Distilled Dreams

Part One: Fermentation

Chapter Eight

-Judy Age 15 & Nick Age 15-

Judy walked on towards the Wilde's Den still stroking one of her ears in thought after Gideon had wondered off on the direction of his home. She tried to puzzle out what Gideon had been trying to say about her and Nick being close that her lack of scent would bother him without much luck. True she knew she and Nick where closer then she was with her other friends but that was just because they spend so much of their childhood together as neighbors. True the thought of Nick and Meadow together caused her stomach to churn likes she just ate rotten berries but that was just because she didn't feel that Meadow was a good fit for Nick with how she clung to him. True every time any buck asked her out she started to compare the buck to Nick but that was just because of how he always treated her well and listened to her. True every time Nick did anything for her from helping expand the obstacle course to giving her one of his personalized paw made gifts she felt her heart beat faster and wanted to throw her arms around him but that was just because of how he was one of the few mammals to believe in her and try to help her achieve in her dreams. 'Those where all normal reactions of friends right? Best friends certainly but still just friends?' Judy thought to herself as she walked down the Wildes driveway having made the rest of the walk automatically while lost in thought.

Passing by two mostly dark and quiet barns as the snow swirled around her she noticed the lights on in the first barn the Wildes had where burning brightly through the high windows. Knowing the only workers inside would be a member of the Wilde family and wanting a chance to get out of the cold a little earlier then walking to the den she typed in a quick code on the keypad and looked up at the camera mounted above the door. Hearing the lock slide open Judy opened the door to get inside. She glanced around at the cold still along the far back wall the the steel tanks standing sentinel in an otherwise empty and chilled barn. "Judy dear! I thought that was you I saw walking up on the cameras." Judy heard and turned to see Vivian standing in the open doorway of her office with a wide smile on her face.

"Mrs. Wilde!" Judy said hopping over and giving the vixen a hug.

"What brings you by the barn Judy dear?" Vivian said as the hug ended and she wrapped her tail around the doe while laying a paw on her shoulder and guided her back into the office, "Come into my office to talk. It's warmer in there then out here. With the tanks empty their isn't any point in keeping it warmer then we need to to keep the water pipes from bursting."

Judy notices a slight tingle go though her ears and face when the door shut and she started to warm back up. She shivered slightly noticing how cold she had gotten on the walk home without realizing it. "Thanks Mrs. Wilde," she said standing closer to the vent where the stream of hot air was coming from, "I guess I didn't realize how cold I was." Looking over at the desk she saw a large neat stack of papers in a box that was labeled 'to-file' and a few pages still sitting scattered on the desk. "Catching up on the paperwork?"

With a chuckle Vivian took the few pages left in paw and tapped them on the desk to line them all up with each other before placing them in the 'to file' box. "Just finished actually with what built up from our rush to finish before shutting down for the holiday." Vivian took a slight sniff of the air and looked at Judy with a slight frown as the scent of lavender drifted from Judy. Just the scent of lavender. "Hmmm...I was just about to head down to the storage tanks and see how Nicky has been coming along with kegging up the last of the years production."

"Can I come with you?" Judy asked, "It would be nice to stay out of the cold."

"Of course Judy dear just let me lock up," Vivian said. Going over to a panel she quickly flipped a few switches and most of the lights switched off leaving only a few to provide the absolutely minimum amount of light to walk around without tripping over something. A quick twist of the thermostat and a moment to lock and shut down her computer and Vivian was ready to leave her office for the day. The larger barn doors where already locked tight and the side door Judy had come though locked itself behind whoever had the right code to enter. Picking their way over to the fright elevator the two rode it down in silence. "Judy dear?" Vivian asked as they reached the bottom a hundred feet down.

"Yes Mrs. Wilde?" Judy questioned as they stepped out to the hallway that linked the freight elevators all the barns had to the aging and storage rooms as well as the separate loading warehouse nearer the edge of the property.

"The perfume Nicky made for you is lovely but I cannot help but notice..." Vivian started to say.

Judy's ears twitched and drooped before picking back up. "My normal scent is gone?" Vivian nodded and Judy sighed. "I had to use some Scent-Mask this morning before school and went a little overboard with it. My hormones where acting up and I didn't want to go to school smelling like...smelling like that," Judy said softly.

Vivian looked down at the doe as they walked to where Judy could hear could hear faint singing coming from. "Are you feeling alright now dear?" Vivian asked quietly with a touch of worry in her voice. She and Bonnie have had many long talks over the years while sharing a bottle of wine at home or drinks in town. A few of those talks touched on the unique difficulties that does and vixens faced that bucks and todds didn't have to worry about themselves. One in particular had been Bonny's worry about Judy not being able to tolerate hormone suppressants and what she would have to do to keep her hormone levels in check. Putting a paw on her shoulder again Vivian stopped walking towards where the singing was echoing down the halls still to faint to hear more then the odd word or two. "You can go to your room in the Den to...relax if you need to."

Judy shook her head her ears flopping side to side. "I'm fine Mrs. Wilde. I got that out of my system this morning after my run."

Different emotions flickered through Vivian's eyes as she thought about how Nick had been over breakfast and realized how much Judy's pheromones must have affected him. "Perhaps just a hot shower than so you can finish warming up. You looked so cold when you walked into my office." Vivian watched Judy pick at the strap of her duffel bag thinking. "You would have a chance to get settled and unpack before dinner." Vivian was worried. If Judy's scent had effected Nick so much earlier how would he react to her complete lack of scent now. Would he see it as her trying to hide from him or would he realize just why she needed to use the Scent-Mask in the first place.

