Well, I'm SO glad I got those reviews! You guys rock! Love ya! Yup, I had a nice trip to mars! WEEE! And brought….space rocks for all! (Hands you a space rock) In this chappie, there will be the part that'll make you go 'OMG! HOW DARE HE! EEEEEE!' and foam at the mouth like a rabid senior. Well, now it is time for the chap that has its length because of paragraphing faults! YAY!

-Chapter 16-

Everyone had gotten only a few hours of sleep. Every time they would finally drift off, they'd be woken up by the obnoxious police sirens or car horns. The only one who slept really was Russel, and that was because he was so used to the loud city sounds. Everyone was in their own rooms but since Murdoc's was across from Russel's, he could hear the drummer's booming snoring, well….the loudest. Everyone could hear it. The Satanist had had to rip his pillow open and shove the stuffing in his ears to sleep that night. And the next morning, as they went to breakfast, EVERYONE was groggy and tired. None more that Murdoc….naturally.

"Oi Fuck-Lard! I didn't sleep ALL last night because of ya bloody snoring!" Murdoc yelled as Russel stepped out of his hotel room. Russel yawned loudly.

"Man, is it really MY fault? I mean, I slept great."

"We know, Russel-san….we heard you…." Noodle dragged herself out of her room, still rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"It's about time you woke up!" Murdoc snapped, facing Noodle.

"Man, you woke up maybe four or five minutes ago." Russel mumbled.

"SIX for your information Tubby! A LONG six minutes ago!" Murdoc barked, now leering at Russel.

"Man, what ever." Russel yawned again and stretched his arms. "You're grouchy in the mornings ya know? Anyways, where's 'D?"

"Eh fuck if I know Lards. Tha Dullard's probably still sleeping." Murdoc trudged over to the door to 2D's room. "Ey Face-ache! Get up!" Murdoc pounded on the door and heard no reply. He grabbed the doorknob and was surprised when the door opened. He stepped in and looked around. No sign of 2D anywhere.

"Murdoc-san, is he in there?" Noodle questioned from the hallway. She then walked into 2D's room also.

The bed wasn't made, showing that 2D had been in his room obviously. And his painkillers' container was opened and tipped over. Cigarette butts were in the clear, glass ashtray and the sent of alcohol was obvious throughout the room. Plus another scent that was familiar to everyone, but in their tired state, they couldn't tell what it was.

"M-Murdoc…where…is he?" Noodle asked worriedly and Murdoc automatically realized what must have happened.

"….Paula." Murdoc looked over at Noodle.

"W-what about her?" Noodle tried to keep her tears from coming. She also knew what must have happened, but….she didn't…want to believe it.

"….that little-I'm gonna kill tha Dullard!" Murdoc tightened his fists. He hated that 2D would do this! ESPECIALLY to Noodle!

"M-Murdoc-san, we mustn't jump to conclusions…..We have to ask 2D-san about this first. H-he wouldn't do this to me…" Noodle placed her hand on her stomach and her tears streamed down her face.

"Lov, he's done this before….I don't think you're any different in his eyes…"

Noodle embraced Murdoc and cried into him. He looked down at her sympathetically and pat her back.

"M-urdoc, what do I do? I-I have his kid…..I can't just let him do this…." Noodle sobbed.

"Let who do wot?" 2D was standing in the doorway, and Murdoc and Russel turned to face him. Noodle's tears rolled down her face and she turned away from 2D. "Wot? Wot did I do?"

"Sweet Satan Dullard! You think we're THAT clueless?" Murdoc snapped.

"Clueless ta wot? I went ta get breakfast, then I come back and you're all in m' room saying I did somefin." 2D scratched his head and looked at Murdoc confusedly.

"Were you with Paula last night?" Murdoc stepped towards 2D. "Tell tha truth or I'll punch that pretty face of yours in!" 2D backed up, and was against the wall. Murdoc raised a fist. "Tell us! Wha' did ya do?"

