The Wilde, Wilde Wedding

The Wilde, Wilde Wedding

It was a balmy but overcast day in the Rainforest District. The sun shone brightly through the clouds, giving everything a dappled, almost magical glow. Somewhere in the sprawling beauty of the district’s Botanical Gardens, Sam Lapin and her husband, Mayor Herb H. Horse, sat amid a sea of mammals...waiting.

Sam’s gaze flitted anxiously around the room to assess the gathering, which consisted of, among others, a cheetah, two sloths, two otters, a polar bear, two shrews, and a red fox. There were also several hundred rabbits in attendance.

Eager to soothe his wife’s nerves, Herb reached for her paw. Without looking at him, she accepted the contact with a grateful squeeze of his proffered hoof. The small act alone allayed Herb’s own unease about seeing Sam in such a state. But he felt all the better when she spoke. “I love you.” Herb smiled.

“I love you, too.” Surreptitiously scanning the assembly again, Sam then turned to him. She was also smiling...but there was challenge in her eyes.

“Prove it. Scream it to the world.” At that, Herb wasted not a minute, leaning down to murmur softly in Sam’s ear.

“I love you.”

“Why’d you whisper it to me?” Sam asked, confused.

“Because you are my world.” With that, mass of mammals seemed to melt away; they hardly mattered.

But make no mistake; Zootopia’s wedding of the century was mere moments away from beginning.

~

“Time is precious, Signorina. We must go.”

“I’m so sorry about this, Mr. Manchas. Just let me give it one more tug...” With her signature strength on display, the bunny tugged at the train of her dress, tumbling backward as it all—finally!--pooled beside her. The tempest of tulle was over.

“Yes!” She punched the air with a triumphant fist. “Got it!” So saying, she swung the door shut with a satisfying slam! Then, she collapsed against her seat in sheer relief. She’d done it, and they were on their way.

She was tense enough to be startled by the sound of clapping coming from the row of seats behind her. She turned, annoyed to find her view obscured by a partition. But then the voice behind the blockade finally spoke. “That was quite a show, Carrots. Too bad my money was on the dress.” She whirled around.

“Nick!” Both excitement and accusation crept into her tone. “Why are you here?! How are you here?!” Her voice rose as more questions raced through her mind, especially, “Who did you have to hustle to get you here?!”

“Nobody,” came the reply. “It’s a gift.” Judy face-pawed.

“Sweet cheese and crackers!” Renato Manchas peered in his rear-view mirror and smiled.

“Do not fret, Signorina Hopps. Your luck is not in danger. Signor Wilde cannot see you.” Nick piped up.

“There aren’t any windows back here.” Again, Judy was instantly alarmed.

“This has nothing to do with Signor Big’s operations. I run my own chauffeur service as well, with this limo. It is mine. The whole thing is my own little, what you call...”

“Side-hustle,” Nick interjected helpfully.

“And you ask about Signor Wilde’s presence...He said, ‘it’s a gift’; he is not joking. Both of you saved my life”--his smile wavered-- “Despite the fact that I tried to end yours. So it is the least I can do to drive you to your wedding, free of charge.”

Judy held back a sob. “Mr. Manchas, thank you! I’m really sorry; I thought...” Manchas shrugged.

“De nada, Signorina. It is my pleasure. Signor Big sends his regards, but he did not wish to spoil your big day. He has sent Raymond with Signora Fru Fru and the little one. They would like to celebrate as friends.”

“Awww!” Judy sniffled. “That’s amazing!”

“And, for what it is worth, I think the gown is no match for you, signorina.”

Dabbing at her eyes with her mother’s heirloom pawkerchief, she smiled, giggling a little at the driver’s remark. “You’re invited, too, Mr. Manchas.” His incredulous eyes watched from the mirror.

“Me?! That cannot be! Are you sure, signorina?!”

“Absolutely!”

“I second that,” Nick chimed in.

“Muchos gracias, mis amigos! Please, call me Renato.”

“In that case, it’s Judy.”

“So I guess that makes me Nick.” Judy could hear the smirk in her fiance’s voice as he added, “By the way--sometimes our pals just call us WildeHopps.”

Shaking her head at Nick’s silliness, Judy took a moment to appreciate what Mr. Manchas—Renato--had just said. ‘Many thanks, my friends!’ She’d picked it up. And, as much as she wanted to savor this moment, now, with those words, her mind was suddenly a million miles away...though maybe not as the jaguar drives. Either way, she couldn’t help but wonder how their officiant was holding up…

~

Sam decided that Herb could use a little reassurance himself. “Relax. Out of everyone Judy and Nick could’ve chosen, they picked you.” She said this with a smile, and Herb was instantly comforted. Just like she knew he would be. “Then again, I thought they had better taste than that, but...” Sam shrugged as she let her voice trail off, her eyebrows raised in amusement. Then, with sincerity-- “It was nice of you to do this.” But no sooner had she said the words than that teasing glint lit her eyes again. “Because that’s what you are, isn’t it? A nice guy.” Facetious derisiveness aside, Sam knew that there were some mammals who truly didn’t need to be anything more than what they were to succeed at making their way in the world. Although she wasn’t a big believer in gushing, she was proud that her husband was among those ranks. He was enough.

Once again, it seemed nothing could intrude upon the sweetness of that shared instant. But then “The Wedding March” began to play, and some of the smallest Hopps sisters began to toddle down the aisle, sprinkling rose petals this way and that.

Herb glanced up in time to see Nick sneak to the head of the tent, turn to him, and mouth, ‘Let’s go, Chief!’ while pounding a fist into an upturned paw. But then he smiled—really smiled, a rarity for the oft-guarded tod—and the sight of his friend in such good spirits gave Herb all the more reason to grin a genuine grin of his own.

Leaving Sam in the capable care of Hannah Hare—one tough cookie when she wanted to be, which was when her friends needed help—Herb took his place at the head of the aisle just as everybody rose to greet the bride. (Using her footrest for leverage, Hannah lifted herself onto the balls of her feet; it only looked like she was standing.) Then Judy--violet eyes brimming with tears—appeared on the arm of her father, Stu, who was struggling to hold back his usual waterworks. When, at length, he and Judy reached a beaming Nick, father and fiance shook paws; Judy hugged her dad, and the latter was sent sniffling back to his seat next to Bonnie, who lovingly offered him a tissue. Both Judy and Nick next turned to face Herb, who began his speech.

~

“Family, friends, fellow Zootopians—we are gathered here today to share with Judy and Nick a very important moment in their lives. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife, wife and husband.” Thankfully, Herb got through this first part as they’d rehearsed it without going the way of Judy’s dad. But this next part would be tricky, he’d never practiced it in front of them because it was meant to be a surprise.

