Happy New year everyone! I want to thank you all for reading, responding when you feel up to it and I deserve it, and for just generally being awesome. So, here's something a bit less painful and a lot more hopeful. If you feel like it, you could even pretend that this is one of the possible outcomes from the previous. If you wanted to. Is it? We shall see.

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Summary:

Nick has something he needs to discuss with Judy, something he has been putting of. However, with their wedding rapidly approaching, it is something he can no longer avoid.

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Zootopia. Where, if you believe the bumper sticker tag line, anyone can be anything. Reality however, is never quite as clean and simple as the aspirational quote on a bumper sticker, or the glossy brochure the tourism bureau might push. Cities like Zootopia most certainly aspire to such lofty goals, but they are also formed of imperfect mammals, and as such, fall short of those lofty ideals, sometimes badly. They do try, and they do get better over time, but they are far from perfect. More like a work in progress, than the final goal, and that is overall, a good thing, because it means things are always improving.

Slowly, discriminatory laws and policies get overturned. The social conventions that say X or Y type of mammal are lesser, are untrustworthy, are thieves by default, are overcome. Such changes are slow, and many mammals suffer under those things until things change over the course of generations. Then you have moments in history where great leaps forward are made, and when this happens, there are always forces that fight against that change, that seek to go back and cling to the prejudices and fear, and the power over others that affords them.

This is what happened with the passing of the MII, or Mammal Inclusion Initiative. When that happened, it allowed a certain un-rabbity gray rabbit to enter the ZPA, and despite being Valedictorian of her class, few took her seriously at first. So much so that she had to get help from what most would consider her mortal enemy. A shifty, untrustworthy, low life red fox.

We all know how that story went, and what appeared to take root, and in the hearts of many, grow and bloom into something so much more. This is one possible peak beyond the veil yet removed of what happened after the credits rolled.

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Nick sat in the booth of the bar looking across at the fennec fox while nursing his beer. "What? What's that look for?"

Finnick rolled his eyes. "Come on, Red. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm saying. You clearly haven't told her. I hate to admit it, but Judy is a good mammal. She deserves to know."

"She does… Kinda."

Fin shook his head. "Nick. Look, mam… This isn't something that you can dodge anymore, especially not now that you are actually about to get hitched for real. You're both what? Captains now? Senior detectives and running a division together?" Getting a nod, Fin continued. "You've got four kits together, but you… You have three kits before her. One with a rabbit that looked damn scarily similar to Judy. Does she know where you go on Friday's?"

Nick chuckled. "No, and she hasn't asked, nor has she followed me. She trusts me, and I think that's part of the problem. I know I need to tell her. I want them there. Hell, while you're my best mammal, I want Lee to be standing next to me as well."

"Nick. I know she's met them, but does she actually know who they are… To you?"

Nick sighed. "I think she suspects. I mean, it's hard to hide with Lee, save his fur color."

Fin nodded. "Yeah, he's nearly your clone."

Nick gave a wistful smile. "He is…" He then took a long swig on his beer, finishing it and popping the top off the next. "With the wedding preparations started, now that they finally passed the law that repeals all that old evil crap and actually allows us to get married. I need to tell her sooner than later."

Fin nodded. "You do. So why exactly are you here, and not telling her?"

"For the same reason you are here. When are you telling Clair about Amy?"

Fin flinched back like he'd been physically struck. "I… Uhm… We're not here about me."

Nick looked at Fin with pity in his eyes. "Fin. They both love you. They'll love each other. While I don't know about Clair. I do know that Amy is bi. Her first relationship was with a doe. So you have even fewer excuses than I do."

Fin glared at Nick. "Fine. I will get them together and tell them, but you need to tell your bunny about your skeletons, first."

"That's why I'm here. Trying to work up the courage."

"Then quit stalling and go to your rabbit, Red."

Nick nodded and stood up. "You're right. I'm just delaying the inevitable."

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Twenty minutes later Nick walked into the home he shared with Judy and their four kits. Those kits were all at the burrow being spoiled by their grandparents, giving he and Judy some much needed alone time. "Hey, Carrots. I'm home."

