When the Stars Align (A Zootopia Story)

by TrentonMixLee

Months after Bellwether's incarceration, an outbreak of savage predators is plaguing Zootopia. The culprit is believed to be an underground syndicate planning to shatter the relations between predator and prey, starting with Officers Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps. Once again, WildeHopps must unite to mend both their city and their relationship.(Mystery, Action, Adventure, Hurt/Comfort)

3. Ch 2: Blueberry Vodka

BEFORE YOU READ: Notice I have made some changes both to the story's title and to the cover art. The original title was "Unlikely Partners". I used this as somewhat of a makeshift title, as I was more focused on writing the story at the time. Now that I have sat down, outlined out the story, and thought about a title, I believe "When the Stars Align" is one that fits well. If you don't fully understand the meaning now, you will in the future :)

As for the cover art, it belongs to TheWyvernsWeaver, an EXTREMELY talented artist. If you know the stories "Sunderance" by Kulkum or "Hereafter" by ScaraMedn, he has made visually astounding comics for both (and if you haven't read these stories or viewed their comics, now you know what to do for the next month). All credit for the cover goes to him, as I have no artistic talent whatsoever!

ANYWAYS, on with the chapter!

I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Two: Blueberry Vodka

---

The first thing that Nick noticed upon entering was not the overly decorated interior common to most farmhouses, rather the rich scent of a home-cooked meal. A yeasty buttered aroma that surely was rising off freshly glazed rolls. Such a smell overwhelmed the undertones of a starchy odor, most likely potatoes, and a sweeter one. Carrots, of course. The fox credited his predatory nose, which could easily help him identify the rest of the meal — peas, sweet potatoes and sweet nuts, gravy, squash.

Something else drifted in, mixed well underneath the scent of the overall meal. It was oceanic, and Nick, if only for a second, doubted his sensitive sniffer.

Fish?

He reminded himself that rabbits were vegetarian, obviously. They were Prey, after all. But that still didn't explain the fishy smell that wafted in. It reminded him of olden days when his mother prepared home-cooked meals of her own.

Nick glanced down at Judy, only to see her staring straight ahead with an intensely kept expression, one that suggested she had finally calmed herself to some extent.

The house appeared larger on the inside than the outside portrayed. The front door opened up to a decorative entryway. Straight ahead was a large kitchen, multiple rabbits hard at work with pots and ovens. To the right of the entry was a cozy den, one with a fireplace that Nick was sure he would hear gently crackling if the ambiance of small talk and clanging glassware, pots, and pans were toned down. Above the fireplace, on a brick mantle, was several family portraits in various frames. Hanging above them all was a purposefully aged sign, displaying its message in a fluid cursive.

Bless this Mess

"Oh, Judy! You're finally here!" cried a feminine voice.

Bonnie Hopps rushed from the kitchen, dawned in a flower-dusted apron. Nick concealed his amusement when he noticed the apron had a carrot sewn into it.

The two bunnies embraced, then withdrew quickly.

"It's great to see you, Mom," Judy's voice was calm and low, though a pleasant smile was on her lips. She hid her worry well, Nick noted.

"Pardon the mess. You know how family dinners go, especially on the holidays," Bonnie sighed. "I'm just so glad you could come! I was worried that you wouldn't be allowed a week off. Business is serious in the big city,"

"More than you can imagine," Judy chuckled quietly.

"And look at you! You're all dressed up in your uniform and everything! You look great, dear,"

Judy looked down, remembering that she was still wearing her uniform. Normally, the bullet-proof vest was heavy enough to nag at her all day, though she had seemed to forget it was even there. After all, there were more pressing matters at paw.

It was at this moment that the elephant, rather the fox, in the room was addressed.

Bonnie sidestepped Judy, coming to face the fox who also stood in his blue uniform.

"And Nicholas! It's so great for you to come! Judy talks of you all the time over the phone, you know?"

Nick slipped Judy a smirk, happy to see that she had her head in her paw, a slight pink flushing her cheeks.

"A pleasure, Mrs. Hopps. For years I've needed an excuse to escape the city, and upon entering your lovely home, I've decided there's no place I'd rather spend the holiday," Nick said, extending a paw. "And please, madam, call me Nick."

The two shook paws. Nick noticed her grip was more confident than Stu's had been. He had seemed to hold back, while her shake and smile appeared to be genuine. But he did notice the nervous twitch of her nose in his presence, though it wasn't anything he hadn't expected.

"Nick it is, then," she stepped back, looking from the fox to her daughter. "So I hear you two are partners."

"Yep," Judy chuckled awkwardly. "The dynamic duo!"

Nick raised a brow, seeing that this was his opportunity to take initiative.

"All thanks goes to your daughter, Mrs. Hopps," he looked to Judy with flashing emerald eyes. "She's the one who first employed me."

"Really? I always thought you two met through the job?" Bonnie said, folding her hands at her waist.

"Mom, it's a long story," Judy said in a hesitant voice. "I'll tell you later, maybe when I get the chance to sit down and eat."

"Sure thing, hon," Bonnie smiled. "Nick," she turned to the fox, "please do make yourself at home."

"I most certainly will, Mrs. Hopps," Nick said, looking around. The home was a cozy one, despite its large size.

"And if I can call you Nick, you can call me Bonnie. Okay?" she said.

"I suppose that's fair," Nick grinned, and she laughed.

"You two have fun now! Judy, how bout' you give Nick a little look-a-round? Supper should be ready in about half an hour." She gave a little wave and returned to the kitchen.

"It appears you're my tour guide," Nick smirked.

Judy rolled her eyes. "I'm putting my bags upstairs. You're welcome to tag along," she said, turning with her suitcase in hand.

The two walked upstairs, where there was a common room which leads off to multiple doors. Judy took a moment to compose herself at the top of the stairs. It felt like ages since she last visited her room. The last time she had been here was shortly after her graduation from the academy. The last time she was here, she hadn't known anything of the night howlers, nor Bellwether's scheme. The last time she was here, she didn't even know Nick. Never in a million years would the Judy who lived in this house only six months ago think that she would bring a fox up to her room with her. Not without believing that it was some sort of crazed dream or assassination attempt.

The two walked down the hall in silence, the sounds of little voices laughing and shouting coming from behind the closed doors on their right and left. Finally, Judy turned to the last door on the right and opened it.

Inside, a group of young bunnies, all female, were trying on various hats Judy kept inside her closet. When the door opened, they all froze, looking like criminals caught in the midst of a heist.

One of them screamed when she saw Nick standing just behind Judy.

"Judy watch out! Behind you!"

Judy chuckled a little, glancing behind her to meet the smirk she expected to see. She turned back to the girls.

"And what are you guys doing in my room?" she said in a more serious tone.

"…Sorry, Judy," one of them said, ears drooping behind a straw hat three sizes too large. It almost encompassed her head entirely. "We wanted to try on your hats."

"Yeah? Well, I'm sure there are plenty of hats you can buy at the festival tomorrow. Now get out of my room before I unleash the fox on you."

The girls glanced at each other nervously, then quickly took off the hats and scurried out of the room. The smallest one lolled behind, pausing for only a moment to give the fox a curious look before one of her older sisters grabbed her by the arm and pulled her from view.

Judy sighed deeply, walking into her old room. She sat down on her bed, rolling her suitcase to an idle rest at the foot of her bed. She looked around, familiarizing herself with the same walls she had dwelled in for years. It didn't take long for her to remember all that she had experienced in this room — in this house — and soon she truly felt at home.

"Alas, Casa de Carrots," Nick smirked, taking a look around.

The room wasn't too large, but that gave it a cozy feel. On the wall near the door was a closet, not a walk in, though there was a decent amount of space available. Inside, forgotten tops and skirts aged on wire coat hangers, while old worn shoes were piled in a box in the corner. There was one window across from the door, one that overlooked the front lawn and the hills beyond it. Pillows were lined along the windowsill, one of which bore a bright orange carrot. Adjacent to the window was a queen sized bed, made with pristine care until Judy had flopped down onto it. Countless stuffed animals sat with their backs against the headboard. There was a dresser on the far wall, one with a large ovular mirror atop it. Polaroid pictures lined the mirror's rim. Near the dresser was a clean wooden desk, though the wear was evident. It was covered with small bumps and scratches, some of which appeared to be from pencils. A gooseneck lamp was turned to shine down on the desk's surface. Dust had collected on the bulb.

Nick gave a nod of approval. "It's cozy, I'll admit."

"I prefer my apartment," was all Judy said, now laying on her back, feet lolling over the edges of her bed.

"Really? That greasy little hole in the wall?"

Judy scoffed. "It's my greasy little hole in the wall, and I like it just the way it is."

"Sure you do. Just don't be surprised when your heating, water, and electricity all simultaneously fail."

Judy rolled her eyes and pushed herself into a sitting position. She looked around, taking into account the smaller details that she knew Nick might notice but would never understand. The divot in the wall near the dresser. The small splatter of blue paint on the bottom left corner of the window frame. The tally marks on the inside of the closet door. They all held memories, unimportant ones at that, but memories nonetheless. A wang of nostalgia forced a sigh from the bunny. So much had changed since she last left this room.

