Here is the 16th installment. Hope you enjoy.

Remember to share the love. Review and Fav. It is the life blood of every writer to know you are enjoying their work. I also want to thank everyone who has Fav'd, followed, and reviewed this little project. I know that isn't much, but to me, it's huge. Even as a writer of original fiction, that you enjoy this means a lot to me as an author. You can check out my original work and link to my Blog, Scribblings, where a lot of it lives by hopping over to

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

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

WildeHopps residence, later that evening.

Judy and Nick snuggle on their couch, the TV on for background, but their real focus is just on each other. Judy is sitting in Nick's lap, back to him, as he leans into the corner of the back and armrest of their wolf sized couch, his arms wrapped around her.

Giving a contented sigh, Judy shifts and looks up at the underside of Nick's Muzzle. "Nick. I think I want to try again. I think I need to, at least one more time, before I have the kits. If he'll talk to me. Just lay it all out on the table."

Nick gives Judy a gentle squeeze and shifts his head so he can give her a light kiss between her ears. "I know you do, Fluff. I'm here for you. I can sit to the side and be silent, I can make the call, or we can do it right here, right now. Rip the bandage off."

"We've tried it every way but in person and like we are right now. Might as well try it. If he won't talk to me, now, then the next time he hears from us, it'll be when you're calling to let them know I'm giving birth. Which means he's probably hearing it from mom, because I know he won't talk to you."

Nick held her just a bit tighter. He could hear the strain in her voice. The slight waver it had whenever they talked about calling her family, and specifically her father. It was new, not anymore, and had been there ever since what he called, the incident. It wasn't even in person, where her dad had pulled out a tazer on Nick and everything. It had been the phone call where she told him they had started dating. The way he talked to Judy made Nick's blood boil, but he never let her see just how much it bothered him as that would just upset her more.

Nick knew how important family was to Judy, and it tore him up inside how much it upset her that her father wouldn't accept them. Nick wished every day he'd been there and been able to take the phone and at least hang up on the buck. But he'd been taking the trash down to the dumpster, and by the time he'd gotten back, Judy had already been in tears, the phone off to the side and her father still spewing horror at her. "I know you want to Judy, but you don't have to. I know how it hurts you."

Sighing, Judy pulls away from him slightly, reaching up and pulling his muzzle down for a kiss. "Yes, it hurts Nick. I won't lie to you of all mammals, but it also won't change the decision I made. I love you. You are my mate. My husband. The father of my kits. If my father won't get past his narrow minded bigotry to see that. To see how happy you make me and that the hurt I am feeling is because of him, not you. I know how much it hurts you too, because of how important family is to me. You know you can't keep anything from me. But if he won't get over himself... Then... Then he doesn't deserve to be a part of my life... Of our lives. You, me, and the kits when they're born. I still have a few bits of family, Sisters, Brothers, and some cousins, several Aunts, at least one Uncle, and mom."

"Well, it did help that I got to meet some of them."

"Yeah, and you were great. Then dad..."

Nick chuckled. "Then your dad pulled out all the stops with the stereotypes, the fox-away, and the taser."

"That he did. I was mortified. I'm so glad you didn't press charges."

"He's your dad. He wants to protect you, even if his way of doing so is broken. He still loves you, and I wasn't going to do that to you. Anyway... You going to tell your mom that you're knocked up?"

Judy laughed. "Oh gods. I do need to do that, but the moment she knows, she's going to sprint here and drag him with."

"AH! So that's why you haven't told her yet."

"Right. I know I should, but the moment I do..."

"Okay. Lets make the call. We'll play it by ear, depending on who answers. If it is him, and he starts up again like that last time, I am hanging up on him."

"Agreed. I just thought, if I let him get it out of his system."

"Yeah... No. Sadly, that isn't how it works. I'm not giving him another chance to hurt you like that." Reaching back to the side table, Nick grabbed Judy's phone off the wireless charger pad. "Here you go Fluff. Once more into the breach." Giving her a reassuring squeeze and kiss behind her ear, making her shiver.

Rolling her eyes, Judy took the phone. "Soooo cheesy."

"You know you love me."

"Yeah, I do. Now, if I can just get my dad to understand that."

"I think he does know that, and it terrifies him."

Sighing, Judy nodded. "Yeah. You're probably right."

Judy dialed her parents shared number, selecting a video call, and they waited, holding their collective breath. The line picked up and Bonnie was on the other end of the line.

Bonnie smiled brightly from the screen. "Hey, Judy. How are you doing? And Nick too I see."

Nick smiled, taking the phone and using his longer arms so they could both be seen, but keeping it angled so Judy's belly wasn't visible. "Hi Bonnie. Good to see you. How's the clan doing?"

Bonnie smiled wider, clearly touched that he would ask. "They're doing the same as always. Controlled chaos. Thank you for asking, and thank you for the new set of dishes."

Nick feigned a shocked look. "I'd love to take credit for such a thing Bonnie, but I swear... Ouch." Looking at Judy from the side of his head, tipping his head to look at her. "Mean rabbit."

Judy grinned, retracting the elbow she'd driven into his ribs. "Don't lie to my mom. We came into some money and I knew the family could use a new set. Though Nick is the one that insisted that we had to send the flatware too."

"Well, thank you both. We were starting to run low, given breakage. I didn't even know they made plates, bowls, etc... out of aluminum. Let alone that they would look so nice. The design is simple, yet elegant."

"Nick knows a guy, so don't worry about it. If you need more, just let us know and we'll get it delivered."

"Well, this stuff has already survived more than any previous set I've ever seen. The worst we had was a plate get bent when it got jammed in the washer. Hazard of having a newbie on washer loading. Even then, your brother Gerald was able to bend it back. Still has a crease, but it is still functional. WHich of course makes it unique and the younger kits now see it as the lucky plate."

Judy nodded with a loagh. "That's great to hear mom. I'm just glad I could do something to help the family."

Nick nodded as well. "Joking aside. We both are."

