I hated him.

When I first met him, when he was being rejected and insulted by that elephant, I thought he was just a wonderful father who was being prejudiced for being what he was. I knew what it was like, to be treated like something small and insignificant because of my species. That's why I helped him, stood up for him, because I thought I was doing the right thing. Because I thought I'd found proof that my parents were wrong about foxes being nothing but despicable, untrustworthy creatures.

Then he dropped the façade, and my parents were proven right.

He truly was an awful, shifty creature. He insulted me, told me I would never be a real cop, tried to shatter my dreams and leave them scattered in my aching mind. And the worst part, was for a while, I actually thought he was right.

From the moment I stepped into the station, I felt the stares of other officers. I heard their scoffs and chuckles, as they looked at the tiny little bunny who was actually trying to be a big time cop. Even my parents, god that phone call I got on after my first day, they had no trouble downsizing my dreams and sharing in that fox's belief that I wasn't a real cop. It hurt so much. What parents do that? Crush their daughters dreams and tell her she's nothing. I told myself that they were just 'old-fashioned', didn't live to become something other than what they were told they were. Didn't understand that you could be what you wanted to be.

But I couldn't kill the thought that they were right.

When I got the Otterton case, I was overjoyed-sure I was putting my entire career on the line and no officer was going to help me-but it didn't matter. I finally had the chance to prove myself, and I wasn't going to let it slip by.

Then my lead, my only lead, led me back to him.

Oh God, the look on his face was priceless. The shock, the fear, the disbelief. I relished on the fact that he, one of the creatures thought to be the most cunning, had been tricked by me, one of the creatures thought to be the most idiotic. I had him where I wanted him, and I was gonna enjoy dragging him through the whole case.

Or…so I thought.

Turns out that fox was hell-bent on wasting every minute I had to solve this case. And he was loving it. He was destroying my dream and laughing about it. Every second I spent with him, I felt my hatred for him grow and grow. The mere sight of him was beginning to disgust me. He was like everything I had been told his kind were times ten! Untrustworthy + Deceitful + Cruel = FOX!

So why did I save him?

Because deep down, I never wanted him dead. There were parts of him I was growing to admire: his intelligence, his wit, his Charm-Okay! I think I've said enough. The minute that thought crept into my mind, I knew I was going crazy. This fox was anything but charming, he'd done nothing but slow me down and made me feel the prejudice towards his kind that I'd never wished to feel.

But he didn't deserve to die.

And I didn't deserve his help.

When Bogo looked down at me. Disregarding me, insulting me, demanding my badge. It was…awful. I had nothing to back up my true statements, and that left Bogo free to assume what he wished. Nick could have left me, let me be fired, go back to his life of making $200 a day. I had done nothing but gotten him in danger after all.

But he helped me.

He stood up to Bogo, an animal three times his size, and scolded them. Saying the words, I'd kept hidden away, how they'd set up the whole case in their favour just so they wouldn't have a bunny on their perfect team. Then he called me an Officer and…genuinely smiled at me.

That's when he told me his story.

And my hatred was replaced with love.

I don't know what it was. Maybe it was because of how vulnerable he looked, pouring his secrets-his heart-out to me. Maybe it was because he was the only one who had stood up for my dream since I'd moved to that damn city. Or maybe I'd always felt it. Maybe I'd always noticed how his gorgeous red fur seemed to glow like a fire, in the rays of the sun. How his eyes shone like emeralds in the moonlight. How his smile made me feel nauseous-in a good way-and always got me smiling back.

Whatever it was, I felt connected with Nick, I wanted him near me every minute of my life. I wanted him by my side, even after the case was over.

That's why I offered him the job. The look on his face was amazing, the shock, the joy, the trust. I was so happy, I wanted him-needed him- by me. He wasn't just another animal.

He was my friend.

…A friend I was scared of.

It disgusts me when I think back to what I said at the press conference. Why did I say it? I had no reason to distrust predators…but, deep down, I was still terrified of them. Prey instincts, I guess.

His face, God, it hurt me. The joy was replaced by rage, the trust gone, with betrayal instead taking place. The shock was still there, the shock of me hurting him like that. I should have kept my mouth shut, everything I said just burned his fury even more. And when I reached for that damn repellent, the look of disgust on his face nearly brought me to tears.

And I deserved it all.

I had destroyed the city. Hatred ran amok in the streets, prey turning against predator in fits of hateful assumptions, caused by my words. But animals still passed me off as a hero, oblivious to the heartache and discord I had caused for the city. I should have been happy, I finally was seen as a real cop. But…now I didn't want it so much, not at the cause of so much suffering.

But what killed me most, was how I'd never be able to tell Nick I was sorry. I could never tell him I wanted him in my life. I would never see his smile, hear his laugh, hold him close.

Even as I got on the train to leave the city, I still imagined Nick behind me, telling me not to go. But when I turned I didn't see the fox I cared so much for, only the chaos in the city I had created.

Then I finally found out about the night howlers, and I rushed back to right my wrongs. But I still needed him, so I tracked down Finnick and he immediately told me where Nick was. After hours of calling out his name, I came to that bridge. The bridge where underneath his beautiful face was visible. I can never explain the joy that came over me when I saw him, it was like fireworks exploding inside my gut painting me with their glorious colours.

But he walked away, not even looking me in the eye.

What did I expect. I did deserve it.

I burst out sobbing, begging, apologising. I told him how much I needed him, how he was right about how I was just a dumb bunny, how I had betrayed him and killed our friendship. Everything I had kept bottled inside for the past few days…well except for one thing.

I never told him how much I loved him.

Before I could sob that out, I was interrupted by my own voice, playing over and over again. Then he turned round with that smile, I had fallen in love with, on his face and I knew I was forgiven. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing as I embraced him, and happily sobbed into his chest. He wrapped his arms round me, holding me close to the warmth of his body. A warmth almost as powerful as the warmth in my heart. I finally had him back. I had my best friend by my side again.

At the museum, when he advanced on me in his savage pretend, I didn't once feel scared. I trusted him, and I only had to look into his eyes, his beautiful eyes, to know that I was in no danger. When he softly clamped his jaws on my throat, I didn't feel fear-I was far too busy trying to stop myself from blissfully moaning for that.

Now everything is what I wanted, what it needs to be. I'm accepted as an officer, with kids even stopping me in the street for an autograph. The city is at peace again, predator and prey living among each other peacefully. And best of all…

I have the one I love as my partner.

Every day I am able to hear his cocky jokes, see his sly smile, feel his arms around my shoulder. I love him, God I love him. He was the one who stuck with me until the very end-even though he was forced at the Beginning-He was the one believed that I could prove myself as more than just a bunny. I am so lucky to have him in my life.

Thank you for pushing me to the end, Nicholas Wilde.

Thank you for helping me show the world we were something better.

Thank you for being in my life.

Thank you, Nick.

Thank you.

Ah, I never really planned on making a second chapter to this story. But luckily Monkey D. Conan gave me a good idea on how to continue. So Thank you very much, good sir. This Chapter is dedicated to you.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Zootopia or its characters. (Wish I did, though)