Author's Note:

Here are some things to expect from this fanfiction. Please Read... or not.

Disclaimer: I do not own Zootopia, only my own characters. I'm trying to make this as close to canon as possible.

1. Issues will be exposed, and then dragged through the mud.

2. This will be a story with depth to its characters, and lots of feels.

3. Just because there is lots of feels, romance and drama in this story, doesn't mean I don't have a wicked sense of humor. So expect a good splattering of that.

4. Elaborating on my humor, I tend to insert curse words – Finnick I think in the universe (if not edited for younger peeps) would curse frequently. So please don't get bent out of shape if you see the f-bomb dropped once in awhile (I won't carpet-bomb it like I do in other fictions. Relax).

5. If you've read "Rocket Meets His Match" you know I like a "slow burning" romance. It won't be as slow with this story, only because the movie set a good premise, but I think giving a nice depth to the characters first, and then building it up, makes those romantic scenes so much more real and enjoyable.

6. If there is a problem with anything at all that I write, please PM me. It's the polite thing to do.

7. This story will act as a base, a prologue, if you will. I will most likely continue this story into two separate stories to go into more detail and depth on the two main relationships – especially since they operate mostly in different circles.

8. Pairings will be Nick/Judy and Finnick/OC.

9. Lots of angst and feels, especially with our furry, foxy friends. I will be playing with the prejudice that the movie set in canon about the stereotype of foxes, and elaborating on their struggles.

10. Phoebe is a character borrowed from an RP I just started the other day with my bestie, Noodlesama23. If she still has an account on here, that's her username. I may have toned the appearance, backstory and some of her personality a little bit to fit the kind of character I see her as, but the premise for Phoebe came from the brainstorming of my bestie. So I give credit, and I have her permission.

11. If YOU wish to borrow a character from this story (that's mine, not from Zootopia), then please PM me, and tell me how you'd like to use them. Then, when you've written your chappie, send me a link to the story so I can check out your work and praise your creativity. I'm pretty forthcoming with praise, and would be flattered if a character of mine popped into someone's story.

That's it for now, I hope you enjoy! xoxo - Kallen

Chapter One

Judy woke that morning with a strong sense of determination. She just felt a surge of motivation and positivity that morning, and had it in her bunny-mind that her mission this week would be to learn Nick's birthday.

She had been having after-work lattes with the new receptionist, Phoebe, on Friday, when the newest ZPD officer had started to ask her about her partner. This was normally how many of her conversations went, and once she tells other animals that her partner is a fox… that's just what the rest of the conversations and questions focus on.

However, Phoebe caught her off guard when she started asking other questions - like where her partner was from… she was mortified at herself that she couldn't answer such a simple question as that. She recalls sitting there with wide eyes, gasping when she stuttered out that she… didn't know. Fortunately, the other bunny just shrugged, tossing one of her long, heavy, crème-colored ears over her shoulder before moving on to a different topic for conversation, but the rest of that encounter she couldn't get that feeling to go away.

The thought plagued Judy later that night as she continued to stew, she realized… she really knew nothing about Nicolas Wilde. Nick, her best friend.

One of the most important animals in her life next to her family, the animal she trusted the most in the entire world and could tell just about everything and anything to. The one animal whose opinion mattered most, the person she depended on. He meant so much to her…

And she didn't even know his birthday.

She was so distraught all weekend long, she was too depressed to leave her little apartment, and didn't think she could face Nick – she felt even worse when she canceled the plans they had to visit an aquarium that Saturday.

"It's okay, Carrots – you were the one that wanted to see if the most, anyways, so there is nothing to be sorry for… but are you okay? Do you need me to get you something from the stores?"

Feeling terrible already, the bunny just started feeling worse when reading his concerned messages and having to respond back to him ambiguously.

Then yesterday, Nick shows up around four in the afternoon with a pizza in one paw, and a handful of wildflowers in the other. She was speechless, and gave him a suffocating hug. He spent the evening seated next to her on the couch, laughing and making fun of her favorite cop shows – an arm around her shoulder. He didn't pry, or bug her for details at all, he just kept her company and offered her his silent support.

She had been on the verge of tears a few times, completely and utterly touched as she kept thinking about just how much he understood her. How much he knew her, that he knew exactly what to do to make her feel better. She had wallowed in a soul-crushing guilt that she didn't know a thing about him, when he just seemed to know her.

As she watched him put an arm around her, and gently squeeze her shoulder – hoping to help stop the tears welling in her eyes (when really he only made it worse), she smiles and decides right then and there that she will fix it. She will learn more about her best friend. Starting Monday she will make it her mission to learn everything she could about Nick Wilde. Her kind fox.

Judy has to wipe at her eyes with her paw as she realizes she's driving, and is approaching the bus stop where she sometimes picks up her favorite fox. She can't help but smile widely when she spots him leaning against the bus sign, a paper bag in his paw and a throw-away cup in his other. Judy watches as he notices she arrived and returns her cheery wave with a lazy smile.

