Chapter twenty three:

There are a pair of twins comfortably wrapped in a blanket each.

One has blonde hair and has Mello's nose but Near's face as well skin color that is like Mellos.

The other has white hair with Mello's strong jaw, Near's lips and the rest of the child's features seem to be somewhere between Mello and Nears; as well as pale skin more like Near himself.

Seeing this makes Near feel so much relief that the children are obviously Mellos.

"They're beautiful." Near says fondly and he reaches out gently the side of his pointer finger along the blonde child's jaw then along the white haired child's cheek.

Lula smiles. "That they are. The blonde is a girl and the white one is a boy."

"If I die when I take down Light please help take care of them." Near's eyes tiredly flicker to Lula's eyes as he brings his hand back to his side.

"I promise." Lula assures him with a dip of her head. "Go ahead and get some rest." She says but Near shakes his slightly.

"Can I hold them?" He asks.

Lula nods and hands them over making sure that Near knows how to do it but it seems like hes a natural.

He holds his children when their eyes flutter open and seem to try to look around their environment.

The blonde haired one has grey eyes like Near himself while the white haired child has blue eyes like Mellos.

Near smiles proud and fondly at the two children.

This day has truly been a wonderful day.

Near can sense Mello looking at their children with pride which makes him grin.

The blonde then lets out a sneeze that has a puff of smoke coming from her nostrils.

"Well seems we know which one is the oldest." Near chuckles at this.

….. Over the next half of the month Near does his best to balance life with his children and getting ready for the attack…..

It hasn't been easy and Lula is trying to help him especially since he needs to be ready to take on Light.

Fighting Light is not going to be a walk in the park after all even if it is fire against water.

Near trusts Lula and he slips out with a cloak on to sneak into town as the sun begins to set. He sticks to the shadows without trouble as he moves through town. He gets to the castle and staying in the shadows he looks up to it. His eyes scan it since he wants to make sure that he can easily scope out good ways to get in without having to fight anyone else. He wants to have his full strength when fighting Light. His eyes end up flickering to a window where he blinks as he spots L which makes him wonder what he is doing there.

That is the room that is the holding room so the only reason Near can really think of why L is there is either because there is some strange way that they are trying to get information…. Or…. They are trying to use him to breed.

Near feels angry at how both options of why L is there then he blinks as he knows what he has to do. He hurries away knowing better than to linger there too long. He spots the man in charge of taking decrees from the current ruling including laws and decisions on certain matters. He follows him until he spots an opportunity in which he grabs the man pulling him into a dark alleyway with a hand over his mouth.

The man struggles trying to scream but Near speaks in a whisper to him.

"Hush. Stop your struggles and I will release you."

The man stops struggling in surprise.

Near releases him and the man takes a few steps away before turning to the other to gap at him.

"You… you're…." The man just gaps unable to find words in his jumbled brain.

Near smiles softly even if it can't really be seen. "I'm glad that you have remembered what my voice sounds like. Vincent."

Vincent swallows a little harshly as his sapphire eyes remain wide. He raises a pale hand and runs his fingers through his lush looking auburn locks. "Wow. I uh… Don't really know what to say."

Near waves it off. "It is ok. I'm just glad I found you."

Vincent blinks in surprise as his hand drops to his side freeing his hair. "You are?"

Near nods. "There are a few things that I wish to discuss with you. Do you have paper?"

"Of course." Vincent smiles and pulls a scroll out of the inside of his jacket pocket along with a pen. He unrolls the scroll and looks ready to write.

Near gives him a good job look before starting. "Good. Now you must not tell anyone until Light falls. You must keep this scroll a secret until it is time." He says and Vincent nods in understanding. "Then let's begin. First thing is that any prisoners from the rebellion are to be freed."

Vincent writes as Near speaks.

"Also the rebellions must be given a chance to live in the kingdom once again. They are not outlaws." Near explains. "Then comes a different part. If I am to die when I take down Light then until my children are able to take the throne there will be someone ruling and it will be…."

….. Tomorrow is the attack…..

Near is standing in his room that night looking at the cloak on his bed. He turns knowing that he needs to put the twins to bed. He goes over to the twins who were playing but now look rather tired. "Alyssa. Don't try to pull on your brothers hair." He scolds as the blonde tries to grab he brothers hair. He picks her up and she turns to him only to grab his nose.

Alyssa has always been the one to grab things curiously wanting to know the world around her. She has had a few times where her powers of fire have been shown like one time she started crying and her body lit on fire… luckily before any real damage was done her brother started crying too and all of the water that filled the sink at the time was thrown putting out the fire as well as soaking Lula.

Near felt lucky at the time that he was able to deflect the water away from himself with his own water.

Lula had to excuse herself to get into dry clothes and Alyssa was not happy about what happened while Near was glad that it hadn't ended up in injury.

He was worried that his son using powers over water and hitting Alyssa while she was on fire would cause damage but they had gotten lucky that she was alright… just a bit upset as she cried even louder.

Sam, the one with white hair, on the other hand seems to be excelling at using his powers even at such a young age…. Well as best as he can at this point…. A few times he had splashed Alyssa, Lula and even Near when waving his hands and accidentally sending water this way or that.

Near and Lula glad that they had covered anything that would be problematic if it got wet when baby proofing the house.

Sam is looking around only to grab onto a plush toy.

Near sets Alyssa down into the wooden crib that has a mattress and soft blankets as well as two pillow perfect for young ones.

With Alyssa in the crib Near picks Sam up and places him in the crib as well.

Near watches as his two children yawn softly and he smiles softly. "Tomorrow is a big day…" He begins in a soft voice. "Tomorrow I will have to go and when it is all over you both will be moved to the castle." He explains even if they won't really understand. "But no matter what happens I'm certain you will hear about me and your father as you grow up." He leans into the crib giving a gentle kiss to each of their foreheads as they seem to drift into sleep. "Sleep well my dear children." He then heads to bed himself to get as much rest as he can before tomorrow.

Meanwhile…..

L and Light stand at the holding rooms window looking outside.

"I wish I could bring you to my throne." Light says. "To stand beside me. To rule as my queen."

L turns to him for a few moments then looks out the window again.

"I will find a way to keep both you and however many children we end up having here." Light says in a promising voice. "I will do everything in my power to do so I promise you that." He looks to L who is still looking outside.

L can't help but smile softly at Light's words.

Both unsuspecting of what was going to go down tomorrow.