AN: I know I said I wasn't going to Changling Families until after NaNo but a plot bunny got me so here it is!

It was past 11:00 when Otto finally finished organizing the music piece for his class. His back popped as he stretched and got up fro me his piano. Despite how exhausted he was, he couldn't bring himself to skip checking on his children.

Toby was sprawled out in his bed. One arm hanging down and Fragwa at his feet. Otto smiled and made sure the door was open just enough for the goblin to get out if she so desired.

Just as quietly, he poke hisi head into Mary's room. The little girl was not in her bed but sitting on the floor by her bookshelf. Knees tucked into her nightdress and her parents's photo album open on the floor in front of her.

"Princessin? VVhat are you doing up?" He asked, kneeling next to her.

"I miss Mommy and Daddy," Mary hugged knees closer, "I wanna go home."

For a moment, Otto didn't know what to say. Mary had only been with him for a couple of weeks and her parents's deaths were still very fresh for her. He looked down at the photos of the happy little family before sighing and pulling Mary into his lap.

"I know, Princessin. I understand. I felt ze same vvay vvhen Onkel VValt found me."

Mary looked up at him, tears still clinging to her long eyelashes, "Did your Mommy and Daddy have to go away, too?"

Otto nodded, "Ja. Und I had to go to a new home vviz Onkel VValt, too. Zen, I had to leave again to get Tanta Nono. Und again vvhen I left Germany to come to America. Und, you vvant to know a secret?"

Mary nodded wordlessly.

"I still miss my old homes. Zey are a part of who I vvas und have made me who I am. I still miss my Mama, too." He reached under his shirt and pulled out his silver locket, flipping it open to show her the painting of his mother and sister, "I vvill alvvays miss her, just as you vvill alvvays miss your Mommy und Daddy."

Mary reached forward and touched the painting with her tiny finger.

"Your Mommy und Daddy are still vviz you, Mary. Even zough you can't see zem ze vvay you used to. VVe vvill see zem again someday, our Mommies und Daddies. Und, until zen, zey are vvatching over you. Zey have seen how strong you are und how brave you have been in a new home vviz people you barely know. Und zey are so proud of you, Meine Princessin. So very proud of you."

Mary lay her head against his chest and looked down at the photo album again, "Are you sure I'll see them again?"

"Positive. It vvill take a long time, und sometimes you vvill vvish it doesn't take so long," Otto carefully leaned forward and pulled one of the photos from the book, "But, in ze end, vvhen you finally get to see zem again, ze vvait vvill be vvorz it. Und, until zen, you vvill have Toby, und Fragwa. Und Onkel VVakt, Tanta Barbara, Tanta Nono, und Jim. Und I don't plan on going anyvvhere."

Mary smiled and yawned, holding her photo close to her chest. Otto smiled and put the rest of the book away before tucking the four year old back into her bed.

"Gute Nacht, Mary. Ich hab dich lieb."

"Goodnight, Mr Otto," Mary tucked the photo of her parents under her pillow, "Do you wanna know a secret?"

Otto chuckled, "Sure, Mary. VVhat is it?"

"I love you. And I think Mommy and Daddy would have liked you, too."