It didn't take long for Alphonce's stuff to be packed, he didn't have much just a few pieces of clothes that didn't get shedding too badly from Gregory's attack. Kim made preparation for their flight. They would have to leave in mid-afternoon, but still leave pretty early since they were at different time zones. Alphonce didn't want to leave but after his talk with 2D he thought what he spoke about his dad. Finally the big day came and Alphonce slowly make his way out the door. Outside everyone was saying their goodbyes to Kim. They turn to see Alphonce and wished him the best to come.
"You take care of her little man. You hear," Russel told him.
"Yes, Uncle Russel. I'll miss you," Alphonce told him and gave a tight goodbye hug. Russel patted his head. "Don't worry, things will be better trust me."
"Take care Alphonce." Noodle kisses his cheeks and hug him lovingly. "We'll come to visit very soon, promise," she told him.
"`ere, Alphonce I found this in a bag we left behind. It's was the only that Gregory `adn't tear." 2D show Alphonce the captain hat that once belonged to Murdoc. Alphonce was so happy to see it again he eagerly put it on. He hugged 2D.
"Don't worry, we'll be here and like Noodle said we'll come to visit." Alphonce looked around and remember someone was missing, "I wish Cyborg was here."
"She's still under work, but trust me Jacob said he'll stop at nothing to get her working again and wishes you the best too and that he's sorry he couldn't be here to say it," 2D told him.
Meanwhile Kim was putting their luggage inside the trunk, "You know I'm surprise you came at all."
"I know I caused some trouble in the past," Paula spoke quietly, "But I wanted to see if he's okay."
"You have nothing to be afraid of, but me I'm terrified," Kim confessed.
"You Yankees think everything is hard, but you're a smart one or really dumb to let me come anywhere near him," Paula told her. "But I guess you have some heart in you. I doubt the others are in my favor."
"I might have not been there when Gorillaz first started or saw what happened between you and Murdoc, but he's much as your son than he is going to be mine. Legally I'm Alphonce's mom, now, but I don't want you to think you got replace again, like you were in the band," Kim told her.
"No, it's better this way. I doubt he would want to see me after I left him with Gregory," Paula recalled as she watches carefully where the others were standing.
She was trying to stay out of sight and stay hidden besides the car parked out front. She look at Alphonce. She almost didn't recognized him with the smile on his face. The thought of Murdoc came back to her, she misses him, but seeing Alphonce leaving, she misses him little. Seeing how much her son looks so much like Murdoc, that maybe she knew what was best for him.
A final goodbye was said again and Alphonce joins Kim inside the taxi. Alphonce looks out the window seat and waved goodbye. He didn't stop until he could see them anymore. Alphonce took off his hat for minute and looked at it. He was startled to see Kim held him hand, "When we get to my home, it'll be your home too."
It was Alphonce first time on a plane and he shock to see how big the airport was, loud and busy, people rushing in and out. They waited in line, checked in their luggage, step through the metal detector, check their tickets, and found their seats inside the plane. Alphonce looked out the window and watched the plane taking off. He quickly grabbed Kim's hand until they were up in the air. It got cold inside the plane so Kim wrapped Alphonce inside a blanket and held him close. Finally they arrived in Newark, Kim gathered their luggage and were soon greeted by an old Hispanic couple. He saw them hugging and kissing his step-mother.
Kim introduce them to Alphonce, "Mom, dad, this is Alphonce, Murdoc's son, and now your new grandson."
Alphonce hide behind Kim. "He's a little shy," she told them.
The first to talk to Alphonce was a tall dark tan Hispanic man, late 50s, with black and grey hair. He smiled at him. He spoke to Alphonce with a thick Spanish accent, "Hello, Alphonce." He almost mispronounce the boy's name.
"Alphonce, this is my dad Felix Mendel. He's a plane engineer. He's very good in his field of mechanics. He's from Peru. He knows how to speak English, but eager in his practice to speak better and he could be a little hard to understand at time, but don't worry my mother and I will help you understand through his accent," Kim explains.
