Murdoc smiled, still half asleep. "Morn', luv." His voice was deep from the peaceful sleep he'd managed at 2D.

"G'mo'nin, Mudsy." He replied, rolling on his side so he was facing Murdoc and nuzzling against his lips in a soft, rather sleepy kiss. "Y'know, ah dun' fink ah've evah been so 'appy t'wake up wif yew.. 'm wrilly glad ah still got yew, Mu'doc." 2D's voice was a mere whisper, though it was obvious most of the damage done the day previous was gone and it was back to the angelic melody it always had been.

"Hmmm..." he mumbled, words not leaving his mouth. He stretched against his lover, legs hooking one of 2D's, and trying again. "Yew'll a'ways 'ave me, luv. Ev'n if I die." Though it was a bit dark to say, he felt the need to at the back of his mind. It was morning: the day they were supposed to talk. Murdoc wouldn't censor himself for the next 24 hours.

2D nodded against Murdoc's forehead, taking a deep breath and sighing before rolling onto his back and forcing himself into a sitting position. "Dat means a lot ta me, Mudsy." The boy said, though his tone was slightly different. He'd always had the fear in the back of his mind that something would happen to Murdoc, especially considering his choice in 'friends', constant fighting and drinking habits. Yet he found it comforting to hear that at the same time. "So a'e yew still up fo' talkin' t'me, love?" Stu inquired gently, turning and softly pushing Murdoc's bangs from his face.

"Course, luv." He sat up slowly, joining hands with his lover. "Ask me an'thing, luv."

The singer's thumb absently traced the uneven edge of Murdoc's knuckles as he thougth. "Woll..." There were a few things he wanted to ask, but felt rather embarrassed to do so. "Uhmm... well is the'e anyfing yew wonted to talk abou' in pa'ticula'?"

Murdoc gazed at their hands. "...One thing, I guess." He took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "Do yew realize yew are the first I've actually luved?"

2D blinked up at him, almost uncertianly. Murdoc seemed like the sort of person that's seen it all and experienced any and everything there is to experience.. but it also made him feel a spark of joy. "Wrilly? Woll yewr mah fi'st- love too~" He almost let it end at 'first', but thought better of it and decided he'd keep that little fact to himself. "An' if 'm lucky, den ah'll be you' las' too," he let his azure head rest on Murdoc's shoulder; large eyes gazing up at him lovingly and showing absolutely no judgement. How could you possibly judge something you find absolutely perfect?

Murdoc's brow furrowed. "B-bu' whut abou' Paula...?" He felt bad bringing up the ex-band member, but he was genuinely confused.

"Er..." 2D was caught off guard by the question, but no, he'd never loved her. Not even a little. "Woll.. no, ah didn' pa'ticula'ly loik he', but.. she jus' wouldn' lemme alone. She nevah lemme say no to anyfink and, er, the wreason ah nevah told 'nyone.." He trailed off, his dark eyes suddenly finding the wall on the opposite end of the room very interesting.

"Luv?"

Murdoc leaned forward, nuzzling against 2D's neck. He didn't mean to cause him hurt, but it sounded like 2D had his own things to work out.

This was one of a very few things Stu had never spoken of and he decided if Murdoc could come clean then he could too. "Well, ah, y'see dat..?" He moved a bit, very gently pushing Murdoc's head from his shoudler so he could bend and show a faint white line that ran across his thin hip. "A-an' dat.." Another on his lower back that reached all the way up to his shoulder blade. "She, uhm.. loiked me flickknives.."

Murdoc pulled away, mouth agape, running a finger over the line on his shoulder. He'd always suspected 2D to have been a bar fight or some such, but seeing the cuts in this new light... He kissed both with shaky lips. "I'm so sorry, luv," he whimpered, sniffing softly and nuzzling against the mark.

