A_Worm-Thanks for the input After going back and reading some of my notes..I wrote canine religion similar to christianity...there's several 'levels' of it and the more strcit ones are the ones Nick mentioned, but his mother and him arent in that 'level' ...hope I cleared it up in this chapter a bit. ill go further in future chapter when Nick and Vivian talk about the three levels

Tarthiel-Thanks, took a lot of time getting stuff about traditions cohesive...well as much as it could be lol

Billybob- well...not really heaven/hell, more like there souls return to Vulpea to be with her, regardless of past life. She judges them from there and If they were 'good' they get to stay, but if they were 'bad' they are purged of sin (evil) by taking a trail by fire...Ill expand on that in a chapter...or maybe a side tail not sure.

Ghostwolf88- Thanks, just wait till I get to cervid and feline lol those are being bigger pains to get right lol.

Sapperjoe 85. Made up for the most part...Im combining and shuffle real life religions to fit my head canon a bit better. I think AStoryTellerBook was right about part similar in the bible, about the a village being razed by demons..I dont remember where exactly but I vaguely recall something in there.

imjustlikehumphery- Thanks, no it wont be easy but James will work for it.

USA Patriot- Yea I pressed to give this a bit of variety. Went back and forth for weeks getting the ideas to sound good.

After enjoying the rest of the fair for the day, trying to recover from the recent and stressful events, the trio of Nick, Judy and Vivian returned to the burrow for the 'meeting of the parents' dinner, which was now going to be more awkward than before due the presence of Nick's father James, and by default Rose, who was now going to join them. Judy explained that normally it would just be the parents and them, but since Rose really had no where to go for the night, she was invited along. This meant that one of Judy's siblings was going to be there as well, making for a very cramped dinner. Nick waved it off with a smile stating it didn't bother him, before he left to go get ready, leaving Judy to help her parents, and older siblings, wrangle the younger bunnies, where she ran into Gideon, who it turns out made the predator based dish for the vulpine guests, who was chatting with her twin Julie and her fox Richard, ( it was still surreal to see a near perfect carbon copy of Nick). After talking to them for a few minutes, mainly about Gideon and Sharla, and how odd it was that the 'J' twins were both dating foxes and they both where near identical, the conversation steered to what Judy had not a mere few hours ago partook in regarding vulpines and their religion. Gideon and Richard was very shocked when Judy mentioned Rose, and even looked a bit angry for a split second, a face Judy didn't see. The former bully relaxed a lot when she rambled on and mentioned that Nick forgave her. Both foxes nodded and confirmed what she asked about, even added to several things she was still confused about.

"The only diff'rnce is most modern foxes wouldn't hurt or kill what Rose is. We instead would just shun or give the cold shoulder, we still are bound by most modern laws in a lot of areas, especially after the Accords. So Nick would not have struck her, there's also a few...things about a tod striking a vixen that stopped him ...now ahm not sure about what he would've done about his father seeing how angry he was. Rage can make you do stupid things, "Gideon chuckled nervously, "Trust me."

"Oh OK, I was confused for a bit, from what it sounded like foxes were pretty...strict about things."

"Oh we can be. Nick can explain better later to ya, seeing how your his mate and all, but the traditionalist are the super strict ones, following the rites to a 'T', but the more," Richard chewed on his words, not fully sure of the right phrase, until Gideon cut in.

"I guess unconventional...unorthodox?...Anyway, ones like me and my folks and...well, I assume Nick and his folks, are a BIT more tolerant of things nowadays."

Judy beamed a huge smile, "Thanks so much you guys, you've really helped calm a few of my nerves." She glanced up at the clock and noticed the time. She jumped up and hugged the portly fox first, who looked shocked, glancing at Richard to smiled with a 'go with it' look, before returning the hug awkwardly, before the eager doe broke the hug and embraced Richard as well before thanking them again and made her way to her room, where Nick was just now leaving the shower. She hugged her fox before grabbing her clothes and headed into the bathroom as freshen up herself.

