A/N: Hey again. It's been months since I updated. Hope you enjoy this one.

Chapter 8: Unintended sleepovers

Some nights when Judy stumbled into Nick's apartment after a late shift, hungry and worn out from the duties of the day. All she wanted would be to curl up on the couch and flick idly through Nick's expansive collection of (possibly illegally obtained) TV channels in his company to take her mind off work after dinner. Usually she was the one who prepared the food but she'd text Nick if she'd be late and he'd order takeout, then she'd rest herself a bit and head back to her own place. However, there were times when fatigue overtook her and she passed out until next morning, when she woke with a shock and hurried to work after a quick shower and putting on the same un-ironed uniform from yesterday.

It also seemed that those unexpected sleepovers were getting more frequent, so much that she had actually left a spare set of uniform at Nick's place just in case, a spare set that was somehow always washed clean and ironed smooth the next time even though she never had the time to do it herself.

Tonight was one of those nights, and the rabbit cop tiredly unlocked the door to her friend's home and trudged across the cold tiles into the kitchen, where she found the fox sitting at the dining room, an opened can of cold beer and a few paper boxes of food placed on the table.

She heard the sound of keys clicking as he typed what Judy guessed was another one of his renown jokester comments on Furbook, then the smell of Chinese food wafted into her nostrils and she inhaled the fragrance deeply. Nick set his phone face down on the table when his ears pricked up at the sound of a large intake of breath, smiling warmly at his friend's haphazard appearance. Judy half expected a sarcastic, snippy remark from him but was surprised when he said, "Hot water is in the master bathroom tub, soap on the racks. Go soak yourself for a while before eating. Try not to fall asleep and drown, eh carrots?"

Judy blinked and nodded slowly, the hospitality catching her off guard. She headed straight to the bathroom Nick had mentioned and surely enough, the ceramic tub in it was filled with steaming hot water. Removing her clothes, she dipped a paw into the water. The heat was soothing, just right for a late night soak.

She lowered herself into the tub, moaning in relaxation as the warmth seeped into her body. There she lay for five minutes, enjoying the pleasant feeling that was coursing through every fibre of her very being. She wondered, did Nick set this up for her?

Not likely… He probably just prepared it for himself and took pity on you, that's why he let you have it, the sceptical part of her mind replied. Feeling too tired to argue, she let the idea slide and turned her focus back towards the blissful comfort. She submerged further into the bath, until her eyes were barely above the water.

She exhaled through her snout, watching the air bubbles float to the top and escape into the steamy air, then the rabbit sighed contentedly as she resurfaced for breath. Having late night dips like this could be considered a luxury, as her rented accommodation did not feature such a tub. Perhaps I should ask Nick if I can stay at his place instead, she considered. She stayed that way in the tub for a while longer before she reached for the soap and began to cleanse herself thoroughly, not wanting to delay dinner any longer.

Not long after, Judy approached the dining table in a pink bathrobe that had once belonged to Rena Wilde. Initially, she felt uncomfortable with the knowledge that it had belonged to his long gone sister when she was a kit. When asked why he still kept his sister's old things, Nick had shrugged and said that he kept most his family members' belongings. They were his heirlooms after all. She had dropped the topic when she sensed her friend's discomfort at discussing it.

Nick had just opened his box and was holding up a half-chewed shrimp dumpling using chopsticks. He swallowed and quipped, "Took you long enough, thought you had fallen asleep or something. I was hungry."

Judy shrugged in response, then she sat down and pulled her own box towards her. To her pleasant surprise, Nick had ordered her favourite fusion style noodles, with extra carrots and lettuce as well.

"Were you expecting me tonight?" she asked. It was a dumb question, because she had turned up every night for the week, fatigued and starved.

"Ha, I think my predatory senses served me well." He winked at her. It was good enough an answer for her. Picking up her chopsticks, the starved rabbit dug in happily, dignity be darned.

Nick chuckled at the sight and told her to slow down. "You're eating like a savage, carrots. You'll choke at that rate," he said as he watch his friend inhale her dinner. Judy slurped the noodles in large amounts until her cheeks bulged, leaving several stringy ends dangling from her mouth. Before she could swallow, Nick quickly whipped out his phone and snapped a picture of her.

