kingdobbs

"I know you are May May. You are a good girl. You just need reminders some times," he said, looking down at May and pushing her head up gently to meet his eyes. He smiled a little at the fact that disappointing him made May sad. She'd be happy when Daddy was happy. "Ok now we can get our shoesies and we can go out and play, sweetheart," he said, walking with her to the closet.

"Not this time sweetie. But Daddy has the rules to make sure you're safe." They had both talked about escalating scales: two warnings equal corner time, two time outs equal a spanking, and two spankings meant early bedtime. He knew May would probably never get that far, but she had to know the punishments were there. He saw that the bloody nose had stopped, and he gave May a kiss. "Ok? So how does May May go down stairs from now on?"

"Sweetie," Leah says as she follows Daisy to the couch, looking at her crying. "There's a lot we have to do before bedtime: give you a bath, give you a bottle, change you into your jammies, read you a story...I promise you you will be ready for sleepy time when all that's done."

"It's OK, you just have to be more careful going down the stairs. I know you're happy to go play with Daddy, but that doesn't mean it's ok to run," Andy said, holding the pack and tissue to her nose. "We hold the hand rail and we go one step at a time, ok?" He was speaking authoritatively but not angrily, to say Daddy knows best, and far from being insulting to his adult girlfriend, he knew she would take it like a little girl, and that her Daddy was just trying to help.

After a while, Troy brought Daisy back into the house, gently placing her in the gated off living room. "Daisy, you play with Mommy a little while Daddy starts getting things ready for your bedtime, OK?"

"No it's just an owie," Andy said, feeling everything still attached. He kissed her right on the nose, gently so she knew it was to help her feel better. "Daddy will get you some ice and the ouchy will go away."

Troy smiles and carries Daisy around the yard, seeing his new baby happily bouncing. He points out all the outside toys they can use to play with on nice days, a slide, a swing, and a sandbox. "Mommy and I built that together, Daisy."

Andy took May in his arms to the bathroom, and put a tissue under her nose to stop the bleeding. "It's going to be OK May May, it's just a little ouchy. Daddy will fix it." He held her close with his other arm.

"Oh, I see," Troy says, leaning over to pick up Daisy. "You want Daddy to walk and Daisy to sit," he said, settling her in his arms, one around her waist and the other under her diapered butt for support.

"Ah you want to go outside. Daddy can take you to go outside, sweetie," Troy said, lifting up Daisy over the gate and walking with her to the door, holding her hand.

"I'm sorry sweetie. I shoulda told you the wipes would sting a little but I had to wipe before I could put on the cream," Andy said, like he was explaining it to a toddler. When she said thank you, he smiled and kissed her cheek. "You're welcome May May," he said, putting her diaper on her and helping her stand up. "Go find your shoes ok? No outside without shoes."

Troy sees Daisy going for the gate, and walks over calmly. "Where's Daisy going in such a hurry?" he says with a smile.

"You bet, Maysie," Andy said, tickling under her chin a little as he brought her to the bed and laid out the blanket. He helped her up to the bed to lay down, and started changing her. He saw some redness and put a big dollop of rash cream on her privates, rubbing it in gently.

"You bet, May May," Andy said, standing up and checking May's diaper as he set her on her feet.

Troy unwraps his arms from around Daisy and lets her go to the floor, figuring the baby girl wanted to play now.

"You're welcome pumpkin," Andy said, wiping off May's face with a napkin.

"Ok, I'm just checking, sweetheart," Troy said, holding Daisy on his lap tight.

Leah sees that Daisy is getting upset and stops, while Troy keeps Daisy snug and calm in his arms. Troy checks Daisys diaper again and finds its still dry. "Daisy sweetie have you had to go potty yet?"

"You're welcome sweetie," he said, rubbing Mays tummy as they cuddled. "But no talking with your mouth full ok?" He said in the Daddy tone that said "I'm in charge" but not "im mad at you."

"You're welcome, Daisy-kins," Leah said, tickling under Daisy's feet with a smile.

"Thanks Leah, she's calming down again," Troy said, smiling as he saw the teen in his arms start regressing right before him. "Daisy, say Thank You to Mommy for finding your pacifier."

"I love you," Andy replied, wrapping his arms around her and standing-snuggled his little May May. He stood with her and held her tight, feeling her curl up into him. After a few minutes, he took the plate up with one arm and walked May to the table. "I bet you want to sit on Daddy's lap for snack, huh?"

Andy just smiled at May because he knew she was little again and didn't "know better". "Sweetie, do it like this..." He gently took her right hand out of her mouth, replacing it with her pacifier from his pocket, then showed her by guiding her hands with his.

"She wants her pacifier, dear," Leah said, reaching up to pop it back in Daisys mouth, seeing Troy was holding Daisy with both hands to comfort her. "There we go, sweetheart, Mommy fixed it..."

"Sure thing, sweetie," Andy said, waving for her to come over.