I was thinking of a few amazing songs while writing this… The one below, I think fits with the beginning of the chapter, and the one at the end; I posted the lyrics at the bottom of the page. So if you want, which you SHOULD, the check 'em out.

*Something filled up*
*My heart with nothing*
*Someone told me not to cry*
*But now that I'm older*
*My heart's colder*
*And I can see that it's a lie*

Teeth clenched, and bared, Noodle was still pinned beneath 2D, who was staring down at her blankly, unsure of how to answer. "Didn't I?" Every second that passed, she became more frustrated, even though she knew 2D was having trouble thinking. "Damnit, 2D! I know it's hard for you, sometimes, but I know I did it, so just tell me!" She begged him. Why was it so hard? All he had to do was look her in the eye and say one simple word. All he had to say was yes.

He looked to the side, his head bowed as he bit onto his lip. He whimpered, "No… I… I can't…"

"Why are you putting this off?" She demanded, trying not to let her frustration seep into her tone too much, but it was becoming difficult as time trudged on, and 2D was still on top of her. "I already know! Just say it! Just… say something," she tried again, struggling to push 2D off of her. But the more she writhed, the more persistent 2D became. He had her arms pinned down once again. Tears fell from his eyes, landing on Noodle's clothing over her stomach. "2D!"

"No," he choked, closing his eyes to avoid her stare. "Yew… Y-yew weren' righ' in te head. Ih wosn' yo fault!"

She growled, "Yes it was! … Why can't you just admit it! Admit that I hurt you!" He whimpered again, his body trembling. She looked away, waiting for him to calm down, and thinking about every time she had hurt him physically –or tried to. Whilst she had looked away, 2D returned his gaze to her face, his own face painted in sadness. That bruise… She had it because of him. Those cuts –the bruises and scars… the painful memories. They were his fault.

He didn't deserve her as a friend. If he had just been there… if he had postponed that stupid interview, like they had been doing for months, waiting for Noodle to come home to be there, then she would never had been kidnapped… never had been hurt. It was his fault… His fault she had been cast down to Hell… his fault that she was battered and delusional… His fault that she probably hated him right now. He deserved her hate. Every ounce of it. And he would take it, and bear it. He sniffed, tears still falling. Noodle froze when she felt one fall onto her face, and looked up at him. He sighed, and pulled himself back, standing to free Noodle from his grip. She pulled herself up slightly, resting on her elbows. The look on his face gripped her heart… She had seen it before… the day she had asked him who Paula had been…

"2D?" She asked in a small voice. "Stuart? Are… Are you okay?" He ignored her, turning his body away and brushed his hand through his hair with a loud sigh. She grimaced after another minute of silence. "2D! Are you not going to say anything? Damn it, why can't you just tell me? Why won't you speak?"

His fists clenched, his brow furrowing, he glared down angrily as he spat down at her. "Stop ih! Just stop ih! Why can't yew jus' accept that I'd rathuh not tell yew everyfin' yeh've done ta me? Why won' yew let me protect yew?" She gasped at his outburst. "Why… why d'yeh haff te continue this? Why can'chya jus' leave ih alone, so's neither of us gets 'urt… I dun wannu 'urt yew –dun wanna scare yew no more, Noodle…" He raised his fist, still balled, and stared at it in disgust –as if it was the source of all of his anger. Noodle pulled her right leg toward her body, still on the ground –still supported by her elbows. She was debating whether to leave if he was dangerous right now –maybe he needed a break.

"2D," her small voice broke through his silence. He looked down at her, forgetting that he still looked terrifying with his glaring face. She choked on her breath when his endless eyes met hers, and she forgot everything she had told herself. Her mind couldn't hold onto reality. It let her slip when his eyes stared down upon her, and her revelation slipped through her fingers, which she tried desperately to cling to. "No," she yelled out. "No, not again." She grasped onto her head with both hands, closing her eyes as she laid back down on the ground and tried to push out the images. She gasped, and now it was too late. She was lost in the darkness again.

