Ch. 37:

Judy's internal clock had been set to the crack of dawn since she was five and it hadn't changed during her time in Zootopia. So as the sun was peaking over the hills of Bunnyburrow, even though her room had no windows to tell her, Judy felt her senses awaken.

She let out a yawn and stretched, right paw smacking against something. She blinked blurry eyes open and looked to said right. Nick was sleeping by her side, his back to her. She smirked at the snoozing fox and sat up, stretching her back out as she studied him, he was holding two of her stuffed rabbits to his chest, his lips slightly parted as he slept.

Judy was glad the fox had managed to get some sleep, she was positive he wouldn't have gotten any shut eye at all last night.

She had claimed the edge of the bed as her own since she was sure she'd be getting up before him. She had changed into her pajamas in the closet, coming out to see Nick sitting on the bed and holding one of her stubbed rabbits, examining the tux it wore.

"You know," he said. "We'd have more room on this already tiny bed if you moved these mountains of toy rabbits."

"Wash your mouth out with soap," she scolded lightly, taking the rabbit the fox held and straightened his ears. "Sir Herbert and all the others have lived on this bed since I was five; they deserve to sleep on it more than we do."
Nick chuckled softly, shaking his head at the rabbit as she placed Sir Herbert back with his friends. Judy then let out a yawn, covering it with a paw, "Could you go ahead and lie down? I'm about to fall asleep on my feet."

"Oh…right," Nick glanced behind him at the bed. "Lie down…"

"You okay?" she asked then smirked, "You didn't have any problems sharing the bed when it was yours."

Nick chuckled again but it sounded slightly hysterical, "Yeah…yeah I did." He crawled onto the bed as far as he could without moving the stuffed bunnies and crawled under the blanket. He stared up at the ceiling, his body completely rigid, "There."

Judy huffed in amusement and climbed into the bed next to him, covering herself with the blanket, her paw touched Nick's arm as she made herself comfortable and the fox flinched.

Judy sent him a weird look before rolling onto her side so her back faced him, "Good night, Nick."

"N-night, Carrots," he murmured. Judy had drifted off to sleep, completely aware of how tensed Nick's muscles were.

But it looked like some time in the night he had managed to fall asleep, Judy could admit to herself it was kind of cute how nervous he was about sharing a bed with her. She slipped out of the bed and walking into her closet to change, when she had changed into comfy T shirt and jeans she walked out to see Nick still asleep. Judy decided to let him sleep in and headed out of her room, ready to make her way to the kitchen and help her mother, aunts, and sisters cook breakfast.

.

The tune of a thrash metal band had Nick jolting awake. He looked around the room he was in, not recognizing where he was until he noticed he had a pair of toy rabbits in his arm.

"Oh, that's right…" he trailed off and looked around the room again. Judy wasn't here. He crawled out of the bed, yawning and scratching the back of his head as he looked through his duffle bag until he found his phone. He answered it without looking at the caller ID, he knew who it was by the ring tone.

"What is it, Finnick?" he groused.

"Well, good morning to you to best friend of five years," Finnick replied sarcastically.

"Has it only been five years?" Nick asked, sitting down on Judy's bed as he let himself slowly wake up. "I feel like I've known you since you were the size of a mouse."

"You know I'd make a sarcastic comment but my mother has shown me the ultra sounds," Finnick let out the most depressing of sighs, "I was that small once."

"I really like your mom," Nick said randomly. "I'm not even going to make that about us, she's just a sweetheart."

"Anyway to answer your question I called to ask how the first day of Bunnyburrow is going."

Nick shrugged even though Finnick couldn't see him. "I've really only met Judy's nanna, and she loves me so… that's great."

"Good for you," Finnick replied. "Where are you now?"

Nick looked down at the bed, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me."

"…I'm in Judy's bed."

He felt a spewing sound followed by coughing and Nick realized Finnick had been drinking something. He bit his lip to keep from laughing.

"Are you serious!?" the fennec fox gasped once he caught his breath. "You've been gone for a day!"

"Not like that, Fin!" Nick felt his ears heat. "We just slept!"

