Chapter 3 is up :) Here we go, without further ado!

Judy shook her head in disbelief. Though she had to smile at the same time. Internally.

"Weaselton, when will you learn?" she asked the apprehended criminal. The weasel squirmed angrily; the probability of his escaping was close to nil though – Francine, the elephant cop Judy had called in as back-up, had the weasel's front paws clamped in a tight grip behind his back. The thug faced Judy angrily.

"That's 'Duke' for you, furball! Have some respect for noblity!" he spat furiously.

Judy raised one eyebrow at him coolly, unimpressed.

"The term is 'nobility', I believe," she stated. "Now, aside from title considerations, would you kindly care to tell me how you came around having these?"

She indicated the scruffy cardboard box that lay between them on the sidewalk. Some of its contents had spilled on the pavement, when Weaselton had tried to make a run for it upon spotting Judy racing in his direction some fifteen minutes earlier. He had gambled on the wrong rabbit though – she had been spying on him for at least an hour from a safe observation point – a tiny café across the street in busy Savannah Square. She had headed over there following a phone tip received from the aforementioned café's enraged owner. Philius Porcius, the portly pig owner of the 'This Little Piggy' upscale pastry café, had indignantly stated, upon being put through to Clawhauser's reception desk, that a ruffian had set up a make-shift booth in front of his establishment and was luring all the customers away.

"I'll bet you anything he's selling stolen goods!" The pig fumed over the phone. "Do you have any idea how much we pay for a commercial license here in Savannah? I've never laid eyes on this animal before; he can't have any kind of authorization for selling goods in this area!"

"No he can't; he doesn't even know the meaning of the term 'license'," Judy had mused dryly, as she had cautiously peeked out of the café's front window to see whom the offending rule-breaker was. Her wide-brimmed hat was pulled low over her eyes and ears, but she'd adjusted it a bit more all the same – she had been right to change into civilian clothes and head out to check what was happening discreetly, rather than just screeching into Savannah in a police car, sirens blaring. Yes, she had been right – that much was obvious when she saw with amusement that the offender was her already familiar slippery acquaintance.

"Holy cream puffs, what is he dealing in this time?" she had muttered wearily under her breath, as she took her phone out slowly to get the weasel on film. Once she'd recorded enough footage of Weaselton dolling out his merchandise to a family of elegantly-dressed squirrels, she'd simply called Francine to come by and help out. Once the latter had texted her that she was just around the corner – well, it was simply a matter of jump, race across the street, intent on tackling the crook – see him pale upon noticing her, grab his goods and try to make a dash for it – only to run smack into the enormous elephant.

"And all this for.." Judy pushed the cardboard with her toe, before rounding on the weasel in disbelief. "Chocolate? "

She bent over and scooped some of the items out of the cardboard. They appeared to indeed be chocolates – wrapped up carefully in crinkly transparent plastic and tied up with bright paper ribbons, each a different color. The unusual things were the chocolates themselves – each one was delicately shaped and carefully fashioned in the form of one animal or another. Judy held up a minute lion figurine in her paw, before inspecting a small lithe cheetah that appeared to be made out of solid dark chocolate. She smiled a bit, imagining what the real-live cheetah she knew would have reacted like upon seeing these treats.

"Really," she said laughingly, turning to Weaselton, "This is almost cute. I like it more than the illegal DVDs you were dealing in last time."

The weasel spat angrily.

"Don't you try to intimidate me, rabbit!" he hissed. "I demand a lawyer! I know my rights!" he glowered at her impressively, before adding in triumph "I know where my left is too! So there!"

"Funny fellow," Francine remarked, shaking her trunk a bit.

"Oh, he's always been this way," Judy commented absently, ruffling through the box. "There's no receipt in here, no paper or document whatsoever. Come on now Weaselton – or Duke if you prefer – who did you nick this from?"

"My lips are sealed. Literally speaking," the weasel huffed.

Judy rolled her eyes. "Do you know what 'literally' means, your Nobleness?" She turned her attention back to the sweets. "Francine, I've never seen anything like these. I'm no expert, but they all seem to be one-of-a-kind figurines.. they must have been confectioned by some upscale chocolatier… Have you seen any candies like these for sale anywhere in town?"

The elephant shrugged. "Maybe. Not the kind of thing I'd remember, Judy."

