A/N: A huge thank you to everyone who reads this story. And a massive thank you to all my reviewers, as you guys are the heart and soul of this story. Without you, this story would have been dead by chapter 2.

Surgeon's General Warning: Burnt pancakes, crazy driving and chewed up tennis balls may be hazardous to your health. (Though they make good ingredients for a chapter)

As always, the band isn't mine, but I do own the doggy, and the doggy OWNS YOU! ... Not really, but I can dream...

Chapter 6: Of Pancakes And Happiness

Russel woke with a yawn and turned his hip-hop spewing radio alarm off. The big American rose, stuffed his big feet into some fuzzy slippers that were stationed by his bed and shuffled out of his room and into the corridor, making a beeline for the kitchen. As he neared the often unsanitary room, he caught a whiff of something that made his big mouth water. Food was being cooked. Good food too, by the smell of it. Peering into the kitchen, Russel was greeted with a sight so bizarre (at least for Kong Studios) that for a moment he wondered if he was still dreaming and this was some crazy version of Alice in Wonderland.

2-D was at the stove, frying pan in one hand, spatula in the other, cooking away as though he did this every morning, which was strange because not only did the blue haired singer usually prefer food that was much simpler (cereal or leftovers, for instance) but also due to his extreme naivety and his habit of falling asleep in the middle of just about anything, he had been instructed not to use the stove unless the fire department was present. Yet, here he was, cooking breakfast, whistling some sunny tune or another, like it was an everyday thing. But even more bizarre than 2-D at the stove was the fact that what he was making actually looked edible and smelt good.

Looking over at the table, Russel almost did a double take when he saw who else was in the kitchen; Murdoc. Not only was the bassist fully clothed (2 days in a row... wow... that had to be some sort of record) but he was also coaching 2-D on how to make the perfect pancake. Well, at least as close to coaching as someone like Murdoc can get...

"Flip it, Dullard! Yer gonna bloody burn it!"

"Ya sure, Murdoc? I dun fink-"

"FLIP IT!" The bassist roared. The singer did as he was told a little too eagerly and pancake batter splattered up onto his face. Murdoc growled and started to rise. "Oh, fer the love a sweet Satan, give the bloody spatula before ya burn it black."

2-D tried to look offended, but it came out much more like a pout. "I can do it. 'Sides, you shouldn't be strainin' too much, ya might 'urt yerself."

Murdoc glared, ire in his eyes. "The hell's that s'posed ta mean?"

Russel decided that now was a good time to enter, lest the bassist beat the singer bloody with various kitchen utensils which included (but was not limited to) meat tenderizers, pizza cutters and various sharp and pointy knives. "What's goin' on here, 'D?"

2-D looked at the drummer and a grin split his face. "Russ, come 'ere 'n 'ave a look! I made pancakes 'n eggs fer breakfast 'n Murdoc says I prob'ly gots enough brain cells ta try 'n make French toast 'n I hope ya like it; I made lots fer you 'cause I know ya like ta eats a lot 'n is Noodle up? I wanna show her, too 'cause I made breakfast, real breakfast 'n I never done that before, 'n 'r dose new slippers? I don't fink I've seen dose ones-" 2-D continued to babble about breakfast and slippers while Russel tried to keep up with obviously elated younger man, but then the drummer smelled something. Something smoky and in a kitchen smoky was bad.

"What's burnin'?" All heads shot to the frying pan, which was beginning to bubble with dark grey smoke. A chorus of voices erupted like Pompeii.

"Turn it off, Dullard!"

"My pancake! 'S burnin'!"

"Where's the fire extinguisher, Murdoc?"

"We don't fucking got one!"

"Why the hell not?"

"Murdoc! Russ! I can't see, 'sall smoky!"

"Damn it, Muds, whaddid we say 'bout 'D and the kitchen?"

"Sod off, Tubby!"

"Where's da off button, guys? I can't find it!"

"Turn the dial, 'D!"

2-D's long fingers managed to find the dial and he gave it a sharp twist. Flames shot from beneath the frying pan, and the smoke got thicker and blacker.

"Wrong way, Muppet!"

2-D turned the dial the other way, extinguishing the flames and most of the smoke. The three coughed and Russel opened a window in hopes of airing out the kitchen before the fire alarms (did Kong even have fire alarms? Russel doubted it) went off and gave them all headaches.

Looking down at his charred flapjack, 2-D tried to remain optimistic. " 'S only a little dark, I fink it'll be fine."

Murdoc snorted. "It's toast, face ache."

"Yeah." Russel agreed, looking over the singer's shoulder. "That pancake's blacker than Murdoc's heart."

"Go suck a rail spike, lard ass."

