her old eyes. She could not express her gratitude.

"We knew it would all end up well, Nana," said Judy as she held the old St. Bernard's paw and walked her out of the courtroom amidst cheers and congratulations.

"You two are the most wonderful pair of detectives since Watson and Mr Holmes," said Nana Bernardine, looking fondly at Nick and Judy on the front steps of the Bunny Burrow Courthouse. "I must bake you a pie or a cake...or something. I do not know that I can thank you enough, my dears."

"Seeing you smile and seeing your neighbours celebrating this day is more than enough thanks for us, dear lady," said Nick gallantly.

Sheriff Shepard offered to give Nana a ride to the town hall, where the police staff was organising a party for her. As Nana sat in the car, she looked at Judy, holding Nick's arm and smiling back at her.

"You chose well, honey," said Nana, smiling and giving them a knowing wink. "Let me know the date, and I'll bake the cake myself.

As the sheriff's car drove away, Judy felt herself go pink in the cheeks.

Duke Weaselton walked out of the prison gates. His sentence was over, and he was once again free to do as he pleased on the streets.

No sooner than he reached the sidewalk, though, a large black car pulled up and three polar bears in suits surrounded him.

"NO!" yelled Duke aghast. "I DID WHAT HE WANTED!"

The polar bears snatched him and stuffed him into the car.

Shortly, the polar bears roughly pushed Duke into the familiar study where, atop a large mahogany desk, sat Mr Big himself.

"Duke," said Mr Big. "You made the right choice, my lad."

Duke smiled warily, looking around him.

"You helped my granddaughter's godmother close her case, and for that, you have my gratitude."

"Um...it was nothing..." quavered Duke.

"However, there is one little matter to discuss," said Mr Big dangerously.

"Er...what would that be, Mr Big, sir?"

Mr Big grinned evilly as Marcel, one of his thugs, snatched Duke by the scruff and dangled him above the carpet.

"NO! NOO! I DID WHAT YOU WANTED!"

The other two bears removed the carpet and the false floor, revealing the infamous pit of gelid ice and freezing water.

"You're a bad apple, Duke," said Mr Big. "And a bad apple spoils the others."

"MERCY! PLEASE!"

"I may not earn an honest buck, but I know where to draw the line. And that's something you have not learned, Dukey."

"I'LL MEND MY WAYS! I'LL DO ANYTHING! ANYTHING!"

"That you will, my boy," said Mr Big as he watched the weasel dangle over the deadly pit. "Because from now on, you're working for me. I'm going to straighten you out and make sure you learn never to cross certain lines. I'm teaching you respect and loyalty. Every move you make, every sneeze, every cough, I will know of it before you think of it. And if you ever step out of line again..."

Marcel let him go. Duke plummeted and shrieked until Marcel caught him again by the leg.

"Do I make myself clear?" asked Mr Big with a big smile.

"YES! CRYSTAL CLEAR!"

"Good."

The polar bears replaced the false floor and the rug, making the dreadful pit disappear.

"Marcel, take this piece of scum and throw him out," said Mr Big, waving his paw.

Marcel nodded and carried Duke away in his paw.

"Oh, and Marcel..."

The bear paused, listening. Duke swallowed hard.

"...make sure he lands in something as filthy as he is."

Marcel nodded in acknowledgment, carrying Duke out of the office and closing the door behind him.

As the door closed, Fru Fru came into the study, carrying Baby Judy, and walked to her father's side.

"Daddy! It's almost time for your soap opera."

"Is it, baby? Well, I'll be right there."

Then he looked at his granddaughter and smiled. Baby Judy smiled back.

"Granpapa!" she gurgled in her babyish voice.

"Who's my little pudding cake?" said Mr Big, taking his granddaughter in his arms. "Who's Granpapa's little poppet? Koochie-koo!"

Epilogue

Snow covered the carrot fields and icicles hung from the trees. A cold wind swayed the bare branches and blew gusts of powdery snow into the valley. But indoors, all was merry and warm at the Hopps family household. Bunnies dressed in festive colours gathered around the tree to watch their big sister put the star on top, a tradition in the Hopps family.