"Ummm..." Judy said biting her lip in thought. Both Gideon and Vivian where trying to tell her something. Had it been one or the other she might have dismissed it as a personal preference but with two of them making a point of pointing out her lack of scent she couldn't just ignore it. "Yeah a hot shower dose sound good right now." She glanced between where the faint whispers of singing where coming from and back in the direction of the Den. "Okay. I guess I will head to my room to drop off my bag and then hit the showers for a quick one."

"Take your time dear," Vivian said relaxing since Judy hadn't asked any questions as to why it would be good for her to get rid of the excess Scent-Mask. "Nick had plenty of work to keep him busy and he hasn't dropped off any new paperwork about which kegs are which for me so there is still that to do."

"Okay Mrs. Wilde...do you want me to start on dinner if you two are not back when I am done with my shower?" Judy asked.

"Oh you don't have to do that dear..." Vivian started.

"I don't mind," Judy said with a smile, "I am not exactly a guest since I have my own room here and it wouldn't be the first time I've helped with dinner."

Vivian chuckled and waved her paws in defeat. "You have me there dear. You know where everything is. I didn't have anything in particular in mind for tonight so feel free to start whatever you want."

Judy gave Vivian a quick hug then started to run back to the Den. "I'll have something started by the time you get back!" She called over her shoulder before she got very far.

Vivian watched Judy go and smiled before turning and continuing to the room where it sounded like Nick was singing along to something he was listening to. The occasional grunt of effort and clang of metal interrupted his singing. It took her some time before she was close enough to began hearing more then echos. When she reached the door where they store the kegs under the loading warehouse there was a longer pause as one song ended and another began.

[AN: The song is Judy, Judy, Judy by Johnny Tillotson released 1963. I gotta thank the the search engine gods for this one as its not a song I would have known without them. Not really my type of music but it fits a little too well here not to use. Minor edits to the song to replace word that fit better in Zootopia e.g. Paws and doe.]

"Judy's got the lips I love to kiss...And when she walks she's got the cutest twist...She's grown up before my eyes and all at once I realize...Judy, Judy, Judy I love you."

Vivian froze as she heard Nick sing. There was no hesitation on the lyrics like he had sung it a hundred times and every line was etched on his heart.

"Judy's got the paws I love to touch...The way she wrinkles her nose, it's just too much...No more shirts and bright blue jeans, all at once she's..."

Vivian took a few steps in the room and watched as he grunted though moving a keg off of a cart and into line with a dozen others interrupting his singing. He picked up a clip board as he stared singing again and made a note on it before going back to the cart to get another keg.

"I'm prayin' I'll stay in her heart for evermore...'Cause she's the doe I've dreamed of, that I've been waiting for...Judy's gonna share my life some day...And in my heart I know she's gonna stay...When I look into her eyes I just can't help but realize...Judy, Judy, Judy I love you."

Vivian had to hold a paw to her mouth to keep from making any noise. She doubted that Nick could hear her even if she did with the pair of headphones firmly tucked in his ears. Still she didn't want him to notice her and stop.

"I'm prayin' I'll stay in her heart for evermore...'Cause she's the doe I've dreamed of, that I've been waiting for...Judy's gonna share my life some day...And I'll be true to her in every way...When I look into her eyes I just can't help but realize...Judy, Judy, Judy I love you."

He stopped working and stared off into space for a moment before speaking the last line instead of singing it. "Judy, Judy, Judy," Nick sighed and all but whispered, "I love you..." He shook his head slightly trying to clear his thoughts and went to get the last keg on the cart. As he tried to get a grip on it to move he noticed it would be easier to move if he turned around and grabbed if from a different angle. Doing just that he grabbed it and lifted it slightly. Looking up to make sure the way was still clear he noticed his mother standing there. Tears in her eyes and paws in front of her mouth. Slowly he leg the keg drop back to the cart and reach up to take out his headphones. "Ummm...how long have you been standing there?"

"Oh Nicky," Vivian said running over and pulling Nick into a hug.

"Mom," Nick said trying to brake the hug only for Vivian to squeeze tighter. "Mom!" Nick managed to squirm enough to free one of his arms and twist around in her hold so her paws where on his chest instead of his back. He grabbed onto Vivian's clasped paws and tried to pry them apart, "MOM! Let go! It's getting hard to breath!"

Finally she let go. "Oh Nicky...why don't you just tell her?" She was staring to calm down. The tears had stopped at least.

"That long huh..." Nick whispers taking a step back and leaning against the cart. He rubbed the fur on the back of his neck as Vivian watched him. He sighed and dropped his paws. "It's just a song mom. I heard it a few years ago and just liked it. If you had come in fifteen minutes ago you would have heard a stirring rendition of 'Another One Bites the Dust' but that doesn't make me a hit-mammal."

"So Judy doesn't have lips you want to kiss," Vivian said with a knowing smirk, "And I know I've caught you watching her cute little 'twist' when you walk behind her."

"Mom!" Nick said as red heat flared in his ears and his tail twitched to cover himself up. "I haven't watched...! I mean I don't...!"

"You are normally better with words then that Nicky," Vivian laughed. "So what's turning your silver tongue to lead? Someone you loooove."

Nick closed his eyes and covered them with his paws rubbing them trying to buy himself some time. "Can we not do this right now mom. Judy will be over anytime and I would rather not have her hear...this. If this was a bad movie or cheesy romance novel she would be standing behind me right now."

