Will Meet Again

Judy walked aimlessly through the airport, once in a while pulling out her phone to check the time.

She was there to pick up her old childhood friend Gideon Grey, he had come to the big city of Zootopia to try and buy a building so he could open up his bakery here. But when he told Judy over the phone she quickly insisted the two share some much needed time together. After all they hadn't hung out in years and she missed their days of frog hunting, messy baking, and looking for the perfect tree to build their own tree house.

Her ears lifted and she smiled at her phone screen when it showed her that Gideon would be getting off his plane at any moment now. She quickly shoved it back into her pocket and hurried to the section of the airport where his plane's passengers would be walking out.

Other planes had arrived and so she was pushing herself through large crowds of animals, greeting friends and family. Judy keep her eyes open for Gideon's husky frame, her ears pricked to see if she could catch his country drawl over the drone of the many animals of the airport.

She beamed when she spotted a fluffy red tail and quickly ran toward it, seeing Gideon's back (it looked like the fox had lost some weight).

"Gideon!" she called out ecstatically before tackling the fox's back, wrapping her arms around his torso and knocking them both to the ground.

But then Judy's heart dropped in horror as she heard the fox under her let out a curse and it was not the drawl of Gideon. The fox she had attack turned to glare at her over his shoulder and instead of blue eyes and chubby cheeks she was met with emerald eyes and a slim snout.

Judy yipped and quickly jumped off the stranger, her heart pounding and ears red. At the moment she was so mortified she thought she would literally expire on the spot. "I am so, so, so, so sorry!" she panicked, waving her paws frantically. "I thought you were someone else!"

The slender fox pulled himself up to his feet and whirled around with a glare and snarl ready, "What did you-" he stopped when he got a good look at Judy. His eyes slowly roving over her body and his lips slightly parted.

Judy swallowed, her ears falling over her back. "I'm sorry," she repeated, cringing under his eyes that were wide.

"Huh? Oh-don't-don't worry about it," he shook his head but still looked distracted. "Are you hurt?" Judy asked worriedly.

"No."
"Good, I'm glad," Judy's shoulders sunk with relief. "I was waiting for my fox friend you see, and you looked like him from behind. Not that I think all foxes look the same!"

The fox's strange expression finally pulled away and he smirked at her, "Of course not, I'm the most attractive fox you'll ever meet, Carrots."
She didn't say anything about the nickname, still wallowing in mortification and glad that, for whatever reason, he wasn't mad at her.

The fox suddenly leaned forward, closer that what was publicly acceptable Judy was sure. His nose twitched as if he was taking in her scent, "What's your name, Fluff?" His voice was casual and detached as if he was just making polite conversation but his emerald eyes were intense and interested. "I'm Nick."
She opened her mouth, "I'm-"

"JUDY!"
The bunny whirled around with a smile as she saw Gideon, carrying a large duffle bag, hurrying toward her with a grin equally as wide.

"Gid!" she greeted accepting the hug the husky fox offered as soon as he stood before her. "It's so good to see you!"

"Good to see you too," Gideon practically purred, "I think you grew a bit." He chuckled at his words before looking over her ears, his eyebrows rising when he spotted the other fox-Nick. "Who's this?"
Judy looked back at Nick, noticing his incredibly disappointed face before he pulled up a smile, "I'm Nick, Carrots here attacked me, must've thought I was you." The last word came out slightly bitter.

"Oh, Jude," Gideon sighed as if Judy tackled strangers all the time. "You didn't break the poor fella's back did ya?"

"I'm not that heavy, Gid," Judy said with a roll of her eye. "So, ready to get the Official Judy Hopps Tour of Zootopia?"

"After a nap," Gideon punctuated his words with a yawn, "That plane was so cramped; I can barely feel my legs."
Gideon passed by Nick but then stopped, looking at the other fox as Nick stared at Judy who was pulling out her phone to call a cab. Nick felt Gideon's eyes on him and glanced toward the larger fox, jolting in place when he saw the realization in the country fox's blue eyes.

"Alright, let's go Gideon," Judy told her friend, heading toward the airport's exit. But she sent one last apologetic glance at Nick before she went, "Sorry again for attacking you, and thanks for not-you know-threatening to sue me or anything."

Nick chuckled softly, his eyes never breaking away from hers, "I'll hold this day in my heart forever, Carrots."

Judy returned his chuckle as she and Gideon headed out of the airport, leaving Nick behind. As she walked Gideon gave her a weird look, "He seemed nice."
"Yeah, but I still feel so bad for what I did," Judy admitted, "I wish I had the time to treat him to a drink or something."

"Don't worry," Gideon said, a small and thoughtful smile trailing up his lips. "I think you will meet again."

.

A few years later Judy had recalled that moment and couldn't help laughing. She laughed because Gideon had been right. They did meet again.

The second time was only a few short days after the first meeting, she and Gideon had been enjoying lunch at a café when Nick walked in. The two had invited him to join them and while he looked reluctant he hadn't said no, Judy offering to buy him some coffee and not taking no for an answer. Nick had sat there for about a full minute before Gideon excused himself for the bathroom and left Nick and Judy to talk. They officially introduced themselves, throwing in their last and middle names and talking about their careers, Nick asking if he and Judy were a thing. He looked oddly relieved when she said no. Judy also noticed how the fox leaned forward farther than necessary but for some reason she didn't mind. Judy left the café with the fox's number.

The third time was after Gideon returned home and Judy finally called, Nick had tried to hide his excitement when he found out who had called him, quickly asking her to dinner. They went to about four dinners, with two movies and a mini golf course before they decided to date officially.

They went on three dates before Judy found herself spending the night at Nick's house, said night filled with breathy moans and feeling paws and discarded clothes.

It was a year before Judy took Nick to Bunnyburrow to meet her family.

It was two more months before Nick introduced Judy to his elderly mother.

It was three days afterwards when Nick finally admitted that he knew Judy was the one when they first met, stating that her scent tipped him off, that she was his One and Only.

All together it was three years before Nick took her to the airport, dropped to one knee, and offered her a silver ring. Judy had burst into tears and wrapped her arms around his neck, nodding her head against his shoulder.

And now she was standing in a white dress, the past three years going over and over in her head and Gideon's words had brought a bubble of mirth escaping past her laughing lips.

Shaking her head fondly at the wonderful craziness of the world Judy turned and headed toward her wedding.