"Hey, don't take a photo of me without permission!" Judy protested, but the sound that came out of her mouth clearly did not mean that. It was something like uui onn ade a wuhwuh oo mmm mmduh numnumnum.

"Didn't your parents tell you not to speak with a full mouth?" Nick teased. Judy chewed furiously and swallowed, but she began to choke. She made a gagging sound and thumped her chest, looking like she was about to puke. All playfulness gone and replaced with concern and alertness, Nick stood up and went over to help her. Placing a paw on Judy shoulder, he was prepared to give her the Heimlich at any moment.

To his surprise, the rabbit swiped his phone from his paw and deleted the photo from his album. Nick could only stare in confusion and shock as he watched her tap the trash bin icon and the picture vanished from sight. Then he realised that he had been duped. He looked down and found Judy grinning up at him.

"Well, you fell for my little act," she said cheerfully, handing Nick's phone back to him. "I wasn't Best Junior Actress for five years in a row for nothing."

Nick snorted and returned to his seat. He bit into another dumpling. The food was starting to get cold. "You had me worried for a second there, you know."

Judy rolled her eyes and smiled. She appreciated the concern, but she was more than aware about taking things too far. "It's called a hustle, sweetheart. You got fooled," she said cockily.

"Sly bunny," Nick said with a smile of his own. This little rabbit had as many tricks up her sleeves as he had.

"Dumb fox," was her reply.

Not as dumb as you think, carrots, he mused silently. His photos were all saved immediately to Cloud storage after the shots were taken, and all Judy had removed was the copy in his phone. But she didn't need to know that, did she?

After dinner, the two mammals spent the rest of the night scrolling through the channels on TV. Nick had cable, with extra channels as well. Judy suspected that he had pulled some strings to get them, though Nick had denied it heartily. Still, she didn't have the energy to lecture him about it.

They sat on the couch. Well, Nick sat on the couch anyway. Judy lay down with her head on the armrest, relaxing after a satisfying full meal. Her feet rested on Nick's thigh, and her hugged Nick' fluffy tail.

"Carrots, can you stop it with my tail?" Nick deadpanned as he clicked on the remote. He looked really bored. He had reached the range of sports channels. He paused to watch Darren Muzzleton do an impressive trick shot before he changed the channel. The next one was football.

"Sorry, Nick. It's too fluffy." She cooed as she rubbed her cheek on it.

"You don't like it when I touch your tail."

"That's different! It feels like you're touching my butt."

"With a butt like that, who can resist?"

"Har, har. Very funny."

The screen continued showing seconds of scenes before it was cut away.

'Come on, Ham old buddy, don't let me down.'

'- sunny tomorrow, though for the first time –'

'This could be reasonable evidence for the existence of hoomans –' Nick snorted. Conspiracy theorists.

'Research has shown that whales were possibly once related to horses. Here in Aqualantis –'

"You know, I've been considering moving in."

"With me? You're gonna have to pay me rent, you know that right?"

"As long as it's not more than what I am giving that old armadillo."

"Fair enough."

"I'm moving in in two weeks."

Nick shrugged non-commitedly as he reached the movie channels. It would be nice to have someone living with him again. Finnick almost never came over these days, that little hermit. Unimpressed by the current choice of aired shows, he randomly picked a channel. HBO was airing Pig Hero 6 and they were at the point where Hiro discovers the Masked Mammal's true identity.

'But the explosion… You died!'

Judy sat up straight, telling Nick not to change the channel. Pig Hero 6 was one of her all-time favorites. She watched intently as the show progressed on, latching onto Nick's bushy tail tightly as the intensity in the movie grew. Hiro discarded Baymax's personality chip and engaged its aggressive mode, sending it to attack the unarmed Callagham. Her eyes were glued to the screen, feeling every bit of emotion that the show caused. Next to her, Nick studied her expressions amusedly.

