A/N: STOP. Before you read this piece, please follow these instructions. This is an emotional experiment of mine. Tissues may be required.

This piece is tied heavily to the song "Fix You" by Coldplay, using the lyrics as a structure to form the narrative. Before you read further, take a few minutes to hop on Youtube and listen to the song (even if you've heard the song before, it helps to have it fresh in your mind). Intently listen and hear the music, the words, the rhythm, and the theme. Then read this piece with that in mind. After you're done reading, I urge you to listen to the song again, this time with the context of the narrative in mind. This will create a "mental music video" for you, and should dramatically enhance your experience. Please let me know in the reviews if this made a difference in how you understood and appreciated this piece.

Without further ado, please enjoy.

Fix You

Silence ruled the air. Laying on his back, Nick simply stared at the ceiling of his apartment, unmoving except for his long breaths. He had removed his black tie and coat, tossing them in the corner. His face displayed no emotions, a completely blank mask hiding him from the entire world. But inwardly…that couldn't be further from the truth. A boiling mixture of anger, pain, sorrow, and loss consumed his heart, but still he stared ahead. The emotions pounded against their prison, threatening to undo him if not released. He was tired.

When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse…

He slowly sat up in his bed, seeing his now broken mirror. He looked at his dresser and desk. The objects on them were strewn about, broken and in disarray from his earlier actions. He didn't care at the moment, there was currently no room for regret in his heart. His mind, exhausted from the day, wandered back to the morning. The image of the casket was still fresh in his mind. At first, he thought he had entered the wrong room at the funeral home, since it was nearly empty other than himself and an attendant. Slowly, he had realized the truth. He was the only one she had.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he lowered his face into his paws, the mask breaking along with the emotional dam he could no longer sustain. His tears began to fall, he felt his body and heart begin to pour out his pent up emotions. She was all he had.

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse...

The memories of the day played through his mind. The image of the casket came to him again, but he wasn't alone anymore. As he stood, stoic as possible, staring at his loss, a smaller gray paw had reached up to take his. He looked to see Judy, wearing a black dress and shawl, looking up to his face.

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try
To fix you.

Judy had held his paw tightly, joining him in silence as the two looked on. She knew that no words could truly help at the moment, choosing instead simply to stand by Nick's side. Her heart ached for him as she looked past his façade of strength and saw his pain. She looked at the casket, seeing a beautiful picture sitting next to it, framed ornately in gold. Next to it was a written memoriam.

"Vivian Wilde, loving mother."

When you're high above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try, then you'll never know
How much you're worth…

Vivian's life was well lived. She had been nothing but loving to those in her life, even those who treated her poorly. Nick knew that all too well. For years he had rebelled against her and against society as a whole. He hated how foxes were treated, so he became what they accused him of being. However, never once had his mother ever stopped loving him. She had been so proud of what Nick was able to finally become. Proud that he was finally able to fulfill what she always knew he could be.

Their time was so short. The disease had ravaged her so quickly. Nick regretted spending so much time away from her over the years. She hadn't told him she was sick, never showed any signs of illness. The whole time Nick was in the Academy, she cheered for him. She stayed as strong as she could so he wouldn't worry. After Nick graduated and joined the force, she started fading quickly. It was as if she had just been waiting for him to save himself before she could finally let go. She wanted to see him move on, to see him finally become what she always dreamed and prayed he would be.

Nick had always feared being truly alone. He had always pushed everyone out of his life, including his mother, but he always knew she was there. Even at his most belligerent, she was there. When he was hurt, when he was lost, she was there, always believing in him. And now, she was gone.

The realization hit him hard when he stood before the casket, staring at what amounted to his entire life lying unmoving before him. The small gray paw in his squeezed tighter as his emotions began to finally display on his face. He looked to Judy again, seeing the concern and compassion in her eyes. He hated looking weak. He hated showing his pain. Judy knew the chinks in his armor too well.

She saw his pain, wanting to say so much to him but not knowing the words to use. To let him know she was here, she was with him. She wanted him to know she felt his pain, and wanted to help him heal.

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try
To fix you.

Being able to hide his emotions had served Nick well for most of his life, but it wasn't a skill he learned for the benefit of his interactions with others. His true reasoning for hiding his emotions was so he wouldn't have to deal with them himself. Unable to control the flood coming now, Nick did the only thing he knew how to. He shook the smaller paw out of his own and turned, walking out of the funeral home. Judy's voice behind him didn't even register as he hit the door and moved to the street, breaking into a run to try to escape the sorrow filling his heart.

Reaching his home, he quickly shoved the door of his apartment open, entering and slamming it behind him. His chest was tight, his heart beating quickly from his rushed escape. He leaned his paws onto his dresser, slowly raising his eyes to meet his reflection in the mirror. Disgusted by what he saw, he snarled and slammed his fist into the mirror, breaking it. Letting out a howl, he began thrashing his paws at anything in reach, sending books, papers, and clothing all over the room. He reached to grab a small vase from his desk, throwing it to the wall where it shattered. His heart was beating out of his chest, his vision blurring from his own rage and agony. He finally looked back to his own reflection in the broken mirror, seeing his eyes wide with pain. He attempted to calm himself, to push his emotions back down into the depths of his heart once more. He fell backward to his bed, staring up at the ceiling.

Judy ran up the stairs to Nick's apartment, knowing only that she needed to find him. She was unsure of what she could do, but she had to try to be there for him. She found his door unlocked, pushing it open and praying she would find him there and that he wouldn't turn away from her again.

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I…

When Judy finally walked into his bedroom, Nick was sitting on the edge of his bed, sobbing uncontrollably. Her own eyes filled with tears as she moved to him, putting her arms around him as he leaned his head onto her chest. To her surprise, his arms reached up and wrapped around her, pulling her closer. Her tears flowed freely, matching his as he shook from his sobs. All she could do was hold him. They cried together for what felt like an eternity, with no words being necessary between them. Finally feeling his tears slowing down, Nick pulled back, looking up until their misty eyes met. A thousand things could be said between them, but none of them were needed. Her violet eyes said it all. She was here. She was with him. He cupped her face with his paw, slowly wiping a tear from her cheek. Slowly, she pulled him closer into a tight hug, letting him rest his head on her shoulder.

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I…

Together, they laid on the bed, his arms holding her tight against himself with his head on her shoulder. She gently stroked his ears as he breathed slowly, continuing to process his emotions. She leaned her head down, placing a chaste kiss on his forehead before continuing to stroke his fur. It communicated volumes to Nick. He was loved. He wouldn't have to fight the storm by himself.

And…

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try
To fix you.

…Nick would never have to be alone.