(Noodle's POV)

Somewhere around two hours had passed, and all Noodle could think of doing was to help 2D and Murdoc pack any belongings they decided to take with them to wherever Murdoc planned on going.

So, rather than strolling the beach, chatting with an oversized Russel, she joined Stuart's journey of exploring his small room in hopes on finding important things to bring along on the trip back to the mainland after 2D brushed his teeth and took a quick shower in the bathroom besides Murdoc's headquarters.

In the five hours that they'd rummaged through the trinkets and gadgets that hid beneath his bed, in his dressers and cubby holes of shelves, they'd found an expanse of zombie movies, records of their past studio productions, a bobble head of an undead Michael Jackson, and a few large tomes about psychology and the universe.

This stumped Noodle and made her give a double take on the blue-haired man who studied the covers of these books.

For the majority of her time in Gorillaz, she'd never seen him even remotely look at a book, much less a historical and educational book that probably had over a thousand pages of descriptive text. She did not give the man much credit on his studious capability, but she was proven wrong as he flipped open a page and nodded, passing the book to the gaping woman, whispering, "this one's pretty good. 'Cept I dun' really consider the religious part of ih'. Psychology get's yew thinkin'…"

2D rubbed the back of his neck, popping it and began to look about the cardboard boxes that were barely filled. He sighed and uncrossed his legs, pulling them up to his chest and looking over to the other side of him, studying the small pile of novels that were probably of the same topic as the book he'd given her.

Noodle skimmed the cover of the book, brushing off the dust and reading, "Man's Journey To Find Himself" by Johnathan Shiester. On the cover was the world in a grayscale, and on the top of the planet stood a single stick-figure man but drawn in a deep red.

She set the book into the box before her and set the others into the box, barely filling a quarter of it along with the assortment of movies and documentaries that 2D had already placed in.

2D shifted beside her and he got up, striding over to the wooden dresser and pulling out two pairs of jeans, a couple pairs of underwear and a bundle of miss-matched socks. He took these to his bed, pulled out the suitcase that hid beneath and he began to fold the clothes neatly, setting it out on his comforter before he left to go to his hamper. He dug through the clothes, picking out random shirts that Noodle figured were his favorites and sat them to the side, leaving them to deal with later after he'd finished packing the clean clothes.

After a few moments of 2D staring blankly at his bed, he spoke lightly, "we found your guitar… in the crash site. Yew weren't there…but your guitar wos… it's in the boiler room- in the storage closet… We didn't know wot to do wif ih… And I couldn't function properly when I saw ih… so we had to hide ih' somewhere…"

Noodle just sat there and watched 2D pack his clothes, nibbling at the inside of her lip as she heard him speak. However, he did not continue, for he began to look about his room, wiping something from his face and rubbing his temple.

He bent down beside his bed and picked up his orange prescription bottle, fumbling with the lid.

Immediately, Noodle got up and went over to him, standing by his side and eyeing his hand as he poured out four tablets into his palm. She caught his arm, gripping it firmly. "Why do you take so many pills, Stuart? When we were back in London, you only took two; now you've doubled your dosage. Do you know what this could do to you?"

The man simply twitched his fingers and looked down at her with sad eyes, "I'll be fine, Noods. I've been takin' these fo' years an' ih hasn't hurt me yet. My headaches have gotten worse over the time thah I've been here, and ih's the only fing thah really helps, Love…" He shrugged and looked to the hand that laid on his arm.

Noodle refused to let go.

"You may not have noticed, but I can tell it's hurting you. Every time you take these," she nodded to his fist that captivated the medication, "you fall asleep. And from what I've seen, you've woken up from either nightmares or restless dreams. I won't let you keep doing this, Toochie…"

"Noods, Ih's fine-."

"NO, it's not. We're leaving the island, I'm taking you to see a doctor as soon as we get back to London, and I'm not going to let you do this to yourself. Please, just do this for me and we can finish packing. I'll get you some tea, even, when I go to get my guitar. Anything but this…"

She reached for the bottle and took it, adding two of the pills that lay limp in between his bony fingers before screwing the cap back on and pushing it back into his possession, a small frown forming on her face.

She felt angry that 2D had resorted to drug abuse to fend off his migraines. Sure, they might've increased from her disappearance and his trip to Plastic Beach, but that didn't mean he had to deteriorate under the influence of his own prescribed medication. Noodle felt betrayed by Murdoc for the replacement of her and Russel and his harsh treatment on Stuart, and it seemed that 2D didn't even mind. He was so used to it, it was like looking at an abused puppy who'd retreated with his tail hidden between his legs and his head held low, following his master's orders without question. It was disgusting, but she had to find some form of respect for the Satanist. His determination is what kept the band alive; if it weren't for him, she wouldn't have had the chances of ever coming across the band again.

