I know it's been a couple of weeks since the last installment, and I apologize to every anxious reader, since it's my fault (: I've just gotten really distracted with my life, and I'm not yet ready to share what I've been doing lately, but I will let you all know when my situation allows me to, and I no longer have to worry over it. Anyhow, I thank EVERYONE for the support, and clear eagerness everyone is displaying to know what has become of our beloved singer.

But before we get to that, allow me to share that I have written two more 2DxNoodle oneshots, in case anyone is interested. The only space in the links are before and after the periods.

The first one is rated M, and titled: A Look I Used To Know - fanfiction . net/s/6973592/1/A_Look_I_Used_To_Know

And the second one is rated T, and titled (or dated) May 23, 2011 - fanfiction . net/s/7015962/1/May_23_2011

I would also like to share some fanart from my story, the first being done by Nicky-Rockit, and it's AWESOME! It's from chapter 34, and trust me, its ama-za-zing: natynicole87 . deviantart . com/#/d3g5bl1

There was one drawn by SubspaceGirl, but I can't seem to find it X( sorry. But I've drawn a couple myself.

Here's the link to my profile on DeviantArt: the-axe-princess . deviantart . com

So far I've drawn a scene from chapter 25; 2D and Noodle in her bed :

the-axe-princess . deviantart . com/art/Maybe-We-ll-Turn-It-All-Around-208902833?q=gallery%3Athe-axe-princess%2F30273929&qo=0

And one from chapter 32, which is still a work-in-progress, and it's during their *ahem* lovemaking :

the-axe-princess . deviantart . com/art/WIP-Tearing-Down-Our-Walls-208762566?q=gallery%3Athe-axe-princess%2F30273929&qo=2

And I drew one for fun that I based off of that last chapter, when Noodle shoots the cyborg… I gave Noodle a cig… I know she wasn't really smoking, but I like the picture anyhow… It gives it character ^.^

the-axe-princess . deviantart . com/art/Headshot-203105709?q=gallery%3Athe-axe-princess%2F30273929&qo=1

Remember to delete the spaces for every link :)

And I know I have a lot of supporters and all that jazz, and eventually I'll make another list of all of you to thank you, but for now, I wish to thank everyone who reviewed just that last chapter.

Blue32, frankie56, 23, mukashimukashi, pat, derp, biggles23, Liber-T.E.A, Don'tCloseYourEyes13, Sweetums128neo, Auron Todd-sama, RhinestoneEyes23, MODdenial, love-is-free23, Kata8849, D Walka, ask09, Hoofiron, Nicky-Rockit, and last, but certainly not the least, SweetCherryCandy. There. I think that's every review from chapter 36… X)

I will also give a half-assed woo hoo for reaching over 200,000 words in total... yeah... this story is really long... eh, fuck it... the show must GO ON! Shall you all join me on the ride? Yes? Yes...

Anyhow, I hope everyone likes this next chapter, and I promise not to disappoint… Actually, I take that back… :(

The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected. ~Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depths of love. ~George Eliot

Within a second, everything within Noodle's life seemed to become altered, and darkened dramatically. She now saw Russel, who had been on his way to the lighthouse in hopes of catching her, to be able to talk to her about everything, and hoping they could make up. And just as her eyes focused on the cyborg once more, 2D saw as the cyborg's finger tightened around the trigger, and he rushed forward, throwing his body at Noodle. She yelled as she was thrown far out of the way, landing on her shoulder feet from where she once stood, and she howled as she closed her eyes with fear and pain as she heard an explosion fired. But she became bewildered, her pulse racing when she realised she didn't feel the expected pain of the bullet. Tears welled up, and poured down her face when she saw 2D, his face now smashing against the ground of the beach as he clutched he side, and his body began shivering, the pain of his wound not quite reaching him yet, but it would soon reach him once the adrenaline faded.

