Warning for minor stuff near the end of the chapter.

Judy never liked funerals. They were cold, bleak ceremonies where family members gathered to mourn the loss of a beloved one. She had attended too many funerals in her time growing up in Bunnyburrow. The fact that the body was cremated due to the lack of room in the cemetery hadn't helped Judy's opinion.

However, the bunny cop now found herself clad in a simple, black dress as she stood next to her husband, attending yet another funeral. This one felt different from all the others, however. The death of Alphonse Silvano Big seemed to affect the entire city of Zootopia. The sun hid behind a sheet of gray clouds, and the air was always humid and muggy with the promise of rain. However, the city wasn't thrown into a gloom because Mr. Big was some cheerful light that, in being snuffed out, suddenly made the world a whole lot dimmer. No, Mr. Big's death was a grim sign of what was in store for Zootopia.

The kind words spoken from close friends or family of the Bigs were lost on Judy as she blankly stared at the hole in the earth for Mr. Big. The darkness seemed hungry, begging for an unfortunate soul to fill its belly. Because of Judy's inexperience with burials, she was still slightly unnerved by the fact that once the dirt was filled in, there would be a rotting corpse beneath the soil. The thought sent a shiver down her spine that was noticed by Nick, who gently wrapped an arm around her. Judy was startled at first, having been suddenly jerked from her thoughts, but she wasted no time in melting into her husband's embrace.

She stole a glance at Nick, whose eyes were solemnly staring at the tiny coffin that held Mr. Big's body. Even though she prided herself on being able to read what was going on in her husband's head, Judy couldn't figure out anything that went on behind Nick's eyes. Those that didn't know Nick would have thought him his emotional detachment to be sincere as his mask was on and as strong as ever, expertly hiding his inner emotions.

When Nick glanced down at her, though, his mask completely slipped away, revealing something that Judy didn't expect: a sad gleam in his eyes and a look that said, "It's okay, Carrots. Everything is going to be alright," yet didn't completely believe it. However, it did the job of calming Judy's nerves, allowing her to comfortably focus on the speech that Fru Fru's husband was giving.

"I had the pleasure of coming to know Alphonse as a father figure, and the love that he showed to my darling wife and me could fool anyone about his actually being the ruthless leader of the Big Syndicate." A light chuckle rippled through the small crowd that mostly consisted of polar bears.

Judy stole a glance to Fru Fru, who was busy wiping tears away with a paw-kerchief. It was because of the female shrew that Nick and Judy were there in the first place; in other circumstances, their job and public images would have forbidden their attendance. For a moment, Judy pondered walking over to console the shrew, but a careful glance from Nick told her to wait. She would have a chance to help her friend.

"Alphonse's life may have ended today, but the Big legacy will certainly live on. As we move forward, we will never forget the memory of this great shrew and his close friend." When the speech ended, the young shrew, with the help of a polar bear, returned to Fru Fru's side. The couple embraced, and Judy could hear tiny sobs thanks to her sensitive ears.

Very little was said afterward, and soon the funeral was finished. Nick and Judy remained firmly planted on the spot, both unwilling to move as the other attendees slowly dispersed. Judy noticed Connor Lyon from among the crowd as the raccoon made his way over to them. His solemn expression was complemented by his grungy tuxedo – obviously from his "collection."

Connor joined the two cops in staring at the empty grave, and the silence that fell over them felt unbreakable. A crisp breeze tickled the edges of Judy's dress, but even that went unnoticed by the trio.

"Well, at least I wasn't entirely right," Connor mumbled in a halfhearted, joking manner. After receiving a cold glance from Nick, he bowed his head. "Sorry. Just trying to ease the tension, you know." Nick shot the raccoon another glance, but this one was empathetic instead of cold. He nodded, wishing to remain silent a little longer.

The raccoon sighed and turned away from the grave. Judy followed suit after a moment as Connor spoke up again, "Call me crazy, but I think that Mr. Big knew this was gonna happen. I mean, why else would he ask me to find a legitimate job right before he died?"