"Murdoc-san! Don't!" Noodle cried, running forward and hugging 2D tightly. She was the only thing standing in the way of Murdoc.

"Noodle, for tha love of Satan! Don't ya see what he did? He cheated on you!" Murdoc pointed at 2D. "He don' care about ya! He jus' likes ya cause he knows that you'll stick up for him like this!"

"What? I didn't cheat on 'er!" 2D placed his hand on Noodle's back as she hugged him. Noodle pushed him away and stepped back.

"2D-san, please! Tell the truth!" Noodle had only hugged him to stop Murdoc. She didn't want to see him get hurt, even if he had done that to her, especially if they didn't know if he'd done it or not.

"Luv, I am telling tha truth! I didn't do anythin'! I went ta get breakfast, that's it! You gotta believe me!" 2D looked at Noodle pleadingly and she turned away.

"2D-san….I would like to believe you….but I can't….Not yet…Now excuse me….I'm going to go get something to eat…" Noodle walked out of the room and down the hall. Both Murdoc and Russel glared at 2D.

"'D, we mean this…if you did anything….tell us." Russel tried to stay calm although he was extremely mad at even the possibility that he had been with Paula last night.

"Russel, I didn't do anythin'…." 2D slid down the wall and looked down at the ground. Murdoc jerked 2D's hair back and made him look up at them.

"Dullard, we mean this. Tell us." Murdoc growled, pulling 2D's hair harder.

"Ow! I didn't do nothin Murdoc!" 2D cried. Murdoc only pulled harder.

"Yeh?"

"Man, let him go…he'll confess soon enough. Besides, we have practice." Russel walked out of 2D's room and Murdoc shot 2D one last glare before following. 2D slowly stood up and looked around his room. It was true….last night he had done something that he already regretted.

-A While Later-

After finding Noodle standing on the balcony of her room, the Gorillaz had made their way to the lobby of the hotel. Nobody would look at 2D directly, and when they did, it was in shame and distrust. Even when they had all gotten on the bus that they were going to take to the practicing studio downtown, Noodle sat by 2D wordlessly. She didn't kiss him, she didn't hug him, and she didn't even look at him. She didn't talk the whole trip, and her band mates were worried. Russel and Murdoc had started an uneasy conversation on the song that they were performing. An older hit of there's called 'Feel Good Inc.' that had reopened their fame about five years go. It was decided that that was the song that they were going to do. They had already performed it at the Grammies with Madonna a while a go, but this time they'd do it alone. The whole thing. Murdoc was rather disappointed about that because he had quite enjoyed the after party that year. And he'd had a great time that night. But now they wouldn't have any interruptions of their song. Just them. Of course there was De La Soul that would be doing the rap bit…but that was it. The Grammies were in a couple of weeks, but they'd rather be prepared then to not practice at all. So they were heading to the practice studio now to get ready.

-A While Later-

"Noodle luv, would ya hand me my mike please?" 2D asked. Noodle hesitated, and then put her guitar aside. She seized the microphone from the stand that it was on and handed it to 2D. As they both had their hands on the microphone, she looked him straight in the eyes and everything seemed to freeze.

'This is the man I love…and he loves me…He didn't do anything…' Noodle suddenly wrapped her arms around 2D, pulled him to her, and kissed him intensely. The microphone fell to the ground with a thud and 2D was shocked at first, but soon closed his eyes and became lost in the long kiss. He wrapped his arms around her also. He couldn't help but to feel guilt for what he did the night before…and she trusted that he hadn't done anything. She trusted his lies.

Finally the kiss ended and Noodle and 2D stared into each other's eyes. Her beautiful emerald eyes and his own fractured ones. 2D pulled away from Noodle. He couldn't look at her the same anymore. He had told her a huge lie and she believed him. She loved him too much to think he would do that. She loved him too much to think he would lie to her. Noodle looked up at him and Russel and Murdoc just watched from a distance. No one knew what would happen next. Noodle placed her hand on 2D's shoulder.