“To open the ceremony, I’d like to share a poem I penned specifically for the occasion:

They say that fairytales aren't true,

But it's hard to tell

When I look at the two of you,

Enthralled as though by magic spell.

Different as you two appear,

Your hearts are quite the same.

You've shared daring adventures, laughter and tears,

And beginning this day, you will share a name.

You've each been through so much in life,

And made the journey your own,

Yet as you go forward from today,

You will not have to face it alone.

Hardships and joys exist in equal measure,

But in each other you have found unrivaled pleasure.

You strive to make the world a better place,

So begin by ensuring there is a smile on your beloved's face.

A love like yours is always growing;

Every moment is a gift;

Your adoration never slowing,

Ever holding the power to make your beloved's spirits lift.

On this auspicious occasion,

You will promise to share

Every hope, every dream, every worry and care.

On such a day, this is precisely what one vows to do,

And it bodes exceptionally well for you two.

In your eyes I can see lasting love's warmth and tinder;

That, my friends, is your harbinger.”

Judy and Nick, who had been staring at one another with tears in their eyes, seemed to make a silent pact; as one, they dared look at Herb, who was already sniffling, and each gave him a watery smile, which he promptly returned. By some miracle, none of them burst into tears, even as those around them were suddenly succumbing. Herb stuck to the script after that, but Judy and Nick had decided to write their own vows. She went first:

“I was wrong about you, Nick. You wanted so badly for me to believe that there wasn’t any good in you, and you almost hustled me into buying it. I mean the act, not the Jumbo Pop. That one actually did work.” Everyone laughed. “But when you stood up to Bogo to protect me, I knew there was more to the real you. By sharing your pain with me, you’ve helped me become a better mammal—even if I was the one to cause some of that pain. But the flip side of that is...I never realized there could be this much joy in being wrong. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, because I know you’ll keep amazing me with the depth of kindness in your soul...Even when we get old, Nick, that never will. I love you.”

Not one to be outdone, Nick was next. He raised his right paw:

“‘I, Nicholas Wilde, promise to be brave, loyal, helpful, and trustworthy.’ Remember that, Carrots? It’s the oath from the Junior Ranger Scouts I told you about. They didn’t deserve to hear those words from me, but you do. Because of you, I’m now brave enough to be who I am, and more than I ever thought I could be. I’ll be loyal to you for the rest of my days, because you prove that bunnies can be sly and fly.” This drew a chuckle from the crowd. “I’ll be your helpful partner at work, but also Every. Single. Day. Because, wow, you are really winning at life, Carrots. I want in on that.” More laughter. “And I’ll be...Not just trustworthy, but worthy of you...your generous heart, your gorgeous smile, and your tireless drive to make the world a better place. I love you, so...I’m in.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

When it was time for them to exchange rings—silver ones, with a green-eyed fox and violet-eyed rabbit intertwined—one of Judy’s little brothers brought them over. As before, Judy began; Herb asked that she repeat after him, and she held it together better than he did!:

“Nicholas Piberius Wilde, with this ring, I thee wed.” She slipped the ring on Nick’s claw. Then, it was his turn.

“Judith Laverne Hopps, with this ring, I thee wed.” He slipped the ring on hers. With that, Herb began anew.

“Do you, Judith Laverne Hopps, promise to love, honor, and cherish Nicholas Piberius Wilde, in richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

“Do you, Nicholas Piberius Wilde, promise to love, honor, and cherish Judith Laverne Hopps, in richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

“By the power vested in me by our amazing city of Zootopia, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Nick, you may kiss the bride.” Beneath joyful tears, the glint of Nick’s usual mischief was visible in his eyes.

“Pucker up, Carrots.” This he whispered in her ear before lowering his lips to hers. Soon after, they raced up the aisle to a chorus of cheers.

~

From there, everyone was ushered into the Rainforest District Event Center (RDEC). There was no official wedding party, so, at Judy and Nick’s request, it was Herb who kicked off the reception. “Ladies and gentlemammals, I present to you: Mr. Nick Wilde and Mrs. Judy Wilde-Hopps!” That was a moment many months in the making.

Both Nick and Judy knew that they wanted to be progressive, but to what degree? Did they go minorly progressive (with Judy remaining solely ‘Hopps’), or majorly so (with both taking on the Wilde-Hopps name?) Nick was open to either—if that was what Judy truly wanted—but he’d expressed trepidation when faced with the latter. “I’m just figuring out who the real Nick Wilde is, Carrots,” he’d said. “Maybe it’s silly to be attached to a name, especially when I love you so much...but it’s all I have left of my dad, and...I like it the way it is.” Knowing her fox as well as she did, Judy had guessed as much; she would never hold that desire against him. Hearing his plight in his own words made it all the more meaningful, and she agreed wholeheartedly. For his part, Nick did willingly make a concession.

“I’ll still answer to WildeHopps, though.” It was, after all, what half their friends called them anyway.

~

Judy arrived at the reception nestled in Nick’s arms as he barreled into the RDEC. There they were, exactly as they had been when they’d first shared the news of their engagement with Herb. Their equine friend had cried then, Judy remembered, and—with the pressure of the ceremony behind him—was tearing up now, too. In that moment, she realized that she wouldn’t change a thing about how she’d met him, despite the harrowing incident from which they’d built a friendship. Herb’s belief that everyone had a right to tell their story had tested her relationship with Nick more than once, but it had made them both stronger—and happier—mammals.

Herb was, she realized, the missing link—the one she’d needed to find clarity in her life, and the one who’d brought her and Nick closer together. She decided that called for a hug. They’d made it through the entire ceremony without one—the longest they’d gone, she mused, without greeting him. She said as much to Nick, who promptly directed their course to the horse, settingJudy down gingerly. They both thanked him, to which he replied, “You’re welcome. Congratulations. You both look great, by the way.” Then, mid-hug, all three burst into tears.

~

Soon, it was time to turn up the tunes. “Thank you all so much for coming,” Judy announced. “We have a great night of celebrating ahead. No party is ever complete without music, so Nick and I would like to start things off with a special song for our first dance.” Snatching the microphone, Nick added,

“This isn’t typical first dance fare, folks—but it’s something that Carrots and me think really says a lot about us. We think you’ll see it, too.” With that, they proceeded to cut a rug to “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk The Moo. It was, as promised, pure Wilde-Hopps. The crowd discovered something else, too—the bride and groom were good. Yes—even Nick, who avoided dancing like the plague, was flaunting some fancy footwork...and having fun.

~

Elsewhere in the room, Hannah was the first to seat herself at the appointed table. (Having wheels meant she could travel fast, and was often early; if not that, then almost always punctual.) She was watching Nick and Judy’s first dance with rapt attention, laughing each time they invariably treated the chorus as a dance-off.

