The Long Game

by Mikey2084

In Zootopia where anyone can be anything some things are still forbidden. Judy is confronted with a choice between suffering the consequences of protecting her family and being with her soulmate, she chooses to protect her family. As Nick tries to find a way for the two of them to be together our heroes find themselves once again protecting the city from a new threat. A Zootopia AU

54. William J

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

A special thanks to Sapperjoe85 and stevegallacci for looking over this chapter for me.

…..

Nick, with a touch as light as a feather, brushed Judy's ear back from her face. He'd been staring at his sweet bunny for almost half an hour, ever since he'd woken up wrapped around her in bed.

It had been a restless night. As wonderful as it was to curl up with Judy, he'd been a little worried about her through the night. She'd woken him up a pawful of times whimpering or with a light kick. Nightmares for sure. He'd had them too after seeing his first body.

The streets could be cruel. Homelessness, hunger, sickness, drugs, and sometimes just being in the way could cost a forgotten mammal their life. He hadn't had those nightmares in a long time and couldn't imagine how much worse they were for Judy having to live through the fact that she took a life. Even if that life belonged to an animal as horrible and twisted as–

'No, no more thinking about that animal, he's gone.'

Leaning closer to his sleeping beauty, he took a silent sniff along the side of her neck and drowned himself in the smell of her scent mixed with his mark. The calming effect on him was palpable. He knew he'd eventually catch a bunny fist to the gut when Judy figured out what he'd done, but for now, just the hope that someone as wonderful as Judy might be willing to carry his mark was enough to sate his fox instincts.

Pulling back, Nick heard a quiet whine as Judy, unconsciously exposing her neck, expected the feeling of Nick's warm breath to return.

Leaning back down, Nick ran light kisses from Judy's cheek down to the crook of her neck, where he stopped and nuzzled her.

"Morning, Slick," came a sleepy voice.

"Mmmhhh, morning beautiful. How are you feeling?"

In response, Judy pulled Nick's muzzle to hers and kissed him.

"Thank you for letting me stay last night. I didn't want to be alone."

Nick smirked and, brushing Judy's exposed midriff, asked with a twinkle, "Didn't or don't?"

Reaching back up, Judy pulled Nick's muzzle back toward hers and… suddenly let go.

"Oh no, what time is it? If someone catches me in your bed…"

Chuckling, Nick used his finger to still Judy's now twitching nose and said, "Don't worry, I swung a deal with Sunni, I supply grape soda for movie night tonight, and she lets me sleep in for, ah," turning to see the alarm clock, "ten more minutes. So, we've got plenty of time."

Judy huffed and then gave her fox a quick peck on the lips as she started to squirm out of his embrace. "I don't know if I trust her or not. She's become quite the little hustler since you arrived. Yesterday morning she scammed me into bringing her litter Kettle corn for tonight's movie."

Nick returned Judy's peck with a couple of nips and a nibble along her neck and then whispered, "Five more minutes?"

"Mmmmmhhhh."

Precisely ten minutes later, Nick's door opened, and a crew of young does marched into his room.

"We just saw Judy come out of your room," stated Susan.

"Yeah, we're supposed to wake you up, not her," huffed Sasha.

"I'm going to tell Mom," finished Sunni.

"Now, now, guys, you don't need to do that. Remember rule 8-6-0-0-7 slash C–"

"B," scowled Sunni.

"Yeah, B. I needed Judy to brush my tail, so, uh, it'd look nice for when you guys woke me up. No big deal."

"I don't know…"

"Do you guys like red licorice? If you don't tell on Judy for helping me with my tail, I'll go into town and get some for the movie tonight."

Sasha and Susan each grabbed one of Sunni's ears, and after a few moments of whispering, Sunni stuck out her paw and said, "Bring your tub of Cheesy Poofs to share too, and you've got a deal."

-/-/-

The morning was a bit chaotic but in a good way. Breakfast was a little more elaborate since it was Sunday, veggie omelets, scrambled eggs, and eggs Benedict on sliced tomatoes were all added to the buffet. "Yum!"

Helping with the cleanup, Nick was drying the last of the pots and pans Judy, Janae, and a litter of teens had been washing when he felt his phone vibrate. Taking a look at the message from Finn, Nick smiled and showed the text to Judy.

"Yes!" Judy fist pumped and ran out of the kitchen to grab a girl's best friend.

"What's up with her?" asked Janae.

"Her phone. A friend of ours fixed her account, so it mostly works again."

"Mostly?"

"It's complicated. Some numbers are still blocked. You know, her spam filter kind of went wild."

"Uh-huh," replied Janae, handing Nick another pan to dry. "I'm just glad she didn't ask to use my phone yesterday. You know I got an email telling me that if I'm caught speeding again in the next six months, my fine will be doubled."

"Speeding?"

"Yeah, and the Highway Patrol Mammal reminded me that I'm supposed to send him an autographed picture of my famous sister Judy."

"Gotcha."

"Yup."

Hopping back into the kitchen while flipping through old texts and voicemails, Judy cooed and chirped and then feeling Nick and Janae staring at her, looked up and asked, "What?"

-/-/-

After the dishes were clean and the leftovers put away, Bonnie declared a day off from both chores and screens and then made sure all the kits had something to do that would keep them out of the house for most of the day, or at least until nap time for the little ones.

