The Conspiracy

by Zanrok

Winter is one of Zootopia's most interesting seasons. It's the time of year when many mammals choose their mate, it's a season with love in the air… except that some are too blind to see it. And others are fed up with those oblivious idiots and are determined to do something about it… at any cost.

9. Chapter 9 - Just Kiss, Darnit!

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CLASSIFIED: DO NOT READ

THE CONSPIRACY

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Operations Clock: +4.5 hours

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Announcements to all Auxiliary Naval Units (aka Pirate Shippers)

Report to the supply division for your flags before departing to wreak havoc- *cough* before departing to complete assigned mission goals.

(Note: to those pirates *cough* Auxiliary Naval Units, operating in the FanFiction ( -dot- ) net, sector of operations. Your flags will have to be smuggled in due to site regulations, proceeded to either the Ao3 site version, the Zanrok blog or the secret production source at: ocerydia ( -dot- ) deviantart ( -dot- ) com / art / Commission-Zootopia-ship-flags-668421239 , in order to pick up you flags before proceeding on mission. Good luck, and may the plot bunnies be with you.)

Crew members can forward their gratitude for these epic flags to OceRydia at deviantart.

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Disclaimer:

Damnit! Who put the coffee maker next to the big red button? And why did you let the grinch in there alone?

Stop stammering and go find someone that knows how to disarm a fluff nuke!

And hurry, I don't like the look of that timer.

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Chapter 9 – Just Kiss, Darnit!

"Bess, this is ridiculous!" Bogo said, crossing his arms and refusing to step in front of the photo backdrop that had been flipped to show a background image of a wild west town complete with blowing tumble weed.

He turned around to head back over to the changing screen to get out of this ridiculous costume, when a lasso dropped over his head and tightened around his chest trapping his arms and before he could react there was a tug that put him on his rear.

"That's Buffalo Bess to you!" she said in a giddy voice as she started to drag him over, "Yeee-Haaa! Look what we caught here? Yes sir-eee, I think I've roped myself a real wild Indian!" she grinned down at him as she finished dragging him over and he came to a stop, sitting at her feet. "A big chief Bull like this? I think I'll keep him." Bess said gloatingly, posing to show off the cowgirl costume she was wearing and there was a flash from the photographer.

"Thought the damned rope was for show." Bogo grumbled, "And when did you even learn to lasso?"

Bess leaned down around the ludicrous feathered headgear he was wearing and carefully kissed him on the cheek making sure not to smudge the face paint and there was another camera flash.

"I grew up on a ranch before I moved to the city, silly. Remember, the first time you came out to meet my parents and my dad tried to teach you how to lasso an ostrich?" She said and snickered as Bogo huffed.

Bogo remembered alright, he remembered that the damned rope never went where he wanted it to go. He also remembered getting dragged around like an idiot when he final did lasso one of those stupid birds. Damned things were stronger than they appeared.

Bogo got off his ass and fiddling with the rope, finally got it off and handed it back to Bess.

"Alright, you got your pictures, now can we get out of these silly costumes. We have a problem to deal with."

Bess smiled and gave him another kiss on the cheek before sidling up to him and turned to face the very amused wolf holding the camera.

"Oh I paid for the full photo package dear, were not done yet! Plus we have the costumes for the rest of the day and they make for the perfect disguise! Now smile!"

Bogo frowned grimly and there was another camera flash.

Bess giggled at his expression, "Oh keeping in character, are we? Hold on a second." She whipped out the toy pistol from the belt slung at her waist twirling it before posing like a gunfighter in a noon day shoot out while leaning back against him, where he stood there stiffly, arms crossed, grim expression still plastered on his face.

There was another camera flash.

"Oh! That's going to look so cool!" Bess said excitedly changing to a different position, "Don't you think?"

Bogo's grim frown deepened and there was a muffled chuckle from the wolf before he took another picture.

"Crazy Wife, death of me." Bogo muttered deeply.

Bess laughed, "Ohh, good impression! Let me try one too!" She spun around to face him.

"Reach for the sky!"

Bogo continued to frown and tried not to groan as there was another flash and a not so muffled chuckle.

---

Judy walked beside Nick, her arm twined around his in a silly fashion like they were going to a formal ball as she led him toward the fortune teller and tried not to skip.

Despite how today had started at the coffee shop, the day was turning out to be even better than she'd imagined. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had this much fun. And best of all was that she'd been able to share that fun with Nick.

She stole another glance over at him and had to hold back a blush. He was wearing his shirt and tie in a loose fashion, the top button undone in a laid back manner that fit him well. Granted, Nick could make any look work for him, but the way his ruff poked out a little made him look mouth wateringly handsome. It reminded her of how he'd looked when she'd pinned his officer's badge on him at his graduation ceremony.

That memory would always be a special one for her not only because he had looked so absolutely stunning standing there in his uniform and smiling at her but because that was the moment she'd realized she was in love with him. Absolutely, completely, no-one-else-could-ever-replace-him in love with him.

Judy did blush a bit when she realized she'd been staring.

Nick grinned at her and casually steered her out of the way of two old goats leaving the fortune teller's booth. She quickly looked away and to distract herself, focused on the old bickering couple making their slow way down the street.

"Are you sure that's what she said Ellie? I could have sworn she said balloons."

"Lagoons! She said our next adventure would be around lagoons, not balloons! You need to get your hearing checked Carl."

"I did, got new hearing aids last week. I still think she said we'd have an adventure with balloons."

There was a snicker next to her, before Nick whispered in her ear causing her to jump slightly in surprise.

"Mammal watching, are we?" he teased, "Bet you they've been together forever. Probably since they were little kits."

"Oh hush, you do it all the time on patrol." Judy huffed, then she took one more look at the old couple still debating lagoons and balloons as they walked away with their hoofs together "And how would you know that anyway?"

Nick grinned at her, "Isn't it obvious from how they act? They just have that… I don't know, that look." He gestured at the couple.

"Yes, they sure do now, don't they," said another voice, before a bleating laugh, "Pretty easy to tell the couples that are always together like that, wouldn't you two say?"

Judy turned back around to see the fortune teller grinning at them.

"Well, are you two here to get your fortunes told? See what lies in your future?" the gypsie fortune teller gestured at her crystal ball on the table in front of her, but then gave them both an inspecting look, "Though I'm not sure that's really necessary. Seems pretty obvious to me."

Judy could feel her ears pop up in surprise, "Obvious? What do you mean?"

The old nanny gave a snort that set her jewelry jingling, "Oh come on girl, aren't police officers supposed to be good at piecing clues together? Take a look at him," she pointed at Nick, "He'll be married before the end of the year."

Judy's head snapped over to look at Nick, whose face had frozen mid smile. Her own heart seemed to be suddenly racing, and not in a good way.

"Yes… I already know he's in love." Judy said trying to remain upbeat, but couldn't help asking, "How do you know it will work out with between him and his girl though? And how did you know I was a police officer?" She knew she should be happy for Nick, glad that things might work out between him and that stupid arctic vixen, but it hurt. She forced a laugh, trying to stay pleasant and jokingly asked, "Did you see all that in your crystal ball?"

The goat gave another snort, "What that you're a police officer? No. Got that from the news, Officer Hopps. As for your partner and his love life, well let's just say that's a trade secret." The nanny goat gave her a sly grin.

Judy crossed her arms, feeling a bit like when Nick had hustled her for the first time and asked with a little more bite in her voice than she intended, "Oh? Well, what else can you tell me then?"

The goat smirked and turned back to her crystal ball, mumbling, though Judy's ears caught what she said, "not even necessary but might as well give them a show."

Judy frowned a bit as the goat cleared her throat then looked intently into the crystal ball.

"Hummm… let's see here… oh yes, yes… might have been over generous that it might take a year…"

"and how long will it take?" Judy said, no longer very amused by this.

"Well dear, let's see… I wouldn't be surprised if something changes today, yes, yes. Today. definitely today…"

"He's going to meet her today?!" Judy said dismayed, the idea of Nick meeting up with that vixen, on their day together, was… infuriating.

Stupid bunny, Stupid dumb jealous bunny, I should be glad if Nick could get her attention today, not… not mad. I want him to be happy.

"Oh yes, absolutely. All the signs are here, clear as day, like their printed right on their hearts for anyone to read. Why, what is this?! He's already given his heart away to this girl! Handed it right to her but she doesn't seem to understand what she has!"

"Damn straight she doesn't" Judy muttered under her breath, angry enough at the thought of Skye rejecting Nick to actually curse for once.

The nanny goat looked down at the crystal ball, moving her head so close to it that Judy could see a warped view of her smirking face, almost as if it was evilly smirking right at her.

"Why what is this that I see here? The girl that holds his heart in her… well not quite her paw, bit odd that she's carrying it on her back, guess she just missed it. Ah well, I think she's far closer to him than she realizes, and oh! Why, now isn't she quite the cutie!" The smirk on the nanny goats face, distorted through the crystal ball seemed to grow even wider, "That might be a little unconventional for a couple, but she's quiet the Foxy Lady isn't she now?" The goat looked up right at Nick still smirking, "You've got your eye on quite the remarkable girl now don't you?"

Judy looked at him in time to see him cough and look away, his ears flat against his head, "Um… why don't you tell Judy her future." He muttered after another cough, still looking away.

"Certainly!" the nanny goat said and turned back to her crystal ball, moving her hoofs around it. "Humm. What's in the future for this cute bunny-"

"Please don't call me cute." Judy said shortly, trying not to let the anger color her voice too much. Fortunetelling might just be a hustle, a fun little distraction, or at least usually fun, but those comments had hit too close to the mark. That ZBI artic vixen had been surprisingly beautiful and smart and Judy did not want to think of her and Nick going off to start a family, not today at least, not right now. Today was supposed to be her day with Nick.

