AN. Hello my lovly readers and welcome back, I hope everyone is safe and well at this strange time.I just wanted to take this time to thank everyone for their support and for your messages it really help but enough of that, here is the next chapter . see ya on the other side.
After another week of Judy constantly looking after him Nick finally cracked.
"Judy, you know you mean the world to me, but stop. I haven't even been able to pee without you looking over my shoulder, I'm fine, fit as a butcher dog. please just leave me be for five minutes."
Judy looked hurt at the outburst, and lowered her head. "Nick I'm sorry, I just care about you and want you better."
Nick instantly regretted his words, leaning over to his friend, partner and favourite bunny. "Carrots I just need a break, and let's face it. If this is how you act whiles I'm safe and sound in your family home, how can we ever get back to work. Danger is a part of our job and if you are too busy worrying about me you won't be able to focus on yourself. and I could never forgive myself if you got hurt because of me.. again."
Judy slowly nodded before looking up at her fox with a tear in her eye. "I understand, guess I'll have to go to the festival on my own then."
"Fest... iv... al." Nicks face dropped as he realised today was the day of the harvest festival. He had been looking forward to it all week and had just managed to ruin the entire day before it had even started.
That was until he heard a small noise from next to him, looking over he saw the bunny's mask of sadness crack. before she completely burst into laughter.
"Carrots? what the hell, do you realise how bad I felt."
"I'm sorry" she said wiping tears from her eyes, "I couldn't help it, I know you've been on the mend ever since that night on the hill. but I was wandering how long you would let me keep going. Now come on slick we have a festival to get to." she said hopping off down the hall.
After about an hour they were ready and headed out to two converted trailers. it was only then that it hit nick quite how many Hopps' there actually were. Each trailer was huge and seated at least two hundred rabbits.
"You coming Nick?" Judy called climbing into the first trailer, as nick followed he found he had to be bent nearly in half to fit.
"I'm not sure this is going to work" he said slowly backing back out of the trailer.
"Not to worry, you can ride with me." came a voice from behind him.
Judy's eyes lit up as she saw the owner of the voice, "Gideon!" she shouted running towards the portly fox who had just pulled up.
Nicks eyes narrowed at the smaller fox as he walked over to shake paws with him.
"You must be Nick," Gideon said releasing Nick. "some shake you got there, wow" he said trying to get feeling back in his paw. "so we should probably get going then"
Judy went to join them until Nick placed a paw on her shoulder. "mind if Gideon and I have a chat on the way there, it's just I've been in a house full of rabbits for over two weeks now and it would be nice to have a bit of a chat that doesn't involve carrots." he said with a chuckle.
She seemed a little hurt by the comment but could see where Nick was coming from in all honesty, if she did go with them the conversation would revolve around how the harvest had been."
"Fine, but I'll never forgive you if you miss the pie eating contest."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world fluff."
"Wasn't talking to you Nick. See you later Gideon." she said turning on her heal and walking back to the trailers.
As they headed to town Gideon smiled at the larger fox next to him, "there is a little rivalry between us two when it comes to the eating contest.
"Pull over" came Nicks cold response.
"Pardon? is something wr..."
"Pull over" Nick interrupted a little harsher this time.
As he did so Gideon slowly looked over. "what is it bud? me and Jude are just old friends is all."
"Old friends is it? because from what I've seen you are not the most friendly of fox's." he said running his claws down the side of his own muzzle.
"Look that was a long time ago, I was young and stupid. For Fox sake I'm married to a rabbit."
Nick blinked, "your..."
"Married to a rabbit yes, you know you aren't the first fox to fall for a cute little bunny".
"You cant..."
"Call a rabbit cute, yeah I know."
Both mammals burst into laughter, before looking back at each other. "look I get how you feel about me, and trust me I understand how you feel about Jude but I'm not the same young naive fox I once was."
Nick looked ashamed, "sorry its just, well that bunny has saved my life in more ways than one and..."
"...you don't want anything or any mammal to hurt her, trust me as I say I understand. now let's get going before that bunny you are so protective over kills us both." he said with a chuckle.
The rest of the short journey they laughed and Nick thought about how much he had changed over just the last year. After all who was he to judge, up until very recently he had done things much worse than putting a couple of scratches on another mammal.
Nick left his new friend, promising that he would see him at the eating competition. Heading into the centre of the festival he found Judy waiting in line for the ferret wheel he was sure hadn't been there on his last trip into town.
"How's it going carrots?" Judy didn't even move, solemnly ignoring the fox standing behind her.
"Come on fluff don't be like that please." he said leaning down and kissing her ear, the ear twitched but it was the only indication she gave that Nick even existed.
With a smirk he had an idea running his claw up her ear, watching the blush follow it.
