elevator was decorated with marble and the back wall was made of glass. They could see all of Zootopia as they went higher and higher up the building. The lights of the city shone in Judy's eyes as she gazed upon them.

"Nick…how…how did you manage to…" her voice broke with emotion as she admired the beauty of the city from the elevator.

"For you, my dear," said Nick in a romantic tone, "I would do it all again, from the very beginning…knowing that you would be there."

His words were balsam. They made Judy hug his arm a little tighter as they admired the view together.

The elevator stopped at the top floor. The porter opened the door for them and tipped his hat.

"Good evening, Mademoiselle Hopps, Monsieur Wilde. This way, please," said the maître, an elegantly-dressed otter, as he showed them to their table.

The walls were all made of glass, so they could see the entire city and the land beyond as far as could be seen. Judy wished she had four more eyes to see everything around her.

Nick pulled a chair back for Judy, and she gracefully sat, admiring the beautifully laid table, listening to the soft music being played on a stage by an orchestra at the far end, and taking in the whole thing with joy in her heart.

"Nick…I never imagined…never in my life…I'd be sitting in a place like this."

"Dreams come true, my love," said Nick as he sat, putting his paws on the table. "You taught me that lesson, and I have held it dear ever since."

Judy put her paws on his, caressing them softly.

"If anyone had told me a year ago…I never would have believed it."

Nick gently lifted one of her paws and kissed it softly, looking into her purple eyes.

"Believe it now?"

Judy blushed and felt her chest flutter with joy.

"Yes."

While this was happening, a van appeared across the street from the Maison du Bison, and drove past, turning left into an alleyway between the beauty salon and the antique shop. It was a brown van with the words "Granny Mae's Flower Boutique" painted on the side.

"All set?" asked a gruff voice behind the wheel.

"Yes," responded a garbled voice through a radio transmitter. "Just as soon as everyone is in position. Do you have visual contact with our helpers?"

"Yup," said the gruff voice of the driver. "All three are ready and in position. We've got a few more minutes before the next patrol car drives by, then it's show time."

"You do understand what to do if things go awry."

"Keep calm, roll on," said the driver's voice. "There's no way they can suspect. Our helpers will take the hit, will remember nothing and will say nothing."

"Good. Let me know as soon as the cops roll around the block, and then we'll get started."

"Roger that," said the driver, opening the glove compartment and pulling out a fluffy baby chick plush doll. "Over and out."

The evening was magical. Everything was delicious and intricately prepared to absolute perfection. The conversation was pleasant and Nick was so handsome and charming, Judy felt like the past week had all been a dream and that she was somehow in paradise for a night.

"Our finest sparkling wine. On the house," said the waiter as he poured them each a glass of sparkling wine.

Their gazes met over their glasses of bubbling wine. Judy lifted her glass a little. Nick did the same.

"To my dear Nick," she said.

"And to the many years of joy ahead of us," said Nick.

"Salute."

Their glasses clinked pleasantly, and Judy savoured the bubbling, delicious fruited flavour of the fine drink.

Suddenly, the orchestra began playing a lovely, soft tune. The violinist let out the most enchanting chords, accompanied by subtle piano notes. Everyone went quiet. Nick stood up and walked to Judy's side.

"Dear lady, may I have the honour of this dance?" he said gallantly, offering his paw.

Judy felt like she was walking on air as she took his paw and he led her to the dancing floor in the middle of the room. As Nick placed one paw around her waist and held her other paw warmly, all the while gazing into her eyes, a beautiful voice began singing a song. Judy saw a lovely mouse girl singing sweetly as the orchestra accompanied her voice with such musical perfection that it felt like the angels themselves had descended from the heavens to soothe their hearts with their song.

"Dream by night, wish by day, love begins this way,

Loving starts when open hearts, touch and stay…"

The voice was bewitching, her words enchanting, but even more enchanting was the gaze of her handsome fox as they swayed to the rhythm of the song, dancing elegantly in front of an enraptured audience.

"Nick…" Judy choked out, overcome with emotion. "This is the most wonderful night of my life."

