BabySofia

I just finished re-reading Project Nurture. Looking forward to seeing things from Ashley's eyes that were covered, and beyond as you mentioned above! 🙂

I had to delay reading this when you mentioned it was directly coinciding with Project Nurture. I couldn't remember which one that was until I started re-reading it. (I'll have to finish re-reading that one tonight!) I like the way you've interwoven the tales, but I much prefer the voice you use in this tale! Looking forward to reading her eventual demise that I'm sure is coming. She clearly has been living a charmed life. It wasn't for that juice she might not have even lost her potty training yet.

It's those little nanites! Constantly able to heal the muscle tissue so she just doesn't get tired easily. Not to mention strengthening them. I don't think many can keep up with her!

So, just as an update to you all... I passed 500k words today in this story. I'm currently working on Chapter 165 now. I'm nowhere near close to being done, and this will definitely be split into multiple books at publishing. I might consider starting that with a couple out of the first part this fall. It's so much easier to edit everything when it's all finished though I think. I know this thread is certainly long at this point, but I'll most likely keep it going until the book is completed here. Anyway, thanks to those of you who keep pressing the like button and commenting, it helps me return to this when I get some real world blocks on my time in between!

They're self-replicating critters, so they can be replaced. Stacy figured out a way to replicate and extrude them from her body. I'm breaking the 4th wall here only because I don't plan to get into the weeds in this part of the story.

Fluids leave body as sweat or tears I would assume is her main way. Could be saliva even, she's been very close to the vest about this! I suspect she's programming them to leave via one of those avenues. 🤷‍♀️ It'll be fun! 🙂 Thanks, this timing tends to work out the best for me. Glad it works for you as well! Thanks for the comments! 💜

They'll happily do so! It doesn't hurt that both of them learned that very skill from their own mothers! (Addisons was a monster, but she didn't hesitate to push) Me too! Sometimes my characters get a bit too spoiled! You all had actually brought this up last week or recently and I was amused because I'd had that topic written about in this chapter a while ago! Thanks for the comments! 🙂

