TWO MONTHS LATER

It was the little things that really bugged him. How she wanted to know where he was, with who he was, when he would be back, every single minute of the day.

How she would walk into rehearsals and declare that "My little darling has been practicing enough, I want to spend time with him. You see him every day." and pull him out of the studio.

How she would call him at 3 AM in the morning, checking to see if he wasn't with another girl. And if he was home, he had to come out to the balcony and wave to her, sitting there in her parked car, to prove it. How she would talk about his friends.

"Ooh, I really think Russel needs to lose some pounds, his weight is seriously starting to bug me. I mean, it's just not healthy, I could even help him, look up diets and whatnot.."

Or, "Noodle has a really bad Japanese accent. Okay, I get that's she's from Japan and everything, but she's lived in England for quite some time now and I think she should just work harder to sound..normal."

This really made him angry, but especially what she said about Murdoc.

"He's so dirty, has he ever heard of a shower?"

"I bet his parents were horrible, look how he's turned out."

"I don't get how you can stand him, he's absolutely repulsive."

"How many bottles of rum has he got in his room? Like fifty? He certainly smells like it. That, and cigarettes."

Worst of all: "You know what, I think you should kick him out. I mean, who really cares about bassists, huh? I certainly don't. You know what, you could kick them all out, you're voice will be enough, you can become famous and rich by yourself, and it would just be us two!"

She then had gotten angry when he point blank refused this. It was an exhausting, confusing time for 2D. What made it worse was that he and Murdoc hadn't spoken now for two months. Of course, that was his doing, but he just couldn't bring himself to forgive the bassist. Even though now it seemed he had been right about Estelle. He was lying on his bed, thinking his miserable thoughts, when his mobile rang. He cringed, guessing who it might be. He looked at the caller ID. He was right. He gingerly put the phone against his ear.

"2D? Is that you? It better not be some whore who you've been sleeping with and who's picking up your phone-"

"Estelle, calm down. It's me. Why are you calling? It's 7 AM.."

"What? I'm not allowed to call my teddybear when I want to? Are you hiding something?"

2D sighed. "No, I'm not. What is it?"

"I'm coming over later. Make sure that creep isn't there, or we'll be having a serious talk. Be ready at three."

With those words she hung up. 2D groaned. He really didn't want to see her. Noodle and Russel were out for the day, having fun without him. Noodle and Russel seemed to have become much closer since Estelle had wandered into his life. And he had become less close with Noodle.. He sighed, and went downstairs to have breakfast. He poured himself some cereal and milk, then just toyed about with it with the spoon. He wasn't even hungry. He heard muttering behind him, and his body tensed. Murdoc had come in. He sat down opposite 2D and poured himself some cereal and milk, too. He started slurping it up, when he noticed 2D wasn't touching his bowl. The boy was staring into it with an extremely depressed look on his face. This irritated Murdoc immensely. He sighed and put his spoon down.

"What the fuck is it, Faceache?" he asked.

2D glanced up at him, but didn't answer. Murdoc shrugged.

"Fine, be that fucking way. Have fun being depressed."

He continued eating his cereal.

2D groaned and clutched his head. These damn headaches were getting worse. He needed distraction. He grabbed his glass of orange juice, and squeezed it. He squeezed it so hard that it broke, and the shards of glass dug themselves into 2D's palm. The orange juice splattered all over the floor. He didn't care. Murdoc yelled with shock and jumped up.

"Dullard, what the hell!"

2D didn't answer. He just stared at the blood running from his hands onto the floor. His girlfriend was horrible, he and Noodle weren't talking anymore, Russel was starting to get more and more irritated at his lack of concentration and enthusiasm, and Murdoc.. well, he didn't even know where to start with Murdoc. He had been feeling strange things for Murdoc for a long time now, but he thought that was over when Estelle had come into his life. Of course, now she was only making things worse. But he couldn't break up with Estelle. He just couldn't. How awful she may be, he didn't have the heart to hurt her. Suddenly he felt someone grasp his wrist. He looked up, and saw Murdoc bending over his palm, wiping away the blood with a wet cloth, shaking his head. When he had wiped all the blood away, he grabbed a pair of tweezers and pulled the little shards of glass out of the cuts. 2D winced.

"Stop being such a baby. Shouldn't have done that in the first place," Murdoc muttered.

After he finished, he got some bandages and wrapped them around 2D's hand. After everything was done, 2D had started to sniffle. He was absolutely drowning in misery.

"Stop your crying, Faceache," Murdoc said, but it wasn't with the usual nasty tone.

He had said it with pity. This only made 2D cry harder. The tears were running down his cheeks. Murdoc leaned forward, his face close to 2D's.

"Just tell her it's over," he said quietly. "She's making you hate your life. You can't let her do this."

2D shook his head. "I can't, Muds. I just can't. I can't break her heart.." he sobbed.

Murdoc gently wiped away his tears. "I hate seeing you like this. Stop it," he said.

He couldn't stop himself. He leaned forward and touched his lips against 2D's. It was short, gentle. Almost nothing. The breath of a kiss. 2D stared at him, gaping in astonishment. He swallowed. They stared at each other. Estelle was completely forgotten. 2D blinked, and slowly leaned forward, pressing his lips against Murdoc's again. The kiss turned more desperate. Murdoc pushed 2D into the counter, holding his face in his hands and kissing him fiercely. 2D clutched Murdoc's hair. Nothing existed anymore. Just Murdoc and him. He moaned slightly, desperately. Murdoc picked him up, so he was sitting on the counter. He wrapped his legs around Murdoc's waist. He just wanted him to come closer, closer.. Murdoc broke free. He put his forehead against 2D's, and put his hand on the singer's cheek.

"I..I'm sorry," he breathed. "For hurting you, for making things worse, for ever making you feel bad.."

2D silenced him by putting a finger on the bassist's lips. He needed to say nothing more.

"Muds," he said quietly. "There's something I need to do."

"No, let's do this together," Murdoc said with an evil grin.

2D giggled. Hand in hand, they walked to the Winnebago. Hand in hand, they drove to Estelle's place. Hand in hand, they walked up to the front door. Hand in hand, 2D told Estelle that they were done. Hand in hand, they walked away als Estelle screamed and shouted. When she had started following them and hitting 2D, Murdoc had warded her off with a single glare. They drove back home. 2D smiled happily. Everything was going to be okay again, and now he had Murdoc.. This was the happiest he had felt in months. Hand in hand, they went up to 2D's room, and locked the door.