Noodle watched him, a sense of hatred overcoming her body as she looked back to the cyborg on the ground, its face impassive at it stared down at the singer on the ground, whom she'd just shot. She shrugged, not giving any attention to Noodle as she stood to her feet, her teeth bared and her vision red as she marched up to the cyborg purposefully. Murdoc now began stepping forward as well, and the cyborg seemed surprised when Noodle snatched the gun from her, quickly twisting the barrel and lifting her arm to the cyborg's face as she pulled the trigger. Murdoc's jaw dropped as the fire went off, and the robot now fell to the ground, dead once again. He looked up to Noodle with a scowl, but she glared back at him with much more ferocity, and he grunted when she pulled his shirt, bending his face down to hers, and he swallowed as she pushed the gun into his face, a deadly intent burning within her eyes. "I'm going to fucking kill you," she screamed, hate-filled tears streaming down her face. Just as she tightened her grip, she roared, screaming as a rough hand pulled her away, grasping the hand gun and pointing it away from Murdoc just as she fired it, and tossing it away once he took it from her tight grasp. She writhed, kicking and screaming as Russel pulled her from Murdoc, wrapping his thick arms around her waist as she struggled to get free. "You fucking bastard," she screamed, "I told you! I told you not to turn the fucking thing on! She tried to fucking kill me!"

"How was I bloody supposed ter know she'd go awl mental," Murdoc fired back.

Noodle bared her teeth once more, writhing and clawing at Russel's arm as he pleaded for her to calm down. "Baby-girl, chill out fo' a second," he yelled, but she ignored him, screaming out again.

"I fucking told you not to do it, you piece of shit! How hard was that to get? I fucking told you it would short circuit," she yelled, shrieking again as she continued to try and escape Russel's firm grasp. "I'm going to fucking kill you!" She howled.

"NOODLE!" Russel growled, shaking her, and she sneered, refusing to meet his eyes.

"What," she yelled.

"2D." Just that name was enough for Noodle to go numb, and she stopped struggling. Russel let her go once her attention had shifted, and she stepped away from the drummer, looking down to the singer who was now moaning in pain, oblivious to the scuffle that had gone on, she went to him. She began to cry once she dropped to her knees by his side, and she rolled him onto his back, clutching her mouth with her hand when she saw the blood collecting on his shirt. He looked to her, his eyes glazed over, and he opened his mouth, crying out with the pain. Noodle sobbed, hugging herself around his neck.

He placed his hand on her face, and she looked to him, grasping his hand within hers. "Noodle," he cried quietly, shaking his head as his eyes became enveloped with fear, but he kept them locked with hers, "I dun wanna die."

Another anguished moan seeped from between 2D's parted lips, and as he exhaled, his cry of pain only grew louder before his lack of breath forced him to inhale again. Instantly, Noodle's mind shifted onto another gear, her sole focus on tending to 2D's wound. Much of Noodle's memory had been blurred and distorted, altered by her time in Hell, which had consumed her, but the moment 2D plead out to her, any and all feelings of uncertainty and doubt had all but gone. She knew what she needed to do; her past as a soldier, a weapon, had prepared her for far worse injuries than a simple gunshot. She moved around 2D, moving over to the side of him that had been wounded, and she pushed his shirt up his body slightly, instantly pressing down on the opening to hold back the spilling blood, grimacing when 2D's yelled out in pain once more, but she did this to allow the wound to try and clot shut, of course, she knew she would need more. In her knowledge of the human anatomy, Noodle feared the bullet may have made contact with 2D's liver, and she could only hope that maybe one of his ribs had gotten in the way, but this shouldn't have happened in the first place. There was still a great chance that the bullet had damaged his liver, but maybe not as severely as she feared, seeing as he would have been bleeding out much more than she had seen in the few seconds that had passed, but it was still a fair amount.

Once she seemed to have covered the opening with her hand properly, she turned her body slightly, a heavy scowl on her face as her eyes drifted past Murdoc, but she focused her gaze on Russel. "Russel-sama, I need you to get your taxidermy needles and… uh, do you have any purse string," she asked him swiftly. He nodded his head, confused. "Okay, go get those, and… ano… um," she grunted, trying to think of what else she needed, but suddenly, as 2D moaned again, closing his eyes, she remembered what it was, and she flashed her gaze back to Russel. "And 2D's pills…" Now she looked to Murdoc, giving him a look that made his blood feel like ice shot up his veins. "Go get your rum, and your chloroform," she snarled. "And I know you have a first aid kit in that room of yours," she barked, "Go get it!"