"Aha! I was hoping I would find some pictures of little Judy Hopps." Nick leaned into the dresser to better see the pictures taped to the mirror. One was of nine-year-old Judy, wearing an oversized police cap that sagged on her head. She wore an officer's costume, holstering a plastic baton and handcuffs. She stood gallantly with her arms around a few smiling faces: a grey lamb, a white sheep, and a tan bunny. They were all holding handfuls of tickets and standing underneath a vibrant banner hung from the rooftop of a red barn.

Carrot Days Festival

Judy groaned, pulling the fox away from the mirror. "Quit looking at those. I don't want your opinion on how naive I looked fifteen years ago."

"Did I ever once say you looked naive?"

"No, but you were thinking it."

"Ha! These accusations!" The fox sat down backward on the desk chair, facing the rabbit just across from him. "So, you can't tell me that all of your two hundred and seventy-five siblings sleep in this house, do they?"

Judy chuckled. "Of course not. Most of them sleep in the barns."

"…In the barns?"

"In the barns," Judy repeated. "And no, it's not as bad as it sounds. Most of the barns have been transformed entirely into bedrooms. They're rather nice, actually."

"Why, then, do you get to score a room in the house?"

"Because I'm one of the older siblings," Judy said, moving the onslaught of stuffed animals aside and reclining against the headboard of her bed. "When my parents realized, after the fourth litter, that their house wasn't big enough for all of us, they also realized that they had a lot of barns. So the barns became bedrooms and I got lucky," she gestured to the room around her. "So tell me, lone fox. What's it like to be an only child? Lonely?"

"Anything but, Carrots," Nick said. "What I don't have in siblings I make up for in acquaintances. Less time dealing with younger brothers and sisters, more time I have to get to know the neighborhood."

Judy tried to imagine what a brother or sister of Nick would look like. The thought had never occurred to her. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't imagine those emerald green eyes suiting anyone else.

She realized she had been staring and her eyes darted to the floor. "I'm guessing your mother had you and decided one hellraiser was enough, am I wrong?" she chuckled.

"You are, in fact, my parents only wanted one child, or so I was told. My dad wanted a boy, so I guess he got lucky first time around."

"Your dad…what was he like?" Judy asked in a soft tone, as not to catch a nerve.

Nick looked away for a hesitant moment, and Judy quickly withdrew.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't-"

"You're fine, Carrots. His name was Nathaniel," Nick said, looking down. "I don't remember a lot about him, as I was only five when he passed. But when looking back at old pictures, he looked a lot like me. I have my mother's eyes — his were blue — but I have the same trim form as he did. The same snout and just about the same height, as it would play out," he paused with a sigh.

"Nick, you don't have to tell me," Judy said in a gentle voice.

"I would have told you at some point. Why not now?" He drummed his paws on the chair he sat in. "Mom always said he was the kindest mammal she ever met, and also a fox, which is why she married him," Nick gave a pathetic chuckle. "She said he was an idealist, that he fought directly against the trope that all foxes are sly and up to no good. He'd help out the neighbors like he had known them for years, and would always smile at others on the street, even if they glared back, she said.

"One day he was tending to the lawn when a police cruiser pulled up. It turns out one of our neighbors were part of a crime network, no surprise there, considering the neighborhood. Mom said he just watched as they dragged him out of the house. I think Redford was his name — I don't really remember. He started to fight against the officer holding him and eventually freed himself from the restraints. He was taken to the ground almost immediately, but they started to beat him with their clubs. That was when my dad ran to the scene."

Nick was silent for a long moment. It was as if he were reflecting on something he had tried to block from his mind for so many years.

"The report says that he provoked an officer, though my mother says otherwise. She watched from the kitchen window, according to her story, as her husband tried to pull the officers off Redford, who was on the verge of consciousness at this point. One of them knocked my dad to the ground. He got back up, maybe looking a little more vicious than he intended to, and started to rush back in to stop the beating when a nearby officer, a pig, fired on him. He was dead before the EMT showed up, in fact, they say he died immediately. Right between his sky blue eyes and out between his ears."

Judy was at a loss for words. She found herself staring down at her feet, though her mind was racing. How come he had never told her this before? Such an event is something that would even outshine Nick's muzzle story. She had known the fox for almost half a year, and he had never as much as mentioned that his father was slaughtered by a police officer.

A whole new sensation of question and even guilt rushed upon her when she glanced up, seeing the blue uniform the fox was wearing as he told her this.

"Nick…" but she didn't know what to tell him.

"Don't feel bad," Nick said, clearly trying to lighten the mood. "Again, I was five. As tragic as it was, I hardly remember Nathan. Maybe it's best that way."

Judy looked down, silently disagreeing.

"The trial was easily dismissed as a police officer defending herself from a hostile predator. Even if we had the money for a lawyer, which we didn't, they wouldn't be any match for whoever the ZPD could hire to defend themselves. There was a small funeral and a personal apology from a few officers, though none of the ones who were on the scene that day. For all that I know, the officer who killed my dad might still work for a precinct somewhere."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Judy asked.

"Because admit it, it's a depressing story. It's already put a damper on our holiday getaway."

Silence claimed the room, and the sound of playing kits became audible again, despite the fact that it had always been there.

"Does it bother you, being a police officer after what happened?" Judy asked.

"No, not really," Nick admitted. "I know that none of the officers at precinct one did this, so why blame them? And why let something that happened so long ago hold me back? If was my choice to become an officer, and maybe, by taking this job, I can prevent something like my dad's murder from ever happening again."

Judy looked up at Nick, into his surprisingly tranquil green eyes. They didn't look at her, but she knew he could feel her staring.

Judy moved to the edge of her bed, leaning forward to put a paw on Nick's arm.

"It means a lot that you told me," she said, looking down and allowing for the silence to retake the room. It was when she looked back up at him that her heart seemed to skip a beat.

He was looking down at her, muzzle closed, completely silent. His gaze wasn't one of analysis or humor. His face was serious, but his eyes were soft, almost curious as he gazed down into her amethyst eyes.

What is he thinking? Judy wondered though she didn't look away. Something about his eyes was hypnotizing.

A smile graced his lips. Her heart climbed into her throat.

The door opened.

"Judy…oh?"

Both heads turned to see a little brow rabbit standing in the doorway. She looked at them for a moment with a questioning look, nose twitching slightly, only to snap herself out of it.

"Mom wanted me to tell you that supper would be ready in five," She said before closing the door.

The two looked back at each other, and Judy was almost disappointed to see that Nick's smirk had returned.

"Do your siblings know to knock?"

Judy chuckled. "In a house full of bunnies, there's not a lot of privacy. Better get used to it, Wilde, you wanted to come after all."

"I know. Now, let's go change and wash up. Judging from the smell alone, your mother is an amazing cook."

---

All the long tables in the Hopps family dining room (more like dining hall) were filled. Notwithstanding the presence of a Red Fox, the hall was filled with the ambiance of pleasant small talk. Nick sat at a table with Judy, her parents, and a few of her closest siblings. Nick sat at the far right of the table, with Judy on his left. Across from him was Bonnie, and at his right — being the head of the table — was Stu Hopps.

The tables were lined with a variety of dishes, all of which were vegetarian. All save for the plate before Nick.

"Bonnie," Nick picked at the plate before him, "you really didn't have to."

"When I said 'make yourself at home' I meant it. Though I will admit, I have never cooked fish, so I do hope it turned out well." Bonnie's eyes were hopeful yet reserved.

Nick cut a small piece from the fish, gingerly bringing it to his muzzle with his fork. He tried to remain civil, despite how uncomfortable it made him feel to eat meat around so many of the Prey kind.

The fish was cooked well — tender to the point it seemed to melt in his mouth — though it could have used some seasoning. Though Nick didn't dare say anything other than, "It's perfect, Bonnie. I really appreciate it."

The sincerity of Nick's words seemed to put her at ease, and she, for the first time, focused on the plate before her.

"So, Nick," Stu's eyes were focused down on his food, though he didn't seem to be doing much more than rolling the salad under his fork, "what did you do before you joined the force?"

Judy looked up at him, the slightest of concern in her eyes.

Of course, I won't tell them the truth, was Nick's mental reply to her, and she seemed to pick it up.

"I was an entrepreneur of sorts," Nick said, meeting Stu's eyes for a moment, "though my business mostly involved the production and marketing of foodstuffs. Mostly seasonal things, like overseeing hot coffee and cocoa sales in the winter, and popsicle and smoothie stands in the summer. Indeed, it wasn't the most prestigious career, but…" Nick took another generous bite of fish, "it paid the bills."

Nick was pleased to see the slightest bit of satisfaction — and thus, trust — in Stu's eyes.

"Foodstuffs," Stu nodded, finally starting at his salad. "I mean, it isn't hard to tell we're all about selling the goods around here. It's a farm after all." He washed down some salad with his glass. "I don't believe I've asked, but how did you two meet, if not through the force?"

