A/N: Thank you to all my reviewers, here's your next chapter.

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Escort to Happiness.

Thirteen.

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The sort of rage Mello harbored was almost cyclonic. It circled him and consumed him but was really nothing in comparison to the confusion and horror that Raito felt as he walked into the living area and saw the still damp blond hair that twirled around a charred cheek. And over that hair, nearly against it, was L, his eyes larger and darker than Raito could remember seeing them since the crash; but, strangely, L seemed semi-calm and almost a bit amused.

Near was standing confidently with Raito beside him, almost proud as he looked on at Mello with a smug face. Or as close to a smug face as someone like Near could come. Raito wasn't sure if L's amusement came from that interesting expression Near held or just the situation as a whole but Raito was sure of one thing: it was time to get the fuck out of here.

He turned on his heel and that triggered Mello's outburst, "It's you! Hey, you sick freak, I got you now, you're not going anywhere," and with that, Mello ran past both Near and Rosie and tackled Raito with all the force of a three-hundred pound footballer. Raito's yelp was cut short as both of them went crashing to the ground and Rosie gasped loudly, her eyes bugging out of her head.

"MELLO!" she cried, having never seen her employee go so far as to throw himself on someone.

Near, thoroughly surprised and a mite bit heated, called down to the floor, "Mello, stop that this minute - Raito has done noth - M-Mello!" Near sidestepped the two of them as they knocked over one of the chairs pushed in around the dinner table.

Raito had diverted from trying to talk some sense into the young man and was currently attempting to scratch out Mello's eyes. Mello was tearing at clothes and punching at empty spaces as they tossed and rolled around the gray carpet. Profanities were exchanged and L found it highly amusing to hear Raito matching Mello's vast vocabulary. The two of them rolled to the left and knocked over a small table and a phone and small lamp fell to the floor.

"Oh, Albert, can't you stop them?" Rosie cried, looking to her husband who seemed at a loss.

He lifted a foot to let them pass. "Um… all right now, boys, that's enough…"

"That isn't helping," Rosie crowed in anguish.

Near was still following them around, shuffling as fast as they rolled. "Mello, Raito is my guest, leave him alone! Mel-" but to no avail, as they came back around, Near was swept up in the cyclone that was Mello's rage. He toppled over and was in the middle of the fight, which seemed to suit Mello just fine as he shouted, "Come on, Near, you bitch, I'll whoop you both!"

"L," came the strangled cry that was from Raito. "Do something!"

L had taken light on one of the dining room chairs, out of the way of the struggle, and seemed intrigued by Raito's call for him. He raised an eyebrow, following the three of them around the room with his eyes. "What can I do?"

"Control this beast," he said, muffled, because of Near's hair in his mouth.

Rosie nodded, holding the bottles of wine out of their reach. "Yes, please do something!"

L sighed and nodded. He supposed it had gotten out of hand, what with little Near now involved, and he got off of his perch. The trio came rumbling around in some resemblance of an oval and L anticipated their next move, reaching down quickly, and snatching Mello by the back of the collar out of the confusion. Due to lack of glue, the rest of the ball fell apart and Near and Raito lay on the floor in a sprawl, panting and sweating.

"What the fuck are you doing, L? Let me go, goddammit! That's the stalker right there and Near knew this whole time and-"

"Excuse us for a moment," L said politely and, with Mello in tow, went to a closet by the kitchen threshold, one used for coats and hats. Everyone in the room stared as L shut the door behind them.

It was dark in the closet, and cramped, and there were heavy wintertime coats that smelled of mothballs. Mello jerked away from L's hold on him and coughed and sneezed, batting away the coats.

"What is it, L? Just what the fuck is it? Can't you see I'm busy-"

"Now, Mello," L hummed boredly, "isn't this all a bit middle school?"

"Middle school?" Mello shrieked.

"Indeed. Raito has done nothing worth such a pummeling and neither has Near."

Mello paused for a moment and in the darkness, the only sounds were their breathing and, outside the door, Raito going off. "Wait," Mello said, "you know him?"

"I do. He works at IDM with me, on the fourth floor. He and I work closely."

"What the fuck? Why didn't-"

"I did not know it was him stalking you. This comes as a surprise to me too," L hummed and if Mello could have made out his expression, he would have most certainly found some version of guilt. "But either way, he has done nothing if not doted upon you, am I right?"

"He's been spying on me, L!"