Nick, embracing the whole lie around outside and do-nothing thing, changed into some shorts, grabbed his shades, found a lounge chair, and…

…headed into town for some shopping. In guy parlance, he'd been hustled. Big eyes from a certain bored doe, said doe wearing his new favorite outfit of pink crop top and jean shorts, and the foot-tapping of a seven-year-old reminding him that he was on the hook for movie treats, all meant that instead of relaxing the day away under a shade tree, a certain fox spent the morning in Predville checking purchased items off a list.

When she'd guilted Nick into taking her shopping with him, Judy hadn't expected Nick to head straight to Predville. He'd said that his new stash of bug chips had suddenly disappeared and then mumbled something about not wanting to go anywhere near the General Store again for fear of punching out old bun Furston. Sliding to the center of the bench seat in Nick's convertible, Judy leaned up and kissed him on the cheek to let him know that she had a pretty good rabbit punch too, and didn't want to end up in jail either.

Except for her quick trip to the Howling Wolf, she hadn't been to Predville since high school, probably more of a testament to the scope of her ignorance and small-mindedness than to her not having been around much since going off to college seven years ago. The community had grown since her last time here, a few new stores, and a lot more variety of species, predator and prey, than she remembered. Of course, to add insult to her injury, Nick was unknowingly giving her a 'local's tour' of the area by pointing out various shops and mammals and relaying details about them that she'd never heard before as they shopped.

Having checked off the final item on his two-page list, part of which was written in crayon, multiple colors and by different kits, Nick closed the lid to his now full trunk, and then opening the car door for Judy, he heard something he'd sorely missed for over a month.

Bunny-grade tummy rumbles.

"Sounds like somebunny is hungry. How about lunch?" and then pointing down the street, "Buckstein said the diner we passed on our way here is pretty good."

Judy started to deny her bunny metabolism, but instead, over another tummy rumble, said, "Far be it for me to second guess your partner when it comes to food, my stomach says yes."

Sliding into the driver's seat, Nick grinned as he replied, "Temporary partner. I've got my real one back, and I'm not letting her out of my sight again."

Smirking, Judy batted her eyes and said, "So does that mean you'll talk to the Sheriff about letting me patrol with you tomorrow?"

"Carrots…"

"Pleeeaaaase, I'm bored."

Tapping the steering wheel with his thumb, Nick started to shake his head, "I don't know…"

"Come on," Judy pleaded, "Michaela checked me over and said my ribs are fine, and the last time I let you go into town by yourself, you turned everything upside down by rescuing Ruthie. Besides, Mom said I'm supposed to keep an eye on you and make sure no one molests your tail."

"Your mom said that?"

"Yup," replied Judy popping her 'p'.

"Well, okay then, Assistant Deputy Hopps, lunch first, and then we'll start your training."

"Grrrrrrr."

-/-/-

Having, under glare of death, completed an expedited Assistant Deputy training program, Nick pulled in front of the 'Midrats Diner' with his newly minted partner and parked. Getting out of his car, Nick chuckled at the place's name. Then, remembering the boasting that went on between military services, he figured there must be more Veterans living in Bunnyburrow than just the Gardiners.

Holding the larger than typical, for Bunnyburrow, door open for Carrots and then following her in, Nick took a sniff at the smells emanating from the kitchen and smiled.

He'd missed eating here the day he and Buckstein had walked Predville, so he hadn't had the chance to look around inside. Buckstein had called it a diner, but it looked to be more than that. It had a diner-style counter. But it also had a large dining room with retro-style vinyl chairs and booths with wooden tables that would fit a variety of mammals and, through a pair of large French doors, a decent-sized patio seating area for those who enjoyed a little more air while eating.

Of course, what caught Nick's eye, and led to serious tail wagging, was the parlor off the main room filled with old-style video games, 'High scores, meet NPW. Fastest paws in the–'

"Hi, Officer Wilde, welcome to Midrats," purred a red-furred jaguarundi as her tail brushed against Nick's leg. "I'd hoped to hear you sing the other night, maybe next time you're at the Howling Wolf, you and I could–"

"Nick?" said Judy as she brushed the jaguarundi's tail off Nick and stood next to him such that the foul appendage couldn't latch onto her fox again. "You know this… girl?"

"Uh, hi, no, not really, uh–"

"Melody," said the feline, winking.

"Yeah, she sang Karaoke the other night, one of my favorite songs. You have a nice voice, Melony."

Casually unbuttoning a button on her already low-cut uniform, the jaguarundi purred, "Melody, thank you. I'm working that section of booths right there. If you and your little friend would like to take a seat, I'll be right over to service your every need."

Grabbing Nick by the elbow, Judy pulled him away from the leering female, "We want to eat outside. Come on, Nick."

"But, but…" whined the young waitress.

Safely maneuvering her fox out to the patio, Judy took a quick look around for the best place to sit. Fortunately, the patio was empty except for a couple of rabbits seated at a table in the far corner under the shade of a large maple tree.

"Nick!"

Judy's eyes narrowed as an eighteen-year-old bunny doe came bouncing over from the table and pulled Nick into a hug.

"How are you doing? Janae told me you were all healed up."

Nick glanced at Judy, who was balling her fists, and then stiffly patted the doe on the back, "Hi Abby. I'm all good, totally healed up. Thanks." Then, easing out of the hug, Nick turned the doe toward Judy, "Abby, this is my partner, and Janae's littermate, Judy. Judy, Abby's the one I told you about that chased off the guys who were using me as a punching bag and then got me to the hospital."

"Hi Judy, I think we met once when I was a little kit. Congratulations on joining the ZPD."

Judy relaxed, "Thanks, and thanks for saving my partner's tail. I let him out of my sight for a few days, and look what happens."

"Yeah, I can tell he's going to be a pawful for some girl one of these days."