Judy resisted the urge to stamp her foot in annoyance. Francine was useful where a large animal was needed to catch a thug – but she was no great thinker, and as for her memory skills.. She rubbed her brow in frustration. What was it with the elephants and holding on to a thought for two milliseconds together? Now, if Nick were here – but he was on cleaning duty. Make that toilet cleaning duty. So here she was, her favorite partner-less.

"Weaselton," she sighed finally. "How about this – you tell me who you took this from, and I'll let you off with a warning for selling food without a merchandising license in Savannah Square. Plus you promise never to do it again." She hated making deals with the animal – but she could hardly hold on to him and drag him back to the station without pinning a clear offence on him. And so far, he had just been selling the things – where was the proof they were stolen? Other than the fact that she knew it to be the truth of course.

The weasel's nose twitched excitedly as he sensed his way out of the scrape. He narrowed his eyes, trying to act clever.

"What if I told you a friend gave them to me officer?"

"I'd say I doubted you had any friends," Judy replied in a bored tone.

The weasel licked his lips nervously, his tiny brain whirring as fast as it could go. Finally he said slowly:

"I might have picked them up on the road.. they'd fallen from a truck, see." He nodded vigorously, pleased at his own story. "That's it. Guy who was unloading them. He dropped the goods, so, good as saying he didn't want them." His ears flicked in excitement. "I just picked them up, rabbit. Big deal, right? A bunch of bonbons." He cackled.

"Who was that guy? Where was the truck parked? Why was he unloading the boxes, where was he bringing them?" Judy shot off, taking her little notepad out.

"It was a fox," Weaselton grinned toothily. "Why don't you ask your red-furred pal if he knows him. They're all on the same page aren't they? Slippery sly foxes."

Judy felt her nose twitch in annoyance. She forced herself to stay calm.

"Details, Weaselton. What else can you tell us?"

The crook twisted in Francine's grasp.

"The fox was bringing 'em into his shop." He thought for a second, his eyes darting around furiously. "Chap had a kind of pie shop. He was putting them chokkies up in the window. Next to them cakes. Make his shop look all classy-like. Cause it looked a tad you know." He racked his brains for the good term, before his face cleared. "UNclassy. That's what it looked like."

Judy stared at him for a moment, nonplussed, before slapping her forehead. A fox working at a pastry store had to be rare enough.

"Weaselton," she said, an angry edge creeping in her tone," Tell me this. This shop, this pastry shop – was it out of town by any chance? Out in the meadows? Not far from Bunnyburrow?"

The weasel stared at her suspiciously, wondering whether it was a trap.

"It might have been," he said finally, testing the waters.

"I don't believe this," Judy pulled her ears in frustration.

Francine looked at her in surprise. "Anyone you know?"

"Yes, I think so. A childhood friend – I mean, he wasn't a friend then, but – long story. Weaselton," she exclaimed agitatedly," How could you steal from Gideon Grey? He probably had to pay a lot for these, they look expensive and paw-made – and you go and grab a whole crate from under his nose-!"

"Deal, deal!" the weasel gabbled hastily, panicking. "We had a deal cop!"

"Oh whatever," Judy shook her head, exasperated." You're just lucky I know whom to return this to now. Francine, write him his warning and let him go, please."

"Sure thing Judy," the elephant replied, as Weaselton huffed happily at the perspective of going free. Judy faced the latter to remind him that he must never be caught selling the chocolates again – then she shrugged. The thug found something new to deal in every single time anyway, she thought cynically, hitching the crate of bonbons up.

"How thoughtful," Nick said happily, as Judy deposited the hefty box on her desk in the small office they shared some time later. He had spotted the shiny wrapped treats through the tear in the side of the crate. "You brought me something from your outing! A reward, seeing as how I've been cooped up playing house-fox in here? You're too kind Carrots." He moved towards the desk excitedly. Judy placed herself between the fox and the chocolates hurriedly.

"Don't you dare, Nick! I already had to sneak this past Clawhauser," she pleaded. "Besides, this is evidence! And I have to bring it back to the rightful owner."

"Really? Do tell," Nick replied, trying to edge past her.