Despite what his band mates said, 2-D rammed the spatula into the mess, hoping to pry it from the frying pan. "It'll be fine." He insisted as he strained in the age-old battle to separate food from pan. He struggled for a moment, and just as Russel was about to tell the blue haired man that it was shot and to just let it soak in the pan for a while, the blackened flapjack tore free from the pan and sailed upwards, ricocheting off the ceiling, solid as a rock, only to descend again and break over 2-D's head, the two blackened halves hitting the floor and skidding about.

Laughter spilled from behind the three men, and they all turned to see Noodle standing in the doorway, Styx in her arms, laughing at the antics of her three older 'brothers'. "What are you doing, 2-D-san?"

"Makin' breakfast, luv." He grinned. "Murdoc showed me 'ow."

The Satanist snorted. "Only 'cause you wouldn't let me make it, face ache."

Noodle gave Murdoc a stern look. "He's right, Murdoc-san. You shouldn't strain yourself." She smiled as the bassist sat back down, grumbling obscenities under his breath. She set Styx down and walked over to the counter, where a feast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, toast and orange juice was spread out. The Axe Princess smiled again and threw her arms around 2-D. "Arigatou (1), 2-D-san!" She then moved over to the still grumbling Murdoc and gave him a much gentler hug, wary of his ribs. "Arigatou, Murdoc-san."

"Yeah, yeah." The Bass Demon nudged her away. "Go get some breakfast, luv."

For the second time in as many days the band ate together like... well, a band. Murdoc was quiet (not that this was strange for the bassist), still musing over all that had happened that morning, but 2-D was talking enough for the both of them. The singer was reminiscent of a five year old, fresh home from kindergarten, explaining all he had learned; like when to flip to the pancake, and to always use the non-stick spray, as it helped when the time came to remove said pancake from the pan. Noodle found it very amusing and listened with rapt attention as 2-D outlined the various settings on the stove and toaster (not that she didn't know them all already), and Russel, who somehow found himself wrapped up in the singer's enthusiasm, began giving 2-D tips on what to add to the eggs to make omelets and other tasty, though relatively simple, dishes.

Styx sniffed the blackened pancake halves curiously, then moved back under the table where he gently pawed Murdoc's leg. The bassist nonchalantly dropped a piece of sausage down and the dog quickly ate it before moving around the table, begging for various table scraps from the four band members. When he came to Noodle, he nosed and pawed her leg, and when the young girl looked down at him, he tilted his head to one side and let his tongue loll out, his eyes speaking volumes.

The young guitarist read the dog's eyes perfectly, and when she looked back at the other three her own eyes were shining happily. "Let's go on a picnic!"

It was a sunny spot, in some park that was, thankfully, deserted. Russel set the packed cooler down in the grass, Styx by his side trying to catch a butterfly while 2-D and Noodle spread out a huge blanket and Murdoc leaned up against a tree, smoking.

"Dis is a nice spot, 'ey?" 2-D called to Murdoc as he sat on the blanket and was leapt upon by Styx.

"Nice 'n empty," Was the grunted reply. For a while they had been followed by several fans, but thanks to Murdoc's insane driving -his instance that off-roading was only illegal in places where the population was over a billion, and enough traffic violations to make a cop's head spin- they had lost their fans and found an out of the way place where they could relax and not worry about being mobbed for autographs, dates, crazed girls screaming that they wanted to have 2-D's baby and the like.

Russel opened the cooler and took out a sandwich. "I still can't believe it, Muds." He shook his head. "How many miles over the speed limit were you going?"

"Forty."

"And how many cars did you cut off?"

"More'n a few dozen, I bet."

"And how many red lights did you run?"

"Lost track."

Russel shook his head again. "All that and not one ticket."

Murdoc gave a grin that would get most people put away in a room with padded walls. " 'S amazin' innet?"

2-D meanwhile had found a good sized stick in the grass and he and Noodle were flinging it as far as they could, watching as Styx raced over the grass to retrieve his prize, then bring it back for a quick game of tug-a-war. He smiled as the dog suddenly rolled over onto his back, legs splayed in the air, tail wagging; there was something special, almost magical, about the dog and all he had done for the band. As 2-D scratched the dog's belly, he mused on everything the special dog had done since the singer had first found him in that equally special valley. In fact, hadn't 2-D had been wishing for a friend right before Styx had literately climbed into his life/'S like dis dog's a gift from 'eaven 'r somfin'.../

/We were in a nice, quiet place, full of sunshine and happiness. The good feeling almost sprouted from the earth itself, reminding me very much of that place; the golden valley where 2-D and I had met also seemed to scream of joy and smiles. I glanced over towards Murdoc, thinking that places like this would do the bassist good. Murdoc's demons still perched unrelenting, but it was if many of them had lost their power over him; the man was smiling. Small, fleeting ones, to be sure, but real ones nonetheless./

Noodle saw the thoughtful look on 2-D face as he indolently scratched Styx's stomach. She glanced over her shoulder at Murdoc and Russel, who were busy talking about new song ideas and beats, and though the young girl knew she should probably join their conversation, she had more important things to discuss with 2-D, like Murdoc's sudden change of heart. Though, she knew it hadn't actually been sudden per say. She had known from the minute she met him that Murdoc was really much nicer than he acted, and that all his snapping and grunting was just a front for something else. What, she didn't know, and she wondered if the brooding bassist would ever give up all of his secrets.

