Nick sat staring at the blank screen of his phone. Did that really just happen? Stu's response to seeing him was expected, though the older buck hadn't flipped out like he'd feared. Nick felt sure it had more to do with Bonnie's presence, than anything else. Now she did surprise him. It made him extremely curious about that little conversation she'd had with Judy—a sobbing Judy.

Glancing over, he ran his claws lightly through her fur again. "What did you say about me, Carrots?" Whatever it was, it was enough to convince Bonnie that Judy was safe with him. Scratching behind her ears, he grinned at her hmm of pleasure as she pressed into the light scratch. She is just too cute! Pulling his phone out, he snapped a picture, then set it as his main screen.

With a wide grin, he glanced down at the floor and noticed the cloth bag that contained Judy's dirty clothes—and the paperwork they'd received from the hospital. "Gah! I forgot your medication! Carrots, why'd you let me forget!?" Glancing at the time on Judy's phone, he exclaimed, "It's almost 2!"

Prying his tail from Judy's firm grip, he then gently lifted her head from his lap and stood up, then grabbed the pillow leaning against the arm of the couch and slid it under her cheek before laying her head back down.

While running up the stairs, he muttered under his breath, "I need to get you upstairs to bed, then I need to run to the pharmacy, and then the gas station to get something for breakfast, then I need to get myself to bed."

Taking a left at the top, he spun around the railing that protected the stairwell, then entered the second bedroom. He hadn't been in Honey's room in months as he only came in here about twice a year to dust. Flipping on the light, he glanced around and grunted. "Yep, it's dusty."

Walking over to the window, he cracked it several inches to air the room out, then turned to the bed. Although the sheets and blankets were clean when he put them on, and no one had ever used them, they'd been on the bed for years. And the top blanket was covered in a fine layer of dust. Yep, definitely changing those before bringing Judy up here. Without wasting anymore time, he tossed the pillows on the floor, then grabbed the edge of the blanket and wadded it up in the middle of the mattress, then pulled up the sheets and wrapped them around the blanket.

Picking them all up, he carried them to the bathroom, through the small door at the back that led to the laundry room, and dumped them in the corner. He'd wash them later. Grabbing fresh sheets, a blanket, and a couple of pillowcases from the shelf, he returned to Honey's old room and remade the bed. Glancing at the window, he noticed the air coming in was cool, but not cold (it being summer), and decided to leave the window cracked.

Returning downstairs to get Judy, she hardly stirred when he gently picked her up. Looking down, he watched her snuggled into his chest and grip his shirt. Nick couldn't believe how cute she was. Entering the room that would now be hers, he set her on the bed, pried her fingers off his shirt, then covered her with the blankets.

Nick smiled softly at the adorable, little rabbit sleeping in his house. She looked too cute as she burrowed into the thick blanket. Running his claw tips down her ears once more, he then turned and left.

Running to his room, he grabbed a pad of sticky notes and a pen from off his dresser and wrote his name, his phone number, and a message for her to call him when she awoke so he could come help her. Pulling the sheet off, he ran back downstairs and grabbed her phone. Sticking the note to it, he carried the phone and the charger upstairs and set them on the dresser beside Judy's bed.

Running the back of his fingers down her ears one last time, he smiled as she leaned into the caress, then he turned and headed downstairs. Returning to the living room, he grabbed the prescription and flipped the lights off as he headed out the door. Once in the truck and heading down the road, Nick let his mind wander.

Am I really doing this? Am I really going to live with a bunny? The unstoppable force of nature known as Judy Hopps. My bunny? He couldn't deny his attraction to her. And her giving him 'exclusive rights' to her ears could only mean that she was attracted to him, too. But how would they even work? A bunny and a fox?

Remembering her soft, silky paws on his ears and her short, blunt claws digging through his fur, the simple joy she found in touching him—in making him happy—left him stunned. Her ministrations had awakened feelings he hadn't felt in decades, and a few he'd never experienced before. Feelings he now craved. In the short span of less than an hour, he had become irrevocably addicted to the sweet little bunny's touch.

He couldn't even imagine not feeling her paws on him and the feelings they evoked. His thoughts for his cute honeybun weren't sexual, not yet anyway—he just wanted to be near her, to snuggle with her, and smell her sweet scent. He wanted to run his paws over her velvety ears and soft cheeks, to see her grinning in utter bliss at his touch and attention.