"Yes really!" Judy answered angrily, shoving the box as far away from his reach as she could. "I got it from Weaselton, he was selling these on the street-"

"Carrots, they're shaped as animals!" Nick said excitedly, catching a closer look. His voice became even more animated as he got another glimpse," Look, there's a rabbit-shaped one!"

To Judy's dismay he reached right over her head and grabbed the figurine.

"This is amazing," he said, studying it closely. "These are really well done!" He grinned at her. "You have to let me eat this one at least partner – think of the irony" his shoulders shook with suppressed laugher.

"Nick," Judy squared her shoulders. "One. Put that back. Two. I have every reason to believe that Weaselton snatched these from under the nose of my parents' friend Gideon. Three. I am returning them to him, and if so much as one goes missing – I have them counted, mind you-"

"Gideon?" Nick echoed in surprise. He looked at her for a second, and then his face snapped in understanding. "He's not – that's not the fox that-"

"Yeah, that's him." Judy shivered a bit. She had shared the childhood story with Nick not too long ago, during an unlikely heart-to-heart over some reports they had had to stay late at the office to finish. "He's a great animal though now, nothing like he was when we were kids. He really turned a leaf".

"I don't doubt that," Nick replied, half-ironically and half – well, something she couldn't quite name. The fox tossed the chocolate back in with the rest. "He can have his nibbles, I don't really care for that kind of stuff anyway. Thought you said he ran a pie shop."

"He did," Judy looked at the box and shrugged. "He must have bought these to sell a few and attract more customers."

"Intriguing strategy," Nick commented drily. "One would have thought a more pertinent plan would be to improve the quality of his own merchandise."

Judy looked at him bemusedly.

"Look at you! Criticizing another fox." She giggled.

Nick shrugged, unfazed.

"Not every specimen is superior. Or even up-to-standard, I'm afraid Miss,' he observed, carefully straightening his collar in a gesture of supreme self-contentment. Judy raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed? So what is the superior fox specimen doing tomorrow then? Are you going to be stuck cleaning toilets all day like today?"

Nick eyed her beadily before replying.

"As a matter of fact no – Bogo's letting me off tomorrow morning, I only carry on the cleaning duty during the afternoon for the remainder of the week."

"Oh?" Judy perked up. "That's great; listen – I was thinking of hitting two targets with one shot as they say – I'll have to head out over and return these to Gideon tomorrow – but that's way out of town, close to my parents' farm actually. I figured I'd go and see them tonight actually – have a sleepover at their place and well.. maybe they'll react more favorably to the penthouse idea if I tell them face to face."

"The penthouse part will be fine, I think," Nick scratched his neck in amusement. "The great big fox who's going to be living in the penthouse might ruffle their fur a bit though."

"Nick!" Judy clicked her tongue in annoyance. "That's where you could come in! Literally; I'll go over to their place tonight, I'll take the express – I'll talk to them and sort of butter them up a bit. You can take the car – and the chocolates we're to return to Gideon – and drop by the farm tomorrow morning in time for breakfast! We'll all have a nice chat and they'll be sold on the idea."

Nick considered her words solemnly.

"Did you honestly just say 'butter up the rabbits before they meet the fox for breakfast' Carrots?"

Judy yanked her own right ear in frustration.

"NICK! Stop spouting such atrocities!"

"You said it, I only repeated," he replied, his green eyes gleaming.

"Now you listen to me, Nicholas Piberius Wilde!" She faced him straight on. "You'll be there tomorrow. You will meet my parents. You will behave like a perfect gentleman at breakfast. It's as much for your own good as for mine – they'll never accept the housemates idea otherwise – and they'll badger us half to death if we do buy the penthouse!" She huffed and puffed heavily after her outburst before adding, "Understand?"

"I do," Nick gave her what was obviously meant to be a reassuring wink." I'll be there Carrots, keep your head on. And I will be… on my best behavior."

Judy felt far from reassured.

She felt even less reassured that evening, as she sipped her carrot juice infusion, squeezed on the couch between her Mom, Dad and a dozen siblings all vying for her attention. She could barely get a word in sideways.

"Oh Sweety,' Mrs Hopps was patting her ear fondly. "We never see enough of you. Do we Stu? How lovely of you to pop in."

