Disclaimer: Zootopia and all Canon characters are owned by Disney. All other characters, product names, trademarks, and copyrights belong to their respective owners.

A/N: A big shoutout to SapperJoe for his AO3 comment on chapter 14 that resulted in a vignette here.

…..

"Giddy-up, horsey," yelled Aiden, waving his ZPD cap.

"Neigh?" questioned the teenage beast Aidan was riding.

Tyler huffed, "No! Everyone knows you rode birds in the Wild West. Miss Rose is a buffalo, and we're in the middle of stampeding a town."

"Moo?" asked the buffalo cow.

"Nuh-uh!" said Aidan. Dad said the only time Buffalo ever stampede is when their team wins the World Cup, and we're all done with soccer practice for today."

"Can she be a—" started Jeffrey from right behind Tyler.

"No Ninjas!" yelled Rory, a few kits back from Aiden. "How about a dragon? We can flame stuff."

Rose hissed menacingly while trying not to laugh.

"No breathing fire," said Jason. "You heard that bear on TV talk about how bad burning stuff is, 'specially around long fuzzy tails. How about a dinosaur? They smash stuff and roar a lot."

Rose nodded her head and, raising up a bit off her front hooves, yelled, "ROAAAR! What can I smash?"

"YAY!" yelled all the kits as they guided their new dinosaur over toward the sandbox city they'd built earlier.

…..

"How goes the ZPS report?" asked Sister Mary, taking a seat on the bench currently occupied by a large cape buffalo.

Huffing, Bogo replied, "Deleted and shredded, along with any and all notes with the name Greytail on them."

"So… Not that Coach Mitchell hasn't needed Rose's help, but if there isn't a case you're monitoring for Judy, why have you and especially your daughter been around so much?"

"Penance. Rose wants her car back."

"She's been driving her own car for a couple of weeks now. She seems quite taken with the kits. And they with her."

"Smash Councilor Woolerby's building! She's mean."

"ROAAAR"

"Are you sure it's Rose's penance that is being served here?"

Bogo glanced down at the tip of the ruler sticking out from Sister Mary's sleeve. "If you have a spare, I could use one. Hopps and Wilde are due back next week, and there's still work to be done."

Laying a small paw on Bogo's arm, Sister Mary replied, "I do, but I've heard you've been cleaning up your ranks without one. The Community is still wary of the ZPD, but your efforts have not gone unnoticed."

"Penance for neglecting my duties."

"Best intentions, yes," nodded Sister Mary, "at some point, we all have to make the decision to follow through on what we are called to do or let the shadows darken our souls."

Still feeling the warmth of the small paw on his arm, Bogo's stern features softened as he watched his daughter lay waste to a city sandscape under the guidance of a half dozen kits. Sister Mary was right about Rose. She was coming into her own, growing up, and for all his failings as a father, she's a good mammal that will be as good with her own calves as his mate was with hers.

A father's dilemma, how best to support your kits as they grow up while protecting them from all the darkness you know exists in the world.

Feeling a loss of warmth on his arm, Bogo looked down at Sister Mary.

"A father's burden can be great, but yours is greater since you stare deep into the City's dark places."

Bogo looked back at his daughter and nodded.

Sister Mary sat silent until she saw a black limousine pull up and park not too far away. A polar bear in a dark suit exited the driver's seat and, coming around to the side of the large mammal vehicle, opened a wide door and waited.

"What the Mule took from you and Antonio has been avenged by someone who you both consider family."

Bogo lifted a brow.

Sister Mary smiled, "She's my godson's mate in all but name, which means I have two errant kits I have to look after.

"Along with ensuring the world is a better place for their kits… the same as you and Antonio want to do for yours."

Bogo stood, "As the Chief of the ZPD, I will speak with him."

"Adrian..."

Bogo half turned toward Sister Mary.

"As a father, please listen to him."

-/-/-

"So, Carrots… favor to ask."

"Sure," replied Judy, sitting down at the same table she and Nick had sat at when they'd eaten with Sarge and Abby.

"When you talked with Hoofson about us maybe talking to Gideon, you said we'd both be there."

"Uh-huh."

"I'd like to keep the conversation with him, fox to fox, if you don't mind. And if you could, try to think of a way to distract Sharla and buy Gideon and me a few minutes of guy time so I can do the interrogation."

Judy huffed, "We're not going to 'interrogate' him. We just need to ask him a couple of quick questions, not a big deal, he's a nice guy, it shouldn't be a problem."

Grimacing a bit, Nick put his paw on Judy's and said, "Normally, I'd agree, but in this case, I think it could be."

