Mee

At the Office “And Alex, please turn in those important documents for me by 3? It’s very important I get those under file.” Dejectedly, Alex replied, “Yes, ma’am...” “Ma’am? Is that what you’re supposed to say?” Her casual mistake sent a jolt through the girl, suddenly sitting upright as an unintentional spurt of warm liquid escaped her. “N-no! M...mommy...” “Good girl,” the stern attitude in her voice eased itself, and Alex was relieved to have earned a pat on the head, though still another small stream escaping into her underwear. “And don’t forget that I’ll also be expecting another package in your pants, too.” “Y...yes...” just as defeated Alex replied yet again, nervously eyeing the bulge in her tailored work pants, imagining as if her body had betrayed her already. How far she’d fallen. Three months prior she’d been an aspiring intern at this company, and now, in the present day, she was more than thankful to have a paid position. The downside, though? Her boss had shaped Alex’s everyday work life into more of a trip to daycare than a 9 to 5 desk job. The one thing she could be thankful for was her own desk, but that was about as far as the adult liberties and pleasures went. It was an everyday disappointment to open her bottom drawer where work binders would usually be, and instead find a stack of coloring books yet to be filled. The oh-so “important documents” which were imperative to be submitted on time were more often than not pictures of Barney and Elmo characters in dire need of color. Maybe, once in a blue moon she’d be blessed by some form of different work, that being she was in charge of a Spongebob themed one instead. Though, that just typically meant her boss couldn’t find something even more demeaning. Beyond intimidated by her coworkers, she listened to the sounds of rapid typing from their respective work stations, whereas the only noises you’d hear from hers were the scribbles and scrawls of multicolored crayons. She didn’t even know herself why she stuck to it. Maybe it was some fleeting hope that her boss would realize she wasn’t some overgrown toddler, and could actually handle work in a real estate department. But no. That day never seemed to come. Instead it was just a new stack of coloring books waiting on her desk. Her morning routine consisted of hiding them in her desk drawer, but even she knew it was a ridiculous notion to think that hiding them meant anything. Given that her desk was deprived of a computer, and with her childish, yet time-consuming workload, Alex couldn’t afford to hide the books while she worked in them. Childish as it was, her boss was oddly demanding that she be prompt with her coloring. The warning she’d just been given was her 15 minute one, like any school teacher would give towards the end of a test. She’d taken just a small break, given that she was on the last stretch of images in the final book. It made her bitter to admit it, but stick to coloring as long as she had, and you were bound to pick up a few tricks here and there… There was no real way her boss wanted them. She just wanted to see the effort. In no way did her drawings benefit the company other than to provide the CEO some form of amusement. She was too focused on her drawing to pay much more mind to her bladder; already aware of how hopeless of a strife it was, and soon let the sputtering stream from before expand into a full-on wetting. Sometimes she wished that when she did wet, it would pool beneath her legs, soak into her pants, stain her panties, and overflow onto the industrial carpet. Anything to retaliate against the fate she’d been committed to. But that fantasy was but a distant dream. Wetting panties were impossible if you didn’t wear them, and you couldn’t pee on a chair if your boss checked your underwear too often. No. Not with the diapers she was kept in. With a small slam she set the Crayola tool beside its many cousins, removing the sticky note from where she’d left off and finally closing the last book. She could only imagine what this collection of infancy might look like to the IRS in a company audit. What an anomaly she’d be… Grabbing the stack of books, she stood from her seat, hearing the slight squelch of her diaper as she leaned forward. Walking her short trip down the hall, a slight waddle with her step, she could feel the lingering eyes from her blind spots ogle her most pronounced features; those being the bulges in her waist area. “Afternoon, Alex!” a cheery voice called from the other end of the hallway. She recognized the voice instantly, and identified them as another one of her mild tormentors. “...Hi, Sarah.” The woman in a business skirt and blouse let out a small chuckle, as with her natural height aided by a pair of heels, she pat Alex innocently on the head. “Alex, didn’t we already talk about this?” she laughed like it was just yesterday. Leaning over for a more eye-to-eye view, she said, “I asked you to start calling me ‘Miss Silver,’” she spoke with a saturated tone of explanation. She sounded as if each word needed to be carried with clear and careful annunciation, otherwise the listener in question might misinterpret such simple instructions. That being Alex. Taking a small gulp of air, Alex finally mustered, “Good morning, M...Miss Silver.” “Perfect! That wasn’t so hard now, was it?” she spoke with a further condescending attitude. The longer their conversations continued, Alex always felt more and more like a toddler. Language was an annoyingly powerful tool, and with the way she was treated in the office, and what she was wearing, it was pretty much impossible to deal. Just as Alex was about to turn back to her original destination, Sarah started to speak, and Alex unfortunately knew better than to turn away when her superiors were talking… And what made for even worse timing was when she could feel her stomach gurgle and churn the slightest bit, and she knew it wasn’t because she was hungry... “So what are you up to right now, silly?” Alex could feel her eyes scan her from head to toe, figuring the answer might lie somewhere in her appearance. She couldn’t help but feel that the stares lingered most about her crotch area, though… “I can definitely see that you’ve been a busy bee!” she gestured to the coloring books. Meekly, Alex could only nod her head to agree, but the last thing she wanted to do was make it seem like to another person that she actually took pride in something so belittling. While her peers were busy with property appraisals, presentations, client meetings, and bookkeeping, Alex was stuck making the tough decisions; whether she should color the birdies blue or green. “So…?” Genuinely unsure of how to respond, Alex merely raised her eyebrows in the slightest, embarrassed confusion. “Aren’t you going to tell me how your day’s been?” Alex internally whimpered as she insisted on continuing the conversation. Even if she was being treated like a toddler, she still had a schedule to keep! Nervously, she eyed her surroundings for a clock; some way to tell the time, but there wasn’t one. Hopefully it had only been just a few minutes. She could spare that much at least, right? “It’s, it’s been fine,” slightly rushing her words, she didn’t wait for Sarah to instruct her on common courtesy too, and she then said, “and how about you?” Sarah raised her brow, with an amused, yet disapproving look. “I thought we talked about this too, silly!” she stuck three fingers from her hand, beginning to list something off. “When we talk with others, it’s a good strategy to share the three f’s.” Expectantly, she emphasized the first outstretched finger, and as she slowly sounded it out, Alex knew she was supposed to join her. Together in sloppy unison, they both said “Fact.” Onto the next finger came, “Feeling.” And for the final, although not sounding as cohesive with the first too, they said, “Funny.” “See? I knew you remembered!” nodding her head approvingly, Alex internally grimaced as she knew that she did too… Like it was carved into stone, whenever Sarah had the chance she forced her to talk about her day whenever they crossed paths. If Miss Boona was like the doting mother, then Sarah could be considered her attentive school teacher, only that her “mother” was the one assigning “homework.” Without waiting for another prompt, hoping to finish as soon as possible, Emily started. “Today I finished coloring in...in all my coloring books...” it was never easy getting it out in the open. At least she shared her fact, though. Two more to go. “Then...then I had a sandwich for lunch, today,” Sarah always loved it when she went above and beyond, which is exactly why Alex tried to do more than what was asked of her. Toddler or not, an employer is always happy to see their workers doing more than they need to. If anything, it was a form of insurance. It seemed like she was doing a good job, because Miss Silver only continued to beam with satisfaction as she looked down on her. “I felt happy that it was rainy today,” nothing profound seemed to really strike the girl, “and, and I like the rain.” Sarah then jumped in with an innocent, knowing voice, as if she had Alex all figured out,“Kinda like when you make it rain in your pants, huh?” Blushing, What bothered Alex most by her words was that it wasn’t teasing. Far from it. Miss Silver at times truly felt like an authority figure speaking to someone smaller, and this was simply her means of “mercy,” as if she were sparing Alex some form of embarrassment by referring to her toilet habits indirectly. They were both of intellectual minds though, so the metaphor might as well have been nonexistent. Just as she was about to continue speaking, it was as if Sarah’s words jinxed her, and she could feel another hot, sudden stream escape into her undergarments. Slightly wincing, and doing her best to shelve whether she should scream or cry altogether, she moved onto her concluding statement. “And I learned a funny joke today. Do you wanna hear it?” Of course she would. She always did. This entire sentence was textbook, but the rudimentary explanation like many other basic teachings were ingrained in her skull at this point. Miss Silver took pride in being Alex’s “Practice Partner,” and the way she’d gush over Alex’s efforts was disgusting. Almost as much as what went on in her pants… “Of course I would!” Miss Silver resounded with a forced enthusiasm, trying to protect the feelings of a small child. Silently she waited, both ears ready for what else Alex had to say. It pissed Alex off even more that she already had a joke in mind. It was almost like she accepted this sort of routine by prepping for it, and Miss Silver’s teachings were actually starting to take an effect on her. She felt processed, and it was the worst. “Why did the football coach cross the road?” She was already dreading the punchline. It was terrible, and cheesier than the actual dairy product she had in her sandwich this afternoon. “Hmm...” Sarah paused, pressing a finger to her chin. The answer was so simple, she probably already knew, but of course she’d never trample over Alex’s efforts. She was a toddler that needed to be protected, after all. “I’m not sure!” she sounded exaggeratedly defeated. “Why did he, Alex?” “Because...” a small stress-induced groan escaped her. Partly summoned by the absurdity of the circumstances, but another uncomfortable movement in her stomach region. Her underwear was already starting to feel thick and heavy. She wanted a toilet badly. “To...to get his quarter back...” It sounded as terrible as she imagined, but as the “funny” requirement dictated, there was nothing like ending a conversation on a humorous note. Sarah stifled a giggle, then let a laugh escape her. She was probably faking it, and given that she’d assumed a persona this whole time, why wouldn’t she see it to the end? Finally in the homestretch, Alex then asked, “How about you, Miss Silver? How’s your day going?” “Oh, it’s going just fine Alex. Sorry to tie you up like that, but practice makes perfect!” Alex wanted to seethe. She’d always make her do the linguistic gymnastics, and run through the painstakingly simple conversation strategies you’d learn in kindergarten, but never did Miss Silver feel obligated to do the same. The outcome of their encounters never changed, but it still never made Alex any less angry. She could remember the last time she’d called Sarah out on the lack of a double standard, she responded with, “Well, Alex, once I think you’ve really shown you know your stuff, maybe you can have your own Linguistics License too! But until then, it’s very important we practice, practice, practice!” As if she needed speaking lessons. She felt like she could kick a disposable bin right about now. She would’ve kicked anything right now, had it not been her foot might break in response, eyeing the metal desk and brink-lined wall. “Okay Alex, time for bye-bye hugs!” Sarah announced with outstretched arms, and although reluctant, Alex received her hug, knowing too well of the consequences if she didn’t. Even if the office knew about what she wore under her pants, she was particularly fond of keeping them on for the rest of the day. No matter how much begging she’d do, Miss Silver never went back on her word. Even if it was to confiscate Alex’s clothes… Whenever she’d try and complain to Miss Boona, she’d only ever agree, and suggest that Alex likely deserved the punishment. Given Sarah’s creative license to do to Alex as she pleased, Alex was unfortunately certain to toe the line. The two wrapped their arms around each other, one much more firm and with emotion than the other. And as Alex’s head just managed over Sarah’s shoulder, she slightly whimpered as she could feel the chill of office, room temperature air enter the sudden gap between her back and waistline of her pants. Inspectingly, Sarah had taken the opportunity to pull back the band of Alex’s pants to inspect her underwear. Though she was the one doing it, Alex hugged the woman tighter when she could feel the plastic waistband being tugged at too. She hated this woman with every fiber of her being, but it was the ability to hold onto something for comfort that she focused on. “Well, looks like someone’s a bit soggy,” Sarah gingerly commented, realigning Alex’s diaper and business pants. “No messies, though! I’m sure your mommy is going to be very proud of you!” The two finally pulled apart, and Alex chose not to comment any further. With their little “lesson” finished, Sarah was the first to move on, with her final sign of affection being a little ruffle on Alex’s head of hair. Taking a deep breath, trying to regain her composure and suddenly scattered adulthood, she resumed her original destination, and only felt the panic grow when more unpleasant sensations sparked from her groin. Shakily, she knocked the door to the CEO’s office. Miss Boona. Though, she’d long since lost the privilege to call her that. Now she was just Mommy. “Come in?” her boss’s voice sounded from the other end. Reluctantly, Alex stepped inside, immediately seeing the much more distinguished woman work away at her large, mightiful desk. Topped with a computer, knicknacks, pens, paperwork, an official name tag, it was everything Alex aspired for. “Allie!” she sounded in a syrupy voice, in a tone one might use with a small child. In that moment, she sounded nothing like the head of a multi-billion dollar company. Alex didn’t feel like an employee being greeted by her boss. It was a mother pleasantly surprised by their charge dropping in. “Did you finish all your work already?” “Y...yes...” “Yes, who, sweetheart?” from the outside looking in, there was no distinct authority to her voice, and maybe there really wasn’t, but Alex felt too conditioned to not assume its existence. If she was trapped under Sarah’s thumb, compared to Miss Boona she was smothered by her entire being. What made it worse was when she demanded the title, even when Alex didn’t mistake it. “Y-yes, Mommy...” “Well alright then,” Miss Boona tapped the top of her desk, clearing a space. “Let’s see what you colored for Mommy!” Trying to express as little emotion as possible, though teetering on the edge of grimace, Alex set the coloring books down on the desk. The busy woman always seemed to have her schedule cleared for this time of day. Alex despairingly thought of it as her entertainment hour. Alex was the star of the show, and Miss Boon was the single member of the audience. It was Alex’s job to impress, otherwise punishment might ensue... Like a fine-toothed comb, Miss Boona licked her finger with almost each and every page turn, whilst Alex figited uncomfortably standing in place. If only she could go faster… No, Alex knew she could. It was simply a matter of whether she would or not. “Mi...Mommy?” “What is it, sweetie?” Miss Boon answered, her gleaming eyes never leaving the illustrated pages. “I...I really need to go...” Alex spoke as if she were physically distressed, which she was, as a pressure in her abdomen was building, and it wasn’t because of her bladder. “We’ll get to the potty after I check your work, hon,” she spoke so nonchalantly while she set aside the first coloring book, with two more to go. “P...please? Can you make an exception?” she rocked from foot to foot, as the pressure was slowly becoming unbearable. Sarah had already tied her up enough. It was pure torture at this point. Miss Boona sighed, as she finally looked at Alex. “No means no, missy. I don’t want to have to tell you again,” and then her voice suddenly switched back to its sugary self, saying, “you’re more than welcome to take a seat, though?” Alex eyed the only four possible seats in the room, and without giving it much thought, awkwardly shuffled over to the side of Miss Boona’s desk, and carefully lowered herself to the ground, involuntarily announcing touchdown by the squish of her swollen diaper. Her other options were one of the two chairs poised in front of Miss Boona’s desk, or the couches in the corner of the room. The chairs were an obvious no-no, as Mommy had explained before that they were meant for business clients only, and the more “adult” workers… Alex didn’t get to be considered one. The couches were her only alternative, but given the uncertain state of her underwear, she decided against it. Everything in Mommy’s office was dreadfully expensive, which is why Alex couldn’t even begin to fathom the possible consequences if she were to leak on anything. That, and the last thing she needed was to give Mommy an excuse to put her in thicker diapers… Alex never felt the threat of a real firing. Miss Boona ran the company, and what she says, goes. Even if Alex had been let go for some reason, or tried to quit, Miss Boona would likely see to it that she never have a chance at working any other job in the state. Maybe even the country. Her connections went wide and far, and if Alex crossed her, she’d never know what it was like to work for a reputable company again. The irony was glaring though as she looked at one of the coloring books. Not that she ever knew what it was like to begin with. “Have you been having a good day, honey?” passively, she stroked the top of Alex’s head. “Yes, Mommy...” Alex lied, overwhelmed by a sense of defeat, more focused on her bowels than anything else. “I’m very impressed with your coloring, today,” Miss Boona commented, yet her remarks for a coloring book could only do so much for an aspiring real estate agent. “Have you been enjoying your new crayons?” “Yes...” again, she meekly repeated herself. A new 120 pack had been her “Christmas Bonus” for the year, while everyone else in the office was rewarded with a small little extra something in their paychecks. Objectively from the kind of work Alex did, she knew she didn’t deserve a real bonus, but it wasn’t her fault that she was deprived of the opportunity to truly earn it. She started to feel her sphincter muscles quiver a little. “I’m very happy to have you here, you know,” Miss Boona spoke in a reminding voice as she turned the pages. “It’s nice having a little helper around here,” for a brief moment, Alex and Miss Boona stared at each other, and it pained Alex to see what even she would consider a genuine smile. If it was malice, ire, and mischief Alex could somehow deal with it, but killing with kindness always left her conflicted. By no means was this treatment okay, and she loathed it down to every tiny detail, but the positive feelings that came with it made it an unbearably annoying pill to swallow. Yet after seeing her genuine compassion, Alex for some reason felt inspired. “Mommy...do you think I could start doing some real work soon?” “What do you mean? Coloring is a very important job, you know.” Alex tried her best to not be agitated, as she still felt there was hope in all of this somewhere. “I...I know, but I want to do what everyone else does… I want to feel like I’m contributing,” the last bit was painfully honest, and her lack of meaningful contribution made her feel sore. “You do contribute,” Mommy explained in a simple, yet compassionate voice as she continued to give Alex head pats. “I’m sorry you feel that way, sweetie.” Really, did she mean it? “But working with some of our bigger projects is a big, grownup responsibility. I just don’t know if you’re ready for that...” the way she spoke so pensively confused Alex as to whether she was acting, or being gravely serious. Need she remind the woman that she was 23 years old, fresh out of college? How was it that easy to mistake her age and maturity? Still trying to remain strong, Alex continued to negotiate herself while trying to maintain the suffocating level of obedience that was expected of her. “But...I went to college...Mommy. I think I can handle it.” “Maybe...” Miss Boona continued to harbor genuine uncertainty and concern in her voice, and it made Alex panic to think just how far the woman thought Alex had fallen, or to imagine what kind of light she was truly seen in. If she had pushed any harder, Alex knew she probably wouldn’t have liked the outcome. This was as far as she could go without burning the bridge entirely. A meager sigh left her system as she did everything she could to keep her cheeks squeezed together. Soon after, Alex could hear the pages finally finish turning, and she knew the coloring books had reached their end. With a very real sense of hope, she looked up at Miss Boona, who also had a knowing smile on her face too. “Go on, you can go get it now.” Without the need for any further confirmation, Alex awkwardly scrambled herself together and over to Miss Boona’s closet. She shuffled all bow-legged, trying her best to keep inside what her body was aching to her to expel. In the back of her mind, she wanted to cry over how badly she’d now been pavloved by Miss Boona’s strict routine, but the rewards within it still rang true, and Alex also recognized it as the only opportunity in the day she had to finally prove herself. Sliding it out, Alex positioned the device facing towards Miss Boona’s desk, and was happy to see that the blinds were already closed. She eyed the gaping hole to the chair, if you could call it that, seeing it had been cleaned thoroughly since its last use… You couldn’t even tell there was a last time. It was better addressed as a mount, as Alex watched the long, plastic neck extend from its base and lead into a beaked head. What she was looking at was a themed potty for an overgrown toddler. The bowl had a slight inner curve to it, and two breaks in the outer ring for Alex to set her bottom and legs into. Right in between her legs the imaginary neck of a duck was there, and had two handles for her to grab onto in case if it was a bumpy, or particularly straining ride… The thing was beyond embarrassing to use, as she was far beyond the need of a training potty, but it was the only time of day Alex could pride herself with the use of something that even began to resemble a toilet. Just watching it already made her want to release her bowels. And scarily, she almost did. Thankfully, she just managed to catch herself. She couldn’t wait for much longer, though. She slipped her flats off, already anticipating what was to come. The entire process was beyond demeaning, but it was at least a step higher than what she was used to. Mommy, or Miss Boona, was already sifting through one of her drawers, and Alex couldn’t help but watch with an irritated lack of patience, as she moved about painfully slow. “Please hurry, Mommy!” with urgency in her voice, Alex pleaded as her feet kept rising and falling in mild hysterics. “I’m sure if you could hold it this long, you can wait a little more,” Miss Boona clearly reading the desperation from Alex’s mood and mannerisms, walked over to Alex with a small key in hand. The sun shined down on her when she could feel Miss Boona take a hold of her waistband, and insert the tiny key into the front button of her pants. Turning the key, it was probably a good thing Miss Boona was holding Alex by the pants, because she might have broken the key from sheer excitement to get her pants off. She could feel the mass in her backside being withheld by a thinning layer of resolve, and she was becoming more flustered by the second. The key then came out, and it again took Alex everything she had not to yank the pants off herself. She knew better than to handle her own work clothes… “Please…!” in a hushed whine, Alex was helpless to watch as Miss Boona made no sign of change in her speed as she undid the previously locked button, then slipped down the tiny zipper to her front. Tugging the sides apart ever so slightly, she then did the same in a downward motion, until just the white waistband that had been exposed from earlier was now fully showcased as an entire diaper. It seemed to put a whole new smile on Miss Boona’s face to see the distinct, yellowing and discoloration behind the white, plastic padding, complemented by the barney print characters parading on the front. Held together by four tapes, the swollen, squishy diaper hugged Alex all over, and she was dying to be released from it. Just a little longer…! Alex was in the homestretch, and she knew she could last just a little bit longer. And right as Miss Boona went for the first tape, the unthinkable happened. From her desk, the wired phone hooked to the receiver rang loudly with its recurring beep. No! No! No! No! Why? Why did there have to be some interruption now?! She watched Miss Boona still with a fleeting hope, figuring she could at least undo the tapes to her diaper before she answered the phone. It couldn’t be that hard, right? But to Alex’s dismay and growing fears, she watched as Miss Boona’s hand slowed to an all-near stop, and her head turned back over to the phone. Damn! Please! Not like this! Alex started to whimper uncontrollably as she started to leave her, and she walked back to the phone. “Miss-!” When Miss Boona looked at her, giving her attention, Alex was already aware of her mistake. It was a time where she couldn’t afford to be on Mommy’s bad side. She needed to be in her good favor! “Mommy,” she corrected herself with desperation, as her breaths started to pick up a little in pace and her heart started to beat faster. “Can I please take off my diaper? I really need to go, all I need to do is...” Alex’s voice trailed as in an already panicked state, she went for the tapes herself. “Allie!” Miss Boona’s voice shouted from the other end, and cut like a knife through any uncertainty Alex might have felt. It was down to the bone, and she could feel all her actions cease immediately. “I already told you that you’re not supposed to be handling your own diapers. That hasn’t changed,” she was already stern, and a far cry from the compassion Alex once witnessed practically eons ago. “You’ve already waited quite a while, so I think you can manage a little longer. Not a peep, got it?” waiting for confirmation, Alex teary-eyed nodded her head. Letting out a small sigh, Miss Boona finally silenced the ringing noise by answering the phone. “Yes, hello?” a master of many personas, Mommy sounded all-business yet again. Meanwhile as she did her business, Alex was struggling with every fiber not to do hers. She could already feel something starting to edge itself out her backside, and with muffled and stifled grunts she tried to prevent it from edging any further. Longingly, she looked at the animal-themed potty, willing to sell her soul even if that meant she could take her own diaper off. Yet she was powerless, and she dared not defy Miss Boona’s authority. It was her one chance to prove some semblance of maturity to her boss, yet she was in danger of proving the exact opposite. All she could do was give Miss Boona pleading stares as she blushed furiously, and a few tears escaped her eyes. The only kind of response she got though were shushing signs, while she continued to converse on the phone. There was no telling how long she’d take, but Alex was certain it’d be long enough just to fall outside her own limits. She could feel it coming, and she was powerless to stop it. But maybe...maybe by proving she had some idea of control, she could show Miss Boona that she was responsible? Although she couldn’t take her diaper off, Alex still mounted herself on the potty, and could feel the inner lid press against the outer parts of her diaper. The whole thing didn’t fit cleanly, given how thick it was, and she made the bowl look overstuffed. Regardless, she was still technically on the potty, despite not being mentally prepared for what she was about to do. Nervously, she grabbed the handles on the duck’s head, certain that this indeed would be a bumpy ride… Again, trying to maintain a level of respect, Alex tried to keep her grunts quiet as she need little more than blow on the boulders to get them moving. With a slight push, a mushy solid started to fill her diaper, and as soon as it started, it carried on with an overwhelming amount of momentum as the poo escaped her. Never once had she messed herself in the workplace, or at all, ever. The handles must have been steel, because everything Alex had was focused simply on channeling her frustrations and despair into hanging on to the potty for dear life. Her tears flowed freely as the remainder of poop escaped her, yet still remained unbearably close; assured by the soggy, soiled diaper around her hips. It pained her to say that she made it to the potty, even though she really didn’t. Yet still, she worked with what she had. Hopefully Mommy could recognize that? Her nose twitched disgustingly. Hopefully not the smell, though... “Thanks for calling John, I’ll talk to you later. Bye,” Miss Boona hung up the phone, staring at the teary-eyed girl during the whole ordeal. “And you were so close, too...” she sighed, with her disappointment causing a new sob from Alex. “But…! But I was gonna make it!” Alex tried to protest, visibly and audibly distraught all over. “I know you were, honey, I know...” Miss Boona cooed, but Alex had a sinking feeling that she really didn’t at all. Or chose not to. “Holding it in is hard, huh? The potty can be pretty hard to use sometimes...” She again started to stroke Alex’s hair, but this was a form of care and concern she wasn’t looking for. She wanted something that genuinely understood her pleas, and something that would acknowledge just how stacked the odds were against her. “But I made it to the toilet, though! I just wasn’t allowed to take my diaper off!” “Well, I suppose you did make it to the potty...” Miss Boona sounded almost distant, clearly not sharing the same rationale as Alex. “But I didn’t like having to remind you to keep your diaper on.” “I’m sorry, I made a mistake!” quickly trying to do damage control, Alex wanted to mitigate what might follow as much as possible. She had no idea what would follow. Something was to. Certainly. Probably… Taking hold of Alex’s hands, she gently guided them off the handles. “Come on, sweetie, off the potty. It’s clear we’re done using that now.” The obvious notion to what Alex had just done in her diaper was painful, but she conceded, sliding the potty back into the closet. Each step of the way, she’d flinch as she felt the sticky, still warm mush caking her backside shift around in her underwear. “Can I...can I please have a second chance?” Alex balled her fists, afraid of what the answer might be. Yet what hit Alex like a brick was the response,“Maybe when you’ve proven that the potty is something you can handle...” Alex silently cried, hearing those terrible, absolutely horrible words. As she sat there in her mess, Miss Boona watched her in pensive thought, as if deciding what to do with her next. “But...I’m...I’m sorry!” As her last hope, Alex did what she could for forgiveness, maybe finding some place in Mommy’s heart to earn back her trust. For some reason she could feel herself wanting to cling desperately on to the potty she had now seemingly lost. Without it being explicitly said, it scared Alex to think that she may have very well just confined herself to diapers for a terrifyingly long period of time. Miss Boona turned to shushing noises as she tried to console Alex, holding her close, avoiding the messy present sitting in the bottom of her diaper whilst she stroked her back. “I know, I know, it’s not your fault...” So she did understand! A ray of hope welled within Alex, as she hugged just as tightly back. “I think I just had expected too much of you, that’s all.” Expected too…? No, no, what was she saying? Why did she say that? Fear had once again seized Alex’s tiny mental and emotional paradise, and could feel herself falling into a place that would be overwhelmingly difficult to dig herself out of. What her mind was focused on now bothered her even more than the messy diaper she was in. “But I...” a loss for words, Alex merely trembled as she lost any reasonable sense to get through to Miss Boona. Miss Boona had taken Alex by the hand and gave her a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure you’re not feeling too great right now...but I need to freshen up, too. How about we kill two birds with one stone?” Entirely unsure of what she meant, Alex in tow went over to Miss Boona’s desk, where she pulled out another thick, cartoonish diaper from one of her many drawers, as well as a package of wipes and powder. Instructing Alex with the task of holding the diaper, she guided them to the last place Alex wanted to go: the exit to her office. “W-w-wait, Mommy, please!” the fear of God set into her, she tugged nervously in the opposite direction, and she couldn’t break from Miss Boon’s firm grip. “Please! At...at least let me put my pants back on?” “We need to change you, silly. What good would it do you to put your pants back on if we’re just gonna take them right back off again? Besides...I don’t know if pants are the best for you, anymore… Maybe skirts are going to work out better.” And on a whim, her wardrobe had likely just changed via a fleeting thought, and speechless, Alex was forcefully dragged into the halls between her office and the many cubicles. Immediately she locked eyes with some passerby, and just as fast shifted her gaze, although assuredly looking like a deer caught in headlights. And of course, on their very public trip down the hall, the last person Alex wanted to see had appeared. “Ms. Boona, afternoon!” “Sarah, always good to see you! But you know you can call me Claire,” the matronly woman chuckled. “I know, I know,” Sarah jokingly conceded. “It just feels weird being on a first-name basis with a head executive, that’s all,” she continued to laugh, as did Miss Boona too. “And what might you two be up to?” Suddenly like a predator about to pounce on its prey, Alex without making direct eye-contact had felt the eyes of her “teacher” fall on her. “Oh,” Miss Boona spoke, almost regarding Alex as a minor afterthought; an accessory to their adult conversation. “Alex had a little trouble making it to the potty,” she didn’t trouble herself with a lowered voice, and her casualness about the subject matter only made Alex sniffle. “We’re gonna go and get her all sorted out,” Miss Boona took it upon herself to give the plastic corner of the diaper Alex was currently holding a firm squeeze. “Well, I’m very sorry to hear that, Alex,” Sarah spoke with a little more clarity to Alex’s ears, likely suggesting the words were directing towards her. “And I’m so sorry!” once more, Sarah turned her attention back to Miss Boona. “If I had known she needed to use the potty, I would have taken her of course.” “I know you would have,” Miss Boona thanked her with a smile, “but I’ve been trying to be lenient and give her the opportunity for regularly scheduled potty breaks. Yet,” she sighed, staring at the flustered Alex, “here we are...” Finally, Alex had enough, she needed to demand to be recognized as an adult. She wasn’t some baby who couldn’t be trusted to keep their pants clean! No. She was a grown adult, and the sooner everyone in this damned office started seeing that, the better. With a fire in her eyes, defiant, Alex spoke,“I would have made it if I could have taken my...” and as quick as it came, so did it go. All the bravado she just had, to sound mature and reclaim her adulthood, and most importantly panties, seemed to dissipate in mere moments as two very stern looks were fired in her direction. They both loomed over her like towers, and Alex started to feel incredibly small. She had clearly worked herself up for nothing, because he campaign to reclaim her freedoms had just ended in seconds. “Anyways,” Miss Boona continued, finally easing the tensions off of Alex’s shoulders, “she tried, and unfortunately she just isn’t ready, that’s all.” Comfortingly, though not something Alex was looking for, she felt a rub on her shoulder. “There’s no need to worry about taking her to the potty anymore. But please keep checking her diapers like you usually do.” It was already an unspoken idea, but hearing it in the flesh is what really killed all hope for Alex. She knew there wasn’t any coming back from this one. As if on cue, her weakened bladder already squirted a new bit of pee into the already swollen crotch of the diaper. Meekly, she whimpered. “Will do, Claire,” as if a soldier saluting to her general, they said their goodbyes, and as they moved in opposite directions, Sarah inspectingly lifted the heavy backside of Alex’s diaper, and feeling it slunk back down heavily by the means of gravity wasn’t pleasant. Finally they’d reached their destination, and Miss Boona taking all the supplies now set them on the bathroom counter. And much to her surprise, Alex was pulled into a stall by Miss Boona. “Mommy, what are you…?” with a blank slate, completely unsure of what to expect, Alex pressed herself against the closed stall door while Miss Boona lifted the toilet seat, and turned back to face Alex. “I think some encouragement for the future might help, sweetie,” Miss Boona explained as without the need of a key, unbuttoned and unzipped her own pants. Alex could only watch with a burning and painful jealousy as she snaked the bottoms to her ankles, and she lowered her black stockings, revealing her sleek and smooth figure; all curves and no imperfections. The worst of all though, was what Alex saw her wearing. Purple, exquisitely cut, with expensive-looking embroidery along the edges; a stark contrast to her Barney-print diapers, Alex frustratingly watched as Miss Boona slipped her thumbs into the sides of her easily removable underwear, and slowly, tantalizingly, and temptingly lowered her panties. She then sat herself on the porcelain throne; devoid of an childish caricatures, duck heads, or potty handles. Everything in the moment represented everything Alex wanted, and what she didn’t have, and Miss Boona knew it too. Alex could only bite her lower lip in anger as she watched Miss Boona calmly relieve herself, and the sound of pee hitting the water filled the stall. It had her so enraged, she barely noticed when a small amount of pee escaped her too. “One day when you start to use the potty, this is what it’ll look like sweetheart,” Miss Boona explained in a loving voice, but deep down Alex willed herself to believe she knew how torturous she was really being. She had to, right? It got worse though, as a small, feminine grunt escaped Miss Boona when she clearly signaled that she still had business to take care of. It was an indirect slap to Alex’s face, as she watched the woman demonstrate what it meant to make a proper bowel movement without the security of a diaper. “I know it sounds scary, but you may not always have a diaper on to prevent you from accidents or failed trips to the potty,” she continued to sooth, and Alex continued to fume, though, a sense of defeat and loss was hot on her trail. “But there’s no need to worry about that right now,” again, a loving smile returned to her face. “You’ll always be my little diaper bum, silly. We’re not gonna worry about the toilet for a while; I just want my little girl to stick to her coloring books.” If anyone were listening from the outside, they might have been able to hear Alex’s cries, but they’d need a keen sense of hearing in order to get past the blaring noise from the company toilet flushing. After she’d finished her own clean up, Alex watched every piece of Miss Boona’s very adult dignity set back into place, finding herself wishing to maybe one day wear a pair of panties as wonderful as those… Once her pants were zipped and re-buttoned, Alex’s little moment of wishful thinking had come to an end, and Miss Boona had them exit the stall. “Okay,” Miss Boona clasped her hands together, sounding upbeat. “Who’s ready for a fresh diapey?”

15 - A Typical Day “Ooh!” Joyce happily wowed as she watched Emily diligently work at the page in the book. A handful of thick, dull-pointed crayons were lazily strewn about the glass table top, and she had planted herself in between the coffee table and couch. Joyce was right beside her, only sitting on the couch. On top of this the band still held true to their new trio. Emily wasn’t sitting on the floor, and in fact on her knees. Somewhat, at least. The new third member, Pip, forced the image of not only just a dessert to Emily, but also a convenient cushion…Between her legs, the denim skirt to her dress was just barely covering the unfaltering smile sewn on its pudgy body. Her bottom was getting nicely acquainted with Pip’s entire body, and if visuals were any indication, he didn’t seem to mind. “That birdy looks very cute,” Joyce commented as Emily with extreme care worked her blue crayon along the thick black lines; the kind that was forgiving for the countless aspiring artists who maybe got a little too excited with their coloring… Emily was just as engaged as was Joyce enthralled through sheer spectatorship. A little handheld creative expression was always fun, because things like this were meant to point you down a path and all that’s left is to step on the gas. Playing with stuffed toys was oddly intimidating because there were no safety rails. The art of acting like a kid could certainly not be underestimated, and learning how to play wasn’t an easy job... The canvas like any other had been pure white; absent of influence and in a state of patience waiting to be disturbed. The brushes and tools of illustration caused ripples across the page, and despite being heavily regulated by the printers preceding Emily’s own unique touch, she breathed life into the commercialized blueprint. It was especially satisfying for Joyce watching it all come together. The most distinct pieces to the page were a chirping bird, her baby chicks sitting in their nest, perched high on the tree. The branch supporting the small family followed an expanding path into a much more girthy tree trunk, and beyond the foreground decorated in leaves was a distant field marked by a stream trailing off to the horizon. The mama bird was the first and only thing Emily’d worked on, and Joyce always loved to see a big plan come together. When each and every individual aspect was treated with care and caution, once assembled it would yield an amazing product. “You’re such a careful colorer, my little artist,” Joyce spoke in a syrupy voice, stroking Emily’s hair which only heightened the pleasant atmosphere the girl was immersed in. “Well I don’t wanna mess it up...” Emily sheepishly explained, suddenly embarrassed by her own dedication. “It needs to look neat.” “It needs to look like you had fun coloring,” Joyce corrected. “Nobody here expects anything of you but to have fun and be happy! If that’s what does it for you though, then I want you to take as long as you want. More importantly, why did you make the birdy blue?” “Because it looks like a blue jay,” Emily shifted from outline work to a steady back and forth scribble, filling in the white space with an even stroke and pace. “Why?” “No reason...” Joyce’s voice trailed as she continued to look on with just as much amusement. “What are you gonna color next? Tell Mommy how my little girl’s planned it out!” Her curiosity over the tiniest details had her on the edge of her seat. In the middle of her small set of words, Emily had paused to take a sip--a suck, or two from her bottle. The drink was good, and even despite being in a bottle it hardly put a damper on the taste. “I dunno, the leaves?” She briefly scanned the page, honestly unsure herself. There was no rhyme or reason to her approach or angle, and what her next plan of action would be spur of the moment. Whatever she felt like doing was what she’d do next. The tv had been playing in the background which helped as a degree of white noise for the two, but the forefront of their attentions were either focused on the drawing or the artist. It was pretty clear who was watching what. Finally, the parental bird had been colored solid and the chicks would come later on. Emily felt like targeting something else right now, and the leaves were looking a little too lifeless for her tastes...As a mental memory, without looking over to it, Emily set her hand right where the green crayon should’ve been, and then her complacency was interrupted by stupidity when she’d only managed to press her hand against the glass. Finally looking, Emily swept her vision across the table and crayon box, realizing the green had mysteriously disappeared. She looked around her knees, legs, and feet, but there wasn’t anything to be found. Nothing other than Pip, of course. “Joyce, did you see where I put the green?” She turned back to Joyce, who looked just a neutral as she’d always been. Only...there was something that told Emily she was playing a part in this mischief… “No? What do you mean?” Without moving from her spot, she looked to her own sides on the couch, finding nothing either. “I could have sworn I left it on the table...” Passively, she explained whilst her mind wandered elsewhere, still searching for her tool. “Did you check the floor?” “Yeah, but I didn’t see anything...” “Your pocket?” Singular. The only pocket Emily had to keep watch of was the one sewn on the front of her dress. Still, she was pretty sure she would have noticed if a fat crayon had snuck its way in there...Nevertheless, although not expecting it, she didn’t pay much mind when Joyce leaned forward to open it for her. Peering inside herself, all there was at the bottom was the denim crease. Empty. “That’s strange...” Joyce spoke simply, adjusting the front of Emily’s skirt. Inflating her cheeks with mild annoyance, Emily gave a brief mumble.“Now I can’t finish the leaves...” Until the green runaway could be found, the remaining white space fell back into the forefront of her mind; deciding what she could color next until the green showed itself again. “Why can’t you finish the leaves?” Joyce asked, breaking Emily’s concentration. Mindlessly while she spoke, Emily wrapped her hands on Joyce’s knee and nuzzled her cheek into it. “Because I don’t have the green?” For some reason, this was starting to feel oddly repetitive. Joyce grabbed the box of crayons and finished emptying its contents onto the table, saying, “Leaves aren’t just green, silly.” She organized them in an orderly line for Emily to see. “Leaves are whatever color you want them to be!” Well, she wasn’t wrong...The brown, yellow, red, and orange crayons were all likely candidates as well. Who said it had to be summer or spring? Fall was perfectly viable too. Nonchalantly, Emily went for the red crayon, but was quickly shut out by a much more adult hand guarding the path. “Joyce...” Emily whined in a pretending groan. “Why can’t I use the red?” “Were you thinking about the Fall?” “Y...yes?” What was she doing wrong? And how was her mindset that predictable? It was just a drawing! What’s the point in creativity if you can’t create as you please? The whole situation was starting to feel like some grand oxymoron the further Emily drowned in her one-sided conclusions. “You said they weren’t just green!” “I know I did, and that’s true,” Joyce agreed, only mucking up Emily’s sense of clarity further. “But I think you’re missing the point, honey.” Watching Emily’s frustrations mildly boil almost had Joyce giggling the slightest, just because she knew how minor of a detail she was getting so hung up on. In that way Emily truly resembled a happy-go-lucky child. They’d never once known what it was like to encounter an adult responsibility, which is why even the smallest challenges or upsets to them was like trying to move a mountain. Her intentions were of course all good, but it was clear Emily wasn’t getting the fuller picture… Before she responded, Emily paused to take another sip from her bottle, causing Joyce’s heart to flutter at the sight. And as more time went on, a feeling in Emily’s bladder she’d been trying to ignore had come knocking more frequently with each passing moment. It was a double-edged sword, really. At the cost of delicious drinks and wonderful caffeine, it was her toilet habits that had to pay the toll. The feeling though was just starting to reach the point of downright uncomfortable. She was becoming distracted though. She’d deal with the bathroom later, or quite possibly her diaper might… “Why can’t I pick the colors I want?” She looked at Joyce questioningly. “I thought it was my drawing?” “You can use any colors you want,” Joyce lifted her hand off the red crayon, and moved over to Emily’s head with a pat. “I just want to express yourself freely. Don’t think about how things should be.” Truthfully, Emily was still lost, and she didn’t feel like she was any closer to the truth. “I still don’t get it...” Annoyed at her own incompetence, she mumbled right before taking another sip. “Yes you do, pouty pants,” Joyce lightly chided as she slipped into the space right next to Emily and onto her own knees. Even with Pips support, Emily didn’t come close to being as tall as Joyce. “You just don’t realize it yet.” “I’m not mad...” Emily sheepishly whined at the sound of the name “pouty pants.” Her cheeks burned and despite being the one who insulted her, she leaned closer into Joyce. Chuckling, Joyce continued. “Then prove it to me. I want you to stop thinking logically. Color whatever you want with whatever color you want! Make the rivers green! Make the grass orange! Who said trees had to be brown? And there’s no need for the leaves to be green. I want to know what Emmy thinks they should be. Whatever color that feels right to you is what you should be using.” Whatever feels right. Still puzzled, Emily looked down on the drawing, as well as to the crayons. On paper, what Joyce was saying finally made sense, but from how Emily understood it, she was supposed to detach herself from rational thought altogether and let her feelings dictate the canvas? What was she, some sort of mindless kid? Oh, right. Apprehensively she looked at the array of colors, as if she were about to cut the wrong wire. The more she sat there with her thoughts, the more frustrating it became. She couldn’t even play with stuffed toys, and now she couldn’t color? How pathetic could she be? “I still can’t do it, Joyce...” With a slightly upturned lower lip, Emily slumped over in a defeated stature. More than anything she hated to fail Joyce’s expectations and second to that was her own inability to be creative. “Yes you can, and you already have. You’re overthinking it!” As much as she loved Joyce, it still didn’t change that it was annoying to be told she could do something when she was adamant she can’t. What was perplexing about her encouragement though was Joyce saying she’d already done it. How? This was the first time she’d ever picked up a crayon around her! “All you need to do is simply...” Joyce leaned in close to Emily’s ear, and her following words tickled the surface of her skin with her warm, lovely breath. “Let go...” She kept stroking Emily’s back as she continued to encourage her little girl and help her find her place yet again. “Just let yourself fall into things. You’ve been doing it all this morning. When you were in your nursery, when I fed you in your high chair, put you in your nice and soft clothes that Amy made for you? Didn’t all of that make you feel so fuzzy? Or did I not give you enough kisses? Is that it?” On cue, she started to assault Emily with countless pecks on the cheek, earning a torrent of giggles as Emily without moving from her spot tried to avoid them. With each peck and whisper though, her soft voice almost resembled the beginnings of a light hypnosis. Finally the kissing stopped, and Joyce moved on. “When kids play they don’t think too hard about it, silly.” She playfully tapped her finger on Emily’s bare forehead. “And neither should you. It’s about living in the moment and having fun with it. There’s no one here to tell you how things need to be or should be. I’ll always love you whether you’re my big girl or baby, but whenever you’re my little girl, I think you’ll have a lot more fun when you start acting like it. And don’t tell me you can’t, because I’ve seen you firsthand already have giggle fits, and you’ve already done things like making a new friend, drinking from a bottle, using a pacifier?” The countless things she listed off was suddenly trying to call her back to her adult mindset, where the embarrassment and shame was waiting on the other side. “And I don’t mean that as a bad thing,” Joyce spoke almost sternly, as if to scare away the big and bad adult thoughts in her head. Only the happy, baby Emmy was allowed to come out and play. Mama Bear wouldn’t let anyone or anything affect that, even if it were Emily herself. “These are all wonderful signs that show you know how to relax; how to be my little girl...” The reminder of a sense of ownership is what resonated within Emily the most. She belonged to Joyce, and she wanted to show it too. As she looked down at herself, clad in a diaper, dress, and onesie, it was suddenly becoming harder and harder to consider adult things at the moment. She started to remember the short banter she had with Joyce in the nursery; naked except for a bra and diaper whilst she was caught in a tickle attack. There wasn’t any shame in that moment, and here she was in more clothing than in that moment. Yes. She was starting to feel it. The further she sunk, the more tangible it started to feel. That sense of playfulness she’d been continuously tapping into. It was coming somewhere from within, and she could feel it drawing closer to the surface. All she needed to do was push; push and it would make itself known! She could feel the pressure as such familiar feelings were ready to burst. Yes! She’d finally found it! Then on command, she couldn’t hold back anymore and let the feeling envelop her. It was warm, seemingly wonderful, and...and...and wet? Despite having her eyes closed, that feeling of happiness she thought she’d taken hold of was suddenly feeling extremely limited from the waist down, and not as happy as she thought. It was almost like a liquid pouring out of her...No, it definitely was. It was like a stream; hot, wet, and something she couldn’t stop. Regardless, she let out an involuntary sigh as whatever she’d just expelled from within had taken some effort. But then she started to feel it; creeping all over her skin and in her diaper...Quietly, she could only look at anything but Joyce while she emptied her bladder. Frankly, what she thought was the answer was just her bladder calling...and she answered it. As it pooled in her diaper, she slightly panicked. Without much regard for who was watching, Emily lifted her denim skirt, fearing the worst as stopping the pee was a hopeless cause. Thankfully as her seemingly unending stream did stop, she didn’t seem to have leaked...Leaning forward just a little bit, her friend Pip seemed to be alright too, though she could feel the pee that had yet to be fully absorbed slosh ever so slightly in her underwear. Her diaper though felt noticeably squishier and slightly heavier… “J...Joyce, I...” Emily started with a quiet whimper, almost on the verge of tears, but a pacifier was suddenly between her lips. If anything, maybe the taste of bananas could calm her nerves. “Shh, it’s alright.” Soothingly, Joyce guided Emily’s hands from her skirt, letting it fall back to her knees. With enough physical encouragement, Joyce eased the reluctant girl back onto Pip, the glorified bum-cushion, causing Emily to wince once she could feel the more prominent squish. “Don’t worry, you’re fine, see?” With much more sympathetic maternalism, Joyce was much slower with her next kiss, taking her time to convey as much serenity and security is possible. Emily while willingly accepting the skinship could only try and be comfortable with reddening cheeks and her posture. “No leaks, you’re all good. All dry, see? Don’t worry about what goes on down there, okay?” It was unspokenly clear that her notion referred to what was beneath the pale, yellow onesie. “Let’s go back to coloring. That’s a lot more fun and interesting, right?” Meekly, Emily could only nod her head. Thankfully Joyce somehow made it all bearable. More than anything she was afraid of the mess she’d cause...It felt even worse knowing that this was one wetting on top of another. Twice she’d wet this diaper. It wasn’t how Joyce wanted to ease her into things, but regardless of whether it was an inch or a mile, there were an awful lot of inches in a mile… “You know you’re not supposed to be embarrassed about your diapers around me?” Raising a brow, she looked at Emily with a smirk, silent from the pacifier, but her cheeks burning even harder. She knew she wasn’t supposed to be, but breaking a habit to not be embarrassed was impossibly difficult. Just because birds had wings, that didn’t mean they knew how to fly from the get-go. It wasn’t so much that Joyce saw her do it, but rather she did the deed to begin with. “Okay, come on,” Joyce sounding much more upbeat guided Emily’s hand over to the crayons. “Pick a color that makes you happy! Or maybe silly?” Desperate for a distraction, Emily quickly looked the crayons over, and in a mildly frenzied state she had only but instinct to rely on which was screaming purple. Something about it called to her, and she couldn’t place a good reason as to why. It just felt...right. “Now all you need to do,” Joyce grabbed Emily’s hand holding the crayon, and aimed it at the page in the coloring book. She pressed down for her, and not a moment later the purple had touched ground. “Is move that hand and have fun with it!” Under normal circumstances, purple had no place in this drawing. There was no reason for it. The leaves were green, the tree was brown. The birdies were blue, the sun was yellow, the river was turquoise… But...but why couldn’t the leaves be purple? Or the tree be red? The more she stared at the page, it felt as if Emily’s senses were heightened, and for real this time she was falling back into a familiar place. Between her lifelong absolutes and givens, much more illogical wedges slipped right in. The grass suddenly looked blue, and the idea of yellow birds seemed much more appealing now...With a new sense of creativity flooding in her mind like pee into her diaper, she dressed her canvas in a new blanket of inspiration. A small clacking noise was the last thing to be heard when the piece was finally finished. Beside the page were countless crayons of varying wear; clearly used for scribbles and more detailed scrawls. Unorthodox in every sense, the image looked as if a rainbow had thrown up on it. The leaves were indeed purple, and the bark was a crimson red. The baby birds must have been stolen from their true home, because the yellow chicks clearly didn’t match their bluer parent. As Emily looked at it, even though the color scheme had no rhyme or reason, an odd sense of pride filled her...As if she’d accomplished something greater than the drawing itself. Picked up the book, she pivoted on her waist and held it in front of Joyce, who was mimicking the toothy smile Emily now had, only her’s was partly hidden by the pacifier. In a muffled cheer, Emily yelled, “Done!” Suddenly with a spectator; a critic for her work, Emily started to become much more mindful of her efforts now. Letting Joyce take the book from her, she shuffled her knees slightly in anticipation for what the review would be. But as she watched Joyce observe the page, her smile never seemed to falter, and if anything grow wider. “It’s beautiful, my little Picasso!” Hearing her fawn over the drawing somehow made Emily feel irrationally well; proud of what she’d done. She had poured her heart and soul into something so trivial, yet Joyce acknowledged all of it and only sung with praise. That fuzzy feeling of warmth and being saturated in affection was what she was feeling, and she loved every second of it. Finally removing the pacifier from her mouth, Emily twiddling her thumbs addressed the most glaring issue with the drawing. “I...I was gonna make all the birds the same color, but I changed my mind and picked yellow...Now they don’t look the same...” In her mind Joyce’s happiness made the drawing perfect, but her personal blunder took it down just a level from that. “I think I like it more this way,” Joyce spoke in a calm voice, as if her speech was secondary to pensive thought. Her eyes kept spanning the masterpiece whilst she made note of every little detail. “What do you mean?” What did she mean? Wouldn’t it be better if all the birds were the same color? Or at least stick to a theme and make them all multicolored… “Just because the Mama bird is blue, why should her babies have to be?” “Well...because...” Such a simple question seemed to have stumped Emily. Wasn’t it supposed to be a given that they’d be blue? Blue birds gave birth to blue birds after all…“Because they’re her babies? Wouldn’t they look the same?” “I don’t think so,” Joyce with her motherly tone continued while Emily watched from below like an attentive student during story time. “What matters is that the baby birds are loved, and love their Mama. It doesn’t matter if they look the same or not.” It was true, but for some reason Emily still wasn’t fully convinced...She felt like there was an analogy here she wasn’t getting...Joyce could read her expression on her face, and finally unveiled the shroud to really drive the point home, or at least give a concrete example. “Well, aren’t you my baby girl?” Hearing those words put an involuntary smile on Emily’s face while she bashfully tried to look away. The glaring antithesis to her own thought process had been in front of her the whole time. How could she have been so stupid? She and Joyce both came from different walks of life, but here they were...Mother and her daughter… Joyce set the coloring book back on the table, and grabbed a corner of the page with a firm grip.”I know exactly where I want this to go...” Excitement was evident in Joyce’s voice, and suddenly Emily grew a little bit nervous. Staring at the page now, the hidden connection was suddenly made as Emily could now see the perforated edge to the page. They were meant to be torn out… “Joyce? What are you doing?” Emily tried to confirm her suspicions; her worst fears. “Well we can’t leave something as pretty as this locked up!” Joyce happily explained, and with a quick tear the page in all its splendor had been removed from the book. “Now come on, sweetie, every good drawing needs its artist’s signature!” She leaned in for a playful whisper, “That’s how they’re worth lots of money!” Emily couldn’t help but snicker hearing Joyce elevate her work to the level of the greats, and seemingly make her feel like she was at the top of the world. Grabbing a black crayon, Emily conceded and signed a uniform, textbook ‘E’ at the bottom right corner. “Now it’s perfect.” Joyce approvingly nodded her head, helping Emily up on her feet and walking to the kitchen. Awkwardly Emily waddled slightly now that the bulk between her legs had gotten a bit bigger… Joyce rummaged through a drawer and found what she needed, taking the drawing and pressing it against the fridge, pinning it in place with a magnet. There as it hung on the door, there was very mixed reactions coming from the two as they stared. “But won’t people see it?” Worriedly, Emily asked. She was okay with Joyce seeing it, but now that it was on public display for anyone in the house and she’d signed her first initial on it, who knows what could happen? She was starting to feel less confident about her coloring job. “That’s the whole point,” Joyce said while smoothening Emily’s hair. “And when you’re like this, you can take credit for it all you want. And when you’re a big girl? Well...We can just say my friend’s niece made some art for me.” Still uncertain, Emily watched the drawing nervously. “Can’t...can’t we just take it down instead? Put it somewhere more private?” “Nope!” Joyce happily declined as she steered Emily back into the living room. Not expecting a complete and total denial, Emily spoke with a bit of surprise. “Wh-What do you mean, no? But...but...” She tried to think of a way to retaliate, but Joyce was the one in charge… “You said you wanted me to take a little more control, and I am,” Soothingly Joyce rubbed Emily’s back. “No one’s going to find out that it’s yours, unless you want to of course.” They both knew the answer to that. “But like you said, I should be taking charge a little bit more. You’re gonna need to trust me on stuff like this.” She wanted to trust Joyce, really, she did, but it wasn’t so easy to put all your stock in some other person. With Joyce she already could a great deal, but it was still something to get used to. Back in the living room, Emily picked up her near-empty bottle, asking, “Could I have some more coffee, please?” Joyce took the bottle from her, but didn’t receive her with complete compliance. “Why don’t we try just juice or straight milk?” “I thought you said it was my birthday?” Emily with a fake, laughable expectant tone interjected. At the same time, didn’t Joyce say she’d be getting some leeway today? “It is, and if that’s what you want I’ll give it to you, but I just don’t want you to be too energetic right before you go down for your nap...” Joyce looked at the bottle for a moment. Nap? She still had to take one today? Suddenly her mind was flashing back to the nursery, when Joyce threatened to make her nap longer… “But do I have to?” For once it was a wholehearted, genuine complaint. “Yes,” Joyce smiled sympathetically, “You do.” “But your parents are coming tomorrow!” Emily tried to defend her position; find some way to overcome the impossible barrier known as nap time. “Shouldn’t we be spending as much time together as possible?” She was a big fan of sleep, but she was an even bigger fan of playing with Joyce. “Little girls need a little break to be nice and energetic for the second half of the day,” Joyce explained, as she walked back into the kitchen for the second time, with a complaining and protesting Emily as the caboose. She unscrewed the top of the bottle. “Birthday or not.” Suddenly coupled by hanging her drawing, and being absolute about her nap, Joyce was starting to feel an awful lot like a...like a mother. “But when they come, we can’t do this again until they leave!” Emily whined yet again, focusing her frustrations on the inability to maintain their play time. She harbored no ill will against Joyce’s parents, but she could feel herself wanting to cling desperately to what they had. Joyce merely tutted her voice, opening the fridge. “Emmy’s already starting to sound a bit cranky...” She smirked looking back to the girl. “Maybe we should put you down a little bit early?” Visibly annoyed and distraught, Emily could only watch silently as Joyce continued her rhythm. “I know you’re having fun, and I am too,” Joyce was back to her calm, non-teasing self. “But having a routine is a part of the package. You may not like it, but that’s how things are. I’m supposed to be your Mommy right now, remember?” Indeed, she was, and Emily could feel it so greatly. It felt impossible to defy what Joyce said, as it was law. She could try and struggle, but they both knew who would win in the end. It was admittedly part of why Emily was enjoying this so much… “I know my parents are coming tomorrow and you’re feeling a little rushed, but there’s still a whole lot of time left for us to be together. And hey, how about this? Maybe an earlier nap time isn’t such a bad idea after all...Why don’t I put you down for your nap early so we can get started even sooner for the afternoon?” Unsure of how to answer, Emily could only stare at Joyce helplessly. She wouldn’t be getting her way, that was certain, but she had the power to at least mitigate her frustrations. She was being a brat, and Joyce only continued to love her. Maybe taking a nap sooner was better...She’d be much too focused on its impending doom later on otherwise. “Okay...” Meekly, Emily sighed as she accepted Joyce’s loving stares. “It’s settled then. But for that reason, I think I’m going to make an executive decision and swap you over to juice...” Joyce had already put the milk away. After the bottle was filled, Emily was escorted back to the nursery where two important pieces of furniture laid. “First things first,” Joyce catching Emily by surprise hoisted her up and onto the changing table, pulling the strap over her. Powerless to stop her, as well as never intending to, Emily resigned herself to Joyce as she unsnapped the crotch of her onesie and flipped the denim skirt up for better access. Joyce silently noted the obvious discoloration, and pronounced bulk from the effective absorption. The diaper still looked like it could take a bit more, but Joyce figured it was not only enough for Emily’s efforts, but nap time should always earn a change if one was warranted. The whole time while she set out to work, Joyce fell into her pacifying hum, which was almost enough to distract Emily from the new diaper being slipped underneath her bottom, and the powder over her crotch. Once she was all taped up, Joyce redid the onesie and set her back on the ground. Emily was happy to be dry again. “Arms up like a ballerina, Emmy,” Joyce encouraged, while Emily lifted her arms straight into the air. Grabbing it by the denim straps, Joyce lifted the dress portion off of Emily and she was left in just a yellow, form-fitting onesie. Suddenly Emily felt a tad bit lighter, and was passively aware of how the swaying sensation of a skirt had left her. Unlatching it, the crib’s side had been lowered, and with Joyce’s help placed Emily inside of it. She noticed the obvious difference in size compared to her normal bad; half the width and slightly shorter in length. She wasn’t in a tight space by any means; slightly bigger than maybe a college dorm bed. As she sat there, criss-cross, she nudged the small pile of stuffed animals guarding her pillow. The onesie was soft, her feet were covered in socks, the diaper’s interior was admittedly soft, and the mattress was cushy and foamy. The bars surrounding her provided an odd sense of security, and she didn’t seem to mind them as much as she thought she would. Everything surrounding her and what she was clothed in came from someone else. It was all put into place by another person despite it all being meant for Emily. She hadn’t a hand in even the food that went in her belly. Everything was done for her, and for a brief moment she could forget what it was like to be independent. When Joyce raised the lowered crib side, Emily realized that there might be a small struggle in getting over it by herself...Not impossible, but not easy… Setting the bottle in the crib beside her, Joyce helped Emily get underneath the covers and situated. “Now you get all nice and rested up for me, got it?” Joyce spoke in a hushed voice, already trying to talk Emily into a sleepy setting. She closed the curtains to the windows for the most part, but the outer edges of daytime still bled through the cracks between the shades and outside world. She was doing her best not to be too energetic, lest that rub off on the girl who should be feeling fatigued and tired. Emily, however, had her heart beating a mile a minute despite being so comfy all over. Not only was she back in the nursery, but in her crib for the first time to boot. From head to toe she was dressed like an infant, and she’d been given a nap time bottle in case she got thirsty...Sometimes Joyce played her part too well, because Emily could find little distinction between herself and a normal baby. She’d have no trouble falling asleep with how comfy she felt, but she was simply too excited to calm herself. “Joyce?” “What is it, hon?” “I don’t feel tired...” “That’s because you’re not trying to sleep, silly.” “No, that’s not what I mean. I’m just...excited, that’s all...” “Well, I think I’d beg to differ.” Joyce happily hung her head over the top of the crib, and her face shined down on Emily like the sun. Or the moon, given the room had been made darker. Seeing Joyce look so unconvinced strangely had Emily giggling for no reason whatsoever. “I’m serious, though!” Emily raised her voice a little, trying to master her own emotions as well as convince Joyce otherwise. “I think it’s because you haven’t tried going to sleep yet.” With one hand, she laid it on Emily’s shoulder and gently pushed her back onto the mattress. Emily’s head collided with the feathery and fluffy pillow. She didn’t even know if the thing was stuffed with feathers, but it felt like a cloud nonetheless. “I’ll stay by your side until you’re off to sleepy land,” Joyce reassured, holding Emily’s hand through the bars. “Joyce?” “What is it, sweetie?” “How come you picked me?” “Picked you?” Needing to elaborate further had Emily feeling a little nervous and awkward. “Y...yeah. Ever since that night on the street, I’ve always wondered why you stopped for me...” Dancing her thumb in Emily’s palm, Joyce pondered the question for a moment. “It’s...hard to explain, but there was something about you. There still is.” For a brief moment, she looked into Emily’s eyes which were laying on the pillow. “When I saw you I thought to myself, ‘This person seems special to me. I don’t know why, but I want to chase that feeling.’ And of course you looked down on your luck, but...” She chuckled, realizing she had no real answer. “Maybe that’s what they call love at first sight?” She didn’t know what kind of love she had for Emily, but it was one that involved physical affection, and she was more than satisfied by discovering it as time went on. Emily’s heart thumped heavily at the words, hearing Joyce relaxedly confess her emotions. But at the same time, the crib’s mattress, pillow, and blankets were feeling soft...In a way it was soothing enough just to hear Joyce speak, just like when she hummed. Everything about her seemed so calming, through and through. “Did you plan to talk me into this when we first met?” The feelings behind her question were of a blank slate. She had no motive and was simply curious. It was clear by this point she’d acclimated to being Joyce’s baby girl, but it made Emily wonder if this was the plan all along. “No...” Joyce answered simply, staring off into space. “Everything about you I found and still find adorable,” She brushed Emily’s cheek, who blinked her eyes heavily. “I think I started to fantasize though pretty early on, about us; enjoying some sort of relationship like this. I never thought it’d happen in a million years, though...” Her last sentence came off as thick, and almost shaky. “What I was so attracted to in the beginning was being able to let you feel so carefree; like everything being taken care of, not having to lift a finger. I don’t think I’ll ever know why I feel that way, but I still enjoy it despite not knowing why.” Memories of their earlier days resurfaced, and she could still picture the night she’d gotten Emily her first wave of clothes; the fashionista trying on every bit. Truthfully, she wanted to see her in some of the more revealing items, that being just underwear, but what it would symbolize to Joyce was a sign of acceptance, and a willingness to be unreserved around Joyce. Again, it was what the act represented, not so much the deed itself. “And...what else…?” Her words were becoming more drawn out. Clearly she wasn’t as energetic as she’d thought. Everything around her was working against her, but at the same time towards her objective benefit. Her eyes slightly wandered about the room, catching Mr.Bear’s neutral, yet happy face, the thick carpet, the unoccupied changing table, the hanging paintings on the wall...Joyce. “How can I be a better baby…?” Joyce let out a small laugh, stifled mostly to keep Emily from getting any of her energy back. There were a few things that came to mind which would make these experiences all the more genuine and amazing, but Joyce would never totally force something on Emily. Besides, things, as they were, were already perfect. Anything on top of this would have been a bonus. And if Emily didn’t discover it herself, there would be no mutual enjoyment. What she did eye though was the diaper bulge behind Emily’s onesie. There was still one last way she could use it and she had yet to try that it. Joyce wasn’t looking forward to it, either, namely because it would be certain to cause Emily a meltdown. She hated to see her girl be so distraught. “In the short term?” Joyce brought a finger to her chin like she needed to give it some thought. “Going to sleep, missy! This isn’t 20 questions. It’s called nap time for a reason!” Her joke earned a sleepy smile from Emily. “But as for everything else, I couldn’t ask for more than you just having fun with it. A happy baby makes a happy mommy. You’re perfect just the way you are, Emmy.” Finally, Emily’s eyes had closed, and Joyce could just hear the slight, rhythmic breathing through her nose. She was a slumbering angel, and Joyce did everything in her power so as not to disturb it. Nudging the bottle by Emily’s side for just in case, Joyce quietly watched Emily for a few moments longer, and the longer she stared, the blurier her vision felt. Between the moments of fog in her eyes, they briefly cleared for short moments as it seemed to fall from her eyes, and soon be replaced by a new glossy tint. Covering her mouth with a hand, she could only watch Emily in an attempted silence. Thank you, Emily! Thank you for everything you’ve done. For being with me, for accepting who I am, reciprocating the feelings I have for you...With one last smile, she sniffled as she closed the door to yet again a near, but not complete, close. Almost frustrated, she practically hated nap time as much as the one who needed to sleep through it. Blinking the final tears out of her eyes, Joyce rolled up her thick, sweater sleeves as she bent over the coffee table to tidy up the pile of crayons. Her little girl had certainly made a small mess of her toys, and Joyce was more than happy to clean them up. Apart from setting a few logic puzzles aside, she grabbed a bundle of the stuffed animals next and transitioned her audible steps across the hardwood floor into quiet muffs over the nursery carpet. While Emily innocently slumbered Joyce arranged them nicely in her toy chest. And when she bent over, Joyce suddenly felt something in her pocket. Pulling it out, it was a small stick of green she happened to forget about. She’d need to remember to put this back... “Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,” Joyce’s voice rose and fell to the rhythm, “Baker man! Bake me a cake as fast as you…?” Like a doting mother, Joyce left her charge the easiest part, yet still letting her feel like she could contribute. “Can!” Emily finished chipperly, responsible for a single, measly lyric, yet regarding it with the weight of the world. Between each small pause, the small slapping noise of skin to skin from their claps filled the kitchen. Emily’s legs swung back and forth, suspended in the air whilst her little song with Joyce devolved into a mutual giggle fit. “Mmm mmm!” Joyce jovially hummed as she kissed Emily all over, contently restrained to her high chair. “Too delicious for words! Maybe I should eat you up for lunch instead, huh?” Joyce continued to tease as she grabbed Emily’s dangling foot, sending the girl into further, mild hysterics. With a new bib already tied around her neck, all that was left was for Joyce to move the plate of sliced up fruit over to Emily. The bottle of juice from her nap still remained, halfway full, but Joyce gave it a quick refresher by leaving it in the fridge for a little bit. And each and every time she swung the door open, Joyce always had Emily’s adorable drawing to fawn over. “Somebody think they’re ready for some yummy fruit?” Taunting, Joyce set the plate on Emily’s tray. Decorated as a small platter, it was filled with grapes, apple and orange slices, as well as a few pieces of cantaloupe. Happily and hungrily, Emily nodded her head as the food was finally within reach. Without a moment’s hesitation, she nabbed one of the apple slices, freed of its outer skin, and munched on the fulfilling slice. As good as it was, there was of course the slight tinge of sourness to it; the sourness that made you crave for more. With her eyes focused on her phone, Joyce massaged Emily’s scalp as she ate, and even Joyce paused to grab a piece of orange from the plate. Her eyes then wandered to the cabinets, suddenly longing for something with a little bit more variety to it...She liked sweet, but too much of it was simply overbearing. Emily was the exception, of course. “And while you eat your yummy fruit, Mommy’s gonna make a sandwich,” Joyce explained in simple terms, like she was speaking to a genuine toddler. Suddenly at the thought of a sandwich, Emily found herself finding the idea of meat, vegetables, cheeses and other condiments much more appealing than a singular platter of fruit...Guiltily, she paused in between her bites to ask, “Could...could I have one too?” Joyce turned back to the plate of fruit, seeing a few more pieces had disappeared since she last saw it. There wasn’t any trouble making one for Emily too, but she had a sneaking suspicion that she wouldn’t be able to get the whole thing down, with the fruit included...Again, money was no issue, and so be it if food didn’t get finished, but the idea of consciously wasting any wasn’t ideal… “Tell you what,” Joyce opened her proposition and continued to untie the package of bread. “You split the fruit platter with me, and I’ll split my sandwich with you? Sound good?” “But doesn’t that mean you won’t get to eat your whole sandwich?” Remorsefully, Emily asked, wishing not to impact Joyce’s own meal. “No, that means Mommy’s being forced to stop being such a picky eater,” She continued to unload various things from the fridge. “Besides, I think a good mix of everything would be better for you.” Emily knew it probably wasn’t the entire truth, and Joyce was just making it seem convenient. Despite what the truth really was though, Emily did her best to cling onto Joyce’s fabrications, knowing well by now that Joyce wouldn’t like to see her be so moody...While she waited, a piece of cantaloupe from the plate had mysteriously vanished. “Joyce?” “Uh-huh?” “What’re you parents like?” Even Emily knew it was a bit ridiculous to be asking this late in the game, but it was better late than never… Based on Joyce’s reaction, she didn’t seem to think it was as stupid as Emily thought, or at least didn’t let on for it to be. “My mom and dad are nice,” Joyce spoke plainly, not sure how to add much flavor to people she considered somewhat mundane. In reality that wasn’t the case, but Joyce knew them more as parents than anything else. “I think I already told you that my dad likes to cook? From the sound of it he’s still at it. He taught me just about everything I know.” “What about your mom?” “About her...” Joyce repeated, trying to dig for something noteworthy. Correction, something positive, and noteworthy. Their last few chats over the phone weren’t what Joyce would consider splendid…“She’s very sociable. She likes meeting new people, and I think she might be all over you,” Joyce snickered, imagining their arrival tomorrow. That being said, she’d need to throttle her mom for Emily’s sake as well… “And...how much do they know about...” “Us?” Emily quietly nodded her head. “Well...you may have been able to guess, but since that night when you were sick, my mom has known about you.” She continued to chop away at the tomatoes. “And...” she finally looked over to Emily who seemed to be listening intently. “She knows we’re in a relationship...” Underneath her onesie, Emily could feel her heart beat heavy at the sound of the reveal, suddenly feeling herself be swept into a tizzy that made it hard to keep her head straight. At the same time, she was much more attentive of the crinkle in her diaper when she squirmed. It was as if she could feel Joyce’s mother watching now. “She...she does?” Almost afraid, Emily tried to confirm. And what was coupled with their bond was the biggest question of all: how to identify it. “She does,” Joyce swept the chopped vegetables over to the side, unpackaging the meat next. “But! That’s why she’s so excited to meet you. I don’t know how much my dad knows, but I’m sure he’ll be looking forward to meeting you too.” “But Joyce...what...what are we?” It wasn’t meant to hurt Joyce or come off as negative, but it was an important question that had been swept to the side for too long. As great as what they had was, it’s not like it could be deemed conventional… “It...it can be whatever you want it to, but I want it to be clear that I do have feelings for you.” Joyce as openly as she could declared herself. Just like Emily, she wasn’t sure how sexual it was, and wasn’t opposed to moving forward, but her initial feelings were already right about where she expected them to be. “That’s no fair,” Emily pouted, blushing at the sound of her sheer honesty. “Why do I have to be the only one to decide?” “Fair enough,” Joyce conceded, speaking in a tone that no longer regarded Emily as her little girl. She’d be lying though if she said seeing her in the high chair, diaper, and onesie didn’t hurt the serious image…“I like you, Emily. Do you like me?” “W...well...yeah...” Emily fidgeted in her seat nervously, unusually overwhelmed by such raw emotion. The waters still had yet to be totally charted, and she was confident she liked guys, but...maybe Joyce was an exception? She already had such strong feelings for Joyce, but she didn’t know how to identify them. They were on similar wavelengths, only that Joyce knew much better how to express them. “Then how about we call ourselves girlfriends?” Once again, calmly, Joyce suggested the heavy-handed conclusion. Was it as easy as that, though? Emily couldn’t help but feel they would’ve had a tougher pill to swallow. Being Joyce’s girlfriend though...from here, what they had would be absolutely official. Other people, namely Joyce’s mom already knew there was something between the two, so all that was left was to give it a name. Maybe in a way their pace was rapid, but the kind of emotional bonding they’ve engaged in thus far has more than substituted for long term relationship building. It already was long term, just on a shorter scale. “R...really? I’d be your...girlfriend?” “Why not? I think it has a nice ring to it.” Emily wasn’t completely sure why, but the title had her feeling giddy all over, like when she could slip into the shower after a long day at work, or sleeping in on a winter’s day. Joyce always knew how to give harmless words such meaning and impact. “I’ve just...never had one before. That’s all.” It wasn’t a total surprise to Joyce, given their special circumstances. Jack was her former lover though, so maybe Emily’s tendencies were somewhere in between? Maybe she just had yet to realize it? “Well, now you can say that you have,” Pausing her prep work, Joyce came over to Emily, leaning in for a much more tender kiss than all the others. Emily received it like any other, but was a little shocked when instead of the cheek, chin, nose, or forehead; any of the usual spots, her lips locked with Emily’s, and an unusual sensation sparked through Emily, unlike any other kiss Joyce gave her. Not that any of the past ones were bad...but with this one, there was some, strange passion to it. Nothing like Emily had ever experienced before. A woman, no less. Emily blinked her eyes, her only form of response as Joyce finally pulled away, the smile of a genuine lover never leaving her. “But, that’s only when you’re a big girl,” Like a quick 180, Joyce’s entire demeanor and attitude had turned on a dime, and the new, romantic Joyce Emily had just witnessed was as gone as fast as the mommy in her came. “Behind closed doors let’s not forget you’re my little girl!” Joyce grinned mischievously, eating up every morsel of Emily’s frazzled reaction. Without another word, Joyce turned back to the counter, and Emily still in a muted state, bit her lower lip with more confusion than she’d ever felt before. In mere moments something had changed, and now her emotions were starting to feel conflicted in the most wonderful ways. “And about my dad,” Joyce broke the silence, including Emily’s deep thought. “He’s got a big, booming voice.” Still on the page of serious discussions, Emily couldn’t help but spurt into a laugh as she heard Joyce’s description. “Booming? What do you mean, booming?” It wasn’t much to go on, and that made it all the funnier. “You know, deep, resounding, and...loud?” With each adjective, Joyce tried to visualize a sense of magnitude with expanding hands, causing Emily to laugh even further. “He might come off as intimidating at first. He always used to around my friends when I was younger. But he’s a really nice guy when you start talking to him. He always had a soft spot for me when me and my brother were kids.” Joyce almost looked pretendedly smug, recalling all the brownie points she held over her younger brother. “I’m sure that’ll rub off onto you too!” “Do you think they’ll like me?” Her nerves were getting the best of her, and the thought of being rejected by Joyce’s parents admittedly scared her. “Don’t worry yourself over silly questions,” Joyce consoled, already confident with her answer. “It’d be harder for them not to like you.” “I’m just nervous...that’s all.” “Emily, even if there was the one in a million, billion, trillion, quadrillion chance that they didn’t? So what? That doesn’t change what we have. What we do is our business, and they have no right to intervene. We’re adults, right? Well,” She happily looked over at Emily, who was in the middle of much more suggestive circumstances. “At least one of us is.” “Hey...!” Emily whined, suddenly wanting herself out of the high chair much more now. To prove a point Joyce was pretending to deny. But deep down, Emily knew she had nothing to prove. “I know, I know...I’m sorry...” Joyce’s apologies sounded genuine, which made forgiveness the only possible route for Emily. “Do you like yours without the crust?” It was a question Emily wasn’t expecting...but seeing as the way she was being treated, it wasn’t totally unexpected… “...yes please.”

