Little One

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Caden probably would, though he would also be polite and leave plenty for Julian and Reuben, and also some for Father Benedict when the other came around again. They all deserved to eat cookies together! Either way, Reuben nodded, smiling a little as the other talked about Father Benedict and Caden.

"Yes, I met him. Caden told him my name, and when I told him mine, he recognized it and gave me your address." He shifted. "...So I heard."

That only made what he wanted to do harder, but Reuben blinked when Julian told him that he had every right to take him home. "Actually, let me explain a few things. I run an airship, some of my ventures are... well, I don't want Caden seeing them. Running around on an airship all the time, constantly moving, wouldn't be a good life for a little kid like him. I also have a crew, so I won't be able to give him my undivided attention. So..."

Here, Reuben swallowed the lump that had appeared in his throat. He knew he wasn't sick, just finding it incredibly difficult to say.

"I was actually wondering whether you would be willing to keep Caden here and give him a stable home."

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"I see. Well, it's good Caden was finally able to see you again." Julian was honestly happy for the boy, even if it meant he may never see him again.

An airship? He listened and understood. Whatever Reuben did, it wasn't child friendly. And a child Caden's age did need a stable environment...

Wait... Was Reuben getting at what he thought he was getting at?

Julian honestly wasn't expecting this, but it came as a pleasant surprise. "Of course. That's what I've been trying to do for a while now, actually. I'd be more than happy to take care of him." You have no idea how happy you just made this man, Reuben.

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"I was really glad to see him again as well. Especially when I found out about our parents."

Reuben smiled a bit faintly as Julian mentioned that it was good that Caden got to see him again. Yeah, Reuben was happy to see little Caden again himself. Now he knew for a fact that the boy was okay and coping without him or their parents. As long as the kid was alright, he would feel a huge weight lifted off of his shoulders.

So when Julian agreed to take care of him and spoil him and love him, Reuben's eyes brightened not too dissimilarly to how Caden's would, but not childishly gleefully like the kid's would.

"Really? That's great! He does need a stable home, and he does seem fond of you just from what I've seen and what the Father has told me." And here here he grinned a bit. "The only thing I want is to visit him whenever I get the chance and spoil him with gifts from overseas."

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"Yes, I heard about that myself. My condolences." Julian said gently.

Of course he'd be happy to take in Caden! "I promise you he will never find a happier home." Julian smiled. "Of course you may, he's your brother after all. And if you ever need a place to rest, you are welcome here."

He then paused for a moment.

"May I ask a favor of you, Reuben?" His mood had shifted, and it was hard to really explain in words what his expression was saying. It was almost...sad.

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"Thanks," Reuben said, but said nothing else about their parents. He was still having a little bit of trouble accepting the facts.

That was really a great relief. Now Caden would have a permanent home that he could stay in, and the boy wouldn't have to fend for himself in the streets. "Really? That's good. I'll be dropping in occasionally to visit him and things like that though... a place to rest would be nice, thank you."

A favor? Reuben's first instinct was to say no given the lifestyle that he led, but the man was going to keep Caden without really nothing in return. He could at least find out what the favor is, and why he looked upset. "What is it?"

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Julian took a moment to gather himself, and then walked over to the wall, pulling one of the pictures off it and handing it, frame and all, to Reuben. "About a year ago, my daughter, Lapis, was taken from me. I don't know where she is or where to begin looking. If you could just...keep an eye out, while you travel? If you find her, bring her home?"

Yes, Julian just wanted his little girl back. He had plenty of love for both her and Caden.

"She's only six years old. I lost Hannah, my wife, to a train wreck about three years ago. She's already been force to endure this world without a mother. I don't want her to live without a father." He sighed. "At the very least, I just want to know if she's alright."

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Reuben stood up, his eyes following the man as the other took the photo off of the wall. What was this all about? He looked at the photo carefully, blinking at the figure that was there in the photograph.

"Lapis, huh...? Sure, I'll be able to do that for you." Poor kid. Who knew whether she had ended up in a situation like Caden had? "I'll figure out what happened to her, it's the least that I can do right now for you keeping Caden here."

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The picture was a photograph of a little blond girl in a sundress, wearing a sunhat that was clearly her mother's, due to the size.

"She's a sweet child, nervous around strangers, but once she warms up to you she clings greatly." He explained sadly. Julian then smiled at Reuben. "Thank you. I...I want nothing more than to search for her myself, but... I just don't have the means. I know it is a sorry excuse, but... I guess I'm just scared. What if something happened? I...I guess I just believed that my heart would be able to handle it if she was simply missing, and not...gone." He rubbed his hands together lightly.

He nodded and looked to Reuben. "Look, no matter what news it is, even if it's...unpleasant, I want to know, alright?" While he seemed like a very happy man, it was clear his worry for his daughter was making his fray a little around the edges.

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That was actually a cute kid. Definitely younger than Caden, by about several years, though that hat was too big for her. Heh, well... maybe he could ask Nerys to put this girl in dresses instead of him. He was never putting a dress on again.

"Ah, okay. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye out for a little girl that looks like her." There was a chance that the girl had probably been taken into a slave ring, but that would mean she was alive at the least. "What's her name?"

A good parent. Good parents were good things to have.

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Julian nodded sadly, and allowed Reuben to take the picture for reference. "Her name is Lapis. Lapis Shard. Hannah and I were both very fond of the Lapis Lazuli, so we named our daughter after it." He explained fondly.

Julian was a decent parent, he tended to worry a little to much though, but in this case it was rather warranted. "Thank you, Reuben. If you manage to bring her back, I'll forever be in your debt."

After a few minutes, Julian managed to regain his composure. "Well, we'd best not keep Caden waiting. We need to explain what the plan is."

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Reuben nodded as well, tucking the picture away after getting a good look at it. Lapis Shard, eh? He'd have to keep an eye out for that little girl. "Don't worry. I'm sure she'll be found."

Of course he should worry. His daughter was missing! How the heck the man hadn't all-out panicked and had the mentality to take care of another boy was a mystery.

"Right... and we need to make sure that he hasn't eaten all of the cookies, either. Poor boy will have a stomachache if he did!"

Hooboy.