2D recognized her behavior from previous attacks, his eyes growing wide in awe as her own eyes glazed over, and his body became a shadowy figure in her peripheral vision. His body went tight, then he lunged for her, pinning her back. She struggled violently, becoming weary and outraged at this demon. She lusted for his blood –she wanted him to leave. 2D held her arms down above her head, and he fought to keep his body atop hers as she writhed and kicked beneath him, so she couldn't harm either of them with her outlashings. "Noodle! Noodle-girl, please."

"Don't call me Noodle-girl, you disgusting git," she spat at him. He had an overwhelming urge to laugh at her insult –forgetting that she used British-English insults being that she was raised with a bunch of British men.

"Fock," he muttered under his breath. He grasped both of her bony wrists, and easily gripped them in one hand. She was straining her neck, as if her head alone could pull her body from under him. Struggling for breath, she tried once more to shake him off, but to no avail. He took her chin in his hand and got her eyes to face him. Hopeful this would work, he covered her eyes with his hand, and she screamed.

"Noodle," he yelled. She froze, and he sighed. "Please. Please, jus' calm down, please…" He begged her, his voice ragged and hoarse.

She was breathing heavily. "2D," she spoke, her words barely traveling past her lips. Her lips trembled, and she felt helpless. She had nowhere to move, and she was trapped beneath this beast. She whimpered when he shifted, and his weight pushed against her again.

"I'm here," he assured her, moving his hand to brush through her hair, trying to find a way to reach her mind with just his words.

"Get him! Get the demon off of me, 2D. It hurts," she pleaded, shaking her head to get him to pull his hand away.

"I know, Noodle-girl," he moved his hand from her face. "Don't open your eyes yet," he warned.

"But I'm scared," she whispered. He choked back a sob at the sound of her frightened voice, but he did his best not to react to her.

"I know, Noodle, but listen. When yew open yew're eyes again, yo gonna see te demon," he explained. She whimpered, crying silently, her breath was raspy and shaken as she wailed. "But… wait," he told her. "I promise… nuffink's gowna 'urt yew."

"But 2D –" she wailed quietly.

"Nuffink's gunna 'urt yeh," he repeated. "Jus'… Jus, when yew see te demon… listen… listen fo' me voice, yeh hear? I won' abandon yew. Jus'… listen…"

"No. N-no, please! Please don't leave," she begged.

He ignored her plea, "Open yo eyes, Noodle." Without thought, she immediately did as his voice told her to, and began howling with fear when she saw the demon again. Being reduced to tears, 2D followed his own instruction. "Noodle…" he whispered. He grit his teeth, knowing that whispering would get them both nowhere fast. He covered her mouth with his hand and yelled, "Noodle!"

Once she quieted down, he removed his hand. "Where are you," she whispered, her delusion fading out, and the light seeping into her blurred vision.

He lowered his head to hers, resting his forehead against her own. "Look," he breathed. "I'm righ' here." He looked deep into the emerald-coloured depths of her eyes, watching transfixedly as her irises twitched from back and forth, looking for him. Her face became stolid as she focused on him, but whilst she gazed upon him, she could read the weariness in his doleful face. Knowing the cause, her chest felt heavy as she blamed herself for it. 2D released her wrists when her expression became painfully mournful and anguished, as if her soul had just died. She closed her eyes tightly and a whimper escaped her lips. "Noodle, I-I…" He didn't know what to say. She whimpered, then came a pained moaning.

Her breath came in rapid fits, and she began gasping for air. "Stuart," she wheezed.

Panicked, he began to stroke her hair, trying to comfort her, misunderstanding her reason for distress. "Ih's okay," he told her.

She shook her head vigorously, and she latched onto his shirt. Her eyes flew open, revealing her distress. "Kuh… C-can't… c-c-can-n-not breathe," she choked, stuttering violently. Bewildered, he immediately pulled himself off of her, and dropped to his hands and knees by her side. His dark voids watched in horror as she continued to struggle for breath.

