Anna's POV

The door opened as I finished zipping Near into one of my winter jackets. "Are you almost ready to go?"

I didn't look up, "One second." I flipped the hood up and brushed a few stray hairs off of Near's forehead. "Sweetie, go find Watari and the others. We'll be down in a minute." I watched Near brush past L through the door in my coat. It was too big for him. Matt and Mello had borrowed L's. I hadn't been surprised when it snowed, just a tad inconvenienced. I stood up and threw my bag over my shoulder and looked to L. "I'm going to have to go get their things from Wammy's."

He nodded, "I'll go with you."

I looked him over for a moment before shaking my head, "That won't be necessary."

I tried to brush past him, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me to a halt, "Anna, it's dangerous."

"Exactly, that's why one of us has to stay here and take care of the kids." I said through clenched teeth, meeting his eye.

"Fine, I'll go you stay here." He compromised.

"No."

"Why not?"

"This isn't up for debate, L."

"I'd say you were having a lover's quarrel, but from what I've seen you two aren't exactly lovers anymore."
I turned on my heels and frowned deeply when my eyes landed on the one person who was quickly becoming latest thorn in my side. "Beyond, what the hell are you doing here?" I spat.

Beyond held up his hands in defense, "I expected you to be at the next hotel by now. I was getting impatient. So I came to see if you had checked out and ran into your kid. The one that's permanently attached to Anna." He clarified with a sick smile. "Anyways, I come baring news." He swept his arms across his chest, opening himself up to us theatrically.

"You found Ace Robertson?" L asked hopefully.

Beyond shook his head and began pacing slightly, "No, but I do know where he was." He paused and looked between us. Taking our silence as a cue, he continued, "He was at Wammy's house last night." L and I looked to one another. "Before you two get any ideas about worst cases, no one was there. Roger was at the second orphanage and you two are here with the rugrats."

"Is he still there?" I asked. B shrugged.

"Then how do you know he was there? From what you're saying there were no witnesses." L challenged and Beyond smirked.

"I have my ways, Lawliet, trust me."

I leaned against the doorframe, "Not as far as I could throw you. L, take the boys to the hotel. B get the hell out and call when you have something useful."

"Where are you going?" B asked as L called my name again.

"Wammy's I have things to get."

"I'll go with you." Beyond decided.

I looked to L who shrugged, but didn't look content with the idea. I shook my head, "I've got this one."

I was almost out the door when he grabbed my wrist. I rounded on him to find him much closer than I'd expected. I took a step back. "I insist, Anna."

I pulled my wrist from his grasp, "Fine, but one foot out of line and I swear I'll put a bullet through your skull. Do I make myself clear?"

He shot me a smiled and brushed past me, "Crystal."

L's POV

Once Beyond was out the door I looked to Anna, "You aren't serious."

Anna shrugged, "I don't think I really have a choice with this one. Besides it might be good to have some backup." She mused, but refused to look at me. She was just as uncomfortable going anywhere with B as I was of her going.

"Let me go with him. I can keep an eye on him and get what the boys need."

Anna looked up at that shaking her head, "No. Forgive me, but I don't trust you alone with him."

"And I don't trust him alone with you. Anna, please this is ridiculous." I whispered harshly. She looked away, but said nothing. "You used to be so sensible about these things."

She looked back to me and frowned deeply, "And you used to be honest."

"Stop bringing up the past, I'm trying."

She sighed, "I know you are. L, just trust me. I'll be okay we'll only be gone for a few hours."

We watched one another in silence as I contemplated her words. I knew Anna could handle herself, but that didn't mean I wanted her in a position that she had to defend herself. Still this was Anna and she wasn't going to relent on what she'd decided. Carefully, I approached her and placed a kiss on her forehead, "Alright, be safe." She nodded and then she was gone.

Anna's POV

"Can I drive?" Beyond asked as I met him at the car.

My eyes flickered up from where I was trying I was trying to fit the key into the lock. "Absolutely not. I'd like to make it there and back alive." I could feel Beyond's eyes on me as I went back to unlocking the doors of what Mello had claimed as his car. "Get in." I commanded and Beyond did as he was told. Both doors were slammed shut tightly and I started up the car before driving off toward Wammy's.

