Hey guys, sorry for the late update. I worked hard this week in my studies and there was no time for writing. I'm back, one week after and... I must say I'm impressed by all the new stuff we have there. Over 180 fanfictions for Zootopia, almost 10 new stories each day since the film came out in USA. It's insane. The fandom is growing up well. It's becoming rich. I wonder if we will have as many fics as the Frozen fanfom (which is over 9000 !).

My mind wanders here ! Let's focuse on the next chapter. Enjoy !

Chapter 3 : Shall we dance

Nick had just returned home. He sighed. The discussion he had shared with his former partner had made him tense. He first switched on the light of the stay, slowly closing the door behind him. He didn't want to wake her friend who was sleeping upstairs.

He laid the plastic bags on the table and pulled the medicines out. He put them in the closet next to the kitchen and then took a quick glance at the couch. He was not feeling pressed to go to sleep. In fact, he was not tired at all, despite the hard day he has experienced, despite the fact that it was already the mid night. The appeal of the sofa didn't please him more than that, but he still had to bring himself to sleep. He went to the dressing room looking for a sheet and a pillow. He walked back to the living room and turned the sofa in bed. He slipped under the sheet and closed somehow his eyes. Just installed, he heard Judy coughing upstairs. She wasn't sleeping yet. Maybe she was suffering from insomnia too? He thought.

Nick turned his head towards the oven to check the time. It was almost three AM. Geez... The time went so slowly. He looked for a comfortable position to sleep but the sofa was rather rough for his preference. He began to develop a headache as he could not relieve his thoughts. He wished he could stop thinking in order to find the needed peace to sleep, but he was too much tense.

Then he heard Judy cough for the umpteenth time. He made up his mind and stood up, he left the room to go upstairs. He knocked on the door, and Judy immediately straightened up her ears. The fox quietly opened the bedroom door, leaving a strand of light seeping in and enlighten the bunny on her bed. She put her hand over her eyes to protect herself from the light as she narrowed them to better observe the silhouette of the fox who was standing right before her.

"Nick, what are you doing ? It's late."

"Hey Carrots, would you like to get some fresh air outside again ?"

Judy was looking at him, trying to find out if he was serious about his sudden proposal. "Nick, I'm sick, and it's dark outside. You've already made me leave my house bringing me here anyway. I am already grateful for that. "

Nick rubbed his neck and looked away, realizing he was probably bothering her.

"It's just... I heard you cough and I thought you could not sleep... same deal for me. "

She sighed, but she knew he wasn't wrong. Both of them had independently thought that they would fail to sleep anyway. And after seeing all the beautiful night lights of Zootopia a little earlier, Judy was not against the idea. Maybe they could try to relax, even just a little. She finally agreed.

They dressed, Judy in the room and Nick in the living room. When Judy went down the stairs, ready to go, Nick came to her and handed at her a glass of water with a medicine inside.

"I bought your medicine as promised."

He showed her his signature smug smile and that made her giggle. "Thanks," she said. She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. "You were not forced to do so."

"What are you saying Carrots ? Between partner it's only natural."

She drank it all and quickly swallowed the medicament before leaving the house with her companion. They took the car, Nick was driving. He switched on the motor and left the area.

"Where are we going?" She asked as they left the city.

"Be patient, it's a surprise."

Judy seemed a little surprised as she expected a stroll in town. But she asked no more questions, she trusted her partner and was fine being led. She stretched all her members and let her head tilted back on the seat. She already seemed more relaxed than earlier. Nick understood this and put some music for her to enjoy the journey. All Along The Watchtower, Jimi Hendrix.

"Again the same classics, huh? "

"Nothing better."

She chuckled. Nick and his old boy tastes ! She let herself be carried away by the music and began moving her head rhythmically. Classic Judy here ! Always ready to enjoy life to its fullest even while being sick. Nick smiled when he saw her adhering so easily to his music, even though she was joking about it right before. The fox was getting excited by one of his favorite track, and hummed some lyrics, but he tried his best to keep his cool behind the wheel. A pleasant and relaxed atmosphere gently took place in the car. The journey was already releasing them from their stress. Judy seemed to almost forgot she was ill. Her ears were straightened to their maximum. Good sign ! That didn't prevent her from coughing once in a while, though. Both of them were enjoying every little second spent together, and it was only the beginning !

"We're almost there," Nick blurted. They had just left the road to venture down a beaten path. No street lights around, but the sky was clear enough, and the moon round enough to see the landscape.

Judy looked through the window and opened her eyes wide. "The sea !"

They were on top of a cliff, and Nick was driving near the edge. The sea itself was not clearly visible, but the smell and the sound of waves were holding Judy's attention.

The car went down a long slope until it dig into the sand. They stopped in the middle of a wild beach.

Judy was the first to get off the car. She was so excited. It was the first time she discovered the sea. Although she was in her mid-20s, her family had never taken her to the beach before, too busy with the farm and their many children. Moreover, Judy's strong will to become a cop in Zootopia had turned her away from this kind of trip. She was hopping cheerfully on the sand as she walked to the edge of the water. She could only saw instead of waves a dark mass stretching as far as the eye could reach. The noise was loud, but the enthusiasm of Judy for the sea was still there. Her face and her thoughts were already elsewhere.

Nick joined her a few seconds after. He had conceived the idea to make a fire here in the middle of the beach. He had previously brought timber and material he had transported into the trunk of his car, as if he had anticipated the occasion, or as if he was accustomed to this kind of adventure.

