"You sure you wanna do this, Nom?", Grizz asked with a voice full of concern.

"I have to, Grizz", Nom Nom said firmly. "So else this is never gonna stop."

"But the moment they see you they're gonna rip you apart", Panda warned.

"Suicide mission", Ice Bear agreed. Nom Nom had made up his mind to put an end to the crazed fan foolishness once and for all.

"I know!", Nom Nom growled and took a deep breath. "I know. But I gotta do this before it all gets worse that it already has. Don't worry I gotta plan. I already called Farmer and he's on his way. As soon as I get back home it's all gonna be over."

As if on cue all four bears were treated to a knock at the door. Grizz rushed to the door to take a peak at who it was, an instant wave of relief washing over him as he saw it was indeed Farmer. He opened the door and Nom Nom's personal guard/assistant stepped inside.

"Nom Nom sir. I came as quickly as I could. But are you sure this is a good idea?", Farmer asked in an uneasy voice.

"Yes, yes. I've heard all this before. We gotta hurry up before they see!", Nom Nom urged, climbing into Farmer's arms. "Come on, let's go!"

"Be careful, Nom!", Grizz urged as the two of them quickly darted for Farmer's car. As quickly as they could, the two sped off down the path forest towards Nom Nom's mansion. The bears watched until the car disappeared from their sight behind a cloud of thick dirt.

"I hope he'll be alright", Panda whimpered as Grizz shut the door.

"RIsky, but good plan", Ice Bear thought aloud. "Might work."

"M-might?", Panda gulped.

"Bros, he's gonna be just fine!", Grizz said, trying to convince himself as well. His brothers followed behind him as Grizz returned to the couch and turned on the TV.

"Breaking news! Our undercover reporters have just confirmed sights of the in-hiding internet celebrity, Nom Nom! He was last scene heading down South Street and they have reason to suspect that he is heading back to his mansion. You heard it here first, folks! Tune in to channel 12 where we'll be live to get an unscripted, uncut interview to hear an explanation from Nom Nom himself!", the reporter spoke.

"What?!", Grizz cried out, panic flowing through inch of his body."B-but how? Everyone knows now!"

"They're gonna swarm his mansion!", Panda panicked as well.

"No way for him to escape", Ice Bear shook his head solemnly.

"I gotta go after him!", Grizz yelled, jumping from the couch and taking off. Before Ice Bear or Panda could get a word in he was already out the door, running as far as his four legs could take him.

As Farmer ushered Nom Nom towards his mansion the koala was deep in thought. He was considering the future after he did what he planned. What would do from then on? Would he even have a future anymore? He chuckled at the thought, before he considered being left with nothing a horrible fate. But thinking about it now gave him a feeling of lightness, a feeling of what he could only describe as freedom. Just being able to do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. He could feel whatever he wanted or didn't want to feel. He would never have to fake a smile again. If he wanted to frown, he could without the worry of a reputation or a snooping member of the press. The very idea made him sigh and sit back in his seat. Soon it'll all be over, Nom Nom thought to himself.

"We're here, Nom Nom sir", Farmer stated, already unbuckling his seatbelt.

"Good. Let's just hurry up and get this over with...", Nom Nom took a deep breath and hopped into the arms of Farmer. As Farmer hurried down the pave-way towards the front door of the mansion Nom Nom looked back over his shoulder. Once he did his breath caught in his throat. He could see them. Arriving in hoards. So many of them. Running over one another. He knew that they saw him. There was no way that the gate was gonna hold them back for long.

"Hurry!", Nom Nom hissed, the only manage word his brain could manage to get out. Farmer understood and made a mad dash to the front doors as quickly as he could. Luckily for him and Nom Nom he planned ahead and unlocked the doors once he got the call. It was a risk in many ways: someone could get in and he was a bit later getting to Nom Nom but still quick nonetheless. He stepped inside and firmly shut the doors, locking them shut as well.

"I hoped that it wouldn't have to be this way", Nom Nom sighed, lowering his head.

"Sir, you don't have to do this...", Farmer suggested. "Maybe there's another way."

"No. I has to be this way. We both know this was gonna kill me anyway. Now it's either them or me", Nom Nom shook his head firmly.

"But sir.... There'll be a crowd out there. I know I can't stop you but.... In front of everyone?", Farmer stammered, hoping to talk his employer out of his decision.

"Heh. I guess it'll be the best way to go out", Nom Nom chuckled dryly and turned to his assistant.