"How come?" and smiling, Judy added, "and saying it's a fox thing isn't going to work because, as you know, Tyler and Aidan said I could be a fox."

"As much as I agree with those two about your foxiness, in a different way, of course," adding a quick kiss exclamation point to Judy's cheek. "There are a couple of things going on. First, us asking the questions we need to ask will basically be accusing him of violating Fox Community tenets. That by itself wouldn't be too bad if it's fox to fox, but if a prey mammal does it in front of another prey mammal, it's going to be highly embarrassing and maybe even traumatic, especially if that other prey mammal is… their partner."

Judy rolled her eyes, "Come on, you don't know Gideon the way I do. He's thick-furred, he'll be fine, and their partnership will be fine too. I mean, it's not like they're dating or anything, and Sharla's suddenly going to freak because we're asking her predator boyfriend some pointed questions about a fox slashing a prey mammal."

Nick bit his lips closed.

Judy waited.

Nick nodded.

Judy's eyes went wide at the same time her ears started to vibrate, followed closely by a big smile breaking out on her muzzle, and—

Nick derailed an almost certain twenty-car bullet-train shriek of pure joy with a paw over Judy's muzzle. "Shhhh! You can't tell anyone you know, not even Sharla."

Nick waited almost fifty excited rabbit heartbeats, or five seconds in fox time, before seeing Judy's ears relax and deciding it was safe to pull back his paw.

"They're dating?!" whispered-shouted Judy.

"At least," said Nick, brushing back Judy's ears. "I smelled Gideon's mark on her yesterday when she gave me a hug. I didn't want to tell you because the mark was barely there like she'd washed most of it off or used Musk Mask. I figured it was her news to share, and she'd tell you when she was ready. Sorry."

"It's okay," said Judy, unconsciously grooming Nick's tail, "I guess that's what we're doing, keeping our relationship triple-super-secret so absolutely no one finds out about us."

"Yeah," added Nick, now scritching the back of Judy's neck with his claws. "I wish I could tell Gideon we know. I'm sure I could give them some solid pointers on how to keep their relationship under wraps."

Leaning into Nick's side as he slipped his arm around her, Judy sighed, "Yeah, I wish I could talk with Sharla too. I've got keeping us a secret down to a science now. No way will anyone ever figure out that we're courting."

"Yup," said Nick, stealthily nibbling the base of Judy's ear. "The best ZPD undercover teams have got nothing on us."

…..

Gunny Mulcaty rolled his eyes as he waved over his mate to where he was stealthily watching his only patio customers and said, "Hun, if we don't hurry and see Gideon and Sharla, I think I'm going to need a bucket of ice water to bring the rating of our patio down to a PG-13."

Peeking around a post as Nick and Judy were making googly-eyes at each other, Mulcaty's mate said, "So, Sarge was right about those two?"

"Yup."

"How about, instead of your bucket of ice water solution, I let Melody know a private party has reserved the patio, and no one else but Gideon and Sharla can be seated out there."

Mulcaty chuckled and whispered, "Spoilsport," as his mate gave him a wink and went to block off the patio.

…..

Judy giggled, "Nick…"

"Uh-oh, behave yourself," said Nick, nodding toward the doors to the patio. "I think Gideon and Sharla are here."

Judy slid off the bench seat and bounced over to where her friends had barely walked through the patio door before giving them a tight bunny hug. "It's so great to see you both again, except together this time. I mean in the same place together."

Nick groaned as he put out a paw, "Hi, Gideon. Nice seeing you again."

Gideon started to bow and expose his neck but checked the motion in favor of shaking Nick's paw and saying, "It's nice seeing you again, sir, I mean, Nick. It sure seems like a bushel full of things have changed around town since you stopped by for coffee nearly two months ago."

"Totally not my fault," said Nick with a smile, "just a fox in need of his morning Joe. All the rest just kind of happened."

"Right," said Judy, grabbing Nick's paw and leading him and the group back to their corner booth before saying, "Don't believe him, he's always getting into trouble. You wouldn't believe the last sentence of 'parking duty' we had to serve. A double shift in the Canal District ticketing boats! And it was all because Nick…"

-/-/-

Slamming the door to his car, Hayes grimaced as he thought, 'What a waste of a day.'

Hayes had spent most of the morning Zoogling every variation of the text he'd gotten from Edwards, but to no avail. Lapine was too old of a dead language for even Zoogle translate to help. After that dead end, he'd wasted three hundred bucks worth of lawyer time on the phone with the head of the firm that had put together his version of a mating contract just to find out that they'd had to apply for permission with the Commonwealth Secretary of State to be able to get into a high security, environmentally controlled, special section of the Commonwealth's Historical Documents Library where, after over five thousand dollars worth of time, they were able to review an Original Copy of the Old Law translation and cobble together the contract they'd sent him.

