A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this to you. I didn't have time to write this weekend. Kay, I'll stop bugging you now.
Christmas Eve
"Well, glad this over with," Murdoc said aloud to himself, leaning over on the broom he had been using to sweep out the spare room in the bunker. He'd stayed down there all night, painting and laying down new flooring. With a sigh, he got up and headed back up to the studios, he had some gifts to wrap.
Walking towards his Winnebago, he noticed 2D standing outside his bedroom door. Murdoc gave the lanky singer a wave causing him to grin like an idiot, showing off the gap in his teeth.
Murdoc pulled all the gifts he'd bought out from the closet and started on them. He was terrible at wrapping, though. The presents looked like they'd been wrapped by a five year old. But hey, they'd go with the presents Noodle and 2D had wrapped.
When he was finished, he stored them back in the closet and stepped outside. Murdoc inhaled, taking in the delicious smell wafting from inside the studios. His stomach gave a loud grumble and Murdoc realized he hadn't eaten anything since the day before. Hmmm…a sandwich sounds lovely.
In the kitchen, Murdoc had to maneuver around Russel and Noodle, who were cooking Christmas dinner for later on that night. There were bowls filled with potato salad, cake mixes, and flour littering the counter. A ding issued from an egg timer and Russel pulled out a pie from the over, setting it on the burners to cool off. Murdoc made himself a sandwich and sat at the table, chewing viciously.
"Mmmm…smells great, Russ," Russel looked over to the sleep deprived bassist and arched an eyebrow at him. "Thanks. You eatin dinner with us tonight? Or you gon' hang around with that devil bird o' yours?" Murdoc laughed a little, spraying chewed up mush on the table, getting him another agitated look from Russel. "I'll be eatin with you guys. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've been up all night and I fancy a nap before dinner,"
With that, Murdoc rose from the table and shuffled out to his Winnebago. Inside, he lied down, loving the delicious warm feeling of the blankets and soon drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile, back in the studios…
A very frustrated 2D was walking around, searching for that little orange bottle that held all his precious pills. Whack! "Oof. Dammit!" He'd ran head on into the wall. His head hurt so bad that his vision was blurring. He slumped down to the floor, crying.
"2D-san? What wrong?" He looked up, there was someone standing in front of him, but he couldn't quite make out who. "2D-san! You hurt!" A tiny hand slid across his cheek.
"Noodle, s'at you?"
"Yes. You st-stay here. Noodle be back," 2D could hear tiny footsteps disappearing down the hall and sighed to himself. Seconds later, she had returned, along with the familiar jingling. Ah, there's nothing like the satisfying clicking of pills being shook around in their plastic container.
2D moaned in ecstasy as he popped the lid off and swallowed a few of the large white pills. Something cold touched the side of his face, making him gasp. "It ok, 2D-san. You hurt. Bleed good, see?" Noodle held out the washcloth she'd been dabbing 2D's face with. There was blood smeared across it.
"Ah, fanks love. Dunno what I'd do without you," Noodle beamed down at him and continued washing off 2D's cut and applied a pink Hello Kitty band aid for good measure. By now, his pills had started to kick in and his vision was clearing.
Noodle's smiling face came into view. "2D-san all better? You p-play with Noodle?" She asked hopefully. 2D nodded and got to his feet, "Sure love, what'cha wanna play?"
An hour and a half later, Noodle had beat 2D in every board game they owned, including Gorillaz-opoly. "Noodle, 'ow'd you get so good at these games?" She giggled and flopped backwards onto the floor. "Del play game with Noodle. Del not good at game. Noodle win. Champion of world! No one beat Noodle!" She jumped up and held her arms in the air like a wrestler that had just been declared the winner of a particularly tough match.
2D snorted and clutched his stomach, trying not to laugh. "Noodle?" Russel peeked around the corner into the studio. Noodle lowered her arms and grinned at Russel, "Ne, Russel-san?"
"You said you wanted ta help with the potatoes. I'm startin em now, so if you wanna help, you better get up here," He turned and left. "Go on, love. I'll clean this mess up," 2D gestured to the game scattered across the floor. Noodle ran up and hugged the blue haired man before rushing out of the room.
2D cleaned up the mess and looked up at the clock. It was nearly six, and if Russel was starting the potatoes, then dinner was going to be soon. I should go and get Murdoc, maybe bring him a drink.
In the kitchen, 2D stopped off to grab a few things and then proceeded to Murdoc's Winnebago.
