Nick watched as Judy boarded the train. He looked through the windows hoping to catch a glimpse of her but he had no luck. The train pulled away and he missed her.

He walked out of the station and glanced around the city as he took a deep breath before he headed home. The setting sun cast a warm glow which, combined with the bright orange trees, caused the city to look like it was on fire. Nick missed the beautiful sight completely as he slunk into the shadows of the alley ways.

He had made his way back to Sahara Square without really knowing where he was or where he was going. His usually busy mind was empty save what felt like a still gray mistiness. When he arrived home he went straight to his fridge and cracked open a beer like he has done every night for the past two weeks. He stared at the curtain separating his bedroom and sighed before collapsing into his couch.

Nick pulled out his phone and selected a number from his favorites list. The phone rang and Nick bolstered himself for the call.

"Finnick! Buddy! Hey, what are you up to?" from the other side of the phone the small fox would have never guessed anything was wrong, Nick's voice was his usual happy self.

"Nothin' man. What's goin' on with you?"

"Not much, but I was hoping we could change that. See, my girl is out of town for the weekend and I'm thinking of cutting loose."

"Oh yeah man. I was gonna play cards with Darwin and Greg at Conner's place. You should come by. We're meeting at nine." Finnick sounded happy over the phone and Nick agreed to the plan.

9:00 pm. He had a little over an hour to hang out then. He downed his beer and stared at the wall, the misty grayness was seeping back into his mind. He had one hour to be numb in the quietness of his apartment. There was no TV to fill time or the void inside him. He flicked through a few apps on his phone but nothing held his interest so he just finished his beer and started another.

He glanced at his sink. The dishes were piling back up without Judy, but at a second glance he realized it wasn't dishes but bottles that were spread all over the place. When was the last time he ate anything?

Nick had polished off his third beer before he left for Conner's and he wasn't feeling even the slightest bit tipsy. He decided to grab a twelve pack on the way.

When he arrived and the gray fox's apartment he burst in with smiles for all his old friends. Finnick was there, and Conner naturally, as well as Darwin and Greg. Some of the foxes he had seen only days prior while others he hadn't seen in months. All the foxes were drinking beers of their own and and a table was already set with cards and chips, both kinds for gambling and eating. Nick was happy to see all his friends again but when they had sat down to play the happiness slowly vanished.

All the foxes were shrewd poker players. They knew the game well, and as any good poker player knows, the game is more about playing your opponents than the cards and Nick was getting played.

"The fuck is wrong with you tonight?" Finnick finally growled after Nick failed yet another bluff and lost a sizable amount of cash.

"Me? N-nothing. Nothing is wrong," Nick stammered. He was losing money left and right like an armature.

"Shut up Fin," Darwin laughed, "I've never taken so much of Nick's money before."

"You never take anyone's money." Conner laughed. Greg laughed too but Finnick wasn't laughing. He was staring hard at Nick and Nick could feel the small fox trying to analyze him.

"Nah. Nah, somethin' is wrong. You haven't played cards with us in months but now all of a sudden, your girl is 'out' and you come over playin' like shit."

"Go play therapist someplace else, I'm trying to make some cash," Darwin grumbled.

"Fine I'll shut up. Just tryin' to be a good friend unlike you fuckers. Whatever. Take the fools money," Finnick shrugged, "I hope that bunny bitch dumped yo ass."

"Wait bunny? Are you dating a bunny?" Greg asked. "What's that like?"

"I bet she's tight as fuck," Darwin laughed, "or at least used to be, am I right?". Darwin threw his hand up for a high five but Nick just gave him a cold glare and Darwin realized he said the wrong thing.

"God, you win a few hands and you go off the rails don't you? But seriously, give us all the details but don't go all mushy on us alright?" Greg implored.

Nick was trying so hard not to think about Judy, but there was no way to avoid it now. "Um, yeah. Well there's definitely some truth to the whole 'fucking like rabbits' thing." Nick chuckled and the other foxes nodded approvingly. "And she is smaller so, you know, she is tighter than your average vixen. And-and she smells amazing and her fur is really soft. Oh and she's fit so her ass and her legs are to die for. And her eyes are this awesome shade of purple. And the things she does both in and out of bed, she can bring damn near any mammal to their knees. She's really awesome."

