Though she be but little, she is fierce

officer jude hopps. 22. first female guard and resident boss lady at the clubhouse.

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

Nick shook his head, looking around the room quickly before facing Jude. He heard her canned phrases and took a deep breath. They were safe. He nodded, turned on his side and laid his head on her lap, his feet curled up like a child. 

“The funky-smelling kitchen cabinets are your fault.” He mumbled, his head still on her lap as he tried to get his breathing back down to a normal pace. Nick ran one hand down her leg, he was told to get all five senses involved during his panic attacks. He felt some stubble as neither of them had been doing great since their honeymoon, but just feeling her was good enough for him. 

Jude gently stroked his curly hair, which had been matted with sweat. She couldn’t help but chuckle at his remark. “Oh yes, it is definitely my fault. After all, I’m the one who bought a ‘revolutionary’ cleaning product off eBay and swore it would — what was it again? Make the cabinets shine like the top of the Chrysler building?” The girl shook her head. 

“This is all going to be over soon.” Jude assured him, her tone softening. “We’ll give our statements to the jury today, testify against ... the defendant ... then it’ll be out of our hands. We can move on. We can heal. We won’t be like this forever, baby.” She leaned down to press a kiss to his forehead. “I promise.”

[slywildenick-blog]

Blood smeared across the rundown half-tinted green dumpster as Nick held his arm in front Jude’s chest, indicating he was trying to protect her from the harm they were unknowingly about to witness. Nick reached for his gun, but it wasn’t there–of course it wasn’t there this was their honeymoon. The two had promised no work would get in the way of their week long trip to Maine. 

A scream pierced the quiet alleyway, reminding Nick that sound existed beyond his small circle with just him and Jude. He stood straight up, goosebumps littered his body as he turned the corner and saw a man and a woman standing over a lifeless body. “Run.” Nick turned to his new wife, pushing her away from the scene, but everything happened so fast. 

Gun shots rang out across the garbage cans and concrete walls as Nick scrambled to find a way to protect Jude, but he couldn’t find her. His mind fogged as he couldn’t see his wife. Nick stood from the dumpster he had found solace behind and tried to see the blonde hair he knew so well. Instead he saw an older man, plump and round, balding–his face etched in Nick’s memory. 

“Run!” He shouted again, but the man hesitated. A bullet entered the left side of his temple and exited the right before Nick could move. A second bullet rang through the alley, hitting Nick in the shoulder. Another scream was heard, but this time it was odd. It wasn’t a stranger screaming nor was it a scream from his wife that he recognized (and she had screamed at him in many ways). Jude screamed in a way that wasn’t angry like during their fights and it wasn’t sensual like during their moments of passion. It was scared and hurt and frightened and nothing like he wanted to hear ever again. “Jude…” He called, holding his shoulder as he collapsed on the ground. “Jude!” He called again, his eyes closing. 

“Jude, run!” He yelled, but this time when he opened his eyes he wasn’t in Maine–nor in a blood-filled alleyway. He was in his apartment. The one where he lived with his wife. There wasn’t blood covering his body: only sweat. He was safe. She was safe. 

[itstartswith-me-blog]

Jude sat up, ramrod straight, as soon as she heard Nick’s panicked shouts. It was still dark outside, well before the sun would even break the horizon — let alone before their alarm would go off. “Nick?” She called gently, climbing out of bed as she watched her husband look frantically around the apartment. “Nick, baby, it’s just a dream. It’s just a dream.” She repeated the phrase over and over — just as his therapist had instructed — as she moved to stand at a distance in front of him.

Finally, he snapped out of it, his eyes focusing on reality once more. “Are you okay?” Jude whispered, obviously concerned, as she closed the space between them, her hands moving directly to his shoulders. But then she remembered the response she was supposed to give in situations like these. “I’m okay. I’m safe. We’re home, see? In New York. In our little apartment with the noisy radiator and funky-smelling kitchen cabinets. We’re okay, baby. We’re okay.”

[slywildenick-blog]

It’s Called A Wedding, Sweetheart

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

The officiant waited until both of them had finished their vows before asking for the rings and finishing off the ceremony. It really was all a blur after Jude said everything she did–and not just mentally a blur as his vision was hindered by a few tears that had started to form. This was real. This was him and Jude and their marriage together. 

Nick grabbed his wife at the waist, pulling her in for a dropped down kiss. “I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Wilde.” Her family went wild, her parents were crying and even half of her siblings had tears sprouting. Nick took her by the hand after bringing her back up from the dip. He squeezed tight and led the two back down the aisle–this time together as man and wife. 

