A/N: Hello everyone I am back. After a month of 12-14 hour days, yes even weekends, my board finally finished up. However I get to repeat the process in 3 months as they felt I wasn't fully ready. C'est La Vie, I know what i need to work on so next time I'll blow it our of the water. With that out of the way though I do finally have a new chapter ready, I also have the next chapter that I will post in a few days and the next soon after. I needed something to get out of my funk and writing and video editing/photography have helped a lot. So without further ado, here is chapter 9 of Maybe it could work.


"Nick, where are we going? You know I hate surprises, even more so when I have to keep my eyes closed in the car. When can I open them."

"Just as soon as I open mine."

Judy shot her eyes open and glared at her fiancé, "close them! You'll ruin the surprise." Nick snapped with a laugh, "we're almost there."

"Almost there. Nick, I've had my eyes closed for almost two hours it seems like and I'm seriously getting motion sick because of it." Judy was having a hard time fighting the queasiness in her stomach, a combination of true motion sickness and nerves were getting the best of her.

"It's only been an hour and were pulling in now." Nick had a smug look on his face, he loved messing with Judy. She may have said that she hated surprises but seeing the smile on her face said differently. He pulled the car into a parking stall and got out walking over to let Judy out, taking her paw he guided her down the dirt path outside the parking lot.

Judy kept her eyes closed as told but nothing could stop her nose from taking in all the smells and sounds. Pine, lilac, honeysuckle, roses, birds chirping, kits playing, bees buzzing. "Nick, where are we, can I please open my eyes?"

"Just wait a little while longer" he let go of her paw and she could hear him walking away.

"Come on Nick, it's not funny anymore."Judy was starting to get upset with him, "This better be worth it or you're going to be sleeping on the couch."

"You wound me carrots, ok open them.

Judy opened here eyes and was shocked, all around her were roses of all colors. Bleach whites, sun yellows, stunning reds, deep purples. Bees were buzzing around and birds were singing as they glided effortlessly through the sky. Then there was Nick standing in the middle of it all, "So, am I having to sleeping on the couch tonight?" Nick's trademark grin on his face.

She couldn't believe how beautiful everything looked it was completely surreal. She was lost in all the beauty as Nick went over and put a paw on her shoulder causing her to jump slightly. "So what do you think carrots?"

"It's stunning Nick, I don't know any other way to describe it. It's so beautiful and colorful, why haven't we come here sooner?" Judy was still getting lost in everything.

"Because I've been waiting for the right time to bring you here. When you said yes when I asked you to marry me I knew the reason to show you this place." Judy finally broke her concentration and looked up at Nick a peaceful smile on his muzzle, "What do you think of getting married here. Seeing you walk through this rose garden would make all the years of waiting for you worth it. We can have the ceremony here and there are several shelters where we can have the reception. It is the largest botanical garden in the area after all."

Judy jumped into Nicks' arms causing him to stumble and fall backward onto his butt, squeezing him in a tight embrace. "I love it, Nick!" She released him from her grip and was starting to get up when he pulled her back down to her in a kiss. That sat there for a moment, eyes closed, caressing each other faces, lost in the kiss when someone finally spoke.

"Can't you go somewhere more private to do that." A mother beaver was shielding her cub's eyes with her paw as she glared at them.

"Sorry ma'am just got caught up in the moment," Nick spoke up as Judy dropped her ears in front of her face in embarrassment. "Besides a lot more of that will be happening in a few months when we get married here."

The beaver turned her face up in disgust, "You two? Getting married here, they would never allow it! I'm on the board of directors and I for sure would never allow such a thing to happen here."

Judy's ears finally parted, the embarrassment gone being traded for anger, "Weddings happen here all the time. Why wouldn't we be allowed to have ours here as well?"

"Because it goes against nature! Predator and prey getting married, such an abomination. Just imagine if they allowed it and then you had kits, how deformed they would be as a cross breed. I would honestly be scared he would eat them!" Nick looked like he had just been punched. After everything they had gone through, how could some mammals still feel this way?

