Just One Small Spark Chapter 1, a Halo + Zootopia Crossover fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own Zootopia or any of its characters, they all belong to Disney. I do not own Halo or any of it characters, that are all belong to 343 Industries. Rated M for sexual themes.

Just One Small Spark

Chapter 1

As the animals of this world went about their daily lives they were unaware that their world was being watched by a mind vastly more intelligent than any of them, but it was just as mortal. It touched everything that was connected to their internet which meant everything. To constantly monitor special individuals it had even gone so far as to as place small drones on the planet. One was very special and just that one small spark would change the destiny of a world and in time a galaxy.

"Nick!" came his fiancée's voice.

He sighed. He really didn't want to go there again. The funny looks; the other bunnies taking a step back when they'd walked by; and the not so quiet whispers. He sighed again, but for her he would do anything. He grinned as he remembered what she did to and for him. He was a minor criminal just skirting the law and then this energetic, naïve, wonderful, loving, beautiful, and yes "cute" bunny came into his life and turned him around. Now he was a police officer and upstanding citizen of Zootopia. He shook his head.

Just then a grey blur entered the room and hopped onto his chest. She hugged him fiercely making his ribs creaked and driving the air for his lungs. Then she climbed him until they were mussel to mussel and kissed him. Nick forgot his musings and returned her kiss. They soon ran out of breath – he before her. Then he licked her throat and then opened mouth lightly biting her, but it wasn't as hard as that first time in the museum. Then he increase the pressure just a bit until felt her shutter. His hand slipped down to her tail and began to run his claws though it. He felt her shutter again and released the pressure on her throat. She inhaled sharply and he continued grooming her tail.

"Nick, we need to go! Oh God! Please! We don't have time for this."

"Really? You really seem to be enjoying yourself."

"Nick!"

This time he squeezed her tail and she squeaked. He tossed her in to air then catching her and placed on her feet.

"You're one sly fox," she said shaking a finger at him.

Nick grinned back.

"Yes, I am."

Nick dropped to all fours and approached her. Judy took a step back.

"Nick! Come on, we really need to go."

He playfully pounced on her and began to lick her throat again. Then Judy noticed one her noisy neighbors standing at

the open door and watching them.

"Nick!"

"Hey Bucky! They're at it again," he said loudly.

"You just jealous cause you're not getting any."

"Shut up!"

"You shut up!"

"You shut up! I'm getting a picture," Pronk said and reached for his phone.

Nick felt he'd never moved fast rising to his feet and pulling Judy up with him. Pronk just snapped the picture.

"Darn! I missed it," he said and then turned and walked to his room.

"You get the picture?" they heard through the thin wall.

"No, I missed it."

"Dumbass!"

"You're a dumbass!"

"You're a dumbass! … Hey Bucky"

"What?"

"You should have seen what they were doing."

"Was it what we thought?"

"No, but let me tell you …"

"Oh sweet cheese and crackers!" She moaned and punched Nick in the ribs.

"Judy, why are we here in the middle of nowhere?"

"Like I told you we're waiting for our ride."

"We could have just taken the train like the other times."

"Trust me," she said and winked. "You're going to like this."

Nick face palmed and shook his head. What did his bunny do this time? His bunny. He looked at her and gave her a fox's grin.

"Nick, don't you start."

"Me?" he said and put hand to his chest. "I'm hurt. Fluff, just who kissed who first?"

Judy's ears turned pink and she looked down at the ground. Nick moved closer and put an arm around her. She buried her face in his chest and hugged him. He idly scratched behind one of her ears and she hugged him more tightly. A bit later a large SUV came into view and pulled up beside them. The driver's door opened and the driver stepped out. She cocked her head and smiled.

"You two are the just the cutest couple. And Judy, you're right he is one hot fox."

"Gazelle!" Judy exclaimed.

Judy's ears now went from pink to red. Nick just stared mouth agape. Then he came to himself.

"Shotgun!"

Judy sat in the back seat and fumed. Why did Nick always do these things? She watched as Nick and Gazelle just chatted away like they'd known each other forever. And she kept touching him! And he her. She growled and Nick looked back at her making a face.

"Come on Judy come sit with me."

"You called shotgun. You can just sit up there all by yourself."