Plenty in store! Thanks for the comments! 🙂

Chapter 141: Special Requests I WOKE UP, a bit confused for a moment by the arms around me. I smiled as I realized it was Beth! It was still dark, and a small clock above my desk said it was two in the morning. ‘I fell asleep?’ I guessed. I was kind of surprised that I would have crashed like that, but between the filming, feeling horrible about inadvertently making Shelby sick… and, well, just everything! I guess my body said it was time. Unfortunately, I really only needed about five or six hours of sleep. I knew I wouldn’t get back to sleep easily. Beth was a pretty heavy sleeper, so I gently crawled out from her grasp and ensured she was covered with the light blanket we had been sharing. Looking at her… well, she was so beautiful! Beth… She was my whole world here, and I wanted desperately to be a part of ending whatever conspiracy was running amuck around her. I tiptoed quietly to my desk, grabbed my computer and phone, and went into the room I almost never went to – the bathroom. A clean rug in the corner by the tub looked comfy enough for my padded bottom, and I settled down and got to work. Mom had told stories and let stuff slip before I left, but it was only right before I left that she came clean on more details of her time here. She’d apparently figured out how to weaponize her nanites. She delivered them via a handgun she’d been given for the trip. “It would have only been like a bee sting to a Big if it had been a regular bullet,” she told me. “Really?” I asked. “Well, it might have penetrated in just the right place and bounced around to do damage, but Amazonian skin is a lot tougher than ours! Whereas if you were to bite another person here, you’d break the skin and leave a bite mark. You do that to some woman trying to breastfeed you? You’ll only make her mad, and your teeth won’t break through her skin.” “That’s crazy!” I told her. “It is, which is why I went ahead and printed what was basically a biological weapon instead. I ended up using it and shooting quite a few of them, turning them into Little girls who couldn’t control their potty needs. I only needed it once, but I think it ended up being a kinder fate than any of them deserved. The things they did to those women… to poor Bella…” She’d nearly teared up almost thirty years later! “Anyway, I later learned that was considered beyond criminal. It was actually a war crime to possess something like that… so if for some reason that happens – don’t get caught!” “You know me…” I’d laughed. I had no gun. Mom didn’t think it was a good idea if I was in the nest, but I did have nanites. Those little mechanical wonders were amazing, and I knew how to get to the bottom of our problem. All I needed to do was extract some, program them, and then plant them where I needed them to gain access to all the info we needed! I’d learned enough about the nanites before I left, plus the new ideas of intelligence in my class, that I was pretty sure what I wanted to do would work. I had time get entirely away from me. However, I still finished about thirty minutes before Grandma typically woke me up to go swimming. My diaper was trying to fall off as I crawled in next to Beth and managed to at least get another half-hour nap, knowing that I had a plan to protect her better! BETH WOKE UP, feeling the bed empty, and realized Carly must have gone swimming since her pajamas were folded on the changing table. She stretched and decided to walk downstairs to watch the girl swim. Sure enough, Fred sat in a chair sipping his coffee and watched her do lap after lap. She’d activated the video tracking board that morning. “She’s swam 8k meters?” Beth asked him. “Yep!” He said, “Morning Beth, still in your jammies?” She blushed, “I didn’t want to disturb Shelby if she’s still sleeping?” “Mandy just went to wake her up, so you can probably go up there in a few minutes to get anything you need. Carly’s bathroom is always available if you need it.” Beth nodded, “how long do you think she’ll go?” He shook his head, “Her mom and she are so alike with that - who knows?” He smiled, “This is the first time I’ve thought about starting the tracking board on one of her morning swims. I’m personally thinking she’ll hit ten k before she stops.” Beth nodded, hugging herself underneath her chest. “Is everything okay?” Fred asked her, motioning to the seat beside him. She shrugged, “I guess? I assume Amanda told you about everything?” He snorted, “Probably most of it – but everything?” He shook his head, “she likes to keep some things to herself.” “Carly’s like that too…” “It was part of why her mom was perfect as a daughter for us,” he agreed. “So what’s up?” She sighed, “I’m just worried. This whole dorm room hacking thing?” He nodded, “She did tell me about that. The good thing is that she prevented it?” Beth nodded, “Yeah… but I guess… I don’t even understand why someone would try to do this to me?!?” Fred reached over with his giant hand and rubbed her shoulder, “Sometimes bad people just do things. Coming up with a why doesn’t always work. For now, know that your parents, my wife, myself, and that fish out there all have your best interests at heart. Just like with Shelby, we’re not about to let anything happen to any of you.” They stayed by the pool and talked until Carly hit the 10k mark, and Fred decided that was enough. He stood by the pool’s edge, and she must have sensed his shadow, completing one last lap. “Come on, fishy, you need to get ready for the rest of the day!” Carly turned around and looked at the screen, “Whoa, I didn’t realize I’d swam that far!” “That’s why it’s time to get out! Can’t have you trying to cross the continent or something,” Fred said, picking her up and tickling her as he wrapped her in a towel. “Here, I caught a fish for you,” he said to Beth, handing her over. “Grandpa! Mom and I have told you a thousand times, we’re dolphins, not fish?!?” Carly kidded the big man. “Come on, Carly, before he decides you need to be grilled up or something.” The shorter girl wriggled in her grasp, even as her pajamas ended up a little wet from the girl contained within. “Let’s go get a bath together,” Beth told her. “No sex!” Amanda said as she passed by them. “Breakfast will be ready in twenty minutes!” “Yes, ma’am,” Beth said, blushing. “Nuts…” Carly said when they were safely out of hearing distance, making Beth laugh. Shelby took forever in her bathroom, so Beth grabbed her clothes and stuff to go to Carly’s bathroom. They shared a quick shower where Beth soaped Carly’s hair and scrubbed her with her body soap. She quickly did the same with herself, but they were too short of time to explore beyond that. ‘Next week, maybe?’ she thought. After getting Carly dressed in her diaper, a cute onesie, and matching pants, she dressed too, and they headed down with their hair still wrapped in towels before Amanda sent a search party for them! “THERE YOU TWO are,” Grandma said as we joined her in the kitchen. Aunt Bella was spoonfed what looked like a bowl of oatmeal by Grandpa in the high chair. Beth set me into my highchair, even as she sat beside Shelby. “Where’s Ryan?” I asked. “He’s still asleep over at our house, I’d guess,” Aunt Bella said, accepting a baby spoon of oatmeal from Grandma into her mouth. The rest of us were digging into thick waffles covered in syrup, whipped cream, and the biggest strawberries someone could imagine! It was a great breakfast, and I was soon full. Beth made a face at me and giggled. “What?” “You…” she shook her head, grabbed a napkin, and walked over to me. Her hand quickly wiped my nose, then my cheeks, “somehow had whipped cream everywhere!” “Going to have to get you a bib next time,” she kidded me. “What are you girls up to today?” Grandma asked. “Mainly studying,” I told her. “Yeah, I have four midterms this week,” Beth sighed. “Four?” I asked. In my head, I counted, “I guess I only have two, and then a project is due?” “How are you taking as many classes as I am but have fewer exams?” She complained. “Well, I have written a full-length pilot script for screenwriting, and this short we just finished?” I suggested, “Oh, and then the animated film… Oh!” I realized I’d been told about our film time but never looked at the schedule. “Oh?” She asked me. “I need to look at the festival schedule; my animated script should be on the schedule, too!” Beth rolled her eyes at me, “So that’s what - three of your scripts being shown?” “Three?” “Your original script, too?” “Oh, I have to imagine that ended up with an awful showing time, though.” “Probably,” she agreed. “So, how else are you only at two exams?” “Well, I have Holofield Theory and Math Analysis both on Wednesday – that will be a hard day. Then, on Friday, my Intelligence project is due. My Tuesday and Thursday classes are all covered with projects?” She shook her head, “For the crime of not having enough exams, you little Miss are sentenced to helping me study.” I laughed, “Of course, Your Honor.” “Maybe you both should get your hair dried and sorted out first?” Grandma suggested. “Yeah,” I agreed. “Wait! Hair!” Beth said. “Hair?” I asked. “Do you have a salon you’d trust to get Carly ready? Maybe that could help us both on Thursday?” “I do… what time?” Grandma asked her. “Early afternoon, I’m guessing? We need to look at the schedule?” “Go figure that out and let me know. If they can’t get you in, I know Tessa could probably take care of you both too.” “Salon would be so much better for her!” Beth said, smiling at me. “Okay, let’s go get our hair done, figure out this film fest schedule, and then get studying!” She turned to Shelby, “You’re welcome to join us.” “Okay, I’m going to run home first and get some things. Where are you going to study?” “Probably the living room?” I suggested. “Maybe start the fireplace up?” “I like that idea,” Beth said. “Cozy! I’ll be back,” Shelby said. “I’ll change your mom and send her over,” Grandma told her. “Okay,” Shelby said and bolted out of the room. As Beth helped me down from the seat, Grandma asked, “Do you want nummies this morning?” “Please, Mommy,” Aunt Bella told her. We made our own exit then, even as a part of me wondered how they could still both want to breastfeed after all these years! Upstairs, Beth pulled my hair from the turban and pulled out the jet engine of a blow dryer she found in her bathroom. I sat still as she dried, brushed, and styled my hair, leaving it hanging in two loose pigtails with cute butterfly clips holding them at my head. “Can I do yours?” I asked her. She laughed, “Let me dry it first? I don’t think you can hang onto this?” I blushed. Her hair ended up in two braided pigtails with bows tying off the ends. “You know, my hair has been in pigtails more since I’ve known you than in the last five years?” I laughed, “My sisters always wear them when they want to feel comfortable? I’ve always thought they were cute?” She suddenly started a tickle attack on me, “Cute, huh?” She kept going, “I’ll show you cute.” I giggled and smiled and then made a face. “We should probably change me…” “And that’s a ‘we’ thing?” She smiled. “Well, it started when you tickled me?” “Oh, I’m to blame…?” She kissed me, carried me back to my room to change me, and then we settled in downstairs with the fireplace started. Looking at the schedule, we definitely needed to get me a waiver to stay out for the film that would start playing at 26 o’clock. It was about the equivalent of 7:30pm back home, but it was also our dorm curfew! The last diaper check was usually about an hour after that. My film, which the other studio was doing, was going to be shown at noon, at 16 o’clock, in what I assumed was the worst space at the beginning! We were required to watch at least six films over the two days and could count our own. “So, how about we go get our hair done at three in the afternoon?” Beth suggested. “Is that enough time?” “Should be, and we can get our nails done too, get dressed. Maybe we can have a nice dinner and