So it made sense that she was startled—annoyed, even—when, seemingly out of nowhere came a voice close to her ear. “Hey there, pretty sheila--have a minute?” She’d never forget that sound, even if she’d somehow tried to cut back on it a bit. It was still music to her ears.

“Johnny!” Even though he’d basically just pulled a pick-up line on her, he was suddenly shy.

“Hi.”

“Hi! Well, this is a nice surprise…! What’s up?”

“I came to bring Judy and Nick a present from G. She couldn’t make it, so she sent me instead.” Hannah gaped at him, wide-eyed. “G? Isn’t that what you call...Gazelle?! They invited Gazelle?!” The celeb-hungry hare was in awe as Johnny nodded.

“I reckon they figured she couldn’t come, but they invited her anyway...She’s met them a few times.”

“Wow! Tell you what. I’ll take you over to meet the Mayor—he’s sorta playing MC tonight—and he’ll get you the floor.”

“Great!” Johnny smiled as he said this, and Hannah’s heart melted. At this rate, it wouldn’t surprise her if she rode through a puddle of it.

With Johnny close behind her, she led the way. Her friend was chatting cheerfully with Mr. Manchas when she pulled up. She waited patiently for a pause, and then said with a smile, “Pardon me, Sir Horse, but have you a minute to spare?”

“For you, always,” he smiled back. With apologies to the jaguar, the two set about conferring.

“There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” Beckoning her beloved koala over, she continued, “Mayor Horse, meet Johnny Reid; Johnny, this is the Mayor.”

“So you’re the marvelous marsupial Hannah’s told me so much about!” the horse exclaimed, extending his hoof. My name is Herbert Hogden Horse, IV. My mother is a mare, and my father is a boar.” He spoke his signature greeting with a smile.

“Hannah’s told me quite a bit about you as well, Your Honor. It’s a pleasure.” Johnny answered, returning the greeting; at that, the Mayor’s smile turned modest.

“Everyone calls me Herb. Everyone, that is, except her.” He grinned at Hannah. “She’s been kind enough to give me that little sobriquet you heard.” Johnny smiled.

“Ah—well done! She only gives nicknames to the ones she really likes.” He was somewhat overqualified to say that; they had been romantically involved for so long, and were only now getting accustomed to friendly waters. Regardless, the koala’s comment seemed to please Herb, who replied,

“That’s quite the compliment coming from you; I appreciate it. By the way, I like your accent. I can tell that you’re a guy who other guys want to be, and women want to be with.” Hannah watched in wonder as Johnny’s beautifully expressive face lit up in surprise, and he blushed. She squeezed his paw, speaking encouragingly. “Nice! He’s only forward with mammals he likes.” Herb smiled.

“I heard that, my friend!” To Johnny, he said, “Now that we’re all acquainted, what can I do for you?” Ever-supportive of the love of her life, Hannah piped up, “He has a surprise for Judy and Nick. Can you get him the floor?”

“Can do,” Herb assured them, and headed to the center of the room. Hannah looked on, urging a self-conscious Johnny to follow him. “May I have your attention, please.” The music stopped; the crowd went silent. The Mayor could really command a room. “Judy, Nick—you have a visitor.” With that, Johnny stepped up to the mic.

“Hi, I’m Johnny. My mate Gazelle couldn’t make it, so she asked me to bring your present. I wanted to offer something to you as well, so I asked her permission to sing this. She told me it’s a favorite of yours; I’d like to sing it for you today. It’s my own take; I hope you like it.” So saying, he launched into a stunningly powerful a capella version of “Try Everything”.

When he’d finished, the room erupted in applause. Hannah wanted to clap, but she couldn’t move. Her limbs were languid, her heart raced, and she was nearly breathless. It had been too long since she’d seen Johnny in his element: in front of an audience, enchanting them. But this performance was proof that, break-up or no break-up, Hannah wasn’t immune...and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

She sat silently for a minute, still relishing his spell. Every one of her friends knew better than to interrupt when she was daydreaming about Johnny...Well, all except…

“He really revs your engines, doesn’t he, Hannah?” Herb came up beside her. She jumped, startled, but made no move to send him away. Instead, she smiled.

“Yes, Sir.”

“I can see why--very talented guy with undeniable charm!” She nodded, still smiling; as her head began to clear, she realized—not for the first time—how lucky she was to have both charming fellas in her life. It warmed her heart to witness them getting along so well.

~

Nick and Judy invited Johnny to stay for the festivities. This made a lot of mammals happy—the more the merrier, as they say—but none more so than Hannah, who was delighted at the prospect of more time with her favorite koala. Any friend of hers was a friend of Herb’s; the Mayor was spotted chatting with him before returning to his emcee duties.

“At this time, I’d like to invite Stu and Judy up for their father-daughter dance; they’ve chosen a song that holds special meaning for both of them.” Herb stepped aside, and the duo took to the floor as The Beagles’ “Hey, Jude” began to play. By its end, several onlookers—the Mayor included--had tears in their eyes. So did Judy. And Stu? Well, he had an entire waterwork’s worth.

Up next was the mother-son dance. Nick escorted his mom, Olivia, onto the dance floor and opted to introduce their song himself. “Me and my ma are gonna dance to a tune that’s a favorite of some friends in Mickey’s neck of the woods. To recap, Mickey’s the one who picked up the rights to that documentary about the city. Believe it or not, this song was written for a human who was raised by gorillas. Imagine that!” He shrugged, smiled. “It takes all kinds. Anyway, here goes.” So saying, they began a sweet dance to “You’ll Be In My Heart”. Nick didn’t cry, but Olivia shed a few tears. And Herb? Absolutely.

Next, Judy took center stage once more; it was time for the bouquet toss. “Single ladies, step right up!” Hannah remained ensconced at her table and had no intention of leaving it at this particular moment. Nothing and nobunny—not even Judy, whom she adored—could get her to budge, despite the encouraging eye contact sent her way by the bride.

At length, a group of gals had assembled. It was composed mostly of Judy’s sisters, which meant there were plenty of contenders. With her back to the crowd, Judy gamely tossed the flowers high above her head. Much shrieking and scuffling ensued, followed by cries of, “Where’d it go?!”

That was, as it turned out, a good question. No one knew the answer until… “ ‘Scuse me, Judy? Di foo drop thish?” Thus came Clawhauser’s voice from the back of the room, his mouth full of sweets from the buffet table. The rabbit whirled around, laughing.

“No, Clawhauser; I just did the toss! You caught it!”

