Oh my…could it be? The last chapter?! Why, yes. Yes it is. Chapter 6, here for you at last. The final chapter in this little tale :)

While Elizabeth and her companions calmed themselves from their "ordeal" with Matt's drum solo, Mello made his out to the pavilion. The table was already set for eight, and there it was! The best seat! A large cushioned chair looking like a little throne. Mello rolled his eyes as he saw it. Roger was such a dreadful kiss-up!

There were footsteps behind him on the garden path, and Mello turned to see Matt approaching, waving Alice's sewing kit triumphantly. "I've got it!" he said, as he came up the pavilion steps. "I didn't know you can sew Mello…"

"I can't," said Mello, taking the little box and opening it, withdrawing one of the sewing needles. "But you don't need to be able to sew to get some use out of a needle." He smiled devilishly. "This Elizabeth woman is getting on my nerves."

"She isn't so bad-"

"She's bad enough," said Mello, giving Matt a dreadful glare. He lifted up the large chair's cushion, carefully sliding the needle into it. The needle was just small enough to fit perfectly within the cushion without sticking out the top. But if anyone sat upon it…

"There," said Mello. "Just wait till she sits on that! It'll be hilarious, and hopefully it'll send her packing."

Matt made a face. "You know, I don't mind just being polite to her."

Mello groaned. "You're so soft Matt, what's wrong with you? 'Just being polite'. Ha! Yeah right. We've been unfairly manipulated from the very start. The least we can do is strike back."

"Isn't that a little dramatic?"

"No, it – Oh! Here they come!" Mello took a seat quickly, stuffing the sewing kit into his pocket. Roger showed the guests into the pavilion, with L and Near not far behind them. Lady Mary was speaking with L, writing things down upon her papers as she did. Mello squirmed about in anticipation, however…

Roger pulled out an entirely different chair for Elizabeth, the one at the very back of the table with the best view of the garden. Mello went cold, watching as everyone took their seats, until there was only one person and one chair remaining.

The big "best" seat…and L.

Matt looked at Mello with his mouth hanging open in horror, and Mello shrunk down in his chair, his face turning red. When he'd said "best seat", Roger must have meant the one with the best view of the garden, not the cushioned one! Mello gulped nervously. But perhaps, as long as L crouched upon his toes as he usually did, he wouldn't put any pressure upon the needle.

But that hope was quickly dashed. As L passed Roger by the man said to him softly, "Please sit properly, just this once. Don't crouch."

"I will not crouch, but I must at least sit with my legs pulled up," said L. "You're dreadfully strict Roger-san."

Mello frantically searched his mind for an excuse to stop him, but it was too late for that. His mind was a horrified blank as L pulled out the chair and sat down.

It really was a very odd thing to see. It was almost as if L accidentally sat upon something hot, though he didn't make a sound. One moment he had sat down and the next he was upon the ground, having moved so quickly he'd knocked the chair over in the process. His eyes were wide, his expression one of utter shock.

"L, what are you doing?" said Roger, as everyone at the table stared at him. The young man didn't give a reply, instead leaning forward for a closer look at the chair. It took him mere seconds to discover the needle and pull it out into the open. There was a gasp from all around, except from Near, who merely raised his eyebrows at the sight and glanced over at Mello, who was too busy trying to disappear into his chair to notice. L held up the needle accusingly.

"This…was a vicious and malicious crime," he said. "I believe there is only one person here who would dare carry through with this." Mello tensed himself for the inevitable. "Mello."

The boy opened his eyes slowly, meeting the gazes of all those present. "I'll have you know this didn't go as planned," he said. "It was purely accidental."

"Of course," said L. "You thought Elizabeth would have this seat." The woman gasped, and Roger quickly launched into a string of apologies. "However, once again Mello-chan, you failed to thoroughly think through your plan and examine it from all angles. Resulting in our current situation. Once is-"

Mello leapt up with a shriek before L could finish, and Matt yelled, "Run Mello!" at the top of his voice, while Roger shook his head in despair.

"It was bound to happen," he said. "What else could I possibly expect?"

