Alright so a bit of a slower chapter last time, but I doubled in views already so I know you guys are reading! This entire chapter is in L's POV, so hopefully I did Okay considering I am imagining him as a boy right now. Let me know how I did in your comments!

Disclaimer: I only own any OC's and original plot points, the rest is from greater minds.

L had heard the doorbell from upstairs in the attic. It wasn't a familiar sound because of how sparse the list of guests was for Wammy's House, but he recognized it all the same. The girl had come back after only letting a few days pass by. She had chosen the Sunday, the day that would provide her with the most time to be absent from her own home. There was no denying her curiosity about the house, or the orphans.

Despite all the commotion he had heard coming from inside the study, L never left his spot where he was stooped on the floor. There was a bowl of jellybeans before him (which he had absentmindedly grouped into clumps according to color) and a ring of scattered papers all around him. They were case files, both cold cases and ongoing investigations alike, which Watari had retrieved for him from Scotland Yard. He was still too young to break out into the international scene of crime investigation, but already in England he had made quite a name for himself. Or rather, a letter.

The slamming of the front door reverberated through the orphanage, and he knew the other children were finally free of the inside only stipulation. All thanks to him of course. L did not envy them though. He didn't need to leave the small attic to have his fun, not when he was outwitting criminals and the departments attempting to catch said lawbreakers.

None of the files were grabbing his attention today however. There was no one particular case that reeked with challenge, nothing that could provide him with that feeling of satisfaction from a difficult win. His focus left the folders, just as they had been discarded on the floor, and he tottered over to the tiny window at the back of the attic. He pressed his face up against the glass, wanting to know about the cupcake girl's progress with the other children.

It only took L a moments glance to pick her out amongst the others. That ridiculous red bow was in her hair again. She was with Linda. There were few girls in the home around her age, so the two of them gravitating towards each other was an appropriate reaction. Linda was showing the girl her sketchbook, while the rest of the children continued to circle around the two in an attempt to impress by showcasing their own talents. The only other child not outside was BB, who had recently adopted the tiresome habit of imitating everything 'L' did.

A knock at his own door drew him back into the darkness of the attic, and L shifted around in time to see Watari stepping into the room. It only took one sweep of his guardian's eyes across the room for L to know that the scattered papers was something he would want to rectify.

"Anything of interest in this lot?" Watari inquired as he began to round up the papers into a pile.

L sighed, and retrieved his bowl of jellybeans. "Dismal, they're all rotten."

"Hmm." Watari made a sound in his throat. He stopped at the window. "I see you've noticed our guest."

Having pressed his face so close to the glass, L's nose had left behind a smudge. He turned his eyes up to the ceiling for a moment in thought before replying. "She's an only child, and friendless."

"Something she said to you before?"

"No, but I am also without siblings or friends," L said as he plopped a red jellybean into his mouth. "It's an easy mark to distinguish."

Watari gave him an admonishing look. "L, are the others not your family?"

"No. They were unfortunate in losing their parents, but brought here because of their higher intellect," L said, unblinking. "They are my successors."

"Many would choose to be your friend, if you'd let them."

"I'm better on my own."

"Will you come down, if only to greet our guest? She inquired as to your whereabouts."

"Cupcake?" asked L.

Watari chuckled, and L could not understand what he felt was humorous enough to warrant that reaction. "I see you've already created your own nickname. The children decided on 'C' as well, for Cherish."

L put a thumb to the corner of his mouth, thoughtful. "I suppose that will suffice."

"Come down, please," Watari tried again. "She's looking to make friends, and you could do with some."

L didn't understand why Watari was putting so much stress on this matter. One day soon he would be a world renowned private detective, and he would probably never stay in one place for too long. That kind of work wasn't meant for lasting friendships. And friends couldn't help solve cases faster. Informants and moles did that.