Suddenly her phone rang, startling her and pulling her out of her absorbed state. It was a video call from her parents. She moaned, not wanting to miss out the best part. Nick smiled and said, "Don't worry, I am recording it. You don't want to miss this call." Gratefully, she tapped the green icon and her phone loaded the live video of her parents.

"Judy! How are you? My goodness, you never call these days."

"Yeah, your mother and I have been so worried about – hey, this isn't your room. Where are you, young lady?" Her father, the ever paranoid Stu Hopps demanded to know the whereabouts of his daughter.

"Mom, dad, I'm fine. I have been really busy these days. Sorry I forgot to call. I'm at my friend's place right now."

"Friend? Which friend? How many friends do you have? You shouldn't be out so late at night!"

"Dad, calm down. I'm with Nick right now."

Bonnie Hopps blinked several times. "The Nick? Your best friend? The one that you mentioned before?" Nick beamed at her and put a paw over his chest. "Aww, carrots," he mouthed lovingly. Judy told him to shut up.

"No, not you, mom. I was telling Nick to shut up. He's being smug again."

"Ooh, can we meet him?" Her parents looked at her expectantly and eagerly. She hesitated, glancing at Nick. He cocked his head as to say, up to you.

"Umm, alright." She sat closer to Nick and angled the phone so that the lens could capture the both of them. Nick raised an eyebrow and gave the camera his best smirk. "What's up, Mr and Mrs Hopps?"

The immediate change in her parent's expressions was so obvious even a shrew couldn't have missed it. Stu's face went from curiosity to shock and then became something of a mix of panic and being constipated. Bonnie's expectant countenance morphed into an unsure one. Judy and Nick were expecting it, as well as the outburst from Stu that followed.

"Why didn't you mention that your best friend is a fox? I thought it was a handsome bunny or something," he exploded. The loudness of his voice crackled from the speakers of Judy's phone.

"Because I knew this would happen if I did," she replied. She rolled her eyes, while Nick snorted derisively.

"You could have at least said something. We had even planned your wedding for you!"

"WHAT?!" It was Judy's turn to screech. She shoved Nick out of the camera range and shouted at her phone. "Why would you plan a wedding for me? I don't even plan to get married that soon!"

"Honey, you said you had a best friend that you were inseparable to. We just kind of assumed that you meant a best bunny friend, and you know how bunnies usually marry their best friends? Your father and I got married that way." Bonnie explained, pleading for Judy to be understanding.

The rabbit cop groaned. "Mom, I live in Zootopia now. Why on earth did you just go about and assume that my best friend would so conveniently be a bunny? Besides, what's wrong with foxes? You work with Gideon Grey, for crying out loud!"

"Well…"

Nick adjusted the camera so that he was in it too. "Mr Hopps, Mrs Hopps. You don't have to worry about me eating your daughter. She'd probably give me indigestion with her attitude. Ow!" He rubbed his side where Judy had elbowed him. The Hopps parents watched the interaction in fascination, though Stu's paranoia grew even more.

"Why are you two so close to each other? Is he your boyfriend? Oh my god, he is your boyfriend!"

"What? No!"

Stu continued his rant. "I knew there was something different about you since you were born. But this? I didn't realise why you kept turning down the males back in BunnyBurrows. You have a pred fetish!"

Nick burst out laughing. He held his stomach as he rolled on the floor. Judy looked like she was about to hurl her phone at the wall.

"Dad! Oh, come on. That has gone too far. We're friends, dad."

Still laughing, Nick wiped a tear from his eye. He peeked into the camera again. "We're friends alright. Judy and I are very well acquainted." He winked for effect. Judy pushed his head out of the picture, rolling her eyes.

"Not helping, Nick!" she yelled.

It worked like a charm. Her father whimpered. "You have… consummated?" He toppled animatedly like a bowling pin, eyes rolled up inside his head. Bonnie shook her head and covered her face.

"Your father tends to overact a lot. Dear, could you pass the phone to Nick please? I want to talk to him." Judy did as she requested, feeling wary about it.

"Hello, Mrs Hopps."

Bonnie smiled. "Please, call me Bonnie. You're quite a handsome fox, Nick. How old are you?"