His thin arms wrapped around Murdoc, pulling him up so the singer could place a small kiss on his bottom lip. "S'foin now, Muds. She's gone now 'n ah go' yew, so ah dun' wrilly worry 'bout none of dat stuff 'nymo'e." He smiled reassuringly, brushing a hand through his hair. "Sides, t'day is yewr day, no' mine!" 2D reminded him in a gentle and playful tone.

"Did yew know," he asked, trying to turn the topic, "I 'ated my fathah?" He sniffed again, anxious. "'E's the reason I start'd all this...chaos."

2D kept his arms around Murdoc, nodding slightly. "Ah fink ah 'eard a lil bout 'im.. so wot wos it dat did i'? Ah mean, was i' jus' tha buildin' pwressu'e o' was the'e a specific momen' dat yew finally, er, snapped?" He made sure to keep his tone far from judgmental, having it open and showing that it was okay if Murdoc didn't want to delve further into the subject.

"Naw, yew weren't it. I'd been ram raidin' and drinkin' and takin' women fer years 'fore I knew yew." Murdoc sighed, lying flat on his stomach, head in 2D's lap. "He humil'ated me daily. Made me weak. I wanted tah fight back at the worl', seein' how I couldn't fight 'im. Wuz too scared. Yew jus' got in the way." He pouted, deep in memory. "I take it all back."

Stuart's fingers slipped through Murdoc's hair in a soothing fashion, stopping once in a while to gently massage his scalp. He had his elbow on one knee and chin resting in his palm as he gazed thoughtfully down at his lover. His life before Murdoc had been bland and meaningless.. "Yeh.. dat makes sense." He commented, trying to find another question and pausing to see if Murdoc wanted to continue.

"I used to be real depressed." He stopped to moan softly at the fingers in his hair. "'Specially when yew was in that coma. Turned around when we got Noodle. Still get that way, sometimes. Even now."

Stu let out a silent sigh and almost shuddered. He hoped Murdoc was referring to their incident the night before, as he'd never gotten any hints of depression at any other points since they'd gotten together. The thought that Murdoc was having issues with depression and he didn't even know rather frightened him.

"Luv?" Murdoc looked up, realizing that 2D was far too quiet. There he was, blabbing away, and for all he knew 2D could be guilt-tripping over Paula. "Yew a'righ'?"

"Yeh," Stu replied with a small chuckle. "Sowwy, ah wos jus' finkin'. So yew we'e sayin' yestahday dat de'e was a lot yew fel' guilty abou'.. yew wonta talk about any of dat?" 2D's hand had momentarily stopped, resting against Murdoc's temple before he started to stroke his lover's hair once more.

"Mainly," he whispered, laying his head back in 2D's lap, "the way I treated yew. Before. And yesterday. And..." he paused. "Well, since I firs' met yew." He put his head to the side, staring up at 2D with one ruby iris. "I'm gonna tell yew somethin' I nevah though' I would."

2D's hand moved down to Murdoc's cheek, gently caressing it with his thumb and cocking his head inquiringly. "Jus' to let yew know, ah wrilly dun' ca'e about none of dat 'nymo'e.. nevah wrilly 'eld it agains' yew, y'know. Ah knew yew 'ad a lotta stwess in yewr life 'n ah wonted to be the'e fo' yew any way ah could.." He smiled, though it was a bit sad. 2D brushed his bangs from his eyes to listen to whatever Murdoc had to say.

"Still," he grunted, sitting up. "I 'ave tah tell yew..." He sniffed. Damn anxiety tick. "When yew was out of it...before the band...I 'ad tah take care of yew, 'member?" He shook his head at himself. "'Course yew don't; yew was out of it. I'm stupid." He sat back on his feet, barreling on with his confession. "Yew sat on my couch ev'ry day and I 'oped yew'd snap outta it ev'ry day - som'times at night, too - and I'd watch yah and feed yah and once I got real down - drunk as well, I think - an' I got 'ome to tha' cruddy apartmen' and yew was sittin' there all outta it an' I wen' up tah yew an', an'..." His voice dropped real low, like Ms. Linnette's, barely a breath.

