Hey there guys, I'm gonna do most of my talking down the bottom, so you guys get to enjoy the chapter first before you have to deal with my ramblings.

Whoever was ringing her doorbell at 8am on a Saturday morning was a brave animal. Judy stumbled around her bedroom, finding something to put on over her pyjamas so she appeared at least semi-decent. After putting her dressing gown on, she opened her front door, getting ready to tell whoever it was that they had better have a good reason for doing what they were doing.

Nick. At her door. At 8am. On a Saturday. What was he doing here, and at this time of the morning? "Good morning carrots" he said all too cheerfully. Judy groaned. "It's 8am Nick. It's the weekend. What are you doing here?" Judy wasn't ready for this, it was too early. She wouldn't have minded him coming over uninvited if it was later in the day, but at this time… She had been looking forward to her sleep-in. Nick handed her a cup of Snarlbucks coffee. "Looks like you need it Cottontail, and before you ask, yes. Milk, 2 sugars and topped with carrot cream, just the way you like it. See, I do know you better than you think."

Judy accepted the cup, knowing that with whatever Nick had planned, she was going to need it. "I told you Nick, I've got paperwork to do. Whatever it is that you've planned, I'm gonna have to sit it out" she said, although she did hope that he'd thought of a way around that. Nick grinned. "Yeah, I know, but I know you had also planned to move furniture this weekend. So I've come to volunteer my services, I'll move the furniture for you while you do your paperwork." Judy reluctantly agreed. She hadn't actually had anyone else in her apartment before, so this was going to be a new experience. "Okay" she said, "Come in, make yourself comfortable while I go make myself more presentable". Nick smiled inwardly, resisting the urge to make a comment on the matter. "Alright Hopps, but don't take too long." Judy shot him a long glance, and closed the door to her bedroom.

Nick was glad Judy hadn't asked him to leave. He had gotten up early this morning and made an effort to look good. He had combed his fur, cleaned his teeth, he had even made an effort to bush his tail up more than usual. He had always been proud of his tail, he thought it looked quite magnificent, and when bushed up like it was today, it was so much softer than usual. Nick looked around, taking in the inner sanctuary of Officer Judith L. Hopps. Nick laughed inside, it was so cliché. There were carrots decorating literally everything. You could tell from the instant you walked in that a bunny lived here. Nick smiled, and took a seat. Though the couch was more designed for animals the size of Judy, Nick found that he could easily make himself comfortable if he stretched out in just a way that… CRRAACCKKKK.

Judy couldn't believe it. He was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid to turn up here at this time of the morning, uninvited, and on a day he knew that she had planned to get her work done. She sighed. He could be infuriating sometimes. But she knew that he was only doing it because he cared. He was a good friend. Even if he could be infuriating. He did genuinely care, and that made her feel special. Even… Loved. She remembered back to earlier in the week, his first day, just before they had arrested Flash for speeding. She had said she loved him, in a way that made it sound like the love of a best friend. If only he could know the truth… She sighed. No. He couldn't. She started to warm up her shower when she heard a loud splintering sound, like the cracking of a… "Oh no" she said as a she grabbed her dressing gown and ran out. Sure enough, there was Nick. Lying atop the remains of what had been her lounge. He looked up to see her and immediately dropped his head, looking straight at the ground. His ears pinned back and his tail went low. "I'm sorry Judy, I was just trying to make myself comfortable, and then…"

Judy held up her paws. In fact, she was trying ever so hard not to laugh. Here was a fox, her natural predator, and he was apologising to and acting scared of her? "Nick, relax. I should've warned you about that couch. It was already starting to do that under my weight. The furniture I was planning on moving, that was it. I was getting rid of it. Relax, it's okay. Really." Nick's ears pricked back up and his tail bushed up. He was getting embarrassed. Oh, this was too good.

Nick could feel his cheeks going red. He'd made such a fool of himself. In front of Judy, no less. Why had he been like this around her lately? He prided himself on how he always maintained his cool disposition, no matter what. 'Don't let them see when they've got to you.' That was his motto. So why was he turning into such a mess around her lately? Yesterday in the station, now this… He had to get a hold of himself before he did something stupid like admit to her that… No, he wouldn't even let his mind wander there. "So, now that I know that you're not furious at me for breaking this, how about I start taking what's left of this down to the dumpster outside your building, while you go and actually have that shower I can hear you've left running?" Judy agreed, giving Nick the spare key so he could let himself back in when finished before moving back into her bedroom, and finally into the shower.

