Home… for now

The limo pulled in early the next morning and Judy got her suitcase next to her as her parents waited on the porch. They didn't want their other children to be around to see this. Judy knew they would just tell her siblings that she left for the academy early and wanted to get a head start. She gave them one last hug as she made her way to the limo.

Judy was amazed by how big the place was for a shrew to live in.

Guess that's why they call him Mr. Big… she thought with a grin, but then frowned when thinking about her father's ordeal.

The gates opened as the limo drove in. Manchas opened the door for her.

"Thank you," she smiled at him.

"I just hope the boss will accept you being here instead of your father."

"I hope so, too…"

Nick was drinking some coffee on his way to meet the new rabbit servant when a female rabbit with amethyst eyes walked through the door instead. He ducked into a room where Finnick was sitting on a couch watching TV on the big screen when he noticed Nick.

"What's got your tail in a knot?"

Nick grabbed the small fox and pointed out to the bunny that arrived, "That's not the same rabbit from last night, is it?"

"No. It's not. Now let go of me or I'm going to get really mad."

Nick dropped him without a care. "Well, then, I'm going to have to put on the old Nick charm to find out what's going on…" He puffed his chest up and stepped into the hallway.

Judy was amazed by how everything looked so grand that she didn't see the fox coming up to her. When she did see him, he was so close that she literally jumped up in the air and landed on the hard ground.

"Kind of jumpy, aren't you?" the fox smirked.

Judy didn't know why, but the way the fox was smirking at her, she disliked it and just glared at him as she got back on her feet.

The fox continued to talk, "Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there was a different bunny here last night… So unless some magical potion changed your looks and gender, I do think we have a rabbit crisis on our hands because many random bunnies keep showing up here…"

After hearing enough, Judy retorted, "For your information, that was my father you met, and I am willing to take his place to repay what he owes Mr. Big. So I suggest you take me to your boss so I can tell him that myself…"

Nick said in a sickly-sweet tone as he held his paws together, "Oh, that is so sweet… I knew bunnies were emotional, but this really takes the cake! Sacrificing yourself for your father, that is truly amazing!"

"If you're done being sarcastic, Mister… whoever-who-are… think you can take me to your boss now…?"

"Wilde. The name's Nicholas Wilde. Nick for short."

"Fine. Mister Wilde, will you now please take me to your boss?"

"I would… but the boss is pretty busy right now, and he doesn't like it when he's disturbed… Instead, I get to show you around and what you'll be doing to work off that high debt for your father." He took the lead as she just sighed and followed after him as they made their way up the stairs. "I hope you'll come to like it here. The way Mr. Big was ranting over that vase, you could be here for quite some time. So basically, you can go anywhere you like except the West Wing. That's the boss's quarters. You do not want to go near there."

"I'll keep that mind. So… where am I supposed to sleep?"

"Not sure. Mr. Big didn't express any sleeping arrangements for the rabbit that broke his grandmother's favorite vase. But what I can tell you is that you'll be doing servant work until Big believes the debt has been paid in full."

"That's not so bad."

"You think so, but Mr. Big runs a tight household, so it's not going to be easy."

"I wouldn't be so sure. If I can get an acceptance letter to the Zootopia Police Academy, then I can certainly handle manual labor."

Nick stared back at her in disbelief, "Wait… you got an acceptance letter from the Zootopia Police Academy…?"

She smiled proudly, "Yes. Yes, I did."

"You… You actually got accepted to join the police force?" he started to snort and it grew, "That's… that's just…" he burst out laughing.

"And just what is so funny about it?!" she demanded.

"That you actually believe you can become the first rabbit cop! There's a reason it's never been done before: rabbits just don't have what it takes!"

"Well, this rabbit does! And I am tired of everyone telling me that it can't be done! I can't wait to get there so I can prove them and you wrong! Once I'm done helping my father pay off the debt, I can't wait to get away from here and from you!"

She ran down the steps just as Nick was about to interject. He didn't understand why her comment hurt the way it did. He promised himself he wouldn't let anyone get to him, and yet this rabbit… this bunny… had the guts to talk back to him the way she did. The words echoed in his brain, "…to get away from here and from you!"

"…From you…" he said to himself, "Of course… because I am nothing more than an untrustworthy fox… Who doesn't want to get away from me…?"

