Alright, L has his boys in this, that’s how this is gonna go…..tiny Matt. Matt and Mello are 10 and Near is 8 for this.
“I can’t believe you weren’t even allowed a Christmas there” you mutter, turning to stare at the screen in front of your beloved so you didn’t end up glaring at him instead
“It’s not necessary, so Wammy’s didn’t see any need to have holidays.”
You deadpan at him “Neither is eating your weight in sweets daily, I’m surprised you were allowed any.”
The fork stopped halfway to Lawliet’s mouth. He paused for a moment trying to think of an answer, but finding none suitable just took the bite and continued to silently stare at the screen and scroll through new cases.
You rolled your eyes, you knew your first Christmas with L was his first Christmas ever, but those poor boys. No Santa, no presents, not even a decorated tree.
You weren’t opposed to making a few heads roll.
But, you had bigger things to plan.
After Watari had adopted him and then started Wammy’s orphanage, L ended up spending a lot of time there as well. And he trusted them. It was what he knew.
And with how time consuming and dedicated he was to his detective work he knew he couldn’t raise two boys, so he entrusted them to be safe there, and visit when he could.
Now that he has you to help though, who the boys absolutely adore (especially since you could drop by more often, especially when bearing gifts) maybe Lawliet could care for his sons.
(And Mail Jeevas, Mihael’s best friend who he refused to leave and told his father this the first time it was mentioned of him and Nate possibly coming to live with him in the future.)
He wanted them around much more than he let on. Usually his missing them was spoken alone when you’d finally get him to come to bed, or thinking out loud of wondering how they are today when he’s alone or with you.
Therefore whether you were naturally for the festivities or not, this year was not one to skimp out on.
Lights were to be hung, stockings needed personalizing, and many gifts were to be wrapped.
Decorating the tree would wait until everyone was there to help.
Luckily your shopping was done, having bought L’s gifts far in advance and getting a nice supply of toys for your little Near, and impressive variety of chocolates for Mello and a stack of games for the newest console Matt had been ‘dying to have’.
You had been planning to take the presents, and a few extra for the other kids at Wammy’s, to the orphanage on Christmas eve. But when Lawliet mentioned the idea of the boys coming to live with you sooner, before the holiday hit, that was too good an offer.
L had smiled at your excitement when he proposed it, he was so happy you loved his boys as much as you do.
And although he doesn’t outwardly show it, the prospect of them being there, even though traveling for cases around the world with three small kids as well would be a small hassle, made him happier than he could recall.
Despite that though, L still didn’t understand the apparent severity of this being their first Christmas.
It was all pretty to look at, and he had greatly enjoyed his first Christmas spent with you last year. But it didn’t seem all that significant through his perspective.
But L trusted your judgement fully. And if that meant garland with lights, the smell of pine, and of course, an assortment of are those cookies homemade? Well then who is he to mind.
Mello and Near had long ago given up wishing for a picture perfect movie Christmas.
Matt was a little more wistful, sometimes daydreaming about a warm fireplace and being surrounded by a family, drinking cocoa with Mello and looking at a fancy decorated tree like the shops have, the bottom piled high by colorful presents.
Sometimes when the holiday grew nearer, and the snow began to fall, he would lie in bed picturing it while Mello slept soundly across from him.
But even he knew that the idea was ridiculous.
It quickly became nothing short of depressing to see the gleeful lights and happy Santa decorations outside for the boys.
Mello would scoff to hide how sad it actually made him and Matt would try and make a halfhearted joke. Near would turn back to the toys in front of him rather, and sneak mere glances at the lights.
Nor did any of them think that it would ever change. Especially not so soon.
The boys’ rude awakening came when Matt and Mello walked back to their shared room to find most of their belongings had been carefully boxed by staff and Roger calmly handing each of them a backpack.
Matt almost dropped his Gameboy and Mello actually did drop his bar of chocolate. Then all Mello’s hell broke loose.
“Roger why are you being so pushy!” Mello’s indignant anger wasn’t giving the old man any breaks. It didn’t help that he wasn’t being told what was happening either.
“Come now boys, you mustn’t be late. You all have somewhere to be.” Roger ushered the shouting boy along to the vehicle where Near was already standing, a similar bag at his feet and a robot from L dangling in his arms.
Matt readjusted the backpack strap on his shoulder and followed closely behind Mello.