She introduces her mother next, "Here is my mother Elsie Mendel. She's from Puerto Rico. She's an excellent cook. She's a retire lawyer, the best but as a mother she's first rate." Kim's mother was a couple inches taller than Kim's father. Her hair was pepper colored hair and short, also late in her 50s. She had a very warm smile on her face when she looked at Alphonce. She too spoke with a Hispanic accent, "Hello, Alphonce. I like your hat."
Alphonce clung to his captain's hat and thanked her.
"Kim, he's adorable! I hope you'll like it here," Mrs. Mendel told him.
During Alphonce's first week in America, his new family spend their day traveling to New York site-seeing and shopping. Kim and her parents bought lots of new toys and clothes for Alphonce. Finally the family drove to Kim's house, she had a surprise for Alphonce. It was like her parents' house. It was a tall building, but with a couple of red rose brushes in front of the house. It was beautifully decorate inside. It was like the Gorillaz's flat back at England but it was clean and had no holes on the walls and floor. Her living room was larger and had lots of photos. There was a, "Welcome", banner hung for Alphonce's arrival. Alphonce looked around and notice a picture of his step-mother and father stand together, smiling happily in front of a large building. They were holding hands, dressed what looked like formal wear. His father, Murdoc was dressed in a grey suit and his step-mother, Kim was in a short pale pink dress, holding a small bouquet of flowers in one hand and Murdoc's hand in the other.
"That's where we got married, in city hall." Alphonce heard his step-mother speak from behind.
Kim showed Alphonce more pictures of her and Murdoc together with their friends. Most of the pictures she had were just the two of them in front of a building and overlooking beautiful sceneries. Alphonce saw a different side of his father. Murdoc was laughing, smiling, and kissing Kim. Alphonce saw how his dad made her very happy as well.
"Now, I have a surprise waiting up stairs for you," she told him. Alphonce followed Kim upstairs. "I worked a years' worth of thinking and preparing this room for you. If you still have trouble sleeping, my room is just down the hall for you to find me. Just wake me up."
She opened the door. Inside was a medium-size blue room with a small bed, a table and chair, and a box filled with new toys inside. He also had a closet filled with more new clothes. Alphonce spend all day playing with his new toys in his new room. When it was to one o'clock, he heard his step-mother calling him down for dinner. Alphonce climbs downstairs and joined his family. Mrs. Mendel was glad to see Alphonce taking a liking to Hispanic food. It made them feel Alphonce was really becoming part of their family. When it was time for Kim's parents to go, Alphonce gave a kiss to them and said good-bye.
Alphonce liked his new home. He knew every room, all but one. Recently Alphonce noticed his step-mother coming in and out the too. One day Alphonce waited for his step-mother to disappear into the kitchen. He quietly went upstairs and picked the lock. Something his father taught him. Inside it was a brightly colored room that had dark curtains hanging on the window. An easel stood by the window, blank canvases in different sizes stores against one, a wall filled with the same black sketchbook Kim brought in her trip, and numerous glass jars were on the shelf. Brushes, crayons, and chalk materials were stuffed inside the table drawers. He tried to search for the same notebook she first brought. One book had drawings of people, another had drawings of small animals, but the last one surprised Alphonce. He found a drawing of himself sleeping. He flipped through the pages to see more, but stopped when a photo fell out and land on the floor. Alphonce stare at the photo.
"Alphonce, dinner's ready. Remember to wash your hands before coming to the table." Kim called out.
"This is my daddy and me sleeping," he spoke from behind startling Kim in the kitchen. He shows her the photo he found. Kim sighed.
It was a photo of Murdoc lying on bed with an infant Alphonce sleeping on top of his chest.
"Oh, I now I remember where I put this. I took this photo just before I left Plastic Beach," Kim reminisce, "It was the first time when I meet you for the first time, just a tiny baby. Your daddy all tired and sleepy eyes. He woke up after I took this picture. I've been meaning to frame this photo."
"Can I have it," Alphonce asked.