"An' I kissed yew. Wifout yew permission. Yew porb'bly didn't even know it, bu' I did."

Stu blushed a bit, his half-lidded and clouded gaze set on the wrinkled blankets just in front of them. He had recalled a number of things from back then, but not that.. He wasn't quite sure how to feel. "Uhm, Muds, ah 'ave somefink t'say fwom back den too.." He looked down to meet Murdoc's visible eye, his thumb absently continuing to brush across the older's smooth cheek.

"Y'see, when yah woke me up 'n evewyone jus' kinda assumed ah didn' membah a fing fwom when ah wos ou', ah.. woll ah 'ad dis wei'd fing loik ah'd be disappointin' dem if ah told dem da twufe.. ah do memebah stuff fwom when ah wos stayin' wif yeh. Mos' of i's bluwwy 'n garbled, bu' ah know yew took good ca'e of me.. 'n da's one of tha wreasons ah wos so upset 'n quie' when we fi'st bought Kong.. yew acted loik we was stwange's 'n ah wos jus' some annoyin' fing dat yew got stuck wif cos yew went along wif wot evewyone else assumed. Y'know, da's prolly why as soon as ah woke up 'n saw yew sittin' in yewr ca'..." Stu trailed off, his gaze lingering on Murdoc's crimson eye before gradually moving to the opposite end of the room in an almost nervous fasion.

Murdoc felt bad about it, but had the need to press him. "Whut do yew 'member?" God, don't let him remember the broads, the drinking, the blatant drugs Murdoc had done before his eyes, unknowing that he'd seen, less that he'd remember. "Anythin' clear 'nough to 'member 'bout me?" 'Yew say I did good fer yew. Do yew 'member when I kicked out the tramp who knocked yew off? 'Ow I patched yew up aftahward? Got yew through tha' fevah? Stayed up all night to make sure yew was in the clear? Rented yew favorite movies so yew'd be entertained while I 'ad to do tha' community service? The way I hugged yew when yew got them nightmares? Any of tha'?'

He exchanged the unfinished sentence for a newer train, pausing to think. "Woll.. ah do membah 'ow wa'm yew we'e.. loik, whenevah ah fel' yewr touch ah always knew t'was yew 'n no' one of does otha people 'n i' would always bwing me dat much mo'e inot conciousness.. er.. membah 'earing a lotta yellin', bu' aftahwo'ds yew'd always tolk wreal gentle loik to me.. 'n.. a-ah membah yew used to cwy... ah'd wonted so so bad to be able to do somefin to 'elp yew, but mah body jus' wouldn' listen an' all ah coul' do was sit de'e 'n twy to make ou' wot yew would say..." 2D took a moment, rubbing at his eyes as he remembered how horrible he'd felt about it.

"De'e wos a lotta pain, bu' nevah fwom yew. Yew woul' patch it up, but nevah be tha one dat did i'.. uhm... ah membahed finkin' t' mehself, 'i-if ah evah wake up, 'm goin' t' spend tha wrest of me life wif dis man.' Y-yew didn' know i'.. but mum came by once o' twice when yew we'en' de'e... she.. she used t'say stuff dat made me wont to cwy.. 'specially when she said she gave up.. d-dat she wosn' 'spectin' me t'wake up 'nymo'e... y-yew wrilly we'e d-da only one dat stayed by me f-frough tha 'ole fing.." Stu rubbed wiped his eyes again, his voice refusing to stay steady.

"Ah.. ah a'ways loved yeh, y'know dat? Even though yew knocked me eyes in, yew made up fo' it den some.. a-ah mean, ah knew it was all jus' a acciden', bu' it was one o' da bes' fings dat evah 'appened t'me.."

Murdoc sniffled, launching himself at the singer and toppling him over, hiding his face in 2D's neck to avoid the look in his face...and conceal the tears that began to form. "Shush, luv." He croaked, kissing his neck and sniffling again. "I knew it. I mean it. I was jus' scared. Though' I'd lose yew. Though' it was all jus' a good dream, yew stayin'. Didn't wan' to screw it up. An' lookit whut I did. 'Ad to lie 'bout yew like yew was some secret." Murdoc shook his head, almost nuzzling against the singer's skin. "I'mma call Susan when we get back. Tell 'er to run tha' story. No picture. Tellin' the world I finally got yew."