Bonnie frowned. "You aren't calling to try and talk to your dad again, are you?"

"Well, yeah. If he's available."

Bonnie's frown deepened, the hint of growl in her voice. "Well, thankfully he's not. I'll not have him making you cry, again."

"Mom. Please tell me he isn't sleeping in the tent again."

"No, but the next time he pulls something like that, he will be. No, he's in the barn, working on the tractor."

Nick speaks up. "Anything we can do to help? Need some parts or anything? I know a mammal."

Laughing lightly, Bonnie's smile returning. "I know you do, Nick. While, I, appreciate the offer, we don't however need anything like that, and honestly, we haven't earned your help. Besides. he's just doing basic maintenance."

Nick nodded again with a weaker smile. "Bonnie. You're Judy's family, and that's really important to her, and therefore me. If there is ever anything I can do, please let me know. If I can help, I will."

Sighing, Bonnie nodded. "Okay Nick. You know. It's funny you called today, bun bun. He and I was just talking about how long it had been since you called and I reminded him that it was his fault. Another reason he's working on the tractor. Needed time to think."

Judy looked away towards the TV, ears drooping over Nick's shoulders. "I'm sorry mom..."

Bonnie's frown turned angry. "Now you listen here. You have nothing to be sorry for. I heard the tail end of what he said before I assume Nick ended the call." Seeing Nick nod. "I'm sure there is a reason you didn't do that sooner?"

"Was taking the trash out while she made the call."

"Ah. I'd worried that you'd just let it go on for some reason. I've seen you two together, so I couldn't square that."

"When I got back into the apartment, I heard her crying and him screaming. Took me a second to figure out what I was hearing. I cracked the screen I hit the button so hard."

Bonnie nodded herself with a snort. "That sounds more like what I expected." Pausing and looking at Judy with concern through the phone. "Judy, dear. I know how much Nick loves you, and how much he means to you. You have nothing to be sorry for. Now, I know there is another reason you called. I can see it written in your ears."

Judy sighed and smiled shyly. There was simply no way to keep a secret from the elder doe. Not with how many teenagers she had raised. "Okay mom. Nick and I have several things to tell you then. A lot has happened since the last time we actually spoke. Things I would prefer to do in person, but..."

"But, your father would never let you both on the property. I get is, dear."

"Right..."

Her brow furrowing, Bonnie looked over Nick and Judy, noting Judy's ears and inability to look her in the eyes. Then she saw the nervous twitch of Nick's ears, it was ever so slight, and she wasn't a master of reading the fox the way she was with her own kits, but he was clearly nervous about something. She admired how well the fox managed to hide things, though she supposed it was a skill he had to have with his background. "Okay. What is it? It is clearly something important."

Kissing Nick's paw on her shoulder as he gave her a reassuring squeeze. "First. I need you to promise me that you will not freak out. I need you to promise me that you will not come running to Zootopia, or any other such super-mom thing."

Looking out of the phone with a look of deep skepticism. "Judy. That is not something I would do."

Judy laughed. "Mom. You're really going to go there? When Arley called and told you she was having her first litter. She was just calling to let you know the happy news. She wasn't even showing, had only just literally found out and was calling to let you know. Yet... you were on the next train and didn't come home for four days. No one knew where you were for the first day."

"Okay, that's one example."

Judy gave her mother a half lidded look. "Really mom? One example? Gerald's daughter, Clair, fell off the swings and broke her arm. He called from the clinic just to let you know they were running late for dinner and why. All we saw was the dust cloud kicked up by the truck. They were finishing up the cast when he called. Then there was Harley when she called about her breakup with..."

Groaning, Bonnie glared at Judy and held up a paw. "Okay. Okay. I can get a bit motherly. But you are my kits and grand-kits. What am I supposed to do?"

Giving her mother a long suffering sigh, Judy smiled. She knew her mom loved them all, and could get a bit overbearing and overprotective. All the bucks she threw at her being just one of those instances. "Trust that you did a good enough job of raising your kits that they can manage without needing you to drop everything and run to their side. It isn't that we don't appreciate it, and you, mom. It's that we don't always need you to leap to our rescue. Sometimes we're just calling to let you know. Letting you know because we love and respect you and feel you deserve to know what's going on in our lives."

Rolling her eyes, Bonnie sighed with a laugh. "Fine! I promise I will not go super-mom on you. Though... considering you're asking me to promise that, I worry now what you could possibly have to tell me."

Looking at her mother critically for a moment with a nod. "Okay. As you know, it's been a while since we talked, and texts just don't work for some of the changes in our lives."

Bonnie frowned, narrowing her eyes at Judy. "Not filling me with confidence, dear."

"Right. Sorry. So... First off. Nick and I are no longer dating."

Bonnie's eyes bugged out. "What! Why not? But I see him right there. Nick, what happened? What did Judy do?"

Rolling her own eyes, Judy raised her voice for a moment. "Mom! Stop! Give me a chance to finish. Please."

Taking a deep breath, Bonnie glared through the phone at Judy. "What did you do? What did he do? Is it a culture thing?"

Laughing, Judy nodded. "A culture thing? Yeah, you could say that."

"Okay. It doesn't seem like a bad thing, so what is going on."

"Mom. Let me assure you that none of what has happened is a bad thing, if anything, everything we're about to talk about are all very good things. We are no longer dating because, we are married." Pulling her paw with the ring moving into view of the camera.

Bonnie blinked at out of the phone screen for several seconds. "You're married. And you didn't tell me..." Anger tinging her voice. "Why would you do that and not tell me?"

Nick jumped in to save Judy. "Because fox culture dictates a very small, private ceremony with just the couple and a very few other select witnesses."

"You had better not tell me that the parents are supposed to be part of that."

Judy flinched, Nick stepping in again. "We are very sorry Bonnie. I was willing to make an exception for Judy, but she wanted to fully respect the tradition. So... Yes, the parents are supposed to be part of that, but... only if both parents support the couple, otherwise no."

