Author's Note: Occasionally, I'll use some of those prompt generators that you can find online that help inspire you to get ideas going. In this story's case, the concept I was given was just one word: Countdown.

While I originally had other things in mind for this prompt, my head kept going back to the countdown to when the New Year starts. Yes, I know that it's way too late to be sharing these stories that are centered around New Year's Eve and Day, a time that won't be coming around on the calendars for awhile. And yes, I also know that sharing it now probably defeats the purpose, but I guess it's better late than never. Right?

*crickets chirping*

Oh well, it's on here now! Next time, let's all just pray that any holiday special that I decide to write will actually be done at a more reasonable date! XD

Anyhow, I still hope you like this one and that it puts a smile on your face. Let me know your thoughts. Feedback, both good and bad, is gladly appreciated. Also, just wanna say "thanks" to everyone who has been keeping up with all of my stories. So glad to know that some of y'all are enjoying them! :)

Enjoy!

The celebration pressed onward, as if everyone who was participating had somehow forgotten how to stand still. A variety of flashing colors sparkled dazzlingly from the crowded city streets of Savannah Central. About twenty minutes earlier, music from some of the live performances resonated powerfully. The cheering and commotion from excited mammals could be heard, unequally blending with the tunes being played.

It was the time to celebrate the arrival of what was going to be an exciting new year once again, and the streets were completely transformed into one humongous celebration. The crowds stood packed together in the night. Some mammals holding up some large fluorescent paper signs, reading out with messages that delivered greetings to family or friends that might have been watching the live event being broadcasted on television.

Despite the fact that all of the fun festivities were taking place in the heart of the district, the celebration proved to be much more enjoyable from up above the streets.

Her head looking over the colorful cityscapes, Judy observed every viewable inch of the gigantic party continuing from down below. Courtesy of the much enjoyable balcony of the apartment, she and Nick were both grateful to get to witness the changing year from this kind of perspective. In contrast to standing crowded on a street corner, the doe could stand gently beside her companion and glimpse at everything.

A few brief moments of time had passed, and with that the final moment of the gigantic celebration was yet to come. In two minutes and counting, the ball would drop and the new year would officially commence.

Nick looked over to the right, catching a glimpse at the countdown clock that slowly ticked forward on a visible billboard by a close skyscraper. The proverbial lightbulb appeared and glowed above his head, and an idea began to quickly form within his brain. The vulpine stretched his back, tapped his claws upon the railing of the balcony, and looked over at the bunny beside him.

"So," the fox said, casually putting a paw on Judy's arm. "Looks like the final countdown's starting."

Judy cocked her head up from where she was looking down. The doe could immediately sense that he was being sly, the words that slipped out of his mouth having that sound that she knew almost too well. "Yeah," she breathed. "And?"

"Well…" the sly vulpine hesitated. "If you're asking me, my personal belief is that it's only logical to kick the New Year off with a kiss."

Judy tried hard to hide a grin that was forming on her muzzle. Should have known something like this was coming sooner or later, she thought.

"Is that so?" the doe jokingly inquired.

The fox grinned, his eyes meeting his companion's familiar amethyst ones. "It's like the law of the universe, Fluff. You seriously didn't know about any of this?"

"Nope, I'll admit I haven't."

"In that case, you can consider yourself enlightened on New Year's physics."

Judy giggled as she turned her head to the side. "There's just one problem," she replied.

"And what would that be, Carrots?"

"I don't know see anyone that'd be able to give me that New Year's kiss."

"Well," the fox remarked, a sly grin on his muzzle. "There's a certain fox I'm familiar with who might be able to complete your request. It's such short notice, but I could ask him for you if you'd like."

Judy simply snickered as Nick carried on with his typical witty shenanigans. She breathed out and went to respond, but paused before she could say anything. The doe was interrupted upon seeing that it was almost time for the new year to finally arrive. The vulpine beside her also seemed surprised at how quickly the time seemed to be flying by.

Nick looked and saw that the countdown now read that there was only fifty seconds left. He still had a few things left to say to his bunny, and only a significantly short amount of time to say them. After all, he wanted to say the things that were currently on his mind before the year changed.

The fox exhaled, his breath becoming a visible cloud that cut into the crisp and cool air. As Judy turned around to face the fox, she took both of her paws and intertwined them with those of her companion's. Sweet smiles broke out on both of their muzzles, complete with a small bit of unintentional laughter. Their joyous enthusiasm seemed to become contagious to the two of them.

"Judy," Nick said, hesitating slightly.

The ears of the bunny in front of him perked up, intrigued by what was about to come out of his mouth. If there was one she knew, it was that he always said something meaningful whenever he referred to her by her literal name, and not by "Carrots" or "Fluff."

"Y-Yeah?" the doe breathed out, waiting for Nick to finish what he was starting to say.

"This year has been amazing, and we've made so many great memories together. And I'm certain that many more good times await me, as long as you're standing there by my side."

"That was..." Judy started. "Pretty sappy, Slick."

Nick jokingly placed a paw near his chest and pretended to clench at it. "That wounded me, Fluff," he remarked.

Judy smiled and gave his paw a gentle squeeze. "But I honestly don't care how sappy it sounds, 'cause I feel exactly the same way, Nick. Don't know what I'd do without you."

The fox looked down at his companion as she stopped hugging him for the time being, then dotted his eyes back at the clock as it quickly neared its final portions of the countdown. He could faintly hear the chorusing voices that came from all of the mammals in the streets counting down as things carried on.

Five...

Four…

Three…

Two…

Acting exactly two seconds before the very stroke of midnight, Judy stood on tippy-toes, wrapped his arms around Nick and delivered a both delicate and heartfelt kiss. Nick didn't exactly prepared to receive it a few seconds before he originally was expecting it. The vulpine leaned his head and stared into Judy's gleaming eyes as they enjoyed the time out on the balcony together.

The enthusiastic shouts of the mammals from down below rung out across the city, and the illuminated signs brightly glowed in celebration. Streams of confetti rained down onto the closed-off portions of the streets. Fireworks crackled and popped in the sky, scintillating in the blackened sky with an array of pretty, eye-popping colors.

"Now I can say that I kissed on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day at the same time," Judy remarked.

"You really are a sly bunny," he murmured in reply.