me awhile, he asked me something that surprised the hell out of me. He said he didn’t want an answer right away, but he’s been fixing up his mom’s house and he wants me and Holly to move in with him.  He made me promise to just think about it and wait to see the place before I make a decision.

He has to work a double shift today, and I already miss him. He’ll come by with dinner, but he can’t stay with us tonight. I understand now why he’s been so exhausted lately, and I told him to take it easy, and that I can’t wait to see the house. Now I really need to get better, so I can go see what he’s been up to and also feel like less of a burden on him.

 

“If he loves you, Judy, he’ll understand that your daughter has to come first. You and Holly need to be under the supervision of doctors who know how to care for rabbits. This is a fine hospital, but they don’t know as much about rabbits as the bunny doctors at Triburrow Hospital do.”

Judy shook her head. “Mom, we’re not leaving the city.”

Mrs. Hopps wrung her paws. “Judy, be reasonable. I heard what happened this morning from the nurse. I’m appalled that the staff here doesn’t seem to know how dangerous it is for baby bunnies to get milk in their lungs. I've raised hundreds of kits, so I know what can happen from firsthand experience. What if she gets pneumonia?”

Judy’s ears drooped as she looked over at Holly sleeping in the bassinet, as her mom continued. “And what about you? I think they’re pushing you too hard in physical therapy, and it’s causing more harm than good. Do you feel like you’re getting better, Judy?”

 

I have to admit, my mom does have a point. And I feel so guilty after feeding Holly this morning. I mean, what do I know about raising kits? I just want to do what’s best for her. The nurse did say that young bunnies are particularly susceptible to problems if liquid gets in their lungs… what if I’m wrong for wanting to stay here?

And if I transfer, would it give Nick a break? He’s been running himself ragged, between taking care of me, and working, and fixing up the house. It’s not like I’d be gone forever… I just don’t know what to do.

 

Nick paced the room as he spoke. “Don’t you dare use me as an excuse to make this decision for you. You think I’m exhausted now… just so you know, I’d commute five hours a day to headquarters, if it means I can be with you and Holly. Or I’d quit my job and move to Bunnyburrow and be a cop there, or bake pies or sell frozen carrots or whatever I have to do to be with both of you. Don’t you get it? It’s Irvin all over again, Judy. Your parents will never stop until they...overprotect the life right out of you. And you keep talking about what’s best for Holly. Does she deserve to grow up being afraid of life?”

“Nick that isn’t fair… I mean look at me.” Judy gestured at herself, “I still can’t even go to the bathroom by myself. I… I can’t even take care of my daughter…”

“I’m here to help you, Judy. Every single officer at the ZPD has offered at least ten times to help. Hell even Rita, someone you haven’t even met, has offered to help in any way she can. We aren’t going to take care of you like your mom does, though. We’re gonna help you remember how to take care of yourself.”

Judy looked at Holly sleeping in her bassinet as he continued. “Look, Judy, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Your body is still healing, so give yourself time to recover. I know if anybunny can do it, you can. It won’t be easy, but I believe in you, Judy.”

“But how Nick? How do you know I’ll get better?”

Nick sat next to her on the bed and held her paws in his.

“When I went to the academy, there were so many times that I wanted to throw in the towel and give up. All my self doubt… the first few weeks were the worst, but there was one thing that helped me hang in there.”

Nick pulled Judy’s carrot pen from his pocket and waved it at her. “Without this, I never would’ve made it through to the end, Judy.”

Nick stood up and gently placed it on the table next to the bed.

“I think you need it more than I do right now. I wish I could stay, but I gotta run, Judy, or I’ll be late for shift.” He walked over to the bassinet and kissed Holly on the head as she slept, causing her to stretch and sigh. “We’ll talk more when I come back tomorrow.” Nick leaned over and quickly kissed Judy on the cheek, and then he was gone.

Judy picked up the pen and looked at it for several seconds before she pressed the button on the side.

A recording of her voice played from the pen: I know you can do it.

