wilde, Nick's ancestors, lived in the same burrow. They worked together for mutual protection, and even intermarried. However, a rift was formed by a weasel, who my sister is actually married to a descendant of. The Wilde's were driven from the burrow and what happened to them was partially lost. We only have the part from Nick's family line, which is incomplete, but enough to prove that it happened. As these revelations came out, we decided to create an extended family gathering this coming spring.

All the Hopps with non-rabbit mates would invite their mates and their families. Then we discussed inviting other inter couples, and quickly realized that with Mike and Lizz joining us in their personal capacity, along with many of our other inter friends, we had enough species to create a Great Pact. We've been planning it ever since, slowly, and adding species that will be attending. I think we are currently at twenty specific species and forty total families. More if you make distinctions between Siberian and Sumatran tigers, etc... Our intent was to bring it to you via Mike and Lizz when we were closer. Thus offering the Wolford pack the opportunity to join with the Hopps and Wildes, or maybe rejoin, if some of what we have found is true."

Arron laughed, slapping the table. "Wait! You're telling me those ancient documents are true?" Getting an odd look from the others at the table.

Victoria turned to her mate. "What are you talking about?"

With a smile, Arron shook his head. "Remember a few years ago, you had me overseeing the cataloging and digitization of all the packs documents. Specifically the ancient stuff, just in case it got damaged, so we would have digital copies and at least the data wouldn't be lost. Well, some that we have traced to several thousand years ago, when we still hunted rabbits for food, despite them being just as evolved as we were at the time. Suddenly in the records, we stopped hunting rabbits, started fishing and raising chickens and other birds for food. There is record of a pact made with a clan of rabbits and foxes, though the names were too damaged on the page to be made out. They taught us how to fish, and how to raise the birds. They in turn got protection, we put down roots in one location. The foxes and rabbits lived in the burrow, we lived in huts and such on top of it.

After several centuries, the pact fell apart. The writers were not sure what happened, but there was a falling out between the foxes and rabbits and the foxes left, along with a few of our pack who had married foxes and rabbits that chose to leave with the foxes. Our ancestors kept to the pact for a few more years with the rabbits, but in the end the rabbits abandoned their burrow. There was a change in leadership, and while there remained a truce of sorts, the pact itself dissolved.

Interestingly, there is record that the rabbits and foxes were able to interbreed, as were the wolves and foxes, though it doesn't say if the wolves and rabbits were able to. They supposedly settled in the mountains to the north west of where the burrow was and kept trade up with our ancestors. They went silent about two centuries after everything, but the Wolford pack were some of the leading voices to the Great Pact of Zootopia because of what we learned and were taught by those foxes and rabbits."

Judy laughed. "That matches what we have found in the oldest records, and adds more that we didn't know. We didn't want to assume that it was this Wolford pack."

Arron nodded. "Well it is, or was. You're joining the pack as the Firsts of the future alphas." Pausing as something occurred to him, he turned to Victoria. "Love, the old documents also state that we are required to join in a pact with those who taught us how to live beyond preying upon other mammals. As alpha, you can countermand it, but it is an ancient proclamation from a time when every other mammal was hunting or being hunted."

Nick laughed. "Depending on how it is worded, you could leverage it against those that will stand against Mike and Lizz."

Victoria grinned. "Arron, let's get the lawyers to look over that edict and see if Nick is right. That said, even without it, we would be joining this pact you are putting together. To expand the strength of the pack by joining such a thing elevates us and it."

Judy looked up at Victoria with a brilliant smile. "Oh, that is fantastic. I know Lizz will keep you informed."

Turning to Judy, Lizz nodded with a smile that faded after a moment. "I will. However, Judy. You said something the other day that I have been trying to make sense of and I am just simply failing. It didn't hit me at the time, with everything else going on, but when we were at Vivian's with your mom. You said that I was there for Nick's proposal, but I had no idea until a few days ago that you two were together, so how was I there for his proposal?"

