Chapter 10: A New Holiday

Friday morning. 9am.

In a run down apartment complex on the east side of Downtown Zootopia lived a fox. A fox by the name of Nick Wilde.

The fox sat on the floor of his bedroom. Sat and stared. He had been there for an hour.

There was a hole in the wall. A hole two mice had made. Two mice who had entered his life and left it changed forever.

Thanks to his acute senses, he could still smell their presence. It was like they were still around, but he knew they were long gone.

He stared at his finger. The one Chris had bitten down on The gauze still wrapped around it. The boo-boo Chris had hugged and kissed. He kissed it himself as if he was kissing them back.

"This is stupid" he said to himself. "They are better off Nick. They are with their true parents. Their RICH parents! They will want for nothing! Get over it!"

Then a loud knock came to the door.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Are you kiddin' me? I thought me and Miss Logan made up!"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Not now you, you..." Nick remembered her insults were in reverse. "you...wonderful angel! I'm having an emotional moment here!"

TAP...TAP-TAP

Nick's ears perked up so high you'd think they were going to fly off. "Kids?! No way!"

He ran to the door to open it. He swung it wide and fast.

"...Carrots?"

Judy was there with two loads of luggage.

"Hello sir! I'm the new tenant of this apartment. Here is my lease. I signed it two days ago when I overheard that Miss Logan was going to throw you out, so I decided to take over the room. Thanks for calling me a 'wonderful angel' by the way!"

Nick was speechless. "Ummmm..."

"Now, get out!"

"What?!"

"Well obviously this isn't your place anymore and wow! I'm really gonna have to fumigate considering the way you handle your laundry and trash. I'm sure you'll find someplace soon. I'll even help you pack!"

"But...but...but"

"Yes, yes. You have a very cute one but that's not part of the subject. This lease says it's a one bedroom apartment for singles."

"Ummm...but...I..."

"HOWEVER...it does say I'm allowed to have guests and the poorly written terms of this contract don't state any limits on how long the guests can stay. With that in mind, I guess you can stay. That said, I'm not having a guest in MY apartment sleep on the floor like a hobo! If you wanna stay here, you better go to NyaKea and buy a couch."

Nick was stunned and completely silent. He was unintentionally making Judy feel awkward, but she kept on. "Now, I know what you're gonna say. 'Durr gee Carrots! If we're seen going to the same apartment complex together, people will assume we're a couple and they might hurt you!' I have that covered. YOU are going to pay for this room, one hundred percent. For that, I will stay at work for an extra hour and do your share of the paperwork. This means there will be an hour difference between when you arrive home and when I do. As far as any passerby knows, I'm just another tenant. Also, I'll use the kitchen and cook us dinner from time to time because OH MY GOSH YES! I've been wanting a kitchen so badly! Also, I don't have to share a bathroom with an entire floor! Yes!"

Nick was still stunned and silent.

"Now, as far as living arrangements go, of course, I'll be taking the bedroom. It's actually not much smaller than my entire old apartment. You already admit you never use it anyway and if I'm in the shower and you need to go at the same time, I'll have the curtain drawn so no peeking! Only I may peek. OH, and we'll need to make a T.V. Schedule so our favorite shows don't come on at the same time."

Nick was still silent. Judy was feeling really awkward and rubbing her arm.

"Look...I know you want to stay in the friend zone until you're ready and that's...okay. I understand why. But...even then I think we're happier together than alone. Y'know?...Nick?! Nick PLEASE say something!"

"...I need to go to NyaKea and buy a couch."

One haphazardly built couch later and Nick and Judy sat together eating lunch and watching Dareweevil on HitFlix.

"I'll take care of you! You filthy Ninjas!"

"Matt Murduck! Stop! Those weren't Ninjas! You just beat up your partner, Froggy Nelson!"

"Froggy! Are you okay? Speak to me!"

"I'm...croaking!"

"And this is on it's third season?" Judy asked.

"Mouse of Cards is better." Nick replied.

Judy relaxed. She rested her head on Nick's shoulder. "Isn't this nice? We can kick back here after work, watch some HitFlix and chill out on the couch!"

"I don't think you know what 'HitFlix and chill' means, Fluff."

Judy grabbed the plates they were eating off of and walked over to wash them in the sink.

"...And don't you worry! We'll keep this purely platonic. Just think of me as another dude. A bro. A dudebro. 'Jude the Dude' as my dad calls me...Nick?"

She looked over. He had his paws over his eyes, but she could see the tears rolling down.

"...You're thinking of the mice again, aren't you?"

"..Yes. 'SNIFF!' I can still smell their scent in the room. I know!...I know I'm being stupid!"

Judy ran over and hugged him. "You're NOT being stupid! I know exactly what you're going through!"

Nick gently pushed her away and sat her next to him. "No. No you don't because even I don't understand what I'm going through.!"

"Yes I do." Judy argued. "You got the opportunity to be a parent and you were about to sign papers and it all slipped through your fingers. Your parental hormone levels are probably through the roof!"

Nick looked at her like she was insane. "My WHAT hormones?!"

"It's true! Males can get that way too! Not just females. I'd like to tell you a story about my mom. It's pretty sad."

"Oh good!" Nick said sarcastically. "I could use a depressing story right about now!"

Judy let out a deep sigh. "I think I was fifteen at the time this happened. My mother and father were best friends with our farming neighbors, the Haresons. They had known each other since High School. However, Mrs. Hareson could not conceive children which, for bunnies is the worst. She could still produce eggs but she couldn't...bring them out. I don't know the medical term. Sorry."

"Anyway, the Haresons and my mom and dad had an idea. The hospital could do intro fertilization and take an egg from Mrs. Hareson and fertilize it with the sperm from Mr. Hareson and implant it into my mother's womb where she would carry the litter to birth and hand the litter back over to them."