"And she trusted you to keep your paws to yourself?" Finnick asked, "She might already be in love with you, Nick."
The red fox rolled his eyes, "Look I'm going to go, I have a burrow full of rabbits to meet. I'll call you later."

"You do that, I'm going to give Honey a ring," Finnick said in a teasing voice. "She's going to love this development."

Nick hung up the phone and threw it back into his bag before looking around for some clothes to wear; he had a bathroom to find. Finding the shirt and jeans he wanted to wear Nick left the room and took three steps forward before realizing he had absolutely no idea where anything would be.

"Just gotta find a bunny or a map," he told himself as he continued onward, picking a random tunnel and keeping his eyes and ears open. He broke into a grin as he spotted a map and hurried to it.

"The tunnels have numbers?" he moaned, trying to figure out which one he was in, tracing a claw across the map.

Muttering had his ears twitching and he looked to his right to see a couple of bunnies further up the tunnel, they were three of them, a pair of eight year olds looked to be twins and a five year old, the two girls looked at him with wide eyes while the male didn't look that impressed at the sight of the fox.

Nick smiled at them, hoping it looked reassuring and lifted his paw, "Hi."

The two girls squeaked and turned to run away, the eight year old having to come back to drag her twin brother away with her. Both Nick's paw and his smile dropped.

"You'll have to excuse the little ones, they've lived on fairy tales were the foxes are the bad guys."
Nick turned around to see a bunny Judy's age; she had gray like Judy's but her eyes were brown and her ears shorter. She was wearing a top that showed off her mid-riff and shorts, in other words not winter clothing. But what set Nick on edge was her flirty smile and batting eye lashes.

"It's okay," he assured, wanting to get away from this rabbit but not wanting to be rude to a relative of Judy's. He offered his paw, "I'm Nick."

"Harley Hopps," she greeted, slipping her paw into his and giving a shake. Nick quickly pulled his paw away. "So you must be the friend Judy invited."

"That's me," he offered with a small smile.

"She didn't tell me you were a fox," she said, taking a few steps closer and looking him up and down and Nick felt like he was getting undressed by her eyes.

He took a few steps back, "According to her it didn't matter what species I am."

"I have to say I agree with my sister," Harley replied, placing her paws on her hips. "And that is a Christmas miracle."

"Heh, you two look the same age."

"We are we're part of the same litter." She stepped forward and ran her paw over Nick's arm. He was reminded of Sue and his stomach roiled in disgust but he kept his snout shut. "But I know plenty about my sister; I'd like to know more about you."

"I'm looking for a bathroom," he told her. "You know where one is?"

"I know where plenty are," Harley said, finally stepping away. "We have communal bathrooms since there's so many of us."

"I want the least populated," Nick said.

Harley nodded and headed down the hallway, "Then right this way, darling."

Nick rolled his eyes behind her back and followed, at least he was no longer lost. After he took a shower and made himself presentable he could go find Judy.

Harley led him to a completely empty bathroom but Nick could see why, it was pretty small for a communal bathroom and he saw the corners of the room were starting to gather mold. He looked to Harley.

The bunny shrugged, smirking at his expression, "This is literally the only bathroom not used, so unless you want to go shower with my brothers or me…"

Nick shut the door behind him.

About twenty minutes later (he didn't relax and dawdle in the bathroom like he usually did) he stepped out in new clothes, his fur slightly damp from the water and his sleep wrinkled clothes in his paws. He nearly jumped in surprise when he saw Harley leaning against the wall, she had stayed to wait for him.

She flirtingly smiled at him and Nick cringed, he needed to get back to Judy's room to leave his clothes but he didn't want Harley to know that was where he was sleeping. He imagined the rabbit would try to convince him her room was so much better.

Harley looked at the clothes in his paws, "Follow me." She dashed down the hall and Nick considering disobeying the order but reluctantly decided against it. He really didn't need to get lost in these tunnels and Harley was the only rabbit around to be his tour guide. He followed her to a series of laundry shoots across a wall, he took note that under each laundry shoot was a name, and she had stopped next to a laundry shoot with her own name. "Throw your clothes in there, they'll get washed."

Nick looked at the laundry shoot doubtfully and she giggled, "Whoever's on laundry duty will bring my clothes to my room and I'll be sure to return your clothes to you. Or you can come and fetch them yourself."