"2D-san….I'm sorry that I doubted you." Noodle whispered, a tear making its way silently down her cheek. 2D felt horrible guilt weighing down on his conscience.

"I-It's alright luv…" He forced a smile and wiped away her tear.

"I know that…if you did do anything….you'd tell me."

2D nodded slowly and picked up his microphone.

"Well, let's practice then." He smiled nervously and Noodle nodded. She picked up her guitar and Murdoc picked up his bass. Russel was already sitting behind his drum set, and he raised his drum sticks.

"I guess I'm….sorry that I doubted ya, mate." Murdoc mumbled, looking down at the floor, his hair covering his mismatched eyes.

"It's okay, Murdoc…" for 2D it was getting hard to except all these apologies. He REALLY wished that he could just confess and get it over with. Murdoc NEVER apologized! NEVER! And he just had…even though 2D should be the one saying sorry.

"Yeah….sorry 'D." Russel muttered, also looking at the ground in guilt.
"……Russel….Murdoc….you shouldn't be sorry…" 2D looked away from his band mates, was he about to confess? Should he? Everyone looked at him confusedly. "I-I….." he couldn't tell them! What would they do? What would they say? Would they kick him out of the band? Would Noodle leave him? Of course! "…you didn't know. You shouldn't apologize…I would have suspected the same." And with that, they began to practice their song Feel Good Inc, nobody mentioning what they had been arguing over previously.
-About Three Hours Later-

Practice was over with and 2D had lit a cigarette and was now leaning against the wall smoking it. Murdoc had also taken out a cig and was sitting down on a chair and taking long drags from it. Noodle coughed several times, and closed her eyes tightly.
"Excuse me. Murdoc-san, 2D-san, I'm going to wait outside. Tell me when we can leave." Noodle walked out of the practice room and closed the door softly behind her. Murdoc took another drag from his cigarette. It hung loosely from his slightly parted lips. Occasionally he would shift it with his tongue, and the grey ashes would often fall to the ground and be carelessly left there. As the trail of grey along the cig got longer, the cigarette itself got shorter.

2D handed Murdoc his only half-smoked cig and the Satanist looked up at him awkwardly.
"'ere, take it." 2D mumbled. Murdoc shrugged his shoulders and took the cigarette, placing it between his lips and beside the one he had been smoking.

2D went in the direction that Noodle had gone, also closing the door behind him. Noodle was leaning against the brick wall and seemed to be in deep thought. She looked over at 2D as he came outside.

"Hallo 2D-sanuma." Noodle kissed him lightly on the cheek and he laughed slightly.

"Why'd ya leave tha practice room?" 2D questioned, kissing her also on the cheek.
"You and Murdoc-san were both smoking. I needed some fresh air, and I didn't know if the cigarettes would affect the baby." Noodle smiled lightly and 2D nodded slowly.
"right….okay." He also smiled faintly. The door to the building where they had been practicing came open, causing Noodle and 2D to look over in that direction.

"Come on. We're headin' for tha hotel." Murdoc muttered, walking off to the bus stop. Noodle, 2D, and Russel all followed.
-Back At The Hotel-

Noodle was lying on the bed of her hotel room, chatting on the phone with one of her good friends. Every one of her friends were excited about the baby. So since there would be no baby shower, they were probably sending Kong Studios package after package of presents.

After Noodle had told her friend Jess goodbye, she closed her cell phone and sighed. She had been on her mobile for an hour or two now. Noodle stood up and walked over to the mirror in her room. She sighed heavily and placed a hand on her stomach. It was very obvious that she was pregnant. No doubt. Her stomach was twice its normal size but the rest of her body was its regular size. Noodle also noticed that her long purple hair was slightly messy. Noodle got her hairbrush from her suitcase. She brushed her hair silently, looking in the mirror at herself and thinking deeply. What had she done to make herself noticeable in 2D's eyes? She personally didn't like her appearance. At all. But why did 2D love her? She turned away from the mirror and sat down on the bed, still brushing her hair wordlessly.

