A/N: And I'm back! First of, I just wanna say that something came up. Number one, writer's block. Number two, I had to go to Thailand. Forcefully. Because my uncle already bought the tickets before he could even ask me. And number three, things has been pretty slow for me. Like I have never been so… Well, depressed. But don't worry. I've been doing fine eventually. I'm no liar after all.

Anyway, I have return and the writer's block is gone. Christmas is coming which means it is time for me to get down to writing and eventually write up that special Christmas WildeHopps story. So, can't wait.

And also, I'm surprised you guys are still sticking with this story. You have no idea how much it means to me. Numbers aren't important. I really appreciate you all sticking with it. Enjoy the show.

Disclaimer: OCs are mine but Zootopia is Disney's.

Max entered the dining hall nervously. He was feeling that way because of two things. One, he felt a bit awkward after he realized he was going to have dinner while wearing the chef outfit. And two, this was the first time in a while since he's had dinner with more than just one mammal. So, he may have to get familiar with this feeling once more.

He sat next to Sophie, head looking down and not saying a single word but with a very straight face.

There was an awkward silence surrounding the room. The only thing keeping it occupied were the rustling sounds from the kitchen and the ticking of the clock.

The Glace look at the boiled fish that he brought. It was still steaming and underneath it was a portable stove that was still burning.

The smell was definitely filling up everyone's nostrils and even the younger ones are having their tongues sticking out.

(Lesson time with Erricane: Hares can eat meat but are not considered predators. They are just like vultures. They only eat carcasses and anything that is dead.)

"I must say," Paul began. "It smells incredible. Did you make this?"

Max looked up a little and nodded. There wasn't a hint of nervousness in Max's face. On the inside, that was what he felt. But on the outside, his face has such a blank expression that no one knows why he's looking down. No one but Sophie.

She looked over at him. He seemed so shy. It's been a while since she's seen that face he made. On the inside, she actually felt rather… Nostalgic.

"So… What is it that you do for work, Max?" Mr. Glace said, passing the plates to his children with his wife doing the same.

"Um… I work at YakDonald," Max answered. "I… Just want a decent job after… Well…"

"What is it?"

Max was about to say something until Sophie quickly cut in.

"After… An accident happened to him in Los Horserus few months ago," she said as quickly as she can. "Isn't that right? At the steelmaking factory?"

Max blinked a bit and nodded. "Yea…" he said. "I just… Want to try to get away from it."

"What happened?" the old jack asked.

Sophie this time was speechless trying to use her quick wits to think of something to say but Max already had an answered.

"Three… No. Four of my friends… They were… Found dead one night… And…" Without finishing his sentence, his fingers entertwined together and he placed them on his forehead with his elbows on the table, sighing with eyes closed..

"I'm so sorry…" Paul said. "I did not mean to bring up such a tragic event."

"Well… I try not to dwell on the past," Max said. "Not so much that is." The fox took a fork and a knife, cutting the fish as perfectly as possible. It was a straight clean cut in the shapes of small squares and triangles on the body. He picked a piece up and placed a few on each plates and then passed each of them to everyone.

The dinner lasted for less than an hour and everyone from the Glace family kept asking about the fox's past. Sophie was a little worried about it considering Max has never lied before. But Max did not specifically told them everything such as… 'Working at banks' or 'a delivery mammal'. Which is a safe way of saying 'robbing banks' and 'drug dealing'. And before you asked, Max just delivers and sells the drugs. He never took them.

Time went on in a flash as they were exchanging stories. Especially between Max and Paul. Sophie was relief too. She actually thought that things could have been ugly.

It was almost 9 at night and the hare and fox were still in the dining room chatting while the rest already retired from the room. Max listened to every word that the old hare has told. The chef even left some wine for them. However, Max only had a water bottle on his side. He wasn't a drinker after all.

"And so, Charlie said that he thinks that…" Paul was about to say something only to be interrupted by Max's yawn. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't realize I was boring you."

Max raised his paw. "Not at all…" he said through his yawn. "I'm just tired… And plus… I haven't even showered…"

"Oh goodness," Paul said, sitting up after looking at the clock. "I didn't realize it was that late. Please forgive me. I can get carried away sometimes."

Max chuckled and stood up. "I do love the stories though," he said. "Perhaps you can tell me some other time. Especially about why you really gave up soccer."

