Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn! or any of its characters, settings, or hilarious teenage melodrama.

Notes/Warnings: Spoilers through chapter 303; I've also taken some speculative liberties regarding the conclusion of this arc. (Also everyone is wildly OOC.)

And one last note—this is the last chapter that I already had pre-written, so from this point on, updates will be much more infrequent (though there should still be something new from time to time). So for the time being, I'd just like to thank everyone who's reviewed and/or faved this. You guys are awesome. :)

Summary: A broken heart brings the Shimon family together.

Mafia Days: Chapter Five - Everybody Hurts Sometimes

It was a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. They should have seen it coming, Adelheid supposed, but then again, maybe some of them had, and just hadn't cared enough to do anything about it. The not caring part certainly applied to most of them.

The one person it didn't apply to was curled up pitifully on a corner of the couch, beset by an avalanche of despair brought on by that greatest of tragedies, a broken heart. Or something.

"I just can't believe sh-she would do that! Why? Why?" he demanded of the heavens before breaking off into an agonized wail.

"There, there, Julie," said Large uncharacteristically (it wasn't the words of comfort that were uncharacteristic; it was the words, period). He rubbed Julie's back in soothing circles.

"It was j-just so sudden, so shocking... I went up to my bed to check on her and she wasn't... she wasn't there!"

"We know, Julie-kun," said Shitt P politely. They had, in fact, all been present when Julie's girlish screams had echoed through the hideout, quickly followed by him tearing down the stairs and through the main room where they'd all sat congregated like a good mafia family. They had also been present when he'd returned to joylessly announce the simultaneous occurrences of Chrome's escape from the island and the end of this world as we know it. He had then collapsed into the wretched heap that now sat blubbering snot into the occasional handkerchiefs Large would offer him as each previous one was retired, wet and dripping, from active duty.

"I just don't understand!" Julie gasped as he came up for air after a particularly long fit of muffled sobs. "I thought what we had was special!"

"What?" said Adelheid in sincere bafflement. Because seriously, what.

"We were going to get married! I thought"—sniff—"I thought we would be together forever!"

"...Why would you think that?"

"Our love was pure! We were like Romeo and Juliet!"

"Romeo and Juliet killed themselves," informed Shitt P matter-of-factly.

"What?" Julie shot a horrified glance toward Adelheid, who nodded. "Oh my God," he moaned before his voice cracked and he began to sob harder than ever.

"Forget her, Julie," broke in a cold voice all of a sudden. The rest of the family looked over to see Enma pulling off his headphones, the last few brooding notes of a Linkin Park song dissolving into the evening air.

"Enma..." Julie whispered, stunned.

"She's not worth it. None of them are." Enma stood up. "Love..." he began as he walked toward the open balcony, the setting sun casting his features in a harsh and dramatic glow. "In the end, where does it get any of us?"

"In the end, nowhere!" put in Aoba excitedly. He turned to the nearest person, Kaoru, and gave him a brofist for absolutely no reason.

"Exactly!" Enma exclaimed. He hunched over the balcony rail, where the entirety of the island stretched out beneath him, an audience of rocks and trees and shadows. "It's all meaningless. This world is cold and unforgiving. And those few that dare to open their hearts are inevitably betrayed and crushed." He pounded a fist on the railing, then bowed his head. Adelheid couldn't be certain, but she thought she saw a single tear roll despondently down his cheek.

"Enma...!" Julie's tears were considerably less artful as he got to his feet, eyes shining with both pain and admiration for his boss.

"Julie..." Enma turned slowly, dramatically, to conclude his soliloquy. "If we can't rely on them... we'll just have to rely on each other!"

Julie gave a shudder and ducked his head, swiping briefly at his flowing tears. Then, without any dignity whatsoever, he launched himself into Enma's waiting arms.

"Boss!" he sobbed loudly. "Oh, Boss..."

"We'll get through this," Enma promised him. "Together. Because, after all... we're Family."

"Boss..."

Slowly at first, then with great enthusiasm, Shitt P began to applaud. The others followed suit, Aoba and Kaoru pausing occasionally to wipe away stray tears of their own.

Adelheid realized her mouth was hanging open a little. She closed it, then sighed, her breasts heaving wearily.

Maybe it wasn't too late to consider defecting to the Vongola.