Sitting on her bed while staring at her phone as she watched Judy groaning over the interruption, Janette was still unable to comprehend what was happening with her littermate. This was so far out of the realm of possibilities she'd ever considered for Judy, that it left her stumped. Every word out of Judy's mouth and every action she took was so far out in left field, it might as well be out of the ballpark. Hearing Nick's near-savage growl was terrifying and had her nose twitching a million miles a minute, and yet her sister didn't seem to have a lick of fear towards the large predator. And even when Judy was acting outraged at Nick for taking her phone, there was also the underlying current of happiness and teasing that Janette had never heard from her sister before—not when yelling at an annoying buck, anyway.

And then the way he got all dominant on her sister—and she let him! That had to be one of the most shocking parts of the whole altercation! Judy wasn't fighting for control. In fact, she seemed happy that Nick was being dominant. That was such a huge surprise to Janette—that her 'you can't make me do anything' sister was actually letting a male tell her what to do. It was inconceivable!

And then to have that same male run out on her like the house was on fire—that just irked her. As scared as she was for her sister being with such a large, predatory male—to see him desert Judy after she opened herself up completely to him—she just wanted to strangle the jerk. And then to see him come back and apologize (Judy had the phone face up in her palm as she rested her paw on the bed) and seeing how her sister had—teased—him (although Nick's waist was outside the camera range, it didn't take a genius to figure out what her sister was doing to him), Janette had no words to describe how shocking her sister's audacity was in dealing with the large male. And yet he still ran from her! Ooh, she wanted to take a frying pan to his head.

Of course, getting a front row seat to that kiss they shared (the phone had landed face-up when Judy dropped it on the bed), and to see how her 'don't touch me' sister was returning the kiss with the same amount of heat and passion as the todd, Janette thought she'd faint. This was not the same sister that left the farm 3 days ago. So, what happened after she met Nick and he brought her home with him?

After Nick had run off (again), Janette had waited a minute before speaking up to get her sister's attention and then had to wait for her sister to respond (which was another shock—Judy was usually punctual with her responses). After Judy's moan and accusation of her acting like mom and dad, Janette bit her lip, then said, "Sorry, I really didn't mean to interrupt you."

Judy didn't immediately respond as she picked the phone up with one paw and rubbed her face with the other. After several moments she dropped her paw and sighed. Turning to look at the phone in her other paw, she said, "I should probably be thanking you, for Nick's sake anyways, but I'm not feeling much gratitude right now." Judy knew that if it wasn't for their emotional conversations about Nick's fears (fear for his life at the paws of her specist brothers and fear for hers at the paws of the bastard jackrabbit), they never would have gotten as far as they did. And as Nick pointed out earlier, the likelihood of her getting him in the same mood again would be days (or possibly weeks) in coming.

Sighing heavily again, Judy compared the past with the present. She'd always scoffed at her crazy sisters for climbing in bed with bucks so soon after meeting them, and here she was, doing the same thing. The responsible side of her brain was quite appalled, but she wasn't much in the mood for caring—not when she was still such a hot mess. And at least she and Nick had already discussed marriage and were practically engaged. That had to count for something, right?

Janette bit her lip again, then said, "I really am sorry. Had I known that you were home and . . . and enjoying some . . . alone time . . . with Nick, I never would have called in the first place."

Judy squeezed the bridge of her nose and asked, "Why did you keep calling. I told you I'd call when I got the chance."

Janette rubbed the arm holding her phone for a moment, then answered, "I was kinda worried about you. I'd heard you were headed into to town with Nick, and with your injured leg . . . and then I heard that Henry bullied Lily and Rachelle into staying behind . . ." She bit her lip again, then added, "I just wanted to make sure you got home safe."

Judy groaned again and wiped her paw down her face, even as she rolled back over onto her back. "Janette," she whined. "Do you honestly think Henry can do anything to me? Injured or not, I can still beat the snot out of him." Taking a deep breath, she tried to keep calm as she brought up Janette's other worries. "And your worries about Nick . . . You . . . what? Thought he'd leave me in town? Get rough or careless with me? What?"