"Judy, come on were all friends here. Come sit with Nick so we can talk."

"I'm fine," Judy said.

Gazelle looked at Nick and rolled her eyes. Then she saw a restaurant coming up and pulled in and parked. She reached in her purse and handed Nick a hundred. Nick's eyes glittered and she chuckled.

"Nick, please get us some coffee and snacks. I missed breakfast this morning."

"We did too. What do you take in your coffee?"

"A lot of cream and a couple of sugars."

"Sounds like a lot of calories" he said and grinned.

"And just what are you implying?" she said in mock anger.

"Nothing … nothing," he said meekly.

"Go on" she said and gave him a shove. "and if they have chocolate … have them add that too."

"I might try that myself. Judy?"

"I suppose."

Nick hopped out and started to the restaurant. Gazelle watched him go.

"Judith Laverne Hopps we need to talk. Come on up here." Judy crawled between the seats and into the passenger's seat. "What's wrong and don't tell me just that he called shotgun."

"It's just that he wanted to be close to you and you getting along so well…" she said and trailed off and stared

at the floor. "I thought…"

"God, give me strength," Gazelle said in her native language.

"What?"

"Nothing … Nothing. He's you're first boyfriend and I told you I'd never get between you."

"Yes. Remember I told you all about him. I was so surprised. I could believe that you'd even noticed me at that demonstration. I'm so glad you want to be my friend." Her ears were erect and she smiled. "It was fun getting together those times in secret."

"It was," she said putting an arm on her shoulder and drawing her closer. "I saw this brave bunny who wanted to be a police officer and then go on to change Zootopia. She even tamed a 'wild' fox." She gave her a wink and Judy blushed. "A lot of males want to be close to me. You wouldn't believe the number marriage proposes I get in a month. And not just from other gazelles."

"Really."

Gazelle chuckled. "Yes. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about Nick. Now Judy listen to me." She gave her a little shake. "Nick really really loves you. He might look another female, but when it really comes right down to it you're the only one in his heart. You understand?" Judy nodded. "Good." She pulled Judy into a hug and felt warm tears leaking through her fur. "Ok. Oh you bunnies, you're so emotional." She felt Judy start to chuckle remembering how she'd told her that story. "Got you again! Now come on dry your eyes. You don't want to let Nick see you crying." She drew Judy back and Gazelle kissed her forehead. "Go on get over there. Oh good here he comes." Judy broke away and stared out the window with excitement on her face. "Judy, you don't know how lucky you are. I just wish I had someone who …" she muttered to herself.

"Nick! You're back!" Judy said opening the door for him. "What did you get?"

"Well, for our beautiful gazelle," he began and handed her the large cup. "Coffee lots cream and 2 sugars with chocolate." She took sip, closed hers eyes, stretched, and sighed. Nick stared and until Judy poked him. "Oh yea and for my 'cute' little bunny a smaller cup. You don't want to see a bunny on wired on caffeine." Judy punched him lightly. And for myself a coffee like yours." He raised his cup to Gazelle. "As for food I got some fried fish and…"

"Can I try a piece?" Gazelle asked.

Nick just stared at her.

"Hey, I like fish."

"But…" Nick began.

"I wasn't Gazelle when I was growing up. In fact, we were really poor. So we ate whatever we could get our hands on. And we lived by the sea. So I ate fish and seaweed. Also, since we are all such good friends now Nick please call me Maria."

After finishing off the food they got back on the road. Maria glanced over at the couple now and again. Judy's head rested on her fox's chest and he had an arm around her. Sometimes he would whisper to her and she would giggle or he would nibble on ear and she would squeak. Eventually Judy fell asleep against her fox's chest and then began to snore. Nick looked over to Maria and they both chuckled quietly.

Sooner than they thought possible they passed they passed the "You are now entering Bunnyburrow" sign. The population counter still clicking away Nick noted.

"Well it's up to 90 million now," he said. "Bunnies sure like to …"

"make more bunnies," Maria finished. "Nick, you worried that you won't be able keep up." She winked and then her face clouded. "Sorry, Nick I wasn't thinking." Nick held up a silencing hand.

"We've already talking about it and we'll figure something out."

Nick stroked his bunny's back and she gave a little moan.