There might be some challenges along the way, but who knows? Maybe everything could go off without a hitch? Right? Probably? As for Joyce, she's pretty determined to make Emily's birthday special. Even if there's an impending doom knocking on the door, she doesn't want Emily to feel rushed. Today for them is probably guaranteed, but for what's to follow is a little more uncertain...Thanks for commenting! Bring it out to tease just to reel it back in? I think that'd be a little too cruel on my part ? Granted, with what's to follow I can't say I'm totally merciful either. I've heard from a lot of people that I've really kept a slow burn with this story. Personally, though, I think it's worth investing in all aspects of their relationship to round off an overall nice package. As for the family bit, it'd definitely be a bit dicey. Joyce has really pulled out all the stops for this and has gone all in, but at the same time, she's slipping closer to the danger zone. Maybe she's already in too deep? Thanks for the input, and I hope you continue to enjoy! Me too! Lol, but in all seriousness thanks a bunch! Real life things have been getting busier, but I still want to keep writing for this story. I don't have any plans to take a break, so I'd say it's fair to expect gradual progress on the quieter days.

14 - Every Minute Matters Although it was cold, Emily’s face was at least much cleaner now. The chill wasn’t pleasant, but given that she was confined to a chair, it’s not like she could have done much to protest. The lingers of syrup from repeated near-misses and the much more blatant one from Joyce’s phone call had been done away with; from the waist up she was as good as new. It was unfortunate the day had to come to an end so soon, though. Just when things were getting started, that unexpected surprise was announced over the phone...Joyce undid the strap between Emily’s legs, then unlocked the tray after clearing its top and finally released the girl from her confines. Before Emily could slide forward and find her footing on the crossbar however, Joyce’s hands slipped underneath her armpits, and she was hoisted slightly higher than she already was, and then lowered onto the ground. “I could have done that part myself, you know.” Almost poutily, Emily mumbled, despite appreciating the gesture. “And risk having you fall? They call them high chairs for a reason,” She happily poked Emily’s stomach, causing her to jump a little, and in turn earning a crinkle from her diaper. “We’re not taking chances on boo-boos, got it?” Giggling, Emily conceded while she patiently waited for Joyce to finish the remainder of the cleanup. “Looks like I forgot one last thing, though,” Joyce speaking to no one in particular, came back to Emily with such mild momentum, Emily thought she was going to be smothered by her lips like before. Instead, while she was getting herself so worked up Joyce leaned her head past Emily’s shoulder, and she could feel the sliding of fabric beneath her nape and a knot quickly undo itself. Leaning back, Joyce in her hands held the bib Emily forgot was hanging around her neck. With an amused smile, Joyce flashed it back to Emily, showcasing the few stains brandished on the kiddy slogan. “It’s a good thing we used one of these, huh?” Folding it, she set it by the sink. “Maybe you should use them when you’re a big girl too?” Snickering, she also slipped off the band holding Emily’s hair together. “If I remember correctly, you’re the one who got it all over my face!” Defiant, Emily planted her feet firm, and balled her fists at her sides; the kind of defense equivalent to a toddler’s stubbornness. Joyce wasn’t 100% if she knew what she was doing completely, but Emily unknowingly or not was hitting all the right buttons, and she was slowly approaching an all-time high. “Maybe for some of the syrup,” Joyce explained in a motherly tone, obviously trying to downplay the biggest mishap of the morning. “But that doesn’t explain all of it,” She poked her soft cheek. “And I gave you the last strawberry, too! But I know what Mommy did wasn’t very nice...I’m very sorry for making you icky, Emmy.” Almost in a giggle fit, Emily couldn’t find it in herself to put up the front for much longer. She was too preoccupied with extracting as much sweetness from this as possible. It’d be fading fast as soon as they got to the nursery, and attended to the much more adult issues that were suddenly pressing against the glass; expectantly ogling their most private and sacred moments. Selfishly, Emily felt the smallest seed of wanting bloom within her. She felt cheated. “To make it up to you, how about we finish getting you changed?” “That’s fine, I guess...” The act was gone now, and she was back to her complacent self. As she started to walk, she became acutely mindful of the added bulk to her diaper, still warm from recent occurrences...It definitely was a weird feeling, but the cushiness was an enigma, at worst...And thankfully the absorbency had been doing its job, because 'wet' wasn’t the right way to describe how she felt below. Along the way to the nursery, Emily could feel her bunches of hair be played with in the back, methodically brushed by a set of fingers and stroked in a gentle manner. Unconsciously, she must have adjusted her pace just to let the moment last even longer. Even with that, it didn’t take much time until her bare feet were soaking up the thick carpet to her much more age-appropriate room. One sensation was exchanged for the other, because the hands left her head of hair and the dominant figure took the lead yet again. “So how about a new diaper first, then we figure out an outfit for you?” “Diaper?” Emily’s state of pensive thought was suddenly broken, as she stared at the neutral woman with a puzzled expression. “You do want to be changed, right?” Was she...was she really adapting that fast? Quietly, Joyce tried to decipher the girl’s reaction. Getting these diapers regularly was no issue, but even she was a little disappointed at the thought of wasting them over a single wetting...When weighing the facts more heavily than the feelings, they could hold a substantially larger amount of fluid...But again, Emily’s opinion mattered the most, so was she hallucinating? Hearing Emily suggest that so soon? “I thought we were done with the babying?” “What?” Joyce looked like she’d just been told firetrucks were blue; her nearing conclusions had been totally swept away. “W...why’d you think that? Do you...do you want to stop?” The thought was unexpected, and unpleasant to consider. It was completely out of left field, and their time for this was already strained. “N-no,” Emily averted her gaze the slightest bit. “I just thought that because your parents are coming...” “And? They’ll be here tomorrow.” “But don’t we, you know, need to clean up some of the stuff?” The only things Emily had seen visibly outside the nursery were the high chair, bib, and bottle, but she suspected there was much more to be discovered. Stuff that needed to be put on hold. “You let me worry about that stuff,” Casually, she lifted Emily’s pajama shirt and stripped her of it, leaving her in just a bra and diaper. Instinctively Emily almost went to cover herself, but gradually eased her arms back at her sides. “And like I said, they’re coming tomorrow. Why should that have to interfere with today? It’s your birthday, and I’ll be damned if anything’s going to put a damper on that.” “Are you sure?” Respectfully, Emily tried to leave room for doubt. Deep down though, how protective Joyce seemed to be of her had the sensitive feelings inside of her igniting to euphoric levels. “I...I don’t mind if we need to postpone...” She somewhat did, but not being disrespectful toward Joyce’s parents was important too. “Well I do,” Joyce folded the shirt, setting it on the dresser. “I worked too hard to see you this happy, and the chances of doing anything to ruin that are slim to none. Today is your day. Nobody else but you gets a say in that. That being said,” She raised a brow, as if she could see right through Emily, straight to her core, where her undying selflessness resided. “I better not catch you ignoring your own wants. Anything that’s done today is for your sake, and no one else. Got it?” Quietly, Emily replied. “Okay...” It was the one word that put Joyce into a splendid mood, and she was all sunshine and rainbows again. “Perfect. Now, let’s forget about what’s going to happen tomorrow and focus on what we’re doing today!” She ran her hands up and down Emily’s arms. “Now up on the changing table, missy. The last thing we need is you getting chilly because I didn’t put you in something nice and warm!” Her words reached Emily, yet despite turning to the table partway, she hardly moved. Strangely, Emily could feel herself voicing thoughts that’d been considered long ago, and even now. It was enough to even surprise herself. “...Don’t these hold a lot more?” A silent pause was Joyce’s first reaction. It was another one of those moments that had her completely blindsighted. The times when Emily would throw her for a loop were so far and between, which is exactly why it was always so pleasantly jarring. But by now, her flustered posture, hesitation in her words, the tinge of red on her face, the signs were all too obvious, and Joyce knew what she was seeing; a breakthrough. “Well…” Trying to level her own emotions, Joyce started. “They can, but don’t you want a new one?” She tried to play the devil’s advocate; playing to Emily’s initial tendencies so not to seem like she was biased. Deep down she was, and Emily was willingly trying to walk right into it. For the sake of fairness though, she wouldn’t influence the outcome. None of it would matter if it was forced. She needed to know that this was mutual. “Maybe...but aren’t these expensive?” Awkwardly, Emily looked at the diaper around her hips; decorated in the happy Sesame Street themes, containing her bodily fluids and allowing her the excuse to skip out on the much more traditional toilet...It was one less thing for her to focus on, and one more task for her caretaker to manage…”W...wouldn’t it be better if I used it more?” The idea was beyond strange; suggesting she pee in a diaper even more, but objectively...wasn’t that what she was supposed to do? Looking at it objectively, how spoiled could she have been? Wetting a diaper only once, then moving right onto the next? “Emmy, you know you’re not supposed to worry about the numbers,” Lightly scolding, Joyce parted a stray hair from her face. “And you should be making choices based on what you want, not me. But if we’re talking about diapers in general, then yes, they typically are used more than once...Regardless, that standard doesn’t need to apply to you. It’s about what makes you comfortable. I don’t mind either way.” It was a half-lie. She did want Emily to use a diaper more than once, because it was more practical, and it did cut down on diaper consumption...and the thought of finding her in a used diaper stimulated the mommy in her...The most of all though, she wanted Emily to be happy. “I...” The disconnect from her mouth and mind was large, and the request she was trying to process defied who she was entirely. Her idea was akin to taking a hammer to a load-bearing wall. She was obviously taking herself down by a peg, but she was okay with it? Or at least she wanted to be. The demand to please Joyce was even greater than to do so for herself. The thought was surreal; wanting more for someone else than yourself. And even if she framed it as that, she knew a growing part of her would derive a strange kind of satisfaction from it too…”I want you to change me when I need to be...” The words when put together as a coherent sentence was as foreign as a Polar bear in the Sahara. “When you need to be?” They both knew fully well what she meant by “needed,” and a single wetting certainly didn’t classify as that. “Are you sure?” Mutely, Emily nodded her head, still not fully onboard with herself. She was willingly throwing herself deeper down the rabbit hole, yet the whole reason she kept pressing on was because she knew who she’d find at the bottom… “Besides...di-didn’t you say I’m supposed to use them?” The justification was outright strange, considering how she was trying to shift the blame, or cause of the situation. Each word came out shakier than the last. She didn’t know why she was trying to deflect the credit for her own bathroom habits, but it came off as easier to let someone much more capable shoulder the responsibility. “I want you to have more control...” “More…?” “W-well, you know...” Having to be the one who pushed the envelope for these sorts of things was usually Joyce’s job, so of course it made Emily uncomfortable. Given her lack of clothes and the role she was acting, it didn’t exactly seem to make much sense for her to be the one making demands. Then again, the demand was to lose to right to make such. “You’re in charge...right?” The silence went on for a few moments, but what was first to disturb it was Joyce’s small laugh over the blatant irony. “Hey…!” Almost offended, Emily whined as Joyce couldn’t help but laugh over what she was hearing. “No...no, that’s not it. I’m not laughing at you, sweetie.” She wrapped her arms around Emily’s waist and pulled her close; the diaper being squished between the two of them. Obviously Joyce didn’t mind, though. She was far too giddy to mind, and even if she wasn’t already happy, the feeling of her baby girl’s soft, warm diaper was just another sign of a job well done. “I’m laughing at myself! Sometimes I lower my guard around you a bit too much.” “Wh-what? What do you mean?” Emily tried her best to keep cool, but the affection was almost mind-numbing with the way she was dressed, or how she wasn’t. “You’ve just done some stuff before I never expected, that’s all.” Finally, she let Emily go. “Even when it feels like I’m the one in charge, you always seem to be upsetting the pace in such...amazing ways!” Her eyes practically sparkled at the sound. “But, I won’t force you to speak on it, my little strawberry.” This time the laughs were fired in Emily’s direction, but they only added fuel to the fire which warmed Emily all over, more than her diaper, thankfully. More control? A few ideas came to Joyce’s mind, but more importantly the gesture itself had her feeling fuzzy tenfold! The day was just getting started, but the fruits it had borne already were so rich in their senses of positivity, essence, and joy. She felt like they were progressing at such a rapid speed even she might need to hold onto something… “But anyways~!” Finally clearing the fog, Joyce with her hands on her hips, looked down on Emily in a wonderfully condescending way. “I think we’ve kept you in just a diaper for long enough. No more stalling, baby girl.” “Not just a diaper...” Emily tried to correct her teasingly, but with the bra or not, it did little for how she looked. If anything, it was an awkward contrast to the attire of an infant… “Oh? Is somebody suggesting I take the bra, too?” Mimicking crab claws, Joyce rapidly pinched her hands, slowly motioning to Emily’s shoulder straps. “No! No, no, no!” Giggling, Emily backpedaled into the corner, unknowingly crashing into the giant teddy bear behind her. Slouching on her feet, she crouched and leaned back into the fluffy bear, taking his puffy arms and using them as a shield. “The bra stays on!” Laughing through her pleas the whole way, she watched as Joyce closed in on her final stand. “Well, last time I checked, someone told me to be much more watchful of my charge! Apparently I wasn’t taking enough control?” Her obvious allusions already had Emily feeling silly, and she could feel her toes curling into the carpet as Joyce knelt down in front of her; her eyes never losing the high ground. “He might protect you from the mean monsters, but...” Joyce paused for a second, realizing the furry friend had no name. “Mr.Bear,” She quickly inserted a temporary one. “Knows better than to disobey Mommy.” She pretended to look worried. “I hope my little girl isn’t being a bad influence on him?” “No, I’m good! You’re the one that’s bad!” Emily eagerly retorted, as Joyce wrapped her hands around her ankles. “Oh?” She gave an unconvinced smirk. “And how’s Mommy being a meanie?” She dragged the helpless girl away from the clutches of her furry guardian, and now had her sprawled on the floor, with one of her feet in hand, raised in the air. Emily could only giggle nervously as she’d just been locked into a deathly torture device. “You’re saying ‘no’ an awful lot today...What’s got you so cranky?” “B-because you got syrup on me…?” The facade was waning fast in the face of a genuine threat, and her trapped foot wiggled its toes with uncertainty packed into each and every little appendage. “A-and,” She tried to keep the explanation going, disillusioned that the argument would actually save her from certain demise. “And you were gonna eat my strawberry, so--!” As soon as the tickling started, Emily erupted into a shower of giggles, fighting desperately to wrench her foot from Joyce’s hold. Speaking over her laughs and shouts, Joyce continued on, her fingers scurrying across the delicate skin no less. “I think it’s because someone didn’t get enough sleep last night. We’ll have to make sure your nap is extra long today!” “N-no!” Emily managed the same word with un-failed repetition, as her grounds for negotiation had been totally lost. She would have liked to have slept longer, but now that she was up, the impending arrival of Joyce’s parents meant they had to soak up every ounce of time that was at their disposal. “Are you gonna let me get you dressed now?” Her heart melted, watching Emily squeal with glee as she further and further resigned into her role; defenseless in just a diaper and bra in her very own nursery. It was yet again another perfect concoction which led to an indescribable pleasure! It was like living a dream that had been so distant for so long, and Joyce never wanted to wake up. “Yes! Yes!” Emily would have kept shouting it a thousand times over, but her lungs had grown too restless from all the laughing that was being forced out of her. With her magic fingers, through her foot alone could Joyce command and expend troves of energy from Emily’s entire being. Trying her hardest to wipe her involuntary tears from her eyes, she’d keep pounding her fists into the carpet; doing anything she could to express her body’s frustration from the tingling. As much as she was suffering, being at Joyce’s mercy was intoxicating. And finally, the tickle monster yet again returned from whence it came. She could only hope she was starting to build a resistance… “Okay, no more games!” Joyce spoke with mild authority, partly directing the words to herself. “Off your tush, missy!” Like a lazy soldier reporting to their commander, Emily found her shaky footing; still working the tickles out of her. “Now comes the most important question,” Guiding her over to the closed door, Joyce finally opened it, the one that had Emily theorizing since this whole adventure began. Half-expected, it was a small walk-in closet, lined with an array of shelves and two bars opposite of each other for hangers. Emily could already recognize the few things she’d worn before, and maybe a few new tidbits, but it was overall pretty empty. Joyce was painfully aware of this too, but she of course had plans to change that over time…“Are we feeling like today’s a lazy day, or do you want to have a play day?” Her perplexing riddle was mostly lost on Emily, as she couldn’t even begin to imagine what either answer would lead to; how it would affect her appearance. Joyce guarded the entrance to the closet as well, so it wasn’t like she could have gone snooping on her own… “Uhm...” The more she thought, a small warning in the back of her head signed that if she didn’t choose soon, Joyce might for her. Not that she minded, of course. In a way it was preferable, but for once Emily knew how she wanted the day to go. “Play.” She spoke adamantly, earning a warm smile from Joyce. “Okay, then close your eyes for me. Nice and tight!” Shrouding Emily’s eyes with her hand, Joyce held it there for a second until peeking through her fingers to see they were in fact sealed shut. “No peeking, got it? Otherwise I might need to give your tummy a few tickles next...” Anything but that. Emily could feel the muscles in her eyes tighten. This mission had suddenly become do or die, and failure was not an option. Joyce choked down a giggle, watching her visibly stiffen at the sound of the playful warning. Satisfied, she turned back into the closet to collect the piece. “You’re still not allowed to look!” Joyce warned, as Emily could suddenly feel herself being handled by Joyce’s soft, loving hands. “I’m not gonna, but when can I look?” A sudden wave of surprise overcame her when she could feel Joyce work a small bunch of fabric over her head. Despite her most valuable sense being locked away, she could’ve sworn she felt the slightest sway around her hips. Almost like a skirt…? Either way, the shirt she’d been put in was a soft, short-sleeve just from the feel, but what struck her as a heart-racing afterthought was the snug feeling she was starting to feel around her crotch. With the sound of a few snaps, the diaper she was wearing suddenly felt pressed a slight bit tighter to her now; consciously aware of it being encased by something. But her thighs still felt bare? Clearly she wasn’t wearing pants...so then what? Once she lowered her arms, her hands accidentally came into contact with the exterior, which confirmed the skirt theory. It felt like...denim? She became aware of the extra shoulder straps over her shoulders too when Joyce lifted them for a quick adjustment, then set them back in place. “And just to keep your feet nice and warm...” Emily still blind, was much more accepting of Joyce’s hold once she obviously slipped a pair of socks on her feet. Then, for a few uninterrupted moments, nothing happened. The only thing Emily could feel, or think she felt, was her sixth sense picking up on Joyce’s quiet presence. “Come on, can I open my eyes now?” Slowly becoming impatient, Emily’s irrational side considered tapping its foot. “M..mhmm..!” Joyce’s response was odd. As if she were holding something back...Emily didn’t know how to feel about that. Suddenly nervous, she cracked open an eye, starting with her gaze at her feet. Certainly she was wearing a skirt...but it was connected to what was on her torso, and very short. It was a denim dress, and the large pocket sewn on its torso almost had Emily sweating. Oddly, she counted each and every thick stitch she could see around its lining, and where the dress ended up top she could see the pale yellow fabric, encased by the denim shoulder straps, connected to the front of the dress by fat, white buttons. Her cheeks slowly heated as she came to terms with what she was wearing. Before she even looked at Joyce’s reaction, she looked into the full-length mirror. She blinked. For a moment, Emily almost side-stepped, because the reflection that was occupying the mirror clearly wasn’t her. A toddler was blocking it, and as cute as she was, Emily was a little bit more focused on seeing herself, as well as confused by the sudden stranger in the room...But that’s when she froze, letting a small sound of realization escape her, staring into the reflected image. Her own, reflected image...What she saw was something she couldn’t recognize; someone that she couldn’t say with confidence was Emily Sen, of 26--no, 27 years of age. Yet still, the mistake she’d made in her age was almost preferable, given the sight she was suddenly treated to reminded her of someone that was 2 rather than 27...From a mild blush, Emily watched her face rapidly shift in pigment from a pale pink to a mild red, just from seeing herself in the...the strangely alluring, and otherworldly adorable outfit…! But, but who was she looking at right now? From a sliver of the mirror’s view, she could see a taller figure beside who she still had a hard time believe was herself. She looked so familiar, though. She was a lot like Emily; black hair, green eyes, small stature, same outfit, well-acquainted with Joyce...The biggest differences with this person though, was the denim dress they were wearing, and if Emily didn’t know any better, the slight spread in her legs suggested there might be a diaper underneath...Internally, she giggled just from watching the bashful girl trapped in the mirror. Yet, in unmistakable unison the person in the mirror giggled back? The fascination and mild confusion dissipated as quickly as it came, because her memory started to jog, and the person she was looking at became perfectly clear. It was Emily. Emmy. Emmy Summers. She could have likely stood there for a thousand years, trying to come to terms with the transformation she was doing her best to comprehend. How she could have become something she couldn’t even recognize was baffling. She didn’t feel like Emily anymore...she felt like...Emmy. Joyce’s baby girl, and there wasn’t a shred of physical evidence left to prove otherwise. Her body didn’t feel so synced with her thoughts anymore, because as embarrassed as she looked, her mind was busy making complacent observations. As if it were a delicate artifact, she lightly traced her finger along the denim hem, trying to make the distinction between fantasy and fiction. “Do you like it?” After enough emotional overspills, Joyce finally found it in her to keep herself in check. On the surface she was the calm, collected mommy that she needed to be, but underneath was a raging typhoon of ecstasy and pleasure; overwhelmed with the limitless marvel from what Emily looked like right now. What almost had her squeal was when Emily leaned the slightest bit forward, likely inspecting the outfit further, and unbeknownst to the girl a small patch of yellow onesie on her backside peeked from the covers of the skirt. “It’s...cute...” Gradually coming to her senses, Emily spoke as objectively as she could. What probably allowed her to be so honest was the silly truth that she hadn’t even recognized herself for a few moments, and admittedly felt like she was speaking about someone else altogether. She was a totally different person. “H...how did you get this?” Turning from the mirror to Joyce, her skirt swayed the slightest bit, causing the tiniest breeze to brush past her bare thighs. Should she tell her? Joyce in the span of a few moments caught herself in an endless debate; reasoning whether or not it would be the best time to tell her...There was no way she could say it was Amy without Emily being able to put two and two together and realize she knew about the diapers...and likely what they were doing right now. Honestly, it was a mystery why she hadn’t already guessed Amy. Maybe it was something testing Joyce’s truthfulness? Though, who was to say Emily wouldn’t be okay with it? Maybe after seeing just how hard Amy worked to make such exquisite clothes, realize the countless hours of well-intentioned effort each thread was infused with, maybe she could understand? More than anything, Joyce didn’t like the idea of keeping secrets. The sooner these sorts of things were rooted out, the better. Trying to restrain herself from hugging Emily all over, Joyce carefully spun Emily back around to the mirror, holding her wrists, hanging the girl’s arms in front of her skirt. She set her head on top of Emily’s while they both looked into the mirror. “Remember when we went to go see my seamstress? Our seamstress? Amy?” It didn’t take any more than that, as Emily suddenly tilted her head upwards, trying to face Joyce with a panicked expression. “Wh-what?! You told-!” A finger was pressed to her lips. “You have every right to be concerned, Emmy, but do me a favor a look back into the mirror.” Reluctantly, but trying her best to be convinced, Emily turned her head back to their reflection, obviously looking much more troubled. “I can’t even begin to tell you how excited Amy was to make these clothes for you!” Joyce explained in an upbeat tone; encouraging and positive; chasing the negative emotions away. “She wanted more than anything to make you look as adorable as possible,” Joyce deposited both of her hands in Emily’s paw print pocket, minus the thumbs. “She worked very hard to make these outfits for you, and you’ve only seen one!” Emily still shuffled uncomfortably; imagining just how exposed she was to the outside world. They had one golden rule, and it’d been shattered. Joyce had betrayed her! She’d been crossed, and she wanted to be mad, angry, and sad...so why didn’t she? She didn’t feel happy or comfortable (emotionally, at least), but that didn’t extend into any resentment for Joyce. Her mind could only think of the countless, terrible futures where Amy might use this dark secret against both her and Joyce. They were now pawns in any masterful scheme she might wish to exact in the future...Even with that in mind though...being forced to look at her own reflection, the denim dress and yellow onesie she figured it to be all looked splendid...This clearly wasn’t run-of-the-mill, and the effort in it was genuine; evidence that would suggest the opposite of ill-intentions. If there was care, how could it be malicious? “And nothing’s changed,” Joyce explained while she briefly toyed with the onesie’s collar next. “Our secret is still safe, and no one else other than you, me, and Amy to a very limited degree I’ll add, knows. The only thing she knows is that I might like to dress you up a little bit.” “But what about the-!” Emily couldn’t help herself but interrupt, dying with the questions which dictated life or death. “Yes, she knows about those too,” Joyce asserted her verbal dominance yet again. “But so what? Joyce nonchalantly continued. What else is my little Emmy supposed to be wearing? If she didn’t know about the diapers, how else would she be able to make you such cute, fitting clothes?” “You promised, though...” Emily quietly pouted. The sense of betrayal was beyond evident, and to Joyce the disappointment in her voice was like a spear run through her own heart. It’s not like she deserved any less, though. “I did,” Joyce remorsefully spoke. “But, didn’t you say that you wanted to trust me more?” With almost every fiber of her being, Joyce hated using Emily’s own words against her like this, but the only thing that kept her pressing forward was the mutual net gain that’d be on the other side. She’d have to keep reminding herself that this was for them, not just her. “There’s no way Amy will ever tell anyone anything,” She made a point to put heavy emphasis on the two most important words. “Not only does she have non-disclosure agreements with all her clients, but I can tell you something like this is a tiny blip on her map. From the sound of it, she’s handled much more off the wall stuff. Your wardrobe is something she really likes making!” Joyce’s words were reassuring, but Emily knew she was really tripping over herself when it was clear her right to total protest was lost, considering she did surrender more control to Joyce. But didn’t it not count, seeing as this had to have been orchestrated before? Only recently did she start giving Joyce the verbal ‘okay’ on these things...The technicalities were too annoying to consider. Despite the turmoil, her instincts were still unashamedly telling her to be strut along by Joyce. But was there any sense of recourse to this? Did there need to be? All Joyce was telling her about were the positives, and the only negative Emily could find in the room was herself, which she had the power to change. The longer she looked into the mirror, Joyce hanging over her, while she was in a onesie, denim dress, all covering her wet diaper, a small, sudden smirk escaped her. “Oh? Did something about that make you happy?” Joyce nudged, taking advantage of whatever giddy feelings she could spur within Emily. “I know what I did made you feel uncomfortable, but I want you to know nothing bad will come of it. Only good things,” Joyce squeezed a little tighter. “I’m willing to hear anything you want to tell me, though.” “Going to Amy like that without my permission...it wasn’t nice.” Trying to sound glum, Emily spoke truthfully. The thick stitches in her front pocket almost looked like a toothy smirk to her, adjoined by the fat, white shoulder strap buttons like eyes. “No...it wasn’t.” Joyce somberly agreed. “I knew our secret would still be safe, but that doesn’t mean you’d feel the same; regardless of the outcome.” “...Right...” Emily nodded, thinking of how else she could do the proper thing and scold Joyce. She wiggled her hips slightly, watching the skirt move to and fro...She did her utmost to silence an oncoming giggle. She wanted more than anything to be mad, but how was it her place to chastise her own caregiver? “I want you to tell me when you do stuff as risky as that...I want to know what to expect.” “Tell?” Not ask? “You mean you want me to ask before I do stuff like this, right?” Joyce fished for clarification, and Emily could only nervously watch her toes wiggle in their polka dot socks, squirming in the carpet. “N...no. I want you to tell me,” All jitters, Emily confirmed her earlier words. “I...I can trust you, right? You said so?” Through the mirror, she stared into Joyce’s eyes with sincere purity, innocence and complete dependence. She was a frail and delicate little girl opening herself up to the one person who would do anything and everything to protect her. For once it hurt Joyce now to receive kindness in response to her own wrongdoings. She didn’t deserve it, which is why she cherished it all the more. “Of course!” Forcing herself out of such a melancholic state, Joyce by Emily’s waist hoisted her into the air for a few moments before setting her back down. From the angle she lifted her, Emily too could catch the white snaps enclosing the round and padded crotch to her onesie from the mirror. The way the entire outfit hugged her and made her feel was a strange and unapologetic wave of childishness that was already taking root. Emily wasn’t sure how to feel. But Emmy? Emmy was right at home. “But you still want me to take the lead, right?” Admittedly, the dynamic was a bit unorthodox. Emily wanted to surrender her freedoms, but she wanted the right to be aware of what was happening? She relinquished her power to do anything about it (within reason), yet she still wanted to be an attentive spectator… “Yeah, I guess.” From the sound of it, even Emily was aware of her selfish requests; having her cake and eating it too. “If...if that’s okay?” Snickering, Joyce embraced Emily with a small Eskimo kiss, and finally took her away from the mirror. Her laughter was enough of an answer, and Emily didn’t feel the need to press any further. “And there’s one last thing to add...” Joyce rambled on as she turned her back to Emily and moved to the dresser. She opened the top drawer, clearly looking for something among a sea of many things, evident by the sliding of foreign objects. Emily could only watch with curiosity as Joyce’s audible searching came to an end and she came back with two small accessories in hand. Emily stared at it for a moment, unsure of what to think at all. She really hadn’t been thinking of it...but it’s not like this was unexpected. “Is that a...” “Pacifier? Yes, it is!” Joyce resounded in singsong praise, displaying the silicon teat attached to a plastic shield and ring, all proportionate for someone Emily’s size. As Joyce held it in front of her, it was easy to read the girl’s hesitation, but like always she did her utmost to ease her into it. “You don’t have to use it if you don’t want to, you know,” Joyce reminded as she dangled the childish item from her finger. “But I think you might be pleasantly surprised if you do~!” The aftertaste of suspense lingered in her words, and Emily the willing sucker she was felt herself being tempted by the bait. As if she weren’t happy about it, looking at anything but the amused Joyce, Emily quietly opened her mouth the slightest bit, her arms crossed like she was in total protest, yet how bad of a liar she could be in times like this… Joyce didn’t give her a chance for second thoughts, and no sooner than it took for Emily to open her mouth, it was filled by the firm, yet squishy material just as fast. Letting the foreign invader sit still for a few moments, Emily ceased all activity as if she were awaiting the big reveal; the surprise Joyce had been dangling over her head. But it was just a normal pacifier? She squeezed her teeth on it curiously. Just as she was about to call her out on her lies though, Emily’s tongue brushed across the nipple, and along the way picked up a sweet, fruity taste...Banana? Her eyes focusing on the pacifier in her mouth, Emily inspected the sensation further; dancing her tongue all around the flavored bulb and receiving equally as pleasant banana-y responses. And the more she worked at it, the more she felt as if it were teetering on the line between not enough, and just satisfying. She loved the taste of banana, and wanted to feel that wave of flavor in full. Suddenly licking the pacifier wasn’t enough, and in a desperate attempt to try and stir a greater yield, the pacifier rhythmically gyrated the slightest bit, shifting to the front and back of her mouth; sucking on it. “I take it that one’s a winner?” Happy to see it working as intended, Emily finally looked from the pacifier and back to Joyce. Blushing heavily over her distractions, she quickly yanked the item from her mouth (Demanded by circumstance, despite her tastebuds crying in protest), and without any real sensible place to put it, she shoved it in the torso pocket of her denim dress. “Why did you stop?” Joyce looked the slightest bit disappointed, mourning for the sweet scene she had just been treated to. “Didn’t it taste good? If I remember correctly, someone can’t get enough of bananas, my little kitty-monkey.” “I don’t know...” Emily aimlessly spoke, knowing exactly why she did stop, as well as why she should know better than to feel so ashamed... “No embarrassment,” Joyce magically pulled the words from Emily’s mind, as she reached into Emily’s pocket and pulled the pacifier back out. “Remember?” Curiously, she gave it a suck herself, taking note of the pleasant taste herself. Needing to repeat herself less and less each time though, the first two words were enough to let the pacifier back into Emily’s mouth. She didn’t seem to suck it as eagerly this time, though. “Enjoy it all you can for now,” Joyce passively warned. “Because if we don’t throttle that thing, you might become too attached.” Laughing at the thought, while Emily only shivered from imagining such a terrible fate. It didn’t seem to stop her sucking, however. “Either that, or it’ll completely ruin your craving for bananas.” Ushering her along, the two went back into the hallway. “You take the lead, missy. Off to the living room we go!” Joyce cheered as their feet stepped over the polished, hardwood floors. Silently, she bit her lower lip, watching Emily’s skirt swish from side to side, and a small crinkle from underneath too. Everything right now was beyond perfect, and it would only get better! Onto the next room, the floor beside the couch had been sanctioned off by a large, decorated mat, sending waves of old, distant memories back to Emily. Almost like a living memory, images of them, sitting on that old blanket, messing with logic puzzles echoed through her mind. Motifs of suns and moons decorated the purple, plush mat, and checkered across it were the many toys and trinkets that would serve as the morning’s entertainment. She recognized a few things from last time, but what had her interested more than she’d like to admit was the return of those logic puzzles, the ones that had her sitting in Joyce’s lap…! More seemed to have joined the scene, and they brought along with them their stuffed animal friends, and didn’t skip out on the thick, picture books. A box of fat crayons freshly unwrapped from their packaging sat on a coloring book as well. Seeing the rainbow gradient illustrated on the front almost had her itching to give it a try… For a brief moment, Emily removed the pacifier from her mouth. “You really didn’t hold back on the stuffed animals, did you?” She giggled, aimlessly nudging a furry dog with her foot onto its side. Between what was here and in the nursery, she couldn’t put it past herself as being the commander of an army of fluffy cuteness. She couldn’t help but snicker thinking about it. “It’s very important my little girl knows that she’s loved very much!” Taking one of the stuffed toys, Joyce like a puppet master animated its movements over Emily’s shoulders. “You have a loving mommy,” She paused just to kiss her cheek. “And on top of that, you have lots of stuffies to make you feel comfy!” The countless inanimate faces all pointed in random directions; mute and lifeless, yet reverberating a sense of warmth, as each and every toy was imbued with a sense of serenity which was tethered back to Joyce. Everything here was an extension of Joyce’s love, and Emily felt herself wanting to be smothered in it. More than she already was. It was all through a childish medium, infantile at that, but beneath the surface layer was the plentiful emotion; honey to a bee; irresistible, intoxicating, loving, and heartwarming sweetness. “I gotta say though, I was almost expecting you to somehow get a playpen...” What an imagination it took to picture something like that. With fences almost as tall as herself, by no means would it have been practical, and it probably would have been jarring considering the size it’d be...It was strange to think about, but how Emily’s undeniable size was an important factor welled within her a strange feeling of sadness. She was small, especially compared to Joyce, but she wasn’t a toddler; far from it. Her words were meant as a fun joke, but suddenly it felt like she was hurting herself more than anything else. “Maybe in the future...” Joyce spoke passively, giving it an actual thought. Turned away, Emily could only sit there in disbelief for it to be actually considered. She couldn’t be serious, could she? Get a playpen for a grown woman? Further and further the line which divided reality and fantasy was becoming an even greater, blurry mess. From Joyce’s perspective though, it was a perfectly viable avenue. It certainly wasn’t usual, but it wasn’t impossible. Well, maybe not for an apartment in the city, at least...Regardless, it’d need to be something she logged away for the books. “That’s something for later, though,” Joyce continued with polite dismissiveness. “Until then, focus on what we have right now, my spoiled little girl!” Joyce sarcastically chided. “I wasn’t asking for one!” Emily countered, slightly grimacing at the idea of becoming rotten from so much glimmer and glam. “It was a joke!” “I know, I know,” Joyce consoled, giving her hand a squeeze. “If my Emmy’s ever spoiled, it’ll be mommy’s fault, and even at that I know you’ll be my good little girl!” She beamed with genuine pride, overflowing with joy at the thought; being able to claim someone else as your own, and have the other party be just as excited. Flustered, Emily started to mumble in embarrassment, in a low, troubled whisper, “Of...of course I will...” Suddenly a convenient excuse to plug her murmurs and nervousness, the banana-flavored pacifier found its way back in between her lips, and the fictitious verbal strain which weighed over her shoulders seemed to have been erased completely. Gently setting her hands on Emily’s shoulders, with a small bit of force she physically commanded Emily to take a seat on the playmat, and Joyce still remained standing. Unfortunately the diaper between her legs didn’t make sitting on her knees the most comfortable. For modesty’s sake, she wished she could have assumed such a position, but it was pretty clear that wasn’t in the cards. Reluctantly, she sat on her bottom (Certainly feeling awkward after the slight squish of the diaper), and with a white and crinkly mass between her legs, they spread the slightest bit outwards. The hem of her dress while standing was enough to cover the onesie’s crotch, but now that her own thighs prevented it from sinking any lower, a small window of visibility was now there. “Okay missy, I have a very important job for you now,” Joyce’s face started to look serious, which started to restrain Emily’s flowery expressions. It took everything Joyce could not to break character however, when Emily gave a small nod and the ring of her pacifier dangled just slightly. “...I need you to find something extra fun to play with, okay?” She gestured her hand to the countless items scattered across the playmat. “I’m gonna go fill your bottle, so until I’m back I need you to be feeling extra happy and funny.” For some reason Emily forgot the pacifier was in her mouth when she spoke. “Ohkahy.” In a muffled, drawn-out answer she spoke, and suddenly blushed just as hard as her speech was impaired. Once Joyce walked into the kitchen, the idea of drinking from a bottle suddenly rung through Emily’s head yet again. She had already been using a sippy cup, but on the maturity meter this was a new low. It was another point of access to Emily’s already limited freedoms she had lost. Emmy’s freedoms, that is. Then again, Joyce regardless of the time or circumstances was often serving them both...In times like this though, the countless things which surrounded her and interacted with in various ways were all designed to service her as well as defer the sense of independence to someone else. The most glaring one was the portable bathroom hugging her hips, and now, there was a highchair to allow someone else to easily feed her, a bottle to prevent her from making spills, pacifiers to keep her soothed and silent, and a crib to keep her where she needed to be for sleepy time...Digesting it all was a little overwhelming, and as if to feel the demand of dependence personified, Emily lightly pressed a finger to the shield of her pacifier. The pace things were moving at was rapid, and at times these situations could feel like Emily was being hit by a truck. That being said, what made it all so comprehensible and possible to digest was because this micromanaged baby lifestyle was all controlled by her most favorite person in the world: Joyce. The woman had proven she didn’t mind seeing Emily naked (Rather, encouraged it), wet herself, use the toilet, and do so many other countless, embarrassing things. She received it all with such happiness and gratitude, and returned an everlasting shower of love and affection for the girl. In some ways being small was nice, and Joyce only made it feel even more special. With a creeping happiness, she licked the banana-flavored silicon in her mouth. A popping noise filled the room when a finger hooked around the ring of Emily’s pacifier gave it a small tug and the teat left her mouth. Clearly she’d been too focused on her own thoughts, because Joyce had re-entered the room with a filled bottle in hand. “You can have it back later, but for now I want you on this.” In exchange for the pacifier, Emily now held an adult-sized baby bottle in her hands, observing the light brown tint to it. It was her coffee drink! “Coffee? But I thought I wasn’t supposed to...” She spoke hesitantly, questioning the rules she could recall from their very first breakfast. Right after the first morning meal, it was straight to milk and juice. “Oh? Does that mean you’d like some juice instead?” Joyce asked, cocking a brow with a smirk. “Well, I suppose since that’s what you want...” As if she were reluctant, Joyce reached for the bottle which Emily promptly turned away with in order to protect her most prized possession. Playfully desperate, she did everything she could to deter her caretaker. “No, no! I was just wondering! This is fine, really!” Following right after she stuck the bottle into her mouth and started to suck. Of course it tasted delicious, and it made her feel even more foolish for even questioning its second coming. Miracles were meant to be experienced, not analyzed. She stole a glance at Joyce who had ceased her advances, and seeing the smile on her face only made Emily grumpy because she knew that she’d given the exact reaction Joyce was looking for. From Emily’s mild annoyance, it only made Joyce laugh as her intentions became quite obvious. Patting her on the head, taking advantage of the much thinner underwear between her legs she sat on her knees. “I think you keep forgetting that today’s your birthday, silly. I always want to make you feel nice and happy, but today I think I can make a few exceptions to our routine...” As she continued to nurse, a small smile escaped Emily as the rhythmic petting continued. “So?” Joyce broke the peaceful silence, rearing her face into Emily’s vision. “Did you find anything here you might wanna play with?” Sheepishly, she shook her head no. She’d been so busy thinking that the time really flew by. In a laughing fit, Joyce pulled Emily in for a hug while her hand scanned the playmat. “Do I really need to do everything for you? I don’t mind, but I’d really like some input here!” It was all in good fun, and the both of them knew it. Still, even Emily knew her incompetence over the most minor tasks was pretty laughable. “Now come on, we have a nice big variety of things we can do,” Still in Joyce’s embrace, Emily was turned to face the greater portion of toys decorating the floor. “We can read a story,” Joyce lifted one of the thick picture books, printed with a happy-faced caterpillar on the front. “Maybe play with a few of those puzzles?” She lifted a logic puzzle Emily hadn’t recognized from last time. It was another mass of pieces that had yet to be taken apart. “Coloring?” She pointed to the box of crayons. “Stuffies?” She lifted countless different soft animals, all looking happy as could be with simple existence, just as Emily was feeling with Joyce. Gently rocking her shoulders, Joyce cooed and urged her to make a decision. “Uhmm...stuffed animals, then!” Finally deciding, Emily threw herself at something blindly just to push them in some direction. It mattered little to her what they did, because she’d likely derive just as much pleasure from it compared to anything else. “And we have a winner!” Joyce cheered as she corralled a handful within reach. Despite the excitement Joyce had spurred in her voice and leaving the iron hot to strike, a pile now lay before Emily and she somewhat watched them awkwardly… Dumbly, Emily asked, “Well...what am I supposed to do with them?” Joyce couldn’t help but snicker at the question, as her cluelessness made her all the more adorable. “What do you mean, ‘do with them’? You’re supposed to play! Haven’t you ever played with stuffed animals before? Dolls? Action figures?” “Well...yeah...” Emily still spoke confusingly, recounting her genuine childhood which felt like light years ago. But now what? Quite frankly she was out of touch with her inner child...Joyce had aroused remnants of it, but this was still very much glued together by the love they had for each other. Finding direct substitutes for that was still very much a learning process. “Let’s do it together then,” Joyce spoke as she’d already grabbed an ovular-looking one. Clearly it wasn’t an animal Emily had ever seen. Nevertheless the smile and two small black circles for eyes was cute in a simple way. It didn’t answer the question as to what Emily was looking at though. There were no distinguishable features on it other than it being white and incredibly soft-looking. Honestly, she could have mistaken it for a small pillow. “This...” Emily tried her best to suppress a giggle, as she pressed her palm on the happy, soft ball. “Is a stuffed animal?” Taking it from Joyce’s hand and feeling a bit carefree at the moment she pressed her cheek into it and was rewarded by a soft and cushy response. “Okay, okay, maybe they’re not all animals...” Joyce admitted as she sat on her own bottom and scooted Emily right into her lap. In Joyce’s arms, Emily seemed like a tiny package of giddiness and pleasant smells. With hair like silk and skin so smooth, Joyce wanted to hug her little girl tight and never let go. “They’re mostly animals,” She corrected herself. “But I thought that one looked cute too...” Joyce explained, trying to excuse her own blunder. “I think it’s cute too, but what is it?” Inspecting, Emily kept turning it all over, looking for some distinguishable feature. Maybe that was its charm? That it wasn’t anything at all? “It’s mochi, if I remember...Haven’t you ever seen them before?” “Mochi? Really?” Emily looked at Joyce as if she hadn’t believed her for a moment, then back to the friendly face in question. Squinting her eyes as if it’d help, she restored her normal vision once it finally clicked. “I guess I see it,” Childhood memories started to return to her head in waves, and her teeth plunging into the squishy outer exterior just to snatch away some of the ice cream hidden inside was coming back to her. Although she was raised in America, her mom brought a good deal of her own culture too. “No, I definitely do.” A toothy smile formed across her face as she continued to poke and prod the squishy figure with her finger. “Well, it can’t just stay as mochi forever, you need to name it, you know!” “Name it? Why do I need to do that?” “Wouldn’t it be hard not to call people by their names? What would I do if I couldn’t call my little girl Emmy?” She pointed her finger to herself, which was right where Emily was sitting. “What would you call me if I wasn’t named Joyce, or Mommy?” Her point was obvious, and factually sound, yet when used as the basis for naming a stuffed piece of dessert it was clear just how much a silly notion was being overcompensated for…“All important things need names, because that’s how we recognize them! Mr.Bear is gonna need one too, ya know.” It’s funny how creativity always seems to be there when you need it the least, and as scarce as fire in an ocean when you need it the most. As Emily stared back at the fake piece of mochi, absolutely nothing dawned upon her. Every name she could think of wasn’t fitting for a squishy and soft piece of sweetness. Sarah, Carol, Alex, Carly, Anna, Amy, Natalie, they were all incredibly basic, which is why she tried toning down the syllables. As countless sounds rambled through her head, one along the conveyor headed straight to the bin suddenly slipped off its track and fell down the hole from her brain to her mouth, which stumbled out into the open. “Pip…?” Even she didn’t sound sure of the name itself, if you could even call it that. But wasn’t that the point of names? Words only had meaning if you gave it to them...Without that, everything anyone ever said was all just senseless babble. As if for confirmation she looked back to Joyce. “How’s that?” “Don’t look at me, silly! They’re your stuffie! It’s not about what I think, it’s only about what you want. But if my opinion did matter...I think it’s a perfect name.” “Pip it is, then.” Almost serious, Emily gave her head a small nod to her new inanimate friend, as if a contract had then been formed. Then with an exaggerated sigh Emily leaned her entire body back into Joyce, who could easily handle the smaller girl’s weight. Doing her best to stare up at Joyce while holding Pip to complete the trio, jokingly she whined, “Playing with stuffed animals is hard. Can we do something else?” “Such a lazy baby...” Fawning over her significant other who had managed to incite such pleasing emotions, Emily’s ability to lose herself to the process was beyond gratifying as was the extent it was being taken to was ridiculously funny. “How about you color a pretty picture for mommy, then? Sound a bit more fun?” “Is there gonna be time for other stuff, though?” “I don’t want to see you looking at the clock, missy.” The countless windows in the house would be a dead giveaway, but it’s not like they’d say much until the later hours...It was obvious this morning’s incident was still having its ramifications, and it annoyed Joyce that Emily was feeling forced to choose her actions based on this. She wanted Emily to feel unrestrained, and unfortunately that total feeling couldn’t be realized. “Now march your butt over to the couch. I’ll get the crayons and coloring book.” Hmm, this one seemed to have taken an extra day or two...or three...Sorry about that! Things have been busy. Nevertheless I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and look forward to hearing your thoughts!