"Judy is already here," Vivian said with a grin as her tail started to wag, "Came down the elevator with me actually." Nick's ears pinned back and he pales as he slowly turned around to look behind him. "She decided to head to the Den for a hot shower to warm up from the walk from school rather then see if you where done working for the day."

"Thank the Trickster for small favors," Nick muttered flicking two of his claws on his left paw against each other to make a clacking noise in a sign of respect for the Trickster. "One last keg to move mom. All of the transfer tubing is soaking and the storage tanks have already been rinsed out. I can do the scrub down tonight..."

"No Nicky I'll take care of that tomorrow. You and Judy haven't had a chance to spend much time together recently," Vivian said waving her paw. "Get that last keg in place and give me the paperwork so I can run it up to the office while you go take a shower. As long as you take in there Judy and I may have already finished making dinner by the time you are out."


Judy stood underneath the flow of hot water from the shower head. She had already scrubbed and shampooed her fur back to normal removing the last trace of Scent-Mask from it. Her eyes closed she let out a contented sigh. It was bliss to just be able to soak in the warmth from the water. No line of sisters telling her to hurry up or to save hot water for the rest of them. No having to shove her way though the crowd to get to her clothes stuffed into a random empty locker. No sisters trying to strike up conversations in nothing but their fur. Still habit won out in the end and with a quick twist of the knob the flow of water shut off long before she would have liked it to.

Stepping out she used a towel to get the bulk of the water off then indulged in another luxury that her time at the Wildes provided her. A medium mammal sized fur dryer station. Normally that would be overkill in terms of size for foxes but with as much fur as they had a small model would take three times as long to help them dry. It wasn't practical for her parents to buy and install enough of even the small sized fur dryers for the Warren but when she came over here she always took the chance to use it even if her shorter fur didn't strictly need it.

Still warm from the shower and the fur dryer she wrapped herself in a towel and slipped into a robe before leaving the bathroom and darting to her room. It really was her room and not just a guest room she used often. After the first year of her and Nick's friendship, and catching the two of them curled up together more than once, Vivian and Johnathan had told her to pick out one of the rooms for herself in their Den. She found one she liked a few doors down from where Nick had ended up settling in at. It was bigger then the room she had back at the Warren even if had all the same furniture. Bed, desk, nightstand, and dresser where all their they where just...bigger.

The bed was almost too big for her and always felt empty even after Nick had filled it with stuffed animals he won regularly from the fair and its carnival games. She grinned at the near life-sized stuffed cartoon fox that curled around the pillow on the bed he had gotten at the last Carrot Festival. The carnival workers knew Nick so well at that point they just handed it him before he could even put his tickets down with the promise that he wouldn't try for anything else that year. He had taken that deal and used the extra tickets he had to treat Judy to extra carnival rides.

Slipping into a set of comfortably worn blue carrot pattered pajamas Judy left her room and heading towards the kitchen. It was a little early for pajamas but she wasn't planning on leaving the Den for anything else today. She paused at the door she knew was Nicks and listened with her ear pressed to the door. Very faintly she could hear the sound of running water. Nick's room for all it being similar to hers in size had one extra unique feature the other rooms in this hall did not have. His own private bathroom. It wasn't anything fancy and much like the one in the hallway but it let him avoid running around in just a towel when it was time to get back to his room.

Continuing on assured that she would have plenty of time to get dinner ready for the foxes who constantly welcomed her into their Den with open arms. The kitchen was quiet when Judy entered and started to pick though the fridge and cabinets trying to get an idea on what to make. She eyed the packages of wrapped meat that sat in the far corner of the walk-in her nose twitching all the while. Over the years she had grown use to watching predators eat meat but a deep part of her mind still remained unsettled about it. Stealing her nerve she grabbed enough of the packaged chicken for the three foxes.

Turning the carefully wrapped meat in her paws Judy thought over everything that Vivian had taught her about cooking when she lent a paw helping. Not being able to eat meat herself she either needed to make something that the meat could be added to or something else entirely for herself. She paused turning the package in her paws as her thoughts stuck on the perfect thing to make. Running about she gathered up everything else she would need and fished out a large and small wok from the cabinets.

The woks went on the stove to heat as she pulled a step-stool up to a nearby work station so she could work at the higher counters without worry. Using a cutting board lined in red and a knife with the same color on the handle she quickly cut the chicken into thin strips. Setting that aside she pulled another green colored set of knifes and cutting board she made quick work of the pile of vegetables she had pulled from the walk-in.

"Ah so it will be a sir-fry tonight then," Vivian said leaning against the counter. She had walked into the kitchen a while back and just watched for a few moments as Judy went about the task of preparing food of feed everyone. It was far more then a guest would be expected to do in a fox Den. It was more of what one would expect from a visiting member of the foxes clan to help with. Or a mate from outside of the clan.

Judy jumped in surprise not having heard Vivian enter the kitchen. Thankfully she wasn't chopping anything at the time and saved herself from an accidental cut. "If that's okay?" Judy said looking over at the older vixen. She frowned slightly when she took a good look at Vivian. If she didn't know better she would have thought that she had been crying but her tail wouldn't quit wagging as she watched Judy go about the kitchen making dinner. "I haven't started cooking anything yet so there's still time to change it."

"No dear a stir-fry sounds wonderful," Vivian said glancing over at the already cut up meat. "Would you like me to take over on the meat?"

