Nick's eyes were growing bigger and bigger when Stu confirmed that their family was indeed as large as Judy had always claimed it to be. And when the buck had started to recount the names of all his children, Nick's jaw dropped lower and lower.

The three of them were still sitting in the waiting area of the hospital. While trying to distract themselves from their worries and all the thoughts about the possibly horrifying outcomes of Bonnie's surgery, their conversation had moved from the subject of Judy and Nick's work to the Hopps family and their farm in Bunnyburrow.

When Stu in his recital reached the letter 'R' ("There is Robert, Rachel, Richard, Raymond, Rose...") a female ibex in a white coat approached them.

In an instant, the conversation came to a halt, all three mammals regarding the doctor with identical, anxious expressions.

When the caprid smiled, the two rabbits and one fox exhaled, none of them realizing they had held their breath.

"How is she?" Stu asked even before the ibex could open her muzzle.

"She is fine. Aside from the wound in her arm, all her other injuries had been superficial." The buck sighed in relief, and Judy smiled at her mate, briefly squeezing his paw at the good news.

"We had to put stitches in the larger wound though, and it will probably leave a thin scar. The blood loss hasn't been severe, but we have still opted to get that blood bag from Bunnyburrow to have it close by, just in case. Luckily, none of the larger blood vessels had been damaged. Lastly, she suffered a mild concussion caused by the blunt trauma to her head. We want to keep her here for a night to make sure no complications arise, so she won't be discharged today. Tomorrow on the other paw, she will be free to leave."

"You can go see her now." She added with another smile, beckoning over a nurse who had been waiting close by.

Asking the small group of mammals to follow him, the badger led the way through the hospital's corridors until they arrived in front of a specific room.

Judy felt her nerves rise at the prospect of seeing her mom lying in one of the beds, motionless.

As if he had read her thoughts - and she briefly wondered if he did - Nick asked the orderly "Has she regained consciousness yet?"

The badger - whose gaze quickly flicked down to the fox and bunny's still intertwined paws - smiled after a moment and nodded. "She was just about to wake up when we brought her here."

Excusing himself, the mammal headed towards the nurses' station, leaving Judy, Nick, and Stu to their own devices.

Swallowing, Judy let go of Nick's paw, reaching for the door-handle. It was only when she felt the warmth of his paw on her back - giving her courage she hadn't felt at that moment - that she was able to finally push the handle down and enter the room.

She stopped dead right on the threshold, taking in the view of her mom, her head, and one arm covered in white gauze, with an IV pole with an isotonic saline solution next to her.

The older doe was sitting fairly upright, propped up by a pillow. When Bonnie looked their way, Judy felt her legs starting to buckle and hurried forward, halfway sitting down, halfway simply throwing herself on the bed, hugging her mom as carefully as she could given her jumbled emotions.

Wrapping her good arm around her daughter, Bonnie gave her a reassuring hug.

"I'm alright, Sweety. Everything is fine. Shhh, it's okay." Her words only caused Judy to nuzzle into the nook between her neck and shoulder, sniffling once.

When the younger doe drew back after a while, her eyes were glistening, but the first untroubled smile in hours was lighting up her face as well, making it obvious what a huge load had been taken off her mind.

Stu, who had waited patiently until then, was now stepping up to his wife, pressing a not so small kiss to her lips before letting his forehead rest against hers, their noses touching. "I'm so, so glad that you are alright, Honey. I was so unbel-lievably w-worried. W-what would I d-d-do...?" He wasn't able to finish his sentence, big tears starting to flow from one second to another.

"Here come the waterworks." Bonnie lovingly teased her husband - speaking the exact words he usually used during his emotional outbreaks - while gently patting his cheek.

Looking past her still-sobbing husband, Bonnie spotted the fox who had remained in the background, waiting at the door.

"You must be Nicholas, right?"

"Yes, Ma'am." the tod replied.

Smiling at the polite response, the Hopps matriarch waved him nearer.

Judy and Stu stepped aside a little to make room for the reynard.

As soon as he was in reach, the older doe leaned forward to catch the surprised predator in a hug. "Thank you for saving my life."

Nick was so taken aback by the sudden gesture, he was unable to reply, and just carefully returned the hug, not wanting to hurt or... scare the doe.

When releasing him from the embrace, she added: "And please, call me Bonnie."

Nick nodded in acknowledgment, and when a small paw grasped his own, he faced towards his mate, her joyful, loving expression and broad smile making him grin like an idiot, squeezing her paw in return.

