"That was some stunt!"

"Hehe," said Nick. "Who told you?"

"I saw it myself," said Judy's voice. "Clawhauser sent me the video almost immediately. It's gone somewhat viral, I must say. I won't be surprised it if becomes meme of the year."

"Haha," said Nick. "Information does travel fast."

"And so do you, my dear, with bungee cables attached to your legs," said Judy's voice. "I can't begin to tell you how wonderfully heroic you were today. I do believe a reward is in order."

"Well, that's one of the perks of the job, your rewards," said Nick seductively.

"Movie night, then," said Judy's voice. "There's a movie I want to watch, it just came out. I'll treat you to an evening of cinema and maybe we can go for a stroll in the park afterwards…and see where it goes from there."

"That we shall, my love," said Nick.

"Can't wait to have you here, Nick," said Judy's voice. "The carrot fields are just so beautiful on a brisk October evening."

Two hundred and eleven miles away, Judy stood by the window in the living room as she spoke. The carrot fields shone in the moonlight with a very enchanting effect.

And then, Nick remembered something.

"Hey Carrots, did you hear anything about a carrot shortage?" said Nick's voice from Judy's phone.

"Carrot shortage? No. Not at all, when did you hear this?"

"This morning. Mollie Moo and Grover the grocer said that there has been a carrot shortage for a week now," said Nick's voice.

"Hmm, I heard nothing of it," said Judy.

She looked out the window at the fat, juicy carrots ripening in the fields. They were days away from being picked.

"Certainly not here."

"Hmm...oh well, must be a regional sort of thing," said Nick's voice. "Well, I'm gonna get something to eat and pack my suitcase. Because tomorrow…"

"…is the day!" finished Judy, blushing delightedly.

"I'll see you all tomorrow, my best beloved," said Nick's voice.

"That you will, honey bun," said Judy. "Good night."

"Nini."

They kissed over the phone and hung up.

And just as she hung up, Judy remembered Uncle Terry and his failed crops.

"Oh drat...maybe I should have told him...ah, well, tomorrow."

The train stopped at twelve o'clock sharp at the Bunny Burrow Railway Station. As Nick walked off the train, Judy came running to him. Smiling broadly, Nick put his suitcase down and opened his arms. She leaped onto him and he embraced her tight, lifted her and spun around with her in his arms like in the train station love scenes of those old black-and-white films.

"Ahh, I've been wanting to do that for a week!" said Nick as he finally stopped twirling around and hugged his sweet bunny tight to his chest.

"Always the hopeless romantic, Mr Wilde," giggled Judy as she hugged him back.

"I'll give you the hopeless bit, but the romantic…ahh, I dunno," said Nick as he set her back on the ground and grabbed his suitcase.

Judy giggled as she held his arm snugly and they walked away from the platform and towards the truck, parked not far away.

"Mother is making lunch," said Judy. "She synchronised her day so that everything will happen at the exact hour. Dad's got the card deck on the living room table just waiting for you."

"Well, let's not keep the waiting waiting, then," said Nick.

They got into the truck and Judy drove them home. As they drove, Nick admired the fields filled with ripening carrots and the pumpkin patches and orchards.

"Sure feels nice to be back," said Nick. "Can you believe it was summer when I was here last? Feels like it was yesterday."

"Time sure flies when you're rescuing people and being the hero of a viral video," said Judy.

"Hehe," said Nick. "I take it your folks have seen it already?"

"Only about a dozen times," said Judy. "Isabelle even said 'I didn't know Uncle Nick could fly!'"

They laughed heartily.

"You're the hero of the moment, Nick," said Judy, reaching for his paw and holding it snugly.

"Well…all in a day's work, my dear," said Nick.

Just as they arrived at the gate of Hopps family farm, Judy stopped the truck. She turned to Nick, her eyes filled with adoration.

"And the hero always gets the girl," she cooed softly, edging closer to him.

"That's part of the job, too," whispered Nick, and they embraced warmly and kissed for a long while.

Nick took a deep breath of clean air as he carried the basket of apples across the field in one paw, walking beside Judy and behind Mr and Mrs Hopps.