Nick whimpered. Another splinter. He was glad Judy was getting rid of this thing, it was a death trap. Old and creaking, he could see that it had been second hand when she had gotten her paws onto it. Since he had broken it, he wanted to replace it for her. Throwing the last of the couch into the dumpster, he had another idea. He pulled out his phone.

Judy was just finishing drying her fur when she heard Nick finally come back in. What had taken him so long? She didn't take hour long showers, but the time she was in should've been ample for him to take the remains of the couch down and come back up. She made note to ask him what he had been doing when she went out to join him. Right now, she was focusing on getting ready for the day. Now that Nick was gonna be here, she wanted to look her best. She knew that, being a guy, he would probably take little notice, but she wanted to try. She enjoyed being able to do the little things like put perfume on and do her nails, not that she got to do these things often. The ZPD uniform policy was strict, and with the thin ice she was on after the missing mammal cases, she didn't want to give Chief Bogo a reason to look her way. Though she had solved it eventually, the news interview she did had upset a lot of predators. She remembered the look in Nick's eyes when she came back off the stage. Betrayal wasn't a suitable enough word. She had cut him deep that day, and she still felt so stupid for not realising the ramifications of what she had said. She wanted to make it up to him, she needed to make it up to him. Though she had apologised so much in the months since, she wanted to do something, anything, to make it better.

Nick heard Judy open the door of her bedroom. He glanced up as she walked out. She had put on some fitted jeans and a lilac top, to match her eyes. He always had loved those eyes, even back when he first met her, it was one of the first things he noticed. They were so passionate, so alive, and so full of energy. He had often had to look away to avoid getting lost in them.

"What took you so long downstairs?" she asked. Nick clenched his teeth. She had noticed. "Oh, just organising some things. Nothing too exciting." Judy walked over to her table, where her pile of paperwork sat. "Uh huh. Well. I'm not sure what else there is for you to do Nick, there isn't that much to do around here" Judy apologised. Nick smiled, and moved over to join her at the table. "Maybe I can help with your paperwork instead?" he offered, wanting to help Judy in any way that he could. Judy smiled, surprised at the amount of help he was offering. "Nick, as much as I'd love your help, this is something you can't help with. It's... Well... It's a report on you. An update really. Just me saying how your first week went." Nick mumbled an understanding, clearly feeling a bit downtrodden. He wanted to help, but he couldn't. Judy wanted to cheer him up, so she asked her question. "Hey Nick, remember that news interview I did during the missing mammals case? What am I saying? Of course you remember. Anyway, I know I've apologised so much for that, but I want to make it up to you. I want to give you something, do something for you. Anything. I betrayed your trust, and I want to make it up to you."

Nick took a moment, thinking things through. She really did feel bad about that interview. He knew she hadn't meant to hurt him, but she had just been so naive in her comments. But he had forgiven her, moved on. "Cottontail, really? I've forgiven you, I have moved on from that. I don't think there is... Actually, there is one thing." Judy looked up into his eyes. Those stunning emerald green seas. "Sure Nick, what is it?" Nick took a breath. "Well Carrots, that is, Judy, I was wondering if, and I don't want to put any pressure on you, if you're not okay with this, it's cool, but..." Judy looked at him "Just spit it out Nick, you're killing me here" she remarked with a chuckle. "Well Judy, I was wondering if you would like to go out to dinner with me.

So, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. If you did, or you have any suggestions, comments, criticisms, anything at all, please do leave a review, they really are helpful. I think at the moment I'm still trying to find my writing style, so please do be patient with me. Also, right now my plan is to release a new chapter every Thursday from now on. Or Wednesday evening. Depending where you live. time zones do my head in. If I don't, I apologise, it just means that my uni work has overwhelmed me and I've needed to focus on that. Again, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, please leave a review if there's anything you can think of, and yeah. That's that. See you guys next Thursday :)

ciao!

-jimKthy-