"Oh, and sorry we missed the part about these types of contracts having to be in the original Lapine. The paralegal we'd assigned to the work was mesmerized by the beautiful script and forgot to tell us about that requirement before quitting to become an artist."

Walking up to the Town Hall building, Hayes shook his head, "Damned worthless lawyers."

And don't get me started on Lawyer Duggett, supposed partner in waiting of said worthless firm, who said he'd be more than happy to spend as much time as he had money to search for someone who could read Lapine and ask them if Edward's document said what he said it did.

"Right," mumbled Hayes, "like I'm going to let that shark bleed me like a stuck cassowary."

Pulling open the main door, Hayes' phone buzzed with an incoming email.

Or should he have said invoice? Amazing how a rabbit lawyer can be so bad at math that he had to send a hundred-dollar correction to this morning's bill, a hundred dollars more, of course.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Hayes. How are you this fine, sunshiny day?"

"Afternoon to you too, Daisy," grunted Hayes. "I need to see the Burrow's copy of the Old Law translation."

"Of course. I have a viewing slot available right now if you'd like. Just sign this visitor log here, and I'll get you the key to the museum."

Hayes turned his head a bit while saying, "A viewing? In the museum? And I have to sign in?"

"Yes. It's a historical book, and we take its preservation and security very seriously here at Town Hall."

Signing the book, Hayes held out his paw.

"Do you have gloves? You'll need them to be able to touch the book."

"No," said Hayes slowly, "I do not have gloves because that is ridiculous."

"No problem," smiled Daisy pleasantly, "We have gloves for sale. Ten dollars a pair, and would you like small, medium, or large." And then, chuckling, Daisy held out a dainty pair, saying, "Actually, small looks to be the right size."

Hayes stared momentarily at the dangling white gloves and said, "What?"

Shaking her other paw with the key in it, Daisy smiled even bigger as she said, "Ten dollars, please, and your showing slot lasts fifteen minutes."

Tossing a ten down on Daisy's desk, Hayes took the key and the gloves and made his way to the small door marked 'Museum,' where he tried to find the door lock so he could open it.

Tried and tried.

"The door is open. The key is for the case downstairs," said Daisy's voice from behind him as she tossed her newly acquired bill into the office half-caff coffee fund.

Grumbling, Hayes opened the door and disappeared into the sanctity of the Burrow's 'Museum of Antiquity,' or 'Old Stuff This Way,' as was said on the sign hanging from the ceiling.

-/-/-

"Your sales have more than quadrupled? On top of what Sharla told me before? That's amazing," said Judy. "Your pies are to die for, so it makes sense. But wow! Have you thought about expanding outside of Bunnyburrow?"

"No, not so much. My dad says I can't be spreadin' myself too thin. Otherwise, my bakin' and other stuff might suffer, and I can't let that happen. Too much important family stuff happening right now."

Sharla rolled her eyes, "Gid's a worry wart, always taking care of everyone before he worries about himself."

"Is everything okay with your family?" asked Judy.

"Oh yes, Miss Judy," smiled Gideon, taking a few loaded chips off the bug-nacho plate in between him and Nick, right as—"

"Ahem," coughed Sharla into her hoof.

"—uh, can be, considering an uncle on my mom's side is feeling a bit poorly. He seemed better after I dropped off one of his favorite rhubarb pies when I visited a couple of days ago. Better for sure."

…..

"So, Sharla," said Nick after finishing off the veggie ravioli appetizer, "I saw Judy's Carrot Days' skit, and I was curious about you wanting to be an astronaut growing up."

Sharla groaned, as did Judy, before saying, "I thought Judy and I had hunted down all the copies of that play. You have no idea how embarrassing my parents can get with ammunition like that, especially during a holiday visit when all my extended family is around."

Nick laughed too, "Actually, I can guess. My parents were the same way when they had friends over. You'd think red fur would hide a kit's blush, but it doesn't."

Lifting a glass of dandelion juice toward Nick, Sharla said, "To all the parents that can't help but embarrass their kits, may they mysteriously lose their photo albums and accidentally degauss their videotapes."

"And a targeted hard drive crash," added Nick, tapping his glass into the group's.

"Yeah, no," said Sharla, "I don't wish those on anyone. I had a scare with my computer a couple of weeks ago and thought I might have lost a bunch of work."