Nick and Judy exchanged glances.

"Well, I…" they both started at once, pausing to look at each other and laugh a little. Nick gave Judy a "go on…" hand gesture.

"Nick was a key witness in my first case — a reluctant one at that. This guy gave me the hardest time at first," she rolled her eyes and jabbed her thumb to the fox on her right. "I mean, he took me to a DMV run by sloths. Sloths! It took hours just to track one plate," Judy found herself reliving the memories. Memories that, at the time, were fueled by anxiety over losing her badge and frustration with this street-smart and dream crushing fox. But, upon looking back, she wished she could turn back time just to experience it again. Going over a waterfall together. Nick pretending to go savage.

All of it.

"But, after the most intense forty-eight hours of my life, I realized how good of a friend he had become, and how good of a partner he could be," Judy continued. "So, I offered him the job."

"And here we are," said Nick.

"I must ask, are you two together?" a voice from down the table piped. It was one of Judy's brothers, a brown buck with almost bright blue eyes.

The room—or at least the table—went silent.

Judy flushed vibrant colors and Nick's eyes shot to the floor as he chuckled nervously. Stu was waiting for the reply, as if he was ready to go fetch a shotgun if he had to. Bonnie didn't look as nervous, though she was watching on with interest.

"We're just friends," Nick said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Partners."

"Yeah," Judy chuckled weakly.

"Oh, sorry," the buck said, almost looking disappointed.

"About to say, I've never seen an interspecies relationship as ludicrous as a fox and a rabbit," Stu said.

"Stuart!" Bonnie scoffed.

"What?"

"Mom, it's fine," Judy eased. "Nick and I are partners before anything else. And we're asked that question a lot."

Nick nodded in compliance. "Almost every other day. Everyone at the precinct is always nagging, "When are you two gonna get married?"" Nick said in a deep, police-esque impersonation. "But, I will admit — your daughter," he turned to the other end of the table, "your sister — she's the best partner I could ever ask for. She has this almost childlike determination — one might say naivete, though I would say otherwise — which drives her to be the best at almost everything. Even at being a police officer."

"Aw," Bonnie cooed and placed a hand on her heart.

*KNOCK*

*KNOCK*

*KNOCK*

Nick hid his amusement (and slight awe) when every pair of ears in the room perked up all in perfect unison.

Stu took initiative, standing from his seat. "Everyone, just keep eating. I'll go see who it is." He proceeded to the front door, hardly in view from their seat at the table.

Nick glanced at Judy.

"Probably just neighbors who need a cup of flour," Judy shrugged. "Lots of neighbors out here." She started at her salad plate. Nick did the same, hoping to finish off the fish before it grew too cold.

They were both interrupted when a slightly fazed Stu returned to the kitchen.

He hesitated for a moment before managing to say, "It's for you." He looked at his daughter, then to Nick. "Both of you."

---

The den Nick had seen upon entering the home was even cozier than he had imagined, especially now that it was evening. He sat beside Judy on a snug brown sofa, a patchwork quilt draped over its cushions. The fire that had been casually flickering had grown into a thriving flame with aid from some fresh logs. The hickory smell was thick but pleasant.

The moment was pleasant, and he would have enjoyed getting away from Judy's family to talk to her in such a serene environment. Had the mayor of Bunnyburrow not been sitting across from the two officers, Nick might have found himself nodding off at Judy's side. Due to present company, of course, Nick was wide awake.

Something about this has to do with me, doesn't it? Nick couldn't stop himself from wondering — no, more like predicting the ensuing conversation. Maybe Judy was right. I'm going to be thrown out of town, not by an angry mob of cotton-tails, but by a formal meeting with the mayor herself and a polite dismissal of himself from the county — yes, this is much more realistic.

"Officers Hopps and Wilde, it's great to see you both," the mayor started. She was a light brown rabbit dressed in a tight black suit and tie. A small patch of lighter brown hair grew on top of her head, combed gently over.

Judy smiled, though she struggled to contain her startled nature. "And you as well, Madame Mayor Buttercup."

Buttercup. Nick thought, and didn't know why he expected anything else. This was Bunnyburrow, after all. And bunnies, despite their hatred of other species calling them cute, just had to pick the cutest names.

"No need for such formality," the mayor said in a lighthearted manner. "It's Anna to friends, and we're all friends here."

This is it. This is when it happens. Should I just leave now and make it less awkward? Nick studied the mayor, though she didn't seem to be uneasy by his presence like he thought she would.

"So let's get right to why I'm here," Anna said. "As you probably both know, the annual Harvest Festival, also known as 'Carrot Days' to some of our older residents, is occurring downtown over the next few days. We're expecting the usual turn up, somewhere around ten-thousand visitors, not including the residents."

Nick was slightly shocked. Not because of the number of visitors coming to the festival — he expected far more — but rather that the mayor hadn't yet addressed the obvious reason she was here. The fact that Nick had to leave. But did it ever occur to you that she's here for another reason?

"With so many mammals attending the festival, it would make sense for the even to be a potential target for small-scale attacks or hate crimes. Nothing major has occurred in the past, and I don't expect anything much this year, but it's always best to be on guard. And that's where you two come into play…" the mayor grinned. "You get where I'm going with this. I need the two best police officers in town — or in all of Animalia, for that matter, because don't think for a second that you two's fame doesn't reach all the way out here — to help keep an eye out at the festival. Now, I'm not implying that you're forced to patrol the streets day and night for the entirety of the festival — heavens no! I would just…I would be very grateful if the two of you could be present, in uniform, during the major events. The parade, for example. You will be paid, obviously. Thoughts?"

Judy seemed a little shocked. Nick seemed very shocked.

"We'd be delighted to, wouldn't we, Nick?" Judy looked over to see her partner in a state of confusion.

"Everything okay, Officer Wilde?" Anna asked.

Nick hesitated, looked up at her, and collected himself. "Yes, yes I'm fine. I…I just expected you were here because of me."

The mayor thought for a short moment before mouthing "Oh" and shaking her head, almost vigorously. "I understand visiting a town such as Bunnyburrow can't be easy for you, Officer Wilde, but I'm really against all this predator-prey bickering. The town itself still has some…issues to work out — probably thanks to my predecessor, Mayor Thumper. He was very, let's just say, old-fashioned. But ever since my election three years ago, I've been trying my hardest to make Bunnyburrow — despite its name — a place for all mammals, predator and prey alike. And I think your presence tomorrow at the parade would help emphasize that, no?"

Nick nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, sounds like a solid plan. And you, Carro—Hopps?"

"I'm in," Judy piped.

"Excellent," Anna said, rubbing her paws together. "Again, you two will receive payment directly from me, and now that I know you're both in, I'll be notifying the ZPD for their ultimate permission. Thank you both so much! Tomorrow, try and arrive before the parade starts. Any further questions I can answer, as I'll be attending myself. Now, I'll get out of your fur, I noticed there was a meal taking place when I appeared so unexpectedly."

Thinking back to his now cold fish, Nick internalized his groan. He liked salad, but he wasn't sure how much salad he could handle before he imploded. This week would be the test.

"Thank you, Anna, for letting us do this. I've never flashed my badge on home turf before," Judy said, rising from her chair to shake the mayor's paw.

"I should be the one thanking you — and I am! It will be great to have the first rabbit police officer attending tomorrow — maybe to inspire some little guys."

Judy chuckled shyly, as she always did when someone praised her image. The fact that the praise was coming from the mayor of her hometown was enough to make her blush.

Anna turned to Nick, who had risen from the sofa. "And Officer Wilde, thank you. It's been a while since we've had a predator visit willingly, and I'd like to be first to say we're happy to have you." Nick was surprised that her voice, nor her stature, showed any sign of hesitation as she offered her paw, flashing a genuine grin. Nick returned it, shaking her paw delicately.

She joined her escorts outside the front door, who walked beside her to a slick black car with tinted windows, standing out significantly in the gravel drive, parked next to the beaten pick up truck and an old rusted plow.

"For the mayor of Bunnyburrow, not gonna lie, I'm impressed," Nick remarked.

"Yeah, she's the best we've had," Judy said.

"Talks a lot."

"Not a bad aspect to have when mayor."

Nick shrugged, "True…"

Stu walked into the den, looking just as startled as before.

"That was Mayor Annabelle Buttercup!" Stu exclaimed.

Nick and Judy exchanged glances.

Judy chuckled sheepishly, "Yep, that's her name."

"Well? What was that about?" Stu's eyes moved to Nick. "She didn't ask you to…"

"No, she didn't," Nick replied flatly. "She offered us to show up in uniform to the festival, to which we agreed."

"Looks like we're security guards," Judy said.

"But what about the activities?" Stu asked.

Judy laughed, "Don't worry, dad, I'll participate. We're only on guard during the big events — stuff like the parade, Buttercup's speech, and longest grown carrot awards."

