Russel woke up with smile, as today was his favorite holiday. Today was Thanksgiving, he could eat as much as he wanted and not care what the others thought. However, stress clouded his mind as his smile faded. Today was also the day the Gorillaz house would be extremely crowded, and Russel would get to meet Jeiel's family.
Of course, they all had briefly met Jeiel's family before, but today all of the Gorillaz would have to hangout the entire day with Jeiel's family. They dreaded being judged, afraid that Jeiel's family would hate them. A similar threat crossed Jeiel's mind. Today she would get to meet 2D's parents. Jeiel was a bit shocked to find out that Noodle had no family, and Murdoc was very sensitive about that whole subject so she didn't ask. Russel's family weren't able to make it for Thanksgiving dinner either. Jeiel had always grown up with her family surrounding her at Thanksgiving, so she sympathized the other band-mates that weren't as lucky as her.
Meeting Jeiel's family was so nerve wrecking to 2D. He had already used more pain killers today than he had in months. Fear gripped his stomach as a knocking came to the door. He opened the door with some relief as his parents stepped in.
"Who is it?" Jeiel asked 2D as she came down the stairs from their room. Jeiel had been wearing a lacy black dress with pink trim around the neckline and hem. Her hair was down and straight. A large black bow protruded from her hair.
As Jeiel walked up to 2D, 2D began introducing them.
"Mum, dad, this is Jeiel, my girlfriend. Jeiel, this my mum, Rachel, and my dad, David." He finished and the three politely greeted each other.
"Nice to meet you." Jeiel told them. 2D's parents looked at her with judgmental eyes. Jeiel's heart began racing as they stared at her.
"Wow, 2D, how'd you manage to get her?" 2D's dad asked. Jeiel began feeling a bit nervous and uncomfortable. 2D was about to say something when his father interrupted him.
"I mean, she's a looker, polite, kind, and the first one of your girlfriends I didn't regret meeting." His dad continued. Jeiel stifled a sigh of relief at the fact that 2D's parents liked her.
"The real question is, is he holding you here against your will?" 2D's mother asked jokingly with a laugh.
With that, the four made their way to the couch to continue their chat. Noodle greeted 2D's parents sweetly. Russel said hi from the kitchen as he was preparing Thanksgiving meals.
Murdoc said "Hi" in a short, nervous voice. 2D's parents glared at the man that had damaged their son's eyes. Suddenly another knock came at the door.
"That must be my family." Jeiel commented, walking to the door. As it opened, a loud chatter of "Jeiel!", "Welcome come in!", "Happy Thanksgiving!", "I brought some food.", "Where is this 2D, fellow?", and "When do we get to eat?" filled the house while Jeiel's family filed into the house.
Once Jeiel's family was in the living room, Jeiel began introducing everybody.
"The man sitting in the corner looking like he's going to die, is Murdoc. The girl sitting on the couch with the purple hair, is Noodle. The friendly looking fellow cooking in the kitchen is Russel. The one with the blue hair is 2D, my boyfriend. And sitting next to him is his parents, Rachel and David." Jeiel explained to her family. Jeiel had thought it would be best not to tell her family that Murdoc was the drunk driver that had put them in the hospital, and the Gorillaz agreed.
Standing next to Jeiel was a short, plump women with very pale skin like Jeiel's. Her hair was medium length and dark brown with small curls, her eyes brown. Jeiel introduced this women to be her mother, Cheyenne, Chey for short. Standing behind Chey was Daniel, a tall muscular man that with tan skin, short brown hair and brown eyes. Daniel was Jeiel's step-father. After them, stood a man, and a woman holding a toddler with a little girl at her feet. The man was Ian, Jeiel's older brother. Ian had a bit of a threatening appearance, he was extremely tall and largely built. It was very apparent that Ian was muscular and could knock someone out in one punch. Ian had dark hair, almost black with tan skin and brown eyes, compared to Jeiel they looked nothing alike. The woman holding the toddler was Ian's wife, Penelope, Penny for short. Penny had short blonde hair and blue eyes, looking at Jeiel's sister-in-law, you would think that she was Jeiel's biological sibling instead of Ian. The small toddler that Penny was holding (that looked like a miniature Ian) was Mike, their son. The girl at Penny's feet was also their child. The little girl's name was Annalyn. Annalyn was tan with brown wavy hair, and brown eyes. A smile spread across her face as she greeted the Gorillaz then slammed into Jeiel hugging her legs.
"I miss'd you, Auntie J." Annalyn said still hugging Jeiel. Jeiel laughed and bent down to be face to face with the kid.
"I missed you too, how's kindergarten?" Jeiel asked.
"It okay. Is that your boyfriend? Why he got black eyes?" Annalyn asked walking close to 2D, observing him.
2D laughed, "Oh, its a long story, mate." 2D said to the kid.
Her eyebrows went up in confusion, "Mate, whats a mate?" Annalyn asked, but then began running around the living room before anybody could answer.
Jeiel's mother began talking to 2D's parents, Penny was still holding Mike, trying to get Annalyn to calm down. Dan and Ian were talking to 2D.
Chaos began as Annalyn started asking Murdoc a ton of questions.
"Why are you alone?" Annalyn asked Murdoc.
"Because I want to be." Murdoc answered.
"Why?" She asked again.
"Because I just want to be." Murdoc answered again.
