Chapter Text
“Are you sure this is alright?”
This was maybe about the 10th or 11th time Nick had asked her on the drive to her hometown of Bunnyburrow. But with all the patience in the world she just turned and looked at him in the passenger seat and smiled.
“Of course it is, your name was on the invitation too. Now let’s get out there. I’m just as anxious as you are. I haven’t been home in so long.”
They had just arrived to her family’s farm where months before an invitation to her sister’s wedding’s landed in her tiny apartment in Zootopia. A triple wedding. It wasn’t uncommon in large families like hers to share important days like this. It made more sense and saved all families involved an insurmountable amount of money.
Judy’s younger sisters by only one litter, Kelly, Kim and Katherine were due to be married by the end of the day as long as everything went according to plan and as long as the weather behaved. But it was a spring wedding so the air was gentle and the heat of summer was far off. Nick was thankful for this for he already felt overheated due to his nerves.
Nick had of course met most of her family before back in the city. And that was fair and that was fine because they were on his turf and he was comfortable. But he was a city boy and he knew county folk did things differently. He dove into his hidden memories of lessons in manners and by God he prayed he could control his quick witted mouth in front of her parents.
The wedding was in an hour or two so they arrived already dressed. Judy was wearing a white tunic shirt with a teal flowing cardigan. The tunic could have been a dress alone but she wore a dark pair of leggings underneath it. On top of her head she adorned her ears with a flower crown of fake daisies. Nick’s outfit consisted of an almost black pair of blue jeans that he had tucked his powder blue button down dress shirt into. To give himself what he considered a ‘Nick flare,’ he topped it all off with a white blazer.
He sat in his seat thinking too hard and he knew that the other aspect bothering him was that he was indeed a fox and he knew that alone would make certain animals uneasy. Especially the hundreds of prey they were about to be surrounded by. Her family of course would be okay. They had met him, talked with him and seen how good of a friend he was to their Judy.
But the other families invited might not accept him.
Nick prepared himself for the sneers and the fear scent that would exude from their pores when they saw him. All in all it made him nervous that anything thing he did, even a sneeze brought on by the pollen in the air, would trip their internal alarms and he would have to make a retreat back to their car.
This is why his paw hesitated on the door handle when they finally parked in front of her childhood home.
Judy looked at Nick and because of her impressive ears she could hear the rapid fluctuations of his pulse and heartbeat. With all they had been through and how long they had known one another she knew what he was feeling. He couldn’t smirk at her and pretend to be okay, she would always know.
Like the time way back at the beginning of their partnership when one of their late night discussions turned to more personal stories of his teenage romping sessions with first crushes and first heartbreaks. He had asked her coyly if she had found any suitors while he had been gone at the police academy and before she could answer, the pounding of his heart flooded her ears and stirred something inside her.
As soon as she answered him with a ‘no’ his heart rate slowly returned to its normal speed.
This is why she was a good cop. She could literally hear when someone was lying through their teeth during an investigation but right now it allowed her to read her partner, her best friend.
Judy slowly reached out to grasp his paw closest to her and gave it a gentle squeeze. He in return flipped his over so that their palms smothered against each other as his larger paw captured hers. She waited until his heart followed her own rhythm before she continued.
“How about I make you a deal, we get through the ceremony and at least an hour of the reception. If you’re still feeling anxious I’ll take you to the blueberry patches and let you pick as many as you want straight from the source.” It’s all she could say to ease his stress because leaving was out of the question. She had promised her parents they would at least stay two nights in there home.
Nick closed his eyes joyfully at the prospect but still replied snidely, “You mean if everyone else is still feeling anxious about the big bad fox at a bunny wedding?”
That was a Nick Wilde ‘the con’ answer, not the Nick Wilde a decorated police officer who saved her life countless times answer. Her stomach lurched at how much he was concerned for the well being of others even if it meant caring about people with prejudices of predators. She understood it only came from his wanting to protect and keep the peace but it still hurt her to see him struggle.
“Well then you can just hold my paw okay? No one will bother you that way I promise.”
He had been mindlessly stroking her soft fur covered palm with his clawed thumb but when she said that he cleared his throat and let go and fixed an imaginary crease on the sleeve of his blazer.
