Another chapter up, this one was cranked out pretty quickly, but hopefully it's still good. I decided to change it to Light's POV, to change things up a bit. I also had much more talking in this before the first paragraph, but I realized it was pretty irrelevant so I scratched it out. Hmm yeah sorry this chapter is pretty short, I just needed to get through dinner. Of course, Misa is STILL a total bitch, Light's dad isn't exactly the most accommodating man either. Oh well. Anyway, enjoy!

Warnings: I think I put 'damn' in there maybe once. Other than that, there shouldn't be any other warnings.

*disclaimer is in the second chapter*


Light POV

Like a ballroom at a palace, alive and lit by a constellation of chandeliers, full of elegantly dressed people and beautiful music from a small orchestra. L and I entered and moved across the room to our table, Misa and my father sitting across from us. The minutes leading up to then had been slightly stressful ones; my father had decided to regale me with some redundant information while we had been changing for dinner.

*Flashback of a few minutes previous*

"Light," he said, his deeper timbre sounding from the depths of the walk-in closet in our room. His voice was serious and cold in a way that made me uncomfortable. "After this night, I don't want you seeing that boy again. I forbid it." I felt my mouth fall open in indignation. Even if he was my father, he did not have the right to tell me who I could and could not socialize with.

"Oh stop it father," I said masking the anger that attempted to color my tone, "you'll give yourself a nosebleed." Suddenly he appeared from the closet and crossed the room to the door. He locked it, the metal clicking together in a distinct 'clack!'. I only felt slightly nervous as he wheeled on me, his face more distressed than anything.

"Light, this is not a game! Our situation is precarious; you know the money is gone!" I tried to keep my face smooth but my eyes narrowed, my body language was taut.

"Of course I know it's gone," I muttered, "you remind me of it everyday." My father crossed the room, standing before me in a matter of seconds.

"When your mother died, her company went with her. Along with that, she left us nothing but a legacy and bad debts hidden by a good name. And that name is the only card we have to play, Light." My eyes clouded and I looked away from him, a melancholy air washing over me as I remembered holding my mother's hand, kneeled beside her as she died in her hospital bed sick with leukemia. It reminded me of when I was holding L's hand, kneeling by his bedside when he was intoxicated. Could that have only been the previous night?

I was distracted while my father reached toward my neck, straightening my tie and my suit along with it, even though they were both in perfect order to begin with.

"I don't understand you. You're a fine match with Misa, and it will ensure our survival." Survival? I looked up at him, lost and a bit hurt.

"How can you put something like this on my shoulders?" Only then did I see the naked fear flash in his eyes.

"Do you want to see me working a minimum wage job? Is that what you want? Do you want to see all our fine things sold, our memories scattered to the winds? My God, Light, how can you be so selfish?" By this point I was seething. He was playing the guilt card and I hated him for it. How could he do this to me? How could he ask this of me? To marry Misa just to make sure he can continue living the cushy and undemanding life he's been used to for so many years. I couldn't give a damn.

"And I'm the one being selfish?" I murmured under my breath. I wasn't sure if he heard me but he pulled my tie tighter around my neck anyway.

*End flashback*

I clenched my fists under the table, mood sullied as my now irate gaze was fixated on the pristine tableware. I felt someone touch my forearm and I looked up to see L looking at me, his obsidian gaze reflecting concern.

"Are you okay Light?" He asked quietly, trying not to attract any attention from the stragglers still making their way to the table. I smiled softly, though it didn't reach my eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks though." He nodded slightly and turned away, his gaze pleasantly blank as he took in the sights and sounds of this alternate universe. I allowed a moment for my eyes to rake over his attire and I had to admit, he looked amazing. His hair was combed and straightened, giving his face a much older, sleeker appearance; his clothing was exceptional, standard black suit and a pink striped tie that made me smile. A little colorful flare was good every now and again. His posture wasn't ramrod straight, but it gave him an air of forthright easiness, like he wasn't stressed to be in this environment and he was just sitting down for dinner with his family. Family… come to think of it, I didn't know anything about L's family.

All I knew was that he obviously had a brother named B which was quite odd, but maybe it was a nickname. There was no way they couldn't be brothers because they looked almost exactly alike. B was the one who crashed into the doorway with Misa that night. Misa. The bitch who I was being forced to marry soon, once we docked in America, we were scheduled to have our wedding. By then it wouldn't matter how much I hated her, we would be bound by marriage, husband and wife. I shuddered openly at the thought and I felt L's same touch on my forearm.

"Are you sure you're alright? You're shivering. Are you cold?" I couldn't help but smile at his thoughtfulness but once again, it didn't reach my eyes.

