A/N / So... Here is yet a 5th installment. Hope you enjoy.

The events here take place a year or two after the movie. This is a bit more of a Slice of Life story, so it is and will be slower than some other action-packed fics.

Note: I will occasionally be using an internal dialog technique that I am totally stealing from another author. I loved it so much I'm test driving it here in hopes of using the same technique in my original works.

Note2: I have gotten a number of comments on chapter 4 about Judy's little argument with herself due to her view up Erin's skirt, caused by her smaller stature. The issue raised will be addressed as I am in fact setting up a bit of a moral issue or dilemma for Judy, something she will deal with and address in coming chapters. Deep breath people, it ain't that serious. It's fiction. Give the story a chance to filter out before you start clutching your pearls.

Note3: This is the refresh. I want to thank Hereford67 and Bear678 for their work. Bear678 as my regular beta that keeps things at least marginally readable, and Hereford67 for their selfless volunteering of listing all the items they took note of. Thank you both!

I do not own and claim no rights to Zootopia or its characters. They belong to Disney.

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"I like the sound of that. Now, lets finish up. I see that Carry has just gotten here and..." Judy froze for a second as her eyes went wide, ears tall and vibrating at attention. "NO WAY!"

Lizz flinched back at the sudden yell from the rabbit. "Judy‽ What the hell?"

Shifting in her chair. Judy looked at the distance to the ground, then back towards the door and back, giving a frustrated growl. "Ah come on!" Looking back at the door she raised her voice to be heard. "Bobby? Bobby Catmaul?"

A cougar at the entrance talking to Erin turned towards the familiar voice that had called out his name. "Huh?"

Judy grinned and almost vibrated off her chair. "Oh my gods! IT IS! BOBBY! What are you doing here‽"

Seeing the ecstatic rabbit, he rushed over, helping Judy slip back on her chair before she fell. "Judy? I should be asking you that! This is a pred restaurant."

Lizz chuckled, bringing Bobby's attention over to her. "Oh, hi. I'm Robert Catmaul. I'm an old friend of Judy's."

"So I gathered. That response to her being here seems to be pretty common." Offering a paw. "Lizz Fangmeyer. I work with Judy."

Shaking the offered paw. "A pleasure to meet you." Noting the shrimp in the salad in front of Judy, then Judy's condition as well as Lizz's. "Uh... Judy... Wait, you're pregnant‽"

Judy grinned up at Bobby, absolutely glowing with excitement and joy. "I am at that, and I meant here in Zootopia silly." Giving him a swat on his shoulder. "I haven't seen you in years. What are you doing here?"

"Looking for work. I just moved to Zootopia. Been in New Yak for the past two years trying to make a go of it, but unless you know someone... The best I ever managed there was a gig with an up and going nowhere club band. If anything, playing with them hurt me more than helped, but I got paid, so..." Giving a shrug. "Now that I'm here, I need to have a job that pays the rent until the music career gets off the ground."

"Still working on that huh? Well, they do open mic nights here on Friday's, so you should try that. Plus, if you have gotten better than you were in the past, I might know a guy." Judy stopped as if she had been frozen in place for a moment, before her eyes went hard and her ears fell. After a moment she hissed with a blink before looking over at Lizz. "I just said it... Didn't I..."

Lizz laughed loudly and slapped the table, causing their drinks and food to jostle. "You did at that, and I think you meant it. Nick would be proud!"

Judy laughed, shaking her head and looking down. "He would be. After he teases me about it for at least an hour."

Looking at Judy with a bit of curiosity and confusion, Bobby nodded. "Huh. I'll check out that open mic night, though I have to wonder why you would know that."

Judy's smile brightened and she looked back up, ears at full attention. "My mate and I come here a lot." Holding up her paw with the ring set clearly visible to his quickly widening eyes. "We know the cook." Raising her voice. "And if he ever decides to try and open his own place, we're ready to invest."

Fin's deep voice echoing out from the kitchen. "You trying to get me fired rabbit!"

"Come off it. Eddy has already said he would hate to see you go, and is ready to invest as well."

"I'm still working on some recipes before I can do that. Like that dressing." The kitchen door swinging, Finnick steps up on the counter a moment later. Once there he sees Carry and his scowl directed at Judy turns into a smile. "Hey Carry, want anything?"

"No, I'm good Fin. Thanks. Just here to pick up Judy and her friend for some shopping. What you up to?"

