"Nana, I'll be back soon. I'm leaving my job finally and when I do; I'll come back and get a new job to support us. We'll finally be together."

Nana watches Iemitsu glide his calloused fingers through their sleeping son's hair. Her husband has an arm around her, close to whisper his promises to her.

"I'm sorry, Nana. I've been selfish to ask you to wait for me, for so long. I want to ask one last time for you to wait for me again."

She closes her eyes and turns to him, tracing fingers on his stubble down his neck. "How long do I need to wait this time?"

Iemitsu's hand yields momentarily, but continues. "Hopefully, before the end of the month. I need to tie up some loose ends."

"Iemitsu, honestly, do you realize how morbid that sounds?"

Iemitsu scratches his chin, grinning cheekily grinning. "Yeah, yeah, probably should have worded that better."

Nana slaps his arm playfully, earning a chuckle from her husband. She kisses him before nuzzling her head in the crook of his neck. He hugs her tighter, as if afraid to let her go.

"I'll be back in no time."

"In no time, huh?" Nana whispers.

It's October 3rd. Nana's excited because in a few days, it will be Tsuna's birthday. Except, Iemitsu might not be coming. She hopes he comes; he hasn't missed a birthday since Tsuna was brought into their lives.

"I'll be back in no time."

'No time' has been 5 months. He left April 2nd and there's only been one call since he left.

"AH! Nana? Can you hear me? Nana? I'm sorry it's still bright in Italy but it's late over in Japan – figlio di putta- Nana, listen, I said end of April but I can't. I can't make it back before April ends. I'm sorry Nana, I'm sorry for making you wait so much and you shouldn't have-"

"Iemitsu, stop it." Nana grips the phone tightly, "I knew from the start that you'd be working overseas a lot while I stayed here. I knew it'd be long and strenuous on our relationship. But I also knew that we could make it because we love each other."

She can hear his ragged breathing on the other line, "I know what they say about us, Iemitsu. They think they're being discreet but I can see it in the way look at me. I know you aren't cheating on me. I trust you. You love me. I love you. I know your job is stressful, how you've been trying to leave it since Tsuna was born. You can do it and I'll be here waiting. Tsuna and I will. Now just stop saying this crap about how I deserve better."

She hears a quiet laugh, "Y-You're right. You're right and it's why I love you so much Nana. I just can't keep my promise this time. I'm sorry."

Nana takes a steady breath, picturing his smile, remembering the warmth of his arms around her and Tsuna. "You didn't make a promise this time. You just said you'd try to make it home before the end of April. We can wait again."

They can wait.

"Nana-"

"Mama?"

She can feel her son's small hands on her thigh, pushing up to try and get closer to her.

"Tsu-kun, what is it?" Nana's smile is tight, but Tsuna doesn't seem to notice. Hopefully.

"You were looking at nothing for a long time. Are you okay?"

Ah, so he did… She cups Tsuna's cheek, "I am, thank you for asking honey. Just thinking."

Tsuna is quiet for a moment, then asks, "Is Papa okay?"

Nana's heart skips a beat, it hurts. "Yes, Papa is okay. He's just trying his best to come back to us."

"Is Papa still in France?"

"France? Who said he was in France?"

"You said he was in the boot country last."

"Yes, I did. But Tsu-kun, who said that the boot is France?"

"Papa! He said France is the boot one when he was last here, but Reborn says that's Italy!"

Nana drops her head. Iemitsu, you know he believes everything you say.

"Reborn is right, Tsu-kun. The boot is Italy. France is more north... west?" She hasn't looked at a map of Europe in gods knows how long.

It looked like the weight of the world fell on Tsuna in that moment. Arms flail up and down and he points to the wall where Reborn lives just on the other side. "H-He can't be right!"

"Why not?"

"He's a monster who lies! He can read minds and speaks the language Papa speaks! A-And he steals! And I think he's the one who put a cockroach in my hair yesterday and-"

"Oh Tsu-kun," Nana stops his flailing, "He was trying to take the cockroach out of your hair. Where would he get a cockroach from anyways?"

"He says he talks to bugs and can summon them! Like a supervillain!"

"Reborn is our kind neighbor who wouldn't do such a thing! If anything, he'd be your superhero when drastic times call for drastic measures." She winks at him. Tsuna cringes.

Reborn be his superhero? Does that mean… Tsuna thought about Reborn in a cape and tights.

"Ew! Nonono-!"

Nana raised a brow, watching her son hit his head. "Why not?"

"Because he's not like that! He doesn't like me!"

"So many wild accusations, Tsu-kun! He does like you!"

Tsuna is getting frustrated. Reborn does not like him. His mother hasn't seen what he does to him behind her back.