"Ummm..." Judy said looking down. "If its alright...I would like to make it all myself tonight. I don't get much practice cooking predator food." Looking back up her eyes firmed. "Please. It's not much but it's the least I can do to repay you for all you have done for me over the years."

Vivian gathered Judy into a hug and held tight. "Judy dear...any debt you feel you owe us had already been payed by just you being here. Our Den is always open to you as you already know. You are family is all but name or blood. You are like the daughter I never had."

Judy hugged Vivian back as a single tear tried to push its way past her tightly closed eyes. The hug felt filled with as much love as any hug she had shared with her own mother. "Sorry...onions," she whispered before pulling back and wiping at her eyes, "Now scoot I have work to do." She smiled as she parroted back the same phrase she had heard from Vivian any number of times when the vixen was trying to work without someone get under paw.

Vivian laughed recognizing her own words being used against her. "Alright. Alright. I know when my help isn't wanted. I'll go set the table. But if you need anything just holler."

"I will Mrs. Wilde," Judy said turning back to keep chopping focusing on making a wonderful meal for the Wildes who treated her as one of their own. She didn't see Vivian's tail pause as it looked like she was going to say something else or the slight shake of her head as her tail resumed its wagging as she stepped away to gather the dinnerware. Focused as she was she didn't even hear Vivian mumble under her breath, "Maybe one day soon I will be able to call you my daughter in truth."


Three foxes and one bunny sat around the table happily eating and talking. The elder Wildes sitting next to each other on one side and Nick and Judy sitting together on the other. Johnathan had gotten home the same time Nick had wondered out of his shower. Neither had long to wait to eat after the sizzle and smell of the food drew them into the kitchen. Judy looked quite proud as both of the todds had complemented on the food to Vivian only to be told the most she had helped with was carrying the finished food to the table. When Nick had finished his food and asked for a second helping the proud look had turned to smug as the young rabbit happily dished up another plateful for Nick.

"...so we should expect someone tomorrow to pick up the order." Johnathan said leaning back in his chair rubbing his stomach appreciatively with one paw while the other held a tumbler he took the occasional sip from. None of the bottles of the first five year whiskey cask they had opened had gone to the distributor. Most had become gifts to those who had helped in the Wildes success and a few bottle from every cask opened since stayed in the Den's private reserve. "With it being a rush order for the solstice they cannot wait for the next normal delivery after the New Year."

"Do we know who is coming and if they are staying?" Vivian asked. Her own plate was empty and she took a sip from a wine glass. She looked at the glass and frowned then swirled the contents unhappily. It had been a bottle she had had bought and shipped in from Zootopia with one of their supply shipments. Despite everything and all the berries they where getting out of their land now she had not yet made her own blackberry wine in any large enough batch to last long. Not that her habit of sharing what little she made with Bonnie helped keep any in her reserve. With a sigh she made a mental note to see about making an entire tanks worth the next blackberry harvest. At least then by next year she wouldn't have to stoop to buying it when everything needed to make it was already in her paws.

Johnathan took a sip and set his glass down carefully to avoid anything from sloshing out. "It's just a pick up my love. No unexpected guests will be showing up for lunch or staying so nothing to worry about."

Vivian relaxed. She did not mind the occasional visit from members of the Family but she hated the short notice they often received about them. The worst had been when Fru-Fru and Grand-mama had arrived unexpectedly and stayed for a week the summer before last. Officially it was so Fru-Fru could learn about one of the businesses that her father was invested in. Unofficially Grand-mama had whispered to the elder Wildes one night after everyone else had been asleep that there was rumblings in the underworld from an upstart gang that Mr. Big wanted his daughter far away from until it was handled. They where told no more and asked no questions. They had watched the news coming out of Zootopia carefully for a few weeks after they left but either it was handled without bloodshed or no evidence had been found. With a final shake of her head Vivian started listening to the conversation Nick and Judy where having.

"Ugh," Nick said setting down his fork from his third helping, "No more of your delicious food Carrots. I am going to roll away from the table at this point."

"Well you didn't have to take it as a challenge when I said there was going to be left overs," Judy said smiling picking at the few bites still left on her plate. She had stopped at two small helpings.

Vivian gave Johnathan a look that said 'trust me and play along' and cleared her throat. "Well Nicky if you ask nicely I am sure Judy will help roll you away from the table so the two of you can do whatever you where planing on doing tonight. Johnathan and I will take care of the dishes. You two have fun."

"Okay!" Judy says stuffing the last couple of bites into her mouth before hopping off her chair. Grabbing a paw-full of Nick's shirt she dragged him out of the kitchen. "Come on Slick. With your help I should be able to get my homework done tonight and then we will have the rest of the break to relax!"

As Nick's halfhearted complaints about being dragged around faded Johnathan turned to his mate and raised an eyebrow. "Alright my love what is going on?" Vivian grins as she tells her mate everything that has happened since he left for his shop in the morning.


Nick's tail twitched idly as he lay on the sofa reading over the notebook that Judy handed him after she had ran back to her room to get her backpack a few hours ago. Occasionally the pen he was twirling in his paw would stop and he would scribble on the paper. Judy's ears would swivel around anytime she heard the noise of the pen scribbling away. He had been making a lot of scribbling noises. Closing her eyes and rubbing her face with her paw tiredly she leaned back. "Okay Slick. How bad is it really?"

Nick looked over and curled his body slightly around the rabbit that was using him as a backrest. "Well it's not terrible..." he started to say.