L didn't immediately give chase, instead beginning to carefully take off his suit jacket and shoes. Elizabeth turned to Roger with wide eyes. "Mr. Roger, quite frankly I must say this house has such strange people living in it one would think it is an insane asylum!

"I often do think just that, Miss Elizabeth."

Still holding the needle, L walked off at a leisurely pace, as if he expected to catch quick-footed Mello at such a speed. Nevertheless, within minutes there was another shriek from the direction of the house, the bushes began to rustle, and Mello burst into sight again, looking for a place to hide.

"I insist this madness stop at once!" said Elizabeth. "Mr. Roger, surely you have some control over the situation?"

"Well, that is rather awkward to explain-"

"You cannot tell me these children are free to simply run amuck?" said Elizabeth.

"Well, no. But-"

Mello suddenly launched himself over the pavilion railing and scurried under the table, where he found himself cornered with L behind him coming over the railing as well, and a sea of legs before him. "Mello, L, this must stop at once!" said Roger, which was his best attempt at taking control at the moment. Alas, it failed miserably, and it was soon made clear that L had no qualms about following Mello right down to his hiding place. Elizabeth shrieked as the young man proceeded to crawl under the table, leaping up from her seat and backing away in horror. Mello tried to take advantage of the sudden opening, only to have L catch hold of his pant leg. Thus restrained, there was only one remaining means of escape.

So, mere seconds later, Mello ran off down the pavilion steps without his pants. There could have been no more an effective method for utterly horrifying the guests, save for if L himself had been the one going about in his underwear. Elizabeth huffily collected her purse.

"Mr. Roger, I have had quite enough of this place. We shall be taking our leave, sir!"

Muttering countless apologies, the red-faced Roger led them back up the garden path toward the house, while Matt ran ahead indoors to see what was becoming of the L and Mello fiasco. Hardly a minute later he came dashing back out to them, out of breath.

"You shouldn't go in there," he said quickly.

Roger huffed, "Matt, this is hardly the time-"

"No, really!" said Matt. "Mello…well, he isn't…happy…"

The tone of Matt's voice was enough of an implication for Roger to realize what was going on. Giving his guests a quick apologetic smile, he took Matt aside and said quietly. "Matt, if he's going to do what I think he is, then you must go sing to him at once."

Yes. It was an utterly ridiculous thing to say. Matt shook his head quickly. "Too late for that," he said. "He's already gone all…purple-y."

"Oh dear," Roger paced about a moment in distress. "Oh dear, oh dear."

Elizabeth tapped her foot impatiently. "Mr. Roger, if you will not see us out then we shall simply go ourselves."

"No, no, I shall accompany you," said Roger, then under his breath to Matt, he said, "Where is Mello last you saw him?"

"In the front hall."

"Of course. The situation must be as terrible as it could possibly be. No matter. Miss Elizabeth, Lady Mary, and Sir William, please follow closely. I'll see you to your car."

Roger led them through the house with the utmost caution, no longer caring what his guests thought of his sudden paranoia. Under no circumstances could they be allowed to see Mello now. If only he could get them out before the full explosion came-

Roger stopped frozen as a sudden scream cut off his thoughts. Ah. Too late then. Rounding the corner, he found L crouched against the wall glaring, looking very thoroughly upset. Very close by the screaming reached a crescendo, complete with the thumping sound of a very angry foot hitting a very unfortunate wall.

"Goodness gracious!" said Elizabeth. "What on earth has been done to the boy?"

"Nothing," said L, sounding as if his own answer offended him. "This is merely his last attempt to prevent justice from being delivered. Unfortunately it is rather effective. He is past all reasoning with now." There was the sound of breaking glass, and L said, "I believe that was your antique vase Roger."

"This is utterly ridiculous!" said Sir William. "He's merely a child! You cannot honestly say you are afraid of him Mr. Roger."

"Ah, but you don't know him, William-san," said L. "He is quite demonic."

