Chapter 20: The House

When Judy found her designated seat on the train, she sat down using the two seats she had free. She was lucky because no one had taken the seat next to her, so she had two seats to herself. On the free seat, Judy placed her handbag, which held various items that she often needed.

Before the train started, Judy gazed through the glass at the wintry landscape of her hometown, where she had lived for several years. It was a strange feeling. She remembered standing by herself at the same train station a dozen years ago to see off her older sister, who was also leaving this place and now she was doing it herself. It was an exhilarating feeling, showing that Judy was no longer a little girl, but a grown-up woman, although deep inside she still acted like a little ridiculous child sometimes.

With her eyes she searched the platform of her parents, where there were fewer and fewer visitors. Some were getting on the train, some were getting off it and some were standing on the platform, most probably waiting for someone. Judy only noticed her parents when she leaned back. She wanted to wave to them, but she knew they wouldn't notice. She sat back in her seat, took her phone and headphones out of her leather bag, and got ready to listen to music. A moment later, the locomotive moved.

At the same time that Judy was already driving towards Zootopia, Nick was driving his friend back to his house. The time of great and inconsistent fun had passed and everyone had to get on with their lives and work. Over this period of time they had grown strongly close, resumed a bit of contact that had died and most importantly made up for the laughs and jokes they had lost. When the fox stopped by the block of flats where Finnick lived they both said nothing. They felt punctured a little by the situation and didn't feel right that they would have to be away from each other again.

"Well...thanks for calling then...if it wasn't for that phone call I wouldn't be having such a great time" Nick said breaking the silence that reigned in the car.

"No need to thank me. In theory I should be thanking you...it's been fun living together hasn't it?"

"Heh, that's right...it was fun. It's a shame that time's up now..." Sighed Nick holding the steering wheel stiffly the whole time. It was helping him to ease his nerves a bit, his hands clasped tightly together causing him to relax.

"That doesn't mean we can't hang out," Finnick pointed out.

"In theory yes...but you know, I'm a police officer, I'm busy all day and You know...I'm with Judy, I have to make time for her too" replied Nick.

"Yeah, that's understandable...well to make it work for you with Judy, I want to be your witness at the wedding" laughed Finnick giving Nick a friendly squeeze.

"Yeah haha, maybe one day...see you brother" replied Nick with a laugh. After squeezing, Finnick got out of the car heading towards the entrance of the block where he disappeared a few moments later. Nick drove away from his friend's place after a few minutes, then headed towards the train station. He was looking forward to the moment when he would meet Judy and be able to cuddle her against his warm body. To be honest he missed her grey, short but warm and lush fur that gave a sense of love and security for the fox. He couldn't wait to see the crocodile eyes, filled with joy and enthusiasm, that would probably charm and passionately seduce him as always. In fact he had missed it from day one, but thanks to his friend Finnick , his Christmas had been a success and he had rather little reason to complain. The biggest disadvantage of the fact that the free period is coming to an end is that the two friends will not be able to meet each other, at least not that often. The job of a police officer requires you to be at the police station a lot of the time and both men knew that.

Two hours later

It had been two hours since Judy had taken the train towards Zootopia. The journey was so tedious and uninteresting that the slow songs that were playing in Judy's headphones made her fall into a slumber that made her sleep even more. When she woke up she directed her gaze to the windows so she could see where they were and how much time remained until Zootopia.

"Wow..." Judy sighed in awe as she saw through the window the first and tallest buildings in the metropolis, which looked very different in its festive, winter version than in summer. All that could be seen for miles around were the skyscrapers that were sprinkled with white powder, and the smaller buildings that fronted Zootopia.

"It won't be long now Nicki..." Thought Judy excitedly, launching her phone so she could see her wallpaper, which featured him and Nick. They had a ton of pictures together where they came out differently, but what made Judy laugh the most were the pictures that Nick didn't want to be in. He would always lower his eyebrow door then and close his eyelids halfway, which made him look comically funny. Nick was very angry at the time, but he loved the rabbit too much to show it to him.

Soon the train entered Zootopia passing through more areas of the city. They passed through Las Padas or through the old Sahara, there was snow everywhere, in some places more and in some places less, but there was no place where there was not white powder. On practically every house, skyscraper or other type of building there were Christmas decorations, such as lights, illuminated signs, or all sorts of Christmas accessories to attract additional customers. Judy was delighted by the sight of Christmas neon lights that illuminated in colour those greyish streets where there is not a ray of joy. At Christmas time, the zootopia was transformed into a very colourful and joyful place, with Christmas neon lights on every street, making it often difficult for people who lived by such places to sleep.

