Ahhh, childhood. The days of juice boxes, Veggie Tales, and playgrounds. Why must those days be deprived from us as time ticks by? Whoa….too serious of an author's note….CRAB CAKES! BAH!

Little elves,

-Chapter 12(s?)-

The doctor was reading over the results from the ultrasound. He looked up from the clipboard he was holding.

"Mr. and Mrs. Tusspot, here are the results." He handed Noodle the paper and 2D looked over her shoulder to see it. "I think you'll be very satisfied to find that the child is growing perfectly and Mrs. Tusspot, you are doing great! And also, it turns out, Mrs. Tusspot, you've been pregnant for six months, not five. Be expecting the child to be here less then two months from now." He smiled broadly at the couple. Noodle was clearly thrilled about the news, same with 2D. Noodle would be a mother soon, and 2D would be a dad. It was great that they now knew they only had to wait a little while longer until the big day. "Well, you can get that off." Dr. Hasselhoff handed Noodle a clean rag. Noodle thanked him silently and wiped the cold, clear gel off of her stomach from the ultrasound. When she was done, he took the rag and placed it into a nearby sink. Noodle adjusted her shirt so it was covering her swollen stomach again. "Just one thing before you leave." The doctor handed her a pill case. "Just take one of those every morning." He pointed to the pill bottle. "Swallow it down with some water. Now, you take care, and rest for the next few weeks, okay." He helped Noodle up. "You might want to ask the receptionist if it's okay to leave. From your husband's current condition, I say it'd be a bit safer if you got him checked on again." Noodle nodded.

"Thank you so much, doctor." Noodle chimed as she opened the door and stepped out of the room, 2D walking behind her. As soon as Noodle shut the door, she embraced 2D. "This is so great 2D!" she piped. 2D wrapped his arms around her and they both pulled into an affectionate kiss. After a while, Noodle pulled away. 2D smiled and kissed her again, this time just a peck on the cheek. "Well, 2D. You heard the doctor. We have to get you ensure that you're okay." Noodle reminded him. 2D's smile faded slightly.

"Oh yeah…." He mumbled and scratched the back of his neck.

"Let's go find Murdoc and Russel-san. Which room are they in again?" Noodle questioned. 2D thought for a while.

"Uhhh…..hold on." He took Noodle's hand they walked to a room. "I think this one." He placed his hand on the handle and opened the door. Inside the room, an old withered up crone was getting a sponge bath.

"SHUT THE DOOR GOD DAMNIT!"

"AAAAH!" 2D slammed the door just in time for a sopping wet sponge to hit it instead of thwacking him square in the head. "Uhhh…..wrong door." 2D laughed nervously and looked at the door next to the one they had just unfortunately opened. He closed his eyes, slowly turned the brass knob, then pushed the door open. 2D stepped inside the musty hospital room with his eyes still closed as tight as he could manage. Noodle, still grasping 2D's left hand, peeked into the room to see if it was the right one.

"Wot tha 'ell are you doing face-ache?" Murdoc growled as 2D stood in the room with his eyes shut. 2D opened his eyes slowly.

"YAY! No sponge bathing old ladies!" 2D cheered as he realized they had entered the right room this time.

"Well wot did you think?" Murdoc growled.

"Wull in tha room next door there was a naked old lady and she was-"

"I DON'T WANNA HEAR IT!" Murdoc interrupted. "Please, Dullard. Keep your personal experiences to yourself! And you have Noodle, for tha love of sweet Satan!"

2D sighed deeply in irritation.

"Well, Murdoc-san….the doctor said we can leave this forsaken place soon…he said it would be best if we got 2D-san checked up on again before we left though." Noodle stepped in front of 2D as she said his name. Although disappointed at the fact that Noodle had remembered, 2D smiled at Noodle and placed his arm over around her waist and his hand on her stomach. Murdoc mumbled ineligibly under his breath.

"Dullard, do you WANT a medical before we leave?" Murdoc questioned, trying to make his tone hide his frustration.

"Uhhhh….no, But if it'll make Noodle happy I-"

"See, look. Tha Dullard's FINE. A little brain damaged, but that was all caused before I even met 'im." Murdoc stepped behind 2D and Noodle turned around. Murdoc whacked 2D on the back in a 'supposed to be friendly' kind of way. However, he didn't intend to hit him right on the place where he had been stabbed earlier. 2D cried out in pain and fell forward completely and landed with his head right on Noodle's breast. And the thing was, she had been wearing a small pink tank-top. Noodle gasped in shock and blushed like mad. 2D immediately pulled his head from Noodle's chest.

