Disclaimer: We don't own Death Note or any of the characters, except for Dr. Stratton, Obana, Kyo Obana and Davenport. We also do not own the company N Hoolywood and claim no ownership of the information taken from the two baby books, "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and "Pregnancy And You".

Warning: LxLight, Mpreg, major OOCness, Rated M for adult content, sex, nudity and language. Please, no flames. You have been forewarned of the story's contents.

Tears In The Cradle

By Pain's Disciple

Co-written with UnderneathTheRose

Chapter Fourteen: Preperation and Confidence

Stratton gazed into the mirror Watari placed in front of him. He had to admit it, he didn't look too shabby. To say the truth, he thought he looked damn good. He turned around to face Ryuzaki and searched his eyes for approval.

Ryuzaki sat in his chair with the rest of the task force standing at his side. He believed they all were thinking the same thing. "It'll work."

"You think?" Stratton asked. "I do like the outfit."

Matsuda gave a polite, yet totally obvious smile. "I think you look amazing."

"The point is" The chief said, lookingat his youngest officer disapprovingly. "He can pass for a model."

Aizawa nodded in agreement. "This should work. If he's positive he can do this."

"Oh I can." Stratton insisted. "I did some modeling when I was young."

Aizawa said, "But you won't only be modeling. You'll be investigating murders. This man could be Kira. That puts your life in danger by showing your face."

Ryuzaki shrugged. "He'll be using a fake name. Unless his true name is revealed Dr. Stratton will be safe." He picked his plate up, and stabbed his fork into the piece of cake. "Anyways, this charade should only last a little while. But in that short amount of time Stratton will need to get as close to the other models, photographers, and agents as possible. You need to get someone to slip up and reveal any clues." They all watched as he brought a bite of cake to his mouth, and ate it. "I'm not usually interested in sending doctors into modeling agencies to investigate a murderer, but you see, im quite desperate to close this case."

Stratton straightened his back to stand tall, "Don't worry Ryuzaki. I can do this." His eyes focused on the other male and they nodded coming to an understanding, which was that if Stratton failed, Ryuzaki had only two other choices: Matsuda, or Light. Those two options were Ryuzaki's last resorts. Especially Light.

"Good. Watari bring in the equipment."

"Equipment?" Stratton asked.

"Yes. I'm putting a wire on you. Here in the investigations room we will be able to see and hear everything that you do. Watari will place an earpiece into your left ear which I will give out orders through. The watch he will also give you is not just a watch. Without the need to push a button, you will be able to speak directly to us simply by speaking into the watch. But do this unnoticed by anyone."

"Wow." Matsuda exclaimed. "This is just like in those video games."

Ryuzaki frowned. "Yes. Except when you die here you don't fade back to life from a second chance."

"Oh… Yeah that too.."

Ryuzaki continued. "As you notice, Watari is placing a small miniature camera on the collar of your shirt. We also placed cameras in the main buildings where you will be interviewed. We were even successful enough to place cameras in Obana's office. However if you should go anywhere we did not place cameras, this will help us to see where you are."

"Wow. You really thought this through, Ryuzaki."

"I hope I did Stratton. Aizawa was right when he said this was dangerous. All Kira needs is a name and a face. You will be giving him half."

"Yeah, but I trust you. You never failed anyone before."

"So far. Get comfortable with moving around with that equipment for tomorrow, then take it off."

Upstairs in the bedroom, turning on his side, Light opened his eyes to find himself alone in the room. L's place in the bed was gone, leaving Light to cuddle with a fluffy white pillow. Groaning and blinking his sleepy eyes, he glanced at the clock; the afternoon again. I've got to get up before I really get in the habit of sleeping all day.

Sitting up, the teen ran his fingers through his hair, then swung his legs over the bed. A trey with a plate of food stood near by, consisting of a bowl of hot, freshly boiled rice, a glass of water, and a small white bottle. Light leaned over the bed picking up the bottle and reading the label: 800mg…TRIMEDISYN…Multivitamin & Mineral Supplement.

Prenatal vitamins maybe? Light picked up the note next to his plate and read: Take three before you eat. R

Light smiled. That was nice of Ryuzaki to get prenatal vitamins for him. He unscrewed the lid, dumping three into his open palm. They were small, orange, and harmless looking. He laid them on the trey next to his glass then began to eat as he read the back of the bottle. The vitamins seemed to have everything from vitamin A to 'P' for potassium. Most prenatal vitamins had only the necessary vitamins needed throughout the pregnancy, but it seemed these had that and more. They had to be expensive.