"I'm sure, and no I'm not cold. I'm sorry for worrying you, I just have…a lot on my mind right now." He smiled back at me remorsefully, his eyes sympathetic as his hand slipped underneath the table to softly grasp mine in his. I resisted the urge to lean into his lithe frame, to just lean against him and let him wrap his arms around me. But before I could say anything else, everyone had taken their seats and dinner had begun. Here we go.

I took the liberty of pointing out all the notables at our table such as Sebastian Lewis, the owner of a well-known electronics company, and David McGuire, the richest man on the ship. He was nearly fifty-five and his little wifey, Wanda, was only a year older than myself. Quite the scandal. Even more so because Ms McGuire was at home with their three children. Then came the Earl of Winchester and his wife Madelyn, along with Noblewoman Gwendolyn Ratcovitch and her rather whipped husband Larry. There were a few more and L nodded slowly at my quiet one-sided introductions, taking it all in. Surely it was overwhelming, but nothing he didn't and couldn't handle.

L must have been nervous but he never faltered. They assumed he was one of them, a young captain of industry perhaps. New money, obviously, but still part of the club. Father of course, could always be counted upon.

"So tell us of the accommodations in steerage, Mr. Lawliet. I hear they're quite good on this ship." I shot daggers at my father who remained unaffected. I stole a glance at L who I could tell was doing his best to control himself. Even so, I could see one fist clenched up under the table.

"On the contrary sir," he said, his voice steady and respectful, not betraying any of his true emotions, "I hold a second class ticket. The lodging there is excellent I must say." I saw my father hide a scoff and I stiffened as the waiters came around, serving our first course in front of us. I motioned surreptitiously for L to take his napkin off his plate and he did, quickly and naturally.

"Yes, Mr. Lawliet was some assistance to my fiancé last night." I heard Misa pipe up from across the table. She looked at L, and only he and I could sense the feign charm in her voice. "This is foie gras. It's goose liver." She sounded like she was talking to him like a child. I wanted to slap her so badly but I kept my mouth shut as I glanced over at L who looked slightly disgusted with the food on his plate. To be completely honest I wasn't crazy for the food either. The Earl leaned close to his wife, whispering into her ear as he stole condescending glances at L.

"What is Misa hoping to prove, bringing this… bohemian…up here? He doesn't belong here." A waiter serving food leaned slightly over the table between L and me, looking at L.

"And how do you take your caviar sir?" he asked politely. Before L could speak, Misa answered for him across the table.

"Just a soupcon of lemon…" she smiled almost too sweetly at L. "It improves the flavor with champagne." My eyelid twitched but I watched on, waiting to see how he would respond. He simply turned to the waiter, dismissing him with a slight shake of his head.

"No caviar for me thanks," he said to the waiter before turning to Misa, an almost too charming smile on his lips. "Never did like it much." He cast a sidelong glance at me, pokerfaced, and a grin broke out on my face. My father spoke up again, but this time he was simply curious.

"And where exactly do you live, Mr. Lawliet?" L blinked slowly, just barely leaning back in his chair like he was preparing to settle into a nice conversation.

"Well, right now I'm living in Japan with my brothers. I plan to move to America soon. I don't have an exact plan of what I want to do when I arrive there, so I suppose after that I'm on God's good humor." Salad was served while he was talking and L reached for the fish fork. I gave him a look and picked up the salad fork, prompting him wit my eyes. He changed forks.

"You find that sort of rootless existence appealing, do you?" he father quipped condescendingly, taking a bite of salad. L just nodded, pretending to be impervious to the comment.

"Well, yes sir I do. The world is massive and I want to see as much of it as I can before I die. My father was always talking about going to see the ocean. He died in the town he was born in and never did get to see it. You cannot simply wait around; because you never know what window of opportunity will be open to you if you just take that one chance. That one silly choice you make to get on that train even though you have no idea where it's going. That one night, where what you say could save someone's life." I heard him pause, probably to spare a quick and inconspicuous glance at me. "My parents passed away in a fire with I was very young and I've practically been alone since. The only ones I have are my brothers now. Its things like that that teaches you to take life as it comes at you. To make each day count."

Melissa Greenwood, who I had forgotten was sitting at the table with us, raises her glass in salute.

"Well said, L." I raised my own glass, looking at L.

"To making it count." Everyone else raises their glasses and repeats my words in unison and I smile at L, trying to let my eyes explain what I was feeling at that moment. I never heard him talk about his parents at all until then, I had no idea they had perished in a fire. He grinned back at me, the slightest hint of a bashful smile playing at his lips. My father, annoyed that L had scored a point, pressed him further.