Judy laughed. "Well, you in fact were, at least for most of it, you just didn't know it. He spread it over the entire day. Nick took the day off, and Mike was out for some reason. So, you and I got stuck together. Remember the singing speeder? The box of chocolates that got delivered just as we were heading to the cruiser. Blueberry truffles representing Nick, Strawberry for me, and then both lemon and orange chocolates which both of us love."

Lizz groaned. "Oh gods. That was him‽"

Judy nodded. "Yep. The entire day. One little romantic thing from my admirer after the next. Chocolates. A mammal paid to speed past us so he could sing me that song."

"Gave him a warning because he was actually really good."

"Yep. Then that jay walker. Just to get us, specifically me, out of the car so a damn flash mob could perform for us."

"Another warning issued."

"And lunch paid for. Remember, they gave us those vouchers at the end of the performance."

"That was a good meal, too." Lizz shook her head at the memory of the day. "Oh gods. Looking at it from that standpoint, and you knew who it was all from... I see what you mean. That was ridiculously romantic. None of it actually interfered with us doing our jobs, but it was irritating to me at the time. All this stuff coming at us, or more to the point you. All I could do is roll my eyes and wonder what rich buck was trying to catch your attention."

Nick piped up. "Nope, just a lowly fox trying to make his bunnies' day at work without him the best he could. I took her to a high end dinner after a day of gifts and random romantic moments. Then after dinner we took a long walk in the park where I completed everything by proposing officially."

Judy smiled at Nick lovingly. "While a band played some of my favorite romantic songs."

Lizz shook her head. "That entire day left me feeling weird and confused, and now it makes complete sense. Why did you have to take the day off though?"

Nick chuckled. "I stalked you two the entire day. That way I could coordinate each moment. Which gift would get delivered. Which impromptu performance would happen. You two had a train of a good thirty vehicles following you around most of the day. If I had been on patrol with her, it would have looked weird and suspicious if I was on my phone constantly."

Mike laughed. "He paid me two hundred Z's to fake being sick that day. That's what I used to pay for that romantic dinner we had the following weekend."

Victoria laughed. "So, you were directly witness to most of his proposal setup, but didn't actually know it. Obviously you accepted, Judy."

Judy gave a wicked grin. "Oh, I played the, thinking about it, bit, for a good ten seconds. I had to make him sweat after he made me wait so long for him to propose. Even if I didn't know that I was the one calling the shots at the time until about two weeks prior."

Nick shook his head. "Most terrifying ten seconds of my life."

"I had to give in when his eyes got watery. I knew he was starting to think that I was going to reject him."

"No, instead she launched herself at me like a gray missile and knocked me back. Almost dropped the ring."

"You'd have found it. I have faith." Judy gave Nick a kiss to the side of his muzzle. "Still, took you way too long, so you deserved the torture of those few seconds."

Victoria was one giant smile as her tail wagged happily behind her. "Oh, that is just too precious. You two are already better Firsts than most I have ever seen, both together and separate. Still, there are a few things about wolf culture that you need to learn. I mean, Nick knows far more than he should. It's why all the wolves on the force like him. He knows how to kant his ears, shift his tail, etc... All things that you both seem to read naturally. Knowledge he used to con many members of the pack out of their hard earned money on many an occasion in his former life. Skills he has used to great benefit as an officer to de-escalate a confrontation with a wolf, or pick up on when they were going to do something."

Nick's ears folded back and he looked down. "I always made sure that no one actually got hurt. Just a few Z's lighter than they otherwise would have been on a given day."

Victoria nodded. "Not to worry Nicholas. Any wolf that lost money to you deserved to lose that money. Besides, don't think I am not aware of what you would do if you found out that a mammal, wolf or otherwise, would have been in a bad way. If you found out that was their only meal for the day, they would somehow get food delivered. If you found out it was their rent, it got paid, anonymously of course. Still, being a fox, you are going to be underestimated as First. Though not as much as I think your bunny will be, much to the detriment of those who face off against her. And when they go against you as a team. May Luna have mercy on them."

Judy smiled with a knowing nod. "I know about the things Nick did in his former life. He really always was a good mammal, he just wasn't given the chance he should have been due to his being a fox. It is woefully unfair. As for learning wolf culture. I have done a lot of reading. I have nothing but time to read, as well as talk to Elli and a friend of mine, Margaret Greyhell. Plus, working with so many wolves, I have kinda had to learn, and Nick has helped a lot as well. Teaching me what tail and ear position means."