"Then why have you been scribbling on it so much," Judy snapped. Wordlessly Nick handed the notebook back to her. Looking down she saw only a paw-full of marks on the report itself and nearly the entire margin filled with idle doodles. "Really?" She asked looking up. The doodles where rough cartoon bunnies and foxes waving swords around at a swarming hoard of bouncing blobs with eyes.

"I know. I know. It isn't my best work but in my defense I only have the one pen and it doesn't have a very fine point for detail," Nick said with a grin holding his paws up in surrender in an attempt to placate the bunny. "Ouch!" Nick cries out when she punches his arm. Hard. "Police brutality!"

"Nope just brutality," Judy says with a grin. "I'm not a cop yet Slick."

Nick kept rubbing his arm. "Still you should break that habit before you get your tin star."

"Bronze shield," Judy said wiggling her body back so more of her was pressed up against Nick. "Seriously though. How was it?" She leaned her head back and let her ears drape over Nick.

"It was good Carrots. Your perfect grades are safe for another history report at least. Hell you could probable sit for the test and get your diploma early of you wanted." Nick said reaching over and scratched near the base of one of Judy's ears.

"Nick?" Judy whispered.

"Hmmm...?"

"You and Meadow will be taking the test after the brake right?" Judy asked while absentmindedly leaning into the scratching.

Nick stopped scratching Judy's ears much to her disappointment and started to scratch his own ears. "Yeah a few weeks after the brake is over. We gotta go into Zootopia for that. Not exactly looking forward to going back there."

"I wish I could come with you," Judy said sighing. "I still haven't been to the city."

"Well...my mom is going with us so she can play chaperon," Nick said reaching back down to scratch Judy's ears again. "You could always ask her and your folks if you can come too."

"Maybe I will," Judy muttered relaxing against Nick as his claws continued to scratch along her ears. "So when you pass..."

"'If' I pass," Nick corrected with a bitter chuckle. "With my luck the proctor will hate foxes and 'lose' my and Meadow's answer sheet or the 'stolen' answer key will just 'happen' to be mixed in with one of our papers."

"When you pass," Judy insisted glaring at Nick, "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know...mom will probably take us out somewhere fancy to celebrate," Nick said with a shrug. "Dad's been trying to be subtle about getting my measurements for a new suit."

"No," Judy says shifting so she was laying down then turned so they where chest to chest. Carefully she used a combination of Nick's shirt and her toes to pull herself up so they where eye to eye. "I mean what are you going to do. You'll have your diploma. You could easily emancipate yourself after that. You could leave and start your own life."

Nick stared at Judy. She hadn't let go of his shirt while she talked. "I don't plan on going anywhere Judy." Nick shifted so he could wrap an arm around the her and draw her into a hug. "Everything I want is here right now. I figured I would keep working for my mom for the next couple of years. Maybe see if I can take a few collage classes or at least get the books and give myself a head start. I'll need it if I want to keep up with you at the Academy."

"The Academy?" Judy asked pushing against his chest and breaking the hug so she could stare at him.

"Yeah the Police Academy," Nick said with a smirk, "You know that place you have been dreaming of going to since I've known you. From what I've read its kinda hard to be a cop in Zootopia without going though it."

"You...you want to go to the Academy with me?" Judy said quietly not trusting herself to speak any louder.

"Well it would be a shame to let all those early morning runs go to waste," Nick chuckled reaching up to scratch her ears again. "And all those study sessions we've done with procedure and law. If we get though the rookie period alright we could probably request to be partners. Less equipment they would need to modify if the first fox officer and the first bunny officer where working together."

"I can just see it now Nick," Judy hummed pressing her face close against his neck as she launched into another hug. She smiled into his fur at another thought, "I guess that means there wouldn't be any more study session with you and Meadow after this."

Nick shifted uncomfortable trying to loosen the bunny necktie he was now wearing. "Easy up there Carrots I still need to breath." Judy loosened her grip only slightly but it was enough for Nick to draw a fuller breath then he could before. "I haven't given that much thought but I will probably still head up to the Hoods. Maybe not as often as I did when we needed to study but still often enough I guess."

"Why?" Judy asked as her heart felt like someone was squeezing on it. "What could you need to do with her once you both have your diploma?"

Nick frowned. He wasn't blind and knew the doe and the vixen didn't get along. Whenever they where forced to be around each other, usually with Nick caught in the middle, it often felt like the temperature wherever they happened to be dropped several degrees. He could never point to one thing though and say that is why they don't like each other. Every year it just seemed like they would grow colder as little thing like running late from visiting one would upset the other. He was only one todd though and couldn't be everywhere at once. "Beside that I am one of the few friends she has and her parents give my family a little discount for me helping out with their chickens?" He could feel more then see Judy nod wanting a more solid reason. "I don't know," he sighed, "I feel a little freer up there. It's a nice break from the day to day you know. It give me a chance to relax running around with the wind in my fur and talking with other foxes besides my family."

Judy let go and turned around so Nick couldn't see her face. "The view must be nice too..." Judy muttered crossing her arms to keep from touching Nick. Her happy mood from a moment ago soured. The heat that had been quietly building in her was quenched quickly like it had been dunked in ice water as a voice whispered in the back of her mind about young foxes frolicking together their bare fur caressed by the wind.

"The view is nice. Its relaxing after all the physical stuff we do," Nick said thinking of the lush trees and greenery of the Hood's property that dozens of years worth of chicken manure had strengthened. Of the sun filtering though the trees taking on a green shade while he laid in a quiet glade surrounded by the sound of nature after a couple of laps around the track or a long day working with the apple press.