The intense silence was broken by a sudden knock on the door. Noodle stood up and walked over to her door. She latched the chain in the lock. You could never be too careful in a place like LA. She opened the door, the golden chain making it only able to open a bit. Noodle saw that it was only 2D and unlatched the door.

"Hello 2D-sanuma." Noodle chimed.
"'ello luv. I was wondering….would ya like ta go somewhere? Jus' me an' you?" 2D asked, scratching the back of his head and looking at the ground. He was uncertain if, after this morning's incident, Noodle would be willing to go out somewhere with him.
"Sure 2D-san!" Finally! A night out with 2D. It was EXACTLY what she wanted, especially in LA.

2D smiled at the fact that Noodle had said yes.
"Alright. Meet ya in an hour in the lobby?"
"Okay 2D. See you in an hour." Noodle kissed him, and then closed the door. She would definitely have to get ready.

-An Hour Later-

Noodle had taken a shower, gotten dressed up in an undemanding outfit of a small black and white top and a short jean skirt, and simply put on some blue eye shadow. She glanced at the clock and realized that she was going to be late if she didn't hurry. Noodle swiftly dried her hair with the blow-dryer and brushed it one last time. She glanced at herself in the mirror to make sure that she was done. Perfect. She quickly grabbed a pair of shoes and slipped them on carefully. She didn't really favor heeled shoes, so she put on a pair of black strappy high-topped sandals, grabbed her jacket, and dashed out the door and down the hall. People looked over at her as she ran by; it was kind of awkward to see someone all dressed up running down the halls of the hotel in platform sandals. Noodle ignored the strange glances she was receiving and hurriedly ran to the elevator.

"Hold the lift please!" Noodle called out. A young man in a business outfit placed a hand on the side of the elevator's door, causing it to stop from closing at the last second. "Thank you." Noodle got into the elevator carefully, panting slightly from the long run down the hall. "Are you heading for the lobby?" She questioned, leaning against the wall of the elevator and sighing exhaustedly.

"Yep. I'm guessing that you're heading there to?" Noodle nodded. "Are you expecting a kid soon?" the man asked, looking over at Noodle.

"Yeah." Noodle replied, too tired to really add anything else.

"Well congrats. And good luck." He smiled politely.

"Thanks." Noodle stood up straight as the elevator came to its stop finally.

"You're welcome." He stepped out of the elevator and Noodle did the same. Then the man walked away, down the corridor on the other side of the lobby.

Noodle saw 2D waiting by the exit of the hotel.
"2D-san!" Noodle embraced him and he smiled down at her.

"Oy luv, you sure look nice." 2D kissed her lightly on the cheek. Noodle giggled slightly and blushed. "Well Noodle. I was thinking that we could go to tha beach today…It's really close to here."

"That would be great! Although….it's the middle of winter. A little cold….But I guess that's why jackets were made." Noodle laughed lightly and 2D smiled.
"So…that's a yes for the beach? Perfect!"
"Well, let's get a cab. It's a bit far to the beach." Noodle took 2D's hand in hers and walked excitedly to the lobby's exit.

Outside cars zoomed down the bustled city street this way and that. People hurried to get to their hotel rooms or the few houses. The pungent stench of car exhaust wafted through the air as a car drove by with its tailpipe spitting the thick clouds of it out. Bright city lights and loud city sounds were everywhere. Los Angeles was truly a remarkable place. Even during the day. Sure there was the pollution of cars and all, but that's the price to pay for such a wondrous place.

"Uhhh Noodle luv, 'ow do y' get a cab around 'ere?" 2D asked, raising his voice slightly to be heard over the loud car horns.

"It's easy 2D-san. Hold on…." Noodle walked out onto the sidewalk and waved her hand in the air, trying to flag down a taxicab. One instantly came to a stop and the person rolled down their window.

"Ya need a ride, toots?" the driver questioned coolly, leaning on the cab door.

2D stepped up beside Noodle and scowled at the cabdriver, shooting him a glance that told him to back off. The driver immediately realized the mistake he had made and gulped.