Judy grimaced, "Financials for the bakery? I'd hate to have to redo all that."

Nick smiled and, leaning in, said, "You know how bunnies are when anyone messes with their math.

"Ow," added Nick as Judy reholstered her elbow.

Glancing at Gideon, Sharla smiled big and said, "As much as I enjoy creating complex mathematical solutions, no. I just submitted a paper on 'Exercise Strategies in Prolonged Microgravity Environments' to the 'Zootopian Astrophysics Journal' for publication, and I was afraid I'd lost some of the supporting data I needed to send to the selection committee."

"Wow," said Judy, "that is soooo cool. And that's what you decided to do instead of joining the space program?"

"Yup, that and running a bakery and a couple of other things. Right after high school, I decided the best way to help the space program was for me to keep my hooves on the ground and buy a telescope."

"And a computer and a whole bunch of thick books I can't make hide nor hair of," added Gideon.

"I feel for you, Buddy," said Nick, holding out his fist for Gideon to bump, "You wouldn't believe all the buddy-cop TV shows and movies I have to watch, all in the name of ZPD research."

"Thppppt."

"What my thespian of a partner meant to say was, Sharla, congratulations, and once you're published, we would love a signed copy of your paper and any instructions you might have on how to remotely create a microgravity environment in our boss's office."

"Niiiick, no more parking duty pahleeese!

…..

"Hmmmm" thought Gideon, swallowing a bite of his grilled honey glazed salmon, "What's the craziest event I've ever baked for?"

Sharla chuckled but kept quiet.

"Sharla's laughing 'cause she helped me with this one. There was two pair of grandparents that wanted to have fun with their kits and especially their litter of four grandpups. Appenine wolves, if I remember right. And the way I was told it, the parents were a bit high-strung, always wantin' their pups to be prim and proper. Well, the grandmothers came in, both of them mind you, and ordered a whole van full of cream pies, and cakes of all different flavors, exceptin' chocolate since one of the kits had an intolerance, and wanted Shar and me to deliver them straight into the backyard once they started singing Happy Birthday."

Sharla jumped in, "You wouldn't believe it! Before the candles were lit, all the Grandparents pretended to make a speech, but instead of talking, they cake-smushed all four of their grandpups at the same time."

"And then they turned around and smeared pie into their kit's muzzles," said Gideon, laughing. "After that, it was a free for all with everyone, exceptin' me and Shar getting involved. Four large sheet cakes and thirty cream pies. It was something to behold."

"I smushed Gid with a piece of apple cake," whispered Sharla to Judy.

"That didn't count as food-fightin' since apple cake is my favorite," whispered Gideon to Nick, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Nick raised a finger and said, "You know, Carrots, my birthday isn't that far off, and I've suddenly got a great party idea that you can do for me in the breakroom at work."

…..

Pushing his lunch plate away, Nick thought out loud, "My most embarrassing moment. Well—"

"As a cop," interrupted Sharla.

"Yeah, Slick," laughed Judy, "Any further back than that, and we'll be here all afternoon hearing about your crazy hustles."

"Au contraire, my sweet Carrots, this fox has been the absolute epitome of dignity and decorum at all times, and that level of decorum has only grown exponentially as I've been tasked with doing my oh-so professional duty as an enforcer of this community's most sacred laws."

"Or," said Judy, setting her phone down in the middle of the table, "someone who maybe helps a kit out of a tough situation."

Gideon looked at Judy's phone, frozen on a picture of a kit sitting in a tree, "Is that one of the Davidson kits? I heard their whole family has always been… sensitive in an interesting way."

Putting his paw over Judy's phone, Nick slid it back to her and said, "Yes, yes they are. And if this story needs to be told, I think it behooves me to be the one to tell it."

Pulling out his phone, Nick tapped a few icons and set it face down on the table where Judy's was a moment ago.

"It all started weeks ago when a hapless, naive fox rescued a forlorn, scared, little tree climber of a bun and suffered unspeakable punishment in return for a simple tickle to the chin.

"And yes, it took multiple showers and more fur shampoo than I care to admit here to get that little kit's thank you out of my fur."

Nodding toward Nick's phone, Gideon asked Sharla, "Is this the video you tried to show me that first day Nick came into the store?"

Sharla, trying not to laugh, nodded.

"Well, my story doesn't end on that fateful day not even two months ago. For this fox, that day will live on in the annuals of gotcha lore as I humbly acquiesce to my esteemed partner, the crown jewel of all dirt to have on your partner."

"Has he always been such a drama-fox," whispered Sharla to Judy, "I mean, I thought you were bad, but he's operating at a whole new level."

