First off, sorry this update took so long. I've been working on my Integra and trying to keep my Tracker running until it's finished, then I got excited about a couple of my other stories, but that's no excuse for me leaving this un-updated for so long.

I tallied the votes, and it's 2 votes for keeping it canon, and 3 for MXOC. Sorry, but we have our answer. The character will be introduced this chapter, but it won't come into effect for awhile.

If you want to hear the songs I use as introductions, check my profile, I have links for them. Also I'm gonna start linking songs before the chapters are out so you know what they'll be ahead of time.

Well, I know you're not here to hear me talk, so let's get going.

Chapter 8: Sweet Caroline

And when I hurt,
Hurtin' runs off my shoulders
How can I hurt when holding you?

Warm, touchin' warm
Reachin' out, touchin' me, touchin' you

Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I've been inclined,
To believe they never would
Oh, no, no

- Neil Diamond

[][][]

"So, Mordecai, don't keep us in suspense," his mother began, "Tell us what it's like in the city."

He looked up from pushing the food around on his plate and shrugged, "It's alright."

"I bet it's awesome! There's a mall, right?"

He nodded, "Yeah, the mall's great. Expensive, but they have almost everything you can imagine."

"Wow!" Farrah replied, "The only mall around here is across the state line."

"Speaking of, how's work? What've you been doing all these years?"

His dad hadn't been paying attention, but at this subject, he glanced toward him.

"I work as a groundskeeper at the city park."

"Oh," his mother nodded, "I bet that's great."

His dad grunted his approval and continued picking at his food.

Mordecai shrugged, "It's not that bad. It pays the bills."

"I bet you're a charmer with the ladies."

Farrah nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I bet you don't even have an apartment because you're at a different girl's house every night."

"Farrah!"

His dad chuckled but didn't say anything.

Mordecai laughed, "It's quite the opposite actually. I figured there'd always be time."

"Smart boy," his dad returned, setting his silverware aside.

"But still," she continued pushing the subject, "There has to be someone you have your eye on."

He looked down at his plate and pushed it away, "Well, there was but it didn't work out."

She nodded and gathered the plates, "Well, time has a way of working things out."

"Can I open Mordo's present now?!" Farrah pleaded for the hundredth time since dinner started.

"Alright," she answered while walking into the kitchen, "But then you have to finish your homework."

Ignoring the last part, she dove into the bag, tearing it open instead of reaching into it.

"You know, there's an opening at the-"

She looked up, a crumpled piece of the bag in her hand.

"Never mind."

Dad shook his head and poured more sugar into his coffee.

It was another minute before she made it to the box, upon which her vision was froze.

"If you don't like it, the receipt's in-" Mordecai began, sensing the silence was due to the fact it wasn't a good camera.

However, before he could finish, Farrah unleashed the loudest scream he'd heard, causing both him and his dad to cover their ears.

"What was that about?!"

Mordecai shook his head to try to regain his hearing, "What?!"

"You got me a Leica?!"

He started pounding on the side of his head, "Well, I had help picking it out."

"What's a Leica?"

"It's only the best camera company ever!" she began, listing the reasons why.

Dad only shrugged, completely lost in the discussion.

"You can play with your camera later, after you finish your homework."

Farrah sighed, "Yes, mom. Thanks, Mordecai."

He smiled, "No problem."

After she left the room, it was only him and his dad left at the table. They both sat there, not saying anything. The only sound was from his dad sipping his coffee.

"Well," his dad said at length, finding the silence not to his liking.

As he stood from the table, he opened his mouth to give an excuse but ultimately gave up, leaving the room without saying anything.

Mordecai followed his example and left to his room.

Much to his surprise, everything was the way it looked before he left. Wall of videogames, large bed in the cramped room, cluttered desk in the corner, everything.

He dropped his backpack on the floor and crashed onto his bed. He stretched, the springs creaking after years without use, and he pulled his phone from his pocket.

Another missed call from the number, and no text messages.

"Hey, Mordecai."

He glanced to the doorway where Farrah was standing, "What's up?"

"I just talked to some friends from school, and… well… do you think you could drive us to that mall in Dixon tomorrow?"

"That eager to spend your birthday money?"

"Of course," she said, confused as to why that required an answer.

He nodded, "Get ma's go-ahead first."

"Thanks, Mordecai. You're the best big brother ever."

He winced when she walked away, knowing the truth that made the compliment hurt. The truth that lead to him leaving.