then show up for the ceremony thirty minutes before showtime?” “Tell you what, I’ll leave that planning in your hands? That will let us see four films before we leave, and then we can catch more on Wednesday after our math classes?” “What time is your animated film?” She asked me. “Looks like it’s at 22 O’clock on Wednesday,” I told her. “Perfect! We can watch that, get dinner, and head back to the dorm.” “I should be able to return to the dorm by what time do you think Thursday?” I asked. “I would suggest telling them 29 o’clock to be safe, but we’ll shoot for 28 o’clock?” “Okay, you figure out the salon, I’ll deal with Emerson…” She disappeared, and I composed a message to Professor Wyler, Miss Lilly, and our interim dorm mother. I copied it to Grandma as well. Good morning, I am requesting permission to attend our Cinematic Narratives project, ‘Diaper Diaries,’ showing at 26 O’clock on Thursday. This showing time is considered the ‘title’ spot for the evening, and our class grade is based on the film. It would be about 28 o’clock, given the hour-long film and time to get to the dorm after any pictures or the question and answer session I see on the schedule takes place. At worst, I will return to the dorm by 29 o’clock at the latest. Professor Wyler has mentioned that there have been exemptions made in the past. I would be happy to have Miss Lilly attend as my ‘plus one’ to ensure I behave appropriately for the university and do not take advantage of the extraordinary request I am making. Please let me know if you need any further information, Carly Slane Grandma came by right then, and I had her look the message over before pressing send. “Okay, I came to let you know they’ll get you both into the salon - no issues. We’ll get you dressed there, and then I’ve arranged for a table for dinner for your entire studio at Fiona’s before your red carpet moment.” “Grandma, you didn’t have to do all of that!” I told her. “Of course I did! I also need to make a little call to make sure your email gets the reception it deserves… get to studying,” she told me with a hug and then a kiss on my head. “Your grandmother and my mother have a lot in common,” Beth said with a smile. “Well, you kind of set that whole thing off there?” “Yeah,” she agreed. “It’ll be worth it, though! I haven’t had a good spa day in forever!!!” I blushed, knowing I would finally experience something I’d always been jealous of my sisters. I got to work on my Intelligence project that was due on Friday. Most of it was already planned, framed out, and nearly ready to go, but I hadn’t put it all together in one package yet. I had chosen a project that intrigued me, which was to: Create an AI model that enhances emotional responses in holographic AI assistants to improve human interaction and trust. There were so many little subsystems and variables to consider, so I’d isolated things to a specific case of reacting to a child’s facial expressions. If a child was crying, it would attempt to determine why. Steps like changing a dirty diaper, feeding a hungry baby, treating a wound, or just cuddling would be assessed. A frowning child might be given some distance, even as the AI would try different ways to cheer them up… Most of this work had been done thousands of times in the dimension. Still, this class wanted us to build the capability from the ground up. There were a few other options, but I felt this had practical implications for film and using them with HoloCharacters when acting. I was going above the basic requirements and building the best responding AI to an actor or actress I could! “Carly!” I was brought back to the living room, realizing I’d been ignoring my name. “Huh?” I said. “Are you okay?” Beth asked. “Oh, yeah, I just get caught up in my work sometimes?” “What are you working on anyway?” “My intelligence project, teaching an AI how to respond to facial expressions?” “That sounds complicated…” Shelby said from the other side of the room. “It’s not easy,” I agreed. “How would you solve this?” Beth asked me, showing me a calculus problem. “Hmm…” I said, looking at it for a couple minutes and solving it but not really solving it. “Whoever wrote this problem, I think, made an error, Beth. You can sort of solve it using some advanced equations I’ve learned. Still, even then, there are four possible answers depending on the variable here…” “Great, I have to tell my professor they’re an idiot…” Beth said. “No, they just didn’t math right! Most math professors will accept they made that kind of mistake?” I told her. “Not this one…” “Well, I’ll teach you how I would solve it if it was me?” I shrugged, “This is just practice, right, not homework?” She shook her head, “No, it’s just to work on.” “Hopefully, he proofreads tests better…” There was eventually a break for dinner, and then Shelby went home with a big hug from both of us, ‘good luck’ for the week. At bedtime, Grandma changed me and ran my bath, telling Beth we both needed to get sleep tonight…” “So we can only play on the weekends?” I asked her as she tucked me into bed. “No actual playing allowed,” she reminded me, “but yes, let’s have you both in your own beds the night before school. That way, hopefully, you’ll both get some rest!” I sighed, “Okay.” “I love you, Carly,” she told me. “Good night!” “Good night, Grandma; I love you too,” I told her as she turned off the light and closed the door. I had a hard time sleeping that night, even as I thought of the week ahead of two midterms, our theater projects, turning in my intelligence project, and finally taking care of starting to learn more about who was after Beth. ‘Hopefully, I can plant those tomorrow in class!’’ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thanks for reading! Please press that like button on the post, and leave a comment! It's going to be a very busy week for our characters in the story! I'm looking forward to you all reading it! Thanks to all of you responding and commenting; it helps motivate me to keep writing!

