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Chapter 51: Competitions I WAS SLOWLY eating a plate of pasta while waiting for Beth to catch up. She’d left her stuff down, and I figured she’d be back any moment. That was when Jack, Levi, and Elijah from my nest and another boy I vaguely remembered being introduced as Ezra came and sat down without asking at the table. I hoped maybe they were there as friends, unlike Grayson and Liam, who had stood up and left with some others before Beth came by. “So, you’re nothing but a helper, huh?” Elijah said in a tone that quickly dispelled any hopes of friendship. “Huh?” I asked, “What’s a helper?” “Stupid baby doesn’t know what a helper is?” Ezra sneered. “It’s you!” “How?” “How is right! How is it you are the only one in our entire dorm not in a diaper yet?!?” Jack asked. “Not to mention the only one still allowed a potty chart,” Levi complained. “Honestly, I have no idea why I’ve not had accidents like you guys…” I started to say. “Accidents are actual accidents, you little helper; these are full-on brainwashing, and you are in league with the enemy!” Elijah accused. “What…?” I asked. “My friend saw you at the welcome back night! After lights out in our dorm! Your future mommy Mackenzie took you as a treat for you being a helper!” Jack accused. “Yeah, and you’ve been up every morning before us. I asked Liam, and he said you get to go swimming with your mommy every morning!” Elijah said. “And you get to go off-campus on the weekends?!?” Levi piped in. “I didn’t ask for…” I was genuinely feeling like I was a little kid getting ready to get jumped for something on the playground right then. Just as I was about to try and say something else, I heard a voice clearing, “Well, hello, boys!” the sickly-sweet voice of Miss Madelyn cooed at us. “Are you all having fun together?” She came closer and knelt by the end of the table, “Playing nicely together?” “Yes, Miss Madelyn,” Levi said nervously. “Huh… Because I get the feeling you’re not. Why don’t you three leave this nice little boy alone and come eat lunch with me here? I’m guessing he has lots of important studying he needs to do based on what he’s reading. As soon as I finish lunch, I’ll even change those soggy diapees you’re all wearing!” They all looked at each other before Ezra said, “Sure, Miss Madelyn, that sounds great!” Elijah was a straggler, and he left saying, “You better watch your back, helper. I will make sure you aren’t on some pedestal much longer!” I was stunned and trying to figure out what the hell happened since Friday when Beth returned with a concerned look. “What did they want?” she asked. “To warn me?” I said tentatively. “They think I’m some kind of ‘helper?’” She made a face at that. “What exactly is a helper?” I asked. “Think teacher’s pet… but worse. Littles think they’re sell-outs who help Bigs capture and destroy Littles. It’s probably one of the worst things they can think of a person?” “Great!” I said. “I just hope I don’t have to beat them up…” “What are they angry about?” “Mackenzie letting me swim, taking me to the welcome back night, me getting to go off-campus for the weekends… and of course, the fact I’m still using the potty.” “This semester sucks,” she said to me. “Yeah, parts of it do…” We ate quietly, and I asked her, “Would it be better if I just gave up the potty and went back to diapers?” She shook her head, “At this point, I don’t think so… maybe if you’d been here this weekend.” “I just hope they don’t do anything too stupid,” I worried. I looked at the time, “Guess I need to get to the seminar… I’ll see you in cinema class? Save a seat for me?” “Of course,” she said. I walked over towards her, said, “Thanks,” and hugged her before disappearing via a bathroom stop and heading to Destiny Hall. Several nest mothers were at the door and doing diaper checks. We had about ten minutes before class, so they thought they had time to change them. I was stopped by Miss Lucy, “Well, hi there, Connor!” “Hi, Miss Lucy.” “I just want to check to see if you had an accident? Do you mind?” She asked sweetly. “I didn’t have one, but I know you’ll check anyway.” She smiled. I expected her to pull my pants down, but instead, she just reached her hand inside and felt the Pull-Up, then turned me around to look at the back. “Well, look this big boy! All clean and dry, and the only one still wearing big boy pants, too!” I blushed, “May I go sit down now?” “Why sure, sweetie!” As I walked away, another wasn’t so clean. “Wow, Tina! What a messy diapee! Let’s just change that real quick!” I turned and was stunned that the girl was just pushed onto a changing mat spread out on the floor by the door. She was stripped naked in front of the other entering students for her diaper change as if she were a toddler with no privacy concerns! I blushed but found a seat next to Ava and Amy. “Hi,” I said, nervous they would hate me too. “Hey!” Ava said, “How come we didn’t see you this weekend?” “Went home with my grandma again,” I told her. “You’re so lucky!” Amy said. “I don’t know what they did to us… but everyone is in diapers now!” “I heard,” I told them. Anxious to switch subjects, I asked, “How are your classes going?” “Great!!!” Amy said. “Physics here is so much fun!” She paused, “even if I don’t understand half of the terms they use?” “I’ve had that problem in some of my classes, but I think I’m catching up with a lot of studying,” I told her. “I need to study more, but they keep putting us to bed sooooo early! Especially since whatever happened this weekend? We lost three girls from our nest, and now the whole dorm has to go to bed by 6?!?” “Yeah, that will be rough for me today; my last class doesn’t end until 5!” I mentioned. “How about you, Ava?” I asked. “History here is so intriguing, but it is also really hard to keep track of differences. It’s like we have parallel cultures on some things, and they’re the exact same names and events, but then bam! One change and everything is out of whack! Like this whole Base Sixty math that never disappeared after the Babylonian civilization…?” Ava could have nerded out on a conversation for hours more, but Dean Northrup came to the lectern right then. “Good afternoon, boys and girls!” She said in a sweet voice that made me want to gag. “Good afternoon,” everyone, in unison, said back to her. “We have a bit of special information for you all today! We seem to have had a setback in using the potty for nearly everyone in the dorms, so we wanted to make sure we talked about when and who may change you!” I was sure no one was in the room looking forward to this conversation! “Now, first of all, please do remember once you lose your potty privileges, we feel it’s best that adults now take care of your needs. That’s why you are not allowed to change your own diapers. We’ve found that if you all do that, too often you end up with rashes because…” Dean Northrup droned on and on, and on, and on… and on! For the better part of the hour, she sold every one that diapers were good, and she was so happy everyone was willing to trust their needs to the adults. Mom had tried to explain the gaslighting at Emerson to me, but I never could have imagined how deep it went without seeing it in person! When she finally finished and dismissed us, I only wanted to get as far from there as possible. Of course, Dean Northrup had to find me and corner me! “Well, hello, Mister Slane,” she smiled at me, “And just how are you today?” “Good, ma’am,” I told her with a forced smile. “I’m glad to hear that! I was so amazed when I heard one Little wasn’t wearing diapers yet, but when I heard who it was, I wasn’t overly surprised! Your mother was a resourceful little girl, too, wasn’t she?” “So, I’ve heard,” I said. “Well, keep on doing well with the potty! You can hold that torch for everyone else, and maybe they’ll want to grow up and be a big kid like you someday, too!” By the time I left the conversation, I had a headache! BETH SAT IN a chair and kept an eye out for Connor to come join her. They’d been directed to split up about the room within their ‘studios.’ Kelly had been in the room already when she came in, and she was intentionally sitting as far away in her group as she could from her. “My script is definitely going to be the best we could do!” she told a group mate. “I guarantee it’s good enough to be a real pilot!” “What’s yours about again?” The guy who Beth couldn’t remember his name asked. “It’s about…” she said when Beth was distracted as someone poked her. “Hey,” the voice asked, “Anyone sitting here?” She looked down to see Connor, “You?” She shook her head before adding, “Dork!” she watched as he put together his very innovative folding booster. “I’ve been meaning to ask, where did you get that? I don’t think I’ve seen one like it before?” “I brought it from home. Mom and I hoped I wouldn’t shrink, but we decided to be prepared in case I did.” “It’s really cool how it folds and assembles!” “Thanks, it’s something the inventor figured out via origami, I guess. I love how flat it packs since I’m hauling it everywhere.” Beth found herself nodding, “It does seem convenient.” She leaned in, “How was seminar?” “Horrible,” Connor told her just as quietly. “Special?” “I’ve only been to one other one. Today was about how great it was that everyone had failed potty training but one Little…” “Oh…” “Yeah, I’m really worrying about sticking out,” Connor told her. Before he could talk more, Dr. Wyler stepped up to speak. “Good afternoon, everyone! Today, we will have a class focused on how you can use advanced holo-imaging to create your scenery for your shoots. In the past, for a class like this, you would be severely limited in locations to shoot, ability to construct sets, etc. Fortunately, we’ve advanced holo-imaging in the past decade, so you can construct sets holographically using our design suite!” Beth had been well aware of what was possible with holoprojection. Still, even she was amazed at how easy it was to construct sets in one of their three soundstages within the building. Dr. Wyler had each group experiment with the software before they traveled as a class to one of the stages and took turns displaying it. Connor seemed in heaven throughout it! She thought it was adorable how excited he was by everything he could do with the technology. Their class was an extended time on Tuesdays. After a generous ten-minute break in the middle, when she and Connor hit the restrooms, they returned to the primary classroom. ‘At least this class is fun with Connor in it,’ she thought to herself, ‘almost enough to forget Kelly is in here!’ “OKAY, SO TODAY was about showing you the tools you’ll have available for set design. Nothing will be out of range of the scripts I’ve seen from the screenwriting class. In the past, we’ve had some groups who have wanted to do the same script, and I’ve had to come up with some unique ways to decide how you can get ‘first dibs,’ so to speak.” I sat up, wondering what he was going to do. “So, this year, I’ve decided to devise a series of challenges that your groups will compete in for the rest of the class today. There will be four challenges, with first place on any challenge earning one million ‘dollars’ towards your budget, second place earning seven-hundred-fifty-thousand ‘dollars,’ and third place earning two-hundred-fifty-thousand. We will then have an auction on Thursday in class with the directors bidding on the script your group wants.” ‘That’s actually kind of cool,’ I couldn’t help but think! Looking at our group, I felt like the girl who was our producer was a good asset. I still hadn’t looked her up, but I’d been assured she’d been a successful tween and teen TV and movie starlet. The director also seemed to have his act together, but we had a few others, like Kelly, that could be roadblocks. “So, first challenge!” Dr. Wyler activated a projected scene in the middle of the class. “You’ve got one minute to memorize this scene, starting now!” I stared at it intently, taking in every detail I could before it cut off. “Using the cameras you have for your group, recreate that scene! The closest to it wins!” “You have fifteen minutes, starting now!” Sebastian did an excellent job of instantly asking, “Okay, what do you remember about it? Will, can you write it down?” We spent five minutes making notes, with Will asking everyone about details about the focus fields. After two quick takes of us filling in the actors’ spots and trying to get the camera fields correct, we heard, “Time!” “I hope we got it well enough!” Mason, our lighting director, said. He’d done his best to use the portable lighting equipment to put the shadows in the right spots. The second challenge involved recreating a sound effect. Charlotte was fantastic for this because she’d hung around enough sets that she actually knew how the specific effect had been made originally. Dr. Wyler had left us supplies, so she’d gone straight to a chicken bone and said, “We just need to break this and record it!” We had seven extra minutes in the round, which cost us in the next challenge. Kelly began opening her mouth about how great she was at things, and about half the group was already sick of hearing her talk. Since the third task involved acting and randomly chosen group members to do so before recording it, it set us back when Kelly was selected as an actress. She wasn’t the worst, but she wouldn’t take direction whatsoever! We had fifteen minutes to record thirty seconds of dialogue, and we didn’t finish the full amount in the end! “Listen, I don’t know who the hell you think you are, little girl,” Sebastian was pissed, “But you will listen to direction, or we will make sure that Dr. Wyler knows you don’t deserve credit for any of our projects, and you WILL fail!” “You can’t…” Kelly tried to gripe. “Yes, we can!” Charlotte said coolly. To her credit, Kelly finally shut up! The final task was one that the rest of the group allowed me to get my hands dirty. It was a task to create a specific set of scenery. The others had seen my curiosity and understanding before in the demonstration, and I was quickly filling in every bit of extra detail to the scene I could. It was a garden scene with a huge multi-tier water fountain that bubbled water downwards into a pond with some koi fish that swam through the water. Grass surrounded the sidewalks; there were flowers, roses, and quite a few details, like wind blowing through the scene and pollen being visible. When time was called, we went down to the soundstage and took turns viewing and taking pictures and videos of the scenery. We were back in the classroom for the last ten minutes of class. “Okay, a few other professors are helping me judge these tonight. I will tell you the results on Thursday in class, and we’ll hold the auction. I highly recommend taking some time and reading the summaries of the scripts. There is one that is completely finished on the page you can read. Honestly, I have a feeling it’ll be the script that takes the most money to win the rights!” “I recommend getting a group chat or something going so you can all talk in the evenings. That’ll be it for class today; we’ll see you Tuesday!” Our group quickly got together on an app that Sebastian thought would work well, and we could now chat more easily. As Beth and I were leaving, Charlotte approached me, “That was really impressive that you programmed that scenery that quickly!” “Thanks!” I told her. “Thank you for you and Sebastian taking charge; it helped us do well in there.” “If only the little prima donna had listened better,” she said with a shake of her head. “That completed script, it’s yours, right?” I nodded, “I think it should be a lot of fun to do?” “I agree! It’s my first choice. Hopefully, we won enough today to win the script during the auction! “Yeah,” I said. I looked at the time, “Listen, I’ll see you Thursday. I have to run if I’m going to get anything to eat before these early lights out they’ve given us…” “I heard about that; sorry you’re stuck there. See you Thursday!” “Come on,” Beth said, “You really don’t have much time…” “I know,” I sighed. I hurriedly grabbed a burger and inhaled it before heading to the dorm with thirty minutes to spare before lights out. As I visited the bathroom, no one talked to me, and Mackenzie added gold stars to my chart. I frantically tried to get some studying in for my first class on Wednesday. I was grateful she put me off till the last for the night diaper after another quick potty trip. “Swim again tomorrow?” she asked me. I thought about how it was pissing everyone else off, but I didn’t know that could be helped, “Please?” “Sure! I’m down seven pounds in the past couple of weeks; I think a lot is due to swimming with you!” I smiled at her, “Glad to hear it’s helping you too.” She pulled the front of the pod down after I climbed in. “Do you need anything?” she asked. I shook my head, “No?” “Well, since we’re sending you all to bed early, I’m going to give you a cup of water in case you get thirsty,” she said while handing me a sippy cup complete with cartoons. “Umm… thanks.” “Good night, sweetie,” she said. “Good night,” I told her. For some reason, I didn’t fall asleep right away that night, but I still wouldn’t drink that water, no matter how thirsty I was! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thank you for reading!!! Please press the like button and leave a comment!!! I love seeing readers guess where things are going! I appreciate your patience for about the next month and a half with postings; my work schedule is long until then. I will probably post late Saturday night next week. Remember In-Between is now available on Amazon! If you haven't already, you may find it for sale here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CG4W62M6 . If you did purchase it, please press the '5-Star' rating when you can! You don't have to leave a review to do so. (Though that would be so amazingly appreciated!) All of my books except this one are now available on Amazon Kindle!

As soon as I figure out how to make the display on DailyDiapers shrink when I post the last chapter, y'all are in for it. All good things must come to an end, but that makes them all the sweeter, doesn't it? I think Nicole hopes that everything goes back to normal, but she doesn't get to decide. For all the problems in her life, she's got one good thing going for her. ❤️ That's a story all in its own - "Wanted, babysitter for adult who's been magically reduced to the capacity of a baby. Must be able to operate around cursed relics." Thank you for reading! Just a little bit left It's true she's in the room - but it's not her name on the chart, now, is it? The Final Day Vanessa woke up early, morning birds and dawn light filtering into the nursery. Nicole’s diaper had filled up in the night, which offered no surprises; just another task for her to take care of. Her body was a bit sore, but that offered no surprises either–she’d slept in a different bed, and after rolling over in bed, her chest had been pressed up against the crib bars. A slight tenderness in her breasts was to be expected. Deciding to let Nicole sleep a little longer, she gingerly stood in the crib, working the latch and pushing the bars open. Stepping over her sleeping friend, she hopped to the ground, wobbling a bit, surprised to find herself off balance. “Woah,” she said, pulling her arms in after she caught herself. That was…odd. Waving it off, she walked out of the nursery and to the bathroom, getting herself ready for the day, enjoying the early dawn time when Nicole was still asleep, where she had a little time to herself. Reaching for her toothbrush, she glanced down at herself. She was just in a T-shirt and panties, the same clothes she’d gone to bed in, but something about it felt a bit…off. Her breasts looked larger than they had the night before, standing out in the baggy shirt more than normal. She could feel the fabric roughly against her nipples, more sensitive than they normally felt. Looking at herself in the mirror, she laughed it off. “Oh no,” she said sarcastically, reassuring herself. “Nicole got turned into a baby, you just got a nice rack. Truly, I’ve been cursed–get over yourself, Vanessa, the magic didn’t do anything to you.” She could have looked at the chart on the way back to confirm, but she didn’t want to admit to herself that it was possible she’d been affected somehow. It was bad enough watching the regression happen to her friend, let alone to think about what transformation might afflict her next. Vanessa kept her eyes well clear of the chart, refusing to check what it said. Walking back over to Nicole, she shook her friend awake. “Hey, Nic–time to get up, you need a change.” Nicky rolled over sleepily, blinking up at Vanessa. Her eyes had taken on a slightly glassy look, like she was perpetually surprised and shocked by what she saw. Taking in new information. At least she was able to crawl after Vanessa and help herself up onto the changing table, and she knew to lie still while her mucky diaper was cleaned up, tossed out, and replaced with a fresh one. While she lay there, she just stared up at Vanessa, suckling her thumb, gaze looking a little down, not at V’s face, but lower. At her chest. “Do I look different today?” Vanessa asked. “Or… do I seem different?” Nicole shrugged, spitting out her finger for a moment. “Okay, well…I’m going to go make breakfast,” Vanessa said. “How does oatmeal sound?” Genuinely thinking for a moment, Nicole shook her head and made a face like she’d just been offered steamed brussel sprouts. “Eh…okay. Pancakes?” Again, a very firm ‘No’. “Cereal?” Sticking out her tongue, Nicole said, “Blegh, gwoss.” Vanessa hesitated. “Nicky, you need to eat something. What sounds good?” Nicole shook her head and said, “I’unno,” but her thumb drifted back into her mouth, and her eyes locked with Vanessa’s tender, swollen breasts once again. Finally, Vanessa got it. “Oh, no…” Turning, she walked to the door, throwing it in so she could check the chart. On it, she saw the doodle, and her heart sank. It pictured her, clearly, sitting with Nicole in her lap. Vanessa had been drawn with her breasts exposed, and Nicole was…nursing. Sucking on V’s tit with an expression of bliss. “Nicole,” she said, uncertain and worried, suddenly acutely aware of the weight in her breasts–they weren’t just bigger, they felt swollen. Full. “Er…I think I know what you’re going to want for breakfast.” Nicole sat up on her elbows. “Wassat?” Flushing, Vanessa said, “How does just…milk sound?” Eyes widening, Nicole nodded. “Mhmm!” That confirmed it. Nicole had been fully regressed–barely able to speak, unable to walk, fully dependent on her diapers, and now back to the point of needing to be nursed. There wasn’t much to be done about it. Helping Nicky off the changing table, Vanessa led her to the living room and sat down on the couch, where they’d be able to sit comfortably next to her. There was no way to do this that didn’t feel intensely awkward, so she just got it over with–lifting off her shirt, Vanessa sat back, allowing Nicole access to her breasts. Her friend pulled up onto her lap, lips sealing hungrily over Vanessa’s nipple. She began to suck, and V felt the milk trickle out of her, into Nicole’s waiting mouth. Tenderness subsiding, she laid a hand on Nicole’s head, sitting back. It felt good to have that pressure released, the tenderness subsiding. Based on her expression, Nicole, too, was enjoying herself–utterly satisfied with her meal. They sat together, in an intensely intimate embrace. Nicole seemed unaware of the sheer awkwardness of it all, and while Vanessa initially felt awkward enough for the both of them, eventually her initial shock wore away. After a while, Nicole moved to the other breast, working on it too, hungry and focused on satisfying herself. They were close, and they were together. Vanessa had never expected this, never even expected that between the two of them, she’d be the one managing their responsibilities, but… she could live with this. The chart had pushed them to the limits, but not beyond them–Vanessa could still care for Nicole like this, and as long as she had the capacity to be there for her friend, she would. “Today’s the last day on the chart.” She spoke much to herself as to Nicole. “I don’t know what happens when it fills up. Maybe it clears out, and all this goes away. Maybe it just refreshes and we get two more weeks of…new things. I don’t even know what those would be. I just don’t know what’s going to happen.” Looking up at her, Nicole pulled away from her meal for a moment, milk dribbling down her lip. She made eye contact with Vanessa and smiled, reaching down so she could take her friend’s hand. “Fwiendth,” she lisped. “Nuh madda what.” They didn’t know what the chart would do next, what the future held, but Nicole was right. Whether they were peers, bantering and teasing and talking about boys, or whether they were caregiver and infant, one watching out for the other, caring for the other, they would be in each other’s lives. “Friends.” Vanessa pulled her friend close again, in a tight, loving hug. “No matter what.” The End. ... Thank you all for reading. Here soon, I'll be putting together an ebook file, in case you want a copy of this on your e-reader of choice - Once that's ready, I'll post the link here for you to download, no purchase necessary, just a nice, contained way for you to take this story with you. I'm really proud of this story, and floored by the response. I can't express how happy I am at the outpouring of comments, replies, theories, and conversation it's spurred on. If you would like to support my writing, and you've read all the way to the end, you probably know about my Patreon - Just a couple dollars a month is a massive help to me, allowing me to dedicate dozens of hours every month to writing AB/DL fiction that I'm very proud of. My supporters get early access to all my writing, exclusive content just for them, and I also attach downloadable .doc files to all my story posts for those of you who prefer to download and read offline. https://www.patreon.com/PeculiarChangeling https://subscribestar.adult/peculiarchangeling ❤️ -Peculiar Changeling

I just want to thank everyone for their likes and comments of support. It always means a lot when starting a new story on here and it is my wish that I can continue to provide an interesting story for you all. I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter! Chapter 2: A Glass Façade Twenty years ago, the same scenario might have played out very differently. When Patrick awoke, his kidneys, or other vital organs, would have likely been harvested and waking up at all would have been considered a minor miracle. Now, however, Patrick awoke to the sun shining brightly on his face, a bouquet of flowers perched on a table beside him, and a lovely aroma of lavender and fresh linen encapsulating every square inch of his morning breaths. Still, after looking over what appeared to be a mix of a hotel and hospital room, he quickly knew it wasn’t where he lived and most definitely wasn’t where he had passed out. Like the morning before, he bolted awake, but only the pain of all where he could feel greeted him now. The light shone in from all around him and he grimaced as he moved his hands to massage his head. “Ah!” A quick pain emanated from where he had touched. Worried of what it could be, Patrick slowly palmed the spot on his head where the lightning pain had erupted from. It was definitely still there, and he quickly remembered hitting his head from last night. “Ugh… not good…” Patrick didn’t have long to think any further as he stared to hear a pair of shoes clacking from outside the door, which was then quickly followed by a male orderly entering in a state of panic. Upon seeing a conscious Patrick though, his demeanor quickly relaxed. “Oh, thank goodness. You’re just awake and not injured more. That’s so great!” His loud words seemed to slingshot around in his head and Patrick rubbed the tender spot once more. “Ugh, where… where am I…?” “Ah,” the male orderly said as if everything suddenly made sense now, despite Patrick’s evident and still lingering confusion. “Let me go get your main nurse. She’ll be so pleased to know you’re awake!” The man practically skipped off after setting a stack of white linens on a nearby countertop. Patrick was left in a state of confusion, but still not knowing where he was, he didn’t want to wait for whomever to show back up, so he immediately began to get up and haul himself into his usual position to get out of bed. A wheelchair was parked nearby and with a little finagling, he was able to move it into the right position. As Patrick strained and grunted to position the chair just right though, the door reopened, and a tall blonde woman casually walked in. Each step caused her curly blonde hair to bounce and her nearly pristine white and pink scrub uniform to shift about gracefully. “Good morning!” she said cheerfully. “Brad told me you were up and I’m just so pleased to see that!” Her near record-breaking smile faded a bit though as she then saw what Patrick was trying to do. “Oops! Looks like I’ve got a restless patient on my hands!” The tall woman then nearly skipped over to where Patrick had sprawled himself out over the bed and easily shifted him back to sitting by his pillows. “I was just trying to get into my wheelchair,’ Patrick said glumly over the loss of achieving his morning goal and making his escape from wherever he was. The nurse smiled tenderly down at Patrick. Despite not knowing her, her demeanor almost seemed to calm him down. Shen then bent slightly down and rested her hand on his shoulder. “I understand, sweetie, but we’ve got some strict rules while you’re here today. Don’t want you to hurt yourself further now, do we?” Patrick wasn’t a fan of how she was talking to him. Her sickly-sweet voice would no doubt be grating after more than 10 minutes at this rate, but he also felt an odd sense of calm envelop him at the same time. It had been quite some time since anyone had shown him the care that she was obviously trying to show him now. Even if her voice was a bit annoying, he craved more of this cared-for feeling, so he just shook his head. “No…” “Wonderful… now,” she sat on the edge of the bed and twisted her body slightly to fully face Patrick, “we need to do a little talking first, okay?” Patrick hesitated at the implication of whatever forlorn information she had to impart but simply just nodded in compliance. ‘Maybe this is the point where she informs me that because they got me off the street, I have to pay or else they’ll take my kidneys?’ “Perfect. Now, we just happened to have a patrol roaming the area you were found in last night. Goodness knows what could have happened if we hadn’t found you,” she said with a great deal of concern. Again, it was a nice feeling to at least feel that one person still cared about him. “From the reports that we get, it’s still a bit unsafe in that neighborhood at night. It’s actually one of the reasons we go by there on our nightly patrols.” ‘Patrols?’ Patrick rolled the word around in head and tried to decipher what that meant and what it had to do with him now. Still, he just wanted the nurse to continue and hopefully she would answer his questions in time. He didn’t want to appear weak until he knew where he was. “I would have been fine…” “Hmmm…” Her eyes glanced downward briefly causing Patrick to immediately become self-conscious. Before he had a chance to see where she was looking though, her eyes popped back up. “What’s the last thing you remember, honey?” Patrick had to think for a moment. It was all pretty blurry still in his still half-awake state. “I came out of the bar… my chair tipped over and I fell, and I…” Patrick froze in terror. Her previous glance down now made perfect sense in the most horrific way. The nurse smiled as Patrick made the connection. “I take it you remember that little part now, huh?” Still too shocked at the memory, Patrick just meekly nodded. It had happened before, but it had been relatively private. ‘Great. Now, Nurse Sparkles knows as well...’ “Awww. No need to be embarrassed sweetie. In fact, we even waved one of our usual protocols when we find someone like you with your… ahem… situation.” Patrick was confused by what she meant, but then noticed a stack of thick plastic objects on one of the higher shelves in the room. ‘Shit! I’m going to be sold to some pervert from the other dimension!’ His heart began to beat rapidly and tried to inch away from her as best as he could. “St… stay away… fr… from me! There are others! P… people looking for me!” The nurse just giggled at the sight unfolding before her. “Oh, sweetie. Relax! I’m not one of those people. Just a human and just like you! Born on this planet and in this dimension.” Patrick still held his guard. “Promise.” Patrick didn’t believe her. For all he knew, it could have been a lie to lure him into a false sense of security before they pounced on him. “Prove it!” The nurse seemed perplexed over how she could but then snapped her fingers and stood up. “Here.” She then thrust the curtains open and showed a picturesque view of the downtown of his city. It looked far different than where he lived of course, but it was just the new part spurred on by the portal travel. “See? Still in this dimension and even the same city where you live. And, as I said before, we waved our usual protocol to diaper one such as yourself… Looked up your file and paralyzed members here get a little more leeway in certain matters. Okay?” Her eyes looked directly into his. Patrick could almost get lost in their bright blue color. He could quickly feel his walls fade away. He then just nodded and settled back down on his bed. His heart still beat rapidly, and he probably still looked panicky, but it seemed to be enough for the nurse. “Good… now, I didn’t introduce myself before. I’m nurse Patricia, but you can just call me nurse, Patty, Patricia… whatever! Kinda cute that we have such similar names, huh?” “Yeah…” Patrick said hesitantly, still clearly wary of what was going on. “I bet you’ve got a bunch of questions, huh?” Patrick quickly nodded. “Well, I’ll let Mr. Docker explain things more later, but I can help answer a few bits. First though,” Patricia then moved close to where Patrick had finally settled, “I think we need to do a few morning bits, huh? Get you going and all.” Patrick realized the time and nodded. “Yeah… just lend me the wheelchair and I can do the rest.” Patricia however didn’t seem thrilled. “Well… I can give you some independence and whatnot, but I’m going to help you in a few areas of my choice. No negotiating on that one, okay?” Patrick wanted full independence, but maybe it was her large frame and intense look, but he didn’t feel he was in a place to say no to her. “Fine…” he then relented. Patricia only smiled and then helped him into the wheelchair. He quickly noticed it wasn’t his own and had handlebars on the back where someone else could push you around. Sighing, he just let himself be wheeled over to the bathroom. Gratefully, Patricia only got him into position and got everything out for him to use for his usual morning routine. ‘Nice but… weird. How does she know the exact equipment that I use back home?’ Shaking his head and adding his question to the steadily growing pile, Patrick soon finished up and exited the bathroom after disposing of the products and washing his hands. Patricia quickly popped back into the bathroom. “Perfect! Let me just log that into my watch, and… we’re good!” She then marched over and took over the steering of Patrick out of the room. Too wrapped up in everything going on, he only then realized that he was wearing a pair of greenish-blue hospital scrubs with a logo over the left chest area. Upon looking further, he recognized the name from the logo on the van last night. “Oasis Opportunities… is that this place?” Patrick asked after reading the logo on his scrubs and along one of the walls as they passed it. “You got it!” Patricia confirmed gleefully. “Newly built and all with the advent of the renovation to the nearby portal facility. We run all usual technical bits outside the city, as I’m sure you know, but we do most of the outreach and admin programs from this building here.” Patrick nodded, and still trying to get the lay of the land, he wanted to know more about her. “Are you associated with them then?” “Them…?” Patricia seemed to be confused over the word choice, but it didn’t last long. “Oh! The Bigs you mean!” “Yes…” he said hesitantly. “Well, me personally… only in a roundabout way, but OO here, yes!” she said enthusiastically. Patrick took the thought in. Only moments ago, she had calmed him down about not kidnapping him for the portal, but now, he was in a building literally dedicated to the same thing. “I thought you said this wasn’t with the other dimension and all?” “Nope! All I said was that you weren’t in the other dimension. We’re still on Earth and all, but this place is just headed by the other side is all. Innocent programs and all!” Patrick wasn’t sure how much he actually believed her, but he didn’t want to upset the woman now wheeling him around. “The programs… that’s why I’m here?” Patrick finally asked reluctantly, very well already likely knowing the answer. “Well… as I said, Mr. Docker will explain things more to you in a minute,” Patricia practically skipped over. Patrick just sighed and resigned himself to the fact that he was only going to get part of the story for now. Patricia didn’t seem like a danger, so for now, he just sat back in the wheelchair as Patricia wheeled him along a corridor with several other rooms that looked just like the one he had just exited. The pair then soon arrived at a large elevator at the end of the hall and by what could only be a nurse’s station. After a ding, the two entered and Patricia pressed the button labeled, ‘Floor 24.’ The elevator was large and elaborate. It even smelled fresh and new. “Pretty big and fancy building… how much is all this going to cost me? I’ve got money, but… I just need to know how much ramen I’ll have to pack away in the next week or so…” Patrick half joked. Patricia let out a tiny giggle. “Actually, the government funds this whole place. A few of the adventures pay for the overhead and all, but day-to-day stuff is predominantly covered by one of the government programs instituted a few years ago. Upper Deal? New Plan? Something like that.” “Oh…” Patrick said with a bit of relief. He did have the money, but this all still felt like a lot. At the same time though, Patricia had mentioned a few of the programs here had helped with the funding. With 67 floors in total, only a few seemed unoccupied by some portal dimension sounding program. “Here let me show you around. We still have a bit before we need to see Mr. Docker.” The elevator stopped and the two got off at the bottom floor of a large atrium. After Patricia moved him out a little way, Patrick could quickly see that at least eight floors had their offices perched behind him and overlooked the atrium and the immense glass curtain wall in front of them. It was a grand, magnificent, and beautiful, if not unnerving, sight. “Wow… all this is for OO? Portal travel and all? Just for this single portal?” “Yep,” Patricia practically chirped. “We’ve got lots of offices for a whole host of programs. We tend to cover the gamut on portal travel here, so we even have three floors dedicated to the R&D department.” She then lowered her voice. “If you ever come back here and are wandering around, stay off floors 34 through 36. High level clearance required, and one poor delivery guy got sucked into a dimension with talking and hallucinogenic plants. You do not want to end up like that.” Patrick nodded gravely. If he needed any reminder and jolt back to reality for what type of company he was standing in the middle of, Patricia’s warning and tiny anecdote had performed its task admirably. After a minute or so of silence, Patricia piped back up. “So, you want some, errr…” she looked at the large touchpad watch on her wrist, “yeah, lunch?” “Oh, uh, sure?” Patrick said hesitantly, still in awe over the enormity of the building for just one portal. If the news article from last week was any indication, there were at least 36 in the states alone. Patricia quickly picked up on his apprehension from eating food from a portal company. “Relax. All still covered by the government and not a single thing here is spiked or could cause you any issues.” Patrick stared at her with an unconvinced look. “Promise. Pinky swear on it if that would help…” Patrick looked at her outstretched pinky and shook his head. “Uh, no. That’s fine. I’m good. Just…” Patrick let the implied notion hang in the air for a second. “Oh, no need to explain. After all, you are talking to a normal human working for a company that deals exclusively with Bigs and all as upper management.” She then lowered her voice once more. “Hard not to hear about the… others that work, or I should say worked on the other side of the portal…” Patrick nodded but wanted to move on as quickly as possible. “So, lunch?” She popped right back up. “Right!” Patricia then wheeled Patrick over to a nearby food court situated in the corner of the atrium. There was a tiny line, but it also allowed Patrick to look at what he wanted. After Patricia got a cobb salad and Patrick got a Cuban sandwich, the pair sat down and would occasionally talk through their delicious bites. Patrick, however, was more distracted by what he was seeing. Having previously worked at a corporate office job to make some good money one summer before his accident, he knew of the typical personnel who visited these places. This atrium drew a large crowd for its obvious beauty and confirmed tasty food, but Patrick couldn’t help but notice a few oddities. While visitors to such places could always draw in a few strangers that didn’t exactly fit in with the rest, the personnel who worked here all seemed very cut and dry. All seemed like part of the medical staff, like Patricia, or were buttoned up into a variety of business attires. What was odd though, was the array of people like him. Not confined to a wheelchair necessarily, but all still seeming to suffer in their own tiny ways. A persistent cough, recent surgery lines, even a few that were still hooked up to IV bags. It was an anomaly that bugged Patrick, but Patricia’s timing was impeccable and quickly distracted him with another question, this time about what he wanted for his future. Soon though, lunch was over and after looking at her watch once more, Patricia stood up. “Well, looks like it’s just about time to head on up. Wish I could give you a longer tour of more of the floors here, but maybe some other time. Mr. Docker is a busy man, and we shouldn’t keep him waiting.” Patrick nodded and stretched out his hand. “After you…” Patricia giggled and after a moment, Patrick realized that his chivalry was lost in a practical sense on the nurse before him. While he could have pushed the wheelchair himself, Patricia was a hands-on type of nurse, so she was most definitely behind him as they moved on from the expansive and beautiful atrium. The pair soon arrived back at the large elevator they had previously boarded. After a ding, the two entered the leftmost one and Patricia pressed the button labeled, ‘Floor 42,’ once inside the shiny metallic box. A short zoom upward, another ding, and the doors then opened back up. Patricia pushed him forward and finally halted at a waiting area at the end of the hall on the floor. A large glass window opened onto the city to the south and Patrick could easily see the breathtaking views and just how high they were. If it was possible, it was even more impressive than the atrium they had just come from. Before Patricia even had a chance to sit, a young and attractive woman stood up from behind her desk and motioned to her. “You can go right on in, Patty.” “Thanks, Sammy,” Patricia gleefully replied as she rapidly pushed Patrick into the awaiting doors which conveniently opened automatically. Patricia then gently guided Patrick into the large and impressive office. Two of the walls faced the outside and were nearly floor to ceiling windows. One could see all the way into three neighboring states and the faint glow, even in the daytime, from the portal facility could be seen to the south. At the far end of the room, a tall and fit man with styled salt and pepper hair and a slick goatee stood and looked out one of the windows. As soon as the wheelchair entered the room, it hit a small bump in the place where the flooring from the outside and inside met. The man suddenly turned around and smiled. “Ah, good evening, Patrick. Come on in and don’t be shy!” The doors behind Patrick closed with a shudder and Patrick couldn’t help but gulp at the man now standing in front of him. His subtle pinstripe suit and red shirt underneath were well fit to his impressive stature and his eyes gleamed at Patrick. If he didn’t know any better, his looks almost bordered on what Patrick thought a wolf would look like as it looked upon a fluffy and tiny lamb. Whatever the case, Oasis Opportunities may have looked nice on the outside, but something told him that whatever was about to be offered might prove to be just too much for him to accept. Hopefully, whatever it was, could still be rejected if needed be and that Patricia hadn’t just lied to him about everything. Whatever the case, the doors slammed to a frightening close behind him, sealing him inside for whatever was to come.