Nick took the pair straight to a secluded refreshment table to grab a drink before pictures as everyone started to mingle and head towards the house.

“Hello Mrs. Wilde.” He said with his usual cocky grin. “It’s nice to have you here at this beautiful wedding.” 

From the time the officiant pronounced them man and wife to the moment they made it to the drink table, Jude couldn’t stop beaming. In spite of how stressful pulling together the wedding had proven to be, the memory of it all melted away and was replaced by every moment she spent holding her new husband’s hand or feeling the weight of her wedding band on her ring finger. 

“Hello, Mr. Wilde.” Jude grinned right back, her nose scrunching up before she took a sip of her beverage. “Oh, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. After all, I had to scope out that hot groom.” She laughed, inching closer as her hand brushed against his.

But before she could follow up her compliment with anything else, the newlyweds were beckoned to begin taking photos around the property. In spite of the sheer size of Jude’s family, the session didn’t take too terribly long -- but that was just the beginning. It wasn’t until they were standing in the middle of the dance floor, preparing for their first dance, that the pair found themselves ‘alone.’

“So, how does it feel to be a married man?” Jude asked quietly, a brow quirked as they swayed together to the beat. “You feel like you’ve peaked yet?”

[slywildenick-blog]

It’s Called A Wedding, Sweetheart

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

Nick couldn’t take his eyes off of Jude from the second she emerged around the corner to the point where their hands connected. The simple touch still sent electricity straight through her fingertips to his. He blinked before slowly looking down at his soon to be wife. Wow was the only adjective that could describe how he thought she looked and how excited he was to have her in that white dress in front of him. He mouthed a “Wow” before squeezing her hands and looking to the officiant for a split second, nodding that they were ready to begin. 

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join in the celebration of marriage for Nicholas Wilde and Judith Hopps.” The crowd of people, especially the Hopps younger girls, all beamed at their sister’s name and a twinge of pain struck Nick as he realized not a single person in the crowd was his family. He looked around at all the faces, lovingly staring at Jude. His attention followed theirs and when he looked again to see his blushing bride, he realized the pain in his heart wasn’t necessary considering in a few minutes the two would be married and every person at the ceremony would be considered a family member to both him and Jude. 

“Nicholas, please go ahead and say your vows.” The officiant said as Nicholas fumbled to find his notecard, having spaced out in his thoughts just previously.

“I, Nicholas Wilde, stand before my love and in front of family and friends to announce my love and commitment.” He nodded at her, smiling, “Jude and I were never friends. We were allies though. Team-mates. Partners. We skipped the part where we opened up to each other on a platonic front and we didn’t have some dramatic moment when we realized the other was meant more than just a pal. We didn’t have a love story where we just knew instantly either. I love that about us. I love so many things about us as a couple and of course, of Jude as a human.”

Nick smiled, knowing his preface was ending and his vows were coming. “Jude. I vow to always have your back. I will never let you go into a situation without backup and support. I vow to always listen and encourage you to be your best self. I will always lead or follow you into harsh times and I will never abandon or deny you the chance to step forward as an independent. I vow to love you so passionately and so without doubt that even the greatest of love stories will envy ours. I vow to be yours and all yours. Your husband and your partner.” He squeezed his hand and nodded for the ceremony to continue.

It was like the world stopped as soon as Jude joined Nick at the altar. The gazes of her family and their friends suddenly didn’t seem so powerful or overwhelming -- or even relevant, for that matter. All she saw was her husband-to-be and the way he mouthed wow as he looked her over. The girl blushed, mouthing a quiet, “Wow yourself,” in response just before the officiant began speaking.

As Nick explained their journey and the love they somehow managed to stumble upon, Jude felt a whirlwind of emotions. Amusement while thinking back on the way they clashed so horribly and were definitely not allies. A hint of nostalgia when she recalled the moments that led to them loving each other -- from all the times he cared for her when she was exhausted after a shift to the time she legitimately ran after him on the side of the interstate. And, of course, a sense of overwhelming gratitude that, in spite of their shortcomings and vehement disagreements, she had found a partner she could rely on for life.

It wasn’t until the officiant turned to Jude and requested, “Judith, please go ahead and say your vows,” that she was snapped out of her silent reverie. The blonde turned to one of her sisters for the notecard she had prepared, clearing her throat before regaining eye contact with her beloved.