Nick looked longingly at the shoot that had Judy's name but didn't want Harley needling him with questions so with great reluctance letting his clothes fall down the laundry shoot.

Harley clapped her hands together and smiled cheerfully, "Now that that's over how about we get to breakfast." She linked her arm with Nick's and leading him down the hallway. "Is Judy there?" he asked.

Harley glanced at him then shrugged, "Who knows."

They walked into a tunnel that was larger than the others and some feet up he saw two set of hallways, railing keeping rabbits from falling from the two floors. He saw a pair of male twins that were Judy and Harley's age (he figured they were also part of the same litter) their fur light brown with their muzzles and ears a darker shade, chatting animatedly about something. When they spotted Nick and Harley there eyes widened in interest before they split into identical grins.

"Look at this, George," one of them said, eyeing the two. "Harley's caught another poor chap in her web."

"So it would appear, Fred," the other agreed. "But I didn't imagine it would be a fox."

Surprising Nick the two crawled over the railing and jumped, both landing effortlessly on their feet before the two. Nick's eyebrows rose, impressed.

Harley let out an aggravated noise, "What do you two want?"

"Sorry, sis," Fred smirked at her. "But this is the first time a fox has ever been in the burrow and we're not going to let you hog him to yourself." He gently but firmly pushed Harley away from Nick and the twins caged him on either side, Nick already liked them.

"So," George began as they continued to walk, Harley trailing after them with a sour pout. "Nanna said you're Nick."

"I am," he answered.

"What are your intentions toward our sister?" Fred asked.

Nick frowned at the rabbit, "I just met her."

"What? Oh no, we're not talking about Harley. She gets a boyfriend every other day."

"I do not!" she snapped from behind them.

"Sorry, every other hour. But no, we're talking about Judy."

"You are the first boy she's ever brought home to the family," George informed him, "So we're naturally very curious as to what's your deal."

"My deal?" Nick echoed.

"What do you plan to do with her?"

"Well…" Nick looked up, pretending to be deep in thought. He then looked down at the twins and bared his teeth in a feral grin and flashed his claws, "Actually, I was planning to devour her flesh and then bury her bones out in the snow."

There was a moment of silence and Nick thought his joke had failed utterly but then the pair of twins burst into loud laughter, making the fox smile proudly.

"I like you, fox," Fred patted Nick on the bed. "Jude the Dude's got good taste in guy friends!"

The four continued walking when George spoke up, "I was so sure you were that junior ranger scout."

Nick nearly tripped over his own feet, "Junior ranger scout?"

"Yeah, one time she went to Zootopia with dad and got bullied by some chubby fox," Fred explained, "But then a really cute fox came out of nowhere and saved her."

"And our sister got her first hero," George clasped his paws together, ears pressed back against his head and big eyes looking up at the ceiling. "For months on end that scout was the only thing she ever talked about."

Nick felt his ears turn hot, "Huh…"

A door before them suddenly opened and out walked a gray bunny who looked alike with Harley but not identical like Fred and George.

"Hey, Gwen," George greeted.

The bunny looked up, offering her brothers a tentative smile before she saw Nick. Her eyes bugled and she let out a shriek before dashing down the tunnel and disappearing. Nick blinked, staring after her.

"That's Gwen," Fred explained, pointing to where she had vanished. "She's not exactly the biggest fan of predators."

"I could tell," Nick replied.

"Don't let it get to you," Harley told him, stepping over to touch Nick's arm again, the fox resisted a sigh. "She's scared of her own shadow."

Finally the smell of food had Nick's nose twitching and his stomach growled. They stepped out of the hallway and to a railed balcony and a set of stairs, down below he could see a series of large round tables all covered in rabbit based breakfasts, most of the tables already crowded with rabbits of all ages. One large doorway led into the kitchen and Nick couldn't help breaking into a smile when he saw his classmate walking out carrying a plate of pancakes in her paws.

"Judy!" he yelled out, startling the twins and Harley. A few rabbits that were closer to the stairs heard him and gave the fox weird/frightened looks.

Judy looked up and smiled once she spotted him, Nick felt his heart skip a beat. But then Judy saw who he was standing with and her expression quickly changed into one of terror.

