Chappie Four.

Sorry it took a while longer than I said it would!

Pwease don't hate me, but I went to a friend's slumber party and things got crazy! And after that I went shopping! Yayz! It was fun. I then went to Dairy Queen; I luv strawberry milkshakes! I then got tangled up in a friend's problems and he was less than helpful when he asked if I could stay at his place a whil, but hey, he's my buddy and I'd do anything to help a friend! Once home I ate some pizza and took a snooze and then I guess I got a shower and went back to sleep. Phew. That was a lot, but now I've updated and feel good about it! The point is that I was very busy and really wanted to update but didn't have the time until now I hope ya understand!

Anywayz, here is the final chappie to my fanfic: Do You Love Me?

Hope ya like it!

And I hope I'll get lots of reviews fer this!

This is definitely a story I plan on sequeling.

R&R and pwease no flaming, but I can't stop ya so...just asking nicely, but seriously, pwease don't flame me.

If you all find this confusing you may have to reread the first or previous chappie to get back on track, kay? And BTW to those who think Michael is Mello pwease reread Chappie number one.

I don't think many people paid much attention, but oh well.

The reviews are still, TOTALLY, REALLY-FOR-REALLY-REALS, EPICALLY, AWESOME!

Thanx to all those who have reviewed and sent me an alert of some type.

I appreciate it.

Bye-bye!

;^P

~Luv Fairylust~

By the time Matt and Lemont arrived there…all was silent…too silent.

Matt stumbled upstairs while Lemont helped him walk.

They found Michael's body first; he'd shot himself in the head. Matt wasn't surprised but Lemont Brown certainly was. It was something he'd never have expected to see. He let Matt, who leaned against the walls to support himself, go while he looked at the blonde's body in surprise and confusion and perhaps a bit of sadness, despite what Matt had told him on the way there. Matt saw a door close by, slightly ajar. Pushing it open all the way he was horrified by what he saw as he stumbled inside.

His emerald eyes widened in horror and his jaw dropped for a couple of moments.

A motionless, bloody, bruised, battered, mangled, burnt, dead-looking Near who had no clothes on and had every inch of his creamy white skin covered by blood.

He let a choked wail escape his throat.

He feared he was too late. Heck, it appeared as if he were too late. He didn't know what to think or do. His mind was muddled and his feelings had also muddled themselves together. He just wanted to be at the boy's side. He was worried. Matt tried to run over to Near, but his legs buckled and he fell a few inches away from his love. Lemont appeared just as horrified as Matt when he saw the motionless, bloody, bruised, battered, mangled, burnt, dead-looking Near who had every inch of his creamy white skin covered by blood. He moved swiftly past Matt mostly because he was curious, as to if Near was alive or not. He bent over the younger male and he gingerly touched the boy's throat searching for a pulse with a shaky hand.

He found none.

He turned to the redheaded gamer who looked at him hopefully.

"Is he okay?" Matt asked, his voice hoarse. "Or is he d-dead?"

Lemont took a deep breath and just couldn't bear to break Matt's heart. Or at least not yet. Matt looked so hope ful and so upset and weary. Plus Matt looked to him with his huge, adorable puppy-dog eyes that nobody could resist. No. Lemont couldn't pronounce the boy dead yet. His hand shook so badly he didn't know if he did his job right. Lemont searched again and this time found a very, very, very faint pulse.

He smiled it was a sad smile, but still a smile.

"Don't worry, Mail," he said softly in his kindest voice, "he's still alive…barely, but he's alive."

Matt smiled letting his eyes close halfway. "He-he'll be okay?" he asked shakily sounding very weary.

"Dunno." Lemont shrugged.

"Is h-he still breathing?"

"Yes, just barely, the boy is just barely alive and breathing."

Matt smiled hopefully as his eyes closed some more.

"Poor thing, he's just a year younger than my Ferdy." Lemont said as he rubbed tears from his eyes. "How could he do such a horrible thing?"

"He was a jerk." Matt muttered inhaling shakily. "That…bastard…was a…jerk…."

Lemont looked at the two unconscious, wounded boys then to the corpse in the hall. "I'm going to call an ambulance." He muttered to himself and rushed downstairs. The ambulance arrived soon after.

The medics carried both Matt and Near to the town's hospital, but Near, unlike Matt had to go to the ER due to his serious wounds. Matt understood and relaxed after hearing from Ferdy Brown that the doctors said Near was going to be just fine. The redhead was glad, almost as glad as Ferdy was when he'd heard that Matt wasn't going to have to also go to the ER.

A few weeks later both Matt was out of the hospital and sitting by a fully conscious Near who smiled upon seeing the redhead.

"Why is…Mail…here?" Near asked weakly.

"Shh, it's Matt, remember, doofus?" The redhead said playfully, yet softly. "I'm here cause my little lamb got attacked by a big bad wolf and I tried to save him, but…I was almost too late…and now I'm here to tell my little lamb that I-I love him and that I'll protect him from here on out no matter what. I won't let you get hurt this badly again, Near. I promise." Tears fell from Matt's emerald eyes as he squeezed Near's hand.

