A/N: Ok, this is it. I know you guys were beggin but we ha a storyline to follow. And let me just say, we kinda cried typing this and if we did a good enough job at writing, then you should probably cry too. After this, there are two chapters left of the story so don't stop reading after this!...oh and Happy Easter! lol Ok, please review!

Chapter 28: Daddy

Miya was on her way back to headquarters when the lights flickered out. She had run some errands that morning with Noah before dropping him off at day care, and she was curious to know if there were any updates on the case.

"What's going on?" Miya wondered as the hallway went dark. She picked up the pace a bit, not liking the fact that she couldn't see very well. She was about halfway there when she passed a computer monitor that caught her attention.

"All data deleted?" she read in confusion. "Why would the data be deleted? Something must be going on with the system." She shook her head and continued down the hallway quickly, now slightly worried. She could see the door to headquarters at the end when a bloodcurdling scream made her freeze. It sounded like Light. Something was wrong. Miya started to run now, desperate to make sure everything was okay.

"We're gonna die," she could hear Light screaming. "Watari, Ryuzaki…it'll be us next!"

"What?!" Miya gasped as a huge knot filled her stomach. "No…" she reached for the door, fumbling with her security ID. Her hands were shaking horribly and she could feel tears pushing her eyes. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew it was bad. She just wanted the door to open; to see L standing there waiting for her.

"Damn you!" Light was screaming. "Where are you Shinigami! Come out!" Miya burst through the doorway to see the team looking fearful. Everyone was scattered about; Mr. Yagami, Matsuda, Aizawa, Mogi; but Miya barely noticed them. The only thing she saw was the man lying in Light's arms, his dark eyes closed for the first time she'd ever seen.

"No," she gasped, running up and falling on her knees in front of him. She grabbed his hand and reached up to touch his cheek. It was still warm, but there was no expression on his face. "L…" Miya called, shaking his hand in hers. "L, please…no…" she was sobbing uncontrollably now. "L! God, no you can't leave me….please!" Everyone stood by, unsure of what to say or do.

"It's no use Miya," Light said finally. "He's dead." He was relishing in the moment; Miya just felt it. Miya's eyes were completely clouded with tears, and L's face faded away from her as they took over. "It had to have been the Shinigami," Light continued frantically. "Where'd you go?" He called, looking around for the invisible creature. She felt an anger rise up in her that was stronger than anything she'd ever felt.

"Get your hands off of him!" she screamed at Light, angry tears flooding down her face. She reached across L and shoved Light away, cradling the detective's head in her own lap.

"Please…" she sobbed, rocking slightly as she wiped her own tears from his cheek.

"Get her out of here," Light said. "She's too upset to think. We have to find that Shinigami. It's responsible for this!" He was yelling with all his emotion, and Miya knew she was going to be sick.

"Like hell it is!" she screamed. Her voice was cracked and she couldn't breathe. All she knew was that L was gone, and Light was the reason why. "You did this!" she cried, looking from Light back down to L. "How could you do this?!" She jumped up then and lunged for Light as Aizawa caught Ryuzaki's head in his arms. "Murderer!" she managed to scream as she crashed into Light, pounding her fists down on his chest. "Bastard! You're Kira! You're…" she couldn't even speak anymore as sobbing took over words. She felt an arm slide around her waist, pulling her away from Light. Miya thrashed against it, desperate to get away and make Light pay for what he'd done.

"Let go!" she screeched as Light watched her. "Let me go…" She looked up and saw the clouded image of Matsuda. He was pulling her back for the door.

"Miya…" he said. "Please…there's nothing you can do…"

"No!" Miya screamed, pointing to Light as Matsuda pulled her backwards. "No! He did this!" Matsuda reached the door and threw it open, pulling Miya from the room. Light was smiling just the slightest bit at her, sending her further into a fit of screams and chocked out sobs. Matsuda managed to close the door, and Miya lost any will to fight as the image of Ryuzaki's limp body disappeared with it.

Matsuda carried her down the hall and into a room with a few couches, placing Miya gently in a seat. She looked up at him with a tear stained face.

"Matsuda…" she barely was able to say. "Please tell me he's not gone…" Miya was sobbing uncontrollably, her whole body shaking as she buried her face in her hands. Matsuda didn't speak and instead sat across from her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She looked back at him and saw that a tear had fallen down his cheek as well. "What am I gonna do?" she said, her breath quick between words. "He was supposed to be there for me…for the baby…he was supposed…" Miya's crying overcame her again and Matsuda moved to sit beside her, pulling her into a hug. She buried her face into his shoulder and sobbed, filling the otherwise silent room.