“Since I was a little girl, I figured the greatest commitment I would make would be to my career -- something I desired more than anything. So imagine my surprise when an intelligent, thoughtful, compassionate, and kind man stepped into my world and turned it upside-down.” She chuckled, glancing down at her notecard. “While we may not have had that climactic love story that every girl anticipates, we’ve experienced a great love that grew from more humble beginnings. We have learned to tolerate each other, to be patient with each other, to guide and protect each other and, most importantly, to love each other -- even when we don’t like each other. That is why I, Judith Hopps, confidently stand before our closest friends and family to profess my love and make the greatest commitment of my life.”

Jude laced her free hand with Nick’s, tears pricking at her eyes as she looked into his. “Nicholas, I can’t vow to be the perfect wife. I can’t promise that our schedules will never clash or that we’ll never have senseless arguments because we’re tired and burned the last frozen pizza we had stockpiled for a crazy week. But I can promise that, no matter what challenges we may face or where our journey may take us, I will always be there by your side. I vow to encourage and support you, no matter if you feel like you’re on top of the world or as if the weight of the world is on your shoulders. I vow to always listen to and acknowledge you, whether we agree or not. I vow to respect you and your dreams, your hopes, and even your fears, as they’re now becoming mine. Nick, words can’t describe how excited I am to love you through every stage of life, so I vow to show it every day. Because I’m yours and yours alone, baby, whether you like it or not.” She nudged him playfully. “I love you.”

[slywildenick-blog]

It’s Called A Wedding, Sweetheart

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

Nick hadn’t seen Jude for over twenty-four hours and even though they had been visiting her family and spending ‘quality time’ with the Hopps clan before the big day, it was difficult for Nick and Jude to even grab a few seconds alone. And then it was the whole ‘day before the wedding’ and Mrs. Hopps ensured the two were separated. So instead of having his favorite person beside him as he nervously stood at the alter in front of all her family and many of their friends, he waited, watching the aisle–refusing to blink for too long in case he’d miss his blonde beautiful bride appear. 

Nick felt as if it had been years he was standing out in the sun on the lawn of her parents farm. Cad, his best man, nudged him and Nick looked away for just a second to smile at his fellow guard. He owed a lot to both Jude and Cad for their friendship and support as Nick steadied himself in the job. If it wasn’t for that steadiness, then Nick felt as if he wouldn’t be standing, waiting for his bride and a heart swelling ready to see her and spend the rest of forever with her. 

And then the music started. He smiled as she began her walk.

The past twenty-four hours had dragged on for Jude. Although her mother worked diligently to keep her distracted from how much she missed Nick and the nervousness she began to feel, the blonde still couldn’t help but keep her eyes on the clock. So it can’t be hard to imagine how elated she was as her alarm clock went off the next morning, sending her springing out of bed and shouting, “Wake up, wake up! I’m getting married today!” down the hall into her sisters’ room. 

All the Hopps girls quickly gathered together in Jude’s room to begin their hours-long process of primping and priming for the big day. First came makeup, then hair, then the moment everybody had waited for with bated breath -- Jude being buttoned into her wedding gown. It was an off-the-shoulder, white lace number that fit her curves perfectly. As soon as the veil was placed beneath the bun her hair was gathered into, it seemed as though everything stopped and the reality of the moment settled in, bringing tears to everybody’s eyes -- including her own. 

“You ready, Jude dude?” Her father murmured softly from behind her, offering her his arm and her bouquet of sunflowers. “You look beautiful.”

Jude nodded, dabbing at her eyes quickly before assuming her position and following the rest of the crowd out and onto the porch. As the processional continued and each of her sisters lined up near her place at the alter, she only felt her excitement ramp up. And she couldn’t contain her smile or her tears as she and her father finally rounded the corner, revealing themselves to the guests and, most importantly, Nick. 

And maybe that’s why her walk down the aisle felt so slow, or why she just wanted to release her father’s arm and dart straight to her guy, her best friend, her soon-to-be husband. But their reunion was well worth the wait, especially once her father gave her away and placed her shaky hands in Nick’s, signaling the ceremony was to begin. 

[beauitful-paradise]

[itstartswith-me-blog]

Jude lingered in the hallway outside of the apartment she shared with Nick. The blonde had just returned home from her final shift from the Clubhouse -- for the foreseeable future, that is -- as she and her partner needed time to testify against the murderer they had caught during what was supposed to be a relaxing weekend away.

Since their return, she noticed a difference in Nick’s behavior; he was distant, cold, and inside his own head. Even with the wedding less than a month away, she couldn’t get him to say more than a few words to her. Which was why she was hesitating in the middle of the narrow, dingy hall, unsure if she genuinely wanted to step into whatever was brewing on the other side of the door..

