(AN: I'M BACK! Sir_RedFox finally with a new update for this story. I know that its been a whole year and a half since my last update.
So, let me catch you up on whats been going on in my life since the last update: Graduated my EMT courses. Lost my job. Failed my National Registry 3 times. Nearly lost my home. Got a new job and kept my home, but then after two weeks of my new job got laid off and put of probation. Finally got back to work. Failed my National Registry a 4th time. Sunk deep into a depression. Had to go back into the Behavioral Hospital for a good week. Finally got out of the Behavioral Hospital. Crashed and wrecked my car, so carless for a month. Insurance refused to cover my wreck. Got a new used car for 10,800. New used car's engine catches fire and cost me another 1,700 to fix, leaving me for another month carless. Also, the dealership and warranty refuse to cover the cost to fix the vehicle. House infested with termites. And now I'm about to take my National Registry for a 5th time.
So see, it's not that I've forgotten or given up on this story. It's that so much shit has occupied my life right now. I've dedicated nearly two years just to pass the fucking National Registry that I can't seem to fucking pass. I wish I was smarter and better than what I am, because then maybe all this bad shit won't be happening to me. Again, I never forgot about this story or "The Good, The Bad, and The Wilde." Life just sucks right now. Please pray that I pass the damn National Registry, because if I pass that means I don't have to constantly try to study shitty NREMT books and practice test, I could focus more on my writing, and actually get a raise at my job.
And look, I know my writing isn't the greatest and I do try to be better every-time. So, just go easy on what I publish, I don't have the time anymore to do 5 or 6 different rewrites.
Quick Recap: Nick recently found out that he has a son and Judy his struggling to make a life for her and her son.
So enjoy this new chapter of "The Long Hustle: Vol. 2, The Empire & The Emperor." And please, fill free to leave a review or comment. Thank you.)
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Pool Party:
Nick sits in the passenger side of Barnes's semi truck. It's early in the afternoon andthey were making another drop off and delivery with the herd of sheep miles outside ofZootopia. Nick did not want to get out of the truck. He was in no mood to talk to a bunch of speechless sheep, and deciding to have Barnes do everything.
Instead, Nick slouches back in his seat, wearing his aviator glasses to try and hide his face, and drinks from the flask that he has been carrying around since that night seeing Judy and learning he has a son. A son, he still can't believe it. Him, having a son.
Just the thought of it has him unscrew the flask and take a massive sip from the booze from his muzzle. The strong drink gives his body a shudder. He sighs at the fact the buzz won't last long.
Looking out at the large reflective side mirrors of the truck, to see how everything is going. From what he could see the herd of sheep and Barnes are finishing loading the truck. The inside of the cab is given a shake from the large cargo door to the trailer slamming closed and locked.
As he taps the top of the cap on the flask he looks up at the visor on the driver's sideof the truck. There, a picture of Barnes and his family all posing for the photo on whatlooks like a beautiful afternoon in the park. The family of beavers all looking so happy together.
The driver door opens up and Barnes crawls into the cab. Nick can't help but feel ina trance by the picture. Wondering what the picture would be if it contained him, Judy,and his son. His son. Can't help that his mind keeps slipping to that thought. Barnes buckles up and starts the mighty engine.
"You like being a dad, Barnes?"Nick asked.
Barnes only looks at him preposterously, not sure if the question is a test of somesort. He takes a look at the photo, scared of what he might loose if he answers incorrect.
"Yes. Yes, sir,"Barnes said. he rubs the spot on his chest where Nick had burned him with a cigar.
"What made you want to be a Dad?"
"Well, sir, I guess I see it as an fortunate blessing."
"A fortunate blessing,"Nick gives a smirk."That's an interesting way of putting it."
"Sir, is something I've done wrong. I swear I can fix whatever it is."
"No, no no no,"Trying to get Barnes to calm down and not be so afraid."This is nothing more than a dumb fox trying to start a dumb conversation."He gives a loud sigh."Let'sget going, I don't want to be in this heat anymore."
"Yes sir."
Barnes puts the semi into gear and turns it's direction back toward Zootopia. Nickunscrews the top to his flask again and takes another drink from it. The sun's directionnow being on his side of the cab, he can't help but look up at it and it's blinding rays
The sun reflects off the crystal clear water in the grounded swing pool behind chief Bogo's house. The reflection is broken into rippling waves as Kiara, Nala and Simba's daughter, jumps into the pool with a high pitch kit laughter. Next to splash into the wateris her brother Kion, screaming and laughing.
The two siblings lion cubs pop their heads out of the water, wide smiles on theirfaces. They slab water at each other.
"Okay now, my turn,"Wilford says. The kits scream in laughter and try to swim away. Wilford cannonballs into the pool. He comes up for air and whips back the wet fur on top his head.
Chief Bogo decided to host a pool party at his house in the Sahara District. Inviting those important in his inner circle to his house. Every mammal seems to be having agrand time, especially the kits playing in the pool. Judy on the other hand could not seem to turn off her police officer self and taking note of everything that is happening around her.
