A/N: My apologies for the delayed posting. As I've mentioned before, I've been doing some major rewrites and you may want to revisit the earlier chapters to see the changes I've made. I've started on at least three more chapters and hopefully will be able to post these soon. Any feedback would be highly appreciated.

Chapter 9

After pulling the prank on Judy, Nick made it a point to be extra nice to her all the time. He also felt that if it would make her happy to go to the Graduation Ball with Robby, then as her best friend, he would make sure that she had the best time of her life. So, when he noticed her looking very sad and dejected a few days before the Ball, he started to worry. He noticed that her ears were drooping and she seemed to have been crying.

"What's wrong, Carrots?" asked Nick. "I thought that you'd be bouncing off the walls now that the Ball is almost upon us. Why the sad face?"

"I…I'm sorry, Nick. I…I can't talk about it," as she tried to hold back her tears.

"Hey, no more tears! Come here," as he gently pulled her into am embrace. "Tell Uncle Nicky what's wrong, my cute widdle hunny-bunny."

Judy laughed at his teasing and gently elbowed him in his stomach as she wiped her face. "Stop that Slick. I'm not a kid anymore. And don't call me cute!"

"Says the very emotional bunny," smirked Nick. He sat her down and took her face in his paw so that they were eye-to-eye. "Come on, didn't we say best friends wouldn't hide anything from each other? What's the matter?" he asked her seriously.

"Oh, Nick, I was so looking forward to the Ball. To be elegantly dressed and to have Robby sweep me off my feet while we danced. But when I mentioned it to my dad, he said that a new dress was an expense he couldn't afford and he said I couldn't go to the Ball as I would be needed to help out with cultivation and planting at the farm," said Judy as tears threatened to fall again.

"What is he? Some sort of Amish bishop? No, don't answer that. I've never seen you have any fun back home whenever I went to tutor you. And your dad practically drilled a hole in the back of my head as he glared at me from across the room while cleaning his shotgun."

"He's just different," shrugged Judy. "Ever since mom died when I was still a young kit, he hasn't been the same even though he's remarried. I've had to depend on the support from my brothers and sisters to keep me emotionally stable."

"So, Carrots, let me get this straight. You don't have a dress for the Ball?"

"No," sighed Judy. "And even if I borrowed one of my sister's dresses, I wouldn't have the time or the money to have it altered."

"What if I could find one for you?" asked Nick thoughtfully. "I know this very skilled tailor who would love to meet you and I'm sure he could manage to have it ready in time for the Ball. Then, all we need to do is to sneak you out of your house for a few hours and then back in so your dad won't notice. Can any of your siblings cover for you?"

Judy's ears perked up at this thought. "I'm sure they can. Oh, Nick! Thank you for being such a great friend!" said Judy as she hugged his neck. Nick hugged her back with a heavy heart. He wished it was him who was taking her to the Ball instead of Robby. But he didn't show it and said casually, "Anything for you, Fluff."

Then another thought came into Judy's mind and her ears started to droop again. "I just remembered…I don't know how to dance. I never found the time to learn what with studies and helping out on the farm."

Nick started to laugh. "Is that all?"

Judy started to get mad and punched Nick on the arm. "No, that's not all, jerk! If I don't know how to dance, what will Robby think of me? A backwards country bumpkin who's only good for having babies? I want him to see me not just as another pretty face. That I have a lot more to offer."

"Look Carrots," as Nick rubbed his arm to get the feeling back, "I've only seen you as an exceptional, intelligent, thoughtful and loving person and I wouldn't have you any other way, flaws and all. Don't sell yourself short. If Robby can't see that, then he's not worthy of you. Now, as for dancing, you've come to the right person. I can teach you enough in order to get by at the Ball."

"You know how to dance?" asked Judy. "How come?"

Nick shrugged his shoulders. "Something I picked up from my mom," he said softly.

Judy knew his mom was something he didn't want to talk about so she did not push him. Nick shook himself and said, "Anyway, that's in the past. Let's get you setup with the dress first. Come on, follow me."

Nick brought Judy to his dad's tailoring shop called Wilde Style. John Wilde, a red fox as well, looked up from his work when the bell above the door rang as Nick and Judy entered. He immediately noticed the very adorable rabbit and judging by his son's body language, this was the girl that he was smitten by. He inwardly chuckled and flashed a beaming smile at them both.

"Nick, my son, what can I do for you?"

"Hey dad," said Nick, "I'd like to introduce to you my best friend, Judy Hopps."

"Hello, Judy! So you're the girl Nick keeps talking about. I'm surprised to say he never told me what a beautiful bunny you are."

"Daaadddd!" Nick complained. "You're embarrassing me here!"

John chuckled as he saw the both of them blushing. "Anyway, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"Dad, I'd like to ask a favour. Judy needs a dress for the Graduation Ball and her father can't afford one. I remember seeing a dress at the back of the shop that a customer decided not to purchase and I was wondering if you would allow Judy to use it? I'll pay you for it by running errands around the shop for you," Nick offered.

"Nick! I can't let you do that," exclaimed Judy. "Let me work for your dad until I can pay it off."

"Nuh-uh," said Nick. "Consider it my way of saying sorry for the prank I pulled on you."

"Well, you kinda messed up there but I already forgave you for that. Besides, I did warm up to you, Slick," she innocently remarked with a waggle of her eyebrows.

Nick flushed at the memory of Judy in his lap. He didn't know how to respond to her except by flippantly saying, "Ehhh, you weren't a big deal."

"Neither were you," Judy shot back with a smirk.

"Ouch, Carrots! You really know how to hurt a guy."