I'm an Adult “I’m telling you, I’m an adult!” Lea stomped her foot angrily into the thick carpet, a small crinkle erupting from her waist. Defiant, she stared up at the amused look of her captor; dressed in a long skirt, button-up white blouse, and long, frilly apron. “Hoh?” The nanny brought the back of her hand to her mouth, as if a laugh were to escape her at a moment’s notice. “A big girl, huh?” She asked unconvincingly, seasoned with flakes of amusement. Her intentional choice of words obviously downgraded the term of maturity Lea had been fighting so desperately for, and like always the finer details were the most glaring... “N...Yes, an adult!” She reasoned to fight back on the semantics, but the entire goal was to convey an older age than the one she was being treated as...If every tiny obstacle were regarded as a mountain, there’s no telling how long they’d be there for. “Tell me, then, Lea,” Kneeling down, the nanny still loomed over the small girl as the maliciously playful smirk never left her face. “How are you a big girl?” Nervously, she gulped, as the size difference and gap in power became beyond evident now that it stared Lea right in the face. “W-well, I own a car!” “Mmm! Mmm!” The nanny nodded her head approvingly, adjusting her black-rimmed glasses, and adjusting her blonde bun. “That’s right! Big girls own cars! Can you tell me what kind of car, sweetie?” Was she actually buying this? Taken aback by her reaction, Lea continued with a thick sense of uncertainty in the air. “It’s...It’s a Porsche! 2017?” Her quizzical tone could only desperately pray that the nanny’s gaze wasn’t misunderstood... “Porsche? Oooh!” Lea could almost see the synthetic glitter shine behind her eyes, and her overbearing reactions were starting to make her feel sick to her stomach. “That’s an expensive one, huh? And how are you able to afford that car?” “With money, obviously!” Lea dumbly spoke in a rushed voice, as if doubt itself were hot on her trail. “I had a job until one of you--you stupid nannies came along and trapped me here!” “Ah!” Before a pin could drop, the nanny quickly interjected. “Language?” She sternly spoke, and mere remnants of her all-ears smiling expression remained. “You’re missing the entire point!” Lea angrily complained, watching her entire argument diminish into dust at the sound of a small piece of profanity--if you could even call it that. The past two months here had been pure and complete agony. The first few days were an especially terrible time; countless bare-bottom spanking after swearing and protesting...She winced from the phantom pain, remembering ancient punishments. Thankfully a word like ‘stupid’ wasn’t enough to get her over someone’s knee, but it certainly didn’t deter her from one. “I’m a board director at a company! This,” With exaggerating gestures, Lea motioned to their surroundings in the daycare. “Is not where I belong!” She owned an apartment! She was a city girl! How the bills must have been racking up by now...As infantilized as she was, some of her most ingrained adult responsibilities had never left her; commitments she couldn’t very well walk away from; couldn’t be taken away from. “A board director?” The nanny tried her best to look convinced, but it only hurt Lea more to know it was an obvious act. Clearly they were not on the same wavelength, and her pleas were being entertained like a game of make-believe. “And what do those do? Can you tell me?” In her lap, she interlocked her fingers to express a fabricated interest. She was just like everyone else in this damn daycare...Trying to make each and every single pants-pisser feel like they were the most important thing in the world; like their words actually mattered. Any real logic or sense to Lea’s words had been lost, simply because they were recognized as a child’s banter, and any rational adult knew to never take them seriously... Trying to prevent a total meltdown induced from aggravation, Lea could only hope that by pressing on with her story, something just might click for the woman. “I managed the company’s finances,” Trying to stay calm, she rubbed her temples. “You know, sat down in a big room with a bunch of other executives? We voted on decisions that influenced product design and general growth of the company.” She tried her best to list things off, but after being away for it for so long, fog was starting to spawn in between the appearing gaps...Time was a dangerous thing. “Wow!” The nanny exclaimed, plastered with an impressed look; an almost plastic smile, as if the positivity were etched in stone. “That’s a lot of stuff! And who helps you make those decisions? Those other people you mentioned?” Again, she remained on the edge of her seat, and to make sure Lea like the simple-minded child she was thought to be could understand, let a dramatic wave of brilliance strike her. “Oh! I bet I know one of them too…!” Slightly tilting her head to the side, Lea could only watch the nanny with complete confusion as she turned around to grab something out of her sight. How in the hell could she have known who Lea worked with? Much less, what behind her back had to do with the answer? “Ta-da!” Turning back to Lea, she held a stuffed bear. “I bet it’s Mr. Snuggles that you’re talking about, huh?” Still in her hands, she danced the bear from side to side, which only further incurred Lea’s wrath. “NO! I’m not talking about some bear!” In a sudden outburst, Lea yelled. Plunging her hands onto the bear’s lower half, the element of surprise worked to her advantage as she easily wrenched it from the nanny’s relaxed grasp. With a flailing arm, her momentum sent the lifeless creature into the air, and upon her hand’s release the furry friend sailed past the both of them, reaching the farther end of the room. She grit her teeth, and fumed at the nanny who looked somewhat shocked, but not nearly as perturbed as she would have been should someone her size have been doing this.“I worked with PEOPLE! NOT STUFFED ANIMALS! JUST LIS-!” Her screaming was suddenly silenced by the pacifier which selfishly invited itself into her mouth. “There we go,” The nanny casually sighed, as she inserted the silencer already dangling from a strap clipped to Lea’s skirted jumper. “I thought we made it very clear we only use our outside voices when we’re outside?” She raised a brow, suddenly dousing a torrent of water on Lea’s internal flame. Resigned to only steamed whimpers and moans, she quietly started to suck on the pacifier commanded by impulse. “Now until we move any further,” Her bubbly speech sharply declined into the colder and more commanding sectors of her personality. “You’re going to go and pick up Mr. Snuggles and tell both him and me that you’re sorry for being naughty.” The final word crashed like a steel weight on a glass cup. The meaningless word within Lea’s vocabulary had slowly been dressed in chilling and heart-beating sensations. It wasn’t what the word itself meant, but what could come from it. Everything she was subjected to; everything she’d become...All of it was a product of that single, two-syllable word; her conditioning. Her legs felt like jelly, and it wasn’t induced by pleasure. Quite the opposite. The nanny’s arms crossed over each other, and Lea recognized the posture all too well. A quick pivot on her heel and she was turned around, almost falling on her bottom, scrambling to the victim she once considered a foe. Looking over the bear, she lifted him almost like a wounded soldier, and returned him to them both, and set him beside her. “Well? How’s Mr. Snuggles supposed to know you’re sorry? How am I?” With furrowed brows, Lea staring into her toes, past the oddly comforting pacifier, she mumbled, “Ih’m sohwee....” Realizing the impediment in her speech, her eyes became glassy, as her hug around the bear’s neck, which could have been mistaken for a headlock, vice versa, tightened. “I know you’re having trouble adjusting,” The nanny patted Lea’s head, who couldn’t even bear to look the larger woman in the eyes. “But I really think it’s time we stop with the lies and silly stories...Don’t you? I hate seeing you like this, sweetie...” It almost sounded like she cared, and that’s what Lea hated the most. On another, unannounced, and unwelcome note, beyond Lea’s control, behind her pacifier she could only let out a small gasp as a pressure in full force came from her bladder. Like an oncoming car in the freeway, she felt her bladder transition from complacent to painfully full, and she was helpless to stop the overwhelming sensation as it emptied as soon as it filled. She let out an involuntary sigh as the wave of liquid warmth spread around in her underwear; soaking up almost every last bit. The entire ordeal lasting but a few moments, her powerlessness to stop it at all suddenly had tears in her eyes. “There, there...” The nanny cooed while she pulled the girl in for a hug, and was equally received by the smaller set of arms. Rubbing her back, she continued on with her small speech. “Whether you were a big girl or not, I think we can both agree this is much better for you.” She took a moment to make sure the pacifier clip was still fastened to Lea’s shirt. She finally let go of the girl though, and with shaky legs, and a desire to still fight for her independence, Lea tried to stay brave in front of the nanny. In just a few more moments, after she felt comfortable, of course, she’d remove the pacifier from her mouth and continue the discussion; prove she wasn’t the baby this nanny and everyone else here thought she was. “Besides, what big girls wear diapees, silly?” Playfully snickering, the nanny lifted the front of Lea’s skirt, exposing the discolored pamper around her hips, and the Barney characters across the plastic front smiling back. Angrily, Lea did her best to swipe the nanny’s hands away and once more conceal her shameful secret. It hurt even more that she knew better than to take them off...In the beginning, resistance like that would just result in spankings and maybe even an enema...But now? Now she couldn’t even trust herself without wearing one...They’d broken down and beaten her toilet habits so heavily, they were a shell of their former selves. Countless nights had been dedicated to mourning the loss of total continence...Not a single night was dry now, certainly not when they had her drinking something before bed before she went to sleep. It was some kind of milk, but it wasn’t...She knew it was formula, but she hadn’t the faintest idea what it was doing to her. “I’m not trying to be mean sweetheart, but facts are facts,” She spoke simply, trying to sound comforting. “There’s nothing wrong with wearing diapers, and heavens do you need them…” She took the opportunity to give Lea’s swollen diaper a squishy squeeze. “But aren’t they cute? Don’t you like Barney?” The question forced Lea to recall the countless, mind-numbing sessions in front of the daycare tv; learning how to share and count to 10...How her brain cells hadn’t been turned to mush completely was a mystery. And to answer her question, of course she hated Barney... “Because I can tell you right now,” The nanny sounded as if she were warning Lea. “They don’t put Barney on big girl panties.” With furrowed brows, and a frown mostly hidden by the shield of her pacifier, Lea balled her hands into frustrated fists at her sides as she stared back at the nanny. “Oh come on! Really?” She looked at Lea with a smirk, like the tiny girl was lying to herself. “I thought it was pretty clear by now, but you can’t lie to me, silly!” Before Lea could react, the nanny grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer by the back. She could feel the buckle to the straps going over her shoulders, connected to her jumper skirt being undone; the things that kept her confined to it. Now limp and lifeless, the skirt dropped to her feet, and there was nothing left to hide the wet diaper Lea was in. Her shirt just barely came to her belly button, so naturally it did much less for what laid below even that. “Tell me you don’t like cuddles and hugs?” Taking advantage of Lea’s exposed stomach, the nanny attacked it with a scurrying hand; dancing her fingers all across, forcibly causing a muffled squeal from behind Lea’s pacifier. As she kicked her legs helplessly, her wet diaper crinkled at the leg bands. In a spastic motion, Lea yanked the pacifier from out of her mouth, a small strand of drool following. Desperately, she tried to resume her vocal protest. “I-I-I’m not a-Hahahahahaha! Stop! I’m not a b-b-baby!” Amongst the tickles, she was too busy to notice another rush of pee escape her and pool into her already thick and squishy padded underwear. “Really? Then why am I the one responsible for filling your night-time bottle? Didn’t we just get finished telling you that you’re not allowed to use sippy cups anymore?” She chuckled while Lea burned over the cruel thought. “Didn’t we throw out your potty-training chart last month?” As the nanny playfully and happily listed off the varying points, it only made Lea wince and cry genuine tears; hidden by the ones of forced laughter from hearing on how many fronts she’d lost. The same nanny that brought her here: Nanny Abigail, had done something to accelerate her...unpotty training...Be it something in the food, her nighttime drinks...hypnosis? Regardless, she did something Lea didn’t figure out in time...clearly evident by her afterthought of the warm sensation in her diaper. She felt especially cheated when Nanny Abigail would be ‘busy,’ and couldn’t ‘drop everything’ just because Lea needed to use the toilet. The pull-ups hadn’t lasted but a few days. It was beyond frustrating, and the thought that she may never get a shot at the toilet again was a living nightmare. She’d see the evil and cryptic witch occasionally nowadays, but from what limited information Lea had, she was clearly meant for the ‘newer’ inductees. Once they’d been sufficiently broken, which Lea hated to see herself as, they were deferred to some of the more regular nannies. Like Nanny Fawn; the one who was currently commenting on Lea’s diapers...The only silver lining to this terrible fate and hopeless circumstance was that she was nicer than Abigail. Kindness was the last thing Lea wanted though, because it made it all the harder to fight everything which was being thrown her way. She’d always resist, or try to, but killing someone with kindness was unfortunately an effective tactic Lea found herself victim to. “What do you say we put this behind us? I’ll put you down for your nap, then we can go back to being our bubbly selves! I’ll even sneak you a cookie if you’re good about it~!” Temptingly she spoke, which even Lea was embarrassed to admit tickled her...After all this time, being stuck in this 24/7 daycare, there was only one cookie Lea had ever known about, and it was the cookie you’d get during snack time. Even she knew how pathetic she was, but there were some days she might try and be at least a little more complacent to earn herself one...Chocolate chips, fluffy dough, filled with a small amount of pleasant cream! Oh, it was too much to think about. It was all Lea could think of now. “So?” The nanny asked expectantly. “Do we have a deal?” As if it were one. With a cookie on the line, how could it have been a choice? “Y...yes...” Trying to sound bitter, Lea agreed. This was by no means the end of her fight, but a minor delay. She’d get her energy back and what she wanted, then it’d be right back to the races. Not over by a longshot… “Perfect!” The nanny cheered, already producing a legless, purple onesie by her side. Expertly she unclipped the pacifier from Lea’s shirt, then yanked it off her with little resistance. Awkwardly, Lea shifted from side to side, feeling the wet, thick mass encased in plastic shift between her legs. Somewhat expecting something of a much more hygienic nature first, Lea was a bit taken aback when the purple onesie was slipped over her head. “Aren’t...aren’t you gonna change me?” Lea had no issue with tending to her own underwear, of course, but it’s not like anyone here would trust her to...They didn’t exactly think she was an adult...All she could do was hope someone else would do it for her. A small whimper escaped her as the diaper pressed tighter to her, and the small noises of the pad squelching could be heard once the nanny snapped the crotch of the onesie shut. “I think that can handle a single nap,” Effortlessly, the nanny hoisted Lea into the air. “Once you’ve gotten your sleepy poopies and pee-pees out you’ll be ready for a fresh one! And because you’re being so good right now, I think we can also make one small exception for today...” Lea, who was waiting to be lowered into one of the many daycare cribs, came much closer to the floor instead and found herself laying on one of the floor mats. Laying her head on the pillow, a blanket followed next. “Don’t tell anyone that I did this for you, okay?” The nanny with a mischievous look pretended to zip her lips shut. Lea didn’t want any of this; being in a daycare, trapped in diapers, but within that, this was a small kind gesture...She didn’t feel great appreciating it though. It was nice to finally escape the crib though, even if this mat...wasn’t as soft as the mattress...She had to remind herself though that this was the maturity she was fighting for. She was an adult, after all. “Okay, now get a few hours of sleep for me, got it?” The nanny dimmed the lights, and apart from the streaks of light peeking through the blinds, the room was shrouded in a calm, daytime darkness. “I’ll be back with your bottle in a little bit,” A pacifier was suddenly slipped into Lea’s mouth, and she shifted onto her stomach, feeling her padded crotch press against the mat. And as she did, Lea felt a new pressure in her abdomen; trying to make its way out of the back this time...The nanny had left the room, as far as Lea could tell, and she could only whimper helplessly as she slightly stood from her knees. There’s nowhere else to go. I have to do it here...She could only think of the countless bathrooms she tried to get into, but all the doors had been locked. The only bathroom she had a right to was her own pants...Grunting, the only thing she could do was push, as the semi-solid mass slowly crept out of her, filling her wet pants with a new, muddy muck. What disgusted her the most was how easily it meshed with her padded and curved backside. Her stools were becoming softer and softer, as the food they gave her was slowly turning to softer and mushier substitutes for the once solid and lovely adult foods she could indulge in on a daily basis. She hated chicken and spinach the most. The only relief she had was when it was applesauce... At some point, her bowel movement reached its climax, and an unyielding mass pushed completely, and she could not only feel her bottom strain, but her onesie and diaper slightly stretch in response to her expanding diaper. At no point could she stop the push, and the sticky and smelly substance now clung to her. She breathed heavily through her nose, suddenly exhausted by her shameful deed, and as her diaper now felt unmistakably heavier, she could only whimper as the smell was just enough to surpass the generous amount of powder her waist had been showered in since the last diaper change. Happy she was, lying on her stomach in order to avoid a greater distribution of her mushy mess. The only sense of recourse she had was to resign herself to her nap, and hope that the nanny had it somewhere in her heart to change her when she came back...But despite this whole ordeal, she knew deep down in her heart, that she was a big girl.

Writing is just another creative medium to express certain ideas! I would think it goes for any writer, but what I can say for the stuff I write is that each work is trying to take on some unique idea or theme. Unique when compared to other stories? Probably not. For me though, I'd say so. When I do come back to this, the mood has no plans to change. This isn't meant to be a cushy story like a lot of other ones, and I hope to do that area of the Diaper Dimension justice. My creative license is just as valid as anyone else's, but I want to think my story to hit some of the more dreary roots of this universe. My earliest exposure to it has included some of the more hopeless scenarios for Littles, and the point of this tale is to turn that up a notch. Will it be totally hopeless? No, I don't think so. Like any story, it'll have its ups and downs, but the dye will be cast as a darker atmosphere. I really want to try flexing my writing muscles for that. It's something I'm new to, and think this is a great opportunity to try it out. *Knock* *Knock* Does that mean you liked it? ? Happy to hear it struck a chord, lol! I want to add more to this, but the next installment or the actual beginning I should say isn't quite ready yet...Admittedly, I'm not sure when it'll be! But stay tuned until then!

Hey! Sorry for the late reply, been a little busy with some other things...I can respect your tastes for particular vibes/genres, and I'm happy to know my fundamentals are sound, though. Regardless, I still have a long way to go! The views are really cool to see, knowing that people are reading my work, but I don't mean that in a narcissistic way, lol. That being said, what's even cooler is when I get to hear from people directly! As you said, the pacing is important, and I want to and still believe I'm respecting that to an appropriate degree. The fun in reading is you can always come back to it later! I'm gonna go out on a limb here and assume that this sort of story isn't what you're usually into? If that's the case, thanks for giving this a look, and especially offering your two cents! Isn't it? ? A little bit of chaos never hurt anyone! (Probably?) Objectively it's fun to see though! How will it jumble things up, I wonder? Thanks for commenting! Yeah, the pair have a pretty sweet thing going on, don't they? ? Writing this story, I've always enjoyed watching their dynamic evolve. The endgoal is always fun to look forward to, but given that I'm responsible for how the journey shapes, it's pretty obvious the journey is just as awesome! Thanks for the support!

How indeed? You'll have to wait and see! And so will I, because it's still in the drafting stage ? All in due time! Whoa! Sometimes I forget how long ago I started this...I really am slow ? That being said, it means a lot to me hearing from people in general, but all the more when I know they've been sticking around for a while. Really, thanks a bunch. I'm also happy to hear you enjoy rereading it! I hope I'm able to keep the vibes for the story consistent throughout, if not getting better because that's one of the things I worry about while writing...Don't worry about being able to express yourself to me, because I mean it wholeheartedly when I say that ANY words have me pretty excited. It lets me know that the people coming here to read my stuff really do like/want to help improve what's there or what might be lacking. And as for kissing, what do you mean...? ?? Joyce kisses Emily plenty! No idea what you're trying to suggest...? Thanks for commenting! I'm happy to hear from so many people that it's going strong, and I hope it stays that way! Thanks for the comment, and I hope you enjoy the next posting!

Glad to hear you enjoy it! Joyce's parents coming to visit is definitely an upset based on Joyce's reaction alone, and how that'll affect Emily and Joyce is something to think about ? Regardless, how they grow closer together isn't limited to just babying...Make of it what you will. Thanks for reading! There's always something interesting to be seen when you add fuel to the fire or crank the momentum. Regardless what will become of it, I'm not sure how predictable it'll be, but I at least hope it won't be badly received. Hope you keep your peels eyed for the next chapter! Who knows? In all seriousness, the time left between then and tomorrow is enough to do something, so their day might not be out the window just yet. How much more Joyce's mom (and dad?) will discover is a bit of a mystery right now; if they'll even discover anything at all. At the moment though, I can speak for Emily's character when I say that she's still getting used to the baby play, and because of that, her relationship with Joyce is a huge factor in what makes their sessions as smooth as they are. Adding someone else to the mix would definitely be a tough pill for her to swallow, but nothing's impossible. And about her baby clothes, they won't be hidden away forever! A big thing I want to focus on is making the events I illustrate seem as realistic as possible within the universe I'm working in. Something I'm trying to be conscious of is keeping everything cohesive; never a moment that sticks out like a sore thumb, or feels way too sudden. Characters can do unexpected things, but everyone has their limits. Haha, just caught your reply as I was responding to the other three! Thanks for the kind words and the family dynamic is something to think about, I suppose. What exists between Joyce and Emily now is specifically meant to stay between them, and them alone, but that doesn't mean an outside force can't disturb it. I'm not alluding to anything, but Joyce's parents visiting can potentially be disruptive in an explosive way.

13 - Birthday Surprises The big day officially started when Emily could feel her shoulder being gently shaken by a hand, coupled with an encouraging, quiet voice. “Come on, honey...It’s time to get up!” “What time is it?” She wasn’t really aware of what was happening, but all she had to cling on to was Joyce’s voice. “Early enough so that we can have lots of fun! Don’t you want to spend the day with me?” Groaning, Emily stirred as she finally opened her eyes, as Joyce’s hair dangled over her from above, paired with the face that filled Emily with such positivity whenever she saw it. “I do, but can I please have five more minutes?” When she moved, a sudden mass between her legs became unpleasantly loud, as well as squishy. Dreading the ability to remember the past, she recalled what she’d done at some point in between sleeping; waking up long enough to wet herself and then go back to sleep. She wanted to justify it as her just being tired, but it was even less of an excuse compared to last time when she was sick. Thankfully the only other person who’d know about it praised and even encouraged her for it. Still, maybe milkshakes weren’t the best idea… A sudden shock hit Emily when a hand pressed against the front of her pastel bottoms, certainly fishing for what was underneath the fleece clothing; for something much more plastic and wet. Emily could only lock eyes with Joyce as her hand inspected the damage, only one of the two smiling at the act, and the other blushing furiously. “I take it you had a nice sleep?” Joyce quickly assaulted her with a peck on the cheek, finally pulling her hand away from the material covering the wet diaper. “Can I have some coffee?” Although embarrassed, still in a dazed state, Emily briefly forgot her current role when asking for such an “adult” drink. Though, she quickly realized her mistake right after, but was too lazy to correct herself. Not only did she want to shift the topic, but if she was going to get up she could really use a booster. The kind of coffee Joyce would give her was probably that milk drink. “I’m sure we can figure something out for breakfast...” The obvious hints of mischief danced throughout her voice, and even Emily was smart enough to pick up on that. Joyce was all smiles, like always, but there seemed to be some sort of...fire behind her usual passion? As if she were twice as excited than usual? Maybe as things were moving along she was just all the more happy? “Can I...can I be changed first, though?” Sheepishly Emily muttered her request, as she got off the bed and stood next to Joyce, dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweater. Like last night the maturity dynamic was at play and making great strides, including the height and age difference which contributed to an amazing package altogether. The added weight to Emily’s underwear was suddenly feeling like another large contributor as well. “Of course you can!” Joyce spoke almost as if she were expecting the request, and easily slipped her thumbs in the waistband of Emily’s pajama bottoms, giving them a slight upwards tug. For the briefest moment, the stretched material slightly emphasized the curve of her underwear, and it had the sleepy Emily back to her bashful self. “But, I don’t really think is the place to be changing your diapers...” Joyce spoke in an almost disapproving tone, giving the rest of the room a few exaggerated glances. “Wh..what?” Awkwardly, Emily countered her statement with genuine confusion. “But...you always change me here?” The topic of diapers wasn’t high on Emily’s comfortability list, but facts were facts, and Joyce was really throwing her for a loop. “Maybe,” Joyce looked as if she were recalling a distant thought; not one that happened just last night. “But how am I supposed to change you here? Where are all your changing supplies?” “R...right there…?” What was she getting at? Joyce’s words felt completely foreign to Emily, as she pointed towards the dresser where the supplies likely were. Funnily enough, only Joyce was the one to go snooping in the “baby” drawers. She’d never been told not to, but Emily still felt it was unspoken her access to them was restricted or discouraged. Joyce, following Emily’s finger, looked at her as if it was Joyce’s turn to be confused, even though deep down she really wasn’t. For the sake of appearances though she maintained the act on the surface. “What do you mean, sweetie? That’s where we keep all your big girl clothes.” “Look at what I’m wearing, though!” Alluding to her pajamas and not the diaper, Emily looked down at herself and her attire. “Didn’t you get these from the dresser last night?” She walked over to the drawers she’d never personally touched and opened them up. Yet the inside of them was a sight she didn’t expect to see. Nothing. The drawer was empty, and all that stared back at her was the wooden bottom of it. “What…?” Emily voiced her confusion as it trailed off, and she looked back to Joyce who was donned with a secretive smile; amused with her little girl’s puzzled expression. “Where did all the stuff go?” “What stuff?” Joyce continued to play dumb. “You know! All the….baby stuff…” Emily’s voice came out quietly. “Oh! Now I get what you’re saying!” Joyce, as if something obvious was made clear to her pretended to remember a fabricated event. “Emmy,” Joyce started to chuckle. “Don’t you remember when I said this room was only temporary?” Temporary? What did she mean? “Temp…? What do you mean? You never said that.” And even if she did, where else did she expect her to sleep? Was this part of the game? Wait, she couldn’t be suggesting that she sleep with her, did she? Emily didn’t know how to feel about that… Closing the distance, Joyce pulled Emily in for a hug, kissing the top of her head. “It’s okay if you forgot,” Though, there wasn’t anything to forget. “All I want is for you to be happy. Now come on, don’t you want your diaper changed?” The embrace was nice, but it did no more to answer Emily’s questions. Still shrouded in obscurity, Emily accepted the strange request pertaining to her underwear, and complied with the equally as strange suggestion to leave the room. Where else was there to go? Walking out the door, Emily instinctively turned towards the living room, but was suddenly stopped by a pair of hands on her shoulders. “Other way…!” The excitement was impossible for Joyce to contain, as they drew closer and closer to the big reveal. Emily’s sense of loss and confusion was too adorable and wonderful to not revel in. It wasn’t the uncertainty itself that had Joyce on the edge of her seat, but for what it would transform into once things were set into motion. The countless days they’d spent together and the effort that was involved in them would finally be realized in just a few more feet. The masterful plan had been clear as day to Joyce for quite some time, and only until it had reached its climax would it be made known to Emily, and that was exactly what this moment was. It was the beginning of something beautiful, and something Joyce was fairly certain Emily would enjoy too. Admittedly interested now too, Emily staring at Joyce with her own smile for a few moments looked past her and down the other, much shorter end of the hallway. There wasn’t anything special, though. All that was there was were the three doors Emily had always known. One was Joyce’s room, the other was her office, and the other…? Well, the other Emily had known to be a storage room. So...so why did she suddenly start to feel so wonderfully apprehensive when looking at it now? Added more to the effect, her heart suddenly thumped heavily when she noticed the bright, red bow tied to the knob. Wordlessly, Emily stared back at Joyce as if she were waiting for confirmation. “Well? Aren’t you going to open it?” In all the time they’d spent together, Joyce had continuously showered Emily in gifts and surprises, but never did Emily feel such suspense when staring at a plain door. The simplicity in the covering which shrouded something much more mysterious was what screamed the most to her, and she almost wanted to turn away from the door and run; afraid she might not be able to handle the might of what Joyce had in store for her...But, so much of her wanted to see what was behind that door, and she did want to be changed… Taking a deep breath, Emily edged closer and closer to the knob, trying to be mindful of the red decoration wrapped around it, and with a firm grasp gave it a slight twist, rotating smoothly in response. All that was left was for Emily to give the door a push, and the room’s contents would be revealed. Once more, Emily looked back at Joyce who seemed even more eager than Emily was. Whose gift was it really? “Are you really going to drag this out so much?” Joyce jokingly, somewhat broke the atmosphere as she readied herself to practically push the girl into the room. Slowly, Emily’s push formed a gap between the door and the frame, as her eyes started to adjust to the revealing scene, and Joyce slightly bit her lower lip, watching from behind. The lights were already turned on, and in almost a dramatic fashion Emily looked away for just a second to rub the lingers of agitated sleep out of them, but when they came to, and the door was fully open, what Emily had seen completely betrayed her expectations, largely because the limits she figured Joyce would go to were far lower than their actual level; the current display suggesting otherwise. She couldn’t find the words as an indescribable sight was showcased to her. In soft, calming colors, plush, white carpeting, and many furniture items tailored for her exact size, staring back at the two was a fully stocked nursery. “It’s a...” Coherent thought had completely abandoned the smaller girl as she walked inside, and her feet touched the new flooring and the thick fibers just slipped in between her toes. The first thing she could see in all its splendor was unmistakably a crib, only for an infant of a much larger size...It was propped on the traditional four legs, and the two broader sides were barred, but it wasn’t as high off the ground. Inside of it was a thick mattress dressed in bedding and a few stuffed animals had already made themselves comfortable by the pillow. Next to it was a counter, just about the height of her usual bed but a tad bit taller, and a plastic-covered cushion ran across it. The cushion from a distance had all sorts of caricatures on it, and even some that looked familiar...From Emily’s angle, she could also see the counter’s interior was hollowed, and in it were an array of unknown bottles in varying size, an obvious package of wipes, and a cloth-draped wicker basket of thick-looking padding; diapers. But they weren’t usual ones...Or at least, not the ones Emily knew. They were much more decorated… Beside the changing table was a tall white bin, and even in Emily’s state of disbelief could she likely guess what it was for… Emily could also see another door, as her heart started to race faster, seeing each and every infantile item and addition to the room. It was what she could only guess to be a closet door, otherwise her heart wouldn’t be able to handle much more. Next to it was a full-length mirror against the wall, lined in a flowery trim that eased itself into the theme of the easygoing kid’s room. “I...Is this all for...” Again, as her mind raced a mile a minute she could only murmur and look back at Joyce, who was enveloped in complete, total secondhand ecstasy from Emily’s reactions. Finding her question falling short, Emily looked back to the rest of the room, finally remembering the concept of color, and noticed how all the wooden furniture was a dark, brown, maple wood, and the walls were cream-colored which when paired with the carpet and everything else painted a wonderful combination. A few simple paintings of landscapes were hung around the room, which although a strange addition, didn’t feel totally unwelcome...And although an argument to the closet theory, there was also a wooden dresser by the door in the corner. Turning around one last time, before she stared at Joyce, what stared back at her first were two, black spheres sewn into the massive giant of fluff contained by artificial fur sitting in the corner of the room. Lazily on its bottom, with arms by its sides and legs spread in opposite directions, a giant bear made itself comfy and was as quiet as a mouse. It was almost as big as Emily! Or maybe it was as big? Taken aback by the large stuffie, she almost didn’t notice the toy chest which was conveniently labeled so beside it. There were much finer details to the room as well, but to put so much stock in each and every one of them would have kept Emily and Joyce there all day. Emily, trying to ease her slightly heightened breathing, looked at Joyce who was almost on the verge of tears from induced happiness. “It’s a...nursery?” There was little expression in Emily’s voice, as she was still ridden with shock, as the moment in itself was not only surreal, but even if the room itself was tangible Emily still could not fully grasp it. “Yes!” Joyce’s voice erupted with joy, as she rushed in to give Emily an even bigger hug. “And it’s your nursery. Everything in here is meant for you!” Weakly, Emily returned the hug. She almost felt like when she did during that fever dream; responses lagging and emotions the same. But the one thing that resonated so strongly within her was the idea of ownership. Her nursery. It was hers. Everything in this room, dedicated to caring for someone who needed to be cared for, and waited on hand and foot for the most basic things. A crib to protect her from falling out while she slept, a changing table to dedicate the craft of keeping her pants dry, colors and pictures meant to reinforce happy feelings, and toys inducted with the sole task of keeping their user bubbly and entertained. “H..how long have you been working on this?” “A little bit, honestly...” Joyce’s enthusiasm simmered for a small bit to remember her countless efforts and long nights. “But it was all worth it, just to put a smile on your face, and to bring us closer together.” A small sniffle could only escape Emily as all the random pieces from their time together started to fall into place. The days when Joyce might be an hour later than usual, or yesterday when they spent especially long outside the house, keeping this door locked, and even going to visit Amy? “But...but why?” With a faint sense of confusion, Emily looked at Joyce with a face that suddenly broke Joyce’s sense of bliss. “Why all of this for...me?” As soon as she popped the question, an odd sensation swept over Emily. A wet sensation, and it felt as if it were rolling down her cheeks. Pressing a hand to where the feeling was coming from, she pulled it away to see a clear liquid on her finger. Tears. They were tears. And they didn’t stop coming, as an unknown part of Emily burst from within and took control of her vision; blurring from the oncoming stream. Awkwardly, Emily gave a brief chuckle as she continued to stare at Joyce. “I-I don’t know why I’m crying?” Without a word Joyce came back to her, only now Emily responded with a much tighter grip, as the contact had her break into a muffled sob. The physical contact was an instinctive reaction, but the emotional turmoil that followed was something completely unknown to Joyce. Why was she crying? Did she hate it? Did she not like it? A sinking feeling started to grow in her heart, but more than anything she wanted Emily to be happy. “Do you not like it?” It was a question of concern that discarded her personal feelings, and only cared to take input from Emily’s. “N-no...It’s-It’s not that…!” She could only hug tighter as her words were harder and harder to squeeze out. What weighed on her the most was the very nursery itself, and to learn that while she lived from day to day, Joyce the entire time had been planning something much grander that could never be realized in the span of a single day; the span of a single week! The more Joyce did for Emily, it came with Emily’s own expectations to somehow return the favor, even if Joyce only wanted it in feelings. No matter how much reinforcement Joyce could try and give, it couldn’t have prepared Emily for something like this. “Am I...am I really that special to you?” Teary-eyed, Emily looked up at Joyce’s eyes. “Y-you would go so far for...for me?” Her mighty, motherly will started to tremble from the sound of her words, as even Joyce’s eyes started to water. Lowering her hands past Emily’s bottom, she gripped them around Emily’s thighs and hoisted her into the air, causing her legs to wrap around Joyce. “I would do anything for you!” Her voice was thick as she rubbed the pajama girl’s back. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I want to do so much for you! Every day I want to make your sun shine as bright as possible, Emily, and never have I felt this way about someone before...” As the feelings in her heart poured out, so did the tears from her eyes. “You’ve given me something that I never want to let go of, and only nurture and grow closer with! I love being with you, as an adult and a baby. Everything about you, from your cat naps, to your cuddling, mindful personality, playfulness, gratitude and appreciation makes me want to keep you close and never let go. We haven’t been together for very long, but the things you’ve done for me have become so essential that I can’t ignore the feelings you've awakened in me...” Each and every sentence, word, piece of grammar, and pause were like iron fingers plucking the strings to Emily’s heart, which sung only the most wonderful tunes. Although a surprise in itself, the babyish feelings and willingness to submit was what threw Emily for a loop, as well as her quickness to adapt and enjoy it in much heavier troves…But even more, beyond that, it was also coupled with a sense of happiness to be with Joyce even outside of their mommy time, which only burned stronger with every passing day that they were together. Sudden memories of Jack invaded her mind; moments from when their relationship was in its prime, and how every moment when they were together was like walking on cloud nine. Being with the person you wanted to spend your time with the most was an inexplicable sensation, so why was she thinking of that now? Yet, asking such a question was obviously stupid, as when she was buried in Joyce the answer was too obvious. “Y-you’re important to me too...” Emily laughed through her tears, losing her entire composure over Joyce’s boundless compassion. “I...I want to be with you Joyce. I want to be together.” The affirmation only sent a new wave of relief over Joyce, as she hugged tighter and showered Emily in kisses. “That’s not fair!” Joyce chuckled, trying to blink the wetness out of her eyes, “I’m the one that’s supposed to make you happy!” The pair kept laughing as they showered each other in their love, one still in the arms of the other. Both of their hearts, standing in the middle of the nursery, had reached a point of complacency and euphoria which had never been known to either of them. Apart from the room itself being out of a fantasy book, the circumstances themselves were one in a million, and both of them in their own right felt like they were one in a million to be fortunate enough to be blessed by the other. Another minute went by until their feelings had finally settled down, and Joyce hiked Emily up once more to regain her grip. The stretching on her bottoms made the diaper’s outline a little more obvious, which brought the purpose for entering the nursery back to Joyce’s mind. “I’m so happy to hear you like it, Emily.” Once more, Joyce attacked Emily with another kiss. “But what do you say we break in your nursery with its first diaper change?” Outward emotion being her means of communication, Emily nodded her head as Joyce carried her to the changing table, setting her down on her back. Everything in the room was designed and constructed with Emily’s exact figure in mind, courtesy of Amy’s measurements which Joyce need only forward to the design team. Emily’s head rested on the small cushion at the end, and only from the knees down did her legs hang off the table, spread apart far enough for Joyce to get herself right in between. “W...will it hold me?” Looking at her surroundings, Emily suddenly felt uncertain of whether or not the furniture could actually support her. It was for a baby, after all… “Yes, it will,” Joyce dance her fingers across Emily’s palm. “Everything in this room was made for you, and no one else. I mean it when I say this is your nursery! The only reason any of this is here, or came to be is because of you.” Everything she said was true, and the greater part of it all was because of Emily. The smaller bits and pieces were things anyone could get, but the much bigger items were one of a kind and only because of Emily. The repeated idea of ownership tickled Emily in such a pleasant way. The room she stayed in before was technically hers, but it was a thing prior to her being here. But now there was something in Joyce’s apartment that existed only because Emily did. There was something here that came to be because Emily gave it a reason to. She was a part of Joyce’s life, and the inverse for her own was true as well. It was yet another piece of physical evidence. “And even all the little additions are meant just for you, too!” Taking hold of something out of Emily’s sight, a strap coming from the table was in Joyce’s hand, and she placed it over Emily’s stomach as it buckled into the other end; out of Emily’s visible reach. “Hey...what gives?” Emily tried her best to make her voice sound like a protest, but the sudden sense of restriction had her giddy. “This way when you’re still sleepy, I can make sure you don’t roll off when I need to change you!” The reminder of being so easy to handle while asleep had the girl blushing again, but almost wanting to wake up like that at some time...To be on the changing table, opening her eyes and finding Joyce drawing something new up between her legs...Never in a million years would her past self ever think of having such thoughts, much less getting excited over them! “And what’s more, it gives Mommy the advantage for tickle attacks!” With the rise in her tone, Emily suddenly felt a hand slip itself under her shirt and scurry across her skin, with each point of contact sending shocks and jolts that had her squirming and squealing. Out of reflex she kicked her legs, but they had no chance of hitting Joyce as she was already in between them; well beyond Emily’s first line of defense, and too far for her own hands to reach. The strap kept her from going far, and despite being bigger than the average baby, not only could the strap contain her, but the table itself showed not even the slightest sign of strain in response to her weight and struggle. It was perfect. “Stop! Stop!” With a new wave of tears Emily’s infectious giggle filled the room as she was mercilessly slaughtered by the countless waves of nailed-infantry, laying waste to her most sensitive parts. This strap was made of evil and sin, as an agent of the devil itself could it submit its victims to the greatest form of torture possible; tickle attacks. Joyce finally relented, sounding the end with a wet kiss on Emily’s bare stomach. “Okay, without further ado, let’s get you out of your jammies!” Starting from the waist, Joyce grabbed the fleece, pastel bottoms and slipped them off her legs, revealing the slightly discolored medical diaper. It of course still had to take much more before warranting a real change, but it was enough to count in their books. It wasn’t Emily’s first time being changed, but certainly was it her first in a nursery setting, on top of being on a changing table...Unexpectedly it added a new element to it all...A pleasant one. The tapes were peeled from the plastic, and Emily’s legs were lifted by Joyce and the diaper was slipped from underneath. It also became absolutely clear Emily was totally at Joyce’s mercy. The strap was more than enough to prove that, but without anything for her feet to stand on, she couldn’t even help in lifting her own bottom for a change. “And that will be the last you ever see of those diapers, sweetheart!” Clearly she was the happiest to hear those words, and Emily suddenly remembered the decorated ones she saw beneath the table from earlier. Balling up the one which Emily was just wearing, Joyce dropped it in the white bin nearby. “These ones are much cuter!” Grabbing one from the basket below, Joyce held a new, thicker pad in her hand which had been decorated in all too familiar characters. Familiar faces from decades and a handful of years ago...Unfolded for Emily to see it all its splendor, Sesame Street figures danced across the plastic front, as the occasional letter block spaced them for the sake of spicing up the artistic variety. The wings were a faint green, and the tapes had bright yellow strips along the tips. “Are those...mine too?” “Well, I don’t know anyone else in the house that wears diapers.” Gleefully, Joyce let out a small laugh once she knew the words hadn’t hurt Emily. Overwhelmed as things already were, the new line of diapers pushed it to a whole new level, as the plastic padding for babies stared back at Emily. Before, the medical diaper was open to interpretation, and from an outsider’s perspective could even be considered a medical condition. But this...with these diapers...There was no room for misunderstanding, and anyone that would see it would know the person in it was of a very specific age and mindset. Before the diaper came Joyce used a wipe to clean off Emily’s lower half, and although being cold she toughed it out. Her legs were once more in the air and her bottom followed soon after, and she was suddenly lowered onto a new cloud. Instantly upon touching it a cloud received her cheeks with a cushiony hug. Compared to the medical diapers, this one had strangely gone even further beyond the comfort level those could provide, and without considering how the outside looked, it was a feeling Emily wouldn’t mind having in all her underwear… “Does it feel nice? Soft?” Joyce’s questioning was not only meant to enforce positive sentiments, but also to rate the handiwork of the company’s lab. Their bonuses were riding on it, after all...Much more importantly, so was Emily’s satisfaction. “It feels...nice...” It was weird admitting to the soft feeling of the diaper, but it was the truth. “How did you find these? I didn’t even know they made stuff like this...” Bigger diapers was one thing, but retail ones with licensed characters on them too? How could someone have pulled that off? Well, clearly, if anyone could it was Joyce, but that didn’t mean it was easy. “Mommy’s secret,” Joyce pretended to grab an imaginary zipper and drag it across the seam between her lips.”Don’t worry about where it came from. Just let me know what you think of it as we go.” The only familiar part of the change was the same lavender powder as always, and then the front of the diaper was brought up to her crotch. In the midst of it, the bulk forced Emily’s legs a little bit farther apart than the medical one normally did. Certainly these were thicker… The four, strong adhesives were laid like metal bolts into a concrete foundation, and the plastic material used as the diaper’s foundation seemed firm, but not in any way uncomfortable to the wearer. Even when Emily slightly shifted her legs though, there was a loud crinkle that had Emily wondering if it was the changing table pad, her diaper, or both. Taking just a moment to check the leg bands on the diaper, ensuring a snug fit, Joyce capped off the change with one last look at Emily, strapped to the table, red all over, with her magnificently childish undergarment on display. It was everything Joyce was hoping for and more! She finally unstrapped Emily, and helped her up, with her bottom crinkling all the way. “I think these ones are louder...” Emily stole a quick look at her diaper, much more awkward to see the theme around her waist now. What it stood for was what had Emily the most excited, but how it actually looked put her mind in a weird space. In a way it was kind of cute...but every time she remembered that she was the one wearing it, those ideas were harder to cling on to. Unable to look her in the eyes, Emily could only let out a murmur while she buried her feet into the floor. “D...does it look fine?” Taking hold of Emily’s hands, their eyes met next, and Joyce shined a look of pure happiness with such intensity it seemed to vaporize any momentary shame, embarrassment or uncertainty Emily was feeling. “It’s perfect.” Slightly, Emily shuffled her feet, and the diaper responded in tune, which only made Joyce want to gush even more. Emily didn’t feel like carrying the topic any further, hoping the usher things along. She was enjoying everything right now, but being completely honest with her feelings was a bit more difficult. “Could we go have breakfast now?” “Well, we can, or I can get you dressed for the day first?” Nervously, Emily started to eye the unopened door, harboring a sneaking suspicion what might be behind it… “Breakfast first, please.” Taking a small breath, she hoped Joyce would allow her at least a small breather. Everything was moving with such momentum it felt like she was only hanging on by a few threads. “And thank you...” “Thank you for what?” Joyce had taken Emily by the hand, leading her to the kitchen. “For...you know...everything.” “I mean it, you know, when I say you’re special to me. Even if you’re my little girl right now, when you aren’t I still consider you as some irreplaceable. I just hope I’m not pushing you too far into the deep end...Please let me know if that happens.” As they rounded the corner, Emily in just a shirt and diaper was happy to escape total babydom for at least a few moments, but those hopes were quickly stomped out when her eyes addressed the elephant in the room. Made for an adult, a high chair sat in the place of where Emily’s usual seat would be, and the seat itself was a tad bit higher off the ground, and of course the back of the seat was cushioned and a tray was currently locked into it. Even from afar Emily knew it’d fit her...The sight had thrown her heart into hysterics once more. “You really do go all out...” Unable to find any mental or emotional ground, Emily could only stand dead in her tracks as the contraption looked back at her. “Do you want to try it?” Joyce poked with her question, finding it hard to mask her own bias for an obvious answer...It was Emily’s day though, and there’d be plenty more opportunities in the future… “I...I’ll use it...” Again, the smaller, yet much louder voice in Emily’s head was screaming to have her way, and she found herself being strung along by it and Joyce’s antics. Clearly overjoyed, Joyce took the first step to unlock the tray, sliding it out and creating an entrance for Emily to slip into. Before her was an infantile throne waiting to be occupied, and all she needed to do to claim it was take a few steps. Shakily walking forward, Emily placed a foot on the crossbar as leverage to lift herself up to the seat, and planted herself into it; receiving her figure quite nicely. Her back became acquainted with the soft, yet firm cushioning, and the plastic seat curved into almost like an alcove for her to sink into. Her legs dangled from the large chair, and she noticed how her toes could just reach the bar she stepped off of. Sitting down now only better acquainted her bottom with the pad it was wrapped in. “Does the chair feel nice too?” Making sure her arms were above it, Joyce then slipped the tray back into place with a click, situating her baby girl into place. “I guess, in a way...” Again, her opinions were as reserved as the ones concerning her diaper. Joyce took it all in stride though, given how different this must have been to their usual dynamic. That being said, only time would ease the process, and like always Joyce was over the moon, and she had expectations for Emily to follow soon after. And with the chair, to Emily it also encouraged the idea of security. It was another piece that felt quite sturdy and would hold onto her quite well. The amount of detail and thought that must have gone into this was almost too much to comprehend in itself. “And just to make sure you don’t slip out by accident and get a boo-boo...” Joyce started to explain as she knelt down, beyond the tray and out of Emily’s sight. She could feel forces at work beneath her, and the sound of another click as a strap found its way in between her legs and up her crotch. “There!” Joyce clapped her hands together in a satisfied expression. “You look adorable beyond words!” Unable to escape now, Joyce gave Emily a few more kisses before moving over to the counters, knowing full well Emily wouldn’t be going anywhere. Not that either of them wanted to. Curiously, Emily shifted around in her seat, taking note of how the crotch strap slightly pressed into her when she moved. It was funny in a way how it served as a constant reminder she wouldn’t be going anywhere...The only place she had to be was where her caregiver deemed fit. Where her mommy told her to be. “Can I pick breakfast?” Emily called from her stationary point, aimlessly kicking her legs the slightest bit. Joyce hadn’t bothered to turn around while she worked with the coffee maker. “Well, maybe...It is your special day, after all...” Hearing her debate the question even had Emily giggle the slightest bit. “But you’re the one who got me all this stuff. How does that make it my special day? If anything, it’s yours!” “Very clever, Emmy, but baby or not, I wanted to make today very special for you. You deserve it.” Baby or not? Didn’t that have to do with today completely? What else would have made it special? “What do you mean? Isn’t that why today’s special? Because of the nursery?” Finally, Joyce turned back to Emily, with an almost small amount of disbelief. “Are you kidding?” She slightly tilted her head with a smirk. “N...no?” What was she missing that was so important? How obvious could it have been? “The nursery was a gift, birthday girl!” Joyce even gestured to the high chair Emily was in. “I didn’t just pick a random day to do all of this, you know!” “Birth…?” May 29. The date suddenly clicked, and so did Joyce’s question from earlier about her plans for today. The deeper meaning behind Joyce’s actions was suddenly revealed, and added a whole new layer of gratitude to the day’s festivities. A new wave of tears washed over her. “F-for my birthday?” The happiness was too much to handle, and Emily couldn’t compose herself. Thankfully the chair could hold her in place while her emotions ran rampant. “I figured you knew!” Joyce could only chuckle as she rubbed her cheek. “I’d have done this for you any day of the year, but I figured for your birthday it’d mean a bit more. Does it mean that much?” “I-it….it does…!” Between sobs, Emily managed her words. Never had someone gone to such lengths for her; someone she’d only known for such a short period of time. It only made her want to grow closer to Joyce, though, and to continue cherishing what they had. After she left her parents and before Joyce had come into her life, birthdays were just a day like any other, minus the possible call from family and maybe a few friends. Absorbing everything had her face all out of sorts as it became wet again. However, that was quick to change when a piece of cloth dried her face. “I wanted to wait until breakfast was ready, but given you’re a little emotional today I suppose I should put one on you now...” Emily as a spectator to Joyce’s words and actions, the cloth used to dry her face then found itself around her neck, and a knot was tied with the two ends of it behind her. The sudden bib covered the front of her chest, and despite being upside down Emily could read it as “Mommy’s Mess Maker.” “I’m not emotional!” Emily playfully spat back, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I’m just happy...that’s all.” “I know you are,” Joyce smiled. “And I’m happy too. Don’t ever feel like you can’t be yourself around me. Crying is perfectly okay with me, and every other emotion that comes along with it too. Now, birthday girl,” Joyce played with the back of Emily’s hair, setting it behind her shoulders. “What would you like to eat today? We can do french toast, eggs, bacon, pancakes, mu-” “Pancakes!” The answer came faster than did the rest of Joyce’s list. “Pancakes it is!”Almost trying to mimic the thrill, Joyce moved back over to the fridge to get out the eggs. “Can I have something to drink first, though?” The thought of coffee somehow never escaped her mind through this whole ordeal, and smelling the aroma coming from the household appliance almost had her squirming. “I was just about to finish that part,” Joyce’s back turned to Emily, she had the milk beside her while she put together a drink Emily was already familiar with, only not in the same kind of cup. Conveniently there was a cup holder in the tray, but it wasn’t for just cups either...Placed in the socket was a tall, plastic bottle capped by a rubber teat, and it was filled with the same, light brown liquid that the sippy cup once was during their last session. “No more sippy cups?” Emily joked as she lifted the bottle, eyeing it curiously as she placed her mouth over the top. Again, especially strange given how much of a first it was, but Emily didn’t find herself as perturbed so much. “This way you can bring it anywhere, and there’s no chance of spills!” Joyce took a sip of her own, much more concentrated version in a regular mug, having flashbacks to when Emily hadn’t even touched her black coffee. Seeing her warm up to a much more watered down version was fitting in a way. Biting down on it, Emily gave it a small suck, rewarding her with a small burst of coffee-milk. It was just about as rewarding as the sippy cup, if not less, and consequently the bottle had her working even harder to fish the rest out. She was so occupied with the task, she hadn’t even considered just how precious she might look to Joyce. For that reason, Joyce was currently enjoying the view of her little girl work at a part of her breakfast, and her padded posterior peaking just beneath the plastic tray. Despite one being much more mobile than the other, both parties equally enjoyed their current standing, and their brief interactions between the moments when Joyce had to tend to the pancakes were small, little bundles of love that revealed the sweetest and nicest surprises. “And with that they’re ready!” Joyce announced as she set the plate on Emily’s tray. It was slightly higher than the table, but Joyce still maintained the high ground. Emily could only marvel at the final product; sliced into bite-sized pieces, dressed in butter and syrup, as well as topped with a pair of strawberries. Emily had a small, sinking feeling Joyce was going to make her use her hands, but thankfully that premonition hadn’t come to pass, when a fork and knife followed with it. Just when she was about to dig in though, Joyce swiped the utensils from her hands almost like a tease. “Not so fast!” Joyce happily tutted as she walked behind Emily again, who could only follow her movements for a short while until the chair prevented her from doing so. “Were you gonna feed me?” Almost shamelessly, Emily asked, when she could feel her hair bunching up from behind, which got her thinking that walking into her blind spot didn’t support the theory so much… “If you’d like, I can,” Joyce fastened the bulk of Emily’s hair into a band. She suddenly started to think how she’d look if she used a ribbon instead…”But I’m more concerned about keeping your hair nice and pretty. The bib might keep your clothes clean, but your hair’s a different story...” The way she spoke, as if Emily couldn’t be trusted, caused a playful snicker to escape the girl in question. Joyce kept the hair loose enough so it didn’t look strained, and still maintained its volume, but kept out of her face. Coming back into view, Joyce looked Emily over and sized up her handiwork, cupping Emily’s cheeks, rubbing the tips of their noses together. “I can’t tell what looks sweeter!” She laughed. “You, or the pancakes!” In her heart, it wasn’t much of a contest, and her continuous fawning was certainly starting to have its effect on Emily, who looked to be getting more squirmish by the minute, and a plastic crinkle sounded with each shift and shake. It was like the harder she tried to stay composed, it only dug a deeper hole. “Now do you want me to feed you, or do you think you can handle it?” Emily pondered the thought for a moment. “You decide.” Emily really didn’t mind either way. What had her more interested were the constant opportunities to relieve herself of choice. The more she was finding it to occur, a strange addiction was starting to set into place. Somehow the moments always felt better when she knew Joyce had total control. Feeding her in a high chair; a place which Emily could only leave when she deemed it so, was something Emily oddly felt she could derive inexplicable pleasure from. Needing no further encouragement, Joyce speared a few pieces of fluffy cake with the fork, and eased it into Emily’s part-way open mouth. As if she were the one eating it herself, she could only writhe in happiness as she imitated ‘Mmm’ing noises for Emily, which only set the other into a fit of giggles. “Tasty?” Happily, Emily nodded her head, with her ponytail bobbing as a chain reaction. “Can I...can I have another one?” Instead of a verbal answer, more syrupy goodness was slipped in between her lips, sending Emily’s mouth and stomach into another state of euphoria. She leaned forward the slightest bit as the fork was sliding out, trying to hang on to the taste of fresh syrup for as long as possible, but the strap between her legs and the tray locked in place prevented such. Her inability to move at all tickled them both in a weird, but positive way. The teat from the bottle came next, which Emily happily accepted, trying to outdo her performance from last time, somehow reasoning it might be possible to extract even more liquid from the bottle if she discovered the right technique. The lightly caffeinated beverage was the perfect chase to a sugary, fluffy opener, and while she sucked, Emily mischievously eyed one of the two pieces of fruit; plump, vulnerable prey ripe for harvest. Of her own command this time, Emily removed the bottle from her mouth, setting it back into its designated place. Before Joyce could collect another mouthful of pancake, Emily snagged one of the strawberries from the top of the stack, and quickly inserted it into her mouth, forcing the fruit's juices to pool in her mouth as her teeth shred the innocent berry to smithereens. “Ah?” Joyce raised her brow, breaking the euphoric spell Emily was caught in. Only a single look needed to tell her she’d broken the imaginary rules. “Maybe when you’re the one feeding yourself, but the fruit comes after you finish your food when I’m in charge,” Joyce started to chuckle as she eyed the last, lonely piece of fruit. “Maybe Mommy’s getting a bit hungry too...That strawberry does look good...” “No!” In a small shout, Emily looked as if her firstborn had been threatened to be taken away, only under much sillier circumstances, as she broke out into a bashful laugh, realizing she’d just tried to protect her breakfast from certain demise. “Just kidding~!” Daringly, Joyce wet one of her fingers, then swabbed the corner of Emily’s lightly syrupy mouth and stuck it in her own. “I promise I won’t touch anything on your plate.” Reaffirmed by their super serious contract, the food and drink kept coming, and as they moved along Emily started to squirm lightly for a new reason. The past night’s liquid, and maybe even some of today’s was catching up to her...Clearly she hadn’t finished her business between sleeping fits this morning or last night. She suddenly started to feel a bit desperate once she realized just how much the feeling of restraint worked to her disadvantage now. Her bladder started to press, and it was a little hard to ignore, and her legs couldn’t come completely together with the padding involved. And as she looked at Joyce, who to Emily was shrouded in mystery regarding whether she knew of her dilemma or not, was so absorbed in the fun of feeding her that nothing could seem to break her concentration. As Emily watched, she could feel herself wanting to protect this moment more than anything, and she could feel her legs tighten a little as she pushed. She tried her best to be discrete, but it wasn’t so easy of a task. She could only feel herself having any ground against second nature itself by gripping the edges of the tray as an aid. “Emmy? What’re you…?” Joyce’s voice trailed as the answer became painfully obvious, and Emily was reunited with a familiar feeling of shame, but it didn’t dampen her momentum. A few seconds later, she could feel the first few droplets trickle out, and soon after a growing stream followed. The small task had her exhale with a sigh, as the warm pee soaked into her diaper. Sitting back down, she could feel it creep around her waist and groin, but after a good few seconds the feeling of wetness seemed to be gone. The diaper was certainly more squishy, doing its job as intended, but it only felt warmer now. She’d just wet one of her new diapers for the first time. “Emmy...” Joyce spoke with a tinge of surprise, but more with pride than anything else. She hugged Emily as best she could, avoiding the plate beneath her. “I’m so proud of you! Thank you so much!” It was objectively strange to thank someone for wetting themselves, but it was on such a personal level, it only heightened the positive sentiments within Emily. The hug and praise meant everything to her, but when she unconsciously tried to move, and the strap pressed into her now squishy crotch, it had totally sapped her of all her bravado. “Can you go back to feeding me now?” The request was quiet, and of course ashamed. Actions yet again spoke louder than words, and the plate of food was one step closer to meeting its end. The bottle was on the fast track to being empty as well, and more and more small spots of syrup started to find its way around Emily’s mouth; attributed to the disconnect between who was eating, and who was doing the feeding. “What are we gonna do next?” “Well, after I wipe down your mouth, we’re gonna get you dressed and then play for a little bit. Sound good to you?” Again, Joyce’s words earned nothing but agreeance from Emily, who now had her sights set on what she’d be wearing. What, simple, yet cute outfit it could be had her wondering… Already worked into a routine, Emily held her mouth open as the sticky substance was just about to be within reach, yet she was suddenly denied when Joyce’s phone started to ring and her gesture was put on hold. “And who could that be…?” Muttering to herself, Joyce set aside the fork for a brief moment to check who it was. Thankfully the mood Emily had put her in was ecstatic, because seeing the caller ID read as ‘Mom’ didn’t have her nearly as flustered as she was last time. “Hi Mom,” Joyce spoke casually with the phone pressed to her ear, and Emily did everything in her power not to make a peep. Her underwear suddenly had her paranoid, remembering just how loud it could be when it crinkled...even when it was wet. “How’ve you been? You don’t usually call so early...” The other end responded, while Emily was completely oblivious to what was being said; only receiving one end of the conversation. “Hi, honey! Have you been well? How about Emily?” “Uhm...” Joyce, staring at nothing in particular while she talked, glanced at Emily for a brief moment, who looked to be as stiff as a board and red as a tomato; as if she were being watched by the stranger in the phone. “She’s asleep right now. But she’s doing well.” Emily silently stared with suspicion. So her mom did know about her? Rational thought dominated her mind, knowing the more secretive part was well-kept in the shadows...At least she hoped. “Asleep? Isn’t it almost 8:00 for you?” Her mom sounded with almost genuine surprise. “We’re not all like you, mom.” Joyce kidded, but spoke with a tinge of seriousness that reflected her mom’s past habits. “If anything, I should be asking why you’re the one that’s up so early. It must be like 5 in the morning for you!” “Early bird gets the worm!” Her voice was a matter of fact, as if there were no fault in her habits, much less her equal expectations of others. “More importantly, you seem to be a bit more cheery since we last talked…?” Her deductive skills were acute, and at some times damning to the point it felt like nothing could escape her looking glass. “Maybe I’m just a morning person?” Mindlessly, she started to squeeze Emily’s foot, who was trying her hardest not to incite a response. Emily could only send a prayer of silent thanks it wasn’t another tickle attack. “Maybe I’m finally starting to rub off on you, after all!” Her mom laughed, while Joyce silently smirked, keeping the true secret to her happiness under safe wraps. “I don’t want to be rude, and it’s always nice to hear from you,” Picking the fork back up, Joyce reunited Emily with her food, already practiced enough to collect more onto its prongs without needing to look too much. “But why are you calling me so early?” “Just a wellbeing check, I suppose?” Her mom’s voice was somewhat genuine, but seemed to be alluding to something else… “Uh-huh…?” “And, I wanted to give you some fair warning before we arrive at the airport.” “Ai-airport?” Slightly, she stammered, taken aback by the sudden news. “Wh...what do you mean?” “Well, we just talked about how your dad and I haven’t seen your new place, and you don’t visit very often. That’s why we’re coming to see you! Fair compromise, right?” “M-mom, you can’t just show up out of the blue!” Her relaxed tone quickly devolved into a small panic. “I need time to prepare, get you a hotel, plan out your stay-” “But you have a guest room, don’t you?” Her mom quickly interjected. “I don’t see why your father and I can’t use that. A hotel wouldn’t be an issue, if you really don’t want us staying in your home, though...” The hurt from rejection was obvious, and whether it was a clever tactic of her mom’s or not, Joyce wasn’t intending to be rude. “No...it’s not that. You can stay if you want to. I didn’t mean to turn you away.” “Perfect!” She bounced back from sadness to joy like the flick of a switch. How manipulative her mom could be at times… “And as for plans, don’t worry! We’ll figure it out as we go.” “How long do you plan to be staying?” A sinking feeling washed Joyce all over. She tried to feel like she had some control in the conversation, but it was obvious who was setting the pace. “Only a few days. Three, at most? Your dad needs to be back for a cooking thing with his buddies. Like I said, you know how he can be...” “That’s good though,” Joyce countered. “You know,” She clearly directed her words at someone in specific. “Still being invested in your own hobbies, friends, and interests. Not dropping in on your kids unannounced and giving them time to plan in advance?” Her annoyance was mild, but she knew her mom wouldn’t be affected by it. It was all in good fun. For the most part. She loved her mom very much, but if she couldn’t be a thorn in her side sometimes… “And to think, that Emily was really starting to have a positive effect on you...Maybe if you wake her up it’ll put you back into a good mood?” She snickered on the other line. “Anyways,” Joyce ushered things along, not appreciating the teasing. “When are you guys going to be coming? A week? Two? Just let me know when so I can have my driver pick you up.” “About that,” As she started, Joyce lifted the fork, unintentionally bringing it to Emily incredibly slow; an unintended consequence from her attention being divided. “The plane is scheduled to land at some time around noon.” “Okay? Noon is fine. Noon, when?” “Tomorrow.” “Tomorrow?!” Joyce suddenly exclaimed, losing control of her secondary task, looking over to Emily who let out a small meep. Her sudden shock had caused her to clearly miss the mark, when a large splotch of syrup covered Emily’s cheek was evident, and the dented pancake was still on the fork. All she could do for the poor Emily was mouth an apology while she addressed the other pressing issue. Her surprise had also affected Emily too, who was slowly piecing together from Joyce’s words what was going on… “You’re kidding, right?” “I told your dad we should have done it after his cooking thing, but he can never resist a good deal on airline tickets…Isn’t this better for you, anyway? That way we can only be in your hair for so long~!” “Mom! One day is barely enough time to prepare!” Joyce’s heart started to race, thinking of the countless, incriminating things laid about the apartment. The nursery, the high chair, the bottles, bibs, pacifiers, toys; Joyce eyed Emily’s wet diaper. Too much evidence… “And what time did you say you’d be landing?” She tried to stay optimistic and maintain a calm thought process. “12:45, to be exact. Like every airport though you can never really trust those times. Just have someone ready for 1:00. We don’t mind meandering if need be. And don’t worry about cleaning up the place, if that’s the issue. We’re not hard to please!” If only she’d known how wrong she could be…Disappointingly, Joyce mentally summarized the list of things she’d now need to put into hiding again. It’s not that she didn’t want her parents to visit, but this truly was the worst timing possible...Despite that, it could have been worse, but only by a slight margin...On a tangent, she tried to amend her misdeed with Emily by feeding her the last strawberry. “See you sometime then,” Joyce kept her tone level, although being so dejected; caught in a crossroads between her feelings. “Love you.” “See you soon!” Her mom was the first to hang up. Finishing the vocal gymnastics, Joyce let out a sigh as she set the phone down, quietly looking at Emily. “Are they coming to visit?” Blankly, Emily asked, as it didn’t take a rocket scientist to decipher the conversation by then. “Yes, and in a very unannounced fashion, too!” “So...so what are we gonna do?” Completely? Joyce wasn’t sure. Without a doubt, everything related to the nursery needed to go there, and the door needed to stay locked. If her parents were going to be staying over, she’d need to give them the room Emily was staying in...Could Emily stay in the nursery in the meantime? Fat chance. Watching Emily innocently sit there, covered in her breakfast, wearing a bib, she knew that’d be an unrealistic demand. As fun of a fantasy it was to entertain, she had yet to even take her first nap in the crib. Something like that was too unfair, and shouldn’t occur out of forced circumstances. However, after shooting down that idea, from its ashes a much more plausible one was born... Seeing as her plate was pretty much polished, Joyce ruffled the hair on Emily’s head. “You, only need to worry about being happy.” Joyce turned on the faucet, wetting a dishrag. “As for me? I’ll figure it out.” She smiled, draping her hand in the wet cloth, coming closer to Emily. “Such a sticky baby...” Hey everyone, as always I want to thank you for reading, sharing your thoughts, and commenting! I can't appreciate the support enough and am being serious when I say it motivates me. Please don't skip out on your constructive criticisms as well, because on top of the nice words I also take general feedback into account too. On both ends of the spectrum, it tells me what I'm doing right, and possibly doing wrong. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Thanks for the feedback! I'll be able to give a better explanation of what this was down below. And yeah, possibly a warning will be called for. I'm glad to hear I'm headed in the right direction! Definitely, I'd say this is out of my comfort zone, or better put it's something I'm not used to writing. Variety is nice, though, and this is one of many avenues. Diaper Dimension is always fun, but I was curious in taking it down a much darker route, or it shines a light on some of the harsher corners of the universe that many stories can allude to, but never explicitly show. There are many examples that do, do that though, but this is my own interpretation/take on it. Thanks for giving me input! I added a little more to the prologue or the scenario above. It's nothing you can really interpret from what I posted alone, but although the setting the scene is in is very relevant, who the characters are in the moment are only important for the ideas they represent. They as individuals don't really carry much weight, but instead, I wanted to illustrate the tortured Little and dominating Amazon which they're the catalysts for. This opening is more abstract than anything else and is meant to set a tone and mood that will be prevalent throughout the actual story. But again, you're totally right in your questioning because there's nothing to follow up with it afterward to clarify the transition, or little significance in those specific people. It looks like the scene has no rhyme or reason right now, but it's a small example to what lengths the Amazons in this small section of the universe will go to. Without giving too much away, it's an example of what the protagonist could be getting themselves into...