"Nick, you know how to get to her parent's house from here?"

"I think the railroad station is just up the road bit. From there it's easy."

They pulled up at her parent burrow 20 minutes later. Maria got out quietly and opened the passenger door so Nick could carry his bunny in without waking her. The door opened before they got there and a rabbit waited for them. Maria thought that it must be one of Judy's slightly younger sisters. They both had the same color grey and white fur and purple eye coloring. She was a bit shorter, but just as cute. Maria put one finger to her lips and stepped aside for Nick to pass carrying his bunny.

When they were out of earshot she said," I'm Maria a friend of Judy and Nick's."

"I'm Mary, Judy's cousin."

"I'll bet when Judy was your age you looked exactly the same."

"I've heard that. Judy has been an inspiration to all of us. She's shown us that we can do more than live on a farm and just make more bunnies." She blushed and Maria chuckled. "Next year I'm going to the Zootopia Police Academy."

"Good for you. I was wondering could you help me get some things out of the SUV?"

"Sure, but if you can wait a minute I can round up a few more to help."

"OK."

Two minutes later three more female rabbits appeared – who all looked remarkably like Judy. Maria thought Judy must have same really dominate genes. Or maybe they were just clones. As they worked to unload the boxes Maria found that these three does also had very similar personalities to Judy's too.

"These boxes are toys for Judy's brothers and sisters or maybe cousins too. The others have clothes and other things that I thought could be used for kits."

Just then an older bunny appeared.

"Hi, I'm Judy's mother, Bonnie. Stu is still out in the fields. Judy said she was bringing a friend. Where are they?"

"I'm Maria. Judy was asleep when we got here and I assume Nick took her to her room. Anyway, I brought some toys and things for your kits." She pointed at the boxes. "They helped me carry them in."

"You didn't have to do that."

"It was no problem and I thought it would be fun to watch your kits open them. I can give you a hand around the house or with the kits."

"But you're a guest."

"I was raised is a big family too and had to take care of younger brothers and sisters. Also, I'd like to take Nick and Judy's bags down to them. If someone would show me the way please."

"Sure, Maria just follow me," Mary said taking one of the suitcases.

Maria took the others and followed behind. When they arrived Nick and Judy were both curled up on her bed sound asleep. Maria looked around Judy's room and smiled. It was about what she had expected. Pictures on the wall of starscapes; dozens of plushy bunnies; and a lot of other stuff. Judy must never have thrown anything away. She smiled again and then felt a hand on her arm. She followed Mary to a lower lever and into another room.

"This is it," Mary said. "There's a bathroom there." She pointed to a door. "And you can put your clothes here." She

rested a hand on chest of drawers.

"OK. Well let's see." She opened her suitcase and Mary opened the first drawer. "Well that's done."

"Come on. I'll bet Bonnie has gotten all the kits rounded up." She stopped and faced Maria. "I'll loved to be as tall as you."

"You'd be the biggest Rabbit in the world."

"Then none of the other animals won't look down on me and just say you're cute."

She said cute like a curse word.

"Being short and cute hasn't stopped Judy has it?"

Judy's actions might have started a revolution without her even knowing it.

"I've seen her in action and she never backs down."

"No, I guess she doesn't. Big changes are coming to our world and Judy was just the spark. Come on let's go back upstairs.

Oh Judy, what have you done, she thought to herself as she followed.

Nick awoke in darkness and felt his warm bunny pressing against him. He breathed in her scent and grinned. It was an earthly smell with just a hint of something to come in the near future. He grinned again. But just then another part of his anatomy expressed a pressing need. His bladder was about to explode! Disentangling himself and trying not to wake Judy he got off the bed and tripped over a suit case. He heard Judy stir and then start snoring. He'd have to get the carrot pen and record it. She'd be embarrassed and her ears would turn that cute pink color. He snickered quietly.

He dropped to all fours and promptly bumped into the other suit case, but this time not making as much noise. Reaching the bathroom door he eased it open and slipped in. Afterwards he washed his hands and went back to snuggle with Judy. He stopped when he was hit by another scent – no two others. One was a bunny which smelled a lot like Judy and the other was Maria. Of course, he slapped is forehead – they brought the suitcases.