"Maybe someone should do something soon," said Matt anxiously, glancing around the next corner into the front hall. The rest of them moved closer for a view as well, though they really shouldn't have. Mello was standing in the middle of the hall, still utterly pantless and screaming at the top of his voice with furious tears running down his strangely purplish-red face. Mello was quite good at working himself up, and he was doing his very best at the moment, making himself so angry that his breath was coming in choking gasps.

"What will become of him?" said Elizabeth. "Surely he'll have to calm down soon, or be stopped!"

"He'll eventually pass out," said Matt bluntly. "He hyperventilates and ends up fainting. He's fine once he wakes up though."

"I suppose we'll simply have to wait it out," said Roger, but then L got suddenly to his feet, passing up the hallway to go into the kitchen. "L! What ever are you doing?"

The young man didn't answer, instead disappearing through the kitchen doorway without a word. He emerged again several minutes later, carrying a bucket full of water. Without a moment's hesitation, and much to Roger's horror and dismay, L proceeded straight down the front hallway and emptied the bucket over Mello's head.

There was instant silence from Mello, who stood quivering in shock with his mouth agape. L crouched down, withdrew a chocolate bar from his pocket and broke off a piece, placing it in Mello's mouth before he pushed his jaw shut and sat him down upon his lap, beginning to hum the Willy Wonka song.

"Hm. It worked," said L, as Mello sat quietly with only the occasional sniffly hiccup leftover from all his fuss. "I believe I've found another method to calm him down with Roger-san."

Roger had lost his ability to speak at that point. Elizabeth, however, had not. "The lot of you need to be put in straight jackets!" she said, marching over and opening the door with Lady Mary and Sir William close behind her.

"I have already been told by several mental health institutions that I'm stable enough to be in society," said L, not helping in the least. Something else that didn't help in the least was what occurred when Miss Elizabeth opened the door. A bucketful of a sticky honey and water mix fell from a bucket set up above them, swiftly covering her and her pink hat. At that Mello smiled at last, and Matt bit his lip in a guilty but rather pleased way.

"You little beasts!" Elizabeth shrieked, storming out the door toward her car. She and the others piled in, though the moment Elizabeth opened her door the next booby trap was put into effect and several pillows worth of feathers fluffed out at her. She now resembled a very large, very sticky, and very pink chicken, and Mello smirked in triumph.

But then, something even more unexpected occurred. When Sir William put in the keys to start the car's engine, the front end of the car exploded with multi-colored flames, fireworks shooting off in all directions and propelling the car several yards backward. Mello and Matt looked at each other in confusion, for this bit wasn't their doing, though it was devilishly wonderful to see. The three members from the Board of the Proper Education of Youth were out the gate in seconds, and the front hall in Wammy's House was very, very silent.

All eyes turned to Roger, whose face was a perfect blank. L began to say something, but Roger held up his hand quickly for silence. "Don't bother," he said. "I should have expected this. Nothing any different could have possibly occurred. I should have known that my guests would be utterly horrified, covered in honey and feathers, and then have their car rigged with rockets. I should have known. The very idea. A tea party in Wammy's House." He laughed, sounding on the verge of hysteria. "Preposterous! Utterly preposterous indeed!" He turned away walking off to his room still muttering, and L, Mello, and Matt exchanged looks.

"That was wicked sweet!" said Matt with a small smile, and Mello nodded quickly.

"Turned out better than I thought it would," he said, in such a way that no one could have guessed he'd been screaming and stomping about mere moments before. "Only…" He glanced up at L, who seemed to be considering something.

"L," said Matt slowly. "What are you thinking about?"

"How 'once is once' could be applied in this situation," he said. "Fist of all I must consider the fact that no harm was done to me personally beyond the needle incident, however the rules of the game were very severally broken with that prank."

"But we didn't do the fireworks!" said Mello.

"Regardless, plenty of rule-breaking remains. And," he clamped his arm around Mello. "No more running."

Matt began babbling about being blackmailed and "forced into an unfair situation". Mello on the other hand, having already exhausted himself with one tantrum, managed only a few tired protests before falling silent. L glanced down at him. "You look drowsy."

"I'm not," said Mello, stifling a yawn.

