"What the bloody hell are you even doing here?" Was his first question, after accusing his uncle of the unimaginable?

Paul looked at him like he was crazy or something, as if getting insulted wasn't enough. "I came for the reunion of course". He scratched his spiked purple hair as he laughed. "Is this some kind of trick Stuart or are you just pulling my leg?"

"That's not what I meant Paul", snapped his nephew, gritting his teeth at him. "You come marching over here uninvited and expect me to welcome you with open arms?! What kind of fool do yeh take me for?!"

"Yeh know wot", Stu held up a hand right when Paul was about to speak. "Don't bother. You've caused me nothing but pain ever since I got here".

"I've missed yeh too Stuart", Paul said quietly over 2D's shaky breaths. "You always were happy teh see me yeh know". His eyes for a moment seemed a bit hollow (In general of course). Unlike 2D's eyes, his were very much blue like his younger brother's and appeared innocent to the human eye.

"So…does that mean yeh won't forgive me then?"

"Huh?" 2D blinked stupidly, "F-forgive you?" Oh great, he just let his guard down.

"Yeah", Paul smiled. "Yeh know", he rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortable. "For what I did to yeh back then…all the times that I…it was unnecessary and I should've been more careful around you - -"

2D jerked away from his uncle's touch in an attempt to console. "Why should I forgive you?" he demanded. "You've been molesting me since I was 12, in this room mind you, why should I forgive you Paul?!!!"

"Because…" Paul sighed, rubbing those tired eyes of his. "I'm a much different man than I was before Stu…I have kids now…well at least A kid, One of them ain't mine but a guest here in our humble abode, and I've been setting a good example for them as well as myself…I've changed Stu, honest…yeh gotta believe me this time".

Behind the shades, it was hard to tell whether he was lying or not, but 2D knew him too well to fall for a trick like that. "I wasn't born yesterday Paul", he snapped, smacking his hand away when he tried to touch him again. "I know what 'changing' mean for you; you're up to your old tricks again!"

"No Stu, no tricks I promise", his uncle insisted, putting on a good face. "It's doing well for me Stu, that's why I came up here…to tell you that I'm not doing it anymore. Now that I have a son of my own to take care of…you'd like him Stu-Pot, he's a good boy, just like you were when you were his age".

2D shook his head, resisting him. "How do I know you're not lying?" 'It wouldn't be the first time you'd lie to me yeh stinking bastard', was what he really wanted to tell him. That'd wipe the smirk off his so called 'angelic' face.

It was then his hand finally made contact with his shoulder. "Stu…"

2D flinched, but didn't push away. He somehow lost the will to move. Oh no…it's happening again….I'm losing my grip.

Tears were starting to come, tears which he had held back since youth…and hidden from everyone for a long time. "I'm sorry", his voice was in his ear. "I'm sorry for hurting you like this…it was wrong". Stu held back the tears, afraid to look at him, afraid of even speaking in case he might start crying again so he kept his mouth shut, along with the ability to feel. His uncle's touch was numb to him as ever, just like when he was little. "Yeh want to meet my son?" Paul asked, squeezing his shoulder again. "He's waiting for us downstairs, including your mum and dad; they're preparing dinner right now".

2D gulped. "Alright", he sighed resentfully, able to find his voice again, letting Paul lead him out his old room and down the stairs…with an arm around his shoulder…yep…this was definitely like old times alright. Once again he was letting Paul get away with it, just like before. Damn, why'd he have to give in so easily to him like this? He's weak that's why, just like Cousin Dave would keep telling him over and over again at recess. 'You're a bloody weakling Tosspot, a bloody big fat weakling, just like you're no good father!' And it always ended with Stu getting a fresh Indian burn on the arm afterwards once he took his lunch account away from him again. Then he'd come running home in shame, crying to his mother about bullies picking on him, and because of his promise, he made it up and told on other kids instead who ended up hating him for doing so because they got suspension for weeks, even expelled. It was half the reason why young Stu never had any friends that year…

"Gregory", Paul's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Son, could you come over here for a minute?"

They were downstairs now. Seconds later, a somewhat peaky tallish boy came running from the kitchen looking small yet frail and a little out of breath. "Yeah dad", he panted, leaning on his knees for support. "What is it?"

"Stu", Paul squeezed his shoulder again (2D squirmed unpleasantly inside). "I'd like yeh to meet my son, Gregory Pot. Gregory, this is Stuart, your cousin, he's the famous singer I was telling you about from that band Gorillaz kiddo, what do you think?"

"Oh", the boy named Gregory blushed like mad as he gave the singer a good look over. "Hi…um…you look taller in person". He was so shy…even more than 2D. "Hello", he coughed back in reply, trying not to stare at the kid's head which was incredibly round underneath that baseball cap. He was white as a sheet, more white than his shirt even, and his brown eyes were surrounded in a dark mask like a raccoon, and black pants which seemed too tight for him, but looked as though he didn't mind the tightness that much. Not to mention his hands were covered in brown garden gloves…how odd indeed.

"Um dad", Gregory recovered from his shy state. "Uncle David says it's time for dinner".

The feast began.