Light showered after eating and dressed in a fresh outfit. Remembering that the team would be back today, he made sure to make his hair decent, and to pick entirely wrinkle free clothes. Then after slipping on his shoes, he headed downstairs where he found the team, along with Watari, gathered in a small group in the corner of the room.

He stepped slowly down the steps, creeping up behind Ryuzaki, and leaning around them to see what they were all looking at. When he saw that it was Dr. Stratton dressed in midnight black slacks, his black suede shoes, and a sexy, red button down dress shirt with sleeves reaching the elbows, Light felt his breath catch. Dr. Stratton didn't look like a doctor anymore. He looked like one of the models from Hoolywood's magazines come to life. His hair was perfectly straight without a strand out of place. He wore glasses that seemed to only outline his beautiful eyes and Light didn't remember him being quite so tall before. He was certainly beautiful.

So this is who Ryuzaki got as a model? Light had feared it would be someone unable to fill the position. Stratton was beautiful and smart. He was without a doubt the next best candidate after Light. And Light knew he himself was a very good candidate. Ryuzaki chose well.

Speak of the devil, Ryuzaki swiveled in his chair to see the boy behind him. He smiled politely. "Feeling better, Light?"

"Yes. I'm feeling much better now."

The rest of the team turned around and smiled as well to see the teen back in good health.

"Light!" Matsuda exclaimed. "You're well again. We missed you. Boy while you were sick, we thought this whole case would fall through." He hugged Light tightly, almost chocking the wind out of him. Normally Light would hate to be touched, but for some reason he couldn't help but to let lose a small laugh for Matsuda.

"I feared for the case too, Matsuda. Thank you. But I'm well now. Perhaps I could be clued in as to what's going on so far?"

Light's father laid a comforting hand on the boy's shoulders. They shared a short smile that didn't last too long. Light was already beginning to feel guilty about keeping his pregnancy a secret from his father. He almost couldn't bare to look him in the eyes.

Soichiro stated, "Ryuzaki has gotten his primary physician to play the part of an auditioning model. He will be apart of the company as he tries to uncover as much information as possible."

"That's a good idea. Does Stratton think he can do it?"

Stratton laughed hearing the question. "Don't worry about me. It's not the first time Ryuzaki sent me undercover. I'll be fine. The problem is how do we know for sure they'll even hire me?"

The question called Ryuzaki to respond. "I have friends in high places. We'll leave it at that."

"Friends?" Light questioned. Since when did L have friends? As far as Light knew, he was the, "first friend I have ever heard'.

Ryuzaki saw the starting pain in the boy's eyes. To avoid any water works he corrected himself fast. "More like acquaintances."

"Oh..."

Ryuzaki began the instructions now that everyone was present and paying attention. "Tomorrow Stratton will need to arrive for his audition. Aizawa and Soichiro will drive him. Matsuda you will be his manager although I've already spoken with Mr. Davenport, the American who is head of the judges in deciding if Stratton will get hired or not. All you will have to actually do is stand there and act like your getting paid. Will that be too hard for you?"

"Oh no. I'll be the best manager in the world for him."

"Good. Stratton you will be needing to familiarize yourself with that equipment. I need you to be able to use it expertly as well as remove that outfit to keep it clean for tomorrow. You've looked over the questions and answers Davenport e-mailed you earlier?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then Light…" The boy glanced up at Ryuzaki. Their eyes met, and Light smiled as he could read Ryuzaki's eyes. "You will stay here and help me."

When the taskforce was gone for the night, Ryuzaki instructed Watari to show Stratton to his room. He would be staying with them until the end of Light's pregnancy, or the end of the case. Whichever came first. Ryuzaki liked to think the case, but the gnawing feeling in his gut told him not to get too confident.

He began to get nervous about the whole thing. What if Kira didn't just need a name and a face? What if Ryuzaki was wrong? What if Kira was toying with L and only killed criminals he knew the names and faces of to trick him? Ryuzaki wouldn't put it past Kira. Kira was highly intelligent. He was able to outsmart everyone at the moment, so what if he was tricking them all right now as he chewed his nails?

"Ryuzaki?"

"Hm?" Ryuzaki lifted his eyes to see Light standing there with a towel draped over his right shoulder. He was obviously fresh from the shower. His hair still dripping wet, his finger tips were wrinkled, and the scent of fresh soap his body gave off was a little distracting.

"You look scared."

Scared? Ryuzaki shook his head. "No."