Judy cut in before Bonnie could explode. "That, and we already agreed to do a fully traditional rabbit ceremony, with all the bells, whistles, etc... Once other issues are smoothed out."

Her anger deflating somewhat, though still angry. Just not at Judy and Nick, Bonnie nodded. Stu was due to get a much larger piece of her mind and may just end up in the tent by the end of the night after all. "Okay. I can understand that, somewhat. But both of you need to know that I'm also not happy about it."

Judy and Nick both nodded, Nick continuing. "I'm very sorry Bonnie. Fox weddings tend to be very low key affairs, as mammals tend to look down on us in general, so foxes getting hitched... There have been instances where a disproving parent has called in mammals that are more than happy to disrupt the ceremony. So traditionally, if there is even a question about either parent, neither can, traditionally, be invited or even told about it until afterwards."

Shaking her head, Bonnie sighed. "I really would have liked to have been there for you two. I get it though. So what next? I know there's a next. There is a next written all over both of your faces."

Nick grinned proudly, looking down at Judy with a look of pure, unfiltered, love. "Another thing on Judy's insistence. Though it is more of a predator and more to the point, canine culture thing. I was happy to just be married to her, but Judy insisted that we be fully mated, and claim each other."

Bonnie looked out of the phone confused at the two of them. "What do you mean, claim?"

Nick exposed his shoulder, and the clear scar of Judy's bite there, the hint of a bullet wound scar just below it. "Claiming is exactly what it sounds like. For predators and especially canines. Claiming goes beyond marriage and being mates. Claiming is a physical mark that, unless your mate is dead, no other predator will even give you the time of day. It is an inviolate bonding between two mammals. Especially for foxes. As we talked about before, Foxes mate for life. Judy is it for me, even if she were to leave me."

"I would never!"

Nick kissed the side of her muzzle, snaking his neck around. "I know that. Just making the point."

Shifting back against him, Judy smiled. "Yeah, well. You're not lucky enough to ever get rid of me, because that goes both ways, Slick." Judy exposed her own shoulder. "And it is something that both halves partake in."

Bonnie's eyes went wide at the clear bite mark, the obvious circular scars of Nick's fangs and several other teeth. "Oh my gods. you bit her... You... YOU BIT JUDY! YOU PROMISED THAT YOU WOULD NEVER HURT HER, AND NOW YOU'VE SCARED HER FOR LIFE!"

Judy yelled back down the phone. "MOM! STOP! THAT! RIGHT! NOW!"

Shocked by the anger and tone in Judy's yell. "Judy? But he hurt you. scared you!"

"Yes, and I asked him to! It is a part of predator and canine culture. A very important part. Nick has absorbed so much abuse. Especially after we became a couple, and that was when we were just dating. He would have been happy with just being married, just like he said. Yet, this has a deeper meaning for him. An instinctual reassurance for him. It is indelible, undeniable, unquestionable, and unbreakable proof that I am his and he is mine for the rest of our natural lives and beyond."

Nick spoke up. "In my defense, she did bite me first." Kissing Judy between her ears, and speaking quietly. "In this life, and the next. And all those after too, if you'll have me."

Reaching back and pulling him down, both forgetting Bonnie on the phone, Judy marked the side of Nick's muzzle, him then marking the top of her head in return. "The stars themselves can burn out and I will still be yours."

Bonnie was taken aback by the admission that Judy bit him first, as well as their little display and admissions. She knew they loved each other, but the depth of their feelings were suddenly much more apparent to her than the short meeting they'd had before. "Judy?"

Judy smiled, embarrassed. Realizing they had forgotten about the call. "Yeah, I did. We'd discussed it at length. I was insistent, but he would never do it, because he was terrified of hurting me. It is done in the most intimate of moments between a couple, and he always ended up biting the pillow instead of me. He was so worried about not hurting me that despite my insistence, he wouldn't give into this one most important part of taking me as his mate. So... I took things in my own paws and forced the issue. I bit him, and there was no way for him to resist the instinctual counter response in the moment. Even then, he didn't break skin until I demanded he finish the job."

Shaking her head, Bonnie couldn't deny the truth that was clear to see on both their faces. "Okay. Okay... So, is that it? You're done giving me an ulcer." Seeing Nick and Judy share a nervous glance. "Oh crap. So you saved the biggest news for last."

Judy laughed nervously. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."

Closing her own amethyst eyes and taking a deep breath, holding it for a moment and then letting it out, Bonnie nodded as she looked back at the two. "Okay. Lay it on me."

Nick gave Judy a reassuring squeeze of her shoulder and kiss on the top of her head, as Judy reached up and pointed the phone down from their faces, showing her very pregnant belly. "We're expecting." Bonnie stared at the screen in silence for the entire time the camera was pointed down. With the silence Judy tipped the camera back up. "Mom?"

Taking a deep breath, Bonnie started out with something that shocked Judy, Nick, and everyone in the burrow within ear shot. "HOLY SHIT!"

Voices on the other side of the phone behind and around Bonnie can be heard. "Who said that?" "Did Mom just cuss?" "Mom cussed!" "Was that Bonnie? My Gods!" And more.

Shaking herself, Bonnie continued, starting to get upset as she thought of how it might have happened. "How. No... Who? Did you cheat on Nick? Do you know the bucks name? Did you go to a clinic? That can't have been cheap. Did you have the donor screened? Nick, you're okay raising bunnies? Will you be adopting a fox too? Using a surrogate?"

Judy raised her voice in further frustration. "Mom! Stop! I did not cheat on Nick. Yes, we go to a clinic, but that is to make sure the kits are healthy, which they are. They are Nick's, Mom. Through some impossible luck, They are Nick's. Half me, half him."

Bonnie blinked in clear disbelief for a moment. "Let me roll this back a second, dear." Taking a long calming breath, Bonnie closed her eyes as Nick and Judy looked into the phone with baited breath. Opening her eyes Bonnie let out the breath. " Okay, so you did not cheat on Nick, nor have you gone out and found a donor or fertility clinic. Though I suspect this came as just as much of a surprise to you as it is to me, the kits are half bunny, half fox? They are also healthy according to your doctor. Is that what you are telling me?"

