A/N: I'm so sorry it's take so long to update! A lot of "life" has happened since then. This chapter is a little shorter tha the others and I'm ot extremely pleased with it, but I wanted to get something posted. Hope it's enjoyable!
An Understanding.
Lihn woke the next morning rested though a cacophony of strange dreams hung in her memory. She showered and dressed, choosing a white tank top and a pair of pink, denim shorts. It was nice to be free of the button down shirts and lab coats she'd worn for ages. She checked herself in the mirror before pulling on her tennis shoes and bouncing out the door and down the stairs.
She was greeted by the sounds of an argument coming from the kitchen. Looking to her right she could see 2-D in almost the same position he'd been in when she went to bed, sprawled on the blue cushion, feet up on the glass table. She assumed he must have moved at some point though, because he was now wearing cut off denim shorts and a green tee with a smiley face sporting a bullet hole. She sat on the other end of the couch and nodding her head toward the kitchen asked "What is going on?"
"Murdoc only just got in 'bout twenty minutes ago, and Russ' pretty pissed. He finks we need t' be workin' on our next album instead o' playing around."
"Oh." it was band business again. Lihn looked at the TV, he seemed to be watching a poorly drawn cartoon with a cow and a chicken in it. "Where is Noodle?"
"Still abed. I guess she had a rough night, Russ sat up wif her fer a while." he shrugged his shoulders and his stomach made hunger noises. He clutched his hands over it and glanced at Lihn, embarrassed.
She just giggled, "Sounds like you have not had breakfast yet." She stood up and held a hand to him, "Let us get something to eat."
He turned his blue head toward the kitchen with a frightened look, "I fink I'll wait a bit."
It was Lihn's turn to shrug her shoulders, "Whatever you wish, 2-D, I am hungry NOW." she walked around the couch and through the wide doorway leading to the kitchen.
"It's like a fuckin vacation, Lards. Shut the fuck up and relax fer once!" Murdoc tossed what Lihn assumed were pain relievers into his mouth and tipped back a beer. "is that all he drinks" she wrinkled her nose in disgust as she opened the fridge.
"We didn't come here to vacation, we came to work, and 'at's exactly what we should be doing." Russel retorted, completely oblivious to Lihn's presence as she pulled out the jar of juice. She wondered how long the he'd been up with Noodle as he seemed to be wearing the same clothes from the night before.
"What you want me to fuckin do, eh? I can't force 'em to change the appointment time." The older man pinched the bridge of his crooked nose and sighed audibly.. He looked exhausted. "I've had enough. 'm goin t' bed." he said angrily. He winked as he passed Lihn, stopping just behind her as she stood at the kitchen island and tugged the end of her long, dark pony tail, "Wouldn't care to join me eh?"
Lihn almost spat her juice across the room, managing to swallow without choking she replied, "I believe I am plenty well rested, Mr. Niccals!"
Murdoc simply shrugged, "Next time then." he left the room. They could hear him as he passed the couch, "Oi, Dullard! All that TV's gonna ruin yer eyes!" he cackled at his own joke as he climbed the stairs.
"Sorry bout that. He's probably just jokin' round." Russel said, obviously irritated.
"It is OK." she shrugged her shoulders and turned, opening a cupboard to look for something to fix for breakfast. "It has been a while since I have been, how would you say? Hit up?" She shut the cupboard door and jumped not realizing that Russel had moved so close.
He was smiling, "I think you mean 'hit on', and I find that very hard to believe."
Lihn felt herself blushing. "There is not much time for romance in the world of science." she said with a hint of sadness.
The large man took a step closer and placed a hand on her upper arm sliding it down to lift her hand in his. "Well, you got all da time in da world now." he moved to bring her fingers to his lips but Lihn stopped him, placing her other hand over their joined ones.
"Good!" he looked at her, eyebrow raised questioningly, "Then we should have plenty of time for breakfast." she smiled teasingly.
"Great! What we having?" 2-D entered the room, unaware of the moment he was interrupting, and sat in a chair on the other side of the island. "Flapjacks sound good, or maybe waffles."
Russel half groaned, half sighed, and probably rolled his eyes but it was hard to tell. Lihn giggled and gave his hand a squeeze before letting go. They both turned to inspect the cupboards drawing another sigh from the larger man. "Looks like it's gone be cold cereal today, Bro." He tossed a colorful box to 2-D, who barley caught it. "Imma have ta leave a note fer da housekeeper."
