A/N \\\ So... Here is the 12th installment. Hope you enjoy.

The events here take place a year or two... maybe three, after the movie. I'm not actually sure how long as that has not been revealed to me as yet, but it has been enough time that Nick and Judy are officially together.

Note: I am going to use an internal dialog technique from time to time that I am totally stealing from another author. I loved it so much I'm test driving it here in hopes of using the same technique in my original works.

Remember to share the love. Review and Fav. It is the life blood of every writer to know you are enjoying their work. I also want to thank everyone who has Fav'd, followed, and reviewed this little project. I know that isn't much, but to me, it's huge. Even as a writer of original fiction, that you enjoy this means a lot to me as an author.

I do not own and claim no rights to Zootopia or its characters. They belong to Disney.

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Judy was just finishing up her story, Bobby looking on in a mixture of awe, shock, horror, and disbelief as Erin lead Lizz up to the table. Lizz grinned at the rabbit as she stepped up to the table "Good morning Judy, I hope I haven't kept you waiting too Long"

Turning from Bobby to smile up at Lizz. "Not at all Lizz. I was just catching up with Bobby, or rather, catching him up on me a little bit." Turning back to Bobby. "We really need to hang out a bit more so you can tell me all about your time in New Yak."

Getting up and surrendering the seat to Lizz, Bobby pulled out a note pad, shaking his head heavily. "Judy... You just confirmed some of the more outrageous claims in that wiki. I... It's going to take me some time to process and believe."

Judy chuckled lightly. "Try living through it, and that only got you caught up to putting down Dawn."

"Yeah... As for me and New Yak. There is really nothing much to it. Playing at dive bars, got with this bad or that one, all of which were going no-where, and fast. Honestly, while you were living the proverbial dream, I was floundering, trying and failing to find my way. I'm going to work on my solo stuff for a bit, now that I'm in Zootopia. Saw an ad for auditions; some kind of charity album tomorrow. Just a contributor mention could help me get into something actually worth while. It's open auditions, and specifically asking for unknowns and independents. Sadly, I have to work that day, but I'm going to try at least to make it. Probably won't get in though."

Judy cocked her head, one ear falling to half mast. "Where is that being held, and when?"

"Some studio down town, tomorrow, Thursday. Elkerson's I think was the name."

Nodding, Judy pulled out her phone, her tone going dead serious. "Okay. Are you better then you used to be? Be honest with me, Robert."

Flinching at the use of his name, Bobby nodded. "I would like to think I am. I have a few video's up on EweTube with a few original songs I arranged and played myself, I just can't sing. I'm under BCatMusicMammal. Wish I could have you sing for me. We'd be as big as Gazelle. With that in mind, what can I get you ladies for breakfast?"

Judy smiled. "I'll have the spicy chicken and cheese omelet, and a berry mix for the side. More tea as well. Thank you Bobby."

Lizz glanced at the menu. "Actually, I'll have the same as Judy. Thank you. Double up on the strawberries for me."

Nodding, Bobby smiled as he scratched down the order, ears twitching at hearing Judy order chicken "Great. I will get that all started right off for both of you. Erin will take care of the rest for you."

Bobby walked away as Judy pulled up Bobby's EweTube channel, playing one of the songs, her eyes going wide she looked up at Lizz who was smiling. A few songs later Judy closed the app. "He hasn't just gotten better, he's amazing!"

Lizz nodded. "I agree. So what are you going to do?"

"That audition is for that charity album Maria is putting together. I'm texting her now. Did you sleep well?"

"I did. You?"

Judy grinned warmly. "Wrapped up in fox? Always."

J: Hey.

M: Hey back. What's up?

J: /EweTube link for Bobby's page/

J: What do you think?

Judy set her phone aside, knowing Maria would take a few to respond. "I think that is one of the things a lot of mammals don't get. I don't know about you, Lizz, but I sleep so well wrapped up in Nick's scent. I've heard prey mammals say that the scent of a predator, and a fox specifically, sets them on edge. I don't get that. I mean... Nick smells of violets and a hint of cinnamon. Maybe I'm just not wired to react to it like some others are."

Lizz shrugged as Erin delivered the drinks, then headed off to assist several new arrivals. "I don't really get it either. The scent of wolf is supposedly supposed to freak me out, as a feline. It really doesn't bother me, and Mike's scent is reassuring. It makes me feel safe."

