Endless Possibilities

Endless Possibilities

Benjamin Clawhauser boogied his way towards Nick Wilde's new apartment, Gazelle's “Try Everything” blasting fom his iPawd. It was their day off, and he figured he'd surprise his fox friend by offering to help get the place together. Claw wasn't the best at being organized, but, hey, anybody can be anything.

He danced right up to Nick's door and knocked, switching off the music with his free paw. “Nick? It's Clawhauser. I was in the neighborhood and came to see if you want any help with your stuff.” No answer. Claw knocked louder. “Knockety-knock, Nickety-Nick,” he sing-songed, laughing at his own joke.

“Huh,” he muttered to himself. “That lazy-bones must be still asleep.” Then he had a thought. “I wonder...” He tried the door, and it was open. Nick couldn't be bothered with small details like locking doors, which was okay by Claw, because what's an open door between friends?

He tip-toed inside—because you don't sit front-and-center in the ZPD all day without learning a few tricks—trying to figure out his next move. That was when he heard a sudden snort-like snore, and turned to see Nick sprawled out on the couch...with Judy curled up tightly on top of him.

Claw's mouth dropped open, his eyes went wide, and even with two paws over his massive maw, he couldn't stop the smile, or the sound… “O-M-Geeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!” The last part was more like a whoosh of air, but it was enough to wake Nick. He growled instinctively; half-asleep, he was sure that the image of Clawhauser standing there was all a dream...and when he realized it wasn't, he leapt up, nearly depositing the dozing Judy on the floor.

“Clawhauser?! Would you care to tell me what you're doing in my house?” Though surprised, Nick spoke evenly, as though he was interrogating a suspect.

“I was just in the neighborhood, and thought I'd...” Though the cheetah's eyes held guilt, he was trying to suppress a smile.

“Never mind,” Nick muttered. Judy appeared beside him, indulging in a stretch. “Hey, Clawhauser,” she said on a yawn. “What's up?”

“I was just...I'd better go.” And he did, without another word.

Nick wrapped an arm around Judy. “We made Clawhauser speechless,” he said, a hint of awe and pride creeping into his carefully measured tone. “Five smackers says he blabs to the whole precinct tomorrow.”

“He wants to, but I raise you five more that he's too embarrassed about randomly showing up. He feels guilty. He might go home and throw himself an 'I knew it!' party, but tomorrow...” Judy mimed zipping her lips shut.

“Yeah, I see it now...every time he wants to let it slip, he'll shove a donut in his mouth instead.” The jibe was issued with a tad of affection.

Judy just stood there, her smile mirroring the one gracing Nick's face at this very moment—cool, calm, and content. She was absolutely all of those things, but there were others that she didn't want to show just yet. So she kept control of her poker face—the one she'd learned from him—and gestured to the couch. “Shall we…?”

“After you, Officer Hopps.” She giggled. A lot had changed from that night on the Skytram. For one thing, they'd solved the case. It hadn't been without its bumps, but the case was worth it. Nick was now her partner on the force; her parents were much more accepting of foxes. And, there was that one little detail Clawhauser had noticed.

She bounded back onto the couch, perching on the arm until Nick had settled in. With his head propped on the pillow, he looked lazily up at her and beckoned. “Come and get it, Carrots...You know you want to...” Her tail wiggled in anticipation as she envisioned her next move, and she replied, a look of playful calculation on her face,

“Do I know that? Yes—Yes, I do.” So saying, she launched herself at him, landing on her haunches on the soft fur of his chest, his laughing green eyes taking her in.

“Whoa, you really did a number on me, Fluff.” He sounded slightly winded, and for a moment Judy worried she'd gone too far. “Not that I'm complaining.” The certainty in his voice left Judy slightly breathless.

Being Nick's partner at work was great, but being his partner in life was even better. It felt like the most natural thing in the world—even if more than half the city felt differently. Yet even those who were supportive—like Clawhauser—made it a big deal, and it wasn't, really. Not to them.

When Judy looked at Nick, she saw endless possibilities. She wondered what it might be like to be chief of the ZPD someday. It wasn't high on her list, but it was there. And if she pursued it, Nick would support her. What she truly wanted to do was run for mayor at some point. There was so much she wanted to do for this city, and she had no doubt that Nick would back her up.

“Earth to Carrots! What's the matter, fox got your tongue?” When she blushed and tried to swat at him, he grabbed her paw and yanked, leaving them nose-to-nose. Then, Nick had the audacity to murmur, “he does now…!” before planting a deep, desperate kiss on her lips—and then some.

This wasn't new, but it might as well have been for the things it did to her. The adrenaline of cracking a case had nothing on this. She couldn't get enough of the territorial way his arms, then his tail, encircled her, as if to ensure that every inch of her was accounted for. It was sweet and sexy, all at once, and she loved it. In fact...

When they finally eased apart, her mind raced with more possibilities...A wedding. A passel of kits running through the grounds of her parents' farm as she and Nick looked on. Both fox and rabbit agreed that they weren't in any rush, but the picture was an enticing one.

“I love you, Nick.” Their chemistry was so effortless that it was hard to believe this was the first time she'd said these words. Maybe, more accurately, she had said them in her head a thousand times and only imagined speaking them aloud. After all, the second she said them, she knew instinctively that she'd never been more certain of anything in her life.

The only indication that Nick had heard her was the sudden warm glow in his eyes and the rapid beating of his heart under her cheek--and then, the rough yet gentle timbre of his voice as he answered:

“I love you, too, Carrots...Always will.”

And that was all she needed to realize that endless possibilities would forever be within her reach.