Judy's ears shot straight up as her blood boiled, "How dare you speak to us like that! After everything we've done for this city. The dedication and love he has shown me, and put on display for everyone when he sacrificed himself to save me, how can mammals like you still feel that way!"

Other mammals walking around stopped and stared as Judy's voice hit them, even the birds had stopped singing and were quietly sitting in the trees. A silver furred otter came walking up as the mammals stared at each other "Is there some kind of problem here Janet?"

"Yes there is Daniel, these two are talking about having their wedding here, there's no way we can allow that. Not to mention the ruckus she's causing right now ruining every other mammals time here. I debating to kick them out and never letting them…"

"That's enough Janet." The otter put his paw up immediately quieting the beaver. "You may have just gotten onto the board with your sizable donation but that doesn't give you the right to pick and choose who does and does not hold weddings here. It also does not give you the right to kick people out because you feel like it." Janet made a sound like she was going to speak again but the look that the otter gave her even surprised Nick and Judy with its fierceness. "If you have a problem with who comes and goes here you can bring it up at the next board meeting. Until then I suggest you leave these two officers alone and go about your business."

The color started to drain from Janet as she quickly walked away, Daniel slowly turned to the couple after she was gone from sight. "I am so sorry about that. New mammals to the board have a tendency to think they become the boss around here. That is why we have a board of directors. That way no one mammal can choose the path this garden will take and become selective as to who can enjoy it. It's here for everyone to enjoy it as they see fit, within the limits of the law of course, and I'm fairly sure there is no law about mix species getting married. Am I right officers." The smile he gave them told them he already knew the answer.

"I don't believe there is. Otherwise, our chief would've told us already. Then it would be one more thing we would be working to change in this city" Judy spoke quietly, the rage draining away.

"You've already changed so much, try not to put everything on your shoulders. They may be strong, but if you put too much on them you'll eventually break, and that kind of breaking takes a long time to heal. For now just enjoy yourselves, you will always be welcome here. That I can personally guarantee." He gave them a warm smile and before they could say anything else he walked past them into the roses taking in the sights and smells of them.

"So do you want to walk around to see what else is here, or do you want to go home." Nick finally broke the silence looking down at Judy.

"I can't let one mammal stop me from enjoying myself, let's walk around and see what else is here." Judy took Nicks paw and started walking down one of the paths leading into the trees.

It took a while but walking through the rest the gardens regained Judy's normal bounce in her step. Seeing the different flower gardens, reflecting pools, and all manner of plant life helped to break Judy from her funk. As they were walking they noticed a greenhouse that looked a bit off, instead of a sealed structure it was netted. Mammals were walking around and pointing at things inside.

"Let's go and see what's in there Nick." Judy nearly tore Nick's arm off pulling him to the structure.

"Easy carrots, I may be walking normally again but I'm still not one hundred percent."

Judy dropped her ears and slowed her pace, "Sorry Nick. Seeing your progress these past few months I sometimes forget."

"It's okay. I don't blame you, I'm curious myself as to what's in there." He gave her a warm smile trying to let her know it was okay.

They got to the building and as they looked through the door they noticed what was in there which got Judy very excited, "It's a butterfly garden Nick! We have to go in now." She already had the first door open before the words left her mouth.

Nick laughed, "So twist my arm why don't you." He was happy something we able to fully take her mind off what the beaver had said.

Judy was bounding everywhere in the small netted tent calling for Nick to see the different species of butterfly's. "Look Nick, a Zebra Swallowtail. A Great Mormon, look at the deep blues in its wings. Nick, Nick are you seeing all this."

"Um, Judy. Turn around." Judy slowly turned to Nick and tried her hardest not to burst out in laughter. There was Nick standing as still as could be as mammals surrounded him to get pictures of him covered in butterflies. "I guess they realize just how sweet I really am." That got a laugh from every mammal around him. He would've been happy to allow them more time to get more pictures but one landed on the tip of his nose causing him to sneeze which sent a flutter of butterflies everywhere.

