Thanks go to the following reviewers: Sapperjoe85, aomagrat, DeadDireWolf, GhostWolf88 (AO3 and FNN), yoshifan30, Spectra98, x_uve, Tarathiel, DarthChew

LETTERS AND WILLS

The day after Viola had passed, Nick began to sort through her possessions. It had only been a week since Nick had arrived in Zootopia, but that week felt like a lifetime ago. Preparing himself, he went into Viola's bedroom to find her diary, which he knew would contain the information he needed to start getting things in order. In particular, he was looking for her solicitor's contact details, so he could inform them of Viola's passing.

For a moment, Nick's eyes were fixed on Viola's empty bed. He could almost see her still lying there, unmoving, and the thought brought a tear to his eye.

A moment passed by, and a memory returned to Nick.

"Right, you know what this means!" Viola said angrily. She had received a report from school of Nick having caused trouble in his class – yet again. This sort of thing had become more and more frequent since last year, after the Junior Ranger Scout incident.

She stomped into Nick's room, despite his cries for her to stop. Finding his game system on the nightstand, she took it, went into her room, and put it inside the cupboard of her own nightstand. Crossing her arms, she turned her frown on Nick.

"And don't even think of trying to get it back while my back is turned, Mister," Viola glowered. "You know what happened last time you did. You didn't get it back for a whole three weeks. Now, go to your room and think about what you've done!"

"I hate you!" the ten-year-old fox kit shouted, before storming into his room and slamming his door shut.

That nightstand was still here, right where it had always been. Whenever Viola had confiscated something from Nick as a kit, she had hidden it in there. It didn't have a lock, but the fear of his mother's wrath was good enough to dissuade Nick from ever trying to take his confiscated things back.

Nick knelt down and opened the nightstand's cupboard. There was a diary in there, with an envelope taped to the cover. Nick reached inside and taking the diary out. Getting to his feet and sitting on the foot of his mother's bed, the read the front of the envelope: 'To my darling son, Nicholas'.

Nick stared at the envelope for a while, debating whether or not he really wanted to open it. His curiosity won out over his fear of finding out what it said, and he peeled the envelope off and opened it. There was a letter inside, which Nick took and unfolded it. He began to read it:

'Dearest Nicky,

If you are reading this letter, it means that I'm no longer with you. I'll be wherever John is, and I'll be in a much better place.

It also means you finally decided to break my rule about going after something I had put in my cabinet in the hopes that you wouldn't find it. But it's okay, just this once, I'll let it slide.'

As tears started running down Nick's face, he let out a soft chuckle. He continued to read on:

'If, by the time you receive this letter, I wasn't able to persuade you to come back to Zootopia, then I hope you come back at least for my funeral. You'll definitely run into your old mate at my funeral, Judy Hopps, and she is there for as good a reason as you. She has a son. The boy is yours. After you broke up with her, she could not go through the termination and instead chose to give birth to him. He's a lot like how you were at his age, though he has the added stigma of being a fox-rabbit Cross. I've tried to tell him what I know about you, but you know what moody teenagers are like. You were one once. In the end, all I could really do is try to tell him that he had got you wrong. I haven't told you this before, because the responsibility to do so falls squarely on Judy's shoulders, but that's why I tried to get you to come home. By the time you read this letter, however, it will be too late. I don't want you to be shocked or surprised when you come to my funeral.

If you're reading this and you have already returned to Zootopia to say your goodbyes to me, you will probably have already encountered Nicholas, and you already know he is your first son. I'm sorry I never told you, and I really hope that I got to tell you that much, if the cancer didn't eat that far into my memory. That was the reason I was trying to bring you home all this time: I wanted you to meet him and for both of you to take part in each other's' lives.

I hope that, at the very least, I got to meet Robin in the fur. He's always been a sweet child in our Muzzletime calls and letters, but I'd like him to get to know his half-brother too.'

Steadying himself, Nick carried on with the letter.