The combination of that and the recent Rigby incident was adding up to be more of a time-bomb waiting to go off. Everything was adding up, and he knew he'd have to face it eventually. He didn't know how much longer he could go on pretending everything was fine.

He sighed, the clock promising it was still early in the day.

Deciding it was time for his medication, he pulled the keys to the Black Tear from his pocket and thought a drive would help.

[][][]

Rigby leaned against the wall of the theater, another failed attempt to call Mordecai.

He sighed and pocketed his phone, figuring he probably wouldn't answer, even if he did know it was his number.

"Sorry I'm late," Margaret said as she ran down the sidewalk.

Rigby stepped away from the wall, "Just got here myself."

"It looks packed," she said as they walked to their spot at the back of the line.

"Yeah, and it's all the dorks who showed up."

The line was filled of fans talking overly loud about why the first movie was the greatest zombie story ever told. Many wore t-shirts of the first movie, while a few more… dedicated fans cosplayed their favorite characters.

"Twenty bucks the fat Rob-O starts fighting th-"

Before he could finish, the man dressed up as the robot walked towards a zombie who began to growl and raise his arms. The people in line began to cheer as they pretend fought on the sidewalk.

"Never mind," he said, laughing at the display.

"Come on," Margaret began, having a chuckle herself, "Free entertainment while we wait for tickets to sell."

Rigby shook his head, "You call this entertainment?"

[][][]

He cruised down the main road of the city, surprised to see how most of it remained the same.

The Coastal View Theater had changed owners and was now a White Beacon Entertainment. The old pharmacy was still there, along with the arcade. The toy store was replaced with an office supply center, but the rest was still the same.

The stands were recently repainted at the football field, and across from it, the bike trails seemed to-

"Watch out for the car!"

He heard the muffled warning over the radio and looked forward. Someone had run into the road to grab their volleyball and was frozen by fear.

He slammed on the brakes, causing the tires to squeal in protest of their command. The heavy vehicle continued rolling, and had he been going any faster, it wouldn't have stopped in time.

He was thrown forward by the sudden stop, causing him to slam into the steering wheel. Crossing his arms, he inhaled deeply to keep from yelling at the pain in his chest.

Fumbling into park, he waited for a moment, still unsure if he stopped in time.

After a moment, a yellow feathered head poked over the hood and looked around, confused at why it was still able to move.

He sighed and leaned back, relieved.

"Mordecai, is that you?!"

He looked through the windshield, not entirely familiar with the voice, "Yeah…"

"Wow! What're you doing here?!"

He blinked, "Caroline?"

She smiled and nodded, "Of course! Don't tell me you forgot."

"Of course not," he said as he shut the engine off and opened the door.

As he walked around the front of the truck, he remembered her instantly. She was standing with the volleyball tucked under her left arm and was wearing a Peach Creek high school volleyball uniform. Her yellow and black feathers were completely opposite of the white and peach colored uniform.

"Wow, it is you! Where've you been the last three years?"

"You know, around."

She shook her head, "That's not what Richard's been saying."

"Richard doesn't know anything," he said, his tone becoming slightly sterner for a moment, "You're taking almost being run over pretty well."

She shrugged, "You remember how clumsy I was. You get used to it. Last week I almost got ran over by a train and a lunar space shuttle."

"Who is it?" her friend asked as she reached the car, "Oh it's just Mordecai."

"Vanessa," he began, "You're aging horribly."

"You're just jealous."

"Of what?" he whispered to Caroline.

"So, I'd heard you ran off to the city. Thought we'd got rid of you for good," she added, only half joking.

He shrugged, "I'm just back for Farrah's birthday."

"How long are you here for?"

Another shrug, "Just for the weekend. Figured I'd drive around a little and see what's changed. I was actually getting ready to head to the nail if you ladies care to join me."

"The nail? It's been awhile since I've been there. They stopped taking care of the trail so it's hard to get there."

Mordecai nodded towards the Black Tear, "Nothing mega-truck can't handle."

"This heap?" Vanessa said, kicking the front tire.

Mordecai patted on the hood, "Don't listen to her, I'd like to see her look this good when she's twenty-four years old."

"Well, I'm in," Caroline said with a raise of her hand, "It sounds like fun."

Vanessa sighed, "Fine. Not like I'd get any practice in with you gone."

Sorry this is short.

I have to get up early for a Job Fair and I'm entering the "My Life As A Teenage Robot" genre and I wanna get a start on the first story.

Anyway, hope you like it.

Thanks for reading.