Russel turned tail and began walking away, not knowing exactly what Noodle was up to, but it was bound to be interesting to watch, and he had the feeling he actually did know what it was she was planning to do with the singer. Murdoc growled back, "Why should I? I 'ardly 'ave enough liquor fo' meself! Whot bloody makes yer think I'll jus' 'and ih ovah ter you," he snapped, crossed his arms over his chest with a growl. She bared her teeth, grunting with frustration, desperately wanting to put Murdoc in his place, but she wasn't exactly in the position to do so when 2D's life could be on the line.

"I did not ask if you wanted to do it, you prat! Go and fucking get it," she retorted, her voice leaden with venom. As Russel now walked past Murdoc, he took the bassist by the collar of his shirt, turning him round and forcing Murdoc to follow after him.

Murdoc huffed, scowling as he stomped his foot and broke away from the drummer's grasp, "Fock, lards! Whot're yeh bloody doin?" He lashed, and Russel stopped, facing Murdoc as he pointed to their two bandmates on the ground.

"Look man, I don't fucking care what 'appened between yous two, but I do know that it's probably yo' fault, an' if Noodle decides she wants ta kill you," he pointed to Murdoc now, jabbing his finger into the Satanist's chest, "I'm not gonna try an' stop 'er twice," Russel warned him, once again turning and quickly making his way to the beach entrance. With a huff, and no alternative choice, Murdoc mumbled angrily as he followed after Russel to gather up everything she had demanded for.

Once the two men had gone, and Noodle could no longer hear them bickering back and forth amongst themselves, she immediately focused on 2D again, his eyes closed. She moved her hand to his face, blanketed in a sheet of perspiration. "2D," she called for him, worried he may have fallen unconscious. When he didn't respond, Noodle bit her lip, her breathing hitched, and she shook him lightly, sighing with relief when she heard him moan in reaction. "2D-kun, please," she spoke softly, "Open your eyes." He did as she asked, a sense of helplessness overwhelming him as his body slowly grew weaker. She grinned gloomily, careful not to move her hand over the place on his wound as she leaned over him. She combed her fingers through his hair tenderly, sobbing quietly when she heard him wheezing through his mouth. She looked to his wound, then laid her head on his chest, listening to his breathing carefully, and when she concluded that his lung was fine, she figured that the expanding of his chest was what was causing him to wheeze; breathing was hurting him. More cold tears crawled down her cheek, and she looked to 2D's face, as he'd been watching her, afraid to let his eyes drift shut. It had taken him much more effort than he would have thought to do it just a moment ago, and he felt his eyes becoming heavier every time he blinked. He winced when Noodle shifted again, and she quickly apologized, but he shook his head. She reached around him carefully, pulling his knees up so that they were bent off of the ground, and he tried helping her as she lifted them. Once she got his legs bent, his knees toward the sky as he lay on the ground, he whimpered as the pain shifted again. She frowned, leaning over his face, and wiping the pain-filled tears from his now paled cheeks away. She hiccupped, her face twisting as she read the agony in his face, and she bent toward him, kissing him affectionately while he sighed against her lips, and returned her kiss. "I'm so sorry, 2D," she whispered dolefully.

He groaned quietly as she kissed him, and she pulled back. He brushed his fingers though her hair. "I love yew, Noodle," he wheezed, and she sniveled, biting her lip. He cupped her face with his hand, brushing his thumb along her skin, "Love…" he spoke in a hushed tone. "Don' cry, lil' Love…" he told her, still brushing his thumb along her skin. "It'll be awright," he told her with a forced smile, trying to hold back another groan as his face twisted with pain. Noodle's lips trembled, and she hunched over, slumping against 2D and resting her head in the crook of his neck as her body rattled with silent sobs. He coughed, then moved his hand to Noodle's shoulder, rubbing her arm up and down as they waited for Russel and Murdoc to return. After a moment of silence, and empty thoughts, 2D sucked in a deep breath, trying to distract himself from the pulsing pain emanating from within his body. "Yew've goh a dirty mouff when yew're angry, love," she heard him whisper in a ragged voice. She giggled, enticing 2D to laugh as well, but he then groaned, shifting his head back when he felt the pain again.