2D felt his tears growing as he held Murdoc tight and placed innumerable kisses on his head. "Mu'doc, y-yeh mean i'? Oh mah.. f-fank yew, Mu'doc.. fank yew so much.. gawd ah love yew.." He pulled the bassist even closer, if possible, and let a few ecstatic tears slip down his cheeks.

Murdoc felt the wet tears from 2D's cheeks mingle with his own, mixing in an oddly beautiful fashion. "Yew deserve it. Yew deserve more. Bu' more will come wit' time, right, luv?" He pulled back to give him a proper kiss, almost bruising in force. They'd never part again. He'd make sure of it.

Stu's response was lost against Murdoc's mouth as he returned the kiss with equal vigor. He was over-joyed with the fact that after this he wouldn't have to bother with trying to hide anything. He loved Murdoc and he'd be proud to let the world know.

"Yew deserve to be happy." He murmured, scrubbing his eyes with his palms. "I 'ope yew are. 'Cause yew've made me happier than I've been by far."

"Yew do the same fo' me~ Fo' we meant ah couldn' wait fo' my life t'end cos it wos full o' pain 'n was tweeibly monotonous, bu' now.. now ah dun evah wanna leave yew~!" He pulled Murdoc down and snuggled up against him in a small fit of joy, having far too much of it to contain. His snuggling was only interupted by a rude snort of his stomach, which was waiting impatiently for breakfast.

Murdoc grinned wildly. "We 'ave free reign of the third floor kitchen." He blinked a minute. No one was in the entire manor. As long as they were tidy, they could do anything. "Race yew!"

2D squirmed beneath him, whining, "no fai'!" The bassist had time to get to the door before he could even sit up, which only motivated him. He hopped to his feet, a bright gap-toothed grin on his face as he hurried along after Murdoc. The fact that he had to follow the older to find the kitchen never seemed to occur.

Murdoc grinned, barreling up the first set of carpeted stairs, giggling like a mad man. He turned when he reached the landing, taunting. "Come on, yew lump!" he jeered as the other man started at the first step. Murdoc didn't doubt that 2D could run faster, though, what with those long legs of his, so he wasted no time climbing the second set.

2D stumbled over the first landing but kept on, nearly catching up to Murdoc. He grinned, pouncing on him and knocking both to the plush carpet at the top of the stairs. The carpeting was soft enough to make the fall seem like nothing, other than the rugburn it left on the singer's knees. He ignored it, pecking Murdoc's temple and chiming, "jus' takin back tha few seconds yeh cos' me in tha wroom~" He quickly glanced down to make sure Murdoc hadn't gotten hurt then scrambled to his feet and took off once more; giggles bubbling up from his thin stomach as he went.

Thoroughly flustered and slightly confused, Murdoc rolled to his feet and stumbled after his lover, taking the final staircase two at a time, but knowing he was too late. Until he saw 2-D at the wrong door. 2D didn't know the Midnight House as well as Murdoc did, and as all the oak doors were similar, it was hard to distinguish one from the other. Murdoc strolled past him to the door just behind the singer, pointing with a thumb. "I's this one, luv."

The singer whirled around, letting out a playful huff. "Ah knew dat! Sheesh. Finkin' 'e knows evewyfing jus' cos 'e's been he'e 'fo'e." Though most of it was under his breath, Stu meant it all in the same lovingly playful way. Just as he was going to follow Murdoc into the kitchen, he paused, asking, "'ey Muds?"

"Yeh?" Murdoc called, head hidden behind the ginormous fridge door, eyes roaming hungrily over the mounds of raw ingredients. The possibilities were endless, but he had one item on his mind. He shut the door, grabbing a cookbook from the shelf beside the spice cabinet, searching its index for chocolate chip cookies.