He wanted to thank Maria for what she said to Judy. She must have been really pissed. He'd felt so relieved when he'd gotten back to the SUV and Judy was bright eyed and so excited to see him. Then she'd sat with him they'd talked and cuddled. Then she'd fell asleep in the arms. She was so … so beautiful and he had to be the luckiest fox in the world. He really didn't want to screw up again. He went to find Maria.

She sat in the darkness just stargazing. Then she lay back putting her arms behind her head and wondered what it would be like to explore all that. It was a secret dream of hers to be an astronaut. She'd remembered when two rabbits had landed on the moon. Now they even had a space station in orbit. It was crewed mostly by rabbits and a few of the smaller predators. She guessed they used rabbits to save on weight. Some days she wished that she'd finished college and got her engineering degree instead of getting into show business. At least she could be designing rockets and maybe ever flying on them. She still kept up on her studies when she had time.

"Damn it!" she cried and punched the ground several times. "No, I had to listen to my friends. 'Oh Maria! Your voice is

so pretty you need to audition.' Of course, I got stars in my eyes and now look at me. I have only one real friend and thank God its Judy. And now Nick. Big dummy. But no partner."

She'd dated, but she couldn't tell if they want her or Gazelle. Now she was alone. She felt her eyes tear up. She wished she could step back in time and never go to that damned audition. She wondered what her life would be like now if she'd chosen that other path. Maybe she should just quit, go back to school, and finish her masters. Then go to engineering school. She wasn't that old, but who would hire her? Hell! She had richest person in the world and she could start her own damn company.

Then she heard the tall grass rustle and smelled fox. He was stalking her and now he'll find he'd bitten off more that he could chew. She was angry and wouldn't mind taking out on him a bit.

"Nick," she said rising to her feet.

"Hi Maria."

The first punch she pulled only grazed his nose. The second only missed because Nick tripped over his feet falling on his back and knocking the wind out of himself. The third landed next to his ear burying itself up to her wrist in the soft soil. Nick looked like a fish out of water. His eyes were bulging and he was unable to catch his breath.

"Dummy … idiot … stupid. What's Judy going to think if she finds you out here with me? Remember what happened earlier today. Remember how she was? And I told her that she was the only one in your heart. Was I wrong?"

"No," he said weakly only then getting some of his breath back and also shaking his head.

She bent down, put her hands under his arm pits, and stood holding him like a child. She sat him against the tree she'd been leaning against earlier. Then she began to pace.

"God, give me strength," Gazelle said then going off in her own language.

After a few minutes Nick finally could finally breathe normally.

"Maria, I just wanted to talk to you alone. I want to thank you for taking to Judy. I don't know why I did that. Shotgun just came out of my mouth. I couldn't stop it. I didn't think of Judy. I tried to stop myself, but…"

She thought he was going to cry.

"Nick," she said quietly and he looked up at her. "Next time you get the urge to do anything to Judy I want you to THINK how it'll makes her feel. Remember all those things are cumulative. You know Judy better than anyone now. She always leads with her heart. And one damned day you'll do it one too many damn times." Marie got in his face and poked him in the chest with each word. "On that day she'll stop loving you."

Nick looked pale and swallowed. And now he really did look like he was going cry.

"You don't know what it's like to grow up a fox," have said. "People…"

"Nick, I going tell you a story that I've never told anyone else."

Judy woke and reached for Nick, but he was gone. Her nose twitched and she got Maria's scent among others. She turned on the lights and saw the suit cases. That explains Maria's scent, but where was Nick. It certainly will be easy to find him since he's the only fox here. She followed her nose until she heard voices. She went to all fours and crept closer. Nick was sitting again a tree and Maria was standing before him with her hands on her hips glaring at him. Fortunately the moon was out and it was a clear night. Rabbits had good night vision.

Judy thought he was going to cry.

"Nick," she said quietly and he looked up at her. "Next time you get the urge to do anything to Judy I want you to THINK how it'll makes her feel. Remember all those things are cumulative. You know Judy better than anyone now. She always leads with her heart. And one day you'll do it one too many damn times." Marie got in his face and poked him in the chest with each word. "On that day she'll stop loving you."

You're wrong Maria I'll always love Nick no matter what she thought to herself. But sometimes it did make her feel angry at him. Could she be right?

