History Main / TakeCareOfTheKids

* In ''Anime/AshitaNoNadja'', this trope is why [[spoiler: Rita Rossi, Cream and Chocolate]] are members of the Dandelion Troupe. [[spoiler: Rita's parents owned another circus, which burned down one night; before they tried to save the rest of their animals, they went up to the Troupe, handed them little Rita and the baby lions, and asked them to take care of the little girl and the cubs. Few minutes after this, the circus tent collapsed and the Rossis died, so the Troupe fulfilled the Rossis's LastRequest and took the three in as a part of the crew.]]

* This is part of Donna Troy's original SuperHeroOrigin in the Teen Titans ''Our Own League'' stories. At five years old, Donna and her father were on a plane that crashed into the sea. Mr. Troy paddled Donna to the shores of Themyscira on a raft, and begged the Amazons to take care of his daughter before dying of exhaustion. Queen Hippolyta adopted Donna and she became Wonder Woman's sister.

* {{Inverted}} in Literature/TheBible; when Jesus was on the cross, he saw his mother, Mary, standing with "the disciple whom he loved" and instructed him to take care of her from now on, which he did. Mary was presumably widowed by that point, and in ancient Judean culture would have needed a grown son for financial support. (Whether or not she had others is [[http://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201312/did-jesus-have-brothers-a nd-sisters-28224 open for debate]]).

* A flashback scene in ''VideoGame/ThirteenSentinelsAegisRim'' shows this happening with Megumi's father, Nozomu. Specifically, [[spoiler:he was an astronaut who became infected with a virus while working on the Ark Project. He was refused re-entry to the colony ship, but because the eight-year old Megumi wasn't infected, Nozomu asks Juro to watch over her in his stead.]]

* After being shot by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, considered the spark that started UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, Archduke Franz Ferdinand's last words were (to his wife) "Sophie, Sophie! Don't die! Live for our children!" Tragically, Sophie was already unconscious and near death at this point, if not dead already; her final words had been "For God's sake, what has happened to you?!". The children ([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Sophie_of_Hohenberg Sophie]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian,_Duke_of_Hohenberg Maximilian]], and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Ernst_of_Hohenberg Ernst]]) were deported after their kingdom was destroyed and spent some time at the Dachau concentration camp. Eventually, they would receive their family's castle back.

* After being shot by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, considered the spark that started UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, Archduke Franz Ferdinand's last words were (to his wife) "Sophie, Sophie! Don't die! Live for our children!" Tragically, Sophie was already unconscious and near death at this point, if not dead already; her final words had been "For God's sake, what has happened to you?!". The children ([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Sophie_of_Hohenberg Sophie]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian,_Duke_of_Hohenberg Maximilian]], and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Ernst_of_Hohenberg Ernst]]) were deported after their kingdom was destroyed and spent some time at the Dachau concentration camp. Eventually, they would receive their family's castle back; Sophie lived until the 1990s.

*
''WesternAnimation/TheDragonPrince'': A few of Harrow's last words to his stepson, Callum, are "take care of your brother for me".

* Early in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' Hope's mother joins Snow (along with some other rebels). She's killed (along with pretty much every other volunteer, but [[RedShirt they're not plot relevant]]) and she says this just before falling to her death. [[spoiler: Since she didn't tell him who her son is, Snow has no idea who to protect and decides to protect all the children that were to be taken on The Purge. Meanwhile, Hope witnesses this and blames him for it, follows him, and ends up as a party member.]] The in-game synopsis notes that in a way, Snow manages to fulfill her request to protect her son [[spoiler:by providing Hope with a target and thus a reason to persevere despite the odds.]]

* In ''Anime/MoribitoGuardianOfTheSpirit,'' this is both the main plot and back story: when the Second Queen of Yogo suspects that her husband is trying to kill their son [[WiseBeyondTheirYears Chagum]], she tasks [[LadyOfWar Balsa]], a warrior-woman who happened to stop the most recent assassination attempt, to run away with him and keep him safe. As the series progresses, we learn that Balsa herself was once the "kid" in this trope, being taken in by a warrior named [[PapaWolf Jigoro]] on her dying father's request. A WholeEpisodeFlashback later fills in the details.