With her lower lip wedged between her teeth, Jude drew in a deep breath and unlocked their door, slipping inside and flicking on the entryway light before calling out, “Babe? You home?”

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

“Hmm?” Nick turned towards the noise, having been a little less interested in what it was. “I’m assuming a stray cat or something of the sort.” Nick had continued walking towards the pub, his hand even reaching the door to open it when there was another crash of trashcans, but this time it was followed by a “Stop! Help!” Nick couldn’t deny it now and instantly took Jude by the hand to go and investigate.

“That didn’t sound like a stray cat --” Before Jude could finish her sentence, another crash and a cry for help cut through the air. The blonde quickly followed Nick back to the scene, stopping just short as a man in a dark coat darted out of the alley and away from them. “Call 911,” was all Jude said before releasing Nick’s hand and darting after the other man. In spite of her constricting dress and heels, the muscle memory Jude had acquired during her police training kicked in, allowing her to catch up with the suspect and tackle him to the ground. Straddling the man’s back, the blonde held his face down to the pavement with one hand and his arms behind his back with the other. “This is a citizen’s arrest. The police are on their way and will be the ones to read you your rights.”

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

“You say that now, but by the end of the night you’ll be begging.” Nick teased, intertwining their fingers after he made sure the door was locked. “Alright, I’m in food mode. Let’s get something good. I’m assuming you have literally everything planned out.”

“We’ll just see about that, won’t we?” Jude chuckled, giving his hand a squeeze as they made their way down the stairs, through the lobby, and out into the lamp-lit streets. Night had fallen since their arrival, causing Jude to glance at her watch nervously, just to make sure they weren’t late for their reservation. “Of course I have everything planned! First, we’ll eat dinner at this cute little pub whose burgers are raved about on Yelp. Then, we’ll go for a walk around the town square, maybe take some cute sappy selfies, then be on our way back to the hotel.” She beamed, leading him down the block and across the street.

Just as they approached the pub, Jude noticed a flicker of movement in her peripherals, followed by the clattering of metal trash cans in an alley they had just passed. Without hesitating, the girl slowed her stride, her brows furrowing as she turned to look behind them. “What was that?”

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

“Do we have to go to dinner?” Nick whined, standing to walk towards the girl. He wrapped his arms around her, starting to kiss her neck. “How fun and relaxing would it be just to stay in and let me do that thing you like.” Nick teased, running his hand down the tight dress. 

“It would be so much fun -- that is, until we’re immobilized from hunger pains and can’t even reach for our phones to call for takeout.” Jude smirked, almost succumbing to the power of his neck kisses before pulling away. The blonde grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the door, a little devilish glint in her eyes as they stepped out into the hallway. “Besides, I like making you wait.”

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

“God, my girl is smart.” Nick smirked, as he watched her head out. He finished changing as she was gone, and waited on the bed with a smile. “Any day now, Judith.” Nick kicked his feet onto a nearby stool. “I wanna see that favorite look.” 

“Nah, she just learned from the best.” Jude called from the other side of the bathroom door with a chuckle. The girl changed quickly, but then she noticed her lipstick needed a touch-up, then her mascara... It wasn’t until Nick called from the other side that she pulled herself away from the mirror, slipped on her shoes, and pulled the door open. Clad in the same red dress she’d worn the first night they went out for drinks together, Jude reemerged, giving him a little twirl before grinning. “Worth the wait?”

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

“My last unmarried birthday. Sounds like the rest of them are gonna be way cooler.” Nick smirked, “Wait, so I don’t get to lay in bed with you all day? Cause that’s what sounds like a fun birthday to me.” He whined, but kissed her one last time before standing and grabbing their bags to rummage through for an outfit. “I see you packed your favorite look on me.” He smiled, starting to change into what Jude always said looked the best on him.

“Duh, because you’ll be married to me. And if that doesn’t make you exponentially cooler, I don’t know what will.” Jude teased with a wink. “No, not yet! See, I’ve got this all planned out. We’ll go to the restaurant tonight, order entirely too much food, then bring all the leftovers back here so we’ll have enough sustenance to last us for two, maybe three days of laying around in bed.” She chuckled, rolling out of bed to pull the outfit she’d packed for the evening out of her suitcase. “Don’t worry, I also packed your favorite look on me.” Jude smirked, pecking him on the cheek before disappearing into the bathroom, just to build anticipation.

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

“I am so irrevocably in love with you.” Nick couldn’t help, but let out a giddy laugh as he made his way into Jude’s arms, landing them both on the bed. “How in the world did I get so lucky?” He asked, smoothing her hair to the side. “Thank you so much.”

