It was around 2:30 in the afternoon and bright outside. Noodle sat on her bed as she slowly wiped the sleep out of her eyes.
Recently she'd seemed to be sleeping like a baby.
No tossing. No turning. Not even the reoccurring dream of her having to kill that damn Cyborg.
Her dreams had been as sweet as ever.
She knew that she'd feel better again once she was with her family.
They seemed to make everything better.
Despite how much happier everyone seemed to be things seemed to be...uneasy.
It was kind of a eerie feeling that lingered above them all.
Many unsolved issues hung over their heads.
2D and Murdoc's tension seemed to increase more and more by the day.
Russel seemed as if he would never forgive Murdoc for replacing him with a machine.
They all still seemed too uncomfortable to even bring up the Cyborg.
Noodle's disappearance was still a mystery to everyone but her and 2D.
She trusted him enough to not kill Murdoc and to not share her story with Russel.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Russel, she just didn't think believe he could handle hearing the whole truth.
Now that she had shared her burdens with 2D she was relieved.
She had always been an individual.
Noodle had never really felt like she NEEDED someone her whole life.
Missed people? Of course. Needed them? No.
Even back in Demon Days she wrote that whole album at 13.
This was the first time she had ever felt like she needed a little support.
With all she's been through she needed someone to talk to.
2D seemed to be the only one to understand certain things.
She had always looked up to him as a friend and a brother but with time came a change.
She rubbed her head as her thoughts became more clouded.
"I mean...I came back for HIM. I made my journey to see HIM." she whispered as she shook her head furiously.
Noodle was confused deeply about her and 2D's...understanding of each other.
She knew that he quit the band because she wasn't around.
She knew he lived in misery and depression because along side the abuse from Murdoc, he had to live with a robotic version of her.
He'd thought she'd been dead all this time.
How could he possibly handle living with his "dead" yet robotic best friend?
She knew she meant so much to him.
It was like loosing a sister, friend, and the only person he'd found comfort in.
Noodle knew he loved her and she loved him too, but she'd been beginning to think their love was...changing.
It was beginning to get weird.
They continued to do things they did back in Kong, but now they had restrictions they didn't have before.
They had to stop doing things that used to be fun because now they were awkward.
It was still competitive with them when it came to video games. That never changed.
Now they couldn't wrestle, play twister, or even play tag.
2D wasn't good at being...careful.
Their relationship was becoming increasingly frustrating now that she was older.
Every time he accidentally "brushed" her she got these weird chills in awful places.
She wasn't completely unaware of what was going on, she just didn't want these things to be going on.
2D was her FRIEND. Her BROTHER.
But if they had such a brother sister relationship why were things so weird yet so...close?

She heard a knock on her door.

"Come in!"

She saw a wave of blue hair peek into her room.
He smiled with a toothless grin and gave a bright "Ello!"

"Hello Toochi-kun."

"Umm, now tha' I'm 'ome from work we can go down an' play some games yeh? I fink yew need to get outta bed sleepy 'ead!"

She giggled a 2D's silly way of trying to get her up.

"Well if you really want me to get up how about we go outside?"

2D raised his eyebrow.

"Yew actually wan' ta leave the 'ouse fo' once?"

Noodle smiled lightly.

"Well, what's the point of staying inside all the time? I feel like I need a little exercise!"

2D's face lit up and he grinned again. He grabbed Noodle and hugged her as tightly as he could. Her face grew hot and red as she felt 2D's warmth against her own small body. He finally let go of her as she was resisting a huge grin.

"Sorry, I jus'...I'm 'appy to see yew feelin' better."

"Well, I'm happy I'm feeling better."

He gave her a warm smile.

"I'll meet yew downstairs in 15!"

He raced up to his room leaving Noodle with 15 minutes and a grin.

2D sat on the couch in the living room and picked up a beer can from the ground. He chucked it with ease and let his body fall onto the couch. He looked down at his watch and sighed.

Where on earth was Noodle?
He said 15 minutes. Not 90.
2D looked at his clock and came to the realization that it had only been 10 minutes. He felt as if his heart was going to burst of anticipation as he sat there.
Suddenly he heard footsteps coming from down the stairs.

He sat up and looked at Noodle as she gracefully took each step.
He looked at her from head to toe.
She seemed to be wearing 2 shirts and a jacket.
Her hair was neatly combed to reach her shoulders but was being pushed further down sunglasses.

"I'm ready to go."

"Noods, yew are aware I's hot outside?"

"Yes. I am."

2D smiled.

"Noodle come 'ere."

Noodle reluctantly walked forward toward him.

"Take off yo' jacket. I's hot outside."

Noodle frowned slightly and did as he said.

"Fine. Now what?"

"Take off yo' shirt."

Noodle's face turned a deep beat red.