Miya walked down the street in silence. She was headed toward the daycare, her face straight and her eyes ahead of her as she walked. She let all emotions leave her body, for Noah's sake. He didn't need to know. Not yet. She wasn't ready to tell him. She reached the door of the day care and stepped inside, heading down the hall to where Noah was waiting.

"Mommy!" he said happily. "Where's Mr. Panda? He told me yesterday that he was gonna come with you to pick me up every day!" Miya felt a stab in her chest as she shook her head.

"Not today sweetie," she said quickly. "Are you ready?" Noah nodded and took her hand as Miya led him from the building. They were about halfway to headquarters when Noah looked up at his mother.

"Are you okay mommy?" he asked. "You look sad." Miya didn't answer him. Instead she mustered a smile and changed the subject.

"What do you want for dinner?" she wondered.

"Cake!" Noah answered quickly, a little habit he'd picked up from Ryuzaki. "And ice cweam for dessert!" Miya squeezed his hand as they continued home, fighting the tears the rest of the way.

"Goodnight baby," Miya said to Noah, kissing his forehead as she pulled the blanket over him.

"Mommy, how come Mr. Panda didn't come tuck me in?" Noah wondered. It had become a habit for Ryuzaki over the past few days, and so his not showing up confused Noah. "He's supposed to finish the stowy he started."

"Maybe another time sweetie," Miya lied, knowing full well that L would never get to finish that tale. She handed Noah the panda quickly, not wanting to look at it, and rushed from the room before Noah could see the tears that were leaking down her cheeks. She closed the door behind her, leaning against it and covering her mouth to muffle the sobs that were escaping. She slid down the door to the floor and buried her face in her hands until she was certain she was calm enough to move. She then managed to stand, feeling her way along the wall to her dark room. She collapsed onto the bed and sobbed into the pillow that L usually claimed for himself. It smelled like sugar, and Miya clutched it closer to her face; longing, remembering. She was nearly asleep when she felt familiar hands lace around her waist, pulling her into a thinly muscular frame.

"I love you…" she heard L mumble in her ear, his voice low and thick.

"I love you too," Miya breathed as more tears slid from her eyes. She was surprised by the weakness of her own voice, and she felt L's hand wipe her cheek as she took in a deep, shaky breath.

"I miss you," L told her, his lips against her ear. Miya felt her body shaking as she spoke, her throat thick and her voice cracking.

"Why did you leave me…?" she managed to say. "You said you were going to be here…"

"I assure you, I'll never leave," he answered, kissing her cheek. "Whenever you need me, I'll be there." Miya rolled over and looked at his face through her tears. He was looking down at her with unblinking eyes, his features shadowed in by the messy hair falling over his forehead and the darkness of the room.

"You promise?" she whispered, reaching up to touch his face one last time.

"I promise," he answered, leaning toward her, his warm breath caressing her face. His lips were just an inch away from hers…

Miya gasped as a knock on the door woke her from her dream. She sat bolt upright as the handle turned.

"L?" she wondered quickly in what was almost desperation. Reality struck her a moment later, however, and this time she couldn't conceal the tears from the small boy who entered the room.

"Mommy?" Noah said when he saw her. "What's wrong?" He climbed onto her bed and hugged her, looking at her with big eyes. Miya sobbed and wrapped her arms around the boy, cradling him to her.

"Mommy…?" Noah said.

"I'm…s-so sorry baby…" she cried.

"Mommy, what's the matta?" Noah wondered, looking around the room. "Where's Mr. Panda?" Miya felt her heart literally break, and she sucked in a deep breath as she looked down at Noah.

"He's not…gonna c-come back sweetie…" she stuttered, brushing Noah's hair from his cheek.

"How come?" Noah said, his face falling. "Where'd he go?" Miya bit her lips as she struggled to find the words, all the while trying to stop herself from shaking.

"He's gone to a better place baby," she choked out.

"Where's better than with us?" Noah demanded, now getting frustrated. Miya closed her eyes a moment before looking back down at him.

"He died honey…" she told him softly as yet another tear slid down her cheek. She was fairly certain at this point that they were not going to stop.

