I didn't remember the last days of our trek very well, just a blur of Spanish and guilt-ridden nights. I was relieved when we reached Belize, heading straight for the coastal city that held our cruise ship. We boarded and rejoined the original party that we had set off with. Noodle and I shared a room, and she would often be awaked by my restless shifting.

"Murdoc," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep, sitting up to look at me. "It's okay, there's nothing we can do right now, just try to get some sleep, you need your rest."

"It should've been me, luv." I whispered hoarsely. "'E's down there, because of me. It's all me fault Noodle." She laid a comforting hand on my shoulder and I turned to look at her, her thin graceful body concealed under the sheets, her green eyes piercing into mine. I nodded weakly and kissed her, cupping her face with my hands.

She responded, working her mouth with mine ever-so gently. Noodle clouded my senses as I shifted so I was on top of her. I trailed a hand down her side and felt her back arch with sensation. I was encouraged by this as I got more and more fierce. Her movements were frantic now, frenzied, as if she feared she would never get enough of me. I lifted her up slightly with one hand underneath her, pressing her chest to mine.

"Noodle," I said, breaking away for a minute. She looked at me, seeing the question in my eyes. Her breathing came in short gasps. "May I luv?" I whispered, leaning close to her ear before nibbling on it. She shivered at the contact but let out a slight little moan of pleasure. The sound was more intimate than the most experienced girl I had ever been with screaming my name. I smiled into the moonlight, watching her silhouette.

"Murdoc…" she trailed, looking at me with the scared eyes of the little ten year-old that had hopped out of that Fed-Ex crate that fateful day. Then I saw her for what she was and I cursed myself, I didn't want to be her first, me, the dirty old bassist, to take her innocence like that. She deserved better; much better, I couldn't be the one she yearned for in that way. Yet here I was, asking for something I shouldn't have any part in. Hell, I had been the one to explain how this thing went along when she was thirteen.

I rolled off of her and onto my side of the bed. I looked up at the ceiling, shaking my head. She sat up, puzzled. "What?" she asked. "What did I do Murdoc-chan?" she was worried. I looked at her, horrified.

"You did nothing!" I protested, gathering her in my arms. "Noods, I don' wan' to be yer firs'. I wan' you to be with a person yer own age. I wan' you no' to regret it, li'e I do." I murmured into her hair. She pulled away from me, eyes watery.

"I don't want another person my own age!" she stated, a tear rolling down her cheek. "I want you Murdoc!" I shook my head sadly.

"I can't luv. I can't." I replied. She looked angry but said nothing, burying her head back into my chest. I wrapped an arm around her middle and grasped one of her tiny hands in mine. Her presence comforted me and I idly remembered how only a week ago I had been in my room in Plastic Beach, wishing for her to be near me. I closed my eyes, but I was far from sleep, my mind was whirring sluggishly, listening to Noodle's breathing become slower.

"Muds…" she breathed, voice barely audible.

"Hmm?" I asked. She feebly lifted her head, sleep threatening to overtake her.

"I… IthinIluvyeew…" she said, words slurring together before she yawned and closed her eyes. I stiffened, not knowing how to respond to such a bold proclamation. Luckily, she was already snoozing on my chest and I was left with another question to add to the long list of things that would keep me awake all night.

I don't know how long I lay there, envisioning all the different ways 2D could've been saved. I noticed the sky getting lighter eventually and I moved Noodle off of me and got up, putting on my pair of jeans . I went to the desk where I had managed to get a laptop, opening it; I went to my Twitter account. It had been more than a month since I'd updated it and the fans were probably wondering what was going on. I cracked my knuckles and began to type.

Hello, Murdoc Niccals here, you're probably all worried sick about me but not to fret, ole Mudsey isn't in any immediate peril. I can't say the same for Face-Ache however... the Boogieman appears to have gotten a hold of him, and it seems I need to go to hell and retrieve him.

On a completely unrelated topic, Noodle has returned to us and I am watching her sleep as I type this to you all. She looks ever so lovely in the dawn, but even if I'm no longer a single man I won't let my relationship get in the way of making music. In fact, I'd like to announce the release of a new album: The Fall will be in your CD players soon, make no mistake my dear fans. Thank you, we hope to be in the UK again soon. Cheers.

I pressed the button and watched it get added to my twitters, smiling in satisfaction.