"The usual. Cookin. Working on some recipes, and supposedly there was some kid wanting to apply for a job, but he's late."

Judy spoke up. "My fault. But expect me to order that dressing going forward."

Lizz piped up. "Me too."

"When ain't it your fault, Toot-toot? What you mean though, and I already told you it ain't on the menu?"

Judy pointed to Bobby. "Bobby is an old friend of mine from back home. He's the one you're after. We were just catching up. Don't hold it against him, will you?" Throwing Finnick her biggest rabbit eyes and fluttering her lashes. "Oh, and it might not be on the menu, but it is on mine."

Fin smiled while also giving Judy the stink eye. "Nah. Besides, if you're going to do that, then you just signed yourself up as a taste tester whenever I got something new I'm tryin. Got plans for a new shrimp marinade fur the grill, you up for it?"

Judy grinned. "I can live with that, not that you don't already use Nick and I for that."

Fin looked over Bobby as he walked up. "We'll see... So, you know that crazy rabbit?" Getting a nod. "That's a stroke of luck for ya. Come on back and we'll talk. Give me a few juicy stories about Officer Toot-Toot and yur a shoe in if you can cook and serve."

Judy yelled at their backs. "Fin, so help me! Bobby, I will skin you and use your tail as a scarf!"

Bobby looked back and Judy with a pitiful look and shrug as if saying, sorry, but I need the job and I will use anything I can. Judy glared at him as he dissipated into the back, a distinctly non-rabbit like growl emanating from her.

Lizz watched the display with humor as Carry, a very attractive lynx, walked up. "So, Judy, an old friend?"

Judy sighed and returned her attention to Lizz. "Yeah, grew up together, and there are plenty of embarrassing stories he could tell." Putting her head in her paws for a second before lifting up and stabbing some salad and a shrimp, munching it angrily. "Sadly, I think I am going to have to at least shave his tail. Fin's too."

Carry's ears fell. "Oh no. What did he do to you that you're threatening to shave his tail? I mean... Fin I get..."

Judy brightened up. "Just the usual. Fin, and now Bobby. It's okay though, the fur will grow back, eventually." Chuckling as she looked up at Carry. "Hi Carry! I don't see anyone else?"

Nodding with a smile, Carry pulled up a chair. "Yeah, we decided to just meet at the mall, and since I have the bigger car, I got nominated to pick you up. You guys ready to go?"

Judy nodded, munching the last of her salad. 'I am. Lizz?" Finishing off her tea.

"I will be in just a moment." A few quick bites later, she finished her burger. Wiping her paws, she offered one to Carry. "Lizz Fangmeyer."

Carry smiled warmly, shaking the offered paw. "Carry Retleis. Judy says you're mated to your partner, a wolf."

Lizz nodded. "I am. He's my partner on the force. Been together for five years, but we've kept it very quiet. Only came out to our boss this morning with Nick and Judy's help."

Carry's smile widened into a grin. "Oh, that doesn't surprise me. Those two have a knack for pulling us into better places we didn't even know we could be or wanted. I'd have never confessed my feelings for my mate and found out that he had the same feelings and was just as afraid to express them."

Judy pulled a few bills out of her wallet before putting it back in her purse, slipping the bills under her glass. "You two were on the cusp of it, especially with what was going on. Now, if someone can help me down, we can get this day started. After a quick trip to the restroom. I know one store I want to visit for sure."

Carry shook her head with a laugh. "I so wish that were true, but you are ever the optimist, Judy. But another one? He has shredded the last four you bought."

A wicked, saucy grin on her face, Judy nodded. "Mmmhmmm. That he did. And I loved every second of it! It's how I ended up like this." Giving her belly a loving rub and smile.

Carry helped Judy down with a laugh. "Oh, I know. Some of the tricks you shared have really shifted that part of our relationship. Bill almost can't control himself sometimes. He gets so forceful." Pushing her top down on her shoulder. "Even claimed me." The still red marks of a healing bite showing.

Judy clapped with a happy laugh. "I'm so happy for you." Pushing the door to the bathroom open. "Be right back." Returning a few moments later. "Fin had them bring in some steps, I'll have to thank him later. I hope Bill talked to you first though."

"He did." Looking over to Lizz as they exited the restaurant. "What about you? I know it is a very canine thing."

