They had curled up together, Ellis pulled safely against Nick's body, his chin resting on the others chest. Nick's hand was lifted slightly, lazily, as Ellis ran his fingers down Nick's palm and then drug his nails gently back up. Behind eyelashes that seemed far too pretty for a man, Ellis' baby blues could not leave Nick's gentle expression.

"Hey, Nick…?" Ellis whispered softly, his fingers locking together with the others. Nick's eyes blinked opened and found Ellis'. "I love you." There… he had said it. For the first time he had verbally admitted it. It felt good. Real good. Nick's lips twitched into a smile and Ellis' heart fluttered.

"I love you too, Ellis." Nick let out a short breath. "Yeah… I really love you." He sounded surprised; almost like it was the first time he had realized it. He blinked several times, until his free hand reached up to tangle into Ellis' auburn locks. "I never thought I would ever say those words again and… mean them."

Ellis smiled before kissing the others chest delicately. He grinned slightly. "I never would have thought someone like you would be my first… for everythin'."

"Yo-Your first?" Nick stuttered. It was cute, Ellis had to press his face into the others chest to keep his giggles quiet. "Really? Huh…" Nick frowned thoughtfully. "I would have thought with your perfect southern charm you'd have the ladies falling all over you by now… You've really never fooled around with anyone?"

"Naw… I mean, I had girls always askin' me out and stuff, but I never really did nothin' but hold their hand. They always made me so nervous." Ellis' hand slid up the others chest and snaked around the conman's neck to fiddle with his hair. "You were married once… weren't ya?"

"Yeah…"

"What happened?"

Nick shrugged slightly, eyes staring up at the ceiling. He had wormed his hand underneath Ellis' shirt and was admiring the warmth of the others body on his palm. He also enjoyed how firm he was, but at the same time how soft his skin was. Ellis squirmed slightly as the conman's rough fingers tickled up his back.

"Well… To be short, I was a selfish pig. I didn't deserve her and she knew it." He shrugged a little. "I think part of it was that we were so damn young. I still wonder if I've grown up yet."

"How'd ya meet her?"

"Hm… One day at a casino, no surprise there, huh? I think she saw me as a project. Some poor neglected boy off the streets trying his best to just get along in life through slight of hand and a charming tongue. She wanted to get me out of gambling and to give me somewhere safe to rest my head. I appreciated it, and I think I ended up mistaking that as love. I asked her to marry me—we were only kids. It was a stupid idea." Nick swallowed thickly, blinking several times. "It wasn't much longer after that when she started realizing I wasn't ever going to change. She hated that about me—the fact that I was still cheating people out of their money and all that jazz. But, that is what I am. I'm a conman through and through. She left me three years later. She packed her shit and walked out. A week later the divorce papers were at my doorstep."

"That's harsh…" Ellis whispered.

"Nah, looking back I'm surprised she stayed as long as she did."

"…Do ya have any kids?"

Nick had to really fight hard to keep back the obnoxious laughter fighting its way from deep within. "God no. That was the one thing I knew I would never make the mistake of doing. I'd be one fucked up father."

Ellis shrugged slightly. "Ya never know unless ya tried."

"Christ, Ellis, with talk like that, I'm glad you don't have a uterus—otherwise I'd start getting paranoid."

Ellis chuckled. "So, are we gonna live together and stuff? Like… how real couples do?"

Nick was smirking now, a glint of longing behind his eyes. "Yeah, Ellis. And we're going to have that little white house in some quiet neighborhood by the ocean. I'm going to make love to you every night and tell you how much I love you when we wake up together each morning. I'm going to kiss you a hundred times a day, hold your hand and make you laugh." He took Ellis' face between his hands and smiled fondly at him. "I'm going to love you every. Single. Day.."

Ellis was smiling. Even with the overdone cheese, Ellis had to admit, he appreciated the visual. The mechanic lifted himself up and hovered just over the other. Nick's hands came up to rest gently on his hips and very slowly Ellis lowered his mouth to the others. Their lips met with absolute tenderness.

"I'd really, really like that, Nick."

They left the safe room early that morning—not because they were particularly eager to get started, but because the military's bombing was getting even closer. They had all awakened to an earthquake-like rumble that had sent ceiling pieces falling down on them. They were running out of time.