Meanwhile back in Zootopia...

Officers Fangmeyer and Wolfard were just finishing up some last minute paperwork, computer keys clicking rapidly as they reported on the days events. The wolf leaned back after clicking print, "Ugh what a slow day. Not that I don't mind the odd lack of crime, but it gets boring." He stood and sulked over to the printer to grab his report, "Just driving around staring at passing buildings all day...I could've napped." He laughed.

The larger feline just chuckled at her partners boredom, "Careful any more whining and Ill have to offer you some cheese."

James cocked any eyebrow and put on a Nick worthy cocky smirk, "Ya packing some adult refreshment somewhere in your desk?"

Erica hit save and print as well, the printer whirring and humming to life once again, "You know it, got to do something to deal with your annoying tail." She sat back and took on a fake posh accent, "A nice rose' or pinot grigio pairs nicely with bored wolf."

James burst out in laughter as he did mirrored her over the top infliction, "Are you sure? I find a more sweet red fits better with a stiff tiger."

The pair laughed once again as they made their way to Bogo's to hand in their dailies. James wiped a happy tear from his eyes as a thought hit him, "Wonder how Wilde and Hopps are doing?"

Erica shrugged, her massive shoulders rolling, "Not sure, last I heard from Judy things were going good and she even learned a bit more about foxes religion and customs."

James paused in his step only for a moment, "Wonder what brought that on, that either should've been something they discussed well before now, or early on. We canines can be a little...odd when it comes to customs and the old ways."

Erica chuckled, "I remember, you told me quite a bit about how things should've went had you been more traditional when we dated."

"Had no choice Erica, had to make sure you knew what you might be getting into dating a wolf."

Erica sighed, her head tilting down slightly, "Yea, true, just wish we would've been more...into things and not even done it. Don t get me wrong James, you were an amazing boyfriend, and I had more fun than ever but all the stress from the streak giving me grief about it...almost wasn't worth it."

"I remember. You told me they were pressuring you to find a second and go with custom."

"I couldn't do that to you James, wolves date exclusively, while us big cats are poly..I didn't want to hurt your feelings by silently saying you weren't enough."

"Silly tiger," He chuckled, "I would've understood." They walked into the chief's office to find him going over a folder of papers he was handed earlier that day. He acknowledged them with a grunt and dismissed them for the day.

"So, hows things with Jennifer?"

The wolf got a goody grin plastered on his muzzle, "Things are going great. We go to each others favorite concerts, been trying new foods and new ways of cooking, and waking up snuggling it the best thing ever."

Erica smiled warmly, "I'm happy for you James, seems like you found a keeper."

"What about you? Any strong strapping cats booping your nose?"

Erica flushed, wishing she never would've told him about what that's means for big cats, "Nah nothing major, just got done being a second to a nice lion last week, but he decided to pursue the other."

James nodded, thinking back to what Fangmeyer had told him about big cat courting. Apparently they don't 'date' they instead with spend time with each other, often intimately, and since cats can only conceive for a short period in a year, casual relationships and sex are the norm. According to her, a cat may be with two or more at a time, juggling time around to see who would make a better mate in the long run. Because of this sex is very common, often times meaning they might have sex with each 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend' in succession through out a day. He always found that weird, seeing how canines and even modern times dating is singular and exclusive, but Erica told him the felines are one of the few, if not only, that still practice the poly relationship like the old days.

They were startled when Bogo's voice came over the intercom, calling them both back to his office. They sighed and laughed, wondering what could possibly be wrong now.

Back in the burrow...

Nick was dressed in a nice dark blue button up, and khaki pants, his fur freshly cleaned and combed, a light spritz of cologne on his chest as he was pacing back and forth, something he started doing as his thoughts started to race and raise his anxiety. Judy walked from the bathroom, freshly showered and sporting a familiar pinkish plaid shirt and jeans, stopping as she watched Nick pacing back and forth across her floor, seemingly muttering to himself about some unheard subject.