"So what if he has? If it was to make you happy-"

"That's not going to make me happy, L! It's just not," Mello cried with some desperation, and he pushed L against the wall of jackets behind him. The adrenaline was still running through his body, charging him, and he felt the immense need to get this through to the man, "That's not what I want! It's the same reason you can't buy me food or shit; I'd rather just have…"

Light rained in as the door was opened and four pairs of eyes were on them – Mello with L pinned to the wall, fingers anxiously clutching at his shirt.

"O-Oh, my," Rosie stammered.

Mello blushed furiously and let go, as if having touched something dirty. "Agh, Rosie, don't be ridiculous! Get me out of here," he said, pushing past her into the dining room. He looked to the side, at Raito, who was quite a mess, his two-hundred dollar tan blazer torn to ribbons and hair as if he had just had furious, gratifying sex. Raito glared at Mello lightly, smoothing back his hair and finally turned to L as he came out of the closet as well.

"Well, what have you got to say for yourself?" he questioned.

L nodded sympathetically. "Raito, I have told Mello."

"Finally!"

"And we are both highly disappointed that you did not express your love for him in a civilized, social manner."

"… What?"

"Yeah," Mello interjected, stomping his foot in Raito's direction. "I mean, I'm not interested, but you didn't have to be so secretive and follow me and send me flowers and shit. Fucking hell."

Raito gasped, flabbergasted.

Near sighed, turning his head to the side with folded arms.

"It's not like I would be caught dead in a relationship with you, you filthy-" Raito began but was silenced by L's severe glance over Mello's shoulder. Raito glared vehemently and raised an eyebrow to L. L answered with the raising of both eyebrows and Raito sighed, more or less groaned, and turned to their host.

"Mrs. Fontello, I'm sorry about all the commotion. Please allow me to pay for the furniture we damaged." He reached back into his pocket and unfurled a few twenties from a clamp of money.

Mello blinked. "Yeah, L, I can see he works with you…"

L smiled and then looked to Rosie as she fawned over Raito for his generous contribution and Albert awkwardly trying to refuse the money.

"Rosie, you don't take guests' money…"

"Nonsense!" She flashed a smile at Mello. "He's got plenty to go around, right?"

Mello gasped and pouted.

"So, what say we get dinner served, all right?" she asked everyone, tucking the roll of money into her pocket.

There was time that went by and none of the awkwardness or tension in the room dissipated even though L let none of it effect him. While Rosie and Albert were bringing out dishes and setting them around the table, the four guests had to find places to sit and everyone seemed to want to sit next to L: Mello to make Near jealous; Raito to berate him; Near to not be ignored. But the table was relatively small and so Mello ended up on L's left and Near on his right and Raito across the table, between the two hosts.

When all the food was set down, there was a thick silence.

Rosie cleared her throat and wondered aloud, "Well, would anyone like to say a little something?"

"I would," Mello announced, catching everyone's attention. He neglected to shut his eyes and instead stared harshly at Raito. "Dear God, please punish creepy stalkers. Make them pay for the grief and the paranoia their victims have suffered through. Make them pay for the nights when their victims wondered if their stalker would bust through their bedroom window and attempt to rape them. In Your name, we pray, amen."

"A-Amen," Albert murmured, confused, and opening one eye to see if anyone else had even bothered.

Raito rolled his eyes.

"Beautiful sermon, Mello," L observed, cutting himself a piece of apple pie.

Mello eyed the pie and said, "Is that all you're having?"

"No. I thought I smelled blueberry pie, too."

"Ugh."

Rosie, clearly beside herself with exhaustion of the constant bickering, had decided to drink herself into contentment. She had two glasses of wine beside her plate: one red, one white, and took turns sipping. Albert tried to coax her into pacing herself but she only poured more.

"Are you even old enough to have wine?" Mello asked Near, leaning to see him.

Near looked at him with defiance and picked up his glass to drain the entire thing of white wine. He held the glass with both hands and, after a long moment, had to stop halfway, out of breath and pink in the face.

Mello sputtered laughter, spraying bits of food across the table and Raito cried out in disgust, shielding his plate with his arms. Near chuffed lightly and smiled at the unhappy look on Raito's face.

"Oh, Near, come on now," Raito said, sighing, "don't let your drink get the best of you."

"I have had wine before, Mello, and age is just a number," Near said confidently.

"That's right!" Rosie raised her glass. "And we certainly are old enough, aren't we, Albert?"

Albert shook his head. "That doesn't mean get silly with it."

Rosie ignored him. "Let's toast! Everyone raise your glasses to Near and Mello, my bright young employees! May they hold their liquor a-and always appreciate the beauty of sunflowers!"

"Steady, dear," Albert said, holding her as she tipped in her chair.

"To Near and Mello!"