"Judy, you know I'm not going anywhere so please turn around."
"I thought you were bored of talking to bunnies." she said shortly.
"Bunnies? a little but you, never."
"Oh no, remember all us bunnies talk about is carrots."
"There is one carrot ill never be bored of," he said giving her ear a nibble.
"That fox is trying to eat Judy!" came a shout from behind Nick.
That little rabbit again, I swear he follows me around to cause problems for mmmmmeeeee..."Nick barely had time to finish his thought before hitting the ground.
"Nick?!" Judy shouted dropping her pretence and spinning round.
"It's OK miss Hopps, I've got it from here." said a very fat squirrel as he lowered his taser.
"Dave? for the love of Dog, who in Bunnyborrow let you loose with a fox taser?"
"But he was.. and you... I saw him my self he was going to.."
"No, he wasn't Dave, now get some help as you have just tasered a senior officer in the back with no warning."
The squirrel ran off mumbling something about knowing what he saw and only trying to do his job.
"Carrots?" Nick said groggily, sitting up. "I know I might have been pushing it a little but wow."
"What, I didn't, I..."
Then she saw the grin on his muzzle, "I mean I've always thought we had a charged relationship but.."
"If you even attempt to finish that joke fox I'm leaving you in the dirt."
He just smiled giving her a peck on the cheek before whispering into her ear, "you always have had a way of knocking me off my feet."
She gave him a withering look before kissing him back,
"O M GOODNESS can't you two stay out of trouble for one afternoon." came a familiar voice from behind them.
"I blame my fuzzy little companion, I was always in perfect health before meeting her. wait, Ben? what exactly are you doing here?"
"Oh I come every year, I'm the unbeaten champion of the eating competition."
"We'll see about that, you've never been up against me."
The cheetah let out a small laugh, "I look forward to it. anyway I'll see you there." he said heading over to a popcorn stand.
"You don't stand a chance slick." Judy laughed
"Ill have you know I have never lost an eating contest."
"And exactly how many have you been in?"
"Well non technically, but living on the streets results in everything being a competition for food."
Judy just shook her head at the fox, "come on, or we're going to be late." she said pulling him along by his tie.
"And what exactly are we late for?"
"Well... I may have agreed to something without thinking." she said as they rounded the corner.
In front of Nick stood a small building. Looking up he read 'Bunnyborrow fire, police and post office.'
"You have got to be kidding me"
"Nope, I told you not much happens round here. made sense to put the station to use."
"OK, not what I meant. Judy, why in the name of fleas have you brought me here?"
"Well... you see with me being Zootopia's first rabbit officer and with you being... my partner, I was asked if we could lead the parade."
"Nope" Nick said trying to get walk away only to realise Judy still had hold of his tie. "No Judy, I'm not doing it. I... are those custom Hairy Dogisons?"
"Oh, did I forget to mention them." Judy said with a wink. "Now put this on."
Nick looked at the bundle he was being handed, "Carrots.."
"I'm not listening, put it on. this took a lot of organising."
"you owe me." Nick said with a snarl.
Judy gently pulled him down to her level giving him a deep kiss before letting go.
"Sly bunny"
"Dumb fox, now get dressed."
"Well if I'm going to do this, I'm walking in there as an officer so where can I change?"
"I thought you might say that, follow me."
They walked up the street to find Gideon standing outside his shop.
"Thanks again for this" Judy said as Nick headed in.
"It's no problem, I was shutting early today anyway. just lock up when you leave."
"Will do, see you at the contest."
"Haven't missed one yet." he said heading into the festival.
After changing they headed back to the station, only for Nick to stop, looking down at the dress blues he was wearing.
"Hold on slick, one last thing." she said pinning his medal to his chest.
Nick opened his muzzle to protest but was cut off before he could say anything.
"I know what your going to say Nick, but you earned that so please, for me."
He just sighed and nodded. "ok, just this once, but I still don't feel I earned it."
As they walked into the station Nick saw what must have been half of precinct one waiting, before hearing an all to familiar voice.
"Wild! Hopps! what took so long? we roll out in twenty, now MOVE!"
"Judy?" was all Nick could say looking down at the smaller mammal next to him.
"It's called a hustle sweetheart." she said with a smile.
As Chief Bogo took point, the two much smaller animals closed in behind, as they rode Nick looked around at the happy faces of Bunnyborrow and finally felt he had made the correct decision. As much as he had been through, he couldn't help but admit, the rabbit next to him was right. he did want to help Zootopia and its mammals, and maybe just maybe he would one day feel he deserved the piece of metal pinned to his chest.
As the parade came to a stop, Nick pulled up next to his boss. "can we have a word chief". Looking at the fox he dismounted and gave a grunt.
"when do you need us back?"