"Guys, I'm kind of standing right here."

"I know," came the simultaneous responses followed by the two does giving each other a friendly bunny hug.

Abby pulled her muzzle away, and about to break the hug, she did a mental double-take, leaned back in, and took a silent sniff of her new friend. Glancing over at Nick, whose scent she'd just sampled hugging him, Abby stepped back from Judy and–

"Judy, nice to see you again, or should I be calling you Officer Hopps?"

"Sarge," and then giving the old soldier a hug, said, "It's just Judy to you. Besides, I'm on break, had to come home and check on my partner. I hear he's been causing a lot of trouble."

"Yes, ma'am, he sure has. Been stirring everything up around here. I expect you'll have your paws full straightening him out once you get him back to the big city."

"Guys, I'm like, still standing here."

"That you are, son. So, how about you two join us for lunch."

Catching the eye of a waitress, not Melody, Sarge gave her a few paw signals and then putting a paw on both Judy and Nick, steered them over to his table and slid into one of the wicker booth benches next to Abby, leaving the other bench for Nick and Judy.

Judy scooched close to Nick as his tail wormed its way around her back so its tip could rest in her lap. Judy smiled as she glanced at her fox and then distractedly pet the fuzzy appendage with one of her paws.

"So," Nick asked, "what brings you guys to Predville on such a beautiful morning? From what I heard while I was moseying around over yonder, most rabbits ain't too partial to these here parts."

"Nick," whispered Judy as she elbowed him in the side, "over yonder? This isn't the Ponderosa. Nobody talks like that around here."

"What? I was just trying to fit in."

"I reckon you might'n want to heed the little lady's advice there Deputy. I'ma expectin' that ole' Hoss and Little Joe Bunnwright to be showin' up right soon with a hempen necktie ready to deal with any miscreants that might mosey cross their spread."

"Daaaad, don't encourage him. Those old shows are all so lame."

Watching her dad hold out a fist for Nick to bump with his own, Abby first rolled her eyes, as did Judy, and then Abby said, "I'm here to talk with Gunny Mulcaty about his time as a Marine. He was Dad's Fire Support Mammal for a few tours, and I'm trying to decide if I want to join the Army as a Ranger Medic or join the Navy as a Combat Medic supporting the Marines."

Putting a paw on Abby's back, Sarge nodded proudly, "It'd be tough to swallow, a Navy Swabbie in an Army warren, but I guess if it happens, we'll survive the break in, I don't know how many, generations of tradition somehow."

Nick leaned forward, "Generations? I thought Grandpa Joe was the first Gardiner to join up."

"He was the first to join the Commonwealth Army, but," said Abby, "Bunnyburrow was settled a couple of hundred years before the Accords, and since the Gardiner's are the oldest of the Border Warren families, we've been serving in defense of Bunnyburrow, or the Commonwealth, since the town was established."

"The Gardiners were also one of the Warrens that represented Bunnyburrow at the Accords," added Sarge.

"Whoa," replied Nick, "That's amazing. I didn't know Bunnyburrow was that old or that you guys were involved in the Accords or anything like that."

Abby nodded, "Yeah, you don't hear much about Bunnyburrow, or rabbits, having anything to do with the Accords. But if it hadn't been for the Border Warrens and all the Old Law alliances and defense treaties we had with most of the farming communities, in what ended up becoming the Commonwealth's breadbasket, the Accords might never have happened."

Nick's eyes went wide as he looked at Judy, who just nodded.

"How?"

Waving a paw toward the horizon, Sarge said, "Food, water, and meat that wouldn't fight back. The predators had to negotiate. Otherwise, they were going to starve. The omnivores wanted to trade for reliable food sources. And the carnivores, sorely outnumbered by prey, were ready to give up raiding and switch to fish and poultry but needed peace so they could raise them, or trade for them, without being harassed.

"Yes, predators and prey had both gotten smarter and left most of their prehistoric ways behind them, but food and being able to live in peace were the final trump cards that brought everyone to the table ready to sign on to the Accords."

Nick hummed, "I remember the night I was over for dinner and Mrs. H. telling me that the Border Warrens had been around since before the Accords," and then glaring at Judy for a moment, he said in a quiet voice, "So this whole time, you guys really did have a rabbit army ready to pounce."

Judy facepalmed, "Sarge, please tell my partner that there isn't a Secret Council of Elders, and there's not a Lagomorph Legion about to dominate the world."

Silence.

"Sarge."

"Well…"

"Dad!"

"Fine, the girls are right. There's no bunny army. After William J. brokered Bunnyburrow joining the Commonwealth, the Border Warrens stood down. Then after the Commonwealth Marshalls stepped in to help keep the peace, the Border Warren families pretty much went back to farming."

"William J.?" asked Nick.

Sarge leaned back on the bench and chuckled a bit, "Yeah, William J., the youngest of the eight Williams. Gardiner family legend says he was quite the scoundrel for a rabbit, a real lady's mammal, an adventurer who liked to travel, quick to pick up languages, an expert with a blade, and credited with fighting off the last major predator raid on Bunnyburrow."

Leaning in toward Nick, Sarge whispered, "Abby used to go on about William J. when she was a kit. I think she had a little bit of a crush on our family's most famous rogue."

Whispering back, Nick snickered, "Yeah, I've heard a few Bunnyburrow does have a thing for scoundrels in uniform."

Sarge nodded as he thought about his mate and then, winking, "You've got that right, son."

"Dad, I was a little kit."

"Ow! Carrots, mind the tail."

