chubby, bespectacled opossum in overalls and a fuzzy sweater, very mismatched, and a slender and beautiful young coyote lady, also wearing spectacles, sporting a lovely trench coat and pink scarf, and a pink beret that matched her scarf. They were all carrying suitcases.

"Hello everyone!" said Judy as she hugged her mother and father.

"So glad you arrived safely!" said the parents as they hugged Judy and then Nick.

Then they turned to the newcomers.

"Hail, well met, dear Hoppses," said Amber.

"Greetings and salutations, honoured Hopps family!" said Garth.

Stu smiled. What a funny little guy, he thought.

"You must be Garth O' Possum, the computer genius that helped crack the case of the carnival hypnotist," he said.

"The same," said Garth, shaking Stu's paw and gallantly kissing Bonnie's paw. "And this is my lovely patch of heaven on Earth, the light of my life and flame of my heart, Miss Amber Beverly Latrans."

"Mr Hopps, so very enchanted to meet you," said Amber, allowing Stu to kiss her paw. "And Mrs Hopps, so lovely to be here in your wonderful hometown," said Amber as she hugged and kissed Bonnie.

"We are so glad you decided to come and help our humble little town in this time of great need," said Bonnie. "Do come with us, you must come and share breakfast with our family."

"It would be our pleasure, dear Mrs Hopps," said Amber.

"Let's just leave our suitcases at the inn and…"

"The inn? Oh, surely you're joking, Mr O' Possum!" said Stu, patting his back jovially. "You'll both be staying with us! You are our guests for as long as you like!"

"Oh, Mr Hopps, that is very generous of you," said Amber. "We do not wish to impose…"

"It would be an honour to have you in our humble home," said Bonnie. "A friend of Judy and Nick's is a friend of ours. We'll be all together like one big happy family."

It was the warmth and hospitality of the peaceful folk like the Hoppses that reminded city folk like Nick, Garth and Amber that kindness existed in the world. And that as long as there was kindness in the world, no matter how small, there was hope.

To say that the Hopps children were fond of their new houseguests would be an understatement. They were enthralled!

Garth had asked permission to install his computer working station in the loft of the barn, and Stu was only too happy to comply. There was no harvest to store in the barn, so it felt good to have someone in there with a cheery fire burning in a metal keg to warm up the place. Amber had installed her lab in the barn as well, so she could be in a large airy space and close to her sweetheart.

The children loved to watch them work. Garth was so funny when he jumped about up on the loft, latching his long prehensile tail on the rafters and swinging dangerously around with all the skill of a trapeze artist. And Auntie Amber, as the kids had named her, was the most beautifully feminine and dainty figure they had ever seen. The girls were fascinated by her giggles, lady-like demeanour and her soft, sweet voice. She was like a porcelain figure, so slender and perfect. Even Kevin, who would normally dismiss all girly things as 'sissy stuff', couldn't help feeling a little thump in his seven-year old chest when Amber kissed his cheek and introduced herself upon her arrival at the Hopps farm.

Penny was perhaps the most fascinated by Amber's work. She helped the coyote girl with everything, being very careful and imitating every move the lovely chemist did, even to the point of walking like her and swaying her hips ever so slightly.

"I'd love to be a chemist when I finish school, Auntie Amber," said Penny on that lovely Saturday afternoon as they worked with samples of soil taken from all the farms that had been affected, which were now eight. "I'd be able to help so many people, just like you."

"I know the dean of the university personally, she and my mother went to school together and she's the godmother of my eldest brother," said Amber. "I can certainly talk to her about a scholarship, any eager young minds who wish to study and follow their dreams should be encouraged."

Penny hugged Amber very tight and buried her face into her lab coat. She smelt divine, like perfume and kindness. Amber hugged Penny back, feeling that she had found more than just a friend: she had found a little sister and a future colleague.

"You and I will be the best of friends forever and ever, Penny, darling," said Amber.

Penny could only hug her and breathe in her lovely scent.

Kevin was equally fascinated by Garth's work. He spent the afternoon asking a million questions, all of which Garth answered happily. It was quite like two children playing computer scientists, only with real computers and with actual high-tech computation skills.

