Hey everyone sorry for not uploading last week, had an issue to take care of and didnt get to post this chapter. Another slice of life chapter to fill the story a bit. Oh btw, might have noticed not only am i skipping time a bit, but not doing much invovling police work. Not sure how to type those types of chapters, i may in future, but for now im focusing on the friendship of Nick and Judy.

Nick pulled the chicken breast out of the oven moment after the timer went off. He inhaled the aroma coming off the baked poultry, the added spices and marinade only making it smell more appealing.

"Smells delicious dear, I didn't know you cooked." He was pulled from his thoughts as his mothers voice called from his living room. He chuckled.

"Well, I AM a grown up todd, live in a very nice apartment, and I figured I'd treat my mother to a nice meal for once." He smiled as he placed one of the chicken pieces on a plate, along with mashed potatoes, and some green beans. Nick grabbed his mothers plate and glass of wine, taking them to her as she sat at his table. "Its a very lovely place Nicky, just needs a few...homey touches like pictures and it be perfect."

"Thanks mom, here ya go." He smiled placing her meal in front of her. "Oh Nicky this looks amazing," She smiled at her son, "Women love males that can spoil them like this." She took a sip of wine.

Nick chuckled as he grabbed his own meal and sat next to his mother at the table, "That's what I've heard too, maybe someday ill find this to be true."

"So Nicky, wheres your friend Judy at? She busy?" Vivienne asks as she took a bite of chicken.

"Kinda, she's on a date with a nice buck." He answered flatly, taking a bite of his own chicken.

Vivienne cocked one of her eyebrows, "Oh." She continued to eat, as her face showed her thoughts.

"Oh what?" Nick asked looking at his mother.

Vivienne paused and took a sip of wine, "Nothing really, Just curious as to why...your not on a date with Judy, she seems like a really nice girl."

Nicks muzzle broke out in a big smile, "She is. She's funny, smart, independent, energetic, she loves her job and..."

"So whats the problem sweetie?"

Nick looked his mother in the eye, "Well...several things. Shes like 5 years younger, different energy levels, completely different up bringing, different outlooks, and for the obvious, I'm a Fox, she's a Bunny. Predator and prey." Nick finished taking a gulp of wine.

His mother took a large inhale, "Nicholas Piberious Wilde, listen very carefully. Your father, he was older than me, I was eager and optimistic about the world, he was a bit down trodden from life and always busting tail to make a living, and we worked out." She smiled, Nick looked at her with an odd expression, She coughed lightly, "Worked for the most part i guess, still honey, don't let the small stuff get in the way."

"Ok but what about the whole predator/prey thing? We wouldn't be able to have kids, or even well..." Nick trailed off, his ears getting hot in embarrassment.

"There's always adoption, and... " She paused, "Look Im not supposed to say things like this, since it client confidentiality, but last month, a couple wanted me to find them an apartment that could suit them both. They were so afraid of neighbors saying things, but after doing some checking, turns out the Mammal Inclusion Act, protects inter-species couplings."

"So? I knew that, its more about her parents, they pretty traditional." He paused as he finished off his potatoes, "They send her on blind dates with bucks that approach them to court her, and she normally, goes along with it, even if it backfires nearly 30 times in a row."

"Wow, You know, we have our traditions as well, Nicky." She smiled.

"Yea I know Mom, I remember some of them, asking a vixens mother to court the vixen, todd sets up first big date while the vixen sets up the second one, blah blah." He chuckled.

His mother laughed as well, "Good at least you remembered a few things your mother taught you." She watched him take the plates and glasses to the sink. "And Nicky, I don't care who, or what you date. As long as your happy, Im happy."

"Really? Even we couldn't have kits?" He asked cocking his head.

"Of course Nicky, As long as your happy sweetie, besides, how many females whipped your tail into shape and got you to turn your life around?" His mother winked, causing Nick to laugh.

The rest of the evening was spent catching up. Telling his mother everything that had happened after he ran away. Everything from sleeping on the streets, stealing random fruits and veggies for food, meeting Finnick and all the hustles they pulled. Vivienne seemed very enthralled by how Judy and him met. She scowled as he told her how he tricked her and how he put her down, laughed as Judy out hustled him. She was very impressed when he stood up for her in front of her boss, and nearly teared up when he opened up to Judy. She wasn't sure how to feel when Nick told her about the press conference and what happened in the 2 or 3 months that led up to Judy apologizing to him. Vivienne was very impressed by both there acting skill while tricking Bellwether, and nearly cried tears of joy when the case was wrapped up and he decided to join the ZPD.

Vivienne wiped a tear away, "Oh Nicky, Your life was so rough." She chuckled, "No matter what, I'm still very proud of my little todd, you came so far. " She pulled him into a tight hug, "And I know your father would be proud too, you did the one thing he wanted so badly." He pulled away slightly and looked confused. She smiled and finished, "He wanted nothing more than for the world to see that us Foxes could be so much more than shifty and untrustworthy. And you did it Nicky." He hugged his mom again, trying not to let tears of joy fall.

When they finally broke apart, she wiped his tear away, "Such a handsome boy." She glanced at the time, "Well sweetie, this was fun. We need to do it again. Next time, invite that adorable little bunny. I got a few stories to tell her. " She winked. She gave him one more hug before heading for the door. Nick followed his mom and opened it for her, "I thought you wanted her around more, that would keep me from inviting her." He chuckled.

"Funny," She chuckled ruffling his hair, "See ya later son."

"Bye mom, drive safe." She smiled and left, leaving Nick to his thoughts. As he filled his sink with hot water, a single thought filled his mind, and he voiced his new thought to no one in particular, "I just want my best friend happy, If this doctor does that, great, Ill be happy for them and Ill find me a vixen to spend time with. BUT, If this new buck doesn't work out, I will do what it takes to make Judy happy." He smiled at the idea of dating Judy. Either way, that was a ways off.

So decided to focus a bit on Nick and his mother getting back on good terms. And giving a bit more on the traditions part. Ill get more into vulpine dating and lapine dating a bit in the next chapters, expanding a bit on what they would entail so look forward to that.

Also, still working on a second pairing for the story to give it a bit more variety, just need to finalize between a few ideas and then Ill be set.

Till next Chapter, dont forget to review or PM any idea and thoughts. -Fyrewolf-