* After being shot by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, considered the spark that started UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, Archduke Franz Ferdinand's last words were (to his wife) "Sophie, Sophie! Don't die! Live for our children!" Tragically, Sophie died about ten minutes before Franz did. The children ([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Sophie_of_Hohenberg Sophie]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian,_Duke_of_Hohenberg Maximilian]], and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Ernst_of_Hohenberg Ernst]]) were deported after their kingdom was destroyed and spent some time at the Dachau concentration camp. Eventually, they would receive their family's castle back; Sophie lived until the 1990s.

* Part of Crow's BackStory in ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'': His father-figure Robert Pearson, while trapped in a burning building, told Crow to escape, take his bike and deck, and watch over the rest of the kids he'd taken in.

* Aiolos Sagittarius in ''Manga/SaintSeiya'' gave the baby Saori to Mitsumasa Kido. It wasn't his kid though, he was trying to protect her from the evil Pope who wanted to kill her because she was Athena's reincarnation, and got killed in the effort.

* PlayedWith in ''Anime/JoJosBizarreAdventure''--part one ends with [[BigBad Dio]] massacring [[TheHeroDies Jonathan]] and everyone else on a ship, leaving Erina and a baby girl as the {{Sole Survivor}}s. Erina wanted to stay and die with Jonathan, but he noted how the baby's mother [[MamaBear died protecting her]], and urged Erina to take the child and escape. The episode/storyline ends with Erina floating with the baby alone in the wreckage, with the narrator informing us that [[SomeoneToRememberHimBy Erina was pregnant herself]]. [[spoiler:The baby girl, Lisa Lisa, was raised by their companion Straizo, marries Erina's son George and becomes the mother of the next protagonist, Joseph Joestar]].

* In the prologue of ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'', Richard and Mary Parker leave their young son Peter under the care of his Uncle Ben and Aunt May to keep him safe from harm when it becomes clear someone dangerous is after them. [[DoomedByCanon They don't survive to reunite with him]].

* In ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', [[spoiler: when Batman is about to kill Superman with a Kryptonite spear, Superman begs Batman to "save Martha". This throws Batman off, reminding him of the death of his mother, Martha Wayne. When he demands to know why Superman said that name, Lois reveals to him that Martha Kent is Superman's adoptive mother, and that [[HostageSituation Lex Luthor is holding her hostage]] [[IWillPunishYourFriendForYourFailure to force Superman to attack Batman.]] Batman begins to realize how close he came to JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope.]]

* ''Literature/{{Brotherband}}'': When Mikkel, Thorn's best friend, receives a fatal injury on a raid, he asks him to look after his son Hal and wife Karina. Thanks to [[CareerEndingInjury setbacks after this incident]], Thorn [[HeroicBSOD BSODs]] too hard to fulfill the request at first. However, after a ferocious GetAHoldOfYourselfMan speech from Karina, he straightens himself out and becomes the mentor to Hal and the entire Heron brotherband.
* ''Literature/SenseAndSensibility'': The events of the novel are set in motion by the death of Henry Dashwood, who asks his wealthy son to take care of his stepmother and half-sisters. John promises he will... [[JerkAss and doesn't.]] It's implied that he initially intends to make good on the promise, but his wife talks him out of it.

* When a rescue helicopter crewman is dying in Jack Ryan's arms in ''Literature/ClearAndPresentDanger'', he mentions that he has seven (soon to be eight) kids, Jack volunteers to pay the college tuition for all of them. This brings unexpected complications in the next book, ''Literature/TheSumOfAllFears''.

* In a flashback in ''Series/TheAlmightyJohnsons'' the protagonists' mother has just told her 21-year-old son Mike that their entire family are reincarnations of Norse gods. She then tells him that she is tired of her life and is leaving the care of his younger brothers to him. She is going into a forest to transform into a tree and finally have some peace and quiet.
* In ''Series/BabylonFive'', a former friend of Londo's, on the outs with the current Centauri regime, arranges for Londo to look after his children and make them part of Londo's family, shielding them from his political misfortune, after their father's death. [[spoiler:At Londo's hands, as part of a duel, which the friend arranged specifically for this purpose.]]

** Robert asks Ned to be Joffrey's regent and guide until he comes of age. This does not go well for Ned.

* A variant appears in ''Series/SavedByTheBell'' after Jessie's mother remarries and she gains a stepbrother. The relationship is a little awkward, and the stepbrother makes plans to move back to New Jersey to live with his mother. His parting injunction to Slater, Jessie's boyfriend, is "Take care of my sister."