🍍 Part 1: “Family Haagen is looking for a full-time babysitter …” Elna Hetland was reading the e-mail from the babysitting agency. Elna was a cheerful young girl at her 19 and she had finished high school two months ago; unfortunately, her applications to the university were rejected. Now she needed a job, and the offer was more than generous. The family had only one 2 years old toddler girl and the wage was double of the usual rate. The job looked better than that of a secretary or a clerk. Elna had babysat in the past and she liked it a lot. “Elna, be careful, please. A double rate sounds suspicious,” Elna’s mother warned her daughter. “Yeah, mommy. I’ll be careful,” Elna nodded. She also realized the generosity; however, she wasn’t aware of any risk. Babysitting a toddler shouldn’t be dangerous though. She decided to find out more about the family as soon as possible. After dinner, Elna sat down to her computer and started searching. According to her findings, the Haagen family was quite wealthy, and they lived in a big villa. There was no personal information there, but Elna could have expected it. She dialed the number stated in the e-mail and a soft female voice answered the call: “Haagen villa,” it was probably a maid. “Elna Hetland speaking. I’ve got an e-mail from the babysitting agency, and I’m interested in the job.” “Wait a moment, miss. I’ll call Mrs. Haagen,” there was a short break until another female voice asked her. “Good evening. Miss Hetland, are you seriously interested in the job?” “Yeah, I am, Mrs. Haagen.” “Well, come tomorrow and we can talk about your job. However, our Amanda is a special child. She has had four babysitters until now and all of them have left. I’ll tell you more in person when you come.” “No problem, Mrs. Haagen. I’m sure I’ll take care of Amanda even if she is … special.” Elna was a bit confused, but she also was curious. After the call she couldn’t get rid of a strange feeling. Nevertheless, the curiosity took over. --------------------------- The next day she arrived at the Damhau street and stopped in front of the big villa. As she pressed the bell knob, a soft female voice sounded in the intercom: “Wait, please,” a minute later the door opened and an older lady in the maid uniform was standing in the hall. “Are you Ms. Hetland?” “Yeah, I am.” “Come in, Mrs. Haagen is expecting you,” she gestured at Elna and ushered her towards a luxurious living room. A middle-aged woman was sitting at the table. “Good morning,” Elna greeted, and the woman stood up and walked towards her. “Welcome to our house, Ms. Hetland. Take place please and we can talk about our job.” “Thanks, madam,” Elna sat down, and Mrs. Haagen took the place opposite her. The maid left and seconds later a small toddler girl ran into the room. “Are you my new babysitter? My name is Amanda,” she stopped in front of Elna and looked at her closely. “Yeah, Amanda. I am your new babysitter, and my name is Elna,” Elna smiled at Amanda and stroked her blonde hair; she noticed Amanda’s eyes and immediately realized that something was wrong. It was a feeling only, but Elna wanted to find out more. Amanda stretched her little arms towards Elna and Elna helped the little girl crawl onto her lap. Amanda hugged Elna and leaned her head on Elna’s shoulder. Elna hugged her back and felt the thick diaper package between her legs. Mrs. Haagen watched the scene for awhile, smiled and walked over to Amanda. “Sweetheart, go to your room and play a little while mommy talks to your new babysitter,” Mrs. Haagen asked her daughter. The little girl nodded, crawled down from Elna’s lap and left the room. Elna was surprised by the toddler’s prompt reaction. “Ms. Hetland …” “Call me Elna, please.” “Elna, I owe you an explanation. Amanda has been diagnosed by Approgressia infantilis. Her growth has stopped, and she stays a toddler forever.” “Oh, I’ve never heard about that disease,” Elna was taken aback. “It is extremely rare, but our little girl suffers from it. Fortunately, it doesn’t hurt, but she can’t grow, and she will need diapers for life. Otherwise, she is a nice and smart girl. You will see.” “Okay, Mrs. Haagen. I don’t think it will be an issue for me. I’m sure I’ll be a good babysitter. However, I don’t understand why four babysitters have left already.” “Well, let’s talk about your job,” Mrs. Haagen apparently didn’t want to speak about the former babysitters, “It is a literally full-time job. You will live in this house and take care of Amanda. Of course, you get your room, food and your wage as stated in the offer. If you still want this job, come tomorrow, and bring your personal possessions with you. We will sign the contract then. Helga can show you your and Amanda’s room before you leave. Helga!” “Thank you, Mrs. Haagen,” Elna stood up and the older lady entered the room. “This way, Ms. Hetland,” Helga ushered Elna upstairs. Amanda’s room was a luxurious well-equipped nursery. Amanda was sitting on the floor and playing with dolls; however, Elna again got a strange feeling while watching the little girl. Helga showed Elna her future room and Elna stopped dead in her tracks. The room was really luxurious and much larger than her own room at home. It was also equipped with a computer and a large TV set. While travelling home, Elna kept thinking of the offer. Something was definitely wrong, but she didn’t have any idea what it was. Mrs. Haagen wouldn’t tell her anything and Amanda was too little. On the other hand, Amanda’s behavior didn’t match a two-year-old toddler. Elna suddenly got curious; was there any mystery there? “Elna, I’m not sure if you should take the job,” Elna’s mother shook her head, “why have four babysitters left if the life there looks comfortable and luxurious, and the child seems to be nice and well educated. Also, the disease is strange. Maybe we should find out about it.” Elna nodded and switched on her computer. She really found the mysterious “Approgressia infantilis” and the description matched the former explanation from Mrs. Haagen. However, the search provided her with one single result. As for the four babysitters, Elna and her mother couldn’t even start searching if they didn’t know their names. “Elna, the job looks good, but I warn you; be extremely careful and don’t trust anybody there,” Elna’s mother was also confused; however, Elna needed a job and the babysitting looked like a good one. Elna packed her personal possessions into a big bag. Besides her clothing, shoes and cosmetics, she also packed her notebook. Although she noticed a computer in her room, she decided to take her own notebook, just to be sure. As she was packed, she went to bed; however, she couldn’t sleep well. Her mind was still occupied by the little girl and her mystery.

Chapter 23: Testing the Waters Parum Mortis – LittleFallenPrincess “Auntie Bea…” Lucy asked in that cute way kids do when they want something. “Yes sweetie?” Bea replied, turning away from the screen. It had been about an hour now, and we mostly just sat in silence the whole time, watching cartoons. We didn’t say a word to each other, probably because Lucy was attacked earlier, and I… well I don’t remember what I did, but according to Beth, I was a badass! So I think we wanted to take a little breather for a bit, to relax and process things on our own whilst we snuggled on either side of Beatrice, watching cartoons. “Do you have any idea what Auntie Beth is up to?” “I have no idea. Especially seeing as she mentioned our Grandmother.” “Didn’t you have a meeting the other week regarding stuff?” “Yeah, it was the reading of her will.” “So has Beth been left something?” “Oh shit… yeah… well that makes sense.” Bea replied, as if she had put two and two together and realised something. “What does?” Lucy asked. “I’ll let Susie’s Mummy explain when she gets back. I don’t want to ruin the surprise. Though what she has in store for it… I don’t know.” Beatrice said, before looking at me awkwardly. “Sorry hun. I… it’s natural for me, when I’m around littles. I know you’re not up to that stage with her and…” “It’s okay.” I assured her. “I… I was thinking of calling her it soon anyway…” “REALLY?” Lucy asked, jumping up and kneeling on the sofa, all whilst staring at me. “WHEN?” “I dunno… I…” “Only do it when you’re ready. I mean hell… you’ve never even tried being a baby… consensually of course. You need to try that first!” “Yeah maybe you’re right. Maybe I should actually try it out. I just… wanted to make her happy.” “Oh dear… is the spell still in effect?” Bea asked, looking concerned. “No, it’s all me now. I… the past few days, the attack at the cafe… it all confirmed that I love her. And I want to make her happy. I won’t go out of my comfort zone to do so, but… I dunno… this whole baby thing doesn’t seem that bad. The nappies are…” It was still embarrassing talking about nappies, as they are usually only worn by babies and old people. And I’m neither. “...they’re not as bad as I thought they’d be. Kinda comfortable.” “Right?” Lucy chimed in, smiling. “Maybe I’ll give this baby thing a go then.” “You’re reacting very well to all this, sweetie. Are you sure you’re okay?” Asked Bea. “Yeah. I think my mind is clearer than it ever was. Knowing about your world, and this kink world… it feels… good. Even if I don’t end up into the kink stuff, it’s nice knowing that part of Beth, especially as it’s something she’s kept secret, at least to partners… or maybe just me.” “Well I’m proud of you.” “Plus the first time I found out, it was a bit of a shock, so I will admit… I reacted badly. Then the second time, when Death woke me up from that spell… I also may have reacted badly then too.” “Understandably so though.” “Yeah but even so… I’ve had time to think. I want to at least try this out with her. If it’s not for me… then I hope she’s okay with me not taking part. If it is… then I guess you’ll have a… baby niece, I guess?” “Haha, I suppose I would!” Bea laughed. “I must ask though… this ‘Auntie’ thing…?” “Yes, sweetie?” “Lucy called Beth… Auntie Beth. So is…” “Oh it’s just a friendlier term than say… Miss or Sir. Lucy is one of our closest friends, so she calls us her Aunties. I suppose it’s different from you dating my sister and being her baby, that would make me your Auntie too but… Oh I don’t know. Look, if and when you’re ready, you can call me Auntie Beatrice or Auntie Bea for short, okay kiddo?” I blushed and looked down. “Okay, thanks. So… what do you call other… adults, I guess?” I asked Lucy. “As Auntie Bea said, sometimes just Sir or Miss or Ma’am. Or most likely… their names. Auntie is reserved for my bestest friends.” “That makes sense.” I said, smiling up at her. “So how does… this whole thing work? Like… I heard there was a community or something…” “We have a munch at a local pub every month. We just talk normally, chat like adults, maybe discuss some kinky stuff, and then we arrange playdates between us.” “So has…” “Don’t worry, Auntie Beth hasn’t been sneaking out to baby someone whilst you’ve been dating her. She attends the munches, but she hasn’t been active in the community for a while, and because of that, neither has Auntie Beatrice.” “Yeah it’s not exactly my thing. I love doing it when I do, but I’m not interested in the same way my sister is.” Bea spoke up. “How did you know…?” “That she was into it? Too many drinks when we were younger. She knows all my stuff too.” “What are…” “What things am I into? You’ll have to find out at a later date, sweetie.” Bea grinned down at me. I pouted at her and crossed my arms. “Perfect baby, see…” Lucy teased, making me pout even more. “But yeah, Beth arranges the munches and stuff, she’s very much the Mother Hen of the community. She makes sure everyones safe and protected. But she doesn’t actively baby anyone, other than talking down to us like we’re babies. Not since she started dating you. She’s been saving that part of herself for you, if you ever got into it of course.” ‘She has?’ I thought to myself. “But again, no pressure! We don’t want you forcing yourself to do things you don’t want to. Only if and when you’re ready. Remember that.” Bea added. “Thanks Beatrice. I appreciate it. Especially after the past few weeks…” “I understand, sweetie. And again, I’m sorry. I promise you… she never meant to do that.” “I know. That's why I’m open to trying this with her.” “Trying what with who?” I heard from behind me. Spinning around to see who the heck had snuck into our house and disturbed us… I saw… Beth? “How…?” “BETHANY!” Beatrice yelled at her. “That’s not my name, sis…” “BETHANIEL!” Bea looked serious, but you could see the corner of her mouth rising into a smile. She was having fun with this. “I’m going to kill you. And then bring you back to life. Just so I can kill you again. I know how to do it now. Be warned.” Beth said with a deadpan face. “You portalled here, didn’t you?” “I needed a book! And traffic… Well the traffic is really bad today.” “But you know the reagents are hard to get!” “Wait… Witches can make portals? As in go from one place to another?” I asked. “We can… but the reagents are rare… which makes them very expensive…” Bea answered, staring daggers at her sister. “I know, so bill me. I’m here to get a book, then I’m portalling back.” Beth was just about to walk off… “OH NO YOU’RE NOT!” Beatrice whisked her hand over the empty tub of ice cream in her other hand, making it completely disappear, before standing up quickly and turning to face her sister. “But…” My girlfriend was just about to plead her case, but Bea clearly wasn’t impressed by her use of portals. “NO! I’ll drive you.” Bea ordered, sounding very… dominant. “Ugh, fine. But only because I want to show Susie and Lucy something. They can come with us.” “Really?” Lucy asked. “Yeah. I’ve got in touch with a bunch of people, I just need… Beth’s ‘friend’. Then we can get started. I want both of your inputs though.” “Fine. I’ll drive us all there then. Little ones… grab your coats.” Bea ordered. “Can… can we hold off for a little bit though, if you’re driving us?” Beth asked. “Uh… sure? Why?” “I want to make sure Susie is okay. Plus… I missed her.” I blushed as she said it, trying to look away from everyone suddenly looking at me. “Fine, thirty minutes. Cup of tea, I’ll snuggle this little tyke…” Beatrice said, sitting down once again and grabbing Lucy, pulling her close to her, into a cuddle. “...and you can go talk to your girlfriend.” “Oh… do you need to talk…?” Beth looked anxious suddenly. “I… I mean… Do you?” I replied, just as awkwardly. “Are they always this bad?” Lucy asked Beatrice. “Not usually. RIGHT YOU TWO, GO TALK IN YOUR ROOM.” Bea ordered… very loudly. Beth and I looked at each other, unsure as to follow her sister’s orders or not. Thankfully Beth took the initiative and held out her hand, so I quickly took it and followed her away into our bedroom. “So you wanted to…” We both said at the same time. “...talk?” “You first.” I said. “I… look… I… I want to make sure you’re okay.” Beth said, holding either side of me with her cold hands. “I’m okay.” “And you? What did you want to say?” “Are… are you okay?” I replied, very awkwardly. “Right pair, we are. I’m okay, thank you baby.” Being called ‘baby’ felt… right. Every time she called it me, it just felt… right. Not just because it flowed so perfectly from her luscious lips… but because it made the butterflies in my tummy flutter around. “Umm…” “What is it, baby?” “Umm… the baby thing.” “Oh, do you want me to stop? Sorry.” She let go of me and put her arms to her side, as if she retreated back into her shell. “NO! No! I… was…” “You were, what?” This conversation was the most awkward conversation ever. Even more so than trying to get Lucy out of her shell at university, more so than when Beth and I started dating. “I was wondering if…” Taking a deep breath, I prepared myself for this. “...We could try… the… umm… baby thing…?” “You… want to try it? Right now?” “I mean not right now… unless that’s what you want… I mean… I was thinking more…” “I can try it whenever, sweetie.” She quickly interrupted. “I… wouldn’t even know where to start…” “How about we get you dressed into something not too babyish, but not too adulty… and then snuggle on the sofa? Maybe I could feed you a bottle like Lucy’s?” I imagined what I’d look like, sitting on her lap, drinking from a baby bottle. It was weird, sure. I mean… it’s a weird fucking kink… but it didn’t gross me out. It didn’t terrify me. So pushing myself to the edge of my comfort zone, but not completely out of it… I said… “Sure.” “Like… now?” “We’ve got thirty minutes, right? Why don’t we try it now. It may make Lucy feel a bit better and more relaxed too.” I suggested. “Okay baby… right… how about… hmm. How about a pair of dungarees? They’re in fashion at the moment, right? So that with a cute t-shirt, with your thick nappy… maybe put your hair into pigtails? We can take the pigtails out when we go out.” “That’s not too bad. Wait… so I’d wear the dungarees out?” “We’d put a jacket on you, maybe change your top to something less babyish, but yeah. Dungarees are worn by big girls too.” “I guess.” “So come on, how about we get you into the nursery, get you changed, then get you on my lap with a bottle? Baby steps…” She grinned. “No puns. Otherwise, deal.” “Okay then… no puns. Maybe.” I walked out of the nursery with a slight waddle, wearing the new outfit Beth had picked out for me. Like she promised… it wasn’t too babyish. And hell, if I do as she suggested and just put a jacket on when we go out, the babyish top I’m wearing wouldn’t be noticeable. Blue dungarees, a pink top with puffed sleeves that looked more babyish than I thought under the dungaree straps, and my hair up in pigtails. It wasn’t much, thinking about it, but it felt like it was a drastic change. I felt… younger… smaller. She did ponder the idea of giving me a baby dummy, but in the end, she didn’t want to force that on me, so she clipped one on my straps, hanging down from a cute, multi colored piece of ribbon or something. For now… I’d let it dangle there. Maybe… just maybe… I’ll consider trying it later. If I’m interested. Maybe. “We saw you try to sneak into the nursery… and I see why! Oh my gosh, she looks so precious!” Beatrice said, smiling at me. Lucy was speechless, but had very much the same expression on her face. “We’re dipping her toes in the pool. So please, take it slowly and easy with her, okay?” Beth replied. I really appreciated it, and I really appreciated her being willing to take this slowly. Although to be honest… this didn’t feel slow. But we weren’t out of my comfort zone… yet. “Good idea! I really wasn’t expecting you to try it so soon though, you eager beaver!” Bea teased me. Guiding me to the sofa, Beth sat down and gently pulled me onto her lap, the thick padding making her legs even more comfortable. “Oh, Bea?” Beth asked her sister. “Yeah?” “Could you get us a bottle?” ======================================================== I'm glad you're all enjoying this story so much! And yeah, because this is a prequel, you can work out a lot of how this will end... mostly. But that's half the fun of prequels! Figuring out the connections and links to the other stories! I hope everyone enjoys this chapter! Please leave likes and comments and all that fun stuff, I love reading them! Thank you to all my patrons for their support! Don't forget, the remaining chapters are available on my Patreon which can be found here if you go for the second tier. New chapters of Parum Mortis every Wednesday/Sunday! Also just a quick note: I don't mind people saving this story for personal reading. But I'd appreciate it if people didn't post it elsewhere, even if you're just suggesting it to other people. If you want to show others, please send them a link to the first page of this post! Thanks!

Chapter 3 - Pit Stop George dragged the last bite of fried chicken through the pool of ketchup on his tray, coating it with a generous amount of the sauce before popping it into his mouth. He savoured the last bite, then licked his fingers. Almost automatically he moved to give them a quick wipe on the side of his jeans, before a cough from Alice stopped him. With a look of mild disapproval, she nodded towards the pile of thin paper napkins she’d grabbed from the food hall. He quickly took the hint and wiped himself clean with one. before balling it up and dropping it into the brown paper bag their meals had come packed in, which was now serving as a makeshift bin. “Those jeans are brand new mister.” She tutted. “I don’t expect you to keep everything looking pristine this summer, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t go getting things dirty unnecessarily.” “Oh, sorry.” George mumbled. He rested one hand under his chin whilst the other idly picked away at the remaining chips. Alice wasn’t quite sure what to make of George just yet. He was a shy boy. That was for certain. The last time she’d met him in person he’d been half his current age, and she mostly remembered him as being rather quiet and polite. Not too keen on talking with people he saw as strangers, even if his mother vouched for them. That explained his muted engagement with her these last few days, but she had hoped that he would have opened up a bit more by now. If they were going to be spending the summer together, they were going to have to get to know one another. “So, how's the jetlag?” She broke the silence with a question. The bags under Georges eyes gave the answer. “Uh, a bit better. I think.” He spoke. “Is it always gonna be this bad? I thought Jet lag only lasted a day.” “It can last a lot longer actually. Depends on how severe the difference is.” She explained as she resumed eating her own chicken salad. “I was on a business trip to London a few years back and it took half a week to get out of it. I don’t know how I got anything done those days.” She tried a smile of sympathy, but he didn’t return it. He just sighed and went back to his food. Biting his lip, as if there was something he was thinking about intently. “Cat got your tongue?” “Huh? No, just... Just thinking.” He shook his head. “Well, I’m here to listen if you want to tell me something. I’m looking after you, so don’t feel like you need to keep things wrapped up. I want you to be able to trust me.” George looked up at the woman he was still unfamiliar with and gave a weak smile. “How do you know my mum then?” If he didn’t know his guardian very well, there was only one way to fix that. Alice finished a mouthful of chicken before replying. “We were friends as kids. My father was in the Airforce, got posted to Britian during the cold war, working with the Royal Airforce. He and my mother had to move over to Britain you see, but not before they had me. I spent a lot of time back here with my grandparents, but they wanted me to stay settled and with them when it came time for me to start school, so we ended up spending the Summers back in America but the rest of the school year in Britain.” “Sounds familiar.” George said pointedly. Alice nodded. “Well, who knows. If you like it, maybe you could come over again next summer.” The look on her face became more serious and she leaned in over her tray. “But right now, we’ve got this summer to think about. So let's try and focus on making sure you have a good time, alright? We’ve not had the greatest of starts the last couple of days, have we?” George looked down, feeling slightly embarrassed. It was true though. He’d spent the last two days in the doldrums of jet-lagged sleep, not feeling up for doing much beyond eating and sleeping. For a summer holiday spent in America, he didn’t have much to write home about so far. Alice continued. “You are a lot like your mother you know. She was the shy girl at school, always rather nervous. Afraid of big changes. I remember I was the centre of attention for a bit, being the American kid, and she must have been the only one in the class who didn’t have a hundred questions for me about living abroad.” “How’d you end up as friends then?” George turned his head. Alice reminisced for a second before giving an answer. “We were given some class assignment. Something to do with local history. I didn’t know a thing, obviously, but the teacher had divided us up into pairs for it and me and your mom were put together.” She smirked. “It was a group project, but your mom ended up doing all the work. I think my biggest contribution was helping with the highlighter and glue sticks.” “So, you were friends after that?” “We were friends after that.” She nodded. “Not the most exciting story, but I was glad I managed to make a friend when I was alone and somewhere new.” She looked knowingly at George. “Maybe you can try and make some friends whilst you’re here as well.” “Yeah, sounds good.” He pushed a smile onto his face and nodded slightly. He was always the shy kid. The awkward kid. He knew that. Never the centre of attention. But his parents and now his godmother were prodding him to try and put himself out there, and he wanted to. It was just a lot easier to say it than do it. “Well, you’ve got a big summer ahead of you. I’m not just going to let you waste the weeks away playing on your Gameboy inside.” George resisted the urge to tell her that it was a 3DS and not a Gameboy, and simply nodded again. “It's nice.” He admitted. “Washington, I mean.” “You’ve seen nothing yet. Wait until we get out into the woods in a few weeks. I’ve already rented us places at a lodge. You'll have a whole week up there to explore and play and have fun. Have you ever been kayaking before?” George shook his head. “I think you’re going to like it.” She said with confidence. “They do windsurfing out on a big lake where the lodge is as well. They do a lot of sports and games out there. You can give them all a try and see what you like.” “Yeah, that sounds pretty cool.” George admitted. He wasn’t normally the sporty type, but the prospect of trying a lot of cool and exotic sounding stuff like windsurfing had his attention. “That's all in a few weeks though. Tomorrow, we’re gonna go to a place in town and get you kitted out with some of the clothes you'll need. Swimming trunks for the lake, and when we spend days at the beach. Plus, a uniform for baseball. There’s a local team that meets twice a week I’d like you to go to. I already cleared it with the coach, they said they’re happy to have a new boy join.” That sounded less appealing that the kayaking and windsurfing to George. Bad memories of school P.E. lessons and sports day screwups rose uneasily in the back of his mind. “I uh, don’t really know how to play.” He shrugged. “Don’t worry about it, you'll learn. Everyone on the team had to at some point.” Alice pointed out. She reached down into her purse and pulled out a dark green looking notebook. It looked well used. Multitudes of coloured tags protruding from it like little bookmarks. Alice glanced at one of them and opened it to that page, then turned it to show George. Seeing the pages himself, George realised that it wasn’t a notebook but a diary, with each page numbered with a date at the top and various section underneath filled with writing. Unfortunately, none of it seemed legible to him. It was written in thin black ink, in the way a lot of grown-ups did that made their writing impossible to read. What was it called again? Cyrillic? No, Cursive. Something like that. “What's with all the tags?” He asked. “I like to keep myself organised.” Alice replied. “I put this together to plan out our summer vacation together. It's organised by date, and it's all color coded. Green is for outdoor activities, blue for water-based ones, dark green for sport, and so on. See?” She flicked through a few more pages to demonstrate. “The day after tomorrow is baseball practice.” She flicked a few pages forward to one with a dark green tag and more unreadable writing in it. “I can’t really read it.” George admitted after trying for a few seconds. “Oh, do they not teach you cursive over there?” She asked. So that’s what it's called “Not really, no.” George said. “Is that an American thing?” “More of an old thing.” Alice snapped the diary shut and tucked it away in her purse again. “Me and your mother both learned it at school together. But it’s a dying form.” She sighed. George didn’t really see what there was to be annoyed about. What was the point of learning a way of writing if no one could read it without squinting? “Well, enough reminiscing, if you’re finished, lets head out.” She nodded to his empty tray of refuse as they both stood up from the bench. George had been about to leave it without a second thought, and he turned to pick it up, feeling slightly guilty. There was a series of bins and a section to put dirty trays just inside the building, and George was careful not to get any more grease or sauce on his hands as he slid the collection of cardboard and slimy paper into the rubbish bin. “George, why don’t you try and go potty before we leave, it's just over there.” She pointed over to a set of hanging signs just outside a small side passageway about 20 feet away. The little white symbol for the bathroom unmistakable on the blue background. “I don’t really have to go.” George replied. “Well, we’ve got a drive back remember. We'll be in the car for a couple of hours at least, and I’d rather not have to worry about finding somewhere to pull over. So could you please go and try?” Her tone of voice was friendly, but George recognised a mix of condescension in there as well. The sort you heard when a grown up makes up their mind about you doing something. “Uh, yeah, ok then.” Feeling a little awkward, he turned around and idled towards the sign pointing the way. Why do you care so much lady? It’s not like I’m gonna pee on the car seats or something. Alice watched him go, one hand fiddling with her necklace as she found herself in thought. George was a good kid. It was a shame that he seemed to be troubled. Some of that must be expected, she knew. The split between his parents and its effects on a young boy like him were obvious: The shyness, the moodiness, the fights at school. Now the bedwetting, which she suspected was not entirely the result of extensive jetlag. Mary had never mentioned any issue with bedwetting before she’d seen George off on his summer adventure though. Alice knew her old friend would never have been deliberately misleading about such matters, so perhaps the poor boy had been covering it up at home? She frowned. Then again, he’d seemed genuinely shocked the previous day when she’d come to wake him up and found a profoundly embarrassed godson trying to strip his bed in panic. If these accidents were a new development, that meant things were getting even worse, and then she would need to act. Not just for the sake of saving a holiday, but for his general wellbeing. She rubbed her fingers along the tiny golden links off her neckwear, as the other hand made its way to her pocket and her phone, Mary’s number already in her head. She had always taken a proactive approach to problem solving. It was what had enabled much of her career success. Issues and setbacks couldn’t be allowed to be neglected and fester. She feared that might be happening now with George. She’d never doubted that Mary would make a good mother, of course. There had never been any question of that. But the poor woman had a lot to deal with now. Alice had taken George for the summer in part because she wanted to give the two of them a reprieve for their problems. No, it wasn’t fair to think that Mary was at fault for this. No, this was something she should be dealing with. Besides, if George was telling the truth – and she felt inclined to believe that he was – then calling in the cavalry wasn’t needed just yet. They’d gotten his diapers without too much of a fuss, and that would head off any further threat of wet beds and ruined nights. Let's see how things go tonight, then make a move from there, if we need to. Her hand let go of the phone and re-emerged from her pocket. But even as it did so, gears were already turning in her head. Her experience with looking after kids was rather limited, and a bedwetting, moody youngster wasn’t her area of expertise. She would need to do some work. Find someone who was an expert, get appropriate advice on the matter. That would have to wait until they got home though. She idly shifted in place and tapped her foot on the floor as she glanced over at the sign for the toilets. What was taking George so long?

Chapter 44: The Plan “You cannot be serious about having a sleepover at a teacher’s house.” Desi had pulled me aside from the hallway to a couch in a secluded corner close to the teacher’s lounge. We were waiting for Lisa before first period, while Samantha was making a trip to the restroom. I had avoided going along with Samantha, determined to work on keeping control of my bladder until after my first class. With as much orange juice as I had drunk that morning, the odds of doing so were questionable, but I had a pull-up on in case of any accidents. The bus had arrived early, so we had a while to sit and chat before the first class of the day. I had just told Desi about how Mom had agreed to allow for a sleepover at Lisa’s place. She was less than enthused at the chosen location. “Why can’t we just go to Samantha’s place?” Desi asked. “That worked fine last time.” “Because Lisa’s never had a sleepover before,” I replied. “And, with her, um, condition, I think she’d be a lot more comfortable to be able to do her first sleepover at home.” I left out one of the main reasons behind why I preferred a sleepover at Lisa’s place. It was the easiest option for the plan that I had to conceal my own bedwetting, as Lisa was the only one of my friends who was currently aware of that issue. Lisa’s own bedwetting and incontinence problems would provide the perfect cover for keeping my own issues a secret. Before Desi could continue the argument, Samantha arrived back from the restroom and sat down to my right with a large sigh as she let her backpack fall to the floor with a thump. Desi leaned across me to get Samantha’s attention. “Sarah wants our next sleepover to be at Lisa’s place,” Desi said. “Can you believe that? I mean, you do know that Lisa lives with her uncle, who, you know, just happens to be our history teacher.” “Wait, your mom finally let you out of the doghouse?” Samantha said, turning toward me. “It’s about time we had a second sleepover.” “Did. You. Not. Hear. What. I. Said,” Desi interrupted. “I like her uncle and all, but that’s going to be so awkward being over at his house.” “No, it won’t,” I said. “I spent the afternoon working on one of the history projects there. Lisa’s aunt and uncle basically left us alone most of the time.” “I don’t see what all the fuss is about,” Samantha said. “If Lisa is most comfortable with a sleepover at her place, let’s just do it there.” “And as a bonus, no annoying younger siblings around either,” I added, in reference to Samantha’s younger brother and toddler sister. “Fine, but I have one condition,” Desi said, giving Samantha a slight glare. “No games of truth or dare.” I knew exactly what Desi was referring to. She was still a bit salty about being dared to pee in a pull-up the last time we had played that game. That had been at a sleepover at Samantha’s place. The game of truth or dare took a turn for the crazy when a couple of the dares had involved pull-ups from Samantha’s younger brother, who was still a bedwetter. I had dared Samantha to wear the pull-up. Samantha had then dared Desi to pee in it. “About that,” I said, taking a look around to make sure Lisa wasn’t in the process of walking up to us. “I have an idea about how we might be able to help Lisa feel more comfortable having a sleepover with her condition.” “What’s that?” Samantha asked. I paused and took a quick breath before going ahead with my plan. It was quite audacious really, but if I could get them to agree to it, it would make things so much easier for me. “I think we should all wear diapers to bed to help Lisa not feel embarrassed.” I didn’t get an immediate response from either of them. Desi was glaring at me, while Samantha’s face had turned slightly red, and she wasn’t quite making eye contact with me anymore. “For real,” Desi said at last. “You do remember that you guys made me piss in a pull-up for a game of truth-or-day at our last sleepover?” “Hey, that wasn’t my dare. That was Samantha,” I said. “And don’t be silly. You don’t actually have to use a diaper. Just wear one to bed so she doesn’t feel alone about her condition.” “I don’t have a problem with that,” Samantha said. “Well, of course you don’t,” Desi retorted. “You wore a diaper to the Halloween party.” “Would have been a pretty poor baby outfit if I didn’t have one on,” Samantha replied. “Guys, let’s cut the bickering,” I said. “You know how embarrassed Lisa gets. It’s her first sleepover, so let’s make sure it goes well for her.” “Fine,” Desi said after a long pause, rolling her eyes. “But don’t you dare expect me to pee in it.” “You know,” I said, turning to Samantha. “You don’t happen to have any extra diapers from your Halloween outfit, do you? That way, we wouldn’t have to take any from Lisa.” “Oh, sorry, I don’t have them,” Samantha said. “I tossed the rest of the package afterward. Wasn’t planning on doing that for a Halloween outfit again.” “That’s fine,” I said. “I’m sure Lisa won’t mind if we use some of hers. But let’s not mention it to her until it’s time for bed.” “When exactly are we planning to have the sleepover exactly,” Samantha asked. “I don’t know yet. I hadn’t had a chance to tell Lisa that my mom gave the OK, but she had already said that hosting it would work.” I caught sight of Lisa walking toward us in the hallway. “We can ask her now about times for the sleepover. And don’t mention anything about diapers, OK?” Maybe it was because of how familiar I had become with wearing diapers over the past couple of months, but the crinkle was just slightly noticeable as Lisa carefully smoothed out her dress as she sat down to join us on the couch. When we’d last talked at length about her incontinence issues, she had told me she was trying to mostly wear pull-ups during the day to help with getting to the toilet. That didn’t seem to be the case currently, but couldn’t blame her for all the bullying she had gone through with our shared nemesis, Claire. “Got some good news. Guess what it is,” I said. “What’s that?” Lisa asked as she left her backpack gently down in front of the couch. “Mom finally gave the OK for the sleepover.” “We can actually do it, then?” “Yep, are you still good having it at your place?” “I’ll need to check with my aunt and uncle again, but they were OK with it when I suggested it before.” “Lisa, do you have a second?” We all turned to see Lisa’s uncle standing around the corner. “Coming,” Lisa said, carefully adjusting the back of her dress as she stood up from the couch. “I’ll be back in a second,” she said, turning back to us quickly before following her uncle toward the teacher’s lounge. Desi took a glance at her phone. “Still have some time before class starts,” she said. “Gonna run to the restroom quick. You coming?” “No, I’m good.” Desi rolled her eyes at me. “Just come, or you’ll be racing to the toilet after the first period.” While neither Samantha nor Desi were aware of my pull-ups or bladder accidents, they had caught on to the fact that my bathroom trips were happening more frequently and sometimes with more urgency. I acquiesced to her request, and by the time we were back from the restroom, Lisa had gotten back as well. “You’re good to come over for a sleepover,” Lisa said, as Desi and I returned to the couch where she and Samantha were seated. “My uncle just told me. Says your mom called him just a little while ago.” “That was quick.” “Yep, and we can do it any weekend we like. This weekend will work if everyone is free.” “Works for me,” Samantha said eagerly. “Same,” said Desi. “Let’s do it then,” I said. --- I fought the urge to squirm in my seat. This was the fifth class of the day, and I had so far managed to avoid any accidents, though there had been several close calls. The only relief was that my accidents were back to being a secret. I’d hidden my daytime accidents long enough that Mom thought they were all over, and she wasn’t making me wear pull-ups and counting how many I’d used. That didn’t mean I was back in underwear. I’d managed to find time to go and secretly buy some pull-ups of my own, which unfortunately didn’t seem like something that I was going to be able to stop doing anytime soon. There was enough time remaining in the class period that I didn’t have any real hope of staying dry until I was able to get to the restroom. I doubted that even if I put my hand up to get a restroom pass that I would be able to make it if I left this instant. On one hand, if I had just gone to the restroom between every single class period, there were minimal chances of having an accident. But one piece of advice Lisa had given me was that if you kept peeing too frequently, while you might initially avoid accidents, you would also be training your bladder to not need to hold it that longer, which would eventually lead to having accidents again. Still, I tried not to let the disappointment get to me as the slow trickle of urine turned into a steady stream, filling up my pull-up. I gave in to curiosity and took a quick glance down at my high-rise jeans. No leaks. The jeans fit well enough that any bulge from the pull-up was likely unperceivable to anyone but myself, though I suppose perhaps it was something that Lisa could notice, not that she was in my class this period. I knew the fastest route to every single restroom in the school, depending on which class I was leaving, and I made a beeline to the nearest one as soon as the bell rang. I turned to step into the restroom when I bumped into Lisa, who was doing the same from the opposite direction. We didn’t say anything to each other as we settled into adjacent stalls. I think we both had an idea of why each of us was actually there. At first, I had preferred going to a lesser-used restroom to change out of wet pull-ups, but I soon realized that any crinkling was much less noticeable with the background noise that comes with a larger, packed restroom. I slid my jeans off as well as I could manage in the stall and carefully swapped out a dry pull-up for the wet one, which I buried deep in the garbage can. I did manage to pee a little in the toilet as well, which would help if I was to stay dry until after the fourth period and our lunch break. I did hear a louder, crinkling sound coming from Lisa’s stall, which confirmed my earlier suspicion that she was back in diapers again. I did a double-take as we stepped out of the restroom. Claire was walking right toward us from the opposite direction. Our feud had come to a pause after the fight that got us both kicked off of the cheerleading squad. I hadn’t passed her in the hallway since the week before when I had gone to the drug store to purchase pull-ups for myself, only to find Claire manning the check-out station. I’d told Claire that I was getting the pull-ups for my sister and had threatened to get her fired if she said anything about the purchase. Still, it wouldn’t do any good to have Claire spreading rumors, and I wasn’t going to let her know how worried I was. I paused and leaned against the row of lockers as she approached, staring her down until she averted her eyes and passed by on the other side. It wasn’t until after Claire had passed by me that I turned and noticed Lisa standing motionless just outside the restroom door. “Thanks for that,” Lisa said quietly as we made our way down the hallway. I guessed that Lisa assumed that quiet confrontation between me and Claire had to do with the way that Claire had bullied Lisa by revealing her incontinence issues to the school. “Hold on a second,” Lisa said, coming to a stop. “There’s a problem I’m not sure how to deal with.” “What’s that?” Lisa, who’s about a half-foot taller than me, leaned down toward my ear. “I’m missing two diapers from my backpack,” Lisa whispered. “And you’re certain? When was the last time you checked?” “I had packed four, and I usually only change once or twice. But when I went to grab a clean one just now, there were only two left.” “No pull-ups?” I asked. “Can we not have that conversation here?” Lisa said, looking around at the crowded hallway. In here, I said, grabbing Lisa’s arm and pulling her aside into an empty classroom. “Yes, I’m taking a break from working on toilet training,” Lisa said, without turning to look at me. “It’s just been really stressful, and I couldn’t deal with the stress of trying to get to the toilet on time on top of everything else. But that’s not the point. The point is someone stole two of my diapers. “That doesn’t make any sense. Why anyone would take them?” I said. “Pretty much everyone at school already knows. And no one really has cared about it after the first week or so. Is it possible that you didn’t pack as many as you thought, or could they have fallen out of the backpack?” “No, I definitely put them in there this morning, and there isn’t any way they would have fallen out.” “So you definitely think someone took them?” “Yeah.” “That still doesn’t make any sense. Can’t see why someone would do that.” “Probably some freak who wears them for fun.” “People do that?” “People do everything, Sarah, but yeah, everything includes using diapers. Everyone at school knows that I have them in my backpack, so my bet is some weirdo grabbed them, though I can’t figure out when that could have happened.” I couldn’t think of any suggestions either, and I couldn’t get over the weird idea that someone would intentionally choose to wear diapers without any actual need for them. “We need to get going, or we’re going to be late to your uncle’s class,” I said, as I started to walk back out of the classroom. “Wait,” Lisa said, as I stepped toward the door. “I had a question about the sleepover.” “Yeah, what about it?” “So, like, what are we going to do at the sleepover?” I almost said something a little sarcastic back and then remembered that Lisa hadn’t ever had the opportunity to have a sleepover with friends before. So it was a fair question. “Well, I’m sure we can watch some movies, maybe even teach Samantha and Desi how to play some video games.” “That’s not what I meant. You’re going to tell them, right?” “Tell them what?” “You know what I mean. About your bedwetting.” Why did Lisa have to be bringing up this conversation now? “I can’t.” “Of course you can. Desi and Samantha already know about me, and they’ve never made it an issue.” “It’s too embarrassing.” “And having the whole school find out I wear diapers wasn’t?” “Lisa, I’m really sorry you had to go through that, but you know what that was like, so please don’t make me.” Lisa sighed. “Fine, but it would really just be easier if you told them than if they end up finding out because accident at some point.” The bell rang in the hallway again, signaling we needed to be at our next classes. “Don’t worry about me,” I told her. “The sleepover is going to be a blast.”