"Speaking of, did you find one?" Judy asked, glad for the opportunity to escape from the reality around them.

Connor hesitantly rubbed the back of his neck. "I've sent in a few applications, the ZPD included. It's just a waiting game, now," he answered with a shrug.

Nick nodded. "I wish you luck, then."

"Thanks," Connor replied with a weak smile. "I don't know about you, but I think I've had enough of this funeral. I'll see you around." With a wave goodbye, the raccoon left the two cops behind.

A sniffle caught Nick and Judy's attention, and upon turning around, the couple saw Fru Fru and her husband standing at Mr. Big's casket. Judy couldn't take anymore and walked over to her friend. Fru Fru turned to acknowledge the bunny with a sad smile that didn't last long before turning back to the elaborate box. At close proximity, Judy could see Mr. Big's injuries. The embalmer had done the best he could do to hide the wounds, a broken muzzle and a few cuts could be seen. The tidy suit that Mr. Big now wore undoubtedly concealed other injuries, and Judy was almost grateful for it.

Nick took his time in making his way to the group but wasted no time in placing a gentle paw on Judy's shoulder. The bunny brushed her cheek against his paw, and a sudden exhaustion overtook her.

"Come on, sweetie," said Fru Fru's husband as he placed a gentle paw on his wife's cheek. "It's time for the burial."

"I don't want to watch," Fru Fru croaked in reply, her gaze now downcast. "This funeral has already been too much."

Her husband gave her an empathetic smile. "I understand. I'll have one of the bears take you home."

Fru Fru nodded her thanks and turned to Nick and Judy as her husband left to make the arrangements. "Thanks for coming, you two. It means a lot to me."

Judy smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Of course. We owe a lot to you and your father," she replied.

Fru Fru smiled. "Now, just because Daddy's dead, you two don't get to stop visiting. I expect to see you two around even more now, okay? Unlike Daddy, I don't you to visit only when you need help; we're friends after all!"

A chuckle escaped Judy's muzzle, and the corners of her mouth turned up in a genuine smile – the first since receiving the almost last-minute invitation to the mournful ceremony. "Deal. Maybe we can set up a lunch sometime soon; Nick and I have the next couple of days off."

"That sounds like a plan," Fru Fru declared, her eyes twinkling again. "We can figure out the rest of the details later. The hubby is coming back. You two take care, okay?" She turned and began walking to meet her husband before suddenly stopping – she seemed to have remembered something.

"Oh, and Nick?" she asked, turning around. Nick hummed in response. "If I were you, I'd treat Judy to something special tonight; you both deserve it."

Nick's trademark smirk – a mere mask at this point – crept over his muzzle. "Don't need to tell me twice," he joked, but his eyes conveyed his sincere thanks to the female shrew. With a smile, Fru Fru turned and left the cops in silence.

The couple remained next to the casket for only a few moments before they finally decided it was time for them to start heading home. Paw in paw, the two descending down the gentle hill as the breeze washed over them. If not for the funeral, Nick and Judy would have enjoyed the walk and the weather a bit more. When they finally reached the parking lot, Nick pulled out his phone to call for a Zuber, their own car having been totaled a few days ago.

"Could it be?" a lightly accented voice to the left caught Nick and Judy's attention. "Are you two really the famous Officers Wilde and Hopps?"

Upon turning to greet the voice, the two cops were greeted with an interesting sight. A rabbit was walking towards them, his topaz eyes sparkling with the hope of meeting the two "celebrities." His fur was startlingly white and contrasted by pitch-black, triangular stripes on his cheeks and the tips of his ears. The gray tuxedo he wore looked like it had been through many uses, yet well-kept enough to have been brand-spanking-new.

The friendly air that this hare emanated was pleasant and relaxing – both Nick and Judy found themselves somewhat at ease as he came closer. Upon getting closer, his eyes widened with happy surprise. "My word, it is! Brilliant!" he exclaimed and quickly stuck out his paw for a handshake. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you two in person."