"Oh sorry dear, of course. Now what is in your future?" the goat apologized and looked back into her crystal ball. "Oh, what's this! Quite the adventurous one, aren't you? Trouble seems to follow you around like stripes on a tiger, though I say, it seems that even you can wear trouble out. Why you might even bring the city to a freezing halt!"

Nick snickered and mumbled, "My Carrots could wear out anyone."

Judy socked him in the shoulder and then crossed her arms, though Nick was still snickering.

"And what's this here? You have your eye on someone?" Nick's snicker abruptly ended as Judy went stiff her ears dropping down, "Dream of him often now do you! I thought bunnies were supposed to be quick to express their interest. Well, you might find yourself doing more than dreaming and collecting pictures of your fo-"

"OKAY! Thanks! I think we've heard enough. Bye!" Judy said, her face flaming as she grabbed Nick and nearly fled from the fortuneteller who broke out into boisterous laughter, her jewelry jingling as they left her behind.

Judy didn't slow down until the fortuneteller's booth was far out of sight and hearing.

"You didn't tell me that you like someone, Judy." Nick said, looking at her oddly.

"I Don't!" She responded on reflex before looking at Nick who didn't look convinced at all. She sighed, her ears sagging. "Fine, I might might have a crush. It's stupid, he's already taken. It's never going to happen." She said crossing her arms and looking away, hoping he'd drop it.

She thought he just might have, because there wasn't one of his usual immediate quips or teases, but just when she finally let her breath out he spoke up.

"Taken already? But you collect pictures of him?"

Judy's face flushed, thinking of the encrypted folder on her computer where she stored all her pictures of Nick.

"You do!" Nick crowed, "Is it some celebrity? Maybe one of the Backstreet Bunnies? Do you have a poster you keep of them?"

Judy flushed more thinking of the ZPD poster with her and Nick that had been made to promote pred/prey relations and the M.I.I. program. She'd quietly taken one and kept it hidden in her desk. That picture of Nick was a shot better than most movie stars.

"Oh M Goodness!" Nick said in an imitation of Clawhauser, "You do! I can't wait to tell Jessica she was wrong; You didn't skip the whole teenage bunny fan girl stage, you just hit it late!"

Nick leaned over to her, his hustler mask on in full and teased though his heart didn't seem in it, "Sooo, who is it that you're crushing on?"

"Niicckk!" Judy said in a long exasperated sigh, pulling her ears over her eyes, "Come on, please drop this. I don't want to think about it. We're supposed to be having fun today."

Judy, after a few moments of silence moved one of her ears only to find Nick staring at her. He still had his hustler mask on, smirk in place like always but his ears and tail were absolutely still. Judy could usually read Nicks expressions even behind that mask of his but this time she couldn't. It really was like he was wearing a mask and the only thing she could see through it was his eyes. His green eyes that flashed with something she couldn't decipher, something… predatory, something edged with pain like a half savage need screaming to be freed.

Nick blinked and whatever that was behind his eyes was gone. Hidden from view once again.

"Right-o Fluff. Fortuneteller not the kind of fun you were looking for?" he asked, fixing a smile on his mask.

Judy shook her head in response, mind too busy trying to figure out what that was she'd glimpsed.

"Well how about something more in line with the overenthusiastic bunny we all know and love?" He grinned his mask fading a little as her Nick resurfaced, her playful, fun loving and teasing fox, "I've heard that they just put in a huge go-kart course. Think of it, you can drive around like a manic all you want and you won't even get in trouble for bumping into things."

"I do not bump into things!" Judy shot back and huffed, then remembered a particular chase a few weeks ago with Francine and added a caveat, "Unless I mean to!"

Nick laughed and booped her nose with a finger setting it twitching.

"So, you don't deny that you drive like a manic!" He said in a pleased voice.

Judy sniffed indignantly and grabbed his tie turning around and leading him down the street, her shoulders a little stiff, though she had a small smile forming in the corners of her mouth.

"I only drive like a manic when I need to." She responded, now smirking, "You drive like an arthritic grandparent."

Nick chuckled, "Point to you Carrots but at least I always know where I'm going. Oh, and the go-karts are the other way."

Judy stopped mid-step, swiveled around and marched past her grinning fox giving his tie a yank to get him to follow.

She could feel the smug oozing off of him and was determined not to give him another sot like that. She smiled though, once she was past him and he couldn't see her face.

That her Nick, not the masked hustler was back and having fun again made her happy, but part of her mind kept going back to that look in his eyes from before. He was hiding something… He'd locked up during that conversation with the fortuneteller, all of his old defenses had slammed back into place, but she had a feeling it wasn't just the mention of the unrequited love from his vixen, that might explain part of it, part of the pain maybe, but there had been something else with it too.

While most of Judy's mind focused back on the present, on continuing their teasing playful banter, there was a small part in the back of her mind that kept working away at that mystery, kept trying to figure it out. Sooner or later her mind would put all the pieces together and when it did and she understood it, then she could figure out how to fix it. How to make her fox happy and make sure he didn't have to close up like that ever again. Until then she'd leave that small part of her mind to keep thinking about that look while she focused on having as much fun with Nick today as she possibly could. She wanted to see him smile and laugh for real again.

---

Nadine stalked down the street following their query as her wolf striding along beside her.

Ralph turned, his head quirked at an angle and sporting that dopey smile of his, and asked, "Soooo… do you want to tell me what that was all about?"

Nadine's cheeks flushed again but she kept her head looking forward refusing to look at him.

"I don't get what the big deal was." Ralph continued undaunted by her refusal to answer, "That lioness gasped like we about to rut each other on the bench."

Because I might have been about to rut you on that bench. Her cheeks flushed a bit more.

"Ralph," she finally relented trying to figure out the best way to get him to stop asking questions without really explaining it to him. That knowledge would be a little too dangerous for him to have.

"Scratching and petting can be a little more intimate for felines." hopefully she could get away with a half-truth here.

"So what? Everybody likes a good scratching and it wasn't like it was that kind of petting. You were purring and arching a bit, but there's nothing inappropriate about that," Nadine kept her face forward because she was sure her raging blush was lighting her face up. She'd been doing a little more than purring and arching just a bit. His paws and pads and claws had felt exquisite against her; absolute pure bliss. She'd been purring like car engine without a muffler and rubbing back against his paw to encourage him to keep going. Not the smartest thing to do, but her mind had been completely offline right then.

"Sheesh, if you'd been scratching me like that I would have been a panting, tail wagging puddle, but no wolf would have thought that that was inappropriate, well... that inappropriate."

Reminder to self, next time I'm in a room alone with Ralph check to see if he really does turn into a 'tail wagging puddle' when scratched.

She wouldn't mind scratching Ralph just to be able to run her paws through his fur, not that she was ever going to tell him that, but the idea of also having him on the ground at her mercy as his tail, his awesome, fluffy tail, went nutz was a very pleasant idea.

My tail, my victory spoils.

Oh yes she was going to have to try that out on him.

"I'm a feline, not a canid," Nadine said with a shrug, hoping he'd accept that as reason enough.

"It was more than just that," Ralph said persistently, "A few other felines saw us and didn't comment, it was when I booped your nose that she dropped her purse."

Boop.

Nadines nose and whiskers twitched.

Boop.

Ralph had booped her nose. Sure, he just meant it in a friendly playful way. And it was, just not in the way it might be for a wolf.

Boop. Nadine refused to look at Ralph. Refused to hold his paw. Refused to give in to the desire to boop him back.

I'd just managed to get my mind off of that and he had to bring it up again! She thought irritably.

Boop.

It was playful for a cat too… just the bedroom kind of playful, the don't do unless you're ready for your clothes to be torn off kind of playful. The bed springs are about to creak playful.

But Ralph wasn't done yet, "And why did she look ready to pass out when you bite my paw after I booped your nose? You just held it and growled. What was so wrong about that?"

And now Nadine needed to find a fire extinguisher because her face was on fire. She'd bitten Ralph... in public, not even a small nip which would have been bad enough, but a full-on bite, hold and growl. In Public.

Boop.

Ralph gave Nadine a far too perceptive look, "Megan freaked out this morning like Clawhauser when she realized you'd bitten my rump."

Her face blazed so hot she was surprised it wasn't glowing like a coal. Ralph seemed to be considering that thought though and weighing her reaction.

Stop, there's no fire here, no smoke. Absolutely not. This is a dead end, go look for an answer somewhere else. Nadine thought desperately.

"There's something special about bites and nips isn't there?"

"NO!" Nadine responded far too quickly and fervently.

Shit!

"What about nose booping?"

She was already starting a denial of that too, but stopped herself and snapped her muzzle shut.

Boop.

Ralph had booped her. Boop. She had nipped him in return. Boop.

Ralph's nose was twitching and his tail was accelerating to full throttle. Boop. Nadine suddenly became aware of just what those damned thoughts that kept repeating in her mind were doing to her. she was getting hot, hot and bothered in a way that Ralph, with his damned nose could smell.

SHIT! SHIT! DOUBLE SHIT! Quick think of something else! Boop. Anything else! Something terrifying, something mind destroyingly awful. Boop. Dead baby seals, ice cold showers, Bogo in a drag contest.

AHHHHH!

That last one made her shudder in horror, and she thought she might just be able to get control of herself.

She turned to Ralph and pointed a finger at him growling, "Stop with your nose! That's cheating!"

"So, what does it mean then?" Ralph asked his smile stretched across his face in a ridiculously happy manner as his tail wagged furiously.

"Nothing!" she jabbed her finger at him, "Not anything," another jab, "Nadda, Zip. Zero. EEPPPP!" that last one came out involuntarily because Ralph nipped her finger and she jumped straight up in the air.

