Chapter 13: A Month In The City

"Oh god, oh god, oh god!" Judy paced back and forth across the newly decorated living room of her and Nick's apartment. They had officially been living there for a week or so now and it was already time for her to start the afternoon GED preparation classes at ZU. And in short, she was freaking out.

"Carrots...you're going to be fine!" Nick exclaimed trying to calm her down. He was sitting on their couch with a cup of tea in his paw looking, as always, calm and collected.

"You don't know that! W-What if there's another Xena or Simone situation o-or-" She started rambling but was cut off by Nick.

"That won't happen. You know why? Because we can both acknowledge the fact that those two crazies are unique enough to not have some weird doppelgangers in the city. And, that if anything happens you will have a devilish handsome boyfriend to air your grievances to." He smirked. Judy sighed and smiled at him and plopped on the couch as well, her head laying tiredly against his shoulder.

"I know that. B-But what if...what if I'm making a mistake? Isn't there always a chance I'd just fail the GED and not get into the academy causing all this to be for nothing?" She mumbled sorrowly.

"Well...that could happen," Nick began, "But I know that your genius mind isn't capable of failing. You're too smart Judy, and I know that every decision we've made so far hasn't been a mistake." He finished smiling at her. She smiled back at him, holding onto his arm tightly. Nick was there for her, his family as well. Judy would just have to calm herself over the next few months. There's no way the exact same events from Willowbrook can happen again. Right?

The following morning, after her excessive worrying the night before, Judy finally started her first day at the Zootopia University. The building in itself was filled with mammals as far as the eye can see. Each and every one of them several heads larger than her own self. Obviously.

But at the end of it, ZU looked like your everyday college. Lots of foliage, huge brick walls, extremely intimidating. Would Judy even be able to fit in here?

A pregnant 16 year old from the country doesn't sound like your average student. She had tried to talk to Jack about it all since he knew much more about the prestigious colleges and all, but it was like he seemingly disappeared off their chats together. So that left Judy all by her lonesome.

Of course, with the exception of Nick. He would be taking his prep classes back home online, that way if the kits were born earlier he could stay at home in case Judy had to take the test almost immediately after. It was every day now that he managed to prepare for everything. And it was also every day that Judy only drew closer and closer to the end of her first trimester…

She walked into the building, instantly having her mind taken off of all the pregnancy stress and replaced with awe and anxiousness. Willowbrook was big but compared to here? ZU had to be triple the size. Instead of lockers, the walls were lined with hundreds of fascinating pictures. Each one of them signed off at the bottom with a different name. If Judy remembered correctly Zootopia University had a strong photography program.

But the initial reason she decided to attend their afternoon classes wasn't that the school itself had a great enough reputation, but also because it was a perfect walking distance to the ZPD. Just walking past it that very morning gave her a tremendous feeling of hope. Hope that maybe there could be a chance everything would work out according to plan and she and Nick could raise the kits while also fulfilling their dreams.

Judy had been so deep in her thoughts she hadn't noticed the larger mammals walking right in front of her, focused on their herd and not their surroundings. Causing Judy to shriek frighteningly when she looked up and noticed an elephants' heel about to step on her. She closed her eyes, unsure of what to do or what was going to happen but once she reopened them her body was safe and sound, far away from the herd of elephants and in the arms of another.

"Jack?!" Judy exclaimed once recognizing the mammal who saved her was none other than the elusive Jack Savage. Who also coincidentally hadn't been answering any of her texts during the last few days. So he still was in the dark regarding the recent situation. You know, the one where she basically ran away from home and didn't tell her parents because they're crazy psychopaths who want her to get an abortion.

"Judy! I didn't think it was actually you but when I saw you almost get stepped on I freaked out!" He exclaimed, checking to make sure she hadn't gotten hurt.

"Jack I'm fine, thank you. But oh my god! What are you doing here?!" Judy beamed standing up.

