A/N: Hi, friends! So, you know how last week I gave you a nice fluff chapter? Remember that? Remember when things were nice? Remember when this story was just L and Light playing a game of will they, won't they? Remember when I didn't throw angst into this mess? Those were some good times...Love you! x

The next morning, L felt the rare sunshine beating on his face. And even better, he felt the rise and fall of Light's chest on his back and his arms around him. Good morning, Light. Go ahead. Sleep well. You more than earned it last night. L kissed Light's cheek just enough to get his point across, but not enough to wake him and curled back into his ribs. For a brief moment, L thought about going back to sleep, but the beep from his phone on the nightstand got his attention. Who the hell would be texting me this early? Watari, maybe? What time is it in Tokyo right now? L checked his global clock. It's four o'clock in the afternoon. He should know better.

Although, a text from Watari would've been the ideal compared to what it really was. L's kiss might not have been enough to wake Light up, but L's phone going off sure was. Slowly, Light opened his eyes and peeked over L's shoulder, trying to make out the words on the screen. He squinted just a little. Enough to bring the name into view. Who the hell is Nate? Light brushed it off and nuzzled his face into L's neck, content with the world.

"Good morning to you, too, Light," L melted inside, not even thinking about his text.

"Good morning," Light grumbled, still half asleep, "Who's texting you so early?"

"It's…" L bit the inside of his cheek, bracing himself for whatever may come next. I didn't want to drop this on you when you're just waking up, but you asked, "It's Near. He got his permission from his doctor to see me today."

"Oh," Light tried not to tense up, but he knew what Near meant.

"Light," L tossed his phone back on the nightstand, "I'm going to ask you this one more time. And I want you to answer me honestly. Are you sure you're ok with me seeing Near?"

Light still wasn't sure how comfortable he was with the thought of Near, but he knew what it'd mean to L, "Yes. It's ok."

"And you're sure?"

"Positive," Light gave L a little kiss, "As soon as Near gets here, I'll make myself scarce. I'm sure I can find something to do in town on my own."

"Actually, Light," L corrected him, "Near's not coming here. I figured we'd go somewhere a bit more public instead."

"Why?" Light asked, feeling a strange sense of relief in his chest.

"There are too many memories for him here," L admitted, "There are too many memories for us here. Not to mention, there are far too many opportunities for Near to lock himself in here. I'd rather not have to call the fire department in order to get him out today."

Please let that be a joke. Please let this just be L's dark sense of humor coming out to play, "Near wouldn't do that…Right?"

"My ass, he wouldn't," L confirmed, not a single hint of joking in his voice, "Near would absolutely lock himself in here. I know Near better than anyone else on the face of this Earth. He'd chain himself to the front door, if I gave him the chance."

"Would he really?" Light winced.

"No," L chuckled to himself, "Find a random closet or cupboard to lock himself in? Yes. Chain himself to the door? No. That was a joke."

"You have a dark sense of humor," Light wrapped himself around L a little better, "Did you know that?"

"I had a feeling," L settled him. So, it really is ok…Alright, Light. I'll try my best to keep your trust. I couldn't be more grateful for it. Especially with something like this.

"Are you going to be ok?" Light worried, "I may not care about Near, but you worry the shit out of me on a regular basis. This isn't going to screw you up too much, is it?"

"No worse than I already am," L figured, "I should be ok."

"Good…"

Without thinking about it, L pulled Light closer to him, getting a much better, deeper kiss, "I love you, Light. And only you. You don't have anything to worry about. I promise. Besides, it's our last day in London. We're leaving in the morning. Why don't you go make the most of it?"

"In a perfect world," Light thought, "I'd be spending my last day in London with my boyfriend, but he needs to go sew things up with his ex."

"And you also told your boyfriend you'd be ok with that," L moved his hand a little lower on Light's back, "Don't try and pull that passive aggressive, guilt trippy bullshit with me, Light. You know where that ends for you."

"I know exactly where that ends for me," Light teased him a bit, "Maybe I was looking for the end. But…You know…If you're not going to…"

SMACK!

"Don't you ever think I'd ever deny you one of my greatest pleasures, Light," L purred in Light's ear, "You really should know better than that."

"I should," Light reveled in the tingling sensation on his ass, "But do I? Do I really?"

"You should," L growled, "But maybe you need another reminder."

"Maybe you need to give me one."

Look at you, Light. You came to play today, didn't you? You're pushing for another one already? So soon? My birthday's not until October, but I'll take it, "No. Not right now. Not when you're practically asking for it. The first time? Yes. That's my own lack of impulse control. But another one? When you're batting your eyelashes at me? It'd be a more fitting punishment to deprive you instead."

