AN: Hugs and Love to everyone for reading! Review that made me laugh out loud at work mentioned how the person could hear how hot L's voice was – makes sense since he's supposed to be British! :D Here's Chapter 14...

Chapter 14. Small Triumphs

"So he acted all big and tough, Miss Gracie, but I could tell you know, with my heart, that he was scared. I went up to him and said "We're all family here at Wammy's. I can't be with my mummy and daddy but I am happy here."

Ella was bouncing on her knees on the faded eighteenth century sofa that was tucked in the corner of my bedroom. Her sadness had vanished rather quickly. Children's resiliency after upsetting experiences always astonished me. Ella's gift of sensing emotion didn't seem unduly affected either.

"And then he said those terrible things, and upset you, yes?" I asked her as I sat on my bed with my laptop checking messages on the highly encoded work email.

She shook her head empathically. "No, Miss Gracie. He said "Clear off, I don't care." But he did care! So I said "Why are you lying?" and he went and said those mean things." She shifted her legs and started kicking them in front of her, watching the sunlight hit the tops her patent leather mary-janes. "Then he said "Why do you think your parents are still alive? They burned in a fire and you think they simply dropped you off like boarding school?" Her little face grew somber then. She stopped swinging her feet. "I was sad because he was telling the truth. He can see like me, I think. I started to cry and Beto heard me and ran to find a grown up. He told L but Jude ran off before he came. But, Miss Gracie, cross my heart, I don't think he's a bad boy. I didn't mean it when I said he was. I think he's sorry."

"He better be." I answered grimly as I scanned the newest report from Scotland Yard. "Or else he'll have plenty of people to answer to."

"Miss Gracie?" Ella appeared deep in thought with her eyebrows scrunched together.

"Yes, poppet?"

"I know my mummy and daddy can't come back, but I like to pretend they will."

I smiled, understanding and once again marveling at this wondrous child who could bring such love to everyone she encountered, even if she still had much sorrow in her heart. "There's no harm in pretending when you're small, as long as you know it's just pretending."

She changed her position again, resting her head against one of the wine red pillows. "L says it's always okay to pretend."

"Does he?" I answered lightly as I closed the file and ran a hand through my hair.

I could tell her eyelids were drooping as she replied. "Yep, he says that's the only way to feel happy sometimes."

I was struck with sadness by that remark, but carried on. "This is true. But remember you can always come to someone when you're sad. "

Ella yawned. "I know, but he can't."

"No, he chooses not to. There's a difference, love." I whispered, my heart hardening again. "A big difference."

I'm not certain Ella heard me as I read the next lengthy report since I was halfway through when I heard whiffling snoring coming from my couch. She had curled herself up on the cushions and had fallen fast asleep.

I smiled and got up to pick up a light blanket from the foot of my bed to drape over her. Poor heart, what a trying day for a six year old. I dropped a kiss on the top of her head and turned to go back to the file. I froze when I noticed L in the doorway staring broodingly at me as he'd grown accustomed to do. I still hadn't gotten used to it.

"Grace," he spoke, glancing over at Ella. "I've talked with him."

"Good." I answered slowly, wondering why he still stood in the hall with the door wide open. "Come in and tell me what he said. Ella suspects him contrite."

If it was possible to bring color to those pallor cheeks, my invitation did just then. "Er, this is your bedroom." He stated, nervous.

"Excellent deduction, with the bed and all. And?"

"Well, you're the opposite sex," L labored to explain, rubbing the back of his neck. I almost laughed. He couldn't be serious.

"Mrs. C's rule only counts for after nightfall and even then I'm sure we're too old for it to apply to us. Come in, I don't want everyone else to know the business."

L was still unsure as he dawdled at the threshold. Exasperated, I gestured over to the sleeping child. "Look here, we've got a chaperone."

He shrugged then and ambled into the room, thinking a second before shutting the door carefully behind him. He remained at the center of my rug, wide eyed and completely out of his element. "Well, I was able to talk with Jude about what he said to, erm, Ella, and I do believe he is remorseful. Now, I don't have this child's impeccable skill so if he is lying I have no way to know that besides my own gut feeling."

"That usually won't lead you wrong." I let my hands fall to my sides, standing a short distance away from him, also not moving. "Did you stress to him the importance of something like this never happening again?"

