Author's Note: HAPPY (belated) CANADA DAY EH! To call my Canadian friends, and anyone else who wants to celebrate with us :) And HAPPY (belated) 4th OF JULY to all my American readers too :) I had plans to have the chapter uploaded on Canada Day, but I got deathly sick for a little while. I had one of those 48 hour deals but it knocked me off my feet for quite a while.

Also, to those of you who are reviewing/favouriting/alerting, you seriously make my day ^_^ 3

Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note, or anything remotely associated with it.

Spoiler Alert: This chapter contains material to episode 34.

Warning: This one is a tad citrusy. It's not a full on lemon, but it's implied. I don't mean to offend anyone :)

He looked back to me earnestly.

"Jewel, will you marry me?"

I took another look at the ring and smiled evilly.

"On one condition."

"'One condition'? What condition?"

I snapped the black velvet box closed and handed it back to him; Mello looked genuinely concerned, that was new for him. "You have to ask me again." Now he just looked confused. "But you have to use my real name." I put on my angel face, and my toothy smile went ear to ear.

Mello chuckled, "I think I can live with that."

"'Kay good." I leaned forward and whispered my real name sensuously in his ear. As I was about to back up Mello pulled me in close and whispered something in my ear. Matt took this as some kind of cue to leave and turned towards the door. "Just where are you going?" I asked him. "Don't you want to be here for this?"

"But then I'll know your real name too," it was Matt's turn to look concerned.

"Silly Matt, I'm not going to leave my best friend out of the loop," Matt's face brightened. I dramatically threw my arms around him and gave him a huge bear hug.

"So, can I ask now?" Mello interrupted.

I chuckled and Matt pried my arms off of him. He gave me a gentle shove towards Mello and I smiled up at him.

There was an intense silence in the air for a moment, and then Mello asked.

"Jessica River, will you marry me?"

I was beaming.

Mello snapped open the little black box and held it in front of my face.

"Yes. Yes Mihael Keehl, I would be honoured to marry you."

I had never felt so happy, so blissful, so at peace in my entire life.

Mello gingerly slipped the ring out of its velvet casing and onto the fourth finger of my left hand. The world was so crazily perfect in that instant. I wasn't sure if I could ask for anything more in my life than what was in my living room. I had my best friend and my true love... and I was getting married.

I took a small leap into Mello's waiting arms and just let him hold me. I could grow quite accustomed to the way this felt. I could grow quite accustomed to the feeling of our smooth skin pressing lightly against each other, my face nuzzling against his neck. I could grow quite accustomed to the way he smelt, the intoxicating scent of chocolate. Yes, I could grow quite accustomed indeed.

I pulled my face away for a second and caught a glimpse of Matt standing there with the softest, most sincere smile on his face. I removed one arm from Mello and held it out wide, motioning for Matt to join us; to join us in one big group hug. I was beyond surprised when Mello did the same thing. There was no way for Matt to get out of it now. Two steps later and we were all wrapped up in each other's arms in a loving embrace.

Best. Day. Ever.

Because I had had such an amazing day with my friends and because Mello was in such a good mood, I decided to wait a couple of days before I put in my request.

"M-Mello?" I asked cautiously as he was looking over some files. Near had just called us to inform us about some guy named Teru Mikami, he was believed to be doing Kira's killings for him.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Well I was wondering," I started, twisting the gorgeous white gold wedding ring sitting on my finger. "You know I don't want a big wedding right?" Matt had been horrified when I'd informed him, but Mello seemed to have relaxed after I'd told him.

"Yes, so? What are you getting at?" he looked at me worriedly, like I might decide to back out unexpectedly.

"Well I was thinking, just a small little chapel wedding right. You, me, Matt..."

"Point?"

"Well we need two witnesses to sign papers anyway," I said hurriedly, waving my hand around like what I was going to ask next was no big deal.

"Near?" Mello asked before I could even finish.

I hung my head and nodded solemnly. I head Mello's footsteps drawing closer to me and I squinted my eyes. I felt Mello's gloved hand on my chin as he forced me to look up at him. There was a kind smile on Mello's face and my jaw fell open in surprise. It was no secret that it was hard for him to go along with what I was asking; it was very sweet of him to agree to it without complaining. He nodded and gave me a soft kiss on the lips. My heart leapt; as it always did when he kissed me.

We set a date for a beautiful summer wedding.

It was only days later when we made our way to Japan. A cold New Year's came and went. Matt, Mello and I toasted at midnight, but I think the three of us felt there really wasn't anything to celebrate... not yet at least. At least we'd managed to survive another year.

It was a cold night in the middle of January when I whispered to Mello, "Mello, I don't want to do this anymore. Someone's going to get hurt." I felt tears coming on, this was ridiculous. Since when was I so weak? Since when did I break down all the time? I'd managed to keep my feelings in check for years. I used my head and never got emotionally involved in anything. I'd learned a long time ago that ties to people only ended in pain. So why was I so...

"More people are going to get hurt if we don't do this." He waited a moment, "Besides, aren't you the one who's always saying, 'We've been over this already,'?"

I nodded sadly. "I didn't think I had as much to lose back then though," I said as an excuse.

"You know Kira won't rest until he's killed everybody on the planet. Killing criminals just isn't enough for him anymore; we've seen that first hand. He's going to go on killing until he's stopped. People addicted to power like him, will not willingly give it up."