With a warm smile, Victoria nodded again. "I figured as much. You both take to it naturally. That said, there are some deeper things that you need to learn; Arron and I look forward to teaching you both. You need to learn about wolf honor, pack dynamics from inside the pack. Such as why it was such a big deal that Lizz invited that young wolf, Frank to a meal. Why a wolf's position in the pack means so much. Even in our more modern age, there are still omegas, betas, etc..."

Judy cocked her head to the side. "I understand it is kind of a semi-formal social network, with some governmental and quasi-religious functions. There are pack rules and laws that a wolf must follow beyond and in addition to the regular rules and laws of extended society. Position in the pack as part of the core pack, a satellite, or associated sub-pack, such as Frank is from; the prestige of position, a wolf's honor, all dictate their position in the larger pack hierarchy, and privileges therein. Is that at least somewhat accurate?"

Smiling widely, Victoria chuckled as Aaron looked on in surprise. "You pretty much nailed it. Now, I have one more question. How are you going to feed this platoon of rabbits showing up to move you and my cubs in the morning."

Nick raised a paw. "That's my job." Pulling out his phone and dialing a number, placing it on speaker on the table.

After a few rings, the line is picked up. 'Yo! Who the hell is dis?"

Grinning, Nick leans towards the phone. "Hey, Germoni. Long time no chat, friend."

The shock in the voice is clear and crisp. "Wilde? No way! What you callin me for, mammal?"

"I need to call in a favor, and before you freak out, I plan on paying you cost. I just have to have this happen by, what..." Glancing at Judy. "Delivered by three?" Getting Judy's nod. "Okay, three in the afternoon, tomorrow."

"Wow, okay, I should be able to do that. How much we talking? Ten, fifteen pies?"

Shaking his head, Nick smiles at the phone. "Not even close, buddy. I have a platoon of rabbits performing a move for me, and I need to feed them. So I need to feed." Glancing at Judy again. "What do you think, Carrots? One fifty?" Judy shook her head and pointed up. "More? Two hundred?" Smiling at her nod. "Okay, I need to feed two hundred, and make them wolf sized."

There was coughing from the other end of the line. "Two hundred, wolf sized?"

"No, I need to feed two hundred, and wouldn't mind some leftovers."

"Still! That's insane, but three tomorrow?"

"Come on Germ. You know you can do it, and I'm paying you cost. The favor is pulling it off."

Germoni groaned loudly. "Damn it, Fox! Do you know what that's going to take me to pull off? Even paying me cost, this clears up the favor I owe you."

"Well, we can discuss that. I think I would still be due a few free pies."

"Fine. A few, as in one now and then."

"I'm good with that."

"Alright, where do these need to end up? I suppose you want them all delivered at the same time?"

"Got it in one. I'll text you the address, and this is my new number."

"Sure it is. You change numbers like you changed ties."

"Not anymore. Had this number for almost three years now."

"No kidding. So the whole cop thing is for real?"

"Very much so, Germ. I'll text you the address. See you tomorrow."

"Roger that." His voice could be heard yelling. Yo! Ginny, we got a special order. Enough wolf size... Hold on." Nick was grinning at the phone. "What exactly do you want, Wilde?"

"I'm thinking twenty extra cheese, twenty veggie supreme, twenty five works, twenty five pepperoni overload, and fifteen meat lovers with your special chicken sausage." Glancing at Judy who was shaking her head. "What?"

Judy spoke up. "Hi Germoni, Judy here, this goof's wife. Let's make it twenty extra cheese, thirty of the veggie supremes, thirty of the works, twenty of the pepperoni overload, and ten of the meat lovers with the chicken sausage."

"Y'all said you were feeding rabbits I thought?"

"There will be rabbits, a few foxes, wolves, and some other mammals. Trying to cover our bases."

"Fair enough... Wait, you said wife... Wilde!? You got hitched?"

Nick laughed. "Yep, and I'm not even sad about it. You can meet her tomorrow if you hang around. She's about to make me a father even."