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on!” Mello yanked the collar of Near’s jacket, pulling him back before he entered the limo.
Roger sighed at his stubbornness, L had specifically requested that the boys not be told. But at this rate they would never get there.
“L has requested your presence.”
Mello’s expression morphed into one of surprise, his eyes widened before he clamped his mouth shut. Letting go of Near’s jacket to let him get in the limo before climbing in with Matt.
‘If only I had said that sooner’ Roger thought with an exhale of relief. ‘It would’ve saved so much trouble.’
Christmas music was playing quietly when they arrived.
The boys were dropped at the hotel L was currently residing in and told what room to go to.
Once Mello had knocked on the door, almost hesitantly from how odd this all seemed, L padded over to open the door.
“You’re all here.” the fondness in L’s tone was clear.
The three young boys looked up to see their father with a small smile, along with a startling red Santa cap perched on top of his messy hair.
Near was the first to move, going right to hug his arms around L’s waist softly, followed by an enthusiastic hug from Matt. “Dad!” he grinned and tossed the backpack off his shoulder.
Mello instead stepped inside, noting the soft and cheery music ringing through the suite first, then his eyes widened seeing the multicolor strands of lights and garland hung along the wall.
He was speechless, there was a small Christmas village set up on a coffee table near the center of the room, a plate of holiday cookies where his father must’ve been sitting at the computer just prior.
Mello was stunned with it all, until he turned to see you standing next to a fake Christmas pine tree and smiling at him.
“Merry Christmas Mihael.” you opened your arms for a hug and he rushed over to you, pressing his face hard against your ribs when you wrap him in a tight hug.
Faintly he can hear Matt saying ‘woah’ as he finally notices the decorations, and no doubt Near is wide eyed in disbelief.
L hums as his boys leave his embrace and wander further inside towards you. He grabs their backpacks before closing the door again. Turning around to see the starstruck looks on both Near and Matt, then his gaze traveling to the tight hug Mello had trapped you in.
You grinned brightly when the other two boys walked in, the awed looks telling you that your efforts definitely weren’t a waste. You patted Mello’s back gently when his grip began to loosen, now the real fun could begin.
“Do you boys think you could help me decorate the tree?” you gesture to a large stack of ornament boxes piled off to the side.
Matt excitedly starts looking through the ornaments, finding a few you were sure he’d like and Near came to help you with the ornament hooks, first hugging you softly then leaving one hand gently holding onto the hem of your sweater.
“Come on L, you should join us.” you call to the detective before he reached his chair.
“…Alright.” the corners of L’s mouth quirked up seeing the boys so enthusiastic around merely decorating a tree. He took the candy cane you had offered him and started to help Mello unbox a few ornaments.
“Would any one like some hot cocoa?” Watari rolled a small cart of steaming mugs into the room
All in all a few ornaments were broken my nudging each other to reach better and swept away, and there were far more decorations on the lower half of the tree where the boys could reach than the top, and even more just were Near had been standing next to you through the process.
The real joy came when you and L went into the bedroom to grab all the gifts to put under the tree, three sets of very interested eyes watched the pair stack colorful and glossy packages beneath the plastic branches.
“Are any of those…for us?” Near asked quietly.
Matt scooted to the edge of the couch to get a closer look “Yea, are there? Are they really presents? or just, just some more decorations?” his voice hopeful but trailing off at the last question.
The two of them were close to breaking your heart.
“Of course.” Lawliet replied simply as he finished putting out the gifts.
“Really?” even with Mello’s skeptical look he began to look hopeful at the presents.
Watari brought out another platter of decorated sugar cookies while you took a seat on the couch with them draped a blanket across the short length to reach everyone’s laps, Near set his cocoa and bell shaped cookie on the table before crawling over you to sit down.
You were sat on the small couch provided by the hotel, having moved it to set in front of the messily decorated tree, three cups of hot chocolate abandoned on the table in front of you.
Near was curled against your side and fast asleep while you petted his soft hair. Mello and Matt were squished together on the side of you underneath a blanket, Matt was snoring lightly and Mello barely able to, but determined to stay awake.
Holding the now cold cup of cocoa with both hands and staring at the lit tree when it truly dawned on him, this is a Christmas.
L didn’t understand the great big purpose of all the decorating, nor the carols and feast. But seeing his boys, his family, so content with such was more than worth any price.
Toad's Cave 