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“Carrots, I already told you earlier. I can go grocery shopping once I’m off work.”
Nick was on the phone with Judy while trying to complete an endless pile of paperwork. He kept folding the corner of a file folder over and over as he continued talking with her.
Judy placed the phone between her shoulder and ear as she changed into some clean clothes. “Yeah, I know you can, but I’m perfectly capable of doing it too. Besides, you’re working a 10-hour shift today. Here’s the deal. I’ll go to the store, make dinner, and in return, you can choose a movie to watch tonight. And don’t even try to argue with me, I’m not up for negotiations!”
Nick chuckled on the other side of the line as he spun around in his desk chair. A slight pause before he said his next words. “Fiiinnneee, you win. But, you can’t complain about my movie choice, even though you always do so anyway.”
“I know, I know. Ok, I’m hanging up now. I don’t want to keep you distracted. If I go in tomorrow and that huge stack of paperwork is still there, we’re gonna have a huge problem.” Judy protested.
Nick could hear how stern her tone was through the phone. He also knew how seriously she took paperwork duty. If there were an Olympics on who completed paperwork the fastest, he would immediately sign her up.
“Ok, Ok, Ms. Paperwork Boss. I’ll do it, maybe half… or a fourth, depends on how much I’m willing to do.” He grinned to himself, knowing that Judy had the most annoyed face on the other side of the line.
He heard her slightly huff and immediately retracted some of his statement.
“Joking carrots, you know me. I love youuuuuuu.” Nick said with enthusiasm.
Judy smiled on the other end. “I love you too. Gonna go, bye-bye.”
The call ended as Nick looked at the phone with the stupidest smile on his face. He felt pairs of eyes staring at him, which made him look up and see none other than the Zebros.
They had the biggest grins plastered onto their faces as they had just witnessed Nick in a lovey-dovey state. “Dude, did you just say I love you like that?” They immediately resorted to laughing and mocking his words.
“I love youuuuu baby,” Zebraxton said to the other.
“No, I love youuu more, please kiss me like you mean it,” Zebrowski said in a high-pitched voice while smooching their lips in the air. They both started laughing even more.
“Oh man, that bunny has you whipped, Nick. This is so funny to see, man. Never thought I would see someone so nonchalant act like that in front of my eye- "
Zebraxton cut him off while smacking Zebrowski’s shoulder with his hooves.
“Bro, noooo, we should’ve been recording! Imagine how much we could have sold the video to Clawhauser! He would pay anything to get a video like that; he’s the biggest fan of these two lovebirds.” Zebraxton said with wide eyes.
Zebrowski pondered before talking. “Wait………you do have a point. Mind calling Judy again to tell you how much you love herrrr?” The zebros said as they turned to him and grinned.
Nick stared at them with the most annoyed expression and his ears completely behind his head in embarrassment. “Ha, ha. Very funny. No, I’m not calling her, and as you can see, I’m very busy,” he responded, as he pointed to the stacks of paperwork on his desk.
“Yeah, but you weren’t busy to tell her how much you loveeeeee herrrr,” Zebraxton said as Zebrowski started to laugh again.
All he could do was stare at these dumb zebras. “This conversation ends now.” Nick huffed. He immediately shut them off by putting on his headphones and opened one of the files in the stack.
“ZEBROS!” is all he heard before putting his music on the highest volume setting possible.
“Okay. Let’s see.” Judy opened the fridge to absolutely nothing except bottles of condiments, a pickle jar, one random potato, and a week-old takeout container in the corner.
Judy sighed. “Guess we need to buy the whole store today.”
Judy grabbed a pen and paper as she started to jot down a list of what she would need to buy. As she started writing, the ink of the pen slowly started to fade.
“Sweet cheese and crackers, this pen doesn’t even work.” She threw the pen and immediately went to Nick’s desk to try to find another one. She pushed some comics aside to see if a pen was around, but there was nothing. She started opening the drawers and to her surprise, found a box of pens, sitting at the very end of the drawer. She grabbed a pen, noting to herself that there were few left in the box.
“Self reminder to get some pens because why do we have absolutely nothing in this house?” She put the box back and was about to close the drawer until her paws passed by something velvet.
“Huh?” Judy said with a mix of confusion and curiosity. She moved the pen box she had just placed to the side and immediately saw a black velvet box. She slowly grabbed the box into her paws.