Judy smirked as she relaxed her pinching fingers. And then, nodding toward Abby, who was glaring at her father, said, "Tell my scoundrel partner here more about William J. The only story I remember hearing about him was from a Carrot Days' skit I saw when I was in high school."

Chuckling, Sarge looked at his daughter and waved a paw toward Judy, "Go ahead, tell Judy about your skit."

"Wait, that was you," interrupted Judy, looking at Abby, "you were the one that staged that battle for your skit. I remember you did great." Turning to Nick, she nudged him, "You said I could milk a scene, you should've seen Abby and her siblings. Lots of fake blood too, it was totally over the top."

Blushing a bit, Abby smiled, "Yeah, well, I saw a video of your play, where you announced to the Burrow you wanted to be a cop, and I knew I'd have to pull out all the stops to top that."

"There's a video of Carrots as a kit saying that? I need a copy, bad."

"Shush, there's no video of me. Abby was telling us about William K."

Sarge chuckled again as he slid Nick's contact card over to Abby and said, "William J., not K. One of our ancestors must have been a little off because he named the oldest buck from each of his first eight litters William. If I remember right, besides a J, there was an L, an H, a C, an R, ah…"

"No C or R, Dad. All Good Bunnies Like To Hop Or Jump, A, G, B, L, T, H, O, J. All the Williams listed in birth order. Grandpa Joe taught me that anagram when he was helping me with my skit.

"And their dad wasn't off. Grandpa Joe told me William Sr. wanted all those bucks to share the same name so they'd have something in common that would tie all the litters together, a reminder to work together, especially during a fight."

"So, tell me more about Judy's play," snickered Nick.

Elbowing Nick in the side, Judy broke in, "No, tell me more about William J., he sounds like quite the interesting, uh, character."

"You meant scoundrel. I know because you like scoundrels."

"I like nice boys, now hush, Abby's talking."

Sarge looked back and forth between the two partners. Saw Judy threaten to pinch Nick's tail again just before cradling it in her lap. And then, trying not to wonder at the very un-foxlike behavior of Nick allowing another unrelated mammal to touch his tail, smiled and turned to listen to his daughter.

"Well, the real family expert is Grandpa Joe, but I'll try. Back, just before Bunnyburrow joined the Commonwealth and was still a fully independent state, William J., at the ripe old age of eighteen, was promoted to Burrow squad leader. All had been pretty quiet for a few years. Most predators abided by the Accords and would trade with the Burrow instead of trying to raid it. But then came that fateful day no one expected, Bunnyburrow was attacked by a horde of fearsome predators with an uncontrollable biological urge to maim, and maul, and–"

"She's very good. I'm totally terrified," whispered Nick to Judy.

Claws up and buck-teeth bared, Abby rolled her eyes, and then nodding toward Nick, waited as Judy elbowed him in the side again.

"So, as I was about to say, William J. led his squad of rabbits against a horde of predators that completely ignored the Accords and attacked Bunnyburrow. The fighting was brutal, and both sides were very nearly wiped out. Everyone perished except for William J. and the leader of the predator attack force, a vicious fox."

"What? A fox?"

Abby nodded, "Yup, William J. and this fox fought for over three days and nights, back and forth, through the fields and forests, no sleep, no food or water, just the fight."

"A fox?" said Nick with a look of disbelief on his face.

"Uh-huh, it was the most epic battle ever," Abby said as she waved her paws around, "Way more exciting than any video game. It spanned miles. William J. was slashed all over and bitten so bad he had to stitch up his own wounds to keep from bleeding out. Grandpa Joe said he even had to heat up his knife and use it to cauterize a bad gash in the middle of his back.

When the search and rescue team finally found him in an old fox den in the forest weeks later, he could barely walk. The team had to stretcher him back to the Burrow, and it took another month for his wounds to fully heal, and as soon as they did, he resigned as squad leader and dedicated himself to seeing Bunnyburrow join the Commonwealth so that predators and prey could learn to live in harmony and the world would be a better place."

"What happened to the fox?"

Abby shrugged, "No one knows. Legend says they found the carcasses of a wolf, an ocelot, and a pair of hyenas along with William J.'s fallen squadmates, but they never found the fox's body. And by the time William J. was well enough to help the searchers, he told them he didn't remember where their final battle had taken place."

Sarge chuckled, "It sounds like Grandpa Joe's been spinning a few tall tales with the kits again. Three days and nights of a bunny fighting a fox, Abby that sort of thing doesn't happen in real life."

"Dad."

Waving a paw in surrender, Sarge leaned back.

Everyone looked at Nick until he put his paws up, "Don't look at me, I work with a bunny doe that took down a rhino in one hit."

Sarge raised an eyebrow, followed by Nick nodding slightly toward Judy, who had a blush running up her ears. Giving in, again, Sarge said, "I suppose. I'll have to trust Grandpa Joe on how that last battle went. The parts of the story that I heard about, happened some years after that epic battle when William J. was given the Burrow Meister.

"Now that I think of it, him getting the Burrow Meister makes a little more sense now. I always thought it was ceremonial, but having watched you on TV, and hearing all of what you said about it being an actual position, makes me sorry I used to laugh when Grandpa Joe told some of the old family legends."

"Yeah, the Burrow Meister being a real position," said Abby, nodding, "would have given William J. the authority he needed to negotiate with the Commonwealth delegation. And later, that authority, along with being the only rabbit in the Burrow fluent in Common, would have made him a shoo-in for heading the treaty committee."

