At the sight of Jay the small De Vil wanted nothing more than to throw his arms around his muscular frame and hug him tighter than he ever thought possible.
Of course Carlos couldn't even move from the bed so he allowed Jay to embrace him, not as tight as he would have liked but Carlos felt instant comfort from having him near.
"I'm glad you're back." Carlos whispered.
Jay didn't answer, he just placed a warm kiss on Carlos's temple; the puppy still seemed a bit wary of the intruder so he wriggled his way between them.
"when did you get a dog?" Jay asked, sitting on the edge of the bed and lightly poking the puppy.
Carlos petted the puppy, "today. A couple called the Radcliffe's came and offered me a place to live." He said as casually as he could.
"what did you say?" Jay was frowning.
The young De Vil shrugged, "I told them thanks but no thanks."
Jay picked up the fairytale book, quickly skimming over his father's story, to look at the pictures of the 'fictional Radcliffe's' , "weird to think they're real people." He mumbled softly.
It was still late and Carlos was still tired so he lay back on his pillows, just watching Jay under the light of the television; a glorious fluttering feeling swirled around the small De Vil's insides and he couldn't stop the goofy smile crossing his face.
"are you going back to Hell Hall?" Jay suddenly asked.
Carlos paused, he hadn't really thought about what would happen to his mother's house, or all of her belongings, he guessed that they were all his now and he had to decide what to do with it all.
"no." Carlos said immediately.
It was the truth, he didn't want that house where he had been abused by his mother, where it would be filled with memories of Cruella and Carlos wanted nothing to do with it.
"I don't want it." The small De Vil added sternly, "burn it for all I care."
Suddenly Jay was kissing him and his mind when blank; it didn't last as long as he had hoped but the Arabian looked pleased with himself.
"had to stop you making that face." Jay told him teasingly.
With a blank, happy mind Carlos found himself falling asleep, Jay by his side holding his good hand tightly and the puppy snoozing again on his stomach.
"—I told you you're not allowed to be here overnight!" someone was shouting.
Carlos woke with a start; it was morning and Dr Nani was hitting Jay with her clipboard, the puppy barking around her ankles.
"but he was lonely without me!" Jay protested, protecting his head from the violent doctor.
Dr Nani delivered a finaly blow, nearly knocking Jay off his feet, before standing with hands on her hips, "he was asleep. You're lucky I don't call security."
"don't do that." Carlos said loudly.
Dr Nani smiled gently at him, "Mr De Vil, you're awake." She said softly, "President Beast is here to see you."
Beast entered in a crisp dark blue suit but he had more worry lines than before, "how are you doing?" he asked.
"okay, still aching but okay." Carlos said truthfully, "do I have to stay here any longer?"
Clearing his throat nosily Beast looked anxious, "no you don't, I've come to take you back to my home." He said in a very business-like way.
Carlos smiled and began to climb out of the bed, as best he could but it was proving difficult with his casts.
"here." Mal was suddenly behind him.
"take my arm." Evie took his good arm and pulled him up slowly.
"mind his arm." Jay warned.
Carlos smiled as his friends helped him, he hadn't even heard them come into the room but he was grateful.
Jay and Ben helped the small De Vil get dressed in a shirt, red vest and black & white stripped shorts that just fit over his huge cast.
Leaving the hospital Carlos felt strange; he was surrounded by his friends but they were all silent, stiff as they marched through the sparking halls.
Carlos managed carefully on one crutch, the puppy bounding playfully at his side, but as they excited the hospital they were bombarded with shouting and lightbulbs flashing.
Mal, Evie, Jay and Ben squeezed tighter around Carlos, Jay scooped up the puppy so they could move easier.
Panic spread through Carlos, he had no idea who those people where who were shouting his name so he kept his head down and followed Mal's boots.
A limo was waiting for them, the group split to let Carlos's in first and Jay handed the puppy over.
"Carlos! Over here!" Someone close shouted and the small De Vil instantly looked up.
A flash of light nearly blinded him, in his blindness he could hear a scuffle, before someone manhandled him into the limo.
"are you okay Carlos?" it was Evie.
Her dress was yellow and blue swirls with light layers, she looked stern but worried, "all those nasty journalists." She spat.
"what are they doing here?" Carlos rubbed his eyes.
Evie sighed deeply, Ben tumbled into the car, "they've been all over your story, it's disgusting."
Carlos frowned, what had there been to write about the incident, it all seemed so pointless but he was intrigued as to what they had been saying.
Finally Mal and Jay threw themselves into the limo, swearing at the press, before it drove away.
"absolute scum." Mal hissed.
The puppy was cowering on Carlos's shoulder, he shifted uncomfortably; it felt like he was causing more trouble but he didn't voice his problem.
Carlos propped his bright red cast across one of the long seats and was handed some peanut butter cups but he had eaten so much chocolate the past day he chewed it slowly.
"dad tried to make it as easy as possible but the press are like vultures." Ben explained, chewing a piece of hard candy.
Mal snorted, "even vultures know when to get lost."
"will they go away soon?" Carlos asked softly.
All the young De Vil wanted to do was go to school, read with Belle, have a nice relationship with Jay and have a proper life that he had been denied.
Nobody said a word, Jay took his hand tightly and they carried on driving through Auradon.