Nick shook the hare's paw, but when it was Judy's turn, the rabbit turned to Nick with a quizzical expression on his face. "May I?" he asked, gesturing towards the paw that he still held. Both cops were rather confused as to what he was asking, so Nick hesitantly nodded, immediately putting his guard up.

The hare bowed as he pulled Judy's paw up to his muzzle, placing a gentle and polite kiss atop the silver fur there. He then released Judy and straightened, a twinkle in his eyes that declared he was happy to be in the couple's presence. Upon seeing the rather quizzical expressions on the cops' faces, his eyes widened in realization. "Oh! Silly me, where are my manners!? I'm terribly sorry – I'm usually better with introductions," he blurted before brushing the nonexistent dirt off of his tuxedo and clearing his throat. "I'm Jack. Jack Savage. I'm the CEO of Furs Zootopia Bank. I'm, uh, sorry if my behavior just now was a bit confusing. You see, where I grew up, we were taught to always greet a lady respectfully, and if she was married, we were taught to be considerate of the husband. If I'm not mistaken, foxes can be rather protective of their mates, yes?"

Nick quirked an eyebrow and pursed his lips as he slowly nodded. Judy could see the cogs turning behind his eyes, but to her, he could have been thinking about anything from why Jack had asked permission to kiss her paw or how much he wanted to get home.

Upon seeing Nick's nod, Jack smiled. "I've wanted to meet with you two for a while now, but my work has kept me busy ever since you two stopped those four criminals – for which I thank you. Even now, I could only come here for a quick visit before I have to return to my office" he stated.

It was Judy's turn to quirk an eyebrow. "Wait, you're here to visit Mr. Big?" she asked with a sneaking suspicion in her voice.

Jack's eyes widened momentarily before a burst of laughter escaped his throat. "You know, I could say the same about you two," he merrily retorted with a twinkle in his eyes. Judy saw Nick smirk out of the corner of her eye – the hare had them there. "However, as to not get arrested, Officers," Jack continued with a coy smile, "I can tell you that I'm here because Mr. Big didn't only deal in illegal activities. Take his limo service, for example. That is a legitimate business, with legitimate accounts that the Furs Zootopia Bank takes care of. You know, thinking back on it, it was quite the clever ruse: if you have a business or front that actually follows the rules, it's all the harder to use to track you down.

"Anyway, enough about me. If I may be so bold, what were your ties with the shrew?" Jack asked, his eyes flicking between both cops. When they didn't answer at first, the hare continued, "Aw, come on you two. I revealed that I did business with Mr. Big; it's only fair that you tell me your story. If you're worried about it, though, my lips are sealed." He made the lip-zipping gesture to emphasize his point.

There were others who knew of Nick and Judy's relations with the crime boss. Obviously, the Chief was informed, creating a useful asset for the ZPD. From there, the Chief had told only those he really trusted, such as the mayor and his Assistant Chiefs from the other precincts. However, it wasn't because Nick and Judy didn't trust anyone else that they didn't reveal their ties with the Big family; it was hard to bring something like that up in conversation, and most of the time it just wasn't an incredibly important piece of information regarding whatever the current situation was. Though, now that the current situation brought about an opportunity to reveal their relationship, Nick and Judy felt a bit awkward – this wasn't something they did on a regular basis.

Judy spoke up after clearing her throat. "Well, during my first case on the ZPD, Nick and I followed a lead that led us to Mr. Big. I had saved his daughter from a giant donut-shaped sign in Little Rodentia the day before, so I was quickly put on the shrew's good side. From there, I became the godmother of Fru Fru's daughter, Judy, and when I married Nick, he was brought into the Family as well."

Jack smiled and nodded. "You have it better than I do. Being a business partner is one thing, but being part of the Family – that's quite the achievement," he stated with an almost dreamy tone. Catching himself, the hare quickly shook his head and returned his attention to the two cops, clearing his throat. "Ah, anyway, wasn't there a polar bear in the crash as well?"

