Chapter 2: Between the Wedding and Manchas

AN: Also, no actual order to these, as I write them as I imagine a scene and put it to paper. :)

" I know you're probably an expert on weddings and all-"

"Really, Nick?"

"...yes really. Bunny and all, but...how long is this wedding going to take?"

Judy sighed. As glad as she was that they weren't mammalian pawpsicles under Mr Big's floorboards, Judy really wanted to leave the mansion and hurry on to find this Mr Manchas. Yet when Judy politely went to leave after his tip, several polar bears stepped forward, only halting their advance when Mr Big called out to them.

"It would be a shame if you left the wedding early. I do not believe that the savior of my daughter should leave so soon."

It was an offer they couldn't refuse, so, reluctantly...and with a lot of consternation from both mammals, they waited.

Judy hated waiting.

Nick wanted to leave the mansion before Mr Big changed his mind about him being there.

So they sat at the wedding table, comically oversized compared to the rest of the partiers. The lights swinging above them in the frosty air, as well as the tiny decorations of the wedding party becoming more and more comical the longer they sat.

"It shouldn't be long now," Judy replied. "Probably only a few dances left...I hope?"

A small cough swiftly brought their whisperings to a close. "My children," Mr Big began. "You would be correct in your assumption regarding your hastiness to leave such a jovial gathering. It pains me to hear you want to leave so badly."

Nick visibly flinched, Judy glancing at the fox and noticing his skin grow pale under his fur. The fox quickly recovered. "Mr Big, sir. We don't mean to be rude at all, but, Officer Fluff and I kind of need to figure this case out before her boss decides to have one less rabbit around, so..." His slight chuckle died under the shrew's withering gaze.

The mobster eventually sighed. "I understand. Though, if you would be so kind, I believe that as is customary, that all couples at a wedding should dance."

"Couples?" Judy asked, perplexed. "But Nick and I aren't..."

Mr Big raised a single eyebrow and his bears stepped forward.

"Yes, absolutely Carrots and I are a couple. Aren't we, Hopps?"

"But we..."

Mr Big's voice cut off Judy's objection like a knife. "Wonderful. Now, go join the others in the final dance of the evening."

Nervously eyeing each other, Judy and Nick slid from their chairs. "Do you know how to dance, Carrots?" Nick asked, casting worrisome glances at the shrew nearby.

"Kind of?" Her answer was hesitant...unsure. "Just uh...place your paws around my, uh...crisps and wafers this is more difficult with someone your size."

"Sorry for being taller than a rabbit," Nick half hissed, before catching a glare from Mr Big. "Let's just do what the others are doing."

Judy looked around at the actual couples dancing in the same section in the middle of the wedding party. "Okay..." Slowly, she placed her paws against Nick's chest as his own wrapped around her body, enveloping her in russet fur. Feeling a heated blush rising through her ears, she quickly dropped them as they began to disjointedly sway to the music. Don't look at anyone...she whispered to herself, deciding that dropping her head against Nick's chest and closing her eyes would work best.

So caught up in worrying, she failed to sense the hitch in Nick's breathing at her sudden movement. He bowed his head, whispering silent prayers that whatever they did would be enough to appease Mr Big.

On the table, Mr Big leaned onto his armrest, sighing in content at the awkwardly dancing fox and rabbit, only to hear a huff from nearby.

"Daddy, why are you making them dance! They aren't a couple!" Fru Fru stood next to her father, one paw on her hip, the other pointed towards the officer and hustler.

Mr Big chuckled. "Yet...my dearest child. Yet. They may not see it now, but trust me, they will eventually. They just need a push."

Fru Fru remained silent, eventually walking back to her husband at the punch bowl, though crooking a smile at the larger, and much more awkward, dancing pair. Maybe they do look cute together... She shrugged. Perhaps daddy knew what he was doing after all.