I guess I need to go re-read project nurture? Ashley definitely has attracted the wrong kind of attention. She probably will sadly be the story from here on out!

Minus being in the middle of nowhere that was how Emily almost made it in Inkuhime's work. Probably the most likely to succeed if you don't need supplies...

Good for Ashley! I'm curious who holds more power... Vasillou or Pete? I suspect there will come a fight there at some point. For all of her not being innocent, Betty is probably one of the few not horrible people out there. Good to see an update again! 🙂

Thanks for the comments! 🙂

Well, I like to think there are some 'normies' out there? 🤷‍♀️ (I do agree, though! Life is much better padded with a nice baba! 🍼 ) He's based on a cousin of mine in a lot of ways. He had a pretty traumatic event happen when he was about 11 or 12 in middle school. Anxiety became a huge issue, and he really did just live in his mom's basement for years. (Really proud of him now living on his own in a city and doing well with his career) Another cousin's son ended up with some similar issues after the COVID shutdowns. Kind of a double-edged sword, but it does keep him as the least likely to be adopted, I guess.

<hug> Sorry, I know the feeling all too well! I have a little bit of a pause for a month or so and then I get right back to insanity myself! Hang in there! 💜

Not potty trained? @Kat5 It's like you knew I was about to the point of deciding to re-read this entire work and posted a new chapter! 🤣 (I'll have to do that sometime in the next week) I was desperate for things to read last night, and all of a sudden, several of you all finally have like five things to catch up on today! Great chapter! Glad to see the stupid witch put in her place, but I do fear they have an enemy now who can make their lives much more miserable!

I hope the aggression of that mist doesn't keep going for her sake... otherwise she's going to be in that backroom and awful lot! Pull-ups will be giving way to diapers awfully soon I'm guessing unless Betty decides to run with her. (Maybe in the end she will?)

She's kind of like the cute little sister that everyone likes in my mind! Nice person, and you want the best to happen to her! I enjoy the scenes where I get to write her. I don't know if we'll ever get the full details, but picture you're a son of an adopted Little mom. Your 'grandmother' is one of the most famous people in the city, if not the country, and you have to deal with Bigs seeing you as adoptable. I think he kind of developed some very significant issues with dealing with people. (Really he is a lot like one of my cousins in the way I think of him.) When they turn 18 they're considered free/independent adult Littles unless or until they're adopted. That unfortunately means it can be open season on them. Most definitely! Seeing your mom nursing from your grandma... well, it definitely would mess with you! There is a larger population of free Littles right now in Ames than there has been historically. I think in many cases the families who are adopted probably aren't potty training their Littles. That being said most of our parents want us to have better lives than them, so from that perspective it makes sense that they would want to give them every opportunity to 'grow up' as they can get. Unfortunately, this is indeed the case. I'm sure she's got some times she wore panties as a kid, and maybe at home, but at school it would be a massive mistake. (Their new film demonstrates that really) Thanks! 🙂

Gulp! Interesting start! Check your tags, you accidentally grabbed the misspelled 'Diaper Dimesion' tag instead of the 'Diaper Dimension' tag.

🙂

<nods> At one point she wasn't going to get that either in my notes. I fell in love with her character too much to do that to her though. 🙂

She definitely had no viable future at one point. I'm glad I was able to come back to her story and give her some better closure later! 🙂 True, Beth's Mom was the worst though unfortunately. You can't fix stupid sometimes... Plus I'm sure there is a testing company that makes a fortune off of both the test fees and their commission on new adoptions it helps enable! Thanks for the comments! 🙂

Thanks, I stared at this one for a bit! I honestly think she's probably found more than an average Little! Thanks for the comments! 🙂

'Complicated' is all I'll say about that for now. I don't envy anyone trying to go against Amanda, though.