"No way!" The shock echoing over the phone. "That I have to see. Catch ya tomorrow." Germoni could be heard yelling. "Ginny! Wilde got hitched!" Then from somewhere farther away. "What?!" At which point Nick hung up.

Victoria shook her head. "You just got Germoni Thrask, to agree to cater one hundred plus pizzas with a day's notice."

Nick nodded as he finished texting the address to Germoni. "Yep."

"You realize that, as the Designates acknowledged First, you could have just demanded it of him and he would have been bound by Pack rules to do it. Paying him or not."

"Yeah, but it's a favor that is long overdue of being paid. This gets him mostly out from under it, though I'll still be able to score a free pie on occasion."

With a wide smile, Arron chuckled. "And this is why you are the acknowledged First's. You don't abuse your position or what you are owed by other mammals."

Victoria gave a nod of her own. "Completely agreed, love." Turning to Nick, Judy, Lizz, and Mike. "So, what are your plans for the day? I know you boys are off for the next three. Must be nice to finally hit your three."

Nick nodded. "It really is. I have not gotten to spend nearly enough time with Judy. I also have a lot of calls to make. I'd like to do the recordings this afternoon for the training Bogo assigned me to create. But there is a lot to arrange, so I may only get a few done today, other than mine and the rest on Friday."

Judy smiled. "Realistic. Who all, other than these two, and Eric do you need?"

"The usual suspects. Grizzoli, Alnterton, etc... Need to see if Chromest and Ghalt are free. Jacobson, Earl and Yak, and a few others from other precincts. Most are on shift. I think the first thing we need to do is hook Duke."

With a happy hop in her seat, Judy grinned. "I have his card. You know who else you're going to have to talk to?" Looking down at her belly. "Oh, knock it off in there. I'm happy, I'm gonna bounce a little. Get used to it."

Nick gave a laugh. "Well, that's becoming all too normal."

"What?"

Giving Judy a smirk. "You, arguing with the kits, and they aren't even born yet."

Judy rolled her eyes. "My mom did it with every litter I remember. All of my sisters do it. Seems to be a Hopps thing. But... They do calm down. So I'm going to chalk it up to learning to listen to their mother."

"If you say so, Fluff. So, I figure we're going to head home, change, and I'm going to make some calls." Turning to Mike and Lizz. "We won't need you until at least early this afternoon. You two just got married. Why don't you hang around here, or go out and enjoy the day. I'll text you. Sadly, I don't think you are going to get a honeymoon of any sort until after everything is official, and the cubs are born and a few months old."

Lizz nodded with a sigh. "I don't see it happening until they are at least weaned. Not sure if it'll be o'natural or formula. I guess it'll depend on what the doc says."

Judy nodded. "That's where we are at too, although I'm thinking formula. A mix of fox and rabbit formula to ensure they get the protein they need, along with the other nutrients they'll need. But we're mixing prey and predator, even if there is fox and other preds in my background. You at least are both predators. I suspect you might only need to supplement at most."

Lizz smiled. "Valid point Judy. Still, going to go with what the doc says. It is what is best for the cubs."

Mike smiled, leaning against Lizz and a paw on her belly. "I think a day out would be good for us." Turning to his parents. "Mom, Dad. Would it be alright if we stayed here tonight as well. I really don't want Lizz to have to walk back up those stairs again."

Victoria smiled. "Of course. Why don't you, Mike, go to your apartment. Pick up some clothes and such for both of you. Then when you get back, you can take your now wife out to lunch. By then, Nick should be ready for you. Then you will have to figure out dinner."

Nick laughed. "Oh, dinner is easy. That'll be Greetha's."

Judy frowned. "Nick..."

Nick laughed. "Got a text from Carlos. Wants to discuss some additional recordings with us, as well as some details about the concert. So, when I reply to him, I'll tell him that Maria will just have to treat us to Greetha's."

With a huff and smirk, Judy sighed. "Considering that she finally managed to get us to do the recordings, and talked Bogo into having us do the concert, it is the least she could do."

Nick nodded with a smile. "Agreed, my dearest Bunny."