Abby tapped her chin and then looked at her dad, "I bet that's also the reason the Mayor picked William J. to ride herd on the Edw–"

"The bucks who were writing the New Law," interrupted Sarge nodding toward Judy, hoping only Abby picked up on his motion.

Judy looked up from petting Nick's tail and asked, "It sounds like William J. played a major role in Bunnyburrow becoming a part of the Commonwealth. How come they don't teach any of that in civics class? They only ever said, 'Top Rabbits' worked on everything, never the fact that William J. did so much, or that he even existed, why?"

Abby looked at Sarge and then, raising an eyebrow, said, "Well, uh, back then…"

"Politics. Politics and pride," interrupted Sarge glancing back at Abby.

Abby took a drink of water and then continued, "After the treaties were signed and Bunnyburrow was officially part of the Commonwealth, and just before the celebrations kicked off, the Town Council wanted to make William J. the poster-child for town progress. They wanted to parade him in front of the Commonwealth and everyone as a shining example of what rabbits could be as new members of the Commonwealth."

"He didn't want to represent the Burrow?" asked Judy, as Nick, remembering what Bellwether had tried to do to Judy, put his arm around her.

"No, he didn't," replied Abby, "He didn't agree with some of what those Top Bucks had written into the New Law, and he didn't want to have anything to do with them or what they'd done. So, he rejected their demand that he become a public relations puppet, resigned as Burrow Meister, and left town. Never to be seen or heard from again."

Abby, poking a finger into the tabletop, said, "Grandpa Joe told me William J. pissed off a lot of important bucks when he rejected their plan. And in retaliation, they erased any mention of William J. from the Burrow history books. They basically erased him from the town's memory, and now nobody knows who he was, or what he did for Bunnyburrow." And then chuckling dryly, "You should have seen the looks I got from everyone after I did my skit. No one believed any of it. They thought I was crazy, like I was trying to make our warren seem more important than it really was."

Abby's ears dropped as she turned to her dad, "Some of the kids in town laughed at me for making the whole thing up. I never talked about it after that because I didn't want anyone else in the family, especially the little kits, getting laughed at the way I did."

Sarge put a paw on his daughter's arm, "I'm sorry I wasn't around to try and change your mind on doing the skit. Our family legends are probably best kept inside the family."

Nick pointed as a pair of mammals stepped out onto the patio and headed toward the table. "Looks like lunch." An otter, carrying three plates, was followed by a lynx, also with his paws full, hobbling his way behind the smaller waitress.

Sarge smiled when he saw his friend coming and then said to Judy and Nick, "I hope you don't mind, but I ordered you two the house pred and prey specials. Francis' mate may be ex-Navy, but she's a great cook."

Abby hopped out of her seat and, giving the lynx a big hug, said, "Gunny Mulcaty, how are you?"

Chuckling, the lynx replied, "Doing okay, Abby, probably be better if I could put these plates down."

Abby squeezed Mulcaty again and then took the plates out of his paws and set them down on the table. The waitress, having already sorted out her three plates, made sure all the water glasses were full, and then after grabbing a chair and setting it at the end of the booth's table, excused herself.

"Top," said Mulcaty as he shook Sarge's paw, "I see you brought backup for our talk, or is Abby thinking about joining the Sheriff's department now too?"

Sarge chuckled, "Hmm, I'd take her as a meter maid over being a Swabbie any day, it'd be kind of nice to have someone living in the warren with enough pull to fix a parking ticket every now and then."

"Dad, deputies do more than pass out parking tickets. Besides, I want to travel and see the world," and then smirking, she added, "you know, Liam said he has an in with a cover band that's looking for a tambourine girl."

Sarge groaned as Mulcaty laughed, "Even a good Marine knows when he's been outmaneuvered, I suggest you hoist a white flag before she threatens something worse like joining the Air Force."

"Or she could join the ROTC and go Officer," tossed in Nick to a pair of enlisted groans as he reached out to shake paws. "Nick Wilde, purveyor of justice and occasional rescuer of bunny kits stuck in trees."

"Gunnery Sergeant Francis Mulcaty, formerly Sarge's artillery spotter, currently assistant cook, busboy, greeter, and whatever else my mate tells me to be. Nice to finally meet you in the fur. You've been quite the busy fox shaking things up around here. If it weren't for there being mostly rabbits in these parts, I'd almost say you've caused a scurry."

Chuckling, Nick motioned to Judy, "Thanks, but if it's a scurry you're looking for, my partner here is the expert. This is Judy Hopps."

Raising a brow, Mulcaty asked, "The ZPD Officer Judy Hopps?"

"Yes, sir," replied Judy with a tentative smile, not sure if her failed media exploits had reached as far as the predator community in Bunnyburrow.

Putting out a paw, Mulcaty grinned, "My mate is going to trill loud enough to break glass when she finds out you're here. Thank you."

Judy visibly relaxed and shook the offered paw, "You're welcome, I guess. What did I do?"

Sitting, Mulcaty waved for everyone to eat, "Seaman DiCaprio, he's a brown grizzly bear, served a tour with my mate. He was one of the missing mammals you rescued last year."

"You mean Barry? I didn't know he was in the Navy. His cubs are really cute."

"He and his mate spoke highly of you and all the work you did, and they appreciated you visiting him in the hospital. You figuring out that ewe, Bellwether, was behind the whole predator conspiracy saved a lot of us from persecution or worse."

"I just wish I hadn't shot my mouth off at that press conference. I made life so difficult for so many decent mammals."

"New to the city, a cop for less than a week, and you were set up to fail by Bellwether. Carrots, no one in your position should have been up there behind that podium," interjected Nick.