"Sometimes I like revisiting my alma mater. Today you just happened to be here on one of my visiting days." Jack shrugged in response.

"That's right...you graduated from here…" She mumbled. "Gosh, it's hard to remember that you're not a freshman in college."

"What can I say? I'm special." He bragged, smirking. Judy rolled her eyes but suddenly redirected the conversation to his mysterious disappearance.

"Why haven't I heard from you! Moving to Zootopias been hard enough without having your advice…" She grumbled.

"Wait, you moved here? When?" Jack said surprised.

"Yes! Haven't you read any of my messages?" Judy interrogated.

"I um, went through a sorta eventful experience and wasn't really paying attention to my social life for a bit." He flinched.

"Heh. You and me both…" She laughed awkwardly.

"Did you end up enrolling here?" Jack asked, breaking the tension.

"Oh! Um, no actually, I just have the afternoon classes to prepare for the GED. Thought it'd be better to take the test and be done with it." Judy proclaimed.

"Makes sense. Do you want to head over there with me? My old professor's classroom is on the way so it could save you some time." Jack suggested.

"Yes, thank you! I would probably get lost in the next five minutes if I wasn't careful." She joked. The two walked past the other loitering students and after five or more classrooms later Jack finally dropped Judy off at her spot and said goodbye.

She burst in immediately, excitement reaching the tips of her ears, and darted her eyes to almost every surface in the room. Judy expected it to be like a run of the mill SAT prep room. Dim lights, cramped desks, only one whiteboard, and many cliche inspiring posters splattered against the walls. Of course, that's what they looked like back in the burrows. If the classrooms looked anything like the outside of the school then surely she'd have more than enough to compare.

Judy scoured the empty seats, at least the ones remaining. Most of the front row had been taken but there were a few good ones near the middle that was thankfully open. She sat down in a spot where there was a nice enough view of the board but not too far off. Judy pulled her necessities out of the torn overused bag she continued to use and then eventually noticed that there was a mammal already sitting next to her.

She was an arctic shrew, a very beautiful one at that. And her hair had clearly been done by an experienced barber, all its loops and curls were so professionally done...The shrew suddenly turned her head at Judy and locked eyes with her.

"Hello?" She squeaked, rather elegantly.

"Oh! Hi, sorry. I wasn't trying to stare, it's just that…I love your hair!" Judy exclaimed.

"Aw thank you!" The shrew smiled. "I'm Fru Fur, what's your name?"

"Judy," She replied happily. "Are you a student here?"

"Yep! I'm a senior so it's my final year. And oh my goodness, I just want to graduate already!" Fru Fru groaned causing Judy to giggle alongside her.

"Which major are you?" She asked the doe innocently.

"Oh! Um, I'm actually not a student here. I only attend the afternoon classes to help prepare the GED next year and everything…" Judy answered.

"Now that you mention you do seem kind of young...But so mature already! I could have assumed you were in your twenties like me." Fru Fru stated graciously.

"Twenties? You don't look a day over 16!" Judy proclaimed.

"Aw, you're so sweet! Are you doing anything after this, I'd love to get a coffee with you?!" She suggested.

"I-I'd love that! Judy blurted energetically. It was already time to start class by then so the two finished talking but she couldn't help but tap her foot excitingly for the rest of the time. Judy actually made a friend! On her first day! And there was something about Fru Fru that made her sure this wasn't going to be like Xena or Simone. Not that Judy was technically their friend in the first place. But maybe this could be the start to something good finally happening to her in Zootopia? That coffee couldn't wait!

After class Judy and Fru agreed to meet up at a place that was supposedly a great coffee shop in Zootopia. Although, in honesty, Judy had been living in Zootopia for a good half a month now and still hasn't seen nearly everything. The pregnancy and entire moving from her childhood home to an apartment miles away from her friends and family have been sort of stressful, no biggie. But now, Judy actually had the chance to enjoy herself with someone who probably wouldn't backstab her for their pleasure.

