(A/N) This chapter is dedicated to Big Bang. CONGRATS GUYS =D!

"Did you really have to buy thirty boxes of fruit snacks?" Spanner sighed as he looked at the boxes of fruits snacks there were stacked on top of each other in two towers.

"Yes," Fran said from behind the counter. He bit his lip as he angled his plate correctly and flung it at one of the towers, causing it to come down crashing.

In the background, Bel burst out laughing and Hayato and Spanner sighed.

"You're a kid," Spanner said and whacked Fran on the head with one of the boxes.

"I know," Fran said in a matter-of-fact tone.

The teen took one of the boxes and opened it up, pulling the fruit snacks out and stuffing them into his pockets, "I'm going for a walk."

"You better not liter," Spanner shouted after Fran as the younger left the kitchen.

"Green power," Fran pumped his fist into the air before leaving.

"I don't understand how you live with him," Bel muttered to himself as he sipped at his coffee.

"You'd understand if you had met him nine years ago," Spanner scowled, grabbed his own drink and left the kitchen, Hayato calling out to him as he left the kitchen as well.

Bel frowned at his coffee, suddenly feeling a bit sick in his stomach.

~0~0~0~0~

Fran sighed as he watched the white mountains go by from the window.

They were all finally heading home after their week at Mukuro's summer house. The pineapple head and Xanxus had showed up early in the morning to tell them to pack up and head home. Mukuro had been a bit disappointed to see most pairings free of their cuffs but said nothing and left the house with Xanxus.

Fran had decided to ride with Shoichi in his Accord since riding with anyone else would have been disturbing. Spanner and Hayato were riding back in Hayato's car, Mammon and Bel in Bel's car, M.M and Chrome in Chrome's car and Ken and Chikusa in Chikusa's car.

Shoichi had agreed with Fran that riding back with anyone else would be a horrible experience and they had to get the Accord back to Fran and Spanner's house somehow.

"Do you think Hayato knows?" Shoichi asked as he flicked the lights to switch lanes. He scowled when Bel beeped from behind them and resisted the urge to back into the Audi. He was no racer but he could very well put a dent in a nice car.

"Knows what?" Fran whispered from the passenger seat, his cheek pressed tightly to the window and his breath fogging up the cold window.

"About Spanner's feeling for you," Shoichi said, detailing his question.

Fran sighed and closed his eyes. Why did it seem like everyone wanted to shove Spanner's already known feelings into his face?

"I don't care if he knows or not," Fran answered and pressed his cheek further into the cold glass.

Shoichi bit his lip and tightened his grip on the wheel, "Sorry for asking. It's just…I don't understand Spanner. I do understand why he loves you; you were first in his heart and probably always will be. I think he's just mistaking his love for you as something else. Maybe because…"

"Because I still need help…" Fran whispered lowly but not low enough since Shoichi nodded. Fran bit his lip and sighed, "I'm trying. I really am. I'm trying to not let him know I'm not getting much sleep. I'm trying to show him that I'll be okay without him…it all backfires when I pass out at dinner though."

Shoichi silently listened as Fran spoke, taking everything in.

"It's because I still need him that he feels like he needs to stay by me and love me even though his feelings for Hayato could develop into something much stronger if he just let me go," Fran groaned and rubbed his cheek against the window. He wished Spanner would understand that he didn't need to be in love with him. That Spanner didn't have to stay by his side forever. He wished Spanner could just be happy with Hayato.

"He'll understand someday," Shoichi said in a way that he hoped was comforting as he got off the highway. He saw a Dunkin Donuts close by and looked over at the boy beside him, "Do you want some hot chocolate?"

"Please."

~0~0~0~0~

"You have a lot to catch up on, home skillet," Takashi said as he sat down next to Fran in homeroom.

"I know," Fran groaned and pressed his forehead into his desk.

"Where were you?" Haru asked and sat down behind Fran, rubbing the boys back in a comforting way.

"Group bonding at Mukuro's summer home," Fran answered, his hand unconsciously rubbing his wrist as he thought about being handcuffed.

"It's winter though," Takashi said, his eyebrow rising in confusion.

"That's what I said," Fran said and leaned further into Haru's hands.

"Was it fun?" Haru asked, a bright smile on her face.

"No," Fran responded instantly.

"Um…okay then," Haru and Takashi said simultaneously, backing away a bit at Fran's tone.

Fran groaned and pushed his face into the desk, wishing the school day could finish quickly.