"Noodle I am SO SOR-"

Noodle silenced him by laughing a bit.

"2D-san, it's okay. We're engaged. If it was someone else, I'd murder them. But not you." She kissed him lightly. It was now 2D who blushed a bit.

"sorry…" 2D mumbled. Murdoc heaved a deep sigh.

"…Dullard."

"Now, about 'D's health check, cause Muds, he needs one. I don't mean that in an insulting way, but we really should get him checked on." Russel pointed out. Murdoc snarled under his breath.

"Fine, fine, FINE! We'll get tha Dullard checked on." Murdoc finally growled in defeat and hauled 2D out the door by the arms. Noodle worriedly followed the two. Russel sighed and quickly tailed behind the three, sulking despondently.

-10 Minutes Later-

2D was changing the room that the doctor had made him go in to change into the supposedly medically fit clothes. The doctor had spent a while explaining to 2D about why she was making him change into it. Following a few minutes of slight disputing, 2D finally gave up and walked into the changing room. After at least five minutes, Russel, Murdoc, Noodle, and the young doctor could hear 2D's voice from inside the room.

"I ain't comin out…" 2D squeaked as he cracked open the door, only enough for his head to peak out. Noodle gave a gentle smile.

"Awwww, 2D, It can't be that bad…come on out." Noodle coaxed softly. 2D shook his head.

"No Noodle, I can't!"

"Why not?"

"It's a….paper…dress…."

Murdoc burst out laughing.

"Oy mate! Come on out! Let's see how that dress fits you and your girly hips!" Murdoc taunted. Noodle glared at him.

"That's it! I ain' comin out!" 2D closed the door again. By this time, the doctor had gotten fed up with the band's constant bickering that wasn't really making her job any easier, she was so pissed off that she opened the door and dragged 2D out by his ear. "OWOWOW! That's my EAR, lady!"

They now realized WHY 2D had not wanted to come out of the room. He was wearing a light-blue paper dress, which showed his complete back. His band mates didn't see much of THAT however, because the doctor quickly forced 2D sit on the medical table with his back against the wall. She then ordered him to lean forward a bit and he did so, not wanting a repeat of the ear-pulling incident. She removed the thick bandages from 2D's injury and took out a popsicle stick type thing from a medical cabinet. She ran it along 2D's stitches. Noodle flinched as she realized just how bad 2D's injury had been. More then 10 black stitches had been placed around the wound to prevent additional damage or harm and the whole area was bruised badly, adding to 2D's previous scars, bruises, and stitches all over the rest of his body. The doctor picked up a small container of alcohol and a cotton ball from a nearby table. She dabbed some of the alcohol onto the cotton ball and applied it to the area surrounding the stitches. She placed the container and the now slightly bloody cotton ball aside and pulled out small tube-like bottle. She placed a q-tip in front of the tube a squeezed it to make a small amount of translucent gel come from it and onto the q-tip. She then skillfully rubbed the gel covered q-tip over the stitches. After throwing away the q-tip, she bandaged the cut up carefully and let 2D sit upright again. Noodle, Russel, and even Murdoc were surprised by the skillfulness of the young doctor. 2D smiled slightly. He normally hated the doctor's office, but this was okay. 2D stood up and walked to stand beside Noodle. Noodle kissed 2D on the lips.

"Thank you 2D-san for getting a medical check, I'm happy that I know you're okay." She whispered and hugged him tightly. 2D pat her back lightly and kissed her as she had kissed him, just a light peck.

"Yes, he's fine. Just don't do much work and basically just lie around." The doctor advised. Murdoc flinched at the 'don't do much' part, knowing that quite a bit of work was going to be done to get Kong ready for Noodle's child, and that 2D would have an excuse to lounge around and take breaks. 2D then noticed that the doctor had dropped a pair of glasses that were sure to get stepped on and broken. With his back to the door, 2D bent down to pick them up.

"Look Mommy! That no-eyed guy's butt looks like that guy's nose!" a small toddler called out, pointing at 2D's arse, then at Murdoc's odd nose. 2D made a small yelpish sound and bolted upright immediately, his face reddened a bit in embarrassment. Murdoc mumbled a few incoherent curses.

"Yes, yes Jimmy! We don't make fun of eyeless people and scary seniors." His mother pushed the young boy forward and out of sight. The last thing they heard the child's innocent voice say was,
"Oh, so that thing was a senior?"

-One Hour Later-
The band had finally checked out of the hospital, and were now on their way home in the jeep. Murdoc was still in disbelief from how much the medical bill was.