Judy was downstairs trying to find Mr. Big when she ended up in the kitchen and bumped into a smaller fox.

"Watch where you're going!" he yelled.

"I'm so sorry! I was only trying to find Mr. Big!"

"Well, I can tell you he's not here, but I can show you where his daughter is…"

"Can you? That would be so great!"

"Well, aren't you a peppy one…" he motioned for her to follow.

He led her into a large dining hall. A table was in the middle of the room and on it was a lovely female shrew. The shrew turned her head just as Finnick and a female rabbit entered the room.

"Oh! Who is this?"

"I'm Judy Hopps. I've come to take my dad's place to repaid the debt."

"Oh… that's so sweet! Daddy can't object to this. Nothing is more important than family."

Judy smiled, "I love your hair by the way."

"Thank you! And you have such lovely eyes! I'm Fru-Fru, by the way!" she held out her paw and Judy used her finger so they can shake.

"Please to meet you."

"Come, I'll take you to Daddy."

Judy faced the desk where the shrew crime boss sat as he examined the bunny.

"So… you have come to take your father's place to repay the vase he broke?"

"Yes." she said without hesitation.

"That is truly noble…"

Fru-Fru smiled, "Isn't it, Daddy? I would have done the same for you…"

"Daddy knows, baby. Daddy knows…" He faced Judy, "Miss Hopps, you are allowed to stay to fix what your father has done. And since my daughter has taken a liking toward you, you shall serve her."

"I'll do what I can."

Fru-Fru said, "Let me show you to your room."

Once they left Mr. Big's office and went upstairs, Fru-Fru motioned, "I don't want to think of you as a servant. Instead, I want us to be best friends."

"I would like that."

"Take a left here."

They got to a room that was huge and fit for a princess.

"Oh, you have such a gorgeous room!" Judy exclaimed.

"Oh, no, this isn't my room. This is actually one of the many guest rooms we have in manor. No, this will be your room."

"My… my room?! Fru, I'm honored, but won't your dad get upset about a servant staying in here?"

"Daddy left you under my care, so I can choose how to accommodate those working for me."

"How is it possible you two are related?"

"Oh, I know Daddy can seem harsh, but once you get to know him and he gets to know you, he's a big softie. He has to act tough and cruel to keep his image up."

"That explains why he needs two foxes working for him…"

"Nicky and Finnick? Nick is an old friend of the family while Finnick is his partner. They came to work for Daddy when he offered them a large sum of money. That's how Daddy gets a lot of animals on his side."

Judy sighed, "I guess I'll be seeing a lot of him…"

"Who?"

"Nick Wilde."

"Have you two already met?"

"Yes, it was like this…" she told Fru-Fru of her encounter with the fox and her dream to be a police officer.

"Oh, but Nicky isn't so bad once you get to know him. Why don't you give him a second chance?"

Judy's ears drooped, "I'm not really sure I want to get to know him…"

Nick had been passing by when he overheard them. He swiftly made sure they didn't see him as he went down the steps.

He had a gloomy look on his face and thought, Like I would want her to get to know me anyway… Besides, she won't be here forever, so there's no need to get chummy. Once the debt's been paid, she'll be gone and I never have to worry about seeing her again…

Mr. Big had called in all of his associates and workers to his office that afternoon and Judy and Nick had exchanged brief hateful glances at each other before paying attention to the shrew.

"As you know, we have a new worker in our ranks. A Miss Judy Hopps, who was brave enough to take her father's place to serve out his debt to me. I admire Miss Hopps's guts and I ask you will treat her well while she's here. Is that clear?"

The polar bears responded, "Yes, Sir!"

Big eyed Nick and Finnick, "Boys…?"

"Whatever you say, boss." said the small fox.

"Yeah, Big… whatever you say…" Nick muttered and crossed his arms.

Big leaned to Fru-Fru and whispered, "What's wrong with Nicky?"

"I'm afraid he and Judy didn't get off on the right foot…"

"I see…" he addressed the bunny, "Welcome to the Big residence, Miss Hopps. I hope you'll come to feel at home here."

"Thank you, Mr. Big." but she thought as she glanced at Nick who was turned away from her, But I'm not sure if this will ever feel like home to me…