"How is it you have means to travel, Mr. Lawliet?" I resisted the urge to tell him that just because he wasn't first class didn't mean he was dirt poor. Once again, L remained calm and perfectly collected.

"My work moves me around from place to place sir. Though I won my ticket on Titanic here in an online contest. It was an extremely fortuitous and lucky event to say the least." David McGuire cleared his throat, nodding at L's point.

"All life is a game of luck." He stated and Misa shook her head, chuckling.

"A real man makes his own luck Dave, right darling?" she said, glancing pointedly at me from across the table. I distractedly agreed, noticing a Mr. Gordon Michaels sitting next to me. Why I didn't take notice of him before, I wasn't sure. Michaels was respectively the man in charge of building the Titanic from the ground up. I was incredibly impressed with him. He was currently writing in his little notebook, completely ignoring the entire conversation.

"Mr. Michaels, what are you doing?" I asked, genuinely curious. "I see you everywhere writing in that little notebook." I grabbed it out of his hand to read it. "Increase the number of screws in hat hooks from 2 to 3." I read aloud, my voice becoming incredulous. "You build the largest ship in the world and this preoccupies you?" Michaels just smiled sheepishly.

"I know every rivet in her, all three million of them. My blood and soul are in the ship; mine on paper and in the eyes of God she belongs to me." I smiled, handing him back his notebook.

"Your ship is a wonder, Mr. Michaels. Truly." There's that embarrassed smile again.

"Thank you, Light." And now he was under my charming spell. It wasn't something I mean to do, but I had this strange way of making people turn to mush, be they male or female in my presence. Blessing or a curse, I wasn't sure but nonetheless, I used it. Not to use it for my own gain, more to set people's minds at ease. Worked every time.

A while later, after my father quit badgering L with questions, we were all able to relax a bit and have dinner. L seemed to be enjoying himself, chatting with almost everyone at the table at least once. He avoided my father (for good reason) but even ended up saying a few words to Misa out of sheer politeness. Dessert had been served and a waiter was arriving with cigars in a humidor on a wheeled cart. The other men at the table started to clip and lighting up the cigars, L and I on the other hand held back. L had mentioned to me that he did smoke a while ago, but had quit, and I had found smoking to be a completely horrible habit so I never took part. Plus, the smell of smoke clung to your hair and clothes, who wanted that? I leaned over close to L, talking in a low voice.

"Alright, next they'll most likely start to leave, to head to one of the many lounging areas around to smoke and drink brandy until they pass out." I murmured with a chuckle. As if on queue, my father stood, addressing the table.

"Anyone care to join me for a brandy?" L snorted under his breath. Misa, and Wanda stood to join the men as they all began to retreat. David McGuire turns to look at L.

"Joining us, Lawliet? You don't want to stay here do you?" L shook his head.

"No thank you, I have to be heading back." Misa smirked as she passed, resting a hand on his shoulder. I could see him visibly stiffen at her unwelcomed touch.

"Probably best. It'll be all business and politics, that sort of thing. Wouldn't interest you." She began to walk off, casting one last patronizing glance over her shoulder as she flipped her blond hair back with the back of her hand. "Oh and Lawliet, good of you to come." With that, the men, Misa, and Wanda exit, leaving me, L and the other women at the table.

"L, do you have to leave?" I said, pleading with my eyes not to go. He stood, shoving one hand in his pocket.

"Time for my coach to turn back into a pumpkin." He smiled contritely. He extended his hand for me to shake and I take it, noticing the miniscule slip of paper between his fingers. L walked away, leaning forward into his usual crouch as he shuffled out of the dining hall without looking back. Quickly and surreptitiously, I opened the note below table level. Written in clear Latin it read: "Satis prodest. Occurre gradibus." Make it count. Meet me by the staircase.

Without thinking, I rose from my chair, wasting no time as I made my way out to the A-Deck foyer. I crumpled the letter and put it into my pocket so that no one would find it. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach uncharacteristically as I sighted L at the landing above. Overhead is the crystal done. L had his back to me, studying the ornate clock, with its carved figures of Honor and Glory. It softly struck the hour. I went up the sweeping staircase, the fluttering more intense than before. He turned to me, smiling.

"So do you want to go to a real party?"


A/N: Yup so there you go! Hope you like this chapter, the next one shall be interesting to write, the *ahem* 'party' is going in involve the Wammy boys so you know it's going to be screwed up XD but fun nonetheless most likely with some embarrassment on Light's part. Heh heh I guess we'll see. Alrighty, gotta go, reviews would be lovely! ^_^