Bogo being stationed at the grill, cooking up vegetation patties, for those that were prey, and synthetic meat ones for the predators. Claudia, his wife, bringing out more food from the kitchen. While his two daughters, Mandy and Misty, relax floating on small inflatable rafts in the pool.
Clawhouser, in a flowery xtra-large red paw-waiian shirt, drinking a wine cooler ashe complements and bugs Bogo on his grilling techniques. Simba and Wilford tending tothe smaller kits as entertainment to them.
"Okay Logan, you want to come in next? Or you, Archer?"
The two canine kits stand at the edge of the pool and look in the water, not quitesure what to make of it.
"It's okay,"said the timber wolf."I'm right here to catch you."Holding out his arms asif he's ready to receive a giant hug.
"I think I know what they want,"Simba said behind the two kits."They want to belaunched into the pool am I right?"
The boys smile with delight.
"Yeah,"said Archer.
"But me first,"begged Logan."Please."
"Okay, since you asked nicely."Simba crouches down and cups his paws together letting Logan put his foot in as he puts his paws on Simba's shoulders. Simba counts down.
"One... two... three!"
The kit is launched upward in the air and falls backwards intothe pool. Hitting the water with a loud splash between Wilford's arms who lefts him out ofthe water and onto his shoulders.
Next is Archer who is launched into the air and landing exactly like Logan. The two smaller kits are not yet the strongest of swimmers and need a little help. But both had wide smiles on their faces as they splash and play in the water.
Judy, Nala, and even Aurora sit at the end of the pool in lounge chairs watching thelion and timber wolf play with the kits.
"So, Aurora,"Nala said turning her attention to Aurora."It's great that you were ableto come to this cookout. Wilford talks a lot about you."
"Well yes,"Aurora says."Priderock Incorporated request a lot of days and hoursfrom me. Almost to the point where it's torture."
"I apologize for how Simba's uncle treats you and your fellow employees. Hope toform another case soon and regain control of the company, and if that doesn't work,we'll just keep on trying."
"Oh, it's okay. Honestly. Though, I never thought I would ever be sitting poolsidewith the C. ."
"Well, not C. yet, but we will get there. I just know how Scar, sorry, likes to torment every mammal that works under him. Making you feel weakand vulnerable."Nala clears her throat and shifts in the lounge chair as if trying to shakea horrible feeling."Let's not have him ruin today. Tell us more about you."
"Well…"Aurora says."I will admit it's been a lot more downs than ups. Growing upnear the slums of Zootopia, getting mixed up in the wrong crowds during high school,and my family struggling to get the necessities in life. I was at one time attending a community college in hopes of getting a degree in art. I dropped out after falling in lovewith Jay and becoming pregnant with Logan."
"You like art?"Nala asked, perking up."I myself like to paint and airbrush on my down time. I find it a good de-stressor. What kind of art do you do?"
"Well, various forms, but I can do some good airbrush art. Let's just say I did a lot of 'street art' in my youth when trying to fit in as a delinquent," Aurora laughs nervously. "I probably shouldn't have just said that to a cop."
Judy pays close attention to Aurora's body language. She runs her paw down her golden rustic fur. The rapid tapping of her foot.
The poor timber wolf must be nervous as hell and who can blame her. She's the only one that isn't in law enforcement, and she was sandwiched between two that law must have never been so kind to her and her ex, being the car thief he was, and now admitting to doing graffiti in her youth.
"If you ever want to borrow my airbrush kit, you're welcome to it,"Nala said."Hello, everyone,"came Skye's voice, rounding the corner of the house to the poolarea. Claudia welcomes her while Bogo slaps Clawhouser's wrist away with the spatulafor trying to poke one of the patties with a fork.
Fast stepping behind Skye is Jack, looking a bit nervous. He wore black swim trunks and a short sleeve button up shirt.
"Sorry we're getting here so late,"he said." We figured this is a BYOB party and tried figuring out what brew to bring."He holds up two different brand six packs in each hand.
"As long as it is the kind you can drink, I don't care. Oh, and not non-alcoholic,"said Bogo.
"We would have been here on time if I didn't have to drag a certain bunny to come,"Skye said.
"And we would have been here even earlier if a certain fox didn't take so long getting ready,"said Jack.
"What can I say,"said Skye,"It's hard to choose what to wear when I make everything look good."
Judy looks over at what she was wearing, which is a pitch black bikini that clashed well with her fur, a sun hat, and large round pair of sunglasses. Skye always looks beautiful in practically anything she wore. But it makes her take note of what all the girls were wearing.
Nala and Aurora both wearing less then revealing bikini's Claudia a high waist shirt, showing off her fit stomach, and tight shorts that look to cut off circulation at the thigh. Judy watches as Claudia walks up behind Bogo who was bickering with Clawhouser. She wrapped her arms around Bogo and puts a beer into his hand. Bogo extends is head backwards to plant a kiss on her lips.
Judy knew what they were doing. They were all showing off to their mates. She,however, did not have the enjoyment to look good for some mammal, wearing only a black tank top and jeans.
"Mom! Mom! Look! Look!"