"Wos going on? I'm not on top o'yew anymores," he turned her face toward him with a gentle hand. "Noodle! Noodle, breev! Please, dun die," he sobbed, confused. She pulled her head away, and her irises rolled into the back of her head, leaving her eyes white and glossy. "No! Nonono! Stop," he pleaded, overwhelmed and scared. Helpless, he watched her in paralyzed fear as she began to spasm.

Her head shook repetitively, in a frantic and unrelenting motion. Her back arched forward, and she pulled her hands to her face, covering her eyes as she strained for her breathing. Her hands moved up, and she took a ferocious hold of her hair, pulling at it and screaming in a stupefied manner. Her arms lurched forward, and she pounded the floor with her fists, almost hitting 2D. Panicked, he scrambled to crouch near her head, and pinned her arms down to keep her from lashing out against herself. She wheezed, shrieking, and her body spasmodically seized. Her head continued to jerk back and forth and her back hit the floor as her feet began to flail angrily, giving her no rest.

She began weeping, fighting to regain control. "Hh-hu-h-hell…" she grunted, growling as she cried. "Hh-huh-help…" Suddenly, her body went limp, and her entire body arched upwards painfully, her faced twisting with pain. 2D released her hands when she whimpered. Still, once her body slumped to the floor with a loud thump, her rapid shallow breathing continued to be tumultuous. Her eyes opened wide, but clearly did not see anything. They were white, as if she were dead. Her hands quaked and came back down to her sides, before she lost consciousness. Her face became slack and her head dropped limply to the side, drool threatening to leak from her mouth. On the verge of completely breaking down, tears flowed in a river down 2D's cheeks. He touched her face, lightly with his fingertips. "Noodle?" He spoke, barely able to find his voice. "Noodle," he called, his voice cracking. He didn't know what he had just witnessed, but knew it was bound to be awful if he didn't check her out.

He used his fingers to check for a pulse on her neck. It was there, but barely. Her chest wasn't moving –she wasn't breathing! He pulled at his hair, looking back and forth, hoping something or someone would magically come out of thin air to help her. Realizing he was on his own, 2D thought quickly about the situation. Not breevin' is te same as drownin', righ'? Yew dun breev when yeh've drowned, but Noodle dun have any watuh in 'er lungs. She jus' needs air, or summfin… She needs summin' ta wake 'er up.

He went back to her side and propped her up, supporting her with his arms. He shook her gently. "Noodle! Noodle, wake up! Dun leave me agin!" Seeing it did nothing, he laid her back down gently, and straddled her body. He cupped one hand over his other, and with a slight blush, brought his hands to the middle of her chest. With a determined look, he pressed down on her chest, pushing against her ribs forcefully to release the air from her lungs as he called out her name. His face was soaked with tears, and there didn't seem to be an end to them in sight as he sobbed, pushing against her chest again, trying to jolt her awake. Finally, after what seemed like forever, but was actually only seconds, Noodle sucked in a loud breath, gasping when 2D shoved down onto her chest. "Noodle," he sobbed, relieved. She was dumbfounded as she looked up at him. His eyes were red, and face was tearstained. With an emotional smile on his face, 2D picked her up, pulling her into his chest as he carried her to her bed. He held her as he crawled onto the covers and sat with her in his lap, holding her close in his arms. "Noode, I… I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he sobbed. Her entire body trembled; her body was blanketed in a cold sheet of sweat. After minutes of no response, 2D pulled his face back. He stroked her hair, pushing some of it behind her ear. She stared at him blankly, as if she wasn't there. Scared, he gently shook her shoulder. "Noodle?"

She blinked, as if she'd only just come back to her body in that moment, instead of when she'd started to breath once more. "What… what happened?"

He hugged her, pulling her head under his chin. "I dun know," he choked, baring his teeth as his face twisted.

"Where was I?" She cried. This time, she pulled back. She looked into his eyes, grateful that she could do so without losing herself. "2D," she spoke in a hushed voice, moving her hand to his face, beneath his eye.