Chapter 140: Test Stress WE WERE JUST finishing changing when I heard a ‘whoop’ from someone out in the main backstage room. “What’s going on?” I asked, coming out of the room. Sebastian was standing there with a big smile, while Gary looked to be the one who had cheered. “Well, looks like we will have to worry about getting an exemption from your curfew this week to be safe,” Sebastian said with a smile. “Why?” I asked. “Because we’re the main feature on Thursday night!!!” “What?!?” Beth asked beside me. “Seriously?” Charlotte emerged from changing right then, “Looks like everyone needs to find nice clothes for the show!” “Nice clothes?” I asked. She smiled and knelt down in front of me. “One of the fun traditions of this film festival is they have a ‘red carpet’ walk of whoever is the feature. They’ll take pictures and video for Emerson to use as advertising material, and the local news station usually covers it.” “And because Charlotte Perez is the star…” Gary said. “It’s going to be bigger, isn’t it?” Beth asked nervously. “Yep!” Sebastian said. “So, you need to find a nice set of dresses, girls. Do you need help with that?” Charlotte asked us. “I’m sure my aunt can help us out,” I told her. “Am I allowed to not be in the uniform?” I asked. Sebastian nodded, “They had a Little last year who was in the feature; she dressed up in a pretty dress for the festival. No issues with it. You can triple-check with the Dean if you want to, though?” “I will just to be safe,” I told him. With a sigh, I looked at Beth, “Ready to get out of here?” At Nikki’s nod, the two walked away with her to where she’d parked that morning. Placing us in our car seats and driving away, I realized it was still only mid-afternoon. “Hopefully, Bella can help us out?” Beth asked nervously, “I left most of my nice gowns back home?” “I’m sure she can?” I told her. “I’m just glad to be out of that damn diaper. Carly, I really don’t know how you deal with it!” “Not much choice?” I told her. She was able to reach my seat and took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Both of us went quiet and must have fallen asleep! “HOW DID IT go?” Grandma asked us a while later when we’d made it home, and I’d changed to a more comfortable set of leggings and a onesie Beth had picked out for me. It was definitely not more mature, but the onesie felt supportive on the changed diaper, and the leggings were nice and soft and cozy on my legs. “We finished filming,” I told her. “So now it’s just down to editing… I doubt we can get done this week, but we’ll at least try to get some of it done Monday or Tuesday in some breaks.” “Can’t do anything the rest of the week, though,” Beth told me. “Yeah, the film festival will completely take up Wednesday and Thursday,” I agreed. “Umm... Grandma…?” “Yes, Carly?” She asked me with the tone of someone who knew a request was coming. “We found out we’re going to be the main feature on Thursday night. Do you think Aunt Bella could help us out with some gowns? Apparently, it’s tradition for the cast and crew of the winning film to dress up?” “Winning film?” She asked. “I thought you all were an intro class; I would have thought an older production from seniors or something might win?” “So would I,” I told her. “Gowns, huh?” Grandma said, “I do recall seeing stuff about that with the festival in the past. Why don’t you two head over to their house and see? I’m sure Shelby would love to hear about that, too?” She paused, “I’ll also talk with the faculty and make sure you can be out of your uniform for the event.” “Thanks,” I said. “Not too long,” Beth admonished, “We do need to study for midterms, Carly.” I sighed, “I know. Let’s go see if Aunt Bella can help us.” We walked back out the front door and across the yard to Aunt Bella’s house. It was the first time I’d ever gone over where we weren’t expected, so I wasn’t quite sure what the protocol was. I was about to ring the doorbell when Aunt Bella opened the door. “Hi, girls!” She smiled, “Mommy called and said you were on the way over? Something about special dresses?” Sometimes, the way she talked was still so weird! She was a mother herself, but she reverted back to such babyish behavior and terms, too. ‘This world has got to wreak havoc on one’s mental state,’ I noted. “Yeah, we have a big event at Emerson on Thursday we need to dress up for,” Beth said. “Do you think you could help us out?” “I do!” Aunt Bella smiled. “Let’s go downstairs, and we’ll figure out what you’ll be wearing!” We were almost to the hidden hallway behind the playroom when she asked, “So Beth, it’ll be easy for you; we’ll dress you up and make you look nice and grown up,” she smiled. “Carly, what are we doing with you?” “What do you mean?” I asked. “I think she means, are we going with a baby dress or pretending you’re a big girl?” Beth suggested. “Oh…” I said. I looked down at my body, “I don’t want to look like a baby?” “You’d rather look like you’re your age then?” Aunt Bella asked as we neared her workspace a moment later. “I think so?” I looked at Beth for help. “Probably not risque,” Beth said. “No high-cut slits or anything that could be considered ‘indecent’ on a Little?” “Completely understand! Let me show you some ideas!” Bella said. A moment later, we were launching our way through a massive catalog of dresses, all of which I realized she had designed over the years. Beth said, “That one!” I looked up at the dress and dreamed of her wearing it. It was a beautiful emerald green with a design that started with a one-shoulder set of wide straps at the top that reached the computer model’s top of her breasts with sheer fabric. Below there, it was a solid fabric over the breasts to keep it modest while opening up into a sheer fabric below the breasts down to where the waist of the skirt reached. The dress was belled out into a ball gown with a high slit up the left leg but also featured an organza overlay with iridescent three-dimensional flowers across the top and sheer areas down to the middle of the skirt. “You’ll look gorgeous in that!” Aunt Bella said with a smile as Shelby suddenly joined us. “What’s the occasion she asked?” “Our film