The more L thought about it, the more he realized Watari's concern had something to do with his grades. The children in Wammy's House were always tested, and L was no different. On matters of his intelligence, integrity, and creativity he excelled, but he had failed poorly with his social skills. He was not equipped with the means to interact appropriately with others, and he had no grasp on how to form lasting relationships with his peers. At first this had bothered him, but only because he strived to be the best at everything. But he had accepted this one flaw, only because he didn't see it as a necessary skill for his future.

"She is already making friends with the other children," said L.

"Yes, and I'm certain she would feel honored to have you on that list," Watari said. "May I remind you she isn't like the other children?"

He didn't need to be reminded. She was normal. Boring. But perhaps there was a chance with her own social skills being unrefined, he would be able sharpen his own. To better himself.

"I will come down," He conceded.

"Excellent, my boy," Watari said with a smile. "Shoes and a coat, please."

L let out a sigh as he set down his jellybeans, but he quickly stepped into a pair of trainers, tucking in the laces because he couldn't' be bothered to tie them up. The black coat he tugged on wasn't so different from the one he had worn when he had first come to the orphanage two years ago. Lavish clothing was another idea that escaped him. He had all the necessities to look presentable, and he wouldn't go beyond that.

Watari studied him for a moment, and there was an undecided look in his eyes. "You have the look of someone condemned to the gallows."

"This is my neutral expression," L said, and Watari gave him a knowing stare. His guardian could always see deeper than that. "I am trying, Watari."

"I know, and I will continue to encourage you to."

L passed by Watari to the door, leaving him in the attic to presumably finish cleaning up the mess of the case files. His legs felt heavy as he walked, like he had traded in for two tree trunks. The voices seemed impossibly loud to his ears as he descended the grand staircase to the main floor, and he was sure the orphanage hadn't seen a noisier day.

In no time at all he had reached the front door, and he stopped to stare at the brass handles. Turning a simple knob suddenly seemed as complicated as opening a bank vault. It certainly felt like he was on a timer. He shot his hand out quickly, and with a twist and a pull he was outside.

L decided not to go further than the stone steps. His drive gave out, and he crouched down on the last step connecting to the walkway. The air was cold, and he was uncomfortable, so he stuck his hands into his coat pockets. They were lined with old candy wrappers, and a mix of new ones he hadn't yet gotten to. He withdrew a sweet, savouring the sound of the plastic unwrapping before he popped into his mouth. Lemon flavor.

"Hey, L!"

His shoulders tensed at his name being called out so carelessly in the open. It was the girl, Cherish, of course. One of the others must have informed her of his identity. She had spotted him immediately, or had been keeping a close eye on the door. Something told him it was the latter.

She stopped before him, puffing from shortness of breath after running all the way to him. Her face was flushed, and she was exuding joy at his presence. It was unsettling.

"Hello again," He said.

"I was wondering if I would get to see you." She plunked down on the step beside him without asking permission. The closeness didn't seem to bother her. "I remembered what you taught me."

"Obviously."

The silence stretched on between them for a moment before L heard a jangling sound. Cherish pulled a small can out of her coat pocket that was wrapped in an orange label. She popped the top, and the smell of cinnamon exploded in the air. L watched intently as she poured out a handful of the treats into her palm, and began to munch on them slowly. It was pecans.

She seemed startled at first when she caught his staring, but her good manners quickly took over. "Did you want some?"

"Are they sweet?"

Her mouth was full from chewing, so she nodded instead. Tentatively, L reach his hand out towards hers and picked up a single pecan between his thumb and index finger. He brought it back towards his face, inspecting it closely by look and smell. He had already finished his lemon drop, so he brought the nut up to his mouth and plopped it on his tongue. The cinnamon sugar was overwhelmingly sweet. It was delicious.

Cherish let out a giggle beside him at the delight on his face. "Here, you can have them. I only brought them as a snack, I prefer the chocolate walnuts anyway."

He snatched the can up from her the moment she had offered. "You can come inside for something to eat. It's almost lunch, and Roger will have everything prepared."