Victoria looked between the mammals. "Hold up. How are you getting a table at Greetha's on essentially zero notice?"

Judy grinned. "Well... Maria was my college roommate. Not sure if that got mentioned before, a lot has gone on. She has been trying to get Nick and I to sing on one of her albums for years. She finally pulled it off, and roped Lizz and Mike into as well. Of course, we also got my old friend Bobby his dream job. He auditioned for her without knowing that was what he was doing." Turning to Nick. "I do hope Carlos will bring Bobby with him."

"I haven't texted him back, so I will insist. I know you want to make sure he's treating your first kiss right."

Judy rolled her eyes. "You're still on that? It was both our first kisses and showed clearly that we were not anything more than friends."

"So no angels singing and what not?"

"No, Nick. That only happened a few years later with some scruffy, dirty, dumb fox."

"Anyone I know? Sounds like I should be jealous."

"Well, I do like his tail a lot, if not more than him. It's so cuddly."

Unable to keep it up, Nick glared down at his tail. "You! Again‽ Always behind my back, and still trying to cut in on me with Judy. I should shave you!"

Judy gave Nick a death glare. "You will do no such thing!" Carefully petting his tail. "Don't worry Tailor, I'll protect you."

Nick's eyes going wide, he gasped in shock. "You gave him a name?" Feigning shock and falling back in his chair. "How could you, Fluff? And with my own tail, too."

Victoria and Arron were laughing, while Lizz and Mike rolled their eyes. Victoria recovered first. "My gods. You too are so perfect together. I couldn't imagine another mammal that would fit the other better. I don't know what it is, but watching you interact, it is like species just vanishes. Like when I look at Lizz and Mike. Despite the fact that I can see that she is a tiger and Mike is a wolf, after a few moments of watching them. Those factors simply vanish, as if I shouldn't even see them."

They ate for a few moments in silence, before Lizz looked up. "Uh... Victoria. I know you said it last night, but I feel I need to ask again to ensure I'm not assuming. Can I call you mom?"

Giving a Judy level smile, Victoria nodded. "Please. I would be honored if you would call me mom. At least, when you own isn't around."

Lizz smiled shyly. "Okay. Mom. Elli has been giving both Judy and I a lot of pointers, how to, what not to, etc... On wolves, and I think... I really hope I am picking it up."

"From what I have seen so far, you're doing great. What's on your mind, dear?"

Taking a deep breath, Lizz gripped Mike's paw. "I know we are married now, but I also know that isn't the official wolf ceremony. That has to take place at some kind of moot, a circle, or other gathering. Then we will..." Lizz paused and took a long breath. "We will have to have sex, behind curtains, or not, and someone will have to..." Lizz's ears were bright red as they folded back. "Oh gods, I can't believe I'm talking about this with you, but I have to... Someone will have to look and verify that we tied the knot. I know that is going to be a ways off, but I... I love Mike more than anything, but I…" Stopping and looking down, her ears folded down to invisible. "I will figure out how to get through that. I just wanted to express how uncomfortable it makes me." Pulling her eyes to look at the Alphas.

Victoria frowned and glanced at Arron who had a matching frown on his face. Lizz saw this and her heartbeat accelerated, she quickly spoke up as she held back tears thinking she had made a major error. "Please, don't take this wrong. Maybe I wasn't supposed to bring that up here. I'm still learning, please forgive me if I made an error. I am truly trying, I swear. I love Mike. I will do whatever it takes..."

Victoria put up her paw to stop Lizz. "Elizabeth, please stop. You are fine, and I completely understand your concerns. I promise you this much. You will not be subjected to that. It is an ancient tradition that is so very much out of date. That got pulled on Ed and Elli by some of the excessively conservative members of the council. It was once a tradition for all wolf marriages, but that was a very long time ago. It is also something those members would happily bring back as a way to stop pairings like yours. They don't think that you actually love each other, and use that as a way to prove it, thinking that a non-wolf won't go through with it. Elli proved them wrong, but she is a bit of an exhibitionist.