Everything fell the way it did for a reason and she had to respect that, whether it damaged everyone else or not; she was there now, along with Russel Hobbs, their famous drummer and all-time friend that she's missed having around to talk to.

But coming back to find 2D in ruins like this wasn't comforting and it only infuriated her more.

Noodle scrunched her nose and furrowed her eyebrows, attempting to turn and go to the elevator, but she was stopped when 2D's had caught her arm in mid-step.

(2D's POV)

Stuart was taken aback when he caught her words, realizing how thoughtful and emotionally moving they rung true, despite how short and precise her statements were. She cared enough to physically stop him from taking his usual amount and pleaded for him to minimize it.

However, his hangover was beginning to get the best of him; the nausea was gone but his eye sockets felt like they'd cave in even farther into his head and puncture his brain, the pain hurt so much.

But when she laid her hand on him, the focus on the hurt had faded some and he was left to the emptiness in his mind, relishing the small break and enjoying the contentment of it all.

With his eyes downcast and the tear that had dried to his cheek that Noodle had thankfully not seen, he let her take the bottle and the two patterned capsules, listening to that familiar clink and the pop of the seal and before he knew it, he held the pills and she was turning to leave.

He set these things down immediately, except for the loose drugs that rolled about his fingers, and reached out to her, grasping her thin arm. He didn't want her to go, especially since her touch had somehow made the pain stop, if only for a few seconds.

He didn't want her to go because for all he knew, the monster could come back and attack them that very same say. Could kill them all in one fellow swoop, his henchmen clouding the sky in a chaos of hundreds of helicopters and bombers. He didn't want her to go because with the unknown time limit, he may not be able to tell her all that he'd felt, thought and dreamt. He wouldn't be able to mention how he believed her to be alive those first few months, refused to believe of her passing, and wanted so much to search for her in hopes of finding her again, to believe that the time with the band wasn't one long, wondrous dream with terror folding in at the end of the nightmare.

He didn't want her taken away from him again, his precious friend and forbidden lover.

2D rubbed his thumb along her bicep and up to her collarbone, to her neck until he cupped her face. He positioned himself so he was facing her completely, leaving very little room between the two, but that's all he needed to press his forehead against hers, taking in every bit of her presence and letting the hurt recede.

His vision began to blur, so instead, he closed his eyes and mentally sighed with relief, as she did not react badly to his sudden, intimate gesture. She too, seemed laid-back and enjoyed the moment with him, the sound of their breathing in unison and 2D began to feel the prickling sensation that tugged at his ribcage. It was like a pool of warmth rushed into his chest and all he could do was hold back the tears that crept to the corners of his eyes.

"Thank you, Love…"

That was all he could manage to say, when a pair of soft lips reached up and brushed against his. His slow thought process kick-started and he gently kissed her back.

The moment was all too short for him to cherish, for she pulled back immediately with a bright smile on her face. She ran over to the elevator, pressed the button and against his luck, the doors swung open, the lift already on their floor, and she was gone like that.

2D felt the pills roll numbly out of his hand and plop to the floor, but he was too in shock.

He brought his fingers to his lips and touched them, blinking furiously at the tears that cascaded down his cheeks and off his chin.

After a moment of thinking, he pursed his lips, lifted an eyebrow and edged over to his bed to sit down upon the covers.

Befuddled, he gaped at the closed elevator doors and tried to fathom what just happened.

She just kissed me… And… I kissed her back. So….why'd she leave? Women!

2D just propped his arms on his knees, bending over and supporting his forehead as he stared at the foot of the elevator, listening to the water slosh outside of his window. His head was in more of a clutter now than ever, but the headache he'd felt five minutes ago when he was packing had gone for the time being and he was glad for that.

2D pressed the balls of his palms into his eye sockets, rubbing them and wiping away the tears that fell, groaning out a loud, confused sigh.

But what was the deal with Noodle? Why, what…? I… I need… She can't just… Ugh…

He sat like that for a few minutes until the scraping sound of metal alarmed him and let him know that someone was coming down the elevator again.

The doors opened to Noodle carrying her dusty guitar and a cup of tea. She set both of these down, the tea on his dresser and the guitar against it, strumming it with her fingernail on accident.

Stuart got up and strode over to her, ignoring his conscience that screamed labels at him, cupped her face and pulled her in for another kiss, the impulse of his feelings hungry for more. But he just stood there, holding her face and welcoming her presence gingerly.

She did not back away, and she returned the kiss lightly, both of them holding each other in an embrace until 2D let go and whispered out, "Yew have no idea how much I've been wonting to do thah…"

Noodle simply smiled, "I've missed you too, Toochie."

2D took her in once more, wanting to relive the moment of her lips on his before he let go and they got to work again, packing boxes and drinking tea in each other's company.