"Exactly. So..." Judy paused and looked up at Lizz, her eyes unsure, "Meeting with your family today?"

Lizz smiled. "Yes. I'm not gonna lie. I'm nervous, but I'm ready. With you being here, in this place that I know is safe if something goes sideways. I'm one hundred percent sure that Larry will show up early. I'm almost surprised that he isn't here already."

"It'll be nice to meet your family, and I really hope this goes well. I know how nerve wracking it is, and how it can hurt if it goes badly."

Frowning, Lizz reached over and gave Judy's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Judy. What did happen. You've eluded to it, but you've not actually said."

Closing her eyes for a moment, Judy lets out a long sigh before looking back up at Lizz. "Nick and I had been together for about a year. We had been working together, moved in together, etc... I mean, we've been living together since before he went to the academy."

"Why?"

"Simple. He may have had a place, but... he lived under that bridge more often than not, because that was actually nicer."

"Hold up. When did Nick live under a bridge? He was homeless?"

"Not really homeless, but pretty close. The place he did have was just where he stored his stuff. As he pointed out last night, my place wasn't anything great either. It was in budget, and close to the precinct. Just a place to sleep. Which it seems Mike and I have in common based on last night, but it wasn't like I was thinking about bringing someone home."

"Okay, I get that. Still shocked that Nick was effectively homeless. So, what happened? What changed?"

Judy smiled wistfully. "As I've hinted. Foxes have a really hard time getting a place to live that isn't a dank, run down, mold infested, hell hole. Unless they are willing and able to pay three and four times what a place is worth. It's almost as bad for rabbits actually. They try to put in clauses about not allowing visitors. They think we just going to, well... breed like rabbits and overrun the place."

"Oh geeze. That's so wrong, and illegal."

"Most assuredly, and it doesn't stop them either. Remember what I told you about family I had to help after I reported that business. Who is going to believe a fox? Or some cute little bunny. Plus it's always month-to-month. The only reason we actually got a lease on our current place is because we did everything over the phone and internet, then when we showed up to sign, I was in uniform."

Lizz shook her head. "Oh lords. That's terrible. The more I learn, the worse I feel."

Judy smiled up at the tiger. "Lizz. It's a matter of learning and seeking to make ourselves better going forward. I look at the prejudices and preconceptions I had, and you know what... I am embarrassed by them, and yet thank them every day for the life I have. The thing is, with the internet, it is actually getting easier for marginalized species, and inter-species couples to a smaller degree. Foxes, weasels, skunks, etc... "

Looking at Judy surprise. "What do you mean?"

"If I hadn't been suspicious of Nick, just for being a fox, I wouldn't have followed him into Jumbaux's. It doesn't matter that he was in the middle of a marginally legal scam, or scammed me out of twenty dollars. I didn't have a legitimate reason to do it, and with the life I have now, I thank that narrow-minded former verson of myself for it every day. I'd have never met Nick. I'd therefore not recognized him when the chief gave me the 48 hours to solve the case of give up my badge. I'd have...

Lizz gasped. "Stop!" Her louder voice surprising Judy.

"What?" Judy looked up at Lizz confused.

"I was there. At the gondula. You mean... Oh my gods." Tears welling. "When he demanded your badge, it wasn't because... You mean when Nick called him out and said you had ten hours, he wasn't kidding?"

Judy blinked. "Uhm... No. I was in the cheif's office getting dressed down over catching Duke stealing the Night Howler bulbs, which I didn't know by that name but their species name, being a farm girl. I mean, looking back on it, I did leave my post, as a meter maid... Mrs. Otterton pushed her way into his office and I saw my chance to prove I could be more than a meter maid. I didn't know that because no one would partner with me, I couldn't do anything else. Then Dawn showed up, and to save face, he gave me 48 hours to find Mr. Otterton." Seeing the tears in Lizz's eyes. "Lizz. Why are you crying?"

"Oh Judy. I didn't... We all just stood there, thinking it was because you were that token political stunt and the chief had just given you the needed rope to hang yourself with."

"If I hadn't followed Nick into that Ice Cream shop, you'd either have been responding to my body, or never seen me again because I'd have had to give up my badge."

"I can't believe Bogo did that." Lizz's tears drying up and she got angry. "I can't believe we all behaved like that."