Judy rolled her eyes.

"So, today, my partner, the esteemed Deputy Hopps, and I were called out to the Davidson house, again, to rescue their lovely little kit, who must secretly live in a treehouse given how often his mother finds him up in the high branches of a respectfully old oak tree. Well, to spare this fox further professional embarrassment and internet shame, Deputy Hopps—"

"I climbed up the tree and got the kit down, and since I am a highly trained Officer of the law, steeped in knowledge on how to handle these situations, I didn't tickle him, which also meant no extra showers after our shift was over."

"That shift," countered Nick with a smirk on his face.

"What?" asked Sharla.

"Yeah," asked Judy, "what other shift?"

"Yes, what other shift indeed," said Nick, nodding toward his phone.

"Well, to that very question, while Carrots was helping the Missus with her kit in the house, Mr. Davidson and I were having a nice little chat about this, as Gideon mentioned, sensitivity that all his kits have suffered from."

Judy's ears shot up and rotated as if sensing danger.

"Mr. Davidson also mentioned that he was a father very similar to my own in that he liked to video or take pictures of almost everything his kits did. All of his kits."

"No," gasped Judy, looking at the now evil device on the table.

"Yes, my dear Carrots, all the old Davidson family videos were just recently transferred to digital."

"Noooooo," groaned Judy.

Nick flipped his phone over and said, "Oh yeah, this is a definite yes."

Pressing the play button, Nick tapped the speaker icon as a male's voice could be heard narrating an unsteady old video.

"Hey baby, baby. Say Hi to your new babysitter, Judy. Isn't she wonderful?"

"Hi there, baby boo boo, honey bun, we're going to have the best time tonight, aren't we?"

"Goo goo, gah gah, ha ha, goo."

"Wow, Judy, I think she really likes you."

"Of course, she's a sweet little bun, goochee-goo, goochee-goo, she's ticklish too—"

"Nooooooo," came the voice, followed by the picture tilting and….

"Blaaaaa-aaaaaa, ick."

"Oh no, sorry Judy, I'm sure we can find you a change of clothes."

"Thanks," replied a young Judy, "Would you mind stopping the recording and getting me a towel."

"Sure."

Slipping his phone back in his pocket, Nick smiled, "Yup, can't wait to post that little gem."

"Excuse me?" replied Judy, pulling Nick's head closer to hers by twisting his ear, "I couldn't hear what you said you were going to do with that video over all the moaning and screaming in pain from a certain fox I know."

Nick pulled his phone back out, carefully pressed the delete button, and put it back in his pocket.

"Good boy, now we can order dessert."

Nick nodded toward Sharla as he mouthed, "I've got a backup."

…..

"Good call, Carrots. I haven't had Crème Brulee that good in a long time," said Nick.

"Yeah, Judy. Yum," added Sharla. "It's crazy they were willing to make it. I didn't see it on the menu anywhere."

Judy shrugged, "It was on a yellow sticky taped to mine, so I figured what the heck."

"Afternoon, everyone," said Gunny Mulcaty, coming up to the table carrying a tray of mugs. "I was hoping you wouldn't mind me joining you for a spot of spiced tea."

"The company's more than welcome, Gunny," said Nick, "But spiced tea?"

"Of course, I have a sweet strawberry mix for Judy."

"Mmmm, yum," said Judy.

Handing Sharla hers, "Apple-grape for Sharla."

Taking a small sip, Sharla almost bleated in happiness at the unique yet perfect blend of her favorite flavors, "How did you know?"

"I'm a spotter by trade, so I have to stay observant.

"Blueberry for you, Nick. Your reputation as a blueberry aficionado reaches far and wide, which made the choice a no-brainer."

"I am an open book when it comes to blueberries, thank you."

"And cinnamon for you, Gideon. Not as delicious as your gooey cinnamon buns, but passable."

"Delicious, sir," replied Gideon savoring a sip.

Setting his own mug down at the end of the table, Gunny said, "You know, I'm a working mammal, and since only my mother calls me Francis, I always ask my friends to call me Gunny."

Gideon smiled and, tentatively raising the mug, said, "My pap always said friends are hard to come by. Thank you, Gunny."

Sitting now, Gunny Mulcaty raised his mug and said, "To friends."

Setting his mug on the table, Gunny looked at Nick, "Thank you. I heard what you did for Doc Stoan, and I can't tell you how much it means to me that you had his back. He's been a godsend to this community and to me and my mate. Isabelle, with her navy time disability and me with my leg, it just wouldn't be the same for us without Doc Stoan."