"Yes. We need to get to the beach." Noodle informed him. 2D opened the taxi's door for Noodle and she took her seat as 2D sat down beside her, still glaring at the driver.

"Right….Okay. Just sit back." The driver started up the taxi and Noodle leaned onto 2D's shoulder.
"I can't wait 2D. Just us again. You and me on a nice date at the beach." Noodle kissed 2D lightly and he placed one arm around her. Noodle sighed softly and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Eh sorry about earlier." The cabdriver muttered, keeping his eyes on the road.

"Jus' shut up and drive." 2D snapped, making the driver gulp again and Noodle giggle a little.

"Wow 2D-san. You sure are protective." Noodle whispered, looking up at 2D, but keeping her head on his shoulder. 2D grinned a bit and laughed slightly.

"Jus' keepin' ya from these 'olly wood dirt bags is all."
The driver shifted nervously in his seat and continued driving.
-A Short While Later-

The cab finally stopped on a road beside the beach.

"That'll be eight fifty." The driver said, looking back at the two.

"Yeah, 'ere ya go." 2D handed him exactly eight dollars and fifty cents as he got out of the cab, then helped Noodle out.
"What? No tip?"
"Nope." 2D slammed the door of the taxi and the driver sighed heavily before driving off. Noodle lightly took 2D's hand in hers, and they both walked out onto the beautiful beach.

The scene was perfect. There had been a big boom in antipollution, so even cities' beaches had clean, crisp, and salty air, and divine white sand. The seawater was a stunning deep turquoise, and the waves weren't even too big. Noodle and 2D looked out upon the gorgeous sunset. The whole sky was graced with elegant reds, blues, and purples of unimaginable and sincere splendor. Noodle and 2D took their seats on the soft sand and watched the sun slowly disappear behind the water. And you could vaguely see a city off in the distance.

"This is….beautiful." Noodle whispered, holding 2D's hand softly and gazing out upon the sunset.

"Yeah….I'm 'ere with tha most beautiful woman in the world, watching the most beautiful sight that nature 'as ta offer unfold in front of me. I don't think anything could ruin this." 2D and Noodle both leaned in for a kiss and then-
"2D baby! I had NO idea that you'd be here!" Paula's voice broke the serenity abruptly and 2D pulled away from Noodle.

"Paula! Wot tha 'ell-I mean….what are ya doing 'ere?" 2D questioned, Noodle glaring at Paula coldly.
"Well I came here because I'd heard about a little club nearby. I was heading there right now for a good martini or two. I wasn't expecting to see you two here!" Paula sat down on the other side of 2D.

"Yes…a pleasant surprise…." Noodle mumbled, looking out at the now darkened sky.

"Wull Paula…..luv I was sort of busy righ' now…." 2D scratched the back of his head awkwardly and looked over at Noodle.

"Oh. Mind if I join? I'd rather be with you then go to a club any day." Paula leaned over, facing 2D, her chest against him. 2D laughed nervously and gulped.

"S-sure Paula. You can come. I was planning on goin' ta dinner at that li'l restaurant over there." 2D nodded towards a small beachside diner nearby.

"Sounds great." Paula stroked 2D's chest and he looked clearly uncomfortable. 2D stood up, causing Paula to practically fall forward. But she managed to catch herself at the last second. Noodle stood up as well. She dusted herself off, as did 2D. Paula quickly got up as well and brushed the sand from her SHORT skirt. "Well 2D, let's go." Paula took his hand and walked off with him, towards the diner, leaving Noodle standing there angrily. Noodle sighed in frustration and then finally followed.

---

I hate Paula I HATE PAULA! Grrrrrrr…..(murders a punching bag with her face on it) I swear, she is a slutty, sleezey, bitch! RAAAAAWR! (Goes into deranged rage episode)
Murdoc: "Just ignore her and…..review and all that other whatnot." (Looks over at me awkwardly, then sighs) Pathetic….