* Used in Roleplay/{{Cartesio}} as well, although technically not with kids. [[spoiler: Before his execution, Franciscus asks [[Anime/OsomatsuSan Osomatsu]] to look after his Franchise/{{Pokemon}}, who he considers to be like his children.]]

* This is how Quasimodo came to be in Frollo's care in the theatre production of ''Theatre/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame''. Jehan, Quasi's father and Frollo's estranged brother, contacted Frollo so he could give him his infant son to care for. Frollo wasn't keen on the idea as the baby was ugly and deformed, but when Jehan unceremoniously dies of his illness, Frollo believed raising Quasimodo was the only righteous thing to do.

* In ''VideoGame/Jak3Wastelander'', [[spoiler:the dying Damas]] begs Jak to find his son Mar. He tells Jak that his son can be identified [[spoiler:by a pendant. One identical to the amulet worn by [[LukeIAmYourFather Jak's past child self in the previous game]].]] Tragically, [[spoiler:Damas dies]] not knowing the truth.

* This happens in ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'' with the [[ParentalSubstitute Baudelaire kids]] promising to raise Kit Snicket's [[DeadGuyJunior daughter]] before Kit [[BirthDeathJuxtaposition dies giving birth]].

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* At the end of ''Disney/{{Tarzan}}'', a dying Kerchak tells Tarzan to "take care of them," meaning the rest of their clan.

* In ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'', when Hans is about to kill Elsa, Elsa just pleads with him, "Please look after my sister." Hans then tells Elsa that [[KickTheDog Anna is dead because of her]] [[spoiler: (she isn't, but he thinks she is)]], prompting Elsa to [[DespairEventHorizon fall into despair]].

* This is how Quasimodo came to be in Frollo's care in the theatre production of ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame''. Jehan, Quasi's father and Frollo's estranged brother, contacted Frollo so he could give him his infant son to care for. Frollo wasn't keen on the idea as the baby was ugly and deformed, but when Jehan unceremoniously dies of his illness, Frollo believed raising Quasimodo was the only righteous thing to do.

* In ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'', one of the dying Zest's last requests to Signum was for her to take care of his charges.

'''Avocato''': Take care of my boy.

* ''WesternAnimation/FinalSpace'': In Episode 6, Avocato is eventually forced to sacrifice himself to save his son and friends from a bomb. His last words to Gary are that he should take care of Little Cato.

[[folder:Film -- Animated]]

[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* A "friend" version in ''Series/{{Smallville}}''. Clark asks Oliver to take care of Chloe before he goes to face [[InvincibleVillain Doomsday]].
* ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'': Before Morgana's father died, he asked his good friend Uther to take care of Morgana. Subverted in that [[spoiler:Morgana's "father" wasn't her real father, Uther is.]]
** On the same show is a non-parental example: when faced with impending death, both Arthur and Guinevere ask Merlin to look after the other if something happens to them.
* He wasn't planning on dying, but Series/{{Dexter}} asked his sister Deb to take care of his son when he was getting ready to leave everything behind after [[spoiler: Rita's death]] at the beginning of season five.

* A surprising version occurs in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "The Almost People". The "real" Jimmy dies trying to save everyone else and tells his ganger to take care of "their" son for him.
* Inverted in one episode of ''Series/TopGear''. Jeremy finds himself at the mercy of a pack of hunting dogs and tells his kids to take care of their mother.
* In a flashback in ''Series/TheAlmightyJohnsons'' the protagonists' mother has just told her 21-year-old son Mike that their entire family are reincarnations of Norse gods. She then tells him that she is tired of her life and is leaving the care of his younger brothers to him. She is going into a forest to transform into a tree and finally have some peace and quiet.
* In the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "Ethics," Worf asks Troi to raise Alexander if he dies during the experimental spinal surgery he's about to undergo. He pulls through, thanks to ContractualImmortality, but they do formalize the arrangement in a later episode.
** He tells her that this would make her, under Klingon law, the equivalent of his stepsister. She points out that this would make Lwaxana his stepmother. The thought almost makes him back out.