Lock and Key “You know, Sally,” The Amazon let out a deep sigh, as the latex stretched and squeaked in order to accommodate the hand inserting itself into it. “I really did like you, honestly. I hope you know this hurts me more than it does you.” Her fingers traced the metal edge of the table, and she leaned in close, blowing a short, cool rush of air onto the Little’s face. Rapidly, like mice trapped in a cage, her pupils darted in all different ends of her eyes, and the overhanging light teased her sensitive sockets. She tried to thrash, shake, tumble, and roll, but the thick, leather restraints wrapped around her wrists, ankles, and head kept her from moving an inch. The chilled metal was pressed to the skin on her back, and her bare breasts were on full display. All of her surroundings were shrouded in darkness, apart from what was above, and a small, illuminated screen in front of her fixed vision. In fast intervals her chest rose and fell, and her eyes strained as they hadn’t blinked in quite some time...The metal prongs delicately fixed between her eyelids made sure of it. “Ooohhh….!” The Amazon as she strolled around the corners of the tiled room let an almost euphoric moan escape her. “Sally, try to stay calm for me, please?” Her sadistic pleas came as an almost panicked whisper. “Whenever I see you Littles struggle, writhe in pain, bask in shame….it’s just...just…!” A deranged smirk started to form, and the eye and brow visible to the Little contorted in an indescribably terrifying way. The creature that resembled a woman found its nails lightly touching the Little’s shifting stomach. “It excites me in a way...in a way I can’t even begin to describe…!” Without any warning, she secured a piece of the Little’s flesh between her fingers and gave it a tight squeeze. A scream filled the room, and between the sobs and cries a second voice spoke.“P-Please! L-l-let me go!” The Little, on the verge of losing her own sanity, couldn’t even look the Amazon directly in the eye out of physical and mental limitation. “N-nanny Fifi, I’m sorry! Please...” Somehow, her eyes managed to widen even more when she could see the silver tool the Amazon brandished. “No….no….no…! No, NO, NO!” With each cry and plea, the tormentor inched closer and closer with her tool. Along the way, the Amazon’s expression seemed to keep twisting, morphing, and shifting from calm and cool to maddened and manic. “PLEASE, I’LL BE GOOD! DON’T! NO! PLEASE!” In seconds what was left of the Little’s mental strength deteriorated at a rapid pace, as she could feel the blade press to her cheek. Everything was blurred, and the most primitive reactions were running rampant, and she stood on the doorstep of potentially death itself. Coherent thoughts had abandoned her, and she devolved into a blubbering mess, every fiber of her being trying to turn away, but outside forces prevented so. Nothing mattered more than avoiding injury itself, as the Amazon above her cackled and laughed, and a warm, uninvited sensation pooled beneath her, and soaked into the one article of clothing she wore. As soon as it came, the metallic blade left her cheek, only after it’d left a faint mark. “Sally…!” The Amazon’s face was of pure ecstasy and pleasure, as she watched what was once a person fall apart into a scrambled mess. Setting the scalpel aside, the Amazon got close again, pressing her hand against the crotch of the victim’s now-swollen diaper. “You’re just so cute when you squirm! When you can’t even keep your pants dry when you’re scared...There’s just so much raw emotion in you that I want to coax out of you!” The enthusiasm wasn’t shared, as the Little with tear-stained cheeks was quietly murmuring, staring off into nothingness. “Oh poo...” She pouted, giving the crotch of the wet diaper one last squeeze. “You remind me of your sister.” Past memories briefly streamed through her head. “Feeling all proud and big, but as soon as they face some backlash they’re like puddy...What was her name? Amy?” She scoffed, then regained her relaxed composure; a shroud to the true madness she harbored within. “I think her name was Hannah after the conditioning...” A cheshire grin came back just as fast though. “And oh...did she break!” A look of deceptive concern overcame her. “You’re different though, Sally, right? Please tell me you’ll last a little longer? I don’t get to do this as often as I’d like...” She collected a handful of cotton, circular pads from a nearby tray, and connected to them were wires. “I heard happy thoughts can help you stay aware...Maybe your sister was thinking of you when I had my fun with her?” The Little’s crying hadn’t become any more focused, but something the Amazon was saying made her cry harder. “All the other nannies like to use hypnosis for these sorts of thing,” Explaining, she made sure the pads were fixed to various points on her legs. “But where’s the fun in that?” She slowly cranked a nearby dial. “Discipline is most effective when you know there’s no coming back...and all you can focus on is holding on to what you have left. Punishments need to be permanent reminders. You remember Mandy, right? She used one of the cribs in your room? You’d be surprised what permanently killing someone’s sphincter muscles can do...Apart from making them a stinky baby, it makes them try everything they can to protect their bladder, too...Knowing that your only options are to maintain what you have, or fall even further...” A small click could be heard, and then a shrill, beeping noise slowly grew in volume and pace, until it became a piercing, pinging noise, and a small shock could be heard from the Little’s legs, inviting a new wave of inconsolable screams, and her legs jerked in their restraints for the slightest moment, then laid limp. The Amazon the whole time watched with fascination, and disappointment as it was over faster than it took to start. “Probably the cutest part though was thinking by keeping her bladder control it actually meant something!” Her sadistic punchline didn’t mean much to the screams she was currently ignoring. “It’ll only take a few months until she’ll start to lose control of it naturally...But, I think being unable to walk was something you could have prevented...” Instinctively, as the Little couldn’t scream much longer, she tried to wiggle her toes, move her legs at all, and all that came was a faint response. Her voice drowned in tears and deranged screams. “I guess it wasn’t as clean of a job as I thought...” The Amazon mentally logged her observation, tapping her finger on one of the Little’s knees, resulting in almost no reflex response. She removed the shock pads, returning to her table of tools. “It gets the point across, though. We have some very nice walkers, though! I know you liked using the baby bouncer though...It helps if you can push yourself off the ground, though. Guess we’ll need to find you a new activity...” Returning to the Little, she planted a wet kiss on the small cut on her cheek, placing a smiling bandaid on it. “There! Nanny Fifi made the boo boos go all away! Now what do we say?” She raised her brow, as if her small deed had undone the mutilation she’d just committed. “T-t-t-th….than….” Her voice stuttered a teetered on insanity. How she hadn’t passed out yet was cruelty she couldn’t even begin to fathom, and her body’s insistence to hang on by the few threads it already was felt like inexplicable betrayal. “....y-you….” “You’re welcome, sweetheart!” Her voice was sunshine and syrup. “See how nice it is when we use our manners and do as we’re told?” “Y...y...” The Little was taking exasperated breaths. “...es….” “I really did plan on breaking you, you know...” Her matter-of-fact words shattered the forced glee the Little was trying to plaster on her grimacing, disheveled face. “But maybe this really is enough to curb you…? I doubt you’ll be able to escape now, anyway...Tell me, why’d you do it? Try to run away? After everything the orphanage has done for you?” The way she eyed the broken soul looked as if she were trying to discern the answer from looks alone. “We give you a home, a comfy crib to sleep in, three meals a day, toys to play with,” She gave her squishy, discolored crotch another squeeze. “We even take care of the most simple responsibilities! All we ask for in return,” An inch separated their noses, and with each word, the Amazon’s breath grazed her skin. “Is:” “You do, as, you’re, told~!” Rearing back, she let out another sigh, as if this conversation had been repeated many a time over and over. “And yet, here we are. Another Little getting a bit too uppity. Too big for their britches--Diapers, sorry about that.” Her added comment made the girl’s face grimace, which only triggered further visual pleasure on the Amazon’s face. “I know you’ve been here for about a month, that’s what your records say, at least. But if you were curious,” As if she was being devious, the Amazon watching the Little’s gaze, held her white, frilled apron to the side, while her other hand found the small zipper to her ankle-length skirt, and suspensefully pulled it down, and the cloth sewn together by it slowly parted way, and soon revealed her bare thigh, and hinted at the obvious set of underwear she wore underneath. Still with a firm hold on it, she lowered it slightly, heightening the Little’s despair as she gave her a view of the much more adult panties she adorned. Tantalizingly so, she even swayed her hips the slightest bit; her non-diapered crotch following every which way. “I know we’re not supposed to give you tykes any ideas, you know,” Biting her lower lip, she hooked a finger around the waistband of her panties, then let go to result in a small slapping noise. “Reminding you of what grownup underwear looks like,” The Little tried to grit her teeth, as she whimpered seeing what looked like a long lost friend. “But the occasional reminder to how many pegs you’ve fallen is always a fun reaction to see.” The look on the Little’s face seemed to have satisfied her, as she zipped her skirt back up. “I bet you wish you still had some of those, don’tcha?” A suggestive finger seemed to find its way around the tip of the Little’s breast, and as soon as the Little’s breathing showed even the slightest signs of changing it peeled away. “Sorry, sometimes I get a little ahead of myself!” She slightly covered her mouth with the back of her hand. “I’m only supposed to tweat you wike a baby! You just don’t know what it’s like to tease someone smaller than you...” As if she were being playful, the Amazon then danced her nails on the bottom of the Little’s feet, which gave no sign of life. “Oopsies! I forgot about that.” She started to laugh, which only escalated her sobs. “As per the rules, though, we still have to go through the formalities. How lucky you got me, though! Being a permanent crawler was just a little gift from me,” She beamed as if the pride was called for. “We haven’t even started with the real stuff, yet!” “Y-you….you bitch...” In a small, broken smile, the Little stared back at the Amazon, who turned her ear closer. “What was that? I couldn’t hear you.” “I said...you fucking BITCH!” The Little screamed as loud as she could, hoping in some way to get her revenge by entertaining the fantasy of shattering one of her eardrums, but it wasn’t likely. Watching the Amazon recoil in slight surprise was enough to put the Little in her own form of twisted giggles. “H-h-how do you like that? Huh? You, stupid, fucking-” A large hand collided with the side of her bandaged cheek, with such force that it caused one end of the bandage to leave her face. Involuntarily the Little winced, and new tears were running down her eyes. The sudden shock of pain felt like she’d been punched twice over in the gut, only it was her face. Before she had time to collect herself, a fat, silicone teat invaded her mouth. The Amazon’s finger pressed down on the shield of the pacifier, and with each pump the teat inside grew larger and larger, to the point where it slightly stretched the Little’s jaw and she could only let out a muffled scream. “We use our outdoor voices outside,” The Amazon looked visibly pissed, as she hissed her words and gave her ear a slight rub. “I suppose we’ll take your vocabulary down a few pegs as well...Don’t worry though, I’ll be sure to leave you with the essentials.” She grabbed a pair of Little-sized headphones, and eased them over the Little’s head and ears; much more delicacy then when she’d slapped her. “Shhh….shhh...There, there, now you’re gonna watch some cartoons! Say bye bye to bad words! Yes, then you’ll only know how to be a polite, potty pants! No reason why we shouldn’t weaken your bladder and bowels either...I’ll keep them strong enough just so you know when you need to go, however. Every time you go pee, or poo, you’ll feel the need to go, but you’ll be powerless to do anything about it! And I heard we can make real pacifier addicts out of you Littles nowadays...Maybe we should give that a try, too?” The Amazon suddenly laughed, as she hit play on the nearby remote, and the monitor screen pointed toward the Little started to play a seemingly harmless cartoon. “I know you couldn’t hear any of what I just said since those are noise canceling, but I think you’ll find out soon enough. I’ll be back in an hour!” Suddenly, a thickly sick mud started to ooze from the pacifier’s teat, and the Little could do nothing to stop it as it slipped down her throat. She opened a door behind the Little’s vision, and hidden in the dark. “Try not to leak, if you can!” Gently the door closed, and back on the angled table, the Little tried her best to scream and maintain her focus, but it was quickly becoming clouded by the noises invading her ears, and the cartoons occupying her vision. The anger, rage, sadness, and despair were drowning in something unknown, and certain words started to resonate in her head, reverberating with the bright colors and images as her brain was slowly rewired. “Now then...” Alone in the hallway, the Amazon set a timer on her phone, and then swiped it over to some log of sorts. “Looks like little Bella’s scheduled for her afternoon enema...Maybe I should up the dosage on her bladder formula?” As if it were an excellent idea, with a stylus she scribbled a note onto her screen. Slipping it back into the pocket of her apron, the nanny, of countless dozens, made a brisk pace down the hall, admiring the countless numbers etched into each and every door, mentally rambling off each and every name behind them. With a strangely loving smile, she took a deep breath and then let out a calm exhale once she rounded the corner. She looked down at her right breast, tilting the pinned badge to her uniform to fix its orientation, admiring her title in curvy print, decorated with a rattle and teddy bear. Engraved on top of it like all the other staff tags read ‘ANGELA’S ORPHANAGE: HOME FOR THE LITTLES.’ The print was tiny, but the brick-lined display from outside did the name more than justice. Her eyes looked back up to one of the daycare entrances, her heart racing to see what was beyond. “Like a kid in a candy store...” Sup! Different than usual, right? Depending on how this is received, it's probably best to consider this as an opener for something bigger...I feel like it's standalone enough should that not pan out though? I'll probably move forward with it, but I think it's going to be a bit crueler than anything else I've written, or it's at least what I want to try for. Not sure if there'll be a happy ending? Bittersweet at best? Who knows. I know this posting is pretty short, but I was hoping for a bit of a darker tone and that's what I'm trying to feel out. There's always room for improvement, and the revisions for this were small, so please give me input!

Thanks for reading, and I'm happy to hear the kind words! You scared me for a second ? I think you might have missed that chapter. I think you're talking about 10? It's at the bottom of page one.

I made a small mistake with the last posting, and that one was what put both stories at the same chapter. Chapter 12 (This one) is finally something new for both websites.

12 - Back to Normalcy The faint whispers of bumper to bumper traffic, ongoing construction, and brisk winds could be heard from a distance. Thin, vertical strips of light stained the wall, as from the opposite side they peered through the drawn curtains. The only other presence in the room was the digital clock by the bedside, glaring its digital numbers; early hours of the morning. Possibly the faintest ongoings could be heard from the other side of the closed door, but nothing loud enough to awaken who was asleep; buried amongst the plush comforter and blanket, and supported by the expansive mattress which was a glorified cloud. The pillow easily capable of supporting three heads was occupied by only one, but it had selfishly thrown itself about it from one end to the other; back and forth multiple times in the night. The loose sheets and bedding had been partly folded over each other and areas were bunched more than others, whilst one of the culprit’s appendages hung lifelessly over the edge. The times between each motion and slothful stir became less and less, and became more and more restless from the waist below. It would remain like that until about fifteen minutes later, and then a groan and sigh would erupt. “Ugh….” Propping herself up against the headboard, Emily blinked her eyes as the darkness was still leaving their corners. Her body had gone back to being wet all over, and just about the only silver lining was that it wasn’t as bad this time...But she still felt warm again. Again, not as much; especially from her head, too. In fact, it felt pretty normal. Cold, almost? She pressed a hand to her forehead, surprised to feel a texture that wasn’t skin. It was rough, wet, and cold. Luck was on her side though, because instead of her skin turning into a washcloth, she’d just had one put on her instead. Did Joyce put this on me? Emily held the pile of wet cloth in her hand, with a gaze lost in its countless fibers while her consciousness kicked into full gear. Despite how it made her feel on the surface, it invited a new warmth inside of her; a reminder of the doting person she was in the domain of right now...However, one thing led to another, and it suddenly reminded her of the mishap she caused for Joyce last night. She’d need to apologize properly. Emily couldn’t even begin to imagine how important of a call she must have disturbed! Then again, didn’t Joyce say it was her mom that she was talking to? What was she thinking? Of course that was an important call! And even if it wasn’t, it probably wouldn’t be the best if she found out about their relationship...How would they explain what they had? Was there even a way to describe it? The thought was too taxing to consider, and it only reminded her of the mental blocks that were jutting outwards in the most awkward places; her headache still in mild swing. All over she still didn’t feel too spectacular, but painful still couldn’t fully describe it. She felt dull. For better and worse, it meant she at the very least wasn’t as uncomfortable, yet she was still trapped on the tightrope between sweet sensation and suffering. One chain of thought kept leading to another in her head, and her focus finally stumbled upon her bladder, which was making itself known with a constant knock against her lower area. Right now? A small whimper escaped her, as confining herself to the bed was what she wanted more than anything. Her surroundings were still slightly spinning, and she was still caught in a perfect state of half-sleep to fully jump back into it. She wanted nothing more than to crash right now, but of course bodily needs had to get in the way...Peeling back the rustled covers, she suddenly stopped. A diaper. She was wearing a...diaper. That’s right...The decision weighed heavily on her shoulders, which is why she didn’t want to give it much thought; she wanted to sweep it off her plate before it became crushing. If you wanted to use your diaper too, that’d be perfectly okay with Mommy… As if on cue, the words whispered through her ears; maybe her mind? It didn’t matter. Coupled with sleepiness, sickness, stress, and simple laziness, Emily almost surprised herself when she started to push slightly on her bladder. She couldn’t actually be doing this, could she? Wetting of her own complete volition? She couldn’t stop questioning herself, but she didn’t stop pushing. It was certainly strange, but deep down, she knew it was okay...The idea didn’t sit totally well with her, but she was too tired to care, and her smaller side could only think of Joyce as she did her deed. Despite the inner turmoil, her momentum showed no signs of slowing. Finally, after forcing herself from a sitting position, she let out a deep sigh as a sudden, warm stream invaded her underwear; her diaper. The sensation was almost relieving, oddly enough. It became one less worry, and now she could go back to sleep, as she was already trying to get comfortable again. Though, she’d had her fair share of warm temperatures already, and the sudden wet heat around her waist didn’t feel amazing given the already heated circumstances. Thankfully she didn’t need to go that much...but she did feel a bit bashful...But Joyce would take care of it, right? She could depend on the woman, after all. She was...special. Rolling over on her side and straightening the bedding somewhat, Emily found herself the maximum amount of comfort that was possible, given she was sick and in a wet diaper. She hadn’t bothered to glance at the clock, and didn’t let her mind escape the confines of the room. Nothing in that moment mattered more than whisking herself off to dreamland. Hopefully there would be better adventures than the ones before, though. “Mhm. I’m just switching out her washcloth right now. I’ll make sure to give her that stuff you mentioned,” Emily could hear Joyce move around the room, as she slowly opened her eyes. “And yes, I’ll keep on top of her with fluids and food. Thank you again, Amanda. I know weekend calls really aren’t your thing...” There was another brief pause. “Just send me the bill; I’d feel bad not giving anything in return. Okay? Perfect. I’ll keep in touch if things don’t get any better.” Emily could now see enough to know Joyce had just hung up on her phone, and could feel the mattress shift when something new descended upon it. Beside her, it didn’t take Joyce very long to turn from her phone and to her, as her stare rained sunshine and roses upon the sleepy girl. “Good morning, sleepyhead!” She gave Emily’s shoulder an affectionate squeeze. “Are you feeling any better? Worse?” “Better, I guess.” Emily tried to sit herself up a little, taking notice of how the room was much brighter now. The curtains had been drawn, and the outward city sky was spewing its torrent of light through the windows. “Well, I can’t say I expected you to kick this is one sitting...” Joyce’s voice was somber, as she stroked Emily’s hair. “But as long as you’re feeling better in any shape or form, it’s a step in the right direction.” “I know...And thank you for taking care of me,” Emily’s innermost feelings were starting to feel raw again. “I even interrupted that call last night, and I took up your time because of it...” She was the absolute worst. Even the smallest of disturbances she caused felt like they held the weight of the world, and she only knew how to take, take, and take from Joyce when all she would do is give. The one opportunity she had not to be a screw-up, and she managed to-! “Interrupted? I only remember you doing as you were told.” Her words cut through Emily’s mental madness like how she threw a wrench in Joyce’s earlier call. “Well, maybe not completely, because someone was out of bed when they weren’t supposed to be,” She looked down on Emily with a playfully stern look. “But even if it were an issue, how could I ever be mad at you?” “I know, but even on top of that, this was supposed to be our weekend! But instead, I’m spending it being sick!” Emily’s headache was throbbing the more she felt her emotions getting out of control. “It’s not fair to you, and at every point I somehow demand more and more of you!” Despite being so out of it, Emily could feel her deep-seated concerns bubbling from within. Having Joyce take care of her was one of the most amazing things she’d ever experienced, but to a whole new degree was she dragging the woman down. “Hey, hey!” Joyce helped pulled Emily up, and wrapped her arms around her. “Why are you being so hard on yourself? Don’t you remember? I wanted this kind of thing, and don’t you like it too?” “Yeah...but still-!” “Then why are you fighting it?” She looked Emily in the eyes, who already looked to be on the verge of tears. “Have I ever been forced by you to do anything? There’s never been a single moment in our time together like this where I’ve wanted it to stop.” Her undying concern and warmth only made Emily crumble further, as she buried her face in the woman. “Never once have I thought of you as a burden, and you’re a blessing that I could never appreciate enough. I’d never wish for anything bad to happen to you. Ever. But, I’d be lying if I said that the way you’re relying on me now didn’t make me happy in some way...” She was happy to be Joyce’s baby, but the idea of total dependency still didn’t sit well with her. It was a part of the job she was still adjusting to, and each time she dipped further into the chilling pool of babyhood, it was getting harder and harder to adjust. “Emmy, you’re not allowed to be mad at yourself, and you’re definitely not allowed to feel bad when you ask me for things, or when I do things for you.” “...Really?” Joyce almost wanted to laugh, but she’d never want to seem like she was mocking her. Still, she had figured it was a given by now. “Of course, silly! Do I need to prove it to you by putting mittens on your hands and booties on your feet? So then you’ll really need someone else to do everything for you? Maybe then you’ll learn how to lean on me a little?” Now she was laughing at the thought, and with Emily clutched in her arms, she could tell it was lightening her mood too. “I’ve already said it a few times, but I guess I need to say it again. Don’t EVER apologize or feel guilty for having me do things for you. If you’re worried about causing me trouble, think about how stressed I am when you’re the one that’s sad. Your happiness is my happiness, and the same goes for when you’re glum.” Maybe it wasn’t her way with words, as much as it was her entire character; her being. Joyce always knew how to pick up the pieces and make Emily whole again. Even Emily knew she was being ridiculous; feeling bad after all this time that had passed and how far she’d come. She should know better than to fret over these things… “I can’t stop you if you’re going to feel guilty, but I’m hoping you’ll learn to not be so hard on yourself when these things happen, because I’m not going to stop providing for you, you know.” She’d just need to work a little harder drilling that into her… “Can we stop dwelling over the unnecessary stuff, though? I’d much rather I have my bubbly little girl back.” “I’m sorry...” Emily partly mumbled, still buried in the shirt of her caretaker. Joyce could only laugh, hearing her little girl trying to be so sincere in the most innocent way possible. “I just don’t want to be a burden...” “It’s okay, and that’s the last time I want to hear you being sorry when there’s no good reason for it, got it? You’re not a burden, and you’re far too precious to be called otherwise.” Meekly Emily nodded her head, as she finally let go of Joyce. “Good. Now, let’s get you into the kitchen. We’re at least gonna try something for breakfast. I’m not asking for a lot, but I’d rather you eat something before I give you your medicine.” She had already stood from the bed and was waiting for Emily to take the lead. Given how her head and stomach were feeling, food didn’t really seem appetizing at all right now. For Joyce, though, she’d at least give it a try...Emily was just about to comply, but was suddenly reminded by something she partly remembered doing in her half-dazed state… “Ah, Joyce? Do you think we could...take care of something before breakfast?” Instinctively her legs shuffled; a loud plastic crinkle making itself known. “Take care of what? I thought you didn’t want to wear clothes? You still feel a bit warm...” “No...it’s not that. At some point, I-” “Used your diaper?” The words effortlessly came from Joyce’s mouth, as she looked at Emily with a knowing smile. Slowly but surely, she was having her down to a ‘T’. “Y..yes.” It was still far too difficult to look Joyce in the eye when she responded to these sorts of things, which is why her vision took much more stock in the padding around her hips. It was crinkly, plastic, white, and lavender-scented. The wetness indicator was unperturbed; waiting to be...wet? The more Emily started to turn her gears, the loud crinkle started to make more sense, as well as the fresh smell of powder, and the pure, white crinkly exterior. “You already…?” Stunned, Emily blinked her eyes as she found it in herself to look at Joyce, who seemed to be eating up every morsel of the abashed realization she was currently saturated in. Yet again, she’d been taken care of and handled without even being around to notice. The squishy wetness between her thighs was gone, now that she took the moment to feel it, and speaking of wetness, the spots that Joyce had so gingerly dried last night felt anew again as well. “I did say don’t expect me to be waking you up, silly.” Joyce didn’t feel like waiting anymore, as she took Emily’s hands and guided her onto her feet. “I know you might still be embarrassed about the diapers, but I want to thank you for putting your trust in me,” She gave Emily another loving hug. “There’s no need to be so hung up on those things.” As she returned the hug, Emily’s mind was still a few seconds behind, fully processing how she’d been cleaned and changed without ever waking up; consciously, at least. Maybe the novelty was starting to wear, considering this wouldn’t have been the first time. Had she simply become that comfortable around Joyce? Was that sort of thing even possible? It wasn’t that she minded so much, more that it was somewhat jarring. “Now come on,” Joyce gave Emily’s bottom a crinkly squeeze. “Are you gonna march off to the kitchen on your own or do I need to carry you?” Her thoughts had a sudden backpedal. “Unless you want me to?” Within the first second Emily was already out the door, followed by a chuckling Joyce. Thankful for the accommodating temperature throughout the home, Emily sat her bare thighs on the cushioned kitchen chair, while the second woman stationed herself by the counter. Even being remotely close to food or food-related stuff was already enough to have Emily’s stomach churning. “What are we thinking? Is there anything you might have in mind that you think would be good right now?” “Not really...” Not even Joyce’s food, undoubtedly the best cuisine she’d ever experienced, could break her spell. In fact, it would likely have the exact opposite effect. “Do you have any cereal?” Maybe she’d figure something out with that… The lack of depth to her suggestion wasn’t exciting to Joyce, but it was easy to understand how much of a struggle it was to eat just about anything right now. “Let’s see...I think we might have some in here somewhere...” Joyce opened one of the cabinets, finding an unopened box of Branflakes. “How about a drink? Water? Maybe I could make you your special morning drink?” “No thank you...water’s fine.” Sitting at the table was already putting a mild strain on her head. It felt as if her skull was repeatedly being tapped by a large, blunt mallet; each blow erupting a mild throb as it shook her entire head. At other times it was a little black speck with legs, sitting on top of her brain, carrying a needle in its hands, and would at the slightest movement relish in plunging its tiny spear into her thoughts. It was by far the lowest quality meal Emily had ever eaten in Joyce’s presence, and despite being so meager in what was set before her, it still looked like one of the greatest challenges she’d ever faced. Second thoughts were coming in full swing. “Joyce, I don’t know if I can’t eat right now...” She slightly grimaced, as the bowl of moistening flakes and innocent-looking milk taunted her insides with sheer presence alone. The glass of water was a tall cup of poison waiting to boil her insides and clog her arteries; her figurative imagination didn’t make much sense, but the gist was that it all looked nauseating. They were a pair of deadly assassins ready to execute her digestive tract. Taking a seat next to her, Joyce picked up the spoon from Emily’s bowl, with a small pile of flakes soaking in a puddle of milk. “I know eating food is probably the last thing on your mind right now, but trust me when I say that there’s nothing worse than taking medicine on an empty stomach. You may not be happy with me right now, but it’s for the best that you at least eat a little. I won’t force you to eat it all, but why don’t we give it a few bites and see how you feel?” Still with the spoon in her hand, she reared it toward Emily’s mouth. The closer the food got to her, the more and more Emily could feel herself revolting at the sight and sensations which aroused her sight and smell. They occupied her nostrils like pungent perfume that had long overstayed its welcome. She wanted nothing more than to get this over with, and was almost considering death a better fate than this. “Here, I’ll even do the hard part. Open wide!” Slowly, Joyce edged the spoon towards Emily’s sealed lips, and as soon as the metal spoon made contact, her initial resistance caused a little milk to spill from the metal rim and onto her shirt. “Should I find you a bib and we’ll try this again?” She grinned at Emily, who then felt herself submitting to an even greater force, as a tiny slit between her lips allowed entry for the enemy substance. It was swallowed much faster than it came in, and Emily didn’t feel particularly great as it went down her throat, but not as terrible as she expected either. “Such a good girl,” Joyce commented, and with her other hand dabbed a cloth on the corner of Emily’s mouth. “Should I give you the spoon back now? Or maybe my little girl wants to be spoiled a little bit more?” Her tone stripped her words of any potentially insulting meaning. Either choice felt equally as welcomed, yet Emily could feel herself being tempted much more by one in particular. “You keep doing it...” Her words were brief, and her headache was limiting her ability to maintain etiquette and manners. Maybe 10 minutes ago she’d been rambling on about dragging Joyce down so much, but it was obvious how weak-willed those feelings had become; seeing as she was being spoon-fed by her now, and even asking for it. “I like that answer, too.” Joyce smiled as she took another spoon full. “Now open up for the airplane! Whoosh! Whoosh! In for the landing!” Another package was delivered to Emily’s stomach, and it hadn’t felt any better than the last. Maybe it was the playful treatment that let her keep it down, though. There was a brief pause in between cereal and Joyce’s praising to allow for a sip of water, but they’d gotten through about half the bowl until Emily was calling it quits. “I’ll say I got as lucky as I could,” Joyce wiped Emily’s face another time, thankful, but hoping she could have fed her little girl for just a little longer. She couldn’t wait to do it again, only under much different circumstances with a much more evident dynamic. Certainly this would be the last obstacle to overcome before that could happen. Unless father time and mother nature were really that cruel. “I’m sure you were ready to stop after the first bite, but thank you for toughing it out for me, my little soldier. All that’s left is to swallow a few pills and then you’re free to relax until your next round.” The small capsules went down much easier, considering there was no real taste to them. After she swallowed, Joyce’s forehead was pressed to Emily’s, reverberating its own kind of warmth. Satisfied with the reading, Joyce pulled her head away. “Is there any special spot you want me to set you up in? You can go back to bed or I can put you on the couch?” “On the couch.” As sick as she was, at least moving her base of operations gave her the illusion of activity. Hopefully this would be the last day of laziness. She was sick of feeling so out of it and wanted more than anything to be well again. She wanted to be able to play with Joyce again. It didn’t take Joyce very long to move a few pillows and blankets to the sofa, quickly having the girl situated and as comfortable as possible. “Comfy?” Joyce asked as she stroked the tip of her finger across the bridge of Emily’s nose. “Mhm. Thank you.” “You’re very welcome. I have a few business emails to sort through, so I’ll be in my office, okay?” Emily nodded her head, without too much emotion in her response. As Joyce started walking away, when she got into her office she started to have a sudden change of heart. Pausing just before she brought the tower to life, she veered to one of the larger drawers of her desk, and pulled out an entire laptop, carrying it back into the living room. “Did you already finish your work?” Emily asked with a hint of surprise. She was too sick to feel like joking at the moment, and didn’t feel like weighing on the things that were happening around her too seriously. “No, but I was thinking it might be better to do it while keeping you some company.” She sat herself on the couch next to where Emily was resting her head. She unfolded the top of the device and it quietly sprang to life. “Unless that’s not okay with you?” She looked down on Emily with a look waiting for confirmation, tilting it the slightest bit to match the angle of Emily’s; not really trying to incite a particular response. “No...you can stay.” Emily looked back towards the tv, but was quietly wiggling her toes in response to the matronly presence next to her. The pillows and blankets were one thing, but being with Joyce invited a whole new sense of security. Almost like the diaper...In a way, it was an accessory to Joyce’s care...A reminder. Absentmindedly, Joyce quietly stroked Emily’s hair with her nearest hand, while the other navigated digital mail and typed responses at a mild pace. She wasn’t in any rush to get the work done, clearly, and it served as the perfect excuse to spend some quality time with Emily despite her being sick. Not that she needed an excuse, but it was something that made the process feel much more natural. Slowly over time, Emily gradually moved more and more until her head had completely surpassed the pillow. Instead, it found a new cushion which was Joyce’s thigh. At some point the contact was hard not to notice, but the only confirmation Joyce gave was a warm smile to herself, and the slightest shift to try and accommodate the head occupying it. Emily, who was brimming with anxiety right now for being so daring wasn’t so much for words either. The pillow which had at first been an aid was now nothing more than an obstacle, which is why it was soon removed from the equation, and Emily’s head had unobstructed access to Joyce’s firm, but cushiony leg. No words needed to be exchanged, as the feelings and atmosphere were enough to convey meaning. Much later into the process, Emily had dozed off some time ago, and only between emails did Joyce finally notice. Needless to say, she was almost caught in a trance looking down on her; seeing the small girl be at peace. Almost unconsciously, Joyce’s hand wandered to her phone, watching Emily’s chest slightly rise and fall with each calm breath. Just as she was about to take a picture, she froze; realizing just what she was about to do. How would Emily react if she was taking a picture of her like this? When she was so vulnerable? What if something like this got out? If anyone saw it; anyone close to either of them...But, the more Joyce’s mind raced in a panic, the more she was allowing rational thought to intrude. The more she looked at the cute, slumbering Emily, it was becoming a bit clearer that it was just a harmless photo...Not to mention, the camera angle wouldn’t catch anything incriminating...The shirt was a bit cutesy, but it was hard to see what was on it from this point of view, and the blanket certainly covered what definitely needed to stay under wraps. If she doesn’t like the picture, I can just delete it. I’ll show it to her once she wakes up. Forming a resolve, Joyce quietly angled the shot and snapped her photo; a timeless memory permanently digitized. It was one of those moments that Joyce hoped would last forever. Something about her innocence was intoxicating, and Joyce wanted more than anything to keep coaxing it from out of its shell. Leaning over, she pecked her lips on Emily’s exposed cheek. Content with what she’d done, Joyce finally used both hands to focus on her work. “Cryostasis?” From the subject heading alone she already skipped over it. “Maybe a century from now...” “And down the hatch!” Joyce cooed as the final set of pills for the night made their way into Emily’s mouth. She swallowed, and was hoping not only they’d be the last for the night, but for this entire ordeal as well. “What do you say we have you turn in early again for tonight? Just so we can really nip this thing in the bud?” “I think so too...I really don’t want to feel like this in the morning.” Since she woke up it had been a winning battle, but Emily knew if there was real progress to be made, it would be through sleep. She’d been trying her best to keep up on food and water, but they were still things she wasn’t crazy about. There wasn’t a single official diaper change that night; minus the one from the morning, and dinner consisted of some extremely small stuff. Thankfully Joyce (despite being reluctant) let her off without an official lunch. Drinking water never left the picture though. “Okay then, let’s get you settled down for the night. Probably panties would be for the best, huh?” Oddly, Emily agreed with a small tinge of disappointment. The weekend was over, and so that meant the same for their ‘special’ time. While Emily may have been on vacation, that didn’t mean the same for Joyce. Without her in the picture it just made the moment feel empty...There wasn’t much point in acting a role if there wasn’t another to reciprocate it. “Maybe if you’re up for it we can experiment a little over the weekdays?” Joyce perked up Emily’s ears with her suggestion. “I know I’m sometimes home earlier than you...so maybe this week if you’re up for it we can try picking up where we left off?” As she guided Emily back to her room, she could see the tiny grin Emily was trying, but failing to hide. “Oh?” Joyce leaned forward to nuzzle her cheek. “Looks like I struck a chord with someone? If I didn’t know any better, I’d have thought you’re the one asking me to do this!” Her teasing caused Emily to crumble, which only made Joyce laugh more. It was all in good fun though, and as bashful as she was being, the joy written all over Emily’s face was undeniable. Joyce had dressed her in the pajama set with the extra length on the torso arms and pant legs, and of course, thinner underwear. She didn’t look to be one hundred percent, but at least a solid seventy. Tucked under the covers, Joyce sat on the bed with Emily for a little longer, making small talk, and simply enjoying their time together. “Oh! I almost forgot...” Joyce’s voice trailed off as she snaked her hand into her pocket. “I have something I want to show you...” A surprise? Emily could suddenly feel her pulse race. A surprise from Joyce could mean just about anything in the realm of tangibility. If it had a physical form and was acquirable, Emily had her doubts that it wouldn’t be possible for Joyce to get...Emily hadn’t ever tried to think about it too much, but where exactly Joyce ranked on the list of powerful people was probably a notable rank… “I managed to catch this earlier, and I wasn’t sure how you’d take it...” Joyce turned her phone to Emily, as she looked back at a still image of herself; nuzzled against someone’s leg and covered in a blanket. She wasn’t crazy about pictures of herself...but even with that in mind it still pulled at the heartstrings a little… “Wh...when did you take this?” “When you were sleeping earlier today...I didn’t know how you might feel about pictures…” Suddenly Joyce wasn’t feeling too confident anymore, or at least she was trying to be receptive to Emily’s feedback. “Of course, I didn’t catch anything suggestive, and I wouldn’t show it to anyone! I’d be willing to delete it if you ask…” The slightest bit of sadness sparked within her; imagining a scenario like that. “It’s just...I don’t know...nice to have a few pictures of you, I guess...” Pictures...Simple in their own right, yet hearing it from Joyce gave them a new sense of meaning. More than just a static moment in time, it was now a logged memory; a piece of evidence that Joyce and Emily were now interlocked. A part of her was now with Joyce, and was kept safely in the confines of her phone...It was weird, of course, to think about it so intensely, but it was exciting nonetheless. “Keep it.” Emily briefly spoke. “Really?” Joyce’s hopes had definitely gotten the best of her, as even she couldn’t hide her joy. “Are you sure?” “Well...you said it yourself, didn’t you?” Her cheeks were starting to grow red. “It’s nice to have a few pictures...Thank you for asking me though...You don’t need to ask me anymore. I trust you.” A giggle erupted from Joyce as she pulled Emily in for one last hug. She’d have to be much more watchful in the future for picture-worthy moments now! Past regrets were starting to dawn on her; perfect moments that could have been immortalized! Moving forward though those same regrets would not be allowed to pass. “You get some sleep for me, okay? I want to all rested up for when I get back tomorrow. Don’t worry about getting up early.” “I won’t see you in the morning?” “I get up pretty early for work, and you know that already. You should be sleeping in though, and you should be taking advantage of your time off! Especially when you’re sick.” Emily doubted it would really affect her, but the thought of missing out on an opportunity to see Joyce was disappointing to some degree. Again, her explanation was truthful, but that didn’t mean it agreed with her feelings. “How about I say goodbye in the morning?” Joyce started to straighten out the bedding again. “If I wake you up for a second to say bye, will you go back to sleep for me?” Quickly, Emily nodded her head; much more pleased with this new compromise. “It’s a deal then. I’ll see you in the morning, sweetie.” “Night!” Emily glanced at her phone for a few minutes, then rolled over to her side. She waited for the sound of the door closing, but it never came. Joyce always left a crack in the doorway, and Emily lulled off into a slumber just from thinking about it. “Emily? Hellloooo? You in there?” A familiar voice eased its way into Emily’s ears, and then a laugh soon after. “I knew it was a bad idea waking you up...I’m headed out now for work and I’m here to say bye, okay?” “Okay...” Emily could only murmur, as she wasn’t even aware of what was happening. Her internal clock hadn’t been prepped for a time like this. “Okay?” In a small amount of disbelief, Joyce chuckled over her loopy state. “Alright then,” She leaned in for a much calmer whisper. “You go back to sleep for me now, okay? I’ll be home later.” “Good...night….” The only thing Emily could really register was something soft press her cheek, and then the sound of heels padding across carpet and soon the clicks and clacks of colliding with a wooden floor. As the noises became more quiet, so did her surroundings and suddenly everything else. She had been in the middle of a pleasant dream, and it wasn’t so willing to let her go that easily. Besides, she was in the middle of an important spa treatment with Ashes, and just because the moon was crashing into Mars, that didn’t mean apples couldn’t be blue. “Still, Joyce, I never really figured you the type to go to the movies.” Emily curiously poked as they exited the theater. “I didn’t really expect you to ask me to do something like this...” “Why not?” She leaned them against a nearby wall. “I’m human too, you know!” True, she didn’t really go to the movies; at all, really, but Emily had brought change to her life in more ways than one. “Besides, doesn’t it feel good to be out and about after getting sick? I assumed you want to do something like this...I guess not though...” Obviously pretending, Joyce plastered a disappointed look on her face as she gave Emily a full view of it in its entirety. “N-no! I didn’t mean it like that,” Clearly skipping over the sarcasm, Emily did her best to ensure damage control, despite there never being a need for it. Still, she never wanted to even insinuate the slightest idea that whenever Joyce spent a dime on her it was money wasted. “I was just surprised, that’s all.” “I know what you mean, and I was kidding, so don’t worry so much.” Joyce pat the top of Emily’s head; paying no mind to the people around them. “Why do you tease me so much?” Emily slightly puffed her cheeks, but of course she wasn’t really angry, but playfully annoyed. “Because,” Joyce poked her plump cheek as if she were popping a bubble. “You’re too cute not to!” She spoke in a lowered voice, and suddenly Emily wasn’t feeling so brave to publicly challenge her again. “What do you say we go get something to eat now? Popcorn and candy doesn’t really count as a meal to me...” She was right, there. Joyce insisted on getting a little bit of everything for Emily’s sake, though she didn’t put so much as a dent in it; her stomach didn’t have the capacity, nor would it sit well with her conscience. Even still, when at the snack counter, if Emily gave even the slightest hint of finding something good-looking it wound up in Joyce’s purse. She could go for some real food too. “By the way,” Joyce started as they walked back to the car, and Emily was all ears. “Do you have anything going on tomorrow? Anything important?” “No, I don’t think so. Why?” It didn’t take much thinking, as the greater part of her time was now freed up because of work and the rest was occupied by Joyce. Joyce was a little surprised to hear that, but it wasn’t a disappointment. “Well...” Her first word was infused with intrigue and curiosity. “I was thinking that maybe tonight when we get home we could do a little bit of…’bonding’ together?” Her wording on the surface was vague, but Emily knew exactly what she meant, and truthfully, she loved the sound of it. “Yeah...It sounds like fun.” Openly warming up to the babying experience was strange, but the idea was far from foreign now. It had become too regular to consider it a stranger. “Great! I wanted to ask because I was thinking maybe we could try and cover more than just one day?” “More...than one?” She never really thought about it, but their play never did go beyond a single day...When she was sick a few days ago that put them in a weird place, but Emily wouldn’t count it as official. What she was asking for now would be totally intentional and uninterrupted. It was certainly a commitment, but it was...exciting. “Tomorrow’s Friday and I don’t have any real reason to go to the office tomorrow,” She probably did, but it wasn’t like Sheila couldn’t fix her schedule to suggest otherwise. “And I know your workplace is still sorting through its own issues.” Yes, this was true. It was hard to believe she’d gone an entire week on paid vacation. Maybe it wasn’t the best way to phrase it, but how far from the truth was it? “Would you be okay if we tried something like that?” “Yeah, I’d be fine. Actually...I think I’d kind of want to try it too.” “Then it’s settled,” Joyce gave her another squeeze from behind, then freed her long enough to let her get in the passenger seat. “We’ll get right to it once we’re home. Sound good?” Emily nodded her head, and Joyce turned on the ignition. “Any idea what you’re in the mood for?” “Uhm...You pick.” “Hmm...I have one place in mind.” Apparently Joyce was taking control early. Rather, Emily was surrendering herself much sooner. It didn’t matter though, because in the end all that really did was Emily wanting to be with Joyce, and Joyce wanting to be with Emily. They’d become inseparable, or were on the verge of becoming so. Nonchalantly Joyce checked the time on her phone, and seemed to be pleased with how things were progressing. Give it just another hour at most and the movers were likely to be done in the apartment. Even if it all had good intentions, Joyce felt a little strange deceiving Emily like this… Today’s outing was to give Emily a sense of freedom again, but it was also to get her out of the house just long enough to move in some of the bigger purchases...The assembly would already be finished and Joyce could rearrange if need be. The painting was finished a few days ago and that’s what mattered the most. It was all for Emily, but Joyce was admittedly giddy imagining what the final products would be. Her “client” had gotten progress shots from BabyCare, but only by seeing them in the flesh could they truly be appreciated. Her mind then stumbled upon some of the other items she was having delivered; some things that wouldn’t be limited to just the one room. Where was she going to put the chair? It was another assembled piece, but it was probably too much work to keep taking apart and putting back together. The room’s closet was probably big enough to store it...She’d need to figure it out at some point, but it wasn’t at the forefront of her mind right now...Instead, she was much more focused on getting them fed. “So what are we gonna do tonight?” Emily started to lose herself to the hypnotic hum, as the room was filled with lavender, and her lower half descended upon a plastic-covered cushion. She was still a bit squeamish in moments like these, but routine and habit were dangerous things; stick to something long enough and you just might get used to it. “I’m not sure about that part, yet.” Joyce drew up the plastic front and gingerly pressed the tapes. “Unless you have any ideas? You’re allowed to want things too, you know.” She started to trace her finger on Emily’s bare stomach, which expectedly caused a squirming fit. In a stifled laugh Emily retreated to the far end of the bed in search of safety, staring dagge--well, tiny daggers, at the taller woman. The sense of play was already filling the room, and that made anger impossible. Emily was no longer the tortured, but the submissive, dancing in the palm of her caretaker. Joyce looked at her expectantly, already formulating ideas for what they could do. She knew that she wanted this to start, but she wasn’t sure what they’d do to keep it going…Though, she was a little surprised to hear a suggestion from Emily. “Well...does it have to be something here?” Her voice was weak, as if her resolve were to crumble at the slightest breeze of objection. “No,” Joyce had corralled her charge back to the end of the bed. “What did you have in mind?” “Then maybe...” She wasn’t intentionally trying to drag her words out for the sake of suspense, but was more hung up on the idea of making demands. Not that it could even come close to being one with how she sounded, though. “Milkshakes?” Her eyes looked to almost be glimmering at the sound. “From that one place?” “Shake Stop? The one you were so insistent on not wanting last time?” “It’s not that I didn’t want one...” Joyce looked to be thinking. “I’m not sure...” “You’re right. We just got home, and it’s already late.” It was pretty late. They hadn’t got home until a handful of hours after sundown. Due to a lot of aimless browsing in stores they got derailed pretty fast; not that either of them had a schedule to keep to. In fact, it was exactly what Joyce wanted, even if the work at the apartment had been finished a while ago. “We can always do something-” A finger was suddenly pressed to her lips. “And at what point did I say no?” She planted a kiss on her forehead. “I was just thinking about whether or not I should be giving you sugar so late! You’re much cuter when I need to carry you to bed, you know?” The classic, telltale look was written all over her face, and Joyce could only giggle. “Come on though, I should probably get you dressed in something before we go. I think just a diaper might be a little too chilly for the outdoors. Don’t you?” Pulling her punches, Emily let herself be taken near the dresser which Joyce was already sifting through; the three shelves on the left. Since getting her things from Jack’s place, they had devised a system for Emily’s wardrobe in the dresser, which was to keep her more…“adult” things on the right end of the dresser. The left side...well...it was the exact opposite, to say the least. “Left leg, nice and high!” Joyce commanded as Emily held onto her shoulders while she was kneeling on the ground. And without really paying much mind until now, as soon as Emily’s first leg slipped in and past the fabric, the bottoms felt nothing like street clothes; much too soft for that. The pastel colors she could now see didn’t seem to suit a public appearance so much either. “Joyce? I thought we were going out? Why are you dressing me in stuff I’d sleep in?” Her questioning still didn’t stop her body from stepping in the other leg hole. “Isn’t it easier to just get you dressed in your jammies now?” Joyce didn’t sound to find the topic as interesting as Emily, and was much more complacent with the outfit choice. “Do you not like how it looks?” No, it looked fine, but it was the context that mattered here… Sure, she’d gone outside before in the clothes she slept in, but that was maybe in sweatpants and a top! Not an outfit intentionally marketed as a pajama set! She really did look like someone who was set up for bedtime...And then there was Joyce, the person who looked to be much more suited with interacting with the outside world...But, at the same time, Emily was now truly represented by Joyce. She was the adult...She was the only one who needed to be concerned with business...Emily was supposed to be carried along like this, and be allowed the simple pleasures of letting someone else do all the heavy lifting. She had someone in charge of her outfit, and her social interactions. The lack of freedom in exchange for care had her heart beating fast. Try as she might, she couldn’t refuse how much she was loving this. Joyce took her blush and lack of eye contact as a good sign, and finished pulling the top over her head. The cuffs hugged her at the wrists and waist, and she looked simply precious. Her entire demeanor reflected a small child who needed to be cared for; needed to have things be done for them, and that need was being fulfilled to the utmost. Joyce could only notice it by sound when she moved, but the real cherry on top was the crinkle from Emily’s hidden diaper; the final nail in the coffin which completed everything. The simple white socks came next, and she then ushered the pampered girl out and into the shoe area by the door. And for just a moment while she was lagging behind, Joyce slipped a duplicate key from her pocket and unlocked the door that shrouded countless mysteries. Peering inside, without turning on the light, the sights Joyce could then see were astonishing. It was almost surreal; having so many individual pieces born from fantasy and imagination, suddenly be realized and consolidated; all be brought together and united under one banner of infancy. With all her willpower she forced herself away from the breathtaking sight and closed the door, re-locking it. Had she seen it a day earlier, it wouldn’t have been possible to contain such emotions; such a passion and burning desire to put so many fun toys and devices to their full use. Rearing her head around the corner, Joyce watched Emily’s back as she slipped on her shoes. It was just a sliver, but between her pants and the slightly raised shirt, Joyce could see the beginnings of a white, plastic waistband that contrasted so heavily with the pastel blues and purples she was dressed in, yet complemented the theme so much. “Don’t forget your jacket. I know you’re in some warm clothes now, but I want to be extra prepared.” “If you gave me a chance I was gonna get it,” Emily playfully jabbed. “What flavor are you gonna get this time?” “Hmm...I’m not too sure? I’ve been a fan of vanilla lately.” “And like that she’s fading fast, folks!” Joyce in a distant shout announced to the imaginary audience as she carried Emily in her arms. “It seems not even milkshakes can keep her going! You know, I thought cats like to nap during the day and play all night? You’ve got the napping part down, but not so much the other...Maybe you’re defective?” Emily in a sleepy giggle could only stare back as she collided with cushiony bedding and pillows. Joyce looked at her longingly, reflecting on the mini-speech she planned to use if Emily did stay up too late. It was all in good fun, and to be honest she was just looking for an excuse to tease her. In the time they left and she was putting her to bed, Emily hadn’t felt the need to use the bathroom, and Joyce was expecting that to change at some point...She just hoped Emily wouldn’t be creeping around that night. One, if she’d already used her diaper between sleeping fits, it increased the likelihood of doing it again. And two, she might see things that weren’t supposed to be revealed until the morning… “Don’t let the bed bugs bite, Emmy!” Joyce kept her voice low, so not to disturb the already slumbering girl, and for the first time fully closed the door on her way out, rather than just stopping right before the end. She opened the door to the room she checked on before they left, and was just as pleased with the results, only that much more now that the lights were on. “Let’s get to work...” Joyce started to move a few things around; rearranging things here and there. She even went forward with the task of moving a few things outside of the room and into other areas of the apartment. Each and every item she moved on to, it was a reminder of how far she and Emily had come; how much progress they had made, and how much closer they’d grown together. Not only as a mother and child, but as significant others who could not do without the other. All the waiting and patience was worth the look she’d see on Emily’s face in the morning; the raw emotion that would burst from within. It would only be the beginning, and it was surely going to get better. By no means had they cleared all obstacles, but the net gain would be positively glorious. It took a good forty-five minutes before Joyce was satisfied with her work, and she could bring the night to an end by closing the door, though not locking it this time. She checked her phone for the time, and let out a sigh as she knew she’d need to get up early tomorrow. The whole day would just be her and Emily, and it would all be about her special little girl. Quickly throwing something to sleep in on, Joyce reeled back her covers and could start to feel herself sinking into the mattress almost immediately. The clock nearby read 12:01 AM. Happy birthday, Emily. Gasp! Another update so soon? Had this one ready, and figured why not. On top of that, I made a small mistake with my closing comment on the last post. Apparently the last chapter was already the one both websites were at, so I guess now they're being updated together. As always, thanks for reading and let me know what you thought!

Thanks for the kind words! And who knows about the last part? Joyce is adamant in keeping the other part of their relationship a secret, but sometimes they can be hard to keep. Time will tell!