A Warning As with my previous stories, this one contains several elements inherent to the pre-established 'Diaper Dimension.' These include, but are not limited to: Diapers and their usage for their intended purpose Breastfeeding Non-consensual mental regression through various means (Including possible drugs, hypnosis, and/or surgery) References to surgery to achieve various nefarious goals Humiliation Giants, aka, Amazons or Bigs Predominantly female domination (some male) Babying of adults (perceived or otherwise) Experimentation on humans Kidnapping Coerced or manipulated actions through possible means of white lies, gas lighting, or incentives Mild language or use of explitives Depictions of death, illness, or handicaps Graphic imagery associated with any of these warnings This story has not been labeled as mature, due to a lack of specific references to anything overtly sexual, but this warning serves as a 'turn back' point for any readers who do not wish to read about the previous warnings. Lastly, this list is subject to change during the course of writing this story. While most of the plot is ironed out, more warnings may be added if needed. For those readers interested or do not care about the warnings listed, please enjoy the following story. So, this will be my next story set in the diaper dimension. I fully admit that I am not paralyzed myself, so I hope I do not offend anyone with this topic, but after tearing a muscle in my back this summer, I couldn't help but think of what I would bargain away to get rid of the pain or the problems that I was having. It seemed to good of an opportunity to pass up. If everything holds, this story will be divided into 6 parts, but all will be posted within this thread. If nothing goes wrong, I should have this completed before mid-October and I'll likley be picking up shortly after with a bit of a different story with magic and diapers and whatnot. It's not my usual fair, but I wanted to do something with Halloween in mind this go around. I hope everyone enjoys this first chapter! Part I: New Beginnings Chapter 1: Crashing Through Life The storm had been raging for the better part of the day, but Patrick had to be picked up from a friend’s party. He had run his truck into the ground and the engine likely needed to be fully replaced according to the auto body shop that had towed it away two days ago. He sighed and scoffed deeply as he entered his mom’s car, still frustrated over the fact that he couldn’t get a rental car until tomorrow and thus had to rely on her for transportation. Of course, Laura had noticed immediately and just let it go to maintain the peace between the two of them as usual. For the past two years their lives had touched briefly about every two weeks now in between visits. She didn’t like it, but she didn’t want to start another fight over it. About halfway through the drive back home, however, Laura turned onto a long stretch of road with only two lanes. It saved everyone who took it about an hour of driving, but it was a dangerous stretch that had claimed many lives. She had just gotten off her shift at the hospital so getting home as soon as possible after dropping her son off at his home was the main priority before her lack of sleep caught up to her. As a nurse, she knew very well the number of deadly crashes that had occurred here even in perfect weather. Patrick mumbled something under his breath. “Say something, honey?” Laura asked sweetly, trying to keep the spark alive with her ever-further distant son. Patrick shifted and just continued to stare out the window. “No…” Laura continued to stare at him with her tried and true facial expression that she had used on him since he was two years old. She didn’t say a word, but her well-crafted look said all it needed to. Patrick groaned. “Fine, mom. Geez! It’s just embarrassing to be picked up by my mom when I’m 25.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s fine. Just drop it…” It was now Laura’s turn to sigh. “You know how I hate that word…” “What? Fine?” Laura nodded. “It’s just a word, mom, and it’s just how I feel. I’m fine.” Laura sighed again. “I’m sorry you feel embarrassed sweetie, but your car is still in the shop getting repaired and your rental won’t be ready until tomorrow. You’re lucky my shift ended when it did, and I could pick you up. Something tells me that your other friends back there wouldn’t have been… uh, as safe.” Laura tiptoed around outright saying sober, but Patrick still caught on to her insinuation. “Yeah… maybe. But it was a party!” Patrick threw his hands up in the air. “We were celebrating Sam’s promotion at work!” “And that’s wonderful, dear. I just wish your fun would have been safer. I am your mother. It’s practically in the job description to worry about my only child.” Patrick rolled his eyes. “Yeah… it’s just my stupid car is all. Would have been fine otherwise.” Laura sighed. “Honey, I love you, but that car has been on its last legs for months now. Even as mechanically inept as I may be compared to your late father, even I could tell that. Sometimes I just wish…” Laura faded off. Patrick turned to her with an annoyed look, one that was continually adopted by him whenever they talked about his dad. “What?” Laura shook her head and gave a small shake of her hand to wave him off the subject, before quickly snapping it back to the shaky wheel from the elements outside. “What?” Patrick pressed again. Laura sighed. “It’s just that…” She paused and took her eyes off the road for a second to reflect on her next words. Lightning crashed all around the two and the rain seemed to only pepper their car further. The only positive was that with all the bends in the road, both could see the exit off in the distance whenever the lightning would light up the sky. Having taken the road before in more favorable conditions, ten more minutes and they would be off this stretch and nearly home. “I just wish you were a little… less carefree.” Patrick groaned. “Sorry I’m not some corporate shill like all my other friends,” Patrick said with a deep undertone of sarcasm. Laura winced at the implication. She wanted the best for her son, but she also wanted him to be happy, a fact which couldn’t necessarily be said about his other friends who had pursued careers for money instead of what they enjoyed. “You know that’s not what I want for you, I just… you’re so darn talented. You could do so much…” Laura said wistfully. “You know how much I admired you for not becoming an engineer, doctor, or lawyer like half the block. I mean look at them all now. Out of the ten friends you grew up with from there, seven went on to have one of those three jobs. Now, only two of them have still stuck with it.” Laura let out and exaggerated breath. “I want you to follow your passions, but I just wish that you would pursue them a little more…” “It’s my life, mom. I don’t want to burn out like all the rest. Can’t you understand that?” Patrick’s eyes pleaded out with his mom. He wasn’t poor or anything, but no one could consider him wealthy either. He had tried engineering for a while, but after an intense argument one fall semester, Patrick had changed his major to art. Currently, he worked for an ad agency, but he was still the low man on the totem pole. Laura saw the desperation in her son’s eyes. She knew he had the potential to do well, but two years at the bottom of a company was long enough. Something had to be done. “I do, honey. I just wish…” “Yeah, yeah. You just want me to work a little harder. Work for my position and all that... It’s a nice sentiment and I’m trying sometimes but there’s more to it.” Patrick paused and looked at the ground for a brief second to gather his willpower to continue this conversation. Once collected, he shifted his head back up to meet his mom’s turned and loving gaze. “I… Mom! Look out!” Patrick quickly reached for the wheel to turn out of the path of the oncoming tractor trailer as his mom tried to react to it as well. It was too late though. The large vehicle had slipped out of its own lane and was coming right for them. In a second, the two cars collided with a sickening crunch. All at once the world lurched forward as glass and metal spewed in all directions. Two large pieces came hurdling toward him and his mom. * * * “No!” Patrick bolted upright in bed. He was soaked in sweat and his breathing was labored. Per his old therapist’s recommendation, Patrick looked around the room to steady himself by using his five senses. It took a minute to complete properly, but it really did help, and he once again thanked the universe for lining him up with her after the crash. He looked around the room and shook his head. “Five years… where has the time gone?” Patrick glanced over at his small, old alarm clock and saw that it was 8:06 in the morning. He groaned audibly. “I was hoping to sleep in today, but there’s no point now. Just got to get on with things…” Patrick adjusted himself in his bed, and after many years of practice by now, with a grunt, he was able to swing his legs over and to the side of the bed. Some people had massive cramps in the morning with his condition, but not Patrick. With a large sigh, he collected his wheelchair and then hoisted himself into it. It was black and lower to the ground without any handles in the rear for him to be pushed by someone else, as requested. He lived alone and dealt with all this by himself. It sucked most days at this point, but that was just life after the accident and his ensuing paralysis. His suffering was part of his self-enforced punishment for what had happened. The accident had done many things, but Patrick had fractured his L1 through L3 vertebrate. It caused a lot of issues initially, but the most apparent were what he had to deal with in the morning ever since he had managed it himself since that night. With a groggy sigh, Patrick wheeled himself over to the bathroom to relieve himself. Due to the nature of his injury and his doctor’s plan, it was discovered that enemas and intermittent catheterization were the best policies to avoid any accidents or blockages. Patrick had been a private person about most of that stuff before but now, he knew that he just needed relief. Personal happiness or feelings of modesty had to be placed aside occasionally to ensure nothing got worse. He collected the necessary materials and winced as he prepared himself for the now daily ordeal. The incident that had occurred two years ago when he had to be hospitalized over a blockage then was a painful reminder to just set one’s ego aside and get this whole thing over with. Positioning himself correctly, Patrick applied the apparatuses to relieve himself. It was darn frustrating to do this every morning, but he knew that it needed to be done. About twenty minutes or relief and cleanup later, Patrick wheeled himself out of the bathroom after washing himself off and removing the catheter. “One day I might get used to this… maybe…” Patrick sighed and then rolled himself over to his easily accessible dresser. With some careful maneuvering, he quickly popped out a pair of jeans and a nice polo shirt. Today was a special day and he didn’t want to look like a complete bum. His beard had already grown out and he knew his mom would have disliked how it framed his previously gushed-at round and rosy cheeks. Satisfied with his appearance and groaning after finally getting his shoes on with a little manipulation, Patrick rolled out to the kitchen. After a quick spot of cereal later and the popping of some pills, he was out the door with his usual backpack attached to the rear of his chair. It had everything he would need for the day, and he at least had the common sense to pack it the night before in case it was one of the ‘bad’ mornings. Closing his door, Patrick looked distastefully at the view before him. His apartment was decent but was by no means the fanciest in town. Sparse furniture and minimal wall decorations all desperately noted his still-single status and overall depression. Dating was tough in this town, but the accident or its consequences always seemed to weigh too heavily on his mind to make a real effort to even contemplate a change. Regardless, Patrick then locked his door and rolled down the hallway and to the small elevator at the end. A few neighbors acknowledged him as he wheeled by on the creaking laminate flooring in the hallway, but none made the effort to give him a full ‘hello.’ Patrick had given up on trying to be friendly a year after he moved in here. It was just too much effort for too little of results. On the ground floor and right before he exited the apartment building, Mr. Stacci bumbled out of his front door. “You! Patrick!” Patrick halted and pivoted his wheelchair back to face his odious landlord. “Yes, Mr. Stacci?” he asked as politely as he could. Rent control still wasn’t in place around here and Mr. Stacci was highly known for charging more toward those he disliked. “Rent is due. Pay it in the next day or you’re out!” His breath wasn’t necessarily foul, but if this was a cartoon, a green and noxious odor would have likely spewed out of his chubby and tiny head and all over Patrick as he lumbered over to him. “Yes… right…” Patrick acknowledged. He had the money thanks to some family funds but keeping track of time always felt hard these days. He kept a calendar on his phone, but it remained an issue of his since the accident. “You’ll get the money on time. Promise.” “Good.” The heavily obese and balding man huffed by the front entrance but then squinted his dark and beady eyes. “You know I’m a man of my word. Money tomorrow or you’re out.” Patrick just nodded solemnly, hoping the encounter would end soon. Fortunately for his sense of smell though, Mr. Stacci seemed satisfied and turned about and crept back into his own first floor apartment. A few of the old pictures on the wall briefly rattled as his door slammed close. Patrick sighed at the encounter, made a mental note of the rent while checking his phone calendar, and then made it outside and to the nearby bus stop. He lived in the city and cars just gave him a bit of anxiety now, so the bus system or newly installed public transportation monorail were good enough and had at least become more reliable since the influx of technology in the past two decades. The bus soon halted and lowered its platform device for Patrick to get on board. A few stared as he locked himself into position, but Patrick just ignored them as he usually did by now. It had become routine and Freddy, the bus driver, just gave a nod of his head when Patrick signaled that he was ready. The two rarely spoke, but Freddy had trusted him enough to let him lock himself in by now. It was no secret to anyone that even slightly knew him that Patrick still liked his independence. About thirty minutes after a bumpy and uncomfortable ride later, Freddy announced, “Seventh Street! Seventh Street!” With all the automation in technology, Freddy appreciated the warmth of the personal announcement that he would give out on his bus. Plus, his booming yet gentle voice usually woke anyone up who had fallen asleep and would prevent them from missing their stop. At the current seventh street, Patrick made no motion to Freddy to stop, but he did anyway only meters away from turning into the bust stop. Patrick had taken this route several times before, so Freddy only maneuvered the controls to let Patrick off near the curb. Satisfied after Patrick had made it off, Freddy closed the doors and leaned back in his seat. Soon, the bus was huffing away down the hilly road to the east and eventually out of sight. Patrick sighed at the loneliness of seventh street but then wheeled himself a block to the west and halted before looking up at the large sign above him, ‘Grace and Prosperity Cemetery.’ Patrick blinked back the tears that always seemed to form when he entered here and fervently hoped that one day that might stop. Still, today was more important, and after purchasing a bouquet of flowers from a nearby vendor, he pushed forward more in the cemetery and finally made it to a small plot of land perched on a hill looking over the growing and buzzing city in the near distance. The grave was large and had been purchased years ago by his father. The black granite was practically a mirror to all else that went on around it, but the intricately carved white lettering provided a nice contrast that his parents both appreciated when they were selecting it together. When his father passed away suddenly, his mom and him both found the site a bit depressing but still elegant and regal. Today wasn’t any different. “Happy Birthday, mom.” The accident had taken away more than the majority of feeling from Patrick’s waist down; it had also taken his mom’s life. The storm had caused a delay in rescue and treatment which led to his mom bleeding out more than the doctors could repair as well as the deadening of his nerves in his spine. The distant city shone against the cloudy atmosphere of the day and stood as a symbol of all the change that the world had undergone after discovering portal technology. Trade agreements with the Amazons, or how they liked to be called, Bigs, had fixed so many of the world’s previous and seemingly insurmountable problems. Pollution was quickly becoming a distant memory and most citizens of the world had enough food and power to at least be satisfied, if not comfortable. Even medical treatments had started to advance, but like all things, they had come with a price and had their limits. Now, his mom might have been saved, but even a few years ago, well… the grave was evidence enough of the technology not arriving in time to save her life. Patrick fumbled around in his backpack and pulled out an old silver flask. His dad had given it to him when he had turned 18, much to the chagrin of his mom, but it was a nice reminder of better times. “Cheers, you two.” Patrick toasted the stark gravestone etched with his parents’ names and then took a swig of the whiskey he had poured into the flask last night when he had packed his backpack. “I hope you all don’t judge me for this…” he said, gesturing to the flask. “I know the doctors advise me not to drink with my medication, but… I’m sure if you all can hear or see me now… you would get it.” Patrick took another swig and casually glanced around to see if anyone was watching him. They likely wouldn’t care, but he still didn’t want to be watched in pity. He still had some standards to maintain… Another hill over, Patrick could see a family gathering around another gravestone. Their heads were all hung low, but each held each other’s hand tightly. It wasn’t the first time, but the loneliness of it all could still be felt just as keenly as when he first realized he was now all alone. “Honestly, a sibling, an aunt or uncle… someone would be nice by now. Can’t blame you all, but ugh… I just miss you all… so friggin lonely around here these days.” He took another swig and winced a little as a few more drops went down his throat than were intended. It burned but on days like this, feeling the burn almost felt good. Given his current predicament, the burn was at least something. He was already numb in so many other ways, so even the sting in the back of his throat was a reminder that he was still above ground, unlike most of the people here today. Patrick then laid the small bundle of flowers he had purchased on top of the grave and gave another toast with his flask. “Cheers to you all. Sorry to be the downer and all… but if I hadn’t… I only wish… I would have done that night very differently…” Patrick blinked back an errant tear. It wasn’t the first time he apologized or felt guilty when coming here. While his inheritance and disability let him live a comfortable life, the guilt that plagued him after that night with his mom was nearly intolerable. To say the least, there had been several low points in the five years since the accident. Patrick wiped his face and then gave one more cheer and a long sip of his flask before rolling back out of the cemetery. Staying longer wouldn’t do anyone any good and would just give him more ammo of feelings of guilt later tonight. He had figured that out the hard way three years ago when he had stayed until dark. Rolling down the block, Patrick briefly stopped at the bus stop where he had originally got off and he knew from experience that Frank would be here within the next thirty minutes, but today was different. From his position at the top of the hill, he could see a small corner bar. Knowing the drinks were strong and cheap from other times he had visited and then deviated from going straight home, he knew that it felt like just what he needed today. The neighborhood was in a failing state of what once was in society and the city. Some areas had been refurbished around the world that once looked like this, but the portal industry had changed this area for the worse. A new city center was established to the west and the original neighborhood had been left in ruin. A large and shining billboard clearly indicated the decrepitude of the chipped paint and broken brickwork buildings was not to last and soon, the new industries would be here as well. Likely, in a year, the bar now in front of him would no longer be here. “Progress…” Patrick popped some more pills before shaking his head and then wheeling himself inside. After a single beer with his sandwich, Patrick leaned back in his wheelchair and observed the patrons around him in the aging sports bar. It was still slow, but at least five people had already stared at him from their own positions at the bar or at a nearby table. He picked the corner spot to avoid more attention being drawn to him as usual, but in a place like this, someone like him tended to stick out no matter what they did. Patrick was paying more attention to his sandwich when one of the patrons started speaking loudly and caught his attention. “…stupid Amazons… All of dem are stupid… Isn’ dat wigh… right, Bill?” The man was obviously intoxicated, and the bar counter seemed to be one of the few obstacles that stood in the man’s way from completely collapsing. “Sure, Sam…” the bartender acknowledged but also partially dismissed of the patron. From his face, Patrick could see that it wasn’t the first time that this had happened with the local drunk. “Stupid tall fascists came here with all their… fancy technology…” He leaned more heavily into the bar. “I had a good job, Frank… Coal power plant.” He hiccupped. “Hippies hated us… but it was a good job!” “Good job. Right, Sam…” He polished another glass and nodded his head. “Then they came in… with the government and all. It was such a happy day.” The man took another swig from his drink. Patrick couldn’t tell what was in it. “You remember that, Frank?” Frank sighed. “I do, Sam…” Patrick did as well. Most people alive back then did too. Patrick was only five, but even at that young of an age, it wasn’t every day that a race of beings comes from a different dimension and offers your world a treaty that would only seem to solve everyone’s problems. “Yeah! Had a mass on my liver. Hardening even back then, and boom! Gone in a day!” He then got a smug look on his face. “Iss why I can drink all… this,” he gestured to his quickly draining drink. “Can’t kill me anymore!” Patrick stared at the local drunk and couldn’t help but notice almost the sad hint in his voice. He had obviously lost his job when the fusion reactors outside of town had popped on. It was free energy and the Amazons had offered job training, but the more stubborn or set-in-their-ways folks had elected for unemployment instead. ‘Idiots…’ Patrick’s father had eagerly signed up for the training. Built his own business from what he learned in the new offered classes by the new beings and then sold it for a nice chunk of change. Their small family would be financially set for years to come, but almost like a curse from that windfall of money, after only a year of joy, the next six had then claimed both his parents. “Alright… I think you’ve had enough for the day, Sam… let me call you a ride.” Frank quickly tapped on a nearby touch pad and instantly sent for a ride service to pick Sam up. It was simple and convenient and now, most just accepted the service after it was practically fully funded by the city once true unemployment and homelessness had almost been eliminated. It was a good life… ‘Too bad it was all too late for my family though...’ Patrick continued to sit in the bar for the next four hours. The light began to dim outside, and Patrick had relieved himself in the bathroom twice already with his mobile and disposable catheter products. Each had cleared his head a bit, but once he had switched to the harder stuff beyond beer an hour ago, his inebriation only seemed to take a life on its own. By the time it was night out, Patrick was feeling everything, and his inhibitions were fully lowered. The sadness of the day had been briefly put on hold. For a minute, he could almost imagine himself back with his friends before the accident if he just shut his eyes. Then, a very beautiful and leggy redhead sauntered into the bar from outside and sat at the steadily crowded bar. She was alone and many looked at her with longing looks of their own after her stunning entrance. After three guys struck out, Patrick decided to try his luck and wheeled as smoothly as he could right over to her. With a breath, he spoke in the voice he used to use to pick up women before. It had a bit of a swagger to it, but it practically breathed confidence and sincerity. “Hey there, red. I’m Patrick. Mind if I ask what’s your name?” The woman swung around to meet the gaze of the voice next to her, but after a moment of seeming confusion, her eyes dropped to the figure beneath her. After a moment of looking unsure of what to do next, she finally spoke. “Oh… uh, Mary.” “Good to meet you…” He hiccupped and could feel the stronger effects taking over. He had to push forward, but this bravado probably wouldn’t last long. “Uh… sorry, Mary. You live around here?” Not having dated for a while now, his social skills weren’t as refined as they used to be, but he still had a smidge of confidence about him. His fifth whiskey on the rocks had helped with that. Mary looked at the man below her with the same sense of loss and almost pity that Patrick had come to expect. “Yeah… but um, I’m…” “You here by yourself?” Patrick blurted out. His heart had fallen a bit at the looks she was giving him, but he had to push his luck. Mary grimaced a bit over the suddenness of the question. “Umm… yeah, but look, uh…?” “Patrick…” he said, starting to sound a little deflated at the notion of her not remembering his name already. “Right… look.” She sighed. “You seem nice and all…” Patrick could feel his drunkenly inflated hopes start to quickly fade. “But I have a boyfriend…” Patrick groaned. This was headed for failure anyway, so he decided to push his luck further. In times like these, inhibitions might have been a good thing. “Right… do you though?” he questioned. The words had just slipped out and Patrick could immediately tell that Mary wasn’t prepared for them. After her initial shock of his rudeness, her eyes squinted in annoyance. “Well, if you really must know, then no. I don’t have a boyfriend.” Her eyes narrowed further, and her voice started to rise. “I was actually just trying to protect your feelings at a rejection, but I suppose that doesn’t matter.” Patrick started to shrink away in embarrassment. Many of the growing number of patrons in the bar began to look in pity over the developing event before them. Mary seemed to notice as well and took a moment to collect her feelings. “Look, you seem nice and all… probably… but you’re drunk, and you just seem… you look like you could use a shave and maybe a haircut.” She sighed. “Maybe in another life, but not this one and certainly not today. Understand?” “Yeah… okay…” Patrick’s drunken revelry and confidence was no more. With all the dignity he could scrounge left, he quickly downed a few more rounds back at his old table, but after a few stares from those around him, however, he felt that his welcome here had passed. Subsequently, he rapidly paid for his food and drinks and exited without another word to anyone or even a glance back to the woman who had turned his advances away. The still-seated Mary and the others stared back in sympathy over the figure they saw exiting the front door, but Patrick was too entombed in his own self-pity that he didn’t notice. He didn’t even hear Frank call after him to get a ride back like he had done with Sam earlier. Once outside, Patrick rolled on through the streets. The neighborhood was still a bit of a relic and leftover from the old days of the city, and no time like the night was this more evident. Many of the lights were still their old energy sucking and dimly lit versions, which were barely able to keep even the streets below them properly lit. As such, there were many alleyways and dark corners. Gangs and drug deals were rampant in certain spots and Patrick actively avoided them at all costs. Once completely out of view of the bar and a few wandering people on the streets, Patrick began to curse himself as he made his way back home. “Stupid, stupid, stupid! Damn alcohol!” he cursed out loud. “Why would someone like that even talk with someone like me? Who am I but a lowly failure?” He paused his wheelchair in front of a partially cracked window that barely showed his passing reflection. “Fitting,” he huffed as he looked back at his own image. “Fading away and cracked down the middle…” He shook his head in disgust and wheeled onward. While his confidence from alcohol had seemingly evaporated, his overall drunken state still hadn’t. “Stupid accident… stupid party! If I had just stayed over or found my own ride, she would still be alive! Stupid! Stupid!” Patrick took another round of pills and then rolled his wheelchair down a particularly uneven sidewalk toward one of the distant bus stops. The dim lighting and his drunken state were too much though, and he missed a large crack in the sidewalk until his front wheel got caught in it. “Oh shit!” Patrick cried out when he realized the predicament that he had just gotten himself into. Unfortunately, no one was around to help him out so he tried as best he could to dislodge himself. It was no use, but he stubbornly persisted. It proved to be too much however, and his chair tipped over to the side after one of the larger lurches. “Ah! Damn it!” The wheelchair fell on the ground and Patrick sputtered out in front of it, landing with a dull thud on his head on a piece of the upturned sidewalk. In pain, disoriented, and still very drunk, Patrick looked about him for any signs of anyone that could help. Being a part of the old city that most were no longer frequenting, he reaffirmed that he was all alone. Now, Patrick had been diligent about his intermittent catheterization at the bar. It was mighty uncomfortable at times, but he had a routine. With his mild rejection and drunken state though, he had neglected to empty his bladder before he left. As such, the impact of the fall had caused the damn to burst, but Patrick still hadn’t noticed… until now as the urine encroached on his stomach. “Shit… did I fall in a puddle?” His head throbbed and his vision was becoming blurrier by the minute, but he quickly cocked his head down just to see the damage. To his horror though, all he saw was a wet spot emanating from his crotch and lower portion of his shirt. “Unbelievable…” Normally, he would have shaken it off and just gone home. He had a change of clothes in his still attached and nearby backpack, but the bump on his head and his inebriation were proving too much for his body to handle. Darkness began to overtake him and the last thing he saw was a pair of flashing lights and then a large white truck pulled up with ‘Oasis Opportunities’ plastered over the side. He could hear some distant shouting and the sound of footsteps, but he soon slipped out of consciousness and into a world of only darkness.

before the story starts, this is a spin off of my story Tinny Intruder. it was originally written for "the little theif" but since i no longer want to be a part of that, i had to delete the original and edit it slightly. this story was written by Redwelch and given to me when he stooped writing. as such it is my story to do with as i like. this story is a short 3 parts. but will tie into the last chapter of Tinny intruder and its sequel. Preas is a genetic disorder that seemingly stops a person's body from maturing. Some see it as a gift, always looking young. Some see it as a curse, rarely looking older than 12 at best and 6 at worst. No one really knows when or why Preass first appeared. Genetic mutations? God? Who knows. As a Preas, you'll typically have a few problems. The biggest problem is weak bladders, meaning most Preas wear diapers or pull-ups for protection. Because of their appearance and disability, Preas are forced to have many troubles. A Preas cannot order or buy alcohol despite having an ID. While they are allowed to drink in the privacy of their own home, they just can't buy it, The main reason is that kids would make fake IDs and try to buy alcohol. Many other minor problems like that exist, and many Preas don't know what to do with themselves. Some even have mental shutdowns and never grow up. But for one Prea, she wasn't like that. When Zoeandra was 5, she learned she had Preas and would never look older than 6. At ten, she researched Preas and all of their problems. It was here that she decided to devote herself to helping Preas. But how? Zoeandra not only studied but also worked very hard to save money. By 18, she got a small loan and started her Preas supply company. A company that makes all types of supplies for Preas. From better and more absorbent diapers to custom wardrobes that aren't from a kid's section of a story and are sold at an affordable price. By 25, she had greatly expanded her company and became number one in Preas merchandising. By 32, she had expanded to more parts of the world. "WILDA!" Zoeandra screamed from her office as she looked through her paperwork. "Yes, ma'am?" Wilda, a tall, busty woman with brunette hair, asked as she walked into the office. Wilda was Zoeandra's 12th secretary. As Zoeandra's secretary, besides regular office work, you must also help care for any of Zoeandra's particular needs. Such as driving her to and from work, changing Zoeandra's diaper, and sometimes having to calm Zoeandra down when she gets overly stressed out and starts lashing out. Of all the secretaries, Zoeandra had 3 quit because they couldn't handle the diaper changes. 3 were fired because they were constantly late to pick her up for work, 2 quit because they couldn't bear the responsibility, and 1 was fired because they tried to find something to blackmail Zoeandra with but failed. Two were really good and were with Zoeandra for a few years before Zoeandra prompted them to run one of her companies. But Wilda was different. She was with Zoeandra for the last five years and has gone beyond what was called for. Wilda arrived early to pick up Zoeandra from her home every day. Sometimes even coming in to make breakfast for Zoeandra before bringing her to work. She always made sure to map out a schedule for Zoeandra so that she was always on time and had lunch on time. Sometimes, making Zoeandra a homemade lunch. Zoeandra had to admit she loved Wilda's homemade chicken strips. When Zoeandra would get overly stressed, Wilda knew what to say or do to calm her down. Only once, two years ago, Zoeandra had a massive tantrum. One were she was threatening to fire everyone, which caused Wilda to force Zoeandra over her lap for a spanking before sticking her nose in the corner for a timeout. 30 minutes later, Zoeandra had calmed down and apologized to Wilda for how she was acting. But threatened to fire her if she ever spanked her again. Finally, the big thing Zoeandra loves about Wilda is that she always takes care of her. Somedays, Zoeandra would be so swamped with work that she would stay extra hours and tell her old secretaries to go home and call a cab. She worked so late on those nights that she slept in her office. But with Wilda, when Zoeandra told her that, she clocked out and waited for Zoeandra to finish her work before taking the small woman home. On days like that, Zoeandra would be so exhausted that Wilda would take her inside and put her to bed at first. Then, she eventually started ensuring Zoeandra ate something, showered, and was put to bed. As soon as Zoeandra found out Wilda had done that on her own time, Zoeandra tried to promote her right then. But she turned it down. "If I were to leave, who would care for you when you need it?" Wilda asked. So instead, Zoeandra offered to make Wilda her personal assistant who would help her with anything she needed at work and out and offered an excellent wage. And despite the occasional slip where Wilda would slightly baby Zoeandra, she was very respectful to Zoeandra. "WILDA! Where is document 3327!?" Zoeandra yelled as she frantically searched her desk for the document. Wilda didn't say anything as she walked beside the desk, lifted a piece of paper that fell to the floor, and set it on the desk. "T-thank you," Zoeandra said as she looked at the paper and started to sign it. While leaning forward, Wilda went behind her boss and pulled the back of her diaper to check her. "Wilda!" Zoeandra yelled and blushed as she was checked. "Zoeandra, how long have you been in a dirty diaper?" Wilda asked her boss with no reaction. When Zoeandra gets focused on her work, she forgets her diaper and could be messy for hours without knowing. Zoeandra just blushed and turned away from Wilda. So Wilda picked up Zoeandra and laid her on the changing table in the office. "How much work do you have left?" Wilda asked as she removed the diaper and started cleaning the mess. "I'm almost done. Just need another 20 minutes." Zoeandra told her as she let Wilda do her job. "Good, because this weekend is your "Relax" weekend," Wilda told Zoeandra, who couldn't help but smile as the new diaper was taped on. As soon as she sat back at her desk, Zoeandra quickly finished her work in 12 minutes to get out as soon as possible. As Zoeandra and Wilda walked through the company, most greeted her with the utmost respect she deserved. Some even approach their little boss and ask for advice or help. "Hey boss, how many Preass does it take to screw in a light bulb?" one of her employees asked as Zoeandra walked past. "none. We cry until someone does it for us." Zoeandra finished the joke. This was the type of environment Zoeandra had wanted for her company. One where everyone joked and respected one another. Were anyone could make a simple joke without offending someone. And where people were reworded not on what they looked like but their work ethic. But as Wilda opened the back door to her car for Zoeandra to walk into, she also knew there was more to her company than the happy parts. As Wilda began to drive, Zoeandra grabbed her black "special" bag she had Wilda hold onto. Inside was everything she needed for her weekend. Owning a big company has been one of the most stressful things in Zoeandra's life. Hence, she needed someone constantly around for the times it just gets too much, and Zoeandra starts freaking out and needs someone to calm her down. But it is not enough even with Wilda and all the help she gives Zoeandra. Zoeandra needed something to help relieve her stress. Something that didn't involve alcohol or expensive spa weekends. But Zoeandra couldn't think of anything until Wilda suggested something two years ago. As Wilda pulled up to a nice-sized apartment building, she got out and opened the back door of her car. "You ready, sweetheart?" Wilda asked. "Yes, mommy!" Zoey cheered as a little girl in a bright yellow sundress, and pigtails exited the car with her Princess backpack. As Zoey took Mommy's hand, they walked to the door and knocked. A few moments later, a young man about 19 came over and opened the door. "BIG BROTHER!" Zoey yelled as she rushed over and hugged the boy's leg. "HEY ZOEY!" the boy said happily as he picked up the small girl and gave her a hug. "You ready for this weekend?" "YA!" Zoey cheered, and Wilda giggled. "Remember, she needs a nap here soon," Wilda told her nephew. "And don't go overboard on the snacks this time." "AWWWW!" Zoey pouted upon hearing that but giggled as Wilda kissed her cheek. "You be good now, you hear?" Wilda told Zoey before giving her nephew a kiss as well. "You too, I'll return to pick her up on Monday. Ok, Danny?" "Don't worry, she's in good hands," Danny told his aunt. "Bye! Love you!" Zoey yelled as she waved goodbye to Wilda before she was brought inside. Two years ago, Zoeandra had to throw a big dinner party for people who would possibly work with her company. But some complications happened at Zoeandra's house, so she couldn't hold it there, and no restraint could squeeze them in on short notice. Thankfully, Wilda offered her home for the night, and the party went off without a hitch. But Zoeandra soon found herself bored as most of the conversations were about work, and many of the guests tended to talk with each other. Because of Zoeandra's size, most forgot she was even there. So, bored out of her mind, she decided to look around Wilda's house. It was a lovely house; this was the first time Zoeandra had been there despite knowing Wilda for years. Zoeandra noticed a slightly opened door with stairs leading down and strange noises from below. Zoeandra was curious and went down. That's when she met Danny for the first time. "Oh, didn't know someone was bringing a kid here," Danny said, not knowing who Zoeandra was. "Is it getting boring up there?" He was 17 and sitting on his bed playing video games. His aunt asked him to stay down here while the party was happening. His aunt already got him a pizza and snacks to keep him occupied while the party was upstairs. "Would you like to have a turn?" Danny offered his controller to Zoeandra. Zoeandra took the controller and thought, why not. Play a game for a few minutes, then return to the party. Wilda went looking for her boss 20 minutes later to find her eating a slice of pizza and yelling at Danny to do something on the game before cheering as they beat a level. Wilda couldn't help but smile as she knew Zoeandra hadn't had fun upstairs and didn't mind letting her boss stay down there with her nephew to have some fun. Wilda even returned and gave Zoeandra a sippy cup of juice before returning and dealing with the party. No one else seemed to notice Zoeandra was gone, and as everyone left around 11, Wilda went back to check on her nephew and boss. Her son was still playing his game at a quieter volume while Zoeandra was passed out on his lap. "Hi, Aunt Wilda. Are her parents picking her up?" Danny quietly asked as he helped his aunt lift the sleeping girl up. "No, she's going to stay the night here with us," Wilda whispered. "Why?" "She's my boss," Wilda told her nephew with a small smile as Zoeandra stuck her thumb into her mouth and started sucking on it. Zoeandra woke up the following day wearing one of Wilda's smaller t-shirts as a nightshirt in a guest room. Beside her were her clothes from the night before, already cleaned and folded by the bed. When Zoeandra saw Wilda, Wilda asked how her night was. "That was probably the best night's sleep I've had in a long time," Zoeandra told her. Upon hearing that, Wilda asked her boss if she would like to make a new business deal. Zoeandra didn't want a "mommy" or "daddy." No one would ever replace her real ones. She was only okay with a caregiver because she was still paying for them. And each one had to show Zoeandra with at least a decent form of respect. But after that night, Wilda figured out the best way for Zoeandra to relax was to turn off her Adult side and not worry about anything. But if she didn't want a mommy or daddy to look after her, what could she use to help? Why not a big brother? Danny was already about to start college, and his part-time job sucked. Wilda was worried her nephew wouldn't be able to concentrate on his school work and have his part-time job that gave him crazy hours. So Wilda offered Zoeandra and Danny a beneficial business relationship. Danny would be Zoeandra's "big brother" every other weekend for a set amount of money. Here, she could play, be a kid, and relax for two and a half days. At the same time, Danny got paid and could focus on his schooling. At first, neither liked the idea. It just seemed too weird. But after a while, it just clicked for them, and it became a natural thing. Every other weekend, Zoeandra would become Zoey and stay with her "big brother." "Ok, Zoey, you ready for your nap?" Danny asked as he walked into the living room. "NO!" Zoey yelled, not wanting a nap yet. She wasn't even sleepy yet! "Are you sure?" Danny asked. "Ya! I don't want to nap!" Zoey told him. Danny knew just what to do. "Then why not a story real quick? Then we can play some games." Danny offered. "Ok!" Zoey told him. She really did enjoy being read, too. Still carrying Zoey, Danny grabbed a book and sat on his couch as Zoey nestled right in to enjoy the book. Danny turned on some lullaby music before he started to read the book. Zoey was none the wiser as she slowly started to nod off from the music and story. Soon she was asleep in Danny's lab, covered up and sucking on a pacifier while Danny got on his laptop and worked on a school project. About an hour and a half later, Danny gently shook Zoey up. "Hi, sleepy head. How was your nap?" Danny asked. "Cood," Zoey said behind her pacifier as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Danny lifted her up and took her into the kitchen, where he sat her on a booster seat and got her a snack. After having some chocolate pudding and making a little mess on her face that Danny had to clean up, it was time to play. Zoey had her own toy box, where she got a few toys. But many were stuff Danny and Wilda had gotten her to play with. But what Zoey liked was to play on Danny's PlayStation. She loved playing Persona 5 and Kingdom Hearts 2. Or just sitting next to Danny as he played one of his games and just watched. This time, she watched him play a game about giant robots fighting each other. Gundam Braker, something or other... After 2 hours, Danny made a simple mac and cheese dinner with hotdogs before checking Zoey's diaper. She was very wet. "Zoey, why didn't you tell me you were wet?" Danny asked. Zoey just blushed and looked ashamed. She was having fun and didn't notice. "I sowey," Zoey told him. Danny just signed. "It's ok. At least it's time for a bath now," Danny told her. Hearing this made Zoey's eyes light up. She lived bath time! Dan didn't need to say more as Zoey was already getting undressed and bouncing excitedly for her bath. Dan laughed as he started the bath and added some bubbles to it. The tub wasn't even full when Zoey jumped in and splashed Dan. HEY!" Dan yelled playfully as he splashed her back. Zoeandra didn't have a tub at her house, just a shower (specially made for her), so she never understood how fun a bath was. That is until Zoey's first bath, where she could play in the water with her toys. Part of her wanted to get her own bath for her house but decided against it as it would take away from the magical feel of coming here. Dan helped get Zoey clean before he rinsed her off and let her play in the water for a while. When it was time to get out, Dan had to forcefully drain the lukewarm water to get her out, much to her pouty displeasure. Next came the thick nighttime diaper and pink bunny footie pajamas. Zoey giggled as she hopped around in her bunny outfit and played for another hour before it was time for bed. Dany cradled the little girl in his arms on the couch while one hand held a bottle of warm milk and the other a book. This time, Zoey managed to stay awake through the book and bottle, but her eyes were very heavy. "You sleepy?" Dan asked. "nowww." Zoey slurred sleepily as she rubbed her eyes, trying to stay awake. Dan picked her up and patted her back as he walked her into his bedroom. Zoeandra had to use a special crib because she rolled around in her sleep so much, but Zoey didn't have a crib here. His apartment was too small for one. As Zoey let out a burp, Dan placed the little girl on his bed by the side of the wall and put a long pillow between her and him. Dan was a little worried at first about sharing a bed with her, but after some time, they both liked it, and Dan found it cute some mornings when he would wake up to Zoey hugging him in her sleep as she rolled over the pillow. As Dan got into bed, he gave Zoey a good night kiss on her head. "Good night, baby sis," Danny said as he turned out the light. “Coo mifh bwig bworfer!” Zoey told him, “I wove u.”