"Do…you…love me?" Near asked looking to Matt sadly. "Now?"

The redhead gave him a look of shock, then worry and finally a soft understating look. He took a deep breath and licked his dry, cracked lips before he looked to the younger boy and grasped his hand. "Yes, now and forever, I'll always love you, Near." He replied certainly, for he had no uncertainty about his answer. He knew he loved Near 100% and no more or less than that. The tears seemed to speed up after that and a silence came with them only shattered by little, broken Near.

"Why is Matt…crying so…much?"

"You're so hurt…and…it's all my fault…." Matt said between sorrowful sobs. "I could've saved…saved you, but I did-didn't…I'm so sorry Near. So sorry. I never wanted…you to be-be h-hurt…s-so badly…in so much pain…."

Near gave him a compassionate look as he gently lifted a hand to caress Matt's cheek.

The hand had bandages wrapped around it and it hurt to touch Matt, but the albino didn't really care. He just wanted to feel the redhead. "It is not Matt's fault…it is Michael's fault…fault…and if Michael had done some…some-thing to Matt instead of me…." The boy's voice trailed off as he pulled his hand away from the redhead.

More silence.

This time shattered by the caring and concerned redhead.

"I'm gonna take good care of you Near." Matt cooed. "I'm gonna make sure you get all healed up. After that I'll fix that old house up and we'll live there…if you want. Once that's done I'll buy you a bunch of get-well gifts cause I heard it'd take a while for you to heal completely. Afterwards, I'll erase Michael from your mind and make you think you're in heaven. Then I'm gonna make sure you never feel alone or sad. And then I'll ask you a very, super, really special question."

"That sounds nice." Near muttered sleepily. "Matt…Matt can ask…me…now…his question…."

"Kay." He said smiling.

He scowled for a moment then smiled again.

"Do you love me?" Matt asked kissing the boy's forehead gingerly. "I love you Near. And I always will. That's a promise. One I don't intend to ever break."

Near felt tears brim his eyes.

But for once in the small child's life these weren't tears of pain or sadness. They weren't a sign of anger or hate or fear. They were tears of happiness. Yes, happiness; the happiness that came from the knowledge that Matt still loved him despite his wounds and that the redhead had promised him so many wonderful things. Near trusted Matt so he believed all that he was told. Near already felt as though he were in heaven.

He gave Matt a nod and the redhead smiled.

That was over three years ago, though. Now Near was seventeen and Matt eighteen, neither really changed much as far as appearances go, other than height that is, both pretty much remained the same. Near had some nasty scars, but Matt didn't mind. He liked Near the way he was and wouldn't want the albino to change in any way, for anything or at any time.

Now they sat in the living room.

Near cuddled up against Matt and Matt playing a video game. Near was only slightly scarred on the outside from his crazed boyfriend's past torment. But he didn't worry about Matt going crazy and hurting him. He loved and trusted Matt and in turn the redhead trusted and loved him. It was a great relationship that the two lovers shared. And as it was stated before Near was slightly physically scarred from Michael's torture.

Yet, Matt knew better than anyone, the small boy's spirit was deeply scarred.

Near was afraid of loud noises, certain types of people he was wary of, he was terrified of matches and fire. He feared being struck and seeing his own blood, but the worse possible fear he harbored was his fear of pain. He couldn't even stand a slight pinch if it weren't for Matt. The redhead was the only one he trusted to do anything around him.

He was used to the loud noises of Matt's video games and was okay if Matt messed around with matches and started a fire here and there. He was not afraid when the redhead playfully hit him or when Matt raised his fist. Near didn't fear the people he brought around their home. And he didn't mind if Matt hurt him only because it was always for pleasure or on accident. Never intentionally had Matt harmed him.

Knowing all this made the redhead nervous. He nuzzled his face into Near's soft white hair. He hoped what he was about to ask wouldn't hurt Near, because what he would ask would definitely shake Near's nerves a bit. After all, things were similar and not so similar and he knew that if his favor was agreed to the worst possible scenerio would be that Near broke and no longer trusted him.

He hoped that wouldn't happen.

"Umm, Near?"

"Yes?"

"Can I ask ya a question."

"Yes."

"Would you like it if we could, you know, rake in some more money?"

"That'd be nice."

"Yeah, well, can we have a roommate?" Matt asked gingerly kissing Near's forehead hoping Near would go along with his idea. "He's an old friend of mine. We knew each other as little kids and rarely stay in touch, anymore. I really care about him and even though I barely talk with him anymore I know he'll make a great roommate, Near. Would it be okay if he stays here…with us? As our roommate?"