She could say no more. Her head leaned against his chest as they swayed, wishing this lovely evening could last forever.

As the music ended, everybody applauded and congratulated the lovely young couple for their marvellous dance. The people felt it was a fine example of how love could bring together everyone, no matter what kind.

Judy and Nick bowed elegantly before the audience. Several familiar faces smiled happily seeing the two so beautifully decorating the night with their affection.

And it was then…that Judy caught something out of the corner of her eye.

Three individuals walked into the maison…with street clothes. A poodle, a dingo and a coyote girl.

"Good evening, y'all!" said the poodle loudly. Everyone looked around, rather startled. "Hope you're all having a wonderful time! Now let's all make it even more wonderful by putting all your valuables in this bag…"

He produced a coarse brown bag from his coat.

"Monsieur," said the maître, walking towards them. "You cannot walk in here like that…"

"Or you'll what, son?" said the poodle, whipping out a taser.

Everyone gasped. The dingo and the coyote girl whipped out tasers too, pointing them menacingly at the people.

"Please, no violence," said a young raccoon waiter.

"Get back there, boy!" said the poodle, kicking waiter in the midsection.

Judy and Nick looked sideways at each other and nodded. Quietly, they walked in opposite directions, Judy picking up a cheesecloth along the way and Nick picking an unopened bottle of champagne.

"C'mon, everyone! We ain't got all night!" shouted the poodle, pointing his taser around at the patrons. "I'll zap one of you on the count of ten if y'all don't cooperate! One! Two! Three!"

Then out of nowhere, a rustling sound and a whoosh, and Judy leaped into the air with the cheesecloth in her paws, and threw it at the coyote girl's face.

"Huh?"

The coyote girl was distracted, giving Judy the chance to disarm her and sweep her off her feet with a leg swipe. The coyote girl fell to the floor and Judy quickly used the cheese cloth to tie her wrists together and her ankles to her wrists.

While this happened, Nick popped his head out from behind a table, aiming the champagne bottle at the dingo.

"Oy!"

The dingo looked in his direction just as a loud POP sounded and the cork came flying at him. The cork landed right between the eyes, knocking him down.

Judy and Nick ran to each other's side, and confronted the poodle. Cornered, the poodle aimed his taser at them, not knowing who would strike first.

"Don't move! I'll zap you! I swear," said the poodle.

"Put the weapon on the floor and turn around, on your knees, your paws on your head," said Nick, taking his wallet out and flashing his badge. "Police! You are under arrest for attempted robbery, assault and disturbance of the peace."

"You'll take me in for murder before the night is over!" said the poodle, aiming his taser squarely at Nick and bracing himself to shoot.

But before he could squeeze the trigger, a heavy cheeseboard flew across the room and struck the poodle on the side of the head. The impact knocked the poodle out cold. Nick looked to his right and saw a familiar face.

"Thanks, Flash! I owe you one!"

"Any…time.…Nick."

Judy turned to see the smiling face of Flash Slothmore giving Nick the thumbs-up.

"Sorry for the disturbance, everyone," said Judy. "Everything is under control."

The entire room applauded. Judy and Nick looked at each other and couldn't help smiling.

In the lobby of the Maison du Bison, Chief Bogo was taking a statement from the owner of the establishment as Judy and Nick sat on a sofa waiting. The perpetrators, all three of the unconscious, were taken to the precinct.

"And if it hadn't been for your two courageous officers, Monsieur Chief, our guests would have been robbed of their valuables."

"Thank you, Mister Bison. We'll handle it from here."

Mister Bison walked towards Nick and Judy, who stood up as he approached.

"Mademoiselle Hopps, Monsieur Wilde, I cannot put into words how grateful we are for your gallantry," he said, giving them both two kisses each on their cheeks. "We are in your debt. You are welcome here whenever you wish! Guests of honour!"

"Just doing our job, Monsieur Bison," said Judy.

"Serve and protect, that's what we do," said Nick.

As Mister Bison walked away to attend to other

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