"Let's go see where Near has gotten to," said L, getting to his feet. "Perhaps I'll be able to solve this conundrum while we're walking."

They found Near quickly enough, outside the house where he'd managed to climb his way up several crates and boxes to the top of a low shed, leaning over the wall to peer into the front yard. Remarkably, right by his side, was a pile of fireworks. L, Mello, and Matt exchanged disbelieving glances, and Mello began tugging on L's arm.

"Oooh, Near did something bad!" he whispered. "You should – ow! That's not fair!" Mello rubbed his backside bitterly, to which L had delivered a quick swat to quiet him, and Matt swiftly took a few steps back lest he receive the same. Mello's reaction got Near's attention immediately, and the boy turned around.

"Oh, you found me," he said. "I was rather surprised that the fireworks were actually successful."

L helped him down from atop the shed. "You aren't one to pull pranks Near-chan."

"No," he said. "But Mello and Matt were doing one, and I've never tried it. I just wanted to make sure I could accomplish such a thing as well. I must admit it's a bit…what's the word…?"

"Thrilling?" suggested Matt.

"Rather like that, I suppose," said Near.

"Ah, you've all been naughty then," said L, dusting the dirt from Near's clothing. "Poor Roger-san, after all his work you still acted up. But it's normal for boys your age, unfortunate as that is."

"But you'll forgive us," said Mello, as he climbed up onto L's shoulders and wrapped his arms around his head. "Because you like us very much. But I'm your favorite." He leaned over to peer upside-down at L's face. "Right?"

"You're my favorite blond boy who loves chocolate," said L, careful words but satisfactory ones for Mello, who smirked proudly and stuck his tongue out at Near.

"Favorite," he said, pointing to himself.

"L, please make Mello shut up," said Near, looking irritated.

"Please shut up Mello-chan."

"Hey, L!" Matt tugged at L's sleeve. "Now that Elizabeth's gone and probably won't…um…come back…could you ask Roger if I can have a dog now? I'm sure he had Alice take that dog I found to the animal shelter, but it's probably still there! Roger might say yes if you ask!"

"But dogs eat cake…"

"Well, see, it really was Roger's fault the cake got eaten. Let me explain. First of all…"

…

And this, dear readers, I must say is the end of our tale. I could go on, chronicling further conversations and brattiness from "certain children", but let us close here, on the note that Miss Elizabeth certainly never did return to Wammy's House, though she often found herself wondering afterwards just how many mental institutions had informed L that he was fit for society. Whoever they were, she felt fully prepared to shut them down for being utter fools.

As for our "gentlemen", well…they are still very much the same.

Awww, it's over! And if you think Mello is much too old to be throwing tantrums I wholeheartedly agree. But as one who lives with a ten year old sister who still throws tantrums (not as bad as Mello's luckily, but just as loud) I can tell you it's perfectly possible for a ten year old to throw a tantrum, and also recover from one very quickly. One moment they shall be screaming and crying as if the whole world is against them, and the next moment they're "La di da" skipping and tossing about flowers (figuratively of course). Especially since I feel that the boys all, in some way, have a bit of L's childishness. I imagine them being in some ways very mature, but in other ways immature for their age (and I have the canon to prove it). But don't worry. I'm sure Mello outgrew his temper fits before he turned eleven :)

And Mello is the only one who got swatted because he deserved it most. Spanking all three "in-story" would have dragged on the story a bit much (I think), but I'm sure justice was served somehow. L probably gave them all a few good swats before bed for being so naughty, and I bet it was Matt who asked if they could all sleep in his bed again after. I also think L would have gone easy on little Matty, because he didn't really mean to misbehave. Cue sparkly strawberry-flavored fluff.

Hugs and cookies to all my reviewers, and I shall begin replying as soon as possible. Thanks so much for reading everyone! Perhaps I shall run into some of you at AX this year. Hehe, if I do I probably won't even know it! But on July 5th, since that's the only day I'm attending unfortunately, I'll be the Mello cosplayer who's carrying a black bag with Death Note pins on it. (As if that info would help in a crowd of thousands :P )

Toodle-oo everyone!