Judy nodded with a joyful grin. "That's right. We're seeing a specialist that deals with inter-species couples and specifically their hybrid children. We're a first for him, but everything shows that they are growing healthy and perfect blends of Nick and I. We do not know how many, other than more than one, and my due date is kinda up in the air. We're figuring a few more weeks, maybe a month at most, based on the last checkup. The doc doesn't even want to see us again until I go into labor, unless something feels wrong."

The camera jostled around showing dozens of Judy's siblings peering over Bonnie to try and figure out what would cause the Hopps matron of all mammals to cuss. None of them expecting the next. "Well... Fuck me, this is a shock. A wonderful, unexpected, shock. I am so very happy for you two. I mean that with all my heart. Do you need anything? Kit clothes? Cribs? Anything at all? Help looking after them when they're born?" The whispered voices behind Bonnie reflecting their own shock at her second curse in so many minutes as well as the revelations about their sibling based on Bonnie's questions.

Nick chuckled then groaned in pain. "I think that... OW!"

Judy glared back at him, retracting her elbow from his ribs. "Nick. I know you're nervous, but so help me! If you finish that joke..." Nick closed him mouth with an audible clack and a hurried nod. Turning back to her mother, Judy smiled. "Actually, we're starting a new apartment search soon. We're going to be getting a bigger place. Jess and her mate will be moving in with us, at least for awhile. They'll help with the kits and will be seeing the same specialist to see if they are going to be able to have kits of their own or will need to adopt. We also have Nick's mom, and several friends here in the city."

Bonnie smiled with a sigh, her ears coming up again. "That's great sweetie. I'm very glad you have so much support there in the city. I'm also glad your sister and her mate will have a place to land. I've had lunch with her a few times at Gideon's. They're so happy, I just wish your father could get over himself. One or both of you needs to promise me that you'll call as soon as you go into labor."

Nick nodded enthusiastically. "You can be assured of that Bonnie. You'll be my first call, and if I don't get through, I have several other numbers I will try. So if Cotton walks up with her phone saying she has a call for you, it's probably me."

"Mom. You're the only one other than Jess that knows. I felt you should at least know before you're a grandparent. Not that you are not already."

Grinning, Bonnie laughed. "Yeah, but you were not one that I ever expected to put me in that position. I understood, I think, and with you being with Nick..."

"We know. We were not expecting it. We were planning on adopting in a few years. If I were a praying mammal, I would think Karma and Serendipity had other plans for us. I think we still might. Adopt that is, after these kits are a bit older. Though I'm going on suppressors as soon as I can, now that we know it is possible."

Bonnie nodded. "Oh, I totally get that. You don't have the room out there in the city, and I know you want to get back to your job too."

"I do. But we're going to love them as much as we can. Besides, if you think Maria isn't chomping at the bit to spoil these kits, you're fooling yourself."

Bonnie laughed out loud for several seconds, the camera shifting to show the shocked expressions behind her. "Oh gods. That's right. You've probably had to fight her off to keep her from buying everything for you."

Judy nodded, though her smile devolved into a frown as the audience she'd seen several times registered. "Mom... You're in the front common room, aren't you."

"Of course. Why?" Then the whispers behind her suddenly registered. "Oh dear. I'm sorry honey, but I guess the secret is out."

Judy laughed at the irony. "Okay mom. I'll let you go and do some damage control against the rumor mill. I'm sure the story has already morphed into the kits being twisted mutations that will burst through my stomach like that Alien movie."

Bonnie laughed sadly with a nod. "Yeah, that's believable, sadly. Take care Judy. Nick, you take good care of her and those kits. Love you both."

"Love you too mom."

"One thing I can promise you Bonnie. So long as there is breath in my body, I'm not going anywhere."

"Good. Call me more often."

"We will, mom. And mom... If you can. Talk to dad. We want to visit, and bring these kits with us."

"I'll try Judy. Maybe this will finally get him over the top."

The call ended and Judy leaned back against Nick, dropping her phone on the couch. "Well. That happened. I guess it was inevitable."

"What are the chances of an angry call from your dad? Given that the whole warren probably knows by now, based on what you've told me about the speed of the Hopps whisper net."

Judy laughed and snuggled, turning slightly to lay her head against his shoulder. "I'd say fifty-fifty. If he believes the rumors, then yes, if not, then no."

"Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there."

"Agreed. Let's go to bed. It's been a long day."

"It has." Shifting Judy onto the couch next to him, Nick stood up, grabbed her phone, then scooped her up to a giggle and slight punch to his shoulder.

"Nick! Put me down, silly fox!"

Leaning down and kissing her, Nick smiled. "I shall, on our bed." Turning, he headed for their room.

"I can walk."

"Yes, you can, and yet I am now sworn to look after and protect you. So if you are tired from a long day, then it is simply a moral imperative that I carry you to our bed so that you may rest. I expect some paw rubs are probably in your future as well"

Allowing herself to snuggle into his arms, Judy giggled some more. "Dumb fox. But paw rubs sound wonderful, and if my payment is being carried."

"And kisses."

"Oh, and kisses too? How ever will I afford your services with such steep prices."

"I think you'll manage." Laying her down on the bed. "You just wait here. I'm going to shut things off and get our water for the night." Stepping back and looking Judy over, eyebrows wiggling. "Then I'm going to strip you down and have my way with you. Specifically the before mentioned paw rubs."

Judy giggled as she shifted on the bed to get comfortable against the headboard. "Well hurry up then. If I am going to have to render such steep payments, I should at least get fast service."

Nick straightened up and gave a sharp salute. "Yes ma'am!" Turning and rushing out the door to close things up for the night. Judy's laugh at his antics filling the apartment and his heart to bursting.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

WolfEyere residence that same evening.

Mike helped Lizz sit on their couch, Lizz shaking her head and breathing heavily. "Mike. These steps are going to be the death of me. We really need to talk to Nick and Judy about their apartment search and us piggy-backing on it."