She barely managed to land on her feet, but she was off balance and breathing hard and Ralph, like a hunting wolf coming in for the kill, closed in on her,.

"Then you won't mind if I return the favor? Give you a bite and a hickey to last a few days?" Nadine's breath was coming a bit raggedly as Ralph finished speaking now so close to her, she could feel his breath against her cheek.

She was trying to think, but her brain wasn't obeying her, she-

Ralph nipped her neck.

Nadine had Ralph up against a fence along the side of the path and was kissing him, holding him, nearly grinding against him.

"Nadine," he gasped and she kissed him again, running her tongue into his mouth to tangle with his and she heard Ralph groan in pleasure. She could here a few chuckles and even a whistle or two but simple couldn't care and kept kissing Ralph; kissing him deeply, kissing him until she had to break the kiss or pass out from lack of air.

She lowered her head until it was on his shoulder as her chest heaved and drew in large breaths while she tried to reassert some modicum of will. But despite her best efforts she couldn't even resist nuzzling his neck a little.

"Nadine… Wow… You alright now?" Ralph asked, though his voice had far more growl in it than normal, a growl that made her want to purr back.

"It…" Nadine swallowed, trying to focus, "It might not be a good idea for you to do that to me… right now… in public."

He leaned his head against hers and lightly nuzzled back, "And later?"

Nadine felt a flush creep over her again and she backed up putting some space between them before she tried kissing him again. Ralph's paws traveled down her back to her hips before they finally let go as she stepped back and a tingle of disappointment and regret ran through her at the loss of contact.

"Well," she ran a paw over her ears, the embarrassment of what she'd just done starting to finally make an appearance, "We will just have to see how our date tomorrow goes now won't we?" she glanced back over to check on Hopps and Wilde's position, and was relieved to see that they were still in the line and that they seemed to be too preoccupied with joking and teasing each other to have noticed the commotion of her sudden makeout session.

Ralph's arm wrapped around her waist as he moved up next to her, also glancing over at Hopps and Wilde.

"Guess we will just have to find out later," he growled in that low, almost possessive tone. A tone that she was finding far too sexy, "For now, we'd better get in line before it fills up anymore."

Nadine nodded and they headed for the ride. She didn't even notice until they stopped behind a couple wearing wild west themed costumes in the line that her paw had wrapped around Ralph's back and was resting on his hip. And she only noticed because she had to stop her paw from inching back to stroke his tail.

A tail that brushed against the back of her legs as Ralph gave her a grin that told her he knew that she'd just stopped herself from trying to grope him.

Nadine swallowed and looked away wishing that the line would move faster. Ralph was a cop, a good cop. He hadn't forgotten his earlier questions, he was letting her stew and it was working. Any chance she had of being able to pass those interactions off as nothing special had gone out the window when he'd caught her in that denial, then that chance had gotten blown to pieces when she jumped him. And her only chance out of this now was for the stupid line to move faster before he asked her-

"Those two really went all out on the costumes, don't you think? Much better than some of the other couples wearing matching costumes." Ralph said nonchalantly, catching her off guard as she'd been bracing for more questions regarding their previous activates.

She only nodded in return trying to adjust to the shift in topic. Ralph leaned over closer to her, "Think we should try that later? I think we'd look pretty good dressed like Tarzana and Jake."

She nodded again automatically before balking, "Ralph! Seriously?! No way, I am not dressing up in a costume that's just a few scraps of cloth!"

Ralph's grin was widening and he slowly looked her up and down with an almost hungry gaze, "I think you'd look amazing dressed like that, and you already agreed."

"Ralph! Come on that's not fair!" Nadine pleaded.

"Life's not fair," he replied smugly and Nadine couldn't help but think that he'd been hanging out with Wilde a little too much lately, "Tell you what. I'll let that go if…" he raised himself up and nuzzled her cheek, "You explain to me what the deal is with nose booping and nipping for felines."

Yes, he has been hanging out with Wilde too much. Nadine thought as she blushed, trying to think of how to get out of this one. Ralph though just smiled. He had her and they both knew it, but she wasn't going to go down without a fight.

There was a laugh from behind them and a voice spoke up, "I think you're in over your head little wolf."

Nadine turned around to see a large male tiger behind them and Ralph shifted so that he was standing in front of her, his ears back threateningly.

The tiger looked more amused that threatened. "You don't even know the first thing about tiger courtship, do you?" Ralph's muzzle rippled like he was trying to hold back a growl and the tiger snorted, "A tigress like that would break you dog, she needs a real male. A real tiger. Hell, she probably wouldn't have given you a second glance if she wasn't starting to go into heat." He gave Ralph one last dismissive glance before giving Nadine a charming smile and holding out his paw, "How about it sweetie, I could show you a good time today, maybe get you backstage after the concert," He said sounding self satisfied in his own importance, "I know some of the dance crew, you might even get to meet Gazelle, and… I could certainly take care of that itch for you tonight. Little bitty doggie like that would never satisfy you."

Ralph was nearly shaking with rage and Nadine could sense that he was about to lose his control… not that she felt much better.

He thinks that I'm just and easy lay?!

Nadine's tail wrapped itself around Ralph's waist and tightened, forcing him to take a step back, right up against her, which effectively stopped him from attacking the tiger.

That would have been bad. Not only because Ralph would probably wipe the floor with him, despite being smaller, and would certainly get in trouble for being in a public brawl regardless of who instigated it. But if Ralph attacked, she'd follow and she didn't trust her self-control enough at the moment not to really hurt this smug prick in a full-on fight. In fact, she really really wanted to wipe that smugly selfcenter smile off his too pretty face. He'd insulted her and her wolf.

That she decided, needed a response. Maybe not a 'put him in the hospital response', but a response non the less.

Nadine smiled back at the tiger, and she felt Ralph still against her as he noticed that smile.

He muttered a quiet, "Oh shit," before in a slightly louder almost pleading tone, "Nadine,"

The tiger hearing the worry in Ralph's voice, smiled back at her, though probably for the wrong reason. Ralph knew that smile of hers, and was probably worried about what she was about to do, but her boiling anger at this tiger was too much for his soft plea to stop her, though it reminded her not to break this prick.

She reached out taking the tigers paw, and the other feline gave Ralph a triumphant look right before Nadine nearly jerked him off his feet as she yanked him forward only for her other paw to jerk him to a stop as it, with her claws extended, wrapped around his throat, the tips digging in painfully.

She leaned forward her smile turning openly menacing and let out a growl.

"You could never match up to my wolf. Not in bed and not in a fight," she might have squeezed slightly because the tiger wheezed a bit as she continued and grabbed futelily at her arm, "Your lucky I don't just let him grind your smug face into the ground, but that might cause trouble." she did squeeze that time and his eyes seemed to bulge, "So go look for easy tail somewhere else and leave me and my boyfriend alone or you'll be explaining to your friends backstage why your auditioning as a soprano."

With a shove, she sent him stumbling back. He kept his feet, barely, but coughed a few times and stared back at her in shock.

Nadine leaned down, her eyes still on the other tiger, and very deliberately let out a purr and nipped Ralph's chin.

The tiger's expression changed to one of disgust.

"Freakin pervert," He spat at them and turned, storming away.

Nadine just purred louder making sure he could hear it.

There was a kiss against her muzzle and Ralph spoke up, distracting her from the retreating threat.

"Thanks Nadine, I think I might have been about to do something stupid there for a few moments."

She kissed him back and could feel his tail trying to wagging despite being trapped against her. Ralph cocked his head so that he could get a better angle to see her, since her arms and tail wrapped around his front was keeping his back pressed against her.

A huge grin started growing on his muzzle and Nadine stopped her purring, sensing a new danger.

"So I'm officially your Boyfriend?" he asked, and Nadine groaned.

"That's… I didn't…" she wasn't sure how to even start trying to talk her way out of that one.

Ralph's grin got even wider, "You called me 'your wolf'." And when she closed her eyes and groaned this time he took advantage of her inattention and snuck in a kiss right on her lips, his tail doubling its effort to free itself and wave like a flag.

"That makes you 'my tiger', and 'my girlfriend'."

"Probationary," Nadine muttered, "You get probationary boyfriend status until our official date tomorrow. Happy?"

He kissed her and growled in a deep, contented manner.

Nadine's breath might have been coming a little short by the end of that kiss so she released him and moved to stand next to Ralph, turning to face back toward the front of the line, and only then realized that their little spectacle had caught the attention of everyone standing there waiting for the ride.

The couple directly in front of them, a bull dressed like an old Indian chief and a cow dressed as a cowgirl, had turned completely around to watch them, and with quite different expressions.

Nadine blushed hard under the excited and giddy smile of the cow though the bull held a neutrally stern expression behind all his face paint. In fact, the only change of expression he gave once she caught his gaze was to lift a single eyebrow and give a short snort.

"Well, good for you girl," The cowgirl said enthusiastically with a western drawl, "Showed him not to go messing around with you or your man, yes sire-ee you did. Sent him off packing with a burr under his tail! Good on ya. And I must say you two do make a lovely couple." She lost a bit of the accent at the end and turned to the bull, nudging him, "Don't you think?"

The bull just grunted and rolled his eyes before putting an arm around the cowgirl's back and turning back around to face forward in the line as the cowgirl giggled.

However, they weren't the only ones who'd seen altercation.

"Nadine? Ralph? Is that you two." came an energetic voice they were both familiar with; one of the two voices they had hoped not to hear today because they weren't supposed to know Ralph and Nadine were tailing them.

"Here you two can jump in front of us!" a gray bunny said to the cowgirl and bull as she dragged a fox behind her and around the two larger mammals.

"It is you two!" Judy said enthusiastically, coming to a stop in front of them, Nick right behind her with his signature smug smile. "O M G! When did you two start dating?" Judy tried giving Nadine a hard look she must have picked up from Francine but couldn't stop herself from smiling, "Nadine! Why did you never tell me or any of the other officers on one of our girl's nights out?"