Judy's cheerful voice came from the kitchen. "Hey, Slick. In the Kitchen. You're just in time, come try this."

Nick grinned, moving into the kitchen and seeing her tail flipping happily over her butt. "Damn, I'm a lucky fox." Stepping up next to the stove, she held up a spoon holding a sample of the sauce she was working on. Giving it a light blow, he tasted it and grinned. "Oh, that's good. Spicy, but also sweet." He froze upon seeing the cooked shrimp in the pot. "Shrimp? Oh, damn. What's the occasion? Is there something special, or is this a last meal for a condemned fox?"

Judy laughed. "You goof! Nothing like that. It's just our first night alone without the kits in nearly a year. Our first days off, that were not mandated due to injury or other reasons. Though…" Looking him over. "You're stressed about something. What's up?"

Nick sighed. "We need to have a conversation. But… Lets hold that until after dinner."

Judy frowned. "You're not having second thoughts, are you?"

Nick laughed with a shake of his head. "No. My stress is as always, that you will come to your senses and realize you can do so much better than me."

Shaking her head, she turned back to the stove. "Then set the table. The noodles will be ready in just a few minutes, and then we can talk. You can confess to whatever new things you have remembered that you've convinced yourself will drive me away, or things you haven't told me yet for the same reason. I can then reassure you and we can get on with our lives, like always."

Nick pulled her into a deep kiss. "I sure hope so. I love you so much."

"Sappy fox. Now get that tail moving. I'm guessing you met up with Fin to crack the whip on your courage?"

"You know me so well, it's dangerous." Nick moved off and began setting the table for just the two of them.

As the meal proceeded, Nick found himself unable to enjoy the otherwise perfect food. With a tired, resigned sigh. "Ok. I'm just going to say it. Lee, Jacob, and Terry are my kits. Lee was with my first girlfriend, a rabbit that looked alot like you.

When she came up pregnant, well… I thought she cheated on me. I mean. A bunny getting pregnant by a fox? Absurd, right?" He wasn't looking at her, terrified of her reaction. "When he was born, he looked like a rabbit, save his fangs and that hint of red to his fur. I was supportive, even though it hurt. Then… he was mine. We were so young. Still kits ourselves.

Her parents made her give him up, but we've worked the foster system. It's better now, but back then… it was all but a death sentence. I guess that was the first law I willingly broke. I got him and a whole group of foxes and others, free. Fin and I got them into Happytown. Did everything we could. Made sure they were fed, got educated, and slowly got them into homes in Happytown.

Couldn't find a place for Lee though. He looked like a rabbit. So, I did my best to raise him. Then I met Skye. We tried to be a couple, but while we make good friends, we're not good together. Still, we had Jacob and Terry. I did everything to support them. They know me, if not that I am their father. I was fifteen when Lee was born. 18 when Jacob and Terry were.

I was just a kit, but I did my best. Skye raised Lee, and I was uncle Nick. Anything they needed, I'd find a way to get it for them." Finally he looked up and was instantly confused, as Judy looked like she was about to explode in suppressed laughter. "Uhm… Judy?" Finally losing her battle, Judy almost falls out of her chair in a fit of nearly hysterical laughter, a situation that leaves Nick staring at his mate and soon to be legal wife, in absolute confusion. "Judy?"

After several long moments, she gets herself under control. "Is that all, Nick?"

"Well, there are other details. Like the fact that while I was dealing with Lee and the other kits that we freed from Kit Services, Lee's mother was kicked out by her family. I didn't find out until it was too late. She'd gotten picked up by a gang, used, and by the time I found her, all I could do was make what little was left of her life, comfortable. It's… It's the only time I ever bought drugs. I… I helped her OD."

Judy frowned. "Why?"

Nick looked away, tears in his eyes, something that broke Judy's heart. "She had diseases. They'd broken her legs, cut off one ear. She asked me to help her end her suffering, especially as she knew I'd taken care of our son and had saved him from KS. She didn't suffer. I paid extra and got the good stuff, not cut with drain cleaner, or the like. Her last words were to make me promise to be a good fox and take care of our son."