"Yes," Nick spoke up, his mask still in place, "Jim Bratva is in the hospital right now, but the doctors don't think he'll make it. If anything, he had it worse than Mr. Big, so it's a miracle that he even has a shred of life to cling to."

"I see," Jack replied solemnly. "Let us hope he can recover – Fru Fru and her husband need all the Family they can get. You do know what Mr. Big's death means for the city, correct?"

Judy nodded. "We've discussed it ourselves. We only have a few more days of leave, and then we'll be back on the force, making the world a better place!" As she said this, a wave of determination washed over the doe – the first since the incident at the warehouse. As if Nick sensed it too, he placed a paw on her shoulder. Shooting him a quick glance told Judy that he felt similarly.

It was then that the Zuber driver arrived. "Come on, Carrots. Our ride's here," Nick commented, gesturing towards the car with his snout. "It was nice meeting you, Stripes." Nick shot a friendly smirk in the hare's direction.

Jack smiled before suddenly remembering something. "Oh, wait! Before you go, take these," he exclaimed, handing over two business cards. "I still want to officially thank you for saving my bank, so give me a call whenever you want or need something."

Quickly glancing at each other, both Nick and Judy pocketed the cards – they were good at acquiring useful assets and friends, it seemed. "Of course," Nick piped up. "Just be prepared for something completely time-wasting and mundane."

The hare chuckled. "As you wish," he replied. "You two have a wonderful day, now!" He waved goodbye before spinning on his heel and walking away from the car. Similarly, Nick and Judy turned and entered the vehicle, shutting the door behind them.

Victor Wilde watched as his son and daughter-in-law left the funeral. So far, it seemed that Mr. Big's advice was working well for them – despite the dreary setting of the ceremony, they handled themselves rather well. This was a good sign to the older reynard. He shifted his gaze back up the small hill where Mr. Big's grave was. Several polar bears were now gently lowering the tiny casket into the earth. Not even a flicker of emotion revealed itself in Victor's expression as he watched.

Richard carefully walked up behind his boss and old friend – disturbing Victor in this state would be dangerous to most mammals. He patiently waited for Victor to acknowledge his presence as he stood a small distance away from the reynard. The wolf's own gaze slowly crawled up the hill, coming to rest upon the now-filled grave. The polar bears solemnly stood around the small heap of dirt, creating a sight that Richard would have called depressing.

"What do you want, Wooly?" Victor spoke up, catching the wolf's attention. Emerald met brown when the two mammals' gazes locked.

"It's time to get going," Richard replied, keeping a stoic expression. "You don't want to be late for your appointment."

Victor sighed; it was days like these that he wished he had a different line of work. This feeling was fleeting, however, as he reminded himself of his end goal. A wave of strict determination washed over the reynard as he turned to the wolf.

"Alright then. Let's go," Victor muttered, gesturing with his paw for Richard to lead the way. The two mammals walked in silence as they made their way to their vehicle, and the passed by very few of the attendees from the funeral. These mammals, including the hare that Nick and Judy were talking to earlier, were all ignored by the fox and wolf as they walked past.

The dominant thought in Victor's mind at the moment was his appointment. This wasn't something he was particularly excited to do, no matter what the press said about the ewe; she had still managed to almost get predators driven out of the city by fearful prey mammals. The location of the meeting wasn't the best either, but Victor had gotten lucky with his new-found resources – Mr. Big had friends everywhere.

It didn't take long, and soon, the two predators were pulling out of the parking lot and heading onto one of the main highways that ran through Zootopia. Victor grabbed his thick jacket from the back seat. The Tundratown Penitentiary was always freezing.

Very rarely was Judy ever this excited to be home, to be away from the cruel realities of this world. Just her and Nick in their own little, personal bubble, where nothing could harm them. It was secret, it was safe, it was secure.

The pleasantly familiar aromas of blueberries wafted throughout the house, soothing Judy's heavy heart. So much so, in fact, that the moment her ears picked up the sound of Nick locking the front door behind them, she turned and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.

