Okay. So this isn't a new chapter. It's an alternate version of chapters 3 and 4. A very different version from the chapters. Some parts will be similar, but the ending will be slightly different. Don't get me wrong. I loved how I ended this story, but I felt that after reviewing it, it seemed a bit too... happy. The whole situation should still be more dramatic/comforting. It's also gonna be more leaning on Judy having more guilt. Not a lot. Just the right amount of guilt. The main reason why I did this was because Spectra98, who I inspired, inspired me to do this. That and I feel that I still may have missed a few things. Anyway, the original draft got deleted, so I had to rewrite this all. I WAS SOOOO MAD! But I'm over it. Anyway, I hope you like this. Also, according to Borba himself, 'Never Say Goodbye' will be out soon on his site. Not just page for page. But the whole story. Rather read the whole story instead of cringing day by day wondering what will happen in the next page. In my opinion, it's taking way longer than it should. Those of us who have read it are in too deep now. We have to see how it all ends. We need that closure, Borba! We need that closure! If any of this is right in any way, you all need to give me some major props for the guesswork. Alright. Let's get this alternate ending going.

Bonnie stood right in front of Nick and Judy. After hearing all the arguing, Bonnie gave a look of disappointment at both Nick and Judy.

"Mom, what are you doing here?" Judy said stunned to see her.

"Mrs. Hopps, I told you to stay back and let me handle your daughter," Nick told Bonnie.

"I stayed back long enough. You two were bickering like little children. For two people that used to be partners, you should both be ashamed of yourselves that you let it go this far." Bonnie said looking mad at Nick and Judy.

Nick and Judy were both silent and then looked away from each other. Judy then looked back at her mom.

"Seriously, why are you here, mom? Here to scold your disappointment of a daughter?" Judy asked.

"I brought her here," Nick answered for Bonnie. "I went all the way to Bunnyburrow to talk with your family about everything. Out of your entire family, your mother was the only one willing to come. Your brothers and sisters don't even want anything to do with you. You really screwed things up, did you?"

"Tch!" Judy went as she looked away from Nick.

"Listen, your mother came all this way to talk to you. Said she had something really important to tell you." Nick said. "The least you can do is hear her out."

"I think we said all we needed to last time," Judy said looking angry.

"Judy, will you just..." Nick said feeling that he had enough of Judy's attitude.

Before Nick could say anything else, Bonnie halted Nick and pushed her back.

"Nicholas, please," Bonnie said. "Allow me to talk with my daughter."

"Fine..." Nick said backing off.

"Now Judith..." Bonnie said looking at her daughter. "Even after everything said and done, I'm still your mother."

"After everything, I don't think you or dad see me as much of a daughter," Judy said. "You both were always against my decisions. Telling me what I should and shouldn't do. So I knew you wouldn't approve of my relationship with Nick, my relationship with Shay, or my decision to go through the abortion.

"You're right. But only because you never had the decently to even tell us!" Bonnie stated firmly. "Even when we were against you wanting to be a cop, we still supported you in the end because you told us. No doubt with all of this, we would have had many questions about it all. But you just kept everything hidden from us."

"..." Judy was silent and couldn't even look at Bonnie.

"Yet... I feel that all of this... all of this that has happened to you... is my fault." Bonnie said in a sad tone.

"What?" Judy said as her ears went up and as her attention went up.

"A mother is responsible for how their children turn out. Meaning all the pain you are going through is because of me. I'm sorry, Judy."

"You're... sorry?" Judy said a bit stunned to hear that.

"Mrs. Hopps, you don't have to apology for your daughter's actions," Nick stated.

"I do. Because everything is my fault." Bonnie said. "My daughter has kept secrets, but I too have kept secrets. Secrets that she too has the right to know."

"Whatever you say doesn't really matter," Judy said still being firm. "Because I already..."

"I had an affair," Bonnie said. "I cheated on your father."

"What?" Both Judy and Nick said stunned to hear that.

"*sigh* I had an affair with someone else when I was already married," Bonnie said stating everything again.

This was a bit of a small shock for Nick and Judy. Both of them felt that Stu and Bonnie had the perfect relationship. But the fact that Bonnie just admitted that she saw someone else, it was a bit of a shocker. More than a shocker, actually.

"Are you serious?" Judy asked.

"I am. And... to make matters worst, it was your father's cousin." Bonnie admitted. "It was many years ago. Before you were even born. Your father introduced me to his traveling cousin, Tom. Tom was... different from your average rabbit. It was because he was half-rabbit, half-hare. That meant he was a bit on the tall side. He was also the total opposite of your father. He was a bit of a rebel traveling in and out of the burrows on his bike for most of his life. He was basically the kind of guy fathers would tell their daughters to stay away from. Yet, I didn't and he didn't seem to mind. One day, your father was away and... well... you can guess what happened. It was one time."

"Okay. So Mrs. Hopps has a pretty big secret." Nick thought after hearing that. "But out of all secrets, why would she tell us this one?" As Nick thought that, another thought came to mind. One that made his eyes widen. "UNLESS..."

Nick then started to remember back to his car ride with Bonnie. Nick was driving while Bonnie was sitting in the passenger's seat. The two were silent for most of the car ride. The radio wasn't even on. Nick then book the silence by speaking with Bonnie.

"Listen, Mrs. Hopps, I honestly have no plan for your daughter right now. In fact, I'm surprised that you actually came with me." Nick said to Bonnie.

"I had to come. Because... all of what's happening to my daughter, it's because of me." Bonnie said sadly.

"What makes you say that?" Nick asked. "I mean, I get that you want to take responsibility, but..."

"As her mother, I HAVE to take responsibility," Bonnie said firmly.

"So, do you have a plan?" Nick asked Bonnie.

"Judy is stubborn and standing by her choices because of the reality she made for herself," Bonnie stated.

"So, what you are saying is that we need to break that reality?" Nick asked.

"No. We don't need to break it. We need to completely and utterly shatter it!" Bonnie stated very firmly.

"Woah. Honestly, with everything that's happening with your daughter, I think that..." Nick said feeling that it was going too far.

"Listen, Nicholas. There are things I need to tell Judy, face-to-face. Things that she needed to hear." Bonnie said. "But... depending on what she tells her, one of two things might happen."

"What's that?" Nick asked.

"One thing... is my daughter going into a stage of pure anger. After hearing what I would tell her, she'll be mad at everything and reject everyone. Turning into a forever bitter person." Bonnie stated.

"And the second one?" Nick asked.

"My daughter goes into a state of grief. She will finally realize the consequences of her choices and the guilt from my be too overwhelming." Bonnie stated. "She might not even be able to get out of it."

"That's our two outcomes? Does it have to be one of those?" Nick asked not sounding too happy to hear either one.

"Yes, but... if one of them has to happen, it needs to be the second one," Bonnie said. "If that happens, you might be the only one that can get her out of that pit of sorrow."

"Me?" Nick said as he looked at Bonnie for a second.

"I can't tell you what to do, Nick. Whatever happens afterward, it's your decision." Bonnie said.

That's was the end of Nick's flashback. Once Nick remembers what Bonnie told him, he looked at Judy as he was starting to realize what Bonnie was about to tell Judy.

"Impossible. Don't... don't tell me..." Nick thought to start to be really concerned.

"Why? Would you tell me this?" Judy asked.

"Because... shortly after, that's when... I found out..." Bonnie said as she started to look stressed and tears were starting to come out of her eyes. "... I... I..." It was really hard for Bonnie to say the rest of her words. And yet... she had to say them. "... I was pregnant."

That was the first crack in Judy's reality. Hearing those, both Nick and Judy were more shocked then they ever been in their whole life. Just by hearing Bonnie's last three words, they could already put everything together in their heads.

"Wha... what?" Judy uttered.

"Mrs. Hopps, what did you say?" Nick asked as his whole body shakes.

"I was pregnant," Bonnie said as she started to cry some more.

"No, mom. No no no no no no no." Judy kept saying that word in shock and disbelief.

"When I found out that I was pregnant, I... I panicked... because I knew that the baby was too far ahead to be Stu's." Bonnie said. "I thought... if the truth came out, it would ruin everything. My marriage could lead to divorce and all the children I already did had would shun me for it. So... that's why... I made a hard decision. That... was to have an abortion."

Another crack started to form in Judy's reality.

"Now, at the time, a bunny actually going through an abort was consider taboo. A bunny having an abortion was... unthinking. Not only that, but it was also common for bunnies to have litters. That in mind made the idea even more difficult." Bonnie stated. "However, when I found out I was only giving birth to 1 single baby, it actually made going through with it... easier."

Judy then whimpered after hearing that as her heart sinks more and more cracks form in her reality. It was for two reasons. Out of all her siblings, she was the only one born in a litter of one and the possibility when she was pregnant that it could have been a litter.

Nick was tempted to say "Mrs. Hopps, you said enough!" and stop her from saying any more. But... he knew there was no point. Whatever has to say, it had to be said.

"I kept saying that it was the best choice. That it needed to be done. I DIDN'T WANT TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING I HAD BECAUSE OF THIS!" Bonnie shouted at the end.

At this point, Judy actually hoping that her mother actually went through with the abortion because it would mean that her fears were untrue.

"... But I didn't do it. I couldn't do it." Bonnie said she looked away from Judy.

