Chapter 1

"Wow, at least this place isn't a total shithole" Nick sighed, looking around the town.

"I think it's nice" Ellis added cheerily. "Better than what we've been through. At least we get a house together now."

"We were already living together" Nick said, looking at Ellis perplexedly.

"I know, but now we get to live together for real. Y'know?"

Nick just nodded. "Yeah, I get it."

"An' what's so nice is we ain't gon' be separated from Ro an' Coach."

The four survivors had decided that they would stick together until they felt that their lives were back on track. Also Ellis and Ro were practically inseparable best friends and Nick wasn't going to disagree with having people he knew around. They were practically family now.

"So, which one was ours?" Ellis asked, looking at the letter that Nick had been given.

Nick looked at the paper. He hadn't really paid attention to it, just the key. "Shit El."

"What? We in the wrong-?"

"I just realised that they have given us an apartment."

"Cool" Ellis said. "I ain't never lived in an apartment before."

Nick just sighed, relieved that Ellis didn't care whether it was a house or an apartment that they settled in. "Glad you don't mind."

"As long as I'm with you I'm fine" Ellis smiled.

Nick smiled back. Damn the hick was just too adorable for his own good.

"What a touching moment" Ro chuckled, smiling. "Where are you guys holed up?"

"Ro!" Ellis exclaimed, hugging her.

"We have an apartment-"

"Jus' there!" Ellis pointed, realising they were just outside of the address on the paper.

"I'm there too!" Ro exclaimed, feeling excited to be so close to friends. "Studio apartment on the fourth floor."

Nick looked down at the paper again. "We are in a two bedroom apartment. Third floor."

"Two bedroom?" Ellis enquired. "We should buy a pet-"

"Not so fast kid."

Ellis rolled his eyes.

Ro chuckled. "Give it a few weeks. You should settle in first before you go and buy a pet."

"True" Ellis agreed.

Nick mouthed a quick "thanks" to Rochelle who just nodded. Then Nick paused. "Wait… are you implying… that since we have two bedrooms that the pet would get the whole second one?"

"Not necessarily" Ellis quickly replied.

Ro burst into laughter. "That is exactly what he meant Nick" she grinned.

"Ro!" Ellis whined.

"Anyway, I don't want a pet."

Ellis sighed. "Or kids. Or a job. Or commitment-"

"Hey! I am one hundred percent committed to you. I love you El. And I have a job lined up already, just as you do. But you are right about one thing. I don't want kids."

Ellis frowned. "You will change your mind."

"Ellis, I am forty next year. I am not changing my mind."

Ellis just smiled, although Ro could see a small flicker of hurt in his eyes.

"Why don't you adopt a child?" Ro suggested. "I mean, there are plenty of kids who need homes after the green flu. Coach knows heaps of kids who don't have parents who attend football-"

Nick had had enough. "Sorry, I don't really want to talk about kids. In fact I want to see this so called 'furnished' apartment that Ellis and I have been so lovingly given."

Ro nodded. "You and me both. I will see you guys later. How about we go across to the bar over there for dinner tonight? What do you say six thirty?"

"Sounds great Ro!" Ellis grinned.

"Good. See you guys there. If Coach isn't training with the kids I will get him to come along."

"It will be like the good ol' days but with less zombies" Ellis said quietly, which surprised Ro an' Nick.

"Yeah" smiled Ro.

"And better food, hopefully" Nick added. "Let's go see our place. See you tonight Ro."

"Ok, bye now." She walked across to the bar, Ellis supposed she was going to see about getting a booking.

Ellis looked at Nick. "Sorry for bringin' up the kids thing again."

Nick frowned. "No, it's ok. Sorry… that I am less than enthusiastic about it."

"Does that mean we can get a fish at least?"

"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves here."

Ellis chuckled as they walked inside the building. The foyer area was plain except for the letter boxes on the wall. Ellis had a look and there was his and Nick's name on theirs. He smiled and followed Nick to the elevator.

Nick pressed the button for level three and the doors closed.

"I hope it's real nice in here" Ellis said.

"I bet it isn't" Nick grumbled.

Ellis chuckled. "Well, we will soon be able to make it ours."

Nick nodded.

The doors opened, revealing only three apartments on the third floor.

"This one here" said Nick, walking to the one on the left.

Ellis followed him over and Nick unlocked the door. Ellis could tell Nick was holding his breath. They were surprised with what they were greeted by.

The paint was a pleasant off white, wooden floorboards and plantation shutters adorned the windows. There was basic furnishings in the room, which comprised of the kitchen, dining and living areas. Ellis looked at the charcoal couch, which would have looked new if it wasn't for some of the material hanging off the back. The dining table and chairs looked brand new however.

"Not bad" Nick said, feeling pleasantly surprised.