Clicking the 'unlock' button, Nick opens the cruiser door and climbs in. "Mornin' Cottontail." He mumbles, voice tired but a small smile on his mouth as he leans across the car to set the travel cup into one of the flip-out holders.

"Good morning, Nick! Ready for the day?" Her grin widens as she watches Nick intently, noticing how his ears quickly flick back and flatten out at her raised voice, and a small smile tug at the corner of his mouth.

"Still wakin' up, it seems…" he pauses before adding, "you bunnies, so full of energy." He meets her eyes and smiles back at her. She hums, pleased with the response but not acknowledging it.

She's aware of the smile that stays on her face as she drives them expertly through the streets of Zootopia and into the ZPD parking garage.

Nick clears his throat and she turns to look at him with a smile, cutting the engine. She notices how he looks relieved, and his eyes are soft and kind when he speaks to her in a quiet tone, "I'm glad you're feeling better, Carrots."

Judy's face softens too, and she responds just as quietly, "Thanks, Nick."

Her small smile turns into a small grin when she watches Nick shuffle awkwardly before opening the door.

"Oh! Almost forgot, Cottontail, I got you your carrot bagel with the carrot and cilantro cream cheese you like."

"Awww! Thanks, Nick!"

He chuckles, and gives her a sly look when she meets him in front of the car, "Don't mention it, Carrots."

They walk out of the garage and through ZPD, heading towards the lobby.

Judy is finishing off her carrot bagel as she and Nick finally make it to the front desk to see their two favorite faces.

"Good morning Officer Clawhauser! Officer Thianta!" Judy cheers, waving her free paw up in the air enthusiastically, making her way over to them with an extra spring in her step.

"Ooooh… whatcha got there, Miss Judy?" Clawhauser is leaning over the counter to look over at Judy, his sharp eyes honing in on the last two bites of bagel in her paw.

"That's her breakfast, big guy – but don't worry! I got something for you animals too."

Judy watched as Nick raised himself up on his toes to plop the bag onto the desk in front of the long-eared bunny and the large cheetah.

Clawhauser squeals his thanks and appreciation and reaches into the bag only to look at the bagel oddly and give it a sniff before making a face, "Um… what kinda bagel is this?"

"Eggplant. And it's mine, thank you!" The bunny officer nearly had to crawl on top of the table to reach over and snatch the prize from her partner's hands. Judy smiles as she watches the other bunny give Nick a non-verbal thank-you-nod before digging into her bagel happily.

She hears the cheetah gasp in delight and reveal two doughnuts with sprinkles. One chocolate, the other strawberry – his favorite, "O.M. Goodness! Thanks Nick!"

"You're welcome, buddy." He points and winks at them. Judy smirks, fond of his antics. "So Clawhauser, how was your weekend?"

Before the cheetah could start on his monologue, Nick raised a paw and turned to Judy, "I'm going to grab myself another coffee before roll call, you want one?"

The bunny grinned, this was gunna be her chance, "Sure, Nick – no sugar though!"

He winks at her and waves to the others, "Gotcha, Carrots, don't be late!" He snickers at his own joke and at the eye-roll she gave him as he sauntered across the lobby and disappeared down the hall towards the break room.

The instant the red fox was out of sight, Judy turns to see both Phoebe and Ben leaning over the counter and looking down at her expectantly. Her surprise and confusion at their rapt attention only lasts for a few seconds before Clawhauser breaks it.

"Soooo…? What's going on? Something juicy? Some-" The cheetah is cut short with a swift slap to his arm from his partner, "Shush!" the crème-colored bunny turns to her then, "Go on?"

Judy looked up at the other bunny, thanking her silently for stopping the cheetah's impending and enthusiastic interrogation, saving her time.

"I wanna ask you two for help with something," Judy asks in a quieter tone, her head shifting a bit as she looks from side to side as if she could be overheard by some animal passing by.

The chubby cheetah looked over at his partner who shrugged before he turned to answer Judy hesitantly, "Yea Bun-bun... is everything okay?" He looks down the hall to where her partner Nick disappeared, he then looms closer and stage whispers, making the other bunny roll her eyes, "Does it have something to do with Nick?"

Judy quickly corrects the misinterpretation, "I-it's nothing bad, Clawhauser!" amethyst eyes slid over to watch Phoebe for a moment and she's meant with a bored, but attentive, gaze, "It… yea, you see, I want to find out Nick's birthday."

Phoebe's eyebrows raise and her predator partner squeals in excitement, "Awww! That's so nice!" then he gasps, the long-eared bunny rolls her eyes at his dramatics, "But wait…" he pulls back, looking at Judy confused, "Why don't you just ask him, bun-bun?"