“I...wha?” the cheetah said, swallowing—and that’s when realization dawned. “I caught it! OMG!” He laughed, giddy. “I wasn’t even paying attention! I came over here to find something to hold me over ‘til dinner, so I guess I was having a sugar space-out and didn’t see you throw it! I just saw it coming and thought you’d misplaced it, and...O MG...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!” As the realization sank in, a now totally blissed-out Clawhauser clapped his paws, dancing in place. “Somebody put some music on; I gotta celebrate!”

By now everyone was reveling in Clawhauser’s good luck--laughing along with him and cheering him on. Even Nick had something to say. “Whoa—slow your roll there, buddy. Carrots was just about to introduce the next set.” To Judy, he added, “Take it away, DJ Fluff!”

“Thanks, Slick. You all know how much we love our puns, so these next few are songs that tickle our funny bones. Let’s party har-har-har-dy!” Nick face-pawed.

“Please leave the jokes to the professionals, Carrots.” Everyone laughed.

First up on the playlist was “The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game”, an oldie-but-a-goodie from the Marvolettes. Next was “Judy In Disguise With Glasses” by Fred Loggerhead & His Reptile Band. For this one, the bunny wore funny glasses; not to be outdone, Nick led her in a foxtrot.

Once they’d warmed up the crowd with those, Wilde-Hopps decided to, as Nick put it, “get down to the business of gettin’ down”. As he explained, “I thought it would be fun to have some male bonding time with my buddies. But, let’s be real—in the name of a certain someone who’s on that list, I felt I had to say that to make up for the truth...If I have to risk embarrassing myself, so do you. On that note”--there were a few chuckles-- “come on up: Finnick, Clawhauser, and—wait for it--Herb.” There were a few audible gasps in the audience, some murmurs and snickers, but the single, sudden bark of laughter that echoed throughout the room belonged to...Hannah. She tugged at Johnny’s sleeve.

“This is gonna be ah-may-zing! Hey—go on up there and ingratiate yourself to Nick. You’ve got great moves, and you’re a patient dance instructor. It’ll be good morale.” As she waved him away, a reluctant Johnny wondered what he’d gotten himself into. But, just as quickly, he realized that Hannah might have a point. Taking her advice, he was immediately brought into the fold by Nick as he and the others discussed their plan.

Of the five, only Clawhauser looked 100% excited; the others were hovering around 60ish...except Finn, who was at less than 50. He’d refused to be in the wedding party so that he wouldn’t have to deal with gushy stuff, but now he was facing a humiliation 10 times worse than that blasted elephant suit. “I’m jus’ here for the free booze, Wilde! There’s no way imma let you hustle me!” But then he saw how happy Nick was—not just at his expense, but because of that bunny. If this hook-up didn’t last, he was gonna kick her...Once for hurting his pal, and again for making him suffer this insanity for nothing. But, if he were being rational—which he sure as fur didn’t feel like being right now—he didn’t think that would happen. This would stick.

Meanwhile in the huddle, Johnny was designated as dance captain. As everyone would soon see, Hannah had good instincts; he was an expert at staying on beat, finding rhythm without being too risque—a must considering the diverse range of reputations he was working with. Imparting this on his team, Johnny brought them to showtime feeling much more confident and unified than they had at the beginning.

The song was “What Does The Fox Say?” Naturally, it was mostly about Nick, but thanks to Johnny’s excellent coaching, everyone was able to have their moment in the sun. There was even one for Herb, who practically had his own built-in verse—about a gregarious equine. The koala, too, was an instant hit. Nick was heard to say, “Go, Johnny, go!” as the marsupial broke out some of his hip-shaking moves. So, from those uncertain beginnings, the guys brought down the house.

As they congratulated each other on a job well done, Nick clapped Johnny on the back, saying with a grin, “I have a new member of my squad now. Nicely done”--here, he affected Johnny’s native accent-- “mate”. Returning to Hannah’s table in a cheerful mood, Johnny couldn’t wait to tell her the good news. When he reached her, she was still recovering from his stellar performance, which helped to explain why she suddenly grabbed him by the shirtfront and kissed him senseless.

When she had reluctantly eased away and realized why that might have been a bad idea, she asked Johnny breathlessly, “Darlin’, did you see any paparazzi sneak in?”

“No. I brought a couple of guards with me, plus Herb’s are here, and there’s that Raymond bloke in the corner. I don’t think they’re showing up tonight.”

“Good.” So saying, she yanked him closer again and stole another kiss.

When she’d had her fill of Johnny—for the time being—she told herself to think about something else...at which point her mind went straight to Herb’s role in the dance, and she burst out laughing. “Well, he is always up for a challenge!” she mused aloud, barely able to form the words, “...But one that he has control over…!” Judy—dear, sweet, loving Judy—had to put off introducing her squad until Hannah had finished; she had no hope of being heard over those raucous cackles.

“My turn,” she said at length, a hint of challenge in her gaze and voice as she locked eyes with her husband. Nick would be hard to beat, but she would sure try. “My squad song is one that we’ve played at every Hopps family wedding for as long as I can remember. It’s about being proud of your heritage, and having fun while you’re at it.” Judy seemed like something of a superheroine as she raised a clenched paw in the air and declared, “Girl power squad, assemble!” Thunder rolled across the floor as Hopps sisters young and old stampeded into the center of the room. But the group wasn’t complete without Bonnie, or… “Hannah, Sam? Get up here!” The two leporines exchanged expressions of sheer chagrin, even as the former seemed resigned.

“We have to do it, Sam. It wouldn’t be fair if we didn’t. Let’s go. I won’t let anything happen to you; I promise. Besides, it’s Judy’s family; you can trust them. I’m going up there before I get distracted and start laughing again.” True to her word, Hannah did just that...and rallied the rest of the group, convincing them all to start chanting, “Sam! Sam! Sam! Sam!” in a show in support. That’s what convinced the leary Lapin to join them.

The song in question was “The Bunny Hop”, a big hit for a horse named Ray Antoneigh. All of those bunnies—and one hare—hopping in time was a sight to behold. Judy and Hannah made sure to stand (or sit) side-by-side with Sam so that their friend felt more secure amid the predominantly strange fluffle. When they ended the song with one final sprightly collective hop, they received quite the ovation. As Judy and her gals basked in the adoration, she relayed the song’s history to Sam. Though the tune itself was popular among leporines—countless had grown up hearing it—not many knew it was written by an equine. “I guess it’s a good thing I went for it, then!” laughed Sam, who by now was glad she did.

~

Still, after that display, both Sam and Hannah decided they could use a break. As the saying goes, great minds think alike...but a rest wasn’t all they were considering. Stealthily, they slipped away from the hubbub to ask Mr. Manchas if they might “spruce up” his limo for the newlyweds. He gave them the green light, and they made their getaway.

