Hundreds of ears stand at attention above the stalks of hay, as Judith leads Nicholas down the dusty road leading to the burrow. Twitching and honing in on the strange voice accompanying their sister, that can be heard over the turkeys and chickens. A handful take off, unnoticed, towards their home in search of their parents. As Nick and Judy approach, an older pair of bunnies steps out of a two story wood and window building that is framed by well tended saguaros, not at all fazed by his species nor the twin guns on his hips.

"Mother! Father! I am home!" She runs up to them, causing her sun hat to fall at Nick's feet. He picks it up and dusts it off as he watches Judy.

"Welcome home Carrot Cake. How was your day?" Her father, a sturdy brown buck, hugs her close.

"It was boring. All he did was boast about himself." After returning his hug she steps back.

"I wish to hear how it went but first, who is your friend?" The grey matriarch looks over at the fox patiently holding the sun hat.

"This is Nicholas Wilde. Nicholas, these are my parents. Bonnie and Stuart Hopps." She runs up to him, grabbing his paw, and drags him over to them.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Sorry for just dropping by." Nick shakes Stu's paw first then Bonnies.

"No worries. You are not the first mammal out Judith has brought home for one reason or another, and I doubt you'll be the last." Stu claps him on the shoulder surprising the todd. Before they can ask what the reason is they are distracted by somebunny calling to them.

"Mother! Father! Is Judith here?!" A Tall black buck calls out, running up the lane.

"Oh no, James! I am so sorry. I completely forgot you were supposed to walk me home. I was so angry at Dan and his father. Can you forgive me?" She pleads with her paw on her brothers shoulder as he is bent over trying to catch his breath.

"Of course, but what did Dan and his father do?" James asks, glancing up at her.

"Dan practically proposed, and this was our first outing together. He was under the impression that I was easy." This information stirs irritation in her father.

"Well those talks are now over, how dare he assume such a thing." Bonnie states, calming her husband.

"That is what I implied to Dan." Judy informs them smugly.

"And the Sheriff?" Finally catching his breath, James straitens up.

"He was harassing Nicholas. Refused to allow him to buy provisions for his trip. Said he probably stole what money he has, but I could tell by how he said it that the real reason is because Nicholas is a fox." All eyes turn to said fox. "I could not just stand there and do nothing." Her anger spikes again and she clenches her paws into fists.

"It's alright. I'm used to it." Nick tries to calm her.

"But that is not fair." She complains.

"I have learned that life isn't always fair. That is why it is a pleasant surprise to find a mammal like you who does not care what I am." He places her sun hat softly upon her head, over her lowered ears.

"I will have a talk with David later. Come Nicholas, join us for supper." Stu motions for Nick to follow him.

"I shall have a room ready for you by tonight." Bonnie states following her husband.

"A room?! I can't impose upon you that much." He pauses in his tracks.

"I will not take 'no' for an answer." Bonnie demands, not looking back.

"Come on Nicholas. Bunnies do not eat foxes so there is nothing to fear." Judy grabs his paw and pulls him along as he sighs in defeat.

"As the Lady wishes." He is pleased to see pink crawl up Judy's ears at his words. He follows her through large double doors, surprised to see that there wasn't a second floor after all.

"Do you get many quests that are bigger then bunnies?" Nick asks, awed at the size of the interior.

"Occasionally. Though only for meals and business. That is why you will have a room in the burrow." Judy explains. Nick is startled when Bonnie opens what he thought was a closet and beckons him through. As he steps through the door, his hind paws make contact with a worn, ornate wooden spiral staircase.

"Wow." Ducking just a bit, Nick makes his way to the bottom. "How far down are we?"

"About twenty feet. You can stay in the lounge with Judith while dinner is being finished." Stu opens a door just down the hall from the base of the stairs.

Judy follows Nick into the room and sits on a plush chair. Nick tentatively sits on the single love seat. They sit in silence while he observes his surroundings. Real wood panels line the walls as planks make up the floor. All the seats have matching upholstery and the mantel above the river stone fireplace is marble. Blunting the show of wealth is the small familial touches covering every available space. Pawmade gifts from young kits, well worn quilts over all the seats. Family photos, though few, proudly displayed.

"Your family are more welcoming then most. It's refreshing." Smiling, he addresses his hostess.

"We have learned not to assume we know how a mammal will be based solely on whether they are prey or not. Judith taught us that." Bonnie answers causing him to jump a little, then joins them in the lounge.

"Is dinner ready?" Judy stands up and walks over to her mother.

"It is, and I have managed to get Nicholas some chicken." Bonnie motions for them to follow her.

"You didn't have to do that. I'm an omnivore, I can survive on vegies for a while." He explains, standing up.

"Nonsense. You are our guest and it was no trouble. We raise them ourselves." She chides him gently as any good matriarch would do.

After dinner, and his subsequent swarming by a kerfluffle of tiny rabbits, Judy shows him the room her mother prepared for him. "I hope you will be comfortable tonight. We had to pull three beds together so there would be enough room for you. If you need anything, James is the first room. He can assist you with anything." She opens the door and shows him the room.