They met up at Starbucks, the apparently popular coffee place, and talked for what seemed like hours until a barista finally showed up at their table asking if they wanted anything.

"I will have a vanilla latte, please, and thank you!" Fru grinned.

"And I...will have iced tea, without any caffeine please," Judy exclaimed shyly.

"Don't you want to try their coffee?" The shrew asked once the barista had left.

"Oh, um. Well, actually coffee isn't good for me right now. Because...I'm….pregnant." She responded slowly. Judy didn't why she had actually revealed that so early after meeting Fru Fru but the thought of starting out something only based around lies just screamed for the potentiality of, say it with me, another Xena and Simone situation. And we wouldn't want that to happen to our favorite little bunny, would we? (This wall is beyond repair now, and I will continue to break it until it is as small as a cell on the human body :3) (But no, I wouldn't have another Simone and Xena situation or whatever happen again, that is reserved from those two and those two only, ok I'll stop now)

"Wait, what? A-Aren't you 16?" Fru asked, confused.

"Yeah...well the entire thing is kind of confusing. It's a long story…" Judy cringed.

"Sweetheart, we have more than enough time to explain your life story. Mine isn't all peachy either, but you don't have to tell me if you want to." She said encouragingly. Her heart warmed at this, not from the iced tea, which still hasn't even come or would probably warm her heart anyway, but from the fact that somebody actually cared about how she felt in the situation.

"No. It's fine, I-I think it would help if I talked about it," Judy protested. "It all started when…

*A long, boring, but intense, explanation later*

"And yeah that's about the gist of it." Judy finished, waiting awkwardly for any type of response from Fru.

"Wow...C-Can I just say something?" She questioned.

"Yeah, go ahead."

"That Simone sounds like a bitch." Fru exclaimed bluntly. Judy snorted at her statement as the two shared a joyous laugh.

"But really, I think it's pretty brave you were willing to stand up to your parents. I don't think I could stand up to my daddy without having to deal with his polar bears." She giggled, while Judy tilted her head in confusion but quickly brushed it off.

"I guess I was still anxious about the whole thing." Judy shrugged, moving the conversation. "I've always thought about living in Zootopia, I'd just wish it would be under different circumstances."

"Well, at least you have the father's family backing you up. Nick right?" Fru pondered.

"Yep, he's just been amazing about all of it. Makes me wonder if I should just marry him and spend the rest of our lives together…" Judy mumbled while absentmindedly playing with the straw of her drink.

"He sounds like a catch, unlike my boyfriend. And if you do plan on having a wedding together someday I'd suggest a sweetheart neckline for your dress. Because it would suit you perfectly!" She squealed.

"Do you know a lot about wedding dresses?" Judy asked.

"Know them? I've designed them. Here, let me show you some of my past ones!" Fru initiated, already pulling out her phone. She tried squinting, in order to see the pictures on her phone clearly due to the size difference between the two. But they were somehow big enough that Judy could see them perfectly.

"Oh my god, Fru! These are beautiful, you made these yourselves?" She exclaimed.

"Mhm!" Fru mused. "I've always loved seeing those big fancy dresses in the shop windows since they were always larger than the ones in Little Rodentia, and it made me wonder that there are different types of outfits out there I haven't even designed!"

"That's great!" Judy smiled and happily continued to look over the pictures. For whatever reason they made her think of Jeanette and the others. The litter, at least the girls of it, always daydreamed about having some big country wedding. Jeanette always joked she'd be the first one down the alter. Judy's heart panged at the thought that they might not even want to be at her's. If she even decided to go through it all with Nick anyway.

Slight tears pricked her eyes but she hastily focused back on Fru and the sudden appearance of a polar bear that showed up by their table.

"Miss it's time to go." He mumbled urgently, while not trying to draw attention. Not as if he wasn't stealing glances from the other occupants in the building.

