You probably don't want to read my yapping... so I'll make it short. It's not done yet, duckies! There's still a chapter left to go! Enjoy!

~77

The day was here. May 23rd. Noodle stared at her reflection in the mirror. She had been cooped up in her room all day. Darren was here on the island, but as per wedding traditions, he was not allowed to see her. Russel had already visited her, a bit weepy. He tearily presented her with a pretty silver comb to hold her hair up. Noodle was surprised he owned such a thing and he told her it had once belonged to his grandmother. She hugged him and asked him to help her put it in. Noodle had drawn the curtains a tiny bit to see outside to the beach below. The sky was a brilliant blue for once, a surprise on this island. Crews were on the beach, setting up a wooden platform for the wedding party. The ceremony would be extremely small. Only fifty guests were being boated from the mainland to attend. Out of the fifty was Noodle's old friend, Mr. Kyuzo. He had already come to see Noodle as well. They had embraced and sat on her bed to talk, talk of old times, talk of the future. He told her he couldn't sit on her side of the alter to protect his identity. For today, he had to be known as Ming Lao, one of Darren's friends. He had taken her face in his hands.

"Something is bothering you, Suzuki. It would please me if you told me." She had smiled and after a brief hesitation, told him everything. It was a relief to tell her problems to someone outside of her tense bubble. He had only listened with that patient expression on his wrinkled face. When she had finished, he chuckled lightly and patted her head. "You will do what is right, Suzuki. Because I know you." Very unhelpful. And now here she sat. Alone.

What was she going to do? She knew it was wrong to feel like she was being walked to an arranged marriage, she had pushed so hard for marriage in the first place. She wondered what 2D would do when she was gone. She morbidly wondered if he would go off with one of the female wedding guests. One of the three sisters Darren had brought as bridesmaids. She was watching as 2D greeted the guests. Even she couldn't miss the look Darren's brunette sister had given her singer. She turned away, she couldn't move on if she kept harping on the impossible.

She stood up, determined for the first time in a long time. Her hair was still a mess and she was wearing only shorts and a tank top, but she didn't care. There was someone she had to see.

...

"Murdoc?" She stepped into the study. The ornate desk was covered in bottles and wrappers and the chair was empty. No one knew why Murdoc had bought the thing, he only used it as a table to hold his crap. A figure was lounging on the sofa facing the far window. A hand appeared over the top of the sofa and waved drunkenly.

"Ova here, doll... what do yeh need, Mudsy's tired..." Noodle rolled her eyes. Her wedding was in an hour and her surrogate uncle was drunk off his feet. She strolled over to the window and put her hands on her hips. Murdoc was in the suit Noodle had prescribed for him, with the collar open and his tie lying over the armrest.

"How drunk are you?" She demanded. Murdoc opened one eye.

"Not drunk... *yawn* I've been up awl night... but haven't touched a drop..." Noodle raised an eyebrow.

"Why were you up all night?" Murdoc opened the other eye. She didn't sound right. Her tone was flat and expressionless. He sat up, ruffling his hair with his hand.

"Yeh wanna talk about something, doll? Yeh don't seem yehself." Noodle forgot her previous question and looked down at the ground. Murdoc grabbed her hands and pulled her towards the sofa. " ... siddown and tell me wot 'as yeh awl bothered."

"... I don't want to get married." Murdoc raised an eyebrow. Personally, he didn't think she should leave either, but he was content with it if it was what she wanted. However, this was something different.

"Why not? Thought yeh rather liked that Damien bloke."

"Darren... and I thought I did, but then-" She cut off, and pushed her hair back. "I- I think I love 2D." Murdoc nodded.

"Knew it would come to this." Noodle looked at him.

"Y-you did?" He nodded gravely.

"Knew it the moment yeh came back to us, love. He was... different, and so were you. Yeh both jist looked at each other different. Jist sorta wondered if yeh two would ever figure it out. I'm jist sorry it took yeh till now to realize." She nodded, miserable. "Jist wonderin'... and spare me the gory details, but... how did yeh figure it out this late?" Noodle looked around the room, uncomfortably.

"I kissed him. I didn't mean to at first... but then I couldn't stop." Murdoc nodded and looked down.

"Well, doll. What are yeh gonna do?"

"That's what I was hoping you could tell me. Because, honestly, I'm out of ideas." He grinned at her.