I think that was the longest succession of words I'd ever heard Mello say, and his conviction was absolutely moving. I picked myself off of the moth-eaten recliner I was sitting on and joined Mello on the couch. I got as close as I could to him without directly sitting on him. We spent the next hour or so waiting for Matt to get back from buying more surveillance equipment. I sighed with relief as he walked through the door.

It was no secret that it was hardly safe for us to go out anymore; and when one of us did go out, the other two were left wondering if they would make it back alive. I leapt up from the couch and ran over to give him a hug as he put down a box of gadgets. He just patted my head and shooed me back over to Mello.

The three of us barely spoke anymore; there wasn't a whole lot left to say.

We'd managed to get stuck in another cheap motel overlooking what was believed to be Kira's hideout. I'd positively identified Mogi and Misa working their way around the building a couple times. We'd informed Near and however he had decided to do it, he now had Mogi and Misa in custody. It was something like a citizen's arrest I imagined.

"Matt, come sit," I patted the cushion beside me on the couch and motes of dust shot up into the air. Nice.

"I've got to set this stuff up first," he said as he began pulling assorted wires from the box and plugging them into various mechanical looking items.

I sighed quietly, and reminded myself that at least he'd made it back alright. At least he was still alive. And then something occurred to me. What would happen if next time they didn't come back? What would happen if I never got to see them again? It was time to come up with my own plan.

There were two parts of my plan, and I discussed each part with Matt and Mello separately.

The next day, as discussed with Mello, I grabbed my scarf and coat and took Matt by the hand to lead him out of our dingy little room. He was moderately surprised because I'd only discussed the part of my plan that concerned Mello with him, but he went along with it anyway.

We spent the day walking through parks and reminiscing about happier times; like we had when I'd been all but comatose after L's death. We went into an amusement park and he bought me cotton candy, one of my all-time favourites. We watched the sunset over a frozen pond. I treasured each and every moment we were together and silently prayed we would be able to do this again someday. I loved Matt so incredibly, I would die inside if I lost him; he was my best friend, he was always there for me.

"Hey Jewel," he said as we watched the last rays of sun disappear under the horizon.

"Yeah?" I looked up at him and discovered a wistful smile on his face.

"I... I want you to know my name too. My real name." His real name? I wasn't even sure if Mello knew his real name. I mean, he probably did, but still...

"I'd be honoured to know Matt."

"Mail."

"Pardon?"

He chuckled lightly, "That's my name, Mail. Mail Jeevas." There was a faraway look in his eyes.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Mail Jeevas," an angelic expression landed on my face as I extended my hand towards him. His laugh was stronger as he took my hand and shook it. "You may call me Jesse," I teased in a light-hearted tone. He laughed again and then moved closer to hold me in his arms.

It was so nice and warm being so close to him. I loved his hugs; they were always so comforting. They were different from Mello's hugs, but still just as glorious. I recalled a quote I'd heard in what seemed like forever ago. A person needs four hugs a day for survival, eight hugs a day for maintenance and twelve hugs a day for growth.

I went to sleep with a little more peace in my heart that night.

The next day, I spent with Mello. I signalled Matt with a pleading look; he got the hint.

"I'm going out, I'll be back in a while," he said quietly. It seemed as though these days the few words we spoke were said barely above a whisper, and always with a hint of sadness and defeat. Even the door closed solemnly behind Matt.

"Mello," I breathed into his neck, "please, please don't ever leave me."

"I'll always be with you Jesse." He'd been calling me Jesse when we were alone. It was a nickname I'd picked up when I was little, even before going to Wammy's House. It was a nickname only the people who were closest to me ever called me.

"Do you promise me Mello? Do you promise you'll be with me forever?" I'd lost Mello for the four some odd years after he'd left Wammy's. They were four of the hardest years of my life, and I wasn't sure if I could go through that again; if I could live without Mello. And this time, this time if things went wrong, it would be far longer than four years before I saw him again.

"I'll always be with you; in one way or another."

I didn't like the way he said that.

"Mello," I started timidly, "will... will you be with me?"

Without another word Mello picked me up bridal style and carried me across the room. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed myself into his chest. I loved the feeling of being in Mello's arms and so I just let him hold me. I would love to grow quite accustomed to the way this felt. I would love to grow quite accustomed to the feeling of our smooth skin pressing lightly against each other, my face nuzzling against his neck. I would love to grow quite accustomed to the way he smelt, the intoxicating scent of chocolate. Yes, I would love to grow quite accustomed indeed; but I silently feared that I would never have that chance.

We spent the night together, and I'm sure neither of us heard when or even if Matt came back. We woke up in each other's arms, starring into each other's eyes. Sometime during the night I must have started - and not stopped – crying, for Mello gently wiped away my tears.

And then from the living room we heard Mello's phone ring...

Author's Note: Sorry this one's a little short. It was going to be combined with the next chapter, but I think the next chapter deserves to be on its own, to have the full attention of the readers.

I'd like to give a shout-out to 'snowflakeyukiharuno' for the awesome idea I was given for the wedding :)

So let me run an idea by you guys. What do you guys think of me doing a song Fic? Like, if I turned one of my following stories into one? Let me know :)