A/N: I love you, I love you, I love you! That is for all my reviews, follows, favs and anything else you can do that tells me you have remotely enjoyed my insanity. One section of this made me tear up; I don't tear up easy, enjoy the read!

The four Isle kids sat with Ben in an empty classroom, classes ended ten minutes ago. Carlos decided today was the day he told them all the truth about his not-quite mother. Jay silently laced their fingers together in a show of support, Carlos smiled at him and began his tale.

"I wanted to tell you guys about my mother." Carlos said, Ben looked surprised, Carlos never spoke of the Isle. Mal and Evie looked faintly sick, Evie said, "I think we know enough", the scars where still fresh in her mind.

"No, I don't even know enough." Carlos said, "At the same time I know too much."

Mal opened her mouth to ask what the hell Carlos was talking about when he let the bomb drop.

"Jay knows already, but Cruella isn't my real mother."

"No shit!" Mal said, mother wasn't a term anyone would use for Cruella.

"No, she didn't give birth to me."

"Oh my god!" Evie exclaimed, "but you were on the Isle"

"She kidnapped me, shortly before the barrier went up. Apparently the magic used didn't think anything was evil enough to steal a newborn."

Silence reigned before Ben caught on, "You said you don't know much about your mother, what do you know?"

"She went to school with my mother and her name is Anita." Carlos said softly, he watched Ben pale considerably.

"He thought it might be the lady that works with the orphans." Jay said.

"I'd bet my kingdom on it." Ben said, "She has an older daughter and was pregnant but no one knew what happened to the other child, she absolutely refuses to talk about it. If that child was stolen, it makes sense."

Carlos was silent, he'd hoped Anita might be his mom, but to have it confirmed that easily, it was shocking. Without a word he stood and went over to jay who was sitting against the wall, he curled in his lap and hid his head against his chest. He felt the tears prickling his eyes, but he didn't have a reason to cry this was good news, wasn't it?

Mal and Evie were in shock, everything Carlos had went through and that creature wasn't even his mother! They watched him curl up with Jay, before both going over and throwing their arms around the other two.

Ben watched them awkwardly, it was obvious from how quickly they settled they had sat like this a lot in their past. He was just thinking about excusing himself to let them absorb the news when Mal surprised him, "Get your princely ass over here" she said while patting the ground next to her. He took the invitation and sat with his arm around her waist.

No one said anything, every so often Carlos would sniffle. Twenty minutes later he'd calmed down, "So, we probably found my mom, now what?" He asked, the question was aimed at Mal, she was their leader she had to know what to do.

"I have no idea C." She told him, while gently rubbing his back. She wanted to bring Cruella back from the dead, and kill her again. She absently traced some of the scars she could feel then stopped as she remembered the first time she'd seen them. They'd just gotten to Auradon and Carlos was trying to catch Jay staring, his plan worked but it also showed Mal all of his scars. Even when they tended his wounds on the Isle Jay tried to keep the back of Carlos' shoulders covered, that day she learned why. Carved in and accented with burns was a single word, 'WORTHLESS'.

"I think the only thing we can do is tell Anita. I'm set to go see the newly finished warehouse with her tomorrow, I think maybe you four should come along."

The five of them stood in the empty warehouse.

"I figure we'll put a row of beds and small dressers along that wall and couches along that one," he said gesturing to the left then the right.

Mal snorted, "Don't bother. Bring in some old pillows, rugs and blankets, half of them have never had a bed."

"I guess it's a good thing I brought you guys out." Ben said, "What about communal space, like to hang out"

"Listen to Mal." Jay said, "just pile a bunch of soft things against one wall and let the kids loose, they will do the rest."

Ben looked like he wanted to protest, Carlos' soft voice stopped him, "Really, if you want to help them, don't help them."

Ben nodded, "Okay, how about clothes and food and things?"

"I think maybe the same, just drop off clothes and food. Diego and his friends seemed to have taken leadership, they will make sure everyone gets something. At first they'll have a three word motto, trust no one." jay said.

Ben made notes on his clipboard, "One of you go see if the bathrooms are good"

Carlos went, he smiled when he walked in there were ten stalls, each one had a toilet, sink and shower. With the door closed it was total privacy. The last one in the end was big enough for three or four kids, which would be good for those who didn't want to be alone in a new place.

"It's perfect, I couldn't have designed it better myself! That big one on the end is genius" Carlos said as he came out of the bathroom.

"Thank you, common sense can go a long way in designing."

Carlos froze, a slender woman with strawberry blonde hair was standing with everyone else.

"You must be Carlos, I've heard quite a lot about you" The woman smiled, Carlos realized with a start he had his mothers eyes.

Ben let out a chuckle, "I think perhaps you should hear a bit more."

Anita looked confused, Carlos found the ability to move and glued himself against Jay's side. Ben continued, "Do one of you want to tell it, or should I?"

"I'm not a story teller, and I think Carlos will squeak if he tries to talk right now." Jay said.