Sitting on the couch and handing Lizz a glass of water. "I know it lover. Once the cubs are born, it'll be completely untenable. I'll try and bring it up tomorrow while we're on patrol."

Nodding after a sip from the water. "That would be great." Turning to Mike and seeing that he was up on the far side of the couch, she smiled, then setting the water on the coffee table, shifted and laid down so her head was in his lap. "What a day."

Laughing lightly, Mike leaned down and pressed a light but passionate kiss to Lizz's lips. "It was a very long, very weird, educational, and yet saddening day. The more I lean about what Nick and Judy have been through, Nick especially, but Judy too. The socially acceptable speciesism they deal with, and then I'm sure there is discrimination from them being inter-species Pred/Prey as well. It's shocking. Especially when I realize that I used to be that mammal."

Lizz nodded sadly and turned to face into Mike. "I know. I was too. Did you know that during the fist part of the NightHowler case, the missing mammal part. Bogo literally gave Judy 48 hours to solve the case or quit? When Nick told him, and the rest of us off, and talked about them having ten hours left, he wasn't kidding."

Mike sighed. "Yeah, I had heard that. I lost a lot of respect for Bogo when I learned that, but even more for myself and the rest of precinct one. Realizing how terribly we treated Judy. I actually sneered at Nick when he defended Judy. I felt insulted by this fox that dared tell us anything, how dare he. No. How dare we? How dare Bogo? How dare I... I wonder if I ever had interaction with him from before. I treated foxes like such scum for no justifiable reason."

Mike paused and looked off out the window, Lizz just waiting for him to finish, knowing there was more on his mind. "I guess it has worked out for the better in the end. I jumped at the opportunity to be Nick's temporary partner. Several of us did, and for the right reasons too. It just hurts when I realize that even him being a cop doesn't stop places like banks from screwing him over. It doesn't stop, barely even reduces the flack he deals with on a day to day basis. Most of the safe deposit boxes they have, those that know Nick is a fox, charge them several times more than they should."

"But that's illegal."

Shaking his head sadly, Mike looked down at Lizz. "Yeah, and what can he, or anyone else do about it? Sure, Nick has the advantage of the ZPD having his back, but such an investigation would quickly leave our hands. Then what? It's the word of one fox, ZPD officer or not, that the bank doesn't even have records for, or who is months behind on things, against a bank."

Lizz shook her head. "Oh..." They were quiet for a few moments, Mike gently petting Lizz's head and massaging her ears until she was purring. "Damn that feels good. What was Nick talking about a foundation and trust?"

"Oh, yeah. The trust was the actual reason we were doing the valuation with Joan. They're creating a trust to get around the rules about how much an officer can have in assets. That line that Erik walks so often. The value of their collections will go into that trust, and they will draw from that."

"Smart, and makes sense. After hearing what that one comic was worth, I guess they couldn't pretend ignorance of the value anymore."

Mike nodded, putting his head back against the couch, still petting Lizz. "Yeah, exactly that reason in fact."

Starting to purr louder at Mikes continued petting, Lizz sighed. "The trust makes sense under that lens. So how does a foundation figure into that? What would that be for?"

"That is part of what I learned today. So we were in that bank, going through the things in that cache, as Nick calls it. The name makes sense. But they must have overheard how much some of the stuff was worth. He has a figurine worth around three million, along with comics worth hundreds of thousands if they do well in an auction. So, they tried to claim that Nick and Judy were behind on their payments and then lay claim to the items in that cache."

Lizz looked up at Mike with a sad look, her purr faltering upon hearing that. "Oh no."

Mike nodded, mirroring the sad expression. "Yeah, Nick didn't want to let it go, as there were other things in that cache as well. Things he could not let go of. Stuff like I keep in that lock-box from my undercover work."

Lizz hissed with a frown. "With who we know he worked for in the past. No way he couldn't let it go."

"Exactly. He stood up to them, tried to show his badge, but being a fox, they wouldn't hear him and threatened to taze him. Then since he was resisting, they called the ZPD. Erik, Hornworth, and a few others showed up. I checked with Erik and he said the report was of a fox that snuck into the vault and was being violent. Nick was none of that. Nick got to keep his stuff, but explained that the bank management is probably going to take out losing on others who have accounts. Charging them insane fees, or even just vanishing their accounts."

"Please tell me you're kidding."

"I'm not. Joan and Hornworth confirmed it. It really put a new, and very ugly light on some of the KS call outs I've been on. Hornworth described an event when he was young. A vixen that used to look after him and a bunch of kits in the complex he lived in after school. I gathered she did it for some extra money. Her mate didn't come home one day and Hornworth overheard her trying to get a relative to take her kits. She couldn't get them out of the home before the eviction and KS was waiting for them."

Lizz shifted, her face starting at offended and angry, then morphing into horrified as she realized that she had been on many such call outs herself. "That's horrible. I... How many of those we've been on were like that? I... I don't think I want to know."

Mike leaned down and kissed her again. "I don't know. I don't want to think about it, but I do know that I'm going to pay a lot more attention to it. There is no question that at least some of the ones I've been on where totally unjust. The foundation is meant to help mammals like that. Like the ones that are going to be hurt because Nick got to keep his cache instead of the cops siding with the bank against some random fox. Like any other fox that wasn't Sergent Nick Wilde of the ZPD."

"Like the poor fox that Judy took the mark in her file to protect."

"Exactly."

"You know. I think the next time I meet with Carry, I'm going to talk to her about that. I wonder if Bill wouldn't be able to buy shares in that or some other smaller bank. Change the culture. Give mammals a fair shake, regardless of species."

"I imagine, from what we talked about the other night, that would be something he might be interested in. You make a bank like that. All the mammals that are getting mistreated elsewhere will flock to it."

"Definitely going to bring it up now. That could make some real change. I'll have to arrange lunch with her at some point next week."

"It really could. Given how Nick and Judy know them, I'm surprised they haven't brought it up."