Time for another one-shot story while I try to figure out which story to continue working on. (Yes, I have more than one story competing for space in my head.) This one was written for a contest where, if I remember correctly, the theme was "The first time". ---------------------------- Normal "I still don't see why we couldn't just take a plane?" Tamsin looked out of the window at the melting snow and slushy puddles covering the endless flat fields. "I mean, we could be sitting on a balcony, having drinks in the warm evening breeze. Instead, we're driving through flat, boring, featureless, snowy, boring fields." "You said boring twice." Stefan sipped his coffee and put his travel mug back in the cup-holder on the inside of the door. "I know. That's how boring they are. And the perfectly straight roads as well? Everything's looked the same for hours now. It's like we haven't moved at all. Are you sure we're not going in circles?" "God Tammy, sometimes you really sound like a five-year-old. 'Are we there yet? Are we there yet?'" "Yeah, well, who goes on a cross-country road trip in February?" "Come on. We've been stuck inside for two years. It'll be good to just see new faces. Besides, you've seen the videos of people going apeshit on planes." "Statistically speaking, those morons are rare. And we would see plenty of new faces in New Orleans. Especially if we had several extra days that we didn't have to spend driving there all the way from Mississauga. I think you just like to drive." "Remind me again, how does scissors beat rock? Are they some kind of unbreakable super-scissors?" Tamsin grunted and turned to look out the window again. "And you call me childish." Another minute or so passed, then Stefan put a hand on Tamsin's knee and slowly slid it up her thigh. "It's only two days babe," he said conciliatorily . "We'll still have plenty of time before the Mardi Gras parades." He tugged Tamsin's t-shirt out of the waistband of her pants and slipped his hand under it. "Are you that eager to flash your boobs for beads?" Tamsin smacked Stefan's wrist. "Eyes on the road Tit Boy." "Ooh, that's definitely my new superhero name." Tamsin gave an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes. She reached for the GPS and pinched the map to zoom out. The map stayed the same. A single, perfectly straight road. She checked the directions. The next item on the list was a left turn in 62 miles. "Please tell me you're not planning on driving through the night." Stefan shook his head. "Nah. I pulled an all-nighter last night so I'm already dead tired. I figure the next motel we see, we'll stop for the night. That sound OK with you?" "Yeah," Tamsin said, somewhat mollified at the prospect of any change from the non-changing scenery outside the window. She wanted to lie down. She wanted a bathroom that didn't look like a crime scene or had a hubcap hanging from the key. And most of all, she wanted decent wifi or mobile coverage so she could watch a movie or two. She pulled out her phone and opened the map, zooming out and scrolling south. "Looks like there's a small town coming up in fifteen miles or so. Normal." "Of course it's normal. America isn't some kind of post-apocalyptical wasteland. There are little towns everywhere." "No, I meant it's called Normal. Normal, Indiana." "That's a bit redundant. Isn't Indiana like... the blandest of the states. I think I read somewhere that there are places that have legally banned hot sauce." "Can you imagine their Mardi Gras parades?" Tamsin grinned. "I'm trying not to." A little later, they passed the green sign marking the Normal city limits and Tamsin chuckled. "What's so funny?" Stefan asked as he slowed down to the posted speed limit. "Somebody had spraypainted 'Ab' in front of the name on the sign." "Abnormal? That sounds like a more fun place." Tamsin sighed. "Yeah." ~~~ After another couple of minutes a flickering sign appeared from behind a couple of trees. If it hadn't been for the dusk, they probably wouldn't even have noticed it. "Motel!" Tamsin exclaimed. "I see it," Stefan said and slowed down. He turned smoothly in to the parking lot in front of the motel. Tamsin opened the door, shivering as the cold wind hit her. She grabbed her jacket from the back seat and quickly put it on. Then she stretched, working out the kinks in her back. "You wanna get us a room while I get the bags out of the car?" Stefan was still sitting in the driver's seat with the door open. "Sure." Tamsin grabbed her little overnight backpack and headed for the front desk, weaving between the slushy puddles. There was nobody behind the counter in the reception, but the little bell that jingled cheerfully as Tamsin entered prompted somebody in the back room to call out. "Just a moment..." A girl that couldn't possibly be more than sixteen emerged only seconds later. She was dressed like a stereotypical goth girl, which clashed with her cheerful expression and the big, pink, playboy-style bunny ears on her hair band. "Yeah?" the girl asked. "We'd like a room. One night." The girl jiggled the mouse next to the computer and typed in a password. "Okay? Double bed or two singles?" "Two singles." The girl nodded and tapped another couple of keys. "That'll be fifty dollars. Would you like the extra hospitality package?" "What's that?" "We pick up breakfast for you from the diner down the road and bring it to your room at the time of your choosing. Well, between seven and ten that is. Plus there's some complimentary snacks and soft drinks. No alcohol though. We're not allowed to give that away. It's only twenty extra bucks." Tamsin thought about it for a few moments. It would be nice to actually have breakfast in bed before going back on the road. "Sure," she said. The girl started looking through a stack of papers, pulling out a laminated menu and handing it to Tamsin. "Great, you just figure out which breakfasts you want and I'll handle the rest." She returned her attention to the computer. "Name?" "Um, Tamsin Haze," Tamsin said absent-mindedly as she studied the menu. "OK." The girl typed some more. "I'm Isabel by the way. I'm going to need a credit card for the safety deposit." Tamsin looked up. "Are you even old enough to be handling this sort of thing?" she asked, a little hesitant about handing over her credit card to a kid. Isabel gave an exasperated sigh. "For crying out loud. Why does everybody think I'm just a kid? I'm twenty-two for god's sake." Tamsin stared back. Disbelief obvious on her face. "What?!? Wanna see my license or something?" "Nonononono." Tamsin held up her hands. "I believe you." "Good, 'cause it's really annoying. It's not my fault I have a babyface." She took a breath to calm herself down. Tamsin found her credit card and handed it to Isabel. She entered whatever details she needed into the computer and handed the card back to Tamsin. "OK, breakfast. Anything tickle your fancy?" Tamsin looked back at the menu. "I think maybe just the scrambled eggs and sausages." "Good choice. They're delicious. And your boyfriend?" "Stefan's a sucker for oatmeal. With bacon." "Interesting combination. And when did you want it?" "Eight, I guess. We want to get started early tomorrow." Isabel nodded and wrote it all down on a post-it note. Then she stuck it to the side of the screen. "You're in room number 10. That's up the stairs and all the way at the end." She handed Tamsin a key. "And if there's anything else, just dial 9 on the phone." "Thanks." Tamsin grabbed her backpack and went outside where she found Stefan having a cigarette. "I thought you said you quit." "I have," he said defensively. "Mostly. But sometimes I still need one." Tamsin sighed. "You're just a big bundle of bad habits, aren't you?" "And that's why you love me." "Come on. They put us in number 10. Upstairs." Tamsin picked up one of the bags and headed for the stairs. Stefan stubbed out the cigarette and followed her. The room was pretty much the same as any other motel room Tamsin had ever seen. There were two beds on one side of the room, and on the opposite side was a small table with a couple of chairs and a low dresser with a small TV on top. There was a door at the back of the room that Tamsin assumed was the bathroom. She put the bag down. "I'm going to take a shower. If you find the mini-fridge, the snacks and drinks are free." "Free? Really?" "Well, they're 'complimentary'. Oh, and they're bringing us breakfast tomorrow morning." "Seriously? Niiiiice." Stefan grabbed the TV remote, sat down on the bed and began flipping through the channels. The bathroom was larger than Tamsin expected and remarkably clean. She quickly undressed and used the toilet before hopping in the shower. After a day stuck in the car, the cascade of hot water felt glorious. Tamsin could almost feel the stress melt away. She just stood there, letting the water pound against her skull, listening to the white noise it caused. Eventually she was brought out of her reverie by Stefan knocking on the bathroom door. "Hey, leave a little hot water for me." Tamsin turned off the water and grabbed one of the big towels on the shelf next to the shower. They were softer and fluffier than she expected. She quickly dried her short hair before wrapping it around herself. "All done," she announced as she opened the door. Stefan rushed past her and closed the door. She heard the toilet lid hit the cistern, followed by a groan and a disgustingly loud, wet farting sound. I guess showering wasn't the most important thing for him either. "You okay baby?" she asked the closed door. "Gas station hot dog." Tamsin found some clean underwear in her bag and put it on before stepping into a pair of sweatpants and pulling a t-shirt over her head. The TV flashed some kind of news programme intro, so Tamsin turned up the volume and sat down on the edge of the bed to see if anything important had happened while they were on the road. The news weren't exactly new, so Tamsin turned off the TV after a couple of minutes. She lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. It was just as boring and uniform as the fields they had driven through the last couple of hours. "Stefan? I'm gonna go see if I can find something a little healthier than those little motel bags of mixed nuts. Do you want anything?" The groan that came from the bathroom told Tamsin all she needed to know. "I'll see if I can find you some Imodium or something, all right?" "Thanks." Tamsin changed out of sweatpants and put on some jeans before grabbing her jacket, phone and car keys. She pulled the zipper all the way up to ward off the cold wind as she walked down the stairs to the front desk. ~~~ Isabel was still sitting behind the front desk playing something on her phone when Tamsin came through the door. She tapped the screen and looked up at her. "Is there something wrong with the room?" she asked. Tamsin shook her head. "Nah; the room is fine. I was just wondering if there's a drugstore or something that's still open anywhere nearby. The only one I could find on Google maps looks like it closed three years ago." "Yeah. For some reason they don't update things here. Don't know why." Isabel thought for a moment. "There's one maybe a mile or so down the road." She looked at the clock on the wall. "I don't think they close for another hour or so." "Thanks." Tamsin turned to leave, then turned back again. "One more thing: What's with the 'Ab-normal'?" "What do you mean?" "On the sign at the city limits. Somebody put an 'Ab' in front of the name." "Ooooh, that. It's a long story." "Oh?" "Yeah. Back in '18 we had a bunch of religious whackos who managed to get themselves elected to the city council. Things got kind of... let's just say 'uptight', for a while. But it's better now." "Sooo, not such a long story after all." Isabel shrugged. "I guess not." "By the way, the liquor store on Google maps. Is that still open?" "The Hughes one? Yeah. Just don't let them trick you into trying their micro-brewed rye beer. It tastes like fermented socks." "Thanks for the warning," Tamsin said and walked outside again. The cold wind felt like it was blowing up the bottom of her jacket and she shivered as she zig-zagged between slushy puddles on her way to the car. Once inside, she started the engine and turned up the heat. The warm bloom of the seat warmers made Tamsin smile. It had always been one of her favourite things about cars in general. She couldn't understand why manufacturers didn't make seat-back heaters as well. Or armchairs with built-in seat warmers. After all, you should be allowed to have a nice warm chair in your living room and not just in your car. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes, just enjoying the hot air and the warm seat for a few moments. Then she slowly drove out of the parking lot and down the road. ~~~ The drive to the drugstore struck Tamsin as a little strange. The streets were eerily empty. She had heard that a lot of smaller towns had had problems with young people leaving for the bigger cities, but driving through Normal was like being in a post-apocalyptic film; except there was less garbage and debris. And fewer mutant zombies. At least she hoped there weren't any. "Well, my trusty Pip-boy," Tamsin said to no-one in particular. "Any deathclaws around? Super-mutants? Fascists in power-armour?" She glanced at the GPS which didn't show any flashing red dots indicating danger. "I guess not." Almost every second building Tamsin passed had 'for sale' or 'closed' signs in the windows, so when she saw the cheerily lit windows of the drugstore the contrast was rather jarring. Tamsin pulled over and parked at the curb. She sat still for a few moments, steeling herself before opening the door and getting out. There was Christmas music playing on the speakers inside the almost empty drugstore. A lady that looked like she was pushing a hundred was wandering aimlessly up and down one of the aisles, and sitting behind the cash register was a middle-aged man that was so fat he was literally lemon-shaped. He was wearing a Christmas sweater the size of a tent and had a shock of white hair that would have made Einstein proud. When he noticed Tamsin he put down the comic book he was reading and smiled broadly. "Can I help you?" he asked in a comically squeaky voice that seemed so out of place that Tamsin almost began giggling. He almost sounded like he'd been breathing helium. "Yeah, where's the Imodium?" Tamsin looked around. "Over there, in the corner." The man pointed. Tamsin found the pills and went back to the register. She couldn't see any snacks that looked particularly tempting, but she grabbed a couple of granola bars from a display on the counter. "Anything else?" the man squeaked. Tamsin was tempted to ask if he had any helium, but decided to be nice, and shook her head. "No. That's all. Unless you have any postcards with the town name on or something like that." "Sorry, no." Tamsin shrugged. Then she looked up at the loudspeaker playing Jingle Bells. "You must really like Christmas," she remarked casually. "Yeah I guess. It's not actually Christmas though. It's the waiting for Christmas. I just love the feeling of something wonderful being just barely out of reach." "Hmm. Holiday-edging," Tamsin muttered to herself and nodded. "Huh? What was that?" the man asked. "Oh nothing. Just thinking out loud. Bad habit." Tamsin paid and turned to leave. "Merry not-yet-Christmas." The man chuckled and nodded. "I guess that's one way of saying it." Tamsin's next stop was the liquor store where she looked around their measly selection before ending up buying a bottle of Bacardi and a couple of cans of Coke. Booze in hand, Tamsin headed back to the car. The temperature was plummeting and wind was picking up. The jacket was not helping much. It was meant for a different Ana; Louisi, not Indi. Tamsin turned the heaters up to max the moment she was in the car and sat there shivering as the air slowly warmed up and her butt was thawed out. She was used to the winters being cold, but this wind was chilling her to the bone. ~~~ When Tamsin pulled in to the parking lot of the motel, she saw Isabel waving at her from the front office. She parked as close as she could and hurried inside. "Damn! Is it always this cold?" Tamsin said as she closed the door and tried to find the warm air from the heater. "More or less. Anyway, we forgot to restock the fridge in your room." Isabel held out a plastic bag. "I figured I shouldn't just go up there, just in case. I've walked in on enough people doing stuff in... well, elsewhere. I don't need it here." "Okay." Tamsin tried to sound nonchalant. She put the rum and Coke and her other supplies in the bag without looking inside. "Thanks." Tamsin paused for a moment before opening the door. "By the way, where is that empty fridge." Isabel chuckled. "They did kind of hide it, didn't they. It's in the night stand between the beds." "Thanks." "All part of the service," Isabel said cheerily. "Have a good night." ~~~ Tamsin jogged up the stairs to the room. When she opened the door, she was met by a blast of warm air. Stefan was sitting crosslegged on the bed, wrapped in the duvet and watching TV. "Feeling better?" Tamsin put the plastic bag down on the bed and began removing its contents. There were some small bags of mixed nuts, crisps and candy, a couple of bottles of water and a four or five cans of various soft drinks. Tamsin found a can of ginger ale and handed it to Stefan who grimaced when he saw what it was. "I think I read somewhere that ginger helps against an upset stomach." "Yeah, but it tastes like a wet mop." "Oh stop being such a baby and take your medicine." Tamsin handed him the Imodium. Stefan popped one of the pills in his mouth and washed it down with some water. "At least they're not suppositories." "Um, they were." Stefan's eyes widened. "Hah! I got you!" "No you didn't," Stefan protested. "Oh yes I did. I got you." Tamsin grinned and took a sip of water. She kicked off her shoes and sat down on the bed. "Do you have any room under there?" she tugged at the duvet. Stefan lifted the edge. Just then, there was a hollow, gurgling sound. Stefan jumped off the bed and sprinted to the bathroom. "Do you want a drink? I'm making Cuba Libres. Without the lime, I'm afraid." "Why not," came the weak reply through the door. "It's not like my stomach can get any worse." There was a groan and a farting sound. Tamsin tried to not hear it. If Stefan was going to keep making those sounds, she was going to need those drinks. ~~~ A couple of hours, and about two thirds of the bottle of rum later, Tamsin was lying on the bed staring at the ceiling. The flickering lights from the motel sign and weird patterns as it filtered through the crack between the curtains. Stefan was lying on his stomach, yet still managing to snore. "How come you're drunker than me?" Tamsin slurred. "I drank..." she studied the bottle, "waaaay more than you." Tamsin waited for Stefan to respond. When he didn't, she continued. "Tha'ss 'cause you're a fuckin' lightweight." She nodded to the empty room for emphasis. "And I," she paused as she laboured to sit up, nearly rolling off the bed in the process, "I have a liver of steel." Sitting up made Tamsin feel a rapidly growing pressure on her bladder. "Don' go 'nywhere," she mumbled to Stefan and rose. She walked unsteadily to the bathroom. The plastic seat felt ice cold against Tamsin's thighs and she shivered. She wondered why they didn't have seat warmers for toilet seats, like they did for car seats. When she bent down to pull up her sweatpants, Tamsin almost fell over. Although that was because the floor was no longer level and seemed to be moving ever so slowly. After several attempts to tie the drawstring, she gave up and let the pants fall to the floor again. Then she carefully stepped out of them. She didn't need them anyway. The bed was nice and warm. Tamsin stumbled back to bed and crawled onto it. The duvet was still warm, so she wrapped herself in it and closed her eyes. It really was a very comfy bed and she didn't want to leave it. She looked over at the TV. The sound was off, but it was showing what looked like a mother reading bedtime stories to a toddler. Tamsin yawned. She gave the bottle of rum another look. "D'you mind if I have some more?" Tamsin whispered. Again, Stefan's only reply was a soft snore. "Tha's what I thought." Tamsin looked around for her glass, but couldn't see it, so she just fumbled the cap off and took a healthy swig. When the subsequent coughing fit ended, she wheezed: "OK, no drinking rum neat." She took a mouthful of Coke and added a sip of rum before swallowing. "Ahh. Much better," she concluded. The ad on the TV was over and they continued some old, black-and-white horror movie featuring what looked like a vampire in a flimsy nightgown. Tamsin wanted to turn it off, but couldn't be bothered to look for the remote. She was just so sleepy. And the pillow was so soft. And everything was just warm and fuzzy. She had another mouth-mixed drink. ~~~ Tamsin was woken by an icy draught. She opened her eyes. Everything was still pleasantly fuzzy. The TV was showing middle-of-the-night infomercials. Tamsin turned over to see where the draught was coming from. The door was open and the vampire from the horror movie was standing in the open doorway. Mist was rolling in around her legs to cover the floor. She sort of floated forward across the room, the door closing silently behind her. When she came closer, Tamsin realised it wasn't a B-movie bloodsucker, but Isabel from the front desk. Tamsin tried to sit up, but she was all tangled up in the duvet. "Wha-" "Shh," Isabel said and pressed a finger to Tamsin's lips. "It's all right. You called me." "I did?" Tamsin couldn't remember doing that. "Yeah." Isabel brushed Tamsin's hair out of her eyes. "You didn't make a lot of sense, but you said you wanted a cuddle and a story." "A story?" "Mm-hmm." "And a cuddle?" "Mm-hmm." Isabel nodded. "Why'd I do tha'?" Tamsin asked. Isabel sat down next to her. She seemed a lot larger now than when she had been sitting behind the front desk. "I don't know. You sounded pretty drunk." Tamsin giggled. "I think I'm still pretty drunk." "I think so too." Tamsin wriggled closer to Isabel. "You're so nice and soft," she mumbled. "Aww, thank you. And you're an adorable little baby." "And is mommy going to tell her baby a story?" "Of course she is. But first we have to make sure that little Baby Tammy is ready for bedtime, don't we?" "Yeah, okay." "That's a good girl." Isabel stroked Tamsin's hair. "Did you brush your teeth?" she asked. "Mm-hmm," Tamsin lied. "And did you go pee-pee?" Tamsin smiled at the absurdity of the situation. "Yeah." "And you put on your jammies?" "Uh-huh." "Really? I don't think so. Let's see." Isabel peeled the duvet off Tamsin, exposing her t-shirt and panties. "Big-girl panties?" Isabel ran a hand over the thin silky fabric struggling not to creep up Tamsin's butt crack. "Big girls don't need bedtime stories." "Aww." Tamsin pouted. "Maybe mommy's little girl should stop playing dress-up and get into her little-girl jammies?" "And then story-time?" "Yes Tammy." Tamsin rolled over on her back while Isabel knelt next to her legs. Then she wriggled her hips to slide the panties off. Isabel helped get them all the way down her legs. Then Isabel grabbed Tamsin's legs and lifted them onto her shoulder, lifting her hips off the mattress. There was a crinkling sound and Tamsin tried to see what Isabel was doing, but her legs were in the way. Isabel slid Tamsin's legs off her shoulder, lowering her butt again. Instead of feeling the soft cotton sheets against her butt, there was something that felt a little like stiff tissue paper. Isabel spread Tamsin's legs and pulled something up between them. That's when she realised what it was. "A diaper?" Tamsin began wiggling to get away from the papery touch of the diaper against her crotch. "Shh," Isabel said. She put a hand on Tamsin's hip. "It's OK. I know how little girls have accidents sometimes." "But...but..." Tamsin was struggling to form the right words. "And we wouldn't want to ruin the nice hotel bed, now would we?" "But-" "Would we?" Isabel asked and pressed down on Tamsin's hip. "No," Tamsin admitted meekly. "Good. Now lie still so you don't wake him up." Isabel nodded towards Stefan who was still sleeping soundly only feet away. "This is so weird," Tamsin whispered. Isabel taped the diaper in place. "It's not weird. A lot of little girls have accidents," she said reassuringly, patting the smooth plastic. "There. Much better. Don't you agree?" "I guess," Tamsin said, running her hand over the diaper. It felt strange to be wearing something this thick. She couldn't even feel her hand through it. Isabel sat down at the head of the bed and spread the duvet out across her lap. "OK Tammy. Snuggle up." Tamsin crawled onto Isabel's lap and allowed herself to be wrapped up in the duvet. Isabel wrapped her arms around her and held her close. "You ready for your story?" Isabel asked. "Yeah." Tamsin almost felt like she should be sucking her thumb, but both her arms were trapped in her tightly wrapped cocoon. Everything just felt so perfect and warm and soft and fuzzy. "Once upon a time," Isabel began," there was a little town. Waaaaay out in the middle of nowhere. The people living in the town were good people. Most of them were, anyway. They tried let people do what they wanted and not make a big fuss about things. But then, one day, some very mean men decided that they wanted to run the little town. And they wanted to decide what everybody else was allowed to do and say and think." "Tha's no' very nice," Tamsin mumbled from inside the duvet. "No it wasn't," Isabel agreed. "The meanies tricked a lot of the people in the town into letting them be in charge. At first they weren't so bad. Sure, they said some mean things, but most people didn't take them very seriously. But then they made a rule that said that nobody was allowed to do things differently from them. And if somebody broke that rule, they were sent to a special house-" "Like a prison?" Tamsin interrupted. "No, not exactly a prison. More like a special hospital. Anyway, at first there were only a few people that were sent away. But every now and then, the meanies would make a new rule, and a few more people were sent away. And then a few more. And a few more." "Oh no," Tamsin whispered. Isabel brushed Tamsin's hair away from her forehead. "Don't worry. It gets better." "Promise?" "I promise. So, this special hospital. The doctors there weren't very nice either, but with every new rule, there were more and more people there. And one day, in the middle of winter, maybe a week before Christmas, the people in the hospital realised something. There were so many of them in there that there were more of them than there were people left outside. There was a big fight, and they locked the mean doctors and the other meanies who had been running the town in the special hospital. And then they went back to their homes in the town and lived their lives without those big meanies bossing them around and telling them how to live their own lives." "And they lived happily ever after?" Tamsin asked and yawned. "Yeah, they did. And they all promised each other not to let the meanies make the rules again." Tamsin began wriggling, trying to get out of the duvet wrapped around her. "What is it Tammy?" Isabel asked. "Tell mommy what's the matter." "I... I have to go to the bathroom." Isabel looked around at the empty cans and water bottles. "I'm not surprised. You've drunk a lot." She picked up the almost empty bottle of rum. "And not just little-girl drinks either." "Yeah. I'm drunk," Tamsin said, almost sounding proud of it. "Well, you just let it go. Mommy will change you afterwards." "Whaddaya mean?" Tamsin was having a little trouble processing what Isabel said. "There's no need to get up. You just go ahead and pee your diaper. Mommy will change it later." "Are you serious?" Tamsin tried to sit up, but failed. "Of course sweetie. Why else did you think you're wearing diapers?" "But... You said they were in case of accidents." "Yes and don't you think little baby Tammy is about to have an accident?" "I'm not a baby," Tamsin protested. "Sure you are. You're my little, diapered baby girl." Isabel pulled Tamsin up so she was sitting on her lap rather than lying on it. The movement and new position increased the pressure on Tamsin's bladder and she gasped as a spurt of urine escaped her. "What is it?" "I... I peed," Tamsin said and looked away in embarrassment. "It's OK," Isabel reassured her and slowly ran her fingers through Tamsin's hair. "Just let it all out. Mommy's here." "I can't," Tamsin said and shook her head. But that little leak had only been the first pebble in the avalanche. Within seconds the pressure was unbearable again, and another spurt escaped, only to be immediately absorbed by the diaper. "This is so gross," Tamsin complained. "Shh-shh-shh. It's perfectly normal, and mommy doesn't think any less of her precious baby. Just let it all out." Isabel began to slowly rock Tamsin back and forth. The third little leak turned out to be not so little. "I didn't know your lap had a seat warmer." Tamsin giggled. "So it's not so gross any more?" "It's like a big, wet glove. But kind of nice." Tamsin snuggled closer to Isabel. Then she closed her eyes and let out one last little trickle. "I did it again," Tamsin whispered mischievously. "That's a good girl," Isabel said and kissed Tamsin's forehead. "You just get some sleep. Mommy's here for you." "Tha's good, 'cause I think I'm sleepy." Tamsin's eyelids just felt so heavy. And the duvet was so warm and comfy. And Isabel smelled so good. ~~~ The morning light streaming in through the window combined with a pounding headache woke Tamsin up. She peered out from under her duvet and instantly regretted it after a faceful of sunshine. Gradually, the rest of her brain came online. She had to pee. Badly. Not a problem. That's why I have a diap- Tamsin suddenly realised she was not wearing a diaper. In fact, she was only wearing a t-shirt. Her bladder pressure overrode her headache and she rolled out of bed and ran to the bathroom. As she sat there, feeling sorry for herself, she bent down to pick up the sweat pants and panties that were lying in a heap on the floor. "No more rum on an empty stomach," Tamsin said to herself. "The fun dreams aren't worth the headache." Ten minutes and a shower later, Tamsin emerged from the bathroom to get her toothbrush and the ibuprofen from her bags. Stefan was still face-down on the bed. Tamsin nudged him awake "Five more minutes mom," Stefan mumbled and buried his head under the pillow. "Come on Stefan, time to get up." "It's that late already?" Stefan sat up and yawned. "God, that's the best night's sleep I've had in ages. When Tamsin re-emerged from the bathroom with her hair dried and the fuzz removed from her teeth, she found Stefan sitting on the edge of the bed, balancing a tray on his lap and eating oatmeal from a takeout container. "Breakfast?" "Mm-hmm. The girl at the front desk just dropped it off." He bit into a piece of bacon. "Oh that's good bacon." Tamsin checked out the other container. Thankfully the scrambled eggs and fried sausages were the perfect combination of bland and greasy to make Tamsin feel better. "Sorry I passed out so early, but I was just completely beat last night." Stefan pointed to the empty cans and bottles. "Looks like you have a bit to drink." "Yeah." Tamsin took another mouthful. "Hung over." "Sleep well?" Stefan held out a strip of bacon. "You just have to try this bacon?" Tamsin shook her head. "I'm good. I think I passed out in the middle of some cheesy, old horror movie." Tamsin stopped eating for a moment. "I had the weirdest dream." "Oh?" Stefan tried to look cool and just raise an eyebrow, but he just looked like he was having a stroke. "I don't wanna talk about it." "Oooo. That good, huh?" Stefan grinned suggestively. "No. That weird." "Fine, fine." Stefan held up his hands. They finished the rest of the breakfast and Tamsin packed their bags while Stefan took a shower. "So we'll be there by tonight then?" Tamsin asked through the bathroom door. "If everything goes according to plan, yeah." "Good. I want a warm balcony, spicy food and drinks with little paper umbrellas in them." "That's the plan," Stefan assured her as he turned off the shower. Tamsin checked the map on her phone. According to Google maps, they should be in New Orleans around half past ten. Knowing Stefan's driving, they could probably knock an hour off that estimate; or add two hours if he got caught speeding. Ten minutes later they were ready to leave. Tamsin pulled the zipper of her jacket all the way up to her chin as they opened the door. "What about the trays?" Stefan asked as he picked up the bags. "I don't know. I guess I can drop them off along with the key." Tamsin grabbed the breakfast trays before locking the door behind them. Tamsin headed for the front desk while Stefan went to load their bags into the car. She found Isabel half asleep in her chair and cleared her throat to wake her up. "Oh hi," she said and stretched. "I must have dozed off. Was the breakfast OK." "It was great. Thanks for bringing it up." Tamsin put the trays on the counter along with the key. "So, do I need to sign anything?" Isabel shook her head. "Nah. You prepaid, so unless you've broken anything or something like that, you're good." Isabel took the trays and put them on the desk behind her. "So, where to next?" "New Orleans." "Oh, that sounds like a fun trip." Tamsin nodded. "That's the plan." "I hear they have like an Anne Rice tour or something. I'd love to check that out one day." Isabel shrugged. "Anyway, if you come through here again on the way back, feel free to drop by again." "With a breakfast option like this, we just might," Tamsin said and turned to leave. "And maybe mommy will help you eat your breakfast in the morning." "What?!?" Tamsin whirled around. "Huh?" Isabel looked up from the computer. "Did you say something?" "Me? No." Isabel shook her head. "Okay," Tamsin said hesitantly and turned to leave again. She went back out into the cold and headed for the car As she got in, Stefan was just finishing entering the address of their hotel in New Orleans in the GPS. He started the engine and grinned. "Warm breezes, umbrella drinks and Mardi Gras, here we come!" he called out. As they left the parking lot, Tamsin saw Isabel watching them. She could have sworn there was just the faintest hint of a mischievous smile on her lips. She reached over and turned on the seat warmer. The bloom of warmth under her butt made her smile too.

