Cloth Diapers & Panties

Hey everyone! Not much to announce today. Please just remember that there is a new poll up and the options can be found back in chapter 14 while the link can be found in chapters 14 and 20. The deadline for this will be the day I post my final chapter, and a final reminder will be noted in my penultimate chapter beforehand.   Now… last but not least and as usual, I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter of my story! Chapter 21: Dealing With Littles and Potentials Alike    It was a few months after Addy had seen the ad in the magazine about a new tech by Diamond Technologies, and Dr. Pepperidge was now back and giving another tour and country inspection of her new facilities set up with Psyche. Now at lunch with her daughter, she paid for the check, and Addy didn’t mind one bit that she was here again or that her mom was pulling her away from everything else she had going on. “Are you okay, sweetie?” Dr. Pepperidge finally asked, looking up from the receipt with her pink and floral glasses on. “You seem a little blue this visit… and even on your last visit over the winter holidays back home with your dad and I. Did something happen with your classes… or maybe a boy… or…?” “Mom, no!” Addy shot back. “That’s all fine. I just… did you hear about the incident in Taysha? I swear… that state down there keeps getting worse with Littles every chance I hear something new about them. Now it’s forced hypnosis and the accidental lobotomy of a Little… what’s next?” Dr. Pepperidge looked grim and she sighed. “I know all about it, sweetie. I’m trying to establish a facility there but I’m getting a lot of pushbacks from the board. If we could even just save one… it’d be worth it.” Addy loved hearing from her mom. She was logical and calculating, but she also had a big heart, and she frequently used it in her dealings with Littles abroad and the ones she was cajoling in her facilities across the country. “I’m sure if there’s anyone to convince the board, it’d be you, mom. You just… you always seem to know what to say to them.” Dr. Pepperidge smiled, but there was something holding it back this time. “Not always dear. I just have experience is all. Maybe a natural instinct, but I know a few principles from it that the board can’t help but agree with me on, especially with the results that Psyche has seen since I started it. Namely… with how we treat Littles.” “But isn’t Psyche still drug testing on Littles without much regard to them?” Addy asked remembering the first time she saw that side of the company her parents started. “I wish I could tell you otherwise, honey.” Dr. Pepperidge looked pained. “But I can only do so much on the board myself. I’m just one vote and your father needs to stay close to the president. If he disagrees with him openly then…” Her mom then shook her head like she had just remembered some terrible and dirty fact about the whole mess there. “Never you mind that. Just remember when it’s your turn to deal with a Little one day, that even the weakest of kindest animals will strike back when they are pushed too far. It is our job to understand Littles… know them better than ourselves even. Only then can we truly help those that are too hurt or tired out there. You will remember that for me, won’t you?” Addy was just about to answer when her mom’s phone loudly went off. “Sorry, sweetie. I need to get this,” she noted with despair when she read who the incoming call was from. “Hello, Gail. Yes, I…” She paused and her face fell. “Oh, I see. Well, I’m with my dau…” She then sighed. “Yes, yes. I’ll be there right away.” She then hung up the phone and turned back to Addy. “Sorry, Ads. I gotta run. Emergency patient and…” “Take me with you!” Addy quickly blurted out. Dr. Pepperidge blinked for a few seconds, seemingly not believing what she had just heard. “Take you with…?” “Yes,” Addy quickly confirmed before the words even finished leaving her mom’s lips. “Take me with you. I want to know what you do. Please. Show me.” Addy could see the concern and reservations written all over her mom’s face… but she was never one to truly say ‘no’ to her daughter. So, five minutes later, they were both off in the car and headed to the nearest facility in the area… one that Dr. Pepperidge was still trying to get running. After a few bumpy starts, it seemed fine… at least until today apparently. Coming through the doors, Dr. Pepperidge quickly retired a visitor’s badge for Addy and then rushed off where she was greeted by a pair of nurses. “What happened?” Both nurses sighed and started to explain the situation. They used a bunch of general and clinic terms, but each line Addy heard, she questioned the next step they had taken. Yes, maybe it was policy what they did… but it was clearly the wrong move with the Little. A loss of potty training combined with physical punishment are just two plain bad things for a Little… no matter how many tantrums they throw. And so, finally getting to the Little, holed up in the corner with a wet diaper on… one that desperately needed to be changed, the situation was at a standoff now after the Little had grabbed a knife and was threatening anyone who came close. Assessing the situation, Dr. Pepperidge turned back. “Okay… we need to up our security protocols with utensils here. Your Littles either know your protocols by memory, or something is broken or something is missing entirely. We’ll get to that, but… for