"The housekeeper?" Lihn shook her head, grinning as she handed a bowl and spoon to the blue haired singer. She turned back toward the refrigerator to get the milk. "We have no plans, why do WE not go to get the groceries?"
"What?" 2-D spilled little brown cereal balls onto the counter, his reflexes were somewhat slow and soon cereal was spilling onto the floor. "You serious?" his pale face, though hard to read with his bruised eye sockets, managed to look incredulous.
"Damn, 'D." the large man huffed. His eyes scanned the room, "Theys gotta be a broom round here somewhere."
"Sorry, Russ." the lanky man held his bowl at the edge of the counter an began sweeping cereal into it. "But you 'member the last time we went to market?"
He chuckled as he moved toward what he assumed was a broom closet. "Yea, I 'member."
"It was not a pleasant experience?"
Russ glanced at the Asian woman holding a gallon of milk. With that innocently confused expression on her face, she looked just like Noodle. "Naw, it wa'nt what I'd call pleasant." he grinned opening the closet. "Jackpot." he pulled out a yellow handled broom and began sweeping the cereal into a pile.
"We barley made it out wif our shirts!" The dark eyed man explained sweeping the last of the cereal from the counter into his bowl. "Ere, what's 'is?" he set down the bowl and picked up a stack of papers that had been sitting on the corner of the island.
Russel looked up from the dustpan, "Mudz brought that in, musta forgot it." he stood and dumped the contents of the pan into a trash bin.
2-D was flipping through the pages, squinting at the print, "Looks like a script." he pointed to something on one of the pages, "It's got all our names in it, and stuff we're supposed to say, 'ey! I wouldn't do that!" he said a bit angrily.
"Let me see 'D" he already looked irritated before he even looked at the first page. His brows furrowed together as he glanced through the first couple of pages, "I gotta check 'is out." Russel plodded out of the kitchen, his eyes never leaving the paper.
"Does 'at mean no breakfast?" 2-D mumbled dejectedly.
Lihn sighed and turned to put the milk jug back into the refrigerator. There was a large fruit basket on top of it. She reached up and pulled it down, placing it in front of 2-D she removed the cellophane wrapping. "Have some fruit." she selected an orange and used her nails to peel it.
"Fruit? For breakfast?" his voice was doubtful.
"Yes!" Lihn laughed, "It is good for you. Besides, I will go to the grocery and when I come back, I will make a nice lunch."
"Ikitai!" The two were a bit startled by the appearance of Noodle in the doorway. She was dressed in what seemed to be a short flowered, sundress and knee length denim shorts. Her hair was pulled into a sloppy ponytail and she wore a yellow sun visor. "Ikitai." she repeated to Lihn. "Go, please?"
"Good English, Noods!" 2-D praised the girl giving her his gap toothed grin.
Lihn was surprised that the child wanted to join her after the events of the night before, "Hai, of course you can come." she grinned but inside she was somewhat suspicious. They had spent the last few days enjoying each others company and having a great time, but they hadn't been alone. After the events of last night, Lihn suspected Noodle had more in mind than picking up another bag of sweets. Lihn dreaded finding out what she was pretty sure she already knew. If her suspicions were confirmed then she would have to do something about it, wouldn't she? But that was exactly why she needed to find out for sure.
"'Ere, Noods, you can't go out like 'at." Lihn's inner turmoil was interrupted. "You'll get mobbed!" 2-D listened to Noodle's reply though he had no idea what she was saying. He looked helplessly at Lihn.
"She said there is little chance of her being recognized without one of you. People will just think she is my daughter." the woman translated.
The blue haired man wrinkled his face up with doubt, "I dunno, yer pretty popular here in da states."
The short girl looked at her care giver with a pout.
"Russ, in't gonna like it." he shook his head. The girl's eyes seemed to grow larger, and her lip protruded a bit more. "Don't give me the face Noods!" he pleaded. "Besides," his face brightened, "Murdoc's prolly got the keys in 'is pocket still."