Judy then screamed internally as more cracks in her reality started to form.

"A mother's job is to love their children, no matter how different they are. It didn't matter if the baby wasn't born the same way as the others. They had a right to be born just like the others." Bonnie said as she cried some more. "To take that life away, it was more horrible than anything I could ever do. How could I even live with that grief?"

Judy then started to grip herself as her whole body shook in horror.

"So, I decided to keep the baby, no matter what backdrops were going to happen. Luckily, no one ever knew the truth. A few months later, I gave birth to that single baby." Bonnie stated. She then looked up at Judy. "And that baby... it was you, Judy."

Judy and Nick were beyond words. They were both completely frozen by Bonnie's words.

"You mean to tell us... that you had an affair... AND JUDY IS THE RESULT OF IT?!" Nick shouted out. As he shook out.

"Yes," Bonnie answered.

So, Judy being born was the result of her mother having an affair with another man besides Stu. Once more, Bonnie was actually tempted to have an abortion. You think that would be enough to shatter Judy's reality. While it may have cracked it more, it still wasn't enough.

"You're lying," Judy said with her head down.

"What?" Bonnie said.

"YOU'RE LYING!" Judy shouted out in anger. "You expect me to believe any of that?! That you cheated on dad and that I just happen to be the baby you tried to get rid of?"

"I'm not lying, Judith. What I said is the truth." Bonnie said.

"Likely story. What you told me support's Nick choice more." Judy said angrily at Bonnie. "I bet you and Nick just came with this lie and..."

Before letting her finished, Nick powerfully gripped on to Judy's arm. It caught Judy a bit by surprise. Judy then looked at Nick who had his head down and couldn't even look at Judy.

"Are you serious right now?" Nick asked Judy. "Do you honestly believe I knew about any of this or that your mother and I would plan something so sick and twisted just so I can be right?" Nick then turned Judy and faced her with a serious look on his face. "DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THE FACE OF SOMETHING WHO WOULD PLAN THIS?! I'M AS SHOCKED AS YOU ARE!"

While she didn't want to believe it, Judy could tell by Nick's tone and by the look in his eyes that he was telling the truth. Nick really didn't know anything about the things that Bonnie was going to say. As she moves Nick's paws off of her, Judy backs up a bit.

"Even... even you didn't know anything about this, that doesn't mean all of this isn't lies," Judy said still being stubborn.

"Which parts are the lies?" Nick asked.

"All of it!" Judy shouted out.

"Judy, are you or are you not the only bunny in your family born in a litter of one?" Nick asked with his head down.

Judy gripped her arm tightly before responding. "I'm... the only one."

"Your mother also stated that her affair was with someone who is half-hare. Hares are taller than rabbits and... you're taller than both Stu and Bonnie." Nick stated.

"A... A lot of my brothers and sisters are taller than them." Judy stated as she shook a bit after answering Nick.

"You're also the only one that chooses to do more than farming. Bonnie stated that this Tom guy was a bit of a rebel. So if DNA plays a big role in this, then..." Nick said.

"ENOUGH!" Judy shouted out. "I REFUSE TO HEAR ANYMORE!"

"THE PIECES FIT, JUDY! WHAT ELSE CAN YOU EVEN SAY?!" Nick shouted out at Judy.

"It's all... it's all just coincidental, but it's not enough to prove anything. So if you expect me to believe that any of this is really..." Judy said still being very stubborn.

"If you really need proof..." Bonnie said to get Judy's attention. She then dug into her skirt pocket and pull out a photograph. "... then this should be enough."

"A... photo?" Judy said looking at it.

"Take a look and tell me you believe me or not," Bonnie said to Judy ask gives the photo to her while having it face the other way.

Judy was hesitating at first. Bonnie believes that this photo was enough to prove everything. If Judy didn't look at the photo, she could easily deny everything. Even Nick was thinking it would be best if she didn't. However, Judy wanted absolutely no doubts about her choices. And the only way for that was to look at the photo. Judy then took the photo from Bonnie. Nick was by Judy's left side because he felt he needed to see the photo too. Judy was scared, by she had to see what was on the front of the photo. So she turned it over and the moment she did, both her and Nick froze with what they saw.

The photo was Stu and this tall grey rabbit with brown eyes and a leather jacket on. From Bonnie's description, Nick and Judy assumed that this was Tom. Not only was Bonnie's description was on par... but... compared to Stu, Tom looked more like Judy than he did.

"The photo is Stu with Tom. As you can see, my description of him fits with the photo." Bonnie stated. "Also..."

"J... Just by looking at this photo, if I had to guess which one was Judy's father..." Nick said as he shook. "No doubt, I would clearly say..."

Judy was in complete shock. She now truly couldn't doubt anything that her mother said. Everything just fitted too well and it was obvious that Tom was her real father just by looking at him. Even so, it all didn't sit well with Judy.

"This can't be..." Judy uttered as she drops the photo.

The photo then slowly falls to the ground and Bonnie picks it up and puts it away.

"Judy, we all make mistakes. But the biggest choices are not only the ones we choose to take but the ones we choose to give away." Bonnie stated. "If I never cheated on Stu, everything would have been fine for me cause I didn't do anything wrong. If I had gone through with the abortion, then I could still hide it from everyone and it would have been as simple as that. However, if I were to either one of those things, then Judy... you would have surely never been born. And everything you ever did, every one of your accomplishments, would have never happened."

After hearing, any reason for Judy to argue didn't matter. Out of her and Nick, she kept believing that she was the right one out of the both of them. But now, the right one Nick. The shock of this put Judy in a completely frozen state and made it impossible to say anything else. You think would be happy about being the one who was right all along. But he wasn't. He was angry with Bonnie for hiding this from Judy.

"HOW CAN YOU KEEP THIS FROM HER?!" Nick shouted out in anger.

"I did what I thought was best," Bonnie stated to Nick.

"Was best? You lied to her for her entire life!" Nick stated as he gritted his teeth.

"This secret would have never gotten out if you haven't got her pregnant," Bonnie said being mad with Nick now.

"I wanted to take responsibility. She was the one who didn't. But that's because you been so uptight that she hid our relationship from you." Nick said still sounding really mad with Bonnie. "If you would have been more considerate or told her this from the beginning, then maybe..."

Judy wasn't even paying attention to Nick and Bonnie arguing. She was lost in her own reality. A reality that was crumbling more and more with every passing second. Judy reflected on her thoughts.

"Stu isn't my real father. I'm the product of an affair." Judy thought. "This whole time, I was wrong. I wasn't born to be alive. I was never meant to be alive... because I was never meant to be born. I..." Judy then spoke out loud. "... I was a mistake."

Both Nick and Bonnie hear Judy say that and quickly stopped arguing.

"I was... an inconvenience," Judy said as she gripped herself and stepped back. "You never planned on having me. You even... tried to get rid of me."

"Judy, even if you weren't planned, I still had you and I don't regret it," Bonnie stated.

"But you almost went through with it, did you?" Judy said as she stepped more and more back. "So if you really did, then I never would have... never would have... never would..."

At that moment, Judy felt that she was in a completely dark place. As she held her head in pain, all she could hear were the voices of former loved ones and people that were disappointed with her.

"How can you lie to us about all of this?!"

"Don't act like you had better judgment. If you really are willing to sacrifice everything just to keep this job, then you shouldn't even have it, to begin with."

"You're not obligated to complain about your position. You have no one to blame but yourself. You could either write tickets or quit here and now. It will save me a whole lot of trouble."

"Get lost, bunny. No one wants you here anymore."

"There's the bunny who's willing to kill her own baby for a job."

"Can't believe the city used to see her as a hero."

"You keep... blaming others... for your mistakes. Do you... even realize what you're doing to me? Or even... how I feel?"

It was like every word she didn't want to hear was all coming to her at once. But there was one thing that set Judy to her breaking point. Nick's words from before.

"Judy... what would've happened if your mother, while pregnant with you had decided to interrupt her pregnancy? I'll tell you what would have happened. If you hadn't been born Judy, this world would be as bleak as ever and without your light, I'd still be on the streets, living a meaningless life."

"Judy, listen... there are people who do make a difference in the world and you are one of them. Even being a little bunny, you stopped an absurdly nasty conspiracy and helped change the minds and hearts of millions. To me, things like these could never ever have happened without you."

"FOR GOD'S SAKE, JUDY! GIVE THIS UNBORN CHILD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE SAME! I BEG YOU... PLEASE LET YOUR LIGHT CONTINUE TO SHINE THROUGH HIM OR HER!"

Those words were the words that completely shattered her reality and out came the ocean of guilt and Judy was holding back for so long. After realizing what her actions have caused, four words came to mind.

"What have I done?"

Back in the actual reality, Judy fell down to her knees and her paws down on the ground.

"Judy?" Nick said looking worried for Judy.

Tears then started to fall from Judy's eyes as she makes a blood-curdling yell.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! AHHH! AHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"JUDY!" Nick and Bonnie said feeling the hurt from Judy's inner pain.

"NO! NO! NO!" Judy shouted out as she punches the ground repeatedly. "STUPID, DUMB, HORRIBLE, SELFISH, WORTHLESS, BUNNY! YOU... RUINED... EVERYONE'S LIVES! INCLUDING YOUR OWN!"