Ellis nodded. "Agreed." He walked into the bedroom, curious as to what was in there. A queen bed without sheets, a small walk in wardrobe and the bedside tables that didn't quite match the bed. "It's perfect" he murmured.

He felt Nick's arms around his waist, head resting on his shoulder. "Not too bad hey kid?"

"Not bad at all" he agreed, smiling.

"But we don't have sheets. That is weird. We can't christen the bed 'til there are sheets."

Ellis chuckled. "I will see if I can find some in here." He looked in the wall in wardrobe to find nothing, so he ventured into the second bedroom, which was totally empty, much to his surprise. He left the room and walked into the bathroom, which also had a laundry, but no bath towels. "Okay Nick, there ain't much of anythin' in here!" he called out.

The ex-conman sighed. "Really? I can't be bothered going anywhere to buy shit."

"Neither. How about we just do it tomorrow? Ro an' Coach have already been here a week. They might know where some good shops are in town."

Nick nodded. "Good thinking El."

...

"What are you wearin' Nick?"

"Like you even have to ask."

"Never mind then."

"What are you wearing? Ah, that's right, jeans, t-shirt and work boots."

"Got a problem with that?"

"Nope."

"Well sorry I look stupid in a suit."

"You don't though. Remember that time when you put on mine?"

"I remember bein' real uncomfortable if that counts."

He chuckled and kissed his younger lovers neck. He buttoned up his shirt and looked at Ellis. He wolf whistled jokingly as Ellis bent over to put his work boots on.

"Go away Nick" he grumbled.

Nick chuckled. "But Ellis-"

Ellis stood back up. "I was jus' kiddin'. Let's go. Don't forget the key."

"Don't you have it?"

"No. Why would I have it?"

"Fuck." He walked into the kitchen and looked on the bench, the first place he would have thought to put the key.

Ellis looked on the coffee table, the bookshelf and the dining table. "Can't believe it. One day an' you lost the key Nick."

"Hey, it's your key too!"

Ellis chuckled and sat down on the lounge. "Ow!" he exclaimed, standing up to realise he had sat on the key. "'ey Nick.

"What?" said the slightly flustered older man.

"Found it. When you sat on this lounge earlier musta fell out ya pocket."

Nick sighed. "I'm a fuckin' idiot."

"You're jus' showin' your age" Ellis teased.

Nick smacked his ass lightly. "Cut it out El."

"Nah."

"God you're getting awfully cheeky."

"Am not."

"Ugh, whatever. Now, we ready?"

"Yes."

They walked out of the apartment.

"Well, thanks for finding the key El."

"All good Nick."

He kissed Ellis' cheek. "You look great." He snaked his arm around his Ellis' waist.

"Thanks Nick. So do you."

"Thanks." His hand made its way down from Ellis' waist to his ass where he squeezed it lightly.

Ellis blushed and said nothing as they got in the elevator.

Nick stood facing him, looking at the reflection of Ellis' ass in the mirrored walls. He smiled and nodded. "Shit you're beautiful El."

"Nick-"

The door opened to reveal another couple who practically pushed past Nick and Ellis to get in.

"They are going to fuck" Nick said as soon as the elevator doors had closed behind them.

"Gathered that much. Hey, how convenient is it that there is a real nice place across the road from us."

"Agreed. The bar in there is where I have my job lined up, so don't get too drunk" he teased.

"I hold my alcohol well."

"That is true."

They walked inside and saw Rochelle who was sitting at the bar.

"Ro!" grinned Ellis.

"El, Nick, hey" she smiled, hugging Ellis, nodding at Nick. "Coach will be here, he is just running late."

"Well, I doubt he is 'running' at all but whatever."

"God you're an ass Nick."

Nick just shrugged. He sat the bar and Ellis sat between Ro and him.

The bar man walked over and looked at Nick. "You must be Nicolas, yeah?"

"That's right."

"Well, I'm looking forward to bein' your co-worker."

"Awesome, I will have whiskey on the rocks and whatever beer you've got in a bottle."

Ellis smiled. "Thanks."

"You keep the fuckin' bottle I will be mad."

"I won't keep it I promise."

"Sorry I'm late guys."

"Hey Coach!" grinned Ellis.

"How you been son?"

"Good."

He looked at Nick. "Hey Nick."

"Hi Coach. Let's get food, Ellis and I are starving."

Ellis nodded as Coach and Ro greeted each other.

"Man, I want a burger and fries and more beer" Ellis decided, taking a sip of the beer he had.

Nick chuckled and picked up his drink.

Coach laughed. "Well, boy, you're I'm luck. The burgers 'ere are great."

"Course you'd know" Nick smirked.

"Shut up Nick."

Nick just shrugged. "Do they have table service here?"