"Uhh, I'm 32."

"Wow, I didn't expect you to be so much older than Judy. Are you taking good care of her?"

Nick looked at Judy and smiled. "Yes, I am." Judy returned it as well.

Contented with the answer, Bonnie said, "Good. My daughter trusts you so I trust you too. Based on what she told us, you seem like a very good mammal. Whatever your relationship is, we won't make a great deal out of it." She glanced at her unconscious husband on the floor. "He'll come to accept it as well."

"Oh no, ma'am. Bonnie. We're friends, we're not… what you think we are"

Bonnie didn't look too convinced, but she certainly looked a bit relieved. "I see. I wish you good luck and blessed day (or night), Nick. Now, could you pass the phone back to Judy?" he did so.

"Right, Judy dear. We were actually wondering when you'd come back home to visit. It's been a long while since you dropped by and your siblings miss you. We miss you."

Judy thought for a moment. "I don't know… I'm always busy."

"What about the pre-winter preparation? Christmas?"

"I'll have to ask my Chief, mom. Maybe I can take a week off or so, but I can't promise."

Bonnie looked downcast at the answer, but there was a hopeful glint in her eyes. "Keep us posted on that, alright? Your brothers and sisters have all gone to bed. Do you want to say hi?"

"Oh, no. Don't wake them up. I'll record a special video later or tomorrow for them." Her mother nodded.

"Okay, don't sleep too late. Goodnight!"

"Goodnight, mom." The call ended, returning to Judy's home screen. She sighed.

Nick studied her face. He spoke. "So… pre-winter preparation?"

"Yeah, it's a tradition in the Burrows. We throw a celebration using what's leftover that our food storage for the winter can't hold, then we prepare for the winter. There's a fair as well. Lots of fun. You should come!"

"I don't know." Nick rubbed his head. "Your parents don't seem to be the type to be quite enthusiastic about me coming along."

Judy dismissed the thought with a wave. "Nah, don't worry. They'll live. After all, I can't just leave you here alone while I go back and celebrate, can I?"

Nick smiled warmly. "No, I suppose you can't."

"Great! Now let's finish the movie."

They resumed from where they had left off. The fight ensued. Hiro's team stopped Baymax's brutal rampage, and Callagham managed to escape. Nick felt his heartstrings being tugged as Hiro watched a recording of his brother's video logs projected onto Baymax's chest. He felt a wet sensation and noticed that Judy was quietly sobbing into his tail. He pulled her close into a one arm hug. She stiffened for a brief moment, then relaxed as she leaned into his side. They continued watching until the final battle. Nick was so absorbed into the fighting sequence. When he noticed that Judy wasn't making a sound, he looked down at her.

The bunny was fast asleep. Her tiredness had taken over and lulled her into slumber. Not even the explosions and intense action was enough to keep her awake. Nick turned down the volume, picked her up and brought her to the guest room. It would be her room in two weeks.

The room had once belonged to his sister, but as time passed he turned it into a storage area for his family heirlooms. Since Judy started sleeping over at night, he had had to make sure the place wasn't too dusty for her sensitive nose. After she moves in, all his stuff would have to be stored in Finnick's old room, which he hadn't touched since he left.

Nick cradled the sleeping bunny like he would a child. Judy looked absolutely adorable when she was asleep. Her nose twitched occasionally, and she was still latched onto his tail. He set her down on her bed as gently as possible and removed his tail. Judy began feeling about for something to hug the second her embrace was emptied. Nick passed the bolster and she snuggled it comfortably.

Covering her small frame with the blanket, he couldn't help but smile. He then planted a soft kiss on her forehead before leaving the room, shutting the door lightly behind him.

Yeah, it definitely wouldn't be bad to have someone to live with him again after all.

He was starting to think that these sleepovers weren't so unintended after all.

A/N: I'm not that good at writing fluff. Is this considered fluff? It's very nice friendship fluff.

Anyway for those wondering, Nick and Judy's relationship is one of those will they won't they friendships. They're already past the normal best friends stage, though whether they're a couple or not is up to you to read into.

Please leave a review! See you (hopefully) soon.