As the day went on, the anger and frustration began eating away more and more at Paige's insides and her mind. She felt guilty for humiliating Murdoc, even though he deserved it. She also began to realize that what Murdoc had done before and a few times before was not necessarily 'bad' or crossing any lines; especially what he had done only hours ago. He had seemed to be kind, even considerate and understanding towards Paige but she knew that he was possibly faking it.

'He couldn't be faking it all though, could he?'

'Yeah, he probably would.'

'But, then again, the things he said about religion were true and what I told him was the truth.'

'But I need to remember, Murdoc has probably done this to multiple women, multiple times. I didn't come to sleep with a musician and leave.'

'Maybe I should just talk to him.'

'Or maybe I should let him wallow in his self pity. Wait, is it even possible for him to pity himself?'

'I'm being a selfish bitch! When did this happen? I'm going to talk to him and get things straight and nothing is going to stop me.'

'Unless what I told 2D when he asked about what Murdoc would do is true… eww."

This went on in Paige's mind; back and forth, back and forth. It was like a game of pong, or even like fencing in Paige's mind. It was like a continuous parry-repost where when one side would let up, then they would get hit and be a point away from winning the bout. The person that stayed persistent would get the touch and come a step closer to victory. Paige had to be persistent and get closer to her goal. What the goal was, she wasn't sure at the time. Sometimes it doesn't matter what the goal is, it matters if you do everything possible to succeed and come through

Paige was relieved to find that Murdoc wasn't doing anything too inappropriate but was instead playing his bass, jotting down notes and a few lyrics. She didn't barge in at first as she took in the deep vibrations that the strings produced. Paige had always been mesmerized by those vibrations, by being able to feel the music for once instead of just listening to it in the background. Having always wanted to play the bass guitar, she couldn't help but want to listen and imagine that she could do the same. She snapped back to reality for a second as Murdoc stopped playing, realized where she was, and remembered the purpose of being there. Paige knocked on the door.

Murdoc stopped mid-lyric as he looked up from the old and worn out note pad he was writing in. The knocking came from the door, the familiar sound of boney knuckles hitting the outer shell of the vehicle.

"This kid has a death wish, I'm telling you." He said gruffly to the black raven perched behind him. Cortez cawed back as if responding to his master. Murdoc reluctantly got up, placed his bass down, and walked to the door with an angry grumble. He opened the door and before he even looked to see who was there said, "What do you want, dulla-", but quickly realized he was wrong when he saw the freckled woman standing in the Winnebago's doorway, her face and body language showing uncertainty and even discomfort. Murdoc glared down at her; she inch back a step.

"Oh. It's you. What the hell do you want from me?" Paige's eyes wandered around from the floor, the steps into the Winnebago, Murdoc's feet, up to his face, and then away. She quietly and in a low voice responded.

"I just… wanted to talk. Is that too harsh of me to ask?"

"Why would y'want t' talk to me?" Murdoc responded, not giving up his stern attitude. Paige want phased to much by it, mostly because she expected him to be upset. That was going to have to change.

"Because I think there is something that the both of us aren't understanding." Paige looked at Murdoc, he looked at her. She wasn't going to back down and he could see that in the way she looked him dead in the eye. Murdoc turned around and mumbled as he made his way back into the Winnebago.

"Yeh, yeh. Sure, sure. Just don't waste too much of my time." He had barely made it half way into the kitchen when he heard a boom. He turned sharply, trying to find the source of the sound but instead found Paige on her hands and knees at the foot of the steps.

"Ow." She wimpered as she pulled herself up. Murdoc shook his head at her clumsy fall and wondered how someone that could push him down a corridor with her right foot couldn't make her way up stairs. And three, I mean three freakin' steps! Now standing, she rubbed her bare and sore knees making her way into the kitchen. This was the first time Paige really was able to have a look around. The previous times involved half-blindness and zombies: not the best times to inspect the vehicle. Now, she was neither surprised nor curious about the place. It was a mess, it smelled, and it was everything she expected.

Murdoc was now sitting, a cigarette magically taking its place in his previously unoccupied lips. Paige stood before him and watched him take a few drags of his cigarette in silence. He wasn't going to talk so she would have to.

"I'm just letting you know that you won." Murdoc looked up and mumbled with the cigarette still between his lips.

"Won wot?"

"That game of yours that you and thousands of other men play. I'm not going to kid myself, you're really good at it and you got me off guard. So you've won your game and don't think that you didn't." Murdoc nonchalantly continued to puff in the smoke, glancing up at her while she spoke.

"I hoped that was the case." He replied as he continued to sit in front of Paige, seeming bored and uninterested. "I thought I lost my charm there for a bit. Luckily, I still got it."

"Of course you do. I mean, if you can get away with being a jack arse and still have thousands of women at your feet than your pretty well off. Right? I don't exactly get it, but it works every time."

"For you too?" Murdoc glared up at her, now showing some sort of interest. Paige gave one of those smiled you give when someone finds out your secret and you know you've been caught. Just like those types, she didn't intend to smile either; it was just something that happened. Paige stepped a bit closer.

"Well, yeh. 'Course it worked. Every time. But I didn't want to give into it. I just feel wrong around you like that, is all." She stopped and realized how offensive she sounded and tried to re-explain. "Not that I was disgusted or extremely uncomfortable around you. That's not what I meant. It's almost the opposite most of the time. Your quite the spunk."