With a solemn sigh, Noodle curled herself into Stuart's side, careful not to cause him any more pain, and he let out a breath of relief as Noodle outstretched her free hand over his body and began to run it up and down his chest, doing her best to comfort him. Wasn't it only moments ago when he was holding her, his warm body pulling her close against him and kissing her with a sweetness that made her feel exasperated and elated every time their lips met, as if their every kiss was their first and their last? She nuzzled her face against his neck, a silent tear crawling down her face as he let out another wheezing breath, then coughed. She continued stroking him tenderly, smiling softly to herself when she thought of being able to see his face when their child was born. She bit her lip when her mind slipped from her happy thinking, shifting onto darker thoughts. What would she do if 2D died? She already knew the answer before her musing had even played out. She would simply cease to exist. She couldn't imagine a world where 2D wasn't right there with her. It made her heart ache, and feel hollow to ever think that one day he may be gone. Of course, the way she felt about this man overwhelmed her. She didn't understand how her feelings for him could have shifted so dramatically within the past few months, and it only grew more intense with the time they had spent together. She was beginning to wonder if maybe this was just a phase, and maybe the feelings they felt so strongly now would fade. But, as she understood it, if Kazuno was indeed correct, then the bond they shared would only ever grow.

When Noodle's eyes shifted to the dead cyborg, a few far meters from where they lay on the rough ground, she shuddered, a sense of hatred overcoming her, but it quickly melted when 2D's breath continually washed over her, and his wheezing kept her in her place. She refused to leave his side. She took in a long, unsteady breath, inhaling his thick, masculine scent. It was a scent, his scent, that always instantly relaxed her, and made her feel home and safe. She only wished he could wrap her in his long, lanky arms, but right now she needed to be the strong one and take care of him… and it scared her, but as she swallowed back the tightness in her throat, she knew she wouldn't allow something as simple as fear stand in her way. Fear and anxiety seemed to have run her life for years, and she was growing tired of succumbing to it and allowing herself to be weak-minded.

"2D?" She spoke quietly, her voice almost unheard. He shifted, humming shortly to let her know he was listening. She lifted her head, looking into his endless eyes. "Maybe we could go to Hawaii? You could learn to surf there, 2D-kun…" she told him, combing her fingers through his hair.

He smiled widely, his eyes crinkling as he gazed at her. "Yeah, love?" He spoke softly, moving his gaze to the sky now, "'at sounds grand…" She grinned, letting out a long sigh when she saw Russel and Murdoc now, finally coming back. It seemed as though it had been forever she'd been waiting for them, and she looked down to 2D with a soft smile. She leaned over his face and he grinned as her lips grazed against his, and they shared a lovers' kiss. Russel grimaced as he finally approached, still not comfortable with the newfound relationship of his daughter, and Murdoc was following behind him reluctantly. He tossed the first aid kit, both 2D and Noodle flinching when it flew low over 2D's body, landing right by Noodle's side. She scowled at Murdoc, but swiftly shook her head, training her eyes on 2D. "How many of your pills do you usually take," she questioned him, looking to Russel and reaching for the orange bottle he held out to her.

"Um…" he grinned guiltily, "I dun really pay attention, love," he admitted, wincing when the pain flared for a moment. Noodle grimaced, placing the bottle down, then watching her hand on 2D's body as she lifted it slightly, sighing with relief when it revealed that the blood's flow had slowed dramatically, at least from the outside. Now she moved to the first aid kit, smiling to herself as Murdoc grumbled while he placed down his rum and bottle of chloroform, and Russel sat on the ground roughly, on the opposite side of 2D. Sure, he resented the singer for going behind his back and knocking up his surrogate daughter, but even he couldn't just stand back and let the man die. What kind of man would he be for that? And he knew it would crush Noodle as well. He had the needles and string she's asked for, thankful that he'd sterilized them just yesterday.