"Okay, smile for the camera, everybody!" said Bonnie Hopps as she took a picture of everyone around the tree.

Standing out among all the bunnies was Nick, wearing a green knitted sweater that brought out the colour of his eyes. He stood next to Judy, dressed in purple, who had the star in her paws.

"Okay, now let's put the star up, Judy," said Stu Hopps as he filmed the moment with his camcorder.

"Alright, dad," said Judy. "Um…Peter, can you get the stepladder?"

"No need for that," said Nick as kneeled down and offered his paws. "Need a lift, my love?"

Judy giggled as she climbed up carefully onto Nick's shoulders.

"Elevator, going up."

Nick stood up and firmly held her legs as she steadied herself.

"All set, Nick," said Judy. "Let's reach for the stars."

He hoisted her up and she put the star at the top of the tree neatly. She switched it on and it glimmered with a golden light that filled the room with its gleam.

"Bravo!"

"Yay!"

"Way to go, Judy!"

"Three cheers for Uncle Nick!"

"Hip hip..."

"Hooray!"

Everybody applauded as they watched their lovely tree shine with the light of the ornaments.

"Did you make a wish, Judy?" asked her little sister, Isabelle.

"Yes," said Judy as she sat comfortably on Nick's shoulders, caressing his fuzzy cheeks.

"And it's about to come true," said Nick with a sly grin.

With an acrobatic move, Nick swung Judy off his shoulders and into his arms. Then, wrapping his warm tail around her like a scarf, he pulled her close and kissed her passionately. Judy was so surprised she could barely think, but the feel of Nick's warm lips kissing hers was overpowering. Her ears fell limp. She closed her eyes and hugged him tight, her paws caressing his face and neck as they kissed lovingly with the light of the tree shining behind them and giving off a wonderful effect.

Everyone applauded and cheered, and many 'Awww's' were heard.

As Nick pulled away from their kiss and nuzzled her nose with his, Judy's eyes opened and she gazed upon the face of her beloved fox. Caressing his cheek, she tried to tell him how much she loved him and how much he meant to her, how every moment they spent together was a blessing. But the words would not come out.

"Nick…"

"Merry Christmas, my little carrot muffin," said Nick softly, kissing her playfully once more.

"Oh Nick…"

Her lips trembled and she sniffled. Big tears of joy rolled down her cheeks and she let them flow freely.

"Awwww, get in here, you," said Nick, hugging her tightly to his chest as her eyes streamed with mirthful tears. "You bunnies…so emotional."

Her sisters giggled. Little Isabelle piped up.

"Are you gonna marry Judy, Uncle Nick?"

"Izzy…" said Bonnie Hopps, giggling embarrassedly.

Nick turned to Isabelle, smiled and narrowed his eyes, pretending he was thinking hard.

"Hmmm…that's a good question, Izzy. Do you think your big sister would like to marry me?"

Before she realised it, Judy blurted out: "YES!"

"Well, I guess that answers your question," said Nick, winking at Isabelle.

There was a stunned silence in the room as Judy realised Nick had just proposed in the cleverest way imaginable, and she had just accepted Nick's proposal.

Sly fox, she thought, feeling her heart sing with joy.

Then it was Stu's turn to shed tears.

"They grow up so fast…" he wiped his eyes with his handkerchief as his wife hugged him.

All the little bunnies giggled as they watched their sister glowingly happy, cradled in the warm arms of her beloved fox. Surrounded by family and loved by her dear Nicholas P. Wilde, Judy Hopps felt this was the happiest moment in her life, one she would treasure for the rest of her days.

"So, who wants to sing some carols?" said Nick loudly.

"Me!" said all the bunnies.

Judy giggled merrily as Nick held her close, seeing her family so happy around her.

"Care to join in, Carrots? It's the time for love and joy and cheer, after all," said Nick happily with his face filled with mischief as Judy's siblings and her parents all laughed merrily and cheered.

"Couldn't have said it better myself," said Judy as she happily joined in.

The End

 

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