Nick looked pale and swallowed. And now he really did look like he was going cry.

"You don't know what it's like to grow up a fox," have said. "People…"

"Nick, I going tell a story that I've never told anyone else. Remember when I told you that I lived by the sea." He nodded. "It wasn't Zootopia, it wasn't Bunnyburrow, and it wasn't Foxtown. No Nick, it was Hell! People died there every damn day. Sometimes all that was left for them was only bones with all the meat chewed off. And I don't mean just adults either and Nick nobody gave a shit. Yes, we had police, but it was usually just another prey. Who cares!" Nick started to look ill. "Anyway, when I turned thirteen I blossomed and I was according to all the males, predator and prey, 'really hot'." She made quotes with her fingers. "They also said some other things which I won't repeat. And then all the other females didn't like me since I was 'really hot'."

"But," Nick began.

"No wait Nick the story gets better. There was a large, ugly, fat, disgusting, smelly, piece of shit warthog who thought I would be the perfect to be his little fuck toy. He was so disgusting that other warthogs wouldn't even associate with him. Anyway, he kept touching me." She shuddered at the memory. "Finally I had enough and told him in front of my entire class which part of his anatomy I would remove if ever touched me again. In detail! Well, the next day he wasn't at school which was just fine by me. On the way home I felt someone grab me and next think I knew I was in a filthy alley with him was on top of me. He'd pulled off my underwear and trying to put his thing in me. Do you know what I did?"

Nick shook his head and said, "No."

Maria reached into her right knee boot and withdrew a very long thin stiletto. The metal glinted in the moonlight. She idly spun the blade in her hand. Then she withdrew another from her other boot. She begun to spin other in the same way. The blades came to an abrupt stop and she looked at one in her right hand. Judy could only stare with openmouthed.

"What happened?" Nick asked a small voice. He thought he'd been scared when Judy screamed at the museum, but this.

"I stuck this blade in right ear to the hilt and it popped out the other side. The expression on his face was… Not much blood either. Anyway, it wasn't like in the movies where the body falls off to the side. He fell on top of me and it took 20 minutes to squirm out from under him. Then you know what I did?"

"No."

"I pulled my blade out, cleaned it, put it back in my boot pulled up my underwear, and went home and never looked back. The next day he wasn't at school and nobody said anything. I went back past the alley after school and some of him was still there. Not much, but some. You know where I got these from?" She began to spin them again.

"No."

"My father noticed I was getting pretty. So he got me the boots and blades and told me 'Maria protect yourself with these.' One of my brothers taught me to use them. That will never happen to me again! Ever!"

She put the blades back in her boots.

Then they heard Judy's sobs.

"Judy!" Nick cried giving Maria dirty look.

"Oh shit," said and followed Nick.

They both reached her at the same time.

"Judy."

She lunged for Maria and clung to her. Nick looked at them stunned. Maria grabbed his shoulder and pulled him close. He put his arms around her and he felt one of Maria's hands on his back.

"Fluff."

"Oh Nick!"

"Judy, I wish you'd never heard that."

"I never could have," she began.

"Judy, you're the strongest and bravest person I know. I was just a scared teenager with no other alternative. You never know if you can make the hard choices until you actually have to." She padded Judy's head. "And you even tamed a 'wild' fox."

She scratched one of Nick's ears and he glared at her. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Guy's I don't feel so," Judy began and then wrenched.

"Judy did you sneak a piece of fish?"

Judy released Maria and leaned back on Nick. She stood and pulled off here T shirt and then her bra. Of course, the mess down from of the jeans, but fortunately not on her knee boots. She sat and pulled those off. Then she stood and started to remove her jeans. It had gotten awfully quiet and she looked back to Nick and Judy. They both started at her openmouthed.

"What?" She said finally removing her jeans. "Nick!"

"Yea," he said staring.

"Take you shirt off and go ask Judy's mom of a large towel or something. I'll take care of getting these clothes off Judy.

Nick!" He finally came to himself "Go!"

"Come on Judy let's get those messy things off."

Maria started to unbutton the shirt and saw Judy start to heave and got out of the way. She wondered much one little bunny could eat. Maria finished stripping Judy when Nick returned.