Nick seemed surprised, for he was slightly startled by the sudden hug. It didn't take long for him to chuckle and return the embrace, however, much to Judy's relief. With the events of the past few days, this was something that she needed.

After a few moments, Nick released his grip on the bunny. "I'm hungry. How about you, Carrots?" When Judy said nothing and refused to break her embrace, Nick chuckled again. "Alright, have it your way." He hooked his arms under her legs and hoisted Judy off of the ground, eliciting a surprised squeak followed by timid chuckling. Nick then proceeded to carry his wife into the living room and set her on the couch, deftly moving away before Judy could wrap her arms around him again.

"Let me order us something first, Carrots. Then I'm all yours," Nick promised as he made his way to the kitchen. His smirk crept over his muzzle as he noticed Judy's arms crossing over her chest in a mock pout. As he looked through the list of tolerable takeout establishments on his phone, Nick couldn't help but realize that he felt more relaxed than he had in a while. Whether it was the fact that he and Judy were in their own home and away from any danger, or the fact that Judy wanted to just stay in his arms – where he could easily keep her safe – he did not know.

Judy, on the other hand, kept up her false pouting mood for another few seconds before it dissipated. A cautiously cheerful emotion soon enveloped her, and a grumble from her stomach brought about a genuine smile on her face – a first in what felt like a long time. "Hey Nick, what's on the menu?" she called as she craned her neck to get a good look at her husband in the kitchen.

"Uh, well, there's a Dominx-noes near here, but there's also that Chinese takeout that we really like," Nick replied. "I don't know, what do you think, Carrots?"

Judy pondered the extremely difficult decision. "Chinese sounds great," she declared almost immediately.

"You got it!" Thanks to Judy's sensitive ears, she could hear Nick dial the number and place the order: one veggie stir fry for her, one teriyaki chicken and fried rice for him. He ordered an extra helping of spring and egg rolls for them to enjoy, and of course, the fortune cookies that they always had a blast with. Just the thought of all that food was enough to make Judy's stomach grumble again.

Nick soon emerged from the kitchen, a bowl of blueberries in his paws. After shoving a handful of the tart treats into his mouth, Nick set the bowl on the coffee table and took the seat next to Judy, who longingly stared at the bowl but made no move to partake of its contents.

"Go ahead, Carrots," Nick said as he leaned forward and grabbed another handful. "I won't be able to finish all of these by myself."

"Don't lie, Slick," Judy retorted, shooting the fox a playful glare. "You and I both know that you are perfectly capable of finishing that bowl off."

Nick chuckled. "True, but I don't want to. My hearing may not be as great as yours, but I do recognize the sounds of a hungry bunny when I hear them."

Judy's traitorous stomach grumbled in agreement, eliciting another chuckle from the fox. Rolling her eyes and silently cursing her hunger, Judy leaned over and grabbed a few blueberries. While she wasn't completely enamored with them like Nick was, she still greatly enjoyed the treat. Upon biting down on the berry, its tart taste exploded in her mouth, coating her tongue with the juice. Already, her hunger was weakening, and after a few more berries, Judy felt satisfied enough to comfortably wait for dinner to arrive.

For Nick, however, enough was never enough when it came to blueberries. It was as if the treats refused to actually satiate his hunger and instead accumulate into some other form of energy inside of him. Whatever the case, Judy knew that even if Nick emptied the bowl, he would still have room for dinner when it arrived.

As the seconds ticked by, Judy grew more and more bored. "Wanna see what's on TV?" she asked as Nick finished the last of the blueberries.

His muzzle filled with berries and coated with juice, all Nick could do was nod in affirmation. Satisfied with the answer, Judy retrieved the remote and turned on the television. The ZNN News Channel appeared on the screen.