"Sometimes you get a waitress, sometimes you don't."

"What? That is ridiculous."

"We came here in our first night here and we had a waiters, but then we came back… was it lunch the other day? And there wasn't one. We ordered at the counter."

"Talk about inconvenient" Nick groaned.

"I can think of worse things."

"Same. But seriously."

Ellis chuckled. "I's all good Nick. I'd go order for ya if they ain't got no waitresses."

"So, you will be my waiter huh?" he teased.

"If I have to wear a suit then no."

Ro laughed.

Coach just shook his head. "Y'all haven't changed."

Ro smiled. "They are still clowns."

"I was never a clown" Nick grouched.

Ellis chuckled.

"What?"

"Nothin' Hun" he smiled.

"At least you two are still happy in love" Ro smiled.

"You need to find someone Ro" said Ellis earnestly. "You will feel better for it."

She laughed. "Oh Sweetie, I don't have time for that sort of thing."

Ellis raised a brow.

"Don't give me the 'Nick look'." She looked at Nick. "You stop giving me the 'Nick look' too, Nick."

Nick shrugged. "Saying you don't have time for a relationship is lame Ro."

"It is" Ellis agreed.

Coach just shrugged. "Don't bring me into this shit."

"Okay."

"Anyway, why are you saying I need to find someone?" Ro asked.

"Well, bein' in love is nice, Ro."

She sighed. "Yeah… it is."

"Hell, if I can find someone and settle down, I am most definitely sure you can" Nick added.

"Well, how about we talk about Coach's love life?" Ro sighed, sick of the happy couple ruining her mood.

"Ro, you know I am a happily married man."

"When do we get to meet her?"

"When you all stop bein' idiots. Hell, I don't know."

"Don't she live elsewhere?" Ellis asked, confused.

"She will be here next month. She is gonna bring the family."

"You got kids?" Nick asked.

"Only the twenty odd I train."

Nick nodded. "Okay."

Ellis smiled. "Nick and me will have kids one day" he joked.

Ro laughed at the expression on Nick's face.

"I'm jokin' Nick" Ellis grinned.

Nick sighed. "I'm not worried. The only way you will be having kids is if you sleep with someone else."

"Don't be such a grump Nick" said Ro, frowning.

Ellis looked at Nick. "Well, if it makes ya feel any better Nick I don't wanna sleep with no one but you."

Nick smiled. "I know."

Ellis smiled. "Hell, that's what we needed to ask."

"What?"

Ellis looked at Ro. "Best place to buy sheets and towels."

"There is a store down the street from here. Can't remember the name if it."

Coach nodded in agreement. "'bout two blocks down."

"Cool. We will go there in the morning."

Nick nodded.

Soon after a waitress came by and took everybody order.

"You sure you don' want a burger Nick?"

"Positive El."

"Okay." He nodded at the waitress. "That's it, thanks."

"Ok. Two burgers with fries, and two salads, one with chicken, one with salmon?"

"Sounds good to me" said Nick.

"Hm-mm" Coach agreed.

"Excellent. Thanks guys." She turned and walked back to the kitchen.

Nick looked quickly at her ass before looking back at the group.

Ro glared at him. "She is way too young for you Nick."

"What?"

"You looked at her ass."

"Oh god Ro, don't be a drama queen. Her ass was so fat and looked awful in those yoga pants. How could I not stop staring?"

Ro rolled her eyes. "Gay."

"How observant."

"Seriously, I thought you were checking her out. Your face is lecherous."

"Ellis, tell your sister to be nice."

Ellis and Ro both chucked.

Coach shook his head. "Y'all are immature."

"I didn't start this shit" said Nick defensively.

"Nicolas, I don't care if you did or did not. You're still immature."

"Whatever."

Ellis chuckled. "This is why you're immature."

"Ellis, speak for yourself babe."

"What's the occasion?"

"What?"

"Callin' me pet names. I like it Nick."

"You aren't ever gettin' a pet name again."

"Aww Nick."

"Sick o' both o' y'alls shit" Coach sighed. "Too old for this shit."

"Naw, not yet Coach."

"You have no idea Ellis."

Nick rolled his eyes. "And you think I'm a drama queen."

"You are" said Ro matter-of-factly.

"Pfft, as if."

"You are" said Ellis.

"Whatever. You want another dri-"

"Please" smiled Ro. "A rum and coke."

"I was actually only asking Ellis, hope that's okay with you."

She raised a brow. "I will give you the money to buy me a drink you lazy sack of-"

"Aw, be nice Ro" said Ellis.

"Your partner is a jackass."

"He ain't that bad" Ellis smiled.

"Anyway" Nick said, ignoring Ro. "You want another drink El?"

"Jus' another beer."

"Done." He walked over to the bar.

