"And now, as long as I can, I'm holding on with both hands,

Cause forever I believe that there's nothing I could need but you,

So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know

You're never gonna be alone!

From this moment on, if you ever feel like letting go,

I won't let you fall,

When all hope is gone

I know that you can carry on

We're gonna take the world on

I'll hold you 'till the hurt is gone"

Never Going To Be Alone - Nickelback

(A/N: Don't flame me... It's actually a damn good song)


Tiredly prying his crimson eyes open, he was met with a blinding light. A woman with waist length onyx hair and long white gown approached him with a brilliant smile and deep amber eyes. Her mouth was moving but Beyond couldn't hear her. He tried to focus his eyes more. "I… I can't hear you."

Her warm hands pressed against his cheeks where he tiredly stood. She leaned in and spoke just above a whisper. "Not like this."

Beyond could feel his body grow heavy at her touch and his eyes felt dry, a shiver overcame his entire body as he slowly crumpled to his knees. "I can't… I still can't hear you."

A smile crept along her pale, plush lips. "I love you, my beautiful baby boy. It's time to wake up." She recoiled her hands from his cheeks and laid him down on his side, then pulled what looked like a fluffy blanket over him. Her eyes closed and she gave a warm smile towards him then swiftly turned around, beginning her walk back towards the source of the light.

Beyond's sanguine eyes peeled open once again, as he tiredly reached for the woman. "No. Wait. Sharon…" He could feel his voice lose power before hoarsely calling out loudly towards the retreating figure. "Mom!"

The woman stopped and turned, her mouth didn't move her head tilted to the side, just remained in a frozen smile, but her voice carried on the slight breeze that picked up. "Be good, my beautiful baby boy. I love you with all my heart, my B. Wake up, my son. Your light hasn't faded yet."


Snapping awake while gasping for air the young raven took in his surroundings. The same blue room, same silken black blanket, but a different smell. He scented the air before finally widening his crimson eyes and sprinted for the kitchen. 'Burning? Did I go to Hell? What is that horrific smell?'

Rounding the corner to the kitchen, a large plume of smoke greeted his nose head on. "What the?!" He slid the heavy large window wall open before turning to see a haunched figure standing in front of the stove holding a pan of very burnt bacon out in front of him.

Beyond approached slowly waving the smoke away from his face, his nose crinkled in attempts not to breathe. His vermilion eyes flitted up to stormy grey eyes. Without a word between the two of them for what seemed like hours, Beyond cleared his throat. "Uh. Are you just going to stand there?"

L blinked a couple of times and sighed heavily. "I wanted to make you some food… You haven't eaten in a couple of days and I was starting to wonder if you knew how to cook. But as it turns out. It was I who couldn't cook."

Chuckling quietly to himself, the younger raven smiled and took the pan with a pitied smile. 'I can hear him.' He looked up towards the downcast eyes of his senior before grabbing the tongs off the counter and flipped the charred piece of meat. "I… don't think this can be saved… Do me a favor. Get out of my kitchen. Go sit down, or something… I have to clean this up."

Nodding wordlessly, L disappeared from the kitchen and perched himself on the couch awkwardly. He watched the smoke get cleared from the home and not long after pleasant smells filled the the tiny cottage once again. Closing his charcoal eyes he scented the air with a tiny smile.

L looked down to his own hands and sighed once again. His eyes shot to the movement in the dining area as a large plate was set on the table. Curiosity took the better of the detective as he craned his neck to get a better vantage on the tabletop. Beyond rounded the corner, and L quickly made it look like he wasn't interested, with a small brown bowl in his hands, jerking his head, motioning for L to come to the table.

Sighing contently L stood awkwardly next to the table as B sat down. "Well, don't be rude. Quillish would have been just as worried about you. What have you eaten recently that wasn't prepackaged or filled with preservatives?" L quickly and clumsily plopped down next to B. Eyeing him closely before eagerly snapping his eyes towards the perfectly browned and fluffy pancakes.

Watching L's movements closely a ghost of a smirk grazed B's full lips. "I suppose syrup would be in order. But I have none, not one of the things I was provided with. And… as far as meat goes? I much prefer soy or tofu. I've learned in prison you never take anything good off the line, lest you get it stolen from you by someone twice your size. I've come to call the, somewhat vegetarian, lifestyle I live to be comfortable enough. Bland, but at least filling, and not as desired by fellow inmates."

Taking the information in, L nodded, "Perhaps, I should take you shopping then."

Glancing his eyes away from the spindly fingers of the other, B's eyebrow twitched. "I don't know. Other sources may tell you that's not a wise choice. However, I would like to pick my own food out." A long moment of silenced passed before a loud sigh was heard from the younger raven and three large pancakes were flopped in front of L and himself. "I did, however, make some whipped cream topping. So, it'll have to do for now."

A fork was grabbed with lightning speed and the pancakes immediately assaulted. L shoveled the breakfast into his mouth before freezing and closing his eyes and savoring the flavor. Speaking with his mouth partially full, "When did-"

"Chew your food and swallow first. That's gross." A cold answer cut him off in mid sentence.

L hurriedly chewed and gulped the food down. "When did you learn to cook? And how did you get so proficient in it?"

A bitter smile crossed Beyond's face. "Ah. They had an excellent culinary teacher in prison. Tax dollars hard at work. But, I wouldn't say it was a waste, teaching inmates how to cook for themselves could open up a lot of doorways. They'll have the necessary skills to provide for themselves on a budget in the real world, hell, it could even provide skills to get a job."

"Well. I suppose I'll have to start visiting more often."

"Don't bullshit me L, you've been in the basement the whole time. The room was coated in dust save a few spots where footprints were. Also, the piano had left deep scratches in the wooden floor when it was pulled closer to the rug that the door was hidden under. The rug was the only thing not completely covered in filth of dust."

Clearing his throat from surprise L chuckled, "I suppose it wasn't a well thought through plan. I do, however, intend on being a little more open with you. As in…"

The eyebrows of the younger male raised as he knitted his fingers together on the table, "As in you're just going to stay up here instead of a dusty, dirty and dark basement? How is the boiler and furnace doing? You do realize, eventually, I was going to need access to those…"