Chapter 5

I get it, mom. Like most bunnies, you make choices based on fear, even when there isn’t anything to be afraid of. Like you said, you and dad settled hard, but I don’t have to, and I certainly don’t want Holly to either. I had a long talk today with Dr. Avery, the bunny who delivered Holly, and found out that we have quite a bit in common, since she grew up in the Triburrow area too. You should talk to her if you get the chance.

 

As Nick walked into the hospital room, Judy looked up at him and demanded, “Alright, where is it?” before going back to furiously scratching her left leg.

“Sorry Carrots, you’re gonna have to be a bit more specific and tell me what it is. And aren’t you supposed to be stretching that leg, instead of trying to tear the fur off of it?”

“I’m talking about the book Dr. Avery recommended...”

Nick laughed as he interrupted her. “Ohhh, yeah, I’m still reading it. It’s back at the house… do you seriously think I’m going to carry Bunnies: What to Expect the First Year around with me? When I got it at the bookstore, the cashier asked me if I was raising my own food.”

Judy laughed and shook her head. “You’ve got a wisecrack for everything, don’t you?”

Nick sat next to Judy as she tentatively flexed her foot to stretch the muscles in her leg. “At least the leg brace is less itchy than the cast, right Carrots?”

Her ears drooped. “But I have to use the crutches too.” Judy sighed as she started scratching her leg again.

“It’s either that or I carry you around everywhere. Don’t worry, you won’t need them for long.”

Judy put the brace back on her leg before she pulled her carrot pen out of her pocket.  “Nick, I just wanted to say...thanks. For everything.” She held the pen out to him.

“No, you hang on to it, there’s still plenty of paperwork to sign before we can break you and Little Carrots out of here.” Nick smiled as he hugged her.  “And I didn’t do anything, except give back a tiny bit of what you’ve given me.”

 

Nick bought a cute little teal four door VW Rabbit for us to drive around town, which will definitely make life easier. He said he’s almost got the garage cleared out, so we’ll be able to get it out of the driveway soon. It’s weird, but I’ve never lived in a house with a garage before.

I guess I’m getting ahead of myself, since I promised Nick I wouldn’t make up my mind until I’d actually seen the place, but… seriously, I know it will be great, and he’s worked so hard to get it ready. Still, it’s cute seeing how nervous he is, even if he hides it well.

 

“Can I pleeeease open my eyes now?”

The wheelchair stopped moving and Judy could feel Holly squirm in her arms. “Yes, we’re here.”

Judy opened her eyes and gasped.

“Oh Nick, it’s beautiful. Though...”

The room was small and filled with bright light, which illuminated the carrot curtains, carrot wallpaper, a carrot mobile over a carrot shaped crib with carrot sheets. Even the light switch looked like a little carrot...

“Where did you find carpet with carrots on it?”

“Is it too much? I mean, there were so many carrot themed things at the stores...”

Judy smiled. “No, it’s perfect, Nick. It’s true, we bunnies do like carrots. Except frozen ones, you wouldn’t do well selling those because they’re gross.”

“I appreciate you helping me avoid a disastrous career change.”

“And I appreciate you fixing things up for us here, Nick.” Judy looked down at Holly snuggled in her lap, her nose twitching as she looked around the room. “ What do you think, little bun, ready for us to move in here?”

“Wait, don’t you want to see the rest of the house before you decide?”

Judy gently pulled on Nick’s tie until he bent down so she could wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him. “What, yes isn’t a good enough answer for you?” Holly reached out and tried to grab Nick’s whiskers as he smiled.

 

I wonder if I shouldn’t eat any carrots, until Nick notices, just to mess with him? I really do like them though, so I don’t know if teasing him is worth the deprivation. And with my luck he’d either not notice, or he’d figure out what I was doing and start messing with me. The room really is beautiful, and he put so much effort into getting the whole house ready for us.

 

Judy sat in a porch swing holding Holly. Above her a large sign with the words

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