One years since the night howler case and Nick had become Judy's partner. In that year several things had changed. Nick was not as cynical as he used to be. He blamed that on Judy and the upbeat attitude she always seemed to have. And Judy was not as naïve as she once was. Accepting that the world was darker than she had originally thought.

But in that year our favorite duo discovered something else. A connection that neither had expected. Judy wasn't sure when Nick has first felt it but for her the moment was as clear as a mountain stream.

"You know you love me."

"Do I know that? Yes, yes I do." As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt something grip her heart. Over the next year the two grew closer to one another till they could no longer deny it. They were in love.

Living in the city afforded them the opportunity of meetings Nick's mother easily enough. The kind vixen welcoming Judy with open arms. When asked if she found their relationship strange, Marian Wilde burst into a fit of giggles before replying.

"Of course it's strange." She said in a light tone. "But so is the polar bear and muskox couple down the street."

The rest of the night went happily for the new couple. Nick's mother absolutely adoring Judy. Ever thankful for the bunny who managed to turn her son's life around.

When it came time to meet Judy's parents, the two were a bit more nervous. Nick had already known how his mother felt about Judy. Having told her all about what happened and how they worked together. Even though the two had started working with Gideon, she was still worried about how they would react to the news.

Talking to them over muzzletime, Judy told them she was in a relationship with her fox partner. Nick had been in the room out of sight just incase. Judy had expected a sudden burst of worry or even anger. That's why, when they just stared blankly at the screen for several moments, she began to think they both may have had a simultaneous stroke.

She gave Nick a nervous glance before speaking again. "Mom, Dad?" Judy's mother spoke first.

"Is Nick there with you hun?"

Judy glanced at Nick again. He must have heard because he was starting to walk towards her.

"Yeah, he's here. Do you want to talk to him." A smile started to form on Judy's short muzzle. Hopeful that her parents would be accepting of her boyfriend. She didn't expect what came next.

"No dear." Her mother replied. Judy's heart sank to her stomach. Her ears and smile dropping in the same instants. Nick stopping midstride. "We want to meet him. Find out what kind of mammal he is." Her mother added. Stu hadn't moved since Judy made the announcement.

Judy's eyes were wide in surprise. "Oh, ok. Um when do you guys think you could come over?"

"No you'll need to bring him here dear. We'll want the whole family to meet him."

Judy's eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets at this point. Glancing at Nick again she could tell he wasn't fairing much better. "I don't know if…"

"Oh don't worry bun bun, I'm sure next weekend will be the perfect time to visit. Most of your siblings will be home as well as a few of your aunts and uncles."

She was right, both her and Nick were off for a three day weekend. The first they would have together. They had made other plans to spend the time together and grow their relationship. Now it looks like they'll be spending time with her family.

"Ok, we'll be there."

The next week of work had gone by surprisingly fast. That Friday, before their shift ended, they were sent to a call from a residential area. Two adult male red foxes were having a shouting match while their wives were trying to get them to stop.

After getting everyone to calm down and go back to their respective apartments, the duo made their way from one to the next. Asking questions about what happened and how things had escalated. Having straightened everything out, the two made their way back to the precinct to clock out and go home.

Back at Nick's apartment, the couple were sitting on the couch watching a movie. Judy sat pulled into Nick's side with his tail in her lap. Gently brushing the fluffy appendage with her blunt claws when she noticed something. His tail had a dark tip. The foxes they had worked with earlier all had white tips. Nick's mother's tail also had a white tip.

"Hey Nick."

"Yeah?"

"Why is your tail so dark?"

"Why is my…do what now?" Nick looked over at his bunny sitting next to him. She was currently holding his tail up in front of her examining the tip with a curious eye.

"Why is the tip of your tail dark? Every red fox I can remember seeing since I moved to the city has a white tipped tail. So, does your mom. So, how do you have a dark tipped tail?" She pointed the tip of said tail towards him to finish her question.

"Oh that," he started turning back to watch the tv as he continued talking, "mom said I get it from dad's side of the family. Pretty rare actually."

"Huh, that's interesting." Judy being Judy, was still curious. Especially after finding out her fox had such a rare trait. Then she remembered another fox she knew. One who also had a black tip tail. She pulled out her phone and brought up muzzlebook. Searching through her friend list till she came up with who she was looking for.

Gideon Grey. Her childhood bully turned friend. "How rare is it exactly?" She asked after a few moments. She had found a picture of Gideon and noticed his tail wasn't black but auburn in color. As well as a childhood photo showing it had a white tip. Did they change colors?

"Hmm? Oh, uh. Depends on the type." Nick said as he leaned his head back. Now staring at the ceiling, Nick scratched the top of his head as he tried to remember what he was taught about red fox color patterns. "Let's see. If I remember correctly, there are three types of red fox tail colorations. White, auburn and black. White I think makes up about 75 percent of the population, 20 percent are auburn, which start out white then change colors, and only 5 percent are black."

"So that makes my fluffy pillow extra special." Judy pulled Nick's tail into a hug. Running her fingers through the thick fur that made it so pleasant to hold.