"It's been two days since the accident that killed Mr. Big, one of the most notorious crime bosses of the city," said one of the two news anchors – the moose. Before he could continue, however, Judy quickly changed the channel –

– to another news station. "Our sources tell us that it was probably foul play. I mean, look at the evidence! The only two mammals found in the wreckage were Mr. Big and his polar bear, but there was no driver! Something bigger is going on here, and if we're not careful, the whole city could be swept up with –"

Again, Judy quickly changed the channel, and again, it was another news station. "There is still no word on how his daughter and son-in-law are taking their loss. In other news, Dawn Bellwether is well on her way to getting off for good behavior. Recent interviews – from predator and prey alike – have shown that the ewe seems ready to come back into society as a, and I quote, 'changed mammal.'"

"Let me try, Carrots," Nick muttered, holding out his paw for the remote. With a huff at the television, Judy complied and leaned into her fox as he began flipping through the channels. Unfortunately for them, it seemed that most of their favorite channels were either being interrupted by special news broadcasts or were advertising such things. A glance to Nick revealed to Judy the effect the stories were having on him. His lips were pulled back in a thin frown, his eyebrows were furrowed, and his eyes struggled to hide his inner emotions. Judy didn't blame him, either: Mr. Big had been a huge part of his younger life, especially after Nick had run away from home.

A knock on the door startled the couple, but upon realizing what it might be, the relief that washed over them was visible. Nick quickly took the opportunity to turn the TV off and head over to the door where he retrieved and paid for the food. He then returned to the living room to drop off the takeout before making his way to the kitchen.

"Hey Carrots, what do you want to drink?" he called. The image of his tail sticking out from behind the fridge door suddenly popped into Judy's head, bringing a smile to her face.

"Do we still have those juices that I got from the store?" Judy called back.

"Uh, yeah," Nick answered. "We got Orange Mango, Strawberry Banana, Lemon Wheatgrass, what? Why is that a flavor?"

Judy smiled. "I'll take the last one, please!" She could hear Nick's soft chuckle from the couch.

"Why am I not surprised?" the fox's quiet question also reached Judy's ears. Soon enough, Nick returned with a bottle of juice in one paw and a soda in the other. Sitting down next to Judy, he handed over her drink before popping the cap of his own. Without further ado, the two dove into their respective meals.

The moment the steaming vegetables reached her tongue, Judy felt like a weight was taken from her. Her stomach cried in the joy of having – somewhat – real food to fill it. Glancing at Nick told her that he was enjoying his food too, scarfing down the sauce-coated chicken the way he was. Upon catching a glance of his teeth before they sank into a piece of chicken and hid behind his lips again, Judy felt a faint shudder roll through her body.

This is stupid! she bitterly thought as she turned back to her own food, feeling much less hungry. Why am I so afraid of him!?

You know why, her mind replied. But I'll spell it out for you since you seem so oblivious: he's a fox. A predator. Someone who could kill you!

Judy quickly shook her head to dismiss the thought, and it worked – temporarily. She took another bite of her stir fry before her mind decided to speak up again.

Come on, Judy! You know what happened at the warehouse! You were stalked and hunted. It was pure luck that the ZPD got there in time.

No, Nick was there. He could have kept me safe, Judy retorted, though before her mind answered, she knew it was a weak response.

Oh really? Your Nick, who was blindfolded, muzzled, and tied to a chair? I don't know about you, but I don't see that as keeping you safe.

He'd never hurt me. I saw it in the forest when Hunter injected him with Night Howler, Judy reasoned.

You learned that he'd never intentionally hurt you. But what about accidentally, hmm? her mind retorted. He's much bigger than you, he has sharper claws than you do, and he definitely has more teeth!

Judy scowled at nothing in particular. She wasn't going to listen to herself as she knew that she wasn't afraid of Nick. In fact, she was determined to prove it to herself! Gently placing her carton on the coffee table, Judy turned to her husband who had just finished an egg roll and was washing it down with soda. When he put that down, Judy quickly grabbed his attention by grabbing the red tie he was wearing.