The thought suddenly struck him—a fox in love with a bunny. Running a paw over his face, he grunted while thinking about how the media would take it if it ever hit the news. He doubted it'd be very pretty. Especially after all the savage attacks Bellwether instigated. Well, it was just one more thing they'd need to discuss if they ever decided to become an official couple. Nick shook his head. Not if but whenwhen they became an official couple.

Just thinking of her with anyone else set off his territorial instincts and awakened a foreign emotion in him—jealousy. For the first time in his life, he was feeling jealous—and he didn't know what to do about it.

Come on, Wilde, you're not even dating yet and you're already getting jealous of imaginary suitors! What happens when it becomes official? Are you going to turn into some over-protective, controlling jerk of a boyfriend? "Ug, I hope not," he muttered under his breath. He'd seen all too many destructive relationships involving controlling males during his time on the streets. He just needed to trust Judy. She'd already given him exclusive rights to her ears, so there was no way she'd be fine with anyone else touching them.

With a grin spreading across his face, he tried to picture what one of Judy's angry punches would feel like, and what one would do to a fellow rabbit. She'd probably knock him back a couple of feet at least. That thought had him laughing.

He was still chuckling when Woolgreens came into view. Pulling into the parking lot, he grabbed the prescription from the passenger seat and walked into the store. After dropping it off to the bored pharmacist, an older billy goat with a long beard, he waited 10 minutes, then was handed the bottle of pills. After signing for them, he turned to leave when the goat hollered from the back.

"Hey, fox, what do you think you're doing!? That medication is for a rabbit!" The goat hadn't paid attention while filling out the prescription, his focus being on the pills themselves, but after watching the fox walk away, it hit him that he'd just handed rabbit pills over to a shifty fox. Taking a better look at the prescription—yes, it was for a rabbit—he became suspicious. There was no reason for a fox to be picking up rabbit pills in the middle of the night—or ever, for that matter.

Looking back over, Nick met the pharmacist's accusing gaze and groaned. He should've expected this. There was no way a fox picking up rabbit medication would look anything but suspicious. He should have stopped here with Judy on the way home from the hospital. "I'm fully aware these are rabbit pills. My friend, who is a rabbit, just got out of the hospital. She was extremely tired and just wanted to be home. After dropping her off, she asked me to pick them up for her."

"Why would a rabbit be friends with a filthy fox?"

"You'll just have to ask her that yourself. If you want, I can bring her by sometime tomorrow and she can tell you herself why she trusts a fox. But right now, I need to get these pills back to her, so if you'll excuse me." Nick turned and hurried for the door while resisting the urge to run.

"I'll call the police!" the goat hollered back, while the cashier was eyeing him warily.

"You do that," Nick called back as he reached the door. "And when they get an earful from an irate bunny for disturbing her sleep, they'll be complaining to you." With that, he bolted through the door and slid back behind the wheel of the truck. Taking a deep breath, he let it out and turned the truck on.

While leaving the parking lot, he hoped they wouldn't be disturbed by the police pounding on his door. He didn't think they had his real address on file, so he relaxed.

Stopping at the gas station, he decided to fill the tank up (it was nearly on empty) before walking inside to pick up a few groceries. He hated buying anything at the gas stations because they inflated their prices, but since the grocery stores wouldn't be open for another five hours at the earliest, he didn't have a choice.

Looking at the small selection of small boxes of cereal, he finally settled on Shredded Wheat Thins and Honey Oat Clusters with Almonds. Continuing down the aisle, he added a loaf of wheat bread, a jar of peanut butter, a jar of blueberry jam, and a container of honey. No bagels were to be found, though. Judy will just have to wait for the grocery store. Turning down the next aisle, he added a couple of boxes of protein bars for himself and granola bars for Judy. Figuring this would be enough for them till he could get to an actual grocery store, he stopped at the cold section and grabbed a gallon of both vanilla and chocolate almond milk.

After paying for them, he returned to the truck and headed home. Once there, he carried the groceries in and put them away. Leaving the lights off as he had excellent night vision, he gathered up Judy's bags and carried them upstairs to her room and set them on the dresser, along with her meds and the rest of her water.

Pulling out her pink button up shirt and the pink undershirt she'd worn with it, he decided to wash them with the sheets he'd pulled from the bed. If she chose to wear the shorts he'd gotten her, he wanted to make sure she had a shirt to go with them. Carrying them to the laundry room, he threw them in the washing machine with the sheets.