Lizz shook her head bashfully. "We've talked about it, but being officers and cops, and not being open about it... We could never see the way of doing it and not giving away our relationship, and I am afraid of hurting him. My teeth are so much larger."

Judy nodded as they left the restaurant and approached a car. "I get that Lizz. I filed my teeth extra short before I claimed Nick, and you don't have that as an option, since yours don't grow back." Accepting help from Lizz to get into Carry's car." Pulling her blouse down off her own shoulder once she was in the seat, her own fully healed scars on display. "Nick was so careful, even if it was in the heat of the moment, and he still asked. I trust him completely, and this just cemented that trust even more. I knew he would never truly hurt me. Yeah, the bite hurt, not gonna lie there, but that pain was washed away with the meaning of it and the pleasure of the moment. If anything, it added to it. The soreness that came later as it healed made me grin like an idiot for weeks. We were on patrol together for those first few days, I was surprised you didn't mention anything."

Lizz nodded with a smile before her eyes went wide. "Wait! I remember that. You favored your shoulder for like two weeks. I... I just assumed you'd strained it working out. You really are stronger than a normal rabbit you know. I mean. I have watched you drag an unconscious mammal multiple times your size, out of the road, by yourself. Which, when I think about how often I see you punch Nick, he must be a much hardier mammal than I realized."

Judy grinned. "I don't know about all that, but the whole thing about you thinking it was a workout strain... That's part of what Nick has taught me. It's really useful in interrogations too. Let them fill in the blanks and then play off their assumptions, without ever actually admitting to anything."

Lizz laughed and smiled wider. "True. Just another way you two as a pair are lifting up the bar. Now that Mike and I are open about it. I think we will revisit that and so much more. I just blurted it out to Bogo, but Mike and I talked after we left his office on the way to MR. We're going to do a proper mating ceremony for his pack, and a wedding as well to satisfy my parents. He's going to have his shoulder scanned so we can plan my bite so there is minimal chance my larger teeth cause any permanent injury. It isn't a common thing, but we have been equals in everything else. We both want us to be in this too..." Thinking a moment. "Judy, you bit Nick?"

Grinning. "I did. Like you said. Equals."

Lizz nodded again. "Okay, I should have expected that answer. Where am I meeting you?"

Carry laughed. "The back seat." Indicating with a thumb. "I'll drop you back here if needed. Bill is picking up the cubs from school today, so it is just us with no expectations. We'll probably end up back here by the end of the night anyway."

"Okay." Lizz climbed into the back seat, which actually had enough room for her, to the tigers surprise. "Oh. It's roomy back here.

"Bill and I adopted a tiger cub, Jess, and an Okapi, Elsi. Unlike Nick and Judy, or you and your mate, we cannot have kits of our own. Genetically forbidden, if you will. You guys are the lucky ones when it comes to interspecies couples in that respect." Backing out of the parking spot.

"Oh. Sorry." Lizz looked down.

Carry smiled as she pulled out into the street. "Don't be. We love our cubs, even if they are angsty, frustrating teenagers at this point. We got this car because it has the room for them in the back. Which also makes outings with larger friends easier. Besides, interspecies couples are the biggest adopters, as well as users of surrogates. To me, that makes some kids who have lost everything pretty lucky too. Even those like yourselves who by some miracle can have your own, tend to add at least one adopted kit at some point. Still amazes me that a bunny and a fox can breed, and now a wolf and a tiger. It gives me hope that more of the younger generation of inters will be able to as well."

In the back seat of Carry's car as they drove to the mall, Lizz smiled. "Mike and I had been talking about adopting, once we figured out how to come out about our relationship. Then this happened." Placing a paw on her belly. "The impossible, or so you would think. Our doctor said that, while rare, we have the same number of chromosomes, so it was possible to get a successful mix. He said that we've probably had many successfully fertilized eggs, but it wasn't viable."

Judy nodded. "That's what our doctor said as well. It seems funny, but we have so many things stacked against us as a couple. I find it fitting that this at least should go our way."

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They drove on in silence until Carry pulled the car into a parking spot at the Zootopia Central mall on the edge of Downtown, Savanna, and Sahara borders. Looking up, Lizz and Judy both noted that the spot was reserved for pregnant mammals, Carry chuckling at the looks on their faces. "I figure, as I have two of you with me, I can get away with it."

