L-O-V-E (2Doc)

Christmas Eve:

There was a lot going on that day, the preparation of the party keeping us all busy.

Russel was cooking the ham and turkey, Noodle was mixing punch and brought a bottle of Sake down from her room- Sake (Sock-ae), for those you you who don't know, is Japanese rice wine.

Murdoc was locked up in his room as I swept and mopped.
I just wished he would come down and help out a little bit...

We kept working until, finally, the preparations were finished.
Murdoc had come down and set up the speakers and put the CD he'd burned the Christmas playlist onto in the Blu-Ray player and hit play, "Let it Snow" being the first song to play.

I hummed along as I wiped the table tops clean.
I went over and wished Murdoc a happy Christmas.
He only responded with a sigh.
"Merry Christmas, 2-D..." He mumbled.
He looked and sounded so sad...
He was like a pickle version of Eyore the Donkey from Winnie the Pooh...

Finally, at 7:30, a taxi pulled up and my mum climbed out, four presents in tow.
I let her in and hugged her.
"Merry Christmas, Stu!" She cried.
"Merry Christmas, Mum..." I replied with a smile.
"Oh," She used her baby voice, "My sweet, 'andsome baby boy! Yew don't look a day ova twenty-five!"
I smiled.
"Yew don't look a day ova thi'ty, Mum," I laughed, "I get eht from yew!"
She 'aw'ed and smacked me playfully on the arm.
I introduced her to Noodle.
"Oh, yew've grown into such a pretty young woman, 'aven't yew?" She asked, pinching Noodle's cheeks.
She was very friendly with Russel, the two starting up an interesting conversation about how they didn't like them putting chemicals in the water that turn the frigging frogs gay.
(IF YOU DON'T GET THAT, I SWEAR TO SATAN!!!)

I noticed Murdoc was hiding again and began to look for him.
I found him in the pantry in the kitchen.
I had to drag him out of there.

"I WANNA LIVE!!!" He screamed, his nails leaving lines in the floor where he tried to stop my dragging him.

"Well, if eht isn't Mu'doc Niccals..." My mum said, her voice actually quite civil.
I picked Mudz up, dusting him off a bit.

"M-Ma'am, I am so sorry about everything I've done to your son!" He cried, dropping to his knees, "Please don't chop me into little pieces and eat them!"

Mum laughed at this display.
"Mu'doc, honey, I'm not going ta do anyfink ta yew!" She giggled, "I want to tell yew that everything is in tha past an' if yew promise not to repeat history, then maybe we can sta't ova."
She reached out her hand to shake Murdoc's.
He hesitated out of fear, but ended up shaking on it and calling a truce.

He ended up being a lot more casual with my mum after that little episode.
Even shared a joke with her.

More and more guests arrived as the night went on and soon enough, everyone was chatting and having a good time.
Some people even started dancing when Jingle Bell Rock came on.

At about midnight, I grabbed Murdoc and stopped the music.
Everyone stared at us as we set up our instruments.

"I wrote dis song fa my crush..." I announced, pressing a few buttons on the keyboard and beginning to play a slow, romantic, and festive tune, Murdoc accenting it with his bass.
I finally began to sing my song...

I wanted to kiss you
Since the day we met
But I never could do it
And I'm sure you could bet
I have never felt this way before...

That very first Christmas with you...
You were so kind and true...
I didn't know what to do,
But I knew... That I loved you~...

I hope that you tell me
That you love me, yet
I don't know if you'll do it
And ya know I could bet
That you have never felt this way before~...

On this Christmas Eve I see you...
Looking straight at me, too...
I just can't make me do what I have to do, just know I love you~...

All the night while we've been dancing,
All the snow that's on the ground
Is as pure and soft as the love I bear for you tonight~...

So...

Take me away with you
Wherever you go
And tell me you love me
And let your heart show,
That I've made you fall for me a hurndred times before...

On this lovely Christmas with you,
My heart feels this love so true...
And now I know just what to do...

I looked directly into Murdoc's eyes as I finished the song...

Baby, I love you...

As the song finished, everyone applauded with a tear in their eye.
I could feel Murdoc's heartbeat from there, I saw a tear roll down his cheek as I nodded, letting him know that the song was for him...

It was a few minutes later and Murdoc and I were by the punch bowl, when someone who looked similar to him, but slightly taller and more muscular with a scar on his cheek, came over.

"Murdoc!" He cried, putting my bassist in a headlock, "How's my little bro been, huh?"
So this was Hannibal Niccals? Didn't expect him to show up, honestly.
From the look of him, I could tell what Murdoc had said about him being a skinhead was dead on- Pantera T-Shirt with the sleeves ripped off, ripped up denim jeans with a chain from his pocket to his belt loop.

"Hannibal, you old sod," Murdoc growled, wrestling his way out of Hannibal's grip, "I didn't actually think you'd show!"
Hannibal shrugged.
"Just... I wanted to apologize..." He sighed, "For being such a dick to you all the time when we were kids... We should've been sticking together, and I always tried to stay separated... I'm sorry, okay...?"
It was touching.
"Fuck off." Murdoc said, an evil smirk on his face.
Hannibal turned to walk away, but Murdoc jumped on his back and roughly messed his hair.
"I'm only joking, mate, it's no big deal!" He cried, making Hannibal laugh as they began to play-fight.

I smiled, thinking this form of brotherly love was preferrable to their childhood relationship.

They returned, having burned themselves out.
"So, You're the singer?" Hannibal directed this question at me.
I nodded.
"Yep. 2-D, nice ta meetchya." I said, extending my arm for a handshake.
He shook my hand and turned to Murdoc.
"You two an item?" He asked bluntly.
Murdoc was about to speak, but I spoke for him.
"Yes," I said, "We're a couple since a few minutes ago, and dere's nobody I'd ratha date than 'im... 'E's my sweet pickle, an' I luv 'im moar than anyfink on dis planet..."
Hannibal 'aw'ed in response to this, holding his hands over his heart.

It was finally dinner time, and everyone was gathered around.
Noodle was the one to carve the turkey, seeing as it was her party.

Murdoc and I decided to tell everyone that we were now together.
I tapped my fork on the side of my glass, catching everyone's attention.
I cleared my throat.

"I'd like ta fank yew all fa comin' tonight," I said, "Eht means a lot ta Newdull... An' eht means a lot ta mey as well, because this party couldn't 'ave 'appened wifout yew all. Dis monf has been a real rolla coasta of emotions fa mey, but tonight, Christmas Eve, is the night I confessed my feelin's ta me crush... Mu'doc..."
I took his hand and whispered for him to stand up.
"Mudz..." I continued, "I've been wantin' ta tell yew dis since tha day we got back togetha to make Humanz... I luv yew..."
Murdoc and I clinked our wine glasses together, linking our arms as we toasted and drank.
Applause rippled across the tables, and I think my mum started to cry as Murdoc and I set our glasses down and kissed softly.

Noodle could be heard fangirling so hard she wound up foaming at the mouth.
(Like that guy from Avatar: The Last Airbender)

My mum and Hannibal were among the last guests to leave.
I felt like Murdoc had been accepted as family by the both of them after all those years.

Murdoc and I went to bed together, eager for what the next morning would bring...