"Sharla and me too," added Gideon. "He's helped us out plenty, Sharla mostly. Been very kind takin' care of her."

"Truer words were never spoken," said Gunny, taking another sip of his tea. "That's why the missus and I want to help with your fundraiser. I've got a portable barbeque rig I used to compete in contests with, and it'd make me proud if you could find some room for me and my rig on Friday. I can cook up everything from veggie burgers to bug patties to some A number one chicken that I used to win competitions with, and I think, raise a pretty penny for the good doctor."

Nick smiled, well almost drooled, as he said, "Me eating my favorite barbeque to help the Doc, hell yes. I'll let Lucas know to find a prime spot for your rig right near where Mrs. Hopps' roses used to be."

And then, chuckling, Nick added, "And if you don't mind, I'd like to bring Judy by while you're working, so maybe you could give her a few pointers."

"Judy Hopps? A few pointers on barbequing chicken? Why in the world—"

"Actually Gunny," said Judy, motioning to Sharla, "If you have a few minutes and could show me and Sharla your rig now, that would help me explain to my brother exactly what you need for space and ingredients. Right, Sharla?"

Sharla froze for a few heartbeats at Judy's request, but seeing Gideon taking a nervous sip of his tea and a quick glance at a smiling Nick, she said, "Great idea, I've always wanted to learn about properly barbequing chicken.

"And turkey legs, too, if you've ever done those."

"Yeah," said Judy. "I'm sure we'll be gone for at least 10 minutes."

"Maybe 15," added Sharla. "Let's go."

Gunny wanted to ask more about why a pair of prey mammals would be so interested in barbequing chicken and turkey, but couldn't hardly get a word in edgewise as he was practically pulled out of the patio by a rabbit tugging on one paw and a ewe the other."

-/-/-

Using a pull string to turn on the single overhead light bulb, Hayes undid a rusty padlock and removed the wooden cover from a case marked 'Translation.'

Setting the cover on a small table next to the book stand and under an eleven by fourteen picture of—

"Oh lord, save my soul from this devil."

—Nicholas P. Wilde, Burrow Meister. Along with a few old pictures, some marked 'Posthumously Awarded,' and a couple marked with service dates, including one of old Mayor Burns.

Mayor Burns and his rail stop, what could the Burrow have been if Burns hadn't gotten his way?

Flipping open the book, only somewhat carefully, Hayes ran his finger along—

Putting on the stupid gloves, Hayes ran his gloved finger along an index list looking for a translation guide or the word list the original creators of the translation had to have used to write this book.

Nothing.

And yes, the cursive script was practically a work of art.

So, he looked again.

Still nothing.

"What good is a translation without… a list of words and their translations," moaned Hayes, "Isn't that how translations are supposed to work? I mean, last time I went to New Yak, I had to pick up a dictionary of words to be able to understand anything those crazy mammals were saying."

Opening the book to the section on the law having to do with being officially mated, which led him to a section on dowries and how much for each of various criteria, teeth, ears, ability to cook, and expected litter size.

"Leave it to a bunch of farmers to come up with a legal code for being mated."

Skipping past matings between regular warrens, Hayes finally saw a reference to when members of different Border Warrens wanted to become mates.

Which was in the section on Border Warrens.

"Farmers that are wannabe lawyers, why does it have to be so complicated for me to take over my fool of a neighbor's Border Warren?"

Running his still gloved finger down the section headers, Hays stopped on the part where it talked about matings between Border Warrens, and…

A reference to the section on rank amongst the defenders of the Burrow and how the law gave the highest authority over a Border Warren to the designated Defense Leader.

"Which is what I already knew," huffed Hayes, seeing his fifteen minutes were almost up. "So, how do I know that Edwards' Lapine text makes me the Leader, the same as my contract does?"

Having wasted more time, Hayes closed the book and, grabbing the cover, stopped again as he took in the smiling pelt taking up a place of honor that should only be occupied by a good, decent rabbit,

And spat his displeasure directly onto that smiling muzzle.

Stomping his way back upstairs, Hayes tossed the keys and the gloves onto Daisy's desk and said, "That was a waste of my valuable time. I need someone who can translate a document of mine written in Lapine. Do you know of anyone in town who can do that?"

Like she wished she had some tongs, Daisy delicately picked up the gloves from her desk and dropped them into the trash before saying, "Amongst the Border Warrens, I think Grandpa Joe Gardiner is your best bet."

Hayes shook his head, "No, not that old cretin. Who else do you know of?"