"But…he said he was gonna be my new daddy…"

"I'm so s-sorry…" Miya repeated weakly. Noah looked up at her for a moment before his face scrunched up and he started to cry. Miya pulled him to her again.

"Shh…" she comforted. Noah pushed her away and turned away from her.

"Is it 'cause I told my wish?" he wondered through his tiny sniffles. "Is it 'cause…'cause I broke my birwday wish?" Miya shook her head.

"No baby, it's not your fault…" she whispered.

"Yes it is!" Noah choked. "Now he can't be my daddy no more!" Miya scooped him up under the shoulders and pulled him back into her lap. Noah didn't push her this time, and instead leaned his head on her chest as he cried softly to himself. Miya rested her cheek on the top of his head, rocking him back and forth as she shakily hummed a lullaby in an effort to calm them both.

"Ready Miya?" Matsuda asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. She turned her eyes from the window and looked down at the outfit she despised. Black dress that reached her knees. It was so somber and it did nothing but add further depression to the situation. Miya took a deep breath and nodded, looking down at the small boy who held her hand. He was in a little black suit clutching the stuffed animal he called Panda under his arm.

"Okay guys, let's go," Matsuda said, nodding toward the other members of the task force. L's death had been kept a secret, and so the funeral party was small. Aside from Miya and Noah, there was Matsuda, Mr. Yagami, Aizawa, and Light. It had been completely against Miya's wishes for Light to be there, but she was done trying to convince this team of his guilt. When they were ready to wake up and see that he was Kira, she would be there to say I told you so.

The group made their way to a nearby graveyard, and Miya kept her head down the whole way, focusing on the grass beneath her feet and the feet in front of her that led the way. It was a hazy morning, the sun hidden away behind a sheet of clouds. Finally they stopped, and Miya willed herself to look up. She raised her gaze to see a large tombstone in the shape of a cross. There was nothing written; no name, no expression of what a wonderful person he was. It was blank, and empty, and cold. Miya felt a tear roll down her cheek as she realized she was the only person left who would remember L for who he truly was. No one really knew him but her, what with Watari gone as well. Miya knew at that moment, she promised herself, that she would never forget L. She would never move on and never love another. He had been it, and now he was gone.

"Let's all say a few words," Matsuda suggested. "I'll start. Um…Ryuzaki you were the best detective I've ever know and I'm gonna miss you man." Miya smiled just the slightest as Mr. Yagami continued.

"We're going to keep working as if you had never gone," he said. "The world will still believe L to be alive, and we are going to continue this investigation as you would have liked. You can sleep peacefully now. It was a pleasure working under you, truly." Miya felt more tears fall down her face. They hit the ground and disappeared into the earth as another one fell to replace it.

"I…I know we didn't leave on the best of terms," Aizawa began hesitantly. "But I never hated you Ryuzaki. I hope you knew that." Aizawa finished his short speech as Light stepped up just a bit closer to the grave. Miya's free fist clenched as she held herself back.

"I will find Kira, Ryuzaki," Light said seriously. "He will not get away with what he's done. He will be brought to justice, we can promise you that." Miya's jaw tightened. She hated him so much it filled every part of her when he spoke. Thankfully he stepped back and quieted down, and so Miya took a deep breath and looked down at Noah.

"Anything you want to say to Mr. Panda, Noah?" she choked out. "Did you want to tell him goodbye?" Noah let go of her hand, his small face red from crying, and walked up to the stone. He placed Panda at the bottom of the headstone.

"I'll miss you daddy," he said quietly. Miya watched him from behind the blur of tears in her eyes as he stepped back toward her and took her hand again. Everyone turned toward her expectantly.

"Anything you'd like to say Miya?" Matsuda asked after a few minutes of silence. Miya took a deep breath and looked to the grave.

"He knows," she whispered. And he did. She knew that much. He was the best thing that ever came into her life, and she loved him with everything she had. He was the best father to Noah in the short time he'd been able to be, and for once he made Miya feel like her family was complete. L knew that, Miya could feel it. And as she looked at the stone in front of her, she knew she would see L again, whether it be in her dreams, or even after death. He wasn't gone. He'd be there, just like he said.

The team turned and headed back from where they'd come, away from L and on toward the investigation he'd left behind. Miya hesitated, looking around and marking every detail of her surroundings in her mind. She'd come back here, one day. But for now, as she turned and followed the others, Light walking in front of her, she knew what she had to do, and where she had to go.