This is a ridiculously overdue update, I hope to actually keep up with this story on a regular basis moving forward. Chapter 5 – Actions and Consequences Monica once more turned to leave and started to stuff the diaper into her bag only to be interrupted by Mrs. Simmons clearing her throat. “I think that it is best that you just carry that diaper on your way out of the building, as a bit of a reminder of your, err, transgressions. Plus, for as foul as your dirty diaper smells from inside of your bag, I would hate to think what horrors would be unleashed should you choose to open it. On another note, I found it rather odd that you not have chosen to place your – your friend’s pet’s diaper that is - into the diaper bag that was given to you with that creature. Clearly such an accessory was provided, otherwise where would you have procured even a single diaper and the assorted items needed to change that creature, much less the spare diaper that you so carelessly chose to leave on the bathroom floor. In any case, please be on your way, I have far more important things to spend my time on.” It was all Monica could do to exit the office and anteroom as quickly as she could, diaper in hand, doing her utmost to keep her face from turning a deep shade of red. She hurriedly made her way to the elevator banks, practically stabbing at the down button and mentally willing the car to come as fast as possible. Much to her chagrin, the elevator took far longer than anticipated due to the evening exodus of hundreds of employees from the large office tower. She was soon joined in her waiting by another employee. There was no way to conceal the diaper in her hand, and it took but a moment for it to become a conversation item. “You must have one lucky pet to be kept in high quality diapers like that. I know a few people who keep their pets in the bargain basement brands, the padding on the inside is barely thicker than the plastic shell. Personally, I don’t see the point, they must spend nearly as much on the additional diapers needed as if they were to just buy the quality ones in the first place. Plus, who would want to endure all those additional diaper changes? Just the time requirement alone seems like a huge hassle, don’t you think?” Monica did her best to fumble for an answer, trying to placate her overly friendly co-worker. “Yeah, I um agree, a pet should be kept in high quality diapers, for their own comfort as well as for the owner’s sake. Diaper changes are certainly my least favorite part of pet life, that is life with a pet in the house.” The response seemed to satisfy the woman and the two engaged in small talk as the elevator finally arrived and they made their way down to the bottom floor. As Monica exited the building to make her trip home, her phone binged with an all employee email sent from none other than Mrs. Simmons. “Good Evening Friends and Co-workers, I am pleased to advise you that the mystery of the diaper left in the third-floor washroom has been solved. Miss Monica Greene has come forth to claim the diaper as her own, thus resolving the matter. That being said, I would like to address the nature of the incident as a reminder to all employees. This company has very strict and rigid protocols regarding pets in the workplace, they exist for very good reasons including the safety of our employees, other pets, and any pet that is brought into this workplace, even on an emergency basis. We fully expect that these protocols are followed at all times and transgressions will be addressed as they are a serious concern. Miss Greene, perhaps unknowingly, violated nearly every rule in this regard and furthermore left a mess to be discovered while doing so. As a consequence of these actions, Miss Greene has willingly accepted some much befitting consequences that will serve as a long-lasting reminder of the importance of our rules. Miss Greene will be attending our pet-care facility this Wednesday as a resident, hopefully her tenure there will leave an impression that will not soon be forgotten. I would implore as many of you as possible to make your way down to witness her stay so that perhaps you too will be reminded of the importance of following the rules at all times. I am more than willing to open as many spots as needed o correct neglectful behaviour, and there is no reason that the stay needs to be just for one day. Have a Wonderful Evening. Regards, Mrs. Simmons” Monica was practically in tears upon reading the email, not only did the whole company now know that the diaper belonged to her, they also knew the details of her punishment. In fact, they had practically been ordered to come and witness it in person. She knew that this was a shame that she would never live down. Alone in her misery, she made her trip home, barely noticing the world around her. Upon her arrival home, she immediately noticed Samantha’s vehicle waiting in the driveway and a newfound wave of impending doom swept through her body, followed by an unexpected burst of warm urine into her already well-laden diaper. Knowing that the ensuing confrontation was inevitable, Monica begrudgingly made her way to the front door and proceeded to unlock it. As she made her way in, she began to call out the beginnings of an apology “Samantha, I’m so sorry, I was up--- mmmnnph”. Monica was abruptly cut off by and object being forcibly shoved into her mouth from behind, quickly followed by straps encompassing her head and a small but resounding clicking sound from the back of her head. Any efforts at further speech merely resulted in somewhat guttural sounds caused purely by the movement of air through the hollow cavity that made up the center of the device, her tongue being completely immobilized and thus unable to contribute to her speech. “You are done talking! I cannot believe the way you spoke to me today, even if it was through a voice message! I have been a most gracious friend to you and you repay with such impetuous and disrespectful behaviour. You are more like a child than and adult who was also pretending to play as a pet.” In another swift and fluid motion, Samantha reached out and fastened a collar tightly around Monica’s neck, unlike the one she had been wearing during her trial session, this one seemed to have a more significant girth and weight to it. “I thought that your impending punishment would be more than enough to help clear your mind and re-prioritize things in your life, but clearly I was wrong. No for starters, you can sit down right now and I will explain how the rest of this week is going to go.” Monica just stood there staring blankly, dumbfounded by the rage that she had brought out in her friend. In her daze she failed to notice Samantha removing a small device from her pocket and depressing a button on it. Flashes of blinding white light shot through Monica’s eyeballs as a jolt of searing pain shot through her body, rendering her muscles completely useless and dropping her to the floor in a useless heap and concurrently releasing the full contents of her bladder in an unending torrent of warmth. This proved to be far too much for her already overburdened diaper, causing streams of foul fluid to escape from not only the waistband, but also the gathers of both leg bands, leaving large, vile stains on her clothing. Monica simply lay on the floor, making weak whimpering sounds that were accompanied by copious amounts of drool from the opening of her gag. “That was just an example of how things are going to go for the rest of this week. Based on your behaviour today it is clear that you need a very large dose of an alternate reality to help you get your head screwed on straight. As you can most likely tell, I have placed you in a training collar, the level of shock provided can be adjusted based on your behaviour, rest assured that what you just experienced was far from the highest level. As what seems to exit your mouth is nearly as vile as what exits your lower regions, you will wear the gag the entire time you are in my presence, I do not desire to hear words from you. I will explain more in a bit, but for now, you absolutely reek and need to be cleaned, get moving.” Monica started to crawl to the rear of the house and to the stairs only to be blocked by Samantha. “Pet’s don’t get cleaned inside, they go to the washing station”. Dejectedly, Monica made her way to the back door and waited as Samantha opened it. She crawled over to the washing station and quickly obeyed a command to lay down, lest she receive another shock. She complied as Samantha, after donning a pair of gloves, stripped her of her befouled clothing, and in short order – the beyond overburdened diaper. Samantha quickly started to hose her down with the spray head from the washing station as Monica shirked back and shivered from the tepid water. Although most pet washing stations did have a connection to the household hot water system, the temperature was rarely set very high due to the higher body temperatures pets experienced due to the changes in their metabolic system. When Monica had paid for her system to be installed it had been pre-set in anticipation of her future pet, which clearly was not a comfortable temperature for an owner or any other human for that matter. With surprising efficiency Samantha quickly finished cleaning Monica’s every nook and cranny and shut the water off. What followed next was a literal whirlwind as the air-drying nozzle was brought out, the device was something like a vacuum cleaner hose differing only in the fact that cool air was blasted out of the end rather than being sucked in. A shivering Monica was then led to the side and strapped onto the obligatory changing table, completely immobile as Samantha continued with the final steps of the cleanup. “Now that you don’t stink nearly as much, I will explain how this week is going to go. You are going to get an immersive pet experience, you will not have any responsibilities, I will be your de-facto keeper. I have taken compassionate leave from work in order to accommodate this experience. You will still be expected to go to work and perform your duties as normal, I will be available at lunch time to take care of you as I see fit. I took some liberties and gained access to your personal and work communications, it would seem that you have already had yourself quite the day today, I’m sure that Wednesday will be quite the experience “. Samantha then proceeded to lead Monica into the house and into the kitchen and clipped a leash that was attached to the wall to her collar. Bowls of both food and water were set in front of her in rapid succession. “I expect that you will comply with eating your dinner, I am going to remove your gag, I expect complete verbal silence from you. I have added some medications to your food that should help your experience for the remainder of the week flow more smoothly”. All Monica could do was comply as the gag was removed, she begrudgingly pushed her face into the bowl of food and did her best lo lap as much of the vile mixture as she could into her mouth using her tongue. She was grateful at least that she had purchased wet foods and not dry kibble, although the end result was somewhat messier. She did her best to intersperse the food with water, although her efforts were somewhat of a mixture between sucking the water from the bowl and trying to lap it with her tongue. As she finished eating her face was abruptly wiped clean with a cloth. The leash was then unclipped from the tether on the wall and she was quickly pulled along by a sharp tug. “It’s time that we get you ready for bed, you will probably start to feel the effects of the medications fairly quickly. They are a sedative that is usually used for unruly pets, but the light dosage I gave you should make you more docile and adapt some of your bodily reactions to be more in tune with those of a pet. There was also a muscle relaxer in there as well as a fairly potent diuretic and laxative, I suspect that you will have no issues using your diapers this week”. Samantha led Monica up the stairs but rather than to her bedroom, to the spare room that had been prepared in anticipation of a future pet. With little delay, Monica found herself strapped into a pair of pet paws, and then her ankles attached to her thighs via straps intended to enforce four-legged movement. The finishing touch was yet another gag, this one however had a pacifier bulb rather than a hollow tube in the middle, once again forcing Monica into an involuntary silence. “Now I shouldn’t need to point this out, but you will be sleeping in the kennel this week, please hurry and get in so that I can relax for the night”. Knowing that there was no other choice – barring another shock – Monica dejectedly crawled into the rather tiny kennel on her hand – paws – and knees, hearing the door latch and lock before she even had a chance to try and turn around. As she struggled to get turned around in the tight confines of the cage, the lights in the room dimmed, not going completely off as it was well known that pets tended to sleep better with small amounts of light in the room. “Goodnight my pet, I know it may not seem it now but I hope that you will realize that this experience is for your own betterment.” With that, the door softly clicked closed leaving Monica alone in the dim light, accompanied only by the ever-present blink of the pet monitor, the crinkles of her diaper, and the gentle suckling of the pacifier bulb that came almost naturally. She curled her body into something akin to the fetal position, accompanied by a cacophony of rustling from the plastic shell of her diaper and then closed her eyes as the medicines from her supper started to take their tolls on her body.

Seconding honestly But man this was a real emotional roller coaster.. Excellently done

Sorry, it's a bit difficult if English isn't my first language. I sometimes get a feeling the wording isn't the best one, but I don't have any idea how to improve it.

Needs a bit of work from the proof reading point of view, but a diaper mystery is a welcome addition to the trove of stories on this site. Hope you are having fun writing it!

chapter 14 Despite it only being 9 p.m., Nathan went to bed. With the teen in bed, Nikkole picked up Ella and brought her into Rose's room. Rose's room was different from Nathans's. The room's farnichar was smaller for Rose's smaller size and was nice and clean. On the other side of the room was a nice-sized crib with a nightstand beside it, diapers inside, and a few picture frames of Rose's family. Nikkole walked over to Rose's crib, and Ella noticed it was slightly different from hers. It had laches on the inside for easy use. "Why does she have a crib?" Ella asked. "Because sweetie, Rose tosses and turns in her sleep," Nikkole told her. "It's one of the possible side effects of having Preas." "Oh, ya," Ella said as she looked around. She could see the diapers and the step stools everywhere. It was still impressive that someone like her could be a doctor but still be treated like a baby in her own home by using diapers and a crib. "She knows her limits," Nikkole said as she laid out a changing mat on Rose's bed before setting Ella on it. "But Rose decided she didn't want those to limit her on what she can do with her life." Nikkole removed Ella's diaper and got her baby cleaned. "And you can do that too," Nikkole told her baby as she lifted Ella's butt and slid a new fluffy diaper under her bottom. "Just because you have Preas, just because you're mommy's baby girl, you can still do whatever you want. And mommy will be there to help you." Just hearing that made Ella smile as the diaper was taped shut. "Ok, baby girl, it's time to go to sleep," Nikkole said as she pulled back a blanket from Rose's crib for Ella to crawl under. Ella did as she was told and got into bed. "Why do I have to sleep in Rose's crib?" Ella asked. "The couch wouldn't fit both of us comfortably." Nikkole told Ella as she kissed Ella’s head. "Now, be good and get some sleep." With both kids lying down and going to sleep, it was time for Nikkole to rest. She made a bed on the couch and let out a happy sigh. She closed her eyes and soon drifted off to sleep herself. —------ Nikkole awoke with a startle as the sound of a shower was turned on. She quickly looked around the dark living room. As she got off the couch and stretched, she remembered that Nathan still had school and was probably taking a morning shower to prepare for it. Checking the time, it was 7:08 a.m. At least Nikkole wasn't woken up early again. Nikkole checked on her baby girl, who was still asleep in Rose's crib, not even noticing the sound of the shower going. After gently closing the door, Nikkole entered the kitchen and brewed coffee. As soon as the coffee was ready, so was Nathan, who was finished with his shower and was already dressed for school. "Morning Nathan, sleep well?" Nikkole asked. "Ya," Nathan said as he yawned and grabbed some coffee and bread to toss in the toaster. Nikkole was going to offer to make breakfast when she heard the door open and shut. Both went to see who it was and saw a very tired Rose in the hallway. Without saying a word, Rose dropped her bag, jacket, and keys to the floor and started walking towards Nathan with her arms raised up high like a zombie. Or like a toddler wanting to be picked up. Nathan smiled as he picked his tired mom up with ease. He might have looked scrawny to most, but he was surprisingly strong for a boy his size. "Thank you, baby boy…" Rose said as she started zoning in and out from exhaustion. "One sec, Aunt Nikkole, let me help Mom get ready for bed," Nathan told Nikkole. Nikkole smiled as she remembered having to do something similar with Rose years ago. She would come home late, Rose would sometimes pass out on the doorway floor, and Nikkole would have to take care of her. Now, Nathan was the one who was helping take care of his mother. Nathan knew just how much his mom worked and how hard. So, during days like this, when his mom pulled a very long shift, Nathan was always there to ensure she was okay. It's why he went to bed early. Nathan started with a diaper change and light cleaning. He took his mom into the bathroom and sat her down on a changing table made for her. At that moment, Rose was out as Nathan pulled her pants off and pulled off his mom's diaper protector. After removing the diaper and cleaning the pee, Nathan took a warm washcloth and washed his mom's legs and arms. It wasn't a nice shower, but getting all the sweat and dirt off from a long workday was much nicer before being put into a fresh diaper and pajamas. After a few hours of sleep, Rose will take a shower properly. As Nathan finished getting his mom ready, he picked her up and carried her into the kitchen, wearing her hospital shirt and diaper. "OK, Mom, try to eat something before going to sleep," Nathan told her as he sat her at the table. "Not so fast, young man." Nikkole said as she turned from the stove, "I'm almost done with some eggs. You're going to have some too." "Sorry, but I need to get to school," Nathan told Nikkole. "It takes you 20 minutes to walk to school," Rose said as she looked up at her son sleepily. "You have time for Aunt Nikkole's eggs." "But mom!" Nathan said stubbornly. Rose let out a yawn. "Butt. Down. Now. or it goes over my knee," Rose told him as seriously as she could in her sleepy state. Nathan reluctantly sat at the table, again rolling his eyes at the threat. "That's my good boy," Rose said happily as she reached over the table to give Nathans's hand a loving pat. Nikkole brought over 2 plates of eggs and let the two eat while she got Ella. A few minutes later, Nikkole sat down with a sleepy Ella, who had just changed her diaper. As soon as Nathan was done eating, he grabbed his sweater and backpack. "Love you, Mom," Nathan called out to his mother. "And I love you more!" Rose said with a large, sleepy smile. Making Ella giggle a little. The door slammed shut as Nathan ran to school. "Such a good boy," Nikkole said as she gave Ella a bottle. "You stay here for a moment while I help Rose." Nikkole helped Rose up and helped her walk to the bedroom. "Sorry, it's unmade. Ella was sleeping here," Nikkole told her friend as they got to the crib. "Aw, it's no problem," Rose said as she covered up. "It's still nice and warm with her body heat." "Well, we should probably be going soon. Have a nice rest. You deserve it." Nikkole told her friend as she was about to leave the room. Nikkole turned off the lights as she gently closed the door. Returning to the kitchen, Ella had just finished her bottle. "Come on, Ella, let's go home," Nikkole told her. "Ok, mommy," Ella responded. ____________________ After getting home, things were standard and straightforward. Ella was in the living room playing and watching TV while Nikkole was busy doing her own thing upstairs. That night, after dinner, Nikkole and Ella sat on the couch to watch a few hours of TV before bed. But as Nikkole watched the TV, she noticed something. A single ad that stuck within her mind as she watched it. It was an ad about college and stuff like that. The ad itself didn't mean anything to Nikkole, but did get her thinking about what she should do with Ella. Should Ella go to school? She's 14 now and technically should be in school. But as Nikkole looked down at her baby girl leaning on her, something else came to mind. From the time Nikkole met Ella, one thing always stood out: Ella's not sociable. Ever since she was little, they locked her inside when the Metztlis learned she was a Preas. Away from the real world. Away from interacting with other people and only knowing what they want her to know. She was worthless, and all Preass were brats who couldn't do anything. When she ran away, it wasn't surprising she would run into someone like Bob and work for him. Not knowing any better and making her life even worse. Just being around very few people. They kept her down and unable to see what the rest of the world was like. Like meeting Rose and Nathan. Sampson or the Preas cashier boy(guy?). Showing Ella that just because she has Preas, not everything is terrible. Maybe going to an actual school and being around kids (technically) her own age might be good for Ella. But would sticking her into a school like that be good for her? She hasn't attended school in years and hasn't been homeschooled for about five years. And starting school after it just started might be a bit of a rush. As Nikkole thought all this, Ella grew sleepy and started nodding off. Not knowing her diaper was growing warm and damp. When Nikkole noticed this, she smiled at her baby, Nikkole momentarily played with Ella's hair before picking her up and carrying her upstairs. "I think going to a school will be good for you," Nikkole said with a smile to the sleeping Ella.

Hiii! Welcome! 🧜‍♂️

@DustinDL Welcome to the Daily Diapers community 😊 So happy for you getting your first tape diapers. And what a good choise you made. 👍 Trust me, when you load your first MegaMax you will never go back to pull ups.🌞

chapter 13 Eyes slowly opened to the sounds of raindrops and a familiar stomach pain. For a moment, Ella is back in the hotel room. Constantly waking up in pain. Why her? Why couldn't someone else have been given this curse? Why did she suffer for just being born the way she was? It didn't help as her eyes adjusted, the first thing she saw was a photo of a happy woman holding her child. The site made Ella sick as she knew she could never have something like that. It was now that Ella began to wonder why she had something like that by her bed. As she tried to move out of bed, she realized something was on top of her. Wrapping her up and holding her in place. 'h-huh?" Ella said as her mind began to wake up more, and she rolled over to get out the other way, only to be stopped by something soft on her face. Ella looked up and could see Nikkole's sleeping face. Memories of last night popped back into Ella's mind as she realized Nikkole had her body wrapped around Ella. Like a mother keeping her baby protected. 'how?' Ella thought as she looked at Nikkole. 'how can she be like this?' Then Ella noticed the bandages on Nikkole's shoulder poking out from her shirt, and a wave of regret washed over Ella. Nikkole woke as she heard a muffled cry and looked down at Ella with her face barred in her breasts, crying. "Shhhh, shhh," Nikkole whispered as she wrapped Ella tighter and rubbed her head. "You're okay, baby. I'm here." Nikkole could hear Ella mumble something, and Nikkole was forced to lift Ella's face up to listen to what she was saying. As Ella's teary eyes looked up at Nikkole, a wave of guilt rushed over her as she tried to hide her face again but couldn't. "Ella, I want you to talk to me. no, I need you to tell me what's wrong?" Nikkole told Ella as she refused to let Ella fight her any longer. "I-I can't!" Ella replied, teary-eyed as her mind raced with everything and not knowing what to do. "Yes, you can," Nikkole told her. "Please, just tell me what I did so I can make things better?" That one line felt like a knife had stabbed Ella in the back. "N-no!" Ella yelled. "Y-you d-did nothing -w-wrong! I-im the b-bad one!" Nikkole took her sleeve and wiped away Ella's tears. "Then tell mommy what's wrong?" Nikkole asked. There was a short silence between the two. Nikkole awaits the response, and Ella is too scared to bring up what happened last night. "I-im going back to jail…" Ella told Nikkole as she rolled over to try not to look at Nikkole. "No baby, your…" Nikkole tried to tell her before Ella cut her off. "YES, I AM!" Ella cried out. "I AM BECAUSE IM A CROOK!" More tears streamed down Ella's face as thoughts of the box came to mind. "I STILL HAVE THAT STOLEN STUFF! STUFF I STOLE! I-I DONT DESERVE THIS! A LITTLE CROOK LIKE ME DOESN'T DESERVE YOU!" Nikkole was near tears as she held onto Ella, letting the little girl cry and let it all out. When the crying finally stopped, Nikkole started to rub Ella's head. "You're not going to jail, sweety. I won't let it happen," Nikkole told Ella. "NO!" Ella cried as her voice grew horse from the crying and began to hurt. "NO, LISTEN! YOU CAN'T STO…." But Nikkole silenced Ella with a finger to her lips. "No, baby girl, you listen to me," Nikkole told Ella as she forced Ella to turn around and look at her again. To Ella, she felt even smaller than she usually did around Nikkole. "You are not a bad girl," Nikkole told Ella. "And I will never let anything bad happen to my baby girl. Do you understand?" "Bwut I am! I am a bad girl," Ella mumbled past Nikkole's finger on her lips. “No, you are not,” Nikkole told Ella. "That girl is gone. You are not Ella, the bad girl. You are Ellan. My beautiful princess little girl that I love with all my heart!" "Bwut, noo, I," Ella tried to say back, but Nikkole cut her off. "Do you not want to be my little girl?" Nikkole asked Ella. "Are you going to leave me alone again?" "Noo, I, I," Ella said as she began tearing up again. Each word Nikkole spoke felt like Ella was being stabbed over and over! "Do you not want to stay? Do you want to leave Mommy?" Nikkole asked as Ella shook her head and somehow untangled herself from Nikkole just to jump on top of Nikkole Nikkole was on her back, with Ella hugging her as tight as she could as she balled. "MOOOW! I-I w-want t-to be m-m-mommy's l-little girl!" Ella sobbed. "I s-sowry Mommy! I sowry, Mommy!" Nikkole embraced Ella once more, and she too began to cry as she kissed her baby's head and told her everything would be alright. Mommy was going to make everything alright. Their tears fell like the rain outside. *************** The mother and daughter hadn't moved. Ella remained on top of Nikkole. Her head lay on Nikkole's breasts as she listened to the beat of Nikkole's heart and the breath in her lungs. While Nikkole patted Ella's back and mushy diaper. Usually, Ella would have been devastated to be in another messy diaper, but at this moment, she just wanted to continue to hug her momma and never let go. But eventually, the stench became too much for Nikkole, and she had to change her baby's diaper. Having Ella roll over, Nikkole had her stay on the bed while she went to grab the diaper. When Nikkole returned, she held a regular diaper and changing supplies. But Ella didn't mind. She could wear her trainers another day. Right now, she just wanted Mommy to take care of her. And mommy Nikkole didn't disappoint as she skillfully began changing the baby's diaper. Getting her baby nice and clean and balling up the used diaper nice and tight to prevent leaks. Before Nikkole could walk away, Ella raised her arms towards Nikkole, like a baby wanting to be picked up and just held. Mommy didn't hesitate to pick up her baby girl and carry her downstairs. All while Ella held on tightly. As they distended, the sounds of faraway thunder could be faintly heard. When they entered the kitchen, Ella was sat on the counter while Nikkole went to work on a quick breakfast, only stopping to give Ella a bottle of Prea formula. Once again, Ella didn't fight back at the decision and raised the nipple to her mouth to suck on the worm milk while watching Nikkole make their breakfast. It was just simple oatmeal, but Nikkole made a lot to feed her baby. She knew Ella was probably starving after throwing up her food last night and would make sure her baby wasn't hungry. The water on the stove was just about boiled when the lights suddenly went out. Ella let out a small shrike at the sudden darkness, but Nikkole remained calm and took out her phone as a light source. "It's okay, Ella. I think the storm knocked out the power," Nikkole told her as she went to a cupboard and pulled out a few candles to light up the dark room. Once there was a bit more light, Nikkole saw Ella dropped her bottle on the floor, so Nikkole bent down and picked it up for her, then gave it back just before her phone rang. "Hello?" Nikkole asked as she answered. "Hey Nikkole, it's Rose." Nikkole's friend responded. "Hi, how are you? You affected by the storm, too?" Nikkole asked. "Ya, the power knocked out ⅔ of the town. I got called into the hospital last night after helping you. Thankfully, backup generators kicked in, so it's not so bad at the hospital." Rose replied. "That's good," Nikkole told her. Last night, after Nikkole called Rose, Rose immediately drove back after dropping her son off. After looking over the shoulder and bandaging it better, Rose did her best to comfort Nikkole after what had happened. Even making a suggestion on what they should do with Ella. Rose tried to suggest taking Ella to a Preas care facility. One that specializes in helping Preas with mental and emotional problems. But Nikkole had to refuse. As much as she wanted what was best for her baby girl, she couldn't risk putting Ella through anything that might put her at risk of exposing who she was. Things would get worse if anyone were to find out that she was a Metztli. Rose didn't like that idea but respected her friend's wishes. "Ya, but the school is without power, so they canceled classes for today," Rose told Nikkole. "I've already called and told Nathan, and thankfully, we have power on our side of town." "That's lucky," Nikkole replied. "Ya, so if you want, you two can hang out at my place so you are not bored in the dark," Rose suggested. "That actually sounds fantastic. The power went off just before I could make breakfast. I'll make Nathan something when I get there." Nikkole says as she decides to bring over her eggs to make something. "Great! I'll let Nathan know his babysitter will be there soon!" Rose joked. Nikkole lagged a bit before the two hung up. "Come on, baby girl, we're going to see Nathan," Nikkole told Ella, who smiled at the news. So, after packing a diaper bag and getting Ella changed into a new outfit, Nikkole got ready by grabbing her own clothes. While Ella waited at the door, Nikkole returned to the kitchen to pack a few things for breakfast before noticing the papers still on the kitchen table. Nikkole grabbed them and put them into her purse before going back to Ella, and the two hurried to the car as the rain poured down on them. The drive was short, and within 15 minutes, they were at Rose's house. Nikkole knocked, and after a minute, the door opened to a shirtless Nathan who looked like he had just woken up. "Hi, Aunt Nikkole; hi, Ella," Nathan yawned as he moved out of the way for them to enter. "Our power is out, and your mom told us we could come over so we didn't have to be in the dark," Nikkole told Nathan as he stretched. Ella had to avert her gaze and wasn't sure if she should be looking at him. "Ya, she told me." he yawned again. "Give me a moment to get dressed. I'll be right back." As he returned to his bedroom, Nikkole set the diaper bag down while Ella looked around Rose's home. It was a lovely small 2-bedroom house that was just the right size for their family. All over the house were stepping stools, tools for longer reach, and other stuff for Preas to have a seemingly everyday life. "Nathan, why don't you show Ella your room while I make breakfast!" Nikkole called out her suggeston. "Sure, it's over here!" Nathan shouted back. Ella was a little nervous, but Nikkole nudged her to go to the boy's room. Nathan's room was a slight mess, just like any teen's room, with clothes on the floor that Nathan quickly picked up now that guests were in the house. The room had a small bed and a small TV in front of it. A large shelf filled with books, DVDs, and games covered one of his walls. Along with little toy figures on top of the shelves. Ella was a little stunned by Nathans's collection. By looking at him, you would expect some type of goth or punk theme to the room, but everything seemed normal. Some would even say it is childish. What late teen had a collection of children's books like Percy Jackson? Or has box sets of Ben 10? She could almost understand the video games but was expecting primarily shooters or sports games. Not Legend of Zelda or Pokemon. And what was with the toys on the self? "See anything interesting?" Nathan asked after starting up his room. "N-no, it's just surprising," Ella commented. "What is?" he asked curiously. "W-well, most of this is kid's stuff. And you're not a kid." Ella tells him. Nathan nods a moment when he hears that and looks at his collection. "But you look like a kid and use a diaper. Does that make you a baby?" Nathan asked as Ella Blushed and got a little mad. "That's different!" Ella responds. "Is it?" Nathan asked as he took a seat on his bed. "Just because I like and collect something, doesn't mean im a kid. Just like how, despite needing a diaper, you aren't really a baby." Ella was about to respond but couldn't think of a response. "When you get a bit older, you might miss some of the simple pleasures of childhood," Nathan tells Ella. Still unaware she was actually older than him. Ella looked back at the collections and tried to wrap her head around what Nathan told her. "Well, enough of that. Have you ever played Ninja Kart racing on the Switch?" Nathan asked as he went over to his TV and turned it on before handing a controller to Ella. Nikkole could hear the kids Laughing and playing around, which made Nikkole happy hearing those familiar sounds she missed. It felt like it was only yesterday that Nikkole brought Alex to play. Nikkole quickly got breakfast made for the kids before she went to check on them. She smiled as she took a picture with her phone of Ella sitting on Nathan's lap, steering a game controller while looking so happy as she won the game. "kids, breakfast," Nikkole told them as the two got up, went to the table to eat, and returned to their game. The rest of the day was easy. Nikkole had nothing to do today but relax while the kids played in Nathan's room. So, taking her chance, Nikkole turned on Rose's TV and sat on her couch. As Nikkole watched the TV, the last few days of running around, the stress, and waking up early hit Nikkole like a ton of rocks, and she soon fell asleep on the couch, A few hours later, Nikkole slowly woke up and yawned as she felt something on her. She looked down to see she was covered with a blanket, and Ella was sound asleep with her head resting on Nikkole's Lap. The TV was turned off, but Nikkole heard some faint noise from the other room. Nikkole gently lifted Ella's head and used the blanket she had to make Ella a pillow before going to check on the nose. Nikkole walked past the kitchen and saw that the bread and peanut butter were left on the counter. As Nikkole approached the nose, she looked into Nathan's room and saw him playing a video game. "How are you doing?" Nikkole asked and made Nathan jump in surprise. "Oh, hi, Aunt Nikkole. Did I wake you?" Nathan asked as he gave Nikkole. "No, sweety, I just woke up," Nikkole told the teen. "How long was I asleep?" "Probably 4 or 5 hours," Nathan told her. "Ellan and I made lunch not too long ago before Ellan saw you asleep and put a blanket on you." Nikkole turned and looked down the hallway at the sleeping little girl and smiled. "Also, she used her diaper earlier," Nathan told Nikkole. "Oh dear, she must have been in that diaper for hours," she comments, hoping there won't be a rash. "I offered to change her, but she got embarrassed and turned it down," Nathan told Nikkole, much to her surprise. "You offered?" "I've changed Mom's diapers plenty of times," Nathen explains casually. "Nothing I haven't seen before." Nathen went back to playing his game as if nothing happened. Nikkole wanted to tell him that changing a non-family member's diaper wasn't normal and that he shouldn't change their diapers. But stopped herself when she remembered what she had done just a few nights ago. At least Nathan offered… —-------- It wasn't long before Ella was waking up while in the middle of her diaper change. That was a strange experience for her, but one she knew she would need to get used to. With her diaper now clean and Nikkole awake again, Ella went back to play more games with Nathan while Nikkole began making dinner. Once dinner was over, Nathan volunteered to clean the kitchen while Nikkole or Ella took a shower. An offer they took up as Ella went in first. "Thanks for cleaning up," Nikkole says while helping. "No problem. Thanks for the food." Nathan responded as he washed the dishes. Once Ella was done, Nikkole took her shower after getting Ella into a new diaper and pajamas. When she got out, it was Nathans's turn. While he was in the shower, Nikkole called Ella over and pulled out the documents she had. "I want to ask you one more time. Are you sure you want to do this?" Nikkole asked as Ella looked at the papers. Ella only had a brief moment of hesitation before she signed the papers. With each paper she signed, she felt a heavy weight lift off her. She signed away her age and stopped being an adult. She was now 14 She signed away her independence by making Nikkole her guardian. Her new mommy. And she signed away her past by changing her name. Ella Metztli had now died. But on this day, someone new was born. A little girl who needed someone to take care of her. A little girl who wore diapers had a stutter and was easily upset after every dark thing that had happened to her. And now she had someone to take care of her. To change her diapers no matter what was inside. Who loved her stutter and would love and comfort Ellan whenever she was upset. For the first time in so long, Ella didn't care about anything. She was no longer a crook, she was no longer a Metztl, and she was no longer an adult.

This story has been nothing short of wonderful. I'm sad that it is ending, but I have no idea what more the magic could possibly do to poor Nicole. For Vanessa's sake, though, I hope it shrinks her. She'd be much easier both to deal with and explain if she were actually baby-sized.

That's a lot to lose with only two days left - But then again, a lot can change in two days. Now I'm hearing that tiktok trend sound in my head 🤣 Who knows - There's still two changes yet to come! Day 13 It struck Vanessa that things had become routine almost as soon as the shock had worn off. In just under two weeks, they’d learned that magic existed, and had a cruel sense of humor. They’d seen Nicole devolve from a fully capable woman to a person with the memories of an adult but the physical faculties of a particularly stunted toddler. And, already, she was…used to it. Not unconcerned, of course. Vanessa still spent her time scouring the internet for solutions, looking for cures or counterspells or witches who could fix everything, but it had lost its sense of shock. Even the doodle for the day–showing baby blocks scattered and an utterly broken, jagged speech bubble, didn’t carry much shock, just an indication of what new problems to expect for the day. Now, she just worried for Nicole in a way that could only be described with one word, but it was a word Vanessa refused to say out loud; one that began with an ‘M’ and rhymed with ‘Blaternal’. “Buh!” Nicole called. “Vee-vee!” Vanessa hurried into the nursery. “What is it, Nic? You need a change?” “Hungie,” Nicole said. “Pwea?” (Her speech is getting worse,) Vanessa thought. (And she’s not even forming adult thoughts, at least not any that she’s communicating to me.) “I’ll make something.” She had to sit Nicole down, giving her juice in her Pee Happy bottle so she had something to drink while breakfast got made. Once food was finished, Vanessa fed Nic macaroni one spoonful at a time, working her way through the bowl. At least it was the weekend–trying to juggle baby care and work a full time job already left her exhausted, and she’d only been doing it for a couple days. As she set aside breakfast, she sniffed. “Nicky, you stink.” “Nuh-nuh, no poopies,” Nicole mumbled, shaking her head. Then, uncertain, she reached back and prodded at her diaper with a hand. Confident again, she said, “Nuh!” “Not what I mean,” Vanessa said. “You need a bath, silly–it’s been too long already.” She almost suggested Nicole do it herself, but given how clumsy she’d been, Vanessa worried she’d end up hurting herself. So, she helped Nic down from the kitchen table and walked her friend to the bathroom. “Eeep!” Nicole winced, alarmed. As quickly as she could on all fours, she crawled behind Vanessa’s legs, cowering. “Wha–oh,” Vanessa said, looking between Nic and the toilet, remembering how her friend had described an irrational fear of the porcelain seat. Unfolding a couple towels, she draped them over the toilet, hiding it away for now–enough that Nicole no longer hid from it. While Nic sat on the floor, suckling her thumb, Vanessa got the tub going, testing the water with her hands–not too hot, not too cold. On impulse, she added a bit of shampoo to the mix, filling the tub with sudsy bubbles. “Time to get clean,” she coaxed, holding out a hand to her friend. It was getting easier to just think of her as a baby–Nicole may still have some of her adult traits left, but not many, and the potty training chart had taken so much that she may as well have been just a large infant. Nicole was able to stand for just long enough to get into the tub before her legs stopped supporting her weight again, dropping her into the bubbly water with a splash. She giggled, and Vanessa tried not to be too annoyed about the water splattered on her shirt. “How’s the water?” she asked, rubbing a washcloth down with soap and starting the scrubbing process. Nicole just nodded and smiled. That was all the words she’d be giving on that topic, apparently. Arms, back, butt, down to her legs, and then up again to get her chest–Vanessa cleaned her friend up from bottom to top, ending with her face, careful not to get any soap in her eyes or mouth. “And behind the ears,” she said aloud, narrating as she washed–Nicole seemed more interested in the bubbles than in the cleaning itself. Once Nicole’s body was clean, it came time for her hair. Shampoo, scrubbed in and then rinsed out, followed by conditioner, and then a little time to soak. “How are you feeling, Nic?” Vanessa asked, filling time while they sat in the bathroom. “Wadda’s ni,” Nicole replied. “Sure, but I mean…there’s only one day left,” Vanessa said. “And then I honestly don’t know what could happen after that.” Nicole paused, thinking about it. Her expression soured, a little, but then her eyes came to rest on Vanessa and she smiled again. “You stiww be hewe?” Her tone was half a question, half a request for reassurance. She wanted a promise. Vanessa smiled and nodded. “Of course, Nic–I’m not going anywhere. Not ever.” “Den it’ll be o-tay.” Nicole raised her arms and gave Vanessa a sudsy, wet hug. Vanessa squeezed back, not caring at all that her clothes were soaked. The rest of the day went by. Vanessa had to be on babysitting duty the whole time, but Nicole was able to self direct for a lot of it, and her nursery was stocked with learning primers and baby-level puzzle books that kept her engaged. Food, diaper changes, and occasional attention during playtime were all that was needed. As they wound down for bed, though, Nicole’s confidence wavered. As Vanessa got her changed into a nighttime diaper, she asked, “V?” “What’s up, Nic?” Vanessa asked. “Not goin’ any-way?” It took Vanessa a second to realize she meant, ‘Anywhere’, not ‘Anyway’. “Of course not,” Vanessa assured her, taping down the double-thick diaper. “You ready for bed?” Nicole nodded, then paused. “V?” V tilted her head, helping her friend sit up. “Yeah?” “Can you sweep obah toni’?” Vanessa’s expression melted and she nodded. “Of course, sweetie. Just let me get ready for bed too, okay?” “O-tay.” After her own nightly ritual–toilet, toothbrushing, getting her phone on charge–she put Nicole down in her crib, then got in after her, curling up next to her friend. The gate shut on its own, but Vanessa checked and ensured she could open them without issue. Confident they wouldn’t be trapped, she got cozy under the covers. With the bars penning them in, she had to be right next to Nicole, spooning against her, arms wrapped over her friend’s waist. Nicole snuggled a little closer, yawned happily, and they both fell asleep together. ... Support the author and help with the creation of more stories like this one! https://www.patreon.com/PeculiarChangeling https://subscribestar.adult/peculiarchangeling

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sexopedia/a45210617/what-is-age-play/ seems like a decent article that explains what it is but importantly, what it’s not!