Soon the train left the neon place of the city to enter a dark tunnel which was illuminated by the cold lamps of the train.

Nick was already waiting on platform number 5, from where the blue train that Judy was taking was to arrive. His heart rate had quickened, he was excited but also jumpy. Although he knew that Judy would also probably be more stressed than him and it would fall on him to do more talking, meeting Judy after the break felt like something new to him. In the past he had never had that real girlfriend that he wanted a long term relationship with, Judy was just such a woman. Even though she was a rabbit, her soft, petite yet curvy and hot body meant he couldn't get enough of her. Her sunny and energetic smile and the same eyes, it was something that foxes could never get enough of. His attention was drawn to a whistling noise from the tunnel side. He noticed a blue train pulling out and began to brake. A grey house and the rasp of brakes began to emit from under the steel wheels. The locomotive blew a few whistles, then stopped. Nick was now ready to meet his rabbit. He straightened up and waited for the door, which opened. Immediately a throng of people came out walking in different directions, some stopped on the underground meeting their family greeting them as well. Nick waited patiently until he could see his rabbit until he finally did. Even from a distance he recognized immediately those long grey eyes and the crocus energetic look. He immediately recognized Judy among the crowd. Rabbit's eyes wandered around the platform filled with people heading in different directions, until finally her gaze stopped on the only fox in the station. A radiant smile appeared on her face and she raised an eyebrow. She started walking towards Nick, a small red blush already appearing on her face as it warmed her face. Once she was next to him she jumped on his neck hugging him laughing heartily.

"Hi Nick" said Judy while hugging Judy. The rabbit hugged the fox so tightly for a moment that he had trouble catching his breath, but it didn't bother him. He expected the girl to explode with childish joy.

"Hi Judy, did you miss me?" Asked Nick ironically laughing.

"Are you still asking? Of course I did!" Replied Judy. A moment later she let go of Nick's embrace moving away from him. Fox grabbed his partner's suitcases and then they both started heading towards the car.

"And did you miss me?" Judy asked as they both got into the car.

"I didn't really feel much of a difference when you were gone," replied Nick as he started the car.

"Oh..." Replied a surprised Judy. Nick seeing her downcast expression laughed hitting her lightly on the shoulder.

"Just kidding Judy. I bloody missed you" Nick replied, a fiery blush filled smile appeared on Judy's face.

As they drove in the car, Judy talked for Nick about how life was for her in the village, the place where she grew up. She told of the welcome she had, her first night there, she also turned her attention to the days before Christmas, she told of how she had chosen the Christmas tree for the house, and finally about Christmas Eve itself and the walk with her parents. She told the story so passionately and quickly that Nick didn't get any chance to speak. And he was enjoying it. Judy's voice was better than any music, her subdued and energetic, joy-filled voice made a smile appear on his face when she led as well. It had been a long time since he had been able to listen to his rabbit.

"Well, so it's fair to say you had a good time," Nick concluded when Judy had finished telling the story.

"On the one hand it's a shame I had to leave...on the other I'm glad because I'm with you. Exactly, I heard you brought a guest to our flat?" Judy asked, to which Nick laughed nervously.

"Yeah...you know, we just sort of colluded and came out on our own..."

"I'm glad you didn't spend Christmas alone...do you know how worried I was about you?"

"You were worried about me too?" Nick asked in surprise.

"You know, I was remorseful that I was having fun with my family, having a merry Christmas and you were sitting alone..."

"I had a great time Judy, you don't need any remorse" replied Nick. Judy smiled confirming with a shake of her head, Although in her mind she continued to feel remorse for leaving him alone. She was comforted by the thought that at least he wasn't alone, if he was her Christmas wouldn't have been a success either.

After less than an hour of driving, Nick and Judy arrived at their flat. Judy got out of the car as fast as if someone was chasing her, Nick seeing this laughed, her behaviour was more in keeping with a child than a top police officer. Sam got out quietly and grabbed Judy's bags from the boot and headed for the flat. When he headed for the lift, the rabbit was already waiting for him. Together they went to the floor where they lived. When the lift doors opened, Nick was the first to go to the flat door, opened it, then let the girl into the flat.

"Welcome home Judy."