"Is the famous, never wrong L, also the famous, never scared Ryuzaki?"

"Sarcasm is beneath you. Stick with 'Bastard', and 'Freak'."

Light decided to ignore that. "Are you worried about tomorrow?"

"No."

"Don't lie."

"Light is telling me, not to lie?"

The teen shrugged. "Everyone lies, L."

"Perhaps so."

Light took the empty seat at his father's desk and swiveled in the chair and rubbed his belly. It's the best way to bond with your child, so says the books. The belly was still flat of course, no baby bump of any kind yet. "Do you think it will work?"

"What?"

"Stratton pretending to be a model. Do you think this will help catch Kira?"

"If he doesn't screw up."

"I doubt he could screw up, Ryuzaki. He's smart. He's beautiful. He is perfect model material. You were brilliant to choose Stratton."

Ryuzaki watched the way Light's eyes shinned when he said those words. He was definitely confident in Stratton. That thought led to Ryuzaki's personal question, "Do you like him?"

Light blushed. "What?"

"That's what I thought."

"Thought what? He's a great doctor. He's there when I need him."

Ryuzaki bit into a nail. "You know, I think he likes you too."

The boy's blush grew deeper. "N-no he doesn't."

"Yes, he does. Like you said, he is there whenever Light needs him."

"That doesn't mean anything. That's his job."

Ryuzaki nodded, " Stratton's never been so involved with a patient like he is with you. Stratton only cares about money."

"That's not true. You just don't like him."

Ryuzaki shrugged. "Think what you like of him."

Light sighed. "Is that why you look so depressed all of a sudden tonight? You don't want Stratton and me crushing on one another? Wow Ryuzaki, how fourth grade."

The two held a long look, gazing into each other's eyes as if trying to read the other's mind. Finally, ignoring Light's insult, Ryuzaki confessed, "I'm frightened Light."

Light's eyes focused on the older man. Ryuzaki knew Light wouldn't treat him differently because he just admitted he was human. Light was different. Light was like him. "I could be wrong." He continued. "I could be wrong about everything. This time it isn't my own life that's in danger. It's everyone's. And I'm responsible in the end."

Light frowned. That is what is bothering the great detective? It had nothing to do with jealousy? Or something as equally depression worthy? "I don't think your wrong. I think your second guessing yourself because you're scared. We're all scared, to be honest. But everything will be okay."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

"How?"

Light sighed annoyed. "I don't know Ryuzaki. I'm just trying to make you feel better."

Ryuzaki smiled. "Come here."

Light gave him a funny look. "What?"

"I said come here." Light had heard well, he just didn't know what Ryuzaki was going to do. Standing, Light walked to Ryuzaki, stopping just in front of him. Ryuzaki took Light's hand, pulling him down into his lap. Instantly, Light laid his head against the older man's shoulder.

Several moments passed by as the two were nothing but quiet and content with each other. The buzzing of the computers and the wind outside was the only sounds until Light spoke. "This is pretty nice, isn't it?" The boy asked, playing with the bottom hem of Ryuzaki's shirt.

With his eyes closed, Ryuzaki let out a breath almost like a sigh as his whole body was relaxed. "Yes."

"I like being with you like this. Do you?"

Ryuzaki nodded his head. Light fit in his lap like a puzzle piece. They always seemed to match up perfectly.

Light lifted his head and looked at the man he was in love with, the father of the baby he was carrying. "Ryuzaki… Thank you for the prenatal vitamins."

"Vitamins were on your list."

"Yeah, but those were expensive I'm sure."

Ryuzaki said nothing as he pushed Light's head back down against his shoulder. Light was quiet another moment before saying, "Everything will be alright. Even if in the end it isn't, I'll be here. We're friends remember? And I, I love you."

Ryuzaki tensed. He mouth parted to speak, but Light stopped him short. "Don't say anything. I know you don't love me. I know we wont ever be together. I know all of that, ok? Just, let me say it. Okay? You can pretend you didn't hear a thing." Light kissed his cheek gently before standing. "Goodnight, Ryuzaki."

Ryuzaki watched as Light moved up the stairs, missing the warmth of the boy in his lap. He pressed his fingers to his cheek where Light's pink lips were just at, and felt all of his confidence coming back in full force.

Author Note: We had to break this chapter into two parts. It was way long. So that means the next chapter will be up in either a couple hours or a couple days...depends on how fast it gets edited. (But mostly depends on how long it takes to finish this algebra homework...)

Thank you for reading!