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Nick is nervous. So much so he can’t tie his tie and he wears a tie every damn day. He stops for a second and pulls at the cuffs on his tuxedo jacket.
Finnick is watching him fumble with a smirk on his face. “Having trouble?” He laughs.
Nick turns to face him and flips him off.
Finnick’s laughs turn into full guffaws. “Does your bride-to-be know you have such decorum?”
“You could always help me.”
Finnick rolls his eyes, but pulls up a chair to be in front of Nick, he’s only a fennec fox after all. He grabs the tie and starts a Windsor knot. “Why are you so nervous?” He says with total concentration, he isn’t the best at tying ties himself.
Nick has his head up to make it easier for Finnick. He sighs, ears going flat on his head, and says, “I don’t know.”
Finnick finishes the knot, smooths the tie and then flicks Nick on the snout.
“Hey! What the heck was that for?” Nick rubs the spot on his muzzle.
“Because you’re an idiot.” Finnicks jumps down off the chair. “You and Hopps are made for each other, so I dunno what you’re worrying about.” He grabs his own suit and heads for the other room. “Quit being a baby.” He slams the door shut behind him.
Nick sighs, knowing that Finnick is right, but he won’t ever admit that to him. He looks at the tie in the mirror and starts again.
Judy is nervous. She doesn’t really know why, but she knows she is trembling and her nose is twitching.
Bonnie stands behind her daughter, hairbrush in hand running it through Judy’s grey fur. She pauses when she feels Judy’s trembling. “Judy? Are you okay, hun?”
Judy looks at her mom in the mirror. “Huh? Oh yeah, I-I’m f-fine.”
“You’re shaking.” She leans forward and puts the hairbrush on the dresser.
“Trembling is normal for bunnies, Mom.”
“Don’t even try that with me, little miss.” Bonnie puts a paw on Judy’s shoulder and gives it a little squeeze. “What’s going on?”
Judy closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. “I’m scared.” She says in a small voice, her ears going down.
Bonnie frowns, suddenly worrying if the whole day will end up being cancelled. “You’re not getting cold feet, are you?”
Judy’s eyes go wide. “No! Nothing like that. I’m just….” She can’t find the word to describe what she’s feeling. Judy loves Nick, she knows that. The love she has for him is bone deep.
Bonnie pats Judy’s shoulder, understanding a bit more now. “Nerves on your wedding day are normal.”
Judy is relieved to hear that. “Okay.” She takes a deep breath and releases it slowly through her nose, feeling her nerves start to melt away. She stands up and turns to face her mom with a smile. “Come on. Let’s finish getting ready.”
Bonnie returns the smile and hugs Judy. “Let’s go.”
Claudette, a snow leopard in an electric blue trouser suit saunters towards Nick, who is standing outside a set of double doors.
“Nicholas!” Claudette calls on her way down the corridor. “Are you just about ready?”
Nick looks at the wedding planner and smiles, although he wonders if it looked more like a grimace after the leopard looks at him with worry in her eyes. “Just about.” He gulps.
Claudette cocks her head. “I’m sorry I haven’t really seen you yet today. Are you okay?”
“I’m just a little… nervous.” His ears go back.
Claudette waves her paw around dismissively. “If I had a dollar for every nervous bride or groom!”
Nick raises his eyebrows. “You do though. We are paying you for this service.”
Claudette winks. “Touché.”
Nick runs his paws down the lapels of his tuxedo jacket, Claudette watches him with a smile. “Believe me. As soon as you see your bride, all of your anxiety will disappear. It happens every time.” She checks her watch. “Okay, so now we need to get you in there. I think all of your guests are already seated.” She does a quick look around. “Where is your best man?”
Nick points to the doors behind him. “He’s already in there. Schmoozing.”
Claudette rubs her paws together. “Brilliant.”
“Wait, don’t I get a big entrance?” Nick smirks his ears tipping forward, suddenly feeling a little less nervous.