Mulcaty reached over and set a paw on Judy's shoulder, "Nick's right. Most mammals don't know how hard it is to keep their wits about them when briefing a group of animals. Especially an upset group of animals looking for answers."

Judy nodded, but her ears will still droopy until Mulcaty leaned closer and whispered, "You ever want to hear about a briefing gone bad, ask Sarge about how Private Gardiner's went when he tried to explain how the Jeep he was driving just happened to hit a tree because there were a couple of good looking females walking by. One of which happened to be the Colonels' daughter."

"Dad!"

Sarge shook his head, "Don't listen to him Abby. The girl that caught my eye, and caused the accident, was your mom." And then to Mulcaty, "I was nervous, and I didn't know the coyote Evie was walking with was the Colonels' daughter. It wasn't my fault she was supposed to be home studying."

"Yeah, well, you were lucky all you got was a month of latrine duty."

"And my mate," chuckled Sarge.

Judy smiled a genuine smile this time, and rubbing Nick's leg under the table, she joined the group as everyone chowed down.

The table was quiet for a few minutes as they enjoyed the dishes that Sarge had ordered. He must eat here often because Judy's meal was delicious. It was a green salad with peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded carrots, and slices of roasted celeriac, all glistening with a house vinaigrette to die for.

"Yum, do you guys get your celeriac from Burrow's Edge? This is really good."

"Yes, we do," replied Mulcaty, "How did you know? Celeriac isn't exactly a rabbit favorite here in Bunnyburrow."

"I went to school there, picked up a taste for it," and then in a whisper, "Don't tell my dad. He'd ground me if he found out."

Everyone laughed, and then Mulcaty slid his empty plate forward a little and asked, "So, Abby, how can this old Marine help you out?"

"Maybe it's time Nick and I left. We don't–"

"No, no, please stay. You guys might be able to help too." Glancing quickly at her dad and then looking down, "Like I said earlier, up until a few weeks ago, I've been trying to decide between joining up as a Combat Medic or a Ranger Medic. Now I'm not so sure if I shouldn't just go to med school instead."

"Abby–"

Mulcaty put a paw on Sarge's arm, "Go ahead."

"After what happened to Nick at the Pond, I'm not sure I'm cut out for a close-in combat role.

"Dad's artillery, not infantry, and I guess I've always known in my head that paw-to-paw fighting could happen, but I'm not sure if I have what it takes to fight that kind of fight and maybe have to take a life. I'm supposed to be saving lives, not taking them."

Judy took in a sharp breath and held it until she felt Nick's paw gently squeeze hers under the table.

Mulcaty's ear twitched, but he stayed focused on Abby.

"I know when you enlist that you have to be prepared, and I remember Dad saying your leg was injured when you and your radio operator were ambushed by a couple of scouts and that you guys had to…"

"Yes, we did. And you're right. When you join up, you have to be ready for anything to happen. The services all support a lot of missions, food aid, disaster relief, search and rescue, drug interdiction, but at its core, our mission is to defend the Commonwealth. Sometimes defending her demands the ultimate sacrifice, and sometimes it demands much more."

Glancing at Judy long enough to see her go tight-lipped, Mulcaty said, "My Radioman, a wolverine, and I had just finished up a day of helping a battery of our Army brethren actually hit what they were aiming at when, about a half-mile from our pickup zone, everything went pear-shaped. The brush was pretty thick and my partner was about twenty yards in front of me when a pair of warthogs hit us. He must have heard something just before he took the first hit because he'd signaled me, and I was on my way to the ground with my pistol out when I took a round in the leg and lost my gun in the brush.

"The warthog on me must have seen too many Rambuck movies because he holstered his weapon as soon as he saw me on the ground unarmed. I guess he thought it would be cool to take on an injured Marine in paw-to-paw combat. Unfortunately for him, an injured Marine is still a Marine," Mulcaty extended his claws and said, "and this Marine's never unarmed."

Abby put her paw to her muzzle, "Oh, no."

Judy's eyes started to tear up as she saw Mulcaty stare at his now slightly trembling paw.

Quiet for a few moments as a cloud flowed across his muzzle, Mulcaty continued, "My partner's gear took the bullet meant for him. After he was done with his fight, he pulled mine off of me and helped me to the evac point.

"War isn't a movie, and sometimes…"

"You do what you have to do," Judy whispered.

"Yeah," watching Judy fidget with her paws, Mulcaty gently added, "I'm guessing that being a cop isn't all about passing out parking tickets and eating doughnuts, is it?"

Seeing his bunny tremble a little, Nick put his arm around her, "Judy–"

"No, it's not."

"How do people get over something like that, especially prey?" asked Abby, "I mean, predators have claws and fangs and were hunters for millennia, so I'm sure they–"

"No." Judy interrupted, "Claws and fangs don't make a difference. I've seen prey mammals do the most horrible things, Bellwether was a small ewe and look at what she did, what she almost did, and then there are others. Prey who are monsters, who'd go after anyone for a bounty or a little bit of glory. Prey who'd–"

"Judy," whispered Nick as he pulled her into his side a little tighter.

Taking a breath, Mulcaty looked at Judy and then said, "You never completely get over it. The best you can do is know that sometimes the job requires you to do the unthinkable, and then," looking between Judy and Nick, "find someone you can talk to, family, a good friend, maybe even an old Marine you've just met."

Judy looked down and nodded.

"So," Mulcaty started as he looked around, "looks like Renae is a bit busy with her tables. Judy, would you mind helping me with the dessert? My mate makes a mean glazed carrot cake, and with my leg..."