"Yeah Mom," she smiled warmly at her Mother. "Well, like I told you, it was lucky that this case came up and I have to go over and see Gideon tomorrow to return-"

"Ah, Gideon." Her father nodded in appreciation. "That young fox turned out all right now. When I think of when you were all kids - my little Dreamer here all bent on her big plans-" he reached out and ruffled Judy's fur, before pulling out a huge checkered handkerchief and blowing his nose on it gruffly. "Look at our little girl all grown up!"

"Well," Judy covered her mouth with her paw to hide a minute grin. "You do have two hundred and seventy other kids Dad. So it's not like the burrow's been deserted after I left home."

"Oh Darling," her mother shook her head," It's never the same even when one of our babies leaves home. Stu is perfectly right," she blinked back tears before patting Judy's paw. "We're real proud of you though, living it up there in the big city."

"Thanks," Judy said, touched. She cleared her throat, seeing an opportunity. "Speaking of living in the city-"

"So yes, Gideon," her father was banging his pipe out on the fireplace hearth, not listening. "What's that you're dropping off at his place?"

"Some chocolate figurines that a weasel stole from his shop," Judy replied, fighting to keep the annoyance out of her voice. She had explained the case at least thrice already, but her parents kept drifting off-topic during the conversation. She tried to stay calm though – antagonizing her parents at this point would simply kill any chance of succeeding with the very purpose of her visit, as in dropping the bomb about becoming housemates with a fox.

"Why, those would be Harry's chocolates surely," her mother remarked, taking a sip from her mug.

"Harry?" the name meant nothing to Judy.

"Ah yes," her mother was passing some rice crispy treats to Judy's little sisters. "Gideon has an associate you see Dear – he's displaying some of Harry's chocolates in his store, and Harry will be selling some of Gideon's pies – helping spread business, you know. We met Harry the other day, didn't we Stu?"

"We sure did Bonnie. Fine young man," Judy's father was nodding. "Great animal to go into business with. Sharp chap."

"Is he another fox then?" Judy asked. "Or is he a rabbit?"

Her father bristled importantly. "As a matter of fact he's neither Judes."

"We're taking quite the leaf out of your book my Dear," her mother commented wisely. "We've gone and made a friend of another species too now, haven't we Stu?"

"We're becoming cosmopolitan out here in Bunnyburrow," Stuart Hopps chuckled.

"Wow," Judy felt hopeful. This sounded good for running the real estate project by them. "So this Harry is-?"

Her mother paused for effect.

"A hare," she announced proudly.

Judy waited a beat, while her parents beamed. "Um.. Mom? Dad? Isn't a hare kind of exactly like a rabbit but.. I don't know, just a tad bigger?"

"Now now Judy! It's an entirely different species! There are several marked differences," her father chided her. He took a pull on his pipe. "Can't think of any right now though," he added unconcernedly.

"Right," Judy said doubtfully. She was not sure a hare counted as truly exotic next to a rabbit – particularly when one was about to announce one's plan of moving in with a fox. She put her cup back on the coffee table and pulled her little sister Lily up on her lap, playing for time.

"Harry is a lovely young man," her mother was saying warmly. "And so successful. We hear from Gideon that he'll be moving to Zootropolis soon – his chocolates are becoming so popular that he'll be opening a shop downtown apparently. Imagine!"

"Bunnyburrow youngsters are doing fine for themselves," Judy's father said, beaming at his wife and nodding at Judy.

"That they are," Bonnie Hopps agreed, smiling back at her husband. She then went on to exchange a somewhat significant look with him, before turning in Judy's direction.

"In fact Honey – see, what with Harry moving to Zootropolis and all – well, one thing led to another, and we mentioned you-"

"And your work on the force – he'd seen you in the papers though already. He was quite impressed."

"Yeah right. The Night Howlers' case a couple years' back, of course," Judy said, mystified. She had no clue where her parents were going with this.

"And we said you'd be glad to help him when he moved to the big city. Show him the ropes so to speak."

"Oh! That won't be a problem!" Judy exclaimed. "Sure, if he wants me to give him pointers about life in Zootropolis or-"

"He's been to town already, searching for the good spot to set up his shop. And for a place to live – he told us what a nightmare it was, hunting for a flat-"

"We said it was exactly what you'd told us since you started house-hunting Carrot Cake," her mother nodded emphatically. "See, we do listen to you!"