11 - Off to a Rocky Start Joyce gave her phone a quick time check, seeing it read nearly half-past six. She let out a sigh, as she’d have to postpone her little ‘project’ to get started on dinner. Stealing one last glance, she flicked off the light and locked the door, now giving a warm smile toward the cracked door frame, hiding away the sleeping Emily. As she tenderized the chicken breast she carried off into her typical hum, passively listening to the news on a nearby monitor. Often though nothing really struck her as breathtaking, or at least nothing to give her undivided attention to. Mainly it was stocks and the occasional medical journal she kept on top of the most, and general news outlets wouldn’t be the best place to get those. Absent-mindedly changing channels, trying to land on something worth watching or at least listening to, she suddenly stopped on a cartoon for kids. Instinctively, it triggered a fantasy within her: rubbing the hair on top of Emily’s head whilst she watched her cartoons, completely and totally devoted to one simple task that kept her happy. Then Joyce would do what was only logical and give her a diaper check, and sure enough the result would be… She blinked for a moment when there was a sudden *ding* noise from the oven. She did often get carried away with Emily...She’d probably need to do something about that. Focus on what was happening now, and not what might never happen later. The weekend was finally upon them though, so there’d be plenty of time to realize those fantasies--or at least make some serious progress towards them. They’d be creeping further and further down the rabbit hole. She was almost starting to regret not including Emily in the cooking process, but it was better this way. The more and more Joyce stuck her to a routine, it’d reinforce the atmosphere she was working so hard to cultivate. Joyce was the authority figure and Emily was her charge, and it was clear that both of them were starting to enjoy this kind of dynamic. Still, she’d have to chase away those thoughts for just a second, as cutting scallions wasn’t the best thing to be doing with someone’s padded tush on your mind. What was her expansive bed had now become the horizontal span of a couch, and the surrounding windows were pitch black, accompanied by the faint noise of a tv static in the corner. Emily leaned up from the couch, feeling all out of sorts. She had no fatigue, but she didn’t feel alert either...She felt...off. The more she looked around the room, the more familiar it felt...But there will still key items that kept her from putting a name to a face. The tv was clearly off by a foot, and the kitchen was supposed to have two sets of cabinets, not three. Was this an apartment? There was a potted plant suspended by a shelf on the wall. It had strange, red, and yellow bulbs hanging from it. They were on the other side of the room, and the more she tried to focus, the hazier they looked. Even still, she could distinctly smell them. The word peaches oddly resonated within her. There was a strange disconnect in her body as she stood up from the couch; her nerves were in limbo. It was almost as if she never registered--or even processed--the actual standing motion. She had just gone from sitting to suddenly standing? But her emotions felt suppressed in a way, prohibiting any kind of natural stress one would normally feel from such a situation. She looked down at herself for a brief moment, seeing that she was in a canvas-white tank top, and equally as white panties. None of this incited any reaction within her though. She simply observed. “Hey hon, what’re we having for dinner?” A voice suddenly ‘existed’, as Emily turned her head with lagging motion towards the kitchen. He was tall, decently-built, dressed in a shirt and shorts meant for lounging. He looked as if he’d skipped out on shaving for a few days. “J...Jack?” The name suddenly came to her head, and just as much to her mouth. What was he doing here? What was she doing here? It had never even crossed her mind to try and remember where she last was or what she was supposed to be doing. It was as if her consciousness had pressed the shut down button at some point, and randomly chose to power back up now. “I’ve been waiting for a while now. You always sleep so much, jeez.” “I already made sandwiches,” The fabricated thoughts were entering Emily’s mind. Actions she had no recollection of suddenly made sense for some reason, but it didn’t feel like she was remembering. Yet again, things had suddenly started to exist within her mind without a second thought or question. Why wasn’t she questioning it? Surely enough, Jack opened the fridge and pulled a massive platter out. They were too much of a blur for Emily to even see if they had been appetizing, but she didn’t seem to be putting stock in anything right now. Though, for no real reason the atmosphere was starting to turn stale--oddly fast, as with each moment she stared at Jack, she felt more and more uncomfortable. The shackles on her most negative emotions becoming unchained. The missing foot from the tv she so nonchalantly noticed earlier started to make her heart thump at an odd pace; and the impressed, faded cushions reminded her of helplessness. The cabinets glared at her with their inanimate grins, as they had stolen something from her. Something important. And whatever she did have, her heart was suddenly aching for it to be returned. Everything that seemed so neutral had manifested an indescribable aura of dread--invading her mind with a sense of loss and abandonment she couldn’t place. Clearly she did not belong here; wherever ‘here’ was. But where was she supposed to go? Where did she belong? “Aren’t you gonna eat?” She looked over to Jack who was currently stuffing his face, bits of visible crust and unknown paste mixed with tomato lazily falling out of his overcapacity-mouth. The longer she stared, the more she could feel her vision tilting on its side. Her head felt upright though, so how was something like that even possible? “You look good, by the way.” On the surface it was so casual, yet so...chilling. His words pierced the woman, as she was struck with a sinking feeling, the room beginning to spin on its invisible axis. Her own breathing was becoming louder than anything else, followed by a suffocatingly-close thumping noise that reverberated from her chest. The whiteness on her clothes had somehow lost their purity, and almost looked stained now; turning from a bright white into an almost dreary grey. And as if instinct suddenly commanded, her body almost leaped towards the first door she could see. She couldn’t remember from a few seconds earlier if what she saw now looked like salvation, but a baseless urge from within called her to it. Her hands clasped the metal knob as if they were attracted like a magnet. Her arms twisted and turned--consumed by an irrational anxiety she was quickly drowning in. Just when it felt like her heart was going to stop, and the noises would pop her eardrums, it opened. And there she was. The only thing that made sense. The only thing she could recognize with absolute certainty in this twisted turmoil and catastrophic conundrum. Her figure emanated peace and serenity, coaxing the girl into forgetting what lay behind her. The chill she had felt was fast dissipating into a minor inconvenience, and soon becoming pure warmth. Emily’s face was warm as well, but also covered a flowing sensation. Tears. They were tears. Emily reached her arms out towards safety and security itself, with her vision becoming more blurry as the thing she sought for most remained still; its position static and absolute--like an immovable pillar. She buried her face into their chest, arms wrapped around their waist like iron locks. More than anything she wanted to remain like this forever. What came before and what would come after were concepts that had simply lost their meaning in the face of the paradise she was now basking in. The name had been so distinct to Emily, as it crept along her tongue; ready to voice a sound that was as sweet as honey and seductive as sugar. The edges of her hair danced their tiny feet across the tips of Emily’s shoulders, inviting a much more pleasant and tingly feeling into her heart. Why was there so much suspense? Why did the utterance of a single word feel so...monumental? Significant? She was too busy to consult logic and reason for the answer though. Simply forming the word with her mouth had taken a much higher priority. And yet, the process felt so natural. It echoed so clearly as if it were like breathing. Still enveloping herself, Emily with a wide-forming grin spoke, pleasantly surprised as her mind and mouth quickly shifted tracks. “Joyce!” “Joyce!” “Joyce!” “Momm--!” And in the blink of an eye, the scene had ceased to be. In a cold sweat, Emily arched forward from the bed with a jolt, trying to control her rapid breathing. She looked around her new, and suddenly different surroundings; trying to absorb the much more tame atmosphere. She was in the bed Joyce had tucked her in, with normal thoughts coming back to her--displacing the very surreal ones she had been experiencing just a few moments ago. It wasn’t nearly as loud now, but she could still feel the knocking in her chest. The curtains were partly drawn, as city-darkness stared back from the other side of the glass windows. She shifted uncomfortably, as the space between her lower thighs along with the sheets felt wet. She felt wet all over. Hot, yet cold at the same time. Everything she wore felt clammy, and the few fringes of hair that dangled in her face were oddly irritating right now. She was too occupied to pay mind to the diaper around her waist, even as it crinkled with each shift in her posture. It felt especially warm down there, but not the kind of warm she’d feel after she’d wet. Pressing a hand to her cheek, that felt warm too, but she didn’t feel embarrassed. She felt strange, only now she had the agency to do something about it. Though, a small enigma inside of her wanted someone else to address it. Someone specific. “Emmy...It’s time to get up!” Joyce slowly opened the door, already eager to watch the smaller girl stir awake. Only that it wouldn’t be like the usual routine this time; not when Emily had already woken up on her own, which definitely did not suit her. Hence the reason why Joyce was so concerned after seeing her unusual mannerisms. “Emmy? Are you okay?” She sat beside the girl who was still collecting herself, just noticing Joyce’s entrance now. She draped an arm around her, causing her to notice the unmistakable warmth of her skin and sweat-drenched back. “Emily, why’re you so warm…? And you’re covered in sweat! What happened?” “I...” Her voice started, but it struggled to find the rest of its words. “I don’t know….” It became thick as a helpless feeling welled up from within. “I had this really weird dream, and...” “Was it a nightmare?” Joyce had taken the moment to press the back of her hand to Emily’s cheek as well, feeling just like her arm. How could she have shifted like this so rapidly? Had Joyce failed to notice something when she first came home? “How do you feel right now?” “I feel hot...and cold,” She grimaced. It was almost soothing to have Joyce come to her rescue, but old habits were still irking her for deferring her own wellbeing to someone else so easily. “And in my dream there was Jack...and something about eating?” Even she knew it sounded ridiculous. “I think it was our apartment...and nothing looked right. I felt...lonely...But, then you were there, and then...” The dream was strangely becoming harder and harder to trace. All that she could remember were the sensations and feelings that had become so much more vivid towards the dream’s climax. And then, she’d been jolted awake by who knows what. “It’s all right...I’m here now,” Joyce pulled her in for a hug, as Emily clutched tighter. “But still, how could this have happened? Have you not been feeling well?” “Well...I don’t know...” Emily partly shrugged. “I suppose I haven’t been feeling 100% lately...” “How long is ‘lately’?” “The past couple days maybe? Four?” Joyce sighed. Not because Emily hadn’t told her sooner, but because Joyce wasn’t able to tell until now. She was her own person, but it was hard to refute that since treating Emily like her baby, it was difficult not to see the girl as partly her responsibility. What bothered Joyce the most though was how she clearly didn’t live up to her assumed role. She’d need to do better… “Let’s get you cleaned up, sweetheart, okay?” She lightly rubbed Emily’s back. “Then we’ll figure out what to do from there.” Joyce had already peeled back the covers, pressing her hand on the spot in between Emily’s legs--close to the crotch of her diaper. That didn’t feel dry either, but it obviously wasn’t urine. She’d certainly sweat up a storm though. “I just need to go get something to dry you off with. It looks like you’re damp all over.” Her heart ached to see Emily so distraught. It was the first time she’d seen this kind of physical stress weigh over her. Whenever she was like this emotionally, Joyce always knew there’d be a light at the end of the tunnel, but sickness was always downright insufferable, and there were few prizes for the pain. Emily had motioned herself to the edge of the bed, ready to follow Joyce in tow. “Oh no,” Joyce firmly, but gently, planted Emily back on the bedside. “You stay put, got it? I don’t want you lifting a finger.” “But...” Emily whined with the fatigue in her voice beyond evident. Even she knew arguing was an exercise in futility. Joyce had apparently read her mind though, because she left the room without another word. They both knew Emily had both little bark and bite right now. She came back in record timing, slowly brightening the room with the dimmer, joined with a towel in hand. It was set next to Emily whilst she knelt down to be at a better level with her, working away at the buttons on her blouse--a process which Emily did little to fight. “Sorry honey,” Joyce’s hands went behind Emily’s back. “Bra needs to come off too. Gotta make sure we get you in every nook and cranny.” The clasp was undone and gently slipped off. The only things that remained were her socks and diaper. Deftly, she rolled them off her feet and laid the towel out on the bed, situating Emily’s back on it. “I know you didn’t wet your diaper, but I think we can both say it’s probably not dry either. That’s a fair assumption, right?” This time, Emily’s cheeks weren’t burning because she had a fever. Bashfully, she nodded her head, as the pillows beside her seemed much more interesting--much more than the caretaker who had just confronted the state of her underwear. For a brief moment, the room was filled with the sound of adhesive tearing from plastic. Once Joyce pulled the front of the diaper off, Emily hadn’t realized just how much of a sauna it felt like in between her legs until then. A rush of cool air pressed her nether regions, stimulating an oddly refreshing sensation. “Yep,” Joyce lifted her legs, fully removing the undergarment from underneath. “No pee this time!” She joked, hoping that she could at least improve the girl’s mood in the slightest. “And...up we go!” Joyce taking her by the wrists, stood her on the floor, causing Emily to suddenly take hold of Joyce’s shoulders. On the ground, she had a sinking feeling in her stomach. Not the kind like in her dream, but a physically uncomfortable one. It felt hard and heavy; like she ate something bad. But she hadn’t eaten anything in quite a while… Joyce had taken the towel from behind and got to work, staying true to her word about every ‘nook and cranny’. Up and down on each leg, including the small pockets behind her knees, Joyce dried her off in every spot. Along the way she grabbed the other areas likely for build-up as well, including underneath the bum, between the legs, armpits, and back. “Do you think I got everywhere?” Joyce slung the towel over her shoulder. “Any spots you want me to go back over?” “No...I think you got everything.” She responded in an almost out-of-it voice. Everything was starting to feel exhausting. She just wanted to lay down, especially when she was starting to feel slight pains from her stomach. Emily’s hair was brushed to the side, revealing her forehead, which Joyce pressed to her own. It certainly felt warm, which confirmed the suspicions both of them already had. “Does it hurt anywhere? Any spot that might feel a little worse than the others?” She had half a mind to give Dr Hall a call right now. It hadn’t been more than twenty minutes, and Joyce felt terrible for letting this kind of pain persist. “My stomach feels kind of weird...” Emily frowned just for reminding herself of it. “I keep getting pains from it.” “Your stomach?” Joyce lightly set her palm against it. Was it the stomach bug then? She couldn’t say for sure, but it was looking more and more like the likely assumption. “Okay, well, let’s get something for you to wear at least.” Setting the naked Emily back on the bed, Joyce went over to her dresser and pulled out a shirt, along with a pair of bra and panties. “Do I...have to wear so much stuff?” Emily wanted to chastise herself for sounding so selfish, but the idea of clothes sounded unbearably suffocating right now. Just looking at the stuff already made her want to sweat. “I’m willing to compromise a little, hon,” Joyce had already turned back to the dresser. “But if you start sweating again, then it’s gonna go right to the sheets. I don’t mind changing you or the bed at all, but could you at least try it? If it turns out you don’t like it, we’ll try it your way. Alright?” Emily nodded her head in response, but she wasn’t sure if Joyce even saw, as she heard the sounds of drawers opening and closing. “Okay, how about this?” Joyce came back now with only two pieces of clothing: A pair of panties without the matching bra, and a blue short-sleeve shirt with two illustrated kittens on the front. She wasn’t even sure if it’d go past her belly-button. “But...” Emily was hating herself even more for feeling increasingly selfish. With someone else willing to bend over backward for her, she was completely and fully taking advantage of another person. And yet, a small voice in the back of her head kept her going with these ridiculous and childish demands. “It’s the weekend...” Joyce’s brow admittedly furrowed the smallest bit, unsure of what Emily was getting at. She’d never had trouble with deciphering Emily’s wants and needs, but with her being sick it was a little harder to tell. Only by chance when she caught the removed diaper out of the corner of her vision did she have a pretty solid idea. “Emmy...” Joyce looked back at the girl, with a delicate and loving expression on her face. Emily became a bit teary-eyed in response, as her revealed message and stomach knots were becoming overwhelming. “You’ll always be my little girl if that’s what you want, but I want to focus on making you feel better. Are you sure you’d rather be wearing one over panties?” Sniffling, all Emily did was meekly nod her head. “Okay,” Joyce smiled. “I won’t ask anything else about it, but you need to tell me if you want to stop, or if you need to use the bathroom.” The second bit was breaking their rules, but considering how big of a first this was, Joyce was more than willing to make an exception. Being this early into the game, it felt downright cruel to force something like that on Emily; even if she was the one asking for diapers. Still, the thought of Emily being the one to request them was adorable beyond words! If she wasn’t sick, Joyce would have been smothering her little girl in kisses and hugs by now. Making one last trip to the dresser, Joyce switched the panties out for something a bit more ‘appropriate’, and came back to Emily, still naked, who was quietly laying on the bed, waiting with the slightest bit of anticipation for what was to come. Joyce had a slight grin on her face when she saw Emily’s, as the expression was innocently written all over her face. For a brief moment, amongst the uncertainty and strangeness which had plagued Emily’s body, the one thing that gave her the illusion of normalcy was Joyce’s intoxicating hum, as it told her everything was going to be alright. The smell of powder drifted to her nostrils as plastic and padding were unfolded, inviting her bottom to an even softer cushion than the bed itself. The snug feeling when the tapes were applied had been both literally and metaphorically solidified and emphasized. An odd sense of ecstasy washed over Emily as the atmosphere soaked her through and through. As weird as it was to say, one thing finally felt right. “There we go!” Joyce chuckled. “Right as rain!” She pulled the kitten shirt over Emily’s head, guiding her arms through the sleeves. And just like Emily suspected, it stopped just about at her midriff. “Feel better now?” Emily nodded, glad to be somewhat sorted again. All that could make her feel even better now was one of two things: She be stuck in an ice-cold freezer, or she be absolved of this sickness altogether. “Good. Just let me know if there’s anything else I can do.” Joyce spoke, brushing her fingers through Emily’s hair. “Do you feel like eating right now?” Even the thought itself had Emily’s insides twisting and turning. “No…” She almost grimaced. “I don’t think I could eat anything right now...” She had a sudden realization, and remembered part of the reason why Joyce had her sleeping in the first place. She suddenly wanted to take her words back, just so Joyce’s efforts wouldn’t have been in vain. “Wait, no...I’ll eat--!” A finger was pressed to her lips. “I appreciate the kindness, Emmy,” Joyce smirked, with the kind of motherly smile that had Emily figured out down to a T. “But I’d much rather you stay honest with me. I don’t think my feelings matter as much as your physical well-being right now anyway.” She felt like complete trash right now for wasting the time and effort Joyce spent making dinner. Surely she could finish one plate of food! Even that idea was hard to stomach in her mind, though...Still, Emily could only imagine how long Joyce must have spent to make one of her irresistibly delicious meals, and here she was, practically spitting in the woman’s face for turning it down. All the good vibes she had just spent soaking in paled in comparison to the guilt she was now ridden with. “Now that’s enough,” Joyce in almost a stern voice spoke to Emily. “I think you’re worrying a bit too much about the grownups here.” Her dominant and motherly voice had Emily’s insides suddenly squirming in all the right ways...She could feel her face growing red. “We’re trying to make you feel better here, not Mommy. Got it, silly?” Her smile shined yet another ray of pleasure down on Emily. “If you want me to be happy, you’ll focus on making yourself nice and healthy again.” She was at a loss for words, as the cushiony comforts of her bed and underwear were starting to call her back to someplace much more easygoing and pleasurable. Her eyes started to feel a bit tougher to keep open now… “The only person you’re allowed to be worried about right now is yourself. I want you to call me for anything you need, okay? It doesn’t matter what time it is, or what I’m doing. If you do start to feel hungry again, I can do something about that too. But, at no time do I ever want you to feel bad, selfish, or mean for relying on me so much. Let’s not forget that you’re Mommy’s little girl, after all. This is what you’re supposed to do when you’re not feeling well. Even when you’re not sick it’s my job to take care of you. So if I catch someone trying to be a big girl without Mommy’s help, there’s gonna be someone going over my lap for a spanking, got it?” Joyce’s words were so convincing, and impossible to refute. Emily couldn’t tell how serious her threat at the end was, but her initial spiel felt too absolute to defy. She had been put in her place, and the feeling was amazing. “Mhm...” Emily spoke in a hushed voice. “And I’m sorry...” Though in Joyce’s mind, to be sorry was a ridiculous notion. “I know you are...and Mommy will know for sure if you can get some for shuteye for me, okay? Just worry about getting better. There’ll be plenty of time to spend together after you’re not feeling so groggy anymore. I’m gonna go see what we might have for that tummy of yours. Get some rest in the meantime.” “Thank...” She had already started to murmur. “...you...” Satisfied, Joyce collected the towel and discarded diaper, dimming the lights and leaving the door a bit more open than she did the first time. She’d probably give the girl another half hour before she came to check in on her. She couldn’t help but a feel a tad bit glum, though, when she came back into the kitchen. Their food had become lukewarm, and she knew Emily’s plate--the one filled with a chicken breast that was cut into bite-sized pieces, likely wouldn’t be touched tonight. Still as a precaution, she wrapped the plate in plastic and set it on the counter, waiting for it to fully cool off until she put it in the fridge. Silently she took a few bites from her own food while she searched her medicine cabinet, grabbing a few things that might alleviate Emily’s discomfort. The only silver lining there was to this whole ordeal was possibly having more time to do some painting. Maybe even browse for a few more items to buy as well...The thoughts didn’t do much to dampen the mood however. She was far too preoccupied with Emily’s sudden and unfortunate sickness. Now she didn’t feel like eating so much herself. Clearing her plate, Joyce left the medication on the counter while she switched back to her painting clothes. She set a timer on her phone and picked up a brush. When Emily came to, she wasn’t exactly feeling much better than before, but at least not so sweaty. “Emmy,” Joyce cooed, feeling the girl’s forehead. “It’s time for some medicine, okay? Can you sit up for me?” Drowsily, with blurry vision, Emily allowed herself to be positioned up against the headboard while she tried her best not to stir. She wasn’t 100% aware of what was going on, but the familiar voice was coaxing enough to listen. “Such a good girl. Think you could swallow a few pills for me? I have some water to wash them down.” She opened her mouth, feeling a hand deposit two pills, resting them on her tongue. A small stream of cool water came next, slowly stirring her senses back to reality. Swallowing, she could now see Joyce in front of her. “There we go. Hopefully that’ll do something for your tummy...” She set the glass on the nightstand, turning her focus back to Emily. “Are you feeling any better?” “Not really...” She wasn’t sure how long she’d been out, but it was true when she said she hadn’t improved. If anything, maybe the sleep helped her forget about the discomfort. “I just wish my stomach didn’t hurt so much...” “I know...I’ll try and do everything I can to make you feel better, okay? If nothing’s improved by tomorrow, I’ll see what I can do about getting Dr. Hall to visit.” “But Joyce, I’m sure all I need to do is--” “Ah, ah! Did we already forget? You’re supposed to let Mommy do all the heavy lifting. Whether it’s just sleep or not, I’d much rather I have a second opinion that I can trust weigh in on this. All you need to do is tell me how I can make you feel more comfortable. And speaking of which, do you need to use the bathroom?” “No...” She hadn’t felt any different than from before. In all good aspects and bad. “Okay then,” Joyce helped her lay back down. “But you know...” She whispered into Emily’s ear. “If you wanted to use your diaper too, that’d be perfectly alright with Mommy, okay?” Emily’s cheeks burned at the suggestion, but her heart skipped a beat as well. “I’d have no problem changing you, if that’s what you want. Whatever makes you feel more comfy.” Using her diaper? While she was sick? The thought bothered Emily, but then again, she was the one who asked for a diaper while Joyce was the one motioning towards panties. They had become total polar opposites indeed. Even if it wasn’t the diaper Emily was directly asking for, rather the experience of Joyce being her guardian, it was still because of herself that she was wearing one. The thought of peeing in her diaper though was a tough pill to swallow--no pun intended--but it wasn’t impossible… “Try not to dwell on it too much, my little thinker.” Joyce laughed as she gave Emily one last sip of water, then booped her on the nose. “Just know that when the time comes, I’ll encourage any decision you make. Now! I think I’ve kept you awake for long enough. Sweet dreams, my little kitten! If you need me, just call. I’ll leave the rest of the water here if you want some more. I’ll be back to check in on you a few more times, but don’t expect me to wake you up.” A light inside her head suddenly flickered. “And,” She brushed the top of Emily’s head one more time. “If you do decide to go potty before I check on you, I’ll understand that as you asking me to change you. And if it’s anything like last time, I’m sure you won’t be awake for it either!” She chuckled once more, choosing not to poke at the flustered, yet excited expression on Emily’s face any further. The lights in the room faded to nothing once more, and Emily soon found her way back to her dreams. “So how’s Dad been? I know it’s been a bit since we last talked...” Joyce brushed back and forth, slowly watching the colors come together. “Oh, you know how he is,” The phone loudly spoke through its speaker. “Same old, same old. You’d think he’s still an official chef if you didn’t know he was already retired!” The female voice laughed. “I’m sure you’ll be just like him whenever you decide to retire. Only thing is that you’ll probably be a lot younger than he was when you do it.” Joyce planned to keep working for a fair amount of time, but her mom wasn’t exactly wrong...With just a few more years, the company was projected to experience a significant amount of growth; the kind that would set her up for multiple lifetimes, including anyone else she decided to bring with her...She liked working though. It gave her something to do, just like her moments with Emily. It made her feel...needed. “Maybe...” Joyce passively spoke, her mind caught between multiple things. “I like where I am right now though, so I don’t see it happening very soon. Maybe I’ll just take a few more vacations in the meantime?” She laughed. “I heard London can be nice when it isn’t raining. Maybe Australia when the sun isn’t scorching?” “Take me and your father with you too!” Her mother’s voice jokingly butt in. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get that man away from his hobbies! Maybe we could get John and Hannah to come too! I can’t remember the last time we had a family vacation.” “But we do stuff with each other every now and then,” Joyce reasoned. “I’m always flying down for Christmas and Thanksgiving.” “Looking for excuses to not spend time with the family, then?” Her mom sarcastically scolded. “I’d be dying to know when you might bring along your significant other with you, too! I’m sure John will someday, but I’d like some grandkids from you too, you know!” “Mom...” Joyce tried to sound sympathetic, but was a little annoyed after this had been brought up the fiftieth time from just this past year. “I don’t know...maybe soon...” “Wait, so that does mean you’ve met someone?” Joyce’s carelessness had clearly piqued her mother’s interest. “What’s their name? How long have you two been seeing each other?” The faster her questions came, Joyce oddly found herself becoming more and more flustered. She’d never been on the defensive like this in a while, especially not when she was the one in charge of Emily...Setting down the brush with a sigh, she stood up with the phone, crinkling the plastic tarp underneath, and exited the room. “No, I have not met anyone,” Joyce tried her best to do damage control. “What I meant by that was the idea of possibly dating soon. It’s just never been appealing, that’s all.” Her heart started to beat when she suddenly second-guessed her tone. Was that too unconvincing? Was it too mechanical? “Right,” Her mom didn’t sound very convinced. Honestly, it was likely Joyce’s fault for thinking that she could convince the woman, who knew all her quirks, otherwise. “When you do decide to tell me though, let me know if it should be for either Thanksgiving or Christmas I should be setting out a plate!” She wanted to groan, but kept herself reserved. She took the opportunity to slip Emily’s plate in the fridge. Christmas with Emily...It was so far away, and there was no telling for how long this relationship would continue...but...She could only imagine the sheer cuteness of getting her little girl’s padded bottom up and about on Christmas morning; changing her before opening all the presents Santa brought her, and-- “Joyce? Are you still there?” “Uhm, yeah. Sorry about that.” Refocusing her train of thought, she poured herself a cup of coffee from the half-filled pot. “I asked when you might be free? Your dad and I have been talking about coming down to visit you. We haven’t had the chance to see your new place, you know!” “I don’t know, I’m always busy...” This was partly true. Her mom just tended to be an awful bit pushy. She hoped she wasn’t like her… “So I should take that as you’re free, then?” “Wh-...what?” Joyce stammered. “Why would you say that?” “Coming from the certain someone who could go from one day, saying that they were ‘too busy,’ to hopping on a plane to California the next?” “Okay, fine, yes! Or, I don’t know...Whatever,” Joyce sighed. “It’s up to you.” Ugh! How she always managed to twist her around her finger always annoyed Joyce. She loved her mom dearly, but man if it wasn’t a bit too much at times… All she could hear was Joyce’s mom laugh over the phone. “Alright sweetheart! Just remember, your words, not mine!” Joyce took a sip from her mug. She felt especially on edge now with Emily in her life. Keeping her mom from her was like trying to dance on the beach without touching the sand. Impossible, and only a matter of time. Even when they were separated by countless states, she didn’t feel like her secrets were safe… “Anyways,” Joyce quickly tried to change the topic. “How’s John been? I know you guys keep in touch with him more than I do.” It’s not that her relationship with her brother was bad, it was just that their communication was a bit poor. Heck, the biggest reason she was actively talking with her mom was that she was the one initiating conversation with Joyce. None of it was out of malice; just bad habits. “A lot like your dad: same old same old. He and Hannah are engaged now, though! They’re planning for the wedding to be sometime early next year! So be ready for that, and let me know if they’re going to need an extra seat! I know you think I’m just trying to tease you, but I’m being serious!” “Mhmm...” Now it was Joyce’s turn to sound unconvinced. She took another sip from her coffee. “How’s the weather been there lately? I know we nearly don’t get as much of the seasons as you do, but honestly-” Her voice was drowned out by a third one entering the room. “Joyce?” From Joyce’s perspective, it didn’t sound digital. Casually, Joyce turned her head to the kitchen entrance, blessed with a sight that wanted to make her heart melt. In front of her was a small, little girl, with raven-black hair hit with a small case of bedhead. A brown blanket was wrapped around her shoulders almost like a cloak, and in between she could see a blue t-shirt peeking from underneath, including the slight bulge of a white, puffy undergarment. Her face screamed pure innocence, capable of no wrongdoing--yet so bashful looking for no real reason whatsoever. “Emmy, honey, I thought I said--” The sight had been too breathtaking, as well as too distracting. Wide-eyed, Joyce quickly turned her head back to her phone, seeing that it was still on speaker. “Uh, Mom?” Joyce wanted to cross her fingers, and hope that somehow her mom hadn’t been listening, or divine intervention itself had disconnected the call. “Yeees?” Her mother’s voice responded expectantly. Her tone had reserved curiosity written all over it. Joyce’s poorly-constructed facade had been ruined, and she knew it too. The best she could do now was hope to delay it… “I’ll...be right back. I just need to take care of something...” Without waiting for a response, she tapped the ‘hold’ button on her screen, and turned back to the much more adorable-looking Emily. “Emmy, you know you were supposed to call me if you needed anything.” The taller woman tried to seem stern, but Emily’s current look made that all near-impossible. “I know, and I’m sorry, but--” What she’d just done seemed to click, however. “I’m sorry! Were you in the middle of a call? If I knew, I wouldn’t have--” She was quickly spun around by a second set of hands, as Joyce ushered her out of the kitchen. “I think we’ve had enough of being sorry for one day, missy.” Being selfish was something Emily wasn’t a total stranger to now, but not completely familiar with either. “Now tell me, what’s wrong?” “I...” Emily shuffled the slightest bit. “I needed to use the bathroom...” “Then let’s get you on the potty!” Joyce cooed, taking the blanket from her and setting it on the couch. She wasn’t going to poke or prod over the diaper, as she’d already promised not to. She was being honest when she said that she wanted to focus on getting Emily back to 100%. Adding any unnecessary stress to that would of course not be happening. Once inside, Joyce undid the tapes on her diaper and let it drop to the floor. Expectedly, it was dry. Not that there was any problem with that. Her being sick made it an exception. “Would you like some privacy?” Definitely an exception. Quietly, Emily nodded her head, too busy looking at the ground than at Joyce. “Okay then. I’ll give you a few minutes after you flush, then I’ll come back in to put your diaper back on. Sound good?” She again agreed, and Joyce left the room, closing the door behind her. Now alone with her thoughts, she sighed. What a treat it was to see Emily like that, but god if it couldn’t have been worse timing...It almost felt expected to pay a price for something so amazing. Probably the one person she didn’t want to reveal Emily to, or at least not for a while, and she’d done it. By no means was Emily at fault, but Joyce still didn’t know how she’d fix the situation. She only had the time there was between now, and sending Emily back off to bed to come up with some idea on how to prevent a misunderstanding--or rather, the truth. Maybe she could just hang up? Pretend her phone died? Fat chance. That would be too predictable, coming from her mom’s perspective. The sound of a toilet flushing could be heard. She gave it another minute like she promised, then re-entered the bathroom. Already standing, Emily waited pensively with her hands wrapped around each other behind her back. “Okay, back to bed, Emmy. I’ll be right behind you.” Joyce leaned over and picked up the diaper, following back to Emily’s room. Laying down, Joyce re-diapered the girl, checking to make sure the fit was as snug as it had been before, then settled her underneath the covers once more. “Still not feeling up to eating right now?” She gave her another sip of water. “Even if it’s just a small snack, I don’t mind, you know.” Emily shook her head, giving Joyce the response she wasn’t hoping for--for two reasons, actually. The biggest, of course, was Emily’s own well-being, and the second was postponing the call she had on hold...Guess her luck had run out on both fronts. “And remember,” Joyce leaned in close. “If you need me for anything, you…?” She looked at Emily expectantly, who looked to be a moment away from giggling. “Call...” Emily spoke, finishing Joyce’s sentence with the correct answer. “Good. Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” Joyce left the room, dreadfully returning back to the kitchen, already missing her bonding with Emily. Almost taking a deep breath, she hit the ‘resume’ button. “Sorry about that, I’m back. I just needed to-” “You ADOPTED?!” Her mother’s voice shouted, her voice being emphasized by speaker mode. “Adop-...What? Why would you think that? I was only-” “You mean to tell me that it wasn’t your kid you were speaking to? Unless-! You two are already that intimate? And I suppose I assumed because the other voice sounded female, but I suppose...” “Stop! Stop, stop, stop!” Joyce could feel her own cheeks getting hot. She quickly took the phone off speaker and pressed it to her ear. “I did not adopt!” In a quieter voice, Joyce near-hissed over the phone. “And you’re not dating either?” “No! It’s...it’s...It’s complicated...” Joyce didn’t have the energy or will to explain this over the phone right now. She felt exposed in an uncomfortable way. “Don’t tell me...married?” “Mom,” Joyce let out a small groan. She was ready to hang up. “Stop.” “Fine! Fine! At least tell me her name?” Outright annoyed, Joyce tapped her fingers on the kitchen table repeatedly, debating whether or not she should release such a crucial piece of information. “Emily. Her name’s Emily.” “That’s a beautiful name! Though, I could have sworn I heard you call her Emmy?” “No, I think you misheard me.” Joyce was quick to correct her, but she didn’t really consider whether or not she sounded convincing. Be it by logic or force, she wanted to steer her mom in the other direction. The cat was already out of the bag, but there was no reason the kitten had to be too… “She’s...She isn’t feeling well right now.” A sudden idea struck Joyce; a way to somehow turn this situation around, or at least deflect some of the pressure. “I...I think she has the stomach bug.” “Oh, that’s never any fun. Poor thing. When did she come down with it? She’s been resting, right?” “She only told me how she was feeling after work today,” Joyce relaxed a little; relieved that she finally wasn’t being bombarded with such hard-hitting questions. “Since then it’s all been downhill. I offered to make her something, but she doesn’t feel like eating either.” “Well, that’s no surprise. You and John weren’t very active either when you were like that. It’s no surprise, but all I know is sleep to be the best medicine for that. Maybe some over-the-counter medication too.” “Really? There’s nothing else I can do for her?” Joyce wasn’t thrilled to hear she’d already reached her limit. “You don’t think it’s worth calling in my doctor?” “Honestly, for a girlfriend you’d think they’re your daughter with how concerned you sound!” “I told you, she isn’t my-” “Relax! I’m kidding. You always seem to have such a temper whenever we talk about your love life...What I’m trying to say is that you’re worrying too much.” Her mom laughed from the other line, while Joyce’s brow furrowed. “For someone that runs a medical business though, I think you’re fretting over Emily more than you should. Call the doctor, if that will put you at ease, but I can’t imagine they’ll have much else to say. Your heart’s in a good place, and I’m sure Emily knows that you care, but a cure-all for something like the common cold isn’t feasible. Not in today’s age at least.” “...I’m sorry...You’re right. I just want her to be okay.” Another sip of coffee wouldn’t do much to calm her nerves, but it at least set her in the right direction. “I know you do. And if there’s one thing I could suggest, maybe put a cool washcloth over her head? I can’t say how much it’ll do for the stomach pains, but it’d probably keep her from feeling too warm. If she’s like any other person, it will.” “Thank you...I’ll do that after I hang up.” “Good. Now, are you planning to tell me how long you two have known each other?” Her mom’s voice gradually reeled back into its excited tone. Rather than being irked, Joyce couldn’t help but smile with a sigh. “Three weeks? Four? It’s on its way to being a month, I think.” “That long? I’ve never heard of you being with someone for longer than a week! At least, no one that you’ve told me about...” “No, mom. There’s been no one I haven’t told you about.” Though, there would have been exactly one, had Emily not wandered into the kitchen. Not that Joyce could ever be mad at her. It was impossible to be angry at someone so adorable! “She’s...special.” “Special? You’ll need to elaborate for me. What’s she like?” “She’s kind, considerate, thoughtful...affectionate.” “Well, that’s great and all, but so is your father.” It felt like Joyce had been walloped over the head. “I’m asking what Emily is like, not for some generic person that’s as cookie-cutter as the rest!” “Well, she’s open-minded, but can be a bit defensive whenever I try to buy her things. She doesn’t like it when I spend money on her.” “Do you let her spend money on you?” “...No...” “I wonder why she might feel that way, then...” “Anyways,” Joyce tried to usher the conversation along. “She likes to sleep a lot. She’s almost like a cat,” She couldn’t help but sound a slight giggle at the thought. “She’s always managing to surprise me in her own ways, too. Just when I think I’ve figured her out, she’s always pulling the curtain from my eyes.” “Anything else?” Joyce could admittedly fawn over Emily for what would feel like hours, but kept a mental block in her mind from sharing too much about her. The line between what was considered their adult, and mommy relationships was mostly there, but hazy enough for Joyce to keep her distance. “She has trouble being honest with herself, or is at least trying to make me happy more than herself. In the end though I think we’re both in a place that’s mutually good. Oh! And she hates horror, too! Last week we were trying to watch a movie, and she picked out a scary one. It didn’t seem like she knew what she was getting into though,” Joyce couldn’t help but chuckle from remembering. “Sure enough, thirty minutes into the movie I was ready to pull the plug for her sake. But then...” Joyce let her voice trail off, as she realized the territory she was creeping into. “Well...I think you get the idea.” There was almost a sniffle over the phone. “Mom? Are you alright?” “Hm? I’m fine? What do you mean? I’m just a little surprised, that’s all.” “Surprised about what?” “You! I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about anyone like this in, well, ever!” “...Well...” Joyce could feel her face turn the slightest bit red. “I don’t know...Emily’s special...that’s all.” “She sounds like it, dear. I look forward to meeting her!” She could feel her heart tripping over a pebble at the sound of those words. Introducing Emily to her parents...Her parents meeting Emily...How would that even go? Would it even go? It was too much to consider; too much to think. “But...” Joyce’s voice became a little thick. “You don’t think it’s...strange?” “What is?” “Because, she’s a...” “‘She’?” “...” “Joyce, for a dignified businesswoman, you really can quake over the smallest of things...” Her mother sighed. “Honey, for the longest time, your father and I have only ever wanted you and your brother to be happy. However you achieve that means is completely up to you, and who are we to judge that? Not that my opinion or anyone else’s matters, but no, I don’t think it’s strange, whoever you decide to be with. What concerns me the most is you being happy. Besides, didn’t I already say that I wanted to meet her? If there’s anyone that can keep my daughter on the hook for this long, clearly it means they’re a keeper!” It was Joyce’s turn to wipe a tear from her eye, as she took the final sip from her mug. “Thank you, mom...” “Thank you for letting me in for once! See how productive we can be with a second set of ears?” Even Joyce couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Now let’s get into the nitty-gritty, though. How did you two meet?” “Well...” She stopped to think for a second, then stood to get a second pot of coffee going. “I was driving back from work...” Heyo, how have you all been? Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! The next one should have this thread's posting at pace with the other, which is good on my part. Hope you've been enjoying the read so far, and this gives a little bit of insight/depth on Joyce's character? There'll be more to it for sure, but it's, a matter of time! As always, thank you all so much for reading, sharing your thoughts and giving input. I cannot appreciate it enough knowing that there are people who are interested in the stuff I put out. So one last time, thanks!

Nifty chapter! Gotta say though, my favorite part was the small reference to "A Little Legal Issue." Something that's been growing on me lately is taking a collection of separate works and throwing in little bits and pieces to interconnect them. It's what really builds a universe and a few easter eggs are always fun to stumble upon, and makes for a fun crumb trail for avid readers. Any universe I think has a cool thing going when it stops being isolated instances and takes the extra step to reference other moments that have or are happening at the same time. That being said, not doing so in no way detracts from the story! I just find it to be a fun addition. Still, sorry about getting so hung up on that one small point; really went on a tangent there. Overall, I'm having a fun time reading your work and look forward to seeing more! Who knows what's going to happen with Stacy and Bella? (You, of course, but everyone else not so much.) Thanks for posting!

10 - Loose Ends and New Beginnings “Joyce, I’ll be back!” Emily called from the other side of the Apartment, who was busy slipping her shoes on. She already had her jacket on and a duffel bag set beside her. “Back?” Joyce curiously called in return. It was hard to hear Emily over the paper shredder. These pesky receipts were starting to stack up and they were accumulated evidence. “Hang on, wait there for me!” She checked the clock and could see it was nearly 7:30 at night. Where could she be going at this time? Emily was an adult (at least out of their playtime) and shouldn’t have the right to be questioned as to where she went, but it certainly wasn’t like her usual routine. Folding her glasses and setting them on the desk, her bare feet traversed the wooden floors, her steps becoming more and more audible to Emily, and soon making the distance between them nonexistent. Just as it was described, Emily was already kicking her feet into the Converse Joyce had bought her, fitting them for a snug fit, and had the large bag slung over her shoulder. “Where’re you going?” Joyce poked out of curiosity. As weird as it felt, she found it odd to imagine Emily leaving the house unless she was with her. Not because Emily couldn’t be trusted, but it was only when they were both leaving the house or for work that it came off as ordinary... “I think it’s high time I finally go and get the rest of my clothes? Is it okay if I bring some of my stuff back here?” Emily sounded to be fishing for assurance. Everything Joyce had provided her with was plentiful and beautiful, but there was still a piece of herself stranded in what was starting to feel like an old chapter to a book in the midst of pleasant foreshadowing. She’d reached a much more notable highlight in her life and was ready to give it her full attention. It was Jack’s place the covers were ready to close on. She’d put it off for long enough, and she did want her clothes and other few possessions back. It was perfectly alright, but it didn’t do much to affect the initial shock value. “O-of course!” Joyce still slightly stammered. “You can just keep them in your room with the rest of your stuff. There’s no issue.” She had hoped Emily was beginning to feel comfortable enough around here, even though her usual catnaps were enough to suggest that. “Are you...sure?” Emily asked with uncertainty. It was one thing for Joyce to buy her things with her money; making them her purchases and her items. With that in mind, it felt oddly strange to bring in an outside piece of her life into another person’s home. Admittedly, it felt invasive; despite the chemistry they already had. “Emily,” Joyce started with a sorrowful smile. “You should know better than to be so hung up on things like that.” While it was never explicitly discussed, apparently Joyce had been the only one jumping to conclusions and getting ahead of themselves. “I was hoping you were starting to think of this as your home...” her voice grew a little quiet at the end. “But!” She quickly interjected herself. “If you do ever decide to leave, that’s understandable as well...” The second line openly came off as tad bit more melancholic than the first. To even openly suggest the possibility was a painful reminder of how the outcome could jeopardize her calculated and deep-seeded plan, but more importantly the bond they’d formed together and the future they could have. Thoughts like that were scary to Joyce. Her heart pleaded to her brain to stop thinking such things. “Well…” Emily shyly turned part of her face away; a bit embarrassed to be bombarded with such heavy and emotionally-invested topics. “I haven’t really planned to...leave...” Emily found herself choosing her words carefully, in a way that expressed her intent without coming off as a homeless freeloader. “And I...” the longer she spoke the harder it was to lift the words and propel them from her mouth. “Kind of like being with you, here...But I think I should start paying rent!” Emily quickly tried to assert her moral compass and justify some fair reason to make living here acceptable. “It’s only fair since you already do so-” A pair of sweatered arms wrapped around Emily and the soft, brown hair of a familiar face pressed against her cheek. “Then there’s no problem!” Joyce beamed. “You can live here for as long as you’d like Emily,” She glowed, pulling herself back just a bit so they could be face to face. “But your money belongs to you,” She looked a bit more serious. “How you choose to spend it is entirely up to you, but I won’t accept it.” Joyce had put her foot down. “But that’s not fair to you, Joyce. I’m an adult. I work, and I should at least pay something for living here-” “And you already do.” Joyce interrupted. “Maybe you were just in need of some shelter the first few days I found you, but I think we’re a bit more than just strangers at this point?” Joyce couldn’t help but smile knowing even herself that it could have very well been the understatement of the year. After everything they’d been through together, it was impossible to think of Emily as just another face. She’d become something essential, as in turn the same was for Emily in her heart, despite trying to be an adult in defiance to it. Emily’s face read like a book when she grew red from hearing those words, already having flashbacks of the person she wanted as a landlord; a person who bathed her naked and diapered her on multiple occasions. Not to mention she watched her go both number one and two...With that kind of rationale, even she was starting to feel foolish for suggesting such adult things; in the face of a person who cared for her in her most vulnerable state. “And, I’ll have you know you do in fact have rent!” Joyce retorted, spinning the girl who was moments from heading out and planting themselves back on the floor with the smaller one’s waist locked in arms. In an exaggerated motion Joyce rubbed their cheeks together as she made playful noises. “You pay me in snuggles and cuddles each and every day!” Joyce cooed. “And it looks like rent’s due again!” She squeezed Emily and hoped to never let her go. Beyond being the key that unlocked the hole in her heart she always wanted to fill and reciprocate with, having another soul in the expansive apartment was something nice in itself. Emily called herself an adult, which was true. But now she was only an adult some of the time, meaning the rest was dedicated to the babyhood she indulged in with Joyce. That in itself was more than enough, and the idea of money even being remotely involved sullied the innocence and purity of what they had. Besides, how could a mother expect to charge her own baby? Emily couldn’t help but laugh from Joyce’s touchy manner, and kept her happy remarks quiet. For Joyce to take in and pay for another resident, it was a mere drop in the bucket as far as her salary went. And despite the unspoken flow of things, telling Emily she had a place here, it never felt right to act on it. Had it not been for Joyce’s encouraging attitude to even want something like this, as opposed to an indifferent attitude, Emily would have never considered letting a setup as one-sided as this go on. She’d have to set aside her own hardwired selflessness and allow Joyce to draw out and splay the selfish feelings within her. Although it was traditionally wrong to be selfish and spoiled like this...it was something Joyce revelled in being able to make possible in another person, because it meant the opportunity to do for someone else. By becoming the thing a respectable adult would tell her to stray from, it was the best possible way she could show her gratitude to Joyce. “Okay, okay! I’ll stop talking about it,” Emily giggled. “Can you let me get going now? I don’t want to be back too late.” Friday would finally be upon them the next morning. Saturdays and Sundays were free days. Although, they’d transitioned from simple lazy days since being with Joyce, assuming a much more special nature. Intimate….and infantile. “Alright,” Joyce conceded as if it were against her better judgement. “Just give me a second to get my shoes on.” “Huh?” “Really?” Joyce looked at her as if the confusion were hers. “Did you think I was going to make you walk around the city in the middle of a windy night, when there’s two cars between me and Charles?” Emily found herself being offered a helping hand she was too polite to initially ask for. It was the reservedness in her that Joyce was trying to discourage, hoping for Emily to lean on her a bit more. But it was clear they still had work to do, since if she hadn’t stopped her paper shredding to come see Emily, she’d have been gone an awful while. “Unless you want to walk all night with your stuff?” Joyce waited for a response with a smirk. She didn’t need an answer, because they were both thinking the same thing. “Well...if you don’t mind...” Her face looked troubled again. “Give me just a minute.” Joyce was already slipping her socks on. From inside the car and in the passenger seat, apart from the quiet hum coming from the car’s engine and the surrounding vehicles, the ride was silent from other than idle chatter. Emily and Joyce sat in the front, with the more motherly of the two’s hands behind the wheel. Emily had given her the address, still recent from a year-long memory of being there. Each block they passed and the closer they got, what she was doing felt that much more surreal. Jack was probably home, he never worked this late, and he usually went out on just the weekends...Why? Why did she have to remember these things? Just thinking about how they left off, how he left her high and dry…! It made her seethe with anger...confusion….and sadness. Hopefully she could be in and out as fast as possible, so she could pack away this painful box of memories and never see them again. The only thing she could hope for now is if he made good on his promise. A hand was suddenly squeezing her knee, connected to an arm that led to the body of Joyce. “...Thanks.” Joyce always seemed to be reading her mind, even when she least expected it. “Just look forward to tomorrow,” Joyce’s words had excitement infused in them. “If you’re not too tired we can have our playtime a little sooner than planned for.” From only one weekend session, Joyce was already itching for more. Babying Emily and simply enjoying the idea of motherhood was like candy to her sweet tooth, and you simply couldn’t stop at one. But her urges always came second to Emily’s own pace. Ultimately she ran the show and would decide how things go, but within that scope Joyce would be sure to lead her little girl along... “O...okay...” Emily looked away and out the window, still trying to swallow her pride from wanting such things and forgetting her troubling thoughts. She in herself was becoming hooked, even if a sense of guilt was weighing her for wanting to be babied by Joyce too...But she also knew from how they first discussed the terms, Joyce was looking for something far more intense in not necessarily the physical but emotional sense. A brief example was what she did in her diapers...Her diapers. The thought of them belonging to her drummed up such squeamish feelings. All it’d take for Joyce to change her was a single wetting. Deep down, she knew Joyce was reserving herself and would never trample over Emily’s cautious ease into the process, but it must have been difficult for Joyce in her own way. She wanted something that Emily was taking a long time to give. It was frustrating trying to provide as her baby when she herself was still trying to adjust to it. There were things that had been considered unspeakable before, like peeing in a diaper and being stark naked, yet they were oddly digestible now...The phenomena from her interactions with Joyce made the incomprehensible somehow commonplace, which now was as bewildering as it was strangely alluring. These endless pits of thought and self-reflection were always the worst when she couldn’t keep herself from continuously falling, but it was those simple gestures Joyce would always make that woke her up from her dream and return her to simplicity. It almost made her want Joyce to read her own mind...so she could lay herself bare and let the everso knowledgeable and kind woman sort the pieces out for her. “Alright my little thinker, we’re here.” Joyce spoke as the car pulled off the road and into a small lot, followed by the car easing into a halt. Out the windshield Emily could see the same brick building she’d shuffled out of over a week ago. It reminded her of how she had been a much more disheveled and distraught person, who even put themselves in pain...To think a puddle on the sidewalk could have blessed her with Joyce...The world certainly worked in mysterious ways. But her thoughts came full circle being back here, being introduced to a familiar sight. What was something she walked away from was now something she returned to; hopefully for the last time. Jack. “Should I wait out here?” Joyce asked, hoping to respect Emily’s boundaries. While this was a part of Emily’s life she wasn’t well-versed in, she knew the gist of how this had been a long-term partner. She wouldn’t want to inappropriately include herself unless Emily had requested her help. “I’m not sure how much stuff I have, actually...” Her words tried to shroud her obvious intent. “I might be a while, so you might get bored here.” Emily awkwardly wrestled her thumbs. As cute as it was and Joyce knew what she was getting at, a much more clear response would be needed for something like this. Maybe she could be like that when as a baby, but Emily to some degree could not be careless with a moment like this. “Emily,” Joyce caught her full and undivided attention. “I need either a yes or no, please. Be honest with me.” The internal struggle didn’t last long, not when the gravity of going back to Jack’s by herself was sinking in. The flare and fire within her seemed to dampen just from trying to imagine confrontation. Maybe it was the rain from day one that was making her so gloomy right now. Regardless of the poetic thoughts, she wanted Joyce. “P...please come with me...” her quiet voice pleaded. A content smile crept on her face, happy to see Emily assume a brave attitude, even if she was shy about it. Joyce wasn’t ever looking for perfection from her, because she’d be more than happy to make up the difference. As long as Emily told her it was okay she’d be happy to help. “Let’s get a move on then, hm?” With the bag over Emily’s shoulder the pair crossed the street and walked up to the door. Emily hadn’t bothered ringing the room’s bell from the entrance. She tried the same entrance code both she and Jack knew, which struck her with a bitter taste when it worked. It was another sign of how Jack went about kicking her out so half-assedly. The lobby was as empty as always and the nostalgia Emily was already feeling was anything but happy. It was uncomfortable, to say the least. “What floor is it?” Joyce asked, a finger already positioned to hit the elevator panel. “The fourth.” Emily kept her words brief. The more she talked the more she felt like she’d crumble. The distance between she and her ex was becoming unbearable as miles turned to hundreds of yards, to hundreds of feet. It was then for the first time Emily received a friendly arm around the shoulder without blushing. She knew she needed the comfort. Wordlessly, Emily walked down the hall, the same one with the mediocre flooring and decently-painted walls. Room 403 was still missing the zero symbol that should have been screwed into the wall between four and three. It was empty, much like when Jack snatched the zero away from her. It was a painful reminder she had hoped to forget about, but this sort of ‘therapy’ only prodded it further. Bob was still blasting his rock music from the next door over, without any regard for the complaints he’d get the night before. Every night she’d be banging on his wall, getting him to try and turn it down. Peaceful negotiations broke down about a week after they started, seeing as they were getting nowhere. Clearly it didn’t bother Jack though, because hearing the music now was enough to speak for itself. Room 408. This was it. Joyce stayed silent, giving Emily every moment she could possibly ever need. Time could go on for centuries and they wouldn’t have needed to leave this spot. This moment wasn’t essential to Emily in any way to encourage her play with Joyce. No, this was something she needed to overcome as a person. Closure. Drawing out her hand and letting it freeze for a few moments, Emily rapped her knuckles on the wooden door, with a force that did not convey anger but a forced neutral response. “One second!” An old voice called from the other end. Emily could almost feel her ears flinch from hearing him. The voicemail was all she could think of now; how he suddenly discarded her and left her like a piece of trash. She could only think of all the things that made her hate him. With the sliding of a chain and click of a lock, the door swung open to reveal the womanly pair to the lazed Jack, who was in a loose t-shirt and shorts. The sight didn’t register surprise on his face until a few moments later, reading the unpleasant expression on his Ex’s face, and the neutral expression from Joyce who was a complete stranger to him. “Ah...Emily...” Jack rubbed the side of his hair awkwardly. He hadn’t been expecting to see her so soon. Or at all, for that matter…”I take it you’re here for your stuff?” “Yeah. I am.” She tried to keep herself reserved. “Er, right.” The awkward atmosphere was potent. Thick and heavy. He was still trying to piece together who the woman with her was. Out of all Emily’s friends he’d never seen this one, who had such a beautiful face and figure hiding behind her jacket...How could he possibly forget someone as stunning as this? He set aside his turning gears to leave some space in the doorway. “Come in...” Emily didn’t wait for any more confirmation, whilst Jack and Joyce exchanged very brief but formal greetings. “Want me to come with you?” Joyce asked behind Emily, whose turquoise Converse were already moving with a purpose and destination in mind. Jack could only listen and watch in awe. Here his ex was, picking up the rest of her life while a complete and utter goddess to his eyes and ears seductively walked around his apartment. Her mere presence suddenly made him self-conscious of his laid-back attire, just as much as the state of the apartment. It was relatively clean, but the bobs and bits left about became that much more apparent. “Yes please,” Emily maintained her rigid front, not wanting to give Jack any sign of despair or defeat. Weakness was not an option. “We shouldn’t be too long,” Joyce looked back at Jack. “Please don’t mind us.” Damn! She was even polite! Had Emily told her what happened between them? Even he knew it wasn’t the best way to let someone go, but it still didn’t change the fact he’d done it. In a mere week his ex already seemed to have found her footing again. It was off-putting… Emily walked into the room she used to share with Jack. The covers had been poorly drawn up the bed, and the pillows lacked uniformity. Jack never was big on picking up after himself, and to remember a note like that made Emily hate herself more for still being so invested. Opening the closet, she could see her clothes looked to be untouched. A few things she thought to find though were actually missing. She was too steamed to actually ask about them though. The atmosphere from being in this place was now suffocating; a place she used to be able to call home. How different it felt now. Before she could lounge anywhere she wanted around here without needing anyone’s permission, but she felt like a stranger now. She didn’t think a breakup could affect her like this, and it only made her want to sever her ties with this place even more. Without even bothering to fold, she kept shoving outfit after outfit into the bag, deviating more and more from the actual reason for why she came here. She didn’t even need to speak to Jack to become so heated! It was a good thing Joyce came; she didn’t know if she’d be able to keep her cool. “You know if you folded them beforehand we won’t have to when we get home,” Joyce butted in, gently taking Emily’s frustrated arm. Emily stopped looking at the rapidly changing fabrics and colors to look at Joyce. It was a foolish thing to think that she could hide her tears from her. Emily tried to be as a silent as possible, so not to alert a third party. Her hands clenched the thick fabric of Joyce’s jacket, who was happy to be a crutch for her little girl. “Would you be able to give us a moment, please?” Joyce turned her head back on the only male in the apartment, who couldn’t help but find himself watching. Her voice carried a tone that was polite, but underlined with the sentiment that she didn’t appreciate onlookers. “Right! Erm...sorry.” Jack shuffled out of view, trying to plant himself in the nearby kitchen. His mind was racing with fascination as his mind was occupied with the sudden stranger. Home? Was Emily living with this woman? The more he thought about how she looked, the more otherworldly she seemed. Something about her screamed high class, yet to see her kind words spoken to another was so...attractive. He didn’t even consider his own shamelessness for ogling at one of Emily’s friends; the person he dumped. Emily was wearing clothes he’d never seen her in either. Did she get them for her? What was her name? Jack was dying to know. Joyce helped resume the packing process in a much more neat fashion. She kept comments to herself from seeing all her various outfits, trying to make the process as streamlined as possible. She moved over to the underwear drawer to get those articles of clothing, passively noticing the inferior materials and softness they had compared to the ones she bought Emily. Not in a manner as if she ridiculed Emily’s choice in clothes or financial ability, no. Just that she was that much more happy to be able to do for Emily. She’d have to buy her more underwear of the same quality… “There’s still your bathroom stuff if you want it.” Jack suddenly appeared again, trying to inject himself into the conversation despite it not being his place. “I’m fine.” Emily blankly said. She didn’t want any more reminders of this place than she needed, and the thought of having to be here any longer just to sort through frivolous things sounded too stressful. The packing continued for about ten more minutes until there was nothing left to take, or anything Emily wanted, at least. “All done?” Joyce asked, clasping her hands together. “Mhm...” Emily nodded with sorrowful feelings. They were by no means aimed at Joyce, but Emily couldn’t feel the need to keep her emotions in check at the moment. Joyce understood well enough though and zipped the duffel bag closed. “We’ll be leaving now.” Joyce called to Jack as the pair briskly moved to the door. He was trying to make himself look busy on his phone from the kitchen. “Oh um, okay.” Jack stiffly spoke. “And, uh, Emily,” He continued, catching her attention. “You….you look good.” Why...why did he have to say that? Emily could feel her face contort, brows furrow and anger seethe in between her teeth. Without a word or second glance she opened the door and broke out into a near-stomp down the hall. She wanted to scream from hearing those words. Kindness. Kindness from someone who had been such an ass, kicked her to the curb, and he got to play it off like it was nothing? No, no, no! It doesn’t get to work like that! And as she burned with rage, she didn’t even realize it herself that tears were rolling down her cheeks. As if somewhere from a sixth sense she had known, Emily turned and buried her face into the person that was already waiting for her and she hugged dearly. “Why...” she mumbled through her sobs as she pressed in the coat. “Why! Why does he get to be like that? Why does it only hurt ME so much?!” Emily cried, standing in the middle of a place that had lost its familiar feeling. The only thing that kept her from beating her fists into the cushion was that the cushion was Joyce, and she could never harm someone as generous as her. Joyce couldn’t give her any words, as even she ached for the poor Emily. The only effective consolement she could offer was the physical contact she was already giving. Emily hugged tight and never wanted to let go. It was the only thing that prevented a meltdown she’d put off for so long. How could a year of her life have gone to waste? To be as if she were the only person who cared?! Not even the one she’d spent it with even gave a damn! WHY? Why did only her heart have to be so vulnerable like this? Jack’s words were cruel, even if he hadn’t meant it to be that way. Regardless, Emily still held it against him. Even when the flame between them was put out, the embers that remained were still scorching.. “Let’s head on back to the car,” Joyce comforted, still holding Emily close. “You can unwind once you sit down.” Emily could feel the suggestions already loosen the tension in her muscles. She sniffled and nodded as they kept moving forward, unable to leave the apartment unscathed, but it would have been a lie if either of them had expected things to go smoothly. “Ah...I forgot my phone….” Emily could feel herself wanting to cry again in the elevator. She had checked something on her phone and left it on the nightstand...But everything inside of her wanted nothing to do with the place again. It was an important piece though, and Joyce had just gotten it for her...She was such a failure. “Here, go unlock the car.” Joyce balled the keys in her hand. “I’ll go and get it for you,” she patted her back. “Where did you leave it?” “On the nightstand...in the room. I’m sorry, really. I didn’t mean to I was just...” “Stop dwelling on the little stuff.” Joyce spoke in a simple voice. “I’ll be back to make you go back to your bubbly self, okay?” Emily was the only one to step off the elevator and back into the lobby. She was already feeling better to get some distance and happy encouragement. “Okay...” Emily finally looked Joyce in the eyes with a puffy-eyed smile, until the metal doors closed again between them. Joyce then sighed, as the metal box moved back up. She wasn’t exactly keen on going back here either, since if what Emily had said to be true, then Jack seriously was taking their breakup far too lightly. To so effortlessly drop her fragile Emily almost openly irked her a little. For Emily’s sake though she’d keep up appearances in front of this guy for a little longer though. Jack had been a little sad; not to see Emily go, but the person with her. Maybe a little for Emily, but certainly more the stranger. Had they been on different terms, Jack could almost imagine himself even trying to get closer to that enchantress...If only. His fantasies were interrupted though by the knock on the door again. Were they back? They couldn’t be! With a misplaced sense of urgency he opened to door once again, only to see the magnificent Joyce standing in the doorway. “Oh! Hi again!” Jack was caught by her beauty yet again; a small smile on his face. “Hi,” Joyce didn’t reciprocate the fascination. “Emily forgot her phone. If you don’t mind, I could just…?” “Of course! Get whatever you need.” Jack repeated the same motion as he did last time. This had to be a second chance! Even Emily wasn’t here now. It was a sign! “Uh, hey...I’m Jack by the way. Emily probably told you already...” Her blank expression directed toward him insinuated they probably weren’t the best of words…”And...you are?” He shamelessly pushed on with the kind of carelessness Joyce had only liked to see in Emily. His was of a much more malicious and beginnings of a lechery kind…With no regard to the affiliation she had with his ex, his disregard for this was downright stupid, or that much cruel to move ahead despite knowing this. “Joyce. Nice to meet you.” Joyce kept moving. She walked into the bedroom as they had left it ten minutes earlier. Forgetting Emily’s instructions for a brief moment, she decided to check the room at random and pulled back the covers for whatever reason. Apart from the sheets being tussled, there was something else Joyce’s eyes couldn’t mistake. At first glance, the feelings that flooded her mind weren’t for her total loss of respect for Jack, nor to the connection he was trying to form with her. They were devoid of personal feelings for herself, or Jack. It was only for Emily, as a sudden sense of relief struck her from realizing Emily never saw what was underneath the covers. Nonchalantly, a pink thong lay discarded on the bed as if it were nobody’s business. To the cheap decor in the house it also added to the theme of a bachelor; of someone who didn’t know the first thing about commitment. She tried not to scoff, as her concern for Emily was placed to the side, and the afterthoughts of Jack and her sudden disdain for him came to her forefront and in full swing. Grabbing the phone off the nightstand, she didn’t want to spend a moment longer in there. Someone much more important was waiting for her. “Oh um hey, wait a sec…!” Jack couldn’t process that the moment they had together was ending faster than he thought. Her hand was already going for the knob and he hadn’t taken the chance yet to establish anything. “Jack,” Joyce maintained her calm demeanor, but it was a weak disguise for the true annoyance she felt underneath. “I can’t blame Emily for wanting to love you, and she seemed like she really did,” She was becoming too invested in a matter that didn’t concern her, so why was she so pissed off? “People love and want to be loved. There’s nothing wrong with that.” She wasn’t even sure if these words were getting through to Jack, but his recent actions and sights left Joyce too annoyed to not say anything. “But to betray that love, that trust, and to trample over it so easily and discard it? That makes you complete and utter scum. There’s a way of handling things that you seemed to have completely disregarded.” Her rage was feeding into a cycle that she knew she had to put to rest. The man who tried to look complacent was killing her! His seeming lack of remorse was the cherry on top of the malice she felt towards him. “Joyce...but,” Jack tried to find the right words--anything to preserve the mood between them. There had to be something he could say, something he could do! Maybe- The door slammed shut, and Joyce was gone. The goddess he let get away. Emily was the last thing he could think about now; not when a prize as shiny as her just slipped away. “Damn...” He spat out to no one. He sighed as he looked over to the wall. Bob’s music was starting to get loud again… From Jack’s place to the car, the walk was thankfully enough for Joyce to let off the rest of her steam. She couldn’t help but feel a little heated back there, so it was nice when the cool air outside enveloped her. Just across the street, she could see Emily’s face through the tinted windshield, reminding her of what she just witnessed. Emily didn’t need to know what was up there, did she? It was already clear enough how much of an ass Jack was, so there was no reason to make Emily feel even worse. At least not for a bit. It’d be better if they just put this to the side and focus on getting home. Then a little detour popped into Joyce’s mind. “Sorry I took so long,” Joyce placed the phone in Emily’s hand, who had been quiet. “Someone tied up the elevator.” “It’s fine. I just want to get away from here...” She was already feeling sad again just from looking at the building. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” “Okay,” She agreed. “But you should know not everyone could have done what you did, you know. Revisiting something like that? I’ll let it go from here, but you should be proud.” She’d been as positive and reinforcing like when she’d baby Emily, only now it was much more geared towards Emily as an individual and independent; much less her as a mother signing songs of praise. Cruising down the road, a few seconds went by when Emily finally came to and understood they were taking a different route. “Hey,” She adjusted her somewhat reclined position. “Where are you taking us?” Intentionally in a suspicious voice, Joyce spoke. “Noooowhere...” “I’m not really in the mood to do anything Joyce,” Emily apologized, already finding a new thing to be sad about. She didn’t want to be a buzzkill, but wasn’t feeling up to anything either. They had work tomorrow. “That’s okay, neither am I.” Joyce agreed. She kept driving. “Then where are you taking us?” Emily was already being drawn into one of Joyce’s secret plans; an adventure she’d find herself in before she even realized it. “We need to make a little stop before we go home. I just remembered I needed something.” So it was an errand? Joyce kept her guessing whenever she asked, the mood being lightened with each and every incorrect answer. “Pencils?” Joyce started to laugh. “Why would we need pencils? At this time of night?” It wasn’t a laugh of ridicule, but fun amusement at her determination. “I don’t know...” Emily sheepishly complained. “You won’t tell me where we’re going!” “Alright, alright. I’ll give you a hint.” Joyce paused, trying to think of one. One came to her mind though when she suddenly spoke. “It involves dairy.” Dairy? “So you need to pick up milk?” “Sort of,” Joyce toyed with how to answer the question. “You’re getting warmer.” The sudden irony in her words cracked another grin. “....Ice cream?” “Hot! Red hot!” Joyce started with a few sizzling noises. “Milk...ice cream...milkshakes?” “Bingo!” Joyce cheered as they parked near the sidewalk. On Emily’s side there was a large display for a place called Shake Stop. She’d heard of the place before, but the prices were a bit high for dairy treats…”So do you know what you’re getting?” Joyce asked, already expecting the girl to have a flavor in mind. “Ah, well I mean I’ve never been here before,” She admitted. “I’m not so sure I’m in the mood for a shake though...Thanks for trying to cheer me up.” Emily had figured out Joyce’s plan, and she was appreciative, but wasn’t willing. “Suit yourself,” Joyce shrugged. “At least walk in with me, won’t you?” Joyce kept coaxing until Emily agreed, both of them stepping out and rushing between sanctuaries, caught in the wild winds during their short trek. “Brrrr!” Joyce chilled as she hugged Emily all over inside. A little shocked, Emily wobbled just a little from the sudden contact. “I need to keep you around more often, you always seem to warm me up!” Joyce casually flirted. No one was in line and there were a few groups already seated down with their own drinks. Joyce took the lead with Emily in tow as they approached the wide board of orders. “You don’t have any allergies, right?” Joyce turned her face back to Emily expectantly. “No, but like I said I’m fine.” Emily tried to remain resolute. Looking around though, some of the smoothies and milkshakes did look good… “Hi, can I help you two tonight?” The attendant asked from behind the counter, prompting Emily and Joyce to come forward. “Hi, I’ll take a large peanut butter and oreo milkshake please,” Joyce answered, then turned back to Emily. “And what do you want?” Emily looked at Joyce with the slightest bit of annoyance; the kind that still meant she very much liked Joyce, but was bothered with how she couldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. It was that generosity of hers again. Her adamant and commanding side always gave her such a tingly feeling though… The silence must have been too long for Joyce though, because she spoke again. “You can order something if you want, or, I can order something for you?” She had a playfully evil grin, showing off her pearly whites. “Banana, then.” Emily answered. “A banana smoothie please.” “Just banana?” The worker read back to her. He was just doing his job, but it somehow felt as if he were questioning her imagination for flavor. Joyce too, considering her next action. “With strawberry, please. And make that a large as well.” Joyce added. “Try and be a little more adventurous.” Joyce playfully chastised Emily, who was trying her best to not look spoiled at this moment. “And will that be everything?” “Yes please,” Emily, surprisingly, answered. She didn’t want Joyce to try and buy a third drink, lest she have asked herself or simply felt like it. “Oookay...” He started as he began to punch numbers into the cash register. “$9.75 please.” $9.75?! For two drinks? That was outrageous! Emily was the only one struck in awe though as Joyce casually swiped her card into the machine. “They should be ready in a few minutes,” The worker said as he handed Joyce a receipt and pierced the duplicate one on a spike of already stacked clones. He carried what was probably the order slip over to his coworker and they made haste in getting to work. “You didn’t have to answer for me, you know.” Joyce joked while they waited. “I could say the same to you.” Emily found herself being swept into the game. “For all I know, you could have gotten four more shakes if I didn’t stop you!” She chuckled hearing such unusual words from the typically reserved girl, especially when it came to money. “Is that what I am to you? A maniac that likes to spend money?” Joyce pulled Emily in for another hug, without any real regard for how it looked to others. “Maybe...” Emily kept the joke running, but could feel the smallest seeds of truth in her mind. In no way at all did it affect how good of a person Joyce was, though. “Thanks for the wait, here’s your order.” The worker interrupted their joyful banter and set their drinks on the counter, both of which already had a straw in it. “Thank you very much, have a good night.” Joyce slipped a few bills into the tip jar, grabbing their cups and handing the banana one to Emily. It was awfully cold, so much so that Emily used her sleeve almost like a glove around her hand then picked up the drink again. It alleviated some of the direct cold to her skin, but even she was starting to get a bit thirsty for a delicious treat now. “Do you want to have them here or at home?” Joyce offered, finally giving her a choice. “”Home, please.” Emily answered, already sucking from the straw. It was pure, liquidized fruit that maintained all its sweet and savoury flavor! She had been reluctant with a large at first, but at the pace she was going now, she couldn’t help but be thankful for Joyce to plan ahead like this. “It’s good, I take it?” Joyce read her partner like an open book. She took a sip of her own milkshake and was equally as satisfied. Relative to other places the prices for here were high, but in Joyce’s position a few dollars made no real difference in the grand scheme. For someone as hardworking as her, she’d at least earned this much to treat herself and others, right? Emily could only nod her head, with a mouth occupied by a straw. She took the lead in going back outside and to the car, almost ready to hop from foot to foot from the wind. They each took their own breath of relief when they were back inside the heated and warm car. Having accomplished their original goal and getting themselves a reward to top it off, they turned back on the path home. “Thanks, Joyce...” Emily suddenly changed the mood with a heavier topic. “I know I said earlier I wasn’t in the mood, and Jack had me pretty banged up. Yet you still insisted on doing this for me.” At a set of lights they could both get a good look at each other. “Thank you.” Those rare moments Joyce could see Emily with such an unwavering resolve in her eyes made her feel strange; to go from someone who could be so bashful to a fully fledged adult. It made Joyce happy to see her in either form, particularly the former, but as a person Emily was astonishingly amazing. “You’re very welcome, Emily. I’m just glad you’re happy now. Sad feelings don’t suit you, you know.” The last remark had suddenly killed the flare in Emily, as she was back to her squishy self, but this didn’t make Joyce think any less of her; relishing in these moments all the more. “If you want to thank me, keep at least some of your smoothie in the cup, please! I want to try it when we get back!” Joyce with her free hand switched Emily’s drink out for her own, which had still been mostly untouched. “Keep yourself busy with that one.” There wasn’t much left to the drive, and Joyce was curious to taste hers as well. Giggling over Joyce’s almost serious reaction to the smoothie crisis, she started to experience the taste of oreo and peanut butter, which tasted just as good. Thursday passed and so came Friday. Joyce got off early and came home to an empty apartment to do officework, without anything else to really do other than marvel at her many purchases for Emily. Things were coming together, but they weren’t completely ready yet...The decisive moment would be on the special date marked on her calendar. After meeting with many people and getting many jobs and items delivered and done, it would all be ready then. Now that she had grown used to it, her downtime without Emily had become….dreadfully boring. It wasn’t a lie when she said Emily brought some sort of life to the house. Not even her fantasizing could keep her occupied anymore. This weekend would be fun, but next week it would be thousands of times better! She’d have to be her usual self and focus on the present than what would come in the future. If not, Emily might start getting suspicious...Oh, it was so difficult keeping secrets from her! But! It was for the greater good. It would be worth it; every second of the painful wait. A few more hours went by, and then a few more. It was already 6 and Joyce was starting to get concerned. She was never this late! What was wrong? Could she be late? Was she hurt? The countless possibilities Joyce racked in her brain were troubling and annoying. Whatever forces were at work here, they were severely cutting into her Emmy-time! While Joyce slowly descended into madness, the sound of a door opening and closing could be heard. Was it Emily? “Unbelievable…” Joyce could hear a voice scoff around the corner, a set of shoes slipping off. “Emil-?” Joyce poked her head around the corner, asking for the girl as she saw who came in. It was certainly Emily, but it wasn’t at the same time. Almost like a doppelganger, this one looked certainly more exhausted, with bags underneath her eyes and her sluggish posture. Had she only known what kind of ecstasy she had felt from taking off her shoes, Joyce herself would be feeling the same kind of relief. But at this point Emily looked as if she were running on fumes; her last leg. “What happened?” Joyce rushed to her with concern. She’d never seen Emily once like this. “They worked us overtime today,” Emily wiped her eyes, trying to keep herself alert. ”Because they had to close down my department after today for review and possible renovation. In other words I’m out of work next week until further notice. Therefore we were worked to the bone so we could get as much done as possible today.” Emily sighed. “Out of work? So you’re not working next week? Are they paying you?” Emily who was somewhat satisfied with the turnout to that question replied, “We’re on paid leave, but slightly less than our working salaries,” she explained. “In other words I guess I’m on vacation?” Even Emily started to smile then when past the fatigue she could recognize her situation. “Really? That’s great!” Joyce gave her a celebratory hug. “Here’s to your time off!” She planted a kiss on Emily’s cheek, who became warm on contact. The lines between them were slowly blurring, based on what was constituted as mommy-affection and Joyce-affection. They were both okay with it though, as it only meant they could grow closer. “Enjoy your time off, then! I’ll get started on dinner soon. I just need to check a few emails.” Joyce announced while she stood back up, already walking back to her office. “Ah...wait!” Emily suddenly found herself raising her voice, keeping it to almost a troubled whisper now. She couldn’t look Joyce in the eyes when she said it, so she found herself looking from left to right. “Didn’t you say we we’re gonna….you know?” Already from her cluttered expressions Joyce knew exactly what she meant, but chose not to act on it yet. “‘You know’...what?” Joyce came back closer to Emily, who was standing now. Emily knew exactly what kind of games Joyce was playing, who pretended to play dumb. “Stop teasing me, Joyce. You….know what I mean….” The red-faced tomato whined. “You’re gonna have to tell me what you want my itty-bitty girl if I’m supposed to understand!” Joyce booped her on the nose, getting even closer. “Tell me, what do you want?” Emily looked at Joyce almost annoyed, who was making her be honest with herself and lay it out in the open. Then again, that’s what being shameless was all about...Joyce’s past words echoed in her mind...where shame and embarrassment weren’t allowed. “I…want...” Emily managed the first two words, already feeling both emotionally and physically tolled from those alone. “Mhm?” Joyce kept her ignorant act going, happy to see Emily was finally demonstrating her growth by asking to be retrieved from it, in a weird way. “You to...” Her mind raced and her cheeks could have very well been on fire at this point. Had you told her she’d be saying these very words over a week ago, she’d never have believed them! “B-ba…” This hurdle was the toughest to cross, but why? It was just a simple word! Just say it! Joyce waited patiently but was almost on the edge of her metaphorical seat. It was the word she needed to hear, the one they both wanted to hear! With this, it would become definitively clear that Emily wasn’t just fulfilling Joyce’s desires anymore; no...This was a sign of mutual enjoyment! Joyce’s heart fluttered at the sweet and innocent thought! “B-ba...by me…” The phrase felt foreign in her own tongue. Something that defied her very nature came from her set of lungs and she actually announced it to someone else. But it wasn’t just someone else, it was Joyce. “You want me to baby you?” Her voice came back as one of confirmation and neither disbelief or ridicule. “Is that what you want, Emily?” “Y-yes...” No longer was it Joyce asking Emily to go along with this, but instead it was the exact opposite! Oh how the tables had been turned. Who would have thought it was the baby asking the mother for special treatment? “Then let me hear you say it again. Loud and clear this time Emily.” Emily might have thought it as cruel, but now Emily finally had a chance to get used to being honest with such embarrassing things. Something that could become commonplace would no longer be strange to talk about after all. “I...want you to b-baby me.” Emily rushed the words out of her mouth faster this time, slightly louder. “There….I said it.” She still couldn’t make eye contact with Joyce, but this was more than enough. “That was perfect,” Joyce smiled with her loving gaze. “You did very good, Emmy.” There it was, that special name Joyce had for her whenever it was their intimate play. The two-syllable word that could make Emily puddy and simply melt in Joyce’s hand. And she was ecstatic when it happened. It returned her to a mindset that was becoming familiar and she was well-acquainted with. Joyce was no longer Joyce. She was...she was...mommy. “Now,” her soft voice began, already slipping a finger into the waistband of Emily’s business skirt. She pulled it back ever so slightly to give Joyce an angled view at the underwear she was wearing underneath, causing Emily to look away once more, but offered no resistance. “I think it’s time we got you in something a bit more age-appropriate? What do you think?” The motherly Joyce suggested, who was already slipping the zipper down on her skirt. This was it. The weekend the both of them had been waiting for. Emily could only beam with a bashful excitement as Joyce talked to her more and more in such a way where she had full control and held all the cards. All Emily needed to do was enjoy herself. Emily didn’t respond, but her request to do this only moments ago carried enough of an answer. Here she was, standing in front of the entrance, while Joyce slid off her skirt and she stepped out of it willingly. After being stark naked in Joyce’s embrace, suddenly something like this didn’t bother her as much anymore. If she could be around Joyce in just a shirt and diaper, what did a simple pair of panties mean to her? She could almost laugh at her own rapid change in mindset. All thanks to Joyce. All that she was in now was a blouse, socks, and her blue underwear. A pair Joyce had bought her. Everything she was wearing, who she was, all in this moment, belonged to Joyce. She wanted to belong to her. “Now how about we change you into something much softer? Hm? Doesn’t that sound nice?” Emily shuffled her feet as she quietly nodded; feeling her now exposed thighs start to warm from the apartment. “Then let’s get a move on. I’m sure you’re itching to get out of those panties, and then it’ll be straight to naptime for you missy.” “W-what do you mean? I just got back?” Emily partly complained. She didn’t want to have to go down as soon as they started their baby time… “And that’s exactly why, Emmy.” Joyce hoisted the half-naked girl into the air, moving to her room. She lowered her voice closer to her ear, as if she were already trying to communicate with someone tired and sleepy. “You’ve had a busy day, which is why we need to get you all fresh and restored.” She knew how to put emphasis on all the right words. “That way we can have lots more fun and cuddle time when you’re awake. Make sense?” “Mhm...” Emily was already finding Joyce’s shoulder pretty comfortable. She knew Joyce was right about the tired part, already feeling sleepy given the position to relax. But what made her heart race was that there was one last step before she could take a nap. Something essential to this entire process. “Maybe if you can go down for about forty minutes mommy can have some delicious food ready for when you wake up. Do you think you could be my big helper and rest up for me?” It was silly to think sleeping was somehow beneficial to Joyce, but Emily was becoming more and more prone to giving in to the mommy-logic. Her realized fatigue was another deterrent to combat it as well, not that she wanted to in the first place. “Okay…” Emily yawned. She was already laid back on the bed. “Such a good helper!” Joyce cooed as she already fished out her medical diaper. The days for these were numbered, and that was something to appreciate. She couldn’t wait to see the surprised, bashful, and secretly excited expressions on Emily’s face once her new diapers came. These would have to do for the time being though. Emily was just ready to pass out as soon as she could feel her bottom lift and press into a new cushion, a feeling and sensation that wasn’t so foreign to her anymore. The sweet smells of powder came next as the light sprinkles lightly tapped her crotch area. There was a cool feeling from the shroud on her lower half, but it felt good in a way. The only thing that could stir her was when Joyce had taken the next step to rub some into her backside, but her former embarrassed protests were now just blushes and slight shifts. With the final tape, Emily could register a snug feeling around her waist and she was already fading in and out of reality. “Welcome to the first day of your vacation, Emmy.” Joyce pecked Emily on the forehead. She helped her get under the covers. “Now you have a nice, good rest for me, okay? We’ll have lots of time to be together, so don’t feel any rush to finish your nap, alright?” Incapable of making coherent responses at this point, Emily made a mumble that was at best a yes and at worst a sleepy murmur. She didn’t actually need Joyce to tell her to get a good rest. She was more than capable of that herself. How easily Emily could fall into the flow of things now though was nothing short of magical to Joyce. They were reaching a point where this was mutually fulfilling, and Joyce at the thought shed a few tears of joy, to know that she wasn’t the only one anymore. With one last thankful look at the Emily who had gone out like a light, she inched the door to a near-close as she switched gears to the new task at hand, now that she was done putting her baby girl to bed. Checking the time, she reasoned she could finish painting and get dinner started if she made good with her time. Nap after nap, it was becoming easier to read Emily, which made the establishment of a routine between a mother and her baby that much more real. Hopefully the brushes hadn’t dried too much?