"Eight hundred quid for THAT?" Murdoc hollered, glancing over at 2D for only a second, and then looking back at the road, since Murdoc was the one driving. 2D sighed deeply.

"Wull, there were fifteen stitches for me, an extra careful stomach pump for Noodle, from somethin YOU did, an ultrasound for Noodle, and those pills they gave her for tha kid. All that isn't gonna be cheap ya know!" 2D was getting annoyed because ever since they'd left the doctor's, Murdoc had been bitching at him. Murdoc growled something under his breath. Noodle was now asleep, her head resting in 2D's lap, both her and 2D sitting in the backseats. 2D had his hand on Noodle's stomach and could feel a bit of occasional kicks from the baby. He smiled as he thought about how Noodle used to be a few years. The martial arts master. He closed his eyes and leaned back in the seat, he didn't really realize just how tired he really was.

As soon as 2D had drifted off to sleep, they had pulled into the carpark and he was woken up rudely by a certain ill-tempered Satanist.

"GET UP DULLARD!" Murdoc shouted into 2D's ear. 2D jolted awake and fell out of the seat with a yell of surprise. Thank god Noodle wasn't still on his lap, Murdoc was now holding Noodle. He held her like a small child, her head over his shoulder and her eyes were closed in sleep. 2D got up and scratched the back of his head.

"Wot's wif tha rude awakening?" 2D yawned this question, while stretching.

"Well you want him t leave you in this old jeep?" Russel inquired as he got up and out of the vehicle, causing it to jerk slightly.

"No…?" 2D replied. He took Noodle from Murdoc and held her bridal style. She moaned softly in her sleep and adjusted herself in 2D's arms.

"Just take Noodle to her room to sleep, get ready for tomorrow, and leave me alone," Murdoc snarled, then he strode into his Winnebago and kicked the door shut with a Cuban heeled boot.

"Wot's gonna 'appen tomorrow?" 2D asked, raising his heavily accented voice to be heard. He soon saw Murdoc open the door to the Bago and stick his head out.

"Well, you and Noodle's kid needs a place to sleep, right?"
"Yeah…"

"Wull, you're going ta clear out Shaun's room. You know, that old head in Noodle's closet? Well, that closet is bigger then half tha bedrooms in tha studio, so I figure tha kid can sleep in there." Murdoc explained, leaning against the doorway.

"But that place is FILTHY!"

Murdoc heaved a hollow sigh.

"That's why you're CLEANING it. And you can FOREGET about me helping! It's you and Noodle's kid, you two have ta take care of it. Now leave me alone, and leave me out of it!" 2D flinched as the door of the Winnebago slammed and the bang echoed through the carpark. Russel walked back into Kong Studio and 2D followed so he could put Noodle in her room for the night.

2D lied Noodle down on her small bed. As he watched her sleep for a few minutes, he mainly paid attention to her stomach. Thinking that in only a short amount of time, Noodle's baby would come into their lives. A child can change everything, and 2D realized that. He knew that being a father wouldn't be glorious all the time. He'd have responsibilities now. He'd have to be a good dad, and he swore to himself that he would be the best he could be. He swore to Noodle that he'd be a good father when they decided to have a little bit of 'fun' for those few nights. Noodle was now peacefully asleep. Was she was dreaming about when she'd be a mother? No. Noodle was currently having a dream about LA. They only had a week to go until they'd be there for a whole month, so that was on her mind. Although her dream was peaceful at the moment, it would soon become a horrible nightmare. But for now, it was a dream about a common, romantic night with 2D, but would end very differently. 2D ruffled Noodle's violet hair slightly and walked out of her room, closing the door behind him.

-One O Clock In The Morning-

A loud terrified shriek rang through Kong studios as Noodle jerked awake from her sleep. She was in a cold sweat and was panting quite heavily. Noodle was at first, crying tremendously from the horrifying nightmare she had just awoken from, but soon managed to stand up on her unsteady legs after at least calming her breathing a bit and then reducing her intense crying to a light weep. Mike stared at her wide-eyed and shaken at her sudden scream that broke the silence of the whole place and had woken him up.

