Authors Note: HEYO! XD Please tell me what you think; I would love to know XD I own nothing and no one apart from the following:

JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW: I have taken creative liberties with middle names, so please take that into consideration. Also, I've only seen the Anime and have only JUST started the Manga.

This is my FIRST Death Note fic, so I suppose you could say I'm new to the Fandom! Also, I live in England, I don't know Japanese, so any Japanese I use in this story I get from Google Translate XD

Please, please review XD

P.S. This is an AU - Light was never Kira, but still helped during the investigation; obviously, Light and L did not die; the Kira case took 1 year to clear up, not (about) 7; set in 2016. I apologise for OOCness, but it IS an AU ;)

ALSO: I know it's been a while, but I've been having a lot of issues with family, University, my anxiety, etc. It's kind of knocked me off of my writing. Trust me when I say I'm trying to write for my fics as fast as I can.

Chapter 10

L

I was on my feet long before the door had a chance to close, almost tripping over. I would have landed flat on my face if it wasn't for Light. I could practically feel him shaking next to me, his nerves more prominent with the inevitability of, finally, meeting the boys. Taking his hand, I waited until he looked at me to give him a small smile, a reassuring smile.

"L!" I heard voices yell.

I had just enough time to let go of Light's hand before I was tackled by three bodies. I landed on my back, two bodies either side of me, with one laying on my chest. All the breath had whooshed out of my lungs, my head thumping on the floor. Not the worst pain I had ever felt, but it wasn't exactly pleasant. I wasted no time in wrapping my arms around them, however, hugging them to me as tightly as I possibly could.

"You're here," I whispered, my lips stretching into a grin. "You're all here."

Their heads moved from where they had been pillowed on me.

Mello lay on my left, his blond bob ruffled slightly from the fall, a smudge of chocolate on the corner of his mouth. Even at fourteen, his love for chocolate was high. Matt was to my right, goggles askew on the top of his head. His eyes were bagged a little, from late nights playing his numerous games, but that light, that twinkle, was still there. Near had landed on my chest, his index finger twirling a lock of his white hair. At twelve, he still looked like the toddler I had first met; a small pixie-like face and eyes older than their years.

The three of them, beamed at me, a sight some never saw, especially from Near. It was something I hadn't seen in a long time, not face to face, not in person. I couldn't quite believe they were there, in front of me. I couldn't believe I had my arms around my boys, hugging them to me. But they were there. They were real. They were with me.

"Look at you three," I chuckled. "You've all changed so much, in only a few months."

"Tends to happen as you get older," Matt smirked. "You forgot how that works, in your old age?"

"Cheeky bastard."

Clipping Matt, lightly, around the head, I pulled the three of them back into a tight hug.

It was a few moments before the boys and I untangled ourselves from our heap on the floor. I was surprised when each of the boys pulled Light into a hug, Matt and Mello with their usual vigour and Near with his shy nervousness. I could see the surprise in Light's eyes, as well as the utter joy from the display. I knew how worried he had been, how scared he was that the boys wouldn't like him, especially once they met him. Light had been fretting since we found out the boys were on their way, maybe even before that at the prospect. But seeing how readily the three of them accepted him, seeing how easily they welcomed him into their lives.

None of us had realised Watari had disappeared, until he walked back into the living room with a tray of drinks and a light snack, to hold everyone over until lunch. The boys were happy to talk, answering any and all questions Light asked, even those he didn't, letting him in on almost every detail. And Light responded in kind, showing them the same trust that they had in him.

It was during a small lull that it was asked.

"Did L tell you?" Near queried, quietly, cocking his head to the side and twirling a lock of hair. "I expect the question must have come up, but you haven't let on at all just how much you know about us."

Light glanced at me before he answered. He waited for me to give him a small nod, even though I had told him the boys were alright with me tell him.

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, he told me." Light nodded, trailing off at the end.

I could see he wasn't too sure what to add to the end. I was sure not many people would in the situation, something the boys definitely picked up on.

"Suppose it's a lot to your head around really…." Matt coughed, scratching the back of his head.

"At least you know." Mello shrugged, leaning back on the couch and stretching his arms out. "There won't be any awkwardness or anything about you not knowing, there won't be awkward questions."

