"Rigby...Rigby wake up."

The house smelled of smoke. A familiar smell to those that lived in this section of the city. Since the bombs fell clean air was a luxury that few could afford.

"Come on dude, Muscleman and Fives need our help. They said they found a stash of food."

Mordecai was trying to wake up Rigby. A feat that no one has ever been able to complete the first time. But day in and day out Mordecai tried his best.

Rigby slowly rose up from the covers blushing. He knew that Mordecai was right. Ever since the bombs fell, he's had nightmares. Oddly enough he didn't have any last night. He slept very peaceful.

"There we go." sadi Mordecai with a sigh of relief. "Now, we have...to...um...Rigby?"

"Hm?"

"Why aren't you wearing any pants?" asked Mordecai, looking away, trying not to blush.

Rigby knew he was caught, but he didn't want to explain himself. He always had feeling for Mordecai, but he never wanted him to find out. If he were to be rejected then he would lose a friend and the one he cares for more than any other. So he had to come up with a believable excuse.

"I...Uh...The house...It got hot in here last night." said Rigby, nervously.

"Right...well in any case, get some pants on so we can get something to eat." said Mordecai, leaving the room.

"End of the world and I still cant tell him how I feel! I'm so helpless!"

Right fell back into his pillow and stared into the patchwork ceiling Muscleman had set up a few weeks ago. It was being held together with bricks, an ridiculous amount of duct tape, and positive thoughts.

"Lets go help him out." said Rigby getting out of bed, and getting dressed. "Sigh...Mordy..."

Rigby went downstairs and found his friends there. They were gathered around the living room and were talking about a strategy in which to get the stash of food Muscleman was talking about.

"Yawn...morning everyone." said Rigby, pretending to still be half awake.

"More like afternoon." said Muscleman.

Muscleman had become much more down to earth ever since he lost Starla. Her death hit him so hard that he no longer partied or stayed up all night with Five's. He became very private and even more quiet.

"Rigby, Muscleman was telling us how we are gonna get some more food." said Mordecai.

Muscleman then preceded to tell everyone of the cellar that was underneath the house. The same one that held the living hotdogs. There was still food down there. The only problem was that Skips, Benson, and Pops were defending it. Funny thing about a nuclear holocaust, it tends to leave radiation poisoning in its wake.

"But...I thought that we all decided to never go down there again." said Rigby looking down at the floor.

"We did, but its time we all grit through this and stay strong." said Mordecai, putting his hand on Rigby's shoulder. "Don't worry Rigby. I'm here this time. I'll protect you."

Rigby looked into Mordecai's eyes and saw his determination. He tried his best not to blush, but to no avail.

"Hm? You ok Rigby?" asked Mordecai, as Rigby tried to hide his face.

"I'm...I'm fine." he responded. "Just some sleep in my eyes."

"Well, you're gonna have to wake up for this part, Rigbone." said Muscleman, trying to reassure him.

On the table they had drawn up a rough sketch of the cellar and the horrors that dwelled in there. Rigby looked in disgust at the figures they had used to represent their friends that were down there. He knew what Muscleman was gonna say, but he still didn't want to hear him say it.

"Guys...we gotta put them down." said Muscleman.

There was a deafening silence in the room swiftly after. It was so quiet that even the world outside wasn't heard. These were their friends, loved ones, practically family. And now Muscleman was saying they had to kill them. No not kill, murder them.

"I'm not murdering my friends." said Rigby, speaking up.

They looked at Rigby and sighed. Tears filled their eyes as pain filled their hearts. They didn't want to do it either, but it was something they knew that had to be done. This was a deed that they would never live down.

Rigby walked out of the room crying. It took a tremendous amount of effort for him not to cry in front of everyone, let alone Mordecai. He didn't want him to see him cry. It would be too embarrassing and he wouldn't be able to look him in the eyes ever again. Mordecai would never want to be with him if he cried all the time.

"Rigby?" called out Mordecai softly. "Are you there?"

Rigby panicked and wiped away the tears from him face. Was it too late? Did Mordecai see?

Mordecai walked around the corner and saw him wiping his face. He paused and waited for him to drop his guard. Thinking quickly He made a decision and hoped for the best.

"Oh...hey Morde..."

Before Rigby could get the words out of his mouth Mordecai wrapped his arms around him.

"I got you." he said, in a soft tone.

Wave after wave came sweeping over Rigby. All of his dreams and aspirations had finally become fulfilled. This was all he ever wanted . He wanted to be with his best friend. The one that understood him the most. The one that accepted him. The one that believed in him. But what now?

"You hear me, stupid?" he asked, trying not to cry. "I...I got you."

"Mordy...I..."

Mordecai stopped him by placing a finger on his lips. He relished at how soft they were. Slowly, he glided his finger across his lips. Taking in every detail, he imagined his lips on his own. Why was he feeling like this?

"Rigby?" he asked, looking into his tear filled eyes.

"Y...Yeah?" responded Rigby, looking at him with an open heart.

"Do you love me?"

A ton of emotions washed over Rigby. He wasn't ready for that question. He always thought he was ready for Mordecai to hear his feelings. But years of a one sided closet romance wasn't enough preparation for this moment.

"I do..Why can't I just tell tell him!?" thought Rigby, in a panic.

Mordecai looked at him with great anticipation. He was eager to find out what he was already suspicious of. He cared for Rigby, but he was unsure of what would happen if Rigby knew the truth.

"Rigby, you there?" asked Mordecai, shaking him softly.

"I..uh..heh...well..." stammered Rigby. "It's like...oh...I don't know how...Is..Is it hot in here?"

Mordecai looked at him kindly. He knew Rigby panicked under pressure. It was one of the things he used to tease him about when they were kids. So now was no different. A little harmless teasing with an inquisitive edge.

"I LOVE YOU MORDECAI!!! I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU, AND I WANT TO BE WITH YOU!!! YOU MAKE ME SO HAPPY, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU!!!

Rigby buried his face into Mordecai's chest. Tears were flooding down his cheeks, and he didn't care. Years and years of keeping his feelings hidden, and now he can let go.

"Rigby..."

Mordecai lifted Rigby's head and smirked.

"I love you too..."