The whole exchange didn't go unnoticed by the older doe. Looking at her husband questioningly, the only reaction she got was a smile and a nod, followed by him shaking his head along with a shrug, indicating that he wasn't sure himself about what was going on.

"How do you know it was us who brought you to the hospital, mom?" The question by her daughter interrupted Bonnie's thoughts.

"Oh, well, when I woke up I panicked a little, with your dad not here. I demanded to get my cell phone so that I could call him and you. But the nurse just told me that my husband was here, sitting in the waiting area together with the bunny and fox paramedics who brought me here. It was easy enough to figure out it was you and your partner."

Her gaze softened. "But you are more than just partners, right?" She asked in an equally gentle voice.

The two young mammals in front of her tensed up in surprise, the bunny's nose twitching and one of the fox's ears flicking nervously. They briefly looked at each other, a silent exchange that needed no words.

When Judy looked back at her mom, she had relaxed a little. She felt Nick's tail subtly curling around her ankles and took a deep breath before answering. "You are right, mom. There is something I... we wanted to tell you."

She recounted how they had become partners. How Nick had asked her out on a date just one week later. How they became a couple. How they shortly after that had chosen each other as mates. And how they had moved in together not so long ago.

"I know it all happened very fast. I mean, we just met each other a little more than three months ago, and it must seem like we are rushing things. But... but... ."

Bonnie placed a paw on her daughter's forearm, gently interrupting the younger doe who was almost stumbling over her own words. "Sweety, breathe!"

Ears laid back, Judy did just that, feeling herself calming down again.

"Do you love him?"

"Of course I do. I love him so, so much. I have never been happier or more content in my whole life. Nick means the world to me, mom, and I can't imagine him not being at my side anymore."

The moment she turned to face her fox, Nick wasn't able to help himself anymore.

Not caring that her parents were there, he kissed his mate lovingly. "I'm just the same, Sweetheart. I love you with everything I am, and more than my own life." He gave her nose a small lick, drawing a giggle from the bunny.

Remembering that they were not alone, they faced towards the bed and the lagomorph resting there, both wearing a flustered expression and blushing under their fur, even if it was hard to tell through the fox's red coat.

"I have just one more question, then," Bonnie stated with an unreadable look on her face, ignoring the slight sniffling coming from her husband after the display of affection they had witnessed.

The young couple was looking at her with a mix of anticipation, curiosity, and nervousness.

Letting her mask slip off, a broad, warm smile appeared on the matriarch's face.

"When is the wedding going to be? We want to fix a date as soon as possible. Oh, you just have to hold the ceremony in Bunnyburrow."

Judy was entirely caught off guard. Her ears were standing up rigidly, bright red on the inside. Her eyes were wide as saucers, gaze flicking back and forth between her still-smiling mom and her dad, who vigorously nodded his head in agreement.

Though, that wasn't what derailed her thoughts completely. Her mate's reaction was the reason her mind suddenly drew a blank.

The fox just stepped behind Judy, putting his arms around her, his head placed between her ears and answered with a chuckle. "That sounds lovely, Ma... Bonnie. I had always dreamed of a wedding outside of Zootopia. I had never been to the countryside, you see. And holding the ceremony in fall would be fantastic. Maybe on an open field or close to a forest, with all the trees showing such vibrant colors."

When Judy's brain had finally restarted, she turned around in Nick's embrace, trying to stop him, to tell him her parents weren't kidding and that he shouldn't answer in jest like that.

She already had a witty comment on her tongue to wipe the smirk off his face.

But there was no smirk, no lopsided grin or playful, teasing sparkle in his lush green eyes. Just an honest, caring, incredibly tender expression that caused her train of thoughts to come to a crashing halt once more.

"What do you think, Fluff? Fall sound good?"

She was working on autopilot, feeling like she was watching herself from the outside when without thinking she slowly nodded in agreement to his question, giving off an almost inaudible "Fall sounds perfect."

Wait! Did he just...? And did I just...? Does that mean we just... got...?

Nick didn't give her a chance to finish that thought when he kissed her again, more passionate than before. Though the tod could have sworn he heard the faintest, mumbled 'engaged' coming from his doe when he broke the kiss.

Clearing her throat, Bonnie drew the attention of the young couple.