"And the chap had an interesting idea," her father chuckled. "How'd he put it Bonnie?"

"Oh, his language is very fine," Mrs Hopps bounced a bit in her seat, the way Judy herself did when she was feeling particularly exuberant. "He said it might be a great plan if the two of you pooled your finances and co-purchased a house."

Judy froze in her seat, Lily tugging at her whiskers insistently for attention. She felt as if the very fur was slowly standing on end on the back of her head.

"Um.. co-purchase?" she echoed in a tiny squeak.

"Yes!" Her mother beamed radiantly at her, while her father nodded enthusiastically. "I really think you should consider it Sweety. I mean, you'll want to be settling down someplace, now that you're getting along so well with your job."

"And trust me Judes, you'll be glad you chose a reliable animal for this kind of thing," her father interjected.

"And Harry is as reliable as they get!" her mother trilled. "Nothing shady or doubtful about his business if you ask me!"

"That's for sure," Stu nodded. "Imagine if you found yourself tied up in debt and property ownership with some guy who had a criminal record!" he laughed good-naturedly at his own joke.

Mrs Hopps giggled and waved a paw at her husband. "Oh Stu, you are the limit. Like you could imagine our daughter playing house with some sly ruffian! A criminal record! Indeed!"

Judy couldn't move. She couldn't utter a single word. She just sat there, Lily rocking happily in her lap, completely aghast and fervently thankful for one thing – that Nick had not heard this interaction. This couldn't get any worse, she thought.

It could.

Her mother brushed some crumbs off the tabletop before turning to twinkle at her.

"You could be thinking of your future in more ways than one you know Sweet Pie, if you took this step," she smiled knowingly at Judy, while the latter stared back, nonplussed.

"Harry's doing very well from what we could see," her father repeated inconsequently. "Must be well off. And such a fine chap," he added heartily.

"Yes?" Judy was at sea.

"You are a big girl now Darling," Mrs Hopps coughed delicately. "I was settled down with your father and expecting my first litter at your age."

The penny dropped with an ear-splitting clatter.

Judy gaped at her parents, horrified.

"Are you guys setting me up?" she demanded. "I.." words failed her. "I can't even-"

"Now Judes—"

"Honey Pie, your father and I—"

Judy's phone beeped at that precise moment.

"I have to get this," Judy gasped in relief, diving for her purse. Her feeling of salvation was short-lived.

"Hey Carrots," the message that popped up on the screen ran. "Enjoying hanging out at your parents' then? Be there tomorrow morning, eight sharp and don't sweat – clean shirt and top behavior as promised. ;) PS What did they say about the penthouse idea?"

Judy stared at her phone for a few seconds.

"Mom. Dad. I'm… going to bed," she announced finally, her voice sounding strained to her own ears. "Let's just… we'll talk more tomorrow, OK? G'night." She climbed the steps, dragging her paws heavily, Lily on her shoulders, as her mother called after her "Blueberry pancakes for breakfast Darling! Your favorite!"

Mr and Mrs Hopps were early risers. It went with the territory – the family was huge, the little ones needed constant attention – and so did the farm. Her parents were the ones who had given Judy the habit of rising at dawn, a habit she had kept after moving to the city. Her tentative plan, following the previous night's fiasco, had been to straighten the situation out by having a quick frank chat with her parents before Nick arrived for breakfast.

She had not taken her numerous siblings into account in this plan though. Over-excited at having their big sister spend the night at home for once, they kept badgering her nearly all night through. First Lily wanted a story, then Billy wanted a piggyback ride, then Charlie came crawling over because his night-light had gone out. By the time he had been settled back in bed, it was Ginny and Hazel's turn – the twins had apparently simultaneously had nightmares. Judy could barely keep her eyes open as she crawled back to bed after all the commotion was finally over – had she been a bit more attentive, she would have seen that tiny Georgie had been playing in her room and had unplugged her bedside alarm clock. Which was a shame, because when morning finally came and Judy opened her eyes and stretched in her bed, the sun was already rather high in the sky.

She gazed at the shadowy leaf-pattern flickering on the floor lazily, slowly coming out of her slumber. Her mother had obviously tiptoed into the room at some moment, as the window was open a notch, the brisk morning air wafting in.

Judy's ears twitched as they picked up a snatch of conversation downstairs.

