Ring Ring.

'Moshi moshi?' Nana asked as soon as she had reached the device, having only one in the house which was attached to wall at the junction of the stairs, and the hall which led to the lounge and the kitchen. She'd have to move it since having it parallel to the front door made her...antsy.

All in all, very unsafe. she'd have to invest into handhelds.

'Hello my Love!' Exclaimed the voice on the other end.

Nana froze, eyes widening into thin air.

'I-Iemitsu?' Nana stuttered in the need or confirmation. It – it couldn't be; it had been months. Why – Oh Gods…the internet café – no one had – or maybe the body - 'D-Dear! What – what a lovely surprise!'

'Oh my Queen! It's a balm to my soul to hear the touch of your sweet voice!' Iemitsu croons down the phone like a fool, while Nana struggles not to hyperventilate in panic. 'I couldn't get you off of my mind! My Beautiful Wife: the Keeper of my Heart!'

The absurdity of that statement makes Nana want to break down in hysterical laughter and demand: 'Well where have you been then?' But something stops her as she twists the cord in her hand, feeling curled plastic tighten uncomfortably around her fingers.

'Oh you're such a romantic!' Nana swoons instead, glancing down the hall where she can just see the edge of Tsuna's playpen. 'It makes my heart beat that much faster in talking to you, my Love!'

'I knew you missed me! That makes the distance shorter despite our separation.' Nana finds it more than a bit pathetic that he mentioned distance like it was nothing while she was left as a single mother: she had told him she was pregnant, and he was still gone the next week!

'That's because we carry each other in our hearts, Darling.' Nana replies but there's little feeling in it as she glances back out to where Tsuna should be, wanting nothing more – and for the first time since her husband had called – to be somewhere else; to be with someone else.

Iemitsu laughs but there's an edge that makes Nana uneasy even though Iemitsu is likely hundreds of miles away. It was like he could be skipping through the door any second. 'Actually, Lovely, there's something that's been…one my mind.'

Nana's mouth goes dry and her mind races to the past few weeks and she knows she's slipped up a few times, but no one could know! She hadn't told anyone! The evidence was gone! She kind of had an alibi and – and despite Tsuyoshi's searching looks she didn't involve him!

'Yes, Dear?' Nana inquires, even as her shoulders square themselves like she was about to face the firing squad.

'I've – heard, from the news, that there's been...some break ins, in Nami-Chuu. In your neighbourhood. Is everything alright, Darling?'

The level of calculation in his words makes something in Nana's heart freeze. He knows. Her eyes are round and unseeing because she knows that there have been no news reports on any "break ins" in Japan, never mind international ones. How else would he know?

Forefathers – Vongola – Sin

'-An! Nana! Is everything alright? Nana!' His urgent voice snaps her out of her panic and she immediately realises that he just might have noticed: that something was wrong – if she could just…

'Ara? My, I'm sorry Dear! I was just wondering if Tsuna wanted his next feed: he's such a good boy! He doesn't cry until he needs something but I'm still up at odd hours. What were you saying?' Nana holds her breath as she waits for his response, hopefully that had been believable.

'You don't say?' There's a smile in his voice. 'Hopefully he hasn't been too much trouble?'

'No…no trouble at all.' Nana whispers with more dread towards her husband than she's ever known herself to process. Metal flashes in the corner of her eye and she instantly glances down, only to see the wedding ring Iemitsu had slid onto her finger after he had sworn to look after her, to love her.

Now when she looks at the circlet of gold, all she can feel is trapped.

'Well, my lunch break is over now. Give our little Tuna a big kiss for me!'

But it's five thirty…is all Nana can think as the dial tone sings in her ear, and a sudden numbness taking over her body as she stands, still and alone.