"Everything OK Nick?"

Nick turned towards his bunny girlfriend, and sighed, "Yea just...overthinking things."

Judy gave a soft smile as she walked over and guided her fox to the bed to sit him down. She sat next to him, holding his paws, "Worried about how this will go?"

Nick just nodded, his muzzle fighting to retain his mask but struggling. He was honestly unsure just how he was going to handle whatever his father was going to say; about him and his mother, about why he left, and about why he came back. Would he understand the reasoning, or would his reject his father...and what about the Hopps's? What would they say or think? All this was sending him mixed signals, making him question if this was a good idea or not. Maybe his should've went with his gut and told his father to go to hell. But then what about Rose, none of this was really her fault, and he did sympathize with the poor vixen regarding her suffering, thinking back to several points in his past that had similar tragic events. Does she deserve to be rejected?...To be cast aside only because of his anger towards their shared father?...He felt his stress rising until he felt a soft paw on the side of his face. He turned to see the pleasant face of his girlfriend...his mate...HIS bunny, who wordlessly seemed to calm all his fears and quell his anxiety. He pulled her up into his lap and hugged her tightly, his heart nearly matching hers as the sense of happiness washed over him, so when they broke, he was smiling once again.

Judy smiled at her fox as he smiled back, "Better?"

He exhaled deeply, "Better." He stood tall from the bed and offered his paw to his lovely doe, "Now, shall we go woo our collective parents."

Judy chuckled as she took his much larger russet paw with her Grey one, and smiled, "Yes lets."

Judy and Nick were sitting next to each other at a shockingly small round table, (for the family anyway), waiting for the others to show up. Nick's mother was the first to arrive, Nick quickly standing to pull out a chair out for the elder vixen, a gesture Bonnie and Stu both noticed, the motherly doe sending a soft look towards Judy. As Vivian was talking up the kitchen of the burrow, telling Bonnie several times that she wished her home had such a refined location, one of Judy's siblings, an all black buck named Clark, walked into the dining area guiding Rose and James. Nick and Vivian stood as the other two foxes, Nick sending Judy a sly wink before returning his gaze to his father and half-sister. As Rose got closer, she stopped and lowered her head to the two, avoiding Vivian and Nick's soft gazes, as she held out her left paw, tilted up slightly to show her empty pads. This confused Judy for a moment, not sure what was going on fully, until Vivian leaned down and whispered in her ears, "It's a show of respect. Rose is showing her empty paw as sign that she has no weapon and means no ill will, while avoiding our eyes shows she is silently submitting to us, letting us choose to accept her into this meeting."

Judy nodded as she understood, watching as Nick shook Rose's paw, before pulling her into a tight embrace. The effect was immediate, her form instantly relaxed and smoothed over as her muzzle turned into a smile as she melted into Nick's hug. Had this vixen not been related in some way to Nick, Judy would've let her jealous side flare up more. She simply exhaled, letting the sight of Nick accepting Rose as an equal.

Rose broke from the hug to do the same to Vivian, mirroring the previous actions with Nick, looking down and offering her open paw. She turned to see Nick and James staring each other down, two sets of emerald eyes bright and wide, pupils narrowed to feline like slits, something she never actually saw Nick do, only heard it was a thing vulpines could do. The two fox's ears standing tall, their paws locked in a firm paw-shake. She had seen this before at the precinct, it was a display of dominance between canines. She honestly started to feel worried, not sure how this was going to go. She let out her breath as their eyes softened and rounded out back to normal as they gave each other a soft smile and gave each other an awkward hug, not sure how each other should act after all this time. The two males broke the hug, as they all sat at the round table to begin.