Regret. Judy was showing regret for her choices. After seeing Judy in this state, whatever angry thought Nick had for her vanished. He didn't care what was said. He just had to do something. He then dashed to Judy and stood her up so she could stop punching the ground.

"JUDY! JUDY! CALM DOWN!" Nick said as he tries to restrain Judy.

"NO! I STILL..." Judy shouted out flailing around.

"I KNOW! I KNOW!"

"BUT... I... I..."

"LISTEN!"

In an attempt to calm her down, Nick then turned Judy around and slapped her face with both of his paws. The double face slap was a bit of a shock for both Judy and Bonnie, who was covering up her mouth from seeing that. Yet, it did seem to stop Judy's screaming. Judy then looked up at Nick.

"Nick..."

"Judy, I know. I know. I know you want to deny it all, but you can't. Not anymore." Nick said before he started crying himself. "I'm begging you, Judy. Let it out. Let it all out."

For once in a long while, Judy wasn't going to argue with Nick. After some more sobbing, Judy then cried into Nick's chest. Nick didn't seem to mind it even with tears being left on his shirt.

"You were right!" Judy said as she sobbed. She then lightly punched Nick on his chest while she continued saying "You were right! You were right! You were right!". She then stopped. "You were right from the very beginning!"

"I didn't know, Judy," Nick said as tears started to fall down from his eyes. "I didn't know how right I was."

"But you still were. You warned me, you begged me, and I didn't listen." Judy wept as she gripped on to Nick's shirt. "I didn't listen to anyone. I thought I did what was best. But looks at what's happened. I gave up everything! My family, my friends, my lieutenantship, my reputations. I threw it all away!"

"Judy..." Nick said softly as he cried while holding Judy's head.

"I was the wrong one. I was willing to hurt you and everyone else for my own selfish needs. But the worst part is... I gave up what could have been." Judy said still teary-eyed. "What if I really was wrong? What if our baby was beautiful? What if... what if it actually was a litter? What if our baby breaks the boundaries that separated prey and predators? All that could have happened. But because I chose to snuff that light out, I kept that from ever happening. ALL BECAUSE I KILLED OUR BABY FOR MY CAREER!"

When she shouted out those last words, it echoed through the cemetery. More tears then started coming Nick's eyes. Bonnie as well, who was feeling guilty about all of this. Nick then hugged Judy tightly in the hopes of easing Judy's pain.

"*sobs* I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! WAAAAAAHHHHHH! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!" Judy kept repeating as she wept on Nick's chest."It's all my fault! IT'S ALL MY FAULT!"

Judy must have held up all her emotions for such a long time. But now, they were all coming out at once. All the self-inflicted pay that Judy caused herself was just too unbearable for her. Nick could tell because of the way Judy was feeling that she truly regretting everything. Now just ending their relationship, but going threw with the abortion.

Nick looked up at Bonnie who looked to emotional to do anything. Bonnie still believes that everything was her fault. Maybe even more so than Judy. Nick really didn't know what to do about Judy's feelings. Then, he started recalling what Bonnie told her and knew what he needed to do.

"Judy..." Nick said in a calming tone. "Look up at me."

"Huh?" Judy said as she looked up at Nick with a tear-stained face.

"Do you... really regret it all? Everything?" Nick asked.

"... I do." Judy replied. "I really do."

"In a way, I'm glad to hear you say that," Nick said. "Because it means that I can do this." Nick then held Judy's head with his paws again. "Judith Laverne Hopps..." Nick then leaned his forehead on Judy's and spoke to her softly. "I forgive you."

The moment Judy heard those three words, it was like all the pain Judy was feeling in her heart had vanished.

"Wh... what?" Judy said with widening eyes. "You... forgive me?"

"I do," Nick replied.

"But... why? I ruined our relationship, aborted our baby no matter what you said, I... even told you to stay out of my life forever. So why are you forgiving after everything I put you through?" Judy asked as she still cried and still look guilty about everything.

"Because... I could tell it was all you needed. True Forgiveness." Nick said looking at Judy. "It is what you needed, isn't it?"

Judy then tried to wipe her tears. But even so, more tears still fell from her eyes. Yet, while she wasn't smiling, she looked relieved. Relieved to hear that Nick forgives her.

"Niiiiick..." Judy said before hugging Nick tightly. "I did. I did need your forgiveness. I wanted it for so long... and I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"There there," Nick said as he rubbed the back of Judy's head. "It's okay, Judy. It's okay."

As the two comforted each other, Bonnie watched from a short distance. Seeing the two forgive each other made her feel very relieved because this meant her daughter was back to herself. After a few minutes, Judy had stopped crying and holding on to Nick. The two then faced Bonnie, who seemed to have a very apologetic look on her face.

"Judy, I'm sorry for not telling you the truth about your birth," Bonnie said as she looked down on the ground. "My actions were... unforgivable."

"Mom..." Judy said.

"I've been a horrible mother keeping this from you. I've been a horrible wife for cheating on Stu." Bonnie said feeling guilty again. "If I had just had been more considerate when you were younger than maybe you wouldn't have..."

"Mom!" Judy said getting Bonnie's attention again.

Judy then hugged her mother. Without a doubt, Bonnie wasn't expecting the hug. She thought Judy would still be mad with her. But she wasn't.

"It's okay," Judy said before ending her hug. "Even if I'm truly not you and dad's kit, all you've have done is being a good mother. You were willing to give me a chance to be born. I just wish... I just wish you told me all of this sooner." Judy then gripped her right arm. "Cause maybe then, I wouldn't make the biggest mistake of my entire life."

"..." Nick was silent from all this. He couldn't think of the right words.

"Judy, just know that, as I said, I don't regret having you. So don't ever think that you were a mistake." Bonnie said as she held her daughter's paws.

"About that, what are you two gonna do now about this secret?" Nick asked.

What were they gonna do? Should they tell others about this or still keep this secret?

"This secret should stay between the three of us," Judy said. "I've already ruined my own family enough. I don't want to do any more damage to it than I already have."

"Yeah. I agree." Bonnie said while nodding.

"That does seem best," Nick said agreeing.

"Judy, now I don't want to simply tell you what to do or what you should do. But I do feel that I should say this." Bonnie said as she looked at her daughter and Nick. "It's not too late for you two to work things out. If you would have told us about your relationship with Nick in the first place, we would have understood. But you never did. Maybe we wouldn't so okay with your relationship with that Shannon girl, but then again, look where it got her." Bonnie then pointed at Shay's grave. "What you had with her may have been something, but... what you and Nick have... is something even more. Neither of you should have given up a relationship like that. But this is what I think."

"..." Nick and Judy didn't say anything, but they were taking Bonnie's words to heart.

"Judith, I do want you to come home when you're ready," Bonnie said holding Judy's paws up. "I'm sure if you're sincere enough, your father, as well as your brother and sisters, will all forgive you."

"I will, mom. I promise." Judy said.

"Mrs. Hopps, while I still have mixed feelings about this, Judy and I have a lot to talk about. Right, Judy?" Nick said while looking at Judy.

Judy waited a few seconds before saying "Yeah...".

"Then I will leave you to it," Bonnie said. "I'll take the train home to Bunnyburrow. So don't worry about me. I do hope that you take my advice." Bonnie then walked over to Nick. "Oh, and Nicholas?"

"Ma'am?" Nick asked.

Bonnie then hugged Nick and said, "Thank you for forgiving my daughter."

Nick wasn't expecting the hug, but he accepted it. After a few seconds, the hug ending.

"Goodbye, you two," Bonnie said to Nick and Judy.

After saying goodbye, Bonnie left to leave the cemetery. Nick and Judy were now alone. The two then faced each other. Both had red eyes and bags under them from all the crying. Not too long ago, the two were angry with each other. Now, all that anger had seemed to fade away. The only feelings Nick and Judy had now were sadness, pain, and regret. The information that Bonnie gave them shocked them both quite a lot. After a while, Nick was the one to say something.

"Judy, I... don't know what to say about all of this," Nick said in a saddened tone.

"You don't have to say anything," Judy said as she rubbed her arm. "From the very beginning to the very end, you were the right one."

"Are... you okay?" Nick asked.

"Well, I made you leave me, aborted our baby, pushed you and my family away, lost the respect of all my co-workers, lost my position and reputation, dragged someone else into my mess and she paid the price for it, and to top it all off, I'm the living result of my mom having an affair with someone else. So, Nick, I can honestly say this. I'm not alright." Judy said sadly. "I'm not alright... because everything I did... was my own fault and it was all for nothing."

"Judy..." Nick said. "If I knew all of this before, then I never would have..."

"And if I knew all this before, then I never would have..." Judy said. "Heh... heh... I told you I was born to be alive. But I wasn't even meant to be born. I must have a record for being wrong."

"Look, I don't care about that. We clearly have more to talk about now. But let's not do it here." Nick said. "So... how about we head to our... your apartment and..."

The second Judy heard 'her apartment', all the bad memories she had there started to come to her head. The loneliness and the arguments she had. She couldn't it.

"NO!" Judy shouted out. She then ran to Nick and hugged him tightly as she started crying again. "I can't even step even a foot there! Not after everything!"

"Ju... Judy!" Nick said a bit surprised by the way Judy was.

"Please! Don't make me go back there! Please! I just can't right now!" Judy begged as she cried on Nick's chest.

