Judy and Nick disembarked From the Zootopia train. Both of Judy's parents were waiting excitedly to see her daughter, and meet her fox partner.
"Judy!" Stu called out, waving excitedly.
"Mom! Dad!" Judy dropped her bags and dashed to her beloved parents.
"Judy!" They called in unison, warmingly embracing their daughter.
"It is so good to see you both again!"
"Yes, and Judy we just wanted to say we are so proud of you!" Bonnie smiled, holding her daughter's paws.
"And, Jude, we are so proud that you really did become such a great cop!"
"We've never been so happy to be wrong in our lives!"
"Nope, never." Stu smiled, hands on his overall straps.
"I'm guessing there are your parents?" Nick asked with a smile.
"Oh! Yeah, yes" Judy cleared her throat. "Mom, dad, this is Nicholas Wilde. And, Nick, these are my parents, Bonnie and Stu."
"I've heard much about you both." Nick smiled, shaking each parent's paw in turn.
"All positive, I hope." Stu chuckled. "So you're the reason Jude here trusts foxes so much?"
Nick chuckled. "No, she trusted foxes from the beginning. More than I ever had."
"Well, that's our Judy, huh?" Bonnie smiled.
A storm crackled overhead.
"Oh boy we best be getting inside." Stu said, ears down.
The four got into the Hopps family vehicle and headed to their warren.
Stu and Bonnie lead Nick and Judy through the front door.
"This is where Judy grew up, Nick." Bonnie said.
"Yeah Jude spent quite a lot of time playing officer here."
"Dad…" Judy muttered in anger.
Nick chuckled. "I'd expect nothing less from Carrots here." He smiled, roughing up the fur on her head.
"Carrots?" Stew spoke with anger in his voice. "That's a little rude to call a bunny."
"On, no no no no." Judy reassured him. "It's Just a nickname, that's all."
"Well sure, but we wouldn't call him killer!" He shouted.
Bonnie gasped. "Stu!"
"Dad!" Judy looked at Nick, who was trying to hide his embarrassment. "Really, dad it's just a harmless nickname he gave me when we first met, it's always said with love."
Stu sighed. "Okay." He turned to the fox. "I'm sorry Nick."
Nick smiled. "No harm done, Mr. Hobbs."
"Stu."
Nick smiled. "Stu."
…
The storm outside raged as the two parents prepared food for 200 some odd rabbits, the number always growing.
"Mom, dad?" Judy asked as she approached them.
"Yes, honey?" Bonnie smiled, looking up from her cutting.
"Is it okay if we go out for food?"
Nick's ears perked up. Judy never mentioned anything to him.
"Well, sure you can judy. Don't like our cooking anymore?" Stu chuckled.
"Oh, no that's not it." Judy shook her head. "I just wanted to see how Gideon's business is going."
"That's a wonderful idea judy!" Bonnie smiled.
"Yeah, kid's become a great asset to us. Made our crops quite well known."
"Thank you." Judy smiled. "Come on, Nick." She beckoned, grabbing one of the umbrellas by the door. Nick followed, grabbing one of his own.
"The nighthowler Gideon?" Nick asked, opening his umbrella.
"Yep. Same guy."
"Gonna be good to meet the fox that helped you solve the case."
Judy snickered. "Everyone knows that fox is you."
"Well, now they do." Nick teased.
Judy giggled and shook her head.
"It isn't too far, right?" Nick shook the water off his tail.
"Don't worry we're close."
"Which building is it?"
"The bright pink one over there."
Nick smiled. "That's a whole lotta pink."
Judy chuckled. "Yeah, I guess he really likes it."
The bell rung as the two mamalas stepped inside.
"How may I help you?" A young sheep working behind the counter displays asked.
"Hi! We're here to see Gideon." Judy smiled.
"May I know who is asking?" The sheep smiled.
"Judy Hopps, an old friend."
"Oh wait you're the police officer, right?"
Judy smiled and nodded.
"He is going to be so excited to see you!" The sheep smiled.
Judy was a bit taken back. "Oh! Good!" She smiled.
The sheep went to the back, calling for Gideon.
