A/N: If you haven't seen the finale yet, you should. You most definitely should. Either way, I have to say I'm not the biggest fan that the show is over, but better it end now than have it drone on and on and on and eventually get stale. Now, just about everything that happens fits perfectly in my mind. Mordecai finishing art school and being a successful artist, Rigby and Eileen hitting it off and making a family together. Same goes for Muscle Man and Starla as well as Benson and Pam. Skips staying at the park, Benson still continuing being the manager, High Five Ghost and Celia making a life for themselves. All scenarios I could see. Except one. What in the heck is with Mordecai hooking up with a bat girl?
Ok, the idea isn't that ludicrous. I mean, lots of people don't always get back together with their exes. But still. This was the only thing that seemed off to me. It just didn't feel all that right. Very out of place. I mean, if CJ had made a comeback, I would've been fine with that. If he reunited with Margaret, I would've been more than fine with that. This was just as random as Regular Show itself. So, this is my version of the ending. At least in that regard. You see the character listing. You already know what it's gone be.
Mordecai walked away from the reporter and kept his eyes on the man over on the sidelines, wiping his face with a handkerchief. Regardless of them being sent up into space because of his planning, he out of all people knew that it had to happen. That his son had to go so the universe would be saved. He had no hard feelings at all for the man. Just sympathy.
Mordecai looked up at the moon and sighed with his shoulders relaxing. He closed his eyes and felt the breeze on his face. The feeling of being on Earth again. He tried to relish in the feeling of being back on Earth to finally build a life, but it was marred. Horribly marred by the fact that they were missing one person. One person who had to go so they could live. There were a lot of things you could go through, but seeing one of your closest friends go is hard. Especially when it was someone like Pops. A man full of happiness and joy.
Mordecai opened his eyes before looking to the crowd. So many were smiling. So many seemed content. Amazed. Excited. He was glad to see his parents, but there was still that feeling. That distracting feeling of what happened to Pops. That strange feeling of wanting to mourn, but wanting to stuff it down at the same time. Maybe it would help if he slept on it. It was the middle of the day, but after what they just finished, he felt as if he could sleep the day away. It wouldn't have been a bad idea. Or maybe he would travel around and get a feel for the places that he used to be so familiar with. Just for old times sake.
"Mordecai!" a voice exclaimed. He turned, and felt his back get covered by red hands. He easily recognized Margaret's voice when she called out for him. She was also someone that he missed a fair bit. The warm feeling he felt immediately made him feel the urge to put his arms around her and hug her as well.
"Hey Margaret," he said, a small smile coming to his face. At the moment, a small smile was all he could manage. It was genuine though.
"We didn't know what had happened to you all. It was a shock at the time," Margaret said, looking at him hesitantly.
"Yeah, it was for the best though. Still couldn't stay out of trouble even in space," Mordecai said, both of them chuckling hesitantly at the same time.
"So, um... I hate to ask, but... where is Pops?" Margaret asked. The look of sadness that crossed Mordecai's face spun Margaret for a loop. It wasn't a look she saw on his face too often. Only... she wanted to kick herself for thinking about it.
"He's... he's gone," Mordecai said sadly and gently. Then his eyes went to Maellard. "And he knows it too."
Margaret's eyes wandered to Maellard, she could never recall a time where she had ever seen the man lose composure. Except for now, that is. And it seemed he had all the reason to.
"It's weird," Mordecai suddenly said, immediately getting Margaret's attention. "Being back on Earth. The air, the surroundings. The feeling in general. It's... weird, but home at the same time."
Margaret stared Mordecai in the face for a few moments. Something about him seemed... fuller. Stronger. More mature. He was no Rigby by any means, but he still had his moments. Strangely enough, she got that feeling from Rigby and Eileen as well. It felt like they had all changed a fair amount.
"What were you up on space for?" Margaret asked.
"Training. Apparently, there was a program that none of us signed up for, but were put into. Then we got into a bunch of insanity, there was a giant battle, and all of us would've died if it wasn't for Pops."
The words came out rushed. He felt as if he didn't say it fast, he would've gotten gotten sick from the thought. Didn't work. The thought was still extremely disheartening to think about.
"Listen..." Mordecai said, stopping her as she was about to speak. "I really don't feel like talking about it right now. Maybe another time."
Margaret nodded in understanding. There it was again; that more mature vibe that she felt from him. Time in space changes people. At least when you spend that time the way they did.
"I missed you. I mean, you know..." Margaret said, a light blush coming to her cheeks. Mordecai chuckled a little. It felt good.
"I missed you too. So, what have you all been up to without us here?" Mordecai asked.
"There's been a lot of discussion as to what happened to all of you. It's been on the news, social media, everything. No one knew a thing though. I think that was the part that worried us the most," Margaret said.
"Well, we're relatively fine at least," Mordecai said, holding his hands out. Margaret didn't miss the word 'relatively.' "Feels pretty good to be back. And I've got a few plans in mind for returning, but that's for another time. What I really want to do is relax."
"I've got the place then," Margaret said before looking over to Rigby and Eileen. They were still kissing. Did they ever come up for air? "Ok..."