Sam was glad that the art supplies she’d stashed in the back of her car exactly for this purpose wouldn’t go to waste. She would take one side, her colleague the other. Setting up beside the limo, they each set to work.

Not five minutes later, the hare’s intense concentration was broken by the sound of sudden laughter. In an effort to save her would-be masterpiece from destruction by reflexes, she jerked her spray can away; in her haste, she didn’t ease up on the pressure in time, ending up with a sizable spot of bright pink paint on her nose.

Quickly putting the can aside before any further damage was done, Hannah peered around to the other side of the car. As she watched Sam sit there, laughing heartily, she was by turns puzzled and irked. Unlike herself, Sam was not one to laugh out loud, and certainly not in the middle of an art project, which she always took very seriously. It wasn’t like her, either, to offer no apology for startling the poor snowshoe. What on earth could be…?!

A lightbulb went off in Hannah’s head, which she greeted with a sneaky smile and a snicker. “Aha! So Nick’s little squad show did affect you, but you wouldn’t dare let on to anyone else!” She folded her arms, a look of triumph crossing her face.

Sam stopped laughing and looked at Hannah. “How could it not?! That was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life!” The hare didn’t hold back her expression of pure surprise.

“But that’s my line! You really weren’t—ahem—impressed, by, um, you-know-who?” Sam gave her a look that suggested she would humor the hare on that particular line of questioning Just. This. Once.

“A little.” That response seemed to placate her friend; still, such a small detail didn’t stop Sam from giving the hare a taste of her own medicine.

“You were checking Johnny out, weren’t you?” Right away, Hannah was on the defense.

“Just because we’re not together anymore doesn’t mean I can’t admire his—talent.” That was a double entendre for sure, Sam knew...which was more than she could say for the rest; that was news to her.

Hannah, too, realized her mistake, and instantly turned beet-red.

“It’s okay; you can tell me.” Realizing that this was probably her comeuppance for being so forward earlier, Hannah relented, telling Sam all about her history with Johnny.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Hannah,” Sam said sadly, watching the hapless hare pull a tissue from her pocket, wipe her eyes, and swipe the paint off her nose.

“Thanks. Even though I was the one who broke up with him...that didn’t make it any easier. I’m sorry, too.” The nod Sam gave her was equal parts understanding and forgiveness. “But...What I mean is...”--the implication being now that I put it all out there, you’ll see why I asked-- “I don’t know if I have a right to look at Johnny that way anymore, but I can’t help it. At least you have the peace of mind that—you-know-who--is all yours.” Sam considered these words for a minute or two before speaking.

“I’d never thought of it that way before, but you’re absolutely right.”

“That must be a nice feeling.” Before Sam could question her about the specificity of that statement, she added, “Just sayin’.”

“It is.” All traces of reluctance had faded; this time, Sam smiled. “And it’s one that I appreciate, so...Yes, I can be—impressed.” They were silent for awhile after that; as they worked, each pondered those profound words of gratitude.

“But, yeah, I had a field day watching Johnny.” At length came this admission from Hannah, who then laughed. “I almost said ‘heyday’, but then I remembered that’s the wrong word, and ‘hay is for horses’, so...” Her voice trailed off, but her amusement said enough; before she could even think of saying anything more, Sam cut her off with a look. Then, she beat her at her own game.

“In your case, wouldn’t it be ‘a roll in the eucalyptus’ or something?” Hannah laughed out loud.

“Probably, but...” She shrugged, “I have no idea. Mainly because I haven’t had one of those in a long time.” They both burst out laughing.

~

The idea of ‘a roll in the eucalyptus’ with Johnny had clouded Hannah’s mind to the extent that she considered finishing her half of the limo—and well, at that—sheer luck. When she and Sam returned to the party, the koala himself explained that Nick and Judy had just introduced a playlist of songs from the aforementioned Mickey and friends. If they’d needed proof, there was Clawhauser, who’d started a conga line to “Hakuna Matata”, a tune by a duo named Timon and Pumbaa, who Clawhauser claimed were his idols—next to Gazelle, of course.

Speaking of, Johnny had made himself comfortable in the latter’s reserved seat. Greeting him with a hug and a kiss, Hannah spotted the place-card, still in Gazelle’s name. Pulling a felt-tip marker from her pocket—she’d left it there during the decorating—she dutifully crossed off the pop star’s name --and in its place, wrote ‘Johnny Reid’ in her big, spiraling penmammalship. Touched by the thoughtful gesture, Johnny’s face lit up. “Wow! Thanks, darlin’; I was starting to feel left out.”

“Awww...!” What was intended as only a quick hug soon progressed into a full-on makeout session; as before, he was just as into it as she.

“Hey, Hare!” At the sound of Nick’s voice close by, Hannah jumped away from Johnny, dazed.

“Huh?!”

“I said—for the fifth time—would you like to dance?!” He grinned. “But, you know, if you’re gonna give the groom the ol’ heave-ho on his wedding day, then, ah, at least let me down easy.” Hannah had the sense to look guilty.

“No, Nick, I wouldn’t do that!” She smiled. “All aboard!” Nick made himself comfortable on her lap, causing a surprised Johnny to say somewhat hastily, “Have fun!” And then, once he’d recovered, “Save the last dance for me, darlin’,” with a lot more conviction.

~

As Hannah and Nick reached the dance floor, “If I Didn’t Have You” began to play. “Remember Mike and Sulley?” Nick asked as they spun around the dance floor.

“How could I forget them?!” Hannah retorted. “They hated me until they figured out how to run their city on laughs instead of screams. In my defense, I didn’t laugh as much then—but, still, they were a little annoying.” As much as Hannah had loved being Nick’s PA—especially when he and Judy were working with Mickey and the gang—she hadn’t been in a good place emotionally. Being around Nick for so long had made her begin to think that it was normal not to share the best, happiest parts of yourself with the world. Now though, both fox and hare knew better—it was clear in the carefree, crazy way the sang the last few lines of the song together. They’d learned to be open and honest from—and with—each other, plus Judy, Sam, and…

“May I have this dance, madam?”

“With pleasure, good sir.”

“Nicholas, do you mind…?” It was half question, half accusation, as Nick was still firmly ensconced on Hannah’s lap. The fox slipped off, pretending to sulk away, then turned to wave in time to hear Hannah ask,

“Are we gonna pull a ZHS?!” Herb nodded; the hare unbuckled her seatbelt, giggling with glee as the horse lifted her up to eye level. Nick was agog for a moment before restoring his expression to the usual half-lidded smirk. “First she makes out with Johnny, then she lures me onto her lap, and now this!” He snickered, disappearing into the crowd.