Judy sat up abruptly at that. With a hop she was off the sofa and tucking everything back in her backpack. "It's late. I'm going to bed," Judy said not bothering to turn around as she slung her backpack over a shoulder and walked away. She didn't respond to the confused good night that Nick said as she disappeared down the hallway. She did not sleep well that night as she curled up in her bed. Her dreams kept going to where she forced her mind away from when she was awake. To foxes on the forest floor oblivious to the outside world and a doe watching them with tears in her her eyes as they frolicked in...physical bliss.

"Hey Judy," a soft voice called out as the knocking woke her from unpleasant dreams. "You up?"

"Ugh...go away...five more minutes..."Judy mumbled sleepily trying to burrow deeper into a nest of her blankets. She had pushed the stuffed fox plushy away to the end of the bed in the middle of the night when she woke to find herself clinging to it.

"That's normally my line Carrots...are you decent?" Nick called though the door only to hear a soft thump of one of the stuffed animals hitting the door. "Well one stuffed animal for yes I guess but just in case," he said opening the door and walking in with a paw over his eyes. Due to that he missed the bloodshot amethyst eyes glaring at him from a gap in the mound of blankets. With the free paw held in front of him he slowly shuffled to the bed blindly. Felling for an empty space he sat down. "Okay what did I do last night to have you run off and give me the cold shoulder?"

"...nothing. I was just really tired all of the sudden," Judy muttered blinking slowly at the sight of Nick in just his running shorts and sleep matted fur. "You can look you know. Its not like I sleep in just my fur."

Nick opened his paw so one eye was visible and it darted around checking to make sure it was safe to look with both eyes before he lowered his paw. He looked at the stuffed fox half hanging off the foot of the bed then to the nest of blankets that seemed to grow a set of ears as Judy shifted around. He waited until her head had poked out of the top of the nest before talking. "Somehow I don't believe that Carrots but if you don't want to tell me that's fine." He reached over but hesitated for a moment before placing his paw on her shoulder and giving it a light squeeze. "If you change your mind that it's not nothing I'll promise I won't laugh..." he smirked and couldn't help but add "...much." He had to rub his shoulder as a lightning quick rabbit fist flashed out of the nest and tagged him hard.

"Jerk," Judy said laughing. "Now get out so I can change. I need my future partner in tip top shape 'Officer' Slick."

"Yes 'Officer' Carrots ma'am," Nick said snapping off a quick salute and headed out the door as Judy pulled herself completely free of the blanket nest. "Joking aside you know you can tell me anything right Judy?" He said hesitating at the door.

"I know Nick," Judy said as her ears drooped down against her back. "Its nothing really...just me being an overly emotional bunny."

"If I can help..." Nick started but slumped as Judy shook her head slowly.

"I'll be okay Nick. A run will help clear my head." She looked up with a sad smile as Nick nodded and closed the door. Slowly she got ready by pulling on the sweat pants and hoodie she would need to stay warm outside in the snow. Stepping out she didn't see Nick in the hallway. Peaking inside his open door she saw him sitting on his bed reading the label on a pill bottle before shaking one out and swallowing it down. "What you got there slick?"

He grimaced at the taste of swallowing it dry but didn't want to add too much water to his stomach before the run. "Hormone suppressant," he shrugged and set the bottle back on the nightstand and stood slowly stretching his arms as they walked to a side door, "Had to start taking them yesterday."

"Why yesterday?" Judy questioned as they stepped outside and shivered in the cold. She envied not having the thick warm fur that Nick had. "I thought your mating cycle started a few weeks back?"

"Awww Carrots I didn't know you liked me that much to pay attention to my seasonal problem," Nick chuckled teasingly as thankful for being slightly ahead of Judy helping brake a trail though the deepening snow. She couldn't she his ears turn a little red as Judy was glad that he couldn't see his ears burn red. "I don't know. It just got really hard to keep it in check after the run yesterday. I kinda yelled at my mom I was wound so tight..." he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment as they started to go from a fast walk into a slow jog.

"Oh," Judy said. "So they are working for you."

"Yeah they help a lot right now. No worse then being a teenage male during the rest of the year now," Nick glanced back and slowed slightly so he was running at Judy's side instead of slightly ahead of her. "Speaking of I should have said something yesterday Judy..." Judy had to concentrate to avoid stumbling over her feet thinking he was going to bring up how aroused she had been after he had his paws all over her. "I was kinda a creep and scented you when we where stretching. Sorry if I freaked you out or anything. You took off pretty quick after I did."

Judy was silent for a few minutes as they ran thinking. She was well aware how bad runaway hormones could get and some of the embarrassing things she had thought about and had done when they had overcome her. The dream she had woken up to the day before came rapidly to mind. She also wondered if she had anything to do with how wound up Nick had been. She had been spreading pheromones around thickly that morning or if that was just wishful thinking oh her part. Nick had never asked her out on a date or made a move though. He had always just been a really good friend and a perfect gentle-mammal. Sure a few of his hugs and touches went on a bit longer then just friends normally did but just as often it was her that kept the hug going on longer then it strictly needed to.

When she noticed Nick was looking at her more then the trail ahead of them she let out a huff of air trying to calm her rapidly spiraling thoughts. "It's okay Nick. You know I cannot take the suppressors myself so I know how bad it can be to control that at times. You didn't freak me out. Like I said yesterday I had forgot there was something I needed to do before school."

Nick let out his own huff of air in relief. "Thanks for understanding Judy. Still I am sorry."