"It will definitely be a lot easier for us, now we don't have to be so careful about what we say in regards to those matters." Near agreed. "Besides, if we're right, which we most definitely are, you'll probably be around for a long while and become someone we confide in, as we do L and Watari."

The moment the words left Near's mouth, I watched Mello's eyes closed as he groaned and Matt dropped his head into his palms. I also watched as Light's eyes went wide, yet again, with so many questions.

"Not something you say, Near." Matt sighed. "We're trying not to scare him off."

Turning to face Matt a little, I could see Near go over what he had just said, the hair twirling a bit faster than before.

"What?" Near frowned. "What did I say? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, no, it's fine." Light rushed, a slightly nervous chuckle in his voice. "Don't worry about it, Near. I just didn't expect you to say that, is all."

"Say what? I don't understand. All I did was say what the three of us believe, how could that be interpreted as a bad thing?"

Sighing, Mello leaned in close to Near, whispering in the boy's ear. Near's pale skin took on a pale pink with each word Mello said, bowing his head to hide his face with his hair. Near was, unfortunately, the most like me. Neither of us understood a lot of social cues, nor did we seem to realise how much of what we said shouldn't be. I had gotten better over the past months, Light helping by pointing out what I should have, probably, kept internalised. Over the years, my lack of filter had gotten me into quite a bit of trouble, both before and after I was brought to the home. Matt and Mello had always been there for Near, especially when I was away on a case, keeping him out of harm's way if he happened to come out with something he otherwise shouldn't have. They were like his social buffers. Near, just as I was, was still learning, however, and it would probably be a long time before either of us were able to filter ourselves, bet I could at least be happy that Near had help right from the beginning. I, at least, had the hope he wouldn't face a lot of the same issues I had growing up

"I'm sorry," Near whispered, the tips of his ears a dark red and peaking out from his pure white hair.

"Don't be, it's alright." Light smiled, kindly. "You should hear some of the things L's come out with."

Oh, dear….

We spent the entire day talking with the boys, staying inside so the boys wouldn't crash too badly from jetlag. Even so, the three of them were in bed by nine that evening, Light joining us for dinner on the insistence of the boys. Near had been careful, for a short while, to watch what he said. Of course, after only an hour, he was back to his usual self and feeling a bit more confident in what he was saying. Like I had used to, I had said goodnight to the boys, the three of them deciding to bunk in the same room. They had fallen asleep so quickly, I was surprised I hadn't had to carry them to the room. By the time I had gotten back into the living room, Light was just getting off the phone with his Father, arranging to be picked up to go home.

"You know you don't have to ask your Father for a lift home," I told him, slumping down next to him on the sofa.

"I know," Light nodded. "But the boys are here. I'd feel bad making you leave, just to take me home."

"You shouldn't. You know we don't mind taking you home, and I'm sure Watari wouldn't mind staying in here while I took you."

Laying his head on my shoulder, since he had fifteen minutes to wait, Light sighed softly. I moved an arm around him, running a hand through his hair.

"Still, I'd feel bad," Light admitted. "Besides, I can tell you're exhausted, L. You've been so worried about them coming here that it's taken a toll on you. And don't pretend it hasn't."

And he was right. I hadn't realised quite how much tension I had been carrying until the boys had arrived. It was, also, due time I attempted to get some rest, considering I had nothing going on at that moment in time. I needed to, at least, lay down if I was to keep up with my boys.

"Alright. I understand." I nodded.

"Good." Light smiled.

I watched as he smiled softly, lifting his head up enough to press a quick kiss to the tip of my nose, something he had gotten in the habit of doing over the months we had been together. I wasn't quite sure where he had gotten it from, let alone why he started, but I enjoyed the look on his face all the same.

"Do you know how long the boys are here for?" Light asked. "They're not leaving in a few days, are they?"

"No, they're not," I assured him. "In all honesty, I don't think they have a set date to go back. It's just a wait and see."

"Good. They're nothing and everything that I thought they would be, and I love that. They're amazing."

"That they are. And so are you."

And for the late ten minutes, I just enjoyed my time with Light in silence.

P.S. I know it's been a while, but I've been having a lot of issues with family, University, my anxiety, etc. It's kind of knocked me off of my writing. Trust me when I say I'm trying to write for my fics as fast as I can.

Please, please review XD

Thank you so much everybody XD