So, I was thinking since Yuu in this AU was raised in Twisted Wonderland, there's a chance they may have met some of the students before they became students at NRC.

So far I have picked two.

Sebek and Ruggie. Why those two?

Well, Yuu met Sebek when they lost their first baby tooth. Crowley was on vacation in Briar valley when Yuu lost their baby tooth. Crowley didn't know human children lose their baby teeth so he panicked and took them to the nearest dentist in Briar Valley who has experience with humans, which happened to be Sebek's dad. This turns into Mr. Zigvolt explaining to Crowley that it's normal and gives Yuu a checkup all while Mrs. Zigvolt is cooing over Yuu and talking about how Yuu is close in age to their precious Sebek and how they should play together, and this ends up turning into the Zigvolt family babysitting Yuu for a week or two so Crowley can vacation solo.

Sebek and Yuu's relationship growing up is very rough and tumble play. Sebek would complain about Yuu being too weak to play with him because they're just a human, until Yuu is pinning him to the ground and oh look they're both crying now. Lots of patched up scrapes and runny noses with these two. If you've ever watched the swan princess and seen the part where Odette and Derek are kids, that's how Yuu and Sebek are.

Sebek is still Sebek when they're both at NRC but Yuu will punch him in the arm when he acts up.

Now Ruggie, when Yuu was young(under 10) they're on vacation in the Sunset Savannah but they're browsing different stalls and while Yuu is about to yell at their dad to look at something, Yuu spots Ruggie pick pocketing Crowley's wallet. Yuu follows Ruggie, demanding he gives back their dad's wallet. Yuu's not stupid and can see how scrawny and dirty Ruggie looks so they offer their own pocket money in place of Crowley's wallet. "You're hungry, that's why you took the wallet right?" Ruggie is caught while talking with Yuu by the shopkeeper and Crowley. But Yuu lies saying that Crowley dropped the wallet and Ruggie just found it and was just about to return it.

@heartofmarjan

Marjan knows how delicate the situation is with Judd's son, TK. She saw firsthand how afraid TK is of the Captain, and how fragile he is when it comes to the slightest trigger. He's a good kid; he's just sensitive, and Marjan doesn't blame him after everything he's been through.

She's the one who sits at the kitchen table with him and helps him with his homework one Monday afternoon. TK had a bad day at school, according to Grace, which means that all he wants is to be at the firehouse with his father where he feels safe. Like usual, Cap has Judd doing grunt work though, so the rest of them take turns keeping an eye on the kid.

Unfortunately, they cannot have a peaceful day. Judd comes over from the engine bay to ruffle TK's hair and check in with him. However, the moment he opens his mouth, Cap is there with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"Did you finish polishing the truck, Ryder?"

"Just taking a break, sir."

The Captain laughs a little. "Your state mandated break isn't for another two hours. Go clean the truck."

For a moment, Marjan thinks this will be easy and Judd won't pick a fight. But then she remembers how high tensions have been running in the firehouse, and the fact that Cap had visitation this weekend with TK, and she's prepared for Judd to push back. She watches him get in Cap's face to yell at him.

She doesn't wait to find out where this argument is going because TK is already covering his ears and starting to cry. Marjan scoops TK up into her arms, cupping the back of his head when he tucks his face into her shoulder, and carries him away to the bunk rooms where it's quiet and safe. She hates that any child has to live like this. It's not fair to TK.

"It's okay," she assures him as she sets him down on one of the beds. "Don't worry about it. Sometimes grown-ups fight. It's not your fault, and you don't have to see that if you don't want to."

TK buries his face between his knees. "He's gonna hurt daddy."

"Who? Owen?"

"He did last time."

At first, Grace isn’t sure what woke her up. It takes a minute to get her bearings, sit up, and turn on the light. Its gentle golden glow drapes over TK, who’s standing next to the bed with a teddy bear clutched in his hand and tear streaks down his face. Immediately, her heart aches. She shakes Judd gently to wake him up too. 

“What’s wrong, TK?” she asks, quiet so as not to startle him with loud noises. “Did you have a bad dream?” 

He nods and holds his stuffed bear tighter. Grace hates that her baby is in pain like this, but she’s infinitely proud that he came to them when feeling upset or unsafe. 

“Do you want to stay here for the rest of the night?” Judd asks from behind her.

Three days after TK is admitted, Grace and Judd are permitted to see him. The doctors say they wanted to give him time to adjust, but it really feels like torture to have lost the pitter patter of TK’s feet through the house and the sound of his small laugh that’s slowly become more and more common over the time he’s spent in their care. Under one arm, Judd has TK’s stuffed bear to give to him as a source of comfort. 

When they get to the visitation room, TK is already sitting at one of the tables with a juicebox, coloring on a little worksheet instead of answering the questions. He looks too young to be here. Judd’s heart breaks for him all over again as he and Grace come to sit across from him. 

As soon as TK sees them, he starts crying. “You left me!” he sobs, reaching over the table to get to them. Grace comes around to his side and opens her arms, which TK immediately falls into. He clings to her tighter than Judd has ever seen him hug someone, even when he was completely terrified after the incident at Owen’s. It just goes to show how badly he needs to be out of this place. 

“You don’t love me anymore,” TK cries against Grace’s shoulder. “Why’d you leave? You don’t love me, you don’t love me-”

Grace shushes him gently and nods at Judd to come over and wrap his arms around them both. “Of course we love you, baby. You just need some extra help that Daddy and I couldn’t give you. This is just temporary, and you’ll be home before you know it. Plus, we’re gonna visit you all the time, and Daddy brought your bear for you.”

TK looks so uncomfortable that Grace longs to sweep him up into her arms and carry him away, but she can’t. All she can do is watch from behind the one way glass as their lawyer and a police officer speak with TK about what happened at Owen Strand’s house. 

“Can you put on your brave face for me?” the officer asks in a kind voice, trying to catch TK’s eye. TK seems much more determined to stare at the table and fidget with the little toy car he brought with him. “Your mommy told me you had a rough day visiting your dad yesterday. Is it okay if I ask you some questions?”

TK nods his head. 

Honestly, with all the stress, Grace would be surprised if TK got out more than a word or two. He seems to struggle to verbalize when he’s having a rough day, and the past couple certainly qualify. She had felt sick to her stomach when Judd relayed the circumstances under which he picked TK up the day before. 

“Okay, buddy. I heard you were in the closet, can you tell me how you got there?”

TK looks to their lawyer for reassurance. As a family friend, TK knows him fairly well, and trusts him to keep him safe. The lawyer, Sonny, gives TK a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, TK. You can tell the nice officer.”