Nothing to fear

Chapter 9

The trip to Bunnyburrow was pleasant and Nick was happy that he'd discovered that his darling wife was able to handle the clutch and gear stick of the little car like a pro. if he hadn't given in and let Judy drive they would have wrecked as the fox was completely mesmerized by the deep, cool, green forests outside of Zootopia, Nick never having been outside of the city. The top was down and as they took the little winding road out of the city Judy's husband couldn't help but lift his nose into the wind that rushed past, drinking in scents and sights with equal wonder. Even as she grinned at Nick's reactions, the bunny knew that she' had the same expression on her own face the first time she' stepped off the train at Savannah Central Station.

It was understandable when someone experienced something for the first time. As she glanced again at her husband it gave Judy an idea what her fox must have been like before the Junior Ranger Scout incident and before he gave in to how society saw foxes. He looked almost like a kit, his green eyes taking on almost the same shade as the woods they passed through, his muzzle partially open in a smile of complete wonder...

Like so many things about Nick it caused the bunny's chest to tighten in a swell of sudden emotion. He'd hidden it, but Nick still had a sense of wonder in him that was so completely innocent and precious. Judy smiled happily as she turned back to the road, mentally adding yet another item on the list of 'Things I love about my Husband!', her paw lifting from the shifter to rest on his with the sudden urge to be in contact with him.

It was funny in a way. They'd only known each other for over a year, and yet it was as if they'd been made for each other. When she'd first approached him about the missing mammals that led to the Night Howler conspiracy, she'd thought Nick was a smug, selfish jerk. And he had been, but it had all been an sham, a defense. He had layers of walls, as tough and tenacious as any of the brambles she'd had to clear out of the fields on her family's farm. And sometimes, as she got through them they were just as painful. Then she finally got through only to find that Nick was so much more than what he let show. He was a little broken, but what mammal wasn't? He didn't let it stop him, though. He persevered, thriving beyond anything Judy could've expected because someone had shown a little faith and belief in him.

Nick became the best friend she'd ever known, quick with a paw to help her, a smile and laugh to cheer her up, and a shoulder and gentle support when Judy couldn't hold the tears back anymore. She hadn't realized just how much she relied on Nick until he went away to the Academy, becoming a police officer because he not only wanted to, knowing that he could show the world he was more than what it thought of him, but because Judy had asked him! That day at his graduation from the Academy had been incredible, and she'd been so happy to have her friend back, even more thrilled when he became her partner.

Then somewhere along the line he became so much more to her. Just shy of being a full nine months of friendship then fellow police officers he'd taken the hit from the shotgun. It had been birdshot and more of an irritation than anything else, but Judy had nearly had a full blown panic attack. The mere notion of losing Nick had tore the bunny up worse than anything she'd ever dealt with, so much so that on her mad dash to the hospital she'd had to pull over to get physically sick. When she finally got to the fox, her relief at seeing Nick alive, albeit stoned out of his silly fox mind, was so great that she had wanted to faint.

Then there was later that night, of getting him home to his new apartment. Judy knew where he lived after he moved, but she'd never been inside. Like Nick himself, the apartment had been a surprise, a glimpse into someone that was more complex, far more deep and deeply feeling than he showed to others. She found his paintings and drawings, including the ones he'd done of her. It had been frightening at first until he told her why. His years on the streets had exposed him to things that gave him the occasional nightmare and when they hit he wanted his best friend for a little comfort, just like any other mammal. He was too sweet to actually call her, so he did what he could so that Judy was there when he needed a friendly face.