Nick raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, good," Stu said. "Wouldn't want you to have driven all the way down here just to miss out on the activities. Anyways, the food's getting cold."

---

Dinner ended as Nick managed to get down what was now a cold fish. He chased it with some salad (what else).

The younger kits were rushed to bed, both upstairs and out in the barns, though there would be very little sleeping as they waited with anxious excitement for the following day. The aunts and uncles made their way to the guest bedrooms, making their rounds to say goodnight to the kids.

"So, you always say goodnight to all of them?" Nick asked as he walked with Judy up the stairs.

"Just the ones upstairs, and no, I normally don't. But I've been away for a while, so I need to see them. It's called being a good aunt," Judy replied with a smirk. "And, you know, you should hang around the kits more often. Talk to them. They'll grow on you fast."

Nick nodded as they walked, "…So does that mean I have to say goodnight as well?"

Judy rolled her eyes and sighed, "Fine, you can wait in the hallway."

"What? What's going to be their first reaction when a fox sneaks into their room? It'll scare them out of their fur," Nick said, reaching the top of the stairs.

"No, no. I understand," Judy said.

She stopped at each an every door, slowly creaking the door open and slipping inside to tuck in and talk with the bunnies inside.

One time, while Judy was quietly singing a lullaby one of the youngest kits, a door opened nearby. Nick turned his head, though remained leaning against the wall, his hands in his pockets.

A dark grey kit, looking to be around seven, emerged from his room carrying an empty glass gently in his paws. His ears were erect on his head, and his nervous glance portrayed that, to him, reaching the downstairs to retrieve a glass of water at such a late hour was like a scene from a Mission Impawsible movie.

His mission, however, was compromised the moment he turned to see Nick staring down at him. The bunny froze, ears lowering, his nose twitching in a frenzy. He obviously hadn't planned on getting caught, though the sight of the fox seemed to erase any other thoughts from his mind.

Nick though back on Judy's words. "They'll grow on you," she had said.

"Hey there, buddy," Nick said, taking a step forward. "You thirsty?"

The bunny's wide eyes never left the predator before him. He nodded slowly.

"Then I'll run downstairs and get you some water. Can I have your glass?" Nick said reaching out carefully, as not to further frighten the little thing. He took the glass from his paws and proceeded down the stairs, where he filled up the glass from a tap and returned, feeling somewhat like a waiter at a bed and breakfast.

When Nick returned, the kit had hardly moved from his position.

"Here ya go, kid. Two paws," Nick handed him the full glass.

The rabbit took the cup gingerly, looking up at him with hazel eyes that couldn't understand. He had probably been told about predators, and judging by his reaction, he had most definitely been warned of foxes.

"Please…don't tell my mommy I was up," the kit said in a voice hardly more than a whisper. It was more of a breathe.

"It's our secret, buddy," Nick winked.

It was small, unsure, and maybe involuntary, but a subtle smile worked its way across the kit's lips. He turned and walked back into his room. Judy reemerged from the other room just moments after.

"Whatcha smiling about, Slick?"

Nick shrugged, "You have a nice singing voice."

"Do I now?" Judy grinned.

"Yes, yes you do. You don't sing enough, and when you do it's just that Gazelle song, over and over and over again," Nick grinned.

Judy scoffed and motioned for him to follow. "Come on, fox. You're gonna want to say goodnight to this next one."

Nick followed behind Judy as they crept into the next room. Watercolor paintings were clipped to every wall and golden stars were cast onto the ceiling from a night light in the corner. Cotton's ears perked at the sound of the opening door, and she propped herself up on one arm to see who was visiting.

"Aunt Judy." Cotton's voice was drowsy but cheerful.

"Hey there," Judy laughed in a hushed voice, walking to the side of her bed. "You're still awake?"

"Yeah, kind of."

Cotton's gaze drifted beyond Judy, falling on the fox who ducked under the doorway.

"Nick!" The kit seemed to suddenly wake up. "Do you like my room?"

"It's lovely, sweetheart," Nick said in a sly yet delicate tone, kneeling down beside her bed.

"I like to paint a lot!" Cotton giggled.

"I can see that," Nick said. "Someday, do you think you could paint me something?"

The kit's cheery expression transcended to that of pure elation. "Yes!" She said, stardust in her eyes.

Judy laughed, pulling the blanket up to her neck. "Alright, settle down. You need to get some sleep, little thing."

"Aww! Aunt Judy, you're no fun!"

"Yeah, Aunt Judy. No fun at all!" Nick grinned, receiving a glare from the rabbit. His grin only widened.

Judy shook her head and sighed. "Well, unless you want to be too tired to play any fair games tomorrow, you need to go to sleep."

"Will you be there?" Cotton asked Judy.

"Of course I will, but I'll be in uniform. Nick and I have to keep watch," Judy replied.

"Watch over what?" Cotton asked.

Judy pondered, "Well…"

"We're security guards," Nick said.

Judy nodded, "Yep. Security guards."

Cotton looked at Nick. "Will I get to hold your badge again?"

Nick laughed in a hushed voice. "Sure thing, but it'll have to wait until morning. You," he gently poked her chest with a claw, "need to get some rest."

"But I'm not tire-"

"Yes, you are! Sleep-sleep time!" Nick silenced her protests by pulled the rabbit's blanket up to her neck. He then rose to his feet and headed for the door. "See you in the morning, Cottonball! Sweet dreams!" he called, walking out the door.

Cotton's eyes found Judy's.

"Cottonball," Cotton giggled.

"I know — what is it with him and the nicknames?" Judy shook her head with a light chuckle. She looked into Cotton's lively eyes, though her mind was elsewhere, reminiscing on times of old.

"You're going to want to refrain from calling me 'Carrots'."

"I like him," was all Cotton said, only her head peeking out from the blanket.

"Yeah. Me too," Judy replied, and felt a sharp twang of heartache. It almost mirrored the feeling she had felt while he was miles away, at the academy. But he wasn't miles away anymore, in fact, he was just outside the door. Probably propped up against the wall and whistling a tune she didn't know.

Heartache…

But why?

Judy forced herself back into the present, where Cotton was still staring innocently up at her.

"Alright, little thing. I'll see you in the morning," Judy said. She rose and started for the door.

"Goodnight, Judy!" Cotton called, a paw emerging from underneath the blanket to wave.

---

Upon returning to the downstairs, both Nick and Judy were surprised to see that a small crowd had accumulated. Mostly consisting of Judy's older brothers, it appeared.

"Perfect timing, you two," one of the rabbits approached — a buck looking to be older than Judy yet younger than Nick. He had a brownish color to his fur which made him stand out among the grey masses. "Nick, I believe we haven't met. I'm Jade." He extended a paw.

Nick momentarily marveled at how many rabbit paws he had shaken that night, and didn't stop himself from shaking one more.

"Jade, huh? Your parents have a thing for four-letter names starting with 'J'?" Nick wisecracked.

Jade laughed and nodded, "So it would seem. Jake, Jill, Jess, June, Jane, Judy, and myself. Probably some others, but eh, I lose track."

"Understandably," Nick said.

"So what's with the activity so late? Did I forget a birthday or something?" Judy asked.

"No,at least, I don't believe so, but I stopped keeping track after mom had the fourth litter," Jade murmured. His face then heightened into a gleeful smile. "It's Friday night!"

"Oh no," Judy muttered.

Nick looked down at her, then up to Jade. "Is there…something I'm missing?"

"Oh, yes, right," Jade said, his words coming in a surge. "Every Friday, especially on holidays, the bucks all go out for drinks. There's a pub downtown that we frequent — has quite the variety of some quality beverages, might I say. The rest were wondering if you'd be willing to tag along? Never had a predator at the bar before."

"Mm…" Nick nodded, "It's not just carrot vodka and the likes, is it?"

Jade laughed, "Not unless that's what you prefer."

"Got anything blueberry?" Nick asked.

"Have they got anything blueberry?" Jade scoffed. "They've got everything blueberry!"

Nick grinned, pausing a for a moment to think, despite already knowing his answer. "Alright. I'm in.

Jade smiled, turning to the crowd. "Hey! The fox is with us!" he shouted, and an uproar rang out. Nick was surprised to see such a reaction, though most of the bucks in the room appeared to be in college, if not fresh out of it. Nick assumed that their preconceived notions on predators, if any, had been dimmed at school. Most universities tried to pair predator and prey together as a way of forming unique bonds.

Nick wondered if any of the bucks in the room had a vixen girlfriend…

"Alright, we're pilling' into the trucks," Jade said, throwing an arm around Nick's shoulder to lead him to the door, though with Nick being considerably taller than him, this was rather difficult. "Don't worry, little sis, we'll treat him right."

Nick threw a glance back at Judy, who gave him a reassuring look.

"Do me a favor and don't get absolutely hammered," she said.

"No promises." He turned for the door, smirking.

Never in my life would I expect to drink with rabbits…how did that Gazelle song go again?

Back at the house, Bonnie approached from behind Judy. Placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder, she induced a jump.

