Chapter Notes:

Is everyone okay? Are all the new readers okay after that first chapter? And to all the old readers I hope you are all doing okay. Well here's a 'happy' chapter to help everyone feel better. It will be mostly happy, but...

Enjoy-

Oh, and this chapter takes place a few months after the first chapter.

Happy Birthday Emily:

Nick was sleeping soundly when his alarm went off stirring him from his sleep. Quickly trying to silence the annoyance he rolled over searching for his alarm clock with his paw before finally hitting the off button with his padded fingers, and with that the red foxx gave a content sigh. He allowed himself another minute or so to rest his eyes, but once that minute was up his emerald green eyes opened in the room dimly light by the light of dawn spilling into the room through the blinds in the middle of the room's side wall.

The proud fox smiled as he threw the covers off of himself and hung his red-ish brown legs off the side of the bed with a sleepy smile on his muzzle, 'today's the day.' was the only thought on his mind. "Today is Emily's birthday." Nick said to himself with a smile as he got out of bed to get ready for the big day ahead for him and his daughter.

Just as he walked past the dresser on his way out of his bedroom, he stopped as he passed the framed picture of his beautiful wife. Nick paused as he saw her loving smile in her picture as she looked down at their bundle of joy in her arms, "Good morning, Sweetheart." he said with a gentle smile as he brushed his knuckles over the glass.

Emily was wrapped up in her cozy blankets fast asleep as she cuddles several of her plushie bunnies that slept with her every night. Deep in her sleep she was not in her bed, nor her home, but somewhere far far away. The small bunny was walking along kicking up soft warm sand on a undiscovered beach with unknown beauty, the ocean a deep blue with a little bit of foam remaining on the beach as the waves rolled back into the sea. The scent was unimaginable, a mix of salt, sand, and paradise. Constant and gentle was the sound of waves rolling past one another as the tide brought them in and out, in their never ending cycle.

The sunlight an unmatched gold spilling over the horizon, but just like that the gold shade shifted to a pure and gentle white. "Emily, my beautiful princess" a female's voice faded in as the light changed colors, and with it a familiar figure began stepping up to the small bunny through the white light. "Happy birthday my little angel." The voice said lovingly as the figure came in fully, and there standing in front of her was another rabbit; her loving mom, Judy.

"Mommy!" Emily's voice was elated and bursting with joy as she once again got to see her mother, and without any hesitation ran into the loving embrace. "I've missed you mommy." she said as she nuzzled her nose into her mother's chest. Even though Judy had passed on and was in heaven waiting for her family, she would come and visit her little girl every chance she could, though at times the visits were far between they were always welcomed.

"And I've missed you too Emily." Judy said as she wrapped her arms tightly around her daughter and held her close to her as she kissed the top of her head tenderly as any mother would. Together the two rabbits stayed like that in their embrace for several minutes. Judy eventually sat down onto the beach sand pulling Emily into her lap holding her close as they talked; the waves frozen as they were and the clouds close overhead and unmoving, the purest of whites still shining from all around.

Clanking could be heard as Nick tried his best to quietly get everything he needed together in order to make Emily's favorite breakfast; a large batch of his special fox and bunny carrot pancakes. Currently he was humming a little tune as he swooshed his tail behind him while he mixed together his homemade pancake mix.

It didn't take long for the proud father to be done mixing the batter up as he put it in the fridge to cool for a bit as he began to clean up the small mess he made of white powder on the counter; and covering parts of his red fur. First dusting off his paws over the trash and then cleaning off his cheek with a damp paper towel to avoid getting any clumps of powder stuck in his fur while he cleaned off the counter with a wet dish towel.

After cleaning up as best as he could he got out a few boxes of party supplies that him and Emily had picked out together, of course it was all her favorites. Being as quiet as he could he got a chair to hang the streamers from the ceiling arching them down along the edge of the walls going around the room. Next with the small helium tank he picked up at the party store he filled up a bag of assorted colored balloons tying a few together with their strings and then to different things around the room; being extra careful to avoid the fan.

With the last box of supplies he set out party favors like hats, stickers, and bowls of snacks on the living room table; enjoying a few of the deliciously crunchy pretzels as he did so. Taking a moment or so to look around and admire his work and check that everything was ready Nick looking at the time on the microwave to see it was time to go wake up the birthday girl so she could get up to enjoy her special day; all the while a pleasant smile on his muzzle as he went about cleaning up. When he stepped into the pink and purple room he couldn't help but smile more as he saw his little girl sleeping soundly as she cuddled her plushies.