"Yeh'r comin' to me for relationship advice?" Noodle smiled in spite of herself, "Wull.. I dunno if I can tell yeh what to do. I really think this is something yeh hafta figure out by yehself. Do what yeh think yeh oughta, yeh know?" Noodle smiled unhappily for a moment and then it faded back to her set mouth. This was what she was afraid of being told. She bade Murdoc farewell with a quick hug and went back to her room. As soon as she was alone, she slammed the door shut and slumped against it. Her image was reflected back at herself from the full length mirror on the far wall. She looked pretty bad. The curtain was nudged aside and she could see a bit of the crowd outside. It wouldn't do any good to disappoint the crowd and Darren now. That's what she had to do, perform. And she was a performer. She could get through this and save the tears for tonight, when she was alone.

She slipped into her dress, the white satin gliding over her skin. It was a strapless dress with intricate lace covering the bodice. The beauty of it had made her gasp when she saw it for the first time. She couldn't quite reach the lacing in the back. She turned back towards her mirror. This was not how a happy bride should look. Her face looked sunken and miserable. She had bags under her eyes from her sleepless nights. Noodle reached up and touched the glass, yes, that was definitely her. She touched her hair, it would not lie flat. She smirked wryly, even on her wedding day, her hair was proving to be rebellious. Noodle looked down and touched the silver hairbrush lying on the surface of the boudoir. A voice sounded from her doorway.

"Yew sure look beautiful." She turned suddenly. 2D stood in her doorway again, she was beginning to think he was an omnipresent being, whenever she was upset. He wore the tuxedo Noodle had never seen on him before, but it suited him well. She noticed instead of dress shoes, he had his favorite pair of trainers. She had to smile at this fact.

"Thank you. You look… very nice as well." He shrugged, not smiling. 2D entered the room without being asked and approached the boudoir. He motioned with his finger for her to turn around. She looked puzzled but turned. She felt his warm hands lightly touch her bare back as he slowly did up the lacing and she fought a shudder. His hands rubbed her shoulders when he had finished and lightly turned her.

"Nervous?" Noodle gave a feeble half-smile.

"You have no idea." He nodded and let his gaze travel up and down her form. Noodle felt herself blush and the tingle that had taken up residence in her skin since the kiss, sparked again. He slowly held his hand up and touched a spot on her neck. Noodle knew exactly what had his attention.

"This one mine?" He asked very quietly. She nodded. Swallowing, she reached forward and took his face in her hands. They didn't say a word, just stared into each other's eyes. Slowly, she unbuttoned his collar to find the corresponding mark on his neck. She glanced up into his face to find his eyes closed and him barely breathing. "You're still not over this, are you?" It was his turn to smirk. He opened his eyes.

"Dunno if I ever will, love… we'll see." Her heart broke. She was hurting him so badly! She wanted to scream out that she loved him. She wanted him to take her away. But, she knew it wasn't right for her. Noodle pulled herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around his lanky form. A few seconds passed and then she felt him wrap his arms around her. It was a complicated emotion Noodle was feeling. She knew she had to pull away before she hurt both of them beyond repair, but she simultaneously never wanted to leave his embrace. Finally, it was 2D who let go first, clearing his throat.

"We… need to get down to the… ceremony. Don't want people wonderin' where yeh are." She nodded and almost smiled. It was almost identical to the excuse he gave for leaving the beach that one day. He kept her hand and gently tugged her to follow him. She followed him out the door and to the hallway. Noodle was looking for something to say, but couldn't find her voice to do so. 2D cleared his throat.

"Jist wanted yeh to know... I- I'm... 'appy for yeh." Noodle smirked humorlessly.

"... no you're not." She barely managed to get out. He glanced over uneasily and sighed. He stopped suddenly and whirled, pressing her against the wall. Noodle was surprised and gasped. 2D didn't say anything at first, just stared down at her. Noodle couldn't find the words to say anything. So they didn't... He leaned down just as she reached up and pressed their lips together. His tongue chased hers and she was happy to just be there in the moment with him. She gave a little noise of want as his hands pressed against her back and held her closer. She wound her hands in his hair. 2D hadn't had the intention of letting it get this far, he had only meant a peck on the cheek. He knew this would tear his heart out more when she was gone, but he didn't want to stop. Not now, not ever. Finally, they ran out of air and had to back away. 2D was back to staring at her with his lost expression. Noodle felt tears run down her cheeks just as she felt his hand reach to brush them away.