She saw his eyes widen in surprise and anticipation upon meeting hers, and she could've sworn she saw the insides of his ears go pink. She kept her moves slow and smooth, effortlessly conveying what she wanted to do. Nick didn't seem to complain as Judy's arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss.

Judy ignored the lingering taste of soda and egg roll in Nick's mouth and proceeded to gently pull her fox down onto the couch with her. She felt a low, pleased growl escape from Nick's throat and suppressed a shudder – she was determined to not succumb to fear. Just before her back had touched the seat of the sofa, Nick's strong arms held them both up.

"Now, now, Carrots," Nick playfully chided after breaking their kiss. "We don't want to wrinkle our Sunday clothes."

Judy's ears blushed as she realized that they had neglected to change when they got home. Nick must have noticed this, for his chuckle soon caught Judy's attention. "Don't worry, Carrots. I do believe that I can help with that."

His paws then proceeded to snake around to her back, where they gently unzipped the dress. Nick seemed to enjoy drawing out the motion, if his sly grin was anything to go by. Slowly, the dress was pulled from over her shoulders and down her body, revealing more of her silver and white fur. More than once, Judy flinched as Nick's claws grazed the skin beneath her fur, but it must have been easily misunderstood for enjoyment, for Nick seemed to miss it completely.

After many agonizingly long seconds, Nick gently pulled the dress down past Judy's feet and draped it on the arm of the sofa. He then proceeded to trail kisses all over Judy's body, much to her delight.

Don't think that this proves anything, Judy, her mind snapped. This spur of the moment will eventually end, and you'll feel no different. You'll still be afraid of his teeth, his claws – of him!

Judy clenched her eyes, hoping to shut out the nagging thoughts of her mind. Upon opening them, she found Nick staring at her with mild amusement.

"You alright there, Carrots?" he asked, and Judy noticed the very faint tone of concern in his voice.

He'd never hurt me, Judy told herself again before gently grabbing Nick behind the ears and pulling him into another kiss. Her paws then grew a mind of their own as they began to unbutton his tuxedo and undershirt. With fluid movements and help from Nick, Judy soon had the two shirts removed and gently draped over the side of the couch.

Their kiss continued to deepen with their growing passion, but they had to break for air. Nick then dipped his muzzle into the crook of her neck, trailing kisses and gentle nips. The moment that she felt his teeth on her skin, Judy couldn't suppress her body's sudden and violent jerk. Nick, of course, noticed it and immediately pulled away, concern in his emerald eyes.

"Judy, what's wrong," he inquired. His eyes trailed over her form, trying to see if he had accidentally opened one of her wounds or hurt her in any way. The three, long claw marks across her chest did nothing for Nick's emotional state.

It wasn't hard to tell what Nick was looking at, and Judy felt a strange pang of sorrow. She considered telling Nick the full truth about her mental state, but she figured that it would run the risk of hurting Nick even worse than the press conference three years ago. Shutting out the smug voice in the back of her head that was undoubtedly chanting "I told you so," over and over, Judy addressed Nick. "I'm sorry. Ever since the warehouse incident, I've been thinking of the festival where Gideon Grey scratched me. I know I've gotten over that, but I can't help but jump a bit when something sharp suddenly touches me."

She hoped that the little bit of information was enough to tide Nick over. From the way his eyes softened and a relieved expression crept across his muzzle, it was safe to say that it was. "Alright then," Nick began. "How does no more claws or teeth sound?" To emphasize his point, Nick retracted his claws as far as they would go.

While Judy smiled on the outside, she couldn't help but feel guilty. Though he may be alright with it, Nick was now hiding a part of him that made him unique just to make Judy feel better. She was appreciative, yes, but she couldn't help but feel like the prey of the city who still vehemently feared predators.

"Thanks," Judy quietly muttered, averting her gaze. She heard Nick chuckle before his paw found its way under her chin. Her face was tilted up to meet Nick's lips in a kiss that she soon melted into. For the moment, her doubt was chased away, and all that remained was the fox she was pulling down on top of her.