She was just so innocent and cute that he couldn't help but to enjoy the heartwarming sight for a moment longer before pulling out his phone to capture it forever; and with the click of the shutter he saved it to the folder he kept all the photos of them. And while Nick didn't notice it in the picture, there by his sleeping daughter's bedside was a faint shimmer captured in the photo; a shimmer with the outline of a bunny.

"Did you see the picture I drew for you mommy?" Emily asked Judy as they sat there on a far off beach. They had been talking together for a little while now; Judy listening happily as Emily told her everything she wanted to share with her mother. There was always so much to say, so much to feel and enjoy, but it always seemed like there was never enough time. "Daddy says you are always watching over us keeping us safe." she recited briefly what Nick always tells her when she misses her mom.

Judy looked down at her little girl still sitting in her lap nuzzled into her chest, "Yes I saw it, I loved it very much, thank you my little princess." she said as she stroked Emily's back comfortingly. Her daughter sitting there in her arms had her small brown paws onto the fabric of her mother's dress; she held on so tight fearing that she would slip away if she didn't. "Of course I watch over you, I promised to always look out for my baby girl." Judy said placed a loving kiss to the top Emily's head in between the ears.

Then Judy took a moment to think before asking her own question. "How is daddy doing?" she asked almost hesitantly, almost afraid of what the answer would be. Nick had told her he never really anything for religion, if everything was for a reason why did his mom have to live such a hard life when he was a kit he had told her once, and because that it was always harder for her to reach him; because he was so unsure that he could ever be reached himself.

"He is really happy." Emily said, much to Judy's relief. "We bought birthday stuff and he was smiling all day." she said happily with a wide smile of her own as she looked up to tell her mom, but then that smile faded away slowly. "But sometimes...sometimes I hear daddy crying at night. Daddy misses you a lot too mommy…" the small bunny carried off.

Judy was happy at the first part, but then she was worried when she saw Emily stop smiling, and when she heard the last part she felt her heart break, "I know baby. And I miss you and daddy all the time." she said trying to comfort her little girl as she wrapped her arms around her again. "Will you tell daddy that mommy still misses and loves him very much?" the older bunny asked getting a nod from the younger.

In a few minutes of sitting there together in silence and comfort the white light all around them flashed away getting both of their attention. They both knew what it meant, and neither of them liked what it meant; but they couldn't stop it from happening. Emily grabbed onto her mother tightly as she did every time the light flashed away, it sputtered on and off as Judy wrapped her arms around her grey and brown princess. "I love you mommy." spoke the daughter as she felt the flashing stop and the light begin to get increasingly bright.

"I love you too Sweetie." Judy whispered back quietly as she nuzzled her precious baby, "Happy birthday, my little princess…" was the last thing said and heard as the light became blinding and consuming.

"Happy birthday Emily!" Nick cheered as he saw Emily's amethyst eyes open up sleepily giving a small yawn. She was a late sleeper; just like him. "Did you sleep well?" the happy and excited dad asked his still sleepy daughter with a warm smile on his face as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

Emily gave an affirmative nod and 'mhh' while she rubbed her eyes. "I saw mommy at the beach again, and she wished me happy birthday." the young bunny said as she recalled her 'dream'. Over the past nearly two years these walks on the beach were somewhat common, and after talking to Bonnie about what they might mean he truly believed in what Emily had seen. "Mommy wanted me to tell you something." she said looking up to Nick.

"Oh yeah? What did she say?" he asked hesitantly. It wasn't every time Emily got a visit that she woke up with a message for him.

"Mommy still loves you and misses you daddy." Emily said gently.

After that it was quiet, it was quiet for what seemed like an hour. Being told that Judy still missed him, that she still loved him, it was all so much for him; and Emily's sweet and innocent voice (a voice much like her own mother's) didn't help but make the message hit home even harder. After that it was quiet, it was quiet for what seemed like an hour.

"Why are you crying daddy?" a gentle voice broke the silence. When Nick snapped out of his thoughts he was there sitting beside Emily on her bed, her deep amethyst eyes concerned, and tears running down his red cheeks. "Aren't you happy?"

That question reminded Nick what today was truly about; it was about her being happy. "Ye, of course daddy is happy." he started as he wiped away the tears from his eyes and pulled his daughter into his lap, "I'm just so happy that I have you and mommy to love me so much." he say rocking her side to side in his hug, and after a few minutes he decided she would need to get ready for her big say. "Okay you get ready and wash up so we can have breakfast okay?" he coaxed so that way she didn't feel sad about that right now.

"Oh are we going to have pancakes?" she asked excitedly as she hopped for her favorite breakfast.