is the film festival’s main feature on Thursday night, so we’ve been told we need to dress up.” “Ooh, that’s cool!” She said, “Too bad it’s such a horrible film for it…” I laughed, “True! I don’t think Beth would look like the potty-training dunce in that?” “No,” Beth agreed, “Which is most definitely the point! You don’t mind making this?” She asked Aunt Bella. She smiled, “Not at all! My favorite thing these days is to make special event dresses; not often do I get to do these in a smaller size! Now, we must figure out the real challenge, my niece!” I blanched, “Challenge?” “Well, you said you want to seem more grown up… Dressing you as a baby, like for Meggy’s birthday party, is easy!” I felt my stomach drop at the idea of that being my evening gown! “Dressing you your age at your size is a bit more of a challenge, especially since those nanites didn’t give you an adult’s body. You’re as shapeless as a little girl, so obviously, we can’t try and show your beautiful non-existent breasts.” ‘This is the woman who just not long ago said, ‘Mommy said,” I thought to myself! “Do you have some suggestions?” Beth asked. “Of course! It’s not the first time I’ve had to get a Little girl to look a little less Little. The idea of giving her breasts for the night is a bad idea at Emerson; she might get ‘knocked down’ a peg by a Big if we’re not careful. Going to be a balancing act…” She quickly swiped through some images, coming to a series of tops that she then did something with to match them with skirts, then did something with overlays. It was all at the speed and precision that only a lot of skill and practice could bring. I also realized that meant she was custom designing my dress – it would be a first of its kind from her. “How about this?” She asked, showing the result. It was a light blue; the description beside the model said ‘azure blue.’ There was a strap on each shoulder, wider than spaghetti straps but still leaving a lot of shoulders exposed, that led down to a bodice that fully covered my breast area. The skirt was fuller than Beth’s, and it reached the floor. Still, it had a transparent organza overlay fabric layered with different ribbon effects as it cascaded down above the main fabric. The front was covered in ornate crystal-studded flowers with butterflies attached occasionally. It was cut in an ‘A-Line’ shape, so right at my waist, it flared. “It’s beautiful, Mom!” Shelby said. “I would have loved that for prom if it was safe to go.” “Sorry, sweetheart,” she said to her daughter. “I wish Homecoming had been safer… we can’t risk that again.” I looked at Shelby, “Later,” she mouthed to me. “What do you think, Beth?” I asked her. “You’ll be beautiful in anything, but I think this will be amazing for you.” “That’s perfect then, Aunt Bella,” I told her, “Thank you!” She was one of the few people in my life shorter than me, so when I hugged her, her head barely reached my chest.” “Of course, Carly, your other clothes for the trip are ready. Mommy has them ready to get packed over at the house. I’ll get these two dresses put together on the printers tonight. You two can take them with you on Monday when you go back to school.” “Thank you, Bella,” Beth said. “Great! Now, I heard you two have midterms next week. This daughter of mine has a CARE exam this week that she needs to be studying for. You three go scoot and get to work, I’ll see you at dinner.” “Yes, Mother,” Shelby said. “Is your mom that bossy?” She asked us as we left the hidden entrance at the playroom. “Yes!” Beth and I answered simultaneously. We looked at each other and giggled. “You two are around each other too much! Can I come study with you?” “Sure!” Beth said. THE THREE GIRLS soon found themselves curled up on the huge couch in the main house’s living room. Beth was against one arm of the sofa, with Carly leaning against her, turning on her side, and looking at her tablet. Shelby had claimed the opposite side of the couch, occasionally looking up and commenting on things. She sighed after a while, “I hate this stupid exam!” She looked at Carly, “How did you pass it anyway?” Carly shrugged, “I didn’t take it? They had another exam they had us take?” “Did it have the same… rules?” she asked. “Wait, I thought things had gotten better here. Do you mean the rules are the same as when my mom came?” Carly asked. “What rules?” Beth found herself asking. “It’s a little different than back then, I think… You don’t automatically get adopted if you fail?” Shelby said. “But…?” Carly asked. “If you have a poopy accident, they’ll stop your exam and consider that score to be final? You can’t even retake it?” “Seriously?” Beth asked. “Yeah, it’s nuts,” she said, clearly a pile of nerves. “Grandpa solved that for my mom; just do what she did?” Carly said. “Besides, unlike me, you’re still potty trained?” She grimaced, “Mostly, at least. I had two wet Pull-Ups at school this week.” “I’m sorry,” Carly said. “You have one of Grandpa’s emergency bracelets, right?” “Yes…?” “So, have him… uh… help you out… the night before, then take that if you feel like the urge might come?” “What did your grandpa do?” Beth asked, feeling like she was missing something. Shelby’s eyes said she really didn’t want to think about it. However, sometimes Carly still had the emotional intelligence of the boy she’d grown up as. “He gave her a strong laxative and an enema to clear everything out?” At that, Beth watched Shelby rush from the room to the downstairs bathroom. Thinking quickly, she gently moved her girlfriend off her lap and followed her down the hall. Making it just in time to hold the poor girl’s hair as she threw up into the tall toilet! Having her own relationship throwing up into that toilet, she felt bad for the girl. She stayed with her, helping her clean up when she was done and embracing her in a strong sisterly hug. “It’ll be okay, Shelby,” she told her. “You’ve got this!” “Beth, you just… you don’t understand? I don’t want to fail? I just want to get somewhere safe!” “Shelby, your grandmother and grandfather got Carly’s mom through Emerson. They got your brother through high school, and he wasn’t adopted coming off