"Yea," he asked, now suddenly overjoyed that she was meeting his eyes.

"I'm scared," she cried quietly, her face pulling itself into a heartbreaking look.

Understanding painted on his own face, 2D took her hand in his own. "I know, Noodle-girl," he breathed. "But, jus' in case t'at might 'appen again, why dun yew res' fo a while," he told her.

"I don't want to go to sleep," she wailed, scared.

"Yew dun haff to," he stroked her bruised cheek comfortingly. "I nevah said tha'. I jus' wan' yew ta relax fo' a bit… I'll stay 'ere wiff yeh," he added. Of course, he would have stayed with her anyhow. He could never just leave her after she had probably almost died just now. He didn't know what had just happened, but he wouldn't take his eyes off of her until he knew she was safe, and until he was sure that she wouldn't stop breathing again.

"No," she shook her head in protest. "What if it happens again… and I don't wake up?" He stared at her, horrified. She saw his face. "You see? We need to go see Russel-sama. Maybe he'll be able to help," she suggested.

2D nodded in agreement. "Yo' right." He let go and got off of the bed, confused as to why she wasn't following. "Wos wrong, Noods?"

Her eyes were drooping slightly. She moved to sit at the edge of the bed and got to her feet. 2D watched as she took a step toward him, but began to fall forward. He caught her before she could hit the floor. "Sorry… I'm tired," she looked up at him, clearly exhausted.

"C'mere… I'll 'old yeh," he told her. He pulled her into his arms, carrying her close to his chest. She was almost unconscious, her head occasionally falling against 2D's chest as he carried her to Russel's room, below 2D's. He knocked on the door, nervous for himself, and anxious for the girl in his arms. As the door opened, he could see in one corner of the room was a pile of empty food boxes, and a six-pack. There were records and wires strewn across the floor, and a game system to the side of his bed, connected to a medium sized T.V. in front of the window. The most striking thing in the room, however, was Russel. His eyes wide once he saw 2D at his door, he quickly became angered when he spotted the battered and weary Noodle lying in his arms.

"'D, what tha hell happened," he barked.

"I dun know, Russ," 2D whimpered. He snuck past the man and gently lowered Noodle, sitting her on Russel's bed. She was barely able to comprehend what was going on, but she tried her best to listen. She was mostly silent, and continued drifting off. 2D turned to Russel to explain what happened, "She went mad like las' time an' tried ta 'urt me. But then she stopped an' 'ad a fit, and she stopped breevin'. N'she wos shakin' an' twitchin' an'… an' I couldn' stop ih, Russel!" he explained hysterically. "She wouldn' wake up," he sobbed, sitting back down next to her and holding her tightly, rubbing her arms.

Russel, though morbidly disturbed, tried to think of a reasonable explanation. It came to him easily –he'd seen it before. He immediately became serious. "You said she wuz shakin'? Like a seizure," he asked, businesslike. 2D nodded, answering him.

"Yes, Russel-sama," Noodle confirmed in a weary voice, her eyes fixed on the floor as she continued to doze off.

He sighed, relieved. "I think you had a psychogenic seizure, baby-girl."

She sighed too, satisfied that it seemed to be nothing more. "That makes sense," she yawned, no longer caring for anything but the bed she sat upon. She just wanted to curl up and go to sleep, but she was too scared to allow herself to become unconscious again.

"Yea, it fits what 'D said," Russel rubbed his chin, thinking. "Was she kickin' and stutterin, too," he asked 2D. He came to sit on the other side of Noodle.

2D stood, and Noodle leaned into Russel, who hugged her to his side. "Yeah, she wos doin' t'at. But… wot's a psychotic seizure?"

Noodle chuckled, though the situation didn't call for humour. "A psychogenic seizure," Russel corrected the singer, "Is a seizure someone haz when dey get stressed out, or emotional."

"Oh," 2D took in the information. His bottom-lip trembled when he realised what must have made her so upset. "I'm sorry fo' that, Noodle-girl," he apologized.