Thanks for the kind words! I can understand what you mean by Joyce "waiting" for someone to stumble upon, but I suppose the intent was a chance meeting. It's another perspective that has a solid basis, though. And of course, it's a big element of the story, but the ABDL/Diaper piece isn't supposed to be the entire focus of the story, hence why there's such a slow burn right now. It'll become increasingly more present, but adding substance to the characters is what I wanted to and will still prioritize. I think after giving them much more substance, it really adds to the effect of what will follow. As a side note, this actually isn't my third story! I have at least two other pieces I'd consider the start of something, but they're sitting in the back right now until I can add a bit more to here. Everything that's been posted here (Before this post) has been written beforehand and only revised. The two shorts on here actually came after this, funnily enough. One's a bit more of an extensive piece on the Diaper Dimension, but I'm in a bit of a rut with it right now...Either way, each story lets me explore some kind of tone or mood that I have fun with and like to revisit. The Diaper Dimension is a spot I like to use for some more helpless scenarios, or destined to be doomed sort of ideas. Not all the time, but it's usually how I find myself coming back to it! The other is somewhat sci-fi? I wouldn't call it that completely, but it's what sets the scene. Once again, thanks for reading, and I hope you continue to do so! Haha, sorry about the wait! I know it took a bit more time to get around to this one...I'm caught between writing new chapters and revising the old ones that are going on here. The pacing is set so this site should be caught up with the other one pretty soon, and then I won't be dividing my work so much. On top of that, I'm working on a few other fun things, but we'll see where that goes later down the line. Thanks for your compliments! Hope you keep reading! Much appreciated! At times I'm a little worried things might be getting a bit too samey, so I hope I'm doing a good job at changing things up to feel different but give the same vibes. Glad I was able to catch your attention! I always like to accidentally find something long and lengthy because it usually means I can spend a bit of time getting invested into something. But to be honest, I have no idea when this thread is gonna warrant a second page (Maybe with this posting?). This is probably the longest thing I've written so far? And it's only still going. I have some other projects that have the potential to be longer stuff as well, but only time will tell for that stuff. Thanks for dropping a comment on my stuff, though! Sorry I didn't put every single comment in here, otherwise, it'd be a pretty long multi quote post. I'm reading each and every comment, so please know your feedback is much appreciated! Hope you've been enjoying the story so far and will in the future!

8 - Breaking Barriers Emily’s bottom felt slightly more bulky than anything else as they walked down the hall. The price of absorbency seemed to be added thickness, and weight. But she’d been in it for so long now that she wasn’t as irked over it than she was initially; being dry was still much more preferred, though. The cool weather outside was working its magic as Emily almost felt a little chilly down below, yoga pants not being enough to protect her from the cold. Buried in her underwear were the seeds of betrayal, as her own pee would eventually be working against her too; something she didn’t like to think about. The nonexistent eyes she could feel ogling her slightly-pronounced bottom were beginning to be too much for one day. It felt like she was running on fumes at this point, longing for the safety and comfort they’d find back home. She could only make a silent prayer of thanks that nobody had found out what she was wearing...To her knowledge, of course. Joyce had been sure to reinforce her little girl’s efforts today with only the highest of praise. When they were the only two to occupy the hallway, Joyce made sure to assume her motherly duties and give Emily a gentle pat on the bottom, causing the unexpecting girl to give a slight leap forward from utter shock. “Hey….” Emily looked at Joyce with a telltale pouty face. Whether she intended to or not, Joyce tried her hardest not to crumble when she could see the slightest blush blooming on her puffed-out cheeks. As much as she wanted to respect Emily right now, it only made her want to tease her girl more...But she’d been through enough for today, and she’d have to respect that. “I’m sorry...” Joyce chose to rub her shoulder this time instead of her bottom. “I just want you to know I’m so proud of you...and grateful. You mean the world to me.” Emily shuffled a little bit from hearing those words, still getting used to Joyce’s open affection for her. Deep down as she burned though, the sentiments were certainly not unwelcomed. “Th-...thank you….” Emily mumbled her best thanks. While it may have been easy for Joyce, openly expressing gratitude for the things she’d been put through was a bit tougher for the much more vulnerable girl to tackle. They weren’t hated, but they weren’t exactly normal occurrences. In a way Joyce had the easy part. She didn’t have to give up all responsibility, which was weird in a way to consider as a bad thing when compared to the benefits of relinquishing them… They didn’t prod each other any further in the hall, as they reached sanctuary once more and the inside was just how they left it. Joyce was the first to re-initiate the conversation as she closed the door behind Emily. “So…” She looked expectantly at Emily, who upon sitting down had her face quickly transition from a look of complacency to one of shock and surprise. Crap! Emily in the span of mere moments forgot what she was currently taped in, and could already feel her cooling bodily fluids be released ever so slightly from the thirsty pads she’d just squished from sitting. Trying to maintain her composure, she refocused back on what Joyce was getting at, which she had no idea was. “W-What?” Emily tried to gather herself. “I know today was scary, going out in your diaper, and even using it...” Emily didn’t want to be reminded...But it stung less hearing the words from Joyce. “Do you want to keep going? Now that we’re home?” It wasn’t something Emily considered; another blindspot she felt dumb for leaving so ignored. But even she couldn’t lie to herself when she knew today had already been pretty exhausting. So many trials and tribulations to go out in public in a diaper...and use it...However, she looked at Joyce, her ray of sunshine that enveloped her further every waking moment. It was almost shocking that she’d already spent this much time trying to come to terms with a response. Caught in the duality of being an adult and a baby, which did she prefer right now? It was honestly starting to scare her. In a way, it almost felt like it’d be liberating to stop being a baby for the day. It was honestly kind of hard to work her way into this kind of mood, but thinking back to yesterday from her cuddle time with Joyce...she almost longed for it? That to her wasn’t a chore, and was actually relaxing...And by being an adult again wouldn’t that mean she’d have to do more things? Not that being an adult in front of Joyce created much more expectations...And if she was tired right now, why add more to her workload? Was it okay to keep being babied by Joyce? It was so confusing! Emily didn’t know which to choose, weighing the growing pros and cons to each side; unable to make a decision. She couldn’t come to an answer, and could only whimper. “I don’t know...” Silently, Joyce blinked at the unexpected words. The girl looked to be actually struggling with the question and couldn’t find an answer. Had what they been doing have that much of an effect on her? In a way Joyce was glad Emily could warm up to something like this; it meant everything to have her little girl accept a role like this, but all the same she hated to see her struggle. “Emmy…” Joyce bending her knees took both of Emily’s idle hands, calling her out of her internal dilemma. “Would you like it if I decided for you?” She gave her palms a reassuring squeeze. It was her decision. Her choice that dictated her own life that she was supposed to be the master of. An adult who had made a living for themselves, found a home, a boyfriend, learned to cook and clean and wake up on her own and get dressed. And yet...and yet, why? Why did it feel so...so rewarding to just let Joyce pick up the pieces for her? To let her guide her to wherever she saw fit? The sudden dependence within her left a small piece bitter, but it was overshadowed by the monumental longing to be taken care of. To be closer with Joyce. In a simple nod, ready to pry from her conflicted decision, she nodded. “Yes…” “Okay then…” Joyce said in a quiet, matter-of-fact voice. “Chin up, then, my little kitten! We’ve got a diaper to get you out of.” Emily couldn’t help but smile knowing Joyce had taken the reigns again, content in some way to just sit there and let her untie her shoes. Yes, she was acting like a complete kid right now, but Joyce was happy. And by extension, so was Emily. Now in only her socks, Emily waited patiently for Joyce to take off hers, long forgetting about the diaper she was pressed into until Joyce guided her back onto her feet, feeling the slight added weight from her recent accident. She tried not to think about it though, and kept her eyes and thoughts on what was happening right now, in this moment. Back in Emily’s room, Joyce laid the girl down, her heart racing for knowing what was to come. This would be the fourth time she’s been through this song and dance, and she was only just beginning to show the slightest signs of comfortability with it. Heck, she was only awake for two of the three times it had already happened! Off came the socks first, which revealed the girl’s bare feet and Joyce making sure no barefoot in the house went untickled, resulting in the involuntary giggles and squirming coming from Emily. After enough screaming to stop, Joyce finally conceded and moved on to the rest of the procedure. The pants came next, leading Emily to blush a bit, still learning to be partly naked in the presence of Joyce. What Emily hadn’t expected next though was the shirt, leaving her chest bare minus the bra. “W-wait what? Joyce? I thought you were...changing me….” Emily found it hard to get the more embarrassing words out of her mouth, tapering off into a mumble, as she couldn’t even make eye contact with the person who had now the majority of her clothes in hand. “Silly, I am changing you! But mommy needs to make sure her little girl is always clean, you know.” The helpless and partly distraught girl couldn’t make heads or tails of what she was getting at. Every waking moment was always a surprise. “What do you mean? You don’t need to take off my shirt to change a diaper….” It was hard to say the words with confidence. Despite her own reasoning, her irrational side that accepted the flow of things was poisoning her bravado. Joyce’s words were too convincing. Joyce couldn’t help but chuckle as Emily struggled to connect the dots. It was always so cute watching her flounder in simple curiosity; just to feel her raw emotions be exposed to surprise, knowing they’d always settle into relaxation and comfort. The adventure could always be scary for her charge, but reaching the destination was worth every single second of it. Now that they were back home and safe, Joyce could relish in these moments, knowing Emily probably felt even more accustomed now knowing the indoors was not nearly as prying as the public! “A clean diaper doesn’t always mean a clean baby, my wittle girl.” It was hard to resist the cooing now that they were alone, and the words made Emily squirm in a fuzzy way. “I think it’s time for someone to take a bath, don’t you?” A bath? Well, Emily didn’t have a chance to use the bathroom that morning; in more ways than one. She did miss out on her daily routine, but if they were still in ‘play’ mode then how was she...Emily looked back to Joyce, suddenly red in the face from unspoken confirmation. Joyce only returned a loving smile as only the tapes tearing from plastic could be heard. “Are you….going to...you know…” Joyce finished the words for her. “Bathe you?” Emily, flustered, quietly nodded her head. “Well, I can’t trust you to be in the bathroom by yourself, right? Much less take a bath. Little Emmy needs mommy’s supervision at all times.” She rubbed Emily’s cheek at that statement. The words made her feel so little...so incapable of doing things by herself, meaning she had to rely on Joyce even more. While the talk and change riddled her with obvious embarrassment, the joy that welled up inside of her was unmistakable. In all this time she’d spent with Joyce, it all felt like grooming for the kinds of moments like these when she’d cross a significant line with Joyce; lines like this. Emily didn’t know why she was feeling this way, but like in any other moment of uncertainty, she simply resigned herself to go with the flow. Joyce collected her ankles in the air and slid the used diaper from underneath her, passively taking a look at how well-used it was. Unfortunately, Emily’s one accident was nowhere near to using up the entire thing...but Joyce wasn’t going to force the poor girl to sit in it; not when she had only wet one for the second time. It would be a gradual transition, of course, but Joyce couldn’t help but keep getting caught in her fantasies of the future. Emily had become her everything and she’d trade nothing else in the world for it. “Alright,” Joyce stood Emily up and off the bed, who was currently only in a bra right now. “Let’s get you cleaned up now, hm?” “You’re just gonna leave me naked?” Emily stammered in a weak protest, as her old habits kept one hand in front of her nether regions and the other on her behind. “You can’t wear clothes into the bath, silly. Then they’d get wet!” Joyce intentionally misunderstood her words as she watched Emily fuss. It was clear though she was getting used to being naked around Joyce though, even if decency commanded her to hide her most precious parts. It was about pushing Emily a little bit further each time though, but never too far outside her comfort zone. “But I think mommy forgot one last thing to take off,” Joyce nodded over to Emily’s last piece of dignity. Her bra. “C-can’t I just take it off in the bathroom?” Emily so desperately wanted to maintain any shred of dignity she could hang on to. Things were moving fast and she suddenly wanted some way to fight the tide. “Emmy, honey, turn around for me please.” Wordlessly, Emily followed her instructions, almost ready to cry from what was to come. Guided by Joyce, she knew it was okay on some level to be handled like this, but it didn’t make things easier. The adult inside of her was fighting now, but the more accepting part of her was clearly winning the battle. “Shhh shhh it’s alright. It’s just getting ready for bathtime, that’s all.” Emily’s emotions weren’t ready for when she heard the click of the strap coming undone, now hanging lifelessly. Out of instinct Emily took the hand that was covering her behind to support the unhooked garment she still had on. But slowly and gently, a second set of hands slid them off of her, leaving her chest bare and body completely and truly exposed. Reorganizing her efforts, now one arm covered her chest and the other her front. A bare backside was something she’d have to accept. “Alright my little exhibitionist,” Joyce did her best to try and lighten the mood. “Let’s get somebody in the tub now. Don’t you think?” “Mhm...” Emily’s words were few and far between now, taking all of her mental fortitudes to stay composed. Even if she wanted to be okay with this, overwriting what trained instinct told her was a difficult task to manage. As loving as it was, Emily could feel Joyce watching over her; caught in a mix of happiness and fear. Emily wasn’t budging though, trapped in her own internal dilemma again. Joyce almost let out a sigh, watching her little girl struggle like this time and time again. But from what past experiences taught, Emily tended to respond well with a little shock to the system. “Does somebody want mommy to carry them as well?” Joyce whisked a yelping Emily into the air, as she quickly wrapped her arms around Joyce’s neck and waist with her legs. Her morals berated her and screamed indecency as her bare chest pressed against someone who was modest enough to be clothed; her crotch as well. It was even more of a bitter pill to swallow with her butt on full display. But to who? There was only she and Joyce in the apartment after all… Burying her head from the shame, Emily in a muffled cry spoke. “Can you please let me down?” “Maybe when we get to the bathroom,” Joyce replied. She didn’t like forcing Emily into situations like these, but so far it seemed to be the best way to get over a slump. “I know you might be a bit embarrassed right now, but you already know I’ve seen everything you have, right?” A bit embarrassing didn’t even begin to describe, but Emily knew there was truth to her words. Since day one, excluding the diaper changes Joyce had changed Emily’s clothes the first time they met. She could remember it like it was yesterday; waking up in a nightgown and different underwear, and with no bra too. By that logic she had no right to be embarrassed, but even then…. Joyce rubbed the small girl’s back while they made their brief trek to the bathroom. It felt short for Joyce, but like an eternity for Emily. Every subtle movement and shift Joyce made while Emily sat there naked came back to her in critical and vivid detail. Down to Joyce’s hands, which supported her naked thighs and fingers that just edged on the cheeks to her bottom. She hated it as much as it started to become alluring to her; another step to the bonding process. Joyce had already unlocked the bathroom before they left that morning; already planning to do something like this should Emily have wanted to continue. Honestly she didn’t expect it, but would have given herself a literal pat on the back for planning anyways, had she not been occupied with a naked Emily, of course. Inside and with the door closed, the warm and contained bathroom atmosphere enveloped Emily. The entirety of the apartment was kept well-heated, but nothing compared to being laid bare as soon as she got out of the bath. It almost helped her forget the circumstances she was in right now. “Could you...let me down now, please?” The contact between the two had certainly been intimate but Emily wanted to collect herself. Joyce may have been a bit more accepting than her, but Emily was still getting accustomed to her new attire. “Under one condition, hon.” “What’s that?” Just from hearing the unknown terms Emily’s heart skipped a beat. What could it be? What more did Joyce want from her? “If I let you down, you have to promise me one thing: I don’t want you to try and cover up, okay?” No, no, she couldn’t be serious. This was too much! Emily didn’t want to be so exposed in front of the person she cherished so much. It felt...wrong! She didn’t know how she was supposed to get closer to Joyce, but this was a means she didn’t want to follow through with. What was natural was being challenged yet again and anything other than protest seemed impossible! Yet at the same time, all of their past moments came flooding back, contradicting everything she was trying to stand for right now, especially when Joyce first...pleasured her. Even now...it was just a compilation of everything she’d experienced thus far. She just wanted Joyce to make the bad feelings go away… The silence had gone on long enough and Joyce started to coax. “Emmy, you should know by now shame isn’t something you should ever feel when you’re with me. If you want to feel sad, or angry, then sometimes that can’t be helped. But always and I mean always, at the end of the day you’ll be my special little girl. It’s my job to keep you happy, you know? So far I’ve fed you, changed you, pampered you, and more. You liked that, didn’t you?” Once more Emily could only nod, letting the words talk her down from the ledge. This wasn’t manipulation, because even the rational side of Emily knew it was true. “And now I need to clean you. You don’t want to be dirty, right?” Emily shook her head. Everything came so simply when it was through Joyce’s words. “No, of course not!” Joyce laughed a little. “There’s no need to feel embarrassed being naked around me sweetie. Embarrassment and shame aren’t allowed when I’m here with you, okay?” Emily nodded once more, taking in the pure words of only acceptance and embrace; devoid of anything impure or negative. Joyce cooed. “Good! Now if I let you down can you promise to be a happy little girl for me?” She didn’t feel like herself anymore; not when Joyce talked to her that way. Everything felt so real, the way she was cared for and handled made it too believable to think otherwise. Emily wanted to cry from happiness right now. She’d still be a little red-faced, but she could manage if Joyce said it was okay. One final time Emily nodded her head, and then she could feel Joyce’s grip loosen, announcing touchdown when Emily’s feet made a slight plop noise when they connected to the tiled floor. “There she is! Right as rain!” And red as a rose. Joyce could see her tiny smile as she looked away, with a face as red as a tomato. She’d keep the last part to herself though. This was already more than perfect. Emily rubbed one of her arms uncomfortably with the other while she shuffled everso bashfully. Her heart felt ready to jump out of her chest the more she stood still. Doing as Joyce asked she tried her hardest not to cover up again; her breasts and privates on full display. But every time she’d sneak a glance at Joyce’s gaze, it was never a look of disdain, disgust or negativity. It was pure warmth. The acceptance was wonderfully heartbreaking, and it felt even the slightest bit more comfortable to be on full display, and realize there were no repercussions for it. “Phew!” Joyce said in relief. “Had you given mommy any more trouble I might have had to get in the bath with you!” She ruffled the hair on the top of Emily’s head, a new sense of shock overcoming her. What? Was she kidding? She had to be joking! Right? Emily quietly watched, beet red while Joyce started to fill the bath, speculating what it might have been like to bathe with Joyce. Just to imagine seeing her whole figure...W-w-w-wait! Get it together! Emily quickly chased the thoughts out of her head, trying to focus on the task at hand. It was an understatement to say she felt out of her element being naked in front of someone else, but needless to say Joyce’s casualness towards it was a godsend. Joyce always knew how to make Emily feel better and this moment only made her grow more trusting of the fact. Joyce’s hand monitored the gushing water until it had reached the perfect temperature; catching the midway just between too hot and lukewarm. She almost felt a little sad, when the thought hit her. It wouldn’t be much of a bath without any bubbles or toys...damn! Joyce quietly chastised herself, a failure of a mommy who couldn’t even give her little one something to be entertained with. But...Joyce snuck a look at Emily’s bare backside once more, watching her longingly. Emily wouldn’t mind, she was easy to please. It didn’t make Joyce’s infraction any less significant, but on the surface Emily would be alright. That just meant it was another fun bathtime to look forward to down the road. Gathering towels, a sponge, soaps, shampoos and an empty cup, Joyce set up her workstation whilst Emily watched quietly nearby, still trying to sort through her own emotions. Joyce set a towel for the amenities and another to kneel on. A much larger one was kept folded for Emily. “I know we didn’t get any food into you while we were out, so maybe we could have a late lunch?” “Whatever’s fine...” Emily said, still trying to find her words. “We could order out, you know?” “Really? From where?” This caught Emily’s attention, from both curiosity and a strange sadness. Takeout on any night was good, but a night without Joyce’s cooking was...questionable. Hence why she was having second thoughts. “Sandwiches? Pizza? Sushi? I want you to pick for a change. Wittle Emmy gets to pick tonight!” Joyce fired her loving coos towards Emily, who kept her tingling feelings to herself. It was the first time Emily actually had reign in her miniature role. It was no real power that was given to her, which is why it was so much more thrilling. No matter what she did she would still be safe under Joyce’s watchful eye. She’d been given the freedom of choice, but she was still well-within Joyce’s influence. And honestly she’d been so used to being cooked such amazing meals that she’d partly forgotten what it was like to cook for herself. It was a little strange to realize that...“I’m not sure...Can I have some time to think?” “Of course.” Joyce finished tying her hair up into a bun and rolling up her sleeves. Then for no reason whatsoever, she snuck over to Emily, giving her a warm hug. Of course in return it caused the naked girl to jump, still adjusting to her naked display. “Wh- why are you...?” Not in a voice of protest, but general concern and curiosity. “Can’t mommy hug her little girl when she feels like it? Or maybe I’ll have to tickle my way into one!” In tune with the build-up in her voice, Joyce’s fingers quickly scurried up and down Emily’s sides, resulting in an immediate squirm of thrashes and cries as she struggled to fend off the tickle tormentor. Somehow finding a chance to escape, whether it was a sign of mercy from Joyce she didn’t know, Emily bolted to the other side of the tub, trying to cover her sides from any further attacks; an irrational part of her even briefly considering a ranged assault. With a distraught look on her face, she could only watch the playfully vicious Joyce give her a motherly grin. “Not funny…” Emily pouted, establishing a safe distance between the two. “Awww...I’m sorry Emmy. I didn’t mean to chase you away!” Joyce opened her arms in a wide, welcoming stance, the predatory look in her eyes diffusing into something much calmer. “Do you forgive me?” She did look genuinely apologetic... Emily shuffled with uncertainty, trying to discern whether or not Joyce had a trick up her sleeve. But the hug did seem nice...so maybe...Carefully, Emily edged closer back to her former enemy, toe by toe, the only sounds in the room being the bathroom fan and the mini waterfall filling the tub. Within a few tile’s distance, Joyce slightly leaped forward, latching her arms around her cautious prey. “Gotcha!” Joyce playfully shouted. Oh no! Not again! Emily started to squirm, anticipating another tickle attack at a moment’s notice. Her earlier escape was starting to feel like a fluke though, because now it was clear Joyce didn’t want her wriggling away. But during her futile efforts, it became clear Joyce had no intent to attack. The two slumped to the floor, with Emily overshadowed by Joyce’s larger figure and placed in her lap, returning the hug in the best way she could by latching onto her arms. Even if Emily’s cheeks were burning right now and she was naked, she was more focused on enjoying the moment. A little more time passed until Joyce finally released Emily for good, content with their cuddling and judging it was time to turn off the faucet. The expansive tub was filled and it was time to get a certain someone clean. Had she not taken a shower this morning she’d almost have felt obliged to join her. But that might be a bit too much right now...Joyce wasn’t sure how Emily would read the situation then. Joyce clasped her hands together. “Alright! In the tub, missy.” Already reminiscent of their hugging, Emily edged one foot into the tub, feeling the immediate shift in temperature as she acclimated to the near-hot water. It did feel good; certainly pleasant enough to wash the day’s fatigue and dirt away. Though, the last part was just added for effect. In Joyce’s care, there was no way Emily had even come close to a speck of blemish that could harm her shine. Even as they were separated right now in the flesh, Emily could feel Joyce’s emotions wrapping her in a pleasant, snug cocoon that didn’t want to let her go, and Emily didn’t want to leave. Lowering herself into the rewarding bathwater with these thoughts was nothing short of bliss and sweet serenity. And to top it all off, Emily started to feel like puddy when she could hear Joyce’s hums follow behind her from ear to ear; indications of Joyce already getting to work. “Does my little kitten like being pampered like this?” Joyce calmly spoke as she eased Emily further into the water, just enough to submerge her black and shimmering hair. “Mhm…” Emily spoke in a quiet whisper. She was too entranced to fully give a response. Joyce’s smile only grew wider when the ecstasy written all over Emily was emanating. Slowly, Joyce traced one of her fingers over Emily’s head in circular motions, dancing across her nape. “Now tell me, what does little Emmy want to smell like? Lavender, lotus or peach?” “Pick for me, please…” Emily quietly moaned, too busy enjoying the sensation from her scalp being massaged. Well, if Joyce had ever thought Emily were in pure bliss, now would be it. She’d have to keep moments like these in mind whenever Emily might need a breather. But...Joyce was in the mood for peaches; she wouldn’t mind that smell moving around the house. Not that Emily could have ever made a wrong choice. Oh, just to dote on someone else who was willing was such an indescribable feeling! Emily...if only she knew how important she was. Joyce doused the sponge in the body wash, dipping it into the bathwater and helping Emily back into a sitting position, her wet hair hanging heavy, collected into a smooth mass. She watched as the wet hairs fell in line as they left the water; unperturbed by anything that touched them. “Alright, Emmy. It might feel a little strange at first, but bear with me, okay?” Emily absent-mindedly nodded as Joyce started to scrub with the fruity-scented sponge up and down her back, gentle with the utmost care in each and every up-and-down motion. Trying to relish every moment, the distant fact hurt that they wouldn’t be able to do something like this for a bit. A week in fact. Joyce felt a little selfish voice inside her head, entertaining the thought at what it might be like if Emily didn’t have to work at all. Then she’d always be here, ready for her mommy to look after her...No! What was she thinking? It was just a simple fantasy. Nothing more. Emily was an adult, and even Joyce didn’t think Emily would want to surrender herself completely, and that was more than understandable. Besides, it wasn’t like Joyce could put her life down either. Yes, there was a very special spot reserved exclusively for Emily now, but right now that couldn’t be her everything. She couldn’t exactly stop working. Prestige came at a price. This was only the second time they bonded like this before. Joyce was fortunate enough to have gotten this far and should already be grateful. Besides, it only had yet to get better and more rewarding for the both of them. Joyce settled her sights and thoughts on those moments, those which weren’t far off in the future. A good hour went by in the bathroom; both Joyce and Emily soaking in every possible moment. Emily had certainly gotten a bit jumpy when Joyce cleaned her more...sensitive parts, but Emily let it happen nonetheless. Joyce carried on the conversation for the both of them, as the girl in the tub was simply too intoxicated to invest herself. Joyce scooped one last batch of water into the cup and let it trickle into a full-on pour over Emily’s head, washing the rest of the conditioner away. “I know you’re having a good time, honey, but I think it’s time we get you out of there. I can’t have my baby girl turning into a raisin on me!” Slowly being drawn back into the atmosphere of reality, Emily was sad to see the bathwater go, watching as Joyce opened their exit and the warm, steamy crowd flushed out. Immediately as the water level began to sink, not even the heated fan could convince Emily it wasn’t chilly. Trying to hang on for as long as she could, the water reached a point where she couldn’t fully submerge herself anymore and she was just teasing herself at that point. Standing up finally, there was thankfully Joyce with a towel she could have mistaken for a blanket waiting for her. It was a towel Joyce would sometimes use for her torso, going as far down to just above her ankles. With that size comparison, it might as well have been a blanket to Emily. Draped in her robe Emily felt safe from the harsh temperatures yet again. “There we go. Now she smells perfect!” Joyce gave her an exaggerated sniff as she rocked her from side to side. It was always fun when they could be together like this. This was true. Even Emily was pleased with how she smelled. Not that it was bad before, but now a certain scent had been emphasized yet again. Earlier this morning it would have been the lavender Joyce powdered her waist in… As she sat there though, stewing in her thoughts, a sudden urge struck her, one that bloomed confusion and worry inside of her. Just as a hunch, Joyce couldn’t help but think she saw a shift in Emily’s demeanor. “Something wrong?” “Er….I…” Emily could feel the embarrassment coming back to her in troves and under a different mask. It was a new problem she hadn’t faced with Joyce before. To even consider mentioning it pushed what she thought could be the most shameful to new limits. “Do you need to pee?” Joyce blankly asked, wondering if she hit the nail on the head. Of course Emily would still have trouble mentioning those kinds of things, so it was her job to draw them out of her. “No…” Emily sheepishly tried to look in any other direction than where Joyce was. Knowing her, it probably wouldn’t take much longer to build from there. Peeing was one thing. So it was only logical next she’d guess… “Is it maybe for something else?” Joyce danced around the exact words, trying to keep her girl in one piece. Awkwardly, trusting in the time the two had taken to build such a stronger bond, Emily nodded her head. So that’s what it was...Joyce almost bit the side of her lip, pondering over what to do. Messing was obviously too soon for Emily. Baby steps. And Joyce wouldn’t go to get her a diaper just to put her through that, no. It had to come much more naturally; not forced circumstances like this. “Maybe Emmy’s ready to use the big girl toilet?” Joyce suggested, still trying to maintain the parental role. Keeping it in the realm of babying would surely resonate with her. Emily’s heart found its rapid pace again as she realized Joyce was giving her a free pass on this one, which she couldn’t be thankful enough for. Emily couldn’t even begin to imagine the kind of taboo she’d commit--to use a diaper like that. It was unthinkable. Joyce stretched out her hand and guided Emily back to her feet, undoing the towel for her and letting it unravel on the ground. Naked again, Emily let Joyce guide her over to the toilet. But once Emily sat down, she couldn’t help but notice the pair of legs she wouldn’t look any higher than were fixed in place. Facing her. “Uhm...Joyce?” Emily was a little afraid to ask, already expecting a certain answer. “What is it honey?” “Could I have some...you know…” “Privacy?” Emily let her head do the talking for her again. “Emmy, you know I can’t leave you here alone. What kind of mommy would I be if I left you unsupervised?” She responded in tears, as Joyce gave her yet another painful test. Everything around them faded away, until the only things that remained were Emily, Joyce and the porcelain throne. “Please…” Emily half-mouthed not wanting things to happen like this. The pressure was building. “Emmy...” Joyce got on her knees, lowering enough to catch Emily’s downward gaze. “Remember when I said you don’t need to feel ashamed or embarrassed around me?” “I know...but!--” Joyce quickly cut her off. “And, this is one of those moments, sweety.” “I don’t want to do this Joyce...Please let me go on my own…!” Joyce came to a conclusion, dealing Emily with her ultimatum. She didn’t feel happy doing this, but just like before bathtime, these sorts of things took encouragement. “Okay Emmy,” Joyce took her hands with Emily’s. “I’m not going to make you go potty in front of me if you don’t want to.” Really? Did she mean it? Emily could feel an internal sigh of relief knowing she could be at ease now. “But,” No! Why did there have to be a but? “You have three choices, okay?” Emily silently listened with attentive ears. “One, you can use the toilet for me and I’ll make sure my big girl does a good job.” Oh how she hated that idea. Joyce may have bathed her, made her pee herself, but poop? “Two, I can get you one of your diapers, and you can mess in that, and then I’ll change you.” Absolutely out of the question. She cherished the toilet far too much to do something like that, but a strange submissive part of her couldn’t help but laugh in glee at how she was being talked down to. It made her feel so tight in Joyce’s arms and so dependent! “Or three, I can let you use the toilet on your own, but I leave the room and we stop this for the rest of the night.” Option three sounded the most ideal to her rational side. But then what? Emily hated to admit how their intimacy was growing on her and to know how she’d feel empty for the rest of the night was an annoying thought she couldn’t bear. She knew it was the most practical, and yet why couldn’t she bring herself to say those words?! “I’ll give you the count to three, okay?” Three seconds? That wasn’t fair! How could she drop this bombshell of a dilemma on her, and only give mere moments to decide? It was so frustrating! Emily loved what they had. There, she said it; internally, at least. But to put it at stake like this? To test their limits so suddenly? Joyce always knew how to push her buttons, and Emily was always in the palm of her hand… “One…” Joyce wasn’t sure what Emily would choose. The mommy in her of course wanted option two, but both of them knew it’d never happen. Not now. At best it was a decoration for the much more plausible other two. She’d have to settle for option one, but even then Joyce had her doubts. “Two…” To even let a second pass was a little shocking to Joyce. Could she really be struggling that much? Oh, how could she being doing this to Emily!? She was a monster; putting her little girl on the fence like this; forcing her to make such difficult decisions. She had half a mind to call off the deal and give Emily her private time with no repercussions… Still maintaining her calm composure though, “Three…” Before the next interval between seconds could pass, a tiny voice made itself known, and bubble of confusion and distress had suddenly popped, when a flustered voice finally squeaked its response. “One!” Joyce looked at Emily; the flustered one’s eyes sealed shut, as if she couldn’t even believe her own words. “...One?” Joyce had to confirm. Yet again the small package had delivered her another almost overwhelming surprise. “Y...yes…” Emily trembled, quickly coming to terms with what her choice would entail. She continuously beat and berated herself; trying to figure out what could have possibly urged her to go with option one; the very one she tried to get herself out of! It hurt; trying to be honest with herself...But it hurt even more to run from it. Both she and likely Joyce knew that she was starting become attached to this. She couldn’t let it go now. This wasn’t something she wanted to go through, yet all the other fun things they’d do together is what kept her pushing forward. Joyce kept her small doubletake silent as she outwardly beamed with pride for Emily’s unexpected bravery. It made her hate herself even more for forcing Emily’s hand like this, but at the same time she was focused on pushing Emily’s limits. It was like stretching out a sock. Every time you try to slip it over something bigger, after enough time it becomes accustomed to that size, and its capacity becomes bigger and bigger. Slowly but surely Emily was becoming more okay with more and more demanding situations. Emily’d already made leaps and bounds, and Joyce loved her all the more for it. Emily took a deep breath, bracing herself for what was to come. Before she even started adding to the physical pressure, her mind was racing; a crying fit ready to start again. It was almost like a modern-day discovery to find someone who could cry this much. Her adrenaline was pumping and all she could do was sit still and hang on to her metaphorical rock; each of their hands interlocked with the other. For a brief moment, even Joyce found herself lost in thought; quickly jumping back to the frontlines. This was no time to be spacing out. She had to be there for Emily; once and if she crashed… Her body was clearly resisting, trying to convince her of the foolishness she was committing right now. Emily knew that all too well. Joyce was what kept her going though. Never in her life had she been so dependent on someone before; not even Jack. In the small span of a little more than a week, lingering feelings of attachment and inseparable sentiment were taking form. Why was she thinking about all these things right now? Being so close to Joyce? Naked on a toilet, going number two in front of the one person she wanted to be with the most. But it was alright, right? Deep down she harbored the fear of betrayal; and as soon as she would do her deed, she’d become something unsightly...But Joyce said to, after all. “You can do it...come on...In one...nice...big...push!” Joyce encouraged in a low voice, squeezing Emily’s palms. While Joyce never exactly wanted Emily to use the toilet when they had their mommy time together, the value in an experience like this was unmistakable. Right here, right now, they were breaking down barriers; opening little Emily up to new possibilities. Her muscles tensed as she could feel it coming, the mass inside of her would be let go, right in front of her; the one she wanted to impress the most; the one she wanted to be cared for by. She was being watched use the toilet like she couldn’t be trusted. She was small...she wasn’t independent… It didn’t feel real; the absence of privacy. A setting and state that had been commonplace for decades was now nonexistent. Removing something so crucial, so essential to the bathroom procedure was incomprehensible, yet here she was, doing her business in front of another person; an adult. Which is why when it finally released, when she finally pushed it all out, hearing that shameful, childish plop in the water, announcing what she’d done for the whole world to know, everything she had known to signify any sense of maturity or adulthood shattered. Emily didn’t make a noise this time, other than staring back at Joyce, her bottom lip quivering the ever slightest with a set of hollow eyes; a look telling of Emily’s grief, shock, and sadness from what she’d done. The moment itself had been surreal enough, but to claim responsibility for it made her even more of a stranger to herself. Despite that, the lighthouse which called the ship back to shore though was that same, glowing smile. The one that always kept Emily from wandering astray; to lose herself in the darkness and despair. In this vast, unknown world Emily had just begun to explore, her guide waited right there for her with open arms. It was those two words which were powerful enough to shine away the fog in Emily’s glassy eyes. “Good girl.” It was Emily’s turn to initiate the hug this time; still partly on the toilet seat. She was disgusted with herself, but she needed Joyce more than ever now, who was more than happy to oblige. “I...Is th-that enough?” Emily sobbed into Joyce’s shoulder, forgetting about her still-wet hair, unknowingly allowing the expensive fabrics on Joyce’s body to soak up the water dripping from it. “That was perfect, Emily. You did plenty.” The task she had just performed, to do her business on the toilet was physically and mentally draining; contradicting second nature as she knew it. Anything she had left in her body to support her muscles had been completely redirected to just hanging onto Joyce with every last spec of energy in reserve. Joyce reassuringly stroked her hair.“It might have felt scary, but you did it, and I want you to know how proud I am of you. I won’t force you to do any more difficult things tonight; don’t worry. You just relax and be proud for me, okay?” Emily wasn’t sure how proud she could feel right now, but in her scrambled state she could only nod yes over and over. She didn’t know whether it was to convince Joyce or herself. “Don’t ever feel ashamed for using the potty in front of me, okay?” Joyce made sure they had complete eye contact now. “You don’t ever need to hide anything from me, okay?” While she was weak, Joyce would make sure to slip only positive reinforcement before Emily put herself back together. She only wanted Emily to feel good things; be happy about this. “Mhm…” Emily kept sniffling, still exhausted from her deed. “Now do you want to finish getting cleaned up?” Joyce didn’t pay the water blotch on her shoulder any mind. Back to her quiet, teary self, Emily agreed and let herself be wrapped up again. Joyce finished the hard part for her, using a blowdryer and dabbing her all over with another towel to get her nice and dry until not a single drop of water remained. And as Emily sat there lazily and blinked her eyes, now that her emotions were settling down, there wasn’t anything left to hide the sudden fatigue sweeping over her. “Is someone a bit sleepy?” Joyce poked. It wasn’t surprising after all she’d been through. She’d hardly even slept during the ride home. Emily yawned in response, fast to accept the hold Joyce let her confide in. In a princess carry the world started to fade away; suspended in a coming dreamland. Joyce watched her hang there so peacefully and reflected on how vulnerable she’d become in the span of a single day. It was Emily’s way of extending her trust to Joyce, who would never trample on such a priceless treasure. Planting her lips on the top of Emily’s exposed forehead, she whispered a goodnight to Emily and held her still for a moment longer. In a lowered voice though Joyce let out a sigh, watching Emily with a slightly raised eyebrow. “Weren’t you the one that was gonna pick lunch?” She glanced at the nearby clock, then gently set her down. “Guess it’s dinner now...” 9 - Behind the Scenes She tossed and turned, stirred, tangling herself in her own hair as she shifted from pillow to pillow. The fact she’d even been moving at all was a sign the sleeping girl had just begun to properly enjoy the luxuries of a privileged lifestyle. When she finally came to, she let out an unintentionally unreserved moan as she stretched, letting the whispers of the waking world call her back from a deep sleep. When she opened her eyes, she was facing one of the many window panels adjacent to her bed; a slight parting in the curtains revealing a night sky lifted by a bustling skyline. The room was dark, minus for the orange glow that came from the lamp on the nearest nightstand. Getting her bearings, she curiously rolled over to the other side, hearing a crinkle murmur underneath the covers. The clock read 7:27 PM, confirming her view outside. One hand on the covers, she lifted them up to peer inside, following her shadowed torso, seeing she was now in the same monkey shirt she’d been in from yesterday’s play. What was more important though was the obvious medical diaper she was taped into; identical in every aspect as all her other ones had been. Her heart began to shuffle just from recalling the recent events, remembering the toilet in the bathroom. But where was Joyce? Did she put her to bed? Emily started to recall how exhausted she felt from earlier, and the distant fragments about falling asleep in Joyce’s arms. The sleep still had yet to be shaken out of her. Only by moving around would she give her mind some clarity. Her silent thoughts remained unperturbed by the distant noise pollution that countless flights of economic might separated her from. With a yawn and rubbing her eyes, Emily idly spoke to no one in the room. “Where are you...Joyce?” Sweeping her blankets to the side, Emily hopped out of bed, mildly attentive of how the diaper conformed to every movement she made. Looking at it reminded her of Joyce...specifically how it made her...her baby girl. A strange smile crept on Emily’s face just from thinking such things, but she tried not to lose herself in such gushy thoughts. Padding across the carpeted floor and to the nearly closed doorway, it revealed an illuminated hallway that led to an even brighter living room. But in her brisk movements, Emily could feel the slightest breeze kiss the higher parts of her thighs, reminding her she was just walking in a shirt and diaper right now. Had she really not noticed? Emily’s sleep-lingering eyes widened a bit at the unusual discovery. It would probably be for the best if she got some pants to cover up...But then a strange suggestion popped into her mind. Maybe it would be better if she...didn’t? The second voice in her head was just as shocking as her actions right now. Maybe...maybe Joyce would be happier if she didn’t put anything else on...Her heart thumped at the thought of doing something so...so...risuqé? Then again, such a sexual word didn’t exactly sum up wearing a diaper for her authority figure… Never had she acted out like this of her own volition. It was always Joyce who initiated stuff like this. No matter how much she tried to talk herself out of it though Emily couldn’t help but wonder if staying barely clothed like this would be for the better. Maybe this stuff really was rubbing off on her...As scary as it was, it meant she was that much closer to Joyce… With a slower pace, Emily chose not to turn back and inched closer toward the kitchen. Her nose started to perk up at the sudden smells that teased her. The scent was familiar, and for that reason she knew how delicious the food must have been to permeate such an alluring aroma. Trying to be as quiet as a mouse (or kitten, rather), Emily caught the sight of a busy Joyce, who had changed shirts since the bath and looked to be setting plates. A sudden sense of mischief entered Emily’s mind, already bombarded with so many bold thoughts today. Carefully, she snuck up behind the turned Joyce, growing closer and closer...right until… “BOO!” The voice was loud, and unexpected; especially because it was from Joyce, who had made a complete one-eighty. She tricked the trickster. Clearly not prepared for the counterattack, Emily found herself to be the one jumping with a yelp as her feet dressed in socks slipped across the tile and her bottom hit the ground. The floor was hard and she could feel it too, a little upset over her massive blunder, and for letting the tables be turned so easily. “How did you know?” Emily tried to hide her aggravation while she accepted the two hands pulling her back to her feet. Joyce could only look down on her (literally) with a loving grin. “Mommy’s intuition?” Joyce suggested, giving her a brief hug. Caringly she patted the diapered girl’s bottom. “Does your tushy hurt from hitting the mean floor?” “No...” Emily said dismissively, finding herself already flustered once more. Joyce couldn’t help but leave a slight giggle to herself. Emily had made an honest effort, but she’d already known the diapered girl was nearby for quite a bit. Even amongst the takeout food giving off its smells of chicken, meats and rice, that peach smell she’d spent so long rubbing into the girl was unmistakable. Not to mention her diaper crinkled louder for others than she thought. For the caring mother’s ear, at least. Mother. Yes, Joyce was a mommy, and it made her giddy to even think about her realized dream. It made her even happier though to share these moments with Emily. Regardless, she wouldn’t tell Emily how loud she actually was, lest she leave her feeling even more self-conscious. Speaking of which, Joyce’s eyes quickly scanned Emily’s figure up and down, who had chosen to stay in just the clothes she dressed her in. Seeing Emily stay how Joyce had dressed her pulled at the heartstrings in a way she couldn’t even begin to describe. It was adorable to think of Emily wanting to be waited on hand and foot, and being only in charge of her emotions; leaving all the rest to her caring guardian. The further things moved along, it would make it that much harder to tear off the band-aid when the Sunday night would come to an end, and a week of prohibited intimacy would begin. They’d always have their cuddle moments, of course, but never could it reach this level when they’d be busy all day; almost all week. She remembered first trying to envision Emily in the underwear she had first gotten her. It wasn’t ever sexual, but simply the act of it in how it suggested her shamelessness; willing to parade herself around the house however she pleased, and in whatever clothes she wanted. It was those carefree feelings Joyce would hope Emily could come to learn and love. And watching her now, seeing Emily could put her padded bottom on full display? Well, it made those wishful thoughts of Joyce that much more of a reality. Emily hadn’t known it, but her small plan to stay in just a diaper worked masterfully. It was the delightful subtleties like this that worked to be the nuts & bolts of a contraption that could run flawlessly and beautifully. It was the little things. “Since someone decided to have a late nap today,” Joyce spoke with a heavy, yet joking emphasis towards Emily. “Mommy decided to order for the both of us.” “You could have woken me up to ask, you know.” Emily retorted. She was perfectly fine with Joyce choosing the food, but didn’t mind being woken up either. Joyce had already started to pull out the white containers labeled with Chinese characters, acting as a thin barrier to the delicious smelling contents inside. “Nonsense. I expect you to keep to a regularly scheduled nap, which you still had five minutes for by the way.” More like a mother, she spoke in a tutting voice; the kind that put Emily in a small space she didn’t want to crawl out of and only snuggle into. “It’s how you can keep up with such a busy day, you know?” Emily conceded to Joyce’s absolute words, moving to get her plate until she was denied, having been told to take her place at the table. And of course it wouldn’t be a proper meal without Emily’s sippy cup, already filled with the sweet apple juice that catered to Emily so well. “You don’t mind Chinese food, right? I know it might not be like what I usually cook around here, but I think it’d be nice for a change.” Emily immediately shook her head, hoping not to cause a misunderstanding. “No, this is fine! A night when neither of us has to cook is a good night, I’d say.” “I’ll be sure to cook you something delicious tomorrow to make up for it, okay?” Trying to comprehend how this could have been a misdeed by Joyce’s thought process, Emily tried to stifle her mental hiccup. She didn’t try to dwell on it too much though, as past experience taught it chalked up to her boundless generosity. Her kindness never seemed reserved around Emily. She’d never exploit the soft spot Joyce had for her, but to know she was that special made her heart beat fast. Joyce had taken the liberty in serving the both of them as well, fairly distributing servings of chicken, rice, ribs, and lo mein. In a way the slightly sweet and seasoned tastes reminded Emily of a simpler time, when she’d be lounging around her old apartment and couldn’t be bothered to lift a finger in the kitchen, but was just active enough to open a door and hand someone money. Equally enjoying the meal, Joyce paused her bites to wash it down with her water. Eating like this was nice every once in a while. In a strange way, it almost reminded Joyce of how human she was; if you could even put it to that extreme. Even Joyce thought the reason was laughable, but there was something about indulging in cheap luxuries like this that made her feel like everyone else. A big house, high paying job, limitless vacations, and anything else she could ever want being a few calls away could easily go to anyone’s head. She was proud of herself though for sporting the kind of mental fortitude that would keep her from ever having such delusions. But a reminder like this was still nice. In an odd way Joyce almost felt a little cruel from pampering Emily like this. Not that Emily would ever become spoiled rotten, but Joyce feared if Emily got too close to her, she’d feel these sorts of feelings from being in high society for so long. It was like going from eating just raw shrimp to being dipped in cocktail sauce: the taste was so good you simply couldn’t just stop yourself at a moment’s notice. But if Emily allowed her to, Joyce would never let such a fate befall her. She’d do everything in her power to prevent her fall from grace and keep her happy all the same. “How about we watch a movie after we eat?” Joyce suggested in between bites of food. “A good way to send a little girl off to beddy-bye.” Emily concurred, trying to not get so joyfully hung up on the baby talk. If she had kept doing that she’d be lost in her own thoughts all night. But with each word she could feel the bubbly feelings try to resurface. “And I want you to stay hydrated for me, okay?” Joyce to emphasize her point had already taken Emily’s half empty sippy cup and returned it back to her in a much fuller state. “We can’t have you shriveling up now, can we? ” Emily by now had figured what she was more loosely referring to; the kind of situations that always left her feeling apprehensive and distraught. But the warmth Joyce always basked her in was starting to feel like it was enough to handle the similar sensation in her diaper. Just the thought alone already had her legs squirming beneath the table. Joyce’s attentive ear could pick up on it, but she decided not to call it to attention. The house could have felt like a glass box at times. Because the apartment fell on a corner of the building, it got the most spots to see the vast city from. Even in the kitchen, a glass panel spanned nearly from the floor to the ceiling across from them both, as the busy and bustling lights unapologetically disturbed the black night. She’d have to take Emily out on the balcony at some point, when one of those rare occasions would come and it wouldn’t be so windy. She could see the moment playing out in her head already; being able to expose her to a vast world of dynamic colors that gave off such a fierce glow as they faded into nothing, and the marching armies of cars as they bathed in the orange auras the streetlamps emitted. By day the varying lights from advertisements and buildings went quiet. And by night? Well, needless to say it was a colorful and bright one. Seeing out of one of the windows may have looked spectacular, but being outside and so high up was on a whole different level. “Mommy’s stuffed,” Joyce interrupted the silence, finally content with her daydreaming and meal. “And by the looks of your plate, I’ll assume you’re done too?” Sheepishly Emily gave her a noise of confirmation, as Joyce already started to clean. Excusing herself from her seat, Emily took a second to remember she was in a diaper once again now that it was brought back into view, but quickly doubled down on moving to the living room. “Ah, ah! And where do you think you’re going?” The sudden words froze her in place, and she could feel herself stiffen. What did she do wrong? Emily awkwardly gave a turn, with an unintentionally innocent look on her face. Turning around, a sudden wet and cold piece of cloth was kissing her lips, or smothering the whole area for that matter. Out of reflex she backed away from it, but the washcloth closed the distance faster than she could make it. “You know if you let me wipe your face you could be out of here sooner than you think, you know?” Joyce jokingly chastised. Unable to realize her own foolishness, Emily couldn’t look Joyce in the eyes while her eyebrows were a dead giveaway to her emotions. While she let her carer finish the job, the diaper around her waist suddenly felt much more noticeable. Given how she was dressed, having someone else wash her face almost deemed something like this as appropriate. “Free to go!” Joyce took Emily by the shoulders and spun her back around towards the hallway, and with both hands made direct contact to her padded bottom with a loving pat. It wasn’t the force of her push that had Emily rushing, but the contact being made with her ever so embarrassing underwear. Joyce could only giggle to herself when she saw the crinkly and flustered rump disappear around the corner. She knew Emily was enjoying this too, which made it feel that much more special. Emily out of sight and with a reluctant hand slightly rubbed the back of her diaper where Joyce had made contact. She touched it as if Joyce had left something there, but of course she didn’t. It only made her face redder though when she fully registered she was touching her own diaper. Feeling the plastic backing taped around her waist made it a bit too real, and could feel herself retreating into her shell again. But she wouldn’t. If she had made it this far...surely she could keep going for a bit longer. Joyce followed not too long after, throwing away the empty boxes and storing what was left. She could see the black hair that rounded Emily’s head peak just above the couch and could see she draped a nearby blanket over her lower half. Grabbing the remote and sitting right beside Emily, Joyce started to surf for movies. Nothing struck itself as really unique or special. It was all the same generic movie approaches that had the same, washed-up tropes written all over them. So if that’s what it came to, Joyce decided they might as well go all in. “How about this one?” The selected movie was clearly a horror film, depicted with a severed hand lying still in a closeup shot. A strange bug was wrapped in between its fingers, as it seemed to compliment the title in some way reading as “Night of the Firefly.” “Uhm...okay. This is fine.” Emily’s words were slightly awkward and off-beat; rushing her tone. She scratched the side of her head out of a sudden, baseless paranoia. Joyce had given her a look of concern, already putting a hand on her blanketed leg. “You know we don’t have to watch it if you don’t want to, right? We could pick something less scary maybe?” “Wh-What do you mean?” Emily started off in a stammered voice, leveling it out into a partially brave front. “This is fine, really!” Her efforts to overcompensate were as easy to read through as it was to look through a window. But, Joyce would indulge her if she wanted. Maybe Emily was just getting herself worked up. Maybe she even liked to be scared? Joyce hadn’t considered that last part. “Okay then. Here’s your sippy by the way. Drink up, remember?” Joyce grabbed the sippy cup from the coffee table and put it into Emily’s hands, who willingly accepted. She suddenly was feeling thirsty again, and was thankful for the cool drink to calm her nerves. “Ready to start it?” Joyce already had pressed the ‘rent’ button and was ready to hit play next. Taking a breath for herself, Emily gave her the nod and Joyce hit the ‘select’ button. Swiping away on her tablet that happened to be nearby, the lights in the living room had dimmed until they were totally lifeless; enveloping the room in darkness except for the glowing tv and the lights from the nearby windows, which really did nothing to illuminate the room. The light coming from the screen bounced off the couch and the two girl’s figures as they got comfortable. Joyce pulled a pillow over to support her posture as she partially laid on her side with her torso propped up. Emily still sat like normal with her legs folded by her side on the expansive cushion, feeling her uneasy feet shuffle as they rubbed together. It was okay. She could do this. It was just a movie! “Agh! What are you--AHHH!” The poor victim sobbed uncontrollably as she was dressed in cuts and bruises, who had just finished escaping her tormentor after being dealt a nasty gash to the side of her head. She had just escaped, and Emily’s heart cheered for the hopeless girl, but her escape was shortly cut off by the grotesque creature that sunk its pincers into her seemingly fragile neck and collarbone. The screen had shrunk to half its size; for Emily at least. Her hands that covered her eyes split their fingers ever so slightly to satisfy the small part inside of her that wanted to be brave and keep watching, but it was a downhill battle. She’d given up on her juice at least ten minutes ago since things had become so tense in the movie; too afraid to reveal more of the screen whilst she snuck in a sip. It was scary, and Emily was swimming in regret right now as her bladder became painfully tense. Suddenly the darkened apartment didn’t feel so safe anymore...who knows what could have been lurking in the dark. Ugh, yes she was an adult, but horror was clearly not her forte! For her entire life she strayed from the unsettling genre, so why did she think she could handle it now? She was a rock stuck in a hard place. “Emmy,” The girl visibly jumped at the sudden sound of her own voice. The movie had reached a moment of peace, the calm before the storm, and the coincidence was simply too unnerving. But the distress on her face dissipated into relief when she suddenly remembered Joyce was at her side. “Maybe it’s time we stopped the movie?” Oh so how much Emily wanted it to stop, but she couldn’t chicken out now; not when Joyce had already went and bought the movie! She wouldn’t be a buzzkill. That wouldn’t be fair. Her needless resolve could only just keep the tears from the fear the movie pierced into her heart from coming out. She was scared. She wanted to feel safe. A hand from seemingly nowhere then made contact on her lonely shoulder, as Emily yelped from the unknown attacker! The tight pressure she was focused on holding cracked the slightest bit, making the tiniest spurt into her dry pad. “Relax...” Joyce soothed, taking Emily’s eyes of the movie and stroking her arm. “It’s only just a movie. The monsters aren’t going to get you.” Clearly she’d been wrong about the possible thrill Emily might have been seeking for. “I know...it’s just...” The words were difficult to express on how she could explain the fear of being caught by something that she knew wasn’t real. The irrational part inside of her for whatever reason wanted to make it real, or at least used that as a basis to make her tremble and shake. “When you’re scared can you at least be a little more honest with me?” The movie reflected off of Joyce’s unwavering eyes, her full attention focused on Emily. “O...Okay...I’m sorry…” Emily could feel another one of her failures being drawn out into the open, laid plain as day for Joyce to see. But like with each and every vulnerable moment she had, Joyce didn’t act on it. At least not in a cruel way. The same hand that soothed her shoulder pulled Emily over to the laying Joyce and turned Emily into the little spoon in their positioning. The same arm then locked itself around Emily’s waist after adjusting the blanket she had to cover them both. “Then at least learn to snuggle with me if you feel scared, okay? Mommy won’t let the monsters get you.” The movie that had been tormenting her for the past forty-five minutes had suddenly lost its effect on Emily. Being wrapped in the strong, loving embrace of Joyce put her in a bubble that nothing from the outside world could pop. She was back in paradise again and it felt euphoric; just to feel the warmth radiate from the body behind her. As off-putting as it sounded, there was even a certain charm to when she leaned her head against Joyce’s plentiful chest. The mushy feelings inside of her that had started to take shape borrowed her lips for a brief moment, making a small voice just loud enough to hear over the movie’s suspenseful music. “P….promise?” Joyce could feel even her heart skip a little from hearing her. Leaning in a little close with an enchanting and hypnotic whisper to Emily’s ear she spoke. “Promise.” Combined with the pressure Joyce applied to her abdomen, the bursting pressure she already felt down below synergized into an unstoppable force as she could feel the pent-up stress inside of her suddenly leak out of her in a bodily-liquid form. Emily couldn’t hide her exasperated gasp blended with a sigh as the hot stream of urine flooded her diaper. She tried to squirm; afraid of leaking on the couch no matter how much the thing could absorb. A life majorly lived in panties told her no matter what she’d stain the couch, but Joyce wasn’t letting go. “Just let it happen. I’m here, so don’t worry...” Emily silently cried for real this time as she sorted her difficult emotions. The scary movie was the least of her worries when she was so conflicted already; happy to be loved by Joyce, but shocked to lose control of her still very-adult bladder. But as embarrassing as it was and unnatural it felt, consciously aware of the pee following the flow of gravity and seeping to one side of her diaper, the tiniest most minuscule and insignificantly small part of her knew it wasn’t as bad as last time. “Good girl...” Joyce soothed when she could feel Emily start to settle down. The end of their Sunday night was nearing its end, and Joyce wanted to spend the last of their waking time interlocked together just like this. With the hand around Emily’s waist, she pat the front of Emily’s warmer-than-before diaper, making Emily feel even smaller on the inside. Her submissive instincts were writhing in joy and pleasure right now; a side Emily never knew existed within her, and was still unsure of it herself in these moments now. It was hidden away; behind a brick wall that Joyce brought a sledgehammer to every time they experienced some new form of intimacy together. It was only a matter of time until the bricks would collapse completely and the two could truly be enveloped in each other’s warmth. In mere moments the atmosphere changed from horror and a thriller into a field of rosy flowers and shining sun; basking anything within its infinite gaze in a shower of positivity and reinforcement. The cherry on top was when Emily could feel a pair of lips press themselves against her upturned temple. Had Joyce seen Emily’s face, it probably would have been one of the widest, most bashful smiles she’d ever seen on the girl. But the growing outline of her exposed cheek told Joyce enough. “There’s my sleepy girl,” Joyce cooed as she held the bundle in her arms, able to see the slight discoloration in her diaper. The tv was off and the night they wanted to last forever had finally come to an end. Emily quietly stirred but the kind-hearted words made her gush. “No more scary movies for you, missy. Got it?” “Mhm…” Emily sluggishly moaned. Joyce was right. She suddenly didn’t feel the need to be so brave around Joyce anymore, because being scared gave her an excuse to confide in her protector. “Now it’s time to get someone some shuteye,” Joyce explained in a motherly tone. “We need all our energy tomorrow to be a big girl.” The words made even Joyce feel sad to say. Joyce carried Emily into her room, setting her down on the bed with care as she looked at Emily’s diaper with a sad expression. It was probably for the best if she took it off; eliminating any possible unpleasant surprises in the morning. It’d be better to start Emily off in an adult mindset for tomorrow for when she went to work. Curse the weekends for not being longer! Against her maternal judgment, the room suddenly sounded with the noise of adhesives tearing from plastic. “Try and stay awake for a little bit longer, Emmy. I just need to slip some big girl underwear on you...” Grabbing her a pair of the luxury panties Joyce bought her so long ago, she snaked them up the drowsy girl’s legs, who was too tired to worry about being naked. From a force of habit her fingers ran along the pantie’s waistline as if they were a diaper a doting mother would make sure fit. “Goodnight Emily…” Joyce lowered her voice, trying not to disturb the sleepy woman who was fading fast. Pecking her on the cheek she made her exit, opening and moving to close the door. “Goodnight...Mmm...oo…...mmm...” Joyce had frozen in place from hearing Emily’s drunken mumbles. Between her murmurs, Joyce’s ears desperately wanted to hear what they think they did; believing Emily had just tried to call out to her. Not as Joyce, but as mommy. Trying to keep herself reserved, she moved into her office trying to not let her assumptions influence her emotions. Regardless of what she did or did not hear, it hardly changed the fact that this was one of the best weekends she’d experienced in a long time. In fact, it was undoubtedly the best. The alarm buzzed rudely into Emily’s ears, who wanted to drop herself off the face of the earth and bask in the darkness she knew as sleep forever. Trying to put coherent thoughts together, her first order of business was sitting up to get her eyes open and stir the first embers of energy within her. There could never be “Five more minutes” with her on a weekday. Five would become ten, and ten would become twenty. Sleep was a dangerous game she didn’t want to gamble with, because whether it was with cards or Z’s, the house always wins. “I get it, I get it!” Emily bitterly spat as she silenced the blaring noise trapped inside the tiny box. She could see she kicked the blanket off herself last night, and with a bare leg and half her crotch on display she was still in the pink monkey shirt and now a pair of mismatching bright blue & white-striped panties. They were so much thinner and felt relatively soft as well, but the same benefits weren’t as great to these than they were admittedly with diapers. Aside from the comfier cushioning (which she was still ashamed to admit), panties, unfortunately, didn’t come with the motherly Joyce that loved to fawn over Emily so much. Not that Joyce was ever distant, no matter what she wore. But when in her more childish underwear, both Emily and Joyce assumed a respective role that knew just how to satisfy each other’s urges in the most pleasant ways. That being said, one of the two were certainly much more honest with themselves, but to temporarily forget the past and focus on the present, there was a more important issue at hand. Coffee. “Ms. Summers!” John Holland stood from his seat with an open hand. His hair showed the slightest signs of graying, as he fixed the collar to his fitted button-up, tucked into the waistline of his black slacks. “I’m glad you called me here for a meeting! But I have to say, you did catch me off guard when I heard Frontier wanted to do business with our company, BabyCare. I suppose the best way to put it is how we cater to a much more specific demographic!” He laughed. “Mr. Holland, the pleasure is mine.” Joyce returned his shake while she was in a blouse, business skirt, and heels. “I didn’t want today to be too formal,” She gestured to the near-empty restaurant they were in, basing it off of the professionally dressed bartender and diverse array of alcohol to be an expensive establishment. “Admittedly, I was hoping to relay a special order through you. For a client of mine. While it’s not through Frontier it’s still business all the same.” Holland’s smile shifted partway into a tilted expression of curiosity. “Oh?” It seemed the misleading invitation didn’t have him annoyed or bothered on the surface, which was hopefully a good sign. “I wanted to take this to the top of the chain because the order is so unorthodox, to say the least,” she explained. “They were hoping you would be able to put some furniture together for them?” “Baby furniture? We already sell anything a parent could need, though?” Mr. Holland, a wise businessman, was still missing the point. Not that it would have been expected of him not to. This really was unorthodox. “Right, of course. But I suppose they were looking to get what you had except in a bigger form? To support someone of a bigger size maybe? If you understand what I’m getting at?” “For...adults, I presume?” “Precisely.” “Ms. Summers,” He cleared his throat. “I can’t exactly put a one-time order through for anyone that asks; even if they’re someone represented by a company head. As much as we are providers for consumers, focusing company resources for selfish reasons isn’t something I really do; especially if it won’t be turning over a long-term profit.” This was expected of course. Even Joyce knew it wouldn’t be that easy. “And I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, or anyone in your position, which is why I was wondering if you might have a prototype team on hand that could maybe carry this order out for my client?” “Ms. Summers,” Mr. Holland began. “Although this meeting has caught my interest, and I would like to help you on a personal level to help this friend of yours out, my business can’t satisfy the needs of a single person.” “Even if price was no issue?” “Even at that.” He sighed. He did want to help Joyce, regardless of it being a strange request. He didn’t want to worsen relations with a potential business partner that worked a field so close to his. It’s okay. This was accounted for too. Money would still entice the man, but that was only a warm up to her true offer. “Mr. Holland, Frontier from our long-term care beds alone we have experienced a widespread consumer response across the country from homes, nursing care units and hospitals. Internationally even. Without going into detail, the figures we experience annually from that alone turn profits over nearly fivefold what it takes to make them. Hasn’t BabyCare always been looking for an opportunity to expand itself into markets similar to the ones you already operate in?” That was natural for any business; the aggression of capitalism itself, and the things Joyce was mentioning were beginning to truly pique the man’s interest; the company’s interest. “Many of our medical care products receive countless awards and customer feedback as top of the line, pristine, and high-quality manufacturing for anything we sell. As it should be. A fun thing the design team has been thinking of though is including a bit more ‘color’ to some of our products. Medical beds, crutches, walkers, braces--I won’t make it a secret that all those things we sell can look relatively bland. Wouldn’t you agree?” Mr. Holland already saw where this was going, but it wasn’t an unwelcome direction. Out of respect for her company, despite her calculated pitch to downplay its own product, Mr. Holland remained silent but was still just as curious. “We’ve already been having talks with the board, you know. But off the record, you didn’t hear it from me.” It wasn’t a risk to leak information like this; they’d be able to manage just fine without BabyCare’s helping hand, but the prospect of business was even exciting to Joyce. “Our statistics returned unsurprising results on how many of our customers that are in the younger age group and need these sorts of products we manufacture are often disappointed by not the functionality, but the look to them.” The parents of course did most of the talking for stuff like that, but there was a voice among the kids as well. “And who can complain? Getting to the point, we were already preparing to come to you with an offer and buy an exclusive license for some of your company’s more popular mascots and characters.” So that’s what it was. They wanted BabyCare’s already established designs and logos; their motifs, characters; everything. “Whether I came to you now, or the board approaches you formally later, this was still a plan in the works. However, I wanted to come to you now with my own little request as a sign of good faith and prospect a healthy relationship. If you’re able to help me now for my friend, I will be more than happy to not only compensate you out of my own pocket, but also get some gears turning a bit faster back at Frontier.” The deal was enticing. BabyCare had always thought of outreaching to other companies, but many of the larger shareholders wanted them to manufacture medical equipment from the ground up. But now they were the ones with a potentially viable on their front doorstep, and from a titan of a company, no less. Details would certainly have to be hashed out and final figures be decided, but Mr.Holland could feel himself falling for the bait. “Ms. Summers, if you need furniture to care for someone bigger than the size we retail to, wouldn’t your own company be a much better idea? Assuming this deal does go through, you could even use our designs for added effect. Maybe hire a freelancing carpenter, or something? I’m not trying to dissuade you, or your client, but it’s just...curiosity?” Joyce almost wanted to gag from the disgusting thought. Seeing Emily nap in a hospital bed with added rails shattered the fantasy, and even mocked it. How was Emily supposed to feel small if she were being treated like a health patient? There was nothing wrong with anyone who needed those sorts of things, but in no way did it establish the atmosphere Joyce wanted. It seemed cruel; to both herself and Emily. For it to truly work they needed to be as genuine as possible. Superficial knockoffs with some cutesy designs on them almost sounded like an insult. Mr. Holland wasn’t at fault for suggesting something like that, though. He just had no idea how deep the rabbit hole went. “I tried to explain the same thing,” She lied. “But my client was pretty adamant on it coming specifically from your company, or at least for it to be as genuine as it’d be for a normal child.” The illusion was fragile, how Joyce was ‘asking for a friend,’ but she reserved the right to deny any direct accusations and she figured Mr. Holland wasn’t in a position to. The last thing he’d want is to upset a potential partnership. “And as for a carpenter they considered it, but they were afraid they might not be able to meet all their needs...” “I see.” Mr. Holland looked to be considering something. Joyce tried not to get her hopes up; there were always alternatives if he refused. The more Mr. Holland weighed his options, the more it felt like it was possible to meet Joyce’s demands. He did certainly have a few experimental teams at his disposal, and he could always see to them being paid a little extra for their efforts if they kept quiet about what they were working on...Not that the contracts they had already signed wouldn’t cover that. The blueprints for the basics like a crib and presumably a changing table need only be upscaled, maybe switched out for some higher quality materials. He wanted to get off on the right foot with Joyce. Some other things might take some modifications...but it was starting to look more and more doable. “We’d need the measurements of whomever this is for to adjust to the right size and weight. I should have a group capable of pushing something like this out, depending on what your client might be looking for. It won’t be cheap, though.” Joyce limited her smile to one that reflected the content feeling of a successful deal, and not that of a doting mother. She could already imagine the countless things in her head that she wanted, how she could indulge in her fantasies the most, and share them with the most special person in the world. All the bits and pieces she’d need to get offhand would be more than doable, but BabyCare was the heart of it all, and she’d just gotten the keys to the kingdom. With her hands in her lap she maintained her outward composure. “Absolutely. I’ll be sure to send you the details. And be sure to let me know what it comes to. Payment won’t be an issue.” “The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Summers.” Mr. Holland shook her hand once more. “I look forward to doing some more ‘typical’ business with you and your company. And for simplicity’s sake have your client choose from our already available designs, please. The goal is just to make a larger version of what we already have, correct?” The business they did would be good, but none of it would ever compare to this moment. “I’ll be sure to,” Joyce replied. “I’m glad we could come to an agreement, Mr. Holland.” “I could say the same to you, Ms. Summers.” Mr. Holland backed out his chair and stood up, getting ready to leave. “Oh!” Joyce moderately exclaimed. “I know I invited you here for business, Mr. Holland, but you didn’t expect me to send you on your way with at least a free meal, did you?” Being in these professional situations often made Mr. Holland disregard the setting they were in, forgetting their original purposes. It had been a bit since he’d actually been invited out to lunch and actually would eat. The gesture was appreciated nonetheless. “Sorry,” He tried to laugh it off. “Old habits tend to repeat themselves!” He politely sat back down. He didn’t have anywhere important to be, or at least didn’t want to go to. Some part of him wanted to stay and invest time into this relationship, as despite the professional talk Joyce felt more like a friend even if she looked much younger than he was. The feeling was mutual though, as Joyce both appreciated him as a businessman and hopefully a contractor of sorts. “But,” He interjected. “Forgive me if I’m being rude, and choose not to respond if you want. But why is it that your client wants baby furniture for an adult?” The question had oddly been nagging him, and he couldn’t figure out why. “Mr. Holland,” Joyce took a sip from the glass of water a waiter delivered. “You should know better than to pry on one’s more hidden lifestyle.” There was a moment of silence until Joyce laughed off the unneeded tension in the room, indicating that the mood was still intact. “More importantly, I’m starving,” Joyce gave a relaxed sigh. “What looks good on the menu to you?” Over forty-eight hours had passed since Joyce’s meeting with Mr. Holland, and she now found herself in a new setting that wasn’t unfamiliar. Parking the car and stepping out she closed the door and couldn’t help but feel the excitement as her eyes sparkled with anticipation. It was Wednesday and they were halfway through the week. Emily and Joyce were as close and social as they always were come after working hours, but Joyce had been cunningly quiet about these errands she’d been running. Each and every box that would arrive at the apartment she was sure to hide away in her storage room and keep locked away. She never figured Emily to go snooping, because she likely had nothing to be suspicious of, but Joyce was still determined to keep things hush-hush. Emily knew Joyce would be returning to this stop at some point, but she didn’t know when… The bell’s ring filled the room when Joyce walked inside, and could see her friend dealing with a different client at the moment. In the middle of their conversation at the front desk, Joyce could see her eyes shift from the person she was talking to her for just a moment and then back. “It was good seeing you, Michael. I hope the suit works out well for your party!” Amy waved as the man with his new set of clothing politely excused himself from the store. Until the opening and closing door finally came to a rest, Joyce and Amy eyed each other wildly in an impatient manner. “Oh! Joyce!” Amy started to happily shout once it was just the two of them. “My head was just, bursting with ideas ever since you and Emily left on Sunday!” The limited capacity for imagination in her vocabulary showed as she bustled about, possibly forgetting the pen she had positioned behind her ear. “I’ve rarely ever done something like this before and to revisit these kinds of designs was so much fun!” Joyce couldn’t muster a word when her hands were suddenly joined to Amy’s. “Please tell me you want to make more outfits for her!” Joyce, taken aback, blinked her eyes in simple shock. She’d never seen Amy be so forward with a simple order like this; so expressive over almost anything. Sure it wasn’t run-of-the-mill, but Joyce didn’t know business like this could have such a secondhand effect on her! “I take it you had fun making them?” Joyce asked, thinking outside a few moments earlier that she was the one who was excited. How wrong she was. “Definitely! Now, come, come! You didn’t come all this way to hear me boast, did you?” Amy hurriedly ushered Joyce into the back room where they always did their business. The setting was similar to when they were here a few days ago, only now there were five mannequins lined up sporting...simply adorable clothing! “This is…?” Joyce could feel her joy lagging behind the disbelief in her voice. Taking in the wide array of dynamic and colorful outfits. “Each and every outfit I made was too much fun! Thinking of how I could emphasize this,” she tried to verbalize her masterful creation process. “childish, feeling in each and every small and little detail!” Her emotions were overflowing with excitement, and the only thing she could do to seem from bursting was verbalize it in concentrated doses. Sneaking glances at each and every outfit, all too stunning to take her eyes off of, Joyce wanted to weep tears for her well-placed trust in Amy’s handiwork. They looked perfect! “Let’s go through them one by one,” Amy started her along the end of the line and debuted the first one, which was unmistakably a pink and white striped onesie. “I wanted to go for a material that didn’t feel thin, but was soft and can stretch pretty well,” Amy explained. “There’s an additional lining on the inside, but this way she’ll feel nice and soft on the outside.” Joyce was already gushing just from trying to imagine Emily in it, whilst she toddled and moved around the apartment. It would make their playtime into a reality, and there’d be no mistaking what role Emmy was in. It looked authentic because it was. It was beautiful! There was a splayed out collar to it, interestingly enough, which Joyce made an observation of. There wasn’t anything wrong with it and in fact somehow made it even more adorable. Each and every stitch looked as if it were imbued with the sole task of emphasizing the child within whoever wore it. Her eyes were sparkling as the fantasies played in her mind like a movie projector. “The shoulders are also fitted to be pretty close to her arm size, so they won’t look baggy,” Amy tugged at the mentioned area. “As for the legs openings I rounded the edge off in with something a bit more durable. There won’t be any chafing and it’s actually a little squishy if you feel through the fabric, but it’ll hug her thighs well.” Joyce gave it a test squeeze and confirmed Amy’s words; imagining just how content Emily would feel in these. What caught her attention next were the white pouches, one sewn on each side at the waist level. They were just large enough to maybe fit a hand in each of them. “Are these pockets?” Joyce curiously asked. She had no objections to them but they were completely white unlike the rest of the design. “Mhm! I figured Emily might want to have some way of holding on to a few things. Not much of course, since that’s your job,” Amy playfully jabbed, forgetting the restricted composure she had the last time they met, causing Joyce to blush when her face was out of sight, still smiling. “And at the same time she might just want somewhere to put her hands. So, do you like it so far?” “It’s amazing.” Joyce could barely put the words together from how only one of three different outfit styles left her already star-struck. “Good, I’m glad.” Amy was always happy to see the joy of her works rub off on someone else. “But I know you’re still probably wondering how you’re supposed to get this on and off of her. Well look no further and take a look at the back!” Finishing her mini speech, Amy spun the mannequin on its pivot to reveal the backside, which had four medium-sized white buttons arranged on the back, holding the flap in place. “I made sure to leave some room in there beyond your normal panties, and the stretch factor should account for anything that might get larger. Emily shouldn’t ever feel uncomfortable when she lies on her back, which is why I went with the smaller buttons, but if she’s on a hard surface like tiles or wood you might hear some scraping.” Amy warned. “Snaps would have been rounded off on the end to better combat this, but the buttons offer much better support.” Amy demonstrated as she stretched open the slits and pulled them out from behind the buttons, whilst Joyce watched with fascination. Eventually she’d be doing the same thing, only for Emily. “So, any questions, comments, or complaints so far? If anything I’d like to get Emily to try some of these on before they leave the shop...But I understand they’re a gift.” The perfectionist inside of her was starting to show. “They’re fitted exactly to my numbers, but a tiny margin of error can always be pesky like that. She should be fine though.” “No, this is perfect! You’ve done more than you needed to and the results are stunning! Are these all ready to take home?” “Yep! I worked through day and night to see all these finished,” She sighed as the slight bags under her eyes became clear now. “But it was worth it,” She smiled. “It was a rush order, after all. And I couldn’t just let these things sit. I was just too driven to make them! I have a lot of excess ideas; some stuff tamer than others...It all went in my sketchbook though. There’ll be time for that some other day. But come on, there’s still four more outfits to show you!” Joyce had already been getting ahead of the fashion show by looking in advance at the green alteration. It was identical in every way except for the button stitching and pink factor, which had been swapped with a mint green. Here Joyce had no complaints at all either, but it was the next double set that things started to look different. “And these,” The two walked over to stand right in front of them. “Are her sleepers!” Rather than stopping at just the upper half of the body, the sleeper occupied its entirety. Amy had stuck to a similar color scheme to match the duo, as Joyce stared at the light pink adult-sized sleeper that stopped itself at the hands, feet, and crept slightly up the neck. On all the ends their material cuffed as it hugged the wrists and just above the ankles on the end, allowing for a slight bit more freedom on the inside. It wasn’t baggy though, as at the waist the sleeper seemed to hug nicely around the mannequin’s curve and provide structural integrity. Joyce could also notice that at the legs it didn’t look like a V-shape but seemed a bit more of an outward curve as if it supported some more ‘pronounced’ underwear. “I designed it to hug just all the right parts. I even kept in mind that she might not be wearing panties in this, like all her outfits, so I gave her a little extra space in the crotch area so the ‘V’ at the legs wouldn’t press into her.” Joyce couldn’t be thankful enough to have a seamstress as attentive as Amy, and would be sure to tip her on top of her already paid efforts. She knew all the areas to focus on and never cut corners in her craft. She wasn’t cheap, but she was well worth the money. Never once had Joyce gone wrong through Amy, and this time was no different either. Directly down the middle Joyce could see a zipper track buried behind the slightly bunched fabric to hide the seam. A fat plastic white zipper hung symmetrically though, emphasizing the most infantile aspects about the outfit in all the right ways. “Not much else to say about this one, other than how I kept it thin and made sure the material was breathable. I remember you saying she didn’t want to be too stuffy, but I made sure it didn’t feel like she was wearing a bag either.” Once again Amy was always tactful in her approach and left no stone unturned. Which is why Joyce was even more delightfully surprised with the next mention. “And, I remember we had talked about it which I think was my personal favorite touch to this outfit,” Amy had flared the neck up a little, showing that there were snap inserts lined along the sides and the back of the neck. No, she couldn’t have! “Ta-daa!” Amy cheered as she produced an attachment from behind the mannequin. Holding it out so Joyce could see better, it was an attachable hood that matched the sleepers color, minus a dark pink line that ran just along the edge. But most importantly, and most adorably, it donned an irresistibly cute pair of large cat ears on them! Amy had listened! Joyce almost forgot about them completely! Amy couldn’t hide her excitement either as she gave a toothy smile, already snapping it into place. She then draped it over the model’s head and gave Joyce a good look. Joyce was starting to feel antsy, almost wishing she postponed the pick-up date until the weekend. How was she supposed to wait this long knowing she had such an adorable wardrobe for Emily? Curse Amy! She had done far too well for her own good. It was going to be torturous trying to keep these things under wraps. She had half a mind to beg Emily to try these on immediately when she got home! But she wouldn’t, of course. That’d spoil everything. “And the next sleeper is exactly the same, with its own special hood,” Amy gestured to the next one over, which was the same mint green as the onesie but without the stripes. “But the alteration you wanted is this one.” It was clear just from looking at it what Amy was referring to. The zipper seam that was on the front of the pink sleeper was nowhere to be seen on this one, and was in fact on the back. Turning the display, the zipper was on the back and ran up to the neck as well, but the zipper was buried away within an insert Amy used two fingers to fish out. “I was thinking of how to restrict the wearer from being able to take it off very easily, and I didn’t think you’d want a lock on here. Those things can be a bit dicey….” Amy started having flashbacks from previous clientele. “So I took a much more softcore approach. There’s a small space in between the fabric the zipper fits in, and anyone who has full use of their arms, AKA not the wearer, the zipper only takes a couple fingers to get out. But if you’re in the sleeper then good luck. It’s one thing to bend your arms but another to move your fingers, and especially so far in.” This had Joyce imagining countless scenarios as well; encouraging that feeling of dependency in Emily, and helping her learn to rely on others more. So many key items were essential to reinforcing this feeling of infancy Joyce wanted to convey and foster so desperately, and she already knew Emily might get a little excited by these outfits too. “And the next and final outfit, is her play dress! I’d have to say this is probably my favorite...” Joyce couldn’t help but agree with her, taking in the stunning sight. Like denim, it was a dark blue dress with shoulder straps that were topped on the edge with fat, white buttons, sewn on with a thick, light yellow thread that accented the custom-made yellow shirt underneath. The dress fanned out into a skirt that only stopped a little halfway past the thigh, meaning a twirl or gust of wind would put what’s beneath on full display. Joyce’s favorite addition she could see though was the obvious front pocket sewn on the stomach; large enough to stick both hands in. Large, thick stitches ran along the outside of it, obviously intended to be noticed, including the large pink paw embroidered on the front of the pocket, simplified with three small circles along the edge of a much larger one to signify the palm. “Because the material is so sturdy it can take some punishment if she likes to be energetic, and that shirt underneath actually functions more like a onesie. Take a look.” Curiously, Joyce lifted the front of the skirt to see the yellow shirt extending below and wrapping around the crotch, connected by three white snaps below. She then also took note of the material lining inside the skirt, glad to see Amy had made sure it would at least feel comfy for Emily when she wore it. “Amy...” Joyce found herself hugging the longtime companion, who brought her tears of joy to no end. “Thank you so much for what you’ve done! You don’t know how much this means to me.” “I’m glad I was the one you came to for this,” Amy returned the hug. “Like I said, orders like this don’t come very often. It’s been a while since I could work on clothes as cute as this. Do you think Emily could be brought in for a fitting next time? I honestly would like to see how they fit…” Emily was the target audience in mind when she designed these clothes after all. While she knew herself the creations were cute, they’d look even better if she could see them on someone in the flesh. “I’ll see if I can warm Emily up to it. I can’t make any promises though...” Joyce did want to share Emily’s debut with the very person who made it all possible, but respecting Emily’s privacy came first. Once she saw these clothes though, it wouldn’t take long to connect the dots and learn Amy helped collaborate to make these clothes. Then the secret would indirectly be out. But Emily would probably be okay with it, once she explained Amy’s stance. “I suppose I’ll have to let it go with that.” Amy partly spoke in a glum voice. “But! I made a few small additions to all of them, that I think you’ll appreciate.” Bringing Joyce up to each and every one of the neck holes, not only could she see a loop to hang on a hook if need be, but there was a tiny label on the inside of each of them with Emily’s name etched in thread along all five outfits. “Now we know who they belong to!” Amy joked, resulting in profuse thanks of gratitude from Joyce. “But if you’ll notice with the other four,” Amy motioned to the onesies and sleepers. “That same signature mark is on all of them.” Bringing Joyce around to the back of all of them, right where the left buttcheek would be on its wearer there was that same four circle paw like on the pocket of the dress. Only now did Joyce start to associate it with a cat’s paw. Amy had really gone in on the tiny unifying theme, and Joyce could only find the entire set that much more exquisite. It almost reminded her of the mark Amy put on all of her clothes… Amy’s craft was like that of an artist, and she always liked to hide a personal mark for her long-term clients as a sign to prove it as her work and to be part of a collection. Amy’s personal signature for Joyce was a series of three small circles or dots, cleverly hidden somewhere in the interior. But for Emily’s set she’d taken a much more bold approach and proudly displayed them somewhere on the front. It was cute, and fitting in a way. These clothes were meant for a person who was completely dependent on another and only knew how to be happy, play, and sleep. They only knew how to be the most adorable baby they could possibly be. So to take such a contrast and print her signature on the outside of Emily’s baby clothes, it reflected a sentiment that Emily could come out of her shell and be herself when she wore these. As it should be. “All of these are safe to wash, but it goes without saying they’re going to be at their best if you get them professionally done,” Amy advised. “That won’t be an issue,” Joyce said dismissively. “I’ll just send them off with the rest of my outfits whenever I get the cleaning service.” Again, it was a no questions type of deal where they simply took your clothes and washed them. Nothing need be talked about or mentioned. Before the two had gone their separate ways, they made sure to leave time for coffee first, setting themselves up at the couch where they had a splendid view of Emily’s new infant wardrobe. Assuming everything moved along smoothly, this certainly would not be the last time Joyce had Amy make clothes for Emily. She was simply too talented not to do business with. Seeing how spectacularly well she pulled off these designs, it would only pronounce the simpler things and draw she and Emily that much more closer to the more genuine acts. Grabbing five individual boxes, Amy slipped off the covers of each one and carefully folded and placed them in the boxes, putting the covers back on. To ensure not even the slightest mishap occurred, Amy even tied each in a ribbon and helped Joyce load them into the trunk of her car, and they both gave each other a final hug before Joyce departed. Back on the road, she sighed longingly as the fashion show came to an end, and it would be a long and excruciatingly painful wait until these ever saw the light of day again. All in due time, though. All in due time. She missed riding in the backseat with Emily already. Charles was busy now with driving Emily; not that Joyce minded, but she still wanted the girl’s company. Joyce couldn’t help but sneak a little peak on the surveillance, watching as the girl lounged on the couch like it was nobody’s business. Content with the sight and respecting of Emily, she quickly closed the display and turned on the ignition. The lonely car ride home was boring, but she occupied herself with formulating a plan to sneak the clothes in the back room without Emily noticing...

