It all depends on the point of view, and who tells the story. —Aesop

.

As they walked home on Friday, he said, "Well, that had to be the world's most awkward baby shower."

"Maternity leave party," she corrected him.

"What's the difference?"

"Males aren't usually invited to a baby shower. And showers are usually given closer to the birth, while Francine has almost two years to go."

"I stand corrected. That had to be the world's most awkward maternity leave party."

She sighed. "Yeah."

"And speaking of awkward, what time do your folks expect us?"

"I told them we'd be there in time for dinner."

"Carrot casserole?"

"Nick."

"Just teasing, Carrots." He kissed her cheek.

She tried to ignore the animals who either turned and stared or averted their eyes. It'd been a rough week, in a different way than the previous week.

…

On Monday they did their best to get back downtown as soon as possible, not lingering in the hotel as much as they'd have liked. But since her parking duty vehicle was so slow, it was 5:30 by the time they got to the ZPD Main Station.

When they went in, Clawhauser said, "Chief Bogo really wants to talk to you two!"

"Yeah, we heard," Nick said.

"Did he seem, how did he seem?"

"Well, he always seems mad, doesn't he? Even when he isn't."

She did not find that comforting.

When they were sitting in the chair on the other side of Bogo's desk, the Chief said, "You two certainly took your sweet time getting back."

"Well, Officer Hopps's meter maid car isn't the speediest vehicle on the force, is it?" Judy wished Nick wouldn't be so direct with their boss, although at least this time he didn't call it a "three-wheel joke-mobile."

"Is there a reason why you didn't accompany Officers McHorn and Trunkaby, as well as the suspects, back downtown, over three hours ago?"

"We had to run some errands in the Canal District, Sir," Nick answered smoothly.

"Uh huh."

"Sir, in all fairness, you did grant Nick bereavement leave."

"Yes, and then you two came back here and said you'd cracked the case. So, silly me, I assumed your leave was over."

"We've been working since last Monday, Sir. Eight days in a row, with hardly any time off. And poor Nick is exhausted."

"Uh huh."

She blushed. "I mean, he did almost drown yesterday."

"True. How about I give you both time off? Permanently."

"Wait, you're firing us for cracking a case?"

Nick looked much less upset. "Sir, won't that lead to awkward questions at the press conference?"

Now Bogo looked uncomfortable.

"Press conference?" Judy asked Nick.

"Think about it, Fl—Judy. This big, messy case, finally solved, although still with lots of unexplained details. The chief has to have called a press conference." Nick glanced at his phone. "And it's almost time for the six o'clock news. He's going to chew us out for a couple minutes for using police funds to stay in a seedy CD hotel, like all those mixed couples that Finn and her gang were making money off of, and if word gets out about this it'll ruin the reputation of the ZPD. And he'll say that he's tempted to just credit McHorn and Trunkaby with the arrest and leave our names out of it. You'll apologize and beg for another chance, and he'll let us off with a warning, just in time for us to go out there and meet the press."

Bogo snorted. "You think you're so clever, don't you, Wilde?"

"Well, I have been called that once or twice, Sir."

Bogo shook his head. "This isn't over. But go brush your fur and straighten your uniforms. I want you to look presentable."

"Thank you, Sir," Judy said.

"Oh, and, uh, I don't have to tell you two not to 'come out,' do I?"

"Well, we'd like to call her parents first."

"Nick!" she scolded.

This time Bogo's snort sounded almost like a laugh.

The press conference was OK. Much better than her first one of course. She let Nick do most of the talking, and he was a complete natural. He did the "answer their question with your own" thing and was generally smooth and confident.

"Was I OK?" she asked him afterwards.

He smiled. "You were great. So enthusiastic and determined."

She hadn't felt that way to herself, but she was pleased that she had come across that way.

There weren't any really difficult questions, not like last time. She didn't feel like she was stirring up a species riot, although she was a little concerned when one reporter asked, "But isn't this typical Canal District corruption? I mean, doesn't it come with the territory?"

She replied, "I don't consider multiple murders to be everyday, normal corruption."

She knew that the CD already had a bad reputation, but she didn't want to make it worse. And maybe with this case solved, especially with Magawitz removed as District Manager, things would improve.

No one seemed to pick up on Nick and Judy being a couple. She deliberately tried not to stand too close to him, even though they were sharing a microphone. There was a reporter who said with a leer, "Well, everyone knows why animals go to the Canal District."

But Nick calmly replied, "Yes, for boating, swimming, and surfing. Not drowning."

When they were back at Nick's apartment, cuddling in his bed, whispering to each other, she said, "I felt like they'd look at us and see that we're a couple."

"Why? Because we're a male and a female?"

"No, I mean because we are a couple."

Nick shrugged. "Yeah, but us being different species will blind some animals. They'll think that such a thing can't exist because they think it shouldn't exist."

"Yes, but to others, that makes it something dirty. Something that should be hidden in the CD."

He sighed. "Yeah. You know this isn't a naughty little fling, don't you, Fluff?"

"Of course, Nick. We love each other."

He kissed her ear. "Yeah. But to the outside world, well, it's gonna be tough."

"Yes. Do you think we should be quiet about it? I mean, we are also co-workers."

"Workplace romances are a different kind of taboo."

"Yes. I mean, you know I love my job. This is what I've wanted to do since I was nine."

"Of course, Sweetheart."

"I also love you. I want both."

"We'll work it out."

"I hope so."

That was of course the moment that her parents called.