"Okay."

Everyone watched Judy, ears droopy and head down, as Mulcaty put a paw on her shoulder and guided the slow-moving rabbit through the patio doors and into the main dining room.

Turning back to Nick, Sarge sighed, "Don't worry, son. Whatever happened to her, she's in good paws. After Francis was injured, he finished up his twenty assigned to the Chaplain's office. He's helped more than a few mammals with their troubles."

Nick nodded as he traced a knot in the wooden tabletop, "She's pretty tough, but sometimes she doesn't know when to quit, and it gets her in trouble. This time it almost got her killed."

Sarge reached out, and putting his paw on Nick's, said, "She's good people. I've always rooted for her in becoming a cop. I'm just sorry that more of the town didn't support her as they should have."

Nick looked Sarge in the eye and slowly pulled his paw away, "You're right, she's good people, better than me, better than anyone I know…

"So, what is it Abby was about to say that you didn't want my partner to hear?"

Sarge didn't flinch from Nick's glare, "It's Border Warren. Probably something the Burrow Meister could know, but I'm not interested in the Hopps' maybe getting involved in Border Warren business, especially if I don't know which side they may come down on."

Nick's eyes slowly narrowed as a low pitched growl started up, 'This buck just said he doesn't trust the girl I owe my life to, the girl who single-handedly turned my life around, the girl I trust more than I trust myself, the girl I'm going to take as my–'

"Dad," whisper-shouted Abby nervously, as she saw Nick's fur standing on end and his claws starting to extend, "I think they're mates. I smelled his mark on Judy when we hugged."

Unfazed by the angry fox display, or his daughter's accusation, Sarge asked, "Is that true?"

Nick glanced over to Abby and then back to Sarge, "Not exactly, marking her sort of just happened, but we are courting."

"She accepted your meal?"

"You seem to know a lot about foxes, Mr. Gardiner."

"I told you back at my place, I've served with my share of foxes, enough that I might know a little more than I let on to the folks around here."

Nodding, Nick let out a breath, "I accepted her meal."

"And the mark? Courting or not, foxes, especially red foxes, don't just mark someone out of the blue."

"I know. I think I've Imprinted too, a while back."

"What's impri–"

Sarge halted Abby's question with a raised paw and then slowly let it drop back to the table as he thought.

"And the New Law?"

Nick didn't move.

Sarge rubbed his muzzle for a few moments as he thought, and then sighing, said, "Sounds like we both have something Stu Hopps doesn't need to know about."

"Yes, sir."

"Sarge."

"Yes, Sarge."

"I apologize for not accepting your intended's trust as I do yours. It won't happen again."

"I apologize for my threatening and disrespectful behavior. It won't happen again, either."

Both mammals inclined their heads in a slight bow of regret and then relaxed.

Sarge took a deep breath and then looking at Abby said, "Imprinting is to foxes as bunny-bonding is to rabbits, except for foxes, red foxes in particular, it's a lot deeper. The breaking of a bunny-bond can be traumatic to a rabbit, but with support from friends and family, most rabbits are able to find a way to move on. Unfortunately, foxes are solitary mammals, when they mark, claim, and imprint on their mates… if that bond is broken, and there aren't at least kits involved, it's devastating.

"It's also a one and done thing. A fox rarely imprints on a new mate, no matter the circumstances."

"Never for a red fox," added Nick.

Abby's eyes went wide as she looked at Nick and covered her muzzle, "Oh, my," and then let her ears drop down as she whispered, "Lucky doe."

Raising a brow, Sarge turned away from his blushing daughter and said, "Alright, as I said before, this is Border Warren business. But since you're the Burrow Meister, it might be prudent for you to know a little more about our simple little town's history and politics."

"Simple?" Nick huffed, "I gave up thinking anything around here was simple the day I showed up at the Hopps' warren."

"The part of the William J. story I interrupted was the part where bucks from the Edwards Warren muscled their way into writing the New Law. I'm not sure if you're aware or not, but the Edwards family isn't well-liked in the Burrow…"

Seeing Nick nod, Sarge continued, "They've been suspicious of outsiders ever since their Border Warren's last open-minded patriarch, Lincoln Edwards, died unexpectedly in a fall into the ravine that runs through their property.

"The old buck's son, Silas, took over as head of the warren, and as soon as he did, it was like a switch was flipped. Where Lincoln was supportive of Bunnyburrow opening up to the outside world, Silas opposed everything to do with Bunnyburrow joining the Commonwealth. He hated outsiders, predators in particular, so much so that as head of the warren, they fought and teamed up with the more radical warrens in town and opposed William J.'s efforts at every turn."

"Dad, Grandpa Joe, said it had more to do with William J. being awarded the Burrow Meister after Lincoln Edwards died. He said Silas expected he'd get it, and all hell broke loose when the Mayor gave it to William J. Supposedly, Silas vowed he'd die before he let William J. keep the medallion."

Sarge shrugged, "Well, he got his wish. Silas died dueling William J. the morning after the Commonwealth treaty and the New Law were both ratified."

"Whoa, a duel to the death? I thought only medieval predators did that sort of thing."

"Dad, no! Grandpa Joe never said anything about William J. and Silas dueling. I thought Silas died in an accident."

"Sorry, Abby. Silas and William J. had been at each other's throats for years, but it got out of paw once the Commonwealth delegation showed up, especially with the delegation having a pawful of predators including a fox scribe."

"A fox?" asked an incredulous Nick.

