Stress Relief (Grizz x Nom Nom)

Chapter 18 (Final Chapter)

Nom Nom sat comfortably, pressing close to Grizz's side. In the living room sat all the bears eagerly waiting through the commercial break to see how their new favorite reality tv show's season finale would conclude. They had endured an entire season of getting to know each every one of the characters and now one of them would be voted off, never to return to the show again.

"Who do you think it'll be?", Panda asked nervously.

"Ice Bear hopes it isn't Janelle..", the polar bear wished.

"Or Christina either", Panda gulped. "But she cost her team the lead and they were all really mad at her."

Nom Nom nodded in agreement. "What Tiffany said was pretty harsh. But there's no way she'll get kicked off. She's the most popular character and got the rest of the team wrapped around her finger."

"She's the worst", Grizz agreed. "But I still l like her, though."

Both Grizz and Panda couldn't help but chuckle at the grizzly's words. They all felt the same way, somehow cheering on someone who did nothing but scheme and step over others. A part of them wanted her to be kicked off right when the show returned but even Ice Bear could agree that a part of them wanted to see how far her plans could take her.

"But Scott really let her have it; told her exactly what she needed to hear", Nom Nom grinned. "And boy was she mad."

"It's back!", Panda called, everyone's attention was once again on the screen.

"And now it's time to see which one of our contestants will be voted off and sent packing back home", the host of the show announced.

"Aw man, who's it gonna be?", Panda whimpered, inching closer to edge of the screen.

"Each and every one of our contestants have put in their vote and now it's time to tally up the scores and see who gets the boot", the host continued.

The scene changed to show all the ten remaining gathered around to hear the results of the ballot.

"Now today's events have been crazy with a capital 'C'! The red team has had a solid lead for quite some time but now the tables have turned and the blue team is firmly on top." Upon the host saying that many on the red team shot Christina a dirty look.

"But now it's time to tally the results", the host smiled as he was handed a pink envelope from on of the crew.

"And now the one that will be sent home, never to return again is....", the host paused dramatically. Each of the bears held their breath in anticipation.

The host opened the envelope and a shocked look came upon his face. "The one being sent home is..... Scott!"

"What?!", Nom Nom shouted at the screen in front of him. "What did he do?"

"It gotta admit, folks. Even I didn't see this coming", the host admitted, looking directly the crowd. "Why, of all people, Scott?"

The scene changed to reveal a confession from non other than Tiffany. "Did they really think I would let Scott get away with speaking to me like that? It took a bit of doing, but I convinced everyone else on the red team to let Christina off with a warning and take out Scott instead. Hmph. He was a weak link anyway."

"Who does she think she is?", Panda huffed.

"Invincible", Ice Bear answered.

"They'll really just do anything she says, huh?", Nom Nom fumed.

"And that's the end of it. We'll miss ya Scott, but that's the way it goes", the host shrugged.

"That's it?", Nom Nom still couldn't believe the events that unfolded before his eyes.

"I guess so...", Grizz sighed. "Sorry, Nom."

"Don't worry about it, Grizz. There is a bright side, that's one less person for Tiffany to manipulate", Nom Nom figured.

"That's true. And that means Christina lives another week", Panda sighed in relief.

"Will be a while before next season", Ice Bear pointed out. It was late and that gave each of the bears a whole night to come up with idea on what they could watch now.

As Ice Bear and Panda retired to their respective rooms for the night Grizz and Nom Nom settled into their shared room.

"Comfortable?", Grizz playfully asked the koala resting on his belly.

"Very", Nom Nom said as he lay across the soft fur of the grizzly. A smile was on his Nom Nom's face and his eyes were closed in contentment.

"Good, me too", Grizz after he had reached to turn the lamp off. The room was quite, dimly light by the moonlight filtered through the dimly lit curtain. The steady breathing of both the mammals were all that was heard. Grizz opened his eyes as he felt Nom Nom shifting from atop of him. He opened his eyes only to be met with Nom Nom's. Before Grizz could ask anything Nom Nom leaned forward and planted a kiss on the bear's nose.

"Heh, you could use a bath", Nom Nom chuckled, watching Grizz blink in surprise.

"Hmph. We can worry about that in the morning", Grizz said, closing his tired eyes once again. Before the grizzly bear could even close his eyes again Nom Nom was tapping on his shoulder. "Hmm?"

"You forgot something", Nom Nom yawned, spreading his arms out.

"Oh, right. Sorry", Grizz pulled Nom Nom in close, hugging him snugly to his chest. Nom Nom sighed happily, drifting off to sleep with Grizz.