"Do you got any family?" Annalyn asked insensitively, as all children do. When Murdoc didn't answer, she asked a new question.
"Why are his eyes weird?" Annalyn asked, pointing to 2D.
Murdoc laughed then said, "I caused his eyes to become black." This only brought new questions to Annalyn.
"How?" She asked.
"I hit him with a car." Murdoc said with ease. Annalyn's eyes grew wide with fear.
"That's not nice." Annalyn stated.
"I'm not very nice." Murdoc explained.
"Why?" Annalyn asked. Murdoc sighed heavily.
Noodle retreated to the kitchen. Jeiel's mother still too occupied by creating small talk with the parents of her daughter's boyfriend. Penny changed Mike's diaper, as the toddler started crying. Dan was glaring at 2D, and Ian was hounding him with questions. 2D sat back with fear of what to do. Jeiel tried defending him.
"What are your intentions with my sister?" Ian asked 2D.
"Stop it, Ian." Jeiel told her brother.
"Well I don't know him, I don't know if he is good enough for you." Ian said defensively.
Then Dan got up, "Prove to us that you are good enough for Jeiel." He said to 2D. 2D only slunk down farther in the couch and pulled out his pills as his head began to hurt from stress and fear.
"So he's a druggy!" Ian accused 2D.
"Now you're going to tell me you smoke." Dan shot at 2D.
"Well I don't anymore..." 2D said but was cut off by Ian.
"Meaning you used to, two strikes, one more and you're out." Jeiel got mad.
"That's enough you two! Grow up and act like men, 2D is a good person and is definitely good enough for me!" Jeiel said defensively.
"2D? What's your real name, kid?" Dan asked 2D.
"Stuart Tusspot." 2D replied.
"You better not be dating Jeiel just for sex, Tusspot, or I swear I will..." Before Dan could finish his sentence, Jeiel cut him, off saying, "What's wrong with you, why would you even insinuate that?"
Dan answered saying, "I am a male, I know what men really want from women." He said. Jeiel awkwardly put her hands to her head.
"I'm just being the good father you always wanted." Dan said. Now he had hit a nerve with Jeiel, she was already irritated with him, now he had reminded her of the father situation. Without warning tears began streaming down her face. Jeiel hated crying in front of people, so she ran upstairs to be alone and away from the madness. 2D looked back at the two, finally gaining courage to defend himself.
"I care so much for Jeiel, yes, I have made bad decisions before, but haven't we all? Do I deserve her? Most likely not, but I am honored to have her as my girlfriend. I am not dating her for sex, I love her personality and I love her. I would never let any'fing bad happen to her. Now instead of being interrogated and judged by you two, I'm gonna make sure she's alright!" Without hesitation, after 2D said this, he left to go find Jeiel.
2D found Jeiel crying on their bed.
"Hey, 'ya okay?" He asked her.
"Yeah, I'm just crying tears of joy." Jeiel said sarcastically. 2D sat down next to her.
"Do 'ya wanna talk about it, love?" He asked her. Jeiel picked up her head and wiped her tears away.
"I'm just a girl with daddy issues." Jeiel said.
2D looked at Jeiel with concern then asked with caution, "Daddy issues?" Jeiel sighed.
"So Ian is my half-brother, we have the same mother but different father's. My mother was pregnant with him when she was really young and never told Ian's father, who was out of her life. So that is why Ian has my mom's last name, Kelly. Then my mom married my father and got pregnant with me. When she told my father, he was so excited. However, on the night I was born, my father never showed up to the hospital. She gave me his last name, Marqui, thinking that maybe my father had fallen asleep or was working and that's why he couldn't make it to my birth. When she returned home, his stuff was gone. He was gone. My father wanted nothing to do with me, and I had to grow up without a father. Dan had promised to be the father I had always dreamed and wanted, and tonight when he reminded me of that promise, he reminded me of my own biological father's disappearance. Always thinking I was never good enough and that's why he left. It just brought up sad feelings." Jeiel finished telling 2D.
2D hugged Jeiel then said, "That wasn't your dad. That bloke downstairs that hates me, he's your dad." 2D said with some humor. Jeiel smiled a bit when he said this.
"I don't care, biological or not, the title of family is earned, not given. Dan really loves you and is just protecting you, he is your real father." 2D said to Jeiel. She nodded, and they both began walking back downstairs.
When they returned, Dan and Ian looked guilty and conflicted.
"I'm sorry." They both said to Jeiel.
"And we're sorry the way we have been treating you. You care for our Jeiel, and I can tell you will protect her. 2D, we misjudged you, and I'm sorry. You definitely are good enough for Jeiel." Dan told 2D accepting. He then held out his hand to shake 2D's like they had arranged an agreement. 2D shook his hand, then did the same to Ian. 2D was so happy that he had earned the blessings to be Jeiel's boyfriend.
Murdoc was feeling guilty facing the family he put in the hospital, but as the night progressed, they joked and laughed with him. The Gorillaz had nothing to worry about because they and Jeiel's family, and 2D's parents had all gotten along and they all had a great Thanksgiving. Everybody was thankful that they had eachother.
"Do you want me to help cook?" Jeiel asked Russel as he was taking forever to finish.
All at once in the same urgency in their voices, the Gorillaz and Jeiel's family yelled "No!" at the same time.
Everybody began laughing at the understanding of Jeiel's horrible cooking skills as she grumbled, "Well then...a simple no from one person would have sufficed."