"Oh is it now? Well, Judy, I loved hanging out, I will call you next week to repeat it!" She exclaimed, hopping onto his paw, and waving to her while leaving the table.

"A-Alright! I'd love that." Judy chuckled, mimicking the wave, and watched them leave the Snarlbucks. Judy perceived that it was around time to head back as well. With a skip in her step, she walked down the street in the direction of public transport, still feeling giddy after all of it.

Judy finally turned the key to the apartment door and walked in to see Nick with his nose in a math textbook sprawled on the couch. But what caught her eye wasn't that he was studying, which she was so proud of him for, but was the fact that he was wearing glasses.

"Are you wearing glasses?" Judy gasped. He was so surprised by her outburst he fumbled with the book in paws and turned to face her.

"T-This isn't-" Nick tried to argue but Judy was already taking out her phone.

"Oh my god, this is so cute I have to take a picture!" She exclaimed trying to find a good angel. He stood up immediately and tried to stop her but Judy persisted and the couple ran around the apartment.

"Carrots! I'm serious." Nick exclaimed out of breath.

"Oh, but can you blame me! My day's already been so great and this is just a cherry on top. You look so handsome and professional!" She whined.

"So I take it your first day went well?" He asked, reluctantly giving up and retreating to his book yet again.

"Maybe," Judy sang.

"Alright." Nick sighed, setting down his things, and happily turned to face her. "Tell me about your day, now I'm interested.

She instantly went into a deep recollection of the last few hours. Describing last detail, even to how the sky looked that very morning. Judy told him about seeing Jack again, meeting Fru Fru, everything she'd learned in her classes, and even about the few small moments when thoughts of her family managed to re-enter her mind. Sure, it may be a little dramatic, theatrical even, but her first day went well by Judy's standards. And throughout it, all Nick smiled and listened intently.

"And your day? Did anything fun happen?" She inquired after finishing.

"Well, it was certainly eventful. I solve a city-wide mystery, won a baking contest, prevented a murder. The usual." He smirked.

"Har har," Judy rolled her eyes. "You had to have done at least something besides studying that book?"

"Not really," Nick muttered. "I made lunch and visited the company again. But besides that, I went back into my old routine unlike you. You're already becoming a city girl of sorts!"

"Pfft nooo, I'm always going to be a country girl at heart. But who knows? I think I can get used to all the big picture stuff. Zootopia isn't that hard to settle into." She shrugged triumphantly.

"I don't know…There aren't as good carrots as there are back in BunnyBurrow," Nick argued.

"Nicholas if you think I'm not going to give my own kits a chance of spending at least some time in burrows enjoying the food then you're crazy." Judy huffed, pushing him playfully.

"Do you think there's a chance we'd go back? Even with your parents?" He questioned.

"I'm not sure…" She responded non-heartedly. "I don't think I can fully forgive them, but they will be related to my parents. Still, I wouldn't want to keep them a secret from the kits."

"Well whatever you decide, I'll be there," Nick reassured, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. Judy settled into his embrace and smiled.

"I know you will…"

Over the next two weeks, the couple settled into a comfortable routine of sorts. More Nick than Judy since of his knowledge of the city. She continued her classes at ZU, enjoyed coffee with Fru Fru on Saturdays, and also reached her milestone of finally ending her first trimester. So now it means she was only drawing even closer to the end of her pregnancy.

And now her monthly visits with Dr. Firefox increased ten-fold. She and Nick were currently finishing up her 9th visit, and of course, obviously getting updated pictures of every ultrasound. Who wouldn't want to see their own kits grow two centimeters every week?

"So um, now that I finished the first trimester will the morning sickness go down by any chance?" Judy questioned while adjusting her shirt to prepare for the ultrasound.

"Oh absolutely," Virginia replied. "Aside that chances for miscarriage should drop, and the fangs for the fox kits should have already grown in by now!"