John inwardly smiled at the banter between the two. He knew his son very well and the fact that he was offering up his free time to work in the shop as payment for dress meant that this girl was more than just a friend to him.

"Nick, can you go back to the storage room and get the dress?" asked John. "I'd like to see how much alteration needs to be done to get the dress ready for your lovely partner to the Ball."

"Oh, Nick isn't my partner for the Ball, Mr. Wilde," said Judy.

"He isn't?" queried John. "Now, that's rather interesting," he said as he smirked at Nick with a twinkle in his eyes. "Not too many friends would sacrifice their time for just anyone especially if they don't expect anything in return."

Nick huffed at his dad. "I just want to make sure she enjoys the Ball, okay? Don't make a big thing out of it," as he walked to the back of the store with his hands in his pockets.

Judy felt the tension coming from Nick and wondered what was eating him.

When Nick disappeared into the storage room at the back, John turned back to Judy. "Well, this really is a pleasant surprise. To finally meet the girl who made a difference in his life."

Judy was taken aback. "What do you mean, Mr. Wilde?"

John sighed and rubbed his temple as if he was reliving a painful memory. "Judy, when we arrived in Zootopia, Nick was a sullen teenager who constantly disobeyed me. We were constantly bickering. I was afraid he would turn out to become a juvenile delinquent and further promote the negative stereotype of a fox. I didn't want that for him. I had gone through a lot of that in my lifetime and I wanted something better for him." He suddenly beamed at her. "Then, I noticed a change in his behavior that apparently coincided with having met you on that first day of school. Since then, I can definitely say that you have had a positive influence on him as he has made every effort to try to better not only himself but the lives of others as well. A very unfox-like behavior, wouldn't you say?" as he faced Judy with a twinkle in his eyes.

Judy didn't know what to make of his praise of her. She knew that as friends, they had been there for each other, through thick and thin. She did admit to herself that although Nick could be snarky and annoying at times, he was always there with a helping paw without her even asking him. Then a memory from the first week when they had met came flashing back…

Judy and Nick were seated at the cafeteria table during their lunch break. Nick had brought his lunch with him, which was a cricket, lettuce, and tomato sandwich made with mayonnaise, a blueberry muffin and a juice box. Judy was nibbling on two carrots that she had brought from the farm. Nick was frowning at her. "Carrots, I know bunnies like carrots but isn't this carrying things too far? All I've seen you eat this week are just two carrots every day for lunch."

Judy blushed and hung her head. "I didn't want to say anything, Nick. It's just that we had a poor harvest last time so my dad instituted rationing in the house. After all, there are 257 mouths to feed in the Hopps household. And I really don't mind eating carrots," she said with a small smile.

Nick scowled and shook his head. "I've seen how the other rabbits at school eat and they have way more on their plate than you do. Plus, given the amount of energy you expend, it's a wonder you haven't fainted from hunger."

"Nick, it's ok, really. It's no big deal." Judy insisted.

Nick shrugged and started to eat his sandwich. That was when her body betrayed her. The delicious aroma of the sandwich and blueberry muffin hit her nose which in turn sent a signal to her brain as if to say, "hey, there's real food over there." This led to her stomach growling over the memory of when she had last had a full meal, which had been quite sometime ago. It was a very loud growl that even Nick couldn't ignore. He sternly looked at her and pushed all of his lunch over. "Eat this," he commanded.

"Ewww! Nick! Crickets! Besides, that's your lunch."

"Judy, you're starving. Even I know that. So stop being a baby and eat. Besides," he added, "I won't have you fainting at the table. It'll hurt my reputation as a cool dude." Nick smirked.

Judy looked undecided. She really was hungry but she didn't know if she could bring herself to eat pred food. So she decided to take a small bite of the sandwich. As soon as she did, her eyes opened wide and she immediately started to wolf the whole sandwich down. Nick smiled and pushed the muffin and juice box over to her. She shyly smiled at him and said, "Thanks Nick." He just smiled back at her and put his shades on.

Judy recalled that ever since that first week, Nick would always bring her an extra sandwich everyday for lunch. Even when the Hopps farm recovered and her father did away with the rationing, Nick would still have something for her. When he discovered that carrot cupcakes were her favourite, he always brought one for her to eat as they walked to school each morning. She knew Nick had feelings for her but she was confused as to whether she felt the same way. Yes, she liked him…a lot…but he was a fox and she was a bunny.

She sighed. "I really like Nick a lot, Mr. Wilde but…we're not of the same species. Heck, you know foxes and rabbits have been historical enemies. He's a predator and I'm a prey! It would never work out!" Judy said with anguish in her eyes.

John Wilde merely smiled and said, "Give it some thought, child. There is no need to rush into anything. You both have your lives ahead of you. Just remember this: The heart wants what the heart wants."

"So, Dad," they heard Nick say as he stepped back into the main shop with the dress, "have you totally embarrassed Judy? Or do I have to rescue her from you?" Nick said with a grin.

John walked over to his son, took the dress from him and hung it up. Then, he suddenly wrapped his arm around his son's neck and gave him a noogie. "Impudent pup! I'll teach you to disrespect your elders!" John said laughing. "You're still young enough to receive a spanking from your father."

"Watch the fur, Dad! Not cool!" said Nick with a grin as his father released him.

Judy laughed to see the father and son roughhouse. She was envious of Nick's closeness to his father, one that she wished she had with her own.

"So, back to the business at hand," said John. "Judy, would you mind hopping onto the stool so that I can measure you? Ooops. Did I just say that?" John remarked with a twinkle in his eye.

"Daaaadddd!"

John Wilde inwardly smiled at the way his son quickly came to Judy's defense.