"To Near and Mello," L echoed, sipping at his red wine. He looked on either side of himself and smiled at both of them. Near returned his smile kindly; despite his disapproval for L's company, he suddenly felt that L didn't mean anything harsh by accepting Mello's invitation. Near downed the rest of his glass and watched as L started on his third piece of pie.

The rest of dinner went as well as it possibly could: another squabble or two broke out between Mello and Near and Rosie halfway thwarted it with another toast; L was delighted when Rosie brought out the blueberry pie that was to be desert and Raito admonished him for eating half of the apple pie.

The party was moved into the living area onto the couches covered in plastic. But the boys didn't think it would be much of a problem until L tried to sit in his usual manner and fell to the ground with a thud. Mello laughed and was grinning impishly when L looked up at him. "See, L? this is why we sit this way," Mello said, sitting and slipping to the floor as well.

Raito found a plush chair to sit in and made himself comfortable, making sure he wouldn't fall off.

"Who'd like coffee with their pie?" Rosie asked, settling onto the couch adjacent from L, Mello and Near's.

Most raised their hand and Near stood up from the couch like a soldier ready to do his duty. "I would like to get the coffee, Mrs. Fontello," he said with purpose in his voice.

Mello rolled his eyes. "Sheesh, fuckin' chill."

"Oh, sure, Near. Cups are in the cupboard; would you like Albert to help you?"

"No thank you," Near said and disappeared into the kitchen, some kind of serene smile on his face. It seemed he was in his element. L watched him go and sat his plate down beside Mello and walked for the kitchen too.

Mello frowned, shaking his fork after the man. "Aw, can't you let him do his own thing, L?" Mello pouted when L waved at him dismissively and he turned around, huffing. Rosie and Raito eyed him knowingly and Albert studied his pie.

In the kitchen, Near had the coffee pot out and was to the left of the stove range, the cabinet was open and Near was on his toes with an outstretched hand. L watched for a second, entertained by the pitiful little cries escaping Near as he tried his hardest to reach. Then, Near felt someone's eyes upon him, and turned in mid-reach to stare at the man across the linoleum.

"Oh, L," he greeted, taking his hand away and standing at attention.

L chuckled, "At ease, Near." He walked up to him and looked interestedly at the coffee mugs on the second shelf. "Would you like some assistance?"

"I would…" Near confessed, eyeing the hateful shelf. "I – eek!" Near yipped as L picked him up under the arms and held him eye-level with the cups. Near blushed furiously as he tried to adjust himself to his new surroundings.

"Go ahead," L said gently.

Near nodded and grabbed the cups, two by two, and finally when he had all six, L let him down and the cups were deposited onto the counter by the coffee pot. Both Near and L worked together in silence to get the cups poured and L worked submissively under Near's direction when it came to how much cream and sugar to pour. When the cups were filled, Near asked gingerly, gaze lowered to his cup, "Why didn't you tell Mello the truth?"

L didn't falter: " Because I would like for him to continue talking to me."

"But you'll have to tell him sometime… won't you?"

"Oh, of course. But I am a procrastinator," L said as if there was nothing wrong with that and placed the cups on a serving tray.

Near turned to look the man in the eye. "I don't understand why it matters, L. You are back at the company, everything is right again. Mello has gotten so many gifts already… we could… you could so easily step out of his life."

"You know it's not so easy-"

"It is," Near said impatiently.

L sighed. "I'm fond of him. He…" L set the last cup onto he tray and straightened, ruminated, as if looking for the right word or phrase and settled on: "He makes me happy."

Near stared at the floor, clutched his fist tightly. "Why? I don't understand. He is rude, brash, loud and uncouth. He decimates everything he touches."

"He has not decimated me," L said matter-of-factly but Near didn't seem in the mood for facts and felt odd to say the least, as he couldn't remember a time he had nothing logical to say by cause of emotions.

"Near," L said gently, smoothing the boy's hair down as it was still a bit mussed from his earlier tussle. "You shouldn't waste energy worrying about me. Use your time for more important things… Like that proposal for a grounding project to keep us from associating with Oak Group."

Near gasped, startled, and looked up. "You found it," he said, awed.

"Well, Raito gave it to me. I am thoroughly impressed; I knew you would make a fine asset to the company."

Near seemed embarrassed almost for the discovery and thought, Raito was paying attention after all…

"You don't mind me proposing it to the board, do you?"

Near's eyes widened. "No, not at all, L!"

He smirked. "Good. Now, let's get this cof-"

"Hey!" Mello came stomping into the kitchen, a confused scowl directed at Near. "What's going on in here? Are you guys drinking it all yourself?"