"Football."

"Same meaning but different words anyway."

Paul laughed and took a sip of his wine. "Oh and Max," he called. The fox turned to him. "Come by anytime. And don't mind Damien. I always look out for my sons."

Max smirked and bow. He walked up the stairs to his room and sighed. "What a day…" he said to himself while stretching his arms. He can't wait to get out of the chef outfit that he was still wearing.

He turned the doorknob slowly and entered. Only to find Sophie laying on his bed on her side. Her eyes were half-closed until she saw him. She sat up quickly and smiled nervously. "H-hey!" she said with a blush.

Max raised an eyebrow and entered the room. "What are you doing in my room?" he asked tonelessly.

She stood up and opened the closet that was next to his bed. "I brought in some fresh clothes for you," she said. "I know you can't stand the cold. And don't worry, so I got you something warm. They're new by the way."

Max smiled. "Thanks," he said. "But that still doesn't answer the question."

"Eh?"

He closed the door which made her legs trembled a little as she form a soft but visible blush.

"If that was all you were doing," he stated. "Why were you on my bed afterwards?"

Her pupils constricted and her bent ear shoot up straight while shaking with the other. "It's…! It's nothing, I swear!" Her blush immediately turned from pink to red the moment she raised up her paws and waving them as innocently as she can from the… 'misunderstanding'. "I was just curious what your bed felt like! So I thought…!"

She was stopped when he placed a bare finger on her nose. His claw on his index finger almost touched between her eyes.

She looked up to see a warm smile forming from his lips.

"Enough," he said. "I get it. Really, I do."

She gulped and looked away, paws holding on each other with them placed on her chest. And before she knew it she felt his lips made contact on her head causing her ears to go weak.

"Don't worry. I'll forget about it eventually."

She scratched her cheek and smiled. "Right…" She walked to the door and was about to take her leave until…

"Hey," Max called. "I'm about to take a shower. Wanna join me?"

Her ears stood up and shook in embarrassment. She grabbed the closest cushion she could find and tossed it at him before leaving the room.

Max looked at the cushion and picked up. He looked up at the door and laughed quietly.

Few minutes later, Max was already in the shower. He was standing there, taking his time to let it rain on him. His eyes were closed, arms relaxed as he let the water massage his body. He stretched a little with a frown while letting out a sigh.

"At least her dad was okay…" he said to himself. His head aimed towards the shower head, leaving the water to wash his face.

It was so warm… And he wish he could just stay there forever. But sooner or later, he'll eventually have to come out anyway. He turned off the shower after finishing washing the soap off of his fur. He stepped out of the bathtub and grabbed for a towel, wrapping it around him. Luckily there were towels just for his size.

He walked to the sink, looking into the mirror before putting some toothpaste on his toothbrush. This is never the usually thing for him to do. He usually does this every 3 days. But this was the Glace's house. And he was the kind of mammal that respects one's household.

He made sure he didn't leave a single spot flawed. He would lick his teeth and fangs to see they were clean to the brim. Not to mention, his breath was so much fresher than before.

He sighed. His breath was so fresh now that it covered the mirror in front of him with a little thick steam, almost covering his face.

"Tsk…" was his only respond. He placed back the toothbrush and walked out of the bathroom.

"You think he likes flowers…? Or maybe…?" said someone walking towards him.

Max turned to his left to find Julie and Silvia coming towards him. They stopped at their track the moment they saw the door opened and the fox coming out.

And at that moment, they just stared at him. They have never seen anyone looked so… Ripped. Julie's mouth was left hanging opened with her eyes wide open and Silvia placed her paw on her chin. Both of the does were blushing looking at him from his left.

Max let out a yawn and rubbed the back of his head before noticing the two sisters. "Oh… Yo," he said raising his paw.

Silvia looked at Julie and grabbed her sister by the arm who was still frozen in place. "Um, s-sorry, Max!" she said. "We didn't mean to bum into you! Goodnight!"

Max watched the two running off back but have no idea where to. He shrugged and went to his room to get dressed.

A/N: Phew… Okay. So I'll leave this story on pause for a while. As I've said before, I will be writing the WildeHopps story for Christmas and I really think you all will definitely love it. And also, maybe once I'm done with that story, I will definitely continue The Ball again. For now, the WildeHopps Christmas special comes first. See you soon, everyone. Ja ne. :)