He opened the door slowly, and stepped inside. Cortez was sleeping, perched atop the drivers seat, his feathery head under his wing. 2D chuckled quietly and walked toward the back of the Winne, spotting Murdoc curled up under a mound of blankets.
2D stood in awe at the sight of the older man sleeping, his dark hair messy, hanging in his face. Murdoc stirred in his sleep and turned over, making sleepy little sounds. Without thinking, 2D reached over and pushed a few locks of hair out of Murdoc's face.
The bassist jerked awake and sat up, panting and staring at the man before him. "Wot the bloody hell are you doing?" 2D gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry, but dinner is gonna be done soon. I thought I'd come get you," Murdoc just stared and then nodded towards the cup in 2D's hand, "What's that?" The singer looked down and remembered he'd gotten Murdoc a drink before coming to see him.
"Oh yea, here. S'for you," He handed the cup to Murdoc who gave him a reproachful look.
"What is it?" He asked, eyeing the thick substance in the cup.
"S'eggnog silly. Wif some rum of course," Murdoc's face brightened and he took a large gulp of the eggnog. The drink slid down his throat, the eggnog coating it so the rum didn't burn. "Thanks," Murdoc said, smiling warmly at 2D.
"Wewl, c'mon. Get dressed, it's almost dinner time," 2D rummaged through Murdoc's closet, finding some clean clothes and tossing them on the bed next to Murdoc. "I'll wait outside,"
2D fumbled with the door and stepped outside into the fresh air. He whistled to himself while he waited for Murdoc to get changed.
Inside the Winne, Murdoc stumbled around, pulling on a pair of fresh pants and a clean shirt. He picked up his inverted cross necklace and fastened it around his neck.
Still whistling to himself, 2D could hear Murdoc coming and opened the door for him. 2D just smiled stupidly and took ahold of Murdoc's hand and, together, they walked across the carpark and into the studios.
"A'ight everybody, sit down," Russel instructed the rest of the band as they entered the kitchen, their stomachs rumbling and aching. The sight of all the food only made their stomachs groan louder. A magnificent looking turkey sat in the middle of the table, the skin was a golden brown and slick with butter. A large bowl of fluffy mashed potatoes sat next to the turkey, along with a pan of green bean casserole, a plate of just-baked rolls, stuffing, and a large gray boat filled to the brim with thick brown gravy.
They all took they're places at the table and looked to Russel for further instructions.
"Dig in," he said.
That was all it took, the four of them reached out, filling their plates. Murdoc had to admit, this was pretty fun. They sat around all night, eating, talking and laughing through firsts, seconds, thirds, and dessert.
Around nine, Noodle started showing signs of sleepiness. "Girl, you tired?" Russel asked smiling at the cute faces she made as she yawned. "N-n-nooo, Russel-san. Not t-t-tiiiired," She rubbed her eyes and smiled up at Russel.
They cleaned up and Russel sent Noodle to change into pajamas. Murdoc had gone to take a shower, leaving Russel and 2D alone. "Man, Russ, that was delicious," 2D patted his stomach. "Thanks. Ya know, I always liked cookin, ever since I was a tiny little thing like Noodle," 2D chuckled, imagining a tiny 10 year old Russel.
The two of them looked up as Noodle re-entered the room, clad in her Powerpuff Girl pajamas, rubbing her eyes some more. "'Eya Noods, want me ta read yeh a story?" Noodle smiled sleepily and nodded. 2D scooped Noodle up and carried her into her room.
"Right, love, what'cha wanna hear tonight?" Noodle face brightened and she ran over to her bookcase and pulled out a large green book. "This one, 2D-san," She shoved the book in his face. "Awright, whadda we got here? The Night B'fore Christmas. Okay, go get comfy," Noodle got into her bed and pulled the blankets up to her chin, eager to hear the story.
"Twas tha night b'fore Christmas, and all frough the house, not a creature was stirrin', not ev'n a mouse…" Before the story was halfway over, Noodle was sound asleep. 2D tucked her blankets in around her, and kissed her cheek.
Murdoc had finished his shower and was sitting in his Winne, having another drink. Murdoc had never imagined that Christmas could be this enjoyable. He glanced at the clock hanging in the kitchen. It was almost midnight, he needed to get the presents he'd gotten for everyone under the tree.
He finished the last of his drink and got up, fishing his gifts from the closet and smiling to himself.
Awww, Murdoc's all excited for Christmas! Gorillaz-opoly -Snorts- Wouldn't that be a fun version of Monopoly?
Thank you everyone for the reviews, I'm glad you like the story!!