Removal

                                    

                                          
"So. Just let me get this straight. Our daughter almost got kidnapped because you weren't paying attention while watching her?" Judy asked with a stern look as she glared at Nick as he sat on the couch. 
"Uh.....yes. Yeah....that's exactly what happened." Nick murmured quietly, his collar turning yellow from his emotions.
Judy raised her paw to slap the life out of Nick but stopped when she saw his collar. Her ears flattened and she sighed. 
"Well I can't say I'm not glad you got her back the way you did." She said with a forced smile. 
"I know it's hard for you with the collar...." She frowned as she walked into their room. 
Nick didn't reply, he knew she always pitied him because of his collar. And he hated it. But it was also a good thing. 
                          
Days went by, and Judy wasn't allowing the children to go back to the park with Nick. And she had taught them a thing or two about talking to strangers.
                          
The children were paw painting in the living room of the apartment, and Nick and Judy were in their room. Nick was laying down on the bed on his back as he held his neck. Just recently getting shocked from getting too excited over new rides that he was explaining to Judy and that he was going to place in the park. 
Judy had lied and said she was looking for an aspirin in their drawers. But all the medicine they own was in the kitchen.
"Hey, Jude.....make it quick...." Nick whined as he held his neck. Nick hated getting shocked. Although it was the same feeling every time. It seemed as though each time he did get shocked, it got stronger. And stronger. 
"I'm looking, sweetheart." Judy lied as she reloaded her removal gun inside of their drawer.
Nick wasn't facing her, he was facing the wall as he was curled up into a ball. Clearly shaken from all his shocks. 
Once the gun was loaded, Judy took a step towards the bed and smiled softly. She climbed up onto the bed. 
"Nicholas...." Judy said softly as she turned him to look at her.
Nick frowned, not seeing the gun. Or any aspirin. 
"Judy—" Nick got cut off by Judy pulling him into a passionate kiss. 
Once the kiss was over, before Nick could say anything. She held the gun to his neck and removed the collar. 
Judy never brought her gun home. Mainly because she wasn't allowed to. But she brought it home now to try and help Nick, also the children. 
                          
Nicks eyes widened before he smiled warmly. This wasn't the first time he'd gotten his collar off, but it was the first time at home.
He cleared his throat before speaking. "T-thanks, Jude...." He smiled. 
Judy smiled softly and held his collar in her paw.
The fact that it was warm killed her on the inside. She took a deep breath before getting off the bed. She placed his collar on the nightstand, then stepped out into the hallway.
She held the gun behind her back as she approached her children.
"Momma's got a—WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU TWO DOING?!" Judy shouted as she saw her children weren't paw painting, but instead pouring paint on each other, also all along the floor. 
"We paint!" Bruno giggled happily. 
Judy sighed in annoyance as she walked over to both of them. "Well you'll need a bath.....and you'll need to get the paint out from under your collar anyway." She murmured as she held the gun our towards them. 
Both children's eyes widened and they began to push each other to try and be first to get their collar off once again. 
Bruno managed to go first this time, then Harper.
Once they're collars were off, they both have Judy big hugs. Causing Judy's lower half of her body to get covered in paint. Judy grumbled as her children pulled away from her and continued to paint. 
She sighed and held onto their collars tightly before walking back to her room, placing their collar by their fathers. 
                          
Nick was now sitting up on the bed. And his eyes widened when he saw his babies collars. He felt as if he wanted to throw up. 
"Judy.....can I....tell you something.....?" He asked hesitantly. 
Judy nodded and placed the removal gun down on the nightstand before climbing onto the bed and sitting down next to her husband.
"Anything." She said. 
Nick took a deep breath before speaking, and he ran his paw over his neck. 
"Judith.....I....I know that deep down.....I'm not your dream guy...you deserve somebody better.....a-and I know...that when the kids got their collars....you were upset...and so was I....b-bu-but I know that if you married prey that wouldn't of been the case and uh....." Nicks eyes got flooded with hot tears as he held himself from crying.
Before Judy could speak, he continued. 
"I know that.....uh...your parents don't like..me...very much. But I know they have to live with it now....b-but.....I-I never properly thanked you for not arresting me because of Wild Times and-and....." Nick couldn't finish, he had started crying so hard, he became inaudible. 
Judy's ears flattened, and she felt her chest fall and rise with her own emotions. She scooted closer to her husband and placed her paw on his shoulder gently. 
"Nicholas.....you're everything I could ever ask for in a husband. You're strong. Caring. And you're not afraid to be afraid. And that's okay....I know I would've never of imagined myself marrying a predator years ago but I was foolish then. I couldn't of imagined marrying anybody else. We've been through so much. And nothing could ever change the way I feel about you. I know sometimes we argue and get angry and fight but that's the best part about marriage. Because our bond is so strong that nothing, not even fighting, can change the way I'll feel about you. The way I'll always feel about you...." Judy said quietly as she leaned upwards and kissed Nicks cheek softly.
Nicks breath staggered and he placed one of his paws on his neck. He shut his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. 
"I....I know...." He said, whines escaping his mouth quietly as he took deep breaths. 
"So why are you so......never mind." Judy's frown widened before she held her own paws tightly. 
"So what?" Nick asked, once he caught his breath. 
"So....childish....all of a sudden.....I mean....I keep asking you if you'd wanna go on a date and you blow it off like I didn't even ask you. And Finnick told me at the park you haven't been taking things seriously." Judy regretted every word once she spoke.
"C-childish? Judith. You think I'm childish?" Nick asked, his eyes widening. 
Judy's ears perked up. 
"No! No! I just mean.....you're just acting really weird." Judy rubbed the side of her arm. 
"Me? Acting weird." Nick quickly wiped his eyes. He scooted to the front of the bed and grabbed his collar. He took a deep breath before slapping it on. 
"I'm gonna go take a walk–" 
"Nicholas, wait–" 
"Can I be alone. Please. Judith?" Nick asked as he turned back towards his wife.
"Nicholas I don't–" 
"I want to be alone. Or am I too childish to be alone?" He crossed his arms as he glared back at his wife. 
Judy's ears flattened but she nodded softly. 
                          
"Alright, sweetheart.....you can be alone...." She said quietly as she looked off to the side. Here they go again. Another fight. Like everyday.