Janette could see that her sister was irritated and it made her consider her words carefully. "Judy, Nick is a fox. And you hardly know him." Seeing her sister's irritation mounting, Janette hurriedly said, "You met him 3 months ago, and now you've been back together for 3 days and he already has you in bed with him. Do you know what that looks like?"

Scowling at her sister, Judy replied, "Janette, Nick is not taking advantage of me. If anything, you can say I was taking advantage of him. This is my bed after all." Judy couldn't deny the fact that she deliberately pushed at Nick's self-control. The fact he'd been going at a sloth's pace still irritated her.

Janette scoffed at her sister. From what she'd seen and heard over the phone, it was obvious the todd was in control. Other than at the end when Judy tried convincing him to stay, Nick had been calling all the shots. "Did you hear his growl! That was a predator's growl, Judy—a dominant predator who had every intention of having his way with you!"

Judy's expression took on a dreamy look as she remembered Nick's dominant actions and hungry growl. With a broad smile curving her short muzzle, Judy spoke in a sultry voice, "Oh, yeah, I remember it with crystal clarity."

Janette stared at her sister in surprise and irritation for several minutes, then exploded, "Judy! Are you listening to yourself!? He could hurt you. Nick could seriously hurt you."

Judy's eyes narrowed as she glared daggers at her sister. "Janette, Nick could never, ever hurt me." At Janette's raised eyebrow, Judy explained, "Nick is a red fox todd—and with red foxes, the vixen calls the shots and sets the pace of the relationship." With a smug grin, she added, "Which means I call the shots."

"You call the shots!? Judy, he flipped you over and penned you to the bed!"

Judy grinned at the memory as she brought her paw up and rested it above her head. "Hmm, I could stand to have him pin me to the bed a few more times." Licking her lips, her eyes unfocused as she replayed the memory. The way he held her down while she lost herself in his burning emeralds. Those sinful teeth and tongue of his as he kissed her senseless before burning a track of hot desire down her throat while kissing, nipping, and licking his way down to her chest, even as his claws caressed her fur and skin. And then feeling his sharp canines wrapped around her throat. She was getting excited again just from the memory.

Seeing her sister's deliriously happy (and somewhat lustful) smile floored Janette. She was terrified for her sister after hearing and seeing Nick treating her the way he was, as it proved why foxes couldn't be trusted—and yet—Judy wouldn't be smiling the way she was if Nick had actually been hurting her or demanding things of her she wasn't willing or wanting to give.

With a heavy sigh, she deflated as the fight went out of her. She certainly couldn't deny how desperate (and heartbroken) her sister felt when Nick first left her, or the way she pawed him in an effort to convince him to stay. How the smug todd was able to resist Judy's demanding paw on his cock, Janette had no clue. No buck alive that she knew of would've been able to resist such attentions from a doe he was excited about. And yet Nick still left (Just how much self-control did that todd have!?) with the promise Judy wouldn't be sorry about whatever he had planned. This left her curious, for her sister was no longer feeling hurt or angry at him for leaving her, even with her hormones still raging out of control—which was another huge shock. Judy was actually responding (her body was responding) to Nick like any normal doe would with a buck she was strongly considering marrying (excluding their boy-crazy sisters who only thought about their present gratification with absolutely no consideration for the future).

Janette wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry that Judy might be thinking of marrying the smug (and irritating) todd. But she really couldn't see her sister acting the way she was without at least first considering the possibility—strongly considering. Glancing back at the wedding photos on the wall, Janette's nose twitched. Judy's picture might be up there sooner than she thought.

With a heavy sigh, Janette ran a paw down her face. Looking back at the phone (her sister was still lost in dreamland), she said, "You really love him, don't you?"

Judy's gaze came into focus as she recognized the shift in her sister's attitude and tone. With a more relaxed (though still serious) tone herself, she replied, "More than life itself."

Janette sighed heavily again, then said, "And he really hasn't hurt you or made you feel uncomfortable in any way?"

