Anna's POV

I snuggled closer to L as he wrapped his arms around me. After a long day occupied with taking care of the baby, running after three teenagers, finishing unnecessary paperwork for the boys' adoption, and puzzles with Near, we were completely exhausted. I was just about to slip into unconsciousness when it happened. The crying at the end of the bed where the basinet was propped up. I whimpered and hid my face in the crook of L's neck, "L, your daughter wants you." I murmured.

L groaned and rolled onto his side, "No, it's your turn." He gave me a tiny shove, which I returned.

"No, I got her last time." I reminded him, "Now go retrieve your child."

"You're the one that had her." He accused.

I smirked to myself, "That was your fault." L gave a sleepy chuckle before pushing himself away from me. Before I knew it, the crying had stopped. I opened my eyes as I felt a weight on the bed. L was sitting with his knees pulled to his chest, with little Gia in his arms. I forced myself to sit up next to him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and placed a kiss on his cheek before resting my head on his shoulder, "She's such a daddy's girl." I mentioned. Gia's green eyes stared up at L, hitting him slightly as she was still too young to really control her movements voluntarily. He glanced at me, smiling to himself and then looking back to the baby. The little hair she had was black like his. I watched him for a moment. He was exhausted. Neither of us had really slept in the past month due to the constant crying. The only time Gia didn't really cry often, but when she wanted something she was not going to stop until she had it. She seemed to be fighting off sleep, but soon lost the battle and drifted off in L's arms.

"She can just stay here tonight." L decided and we both moved away from one another, putting her between us. She twitched slightly when L let go of her, but didn't wake up. I placed a light kiss on L's lips before lying down next to Gia. L followed suit and took one of my hands in his resting them just above Gia, "You know I love you right?" His voice was quiet for fear of waking Gia.

I smiled, "Of course I do. I love you too. Now go to sleep, L. You look like dead."

A small chuckle escaped his lips and he placed a free hand on Gia's little hand, "Good night, Anna."

L's POV

I woke up to a smiling baby girl. Her little limbs flinging about. Past Gia was Anna, eyes still closed and hair falling into her face. I brushed it away, smiling. I'm still not entirely sure how this happened and how all of this fell into place, but I was glad it did. After a moment of just thinking over the events of the past few years, I started to get out of bed.

"Hey, you." I turned back to see Anna looking up at me sleepily.

I leaned over and kissed her forehead, "Morning, Anna."

Anna moved to sit up and pressed her lips to mine, running her fingers through my hair with one hand and propping herself up with the other one. "Happy birthday, love."

I smiled and kissed her cheek before getting out of bed and picking up Gia, "Thank you." I walked into the nursery and deposited Gia on the changing table. I kept one hand on her tummy as I opened the dresser looking for the things I needed. I pulled out the diaper and wipes and powder.

Anna came in while I was changing Gia. I finished up and felt Anna wrap her arms around my wait from behind, "You need to go get dressed." I turned around to face her. She had on a skeleton tank top, very festive. I gave her a kiss before leaving the room to change into my usual attire.

When I got back to the nursery, Anna was putting little mittens on Gia's tiny hands. "There you go, baby girl. All ready for Halloween." She giggled picking her up carefully. Anna's eyes turned to me and she smiled, "Look how cute she is." Anna moved to show me Gia's outfit. It was a long sleeve orange sweater that read: 'So cute, it's scary' in bold, black letters and a pair of black leggings and orange socks and orange mittens.

"I like it." I answered throwing my arm around Anna and leading her out to the kitchen where the boys were all waiting.

"Happy birthday, L!" The all chimed. I nodded my thanks and grabbed a bottle from the fridge and started warming it up.

"Let me hold her!" Mello demanded. Of the three, Mello was the one who always wanted to be holding her.