"I know... why yew 'ave to do this Noods... I know I'm all wrong for yeh." She looked up and caught his sad half-smile. She didn't say anything, just reached for him and hugged him close. The sooner she got off this island the better. The original plan was for her to stay on the island for a short time while Darren finished his business, but she wasn't sure she could do that without breaking in half. She would have to stay in a hotel on the mainland while she was waiting for him. She tried to keep an open mind about things as 2D pulled her away from the wall and held her hand on the way out the door. She would be happy with Darren, he would be the loving type of husband who brought her flowers every so often because he felt like it. He would hold her on a pedestal and make sure she would never want for anything. Anything outside of this island.

Before she knew it, they were standing in the open sun of outside. They took their place at the end of the aisle. Noodle could see Darren waiting at the makeshift alter and she vaguely picked out the faces of Murdoc and Russel. Mr. Kyuzo waved subtly at her. Noodle felt detached as 2D took her arm and wrapped his own around it. She squeezed on to him for dear life, not knowing what to do. He whispered out of the corner of his mouth.

"Yew feelin' awright, darlin?" She took a deep breath.

"Yes." Lying through her teeth. 2D started the walk forward. The closer they got to the alter, the faster Noodle's breathing got. The faces around her in the chairs faded into the background. All she could feel was her shaky footsteps and 2D holding her arm so she wouldn't fall.

This was a bad idea. She knew it. She loved 2D and she didn't want anyone else. 2D was vibrant and playful and… passionate. Noodle realized that's what Darren had been missing. He never wrote her a song 'because he felt like it', nor was able to set her whole soul on fire when he kissed her. Where Darren was safe and dependable, 2D was fire and... fun. Noodle didn't want what was good for her, she decided. She whimpered a little, they were so near the alter now. 2D's arm tightened around her own when he heard this.

...

He was a wreck. Barely holding himself together. What was he doing here, practically handing the girl he loved to another man? After this, 2D reckoned he would probably lock himself in his room for days… weeks even. Anything to avoid any reminders of her. He couldn't stand the way the slimy git at the alter looked at her. With such tenderness, that it nearly made 2D sick. He felt Noodle grip his arm a bit tighter and he held on, afraid she would fall or… try to run away from him. Finally, they had approached the alter. Noodle's bloke reached out his hand towards Noodle and after a second, she shakily met his hand with her own. 2D glared at the man with as much contempt as he was capable of, not that he noticed. He was too busy focusing on Noodle. And rightly so, she was so beautiful. 2D was certain he would never see anything quite like that image for the rest of his days. He felt such a loss when he could no longer feel her warm touch. He quickly moved himself off to the side seats, on the bride's side, not the groom's. He was debating over whether or not listening to the ceremony would cause him pain. The minister spoke. 2D was able to tune out a lot of it, because he didn't know what half of it meant. It sounded like the standard, 'We are here because marriage is a wonderful thing…'. 2D only came back to earth when he heard the groom's voice say 'I do.' The minister repeated the set of words with Noodle's name replacing her fiancé's. He looked up... and locked eyes with her.

The expression on 2D's face nearly sent Noodle to tears. The minister was reading her the bit before she was expected to say 'I do' but Noodle wasn't focused on that. This was not the right choice. She had thought it was. Hell, she had thought she loved Darren. All of her carefully laid plans were crumbling when she saw how distracted 2D was. He was not looking at her like the other guests, he was staring down at his lap, his big eyes looking hollow and empty for the first time. Finally, he looked up and saw her staring. His face looked so hurt and scared that it was all Noodle could do to keep from bowling over the three bridesmaids (Darren's sisters) she had and running to comfort him. Silence filled the air. 2D's expression changed to confusion and hesitant concern. She turned. The minister, Darren, and the entire crowd was staring, waiting for an answer.

"Miss Noodle?" The minister peered over his spectacles. Noodle stared down at her hand, intertwined with Darren's. She looked over at Darren, he raised an eyebrow, concerned, at her.

"… no." A collective gasp was heard from the audience. Darren's face fell, but Noodle did not feel the same sting as she did that day when she had watched 2D's fall. Noodle let her hand drop from his and stepped off the alter and calmy walked down the aisle, with no groom, and headed off to the hill on the other side of the island. Russel stood up and tried to go after her, but he was stopped by Murdoc's hand on his shoulder. The green-skinned man had a strange expression on his face, like he knew something others did not.

"Let 'er go, mate. I think the dullard has this one covered." Indeed, 2D had not hesitated for a second, he went tearing after her, tie flying behind him. Russel turned to a dumbstruck Darren and scratched his head exasperatedly.

"Maybe we better have a talk."

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