"—absolutely delicious Ma'am. I really don't know which one's my favorite – the blueberry jam or the raspberry one."

"I know that voice," Judy thought. "Why?.. What?"

"Have both!" Mrs Hopps' voice carried far very easily. "A bit of both then – last year's batch was excellent. Now, I don't know where that daughter of mine has gone – still in bed at this hour-"

"So unlike her! Such an early riser, our Judes." Stuart's voice chimed in.

"Indeed?" The first voice sounded shocked. "Not from what we've seen at work – I'm afraid she's nearly late most mornings." The voice grew concerned. "Might I kindly suggest that you have a small chat with her? I am sure that, coming from the two of you-"

Judy felt her blood stand still in her very veins. She knew that voice. She knew why he was here. She knew that it was past eight. And she had slept in – why, today of all days, why – a glance at her alarm clock and the plug dangling from it explained everything. Explained why she was still in bed while the ultra-important interview with her parents was being conducted downstairs without her.

"No no, that's Jillian when she was three," she heard her Mom say. "She does look remarkably like Judy. I have some cute photos of Judy when she was that age here somewhere, just hang on a tick—"

Holy carrot sticks and frothy cheddar dip!

Judy shot out of bed like one possessed and raced downstairs at a rate sufficient to put any cheetah to shame (except Clawhauser of course).

As she scattered several of her siblings and wrenched the living room door open, panting, the following scene presented itself to her panicked eyes.

Her parents were sitting on either side of the couch, flanking Nick – who was seated on the exact spot she had occupied the previous evening. The fox seemed to find himself knee-deep in bunnies, as Judy's brothers and sisters surrounded him curiously. On his lap sat Lily, and on his shoulders sat Georgie. The coffee table was laden with a generous breakfast – several open jam jars on a serving tray, a pile of pancakes, some muffins and a pot of tea and jug of carrot juice – that had been pushed aside to accommodate the monumental Hopps family photo album.

Judy stared around the room, feeling caught out, as a wave of sound greeted her.

"Why, Carrot Cake!"

"Morning Judes. Sleep well?"

"Judy!" in a huge chorus from all her siblings present.

She couldn't speak. Her eyes met Nick's. "Well, morning partner," he said slowly. Judy felt her stomach clench. The fox had kept his promise – he did put a clean shirt on, and he had surely been on time – the slight shadows under his eyes and the tousled look of his fur clearly stated that he had dragged himself out of bed earlier than was his custom. His expression was carefully blank – but his eyes were sparkling with so much repressed mirth that Judy quaked. He was obviously enjoying himself enormously and finding that his early morning was paying for itself in dividends.

Judy's ears sank. What had her parents told him exactly? Had he figured out that she hadn't told them about the house project? Had her father been telling embarrassing stories about how he and Bonnie had been young? Had he seen childhood photos of her? If yes, which ones? Sweet carrot purée, NOT the ones from that play in kindergarten! Please please PLEASE no!

"Well, come and have some breakfast Honey, don't just hover there," her mother called cheerily, piling some pancakes on a plate for Judy.

Judy made her way into the room slowly, like a sleepwalker. Several of her sisters moved to make room for her and she sank into the armchair that faced the sofa. Feeling very much like a criminal facing trial. She chanced another glimpse at Nick and looked away hurriedly. She could barely meet his eye. She felt like the shame of that moment was becoming etched in her skin – if only she could know what exactly he had heard, she felt she'd feel a mite better, as opposed to scrolling through all the embarrassing things her parents might have said in her absence and panicking blindly at the gruesome possibilities. What embarrassing tidbits had he managed to glean from her parents? That he would now use as verbal ammunition? While she struggled to make the conversation go smoothly and steer her parents in the desired direction, that they might accept the penthouse plan?

"Scone Sweety? Or some toast?" her mother asked, proffering her a plate.

Judy gulped.

"I uh.. don't really feel hungry Mom. At all."

Her mother furrowed her brow worriedly. "Really Darling? Come now! Feeling queasy?"

"Comes from sleeping in for too long!" her father turned towards her too. "What's this we've been hearing of you taking to morning naps and being late at work now Judes?"

Judy glared at Nick in impotent fury. The fox looked back at her happily, his eyes shining bright green from held back merriment.

