Chapter Text
The toast crunched wonderfully underneath Judy’s incisors. It was almost as good as the feeling of fresh celery. Breakfast, however, was a work in progress. She had a big job ahead of her this morning to prepare a meal. Across the counter of the modest apartment kitchen was spread both ingredients and hastily scribbled notecards, all to help keep her thoughts in order. Judy reached for the carton of eggs, silently thanking both her mother and her mother-in-law for their help. If it wasn’t for them this wouldn’t have even been a possibility.
Everything else was prepared, mostly greens with a few of the more delicious flowers as a treat. Cut fruits such as apples and strawberries sat next to steaming hot pancakes and toast. Judy had been working to finally learn how to cook and it seemed to be finally paying dividends. Nick hadn’t even had to help, he wasn’t even away yet.
The fox in question roused himself seemingly after the coffee was finished brewing. The springs of their mattress could be heard squeaking from the bedroom as he awoke. His eyebrows rose as he pushed the door open. He had only one question as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. “All this for me?” Judy couldn’t help but smile, it was a perfect demonstration of what happened to a fox without his morning beverage.
“Nick, if you manage to eat all of this yourself you’ll have more in common with Gid’ than just species.” She found the half smile on her face mirrored by her mate.
He slid into the seat on the far side of the kitchen table and Judy passed him a full cup of coffee, receiving a peck on the top of her head as she did so. Taking advantage of his lowered muzzle she chinned him atop his nose. The fox actually shivered as she heard him inhale through his nose. She loved having that sort of effect on him. “Now then, breakfast?”
The meal laid out on the table was full of traditional Lapine fare, with a few exceptions for her mate. Somehow, foxes weren’t really breakfast animals; perhaps it had something to do with those nocturnal habits. Her mate stifled another yawn and began filling his plate with food as she did much the same.
With his plate full, Nick dug into the fruits and grains with an enthusiasm that some of Judy’s younger brothers would have found hard to match. Eggs were the next thing for the fox to begin demolishing; he loved the taste of them almost as much as the blueberries he continuously restocked the fridge with. There were only two items that stopped him. Vitamins and flowers. He was far more subtle about the former than the latter. “Come on Nick, the lavender won’t kill you. These are some of the best stalks I’ve had this year. Besides, they’re in season right now.” From her experience, lavender honestly didn’t have a season, but that wasn’t the important part. It was just a way to invite her mate to try them. The vitamin was another matter entirely.
The dark brown pill had somehow; mysteriously found its way under the edge of her husband’s plate. Tucked behind the untouched knife she almost overlooked it. “So, you’ve taken your vitamins, right Nick?” Judy dropped the question in the midst of their conversation without any warning. A flash of guilt crossed Nick’s muzzle before he quickly threw the pill into his mouth. “You know just as well as I do why the Vet recommended you begin taking those.” Somehow, the fox managed a sorry around the tablet before swallowing it whole.
“At least I have you looking out for me.” He said with a sheepish grin. “Keeping me out of trouble from all that pouncing from my younger, more adventurous years.” His smirk was quick to return.