Nadine's face was heating back up to searing levels and she waved a paw in front of her desperately, "Judy it's not what you think, seriously, Ralph and I aren't dating."

"She's right Judy," Ralph said standing next to her and not looking embarrassed in the slightest, "It's not what it looks like. We're not officially going out until tomorrow."

Nadine groaned and covered her face with both paws as Judy jumped in the air excitedly.

"That is wonderful you two! How did it start? OMG, Francine is going to freak when she finds out and Clawhauser!"

"Hey, could you two smile for a second?" Nick asked, and Nadine popped her head up, worried about what that sly fox of Judy's was up to know when she caught a flash from his phone.

"Perfect." He said tapping away on his phone before smirking at them, "Thank you for that. I just won the betting pool on who Nadine was dating. Clawhauser's been texting about it all afternoon. He's going to be ecstatic to hear that it's you Ralph." He turned to the wolf with a grin to match Ralph's and held out his paw, which Ralph fist bumped, "Congrats, Bud. I think you found yourself quite the keeper."

Ralph's grin widened, and then looked at Nadine in a way that made her blush even more before saying, "Yes she is, isn't she?"

Nick nodded in agreement before asking Ralph, "How'd your pack take the news that you're dating a tiger? I know they can be a little… slow to accept change."

Ralph froze, even his tail stopping mid wave.

Oh-uh… that's a bad sign, very very bad…

"Um, Ralph?" Nadine asked a bit worried by his reaction because Ralph never froze like that. She'd heard him talk and complain all the time about pack politics but it had always just sounded like minor arguments from a big extended family with some silly rules to her.

Ralph looked at Nick, at Nadine and then back to Nick and seemed to deflate.

"Ralph, what's the matter?" Nadine asked again.

"I, um… I haven't told my mother that I intend to court you." Ralph muttered not meeting her eyes.

"Hasn't your mother been the one setting you up with dates to try to get you to settle down?" Nick asked helpfully and Ralph's ears dropped.

"She what?" Nadine spluttered. Ralph had never mentioned any of that to her before.

Nick piped up helpfully, still smirking, "Yep, and from what I've heard he's been skipping out on those dates now for well over a year. Your parents are your pack's alphas right?" Nick asked Ralph, who nodded glumly and the small fox gave a short laugh, "Oh she's gotta be angry about that! How are you planning on telling her that you're taken now?"

Nadine interrupted, "Hold up, we're just starting to date what's the big deal about this and…" she stopped and did a double take looking back at Ralph as some pieces of information clicked into place, "Ralph, all those times you asked me to hang out… those times you said you need somewhere else to go because of 'pack politics' you wanted to avoid… where you skipping out on dates?!"

Ralph looked at her and then away, the gray fur of his cheeks growing dark with a blush, "Um… maybe," he glanced back up at her again and then quickly added, "Nadine, I couldn't stand those, it gave me an excuse to say I was busy and somewhere to hideout while my mother cooled down." He gave her one more glance, his blush still rising, and then muttered, "And I liked being with you more anyway…"

Nick turned his grin from the blushing Ralph to Nadine, who was trying to sort through the implications of that, mainly,

He was skipping out on dates his family arranged to be with me?

"As for the big deal," Nick started, "from what I know of wolf packs, well... the easiest way to explain might be to give you an example, so let me ask this first. How are planning on explaining to old buffalo butt that you and your partner are dating?"

That got her attention and sent a chill up Nadine's spine. She'd rather avoid having that conversation with the Chief… like maybe forever.

"Nick!" Judy tried to say sternly, though she let out a giggle, "You shouldn't call the chief that!"

"It's better than calling him Bogo the Destroyer of Souls or Chief Doom," Nick retorted flippantly.

Judy looked like she was about to protest but broke out in more giggles and Nick's smirk for a moment looked more like a real smile as he looked at Judy, but then he turned back to Nadine, his grin back.

"Regardless that feeling you just had, Stripes. Well, I'd expect it to be worse explaining it to his pack's alphas, and since they're his parents and more to the point the she-wolf alpha is his mother… well good luck, because you're going to need it." He smirked, "At least with He-who-shall-not-be-named-on-pain-of-parking-duty you'll only have to convince that you can still function as a team and he'll probably let you two stay together. Granted he'll probably grill you two and make you regret the day you were born, but and don't you dare tell anyone I ever said this, behind that grimace of his, like way way behind it, he's got a marshmallow heart. Just don't ever let him know that you know that or he'll kill you to keep that secret. Though you'll only have to worry about Bogo if you survive meeting Ralph's parents. So, there is a silver lining to that at least."

"There is no way that Ralph's parents could be worse than facing the Chief." Nadine said feeling a little panicked.

"Um… I'd rather face the Chief." Ralph muttered and Nadine just stared dumbly at him, her panic rising a few more notches.

We're gonna die. We're sooo gonna die. Kept running through her mind.

Ralph seemed to sense her panic and looked back up at her. He reached out and took her paw giving it a squeeze though his felt a little shaky.

"Hey, maybe we can head off the worst?" Ralph said to her, trying to force a nervous smile onto his face, "I'll ah… talk to them tomorrow before our date and then maybe I can introduce you… again, well introduce you as my girlfriend not my partner," he winced, "um… police partner. It'll give them some time to adjust before anything more serious happens… I hope."

I've already left a hickey on Ralph's ass, and he put a scent mark on me! We're dead!

"Ralph, I'm sure your parents will love Nadine," Judy chimed in optimistically.

"That's not the issue," Nick said turning to her, "The issue is going to be trying to fit a tiger into a wolf pack… oh, hey, the lines moving." Nick tapped Judy's shoulder and pointed before turning back with one last wink and 'good luck' to Ralph as they started following the moving line of mammals.

It took a nudge from Ralph to get Nadine moving, and she couldn't help but whine to him.

"This is not how today is supposed to be going! They weren't supposed to know we were here and I don't want to have to deal with our parents or the chief."

"At least they don't know why we're here, they think we're just on a date." Ralph whispered back, as they both kept an eye on Judy who was ribbing Nick over something, watching to make sure that her long ears hadn't swivel back to catch their hushed conversation.

"But now the entire precinct thinks were dating!" Nadine complained, "Bogo's going to find out and we're going to have to explain this on Monday. We're screwed!"

"Well we are going to be dating, that was going to get out sooner or later."

"It wasn't supposed to get out before we actually started!" Nadine said her whiskers and tail drooping.

Ralph shrugged and took her paw, "They seemed pretty accepting of it,"

Nadine gave him a 'are you crazy?' look, "The bunny and fox too in love with each other to be able to realize it, are accepting of us? Wow, that fills me with confidence for everyone else, Ralph." Nadine scoffed, a rising panic starting deep inside, a panic that Ralph somehow managed to help contain merely by squeezing her paw in a silent gesture of support.

"And I think they're right about the Chief," Ralph continued, "he won't care unless it affects our work… though he's probably going to threaten something awful if it does." He shuddered slightly, "We're only really screwed if my mother finds out about us before I can break it to her in the right manner. I, um…" He looked a bit sheepishly and embarrassed, "I probably should have told her a while ago that I was planning on courting you, I wasn't planning to ask you out until after mating season was over."

Nadine almost tripped, "You…" she was staring at Ralph who was blushing hard, "You were already planning on asking me out?" Nadine didn't know what to think about that little revelation, though there was an uncontrollably giddy feeling somewhere in the pit of her stomach.

"I, um… might have already bought tickets to see your favorite team when they're playing here in Zootopia this spring." Ralph muttered still blushing hard and not able to look back at her.

He didn't! but… He was planning on taking me to… he'd have to sit on the cat's side…

"Okay," Nadine said shyly, and felt her own blush growing when Ralph looked at her quizzically, "I'll go with you to the game…" Ralph's tail started wagging again, so she quickly added, "but you have to wear one of my team's jerseys!"

Nadine had to look away from her wolf because that hadn't diminished his enthusiasm at all.

They got to the front of the line and were directed over to a set of go-karts with seats their size. As they buckled in Ralph looked over and asked, "Hey Nadine? How are you going to tell your parents that we're dating?"

Nadine snorted, "I don't plan on telling them until I absolutely have to, and then I'll do it by text from one of the police safe-houses."

Ralph's tail stopped wagging and his ears dropped, "You think they're not going to take it well?"

"No, they're just of the same opinion as Mrs. Woolstien." She frowned at Ralph's pleased smile, "I wouldn't look all that happy if I were you, my parents are a bit… traditional, they're feline naturalists, which is not the same as what you're probably thinking, and while they'll be happy I found a mat- a boyfriend" she glared at Ralph, "Stop wagging your tail like that! Probationary boyfriend!" she huffed and tried hiding her blush, "If you think your little lecture from Mrs. Woolstien was bad just wait until my parents track you down."

Ralphs smile slipped a bit, "It can't be that bad." He said uncertainly, and Nadine laughed in a not very pleasant way.

"Ralph, imagine highschool sex-ed class where the bunny-sutra is the text book and it's administrated by your parents at the Mystic Spring Oasis. Trust me, bad doesn't even begin to describe what that's going to be. The longer we can avoid that the better."

Ralph's smile had disappeared and a look of mild terror had replaced it. Nadine let him mull that over as one of the mammals running the ride came by and checked their go-karts, before moving to the ones behind them.

Ralph seemed to have regained some control of himself, looking like he was about to ask more when his brows furrowed, and he asked something else instead, "Hey, Nadine? That tiger from before, he um… he mentioned something about heat…" Nadine's blush went nuclear, "I um, know you usually are, um, well that you usually take something to mitigate it, but your scent today, well it's been kind of strong. I mean it's really nice, but even with all that deodorant… well, is that why you put so much on?"

