Judal was the best at cuddling in Aladdin's opinion. He loved waking up in the middle of the night and feeling Judal's arms wrapped around his body, holding him close. He loved the smell of Judal, the feel of his hair tangled around his body. Sometimes Judal's body would slide against his own some, making him feel like he was some precious gem for the other. So this was what it felt like to be cherished…

Aladdin couldn't help himself, snuggling closer and murmuring the other's name before he drifted back to sleep. They should do this more often. He could behave himself a bit more and try to get close to his guardian this way. Things were much more pleasing in this manner anyway. He liked being kissed in public and curling up to watch movies together. The baths together were nice and warm. Truly, he couldn't ask for anything in the world to make such moments better. Life was sweet and wonderful.

Just like his reality, his dreams were just a mass of him getting forehead kisses in public. He imagined Kougyoku getting all scared again as giant spiders chased after her and Kouha being sad because Judal told him that he was quitting because he wanted to spend more time with Aladdin. Such nice dreams…

So nice.

It was only a shame when Aladdin could feel the sun shining against his face. Reality had a nasty way of coming to force him to return. He rolled over, his face pressing against Judal's pillow. The bed was…

Aladdin's eyes opened immediately, his body moving up to look around for the man. Judal wasn't in bed anymore. He scrambled to his feet, scampering to the door and throwing it open to run through the house. He stopped at the living area, seeing a person with their back turned, working at the stove. A bark came from their feet.

"What's going on, Alibaba?" The woman turned around, smiling to Aladdin. "Good morning, sleepy head. Judal had to head to work so I'm here to watch over you until he comes back."

"He's not here?!" Aladdin paled, looking this way and that. His bag wasn't behind the couch anymore. The bathroom was open. In a rush, Aladdin ran for the garage, throwing the door open and finding Judal's car gone.

He had left him here.

All he could see what Kougyoku getting too close, or Kouha being really close and touching Judal at all…

He sniffled, feeling Alibaba walk over to his side and press his nose against him. The golden retriever looked up at him, those brown eyes waiting for some kind of response, but Aladdin just fell to his knees, sniffling a bit more. He wrapped his arms around the dog and felt himself feeling miserable already. Judal would be gone for hours.

"Al-Aladdin!" Anise hurried over, pulling him into her arms and wiping his tears away. "Aww, you aren't used to being alone, are you? Come on, I have some food."

"I'm not hungry."

"nonsense. I don't believe that for a second. Judal said you eat more than an army. I made some eggs and some toast. There's a little bacon in the pan for you and I think if you cheer up a little bit, we could probably play fetch with Alibaba. He's really good at bringing things back."

"I don't feel like it."

"Oh come on, it'll be fun."

The boy seemed to be intent on crying though as far as Anise could tell. Aladdin's face was reddening a bit, the tears flowing freely down his face.

"There's nothing I can do to make you happy?"

Aladdin shook his head. "I was hoping to go with Judal again…"

"Hey, he can't take you every day." Anise bounced him up into her arms a bit more.

Something bounced, causing his eyes to drift down. "…what was that?"

"Hmm? You are familiar with breasts, aren't you? I'm a bit well endowed." She smiled as she led his hands to her breasts, letting them bounce a bit in his hands. Alibaba growled nearby, making her laugh. "Aww, and Alibaba is being a precious son." She blew him a kiss before smiling to Aladdin's intrigued expression.

"Do… do they always do this?"

"Yes, they do."

Aladdin smiled a bit, still crying slightly, but there was something new for him to pay attention to for the moment. Judal was going to come back according to anise. It would be okay… just for a little bit…

"So did you have a nightmare last night, Aladdin?"

"Hmm?"

Anise smiled as she hauled him over to the table, settling him in Judal's chair and bringing him some food. "I noticed that you were sleeping in the room with all Judal's things."

"I was hoping to sle- I mean… um…" Aladdin's face turned a bit pink before Anise laughed.