So, I promise you this again, that is not going to happen to you. You're going to have your ceremony, and then go off to your honeymoon like every other wolf gets to do. You will not be forced into some weird extra tests or so called traditions that they dredge up from centuries ago."

Lizz breathed a sigh of relief, wiping away the tears before they could fall. "Oh, thank you, Mom. Thank you."

Victoria smiled, though it was weak. "There were a lot of mistakes made when Ed and Elli came to us and revealed their relationship. Especially due to their desire to have a traditional wolf ceremony. Arron and I are at fault for letting much of it happen as we came to terms with the fact that Ed had chosen a prey mammal. We will not let any of that nonsense happen to you and Mike. As alpha's, it is hard to admit when we have made grievous errors. What happened with Ed and Elli, was just that. We are not against interspecies couples, Arron's First is an inter, and they are simply adorable when they don't think anyone is watching."

Arron put his paw on Victoria's shoulder. "We are a united front on this. We have done all we can to make it up to Ed and Elli for the mistakes we made and what happened. We have learned from those mistakes. I cannot promise that something won't slip through, but that is where we are going to rely on your Firsts as much as you will." Turning his attention to Nick and Judy. "Through the process, one or both of you will need to be with them. Judy, you with Lizz. Nick, you with Mike. At least most of the time, when they are together, then only one of you need be there. You need to have Vic and I on speed dial. All four of you.

If something is being demanded of, asked of, expected of, or you are told you have to do something. Do not hesitate to call and verify. If it is inappropriate, refuse until you get confirmation directly from us. That was the biggest mistake we made with Ed and Elli. They didn't have Firsts to help them because things were forced way too fast by those old wolves, and they weren't comfortable calling or questioning what was going on. We want you to do just that. Question. Yes, they're going to interview you. They're going to ask questions, and probe, but feel free to stop any interview that gets too personal. They're supposed to be checking that you are learning our culture, not quizzing you on your sex life."

Lizz smiled. "That is a tremendous relief."

Nick and Judy shared a look, Judy speaking. "You can count on us."

Victoria smiled warmly. "That's good. I hope we have alleviated your concerns."

Lizz smiled with another sigh as she leaned against Mike. "So very much. I have been looking forward to most of the things Elli has been explaining and teaching me about. The ceremony itself sounds wonderful, though I don't think it'll surpass last night." Turning to Nick and Judy. "I don't know if we will ever be able to thank you sufficiently for pulling that off. From the officiant that pulled off perfect invocations, the guests, catering, music... Even flowers. A dress for me. There are no words to express how perfect you made it."

Nick's ears folded in clear embarrassment. "It was nothing less than you guys deserved. After all the stress and fear you have lived under for so long. You deserved a ceremony that was missing the things that your wolf ceremony will have." Looking up to Victoria and Arron. "There will be speaking challenges, and maybe even a physical challenge or two. There will be disputes as to the legitimacy of their union for a dozen reasons, all of which will have to be answered and addressed in the moment. And don't even try and say that isn't going to be the case."

Arron nodded, his ears partially back. "You are correct, Nick. Dead on in fact. Especially when you are going to help halt all the crap out of the lead up. Those that are going to stand against the union of Mike and Lizz will use that as their last opportunity to make a stand."

Mike grinned. "We'll be training for several months under these two." Pointing to Nick and Judy. "Lizz and I are already better trained than most wolves, no matter how much they think they're a big, bad, wolf. If they challenge them as Firsts, they'll suffer dearly for it. They have both, easily, bested ex-special forces mammals in seconds. As in, gotta watch the tape back in slow motion to see what happened."

Judy laughed. "First and last time Bogo tried to use that as a way to punish us. Now we are the punishment for others."

Arron nodded with a smile. "Excellent. Where did you two learn such skills?"

Lizz looked at Judy and Nick. "Can I say?"

Judy frowned in thought, sharing a look with Nick, then looked up to Victoria and Arron. "It's not really your place, nor ours. Suffice it to say... Both Nick and I have trained under very advanced combat masters. The one still in our lives has actually directed us to train Lizz and Mike, as a final test of Nick and I, before declaring us as master."

Arron shook his head with a smirk. "Fair enough. Will we ever meet or know who this mammal is?"