“What is this?” She stared at it, with slight hesitation but open curiosity. As always, curiosity kills the cat (or rabbit in his case). She caved in and slowly opened the box to a shiny diamond ring. It had a beautiful opalescent, oval diamond in the middle, with two tiny diamond-shaped carrots on each side of it. Her entire body froze in horror as she stared at the ring. Her eyes slowly moved to the teeny tiny note on the inside of the box that said “to carrots” on it.
Judy shrieked in horror and immediately closed the box. Her paws immediately covered her mouth in shock.
“Oh no. What did I do? No, no, no, no, oh my god!" she said with panic in her voice.
She placed the box on his desk and immediately grabbed her ears out of anxiety. She kept touching her ears, pacing back and forth, not knowing what to do.
“Oh, my god. He was gonna propose to me, and I just saw the ring."
She paced to one side of the living room.
"I wasn’t even supposed to see it. I just accidentally ruined my future proposal, why, why!?!”
She paced to the other side of the living room.
“Do I tell him? Wait, no, I can’t. I can’t.”
She paced around the living room.
“Oh nooooo what do I do?”
She stood there, in a state of panic til she remembered who she could talk to.
“Clawhauser.” Judy gasped.
She rushed to grab her phone and immediately called him, hoping he would respond quickly. Thankfully, Clawhauser picked up after the first ring.
“Hi Judy, how are you?” Clawhauser said on the other side of the line.
“Hi Clawhauser, umm, do you have a minute?” Judy replied.
“Oh, honey, I always do. What is it?”
“Ummm….Nick’s not around, right?” Judy questioned tensely.
Clawhauser raised an eyebrow at her request. He looked around to see Nick nowhere in sight, noting how odd she sounded on the phone.
“No, he’s not. May I ask what’s going on cause you're acting really, really weird right now.”
Judy took a deep breath before explaining. “Ummmm, please don’t tell anyone this but I was looking for a pen and I was going through Nick’s desk drawers to find one and I did find one but I also found a box with a ring inside and it's most definitely my engagement ring because it has a "to carrots" note in it and I don’t know what to do,” Judy said so fast without stopping. “Oh my god, he’s going to be so ma- "
“Whoa whoa whoa, stop right now. Are you serious judy?” Clawhauser asked.
“Clawhauser?!?!? Yes, why would I lie about tha- "
“OH MY GOD AHHHHH!!” Clawhauser squealed on the other side of the line.
“Clawhauser, keep it down!! Don't make a scene!” Judy scolded.
“Okay, okay, sorry, Judy. I can’t help it,” he said quietly. He gasped quietly before continuing. “Oh my goodness, congratulations! This is so exciting! Oh my god, wait, can I put in my application to be the maid of- "
“Clawhauser, not right now!" Judy scolded once again.
She immediately retracted her last statement. "Sorry, Claw, I don't mean to be rude. I just.. I need help, I don’t know what to do.” Judy said with nervousness, as her ears drooped behind her head.
Clawhauser could tell Judy was really scared on the other side, just through how quiet her voice sounded.
“Okay, listen, I don’t think he’ll be mad, I mean, it’s his fault for hiding it right there. He could have hidden it anywhere else-” He was met with complete silence on the other side.
Clawhauser sighed. “Listen, Judy. I love you, darling, but you’re going to need to tell him. I know it’s going to be a hard conversation, but if you don’t say anything, the guilt is going to keep consuming you day by day.”
Judy sighed in return. “You’re right. I’m…just scared of how he’ll react. I’m not mad at him for wanting to propose to me. I’m mad at myself for going through his stuff and finding it. I should not have done that.”
“Judy, again, it’s not your fault. How were you going to know a ring would be in there? Besides, he loves you so much, and you mean so much to him, too. He bought that ring for a reason. He wants to be in your life forever. And he wants you to be in his life forever, too. It’s going to be okay, and if it doesn’t, I’m always a call away and a good shoulder to cry on.”
Judy's face softened as she listened. “Thank you, Claw, I’m really grateful that you answered.”
“Always. I have to go now, Chief is coming, but don’t worry, everything is going to be okay. Okay, bye.” Clawhauser said before hanging up.
The phone call abruptly ended, and Judy's eyes immediately focused on the box. She walked up to the desk and opened it again, this time really analyzing the ring.
Judy pondered for a moment. “Is it considered bad luck if I put it on right now? I mean, just one minute with it won’t hurt, no?”
She bit her lip as she took out the ring and put it on her left ring finger. To her surprise, it fit perfectly. She stretched her left paw out, and she couldn’t help but be in awe at how beautiful the ring was. Although she did question in that moment about how he got her ring size right. However, she’d save that question for later.