"Oh, sorry, hon. I didn't mean catch you off guard, there," said with a sheepish laugh. "Anything on your mind?"

Judy shrugged, turning back to the door, where the last of the bucks (and Nick) were managing to fit themselves into a limited number of pick-up trucks.

Bonnie, too, looked out the door. "Don't worry, I'm sure Nick will be fine."

"Oh, I wasn't worried about that," Judy said. She was definitely sure Nick would be fine. In fact, he'd probably return having made acquaintances with most all her brothers. Hammered, yes — he would return hammered. But her mom knew how to brew up a pretty potent anti-hangover.

Bonnie looked at her daughter for a long moment, trying to understand what was troubling her, because she knew something was troubling her. No matter how hard Judy might try to cover it up, Bonnie knew her strategies, because, after all, she was her mother.

But she also knew attempting to get Judy to spit it out wouldn't obtain a good outcome, so she simply smiled. "Come join us. Your sisters want to talk to you, you know?" She directed Judy towards a table, where her sisters sat and talked.

They played a few board games, none of which were particularly engaging to Judy, but she played nonetheless. Her sisters spoke of marriage, as some already had rings on their fingers, while most had a particular candidate in mind.

"He owns a little plot out by the Twilight Hills area," one of Judy's sisters said. "A cozy little place near Crescent Lake. It's been in his family for generations. He told me now all he needed now was someone to tend it with."

There was a chorus of "aww's".

Judy tried to look interested, but the thought of settling for another farmer made her want to go back to Zootopia, where there was diversity. Bias, yes. Prejudice, yes. Vigorous stereotyping, yes.

But at least to break the mold. Society's perfect little mold, which it tried to pour each and every mammal into, according to their species. Rabbits are farmers. Foxes are thugs. Raccoons are conniving.

She wanted someone who would break the mold.

"Hey, Judy? How's your partner?" A sister asked.

"Oh, Nick? He's great — best partner I could ever ask for."

One of her older sisters, Jessica, leaned in. "When you say partner, do you mean partners as in "partners through the force"? Or is there something more behind the scenes-"

"Nope!" Judy said quickly, almost surprising herself with the answer. "We're just friends! That is all."

"Oh really?"

"You talk to him all the time!"

"Like, all the time."

"Guys," Judy chuckled nervously, "he's a fox. It's unlikely enough that we were partners. I highly doubt it will go further than that."

"You highly doubt or you know?"

"Jessica! We're friends, okay? He's a likable guy, and he's fun to work with. Is there really anything more I must say to convince you?"

"Well, you know, if you are interested in him-"

"I'm not!" Judy said, rubbing her forehead.

"Say you were. If you don't make a move soon, surely he'll find someone else."

There it was again, that heartache. A sinking feeling in her chest, as if her ribcage was imploding.

"He said he's never been much of a romantic," Judy said.

"Oh please," Jessica said with a wave of her paw. "That fox has vixens crawling all over him."

"Will you please let up? He's my partner, nothing more. He's my friend, nothing more. If he likes someone else, so what?" Her voice wavered, and the words seemed to hurt as she said them. "Again, he's a fox. Even if I did like him in that way…"

"Well, you know," one of her younger sisters from down the table said, "interspecies relationships are becoming more common nowadays."

"Yes, but not pred-prey relationships," Judy said.

"For natural enemies, you two seem to get along just fine."

It was true. The pair did work well together. Something about how completely different they were attracted, like the opposing ends of a magnet. He, a fox, a former-hustler, a predator. She, a rabbit, a cop, a prey mammal. These were the kinds of animals who were supposed to see each other with disgust, personal belief and bias stacked high against one another.

But, somehow, they worked. Maybe because they each faced their own prejudices. They were the most effective partners in the ZPD, to most everyone's surprise. And if they got along so well, why not go further…

"Judy? You there?" Bonnie put her paw on Judy's shoulder.

"Yeah, sorry. I'm just tired."

She wasn't tired. Her mind was racing.

"I think I'll go to bed early. Sorry guys."

A place alone where she could think. Where she could sort out her emotions and get a solid answer to the question…the question…what was the question?

You know the question, you're just too nervous to admit it.

She got up from the table.

"Are you sure, honey?" Bonnie said with concern.

"Wanna play another game? We got Carrots to Carrots!" A sister said.

"I'm alright, but thanks, guys."

She made her way upstairs, leaving a puzzled table to share awkward stares. Collapsing onto her bed, she had to admit that she had missed the burrow. Her room. Her parents. Her siblings, all of them.

So why did she feel so alone?

You know the question, because you've been asking yourself it for a while now.

She rolled over to face the wall, tucking her paws under the covers.

Do I like him? Do I like Nick Wilde? Do I like a fox?

His words replayed over in her mind.

"You know you love me."

And her response.

"Do I know that? Yes. Yes, I do."

But that was just banter. Friendly banter, the kind of things friends do. Friends do friendly banter.

This was deeper.

Was she willing to admit to him that his eyes were entrancing? His speech, alluring. His looks, appealing. His smile, warming. His smirk, admirable. Was she willing to admit to her parents that she liked a natural enemy? A predator? A fox? Was she willing to admit to the world that she, a rabbit, liked him, a fox? Was the world ready to accept such a statement?

Do I love you? Say I did?

…Would you love me?

---

For a town full of rabbits, Nick was surprised at the nightlife in the main square. A stage had been erected in the middle of the red-brick street, on which a band was drumming out a classic rock tune while a decent crowd gathered at the foot. Couples sat on the benches near the fountain centered in the middle of the square. Purple lights within the fountain lit up the water, making it appear almost magical. A street guitarist played on a street corner, his case open at his foot, loose bucks strewn about inside. Late-night shoppers and diners roamed the streets.

Rabbits, of course. He did notice the occasional deer or beaver wandering about.

All prey.

For the second time today, Nick sat at the tail end of a cramped pickup, his legs folded into his chest, arms strewn lazily over his knees. Judy's brothers talked nonchalantly, and while he felt more welcome with them than some of the older members of the Hopps household, he still noticed the slight room they gave him.

He was a fox, after all. It was only natural.

"So, your drink of choice?"

The voice belonged to Jade, who sat to Nick's left.

"Eh, I experiment."

"Then…your most recent experimental results?"

Nick stared out the truck bed for a moment, finding his eyes tracing along the pedestrian path and the shop windows. Winter coats. Overalls. Farming supplies. Purses.

It was as if the place was trying to mimic the average downtown-square vibe, but couldn't help but sprinkle in the stereotypical statement that 'We are rabbits! We like to farm!'

"Whiskey's alright," Nick shrugged.

"You said you liked blueberry?" Jade asked.

"I do," Nick said, still looking out at the passing shops. "Enlighten me."

Jade smiled, leaning towards Nick. "Blueberry vodka — and don't say you don't like vodka. I'm not Russian, either, but sometimes I wish I was."

Nick raised an eyebrow.

"Just, trust me," Jade stammered.

The truck pulled onto the side of the road next to what Nick assumed was the bar. A redbrick building on the bottom floor of a block of flats. Red neon lights cast a heated tint onto the surrounding buildings. An orange glow from inside emitted from the corners of drawn blinds.

O'Hare's, spelled the neon.

Judy's brothers (literally) hopped out of the truck. Nick followed, tail swishing nonchalantly.

The door set of a small chime as they entered. The warmth of the establishment, not too intense but enough to be noticeable, suited the orangish-yellow lighting well. Nick got what he expected: pool table, glossy black counter, sports networks, whispery jazz. There was even a broken jukebox.

Eyes glanced to the entrance, where widened and stuck. Nick knew, with his height, the color of his fur, and the scent of fox (despite his best attempt to hide it with scent-mask) made him stand out from the rest like a radish in a carrot patch. There where points and whispers and distrustful gazes. There always were.

Nick leaned onto the countertop, the other rabbits filling in at his sides. Jade chose his right, and Nick knew that he wasn't escaping this rabbit (though he didn't really have a problem with that). On his left was a white rabbit he didn't know.

The bartender, a hare who looked like he had seen both better and worse days, approached. He was casually swirling an amber glass of what Nick assumed was some sort of bourbon or scotch. His eyelids drooped, and Nick made a mental bet with himself that his voice would be fittingly monotoned.

"It's the Hopps," he said, and Nick won the bet. "But more than usual…the festival, I suppose?"

"What else?" Jade said. "How about you, Charlie? You celebrating this weekend?"

"Nah, I haven't a field. Just this sore place. Good business on holidays, though…so I guess there's a reason to celebrate."

And that's when he saw Nick, Charlie's fatigued stature hesitating for the shortest moment, though Nick noticed. The fox could almost see his mental double-take, making sure his ever-fatigued eyes weren't hallucinating — they weren't. A fox, sitting at his bar, accompanied by a crowd of rabbits.

"I see you've got a friend," Charlie said, his voice as flat as before. He spoke to Nick this time, "What brings you out to the burrows, friend? Kinda seems like the last place on the planet you'd wanna be, no offense."