"What? Grandpa Joe never said anything about there being a fox in the delegation," added Abby, not believing her great-grandfather had missed so much of the family legend.

Smiling, Sarge chuckled, "Grandpa Joe isn't the only one that likes to tell stories. Grandma Georgina, on my mom's side, used to be quite the bedtime storyteller too."

Shaking his head, Nick sighed and then mumbled something.

"Spit it out, son. You've heard plenty from us so far."

"Okay. A few days ago, I explained to Carrots, uh, Judy, that a lot of us small predators benefitted from the Accords almost as much as some of the prey species. Back before the Accords, and even for a long time afterward, large predators used to treat smaller ones more like property than mammals worthy of their attention. If we didn't behave, they were just as likely to kill us as beat us into compliance.

"I don't mean to go against your family legends, but," looking at Abby, "it doesn't make any sense to me that a fox would lead a pack of larger predators doing anything. And I can't imagine a fox being allowed anywhere near a weapon back then, either. Your horde of predators might keep a fox with them if it could cook or sew or had some other useful skill, but to fight for three days and nights after their keepers were dead, I'm having a hard time seeing that."

"And the fox scribe my grandmother told me about?"

Nick shrugged, "I don't know, maybe. My mom, and a few of her vixen friends, used to do manuscript calligraphy for extra money. They mostly worked on elaborate invitations for upper-crust parties or mating certificates, but a few times, they composed some lengthy official documents used in formal signing ceremonies. Of course, they always had to work through a third party because no one was ever going to believe that a vixen was capable of creating such beautiful works.

"From all the stories I've heard, if there was a fox scribe with the Commonwealth delegation, they weren't there as a member. They were most likely a thrall or at best a servant."

"Well, we'll have to agree to disagree on that then. The Edwards' have always hated foxes, and one of the predators in the delegation set off Silas enough that as soon as they showed up, he demanded to be put in charge of the New Law committee instead of William J. The Mayor back then refused at first, but the Edwards' pulled together the backing of enough other warrens that he eventually won against the Mayor and took over the committee."

"Why did he care so much about getting on the committee?" asked Nick.

"He was a bigot and a speciest. The way my grandmother told it, Silas wanted to make sure that only rabbits had rights under the New Law. He went out of his way to make sure it kept all the non-Lapine species, especially the predator species, 'in their place' to protect the purity of the Burrow rabbits and their culture from outsiders.

"Silas Edwards getting his way was the beginning of the end of the William J. legend.

"William J. believed that for Bunnyburrow to be a proper member of the Commonwealth, the New Law couldn't discriminate against any species, and he did everything he could to oppose Edwards. They fought over it in almost every committee meeting, they even took to the streets with their fighting. It got so bad that the Mayor had to call a Conclave to settle their dispute.

"In the end, William J. lost and was relegated to heading up the Old Law translation team, which was basically him and the Commonwealth scribe, and advising the Commonwealth diplomats when they had any translation questions."

"The New Law and the Commonwealth treaty were the first official Bunnyburrow documents that weren't written in Lapine," added Abby.

Sarge nodded in agreement with his daughter, and then continued, "I think losing the fight over the New Law broke William J. because after everything was ratified and the Commonwealth delegation left, William J. called Silas out for being a bigot and a coward, and the two of them had their duel.

"As soon as Silas' funeral was over, all the warrens that were allied with him demanded William J. be punished, or they'd call for a special vote and try to get the treaty nullified. The Mayor stripped William J. of the Burrow Meister, and he was banished from the town."

"No," insisted Abby, "Grandpa Joe said he gave back the Medallion and disappeared."

Sighing, Sarge said, "Sorry, girl. Now you know why nothing's said about William J. outside of the family, no records, no history. The town humiliated him and went out of their way to scrub his memory away. All that's left of him are a few family legends.

"It's also why William J. was the last of the Gardiner family to be publicly involved in Burrow politics."

Nick tapped a claw on the table, and after a few moments, said, "From what I heard, almost no one in town, except for a few of the crazies, like old bun Edwards. You guys, the Bunleys, the Pawfields, the Hayes, and I won't say on Mr. Hopps, but Mrs. H., all can't stand him. Hell, Mrs. H. was about to storm his warren when she found out about Ruthie, so why the secrecy with Judy? Who cares if Mr. Hopps finds out about a generations-old feud?"

Sarge leaned forward and said, "The Edwards' have been a blight on what it means to be Border Warren ever since Silas took the helm of the family and started to drive it into the ground. Nowadays, they're about done as a warren. And as much as I'd like them to straight-up fail right now, I have Hayes to worry about. Emmett Hayes doesn't hate the Edwards' because they're speciest, he hates them because he's been maneuvering to take over their place for years."

"Yeah, Buckstein filled me in on what happened when Hayes tried to mate one of his daughters off to the Edwards'. It sounds like the doe hightailing it out of town was the smartest thing she could have done.

"I'm also guessing that Hayes is as bad as Edwards, just in different ways."

"Yes, he is, and that's why I don't want Stu Hopps anywhere near this dispute. When the Edwards warren finally fails, I don't want Hayes to be able to step in and take it over, too much land and too much power for a speciest bun like him. If Stu lets on to Hayes that I'm keeping an eye on things and I might have my own plans in the works, Hayes might jump and do something I can't stop, and I can't let Hayes drag Bunnyburrow into the muck like I know he will."

Nick rubbed the back of his neck and then sighed, "You know, Sarge, I thought Family politics in Zootopia could get complicated, but after hearing about Warren politics here, a little straight-up gunplay doesn't sound too bad."