She looked hesitant. "Really? I'm not sure how long I am allowed to stay."

"Will your parents send out an APB if you're away for too long?" L asked, his cheeks half full with pecans.

"I don't know what that is," She said glancing down.

He had embarrassed her. "Will they think you are missing if you aren't home by a certain time?"

"Oh, no, I told my mum I'd be back by three," She said. "I just didn't want to be a pain in anyone's side if I'm here too long."

With the way all the children were now looking in their direction, L doubted that very much. They'd probably let her stay the night if she was allowed to. But she had a home, and parents, and a curfew to get back to, none of which were familiar around Wammy House.

"So, is this a special school? Because everyone here is super smart, like out of a comic book or something." Cherish said, turning her body towards him.

"Wammy's House isn't a school, it's a home for gifted orphans."

"So are you going to get a new family? Because my dad said orphans get adopted, and then go live with their new parents."

"None of the children here are up for adoption," said L. He couldn't imagine following rules and routine after the lax atmosphere under Wammy's roof. "We're the unadoptable."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

L blinked, pausing in his eating to gauge her reaction. "Why?"

"Don't you want to have a mum and dad?"

"No." He had done well thus far without parental guidance, well beyond the average child. Watari as his guardian was all he required. L would never long for something he'd never had.

Cherish snorted, and L wasn't under the impression that he had said something humorous. "You probably don't need parents, you're the most adult kid I've ever met. How old are you anyway?"

"I'm ten."

"I'm eleven, I'm older than you," She said, like it was a competition.

"Not for much longer. My birthday is on Halloween," He let slip, even though he hardly felt it was worth celebrating.

"Really?" She leapt up from the step, her unexpected movement nearly causing L to spill the can of nuts. "I'll have to get you a present. What do you want?"

His eyes widened as he took in her beaming face above him. He felt twitchy with unease from her uncommon kindness directed at him. "You want to get me a present?"

"Yes, we're friends now."

She said it so simple. Friends. Was she so desperate to have acceptance from her own peers that she would seek to call him, and the other lost children of Wammy's, her friends?

"You don't know me."

Her smile faltered, but she didn't let him stop her. "I know that you're L, and that you like sweet pecans. A-and I'm sure Roger and Wammy would help me."

Yes, they most certainly would. Watari would see her as the best opportunity for him to practice his social skills, and would probably answer any questions she had.

"If you must," said L. That was as much permission as he would give. Knowing his name and that he liked sweets barely qualified as being familiar with him, but she'd have to sort that problem out herself.

The double doors of the house opened behind them, and Cherish looked up with surprise. L didn't move. It was Roger, coming to announce that lunch was ready to be served in the great hall.

"Good, I'm hungry," She said once Roger finished.

Her coat coming into viewed blocked out the sun, and L felt a tug on his sleeve. He frowned. No one ever engaged in physical contact with him, not even Watari anymore.

"Come inside and sit with me."

His immediate reaction was to refuse. L never ate his meals with the others. But then that low grade starting floating around in his head. 1/10 social skills. He couldn't accept that. If he could at least be convincing enough with his interactions, even if he had to fake them, he will have accomplished something.

"Alright, but only if I can have your dessert," He said, standing to a slouch.

"Deal."

She ran up the steps ahead of him, trusting him to follow. And L did, for the chance to better himself, and for her dessert (though mostly for the cake that he knew Roger had made). He thought to himself as he climbed up the steps behind her that the children had gotten one thing correct. She made a better Cherish than Cupcake.

I kind of feel bad that L is using her for his own means, but at the same time there's no way he was ever going to actively seek out friends on his own time. I liked exploring his father/son bond with Watari too, it's something I wanted to explore and it will continue. Also I wanted to at least celebrate his birthday once, because you know once he's older, that's just another passing day that goes unmentioned by him. I will be doing time jumps throughout this story, which you guys probably already figured out, but I just wanted to let you know all the same. Cheers!