They each had their own way of bonding with her though. Mello was a very physical person and always wanted to have Gia in his arms. He wouldn't really say anything to her, just having the contact was enough for him. Matt, although absorbed in his game, would talk to her. Most of the time, he'd be narrating what was going on in his game. If he lost, he'd blame the baby for distracting him in a teasing voice, and if he won, he'd give her a soft hi-five and tell her he'd teach her how to play when she was old enough to not try and eat his controllers. Matt also had a tendency to call her 'little sister' rather than Gia. Near rarely spent time with the baby himself. Typically, he'd sit with Anna when she was with the baby alone and read aloud to both of them or sit in silence, his head on Anna's shoulder and his index finger being gripped tightly by Gia. Anna handed off Gia to Mello and he stroked her cheek lovingly.

"Morning, Gia." Mello said to the little girl. Matt glanced up from his game and gave a smirk before returning to his game.

"So what are you three doing today?" Anna asked.

Mello looked up from Gia, "Trick or treating. We can take Gia if you want." He offered. Anna looked up at me skeptically and I shrugged indifferently. I didn't see anything wrong with it. Mello was almost sixteen and I knew he would watch out for the baby.

Anna turned back to him, "No, I think we'll just keep her here. You three have fun."

"Oh, come on. Let us take our sister for a little bit. We'll take her for an hour and bring her back then go out again." Matt said putting down the game.

"It would give you both a small break." Near joined in taking a sip of his apple juice.

Anna seemed a little taken aback by their agreement. The three of them rarely agreed on anything. Anna looked back up at me. I leaned against the kitchen counter and took a bite of a strawberry, "It's up to you, mom." I teased.

She bit her lip and turned back to the boys, "I guess, but only an hour and please be careful." The boys, well Matt and Mello, cheered before taking the baby into the other room, saying they had a surprise. Near followed.

Anna glanced up at me, "You think they'll be okay?"

I nodded looking after them, "It'll be fine."

Near's POV

"You're doing it wrong." Matt informed Mello as they struggled to get Gia's shirt off.

"No I'm not, now go get the costume." Matt rolled his eyes, but went and grabbed the orange ball of fabric. I heard Gia start to whimper as Mello attempted to remove the leggings.

"Mello, let me do it." I gave him a tiny shove and finished changing her into her pumpkin costume. "There."

Mello picked up Gia and flipped up the hood, revealing a little green leaf. The costume Matt and Mello had picked out was ultimately a sack. The old thing it really exposed was her hands and face. "Come on." Matt and I followed Mello out to the kitchen where Anna was talking with L. "Look."

Anna turned around and looked at the bundle in Mello's hands and smiled. I could have sworn Anna was tearing up. "Oh, you three." L just smiled to himself. She got up and pulled us all into a tight hug.

Anna's POV

"Be safe." I requested. They left the house, Mello pulling a little red wagon with Near sitting in it holding Gia on his lap and playing with the bear I'd given to him.

I watched them leave and L wrapped his arms around my waist before pressing his lips to my cheek. "They'll be fine." I leaned back into him. "I know."

I smiled and turned to face him, wrapping my arms around him, "So we have an hour. What do you want to do, birthday boy?"

L gave me a small smile and dragged me back inside and down the hall to our room. We laid down on top of the sheets and cuddled into one another. "Hey, Anna?" I looked up and he kissed me lightly, "seven."

I smiled and kissed him a little harder, "Seven." I echoed. Seven years with L. He pulled me closer and rested my head on his chest.

"So I have a serious question to ask you." He informed me.

"Hmm?" I asked lacing my fingers through his.

"We haven't really talked about it, but…" His voice trailed off for a moment. He unlaced our fingers and slipped a silver band onto my finger. I examined it for a moment. It was a simple silver band with a lovely circular diamond resting on it. I looked back up to him, "I figured there's a ninety percent chance you'd say yes anyways." It took me a minute to fully register what was happening. When I did I felt like my face was about to rip in half from how hard I was smiling. I kissed L hard and he pulled me on top of him, deepening the kiss. "Can I take that as a yes?" He asked when we broke for air. I nodded and kissed him again. Everything was falling into place.