2D watched everyone warily as they all grew quiet, as if some dire plan had been made directly in front of him without him being even the slightest bit aware of it. He looked to Noodle as she cleaned her hands off, scrunching his nose when the thick, hospital-like smell of alcohol entered his nostrils. She turned now from where she sat, facing him once more with 2D's pills in her grasp, and he arched his eyebrow as she dropped a couple into her palm. "Russel-sama, will you sit 2D-kun up, please," she asked him quietly, looking to her surrogate father with a somber face. The drummer nodded, placing his thick hand behind the singers head, frowning as 2D's groaned loudly while Russel sat him up about halfway. Now trembling from the pain, 2D's wheezes grew rougher as he looked to Noodle again, and she lifted her hand to his face. He opened his mouth and she placed a few pills on his tongue, almost frustrated when he realised that this felt like only half the amount he would normally take, but unknown to him, that was what Noodle had been going for. She now reached over for the rum, scrunching her face as she struggled to pop the cork, but she managed. Now opened, Noodle handed the bottle to 2D, and he took it questioningly and she saw the look in his eyes. "It will make the pills kick in faster… and they will be stronger," she explained, and he hesitantly lifted the bottle to his lips, doing his best to ignore Murdoc's silent rage as he allowed the dark liquid to seep between his lips, and then swallow the bitter liquor.

As 2D slowly emptied the bottle, letting the liquid collect in his gut, Noodle opened the first aid kit, tears quietly streaming down her face as she looked through everything, digging around the unorganized contents of the large container. When he placed the bottle to his side, 2D's eyes grew wide when he saw Noodle, now with a piece of cloth in her hand. She was soaking it with the chloroform she'd demanded from Murdoc. She looked to 2D now, their eyes meeting, and she grimaced, another tear falling from her face and onto the ground she sat upon. 2D looked from where the tear had landed, back to Noodle's face, and she bit her lip when she saw the fear growing in his eyes. "Wuh…" he began, still wheezing, his pulse beginning to race, "Whot are yew doin' wiff 'at, love," he choked, swallowing nervously.

Noodle reluctantly opened her mouth to speak, but Russel interrupted her. "Baby girl, maybe you should wait a couple o' minutes before you do that… ta make sho' that alcohol an' those pills kick in," he suggested, lying 2D back down on the ground, grimacing when the singer moaned in return. Noodle looked to Russel, her face masked in fear and shock for 2D's state, and she slowly nodded, pulling back and looking to 2D with guilt in her eyes. The singer stared right back at her, confused and scared.

She leaned forward, brushing her hand over 2D's cheek, and cupping his face gently. She scooted towards him and bent close to his face, kissing his lips airily, "2D-kun…" She bit her lip, and he lifted his hand to her face, trying to offer what little comfort he had, and she grinned sadly. "I will take care of you," she told him, and he nodded to her. "I'm so sorry," she cried quietly, her face twisting with sorrow, and 2D swallowed the heaviness in his throat, wincing with pain again. "2D… I have to make you sleep," she told him, referring to the chloroform, and 2D bit his lip nervously. He hated that stuff, but what was Noodle going to be doing that she needed him to be unconscious. "I have to… so I can fix you… and so I do not hurt you," she whimpered, sniveling, "I'm sorry."

He took her free hand in his, squeezing her fingers between his as he sighed. She looked to him warily, unsure of his feeling about the situation, and worried that he may resent her for it. "I trust yew, Noodle," he told her, wheezing in a low voice as the pain flared again.