"You really aren't going to forgive him." Beyond mused looking out the window at the lightly falling snow. We'd been driving for almost half an hour in a slightly uncomfortable silence.

"I've already forgiven him." I answered continuing to watch the snow covered road.

"Yet you're still sleeping in separate beds." I spared Beyond a glance. He hadn't even looked to me. His chocolate eyes were still locked on the passing scenery. "It looks like the snow is going to get worse."

I returned my gaze to the road, "Let's just hope it doesn't snow too hard before we get to the house. We should be there soon." I felt Beyond's eyes fall on me.

"I know. We should stop by the cemetary. I'd like to pay my respects to… well myself."

I glanced at him, "No. We're getting the stuff for the boys and getting back to them. No stops along the way."

"Whatever you say. Now tell me, you and L?" Beyond asked looking to me.

"That's none of your concern." I pulled the car into the front of the orphanage, "Get out of my car." I pulled my gun out of my bag and slammed the door of the car shut behind me. Beyond followed me into the house. I went through each room carefully with BB at my heels. When I was satisfied, I put the gun in my back pocket, "All clear. Now let's get the kid's stuff." I went into Matt's room first and started gathering things I thought he would need for however long this case was going to take.

"You might as well just bring his whole room."

I looked up to Beyond who was eating a chocolate bar he's gotten from God knows where and sitting on Matt's bed. "Shut up."

"I'm just saying. I don't think he'll need all that. How long are you planning on this lasting? Because I can assure you, I plan on stopping Ace very soon. With L's help of course. I can't very well show up at a police station, I'm dead." Beyond grumbled bitterly.

I didn't respond as I continued to pile Matt's things into a bag. "Alright, now for Mello." I put Matt's bag down in the hallway and walked into Mello's room. The first thing I noticed was the window. "Oh no." Snow was falling like crazy outside, we weren't going to be leaving tonight.

"Oh look. A storm."

I brushed past Beyond and went to the kitchen and pressed the numbers for the hotel. A man answered, "Room 348, please." I waited to be connected.

After three rings, L's voice came through the phone. "Anna, are you alright?"

"Everything's fine, but the weather is not agreeing with us." I sighed hopping up onto the counter.

"Meaning?" He asked forcefully.

I bit my lip, "Meaning I won't be back tonight. We have to wait until the storm clears."

I heard a frustrated sigh on the other end, "This is why I said I would go."

"L, please just go take care of the kids. Make sure they're all in bed by eleven. Gia will probably take a bottle soon and be down by seven."

"I know, Anna. Please be safe tonight."

I nodded, "You too."

"Anna?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

I paused for a moment and took a deep breath. Why was I getting so emotional all of a sudden? "I love you too. I'll see you tomorrow." I hung up.

Mello's POV

I heard L slam the phone onto the receiver and looked to Matt. "We can't sit around and wait for Anna to get back."

"Well what do you suggest, Mels?" He asked not looking up from his stupid videogame.

"Well, I think we should go after this Ace guy. I mean, we've helped solve cases before. This is what we trained our whole lives for. We might as well start now and we'll be putting L and Anna's minds to ease while we get some practice in." I rationalized.

Matt seemed to pause in his game before he put it down completely and looked up at me through his goggles. "Are you serious?"

"Like a heart attack."

Matt laughed once, eyes flickering down to the game and then back to me, "Too soon. What's the plan?"

"Well, first we need to get as much information on this guy as we can. Can you do that?"

"Get me a laptop." Matt commanded.

I pulled Near's out from under the bed and slid it to him. He flipped it open. "It needs a password." I growled. Stupid Near. Matt glanced up at me and typed something in and the screen opened. "How did you know-"

"Near talks in his sleep. Now B said he was in the prison in LA… let's just…" Matt's voice trailed off as page after page of code appeared on the screen. I watched Matt type away quickly and efficiently. After a few minutes he smiled as the mainframe of the Los Angeles police department popped up, "I'm in." He looked up at me, "I've always wanted to say that."

I smacked him upside the head, "Alright, let's find Robertson."

Matt nodded and typed away, "Found him." I leaned over his shoulder. "This guy killed eleven kids." Matt whispered.

"Sick bastard. We still have to find him, but this is going to be dangerous."

I watched Matt's eyes light up before he looked at me, "Alright, let's catch a criminal."