"Just talk Ben!" Mal said, "it's been long enough."

"Okay, they forgot to make a royal protocol for this one." Ben tried to joke, no one laughed. "After Ashlyn was born, my mother said you were pregnant again. But no one in Auradon knew what happened, besides you and you didn't share." Anita paled, Jay was stuck by the resemblance between her and Carlos, if you were looking for it, it was there. "I think the missing pieces came over from the Isle. Cruella kidnapped a child right before the shield kicked in. She told the child his mothers real name was Anita and that they'd gone to school together, but other than that he knew nothing."

Anita was in shock, "That wicked woman didn't even change your name!" was all she said, her eyes shined with tears as she looked at the small boy. There was no question between the two boys which one was hers. Carlos looked up from Jay's chest to see his mother staring at him. "Hey, it's okay, for once it's all okay." Anita could see from his actions that this boy, her son had been badly abused. "I won't bite." she said softly.

Anita couldn't think straight, her son, her baby boy had vanished in the night nearly fifteen years ago, now here he was standing in front of her, alive. She fought every urge she had to pull him into a hug, something told her that would end badly.

"You, you don't hate me?" Carlos asked his voice shaking.

"How on this earth could anyone hate you! I regret to say I don't even know you, but no Carlos I don't hate you."

Jay didn't have time to blink between the time he felt Carlos let go of him and saw him practically tackle Anita in a hug.

"Curella did a pretty good job hating him, no one else has ever managed it though." Jay said.

"I'm gonna leave you guys to catch up" Ben said, "Anita, I'll see you next week end, everything should be ready by then."

"Thank you Ben, thank you for giving these kids, and me a second chance at family" Anita said. Evie wiped at her eyes.

"It turned out much better than planned. I look forward to rescuing the rest of them" Ben said before walking out the door, Evie and Mal left with him, leaving Carlos and Jay alone with Anita.

"I want to know all about your life growing up, what do you like, dislike. My god, I have fourteen years to catch up on."

jay laughed he didn't think Carlos would tell much of anything willingly.

"Why don't we sit and I'll try to catch you up?" Carlos said letting go of his mom.

Carlos didn't wait for an answer before sitting against the wall. Jay sat on one side, Anita took the other. Carlos linked his fingers with Jay deciding that was as good a place as any to start, "Well, I'm gay, if you couldn't guess, I'm dating Jay." he paused, Anita just nodded. "I like video games, and dogs even though they scared me at first. I don't like small places with no windows."

"You like chocolate, a lot" Jay interrupted

Carlos laughed, "Yeah I have a sweet tooth the size of Auradon."

Anita smiled and pulled two lollipops out of her pocket, "I work with kids a lot, they all like candy" she watched Carlos rip the paper off one, before handing the other to Jay who slide it into his pocket, "I'll just give it back to you later." He grinned, he didn't care for lollipops, but Carlos liked anything with sugar.

"What else do you want to know?" Carlos asked around his candy.

"Everything" Anita said.

Jay was abruptly reminded of a month ago when Mal had told the school 'everything'.

"Babe, I think you should start with the same everything Mal did."

Carlos shook his head, "I know where to start I think. I think I should start with the worst."

Jay nodded, "Anita, you work with orphans, how often are they abused?"

"Not often, a few bruises here and there. I've studied worse, but I haven't seen it yet."

"I'll fix that" Carlos muttered, he pulled away from the wall and grabbed the edge of his shirt.

"Dude! Don't you want to warn her, or something?" jay said

"Not really, I am an Isle kid, shock value is fun." Carlos said while puling his shirt over his head.

Anita felt her heart stop. Every inch of Carlos's skin had a scar or burn across it. She didn't think as she reached out to trace one on his arm, he flinched but didn't move away. "How are you still alive?" she asked in awe.

Carlos lifted his hand that was still entwined with Jay's, "blame him and Mal, they patch me up. Before I met them it was sheer dumb-luck."

"Show her your back, you want the worst, that's it." jay said

Carlos scooted forward, he felt Jay trace over one of the letters and shivered.

"That, that, oh! I'd like to turn her into a coat!" Anita growled.

Jay laughed "I like your mom, much better than Cruella."

Carlos smiled, "me too".

Three hours later Carlos had spoken more about the Isle than he ever had before. When he'd told Anita about roasting marshmallows in the fire he thought she'd be disgusted, instead she told him she wished she had been there with them.

"I know you are rather independent at this point, I won't try to force you home to be a normal kid, but I would like to be in your life. Rodger is going to lose his mind when I tell him and Ashlyn always wanted a brother."

"I don't think I could be a normal kid." Carlos admitted, "but I think it would be nice to have a family, besides Jay, Mal and Evie that is. There is a tourney game this weekend, maybe when you're done with Ben you could come watch and we'll hang out after?"

"I think that sounds perfect." Anita said. She gave Carlos a final hug before going home to tell her husband and daughter that not only was Carlos alive he wanted to be involved in their lives.