"You wanted to sleep with Judal. That's so cute. He might want to have a woman over or something though one of these days. You might have to get used to your own bed."

"No, not that kind of sleep- nevermind."

"What do you mean? You can't mean you want to… well."

Aladdin nodded at her as he stuffed some eggs into his mouth.

"Aladdin, he's a little… he's got a few years on you. It might be easier to just wait until you're a little older and go after a cute girl. I bet if you worked hard and grew up and ate right, you could have any little girl's heart."

"I don't want a little girl. I have Judal. It's fine too. He likes me too."

Anise settled into a nearby seat and frowned. "…he does?"

"Yeah, he bought me because he likes me."

"Bought- Okay. You are going to have to explain things. I'm very confused. You aren't related to him?" she stroked Alibaba's head and poured some apple juice for Aladdin as Aladdin swallowed his food before speaking.

"I don't know if I am allowed to tell you. It's supposed to be a secret."

"I can keep a secret."

"Are you sure?" Aladdin looked at her seriously. "You can't tell anyone. Alibaba can't either."

"I will make sure he keeps his snout shut."

Aladdin nodded, looking around before he started to explain. "I am supposed to be a slave for Judal. I was sold to him by this really mean trader man to satisfy him, but Judal never wants that."

"Little too fast still, Aladdin. Let's go a little slower. You were sold?"

"Yes."

"So Judal just bought you? You aren't related to him at all?"

"No, not at all. He just found me and brought me home."

"Hmm," Anise frowned. "So you are here according to your seller to make Judal sexually happy?"

"Yes." Aladdin smiled.

"Okay…"

"It's okay though. He doesn't want to do that. I had to almost force him the other night." Aladdin shook his head and groaned. "I mean… I don't know how to explain."

"It's okay. You don't seem to be in any danger with him. If he makes you happy then that's all that matters." Anise rubbed his shoulder a bit before smiling brightly. "It doesn't matter what kind of past you have. Just be happy with what you have now. Sometimes we have to go through horrible moments, but those pass. It's good that you found someone like Judal who can take care of you. There are lots of less fortunate people and it's very obvious that Judal at least is mellowing out from the man I met when he first moved in."

"Was he that bad?"

"That bad? He tried to kick Alibaba and told me to leave him alone. He was the worst person I had ever met before you showed up. Seeing him show up on my doorstep this morning was precious. He looked about ready to bolt instead of asking me."

"I could have stayed by myself…"

"It's fine, Aladdin. I like being here with you. So did you get named Aladdin by those traders or-"

"I named myself."

"It's adorable. I think the name suits you. You're your own little prince and Judal is really coming around for you."

"You think so?" Aladdin smiled up at her, getting a kiss to the forehead before Anise nodded.

"Absolutely! However, if you really want to get with Judal like that, you need to take things slow. Sometimes you need to compromise. If he wants to go to work by himself, let him. You'll have him all afternoon and you can listen to all his stories and make him feel better on hard days. Men like back rubs too. Or when they have headaches, sometimes it helps just to have someone wrap their arms around you."

"Any more advice? You know a lot about this!"

Anise smiled, deciding against telling the boy about her prostitute occupation she had. "let me see here, have you finished breakfast yet?"

Aladdin looked at his plate before beginning to eat with a vigor.

She could only laugh, bringing him a second helping as he finished the first. The boy's appetite was just as bad as Judal said it would be. The food she had made was gobbled down within the next few minutes. She settled on the couch with him soon enough, settling on her usual morning soap as Alibaba and Aladdin played with one another.

It seemed easy enough to watch them. Aladdin would occasionally look at the clock, telling her that Judal would have a meeting at this time or that it was getting close to lunch time. He had at least slept in a great deal so he didn't have to wait that long. When one in the afternoon came, Aladdin was perched on the window bench with Alibaba at his feet, watching the neighborhood.

"Aladdin, I'm supposed to have you work on your tablet for a while. Judal said he was going to run a few errands before coming home and I need to work."