Oh I love it. A lot of information, wooo this is going to be good. So much suspense, making friends, having fun moments, and dealing with the bedwetting and having to wear diapers. I love how it's written. Can't wait for more. 😄

part 2 Danny woke up to the sound of sniffling. Dan turned on a bedside lamp and looked over at Zoey, who was kneeling. "What's *yawn* wong Zo? Dan asked, still very sleepy. "I-i w-w-went p-potty." Zoey sniveled. Dan looked at her, confused. It's not like Zoey hasn't woken up wet before. She's used to it and can easily sleep in a wet diaper all night with no problem. But Dan then noticed the smell coming from the little girl. "Wwwwaaaa!" Zoey started crying. Zoeandra has had plenty of messy accidents in her life. Mostly because she is too busy with work to go to the toilet. But she rarely ever has a messy accident at night. When she does have one, she absolutely hates it. She hates waking up feeling messy and dirty. And when she is Zoey, she hates it just as much. "Oh, it's OK. Big brother will fix this." Danny said as he got out of bed and picked up the tinny girl. Zoey practically latched herself onto Danny, just trying to get her mind off waking up in a messy diaper. Danny went into the bathroom and sat Zoey on the toilet, smashing the mess even more. Zoey was now crying again as Danny got the changing supplies out. Once laid out, Danny had to take off the bunny onesie and lay an almost naked Zoey onto the changing mat. Zoey was still crying, so to help quiet her, he stuck her thumb into her mouth. Which she started to suck on. Zoey was still sniveling and looking at Danny with sad, pleading eyes to get this diaper off her. Danny removed the messy diaper and cleaned the dirty girl before re-diapering her in a nice, fresh diaper. "There we go, is that better?" Dan asked. Zoey nodded, still slightly upset about the diaper. "I don't think that's right. My baby sister would have a smile if it's all better," Dan said before quickly giving Zoey's exposed belly a raspberry. Zoey immediately came to life in a fit of laughter and a smile on her face, Danny smiled as he pulled the little girl up and put her back into her pajamas. "OK, back to bed we go," Danny said as he stood up. "B-but I'm wide awake now," Zoey said as she pulled her thumb out. "I want to play." "Zoey, it's 3 in the morning. Little girls like you need their beauty sleep," Danny told her. "But I'm pretty enough as is!" Zoey huffed as she wanted to play now that she was awake. "OK, Zoey, but I still want a little more sleep," Danny said as he thought of something. "I'll make you a deal. If you go to bed with me right now and let me sleep till 4, I'll make you pancakes." Zoey's eyes lit up. In her current mind, she didn't even realize she was just played, as there was no way she could stay awake an hour while laying in a nice warm bed. As Dan was about to turn to leave the bathroom, Zoey rushed up and started jumping in front of Dan with her hand raised up. Telling Dan she wanted him to pick her up and carry her to the bedroom. Danny sighed and smiled as he picked her up. Zoey giggles as she is picked up and hugs Danny as he carries her back into the room. However, Zoey doesn't want to let go when he gets to bed. "No! To comfy!" she winds and holds on tighter. Danny sighs again and just gets into bed with Zoey holding onto him. ****** Danny woke up a few hours later with Zoey still hugging him. Like he thought, Zoey immediately passed out when he turned the lights off. It took him about 10 minutes to escape from the little girl's grasp. After finally being free, Zoey rolls over and starts sucking her thumb. "Good baby girl," Danny whispers as he pats Zoey's bottom before leaving the room. He went to the kitchen, where he made pancakes like he promised. He had just finished making some when he heard his bedroom door open. He turned to see a sleepy Zoey walk into the room. The smell of pancakes woke her up a little. Without saying a word, she walked over to the table and climbed into her booster seat. But after waking up and having a wet diaper, that was a little difficult. Thankfully, Danny picked her up, set her into the seat, and gave her a bottle of milk to suckle on while he finished making pancakes. When Danny returned, he could see Zoey slightly nodding off but trying to stay awake. "Looks like someone is going to need an early nap today," Danny said. "Mooooo." Zoey moaned in her sleepy state. Danny just smiled and sat down before cutting up Zoey's pancake and holding a peace for her. Zoey looked at it momentarily before opening her mouth for Danny to feed her. After being fed breakfast, Zoey finally woke up and wanted to play. "OK, Zoey, go play with your toys while I clean up," Danny told her. "OK!" Zoey yelled as she was freed from her chair and went to play with her toys for a little bit. It was now 9 Am. After cleaning up, Danny would give Zoey a diaper change before they started their day. Over the next few hours, Danny played with Zoey with toys and video games until it grew time for lunch. "OK, Zo, I'm going to make lunch right now. You color and watch TV while I'm gone." Danny told the little girl, who nodded. As Danny made chilly dogs for lunch, Zoey watched her favorite cartoon while coloring in a coloring book. But as her mind wandered, she noticed something about Danny's living room table. The table had little dark spots dotting the table as part of the wood design. In her current state of mind, the first thing she thought of was connect the dots. "Zoey?" Danny said as he walked back into the living room. "Danny, look!" Zoey exclaimed brightly. "I connect dots!" "ZOEY!" Danny yelled angrily, and he startled Zoey and rushed over. He immediately yanked the crayon out of Zoey's hand and expected the damage. "BAD GIRL!" Danny yelled. "You don't color on furnisher!" Zoey was a little shocked. And in her mind, she had no idea what to do! Then Danny picked Zoey up and put her over his knee. Danny yanked her diaper down before giving her a spanking. Zoey burst out crying as she was spanked. Tears and snot dripped down as she felt the spanking go on forever. Danny only spanked her ten times before pulling her diaper back up and sticking her nose into a corner. While Zoey was crying in the corner, Danny cleaned his table. Danny knew Zoeandra could easily have someone clean or even replace his table. It wasn't even an expensive one. But when she is Zoey, they understand that she is to be treated like any little girl. That includes punishments from time to time. "D-Danny." Zoey snivaled as she turned her head to see a stern look from him, sending her nose back where it belonged. A new batch of tears crawled down her face, and she started to hiccup. "Zoey, come here," Danny said sternly as he sat on his couch. Zoey slowly turned from the corner and hiccuped as she approached Danny, partly afraid he would spank her again. She was shaking when she was finally in front of him, and her lip quivered. She flinched as Danny reached over and picked her up, and she started flooding her diaper in fear of another spanking. But Danny just placed her on his lap and hugged her. "It's OK, Zoey. big brothers not mad anymore." Danny told her as he rubbed her back. "But you know why I was mad, right?" Zoey quickly nodded her head. "You know big brother hates punishing you. That's why you need to be a good girl. Alright?" Danny told Zoey. "Y-yes." Zoey whimpered out before she hugged Danny for comfort. "There's my good baby sister," Danny said with a small smile as he comforted his sister and kissed her on the head.

Right now, Vickie is on the receiving end of what amount to "time outs." She was ordered to take Friday off and think about her actions, and now she's being sent home on Sunday. The next step up would be a formal disciplinary hearing, which Rita is trying to avoid at all costs. So, Vickie goes home wearing her big girl panties, and thus pays no meaningful price for her actions. But will Sarah be this tolerant, or will she put both Ian and Vickie in their proper place? Or will it be Ian who comes to his senses and puts Vickie in her proper place, now that he has learned how Vickie's actions are threatening Rita's job? Time will tell.

Susan woke up the next day and went to make breakfast since she was still on work leave and in no rush. After breakfast, she decided she had to tell her old man about what had happened this weekend. At first, he laughed upon hearing the situation, and when Susan finished, her father stated, “Well, starlight" (his nickname for her), "it sounds to me like you've found the one.” “I think so too,” Susan said. “I wish I could see him.” “Well, go see him,” he said. “I can't. He's at work right now, and I can't just drop by and hang out with him,” Susan replied. “I'm not saying you need to talk to him. Just go see him. I know when I got home from the force, seeing you always made me feel better. You don’t even need to make eye contact,” he suggested. Susan was having an inner battle with herself. She felt such an urge to see him, but if she was spotted, he might think she didn't trust him and was stalking him. “No," she told herself, "you are a trained police officer. You know how to remain unseen. I will wear a disguise, and after seeing how he is doing, I will leave, simple as that.” “You know what, Dad, you're right. I will go see him. Thanks for the advice.” “Anytime, starlight. Tell me how it goes,” he replied. “I will, Dad.” Susan hung up the phone, put on her disguise, and left the house on her way to Daniel's workplace.

Happy to see you continuing this story! Great writing! I'm looking forward to more

Great chapter , like the way you are introducing some things in the story ! Especially the parts with the diapers envolve , and I think we gonna see Kelly or zack very soon rsrs

Yes, Becca is one lucky little baby. She may be one of those who has a birth defect that stunts growth, or has been infected with preadolescence disease and adopted by a sweet caring woman - her wife 🥰

Hiii! Crinklz aquanaut! One of my favorites. 🙂😀😃 🧜‍♂️

good story I hope there is more

Welcome

Wow! Finally caught up. Dying 6 times and being brought back with bare wires?! That was hard to read. I'm so happy these nurses care so much for his well being (although it is not a one sided arrangement. They may be getting more from him then they give in the long run, not even considering the time in the townhouse). Is Ian's youth buried in his head waiting to come out or has he not shared it because no one is asking the questions? I know it is coming. Like any good sub Ian is already looking to push the rules. Some really hard spankings coming his way. Tobies is awesome! My cousins live in Carlton MN. We stop at Tobies all the time. Pecan Carmel Rolls are my favorite menu item from there. Another favorite stop is Sportmans Cafe in Mora MN. Grandma used to have a cabin on lake Minniwawa in McGregor MN. The cafe was always a good spot to let us kids out and run a bit. I'm enjoying your story and look forward to more. April

Yay Sarah is back. Now the fun can really begin. I wonder if Rita has had the time to inform Sarah of her thoughts on keeping Vickie in diapers, at least whenever she is around Ian. I was thinking, since they will all be living together then Vickie really won't have that much time away from Ian so I wonder if they will decide that it would be too much of a hassle to put her in panties the few times she is not around Ian or will Vickie forget she's in panties and end on peeing or pooping her panties? I would assume if she did wet or mess her panties that Rita or Sarah would not be pleased with her and probably punish her for it because unlike Ian she is not a baby. I wonder if Rita already has Vickie in a diaper as soon as Vickie got to her office or if she's waiting till they talk to Sarah. I wish we got to see the interaction between Rita and Vickie after they got Ian to work and they had time alone. Did Rita scold her for the way she was acting with Ian, maybe even punish her for the kissing and sexual conduct Vickie did during the treatment or was it just Rita unlocking her diaper and telling her to go home and get some sleep and not even changing her. I bet she was at least wet by that point, if not soaked. I doubt she pooped again after that morning since she is not being breast fed. I wonder if Vickie will end up calling Rita or Sarah Mommy at some point lol. If so it probably would start out as a joke lol. Ian has a lot to overcome at this point, not just his past, but how he is going to be treated in the future.

Chapter seventeen The two boys sat tensely side by side on the school desk. The teacher had handed out the reports and the letters were in the school bag. The classroom was tidied up and the last activities were finished. Everyone in the class was allowed to move on to the next year, but of course they had known this for a while, as the teacher had already had a contact moment with all the parents. The only thing the whole class was paying attention to now was the clock ticking slowly, second by second. Jasper had already packed his stuff for the next day the night before. His rucksack with an empty lunch box and a bottle of water for the day in the park, a sealed envelope with all sorts of boring letters in case of an accident or something, and another biscuit and a piece of fruit for the day. In addition to the rucksack, he had also prepared a small travel bag with things for the overnight and the next day. Toilet articles, towel, fresh clothes,… Helga had made the list and then checked everything. She was proud of Jasper for getting everything done so quickly and smoothly. She had promised to come by after school to bring the stuff and take Jasper’s school bag home. Jasper held his breath. He saw that the second hand was almost up. Four more, three, two, one, “Ting-a-ling!!!” With a big noise that could be heard throughout the school, the students stood up in all the classrooms. Have a nice holiday!" came from all sides, back and forth between teachers and students, and between everyone. Jasper and Dries walked cheerfully out of the school gates through a crowd of other children. Kathy was already waiting for them. Smiling broadly, the two boys headed off on their vacation. The children arrived at Dries’ house. They put down their schoolbags and smiled, wondering what they were going to do for the next few weeks. They had so much time on their hands and so much they wanted to do! Jasper suggested rebuilding the Lego castle. After the dragon destroyed half the castle last time, they had to clean everything up and put it in the bins. Dries thought it was a good idea and together they started laying the foundations, with room in the cellars for dungeons, a forgetting pit and a treasure room. While Dries was building the walls, Jasper was busy making and testing a ballista. They were going to give the Lego dragon a hard time with the castle that was now so well defended. The doorbell rang and Helga was at the door with Jasper’s rucksack and travel bag. Koen opened the door and saw everything. “Glad you’re here. I’ll give you Jasper’s school bag first, so we don’t forget it,” he said, handing it to her. “I came by car to take Jasper’s car seat,” Helga said, “but I couldn’t get it out.” “No problem, I’ll have a look,” Koen said as he walked along. “With the Isofix these days, it should be no problem.” “That is exactly the problem. The chair was already old when we bought it second-hand for Gert. It is now a long time ago. For Jasper I had to ask the mechanic to install it. Celine and I couldn’t do it, the chair doesn’t have the standard Isofix”. Koen looked worried when he heard this. He took a good look at the car seat and indeed it did not have the now standard fastening system that could be attached to the brackets between the seat and backrest. There was a strap over the backrest that was attached to a special attachment point on the back of the car seat. Koen tried, but couldn’t get it off easily. Before looking further, he checked his own car again. There was no attachment point on the back of the seat. “It won’t work with your car seat.” Koen said disappointedly. He didn’t immediately know how to solve the problem. “Do you have a normal booster cushion somewhere?” he asked. “No,” Helga replied. “He only weighs twenty kilos, 44 pounds, and Celine was always against it. She prefers to keep Jasper in a complete chair for as long as possible, for reasons of safety.” “Only twenty kilos, 44 pounds? Dries is just under thirty kilos, 66 pounds.” Koen said in surprise. “Yes, but they are also a bit different in height. Jasper is short, he is only 1m16, 3.8ft.” Koen nodded understandingly. Suddenly he had an idea and went into the storage room. He came out with a car seat. “This car seat belonged to Dries until last year, it is for groups zero to two, up to 25 kilograms, 55 pounds. I wanted to sell it second-hand on the internet, but I haven’t had the time yet. Would Jasper still fit in it?” Helga looked at the chair critically. It was a five-point harness seat. It was a step backwards for Jasper, but the chair looked big enough, safe and comfortable. “This should do it, I think.” Helga said. “Will it be difficult to get him into the car? Then we’ll call Jasper to try it out.” “No, it’s no problem,” Koen replied and clicked the seat into the Isofix on the back seat. “Jasper, can you come down for a minute?” called Helga. “Coming!” cried Jasper and obediently stopped building Lego and came to see his mum. “Would you like to sit in this chair to see if it fits? We can’t transfer our own seat.” Jasper climbed into the car and sat down on the seat. Automatically, he turned to reach over his shoulder for the regular seatbelt. “Wait a minute,” Koen said, taking a step forward. “These straps are still attached to the seat itself.” Koen guided Jasper’s hands through the loops, closed everything with the buckle that hung between Jasper’s legs and pulled the straps to tighten everything. Finally he closed the sternum strap and tilted the seat back a little. “Is this comfortable? Not too tight anywhere?” asked Koen. Helga wanted to see too and checked everything. Jasper’s head didn’t stick out above the headrest, the shoulder straps were at the right height and it wasn’t too wide or too tight all round. “It fits you well, doesn’t it, Jasper?” Helga inquired. Jasper couldn’t help nodding. “Is my own seat really not possible? I’m used to it,” he tried carefully. “No, it won’t work. We can’t get it out of our car.” Koen undid the buckle and helped Jasper out of the car. “Go ahead and play.” Koen took the travel bag and rucksack and said goodbye to Helga. “Have fun tomorrow. When will I see Jasper again?” Helga asked. “We’ll send you something when we’re in the car on the way home, and then you can decide whether to take him home or not and immediately drop him off at your place.” “That’s good, then we’ll agree.” Helga said. “By Jasper, have fun tomorrow!” she called upstairs. Jasper ran back down. “See you tomorrow, Mummy, I love you,” he said, giving his mum a big hug

I missed the actual chapter again. Guess I only glanced at the reply to the comments. Still a fantastic story! Getting down to that final day and I can’t wait to see what happens. If this magic source decides to keep Nicole as a larger baby I hope for Vanessa’s sake it also provides enough of an income so she can stay home and take care of the baby. Finding a daycare is going to be hard .

THE JUNGLE KING Walking across the foyer to Rita's office, Vickie and Ian had to run the usual gauntlet of nurses and orderlies, some of them chatting on their coffee break while others were busy shuffling papers and making notes for the patient files. Even on a Sunday, at mid morning it was very much business as usual on the seventh floor. Vickie was glad that she had taken the time to educate Ian on what awaited them once they left the secure ward. Because they were identically dressed in locking gowns and diaper covers, she had warned him that it was best to go with the teasing that was surely coming their way. Keep a smile on your face, roll with the punches, and don't hesitate to join in the fun. In this unit, she had stressed, wit is a prized commodity. And now he's gone and bested me, she sighed. Leaving the locker room, Ian had slipped to Vickie's left side, and reached out to take her hand. Their ridiculous clothing notwithstanding, as they entered the foyer she was acutely aware that they must look like newlyweds stepping away from the altar. Ian was positively beaming, making no attempt to mask the depth of his feelings for her. And there's a very real possibility that I'm walking on air. Candy's right … I do not do things by half measures. Laughter and sporadic clapping erupted all over the room. The first wolf whistle caused Ian to pause in mid-stride. Taking an impromptu bow, he stepped gracefully aside, bowed a second time in Vickie's direction, and came up clapping as well. He was only too happy to join in, which only added to Vickie's embarrassment. “Hey, Vic,” one of the nurses called out, “I like the look, especially the super thick diaper. No more ruining a productive session for a bathroom break. You can just pee in your pants and be done with it!” “And the way you waddle is so sexy!” One of her friends stood up and wiggled her hips provocatively. “Can you give the rest of us a tutorial on how to look sharp in a wet and messy diaper?” “And it's so egalitarian.” This from one of the orderlies. “Having doctor and patient dress alike really levels the playing field. Is this part of that New Age stuff you were looking into out in San Francisco this summer?” “Sorry to disappoint you, Ron,” Vickie shot back with a huge grin. “I'm still a Jungian through and through … still making it up as I go along.” On impulse, she turned around and offered her inquisitor a bird's eye view of her well padded butt. “Do you like what you see,” she asked, as she looked seductively back over her shoulder, eyelids all a flutter. “You can look, but only Ian gets to touch.” More clapping. It was clear to everyone that, diaper or no diaper, the hive queen was on her game. “Enough already.” Rita was standing in her office doorway, hands on hips; she was exhausted, but still very much in command of her domain. She beckoned for Vickie and Ian to join her. “Park it,” she ordered as she sat down behind her desk. Vickie and Ian took their customary seats. “First things first.” Rita surveyed them both. “Do either of you need a diaper change?” “I'm good for the moment,” Ian replied. “What I would like is the key, so that I can take off this rig.” Vickie simply wanted to file her report, then go home and get some sleep. “Later,” Rita shot back. “If you need to pee, just go ahead and use your diaper. That's what it's for, and a little wetness isn't going to ruin your day.” “Gee, thanks,” Vickie muttered. She was beginning to think that Marge had been playing it straight after all. 'Your welcome.” Rita ignored the sarcasm. “Ian's got a long day ahead of him, and Sarah's already on the road. If things go as planned, she should back in the Cities by six. I expect her to come charging in here, but her message didn't say much, so we'll just have to wait and see. Right now, I want to hear from both of you. Vic, let's cut to the chase: are we making progress?” Vickie frowned. “Are you sure about this,” she asked enigmatically. Delivering an Assessment with the patient in the room was decidedly unorthodox. “Yes, I am.” Rita leaned back in her chair. She appreciated what Vickie was trying to say, and she did not want to do anything confrontational. “Ian is not a patient in the conventional sense, and I believe that he sincerely wants to work with us. He has a good grasp of both the issues and the approach that you're taking, so all things considered, I think that a round table discussion will yield the best results.” “As long as it ends in another visit to the cafeteria, I'm good with whatever the two of you want to do.” Sensing that Rita and Vickie were at odds, Ian had decided to try and defuse the situation by changing the subject to one more to his liking-- food. “Ian, you've had eight bottles of breast milk this morning so far, and there's more in your immediate future. Do you really want to repeat yesterday's blowouts? You're really trying my patience, never mind flaunting Sarah's instructions.” “Eight bottles of breast milk?” Ian blinked, trying to remember, and coming up empty. “Are you sure?” The question was lame, and he knew it. Vickie and Rita both stared at him hard, but it was Vickie who asked the question. “You don't remember, do you?” She reached out gently to clasp his hand. “Do you?” “No … no, I don't.” Ian sank deeper into his chair. “Vickie, this is scary. Friday is gone, and now you're telling me that I'm missing part of this morning-- missing something that I clearly should remember. What …?" “It's okay,” she soothed; “in fact, this is great news! Baby, I want you to do something for me. I want you to close your eyes and try to relax. Take a deep breath and let it slowly go. That's it ...” Ian did his best to comply. “Now, I want you to think about that last night in Hue, when Bian was comforting you. What do you feel when you think about Bian?” “Warmth … love.” Ian's response was instantaneous. “Do you feel pain?” “No, and I should … I have … for so long. Why …?” Ian was becoming visibly agitated, the holes in his psyche becoming more apparent and more frightening by the moment. “Shhh … hush, baby; mommy's here, and mommy loves you with all her heart. It's okay.” Vickie was stroking his arm, trying to calm him down. For the moment, she wanted to keep Princess Poopy Pants submerged. She needed to speak with Ian, not with the little girl who was drawing closer and closer to the surface. “Ian, do you remember us telling you that we wanted to try a new approach, something different while you were sleeping?” “Vaguely.” Ian opened his eyes, recalling a snippet of conversation to which he really had not paid much attention. Vickie stole a glance at Rita, warning her that Ian was about to hear the Assessment. She was not at all sure that this was in her lover's best interest. “Last night, you spent hours reliving what happened in Hue, and you no longer remember the pain because we were able to transfer it to Princess Poopy Pants. She remembers, but she has also let it go because she knows that mommy loves her and will always keep her safe. And you don't remember the breast milk that I fed you in the crib, and you don't remember the breast milk that I fed you just a few minutes ago on the floor because you didn't drink the bottles; Princess Poopy Pants did. Do you understand?” Ian nodded. “I think so. You're saying that I have multiple personalities, and that each personality has its own set of memories.” “Two personalities for sure, and yes, two different memory banks.” “So, I don't have access to the Princess' memories … but it sounds like she has access to mine ...” “Wow! Ian, you catch on quick!” Vickie and Rita were equally impressed. Without prompting, Ian had gone right to the heart of it. “At a guess,” Vickie laughed, “today Princess Poopy Pants is going to be drinking a lot of breast milk, while Major Grady wolfs down the condemned man's famous last meal. Remember, Sarah will be home this evening, and she wants you on a pure breast milk diet-- both of you. Rita and I are just a couple of softies, but Sarah is anything but. Trust me … she's going to keep both of you on the straight and narrow!” “I believe you,” Ian groaned; “I'm not happy about it, but trust me … I do believe you. Anyway, what's the program going forward?” “Oh, you'll love this. Now that Princess Poopy Pants is both able and willing to shoulder your pain, Rita and Sarah are both going to take my place in your crib, diapers and all! We'll repeat last night's exercise until Princess Poopy Pants is certain that all three of her mommies love her absolutely and unconditionally. The Major and the Princess are going to share their lives with three women who are devoted to their well being. You are going to be loved in a way that will scandalize the community, but secretly make you the envy of every man in the state!” And I will punish the Princess for your sins, whatever they may be. It will end when you tell her the truth. Not before. . . . . Rita stopped in the doorway, and softly knocked. Not for the first time, she marveled at Ian's ability to shut out the world and focus so intensely on the job at hand. Technology was clearly not his strong suit, but he kept plugging away. “How's it going,” she asked when he finally looked up. He had four tape recorders in front of him, a crude but effective way of creating the demo for Glenn Albright, a splice that would feature Amos' voice, his own, and the desired special effects. “Slow,” he admitted. “It's the sequencing. The trick is to load the tape with phrases that guys walking perimeter heard out there in the darkness night after night. Don bit on the really obscene stuff, but some of it passed Amos by. I'm trying to find the sweet spot.” “First things, first.” Rita directed him to stand, then unlocked his diaper cover. After two hours, he was due for a diaper check. “You're poopy,” she declared. “So, let's get you cleaned up and changed, then I'll take you to lunch. My treat.” Rita was holding a fresh diaper and baby pants in her hand. “The cafeteria?” “'fraid so.” “Is Vickie coming?” “No. I sent her home, Ian, although I expect her to come back before Sarah arrives. Last night took a lot out of her, emotionally as well as physically. She needs to rest.” “Well, I hope that you got rid of the diaper before sending her on her way.” “I did. But going forward I'm seriously considering making her wear locking diapers whenever the two of you are scheduled to be alone.” “You're kidding, right?” But he could see at a glance that Rita wasn't. “Why?” “Because Sarah tells me that your fingers and tongue are magical, and I'm afraid that the two of you might get carried away. I'm sorry, Ian, but I can't have that. My Director put Marge in this department to sabotage me. He wants me gone because I'm loyal to Professor Lessing, and he wants someone he controls to run the ward. It's a power struggle, and in a sense Marge and I are both pawns that John and Keith are moving around the board.” “Got it,” Ian sighed; “the same old, same old. Talk about a broken record.” “It is what it is,” Rita shrugged. “Look, why don't you get down on the floor, and I'll change you here. It's more private than the changing table down the hall.” Rita spread the diaper out, and Ian eased himself to the floor, the drill familiar to both of them. Removing his diaper cover and vinyl pants, she unpinned the dirty diaper and began cleaning him, using the still dry top of the diaper to start, and finishing with the wet wipes in the pocket of her smock. “It's funny how quickly the mind adjusts,” Ian mused. He was looking up at Rita, whose breasts were swaying within easy reach. “How so,” she asked as she continued to concentrate on getting her patient clean and dry. “I don't even think about changing my own diapers anymore. I just accept that a beautiful and caring nurse will do it for me, and do it without complaint. As hard as it is to believe, to have Sarah, Vickie and you take charge of my life this way … I think that I'm one of the luckiest guys on the planet.” “You are so incredibly sweet.” Rita was smiling down at him, her feelings heartfelt. “I was planning to keep you away from the desserts, but maybe I'll let you have just one.” Ian reached up and gently pulled her down. He kissed her, and Rita kissed him back. “Or two,” she laughed. “Come on, let's get you back under lock and key, get you dressed, and join the maddening crowd. Lunch on Sundays is always pot luck around here. But good, bad, or indifferent, you still have your next four bottles of breast milk on the horizon!” “Can we do two now, and two afterwards?” Ian was resolved to hold up his end of the deal so long as Rita held up hers. “Wait here,” she said, running her fingers through his hair. Ian badly needed a haircut, and the barber shop on the first floor was open on Sundays. Right then and there, Rita decided that if his diaper remained up to the challenge, she would take him for a trim once lunch was out of the way. Rita rushed out of the room, to return a few minutes later with Ian's bottles. She got down on the floor, propped her back against the wall, and patted her lap. Ian happily crawled over to join her. His head cradled in her arm, eyes closed, he began to nurse. Rita had been dreaming of this moment for days. She was not disappointed. . . . . “After lunch, your diaper permitting, I'm going to treat you to a long overdue haircut. Then, I'm going to take you up on your offer.” Rita and Ian were hovering in the entrance to the cafeteria, which was packed. With conversations dying and well over a hundred pairs of eyes turned in their direction, it was obvious that they remained the hospital's star attraction. And what will the rumor mill make of Vickie's absence? Rita spotted Heidi off to their left. She was alternately waving and pointing at the pair of empty chairs that she was clearly holding in reserve. Manny Cepeda was sitting opposite her. Rita waved back. “What offer?” Ian had absolutely no idea what Rita was talking about. “Sorry. It was on Friday morning, just before you … before you collapsed.” Rita grasped Ian by the elbow, and steered him in the direction of the line. “You offered to let me go through your clothes closet. It just occurred to me that you're wearing the same clothes you had on yesterday … the same clothes that you had on when Vickie collected you on Wednesday afternoon. Since you'll be staying here tonight, you'll need clean clothes to wear to class tomorrow. Any requests?” “I'm feeling pink,” Ian teased as he reached for a plate of deviled eggs. “Pink shirt, maroon tie, dark trousers and sport coat. Garment bag in the entryway closet, suitcase in the bedroom. Fresh socks and undershirts would also be much appreciated.” “Consider it done.” Rita opted for a dinner salad and bread sticks. “And just to be on the safe side, I'm going to hit the mall on the way back and get you some new pants. It would not do for a professor to have his trousers fall apart at the seams in the middle of lecture. What size are you wearing right now?” “Thirty-six waist, thirty-two long.” Ian shared Rita's concern for the well-being of his rear end, but it did not stop him from ordering pulled pork and mac 'n cheese. He debated the coleslaw, but reckoned that he'd have a better chance of scoring dessert without it. When it came to crème brulee, he was prepared to make a scene. “I'll try and get you both a thirty-eight and a forty. I'll return the reject next week. Is Penney's okay?” Rita thought that a plate of tuna salad would complement her dinner salad very well. “My go to store,” Ian confessed. “On my salary, a guy has to be cost conscious. But what I'm wearing right now is a good fit with the … uh … with the diapers I get from the service.” “Which Sarah tells me you will be canceling tomorrow. From now on, you will be wearing hospital issue-- at no charge. Think of it as compensation for all the hard work that you're doing on our behalf.” “Sarah's wish is my command,” Ian rather absentmindedly replied. He was scanning the dessert offerings just ahead, and was bitterly disappointed to see that crème brulee was not in the offing. Still, the whipped cream was fresh, and a slice of custard pie looked promising. An iced tea would make a nice finish. Ian loathed coffee, or to put it more accurately, loathed the swill that passed for coffee in the US. Like James Bond, he preferred Turkish coffee, medium sweet. He had never visited MI-6's Station T, or its American equivalent, but he knew Istanbul well. It was a convenient point of departure for his irregular trips behind the Iron Curtain. “This will also give me a chance to look things over … get a feel for what needs to go where-- my place, or storage. We'll check out Sarah's apartment, and Vickie's, in due course. For the time being at least, we need to downsize.” “We'll also be getting rid of some of your stuff,” Ian threw out as he sat down next to Manny, and smiled at Heidi. “With all due respect, your stereo sucks.” “I've heard this conversation before,” Heidi laughed. “The old two apartments can't fit into one-- or in this case, three apartments can't fit into one fully furnished townhouse.” “I missed it,” Manny laughed. “Estrellita was still living at home with her parents, who were hard pressed to keep her out of mischief! My version involved three small kids sharing one bedroom, and a lot of hand-me-downs.” “Where's Vic,” Manny went on. “You two look lost without her.” “Home getting her beauty sleep. She was up most of the night working with Ian, and she wants to be fresh when she welcomes Sarah home. She should be here around six.” “Is she stopping at Tobies,” he asked hopefully. “I could use a dozen of the caramel pecan rolls, and two full trays of the walnut potica. My guys expect the best for our subterranean holiday festivities.” Travelers between Duluth and the Twin Cities had been stopping in Hinckley for two generations, the slovak delicacies flowing out of the bakery unarguably the finest in the whole of the upper Midwest. “Not sure,” Rita shrugged. “But if she calls from Duluth, I'll place your order-- along with my department's.” “And mine,” Heidi joined in. “Aren't credit cards wonderful,” Manny grinned. “Rita, give me a shout, and I'll call the restaurant. I know someone in the kitchen, and can guarantee the order will be ready and waiting when Sarah shows up. We don't want to hold her up any longer than necessary.” “Manny,” Heidi smiled, “what are the odds that you know someone in the kitchen of every popular restaurant in this state?” “Yeah, I've even got a cousin working in the kitchen of your faculty club, Major. Which reminds me. The guys wanted me to be sure and ask you to come join us for our Christmas to-dos. Rita and Heidi both know the way, and all of the ladies in your life are welcome to join us. We promise to keep it reasonably civilized.” “I'll run it by Sarah,” Ian promised. “But it's her call. She makes all of my decisions for me, and that includes who I hang out with. Will Amos and Andy be there?” “But of course. They're regulars, just like Rita and Vic. Our parties are legendary.” “How about you, Heidi? Do wives attend, with or without husbands in attendance?” “Building Services also hosts a family Christmas party, Ian, right here in the cafeteria. There's lots of games and food, and presents for the children. Andrew dresses up as Santa Claus, and Amos as one of the elves!” Ian helped himself to a deviled egg before sliding the plate into the middle of the table. Everyone helped themselves, getting lunch underway. Midway through the meal, Manny furtively looked around, then leaned in Ian's direction. “Major, there's something I've gotta ask you; I just hope it's okay.” Manny's voice was low, but still loud enough for Rita and Heidi to overhear. “On Saturday night, a lot of the guys are regulars at their VFW's, and what with the bars being open until one, a lot of beer and booze gets drunk, and some pretty wild war stories sometimes get tossed into the mix. Anyway, some of the guys were talking about you and what you've been doing here, how you speak the language and all. And they got … what do ya call it … feedback? In more than one bar. Street Racer. Guys were saying … yeah, you're talking about Street Racer. Rode into battle on an elephant, and instead of wearing a flak jacket, had this mile long snake wrapped around his chest ...” “Toby and Pete,” Ian sheepishly admitted. He glanced sideways at Heidi and Rita. The amazed looks on their faces said it all. “Your pals must have been talking to some retired chopper guys. Elephants and water buffalo got hauled around a lot in slings; some of the stick jockeys were so good that they could land Toby on his feet, detach the sling, and he'd just walk off.” “Then it's true,” Manny squeaked. “What, were you … like … I don't know … dropping acid or something?” Ian decisively shook his head. “Psychological warfare. Elephants are revered throughout Southeast Asia, which didn't prevent either side from deploying them. As Alexander the Great discovered to his detriment a long time ago, they can have a decisive impact on the battlefield, in no small part because of their size. When they start throwing their weight around, the enemy tends to scatter and run.” Ian took a sip of his iced tea. “You should have seen Toby in action, Manny.” Ian was reminiscing, dipping into cherished memories. “Charging down this week's version of the Ho Chi Minh trail, trumpeting his war cry-- Burmese war elephants can be heard a long way off in the jungle, and little things like trees won't even slow them down. He was a force to be reckoned with … a force of nature. Still is.” “He's still alive?” “Yeah … him and Pete both. They're in northern Thailand … a village just west of Chiang Rai. Toby works on construction sites in the city, although his real job is entertaining kids. It's a mutual love affair. As for Pete? What can I say? He's a twentyone foot, two hundred pound python that I raised from when he was a hatchling. The last time we went into battle together, he was close to four years old, twelve feet long, and weighed over fifty pounds. He wrapped his body around my chest, but his head was resting between Toby's ears. Charging through the jungle, the three of us made quite a sight.” Ian looked up, his eyes full of merriment. “Rita, you'd like Pete. He's a full-fledged alcoholic. He'll make do with Singha, but his beer of choice is Heineken. I just pop the cap, give him the bottle, and he drinks it all down in one go. There's not a guy on this planet who could outdrink Pete!” “But you've tried,” Rita surmised. “Never came close to holding my own.” Ian ladled whipped cream onto his slice of custard pie, and dug in. “Strictly an amateur.” Suddenly, he put his fork down, and turned very serious. “Toby and Pete are family, Rita; I need you to understand that. After I resigned my commission, I went back out there in no small part to arrange a home for them both. I still go back every year, to make sure that they are being well treated. This one's principle, Rita.” “So that's why ...” Rita turned to Heidi, who had heard the steel in Ian's voice, but had no idea what this was all about. She looked as lost as she felt. “Ian told Phil Kettering, one of the troubled vets in our secure ward, that he went back to Viet Nam after he left the army to attend to unfinished business, but he never explained what it was about. Now we know at least a part of it.” “The whole of it.” Ian was still looking at her steadily, and for the first time Rita grasped what her orderlies meant when they talked about command presence. She could see it in his eyes, but more than that, she could feel it. This was a man who made life and death decisions for the troops following him into battle, and he did not make those decisions lightly. “Toby, Pete, the men in my company, their families. I went back to make sure that everyone had a good billet. We really were a band of brothers.” “Amen.” Manny never missed a reunion. He knew exactly what the Major was talking about. A band of brothers. They attended funerals and, once a year, they gathered to commemorate an experience that they couldn't really share with anyone else. . . . . “You look better,” Rita observed. “I was getting shaggy,” Ian admitted as he studied himself in the mirror. The barber had done a good job. “Here's the key to my apartment. I take it that you know the address?” “Been in the building a few times,” Rita acknowledged. “No word from Sarah?” “Not yet. Think you can finish today?” Ian nodded. “It will be kind of an audio rough draft, but I'll have something for you.” “I'm proud of you, Ian. You work hard, you keep your promises … even the one about drinking breast milk. No complaints, which makes cradling you in my arms and feeding you your ba bas very, very special for me. Now, tell me the truth: is it getting easier for you?” “Not really. Rita, I certainly have a sweet tooth, but even by my standards breast milk is way over the top. Are you sure that this stuff is healthy in the amount you're feeding me?” “It is,” Rita confirmed, “although Sofia-- Sarah's mother-- says that the four of us will need to take supplements. What's really odd is that Princess Poopy Pants loves her ba bas; no matter how much breast milk we feed her, she craves more.” “Thank God for split personalities,” Ian laughed. “The Princess gets the breast milk, and I get the steaks and chops.” “Sorry, but Sarah is adamant about this. Two personalities in one body, and the body is going to be breast milk dependent. The Major will just have to find a way to cope with a fate worse than death-- being cradled in the arms of three women daily, nursing at their boobs, giving them mind blowing orgasms, and wondering all the while what pleasure, if any, might await him in return. Before you decide to let the Princess take over, you might want to think about the consequences: baby girls do not have sex. Princess Poopy Pants will be forever chaste. If that's what you want ...” Ian grimaced. Perpetual chastity was most definitely not what he wanted. After Rita left for his apartment, he resumed working on the recording, with regular breaks for poopy diaper changes now being administered by Martha Benson, the second shift charge nurse. Rita had described her as somewhat older, and as kind hearted as she was efficient. Ian took to her instantly; if the ward had a mother hen, he reckoned that Martha was it. On the changing table, relaxing while she took her time powdering his behind, he let his mind wander off to plot what were euphemistically known in the trade as “evasive maneuvers.” Late afternoon lectures campus wide, with wine and hors d'oeuvres in abundance, were looking more and more promising. The trick was going to be neutralizing his secretary, now slated to become his on campus baby sitter. He liked Amy; indeed, he had already taken her out for drinks after work on several Friday afternoons, and a couple of those outings had turned into dinner, one of which had ended with him in her bed, making love until the sun was well over the yardarm on Saturday morning. The thought of Amy Reynolds joining the Circle, and disclosing the complete contents of his personnel file, sent shivers down Ian's spine. . . . . “I'm back,” Rita announced as she came through the door. “I took the liberty of collecting your mail … nothing looks pressing except the phone bill. I left it on the desk alongside your blue books. Oh, and I took the liberty of buying you a new tie; the maroon one that you mentioned has definitely seen better days.” “Tank yu,” aunt Rita.” Ian had a big grin on his face. “All my mommies take such good care of me!” “You're welcome, baby; now it's time for your mid-afternoon snack-- four warm ba bas with your yummy breast milk!” Rita had an equally big grin on her face. She got down on the floor once more, back again pressed against the wall. Ian dropped to her side, and lowered his head into her lap. In a matter of moments, once again cradled in her arms, he began noisily sucking on his bottle. “Slow down, baby,” Rita cautioned; “you are taking in way too much air. You don't want a tummy ache, do you?” He didn't, so he slowed his pace dramatically. “You're right about your stereo,” she went on; “it's definitely a keeper. And I love the paintings … well, all but the one of the sea giving up its dead. That one's creepy, but the other three are destined for my living room. For the time being your furniture, such as it is, can go into storage. Oh, and we need to start drawing up the notifications. These days, everybody wants thirty days notice.” “What about my diaper service,” Ian asked as Rita prepped his second bottle. He kept raising the question because the hospital diapers struck him as overkill. Indeed, he wondered if their real purpose was to keep him chaste. The material was so thick, and the four pin method made them so snug, that he was no longer able to masturbate. When he had been diapering himself with the thinner diapers supplied by the service, and using only two pins, this had not been a problem. And besides, this is a lousy thing to do to Harriet. She's kind, and she's gone way out of her way to be supportive. And I really enjoyed our date, even if it was spur of the moment. Harriet Belmondo, whom Ian reckoned to be several years his junior, ran the diaper service. To avoid the embarrassment of leaving two bags of soiled diapers outside his apartment door on Wednesday mornings-- diapers that would be sitting there in full view of anyone walking down the corridor for hours on end-- he had asked Harriet if he could drive out and deliver them personally, which in practice meant dropping them off at her desk. She had agreed without hesitation, and had not even been angry on the one occasion when he was held up in traffic and only got there as she was closing up for the day. He had asked her to dinner by way of an apology, and she had accepted right then and there. Italian to the core, she had guided him to a restaurant in the far northern suburbs that specialized in Bolognese, Ian's favorite regional cuisine. The chef was a cousin, the menu extensive, the dishes superb, and each was delighted to discover that the other spoke fluent Italian. Granted, Ian had had a hard time wading through her Neapolitan dialect, but then she had laughingly pointed out that his Milanese accent really did make him sound like a college professor. It had been a great evening, helped along by a couple of bottles of an excellent Valpolicella. But Ian wasn't Catholic, and then his car had died. It was back to square one. “I'm sorry, baby, but you need to cancel it tomorrow. Our diapers are bigger, thicker, and afford you much better protection. Granted, they make you waddle a bit, like a toddler still learning to walk, but that's a small price to pay for the added security. Your mommies do not want you embarrassing yourself in front of your class. Back turned, writing on the blackboard … a leaky diaper is going to be visible to everyone in the room. So … no … we can't keep all those cute coeds from tittering over your well padded butt, but we can make sure that it's not a leaky diaper that's turning them on!” Ian dutifully finished the rest of his bottles, and then Rita burped him, using one of the diapers from his service as a burp cloth. She had no idea why, but the image of Ian with his head on her shoulder, burping up a trail of undigested breast milk, really turned her on. She wanted Ian out of his apartment and moved into her townhome at the earliest opportunity. He would no longer require a bed; she had already put an order into stores for a crib and changing table to be delivered and set up in his makeshift nursery, a windowless alcove that she never used except for storage. “You know one thing that puzzles us, baby, is your love affair with restraints. Is this a fetish that we should know about?” “A fetish? Don't think so.” “But you never resist being put in restraints, while the average patient puts up one hell of a fight!” Nodding his head, Ian could only chuckle. “Aunt Rita, did it ever occur to you simply to ask me? There's no mystery here.” “Go on.” “I'm a side sleeper, aunt Rita, but three of my last four sciatica attacks have started in bed … twisting when I'm rolling over in my sleep. The restraints pin me on my back, which keeps me safe. So please, pretty please … keep me restrained!” Rita dramatically slapped the side of her head with an open palm. “Silly me,” she said with feigned sincerity. “I should have asked you, but I'm simply not used to having patients be as cooperative as you are. Restraints it will be!” A side sleeper indeed! Now, where can I find an adult sized high chair? Complete with restraints … . . . . Sarah stumbled out of her car, and leaned against the side. After nine hours on the road she was stiff and sore, but she hoped that the long walk from the car park to the elevator would get the blood flowing and loosen up tired muscles. She had stopped only twice, and heading west on the treacherous two lane between Ashland and Superior had required her to keep an iron grip on the steering wheel at all times. She needed rest, but first things first. Reaching the ward, Sarah entered the six digit code, hoping that it hadn't been changed in her absence. It hadn't. Unbuttoning her heavy winter coat as she went, Sarah headed straight for Rita's office. She was relieved to see that both Rita and Vickie were waiting, obviously anticipating her arrival. Shucking her coat and leaving it to drop unattended on the floor, Sarah hugged Vickie and then Rita. It was good to be home. “And how's OUR baby,” she asked as her eyes moved back and forth between them, the emphasis on the one word making clear the decision that she had made. “Still hard at work,” Rita offered. “Probably poopy,” Vickie grinned, “and definitely due for another round of nice warm ba bas! We've been waiting for you to get here to do the honors!” Taking her by the hand, Rita led Sarah out of her office and across the foyer to a closed door. She opened it and stood aside, silently bidding Sarah to enter. As she did so, she could see that Ian was hovering over a brace of tape recorders, his concentration intense. Rita closed the door quietly behind her. “Does someone need his diapee changed,” she asked in a neutral voice. Taken by surprise, Ian looked up, then jumped to his feet. “MOMMY,” he shouted as he rushed into her waiting arms.