'If you have found this letter, you will be trying to find my solicitor to inform them of my passing. I have a will, made out at the same time I wrote this letter, so you will need to attend a reading of it. You are the executor of my will. My solicitor is an old acquaintance of ours. I know what you think of the Weaseltons after your run-ins with Duke all those years ago, but there was really no better solicitor than his father, Archie. He still operates out of his office in what's left of Happytown, so he'll be easy to find. You will need to let Judy Hopps know, as the will concerns her and Nicholas as well.

Lastly, know that I have always and will always love you. Even if I can't quite understand the reasons you have lived your life as you have, you are my son and nothing will ever change that.

I may be gone, but I'll always be with you. Look for me in your heart. Be safe. Be well.

Always your mother, Viola Wilde.'

Nick stared at the letter, silent tears rolling down his cheeks. There was something final about reading the letter that made his Mom's death all the more real to him.

The sound of a cough reached Nick's ears and he wiped his tears away before he turned to the doorway. Finnick stood there.

"I didn't hear you let yourself in," Nick said.

"Thought you might want a minute to you'self," Finnick remarked, stepping in to the room. "What you found, Nick?"

"It's…" Nick began, "… personal."

Finnick let out a breath through his nostrils. He hopped onto the bed to sit beside Nick.

"Now you know I ain't one to get sappy or anythin'," Finnick said, "but your Ma loved you. No matter how bone-headed you been these past fifteen years."

"Tell it like it is, why don't you," Nick let out a snuffle.

"What kind of pal would I be if I didn't?" Finnick said. "It's for your own good. I'd have had this chat with you long ago if I'd known Chew Toy kept the kid. Heck, I'da gone out to Mexicat myself and dragged you back."

"Please don't call her that," Nick requested.

"Whatever helps you, Nick," Finnick answered. "Can I ask you somethin'?"

"You're going to anyway," Nick replied.

"You still in love wit' her?" Finnick asked. Nick's eyes darted to Finnick briefly.

"What does it matter?" Nick replied. "Too much time has passed, and too much water has flown under the bridge."

"Your Ma used to tell me that forgiveness comes from a place of love," Finnick replied. "Wise old vixen, she was. She knew you was broken. Still is broken, from where I'm sat. You always tried to get her to go out there, and she always tried to get you to come back. She didn't want your money. She wanted you, home, where you belong."

There was a brief silence between the two, before Finnick spoke up again.

"So, what was in the letter?" Finnick asked.

"Like I said, it's personal," Nick replied.

"Nick, you know your ma was as good as my ma." Finnick said, "We known each other since we were in our teens and no matter what hustles we used to do, your ma always welcomed me in to her home with you. We like brothers. You ever need to talk, I'm here."

Nick let out a sigh through his nostrils. Finnick lost his mother at a young age and was raised by relatives who treated him fairly distantly. Viola was the closest thing to a mother Finnick had, and Viola always rolled out the welcome mat to the fennec. Finnick got off the bed and left the room, leaving Nick alone.

Remembering why he had come in to the room in the first place, Nick folded the letter up, placed it back in the envelope and pocketed it. He opened her diary and flipped through it, looking to find the number for Viola's solicitor. He got off the bed and went back to the living room, finding his phone on top of the table in the middle of the room. He dialled the number.

"Weaselton and Company Solicitors, how may I help?" came a young female voice.

"I need to speak to Mr. Weaselton regarding a client," Nick remarked.

"I'll put you through," the voice replied. The line hung for a moment, before it clicked through.

"Archibald Weaselton speaking," a well-spoken voice answered.

"Mr. Weaselton, my name is Nick Ana… Nick Wilde," Nick said. "I'm the son of Viola Wilde."

"What can I do for you, Mr. Wilde?"

"I need to inform you…" Nick began, but stopped. Even thinking the words had a crushing effect on him. He gathered all his strength to persevere with the task.

"My Mom died yesterday," Nick said finally, in a quiet voice.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Archie gave his condolences. "I believe that she named you as the executor of her will. Is that still correct?"

"Yes," Nick replied.

"I can arrange an appointment this afternoon for a reading of the Will, if that is appropriate," Archie suggested.

"Yes, thank you," Nick agreed.

"Very well," Archie replied. "Come to my office this afternoon, at two o'clock. My condolences, Mr. Wilde."