- - -

2D looked around the table, observing the guests with unusual interest. "Uh dad…I thought you said this was a family reunion".

"It is Stu-Pot".

"Then why", scowled 2D, "Are only 2 members present?"

So far, all he could see was his mum, dad, uncle Paul, cousin Gregory, and some black kid he never met or seen before, sitting a the table like all's well in a table of fourteen seats like merry, merry kings.

David caught on to his son's expression and coughed. "Well son…I was going to explain it to you on the phone earlier but you hung up so I might as well tell you now since you're here and awake, as you know… your mum's family hadn't exactly been warming up to me since I married her so you knew they weren't going to come, except for Dillon and Hillary but they're expecting a slight delay till tomorrow in the flight….The rest of the Pots couldn't make it this time…so…our little get together will be a little short this year but…at least you're here Stu, that's all that counts".

"What about me?" Gregory piped.

"Of course you too Gregory", smiled David and the boy beamed through his mask proudly. "How's your remission coming?"

"Oh…it's going fine", said Gregory, scooping a mouthful of lettuce into his mouth. "The doctor told me I need five years till I'm completely cured; I've only done three months and 2 years so I have a long way to go".

"He has cancer?" 2D hissed under his breath to David, passing the salad over to his mother. "Oh aye", he nodded darkly. "He had it since Paul adopted him three years ago…poor lad, he nearly didn't stand a chance and that chemotherapy cost him so much money…but you know your uncle, he wanted to help the boy get better so he stood by his side till he got better…and he did".

"Yep, that I did David", agreed Paul, listening to the conversation, giving his son a good pat on the shoulder, "I wouldn't let anything bad happen to Gregory here…nope, I don't even let him out of my sight when he takes the trash out".

The boy sitting beside Gregory shifted a little in his seat while 2D couldn't help but secretly shudder. He watches his son take out the trash? That's creepy. He was starting to wonder if he really did change, or if he was just putting on an act like he did before…or maybe…

"Uh, who's your friend there Greg?" he asked, trying not to look at the close contact between Paul and his son. Gregory blinked. "Oh, this is Michael, my friend from next door; he came with me to see my family reunion huh Mike?"

The boy called Mike merely shrugged with a slow sigh, more interested in his plate rather than his friend right now. "He's…a little shy right now", Greg laughed nervously, shifting his eyes in a peculiar manner. "He's not used to strangers, especially people who're from famous rock bands like 2D here, right Mike?"

"Whatever", intoned his strange companion, getting unusually picky with his bread?

"By the way 2D", Gregory suddenly changed the subject. "What's it like being in a rock band, is it exciting like really cool and stuff?"

"Uh...it is", he said, giving a weak smile at Gregory's countennance. "Um...we get to work at a recording studio and...rehearse and...sing with this really amazing guitarrist named Noodle, who's Japanese, and..."

Gregory's friend suddenly shot up from his seat. "I'm so sick of people talking about sex!"

"Huh?" 2D along with everyone else stopped eating and gaped at him stupidly from his beserk announcement. Where did that come from?

"I am so sick of people talking about sex", he said again, growing louder at the second. "All I hear you people talk is 'sex this', 'sex that', sex, sex, sex, like I really care what your vagina or the penis looks like, or whether you get a stinking orgasm when you thrust like a mad ape, its DISGUSTING!"

"Michael", Gregory hissed pulling on his arm. "Shut up, you're gonna get us in trouble!"

"Oh like I give a damn anymore", he snapped, pulling away from his friend's grip. "Like your father doesn't have enough experience -!"

"Young man", David's tone was even with the boy's hot temper. "Either you calm down or..."

"Oh save it old man I'm going to my room alright", snapped Michael, throwing what looked like a dirty look at Paul before storming out. "And don't come after me you Mother-!"

Rachel immediately went over and covered Gregory's ears before the dirty swear was fully enhanced, followed by a loud slam to the door upstairs. The impact shook the entire room afterwards, then an eerie silence.

Everyone, except for Paul, had their mouths hanging open in shock from what had just happened. "Um..." Gregory pulled away from Rachel's hands looking unusually freaked out. "Whatever he said, he didn't mean it Uncle David, honest!"

"Could I see you and your father for a moment", said David, a slight frown crossing his face. "I need to speak with you now".

With a tremble, Gregory nodded and slowly jumped down from his chair, Paul following him a second later with David closing the door behind them, both looking anxious about something from what 2D could see.

That kid didn't just go ballistic for nothing.

And...what was that look that kid gave Paul before he left...was it...hatred...or fear he saw in his eyes?

Either way...2D knew too well that it was not coincidence...Paul was hiding something...

EH...this is a way of making up to you guys for freaking you out earlier...yeah it sucked...I don't blame you for thinking it does I hadn't updated in a while...Michael looked pretty upset for some reason did you see that...and why was Gregory so anxious I wonder? (Ponders in mock thought)...well while you figure it out I'm going to figure why the hell the other family members hadn't shown up yet so I can give them a piece of my mind...lol, just kidding...see you next chapter, the next one will have Murdoc and the gang because I miss them, more Noodle coming up along with some more flashbacks!!!