"Oh," Nick said as his ears drooped down a bit. "I understand. I guess it would be painful going back there for you right now. I'm sorry for not realizing that."

Nick knew since he couldn't take Judy to her apartment, he would have to take her somewhere else. So one place came to mind.

"How about I take you to my apartment?" Nick whispered to Judy's ears.

Judy looked at up Nick and slowly nodded her head willing to go to Nick's apartment.

"Okay. Then let's go." Nick said.

"Just... one more thing," Judy said as she let go of Nick.

The bunny then walked over to Shay's tombstone. She still felt really sad about her death. She maybe even blaming herself for it. Judy had her right paw on the top of the tombstone.

"Shay, I'm sorry," Judy said sadly. "You were there for me so much, yet... I took advantage of you. I do hope you can forgive me."

At having her moment, Judy then walked back to Nick. She was ready to leave with Nick. The two left the cemetery and got into Nick's car. Judy sat in the passenger's seat. As Nick drove, the two of them were completely silent during the whole drive. Then Judy wanted to say something.

"Nick,... I..." Judy uttered.

"Now isn't a good time for us to talk," Nick said. "If we speak here, one of us, if not both of us might breakdown. So, I'm gonna need you to hold out until we get there, okay?"

"Okay..." Judy said agreeing with Nick. But she did say one thing to him. Something that she should admit. "Shay... was going to leave me too... before she died."

"She was?" Nick asked a bit stunned to hear that.

"I just thought you should know," Judy replied.

Even after hearing that, Nick just focused on his driving. He stopped at a Luxury Apartment Complex. Nick got out of the car and Judy did shortly after. While Judy didn't look it, she was a bit surprised by this place.

"You live here now?" Judy asked Nick.

"My apartment is a bit high up," Nick stated. He then held his paw out wanting Judy to hold it. "Let's go."

Judy looked at Nick's paw. One of the biggest regrets Judy had was not holding his paw the day he left. She wasn't going to make that mistake twice. She held on to Nick's paw. As Nick led Judy into the complex, the paw holding turned into arm hugging as Judy hugged Nick's arm. Nick didn't seem to mind. He knew Judy really need comfort after everything. Taking the elevator and going up to the 5th floor, the two walked down the long hallway until...

"This is it," Nick said stopping at a door.

Judy let go of Nick's arm so Nick could get out his key. After pulling his apartment key from his pocket, Nick opened the door widely and allowed Judy to go in first. Judy willingly into the apartment and once Nick was in, he closes the door behind him. Judy looked around and was a bit surprised by Nick's apartment. In comparison to the apartment they got together, this was a major step up. Blue wallpaper, sleek carpeting, a nice long black sofa in an L shape, an HD flat-screen TV, and a nice window view of the city.

"This is your new apartment?" Judy asked.

"Yeah," Nick answered.

"This place looks even more expensive than our apartment. How did even afford all of this?" Judy asked.

"*sigh* To answer that, I have to explain what happened after that night," Nick said.

Judy already knew what night was referring to.

"After the last time we met, I was completely and utterly broken. You didn't want me back in your life and I couldn't live on. So... I had two choices. Try to live on or... end my life here and now. And after that night, you made the second choice easier" Nick told Judy.

"Wha... what?" Judy said as her nose twitched and her whole body shook. "So... you mean... you were actually intending to..."

"Yeah," Nick replied as he looked away from Judy. "Had the setup ready too. One-step and I would have hung myself."

Judy covered her mouth after hearing this. If Nick really had hung himself, she knew that she was the cause of it. If that were to happen, Judy wouldn't be able to live with the guilt.

"Even with the rope around my neck, before taking that step to end it all, I stopped," Nick said.

"You... stopped?" Judy asked.

"I guess my survivor instinct in the last minute," Nick stated as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Also, if I were to die, you would blame yourself for it. Not only that, but it might also start leading your life into a downward spiral for you. No doubt, people might start looking up on what happened with us. Once the truth came out, you may get the blame for me for it. Family, friends, and even the other officers would start rejecting you. Bogo might even take your badge away from you. So, as painful as it was, I lived on. I then told myself that me needing you was just an excuse. I didn't need to be with you to want to do more with my life. So, I reinstated to the ZPD, but the one in Tundratown. So that way, you can still do what you felt in Central. I was even promoted to Lieutenant."

"What? Reinstated? Lieutenant?" Judy said. She was completely clueless about Nick going back to the ZPD, let alone made Lieutenant.

"Yeah. With some hard work and a few extra money that I already saved up, it's how I was able to pay for this place." Nick replied. "Life was getting better for me now. But... when my life was getting better..."

"My life was taking a turn for the worst," Judy said finishing up Nick's words.

Nick nodded his head. "Ben came over to me one day. He told me that he found when checking some of the ZPD officer medical records. When he looked at yours and found about your operation and matched the days close to the day we broke up, he put it all together."

"Yeah," Judy said with droopy ears. "Since I hid the truth when he found out, he really let me have it. And... it was in front of all the other officers in the precinct. It was easy for them to be on my side when they didn't know the whole story. But... once the truth came out, well... you know."

"I'm sorry," Nick said feeling bad for Judy. "I'm sorry that my leaving ruined your life."

Judy waited a few seconds before responding. "You didn't ruin my life, Nick. I ruined my life." Judy admitted. "I ruined it the moment I said I that I wanted to actually have the abortion. The moment I cared more about myself than others."

Judy really was regretting everything she and done. Nick didn't want Judy to feel guilty anymore. So he felt that he had to change the subject.

"Okay. Enough of talk of that." Nick said as he walks into his kitchen. "Hungry? Do you want something to eat that I can fix you?"

"I'm... not hungry," Judy said looking away from Nick.

"Then let me ask a different question. Have you been eating?" Nick asked looking a bit serious. "Cause even I can tell that you have been losing a bit of weight due to lack of eating. That's not healthy."

Judy didn't say it, but Nick had it figured out. In the last couple of days, if not weeks, Judy hasn't been sleeping or eating well. Even now, she hadn't eaten anything all day.

"I'll fix us some food," Nick said.

"Okay," Judy replied.

A couple of minutes later, Nick was in the kitchen fixing up a hot meal is him and Judy. Nick decided to make a quick vegetable stew. He remembered making it for Judy once and she loved it. So he thought it was the best thing to make. Once the stew was finished, Nick poured some in two bowls and gave one of the bowls to Judy as he sat down on his kitchen table for two.

Judy saw the stew in the bowl and rooted vegetables like turnips and carrots it contained. To her, the smell was heavenly. Once she took her first spoonful, it was like her body was receiving a warm hug from Nick. She had more stew and Nick had some himself. The two didn't speak. They just ate and enjoy just being near each other. Nick looked at Judy's bowl and noticed that it was almost empty. He then got his pot from the stovetop and used a ladle to give Judy some more stew. He wanted to make sure Judy had her fill. Judy didn't claim and she was still very hungry. So she had more.

Later, the two had finished eating and Nick washed the dishes. He used soap, water, and a sponge to clean them as he spoke out to Judy.

"I hope you liked my stew," Nick said to Judy as he finishes drying the dishes.

"It was good. Just like I remembered." Judy said trying her best to smile. "I actually almost forgot how great of a cook you are."

Judy was really trying her best to be even a little bit happy, but it was no use. Too much had happened today. She looked down on the table as she started to look sadden.

"Nick..." Judy uttered in a sad tone.

"Judy, you don't have to say anything else," Nick told her as he dried off his paws.

"I believe I do," Judy said as she gets off of the chair. "I... accept the fact I chose to go through with the abortion without the proper information and without taking your feelings to mind. I accept the fact that I was willing to throw away our relationship and my own family for my career. And... I accept the fact that I was never planned or meant to be born because I'm the result of an affair. I accept all of it, Nick."

"Judy..." Nick said feeling bad for Judy. "I swear. I didn't know about any of that. Your mother really didn't say anything."

"I believe you. You wouldn't react the way you did unless it wasn't true." Judy said.

"Look, I get it. Neither of us thought you could even get pregnant and it wasn't like we were responsible. You had your career to think about and... the sacrifices you had to make." Nick said as he looked away from Judy.

"That's just it. The sacrifices I was willing to make." Judy said. "I... I overstepped. As long as I could still have my job and someone with me, I didn't care what I gave up. Ha. Now that I hear myself out loud, I realized how selfish I've been."

"Even with that, at least Shay stayed by your side in the end. That's more than me." Nick admitted even if he didn't like saying it.

Judy's body started trembling the moment Nick mentioned Shay.

"That's right. She stayed with me even when things were getting rough for me. But even so... I didn't realize... I didn't realize what I was doing to do her." Judy said trying not to cry.

"What?" Nick said looking interested in what else Judy was going to say.

"Before I talk about that, Nick, what would happen if you stayed with me, even if I went through the operation? How would our relationship be like?" Judy asked.

"..." Nick didn't say anything.

"Your silence says it all. Do you know what it says? I was already intending to destroy our relationship." Judy said as she started crying a bit. She then wiped her tears a bit. "Our relationship would have been doomed because what you wanted to be didn't matter. So, how can you handle being with me knowing that I cared more about myself and my career than our very relationship? Then our very own baby? Could you even handle being in the same room with me? What about in the same squad car day after day?"