"It's just today Dad – honestly – I actually always-"

"Now now Judy. We'll say no more. I'd listen to your friend Nick here though," her mother reprimanded her. "He was certainly here bright and early this morning. We were having the best of times chatting over breakfast. So much fun for me and your father to receive a friend of yours."

"The pleasure is entirely my own Mrs Hopps," Nick interjected sweetly, extending a polite paw in Bonnie's direction. "I literally can not remember having had such an excellent breakfast in a while now."

Mrs Hopps tittered delightedly.

"Such a model guest," she beamed at Nick.

"Model, my tail," Judy muttered before she could stop herself.

"Judes!"

"Judy! Language!" her mother was taken aback. "Whomever did you pick that one up from?"

"Oh I sure could tell you," Judy thought viciously, glaring daggers at Nick. "If only I wasn't trying to build up this fox's character in your eyes. The irony." It would hardly have been any use to say anything anyway, for he looked every inch the model guest indeed, in his crisp clean shirt and with Lily perched on his knee and the most innocent of expressions upon his face.

"And this is supposed to go well," Judy thought, massaging her temples. "I wanted them to like Nick – I just – never imagined the interview to go – to go like this! Arrgh! That – that – fox – he's supposed to be on my side, not theirs!"

"Darling really," her mother was saying disapprovingly. "Getting up late, refusing breakfast, using such profane vocabulary." She poured Mr Hopps a cup of tea before adding, " You can see now, I think, why your father and I were bringing it up yesterday – you know, our little chat about how you ought to set—"

"Mom!" Judy exclaimed, alarm welling up inside her chest. She ought to have known they'd launch on to that – they always seemed to pick up a new conversation wherever they had finished the previous one off.

"Now Honey really!" Her mother tut-tutted in reprimand. "We were just discussing the subject again this morning – you'll be happy to hear that your friend Mister Wilde agrees with us whole-heartedly."

Judy felt the bottom drop out of her stomach, as if she'd just missed half-a-dozen steps coming downstairs. She stared at her reflection in the brass teapot, a mixture of rage and embarrassment creeping over her. She couldn't lift her head to look at Nick – she never would be able to face him again, ever. Of this she felt certain.

Instead, she watched Nick's brownish front paws reach for a lump of sugar, drop it into his teacup and swish the teaspoon around unhurriedly.

"He sure did share our opinion," her father boomed triumphantly at her side. "It's high time our Judes were settling down. What say you Mister Wilde?"

The brown paw retracted the teaspoon and picked the pretty flower-patterned cup and saucer up under Judy's paralyzed gaze.

"I am entirely of your opinion Ma'am," – Judy had not believed that his voice could sound so silkily innocent. Nick took a slurpy sip before continuing, "And this Harry fellow sounds like a very sound financial associate. Yes, as a concerned friend of your daughter's, I have no qualms whatsoever in validating this lovely co-purchasing venture."

Judy wished she could find her voice. It seemed to have deserted her at this time of need. Her mother piped up excitedly: "Co-purchasing venture or more! One never knows, Mister Wilde - our Judy could catch Harry's eye! Such a dashing young hare."

Judy felt her fur crawling and all down her spine as her ears got slowly warmer. "Terminate this conversation! Now!" her mind demanded urgently.

"What a fine thought!" Nick sounded charmed at this notion. "Mrs Hopps, I would consider your daughter incredibly lucky in this case. And, do let's be honest – as a charitable friend and impartial observer, I confess I have been feeling a chill of apprehension – I would just hate for Judy to end up a shelved old bunny."

"A what?" she choked out, finally looking up.

Nick's smile could have lighted a room brighter than a hundred light bulbs. He gave a small laugh, pulling Georgie down from his shoulders. "Now then young man," he said to the protesting youngster, " Your sister here would like a turn-" with that he hitched Lily up, as she clamored 'yes higher, higher Mister Fox!' He balanced the toddler in place with one paw carefully, while extending his other paw dramatically in Judy's direction.

"Why yes, I can see our dear Miss Hopps now – happily settled with this fine hare, jubilant mother of two or three hundred – confectioning jam from your supreme blueberries, ah-" he wiped a pretend tear away, as Mr and Mrs Hopps beamed happily and Judy breathed in and out heavily, her paw drumming incessantly on the floor in frustration.