The bassist finished a cigarette at this point, pushed the butt into an ashtray, and had already taken a new and lit cigarette to take its place. He listened all the while though, inwardly laughing as Paige corrected herself in an effort to not come off as rude. It didn't really bother him much, mostly because he was the biggest bastard around. He looked up at the Aussie, whom was still standing in front of the seated bassist.

"Good t'hear. Now sit down b'fore your shaky chicken legs let y' down, luv, ok? I'm not gonna be the one t' help you up."

Paige didn't register all of this at first. Murdoc was still acting cool as a cucumber and didn't seem made at her or even glad that she admitted falling into his charms. Then she realized that her legs were shaking. Was she that nervous? Paige hesitated at first, still not sure as to whether she should move or not but decided to take a seat anyway. As she sat down and as she sat some more, nothing was said. The only sound was of Murdoc's puffing and blowing of smoke. It was bizarrely and eerily quiet. Awkward silence wasn't something Paige liked. Neither was awkward conversation but the silence was killing her. What nagged Paige only grew Murdoc's interest.

"I'm sorry about before." Paige said in a low voice, her head sunk and her eyes downcast to the side. "I don't usually act that way, and I promise it wont happen again."

Murdoc turned his head to her slightly and flicked ash off the end of the fag. He looked at her questioningly.

"Do y' have your period or somethin' because I know that makes all cool cats just a little mental."

"No!" Paige shot back. "Why can't I be angry or upset without it having to do with my menstruation cycle?" Once again, she said something she would probably regret, but Murdoc didn't laugh at her ludicrous response mostly because he had come up with such an insinuation.

"Where did y' learn tha' arse kickin' move anyway?" Murdoc asked, letting a smirk escape from his solid and uninterested face. Paige just shrugged her shoulders and gave a small frown as emphasis.

"Not really sure. I practically grew up with four brothers always messin' around so I'm used to being a bit rough."

"Four?"

"Well, not really. I actually only have one brother but he's a dipstick and mostly antisocial but never seized to be a pain in the arse. The other three guys are the old band mates. They were my friends, but they were like big brothers also." Paige looked Murdoc in the eye and leaned forward a bit closer. "I was thinking maybe we could be friends?" Murdoc slumped back and grunted.

"Eer… I don't think so, luv. I'm not the friend type."

"Don't you have any friends?"

"No" Murdoc replied bluntly.

"That's not true. Aren't you mates with that Shaun dag?" Paige insisted, eye brow raised.

"That's different - "

"Not exactly." Paige cut in and stopped Murdoc from wanting to take another chance to dissuade her. But, hell, he made one last go.

"But you're a bird."

"And… ?" Murdoc gave up at this. Paige continued. "I'm gonna make a deal with you. As long as you stop perving around I'll prove that it is possible to make friends, especially with a woman." Murdoc looked at her for a second with his eyebrows set under his dark bangs.

"And wot do I get from all this?"

"To keep your secret. I promise that I won't tell anyone about our little incident today and neither can you." Paige replied with her hand up as if making a pledge.

"Wot if I don't want t'?" Murdoc questioned her, sure that this wouldn't work at all. Paige smirked.

'You don't have much of a choice, now, do you? By not agreeing, than I don't have to follow my promise." Paige still wasn't convincing Murdoc that what she could do would be of any harm, but she continued.

"I've been here for about a week and I know a lot more than you know: the phone number, the address, the way to get here, the combination number to the car park. Believe me; I know a lot by now. And I also have information to hold against you. The fact that you got bounced by a twenty one year old cello-ist and vocalist fresh out of college and were unable to persuade or force said person to sleep with you could be held against you. Oh, and take a shower more often and change your cloths for once. You've been wearing the same jeans since the day I walked into the place. Oh, and put a shirt on. Noodle shouldn't have to look at your moobs."

Murdoc just sat and watched as Paige talked and talked on and on and now he was truly starting to fear the possibilities that she was saying. Murdoc wasn't going to enjoy having fans know how to get into the place and call every five seconds every day. But something inside of him was enjoying this other side of the curly hair woman. He shook his head and choked out a chuckle and laugh. His pointed snaggle-teeth peeked from his wide grin and his hair shook as his head turned in disbelief.

"I made a mistake letting y' stay 'ere." Paige got up, and stood right about Murdoc.

"You're a little late on that, sorry." She extended her hand out to him. "Do we have a deal?"

Murdoc hoisted himself from his seat and stood face to face with Paige. She backed up a bit to give herself some room, hand still extended. There was a standstill for a few moments. Murdoc's face was filled with seriousness and Paige's with determination. The bassist's hand reluctantly took the Australian singer's hand and gave a strong squeeze and shake. The motion continued as they spoke.

"You really 'ave a thing against me, don't you."

"No, not at all. Quite the opposite. Good friendships are the best things you're going to get in life." Murdoc Grunted and the motion stopped, hands dropped to sides. Paige smiled and turned her way out.

"See you later." She called over her shoulder as she entered the car park and went out of Murdoc's sight. The Satanist just went back to his previous spot; Cortez cawed in Murdoc's ear from his perch. He turned toward the raven and stroked it breast feathers. He mumbled under his breath to him.

"She still wants to shag me though."

Murdoc went back to what he was doing before. He picked up the bass, opened up his book, and started playing again.

He didn't know but Paige listened intently for the entire time he played.

Hey! *F*I*M* here again... just checking in on the story. Sorry it took so long, I was busy. It's pretty depresing having to write about the summer during the winter but thats a diffrent story. Anyway, if you've read this chapter dont refrain from a comment or critice. If i can spend about a month writing a really long chapter that ends up becoming two, then I think you can leave a sentence or two about the story. Thank you everyone who read this!