"I... uh..." Nick went not having a proper answer to any of it.

"You probably wouldn't even be able to say your opinions to my parents or the other officers. It may soften the blows, but you yourself would still be hurting inside, wouldn't you?" Judy asked.

"Well... yeah," Nick admitted. "You basically told me that you only cared about your choices and I guess at the time, you were right about a few things."

"Then let me ask this. What would happen if you found out about the truth about my birth and that you were right from the beginning?" Judy asked.

Nick was quiet for a couple of seconds before answering Judy. "*sigh* If I'm being honest, if I was still with you and then found out about you is the result of an affair... then... I would have left you for real."

"Oh..." Judy said sadden, but not surprised to hear that.

"Finding out that you didn't want to give away our little blessing was painful. But knowing that your very existence was only because of an affair and that I was right, it would have made me angry." Nick admitted as he clinched his fist. "I wouldn't just leave you, I would have let the secret out because of my anger. Your parents might divorce each other, your siblings would all shun and hate you, and things would be so bad for you even Shay wouldn't want anything to do with you. Basically, I would intentionally ruin your life and grow completely bitter because of it."

"I see," Judy said looking down at the ground. "Then can I ask, how come you're not doing that right here and now?"

"Because... no matter how hard I try, I can't live my life without out. I don't want to." Nick stated.

"Well, I did and we both know how that went," Judy said as she looked back up at Nick. "*sigh* Nick, do you know the differences between my relationship with Shay and my relationship with you?" Judy asked.

"Besides the obvious?" Nick replied.

"In my relationship with Shay, I had want I wanted. But to have it, I had to give up my partner, my family, and I had to hide the truth. However, the truth came out anyway and my career was completely tarnished. The things I didn't want to lose, my title, my reputation, and self-respect, were all gone at that instant. By then, between a permanent meter maid, Shay was all I had. I piled every single one of my problems on her without realizing how she felt and... she lost her life from it." Judy started looking gloomy. "The worst part is... as much as I cared about her, no matter how long I was with her, I... didn't see a future with her. Not a real one anyway." She then walked a little closer to Nick. "But, do you know what future I see with you, Nick?"

"What?" Nick asked.

"If wasn't so forward with the abortion, if I was more understanding, would you have stayed?" Judy asked.

"Of course I would," Nick said without hesitation.

"Then, that answers all my other questions," Judy said. "Knowing you, once I agreed not to go through with it, you would have at least taken some of my fears to heart. You would have at least done the research and you even probably would have taken me to a few doctors in order to make sure everything was 100 percent okay. Once we knew that, you would have talked with my parents about our relationship and maybe even made them understand. No doubt your family would have already been okay with it. Especially your mother."

"..." Nick didn't say anything, but he still listens to Judy.

"Then, we would have told all the other officers and they would be extremely happy for us and supportive. Then... before we even have the baby, you would have probably get married first. After we become husband and wife, we would have our baby, be it one or a litter. Most likely, both of us would feel emotional, but happy at the same time. After that, everything would be straightforward. We would still be parents in the ZPD while also being parents, deal with one or two hardships that come with raising a kid, but still overcome them, share happy moments with them, tell them stories, watch them growing up, then after we did what we could to make the world a better place and our kids are fully grown and ready to do the same, we retire and then grow old together. That's the future I see with you and you only, Nick."

"Judy..." Nick said.

"For my relationship with Shay, I got everything I wanted just to lose everything that matter. But... for my relationship with you, I... would have had... everything." Judy said. "I would have had everything..." Judy then started crying even more so before letting out a shout. "... AND I THROW IT ALL AWAY!"

Judy then broke down in tears again. She sobbed heavily as she had her paws over her eyes. She was starting to look as sad as she was before. It was painful for Nick to see Judy like this.

"Why? Why would I give up a perfect life like that?!" Judy wept. "I made so many mistakes and now... I have to live with every single one of them!"

Nick then walked over to Judy and hugged her. It was really the only thing Nick knew to do.

"I'm sorry, Judy," Nick said as he holds the crying bunny. "You must have gone through so much and I didn't do anything to ease the pain of it all."

After a few seconds, thanks to Nick's hugging, Judy did feel a bit better. However, it still didn't take away her guilt. Judy lightly pushed Nick away.

"It wasn't like I wanted you back," Judy said while still feeling guilty.

"Because you had Shay?" Nick asked.

"Yes. HAD." Judy said as she gripped her body.

Nick then started to recall Judy's words in the car. She said that Shay was going to leave her before she died. Was that really true?

"You said that, before she died, Shay was going to leave you too. Was it true?" Nick asked.

"Yes. It was." Judy admitted.

"I... don't understand," Nick said a bit stunned to hear that again. "Earlier, you were saying..."

"That was just me still not wanting to admit that you were right," Judy stated. "There's no point in hiding that fact anymore."

"Can you enlighten me some more about this?" Nick asked.

"I own you that much, do I?" Judy said. "I guess, you can say it started shortly after you le... I mean after I forced you out that night. Even if she didn't say anything, I felt that Shannon felt... guilty and sorry for you."

"She did? Even when I hurt her?" Nick asked.

"She... had been through worst," Judy said. "Anyway, not too long after, my parent visited unexpectedly. You already know what happened. I pushed them away for the same reason I did you. Like before, I went to Shay for comfort. But..."

"But?" Nick said surprised to her a but.

"It was very clear she was uncomfortable with it. She pushed me away a bit and then said that she needed some air." Judy stated. "Obviously, we both know what that meant."

"That she didn't agree with you pushing your family away like that and the fact that you were willing to do that said a lot to her. That it didn't matter how close a person was to you, if they didn't agree with you, it was the highway." Nick stated.

"Yeah. That's when she started bottling up her feelings. She didn't want to be against me, so she just kept quiet." Judy said.

"She bottled it up and you didn't notice something was wrong?" Nick asked.

"I was... blinded with my own problems that I didn't even bother to think about how she was or what I was doing to her," Judy admitted with a look of pain.

"Then when did you?" Nick asked.

Judy took a deep breath before answering Nick.

"Pretty sure I was the one who shook her bottle to the limit with what I said," Judy said. "During the time when my life was falling apart, combined with being stuck on parking duty and having most of the city hate me, I told Shay that I blamed you for it. I blamed it all on you. That's when... she spoke out for the first time."

Judy started flashing back to her moment with Shay. This all took place in their apartment. Judy had just come back from work, so she was still in her uniform. Just minus the vest. She was pacing left and right as she ranted about how she felt that Nick had ruined her life. Shay stood and said nothing... until... she felt that she had heard enough.

"So... you really blaming Nick for... everything?" Shay asked with her head down.

"Yes. I do. It's all his fault." Judy said angrily.

"I... I see." Shay said still looking down. "So... in a way, you are... also saying... that you wished... that we never met."

Judy stopped for a moment after she heard that. "Wh... what?" Judy uttered to Shay.

"I... get it now. Nick... didn't leave you just because of... the abortion. Nick left you... because... what he wanted... didn't matter." Shay said. "Our whole relationship... only exists... because of his pain."

When Shannon said that, it was the first real nail into our relationship.

"I've... been your excuse for... everything," Shay stated.

"That's not true. Nick was the one who left me and you were there for me." Judy said.

"That's... the problem! Nick left you... because... he loved you more... than your career. He was... even willing to... come back... after... what you did. But you... y... you didn't love him enough. Not more... than your... own career." Shay stated. "That's why... you didn't stop yourself... from going back to him."

"Wait just a minute, Shay. I get what you are saying. But it's still only his fault. He was the one who got me pregnant and knew I that worked hard for my job. So you should be mad with him that our lives are ruined." Judy said angrily.

That was the moment Shay's bottle hit the limit and burst out.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Shay shouted out in complete anger.

That shout…. That tone…. That look…. It completely frightened me. It was an anger I've never seen from her before. Once more, Shay would usually talk with a stammer or delay. There was no delay in any of her words.

"HOW DARE YOU BLAME EVERYTHING ON HIM!" Shay shouted out. "Nick didn't ruin our lives. Nick didn't ruin your life either. YOU ruined your life. I'm just the person you dragged into this."

"Sh…. Shay?" Judy said looking a bit scared.

"I've stuck by you for everything without giving you my opinion. Not with Nick, not with your parents, and not with the ZPD. It was your choice to lie to everyone. You lied to your own family, you lied to ZPD, you lied to Nick, and you lied to me." Shay stated.

"I didn't lie to you." Judy pleaded.

"No, you did. With our relationship, you made me your accomplish." Shay stated. "Every problem you had, you went to me as your excuse. You were dragging me into every single one of your problems. Problems that I had nothing to do with. NOTHING!"

Shay then started crying.

"You made me believe that you were this kind-hearted hero that was willing to help people around the city. But no, you're this cold-blooded person who's willing to get rid of anything or anyone that's keeping her from getting her way." Shay stated tearfully.

"Shay, please listen." Judy pleaded.

"You keep... blaming others... for your mistakes. Do you... even realize what you're doing to me? Or even... how I feel?" Shay asked as he stammering came back.

I piled so much of my problems on her, I didn't even realize it until she brought it up. Realizing that made me cry.

"You know what, forget it," Shay said before heading to the bedroom.

"Shay, wait!" Judy said chasing Shay and then grabbing her arm. "Please! I'm sorry, okay?"