"Great...that's great." She sighed, intertwining her paw with Nick. In honesty, the chance for miscarriage were the only things she had become stressed about. If Judy lost the kits...it would probably be the worst feeling in the world. That and having her own mom and dad practically "suggest" strongly for her to get an abortion before they were even born.

"Ok...everything looks great!" Virginia beamed. "I think there's even some fur starting to show." Judy and Nick looked at the monitor and the beginning of small fur tufts started forming at the base of their muzzles.

"Aw...they're growing so fast." Judy cooed.

"I can't believe that it only took you 12 weeks to turn into an emotional mother…" Nick whispered alongside her. She snorted and pushed him playfully laughing.

"Oh like you won't turn into the world's most protective dad." Judy snickered.

"Carrots I assure you, I will most definitely become an overprotective parent." He argued. As the couple continued joking, Virginia finished the ultrasound and moved the conversation further.

"Have you decided on a name yet? She asked innocently.

"Actually me and Nick went 50/50 on all of them. Since we still don't know the genders yet." Judy explained, once calming down.

"Well, you both can find out at your next appointment if you're interested?" Virginia suggested.

"Wait really?!" They both exclaimed.

"Yep, the ultrasound will be able to show more during the second semester so you'll be able to find out. Not only that, but it can help determine if Judy will be having twins." She smiled.

"Wait, twins? A-Aren't most rabbit litters spaced out and random?" Judy protested, confused.

"Most are, but since your kits will have fox genes the chances of twins, even triplets could happen," Virginia stated.

"Oh god...twins. I-I don't know how we'd expect for that" She mumbled, fixing her shirt.

"We could try asking my mom for help, she had me and Nina so I'd say she's experienced" He suggested.

"Right...your right. But there isn't that big of a chance we'd have twins, right?" Judy repeated, more frantic this time.

"I'd say you both have at least an 80% chance." She explained.

"Wow, 80%..." Judy muttered.

"Hey, relax. If it even comes to twins we'll be fine. I know it." Nick said, comforting her.

"Y-Yeah...we can do it." She smiled, tightening her paw in his. The couple walked out of Mercy Sharara and began heading back home. Other mammals passed them on the street towards public transport but aside from that, they were relatively all by their lonesome. It was silent for a few minutes until Nick started speaking aloud.

"Isabelle…" He mumbled.

"Hmm?" Judy mused.

"Oh! I was just thinking of baby names. Isabelle was the name of my grandma so…" Nick suggested.

"Aw, that actually sounds nice. My grandma was named Harper so I wouldn't suggest it." She laughed.

"Why not? I think Harper Hopps would have a nice ring to it." He joked.

"Do you want them to all have the last name Hopps?" Judy questioned, turning to face him.

"Well, do you? I wouldn't want to force that on you Carrots." Nick argued.

"Yeah, I know that. But, still, they're your kits too. We're in this together aren't we?" She protested, latching onto his shoulder.

"Yeah...we are." He smiled, holding her tightly. They eventually returned to the apartment, walking up the steps to their hallway.

"Do you feel like leftovers tonight?" Judy suggested while waiting for Nick to open the door.

"I think we have enough food to try and make something." He explained, finally turning the key.

"That's good." She grinned. They walked inside only to stop in their tracks. Because what they saw was probably the worst thing they could imagine.

"Dawn?" Nick and Judy exclaimed. He quickly went in front of her for protection as she opened her mouth in shock.

"Oh hey! I was wondering when you guys were going to come back." Dawn said as if she didn't look crazy at the moment.

"What are you doing in our apartment? How did you even find us?" Nick interrogated.

"I stole the address from Sharla and climbed up the fire escape. But, that's beside the point!" She protested. "I kind of have to talk to you guys so can you spare a minute?"

Judy finally moved from behind Nick in order to face the ewe with wide eyes. But what she had to say was nowhere near to a welcome.

"WHAT THE FU-"

After Judy managed to calm down, and I empathize with managed, she nervously sat down with Nick listening to Dawn's plea.

"Ok let me explain-" She began but was cut off.