"I-it's okay Mike, g-go back to sleep. I'm fine." Noodle assured. Mike lay his head back down and dozed off again. Noodle's tears returned to her as she recalled her dream. She stepped out of her room, ducking to avoid the Japanese lanterns that drooped low throughout her bedroom. She could tell her body was definitely trembling and her stomach was paining her. Her morning sickness would probably be recurring soon, and she knew it wouldn't be long from now until she would become ailing and the pain would be unbearable for a long hour or two, and then gradually subside. She moaned slightly and continued to walk through the corridors, when she entered the living room, she was surprised to see that someone was seated on the couch. Noodle could tell it was Murdoc by the dim red glow of a lit cigarette. Murdoc took the cig from his mouth, tossed it onto the rug and stomped it out with the heel of his boot. Noodle sniveled a bit and Murdoc could see the faded light reflect from the tears on her face. "Noodle, is that you? Wot's wrong, lov? Why are you awake this late at night?" Murdoc asked. He pat the spot on the couch next to him, telling Noodle to take a seat next to him. Noodle did so, and Murdoc placed one arm around her shoulder.

"I…had a nightmare is all….and I'm…not feeling well." Noodle mumbled, she felt slightly childish saying this to Murdoc, but he seemed to understand. After a moment of silence, Noodle abruptly embraced Murdoc and sobbed onto his shoulder. Rather then shove her away, like he would anyone else, Murdoc pat her back comfortingly and assured her that it was okay to cry.

"Shhhh…it's all right lov. I got ya. Just go on and cry. I got ya." Murdoc whispered, his hot breath a bit warm on her neck as Noodle hugged him firmly. She felt a sense of security, there with Murdoc. He rubbed her back kindly and shushed her until her crying stopped. She now just cuddled him lightly, and whimpered in her throat quietly.

"M-Murdoc…my dream….it was terrible…2D-san...he was…killed…." Noodle looked up at Murdoc for any indication to stop or go on. He nodded a bit, and Noodle took that as a way of him saying to continue. "H-he was…shot….We were moving in to kiss and someone just….It was all so….so real looking. His eyes, his expression, his….blood…It was….there. And….the baby was there too…he looked so….scared….I grabbed him and ran….2D was….dead already….and the man with the gun…he….he chased me…I was so scared…then he caught up to me…..he took the baby from me…aimed the gun at him and…." Noodle broke out into an uncontrollable sob. Breathing was getting hard for her. Murdoc shushed her again and calmly pat her back.

"No more. Don't continue…this isn't good for you, or tha kid…." Murdoc shifted Noodle slightly on his lap so she was leaning onto his chest. He looked down at her and saw the fear in her. She was so terrified. So frightened. So….scared. He held her close to him and let Noodle cry onto him. He would occasionally murmur to her comfortingly and it was at least twenty minutes until she finally was just out of tears for now. She silently lied into him and her breathing calmed again. Murdoc wiped Noodle's tears away with the back of his hand. Noodle sniffled a bit and looked up at Murdoc. He moved the hair that was covering in front of her eyes aside and Noodle smiled feebly at him. Murdoc returned her smile slightly and moved his own hair out from in front of his mismatched eyes.

"…thank you Murdoc-san…." Noodle whispered faintly, still looking up at him.

"No problem, lov."

"It was all so…..real…." she shivered as the haunting nightmare replayed in her mind like a video.

"Shhhh….just try not ta think about it. It was just a dream, okay…." Murdoc consoled her, resuming to carefully patting her back.

Noodle placed her hand on her stomach and moaned as an unexpected wave of sickness swept through her entire body. "Noodle, what's wrong?" Murdoc questioned, concern filling his voice.

"I think I'm gonna be sick," Noodle cried as she suddenly got up quickly from the couch. Murdoc stood up also. He took hold of Noodle's shoulders and led her out of the living room and into the restrooms. He could tell Noodle was about to throw up because she retched once or twice on the way to the toilets, he led her to one of the stalls and hurriedly bent her frontward over the small toilet. He hastily pulled her hair back and held her shoulders tightly. Weak noises came from the small girl's throat as she vomited into the toilet and the emptiness of the large bathroom caused her choking like sounds to increase a bit. Noodle's entire body shuddered as the contents of her stomach came up painfully. Murdoc continued to hold her firmly with her head over the toilet until she finally stopped throwing up and just started sobbing again. Murdoc shushed her and then walked away for a moment. Noodle had her head buried in her hands and continued to bawl miserably. When Murdoc returned, he was grasping a clean white towel. He handed it to Noodle and she leaned against the bathroom stall's wall pressing it over her mouth, her silent tears rolled down her face and onto it. After a while of complete stillness, Murdoc finally spoke.

"Noodle, are you alright?" Noodle was surprised to hear, not uneasiness about what just happened, but concern in his tone as he spoke. She nodded weakly.

"m-morning sickness….." she answered quietly, her voice muffled because her quivering lips were hidden by the towel. Murdoc nodded sympathetically and moved some of the hair from in front of her face.