"I made myself clear. He will answer to me if he causes the slightest disturbance." L's eyes took on an ominous look that I was thankful wasn't meant for me. "My rein was too slack; he's not dealing with the pig headed clerics any longer. I have more ways to teach him right from wrong than throwing him in a stone prison."

"Good. That's that settled." I finally broke from my stance and went back to my laptop on the bed. My email notification icon on my task bar blinked with a new message. "Ella is okay with him so I guess that's all we should be concerned about. She doesn't sense any malice."

"Children are the best judges of character, I suppose." L glanced around the room until he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. Unnerved by his reflection, he turned back toward me when I let out a low whoop. "Is something the matter?" he asked, confused.

My new message had informed me of welcome news. "Penny Entwhistle was reunited with her family in Brixton today." I explained happily, clicking on a video link from the BBC website. "Come see."

L joined me by the laptop but chose to bend over more to see instead of sitting down on the bed. The news video captured precious shots of the adorable child running at a breakneck pace back to her parents' arms. Mr. and Mrs. Entwhistle snatched up their daughter and covered her with teary kisses as the onlookers at the police station cheered. The case had taken two agonizing months but finally the child had been located in Ireland.

"One of your cases?" L asked as I closed the video window, my heart feeling much lighter.

"Yes. She was taken at a fair. She was traced back to a woman from Ballyhaunis. The woman didn't think anything was wrong with taking the girl because she had six siblings." I shook my head sadly. "What pain her parents must have suffered. I'll admit I didn't get much sleep whilst working on it. I seem to make up for it still."

L smirked and I knew he was about to attempt to be superior. "I don't like to bring up old triumphs. Once they're solved, they're solved and that's the end of it. On to the next one."

"Well forgive me not having your restraint." I sallied back. "Perhaps I get too involved but knowing Penny's back with her family makes me want to dance."

L's eyebrows rose. "I didn't know you danced anymore."

"I don't." I sighed, shutting my computer. "But I could."

"What's stopping you?" he enquired then a smile spreading across his face.

"Maybe the presence of the world's greatest detective and Wammy's lightest sleeper in the room." I eyed him, teasing. "No matter, I'll celebrate later."

"With cake?" Of course.

I tilted my head to the side, confused. "Why would you wish to celebrate the solving of my case if you don't rejoice in your own victories?"

His tried to hide his grin with no success. "I'm humble."

I threw back my head to laugh and then immediately covered my mouth when I remembered Ella. "Humble, right."

"I like it when you laugh." He admitted then, shy as anything.

"I never heard you laugh before yesterday." I pointed out, trying to ignore the warm flush that was overtaking my senses.

"Well it's good that you know I'm capable of it."

"You're not a robot, so why wouldn't you be?"

His lips formed a frown. "This conversation is terribly silly."

"It certainly is," I agreed setting the laptop aside. "I'm prone to this sort of exchange these days." Thanks to you, I wished to say.

"Indeed. I must ask, G. How are you able to take such good care of the others? I hate to admit I'm becoming quite tired from this mentoring business." L remarked, displaying a weariness I found humorous.

"The way some of these kids act, I'd rather not have people know that I've helped to raise them." I admitted with a chuckle. "Although, look how we turned out and we were half raised by a devil woman."

"Thank the Gods for Watari." L agreed, wincing at the memories of Coppersmith that still held dominion in his mind. "We could have ended up deviants."

I laughed at that one, albeit softer than before.

"You still check on the kids at night, don't you?" L asked next as he stepped away to take in the view from my tall latticed windows that looked out onto the garden.

"You know about that?" Needless to say, I was still surprised at how much L could absorb with none being the wiser. "Er, yes I do."

"I could never figure out a logical reason why you would do that. I mean, this is a secured property, we have guards, gates, alarm systems, yet you'd creep to each bedroom door and check on the occupants." He mused, warming up to his subject. "Why do you, Grace?"

"I do wish I had a long winded explanation but I don't," I explained, watching how the setting sun brought out almost blue tones in L's dark hair. It was rather mesmerizing. "I just want to make sure everyone's all right. It doesn't need to be an attack that keeps kids from getting their sleep. It can be the newest racing game or gossip in the kitchen. Regardless I just like having all my ducks in a row, if you will. I like everyone safe."

"You never check on me."