Part Seventeen For the most part, Ashley was the calculating type. Being popular wasn’t just about being the richest girl, or the prettiest girl, or even the most confident girl at school. While Ashley was rich and pretty and popular, she was also self aware and realistic. It would be foolishly vain to believe that she outclassed the other Westridge girls in any of those categories. Almost every student at the boarding school had some degree of wealth, which meant the other two qualities weren’t far behind. At least, for the families like hers that put pressure on appearances and social interactions. Ashley, however, was unique in the fact that she went the extra mile to stay on top. Studying other girls; going so far as to take notes to review later. Avoiding confrontations; it was easier to carefully gossip here and there to gradually take another girl down, but in a way where it wouldn’t be traced back to her. And finally, surrounding herself with classmates she considered potential threats. Instead of waiting for them to become a problem, Ashley opted to keep them close and let them enjoy the taste of popularity while believing that it was Ashley herself who made it possible. Most importantly, she made herself trustworthy. In the movies, the top dog is always some bitch who berates and demeans the other girls to keep them in line. Ashley chose the opposite approach for real life. Aside from a casual backhanded compliment every now and then, the dark haired girl gave off a more approachable aura. Similar to the way she was eventually left alone in the front office via trust, she also gradually became the assumed secret keeper, advisor, and protector to her friends. It put her in a position where everyone relied on her, but also knew that crossing her would result in too much fallout if it ever came to that. Enter Millie. The blonde college grad was a fucking twig, and fairly short even with the assistance of heels. Not only that, but she also looked like a lost lamb when crossing through the threshold of the office’s door. Certainly not the kind of young woman who could control a room full of entitled teenage girls. In fact, if the little blonde wasn’t all dressed up for an interview, she wouldn’t look that different from most of the other academy girls. Ashley decided to go for it. It was a lot more impulsive than her usual mode of operation, especially since an administrator could walk in at any moment. But as Ashley lied through her teeth, she realized that it actually wasn’t that risky. Worst case scenario, she could play it off as a joke. Or a mistake in the system, depending on the adult. Ashley had worked in the office long enough to trust herself to think on her feet. Thankfully, it never came to that, and she convinced Amelia to leave and come back another day. In other words, to give Ashley time to prepare. It was an absolutely crazy idea, one that she wasn’t sure that she could pull off. But if it worked . . . The paperwork was easy. Thanks to Ashley’s ‘helpful’ tip, the faxed registration form arrived when everyone in the office was having lunch and she was once again the only one in the room. The paper version submitted by Amelia would never make it to the school’s records. Its only purpose was to give Ashley the information she needed. Opening an electronic version on the computer in front of her, the dark haired girl smirked to herself and began transferring all the relevant details. It had taken her quite some time to decide on a suitable grade for little Millie. Could the young adult pass for a middle school girl? She was the right size, but there was still an air of maturity that would make it a hard sell. Ultimately, Ashley decided to go for it. If the school uniform could be involved, that would surely offset any adult mannerisms. Amelia would be thirteen years old. Old enough to have a bit of boob, but young enough to not be taken seriously in the slightest. And, just for fun, she would be called ‘Millie.’ The perfect name for a transfer girl on scholarship. And the perfect name to add to the image that Ashley was aiming for. Ashley only shared her scheme with one other person–Claire. The tall brunette was easily the best choice. Just like Millie would look years younger when dressed like a schoolgirl, Claire could pull off a more mature look when wearing the right combination of clothes and make-up. Not only that, but Claire could keep a secret and had a great poker face. Between Ashley’s excessive editing of the registration form and Claire’s fake interview, all the pieces would be in place for Millie to spend a full day at Westridge Academy as a new student without even realizing it. And it actually worked. By setting the interview at 5:30 on a Friday–thirty minutes after the work day in which most administrators left early, and a good two hours after the last class of the day–no one was around to notice that Claire was borrowing an office at the end of the hall. Posing as Mrs. Thompson, after Ashley switched the names on the office doors, Claire convinced the unsuspecting applicant to come back and spend a day as a new student in full uniform. Just for good measure, Ashley changed the girl’s last name to ‘Roberts.’ Setting it up so they were cousins meant that it would be easier for her to get out of a few classes in order to show her dear younger relative around the campus. After all, changing schools in the middle of the year is quite a big transition. Having a familiar face on the first day would help Millie feel more comfortable. And, since it was Ashley’s home turf, it was all too easy to confiscate the small blonde’s possessions before her aptitude test. Once all was said and done, Millie looked so CUTE. Honestly, once Millie swapped out her heels for a pair of used flats, she probably could have physically passed for a twelve year old. However, thirteen was still the right call, as the girl’s hair and make-up were just enough to give her a slightly older look. Next, came the biggest wild card of the day. Ashley passed off her ‘little cousin’ to Mrs. Lewis. Aside from introducing Millie as a new student, there wasn’t anything else she could do. Ashley just headed to class, touched base with Claire, and prayed. Between the aptitude test and the advisor meeting, little Millie would be alone with two separate adults. The good news was, Ashley had added plenty of negative things to Millie’s registration form when she transferred the physical version to the computer. Rather than the straight-A student that the petite blonde really was when she was younger, the newly thirteen year old Millie was now a straight-B student. And a B student at a public school is basically a C student at Westridge. On top of that, she was oh so troublesome. A handful of detentions, issues with authority; ‘compulsive liar’ was on the list as well, to undermine any adult truths that the new transfer student might be tempted to tell if she figured out the game Ashley was playing. After dropping Millie off for her test, Ashley could barely concentrate as she sat in the back row with Claire and another friend of theirs. First, Mrs. Lewis would oversee the aptitude test. Then, Ms. Song would put together a schedule for the girl based on both the test and the falsified registration form Ashley has submitted to the school’s system. Unfortunately, Ashley had a different advisor, so she couldn’t do any foundational work as Millie’s ‘older cousin’ before the meeting on Monday. Even though she spoke to Ms. Song every now and then in the front office, Ashley didn’t know whether or not Millie would even go for the ‘first day experience’ idea until after Claire’s Friday meeting. So many questions. How well did Millie do on the aptitude test? Was Ms. Song able to define all the expectations of a proper Westridge student without Millie catching on? If the little blonde did figure out what was happening, would she be able to slam on the brakes? All the phone numbers on the registration form had been changed, and Ashley had hidden away the phone and wallet that would more easily be able to prove Amelia’s real age. But if Ms. Song indulged the girl and let her use an office phone with a memorized number, this whole thing was over. Finally, after the longest history class of her life, Ashley was called down to the main office. To give Millie a tour of the campus, as originally planned. Or to face the music, if her not fully calculated idea failed. Ashley shot Claire a confident wink, to assert that she wasn’t nervous in the slightest, and then went to see how everything played out in her absence. ----------------------- Check out my website: www.ladyluciastories.com And read more of "The Teaching Assistant" (40+ parts) and other stories on my Patreon: patreon.com/user?u=73056590

Dawn of the final day I am on the edge of my seat. 😩

I've stated before that one of the concerns of people who are new to being back in diapers, specifically, the noises they make, is largely exaggerated. My diaper used to sound like it echoed to me, under certain circumstances, such as walking down the quiet hallway of my parents' apartment building, or being out on my driveway with the dog at 11 PM. However, nobody seems to notice, basically ever - I think that we become attuned to the crinkling noises, because most of us here have "diaper radar" - we compile clues and add two plus two together to get four, whereas the unsuspecting, innocent public for the most part does not. However, apparently they are audible, under certain circumstances. Specifically, last night, when I was trying to sneak up on and startle my daughter. She had filled a water bottle in the kitchen, but then forgotten about it, and was now watching TV in the living room, sitting on a couch that kind of floats in the middle of the room, creating a divide between the TV area and an area that is more of a sitting room, with chairs and bookshelves. I used to play a game on her where I would try to sneak up and startle her, and she'd do it to me as well, when sitting on that couch - there is an entrance to the room behind the couch, and if the lights are low, and you move slowly, it is possible to enter the room unnoticed. So, when my wife asked me if I'd bring the water bottle to my daughter, I decided to take the long way around, just to see if that old game could be revived once more. Sure enough, she was sitting in the living room, in the middle of the floating couch, watching something, with most of the lights off. Ergo, I went into ultimate stealth mode, attempting to become an F35 as I crept in with the water bottle, to try and time a "BOO!" to a tense moment in the narrative, if I could. It worked all the time back when she was 11. I slipped my slippers off, going with socked feet for absolute silence. I took about 6 minutes to cross 12 feet of flooring, muting even my breath. I think you can see where this is going. I was almost within striking distance of the back of the couch, when she said "Dad, I can hear your diaper." I was wearing a Critter Caboose. The Caboose is neither the quietest nor the loudest plastic diaper on the market - it sounds like most other plastic diapers. I thought my snail's pace would keep its noises to a minimum, but apparently, even operating at a crawl, the crinkling was sufficient to be heard over the volume of her show. I guess I've learned to tune it out. Duly noted.

Thanks so much!!!!! I also LOVE Northshore! I just placed an order for more of the new Megamax Airlocks as they are pretty fabulous in my opinion!! I love the cloth and landing zone during the daytime.

I ended up seeing something on Facebook that was pretty funny: since Mikey posted something about bills, the thing that was funny was it said: "I don't have bills anymore, they've grown up I call them William's" 😁😁😁😁😂😂🤣🤣 Brian

Chapter 50: Sticking Out BETH AND HER friends had all quietly shared their observations of horror when they realized the Littles were all in trouble for something. “Beth, why don’t we get out of here?” Reila suggested. “I really don’t like some of the looks we’re getting.” Beth hated to admit it, but it felt like there was a sudden discomfort for her, with now being the shortest people in the room. It seemed like most of the other Tweeners were all getting the same idea and heading out, too. Just before she got to her dorm, her phone buzzed, and she looked at it. Heads up, you have guests in your room. They’re safe but need to talk with you; call us afterward. Love, Dad “What the hell?” asked aloud. “Huh?” Livy responded. “Something else is happening in my room, but my parents are okay with it.” “Do you want us to come with you?” Reila asked, even as Beth could tell she wanted nothing of the sort. She shook her head, “No, Dad says it’s safe…” Both of them gave her quick hugs and split off as she came to her room where her door was open, and she found Penelope, President Barnes, and… Amanda?!? “Umm… Hi? Can I help you?” “Good evening, Miss Sylvester. I’m glad we caught you,” Barnes said. “Umm… okay?” Amanda took over, “Your parents asked me to be here for this meeting,” she told her. “Since I’m a professor here and a family friend.” “What’s going on?” She asked. “The incident at the end of last week has your parents understandably concerned in regards to pranks going too far…” He started. “Pranks?!?” She hissed but kept her voice reasonable. “Someone is making a really good attempt to run me out of here!” Amanda said, “Yes, I would say we are well past prank status here, Ryan.” He looked at her, and Beth suddenly understood that Amanda may have been even more invaluable of an ally than her father was. She couldn’t imagine many people calling the university president by his first name. She rarely even heard a simple ‘Doctor Barnes’ being used! “Perhaps you are right; I shouldn’t have worded it that way… Be it whatever it is, it’s clear that you are being bullied by someone. We have investigated multiple people, but whoever has hacked into our systems and allowed the previous student access to your room or student records this past time is so far unknown. Your parents made what I would consider a bit of an… unusual… request in having a HoloAssistant for you.” “I don’t…” “Need one? Yes, I’m guessing you don’t. But I think they want someone who can monitor your room while you’re out? And, let’s be honest, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind having something to clean up and do laundry for you?” He shook his head, “I sure would have when I was single…?” He sighed, “Anyway, it’s approved, and I’ll leave that to Amanda here to set up. I do want to say with Penelope present, any further incidents will not be tolerated by others. We will get to the bottom of who’s behind these issues.” “I promise there won’t be a repeat of what you dealt with when Desi came,” Penelope said. “We’ve met with all of the R.D.s and made everyone aware of this while dealing with other problems. They’ve all been told that if anything happens, it goes directly to me or President Barnes.” “What about Tracy?” Beth asked. She shrugged, “From what we can tell, she was just following policy. She received the notification that you were having potty issues and were required to wear protection at all times. Students in that situation in a regular dorm are required to stay in on weekends and not attend parties or off-campus.” Beth just shrugged, “If you’re sure…” She paused before saying, “I guess thank you for your help and for coming by,” she said. “You’re welcome,” they said, and soon it was just Amanda and her in the room. “I’m sorry you’re dealing with this, Beth,” she told her. “I’m currently looking more into the records hacking myself; hopefully, I’ll have more luck than they’ve had so far.” “Thanks,” Beth said. “Anyway, it’s time to introduce you to R.A.C.H.E.L.!” She watched as Amanda pushed a button on an emitter setup that she appeared to have physically attached to a wall. A tall woman about Amanda’s height suddenly appeared. “Hello, I am R.A.C.H.E.L., your new Robotic Assistant for Childcare, Housekeeping, Education, and Learning!” She looked at Amanda, “I believe you must be my owner?” “No, Rachel, this is Beth. She is your owner.” The assistant looked down at her and said, “Oh, are you in need of special care for some reason?” Beth wanted to slap the A.I. but said, “No, I need someone to ensure nothing happens to me when I’m in my room. I’ve been dealing with attempts to attack my maturity and need you to guard the room and defend me should anyone try and say I’m having potty problems.” “That will be no problem at all, Beth! I’m also happy to help if you do have potty problems! Changing diapers or guiding you to potty times is well within my programming.” “That will not be necessary,” Amanda told the A.I. “Beth is an adult, and you will treat her as such. Only she or I may change that status with a verbal command verified by the other person.” “Yes, ma’am,” the A.I. said. “In the meantime, I suppose I can help clean up around here, too? It looks like your room hasn’t been dusted or deep-cleaned in some time?” “Sure, Rachel, that would be fine, just don’t throw away any of my things without asking me first,” she added. She remembered one time an A.I. back home had thrown away a set of pages she’d been coloring as a kid. The last thing she wanted was for the A.I. to throw away a project or her homework! Amanda hugged Beth, “I know this seems a bit over the top, but I’ve added some additional programming here to help protect you. Hopefully, this all dies down soon.” “If it doesn’t?” Beth asked. “You know you’re not a Little; you could come live with us and commute?” she suggested. “That’s a long commute each day?” “I did it for many years, and it’s a pain, but you have Luxuria service anyway, right?” Beth nodded, “I’ll think about it.” “By the way, you are coming back to our place next weekend.” “I am?” “You are! How else will you get to hang out with your boyfriend?” “How…?” She wanted to ask, but Amanda was already out the door. “Guess we don’t have to worry about telling her!” She thought. Rachel was occupying herself and taking a fair amount of space in the room as she noiselessly found every speck of dust and straightened her room. Beth sighed, ignoring her, and got to studying. She’d been given many practice problems and reading to do and knew she needed to get to it! I WOKE UP to the hands of Mackenzie, massaging my back as she sat me down on the changing table. “Good morning, Sweetie,” she said with a smile, “I assume you still want to go swimming?” I nodded, “Please, and thanks! I didn’t know if I would still be allowed?” “You weren’t here over the weekend; I hated even making you have the early bedtime last night. But that’s effective for every Little for the next two weeks.” I grimaced, “That’s going to make it hard to find time to study.” “If it’s something really important, tell me, and I’ll try and find a way out like we did the other night,” she told me. “Now, let’s check on your diaper. So far, you’re the only one staying dry in the entire dorm!” She pulled the zipper down, and I could certainly feel a full bladder. “Still good!” she smiled. “Let’s get you on the potty so you can stay that way.” The morning repeated what we had been doing until I got out of the pool, and another nest mother was coming in. “Why’s he down here? They’re all grounded!” she hissed. “Connor wasn’t on campus this weekend; he literally had nothing to do with it all.” “Kenzie, you need to be smart with this…” she almost growled, “You both could get in trouble?” “My nest, my rules,” she said. “I don’t say anything about what you do with yours?” There was a bit of a staring contest, but she stopped arguing, and Mackenzie took me upstairs to shower while she did the same. When I was finished and ready to get dressed, I couldn’t find any of my Pull-Ups! I kept the towel wrapped around me until she came out, “Where are my Pull-Ups?” She grimaced, “Sorry, Connor, but I have to keep track of Pull-Ups for everyone wearing them… which is only you now. Let me get it for you.” I watched her actually have to unlock a cabinet and pull one out. “Come here. I want to take care of this before I wake the others up.” She picked me up and stood me on the changing table, pulling the blue garment up my legs and leaving it where I was proudly displaying the childish garment to the world. I thought she would let me down, but she said, “Lay down for just a second for me here?” I complied, and for a moment, I wondered why I was lying down like I was having a diaper change, but she dug out something and pushed an odd little plastic ribbon to the Pull-Up. She kept her hand holding me down, gently dug her phone out, and waved it over the device. There was a beep from her phone, and I watched her type for a second. “What’s that?” I asked her. “Insurance,” she told me. “Huh?” I asked. “Don’t worry about it... hopefully, you won’t need to worry about it.” “That’s not a good way to get me to not worry about it,” I grumbled as I walked back to my desk and decided to take advantage of the hour of waking up the others to study! At one point, my attention was drawn to the potty chart wall, and I felt myself double-take as I realized it was bare except one chart. Mine! As the guys were getting up and taking their turns with diaper changes, I couldn’t help but note glares directed at me. Jack was getting changed, “Where did our potty charts all go?” “In the recycling bin,” Mackenzie said as she held his feet in the air, “none of you are going to be using a big-boy potty until at least summer at this point.” “That’s not fair!” he complained. “It’s supposed to be after so many weeks! They just talked about that again recently!” “Sorry baby, those are the new rules after your friends were bad the other day.” “But something you all showed us made us have accidents…? It had to have been that movie!” “We were there and watched the same movie?” Mackenzie told him, “I know you, Littles, have urban legends about us magically taking your potty training away, but sometimes you have to just accept you aren’t ready for the potty. It’s okay. We’ll be happy to change your diapers here and at the changing stations! Plus, think about how much time you won’t have to waste leaving classes to find a potty you can reach!” As Jack walked away from the table in his uniform, it was clear he was not happy about any of it! I felt daggers in my back as I used the bathroom again before we left for breakfast, and Mackenzie checked my Pull-Up and announced, ‘What a big boy!’ I was relieved when I saw Beth and Cassie sitting at a table, “Can I join you guys?” I asked. “Sure,” Cassie said. She smirked, “I think someone would be grumpy if I said no,” and nodded towards Beth. I smiled at Beth, who I slid beside after putting together my booster. She gave me a quick sideways hug and said, “We’re going to have to find other places to get together… I just need to vent; last night sucked!” “Tell me about it,” I told her, “I’m the only Little still in Pull-Ups.” “The only one?!?” She hissed. I nodded, “Mackenzie tore down everyone else’s potty charts after we went to bed last night! I’m a little nervous about some of the glares I was getting.” “Be careful,” Cassie said, “I’ve heard of nests getting catty before.” Beth nodded, “Well, at least you don’t have a full-time holographic nanny looking over your shoulders in your room?” “I just have a real one, unfortunately,” I told her. She nodded with a sigh, “You’re right.” “What do you mean by that?” Cassie asked. Beth filled us both in on her holo-protector nanny, and I did feel a bit bad for her if anyone found out about it. “At least as long as she’s in your room, you should be safe,” Cassie said. I nodded. I looked at my phone, “I guess I need to head to class.” “I’ll walk with you out,” Beth said with a smile. When we had left the building, I walked closely beside her. If we were the same height, I would have reached over to try and hold her hand, but given our height differences, I was afraid that would be weird. Instead, she took her hand and rubbed my shoulder as we walked. When we reached a path we needed to split off, she said, “Have a good class. I’ll try and catch you for lunch?” I nodded, “I have to leave early for that seminar.” “I’ll get there right after this class,” she smiled. “Great!” I said and walked to my screenwriting class. “Good morning!” Doctor Gibney said to us a short while later. “Today, we will discuss some of the nuances of stage directions in a script. Many times…” I took notes and paid attention to examples from our professor as the lecture went on. I noticed that there seemed to be a good chunk of the class skipping that day, which, given the project being due on Thursday, I assumed meant they were mainly concerned with that. To my great joy, Kelly was one of my absent classmates! At the end of class, he said, “I’ve received completed scripts from just one of you so far. Make sure you have those done by Thursday! If you want to have a chance of your script being filmed, I recommend having it in on Wednesday by midnight. I know they’ll discuss how they choose scripts in the film class this afternoon.” He smiled, “If no one has any questions, we’ll end class a few minutes early today!” I was helped down and packing things up when he approached me, “Connor, I am really impressed with your script. I’m hopeful one of the groups here will film it, maybe even yours?” “I’d like to think so, but we’ll see what happens?” I told him. “I have a feeling yours will get made one way or another. Good work!” “Thanks,” I said. I talked casually with some classmates but exited quickly and found the bathroom. I used it and then again noted the thing Mackenzie had attached to the front of my Pull-Up. ‘I’ll have to look it up later,’ I thought. BETH WAS GRATEFUL that her Signals and Systems class was improving for her now that she’d spent some time studying with Connor. Being woken up by Rachel instead of an alarm clock this morning had been an unexpected surprise. The holographic aid shook her shoulder gently like her mom and dad used to do to get her up back home instead of her alarm clock going off. ‘Still do,’ she thought, a little embarrassed. Three Littles were in her class, and she knew they stuck together to help each other. As they’d been waiting for class, she’d listened to a conversation. “I’m telling you, it had to have been the movie Friday night?” the one girl said. “The nest mothers were with us!” one of the boys replied. “Maybe they were wearing protective contacts?” the girl replied. “Maybe… I still think it’s something else. They added those nightlight things to the Pods this semester... Do you think it could be them?” The third member of their group said. One thing was clear to Beth: there was a definite push for getting the Littles into diapers, and it had seemingly succeeded for everyone but one Little at this point. As far as she knew, this was the worst problem Littles had in about ten years. If she’d known things would deteriorate again so rapidly for them, she might have stayed home for school! She arrived at lunch in time to see Connor try and sit down with a group of Littles, and they all stood up and left like some middle school kids bullying another one. “What the hell?” she swore quietly. “Those jackasses!” She could see in his posture he was definitely affected. “Hey Connor, I need to get some food of my own. Can I leave my bag here?” She said to him. The fact that his face lit up at her presence made her smile. “Sure, of course, Beth!” he said. “Unless you want to move to a taller table?” He was sitting at one of the Mid-sized tables. You could sit there okay as a Little, a Tweener was comfortable, and a Big would be like squeezing into a first-grade chair. She was small enough that the table was more than okay, “This one is fine; be right back!” When she returned with her food, she found Connor having a tense conversation with a boy a bit larger than him, and she felt her emotions rise that anyone would pick on her boyfriend! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thank you for reading!!! Please press the like button and leave a comment!!! I love seeing readers guess where things are going! I decided this week's post would be early this morning where I live. Next week will definitely be on Sunday sometime in the afternoon my time if I had to guess. Thanks for your patience! Remember In-Between is now available on Amazon! If you haven't already, you may find it for sale here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CG4W62M6 . If you did purchase it, please press the '5-Star' rating when you can! You don't have to leave a review to do so. (Though that would be so amazingly appreciated!) All of my books except this one are now available on Amazon Kindle!