"Okay, I trust Matt."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Near snuggled up to Matt more as the redhead blushed contently. He was still uneasy and wasn't too surprised when the seventeen year old asked what his friend's name was. It was typical for Near to ask such a question. The boy was still curious and really adorable, but it seemed to Matt as though his curiosity doubled in two seconds. His stomach felt knotted and he felt more than just nervous. Matt felt as though the room was twenty, no, fifty degrees too hot. He mumbled a name, but Near gave him a look of confusion and he knew Near hadn't heard him say anything just then. That was a good thing for Matt since he didn't want to frighten or worry Near in any way. All he needed to do now was escape this awkward situation.

"Kay, now that bit of info is known…who feels like candy?" he asked randomly to avoid the stare of confusion. "Oh, me!" he exclaimed jumping to his feet and running for the kitchen. Near followed him determined to know why he was suddenly so jumpy and nervous. And Matt couldn't deny he was because Near knew the redhead real well and knew when he was jumpy and nervous.

"Matt…." the younger said stern and emotionlessly. The redhead stopped scrounging through the kitchen and looked to his lover. "Yes, darling is something wrong?"

Near winced not liking the pet name, but ignored it for the most part.

"What's your friend's name? Why are you acting so weird? Why did you use that stupid pet name? And why are you looking for candy when you know we don't have any."

"So many questions do they all have to be answered?" Matt asked nervously, but one look at Near's impassive face told him his answer. "Thought so." He mumbled and let his hand fall to his sides. He bit his lip as he thought of a way out of the questioning, but ultimately saw no way out…at all.

"His name is Mello."

"No," Near protested, "that's a nickname you probably gave him. I want a real name, Matt." there was a brief pause, "Why is it so hard for you to be honest with me?" Near pouted.

Wow, he's cute when he pouts. Matt thought musing to himself. Hmm, wonder if sex can get me out of this?

"Is that all you think about?" Near demanded huffily.

"Think of what?"

"You were thinking of sex. I can tell."

"Damn, you do know me well!" Matt said jokingly. "You must've been a stalker or something at one point in time." Near didn't laugh he just continued his impassive silence that let Matt know he was getting annoyed.

"Okay, okay," the redhead, said soothingly. "I'll be honest and whatnot."

He glanced at Near who took a step back appearing slightly worried.

"My bud's name is Mihael Keehl." Matt saw Near wince, but make no other moves. "He looks…well…he appears sort of…maybe a tad bit like…he may remind you of Blondie and I didn't want to tell you cause…well…I was scared you'd hate me or not trust me after I told ya some stuff or after you saw him."

Near took another step back. "I-I do not mind."

"Are you sure? You look pretty scared right now."

"N-no. I'm fine. Honest."

"Now who is lying?" Matt chuckled wrapping his arms around the small boy. "Look I'd never wanna hurt you. And I just thought that since you can't really get a job or occupation as you sometimes call it, maybe Mels could help us out. Me and him talked about it for a while and I promise nothing bad will happen…to you I mean. I can't speak for anyone else. But I won't let anybody hurt you. Remember? I promised that."

"Matt I know that, but I-I don't know if I can believe you." He said tensing and untensing as he felt Matt start to rub his back in a soothing manner.

"Please!" Matt begged. He fastened his pace in rubbing Near's back, knowing that the small boy enjoyed it since his back still had some bad scarring. "O-okay." Near mumbled feeling more than reluctant about the idea. "Matt can call Mello and Mello can help if that is Matt's idea." Matt kissed Near too quick for the boy's taste before running off. Near rubbed at his lips and sighed.

I hope this isn't a mistake. He thought twirling a strand of hair.

Suddenly lips were pressed against his. He drew back surprising Matt who never knew Near would do something like that. Near had never resisted his affections. Not once, he'd never resisted his lover once when he shown affection towards him. Matt gave Near big, green puppy-dog eyes. Near backed away a few more steps. He appeared ratehr nervous, no, he appeared more timid than he did nervous. "I-I'm sorry." he muttered staring at the floor not wanting to meet Matt's beautiful, yet worried emerald green puppy-dog eyes. The small boy padded upstairs leaving Matt to wonder if he blew it.

Near had never acted so frightened around Matt before.

Well, when they were children the boy shown many emotions, but never in their past few years had Near ever shown fear around Matt. Not even when Michael Grey first slapped him. Near had said, "It was once it'd never happen again. I'm sure it wouldn't happen again, Matty, so there is no need to worry." Well, that one time became more than one time and because of Michael Near had almost got killed. Matt winced as he remembered how bloody, bruised and battered Near ahd been when he first saw him in the hospital. He didn't want Near to feel afraid around him or around Mello. He just wanted them all to get along.

He went up to his and Near's room. He found the small boy in bed. He was underneath the covers with a pillow over his head and trembling. Near refused to acknowledge his lover's presence. The redhead gently ran his hand through Near's soft, pure white curls. He pressed a chaste kiss to Near's cheek and lay beside him. He turned on his side after a while and started to think of all the fears that could've been running through his precious little albino's mind. He pressed a kiss to Near's forehead after a while hoping to soothe him. The small boy recoiled. An hour or so later he got up and walked off quickly, stopping at the doorway he turned back to Matt. "I'll be getting a shower." he said before padding off.

Do you love me? He silently asked.