You never liked the emergency room, having spent far too much time in one as a child, whether it was from being injured yourself or simply stopping by to see your mother at work. You hated their white walls, chemical smell, and the eerie atmosphere. You've watched plenty of zombie flicks to know that emergency rooms were flat out creepy!

And yet, here you were, Noodle on your lap while idiot doctor after idiot doctor looked at the sting on her hand, then the hives on her arms and chest, then the puffiness of her cheeks, then order another round of tests.

"FO' THE LOVE O' GOD, SHE WAS STUNG BY A BEE!" Your mother finally yells at the third doctor, poor guy, who nearly jumps out of his coat.

"Ma'am, are you sure it was a-"

"YES, 'M BLOODY SURE!"

"What kind of bee was it?"

"WHA' KIND O' B- WHA' OTHEH TYPES O' BEES ARE THERE!?"

"Yellow Jackets, Hornets,-"

"THOSE A'EN'T BEES!"

"Well, they do look like bees, ma'am."

While the discovery channel inspired argument reigned on, you had gotten up with Noodle, carrying her over to a near by nurse.

"'S'cuse me, miss, ca' you 'elp me?" You asked politely. The nurse turns and gasps when she sees Noodle.

"Good Lord! She's having an allergic reaction!"

"Tha's wha' we've been tellin' these yahoos!" You exclaim. The nurse ushers Noodle into a room quickly before getting a shot ready. AS soon as the drug is administered, Noodle is as good as new.

"There." The nurse pats Noodle's head, "Better?"

"Hai!"

"Hello, now are you all better?"

"Hai!"

"Oh! I'm sorry! Anata wa yori yoi kanjite iru?" The nurse kneels to be at Noodle's level. The girl smiles brightly and nods.

"Hai arigatō!" She replies happily before running back to your side, "Toochi-san, go home now?"

A quick glance at the hallway indicates your mother and all three of the doctors now, are in a full on debate about bees and hornets. Knowing that your mother has the keys and will probably be here awhile, you turn back to Noodle now.

"'ow, bout we walk home?"

"Hai!" You take the girl's hand in your own and very slowly creep your way out of the emergency room, wincing as your mom's screams of denial reach your ears. Now safety outside, you and Noodle begin your long track home. Or, at least that's how it should have gone, but nope, Noodle's childish side decided to bloom at that moment.

"Ice cream." The girl pointed to an ice cream shop just up the street. You smile a bit as nostalgia begins to sink it. As a child, you and your dad walked up to that shop every night after dinner and years later as a teenager, it was your first job. You look down at the little girl before nodding slowly.

"Sure, Noods, why no'?" You pick the tiny child up, carrying her the last block or so. You stop in front of the shop, setting the girl down before reaching out for the door handle. You pull it open (years of coming here had the fact that it was a pull not push door etched into the back of your mind) hearing the familiar chime of a bell hung above the door frame. Almost instantly, you are tackled into a giant hug.

"Stuart! Long time, no see, aye!" You look up quickly, meeting the wrinkled face of an old woman. In a second, you realize just who it was.

"Mrs. Gelato!" You smiled brightly, hugging the Owner's wife, "Where's Jerry?"

"'e's in the back." Mrs. Gelato straightens herself up, brushing off a bit of chocolate still stuck to her apron.

"Ice cream?" A small tug on your sleeve reminds you why you came into the shop in the first place. Mrs. Gelato looks down.

"Oh! You must be Noodle! I've seen ye on TV with Stuart, 'ere." She smiled, kneeling to the child's level. Noodle backed up behind your legs.

"H-hai." She replies back, becoming very interested in a scuff mark on her shoe. Mrs. Gelato smiles and ruffles the child's hair, or rather, the helmet covering the child's hair.

"Would you like some ice cream, dear?" The child now looks up at you, as if expecting you to answer for her. You nodded slowly, but allow her to answer.

"Hai! Bubblegum, kudasai." The girl smiles a bit. Mrs. Gelato nods before retreating behind the display case.

"Stuart, chocolate for you?"

"Julia, ye know me too well." The singer laughs, picking a booth to sit at, "Is Carmon 'ere today?"

"Yes, she is. Bu' she's on break." After a brief pause in the conversation, Mrs. Gelato looks back up, "Ye used to 'ave a bi' o' a crush on 'er, didn't ye?"

You can feel all the color in your face light up, "W-we grew up togethe', Julia, I did't 'ave a crush on 'er!"

"Sure, sure, whatever ye say, boy. She's been talkin' about ye a lot lately."

"She 'as?"

"Oh yeah."

"Wha' 'as she sai'?"

"Why dun ye ask her yer self?"

"Ask me what?" You feel all the blood in your body rush to two different places as you turn to face the voice. There is Carmon, auburn hair tucked delicately behind her ears, light blue eyes reflecting the light trace of freckles on her face. She place her hands on her beautifully curved hips, turning her small lips into a smile.

"Stuart?"

"Dear God..." Is all you can mutter back. You don't remember Carmon looking so pretty. All you remember about her was the rubber bands from her braces constantly getting caught in her thick, frizzy hair. In you love struck stupor, you hardly notice the child beside you.

With that being said, you don't notice the envy shining in her green eyes.