"Lizz." Judy reached out to the Tiger, putting a paw on Lizz's much larger one. "It's water under the bridge at this point. You, the chief, most of the officers in precinct one and beyond, have all moved past all that. I get why you felt the way you did. Why the chief did. Was it fair to me? No. But I was the first bunny any of you knew, with the drive needed to make it there. Who refused to accept the box my stereotype tried to put me in. It was going to take something big to get everyone to even consider looking at me as anything more than a political stunt that was going to get myself killed. Even afterwards. It still took time for other officers like yourself to fully accept me. But at least after Night Howler 1 and 2, you gave me a chance to prove myself. That is the important point. You gave me the chance to prove to you that I was more than a stunt that was going to get herself killed. And with that mold broken, you were able to even give Nick a chance when he started."

Sniffing and wiping away a residual tear. "Okay. That makes sense. Still, we were so unfair to you. Stunt or not, you deserved a chance that we didn't give you until you had to nearly get yourself killed."

Judy shrugged. "That part kinda goes with the job. We both know of rookies, killed on their first traffic stop when then did nothing wrong and everything right. There is an aspect of luck that goes into it. There just is, and there is nothing that will ever change it. Are you paying enough attention that day? Did you get enough sleep that night? Are you lucky enough that the junkie with the gun has bad aim as he pops out from behind the dumpster firing? That's something I have learned. You need the luck to put you in the spot that the training, skill, and determination can come into play."

Giving a watery laugh, Lizz sighs. "You know. We really need to do that girls night, so we can get all this teary crap out of the way."

"You want to get it all out of the way? We'll need a few gallons of Vanilla Caramel Ripple."

Lizz smiled. "While that sounds good, I'm more of a Chocolate Chocolate Fudge Stripe, girl."

Judy moaned. "Oh... That sounds so good. I have to watch it with Nick though. He's been tested, and he has a higher tolerance, but his addiction to chocolate means I have to ration it with him."

"Oh. Mike's lucky. He's got a rare mutation that makes him immune, unlike most canines, so he's got no problems."

"Lucky. Nick can manage a single small bar a week without getting sick. Two and he'll be a bit off. If he hadn't felt so terrible, I'd have killed him myself when he found the stash and ate six bars."

"Oh no."

"Yeah. Dumb fox. I have an electronic pistol safe that I keep his chocolate in. Uses a bio-metrics and ten digit pass-code. We bought seven, one for each our lethals, one for each of our tranqs, two as backups, and then one for his chocolate."

Laughing, Lizz slapped the table lightly. "Oh gods, that's priceless."

The next time you're partnering with him, get him some chocolate covered blueberries and he'll love you forever. Just tell me how many you give him."

"Noted." Seeing Judy's phone ping with a new message. "You know... You dodged my question."

Picking up her phone. "Did I dodge the question about why I'm not talking to my parents, specifically my father? Yes, I did. That is a conversation that very much requires that tub of Chocolate Chocolate Fudge Stripe, a bottle of good, berry wine, and two spoons."

"I'll hold you to that."

Sighing, Judy looked up. "I should try and reach out to them again." Shaking herself and unlocking her phone. "Heh... Enough of that. Lets see what Maria said."

M: HOLY CRAP! WHO IS THIS AND WHERE DO I FIND HIM!

J: Oh no. /evil rabbit emoji/

J: That's my secret.

M: /crying gazelle emoji/ Judy. Please... He's exactly the kind of original talent I have been looking for, not just for the charity album, but period. I've got like twenty songs written that I just can't seem to find the music for. They're not Gazelle but they're also not NightHowler. This mammal has already written part of one of them! They're perfect!

J: That good? /grinning rabbit emoji, winking rabbit emoji/

M: Please. Judy. I. Am. Begging. You!

J: What are you doing right now?

M: What am I doing? It's early morning. I just got done doing Jarvis. What, or who, did you think I would be doing? /smirking gazelle emoji/

Judy blushed as she typed her reply.

J: I really should learn by now not to ask that question of you.

M: You should. /kissing gazelle emoji/

J: You are the worst. You know that?

M: And you still love me. /grinning gazelle emoji/

J: /moving, rolling eyes rabbit emoji/ I love Nick. You...

M: /Sad gazelle emjoi/

J: /laughing fox emoji/ You know I love you. I may... Maybe... Bring the mammal in question with Nick and I when we come by the studio tomorrow.