"Farmer, you're services will no longer be required. And thanks", Nom Nom said, looking the man in the eyes.

"It's been an honor sir", Farmer sniffed and wiped his eye. "I'll go out there and buy you some time."

Nom Nom said nothing, just continuing forward. He knew it was something he had to do, but he didn't expect it to actually hurt him the way it did. But it was something he had to do. This all had to end today. And after that.... Nom Nom shook his head and reminded himself to focus. He climbed the staircase towards his bedroom.

Grizz ran as quickly as he could but upon entering the city he saw that he was too late as droves of people were running towards Nom Nom's mansion. But Grizz pressed on, knowing that he had to continue and help the koala he cared about. Weaving and dashing around crowds of people, he came closer and closer to the mansion. He had to stop in his tracks as outside the mansion's gate as the huddled people around were too thick for him to get through. He had to get to Nom Nom, but he didn't want to hurt anyone either. Looking around and seeing no other way through or around the,, he sighed and attempted to find another way.

Nom Nom had slowly climbed the stairs, a part of him wanting to drag it out as long as he could. As he climbed the last step, Nom Nom took a second to take a deep breath. He took a few more slow steps and gripped the doorknob of his bedroom. He slowly turned it and pushed the door open. Lifting his head, Nom Nom's breath caught in his throat.

"Well, hello there! We were starting to think that you would never show up", Nom Nom was frozen in place as there in front of him, in his very room sat the reporter from channel twelve news. Beside her was a man holding a news camera, readying to start filming for the live feed.

Nom Nom took a deep breath and quickly started to rework his plan in his head.

Maybe I can use this. Just make all easier on everyone, Nom Nom thought to himself.

"Well, I'm here now. Is there something you wanted to ask me?", the koala asked in a calm tone, trying his best to keep his breathing steady.

"We hope you don't mind, but we found that the door was unlocked so we thought that it would be best to use that time to set up for an interview!", the reporter beamed.

"Th-that's great. Because I have a lot to say", Nom Nom nodded and smiled.

"Wonderful!", the reporter gasped. "This is exactly what we need to get our ratings back on top!"

Typical, Nom Nom scoffed inwardly.

"I'm glad that I can help. Just tell me what I need to do", Nom Nom smiled warmly once again.

"All we need you to do is answer our questions. That'll be all we need", the reporter assured while the man behind the camera was prepping it up to film.

"Splendid", Nom Nom forced out of his mouth.

It took a little while for the two of them to set up everything they needed. But Nom Nom was more than ready to tell them all who were watching exactly what he needed to tell them.

"Alright. We'll be on and rolling in 3...2...1!", The reporter made a signal and the red light of the camera flashed on.

Nom Nom took a deep breath and made sure to smile as wide as he could, he figured that he might as well end it off with a good one.

"We're here with a live interview with the one and only Nom Nom! That's right! Finally out of hiding and ready to give us the answers we've been waiting for!", the reporter announced to the camera.

Nom Nom made a small wave to the camera and once again assured himself that it would all be over soon.

"Now, Nom Nom we all have one burning question that needs to answered first and foremost: Why? Where did you go? And why for so long?", the reporter asked him.

Nom Nom gripped the seat of the chair he sat in and calmed himself before answering the question.

"I can't tell you where I've been. But I can tell you the reason why I had to hide. It was because of my career", the koala answered truthfully.

"Your career?", the reporter repeated, clearly expecting a different answer.

"Yes. Because of my career. The truth. The real truth is that my very career is slowly killing me. It has been for a while. I tried my best to continue for the sake of the fans, but I guess I just don't have any more left in me. And I want to use this interview to announce that on this day I will be retiring from my career", Nom Nom stated.

"Retiring?!", the reporter gasped. "But Nom Nom! What about all those around the world who have liked, subscribed and supported you for all these years?"

"Heh. I just want to say to them: Thank you for all the love and support each and every one of them have given me. I truly am grateful for it all. But my decision is final....", Nom Nom nodded firmly.

"Well, Nom Nom I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say that we will miss you. What do plan to do now?"

"I'm just gonna disappear essentially, just take it easy and finally relax from here on out", Nom Nom shrugged. "I think that just about wraps it all up." He was sure that the reporter had more questions for him to answer, maybe even now then before but he was already out the door of his room.

"Nom Nom! There you are!", the koala jumped in surprise and looked down his staircase to see Grizz running up at him.

"Nom... Nom...", Grizz panted, stopping on the top stair in front of the koala.