With that, the line went dead and Nick replaced the phone. He recalled that the letter Viola had left him stated that the Will concerned Judy and Nicholas as well, which meant he would need to speak to Judy as soon as possible. After a quick phone call to Finnick, who agreed to watch Robin, Nick changed into a dark suit and white shirt and set out.

As he arrived in the City Centre, Nick had considered whether it was worth phoning ahead, but he had put aside that notion as it would just waste time. Perhaps it was arrogance on Nick's part, but he suspected that Judy would make an exception for him turning up at Precinct One, particularly because of Viola's death.

What surprised Nick more than anything was how little Precinct One had changed. It stood in contrast to the buildings surrounding it, which had been modernized.

It dawned on Nick that this was another place he had not set foot in for a really long time, yet had changed so little, at least on the outside.

There were cops on the steps that Nick did not recognise. If he had to guess, some of them were mere teens when Nick was still with the ZPD. There were one or two familiar faces not in standard uniforms. Some of them did double-takes when they saw Nick.

"Holy…" Delgato, a lion in a suit remarked in surprise.

"Manes," Nick nodded.

"Nick Wilde, I heard you were back from the dead," Delgato came over. "What brings you out here?"

"A family matter," Nick replied solemnly. "Have you seen Ca… Hopps?"

"She's been up in her office for a while, with Commissioner Bogo," Delgato answered.

"I guess I'll go wait in the lobby," Nick said. He nodded to Delgato and headed inside.

The lobby had been repainted, but almost everything was where Nick remembered it, including the main desk in the centre. And at that main desk, dancing in his seat, was Benjamin Clawhauser, the chubby cheetah who had greeted mammals coming into the Precinct for many years.

"Nice to see for myself that some things don't change," Nick muttered to himself, the corners of his mouth lifting into a slight smile. He approached the desk. Clawhauser seemed to be unaware that he had a visitor. For a moment, Nick leaned on the counter, watching. Then, checking around him, Nick raised his clenched paw and knocked on the desk. Clawhauser stopped dancing and his eyes met Nick's. For a moment, there was silence. Then…

"Oh-Em-Goodness!" Clawhauser squealed. "Nick Wilde has come to visit!"

Clawhauser launched himself across the desk and caught Nick in a tight embrace.

"Spots! Can't breathe!" Nick gasped. Clawhauser let him go.

"Oh, have you missed a lot around here!" Clawhauser began. "Well, you obviously know about your son, and about Hopps being the Chief, but you wanna know a few other things that have happened? Bogo got made Commissioner! And Delgato and Wolfard are lead Detectives now! Oh, there's a lot to fill you in on!"

Clawhauser's face fell slightly.

"Oh, I heard about your poor Mom," Clawhauser said. "I'm so sorry, Nick."

"Thanks, Spots," Nick replied solemnly.

"Are you here to see Chief Hopps?" Clawhauser asked.

"Yeah," Nick answered. "You know, I still can't get my head around that. Her being the Chief."

"Well, I hear she might not be for much longer," Clawhauser whispered.

"She do something wrong?" Nick raised an eyebrow.

"No, no, it's just…" Clawhauser answered. He caught himself, as if a memory came to the front of his mind. "Ah, you're probably better off asking her yourself."

Nick did pick up on Clawhauser's tone, realising he was likely to be more cautious about saying things that might get mammals into all sorts of trouble.

"You know, I fought your corner after you left," Clawhauser whispered. "And I wasn't the only one either."

"Thanks, Spots, it's appreciated," Nick smiled sadly.

"I'll call to let the Chief know you're here," Clawhauser said. He picked up the phone. "Chief? I got Nick Wilde here to see you. Send him up? Okay." Clawhauser hung the phone up and returned his attention to Nick.

"You still know the way?" he asked.

"I was up there enough times," Nick laughed gently. "I think I know the way. We'll catch up another time, Spots."

"I'll hold you to that, Nick!" Clawhauser replied as Nick headed for the stairs that would lead him to the second landing. After climbing, he found the Chief's office. Voices could be heard from inside the office. Nick knocked and the voices behind the door stopped talking.

