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“He’s just through here,” a voice said, coming from a nurse in scrubs.
Behind her, were two surprising figures, Cinderella and Kit Charming. It wasn't surprising just because they were royal but also because they weren't even in their kingdom.
The nurse led them through and the three of them entered through a door and into a hospital room. On the single bed in the room sat a young boy, tiny and precious. His face was dirty and his clothes were almost rags, his blonde hair looked almost brown from all the dirt in it. His eyes, though, shone a gorgeous green as they looked at the people who came in the room.
The two royals stopped and froze at the boy. Cinderella held a hand to her mouth. The boy's appearance reminded her so much of when she lived with her mother.
The nurse stuttered apologetically, “We've been so overworked, all we could do is get him a room. A nurse should be coming in to clean him up and look him over soon.”
Kit nodded, understanding but his eyes held rage as he looked at the boy. Not rage towards the child, or the overworked nurse, but for the vile people who did this to the child.
Cinderella took a breath and asked, “How old is he?”
“We're not sure…he looks around four but he is extremely malnourished and that can affect his appearance and growth.”
Kit walked closer to the curious boy and leaned down one knee. The boy looked down at him, he was clearly putting on a persona of confidence but Kit could see the fear in his eyes.
“What's your name?” Kit asked, kindly.
The little boy frowned, seemingly thinking hard. “I don't have a name. Not deserve one.”
The adults in the room froze.
Kit recovered quickly, though inside he was seething. “Do you have a name you would like to be called?”
“Um, I–no.”
The boy was fidgeting with his hands.
Kit hummed, his eye twitched and betrayed his anger but the boy didn't notice, thankfully. Kit doesn't think he could live with himself if he scared this poor boy.
“Well, I'm Kit,” he then pointed at his wife, “and this here is my lovely wife, Ella.”
The blond boy just nodded, looking hesitantly between the two.
“Do you know how old you are?” Kit asked.
The boy beamed, finally knowing the answer. “Eight!”
Kit’s gentle smile froze. No 8 year old should look four.
The boy tilted his head at the silence, losing his smile. Cinderella could see the blond start to shake, out of fear and apprehension.
Cinderella rushed forward. “Wonderful job, sweetie.”
The child smiled at her, cheeks blushing from the compliment. It's clear he hasn't gotten enough. Cinderella froze as she got a look at the child's teeth. Yellow, black, and crooked teeth, with plague all over them. Her heart hurt.
Kit was still frozen, cursing himself for how he reacted.
Cinderella gathered her husband up and said, “Stay there, sweetie. You'll be cleaned up soon.”
The boy nodded, seemingly okay with going along with whatever the adults said.
The three adults left the room and shut the door quietly.
“What's happened to him?” Cinderella asked the nurse.
“He was found in the ditch, as I told you, and was brought here. All we could find out is that he used to live in an orphanage. We have no idea which one. I guess…they left him there. He's extremely filthy and malnourished. Another nurse and a doctor will come look at him soon and find out more.”
Kit nodded and said sincerely, “Thank you.”
The nurse started to bow before Cinderella interrupted and said, “No need. You're just doing your job.”
The nurse looked surprised but nodded in gratitude and smiled before walking away.
Kit and Cinderella looked at one another.
“We need to help him,” Cinderella stated.
“Of course, we'll bring him home and get started on investigating the orphanages right away.”
There wasn't much they could do with it not being their own kingdom, but they had to try.
“Perhaps we could bring it up to the council,” Cinderella proposed.
The council was a group of magical non-royals designed to be unbiased. But alas, there were still people there who simply didn't have citizen's best interests at heart. The council had also been the final say in the creation of the Isle, and everyone knows how that went.
He nodded, “Fairy Godmother would at least help.”
They stood outside while keeping watch, monitoring the nurses that went in and out, and listening for any signs of something being remotely wrong.
An hour later, they stood at the boy's bedside, listening to the doctor talk. The boy had been cleaned up by a nurse and given clothes that Cinderella and Kit had ordered someone to buy. His hair was finally clean and revealed those beautiful blonde curls that came down to his shoulders. Kit reminded himself to ask the boy if he wanted a haircut.