The real Tundratown Penitentiary looked as cold and harsh as the environment around it. With high, concrete walls and colorless facade, it felt as if all happiness was drained from the very air itself. Unlike its close relative, the Cliffside Asylum, the more "stable" threats found residence in the Tundratown Penitentiary.

One such resident was Ex-Mayor Dawn Bellwether, the ewe that was responsible for the Night Howler shootings. By this time, just about every Zootopian knew the story: the sheep had felt oppressed by the larger predators around her, and so she decided to try to run them out of the city using prey mammals' fear. It would have worked had it not been for the combined forces of Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps-now-Wilde.

Of course, that was nearly three years ago, and as times change, so do the animals. At least, that seemed to be Bellwether's slogan as she set about making herself better in the hope of returning to society. Being a sheep, it was instinct to remain in a large herd, so the isolation she had in her cell was more and more maddening with each passing day.

A knock on the door caught Bellwether's attention, drawing her away from her thoughts. "Hey, Dawn! You got a visitor," came a gruff voice from outside the steel door. It didn't sound like the wolf that normally stood guard in her particular hallway, but the penitentiary was always changing up rotations in security.

"Give me just a moment," she called back, turning around to her reflection in the mirror. She quickly checked the appearance of her wool, wanting to make a good impression on whoever was visiting – an extra boost towards getting off for good behavior. Once she was finished, she turned and made her way to the door. "Alright, I'm ready."

Her eyes widened in surprise as she found that it was not the wolf that normally guarded this hallway. Instead, it was an arctic fox that Bellwether had only seen lingering around the mess hall during meals. She had never caught his name, but at the moment, she didn't really care. Soon, she would be away from this place.

The fox led her on in silence, leaving the sheep to her thoughts. As usual, she was curious as to who would be visiting her and, as of late, if it could benefit her status on good behavior. However, she was jerked from her thoughts when she realized that they weren't going to the visitation room, but instead heading towards the direction of the interrogation rooms. This both excited and unnerved the ewe; whoever was visiting her was either with the ZPD, high city officials, or someone very influential.

"Here we are," the guard grunted, coming to a sudden stop before a door with the label Room B. While not very intimidating at first glance, Bellwether knew the rumors that circulated this particular room. It was known to many criminals that Mr. Big had some power within the Tundratown Penitentiary, so if a visit was wanted, it was always done in Room B. The ewe had thought it silly, especially because of the obvious giveaway, but that didn't stop the cold wave of nervousness that washed over her.

The fox closed the door behind Bellwether once she entered the room, leaving complete and eerie silence in his wake. The ewe cautiously walked about the room, her hazel eyes glancing around for any sign of who was about to visit her. The desk that sat in the middle of the room was obviously built for medium-sized mammals, such as cougars or wolves. However, there was an adjustable seat designed so that even Bellwether could comfortably sit at the table. Upon not finding anything out of the ordinary, the ewe decided to do just that, taking the seat and immediately adjusting it so that she could see above the table.

No sooner had she done this did the door open, startling Bellwether. Her eyes widened in confusion as Nick and some wolf she didn't know walked in. She found it strange that Nick was so well-dressed in his brown business suit, but of course, this was the fox that married a bunny that she was questioning. Only when Nick spoke up did Bellwether realize that she was wrong.

"Hello there, Bellwether," Victor Wilde said, his emerald eyes shooting a look that sent shivers down the ewe's spine. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. My name is Victor, and I have a proposition for you."

Yes, I am creating my own interpretation of Jack Savage. I shall be very proud of him, and the start of that is the fact that he shall have Cary Elwes' (Westley from Princess Bride, Baron from Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns) voice! That hath been decreed! And no, I'm not the first to have Jack not be a spy. When Instinct Falls, which has been out much longer than this story has, puts Jack in a similar occupation. Anyway, hooray for Act 2! Woo!

Also, before you ask, my Bellwether isn't scared of predators; she just didn't like them. Hence her being willing to try to go back into society. So now you know.