"When I grow up, I'm gonna be a hacker just like you, Uncle Garth!"

"Kevin, dear," said Bonnie Hopps, flushing lightly as she overheard.

"Oh, that's alright, Mrs Hopps. Call a spade a spade, I always say," said Garth. "So, you wanna learn the tools of the trade, Kev? Stick with your Uncle Garth, he'll show you the ropes!"

Judy looked upon the scene with a smile of absolute joy on her face. They were truly like one big family, working together to solve this case and make those who would harm the good folk of Bunny Burrow and the other farming communities pay for their crimes.

"It's the little things like this that make one proud to serve and protect," said Nick as he and Judy stood in the doorway of the barn, watching their two friends work away with their little assistants.

Suddenly, Nick felt a small paw tugging at his sleeve. He turned around, smiled and knelt down to be closer to the sweet little bunny who was tugging for his attention.

"Uncle Nick?" said Bianca. "My teacher says we have to find three different kinds of leaves for our homework. And I wanna make my leaves extra special. Can you help me find some really nice leaves?"

"Of course, little ace," said Nick.

"Judy, can you come too?"

"Of course, sweetheart," said Judy, rubbing her dear sister's cheeks with her warm paws.

"Daddy said we can look over there, near the clearing just after our apple orchard," said Bianca.

"Well, hop on board, little ace, and let's fly away to the quest for the homework leaves!" said Nick, putting her on his shoulders and walking across the empty carrot fields towards the orchard.

Judy giggled as she followed, watching with joy as Bianca and Nick bonded. Even in the midst of a crisis and under the shadow of uncertainty, she knew that they would always find a way to pull through, with hope and affection, and love. Always with love.

Nick and Bianca walked side-by-side, Bianca holding Nick's paw, as they searched for interesting-looking leaves in the clearing. Judy scanned the nearby branches to see if there were any leaves that would make for a good homework project.

"Lookit that one, Uncle Nick!" said Bianca, pointing at one close to the middle of the clearing "It looks like a star."

"Yes!" said Nick. "I bet Teacher will love that one."

He knelt down and looked at the little bunny.

"Betcha you can't go and get it and come back in ten seconds," said Nick playfully.

"Betcha I can!" said Bianca excitedly.

"Well, then…ready…set…go!"

Bianca giggled happily as she ran off towards the middle of the clearing and Nick counted.

"Ten….nine…eight…"

Bianca stopped and picked up the leaf.

"Got it, Uncle Nick!

And then a whooshing sound…and the ground opened beneath her!

"AAH!"

"BIANCA!"

Nick felt the world move in slow motion as he ran towards her. Not long ago he'd had a nightmare like this, and it had just come true. A large, yawning round hole had appeared where the middle of the clearing had been. And hanging on a root jutting out on the side of the hole was…

"HELP!"

Bianca was holding on for dear life, dangling over a black pit!

"Bianca! Hold still!" said Nick, kneeling down and reaching for her.

"UNCLE NICK! HEELLPP…!"

And the root broke. Bianca plummeted down for all of a tenth of a second…before a strong paw grabbed her paw firmly and pulled her up out of the dreadful pit.

Judy came running and arrived just in time to see Nick pulling her little sister away from the hole and hugging her tightly to his chest, kissing her little head comfortingly.

"It's okay, sweetheart. You're safe now. I've got you."

Bianca's frightened sobs were muffled by Nick's warm embrace.

"Uncle Nick…" she sobbed. "I was so scared…"

"I've got you now, little ace," said Nick reassuringly. "You're safe. Uncle Nick has you."

Judy hugged the two of them, adding her warmth and comfort to Nick's. Bianca's sobs soon subsided and she calmed down and stopped trembling.

"Come on, little ace," said Nick. "Let's get you home. I bet Auntie Amber will be glad to make you a cup of hot chocolate."

He wiped her tears with her finger and kissed her forehead as he and Judy carried her back to the house.

Bianca was feeling better. Her Auntie Amber had made her a cup of warm chocolate and was now sitting beside her on the sofa in the living

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