"He doesn't and he never will! I don't want him to like me! I don't want anything except Papa back!" Tsuna yells, running out of the kitchen. Nana stands in disbelief.

"Tsuna!"

The apartment shook because of the slamming of the bedroom door. Nana covers her mouth. She's never heard Tsuna yell like that before.

Nana drops back to the chair. Of course he wants his father back. Of course he does of course-

Nana takes a steady breath and looks at the cupboard next to the sink. Nana needs answers and she needs them now. Not only for herself, but also, for her son. Their family needs to be together again.

She gets up and grabs the food container from the cupboard and hurries out her home. Nana looks at the number 15 apartment, dearly hoping for an answer when she rings the bell.

There is.

A charming smile and voice greets her. "Hello, Nana."

Nana clutches the can to her chest. Reborn sees this.

"Tsuna, he said that you speak Italian."

"I do."

"And, you travel overseas a lot for your work."

Reborn's brow twitches minutely, but he answers nonetheless, "I do. Are you hoping to know what my job is because I unfortunately can't-"

"I'm oblivious to a lot of things and it takes me a while to figure things out. I know that, but don't take for me a complete idiot, Reborn." Nana grits out. "An Italian neighbor who travels overseas a lot for work. Who looks like the very definition of mafia, who bullies my son," Nana is breathing hard. She can hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Reborn doesn't answer. Nana doesn't wait for him to, "I genuinely thought you were being nice to Tsuna and I was hoping you were because I was happy Tsuna finally had someone to befriend, to look up to, but I was so wrong."

Nana breathes out slowly; the can is cold in her hands. The weight of what's left to help her.

"And yet, there's nobody else but you who I can ask for help."

The silence is stretched out, thick and heavy between them. "What do you need help with?"

"Please, find my husband."

Nana never thought she'd see surprise cross his features. It was quick, but it was there. "You still haven't reached him?"

"How do you-"

"Tsuna was worried. Is worried, I should say, about you and his father. He told me the other day."

Nana can feel the tears running. She can't hold them back at this point now can she?

"He's a sharp kid."

Nana nods, "I know and I ignored it."

Reborn slowly raises his hand, cautiously placing it on her shoulder. His hand is cold. She can tell this is one of the first times he's touched someone to try and ease them. He's probably never been truly cared for either.

"Iemitsu, he sends us some money, not much, since my job alone can't support Tsuna and myself. I haven't used it though since it's never felt right. But I know for certain now this isn't… clean money. I don't know what he was doing for his job, but he's been trying to leave it. I know he isn't cheating so don't give me that pitiful look," Reborn promptly shuts his mouth and listens.

"The last call was April 29th, and he was breathing hard like he was injured or something. I-I don't know and I don't know if this is enough for your service but please, I need to know where he is. We need our family back."

Reborn is taken aback again. Family. Entirely different from Famiglia, the only thing he's been around and is used to. Reborn looks at the can Nana has. He's seen the most loyal and disloyal people to walk this earth, but it wasn't truly out of love, no. It was for a Famiglia, who didn't truly care for them.

Is this before him loyalty for her family? Love? Or does that go hand in hand?

Reborn feels a smirk tugging at his lips. He pushes the can down and enjoys the confusion warp her charming face.

"It may be dirty money, but it's something your husband gave you, your family. He really does care about you."

"I know."

"So," Reborn tucks his hand in his pocket, "keep it. That isn't for me, it's for you and Tsuna to use for yourselves."

"This is for-"

"I'm rich, I don't need it. I don't care about the money. I'll be doing this for free."

"Why?"

He shouldn't lie to her should he? "Honestly speaking, your family interests me. I thought you'd be horribly boring, but you and your son, hell even your husband who I haven't even met, are the opposite of boring."

"Here's what I'll do: I'll start researching and look for him myself. I have to say that despite how stupid he sounds, your husband isn't half-bad at covering his tracks."

Nana tilts her head, "Half-bad at- does that mean you've already looked into him before?"

Reborn shrugs, "Checked out your family and the town before I officially chose this place to house me. It's my getaway from that life. All I could find on your family were the basics: birth certificates, bank statements, deeds, and your mother, some of your husband's family tree. I thought it was amusing he has ties to Italy, but the family checked out when I looked into it. Except, with what you're telling me now, I should really look into his history."

Nana's mouth was hanging open. Like mother like son, Reborn inwardly chuckled.

She bites her lower lip and rubs a thumb on the can. "You really don't make any sense. You bully my son but you find him… interesting?"

"Is this about the cockroach?"

Nana blinks in surprise, "You hear-"

"The walls are very thin." He smiles, "Anyways, the cockroach was a joke and you should have seen the look on-"

It was in that moment that Reborn witnessed and experienced the protectiveness of a mother.

