Hello :) well I'm quite proud of this chapter, before any of you eat me I would just like to point out that when I say Noodle's 'birthday' is in spring I'm speaking from the point of view that they don't yet know that it's actually on October 31 seeing as though its only phase 1... However I didn't know exactly what time of year that she was shipped to their house so I just randomly said spring.

Hope you enjoy this

Phase 1

It was Noodle's 1st birthday/anniversary of when she arrived at Kong. Things were quite normal, 2D's parents, Rachel and David, came out to celebrate for the afternoon. It was a warm spring day and nearly everyone was enjoying the park, aside from Murdoc-of course- who was grumbling under the shade a large tree. David was successfully covering all BBQ duties, after deaming his son too clumsy, but he did allow Russell to lend him a hand.

After everyone was fed and lazing about, 2D piped in an idea of what to do. "Presents?" Noodle's ears pricked up, remembering the word from their Christmas party.

"Presents?" She parroted back.

"Yes dear, presents. David could you go get ours from the car?" Rachel asked. David on the other hand had been dozing off in a lawn chair when he was jerked awake by her words, but nodded and walked slowly towards the small car at the end of the lot, about a five minute walk.

While the father left, 2D pulled out his present towards the young girl and she bounced happily and grabbed at it. "T'ere yew go, love." It was messily wrapped and had tape in unnecessary places, trying to keep the paper on. She hastily ripped off the colourful wrapping, only to get scolded by Rachel.

"Let 'er do whateva she wonts," Murdoc snapped and the mother looked a bit taken aback, but Noodle paid no mind to either of them and finally got through all the paper to reveal a Japanese colouring book and a set of 64 crayons. She beamed at the blue haired boy and tackled him into a hug expressing her gratitude in a mix of Japanese and English. His mother praised him for finding such a great present. Russel brough out his gift, it consisted mostly of clothes but had a couple packs of multicoloured guitar strings that she found interesting. She gave him a hug and thanked him in both english and Japanese knowing he could understand her either way.

David came back and Rachel went to stand next to him with a giddy smile on her face. "Noodle, we love you like our own daughter and are very thankful to have met such a nice young girl and spending this time with you we thought you were ready to have what we are about to give to you." Both parents smiled and Noodle did so back to them, but nobody knew how much of what had just been said was understood by the youngest of the group. Both adults moved away to reveal a pink white and blue bike with a silver bow and woven basket in the front.

Noodle jumped up to examine the machine, unsure at first what it was. "Happy birthday, Noodle. You've done these boys some good, joining them all of a sudden." David said to her. "This is your very own bike." He said point her then the bike.

"Hontoni?" She looked up to the man. He looked over to every other face with the look of confusion on his face on what she'd said.

"It means really. She asking for confirmation." Russell helped.

Rachel nodded thankfully and turned to the girl, "it is really yours." She patted the seat to tell her to sit. It stood of on its own with plastic training wheels on either side on the back wheel. She knew it wouldn't fall down with her on it so easily but she still sat cautiously. Eventually she swung a leg over to the other side and put both her feet on either pedal and smiled to everyone present.

"Yew look so cewl, Noods." 2D said. The sun was beginning to drop in the sky and both the older Pots called it a night and packed all the stuff they had brought to make the couple hour drive back to Eastbourne. 3/4 of the Gorillaz band bid them farewell and soon they were gone. There were still a few hours of daylight left so they stayed. Noodle sat on the bike, unsure of what she should be doing and soon they came to notice.

"Noodle love, are yew awlright? The bluenette asked, somewhat worried. She hadn't moved in quite sometime, just continuously sitting on the bike, her hands gripping the handles rather roughly. She shifted her head to glance at him before giving a stiff nod. Murdoc watched the exchange and smirked, knowing exactly what was going on in the little guitarist's head.

He decided to test his theory, just a little bit, "ok Noodle, come over 'ere, I've still got tew give yew my present." Noodle smiled happily as the other members gawked at him, not knowing he would have even thought to get her something. She began to dismount the bike when he spoke again, "no, no, ride your bike over 'ere." She hesitated but nodded showing she understood. She had her radio helmet on so her safety wasn't too much of a concern.