Nick followed the twins and Harley down the stairs and Judy hurried over to meet them halfway, still carrying the plate of pancakes. "What are you three doing?" she demanded of her siblings, scowling at them.

Harley rolled her eyes while Fred and George let out offended gasps. "What makes you think we'd do anything Jude the Dude?" George demanded.

"Because you're Fred, George, and Harley," Judy growled, "All you three do is stir up chaos and drama."

"Oh, don't get your ears in a knot, Judy," Harley shooed her sister's words away. "We're just being nice to your fox friend," she leaned against Nick and the fox curled his lip at her while Judy shot her sister poison tipped daggers.

Fred and George stepped up and both wrapped their arms around Judy's shoulders, nuzzling against the top of her head. "Oh, Judy, you're so cute when you get mad," Fred cooed.

"Makes me want to pinch your cheeks," George said then proceeded to do just that. Judy tried to nip at his arm.

Another rabbit appeared then, she had the same color scheme as the twins, "Let her go, boys. You bother her like that and she'll stop visiting all together."

Fred and George obeyed and Judy sent the other rabbit a grateful smile, "Thanks, Amy."

Amy smiled fondly at Judy before her eyes turned to Nick, she offered a polite smile but the fox couldn't help but think she was studying him. "You must be Nick, Judy's told me a lot about you."

His classmate's ears blushed and Nick offered a smile, "I can only imagine what she said."

"All good things," Amy said, but Nick had a feeling she knew there were plenty of bad things Judy hid from her. Nonetheless she offered Nick a paw shake which she accepted, "Welcome to the burrow, I hope you enjoy your stay."

She turned to Harley and the twins with a firm look, her paws resting on her hips, "Since you three were too 'busy' to help cook breakfast you can help set the tables." She sent them on their way before giving Judy a tender pat on the shoulder before following after.

Judy looked up at Nick in concern, "They didn't bother you did they?"

"I like Fred and George," he reassured her. "Harley on the other paw…"

Judy let out an exhausted and unsurprised groan, "Ignore her, she's a huge flirt."

"Amy seems…nice."
Judy smiled fondly, "She's the best. Sorry if it felt like she was trying to see into your soul or something, she's pretty protective and I've never brought a friend home before."

"So I've been told," he smiled, remembering what Fred and George had said about the junior ranger scout.

"But yeah we were a litter together," she explained. "Me, Amy, Fred and George, Harley, and my sister Gwen."

"I met Gwen," he said, glancing up the stairs. "Or rather, she saw me and ran away screaming."

Judy flinched, "I'm sorry…"
"Don't worry about," he waved a paw. "I came here for you, not your sister."

Judy smiled bashfully down at the plate of pancakes before her eyes widened, "Oh, these are for you." She offered him the plate and shrugged helplessly, "It's blueberry pancakes."

Nick's looked at her with surprise then glanced at the plate, "You made me pancakes?"

"You're my guest," Judy replied. "And you did say anything is good as long as its blueberry flavored."

"And I believe it wholeheartedly," he replied, taking the plate from her and smiled warmly. "Thanks, Carrots."

She waved off his gratitude, "Don't mention it."

.

Breakfast was amazing. Putting up with Harley's never ending flirting and frightened and distrustful glares was actually worth it for Judy's homemade blueberry pancakes. Just the thought of the bunny cooking for him made his heart warm.

After breakfast Judy finally introduced Nick to her parents. They had recognized him from that one call months ago and Stu once again thought he was her boyfriend. But this time when Judy said no, they were just friends, it made his stomach twist but he only smiled politely and said all the right polite words. Nanna had barged into the introduction and told Stu and Bonnie that Nick was a very nice fox, the two seemed to be slightly assured by the older rabbit's words.

"Nanna is my dad's mom," Judy had whispered to Nick when said elderly bunny started fussing with Stu's ears as if he was a toddler.

"Well now that the formalities are done," Stu looked to his daughter, "Judy could you go help your brothers shovel the driveway."
"Of course, Dad," she said, looking happy to assist her family.
"I'll help too," Nick offered, pleasantly surprising the bunnies.