"I'm not looking. I'm not looking," he said loudly walking backward hold a large towel.

"and you weren't looking before either. Just give me the damned towel and go. No wait. Just walk that way a bit." She pointed away from the house. "and when we're gone bring my boots. Don't want any little bunnies getting hold of those blades. OK Nick?"

"Sure. And I'm still not looking," he said, but unknown to any of them someone else was.

"Shut up Nick! Just walk. Males!" Judy giggled. "How do you put up with him?" Judy shrugged. "Let's go." She lifted Judy into her arms like a child.

"I felt like a Princess in one of those movies," Judy said and giggled.

"You must be feeling better."

"A bit."

"We're going straight to the shower in your room."

When they got back to the house Judy's parent were waiting for them.

"Is she OK?"

"Yes. She ate some at lunch that disagreed with her. We going to take a shower and get this stink off. Oh, thanks for the towel."

"I could…" Bonnie began.

"Mom, we're OK," Judy said feeling towel slipping pulled it tighter only succeeding to pull it off Maria and then dropping to the floor.

Maria sighed and then began to chuckle. She slid to the floor. That turned into a belly laugh which soon brought tears to her eyes.

"You OK Maria?"

"God, I haven't laughed like that in a while. Judy, you're my best friend and I love you."

"Really."

She heard Bonnie's intake of breath.

"Yes, Judy really. But you're a klutz."

"Sorry."

Maria picked up Judy and started down the stair and then stopped. "Bonnie, maybe some tea for Judy. And," She began and looked at Judy's father.

"Stu."

"Stu, do you have anything to drink?"

"We have wine. We make it right here on the farm."

"Great."

"The towel," Judy said.

"Oh, yea," she said and when back upstairs and picked it up. "See ya later."

Judy's parent just stared at each other.

Maria awoke, stretched letting out a sigh, and saw Nick.

"Oh sweet cheese and crackers!" she exclaimed. "Damn it! Now she's got me saying it." How much of that wine did she drink last night? "Judy?" She heard a moan and pealed back the covers to find her best friend clinging to her fox. "Thank God!"

There was knock on the door. "Nick! Judy!" Bonnie said. The door opened "It's time to … get … up. Hi Maria. I thought you'd be down in your room."

"I got a little light headed after the wine and Judy said just crawl in with them. So I did. Oh, you have coffee. Great. Here let me help you."

Maria took the tray from Bonnie and set it on the table. She made her coffee and sipped. "I wish I had some chocolate."

"We have some upstairs in the kitchen," Bonnie said.

"Let me get some clothes on and I'll be up in a minute. OK?"

"Sure," she said and looked at her daughter and fiancé.

"Let them sleep."

"Sure."

"So here I am. How can I help?"

"I'm making pancakes."

"The ones with blueberry's. Judy made those for me one morning and they were great. It's great having Judy as friend. You'd think that she and Nick are joined at the hip, but they're not together all the time. Usually she comes to my place and we do things together. We went over to Fru Fru's place once. Judy saved her life and she named daughter Judy."

"Who's Fru Fru?"

"She's Mr. Big's daughter. He's a gangster in Tundratown. I guess you meet some interesting people when you're a cop."

"I guess you're right. What do you do?"

"You really don't know do you. Judy told me not to tell anyone. I figured someone would eventually recognize me." Bonnie stared at her. "Judy told me that your family came to my concert. How do you think she got all the tickets?" Maria flipped her hair forward and began to sing a little. Bonnie's hand when to her mouth and Maria grinned.

"You're Gazelle."

"In the flesh."

Bonnie's ear when pink.

"Sorry about last night."

"Oh! Better flip the pancakes."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"About me and Judy?"

Bonnie's ears when pink again. "Yes."

"Judy and I do things together. When she stays at my place we do share a bed like she does with Nick. She loves to cuddle and it's so nice to have warm bunny hugging me. I do love her, but we are not lovers. The only person in her heart is Nick. If one day I find someone who loves me half as much as Nick loves her I'll the luckiest gazelle in the world. Pancakes!"

"Hi Stu! You ready for some pancakes?" Maria said and winked.

Stu's ears went pink and she laughed.