"I don't know, you have to find out." he trialed off making her even more excited to find out. And with that she hurried to change out of her PJs and wash her face like they always did waking up in the morning.

By the time Emily was done getting ready and walking down the hallway Nick was already waiting in the living room with his phone ready and recording. As his little girl stepped into the room her eyes filled with wonder at all the balloons and streamers around the room, the pretty warm colors and all the party favors; it was all for her, and Nick couldn't help but to smile at how excited she was to see it all. Unable to contain her enthusiasm anymore the small bunny couldn't help but jump around with joy and cheer her thanks to the fox behind it all as she squeezed him in a hug.

Midway through her happy outburst there was a knock at the door causing her to pause as her ears snapped in attention to the sound, and then looked at him curiously. "I wonder who that is?" He said with a straight face as they went to go see who it was; the younger hiding slightly behind her dad's legs as she looked out from behind them. Nick stood back from the door making sure Emily was standing out past him as he opened the door.

"Happy birthday Emily!" voices cheered once the door was wide open for the birthday girl. Standing outside was Bonnie and other members of the Hopps family; a few of the oldest siblings along with with their kits closer to her age, but all of them happy to see their cousin/niece Emily. The little birthday girl couldn't contain her excitement as she hopped around hugging her relatives who had come to surprise her today, all of them greeting each other and glad to see one another.

While all the other bunnies were saying their hellos and leaving their presents over by the side table, Bonnie made her way over to Nick and gave him a hello hug. "Everything looks great darling, you did a great job with the decorating- Oh, you have a little something here." she congratulated him before licking her thumb and reaching up to clean a white smudge off his cheek, "Oh, it was just flour. Do you need anymore help setting up?" she asked wanting to do the most she could to help her little granddaughter have the best birthday.

"No I think I have everything taken care of." The red fox said as he looked at his watch went through his checklist for everything he needed, "Alright who wants pancakes?" he asked to the room of already excited kits, and in return he got more cheering and excitement. While Nick started making pancakes to order with carrots, blueberries, or both Bonnie helped to get drinks and plates set up for everyone; the small assembly line they had here was a lot easier to manage than the one she had to manage with her nearly three hundred kits.

It wasn't long before everyone was enjoying their party breakfast together sitting in either the living room or the kitchen. "These are really good Nick. When did you learn to cook?" the oldest of the siblings complimented with a smile; she had always gotten along great with Nick since the first time Judy had brought him to meet the family.

"Daddy always makes the best pancakes." Emily said just before another big bite of the syrupy breakfast.

Nick smiled lovingly at his innocent little bunny and the happy look that hadn't left her all morning, "Well anything for my little princess." he said putting a caring paw on her shoulder getting a nuzzle against his fingers in return, and a few awws from Emily's aunts and uncles.

After breakfast was eaten and all little messes and spills cleaned up it was time for another surprise, and not a moment later there was knock at the door; Nick was more than happy to go and get it. When he opened the door he was happy to see Finnick standing on the welcome mat. "Hey just on time. Were you able to get it?" Nick asked knowing that Finnick always came through.

"No." Finnick said in his deep and gruff voice, and before Nick could question the smaller fox he explained, "Kits like oreo flavor more than vallina; trust me." he said with a signature smirk on his muzzle. "Come one, I need help with the cooler."

Before heading out Nick poked his head back inside to see Bonnie standing close by the door wondering what was going on, "I'm gonna help bring in the surprise but I'll be right back. Can you take care of everything?" and with the oldest rabbit telling him she could do it the two foxes headed out to Finnick's Pawpsicle van parked in front of the small house.

"Alright, there's about thirty Pawpsicles in that cooler is that enough?" Finnick asked as he was looking around the front seats for something and Nick was checking the cooler. The first thing he saw was the ice cream cake sitting in a snowy pile to keep cool and some red Pawpsicles in the other half of the cooler.

But he never heard whatever it was Finnick asked. Nick picked up one of the frozen desserts off the top of the snow pile and fell down the rabbit hole. It took him back to the first time he had met Judy, the treats always looked the same but today was just one of those days. He remembered everything; meeting the go getter bunny to helping her with her case, joining the force with her and getting to know her as a strong mammal, and then falling head over heel for the bunny with amethyst eyes.

All the good times they shared came to mind in his trip down memory lane, in order just as they happened all the way up to their last chase; and that is when Nick began to slip. They were running in pursuit, closing in on the large elephant that had been on a robbery streak the past week, and now they were closing in, but they had gotten too close and when they-

"Nick!" the loud shout and face full of snow tore the red fox from his mindscape and back to the chilled van, tears were streaming down his cheeks and he was near hyperventilating. "Hey you alright?" Finnick asked, his voice surprisingly full of concern and care for his closest friend.