With that taken care of, he decided to take care of himself. His body was tired, but his mind was wide awake after the short nap he'd had on the couch with Judy. It had been a more restful sleep than he'd had in years. Grinning while remembering her paws on him and her promise to stay, he stepped back into his room and grabbed some clean clothes from his dresser. Walking into the bathroom, he hoped a hot shower would relax him enough to fall back asleep.

Stepping out of the bathroom a short while later, fresh and clean, he made his way back to his room and crawled in bed. With a contented sigh, he replayed the memories of his time here with Judy, and as his mind got caught up with hope for the future, he fell into a deep sleep—a deep sleep that was filled with visions of silvery grey and shining amethyst.

….

Judy was extremely warm and extremely comfortable, and it took her mind a while to claw its way from sleep and visions of fluffy orange and pools of burning emerald. As she became conscious, fragments of her dream remained—their dash through the museum and their fall into the display pit. It ended with her being confronted by orange and green and sharp teeth around her throat. She should be terrified, having a predator's teeth clamped firmly around her neck, but all she felt was . . . was intrigue and . . . a flicker of desire. This last feeling was something she'd never felt with any male she'd ever met before.

"Buttered biscuits and jam, Judy, he's your best friend! Stop thinking of his teeth around your neck like that!" she exclaimed as her eyes popped open to stare at the ceiling.

But she couldn't. She couldn't forget. He'd been so careful with her. And their movements, his and hers as they acted out the attack, had his sharp teeth sliding gently through her fur, teasing her skin. With the inside of her ears turning a bright red, she rolled over and pressed her face into the pillows.

Jerking back over, she repeated, "Ouch, ouch, ouch!" With a hiss she looked down at her leg. She'd just pulled at a few of the stitches and her leg throbbed with both a sharp, needle-like pain, and a deeper throbbing pain. Glancing around, the diffused sunlight spilling around the curtain covering the window revealed her bottle of medicine and half-bottle of water.

Sitting up to grab them, she quickly looked at the directions, then popped a pill in her mouth and chased it down with several gulps of water. Setting the pills and the empty bottle back on the dresser, she noticed her phone and the note attached to it. Smiling to see Nick's number, she immediately opened her phone and saw all the missed calls. Fear slammed into her gut and she immediately unlocked her phone and went to her recent call log. With her finger hovering over the send button, she paused at seeing the little green received-call arrow on the last call her parents had made. It took her brain a minute to realize what it meant. "Nick turned my phone on and answered their call! He talked to my parents!"

Her mind went momentarily blank, then filled with fear as she thought of her—fearful-of-all-things-predatory and down-right hateful-to-foxes—parents talking to her best friend, who just happened to be a predator and a fox. "Oh, please tell me they weren't hateful to Nick," she prayed as she jabbed the call button.

Her mother picked up on the second ring, but instead of the distraught face she was expecting, Bonnie was all smiles and happiness.

"Oh, Judy, you're finally up. I was beginning to wonder if Nick forgot to remind you to call us this morning."

"Um, no, I haven't seen Nick yet this morning. I just picked up my phone and realized I never called last night." With a deep breath she quickly added, "So, you . . .uh . . . talked to Nick last night?"

"Oh, yes, he was kind enough to answer our call and let us know you were okay. He's such a nice mammal—I can see why you were missing him so much."

"Really!" she squeaked. "You're not mad my best friend is a fox?"

"Well, I was surprised to see a fox on the phone, but I guessed from our conversation before that your friend was a predator. You said he helped you immensely already, so when he introduced himself as Nick, I knew you were in good hands."

Judy could only stare for several heartbeats, before exclaiming, "You do!? I mean, yes, yes, I am. There's no safer place I could be than here with Nick. He's done so much, for me, Mom. You have no idea how much thought he's put into making sure I was taken care of." With a sniffle as she considered Nick's care of her, she smiled wider and positively glowed. "He's amazing, Mom."

Bonnie studied her daughter's features as she beamed with happiness. She'd seen Judy happy before—she'd been happy when she graduated college, when she was accepted into the ZPA, and then again when she graduated and became a police officer—but that was an excited happiness that easily faded. This happiness that Judy was feeling was different from all the other times Judy had been happy. This happiness went much deeper and seemed to infuse every fiber of her being.

If this is what re-establishing her friendship with Nick did for Judy, then Bonnie would make sure no one hassled them for him being a fox—even if that someone was Stu.