Her feet lightly pressed on the pedals to move her forward but it took quite a bit of effort as she willed her feet forward. When the bike suddenly jerked forward, a small squeak escaped through her lips and she flailed about. The bike tipped from to side on the uneven training wheels, only an inch each time but Noodle felt herself fall every time. Murdoc slapped his knees and chuckled to himself at the sight in front of him. She was no more then 10 feet in front of him but on a bike the distance seemed to stretch and it looked to her as if she had a long while to go before she was there. The next time she pedalled, she put more strength into it and it sent her rolling and she panicked, accidentally toppling over the side of the bike, and with her small body weight, despite the training wheels, the bike fell slowly after her. She screeched at the thought of it falling on her and Murdoc laughed loudly. Russel caught the bike in time for it to only tap her side with the end of the handle bar.

"Russel-san," Noodle said looking up to her saviour. 2D popped up behind him and asked the obvious question.

"Noodle, dew yew know 'ow ta ride a bike?" Noodle shook her head and stood up off the ground. He smiled goofily, "dun worry love, we will teach yew." Russell set the bike down and let 2D take over, he needed to do something about the hysterical fool (Murdoc) laughing at their new discovery. The blue haired man put both his hands on the bike, one on the back of the seat and one in the middle on the handle bars. "T'ere, I'll 'old ih and yew can get back on." She did so hesitantly, much like the first time, but now she seemed aware of every single movement it made and would freeze up until it stopped. Not once did he let go of the bike while he gave her direction. Once, he lifted the back of the bike up just enough that the back wheel didn't touch the ground and taught her to pedal successfully. He made sure the bike didn't tip until she started to go faster and made the bike steady by herself with the speed. Soon she was going too fast for him to keep up, even with his long legs and he let go. She didn't take to it perfectly after he stopped holding on, and she noticed the exact moment that it happened, so it wasn't exactly a movie moment. She did however manage to fall on the grass and got right back onto the bike, confident that she could do it herself.

Eventually she had gone around the parking lot and made it back to her group and pulled up to Murdoc. She pushed her pedals backwards expertly and stopped in front of him with a smile on her face. "Present?" He congratulated her on making it to him after only an hour of waiting and she scowled but laughed with his rough chuckles. He pulled out a box the size of his hand, wrapped minimally in boring grey wrapping paper with the words:

To The Pipsqueak

From Demon Bass Slayer Murdoc Niccals

Noodle didn't know how to read of course and tore the paper and opened the box to reveal a Benchman 581 Osborne Barrage (a knife with an axis lock, which you basically just have to push down with your thumb on the part that stops the knife from opening and closing) it was the length of an average sized palm and had a purple metallic case. It looked to be just shined and upon opening the blade a small butterfly insignia was engraved (for authenticity of the brand) but on the other side was her name in neat black and engraved writing. The other two members gathered and looked at the unusual 11th birthday present. Both were thanking Murdoc silently for not giving it to her in front of 2D's parents, they would've had a fit. Noodle sat and practiced flicking it open, first with two hands then one. It could be held either way and the boys were starting to notice that she was ambidextrous.

"Thank you, Murdoc-san. I like it," she said politely. Even after a year she didn't know what was ok and what was not regarding actions towards Murdoc. Sensing her apprehension he playfully scoffed.

"These two block'eads get a 'ug for their dumb presents and I don't get one for my amazin' one?" She smiled widely and hugged him tightly still holding the knife, closed obviously.

The next day at Kong the oldest Gorillaz witnessed something they never had before. Noodle had biked out of the car park onto the grounds of the landfill with her knife readied in her hand and her katana on her back for safety. As a few zombies started to notice her she would zip over and slash them on her way by. She laughed loudly and they watched from the porch, unsure what to make of it, but ready to jump in if it looked like she would need help. The slashes wouldn't kill the undead but it would confuse and distract them and before they would look up again she would be long gone. It was amusing to say the least and they watched Noodle until all the zombies stopped trying to catch her.

If you want to know what the knife looks like just type in the name (Benchman 581 Osborne Barrage) there it is one fore time if you don't want to look for it and want to be lazy just imagine a purple handle

Read and review :)

-Princess Noodle