Nick looked down and chuckled. "None taken. I'm here for work," Nick lied, though the more he thought about it, he realized it had become the truth. He would be in uniform tomorrow.

Charlie raised a brow, "In Bunnyburrow?"

Silence.

"He's dating my sister," Jade quipped.

Charlie raised the other brow. "Judy?"

Nick shot a glare at the bunny beside him. "Not dating," muttered through his teeth, "just partners."

"…Partners?" Charlie said.

"ZPD," Nick turned to the bartender, calming himself. "Partners through work."

Charlie gave the neighboring rabbits glances. He then took a sip from his glass, eyes remaining on the fox as if he'd pounce on a turned back.

Nick sighed. Digging into his pocket, he revealed his wallet, which he opened and slapped down onto the bar, sliding it towards the bartender. In a transparent pouch was Nick's Police ID, to the bartender's surprise. But Nick knew an illegitimate ID print could be made to look almost exactly as his own did. He could list a few 'specialists' in the inner-city who could easily produce an identical card. He wouldn't confess it to Judy — not ever — but he had bought a few counterfeit documents in the past.

It had been a while, after all. He was a cop now. No longer the low-life scum he had openly accepted himself to be only a year ago. He won't believe me. Of course, he won't believe me.

The bartender nodded slightly, returning Nick's wallet. "Nick Wilde, a copper. Huh. Interesting choice — I didn't know they had hired any…eh…"

"Foxes?" Nick deadpanned, already knowing the answer.

Charlie let only a hint of regret show behind his baggy eyes. He nodded. Sipped.

"Yeah, I'm the first," Nick muttered, diverting his eyes as if to end the conversation.

Charlie gave half a smile. "Well, that's great, pal."

Silence, save for a growling saxophone as it flared into a lick.

"Can I mix Y'all up a little somethin'?" Charlie asked. "You? Officer Wilde?"

Nick glanced at Jade, then back to Charlie. "It'll be blueberry vodka."

Jade smiled. "Make that two!"

Charlie retrieved a tall, blue bottle from the shelves behind him, pouring it's clear contents into a small glass already containing ice. He speared three blueberries on a needle, which he dropped into the glass, sliding it forward as he proceeded to gather drinks for the rest of the lot.

"So, you and Judy," Jade said, taking a sip of his own glass. His ears perked, and he looked down at his glass. "Fresh batch," he nodded approvingly, then looked back to Nick. "Anyways — how'd that happen? I heard y'all discussing it at the table, but I wanna hear it straight from the horse's mouth if that's alright with you." Jade gave a small smile, then glanced around to make sure there weren't any horses nearby.

"Not a problem," Nick said, taking his first sip of the drink before him. The stuff packed a bitter punch, despite virtually having no taste. Only after Nick swallowed did he catch the wang of blueberry, which seemed to fester and thrive on his taste buds. "Oh, damn…"

Jade threw his ears back and cackled. "What? Didn't think we rabbits could brew?" Jade proceeded to down his glass, then wipe his mouth with the back of his paw. "Told ya you'd like it. Charlie! Anotha'!"

Nick finished his glass, pulling the blueberries from the toothpick with his teeth. Charlie silently pored him another.

"I met her on the streets," Nick said, holding the glass under his nose.

"You didn't meet on the job?" Jade asked.

"You kidding me?" Nick snorted. "You think I, of all mammals, would've joined the ZPD? Judy's the only reason I'm on the force."

"And how'd that happen?"

"Long, long story," Nick said. He took another sip, both grimacing and delighting at the taste. A funny thing, liquor is.

"I've got time," Jade said.

Nick stared down at the black gloss of the bar, a darker tinted red fox staring back at him. "So, no, I didn't become an officer on my own." He paused and turned to Jade. "How about you try and guess my old carrier? Can't be too hard."

"You're implying it's stereotypical, then?" Jade said.

"More than you can imagine," murmured Nick. He took another sip.

"Okay, then," Jade readjusted himself in his seat. "You didn't work at Bugburga or anything like that, did you?"

Nick chuckled, "Nope. Think less predator, more fox."

"Mm…" Jade thought, then both his eyes opened wide and his ears stood tall. "Aha! You were…you sure I'm not offending you?"

"Nope."

"Con mammal. Con mammal for sure — you've got that way with your words."

"Con artist, actually. You should have seen my best hustles — the very definition of art. Mwah!" He kissed his fingertips.

"And there it is, that silver tongue."

They both laughed, drank, asked for another.

"But anyways," Nick continued, "I hustled Judy into buying an elephant-sized popsicle for my little boy, who's actually my friend, Finnick, dressed in a toddler's onesie."

Jade broke into a fit of laughter.

"I then proceeded to melt down the popsicle, re-freeze it into smaller paw-shaped popsicles (which I named Pawpsicles), then sold around a hundred, each for two bucks. I then returned the popsicle sticks to a lumber company. A full day's work to earn an honest living."

Jade was still laughing when Nick finished his story. "Con artist, indeed." He wiped tears from his eyes, getting a hold of himself, but only for a moment, before breaking out laughing again. "I can imagine Judy's face when she found out — she found out, right?"

"Yup," Nick took a sip and laughed a bit as well. He could feel the influence influencing him already. "So she looked up my record and discovered I had been avoiding tax for years. Felony tax evasion, she told me, then proceeded to drag me into helping her in a case."

"Sounds a lot like her," Jade said. He wiped a final tear from his eye. One final chuckle escaped. "She's always been the cop around the household. She used to chase us down if we stole as much as a crumb without asking. "Freeze! Paws in the air!""

Nick snickered, happy to add one more thing to the "childhood stories and self-jokes which annoy Officer Hopps to the brink of death" list.

"So, you ended up as her partner…how?" Jade asked.

"Well," Nick sighed, sipped, then slouched, "no offense to you or any of your lovely family, but I didn't exactly harmonize well with prey mammals. Not before the case, that is. They didn't like my teeth and claws; I didn't like their assumptions they slapped on me for being a fox. So I gave up on trying to be anything other than exactly what they wanted me to be: a sly and untrustworthy fox. Then, when your sister bought me a popsicle and threatened my arrest," Nick paused to snicker a bit, "I discovered — after running plates and consulting mob bosses and going over a waterfall — that she cared. I told her of my past, which is a story for another time…and she cared."

Nick paused. He swirled the remaining contents of his glass and thought of her violet eyes. They looked at him like no one looked at him. Like a mammal. Not as a con artist, or a predator, or a fox. She saw him as an equal.

"No one, especial prey, has ever believed in me the way she did. So, when she offered me the job, I took it. Sure, the pay is a downgrade from what I had, but I did get a fancy blue uniform. And a neat little trinket called a Glock 22."

This brought about a chuckle from the rabbit at his right, who was edging past tipsy with every sip. The fox himself was on glass three, and he had room for plenty more.

"How rude of me, I never asked about you," Nick said, and the buck scoffed.

"What's there to ask? Been engaged for two years, got two litters of my own. Inherited some acres from my father's field," he finished what had to be his fourth glass. "And you think your situation was stereotypical…But I'm happy! Who cares if I'm just like all them. Screw it!"

He called for another drink.

"So, when do rabbits usually get hitched?" Nick asked after a while of silence.

Jade swallowed, shook his head vigorously, and placed the glass down a little harder than he meant. "Eh — twenty? Twenty-one? That's when I hooked up."

Nick nodded. He looked down his opposite side to see the rest of Judy's brothers. Some had graduated well past tanked at this point, while others were well on their way. Stu was the only exception, a single jug of foaming beer in one paw. Nick glanced at their paws to see that almost all of them were wearing their rings.

"I know what your thinking," Jade said, his words beginning to stick together. "Judy's the oldest in our litter to be single." He shrugged. "She never was much of a romantic. But she romanticized bout' her dream job, that's for sure. And now that she's got it, I think she's as happy as a bride."

In a strange way, Nick believed could relate. Past high school, he tried to drop the whole dating thing. All he thought about was the next hustle, the next payload, the next birthday so he could go barhopping with Finnick and friends.

…Speaking of hustles, Finnick and Friends sounds like a legitimate company name…maybe host birthday parties…'Finnick and Friends, staring Finnick the miniature elephant'…

Nick realized the drinks were getting to him, so he shook his head, as if he could shake off the wooziness like water from his fur.

"I think she'd be happy with you," Jade said.

Nick rolled his eyes. "I think that's the drink is speaking."

"Nope, I could walk a straight line for miles, coppa! Take me outside and I'll prove it!" Jade cackled for a moment before quieting down. "But really, she likes you." His voice was a coo now.

Nick tried to speak, but couldn't manage the right words. He put his glass down, deciding getting carried away surrounded by Judy's family wasn't the best idea. He had already spilled his guts to a rabbit he had only known for an hour.

Jade continued, "I guess it's a brother thing, I dunno. But I know when she's happy. Truly happy. And ever since you've shown up, she's been in the best moods," Jade said and turned to Nick. "So, Mr. Con Artist, how do you see my sister?"