Nick's gaze lifted to a soft pink colored home they were going to have to cut through. It was obnoxious, ugly, and out of place in the drab city… But at the same time he found it oddly beautiful—like its imperfections were what made it so visually striking. Then the ground shook and the sound of bombs in the distance interrupted his quiet musing.

They moved forward.

They climbed up flight after flight of stairs, jumped down balconies onto parked cars and sliced through any Infected that made their way towards them—all the while, terrified that the next bomb from above would land straight in their laps and destroy all their hard work in a fraction of a second.

They moved through a pub where barstools littered the ground like stiff corpses. Bottles laid broken behind the bar and the windows were all boarded up. It was dark, glum and uncomfortably muggy inside. It still smelled of liquor and smoke and if they closed their eyes they may have been able to lie to themselves that everything was fine.

They climbed a flight of stairs and—

"God," Nick practically moaned, grinning wide, "I love pool."

"Really?" Rochelle inquired sarcastically as she shuffled through the half dozen worn out tables. "I would have never pegged you as a pool guy." Nick grinned even wider.

"Hey, Nick," Ellis asked, tugging at the conman's sleeve as they moved past the game area. "Can ya teach me one day?"

"Fff, hell, yeah, Ellis. And maybe one day you'll get good enough to beat me."

Ellis grinned at this.

They climbed down a ledge onto a bunch of boxes back to street level where a row of apartments and ghostly houses greeted them. Around them, the world seemed to pause—and then—

"Boomer!" Coach had barely spat out the words when the lumbering thing toppled forward and expelled a gush of vomit all over the man. He let out a growl of rage and stormed after it—unwilling to allow the thing to puke its mess onto the others. He shoved it further and further from them until he slammed it up against a car. He shoved his barrel into its stomach and unleashed a burst of fire. It exploded all over him, sending him stumbling backwards. Around them, from the houses and alleys, the scream of terrorized Infected sounded.

"Coach!" Rochelle called running after him—but then she slipped on the slick ground. She tried to right herself but between the Boomer's gooey vomit and her high-heeled boots—she had little chance. The woman stumbled right into Coach's lap and the two became tangled up on each other.

Shit.

Ellis and Nick moved forward instantly, pressing their backs against each other as they stood beside their fallen companions. Their guns blasted hot fire and light and around them bodies shredded and fell limp, heads exploded in a gory messes and menacing growls became gurgling groans. Dozens of bodies began to pile on top of each other. Soon, there was only silence.

Rochelle did not speak as she picked herself up, vomit spread across her arms and legs when she had fallen. She stared wide-eyed at Coach, mouth moving as it tried to find words to apologize—or maybe make a joke… Whatever she was trying to say, it never came out. She swallowed thickly and helped the man to his feet.

He gave her a long look and then he shrugged. "Shit happens," was all he said in a matter-of-fact tone. Rochelle huffed slightly, nodding quickly in agreement. "Well… I gatta get this shit off me." He looked towards the apartments. "Maybe they still have running water."

And it did. The four decided that the day had been long and their feet and joints ached. They'd stay the night here.

The sound of running water came on seemingly all around them as Rochelle and Coach attempted to clean the messes from their clothes and skin. Nick tilted his head slightly as he listened, hands crossed loosely over his gun hanging around his shoulders. But then…

"Hey, Nick…" The conman's gaze lazily turned to find Ellis. The mechanic was sitting against the edge of a worn out bed, weapon discarded somewhere nearby, one foot caught on the edge while the other tapped slowly on the ground. He was leaning back on his elbows with a boyish grin on his face. "This here's a bed."

Lips pursed, one eyebrow raised, Nick turned to face the other completely. "Ellis… are you trying to seduce me?"

That boyish grin turned into a naughty smirk. "Is it workin'?"

"Yes.." Nick lifted the gun strap over his shoulders and tossed it nosily against a nearby dresser. "But I'm not getting on that bed. It's filthy. Come here."

Ellis practically leapt to his feet and threw himself forward, his hands catching the conman's face and pulling him into an eager kiss. Their tongues met in a clash and Nick backed Ellis against the wall, pulling away only long enough to slip his hands underneath Ellis' waistband to touch and grasp at those perfectly toned hips.

A soft breath escaped Ellis' lips as the other hands slipped from his hips and began to tug at his heavy, obtrusive overalls. It was interesting to feel the curves that Ellis had hidden underneath all his clothes. Nick's kisses followed down the others chin, enticing soft pleased noises from the mechanic whose fingers had long ago found his dark locks.