"Toochi-kun! Why do you-"

"Not like tha' Noods!"

She turned an even deeper scarlet as the blush seemed to have spread to her ears.

"Fine! I'll keep only one on!"

She reached for the bottom her shirt then looked up at 2D.

"Well? Are you going to turn around or what?"

2D nodded then turned around.

Noodle pulled her long sleeve shirt from under her sleeveless shirt.

"Better?"

2D turned around and turned slightly red himself. He noticed how the bulky jacket and shirt covered her small but adorable curves. He
ruffled his hair at the thought of Noodle having curves of any kind.

"Much better! One last thing."

2D slowly removed her sunglasses from her face. He looked into her shimmering green eyes and brushed his thumb against the spot
where her bruise used to be.

"Yew look absolutely beau'iful."

They both blushed.

"Ehem. Smooth one. Actin' as if you're some type of fuckin' Casanova."

They both turned to see Murdoc standing in the doorway.

"What do yew want Mudz?"

"Nothing to do with yew really faceache. Where you both off to?"

"Surprise...not like i's any of yo' business..." 2D mumbled under his breath.

"Just because ya' said that quietly doesn't mean I can't hear ya' fuck face! So you off to show girly a good time?"

"Yeh I guess…"

"Well be careful. Tubby up on the roof might roll right off and squish ya both!"

Murdoc cackled at his own twisted humor.

"Goodbye Murdoc-san."

"Have fun out in the town with a MORON."

Noodle slammed the door behind them.

"Good thing I got you out of there huh?"

2D smiled at her.

"I would've been fine. I'm used to Mudz by now."

She smiled at him.

"So where we off to Toochi?"

"Yew'll see."

2D grabbed Noodle's hand and lead her down the street.

"2D-san! Where are we going?"

"We're almost there!"

Noodle looked around. She didn't recognize anything around her yet everything seemed so…familiar.

"Yew don' remember?"

Noodle looked around trying to spark any type of memory at all, but sadly she couldn't think of one. For all she knew they took the
longest bus ride in the world just to stare at an empty field next to a large hill.

"Noodle….not even a clue of the area?"

She saw the front of the buiding and cloudn't believe it.

"You…you brought us to Kong?"

"Yeh. Surprise! Only an hour long bus ride. Not too bad."

Noodle looked around. Her heart filled with so much joy, eve though the place was now next to nothing.
It was quite bittersweet. This was in fact the place where she had spent most of her childhood.
The building wasn't quite the way she remembered it.
The walls seemed to have burn marks on the sides and the roof had caved in slightly.

"What happened here?"

2D looked around at the place in just as much amazement as Noodle.

"Murdoc. E'...um...burned the place."

Noodle snapped toward 2D in confusion.

"Burned?"

"Yeh. E' ran outta money an' needed a li'le so e' burned down the place an' blamed ih' on some kids, the bastard."

Noodle seemed to be showing shock then remembered, this is an action she would expect from him.

"Well...did he get his money?"

"Yeh. About...wha'? 500 pounds? 50,000? I don' really remember."
2D scratched his head. He grabbed Noodle's hand and sprinted toward the building.

"Come on Noodz! We can explore!"

They ran straight into the building. It was already unlocked and the doors seemed to just...open.
2D and Noodle took a look around.

"Not much has changed here."

"Nope...see! Tha' elephan' is still 'ere!"

Noodle giggled.

"Can we visit the rooms?"

"Who's room firs'?"

Noodle grabbed his hand.

"I want to see what became of my room when I left."

2D nodded.

"I wouldn' even know. I never went in there aftah-"

Noodle placed a gentle finger on his lips and gave a small shush.

"I know you didn't."

2D gave another gentle smile.
She pulled his hand and lead him to her bedroom.
She opened the door and gasped.
Nothing.
Not one thing was left behind.
Noodle looked at the ground and saw a small shiny triangle.
She got on her knees and looked at it up close.
Suddenly tears started to slowly fall from her eyes.
2D got down next to her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Wh-wha's wrong luff? Wha' 'appned?"

Noodle stared at the small object. It was a guitar pick.

"Was this special to yew?"

Noodle looked at him, picked up the guitar pick, and smiled softly.

"Toochi...I'm not sad."

2D looked at her with confusion.

"Then...why a' yew cryin' luv?"
He wiped tears from her eyes.

"I'm crying because I'm happy Toochi-san. I got to do so much with you all. I was a lucky child. I wasn't killed and then I got to have an amazing childhood. I got to be around music, experience life, and be with you, Russel, and Murdoc."

2D smiled at her and grabbed her. He pulled into a hug and embraced her in this moment.

"Thank you 2D. You've watched me grow up and I am eternally grateful."

2D's emotions seemed to stir at these words.
Something seemed to make his heart drop, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
He continued to hug her and smile, despite his emotions.