As Nick pushed open the doors of Zootopia's 1st Precinct he was greeted by the sweet smell of freshly baked sweets. Gideon Grey was standing at the front desk, having just delivered what looked like five pies and a box of donuts. His eyes met Ben Clawhauser's, the precinct's desk sergeant, who was stuffing his face with pastries.

"O-M-Goodness, Nick! It's SO good to see you again! How was your weekend?"

"Just fine, Ben. Hey, thanks for asking. We should get together next weekend and go bar hopping in the Rainforest District. I hear those Amazonian chicks are something else." Of course, he didn't mean it, he had his eyes set on someone else, but the guys exchanged a chuckle, while Nick grabbed a donut on the way to his office, and gave Gideon a pat on the back. "Hey Gideon, how's business at the bakery? Last I heard the lines were out to the street!"

"Yeah, it's -"

Nick had reached his office. He cut off Gideon mid-sentence, managed to let out a half-hearted "Well, that's great!" and slammed the door behind him.

Ever since Gideon opened his new bakery in Zootopia, he's been at the precinct almost every day delivering his damn donuts. Nick was getting tired of seeing that fox's face every day, but he was especially tired of seeing him fawn over the girl he loved: Judy, who also happened to be his best detective. Well, enough was enough. He had finally decided that today would be the day he'd ask his old partner Judy Hopps out on a date. As he took the last bite of his donut he took out some of the latest files he had been working on and laid them out on his desk.

It had been seven years he had come onto the force, but walking into his office as the new Chief of Police always managed to throw him off. It was only a year ago that Chief Bogo retired, and made Nick P. Wilde his replacement. It was an honor of course, but a surprise nonetheless. Nick always managed to make a sly remark to Bogo during their daily briefings, but he solved each and every case with ease (with help from his trusty partner, of course). The old life of conning people out of their money and trickery he left behind made for a pretty good cop, but Bogo and Nick both knew there was only one more animal more qualified for the job. That animal was Judy.

Chief Bogo had actually offered the promotion to Judy first, knowing how great of a detective she was, she'd also make a great leader at the ZPD. Although humbled to know that Chief Bogo was offering her his job, she knew she couldn't take it. She loved being out on the streets of ZPD fighting crime daily. Interacting with the citizens of Zootopia, and actually seeing first-hand how much she helps people…there was no better feeling in the world than that. There was a lot of administrative work that came with being Captain, rules to follow, and higher ups at the mayor's office that needed…well, a lot of kissing up to. Chief Bogo was disappointed, not shocked when she didn't take him up on the offer.

"Well, I can't say I don't understand. You've always had a hands on spirit about you," Chief Bogo told her. He had grown to care for Judy, almost like he was looking at a reflection of his younger self, after working side by side for six years.

Judy smiled. "Thank you for the offer, sir. But you know me, I've always wanted to be a cop, and I need to be out there…" Judy struggled to find the right words. "I guess, what I'm trying to say is, I enjoy being out there. I get a rush from catching bad guys!" After exchanging more pleasantries between the two, Judy gave Chief Bogo one last salute, and started to head for the door, but not before she got in one last word.

She turned around, one hand on the door knob. "Sir?" Chief Bogo peered his eyes up from the mountain of paperwork on his desk to acknowledge her. "Maybe it's not my place to say this, but I think Nick deserves that promotion. He'd be good at it, and he's much more of a leader than I am." She knew that if Bogo ever took her up on her recommendation that she wouldn't have Nick anymore for a partner, but it meant a better future for Nick, and that was enough for her.

Nick smiled at the thought of Judy, who was probably going to walk into his office any second now. Even though he was her boss now, their long-time friendship took precedent over their work relationship. They still treated each other like the old pals they always have been. And always will be, Nick sighed as he let that thought slide into his mind. He quickly shook it off. No, this is no time to be negative. Forget work today, it's mostly traffic tickets and domestic disturbances we're responding to anyway these days. There are plenty of officers who can handle that! I have one thing to do today: ask Judy Hopps out on a date.

As he was getting all of his documents in order, and just about to sit down in his chair, Judy Hopps flew into his office with a bunch of paperwork in hand. "Hey, Nick! Boy, do I have so much to tell you!" Judy spoke a mile a minute as she dropped all her paperwork on his desk, and started to move her arms in the air, describing an intricate story. "Remember that string of robberies case you assigned me to last week? Well, of course, you do, I mean it was only last week! I have a new lead, and I'm going to meet with him today. He thinks he might have some information on the getaway car the heist thief used. WOW, is it just me or is it really hot in here? I think it's really hot in here. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention. I tried an espresso for the first time today! It was amazing, I can't believe I've ever lived without one!"

Judy fell back in her seat, across from Nick's desk, trying to catch her breath and fanning herself with her paw. She had so much energy she thought she was going to burst. All of a sudden Judy felt self-conscious as she watched Nick's blank expression turn into a devilish smile. God, he was handsome, she thought. All this time she had been talking, Nick was half seated with his arms the only thing holding him up from his desk chair.

"Wow, Carrots, if you didn't just tell me, I would have thought you were running on a full eight hours of sleep, not caffeine." Nick chuckled as he settled into his chair, but suddenly his expression darkened. "But seriously, Carrots you're getting rest, aren't you?"

"Of course I am, Nick! It's just that this case has been driving me crazy…It's been our first huge case since the Night Howler's, and well I just don't want anybody to get hurt on my watch." Judy leaned forward, her elbows on the desk, and her head resting on her paws. She suddenly felt tired, as if admitting she was stressed finally made her crack. She tried to suppress a yawn, but it came out anyway.

Without thinking, Nick reached across his desk for one of her paws and held it in his. He smiled at Judy, his eyelids a bit droopy, catching Judy by surprise. Her mouth slightly agape at Nick's sudden gesture, a rush of heat flooded to her cheeks, the corners of her mouth began to turn upwards. Nick looked down at their paws and slowly took his away, afraid that he might have overstepped his boundaries.

"Well…uhm" Nick cleared his throat as he wracked his brain for something to say, and shifted his gaze from Judy to a fleck of dust on his desk. Just as he was about to bring up the date, Judy stood up from her chair, announced she had to go back to work, but not before thanking her Chief for the kind words of support. Nick, knowing he missed his opportunity, gave her a nod.

"Of course, Carrots. Anything for you."

Come on, Nick! You can do it. Just ask.

Just as Judy was about to leave, one hand on the door knob, Nick found his confidence once again.

"Hey, Judy? Before you go, I have one last thing to ask you."

Officer Hopps turned to face her boss again, now making his way across the room to her. Judy started to feel her heart pound in her ears. Keep it together, Judy. Sweet cheese and crackers do I still get the butterflies around him or what.

"Yes, Nick?"

When he was within a few inches of her, Nick, his mouth agape, stuttered and managed to get out these last few words.

"Will you, um…will you get me another donut from the front desk?"

Smooth, Nick. Real smooth.