Minutes later Judy and Nick were wrapped in winter jackets and scarves and were out in the snow covered front yard, helping Fred and George shovel thick snow away from the driveway. Or at least, Nick was trying help, sticking the shovel into the snow but unable to lift it back up, the mounds of white flakes too heavy for the city fox to lift. But he still tried, grabbing the wooden handle with both paws and struggling to pull up, his arms shaking, his paws suddenly slipped off the slick wood and he fell onto his tail in the cold snow. He heard Fred and George laugh while Judy shushed them.

"Are you okay, Nick?" she asked and then the three rabbits were standing over him, the twins smirking while Judy looked concerned.

He flashed her a reassuring smile before lifting a paw for a thumbs up. Fred and George returned the thumbs up and Judy let out a breath of relief, her breath fogging before her muzzle.

"Come here, Blueberries," Fred offered a paw to the fox and he was helped to his feet.

"Blueberries?" he and Judy echoed in unison.

"Jude the Dude told us you love blueberries," George explained. "And since you call her Carrots we think Blueberries is an appropriate nickname."

"I like it," Judy stated and Nick smiled bashfully. His classmate turned to look at Nick's shovel that was still sticking out of the snow. "But I guess you've never shoveled snow before, huh Nick?"

"No," Nick admitted as the four walked over to study the shovel. "Since Zootopia has climate control and shoveling snow in Tundra Town kinda defeats purpose…"

Judy spoke, "Well maybe we can-" her words were cut off as a snowballs suddenly smacked into her face, startling Nick and her brothers. They all turned in stunned silence to see a few young bunnies across the yard, building snow forts and looking ready to start a snow ball war.

"Sorry, Judy!" the culprit who had thrown the sphere of snow, the little bunny Nick had seen earlier who had worn a bored expression, called out. "I was aiming for Fred."

Judy smirked and wiped the splattered snow off her face, "Well now you have to worry about me!"

She bent down and hastily made a snowball before rushing toward her younger brother who laughed and quickly raced to the fort, when the other bunnies saw Judy was coming to join the fight they squealed in delighted excitement.

George nudged Nick in the ribs, "You can go play with her we got this."

He looked down at the twins, "You sure?"

"No offense, buddy," Fred laughed. "But you weren't exactly being super helpful."

Nick looked back to Judy who had thrown her snowball only to have it miss her brother, laughing she looked over her shoulder to see Nick watching her. She smirked, "Come and get me, Blueberries!"

Nick grinned, "You asked for it, Bun Bun!"

He lunged toward her with a playful snarl and Judy dashed across the snow, the younger bunnies watching with wide eyes as the fox chased their sister around. Judy suddenly dropped into the snow and Nick stumbled to a halt, nearly slipping onto his tail yet again.

The bunnies let out a shocked gasps and Nick stepped toward Judy, "You okay, Car-?"

Judy suddenly leapt up, a brand new snowball in paw and shoved it into Nick's snout, half of it ending up in his mouth.

Judy jumped back with a triumphant crow while Nick coughed and spit out the snow, he bared his snow crusted fangs at her, "I am going to turn you into a bunny pawpsicle!" Judy made to run again but this time Nick jumped, crashing into her and making them fall and roll in the snow. Nick used his greater weight to hold the struggling rabbit down as he grabbed a pawful of snow and let it fall down the back of her shirt, Judy let out a laughing screech as the cold flakes trailed down her fur.

Judy struggled and managed to turn onto her back, tossing more snow into Nick's face. The two laughing loudly as they continued to smother snow into each other's fur, not minding the cold or the bunnies who were watching with wide eyed interest.

"Judy," one of them finally called out. She and Nick looked over to the little rabbits; snow clumped into their messy fur Nick's torso sprawled across Judy's body.

"Can you and Mr. Blueberries have a snowball war with us?"

"I want Mr. Blueberries on our team!" one rabbit from the other fort called out.

Judy smiled up at Nick's surprised expression, "We'd love to."

Harry Otter references? What Harry Otter references?

Also I have just posted a thing a list on tumblr of my voice Head cannons for some of my OCS, Sven, Rick, etc. If you guys can have it and give it a look I'd be grateful and feel free to tell me what you think of it either on tumblr or here. My username is helthehatter.