I was we'll past midnight when I felt a finger poking me.

"Nnnggg" I mumbled, half asleep.

"M-Mello..." I heard Near's voice tremble.

One of my eyes blinked open to see an almost glow-in -the-dark Near crying and standing at my bedside. With one hand he clutched his frayed light blue "blankie" around his shoulders like a cape. The other hand held the long ear of his stuffed bunny.

"Nightmares again?" I asked. Near waking up in the night like this was hardly unusual.

His only response was a telltale sniffle, followed by whimper as tears fell down his cheeks.

"Get in with me, I said gently."

The cute little albino did not hesitate when he snuggled under the covers with me, pressing his warm body against mine.

You'd hardly believe that my best friend is thirteen. He is small for his age, and sleeps with a blankie and a stuffed bunny. He has nightmares all the time and can't fall asleep unless he's cuddled up against me. I'm alright with it though. It's actually very nice and cozy.

"You wanna tell me what happened in this dream? Near nodded.

"Was it about your parents again?"

He shook his head. His breathing was audible and ragged.

"Y-you left me." He said from his curled up position in my bed, swallowing hard. He sniffed again.

I had left him? What the heck? I didn't even know what on earth would ever cause me to leave my Near. Why had he dreamed a crazy dream like that...?l I didn't think I could do that. He needed me to much. He...loves me. We've always stuck together like Fluffernutter and Nutella in a sandwich.

"Why was I leaving?" I Questioned the albino.

"I don't know." He replied. "You were just packing things in our room and you ignored me when i tried to stop you...after that I saw you were running down the road...not looking back...getting smaller and smaller..." His voice broke on the first "smaller". "You were...going away from me.." He whispered.

I put one of my arms over his shoulder and the other under his neck so my hand could stroke his hair.

"Well you know thats dreams aren't real" I said softly to the whimpering teen. "because I'll never leave you Near. I promise I'll always stay by your side and be your friend."

And the truth was I never COULD leave him. Or so I thought at the time. He was best friend, and possibly something more...but I hadn't told him that because I'm afraid it might scare him. Near scared very easily, despite the fact that he was a genius, and third place at Whammy's House. He was also entirely codependent on me. I was the one who defendedb him from the bullies who picked on him (or used to pick on him. )Since I beat them up for punching Near and calling him names, nobody has messed with my Near. Nobody.

"I know your here, I know you won't leave me. Still, the thought is so awful..." He clutched the bunny closer to his chest and snuggled into me, one of his hands clutching a lock of my blonde hair.

"Goodnight Near." I whispered, kissing his forehead and shutting my eyes.

We fell asleep like this a lot.

Yeah Near is pretty OOC. It's intentional but it's not for the whole fanfic. In later chapters you'll find out why he gets so emotionless. Reviews are nice, they make me feel loved, but no pressure (translation: REVIEW OR DIIIIIEEEE A SLOW AND PAINFUL DEATH! AND THE. BURN IN HELL!)

Anyways, have a nice day! :-)