Vivian sat between Nick and Stu, Rose sat next to Judy, who sat next to Clark, leaving James to sit between Bonnie and Rose. An awkward silence seemed to engulf the small room, until Stu stood and decided to break the silence, "Well, before we serve dinner and enjoy each others company, why don't we clear the air. James," Stu looked at the older todd, who looked nervous as he swallowed, "Why don't you say what you need to say?"

Nick leaned over and whispered in his bunny's ear, his voice and muzzle showing just how fractured and vulnerable he was right now, "Judy, be my anchor...keep me from doing anything stupid." Judy squeezed his paw, a warm smile calming his nerves a bit.

James sighed as he looked over at his son and wife. Even Rose sat straighter, this was a subject he NEVER talked about, so she wanted to hear every word, "Look, what I have to say is...not easy." He chuckled nervously, "Honestly my reason for leaving is as stupid is as stupid could be. But my reason for not coming back is more...difficult." He paused as he inhaled deeply, before letting it out, " I...uh got on the wrong train."

Nick nearly stood in anger, only to be held down by Judy, the doe giving him a soft look, relaxing the fox with her gaze, "Wrong train?" Rose and the rabbits look confused, but Nick and Vivian looked somewhat understanding.

James sighed again, looking from his daughter to the Hopps, "After a long day of work I used to, de-stress a bit sitting on top of the the L-train and circle the city, enjoy the sites, put things into perspective. I took Vivian up there a time or two and then Nick after he was old enough. Well...you see I tried to..."

Nick cut him off, maybe a bit more harshly then he meant, "I already told Bonnie and Stu about the bank fiasco."

James looked confused, but shrugged and kept going, "Well...I was feeling extra down, everything was going wrong, my life was falling around me, I was failing as my role as a good husband, father and provider... and I saw...no way out. I left home, telling Nick and Viv that Id be right back, and I meant it, I always have. I walked to the station, snuck onto the train yard and hopped onto what I thought was the L-train, so that I could circle the city and just...relax. Well as the train took off...i guess the stress from the day just hit me and the rocking of the train put me to sleep."

He paused, folding his paws on the table in front of him, fighting back the tears that were forming, "I was woken up by this old angry Dhole chewing me out. I jumped up, ran from the train car and ...stopped and fell to my knees. I was staring at the coast."

Stu was actually the one to chime in, "The coast?"

James nodded, "The west coast...turns out...the train schedule changed...and the train I was on was the AHM-5...the high speed cargo train. I fell asleep for nearly twelve hours... and there was no way home for me. I left all my cash at the house, I had no job or income. I sobbed for a good half hour before dusting my tail off and tried to figure out a plan." He let his muzzle fall into his paws, covering his face.

Vivian looked just as stunned as Nick and the others were, "Why didn't you call...or send a letter...what took you so long to get back? Its been almost eighteen years?"

James picked his head up, trails of tears running down his fur, "Honestly...I had no thought to come back. I thought...no knew I did you and Nick a favor running. I was a failure...couldn't even provide for you guys anymore." He wiped his eyes, "My hours were cut, and I was on the chopping block to be fired thanks to the new manager at the plant being a speciest jerk, and we were barely making it as it was, I figured with me gone...I don't know I guess my thoughts were too scramble to think straight so I thought if I was gone it make it easier...not having a failure around." James never noticed the look of shock and somewhat disgust on his wife and son's face.

Vivian cut in, her voice seething with hurt and pain, "James..I NEVER considered you a failure." Her eyes misty, "I don't know where you get off putting yourself down like that, but I NEVER EVER put you down. You were a great and loving father and husband."

"Viv, I..." James was cut off by the angry vixen standing and pointing at him, her claw extended from her pad, her pupils narrow slits not unlike his and Nick's were moments ago, causing him to shrink back into his chair. The others in the room did the same, not from an angry predator, but from a very irate female.