"Uhm.. wot'd yew do tha othah times yew we'e he'e? Loik, why would yew spend s'much time in 'otels?" Had the boy payed any mind to his words, he would have thought of an obvious answer, but he wouldn't of allowed himself to jump to such conclusions.

"Yew 'member tha' time durin' our recordin of the firs' album? Yew guys was searchin' fer me a week or so?" He flipped to page 223 of the cookbook, scanning the list of ingredients.

And that was exactly why. Stu nodded, peeking over Murdoc's shoulder at the page and smiling a bit. He wrapped his thin arms around his lover's waist and rested his chin on Murdoc's shoulder as he glanced over the picture of chocolate chip cookies. "Cookies fo' bweakfas'?" Stu asked with a giggle. Though he wasn't too old, Murdoc always made him feel so young; like he was a kid without a care in the world again.

"Sure, luv. My specialty. Sort of. They always end up burned." He nudged the boy, winking. "Maybe you could help, eh? Yew'd prob'bly make 'em perfect."

1 1/2 sticks butter (12 tablespoons)
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/4 cups sifted flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate

"Bettah double that chocolate, I think." He set off to grab each ingredient, setting an oven to 375 on his way. "I stumbled across this place way back during tha' time. I took a few instruments, Ms. Linnette gave me free reign of the place, and I created the beat for Tommorow Comes Today, complete with echo. And New Genious. I knew yew were having trouble on that one. I came back, gave yew guys the notes to play, and it's been like this evah since."

The singer was nodding, helping to gather whatever he could find. His azure bangs continuously fell into his face, which annoyed the lad to the point of chuckling. He glanced at his wrist and smiled a bit, finding he still had a hair tie he'd picked up for Noodle and never gotten to her. He kept those thoughts very limited, so as not to think too deeply into the girl, and pulled his hair back into a loose, messy ponytail. He seemed to forget about it right away, however, as he stumbled across a few of the ingredients that'd been tucked away. "Oh, good, found some~!"

"Got evr'thin'? Good!" Murdoc traded 2D the flour and sugars for the eggs. "Put these in a bowl, luv. Stir 'em up a bit, then add ever'thin but the sugars and chocolate. I gotta find us a sheet pan." He tugged affectionately at 2D's short ponytail before skipping off into the walk-in pantry.

2D did as he was instructed, singing softly under his breath and shifting his weight from foot to foot as he stirred. There was a bright smile on his face as he inwardly looked over what all he'd managed to accomplish in what seemed to be such a short time and how close he and Murdoc had become after so long of holding each other at arm's length.

Murdoc searched through the various pieces of kitchen ware in search of a sheet pan. It was all high quality materials: shiny silver and steel and iron. Murdoc finally found one, but in his excitement of reaching for it, didn't notice the small paring knife beside it. He hissed in pain as it sliced the tender skin at the base of his nail, holding the wound closed before any blood could drip out. Blood, however, was inevitable, and a small trickle rolled down his index finger. The sight of it somehow made it seem worse as the finger began to throb oddly as he held it.

2D's azure head peered through the door as he heard the hiss, cooing softly, "yew awroight, Muds?" He trotted over to his mate, glancing between his eyes and hand as he gently pulled it away from his chest. "Aw.. ah con' leave yew alone fo' two secon's wifout yew choppin' off a limb, c'n ah?" He joked, placing his delicate lips to the tip of Murdoc's finger in a soft gesture. "De'e~" 2D chimed, smiling at Murdoc with the small bit of blood contrasting with his pale lips.

Murdoc chuckled despite the stinging pain, leaning in and licking the other man's lips clean of his blood. "Thank yew, Nurse Stu," he sang, reaching for the pan again, but carefully avoiding the knife. He handed it to the singer, walking out of the pantry with him while trying to stem the weak flow with the hem of his shirt.