"I'm sure it'll be more comfortable then the bare ground. Thank you again for all you have done. I would walk you to your room but I'm pretty sure I would become lost on my way back." He smirks at Judy who giggles.

"I am sure you would. Good night Nicholas. I will see you in the morning." As she turns to leave, Nick grabs her paw, gently stopoing her.

"Good night Judith." After giving her paw a feather light kiss, Nick shuts the door.

"Judith, breakfast is almost ready. Could you go wake your guest? Gently, he is nocturnal." Bonnie turns to shoo her daughter.

"Okay." Judy walk off a bit when her mother calls to her again.

"If he does not wake to you knocking on the door you might need to go in and wake him." This causes Judy to turn back to her mother in horror.

"But...but what if he sleeps in the fur?!" Her voice raises an octave.

"You have seen your brothers many times. You will be fine." Bonnie doesn't even pause in what she is doing.

"But he is not one of my brothers." She attempts.

"Judith." Said bunny looks to her mother hopefully. "Just go wake your guest."

Nodding, Judy takes off to the boys wing. Racing down one hall she stops in front of Nicks door. She knocks loudly on the door. "Nicholas, It is time to wake up."

Grumbling is all she gets. "Please get up. I do not wish to go in there." This time silence is her only answer. Sighing with a pleading look aimed at the ceiling, she goes in closing the door behind her. Walking up she can see his snout sticking out from under the covers. Giggling at how cute it was when his noes started twitching, Judy touches her paw to it.

"Nicholas wake up." He licks the paw on his nose making her pull her paw back.

"Five more minutes Carrots." He mumbles as he burrows completely under the covers.

"Carrots?" Judy asks confused. At her words the bundle of fox and blankets tills. "Am I Carrots?"

"Judith!" Nick shoots into a sitting position staring at her in shock. "I didn't hear you come in."

"You did not answer when I knocked. Breakfast is ready." She watches him relax before continuing. "So, am I Carrots?"

"Well, yes." He pins his ears back in worry.

"Why Carrots?" She asks innocently, sitting down in the only chair in the room.

"Your dad called you Carrot Cake and it kind of stuck with me as Carrots. I'm sorry." He looks away from her.

"I like it. As long as you are the only one that uses it." She gets up and saunters to the door. Opening it Judy peaks at him over her shoulder. "Get moving or we will be late." Nick is left dumbstruck until he hears the soft click of the door shutting.

"Yes ma'am." Judy can hear him jump out of bed as she pulls her red ears over her equally red face. By the time Nick opens the door, Her face and ears are back to normal.

"Ready?" Nick nods at her question and holds out his arm. Smiling, Judy tucks her paw into the crook of his elbow. "You know, it is only breakfast with my family. You are not going to need your six-shooters."

"I rarely go anywhere without them." He places his muzzle close to her ears and whispers, "Plus if you continue flirting like you did earlier, I might need them to keep your dad and brothers from turning me into a rug." He chuckles at the pink creeping along her ears.

"That was not... I was not... oh shut up." She looks away from him. They enter the dinning hall in companionable silence.

"Remind me why I agreed to help with the hay?" Nick grunts with exertion while lifting a bundle of hay onto a cart.

"Because my father asked." Judy replies while holding out the glass of lemonade. "And then I did."

"Right. I think it was your wide eyed pleading look that did me in." He smacks his lips in pleasure after a long pull on the cold beverage. "Ahh, that's good. My thanks." Nick returns the glass to Judy before hauling another bail onto the cart.

"Lunch will be ready soon. Mother says to come in once the cart is full." Instead of heading back to the burrow, Judy hops onto the front of the cart to watch.

"Enjoying the show?" Smirking, Nick hauls another bail onto the others.

"Very much." Half lidded pools of purple, sparkling with mirth, lock with mischievous greens.

"What would your mother say if she heard you?" Pausing in his work, Nick slides up in front of her.

"Hmm, good choice?" Judy leans closer.

"I sure hope so." Nick reaches up to place a paw on her cheek. A pleased purr rumbles softly threw his chest when she leans into his touch.

"Am I interrupting something?" Jumping apart, Nick and Judy turn to see her brother James watching them with a knowing smile. Nick looks at the ground rubbing the back of his neck, clearing his throat.

"Nope. What 'cha need?" Judy is too busy hiding behind her ears to contribute.

"Mom sent me to help finish the cart so you wouldn't miss lunch. Though I doubt either of you would've minded missing it." Snickering at their reactions, James picks up a bail and carries it over to the cart.

"I can get them up there if you'll arrange them." Nick takes the bail from James and tosses it onto the cart.

"Sounds good. That way Judy can watch you some more." James hops up after the bail and moves it to a good position.

"You know James, sometimes I hate you." After throwing a clump of dirt at her brother, who ducked it, Judy saunters off towards the burrow.

"Where you going Judy?" James asks.

"I refuse to hang around when I am being teased." James shrugs and turns back to Nick expecting a new bail. Instead, he witnesses Nick watching Judy walk away.

"Like what you see?" James is surprised when Nick replies, not expecting to have been heard.