“Okay, that’s enough.” She took the ring off, placed it back into the box, and put it away, exactly where she found it.
“I’m going to the store. I need a distraction.”
Nick unlocked the door to his apartment and was immediately greeted with the smell of freshly cooked dinner.
“Carrots, I’m home.” He went to the kitchen and immediately found Judy already sitting by the table, waiting for him to come home.
“Hi Nick, how was work?” Judy said to him, a pool of nerves filling the inside of her stomach.
“It was fine." He planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I missed you so much, and just by the smell alone, I can already tell you cooked an amazing meal for me."
"I’ll be back, I’m gonna go change.” He said as he left the kitchen.
“Okay, I’ll make you a plate,” Judy said.
Nick was eating the casserole, noticing Judy hadn’t even touched her food yet. She traced the border of the plate with her fork over and over for the past few minutes.
“You don’t like casserole?” Nick questioned.
Judy looked up at him. “I do.”
Nick took another bite before continuing. “Then why haven’t you taken a bite yet?”
A pause of silence mixed with hesitation arose from her before she decided to speak. “I um, I’m not hungry. I mean, I’m not hungry right now but…..I need to talk with you first. About something.”
Nick sighed as he set his fork down. He rested his paw on his jaw. “You’re breaking up with me? And my last meal on death row is your casserole? Wow. I mean, can I at least have dessert first before the departure?”
Judy looked at him, flabbergasted. “Nick, stop. I’m not breaking up with you, oh my god. Please, I’m trying to be serious here.”
Nick smirked. “I was just joking, but I had to let you know, just in case you were,” he said with a wink.
A grunt came out of her.
“Okay, fine. What is it then?”
Judy got off her chair and sat on his lap, pushing his plate of food to the side. She wrapped her arms around his neck, looking up at him with nervousness in her eyes before opening up.
“Nick, I……I found something today,” she said as her paws rubbed the nape of his neck.
He listened and nodded, letting her continue the conversation.
“I was looking for a pen to write a list of what we needed today, and I went through your desk, trying to find one. I did find one, but I also found something I shouldn’t have seen.”
A pause lingered in the air.
“Oh no." He let out a sarcastic gasp. "You found my stash of limited edition flavored condoms?” He said, smirking at her.
Judy looked at him in disgust. “Nick, no."
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, trying to figure out as to what exactly she was referring to. He knew well that he had nothing to hide from her-
Wait…..
Oh no.
He remembered. He knew.
Exactly what it was.
Shit. Fuck. Oh, you dumb fox.
Why? Would you... Put it there?
He thought it was a good spot, but he didn’t consider the fact that Judy would go looking through the deep crevices of his desk drawers. It’s not like he prohibited her from going through his desk. He put the ring in there a few months back and made a mental note that he had it there. His eyes went wide in shock, debating on whether or not he should protest. However, he waited to hear from her first as to what she really found.
“I found a box with a ring inside. An engagement ring. It had a note inside of it, too.”
Nick's eyes were stuck in a state of shock. He felt like he was going to pass out and fall off the chair. He wanted to dissolve into dust and never return.
“I’m sorry, Nick. I should not have gone through your stuff. I ruined something that you’ve probably been planning for a while. This is all my fault."
Tears fell down her face, her paws shaking in guilt, and her ears drooping in sadness. She covered her face with her paws, sobbing uncontrollably. She felt his arms hug her tightly, planting a kiss in the space between her ears. He lifted her face so they could really look into each other’s eyes. His thumbs wiped the tears under her eyes.
“I’m not mad, my love. And, it’s not your fault either. It’s mine. I should’ve hidden it better. Poor job on my end. Yes, it was for you. And no, you didn’t ruin the plan. In fact, I think you made it a bit easier for me.”
Judy looked at him in sheer confusion as he placed her in the chair. He walked towards the desk and opened the drawer where Judy had found the ring.
Nick walked up to her and turned her chair towards him, so he had room to get down on one knee in front of her. As he got down on one knee, Judy's eyes widened. He held her paw as he looked at her with the eyes of a man deep in love.