Nick looked down and saw Judy hugging and grooming his tail with her fingers like it was made of gold. After a short chuckle he added, "I guess you could say that." He said somewhat dejectedly.

"Why do you say that?" Having caught his tone.

Nick let out a sigh as he sat up a little bit straighter. He was about to tell Judy something she wouldn't like and it would most like cause an emotional outburst. "Well, you know foxes aren't exactly the most looked up to species. And since we're pretty much isolationist, that only makes it appear worse. So, something that makes you stand out from other foxes is kind of frowned upon."

He watched as her ears slowly drooped behind her head. That curious glint in her eyes turning to one of sadness. A look that he had started to associate with nearly everything he ever had and would tell her about his past. This turning into one of those times.

"Frowned upon how?" She asked softly. Knowing she would probably hate the answer.

Nick stayed quiet for a moment to gather his thoughts on how he wanted to give Judy this bit of information. He knew her heart would break for him and if he could somehow keep that from happening he would. Finally, he brought himself to look into her purple irises and share a part of himself.

"Do you remember the first conversation we had about meeting each other's family?" Judy nodded in response. "Alright, you remember I told you that family is the most important thing to a fox?" She nodded again.

"Well let's just say that there are very few vixens out there that would consider taking a mate that already stood out more than normal and that would pass that trait on to their children. Most foxes are married and having children by the time their 22. Every fox in Zootopia knew I was a black tip and the fact that I was hustling on the streets didn't help my image any." Finished with this small bit of his life story, Nick watched as the most beautiful female he had ever seen began to cry tears for him.

Judy's heart broke at Nick's unfair lot in life. Something that made him special, different, stand out from the crowd, caused him years of heart ache and loneliness. Judy had a hard time understanding it. For bunnies, having different fur colorations were what made one special. With such a large population it was hard to stand out in a crowd. Tri-colored bunnies were common enough and since no two-color patterns were the same they were almost guaranteed attention.

Quads were basically worshipped. Even albinos, despite living in a society where having children was considered paramount in a relationship, their difference and rarity was enough to garner extra attention. Even Judy's black tipped ears were unique enough to attract several suiters. All of which she turned down of course.

Judy gently placed Nick's tail off her lap and climbed up into his own. Wrapping her arms as far around him as she could. She quietly wept into the fur of his neck. Doing all she could to show him he was loved and wanted.

Nick let her stay there for a few moments to get it out of her system. Wrapping one arm around her back and petting her ears with his free paw. He also used his tail to wrap around her small frame. He comforted her as best he could until he heard her start to sniffle.

"Alright, no snot in the fur please." The sudden change to a lighter topic made Judy giggle. She eventually sat up but not before making sure she rubbed her nose all into his neck fur. Causing him to let out a fake gag noise. Which only solicited more giggles from the now happier doe in his lap.

Judy glanced over Nick's shoulder at the clock on the wall. Noticing it was nearly 10 pm, she suggested they try and get some sleep. They'd have to get up early to catch the train to Bunnyburrow. Despite how comfortable they were with each other; the couple still didn't feel like they were to the point they could share a bed yet. So, Nick brought Judy a pillow and spare sheets with a blanket. They wished each other goodnight and tried to get some rest.

Two hours later, Judy still lay on the couch awake. Her mind and body ached from lack of sleep, yet it's sweet embrace never came. Her ears twitched as they picked up the subtle sounds of a body shifting on a mattress. Followed by the soft steps of feet across carpet. A second later the door to Nick's bedroom opened. She heard him step across the hall to the bathroom in his apartment.

Judy wondered if he had the same trouble sleeping she did. The few times she had stayed at his place she spent the night tossing and turning. Eventually Nick would get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. Peak in on her, then go back to bed. Judy always pretended to be asleep until he went back to his room. This time, something was different.

When Nick came to check on her, instead of standing in the doorway for a moment, he stood behind the couch looking down at her. Then walked around and sat on the opposite end from her. Judy did her best to remain completely still. But once he was on the couch with her she didn't see the need for the illusion any more. Instead she sat up to see his figure looking at her.

He then opened his arms, inviting her in. She promptly slid over next to him, letting his arms wrap around her. After a couple of minutes, Nick slid down till he was laying with his back to the edge of the couch and Judy completely encompassed in fox and cushion.

She immediately felt Nick relax to the point she thought he would melt and slide off into the floor. She herself felt a comfort she hadn't known since moving to the city. It reminded her of being in her parents' home with her siblings. Being one of the eldest she would often help her parents put her younger siblings to bed by lying down with them till they all fell asleep in a fuzzy pile. More often than not, Judy would just fall asleep with them in the comfy and warm pile. She even kept several stuffed bunny dolls to remind her of the feeling.

She could hear him take several deep breaths through his nose before he seemed to fall asleep. Closing her eyes and taking in the heavy musk that was Nick, Judy felt herself finally starting to slip into sleep. Her final thought, before sweet dreams entered her mind, were on the knowledge that her fox was more unique in a way that made her want him more.