The mention of Russel made Lihn's mind up for her. If she wanted to stick around and get to know him, she would have to find out what was up with Noriku. With a slight movement of her hand, a set of keys materialized on the counter behind her. Feigning ignorance, she looked about the room, turning, "Here they are." she said picking them up. "We'll go and be back before you are knowing it." she smiled. She headed out of the kitchen, "Noodlechan, kinasai."
Noodle patted 2-D's arm reassuringly before grabbing an apple from the basket and following Lihn.
It was a gorgeous day. Lihn put the top down on the cherry red BMW and climbed in the drivers' side. She flipped on the radio and backed out of the driveway, bopping her head to Ah-Ha's 'Take on Me". Noodle sat in the passenger's seat, seatbelt already fastened, fidgeting with the hem of her dress. They had driven for a few minutes in silence when the girl spoke up, "How do you know where you are going?" Her little eyebrows drew together in a look of suspicion.
Lihn's eyes got big for a moment as she realized she didn't know how to answer that. "I'm just… going … to go …uptown. Yes! Then ask directions. The girl scrutinized her for a moment before turning back to look out of the windshield. Lihn glance around for a gas station, spying one she changed lanes and pulled in the parking lot. She put the car in park but left it running, She spoke to Noodle in Japanese, "I'll be back, shall I bring you something?"
The diminutive girl thought for a moment. "Hai, some watermelon bubble gum, please."
Lihn nodded and headed into the store. She didn't really need to ask for directions, she had an innate sense of direction that usually led her where she needed to go, but she knew Noodle would be watching her. So, she grabbed the package of gum from the counter and asked the young man standing there where the nearest grocery store was. He was happy to help, drawing a little map on a napkin which also happened to have his phone number on it. Lihn flashed him a smile and a wink as she left the store. It felt good to be wanted.
Walking to the car, she noticed Noodle trying to make herself smaller, glancing around she noticed a car-full of teenagers looking in her direction and whispering to each other. Several of them seemed to be trying to convince one other to approach the convertible. The price of fame. Lihn thought dryly, but she quickened her pace and hopped into her seat. "Let's go, huh?" Noodle caught the pack of gum tossed to her and nodded . Lihn threw the car into gear and took off out of the parking lot. "It probably gets old not being able to leave the house without being recognized." Noodle just nodded again. Lihn's heart went a bit soft, she of all people new how important privacy was. She couldn't imagine being Noodle's age and having to deal with that on top of all the other things a preteen goes through.
Don't get to attached. part of her brain said, yea right, too late! replied the other part. She was going to have to talk to the girl, find out if these 'nightmares' weren't something more. She pulled into the shopping center and turned off the car. "Noodle," she began, but the girl cut her off.
"I'm sorry." she said quickly in English.
"What?" the older woman was taken aback.
"I'm sorry," she repeated but in Japanese. "For what happened back at Kong." she laced her fingers and set her hands in her lap staring at them. "It was just a nightmare and only a coincidence that you were in it, I'm sure." she grinned shyly, at her Aunt. "I'm glad you came to find me, Obachan. It is nice to have another female to talk to. Especially one that can understand me!"
What luck! Lihn had been prepared for a bit of confrontation but the girl had removed the need. It would be easy to simply keep an eye on her now. Lihn came back to the conversation at hand. "It must be difficult living with three men and having no one your age around."
Noodle looked a bit relieved to have an understanding audience. "I love the guys," she said, "they are like big brothers to me. Russel is my caretaker, 2-D's my companion, and Murdoc-san teaches me about the real world and how to "not take crap from anyone"," she quoted the last part in English making Lihn smile, "But it IS difficult." she scooted in her seat to face Lihn. "they treat me like a flower. I know I am small but I am not fragile!" Her little hands clenched. "And there are things I simply can not talk to them about, even if they could understand me." her cheeks turned slightly red.
Lihn simply looked at the girl for a moment, then a light bulb seemed to shine, "Oh! You mean about boys."
"Yes! But not it's just that. They treat me like a toddler! I know I don't look my age, but I feel it. It would be nice if I could at least meet some people my own age that I could talk to and hang out with." she almost whined.
Lihn grinned and patted Noodle's hand. "Tell you what, I'll have a chat with Russel when we get back and see what I can't do."
"really?" Her older look alike nodded yes and Noodle threw her arms around her, "Origato, Obachan! Origato!" Lihn hugged her back. It would be nice to care for someone again. She just hoped that she wasn't making a mistake.