I had writers block for a while. Well not writers block, but too many ideas. However, thanks to the fans who answered my messages. I decided to do multiple stories at once so it may take a little longer, but I hope the results come out well.

"I'm very happy to see you're back Noodle. Nobody could replace you," said Murdoc as he shooed away the cyborg.

I sighed and looked at him. I took another deep breath and hugged him.

"I actually missed you Murdoc," I said.

Murdoc hugged me back. I wasn't sure why I forgave him so quickly. It was all true, but this was what I had to do. Mr. Kyuzo had told me that. There was still someone missing and I looked up and pulled away from Murdoc.

"Where's 2D?" I asked.

"Face-ache? He's in his room. You can take the elevator to see him. He's not used to visitors so be easy HAHA no go in and scare him if you want. That whale has him scared stiff," Murdoc answered.

"Ya' mean da whale I tossed away?" asked Russel.

I walked into the building while he and Murdoc started to argue. It was like old times. They hadn't changed. Was it just me who changed? I still felt unsure of myself and I walked through the entrance of the building. I was in Murdoc's study and I stepped into a crude elevator. B2 had the label that read "2D's Room" on it. I pressed the button and it lit up. I listened to the elevator music as I felt myself descend. The door opened and I quietly walked in.

The doors had made a horrible creaking sound and I looked at a clock in his room. It was 6pm already? I was suprised. 2D was about to take a bunch of pills. Aspirin, painkillers, everything he probably had. He dropped all of them on the floor when he heard me come in. I had covered my face with the mask because believe it or not I didn't want to scare him.

He looked at me and walked up to me. 2D looked like he was feeling sick. His eyes were red and heavy as if he had already taken a ton of pills. He was in some kind of shock and probably thought I was a hallucination. He reached out and touched me.

"2D?" I asked.

"Who are you?" he asked me with his hazy gaze.

He looked like he was going to collapse. My heart shattered to see him like this. I felt like I could compare with his pain now. I felt a strong sympathy for him and then smiled under my mask.

"It's me, Noodle," I said.

"But... Noodle was missing or summfink right?"

He was obviously messed up from the drugs since he was having trouble trying to piece the whole thing together. I gently guided him to the answer.

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

I looked at the floor that had multiple-colored pills scattered along the floor and some liquor staining the rug in one place. It bothered me that he was still on his self-destructive path. I sighed deeply at the thought of where he could end up with that addiction of his, but I guess I was not so different from him. I have been pretty self-destructive myself. Still he mattered to me.

"I see you haven't changed much," I whispered trying to hold back my feelings of disappointment and compassion.

"Wot do ya mean, Noods?" he asked me.

No one has called me Noods in 7 years. Has it really been that long? It reminded me of my childhood when life was so much easier and happier. Things made so much more sense because I was too niave to know there was a world outside what I knew. Ignorant of my ignorance...

"I guess I just worried about you guys...but I wonder if you ever worried about me..." I drifted off into my thought again.

Why was I really here? Did they even look for me after I was gone? I wanted to know.

"Noodle, ay' always worried about yew. Ay' always wondered wot 'ad 'appened."

I looked away from him for a second. He worried about me? Something was different now. I don't know if I was glad he cared or if... I don't know, but something felt so different. Some new type of connection. I felt like I finally understood him.

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

"Windmill, windmill for the land; turn forever hand in hand," he began to sing.

I was so happy in that video, but El Manana had corrupted my memories of that.

"Turn forever hand in hand," I sang along.

"Take it all there on your stride."

"It is tinking, falling down."

"Love forever, love is free…"

"….Let's turn forever…..you and me?"

The moment I sang that line I stopped and stared at him. He stared at me too. There was something there. I felt something new. Butterflies formed in my stomach and I just wanted to stay there with him. It was a wanting. I kept staring in the dark voids and just got lost. I wanted to embrace him.

"Noodle?" he asked and broke the trance.

"Yes? 2D?" I answered hesitantly.

"Why do you 'ide underneath dare? Ay'm sure yew are lovely,"

"Oh no!" I barked at him and turned away. It was redundant since I already had a mask, but I felt embarassed and it was instinct. I felt the blood rush in my cheeks. He could never feel the same way about me and I suspected he already knew I was acting kind of strange. If he saw me he would think I was an ugly freak like everyone else thought.

He reached out for my mask and pulled the ribbon in the back of my mask. The knot was undone and before I had a chance to fight back it came off. The mask hit the floor and the room became silence. I felt my face grow cold in its nakedness. He looked at me and my horrible scars and burns. My eyes began to tear, but I tried to fight it.

"Ay' don't know why yew 'ave to wear dat mask. A bewtiful face like yours should never be hidden from the world."

My shameful eyes looked up at him. Beautiful? I was always labeled ugly since I was scarred. I couldn't hold the tears back any more and I began to cry, but not because I was sad. In fact I was so happy. The hot tears ran down my cheeks and hit his carpet.

"Oh Noodles. Ay' din't mean to force your mask off. I think it's ok. I 'ope I didn't damage it," he said nervously as he uneasily picked my my mask.

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

"Wot?"

He seemed shocked about the idea. I nodded as I wiped a tear. 2D placed the mask on his bed and leaned towards me and gave me a big hug. He was so warm and I leaned into him. His body was so warm and I felt so protected in his arms. I didn't want him to let go. He was so tall in my comparison. He looked at me and wiped away any last tears with his index finger. With the final tears gone he gave me his signtaure toothless grin. I was enchancted by it and couldn't help, but gaze at it with a blushing face.

"Noodle? Are you gonna be okay?" he asked.

"I think I will," I nodded and kissed him on the cheek for some odd reason.

He blushed as I did that. He cuddled me and held me closer and more tightly. I was suprised he responded that way. I wasn't even sure why I kissed him. I think I had just realized what I was feeling this whole time with him. It was so sudden though. My heart was racing in such suprise.

"Noodle?" he asked abruptly/

"Yes, 2D?" I answered dreamily.

"Ay' fink ay' luv ya."

"Really?"

Oh my gosh. He loved me. My heart hit the ceiling and I felt like I was floating. The world disappered with those words. I was never this happy. I was coming out of my cacoon. I instantly responded.

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

He smiled at me with an even brighter grin and then picked me up and twirled me around.

"Say 'et again," he demanded jokingly.

"I love you," I smiled.