Nick nodded. "I'm sure you will, and they will reveal their nature in their own time to you. Their day-job is very far removed from what you might expect someone like them to do, and they're much younger than you'd think."

Victoria sighed with a shake of her head. "Fine. I've seen those videos. You are both quite impressive. So I have faith you'll be able to stand easily to any challenge." Looking them over? "Anything else?"

Judy and Nick shook their heads, Judy smiling up at Arron and Victoria. "Not from us. I have a lot more to learn, and I think even Nick has some things to learn. But we will be ready."

Lizz squeezed Mike's paw and gave him a kiss on the side of his muzzle. "I know I have a lot to learn, but I know Elli is dedicated to helping me learn."

Victoria smiled. "I am too, dear. I am just as dedicated to your success as Elli."

Lizz smiled brightly. "Thank you, mom. That you support us and accept us, takes so much more load off my shoulders."

Mike nodded. "Mine too, mom. Dad. Of everything, your approval was my own personal biggest worry."

"So... Lizz. Judy. Why don't you two both hang out here until Mike gets back to take you to lunch and meet up with Nick. The three of us can chat, talk wolf stuff, etc... It'll give me a better chance to get to know the both of you as well."

Lizz grinned. "That sounds fantastic. Judy?"

"I'm on board." Judy turned to Arron. "Arron. Mike said that the sausages were actually your recipe? You grind the meat yourself? I have to say, they are fabulous and I really hope Nick and I can score some from you." spearing the last one from Nick's place and munching it quickly."

"It is." Watching Judy eat the sausage for a moment. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to watching that. It must be how most prey feel when they see a predator eat meat. It's just down right disconcerting."

Mike and Lizz laughed, Mike speaking. "You'll get used to it, Dad."

Conversation finished shortly thereafter. Mike gave Nick a ride to retrieve his car, before making his way up to the apartment he shared with Lizz.

Mike was back at the Wolford estate in just under two hours. When he got there, he found Lizz and Judy in his mothers drawing room, deep in conversation. Figuring his mom was giving his love, instruction on being mated to a wolf, and more importantly the next in line as Alpha, Mike sought out his father. Spending the next several hours just catching up with his dad, pack politics, and when or even if his parents were discussing stepping down. Finding out that they had no plans to step down at that time. Mike need not worry, because if they did, it would be many years yet.

Nick, after retrieving his car, returned to the apartment he and Judy would call home for only one more night. He packed some fresh clothes for Judy and some toiletries. She could shower at the precinct and change. The other officers would love seeing her anyway. He then spent three hours making calls and had three mammals, including Gerald, a Skunk named Allen, and a Marble fox that went by Frost. All were ready and would be at Precinct one around three in the afternoon.

After texting that to Mike, Judy, and Lizz, they arranged to meet up for Lunch at their favorite place not Therus, where a lot of Precinct One officers took their breaks or when off duty, as it was first responders only. Figuring it would be a great way to get the word out about Lizz and Mike, especially being seen out in public, together. Victoria gave both Mike and Lizz a hug before they left, and got a hug from Judy, to her surprise.

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A/N

Remember to share the love. Review and Fav. It is the life blood of every writer to know you are enjoying their work. I also want to thank everyone who has Fav'd, followed, and reviewed this little project. I know that isn't much, but to me, it's huge. Even as a writer of original fiction, that you enjoy this means a lot to me as an author. You can check out my original work and link to my Blog, Scribblings, where a lot of it lives by hopping over to ( Direct: dcballard (remove the spaces) because the forwarding is misbehaving.)

If you enjoy this, and you are not also reading my original Log Entries series over on my Blog. Why aren't you? (takes a Nick-esk pose of hurt) Also. I am now posting them on AO3, so you have even less excuse. It's free, ORIGINAL fiction. "An original story told through the log entries of the pilot and captain of an experimental star ship."

You should really be checking out my bestest bud, Bear678, and his story What Foxes May Come.

So keep those reviews and comments coming. And also remember, if you see issues, misspellings, etc... Let me know in PM, I'm under no illusion of being perfect and want to fix those things I miss.