"I am but a violinist willing to perform on any street corner!"

Claude, a street performer, answered. He was tall and slender, with a handsome face. A little girl had tugged on his cloak to ask who he was.

He kneeled to match her height and set aside his violin, his one pride and joy. The little girl had bright blonde pigtails and big green eyes. Her dress was adorned with flowers and lace, yet it was stained with rain water and mud. Claude could not resist laughing.

"Where is your mother or father?"

His smile was ripped asunder with her answer.

"I wander the streets too! I've been lost for about a week now…"

"Have you not been looking for your parents?"

"No…I ran away…"

"That's not good! You're too young to be on your own!"

"I've been okay so far…And I like you. Can you take care of me?"

Claude froze.

"I dun wanna go back home and be treated like an adult…"

Now that didn't happen often. A young girl upset with her parents who treated her maturely?

"You can stay with me for a little while, but we have to go back to your home. I could get in big trouble too. Okay?"

"Okay!" Her young face brightened up as Claude stood again after picking up his violin.

"You can sit next to me and watch, and later I'll treat you to dinner, okay?"

"But aren't you poor, Mr.?"

"Well-"

Being the heir of the ruler of the Kingdom, he was not sure if he should share the information.

"-Not exactly…"

"What's your name?" The little girl asked as she sat down.

"My name is Claude." He replied, thankful she didn't ask further into the subject.

"I'm Cherie!"

And she sat and listened as the day passed, revering her new friend more and more. He was very graceful with his movements and his songs were therapeutic, in a sense.

Time to her seemed to have flown when her stomach began to growl. The sun was beginning to set, and after hearing the groaning below him, Claude packed up his instrument in a hurry.

"I'm so sorry, Cherie! I lost track of the time entirely." He leaned over to take her hand and help her get to her feet.

"It's okay, I did too with your music-playing!"

A warm smile from Claude forced her cheeks to redden.

After dinner at a rather expensive restaurant, Claude ended up lifting her onto his back and heading back to his second home.

What do I do now? Without her information, I can't take her home…And she's so tired out…Hopefully she just looks like my sister, because this is a bit awkward…Alan will be willing to allow her in. I'm almost sure of it…

"I knew it. You're absolutely out of your freakin' mind. I've known that since you started performin' on street corners lookin' like a hobo. " That very same Alan commented after answering the door. He was handsome as well, with a tall stature and intellectual, sharp eyes. He always kept his hair short, and has dyed it many colors, the most current being raven black. He was dressed in slacks and was shirtless. Born and raised in America before settling in France, he was the son of Claude's step-father, who came into their lives after his real father died.

"It's only temporary…Until she wakes up…Please?

After a few moments of deliberation, Alan smiled.

"I'm telling you, absolutely crazy. Alright. Come on in."

"Sorry I'm dropping all of this on you, but imagine how the parents would react…"

"I know, I figured." He stepped aside to allow him in with the sleeping girl on his back.

It was a small house that Alan kept nearby Claude's mansion to be able to stick with his American roots without all the formalities at that household.

After setting Cherie down onto the guest bedroom bed, Claude exited the room and collapsed onto the closest means of resting which was a couch. Alan sat beside him.

"Who is she?"

"All I know is that her name is Cherie and she ran from home. She fell asleep before I could take her back." The red-haired violinist placed a heavy arm over his eyes.

"You should be heading home. Of course I'd walk you normally, but I'll take care of the kid."

Claude shot up with excitement.

"You really will?!"
"What am I gonna toss her into the woods 'till you get back? Maybe I should…"

"Alan!"

"I'm jokin'. Go ahead and be on your way already. It's getting dark. Tell the family I'll be by soon to visit."

"Thanks again, Alan. I owe you. I'll be by tomorrow morning to pick her up."

"Yeah, yeah." Alan dismissed Claude's apology with a wave of his hand. After a long and graceful bow, his step-brother left.

He took this opportunity to stretch and shower.

Near to daybreak, Claude entered his mansion, climbed the large and carpeted staircase, entered his room, and allowed himself to fall onto his massive bed.