"Ya feel any better?" he asked, he received a frail nod from her, and then placed his hands carefully on her shoulders as he directed her back to the living room. Her shaky hands were still positioned over the soft towel and it was still over her mouth, but she let Murdoc guide her to the couch and he helped her sit down on it. After a moment, he walked away again. Noodle watched him leave, and then closed her eyes. The white towel now smelt vaguely like vomit and she shuddered at the unpleasant odor, but kept it over her mouth. Soon Murdoc came back with a small, cleaned out garbage can and set it beside Noodle. "There lov. If ya feel sick, just use that, okay?" He took the somewhat stained towel from her carefully and set it aside. Murdoc sat down on another nearby couch.

"Thank you Murdoc…" Noodle whispered, and then closed her eyes. Murdoc glanced over at her.

"You need anythin?" he questioned. Noodle shook her head wearily and placed her hand on her stomach again as another wave of illness flowed throughout her. She felt too physically and mentally drained to even sit up, so she closed her eyes tightly until the dreadful feeling was gone.

After a while of deadly silence, Noodle asked Murdoc a question that was sure to get him talking a bit.

"Murdoc….can you tell me why you're always mean to 2D?" Noodle questioned, opening her eyes weakly.

"Huh?" Murdoc broke his gaze from the ceiling to look over at her.

"Why are you always beating him up, and yelling at him for things he didn't mean to do?"
Murdoc now realized what Noodle was talking about. He arose from the couch he was seated on and sat next to her. He placed one arm around the small, fragile girl and sighed.

"Lov, I'm not mean ta him because of anything he did….I guess I just…don't want him to realize just how…important he is to the band, and that he could lead….if he really wanted to…." Murdoc trailed off a bit, and then looked over at her.

"Oh….but you seem to be so…cruel to him…" her voice cracked slightly as she said this, now on the brink of tears.

"I know it's not fair….and I try not to be so hard on him…but I guess I'm just so used to treating him like….that and all…." Murdoc's voice faded to a mere mumble at the end of this.

"Oh…" Noodle didn't seem fully satisfied with the answer she got, but didn't want to pressure Murdoc, considering how nicely he was treating her, instead of being spiteful to her when she had thrown up a few minutes ago, he had comforted her.

"Noodle, you do know that all of you, even the Dullard, are the closest thing I have to family, right….?" Murdoc's hand tightened a bit on Noodle's shoulder, from his obvious discomfort about the whole subject of….family.

"…right…" Noodle replied, looking at first at Murdoc's hand, then up at him.

"Well, do you think I would intentionally HURT anyone in my family?" He returned her gaze, and she could see honest hurt in his mismatched eyes.

"No…." Noodle murmured, telling what she truly thought.

"See? I try not to be so demanding…it's just hard because sometimes that's tha only way ta make Dul-2D understand and listen…" Murdoc refrained from saying 'Dullard' because of how upset Noodle was right now and he knew that the mean nickname he had given 2D would only make things worse.

"okay…" Noodle whispered after a little while of silence.

"You understand now?" Murdoc asked, still looking down at her as she leaned against his chest. She nodded tiredly and closed her eyes. Murdoc smiled slightly and let her lie into him, while he stroked her hair. "Just understand that you guys mean the world ta me…."

"I do…" she smiled softly also, her sickness was beginning to fade and she now just wanted, more than anything, to sleep.

"Now then, you should get some rest lov." Murdoc began to get up slowly. Noodle yawned slightly as he did so. "You gonna go to your room, or stay here?" Murdoc questioned, not wanting to force Noodle to do anything she didn't want to. And also hoping that she would stay, seeing as the fact that she was still a bit sick.

"I'll just stay here…if that's okay with you." Noodle opened her eyes a bit and looked up at him.

"Yeah, it's okay." Murdoc smiled lightly and shifted his position so Noodle was a little more comfortable. He then stiffened a yawn and Noodle noticed that he also looked somewhat exhausted

"Maybe you should sleep too?" Noodle suggested, placing her hand on Murdoc's face tiredly. She could still see and feel the scratches on him from the other day, and it made her worry a bit. He had probably gotten in a fight with someone. Murdoc nodded and continued to stroke Noodle's back as he himself even began to drift off into sleep. Noodle closed her eyed and almost instantly fell asleep. Murdoc closed his eyes and let the darkness lull him to a deep sleep also.

Hehe this chap was me favie so far. - PLEASE review? I need some confidence….I'm a lil sad about tha fact that me otha fic 'I Saw That Day' isn't getting many reviews….so yeah. Cheer me up ppl! I lubb bein happy. O