“He appears to have a few bruises,” the doctor was saying, “I assume some was from being thrown in the ditch but some I have to assume came from physical abuse. He was also deeply afraid of our nurses when they came to clean him. He's warmed up a bit but it has only been an hour, so do not expect him to be perfectly calm.” The doctor stopped to let the couple take the information in. “We gave him some jello and water earlier, as that's all he can digest. Sadly, he also has a lot of dental problems. As such, you'll have to feed him mostly liquid and soft foods.”
They nodded and Kit said, “We'll get him to the dentist within a week. Thank you, Doctor.”
“Of course. He's ready to be checked out whenever you want. Goodbye…and good luck.”
With that, the Doctor left. The couple turned to look at the boy, who was looking back. His inquisitive eyes shined at them.
“Do you feel better?” Cinderella asked him.
“Mhm, my hair is sooo soft!” The kid's fingers kept running through the bouncy curls.
Cinderella and Kit chuckled then they looked at each other.
Cinderella spoke first, “So, sweetie, we have some questions for you.”
“Like what?” The kid asked curiously.
“You don't have to answer if you don't want to. But what did they call you in the orphanage?”
The boy frowned, thinking it over. He answered, “They call me boy or brat.”
“So…you don’t have a real name?”
The boy's lip trembled and tears beaded up in his eyes. “I-I’m s-sorry,” he said, fearfully.
Kit rushed to soothe the child. “No, it's not your fault, don’t be sorry. We can give you a name.”
“R-really?”
“Really. You deserve one.”
Cinderella says, “How about Chadwick? Chad for short? It was my father's name.”
“You want me to take your daddy’s name?”
Cinderella is not afraid to say she teared up. “Of course, honey. You deserve it,” she said, putting all her feelings into the word.
He gave a toothy grin but still looked hesitant. “I-if you want me to then okay.”
Kit shook his head. “No, only say yes if you want it. You should have a name you like, sweetie.”
The little boy looked back and forth between them before saying shyly, “I like it. Promise.”
Cinderella grinned and held out a pinky. “Pinky promise?”
He looked awed at the sight of the pinky before nodding rapidly. He took the pinky in his own and said, “Pinky promise.”
Kit had to turn away to hide his tears in his wife's hair. Kit was never one to shy away from displaying emotions, something that had endeared Cinderella to no end, but he didn't want to upset Chad.
Cinderella had no such reservations and was openly crying. “Oh, Chad, honey. You are the sweetest little boy.”
Chad blushed heavily, the pink hue reaching up to the tips of his bangs. He looked a little confused, unsure why the two people in front of him were crying.
Kit had finished his little cry session and had returned his full focus back to the conversation with wet eyelashes and tear stained cheeks. The king and queen looked at each other and had a silent chat, something that only comes with years of married practice.
“Chad,” Cinderella started, “We want you to know that you never have to go back to the place again.”
Chad's face screwed up on fear, nervousness, and a number of other things Cinderella couldn't begin to comprehend.
“Never?” Sweet, little Chad asked.
“Never ever.” Kit promised.
“O-okay.”
It was clear Chad didn't believe it but the couple reminded themselves that it's okay, Chad’s not going to be healed with some simple words. He'll be healed through their love.
“Okay, now guess what, Chad?” Cinderella asked.
“What?”
“We are going to be taking you home with us.”
The two kept the gentle smile on their face as they watched Chad process this information.
“...You are?”
“We would love to, Chad. You are such a sweet and charming boy and we both already love and adore you. But you can say no. We'll figure something else out. But just know, you are never ever going back to that place. And I can't break a pinky promise so you know I'm being genuine.”
“W-What does genuine mean?”
“It means honest, sweetie,” Kit answered.
The boy nodded and then sat there for a moment, thinking.
If Chad decided not to go home with them, it would kill them. But Chad's well being comes first. And even if he does, Chad might change his mind. They had only just met the young boy, after all. It was all still scary to him, being in a room with two strangers.
Chad spoke, “Okay, I-I’ll go home with you.”
Kit and Cinderella beamed at this sweet boy. They had both started crying even harder.
“Okay, honey, okay, you're coming home with us.”
That night, as they brought Chad home, they already knew he was theirs and they would love him forever.