"They wont stay," Nate hummed. "At least you guys know Near still wants you."

"They're not going anywhere." Matt sighed. "I'll bet Mail's out in the car and Mihael's probably just...somewhere out back."

"I'll be willing to bet money that they're crying." Mello put in.

"They're not yet," Nate whispered. "But I'm not the same kid I was back then."

"Believe me, you being the older guy wasn't what hurt our relationship at all." Matt assured.

"Why don't you check for yourself." Mello offered. "C'mon, I thought you stopped running away a long time ago."

"No, the fact that all three of us are in love with other people did," Nate snorted. "And its not about the age, its the fact that we've lived eight years that they don't know about. Its like seeing a friend again after a long time and trying to catch up, but not really able to experience it."

He turned to look at Mello.

"Near hates himself for not being there when you got that scar," He informed. "I could see it in his eyes. He wanted to be able to comfort you in his own way about it, but he couldn't, and he blames himself."

"He has nothing..." Mello sighed and looked aside. "I wouldn't have wanted him to see...I wish he didn't have to now...I must look so different...scary..."

"You should really be telling him that," Nate informed, before he frowned. "Just like I should be telling Mihael and Mail how I feel..."

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Being the only guy around here with common sense really blows, sometimes," He mumbled, before climbing off the bed. "I don't really want to doom either of them to a relationship when I'm going to die, but it's their choice to make, not mine."

"Maybe because we're all still young fools." Matt smiled. "We still hold out hope...like idiots."

Mello sat up next.

"Yeah, I'm being dumb too...denial, I guess." Mello admitted.

"I wish things weren't complicated with the Kira case and everything," Nate sighed. "Then we'd have time to focus on this... I really should have factored Mihael and Mail into this..."

He smiled a little.

"'Factored in'... y'all are rubbin' off on me."

"Actually, you won't let us do that anymore." Matt hummed.

"Oh you pervert!" Nate laughed, before he sighed and leaned in, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "We've faced four different Kiras, boys," He began. "Had our names read by Shinigami eyes... had bombs explode all around us... but are you two ready to face the hardest thing you've ever done in your life?"

Both of them stared back and nodded- their faces set.

"Then let's go," Nate replied, his face just as blank.

--Scene Change--

"You just need to give him some time," Missy told her brother, rubbing his shoulders gently. "Its just as much of a shock for him to see you as it is for you to see him."

"That's not my problem." Mihael said miserably. "He's...he says he's not going to be around...he says he's..."

Mihael hugged around himself a little more.

"But that's not something you have the power to change," She reminded, petting his straight hair with a frown. "You need to talk to him and explain that you want to spend the time he has left with him."

"He acted like I should just forget him...like we all need to just move on." Mihael muttered. "Maybe he's had eight years to get over us, but he just left yesterday."

"So tell him-" Missy paused as the back door came open and Nate stepped out.

"I need to talk to you," He informed. "And Mail both... together."

"Mail's out in the car...I don't know if he's ready for you to see, Lawliet's with him." Mihael sighed- his back to the door.

"Ready or not," Nate mumbled. "I need to talk to you both and it can't wait... will you come with me, please?"

There was a moment of stillness before Mihael uncurled and stood up- turning to Nate.

Nate gave him a weak smile, before he motioned for Mihael and slipped off the porch, heading around the house and over to the front where the limo was still parked.

Inside the front of the limo- where the windows weren't tinted -Nate saw Lawliet talking with Mail. Mihael was following quietly behind him.

Slowly, Nate approached the front and bent down, knocking lightly on the window.

Lawliet looked out before nodding to Nate and saying something to Mail that they couldn't hear through the soundproof glass. He popped open the door- stepping out and closing it behind himself before he sighed heavily and looked at Nate.

"...It's kinda bad." He admitted.

"I need to talk to them both," Nate informed, shooting a glance over his shoulder to make sure that Mihael was still there. "What I have to say needs to be said."

"I know but...I wouldn't really expect to much positive." Lawliet sighed. "I can understand why he's upset."

"I can, too," Nate informed. "But as I said, I have to say this, and they both need to be there when I do. It's no fair to say it to one before the other."

"I understand." Lawliet nodded. "They're all yours."

He patted Nate's shoulder and gave Mihael a sympathetic look before walking off.

Giving Mihael a soft frown, Nate crawled into the back of the limo and moved up to the devider between the front and back, knocking on it gently.

Mihael slipped in behind Nate- closing the door as the window lowered and Mail looked back at the two of them quietly.

Nate glanced between the two of them, before letting out a slow breath. "There is something that I need to say... something that I've been feeling for years, but it took me a long time to figure out. Something that I honestly thought I'd never get to say..."

He swallowed back his pride, before gently stating,

"I love you. Both of you."

There was a moment of silence then as both boy's looked at Nate.

"...Love like...how?" Mihael asked with a frown. "You mean...both of us...like..."

"Like how you feel about him." Mail told Mihael.

"And neither of you should really be blaming me for being surprised that you are here," Nate went on after they became quiet. "Because I didn't have the slightest clue that you gave a shit. Mail," He shot a look to the redhead. "You told the press we slept together and then told me it was to boost our fame. There was no indication of feelings in that... Mihael," He looked to the blonde. "We laid on my bed together for almost an hour and not once did you say you liked me... so yes, I did not think either of your feelings for me went any further then co-worker."

"I don't just lay in bed with anyone and talk for an hour." Mihael replied.

"Why do you think I always stuck with you through everything, even when there wasn't any immediate benefit?" Mail asked.

"You both have to admit you have odd ways of showing affection," Nate informed, before he sighed. "And it also needs to be said that I had odd ways of receiving it. I suppose I was looking for it in the wrong places and completely missed the hints you were giving me..."

"But now you're...what are we supposed to do?" Mail asked.

"We get you back and then you're just gonna give up and we're never going to get another chance." Mihael murmured.

"If you do get me back..." Nate sighed before he frowned and reached up, unclasping a chain from around his neck. He held it out. "If you do manage to, give me this. Give it to me and tell me how you feel..."

He stared at the chain for a few moments, his eyes distant.

"This was the first thing anyone ever gave me," He informed. "It was from the one foster family I actually liked... but they were killed in a fire. I lost it for a long time... Mello and Matt found it for me. Or got me one just like it... either way... I wrote about it in my blog back then, so give me some story about reading about it and getting it for me..."

"...Nate..." Mihael blinked and moved closer to the boy. "You're just...gonna give up?"

"You want us to go back and try and save you." Mail said.

"I want you to be prepared that you wont able to," Nate informed, gently. "I want to spend my life with both of you... and I want to tell you that I think there is a way."

"A way to save you?" Mihael asked hopefully. "What is it? How can we help?"