now… let me deal with this one and you all wait here fo…” But right then… Dr. Pepperidge clutched her chest and slid down into a nearby chair, pain written over her face. “Oh! I think she’s having a heart attack!” one of the nurses shouted. “Quick. Get the coronary kit from the other hallway by the bathrooms!” The other nurse nodded and ran off and quickly came back with it before giving the single pill and injection to Dr. Pepperidge. Known worldwide, the kit was basically a stop-gap measure for any coronary event… stroke, heart attack… whatever it was. Taken, even if in error, the patient was almost always better and while medical intervention was still needed by a professional, aftereffects were cut down by nearly 95% these days. Addy rushed by her mom’s side. “Mom! Are you… are you okay?” Dr. Pepperidge nodded weakly. “I thought I had this thing beat. I just…” “Ma’am,” one of the nurses interrupted. “I’m sorry to stop you, doctor, but… the Little in the corner with the knife. What do we do? Any move we’ve made gets blocked and we don’t want to have to use force if we can avoid.” Grimacing, Dr. Pepperidge tried to get up. “Wise move. So now go. Get me a wheelchair. Let me see if I can take care of…” She grimaced again. “Please. Just…” “Mom,” Addy interrupted. “No. You need to stay here. Please… let me try with this one.” It was a bold ask and she was nearly terrified to her core for possibly creating a problem here worse than it already was… but considering what she had heard from the nurses on their poor treatment plan and the state of her mom now, she knew she needed to give it a shot. Dr. Pepperidge looked at her daughter with fear but a certain amount of pride as well. “Go. Keep calm and remember the signal if it gets bad. But Addy… listen to them and to yourself and your gut. I believe in you, and… just remember what I told you about Littles.” Addy nodded and soon went over to the Little. Standing at barely 5’5” now after the portal effects, he looked so lost and scared huddled up in the corner like he was. Angry and dangerous yes, and Addy rarely took her eyes off the blade he wielded… but after a little work, she managed to talk him down. It took time, maybe longer than her mom, but soon, it was all okay and she eventually was eventually able to take the knife from him. Ensuring no harm would come to him, Addy soon returned to her still-seated mom. Despite her condition and the ambulance coming in less than two minutes, Dr. Pepperidge was all smiles. “I’m so proud of you, Addy. I know you want to do what your father does, but… you really do have a knack for this sort of thing. I don’t even know what you did… but you were a complete success with it. You were…” She winced before cracking a smile. “You were born for this kind of thing…” *              *              * Addy thought back to that day a lot… especially with everything that had happened since Patrick had walked into her life during the last batch. Before him, everything seemed fine and status quo, but something with him or the kidnapping or whatever seemed to awaken something in her. Since then, she had reached out to her dad and brother and mended those fences, and that and Oliver were great, but now conversely, she was experiencing doubt with her place at Psyche. It was a job at her mom’s company and something she was good at… but she felt like she was having a problem here every day now. If it wasn’t something directly imposed, it was fallout from another poor decision by the board… or Dr. Halgen or Dr. Tracey. Both weren’t exactly stars lately… their policies affecting the overall calm and the results the board liked to see in their weekly reports. Most recently, apparently, Dr. Tracey had taken away Dr. Halgen during the previous afternoon of chaos to ask a truly stupid question… likely to make her look bad when then place erupted in the forgone conclusion of the madness that followed. Instead, the absence of both was noted by the board… especially when a prospective caregiver made a distressing phone call when they dropped off their Little and saw another trying to light the stove on fire. Fortunately, nothing serious occurred and they even caught the place when it was calming down… but the board’s response was less than friendly. But Addy personally was now seeing the fallout up close and personal with policies she had long questioned. “Xander… please calm down,” Addy said calmly as she once again was defusing another regressing Little. This time, it was Xander. He had been so good recently… a person well on their way to becoming an adorable Little. It reminded her of the old prison reform protocols when evil Littles unregressed and were then regressed as part of their sentence. All adorable and peaceful after… same with Xander. He played with toys and watched cartoons. He loved to swing and climb trees and run and loved the birds when they took off over the water early in the morning from the pond or by the cliffs. He was having trouble tying his shoes and wielding a knife seemed complex for him when he tried to cut up his food… not to mention his padded behind these days, but he was a good Little and right on track now. But these milestones were all viewed as losses by him. Occasionally, something would sneak by his notice, but when he eventually realized something was different, he might go to pieces. Since Damien had left, it was as if his last anchor to maturity and wickedness had left him… until that realization about whatever it was. Like today when he had a… code brown. “Get back!” he shouted, tears filling his eyes. “I’m warning you… you all!” Despite his threats, gone was the former criminal that drove fear into the hearts of others. Coming closer though, Addy sighed as she looked over to see Cassie getting patched up after Xander had thrown a wooden block right at her head. Policy dictated punishment and Addy didn’t want to mess with another nurse’s Little… but that block had been the final straw for Cassie today and she gave Addy complete permission to do ‘any and all she wanted.’ Addy kept it in mind, but as soon as she got close, she smelled what had happened and her mind began filling in what had happened. ‘Oh… this explains a lot…’ Messy pants came with the territory of regressed Littles. Some could hold it off, especially those not regressed as much, but with Psyche… that was maybe 5% of cases nationwide. Xander wasn’t deemed to be one of them and according to Cassie, he apparently had a few accidents at night already… just not during the day. Addy edged closer with her hands up and saw the sag of his diaper pressing outward against his stretchy shorts. Easier to change… and for this pair, easier to notice an accident. But as she neared, Addy also noted that Xander wasn’t near the training potty that Cassie still let him use for his number twos. ‘Okay… that means he waited too long, probably playing, or he didn’t realize he had messed himself until after it had already happened…’ She knew she needed to find out which. She took a breath and came closer to the clearly frightened Little. “Xander… I’m just coming closer, okay?” She spotted another wooden block already poised to go in his hand. And knowing he was a Little with a diaper on, Addy knew she could just rush him, drug him, and send him for a nap in some padded cuffs and a strap to his toddler bed upstairs. With Cassie’s permission now, she was within her authority to do that no questions asked. But she knew she wasn’t going to do that to him. From her studies and her own experiences, doing something like that erodes a Little’s trust in you and this place and this system. It was usually seen as a trick by most Littles afterward and while those regressing quickly might even forget about it, at Psyche, it would be a festering resentment that could travel beyond these walls… and erupt with their new caregiver later. So, Addy knew that a Little being hauled away by a Big is much less likely to trust them ever again. It was simple math but something so many Bigs still seemed to fail to grasp. So Addy was determined to keep that from happening here. “Please… stop!” His words were unconfident and his fist shook holding the block high above his head. Before, he would have thrown the ball by now as a warning shot, but today… the thing seemed frozen.   And critically, Addy heard and saw it all. She didn’t see the violent criminal of his past reappearing in front of her today that everyone else was assuming, but instead that of a scared Little who was just upset now over a dirty diaper. Throwing a block, while against the rules, could be seen as more or less a tantrum. It would need to be dealt with… but Xander needed something more than that for now. He needed reassurance and comfort and probably a hug. He needed to be understood and calmed down. “It’s okay, Xander,” Addy noted, trying to remain calm while still stepping forward… even when Xander clinched and raised the block higher. She saw the action and slowed down but still took another step closer. And right before he looked like he was going to throw, Addy simply sat down and smiled back. “It’s okay, Xander. I’m not your enemy. I just want to talk here, okay?” After a moment of hesitation, he shook his head. “No… no you don’t!” He was fighting his slow turn into a Little. It happened this late sometimes… especially for the more hard-headed. It was common enough, but Addy still wondered if his treatment had been delayed earlier and then if something changed and he was finally getting the medicine others usually got. Only problem… she still didn’t have proof of that. “I do.” She tried not to wrinkle her nose at the smell emanating from his rear. A trained nose with years of experience, Addy knew it wasn’t a recent accident. ‘Okay… he didn’t realize it then. I wasn’t here when Cass talked to him first… but something’s telling me she went in all cutesy and asked if someone needed a ‘diapy change.’ Yeah… that would set him off like this…’ Knowing more of the story now, Addy resolved it in herself to do this one step at a time. “Xander… I’m not coming any further, and no one else is coming either… so can you please put the block down?” Her eyes switched to his ‘weapon,’ before turning back to him and trying to make herself look as innocent as possible. “For me, honey? Can you do that? Please?” Xander quivered before looking up at the block in his hand. A part of him almost looked shocked that it was still posing there, but fortunately, with a shaky nod, he lowered his arm. The block was set down… still within reach, but Xander was effectively disarmed now. Seeing that, Addy knew that facilities south of here would charge in now. No risk or damage to themselves or other Littles or property and satisfied, they could dole out punishment quickly and close this matter for good. Dr. Tracey would have done that as well if she were here before likely