Damn him! The battle against blushing for the umpteenth time was lost and I tried to cover my face with my hair before he turned back around. "You're older than me. I assumed that you can take care of yourself."

"Never assume, G." L's voice was firm as his hands connected behind his back. "Remember the detective's code."

I rolled my eyes at that one. "I never recall anything being included in that code that states that members of MI-5 need to tuck in their fellow colleagues and read them a bedtime story. First off, I'm certain your door is always locked and second, you probably wouldn't even be close to sleep if I checked up on you. I'd just be invading your personal space."

"Only if you weren't welcome." He flashed me an uneasy smile then that made me grateful I was already seated.

I cleared my throat, troubled. "Once again, a silly conversation."

"I rather like it."

My mind searched desperately for a new topic. His proximity was starting to become quite unbearable. I actually was thankful for the little chaperone snoozing on the other side of the room.

"You're certain Jude will not say such cruel things again?" I blurted out, receiving a look of surprise from L. "I mean, I don't need to learn some meditation techniques straight away to keep out any prying telepaths in residence?"

"Yes, that won't be necessary." L's answering tone was droll. "Don't be so paranoid."

I took offense to that and got up to meet him by the window so I didn't have to speak loudly. "I have every right to be paranoid. If Jude tells the others my past, I'll be hated!"

"You will not. The kids aren't going to change how they feel about you because of something so minor. Most of them have no idea who their parents were. They can't say anything about your parentage, and once again, he won't say anything to anyone."

"I don't like the idea of someone seeing into my mind." I shivered at the thought. "That's the only place one can have complete sanctuary."

L became solemn then and nodded. "I know. I would not care to have him in my head either, unfortunately as you know, he's already been."

"Luckily that was just concerning your plans for amusement." I said, hoping to be a comfort. "It's not as if he reached into the deep portals of your soul and discovered something you wished to keep hidden."

His returning glance was not one of gratitude, more saddened acceptance. I learned then that Jude Caul had dove further into L's mind that anyone dared dream. What he had found there, I did not wish to know, but L appeared pretty certain that he'd found something. "Of course not, I know mind tricks of my own, you know."

"Well, regardless, I'd like you to teach me some." I relaxed as he crossed to my bedroom door. "Or else I'll be only thinking of ponies and ice cream in his presence."

The troubled expression he wore disappeared for a moment as his eyes sparkled. "It's far too tempting to leave you to that. I'm off to make my own rounds, now that I've given my report. Until we meet again, G."

"Fine, be off with you. I have the aid of the internet." I called to him as he exited my bedroom. L departed and I turned to see Ella half awake, smiling at me with bleary eyes. "What kind of ponies, Miss Gracie?"

"Ah Ella," I sighed fondly, plopping myself down next to her. "Just the pretend kind."

Fritz had left his stereo on again, I noted as I heard the faint music coming from his bedroom that night as I made my rounds, a great deal earlier than the night before. The lack of sleep had caught up with me and I was prepared to crash as soon as my head hit the pillow.

I didn't go in to turn it off, knowing Fritz never put albums on repeat so the music would eventually end. I left his door and hesitated at the one next to it. My stomach did a flip-flop as I approached the sturdy door that was likely booby trapped by poison darts and laser sensors. Regardless, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of deeming me predictable. After a moment, I knocked and turned the knob, becoming terrified when it turned easily in my hand. The door opened as I was met with darkness only muted by a lamp that stood next to the sole piece of furniture in the room. L's bed. Which was empty.

"Grace?"

I jumped when I noticed that he was standing at his own window, apparently looking out onto the violet blues of evening in Winchester. He eyed me with obvious disbelief.

"Oh, uh, I was making my rounds, as usual." I stammered, my hand still gripping the doorknob. I felt the need to be connected to something stationary. "Thought I'd check in. Erm, good night, L….I wish you pleasant dreams."

He still didn't speak as I hastily slipped back out into the hall, but I absolutely heard a soft murmur as I closed the door behind me.

"I will, now."

I stood for a moment in the hallway to think on this. My breath was quick and my heart was pounding in my chest but I wore the most foolish grin that I could scarcely believe. Over "The Misery" of all people. Would wonders never cease?

When it came to wonders, especially today, apparently not.

AN: Original Chapter Song from 2009- Nine in the Afternoon – Panic at the Disco

New Chapter Song: Digging Your Scene - Ivy