"Yewr welkum~" The singer replied, pecking Murdoc's stubbly jaw as he took the pan over to teh small island he'd been working at. "Y'know, me mum is a nu'se." He commented after a moment, laughing to himself a bit. It was a pointless addition to the conversation. His dark gaze fluttered back up to Murdoc's finger and he smiled a bit as the bleeding seemed to come to a near stop.

"Well, yew must've inherited somethin' from 'er. I think yew got a healing kiss." He held up his finger, the bleeding staunched. He dumped the proper ingredients into 2D's bowl and began to stir carefully, not wanting to dirty his shirt. "Measure out those sugars, will yew, luv?"

"Su'e~" Stu skipped around to Murdoc's other side, glad to be of assistance. He noted how careful Murdoc was being, then the fact that he had already stained his shirt with blood and giggled a bit. He kept his thoughts to himself, though; his only vocalizations being the continuation of the song he'd been singing earlier as he measured out the sugar.

Murdoc paused in his stirring to nip playfully at 2D's ear, making sure it was all thoroughly mixed before adding the doubled batch of chocolate chips. He dumped most into the mix, but left a few in the bag for the two of them. Plucking out the biggest, Murdoc held it up to 2D's mouth. "'Ere, luv."

2D smiled mischievously, taking the small chocolate chip between his lips and pressing them to Murdoc's. He placed a hand near the base of the older's neck, deepening the kiss a bit to share his chocolaty treasure.

Murdoc grinned against 2D's lips, tasting the crushed chocolate and that taste of something different, something entirely 2D. He dropped the plastic bag onto the island in favor of something far sweeter. His tongue moved in time with 2D's, slipping past each other, meeting then fleeing, a dance he'd come to perfect with the taller man. His vision couldn't come into focus as 2D pulled away, too lost in the moment to care. Murdoc licked his lips, hazy, tasting nothing but that unique 2D essence.

Stuart was grinning, his tongue wiping away what remained of the chocolate chip from his lips. A tint of pink had found his cheeks, making him giggle a bit at himself as he nuzzled his forehead against Murdoc's and placed a quick peck on his lips. "Ah love yew, Mudsy~"

"Luv yew, Stu," he giggled, blushing at how straightforward 2D was being. He returned to the baking, stirring in the chips in and spooning the cookie dough onto the pan. Murdoc handed 2D the full tray, other hand dipping into the bowl and scooping a finger through the batter, wiping it on 2D's cheek. "Put it in the oven, luv?"

The singer nodded, the tray taking up both hands so he was powerless to do anything about the cookie dough- though that didn't stop him from trying to reach it with his tongue. It was attempted in vain as he couldn't even get close. He shrugged it off and slipped the cookies into the oven, turning to give Murdoc a playful grin. "So 'ow 'm ah lookin'?" He still had major bed-head, a lot of which had come loose from the ponytail, a smear of cookie dough down one cheek, the slightest hints of chocolate still visible on his lips and bags hanging beneath his eyes that told of previous nights with no sleep.

"Yew look like my kinda man," Murdoc flirted, running a hand through 2D's hair and ridding him of his ponytail, wrapping the hairpiece around his own wrist and mussing the blue locks more. "Yew got a lil' somethin' righ' there, though." He grinned, pointing to his own cheek.

2D chuckled, nuzzling his cheek against Murdoc's and saying, "wotya mean ah go' sumfink on mah cheek?" He remembered not to make a mess for Linnette's sake, but he supposed a mess on each other was a different story. Once he'd smudged the dough on his lover's face, he drew back and pecked it. "Hehe, yewr cheek tas'es good, Muds~"

Murdoc blushed hard, laughter echoing in the abandoned kitchens. He drew 2D closer to him, licking the mess off 2D's cheek lovingly. "We 'ave 10 tah 13 minutes to kill, luv."

The singer let a small giggle bubble up from inside him, saying, "so wotcha wonta do~?" There was a certain sweet tone in his voice that he hoped Murdoc would catch. Truth be told, he'd of been absolutely joyous to do anything at this point, so long as he got to be with Murdoc.