"Enter," came Judy's voice. Nick opened the door and stepped inside the office. Sat across from Judy was Bogo. He looked much older and more worn than the last time Nick had seen him, but those eyes were still the same, and they told Nick that even though he wasn't in the Chief's position any more, he wouldn't put up with Nick's banter. Instead of a police uniform, he was wearing a suit with a white shirt that was unbuttoned at the collar.

'Nice to see some things don't change,' Nick thought.

"Wilde," Bogo nodded.

"Bogo," Nick nodded in return. Bogo's attention returned to Judy.

"Well, I think we've said all that needs to be said," Bogo got up, straightening his suit out, "If you'll excuse me, I have some wheels that have to be set in motion."

Bogo gave Judy a brief nod, and a brief, pointed stare in Nick's direction, before leaving the office. Judy let out a sigh.

"I've just tendered my resignation as Chief," Judy told Nick.

"Huh? Why?" Nick blinked.

"Here," Judy got down from her chair and passed a letter over to Nick. Opening it, he read it. It was briefer than the one from Viola to Nick:

'Dear Mayor Rhinoheart and Commissioner Bogo,

It is after careful consideration, and with deep regret, that I am resigning as Chief of the Zootopia Police Department, Precinct One, effective immediately. My parting request is that the position be given to Assistant Chief Trisha Fangmeyer, who will make an excellent Chief, and I request demotion to the rank of Lieutenant.

I thank you for your faith in me and for giving me the opportunity.

Yours faithfully,

Chief Judy Hopps.'

Looking up from the letter, Nick gave Judy a slightly puzzled look.

"You must have worked hard to get here," Nick remarked. "So, why are you resigning?"

"Because it's the right thing to do," Judy answered. "I might have gained rank, but I lost part of myself along the way. I forgot that I came here, a long time ago, to make the world a better place… I can't even do that. Along the way, all I've found out is that I'm a horrible friend, and a terrible mother…"

"Hey, hey…" Nick reached a paw out to Judy's shoulder. "You're not a horrible mammal, Judy."

"I am," Judy shook her head in denial., her eyes tearing up.

"No, you're not," Nick affirmed. "Have you made some mistakes along the way? Well, yes, yes you have. A wise mammal once told me we all make mistakes. If you were truly a bad mammal, would you realise you had made mistakes? I don't think so. Nobody bad can admit they were wrong."

Nick sighed wistfully.

"And if you're a bad mammal, what does that make me?" Nick asked. "I only came back to Zootopia in time to see my mother, or what was left of her, fade away. She had been trying to get me back here, and I kept putting it off. Had I come back sooner, I would have known the truth, and I'd have been here while Mom was still here."

"I pushed you away!" Judy protested.

"I walked away!" Nick retorted.

"Because of what I did!" Judy returned.

"Enough!" Nick raised his voice.

Judy stared at the floor, allowing tears to fall again. Nick let out a sigh again and he stared at Judy.

"I didn't come here to argue who was more in the wrong, Carrots," Nick said.

"Why are you here, Nick?" Judy asked.

Nick took a deep breath to steady himself before speaking.

"I found a letter this morning from Ma," Nick explained. "and it told me who would be reading the will. Archie Weaselton will be reading it this afternoon, and you and Nicholas…" Nick said his firstborn's name as though he had never said it before, "need to be there."

Judy looked at Nick, her eyes widened with surprise.

"… why would I need to be there?" Judy asked.

"All I was told was that the will concerns you and our son," Nick replied. "Please, Carrots… please just be there, this afternoon."

As Nick stepped out of the station, he could see Finnick's van pulling up into the parking lot out front.

"What brings you here?" Nick asked as he approached the van.

"'Motional support," Finnick grunted. Nick chuckled, drawing a look of ire from the fennec.

"Don't make me clobber the grievin'," Finnick threatened. "Get in."

Nick did as he was told, clambering into the passenger's side of the van. Robin was sat in the back of the van.

"So…" Finnick began, as he pulled out of the parking lot. "You wanna say what took you so long in there? I begun to wonder if they nabbed you or somethin'."

"No," Nick shook his head. "Let's just get out of here. I've got an appointment with a weasel."