Claudette rolls her eyes, feeling better herself at seeing Nick’s cheeky nature again. “You know that part is reserved for Judy.” She pushes the doors open and walks into the room, where the ceremony will be held. Nick follows behind her, smiling at the guests who are sitting down, well, he tries to. He’s suddenly feeling nervous again. He spots Finnick flirting with an arctic fox that he and Judy work with and he rolls his eyes.
Nick reaches the front of the room and has a quick scan of the mammals already seated. Their colleagues from the ZPD, and those involved in the Nighthowler case are mostly seated towards the back, mostly because then the smaller mammals have a better chance of actually seeing the ceremony, and there are a lot of rabbits here. Judy’s whole family isn’t here, there are too many of them. Most of the smaller kits have stayed behind in BunnyBurrow. Nick also spots Mr and Mrs Otterton and gives them a small wave.
“Nicky.”
Nick’s eyes come down to the front row, where Bonnie is sat, a soft smile on her face. Nick smiles back at her. “Hi, Bonnie,”
Bonnie gets out of her seat and hugs Nick. She gives the best hugs, it reminds Nick of being hugged by his own mom. She steps back and admires Nick. “You look very dashing.”
Nick smirks, winks at Bonnie and grabs the edges of his jacket collar smugly. “I know,”
Bonnie rolls her eyes. “You’re so modest,” Nick simply continues grinning at her and then her face changes to one of worry. “You okay?”
“I will be.” Nick huffs out a breath. “I think I kinda just want to get this thing started. Waiting around is what’s killing me.” Just as he says that, Claudette grabs his attention, to signal they are about to begin. Nick quickly kisses Bonnie on the cheek. “Here we go.”
“You’ve got this, hun. It’s going to be perfect.” She sits back down.
“Finnick!” Nick hisses.
Finnick turns to look at Nick about to berate him for interrupting and then remembers where he is and that he’s here to support his best friend. He rushes to Nick’s side.
“She’s about to come in.” Nick fiddles with the knot on his tie.
Finnick holds his paw out to Nick and they share a quick paw bump. “You’ve got this, my brother.”
“Please be upstanding for the bride.” Claudette’s voice calls out from the back of the room.
Nick takes a steely breath just as the doors open.
Music starts as the doors open. Nick’s heart is beating much too fast and wishes he could feel a little calmer.
Cotton, who is accompanied by Nibbles as a groomsman, start their way down the aisle, scattering petals as they come.
They reach the front, Nibbles passes Cotton off to her mother and she stands off to Nick’s side. She grins at him. Next to enter is Gary, technically a bridesman, who holds another small basket of petals in his mouth and uses his tail to flick more down the aisle.
The music changes and Nick looks up to finally see Judy entering on her father’s arm. As soon as he sees her, the nerves simply fade away. He’ll never tell Claudette she was right, but suddenly he’s wondering what he ever had to be nervous about in the first place. Time seems to stand still as Judy makes her way towards him. Everybody else in the room fades away and it’s just the two of them. She is utterly ethereal, he’s never seen anything more beautiful in his entire life.
Judy is beaming when she and Stu reach the wedding arch that Nick is standing under. She kisses her dad on the cheek and steps forward to stand facing her groom, taking both of his paws in hers.
“Carrots,” Nick breathes with a smile just as wide.
“Hi there, Slick,” she says in a whisper.
“You look beautiful.”
Judy feels the tips of her ears go warm. “You brush up pretty nicely yourself.” Her eyes go soft. “You look so handsome.” Somehow she’d forgotten just how handsome Nick looked in this tuxedo. The same one she’d gotten for him for the Zootennial Gala.
The officiant, a friendly red panda, also in a smart trouser suit, looks between Nick and Judy. “Ready?” She says with a small smile.
Judy and Nick squeeze each other's paws. “Yes.” They say it simultaneously.
The red panda nods her head. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join these two mammals together in marriage…”
“Please welcome the new Mr and Mrs Wilde-Hopps!” Claudette’s voice rings out from inside the reception hall.
Nick takes Judy’s paw in his once again, “Ready?” Judy’s smile says everything he needs to know, she feels like she hasn’t stopped smiling for hours. The doors open and they walk paw-in-paw to thunderous applause and whistles. They walk to the top table and take their seats in the middle.