"Don't you 'Viv' me James." She never let her sharp eyes leave his, "I never once talked bad about you to my friends, never once put you down behind your back, never ONCE made you out to be a failure to anyone. So for you to even imply that I ever thought that of you is very insulting." Her eyes softened slightly as she gestured towards Nick, "And what about Nick? He thought the world of you James. You weren't there to see his face shatter when you never came home, you weren't there when he broke down and cried cause dad left with no explanation. And your going to sit there and tell me you left and never came back because of some self depreciation crap?"

James stood to face his wife, his voice firm. Nick stood as well, glaring at his father as if to dare him to try something. Rose stayed sitting down, not wanting to get in the middle of it. "There were other reasons. Those thoughts left pretty quick, especially after the nightmares I had that same night about Nicky breaking down. I struggled and took whatever job I could to get the money for a ticket back, but out there on the coast...its different. The pay is lower and harder to get any job, I had at least 5 jobs a day all working maybe 8 hours total just to have enough to live, took forever just to save up money for anything."

Nick placed his paw on his mother's shoulder, putting her at ease and guiding her to sit. James sighed as he mirrored them. Nick looked at his father, his indifferent mask was back, "Then what kept you away for so long? Its been eighteen years, what kept you on the coast?"

James sighed, reaching for and holding Rose's paw, "After what happened with her mother...I couldn't abandon her." He looked at Nick, pain evident on both fox's muzzles, "Nick...when I left I ruined your life...I know I did. I swore to do anything to return to you. You were my little buddy and my son...but when I saw the hurt and fear on her face when there was even a remote chance that she was going to be left alone or in foster care. The only thing I thought of was what if it was you Nick, having no one there for you. Yes I left you, but you still had your mother. It sounds bad Nick, but I feel I made the right choice."

"You could've came back with her...I would've understood and accepted..." Vivian trailed off as she realize what was said earlier during their conversation with Rose. She looked at Nick and it dawned on her way, "But Nick at that age wouldn't have...he would've rebelled or worse to Rose."

Nick chimed in as he held Judy's paw, "Even as recent as last year...I probably wouldn't have accepted her, but this crazy optimistic bunny here gave me a different outlook on life, and willing to give chances." He glanced over to see Bonnie and Stu nodded to Nick, giving him loving smiles at the accolades he was giving their daughter, "But...this doesn't mean me or mom forgive you dad. You left us and hurt us greatly. We will be civil tonight for the meal, and amicable afterwards, but I don't see just up and accepting any apology." Vivian nodded in agreement to her sons words.

James looked solemn as he nodded, "I...wasn't going to ask for forgiveness just yet. I wanted to mainly let you know...the weak reason I was gone. I want to try to make things right...to reconcile with my family and try to get things back to normal...if we do great, if not... then I will live with my mistakes."

Everyone nodded, muttering agreeances to James's words. After a few more encouraging words, diner was served and as a result, more lighthearted topics emerged. James talked about all his various odd jobs he took up on the coast, from fish packing to dusting off his tailoring skills. Rose and Nick turns out had quite a bit in common, from similar taste in old music, to making their own clothes, mainly from learning tailoring from their shared father. Bonnie and Vivian chatted about homemaking and careers, Judy shocked to find that her mother originally wanted to go into teaching but opted to be a stay at home mother. Nick even smiled a genuine smile, the first of the night, as him and his father talked about the old days, reminiscing about all they had done and if Nick was honest...for a moment or two it was like he never left. Him and Judy took turns telling about how they met and about the Night-howler case, watching the range of emotions cross James and Rose's muzzle. But it was the statement that Nick was now not only an officer of the ZPD but the first fox officer, who was partnered with the first rabbit officer.

"Wow Nick...sounds like you...really had it rough for a while." James stated as Clark and Judy helped clear the table, Vivian volunteering to help with the dishes, (insisting even after Bonnie's weak and humored protest).

"Yea, but I managed, and it all worked out in the end." Nick shrugged as he drained his glass of water in one gulp, the odd feeling of nervousness creeping back in. He glanced over and saw Rose was struggling to stay awake, the sight of her fighting to keep her eyes open was adorable. James noticed this and sighed heavily.