Nadine's face was so hot she was sure it had to be glowing like a molten crater after a nuke strike.

She hadn't filled her prescription this month because she shouldn't have been in heat for a few weeks. Something, or more like someone, had kicked it off early though. She hadn't even realized until this afternoon that it was starting because yesterday and today had been so crazy… though in hindsight, last nights spontaneous activates should have been a glaringly obvious sign. Ralph though did not need to know the kind of effect he was having on her.

There was a call from a few karts in front of them, one that had been rigged as a double seater for smaller mammals.

"Hey Nadine, bet you we win! Losers have to go on the ride the winners pick!" Judy shouted back to them over the sound of all the go-kart engines.

Nadine needed a distraction, and Judy, thank the little bunny's enthusiastic heart had just handed her the perfect one. She hit the gas pedal making the karts engine roar as it was still in neutral and shouted back, "You're On!"

"Nadine?!" Ralph hissed, "We're supposed to be keeping an eye on them, not-"

"Best way to keep an eye on them now is to stick with them, plus I'm not going back on that rollercoaster!"

The lights at the front of the line which had been flashing red, flashed yellow once then turned a steady green.

Nadine slammed the shifter into forward and floored the gas pedal making the tires squeal before shooting forward and away from explaining to Ralph about why she had suddenly gone into heat early.

---

"I still can't believe it!" Judy said excitedly as they strapped into their two-seater kart nearer the head of the line. "Ralph and Nadine? Do you think they've been secretly dating the whole time we've known them? Because she looked ready to beat the tiger to a pulp and did you see the way her tail wrapped around Ralph!"

Nick looked back over at her from the passenger seat, having declined to drive, which Judy's was glad for since she liked to win. Nick was just too cautious of a driver for something like this.

"No, this is new." Nick said back to her with a smirk as he looked back at their friends a few rows behind them, "You see how openly happy Ralph is around her now? There's no way he could have kept that hidden around the station. I knew he liked her but I wonder what finally pushed him to ask her out?"

Judy laughed, "This is Nadine we're talking about Slick, she probably marched up to Ralph and told him he was taking her out on a date."

"You think so?" Nick asked his smug grin plastered on his face, "I know she is the 'take charge' kind of mammal, but she's got to have a least one weakness and she did seem pretty flustered."

"Well why don't you put your money where your mouth is?" Judy shot back returning his hustler's smirk, "I bet you a month's morning coffees that she asked him out."

"Oh, you're on fluff!" Nick said confidently holding out his paw.

Judy took it her grin widening, "You seem quite sure about that, how about we up the stakes, I'll also bet you that she kissed him first."

"Ohhhh, you are sooo going to lose! My hustler instincts are telling me that Ralph made the first move. I'll take that bet and when you lose you'll have to get me an entire bushel of your parent's blueberries."

"Fine and when you lose you're going to have to come with me out to my sister's wedding," Judy replied, shaking his paw.

"Hey, what? That's not an even bet! The kerfluffle almost killed me last time! And how is your family having another wedding already? The last one was just last month!" Nick complained while holding his tail protectively.

Judy snickered; her little brothers and sisters were fascinated by Nick's long super fluffy tail and had taken every opportunity to ambush him and quite literally drag him off to play with them. He'd taken to hiding in fear from the kerfluffle in Judy's room or trying to use her as a shield against the hoard.

"Bunnies Nick, remember?" she snickered again, breaking into some muffled giggles, "And too bad. You should have named the odds before you agreed to it. You're just going to have to suffer through being my 'plus one' because I'm am not sitting at the singles table and having bucks hit on me throughout the entire evening." She stopped giggling and shuddered at the recollection of the first wedding she'd gone home for while Nick was at the academy. She'd become a bit of a celebrity in Bunnyburrow and every single available buck (and a few that weren't) had made a pass at her. The attention was flattering, but what was not, was the fact that they all seemed to think that once she got married that she'd give up being a police officer and settle down to raise kits.

She shuddered again at that thought. She wasn't going to settle, not like that. It wasn't that she didn't like the idea of kits, but first, she was not going to give up being a police officer and second, she was not ever going to get married. She knew she'd never be able to love any buck like a mate should, not with the way she felt toward Nick, and she wouldn't suffer through some farce of a marriage. She'd rather remain single and continue to be Nick's best friend, even if that meant having to suffer through watching him marrying that stupid ZBI vixen.

"You sly little bunny," Nick said in amusement, and she dragged herself out of her melancholy thoughts and grinned back at Nick glad to have out hustled him once again.

Nick whipped away an imaginary tear, and spoke in a dramatically emotional voice, "My little bunny has grown up to be a such a good hustler, I'm so proud of you!"

Judy elbowed him but he only snickered more.

"I was hustling you from nearly the day we met, Nick. Or do I need to remind you how much help I had to give you resolving some mistakes on your tax forms?"

Nick crossed his arms and huffed but couldn't hold back a smile for long.

"So you did, I admit it, Judy. You're the only mammal out there that can out hustle me." Nick said after he failed to keep the smile off his face, "Hell, I still don't know how you convinced your parents not to freak out when you explained to them you were bringing me, a fox, home as your fake date just to keep all the bucks off of you when you dragged me along to that first wedding."

"That wasn't hard, my parents love you," Judy said, and Nick just gave her a look that clearly disagreed.

"Carrots, your dad passed out when he shook my paw at my graduation ceremony."

Judy waved her paw dismissively, "He just needed to get used to you, that was all. He got along with you fine the next time at the wedding."

"And how much carrot moonshine did he have at that wedding?" Nick shot back and then leaned over close to her, a wicked smile appearing on his face and his eyes sparkling with enough mischief most bunnies would have run in fear. Judy on the other hand had to fight back a blush as her body heated up from the proximity, knowing he was about to tease or hustle her in some manner again, "I bet that your dad would have really freak out if he didn't know that I was only pretending to be your date." Nick was so close that she could easily smell his heavy musky scent. Her nose was starting to twitch and her heart rate was sky rocketing. He smelled so good, his musk was so much stronger than a bunnies, screaming of male and predator, and deep down she knew she loved it, wanted to bury her nose in it, wanted to...

"You know, I think he would have passed out if we did something like, oh I don't know… kiss?"

Nick gave her rapidly twitching nose a light kiss and her nose froze perfectly still as her ears shot up and quivered like the bell on a carnival strength test game that Bogo had just walloped.

Nick broke out into a hysterical fit of laughter, doubling over in his seat.

"NICK! WHY YOU…" she started flailing away with her paws whacking him, a blush burning across her cheeks, but Nick just laughed harder.

"Your ears!" he gasped between laughs, "you should have seen your ears… and your nose! Carrots the indomitable scared by a kiss from a fox!"

"Am not! You stupid dumb fox!" Judy nearly shouted as she continued to whack away at him, only to meep loudly and nearly jump out of her seat as Nick suddenly turned, making a kissy face and noises at her before breaking out in laughter again.

"Are too!" Nick said between laughs and Judy huffed turning her nose up indignantly, her cheeks burning. Her mind on the other hand kept replaying that moment his lips had touched her nose and she couldn't help from wondering what it would feel like if he hadn't just been joking, if he had kissed her, really kissed her and she could kiss him back. Nick kept laughing and she kept blushing but not because she was embarrassed by his joke, but by how her stomach seemed to flip and her whole body got hot at the thought of actually kissing him.

"If you two are done, we need to check the seat buckles before we can start," said a slightly exasperated voice from the side of the kart and Nick finally stopped laughing though he continued to snicker, his tail whipping back and forth much more energetically than she thought she'd ever seen it before.

Nick grinned over at her, "Sorry Carrots," he chuckled again, "That was just too good of an opportunity to pass up."

Nick wants to play games does he? Well I grew up with 275 siblings, I'll show him how to play games!

She grinned back at Nick, though her siblings would have called it something like an evil promise of retribution, as a sudden idea popping into her head. She knew just the way to get back at him, and she knew just the excuse she could use to force him to do it.

If he thinks he can embarrass me with a kiss he's got another thing coming, I'll make him melt into a foxy puddle from embarrassment! We'll see who's laughing then!

Judy turned around in her seat and called back down the line to where Wolford and Fangmeyer were.

She couldn't help the smile that formed when she spotted the two; Ralph and Nadine looked like a ears over tail in love highschool couple.

"Hey Nadine, bet you we win! Losers have to go on the ride the winners pick!" she hollered and Nadine's head snapped up as she shouted back a "You're on!" before she revered her karts engine.

Judy turned back around to Nick who suddenly looked a little warry.

"Better hold on Romeo." She said hitting both the accelerator and brake as the lights above the start line turned yellow the wheelers screeching as the fought against the brakes only to spit out a cloud of burnt rubber as she released the break a second latter as the lights turned green and they rocketed forward leaving the other karts to eat her dust.

---

"Oh, honey I think it's cute," Bess said to Bogo as he tried finding a comfortable position in the kart that really wasn't big enough for him to fit in, "they have all those nicknames for you because they must really like you."

"I could handle most of them, but old buffalo butt!?" Bogo grumped, grinding his teeth in irritation.

Bess frowned at that, "I do think you have a point there. Your fanny doesn't have any wrinkles, why its stud magazine worthy, let alone nickname worthy, it's not old at all!"

"Bess!" Bogo tried but failed to slow her down at all.

"Why when we go to the gym I have to beat away all the other cows that ogle your tush when you do squats.

"Bess!"

"And the last time we went to the beach and you wore that little speedo for me, I thought I might have to put a brand on the part of your cheek that was visible to make my point to all the other girls that your tush is mine!"

Bogo groaned, hoping with all his might that nobody recognized him, he wasn't sure if even the face paint could hide his burning cheeks.