"It's alright. I'm sure he'll prefer being where he is right now. Just... lead the way," Mordecai said, raising a hand. Margaret nodded and led him over to the car that she arrived in. And drove him right to the coffee shop.
A content smile came to his face as he laid his eyes upon the coffee shop. It hadn't changed a bit. There was that bit of relief he felt as well as happiness.
"Still like this place?" Margaret said, smiling gently at him.
"Oh, yeah. I'm glad it never changed. It's nice that's it's still here and untouched," Mordecai said as he walked inside. But he held the door open for Margaret.
"What, are you trying to prove chivalry isn't dead?" she said with a cheeky grin.
"I could close the door in your face," he said idly, making her immediately step into the shop with a strong stride. He grinned wide as he let go of the door. Worked every time. He couldn't really understand why that was so fun to do.
They took a seat and there was a new waitress here. I guess no males ever decided to work at this place. Shame. The coffee perks were awesome. He knew because Margaret told him when she worked here.
"Hi," the waitress said brightly. Very brightly. While her eyes were primarily on Mordecai. "It's cool that you survived being up in space."
"It wasn't too much of a big deal. I mean, if I dealt with the things that happen in this city on a daily basis, I can handle space," Mordecai said with a smile. The waitress smiled wider at him and Margaret wasn't even going to deny the irritation that pricked through her skin.
"Can we order our coffees please?" she asked. The waitress looked towards her, and her bright expression barely fell, but it did.
"Oh. Of course. What would you like?" she asked before Margaret looked to Mordecai.
"Has your preference changed?" Margaret asked him.
"Of course not," Mordecai said as she turned back to give the waitress the orders. After years of serving him coffee, it wasn't that much of a surprise that she still knew the coffee he liked.
"Alright. I'll be back with them soon," the waitress said, giving Mordecai one final look before walking off.
"She seems friendly," Mordecai said casually. That was an understatement. He didn't miss that look she gave him. While he was certainly not used to women looking at him like that, he didn't feel flustered about it.
"Yeah. She does," Margaret said before staring at the blue jay. "So, um..."
"Dating anyone?" Mordecai asked casually. The robin found herself being caught off guard by the brashness of his question.
"Oh. Well, um... no. Not at the moment," Margaret said, feeling her cheeks get hot. Was she blushing? She was seriously blushing.
"Oh," Mordecai said in a somewhat subdued tone. Before Mordecai had even dated her, Margaret was... well, she bounced between relationships pretty often. He was kind of expecting her to do the same since he's been gone. Then again, if it was anything like the past, they never lasted long.
"Yeah..." Margaret trailed awkwardly. Now the whole atmosphere was awkward now. She wasn't blushing anymore, but there was awkwardness so thick, she could feel it. "It's been kind of lonely here."
"I could imagine. But we're back now," Mordecai said gently before thinking, "Well, most of us."
"I'm glad for it. Eileen was excited to tell how she's gotten closer to Rigby while they were up there in space," Margaret said, making Mordecai smile.
"Yeah, they've been inseparable. He's happy with her, and I'm happy for him," he said as he intertwined his fingers. He was happy for him, but... maybe it was just a sign that he didn't need a relationship. That he needed to make something of himself.
Margaret tightened the top and bottom of her beak to keep herself silent. She didn't know how to ask him how that was going for him without it sounding incredibly suggestive. And without feeling horrible with herself.
"So... what do you plan on doing now that you're back?" Margaret asked.
"Going back to art school," Mordecai said as the waitress came up with their drinks. Mordecai smiled and thanked her, but Margaret had sat in her seat, statue still. She eyed the robin with a raised brow, but she didn't say anything else as she walked back to the counter.
"Really?" Margaret asked.
Margaret was reminded of the "what goes around, comes around" phrase. It fit perfectly here. It fit very much so.
"Uh huh. There are a couple of things I realized. Me and Rigby? We're going to have to grow up eventually. I mean... I don't see us being able to manage retirement on the park salary, do you? And I realized something. If I just stay here and do nothing, I'm stuck with the thought that if I don't go back, I'm making a mistake," Mordecai said.
"Definitely fits here," Margaret thought.
"So... you're leaving again?" she said aloud.
"Yeah. I mean... the program we went to offered to compensate us for what happened, and... I know what I'm putting that compensation into. I got a little bit into art school. I should only be gone for, what? Two, three years? I'll study, I'll make some art, become freelance. See where I can take it, you know?" Mordecai said with a small smile.
"That's... that's a really good decision," Margaret said with a smile. It was somewhat forced. While him going back to school was a good thing, she missed having him around, and... he was going to leave already? "When are you going?"
"I'll give it a few days. Weeks, maybe. I want to settle back into the idea of being back on Earth. Once I'm decided, I'll let you all know though," Mordecai said as he sipped his coffee. Margaret did the same to appear casual, but the inside of her stomach suddenly felt like someone dropped snakes in it.
A/N: This'll be like a two or three shot. Most likely three. Maybe even four. Depends on how I'm feeling.