It was about 6pm. The sun was starting to plunge into a depressing sunset. Depressing at least for 2D. Being held captive with a whale as your warden was probably 2D's worst nightmare. He decided it was time to wake up by falling asleep forever.

Murdoc had been keeping a close eye on 2D to make sure he didn't try anything funny. He always warned him about the whale. However, 2D managed to get his drug fix. He was sitting on the floor in his room and pulled out an old beaten up shoe box from under his bed. It was filled with all the copies of previous CDs he and his band recorded. He looked at the covers and sighed in a sad reminiscence of his past. He dug to the bottom of the box where he had his painkillers and other drugs.

He opened all the medicine containers and poured a mixture of painkillers, aspirin, and everything else he had until they were overflowing in his hand. In the box was also a small amount of liquor he had saved for himself in the occasion he needed to drink away his troubles. Hardly, enough to even get a little buzzed.

'It was better than nothing', he thought. He placed a few painkillers in his mouth and took a swig of liquor. He was trying to pace himself. Before he was able to stick a few more pills in his mouth he heard the door creak behind him. A small, masked figure crept into his room.

2D dropped his pills on the floor and stood up. He wasn't sure if the pills had started to kick in and cause these delusions or if the figure was real. He reached out to touch the figure. It was real.

"2D?" questioned the figure.

"Who are you?" questioned 2D in a hazy glance.

"It's me, Noodle."

"But… Noodle was missing or something right?"

"2D, it's me. I've grown up."

Noodle looked down to the floor littered with pills and liquor. She sighed in discomfort.

"I see you haven't changed much," she whispered disappointedly.

"Wot do you mean Noods?" 2D asked in her old nickname.

"I guess I just worried about you guys…but I wonder if you ever worried about me…"

"Noodle, ay' always worried about you. Ay' always wondered what had happened."

"I was so scared when Feel Good Inc. fell. I felt so alone. That's how you've must have felt in that song."

"Windmill, windmill for the land; turn forever hand in hand," 2D started to sing.

"Turn forever hand in hand," Noodle started to join in.

"Take it all there on your stride."

"It is tinking, falling down."

"Love forever, love is free…"

"….Let's turn forever…..you and me?"

Both of them grew silent and stared at each other.

"Noodle?" asked 2D.

"Yes? 2D?" answered Noodle.

"Why do you 'ide underneath there? Ay'm sure you are lovely."

"Oh no!" Noodle hid her already covered face and turned away. 2D attempted to take off the mask. He pulled the ribbon before Noodle had a chance to fight back. The mask hit the floor and the room grew silent.

2D looked at Noodle's face. There were scars across her face as well as burn marks. However, her green eyes appeared to shine through all that.

"Ay' don't know why you 'ave to wear that mask. A beautiful face like yours should never be hidden from the world."

Noodle's eyes brightened up and she looked directly at 2D. A hot steamy tear then rolled down her cheek and she began crying.

"Oh Noodles. Ay' didn't mean to force your mask off. I think its ok. I hope I didn't damage it", 2D said as he oafishly picked up the mask.

"No," Noodle whispered, "it's just that you're the first person to ever think that I was beautiful."

"Wot?"

Noodle nodded and wiped a tear off her eye. 2D placed the mask on his bed and leaned towards Noodle to hug her. He never realized how she remained so short even after all these years. 2D wiped her tears away with his index finger and smiled his signature toothless grin at her. Noodle looked up at him and blushed.

"Noodle? Are you gonna be okay?"

"I think I will," Noodle nodded as she kissed him on the cheek.

2D blushed. Noodle was so different now. She wasn't the little girl who showed up in the FedEx crate so long ago. She was mature in every aspect. Never has a woman looked so beautiful to 2D. He nuzzled close to her. He couldn't help it. The smell of the beach settled on Noodle and the aroma traveled to 2D's nose. What was this strange attraction?

Noodle had missed everyone for a long time, but she felt especially close to never felt this kind of embrace in a long time. She wrapped her arms around him and sighed in content. She then directed her eyes towards 2D. She felt the same attraction.

They turned their faces towards each other. Their eyes connected and they slowly leaned towards each other. 2D lifted her chin to guide her lips towards his. Noodle stood on her tippy toes to reach him. Their lips softly touched and then pressed against each other. As they finally, pulled away Noodle looked up at 2D.

Her heart was racing extremely fast. She didn't even realize that she was out of breath. 2D felt the same way. He couldn't stop smiling at her. When Noodle looked again at 2D she blushed and buried her face in 2D's shirt.

"Noodle?"

"Yes, 2D?"

"Ay' fink ay' luv ya."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Noodle's face lit up. She never realized how badly she wanted him to say those words up until now.

"I love you too, 2D," Noodle replied with a modest smile.

2D smiled brighter than ever and picked Noodle off the floor and twirled her around.

"Say 'et again," he jokingly demanded.

"I love you," Noodle said with a smile.