Brushing the melting powder from his face and putting down the pawpsicle Nick finally regained his senses enough to respond. "Yeah I'm alright, just remembering some things." he tried to brush of his mild panic attack.

"You want to talk about it?" the 'tough' fox asked

Nick took a few deep breaths after the question, "Alright after the party, just...I want to make this the best day for Emily." he said just wanting the best for his little girl.

All the little bunnies were enjoying candies and treats that had been left out for the part all the while playing with jacks and little party horns. When Nick and Finnick came in Emily was the first to notice and she knew exactly what it meant. "Uncle Finnick!" she cheered as she ran over from her cousins to hug her favorite uncle in an overly happy birthday squeeze. "Did you bring pawpsicles?" she begged eagerly for the frozen dessert.

"Hey there Emily, happy birthday little fox." he said as he gave her a small hug, she always liked it when he called her a bunny or a fox because she was both and loved being both. While Nick was talking with Bonnie about setting everyone up for dessert Finnick pulled out a red envelop from his pocket. "Here, go put this with your presents, and don't let your dad see." he said with a sneaky smile, and with a giggle she gladly did so.

"Alright everyone time to sing happy birthday." Bonnie said getting everyone together as Nick put six candles on Emily's ice cream cake and set it in front of her lighting the candles. Everyone gathered around the table with the little ones all sitting as they sang, the older bunnies taking a few pictures of their niece as the orange glow danced across the room.

Nick could see his little princess smiling wide and giggling as the song progressed, the candle light shimmering in her purple eyes and over her grey fur. She was a princess today just like she was to him every day, but today she got to show everyone while she wore her golden crown hat. Once the candles were out it was too late for Nick as he felt drips of water on his feet, trying his best to hide it from his little girl he walked past Bonnie telling her he would be right back; but she didn't miss his glossy eyes.

Her and Finnick shared a look when Nick closed his door behind him, "I'll go check on him, you can handle the kits right?" she asked the small fox as she walked down the hallway to her son-in-law's room.

He tried the best he could to never slip, to never let his precious girl see his tears, or to hear his cries; but that didn't mean he didn't. Nick was on his knees with his muzzle buried into the blanket of the bed trying his best not to let a sob slip out, but it did along with stinging tears. "Nicholas?" Bonnie knocked at the door.

Quickly wiping his eyes and with a small sniffle "Yeah I'll be right out Bonnie, I was getting Emily's present." he lied; but she knew anyways.

She creaked the door open as she stepped in closing it behind her so they wouldn't have to worry about the conversation being heard by Emily. "Nick it's okay." she said as she stepped over to him across the small room. She saw the family pictures he had, there were several in the livingroom as well but the ones in here must have been here before. "It's okay Nick." she said as she put a paw on his back while he pretended to look in the nightstand for something.

At the touch he froze. "How can you say that?" he asked her without moving. "How can any of this be okay?" his voice began to slip as his thoughts did so first. "Emily will never meet her mom because of me." he broke down as he crumpled onto the bed next to him under the weight of the memory.

"Nicholas, what happened to Judy wasn't your fault." Bonnie comforted as her eyes began to tear up slightly too, "All her life Judy wanted to be an officer and she was the happiest bunny I ever saw when she got in." the rabbit began to explain to the sad broken fox. "But then you made her life so much more. You might not know it but you made her happier than anything in the world Nick, she loved you with all her heart. You mean the world to her and I know she never blamed you."

"But-"

"But nothing." she cut him off before he tried to convince himself and her of the blame, she already knew what had happened; everyone did, and she wasn't going to let him keep hating himself.. "You gave her the most beautiful daughter she could have asked for, you never would do anything to hurt her, and you were always there for my bunny, even before you were her partner." she said as she turned Nick to her and hugging his thin frame lovingly, "You still have Emily who thinks the world of you, you and Judy are her hero and that will never change. So just stop blaming yourself sweetie." Bonnie coaxed as a few tears dripped down her cheeks.

And like that Nick sobbed into his mother-in-law's embrace returning the comfort for her as well, and after a while he was feeling better again. "Okay, let's go back out there." he said as he wiped his cheeks off. "Oh and Bonnie, thank you, for everything." he said just before they left the room together.

The party didn't last too much longer after that it started winding down. Emily opened presents and Nick made sure to take lots of photos of everything; especially his little girl. At some point Finnick had sneaked in his present of thirty dollars and a funny homemade card; it was half a card for a bunny and half a card for a fox put together for the birthday girl, and she loved it.