"I bet it's nice to escape from the city from time to time and soak in some of the peace and quiet of the countryside, eh, Nick?" said Stu, checking each of his carrots as he walked by them.

"Couldn't have said it better myself," said Nick. "You are all very fortunate to have such a wonderful farm, Mr Hopps."

"It's a lot of work, but we enjoy and cherish it," said Bonnie.

"Growing good carrots is like raising a family," said Stu. "It takes a lot of love and care, and we have more than enough to give."

"We're totally on the same page there, Mr Hopps," said Nick. "Ah, how I love carrots."

The parents didn't catch it, but Judy totally did. She squeezed his arm affectionately. He gave her a wink as they walked along the lines of lovely carrots.

"The Euripides Mouse Memorial Hospital special-orders our applesauce," said Bonnie. "We take great pride in being their providers."

"It makes me feel all the more honoured to have a paw in the making of your applesauce, Mrs Hopps," said Nick.

Nick enjoyed spending time at the Hopps Family Farm. The chores were pleasant, the air fresh, and he loved being surrounded by people who loved him like one of the family. Often, Nick would think about where he would be forty years in the future. Leaving the city and settling in a peaceful farming town like Bunny Burrow was a very pleasant prospect, from what he had hitherto experienced.

"Well, just one more day," said Stu. "We'll be harvesting these carrots at their absolute best. Now let's get all cleaned up and ready for supper."

"Vrooom! Vrrrrommm! Ready for takeoff, Izzy?" said Nick as he sat Isabelle on his shoulders and held her securely.

"Ready, Uncle Nick!"

Nick pretended to fly her around the living room, through the hall and around the kitchen, and then back to the living room.

"Coming in for a landing!" said Nick and he placed her on the sofa.

"That was fun!"

"Okay, who's next?" asked Nick.

"Me!" said a dozen voices.

"Heehe, okay. Let's start with the younger ones first. Maggie, you're next!"

"Yay!"

Nick Wilde The Flying Fox was the new hero in the Hopps household, and all the little bunnies were eager to go on a trip through the house soaring on his shoulders.

Judy giggled and watched happily as her siblings enjoyed their time with Nick. It filled her heart with joy to see their little smiles and her beloved fox bringing such joy to the house.

"Okay, my fine little pilots," said Bonnie Hopps, walking into the room after a while. "Next stop: bed. Chop, chop."

The little bunnies laughed and chattered happily as they left the room. But one remained.

"Can you fly me to bed, Uncle Nick?" asked Bianca, tugging at his sleeve.

"Hop on board, little ace, and off we go!" said Nick, picking her up.

Judy and Bonnie watched as Nick carried Bianca to her room with her siblings. He took her all the way and placed her gently in the upper bunk of her bunk-bed, tucking her in snugly.

"Sweet dreams, little lady," said Nick.

"Uncle Nick?" said Bianca.

"Yes?"

She edged closer to him and hugged him around the neck.

"I love you."

The fox felt his heart swell with tenderness as the fuzzy little bunny kissed his cheek. Something in his throat welled up.

"Awww, I love you too, little ace," said Nick. "Nighty-night."

As Nick walked out of the room, a small tear of bliss rolled down his cheek. He felt loved. A feeling that was unlike any other. One that he had almost forgotten in his twenty years of living shunned by society and forced to resort to his wit and cunning to swindle and con people for a living.

It sure felt good to be loved.

"Aww, you foxes…so emotional."

Nick's eyes went wide and he turned to see Judy standing in the corridor.

"Heh," said Nick, rubbing his eyes. "Must have gotten something in my eye, while I was flying…should use goggles next time..."

"Oh, you're not fooling anyone, Mr Soft-heart," said Judy, taking his arm and snuggling close to him as they walked down the corridor to the kitchen. "Especially not me."

Nick just chuckled, wiping his eyes with his handkerchief.

"It's so nice to have you here, Nick," said Judy, leaning her head on his chest.

"It's so nice to be here," he said, kissing the top of her head softly.

They walked into the kitchen, where Stu and Bonnie were sitting at the table. Bonnie was pouring tea in four mugs.

"Here you go, Nick,"

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