"What do you mean when? Wilde that isn't a costume your wearing, and we are not here to make the little fox feel better. At present there are at least two separate groups who have reason to be after you and Hopps. and let's be honest I can't think of a better time to strike than in the middle of nowhere with no real police force to speak of."
Nick shook his head looking up at the Cape buffalo, "you haven't told carr.. officer Hopps have you?"
Bogo gave a snort "I may be a hard tail, but even I'm not cruel enough to keep you locked in that burrow any longer."
"I appreciate that, but she needs to know."
"She knows, she is smarter than you give her credit for. After all she's managed to out smart both of us on more than one occasion. But if it had come from me it would have made it real."
"And once its real it means things go back to normal, and by normal I mean..."
"Complicated, agreed. Now officially you are still on leave but as far as I'm conserved if you are in that uniform your mine."
"Yes, sir." Nick said pulling possibly the sharpest salute of his life.
"You misunderstand me Wilde, get that uniform off. As I say you are still on leave, the next time I see you wearing it, I expect you in Zootopia finding Bellwether, or at least your old friend... on second thoughts keep your side arm on you."
"Sir" Nick said with another salute.
"And stop doing that, your making me feel uncomfortable."
Judy spotted them as Nick was lowering his paw, as she went to join them she heard a shout.
"Judy!"
Looking round she saw a grey hare with three very distinctive scars down the side of his face running towards her. "JD? It's been a whi..." Was all she managed to get out before being lifted off her feet and spun round.
"How have things been? I mean what it must be five years?"
Judy looked over towards where Nick had been only to realise both he and Bogo had gone, leaving only their bikes where they had been.
"OK, OK, you can stop hugging now."
"Nope."
"Let go ya big goof ball," she said pushing him off.
"It's good to see you squish."
"Don't call me that"
"You haven't changed a bit, but never going to happen." He said pulling her into another hug, this time giving her a chance to hug him back.
"You on the other hand, your..."
"Taller? Slimmer? Even more devilishly handsome?" he said gesturing towards his face.
"Dumber... defiantly dumber than I remember."
"Is that so squish," he said one side of his mouth turning up into a grin. As he got her into a headlock.
"You know I could arrest you for this."
"Wouldn't be the first time you put cuffs on me officer squish."
"Officer squish, that's a new one carrots. I'll have to remember it."
"Nick? Umm this is JD, he's an old friend. you can let go now by the way."
But JD didn't move, he was staring at the fox who had just interrupted them.
"JD?! LET GO" Judy shouted before looking up and seeing the look in his eyes.
"You OK there bud? You don't look so good." Nick said reaching out a paw.
Before he knew what had happened, Nick found himself sprawled on the ground. With a very angry looking hare standing over him.
"Big mistake Bucky, put your paws behind you back." Nick said getting to his feet.
"Nick don't! I'll explain later, JD we'll talk later for now go." Judy said getting between the two of them.
"No Fluff, I'm not taking a dropkick to the chest lying down."
"I don't know, looked pretty comfortable down there fox." Sneered the hare.
"Now JD, LEAVE!" Judy shouted.
As he walked off Nick turned to Judy anger in his eyes, "and what, may I ask was that all about?"
"It's a long story." Judy stated
"I've got all day fluff, and possibly a fractured rib."
"Later, right now I'm fairly sure your supposed to be up on that stage."
Nick looked over to see the other mammals slowly taking their seats to start the contest.
"We aren't finished here Judy."
She just nodded in response before they heading over so nick could take his seat next to his friend.
"You ready Nick? Good luck." Said Clawhouser licking his lips while looking down at the three large blueberry pies In front of him.
"OK all the challengers are here, and it's time to begin." Came a loud voice over the tannoy. "what you have before you are three pies the pies that equal five percent of your body weight. The fist to finish all three pies wins its that simple, is everyone ready?"
As he looked round he saw that every animal nodded before looking back too their plates. "OK in three, two, one, GO!"
What happened on the word go could only be described as pandemonium as each and every mammal tried to eat as much, as quickly as they could. All but one, Clawhouser, who was slowly but surly finishing every bite. He doesn't stand a chance at this rate, he's the only one still on his first pie, undefeated champion my left paw. Nick thought as he got to the halfway point of his second pie, but as he got to the third he realised there was no way he could finish it. He was full, he had done better than a lot of the surrounding mammals but he couldn't eat any more.
As one after another animal fell Ben just kept eating slice after slice, pie after pie, until he was done. Licking his lips he looked at the defeated fox who's facial hair was died blue by this point, "I told you Nick haven't lost one yet."
AN. So hi, thanks again guys for sticking with both me and this story and I hope it wont be to much longer till the next installment.And remember Keep safe.Oh and of cause keep those ears pointy and those tails wagging.