Judy laughed. "I sure hope so."

They entered the mall as Carry checked her phone. "They're in the juice bar, so let's go get ourselves a smoothie."

Judy nodded. "Sounds good. Bonus, that is right next to the first store I want to visit, and the juice bar has a bathroom."

Lizz chuckled nervously at the looks some mammals were giving them. "Sure. What's with the looks?"

Carry laughed. "You have a very pregnant tigress, a rabbit that is so pregnant she's nearly as wide as she is tall, and a lynx; walking together, and clearly together. People are going to look. Don't worry about it Lizz. You're with friends, and soon with more. We'll be here to help with that and any flack that tries to get pointed your way. You do also smell strongly of wolf after all, and the rabbit of fox. Both of which are sufficiently out of the ordinary to turn a few heads."

Lizz's ears laid back. "Oh right... We showered this morning, but Mike did mark me last night and I him."

"That'd do it. I covered it up a bit since I had some work to do this morning before I met you guys, but if you sniff carefully, you'll find Bill on me. Judy gave up, or just didn't care to cover up anymore, right after she went on leave, not that they tried too hard before then."

"Didn't care anymore, and I'm not that big." Judy piped in.

Lizz nodded with a smile. "Right. It was part of their ruse. Living together, in the cruiser together, so of course they smelled like each other."

Judy laughed. "Didn't fool Nick's mom for even half a second. Had us sitting at the kitchen table and giving us a lecture about being safe with each other. Gods that was embarrassing. Yeah, we'd gone to that dinner with the intent of letting her know, but we never got to the words until is was a defensive. Yes, we're together, like that, we're careful, and we love each other, now please, for the love of all that is holy, please stop!"

Lizz laughed out loud at that, earning a few more looks she didn't notice. "Oh, I wish I could have been there for that." Continuing to laugh at Judy's cross expression as they rode the escalator up to the next level.

Judy grumbled with a weak smile. "Sure, it's funny now. It wasn't so funny in the moment. I was mortified! There I was, sitting at the dinner table of my boyfriend's mother, and I'm getting grilled about us being safe. Making sure that he was treating me right. Giving me tips on how to please a todd." Shaking her head. "Bedroom tips from my boyfriend's mother… It's still mortifying, if for no other reason than he was sitting next to me looking absolutely horrified." Looking up and seeing two mammals she recognized in the window of the Juice bar as they reached the top of the escalator; one a molted cream and orange vixen, the other a water deer. "I'm so glad I met Joan. At least I could get some pointers from her that didn't have to come from my mate's mother. Don't get me wrong, I love Viv, but there are topics you don't want to discuss with your mate's mother." Shivering slightly at the memory, while Lizz and Carry chuckled.

The vixen, Joan, waved at them as they entered, three additional smoothies being delivered as they walked up. "Judy! Good to see you." Hopping down and giving Judy a hug, then helping her up to the high chair she'd just vacated, Carry helping as well. "Got you your usual."

Judy grinned. "Thank you, Joan. How have you been? Haven't seen you in a few weeks. You straight up disappeared for a week there."

Joan blushed. "Yeah. Mikel apparently did some reading about fox culture, then spent some time with Viv getting some pointers. He took me for a traditional fox wedding. You should be getting the invites soon. We're doing the wolf ceremony in a few months. Then I'm going to go off the suppressors. Doctor Reddilis said that there is a better chance of us getting pregnant than there was for you and Nick, so if you guys can pull it off..."

Judy grinned. "Oh, that's wonderful!" Patting Joan's shoulder and catching a wince. "Oh! That too?"

Joan nodded, her blush deepening enough to show in her ears as she took a drink of her smoothie. "Yeah. He was so careful and caring."

"That's awesome. Joan, Elli, this is Lizz. She's an officer with the ZPD like myself."

Joan grinned. "Mated to a wolf. They his?"

Lizz's ears folded back in embarrassment. "Yes. Is it really that obvious?"

"Only to inters like us who know what to sniff for."

Judy smiled. "That, and you really are more relaxed Lizz. It's good to see. Joan, what did you order for Lizz?"

"I went with what my friend Carol likes." Looking up at Lizz. "I hope you do too."

Lizz took a long drink and smiled. "This is good. Not my usual, but I will definitely want to keep this as a backup."

Joan smiled. "Great. What is your usual?"