They fell into a comfortable and thoughtful silence. Lizz dozing on Mike's lap as he pulled out his phone and started to do some research. Convinced that there had to be some documentation about what he'd learned that day.

Some time later Mike grunted. "Oh yeah. One other thing, Love. This one hits us both."

Lizz blinked a few times and sighed, closing her eyes a moment before looking up at him with a worried look. "What did we do?"

"We really didn't do anything wrong, but we kinda helped facilitate a theft."

Lizz's face shifted to a look of horror. "We did what? How? When? What was stolen?"

Taking a deep breath, Mike kissed Lizz. "Right after Nick joined the precinct. I don't think he'd even been on the job a week." Lizz gasped, putting her paws over her mouth as Mike continued. "He tried to sell a few comics for some extra money. You know how hard it can be before you get that first check. He went in with five comics. He walked out with two. One of them was destroyed by the shop owner, the other two slipped behind the counter. The two worth the most money, of course."

Sighing sadly, Lizz nodded. "I think I remember that call out. Memorable for how defeated he looked. After seeing the chipper jokester that joined the precinct, seeing him with his tail dragging, ears down, just seemed so out of character. I want to say I heard his stomach growl. You don't think..."

"Yeah, I do, actually. Now... Nick knew how much what he had was worth and expected to take a hit when he sold them, but not the full value. Instead he lost three of them. One to destruction and accusation that it was a fake, the other two, to an unscrupulous shop owner who knew Nick wouldn't say anything and we wouldn't believe him even if he did."

Lizz started to tear up. "Oh gods. How many more instances of that do we have in our past? How many innocent mammals have we hurt?"

Mike hugged her head in his lap, kissing away the tears threatening to fall. "That is exactly why we are going to join that task force when Bogo creates it. That is why we are going to pay more attention to what is actually going on. Yes, we should have been better. We can say that we didn't know any better, and perhaps that is true to some extent. Yet, is that really an excuse, or just the reason? I would say it was the reason, and something we can work to correct. We can't undo what has been done, but we can make sure we don't repeat the past."

Lizz sniffed back a few tears. "Okay. I'm onboard with that. I... I can't believe that Nick and Judy even tolerate us, considering. It is becoming starkly clear why foxes, weasels, and others don't trust the police. I sure wouldn't bother in their position. Do you know how much Nick lost?"

"I don't remember, but it was a lot. I whole lot. Like hundreds of thousands."

Several tears falling, Lizz looked up at Mike. "How... I can't believe we helped that."

"Well, according to Nick, he left with the two he did because we showed up. As for why they consider us friends. I don't think it is in either of them to hold it against us, as long as we truly seek to fix it and not be those mammals anymore."

Nodding, Lizz smiled weakly. "Mike. This has been a really weird and emotionally taxing week so far. I don't know how much more I can handle. How do we make up for what we have done? To mammals that call us friends, despite what we have done, to them?"

"I think it has to do with who Nick was versus who he is now. We gave him and Judy the chance to prove they were more than we assumed, and accepted them. It might not have been as quick a welcome as it should have been, but we did. I also think we have crossed the big hurdles, Love. Both our families know about us and are supportive. We're out to Bogo and won't be separated as long as we can emulate Nick and Judy. The real struggle we have left is getting used to being open about the fact that we are together. Getting our actual wedding and official mating ceremonies done, but in all of that we have support. We have friends and both of our families ready and willing to help us."

"Yes. but how do we make it right with those same friends? I need to talk to Judy about what is going on with her family. It seems like there is a large portion that doesn't accept her and Nick. I can only imagine how much that hurts."

"Maybe that is how we help. We can be there for them both. Support them, and like at the bank, stand up for what is right. Having their backs may be how we do it. Now, if her family, or even just a portion, won't accept them. Well, I'm pretty sure the Wolford pack wouldn't mind adding the hero's of Zootopia as official, honorary members."

Lizz laughed. "Oh, now that would be funny. Judy is already an honorary vixen. Make her a wolf too?"

"Okay, yeah. That might be a bit much. Still, we'll be there for them just as much as they have been there for us. More, because we owe that to them."

With a nod, Lizz sat up. "Agreed. Lets head to bed. This has all been way too deep, and I want to snuggle some before I fall asleep. We can deal more with what horrible mammals we used to be tomorrow."

Standing and pulling Lizz up to him and into a kiss. Mike grinned up to Lizz. "I'll be right there, love."

Lizz quickly heads to their bedroom, stripping down and crawling into bed, with Mike joining her just a few moments later. After a few minutes of snuggling, they fall into a deep sleep, wrapped in each-others embrace.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The following day, precinct one, end of shift, the cube farm.

Nick stretches and glances at the clock. "Damn, still a half hour for something to break." Getting up he steps over to Mike's cube. "Mike. So, you up to punching out early today?"

Mike groans as he looks up. "Damn it. Please don't tell me you're done already..." Checking his email and seeing the completed reports awaiting review. "Damn Nick. How do you do it?"

"I've told you before. Carrot's whipped me into shape long before we were a couple. Don't get me wrong, I hate the seemingly endless streams of paperwork, and will happily whine about it to her, but... while the new forms are a lot better, they are not perfect. If you're trying to use the new form on the foot chase, don't. You'll never get it to take what you need it to. It is something I've already put in a few notes on, though they still haven't fixed it. Just switch to the old manual form for that one. Just remind me to give you the link to the current error reporting log, and a copy of my notes."

Mike lets out a frustrated growl. "Oh, come on. You're telling me I've been fighting with this for ten minutes for no reason?"

"Well, you would have figured it out eventually, buddy. That said, I want to get out of here before Bogo finds something else for us to do. So... I'm taking pity on my partner."

"Ugh... Fine. I'll be done in a few minutes."

"Cool. I'm gonna grab a cup. Want anything?"

"No, thanks though."

"Alright. Back in a few then."