"Oh, Okay." Kim puts the photo in a silver frame and places it near Alphonce's bed. Alphonce smiled seeing the photo. He gave his step-mother a warm hug. Kim hugged him back.
Soon it was September and Kim drove Alphonce to his new school. Kim wasn't sure at first to have her step-son enrolled in a private school, let alone a Catholic one. The school was called St. Michael, Kim held Alphonce's nervous hand and enter the large school. Inside they saw other children running around and other parents waiting for the school's bell rang. Alphonce was scare and hide behind Kim.
"Alphonce, don't you want to make friends," Kim asked.
"I have friends back home." Alphonce answered.
"Here in school you'll make even more friends. Friends to play and have fun with and remember what we talked about, if one of the kids is bothering you, you go and tell the teacher and I'll come to pick you up, okay," she told him.
Alphonce still refused. Kim held his hand as they walk close to the crowd of screaming kids and worrying parents. Soon they were greeted by the teacher.
"Hello, nice to meet you two. I'm Miss Murphy and I'll be your son or daughter's teacher," she cheerfully spoke.
Kim introduced them, "This is my son, Alphonce Niccals and I'm Mrs. Niccals. Please to meet, Miss Murphy."
"Hello, Alphonce. Nice to meet you, I like your hat," Miss Murphy observed.
Alphonce cling to his captain's hat. He spoke in a shy tone, "Thank you. It was my daddy's. He's gone."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I remember what it feels losing someone close to you," Miss Murphy told him.
"Really," Alphonce spoke up, "Who?"
"My nana, my grandmother, she took care of me when I was young girl. She taught me many things which, is why I became a teacher. I want to teach kids new things and grow. Would you like to see my classroom," Miss Murphy asked Alphonce.
She extended her hand out to him. Alphonce took her hand, but didn't let go of his step-mother's hand, and they followed Miss Murphy around. When they braked at the cubbies, Alphonce put his new schoolbag in the cupboard and hung his coat on the hanger. Kim quietly spoke Miss Murphy.
"Miss Murphy, there's a few things about my son, one he has a sensitive skin his doctor suggests that he stays far away from direct sunlight. I did put some protective sunscreen, but only until he builds some kind of immunity someday, for now just keep him in partial shade to help avoid the bright sun. Another is he might get easily upset, I mean since his father's death, he's still healing, but in case anything sets him off call me quickly," Kim explained to her.
In reality Kim didn't mention that her son, Alphonce was half demon. Murdoc once told Kim, one quiet evening during her stay at Plastic Beach as he starts explaining more about Alphonce. Murdoc told her that during Alphonce's birth there were some difficulties and Paula's life was on the line. In a desperate act she summoned a deal with the man downstairs, the blood used to save her, saved Alphonce too. At first Kim didn't know what to think, she looked at Murdoc, but he noticed the hint of fear in her eyes. Murdoc only asked that she be prepare for Alphonce in the future, she didn't hear him, but Murdoc insisted that there was good in Alphonce. Kim looked at the sleeping baby in crib, so tiny, swaddled in his blue blanket, and for a minute she forgot about what Murdoc's warning.
"I don't know how long he'll start using it, but I know he just needs a place to keep him safe. For now I need to watch out for danger, once things settle I'll move him, Dullard, and Cyborg to a safe home until things cool down," Murdoc told her.
"Murdoc, what does that have to do with me? I mean there's so much I don't understand. Why are you staying in this floating piece of trash with a baby? And keeping 2D hostage underwater, you know he's terrified of whales and this robot clone of Noodle?! I just can't fight my instincts," Kim exclaims, but shushed herself not to awake Baby Alphonce.
Murdoc pulled her in close and placed his rough lips against hers. She tried to fight, but soon it broke to trembling and soon it stopped. Murdoc kissed her again.
"I don't want another person worrying about me. I just need you to be there for Alphonce," Murdoc whispered.
It was almost like a trance, but Kim knew he was telling the truth. She only wished at that time what it meant back then, maybe now she would more mentally prepare becoming a mother. She only wished she had spent her time as a wife first before taking the next step.