"Don't worry about it Slick," Judy said as they crossed over the property line and started on the Hopps loop. "What you should worry about is keeping up!" Judy shouted sprinting forward suddenly gaining the upper-paw and some distance between them.

"Oh you're on!" Nick shouted back putting on more speed but keeping it fair by staying on his hind paws instead of dropping to all fours. They stayed neck and neck as the ran. For a while one would take the lead only for the other to catch up and pass them. Working together they pushed themselves to go longer then they did while running alone. They ended up doing three circuits of the obstacles around the Wilde loop before collapsing in the gazebo. "You...are...going...to be...the...death...of me...Carrots..." Nick panted as he tried to catch his breath while stretching as best he could.

"You...didn't...have to...join...me...on the...third...loop," Judy panted moving though her own series of stretches. Knowing what had happened to her the last time she had Nick's paws all over her and that Nick had to take his suppressors she had opted for solo stretching today.

"Yes I did...what if...you slipped...or got hurt?" Nick countered his breathing coming back under control.

"We've ran this course...hundreds of times...winter and summer...nothing bad has happened...yet," Judy insisted.

"Keyword there is yet," Nick said no longer needing to take a panting breath between words as he finished his stretches. Looking down he frowned and scooped Judy into his arms. Holding her front against the fur of his chest as his tail wrapped around her back like a blanket.

"Hey! I can walk on my own!" Judy insisted as she squirmed in his grip teeth chattering before giving up and tried to burrow into his fur and the warmth she felt underneath. She watched her paw sink though the layers of fur in partial amazement. By the time her paw rested against his warm skin her arm had sunk past her wrist creating the warmest makeshift mittens she had ever had.

"You're shivering and your hands are like ice," Nick said walking quickly to get back inside. He had barely noticed that the snow had been getting worse and the temperature felt like it was dropping while running. Now though he could see even the trail from the side door they had made at the beginning of the run was swiftly filling in by fresh snow. "I think we are going to have to skip the runs for a while." Che couldn't tell if Judy was nodding or just shivering as he shut the door behind him.

Judy expected Nick to set her down when they got inside but instead Nick kept walking towards their rooms. She clutched at him tight as he opened the door to the hall bathroom and stepped into the fur dryer. She felt the warmth seep into her back from the fur dryer on its highest setting and from the front by Nick's own body heat. Nick held her tighter as she started to whimper. It felt like a thousand small needles where stabbing into her as she warmed up. After a while longer it stopped and she pulled her paws from Nick's fur. "Okay you can put me down now," Judy said.

Nick did though not without a fair amount of reluctance and a barely audible whine. "Judy why didn't you say something about being so cold?"

Walking over she spun the hot water knob on the shower until it could no longer move. "Didn't start feeling cold until we stopped running," she said holding her paw under the flow of water testing the temperature as steam started to fill the room. Nodding to herself and making a quick adjustment to the knobs so she wouldn't boil herself alive she grabbed the bottom of her hoodie without thinking and pulled if off over her head. Her ears burned red and she held it to her chest as she heard a choking gasp. She turned at the waist and saw what she feared. She was just about to strip and walk in the shower while Nick was still in the room with her. "Ummm...can I get a little privacy here Slick," she said with a nervous smile.

"Sorry!" Nick shouted and was out of the room so fast Judy wasn't sure if the bang was from the door slamming shut or a sonic boom.


The snow storm had turned into a small blizzard by the end of the day as Judy and the three Wildes all cuddled together on the sofa under a small pile of blankets eating from steaming bowls of vegetable stew. Thanks to most utilities running underground they still had power, heat, and the TV was keeping them all entertained as they ate. "Well this blizzard certainly changes plans," Vivian said putting her empty bowl down on the coffee table next to Johnathan's before leaning back into the pile of mammals.

"At least everything was already closed up," Johnathan said leaning in and pulling his mate closer to him. "And that it was arctic wolves that picked up the order for Mr. Big. With the SUV they had a little blizzard isn't going to stop them from getting back to the city."

"You warm enough Judy?" Nick asked taking her bowl and his and placing it next to his parents. He had been worried about Judy since this mornings run. The worry also kept his mind off the expanse of soft gray fur giving way to the white fur of her chest and belly he had seen.

"It's a bit chilly..." was as far as Judy got before two fox tails quickly fell into her lap with the tip of a third vainly trying to add itself to the pile made by Nick and Vivian. Johnathan being of the other side of Vivian was simply too far away. "Thank you." Judy said carefully snuggling under the tails trying not to pull out any fur.

"It's not trouble at all dear," Vivian said with a smile belaying the significance that three foxes where willing to share their tails with the young doe without a moments hesitation. It took a great deal of trust for a fox to share it's tail with anyone. "Now lets settle in and see if theirs any interesting movies on." The other three rolled their eyes to varying intensities knowing what movies would be considered interesting by the vixen around this time of year. Vivian had kept an iron grip on the remote throughout the afternoon moving from one solstice related movie to another. She ended up finding one about a sheepdog and his pup taking over for Saint Nicholas after the sheepdog had startled him off the roof.

Nick and Johnathan where lightly snoring by the time the second movie in the series about him trying to find a wife while dealing with his now teenage pup being on the naught list was half over. "Mrs. Wilde?" Judy whispered.

"Yes Judy dear? Vivian whispered back while still watching the movie. Vivian loved this time of year and the time she got to spend with her family even if it was something as simple as being cuddled together on the sofa.

