Why can't I wake up already? Why won't my body react enough to wake up, dammit?! I don't remember taking THAT many pills! Maybe I'm dead! Maybe I really am dead, and Noodle was really there! We're all dead and we think we're still alive! That must be it… Must be…

The restless 2D rubbed his eyes and he looked over to the alarm clock that sat beneath his purple and crimson lava lamp. The faded time flashed 4:49 PM, stating that evening was soon to pass by. It had been almost two hours since the last sight of his visitor, but he was sure he was becoming delusional, mumbling out distressed thoughts like, "I'm in Hell," or, "I need to lay off on the meds," and the occasional plea, "wake up, dammit," while he continued to slap his face, bite his arm, and pinch any skin that wasn't already raw from his useless attempts to realize what was going on.

A loud rumble in his stomach sounded and he averted his eyes from the elevator. "Nope… Not gonna let somfink like this keep pullin' me undah. I'll just ignore ih' until-."

The metallic scraping sound he knew all too well and the blinking above the elevator showed that someone was coming down the shaft. Whether it was to take the passenger to the boiling room or it was to greet him with open doors, it didn't matter; 2D just cringed at the sound all the same. What was it this time? Another Noodle going to comfort him with loving arms, a child-like version of herself with an innocence and questioning face, or some monstrous welcome party from a stranger or unexpected executioner with familiar, glowing red eyes? He didn't want to know, nor would he like to be thrown through another series of nightmares with pseudo faces and murderous plans for his next likely dream.

Widening his eyes, 2D crawled on all fours, off of his bed sheets and down to the crook that hid his body away from the iron doors and the curtains that hid the submarine-styled window up beside his bed. He tucked his feet as close to his body as he could, bracing himself for the long-awaited newcomer.

The doors opened, and a single pair of feet shuffled into his room slowly, with the addition of a light clanking sound and a sigh that moved over to his bedside table. A light humming and the sound of liquid filling a cup was all 2D could manage to hear and he slowly crept to the edge of his twin bed. Peeking around, he grit his teeth and furrowed his eyebrows as he, once again, caught sight of Noodle, bending over a tray which held china tea cups, a dark green pot and something else that 2D couldn't figure because it was too high for his eye-level and his visitor picked up the tray and began to turn to where he was huddled.

Stumbling over his unresponsive arms and boney legs, he managed to curl back into his corner, but it wasn't fast enough to hide his face, for he was confronted with the young woman, who sat the tea down onto the floor beside them, and joined him a few cautious feet away.

Ignoring the urge to completely turn his body toward the wall, he let his eyes wander curiously to the woman who sat, cross-legged and her faced turned downcast, away from his eyes. Her clothes were changed into clothing that was a bit too snug for her now, fully grown body, but they were her clothes she used to wear several years ago. Fitting her top was a white t-shirt with a basketball icon in the top center, and her pants were black sweats that fit her hips perfectly. Her mask was gone, along with her gloves and striped stockings. Her arms flaunted off all the cuts and bruises he'd seen before and the damage on her face was patched up with gauze and a band aid.

She was fumbling with her hands and wrists as if she were hesitant to talk, and this was startling 2D, because normally, her presence was flamboyant and more excited when it came to welcoming Stuart in his defenseless dream-state.

"It's um… It's really me…Stuart…," she whispered. Her face was still bent downcast, but her eyes flashed up to him momentarily. She cleared her throat and they were left in quiet stillness before she continued in a slow, cautious tone, "Toochie, I brought you some tea… All there was to offer was English tea, so I got it from the brewer in the boiler room… and I didn't know if you were hungry, so I added some crackers as well... I ah…"

2D just stared at her with wide, terrified eyes. He almost didn't catch the last part, he was so caught up in the thought that he was still in a dream and that she was all in his head. He figured nobody was in his room, nobody was talking to him, nobody made him tea and his mind was playing the millionth evil trick he had to endure for the past several years. That, or he was obviously dead. So why should he hesitate to play along? He was already put through torment. What was worse than dying over and over again from a broken heart or a lost soul? What was worse than being confronted by a dead, secret lover and some tea? What could go wrong?