She smiled sadly, squeezing his hand in return. As she stared at his face quietly, ignoring Russel and Murdoc as they conversed between themselves, Noodle realised that no matter what she did now to try and save 2D, he would need plenty more than what she could offer on a desolate island with nothing but a first aid kit and some sewing supplies. "He needs to leave here," Noodle spoke aloud, and her three band mates grew quiet, looking to her in speculation. She looked between Murdoc and Russel, all her past anger and resentment could not be found as she trained her eyes on them desperately. "I can keep him alive for now, but he needs real help," she explained, her brows furrowed in worry and her voice becoming immersed in anxiety, "He needs a hospital, and doctors… or he may get an infection…" She turned her gaze to 2D once more, looking at her with perplexed eyes. "We need to leave," she whispered, but everyone still heard her. 2D watched her carefully, wondering if she was serious. Leaving? Sure, he'd wanted to leave the moment he had been forced here, but actually doing so seemed almost mad… it was almost too overwhelming to consider actually doing so, but his heart soared with the possibilities. He could leave… He could return home… but… home was where Noodle was to him. No matter how far she strayed from him, no matter where he ever was in this world, no matter how long the road was to her, she would always be his home. But… he could leave… and there was no doubt she would go with him with those last words she'd spoken, and it made his throat tight and heavy, to think that she was really here for him, and she would always return to him, as he would always do for her.

"No." Came the stern, cold answer. Murdoc sneered as Noodle met his glare with just as much animosity. He strode to his cyborg, crouching down and throwing the robot over his shoulder, oil soaking into his shirt and falling onto the ground. "It's not fockin' appening," he spat. "E's goh every damn thing you need ter fix 'im, up. Jus' patch 'im up an' e'll be fine," Murdoc ordered, set in his decision, and he huffed.

"He needs real help, Murdoc," Noodle growled, her expression softening when 2D squeezed her hand, and she looked to him, concern replacing anger. He was watching Murdoc, so she looked to the bassist once more, "I will not just sit here and watch him die."

Murdoc scoffed, "I already told yeh, he ain't gonna die!" He clenched his teeth, balling his fists. "No one's leavin, yer go' tha," he roared, "Now get on wit it, gurly, we ain't got awl day!" She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off. "It's not 'appening! No one's leavin, an' faceache is gonna be fine!" Before anyone could make any remark, Murdoc huffed, and turned tail, marching towards the beach entrance.

Noodle ground her teeth together in frustration, and she flinched when Russel's large hand rested on her shoulder. "Don't argue wit' 'im, baby-girl. I'm sorry… but it's not gonna happen as long as Muds don't want it," he told her, almost sounding ashamed of the situation. Noodle nodded, given up, but determined to do her best. "Besides… D's strong… he'll pull through, Noodle," he tried to soothe her, and the words he spoke seemed to comfort himself as well.

"2D…" she whispered, lightly placing her hand on the singer's cheek. He was watching as Murdoc left, his mouth agape, but when he felt Noodle's presence on his skin, he turned his gaze to hers, his heart stuttering when he looked into those green eyes of hers that always made him feel safe. "How do you feel," she questioned him gently. He looked to her, his face blank. "Did those pills kick in yet?" She asked him, and he blinked, thinking for a moment before he nodded to her, astonished when he realised his pain had dulled. She sighed, reaching for the cloth she'd had earlier, and pouring more chloroform into it. "Take deep breaths, okay 2D-kun?" He nodded to her, and as she brought the fabric to his face, he took a hold of her wrist, holding it in place for a moment.

She watched him warily as he stared at her hand, wondering what he was about to do. He locked her eyes with his, and licked his chapped lips. "Noodle… yew know yo' still te same, right…" he asked her. Confusion painted her eyes, so he continued, "If yew weren' te same Noodle, t'en yew wouldn' be 'ere," he tried to explain, "When yew lose yoself… yew lose yo courage… An' yo righ' well te mos' brave woman I know," he chuckled humourlessly, and then his face grew soft. "I'll see yeh soon… awright, love," he wheezed, his voice becoming dry. She grinned, and leaned forward, kissing his lips. "I love yew, Noodle," he told her affectionately, slowly bringing her hand to his face and inhaling the thick fumes of the chloroform. He felt as though he was being suffocated as the unpleasant fumes invaded his lungs, but it was soon forgotten when he began to feel lightheaded and numb.