"I actually go with something very similar to Judy, as she's the one that introduced me to it. Orange, carrot, and blackberry, with lemon grass."

"Oh, yeah, that's a good combo. No anchovy or anything?"

"No. I prefer to chew my fish, and at the time I didn't want to offend my temporary partner. Even if she did say it wouldn't bother her. Something I am beginning to understand was a true statement, and not her just trying to be accommodating."

"Yeah, Judy is an unusual rabbit."

Judy looked down at her drink. "Was a bit of both, and I am sitting right here."

Joan grinned. "Oh, I know. Skye sends her thanks, by the way. Your pointers on rabbits and hares have proven indispensable. His name is Jack."

Judy laughed at that. "Oh, that's fantastic. Well, wish her the best. I'll have to get all the details from her the next time we meet up."

Elli laughed, looking up at Lizz. "So you're an officer too? Ever had to deal with Nick?"

"I've been partnered with him a few times. He's a good officer, I had to get past the fact that he's a fox. I'm learning to be better about that."

Joan smiled. "You're doing pretty good then, you didn't even seem to react to the fact that I am a fox."

Lizz's head dropped down, looking at the table. "Judy was telling me some things yesterday and earlier today. I realize that I've been the bad guy in a lot of cases. Seems I have some things to work on."

Judy nodded. "Lizz, we all do, always. The key is recognizing that you do, and doing it."

Lizz smiled at Judy and perked up. "Thank you, Judy."

Elli grinned wider. "So, as a dodge away from weighty subjects, who's a fan of mandatory cuddle time? You don't count, Joan, that's a default for you."

Lizz looked confused. "Mandatory cuddle time?"

Judy laughed. "Well, being that everyone here is mated to a canine, and canine's have a special extra bit to their..." Looking up at Lizz. "Do we need to get out the diagrams?"

Lizz blushed and chuckled as her ears splayed to the side. "Oh. Yeah, that was a different experience the first time. So much better than spines."

Carry raised her cup for a toast with Lizz. "I hear that sister."

Lizz smiled, her ears righting themselves. "Yes. I do rather like it, though I don't ever think I've heard of it called that."

Elli laughed lightly, pointing at Judy. "Blame Judy for that term. I like it. It's appropriate. I have to say, being locked together, Ed and I have had some of our best conversations while tied. I feel so much closer to him in those moments."

Judy signed. "Yeah. It is always such a shame when we finally separate." Looking to Elli. Have you tried those tricks I told you about?"

Elli's grin turned down right evil. "Oh yes. Not all of them. Didn't want to overwhelm him. As it is, he came three times and we lasted forty minutes. Going to take time before we break your one and a half hour record."

Lizz looked at Judy in shock. "One and a half hours?"

Judy shrugged, pulling her ears over her eyes to cover the blush clear in her ears and cheeks. "Was an accident. A happy, hour and a half of pleasured bliss, accident. It seems that they're a bit... sensitive... right after. As a rabbit I wanted... I needed... more. Since I was also in heat at the time, as was Nick, being winter... Remember that one November week that he and I called in sick for two days and came in the third looking totally wrecked."

"Yeah, everyone was so worried about you guys and what you had caught." Realization coming over Lizz's face as her eyes widened. "Oh my gods. You guys called in sick because you were busy, getting busy‽"

"Well, the first day. The second day was recovery. We slept, ate, and slept some more. Barley dragged ourselves into the precinct. Begged for parking duty that day."

Lizz started laughing and took several minutes to get herself under control. "Oh no! No no no no on! That is pure gold. I cannot wait to tell Mike the truth of that incident." Judy mumbled to herself and focused on her smoothie.

Joan laughed as well. "We're not up to the standards of Judy or Elli, but oh boy, they do work. Just so you're up to speed. Carry is with a coyote, Elli and I are both with wolves, like yourself."

Lizz grinned evilly. "Oh, do they now? Do tell."

They spent the following two hours discussing techniques and positions to please their mates, and themselves, along with the things they all liked, and didn't, about their canine mates. Compared notes on the size of certain body parts. Discussed how their mates treated them, looked after them, and showed them that they were loved. Laughed along with each other as they described the first time with their mate; if their mate was their first; had they played with anyone of their own species, or species other than their mate; the various antics their mates got up to; first reactions of families, etc...

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A/N

Hope you are enjoying the polish. It isn't much, a bit added here, a correction there…