Her face dropped, "It's not your fault –"

"Yes, ih is," he cut her off. "If I'da jus' talked, like yew asked, t'en yeh'd be fine."

"Yes, maybe, but it was going to happen sooner or later, Stuart," she spoke quietly. "And besides," she waited for him to look at her, "Now, I don't feel the demon when I see you anymore." Her eyes welled up, becoming overwhelmed.

2D walked back over to her, forgetting Russel for a moment. His eyes never left hers, and he grinned emotionally. "T'as true…" He whispered. He pulled her chin up with his fingers and gently kissed her cheek. "Yew need to rest," he told her. "I'll bring yew lunch lateh…" He looked to the drummer. "Fanks, Russ," he added before leaving them alone.

Russel smiled as 2D left, but turned to look at Noodle curiously. "What happened between you two?"

She looked up at him. "Didn't 2D just explain all of that?" She asked.

"Yeah, but…" he shook his head. "Did anythin' else happen?"

"Like what," she asked, confused.

"Er… nuthin' I guess," he concluded. He hugged her to his side, then let her go, "Go on, an' lay down."

"Are you sure?" She asked, worried.

"Yea," he told her. "Don't worry. You wuz just stressed out, baby-girl. It won't 'appen again –'specially not if you's asleep," he reassured her.

She nodded, trusting him, but willing to take any explanation if it meant she could go to sleep, and escape for a little while. "If you say so…"

He smirked, "Daddy knows so. Now go on, you need ta recuperate. Seizures kinda wipe a person out."

"No kidding," she yawned, resting her head on his pillows.

He tucked her in, "Now, I'mma go ta tha studio. I'mma try ta radio Muds, see when he be back," he told her.

She latched onto his shirt as he began to turn away, "Wait… Russel-sama. Will… will you sing to me –to relax me? Sing me a lullaby?" She asked, looking up at him like that ten-year-old girl he had fallen in love with.

He smiled gently, "I don' know any lullabies, baby-girl."

"Then a song… any song," she begged, her bottom lip pouting.

He gave a faux sigh, and sat on the edge of the bed. He stroked her hair, "How 'bout… well, ih's kinda a rap."

She nodded, "Please."

"Alright," he gave in. "I guess I'll give it a try…"

He took a deep breath, and took one of his pictures from his dresser next to the bed. He looked back and forth between the picture of 12-year-old Noodle, and the one now lying in his bed, showing the picture to her. Then he looked down at her, and began speaking to her, in a smooth-flowing rhythm, "Yeah, I know sometimes thin's may not alwayz make sense to you right now, but hey, what daddy always tell you? Straighten up little soldier; stiffen up that upper lip. What'chou crying about? You got me." She watched him carefully as she saw the music take him over.

"Noodle, I know you miss the band, and I know you miss your dad, when I'm gone, but I'm tryna give you the life that I never had. I can see you're sad, even when you smile, even when you laugh; I can see it in your eyes –deep inside you wanna cry, 'cause you're scared; I ain't there? Daddy's wit' you in your prayers.

"No more crying, wipe them tears; daddy's here, no more nightmares. We gon' pull tagether through it, we gon' do it. Noodle; uncle's crazy, ain't he? Yeah, but he loves you girl, and you better know it. We're all we got in this world: when it spins, when it swirls, when it whirls, when it twirls.

"This little beautiful girl –lookin' puzzled, in a daze. I knew it wuz confusin' you; 2D wuz always on the move, Murdoc wuz always on the news. I tried to keep ya sheltered from it, but somehow it seems, the harder that I tried to do that, the more it backfired on me. All the things growing up, yo' daddy, that he had to see. Daddy don't want you to see, but'chou seen just as much as he did. We did not plan it to be this way –Gorillaz and me, but things have gotten so bad between us, I don't see us ever bein' the same ever again. Like we used to be when we was a little younger, but then of course everything always happens for a reason... I guess it wuz always meant to be. That it's just something we have no control over –and that's what destiny is. But no more worries; rest your head and go to sleep. Maybe one day we'll wake up and this will all just be a dream."