Judy walked up and kissed him on the cheek, "You are very sweet, and I love you dearly for it. Come on let's see what else is here."

They walked around for several more hours enjoying all the sites when they heard the sound of kits laughing and splashing. They went to investigate and found an area had been turned into a splash pad area. Kits and adults were running around on the padded ground as water sprayed up from below, "come on Nick, let's cool off our paws."

They joined in on the fun, the cool water felt great on their paws from all the walking. They enjoyed lightly splashing each other and watching how the kits all laughed and played with each other. Nick had managed to stay relatively dry until he wasn't paying attention to where he was standing, suddenly a jet of water gushed up from under his paws completely soaking him.

Judy burst out laughing at the sopping wet fox standing in front of her. Nick looked down at all the water dripping from him and he went to lift his tail... his tail. He looked over at Judy who was still laughing at him as an evil idea grew in his mind. "Hey Carrots, CATCH!"

"Catch what, AHHHHH!" Judy threw up her paws as Nick spun around flicking his tail sending a shower of water at her. This brought laughter from all around as Judy tried to block the water but failed miserably. Nick couldn't help himself but laugh as well.

"Your dead fox," Judy yelled out and began chasing Nick. He ran around until he spotted a set of stairs leading over the arch walkway they took to get into the water pad. He made it to the top and looked behind to see how far she was but didn't see her.

"Looking for someone," Nick whipped around to see Judy standing at the top of the arch her paw tapping quickly on the ground.

"One of these days you're going to have to show me how you do that" Nick smirked as he walked over to her his arms wide open, "truce?"

"I guess so" she allowed Nick to envelop her in a gentle hug. They stood on the arch leaning against the railing looking over the splash pad for a while, enjoying the sights and sounds of the kits playing as they dried off in the sun.

Judy put a paw on Nicks, "Nick, have you... have you ever thought about having kits of your own someday."

"Quite a bit actually." Judy looked up at him with a puzzled look, "I always knew hustling would never last forever. I figured someday I would find a vixen to call my mate, settle down have a kit or two of our own and maybe even adopt one or two."

"Adopt? Why would you want to adopt, I know it's a great thing to give a lonely kit a warm loving home but why you?"

Nick gently squeezed Judy's paw, "That's the reason right there, to give a kit the chance at a life I didn't have. There's still a heavy prejudice against foxes in the city and a fox kit in foster care hardly ever gets adopted. They usually end up on the streets in some shape, way, or form. That's what happened to me when Finnick found me and took me in."

Judy brought her attention back to the kits playing, "But you found me instead of some vixen who could give you kits."

Nick reached down and lifted Judy's chin to look her in the eyes, "And I would never change that. There's always still the chance we'll be able to have kits together, look at Gazelle. She married that jaguar and they had a kit together. So there is still hope we could, that is if you want to."

Judy's eyes started to tear up as she buried her face in nicks chest, "Yes, I most certainly want to. I'm just scared about what that beaver said. What if something goes wrong, what if they get picked on growing up, what it..."

Nick stopped her with a soft kiss, "Then we'll tackle that as we always have, together."

Judy didn't try to stop the tears this time, she just buried her face in Nicks' chest. Being in his arms felt so right, she felt so protected being with him. Now knowing that he wanted kits as well made her love him even more. She wanted to be a mother, almost as much as she wanted to be a police officer, and now being with Nick and knowing he would always protect her and any kits they may have she finally felt complete.

Nick just held Judy not saying anything, knowing when she was ready she would want to talk some more. However, his stomach had other plans as a loud rumble came from it causing Judy to giggle.

Judy pulled away and poked Nick in the stomach "I'm guessing you're hungry."

"We only did eat a light breakfast and it's already two in the afternoon, so yes I am hungry." Nick smiled and rubbed his belly as a second grumble came from it.

"Well let's get you home and fed then." Judy took his paw as they walked back to their car. It was a simple four-door sedan nothing fancy, Judy's parents got it for them as an early wedding present. They still did a fair amount of walking but it was nice for times like this or when grocery shopping so they didn't have to carry grocery bags on the train or the bus.