Nick walked off to get some coffee while Mike abandoned the report he had been fighting with, pulls up the far more manual form and started filling it in. Nick pulled out his phone and fired off a quick message to Judy as he headed to the break room.

N: Hey lover bun. We're just about done, how far away are you?

Returning a few minutes later, sipping his coffee, Nick leans against the side of Mike's cube. "Hey Mike, you done buddy?"

Mike sighed loudly. "Yeah, two more minutes. I'm just putting the last bits on it and they'll be in your inbox."

"Excellent my mammal. You ready for this evening?"

"What's this evening?" Pausing and looking over at Nick leaning on his cube wall.

"The recording session. You and Lizz are joining, and I guess we're going to be picking up Judy's old friend Bobby, from Therus. Or Lizz and Judy are going to pick him up then pick us up? I wasn't quite sure what the order was on that."

"Oh right. I get to find out why Maria is so obsessed with you and Judy singing."

Ben happened to be walking through and stops. "Nick? You sing? Why haven't you participated in the karaoke contests?"

Nick's ears fold flat and his eyes go wide as he turns his head slowly to see Ben with a grin creasing his cheeks. Nick quickly rights his ears and smiles. "Hi Ben. I suppose I can carry a tune, but I'm not much into karaoke."

Ben looked at Nick skeptically. "Sure... Who's Maria?"

Mike looked up at Nick, unseen by Ben, and gives Nick a look of terror and apology. Nick pastes on his mask and turns fully to Ben. "Just a friend. Apparently they think that Judy and I as a duet could give Gazelle a run for her money. I know, silly. We're good together, but not that good."

Laughing Ben shakes his head. "Oh, nothing against you or Judy. I love you guys, but no way you're that good."

"You never know Ben. Judy and I could be quitting to pursue our singing careers. Maybe do some vigilante work on the side."

Laughing harder, Ben's grin grew. "One thing I know. You are no Vengeful Vulpine, Nick."

"Ah, now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time. He almost gave foxes a good name. Doing all that good like that. I cannot imagine what he was thinking."

"I think he just wanted to, as Judy would say, make the world a better place."

Mike shook his head in disbelief at how Nick twisted the conversation. "Hey, Nick. I'm all done. Reports over to you for review."

Looking over his shoulder, Nick wink's at Mike. "Thanks Mike." Turning back to Ben. "Well, Ben. Duty, and the associated paperwork calls."

"Okay. I'll let you get to it." With that Ben walks off with a lighter step and a happy grin.

Standing, Mike confirms that Ben was gone, then turns to Nick who was scanning the reports he'd sent him. "Wow. It never ceases to amaze how you do that."

Nodding, Nick hits reply on the reports back to Mike and prints his own. "The best lie in the world is one hundred percent truth, presented in a way that the receiver of said lie will disregard what is said out of hand."

"Well, it is down right spooky to watch when I know the truth of the statement."

Nick grinned as he picked up his printed reports, paper clipped the pages together and slipped them into a set of folders he had already labeled. "Exactly why you need to know your audience. Someone that hears it, and knows the actual truth being spoken, can ruin the lie and expose if for the truth it is. Works really good in interrogations."

Repeating Nick's move with the prints and folders, Mike stretches and starts to pack up his things. "I'd argue with you on that, but I've watched you interview potential suspects, break actual suspects, and when you and Judy tag team someone... You two are scary."

Collecting his things, Nick chuckled. "Why thank you Mike. You're going to make me blush. Lets get out of here." Checking his phone, he see's a reply from Judy that just came in.

J: Sorry, was loading up Bobby and running interference with Fin.

J: We're on our way. Should be about 15 minutes.

"As a matter of fact, the ladies are about fifteen out. Just enough time to hit the locker room and change, drop off these reports, and hit the curb for pickup." Turning and heading towards the locker room, Mike following.

"Awesome. I really want to hear what has Maria so obsessed with you two."

"It's the way Judy and I harmonize, or so she says. It'll be interesting to see what songs she has for us."

Responding to Judy as they walk, Nick can't help a loving smile as he types.

N: See you soon, Fluff. Missed you today.

J: You always miss me.

N: Yeah, well. It'd be weird if I didn't, after marrying you, claiming you, and all that.

J: Maybe.

J: I missed you too.

J: I can't wait for you to get your paternity leave so we can spend the whole day together again.

N: You know. That sounds awesome. Though, I've kinda enjoyed my time alone.

J: You saying you don't actually miss me?

N: Oh I do.

J: You sure?

N: Very. Talk to you in a few. Gonna change so I'm not showing up to sing in my uniform.

J: See you in a few minutes. /Kissing rabbit emoji x5/

N: /Smirking Fox x2, Kissing Fox x3/

In the locker room...

Glancing up at Nick. "So, you and Judy are really okay with us tagging along on your housing hunt?"

Smiling as he pulls a shirt over his head. "Yeah, more than happy to have the extra negotiation power. Plus, with you two in tow, you can run interference and we might be able to score a nice place for a reasonable amount, instead of the fox and bunny premium rate."

Frowning, his ears folding and tail down. "I'm sorry Nick. I am still wrapping my head around just how, even as a cop, you get treated like that. Not that it' should be like that to begin with."

Nick shook his head as he pulled a wrap over his ankle. "It is literally centuries, millennia even, of ingrained thinking that is embedded in the societal mindset. It effects most smaller predators like myself who were also prey to larger predators like yourself and Lizz. We were caught in the middle, so neither side trusts us. It's why foxes, weasels, etc... Are all looked at and thought of as sly, sneaky, conniving, tricksters. It is literally what we had to become to survive."

"But this is the modern world. None of that means anything anymore. I just don't understand how you handle it."

Nick shrugged. "It is what I grew up with. I've actually gotten a lot less of it now that I'm a cop. Not to say that it is all just up and vanished, as you saw yesterday. It is simply the experience, the life, of a fox or a weasel, or any other maligned species. It is what you live with, its' what you grow up with, and you either shoulder it, or it breaks you. Things are getting better. As more and more mammals come to realize that those old prejudices are out dated and wrong. The internet helps as well too, because you can do most of the work in getting an apartment or a bank account online now and because of laws that prevent pred/prey discrimination, you can't ask species."