He sang the chorus, "Now, hush little baby, don't you cry; everything's gonna be alright. Stiffen that upper lip up, little lady, I told ya, daddy's here to hold ya through the night. I know it feels strange here right now and we don't know why; we fear how we feel inside. It may seem a little crazy, pretty baby, but I promise, you're gonna be alright."

He went back to his rap, "It's funny. I remember far back one year, my daddy had no money. My momma wrapped the Christmas presents up, and stuck 'em under the tree and said some of 'em were from my dad, 'cause he couldn't buy 'em. I'll never forget that Christmas –he sat up the whole night crying. 'Cause my dad felt like a bum, see he had a job, but 'is job was ta keep da food on the table for me and mom. And at the time, every house that we lived in either kept getting broken into and robbed, or shot up on the block and my mom wuz savin' money for me in a jar. Tryna start a piggy bank for me so I could go to college. Almost had a thousand dollars 'til someone broke in and stole it. And I know it hurt so bad it broke my momma's heart, and it seemed like everything was just startin' to fall apart

"Mom and dad wuz arguin' a lot so I moved back, inta Britain, in a flat one bedroom apartment. And I'd moved back to the other side of the world to go to work. And that's when yo' daddy went ta London wit' his drums and met Mr. Niccals; and Kyuzo flew you out to join us. But not long afta, the band broke up, and you had to leave me.

"Then you went to see the world, and you didn't like it, and you were too young to understand it. Gorillaz became a rollin' stone –gone and developed a habit, and it all happened too fast for any one of us to grab it. I'm just sorry you were there and had to experience it first hand. 'Cause all I ever wanted to do was just make you proud... Now we's sitting in this empty floor, just reminiscing. Lookin' at your younger pictures, it just trips me out, to see how much yous has grown, it's almost like you're an adult now. Wow, guess you pretty much are –and daddy's still here. Noodle I'm talkin' to you now; daddy's still here. I like the sound of that, yeah. It's got a ring to it, don't it? Shh, everyone's only gone for the momen'."

He sang once more, "Now, hush little baby, don't you cry; everything's gonna be alright. Stiffen that upper lip up, little lady, I told ya, daddy's here to hold ya through the night. I know it feels strange here right now and we don't know why; we fear how we feel inside. It may seem a little crazy, pretty baby, but I promise, you're gonna be alright -And if you ask me to, daddy's gonna buy you a mockingbird. I'mma give you the world. I'mma buy a diamond ring for you; I'mma sing for you. I'll do anything for you to see you smile. And if that mockingbird don't sing and that ring don't shine, I'mma break that birdie's neck. I'll go back to the jeweler who sold it to ya, and make him eat every carat; don't fuck with dad…" She gazed up at him, amazed and delighted with his song.

He smiled, "I love you, baby-girl." He kissed her lips lightly, then ruffled her hair.

"Thank you, papa," she whispered, rolling onto her side to fall asleep. He sat by her side, until her breathing slowed and she fell asleep peacefully.

Something filled up
My heart with nothing
And someone told me not to cry

But now that I'm older
My heart's colder
And I can see that it's a lie

Children, wake up
Hold your mistake up
Before they turn the summer into dust

If the children don't grow up
Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up
We're just a million little gods causing rainstorms
Turning every good thing to rust

I guess we'll just have to adjust

With my lightning bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am going to be
When the reaper, he reaches and touches my hand

With my lightning bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am going
With my lightning bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am go-going

You better look out below!

The Arcade Fire -Wake up

The rap, no, I didn't write it. I changed the words from another rap I adore, by a man named Marshall Mathers. The song is called "Mockingbird" by Eminem and it's beautiful. If you want to know what Russel was saying/ what it meant, message me. If you wanna use it, or anything I've written, or characters I've made from other stories, just ask me. Kay? Ask! Or else… I'll find you…