New chapter guys. Don't worry, I won't torture you too much for the next few chapters. Maybe.

I'd also like to thanks Robert Escher and gonekrazy3000 for their reviews.

It was the last day.
She was here and there it was.
The last day.
The day which would be her last waiting.
The last freaking day.
And she was absolutely and utterly overjoyed.

Nick had finished the academy for 4 days now but he had been so completely busy, he hadn't been able to come and see her.

First he had to work on paperwork for the bank. There had been a problem and they wouldn't release his money. They were suspicious of a new client, coming with all this cash, opening an account. They had instantly froze it as soon he had it deposited. He had to call the precinct so they would vouch for him and let him be able to use his own money.

Next he had to find a flat, and if possible near the Precinct. He did need to call in a few favours but he ended with something decent, for a fair price. It was in a nice old building in the center of the city, most of his neighbors were families and they all looked surprised to see a fox living in this part of the city. The downside however was that his new home was on the eight floor, and that the elevator refused to go above the sixth.

Lastly, he had to buy loads of stuff that he never really needed. Like a bed. And sheets. And a fridge. He tried to buy as little as possible. In his mind, all situations remained temporary, that meant that the more he would buy and store in his flat, the more he would have to move later.

Judy had received the permission from Bogo to attend to the graduation ceremony. Mayor Swinton had called her and said that she would have to do a speech. After her last debacle in front of the cameras, Judy wasn't sure it was such a good idea, but the mayor convinced and helped her to write it.
She was now seated backstage, her heart pumping and racing.

This will go well. I now the speech by heart. There is no way I'm gonna screw this up. The press presence was kept to a minimum. They won't question me. I'm good...

And I get to see Nick !

Her heart was racing even more now. The perspective of seeing her new best friend in the flesh after six months of absence was overwhelming. She was bouncing on her chair trying to calm down. Bogo's head showed between two ZPD blue curtains.

"You're up, officer Hopps."

She jumped down from the oversized chair, containing the bounce in her step as she passed the curtain and walked to the lectern, on the center of the stage. There were fewer people than at her own ceremony. Most of them probably from the new officer's families. In front of the stage, in neat ranks, were the ex-trainees in their new uniforms. As she made her way she barely contained herself to run at Nick and hug him.

Gosh, I missed him.

She stood behind the lectern, tested the microphone and began talking.

"When I was a kid, I thought zootopia was this perfect place where everyone got along, and where anyone could be anything. Turns out life is a bit more complicated than a slogan on a bumper sticker. Real life is messy. We all have limitations, we all make mistakes. Which means, hey, glass half-full, we all have a lot in common."

She made a slight pause, taking her breath.

"And the more we try to understand one another, the more exceptionnal each of us will be. But we have to try. So no matter what type of animal you are, to the biggest elephant, to our first fox... I implore you, try. Try to make the world a better place."

Raising his aviator mirror glasses, Nick had winked at her in encouragement. Her last words were spoken with a big smile.

"Look inside yourself and recognize that change starts with you. It starts with me. It starts with all of us."

The officers went on the stage, one after the other, shaking Mayor Swinton's hooves and getting their insignia placed on their chest by Judy. A little flight of stairs had been set on the stage so that she wouldn't look ridicule trying to reach the biggest officer's chests.
Last came Nick, and this time, he was happy to come last. She approached him and hanged his badge.

"Congratulation officer Wilde."

"Thanks officer Hopps."

"I'm so happy I want to hug you." She blurted in a whispered tone.

I said it. I thought I would only think it.

She felt her face slowly get warmer under Nick's smiling gaze.

"Time for that later. For now we have to smile for the cameras" answered Nick as low as her.

She turned back and all the new officers stood on a line, while the journalist took picture upon picture.

"Nick, how does it feel to be the first fox officer ?"

"Judy, are you confortable working with a fox ?"

"Is it a political statement from the new mayor ? Did she push for it ?"

Chief Bogo and officer Pennington went to stand before the cameras, and slowly drove the journalists away from the stage.

"I said, no questions" spoke the deep voice of the cape buffalo.

"Now what ?" Asked Nick loudly, as the voices of the crowd were slowly dying out.

"Now we party !" Screamed a voice from the public.

Judy recognized Wolford who had thrown his cap in the air, quickly followed be all the officers, new and otherwise.

They quickly all got down from the stage, Wolford and Clawhauser had begun distributing papers to all officers presents. There was an adress and a time. The dresscode was 'uniform, with no stripes'. In ZPD language, that meant anyone could come as they want, and that rank had no meaning during the festivities. Judy quickly got her own piece of paper followed by Nick. Next, they went away from all the people that had begun chatting with each other. They turned around the stage, a bit recessed from eyes and ears.

"Nick, I missed you so much !"

She jumped at his neck, giving him one of the biggest and warmest hug he had ever received. He returned it gladly.
She let him go, putting back her hind paws on the ground. She wiped a happy tear that was threatening to fall from the corner of her eye.

I missed you too, Carrots, more than I thought I would.

"You rabbits are so emotional."

"Daw, you missed me too." She teased.

"Okay, just a bit" His sayed, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, pulling her in a second hug.

Judy was surprised by this half-spontaneous show of feelings. She let herself go in Nick's warm embrace, closing her eyes. Nick couldn't stop himself to smell her scent. It took him back to their first hug under the bridge, emotions flowing like-

Is she nuzzling my chest ? I think she is nuzzling my chest... Is it weird ? Yes it is. Does it bother me ? No it doesn't.

As Judy pulled back from him again he told her.

"Okay, enough hugs for one year, a bit more and I'll smell more bunny than fox."

"And it's a problem because ?" She asked in a challenging tone.

"I wouldn't want mammals with a good sense of smell thinking I'm an easy hustle."

"You are an easy hustle, sweetheart" she stated turning back from him and giving him a teasing glance, while leaving in the direction of the other officers.

You're gonna pay for this one, Carrots.

After the last chapters, this one feels a bit shorts, doesn't it ?