"Oh, they were having a moment," Next hummed. "Should we leave?"

"I don't know if it's really a 'moment' moment." Matt sighed. "Mello's probably all gacked out on drugs."

"We are not exploiting my best friend when he's high for your amusement," Next informed, tugging Matt out of the room.

"I wasn't amusing myself." Matt frowned. "I really wanna know if they're okay."

"Next to the rescue." Mello smirked.

"He's good at it," Near giggled as they heard Next tell his boyfriend, "They're obviously okay or we wouldn't be allowed in here!"

Mello smiled- wow, how common was that getting? He leaned down and kissed Near softly- keeping the blanket over them.

"...He's a good friend." Mello said. "But right now, I wanna talk about someone else."

"Oh?" Near asked, peering up at his husband. "Who?"

Mello smiled and kissed the ivory-haired boy again.

--Scene Change--

Linda had dragged all of the others back to Wammys. They'd all apparently been through hell, so they'd disappeared off into their rooms to pass out... or something.

Naveen had been rather rudely dropped into a place that he felt like he'd been only weeks ago, but he knew it had been almost a year.

...A year. Mello's birthday was coming up again... and it was right after that that New York had happened.

He'd managed to wander back toward his old room, expecting it to be taken by some kid or maybe a new back up, but... to his surprise when he opened the door he was met with the same old... well, everything.

There was a glass of water on the stand with fingerprints on the rim... a book sitting on the bed, open to a page - he had forgotten to pack it and he'd bought a replacement in New York... but he'd never gotten a chance to finish it - and even a pair of unlaced boots by the closet.

Slowly, Naveen approached the dresser and peered at the single photograph on its surface. Someone had obviously been in here, dusting... so why wasn't anything moved? Why wasn't the place stripped clean...?

"...You're probably wondering, but it's pretty obvious when you think." A voice murmured and Naveen turned to see C standing there. "I caught him here once, but I didn't think about it. Since Roger was the one that decided not to change anything, so I didn't put it all together."

He shrugged and then he smiled.

"Home, sweet home." He said pleasantly.

Naveen frowned a little bit, turning back to look at the photograph on the dresser.

It was himself and Maddness... M. They weren't dressed in their Mello and Near attires... they were themselves. Himself in a pair of loose jeans and a black sweatshirt... and Maddness in a blue t-shirt and skinny jeans. His hair was longer... and Maddness had a ponytail with bangs swiped to the side...

It was before their assignments... back when they were still kids. Nigh and Madness... a couple of Wammy kids.

"...I think the photo came after we call came back...right?" C said as he came to Naveen's side. "You didn't leave it here...it was like his own little memorial."

"I... didn't even know it existed," Naveen admitted, frowning as he reached out and touched the glass... right over Madness. "Life was so great back then... look at him... he's smiling..."

"...A lot more to smile about back then." C sighed. "He was happy...you both were. Everyone thought you two got along so well from the start."

"Not as well as everyone though," Naveen mumbled, looking away. "He was... he was my best friend. But he... wanted to be more..."

"...Wasn't he?" C asked sadly. "Ever?"