Nick was shocked when he felt arms around him. "If I look a lot like her, I'm sure when you first saw me, it was like seeing a ghost."

Falling into the embrace, Nick nodded against her shoulder. "It was. You look so much alike, but you could not be different. That said, I think you would have really liked each other."

"If she fell for you enough to get knocked up, I'm sure we would have. As for the rest. I've known that Lee and the others were your kits for a long time, Nick. I met Skye while you were in the academy. She figured out I had feelings for you really quick. Which was kinda scary, given the pictures on her walls.

I'd picked up Jacob for shoplifting. Only… He had the sense to keep the receipt. A few minutes of reviewing tapes later and I was writing a rather hefty ticket for the shop owner, and only a ticket because he apologized, having assumed since he hadn't seen the transaction. Even fired the deer that lied about it, to cover his own theft using Jacob as an patsy. So, since I had a clearly terrified fox kit on my paws, I escorted him home, even sitting in the back with him while Lizz drove.

Skye was equally terrified at first when her son showed up with a tiger cop, and then she saw me with a warm smile. I remember her confusion at first when I told her that he wasn't in trouble and we just wanted to make sure he got home safe. After some explanations and tea, to say she was relieved, was an understatement. Since we were done with our shift, I clocked out remote, and Lizz took the cruiser back so I could talk more with Skye. Community outreach and all that. She invited me inside and I guess I froze when I saw your picture on the wall.

When I knew your name, a further discussion took place. She explained about Lee, though not what happened with his mother, and how you and she had tried to make it work, but just were not good as a couple. My question about what kind of mammal you really were into I suppose gave me away. We've been friends ever since. She's going to be my maid of honor. I've hung out with the kits, and even if I didn't know it all the way back then, I would have figured it out just by meeting Lee. My gods, Nick. Other than fur color, he's your literal clone."

Nick chuckled with a nod. "Fin said that very thing. But… Why didn't you say anything?"

"Simple. It wasn't my place to bring up. Sky explained it all, and given the struggles we went through, I figured you would tell me eventually, or not, but it didn't change how I felt about you. Plus, you spend any free time you can get. Like… Every Friday. Which Skye and I use to hang out."

Nick nodded with another chuckle and relieved sigh. "I see."

Judy nodded, but her smile vanished, turning into one of nervousness, ears down and looking away as he had before. "I… I have some history like that as well. We've discussed some of the oddities of rabbit culture and my family. You know about the Leapingtons and what they did to me. The fact is, I have two kits in the fluffle. They're currently in high school. You haven't met them. They live with their father, though they do spend a few weekends at the burrow. We just haven't been there when they were."

"Let me guess. You said that you and Gid reconciled before you joined the ZPA."

Judy nodded. "Yeah. This was before he and Sharla go together. She's been such a wonderful step mother to them."

"Do they know you are their mom?"

Judy rolled her eyes. "Sharla demanded it."

"I'm guessing when you go home without me you see them."

"We chat at least once a week. I didn't want to scare you off with kits that you are not expected to welcome."

Nick smiled. "Expected to, no. Will I? Of course. They are yours, and both our sets of kits were before we even knew the other existed. I think this is another one of those times where we both feared the other's reaction for no reason. So, I guess we're going to have to get our kits together in a small WildeHopps family gathering, along with their other parents."

Judy grinned. "That would be great, given that I'm sure you want Lee standing next to you, and probably will want Jacob as your ring bearer."

Nick nodded. "Exactly that." Scooping Judy up. "You know. Now that this is out of the way. I seem to remember a certain bunny that has a thing for getting her ass knotted, and hasn't had the pleasure in a few years thanks to the kits we share."

Giggling madly, her scent spiking and driving Nick's tail to wave frantically. "They're all our kits. Just like everything else. What is mine, is yours. Yours is mine."

A short time later, only sounds of pleasure could be heard from the master bedroom, and the occasional exclamation of. "NICK!"