"Explain? You broke into our apartment!" Judy yelled.

"I know, but you guys really shouldn't have picked an area with such a high crime rate." Dawn shrugged. She inhaled sharply before going on another rant of how the ewe was a madwoman.

"Why. Are. You. Here?" Judy demanded.

"Well after you left, and told Karla about what happened, she didn't exactly take it well." She explained.

"Yeah, no kidding." Nick sneered.

"Oh get over it." Dawn groaned.

"GET OVER IT?" Judy screeched dumbfounded.

"Can you let me explain before yelling at me again? Jeez." She side-eyed. Judy looked at her in shock again but another full 30 minutes of yelling at the sheep wouldn't get her out faster so she decided against it and sat on the couch in defeat. Nick rubbed her back in support, which helped.

"Anyways, after Karla found out and everything she told my aunt who in return told my parents and I guess they thought that I needed to "learn my lesson" or whatever." Dawn quoted, rolling her eyes, but continued. "So they're trying to send me to a reformatory school and make me learn it there."

"And you came all the way here to tell us...why?" Nick questioned.

"Oh, I was hoping that you guys would be willing to protest on my behalf. Because if my parents sent me to a reform school it wouldn't bode well for my college interview. You'd understand, right Judy?" She grinned.

"No! No I wouldn't! I'm not even going to college anymore because of everything that happened back in Willowbrook." Judy protested.

"Really? Are you sure...I don't think having a highschool education would be that good for your future. Have you thought about community college?" Dawn suggested, smirking.

"Ok, I think that's enough. Get out of our apartment. Now." She ordered, standing up.

"Seriously? I just need a written apology from you and-"

"An apology? Why would I be the one apologizing in this scenario?" Judy exclaimed.

"I don't know, maybe because you ruined my reputation." Dawn scoffed.

"Sweet cheese and crackers…" She muttered, stomping her foot angrily and shaking her head.

"Can you do that so I could leave now? This place is sort of not to my taste, I mean those colored curtains with this carpet? I can tell your pregnancies' getting the better of you." Dawn chortled annoyingly.

"Ok…I know that you probably thought coming here would just magically make me give you what you want. Since that's obviously how you think apologies work, but Dawn! You blackmailed Judy using personal medical information! She is never going to forgive you." Nick explained, hoping she would take the hint.

"What you did, was crazy. And now you're here, after a month! Trying to ask for my forgiveness?" Judy proclaimed.

"You don't have to be shocked about it." She sneered.

"Dawn, I meant it when I said that I didn't want to have to deal with this any longer. I'm not a confrontational person, even if I did scream at you for the last hour I honestly still don't care what you think of me. But, oh my gosh if you don't leave in the next three minutes I'm calling the cops for harassment! And don't think I won't try telling them about your crazy ideas either!" Judy challenged.

"Alright, fine. I'll leave" Dawn blurted in protest, heading towards the door.

"Thank you." She sighed.

"But before I go, do you still think the apology can be mailed in a way or…?"

"LEAVE!" Nick and Judy repeated angrily as Dawn finally scurried out of the apartment and shut the door. Sighing, Judy plopped on the couch watching Nick move to the window. He looked out and whistled.

"She had to have used a rope or something because there is no chance she climbed a fire escape that is 10 feet off the ground."

"We might have to move." Judy giggled tiredly.

"You know I think I saw a box underneath the bridge near the docks." Nick laughed, sitting beside her.

"Nick, we are not going to live under a bridge, I was only joking."

"I know...but there's only a small chance we could afford to move anywhere else." He murmured. "This place was only on a discount for the size."

"I guess that's true...but we can make it. As long as no one else from our past tries to break in here again." Judy cringed. He laughed alongside her. But there really couldn't be a chance of that happening again. They moved to Zootopia for a reason, to follow their dreams and get far away from the mammals back in the burrows.

So why would the same thing with Dawn repeat itself?

To Be Continued...