"Wanna roam the 'ouse a bit? There's some nice rooms 'ere." He didn't quite want to broach any sort of intimacy at the moment, though when he thought about it, his last words were definitely hinting at it. This still seemed all too new. "An' we're alone. Can be as loud as we wan'. Maybe slide down tha banisters if we wanted ta."

"Su'e~ But, uh, yew 'ave a wotch o' sumfink so we c'n git back fo' tha cookies bu'n?" Stu inquired with a cock of his azure head. Part of him was wondering about the 'loud as we want' remark, trying to imagine Linnette's face if she heard them running about and laughing like a bunch of kids. Would she think it cute and chuckle, or a disgrace and shake her head? Not that it was going to stop him from having a grand time with his best mate, but he couldn't help but be curious.

Murdoc ran back to the pantry, having seen an egg timer during his 'sheet pan search and injury' mission. He returned victorious, setting it and propping the oak door open with it. "There. Now it'll echo in the hall, an' we'll 'ear it." He grinned back at the singer, amazed at his own intelligence.

"Mkay~!" 2D chimed, pulling Murdoc into a light hug and pecking his nose. "Yewr sa sma't, Mudsy!" He praised happily. "So whe'e should we sta't?" His blue head turned towards the hall as he glanced up a ways. Everything looked so similar that he wasn't sure if he'd be able to find his way back without Murdoc's aid.

"Up one more floor. There's a room there I wanna show yew." He led the taller boy up the next flight of stairs until they reached one white door in the middle of the same standard oak ones. "Music room, luv." He opened the door for the singer, nudging him inside and rushing to uncover the grand piano in the center of the room, the violin cases on the adjoining tables, the cellos, the flutes...a whole array of classical instruments were at their disposal.

2D looked around with a bright smile. Though he'd never used most of these instruments, he wasn't half bad with a piano. "Wow! Dis is awesome," he trotted up to the piano seat, still looking around as he sat down. "So she wouldn' mind if we used dese, woul' she?"

"Naw. She knows I 'ave a bit of experience wit' instruments." He plucked at the strings of a cello, musing how much its deep thrum sounded like his own bass. "An' this is only one room. She 'as loads of things 'round the 'ouse."

2D couldn't help but smile like a little boy on a field trip. "Cool~!" He played a few test notes on the piano, listening attentively to the deep reverberating sounds. He found it oddly comforting, his smile softening as he eased into a tune he'd made up once on his grandmother's piano. It was rather depressing, as he'd been back at the time, but beautiful in its own way.

Murdoc paused to listen, smiling softly. "Any thin' fer yew," he whispered, moving behind the taller man and wrapping his arms round his shoulders.

Stu snuggled back against him, looking away from the keys for a moment to peck Murdoc's cheek. A few words were ghosting past his lips as he gazed back down at the keys, the lyrics to a song he'd long forgotten. They were quite dreary, though, so he was sure to keep them near silent.

"Hm?" Murdoc inquired, turning his attention to 2D's hushed words. There was so much more to this man than he could ever fathom.

Stu crossed his legs, finishing off his song and letting out a breathy sigh. "Er.. wow s'been a while." He turned to look up at Murdoc, unsure of how his lover would react to such a song from him.

"Yew did won'erful, luv," he whispered, kissing him softly. "Come on; I wanna show yew more."

A grin yet again graced his face as he pulled himself up and took Murdoc's hand in his. "Yeh, okay~" He was starting to like this place more, especially since he and Murdoc were allowed to do whatever they wanted and no one would care. It was like a dream come true.

Murdoc led him from the room, shutting the door behind them and nudging him down the hall to the last room before the staircase. "Aquarium," he said simply, opening the door and displaying the well- lit tank (it ran around the room, probably built inside the room itself to become a perfect fit against the wall) filled with various tropical fish of all colors, dodging in and out of seaweed and coral, turning the tank corners and watching the new guests.