6 - Round Two “So you liked what we did today?...All of it?” The atmosphere was still raw; thick with apprehension, despite hearing such a positive response. “Yes...I don’t know why completely, but I think I did enjoy it all…” There was the embarrassment, but looking back on it now, being with Joyce made it strangely okay. Now that Joyce has stripped her bare and seen her emotions and still chooses to accept her, she felt she could stomach just about anything as long as her protector was there to see her through. “Apart from what you did for me at the end...” Emily blushed. “I liked doing it with you, like all the things we do together…” Emily seemed to be having trouble getting the next few words out, “...and I guess I liked being taken care of…” Joyce stared at Emily for a moment, almost wide-eyed, trying to place her thoughts. Could Emily have had some inner desires going into this as well? Maybe she was on some kind of level submissive? It didn’t matter; Joyce was too happy with her response, and was relieved it had gone so well for Emily too. “That’s great Emily, really,” Joyce couldn’t do anything but smile. “But I want you to know it was never my plan to take advantage of you like that earlier…” Joyce herself started to feel the seeds of regret bloom from within. “What I did was spur of the moment, and I tried to make you feel better in an aggressive way...I took advantage of you, and you weren’t in the right state of mind to give me your consent; I can’t apologize enough for that.” Joyce could feel the soft touch of another hand on her own, looking up to see Emily’s gaze transfixed on her. “It’s okay; I trust you.” Joyce turned couldn’t help but feel the need to turn away for a moment; bombarded by a wave of emotion from Emily’s direction. When had she been able to make her feel like this? She wasn’t sure why, but, Joyce could only feel an overwhelming amount of presence from Emily, who seemed to be projecting herself so easily now. What kind of revelation had this experience given her? It was as if a key unlocked something deep inside her most hidden recesses; dusting off the shelves, and pulling back the curtains. Joyce expected this to be an end goal; not a start…! Granted, these were feelings for Joyce; not the baby treatment. There would still be changes and additions, there would be embarrassment, and there would likely be tears. It was an adventure Emily was willing to embark upon, and Joyce had every intention to whisk her off her feet, and stroll through the fields of apprehension, confusion, intimacy, and joy with her bundle of joy nestled in her arms. Just to impart sweet serenity upon the one she cherished most would be enough for her sun to rise. Not only had there been an awakening within Emily, but Joyce could feel herself being swept along as well. The stimulation was undeniably contagious. “Thank you, Emily.” Joyce could feel her resonate within her heart. Her maternal instinct was rising higher and higher; sifting closer to the surface. It was finally within reach, and Joyce wanted more than anything to reach out; clutch it and never let go. In front of her was an amazing person, who was an irreplaceable friend; a partner. But in addition to that, she was also her little girl that needed to be taken care of, and to be loved and looked after. The rapid shift in perspective was surreal, but not unwelcome. Was this what other people felt in these kinds of situations? Regardless of what the two felt, though, the only affirmation they needed was to be locked in each other’s arms. “So…” Emily’s embarrassment had started to show, and the bravado began to fade. “When is next time?” “Well,” Joyce nuzzled her cheek on the top of her head. “I’d like to get a few more things before we get into this again to make things...better for the both of us.” Now that she was on board, there wasn’t the need to feel so restrained when buying the things for her baby girl, now. Emily’s thrill and excitement were obvious, but since this was just the first time, things may still be up in the air. She’d have to expand her arsenal slowly, but effectively. “Like what?” Emily wasn’t sure how she felt about the lack of a specific date; not one for being left in the dark, especially about something so emotionally rewarding. “Maybe some upgrades here and there, and some new stuff, too. You’ll find out later.” She intentionally kept the most tantalizing bits in the dark; knowing that she was probably teasing Emily right about now. Still, though, why bother wrapping a present for someone if they already know what’s inside? It was her job to worry about the technical aspect of things; Emily just needed to see the pretty colors, whirring bells and whistles, popping fireworks; all the fruits born by Joyce’s labor. It was annoying to get an answer like that, and Joyce probably knew what she was doing too. “Come on, can’t you tell me a little bit?” Emily prodded, gently shaking her arm, trying to get a glimpse inside the loop she was being kept out of. “Give me something to look forward to!” “Look at the time!” Joyce deflected, looking at a nearby clock. “I better get dinner started, otherwise we’ll both starve!”She excused herself, already hatching a meal idea before she could turn on the stove. She also remembered that she hadn’t given Emily lunch today...Although the late breakfast was in some part to blame. For the days Joyce was at work and Emily was home by herself, she may or may not have stolen a look at the security cameras once or twice to see if she had made anything, which she didn’t. But she had no intention of telling Emily that she knew. Regardless, when they had their…”special” time together, Joyce would have to step up her “mommy” game and make sure Emily was well-fed. Maybe that could rub off on her and shape into a daily routine; with or without Joyce’s guidance. To be so doting had her over the moon. The rhythmic clack of metal to a cutting board began, and she hummed her friendly melody. “Emily? Dinner’s ready,” Joyce walked into the living room, with the girl nowhere to be found. “Emily? Where did you go…?” Joyce spoke to herself in a low voice as she approached the couch from behind. As she peeked over, sure enough, there she was. Clearly, she was still tired from waking up, and Joyce pleasuring her likely took a lot of energy out of her as well. Joyce leaned over her while she nudged Emily’s shoulder. “Emily? It’s dinnertime; you awake?” After enough coaxing, she began to stir; her eyes opening soon enough. “Hmmm..nnn…” She trembled all over, as her limbs tried to spread as far as possible in every direction. “Joyce? When...when did I fall asleep?” “Beats me; I’ve been making dinner. And speaking of which, it’s finished now and ready to eat. Does somebody think they’ve hibernated enough?” She grinned. Groggily, Emily followed into the kitchen, taking her seat on the cushioned chair that remained unchanged from this morning. She felt a calming heat radiate from her plate, as she looked down at the splash of fried vegetables diced into cubes, small strips of beef scattered throughout, and a swirl of noodles woven in abundance through the many toppings and seasonings. “Stir fry?” Emily asked as she sniffed the wonderful scent; already itching for her fork. “Yep! I figured it’d be something relatively easy to make.” Joyce nonchalantly boasted. Sometimes, Emily couldn’t tell if she were being sarcastic, or truly didn’t understand the might of her cooking...It was nice she didn’t always toot her own horn--intentionally, at least--but food at this kind of level deserved at least some personal recognition. To produce something like this so casually and think nothing of it was almost intimidating. A god treading among its subjects; never stopping to notice the ants that may be caught underneath their feet; she was totally oblivious to her skill. “How did you learn to cook so well?” Emily couldn’t sate her curiosity for any longer; it was beyond delicious, and she felt compelled to discover its origins. “Well, I don’t know if “learn” is the right word to use,” Joyce pondered. “My dad always liked to cook, so I just picked up a few things here and there from him.” “Was he a chef?” It was a likely assumption, considering just “a few things” amounted to something like this. “Yeah,” She paused to swallow. “He was the head chef at some restaurant in California at some point. It’s been so long though, I can’t even remember which one. Does that make me look bad?” The smallest amount of concern on her face was hard not to giggle at. “No, I don’t think so. And you’re from California?” It was always a treat to discover those small tidbits; nuggets of truth that illuminated the darkness surrounding Joyce. “I never told you?” “No; what does your mom do?” “Oh, they don’t work anymore. Between their own success, and a little of my own, they were able to retire a couple of years ago. We still do stuff every now and then. But what about you? Where did you grow up, and where are your parents right now?” “Well, technically I’m from Japan, but I was only there for about a year until my parents moved us to Washington back here.” “Oh, so you weren’t very far from me. Why did your parents move?” “I guess my dad was homesick,” Emily remembered it somewhat; it wasn’t something she really over considered... “That’s what they tell me, I guess. My dad is American and my mom is Japanese, so I’m sorta mixed, I suppose.” “Is that so? I think you pull the look of quite well.” Her cheeks became as warm as her plate; always taken aback by Joyce’s overbearing forwardness. “Any siblings?” Joyce continued. “Nope, just me. An only child; you?” “One. He’s my younger brother. He turned…29 last time I checked? Birthdays are hard,” She joked, taking a sip from her glass. “Speaking of which, when’s yours?” “May 29.” Emily did her best to speak in between her bites, but she was caught between the desire to speak and to shovel another mouthful of seasoned, noodly goodness into her mouth. And her birthday wasn’t far off from now, last time she checked. When was the last time she checked? Usually she’d have her phone...crap. That’s right. “Something wrong?” The furrowed brow on the girl was hard not to notice. “Um, no. Kinda, actually…” She let out a sigh. “I just remembered I haven’t had a phone in over a week…” Suddenly she started to wonder how many calls she could have potentially missed in that window of time; it stirred a feeling of unease in the pit of her stomach. She never really forgot that she was out of a phone, but only until now was she acutely aware of why she should be concerned. It was nice to disconnect every once in a while, but this was pushing what was considered comfortable. “Have I really been disconnected for that long? What if my parents tried to call me? A friend--or some important email? I haven’t been checking everyday…Do you think I-” “Emily,” Joyce called her to her senses from across the table. “Relax, it’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with taking a little break. We can get you a new phone in the morning. Just take it easy for now?” Her voice was convincing, and they cut through the haze and confusion of Emily’s mind like a hot knife through butter. Once rationalizing things, it was somewhat making a mole out of an anthill. Tomorrow, she would go and buy a cheap phone; just to keep her afloat until she could upgrade to something more usable. At least she’d have something to keep her in the technological loop for the time being. “Here,” Joyce gathered their plates and glasses, moving over to the sink. “I want you to go and take a bath; relax, and clean up for a bit. Do that for me, won’t you?” Emily agreed, now beginning to learn that Joyce’s requests were better interpreted as commands; albeit a much more peaceful kind. They had been together long enough for there to be the mutual understanding that Joyce kept her best interests at heart no matter the circumstances. Yes, Emily was a grown woman, yet it became so easy to be strung along by Joyce. Day after day, the sense of having someone to fall back on--a safety net--had been so reassuring as of late. Emily flicked the light on, as she became reacquainted with one of her most favorite rooms in the entire apartment. The bathroom was always a place she could find herself become absent-minded and lose herself in thought (and maybe even sleep). Already falling into her routine, Emily set the bath to fill as she gathered a towel, soap, and conditioner. With the noise of a flush, Emily closed the porcelain throne; satisfying a different bodily need than like before. Had it been that over peeing a diaper, how she’d feel then wasn’t a fun thought to entertain...It definitely wasn’t something she’d like to consider. Vacating such thoughts from her head, Emily stripped and edged herself into the warm water; always ecstatic to indulge in one of her favorite pastimes; with no other engagements to look forward to. She looked around the room; absorbing the atmosphere. The warm air, humming fan from above, and the water that cleansed her body. With work during the weekdays, showers were her go-to for when she needed to be quick and out the door, but on weekends she could afford to take a bath much later in the day; absent of the pressures to be squeaky clean for work. She’d never let herself get dirty; her self-consciousness always got the best of her. Living with Joyce felt absolutely serene. Each and every day was an amazing experience with her, and being allowed to share a life of luxury with her was something Emily could only dream of. She still had to go and see that asshat Jack who was withholding all of her stuff, but Joyce made that a thing of the past, and simply trivial by helping her settle here. After each and every day she felt more at home with Joyce, and always looked forward to stepping through that solid door. Their “special” connection was also becoming much more clear after tonight; assuming a much more intimate familiarity. The thoughts made Emily’s cheeks burn as she sunk lower into the water, as if she were trying to hide her embarrassment from the white tiles. Whatever they had together, a big part of her hoped for it to last for as long as she wanted; being cared for by Joyce like this. Even if she felt like less of an adult because Joyce did so much for her...she was strangely okay with the feeling, or at least she valued it more than her own pride. Emily shuffled some more in the water over her thoughts; finally moving onto the cleaning process to take her mind off of things. Joyce sat in her office like she had before Emily’s little “incident,” with her glasses on as she stared at the computer screen. She almost called it an accident, but everything did go where it needed to. She couldn’t help but grin. The BUSINESS sticky note was laid to the side of her desk; a nuisance to stare at for long periods of time. Apart from checking the company stocks, Joyce was tending to a different kind of business, as she scrolled through the catalog. Yet sighed as she looked through the half-baked selection of items; initially so driven to already fill a cart. This was the best online markets could do? On a commercial level? She could only have the best for Emily, and this clearly wasn’t it...She knew high-quality furniture and items existed out there, but clearly they’d have to be specially ordered to achieve a more authentic experience. Apart from the furniture, Joyce had a sudden thought that she could use something to her advantage. Picking up the office phone she dialed the number of her secretary and sat in silence. If there was anyone other than Emily she could talk about this to, it was her secretary. As strange of a topic as it was, Sheila had sworn to secrecy in a non-disclosure agreement when she first signed on years ago. There would be no questions asked and that’s just how Joyce liked it. “Hello? Sheila?” A short pause over the phone. “Yes. I’m sorry for calling you on a Saturday, but I have something I need you to do first thing Monday morning; sooner if possible.” Another pause. “I want you to forward a special order I’m sending you soon to the Incontinence Department and have them prototype it immediately. Make sure to have it sent to my office discretely and tell them there may or may not be a bonus in it for them if their work is done well; maybe even a budget increase. No need to tell them where it’s going, or who ordered it; just make sure it gets done. I’ll include my signature as well so there’s no question about the order.” Sheila almost instantly responded. Sheila was always a great listener; like she should be. “Perfect. I’ll be sending you the details shortly.” Joyce hung up the phone while she opened up an order form on her computer. She felt giddy at the moment, having the privilege to design what would be taped on Emily’s bottom. She would be sure to make them look adorable, durable and absorbent. She may not know all the material details, but would be sure to include a comment about not skipping out on the more expensive stuff. In times like these, it felt good to be the CEO, and it was all for the sake of Emily. She spent a good half hour coming up with design ideas, describing them in explicit detail, and was sure not to simply gloss over the functionality either. Joyce included the ideal weight and waist range; sure for it to be a perfect fit. Satisfied, she registered the order under one of her retired board member’s name, then printed it to sign off the approval section. She slipped it into her fax machine and sent it over to Sheila, who would without a doubt get the job done. It was annoying having to be this thorough through paperwork, but this is what it took to maintain anonymity, which she could appreciate considering her reputation. Joyce looked back to the page she had been browsing; again, disappointed with the finished products. The much smaller versions looked so much more comfortable and adorable; if only she could simply take those in a bigger size...So why didn’t she? At times like these, it felt better than ever to have money to spend. “Sheila?” Joyce had dialed her trusty assistant again. “And also for Monday, schedule a meeting with the company BabyCare. I want to make a special order with them. Thanks again,” Joyce hung up. The last thing was clothes, but she’d be able to find a tailor for that. All she needed was to find a seamstress skilled in this sort of thing...And if she couldn’t, she could always resort to the one she always went to; the same one she used to fix some of Emily’s clothes. In fact, she already knew Emily’s sizes and always kept her clients secret. And the more she thought about it, the more she knew that she’d be the best bet to go with. Decided, Joyce would have to get in touch with her tomorrow to start production immediately. It would be embarrassing at first to talk about, but Joyce knew she could trust her. With all of her plans set into motion, Joyce finished up the rest of her work then put the computer to sleep. As she walked down the hall, glancing at the bathroom door, she wondered how long Emily had been in there. Knocking on the door, Joyce shouted: “Try not to be too long in there! You don’t want to prune, I’d imagine!” There was a pause, but Joyce started a giggle once she could hear the noise of splashing water afterward; her warning had gotten through. Thankful for the reminder, Emily quickly had a towel draped over herself as she set the tub to drain. “Have a nice bath?” Joyce asked while she read a book on the couch. “Yeah. It’s not often I get to take a bath; it’s nice when I can.” Emily took a seat on the other end of the couch, watching the near silent tv. It was nice knowing at least one person used the bath. Being so infused with the working world, Joyce always took a shower out of habit. She always felt like she had places to be; things to do, even when she didn’t. Almost all of her free time was now dedicated to Emily (not that she minded), so she almost never had a moment to spare. Yet truth be told, naptime would have been an opportunity for her to address certain matters that had to wait up until now. Hopefully down the line Emily would sleep for a bit longer, Joyce hoped. Still though, even being in the position to think such thoughts made her too happy for words. “So what are you up to tomorrow?” Emily asked, trying to make small talk. “Well first,” Joyce set her book down on the coffee table. “I’m taking you to get a new phone. I still have your broken one so we can try and salvage the sim card…Then I need to meet with my seamstress to fix the length for a few new outfits I have,” She lied. She would do her absolute best to keep these kinds of things a surprise to Emily. “But apart from that, I can’t think of anything else that needs to be done. What about you?” “Nothing, really…” Emily said blankly. She wasn’t getting out of the house aside from work lately, as she never really felt the need to. Joyce provided her with comfort here, but she was at times feeling a bit cooped up. She didn’t want to leave without her phone, having very limited options to getting in touch with Joyce. Even now she still didn’t have her number, not that she entirely needed it right now. Her pickup for work was already scheduled and they talked when she got home; everything was planned ahead of time. “Once you get a phone I’m sure you’ll like to be getting out more often,” Joyce said. But to be honest, she would be a little disappointed if it were the case. Emily being here was part of the new routine Joyce had gotten used to and came to appreciate. “Maybe…” Was all Emily spoke pensively; her mind occupied with something else. “Why? What is it?” Joyce took the bait; always able to read Emily’s mood. “I don’t know...I was just thinking.” “About?” Emily looked a bit flustered, trying to muster the courage to speak her words. “Maybe...if we were both free tomorrow...then it would be a good time to do...that again?” She was afraid at what Joyce’s response would be; honestly a bit in disbelief she had requested it herself. “Well…” Joyce was now thinking too. She knew she had told Emily that it would be at least another week before they did it again, but one more day couldn’t hurt. Yes, she wouldn’t have any of the items she ordered for Emily yet, but if another repeat of today was enough to make her happy, Joyce found no issue in indulging her little girl. And another thought crossed her mind, which may appear cruel to Emily, but beneficial in the long run...Tomorrow would be ideal in that case. “Okay then. Sounds good to me, my wittle girl.” Joyce happily cooed over to Emily on the other end, trying to not to look so flustered. The evening went on like that, apart from Joyce excusing herself to go take a shower. Meanwhile, Emily was anxious over what tomorrow would be like. She wanted to be Joyce’s little girl, but her much more independent side manifested the gnawing uncertainty within her. They’ve only done this once, and yet Emily was already craving for more...She said she wanted to stop earlier tonight, but that was her independence fighting for its freedom. She was even a bit surprised at her own desire to be babied by Joyce. It was as if something dormant was awakened by Joyce’s affection for her, and the panic caused from it only made her want to confine in her caretaker even more. Whenever she was left alone with her thoughts, now it was all she could think about; the gushy ideas and feelings seeping into her most rational spaces. Regardless, she’d be happy getting out of the house tomorrow for something other than work; with Joyce no less. Surprisingly enough, Emily was able to get to bed on her own this time, Joyce not needing to carry her to bed; admittedly strange not needing to do it for the nth night in a row. It was close to eleven and Emily wanted to be well-rested for tomorrow, already being so fatigued from this morning since Joyce decided to wake her up. The apartment was silent, minus the occasional toss or turn from Emily’s room, doing her best to get to sleep. It was a raging battle until somewhere along the way Emily fell asleep before she even realized; everything suddenly black. “Hmm hmm hmm” Emily could feel herself waking to the sound of humming; already aware of the familiar voice. “Oh, it looks like somebody decided to join me this morning!” Emily could hear the sound of plastic and the smell of lavender as her waist became encased in something snug and comfortable. “Joyce?” Emily tried to wipe the sleep out of her eyes, opening them to see she was laid on her back. “What’re you-,” She was paused by a yawn erupting from within her. “-doing?” “I’m getting my little girl ready for the day, silly.” Emily looked forward now to see a sight she hadn’t experienced since yesterday morning. The panties and shorts she had gone to bed with yesterday were now substituted for a white plastic diaper; one that Joyce apparently just finished putting her into. “When did you…?” Had she really slept through all that? To be fair, Joyce did change her clothes that one time from what seemed like forever ago...Still, she truly was a heavy sleeper… “Wittle Emmy likes to sleep all day, doesn’t she?” Joyce touched the tip of her nose to Emily’s. “You didn’t even wake up until I finished putting you in your diaper.” Being talked down to was already putting her in that small space, yet the intimacy made her heart flutter with excitement knowing she was already back in Joyce’s arms. “And what’ll it be for my special girl today? Do we want big girl clothes or little girl clothes?” Why did she have a choice? Emily tried shaking her messy hair back into place, propping her upper half up with her elbows. “What do you mean? You didn’t ask me last time?” Joyce gave a little laugh. “That’s because we were staying inside. But today we have to run some errands and go outside. Do you want to dress like a grownup today? Or maybe I should decide…” “Grownup!” The words came out as fast as her sleepy self could muster. She said it before she even had the time to realize Joyce planned on taking her outside like this. “And wait...you mean I have to go outside wearing this?” She motioned to the babyhood strapped between her thighs. “Well, we can’t leave you unprotected while we’re on the go. That would be a bad job on mommy’s part.” It felt so genuine, the way Joyce was treating her. And who’s to say it wasn’t? But it was more concerning that she was going outside diapered; in public. “I don’t want to go out like this though…” The idea was nothing short of terrifying. “It’s embarrassing…” Joyce pulled out a shirt and black yoga pants for Emily. “Don’t pout now. There’s nothing wrong with wearing what mommy picks for you. You’ll be safe and well-protected. I’ll keep you by my side all day.” The words of comfort were nice to hear, but they didn’t change how much Emily didn’t want to go through with this. Yes, she wanted to be babied, but she was expecting this to come much later in the day; after they finished their errand, not before it! “Now come on, we still need to get some breakfast in you. Off the bed, please.” Reluctantly, Emily stood up, as Joyce got on one knee so Emily could grab her shoulders for balance while she stepped into the yoga pants one leg at a time. “Such a good girl,” Joyce commented as the shirt came next. It was the best being with Joyce like this, but going out in public was hurting her mood right now. She wanted to trust Joyce on this, but the thought seemed far too scary. “See?” Joyce was leading the two out of the room before stopping at the wardrobe mirror. Joyce turned Emily to a side-view and gave her padded bum a pat. “Not even I can tell if you’re diapered. Well, not unless I already know…” Emily stole a quick glance at the mirror for confirmation, and rushed ahead to escape the teasing. Joyce had already prepared breakfast; the sweet smell of butter, sugar, and cinnamon all mixed together and presented on a plate. “French toast?” Emily happily did her best to switch gears; a meal she hadn’t had in the longest time. “Yes it is!” Joyce said as she beamed with positivity, already having Emily’s cut up into bite-sized pieces, and her special coffee drink prepared in her sippy cup. “And I want to see you drink all of your milk for me, okay?” Joyce remembered to offer her the encouragement, just in case if she still had nerves about yesterday. She was already scared of being out in public, she wouldn’t let hydration get the best of her too. “Uh-huh,” Emily said as she already took a sip. She wasn’t keen on drinking as much like she did yesterday, but she already was thirsty like every other morning. In a long, uninterrupted sip, she set the cup down with a long sigh indicating her satisfied thirst. Joyce seemed to be pleased with that, and started to eat her own breakfast in order to get the day started all the sooner. Breakfast was as delicious as usual, but each bite seemed to make Emily’s heart pound faster, as each one would lead her closer and closer to the inevitable. Slowly, but surely, both of their plates (including Emily’s sippy cup) had been wiped clean. Joyce cleared the table and washed the dishes, piecing together how the day would go. “Joyce?” Emily broke her train of thought while she absently scrubbed. “What is it, honey?” “Can we, um, go out some other time?” “And why would we do that when today is perfectly fine?” “Because I don’t want to go out...wearing you know...diapers…” Emily still hadn’t adjusted to using the word very well now that it specifically referred to her. “People will see...it’s embarrassing…” “Emily,” Joyce turned off the faucet and started to dry her hands. “I already told you: no one will be able to tell what you’re wearing underneath your clothes. All we need to do is get your phone replaced, and you already said yourself that you haven’t had one for so long.” “So we can’t stay?” Emily knew she was reaching the end of her rope, and the thought wasn’t as exciting as all the other times it had been; she didn’t derive any pleasure from potentially taking a sledgehammer to her social image. “No, Emily. We’re going out.” It was just so frustrating. Being together with Joyce and how she felt so much like a mother; she had this pressure and these vibes that made her feel so commanding, especially to the currently submissive Emily. There was this excitement she couldn’t describe from being controlled in such a way...but she hated how she couldn’t resist, and that only fed into her more childish parts even more. “Once we’re out and about you’ll see that you’re perfectly fine.” Joyce said, setting a dish towel on the counter. “Emily, I would never put you in danger. The fact that I’m doing this proves that mommy thinks it’s safe for her little girl. I would never let you do something that put you at harm. I’ll be right by your side the whole way. Leave the grownup decisions to the grownups, and you just worry about enjoying yourself. So no more pouting, okay?” Emily only briefly nodded as Joyce walked over to pull her in for a reassuring hug. “Now,” Joyce got on her knee to be at about eye-level with Emily. “Are you gonna put some shoes on for mommy or do I need to do it for you?” She teased. “I can do it…” Emily blushed as she got out of her chair, walking over to the shoe area where Joyce had a pair of casual shoes ready for her; socks included. The little details of making preparations like this behind the scenes were what Emily loved the most. It reinforced the mindset that everything was in Joyce’s control, and Emily was like royalty that had the liberty of being served. She sat down on her padded bum while she slipped the perfect-fitting shoes on and tied their laces. Joyce came a second after with a large handbag slung over her shoulder, putting her shoes on as well. She grabbed two jackets for just in case if it got too cold outside; she needed to be prepared for anything. “Oh, wait, I almost forgot my wallet.” Emily said as she started to walk back to her room. “And why would my little girl be needing a wallet?” Joyce said with a firm but gentle grasp had taken Emily’s wrist. “I need to buy a new phone...right?” What did Emily do wrong? She needed money to buy a phone, after all. “That’s adorable sweetie,” Joyce cooed as she guided Emily back to the door. “But Mommy would never give her baby an allowance.” Emily’s cheeks burned at this remark, feeling smaller with every moment. “Whatever my little Emmy wants she need only ask me for it.” Clearly she was trying to forcibly spoil the girl, but it made Emily feel foolish for not having the foresight to guess something like this would happen. It was annoying how Joyce was using their “roles” to her obvious advantage; forcing her typical agenda but with a babyish twist. But deep down, even though it was against her will, right beside that seed of self-hate for being spoiled was the thrill of being forced into such a circumstance. Joyce was the first to open the door while Emily stood a bit back with hesitation. She started to feel uneasy, as the gravity of going outside was starting to hit her in full effect. She looked down a bit to see the outstretched hand; connected to the arm that led her to her most favorite person in the world right now. “I know it can be scary at first, but once we get moving you’ll see there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Emily clasped Joyce’s hand as she hesitantly took her steps outside of the apartment; dressed underneath as Joyce’s little girl. All she had to do was remember Joyce was there. She was her rock, and she would get her through this. The sound of the door shutting behind her solidified her fears once it was set in stone that they wouldn’t be turning back; the thought only bringing her closer to Joyce. She paid Emily’s affection no mind as the pair stepped onto the elevator and moved to the ground floor. In an effort to relax Emily, with a finger from the hand being held by Emily, she caressed the girl’s palm with her nail; sending a jolt of ticklishness from Emily’s hand, but feeling so nice all the same. The pair walked out of the building to see a black car waiting for them; bigger than the night the two went out to eat. But the chauffeur had not changed, as he held the door open for them while they stepped in. Worries hit the back of Emily’s mind as she stepped in, hoping to God that somehow her diaper never saw the light of day when she was moving. Emily was quickly sent into high gear however when she felt a hand press up against her bottom, feeling a gentle push as she quickly planted herself into a seat. She looked back at the perpetrator with almost daggers, seeing that it was of course Joyce giving her a tease. Annoyed for likely giving the reaction Joyce had hoped for, she looked off out of a window so not to please her any further. “Sorry Emily, I never thought to ask, what kind of provider do you have?” For her cellphone? “Um, T-Mobile?” Emily wasn’t sure if that was the answer she was looking for. “Perfect, same as mine.” Emily looked over to see Joyce press a small button on a speaker that likely contacted the driver through the divider. “Take us to the T-Mobile store first, please.” The car kicked into gear and they were on the move not a second later. Wait, did she say first? 7 - Errands “F-First? What do you mean, Joyce?” Emily couldn’t do much to snuff out the nervousness in her voice. It was already taking every fiber of her being just to make this one trek; to even consider something beyond that was impossible. And as a cruel coincidence, she happened to shuffle her legs as well, emitting the faintest crinkle noise just loud enough for her to pick up on. Joyce had finished raising the divider between them and the driver, valuing the time and privacy she could have with Emily. Nevertheless, she could almost feel the unease radiating from the poor girl. Part of Joyce hated herself for doing this, but unfortunately, this would have to happen at some point or later. Yes, she probably would have adjusted easier if they had a bit more practice at home, but doing this even sooner would help dispel those fears. “Here,” Joyce unbuckled herself from her seat and slid across the leather seats to the trembling Emily. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders and waist, she gave Emily a comforting hug. “Let’s regroup for a moment. I know it’s scary, and you have every right to feel this way because it’s the first time.” “Please Joyce...I think I want to go back…” Emily did need a new phone, but not if the circumstances were this dire. Even she knew her fears were probably getting the best of her, but there was no way she’d willingly put her pride on the line to test that. Emily returned her embrace as her head fell into the space between Joyce’s neck and shoulder. “And that is why we’re doing this. Because after we do it once, you’ll see it’s not so scary after all. After the first time comes the second...then the third...and fourth...and by then, you’ll be as oblivious to what you’re wearing underneath like everyone else around you.” Her words seemed to be having some effect on Emily, but her intuition could still sense her unease. “There was this one time when my parents took me and my brother to a waterpark back in California when we were just kids,” Joyce ran her hand up and down Emily’s shoulder. “And I hated heights with an everloving passion; especially if it was a waterslide. I can’t even remember why we went there in the first place anyways…” Joyce honestly pondered the thought for a small moment. “Regardless,” getting back on track, “there was this one slide I refused to go on. It was the tallest ride in the entire park, and believe me, it was taller than you could ever imagine. There was no convincing me to go down that thing, and it already felt like my heart was going to stop just from looking at that monster.” She tried to rock Emily a little bit. “But little did I know, my feelings would come to change that day; for the slide, at least. My dad somehow convinced me that if I went on that slide right then and there he’d get me some new outfit I wanted. Motivated by greed,” She couldn’t help but laugh at how selfish she sounded. “I got in line for the slide, and the string of people that wrapped around and up the stairs was getting shorter and shorter. I honestly thought I was going to die before I even got to the stairs!” Joyce let out a snicker. “But sure enough, I didn’t die; which I probably thought would have been a better end than dying from the waterslide...But with no turning back, I had to sit down on the slide and get moving. It was like when the rollercoaster slowly climbs to the top of a big drop, with the suspense as the water was carrying me into the dark tube...It all happened so fast, and as I picked up speed, and I twisted and turned,” She started making wavy gestures with her hands. “I was screaming for maybe like a solid five seconds! But after that, after I had reached top speed and could see everything moving a mile a minute, I was excited. What scared me so much at first became probably the funnest thing I had ever done, funnily enough. But what my point is,” Joyce pulled Emily back a bit to meet her eye to eye. “Is that once you overcome your fears, you see the same exact things in a whole new light. To this day, I love going on waterslides now, even though I haven’t been to one in nearly two decades…” She started to dwell on the smaller bits again. “But what I’m trying to tell you though, is that once you get over your fears from this, you might discover something about yourself you never even thought was possible. We had fun together at home, didn’t we?” Breaking from her motherly gaze, Emily nodded with an odd blush as she shuffled her legs. She did have fun, but that was different from being in the public eye; being in an overwhelmingly vulnerable position. She was convinced by the pleasure of being in someone else’s absolute care, but taking it to a public place put it on an entirely new level she was uncertain of. “And what’s to stop us from having fun today? Don’t even think about yourself wearing a diaper in public. Believe it or not, people do it all the time, and no one notices. I know this is supposed to be mommy and her little girl, but if it helps, just think of it as us running errands; Emily and Joyce going out together to do some things.” Joyce was aware she might be hurting the atmosphere she’d worked to create this morning, but it was much more important to get Emily in the water before she even thought about turning up the heat. Yes, this is a big change for her, but they’d need to start small before beginning to move by leaps and bounds. It once again felt wrong to rely on someone else so heavily as an adult, but this was something Joyce wanted and it was a form of comfort Emily wasn’t going to refuse at a time like this. “Are you being serious when you say no one can see it?” Of course, she knew Joyce would likely never lie to her about something like this. “Emily, you should know better by now,” Joyce pulled her back in for one last quick hug. “I will NEVER put you at risk. You’re simply too precious to even try!” She released her grasp from the smothered girl, who was unable to hide a telling smile. “Only you will think it’s visible, and the only people who will know are you and me, especially because I’m the one that taped you in one!” The remark sparked smiles from both of them. And even if someone did find out, they’d have to have only half a brain to actually say something about it; lest they face Joyce’s rath for even trying to cause harm to her little girl...But it shouldn’t even come to that, as Emily was only her baby girl in name. No one would be the wiser if they saw her in a regular medical diaper; they’d probably think she needs them. To Joyce, this was a healthy rationalization, but she wouldn’t bring it up to Emily. If that’d happen it would mean her cover being blown, and she’d already alarmed her enough. “And in the midst of our little chit-chat, it would seem we have arrived at our destination!” Emily’s soak in the loving atmosphere was disrupted as the side door opened; the cool breeze of reality striking her warm cheeks. Quickly remembering her fears, however, her heart started a jog as she could already see groups of people walking about from inside the car. “Emmy-hon,” Joyce called to her attention with an outstretched hand. “Trust me?” Emily returned the gesture and clasped her palm, stepping out of the car. Sure enough, the city was like it was most of the time; cold. Even while she wore a long-sleeve, it wasn’t much for the piercing chill. And with her thoughts in tune with her body language, Joyce already started to slip one of the jackets she brought on her. “Sorry, I knew I should have probably put you in a thicker material...Better now?” Not bothering to consider if she were stepping over the line as far as public concern goes, Joyce finished the job with an audible zip from top to bottom. “Um…” It still wasn’t easy openly appreciating these sorts of things. “Yeah, thanks.” “Now let’s get moving. I don’t want to be out in the cold so much either…” Joyce took her by the hand and led her down the sidewalk and into the considerably warmer store. Emily could feel the thicker underwear make her initial steps a little awkward at first, but it was nothing she couldn’t adapt to. However, the fleeting thought of someone catching her in diapers never seemed to leave her mind, and the thought was terrifying. Thankfully, Joyce was here to prevent that from happening. Phone displays lined across flat tables, and advertisements decorated the walls; plenty of people were inside for likely the same reason as them. The floor inside was carpeted; if you could even call it that though. In comparison to the carpets at Joyce’s place they were certainly a far cry. They may as well have coated the ground in concrete and called it a day. Industrial carpeting was the worst, and it only made Emily think of home. “See?” Joyce lowered her voice to a more personal level. “You’re out in public right now? No one is the wiser, Emily.” While she didn’t like the thought being refreshed in her mind, Joyce was right; even if she had baseless doubts. “So?” Joyce looked at Emily expectantly, who didn’t seem to pick up on what she was alluding towards. “So...what?” Emily replied with a puzzled look. “Well, why do you think we’re here?” Joyce smirked, watching her face to see when it clicked. “What phone are we getting you?” Right. Even Emily had to admit was a little bit silly for not realizing that, but in her defense, it felt far too casual to just up and get a brand new phone. Getting something “new” happened maybe once or twice a year and a fair deal of research beforehand; not one day after the next. Emily walked over to one of the empty tables, unintentionally looking over the latest set of smartphones. “Jeez, why do these things jump in price so much every year?” She quietly muttered as she looked them over. She glanced at the price of a new Samsung phone, but apparently it was some kind of sale, because all she could see were two familiar fingers covering the space. She followed the hand and arm they were connected to, ending the search at the face of Joyce, who was playfully smiling. “Joyce…” Emily slightly groaned, already knowing what she was getting at. But even still, this felt like she was going too far. “Ah-ah! I’ll have none of it. As I remember, I’m the one who holds the purse strings. And besides…” Joyce leaned in close to Emily’s ear with a whisper. “Don’t you remember what mommy said before we left the house? My little girl need only ask for anything she wants. A-ny-thing!” On cue, Emily suddenly found her emotions were much too frazzled to keep still. She knew Joyce wasn’t kidding, even though she felt terrible for taking advantage of an opportunity like this. But Joyce didn’t see it that way, and that was the toughest part for Emily to stomach. “Emmy, I like to kid, but I’m not lying. I don’t want you looking at any price tags. You need only ask and so it shall be. Don’t hold back and get what you like the most.” After learning from past experiences to choose her battles wisely, Emily conceded early on this time, turning back to the displays. She only spent about ten minutes dwelling over a final decision; nothing here was exactly a downgrade. Despite what Joyce had told her, there was still no way she’d be picking out the most expensive thing; even if she was to be spoiled. But she also knew that Joyce would call her out on her own stinginess, so she settled on the second runner up from the latest line. And to be fair, almost anything on this table would beat her now broken smartphone; be it in almost every regard. “I’ll get this one then.” Emily pointed out the device to Joyce. She looked at her for confirmation, seeing her raised brow, likely deducing that Emily wasn’t being completely honest with herself. “Okay, then we’ll get that one.” Joyce didn’t pry on her this time, trying in her own way to understand Emily’s feelings. Maybe it was good she was showing restraint? Still, Joyce would hope that at some point she could do away with being so reluctant. “Let’s go up to the counter so we can get your SIM card switched onto your new phone.” The pair walked up to the service desk at the other end of the store where another customer was already in front of them, much to Emily’s dismay. Waiting was usually never an issue for the girl, but given the circumstances with what she was wearing, it was hard for her heart not to beat out of her chest in anticipation; each and every moment in the limelight being another opportunity to be exposed. Whenever she made the slightest shift in her posture, Emily could hear the faintest crinkle, with constant fear wondering which one would be her last. “Home stretch, kiddo.” Joyce comforted, being the one who was consistently pulling Emily out of her pit of despair. “These sorts of things always take forever, you know what I mean?” “Mm.” Emily somewhat mumbled as she was near completely focused on the task at hand. “Don’t worry, the less you think about the clock, the faster time flies by. Keep your mind on getting back to the nice and warm car. It’s a bit too cold out here for my tastes, and I’m sure that goes for you too.” Joyce laughed. It would be a lie if Emily said she wasn’t looking forward to getting back in the car. Most certainly it would be warmer than in this store, but there she’d be able to relish in her privacy--pseudo privacy--taking Joyce into account. But she was...an exception. As reassurance to herself, Emily pulled the hem of her pants up every now and then, wondering when the person in front of them would finally be finished. The bulk around her legs made her feel completely and totally out of her element. There was certainly a truth to Joyce’s earlier statement; stuff like this seemed to take forever...Finally though, the man had been dealt with and he was on his way, leading Emily and Joyce to the front of the line. “Hi, how can I help you guys today?” The worker chirped from behind the desk. “Hi, my friend’s phone here broke recently, and we’re looking to get her a new one and hopefully her SIM card switched over?” Joyce started, taking charge of the conversation without skipping a beat. “Okay, that shouldn’t be an issue. What phone are you looking to get?” He asked without expecting a reply from either one in particular. A moment of silence passed by for a second, until Emily who was taking a backseat realized Joyce was tagging her in. Trying not to blush over her lack of social awareness, Emily was quick to say, “Oh! Uh, a Samsung Galaxy S…” the number seemed to have left her head as she was put on the spot so suddenly. “A...uhm, sorry I uh-” “I think it was the eight, wasn’t it?” Joyce jumped in to her rescue. “Ah, right that was the one. Sorry, I forgot…” Emily somewhat trailed off. Suddenly thinking to herself that it was the seven she intended to get, and she’d just created the perfect opportunity for Joyce to further spoil the hesitant girl. And feeling like a child enough already, Emily couldn’t find the courage to rebuttal, finding it easier to simply give in; some part inside of her busy, tingling over the fact that Joyce was taking charge. “Awesome! If you can just put the old phone on the counter I can just pull up your account…” The man started to explain as he typed away on a computer. “Just to verify, could I get your first and last name, a birthdate, and your phone number?” Tuned in on the conversation this time, Emily provided all the information in an orderly fashion, still chastising herself over her blunder not a few moments earlier. He probably thought she had a loose screw, or something. There’d be no question in his mind after he saw what she was wearing underneath... “Yep, everything checks out and I’ve got you pulled up right here. By switching the SIM card you can keep your texts and contacts, but for your photos we’d need the damaged phone to be able to turn on if we were to do it today. Can you still get it on?” “Ah, no. It doesn’t. But that’s fine though, really. I don’t need anything else other than my contacts and texts.” While there were some photos on her old phone, it’s not like any of them were of any importance. Anything that was would be in virtual storage so that something like this couldn’t jeopardize them. “Okay, and how do you plan on paying for the phone? There’s a few different plans we could put you on to pay for the phone at a reduced price? If I could-” “Actually,” Joyce politely interrupted, “We’ll be paying for the whole thing upfront.” “That works too,” He seemed to pay no mind about his sales pitch being shot down. “Let me just head to the back and grab your new phone.” Leaving the front to his coworker, the man disappeared through a doorway further back while Emily and Joyce were left to wait. “I thought I said the seven?” Emily said with a tinge of complaint in her voice, stressing over the few hundreds Joyce just added to the bill. “Seven? Eight? What’s the difference?” Wouldn’t that logic work both ways? “Besides, when you’re given the opportunity to get a new toy, I expect you to get a good one sweetie.” The latter half of her statement came off only in earshot, reminding Emily of that ticklish feeling she got; being looked down on with such a loving gaze. Emily didn’t challenge her remark after that, as the man who had been helping them returned soon after with a white handheld box. “Here it is,” he smiled as he typed something quickly on the computer. “Before I can do the transfer though you need to actually buy the phone first, so will that be with cash or a card?” “Card.” The motherly one of the two already had a black card ready, redepositing it into her bag after a quick swipe. Without a hitch the payment went through, and the man was already using a blade on his keyring to slice the thin layer of plastic encasing the expensive piece of technology. “Now if I could just see the other phone please?” Clearly well-versed in this type of thing, he already had the new phone unwrapped and its SIM card slot popped open. Joyce pulled out Emily’s damaged phone which she hadn’t since that fateful night, eyeing its cracked and lifeless screen. The reflective face had clearly lost some of itself at some point, and one of the corners looked a little bit worse for wear too. The worker popped it open, retrieving the tiny chip as he slipped it into the new phone and was already powering it up. After about ten minutes of setup, he placed the phone on the counter towards the two, almost as if he were unsure of who to hand it to… “You should be good to go. Your contacts and texts are on there and your number will work with that phone. Is there anything else I can do for you today?” “No thank you, that should be everything.” Emily picked up the phone for a moment, looking it over in all its new glory. She forgot what it was like to have a new phone...granted, the idea of “new” was starting to lose its novelty the more she stuck around Joyce, as she was consistently showered in gifts. “Then have a good day and enjoy the new phone!” He happily bid them off as the two walked out of the store. Sure enough, Charles, as Emily remembered, was waiting in the parked car as they had left it next to a running meter. Joyce pulled open the door for Emily as she slipped in, Joyce following suit, shutting the door behind her. The two were once more enveloped in an atmosphere of warmth. “Brrrr! Ah! So much better in here, don’t you think?” Joyce gave Emily’s further shoulder a rub as they soaked in the heated car. “Yeah…” Was all Emily said as she laid back and was relieved to have been returned to her oasis, once again hidden from the public eye and safe. “But see what I mean?” “See what?” “You, silly! You did just fine in there! My brave little girl! I’ll have to do something special for you for being so good in there.” Joyce’s brain was already turning gears, as Emily sat in disbelief; trying to process how a near-thousand dollar phone didn’t constitute a treat enough already. “What did I tell you though; no one found out, right?” Emily couldn’t deny this, but it’s not like it made the sidewalks feel much safer to roam. “No...no one did.” She admitted. “And I know it was this time, but it’ll be even less scary the next.” For her own sake, Emily hoped this was true, and the less thought she put into it it would likely be the better. “So can we go home now?” Emily pleaded as she looked towards Joyce with hopeful eyes. Sure, she was proud over her feat; going to the store, but that trip in itself already felt exhausting. Despite this, Emily’s stare was returned with a sad smile on Joyce’s face. “Oh honey…” it pained Joyce to do this to her little girl, but with another important errand having to be run and more valuable experience for Emily, they couldn’t turn around just yet. “There’s more?” She sounded almost as if her puppy died; already dreading what was to come. And admittedly, she felt foolish for only remembering now that Joyce already told her earlier. “We have to make one more stop before we can call it quits today, then we can go home and relax. I promise.” What else could they have to do? Not that Emily wanted to be a wrench in Joyce’s plans, but for her first time outside doing something like this, it was already taxing enough. “Okay…” Emily conceded as the car already kicked into motion, seeming to already know where they were already headed next. “Then can I at least stay in the car while you do what you need to do?” “And leave my baby girl all by herself?” Joyce felt bad for denying her this as well. “Sorry, but I need to keep you close by at all times. That’d be irresponsible of mommy after all.” Emily’s coming reply quickly melted at the mention of the word “mommy,” as it seemed to be her kryptonite; creating a mix of feelings within her that made her puddy in Joyce’s hands. And apparently Charles wasn’t a factor in the equation, as his hands were probably tied up enough watching the car, Emily reasoned. But she knew she herself was a grown adult, and this just fell under their roleplay. Yet, deep down...Emily couldn’t help but feel like a kid in this moment... “Besides, this other important errand still very much involves you sweetie.” Joyce chuckled as she checked her phone for a brief moment. It did? Suddenly, a new stir of emotions erupted within Emily, as she only grew more anxious over what else possibly needed to be done. And didn’t she say it was for Joyce and not her? “Don’t put so much thought into it silly,” Joyce slid Emily across the seats and into her side. “Do me a favor and try to get some of your energy back while we drive there, okay?” A faint feeling a happiness to oblige, Emily ignored the use of a seatbelt as Joyce positioned her head to fall on her lap, gently stroking her hair. Travelling through the city streets shouldn’t pose a problem as they never reached a dangerous speed; near bumper to bumper traffic at times like these. Combined with that and the distance to drive, the two would have a little downtime to bond before they’d make it to Joyce’s seamstress. “Try and sleep a little for me. I know I may have woken you up a tad bit early today, so use this time to make up for that.” In a faint and soft voice, Joyce began her melodic hum that Emily was almost like a recurring hypnosis. In this moment, her adult self seemed to shed away as the sound of music stripped her bare and left only a tiny piece of her behind; the smaller side of her that was everything which Joyce embraced. While Emily quickly dozed off, Joyce grabbed the phone lying on the leather seat and slipped it into her bag for safe keeping; soaking in the moment herself as Joyce only grew evermore ecstatic over the moment she now shared with Emily. What they had was something special and likely becoming irreplaceable in Joyce’s heart, wishing for this moment to last forever. “Wakey wakey, honey.” Joyce cooed down towards Emily, who had done her job well, managing to sleep the entire ride. “You’re like a little cat, aren’t you?” She joked. “I always seem to catch you sleeping…” Joyce stared at her for a few moments, as Emily was still trying to fully wake up and collect herself. “Morning…” Was all Emily could say as she rubbed her eyes, seeing part of Joyce’s face above her just past her bosom; the sun emerging from the clouds. Emily could feel a slight tinge in her bladder, but she was too tired to really think anything of it. “Can you sit up for me?” Joyce asked while she already started to guide Emily back up on her feet. “Let’s head inside and get done what we need to do, okay?” Still few for words, Emily nodded as they hopped out of the car with her jacket back on, the sudden chill being a wakeup call to her recently finished nap. “So where are we?” She found it in herself to speak again, looking at the store in front of them. Certainly an extravagant-looking type of place, its exterior was decorated in carved wood and brick. as two large display windows showed off a few decorated mannequins. The way the front was designed almost made it look like a well-kept colonial era exterior. “We’re here to see my seamstress.” Joyce said as she walked up the couple cement steps to the door and pulled it open for Emily. “Well, our seamstress now, I suppose.” She smiled. “But I already have clothes you know? Back at my ex’s apartment.” She’d almost forgotten about her old life before she met Joyce. She didn’t need Joyce spending even more money on her over something she already had; something she should go and get. “A girl’s wardrobe never stops expanding, you know?” Joyce poked as they walked across the polished floor. The store had an awfully Victorian theme to its interior. A few couches made of dark red fabric proudly stood on the other side of the dividing wall in the entrance, pointed towards a stained wooden coffee table as the walls were decorated in wooden accents with dark green to fill in the gaps. Almost an entire wall was occupied by stored rolls of fabric, cloth, and other materials. While the store gave Emily vibes of an outdated setting, the place couldn’t help but feel new and well-kept at the same time. “Amy? Hello?” Joyce called out to the quiet shop as they approached the unmanned wooden desk. On top of it was a lone call bell which she pressed down on, waiting to be serviced. Only a few moments went by until someone emerged from the room behind the desk, as a woman approached the two. “Joyce! Back so soon?” Amy leaned over the counter to give her friend a hug. “Good to see you Amy! I was hoping I could arrange a special order?” “Bien sûr my friend!” Amy laughed as she turned her gaze over to Emily. While she eyed the girl, Emily did the same to her. Her black hair tied back in a bun, and she adjusted her rimmed glasses as she asked, “And who might this be? In all the years we’ve done business together Joyce I haven’t known you to be so social…” Her eyes were almost like a playful predator; inspecting its next meal. “This is Emily,” Joyce introduced. “She was the one I had you make adjustments for last week? “Well now that I can see her in the flesh, I suppose she matches the estimates you gave me the first time around. But if we’re to do things properly I’ll need to take a closer look this time around. Where are my manners though? A pleasure to meet you, Emily.” Amy outstretched her hand and Emily politely returned the shake. “Let me take you two into the back. We can get more comfy in there. I never really do much business out here, would you believe.” Amy lifted a panel on the side of her desk, allowing the pair to walk behind and follow her into the room she came out of. The room was a bit more spacious and carpeted as they walked in. A light fixture hung from the high ceiling, as there was another set of couches and table in the corner of the room. Next to that was almost a pedestal raised off the ground, 180 degrees of it being exposed to mirrors; visible from as many angles as possible. There was a set of stairs leading upstairs, but Amy sat them down on the couches. “Can I interest either of you in some coffee before we get started?” She offered while they slipped off their jackets. “Sure, I could go for some. I’m sure Emily could too.” Joyce answered for them. “Ah, yeah, thanks.” Emily awkwardly chimed in. For some baseless reason she felt it were almost better not to say anything. “Emily, how do you take yours?” Amy asked. She took down the information, then walked up the stairs, leaving the two in the company of themselves. “This store reminds me of…” Emily was trying to find the word. “An antique?” Joyce offered, having known what it was like once trying to describe this place. “Kinda, I suppose.” She still didn’t know if that entirely captured the atmosphere. “I like it though,” Joyce said, looking the room over. “It feels very homey, I guess. Comfortable at the very least.” Emily nodded in agreeance. It actually made her think of that one painting; the room with all of the dogs playing poker. It was a silly comparison, but she had no other immediate thing to draw it to. Suddenly, Emily felt another pang in her bladder, knowing that nature was calling. It wasn’t pressing, but it would be soon enough. “Uhm, Joyce?” Emily asked. “What is it hon?” “I...need to use the ba-” “Sorry for the wait!” Amy interrupted as she returned with a platter of steaming mugs. “Ah…” Joyce turned to Amy then back at Emily for a second who had just been cut off, yet the look on her face said she didn’t feel like saying it anymore. Not with the extra company. “Thank you.” Joyce said as she was handed her cup and then Emily hers. Between mostly Amy and Joyce, the two engaged in small talk while they drank, Emily occasionally jumping in, but mostly taking a backseat to their already well-developed chemistry. And while they talked, Emily suddenly became conflicted over what she said before Amy came back. What was she going to have done whether she told Joyce she needed to use the bathroom or not? She was wearing a...diaper, and was now having second thoughts about if Joyce’s knowing could be any help to her or not. Was she even allowed to take it off? She wanted to go and use the toilet, but that would mean having nothing to wear underneath, probably. She figured the tapes were a one-time policy. Joyce likely didn’t bring any extra changes with her, expecting her to never actually use the damn thing...Or was that was she wanted? Emily wasn’t sure whether to trust in herself or in Joyce, and the thought of displeasing the woman she was already so indebted to was terrifying. Not because of the potential anger, but the slightest disappointment she might feel. After everything, she only wanted to make Joyce happy, and was stunned at how the feeling was mutual. That being said, it was still impossibly difficult to do; to defy second nature. “Are we ready to get down to business then?” Amy set down her mostly finished mug, grabbing a small kit from her computer desk in the corner. “Let’s start with your numbers so I can get them down in my book, please.” Emily stood up from the couch and walked to the center of the room where Amy waited with her tape measure. “Could you slip off your shoes for me, please? Makes for a better reading on your height.” Amy chuckled as Emily quickly slipped them off, feeling stupid for not having realized herself. “And no need to take anything else off. Your clothes seem to be tight-fitting enough to get the gist of it...A small margin of error, if need be.” Emily couldn’t help but feel off at that last remark; doing her best to chalk it up as more senseless fear. While it did feel extremely uncomfortable to have someone so close with such a dark secret taped around her waist, she could only hope she was in safe hands. “That should do it. Easy part’s over.” Amy rolled her measuring tape after getting the last measurement on her waist, writing the numbers down in her notebook. “Now let’s really get down to brass tax,” Amy sat down and pulled out a large sketchbook. “What do we have in mind?” She looked at Emily expectantly. “Er, actually I uh-” “I’ll be the one submitting the order.” Joyce filled in for Emily. “Oh? She won’t be deciding?” Amy raised a brow. “Call it a...surprise.” Joyce said, trying to find the best words for it. “Actually, I was hoping we could have Emily wait somewhere to give us a bit more privacy?” She felt bad for dismissing Emily like this, but knew it would be in their best interests to do it this way. “I wouldn’t mind if she stayed upstairs...?” Amy found the situation a bit strange herself, but maintained her all-business composure. “You wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise, would you Emmy?” Joyce asked Emily with a look of confirmation; the kind that already knew what the answer would be. Hearing her pet name made Emily gush a little bit, politely nodding as she stood up. “Make yourself at home upstairs. A friend of Joyce’s is a friend of mine.” Amy smiled as Emily walked over to the stairs. “I’ll come get you once we’re done.” Joyce gave her loving smile; enough to confidently send Emily off. Nodding in reply, she walked up the stairs and opened a wooden door into an apartment. From first looks, it was in much contrast to what was below. Rather than the Victorian theme she was going for downstairs, Amy’s home was a much more industrial and modern looking type of decor. Though the store was empty downstairs, clearly the woman did well for herself like Joyce, as her white couch splayed across the hardwood floor, parallel to a mounted tv. While not as big of a home as Joyce’s, she worked with what she had as it was an open-concept type, being able to see from the kitchen to the living room. Curiously, Emily ran her hand across the exposed brick, marveling at the lights suspended from thick, dark, wooden beams. Sitting on the couch, Emily picked up the nearby remote and turned the tv on. Coming to life with a higher volume than expected, she quickly lowered it in a small panic, lest she disturbs Joyce and Amy’s business downstairs. Speaking of which, the curiosity seemed to be getting to her. While Joyce was likely having regular outfits be made for her, she never said why or what they’d be. She did know that she had clothes, right? Just that they weren’t on her at the moment...She would have to go and get them soon; or have a friend do it. Without any shoes on, she lounged out on the couch and quietly entertained herself, almost feeling as if she were at Joyce’s place. Eyes focused on the moving pictures, Emily didn’t pay much mind to the sudden movement she felt on the far end of the couch. Only until after a near minute did something compel her to look in the direction of whatever moved. Standing still as the two met eyes, she stared back into the gaze of a gray black-nosed cat, the fur on its paws that of charcoal as well; its tail only making a slight movement. Amy has a cat? She didn’t remember hearing anything about one...not that she totally expected to, since she was more or less a stranger to her. As the two blankly eyed each other, Emily awkwardly gave some nod of confirmation, as if to try and communicate without scaring the tiny creature off. Trying not to move a muscle for some reason, Emily watched as the cat crept its way closer to her, eventually getting as far as stepping over her legs, until they were about a foot from each other's faces, close enough to touch the cat’s whiskers. “Uhh...hi there?” The cat slightly recoiled at the sudden reaction, taking a step back so to flee at a moment’s notice. But with another pause, it came back towards Emily yet slightly closer this time. The cat’s nose twitched as it smelled Emily. After slightly more inspection, it seemed to scout the immediate area for a moment, then planted itself against her stomach. “O...kay?” Emily quietly accepted the situation; unsure what to make of what was happening. Looking back to the tv and trying to adjust to her unexpected company, she calmly petted the silent creature as it let out a low purr with each and every stroke. Some time went by as the newly acquainted friends enjoyed their current positions, able to unwind and simply disconnect. Eyeing the nearby clock, Emily was wondering when they would be done. Not that she was completely bored, but she would like to get going soon. Her train of thought was interrupted though by a stronger pressure in her bladder, something this time she wouldn’t be able to ignore. “Damn…” Emily bit her bottom lip as she knew what was to come. Hesitantly, Emily politely excused herself from the couch without trying to disrupt her tiny friend, as she walked nearby the kitchen to search for a toilet. Turning around, she could see the cat had left its spot to follow her in tow; willing to give chase. The more she moved, the more she realized how badly she needed to pee. Having coffee probably wasn’t such a good idea after all...but maybe it was because Joyce was planning for something like this…? The lines were often so blurred, Emily never knew what was calculated or simple coincidence around Joyce. Soon her efforts paid off as she found the porcelain throne she was looking for, turning the light on and shutting out the cat for some privacy. She lifted the toilet seat and turned to sit her bottom down on it, only realizing her complete foolishness when her fingers made contact with the waistband of her diaper. Freezing in place, mid squat, it became apparent how her entire plan came crashing down as her biggest oversight was that she was already wearing her bathroom. “Come on…!” Her voice started to whine as she pulled the front band of her pants forward to get a good look at what she was confined in. “Please Joyce...don’t make me…!” Emily could feel herself on the verge of tears knowing what the inevitable would be. Almost every part of her wanted to rip the damn thing off and use the toilet like a normal person, yet that would mean she disobey Joyce, and she wanted to do anything she could to keep her happy. At a crossroads, Emily was faced with the decision to either reaffirm her bond with Joyce, and wet herself in somebody else’s home, or to give in to her adult desires and escape infancy; escape Joyce. The uncertainty was crippling as she didn’t know what to do, and time was running out; fast. “Joyce…” Was all she could moan. Amy and Joyce both looked towards the stairs Emily just finished walking up, and they both heard the click from the door both opening and closing. “So how did you find yourself a thing as cute as her?” Amy asked, taking a sip from her drink. “It’s a bit interesting how we met, I suppose. Not your usual circumstances…” Joyce pondered the thought while she finished off her coffee as well. “But...she’s nice. She’s a good,” Joyce paused for the slightest moment. “Friend.” suddenly finding the right word. Amy couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the subtle misstep in her speech, but let it go for now. “I’d love to know more about her later. She didn’t seem very social when she was down here?” “Oh please, try and be in her shoes, won’t you? She’s still getting used to being with me, and I just introduced her to you today. Something like that can be intimidating for her; for anyone.” Joyce let the words flow so casually with her relaxed guard, she didn’t put too much thought into her choice of words around Amy, whose interest was only becoming more piqued by the second. “Getting used to you?” Amy laughed, “And you almost speak about her like she’s a kid? Reel back the maternal instinct my friend!” Amy laughed some more, and quickly stopped herself once she could see from one friend to another Joyce suddenly tensed a bit. “Oh?” Amy curiously popped the bubble of silence in the room. “I’m here for business, can we please get down to it?” Joyce seemed a bit more focused now, trying to make it clear she was ready to move things along. “Of course, Joyce. And as you know we’re strictly about confidentiality here, for all intents and purposes.” She stressed a bit on the “all,” hoping to regain some of her trust again. “Now I need to know, what are we looking to get done today? I’ll need you to at least tell me that.” Joyce looked at Amy as if she were debating something in her mind; whether to speak or not. “Amy, as both your friend and client, I need you to know how important it is something like this doesn’t get out.” “And like I already said, what goes on between me and my clients are behind closed doors. Be it for business, socializing, intimacy...or maybe something that falls into a more miscellaneous category. But for that to happen, I need you to trust me. I’d like to think we’re good friends, don’t you?” Joyce let out a deep sigh, as she finally found her resolve to come forward. “Emily...and I have something special.” Joyce chose her words carefully. “What she’s doing for me is something so...genuine, that money could never hope to buy it; it’s priceless.” Amy sat quietly listening on. “And for that reason I want to help deepen our bond by making the time we spend together more special…” Even she knew she was dancing around the real words she wanted to get to. “Are you two practicing something together that’s a bit more...off the deep end?” “What? No! Why would you even…?” Joyce suddenly retorted as she realized her own outburst. It felt like Amy was suggesting some sexual kink they had for each other, and it almost felt insulting to have something as pure as they did be branded in such a fashion. Not that kinks were bad, just that Joyce would never want something like this to be misunderstood. “I care for Emily...like one of my own. And she’s been willing to let me,” She took a brief pause. “Indulge, myself, in taking care of her. But I want to take it even further, and make it even more real and genuine; for the both of us.” Joyce kneaded her hands as she found the courage to get the point across. “I would have never come to you for something like this if I couldn’t have trusted you, you know.” “I understand.” Amy smiled as she got the gist of what Joyce was trying to say. She’d never seen one of her longtime clients be so flustered like this before, and to make a request of this kind. She never figured Joyce to be the type...Though, no book can ever truly be judged by its cover. Case and point a few other clients she had in mind… “Okay. But if you’ll allow me to, I just want to confirm the kind of clothes were looking to make for her here.” Joyce nodded. “We’re looking to start a more ‘infantile’ wardrobe for Emily?” Joyce almost thought not to, a small voice from inside trying to hide such crucial information, but nodded once more, feeling easier with each moment the secret lay out in the open. “And I would imagine we need to keep in mind that she won’t be wearing traditional underwear underneath? If you understand what I’m getting at?” Even more reluctantly, Joyce nodded her head again. “Okay…” Amy jotted down a few notes in a notebook. “And just so I can keep her measurements as accurate as possible, she was wearing a diaper earlier when I took down her numbers, correct? They come to be a bit thicker than normal panties, so it’d help if I knew whether or not to take off an inch.” This seemed to be a tougher pill to swallow for Joyce. While it was one thing to speak about their relationship, it still felt like an even greater disservice to throw Emily under the bus like that. Without a response, Amy said blankly “I’ll take that as a yes then. It’s my job as a seamstress to pick up on these kinds of things, you know. Besides, I think she smells wonderful anyways.” Amy alluded to the powdery scent from Emily’s nether regions, which Joyce felt a slight jab from the remark. She tried to take it in stride though, knowing there was no malice. “But Joyce,” Amy set down her pen and clasped her friend’s hands. “I want to say this one last time so we can be on the same page: I need you to trust in me so we can make this the most fulfilling experience possible. If not for me, think about Emily. You’d want her to look her best, right? Be honest with me like you always have been, and with my pride as a seamstress on the line, let’s make Emily look adorable, okay?” Feeling better with this in mind, Joyce’s internal conflict was washed over by a small smile, finally able to focus on the task at hand once more. “So what are we looking to design for her exactly?” Amy asked. “I was hoping to get a brief wardrobe...for starters.” Joyce spoke with a bit more ease. “Alright, so some outfits for the day, and sleepwear for the night? We’ll keep it basic for now.” “I want her to have outfits she can wear around the house and some pajamas. Nothing for outside.” “Are you sure? I understand keeping her out of the public eye, but with you and your connections, I’m sure it’d be more than possible to pull a few strings to get her some privacy outside...” “Maybe, but I don’t want to force something like that onto her...not for a bit, at least.” The thought of how Emily could and would progress admittedly excited Joyce. “Mhm…” Amy nodded her head as she looked down at her growing list of notes. “How about a few onesies then? I’m sure those could work for her.” Joyce agreed, jumping at the sound of her suggestion; at least Amy had the bravery to speak them. “Definitely. That would be perfect.” “And how do you want the flap to work? We could do snaps or buttons, on the front, back or bottom?” “The back will work.” Joyce said, already with a vague image in mind. She knew it wasn’t as conventional, but she figured it’d be best to keep the buttons out of Emily’s line of sight for a better effect. “And do you have any patterns or colors in mind?” Amy asked with her pen ready. “Stripes. Possibly a pink-themed one and a light-green version?” The two colors didn’t mix very well together, but come separately and they would both complement the girl quite nicely. “So I’ll draft up two onesies, and that should be enough of those to begin with, right? Is she like this every day?” “No, she isn’t. That should be enough there.” Joyce couldn’t help but say that last bit somewhat longingly, as her fantasies only let her speculate the unlikely. “Then let’s top it off with at least one more outfit; maybe something like a dress to move about in? A sundress?” Joyce nodded in agreeance, happy to know Amy was strangely onpoint with this sort of thing. It was just like this with her regular orders, only now under a different theme. “We can go for the general design, but what I can do for her is add in a support for her? Kind of like how a onesie will support her bottom, only that the dress will do the same thing. It’ll cover whatever she’s wearing underneath, but depending on what you put her in and how short the skirt of the dress is, I can’t promise anything about a bulge. “I understand, that should be fine.” Joyce kept reminding herself that she’d be the only one seeing Emily in her grand spectacle, which made the drafting process much more easy, and creative. “And speaking of skirt length, how long do you want it to be?” “Maybe a bit past the halfway point on her thighs. I don’t want it to get in the way too much. And I’ll leave the rest of the design up to you.” “Okay, then that should finish off her playwear. Now what about something to sleep in? Onesies work both ways for play and sleep, but I’d imagine you want something a bit more?” “Sleepers.” Joyce quickly said, already having it in mind. “That was fast,” Amy couldn’t help but grin over the response time. “I take it we’ll do a zipper design?” “Yes, a zipper should be fine. I want two sleepers, actually. One where she can reach the zipper on her own...and one where she can’t…” “Oh?” Amy was slightly curious about the variation, but knew it wasn’t her place to ask for details. “Not to punish her, of course. Just to…’help’ her be a little more dependent…” Joyce crossed her fingers, finding it a little difficult to be expressive about the topic again. “And do you want them to cover her feet or hands?” “No for both; it’d probably feel too restricting then.” “I’d have to agree with that,” Amy blankly added as she wrote some more information down. “She likes to get her shuteye a bit, almost like a cat.” Joyce openly laughed, stewing over all the moments she’d catch her sleeping. “In that case I might as well give her sleepers a hood with little cat ears.” Amy laughed as she was happy to see Joyce finally be much less tense about the subject. “Really? You could?” Unintentionally Amy realized she struck a chord with Joyce on that one, even though she wasn’t being completely serious. “Well, I guess there wouldn’t be a problem with it, if you want me to?” Joyce nodded again, failing a bit to hide the excitement and glimmer in her eyes. “I’ll make them detachable, if you or she doesn’t want them on. And with everything here, I’ll make sure they’re adaptable in all the right places to keep a good fit on her. How about we stop there so I can work with what we have, regroup, make any changes that need to be done, and move from there?” “Thank you, Amy! Really, I mean it.” “Happy to help both a customer and a friend.” The topic of business quickly derailed into more small talk about themselves and what kind of person Emily was like. Somewhat surprised at how Joyce could gush over someone like that, Amy was amused as she’d seen a totally new side to her friend. Sure, she’d always been upbeat, or at least normal, when they talked, but never had she been like...well, this. The sudden emotion, the passion in her expressions, words and actions seemed to carry a different sense of flare to them. Almost like she was inspired? Maybe that wasn’t the right word... Checking her watch though, Amy interrupted their talk as it had seemed to have gone on for long enough. “It’s always fun chatting with you, but I think we’ve kept Emily waiting long enough?” “You’re right, I want to get her home. She wasn’t exactly excited to come here after getting a new phone. It’s her first day out wearing a...you know, and I’m trying to build up her confidence to be a bit more outgoing with them.” And then Joyce suddenly remembered what Emily was trying to ask her about a while earlier; connecting the dots to realize maybe it was a bathroom she meant? Now with a mental note to check on a certain something when she saw Emily, the two walked up the stairs into Amy’s apartment, with the unattended tv playing and Amy’s cat sitting by the bathroom door. “Ashes? What are you doing sitting here?” It wasn’t like him to sit out in the open unless without a reason, and then both Amy and Joyce looked at the closed door in front of them. “Emily? You in there?” Joyce knocked. She could hear a sniffle from the other side of the door. “Mhm...just a second.” It wasn’t hard for Joyce to read the mood, taking an educated guess at what might’ve happened. “Everything alright? We’re gonna get going now.” The knob turned as the door opened and Emily emerged, the area around her eyes slightly red from what were likely tears. Ashes, Amy’s cat, seemed happy to be reunited with his friend as he rubbed against her leg with a purr. “I’ve never seen Ashes be so social with someone, especially on the first day!” Amy tried to lighten the mood as she made an honest remark. “He wasn’t even like that with Joyce until after a while.” “Maybe she’s already got my scent, then.” Joyce wrapped an arm around Emily’s shoulder. “Ready to go?” Emily mutely nodded, as they took the lead out of Amy’s house and back downstairs. “And you, can wait up here, mister.” Amy was careful not to let the cat out. As much as she was okay with letting him roam freely around the store, it’d be unbecoming of her professional attitude. “I’ll be getting back to you in a day or two on the details for you to give the no or go on,” She did her best to focus solely on Joyce, while Emily slipped her shoes and jacket back on. She wasn’t a mother, but given where the two found Emily, and after clarifying what she wore, only so much could be left to Amy’s imagination. “Sounds good to me. We’ll be heading home and finally be able to relax, and also get ready for the workday tomorrow.” Joyce sighed, considering how long of a week it’d be. “Anyways, enjoy the rest of your day Amy, and thank you again.” “Anytime Joyce, and Emily it was a pleasure!” Amy gave Emily a brief hug who had just joined the two. “It was nice meeting you too, Amy.” Emily said as she weakly returned the hug. Amy was a nice person, but she didn’t want to be too affectionate with anyone right now. “I look forward to seeing you again. And just know that Joyce thinks the world of you!” She exclaimed as she moved back to the stairs. “Now if you’ll forgive me, I’ll have you two see yourselves out. I can’t help but feel I’m bursting with inspiration for some reason!” She gave a smile that felt particularly directed at Joyce, and then she was quickly out of sight. “Ready to go home?” Joyce looked over at Emily, who with a sense of fatigue nodded her head. The two walked back into the main store from the back room and then around the desk, opening the entrance to see the car where it had been left, getting themselves inside. Charles already having been instructed beforehand, kicked the car into gear shortly after they shut the door. “I’m so proud of you,” Joyce spoke plainly; no syrup or sugar; nothing that may cause understanding. The lack of flavor to her words was refreshing in a way, because above all else it came off as a statement. Her words could not have been any more genuine than they were now. As she hugged Emily, she continued speaking. “It must’ve been tough, wasn’t it?” At the sound of her understanding, Emily could feel the sadness buried from what she’d done, resurface, only nodding her head, wet drops beginning to escape the corners of her eyes. “That’s alright. It gets easier, I promise. We’ll get you changed when we go home. Just try and relax for now…” Emily could feel a slight whimper, as her emotional dam was breaking now. “You know it’s okay to cry, right sweetie?” Joyce pulled her deeper in as she rubbed her arm. “Remember, it doesn’t matter how you feel; I’m here to take care of you. There’s no need to act tough around me. If you can’t have a good cry around me, then who else is supposed to comfort you?” Silently, Emily’s whimper turned into something a little more audible as she willingly buried herself into Joyce; arms wrapped tight. “You can stay like this for as long as you need to,” Her voice rung as softly as the words before. Emily was held by sanctuary and safety itself. “My special, little Emmy.”