"Bess, we need to focus on what to do about Hopps and Wilde," Bogo tried shifting the subject, "I don't know why Wolford and Fangmeyer are following them… or that they were dating," he muttered pinching the bridge of his nose at the beginnings of a headache the mere thought of the problems and paperwork that was going to cause him. Those two had become his go to team for tracking because Wolford's nose was excellent and Fangmeyer had a knack for piecing together trail signs no matter where they were, she could track a mammals trail from the rainforest district to Sahara Square. He couldn't lose that team, so splitting them up was out of the question, that though was a problem for next week and he continued, "but we need to do something about them. They could ruin everything if they stick with Wilde and Hopps for the rest of the day."

"Then we just have to split them up," Bess said revving the go-kart's engine and grinning evilly, "Bumping is allowed in these, we just have to delay them; make sure they come dead last and give your bunny and fox a chance to get separated in the crowd afterwards."

"Bess, I'm not sure that's the best idea, they-" he was cut off as the lights at the front of the line turned green and the sound of the go-kart engines roaring drowned him out. He saw Bess in her hot pink go-kart she barely fit in zip forward and hit his accelerator trying to catch up.

---

"Nadine!" Ralph shouted, slightly terrified as he swerved around a turn and dodged the kart that his partner had just sent spinning into the rubber padded sides of the course, "You're driving like that crazy bunny!"

"It's not crazy if works!" Nadine shouted back before bumping into the kart in front of her and then into the one next to her, trying to break out from the karts that had boxed her in against the inside wall.

Ralph cut across as the track twisted in the other direction and pulled in front of the go-kart next to Nadine before hitting his breaks. There was a jolt as the kart banged into his kart's rear bumper bar, and an angry shout from the porcupine driving it as they slipped back in the jockeying crowd and an opening formed for Nadine to move through.

He hit the gas again as soon as Nadine escaped, hollering after her, "Just because it works, doesn't mean it's not crazy!"

Nadine clipped the railing of the next turn she cut it so close and Ralph swore. He tapped his breaks just enough to get his kart to side skid around the sharp turn and then floored the accelerator using the trick to catch up to Nadine who was driving like, well like a crazed tiger chasing a rabbit.

They shot into a tunnel on the course where it dipped under part of the track and turned to head back to the start line.

They'd pulled ahead of most of the crowd but there was still one kart ahead of them, a kart from which a fox's face stuck out from the side and looked back at them with a taunting smirk, "Give it up slow pokes! Nobody's a crazier driver than my bunny!"

"Not on your life Wilde! This is only lap one of three!" Nadine shouted back.

A small grey paw reached over and grabbed the back of the fox's neck and hauled him back into the kart before it power skidded around the turn at the end of the tunnel, so close to the wall that it left a black streak where the bumper bar had scraped against it.

"Shit! How did she do that?!" Nadine said, taking the turn too fast and bumping into the far wall before straightening out.

"Break. Turn. Then Accelerate!" Ralph shouted cutting inside of Nadine's turn in a power skid that if not as paint strippingly close to the inside of the turn as Hopps's was, wasn't as death defyingly insane either.

Nadine leaned forward in her kart, teeth barred as they roared down a straight away, Ralph right next to her.

"Come on Ralph, we are not letting them beat us!"

"I'd rather them beat us and we stay alive!" Ralph shouted back, "I only just asked you out, I don't want us to end up in a hospital before our first official date!"

"We might just end up in the hospital if Judy makes us go on that death ride of a rollercoaster again!" Nadine replied pointing forward, "Now show me why you're our driver and beat that cocky little bunny!"

They shot through the start line and heard a cackling laugh from the kart in front of them, "HA! One down two to go! Eat my dust Nadine!"

Judy's shout was followed by Nick shouting, "Ya! What she said, Ralph!"

"You see?! We can't let them win after that!" Nadine half growled, half shouted.

Ralph was about to respond but right then a hot pink kart that looked far too small for its occupant pulled up between them.

"I'm sorry sweeties, but you two are messing up our plans for one little bunny and fox," The cowgirl from earlier in the line said, "You two make a lovely couple be we just can't have that." and then she twisted her wheel and slammed the side of her kart into Nadine's.

"Oh no you didn't!" Nadine snarled, slamming her kart back into the cow's hot pink one. "I don't know what you are trying to do to them, but we're not going to let you!"

"Girl, don't get in my way or I'll whoop your ass like donkey kong in Mario kart!" the cow called shoving Nadine's kart into the railing as they ground around a turn.

"You forgot that this a team match!" Ralph shouted clipping the back corner of the cow's kart forcing it into a spin, the cow cursing as she tried regaining control but know far behind them.

Nadine took a quick look back and then shouted at Ralph, "Shit, someone really is plotting to get them!"

Ralph looked back at Nadine worried now, "We'd better catch up then and-" he was cut off as he was slammed forward in his kart."

"Oh shit! Ralph, watch out for Browser!" Nadine called as there was another hit on his rear bumper and he fought to keep control as they turned around another curve.

Ralph looked back just long enough to catch a glimpse of the Bull that was dressed like an Indian and scowling like he wanted to scalp him and his tail.

The Bull though was a damned good driver and Ralph took a few more hits and barely avoided getting spun out by the other silent and grim faced driver. Nadine swerved over intending to try forcing him into the wall but he dropped back just in time for Nadine to flash across in front of him and hit the wall herself instead.

"Nadine!" Ralph called, worried as she dropped back behind them and then growled menacingly at the bull as he came up beside Ralph and tried to force him into the wall as well.

---

Nadine cursed as she regained control and floored the accelerator trying to make up the distance she lost as they shot around and into the tunnel again.

"That ass! I'll teach him!" she snarled, steering around the curve at the far end of the tunnel in a much better turn than her first time and gained some ground on the two battling karts in front of her. She could see Ralphs ears pinned back as he growled at the bull who was trying again to push him into the rail.

"Sorry, hun. But I own that particular ass," a voice said only just behind her and Nadine looked over to see the cowgirl only a cart lengths behind her but with an actual gods damned lasso swinging around in the air above her horns. The sight was so unexpected that Nadine just watched as she whipped her hoof forward and the lasso hurtled through the air to land around Ralph and tighten causing his growl to break off into a startled yelp.

"Yee-Haa! caught me another one, yes I did!" The cowgirl hollered and started hauling on the line dragging Ralph's kart back and hers forward.

"Oh, you have got to be freaking kidding me!" Nadine snarled and swerved over closer to the cow girl's go-kart which was almost even with her karts rear bumper. Nadine reached out with one paw, extended her claws and sliced the rope.

"Hey! That was rented!" the cowgirl shouted back at her waving the now useless end of rope she was holding, and Nadine smile smugly.

"Should have thought of that before going after my friends, you old heifer!"

"That's an oxymoron you pussycat! And this is for the good of the city!" the cow retorted.

"Says who, you dried up old wench!"

"Says me, you alley cat"

"Milk maid!"

"Furball!"

"Broodmare!"

"Bitch!"

Nadine slammed her kart against the cows and snarled, "My mates a wolf you floozy, you're going to have to do better than that!"

The cow smashed her kart back into Nadine's and their bumpers ground and screeched against each other, "You two are already mates?!" she squealed, "Congratulations! Now get out of my way kittycat!" she pushed Nadine's kart into the wall and after a rubber screeching few moments managed to pull ahead

"That's not what I meant! We're only dating!" Nadine shouted back furiously trying to catch back up.

"That's not what your face says!" The cow laughed back at her and Nadine swore loudly trying to control her blush.

The cow only laughed at her curse, "Oh, I'm sure your cute little wuffy would love to do that to you again!"

"DON'T YOU CALL MY WOLF CUTE, YOU FAT COW!" Nadine roared bashing the back of the cowgirl's go-kart as they swung around another turn.

---

Ralph felt like pin ball being bounced around as the other larger go-kart with its even larger occupant tried and almost succeeded in causing him to spin out again. There had been a moment where he'd thought he was done for when he'd quite literally been lassoed but the Bull seemed just as surprised as he was and hadn't taken advantage of the opportunity before Ralph had free himself. He'd have to thank Nadine for being so quick to cut the lin,e otherwise that would not have ended well for him.

Now though, he was again in trouble again. The Bull had managed to get in front of him and Ralph was jolted forward as the Bull hit the brakes and their bumpers collided, Ralph's kart's engine roaring as it tried to continue moving forward while the other kart's screeching tires left a track of burnt rubber as its breaks locked.

Ralph couldn't think of any better options so in a desperate move he shifted into reverse and threw the steering wheel all the way over. His view whirled around as his kart skidded out to the side in a backwards spin and he hurriedly turned the wheel back and threw the kart's shifter into drive.

As he regained control he couldn't help the half manic grin that appeared on his face as he floored the pedal again and shot past the kart with the bull now not only looking grim but rather annoyed; He'd had half expected to completely crash pulling a stunt like that and nearly laughed at his success.

Ralph's smile though disappeared as his kart stopped accelerating past the bulls and he looked back to see that the Bull had reached forward and grabbed the rear bumper of his kart. He had only a moment to see the terrifying smile that split the Bulls face as a shiver of fear ran up his spine.

Gods This is like Bogo's evil twin brother. He managed to think right before he lost sight of that horrible smile.

Then Ralph's world was whirling as the Bull literally flung his whole kart back down the track in a flat spin as he desperately yanked on the steering wheel trying to regain control.

There was a brief moment in which Ralph actually felt thankful that they'd gone on that insane rollercoaster earlier because compared to that this wasn't even making him all that dizzy. He finally got control of the spin and started accelerating again only to have Nadine and the cowgirl pass him and he pressed harder on the accelerator trying to catch up.