"I think that we," she gestured towards her husband who stepped up beside her, "also owe you an apology, Nicholas. We didn't just come to Zootopia today to celebrate my birthday with Judy. We wanted to convince her to return to Bunnyburrow with us, even if just for a while. When she told us about working with a predator, we had been... concerned. But when reports about predators going savage increased, we were frightened something might happen to her. We hadn't even taken the time to get to know you, and we already distrusted you. We are so sorry for acting like prejudiced fools. Can you forgive us?"

Nick had already taken a liking to the two older rabbits and answered without hesitation. "There is nothing to forgive, Bonnie. You were worried about your daughter, and that is understandable, especially right now with that whole predators-go-savage stuff going on here. And the fact that you are alright with a fox dating a member of your family shows what good people you are."

Listening to the vulpine, both Stu and Bonnie marveled at how wrong they had been about foxes and predators in general.

Predators...

From one moment to the next, the grateful smile that had adorned the older doe's face gave place to one of sudden realization.

"That's not it!" All eyes turned to her at her sudden statement.

"It's not about predators going savage! That lemming! He had gone savage as well!"

"True," Stu chimed in, "it wasn't a predator who attacked you. Oh my, if even prey animals can go savage..."

"No!" Bonnie shook her head. "That's not what I'm trying to say. I smelled something on him when he jumped at me before I tripped and hit my head."

Her next words she directed at her husband, looking at him intently.

"Midnicampum Holicithias."

Stu's ears shot up straight, and his eyes widened in understanding. "Terry!" was all he said.

Nick was looking from Bonnie to Stu and back, a puzzled look on his face.

I have no idea what they are talking about. At least Carrots doesn't look like she understands, either.

"I don't get it," Judy spoke up.

Knew it!

"What has a class C botanical to do with Uncle Terry and the savage mammals?"

Dang it!

"Your uncle once ate one of those plants and the next moment, he just snapped. Almost bit a chunk out of your mom's arm." Stu explained.

Excitedly, Judy grabbed Nick by his sleeve. "You hear that? Quick! Call him!"

The fox had his cell phone already in paw, swiftly unlocking it. "Already on it. You really need that fur stylist after today. You look somewhat unkempt."

His teasing earned him a punch to the shoulder by the doe. "Ouch, alright, alright, you brutal bunny. I know who you are talking about. No reason to get violent." Smirking he gave her a wink and left the room, the phone pressed to his ear.

Before the door fell shut, they could hear him greeting the mammal on the other end of the line. "Hey there, Buffalo Butt. Your favorite fox here. Listen..." The rest of the conversation was cut off.

When Judy caught the quizzical looks on her parents' faces, she gave off an amused snort. "That's Chief Bogo that Nick is calling. The Chief of police. That fox is probably the only mammal in this whole city who can get away with calling him something like 'Buffalo Butt.'"

Feeling more confused than before, Stu probed a little more. "How come Nicholas has the number of the Chief of the ZPD?"

"We both have his number." Judy started to explain. "We saved his son's life by chance. When we were on our way back to the ambulance station one day, we passed by his house. I picked up a commotion from the inside. We hurried in and found Bogo and his wife in the kitchen, their calf lying on the floor. Nick smelled a cleaning detergent on the little one, I made him throw up, and we drove him to the hospital, his parents following us in their own car. Bogo was so grateful; he told us to call him whenever we need him."

Looking at the door, she added with a smirk that looked quite similar to the reynard's "He probably regretted it afterward. But now he'll be happy he did it."

Right at that moment, Nick reentered the room.

"The chief was very interested in Uncle Terry and the 'Midnight whatsoever.'"

"Midnicampum Holicithias," all three Hopps said at the same time, causing the tod to shake his head in amused disbelief.

"Right. That. He wants to talk to you two today if you are fine with that?" He looked from Bonnie to Stu and back.

Bonnie nodded, "If we can help that way we'll gladly do that."

Nick quickly tipped at his cellphone, sending a text he had already prepared upon guessing doe's answer.

Looking at Judy he added, "I have also told him about the documentary, the cameras that we wear and the ones inside the ambulance and he intends to get his hooves on the footage in case something or someone suspicious had been recorded."

Judy suddenly sat down at the edge of the bed, slumping over and groaning. "Noooo. It has all been recorded..."

It took Nick a moment to connect the dots, but when he did, he laughed and pulled the bunny into his arms, pressing his lips to her quivering nose. "Seems we have to ask Bogo for a copy of that, huh?"

Her mate's comment drew another groan from the lagomorph. Just this time it was accompanied by her nuzzling against his chest, a blissful smile on her face.

