The future mother of an unborn baby began to sob in earnest at the news her physician had given her just hours ago.

"I'm sorry, miss, but there's nothing we can do. It might die, it might not. It would be best if you traveled as quickly as possible to the London hospital, just in case. This kind of thing is unnatural. I wish you luck."

Tears still streamed down her face as she made her forlorn way down the narrow steps of the building she had lived in since finding herself with child, using the railing for support.

When she reached the landlord's study, she knocked carefully. He opened the door moments later with a solemn look on his face.

"Sir, would you please arrange a carriage to London? I-I can pay," she added quickly, hoping not to offend the man who, out of the kindness of his heart, had taken her in when her own family had disowned her for having an illegimate child.

A soft smile overtook the young yet severe features of his face.

"Of course I will. There is no need for you to pay, Anna, as I suspect you wish to go for the sake of your child."

He truly was such a kind man, to take her in and pay for a physician. Anna resisted the urge to bow deeply, knowing he would reprimand her for treating him with unneeded respect.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you for all of your kindness and hospitality."

He ruffled her hair affectionately before returning to his desk, beside which a phone hung on the wall. Anna watched as he ordered for a carriage to come for her the next day.

Dragging herself back up the stairs to begin to pack her meager things, she carefully dried the tears that still hung on her eyelashes and coated her cheeks.

She severely wished that the kind man whose house she inhabited had been the father, rather than that repulsive –

Quickly, Anna diverted her thoughts to more positive things. That she still had a place to call home, even after losing nearly everything; the fact that, despite being disowned, she had retained some of her favorite belongings; even that she might have a young baby to take care of to keep her thoughts distracted in only a few weeks.

Smiling slightly at the thoughts, she entered her own room and began gathering the few belongings scattered in the small space.

--

The next day, the landlord helped Anna carry her small suitcase down the narrow stairs, smiling as usual. When she had first seen him that morning, he had been sitting at his upright grand piano again, plucking out a melody she somehow knew no other person would ever hear. Anna had sat and listened contentedly, but was slightly alarmed when he stopped playing, because something seemed to have changed in his bearing.

When he offered to help her to the carriage, though, the feeling of change was quickly replaced with happiness.

All right, there's the first chapter of my character development experiment. I expect this will go at least up through when Mana dies to Cross's appearance – but I can't be sure. I might take it all the way to where the manga starts, even. If I don't get really bad writer's block, it should be quite long. You should know – there isn't really going to be plot, just my idea of what Allen's childhood/early teens might have been like, the circumstances of his birth, etc. It isn't really so much a story as a third-person record that is COMPLETELY NOT OWNED BY ME. D. Gray-Man is owned by Katsura Hoshino, may she get well soon.

Review if you wish.

Maho