"Can I ask you a personal question?" Judy asked looking between the two males and reassuring herself that they where both sound asleep.

"Of course dear," Vivian replied using the remote to raise the volume slightly and leaned in to be closer to Judy when she saw how nervous the doe was.

"Ummm...canyoutellwhenIaminheatbymyscent?" Judy whispered quickly into Vivian's ear.

"I am sorry dear," Vivian said frowning, "That was a little too fast for me to catch."

"Can you tell when I am in heat by my scent?" Judy whispered again slower as well as quieter.

Vivian took a long inhale and tilted her head in confusion. "I am not smelling that on you right now if that is what you are asking dear."

"So you can if I was," Judy said trying to curl into a ball and disappear. Nick gave off a low rumbling growl in his sleep as Judy tried to curl around his tail. His nose turned towards the his tail and sniffed. Subconsciously his mind decided the scent of Judy was an acceptable mammal to have possession of his tail and he relaxed. Absentmindedly Judy started to run her paws though his tail and he let out a sleepy purr.

Vivian watched the doe and her sleeping son for a long minute. Had Nick not been completely comfortable with any of the scents in the room or his tail being touched he would likely had woken up snapping his teeth at whoever was doing it. "Yes dear foxes can. Likely better then any buck would," Vivian said honestly.

"Do you think that a fox would react to...to rabbit pheromones like they would to another foxes?" Judy whispered as her ears burned red.

"It would depend on the todd...or vixen on how much they would react," Vivian said quietly. She sighed and looped and arm around Judy and pulled her into a side hug. Looking over at Nick Vivian frowned trying to decide if she should say anything more. "Myself, Johnathan, and nearly every other mate-bonded fox, if we knew what we where smelling, wouldn't make more then a note of it like if we saw someone wearing a certain color shirt. A todd, like Nick for for example, who had yet to mate-bond would likely react to the pheromones of any potential mate he found attractive regardless of species. Increasingly so this time of year."

"Oh," Judy said her paws halting in Nick's tail as her ears twitched. "I guess that is why you don't let Nick go over to see Meadow this time of year." Nick's purring trailed off as Judy's paws stopped and a slight frown formed on his face as he slept.

"Its true. Marian and I do keep a close eye on those two this time of year," Vivian said with a shrug deciding to give Judy a nudge in a different direction then the doe seemed to be going down. "Meadow was the first in season vixen Nicky was around that wasn't mate-bonded when he went into season himself. It created a very instinctual bond between the two that is hard to break and they have known each other nearly as long as you and he have. If they both wanted that instinctual bond to be a romantic bond instead of instinct driven lust I doubt Marian and I could stop those two from finding a way to be together in season or out."

"Huh?" Judy's ears perked up.

"Foxes are quite picky about our mates dear," Vivian said reaching over and scratching under Johnathan's chin until he started purring in his sleep like Nick had while Judy petted his tail. "Unlike what most tend to think foxes can and will fool around with anyone they choose to if the mood strikes them until they find someone who they believe could be their mate. If the one they feel is their mate feels the same they are bound once again mind, body, and soul."

"What do you mean by once again?" Judy asked in curiosity. She had never thought to ask these types of questions before and as a species foxes where notorious for their secrecy letting little of their culture be recorded or shared.

"'Until death do you part' doesn't apply to mating-bonds between foxes dear," Vivian smiled. "If you believe some of the old stores a mating-bond last lifetimes with every reincarnation of the twos spirits just renewing the bond in their own lifetime. Once a pair is mate-bonded they stay monogamous until the next life." Vivian tilted her head and added with a frown, "Well there those who will seek companionship if their mate dies but I have never heard of a widow or widower bonding a second time."

"...what happens if the person they think is their mate doesn't feel the same?" Judy asked as she started to pet Nick's tail again. The purring resumed and the frown on his face turned into a happy grin.

"Depending on how strongly they felt about the mammal being their destined mate," Vivian said quietly, "Anything from moving on and looking for another potential mate to...hastening their journey to the next life." Judy's paws jumped to her mouth to hold back the noise of her gasp. Vivian looked Judy straight in the eye, "A truly heart broken fox has nothing left to loose in this life. It is not a fate I would wish on anyone to have your heart crushed by the one you love." Judy could only nod as the movie played on and she ran her paw's though Nick's tail. At the moment she couldn't think of anything else to ask.


AN: Well that was a pretty rapid turn around from the last main story chapter update some of you might be saying especially considering the two side stories got an update too. Well it was and it isn't likely to happen again anytime soon. When COVID started I had a pretty good sized pile of time off saved up. Unfortunately not all of it will carry over to next year so it's use it or loose it time and with many things still closed, limited entry, or just plain too risky I needed to burn a week of time. Low and behold the stars aligned and it was a pretty good relaxing and muse filled week. A few days of rain and cool weather had knocked the smoke out of the sky and helped in wildfire containment.

I did forget to say last chapter that Bucky (feel free to refer to him as Incredibly Stupid Asshole as I often do in my head) did make an non-credited appearance back in chapter 4 during the fight between Gideon and Nick. I have a pretty good idea on how to work that into the story near the end of part one so it officially ties up that loose thread but just wanted to announce that little tidbit before hand. He was never just a random add.

Alright so now we have two hormone crazy, mood shifting teenagers who have the hots for each other pretty much snowed in a big house with only two adults to keep an eye on them asking questions. Add in that the adults watching them don't seem to mind that that those two may get together and what could possibly go wrong? Or another way to look at it what could possibly go right. MWAHAHAHAHA