She slapped Reborn.

Nana Sawada had slapped him.

He can still hear the ringing in his ears. He can feel a bit of the burn from where her hand made contact with his cheek. His head didn't go far since it's not the first time he's been slapped. He's always been prepared for it.

But Reborn wasn't prepared for her to slap him. He didn't see that coming in a thousand years. Never even expected it.

"I know my son is getting bullied at school and I have yet to figure out who is doing it. You're the first to willingly admit to bullying him so I took the opportunity."

Reborn gingerly touches the red of his cheek; watching Nana's every move now. So this is what a mother protecting a cub looks like. Nana's brows are knitted together and she's standing tall while nursing her slapping hand.

The Famiglia's are supposed to be terrifying. He's scoffed at that notion before and he does now. Family's are terrifying when protecting their own. Reborn's heart is pounding with excitement.

It seems there's entertainment outside of the mafia too.

"I know it's in your nature since you're from that world but just know if you take it so far that-"

Reborn raises his hands in defeat, a smirk on his lips. "I won't harm your kid. I like scaring kids but I'm not going to actually physically hurt them or anything."

Maybe scar them mentally though….

Nana eyes him as if she read his mind and opens her mouth, but Reborn waves his hands "Okay, okay, no scarring Tsuna-"

"And?"

"And other kids mentally either."

She folds her arms and nods her head.

Way to take the fun out of things.

"Promise me that you won't." Nana sticks her pinky out

Reborn stares blankly at her gesture, "Are you really asking a Mafioso to promise you something?"

"Yes. If you're going to be around my son, or anybody's kids, I need you to promise me you won't emotionally scar them for life."

"You civilians really love taking the fun out of-"

"Reborn."

He sighs and links his pinky with hers. The world's greatest hitman is doing a pinky promise with a civilian mother. Oh he's so glad Colonello isn't here to see this. Or Lal. Or any of the other Arcobaleno for that matter.

If I shot myself in the foot right now an-

"But, you must also help Tsuna when need be."

"What."

Nana's smile is warm, that cold look she had before is gone. "Help Tsuna. Even if it hurts him, I want you teach him how to be strong. Protect him."

"You're asking too much from me now, Nana. And why protect him?"

Nana shakes her head, "No, I'm not."

Yes, you are.

"Well, when my husband is in the mafia and my neighbor happens to be in the mafia too, I get the feeling it won't be so calm for long." She unlinks their pinkies.

"Then what was the point of asking to not emotionally scar him myself if you're so sure the mafia life will come here itself and hurt him? You're honestly not making any sense." Most civilians are easiest to deal with but Nana… Nana actually seems to be enjoying confusing him, the greatest hitman in the world.

Nana shakes her head again and pinches her finger together, sliding them across her lips. Her lips are sealed.

Reborn's brow twitches in annoyance. He mentally recounts his to do list.

1) Look deeper into the life of Iemitsu Sawada.

2) Tell his bugs to not disturb Tsuna tonight.

3) Learn to refrain himself from scarring children for life.

4) Help Tsuna grow? What like a father?

He is a Mafioso and they tend to bend promises, or in most cases, break them. He just won't tell Nana that. It's what she gets for asking a hitman.

"Nana, I'm curious though, why did you assume I'd take this job right away? I could have easily said no and slammed the door on you."

Nana waves her hand, a soft smile on her face. Reborn realizes it looks best on her. "Because despite how you treat my son, I can tell you're fascinated by him. You like him, in your own way."

Reborn frowns, "No, I don't."

Nana giggles into the can, "Just like Tsuna!"

"I do not like him, Nana."

She's clutching her sides in a fit of giggles. Reborn is standing stoic and tall, trying to portray with his body language how much he doesn't like the kid. Nana waves and takes the few steps to her apartment.

He is not like Tsuna.

.

.

.


it's been a while. the semester ended so i have a two week break until summer classes start.

OKAY FIRST OFF: MAJOR SHOUT OUT TO AkazukinXIII for the French translations! Thank you so much for that and I'll be sure to ask for more later since i'm pretty sure french will be used again later.

SECOND: I've gotten quite a few messages/couple reviews asking if this will be romantic r27. it will not. I am uncomfortable with that ship and this is familial and tsuna is like five. so if that's what you're hoping for, well then yea not here.

THIRD: maybe longer chapters in the future? and i think i have it planned well enough to make sense/timing makes sense/etc. etc. we'll see. soo! hm, yea. once i get my nibs i'll be sure to post pics to the tumblr blog.

anyways, thanks for the reviews! i'm glad lots of ppl like it so far!