Hey, college started again and I'm back where my computer is at. So in other words, I'm back. Sorry if it took me forever to update but I'm trying to get right on it. However I'm suffering a lot of writers block so I don't know if I can keep up writing… aw well. If I stopped writing fanfiction stories altogether then I wouldn't worry about anything except for my assignments. Rest assure, those who are fans of my work, I don't plan on quitting yet but I'm thinking about it. Let me just finish up all my uncompleted stories and then see where I go from here. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter.

"You know, Murdoc-san…" Noodle slowly tried to find the right words to say. "It doesn't have to be such a bad thing… You may even be liked more if you'd…"

"Whoa now! Back up the truck!" Murdoc held up his hands in protest. "You aren't the one with the reputation of evil so it ain't your problem! But I chose to stay the way I know m'self. So I ain't restin' until I feel like m'self again."

"Well, I know I like you better this way so I don't know if I'll help…" She said rubbing her chin.

"What?" Murdoc growled slightly, not believing his ears.

"Oh, I'm sure it seems bad at first but you'll probably get used to it over time." She tried to reassure.

"I can't get used to THIS!" He protested.

"Well, if it means so much to you I MIGHT lend a hand," She smirked. "But I really wouldn't know what to do about it. You sure you don't want to wait until tomorrow before trying to solve your problem?"

"What for?" For a minute he forgotten about everything until it dawned to him. "Ah, of course… that."

"How did it come to this anyway?" She said thoughtfully. "I guess since you usually never kind, by giving it a chance (even if forced) you actually gotten used to it and your brain welcomed it as you've been doing this halfway today."

"Keep talking, Miss Know-it-all." He grunted crossing his arms. "I will never accept this and I'll force to forget what I've gone through even if it kills me!"

"Really?" She shrugged. "Good luck with that then. But what are you going to do for the rest of the day?"

"Going to drink, an' do what I usually do to get by fer today."

"You'll say you're drinking?"

"Yeah, I know what yer thinking but I need alcohol. Lots o' it. You even said it'll help m' forget what I've learned an' I sure could go with that right now."

"Fine, suit yourself."

She wasn't much in the mood discussing anymore of this. When Murdoc gets like this there isn't really much to be said. Looked like fun time was over though…

………………

Russel grimaced not liking how things had been going past these few short hours. He didn't think it was possible but Murdoc somehow managed to keep quiet. He's been trying to get on his nerves by walking up to him and tempt him in different ways to get him annoyed. Unfortunately for him it was to no avail. He ignored him and walked away (something Russel never dreamed Murdoc could do) and went into another room. He either started playing on his bass guitar or drank alcohol in the kitchen while walking around in circles.

He's been observing him and his behavior and could tell something seemed to be wrong. But he didn't care what it was. He just wanted to tease the Satanist and see him react. But how is that possible when he was constantly ignoring him (couldn't even get a 'sod off' from him) and looking so damn thoughtful about something. It was as if he shut himself off from reality and focused whatever was in his mind. At this moment he was back to drinking beer from the can while pacing around the room in deep thought.

Russel growled as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He placed this bet for a fun time and watch Murdoc humiliate himself. Not so that he only acts like mindless Zombie doing mindless things and constantly ignore him, and god forbid, even win this bet. No way that'll happen! He had to do something to get Murdoc back talking but what? Perhaps he himself wasn't enough to motivate him. He needed someone else to do the job. Someone who Murdoc could possibly never ignore…

"Hey, D." Russel motioned at 2-D who was merely passing by.

"Hmm?"

"Come here, I've a job for you."

"Really?" He said as he came up to the black drummer.

"Yeah, you see Murdoc in the other room?" He said below his average voice level.

"Uh-huh. Looks like he's trying to get drunk again."

"Yeah, do me a favor and go up to him and say something you know that will get him talking."

"Talking?" He asked.

"Yeah, he's been a little too quiet for comfort lately and knowing you you'll probably manage to say anything that'll get him screaming." He smirked almost wickedly. This is going to get entertaining again real soon.

"Well, okay but I dun really know about this…"

"What do you got to lose?" Russel said as he gave him a gentle push forward. "You know he won't hurt you… Not yet I hope."

"Okay." He agreed suddenly with an eager smile.

Russel watched 2-D enter the room with a mischievous look on his face. Murdoc saw him but chose to ignore him as well.

"Hey, Muds."

When he wasn't answering him and continued pacing 2-D started to do the same thing, pacing right behind Murdoc which annoyed the crap out of him.