Fact remains, Nick started the fire on the hardened and soaked sand which preceded the sea. He had carefully arranged pebbles around to delimit the fire. Initially, the embers had trouble starting because of the slightly wet sand, but it didn't prevent the flames to finally grow and to reach a fine height !

Judy turned back to watch the fire. She had a big smile on her face. She was more than happy with the show that Nick was offering to her tonight. She ran to her friend who was sitting near the fire and jumped on his back !

Nick's body was driven forward by the sudden shot, as Judy was strongly hugging him because of the over excitment. She may be smaller than him but she was pretty strong for her kind, and he knew it.

"Carrots, you're gonna break my bones."

Judy realized that her embrace was too strong, she released her grip a little and apologized giving him another kiss on his cheek. She then grabbed his key ring. "Let me borrow 'em for a bit." She left him right after, always hopping happily. She was definitly too much energetic for a sick animal. Nick rolled his eyes. Even if they were closer and closer in their relationship, it was rare for him to receive a kiss from Judy. And should he make her remember she should not kiss anyone while being sick He acted as if nothing happened, the way he usually did when she was becoming too much tactile, even in spite of herself.

Judy walked toward the car, and with the keys, she started the car ignition, not to drive, but for bringing music. (Author's note : I recommend you to start playing « Bad Boy Good Man », music by Tape Five, for a better story's immersion)

Nick pricked up his ears back, he recognized the tune immediately. He turned his head to see behind him the bunny approaching him while dancing.

Nick smiled. He got up and walked silently in her direction. He offered his hand as he stared into her eyes.

"Do you mind dancing with me ?"

"Of course not." She grabbed his hand, her smile all the more brightened by the warm light of the fire that dimly lit the area. The moving tempo and the pulsing urge to dance along were strong. They both began to tap their feet along with the tempo. More in more, their steps evolved into more bouncy energized movements, hopping and stepping together. She couldn't help but smile, letting out a giggle. He looked back at her and mock-seductively wriggled his eyebrows, making her smile all the brighter.

She can tell he was a really great dancer. Despite being taller than her, he knew exactly how to adapt his steps for her, taking account her smaller size. Still, he was leading this dance, his feet moving in a very fashionable way, kicking and tapping with an impressively fast coordination that she'd never seen before. She stood on tiptoes to meet her friend's ear.

"I never expected you being such a great dancer !" He smiled and made her twirl.

"You're not bad either." There was a playful grint in her eyes.

Firmly grasping their hands together, Nick would pull the bunny girl close against him, chest to chest, before pulling back, giving them space to twirl and jump to their hearts content. The music continued to blare with the same amount of buoyant energy. Judy couldn't hold in her laughter. They began to spin around together, the perimeter of the beach becoming more and more hazy. In his newfound bravado, Nick reached for her hips, lifting her up in the air, spinning her around all the while. The lighting was perfect, the music was just right and Nick deep emerald eyes met her's like a spark, sending tingles down her spine. When her feet meet the ground again, her hands were still steady atop of his shoulders, and Nick's hands were still steady against Judy's hips. The song ended gradually and both came to one definite stop. Nick knelt down, all exhausted. Judy rested her sweat drenched forehead against Nick's, both of them panting uncontrollably. Judy then let herself fell on the sand. She smiled sheepishly, all the while struggling to maintain her breath. Nick did the same back, rejoining her on the sand.

Nick tried his best to come off smooth, to say something cool and witty. "Hey there," was all that came out. Nevertheless, Judy chuckled. Back on the sand, their eyes get lost in the stars. There were much less numerous than a few minutes ago, as the sun slowly began to rise up, giving back a azur color to the sea.

There was a short silence between the two friends, then Judy turned her head toward Nick, still panting.

"Tank you again… for being so much present for me." The fox chuckled in response.

"I lost count of all the times you were telling me thank you in this single day."

"I can't thank enough my most beloved partener." She said, smiling.

Nick remained silent a moment, as if his mind became doubtfull because of what she just said. He turned his head and looked straight into her eyes.

"What is a friend for you ?" He asked.

Judy noticed the serious and concerning look on his face. She turned her head back toward the sky, thoughtful.

"Hm… I'd say it's someone very important for us, who bring happiness and smile in our everyday life. Someone who will always do its best for helping us during bad times ?"

Her voice becomes increasingly sleepy. She even let out a wide yawn at the end of her sentence.

Nick was watching the sky too. He remained silent again, back in his thoughts. After what seemed an eternity, he continued, hesitantly :

" What if… we're even more than that ? "

He looked back at her. She had just fallen asleep. Nick smiled, althought he was disappointed inside for the lack of response. But any way, she was just so cute with her eyes closed, her body fully lying on the sand. The fresh rising sun was making the sea twinkle. She would have loved contemplating this new landscape. But he would not wake her up, now that she finally managed to sleep after all this time.

He stood up. He removed the sand from his clothes and his fur and then hold Judy in his arms.

"Time to go back home." He whispered to her.

Writing a dancing scene was much more difficult than I thought, trust me. I hope I succeeded.

And for those who wonder about how the plot progress, well, it's true that we're still not in the situation I described in the summary. In fact, I originally planned to introduce it long before, at the end of the very first chapter. But I changed my mind and I have decided to take my time to set the "keys" of the story, which are fundamentals for me. The relationship between Judy and Nick is obviously the main key.

Still, things will move forward soon.

See you soon ! Probably in less than one week this time. I'll try writing faster.