"Are... are you sorry... because you are afraid that I will... leave you? Like him?" Shay asked referring to Nick. "We both know what would happen after that. You would just do the same thing you did to him to me. Only this time, I'm sure no one will want anything to do with you now and I'll have to live with the guilt of leaving you alone. So... you win." Shay then forced Judy to let go of her arm. "I'll stay and you can get what you want. Just... like... always!"

Shay then made for the door of the bedroom, shut it, and then locked it.

"Shay!" Judy shouted out she then ran to the bedroom and started knocking on it. "Shay! Shay! Please open the door! Please!"

Shay didn't say anything to me. But I could hear her crying from behind the door. I actually started crying too. Cause this made me realize that our relationship was... slowing ending.

This ended Judy's flashback. Nick was a bit of a surprising shock to hear all this. Shay being angry with Judy and even saying things that were in Nick's defense.

"So, Shay really wasn't happy with your choices at all," Nick said.

"Yeah," Judy said while nodding. "After that, she locked herself in the bedroom most of the time. I had to sleep on the couch. For a week, I tried to speak with her, but she said nothing to me. She would go to work all day and even stay out later hours just to not see me. When she came home, she just went to the bedroom and locked it. Not even given me a chance to say anything."

"I see. She was given you quite the silent treatment." Nick said as he scratched his chin. "But wait, didn't she said that she was going to stay with you even if it was hard for her. So, why did you say..."

"Please, listen to the rest," Judy said implying that there was more. "One day, Shay was finally ready to speak with me. This made me pretty happy because it meant I might finally be able to make things up with her. She wanted us to walk out for a bit. But the whole time I felt... weird about it."

"Judy, the day this happened, it wouldn't happen to be..." Nick said taking a guess.

"Yes, Nick. This was the day that Shay lost her life." Judy stated sadly.

A chill was felt in the air. It looked like Judy was about to tell Nick what happened.

"Nick, do you know how Shay died?" Judy asked.

"I... heard that she was killed by her ex," Nick stated.

"That's not really the whole story," Judy stated. "As we walked, Shay told me she felt off the last couple of days. As if someone had been following her. It was Shay's Ex-boyfriend. I led him to an alley so I could get the drop on him. After seeing

Judy then started flashbacking to that day. She had Shay's Ex pinned down on the ground in the alley. Shay kept her distance from them.

"Okay. The ZPD coming to lock you up. If you ever get out, you stay away from Shay." Judy said in a threatening matter.

"Ha! So, you think she's better off with you than me?" The Ex asked.

"I know she is." Judy stated.

"Oh really?" The Ex said. "You really don't think I know who you are, Officer Hopps? The so-called hero? You're the one who caused prey and predator mammals to fight a while back. You're also the bunny that aborted her own hybrid baby."

Judy looked a bit shaken after she heard that.

"Let me ask you something. How does Shay feel about this? How does she feel about carrying all of your baggage?" The Ex asked.

"What?" Judy said.

"See, I know Shay much better than you could. See, the easiest thing about being with her is that she's willing to follow anything you say. "The Ex said with a grin. "It's main cause she has no backbone."

"How... how dare you talk about her that way?" Judy said as she gets a tighter grip on him.

"Is that why you're with her?" The Ex asked. "You must go to her every time you have a problem. Like she's your little stress relief. But as day and day pass, it gets harder and harder for her. Shay must be asking herself 'How long before she gets rid of me too? How much can I take?' It didn't matter if you two were happy. As long as things stayed the way they were, she was trapped in the little box you put her in."

"Shut up!" Judy shouted out. "Why should I believe someone that hurt Shannon in more ways than one? You... you don't know anything about our relationship."

"Then how about we ask her how she feels?" The Ex asked.

Shay was quiet as she couldn't even look at them.

"I... I..." Shay uttered as she shook a bit.

"Shay?" Judy said as she looked at Shay wondering what was taking her response so long.

"I'm... sorry, Judy," Shay said trying not to cry.

After hearing that, Judy felt that her heartache from Shay's response.

"Wh... what?" Judy uttered.

"I tried... for as long as I could," Shay said as tears fell from her eyes. "I just can't do it anymore."

The moment Judy heard that it was like her heart was being broken into pieces.

"Hmm. And there you have it." The Ex said grinning. "You were only with her cause it benefitted you, but not her. All you did was give her problems that she had nothing to do with."

"I... Shay... I didn't mean..." Judy said looking upset as she loses her grip on Shay's Ex.

Before Judy could try and apologize to Shannon, her ex-boyfriend used this as an opportunity to get up a strike at Judy and knocking her to the ground.

"Judy!" Shay shouted out looking worried.

"Now now! Stay back, Shay. I'm doing this for your own good." The Ex said ordering Shay not to move.

Shay was too scared to do anything as her ex walked over to Judy. Was still in a bit of shock, both from the punch and from realizing what she may have done to Shannon.

"You know, I was a big fan of your partner. Too bad you pushed him away and took away your and his own child." The Ex stated. "It's hard to believe you're the hero that this city looked up to. Now you're nothing but a sham and only causing more and more problems."

"I... I didn't mean to." Judy said looking sad.

"Yet, you didn't stop. You didn't care." The ex stated.

"I... I..." Judy uttered trying to think about what to say.

The Ex then kicked Judy and made her body slid down a bit on the floor.

"You're a disgrace. What reason does Shay have to stay with you? How long do you intend to drag her into your mess? Why should she suffer for your problem?" The Ex said as he walked closer to Judy. "And even if Shay does stay with you, how do you intend to make it up to her for all the emotional pain you caused her? HOW?!"

Judy's body trembled as she laid on the floor. Not by fear of Shay's ex, but fear how to answer him.

"I... I... I..." Judy kept saying. She was will to say anything so long as it was a good answer. However, she didn't have one. Tears then started to come down from her eyes. "I can't. I can't make it up to her. She shouldn't have to deal with any of my problems."

Shay's eye widens after hearing Judy say that.

"Good to hear you admit that." The ex said smiling. "But I do know one way you could make it up to her." He then pulled out a pocket knife. "You can die here and now? He might even erase all the problems you caused."

Shay was shocked to see the knife out. Her ex was actually intending to kill Judy. He then points the knife at Judy, who is stood a bit, but not enough.

"I'm doing Shay and this city a favor. They would both be better off without you!" The fox said as he lunged at Judy with the knife.

Judy was still frozen and couldn't even more. It was like her body didn't want to move. She didn't even react. She just closed her eyes expecting to get stabbed with the knife. But after two seconds, nothing. She then opens her eyes and looks in horror with what she sees. In front of her was Shay. She took the blow for her. Her ex was also caught by surprise.

"Shannon..." Judy said in total shock.

"Sh... Shay? Why did...?" The Ex said stunned.

"St... St... Stop. Please?" Shay said even if the knife injury was painful.

Shay's ex then took a couple of steps back with a look of grief and regret.

"Oh no. No no no. What... have I done?" The Ex said to himself before falling on his knees.

The amount of blood loss that Shay had, started to affect her as she falls down to the ground.

"SHAY!' Judy shouted out. Judy then rushes to Shannon's side. "NO! NONONO!"

Judy sees the knife still in her and she quickly takes it off and tried to close up her wound.

"SHAY! SHAY! HANG IN THERE!" Judy said crying. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"Ju... dy..." Shay said already feeling woozy.

"It was meant for me! Why did you take the knife for me?! WHY?!" Judy asked still tearing up.

"Because... I had to." Shay replied.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please... stay alive for me. I do anything you want me to do. You're all I have left." Judy stated as she cried more.

"That's... not true... and... we... b... both... know it," Shay started feeling more and more like she was about to blackout. "I'm... sorry... I... couldn't... be strong... enough."

"Shay! Shay! Don't talk that way! You'll be fine. Okay?" Judy said as she still held Shay up.

"You... have nothing holding... you back now," Shay said oddly with a smile. "Go... to... hi..."

Shay was slowly starting to close her eyes.

"Shay! SHAY! KEEP THOSE EYES OPENS! PLEASE!" Judy shouted out.

She had lost to much blood and eventually shut her eyes for good. Leaving Judy to cry in complete pain. That was the end of Judy's flashback. After hearing everything, Nick was stunned beyond words.

"That's... THAT'S how she died?" Nick said completely shocked by this.

"Yes. That's the whole story." Judy said weeping.

"W... wait! If what you said is true, then... the person who was supposed to get killed..." Nick said looking horrified.

"... was me." Judy answered.

"In... IMPOSSIBLE!" Nick shouted out. "HOW DID I NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?!"

"Even if you didn't know, you do now," Judy said still crying. "She lost her life saving my worthless one."

"But... you said Shay was going to leave you. That doesn't really prove anything." Nick stated.

"Nick, think about it. Shay's Ex just happens to show up and says things that Shay would have told me. Also, Shay wanted us to talk the day we went out. Didn't all of that seem odd to you?" Judy asked.

Nick thought about it all and did think it was too much of a coincidence.

"No way. She... planned it?" Nick asked as he shook. "Does that mean you getting killed by her Ex was also part of the plan?!"

"NO! It's not what you think." Judy said firmly. "Yes, her and her ex planned the thing whole meeting thing. But it was just so that we could break up. She was too afraid to be upfront with me, so she tried to get him to do it. But it was clear that he had bigger plans."