"That asshole isn't gonna buy me a drink, is he?"

"Probably not" said Coach. "He probably decided against it when you called him a jackass" he decided.

"He is. Hell, Ellis, I have no idea how you stand him."

"Aw, he ain't like that 'round me."

"You wouldn't sleep with him if he was like that to you."

"That is probably true" Ellis agreed.

Coach, who still wasn't totally comfortable with the idea of the two of them screwing, looked away.

Ellis never asked him about it, he decided he didn't want to make Coach feel more uncomfortable than he already was about it.

Nick walked back over with a tray. "Okay, rum and coke" he passed it to Ro, who looked surprised, but thanked him. "Orange soda. No ice." He put it in front of Coach whose eyes lit up. "And a shitty beer."

"Screw you Nick."

"Later babe" he chuckled, passing it to his lover.

Ro rolled her eyes. "You're an ass, but thanks for the drink."

"You're welcome."

"Thanks Nick" Coach grinned. "Remembering my favourite drink."

"Not hard when I heard it every other day when we travelled together."

Ro chuckled. "I think he said it once Nick."

Nick shrugged. He sat down with his own drink.

Ellis leaned over. "By the way thanks Nick."

"You're welcome El."

The waitress came back over with two of the meals. "Salad with salmon?"

"Thanks" said Ro, taking the plate from the waitress.

"And one with chicken?"

"Here. Thanks."

She set it in front of Nick and placed the burger in front of Ellis.

"You're gonna have to wait Coach, hope you won't starve" Nick said, starting to eat.

Ellis rolled his eyes. "That's jus' rude Nick."

He ignored him and continued eating.

Within the next minute Coach's meal had been brought out and he took no time at all to start eating.

"I am really glad that we are all here together" Ro said after minutes of silence. "I don't… I don't think I would have likes starting all over again without you guys."

Ellis nodded. "Same 'ere Ro. We should be so grateful that we are all here together. I mean, we kicked so much ass."

Ro chuckled. "We did El, we did."

Coach nodded. "Well, it is great that we are all here. I am proud o' all o' y'all."

"We are proud of you for gettin' us here" said Ellis.

Nick nodded in agreement and finished his salad, leaving the overcooked chicken on the plate.

"Don't like it?" asked Ro.

"Overcooked. It's like rubber."

Ro poked it and grimaced. "Too bad. My salmon is perfect."

"Hm."

Ellis offered Nick a bite of his burger, which Nick accepted.

"Not bad" he decided.

Ellis grinned. "You want the rest?"

"Not that hungry."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure."

Ellis shrugged. "Suit yourself."

"If I eat any more of that I'll have a heart attack."

"Nah. Have some fries then."

"I'm fine El."

"Okay."

Coach chuckled. "Stubborn."

"Sorry I don't get enjoyment from being a fatass."

Coach glared at him. "I don't like your attitude Nick."

"As usual."

Ellis sighed. "Y'know Nick, imagine how fun an evenin' out'd be if ya didn't go fightin' with everyone."

"Hey! I wasn't fighting with anyone."

Ro snickered. "You're an idiot."

"What?"

Coach sighed. "Well, ladies, I am gon' head off. Thanks for the company."

"Bye Coach" said Ro.

"See you soon Little Sister."

She smiled. "I will fix yours up."

"Naw, I'll get yours."

"Coach-"

He left enough money for both the meals and a tip. "We should do this again guys."

"Definitely" Ellis agreed.

Nick smiled and held Ellis' hand.

Ro smiled. "We will Coach. I'll shout you next time."

"We'll see." He nodded a final goodbye and walked out.

"We should head off too" Ellis yawned. "All that eatin' is makin' me sleepy."

Nick chuckled. "Okay, let's go then."

Ellis nodded. "Okay."

They stood up, Ro also. "Thanks for buying me that drink."

"No problems. It was nice to see you all again."

She nodded. "Likewise. See you El."

"See you Ro."

Nick left money on the table and Ellis threw in some bills for a tip.

"You walkin' back too Ro?"

"I think I will have another drink."

"Okay. I will see you 'round."

"Bye Sweetie."

He waved one last time before Nick practically dragged him out. "Takes you forever to say goodbye" he grumbled.

"Sorry Nick."

"All good. I am tired too though."

"So-"

"Don't be sorry. Jeez Ellis. Let's just go home."

Ellis nodded, yawning. "Man I'm tired."

Nick held his hand and they walked back to the apartment.

Ellis fell asleep straight away, which wasn't unusual, regardless of how uncomfortable he was. Nick found it ridiculously uncomfortable without a pillow, and regretted not just going to buy everything that day.

He sighed and curled up next to Ellis. Couldn't be too bad. He closed his heavy eyelids, sleep finally finding him.