Hey guys, I'm back from the dead. A good four year's worth of being dead. Whether I will remain alive, remains to be seen. However, for the moment, I have become inspired to once again pick up the proverbial pen and put thoughts to paper. I saw Zootopia twice because I enjoyed it that much, and I really wanted to do a short story about Nick and Judy, because I think they make a really cute couple. Rating it K+10 for cuddles and fluff. 

 

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   'I really like blueberries,' Nick thought absentmindedly as he and Judy patrolled in their squad car. They only had about a half hour left on duty, and it had been a relatively quiet night in the metropolis of Zootopia. The fox had been snacking on them off and on throughout the day, but Nick could also smell the scent on Judy as well, underneath the usually more dominant carrot scent of course. 'It's a nice smell,' he mused, 'kind of reminds me of home in a way...-wait why am I focused on how nice Judy smells?' Nick shook the thought out of his head and tried to think about something else for the moment. He had been having a lot of those random thoughts about the bunny cop partner ever since the Bellwether incident, and he couldn't quite shake the fact that his feelings for her might run deeper than their close friendship. 

 

   "Earth to Nick," Judy nudged him from the driver's seat, "You alive in there?" She looked at him with her violet eyes. Nick snapped back from his daydream to meet her questioning stare with his own. Judy raised an eyebrow, "Hey officer, what are you thinking about that's got you so dazed? I know it's been dead tonight, but we're still on duty here! Traffic law violators won't write their own tickets you know!" She said jokingly. 

 

"Yeah, Carrots, I know," Nick yawned and stretched for a second before continuing, "Cut me some slack, Judes, you'd find more action at the DMV this hour. In fact, I'm sure Flash would love to see you again," he smiled slyly. 

 

   "Hahaha, first off, DMV's closed now. Second of all, I'd rather not turn the half hour we've got left into six more," Judy chuckled, inwardly thanking God she didn't have to go back there as she continued driving around a small neighborhood area within the Savanna Central area of the city. "It's been a month since you started, not exactly as easy as melting down popsicles, but definitely way more exciting huh?" Judy replied enthusiasticly. 

 

   "Oh yeah, oh my gosh, there's a jaywalker, let's go instruct him on the wonderful city ordinances of using a crosswalk," said Nick dryly, making a mock worry face and pointing in a random direction as a joke while Judy just rolled her eyes and smiled. They continued driving in silence for a few minutes, passing through several more streets before Judy posed another question. 

 

   "Honestly though Nick, do you like working for the ZPD?" The bunny said in a more serious tone than before. 

 

   "What do you mean, Carrots?" Nick called her by his favorite pet name, "How could I not love working for the place that could put a certain someone away for nickel for alleged tax evasion?" Nick chuckled. 

 

   "Nick, I was being serious," Judy laughed then continued, "Besides, in a court you'd need evidence to prove charges, and last I checked I didn't see any." Judy smiled innocently. "But what I really mean is do you enjoy this job more than your last one?" 

 

   "Heh, if you could call it that," Nick replied, then looked serious for a moment, "To answer your question, yeah Judy, I do love it," he sighed, "I get to be loyal...brave...honest...To protect and serve, Mom was so happy when she found out." Nick smiled, "I go out there now, and animals don't always look down on me anymore. I can do something positive." Nick stopped for a moment, and Judy remained silent as she continued to listen.  

 

  "I never imagined making history being the first fox officer right after the first bunny cop," Nick gave a slight smile, amused at the thought, "But you were the one who helped me realize that I could do it. If I never met you, I'd still be hustling popsicles." 

 

"Nick..." Judy started to say something but stopped. 

  

"No, no, I'm serious this time too, Carrots, and I just really wanted to say thanks for believing in me. All this because a certain meter maid decided she wouldn't allow a social injustice to be done no matter what animal it was," Nick laughed and nudged Judy in the shoulder playfully. 

 

Judy laughed, "Cut it out, 'slick,' I'm trying to drive here." 

 

  Both fox and bunny glanced at each other for a moment before Nick grinned, "For the record, Finnick was very touched by your act of kindness." 

 

  Judy smirked, "In helping a couple of con artists with their evil schemes right?" 

 

   Nick feigned being offended, "All I wanted was to buy a jumbo pop. Nothing illegal about that, right, officer Hopps?" 

 

  "Haha, all right sly guy, it's probably about time we got back to the station," Judy picked up the car radio, "Clawhauser, this is officer Hopps, nothing unusual to report, we're heading back now, over." 

 

   "Copy that, Hopps, good work tonight," Clawhauser responded from the comms desk. Judy could hear the sounds of dance music playing in the background. 'Probably messing around again,' she thought, turning the car back to head to the police station. "Hey uh, Carrots," Nick asked, "You want to know what the best part about working for the ZPD is?" Nick felt himself getting warm underneath his police uniform collar as he realized what he was about to say. 

 

  Judy turned slightly so she could look at the fox while driving, "Nick, I swear if you turn on the siren again like you did last time," she threatened jokingly. 

 

   "Carrots, I would never do such a thing," Nick replied, feigning an offended tone, "You know what? Just for that I'm not going to tell you unless..." 

  

"Unless what sly guy?" Judy looked curious. 

 

   "Unless...you agree to have a quick coffee with me tonight at my place," Nick tensed for a moment, not sure how the bunny would respond since it was past 10:00 PM already and they had been on duty for the better half of the day. 

 

   Judy paused just long enough to see if Nick would start to fidget while waiting for her to reply then said, "Hmm, I'm sure it *must* be a good reason if it's worth getting coffee over, so I'll take you up on it," she smiled when she saw the fox visibly relax, "Score one for the sly bunny," she thought to herself. 

 

   A few minutes later they arrived back at the police station, quickly filed the few reports remaining, and headed back outside. "Ahh," Nick stretched as he walked outside with Judy. "Seems like I've been cooped up in that car all day. So, my place now?" He gestured to the parking lot where Judy's family truck was. Her parents had let her keep it until she had saved up enough for her own car, which had actually been far more helpful than the "meter mobile" she had been using for the first couple months. Judy replied, "Sure, but I'm driving." 

 

   The drive to Nick's apartment didn't take long. The fox had still kept most of his other hideouts around the city, but since becoming an officer, Nick had decided a more respectable living place would be appropriate and purchased an apartment not too far away from the police station. Judy's apartment was actually fairly close to his, so they would often carpool together to work unless Judy wanted to walk, since the station was within walking distance.  

 

   Inside, the apartment wasn't anything fancy, a simple kitchen that was connected to one living room area which doubled as Nick's dining area, and one bedroom. It was certainly bigger than Judy's, since everything was fox sized instead of rabbit sized, but the bunny had mentioned to him she was planning to move fairly soon. Upon entering, Judy first noticed that the evidence of a bachelor's pad was not hard to spot. Nick wasn't an absolute slob, but his furniture was very simple without any ornaments or decorations. A simple bookcase stood on the side far side of the living room next to the TV. A small two-seater couch and coffee table sat in the center of the room, but what really caught her attention was the collection of pictures on top of the bookshelf. One was of a younger Nick and his mother, who Judy was sure Nick got his looks from. Another one was of Nick and Finnick just being

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