But everyone loved Nick's present for her. He had went out and bought a small golden chain necklace for his princess, but to make it more special for her when he brought it home he slipped Judy's wedding ring onto it for Emily to always carry with her; now that she was old enough not to lose it. In Emily's eyes it was the best gift of the whole day; and she was never going to take it off.

The Hopps family had to make there leave so they could get back to Bunny burrow in time to get everything ready for supper and all said their goodbye's as they left together. The remaining foxes enjoyed the leftover pawpsicles together each getting an extra two, and while Nick wasn't fond of the sugar high Emily was buzzing right now Finnick was laughing at his expense when she wanted him to wear the birthday crown too. However it didn't take long for the sugar to burn off thanks to her young age and high metabolism, and with that she had fallen asleep wrapped up in her new quilt from her grandmother.

"You ready to talk?" Finnick asked the serious question after about half an hour from when Emily drifted to sleep. He always came through and he wasn't going to let his friend keep everything bottled up, and so he sat and listened for his friend.

Nick gave a nod telling his closest friend what had gotten to him earlier in the day and began to go through the memory of what happened nearly two years ago.

"Wilde's, we have reports of a daytime burglary on a streak in the residential of city central; find him, shut him down." Chief Bogo said handling the case file down to the fox as the pair walked out of the bullpen. While already having been married for over five years and it being public information, the chief still would occasionally call his rabbit officer by her maiden name.

Nick and Judy looked through the file in their cubicle with all related cases inside it, there were several leads to follow and a prime neighborhoods that would be the best places to look. Over the years of being on the force the small pair proved that their size did not impede their work, and so there was often times no major concern about them getting a large case; if anything the chief often had to deal with more trouble from giving them too small of a case.

"Alright let's go Nick, come on." she said as she grabbed her phone and keys for their cruiser, closely followed by Nick as he still loved how eager she was to always do her part in making Zootopia a better place.

It wasn't a long drive to the neighborhood where most the break ins had occurred, a few mammals walking through on their day off, some neighborhood kids playing in the yards waving as they drove by, but nothing out of the ordinary. The sun was warm and there was a breeze blowing through the trees, today just seemed like such a lovely day to fight crime.

Judy was just about to turn down the street to the right when she froze. Her strong ears picking up an alarm and snapping in the direction it was heard down in the street to their left, Nick blared the siren as she made a sharp turn and sped off down the road. Not to far into the street they saw their burglar; a grey elephant in a black shirt with dark grey cargos throwing two duffels into a black suv. As soon as they saw him the suv sped off starting a dangerous residential chase. Nick called it in as soon as they saw him, the full description, outfit, tusk piercings, vehicle and its partial plate.

"Be advised suspect is in a stolen vehicle and considered dangerous, take caution. Use of high powered tranquilizers is permitted." Clawhauser's voice spoke back through the radio. The chase lead to a park where the suv lost control and rammed into the safety barriers preventing cars from entering the park, but no sooner that that did the elephant abandon the vehicle and stolen goods before taking off in the park.

Without a moment's hesitation the two officers gave chase, Judy quickly gaining ground despite Nick's warning her to stay back with him. And just as she came in close the suspect turned around swinging his trunk and sending Judy into the tree next to them. "JUDY!" Nick shouted as it all happened in front of him while he ran after them pulling out his tranq gun.

"Not so fast fox." the tusked mammal threatened as he picked up the struggling rabbit officer with his trunk, "If you don't want anything to happen to your partner you'll back off." he warned dangerously.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

Nick hesitated on what to do, Judy was his partner and his wife, he couldn't risk her getting hurt. But his sharp eyes saw her face, she was so serious, so confident. She flicked her left ear twice and then the right once; don't do it was the meaning for the signal, one he had seen a lot and had to give even more. With her trust in him he fired off the three shots the tranq was loaded with as they faintly heard sirens approaching.

You make me happy, when skies are grey

The elephant let out a cry as the darts hit their mark and he dropped his hostage to the ground and began to run. "I'm fine it's just my ankle, don't let him get away." Judy said as Nick tried to worry over her instead of giving chase. However the darts worked their magic and before he was able to run very far the elephant collapsed onto the grass where Nick did his best to restrain the large mammal.

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

When Judy tried to sit up she felt a pain in her side and froze as she saw green feathers in contrast to her blue uniform, and the world began to slip away. Her thoughts, her senses, everything seemed like it was draining away; she had always been warned about the high powered tranq darts, and that was their lethality towards smaller mammals. With the last of her thoughts and all of her will she grabbed her carrot pen and began speaking into it as best she could.

Please don't take my sunshine away

Author's Notes:

TT~TT more tears TT~TT