"I love you, Stuart," was that last thing he'd heard before his mind became foggy, his body grew limp, and he swiftly passed out. Once he was out, Noodle checked his pulse, and confident that he was stable, she pulled out a pair of trauma sheers, and took a hold of 2D's shirt, cutting it away from his body. Once it was off of him, she tossed it away and began digging for her next instrument of choice.

"You know what'chew doin, baby-girl," Russel asked her, intrigued that she seemed so sure in everything she was doing. She nodded as she took a piece of cotton and poured saline onto it, dabbing the liquid around 2D's wound, looking to his face when his skin twitched. With a deep breath, she continued to clean around the gunshot, hoping it would help prevent an infection. Still sitting on the ground, Russel hunched over, resting his elbows on his knees as he watched Noodle. He wanted to talk to her about everything that he'd found out in the past few days, but he knew doing so could possibly interfere with Noodle trying to patch up their singer and keep him alive, so he decided to save it for later. For now he would wait and watch in case Noodle needed him, and she did.

After she'd cleaned 2D, Noodle had Russel put a pair of gloves on himself. They both placed face masks over their heads and Noodle took a pair of tweezers, using them to hold open the wound in 2D's side slightly. She requested for Russel, using his expertise, to cut away any dead tissue he could find. He used one of his knives, cleaning it off with alcohol before he moved in, cutting into the wound and opening it slightly, causing it to bleed out once more. He had another pair of tweezers in his own hand to remove the small bits of flesh he cut away, using Noodle's guidance and knowledge before he made any cuts. After what seemed like much too long and too much blood to handle, Noodle decided they'd done enough, and not delve deeper, though she desperately wanted to, it could service to cause sickness. The deeper they moved, the higher the risk of infection, and the reek of the blood wasn't exactly helping her nausea. The wound was only slightly bigger, but it was still haunting to look at. They placed their instruments to the side, and Russel handed Noodle his needles and the purse string, which she threaded into the needles. She took in a deep, nervous breath as she brought the needle down to 2D's skin, and she winced when she pushed the needle into his body, wondering if he'd felt any of what they'd been doing to him, and desperately hoping he hadn't felt a thing. She took in slow, though unsteady breaths as she sewed the edges of his wound together, watching in transfixed awe as it slowly closed and came together, as if he'd only gotten a cut. She bit her lip when she seemed to be finished, and tied the string close to his skin, cutting away the ends. She cleaned the now newly stitched gunshot, using alcohol to sterilize it, then dressing the wound with gauze and tape.

When they finally seemed to be done, they both let out a sigh of relief, removing their gloves and masks, and cleaning off their own hands once more. Russel stood to his feet, waiting as Noodle put everything away. "You can jus' leave that crap ou' here, baby-girl," he told her gently. She looked up to him, red-eyed. "Yo' not gonna need it 'nymore anyways, right," he spoke again, and she nodded. Once she closed the kit, she stood to her feet, dusting herself off. She looked down at 2D, her face impassive and her lips parted. Russel watched her, frowning as he saw a tear roll down her face and fall to the rough ground. "Come 'ere, baby-girl," he told her, with arms wide open. She moved her eyes to meet his own, reluctantly walking around 2D's unconscious form, and he hugged her close as she began to cry. "D's gonna be fine," he assured her.

"Russel-sama… will you carry 2D-kun to my room, please," she asked him as she buried her face in his shirt. She looked up to him, her eyes watering, "He's been living in my room for weeks, now," she admitted, and Russel felt himself grow hot, glaring down at the singer, but his face dropped when Noodle pressed her face against his stomach again. "He hates his room… it makes him… ano… like me," she explained, "When I could not tell reality from the lies…"