"Well, it has been a long day, why don't we bid good night and Ill take her home." The older vulpine stated as he stood and stretched out, reaching high above him, before gently rousing the tired vixen. It was then Stu stood and offered them a room for the night, extending the offer since Vivian was staying as well and it would only make sense that James could as well. James smiled warmly at the offer but rejected, saying they were imposing enough just being here for this. Instead Nick offered to drive them to the hotel they were at. James and Rose bid them all farewell, much to the dismay of the fluffle that gathered now that dinner was over, ('but mom...dad..there's THREE fluffy foxes here...'), before the three vulpines climbed into Nick's truck and drove through the surprisingly large town. The drive was silent and still, the air thick as neither fox knew just what to say, or how to say it.

They pulled up to the very cute looking bunny themed hotel, 'was everything rabbit themed here?', where James and Rose climbed out, but lingered a bit. Rose walked around the truck just as Nick got out and gave him a large hug, "See ya around kiddo." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a ZPD card with a hand written number on the back, "If you need anything or just want to talk, this is my personal cell number." She smiled warmly but tiredly as she yawn, covering her fangs with a paw.

"Sweetie, why don't you go ahead in, I want to talk to Nick for a second." Rose nodded to her father and slowly marched in, her fluffy tail nearly dragging on the ground.

He let out an harsh exhale as he turned to his son, a cold indifference on the younger's muzzle, "Look Nick, I know you may hate me, and not believe my weak ...excuse for not coming home, but everything I said was true."

Nick crossed his arms over his chest, "I never said I didn't believe you, It just hurts...a lot dad."

"I know, trust me when I say that I was hurting too Nick. Every night I was away from your mother I cried, every time I prayed I begged for Vulpea to forgive me, begged for you two to be alright. I hated every second of it."

"So did we...but if I was honest, You leaving was the reason I am where I am. Had you not left, I wouldn't have met Judy, been cynical enough to insult her and push her on when she black mailed me, nor seeing the hope in her face for a better city when she begged during her apology after her press fiasco. So in a way...you made my life better."

James walked over and placed his paws on Nick's shoulder, looking straight into each others eyes, James could see the tears forming in his eyes, while his face fought to remain still, "Nick, I don't want you to forgive me easily...I want to work for this, this is my screw up so I need to be the one to fight for this, but I wont ask for anything but patience and the chance to make this right."

Nick took a deep breath in, before pulling his father into a tight hug, letting eighteen years of pain flow into his dad, his voice not quite breaking, "I wont forgive you...yet, but I am at least willing to give you a chance to earn that."

James actually let his emotions loose as he heard his son's word, "I wont let you down again Nick...I promise."

They hugged for a while longer, just soaking in the feeling, James not having hugged his son for nearly two decades and Nick missing out on all those same hugs. Nick left the hotel feeling lighter, yet still conflicted. He made his way through the burrow on autopilot as his thoughts worked, taking in the events lately, and how emotional he let himself be. He chuckled to himself as he realized the little bunny of his really must be working him over for him to be like he is now. He met up with his lapine girlfriend, who started to relax him a bit with a nice shoulder massage, where he attempted to return the favor to her, only to have her embrace him and force him onto his back, where he was oh so glad the walls are thick and soundproofed. They both lay in bed during their manditory cuddle time, both letting the day wash away for a new one tomorrow, the last day of the vacation, both hoping things where going to go much better. After all...what else could possibly happen?

Hours earlier at Precinct One...

Wolfard and Fangmeyer stood there in Bogo's office, jaws almost on the ground. The tigress and wolf shifted their eyes from their imposing chief, to James's girlfriend Jennifer Hooveson who looked nervous, to a arctic fox standing next to her. They looked back to each other, hardly believing what they had heard as they turned back to Bogo, shouting one word in shock, "PAROLE?"