"Telling the Folks"

Nick nudged Judy's foot under the table, one of many in the Hopps dining hall. "Is this a good time, Carrots?" he whispered through the mouthful of steamed carrots with blueberry sauce that Bonnie had made just for him.

Judy nodded. She looked at her parents across the table. "Mom, Dad," she said, "Nick and I have something to tell you."

The husband and wife put down their forks to give their daughter and her police partner their full attention.

"Sure, Jude," Stu said.

"What is it, sweetie?" Bonnie asked.

Judy scooted her chair a little closer to Nick. She reached out and put her arm around his back. "Nick and I are—" She stopped when she felt fox lips press against her cheek.

In silence, the rabbit couple stared at the revealed interspecies couple for a moment and then slowly turned toward each other.

Nick and Judy turned toward each other as well. The bunny's ears drooped. Sure, a daughter dating a fox was a bigger deal than having a fox business partner, but Judy had hoped that her parents would be at least a little more accepting.

"Yes!"

Nick and Judy looked across the table to find Stu with a huge grin on his face. Bonnie was smiling too.

"This is wonderful, sweetie!" Bonnie said.

"Great news! Awesome news!" Stu agreed.

"We're so happy for you!"

"Finally! What took you guys so long?"

"Such a cute couple. Uh, can I call a fox 'cute'?"

"It's an objective fact that they're cute together, Bon. There's nothing offensive about that!"

"You're right, Stu."

"Darn right I am!"

"You'd look great in my wedding dress, Judy. Have you picked a date yet?"

"Let us know quickly so we can get the cake order in to Gideon. And the honeymoon! Have you thought about Pawaii?"

"Yeah, Pawaii is beautiful."

"Take lots of photos!"

Nick and Judy turned toward each other again. Nick chucked. Judy blushed.

Turning back toward Judy's folks, the fox cleared his throat. "Mr. and Mrs. Hopps, I'm glad that you approve of me dating your daughter."

"Me too," Judy said. "I never thought you'd be this happy about it, though."

"Sweetie, you and Nick have known each other for a while," Bonnie said. "He knows you so well that no one else could ever know you better."

"And, Nick," Stu said, "Judy knows you so well that no one else could ever know you better."

"Partners on duty."

"And best friends off duty. You're almost never apart from each other."

"You know how your father and I worry, Judy. And if you were dating someone who we didn't know and who you barely knew, we'd be very, very worried."

"Extremely worried! It's just how parents are, Jude. We worry about our children because we love them. But we don't have to worry about Nick."

"Not one bit."

"I know I'll never have to get out my shotgun for him." Stu clenched his fist. "Not like that lousy Jerry. Or Rich. Or Stefan. Or Tony. Or Kristopher. Or Sammy. To say nothing of the terrible girlfriends some of the boys have had, like Tina, Rachel, Lynne—"

Bonnie patted her husband's shoulder. "Easy, Stu."

"The point is, you two were made for each other."

"And it doesn't matter what species you are if there's love."

Judy dried her eyes with a paw. "Oh, Mom," she said, her voice getting caught in her throat. She stood up and walked to the other side of the table, wrapping her arms around the older doe. "Thank you."

Nick stood up too. "Oh, Dad," he said as he embraced the buck. "Uh, I can call you that now, right?"

Judy hugged her father next as Nick hugged Bonnie.

A few moments later, the four sat down again.

"So," Bonnie said, "how many grandkits can we expect from you?"