"Guess wot?"

He stopped and placed a hand over his head, gripping tightly onto his beer in the other. Of course he couldn't be left alone could he now? He just wanted this day to end and forget everything.

"Hey, Muds. Guess wot!"

"What?" He mumbled disinterested as he took a sip from his beer.

"I'm pregnant."

"PFFFTS!" He spat out his beer he halfdrunk down and began choking into coughing fits.

"Wahahaha!" 2-D laughed gleefully. "Gotcha! Naw, I ain't pregnant!"

He gulped slightly when Murdoc gave him the death glare and moved in on him, grabbing him by the shirt collar.

"I knew that you…! you…"

He stopped himself when he saw Russel's head peeking at them from the far corner of the other room. He pleasingly gave Murdoc a thumbs-up as if to say 'Go on ahead and finish what you were saying'. He really wanted to see him break down and lose it anytime now. Murdoc dropped his scowl and let go of 2-D, backing away.

"You… singer you…"

"You bought it though." 2-D grinned while rubbing the edge of his shirt collar.

"I most certainly did not," He said, tempting to snap. "Yer took me by surprise, that's all. After all, yer the kind who wouldn' know 'bout the birds and the bees…"

"Oh, I know 'bout the birds and the bees." 2-D reassured.

"Do you now?"

"Yeah, birds fly and make nests and lay eggs. And bees go 'buzz' and make honey."

"Not that!" He groaned while smacking his forehead. "The other kind!"

"There's another kind of birds and bees?"

"No, no! What I mean is when a man and woman love each other… physically…"

Wait! What the hell's he doing? There was no way he was going to explain this kinda stuff to him! At least not in this current situation he wasn't. Where'd be the fun?

"What's physical love got to do with bees?"

"I'll explain it to you SOMEDAY!" He frowned slightly when he saw that Russel never left his spot. "But all I'm sayin' right now is guys can't get pregnant!"

"Really?" He looked clueless. "Wow, you mean only women can? I never knew that. So how does it work anyway?"

Murdoc was in the verge of screaming. He quickly chucked his beer down to get his tension subsided. There was no way even 2-D himself could be THAT stupid! He's probably trying to piss him off and it was working, no doubt about that.

"Good to see you talking again." Russel mused as he entered the room was his video camera, apparently taped everything so far. He held it up in front of Murdoc.

"Smile. You're on candid camera." He sang teasingly.

"Get that camera outta m' face you…! Um, you…"

"Yes, go on and tell our viewers back home what I am."

"Jest… knock it off already. T'is ain't funny no more!"

"Then why am I smiling?"

Russel kept moving forward with the camera as Murdoc continued backing away.

"Don't you have something to say?" Russel grinned slyly. "Like how much you love your main man Lucifer and how badly you wanna take a random groupie off the street and fuck her senseless?"

"I've… got nothing to say." He strained, not giving into temptations so easily. Though he never before was so tempted to grab that camera from Russel's hands and beat him with it.

"I'm sure you do." He came into a complete halt when the bassist was fully backed up against the wall. "And wouldn't it feel good to swear me off right now?"

"You are definitely pi-" He quickly stopped himself.

Crap! Can't say he's pissing me off! But he sure is succeeding…

"Yeeeeess? You were saying?"

"If this is an attempt to get me to lose, you'll have to try harder than that."

2-D who had been left forgotten left the room with other interests in his mind.

"I'm hungry."

"You about done?" Murdoc asked frowning.

Gonna kill ya, fatass! Gonna take both you and yer camera and turn you both into (insert foul mouthed language here)!

"I don't think so." Surprisingly he put his camera down and gazed at him eye-to-eye. "Now that I finally have your attention why don't we discuss about our little gentlemen's bet?"

"What's there to discuss?"

"A few things and I'm afraid it ain't for the better."

"Come again?"

"You've heard about the three strikes and you're out, right?"

"I don' wanna play baseball with ya."

"That's not what I meant." He shook his head. "I'm more thinking that I'm letting you off too easy."

"What'cha talkin' about, Russ?"

"Don't start with me on that! I told you before not to mock my favorite TV show!" He warned. "Naw, you've been sulking, and then snapping at 2-D just now. I'd say you suck at manners."

"Is that so?" Even though he kept his voice and expression calm he was tempted to kick the drummer in the groin and run.

"I want things to be more interesting here so do you think you can be a perfect gentleman for the rest of the day?"