"How considerate you are, Mister Wilde," Bonnie sighed tremulously. "We couldn't be happier to see our daughter have such a thoughtful friend." She sat up, a thought striking her suddenly. "You must think of your own future too now, Mister Wilde dear – you know, our good friend Gideon, I am quite sure he has some cousins—"

"Your kindness touches my very heart Madam," Nick cut her off smoothly, tickling a giggling Georgie's ears as Lily balanced precariously on his shoulder. "I assure you that I am entirely not the settling-down type though, I'm afraid."

"Now Mister Wilde—"

A truck honked outside at that precise millisecond.

"Why, the shrubs are here! Ted's early!" Stuart exclaimed, hopping up.

"Oooh, Let's see what he brought in today," Bonnie uttered, following her husband out of the sitting room, as nearly every child trooped after them.

"Typical," Judy thought bleakly. "He gets away from having a 'talk' with them."

She stared morosely at Nick, the two of them now completely alone (unless you counted Georgie and Lily).

"That went well, didn't it?" Nick was the first one to break the silence, his lips curling upwards.

"Oh, go ahead," Judy replied, slumping in exhaustion. "Have your go at me. Whatever you want to say, say it. I can't be mortified any further than I've already been."

Nick's grin could have split his face.

"I realize that Carrots," he returned courteously. "Which is exactly why I am waiting for you to crawl out of the depths of your numb, senseless state a tad. It's no fun otherwise."

"You – you scheming – evil – sly—" Judy spluttered, fury rising in her again.

Nick covered Georgie's big ears in mock horror.

"Really, your mother was quite right. What language!"

"You're actually – enjoying that in front of my parents- mocking—"

"Why yes," Nick smiled at her. "That's why I'm dragging it out. It's called 'prolonging a pleasure', you see."

Judy gave a derisive snort of laugher. "Gee. Well, show's over Mister Wilde. I doubt anything you say or do at this point can try me further than I've already been tried this morning. Or last night, for that matter."

"Ah," Nick's eyes sparkled. "Would you be willing to bet on that?" His ears twitched in happy anticipation.

"What are you on about now?" Judy asked in exasperation, throwing her paws up.

"Well," Nick drained the remainder of his tea and grinned at her. "Just that you sure hopped out of bed in a hurry this morning Carrots. Is all. Tiny detail."

Judy stared at him for five full seconds, before putting a paw to her forehead, her eyes traveling warily around the room until they landed on her reflection in the mirror just visible out in the hall. Nick was right; she had indeed, in her consternation, careened down without changing out of her pajamas. The very ones her mother had lent her last night – the very ones that had flocks of little cuddly bunnies munching tiny carrots, holding posies and announcing in tiny speech bubbles 'Fluffy IS Cute!" all over them. (It was, after all, ok for a bunny to use the word 'cute', but strictly in reference to other bunnies).

She stared at her reflection before turning back to Nick, speechless.

She was greeted by the sight of Nick's phone camera flashing in her face. .

The fox proceeded to pocket his phone, before holding a platter of corn crackers up gallantly (causing Lily to slide down his back and plop on the couch), and demanding in a voice that was a blend of concern and hospitable care:

"Digestive, Miss Hopps?"

OK, so. Thanks for reading folks :) As usual, don't hesitate to share your thoughts, feelings and critiques!

A word about the timeline – I am figuring the events described here to be taking place a couple of years after the night howlers' case described in the movie – you see, Nick went to police academy. He must have taken a year at least to finish his studies and graduate, probably two. So that explains the delay. In short, we are basically picking up a few months after the final scenes shown in the film.

I am persuaded that Nick never accepts tea, he's a coffee fox. He'll distinguish well-brewed coffee from some shady instant powder stuff too – and the only circumstances he will accept tea is when he must make a good impression on some innocent gullible folks, such as Stu and Bonnie Hopps, and refusing would be simply impolite. As you will have observed, Nick can be full of charm and wit when necessary.

And yes, several people have kindly pointed out a slight misstep in one of my previous chapters – Judy is not the only woman on the force. I will be correcting that in the previous chapters for coherence's sake; and we do see Francine in the story, as you will have noticed.

Ta everyone, we'll be back in two weeks with more – next chapter is up on April the 4th!