also shoving Tabers milk down his gullet or even steal some of the ‘real’ stuff from Addy’s own fridge upstairs that Oliver was drinking in her absence… but this was Addy’s call now. So, instead, she scooted closer when Xander was momentarily distracted by another Little giggling outside the window he was by. If he saw it, he didn’t say a word. “So, Xander… you know, sometimes, I have a bad day. Sometimes I just want to yell and scream and shout,” she admitted, trying to gain his trust. “Sometimes I just get so angry about even something happening to me that I throw things…” She purposely trailed off… seeing if Xander would pick it up. “You do?” he asked, a genuine sense of curiosity in his voice. Addy smiled and nodded, knowing she was already establishing trust with him. “I do. And you know what? Sometimes… if I talk about it… or even tell a friend, I feel much better. Sometimes…” She looked around like she was about to tell him a secret. If he was regressing, it was a small trick that Addy knew could sometimes work and pay off huge. “Sometimes… if I tell that same friend, sometimes that friend can help me out.” “They do?” But before Addy could answer, Xander’s face clouded and he turned away. “But I don’t have friends…” Addy’s heart hurt a little. It was hard to make peace with the fact that while Littles were by and large the same people before, during, and after their time here at Psyche, the outer results could be very different. Ego, strength, vanity, knowledge, and pride and so many other things were still there… they just became less of a priority with Littles. The things that drive humanity to evil become mere shadows and inconveniences, or if they’re still around, they become the actions of a Little. Like greed. A Little can be greedy before, during, and after, but whereas the before could mean hoarding the money from hundreds of poor people to make a profit, but after… the Little could just not want to give up their stuffed dinosaur. And Addy knew that more than most, but still… it was hard to see Xander as being lonely. He was a criminal and had alienated several others here in his first two months here, including Oliver… but that was before he started to slip. Now, she suspected he wanted a friend more than anything now… maybe even more than money at this point. But finding a friend was a long-term fix. Short term… she needed to improvise. “Well… I could be your friend, Xander. I know Cassie wants to… so why not us?” “But you all…” He winced and his words seemed to fail him. Addy pushed in. “Care for you and tell you to go to bed and eat your veggies and all that, huh?” His rapid nod and almost popped a giggle from her. “Fair enough… but that’s Cassie. I don’t do those things for you.” Addy knew she had to be careful and not alienate Cassie… but she also knew her new plan could work if she pushed just a little. “So… maybe I could be your friend… how about for say the next few minutes?” Xander had to think about that one. He tapped his chin, his diaper still reeking and the others standing at the other end of the hallway linking up to the room questioning Addy the whole time. Prepared for this kind of thing, Addy made sure to signal them with one of her hands that he was thinking and they were making progress. And lastly, as soon as she signaled ‘messy,’ even at this distance, Addy could see their looks of sudden realization of what had happened. Tension on their side nearly melted altogether on the spot. “Uh…” Xander turned back to Addy, a look of trust somehow now engrained in his face. “We can be friends… I guess…” Addy made sure to exaggerate her smile and reach out to shake his hand. Despite Xander looking at the gesture like an undiffused bomb ready to go off, he steadily reached out and shook it as well. After a few shakes, both were likely relieved, none more so than Xander who formed a large grin. “Okay, perfect!” Addy slapped her lap and scooted closer to Xander. “So… now that we’re friends, how about we both tell each other what’s bothering us, huh?” Xander hesitated and eventually nodded, but Addy knew she needed to go first. “Okay, let me go first. See… there’s this Little. I like him a lot, especially lately, but… he’s just been so out of sorts lately. Can’t seem to get a break. I think they might have done some things they regret, but now… they just want new things, I think. Must be really, really hard and I just want to help them…” Addy trailed off and then looked at Xander who was hanging on to her every word. Seeing that, she smiled at her small trick. A caregiver’s classic, she had been vague about the name, but she was laying an innocent trap for Xander to fall right into. He would offer advice about how to solve his own problem, and if Addy was lucky, she might even learn a bit or two about him and why he’s been so sad lately. “So… what do you think?” Xander had to think again, but he then smiled. “Well… I think your friend should tell you the truth. I think they’re confused and that’s… scary. Maybe they did something and they’re not sure how to tell others about it… something they don’t want anymore…” Inside Addy’s mind, it raised an immediate red flag. Xander was projecting himself onto her scenario. Regrets and changing mindsets were common… but a criminal dreading a past action, her mind spun into itself. ‘Crud! Is he confessing to a murder? Is this drugs? Or… is it something he did here?’ Addy wasn’t sure but her gut was telling her this was just plain bad news. Still… Addy had a plan and she knew she needed to stick to it. “Thank you. That’s really good advice.” She paused and scooted right next to him. “But now… you go. I told you something that was bothering me… now you.” It was the moment of truth and at first, Xander looked like he was going to bolt. But after a minute of rocking back and forth, Xander winced and nodded. “I, uh… well, I was playing… and I got this funny feeling…” Addy nodded expectantly. It was an all too familiar story with Littles here. She could have probably repeated word for word what he was revealing to her now. Her knowledge wasn’t the point though. His admittance instead was the big deal here. “And I sort of pushed… like it was a burp… but I didn’t burp,” he said, his words unsure… almost like if a part of his mind still hadn’t come to terms with what he had done. “But then… the feeling was gone.” “Keep going, Oliver. That’s all good,” Addy encouraged him when he faltered for a second. “Yes, and thank you, but then Cassie came to me later and I… I…” No matter what he tried, he just couldn’t seem to get the truth out. Addy knew it was tough… it almost always is. Katrina and Oliver had been sort of easy to deal with. Some tears and plenty of hugs and reassurances, yes… but no true breakdowns. No running away or threats or self-harm or anything so violent. Sadly, that’s unusual for most Littles regressing and she knew she needed to be careful. “Go on…” Addy pushed, seeing Xander as one of those cases that needed extra assurance at this stage. “It’s okay, honey. Just say it. Let it out. I’m just listening here. No judgement or punishment and I promise… whatever it is, I won’t be angry.” Xander nodded quickly with a few tears jumping out from his eyes. “She asked if I needed a change! I felt wet but… but she pulled back on my shorts and diaper and called me poopy!” ‘Oof! Cassie was probably getting her wires crossed between him and Robin.’ Robin had regressed faster and was fully embracing being a Little after finally being freed from the paralysis of her stroke. A term like ‘poopy’ is just silly to her and an everyday thing. For Xander… it’s the end of his world. “Oh no. That must have been terrible!” For Addy, she knew Cassie was just doing her job and that she might have done the same. It was the way of the world when a Little has a poopy accident. It’s tough and messy but you make light of it, and it eases one’s day around here. Xander just couldn’t cope at this stage with something like that being directed at him. Xander shook his head so fast, he looked like a blur for a moment. “And she said it in front of everyone!” Seeing him shake after, Addy hesitated for a second but soon came in and rubbed his back. Another few seconds, she rubbed his back a little deeper in and further away from her, closing the space between them. Another few seconds and Xander collapsed into her arms. Smiling for a second and knowing the crisis was over and just cleanup, literally and metaphorically, was required now. “Shhh… Shhh… it’s okay, Xander. These things happen. It’s only an accident and no one here will judge you…” Repeated phrases and calming tones reassured to nearly every Little in the same situation soon filled the room. Through Addy’s determination and gentle and caring tact, Xander didn’t take long to calm down and soon come out of their hug together before wiping his eyes and giving a large sniff. “But… what do I do now?” Addy smiled and gestured with her head over to the awaiting Cassie, now standing there with understanding and a band-aid over her forehead where the block had hit. Even at just a glance, Addy knew that Cassie would first be okay, and second, wouldn’t punish Xander too hard later. She knew the score here and all this was a misunderstanding with a regressing Little. A plain Little would have desert taken away around here, but a regressing one… it was just part of the process, and a lecture and warning was all that was likely needed. “Well, I think I certain someone deserves an apology…” Addy watched as his head drop in shame before nodding slowly. “Good, and… I’m sure she won’t mind at all to change you as well.” Xander shot up and looked fearful. Addy smirked and stood up as she walked him back over. “It’s okay, Xander. Trust me… afterward, you’ll feel much better.” Soon coming over, Addy made sure to reassure the scared Little the whole time. Dropping him off by Cassie, Addy soon made her leave and saw the rest from the front entrance. A talk followed by a hug followed by a quick check and a handhold as the two went upstairs for a much-needed diaper change. Still, with another crisis resolved now, Addy returned to the business she had eventually come downstairs for and soon entered a local diner and spotted her two lunchmates for the day: Rick Peterson and Delany Miles. Swallowing hard, she knew who they both were… the final prospective caregivers for both Katrina and Oliver. Despite her apprehension, she knew it was just part of the process around here. She had done the same for her past Littles… even chatting with Sam and having to remind herself constantly that she had to remain unbiased despite their friendship. It was grueling… but the board didn’t object to her recommendation one bit because of it. Today though… while Rick was likely a shoo-in, Delany somehow now felt like her competition. ‘No, Ads. Don’t even think that. Unbiased… remember that.’ Addy smiled and made sure to shake both their hands. “Well, I’m glad I could fit you both in today. Sorry. My schedule’s been so hectic, and sorry I’m late. You know… Littles.” “Oh, don’t worry about that. Delany and I were just talking about you. Apparently, both our Littles just can’t stop gushing about you!” Rick commented. “I know! Oliver especially!” Delany agreed. “Always talking about you… especially this past month for some strange reason. Like… well, like it just changed overnight.” Addy of course knew why… hers and every other Bigs milk was addictive and had brought her and Oliver closer than he would likely ever get with Delany… unless she nursed as well, that is. Still, despite it being natural for Littles, she had to fight herself from outright blushing on the spot. “Well, that’s always good to hear.” She then snapped out her folder and made a few notes about the pair of them. “Now, normally, I like to do this with everyone else throughout the last month and even individually if I can but…” She sighed and saw the two seemingly waiting on pins and needles for her. “It seems you two are all that’s left at this point. Makes me a little nervous to be honest…” Addy secretly liked that Delany was the only caregiver left… but on the other side, she was a little concerned about Rick being the only potential now for Katrina. She was the perfect Little… but she had recently lost three of her potential caregivers. Loss of job, moving away, and a husband rethinking and backing out… causing his spouse to tearfully back away. All sadly normal… just concerning at this point for her precious Katrina’s future… especially if Rick backed out now as well. “Oh… I don’t know. I guess Oliver is just… unique!” Delany seemed hesitant with her words. “And I heard about the others… lots of issues on their ends. But me?” Rick then reached down himself and pulled out his tablet before switching to several shots of him and Katrina together. “I figured this might help my case. I made sure she was okay with it and Dr. Halgen as well before I started. I hope you are as well…” Even with the first picture, one of Katrina and him at an ice-skating rink early on, told Addy all she needed to know and that Rick was a good man. “No, no. I have no problem at all. This is… this is lovely.” Smiling, Rick then passed through more of the various pictures he had taken. There wasn’t a single sad face in those pictures… even on the days that Addy knew Katrina was upset… even on the day she had problems, like tying her own laces or the day that she went back into pull-ups. Even two days after she went into diapers, Rick was there for her the whole time. He carried her diaper bag like a pro and by the end of that particular day, Katrina was simply adorable and at peace as she gathered flowers to give back to Addy. Addy smirked and she felt relief and a little glow growing in her chest. ‘I remember those… she was so sad leaving that morning, but later, she came back and handed me those flowers. I never even put it all together…’ It was always good to see someone care about one of her charges. Even if she hated eventually saying goodbye to them… their happiness in their future was what ultimately mattered. Conversely, Delany was more muted with her praise and interactions with Oliver. They happened and Oliver was happy with her… Addy knew that much from when he came back and talked about their time together, but there was a missing element with her. By now, a caregiver should be gushing about their Little in this meeting. It isn’t secret at this point, and everyone knows they are going to be judged to get a recommendation to be passed onto the board for final approval. Rick, talking about caring for her sneezes, was utterly adorable. It’s small and one could dismiss it quite quickly, but it shows a deep level of trust and the bond they share together. It’s a sign that Addy is looking for in these interviews… like when Sam showed Addy a sketch of Patrick’s nursery when they met together if he chose her. But with Delany… her answers are short. There is no gushing and deep sense of bond. She sounds more like a babysitter than a potential mommy. Yes, Addy knows it could be her bias facing off, but these Littles are precious and they need the best… not just okay. Still, Addy remained professional. In the end, she finds there’s no outright red flag though, so she can only pass on her thoughts and recommendations… but not a rejection of her. Full approval for Rick and a handful of notes for Delany. Despite sometimes wanting to, Addy knows she doesn’t decide in this process… only if the potential caregiver is a danger or a threat is when someone gets removed at this point. However… these meetings are a checkpoint of sorts for Addy. Like when Joan was approved for Jacob because of her new design for a recipe that she just knows he’ll like or plans that Kiki made to show Ella this world, a gift to her now that her MS has passed. It shows they are committed and looking forward to the future. It’s one of the reasons why caregivers are absolutely gutted when they aren’t chosen. So, when Addy doesn’t see that longing in Delany… she knows her own odds have likely just increased exponentially at being chosen. It’s enough for Addy to do a little skip back to the facility. She only wants the best for her Littles. Rick seems to fit the bill, but Delany… not so much. But Addy herself? Still in the running most definitely. The