This is a bonus chapter as a thank you to all of you who have supported my writing by purchasing In-Between on Amazon since it was released! Thank you for your support!!! Chapter 49: Lone Potty THE NEXT MORNING, I was beyond relieved that I went to bed and woke up with a dry Pull-Up. I had no idea what happened the previous day, and I hoped it was a fluke and wouldn’t happen again! Grandma dropped Beth off by her dorm while parking in the faculty lot and walking me over to my nest to check back in just as Mackenzie was about to send everyone off to breakfast. “Oh, hi, Professor! Connor, it’s good to have you back! We miss you on the weekends!” “Hi, Miss Mackenzie,” I said to her. “How did he do this weekend?” She asked. “Just fine. Please go ahead and put those stars on his chart? I emailed you?” “Very good! I just changed the last boy here; we’re just heading off to breakfast. Sorry, I can’t stay to chat?” she told her. “No worries, we’re just going to put his stuff away here, and then we’ll see you Friday again?” “Every week?” She asked. “I’m making up for nineteen years of missing Grandma time,” she told her. “I guess I can understand that; this little guy is definitely a cutie!” she said and looked at me. The way she scrunched up her eyes made me wonder if she recognized the slightly odd look my face now had. Truthfully, I had stared at myself in the mirror for a while that morning, really liking the effect my loose, long hair and the smooth skin had together. The problem was that I worried someone would assume I was intentionally wearing makeup! I watched, a bit shocked, as my nest mates grabbed the ring rope and followed her out like a bunch of preschoolers in line. ‘What’s that about?’ I wondered. With a sigh, I helped Grandma unload bags and things. She’d bought another large box of my brand of Pull-Ups for me and some bottles of water that she had now marked in a way that, if they were tampered with, would turn green to warn me. All-in-all, I headed off to class that morning feeling pretty confident that I was in as safe of a position as possible! Leaving Holo-Field Theory, I was startled when one of the girls in my class said, “Let’s check that diapee and see if you need a change!” “Huh?” I said. “Your diapee! I heard all of the Littles in your nests are in them now?” “I’m in a Pull-Up and planning to hit the bathroom right now?” I added, “And it’s dry!” She had already pulled down the front of my pants and exposed the Pull-Up to the world then, “So you are! What a cute Pull-Up you’re wearing too! I’ve babysat a lot of baby boys who wear these!” I sighed, “Can I go now, please?” “Let’s just make sure you make it okay!” She told me, “I’m Izzy, by the way,” as she gathered me in her arms and carried me not to the men’s restroom but to the women’s! I was mortified as she sat me down on my feet in a stall and said, “Can you be a big boy and show me how you pull your pants and your big boy undies down?” “I don’t need your help,” I tried to complain. “It’s okay if you’re too little for that; I can help?” I sighed, pulled them down, and then squeaked a yell as she picked me up and sat me on the gigantic potty like a real toddler. “Go potty,” she told me. I sighed and did my best to go, but I couldn’t with her watching me. “I can’t go while you’re watching!” I complained. “Keep trying just a little longer for me, baby?” She said. The bladder did not want to let go, so she said, “Well, that’s okay. I’m sure you can try again later!” She pulled my Pull-Up and pants back up for me and said, “Let’s still wash our hands for practice!” Thankfully, she opened the bathroom door for me, and I could peel away from her in the dining hall. I desperately needed to pee by then and was relieved I somehow held it long enough to get into the dining hall bathroom. ‘Maybe a diaper would have been easier…?’ I couldn’t help but think. I sat down and ate with Amy and Ava a short while later and noted that they looked to have a fair amount of puff out from their bottoms as they sat down. Looking around at the other Littles, I could see it seemed like they did too. “Did something happen over the weekend?” I asked. “Huh?” Amy asked. “Am I the only one still in Pull-Ups?” I asked. Ava looked around and said, “Probably… Almost everyone has gotten caught with the three-per-day or per-week rule at this point. I know several of the last stragglers in the girl’s nest got caught pooping their pants twice Saturday?” “Oh,” I said. “The diapers aren’t so bad,” Ava said, blushing deeply. “Honestly, it beats trying to use those gigantic potties they have, and the changing stations have really nice holo-attendants.” “Mine made me giggle earlier; she was actually treating me like I do when I’m changing my baby sister. It was kind of cute?” I wanted to throw up then but kept my voice even. “Oh,” I shrugged, “I guess I can see that point of view.” As I left for my next class, I couldn’t help worrying about what was happening to everyone. I guessed I would inevitably be next and was probably drawing attention because I wasn’t already in diapers like them! In my math class, we discussed some new concepts, and I was glad to have some time to study with Molly afterward in the hopes that two heads are better than one. Molly was already sitting down in the classroom when I arrived. I pulled my portable booster from my bag, and she said, “Here, I’ll get it for you?” I looked at her a little skeptically, but she had no problems deciphering the folds required to assemble it and placed it on the chair beside her. I moved towards the chair and was about to climb up when she lifted me up and put me in it instead. “Sorry, I can’t help myself sometimes,” she apologized, realizing what she’d done. “It’s okay, thanks for understanding. I’m nervous about things like that?” She nodded, “I guess I can understand that. You’re an exchange student, so you probably weren’t child-sized back home?” I laughed, “No, I was way above average! I was six-foot-six, back home, and shrank when I came.” “That’s tall for your dimension?” “Average male height is under six feet,” I nodded. “So, most of the people there are Littles?” she asked. I remembered her major in Portal Physics and felt a little guilty in saying, “Yes, but we don’t think of ourselves like that.” “No, I guess you wouldn’t. I sometimes wonder if there isn’t a dimension out there where I would be considered a Little.” I felt my stomach twist at that, “That would be terrifying… I’d be like a child’s doll at best!” She laughed, “Probably!” We talked for a while longer before class started, and I was grateful that I seemed to be staying up with an understanding of the material the professor covered. “We still good for a study session?” Molly asked me as she helped me down. I nodded, “I think so?” I looked at the clock, “I’ve got about an hour till I plan to get dinner?” “Should be plenty!” She said. “Where do you want to study?” I thought about public places and said, “See if the library has a study room available?” “Sure!” she said. I made an excuse and used the bathroom quickly before we walked out of the building and were blasted with a burst of cold air. “Brrr!!!” I complained as I pulled my coat tighter around my body and zipped it up. She agreed, “I heard it’s supposed to get colder this week, too, and maybe snow later this week!” “Ugh!” was all I said to that. We signed into a study room and began going through notes and problems in the materials we’d been given by the professor. There were a few things she didn’t understand that I helped her with, and then she helped me with a few things, too. “You’re a great study partner!” she told me as we parted ways at the dining hall. “So are you,” I told her. “See you Wednesday!” “See you, cutie,” she said. I blushed but tuned it out as I entered the dining hall. I saw Mackenzie standing near the entrance, “Well, hi you!” she said to me. “I was beginning to think you were avoiding us?” I shook my head, “Just been busy. Was studying with a classmate in the library for a bit? I messaged you?” “Oh?” I nodded, “Her name is Molly; she’s in my Math class.” “Hmm…” she said. “Just studying?” I laughed, “Just studying! She’s the only one besides me in the class that seems to be getting things. We’re helping each other stay on top of that, though.” “Well, let me know if she gets pushy or something?” “Umm… sure?” “Now, I do need to check you?” “Does it have to be here?” I asked in front of everyone. “Do you have something to hide?” I sighed, “Nope.” BETH SAT ON a booth seat on the other side of the room but could clearly see Connor’s pants being pulled down. She could see the blue of the Pull-Up from where she sat and shook her head. “What’s wrong?” Livy asked her. “Oh, just watching the diaper check that Mackenzie is forcing Connor to endure in front of everyone.” “Oh, is he wearing diapers now too?” Reila asked nervously. “No, I can see the Pull-Up from here though.” “Nothing he can do about it,” Reila said. “He’s probably the only one wearing Pull-Ups at this point. I think everyone else got put in diapers this weekend.” “What happened?” Beth asked. “No clue? We watched about a quarter roll into lunch on Saturday, only wearing a onesie top and a diaper. By yesterday, all of them seemed to be wearing thicker padding?” Reila said. “I think I heard something about a Little movie night on Friday?” Livy said quietly. “Oh…” Beth said. “Good thing Connor wasn’t here?” “Maybe...? He’s going to seem like more of a challenge now, that might be worse,” Reila said. “True…” she said worriedly. Right as she said that Connor was coming towards them with food, Beth couldn’t help herself with the enormous smile she gave him. “Hi,” she said. His smile was just as wide as he said, “Hey, can I join you?” His face still had that smoothed-over look, and she noted it made him more attractive to her as she said, “Of course!” Beth scooted over to make room for him to sit his booster on the seat next to her and climbed up. Beth couldn’t help herself as she gave him a sideways squeeze, “You have a good day?” She asked him. “Mostly?” He said. “You?” “Yeah, someone helped me enough this weekend that I didn’t feel completely lost in classes today.” She smiled down at him, and he smiled just as brightly back. Livy made a face, and Beth hoped she could avoid answering questions until later. Seeing she was about to ask, she mouthed, ‘Later’ to her. Livy raised an eyebrow but nodded. The four talked about things that stayed entirely from conversations about disposable underpants for the rest of the meal. Beth thought awkward discussions were at a close, but Reila asked, “So what did you two do all weekend?” Beth looked to see what Connor would say and noticed that the blush showed through, even with the makeup effect on his face. “Went to a birthday party?” He offered. “Birthday party?” Livy asked curiously. “My… cousin had her fifty-fourth birthday party?” “A party for being fifty-four?” Reila asked. “More like her thirty-third, ‘first’ birthday party?” Beth suggested? “Oh, she’s a Little?” Livy asked nervously. “Yeah,” Connor said. “So, what did you two do while the babies played?” Reila asked nervously. “Sort of babysat? Met my relatives… swam?” Connor said. “What is it with you and swimming?” Livy asked. “He’s a dolphin,” Beth smirked, squeezing his hand underneath the table. “What?” Reila snorted. “Long story, going back to my mom’s time here,” Connor said. Fortunately for them, Mackenzie interrupted, “Hi girls, I hope you don’t mind, but I need to take Connor back to the Nest?” “It’s only five-thirty?” Connor asked. “Unfortunately, while you were out, some things happened, and the Nest has an earlier bedtime the rest of this week, sweetie.” “Oh,” Connor said. “So, I can’t study when I get back?” “You’ll have a few minutes, but not much time tonight, sorry.” Connor looked stricken by that, but at least Beth knew he should be okay for his Tuesday classes from the weekend. He looked up at her, “Guess I’ll see you all later,” he sighed. Mackenzie didn’t really wait for him to be ready; she picked him up and sat him on the ground, handed him his booster to fold away, grabbed the tray of food he’d finished, and prodded him to the entry area where Beth could see a whole bunch of nests all holding onto the babyish ring line leashes. “What the hell happened over the weekend?” Beth asked them. I CLUNG TO the pink ring of the rope and followed as we all took turns going up the elevator to the nests. I could smell more than a few filled diapers around me, and the stench going up the elevator was pretty intense! From how they fidgeted, I thought I could tell five of the other members of my nest were in a messy diaper. There was a big sigh from everyone as we reached the room and were told, “You can let go now, boys.” I let go and moved towards the bathroom to go pee. “Where are you going, Connor?” Grayson asked. “Bathroom?” I said. “What? Aren’t you wearing yours like the rest of us?” Jack asked. “Huh?” I asked. “Wait, Miss Mackenzie, how come Connor isn’t in a diaper?!?” Grayson asked, clearly pissed off about something. “Huh?” she asked, looking up from the changing table where she was changing Liam. “Connor isn’t wearing diapers?!?” he pushed. “No? He hasn’t lost his potty privileges yet?” “But…?” “Grayson, I’m sorry that Connor is a big boy and you’re not? But you don’t need to pick on him?” “I’m not…?” Grayson protested. “Do you need to go to a time-out?” I looked over at him. I could see he was so angry, but I watched him shake his head, “No, Miss Mackenzie.” “Connor, go ahead and use the potty. Come see me when you’re done so I can ensure you’re still clean and dry!” “Yes, Miss Mackenzie,” I told her and walked into the bathroom. When I used the toilet, I couldn’t help but think I was now the only one using them from what they had said. It kind of scared me the way they had reacted. I felt my blood grow cold as I feared the jealousy from them could cause me more problems! I flushed, washed my hands, and found Mackenzie waiting by the door. “Let’s just pull those pants off since you just need to put on your jammies anyway.” I blushed as the Pull-Up was displayed to everyone. The sides were fraying a little bit from having been worn all day, but the indicators were still showing as unused. “What a good boy!” she told me. “Since you used the potty, let’s go ahead and get your night diapee on, though, and those jammies.” She called out louder, “Fifteen minutes till lights out, my little kits!” I sat at my desk a few minutes later while she changed everyone else and tried to review my notes for Screenwriting for the morning. I was done with the assignment due on Thursday, so I was sketching out some notes for the next project. Logan approached me, “Sorry about Grayson, we had a rough weekend…” “What happened?” I asked, noting that Mackenzie had Grayson’s feet over his head and was wiping his bottom. “We had a movie night Friday, and everyone was kind of woozy afterward. Some of us were afraid there was some hidden hypnosis in it…?” I felt my blood chill then. “I’m guessing there was?” He nodded, “Must have been; by the end of Sunday, all of us had at least two messy accidents in a day or hit the wet accident count to land ourselves into diapers.” “Ouch, I’m sorry?” He shrugged, “Personally, I always figured it was a matter of time? Anyway, about ten people from other nests staged a walkout protest yesterday. Let’s just say they’re gone, and now we’re all stuck with additional evening restrictions.” “That…” I was about to say when Mackenzie walked over. “Time for beddy-bye boys; hop into your pods!” I looked at the clock and realized it was ninety minutes earlier than usual. Climbing into the pod, I grimaced that with everything going on this weekend, I’d never had a chance to do anything about the SleepTight device inside. ‘Hopefully, my nanites keep it at bay a little longer?’ I thought to myself. Even as I thought that, though, I was out like a light! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thank you for reading!!! Please press the like button and leave a comment!!! I love seeing readers guess where things are going! Also, a SUPER HUGE thank you to everyone who pre-ordered/ordered In-Between on Amazon! If you haven't already, you may find it for sale here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CG4W62M6 . If you did purchase it, please press the '5-Star' rating when you can! You don't have to leave a review to do so. (Though that would be so amazingly appreciated!) I am now in a crazy stretch at work until Thanksgiving of 6 day work weeks, so I may have a very uneven posting schedule. This week I think I'll be able to post late on Saturday. The next week will have to be on Sunday. I apologize for the lack of consistency, but my hours are long right now! Thanks for your patience!

Chapter 48: Zapped! GRANDMA WOKE ME up the following day, and I couldn’t stop smiling about having finally resolved to have a relationship with Beth! I was excitedly walking into the bathroom to pull off my pajamas when I realized something was wrong. My Pull-Up was soaked! “What the hell?!?” I grimaced. I knew it was probably a matter of time, but I expected it to happen at school when I was in the pod with that stupid device inside. I sighed, pulled the sides of the Pull-Up apart, and walked it back out to the diaper pail beside the changing table in the room. ‘No reason to smell up my bathroom,’ I thought. I found some wipes I could reach on a shelf below the table and wiped myself before grabbing one of my regular swimsuits and pulling it on. Grandma must have knocked on Beth’s door because she was coming out in her bikini and cover-up again when I headed to the stairs. “Joining me?” I asked her. “Yep!” she said. “Have to practice to keep up with the amazing little dolphin!” Without warning, she picked me up and placed me on her hip. I blushed but leaned into her side as she carried me down. “You two going for a swim?” Grandma asked as we passed. “Yes, if that’s okay?” “If you two are together, that’s fine. I’ll send Grandpa to come check on you in a bit.” “Thanks!” I said, even as I felt even more embarrassed to be in the babyish position of being held by my… girlfriend? I blushed more then as I thought about that. Beth must have been thinking about that as we neared the water, and she sat me down, “I’m probably the only girl I know of other than my mom who can pick up and cuddle her boyfriend.” I blushed at being called her boyfriend, “Probably aren’t many… You’re really okay with my size?” I asked her, self-conscious. She knelt down to me, “I’m not going to lie and say it’s not a bit weird, but I’ve grown up with a mom who was almost exactly my size compared to a dad about yours?” She shrugged, “Once I thought of it like that, it became a little less weird?” Then, without warning, she began tickling my sides, “Besides, it gives me all sorts of unfair advantages.” “Stop, not fair, and we shouldn’t horse around the pool area,” I told her. “Good point,” she said with a smile and a hug. Then she patted my butt, “Now I know all you really want to do now is swim, so go ahead and start my little dolphin, and I’ll try and do a few laps myself.” I hugged her back and then dove into the water to start swimming. I felt some fatigue from yesterday in my muscles, having pushed it so hard. So, while I swam a fair distance, I didn’t try for the same speed. As a result, I think Beth could almost keep up with me. Almost! When we finished swimming, the two of us went and showered, and I spent time washing my hair, hoping it would lose the curls from the day before. Looking in the mirror, my hair still looked wavier than usual. Of course, also looking in the mirror, I still looked like a dressed-up pre-teen girl with makeup as glittery and vibrant as it had been the day before! ‘This makeup has got to make going out as a girl way simpler than my sisters have it!’ I thought I pulled on a new Pull-Up and grimaced at the thought of having wet the bed the night before. ‘If Grandma doesn’t ask, I won’t say anything. Maybe it can just stay off my chart that way…?’ I thought that, technically, that would be my second accident not being marked down. Eventually, I was going to be losing potty stars. Unfortunately, I knew that was bound to happen here as a Little! I finished my morning routine and dressed in jeans and a light blue shirt with Emerson that Grandma must have bought sometime during the week before heading downstairs. Beth was nowhere in sight for once, so I tried the sit-and-hop method of going down the stairs. It was time-consuming but seemed less dangerous than the hopping down I’d tried. ‘Might make that my normal?’ I thought as I reached the bottom. ‘Reminds me of practicing evacuating from a school bus as a kid!’ Looking up at the stairs, I was sure I could do without seeing those daily! Grandma was sitting at the table reading something on a tablet when I approached. “Done with your shower?” I nodded, “Yes, is there a chance I could get something to eat?” “What would you like?” She asked. I shrugged, “I don’t see anyone else, so don’t go through any major trouble?” “We have an AmeniTea over here, too, so we can do something quickly through it?” “Is that how you normally cook?” I asked curiously. She laughed as she came over and picked me up off the ground, “No, we still prefer to cook most of the time, but mornings and midnight snacks are the time I prefer to use it.” “What can it make?” I asked. “Just about anything, really. We have a full stock of ingredient pods inside of it.” “Pancakes and eggs?” “Sure!” She said. “Can I watch you do it?” She placed me on her hip and walked into the kitchen. There was a large island counter that she sat me on top of like one would do a baby. I watched as she spoke instructions to the boxy device, and a moment later, a plate filled with pancakes complete with a smiley face of chocolate chips and whipped cream appeared. Some scrambled eggs were on the side of the platter, and it looked good! “That’s all you have to do?” I asked, surprised. “That’s it! It’s pretty cool and simple enough. Even your auntie can manage it!” I laughed at that and was soon strapped into the highchair, eating as Beth came in. She looked to have spent a lot of time on her hair and makeup, and I blushed as I realized maybe she was looking nicer for me? Beth wore a pretty purple sweater that hugged her curves. Many detractors would say she didn’t have much, but she looked perfect! “Morning, Beth,” Grandma said to her. “Good morning,” she replied to her. “What would you like for breakfast?” She looked down at my plate and said, “That looks good?” “Just have a seat; I’ll have it in a minute or so,” Grandma told her. Beth blushed when she reappeared with the smiley face on the pancakes, “Thanks!” “You said what he had, so I figured you wanted the smiley face too!” She gave Beth a sideways hug. Beth giggled, “Nothing wrong with a smiley face on a pancake!” After we finished our breakfasts, the two of us found our way back to my room for more time studying. Beth was clearly much more apprehensive about particular classes, like her Systems class, so I gave her a hand with it. I managed to write the final page of the script just before lunch and copied it into the school’s computer, then the module system, before smiling since it was all turned in! “Now I just have to hope mine is chosen!” I thought to myself as I moved on to the next class. BETH WAS MAKING more progress studying with Connor than she ever would have on her own. It was becoming a bit of a game to her, though, to figure out if anything she was studying could stump him. So far, she was failing to catch him in anything she was working on that he didn’t know! So, it was a bit of a relief after lunch when they were resuming studying, and he was actually struggling at something as he worked on his HoloFields class. “I just don’t get how these particles relate to this…?” Connor threw up his hands. “This stasis field shouldn’t even work from the physics back home?” She smiled, “Finally, something I know that you don’t!” “Huh?” “Remember, I grew up here. There’s basic Field Theory in our physics classes in high school.” “Oh,” Connor said, “That’s why they didn’t feel like they needed to explain this stuff?” “Probably!” she agreed. She walked Connor through the things he didn’t understand for the next two hours. Then she had to admit he probably would understand it better than her in another week, given how he absorbed everything else! About four hours after lunch, she said, “Okay, you got enough studying in?” He shrugged, “I think so?” “Want to go see if Shelby is up for a visit? I can finally see this amazing ‘playhouse’ you told me about?” She smirked, “We should also get her to help you take that makeup off!” He blushed bright red then, “Sure,” he said. “Let me text her first.” Connor got a quick response, and he was soon walking beside her across the enormous yard to the smaller house. The temperatures had dropped more, and their breath was freezing as they reached the short door and knocked. It opened a second later, and Shelby waved at them, “Come in!” Beth looked at the door and skeptically at the physical frame at the level of her nose. Connor looked at her, “You’ll have to duck, I guess?” She laughed, “Looks that way!” Beth did duck as she entered the doorframe but was grateful that the ceilings at least were above her head by about half a foot! She noted a ceiling fan that she would need to walk or duck around in the living room. Still, otherwise, she was probably just about as tall of a person as you could be and walk upright through the ‘house.’ “Good thing you’re not any taller,” Shelby told her, apparently agreeing with her thoughts. “Yeah, but this is really cool! You’re probably the only family of Littles who has their own ‘house’ that can be played off like it’s a play house.” Shelby shook her head, “I know of a few other people… some friends at school are kind of like us with our parents adopted. This is a richer part of town, so once some other parents saw what Grandma and Grandpa built for us, they had to keep up with them.” She smirked, “I’m pretty sure ours is the only one that is quite as elaborate, though! Let me give you the tour I gave Connor,” she said. The three of them navigated through the house, with Beth having to duck under doorways but otherwise able to walk mostly unhindered as long as she watched out for light fixtures. After the tour, Beth suggested they hang out in the living room. The afternoon by quickly, and just before they returned to the main house for dinner, Connor remembered something. “Can you deactivate this makeup?” He asked Shelby. “Oh, right!” Shelby said with a giggle, “You probably don’t want to go to classes like that!” They both watched her dig her tiny phone out of the pocket of her hooded sweatshirt and showed Connor, “So all you need is this app on your phone.” Connor pulled his own phone out, and she watched as he downloaded the app. ‘Hopefully, none of the guys see he has that app!’ she giggled. Beth knew the app well. She loved the SkinSync product herself and used it daily. Her favorite thing was that it would stay on indefinitely, and you could easily change the looks when you wanted to. Celebrity-specific looks were sold on an in-app store, and tween and teen magazines regularly had scannable codes you could download free styles with. That morning, she’d spent the most time tweaking it she had in ages before heading downstairs. “So now that you’re connected, just press deactivate,” she told him, “But stand over here so it’s easier to clean up,” she said first, hurriedly moving him to a hard floor. Beth watched as he pressed the button and expected to see the annoying cloud of dust that formed when you took the powder off. Instead, she watched Connor spasm like he’d been hit with a taser and scream, “Ow!!!” “Are you okay?” She found herself asking, concerned as she closed the distance to him. “It felt like I just zapped every skin cell on my face with a static charge! Is that what happens every time you take it off?” Connor asked as he looked up at her. Beth shook her head even as she looked down into his face. The face that was, if anything, glitterier than it had been a moment ago. “Umm…?” he said, “Why are you staring at me like that?” She debated breaking it to her new short boyfriend when Shelby said, “I think we need to get Grandma to help.” Connor pulled up the selfie camera app on his phone and stared at his face, “Crap!” I SAT STILL while Grandma ran some unknown device over my face and looked at her tablet for results. “I don’t understand why this would happen?” she said. “I felt a similar jolt when I activated them before?” “I wonder…” She said and began another rapid session of typing and scanning me. “Well, that shouldn’t happen…” she said while running her hand through her head. “What shouldn’t happen?” I found myself asking as Beth joined me in stereo. “For some reason, it’s like the nanites infused into your skin?” “Isn’t that how they work?” Beth asked. Grandma shook her head, “No, these are just meant as a true skin coating like traditional powder makeup. If you had the right equipment, you should be able to peel them and one layer of cells away together? In this case, it’s more like they’ve fused into the dermis as well… Let me get Fred; this may need medical expertise, too.” I looked at Beth, “What am I going to do if I can’t get this off?” “I don’t know; I guess we can find you some of the girl’s uniforms?” While that thought sounded like what I wanted, right then, I was too terrified for that to seem like a good idea and felt my skin blanche. She wrapped me in a hug, “It’ll be okay. There is no one better in the world at programming and understanding nanites than your grandmother.” “I hope you’re right,” I told her. Grandpa came in and joined her, looking over the scans. He then came and physically touched my face for a moment and asked her for another tool. “I don’t know how this could have happened,” he said. “Have you tried changing the look in the app? Maybe you can make it look less like you have makeup on?” I looked up at him, over at Beth, and then at Grandma, “Are you saying I’m stuck with it on my face?” “The problem is it isn’t on your face right now… It’s in the skin.” “How?” Beth asked. I looked at Grandma, who sighed, “Remember how I had to edit those nanites? Since Connor’s mom was here, we’ve seen many different generations of this technology. His are very much still an older design. Then you add that they’re the customized ones his mom tweaked?” She shook her head, “It would probably take Stacy helping me for a week to figure out exactly how this happened.” “Will it wear off?” I asked. He shrugged, “You do replace your skin about every twenty-seven days, so it might come off with that? It depends on how integrated the nanites are. The fact you had your mom’s in you seems to be the problem here. Like your grandmother said, they’re an antiquated version of them now, and I think with your entering the password to allow access, it also decided the ones from the makeup should be integrated?” Grandma shook her head, “Your mom must have done something else with these. The problem is we can’t ask her over the HoloLink system without others listening in. We know the communications across the dimensional system are heavily monitored. Still, with you being her son, we know they’re even more likely to listen.” I sighed, “Beth, you know how to work this system?” Shelby had gone home an hour ago to get some sleep since she had school the next day. She nodded, “Let me see your phone since you synced up to it. Let’s add a password, too, so someone can’t randomly change your look.” Connor saw a look on her face like she’d eaten something disgusting, “I saw that happen to some friends in middle school!” I shuddered at that, knowing that someone could randomly change my face to look like whatever they wanted it to be...? That would be treacherous at best! “There!” she said a moment later. “I didn’t feel anything that time?” I said. Grandma shrugged, “It worked… at least as well as possible. I’m guessing the jolt you felt before was the integration.” I used my phone then to look at my face and was relieved that my lips were their typical color and my eyes looked normal, too. I did grimace, though, in that my skin had a certain ‘brushed’ quality that looked like my sisters had put their foundation on. “I still look like I have makeup on?” I said. “Only if you look really closely,” Beth tried to reassure me. “This is probably the best we’ll get for tomorrow?” She looked at Grandma, who nodded. “I’ll try and see if I can come up with something else this week,” she told me. “For now, though, you both should probably get some sleep so I can drop you off at school tomorrow before classes.” I sighed, “Yeah, thanks for trying.” As I went to bed that night, I made sure I went potty again and then set my alarm early enough that I could swim before we left. I also hoped the earlier wakeup time would lead to a dry Pull-Up. ‘I don’t understand why I was wet this morning!’ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thank you for reading!!! Please press the like button and leave a comment!!! Also, a SUPER HUGE thank you to everyone who pre-ordered/ordered In-Between on Amazon! If you haven't already, you may find it for sale here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CG4W62M6 . If you did purchase it, please press the '5-Star' rating when you can! You don't have to leave a review to do so. (Though that would be so amazingly appreciated!) I'm giving a bonus chapter Tuesday or Wednesday of this coming week as a thank-you to all of you!!! After that, the next post will likely be Sunday or late Saturday night this week. I have some crazy hours the next month and a half, and postings will vary on days depending on the weeks. It'll be around Thanksgiving probably that I can get back to the Fridays I've been posting.

Thanks for the new chapters 😊 Can't wait to see how Jasper's weekend in care with Dries parents and sweet Heleen goes. Maybe a weekend in diapers all day and night. And some cozy time with Heleen, as a little child younger than his real age?

Thanks @Toet Looking forward to next chapter 👍😊

Thanks for another god chapter 🥰 I think Jasper is being more and more comfortable wearing and using his diapers 😌

Great Chapter Thank you!

Chapter Seventy-Nine When I returned to the bed I was holding a pale purple diaper in my hands, the color you might find on an Easter egg. But rather than stripes and speckles, it was decorated with pink and blue butterfly silhouettes. Behind the silhouettes were white butterfly outlines, but they would fade away when wet. Over the past few months, I'd tried a lot of adult diapers. Actually, I tried a nigh unrealistic amount of them. Why were there so many companies and so many prints for such a niche pair of underwear? But through them all, the butterflies always came out on top. They were cute, sure. They weren't too girly. They hugged softly around my hips, and had tapes like super glue. Most importantly, they were constantly present. They weren't thicker than any of the other diapers I had, and they didn't crinkle any louder. But there was something special about them. Their unique thickness was impossible to ignore. Their quiet rustling always found its way to my ears. They reminded me, every moment I had them on, that I was safe. I... I liked that. "Okay, lay down." "What? You aren't putting that on me!" "They aren't easy to put on yourself," I said sharply. "You'll screw it up." Kylie had a remarkably good point: I'd never put a diaper on myself, and I would absolutely and horrifically ruin any attempt. However! Part of the point of my wearing a diaper was so she didn't see my downstairs and get weirded out by it. I winced a little from my teeth pressing into my lip, and I could feel categorically the heat emanating from my cheeks. And she was so cute! And we'd been kissing! And I was aroused, okay! Cocks had a thing they tended to do under those circumstances. Although, admittedly, each passing second of worry was diminishing that issue rapidly. "Don't look..." I mumbled, laying down on the bed and covering my face with my hands. "I'm not going to get used to it unless you let me see," I said plainly. "And you won't get used to it either." But hey. No need to rush things, right? So I grabbed the blanket from the foot of my bed - a small throw that I would use if my room got too cold - and draped it over Ellie's lower half. I could do the first part blind. "Lift your butt." It was weird! And it was weirder because it wasn't weird when it was Marnie doing it. But now that it was Kylie, I was getting all squirrelly? Come on, Ellie, you can handle this just fine, I know you can. I pushed my feet into the bed and lifted my butt up high as I could manage, which was probably too high. Panties off! Easy peasy. Then I unfolded the diaper. I knew it was stupid, but I felt a tinge of jealousy. This whole night had been a mess - even though it was a pleasant mess - and a diaper would be nice for my anxiety. Plus, the only times I ever unfolded my own diapers were when I was putting it on myself. The association was strong. Then I remembered why I was doing this at all: so I could feel up my cute date. The jealousy passed, replaced with anticipation. "Up again." I pressed with my feet again, lifting my legs with a sigh, or maybe closer to a whimper. Definitely a whimper. Not the kind of noise a boy makes on a first date! Or a girl either, for that matter. Diaper under her butt. Her bare butt. Ahh, I'd never even seen her bare butt before! When Marnie changed her, she was always on her back. Okay, Kylie. Keep your hormones in check for thirty damn seconds. "And down." Doing this with a blanket over her wasn't that bad. It was a little weird and I wasn't sure if the diaper was even or not. But I could correct it in post. I pulled the diaper up between her legs and pressed it firmly to her waist. Then I removed the blanket so I could see what I was doing for the next part. Tapes were always the hardest to get right. "Could you hold this for me, just... right here?" I guided her hands to the waistband of the diaper, so I had both hands free and the diaper wouldn't fall open. Marnie never asked me to do that. But this felt contextually different to time with Marnie. Marnie did this to make me feel Little, and it had an air of innocence and childishness to it. But with Kylie... I didn't feel like a little kid. I felt like an adult, who was horny, wearing a diaper. I held my hand where she told me to and focused on sensations. The sounds of the diaper, the way Kylie breathed, the thickness between my thighs. "Lift your butt one more time, okay?" She did. I had to fix some of the alignment problems I was having with the blanket over her. But after another moment, I was sure I had it right. She held the front of the diaper while I pulled the tapes, pressing them firmly to the landing zone. No need for baby powder - she wasn't going to wet herself. In the end, the diaper was snug around her hips and I did a pretty good job! It was way easier on someone else than on myself. I patted the front of her diaper the way Marnie always did with me. But I didn't move my hand away when I was done. "Better?" I asked, a little nervously. This was weird, but... gosh I wanted to kiss her again. I felt her hand on the front of the diaper, having stayed there after she was done patting me. And when I moved my arm from covering up my face, I was about as red as I think I could ever have been. Like, I wasn't sure I even had the blood in my body to be as blushy as I was in that moment. I nodded my head, and shyly looked away. "Better, uhhuh. Kiss please?" "For sure." I crawled on top of her, slowly, and put my lips to hers. A gentle kiss. Until we were in a better position. Then I kissed more assertively. My hands trailed down her bare sides, from the band of her bra to the top of her diaper. It crinkled when I touched it and I felt heat on my cheeks. Not bad, though. Kinda... cute. "I always figured I'd be the one on top, you know?" I mumbled shyly, between a few soft kisses. "But you're lovely and wonderful and kind to me, and I feel safe with you Kylie." Where had that sentimentality come from? "Yeah well. You've always been the best part of my life. Sorry I didn't realize..." I paused and bit my lip. Maybe if I knew Ellie was a girl all this time, we could have been dating or something. But I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready until Marnie. "You're gonna make me cry if you keep up that sappy talk, Kylie. So let’s go back to the kissing part." I wasn't sure I was expecting my first time being intimate with a girl to involve wearing a diaper - especially one I could absolutely not forget I was wearing - but it did help with my anxiety. So I kissed her again. And I rolled onto my side and wrapped my arms around her. I cupped her padded ass in my hand and squeezed. Definitely not the same as squeezing her panties. It actually made me laugh a little, breaking our kiss. "Sorry... you're just so cute." I couldn't help but smile. "Hey, no need to be sorry. I’m your diapered dolly girl, so you should take advantage of me." I wanted to make her blush, and I wasn't sure if my words had hit the mark. I did know I almost said girlfriend though, and that was enough to make me blush again! Dolly, huh? Well, that certainly had a level of appeal to it. Like spanking videos online or when someone tells a story of how they tied a girl to the bed. And maybe my libido was a bit overdone, but I let myself have the moment. I kissed her hard and ran my hand up her thigh, to the front of her diaper, and pushed against it with my palm. I couldn't feel her through the padding; it looked like Ellie was right about diapers and dysphoria. Band name? I definitely felt her touching me. Not directly, not like a handjob, but more like... well, I didn't have a point of comparison. The diaper felt nice when it rubbed against me though, and I felt my breath hitch a little in my throat as she experimentally touched and played. "That feels really really good…" Might as well give her the feedback, right? "Yeah? I'm glad..." I was nervous at first. I didn't want to feel something I shouldn't. I didn't want her to think I felt something I might feel or might not feel. Honestly, I didn't care all that much. Yeah, Ellie was right about my surprise during her changes. But that was societal conditioning! She was a girl, so she was a girl. She was my girl. My free hand squeezed the outside of her bra and I went in for another kiss. Our bodies were pressed together, and I was still wearing my dress pants. I wished we were naked. Was sleeping together on the first date still tacky? I hadn't dated anyone in 11 years... I put one hand on her back and guided my fingers up to her hair, to play at the nape of her neck, and I rested the other lightly on the back of her hand that was experimentally exploring my diaper. I pressed her fingers deeper into the padding, to let her know it was okay. She was doing fine. So, I'd never been with a girl before. I didn't really know the right touchy spots. I didn't even know what I wanted! But Ellie was helpful. She put her hand on mine and moved me a little bit from the front of her diaper, down between her legs. I turned my wrist a little and curled my hand. This felt a lot more natural, and her labored breaths were working me up. My thoughts were growing secondary to all the new ways I could explore her. I didn't consider the logistics here, because there was no way she could wrap her hand around me. But at the same time, the padding was pressing into me... or rather, I was pressing against the padding, so I thought this could work. And it was definitely working. "Oh. Oh. Oh gosh." I pulled her in for another kiss, because I was self conscious about my voice cracking when I was gasping like that. "Mm..." I kissed her lips and slipped my tongue in her mouth. I'd never done that before. I didn't even know if I was doing it right! But I wanted to, and my body was getting a mind of its own. I pressed tighter to her and slid my thigh over hers, only the layers of my pants between us. I wanted to take them off, but that meant stopping. I didn't want to stop. It was so anachronistic, because we were adults, who dressed like babies, who were fooling around with all the finesse of exploratory teenagers. And oh, I was in a diaper too. But I was far too turned on to make witty commentary. Instead, I ran my fingers down from her neck, over her shoulder, down her arm, and found her chest. Her boobs. Her perfect, wonderful boobs, and that body that she refused to ever let people tell her was beautiful. "You're really good at... at um... touching my diaper..." I figured she'd like that feedback too. Her diaper. Gosh, that was super not sexy. Right? It wasn't supposed to be, anyway! But it made me smile. I liked knowing I was doing it right. I liked knowing I couldn't make a mistake. Plus, she looked fucking adorable. "It doesn't matter what you wear," I whispered to her through kisses, through presses between her legs, through crinkles echoing in my quiet bedroom. "It doesn't matter what you look like. I love..." Pause. I was going to say something about loving her body. Loving her mind. But truthfully, I just loved her. Not in a gooey romantic 'fall in love and be together forever' kind of way. But Ellie was my best friend. I had said it before, so why wouldn't I say it now? Because we were on our first date? It didn't change how I felt. So I steeled myself and finished the sentence. "I love you, no matter what." "I love you, too." I didn't skip a beat. I didn't pause, I didn't give reason for doubt. It was easy for me to say it, because I'd been feeling it for years. Only now, for the first time, it didn't feel unrequited. And that was so lovely! And I was so turned on. And I wanted her to be too. I wanted to go down on her, I wanted her to see how much I adored her. She wasn't letting me move, though; she was very clearly in charge. * * * * * When I finally checked the time, it was three in the morning. We spent hours kissing and touching and teasing each other. Eventually my pants came off, and my panties were so wet I thought Ellie would put me in a diaper. Part of me even wanted her too! But she was too polite to say anything. When we were finally done - fizzled out like candles lit for too long - we hadn’t really done anything that could have been called 'sex'. It was just nice feelings and exploration and it felt very... first date. Much nicer than the only other first date I'd had in my life. Ellie and I were lying near-naked together in bed. Bras and panties. Or, in Ellie's case, bra and diaper. I drew little lines from her belly button to he top of her diaper and back down again. My eyes were so heavy... "So sexy..." I muttered sleepily. "You think so?" I was so content. And I didn't think I would have been, given the fact that we'd spent hours playing with one another and hadn't had sex. We had fun. We explored. We played. And we bonded in a way that was uniquely us. "Maybe I'll just have to wear diapers more often..." I conjured ideas in my head of some minxy newly-wed in black lingerie, teasing her partner, "strut over to my girl on the sofa, sit on your lap, put your hand up my thigh to feel my diaper?" What a good night... "Mm... sexy..." I swear, I didn't have a fetish! I didn't think diapers were sexy three hours ago! But Ellie just made them look so cute, and she was so confident about her body when she was wearing one. Then again, she had been a lot more confident recently. Maybe it wasn't the diaper. Maybe it was just New Ellie. "Falling asleep," I muttered, after maybe a minute or maybe an hour. I knew I nodded off. I fell asleep not too long after, in a bra and a diaper, cuddled up to my best friend - who was maybe my girlfriend? - who was in a bra and panties. Why wasn't she in a diaper again? Maybe sexy stuff involving diapers had a one diaper limit? I'd have to ask... well, not Marnie - she wasn't into sex stuff. Maybe Prim, though? In the morning, I'd text Prim about it. For sure. For tonight, I slept. ---------------------- Thank you for reading! Like, Comment, and check us out on Patreon!

I just love the dynamic and how these two are working through this together. Really good communication going on!