Ralph felt a moment of sheer terror as Nadine screamed and swerved as the cowgirl laughed and leveled a pistol at her.

"Ha! The little kitty doesn't like water does she! Well take that! And That!" the cowgirl laughed firing what Ralph finally realized with relief was a toy water pistol at her.

Nadine though did seem to find that fact all that reassuring as she desperately maneuvered and ducked, her ears flat against her head as she tried to avoid getting splashed in the face.

The cowgirl continued to cackle and shot, seeming to greatly enjoy her sport as she shouted, "Bad kitty! I warned you but you didn't listen! You've been a very BAD kitty!"

Ralph was just catching up to the two of them when the bull's kart slammed into the front of Nadine's and boxed her in with the cows along the wall.

Nadine shrieked as she took a direct spray from the water gun right between her eyes.

"Oh, THAT IS IT! You want bad kitty?! Then I'll give you BAD KITTY!" she roared as the group raced into the tunnel on their last loop. Ralph squinted at the change of light and missed seeing from exactly where Nadine pulled out her tranq pistol, but in one smooth motion she aimed and shot out one of the rear tires of the cowgirl's kart before doing the same to the bull's in front of her.

The cowgirl lost control of her hot pick go-kart and with an angry shout of, "That's Cheatinnnggggg!" crashed into the side wall. The bull though fought hard with his kart and managed to keep it mostly under control until Nadine also shot out the front tire on the same side as the blown rear tire. Ralph had to weave around the bull as he finally lost his battle for control and his kart spun out.

"That'll teach you to mess with me!" Nadine hollered back at them as the leading wave of the main group of go-karts crashed and bumped into the two downed karts in a loud cacophony of angry voices as the other drives tried to bump their way through the pileup.

By the time Ralph looked back forward, Nadine's tranq pistol had disappeared again.

"I have so go to figure out where she is hiding that." Ralph muttered pulling back up next to Nadine as they exited the tunnel and turned onto the final straightaway.

"You alright, Nadine?" he called over, and Nadine, her whiskers drooping a little with water that had run down her face gave him a noncommittal growl that he took for 'Okay, but pissed."

"We'd better catch up to Wilde and Hopps," Ralph said shaking his head at the whole incident, "Those two might have topped Duke Weaselton for ridiculousness but there might be others out after them as well."

"Right," Nadine growled back, "They seemed to be trying to separate us from them, they might not make a move on those two if we're there to back them up."

Then Nadine groaned, and in a dejected voice devoid of her growl said, "Ralph, we lost," she let out something close to a whine, "Judy's going to make us go on one of those crazy rollercoasters again."

All Ralph could do as they passed the finish line and came into view of a grinning bunny and fox was give his partner a reassuring, if slightly fretful smile and say, "Don't worry, we'll make it through it…" and then quietly added, "I hope."

---

"Okay, that might not have worked out like I'd hoped," Bess said, giving Bogo a shy embarrassed smile as their two go-karts finally puttered past the finish line, their blowout wheels keeping them at a crawl.

One of the attendants, a stag, took one look at their vehicles and waved them over to the side muttering loudly, "Knew we should have put them in the elephant sized karts, I told Herald that they were too heavy."

They got out and made their way toward the exit, but all signs of the two couples were gone.

Bogo gave a defeated sigh and patted his wife on the shoulder.

"Bess, nothing that involves Wilde and Hopps ever goes the way you expect it too."

She looked up at him, with an appreciative glance and asked, "So what now? You got one of your police teams to hook up… just the wrong team… though they do also make a cute couple. Who would have ever thought a feline and a canid would fall for each other?"

"They've probably been hanging out with Wilde and Hopps to much." Bogo muttered. He sighed again rubbing his temple and then pulled out his phone, "As for what we do now…" he dialed a number, "Now, I call in an old favor before we have to resort to option-J."

There was a moment before the line connected and the voice on the other end spoke immediately, sounding way too pleased.

"Mason! Good to hear from you, I was getting worried; I almost lost my bet on how long it would take you to call for help."

Bogo's hoof went up to his face, trying to forestall his imminent headache.

"Does anyone not know what we are doing?" Bogo said in a defeated voice.

"Well… not everyone, I don't think Wilde and Hopps know."

Bogo heard a laugh from another voice over the call before it reprimanded the first one, "Jack! Stop teasing Mason. He's had a hard enough time trying to handle one of his teams and their romantic issues and just got blindsided by another."

"You were here watching, weren't you Savage?" Bogo said feeling his head pound.

"Oh certainly. We couldn't miss this show, now could we? Oh, and Skye wants to ask Bess if she'll teach her how to lasso like that, I must say it was rather impressive."

Bess, who'd been listening with a cocked ear, smiled and turned to speak into the phone.

"Oh absolutely! We haven't had a chance to get together in too long anyway. Why don't you two stop by next weekend? Me and Skye can have a bit of girl time and you and Mason can go do what ever you boys do."

"Sounds good to me Bess, I'm getting a bit rusty at my pool game anyway. Now back to your little love-challenged couple. I'm assuming you want us to intervene?"

"Yes, damnit." Bogo said, "I'd rather not use our option of last resort, but the plan is falling apart right now."

"Okay, we'll see what we can do. We might be able to nudge them in the right direction but I think you might have to use that option anyway, you should probably give Fru Fru Big the call to start prepping."

Bogo let out a groan, "you think it's going to take that."

"Anything less and it might not work," Savage replied, "Or do you want to have to deal with them like they are now for the rest of mating season?"

Bogo didn't reply. This was Wilde and Hopps he was dealing with. Savage was probably right. It was time to start preparing to use his biggest hammer. He was not going to fail.

"Right. I'll give them the warning to start preparing. If you two can't get them back on track we'll use it." Bogo finally said.

"And what about Fangmeyer and Wolford? They seemed to have caught on that something is going on with those two, they wouldn't be tailing them otherwise."

"We don't have the luxury of worrying about them now, if they get caught up in it, then it's their fault." Bogo said and hung up.

Bess took his arm in hers, "Don't worry sweetie, I know you didn't want to do that to them but it is for their own good." She started leading him down the street. "Now why don't we go return these costumes and grab something to eat before the concert while we let Jack and Skye have a crack at them."

Bogo let his arm creep around his wife's back as they walked. She might be overenergetic but whenever life or work seemed ready to make his head implode, she knew just what to say to make everything better.

He pulled out his phone with his other hoof and typed a short message to a certain shrew. His thumb hovered over the send button before finally clicking it.

With that done, he could relax for a bit and enjoy the day with his two most favorite things in life, his wife and Gazelle's singing.

He felt a pinch on his rear and turned to see his smiling wife.

"Ready to go shake that tush of yours to some music?" she asked, and Bogo might have let the smallest hint of a smile show on his face.

---

Nick leaned into Judy and whispered, "Oh carrots, that's just cruel," before laughing as he saw what ride Judy was leading them to. He knew that he was letting himself get too close to her, savoring the contact as he brushed against her, getting himself drunk off her scent, what with the sweeter than normal flavor it had picked up after the coffee shop. But he'd managed to steal a kiss from her no matter how indirect, and he'd been so giddy after that he'd laughing himself silly. He didn't think he'd laughed like that in years, maybe ever. His bunny was just too adorably cute, to funny, and too good of a hustler.

He let out another quiet laugh at the thought of what she was about to put Nadine and Ralph through.

Nadine on the other hand didn't seem to think it was all that amusing, quite the opposite in fact, though judging by Ralph's tail, he disagreed. That and Ralph was grinning like a fool.

"Judy, please. This isn't a ride, it doesn't count, pick a rollercoaster or something, anything but this!" the tiger pleaded with the bunny. And Nick snickered enjoying the sight of the tiger at his bunny's mercy.

"How is this not a ride?" Judy responded mercilessly, "All you have to do is sit and ride in a little boat, it can't be that scary."

Nadine looked ready to plead again but Judy cut her off, "You're not going to go back on your promise, now are you?"

Nadine deflated and Nick wasn't even sure if she knew that she'd taken hold of Ralph's paw. Nick nudged Judy and whispered.

"I have to give you credit, that was brilliant." Nick grinned, "Clawhauser will go crazy if we can we can get him pictures of those two coming out of the tunnel of love."

He apparently wasn't quiet enough though because Nadine narrowed her eyes at him.

"Oh no you don't," She said pointing at him, "If we are going through this… this…" she waved at the overly cliché ride complete with sparkly tunnel entrance and a line of two seater boats for different sized mammals, "That, then you two are coming too."

Nick didn't know what expression was on his face but, he found he much preferred to be the one laughing and not the source of laughter… though he might make an exception for his bunny. She seemed to be getting quite a kick out of his expression as well, and her laughter did funny things to his stomach. Things that made him happy and warm and that he very much enjoyed.

He swept his tail back in a haughty manner and crossed his arms giving Judy the stink eye, "You set me up didn't you? This is payback for tweaking your nose on the go-kart track, isn't it?"

Judy broke into a fit of giggles before finally saying, "Don't worry, if you're a good fox, Finnick won't ever have to hear about this."

He could feel his ears flatten at that and Judy's giggles broke out into laughter again.

He took a moment to recompose himself before murmuring, "You sneaky sly little bunny."

Judy poked him in his side and between laughs shot back with, "dumb fox!"

Nick gave her a grin and then setting his shoulders walked forward, "Come on Carrots lets get this over with." He flicked her ear as she kept giggling glad that she was enjoying herself, "You might have to resuscitate me afterwards though. Even for a hustler like me this ride is so cheesy I might die from sheer mortification. I mean look at it! Swan boats? Swans? Seriously! And those lights, you can't put those kinds of lights with that much glitter paint, that's just gaudy. And the hearts!" he gave a fake shudder and Judy laughed.