M: OMG! Please. I could kiss you. Do this and I might actually kiss you!

J: See you tomorrow.

M: YES! /fireworks emoji x10, dancing Gazelle emoji x10/

Judy laughed and looked up at Lizz, giving a glance to the kitchen. "Well, Maria is in agreement with us. So... I don't think Bobby will be working here for long. Fin's going to strangle me."

Lizz grinned and leaned forward conspiratorially. "Well, you do know a guy."

Laughing loudly, Judy shook her head. "So I do." Turning towards the kitchen, then back to Lizz. "Think I should tell him, or just threaten him to stay here and wait for Nick and I to pick him up?"

Lizz shook her head with a chuckle. "I don't know."

Grinning, Judy turned to the kitchen yelled, extending the O and Y sound for a good second. "Bobby!"

His head poked out of the window, calling back, and extending the U and Y sound. "Judy!"

Judy shook her head, speaking loudly but not yelling. "Still remember. Good. About tomorrow. You will wait for Nick and I to Pick you up."

"When?" Bobby pulled his head in and came out with the plates of their food, handing them to Erin and following. "And for that matter, why?"

"I told you. I might know a mammal. Well, I do know a mammal. I shared your EweTube page with them and they are freaking out about your original work. As long as you go with Nick and I tomorrow, I can get you past the line and in front of the mammals that matter."

"That's nice Judy, but there is no way your car can carry me and what I would need."

Lizz grinned. "Well, it's a good thing that it'll be my car then."

Judy looked at Lizz in confusion. "Huh?"

"Maria invited Mike and I to audition as well, and we'll get to hear you and Nick."

Bobby looked between Lizz and Judy in confusion. "Who's Maria?"

"Maria is the mammal I know. Just trust me, Bobby."

"I trust you Judy. Just don't blow it for me. I mean, when will you be here?"

"Once Nick and Mike get off shift. We'll pick you up here about 4:30, pick them up at the precinct, and then head over to the studio."

Bobby's ears fell. "The auditions close at four. I would barely make it because I have to hike it."

Looking up at Bobby, Judy smiles and gives him the same doe-eyes that melts Nick when she wants to get her way. "Come on Bobby. I promise that it will be worth your time. You'd be going to the preliminary auditions. I'm getting you directly in front of the decision makers."

"You're really singing?"

"With Nick, though they'll probably have us both do solo pieces as well. Probably have you do some live accompaniment."

Hope bubble up in his eyes. "You sure?"

"Absolutely. One Hundred percent. As long as you yourself don't blow it."

Sighing. "Fine. I really need this Judy. Don't make me regret it."

Lizz chuckled. "You won't, though you'll question everything you know about the world once it is over with."

Looking at Lizz, Bobby flicked his ears in confusion. "Huh? What is that supposed to mean?"

"You'll see. Omelet is outstanding by the way. If Music doesn't work out, you should definitely keep to the cooking."

"It is the primary way I fed myself in New Yak. I worked anywhere I could, which meant lots of prep cook work, then line cook, and then a few sous chef jobs. Music has always been my soul though."

Lizz nodded. "Well, we listened to a few of the songs on your EweTube channel. You have talent, there is no question. Your cooking is good too."

Judy took a bite of her omelet and sighed. "Yeah, this is good. If the music falls through, stick with Fin. You two could do a cook book or something."

Bobby laughed with a blush, his ears flicking. "Thank you. Fin is rough around the edges, but definitely a good mammal. Who knew such a deep voice existed in such a small mammal."

Judy swallowed another bite of her omelet. "He is at that. The omelet is excellent Bobby, just the right amount of spice. The mammal that is bringing Nick and I in watched a few of your video's and all but begged me to bring. The only one that can blow this, is you."

Chuckling, he headed back into the kitchen. "No Pressure then."

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Lizz and Mike pulled into the parking lot of Therus, Mike turning to Lizz once the car is stopped. "You going to be okay love? You think your family will be here when scheduled, not try and surprise you early?"

"I expect at least Larry to show up early. Don't be too late, but I've got Judy here." Pointing into the restaurant where they can see the rabbit talking to a cougar, waiving her paws around excitedly.

They both share a laugh at the sight of the exited rabbit, Mike shaking his head. "She really is something else. It really would take someone like Nick to keep up with her."