Jude let out a little squeak as he pulled her down onto the bed, her nose scrunching up as she laughed softly. “Oh stop it. You had to have known I was going to put together something special for you. After all, it’s the first time I’ve ever gotten to celebrate your birthday with you. And it’s your last unmarried birthday.” She grinned, placing a hand over his and leaning in for a quick kiss. “Alright, get up and get changed! We’ve got dinner reservations at one this town’s two nice restaurants and we don’t want to be late.”

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

Nick couldn’t help, but give her a huge smile as he exited the car quickly. Nick opened the door for her and practically grabbed her from the car to swing her around with a kiss. “I love you and I love this and I’m so fucking excited to spend the next four days with you and that view and absolutely nothing else.” Nick smiled, kissing her once again before heading to the trunk to grab their suitcases, leaving one for Jude to carry because he knew she’d complain if he didn’t. 

Jude held on tightly to his shoulders as he swung her around, unable to stop herself from smiling against his lips. “I’m so happy to hear you say that. Mostly because I thought you’d totally mock me and call me a cheese ball for throwing this all together.” She laughed, slinging the remaining bag over her shoulder before shutting the trunk and following her guy inside. 

Once they were all checked in, Jude took the lead up the stairs, jingling their key excitedly as they approached their room. The blonde swung the door open, revealing a sweet little space that featured a big bed with a fluffy white comforter, a TV and, of course, their own coffee maker that was conveniently placed right beside their balcony door. Dropping her bag beside their bed, she spread her arms with a grin. “Happy Birthday, baby.”

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

It wasn’t too long of a drive, or perhaps that was just because Nick loved being alone with Jude (and maybe because he was driving one hell of a car). Nick tried not to pay too much attention to where they were going, rather he wanted to enjoy the drive and the company. When they finally arrived at their destination, Nick was truly surprised to see the beginnings of what Jude had planned.

Jude could hardly contain her excitement as they rolled to a stop in front of a quaint bed and breakfast, which was located in a town just over the New York/Connecticut border. As Nick parked the car, she turned to him and, with a grin, explained everything that laid ahead of them. “So, I know it doesn’t seem like there’s much to do around here... And that’s because there isn’t. With how crazy our lives have been lately -- and knowing how crazy everything is about to get -- I figured a weekend away from our phones and the hustle and bustle of the city would do us some good. Besides, you’re always talking about getting away... So I did some research and found that this place had the nicest room available -- one with a balcony for us to sit and drink our coffee on, just like what we talked about while I was still in recovery.. So I booked it.” Her smile turned a little sheepish. “I hope this isn’t too lame.”

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

“I think you mention it too much to be honest. I’m starting to think you have a thing for me.” Nick closed the door for her before climbing into the car and revving the engine. God, it sounded good. “Thanks again, baby. We need this.” He turned to her and smiled, leaving a hand on her thigh before turning out of the garage. “Tell me you brought that road trip CD I made. You know I love all those shitty songs.”

“I better tone it down then, huh? I’d hate for you to think I’d want to, like, marry you or something. Gross.” Jude smirked, eyeing him as he took the wheel. Admittedly, his display of confidence and excitement made her feel some type of way, but she wasn’t about to say that out loud. “Stop thanking me so soon. You don’t even know what we’re doing yet; I could be dragging you to a knitting club for all you know!” She chuckled, resting one hand on top of his as she turned on the stereo with the other. And, of course, the CD in question began to play. “And I packed your favorite snacks in case you’re hungry. I know you suck at eating lunch while you’re on the clock.”

[itstartswith-me-blog]

slywildenick:

“I’ll send you the PDF later tonight, so you can print it, frame it and hang it on your wall.” Nick walked straight to Jude and picked her up, kissing her deeply before setting her back down. “I knew you were up to something.” Nick had turned his attention to the Mustang at this point–a car he had always admired. “I love the red.” He opened the passenger seat for Jude. “You just tell me when to turn and I’ll get us wherever we’re going.”

“Have I mentioned lately that I love you?” Jude laughed, though her mini victory dance was cut short by Nick’s lips. The girl beamed as she tossed him the keys, a brow quirking at the mention of his suspicion. “Oh, please, you did not. I’m super sneaky, Wilde. Especially when it comes to birthday surprises.” She winked, climbing into the passenger seat and quickly buckling her seatbelt. Once Nick was situated, Jude pulled up her GPS, which was already pre-programmed with their super secret destination. “Make a left out of the garage, then just keep goin’ straight!”