Nick realized too late that he had been rambling on like the love sick idiot he was. The other foxes were staring at him. Nick averted his gaze and tried not to blush. Nick had a reputation for being the most shrewd and controlled of the group. He always cleaned out the other foxes at poker. He never let anyone in behind his walls and the other foxes always admired that about him but here he was babbling on about such personal information the other foxes agreed with Finnick something was wrong.

"And she dumped your ass," Finnick finally broke the awkward silence.

The heat was rising in Nick's face. He tried forgetting Judy and it left him with a feeling of nothingness. Maybe anger was the better response.

"Yeah well, what if she did! So what? Fuck her and her stupid fucking mood swings." Nick yelled out. He could have gone on but if he did he knew tears would be coming and there was no way he could cry in front of his old pals.

"Alright boys," Finnick stood on his chair, "I think we can all see what's happenin' here and what needs to be done. I suggest we cancel card night and we all go to the bar and get this fox fucked up."

"Here, here."

"Agreed"

"Aww, but I was winning."

Despite protests Nick was dragged three blocks to a local club known as "The Den." Nick knew this place well and he was sure this was the kind of place Judy would disprove of. Inside Nick could see other foxes, weasels, otters, small cats and even wolves, all male, milling about and drinking. Only once they entered further into the club could the group see scantily clad females chatting and dancing with the males. At the far end of the club was a stage with a long pole where a mink was dancing wearing nothing but a sparkling bikini.

"Really guys? The Den?" Nick asked with mild embarrassment.

"Yeah I think my girl is working tonight, the one I told you about," Finnick scanned the club but it was a small arctic fox who found him first.

"Finny!" The fox squealed as she scooped up the even smaller fox. like the mink, she was wearing only a tiny bikini top and matching g-string, only her long fur spilled out of the get up making her look practically naked. "What are you doing here baby?"

Finnick smiled as and hugged the almost nude vixen.

"Angel! Meet my crew! Boys this is Angel, a.k.a. Gabby. Don't call her Gabby here though, she hates that," he leaned in close like that last part was a secret before he turned back to the vixen. "My boy, Nick, here just got dumped so we are taking him out to make some bad choices."

"Well you came to the right place for that," Angel instantly picked out which fox was Nick without any gesture. "Hey, you're kinda cute. I tell you what, my girl Star, she's about to go up and dance. How about you boys relax and afterwards I get her to come hang out with us. See if she can get you some special attention." The white vixen winked and then leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Now, don't go spreading this around but I happen to know that she and her beau broke up sometime ago and that girl is getting hungry if you catch my drift. Maybe you play your cards right, yeah?"

Nick swallowed hard and tried to give the vixen a friendly smile and nod. The group stopped first to the bar where Finnick ordered a round of tequila shots for the group. Nick ordered another shot and a beer. He took his shots and the crew made there way to the stage.

A series of hoots and hollers rose as a new dancer came onto the stage. Nick watched as the most beautiful vixen he'd ever seen walked to the pole with an exaggerated swing to her hips. Her fur was sleek and white with streaks of gray that ran down her body and accentuated her curves. She flicked her tail with her hips and more hoots came from the crowd. She grabbed the pole and shook her ass at the crowd. Nick was taken aback at its perfect roundness. The vixen continued to dance, her moves becoming gradually more complex, until she was swinging around the poles using just her legs and she was hanging upside down.

When she finished Nick had to pick his jaw off the floor. He watched her leave the stage with a fist full of dollar bills that the grateful patrons tossed her way. As she exited the stage she saw Angel approach her. They spoke and the gray and white vixen looked over to Nick's direction. Her eyes met his and he looked away embarrassed. Nick tried to concentrate on the weasel that made her way to the stage.

"Hey, Nick right?" Came a soft voice from behind. Two long arms slid over his shoulders and a beautiful face appeared next to his. Nick took a long drought from his bottle of beer nervously before he turned to face the vixen.

"Uh hi," he squeaked.

The vixen giggled, "Angel said you were cute. How about you buy me a drink and then we go someplace a little quieter."