"Grizz? How did you get in here?", Nom Nom questioned.

"I used the back kitchen door. Someone left it unlocked. Don't worry, I made sure that every other door and window is locked. You sure have a lot of them", Grizz chuckled. "You alright?"

"Yes. Everything's gonna be fine now. I did it. I made the announcement, on live TV no less", Nom Nom grinned proudly.

"Wow. So that's why they're here?", Grizz asked pointing at the reporter and cameraman wrapping things up in Nom Nom's room.

"Yeah, they'll be out of here soon", Nom Nom groaned.

"And what about all of them?", Grizz pointed out the window to the massive hoard of people still standing outside: yelling, cheering and holding signs with Nom Nom's face on them.

"Hmmm. Guess they didn't get the message, huh?", Grizz observed.

"Yeah, I guess they aren't near a TV right now", Nom Nom snapped his claws in frustration and looked back up at Grizz. "We have to let them know that it's over so they can leave already. This has gone on long enough. And I need your help to do it."

"You can count on me, Nom", Grizz beamed.

"Thanks, Grizz", Nom Nom smiled. "Hold on a second, I gotta get something first."

The crowd was still going strong, waiting for Nom Nom to show himself.

"Hey, look up there!" a woman in the crowd called, looking upwards. More heads looked up as well to see Grizz perching Nom Nom on his shoulder. In his paw the koala held a megaphone. Taking a deep breath and clicking the megaphone on.

"People! Listen up! I'm really glad that you're all here to see me!", Nom Nom called to the crowd below.

"We love you, Nom Nom!", A man in the crowd yelled. Others joined in to cheer for their favorite celebrity. Nom Nom couldn't help but smile at what he saw. Even after the things he had heard and seen on the news, all these people still came out here to see him. They still loved him in a way. Sure it was not the same kind of love he had for his new friends Panda and Ice Bear and no where near the love he felt for Grizz. He had seen large crowds of people shouting his name many times before, something about this moment really touched him. A warm feeling spread through him and he became even more determined to continued his message.

"I love you, too... And that's why I have to tell you all... That from this day forward I will be retiring", once those words left Nom Nom's mouth the crowd below fell quite. It surprised Nom Nom; he expected more, he wasn't sure how much more, emotions from the crowd. A part of him expected the crowd to make noises of disappointment or even sadness and another part of him expected the crowd to even boo and jeer at him. But they didn't.... They just stood, looking up at him, most likely wondering what he was going to say next.

"I know that you all want me to continue. To keep making content for you guys. But I just can't do that anymore... I know that you all love what I do and I know that I make you guys happy. But I have to take time for myself so I can be happy, too", Nom Nom admitted. "I'll never forget the day my first video hit a million views... I just want to thank each and every one of you. I know I may have never said this but I love you guys.."

The silence continued throughout the crowd that in itself was deafening. Nom Nom felt a spike of fear push itself into the pit of his stomach. He had no idea what to do or even what to say.

Then in the crowd a small clap was heard. It started off a one, then another joined in, along with another until just about the whole crowd below him was clapping a cheering in support of the koala. Nom Nom smiled again and looked down at Grizz who was smiling as well.

"That went well", Grizz chuckled, lowering Nom Nom down. The two bears made their way back into the attic with the sounds of claps and voices raised in support in the background. The news crew had left and Nom Nom returned to his bedroom. He looked around it and sighed.

"You alright, Nom?", Grizz asked as he followed into the room.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. I just still need to process the fact that it's over", Nom Nom turned to Grizz with a smile once again on his face. "Good thing that went well, huh?"

Grizz nodded as well and looked around the room. The large bed, many awards adorned on the walls and in cases lined side by side. "What are you gonna do with all of this?"

"I'll just keep it all here. I mean, retirement or not, it's still my place", Nom Nom chuckled. "But, I think I just wanna go back home.."

"Home?", Grizz blinked in confusion, turning back to the smaller bear.

Nom Nom blinked as well and blushed, rubbing the back of his ear in embarrassment. "Oh, I.... I meant the cave. I wanna go back to the cave."

"Oh, alright", Grizz chuckled. He leaned down and smiled as he lifted Nom Nom up. Nom Nom couldn't help but blush once again as he held tight onto the Grizzly. As they neared the front doors Nom Nom knew they would have to get through the crowd, but Nom Nom wasn't worried at all. Holding close to the bear made him feel warm and safe. He knew that he had nothing to worry about as long as he was with Grizz.