He allowed her words to sink in, mulling over them carefully. He knew she was right, but how could he not have seen that until now? He should have known long ago that room was just a torture to 2D, but he never gave it any conern. Of course, the knowledge that 2D had solved this problem by secretly moving in with Noodle didn't exactly help for Russel feelings. "I don't like it, Noods… but okay," he gave in, letting out a long breath and releasing Noodle from his embrace. She stepped back, uncertainty and sadness plagued her features as Russel moved toward 2D, picking the lanky man up with ease, and slowly moving towards Noodle's lighthouse. There was an uncomfortable silence between them as they made their way to the building and moved haphazardly up the steps to her room, and Russel laid 2D down on Noodle's bed, only being gentle to the singer simply because Noodle was studying him intently. Once 2D's unconscious form was settled, Noodle brushed his hair from his eyes, her eyes flashing to the drummer when she noticed him moving away, and she followed him downstairs into her lounge. He knew she was following, so he sat down on her lounge chair once he came to it and let out a heavy sigh. Noodle held her arms crossed over her stomach, waiting for him to speak first. As another minute went by, Noodle nervously brushed her fingers through her hair, and then grunted as her stomach began to ache. He looked at her questioningly as she began to pet her stomach, trying to soothe it, and after a moment of thought, he finally began to speak. "Noodle… I know you an' D 'ave been, well… close… since yous two met each otha… but this… I don't like it," he grimaced, his face scrunched as he looked to her. She clenched her teeth, glaring at the drummer. "I know you care 'bout 'im, Noods, but I don' think he's good for you," Russel told her sternly, his tone suggesting that he wouldn't allow for their relationship. Noodle bared her teeth, huffing. "Listen up, baby-girl," he began again.

"No, you listen, Russel-sama," she countered him, and he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "This is my life, not yours," she told him stubbornly, "If you do not like it, well then that's too bad. But you listen, Russel-sama… This is me, and I am an adult now, and I can make my own decisions… And if you want me and my child in your life, then you had better change your attitude, because there is nothing you can do to keep me from 2D," she warned, not a trace of doubt in her voice. He gazed at her with astonished eyes, and she frowned, walking toward him, "I love you, papa," she told him.

He exhaled a breath he'd been holding, petting the top of her head as she hugged him, "I love you, too, darlin…" He took another breath, and his previous musings came back to him. "Noodle, how long has yo' stomach been hurtin' you," he questioned, and she pulled away, rubbing her stomach again.

"About… um, the day before I found out I was pregnant, and I started bleeding a little the day after," she told him, trying to think if maybe it had hurt any time before that. She knew she was definitely pregnant, since not only had Kazuno confirmed it, but the demons had gone because the child meant that her and 2D were always connected. "It is normal for a pregnancy," she recalled. Russel nodded in agreement, seemingly relieved.

He swallowed before he began to speak again, "Yeah… it's normal, baby-girl," he spoke, nodding to himself once more. He was about to speak again, but suddenly, Noodle's face grew white, and a look of horror replaced everything else about her. She gasped as she felt a rush of wetness pour from between her legs, and quickly soaked through her panties and quickly began creating a large, wet patch in her jeans that was only growing larger. With wide eyes, she rushed to the bathroom, and Russel watched her worriedly, but when she ran into the lavatory, slamming the door shut, he assumed she was just in need of the toilet… but he'd never seen her make such a terrified expression just because she needed to relieve herself. After minutes of waiting for her, and still no flush of a toilet, Russel stood, moving to the lavatory. He knocked on the door, "You a'ight, baby-girl," he asked, his voice booming. When he heard no response, he opened the door cautiously, his eyes growing wide when all he saw was her discarded jeans and underwear, soaked in a dark crimson liquid. He looked to the side now, his mouth popping open when he heard Noodle crying lightly and he spotted her sitting on the shower floor, her back to him with the door opened widely. She looked to him, from over her shoulder, and as he approached her, he discovered the blood now pouring out from her body. "That's not normal," he breathed, and she began to sob.

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face

And I…
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones And I will try to fix you…

Coldplay – Fix You

I know… I'm mean, but trust me, it's for the best. XP

And I know, I hate me, too, sometimes… Anyhow, I'll try to get the next chapter out soon(er)… (compared to that last chapter)

Let me know what you all think, and tell me about mistakes, and I'll fix 'em, etc, ect…

Until next time

~Hazel