“Hmph. He’s all drama, drama, drama,” Hannah joked as Herb twirled her around in time to “Friend Like Me”. She hadn’t always liked this song, but eventually it had grown on her. It helped that she now had several friends whom she adored, some of whom—including Herb—she considered magical. It was easier still to believe now, as she seemed to glide high above the other revelers.

As before, Hannah sang the final few lines with reckless abandon, though she would call herself more of an eccentric rather than a particularly phenomenal mammal.

“You sure know how to sweep a gal off her feet!” she told her friend—and then laughed at how literal that line was.

“Well, you claim I’m a knight, right? That’s what we do. All the better to dazzle you, dearest Hannah.” She made sure to give him a big hug before he returned her safely to her chair.

~

Still smarting from Hannah’s dismissal, Nick wandered through the crowd, chatting up various guests as he went. He was hoping to find Judy for another dance—one where the entire room wasn’t staring at them—but in the meantime, he was enjoying soaking up the atmosphere. Even so, his thoughts wandered.

It wasn’t like Hannah brushing him off was a huge deal; she had done so plenty of times before—after all, in the PA days, she’d wanted to be just like him. It wasn’t about Herb, either...by now he knew that Hoss would always beat him in a popularity contest. That was fine—no one deserved it more. It was just that, ever since Hannah had started working at the bakery, he hardly got to see her anymore. Sure, they hung out at L&P in their free time, but that was with the gang—Judy, Clawhauser, Herb, and Sam. It was fun—a blast, really—but he missed the one-on-one time that he’d had with her when she’d worked for him. Thinking of what he’d caught her doing earlier, he grimaced. Now that Johnny was back in the picture, he’d be willing to bet there’d be even less attention from her; he wanted her to be happy, but somehow that thought depressed him. Still, although a lack of time with Hannah would be a bummer, it was nothing a little time with Carrots couldn’t cure. He grinned when he spotted her surrounded by a bunch of siblings, laughing. Besides, he’d be getting plenty of quality time with his favorite bunny.

“Foxy groom, comin’ through!” Judy’s sisters giggled; her brothers groaned. Nick couldn’t complain, though; it had taken some of these same bucks awhile to warm up to him. When it came down to it, he’d much rather they be repulsed by his jokes than by him. So, he’d take the heat; they’d turned out to be a nice bunch, anyway. And Nick knew that if he had a sister, he would be just as protective of her if the tables were turned. So, it was all good.

Presenting a paw to Judy, Nick bowed a bit, affecting a polished tone. “Would you be so kind as to grant me a dance, my most radiant rabbit?” This time, some of Judy’s sisters swooned, while her brothers rolled their eyes. Playing along, Judy placed her paw in his, curtseyed, and answered, “Why, Mr. Wilde, I’d be delighted.” Away they went, leaving both brothers and sisters—who had called a truce, as all of them were making gagging noises—in the dust.

Once they’d reached a spot away from such scrutiny—on the part of the Hopps, or anyone else—Nick pulled Judy close and chuckled, whispering, “The jig’s up now...All I really want to do is ravish you.” As though to prove his point, he kissed the sensitive spot below her ear.

“Hmm-hmm-hmm!” was Judy’s reply—half-laugh, half-hum, all pleasure. “But seriously,” she whispered back, “where did you learn those lovely lines? I like.”

“Well, there I was, minding my own business. Me and Hannah were gettin’ our groove on. And then—just like that, the song’s over; time flies when you’re having fun. So, anyway, I was game for another, so I was gonna see if she wanted a second go-round...And then, who comes up, whisks her away, and—boom—bye, bye, ‘lil Snowshoe?”

“Well, I saw Johnny at the table earlier, so it wasn’t him...Wait!” Judy slapped her forehead in the universal gesture of ‘duh!’; Wilde-Hopps both said at once:

“Herb.” Of course Nick had taken a cue from him!

“Aww, poor Slick...Did your ego get a boo-boo?” Judy cooed.

“Are you mocking me?” A typical Nick challenge. Just then, Judy’s ears perked up, her face lit in a smile, and when she looked at him, that pure optimism shone from her eyes.

“Cheer up Slick, just do what the song says!” That song was “Give A Little Whistle”. Judy took matters into her own paws, starting with Nick’s; she was the one to lead him around the dance floor. She even out-whistled him. He was a casual whistler at best—only in idle moments, and always off-key. But Stu had taught his daughter the true art of whistling. It was a must in agriculture; not only did music help while away hours of tedious work, but a good, strong note was always needed to get someone’s attention across the vast expanses of the great outdoors. With that little whistling masterclass, they became wrapped up in their own little world.

When it was over, a few spectators offered their own whistles of approval; once again, the dynamic duo’s dancing was top-notch. “You like me! You really like me!” Nick exclaimed, making a poor show of mimicking a girl’s voice.

“That I do, Nicholas. But at the moment, I think I like your wife better.” There was none other than Herb, smiling at them; clearly he’d just heard Nick’s doozy of a joke and was only teasing. “May I borrow her for a bit?”

Given his earlier train of thought, Nick would have loved to first come back with a jibe of his own. But all Nick could think of was that this guy, this mammal he respected and cherished, had been the first to casually refer to Judy as “his wife”. It was a moment he’d never forget. Meanwhile, it was Herb’s turn to wonder why, as he was turning away from his friend the fox, he noted that those normally bright emerald eyes had welled up with tears.

“Nick isn’t still calling me a Catsanova behind my back, is he?” It was a joke—Nick had done no such thing, yet no one would put it past him--but Herb had been aware that the tod could be a tad jealous of him at times. Judy laughed in spite of herself.

“No, he’s fine.”

“Was it something I said?” Herb’s face was etched with worry. He hadn’t meant any harm—he thought Nick knew that, but maybe the perceived threat of having his day stolen from him was enough to bring those emotions to the surface again. That was understandable—after all, Herb himself wore his heart on his sleeve. It was something he’d done his whole life, something he was proud to do, but for Nick—who was still adjusting to the idea—was it too much?

As though she could read his mind—and maybe she could, given how close they were—Judy jumped in to reassure him. “Aww, Herb! It’s not that! He...” Judy paused, getting more than a little choked up. “He heard you call me his wife. I saw his face; that must have been the first time anyone’s said that to him.” She gave him a watery smile.

Relief washed over the horse’s face. “Well, I’m honored to have made your husband so happy, Mrs. Wilde.” He was trying to get a rise out of her! This made Judy laugh.

“Sorry, Herb—not the first I’ve heard those today. But definitely on my shortlist of ‘most special’.” Now he was starting to sniffle again. It was fitting, then, that they had this exchange as they danced to “You’ve Got A Friend In Me”.