He loved how Murdoc placed a hand over his mouth and clutched his stomach. He looked like he was about to throw up which was true to Murdoc's part. The thought of that gave him great stomach pains, the one he experienced before during the day more than once.

"No."

"Of course not!" He laughed loving every minute of this. "All I'm saying the day will end soon and I know how you love tough challenges. Well, here's a tough one for you. Think you can end this day without losing your temper even for a sec? Can you avoid temptations?"

"I don' think I can…"

He nearly shook in fear and disgust. He felt like a rat trapped in a corner helplessly about to be squashed. Russel enjoyed it of course.

"Aw, that's too bad then… I hope you aren't too attached to your Winnebago as you always let on."

"Now wait a minute…" He paused and began to think. "So no matter what happens, if I behave 'til midnight I'd win, right?"

"That is correct."

"That's all there is to it? Just behave 'til time runs out, huh?"

"Yes…" Russel frowned with suspicion.

"Oh… okay." Murdoc frowned thoughtfully. There had to be a loophole in there somewhere… right?

"Plus I'll be keeping my eyes on you." He added.

"I gotta use the bathroom…" He said, obviously an excuse to get the hell outta here.

"Whatever. Just don't be doing what you really usually do in there."

"No worries." He edged himself away from the wall and almost ran out from the room.

"You're in some sorta hurry?"

"Er… I REALLY need ta go!"

When he was gone Russel flung his head backwards and laughed hard. Now this was what he was talking about. If there is anything he loved more than food was that he was able to turn the tough cocky Satanist into jello. He had that effect on him sometimes but this was just too sweet. He really was having a good time and this day was really looking up. He mumbled something about a steak and walked out as well. He will look for Murdoc later to make sure he wasn't going to go into hiding and keep an eye on him. It'll be fun.

………………..

"All hope's not lost." He explained everything to Noodle when he arrived back in her room. "Could have been the beer but I know that I've had m' old flame back there. And it was burning like a wildfire."

"I'm not sure if I'd describe it as hope but oh well…" She shrugged.

"Yeah!" He smirked confidently. "I still got it! I never wanted to act like m'self than I did back when I was being pis- … mocked at. I bet when I thought I were turnin' nice I was only imagining it."

"You think?"

"Well… I'm guessin'." He admitted slowly. "But I won't let this day change me!"

"If that's what you think." She smirked lightly. "But perhaps you'd like to remind yourself how you can stay on your best behavior for the rest of the day."

"It shouldn' be too hard. I jest need…" He stopped himself when he remembered that it was going to be hard. Hard as hell.

"You're going to lose, aren't you?" She chuckled when she saw his near-panicked expression.

"I'm not. I jest need a motivation ta keep me going."

Saying it calmly like that made him feel ill because that sentence was meant to be screamed. He rubbed his stomach a little until the pain subsided. What was it with these stomach pains he had been getting lately? He wasn't coming down with something, was he?

"You okay?" Noodle asked when she noticed he seemed pale.

"M'fine. I just don' feel so hot s'all."

"Probably not." She changed the subject. "What do you mean you need a motivation? Isn't winning the whole motive itself?"

Murdoc got down and sat on the floor crossed legged, sulking quietly.

"Apparently it won't do. I need somet'ing that would really make it worth m' while being so miserable. I wanna get back at Russ big time right now but I can't."

"Well, I can't help you but I shouldn't let that worry me too much."

"Of course not, he ain't pickin' on you."

"Cheer up. You're probably making it a much bigger deal than it really is."

No I'm not!

"I know what'll cheer you up." She tried to sound reassuring. "Chewing gum will relax you. Want some come?"

"No thanks."

"Oh… okay. More for me then."

Gum? Yeah right! I need some smokes! Not gum! … smokes?

He thought hard. There had to be a catch in this somewhere and he just needed to find what it was. He thought back to the conversation he and Russel had.

"So no matter what happens, if I behave 'til midnight I'd win, right?"

"That is correct."

He reran that scenario in his head over again trying to see what it is he was looking for. Noodle lifted an eye as she watched him. She never saw him looking so thoughtful before. She wasn't stupid. She knew that he was up to something but thought better of it to stay outta this. Whatever will happen it wasn't going to become her problem. She hoped.

Murdoc looked up when he realized he was being stared at. She merely shrugged.

"Say, it's almost nine now." Noodle observed. "Think you can hang on for a little longer to win?"

"I know I can." Murdoc said in a low tone.

A wicked smile flashed across his face when Noodle turned her back. He certainly can.

Next: Possibly the last chapter.