"Fine," Light let it go, instead cuddling back into L, "We're going to be ok, right? No matter how well things go with you and Near?"

"Of course," L promised, "Just you and me. You won't hold a grudge against me for this, will you?"

"No," Light shook his head, "Promise. I'm sure I can find something to do."

"Good," L got one more kiss out of Light, "If you need anything…"

"I know, I know," Light got out of bed, "Either call you or throw the black card at someone."

"I'm so proud of you," L gushed, "Go on."

"Dare I give you something to watch, too?" Light jabbed.

"Don't tease me, Light," L scolded him, "That's not nice."

"No one ever said I was nice," Light walked to the bathroom, making damn sure L got an eyeful.

You are the best kind of worst, Light. L couldn't help but watch him go. It was a beautiful show, but L knew what the rest of the day held for him. Thank you. I needed that. And I'm sure I'll need a little something, something later. Just to take the aggressions out and the edge off, but dammit, that was nice.

Meanwhile, Light had his day already planned. It all started with kissing L goodbye and went on by strolling through the streets of London. Despite not seeing much of it (he didn't get the London Eye view he thought he would, but he wouldn't pass that up again), London had a hold on Light that he never expected. Maybe moving here wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. As long as Near knows who L goes home to at the end of the day and to back the fuck off, we should be alright. But something else clicked in Light's head. Not that staying at L's place hasn't been nice, but I wonder where I could get some real estate listings.

Meanwhile, across town, L had met with Near in a café tucked away in the north end of London. Far enough away from L's house to take away the nostalgia factor, but close enough where if L needed to go home, it wasn't far. L looked around before he sat down. We had two conditions, Near. You get your doctor's permission, which was the picture you sent me this morning, and…But then, L saw an older man sitting a couple tables away from Near. And if you brought Roger. Ok…You did listen to me.

"Hello, Near," L sat across from him, "I'm sorry I'm a few minutes late. I know we said ten o'clock, but I got a little behind."

"It's alright," Near's eyes lit up. I'm just glad you showed up.

"Good," L could relax a little more.

"I already have cake coming," Near told him, "I hope that's alright."

"What kind of cake?" Please don't tell me you remember…Don't make this hard on me, Near.

"It's strawberry shortcake."

Fuck…L shook it off, "That's fine. Near…Can I tell you something?"

"Of course," Near listened intently, holding himself back. He wanted nothing more than to be sitting in L's lap just like he used to, his legs through the back of the chair, wrapped around L's waist. His head in L's shoulder, almost to the point where a nap would be eminent while L worked. But instead, he sat in his own chair, his knee bouncing frantically under the table, "What is it?"

"I loved you once," L confessed, "Really, I did. Deep down. And for a long time. Maybe a part of me still does. I don't know. And I may never know. But I do know one thing for sure."

"Yes?" There's a chance. You're still mine, aren't you?

"I love someone else," L hid a little smile, "And I love him so much. I'm sorry, Near, but like I told you when we broke up, we're not going to get back together. I'm not for you anymore. We had fun while we were together, but I might have done you more harm than good in the long run."

"L…" Near's eyes fell to the table, "Are you saying…You don't miss me?"

"I do think of you from time to time," L nodded. I shouldn't flat out lie to him, "But then, I know exactly who holds my heart now. And the thought passes."

"Really?" Near grumbled a bit. And L knew what would happen next. It's not that he didn't see it coming. Just not that it'd come this soon, "Why do love him so much? I'm genuinely curious."

"That's not your business."

"Because you can't tell me why, can you?" Near got defensive, "If you tell him I ever said this, I will deny it until I'm blue in the face, but Mello might have been onto something."

"I can," L stood his ground, "It's just that I don't owe you an explanation. My new relationship isn't any of your business, Near. What Light and I do is for us. You don't factor in there at all. Except for this one particular incident. And I made sure it was alright with Light before I ever even considered it. You're not the only one that had conditions for this meeting."

"Does he play our games, L?" Near growled, "Does he know how you work?"

"No, he doesn't," L did his best to keep a level head and to keep Near at arm's length, "And yes, he does."

"Would he ever play games like we would?" Near leaned into the table, "Would he satisfy those twisted little desires you hold in your heart?"

"Near," L didn't want to admit it, but Near was getting to him.

"Would he even be able to accept them?" Near's tirade went on, "Would you be able to expect that little tongue thing you like so much from him? And would he be able to do it as well as I could?"

"Near…" L snapped, his fist going into the tabletop.