When Judy woke up to the darkness inside her helmet, she needed a moment to recollect her thoughts, feeling how the memories of her latest experience inside the P.I.X.A.R. machine were already slipping away. She remembered why Nick and she had chosen that particular scenario, though. Taking off the device and placing it in her lap, nervousness set in.

A black-furred paw on her forearm brought her out of her thoughts. Swallowing around the lump in her throat, Judy slowly looked up at her husband. The expression on the reynard's face was unreadable.

"Thank you, Carrots. That really helped me."

A sinking feeling overcame the doe.

"Does that mean..."

"... that I'll continue working with you at the ZPD? Of course!"

Her slowly drooping ears stood up again with an audible whipping sound, her cast down eyes shooting up to find her fox's.

Seeing his renewed determination, the doe couldn't help but inquire, "Why?"

Collecting his thoughts, Nick stayed silent for a moment until he answered.

"For a couple of reasons, actually:
I already told you before that I love our job.
As paramedics, we could only react to a crisis, while as police officers we can actively protect the citizens of Zootopia.
Inside the P.I.X.A.R. machine, we were great EMTs, but that was because of its settings. If we try to do that for real, there is a good chance we might fail, while on the other paw I already know that we are badass cops right now."

He was raising a digit for each reason.

"Also..., " when he lifted the fourth digit, his features softened some more. Opening his paw he gently placed it against Judy's cheek, caressing it with his thumb.

"... after we woke up, I remembered something. Something you said during my graduation ceremony."

The doe, who had listened intently to her mate's words, gave him a quizzical look. "Something I said?"

He nodded. "You talked about how life is more complicated than a slogan on a bumper sticker. That real life is messy, and that we all have our weaknesses and faults... and that change starts with us."

Judy was blushing a little at that. "You remember that?"

The fox couldn't help but chuckle. "I have memorized your whole speech. Word for word. But that part is important to me right now since remembering it made me realize: we already caused great changes in this city. We blew Bellweather's plan to smithereens - pun intended." The doe rolled her eyes at that, though not without a smile.

"When we became police officers, we helped to slowly make mammals realize how wrong all those prejudices are. Not only the ones about bunnies or foxes but in general. When we got married and proved that a relationship like ours could work like any 'normal' relationship, we gave other inters courage."

"You are getting sidetracked here, Foxy," the rabbit jibed weakly, her eyes slowly filling with tears.

"No, I'm trying to make a point, Fluff." Nick gently rebuked, giving his bunny's nose a small lick, as his other self did just minutes ago.

"Without trying to sound presumptuous, we have made this city a better place. For us, our families, our friends, and our fellow Zootopians. And our kits. And all that is worth the dangers we sometimes face in our line of work. Besides that, we know we always got each other's back," the reynard finished with a smile and a wink.

And if worse comes to worse, I'll make sure that our kits will at least have a mom.

Before he knew it, two armfuls of bunny had thrown herself at him over the armrest of her chair, grabbing the front of his shirt and covering his face with small pecks until she ended it with a deep, passionate kiss on his lips.

When Judy asked the still - slightly reeling from her attack - reynard if they wanted to buy a copy of their experience, Nick needed a moment to contemplate the question.

A smirk formed on his face. "Sounds good, Fluff."

His expressions set off all the alarms in Judy's head.

When her mate had paid the unmotivated ram behind the counter and pocketed the USB-stick, she stated: "You are up to no good, I just feel it. What's going on in that red-furred head of yours, Slick?"

"Oh, I just want to hear you reprimanding yourself again for that press conference back then. What was it you said: 'What kind of fresh-from-the-academy-dumbass would say something like this in front of dozens of cameras without a sliver of proof?' "

Nick could almost feel the heat of the doe's glare trying to singe his fur.

"Come on, you know I'm just teasing you... Cotton Swab."

Even one month later, the fox would still feel the bruise he earned that day.

AN:

This concludes my little contribution to "What if...?"
I want to thank everyone who read it and followed/faved it, left comments (be it here or for the original collab) or simply enjoyed this excursion into the P.I.X.A.R. machine.

It might take a while since I want to focus on a couple of other stories first, but if you guys would be interested in it, I could probably... I don't want to say 'continue' this story but extend it, making it a standalone AU starting from shortly after Judy had joined the ambulance station they had been working at and ending shortly after where we left here.
Just let me know if you would be interested or not and I'll put it on my list XD