"We're coming, Mello," L said, leaving Near to do the serving and as Mello walked out by L's side, he glared back at Near but Near didn't seem to notice and his smile was bright.

At the end of the night, Rosie had sobered up and was teasing Albert about not drinking to the best of his abilities. Even though there was quite a bit of animosity between certain people, the whole party lasted longer than anyone could have guessed at the beginning of the night. It was eleven when Rosie and Albert were bidding farewell to their guests and Mello and Near watched each other with some form of curiosity as they each entered passenger sides of opposite cars.

"I'll be right there," L and Raito said to their prospective passengers and the two of them met on the sidewalk.

"Well, Mr. Lawliet, what have you got to say for yourself?" Raito asked, foot tapping on the concrete.

L smiled apologetically and touched Raito's arm. "You can't be mad at me, Raito, can you? In what way does this lie affect you?"

"In what way?" he cried shrilly. "In what way! How about my reputation? He thinks I'm a creep."

"Why do you care what Mello thinks?"

"I-I don't, but-"

"But…?"

Raito threw his arms into the air. "Oh, I give up! L, you'll tell him, won't you? That this entire thing has been a charade, a sham? Don't you think he deserves to know?"

L eyed him shrewdly. "I do, but you couldn't care less, could you?"

"You're right, I couldn't. But this is annoying. My suit is in shreds. He has some of my hair under his fingernails. I'm tired of it."

L sighed tiredly, shaking his head with slight mirth. "Take Near home safely," he said, walking away towards his car.

"Home? The night is young; we might as well go drinking," Raito said, laughing at L's expression, and got into his car.

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It was late but Mello was a ball of excitement and it showed in the way he talked on the way home: fevered and heated, although with some rage – how dare Raito show his face at the party? – it was true thrill that shone in his eyes. The streetlights came in waves over his body as he twisted around in L's leather seat and that same thrill was in his eyes when he asked L up to his apartment.

"-sure I got this straight," Mello said as they walked into the darkened apartment and L flipped the light switch. "You and Raito and Near all worked together at that IDM place and you're all friends? How'd you even manage in such a huge place?"

"Well, Raito and I have to work closely on some issues…" L said, looking around at the corpses of dried sunflowers on the floor.

Mello followed his gaze. "Oh, yeah. I never got rid of those."

L bent down to gather a few. "I'll help you," he said and remembered his first conversation with Rosie, ordering the flowers. Mello bent as well and when they were all picked up, Mello motioned for L to hand his over and he walked over to the window, pushing it up.

L watched as Mello threw them down and people from below cried out, being showered with dead flowers.

"Aw, shut up," Mello shouted, slamming the window shut.

"Hey! Stop yelling!" Pounding from the old woman below and her broom.

L looked down. "Who is that?"

Mello groaned. "Nobody…"

L didn't entirely understand but looked to Mello, his eyes narrowing at the floor and the flower petal stuck to his finger. "Mello," L began and his throat was dry. "I would like to talk to you about Matt…"

Mello rolled his eyes and turned away. "Aw, come on, L… what for? It's something I'd rather not think about. Really. What a buzz kill."

"I know, but I really-"

"L-"

"Mello-" Let me say this before I can't anymore.

"Fine!" Mello snapped, taking L by the wrist and dragging him into the small hallway, into the bedroom. "Fine, okay, this is were we slept and this was his bunk," Mello said, pointing towards the top bunk that was unmade but rarely slept in. "I gave the Goodwill his clothes and his mom took everything else. He was my best friend and I hate the fuck out of that bastard for getting himself killed. Okay? That enough for you?" Mello turned to L, fighting the saline at his eyes.

L nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry, Mello."

"Oh, hell, don't apologize," Mello said gruffly and sat on the bottom bunk heavily. L watched for a second, looked around the room curiously, and came back to Mello. He sat beside him and touched the boy's shoulder, where it was silky and without scar. Mello eyed him suspiciously. "You're not going to say something deep, are you? Because I don't feel like it."

"I don't think I could come up with anything on such sort notice."

"Okay."

They sat side-by-side for a few minutes until it almost seemed pathetic to do so, and Mello was about to get up, maybe do the hospitable thing and offer L some rice, but L took his shoulder again. "What?" Mello asked, and L's eyes were veiled by his hair. "Hey, L? You okay?"

"I'm sorry," he said and leaned in and was grateful when Mello accepted the embrace.

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To be continued.

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A/N: Did a lot of work on the old comp today. Busy, busy, but found time for my writing itch. Comments? Revelations? Hit me.