“Oh sure let’s bring a predator to a prey wedding then have the local hero back home from her exciting life as a cop in Zootopia hold his hand the whole time. I don’t think that’s the message we should send to these animals.”
When he said things like that it confused Judy and filled her with doubt. He had never actually confessed to wanting to be with her but she was so sure by the pounding of his heart that they shared the same feelings for each other. She was starting to think maybe she had gotten it all wrong and she was making it all up because it’s what she so desperately wanted to happen.
There were sometimes she wanted to push all boundaries aside and kiss him…amongst other things. But his heart screamed one thing while his mouth projected another. And she didn’t want to make a move and ruin their friendship. For Judy it didn’t matter that they were different.
You can’t help who you fall in love with.
And although she never imagined she would love a fox, Judy had never seen an interspecies relationship in Bunny Burrow but in Zootopia it was slowly becoming a more accepted aspect of life evolving. She just wasn’t willing to put herself at risk if the signs she got from him were all wrong. Maybe he just wanted to be her friend and she would have to accept it.
She set her paws on the steering wheel and retorted, “You can’t let them see that they get to you. Remember that? How about this too alright? You can wear your aviator sunglasses so that when you notice someone being rude you can look at them and all they’ll see is their reflection and how stupid they look.”
He chuckled, “I was going to do that anyway. I like making people feel dumb.”
They shared a laugh and a movement at the front door caught his eye and he noticed someone coming out of the house to greet them.
It was her mother and he made a motion with his snout so that Judy would look in her direction. Her mother’s face brightened up and she began strolling to their car.
The car itself was a small rental, nothing fancy, just big enough to hold their luggage and all the gifts they had brought for newlyweds. Taking the train would have been a nightmare with all the extra things they had to bring.
Judy was first to hop out and meet her mom by the front of the vehicle. They were still hugging when he sauntered out of the car to join them. He watched how her mother instinctively rubbed her chin on Judy’s cheek leaving an overwhelmingly maternal scent that was reserved for young kits.
Scent marking wasn’t a new concept to him because all animals did their own version but the last time her family visited and she did that to her Judy had to explain it was something bunnies did in order to tell their children apart. It came quite in handy when they started school with other families so that no child went home to the wrong house!
Judy also had to explain how much it embarrassed her because grown bunnies didn’t need their mommies scent all over them mixing with their own or their mates.
That’s when he reminded Judy that she didn’t have a mate. He was right but that didn’t mean she couldn’t pout about it.
“Mom.” Judy said breaking away from her gently, “I asked you to stop doing that. No one takes me seriously when you do this.” She was rubbing her cheek trying to get the smell off but the damage was done.
“I can’t help it. I’m losing three daughters today and it’s making me a little crazy. And besides I haven’t seen you in months.”
Bonnie, Judy’s mom, ignored her further protests and turned towards Nick and gave him a quick hug and her face took a stern turn. “Now I thought I told you that you were welcome at our house whenever you like. It’s a shame the only time you come to visit is during a wedding. I won’t have time to show you farm or anything.”
The guilt contorted his face and he sheepishly shrugged but how could he explain to this seasoned bunny that he was afraid of scaring a whole town filled with country bumpkins.
“I’m sorry ma’am but,”
“Oh mom you know we’re busy with work.” Judy interrupted. She feared Nick was getting uncomfortable and wanted to save him like any good partner would. Bonnie nodded but couldn’t stop herself from rolling her eyes at the ‘work’ bit. Nothing would make her comfortable with the fact that her daughter’s desired profession put her in harm’s way.
Judy decided to distract her mother from another job lecture and said, “So, the K girls are getting married? I guess that’s not hard to believe, they were always doing things together.”
The two woman shared a knowing smile but Nick asked, “K girls?” His eyebrow rose in confusion.
Bonnie laughed politely, “It was a trick I learned from my mother. With every litter just change the first letter to keep your kittens organized. Judy was born with the J’s, Judy Jack John and so on. My babies getting married today are my K girls. With how many children we have had it has been a blessing!”
He made and ‘O’ shape with his mouth and nodded finally understanding.