the stage; you’ll be fine, I promise you!” Beth held her as she cried herself out, and she eventually noted that she’d fallen asleep in her arms. ‘Poor thing,’ Beth thought to herself. While she was over a foot taller than Carly, she was still light enough to carry her upstairs and put her down on the bed in her room. Beth closed the door gently and saw Amanda looking at her curiously. She whispered, “She’s really nervous about the CARE exam next week… she kind of lost it,” she told her. “After she cried herself to sleep, I decided she needed that.” Amanda nodded, “I’ve seen the toll on her; she’s definitely nervous. Thanks for reassuring her. We’ll make sure she gets through it all.” “Good,” Beth said. “Now I’m going to go give your other granddaughter a bit of a scolding for setting off her cousin!” “Carly? What did she do?” Amanda was suddenly shocked anything bad could have happened from the girl. “Nothing intentional, she’s just sometimes got a case of boy-brain and doesn’t read the room,” she said. “Oh, got it! Her mother would sometimes do things like that, too.” “I’ve got this,” Beth said. Downstairs, Carly nervously asked Beth, “Is she okay?” “Yes, bird brain, she is.” “What did I do…?” “Pushed a bit too far, sweetie. She didn’t really need to think about what would be required. After the accidents, talking about a laxative and an enema?!?” “Oh…” Carly said. “I didn’t think…” “Nope!” she sighed, “Come here!” Carly was a bit nervous but found herself in Beth’s lap. “Use that big old brain in that little head more?” “I’ll apologize when she comes back.” “She’s going to sleep it off for a bit,” Beth told her. “Honestly, it wasn’t just you - it was everything hitting the poor girl at once. She’s wound tighter than I think anyone knew.” “Anything I can do?” Carly asked nervously. “Say sorry later, hug her, and find a way to make it up to her.” They sat still for a long while before Beth said, “You know, I completely understand how she feels. Being in these two film projects has brought that kind of worry even more to my mind.” Carly looked up at her, “I’m sorry.” “It’s not your fault, Carly. I got used to a bit more of a bubble until this semester. I kept to myself and a couple friends. You kind of have dragged me out of my shell more. I don’t think I would have participated nearly as much in the film class as I have otherwise.” “It’s been fun having that class together,” I told her. “Well, the nice thing is the credit hours we’ll have earned with an ‘A,’ and then also get hopefully the last four weeks of class essentially off!” she paused, “And, no final!” “Project-based classes are definitely better,” Carly agreed. “Ugh, back to midterm studying. Do you know what this means?” Beth asked Carly, pointing to a concept in her Waves textbook that sounded like gibberish to her. “Yeah!” Carly said and proceeded to explain it as if it were something as simple as the sky being blue. She could be emotionally stupid sometimes, but her little genius had become invaluable in helping her study! Bella and Ryan came over for dinner that night, and Amanda returned from upstairs with a sleepy Shelby. Beth watched Carly practically rush over there to hug her, apologizing for setting her off. “It’s okay, Carly, that shouldn’t have gotten to me… I think I just needed to let it all out.” Shelby hugged Carly before coming over to Beth and giving her a bigger hug, “Thank you for being like the big sister I’ve always wanted instead of my stupid brother.” Beth laughed, “You’re welcome, Shelby. Call me anytime if you ever need anything. You’re family to me now, too.” Carly smiled, and the seven of them sat in their chairs, boosters, and highchairs to enjoy the tasty roast that Amanda had slow-cooked. They all ended up in the living room to watch a movie together that night after a change to pajamas and new diapers for Bella and Carly. Beth enjoyed having Carly curled up on her lap. She couldn’t help but smile as Shelby had similarly crawled into Fred’s lap, a place where she happily and comfortably still fit. A sideways glance let her watch as Bella contentedly nursed from Amanda, even as she faded to sleep. Beth looked back down at Carly and couldn’t help but wish she had that kind of closeness with her. Unlike her mother, though, she didn’t plan to nurse Carly like her mom fed her dad! Fortunately for both of them, her period had ended, and so had her overwhelming mothering needs. Carly was usually one of the latest staying-up members of the family. Still, that night in Beth’s lap, she fell asleep just like the other Littles in the room, except Ryan, who had already left to go back to their house to sleep. “Would you two be okay in Carly’s bed for the night?” Amanda whispered to Beth. She thought about it and nodded, “It’s tight, but yeah?” “Okay, why don’t you get her off to bed, and Fred and I’ll sort out these two girls.” “Kay,” Beth said. She’d originally planned more massage interactions that night, but something in the day must have worn out Carly more than she’d realized. Upstairs, she changed Carly’s diaper, then lay her in the bed before going to the bathroom and taking care of herself. She returned to find Carly had sprawled out over the bed and giggled at the sight. It took her a moment, but she maneuvered the smaller girl into position so she could cuddle her while easily stretching out on the mattress. She blanched a bit as she knew it was the same length as a crib mattress, and it was clear it wasn’t too short for her. Carly fidgeted then in her sleep, and Beth found herself lightly running her hand through her hair soothingly. Then, she watched her fall back into a soothing sleep. Beth watched her sleep for a long while before succumbing to the need as well. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thanks for reading! Please press the Like Button and leave a comment!!! The upcoming chapters were some that I had in mind when I first started this waaaaay too long ago, and was excited to actually make it to! I hope you'll enjoy them too. Please keep the comments and likes coming, I need some extra motivation to get back to this after a month's pause in writing here!