“Carrots, my love, my angel, my darling, my lovebug, my sweetheart. There are so many names I could give you. But there is one in particular I have yet to give you. And that is to call you my wife. From the moment you gave me that application to be your work partner, I knew we would be together for life. After our first argument at the conference, when you were looking for me to apologize and rekindle our partnership, it further confirmed to me that we were both doing the right thing. When I was in the academy, the only thing that kept me going was you. I got this badge for you. I did it all for you. When we both opened up to each other at the weather wall, our partnership became more than just friendship that day. It became a symbol of our love for each other. That throughout all the hardships we may face, we’ll always come back to each other. There’s no one else I’d rather be with for the rest of my life. I want to wake up every morning with you in my arms. To find our forever home together. To start a family together. To grow old together. I want us to spend the rest of eternity together. You are the missing puzzle piece I’ve been looking for all these years, and I don’t ever want to lose it. I want you to officially be mine, forever.”
He let go of her paw and opened the ring box. “Judith, will you marry me?” He said, looking up at her with admiration and tears in his eyes.
Judy grabbed his face with her paws and started crying even more. She nodded her head as a form of a yes.
Nick smiled with more tears in his eyes. “I know you already saw the ring, but I can’t put it on til you say yes out loud.”
Judy let out a shy laugh as she tried to stop the tears from falling. “Yes, I do want to marry you.”
Nick couldn’t do anything else but smile like an idiot as he placed the ring on her left ring finger. Just like earlier, the ring still fit perfectly.
Nick grabbed her face as their lips met in a deep, romantic kiss. It felt like the world stopped, just for a few seconds, so they could embrace the start of a new chapter together.
Judy let go of the kiss before whispering to him. “I really like the ring. It’s so beautiful. I love you so much, and I’m so glad we’re doing this. Together." Judy couldn’t help but smile at him. It all felt like a dream, but this really was her true reality. Nick got off his knee and carried her bridal style to their couch. He placed her gently on his lap as they sat on the couch.
Judy played around with his tie before asking Nick something. “I still feel bad for ruining your proposal plan. I mean, it’s more than fair to ask now on how you were planning on doing it?"
Nick’s face went blank. His paw rubbed the back of his head in nervousness. “I- I- um, I mean, I had ideas. I just didn’t know how exactly I would execute them because- " He paused before continuing.
“You are a hardcore observer, and I was afraid you would question any sudden changes to my routine. And I won’t lie to you, but planning a proposal has got to be one of the most difficult things to do, especially when you have a……fiancée who is always questioning you 24/7.”
Judy’s heart melted for a moment when he heard him call her fiancée. “I don’t question you that badly," she said with an amused chuckle.
Nick raised an eyebrow. “Ummm, yes, you do. Could you imagine if I told you to wear a nice dress for our “dinner date” but then I’m taking you to the beach before that to propose and you start questioning why I’m not following the route to the restaurant and you start to convince yourself right then and there that you’re getting kidnapped but really I’m just trying to propose to my girlfriend and also not throw up out of nervousness at the same time-"
“Okay, okay. Now you’re just going overboard," Judy said as she was giggling really hard.
Nick frowned like a little kid. “Was not, there were a lot of factors to consider, Carrots."
Nick sighed. He traced circles along her paw. “I know it wasn’t the ideal proposal every girl dreams of and- "
Judy interrupted him as she intertwined her paw with his. “Nick, it’s okay. I’m happy with it. I think it was perfect. It was intimate, just you and me. In our kitchen, with our casserole getting cold in the background. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
Nick couldn't help but smile. “I don’t know how I got so lucky to have a woman like you in my life.” He leaned his muzzle into hers so their lips could meet once again. As they parted their lips, Judy cuddled close into his chest, their bodies dipping further into the couch.
“Before cuddle time, I do think you need to actually eat your dinner first. I don’t want my now fiancée getting hangry before bedtime,” Nick said.
“You’re right. Let’s go.”
Love is so random. It enters your life when you least expect it. I never thought a popsicle hustle would end with me bumping into the love of my life. Nonetheless, I'm so grateful. I'm so grateful for you entering my life. I'm thankful that you gave me a chance when no one else would. To prove that I can be more than a "sly fox". That I can do good for the world. That I can turn my life around for the better. Even through all the craze and chaos of our job, there's no one I'd rather do it with than you. And there's no one I'd rather live my life with than you. My sweet Judy.
Nick placed the pen and notebook on the side of his nightstand. scratch that
This time, he's hiding the start of his vows somewhere better. He walked to his closet and hid the small notebook deep in a pile of folded clothes. He quietly closed the closet door and made his way to bed, where Judy was already fast asleep. He pulled her closer so he could cuddle her in his sleep. And that's how they stayed. Two lovers intertwined in a deep sleep. And every night will stay like that, forever.