Looking over Judy's outfit, Bonnie pointed out, "Well, I can see one thing he did for you. Those clothes look very nice and comfortable."

"Oh, yes, they are," Judy agreed as she pressed a paw to her chest. "He bought me several outfits last night on his way to the hospital to pick me up. He even bought a rabbit travel kit that even had a chew rod in it, so I'm set for a few days."

"I'm glad to hear that. Now about this hospital visit . . . what happened and how were you hurt?"

Judy's ears warmed and she looked at the wall. "It was actually pretty dumb. While Nick and I were . . . gathering evidence to finish the case I started three months ago, we were in a hurry and I wasn't paying attention and cut my leg on an object we were passing."

Looking back up, she met Bonnie's worried gaze. "But don't worry, it's not serious. I need to take it easy for two weeks, and then I'll be good as rain. It just required a few stitches. And Nick is helping me get around while I'm not supposed to walk on it." Pausing a moment, she added, "It's actually thanks to Nick that I wasn't hurt worse. He refused to leave me behind and get the evidence to the ZPD. It was his courage and quick thinking that saved us both."

Hearing of the danger Judy had been in worried Bonnie greatly, and reminded her of why rabbits didn't get into law enforcement—at least not in the city. But hearing how the fox, Nick, had once again stood by Judy and kept her safe, warmed her heart. She could definitely see why Judy was developing special feelings for her foxy friend.

"Well, I'm really glad you were able to reconcile with Nick. He seems like a very trustworthy mammal."

"He is, Mom. There's no one I trust more. I know he'll always be there when I need him."

"Hm, that's good. And he's letting you stay with him, correct? You're at his place?"

"Oh, yes, this is his house." With excited pleasure sparkling in her amethyst eyes, she exclaimed, "He owns his own house, Mom! A two-story house! And it's big from the little I saw of it last night." With her ears up and a soft squeal, she continued, "I can't wait for Nick to give me the grand tour!"

"That does sound exciting and brings me to something we need to discuss. Your father and I are planning a trip to Zootopia. We need to bring your things to you and pick up the truck. Do you know a good time we can visit?"

"Well, I'll have to talk to Nick, but probably wait a few days to let my leg heal a little. I can't walk on it at all right now and Nick has to carry me everywhere. I'd like to be able to at least hobble around when you come." After a moment's thought, she suggested, "How about you come down on Sunday? Maybe make it a day trip—come in the late morning and stay the afternoon. Nick has a backyard, so maybe we could have a barbeque or something?"

"That does sound nice, Dear, but are you sure Nick will be okay with that?"

"I'll need to discuss it with him, but I don't think he'll have a problem. Dad won't make it a problem, will he?"

"Well, he certainly wasn't pleased to see you snuggled up to a fox last night, but I think I calmed some of his worries. I'll talk to him later today, and then we'll call back so he can talk to you, too."

"Okay. That's sounds great. I better let you go now. I need to call Nick and let him know I'm up so we can have some breakfast."

"That's fine, Bun-bun. You have some breakfast and I'll talk to you later today."

"Thanks, Mom. Goodbye." After ending the call, Judy quickly picked up the sticky note with Nick's number on it and punched it into her phone, saved it under My Dumb Fox, then hit the send button. The voicemail nearly picked up before she heard her fox's sleepy voice come over the phone.

"Hullo?" he mumbled.

Judy thought she heard Nick yawn as she cheerfully replied, "Good morning, Nick! How did you sleep last night?"

Nick's sleep evaporated instantly when he heard Judy's peppy voice. "Carrots! What time is it?" Looking around didn't tell him much. His heavy curtains blocked out all light and he hadn't plugged his clock in last night. He was still somewhat out of it, so thinking of checking his phone never crossed his mind.

Judy hummed into the phone a second, then took it from her ear just long enough to glance at the time. "It's almost 10. Are you ready for some breakfast? I am. And afterwards you have to give me the grand tour of the house."

Nick sat up, a broad smile on his face, and asked, "Wouldn't you rather have a shower first?"

Judy looked down at herself. "Oh, yeah. A shower actually sounds really good. Maybe I'll have it first."

"If that's what you want. Just let me put a shirt on and I'll be over."

A slight blush warmed her cheeks as Judy thought of a shirtless Nick. "Okay. I'll be waiting."

Chuckling to himself as he stared at the phone after hanging up, Nick then saved her number under My Sly Bunny, and put it back on the nightstand.