Shaking her head, Judy answered, "Nope. Not once. Once Nick knows what I want, he goes out of his way to see that I get it. Even when he's being all predatory and dominant on me, I'm not scared—because it's Nick, and one, I probably pushed him to it, and two, I want him to be all dominant and predatory on me. All his predatory, foxy features excite me because he makes everything feel so, sooo good. Furthermore, everything he does is geared to ensure I'm enjoying whatever it is we're doing—whether it be carrying me around the house, playing the piano, taking me out to dinner, buying me clothes, or making-out like there's no tomorrow—everything is enjoyable. And if at any time I decide whatever we're doing quits being enjoyable, all I have to do is say 'stop', and he will."

Janette looked off to the left as she fidgeted with one of her stuffed rabbits lying on the bed next to her. Looking back at the phone, she said, "Judy, I'm not questioning you, but Nick's growl and all his sharp teeth terrified me. He looked so dangerous—my nose wouldn't quit twitching!" Pointing to her twitching nose, she exclaimed, "Look! It's still twitching!"

Judy's grin curled her muzzle again as she said, "That's because you don't know Nick the way I do. And after spending the last few days with him, I'd say his sharp claws and teeth are two of his best features. And that growl of his—hmm, it excites me in ways I can't describe."

Janette stared at her sister for a minute, then chuckled softly, saying, "You're crazy, you know that?"

"I'm definitely crazy about Nick. But that's only because it's Nick. Nick is Nick—and I wouldn't want anyone else. I certainly don't want to be with any other predator, nor do I get excited about anyone else's predatory features."

Janette laughed again. "Well, I hope not."

"Nope, just Nick. He's it for me. No one else can compare."

Relaxing back against the pillows she had piled up against her headboard, Janette smiled at her sister and asked, "So what did Nick do that made you fall for him?"

"Oh, where do I start?" Judy laughed happily as all the times she spent with Nick flashed through her mind—from their irritating beginning (she still couldn't believe he hustled $20 from her, though he has more than paid her back for it) clear through to everything that happened this afternoon (and Nick still had something planned for tonight!).

"Well, let's start 3 months ago. You were already falling for him back then, weren't you? That's one of the reasons why you were so depressed," Janette tilted her head, "and why you didn't wait to start dating, right?"

With another laugh, Judy answered, "Yes, Janette, right on all accounts."

Janette smiled again. "So, tell me all about it."

Before Judy could start on her tale, though, there was a light tap on Janette's bedroom door and then Janelle walked in. "Hey, Janette, did you get a hold of Judy yet?" Janelle was a darker-tan doe with a dark-chocolate muzzle, a chocolate blaze running from her dark nose up between her eyes, dark-chocolate tipped ears, dark-chocolate paws, and a white belly.

With a nod and wide smile, Janette said, "Yep, and Judy was just getting ready to tell me all about her foxy new boyfriend."

Janelle froze halfway to the bed and her bright mahogany eyes widened, then she exclaimed, "What! Judy has a boyfriend now!? And it's a fox!?" Jumping over to the bed, she grabbed the phone from Janette and all but shouted into it, "You're dating Nick!?"

Judy gave a sheepish smile and nodded, saying, "Guilty as charged."

Janelle's jaw hit the bed and then she whispered, "No way." Judy never dated, so this was a huge announcement!

"Yes, way," Judy replied with a chuckle. "And I'd say his best features are all his foxy, predatory ones."

Janelle was silent for a minute, and then she repeated, "No way. No way! Get out of here." Shaking the phone a minute, she said, "Judy, we should not be having this conversation while you're in Zootopia. I just want to shake your shoulders, hug you, and laugh with you. Ahh! This is great. How did this happen? When did it happen? He's a fox and you've never even been interested in bucks!"

"Hmm, well, after spending the last three days in Nick's company I can see why I was never interested in any buck. They're not half the mammal he is, nor has anyone ever treated me even a fraction as well as he has. There's not a buck alive who can compare to my hot fox."