"..I think I see where this is going." Nick said.

"Well, the procedure worked. My mother carried the litter for them without any problems. Months passed and she gave birth to the litter. The Haresons rushed over to see their new kits. My... my mom held them in her arms and...when the Haresons asked if they could hold the babies...my mother screamed 'NO! THEY'RE MY BABIES! GO AWAY!' The Haresons, me, my sisters, my dad, we all pleaded with her to let the kits go but she held on tight. The doctors and nurses finally came and started to pull on her arms, but she held on so tight. TOO tight! She finally let go when she heard a snap."

Nick's ears drooped down. "Oh..no."

"Oh yes." Judy said. Tears were starting to run down her cheeks. "She...'SNIFF!' broke one of the newborn kits legs from squeezing them too tight. To this day that child needs crutches. The Haresons and my family haven't spoken to each other since. All because her parental hormones kicked in and she just didn't want to give up those children that weren't hers. What you're going through...is it like that?"

Nick wiped his face. "Yeah. Not as severe of course, but it's kinda like that. Thanks Carrots."

"Do you have your bowling gear ready for tonight?" Judy asked

"Oh yeah! Me and Finn were pros back in the day."

He thought of Finnick and their broken friendship and sighed. "Why is it that when some joy comes into my life, there's always a price to pay?"

"That's just life I guess." Judy replied.

"Yeah." Just then, Nick's phone went off.

"Officer Wilde speaking. Clawauser? Ben! Ben calm down! Oh no! No! We'll be right there!"

Judy was worried. "What's going on?!"

"I don't know, but he said something big is going down in Little Rodentia! Get your dart gun and badge and let's move!"

Nick and Judy darted through the streets as fast as they could. "Please let the pups be okay!" Was the only thing on his mind.

They arrived at the entrance to the city and Nick looked over the wall. He could not believe his eyes.

"Judy, get up here. You have to see this!" He put her on his shoulders.

All throughout the park and all throughout the city people were celebrating. There was a huge banner strung from one tree to another that said "Nick Wilde Day". He could see a balloon that loosely resembled him proceeded by a marching band with the tanks following behind. Children hung a pinata of Jake and here trying to hit it with a stick. An artist was busy sculpting two statues of Nick and Jake in their epic battle.

"It's a parade! For me?!"

The two drone toys flew around the tiny city shooting off tiny fireworks. There was a podium in the middle of the park. Chris and Cindy were there with their parents and the Mayor.

"There you are!" shouted the Mayor. "Climb over the wall and come on in!" Nick carefully climbed over while Judy squeezed through the gate.

Nick still couldn't believe his eyes.

"Uncle Nick! Uncle Nick!" The mouse pups ran over to Nick. He picked them up and held him close to his chest while they kissed his cheeks. He knew this was only for a moment and he realized now he was okay with letting them go.

"Come! Please come over here!" the Mayor said. Nick and Judy carefully and gingerly made their way near the podium. The mouse pups sat on Nick's shoulders.

Mayor Stuffedcheeks cleared his throat and began to speak. "AHEM! As Mayor of this great city within a city, I would personally like to thank Nick Wilde for his tremendous efforts in vanquishing the villainous Jake who brought terror and destruction upon our fair city! To honor you, we have declared October 23rd 'Nick Wilde Day' here in Little Rodentia!"

Nick was overwhelmed. He put his paws to his muzzle and tears of joy ran down his face.

The mice in the park all cheered for Nick to talk. "SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH!"

Nick composed himself. He tried to pick up the tiny mic with his fingertips but it was too small, so he just let his voice boom out.

"Can everyone hear me?!" Nick shouted. The audience in the far back near the gate shouted "Yes!"

"First off, I would like to thank my partner Judy Hopps. I'd LIKE to thank her, but she came in so late that she was barely any help at all."

The audience laughed. Judy got mad and punched his leg. "HEEEY!"

"I'm just kidding Fluff! You saved my neck again. Just as you always do. I'd also like to give a big thanks to officer Melissa Brie! Without her, little Cindy might not be here today to witness this. Brie? Brie! Where are you?!"

Nick looked around the crowd but didn't see her.

"She didn't take the day off for this." Cindy said. "She's getting a medal for this too, but she refused to slack on her duty! Isn't she awesome!"

"She sure is!" Nick replied. "I'd also like to thank this entire city! Judy and I didn't defeat Jake on our own. YOU did! You united as one and attacked him with those tanks and drones and brought him down! Me and Judy might not have nabbed him if it wasn't for you! You showed him that even the tiniest of mammals can defend themselves against a large threat!"

The audience roared in applause. Nick started to tear up again.

"But most of all...most of all, I would like to thank Chris and Cindy Squeakington. If you don't know who they are, just look at my muscular shoulders here."

The audience laughed.

Nick's lip was trembling but as always, he was able to keep his composure. "They...they came into my life through a hole in the wall of my bedroom and...left a tiny hole in my heart...'SNIFF!' but...they also left me a changed fox, a BETTER fox than I was before I met them and for that I can never thank these two enough!"

The two mice hugged and kissed Nick's face once more and he set them down as the audience cheered. They cheered and chanted his name all at once.

"NICK! NICK! NICK! NICK NICK!"

Nick pumped his fists in the air with every chant and had a smile so wide his muzzle could hardly contain it.

Friday afternoon. 4pm.

In the middle of a tiny, mouse run city within the city of Zootopia, there was a fox. A fox by the name of Nick Wilde.

In this city within a city, these tiny mice made this four foot fox feel a hundred feet tall.

"I better not mention I was the one who threw Jake over the wall in the first place" thought Nick.

THE END

Next Up: A Triple Epilogue Espresso With Cream