Finnick snorted as he turned off towards Happytown.

That afternoon, Finnick took Nick and Robin to Archie Weaselton's solicitor's firm in Happytown. It was situated in a part of Happytown that had not yet been acquired for redevelopment – much like Wilde and Son's – but unlike most of the buildings in the mouldering area, Weaselton's looked relatively well-kept, even if it did look outdated.

"I'll be waitin' here," Finnick answered as Nick got out of the van.

"Thanks, Fin," Nick nodded gratefully as he headed for the entrance. Opening the door, he noticed a vixen sat at the receptionist's desk. She looked to not even be out of her teenage years, which suggested to Nick that she might be interning with Weaselton.

"Excuse me, I have an appointment with Archie Weaselton. Name of Nicholas Anabel."

The vixen stared up at Nick, then began typing away at her computer.

"Yes," The vixen said, indicating down the short hallway behind the desk, "He's in Office Two on the right side."

"Thanks," Nick said, heading down to the room. He knocked on the door.

"Enter," Came a voice from the other side of the door. Nick opened the door.

"Archie, it's been some time," Nick smiled.

Archibald 'Archie' Weaselton was in his early seventies, but he looked as spry as ever. Unlike his son, not a strand of fur was out of place, and his suit, while looking a little worn, was nevertheless clean. He wore glasses, which was a new thing to Nick.

"How's your son? I haven't seen him since… well, for fifteen years," Nick said.

"In jail, would you believe it," Archie said.

"What did he do this time?" Nick asked.

"The usual," Archie shrugged. "Sometimes I just don't know what to do with that boy," He shook his head. "You didn't come here to hear family stories."

Nick's expression fell.

"No, I did not," Nick agreed. "I'm here to put Ma's affairs in order."

Archie pulled a sealed envelope towards him.

"As the will concerns more than one party, I take it you have informed the relevant parties that they need to be present?"

"I have," Nick nodded. "But before we begin, there's something I want to ask you."

"What would that be?"

Nick breathed in deeply.

"I want to change my name, back to Wilde."

"You were mated, weren't you?" Archie raised an eyebrow. "That's why you changed your name to… Anabel, wasn't it? Why do you want to change your name back?"

"It's not that I want to discard Skye's family name…" Nick said. "Far from it. I want my son… my second son to carry that name on. But… I want to honour Ma. And if that's to be done, I don't want her to die being the last to bear the Wilde name."

Archie considered Nick for a moment.

"That's fair enough," Archie nodded. He opened his drawer and pulled a form out, passing it to Nick. It was a deed poll form for changing his name. Nick knew the process would likely take some time.

"Fill this out and send it to City Hall," Archie remarked.

"Thank you," Nick said, taking the form.

As Nick pocketed the form, a knock came at the door.

"Enter," Archie called. The door opened and Judy and Nicholas stepped inside the office. Nicholas looked like he did not want to be there – a sentiment Nick understood. Judy had changed from her uniform into a dark grey suit.

"Please, sit," Archie indicated to the chairs in front of him. Judy and Nicholas sat in the seats and Archie picked up a paper from his desk.

"As you are all present, I will now proceed," Archie said. "This is the last will and testament of Viola Vivienne Wilde. The majority of her possessions, which includes her apartment at 1955 Cypress Grove Lane, is to be left to Nicholas Anabel, née Wilde. Her life savings are to be invested for her grandson, Nicholas Stuart Hopps. Her final wish was to be buried in the same plot as her late husband, Johnathan Wilde. She also took out a sizeable life insurance policy which should be sufficient to pay for her funeral and burial. Is there any intent to contest the contents of this will?"

There was silence from Judy, Nick and Nicholas.

"Very well, then that concludes this reading," Archie said. He passed the will over to Nick. "As executor, it will be your responsibility to ensure the instructions of the will are carried out."

"I understand," Nick replied. "Thank you."

With that, he got up from his seat. His paw briefly touched Judy's shoulder as he passed her.

The only thing that Nick had left to do was to arrange his mother's burial.

The heaviest chapter so far. The next chapter covers the funeral (which I promise, will be one chapter instead of four). Until then.