“To Nick and Judy!” Chief Bogo’s voice booms from a nearby table. Nick and Judy look at each other in surprise, they weren’t expecting Bogo to be one of the first to start a toast.
Champagne bottles are popped, glasses are filled and guests are toasting to the newlywed couple.
For a while, the newlyweds share conversation with those around them. Judy’s parents, Nibbles, Gary and Finnick who are all on the same table as them. Other guests are coming to the table to share their congratulations, and to express their awe at the wedding. Judy thinks that this must be the most she’s hugged people in one day, possibly in her life so far.
Claudette comes behind Nick and Judy after a while. “My job is almost done for today.”
Judy turns around and smiles at the snow leopard. “Thank you so much for all you’ve done today. Actually, all you’ve done over the last eight months!”
Claudette returns the smile. “You’re more than welcome. Once the meal is done and I’ve managed to orchestrate all the different meals for the many mammals in the room I’ll be out of your fur. But first, it’s time for Nick’s speech!” She grabs a glass and taps a knife against it for that telltale tinkling sound and thrusts a microphone at Nick. “Time for speeches!” With that she slinks away.
“I guess that’s my cue.” Nick stands and clears his throat. He grabs Judy’s paw for a bit of moral support as he begins his speech. “Ladies and gentlemen, as of today I am officially under new management.” Nick grins as there are laughs from around the room and Judy rolls her eyes, expecting nothing less than a witty one-liner from her new husband to begin his speech. “On behalf of my wife and I…” he grins at saying the word wife. “I’d like to thank each and every one of you for celebrating with us today.” He turns to look at Bonnie and Stu. “Thank you to Judy’s parents, for bringing the most wonderful bunny into this world and for welcoming me with open arms into your family. It can’t have been easy to know your beloved daughter was dating a fox but I’m so thankful to be a part of your fluffle.” Stu is openly crying at Nick’s words and Bonnie is wiping her eyes.
“Thank you to our wedding party, Nibbles, Gary and Cotton. The petal throwing was second to none.” Nick looks at his two new best friends. “We’re so grateful to have you in our lives.” He smiles at the snake and beaver.
“Thank you to my best man, Finnick. Without you, man, I wouldn’t be here today.” Nick looks at Judy who is sobbing, he looks worried for a moment but she shakes her head imperceptibly to show they are happy tears. “And last but by no means least, I want to talk about the person and the reason we are here today. Nick,” he pauses and smirks as there are more laughs around the room. “There’s a comma, just wait,” More laughs. “Is extremely lucky to have found the love of his life, Judy.” Nick looks at Judy again, focusing fully on her. “To my beautiful bride…Carrots…Judy.” He says her name like a prayer. “You’re beautiful every day but today, if it’s possible you are even more stunning.” There’s a lump in his throat, and he needs to lighten the mood. “For anybody that doesn’t know the story of how we first met…” he winks at Judy and she shakes her head, not quite believing he’s going to tell this story at their wedding. But, she can’t deny it is a good one.
“It was, what, your second day on the job?” Nick grins. “She saw me from across the street and clearly it must’ve been love at first sight, because she followed me into an ice cream parlor…” he pauses slightly for what Judy assumes is dramatic effect, because despite her being a main character in this story she and everybody else in the room are hooked on Nick’s every word. “…nearly maced me…” Judy rolls her eyes, she wouldn’t have actually used the fox repellent. “…and I hustled her out of 15 dollars…”
“Best 15 dollars I’ve ever spent.” Judy declares. She stands and kisses her new husband. “I love you,”
“I love you.” He replies with soft eyes, and he’s sure he’s never been this happy in his whole life. Around them is yet more deafening applause and cheers but they only have eyes for each other. Nick kisses her again.
“Definitely the best 15 dollars I’ve ever spent.” Judy says softly, and then her eyes narrow playfully. “Although… you still haven’t paid me back for that.”
Nick laughs. “It’s called a hustle for a reason, sweetheart.” He grins at her and kisses her once more. The greatest hustle ever, he thinks.