Standing up, he opened the heavy curtains covering his window and immediately slapped a hand over his eyes. The bright morning sunlight stung his sensitive eyes and he waited for his eyes to adjust. Opening his eyes and slowly removing his hand, he glanced around his now very sunny room. It was a strange sight as his room hadn't seen the light of day in years. With his night vision, it wasn't necessary, but with Judy being here, he knew she wouldn't appreciate a dark, gloomy room.

Walking to his closet to change, he tried to think of an outfit to impress his honeybun. Remembering the way Judy's eyes popped when he showed up in a black t-shirt the previous night, he decided to change into one of his little-used pair of jeans. This one was a dark blue pair, and to go with it, he put on a nicer, dark-green V-neck shirt that slightly hugged his form and brought out the dark highlights in his emerald eyes.

Retrieving his phone and sliding it into his back pocket, along with his wallet, he stopped in the bathroom briefly on his way to his honeybun's room. Striding through her door (he'd left it open last night to better hear her if she needed him), he saw her sitting by the window with the curtains drawn back and her eyes big as saucers as she glanced around the room. "Mornin', Carrots."

"Nick! This room is so big!" Then her eyes landed on him and he saw the stunned appreciation in her eyes as they traveled down his lean form and back up. "Wow, Slick! I thought you looked good in black, but you've outdone yourself this morning."

Nick chuckled as he walked to the bed and Judy scooted herself back to the edge. "Thanks, Carrots." With a smug grin, he added, "I bet you didn't even think I owned these kinds of clothes, did you?"

With a giggle, she replied, "No, not really. I've only ever seen you in those loud Pawaiin shirts."

"I'll have you know—those shirts are 100% silk and are extremely comfortable."

"Alright, Slick, whatever you say."

Nick grinned as he leaned down, so they were more eye-level. "Well, there is a method to my madness in wearing them." At Judy's expectant gaze, he explained, "As a hustler, I don't want people to remember my face—so by wearing loud shirts, people are more focused on them and not me. If I need to make a fast getaway, I can easily change my shirt and become a completely different fox to most people."

"Too bad that didn't work on me, huh, Slick?" Judy said with a wide grin while lightly punching his arm.

Nick stood back up and scratched under his chin, "Ya, well, I'm not sorry. Not anymore, anyway." Meeting her brilliant gaze with a wide smile, he added, "You have to admit, though, you're not a typical bunny." With his smile widening, he continued, "A typical, cute, little bunny wouldn't have come within five feet of this sly fox, let alone stand up for him, let him hustle 20 dollars from her, and then thank me for it afterwards."

Judy scowled at his cute comment but didn't interrupt as she knew he was merely stating how most mammals saw rabbits.

"Of course, they also wouldn't have followed two sly foxes all over Zootopia while thinking they were going unseen, either."

"Wait! You knew I was following you? I mean, before I confronted you?"

"You're kinda hard to miss, Carrots, when driving that three-wheeled joke-mobile."

"Oh," Judy murmured while staring at the ground. "And I thought I was being so careful."

With a chuckle, Nick said, "Well, Fluff, if you stick with me, I'll teach you all the tricks to not being seen. You'll be an incognito pro in no time."

Judy giggled as Nick flourished his hands. "Okay then, Teacher, I look forward to your lessons."

A genuine smile spread across his face. After a moment of meeting her gaze, Nick clapped his paws together, saying, "Okay, we can't start your lessons until next week when your leg has healed a little bit, but for now, I believe you were wanting to take a shower."

"Oh, yes, a shower, breakfast, and then the grand tour."

Grabbing the bag of clothes and the convenience store bag off the dresser, he set them on the bed next to Judy and said, "Here, figure out what you want to wear while I run down and get your travel kit from the downstairs bathroom."

Judy nodded and Nick turned to go, then hesitated. Looking back at her, he seemed to be carrying on a mental debate with himself, and she wasn't sure what to make of it. He obviously wanted to tell her something important, but what? "Nick, what is it?"

Instead of answering, Nick met her gaze for several intense seconds, then swiftly leaned over and hugged her. With his warm breath tickling her ear, he whispered, "I'm glad you're alright, Judy." And then he was gone.

….

WingedKatt here. So the new day has dawned and Nick has already left Judy with her heart all a flutter. What will happen as the grand tour commences? Long repressed memories will began to surface.

Chapter 8: Hurry Up, Slowpoke! will post on Saturday.

If you have any thoughts or comments, I'd love to hear from you. Have a great week.