Machinists Chapter 3: Winter Coats

Written by TheAssassin_2

Edited by LapisLucius42

Artwork by TheAssassin2

Chapter quote:

I learned to give not because I have much. But because I know exactly how it feels to have nothing.

-unknown

Christmas was only a day away. Over the last two and a half weeks, Nick and Judy had gotten to know each other really well. Nick learned that her family was mostly unsupportive, but when Judy found out that he didn't have any family anymore, she hugged him for a good five minutes. Even though Nick wasn't a hugger by nature, he hadn't minded that one.

About a week ago, they went out and purchased a Christmas tree, decorating it with little homemade ornaments they made in the shop. Nick and Judy spent almost all of their time together. Not because there wasn't anyone else around, but because they enjoyed being around each other.

They also enjoyed making Christmas cookies together. Nick was an amazing baker and taught Judy some of his mom's simple recipes. The bunny was happy to learn since she'd never really spent much time messing around in the kitchen.

Currently, Nick was in the shop, trying to spin metal discs into bowls, plates, and cups. He wanted to make Judy a set of kitchenware for when she went to college and had already completed the silverware at the forge. With Christmas tomorrow, he needed to figure out what he was doing, and fast.

He made a whole new toolset for one of Jack's lathes and had turned up some pieces of wood to act as 'molds' for the disc blanks. He used a special tool for moving the metal into shape; a bar with a spinning wheel on the end. Slowly, he started his work, knowing that it wouldn't be easy but still possible. He needed to adjust the speed of the lathe several times until he eventually got it and began work on his special gift for his favorite bunny.

The next morning

Nick and Judy entered the living room and first laid their eyes on the Christmas tree and then at each other. They were both still in their night clothes. Judy in a carrot themed and Nick in plain blue.

"Good morning," they said at the same time, which made them smile.

There were only a few gifts under the tree, but they didn't need much to be happy. Judy looked at a big box that read:

To: Carrots

From: Santa Claws

She looked up at Nick who was giving her an expecting look. "Really, Nick? Carrots? You're the only one who has ever called me that. So I know this is from you."

Nick shrugged. "What you don't think Santa makes mistakes too? He does have a rather big job to do you know."

Judy rolled her eyes "Yeah right."

And so they opened their gifts from each other. Judy was so touched by the kitchen set Nick made for her that she cried tears of joy, burying her face into his chest as they hugged. There were also other things they gave each other, mostly what they made themselves. Judy gave Nick a steam engine of the likes he had never seen before, leaving the fox in a stunned silence for nearly five minutes as he studied it in complete wonder. There were jokes and laughs to spare. It was one of the best Christmas' Judy ever had.

The ones around her house were crazy to say the least. With over two hundred brothers and sisters, it was guaranteed every year. It was loud, there were fights over silly things, and her dad always somehow managed to upset her.

Nick went to open the last paper wrapped object under the tree. When he picked it up, it had some weight, but it also felt soft. He shook the object around a little, trying to figure out what it was, much to Judy's amusement. Completely stumped, he gave up and tore the wrappings off.

What Nick saw sent him into silent shock. He stood up and held the brand new Carpheart winter coat before him. He looked down at Judy who was smiling up at him.

"I noticed you didn't have one so…" She trailed off, looking quite sheepish.

Carpheart coats were top of the line in keeping a mammal warm and being durable. A single one could last a lifetime if properly taken care of. Because of this, they cost a small fortune with the cheaper ones starting at over three hundred dollars. Nick had looked into buying one before, but the price turned him away. He never shared Christmas with family because he didn't have any. Since no one was kind enough to give something so nice to a fox, Nick was deeply touched.

Then another thought occurred to him. This would pay over a month's living in Zootopia, including food and gas money. Judy was already going to struggle to get by once she went to school and Nick knew she would need to get a job to stay afloat. She had spent that much money on him without any second thought or regret; just so he could stay warm during the winter.

Nick looked at Judy again as his eyes grew wet. He kneeled down and opened his arms wide. "Come here Carrots." Judy rushed into his arms and they embraced. Nick hugged her for all he was worth and Judy hugged back twice as hard. "Thank you Judy," he whispered.

"Nick?" she asked into his chest, her breath coming more rapidly as her heart pounded within her. "Do you want to be together with me?" She had been ready to take their friendship to the next level for a while now yet just verbalizing her deepest desires had her heart thundering in her chest.

"I'm willing to try if you are, Carrots," Nick replied after only a moment to cast her a warm, appraising look.

Judy shook with happiness in Nick's arms, hugging him nearly twice as hard. "Come on Nick! Let's go make breakfast!"

Nick chuckled to himself, having almost forgotten the cinnamon rolls he and Judy made the other day.

On the way to the kitchen, Nick turned on the TV and switched to the Christmas music channel. In the kitchen, he and Judy danced around while they gathered a few things needed to make the icing for the rolls, laughing and singing along to the music. It was noon when they finally sat down to eat, so the meal became lunch instead of breakfast.

After their lunch, they cleaned up the mess in the living room and sat down together to watch some Christmas specials like Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snow Bunny. Judy hadn't seen any of them since she was little and enjoyed being able to watch them again. Nick on the other paw had never seen the Christmas specials before and cherished being able to watch them with Judy.

The day soon turned to night, and the night turned late. Nick was getting ready to go out back to his camper while Judy watched from the hallway. She saw him put on the coat she had bought him and felt a warm feeling in her chest at the sight of him wearing her gift.

Right before Nick opened the door to leave, Judy grabbed his paw and turned him around. "Nick," she paused as a blush spread across her face "Do you want to sleep with me tonight?"

If Nick's fur wasn't red, she would have been able to see the blush on his face. "Don't you think it's a little soon for, that?"

Judy's blush intensified and she slapped on the chest weakly. "Not that Nick! I meant just sleep together. Like share a bed...ugh...you know what I mean."

Nick seemed to relax a little. "Sorry Carrots. Still, don't you think it's a little soon?"

"Nick, we've spent almost seven months practically living together. Just think of it as if us being together since whenever we realized our feelings for each other. Don't you think we've been waiting long enough?"

Nick thought about it for a second. "You know what, you're right. We have been waiting long enough!"

With a huge smile, Judy grabbed his paw and led him to her room. They were still in their pajamas from earlier that morning so all they needed to do was climb under the covers and cuddle up together. Judy rolled into a ball and Nick wrapped himself around her from behind protectively. His tail even maneuvered itself in front of her. She happily grabbed said tail and buried her face in it, relishing how soft it was.

Nick sighed in contentment. "You're so soft, just like cotton candy."

"Well if I'm like cotton candy. You're just like a fluffy cloud."

"Merry Christmas Carrots."

"Merry Christmas Nick, I love you."

Nick was stunned for a moment when hearing her words before he smiled happily. "I love you too." He lightly kissed her between the ears and felt her shiver as a result.

Outside, snow fell in big fluffy flakes, covering the ground in a white blanket for the night. It was cold, but the fox and bunny didn't care. They had each other to keep warm.

AN: I admit I wrote this a couple days after Christmas. Guess I still have the holiday spirit after all. Merry (super late) Christmas everybody!