next morning, refreshed from that notion, Addy woke and went about her morning duties as always. Choosing day was coming fast and today was going to be another day where Katrina went off with Rick while Oliver stayed here with her. ‘You know… I get being busy and having a job and all outside all this, but… caregiver days aren’t every day. You’d think Delany would come more often. I know I would…’ But Addy knew that wasn’t her place to question out loud. Sometimes, caregivers were just busy and sometimes a few of them didn’t show their emotions very easily. It was pretty rare for the potential mommies out there… but it still happened. Regardless, Addy soon managed to get both Katrina and Oliver changed and dressed for their day ahead. As they descended the stairs, Addy saw Katrina clutching her red panda, Fluffer-nut, tightly against her chest with one hand and held onto her hand with the other. Hearing the more regressed Littles try to pronounce the unusual name was almost always a treat. Popping both of them in their highchairs, something neither objected to anymore, Addy quickly went about retrieving their breakfast. Federica was as busy as always, and smells of coffee and pastries and eggs and bacon and numerous vegetables and fruits now wafted around the dining room. “Ooh!” Oliver squealed, seeing his styed omelet, prepared specially for him. “My favorite!” Just as he went in with a fork though, Addy stopped him. “Woah, woah there, killer. Easy now. You’re gonna choke if you eat it that way!” Already, half the omelet was pulled up into his mouth and dangled there waiting to be consumed. “Drop it and let me cut it up for you.” Oliver pouted for a moment… but let Addy cut it up for him. “Okay…” For Katrina, her tastes were simpler to make in the morning. Just some oatmeal with some pre-sliced fresh fruit inside the mixture. She had a tough time keeping all the blueberries in her spoon, but she had learned quickly to lean forward while she ate. As Addy looked on, she knew that bibs were likely the next step. ‘Yeah… just need to find patterns they’ll like. It’ll make it easier for them to say yes to them… or at least not object to them so quickly.’ With breakfast consumed, both Littles were soon plucked away and brought to the living room to watch some TV. This was in part so that they could catch Adventure Sam but to also drink their sippy cups and digest their food while they waited for their friends to finish up and then play before the inevitable diaper change before their potential caregivers took them away for the day. Curiously, having seen Cassie come down already, Addy noticed one person was missing. “Hey Cass! Where’s Xander? He okay? Or…?” She let her silence imply his other potential actions. Cassie shook her head. “No, no. He’s still here. Poor guy was feeling horrible this morning. Upset stomach and all. I let him sit in the other room. I think he’s going through something… especially if yesterday was anything to go off. Oh, and thanks for that by the way. You know… just some days around here…” Addy nodded and smiled. “Oh, tell me about it. I completely get it and it was no problem at all. Happy to help him. Who knows? Maybe he’s turning a corner, so… sorry to pry but I was just wondering where he was this morning. But really… I hope he gets better soo…” Right then, Oliver began to freak out and all the Big’s eyes nearby shot right to him. “Oh no! Where is he? Where is he?” he scrambled around, his sippy cup of apple juice still clutched tight, but his other hand and eyes darting around… clearly looking for something. Addy rushed over. “Sweetie? Sweetie? What is it? Use your words and tell me, honey.” Oliver looked back up at her, tears already swimming in his eyes and looking about ten seconds away from a complete breakdown. “It’s Stripe! Where is he?” Addy smirked and crouched down before pulling her distressed Little over to her. “Come here, honey.” She could already feel him trembling. “It’s okay, Oliver. Don’t you remember? You left him upstairs. You didn’t want to get food on him. But… I can go get him if you promise to sit here and be good for me… okay?” Oliver looked over to the stairs and then back at Addy. He would have likely asked to go with her, something Addy knew about… but she was also clever. Less than four seconds after she stopped talking, Adventure Sam came on the TV. Looking back and then back to Addy, he merely shoved the juice in his mouth and nodded. Ruffling his hair and then giving him a quick hug, Addy made sure he was settled. She could already smell the faint whiff of ammonia emanating from the Littles there… but that’s the true smell she was searching for. No doubt, when she came back, she’d smell it then. So, with Oliver and Katrina settled, after getting an understanding nod from Cassie, Addy scampered off upstairs. She rarely worried about cardio these days between the two. Not the energetic true toddlers they were starting to behave like, but with their memories and needs now, frequent trips up the stairs were required. She could have opted for the elevator… but time was limited in her day, and she appreciated the burst of energy. Entering his room, she smiled as his new look was unfolding quickly. Jungle themes and a touch of some art and music now littered his room here. Gone was his bed and computer desk. In their place was a crib and a changing table and a nice small bookshelf of their favorite books that they would read together at night. While the rocking chair still remained, Addy rarely slept in here anymore. It was tough, but between her milk and his weekly therapy sessions in town, Oliver was getting better. Addy knew that to the people on Earth, a nursery for an ‘adult’ man was likely considered a step backward in life, but to her… seeing Oliver’s joy and the simple pleasure he received from something as simple as a tiger stuffed animal never failed to raise her smile. Leaning down into his crib, she picked up Stripe and gave him a little hug. ‘Thank you, Stripe.’ He wasn’t alive and she knew it… but inanimate object or not, she was still grateful for his presence. But looking around the room, Addy knew that they might spend some time here together today. He needed to pick up a little and she knew she could make a game out of it with him. ‘Little or not… need to make sure he’s not a slob. Maybe make it a competition with him or mayb…?’ A loud explosion could be heard outside. Less than a second later, it rippled the main house and Addy clutched onto the crib. “What the…?” Worried and curious, she rushed over to the window to see where the sound had come from… and saw a large plume of smoke emanating from the front gate. “Oh no…” The facility had been preparing for another day like this ever since Patrick and Cara were taken last year. It was horrible then and that was quick and covert. This was bombastic and upfront. It was an escalation which meant more people, and worse… more Littles harmed. Addy shook her head. “No… I’m not going to let that happen.” Snarling, she gripped Stripe and ran down the stairs to protect Oliver and Katrina. Just as she got to the second floor though, the front door blew open, and several shouts and crying could be heard afterward. Cursing herself for not being faster, Addy switched tactics. ‘Observation first… rescue second or emergency. At this point, they might target the Bigs to eliminate them as a threat. There’s no way they would hurt a Little.’ It was risky but right now, Addy knew she might be the only Big in a position to help. So, creeping down and being sure to keep as hidden as she could, she then spotted at least four armed and kitted-out what looked like mercenaries rounding up the Littles. A woman Big, tall, muscular, and imposing, seemed to be directing them. “There… P… you take them in the other room. D… you stick to the Bigs. They make a move… club ‘em in the head. They run… shoot them in the leg.” “Roger, boss.” D soon shouted for the others to move, and Cassie and the rest soon disappeared from Addy’s view. “Okay,” an all too familiar voice started. “T is in the gatehouse. Secured and ready for evac on your call. S is waiting outside and securing the rest of the perimeter.” “And Y?” the woman Big questioned quickly, not missing a beat. “Y is…” the familiar voice paused. “Yeah… Y is finding Dr. Tracey and Dr. Halgen. Probably downstairs conversing with Bruce at this hour.” The woman Big smiled. “Ooh. Very good, sweetie. It pays so much to have a Lit… man on the inside here.” She reached out and seemed to touch the other person. Her mannerisms were smooth and calculated. Addy wouldn’t be surprised at all if she was somehow playing with the others like puppets as well. The other figure then stepped forward and smiled. Addy had to stop herself from screaming in anger. “Thank you, ma’am. Means a lot coming from you. Especially after…” Xander looked down at himself, and despite his darker tactical clothing, his diaper bulge under his garments remained as clear as ever. “Never mind. Just… thank you, ma’am.” The woman brushed his cheek and took off. As Addy looked down at Xander, while her heart was filled with hate at his likely betrayal… just like she had felt when she discovered Penny’s betrayal, she noticed a slight falter in his confidence. ‘Hmmm… I wonder what that is. Is it fear… or regret?’ She wasn’t sure but considering their guns and their numbers… she knew this place now had a huge problem on its hands.

Prior to going 24/7 with nappies (wet only) a little over 7 years ago, things like this would NEVER happen. Fast forward and now they do. Fortunately they remain rare but I've filled a few nappies that I wasn't planning to.  There is that feeling of monumental relief when you realise the battle is lost and you might as well just lean into it and it's even initially comfortable but the clean-up is invariably barnyard stuff and hideous. I hope that they remain rare but if they DO happen, at least I'm dressed for them these days. I suspect there is some loss of muscle tone in my pelvic floor as I never bother with bladder control any more.

No.  You've just DIY'ed cloth lined plastic pants the purpose of which is to catch and hold minor leaks from disposables.  I wear terry-lined plastic pants at night if I'm in disposables.  Prior to these, I might use a pull-up terry nappy-pant (effectively underwear) under plastic pants for the same result. For a bit I experimented wearing underpants between my nappy and me.  The purpose of this was that the cloth material wicked pee quite well making much more of the disposable usable.  Prior to this, the nappy would saturate out at the front and then leak with the bum area dry.  It felt just like wearing a cloth nappy.  I got sick of the extra laundry and "BeDry" solved the problem another way by developing a nappy that wicks moisture better.

Good chapter

I really like the story .