A/N: Sorry guys. Been battling the flu, damn Canadian weather. Hope this short chapter pleases the masses for today. May not post another until Sunday.

Enjoy and thank you all again for the support.

(Near P.O.V)

I never made it a secret as to who I was. I never made it a secret where I came from. It just sounded like I was keeping it secret because I didn't speak about it. Not because I didn't want to, but because no one asked me about it. All except L.

But today that was going to change.

I had been in the playroom by myself, except for Mello and Matt who were playing on the gaming console. I say I'm alone because I didn't even bother to speak with them. Sure, we were on better terms than last year, but I never feel the need to speak. But I was glad they were there. Seeing them, how much they loved each other, it made me feel good.

I knew all about their crushes on each other. Normally, by adult standards, kids our age know nothing about love or what it is to fall in love. But kids knew so much more about it than adults. For instance, Mello and Matt. The way they looked at each other, or when one looked and the other didn't, it seemed so fitting. Mello's eyes always shine brighter when in Matt's presence, and Matt blushed profusely whenever the blonde complimented him. The two were always there for each other, always willing to put aside something for the other. And that made me happy…

But also sad.

Sad, because I was so unsure about what love was. Not the way it was portrayed… but the way it was expressed.

And that came from my past, I suppose.

I had just finished a game of chess by myself, having found a few more moves to better my chances at winning, when a certain brunette walked into the room. I had suspected he'd show up soon, since it was his job to look out for us as he was our mentor, but he had other jobs to do around Wammys. He helped L with cases, Watari with baking and cooking, Roger with dealings around the school, tutoring math and other various subjects… it was difficult to find a window open some days, but he always found time for us.

He sat across me after checking in on Matt and Mello. "Hello, Near. Would you mind a partner?"

"Not at all." I replied, resetting the chess board.

After Light made the first move, we began talking.

"So where have you been? I've hardly seen you in the past few days?"

I shrugged. "I've been in and out of class. But I've been tired lately."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"Nightmares."

The brunette paused. "Nightmares, hmm?"

I nodded, not too sure how I should feel.

"What are they about?" He asked, genuinely curious.

I sighed a bit. "Nothing. They're meaningless."

"Sure, Near." Mello called from Matt's side. "You keep telling yourself that."

I only groaned a bit. I could admit, there was something to them, but I didn't know what exactly. It had been the same kind of dream from a few weeks back. Mello, Matt, Light, and L, were all disappearing before my eyes and laughing when all I could do was cry and scream for them to return.

I had gotten over them, though. Hadn't I? I felt no fear over them anymore, so I had to be over them.

Light moved his rook. "Sounds to me they're pretty serious if Mello even knows about them."

I hunched over a bit. "I guess. But they're so frequent that I've just gotten used to them."

"Do they involve anything important to you?"

I paused for a moment before nodding. "Yes," and I began to explain them to the man in front of me. It didn't help, however. I still felt… sluggish.

Light nodded after I finished. "I see. You're afraid of losing us. But why? You know we would never leave you, not intentionally."

I moved my king away from his bishop. "I do know that, but they keep happening to me. I'm losing sleep at night for them and…"

"Does this have anything to do with your past?" Light interrupted.

I blinked a few times before sinking inward again. L hadn't judged me for it… why should he?

"My family… my mother and father… they left me."

"Left you? Left you where?"

"In a store. A gas station, actually. Before then they used to tell me they loved me and that they would never hurt me. But now that I think about it, they didn't love me. They never hugged me, or gave me attention. When I was sick with the flu the only one to take care of me was my grandmother. My parents hadn't cared.

"Then when the baby came along…" I stopped there. Feeling my heart give a thump of pain.

Light had stopped playing by now. "What is it, Near?"

I looked up to see Mello and Matt looking at me as well as him, and the pain grew a bit more.

I gave a shaky sigh. "The baby was a boy, and he looked normal. Normal dark hair, normal eyes, normal mindset. He was what they wanted. Not me. So they got rid of me.

"I left the gas station and tried to find my way home, but L found me first. He took me here, and I had a new home."

"I see. I suppose you're afraid of us leaving you. And you're incorporating that into your dreams."

"You think?"

"It sounds possible. But you don't have to worry, Near. We aren't horrid enough to do that to you, or anyone."

He placed a hand on my cheek and I suddenly remembered why I loved Light so much. Always kind, always soft, and always loving to us. To all of us. I admit I wasn't sure of him in the beginning, but when he was so willing to hold me and care for me, I knew he was a good man. And I was happy L found him.

I crawled over to the man's lap and cuddled into him. I was happy here. And I had to remember that. My parents were far away from me, and with the son they had wanted. But they lost out on having a brilliant child prodigy by their side. Their selfishness and uncaring attitude left them with a weak-minded prat, whose greatest success will be getting a burger of theirs added to the dollar menu of a McDonalds.

Boohoo for them.