Stu's dark eyes widened as he looked around the room, his smile full of excitement. "Dis is sooo cool!" He looked around at all the colors, pushing his bangs out of the way to get a better look.

"Ms. Linnette lived near the sea. She wanted to have it close at all times." Murdoc waved his hand before a yellow fish, chuckling as it followed him. "Everything in here is real. Living. Grabbed from the sea." He turned back to 2D, gauging his reaction. "No plastic plants or fake rocks."

The singer leaned towards one of the tanks, studying all the little organisms with a keen intrest. A few fish swam past and he followed them with a souless gaze as they moved beautifully through the water. "Da's.. loik.." He couldn't find words for it, glancing up from his mesmerized state to smile at Murdoc. "She mus' 'ave lo'sa money t' be able t' 'ave stuff loik dis."

"I do listen tah people on occasion," Murdoc pointed out, suddenly noticing with interest how 2D's eyes matched many of those looking back at him from the tank. "The fis' time I came 'ere, Linnette followed me up. Wary like, ya know? Told me all about her life in France." His eyes glinted with curiosity as a small crab scuttled around a clump of kelp. "She inherited a lot from her father. Ran a copper refining plant. Real expensive work. She could never have kids, but she left the business to her brother. Bought the Midnigh' 'Ouse. Lived 'ere evah since."

"Oh, okay." Stu nodded understandingly, still not looking away from the tank. It cast a pretty aqua pattern over everything else in the room, including 2D's pale face. "Y'know, ah a'ways loiked fishies. Dey'e pwetty, yeh?" He smiled and turned to look at Murdoc.

The innocence in his voice made Murdoc blush. "Yeah," he murmured. "Bu' not as pre'y as yew."

"Aw, fanks Muds~" He giggled and pressed close to the bassist, giving him a kiss on the lips. 2D never seemed to kiss him enough.. "'ow long y'fink i's been?" Stu asked, not hearing the timer yet but wondering how much longer they had before breakfast.

"Couple minutes...maybe five or six. Why, luv?"

"Dunno, jus' wonde'ing." His pale arms were wrapped around Murdoc's waist and his dark eyes set lovingly on Murdoc's. "'m a bit 'ungwy, yeh?" 2D blinked past Murdoc for a moment, staring at a small fish that'd been watching him intently. He giggled a bit and looked back to Murdoc, grinning.

"Well, come on, then." He took him by the hand, taking him back to the kitchen. The timer read two minutes by the time they got there. Murdoc searched the cabinet for a plate and spatula, grabbing a dish towel and taking out the cookies. "They're no' burned!" He cried, giddy.

2D clapped with a kinda laugh, cheering. "Da's wonde'ful!" He smaled down at the cookies, slipping past Murdoc to the fridge and pouring two glasses of milk. "Dey look so good~!"

"Ahh, yew think good, Stu~" he cooed, tapping the cooking softly to make sure they were not undercooked. He couldn't risk 2D getting sick. They were solid, however, and perfectly acceptable. Murdoc slid each onto the plate setting the dishes in the large sink. "There yew go, luv~"

2D set the plate and glasses of milk on the table, pulling out a seat for Murdoc and happily perching in his lap. "Fanks, Mu'doc." He smiled up at his lover before taking one of the cookies, dipping it in his milk, and taking a bite out of it. The gooey inside and melted chocolate chips made the singer's smile grow and he nodded. "Dey'e pe'fect!"

"Like yew?" Murdoc giggled, taking one for himself and nipping at the edge. True bliss. His lover on his lap, his favorite food in his hand...he didn't need anything more.

"Naw, mo'e like yew, Mudsy~" There was an undeniable truthfulness in 2D's voice that showed he completely believed his words. He rested against Murdoc's chest, eating his cookie in a happy silence.

This RP had been going so well, Crowsgurl and I made a sequel, Jamaica Sunsets, due out the second I finish uploading all the text of Noodle's Sabotage. Thanks to those that have reviewed, we worked really hard on this and we appreciate all your kind words!