Disclaimer: I do not own Zootopia or any of its characters, they all belong to Disney.
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope everyone has a good day with friends and family.
A Christmas Romance
Tomorrow was a special day and not just because it was Christmas, but it was also the day he was going to confess his true feelings to his bunny. As he drove his thoughts drifted back over the previous year. First, he'd hustled her out of twenty bucks and then she'd hustled him into helping her find Emmitt Otterton. At first he was angry, but began to admire her as she found clever ways to keep stringing him along. After they'd found all the missing mammals, he'd gotten angry with her at the new conference, and then she quit the ZPD and went home. Those months without her were the most miserable of his life and he even thought of going to BunnyBurrow to find her each and every one of those miserable days.
Then she came back and found him! First, he had to have a little fun with her and acted like he didn't care. When he heard his bunny crying his heart melted. Then she was in his arms! He wanted to tell her right there, but he just didn't have the words. Then they back on the case again. Who would have thought that Dawn Bellwether of all animals was the mastermind behind the savage animal attacks? Judy had been so clever to suggest replacing the Nighthowler extract with blueberries. He was careful, but when the bunny screamed and hung limp in his jaws for a moment he'd thought he'd actually killed her! In that moment it felt like his heart had actually stopped. Then she said that goofy line from her childhood play and he felt relief flood though him. She was really was milking it, but what the hell his clever bunny had solved the case with his help of course. He smiled.
Then she helped get him into the police academy and those were the hardest three months of his life! But when she pinned on his badge he wanted hug her and dance a jig around the stage. He had to laugh – that would have been quite a sight! Then his first day on patrol he just said it without thinking.
"You know you love me," he said and smiled.
"Do I know that?" she said and looked up. Then she looked at him with her beautiful purple eyes and that moment felt like it stretched on to infinity. "Yes." Outwardly he only smiled again, but he wanted take her gently into his arms and kiss her. Then she leaned a bit closer and he almost did! "Yes, I do."
The light changed and they started to roll toward the intersection. Then Flash almost hit their cruiser and the moment was lost. But tomorrow would be different!
He parked his car and let his head rest on the steering wheel for a moment. Then took a deep breath, grabbed the keys, opened the door, and stepped out. He looked at the apartment building and saw the sign - Grande Pangolin Arms. He shook his head and thought – this place really was a dump! Five minutes and one elevator ride later he stood before her door and raised his hand. Then he dropped it and took another deep breath. He knocked and a few seconds later his bunny opened the door.
She took his breath away. His bunny was dressed up for Christmas with a white fur trimmed red dress, cape, and to top it off a cap that hung down with a white fluffy ball at its end. He smiled.
"Fluff, you look," he began and knew her couldn't use the 'c' word. She gave him the eye, "beautiful."
His bunny smiled.
"Thank you, Nick and Merry Christmas."
"Thank you Fluff and a Merry Christmas to you too," he said and took her bag. "We'd better hurry or we'll be late."
He opened car door for her and put her bag with his in the trunk. He looked at his watch just as he pulled into long term parking and they'd made it to the train station with forty minutes to spare. The last train to BunnyBurrow left at 10:05pm and would arrive at 1:10am on Christmas Day. They walked to the station and stopped at Snarlbucks. They both ordered hot chocolate and then leisurely walked to the train and found a seat on the observation car.
"I'm glad your parents invited me and my mom for Christmas."
"Too bad we had to work so late on Christmas Eve."
"Catherine, took 8am train and she called me when she got to your parents burrow," he said and smiled. "She really wanted to help your mother with Christmas. When my mother gets it in her head to do something there's no stopping her."
They both laughed.
"I glad we took the train," his bunny said and smiled. "It brings back so many memories."
"Good ones I hope," he said and patted her hand.
"I remember after graduating from the academy and coming to Zootopia for the first time."
He watched her smile and then her whole face lit up. God, she was beautiful, he thought. He smiled and felt his heart warm. Right then he wanted to tell her that he loved her, but the car was just starting to fill up. Then she took out a book and he laid back and closed his eyes. The train bumped and he awoke and noticed they'd dimmed the lights. He stretched and then looked at his watch: 12:56.
"We're almost there," his bunny said and lower her voice. "You were moaning in your sleep. Were you dreaming of some hot vixen?"
He felt his face flush and his bunny giggled. Then he smiled and looked into those beautiful purple eyes.
"Who knows," he began moving a bit closer and feeling his bunny's breathe on his face, "who I might have been dreaming about."
He watched his bunny's ears come up and then turn pink. He chuckled and she looked away and laughed nervously.
"Hey Nick! Let's go up to the observation bubble."
"OK."
They looked into the dark seeing only few lights of distant burrows. Then they sat on the floor and looked up at the stars. He looked into her eyes and saw the starlight reflected there. He smiled.
"You see that blue one?" she said pointing. "It's only four lightyears away and the closest star to ours."
He looked at the star and then cocked his head and looked at his bunny appraisingly.
"So," he said stretching out the word.
She giggled.
"Well when I was a kit I like to go out at night," she began smiling at the memory, "and look at the stars. Since BunnyBurrow is mostly underground there's very little light pollution and I could see a million stars. I guess my parents noticed and they got me a telescope for my next birthday. So from then on after I'd finished my homework I was outside studying the planets and stars. I even took all the astronomy courses in college!"
"And you became a police officer anyway."
Judy laughed.
"My major was in Criminal Justice Administration with a minor psychology and astronomy."
He looked back at the stars.
"Fluff, you think there's anyone up there?" he asked vaguely waving his arm across the sky.
His bunny looked up and smiled.
"Yes."
Then they felt the train begin to slow.
As they stepped onto the platform Judy's phone rang and she answered it.