~

By the time the song had ended, dinner was served. Herb went back to his table with Sam, Hannah, and Johnny, while Judy returned to her little oasis in the center of the room, the spot with a clear view of the crowd, the cake, the gifts...and Nick.

Hannah was starved. Still, recalling that she might have hurt Nick’s feelings earlier, she wanted to make it up to him. Luckily for her, that would be easy today. Calling out at the top of her lungs, “First things first!” she tapped her spoon against the side of her glass. Clink, clink, clink! Nick seemed to sense that this signaled a truce, responding with a nonchalant shrug.

“What the hare wants, the hare gets!” With that, he indulged himself and his bride in a most satisfying kiss.

Herb stood up, raising his glass. “As there’s no official wedding party, I’d like to be the first to toast to Judy and Nick. It’s not in my job description, but...this horse hardly stays on course, so why start now?” Everyone laughed, except for a single heckler...actually, a married one.

“Overachiever!” Nick shouted, resulting in more mirth. Judy tried not to laugh, covering her mouth with one paw while taking a playful jab at Nick with the other. At that, Nick relented. “Eh—go on!”

“True love is hard to find,” Herb began. “It’s even harder when you feel like the world is against you. Judy and Nick were managing just fine on their own. On the surface, they couldn’t be more different...a rural rabbit who wanted to live her life in service of others, and an urban fox who could only afford to worry about where his next meal is coming from. An aspiring officer of the law versus a guy who believed his only hope lies in being a con-mammal.”

“But beneath all that, both possess the rare and wonderful combination of tenacity, grit, and passion. So what happens when two mammals of those selfsame qualities meet? Sparks fly. They wanted different things, yet they used those same gifts to get there. Neither had any intention of sticking around, but life happened, and, bit-by-bit, they saw those commonalities emerge.”

“And they found something else, too—loving hearts. Each realized that this mammal they thought was there to ruin their day was actually making it. This imitable duo faced high-speed chases, braved the elements, and held their own. But it took trusting each other to realize that the only thing standing in their way was themselves.”

“That’s why they’re so great together. They hold one another accountable, they—appropriately enough--espouse each other’s dreams, and...Have you seen their chemistry?! It’s off the charts!” Everyone laughed. “All jokes aside, I can’t say enough about how much I love and appreciate this pair; they are such dear friends. Given the exciting, busy lives they lead, I feel privileged by the fact that they choose to spend even a fraction of that with with me. There’s never a dull moment with these two, and the joy they derive from one another is palpable. Now that their paths are so profoundly intertwined, I will continue to treasure my time with them...not to mention any kits that may come their way…!”

One would be forgiven for believing that the Wilde-Hopps’ were surely embarrassed by the implications of what had just been said. They were, in fact, flustered, until the latter chose to latch onto something else. With that certain je ne sais quoi that gave her a flair for the dramatic—a quality that went back all the way to her kithood play—Judy placed one paw on her heart, another across her forehead. “Herb just said he loves me!” That sole sentence was worthy of an award. Nothing could spoil Ms. Hopps’ moment...except…

“Yeah, well, he said it to me, too, so get over it.” The crowd lost it laughing...once over Nick’s retaliation, and again when Sam shouted,

“Don’t make me come up there!” But whether Sam would, in that case, be looking to break up a fight, or start one, they couldn’t say. When the din subsided, a smiling Herb took note of his surroundings as he concluded his toast.

“To Judy and Nick, I wish you a lifetime of fulfillment, fortune, and, let’s not forget...fun!” The rest of the room raised its glasses.

“To Judy and Nick!” it echoed.

On the heels of Herb’s rousing speech, for an instant afterward, one could hear a pin drop. It was then that the smallest guests seized an opportunity. Tink, tink, tink! went a tiny spoon against a miniature glass, after which the orchestrator, Fru Fru Big, shrilled, “You get ‘im, girl!” Judy happily accepted that invitation to initiate a kiss, planting a big one on Nick and causing the shrew to give an exuberant whoop. “Okay, I gotta toast you guys. Judy, I owe you everything. Without you, I’da been a goner, and I wouldn’t have my amazing family.” So saying, she snuggled her daughter close. “And Nicky, if there’s one thing near-death by giant donut has taught me, it’s that there are plenty a good mammals out dere who desoive a second chance. But you betta take care a her!” Chuckles arose as Nick replied,

“Will do, Fru.”

“Dat’s what I like ta hear. Now, my little Jude has been practicin’ a toast for you guys.” She coaxed the shrewlet forward. “C’mon honey. Just like we practiced, okay?”

“Yes, Ma.” came the timid, high-pitched reply. With a little, “Ahem,” the small sow recited:

“Mawwiage. Mawwiage, that bwessed awwaingment, that dweam wivvin a dweam… And wuv, tru wuv, will fowwow you fowevah and evah.” She was rewarded with applause for her effort. Nick chuckled softly as Fru smiled.

“What? She had to quote Mommy’s favorite movie!” Judy sat with both paws over her mouth, tears pooling in her wide violet eyes.

“That was just precious…!” she breathed. Raymond brought the girls over for hugs all around. As for the bear himself--who normally liked to see and not be seen--he shook paws with Nick, and even kissed Judy’s. Whether he did so of his own free will or at Fru’s bidding, no one really knows.

~

Post-sumptuous feast—complete with a decadent blueberry-filled carrot cake, courtesy of Sam—Hannah and Johnny found themselves alone at their table. “Well, here we are,” smiled the koala, conscious of the fact that Hannah found his way of saying that word irresistible.

“Darlin’, are you trying to seduce me?” Hannah replied; this phrase was one she used often—though only with him--and the closest she ever came to flirting.

“Yeah.” This especially was a word Johnny could fill with passion and promise, just by lowering his voice and looking at her with those soft brown eyes. He reached across the table for her paw. “I’ve been trying to get you alone all night, but your friends...”

“Don’t have what you do,” Hannah managed, zipping around the table to wrap her arms around him. She sighed. “Technically, we’re supposed to be friends, too.”

She thought she’d made that clear ages ago...but that was back when Johnny seemed to support his causes more than her. Still, somehow she always knew that if he ever wanted her, for good, she’d go to him. She was a feeble hare, easily frazzled, who had countless fears and faults. That’s what made her so picky about what she spent her energy on; between the four ‘f’s she had to contend with, she didn’t have much of it. But the one thing that no longer held sway over her was other mammals. She didn’t care what they thought of her, and would never let another influence her choices. It made sense, then, that he was an exception to that rule: a marsupial, the one she fell in love with.

He was so sweet, so sincere, that she could never turn him down. “Would you dance with me?” His request was so simple as to seem innocuous—surely one dance wouldn’t change anything.