"So... she didn't know that her ex was planning to... kill you?" Nick asked.

"Of course she didn't," Judy said as she shook her head. "Otherwise, she wouldn't have dive in and take the blow for me."

"But... with that said, maybe there would have been a chance of you working things out and..." Nick said feeling that there was still a chance Shay wasn't going to leave.

"We were always going to break up!" Judy said firmly. "I'm not gonna deny it anymore. *sigh* There... was a part that I was never willing to mention, but like everything, there's no point."

"What do you mean?" Nick asked.

"I didn't go home until the day after Shay died. And even then, it was hard for me. Once again, I was alone. Another person I love, gone because of me. I was beyond miserable." Judy stated. "I went to the bedroom to weep. It was not only the first time I slept in there after a week but the first time I would sleep alone again. When I went into the room, it still looked oddly the same. That was... until I looked at the side of the bed."

"What did you see?" Nick asked.

"... Shannon's suitcase and bags." Judy answered. Nick looked a little stunned to hear that. "I kept asking myself 'Why? Why would Shay take those out? Why would she need to take those out?'. As much as I didn't want to, I had to. I had to see the bags for myself." Judy didn't say anything for 5 whole seconds. "... They were packed."

"They... were packed?" Nick asked stunned from hearing that.

"That's right," Judy said as she begins to cry. "Do you know what means? It didn't matter if she died or not, she was planning to me anyway."

"..." Nick couldn't respond to that.

"Do you get it, Nick? I'VE ALWAYS BEEN THE PROBLEM! ME!" Judy shouted out as she cried. "At least you had the guts to leave me when you did. But Shay had to die before she could even try. Do you know what I felt that day? Anger. So much anger that I wreck that apartment. Ripped up cushions, marks on walls, papers all over the floor, and broken picture frames. After I had enough, I just went into my pillow and cried. I cried, cried, and cried some more. But even after what I been through, it only got worst."

"What else has she had to deal with?" Nick thought as he started feeling very sad for Judy.

"I met Shay's parents and they don't forgive me for what happened to her daughter. Her mother told me 'Just because you were willing to kill your own baby, doesn't mean you had to kill someone else.' All I could say was that I was sorry. But it wasn't enough for them. They wanted nothing else to do with me and even prevented me from going to Shay's funeral."

"They what?" Nick asked.

"I kept my relationship with Shannon a secret from most. If that had come out, everyone would know her as the fox that dated the former hero bunny that aborted her own child. I would forever tarnish her grave with that information and she would get as much backlash as I did." Judy said crying more. "Even though I agreed, it still hurt."

"She didn't even get to give her a proper goodbye." Nick thought.

"But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Due to my current state, I was both physical and mentally unable to work. So I've been put on leave. I tried calling my family to apologize, but no one picked up. I tried contacting my friends at Bunnyburrow, but they want nothing to do with me. I had to cover my face every time I go out just to not hear people's negative comments about me. Then when I'm in the apartment, I'm either crying in the corner, crying in the bed, or crying in the shower." Judy said as she cried even more and held herself. "I believed that I was this brave hero that wants to make the world a better place. But when I look in the mirror, I don't see that person. I don't even recognize myself."

Nick still didn't say anything. He just had his head down nothing even knowing how to respond to all of Judy's pain.

"The 'so-called new life' I wanted to ruin everything well with from my old life. But the worst part isn't just Shay dying and me still being here." Judy said. "When a bunny's soulmate dies, they are supposed to die along with them. Yet, with all the pain I've been feeling, with all of it wanting to end in any way, I'm still here. Do you know what that means? Shay wasn't my soulmate... and our relationship was for nothing."

"..." Nick still remained silent.

"I thought it would be okay with her. But... because of me, she died!" Judy said in pain. "If I never had gotten into a relationship or met her that day... or even... if I'd never chosen to go through with the abortion in the first place, she wouldn't have to die. I made her deal with all my burden and she still gave her life for mine. A life that was never supposed to exist in the first place." Judy then had her knees down to the ground. "It was meant for me! It should have been me! If she had let me get killed, then all her problems would have vanished. Instead, I made her feel that my life was more important. That her life didn't matter. But it's not true. She was a true angel that was met to be born. But ask for me... I'm no angel. No hero either. I'm... a monster. A monster that causes suffering to those around her. A monster that only cares about herself. A monster... that only exists because of an affair."

Nick clung both his fists. For Judy to admit so much

Judy then stood back out, wiped her tears off, and took a deep breath.

"You were right all along again, Nick. You should be happy about that." Judy said.

"... You're right. I am happy." Nick said still with his head down, but not with a tone that sounded happy. "I'm happy that I left you and had you deal with this burden alone."

"Huh?" Judy said with her head up as she looks at Nick.

"I'm happy that you tried to move on with someone else who wasn't meant to deal with our burden. I'm happy that you were willing to push away your own family and friends just because of what you wanted." Nick said not sounding happy, but angry. And more and more with every sentence. "I'm happy that the reputation you worked so hard to have is now in flames and that everyone in the city hates you. I'm happy that Shannon, a perfectly innocent girl, had to die from saving your life when in reality, she was going to leave you too." While Nick was still sounding angry, he was starting to cry. "But you what to know what I'm really... really happy about? I'm happy with the little secret that your mother just bombshell us with today. That after what was said and done, there... really was a chance that you could have never been born. That you were the result of an affair. That she was attempting to end her pregnancy with you. It all means the same thing. It means that your light really never would have existed and that EVERYTHING WE PUT EACH OTHER THROUGH... was for nothing." Nick's anger went down, but not his tears.

"..." Judy was now the one who was speechless.

"I'm not happy about any of this, Judy," Nick said as he shook his head. "And if you think that after all of this, that I stopped caring or... that I stopped loving you, you're wrong! Cause even if you did stop loving me, I never stopped loving you."

"Nick..." Judy said feeling the warmth from Nick's words.

Judy gets up and slowly walks up to Nick. She wraps her arms around the fox. The two both wanted comfort. The comfort they could only get from each other. Nick then held Judy's head up and looked at her eyes. He then leans his head down. Judy knew what Nick was planning to do and lightly pushed him away.

"J... Judy? What's wrong?" Nick asked wondering why Judy's stopped him.

"I can't. I can't do this if there's a chance that I will hurt you again." Judy said as she gripped herself. "I... I need to leave."

"Wait. You don't need to leave my apartment." Nick said not wanting Judy to go.

"No. Not just the apartment. The city." Judy stated. "I need to leave the city. Face it, Nick. It was the other way around. You shouldn't have stayed out of my life forever. I should stay out of your life forever." Judy said as she started to cry more.

"What?" Nick said shaking a bit.

"I caused enough pain to enough people. I can't make it up to everyone. So leaving is the best thing to do." Judy said.

"You... can't be serious," Nick said starting to cry.

"I am," Judy said feeling that she had made her choice. She then turned around, dug into her pocket, and took out her officer badge. "When I first gave up this badge, it was because of what I cause during the Missing Mammals Case. I said I didn't deserve this. After everything, I think it goes to say I don't deserve this more than ever now."

Judy then did something that was unthinkable for Nick. She dropped her badge down on the floor. An officer's badge is considered the most important thing they have on them. A symbol of honor and nobility. So, to drop it on the floor was short of sacrilege.

"I'm quitting the ZPD," Judy said to Nick.

"WHAT?!" Nick shouted out in shock.

"I'll call Bogo and tell him that I fully resign from the force. No doubt he will probably be happy not to have his problem officer anymore." Judy said. "Oh, don't worry. I talk with him about putting you back in his precinct. You coming back might even bring back some of the other officers that transferred from there. He might even make you keep your lieutenantship. I'm sure you will be a better one than me."

"Hold on!" Nick said wanting Judy to stop.

"You mention something to me long ago about giving up my dream and going back home to be a carrot farmer. It was funny how you were able to predict that. Only now... I don't even have that option." Judy said crying more. "I can't go back home now. I don't even think there are any places I could go to without being rejected. I'll be aimless, friendless, and completely alone."

Nick's heart was in pain after hearing all this. Judy was really willing to isolate herself from everything.

"But... I'll survive. Just like you, Nick." Judy said.

"Judy, you don't have to leave." Nick pleaded.

"Don't worry, Nick. Like before, I may be walking away, but you can know that you were right all along. I'm a dumb bunny. That's who I am... and that's what I'll always be." Judy said as her tears hit the ground.

For Nick, it was feeling like his heart was breaking.

"Goodbye, Nick," Judy said tearfully before running for the door.

Judy sounded serious. She was really tending to leave everything behind and live a life of solitude. Nick didn't want that. Nick didn't want Judy to leave. But even after shouting out "JUDY! JUDY!", the bunny didn't seem fazed. So instead of calling her by her name, he called her... something else.

"CARROTS!" Nick shouted out with all his might.

Just when Judy was only millimeters from touching the doorknob and opening the door, she stopped. The moment she heard that nickname she was given by Nick, she froze. Judy then moved her paw away from the door and turned around to Nick.

"What... did you call me, Nick?" Judy asked.

"Carrots. I called you Carrots." Nick said.