All four mothers look at their kits in the pool. Simba had Kiara and Kion on each shoulder, while Wilford had Logan and Archer on his shoulders. They were playing chicken, seeing who could knock off who into the water.
Kiara being the first to fall into the water, but Kion puts up a playful fight with Archer and Logan. In the end Logan and Kion fall into the water together, leaving Archer as the victor. Judy, smiling, claps and cheers for her son. Her joy for Archer does not last how he should be on Nick's shoulders and not Wilford's.
Nala and Aurora smile and wave at Simba and Wilford. Secretly applauding themselves for finding mates that are good with kits. Judy deciding to hold in her emotion instead. She cannot help but feel slight jealousy towards Nala and Aurora for having mates in their kits lives. Meanwhile, Nick is in some hellhole of a situation missing great memories with Archer, making her feel a heavy weight of sadness.
Judy asks Claudia where the bathroom is in the house. She did not need to use it,only to sneak off where everyone else could not see how sad she was. Closing the door to the bathroom, she looks at herself in the mirror. With a great sigh, she pulls out the wedding rings and pendant from under her shirt holding them tight to her chest. Partof her wishes she never came to this pool party. No, that would be wrong. To deprive Archer of such a wonderful fun to put selfish desires to the side and be there for her kit.
Judy takes in a deep breath before placing her rings and pendant back under her shirt. Opening the bathroom door, she was met with Aurora standing outside the door.
"Need to use the bathroom?"Judy asks.
"No. I was actually hoping to talk to you?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"Wilford told me the situation with your ex-partner."
"Oh. He did did he,"Judy said a bit nervously. Not sure how much Wilford had really told Aurora.
"How he was caught as a dirty cop. I'm so sorry that happened."Judy was a little reliefed hearing that Wilford has not told Aurora everything."But Wilford also told me howyour ex-partner brought attention to the wrong doings in the prison and how he and Jayreally helped each other out till Jay's untimely death."Aurora places a comforting handon on Judy's shoulder."I know what it's like having been in love with someone on the otherside of the law."
Judy places her hand on top of Aurora's and gives her a reassuring smile."Aurora, I appreciate the support, but i'm fine, honestly."
"Did he ever get ahold of you? After, I mean. To tell you why he did what he did?"
"No, unfortunately. We haven't seen each other since he first got arrested,"Judy lied.
"When Jay broke the law, he always said it was for us. To make sure needs were met, and said he would stop once our heads were above water so to speak. I don't know if that would have ever been true, but do want to believe that he broke the law in hopes ofdoing something good for me. I mean, mammals don't do bad things just for the sake ofdoing bad things, right?"
Judy had to think about that question. It was a hard one to answer to be of all the different perps she's arrested since becoming a cop. True that mostshe has arrested over the years have in some way broke the law in hopes of getting something good out of it, but then there have been bad ones like Bellweather.
"Yeah, I think so,"Judy said as they make their way back out to the party.
"Here she is,"came Wilford who snuck up behind Aurora, swiping her off her feet into a firemen's carry.
"Wilford, what are you doing?"Aurora cried in childish delight.
Simba walks up to Nala and does something similar.
"Simba, no no, don't you do it."Before Nala can protest further, Simba tosses herover his shoulder.
The lion and the timber wolf carry their mates to the edge of the pool and jump innext to their kits. They resurface gasping squealing with laughter. Nala playfully pushes Simba's head back down under the water as Aurora slashes water at Wilford and Logan who were laughing so happily. Judy stands at the edge of the pool where Archer held on to.
"Are you coming in mom?" Asks Archer.
"We'll see sweetie- what's that?"
Judy points behind Archer. As he turns to see what she was pointing at, Judy jumps into the pool behind Archer. Resurfacing she wraps her arms around Archer and lifts himup, making him go into a fit of laughter.
"That's right, it's a sea monster and it's got you."
"Looks like fun,"Skye says as her and Jack approach the edge of the pool. Jack opens one of the beers he brought and takes a sip from it.
"You're welcome to join,"said Judy.
"Maybe in a little while, right now I think I'll-"
Before Skye can get another word in, Jack pushes her into the pool.
"Jack, you jerk!"She says as she resurfaces, splashing water at him.
For the rest of the day, the pool party went on point. With good food being served and everyone enjoying themselves in the pool. Once the day came to an end and Judy got Archer home, he was so tuckered out he quickly fell asleep once getting him to bed.
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(AN: Thank you for reading, and Thank you for reading this. Again, YOU'RE AWESOME! And I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read this fanfic. There's a million and one things you could be doing and you decide to take the time to read this. So, I hope you enjoyed this new chapter. I know its not a lot considering that it's been a year and a half since my last update. I've also noticed that really fucks up layout of my writings. Know that I am working on other chapters and hope to publish them soon. Hopefully after I pass the damn National Registry, but we will see.
I wanted us to see what Nick and Judy are going through.
In the next installment, we get to see what Basil and Director M are up to. I don't know when I will be publishing them is all, so please be patient.
Lastly, I just want to thank everyone for sticking with the this story and me. I appreciate everything. As always please leave a comment on this chapter, because you know idea how much they help me and keep me going. Thank you all so much!
Sir_RedFox)