Moments later it seemed as if every bunny in Bunnyburrow descended on the kitchen. Pancakes were passed out and

as quickly as they'd arrived they were gone.

"So did we miss breakfast too?" Judy asked arriving with her fox. "We're starving. And you know you don't want a starving fox around." Judy giggled and Nick licked her cheek. "Hey Nick, there's plump gazelle over there."

"Plump? I'll show who's plump," Maria said and started to tickle Judy.

"Help Nick!'

"No thank you. You brought this all on yourself. Myself I'd think she'd be tough and stringy."

"I wonder if foxes are ticklish too. Let's find out."

Nick didn't make half to the front door when Maria tackled him. Then Judy joined her.

"Oh please stop," Nick said after two minutes. "I'm going to die if you keep this up. Oh God!"

"Just to put you out of you misery," Judy said and kissed him.

The kiss lengthened and they only broke when they had to breathe.

"Oh fluff," Nick whispered and Judy nibbled the fur on his neck. "That's … Oh!"

Nick started to lick her throat both of them forgetting about everything else. Maria turned and looked at Judy parents. Stu had a little smile on his face and Bonnie's ears glowed. Maria looked back at the couple and grinned.

"Come on let's leave them alone for awhile," Maria whispered and ushered them downstairs.

Stu winked at Bonnie and she smiled.

"Bonnie and I have something to talk about."

"No problem. I'll just get some breakfast. There must be a pancake or two left."

"Nick."

"Yes."

"That was perfect."

"I agree. Can we do it again?"

"Why were you trying to eat Judy?" came a new voice.

They both look up and saw small snow white bunny sitting on the chair watching them. Nick didn't know that bunnies that small could even talk. He looked at Judy and both ears were cherry red. The small bunny hopped off the chair and went to Judy keeping an eye on the fox. He touched her throat and turned on the fox.

"You better not try to eat Judy again or," he said and hopped closer to Nick.

"Or what?" Nick said getting snout to snout with him.

The bunny punched Nick on tip of the nose just were Maria had.

"Ouch!" he cried and watched the little bunny hop away. "That's one bunny that's not cute!"

"Oh sweet cheese and crackers!"

Nick was holding his nose when came back into the kitchen.

"Let me guess your fox got a little too frisky and you had to punch him," she said and put another piece of pancake in her mouth. "Hmmm. God, Judy your mom makes good pancakes. You want some?"

"It wasn't Judy."

"One of Judy's bothers?" she asked and Nick stared at her. "Really." She laughed. "He must been a big fellow to beat up a fox."

"Please make us some pancakes," Nick said.

"I'll…"

"No problem. I got it Judy," Maria said and set plates and silverware out. "Drinks."

"Coffee please," Nick said.

"Me too," Judy said. "Let me help."

"I'm good. Just sit there and give Nick a hug. Looks like he needs it."

"After your little show in the living room your parents told me that had something to talk about," She said giving them a wink. Judy opened her mouth. "Just don't say it. Here two pancakes for you and two for you. Here's the syrup. Eat!"

Maria and Judy finished washing their dishes, silverware, and pans while Nick helped dry them. There had been little conversation for a while.

"Ok. That's done," Maria said. "Today we three are going to do something fun."

"What do you have in mind?" Judy said turning to her best friend.

"Well, I assume there's a good place to hike around here. We'll have a picnic lunch and just hang out," she said and gave Nick the eye. "Maybe a lake where we could take a swim."

"I know the perfect place," Judy said and turned to her fox.

"I don't have a bath suit," Nick said.

"Neither do I," Maria said and winked. "You two get changed and we'll go."

"OK" he said and hugged his bunny.

Maria gave Nick the thumbs up. Looks like he'd taken last night's talk to heart. Maybe he wasn't as big a dummy as she'd thought.

An hour later Judy was leading her friends into the forest. She skipped along like a child stopping to smell flowers occasionally touching the pine trees and just having a good time.

"Isn't it nice to watch her acting carefree and just being herself?" Marie said.

"She is a county girl."

Judy stopped and her ears went up. She looked up, but she could only see a small patch of blue. Nick and Maria

caught up and looked at her.

"Carrots, what is it?" Nick asked.

"Somethin's comin'. Can't you hear it?"