"Well, that's good at least."

Nodding, Nick shrugged again in response as he pulled his pack out of his locker and shut it. "It is, and it gets better slowly. Despite how cynical I might be, Carrots is right. We are making the world a better place. It just isn't an instant thing. It take time, and our actions as officers feed that change. For every mammal that curses me for giving them a ticket, seeing only the uniform, there are a dozen that I help. They see not just a cop, they see a fox. They see a fox that helped them. It's like the squirrel kit that got lost in the park last week. When you leave a good impression on a mother and her kits, that has long lasting effects."

"That was brilliant bit of, I don't know what to call it. Letting him drive the fox. It was hilarious and endearing, yet it somehow also kept the kit calm. I don't know how you do it."

"It is all about how you deal with scared kits. You distract them from their fear. He was alone, lost, and terrified. I knew where his mom was, based on you, right?" Seeing Mike nod. "So, I knew where I needed to get him, but the poor kit was so terrified. I was the big evil fox he's been told to fear. The only reason I could even get near him was because of the uniform. So. On top of my head puts him high up, to him, and with some minor acting, I pull his mind away from his fear. It does dual duty. Having him steer with my ears helps keep him safe because he is holding on, it calms his fears because he is concentrating on something else, and it involves him in the process."

Mike blinked as a grin formed. "That's kinda brilliant. I... I'm going to have to try that."

Smiling, Nick sat on the bench while Mike finished changing. "It's a good trick, but only really useful for the younger ones."

"Noted, but still. It is something we should all keep in our quiver. It is that kind of public, community based police work that makes all our lives better and can make a difference in a mammal's life."

"Exactly. It leave that impression that can last a lifetime. Now, as far as the apartment hunt is concerned. I think we would love that. Lizz and Judy can spend time together doing the hunt and then we can just smile and nod at what they pick."

Laughing, hard, it takes Mike a moment to get himself under control. "Oh gods. That is so true. We need to be somewhere with a working, and reliably working elevator. If no elevator, than no more than one floor of stairs. I'm not carrying Cubs, strollers, diaper-bags, etc... up more than one flight."

"I hear that. Judy and I have talked about it and are actually looking for a down-stairs or basement apartment. Both of us tend to live underground historically, so we feel it would be best for us. Feel more like home, ya know? The benefit is that those tend to be larger, but also cheaper because many mammals don't want them."

"Huh... That's quite a thought. I'll talk to Lizz about it. Yeah, let the ladies do the deciding."

"Happy wife, happy life, my friend."

"Where did you hear that?"

"One of the few things I remember of my dad. A bit of advice he gave me. If you keep your mate happy, then they will keep you happy."

"Good advice. You ready?"

"I am, the question is, are you?"

A few minutes later, Nick in a black button up and black slacks, Mike in dark jeans and a plain blue t-shirt. They pass by the front desk, delivering their reports in the bin as they walk by, giving Ben a goodby wave.

Stepping out of the precinct, they watch Lizz's car come to a stop right out front. Both of them grinning and quickly jogging over to the car. Mike slips into the front, while Nick hops in the back with Judy and pulls her into a deep kiss. "Hey Fluff. I missed you."

Catching her breath, Judy laughs lightly. "I can tell. Long day?"

"No more or less than the usual. It's the missing you that makes the day drag." Looking up to the other seat. "Hello Bobby. Ready to make your career?"

Nodding nervously. "I'm really trusting you guys here."

Mike had leaned over and given Lizz a deep kiss before they started off. "So, Nick. Maria has heard you and Judy sing before?"

Judy giggled and Nick rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you could say that. She tricked us in to singing for her when we were visiting one day, ended up using our voices on a track."

Mike looked to the back seat. "No way!"

"Yep. It was a club remix track, so not a lot of people have heard it. But ever since then, she has been trying to get us to do something like this."

"And being a charity thing, you couldn't say no."

"Pretty much."

Judy pulled out her phone and played the song, once it was done she grinned. "It was honestly a lot of fun, but we love our jobs."

Mike nodded. "That was good, and you two do sound good."

Bobby laughed. "Oh my gods! I knew that was you! When I heard it the first time, I immediately thought it was you, but with the male voice, obviously Nick's, I was thrown off."

"You should have asked me. I'd have admitted to it."

"By the time my shift was done, I'd totally forgotten about it. Then I'd hear it again and mean to do just that, but was always too busy at that moment and would forget again."

"Ah." Looking out the window past Nick. "Looks like we're here. You ready Bobby? This is, and I mean this very literally, your big break."

"I'm as ready as I can be."

Judy pulled our her phone as Lizz parked in the small lot of the non-descript building that held the studio. Judy accepted Nick's help her out of the car while Mike and Bobby collect his instruments and other items.

J: We're here.

M: YES! /Dancing gazelle emoji x10/

M: I'm going to stay hidden. I don't want to throw off this mammal until I've heard them perform. I'd hate for them to let nerves get the better of them.

J: I know they appreciate it.

M: I get what it's like.

J: I know you do. I remember some of those auditions you came back to the dorm from.

M: Ugh... /Frowning gazelle emoji/ Don't remind me.

J: See you in a few. I assume you already have some songs picked out for us?

M: I do. You'll have your pick.

J: Cool Depending, I might have this friend help out with some live accompaniment.

M: If they're good enough, go for it. All the better to make a proper impression.

As a group, they walked up and the security guard unlocked the door and let them in, a second guard opened the door into the recording studios and leading them to the studio they would be working out of.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N Keep the reviews and comments coming, it's making Muse happy, which lets me work on this and other things. And also remember, if you see issues, misspellings, etc... Let me know in PM, I'm under no illusion of being perfect and want to fix those things I miss.

If you are truly enjoying this, you can check out my original work by popping over to my blog, Scribblings. You can link to it here: and then select Scribblings Blog.