"Or give such mind-numbing kisses?" Janette teased her now fox-crazy sister.

Staring at Janette, Janelle exclaimed, "Wait! She's already kissed him!" Turning her gaze back to Judy, she asked, "You gave your first kiss to Nick?" There was a slight pause as Janelle wrapped her head around the idea. The three of them were the only does in their litter, and they all had high standards when it came to bucks, with each of them holding onto their first kiss until they were ready to commit. Janette was the first to give her first kiss away as she was already engaged, and Janelle was sure she'd be the next one—but now, to hear Judy had already given her first away—to a fox!—it just blew her mind.

After a moment, she realized what Janette had implied about Judy's kisses and exclaimed, "You kissed him passionately!? As in tongue to tongue?" Judy always got disgusted while watching their buck-crazy sisters or doe-crazy brothers having tongue wars with their latest fling, so to hear how her strait-laced sister was now indulging in the practice left her mind reeling—in the best of ways. It was about time Judy found someone she wanted to get close to.

Judy groaned as she pulled an ear over her face in embarrassment at Janelle's pointed questions, even as Janette replied, "Oh, yes. Apparently, I interrupted their alone-time together." Leaning towards Janelle who'd climbed up onto the bed to sit next to her, she added, "Please take notice of the fact Judy is down to her underwear," Janelle's jaw dropped as Janette continued, "but after realizing the time, Nick took off like his pants were on fire, but then came back and apologized for leaving Judy a hot, sticky mess and then gave her this epic, mind-blowing kiss."

"No way!" Janelle said again. "For real?" This was too much. Hearing of Judy's kissing escapades with Nick was one thing, but to see her sister ready to climb in bed with the fox was something else altogether. It meant that Judy wasn't just ready to commit—she was ready for the wedding! Which blew Janelle's mind since she had always thought, while growing up, that she would be the first to marry. She was the more outgoing of the three and was willing to give most bucks a chance with a date or two, while Janette was more reserved in her choices, and Judy simply refused to date.

So, it was shocking to hear her oldest littermate get a steady boyfriend before she did. Janelle had fun dating around, and she did have several boyfriends throughout the years, but none of the bucks ever made her feel the desire to commit or give her first kiss away (much to the bucks' frustration), so she usually didn't date the same buck for more than two or three months (and rarely more than one boyfriend in a year). That's usually how long the bucks lasted until they got fed up waiting to receive their 'benefits' of dating—which was the point. Janelle figured that if the bucks didn't think she was worth the wait, then they weren't worth her time and so didn't lose any sleep when they broke it off.

"Janette!" Judy whined as she released her ear to stare at her sister through the phone, but her sister ignored her and continued her tale by saying, "Oh, yes. From where I was looking, I swear they were trying to eat each other's faces off."

"Janette!" Judy exclaimed again as she pulled her ear back over her face and rolled over on her side. "It wasn't that bad . . . was it?" Bringing her paw up, she lightly touched her lips as she remembered how deep and hot the kiss was.

"Judy, you two were having a tongue war of epic proportions and don't you dare deny it." Janette was pointing her finger at Judy over the phone while Janelle was leaning in with her ears perked forward, listening attentively.

Feeling herself getting excited again just thinking about the kiss, Judy groaned and said, "Okay, maybe you're right, but I can't help it. It's Nick and everything about him excites me."

Watching her sister's fiery blush, Janelle said softly, "So the doctors were right. You were missing an emotional component to get your hormones to respond to a male."

"Yes, and trust me, there's absolutely nothing wrong with my hormones when it comes to Nick," Judy replied with excitement showing in her bright amethyst eyes. "He excites me in all the right ways." With a heavy sigh, Judy then continued, "But since I've never had to deal with them at such high levels before, I'm having trouble controlling myself around Nick." At Janette's eyebrow raise and Janelle's knowing smile, Judy hastily added, "It's not like I'm that way all the time, just when we're, um . . ." Judy paused in thought, then said, "Actually, this only happened because of the conversation we were having. It was pretty emotional and had taken a dark turn."