"That nickname... when you first called me that, you knew I hated it. Most of the time, I still didn't like you calling me that." Judy admitted. "So why?" Judy was looking up at Nick with tears of need. "Why does hearing that nicknames mean the whole world to me?"

"Because in your heart, it does," Nick replied. Nick then walked over to Judy. "Carrots, you don't really want to leave everything behind, do you?"

"I... I..." Judy said hesitating.

"Carrots, you've really have been a dumb bunny. A dumb and indecisive one." Nick stated.

"Indecisive?" Judy asked as she wiped her ears off.

"You tell me that you didn't want our baby, yet you completely regret your abortion. You tell me you didn't want my forgiveness, yet you needed it more than anything. You were even willing to make sacrifices for your career, yet you are now willing to throw your badge away?" Nick said. "Every time, Judy, you've been indecisive and unsure with what you want. So I ask you this." Nick then grabbed onto Judy's shoulders. "WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT YOU WANT?!"

"The... one thing?" Judy said as she starts to think.

"Don't overthink it. Not even for a second. Just please... say to me the one thing you want. Anything." Nick said sincerely.

What was it? What was the one thing Judy truly wanted? She used to believe the one thing that she truly wanted to be was being an officer. But not anymore. When she looked at the emerald eyes of Nick, she had her answer.

"I... I want us... to never say goodbye... ever again." Judy answered.

Nick then gripped his chest, shedding a tear, and gave a smile of relief. He was really happy to hear Judy say that.

"I want that too, Carrots," Nick said to Judy with a smile.

Judy then started smiling too. Her first real smile in a long while. Nick and Judy then embraced each other. After a few seconds, the two gazed at each other. No matter what was said and done, Nick and Judy had never lost their feelings for one another. Nick leans down to her and Judy gets on her tiptoes as they kissed passionately. So passionately that it led the two of them down to the floor. Even so, they still kissed.

Sometime later, things led to Nick's bedroom. The two's clothes were down on the floor near the bed. On the bed, Nick was only wearing blue boxers while Judy was in a black bra and panties. While the two didn't want any farther than kissing, it did go on for a while. Judy was on top of Nick's chest as she after breaking up the kissing. While Judy still looked hurt emotionally, she had great comfort with Nick. The bunny then laid down on Nick's chest as Nick holds her close.

While Nick and Judy didn't really 'reconcile' in the usual way, Nick did do something to Judy that left a new scent on her.

"I marked you, Judy," Nick told the bunny. "This means that no matter who else goes to you, they can never have you. You will belong to me and only me. I should have done this long ago."

"It's not like anyone else is out there for me now," Judy stated as she nuzzles her head on Nick's chest.

"Tomorrow, I want you to go back to your apartment," Nick said as he rubbed the back of her head.

"Nick, I can't..." Judy said still feeling that she can't go back there.

"Tomorrow, I want you to go back to your apartment, pack up all your things, and move in with me," Nick said. "I want you to live here with me as soon as possible, but I also want you to have a day to recover after everything. Understand?"

"... Okay." Judy said not even arguing with Nick. "I'm pretty sure I was close to getting evicted anyway. I haven't paid a few of the bills for a while. Suspension made Shay the sole provider and not working this month also did a dent to my funds. So, will you really be okay with..."

"Of course I don't mind. I have been able to pay the rent just fine on my own." Nick stated.

"Sorry." Judy went feeling that she's been nothing but a burden.

"No more apologizes, Carrots. Just make it up to me by always being with me." Nick said as he held Judy.

"I can do that," Judy replied agreeing.

Nick then placed Judy to the other side of his bed to better look at her and speak with her.

"Carrots, you mind doing me a favor and closing your eyes?" Nick asked.

"What for?" Judy asked.

"Close them, Carrots. Also, have your right paw out." Nick ordered Judy to do.

Judy wondered why Nick wanted her to close her eyes and have her paw out. Then she had a thought in her mind. Was he trying to propose to her? Right here and now? She started to blush a bit as she stood up on the bed. If he really was going to propose to her, how should she react? Not overthinking, she just did what Nick asked and closed her eyes with her right paw out. She could see want Nick was up to, but she felt something get placed in her paw. It didn't feel like a ring or a box with a ring that she could tell.

"Okay. Open your eyes now." Nick said to Judy.

Judy opened her eyes and looked at her right palm. In it, she saw her badge. The badge that she dropped on the floor not to long ago.

"I think you might need this," Nick said.

It seemed that Nick wanted Judy to keep her badge. However, Judy still felt that she didn't deserve to have it. After all, she was willing to throw away so much just to keep it.

"Nick, because of this badge, I screw up so much," Judy said feeling that she shouldn't have it.

"Which is why you need to have it back," Nick said. He then placed two of his paws on the paw Judy was holding her badge. "Judy, it was never about giving up your career. It was about not giving up on us. When you were willing to go through the abortion, it hurt me. But seeing you finally understand why I was so against it and that you were willing to give up this badge, it tells me that you care more about us now. Even so, being a cop was your dream and I don't want you to give that up either."

"But..." Judy said.

"I know that you made mistakes that you think you can't fix. But you need to fix them. No more hiding from your problems or having someone else be your reason to avoid them. You have to face them head-on. Even if you're scared. No more acting cowardly from either of us, okay?" Nick said boldly.

Judy looked down at her badge. She closed her eyes and then held it near her chest.

"I still don't think I have the right to wear this. But I'll do what I can to earn it again." Judy said. "I swear, I'll make it up to you, my family, and everyone else. Even if it takes the rest of my life."

"That's what I want to hear," Nick said with a smile. "Don't worry. I'll be here with you every step of the way for now on."

"Thank you, Nick," Judy said smiling back at Nick.

Nick then kissed Judy on her forehead. The fox then looked at the clock as it said 7:47 pm.

"I know that it isn't that late, but how about we get some sleep?" Nick asked Judy. "I know a certain bunny that could really use it."

"You have no idea how good that sounds," Judy said really want to go to bed now. "This might be the first good-night sleep I get in a long time."

"Yeah. Me too." Nick said agreeing.

At that moment, Nick remembered something he needed to get out of his drawer by his bed.

"Judy, let me promise you this. I'll do whatever I can to make your life good again." Nick said. "Then... once I help you with that..." Nick then held Judy's left paw up. He then had something that was a bit shocking to have in his other paw. A ring. He then just put the ring on one of Judy's fingers. "... let's get married."

Judy was in awe for two reasons. The ring Nick put on her and the fact that he asked her to marry him. It was just so sudden. Yet, there was no way Judy was going to say no or that she was going to take off the ring.

"Okay," Judy said fine with it all. "I'll be the kind of wife you deserve."

"And I'll be the kind of husband you deserve," Nick said.

Nick and Judy then held onto each other again. Both of them have had a long day and were pretty tired. So all they really wanted was the warmth of each other's bodies. The two then give each other one more kiss on the muzzle.

"I love you, Judy," Nick uttered before drifting off to sleep.

"I love you, Nick," Judy uttered back to Nick before sleeping as well.

Their eyes felt heavy as they were both about to drift into sleep. After that, the two agreed to never be apart ever again. As Nick promised, he helps the best way he could to fix Judy's life. A couple of years later, Nick and Judy had moved into a nice big two-story house in Central. Judy had changed quite a bit. She was a bit different than she was before but closer to her old self. While her reputation was never the same, she accepted things the way she was and was fine she still had what she had.

It was the middle of the night, Judy was walking down the hallway of her home. As she walks down the hall of her home she passing a picture of her and Nick on their wedding day. The two are actually happily married now. They both wanted to spend the rest of their lives together and that what they are doing. Both marriage, Nick promised to help Judy fix up her life. She worked things out with family, the officers at the ZPD, and at least a bit of her reputation was gained back.

She quietly opens the door and went into what looked like a nursery room. Judy looked at what seemed to be a big wooden crib. She slowly walked over to it and looked upon it. In the crib, sleeping peacefully is four little babies. They all seemed to be mixed with both fox and rabbit. That's right. After getting married, Nick and Judy later had kids. They were blessed with a litter of 4. It was a bit surprising for both Nick and Judy. But they were both happy all the same. Judy looks at her babies with a smile. She then felt arms wrapped around her body and a head on top of her head. It was Nick.

"You weren't in our bed, so I knew you would be here." Nick quietly said to Judy as he held her.

"Sorry," Judy said quietly. "Did I wake you?"

"Well, you know I can't sleep well without you, but it's fine," Nick said as he still cuddled Judy.

While Nick and Judy may have a family now, Judy still had guilt in her heart.

"I still can't ever bring back the light I chose to extinguish," Judy said sadly.

"I know," Nick said.

"Which is why I do what I can to make up for it," Judy said.

"I know, Judy. I'll be there with you... as well as the four lights we brought into this world." Nick said.

"Yeah," Judy said with a smile.

Done! Oh god! This was longer than it was supposed to be. I just HAD to write another ending for this story. But like I said, Never Said Goodbye is about to come out soon and I wanted to have one more go at an ending. Yes, this ending was more of a tearjerker. But seemed to fit better than the overly happy one. Besides, parts of this were going to be in my original final draft anyway. Anyway, special thanks to all my readers and fans of my story. Also, special thanks to Spectra98 being a fan of this story and making me want to give this story another take. Well, that's all for now. I got to get back with all my other stories. Aight, ya'll. See ya and be well.