The amount of time it took to pack the rest of Stuarts belongings didn't take more than thirty more minutes, since he didn't have all that many things he cherished other than the birthday gifts he received from the band and the gifts he bought on tour with them. In all of that, only two and a half boxes were filled, not including his bedding and toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, etc. In the end, they filled four crates of 2D's personal belongings and none of it was all that heavy.

They lugged the boxes into the elevator and once they were taken to sea-level, they were greeted with the cyborg clone.

2D frowned at the robot but brushed his bothered feelings away when she addressed them in a normal voice, "Master instructed that I relieve you of your belongings to take them to the submarine. Is this permission granted?"

Noodle replied with a "hai" and 2D just nodded, uncomfortable with the kindly introduction. It was rare that the robot did something for him rather than Murdoc, but again, he waved it off and didn't make a scene out of it. He figured it was better to let it be than refuse the help given to him.

The robot opened up her back and a retractable mechanic arm appeared. 2D placed his two boxes onto the freakishly long appendage and let Noodle place hers onto the cyborg's natural arms.

The robot nodded at the two before heading off towards the door that stood ajar, out into the open light that poured down onto the steps.

Noodle, who stood beside him, fumbled with the mask that sat atop her head and pulled it down over her face, following after the clone. 2D took his suitcase and rolled it out of the lift, following the woman down to the beach and towards the docks they'd visited the previous night.

The submarine was surfaced and the escape hatch was opened with Murdoc crawling out and the robot going in. the sun was slowly inching down the sky, but it was only late afternoon and the seagulls were still squawking in their flights.

Russel stood besides the submarine, staring with boredom at the underwater ship. It was high-tech and modern technology, with glass to flaunt off the ocean life, but for Russel it was useless. He was staying in the water for another day whether he wanted to or not; he was too massive to even think of fitting in a submarine.

With a sympathetic half-smile, 2D passed by him and passed his last bit of luggage to the cyborg who exited the sub and took it, piling his things in the back of the ship.

Noodle had gone over to Russel and began to talk to him, but 2D didn't get to listen in on the conversation, for he ran back into the island, muttering under his breath to himself and convincing himself that all of his prayers were answered.

He was leaving. Getting off of the floating junk-filled island and the band was reunited once again. He was going to be free. He could express himself freely, socialize with the people he barely acknowledged. Talk to Noodle about everything. Hold her and greet her with the respect a princess should. She was alive; Russel was home and they were starting life, new.

This was their fresh start. This was it.

If only he could cease the voices that raged in his head and push away that heart-sinking pang that maybe this wasn't going to be the happily ever after he wanted it to be.

2D stood in the vacancy of his room, staring blankly at the junk that littered his floor and taped to his walls, his conscience jabbing him with a single name, accompanied by the same insane laughter that rung through his head at the Feel Good Inc. tower.

He spotted his mask that strung over one of the poles on the headboard of his bed. He grabbed this and stepped into the elevator shaft, flicking the glowing button on the side and saying farewell to his room.

But before the hinges of the doors snapped shut, Stuart's attention was caught by his window, a small face bobbing in the circular frame. Where it's eyes were placed, were two glowing red orbs in the sockets of a small, black gas mask. The boogieman stared back, his gaze never wavering.

2D flipped his clown disguise over his horrified face and he shuddered as the doors closed shut and the loud cranking of the elevator bringing him to the air for the last time.

(Author's Note)

This was the last chapter. I made it pretty long and I hope I left you guys on an edge.

I really want to write a sequel to this one where they're settled in London, but I have no idea how I'm going to do that and how long it'll take me to write the first chapter for it, but I will update you guys. Keep tabs on this story because I'll add another note in the next chapter about the title and when it comes out.

OR if you don't want to do that, just follow me as an author and you can take it from there.

I hope it suited you guys for the fluff that you've been waiting for, but I think in the next story I'll make it more pronounced since their feelings are out in the open.

Review. I want to know how well I did in this story; did it get boring at the end? Was it too slow or just the right pace and detail? Do you want the sequel? What would you like to see in the next story? What minor conflicts might you want me to add? Do you hate me for the cliffhanger?

Thank you for your support. All of you. It means the world that you tagged along and enjoyed reading my work and it really helps me as a young writer to pursue this dream- to become an author.

You are what success creates. Thank you, and good luck on your own pieces. I look forward to reviewing your own stories.

PS: I'd really like a beta reader to look over some work that I do in the future. Message me for details if you're interested.

PSS: 2D and Noodle have no idea on the relationship between them. They just have an idea on how they feel about each other. I hope that cleared it up for you.

PPSS: The name that goes on in 2D's head is the name that was mentioned in the previous chapters. The fabulous "P" word.

PPSSS: The novel that Noodle looked over is not real. I made it up along with the author name. AND the colors on the cover connect with the second chapter when 2D had his black and white dream and noodle had red eyes. Remember…?

Ok, enough of that.

I don't own Gorillaz.