"What are you thinking, 2-D-san?" Noodle's voice jarred 2-D from his uncharacteristically complex thoughts. He turned to face the young girl, blinking a bit, trying to re-organize himself.

"Hm? Oh, I was jus' finkin' 'bout Styx 'n 'ow I found 'im 'n fings like dat."

Noodle's mind made up, she tugged on the singer's sleeve. "2-D-san, let's take Styx-chan and go for a walk."

The idea appealed immensely to the blue haired man, who grinned and nodded eagerly. Turning to the two older men he stood. "Noodle 'n I 'r gonna go fer a walk, kay?"

Russel looked from Noodle to 2-D and down to Styx. Returning his milky white eyes to Noodle he said, "Make sure those two stay outta trouble."

Murdoc snorted out a laugh and Noodle giggled while 2-D threw Russel the second pout of the day. "I can stay outta trouble, Russ." His obviously inane statement was met with an assortment of chuckles, unbelieving snickers and more giggling.

Noodle took 2-D's hand and tugged him away from their snickering band mates. "Come on, 2-D-san." She said, her smile suppressing her giggles. "Just ignore them."

The two walked along a shaded path that wound its way through a slightly wooded area. They had chatted about this and that and many things in between when Styx came up to them with a dirty, discarded tennis ball and Noodle bent down to give the dog a hug. "Styx-chan is so wonderful, 2-D-san. Where did you find him?"

" 'E found me, really." 2-D grinned and picked up the old tennis ball, tossing it for the eager dog. "Over in me special spot, yanno? 'E jus' sorta came up ta me when I was sittin' dere."

"He is a very special dog, no?" 2-D nodded and there was a beat of silence until Noodle finally decided to just bring the question out into the open. "2-D-san... have you noticed a... er, a change in Murdoc-san?"

"Yeah..." 2-D smiled. " 'E seems 'appier doesn't 'e?"

It was Noodle's turn to nod. "Hai (2)... he does."

"I fink-" 2-D stopped; already worried he had said too much. It was a ridiculous idea – he knew this – but no matter how fiercely he tried to doubt it, a part of him whispered the things he knew he wanted to hear, to believe, and nothing, no amount of fact or disbelief would make that small voice in his head be quiet.

"What is it that you think, 2-D-san?" Noodle asked gently. "It is okay. You can tell me."

"I fink, maybe, Styx 'ad somefin' ta do wif it." There. It was out now; his strange, ridiculous idea that somehow, someway the scrawny, floppy eared dog with mismatched eyes had changed his bassist; had somehow broken through the brick wall that was Murdoc's demeanor and had helped him find happiness. And now Noodle was going to laugh (or at least giggle) and tell him that he was crazy.

But, Noodle only nodded slowly, sagely. "I agree with you 2-D-san. Styx-chan has done something for Murdoc-san, something good."

2-D glanced down at Noodle, but the young girl was watching Styx. He argued with himself for a few moments before deciding to just out and ask it. After all, Noodle had proved time and time again that she was intelligent, insightful and other large words that 2-D had trouble pronouncing. "Noodle, luv, why d'ya fink I found Styx?"

The young girl considered this a moment, reflecting on everything that had happened since 2-D had brought the scruffy dog to Kong. "2-D-san, I do not think that you found Styx, but rather Styx found you." She paused for a moment. "Too much has happened, 2-D-san... Too many wondrous things. I do not believe that it's merely coincidence that Styx came into our lives."

"Yanno..." Noodle looked up at the singer, who shifted a bit in embarrassment. "I asked fer a friend ta watch the sunset wif... right before 'e found me." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, self-conscious of his thinking. "I fought, well, fer a little while a' least, dat maybe 'e wassa angel from 'eaven 'r somefin'... but dat's crazy."

"Sukoshimo (3), 2-D-san. Back in Japan many people believe in angels." Noodle's attention was stolen when Styx re-emerged from the bushes, looking for all the world like a stray mutt with ears and feet that were a bit too large, mismatched eyes that shone with an inner intelligence, and a tail that never seemed to stop wagging. He tilted his head at the two and his tail wagged even harder.

/Tenshi.../ (4)

(1)-Thank you (2)-Yes (3)-Not at all (4)-Angel