And Bonnie, as all mothers know how to do, ended that part of their conversation in embarrassing Judy by telling her “When it’s your turn Judy you’ll be sure to remember that.”
Nick quickly looked back at Judy to see her reaction but she didn’t respond.
Judy only flushed and he swore her scent wavered from being her normal honey earth tone to almost smelling as if she were ready to rut. He had been her friend for a long time now and because she was a bunny it happened frequently for her. He swallowed dryly and turned away like he was a part of something he wasn’t supposed to see. Judy’s scent made him weak and confrontational which is why he bought her perfume once. Which now he noticed she neglected to wear.
Scents on animals were their tell all. An invisible introduction to who they were and how their life was and if they were single or looking or ready to settle down and start a family. And because of his keen sense of smell her scent was not hidden to him. So he trained his eyes to the far off horizon and rows and rows of carrots hoping he was mistaken.
“Why don’t you both grab your things and head inside? The other guests will be arriving soon and there is still so much to do. Judy you can help me in the kitchen and Nick why don’t you go out back and help the boys put up the last tent?”
She didn’t wait for an answer. She only turned around and went back in the house.
Judy stood there almost stunned but the clang of the screen door closing behind her mother snapped her back into focus and she went to the trunk of the car and opened it. Nick followed her and began to retrieve the three large gifts and their bags.
They both reached for her suitcase at the same time and bumped paws. Judy swatted him away and said, “I can carry it, you have everything else after all.” He agreed and took a step back as she closed the trunk and made her way to her childhood home.
Nick trailed behind her and through the front door which led them into a larger family room.
The house was large. It had to be to accommodate for the amount of bunnies and the décor was exactly what he imagined a farm house would look like. He smiled and Bonnie yelled from the kitchen, “You can put your things in the guest room Nick, Judy show him where that is would you please?”
Judy led him to a room down the hall and opened the door. He walked past her to go inside and put his bag on the bed.
“Carrots what do I do with the gifts?”
She was unsure so she answered, “Mom will know. Let’s go ask her.” She left her bag on the floor near the door and negotiated back down the hall.
They walked into the kitchen and Bonnie was hastily going back and forth between several pots checking the progress of whatever was giving off the delicious aroma assaulting his nose.
“I know what you’re thinking, this won’t be able to feed everyone but it doesn’t have to. The girls decided to have a potluck-type reception so this time I won’t be stuck in the kitchen all night!” Bonnie said without turning around.
She continued with, “But Kelly specifically requested my carrot bean soup and I couldn’t deny my child her favorite food on her wedding day.” That’s when she turned around with a somber smile on her face. Judy’s heart flipped flopped and she knew it must be hard to let go of your children. Thankfully for Bonnie she had a few hundred extras she could hold on to.
Nick adjusted the package that was slipping out of his grasp and Judy took one of the gifts from him so he didn’t drop any. “Where can we put these Mom?” Judy asked referencing the parcels.
“If you go out back you’ll see a row of tables closest to the house with each couples name on it so no one gets confused about what’s going where. Judith L Hopps please show him real quick then come back. I really do need your help in here putting the soup in serving dishes ok?”
Judy nodded. She was concerned that her mother used her whole name but shrugged it off and once again Nick followed her outside.
The tables were still pretty empty considering no other guests had arrived but the Hopps siblings had managed to spread their gifts here and there.
Suddenly Judy exclaimed, “That’s why the house was so quiet.”
Nick looked to see what she was staring at and in the distance were a majority of her brothers and sisters and her father. Most were clamored around her dad but the others were a whirlwind of activity from putting out chairs to setting up tables.
He saw that as his queue and put the gifts down then began walking towards the herd of bunnies.
As he left didn’t turn back when Judy called out, “Nick are you sure you’ll be okay?”
The fox continued walking but shouted back,
“Of course Carrots I’m a cop I can handle anything.” He put on a brave face but the fact that he wouldn’t look her way let her know he was doing his best to hide his insecurities. Also he chose that moment to take his sunglasses from his breast pocket and slip them on so he couldn’t fool her.
Judy shook her head knowingly and smiled before returning to the house.