Wiping the key off with some disinfectant, Daisy said, "Well, aside from Mayor Burns, who I think knows a little Lapine, about the only other one in the Burrow who's fluent is Stu Hopps."

"Stu? Really? I didn't know that. You were useful. Thank you, Daisy."

Waiting until Hays was good and gone, Daisy grabbed her spray bottle and headed downstairs. She didn't know what that old buck did, but she was sure it was something she'd need to clean up.

-/-/-

Forcing a chuckle, Gideon turned from watching two prey mammals practically drag a predator out to a show-and-tell session on barbequing meat to his dining companion, who was shaking his head at the same sight.

"Sorry 'bout that, sometimes Sharla gets the craziest ideas in her noggin'. No talkin' her out of them neither."

"Yup, that's my Carrots too," said Nick. "Stubborn as all get out sometimes."

Gideon chuckled again, for real this time. "You're sounding a lot more like a farmer than the city-slicker I met a while back."

Groaning, Nick said, "Great, I'm already in trouble with the Penguin for not visiting enough, now she'll have another reason to thrash my knuckles with her ruler."

Gideon smiled.

"Did I just say 'thrash?'"

"Yes, yes, I reckon you did."

"I feel a couple of after-school sessions in diction, Penguin style, coming on."

"Who's the Penguin?"

"Sister Mary Clawrence. Headmistress of my old school and orphanage, substitute Mom to all the kits that need one, and keeper of the soul of our Community.

"She's also got some sort of second-sight when it comes to troublemakers, I can't tell you how many times she's called me out for things I swear no one could possibly have seen me do."

"Oh… She sounds… scary, I suppose. Being out here in Bunnyburrow, I haven't heard of Sister Mary, but I do know about the Community. When I was a little kit, my grandpa used to tell stories about how the Community was always helping foxes in need.

"He also told stories about what the Community does when a fox breaks the faith and… maybe hurts someone. I suppose that's where Sister Mary comes in."

Nick put out a paw and, patting Gideon's arm, said, "No, don't get me wrong about Sister Mary, she's tough on those that need it, but she's got a heart of gold. And the Community… Your grandpa sounds a little like my dad in the stories he'd tell. My dad was a great dad, but he was a little old-school when it came to Community tenets and teaching me how a fox is supposed to behave.

"Carrots and I actually just talked about how the Community reacts when a fox goes bad and uses what Mother Nature gave us to hurt instead of help."

Holding up a paw and extending his sharp claws, Nick stared for a few breaths before saying, "As foxes, we have to be ten times more disciplined than other predators to get half the respect they do.

"Which is why Judy hustled Sharla and Gunny Mulcaty into checking out Gunny's barbeque rig. I need to talk to you about something Community-related, and I wanted to do it in private."

Gideon's eyes went wide as Nick's claws retracted, and he was left staring at Nicholas P. Wilde, a fox he knew to be high up in the Community, a fox that had every right to be judge, jury, and executioner of the bully that maimed his mate.

"Uh… the Community? Me?"

"Yeah, It's about the attack on Dalton Diggar. We have reason to believe it was a fox that attacked him."

"Dalton?" said Gideon. "A fox attacked him? Oh lordy, lordy, that's— Wait, you aren't thinkin' it was me. I swear to you, sir, I was with my family in Burrow's Edge, you can call, please. I'd never hurt…"

Gideon froze, " 'he'd never,' but he did once. And now he had to pay for what he'd done so long ago. Poor Sharla, she'd be all alone taking care of—"

"Gideon, no, no. It's not like that. We already know you weren't in Bunnyburrow. Sheriff Hoofson talked to the Sheriff in Burrow's Edge, and he confirmed you were there, so no. No one thinks you attacked Dalton."

Gideon nodded and took a drink of water before saying, "Thank you sir, you gave me quite the fright."

"It's still Nick, and I'm sorry about that. That was the reason why I wanted some privacy. I didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea about my questions. What I'm looking for is any information you might have on any foxes you've seen in town lately. One that might fit the profile of someone who could attack a decent-sized hare buck and carry him unconscious for a few hundred yards."

Gideon thought for a moment and said, "Rabbits ain't as soft and fluffy as most think, they're pretty solid most of them, and hare's more so. Any idea on how big of a fox you're looking for?"

"Keep this to yourself since the investigation is ongoing, but smaller than you or I. We found a paw print a little smaller than mine, and from an impression we found in the dirt, lighter than I am too. We also think our suspect is malnourished."

Gideon patted his belly and smiled.

Nick chuckled, "Yeah, another reason we're sure it wasn't you."