"Okay…"

He didn't move though.

"Aladdin~" Anise walked over to the boy, crossing her arms. "Am I going to have to use force to get you to study?"

"…I will be right over and work-"

She picked him up and carried him over to the couch, settling the tablet into his lap. "I will be right next door if you need me, okay? Remember not to answer the door to strangers or anything."

"Ah! But miss Anise! I want to wat-"

"He'll be home in about an hour or less. Give him some time, okay? He'll be all yours all afternoon. Just behave yourself a little longer." She pressed her lips to his forehead before heading for the door. "…You be sure he knows that he's very lucky to have you in his life, alright?"

"I will!"

She smiled and left, heading with Alibaba at her side towards her home. Her client was already there, waiting at the doorstep with flowers in hand.

"I had some time," he told her.

Anise smiled and opened the door, letting him in and ignoring her growling canine companion.

Judal parked in the garage later than usual, turning off his car before he cursed. He had gotten absolutely nothing done today. He had just been thinking about that brat all day. Half the day he had daydreamed in his office, the other half, he had been talking to Kouen or Kougyoku. Of course, the other two had not been helpful to him at all.

Kougyoku was telling him about the downfalls of children while Kouen asked him about the benefits of having children around.

"next time, I'm just going to smack the person who asks about Aladdin." He opened the door to the main part of the house only to see a streak of blue hair zip over from the couch to hug him.

"Jugu," Aladdin cheered. "I missed you!"

"Hey there, brat. What happened to Anise?"

"She had to work."

"Oh, that makes sense." He had always thought prostitutes worked at night though. He eyes caught sight of a paper on the fridge as he moved slowly into the house with Aladdin clinging to him and set his things down.

"So what did you two do today," he asked as he grabbed the paper off the fridge.

"Not much," Aladdin smiled. "She's really nice."

Judal nodded. "Yeah, seems that way. Go get dressed though, brat. You shouldn't be running around in my shirt all day."

Aladdin smiled brightly, nodding. "I like your shirt though. It smells like you and it's really comfy." He turned and headed to get dressed in his own clothes though. Judal read through the note Anise had left and felt his mood drop a bit more.

Judal,

Be nice to Aladdin. He might be a slave, but he's also a person. He's also very lonely without you so make sure to give him a big kiss. He likes breasts, but he clearly loves you a whole lot more. I only had him grope me once and I had to lead his hands to my breasts.

He's going to be a little heartbreaker if you raise him right.

- Anise

"Aladdin! YOU TOLD HER!"

Aladdin poked his head out of his room and nodded. "It's okay! She's going to keep our secret! She gave me a lot of really good advice today."

"You told her though! Aladdin! Don't make us in debt to everyone!"

"I'm not! You shouldn't run away though! I was lonely this morning!" The boy frowned at him, straightening his shirt. "I really wanted to go with you."

"You need to stay home and work on your writing and reading first."

"I want to go with you."

"Aladdin," Judal growled at him.

"It's fine. I'll stay here. Anise and I will just talk-"

"Hold on, are you threatening to just chatter on with her about us?"

"No! We're just going to talk and spend time together while you are at work."

"Talk about what?"

"I don't know. Whatever comes to mind."

"…Aladdin-"

Aladdin moved across the room and hugged him, making Judal immediately tense. His eyes regarded the boy carefully as Aladdin nuzzled into his chest. "It's fine. It's fine. If you want to go to work, then Anise said that I should let you."

"…okay…"

Those blue eyes looked up at him and that bright smile shone up at him, "when you come home, I can spend all the time I want with you, so you can go to work alone. Let's have dinner though. I'm really hungry."

Be still my beating heart, Judal thought to himself as he let the boy nuzzle into his chest some more. It would be better to be cool.

Even with that in mind though, his heart was still racing a bit fast in aggravation and admiration at the boy's tenacity and loyalty to him.