"Hi Jill. Oh OK. See you in a bit. Merry Christmas."
"Let me guess she's going to be late."
"She fell asleep and won't be here for around thirty minutes or so," she said and sighed. "I hope the coffee shop's still open."
Fortunately it was and he was glad they didn't have to wait in the snow. He sat and watched his bunny drink hot chocolate. She had a chocolate mustache and he had to chuckle. He looked at him and smiled.
"What?"
He reached over, touched her lip, and held up his chocolate stained finger. Then he licked it clean. His bunny blushed and quickly wiped her mouth. He chuckled again.
"Maybe next time I'll just use my tongue," he said in a low voice. "Would you like that?"
Her blush only deepened and she took another sip. He took another sip too and his bunny looked at him over the rim of her cup as if she were appraising him. He smiled at her and licked his lips. She took another sip and then looked down at her cup. Her ears turn just a bit pinker. They didn't say anything for a while and he started to think he might have upset her. Then he noticed one corner of her mouth turn up as she unsuccessfully tried to hide it behind her cup. He smiled too.
"Judy!"
He turned to see another Rabbit that could almost her twin standing at the door. His bunny turned and smiled. Then she moved over and patted the seat next to her. This other Rabbit, Jill he assumed, sat and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Jill, this is my friend and partner Nick."
"Nice to meet you," he said extending a hand. She took it and he looked at his bunny. "Judy, are all Hopps does beautiful?"
She looked up as if to ponder the question and then smiled.
"Yes."
They all laughed and he looked at Jill.
"That's one thing I like about Judy – her modesty."
Jill drove slowly trying her best not drive off the road and after an hour they made it to the burrow. They grabbed their bags and followed Jill as she ran to the front door and opened it.
"I never seen it snow like that," he said.
"BunnyBorrow is at a higher elevation than Zootopia," Jill said. "We always get more snow and colder weather in the winter. You want something to warm you up?"
They both nodded. They went to the kitchen and Jill poured three mugs of coffee. They sipped them as they walked to the elevator and got in. It stopped at the second level down and Jill led them to Judy's old room. Judy looked at her sister.
"Well it being Christmas and all we're out of spare rooms," she said and looked at him. "Catherine took the last one."
He heard Judy rapidly tapping on the floor. Nick looked around the room and smiled.
"I can just sleep on that couch," he said and glanced at his bunny. "We'll be OK. Thanks Jill and we'll see you in the morning."
He heard the door close and felt his bunny's eyes on his back.
"Nick!" she said and he turned and regarded his bunny. "We can't …"
"Don't trust yourself?" he asked and she growled. "Ok, I'm sorry. I go find somewhere else to sleep."
She rolled her eyes and sighed.
"I'll get you a blanket," she said and started toward a closet.
He stepped in front of her and dropped to his knees.
"Judy, if this really makes uncomfortable," he said and reached toward her and then pulled his hand back, "I'll leave."
"No, you won't," she said and stepped around him.
"I'm sorry Judy."
She turned and looked at him.
"I'm not mad at you!" she said and sighed again. "It's just …"
She turned and returned with the blankets.
He awoke and stretched. Then he heard soft snoring and looked toward her bed. He smiled and went to the bathroom. After showering and brushing out his fur he came out and his bunny was still asleep. He was a bit hungry and then he looked at her bed and grinned.
"Judy, time to wake up."
She rolled over and smiled.
"Judy."
"Nick."
"Wake up, sleepy head."
She yawned and then purple eyes met green ones.
"Nick!"
He lifted a tray and set it in front of her.
"Breakfast in bed," he said and smiled. "We have some lettuce, 3 pancakes with butter and maple syrup, and milk."
She giggled.
"Thanks Nick."
"And for me four pancakes with butter and maple syrup, fried chicken eggs, and milk. Catherine's been busy in the kitchen."
Then she looked at the clock and back at him.
"We still have time, but you still have to take a shower. I'll even brush out your fur."
She looked at him and he gave her a wink as he took the first bite of egg.
They walked into the great hall, stopped, and looked at the Christmas tree. It was beautiful with all the presents piled under it. Then they looked at crowd as others came in behind them. To Nick it looked like half the Rabbits in BunnyBurrow were here. He smiled and then spotted his mother. At least a hundred kits surrounded her as she told them a story. He looked at his bunny and they found a spot near the tree. After a few minutes Stu stood and raised a hand. Everyone quieted.
"Bonnie and I want to thank everyone for coming," he said and looked over the room. "I hope you all enjoyed breakfast." Laughter ran though the crowd. "And we want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas."
Stu picked up a present and called the first name. A hand came up and the present was passed back. Then Bonnie called the next one. This went on for ten minutes until Judy got her first present and opened it.
"Thanks mom," she said and held the sweater up in front of herself.
Over time his bunny received several more presents from her parents and siblings. Then his name was called. He read the label and looked to his mother. She smiled and he mouthed a thank you. A few minutes later her name was called and Catherine looked at her son and smiled. Later his name was called again. The box was large and looked at the label. He smiled at his bunny and opened it. He tried the coat on and it fit perfectly.
"Thanks Judy," he said and hugged her.
"You're welcome."
When they released each other everyone was looking at them. He smiled and she blushed. Half an hour later the last present was given out and she looked at him. He smiled and reached into his pocket.
"I must've forgotten to put this under the tree," he said and held out a small box.
He opened it and then took the ring and put it on her finger.
"Judy."
"Nick."
"I love you," they said simultaneously.
Her ears came up and she smiled. Then he put a hand on her back and pulled his bunny close. Then his lips touched hers and her arms went around him. He felt his bunny tense for just a moment and then she returned his kiss. When had to breathe the kiss ended and the room was very quiet.
"Judy, would you marry me."
"Yes."