Janette and Janelle looked at each other, then said, "What do you mean?"

Judy fidgeted with her ear a moment, then sat up causing her to wince and hiss while grabbing her now throbbing leg (she had completely forgotten about her leg while she was letting Nick eat her).

"Judy!" both Janette and Janelle cried together. Janelle didn't have a clue at what was hurting her sister, while Janette feared she'd been right to fear Nick. If he'd hurt her sister, she'd be jumping on the next train to Zootopia with her trusty frying pan so she could beat the snot out of him—or die trying. He was really big, and she knew his teeth and claws weren't just for show.

"I think it's safe to say my hormone levels have dropped back down to almost normal." At her sisters' still worried gaze, she added, "Don't worry. It's just my leg. I hurt it running from Bellwether three days ago and I wasn't being very gentle with it today."

"You don't say?" Janette asked with a knowing gleam in her eyes while remembering how Judy and Nick had been acting earlier on the phone, even as some of her fear over Nick faded.

Janelle, on the other hand, leaned closer to the phone and asked, "What do you mean?" She was highly interested in anything happening with her big sister (Judy was born 2 minutes before she was) who had moved away to the big city.

Judy avoided her sister's gaze as she reached for the bottle of pills on her dresser. "Um, I probably shouldn't have jumped Nick earlier when we were arguing over the phone . . . or straddled his waist . . . repeatedly." Janelle's jaw dropped, but Judy ignored it as she put the phone down long enough to get a pain pill out and swallow it down with some water.

After Judy set the bottle back on the dresser and picked up the phone, Janelle exclaimed, "You jumped Nick!" Seeing Judy's beet-red ears, she then asked excitedly, "What else did you two do? How far have you gotten?" Although she kept bucks at arm's length like Judy, and only let her boyfriends hold her paws and snuggle a bit (none stuck around long enough for her to feel the desire to give them more), Janelle couldn't hold back her questions as the thought of Judy with a male—any male, let alone a fox—was just too hard to believe and she needed the details to get her head wrapped around the idea.

"Janelle," Judy whined as she sat against the pillows piled up at her headboard. "Now you're starting to sound like Irene and Nicole." Stretching her legs out, she winced slightly until she found a comfortable position.

"I can't help it," Janelle replied with laugh. "You've never been interested in any bucks and now you're jumping Nick—a fox. A red fox." After moment's thought (and watching Judy hide behind her ears again), she said, "Wait, please tell me he's not as big or round as Gideon."

"Of course not!" Judy exclaimed in reply. "I mean, he's taller than Gideon, but Nick is very fit and has strong, lean muscles."

"Well, that's good," Janelle replied as her bright smile returned. "Nick will need to be in shape if he hopes to keep up with you." She knew how hyperactive her sister was, so any male wanting to be with Judy would need the strength and stamina to follow her around on all her various exercise programs: running, weight training, running, sparring, hiking, weight training, more running, dancing, rappelling, and of course, more running. Before entering the Academy, Judy didn't do half the running or weight training she does now, so she hoped Nick was up to the challenge.

"Exactly!" Judy said with a huge smile on her face. She couldn't wait for her leg to heal so she and Nick could start running together (or having Nick chase her—she still had that image in her head of Nick chasing her around his cabin before eating her).

Janelle and Judy grinned at each other like a couple fools, but then Janette spoke up, saying, "That's nice and all, but you still haven't told us why you fell for Nick in the first place, nor what that dark, emotional conversation was that led to you and Nick being half-naked in bed."

Judy's ears drooped as she focused her gaze on Janette. With a heavy sigh, she glanced down at her lap for a moment, then looked back up and said, "Promise not to tell mom and dad? Or anyone else for that matter. I don't need anyone freaking out on me."

Janelle nodded eagerly while waiting to hear Judy's tale, while Janette couldn't forget the near-savage growl Nick had leveled at her when he first answered the phone or the way he dominated her sister.