She hopped up to his side and they followed after the Nadine and Ralph, the tiger looking at the tunnel in terror and the wolf trying to reassure her.

"What's wrong with hearts?" Judy asked still giggling as she put her paws behind her back and started skipping happily.

"There so many of them! Its over kill, why the best heart surgens in Zootopia couldn't save that ride with a dozen quadruple bypass surgeries!" he sniffed, and waved at the ride dismissively, "Whoever built this has no eye for aesthetics, now when my grandfather ran Wilde Times he had a real tunnel of love, one with class. Nothing like that monstrosity!"

Nick continued to chatter and looked down at his beaming bunny, working to hold back a smile. This had to be the single most cheesy ride ever, a ride he'd never ever want to be caught dead on, but he couldn't help the thrill that went through him at how much Judy was enjoying this. And there were certainly worse things than to be stuck on a cramped little boat in a dark tunnel snuggled up against his bunny. Maybe she'd even pet his tail again. The mere thought of that sent a delightful shiver through him and he double checked once again that his obvious attraction to Judy down south was well hidden.

If he was really lucky he might even manage to steal a kiss if he could tease her in just the right manner so she though it was only his normal friendly flirting while he played up the whole 'tunnel of love' scene.

So much for this being a joke on him, he was going to enjoy every second of this ride. The only way this could possibly be better is if Judy was actually interested in him in more than just as a friend. But he'd take what he could get and he could live happily enough with the way she was smiling and laughing next to him as they headed for the ride. That laughter, her scent, and her smile were enough, if barely, to mollify his savage primal need for her, to keep him from doing something that might make her hate him. So he'd do everything he could to keep her happy and laughing and by his side and he'd treasure every one of those moments.

---

Stu walked into the kitchen with his paws behind his back, though he was sure that he wasn't fooling Bonnie. He never could hide anything from her. He knew he wore his emotions on his sleeve but he couldn't help that, it was simply who he was.

Bonnie turned and saw him coming and he could see the smile she was hiding.

"Well you're back a little early today."

"Yup, finished up work in the field a little sooner than I expected…" he adjusted his hat and knew he probably looked like the same foolish fumbling love struck buck he had back when he'd first meet Bonnie, "In fact I had enough time that I decided to pick these for you." He pulled out some tulips he'd been secretly growing off in a secluded corner of one of the green houses they used for winter crops. He knew it was an open secret around the farm, probably around the town considering how gossip got around, but the smile that broke across Bonnie's face made it completely worth the doomed attempt to surprise her.

"Stu, they're lovely!" she put down he dishes she'd been cleaning and came over to take the flowers. The kiss she gave him wasn't very long or even overly passionate but it left him grinning just like the first time she'd kissed him and feeling like he had on their prom night all those years ago.

Bonnie picked out a particularly nice blossom and smelled it, "You always had a gift for growing things," she said with a smile before popping the blossom in her mouth with a delighted sound.

Stu stuck his thumbs under his suspenders and couldn't help preening a bit at her praise. "Well I do try my best for you Bon Bon. A doe like you deserves it and more."

Bonnie laughed and came over giving him another kiss, this one verging right on the edge of the PG level of intimacy they tried to keep while in view of their kits.

"Oh I think you've done a wonderful job, I couldn't be more satisfied," she smiled with a bit of a twinkle in her eye as she gave his tail a pinch, "Why just look at how big our family has grown."

"Um.. well, That's, ah… not the only surprise I ah, have…" Stu tried to say as he fidgeted with his hat again and smiled so much he could barely speak right, "Um, you, me, tonight, dinner, special… I mean I have a special dinner, just um, for us… ah…"

She kissed him on the cheek. "I was wondering what Gideon dropped off earlier today, and why a few of our older boys and girls offered to take care of dinner and the kerfluffle tonight. Why I could have even sworn that I saw you sneak in earlier headed to our room with some candles. It's almost like theirs a conspiracy going on in this household, but that couldn't be true; that must have just been me daydreaming about a perfectly romantic evening."

"So, um… you want… ah, dinner, I mean… will you have a special dinner tonight… with me." Stu stammered as she smiled at him.

She took another one of the tulip blossoms out, smelled it and ate it.

"Well you did bring me such lovely flowers, so I think I will accept your invitation to dinner."

Stu let out his breath in a long sigh, before saying in a relieved voice, "Oh thank Serendipity, married for thirty years and asking you out on a date hasn't ever gotten easier."

Bonnie laughed again and gave him another kiss on the cheek. "Just give me a little time for my own surprise to finish baking," she tapped one of the ovens, "I'm assuming dinner tonight is in our room?"

"And how did you guess that?" Stu asked going over to help her clean up the kitchen.

"I guess I just got lucky," Bonnie said sidling up next to him and bumping his hip as they started cleaning and drying the dishes in a practiced team effort, though the smirk she shot him as she whispered, "I hope it's not the only time I'm going to get lucky tonight." certainly wasn't part of their usual routine.

Stu felt like he might break his face with the smile he was sporting.

"So Bon Bon, how is the conspiracy to get our little Jude the dude to finally admit to Nick how she feels about him coming along?"

"Got off to a bit of a rough start and there's some worry about them being tailed by another group, but last update said things seemed to be going well, some of the pictures of those two they sent where absolutely adorable." Bonnie stopped for a second to bring out her phone and show him some of the pictures that were sent to her by Fru Fru's mouse team trailing them.

"Never thought that a fox would make our girl so happy but I guess he'll do. They make a surprisingly cute couple." Stu murmured as he looked at all the pictures of Judy and Nick smiling and laughing with each other around an amusement park.

"Oh, don't try to act all grumbly," Bonnie teased, "you've been ecstatic that Judy finally found someone, why you were so excited to meet him at his graduation after hearing Judy talk about him on every weekly call home that you passed out when you shook his paw!"

"Well... who would have thought that out little girl would end up falling in love with a fox? But regardless, it took her long enough to find her buck or I guess tod is the right word… anyway I only passed out because I was a little nervous about finally meeting our future son-in-law… and at least I didn't cry all over him."

"Nervous?" Bonnie laughed again, "I don't think that's the right word, why right afterwards you spent nearly an hour with his mother talking about wedding plans."

Stu harrumphed, "Well be that as it may, let's just hope this little plot to get them together works, I want to hold their wedding this spring, why maybe we can even hold a double wedding with her sister."

A high-pitched squeal ripped through the house as he handed Bonnie another plate to dry.

"Jessica, dear. What have I said about shouting in the house." Bonnie called in the direction of the squeal.

Their daughter in question came sprinting into the kitchen, "O M G, Mom, Dad you won't believe it!" she ran over and turned on the TV on the far counter and changed the channel to ZNN.

Peter Moosebridge and Fabienne Growley the anchors for ZNN appeared on the screen.

"Well Fabienne, it seems that the ZPD is continuing to lead the city in its push for greater interspecies cooperation now not only by promoting interspecies, and in particular predator and prey officer teams, along with their shift to full support of the M.I.I. program but by now accepting interspecies couples."

A picture of Judy and Nick both in uniform as they walked out of the ZPD's front doors while Nick was smile and gesturing and Judy was laughing, filled the screen. There wasn't anything particularly obvious about the picture but It gave the sense that the two officer's were very good friends and hinted at a possibility of something more.

"Many mammals have wondered about the ZPD's spot light team since the Nighthowler and Missing Mammals cases but recent video of officer Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde that has gone viral on the internet has turned the rumors of their involvement in a budding relationship from musings to near certainty."

The picture was replaced by a close up shot of Nick with his head in Judy's lap while their noses touched, apparently on the verge of kissing.

"However, they aren't the only interspecies couple at the ZPD,"

Two images appeared side by side, both looking like they were the portfolio pictures of two ZPD officers, one a tigress and the other a gray wolf.

"Officers Nadine Fangmeyer and Ralph Wolford, ZPD partners for over three years, have apparently been involved in a quiet courtship."

The TV screen changed again to show a picture of the two officers in regular clothes holding paws while the tigress blushed and the wolf smile delightedly.

"It is unclear how long the officers have been dating since the couple has apparently kept their relationship secret even from most of their families, though information from a few neighbors and a sibling of officer Wolford's who has apparently been helping the couple with their secret courtship, hint that the couple are now engaged and planning on moving in together."

"Most interestingly, Peter, and what has had many of our mammals here at ZNN wondering, is if Officers Wilde and Hopps are not also secretly engaged since both couples were spotted today at Zootopia's Annual Valentine's Day Festival in what looks like a double date."

"That's certainly what the photos and video we have managed to obtain suggest, so stay tuned. After the commercials, we have a special guest, Dr. Viktor Vandyke a renowned behavior specialist, who will help explain exactly what these photos and videos suggest about the current relationships of the ZPD's secret celebrity couples."

---

A/N

…

Operations Clock: +5.5 hours

…

WARNING:

Mission must succeed before days end.

Time Remaining: 6.5 hours

Failure is Not an Option

…

...

Secret Squirrel division Report:

Operations successful.

General ideas about pool and sports teams, etc. stolen (redacted) 'commandeered' from 'King in Yellow'

Dr. Viktor Vandyke from Starfang's Secrets 'Embrace it'

Carl & Ellie from 'Always' by Cimar of Turalis WildeHopps (Humm... where did he get those two from? *smirk*)

Ideas *cough* feline naturalists *cough* 'commandeered' from MinscLovesBoo

(additional note: we've pretty much pilfered MinscLovesBoo of all he had lying around;

Request support from Big's Polar Bear division to shake him down for more)

...

Supply Department Request:

Need immediate resupply of coffee, the damned grinch got loose in the supplies.

...

...

A Kiss, A Kiss, my kingdom for a Kiss!

– last known words of King Bogo the Destroyer of Souls, Chief of those Doomed in their battle to control WildeHopps.

…