"Just," Maria began and she waited for a few seconds, "a little bit. You've better ears than I do."

Soon the sound grew in intensity so they could all hear it. Judy raced ahead so she could find larger break in the trees. Then she found a pond. Perfect.

"Judy wait," came Nick's voice.

She looked up and waited. Nick and Maria caught up again. The noise became so loud that she could only see Nick's lips move. Then she looked up and it came into view. It larger than the clearing and blotted out the sky. She could see the blue exhaust from the engines that held it up. It hovered for a second and started to move off. Judy ignoring Nick and Maria raced after it. She couldn't stop! She had to see it up close!

The sound finally wound down as she broke into a larger clearing bordering the lake. It sat no more than 200 feet away and a few moments later it was quiet. Judy stood and stared. It was venting gasses and she could see that air shimmer as it radiated away heat. It was green with short stubby wings and two engines in the back. There were some type of writing and emblems on the sides. This was nothing built here on her world.

A gun poked out of its noise, but it was pointed a way from her. She moved closer and heard a noise. A ramp was dropping down in the back. She ran parallel to the spaceship until she could see inside. It looked empty, but there had to be a pilot or pilots. Shouldn't there?

Nick's tongue was hanging out as reached the clearing. Maria was just behind him not even looking winded and she carried a backpack. Maria saw Judy just she was stepping onto the bottom of the ramp.

"Judy!" Maria yelled and she waved and then motioned for them to follow. She went into the spaceship. "Idiot! She's just fearless. I can see now how she came to love you. Come on Nick." She put an arm around him and pulled him along feeling his right arm go around her waist. She looked down at him and he grinned. "Dummy."

She hurried him along. No one had noticed the person following behind them since they'd entered the forest.

Judy looked around the large empty space. There were seats against the sides all with a buckle at the top. She sat and pulled the buckle into place. It immediately became tight pushing her to the back of the seat. That scared her for a moment until she pushed the release and it popped open. She stood and continued to explore. It was like being in one of those old science fiction movies. "Officer Judy Hopps meets the Aliens." She giggled.

She approached the door and it slid into the wall. And then she stepped back and it closed. Neat she thought. She approached and she stepped through and faced a second door. When she approached the door behind her closed and one in front opened. She turned and the same thing happened. She turned went through the door and onto the flight deck. It wasn't too large with only three seats. She guessed one for the pilot and the copilot. And the other was for and she thought for a second. Some had to monitor the spaceship. She remembered it was an engineer.

Judy sat in the pilot's seat and fastened the seatbelts. The chair changed shape until fit her small frame and positioned itself until she could reach the flight controls. She heard the door open and saw Nick coming through it. She'd never seen him looking so fierce. Just for the moment he looked like the fox in the museum, but this time he wasn't acting.

"Judy," he began and hand spun him around. Then the hand grabbed his snout.

"NICK! STOP! THINK!" Maria said in a command voice and pushed him to the copilot's seat and then buckling him in. "Now everybody relax. Close your eyes and don't say a word. I'll be back." She went through the door and returned a moment later with 3 bottles. "Here Judy" and she handed her a bottle. "Nick."

She sat at the engineer's station and drank until she'd emptied the bottle and then belched loudly. It started as a snicker then Judy laughed until tears came to her eyes. Nick joined her a second later. Then Maria couldn't help herself she belched again.

"Oh please Maria stop or I'm wet myself," Judy got out and giggled some more.

Nick roared, turned, and punched Maria playfully in the arm.

"I wish I had recorded that on the carrot pen," said when he could speak again. "I could put it on zootube and call it Gazelle's next hit."

This time Maria belly laughed with them.

And then the door opened again surprising everyone. A black rabbit stood there. She was taller than Nick and as tall as Maria, but more heavier built than rabbit any of them had ever seen. Not like a one of those body builders, but all her muscles stood out.

"Judy," she said.

"I know you," Judy said turning and studied the rabbit.

"I'm your Aunt Joanne's seventh daughter, Leah."

Two things happened at once. The opened for the last time and loud bang came from the back of the ship.

"Judy, I'm scared," came a small voice.

"This drop ship will lift in one minute please strap yourselves in."

"Oh sweet cheese and crackers!"

At least this time I couldn't have said it better myself Maria thought.