He was out cold before his American step-father came in to check up on him. His name was Alexander, and was well known throughout the kingdom for his benevolence and not abusing his power as the King. He was over 6 feet with gorgeous black hair that brushed his waist and dashing bright blue eyes. He leaned against the doorframe and smiled.

Yes, I know you are happy playing your instrument for others, but how much longer will your mother be able to take it? Shame you are over 20 years old and still being punished for an activity that you adore.

He shook his head in spite of himself being unable to do anything about his step-son's situation and exited the large room.

Claude woke up a few hours later rather groggily, however. He stood up to stagger towards his bathroom door and stare into the full body mirror that was placed behind it.

His eyes were heavy with black bags and the lack of sleep. It had been about a month since he slept well.

His mother did not approve of him wandering off and performing like a peasant on the streets of the city, and hated his outgoing personality that resembled his true father, who died at war.

Claude tried his hardest to avoid her and her lectures. Unfortunately, she was unrelenting.

Marie barged into the room and swung open the door that was inches from colliding into her son's face. Thankfully he was as skilled a fighter as his former father was, but of course had never said anything for his mother's sake. He was able to leap backwards and dodge the blow before she stepped in.

"Why did you come home at daybreak?! You do not even come home that late when performing in the city!"

"Forgive me, mother. I got caught up and visited Alan, who says he will be visiting soon."

Claude immediately mentioned his brother's coming to calm her, for she adored him.

"Really, now? I hope that is soon! Now go downstairs, it would be nice if you spoke to your family every now and then."

"Yes."

She stormed out as she did when she entered and Claude could hear her heavy footsteps descending the stairwell. He sighed and followed her, too fatigued to even shower.

The ball room was the first room through the main door of the mansion and under the stairs that made up most of the first floor. He saw his mother and step-father sitting at the table with no words.

Claude always thought it weird that his mother chose to marry Alexander and treated him poorly since.

His mother felt his presence and glanced up the stairs.

"Claude! Do not just stand there, join us! We have much to talk about as a family…"

His step-father said nothing, staring at the table.

Not again…

-------

Alan jolted awake in surprise when he heard excessive banging on his front door that morning.

"Hold on a sec!" He rushed to the door and opened it only a crack and Claude collapsed though it. Alan caught him and set him down on his couch.

"Holy crap!"

Claude was covered in bruises and deathly pale.

"Mom again? I keep telling her to quit it…"

Cherie peeked through a crack in the door of the room she slept in.

Claude?

"I said a bit much, I'm afraid. I told her I've been avoiding her…"

"And Dad?"

"He attempted to hold her back, but she fought him. And you know him better than I do. He would not fight back because he actually loves her."

"I see you didn't either."

"How can I strike my own mother?"

"Well, it's as easy as her beating the hell out of you, I can tell you that much."

"I'm not sure of what to do…"

Both of the gentlemen were shocked to silence when the little girl leaped onto Claude's stomach.

"Agh! Cherie!"

She pouted.

"That's terrible, Claude! Your own mother did this to you? And who is he?"

"He's my step-brother, Alan. And this…happens a bit more often than I'd like."

"It's a pleasure, little one."

She turned back to smile at her friend.

"I can help!"

With that, Cherie placed her hands on Claude's chest, and the bruises began to disappear.

Claude felt extremely relaxed, as if his body was rejuvenating entirely.

Alan remained frozen.

"Who-or what are you? Seriously?" He asked.

"I was born with the power to heal people from cuts and stuff! I can move fire and water too, and can even make the rain fall! I never told my parents 'cause I saw a TV show of a girl with special powers being taken away for research…"

"Is that the real reason you ran away, Cherie?" Claude inquired.

"No, my parents love me very much and wouldn't send me away…I was planning to go back with you anyway 'cause what you said was right, but then I fell asleep."

Alan and Claude exchanged glances.

"We'll take you home as soon as pretty boy's up to it."

"Alan!"

"Thanks, you two."

Claude was not exactly reassured by her frown.