"I don't think that is quite why they work so well, but no matter the reason, they do." Lizz turned to Mike and put her paw on the side of his head. "Just like we do. It isn't an opposites attract or thing like that. It's a complement. They mesh, like we mesh. Puzzle pieces and when together, it's hard to see where one ends and the other begins."

Mike turns his head, leaning into the paw, and puts his own paw on hers, Holding it, he turns his head farther to kiss her central paw pad. "Yeah. The differences make the difference and make it work when you wouldn't think it would."

"Those are my feelings exactly." Lizz drew Mike into a kiss. "Now, go help keep Nick and Joan out of trouble, and come back to me quickly."

"I love you."

Opening her door, Lizz looked back, then leaned in for another kiss. "I love you more."

Mike watched Lizz enter the restaurant and join Judy as he pulled out his phone.

M: Just dropped off Lizz. Where do I meet you?

Mike looked up and watched Lizz and Judy for a moment, looking back down when his phone pinged.

N: We just left the third bank. We're now headed to 1st Mammal National on Cedar and Coal. You know where that is?

M: Yeah. That was my first bank robbery. I'm about 20 from there.

N: Cool. We're about the same. See you there.

Glancing back up at Nick and his mates looking intently at Judy's phone, Mike smiles, puts the car in drive, and pulls off into traffic.

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Twenty minutes later, Mike parked in the banks small lot and gets out as Nick and a vixen walk up to him. "Hey Nick." Putting out a paw, Mike smiles. "You must be Joan. Thank you for taking good care of my mate yesterday."

The frown on Joan's muzzle evaporating as she takes and shakes Mike's paw. "No trouble at all. It was great to give such a great mammal a good time. You two have been through so much. I was happy to help give her a real day away from the stress."

Smiling down at the foxes. "Well, I still appreciate it. Haven't seen Lizz this relaxed in a long time. As her mate, seeing her happy makes it worth while, no matter what other crap we have to deal with."

Joan gives Nick a light smack with the back of her paw on his shoulder. "Well, stick with Nick and Judy, and you should avoid most of the pitfalls many of us experience in the early stages of being open about your relationship." Her smile giving way to a serious look as she turned to Nick. "Okay. What's at this one?"

Nick smiled warmly. "I put things in order on the list."

Taking a folder out from under her arm, Joan flips it open. "Okay, in that case, we've seen VV figurines in a storage unit, which you will be moving to more secure location."

"Right."

"Then the BA and CG figurines in two different units." Giving Nick a glare. "Which will also be moving to a new, more secure location."

Nick shook his head at that. "Yeah, not those. I know who owns that location, and what is stored in some of the adjacent lockers. Trust me, that's probably the most secure location they could be in. We'll move the VV stuff there. Judy got lucky when she scored that locker."

Giving Nick a critical look while Mike tiled his head to the side. "Fine. That's on you then."

Mike spoke up. "Nick?"

Looking up at Mike, Nick shook his head. "Don't ask that question Mike. It is not one I can answer."

Looking over the fox, Mike nodded. "Okay."

"Just know, what I know in this instance comes from a former life."

"I got you Nick. Lets get on with this then. Lizz expects her brother to show up early and I'd like to get there before the rest of her family does."

Nodding, Nick indicated the bank entrance with a paw. "Joan, after you."

Glancing at the list. "Hmm... So, this will be BA/VV crossover comics."

Nick smiled as he followed Lizz, Mike pulling up the rear. "Yep. And a few miscellaneous collectibles. If I remember right, there is an old StarFox figure in one of these. Don't remember if it is this one or not."

Over the next several hours they visited a dozen banks, Mike driving got them to most of them much faster than the public transit Nick and Joan had started with. They looked over, and Joan gasped and took furious notes as she examined various comics and other collectibles. On instance instances she seemed almost angry at Nick. Shortly after which, things went decidedly sideways.

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A/N \\\ Is there more to come? Yes... Yes there is. I'm editing away on this and my original works. Muse is even giving me some time to not just edit, but work on some original WIPs, finally! That's going to slow down updates here, but there is still plenty coming.

Keep the reviews and comments coming, it's making Muse happy, which lets me work on this and other things. And also remember, if you see issues, misspellings, etc... Let me know in PM, I'm under no illusion of being perfect and want to fix those things I miss.

If you are truly enjoying this, you can check out my original work by popping over to my blog, Scribblings. You can link to it here: dcballard dot com and then select Scribblings Blog.