Taking a deep breath, Judy said, "Okay, so Nick took me out to dinner last night with his friend Finnick. He's this little fennec fox that's been close friends with Nick since they were both teenagers." Pausing in thought, Judy smiled and added, "I like him. He's really easy to talk to and extremely loyal to his friends." Shaking her head, she continued, "Anyways, we were happily chatting while waiting for our meal to arrive when this stuck-up jackrabbit waltzed up and accosted us!" Running a paw down her face, she added, "Well, more me than Nick or Finn as he just saw them as filthy pelts I needed to be 'rescued' from." Judy shook her head in disgusts as she said, "You should have seen the way he was undressing me with his eyes!" With a shiver running down her spine, she added, "It's nauseating just thinking about it."

Janelle and Janette glanced at each other, then Janelle asked, "So what happened?"

With a huff, Judy proceeded to tell her sisters about the stuck-up, philandering jackrabbit who wouldn't take no for an answer, along with Nick's fears for what the bastard might resort to.

Neither Janette nor Janelle could believe what they were hearing. "You can't be serious!" Janelle finally yelled. "You think he'll try and rape you! Have you called the cops on him yet?"

Judy rolled her eyes. "For what? He hasn't really done anything yet. Just a minor altercation, which I might add, Finnick recorded so we can use it against him should he try anything later. And I emphasize the word 'try'."

Janelle was fuming at the idea that someone might try and hurt her sister in such a dastardly way, while Janette took a deep breath to reign in her emotions. Slowly letting the breath out, she asked, "And what is Nick going to do about this threat to your safety?"

A smile broke out across Judy's muzzle. "Do what he does best—do some digging." At her sister's confusion, Judy explained, "Nick's going to figure out who bucko is and then dig up any dirt on him. And once Nick is done with him, he's going to wish he'd never met us." Although they hadn't discussed what Nick would do to combat this threat, knowing what he did to both Nakita and Stan, as well as how he dug up information to save his clients in court and prove their innocence, it didn't take a genius to figure out what Nick's first move would be. He had been working for Big in the information gathering side of his business. "Trust me, if there's anything criminal we can jail him for, Nick will find it."

Judy's grin was radiant as she had complete faith in her vulpine lover's ability to keep her safe, which did ease some of the fears both her sisters had for her.

Taking a deep breath, Janelle then asked, "So, how did Nick steal your heart? And who stole the first kiss? Was it you or him? Come on, tell me everything and don't leave anything out!" Janelle still had a hard time believing Judy had tried to pull Nick into bed with her that afternoon.

With the way Judy was going, Janelle wouldn't be surprised to get a text from her sister one morning saying she and Nick had eloped. And she wouldn't fault them at all. Janelle wasn't sure how their mother would react to Judy dating a fox, but their father would certainly be against it, along with a large portion of their hard-headed brothers and quite a few of their more specist sisters. If they hoped to actually enjoy their wedding, then eloping would be their only option. Janelle just hoped they took a lot of pictures—or a video! That would be even better.

Judy chuckled, then spent the next hour telling her sisters about the handsome, sly vulpine who saved her life and then her heart.


WingedKatt here. So we've met 4 of Judy's sisters (Rachelle, Lily, Janette, Janelle), and 1 of her brother's (Henry), and one of her nieces (Cotton). We'll be seeing more in coming chapters, but in the next chapter we'll jump back to Nick, who will have an interesting conversation of his own. So stay tuned.

Chapter 50: Look, It's Complicated, will post on Saturday, Feb 8th. I hope you have a great weekend and I'll see you next week. If you have any thoughts or comments, let me know.

FYI for the Curious Mind: There are 2 main breeds of the Red Fox. The American Red Fox and the European Red Fox. The European red fox has a larger, stouter body with slightly shorter legs, while the American red fox has slightly longer legs with a slimmer, leaner body. So while the American red fox is smaller in the wild, when put in the world of Zootopia, the American Red Fox will be tall and slender when standing on 2 legs, while the European red fox will be slightly shorter and a little stockier. Going off of how Disney portrayed both Nick and Gideon, I'll be basing Nick off the American Red Fox and Gideon off the European Red Fox. =)