"I-I…" Nick started, hesitated, reached for his drink but stopped himself. "She…She's a great partner-"

"Will you stop saying that?" Jade said, polishing off drink five. "'She's a good partner! She's a great cop!' You say that like you're nothing but employees who drive around the same car and work at the same desk."

"Well, that's kind of exactly-"

"Not my point!" Jade shouted, receiving glass six along with a few curious glances from neighbors. "She likes you, Nick. I dunno about love, but it could get there."

Nick scoffed, preparing for a retort, but his words grew clogged in his throat.

"So you can answer my question now," he directed a finger at the fox. "Do you like her?"

Do I like her? Come on, she's a rabbit. A prey — I mean, what predator dates a prey? When has a fox ever liked a rabbit…A very cute rabbit at that…

"No," Nick finally said. "I mean — yes, I do like her, but only as a friend. I'm not much of a romantic either."

"Not a romantic—oh come on, Nick! Vixens have to be throwing themselves at your feet! Just look at those emerald eyes!"

Nick sighed, emerald eyes rolling. "She's cute, sure. And yes, I know, I shouldn't call a rabbit cute. It's like a cardinal sin to you guys."

Jade snorted into his drink. "It was Judy who told you that, wasn't it?"

"First day we met. She made it very clear."

"So you called her cute moment you met! That's reaaaal sweet," Jade's chuckles were almost maniacal. He downed glass six while Nick stayed silent. He eventually polished off and refilled yet again, cursing himself as he did so.

I can already hear her reprimanding me for this…

"But I'm a fox," Nick said into his cup. "We're natural enemies."

"You forget I'm a rabbit, too," Jade sneered. He pointed a paw at themselves, "We get along just fine. And you and Judy get along even better!"

Nick fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat. He wished he was sitting in a chair with a back he could slouch into.

He wished she was here. Sitting beside him, drinking a carrot martini or something similar. And the moment he realized this, he realized that her intoxicated brother might be getting to his head.

That or it was the drink in his paws.

"I dunno, it's just…not normal, a fox and a rabbit together," Nick said.

"Screw normal! Normal is boring. I'd know because I'm normal!" Jade said, and despite the buck not looking the slightest bit normal at the moment, it struck a chord in Nick. "Don't go and find yourself some downtown vixen to have three little kids with — sitting behind your white picket fence and reading the paper and longing for the weekend! Sitting on your ass from nine to five, wanting that new wristwatch or overpriced tie that your family doesn't have the money backyard! Buying into a twenty-five-year house payment and marriage counseling and anti-depressants a-and…that's everyone else's life! That's my life! You're the fox who's a police officer. You're the one with a rabbit as a partner. Hate to admit it to ya, but your not normal, Nick. So don't…don't try to be."

Jade tipped his glass to the ceiling rather aggressively, throwing back his head and downing the remnants. He slammed the glass down on the counter top and called for yet another. Nick just watched, not quite sure what to say.

"You don't have to like Judy — no, no, no — that's not what I'm implying," Jade's voice was both scrambled and slurred now, and Nick wished he had a translator at hand. "I could care less who you go out and find, Mr. starry-eyed fox. But don't feel confined to be normal. Don't ever feel that way."

Jade drained glass seven, leaving Nick to his thoughts.

He had tried before.

Tried to be unique, that is. To stand out. To rebel against the norm.

That had gotten him muzzled by his ranger-scout troop. Accused of things he wouldn't do by fellow classmates, just because he was a fox. The worst part was that the teachers believed them, nearly throwing him out of his high school. He had seen mothers pull their children closer to their sides. People cross the streets to avoid the sketchy fox sulking down the way. Store managers proceeded to publicly mock then kick him from their shops. Blinds that closed and curtains that drew and doors that locked in the presence of him.

In the presence of a fox. A shifty, untrustworthy, up-to-no-good red fox.

So why be anything but normal? Doors would lock even if he was polite, even if he was generous, even if he was trustworthy. Doors would lock and curtains would draw.

Trying to be more than just a fox would only have the city drag him down even further.

But she tried to be even more than a bunny…

And look at her now. Headlines proclaiming her victory over the evil Mayor Dawn Bellwether. Golden badge pinned to her chest. Respect from mammals fifty times her size. Inspiring children with dreams too big for their heads. She had even transformed someone who could have represented the vulpine stereotype in every aspect, into something he had once dreamed of being.

Different.

So if she had proved to be more than just a carrot-farming bunny, could he prove to be more than just a popsicle-hustling fox? Could he risk being different like she did, and gain a positive outlook by staring into the face of the negatives?

Can I be more than just this…this fox?

…

Judy, she says I can.

…

"Nick? You there, bud?"

It was Jade.

"We're gonna fire off some rounds. You're a cop, so you're good at that kind of thing, right?"

And then, he was huddled around several other rabbits, too close for comfort, but they didn't seem to care. They all had glasses in their hands.

There was one in his own, and he couldn't recall how it got there.

Nonetheless, it was quickly empty.

One.

Two.

Four.

Six.

He stopped trying to keep track.

Laughing.

He was laughing with faces he didn't know, which made it all the funnier. Their ears were so long, and their teeth so flat. And they were laughing. And he was laughing. Laughing until his throat felt constricted and raw.

Everything was funny, even if it wasn't.

More glasses. More were empty than full.

And then he was in a grimy bathroom, kneeling over a toilet illuminated by flickering overhead lights. Vomiting out his guts while Jade patted him on the back. And laughing, stomach acid burning the back of this throat. Laughing until he could hardly breathe.

And he couldn't stop thinking about her. About Judy Hopps, a rabbit.

He loved her in that moment, and he wanted to scream it to the world.

And he would, though he would soon forget. And all her friends and family would hear it, though they too would forget.

He would forget about vomiting, about laughing, about the shots. But he couldn't let himself forget about his sudden and passionate desire for her, fueled by what felt like gallons of bittersweet influence racing through his veins. Pulsing through his heart at an unhealthily rapid rate.

He was in a bumpy truck, and then at the house. Everyone was there.

Judy was there.

He loved her, even if she was a rabbit. He loved her amethyst eyes, which seemed so much brighter in the dark. He loved her beautiful voice.

"Your drunk, Nick. You don't mean that."

He didn't understand what she said, but it didn't matter. He would forget about it, along with the rest of the night.

A funny thing, liquor is.

Passed out in a foreign bed, the bitter aftertaste of blueberry vodka still lingering in his snores.

"Dumb fox." Her voice came, but he had already forgotten who it belonged to.

Only she would remember what he'd said, come morning.

---

And morning came quickly.

Not a cloud in the sky could obscure the blinding sunlight as it beamed down on the house, simply because there were no clouds to be found. It shone through the windows of Judy Hopps' childhood room, waking the full-grown Judy from a restful sleep. She turned for a few moments before rising, scratching an itch behind one of her ears, then hopping from the bed and dawning a pair of bunny slippers.

She made her way downstairs, where a few early-rising faces smiled and greeted her with warm good-mornings. Coffee and pancakes were being made, judging by the smell, and the morning paper had been brought in. Some of her older relatives were playing chess and making small talk, while some of Judy's sisters sat before a TV, watching a cartoon with their kits. Aunts and grandmothers talked from an elongated sofa, made to accommodate a large number of rabbits at once. In the backyard, a number of bundled-up kits played Frisbee in the brisk morning light.

Two-hundred miles away, Precinct One was alive and bustling. Her neighbors' obnoxious bickering resounded into her empty apartment — one that Judy had grown to love, despite its wear-and-tear. The cafe that she frequented daily was enduring its Saturday-morning rush, and the corner-booth which she had claimed as her own was probably taken by another mammal. She had grown to find that all of these places had become her home. But as she stood in the entry, watching as the sun poured in through the windows and into the common, Judy recalled the feeling of truly being at home. It was a sight that, to her, could not be matched by any other setting, even with that of the city.

It was when she was fetching a cup of coffee from the kitchen that she realized what was off. There were no card games. No line for the morning's dark roast. No arguments being held just for the sake of arguing.

There were, however, several closed bedroom doors around the house — doors that were normally opened by this time of morning.

And she remembered, because how could she forget.

"I'm gonna need a cup of your finest potion," Judy said upon walking into the kitchen.

Bonnie, who had her arms full of a variety of items she had just pulled from a cabinet, turned to her.

"Well, what does it look like I'm doing?" Bonnie said, placing the items beside a warming pot. They consisted of syrup from a raisin tree, lemon juice, mint leaves, and a multitude of other herbs and extracts. It was a concoction that could have been mistaken for some sort of witches brew, but it was an excellent hangover cure. As heavy-drinking was an attribute that trailed back a long ways on the Hopps family tree, a secret family recipe for the most effective hangover cure was completely necessary.

"So, how'd you sleep?" Bonnie asked, poring some clove-extract into the pot.

"Well enough," Judy shrugged.

"Ready for the festival?" She asked, adding the next ingredient: carbonated lime water.