A big chubby fox in an apron walked out. "Judy?"
"Gideon!" She smiled as the fox walked around the counter.
"Judy, I am so happy you're here to visit me. You know, Judy I'm glad you're not angry with me anymore I.."
"Gideon, really, it's okay." Judy cut him off, grabbing his paw.
Gideon smiled with a sigh of relief. "And this is officer wilde, right?" He smiled at the fox, extending a paw. "Gideon Grey, Judy's old.." He trailed off, unsure what to say.
"Friend." Judy smiled.
"Friend." Gideon repeated, beaming with joy. "Why don't yall take a seat, I'll bring you whatever you want."
"How about carrot cake a blueberry pie?" Nick asked, looking at Judy for approval.
Judy nodded. "Sounds delicious."
Gideon smiled as he walked behind the counter.
Judy and Nick picked a table near the window.
"He seems nice." Nick smiled.
"Yeah he really is." Judy smiled.
"How did he know my name?"
Judy paused in thought. "I, I have no idea."
The tall fox returned with the baked goods stuff in hand. He took his seat and placed them on the table. "I really do hope ya'll like 'em." He smiled, passing around forks and plates.
"So," Nick began, while cutting himself some pie, "How did you know my name?"
Gideon was taken back by the question. "Oh, I, um, I guess that might seem weird, but I got ZNN added to my TV subscription so I can see how my big city cop buddy was doin'." He smiled at Judy. "Ya'l really are on that network a lot, ya know. Always Together too. It made me very happy that Judy here was able to trust foxes that much."
"Well, of course Gideon." Judy smiled. "I have no reason not to." He put her paw on top of his.
Gideon smiled.
"This pie is amazing!" Nick said as he took another slice.
"It is? I really am glad ya'll like it." Gideon said, taking a slice for himself.
"You're really good at what you do, Gideon." Judy smiled, eating some carrot cake.
Gideon smiled. "Then I am very happy."
"Gideon!" The counter-running sheep called.
"Yeah?" Gideon called back.
"The Freddy caught another fire back here!"
"Oh no! Not again!" He turned to the rabbit and fox. "I gotta go, Freddy is, a troublemaker." he got up from his seat and dashed to the kitchen.
Nick laughed. "Hey carrots wanna leave before the whole place catches fire?"
Judy laughed. "No, no i'm sure he'll be.."
She was cut off by a screaming weasel, fur obviously burned.
"I wonder if that was Freddy." Nick smiled.
No one in the restaurant seemed phased, not that it was crowded.
"Maybe this is more usual than we think." He laughed.
"Nick, be nice!" Judy chuckled. "I'm sure this doesn't happen too much."
"Mommy?" A small pig whispered. "Are that bunny and that fox dating?
Nick and Judy both looked over towards them
"Oh, I'm sorry." The moma pig said to the duo.
"Oh well, we aren't dating." Nick smiled. "This bunny is too good for me." He joked.
"But if we were, that would be okay." Judy smiled.
"Anyone can be anything." The momma pig smiled at her little piglet.
Gideon walked towards them awkwardly.
"Is there an issue, Mr. Grey?" Nick joked, poking fun at his awkwardness.
Gideon was pulled from some sorta fantasy world. "Oh, what? N-no, I just.." His gaze met Judy's. "I just didn't know you were open to dating a fox.." He trailed off. Gideon cleared his throat. "Ya'll need anything else?" He clasped his paws behind his back.
"A to-go box would be nice." Nick smiled.
"Oh, um, yes, right away." Gideon spoke as he walked quickly back to counter.
"I think someone has a crush on you carrots…" Nick teased.
Judy still sat, dumbfounded.
"Carrots? Rabbit? Judy?" Nick said trying to get her attention. "Hello?" He waved his paw in front of her face.
"Huh? Oh, I'm, I'm fine." She said.
"Uh, here-here ya go," Gideon said putting a couple boxes down. "I-I guess I'll, go.." He scuttled to the back.
Nick laughed. "Man that was awkward, huh cottontail?"
"Yeah.." Judy said, half invested in whatever Nick was saying.