Nick nodded dutifully and stood up to move but the vixen stopped short. Finnick had grabbed her wrist and was putting a folded up bill in her paw. "For when you get to that more quiet place," he said in an unnecessarily stern voice. Star gave him a wink before they headed to the bar. She ordered a shot of vodka and Nick got the same, doubled, along with another beer. Star seemed impressed as Nick threw back the drink in one gulp. They then went off to a small area with what looked like a row of dressing room. Nick and Star entered one of the rooms and she guided him onto a bench. She sat next to him and crossed one leg over onto his.

"So, what's your story?" She asked as she traced small circles on his chest with her finger.

Between the alcohol and the emotional marathon he had been through, Nick had no willpower left to mask his feelings and come up with a suave and charming story. All he had left was the truth.

"I got dumped."

"Aw poor baby. Who would be so dumb as to throw out a catch like you?" Star leaned in closer to Nick. "Do you want me to make it all better."

Nick nodded his head and Star climbed onto his lap and began to move her shoulders and hips in slow, sensual circles. She ran her paws down the back of his neck and pulled him into her chest. Nick closed his eyes but when he did, even though the size was all wrong, Judy appeared before him in his mind. Nick's eyes shot wide open again. He stared into Star's bright blue eyes.

"You can touch me if you want. I know it's technically against the rules, but for a cutie like you, I won't tell."

Nick gulped hard. His paws were shaking as he gently placed them on her waist. Star then twisted and sat back on his lap. Her rump was grinding into his pelvis. He put his paws back on her waist and soon he began rubbing her hips. He couldn't help but imagine taking Star home and bending her over and abusing that tight round ass, but again his fantasy shifted to when he had already done that with Judy.

Nick squeezed his eyes closed. He tried to get the small bunny off his mind and focus on the vixen in front of him, but he couldn't shake his guilt. What would Judy think of him right now? Did he care what she thought? He must or he wouldn't keep thinking about her. And yet, hadn't she told him to forget about her for the weekend? If Judy never walked into his life he would probably be falling in love with the beautiful vixen and working his way into her bed. But if Judy never walked into his life, Finnick might not have started working with Angel and he might not have been able to get Star's attention.

Nick quickly slid his hands up and across the vixen's abdomen and he embraced her in a tight hug. Star was surprised but she didn't call out, she just froze, waiting to see what he would do next. Nick took in a long breath, inhaling and entire lung full of Star's scent. It was pleasant but something about it just didn't appeal to him.

"I'm sorry, I can't do this." Star turned and stared at Nick, her facial expression demanded an explanation. "You are very pretty. I mean, you are probably the most beautiful vixen I've even seen, but I'm still in love with my girlfriend and this feels wrong."

Star continued to sit on Nick's lap, her eyes were searching his face, looking for something before she spoke, "I know I'm beautiful, I don't need you to tell me that. Shit, I have destroyed marriages. You hear me? Marriages, as in more than one." She flipped around and reached into Nick's pant pocket. Like any sneaky fox would do, she had previously spied which pocket held his phone and wallet. She pulled out the phone and began tapping furiously at it. She flipped it around to show Nick that she programmed her number into it.

"Not everyone can resist my looks and charm. If your girl can't realize what a catch you are, you give me a call." Star turned and walked away in a huff after returning his phone.

Nick looked at the name entered into his phone.

"Samantha."

Nick thanked Samantha in his mind, he was about to run out the door but realized how pointless that would be. Where would he go and what would he do? Judy was all the way in Bunny Burrow. It would be too late to catch a train out there. instead he returned to his buddies. He felt like a new fox and the next round of drinks were on him. He barely noticed any other female for the rest of the night and he drank to toast his new vigor. He wouldn't reveal it to the guys, but starting tomorrow, Nick was determined to win Judy back at any cost.

Author's Note: Oh, I'm sorry. Were you hoping for Judy's test results this chapter? Bwahahaha!

Actually I had a lot of fun trying to express their individual mindsets making Judy to be the one who is calculating the possibilities and next steps and Nick is the emotional train wreck. Are they rubbing off on each other or is this who they are without masks and ambitions coloring their actions?

Again I want to thank you guys for the reviews. If you could only see my gleeful facial expressions as I read them!