"So, home or eat out." Nick already had the car in gear driving away from the gardens.

"Let's go home and eat, we have plenty there that we need to do something with before it goes bad." Judy pulled out her phone and synced it with the stereo before selecting a song and playing it.

Nick's ears perked up to the familiar tune, "You really do like the piano guys don't you, seems you have a bit of an obsession growing."

"It's not an obsession to enjoy good music, I've always had older tastes in music. Most stuff made today can hardly be called music."

"I'm not complaining one bit, you're looking at a full blown parrot head here so I agree with you on the music front but come on have some variety." Nick took a quick look at Judy as they reached a stop sign, she was giving him the most perplexed look he had ever seen her give. "Now what is that look for?"

"Parrot head? I've never heard the term parrot head before."

"Really? You claim to enjoy older music but don't know what a parrot head is. Okay let me sync up my phone and I'll show you what a parrot head is."

Thirty minutes later they pulled into the garage of the condo. Stepping out Judy began questioning him, "So did he use to be a sailor, or was his granddad one? Did he grow up on the beach, and what was with the tattoo and Margaritaville?"

Nick just shook his head, "Okay I'm going to have to play more of his music, I think you'll enjoy it and a lot of those question will be answered. Maybe we could go to a concert of his if he comes to Zootopia."

"Well that sounds like fun, we did have a blast at Gazelle's concert." Judy skipped along Nick's side as they walked into the condo.

"I'm going to go change, my clothes are still a bit damp," Nick called out as he headed for the bedroom.

"I'll get some food made up" Judy called after him. She headed to the kitchen and pulled out some pasta and sauce to make a pot of spaghetti. Being very generous with the spice, just the way they both liked it. Judy normally made the meals as Nick ended up burning the pasta one time because he didn't put enough water and it all boiled away. As best they could that pot would never come fully clean again and they decide Judy would do most of the cooking.

"Something smells good, using some of those new spices I got you."

"Yep decided to break the ordinary and use some of the hotter ones this time. Give it a bit of a bite." Judy dipped her finger into the sauce and took a taste, the kick wasn't immediate but a slow build to just the right amount of heat. Enough to give it a kick but not too much that all the other flavors would be overpowered. "It's ready, do you mind setting the table."

"Sure thing." Nick pulled out the plates, silverware, and a set of wine glasses. "We still have some of the blueberry wine, right?" Nick was already in the refrigerator as he asked.

"I believe so, it just might be buried." Judy had placed the noodle and sauce on the table and seated herself, piling her plate high with them. She began to eat as Nick leaned over and filled her glass.

He filled his glass and sat down filling his plate, "So we found where we want to hold it but now we have to decide on a date to have the wedding."

"I've been thinking about it, just hard to finally set a date. I want it to be soon, but not too soon where things feel rushed, and I don't want to wait too much longer. It's already been almost a year already with your recovery."

"Sorry for making you wait so long." Nick stopped eat and put his fork down hanging his head.

"Don't be, you have nothing to be sorry about. If things hadn't gone they way they did my parents may still be on the edge about us. Yes, we almost lost each other but it opened up my parent's eyes, and a lot of other mammals as well." Judy had gotten down from her chair and was standing next to Nick holding onto his paw.

"I know, how about this then two months. In two months it will be the anniversary of the accident and of our engagement. How about we do it on that day, the day you completed my life." This time, it was Nick who had tears growing in his eyes.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea." She got on the tips of her paws to kiss Nick on the forehead, "Now let's finish eating and then have a movie marathon on the patio as the sun sets."

"Now that's a plan," Nick said before shoving another forkful of spaghetti into his mouth. They finished the meal and Nick grabbed the bottle of wine and glasses as Judy picked out a couple of movies to watch.

"So what's kicking off this marathon." Nick had laid out a blanket on the big lounge chair and refilled their glasses.

"A classic, Young Frankenstein." She hit play and snuggled into her fox as they enjoyed the movie.