Pants and boxers now gone, Ellis didn't have time to be coy. Nick's hands moved about the small of the mechanic's back and pulled him close. Ah, that smell… Although obvious was the stench of death, bile and blood, there was an even more distinct smell. A smell Nick had learned to associate with this beautiful, beautiful southern man.

"N-Nick…" Ellis said softly. He mustered the other far away only long enough to find the others belt and undo it. His fingers awkwardly found the man's zipper. Although clumsy, each jerky movement was admirably arousing. Ellis hooked his thumb on the pants and off they came and his hands fondled Nick's body hungrily.

Ellis wrapped his arms around the others neck and Nick pressed harder against him. He could feel Nick's breath against him.

The mechanic's ankles locked around Nick's hips and his hands moved about, tangling in the others suit as he tried to find a way to occupy his hands. Fingers found their way inside of him and a passionate kiss was the only thing that could have possibly distracted Ellis from the strange sensation. Another moan, a grunt and a thrust pushed the conman inside the mechanic. They both gasped and the tension in their bodies built. But Nick's hands came to cup the others face and with expert smoothness, he kissed Ellis into relaxation.

The thrusts Nick made were firm, but gentle as he worked himself further inside. Ellis felt a little dizzy and a flush overtook him.

"Ellis?" Nick asked quietly. He took the others chin and leaned close. "Does it hurt?"

"I'm jus' a li'l dizzy s'all… I'm okay…"

"Perfect."

Ellis laughed, but it quickly turned to an appreciative moan as those formerly gentle but firm motions became sudden intense and eager thrusts. The dizzy feeling washed over Ellis again but he gladly allowed it. There was pleasure in that feeling—an almost overwhelming pleasure. Those kisses, hard, calloused and unlike anything he would have expected he would enjoy, were perfect.

A few more thrusts, a few more moments of those calloused hands gripping his sides would drive Ellis crazy. If he didn't come soon, the mechanic was most positive he was going to die of bliss. It didn't seem like such a horrible thing, but he doubted Nick would appreciate it.

But before his heart could stop from all the pleasure, he felt Nick shudder against him with passion—and Ellis' favorite part? Nick called his name as he did. It was so beautiful, so fervent, so longing and grateful. God, it was lovely. Ellis own body jerked forward and he gasped. An orgasm racked his whole body in an intense spasm and he pressed his face against the other, his fingers grasping. Nick held him, kisses wet and hot on his neck. Then the spasms ended and Ellis collapsed back against the wall, only held up by Nick's body pressed against his.

Ellis was flushing hard, panting, but he was smiling widely. Nick leaned forward to kiss those swollen lips, lavishing him over and over. He would have continued had it not been for the sudden explosion that sent them both to their knees.

"Well, fuck!" Nick said, staring down at the obviously stunned mechanic tangled in his arms. "Guess the military has no patience for romance." Ellis snorted out a laugh and the two climbed to the feet. Ellis smiled shyly. "God, I love you, Ellis." Nick chuckled and kissed the other again. Ellis melted against the kiss, grabbing at him as though he wasn't quite ready for their love making to be over with. Unfortunately, they had no choice. If another bomb like that hit, they'd all be dead and Nick was determined to live long enough to make love to Ellis another day.

They dressed each other, smirking as they did, appreciating every little intricate design that let their hands linger for a little longer. They were barely finished when Rochelle knocked on the door to inform them they had to move on—it was not safe here…

…It was barely an hour later when they found the bridge tower they had been searching so long for. When they spotted it, huge and menacing in the sky the four came together into a tight embrace.

A/N: -a total mess after posting the sex scene- I…uh… I… um… okay. Waaaah T-T

I KNOW I skipped the crescendo moment with the tractor, because, seriously, it's ridiculous to expect they really had to do that. Crawl up the god damn siding, seriously. (Someone mentioned that it's always Rochelle that screws you over. I agree. She's always effing things up for me)

I have always loved the fact that you can bash down the keys on the piano in that pub. I do it every time for good luck. XD It's even more fun when you've got everyone lined up beating on it. It sounds totally retarded. I had to mention it since I wanted to work it into the story, but I couldnt' find a way to make it run smoothly.

Only one chapter left.

Thank you for reading and reviewing. Honestly, it makes me smile and want to continue even when I feel lost on what to write next.