2D shifted and relaxed his shoulders and the tight frown on his face. Letting out a long, exhausted breath, the frightened man straightened his back and leaned against the wall behind him, giving into her voice and letting it swirl inside his head.

"The last time I remembered, you didn't like cream or sugar in your tea, so I didn't bring any; I hope that's okay," she added. She could see him unfolding his body slowly, and the tension melted in an incredibly slow manner, so slow in fact, that Noodle was able to get a decent image of his face and upper torso.

Messy, but clean hair was pointing out in all directions on his head and his large, fractured eyes hid within the dents in his head- no different than when she last saw him. But his skin had faded into a yellow-ish and grey shade, almost as if he'd been sick. Lining his broken cheekbones were small bruises of his own and red, raw strips lined his hairline from what seemed to be nail scratches. Small fuzz, the beginning of a mustache, grew at the sides of his mouth and his neck was thinner than ever, which matched his long, skeletal arms and boney legs.

What is she lookin' at? I've nothing on me to worry about. Stop looking at me as if I'm a loon!

With eyes halfway opened, he lifted an eyebrow to a questioning Noodle, and the man began to feel an odd sense of insecurity. He shifted uncomfortably before nodding to her comment on the tea and forcibly lifted the sides of his mouth to fake a smile, but immediately let it drop when he noticed Noodle passing him a white tea cup.

He accepted the drink with an outstretched arm, and willed with all his strength to not flinch as she brushed her fingertips with his own.

Visual sight of the woman was enough to drive the man mad. But physical contact with her was enough to make him recoil and lose the ability to speak. This time, he successfully retrieved the cup and brought it to his lips, sipping and giving himself something else to look at other than the fidgety woman sitting before him.

The broken man stared numbly at his tea before opening his mouth, "am I dead, Noods…?"

His voice caught on her name and he managed to cough it out and he wrinkled his forehead before taking his view to the woman. "I mean, is this ih'? You're dead. Someone or sumfing must've found the island… so someone must've killed me in mah sleep or sumfing… Otherwise you'd be a dream. Or mah mind playin' tricks on me again…," he mumbled to his cup. "Too many painkillahs, I fink."

Noodle sat speechless until she stated clearly, "too many pain-…? 2D talk to me… I'm alive. Look at me, I'm living and breathing like you are. Look at me, Toochie!"

Obediently, the man dragged his empty eyes up to her face where he watched her. Her face, pretty as it was, grimaced before she continued, "I'm here. Whatever story you heard of me dying was a lie. I've had a hard time too, but I'm here now! I'm right here Toochie… this is the girl you saw then, and it's still the same girl you see now. Nobody is dead 2D- Murdoc was simply an idiot and got trapped behind a bookcase, Russ had no idea of where this place was, and I was somewhere out at sea- a refugee stuck in a life raft, running from whatever the hell was trying to hunt me down and slaughter me. I'm HERE!"

Her wide green eyes searched 2D's face desperately, ignoring her tea and reaching her hand out to him once again.

What…-?

Before he knew what was going on, a hand touched his face and he sucked in a breath. Her hand was icy to the touch, but warmth meshed with her skin and she dragged her fingers across his cheek until she cupped the side of his face. "Anata wa daijōbudarou"(translated: you'll be okay). She brought her other hand to his face, wiping away the hair that hid his eyes and did cupped his other cheek. "We're alive, Toochie… This is no dream. You're awake and I am home now…"

2D simply sat there,

She touched her forehead to his in a comforting gesture before crying softly, "we're home, Toochie…"

Author's Note:

I don't own Gorillaz.

And just so you guys know, I originated this title from a song called "Don't You Worry Love" by the music artist known as "Warmer". You should check it out!

I didn't want fluff. Not yet. But it's enough to make you happy to realize it's real. It's happening… But we still have to see how 2D will continue to react to this… Just because his long-lost friend is back from the "grave" doesn't mean his dreams won't continue to haunt him… Let's see how this plays out. I'll probably update this chapter in case it has any flaws that I didn't catch.

I hope you enjoyed! Review. I'm loving those reviews. They make me help out like you wouldn't imagine...