Meanwhile, Near could hardly contain himself. He knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted to see L get upset with him. L getting upset meant Near getting a punishment. Near getting a punishment meant Near having a gap to squeeze into. I knew you couldn't stay away from me. Near put on a meek, quiet, little voice. The same one that used to drive L absolutely crazy, "Yes?"

"Now, I remember," L let out a little sigh. Just to calm himself down, "Now, I remember why we broke up."

"Why?" Near's eyes doubled in size as he fluttered his eyelashes at L.

Because you're a little fucking brat, Near. This routine might have worked on me once, but…L wasn't sure what to do with him. He didn't want to give into his demands, but his gut instinct told him to. No, "Near…I'm going to ask you one question."

"What is it?" Are you going to ask me how I get my punishment or are you about to lecture me on what I did wrong? Either one would be fine.

L pulled himself together. Barely, but he held on. He kept his voice down, "I've loved only one woman in my life. I've told you about her. What was her name?"

"Hold on," Near thought back, shooting a strange glance at L, "You've been with a woman?"

"We're done here," L got up without another thought. With those few words, Near may not have known it, but he broke L's heart to pieces, "Goodbye, Near."

"L, wait!" Near called after him, but L kept moving forward.

Despite the tears burning behind his eyes. To think, I thought you honestly changed, Near. I thought you had made progress. I thought you were better than what you used to be. But at the end of the day, you're still that same, whiny little shit I left here. Even the sound of shattering ceramic didn't startle him. But if that didn't put L into the worst flashback, knotting up his already nauseous stomach. I should've known better. I should've known you hadn't changed. Why did I even bother giving you a chance?

But now, I know. I made a mistake. I could've made a much worse one, but I didn't. You wanted to know why I love Light so much, Near? Because he's not you. He's not Mello. He is one of the most wonderful people I've ever met. He's so damn selfless. And even when I try to repay that selflessness, he turns it away. Every single time. He's just…He's Light. Our games were fun, Near, but I don't want those anymore. If it means me never having that thing you did with your tongue ever again, it'd be entirely worth it. Because that means me having Light. And I don't need you anymore…But I need to go home.

L tried not to work himself up anymore than he already had, but once he got to his front sidewalk, he couldn't do it. He couldn't bring himself to go inside. And for the same reason why he didn't want Near to be there. The memories haunted L's thoughts too much. The ghosts wanting to take over his soul were vicious spirits that he didn't want to deal with anymore. He didn't have enough sage to burn for that cleansing. I…Can't fucking do it. I can't be in that house by myself.

A little while later, Light had come back from his trip around London. There were a couple places that weren't badly priced for what I'd be getting. I wonder if L could give me any more insight on that. But as Light looked around the house, he realized he was the only one there. Huh…It's a little after three. I thought L would've been back by now. Light called out into the emptiness, "L?"

Nothing but Light's voice echoed through the house. Huh. Light wasn't going to jump to any conclusions. He fully trusted L and his intentions with Near. He knew L wasn't going to hurt him. Not intentionally anyway. Instead of making himself worry, Light listened to L's advice from that morning. He couldn't throw the black card at it, so instead, Light scrolled through his phone's contacts until he got to L.

Ring, ring.

Light followed the ring and found L's phone sitting on the kitchen counter. With no L attached to it. Shit…Now, Light started to worry. Where the hell would you be? For a brief moment, Light thought about going through L's phone and calling Near directly, but even Light knew what kind of disaster that could be. Alright. I can't panic. If I were L and I just got done seeing my ex-boyfriend, good or bad, where would I go? In that one little question, Light knew his answer.

And sure enough, sitting on the wall of the Chelsea Embankment, L's knees were tucked up into his chest, effectively hiding his face. Light knew better than to outright yell for him. He approached L carefully and sat next to him, "L? Are you ok?"

No, Light. I'm so far beyond ok. Here I was so worried about Near and me breaking him that I never thought for a second, he'd be able to break me instead. I shouldn't have even seen him today. But now, I know. I don't love him anymore. Despite the storm that raged in his head, L found it in him to speak, hiding any evidence of the rain that accompanied that storm, "The only woman I ever loved…"

"Naomi, right?" Light remembered, "The FBI agent. Yeah. What about her?"

In that moment, L could smile again. He inched closer to Light and cuddled into his shoulder. Good, "I got to thinking about her today. Nothing more. Nothing less. Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?" Light put his arm around L.

"When's the next flight to Japan?"

Light quickly checked his phone, "In about forty-five minutes. Why?"

"Get us on it," L ordered, "Please."

"Are you sure?" Light worried, "Did everything go…?"

"Yes, I'm sure," L stopped him before he could finish, "We don't need to be here anymore."