"Not sure I can help. As far as the foxes living in town, ever since my parents moved, I've been the only one. Now, in the last few weeks, I've had a few foxes, vixens on the young side, and dainty trim, that is, stop into my bakery askin' about you and your favorite blueberry treats. But none of them looked the type capable of attacking a hare buck, let alone carrying one more than a few tens of yards. And for certain, not a one of those vixens looked a bit malnourished."

Nick groaned.

Smiling now, Gideon went on, "I sent them all away, telling them you had a special lady in the City. But if you want, I could find all the notes and phone numbers they left and get them to you, or Miss Judy if you prefer. I'm pretty sure them girls would find being questioned by you a good bit more pleasurable than I do. Some of their notes smelled pretty romantic-like too.

"Not that I want anyone telling Sharla I noticed anything about any vixens in town, neither."

"Thanks Gideon, but I think I'd prefer it if you'd give any vixen-scented notes you might still have to Sheriff Hoofson directly. Probably safer for everyone involved that way."

"I believe you're right about that," said Gideon. "I'll drop… off… what—"

Both Nick and Gideon put their noses in the air as a light haze wafted into the patio area.

"You don't think Gunny is letting Miss Judy cook anything, do you?" said Gideon.

Fire extinguishers in paw, and fear in their eyes, Nick and Gideon raced through the diner toward what they hoped wasn't a 5-alarm fire.

-/-/-

"Should we be havin' a talk with Miss Judy and Nick about how to keep their feelin's a bit more hidden? I'd hate for them to get in trouble with the wrong mammals maybe findin' out about them."

Pulling out of the parking lot, Sharla chuckled, "Maybe I'll get Judy some acting lessons as a gift for her birthday."

"Sooner than that might be a good idea for both of them."

"So, were you able to tell Nick what happened between you and Judy?"

Gideon groaned, "Not exactly."

"What do you mean, not exactly? Gid, this is a big deal. They're courting, and he lets her pet his tail, and I definitely smelled his mark on her. What happens when he finds out what you did?"

"I know, I know, I had best intentions of telling him, but… Nick was bein' kind and, well, with all the excitement from Miss Judy tryin' out Gunny's barbeque grill, I sort of forgot."

"Gid, You have to tell him, and soon. He and Judy head back to Zootopia right after the Carrot Days festival is over."

"I'll tell him at the fundraiser, I promise."

"You better," said Sharla, rubbing her stomach. "If what you said about how the Fox Community works, I don't want anything bad to happen. We're going to have problems enough without that kind of trouble."

-/-/-

Lying on the floor of his closet, muzzle through his part of the secret passageway, Nick was pleading with a closed door. "Carrots, I know you can hear me. It wasn't my fault."

"Harrumph."

"What was I supposed to do? There was smoke everywhere, and I reacted."

"Overreacted you mean. Gunny was right there. He was showing me the smoker part of his grill setup."

"I know. I said I'm sorry, can I please come over?"

"Two rounds of fur shampoo, and I can still smell the fire retardant."

"I barely got you with the extinguisher."

"You emptied it out on me. That's not barely."

"What's a fox to do? You're so hot, I thought the diner would catch fire."

"Aaargh! Are you kidding me?"

"What?" said Nick.

Judy opened her panel and, on her elbows with her muzzle now just a paw's breadth away from Nick's, said, "You're so hot? That's what you're going with? That is, by far and away, the cheesiest, most ridiculous, insane, lame line I've ever heard come out of your muzzle. What girl in their right mind would ever buy that? Huh? Tell me."

Nick, noting that Judy was wearing the sleeping t-shirt that he'd lightly marked and left on her bed while she was in the shower, looked at Judy with his saddest puppy-dog eyes.

Projecting a vision of her arms being crossed and her foot tapping, Judy grumped, "That's not going to work this time. I'm mad at you."

Nick stretched his muzzle forward and, about to go in for an apology kiss, which was waved off by a quiet growl, gently marked his stoic bunny and then said, "It's totally going to work this time."

Eyes locked, Judy was a rock. Nick's antics might work on a weaker girl, but not her.

Nick turned his head a bit and quivered his lip.

She was strong, well strong-ish. Those eyes… and she could smell the new mark on her. It was stronger than normal, with a deeper, more compelling tone to it, like—

Nick licked his fangs. Slowly.

Judy watched every bit of that motion, carefully, until his tongue bridged the gap between their muzzles and gently caressed her nose.

Judy groaned as she rolled onto her back and, now looking up at Nick, said, "Fine, but we need to start alternating beds."

Kissing Judy on her sweet, pouty lips, Nick said, "Good plan, I'll mess mine up and be right over."