“Of course!” She--gently, but somewhat greedily--gathered him onto her lap, and, full speed ahead, flew onto the dance floor.

The song was “I Love To Laugh”. A happily reflective Hannah mused, “You always make me laugh, Johnny. I’ve missed you.” As he took control of her chair, twirling around the floor, she closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. She could hear the modest smile in his voice as he said,

“Thanks, darlin’. I’ve missed you, too.” It was bliss...until his next words turned the tables.

“... But you seem to get on really well with the gang there, especially Herb.” Surprised and mildly insulted, her eyes snapped open. She shouldn’t have been so shocked—she’d heard it all before—but she’d been sure that Johnny, knowing all the signs of her true interest, wouldn’t equate the two.

But he was right about one thing...besides him, Herb was the only one whose opinion mattered to her. She’d been so mired in Nick’s old world—deception, hatred, depravity—that their opposites were (no offense to felines) catnip to her. So, yes, Herb and Johnny both held endless appeal, but the latter shouldn’t need to speak as if there was no love lost between him and the horse. Hannah knew he hadn’t meant any harm—he was hurt, after all—yet she’d couldn’t help but think, ‘if only he’d been that possessive of me when we were together’.

~

As yet another song began, Nick sought out Sam. “Care to go for a spin with me, sweetheart?” Sam smiled demurely.

“That depends—are you using me for revenge?” As was his way, the Nick feigned insult. “Madam, I’m a reformed fox. I would never position you as a pawn in my pernicious plot.” At that very moment, Judy happened to breeze by, briefly giving him an odd look. “Seriously, Sam...What Carrots meant by giving me the stink-eye—which I agree with—is that we know what bad mayors—bad mammals, period—look like. It’s not even funny. In fact, even though it’s so obviously my day...I’m sorry. I may have, ah, imbibed a bit too much.” He held up his paws in mock surrender, then… “But I’m fine; it only messed with my head. See?” He touched the tip of his nose, put his arms out to either side, and balanced on one foot. “Voila!” He bowed, adding, “I’ll be here all week!” Sam applauded.

“Apology accepted, Nick. Shall we?” Linking her arm through his, she got them to the floor just in time for the next song. It was good timing, too; “Why Should I Worry?” was right up Nick’s alley...so much so that he sang along for all he was worth.

~

It was hard to believe they’d reached the last dance of the night. But it was perfect—the bow atop the grand gift that the entire event had been. It was “Best of Friends”. Most everyone gathered around WildeHopps to witness the tenderness of this tune in action. The newlyweds hardly noticed.

Alone in their circle of serenity, Judy whispered in Nick’s ear. “Just like us, Slick.”

“You bet, honey-bunny.” She laughed. Reflecting on the uncertainty—and hope—in the song’s finale, Nick once again spoke—solemn, sentimental, sincere--“It’ll last. You can count on it, Carrots.”

“I am.” She smiled, sealing the deal with a kiss.

~

Everyone followed the guests of honor to the parking lot where their now-souped-up set of wheels was revealed, to the awe of all...except for Sam and Hannah, who’d done alright, if they did say so themselves. Swirls and stars, crepe paper and spot-on portraits adorned the automobile. But the piece-de-resistance was the requisite:

JUST MARRIED

...scrawled on the rear window in Hannah’s unique writing...a must for that paw-made touch, Sam had said. She wasn’t the only one who thought so; Hannah fielded compliments from nearly everyone there, overwhelming the hare with happiness.

Judy and Nick’s should have been the only ones that pleased her, but when Herb offered his praise, the rest fell on deaf ears...except…

“Wow! Hannah, that’s amazing!” These were the first words Johnny had spoken to her since their confusing confrontation earlier.

“Thanks.” She put an arm around his waist just as he turned to her.

“Look—I’m sorry. I only meant that...seeing you so close with him felt like losing you twice.” The pain in those unforgettable eyes melted Hannah’s heart.

“Awww, Johnny—you’ll always have me.” It was true enough; she’d certainly be seeing more of him now that the Wilde-Hopps enjoyed his company as well. And, even more importantly...she could never fall in love with anyone else. She smiled, easing him onto her lap; he went willingly.

Everyone took turns fare-welling both fox and bunny (…but Hannah and Johnny did it together). There were hugs, laughs, and tears right up until Renato started the limo, calling, “Signor, Signora! It is late!” At that, the two hurried over, climbing inside: Nick first, followed by Judy...who once more endeavored to train her train solo. So constant was her concentration that she almost didn’t hear Nick intone, his voice pleasantly low, “Don’t listen to him, Carrots; the night is young...We’ll have plenty of time to keep the celebration going later.” Judy giggled as her husband grinned, and for a moment, they forgot where they were.

“Will you, now?” Herb stood at the front of the well-wishing crowd, that stern, assessing look on his face. Nick face-pawed.

“Sheesh! It figures.” Judy just giggled again. Undaunted, Herb continued.

“Evidently, the both of you are so eager to leave us that you forgot one very important goodbye...Mine.” Judy gasped, ashamed. Nick, though, was ready to remedy the situation.

“Alright, come on over. Group hug. Bring it in, buddy.” And that they did.

In his last act as host of the evening, the Honorable Herb H. Horse—in duty as well as decorum—helped the bride collect her train. Judy thanked him profusely, even as Nick laughed.

“I just realized I’m a regular expert at derailing trains...one when we solved our first case, and, two, what I’m gonna to to that dress...starting from the bottom.” On any other day, Judy might’ve slapped him...but today she smiled, sultry.

Meanwhile, realizing they’d left him no choice, Herb—still wearing that signature serene smile—said the two words WildeHopps had waited all night to hear… “Be good.”

~

It was something he’d been saying to them ever since the three had met; he invoked it on each and every visit, at least once. They couldn’t fathom why he might leave it out on this, the most important and auspicious day of their lives. But, without even having to discuss it, they’d nonetheless agreed to respect his decision.

Still, it came as no surprise to the stallion that they had something to say about it. “What took you so long?!” Nick demanded, followed closely by Judy’s,

“Cheese and crackers, it’s about time!” Herb smiled.

“I was mere saving the best for last, because...Parting is such sweet sorrow.” The two groaned in unison—Shakesbeare?!--he had to be joking. But then they noticed a single, solitary tear in his eye.

“Aww, don’t worry, we’ll see you soon!” Judy assured him. Nick nodded.

“Yeah—we just like to hear you say, ‘be good’.” With that, and a wave to their loved ones, Judy shut the door, and the happy couple was whisked away.

In case you were wondering--what Nick had said was true. But that didn’t mean they were going to listen...not tonight, anyway.