The addressed bunny crinkles her nose briefly, choosing to ignore the name for now. She quickly rehearses the lie she came up with this morning, "Well… I think he told me once, but I forgot… and I think it's soon, and – "

Clawhauser gasps and then sighs in understanding, Judy grins, knowing her plan is working so far, "And you don't want him to know that you forgot, because then he'll think you didn't care to listen, and he'll be crushed and sad and feel un-loved! And –"

"O.K. Claws, stop it. She knows all that, don't make her feel worse so gossipy spot!" Judy gives Phoebe an weary smile of gratitude for stopping the onslaught.

After shooting a pout-face at the crème bunny, he smiles kindly down at her and nods vigorously, making his cheeks giggle, "We'll help you, Judy! No problem at all! We'll just check his animal files and application, it should be on there!"

Relief rushes over Judy and she smiles beautifully up at her friend in gratitude, "Oh, thank you, you two! I'll owe you one!"

Phoebe pats her cheetah on the shoulder when he gives another squeal of delight, before looking down at her rabbit counter-part, "No problem, Judy. But you might want to hurry over to the bullpen, roll-call starts in 2."

Gasping, Judy hops up and down, waving goodbye and shouting more 'thank yous' before she speeds over towards the bullpen, leaving a blissfully swooning cheetah and an exasperated bunny at the desk.

"Sooo… you gunna finish your breakfast?"

Phoebe rolls her chocolate-brown eyes and surrenders the bagel to the squealing cheetah.

Judy skids into the bullpen with seconds to spare and shuffles up onto her seat next to Nick who's lazily sipping at his coffee before offering a paw, which she accepts gratefully. Before she's able to greet Officer McHorn, who's seated to her partner's right, she gets interrupted by the Chief stomping into the bullpen, slamming the door behind him. Everyone falls silent as the Chief goes through the morning announcements and starts handing out assignments and, as usual, Judy and Nick where the last to be called out.

"Officer Hopps, Officer Wilde - patrol sector five of downtown, there's been reports of a few repeat offenders of loitering, tagging and petty theft the last couple of days and the mayor suggested we deploy more officers to the area to hopefully discouraging any future attempts." The bunny had already hopped off the chair and had made her way to stand in front of the bull, paw to her forehead in a quick salute before grasping the file. When Nick lazily strolled to stand beside her, the Chief looked down at his two smallest officers and grunted.

"That's it for today, but I have a bigger case for the both of you to look into later," He scowled down at Judy who started to look overly excited and Nick set a steady paw on her shoulder to stop her from asking questions so he could respond instead, "Thank you for that, Chief - I assume the case file isn't prepared yet?"

Chief grunted before answering Nick as he headed back out the door, "Right. I should have the case file ready for you two tomorrow morning. It isn't time-sensitive so it can wait until then."

"Okay then! We will just get going, and we will see you later - bye Chief!" Judy shouted after the irritated wildebeest enthusiastically, and with that Nick strolled behind Judy, following her out the door and down the hallway and back to their cruiser to start their patrol.

A couple hours later, Nick and Judy are trudging along the sidewalks of Downtown, having decided to walk around on foot instead of staying cooped up in the cruiser for the rest of the day. Despite whatever complaints that had been issued before, there appeared to be nothing much happening that day. It was around 4 in the afternoon, and Nick and Judy had about two hours left on their shift before they were to check back into the station.

"Ugh... I'm bored." Judy grumbles uncharacteristically, Nick looks over at her with a sly smile and a half-lidded gaze. "Well Carrots, we did get to bust at least one animal today, so don't be so glum, chum!" He sing-songs as he flips out his phone and swiftly responds to a text and updates his Furbook page.

"Yea, I know, I know... but it wasn't like it was for anything big - "

"Well, Mrs. Wheaton seemed to think so, even gave us gift cards to her restaurant as thanks."'

"You accepted them?!" Judy shouts at him and socks him on the arm making him flinch.

"Cool it, Carrots! And yea, she insisted... I couldn't say no -" He scoffs at the face and thumping foot Judy gives him, "What?! You didn't see her face! You wouldn't have been able to say 'no' either!"

Judy sighs and holds out her paw, "Okay then, gimme mine." Nick rolls his eyes, digging into his pocket and passes her one of the coupons.

She smirks triumphantly and Nick smiles back; the friendly moment is shattered when the two heard shouting and banging coming from down the otherwise empty street. Making a shhing motion, Judy steps lightly and quickly towards the direction of the commotion, the fox following close behind his partner.

Author's End Note:

So! Tell me what you think so far! I am one or two more scenes away from finishing the next chapter, which has a lot more in it - and then we see Finnick!

I really wanted him to have a bigger part in the movie, but it probably woulda taken away screen time of Nick and Judy's awesome case adventure. Lol.

Hope he's more involved in the next movie! I think his character can have a lot of potential, as I will thoroughly explore in this fic.

Ciao!

- Kallen