"Very much." Nick starts, realizing he said that out load. He groans when he looks to James and sees said bunnies 'cat-that-ate-the-canary' grin.

"You like my sister don't you." He asks while motioning for Nick to grab another bail.

"Your father is going to kill me, skin me, and hang my hide above the mantle as a warning." He grabs a bail and hauls it over to the cart before continuing. "Can you blame me?"

"Not at all. Judy's a special doe. Didn't even get mad a Gideon. Just at everyone who ran him and his ma out of town." James comments while putting the newest bail in place.

"Who's Gideon?" Nick asks.

Gideon Grey. Him and his ma were the only foxes the Tri-Burrows had seen till you. His ma assisted the baker so Gid could go to school. Only found out after they were run out that his pa used to beat him and his ma." Nick is fascinated with the tale but continues bringing bails.

"Why was he run out? What's it got to do with Judith?" He pauses in his task long enough to ask.

"You felt those scars on Judy's cheek?" Nick nods slowly in dread. "Gideon gave them to her. Don't know exactly what started the whole thing but Judy got between him and her friend. She was just trying to defuse the situation but he got mad and lashed out at her. The other clans and sadly some of our own used that as a reason to get rid of them." He looks to his paws shaking his head.

"And Judith?" Nick's tail curls around his feet.

"Ripped us all a new one. She's the one that told us about his pa. I still wonder what happened to them after we kicked 'em out." James climbs down after adjusting the last bail.

"If it's the same Gideon Grey that I know, he's in the town between here and Zootopia. Trying to sell his pies when he can." Nick points in the general direction of the town.

"Truly? Well for Gid's sake I hope they're one and the same. You should tell Judy." They trudge together towards the burrow.

"I think I will." After a minute of quiet walking Nick starts. "Do me a favor, don't tell anyone about my interest in your sister. I would very much like for your father to not try and kill me."

"They wont hear anything from me, but you'll need to try harder in hiding it or they'll figure it out anyway." James nudges Nick with his elbow.

"Right. I'll work on that." Nick rubs the back of his neck with a paw.

Evening comes with the sun painting the sky a fiery orange behind the mountains. Nick enters the makeshift washroom set up for him to take a bath. Stripping off his clothes and gun belt, Nick climbs into the steaming copper tub just big enough for him. He proceeds to scrub away the days grime, pleased with the work he had accomplished. Submerging completely under the water, Nick doesn't hear Judy talking with her sibling.

"Since he has already been told, I will just drop these off before he climbs in." She enters the makeshift washroom and places a pile of towels next to his clothes. Confused she looks around in time to see Nick stand up in the tub. He is facing away from her so he doesn't know she is there yet. "Oh!" Her surprise draws his attention and he turns to face her.

Russet and cream fur cling to his lean frame as water drips off back into the tub. The light splashes are the only sound. Lavender eyes roam over his body as ears turn red while his tail curls around to cover his privates. Nick clears his throat, drawing her eyes up to his.

"As much as I appreciate the ogling, I'd like to live long enough to see where it leads." He watches as she struggles for words, becoming redder by the moment.

"Towels." She manages to squeak out pointing at them before bolting out of the room. Heart pounding, Nick slicks as much water from his fur before exiting the tub and grabbing the aforementioned towels. Heart finally calm, fur dry and dressed, Nick enters the burrow for dinner.

"That was fast. I thought Judy just took you the towels." One of Judy's older sisters asks. Judy's ears drop hiding her blush.

"Yes...yes she did. I had just gotten out and she..." All ears were tuned in on him. "passed them to me...through the...curtain." Nick holds his tail in front of him protectively.

"Riiiight...what ever." The sister shrugs and turns to her own kit. Just then, Bonnie enters with a giant pot of stew followed by ten of her kits all carrying baskets of bread bowls. Nick offers to help with the pot but is sent to sit next to Judy as the bowls are passed out.

After dinner Judy walks Nick to his room again. She twiddles her paws when they reach his door. Nick kneels down to be on her level.

"What's a matter Carrots?" Placing his knuckle under her chin, he makes her look at him. Though there is no force behind the touch.

"I am truly sorry for walking in on you. I did not think you had gotten there yet." Apologetic purple stare into sympathetic green.

"No worries. My tail covered the most important parts." He rubs her cheek, feeling the scars again. "That reminds me. I might know what happened to your Gideon Grey. If he's the same pudgy red fox I know then he's a baker in a town not too far from here."

Her eyes grow wide and a smile graces her muzzle. "I only know one pudgy Gideon Grey. Thank you for telling me how he is doing." Grabbing his shirt, Judy pulls him closer for a quick kiss to his snout. "Good night Nicholas."

With a pleased grin on his muzzle he watches until that fluffy tail of hers disappears around the corner. James sees the interaction and smiles.

"You tell her about Gideon?" Nick only nods in the affirmative. Chuckling, he waves to Nick. "'Night Nick."

"'Night." He replies then he closes the door, disrobes, climbs into bed, and falls into a pleasant sleep.

AN: Not sure how this is supposed to work so here we go.

Another chapter Yay! I am shooting for posting once a week just so you know. Hope you enjoy!