[[folder:Theater]]

* After being shot by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, considered the spark that started UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, Archduke Franz Ferdinand's last words were (to his wife) "Sophie, Sophie! Don't die! Live for our children!"
** Tragically, Sophie died about ten minutes before Franz did. The children ([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Sophie_of_Hohenberg Sophie]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian,_Duke_of_Hohenberg Maximilian]], and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Ernst_of_Hohenberg Ernst]]) were deported after their kingdom was destroyed and spent some time at the Dachau concentration camp. Eventually, they would receive their family's castle back; Sophie lived until the 1990s.

* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', Hawke's father has died prior to the events of the game, and it's heavily implied that he imparted such an injunction to his eldest child regarding their mother and younger siblings. Hawke certainly spends most of the game ''trying'' to do exactly that, but given that Hawke is something of a DoomMagnet, it doesn't go well.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'': The original ComicBook/BlackCanary's final speech exhorts Wildcat and the Justice Society to take care of her "little angel" ([[LegacyCharacter who then grows up to be the next Black Canary]]). They train her, but also tend to act overprotective of her even when she's an adult.

* Implied in ''[[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers Galaxy Rangers]]'' "Psychocrypt" when Zach decides to make his suicide run. He asks his home AI to "take care of everything." Gee-Vee doesn't quite get it, but the audience does.

* For a more recent example, there were the events of September 11, 2001. As many parents trapped in the doomed towers could contact their spouse/loved ones, they often made this their dying request.

[[folder:Film]]

* A tweaked example in ''Film/TheToweringInferno'': An explosion knocked the scenic elevator off its track. Lisolette (who had gone to great lengths to save two children, a boy and a girl, in the tower) was holding the girl. She shoves her into someone else's arms before [[TearJerker falling from the glass elevator]] to her death.
* In the prologue of ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'', Richard and Mary Parker leave their young son Peter under the care of his Uncle Ben and Aunt May to keep him safe from harm when it becomes clear someone dangerous is after them. [[DoomedByCanon They don't survive to reunite with him]].
* In ''Film/TheLoneRanger,'' Dan, after being fatally shot, asked his brother to take care of his family.

* Nod's father in ''WesternAnimation/{{EPIC}}'' asked Ronin to do this.

* This is part of Donna Troy's SuperHeroOrigin in the Teen Titans ''Our Own League'' stories. At five years old, Donna and her father were on a plane that crashed into the sea. Mr. Troy paddled Donna to the shores of Themyscira on a raft, and begged the Amazons to take care of his daughter before dying of exhaustion. Queen Hippolyta adopted Donna as her daughter and an honorary Amazon.

* This is part of Donna Troy's SuperHeroOrigin in the Teen Titans spin-off stories of the Batman ''Dusk to Dawn'' books. At five years old, Donna and her father were on a plane that crashed into the sea. Mr. Troy paddled Donna to the shores of Themyscira on a raft, and begged the Amazons to take care of his daughter before dying of exhaustion. The father's ActOfTrueLove not only brought Wonder Woman an adopted little sister, but was what first sparked her curiosity about Man's World.

* This is part of Donna Troy's SuperHeroOrigin in the Teen Titans spin-off stories of the Batman ''Dusk to Dawn'' books. As a little girl, Donna and her father were survivors of a plane crash into the sea. Mr. Troy paddled Donna to the shores of Themyscira on a raft, and begged the Amazons to take care of his daughter before dying of wounds he had sustained. The father's ActOfTrueLove not only brought Wonder Woman an adopted little sister, but was what first sparked her curiosity about Man's World.

* In ''Anime/AshitaNoNadja'', this trope is why [[spoiler: Rita Rossi, Cream and Chocolate]] are members of the Dandelion Troupe. [[spoiler: Rita's parents owned another circus, which burned down one night; before they tried to save the rest of their animals they went up to the Troupe, handed them little Rita and the baby lions, and asked them to take care of the little girl and the cubs. Few minutes after this, the circus tent collapsed and the Rossis died, so the Troupe fulfilled the Rossis's LastRequest and took the three in as a part of the crew.]]

* In Disney's'' Tarzan ''. [[spoiler: kerchak the silver back gorilla]] is on his death bed, after giving Tarzan his respect, his last request is for him to take care of all the other gorillas, before succumbing to his gunshot wound.