"Yep."

"And Nick?"

Judy chuckled and shook her head. "You're gonna need a lot of brew this morning, mom."

"Already on it."

Ten minutes later, Bonnie pored a portion of the pot's contents into a coffee mug. "Take it easy on him," Bonnie added before handing the mug to Judy.

She carried the cup to the hall of occupied guest rooms on the bottom floor. The occupants, with the rising sun, would probably be rousing by now. And then stumbling figures and aggravated groans would begin.

Judy gently opened the door, not caring to knock. The curtains were drawn, though thin white cloth didn't stand a chance against the unmerciful morning sun. Inside was a bed, a baseboard heater, and a lamp table, offering a small picture of the carrot fields outside. It resembled that of a hotel room, but so did a lot of things about a rabbit's household.

Nick had his muzzle buried beneath a pillow so that only his ears and matted scruff were visible. He was lying on his side, facing the wall, still dressed in the green button-up he had dawned the day before. His tie was draped over his shoulder, where it dangled. There were blankets, but they had been pushed to the foot of the bed during a restless night's tosses and turns.

Placing the mug on the lamp table, Judy knelt beside the slumbering fox (who had begun to snore in guttural tones) and tugged ever so slightly at his tie. Her response was a mere twitch of his ears. With a small smile, she withdrew her hand, wondering what the best way to wake a predator from a drunken slumber.

A shaky moan, hardly audible to anyone without rabbit ears, escaped from his snout —which was still buried deep in a pillow. It was enough to let her know that he was at least semi-conscious. So she spoke.

"I did tell you not to get hammered, though I suppose it's a little too late for that now…"

For a long while, there was no response at all. Then, in a voice of gravel and sandpaper…

"…juzzz…lemme sleep…"

"In case you forgot, we do have a job to do today."

"…no…thazzz 'omorrow…"

"It is tomorrow, dumb fox." She tugged his tie again. "And the longer you lay around, the worse you're gonna feel."

There was silence, then, "…letzzzz test thaaa…"

Judy snickered, placing a paw on the fox's shoulder and giving it a shake. He attempted to swat it away but missed, pawing at the air before his arm fell limply back to his side.

"And you call me adorable when I'm tired," she smirked.

Nick only grunted.

"My mom made you something that will make you feel better," Judy said. "Can you sit up?"

"…no…sleep'll make me feel betterrrr…"

"Believe me, it won't. Now," she grabbed his arm, attempting to roll him over, "sit up."

Judy flinched when Nick's teeth bared and a growl came from deep within his throat. She quickly gained her composure. "Nice try, sleepyhead, but you're not gonna scare me. Come on."

She managed to get him into an upright position. His shirt was wrinkled, stained, and smelled of liquor. His fur was even worse — sticking up in some places and matted down in others. Various spots were crusted with what Judy assumed was yet more liquor. He clutched his stomach with shaky paws, and with bloodshot, squinted eyes, he looked down at Judy with an expression she almost couldn't make out. It was almost like he had to remember who she was.

"There we go," Judy said, giving him an assuring pat on the back. She reached over and took the mug from the table. "Here. This will help ease the pain."

He looked curiously, almost cautiously down at the mug. "Whazzzz init?" he breathed.

"Er…a lot of things — it's best you don't ask. Now drink up!"

Nick's ears fell behind his head and he squinted painfully. "…don yell…" he managed to say before taking the mug from her. Upon the first sip, he repulsed, struggling to swallow.

"Ahggg…" he moaned, trying to give the cup back to Judy. She only pushed it back to him.

"If you want to feel better, you'll drink this. I'll be back in a few minutes, and I want you to have drunk that entire thing," she said like a mother nursing a cranky kit.

Nick only sat, ears fidgeting, eyes nearly closed, clutching the mug to his chest.

Judy took a warm shower in one of the many showers offered upstairs. She dried herself, brushed her teeth, flossed, and dried herself one more time before returning to her room. She changed into her police underclothes, as wearing her body armor to breakfast would be both unnecessary and exhausting. Pausing to look at herself in a full-length mirror, she smiled at the officer who stared back. She had been with the force for half a year now, which wasn't much, but she would have expected the childish joy that bubbled up inside her at the sight of her uniform to have diminished by now. In short, it hadn't.

When she returned to Nick's room, she was pleased to see him sitting on the edge of the bed. The mug was empty and had returned to the lamp table. Nick's eyes were still red, though he seemed at least a little more alert.

"You look…less miserable," Judy said.

"Maybe on the outside, Carrots…" His voice was still raw, but at least he wasn't slurring anymore.

"You don't remember anything about last night, do you?" Judy's tone was joking, but she had underlying tones of curiosity. Because, if you do, we have things to talk about…

Nick rubbed the back of his neck and let out an elongated sigh. "Not really, no." He looked at her. "What? Did I…do something?"

"Not much, other than bumbling around like the drunken idiot you were," Judy smirked.

Nick tried at a smile, though it quickly evolved into a grimace. He raised a paw to his head, rubbing his temple. "Your mother's…whatever that was better start working soon."

He slowly rose to his feet, which trembled like a fawn's. Judy was at his side when he began to stumble, helping him upright again. Like a wounded soldier, Nick threw his arm around Judy's back (and with it most of his body weight) and slowly managed to the door.

There were pancakes that morning, and even considering his hangover, Judy was amazed to see Nick easily resist a stack of blueberry flapjacks. In fact, the very sight of the syrup drizzling over the cakes made his stomach twist. Suddenly, blueberries didn't seem so appetizing. Nick guessed it had something to do with the lingering mix of alcohol and blueberry tones still in his mouth. Bonnie gave an understanding smile, and instead, offered another cup of her potion. Nick, not wanting to refuse for a second time, took it with a weary smile.

Soon, most of Judy's brothers had been aroused from their slumber, and the potion was pored and distributed throughout the burrow. Nick was surprised to see Jade drag himself into the seat beside Nick. They shared a drowsy silence for a moment before Jade spoke.

"So? How'd you like the vodka?"

Nick groaned. "Whatever is left of it might resurface if you keep mentioning it."

Jade chuckled, winced, and sighed. "It was a good time, wasn't it?"

"I guess," Nick said.

"No, really. I can hardly remember anything." Jade said.

"You're not the only one," Nick said.

They managed to clink together their glasses of potion with trembling paws before downing the potent liquid.

An hour later — after three cups of potion and just as many trips to the restroom — Nick was feeling at least a little better. It didn't feel like there was an imaginary paw squeezing his brain anymore, and his bowels didn't threaten to drop out anymore either.

He took a long, steamy shower, and stood motionless before the mirror for a long while before drying and dressing into his uniform.

"It's great that you and Jade get along," Judy said as they suited up in her room.

"Yeah," Nick said, slipping his utility belt into place, "he's a likable rabbit, but he has an abyss as a stomach, when it comes drinks at least."

Judy chuckled, slipping her arms through her body armor. "He's always been like that. I think he had his first beer when he was ten."

Nick scoffed, "No surprise there."

By noon, the entire household was on their feet. Somehow.

Nick and Judy, both looking like proper officers, sat in the common area. They were surrounded by curious kits, especially Nick, though they seemed more interested in his tail than anything else.

"Alright kits! It's time to go!" Stu called, and the crowd diminished enough for the two officers to rise to their feet.

"You awake, Wilde?" Judy elbowed Nick, who she had caught rubbing his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. Reporting for duty," Nick said, fighting an inconveniently timed yawn.

"Well, you better be," Judy said, rising to her feet and offering a paw to Nick. He took it, and she pulled him to a slightly dizzy stand. "Because this is going to be a long day."

And a long day it would be. More than either officer could ever imagine.

---

A/N: Wow this is a long chapter.

A few things I'd like to state before this chapter ends.

First off, to the small number of readers who keep this story on their agenda, I'd like to say I'm sorry for the lack of updates. The last chapter came out in mid-December, so it's been a month. I didn't mean for there to be such a break, but I'm trying to make up for it with this EXTREMELY LONG CHAPTER. I mean, really. I have never written a chapter this extensive.

On the topic of the bar scene, I know. It is very messy. This scene took me a day to write, as well as much caffeine (I'm shaking right now). But it's meant to be messy. I want it to portray the downward spiral into a drunken mess. And Nick, in this last bit, is most definitely a drunken mess.

I love how I make an outline for all of this, and yet, the story seems to take control and guide me somewhere else. At this point, I'm just along for the ride. But don't worry, I have the basic plot points planned out, and I will make sure the story gets there.

The next chapter will be an important one, but it most likely won't be this long. While the story seems to be a scenario-based romance mess, I actually have a thriller-esque plot based out. It's not developed all the way, but I have a major event taking place in chapter four. I have a point A and a point B. I just need to figure out how to draw the line between them.

So outline, I will! And I will do it right now and stop wasting your time!

Until next time!

- Trenton.

(P.S. - I'm planning updates to be spaced out to about once a month. This may not be entirely consistent, but I'll do what I can to get the writing done.)