Thanks for reading it elsewhere! And thanks for coming to this new thread to comment! I appreciate the kind words. Progress may be variable, but I'll be trying when I can to keep updating things. Hmm, to be honest, easter eggs are kind of new for me. What sparked the idea between the first two shorts I posted on here was someone asking for more. Digital initially started as something totally separate, but the opportunity seemed a bit too obvious to pass up on. And you never know! Maybe this is the same universe? They're pretty big, so plenty of room to suggest either or. Thanks for the comment! I'm constantly nitpicking over my stuff; be it writings, drawings, code; pretty much anything. Cliche, but we're all our worst critics. Whenever I reread some of these chapters that I write, I'm constantly trying to think of ways to improve or refine it. I hope I improve with each post; picking new stuff up along the way. There are a few writers I find pretty inspiring, and to reach a level of general literature would be pretty cool too. Then again, this is only a hobby! Thanks for the feedback!

5 - New Feelings Joyce’s clock buzzed quietly next to her, opening her eyes as the sleepiness quickly drained from her; her heart raced with anticipation. Slipping out of bed, she changed into a snug fitting t-shirt and pants with a similar effect for the day. First impressions for this kind of thing were important, and she wanted to look mature--but also stay comfortable when keeping up with her baby for the day. Everything had been calculated, down to the very cup she’d be drinking out of, and Joyce looked forward to every step of the way. While she and Emily both experienced their roles for the day, there was really one goal to achieve with Emily, and one only. She would, of course, ease her into things, step by step, but there was a point Joyce would be sure to reach to--truly know whether this could continue or not. She stood in front of Emily’s door; knowing that once she woke Emily up it was on her to see her through. With a deep breath, she quietly turned the knob and opened the door, seeing her peaceful little girl sleep without a worry. Joyce couldn’t help but feel devious, having known that Emily would still be asleep. She purposely kept her up late last night just to have this effect in the morning. Joyce knelt down on the carpet, knowing how heavy of a sleeper Emily was, and gently nudged her shoulder. “Emily, sweetie...it’s time to wake up…” She whispered into Emily’s ear. The girl stirred in response, still in a trance. “Honey, it’s time to wake up. We’ve got a very special day ahead of us…” “Mmmmm…” She mindlessly smirked at the noises. “Mm...nn!” Emily gave a little stretch, as her eyes finally opened to see Joyce looking back at her. “Joyce?” She mumbled. “What’re you doing in here? What…” She paused for a yawn. “ What time is it?” “Rise and shine, little one! Mommy needs to get her girl dressed for the day.” Even Joyce herself felt a bit awkward saying it at first, but her emotions and desires reaffirmed her resolve, as with each time it would only become easier and more natural. What was she talking about? Emily rolled over to stare up at the ceiling, trying to piece the situation together. “Now let’s see what we have here…” Joyce stood up, and with one hand peeled back the covers to reveal Emily’s body. She was in her button-up from the first night Joyce bought her those new clothes--which looked quite good on her, to Joyce’s mental note. “My, my! My little girl must have slept well, didn’t she? Let’s get you out of your nighttime clothes and into something more appropriate.” Emily only caught the last bit before she could feel the touch of someone edging their hands into the waistband of her pants and panties. As Joyce tugged them, Emily suddenly in protest went, “Wait...what are you doing? Hey…!” The protest was natural, Joyce reasoned in the back of her head. Joyce foresaw this as well, and it wasn’t anything outside her expectations. She knew the only way she could have Emily’s honest feelings was if she kept her out of the loop and tried to encourage her to simply just enjoy the ride. Surrender all control to her, let mommy take care of everything. Emily seemed to be catching on soon enough as well, suddenly remembering this was the day they were going to do this. But Joyce taking the initiative on her own was something she did not expect. She was surprised, yet she wasn’t denying what was happening either. “Such a fussy girl…” Joyce tutted, dismissing her adult shock as a little fit. “We’ll feel much better once we're up and wide awake!” Slowly teasing the girl, Joyce took her time sliding off everything below her waist, Emily being reminded every second of the way, as the fabric slid off her skin. And then they came off her feet; Joyce held Emily’s pants and panties in one arm while she looked over to the very exposed girl, who had already taken one hand to cover her most sacred parts for the sake of what dignity she had left. “Please give me my panties back…” Emily let out a sheepish plea, her voice choking up a bit from what seemed to be happening way too fast. She didn’t think her heart could start beating this fast so early in the morning! “Don’t worry honey…” Joyce rubbed her hand over her burning cheek. “We’ll get you sorted soon enough.” Joyce stared at the panties which used to be on Emily’s waist not even a second ago. The striped pattern that ran across the pink looked absolutely beautiful with exquisite craftsmanship. She fantasized seeing Emily clad in these, as she would walk around the apartment--but that was for another time--should it ever come. Something else should be around her waist right now; they weren’t panties. “Now let’s get that top off of you.” Joyce edged Emily closer to the bed, who was still trying to keep a hand in place from exposing her privates. Joyce paid her arm no heed, however, as she kept brushing it away; an unnecessary obstacle to getting Emily undressed. Constantly she’d try to readjust, to Joyce’s silent disapproval, until she settled by pulling a blanket over her legs instead. Meanwhile, Joyce made her way down Emily’s torso, button by button, as Emily became less and less clothed. Fighting very odd feelings of protest right now, Emily did her best to surrender to Joyce. It didn’t feel right, being undressed by someone else, yet she kept herself restrained nonetheless. Joyce noted Emily’s cooperation for the most part to be a good thing, and as the final button came undone it left her in just a bra. She’d leave that on Emily; lest she pushes her too far for one day. This time was all about taking just the right steps. “Arms up,” Joyce said as she guided Emily’s arms by pulling on the top and hanging it over her arm. “Such a good girl,” Joyce cooed further, tossing nearly all of her clothes into a hamper next to her dresser. Speaking of which… “Now let’s get you all dressed up.” Joyce pretended to look as if she were trying to decide on an outfit for Emily, when in fact she knew exactly what she was looking for; she simply wanted to add to the immersion. “Hmmm...Ah! I know!” Joyce proclaimed as she dug into one of Emily’s drawers. What did she find? Emily racked her brain, trying to think what could possibly be considered infantile in her wardrobe. Out of it, Joyce pulled a shirt, holding it by the sleeves just to give Emily a good look. The shirt was predominantly grey, and the sleeves and neck collar was pink, with a happy monkey playing on the front. Emily looked at the size, knowing full well that wouldn’t fit like her shirts normally do; unless that was her intention? And also, where had that been hiding in her drawers? “A cute shirt for my cute girl! And most importantly…” She fished into the drawers again, exploring depths Emily had clearly never known of before. But to Emily’s horror and knowing inevitability, Joyce held a large white rectangle in her hand, causing Emily’s heart to sink a little, yet skip a beat when she recognized what it was. “I need to make sure my baby is protected while we have lots of fun today,” Joyce explained in a motherly tone, taking the two articles of clothing over to the practically nude girl. Emily’s heart pounded heavily as she did her best to process such a quick chain of events. She wasn’t ready for this, but Joyce didn’t look like she intended to stop, and that made everything equally as intriguing as it was terrifying. She had to constantly remind herself that this was Joyce doing this; her only reason for agreeing to something so unimaginable to her. She was still waking up, yet from the way Joyce was acting, her sleep-induced drunkenness was switching out for something much more infantile. Soon, she would be committed to the role as soon as Joyce did what she needed to do…The final nail in the coffin--or rather, the final tape on the plastic. Joyce could see and feel the fear and uncertainty radiating off from Emily’s troubled situation. She dearly hoped those feelings would change soon enough, but she’d only know if she pressed further. She quietly cleared her throat, then proceeded. “Now let’s lie down for mommy, sweetie.” Gently, yet firmly, she used both hands and pressed on Emily’s shoulders as she eased her back, the blanket covering her falling out of reach and Joyce denying any attempts to get it back. Emily hated being so exposed, and turned her head away in shame as she felt tears sting her eyes. “There, there,” Joyce consoled. “It’ll all be over soon…” Out of sight, but not earshot, Emily could hear the crinkling noise as Joyce fanned out her new undergarment for the day. With both hands, Joyce gathered Emily’s feet together and lifted them up to Emily’s surprise, feeling more like an actual child with each step. Thighs and legs in the air, Joyce slid the white cushion underneath Emily’s bottom and slowly lowered her onto it. Emily could feel the goosebumps as she came into contact with the soft padding. It didn’t feel real, despite the obvious proof sitting between her legs. Joyce produced a bottle of baby powder and gushed a small cloud of mist as she gingerly covered Emily’s waist in sweet lavender-smelling powder. Going as far as to rub it in, Emily jumped a little out of reflex for being touched in such sensitive areas; almost feeling violated as she hated to acknowledge the strange, yet stimulating touch. Joyce paid no mind to her responses as she finished rubbing, and moved onto the closing stages as she drew the front of the diaper up and between her legs. Emily did too, as her face turned a shade of red while desperately trying to block out her senses. Next came the tapes, as one by one Joyce made sure to securely lock the four-tape diaper into place. She ran her finger through the leg waistbands (Causing Emily to jump again), and then it was done. Joyce stood back for a moment to admire the sight right now, while Emily still abashedly avoided eye contact. Joyce’s heart was gushing right now, melting at what she saw. Emily had gone so far to make this possible for Joyce, and it was living up to be everything she’d dreamed of. Joyce could have been the happiest woman in the world right now, as she was overjoyed with her new charge and loving friend. Joyce sat the girl up as she finally slipped the shirt onto Emily, hiding her bra but doing nothing to mask the white crinkly diaper secured around Emily’s waist. Emily picked up on it too, pouting how the shirt stayed just slightly above her belly button, openly hanging as the shirt was clearly not designed for the size of adults nor their curves. Seeing Emily blush was an obvious tell, but Joyce still couldn’t help but eat it up--simply too precious for words. Emily looked down at herself hesitantly. It was certainly a different look...the diaper felt much thicker than the panties she had been wearing moments ago, and made her feel very out of her element. The reminder of her helplessness refreshed some tears in her eyes. Whether this was for Joyce or not, Emily still felt troubled trying to adjust. “Okay...let’s talk.” Joyce calmly reeled back the persona, as she sat on the bed with Emily, putting an arm around her shoulder and over her waist. “Tell me, how are you feeling right now?” “I...I don’t know…” It was all Emily could say. It was so hard trying to describe the emotions she was feeling. To confine that idea of helplessness, fear, anxiety, uncertainty, safety. and thrill into words...Was there even a word for that? “Well, are you happy...sad...scared?” She rubbed Emily’s back. “I just feel so...vulnerable.” Even that didn’t feel like it did it justice. “I feel like a baby.” The irony was hard not to laugh at, but for Emily’s sake, Joyce stayed silent at that remark. “That’s the whole point, Emily. I want to take care of you so dearly like this, but I want you to enjoy it too. Yes, it must be a shock going through such a transition, but I want you to know that I will always be with you every step of the way. I want to care for you just as much, and if not, more. It’s okay to feel vulnerable when you’re like this, and in this apartment. It’s just you and me, and I would never take advantage of you.” The level of trust needed to feel like that though wasn’t easy to reach, of course, and it wasn’t something that could happen overnight. It felt better having Joyce treat her like an adult again; being able to collect herself, Emily nodding her head in response. She wanted to see what this was like and feel Joyce’s love for her as a child, yet nonetheless, it was scaring her to feel so defenseless, and naked. Never before had she ever needed to rely on someone in such a way other than when she were actually a baby. Now consciously being aware of the difference, she didn’t feel right. “I promise nothing bad will happen to you while you’re in my care. Just like with your ankle, remember? When you were hurt we made it all better? When you needed clothes, I provided, and when you needed food, I cooked. It’s nothing different now, other than both of us getting to enjoy it in a different way. It may feel scary now, but you need to give yourself a chance to enjoy today and see what it’s like.” “But the...diapers…” Emily’s voice drifted off on the last word. “Again, it’s just another thing that reminds you of how you’re in my care. I love the idea of taking care of you, and hope you can like me taking care of you too. You don’t have to think of it as making you a baby; it’s just a way you can put your trust in me to keep you comfy and safe. Besides, does it feel completely unbearable to wear one?” As much as she hated to admit it, Joyce was on some level getting through to her. Despite being thick and crinkly, the white diaper with a long strip running down the front was a bit of a cushion on the inside. It did feel soft to some degree, but not far from her high-end panties. Still, though, it was an awkward trade for comfort in exchange for being such a far cry from adulthood. And another thing she fought herself on was the wonderful smell of lavender emanating from the diaper; she couldn’t deny that it was a nice smell. And considering it as a sign of Joyce’s care was strange to process, but did offer a new perspective that slightly dampened the blow to her dignity. “Now that we’re feeling better do you want to go have some breakfast?” Breakfast did sound good right about now, and whatever they did have would likely help take her mind off of things. Emily nodded her head as she sniffled one last time, her stomach suddenly starting to feel empty. “Good, I know I could use a bite to eat right about now, too. Annnd up we go!” Joyce hoisted Emily up in the air with a sudden burst of strength she did not expect, quick to wrap her arms around Joyce’s neck and legs around her waist. She’d never actually been awake when carried by Joyce, and was surprised being able to witness the woman’s strength firsthand. Joyce supported her bottom with one hand and back with the other, and was in heaven as she carried her big baby out of the room. Wait, what about pants? “Hey, Joyce, wait!” Joyce suddenly stopped walking. “What is it, hon?” “What about...you know…my pants?” “Pants?” Joyce continued walking down the hall and into the kitchen. “Yes! Can’t I have something to wear over this?” Emily’s voice became quiet in embarrassment. She suddenly wasn’t feeling so brave when it came to referencing her underwear. “Maybe later,” Joyce reasoned. “I want you to be comfortable with being dressed as you are, and this is just about as intense as it gets.” Joyce half-lied. She could think of one more way to take things further, but she had no intention of doing such a thing to her already skeptical charge. “Please? Can’t I just have some pants, shorts, or even a skirt?” Emily begged for some kind dignity, as this wasn’t an adjustment she appreciated having to adapt to. “No means no, Emily. I’ve seen you in even fewer clothes than this; you shouldn’t feel embarrassed. I’m the only one who will see you like this, and frankly, I find you adorable!” She patted Emily’s back after that remark, unable to see Emily’s blushing face. “Now let’s stop thinking about adult things and look forward to breakfast!” Joyce pulled out a chair at the table with a cushion on it, setting Emily down onto it. Emily noticed the difference too; her bare thighs coming into contact with the warm softness that was replaced by the usually cold surfaces of the wooden chairs. Had she planned this? Emily wondered, pressing her hand against the warmed cushion. She must have, considering all the other chairs were like they’d always been: cushionless. Either way, Emily wasn’t denying the welcomed addition. Joyce hummed her usual melody as she took out various ingredients and appliances. Emily couldn’t see much as she watched in silence, only able to make out butter and eggs as Joyce stirred. “What’re you making?” Emily asked as she leaned from side to side in her chair. “That,” She hung the suspense in between her words. “is a surprise.” Joyce was becoming happier by the minute as it was beginning to feel less and less like a dream. There were a few issues with today, but assuming it all went well, they would be fixed later down the road. For example, she wanted to use a changing pad for Emily and much more appropriate diapers, but on such short notice and holding back her temptations to give Emily the complete baby treatment, she had to take things slow; even if the wait was painful. For all she knew, Emily may never want to do this again, and the thought honestly scared her. However, Joyce was too focused on simply making this one of the best experiences both she and Emily ever had. Speaking of Emily, sitting in her chair with little to do, she started to become much more attentive towards all the windows in the house now. Being dressed as she was, the glass that gave her a good look of the outside world felt so much more dangerous now; now giving the world a view of her, and her outfit. She had half a mind to crawl under a rock and die. But if Joyce had even thought to keep her seat warm, then that must mean the windows were fine to pass, right? There were certainly buildings that towered in front of every angle of the apartment, and they were in one of many homes to be seen. Putting things into perspective and realizing just how insignificant they were, her mind was put somewhat at ease; reminding herself that Joyce promised her safety and security. Joyce poured the mixed substance onto a griddle as she made four medium-sized circles just about equal in size. She dotted them with chocolate chips and flipped them over once one side had been cooked enough. Once the other side finished, she unloaded two onto each plate, one for her and Emily. With a knife, she buttered all four and took care to cut up all of the fluffy cakes on one plate, then apply just the right amount of syrup to the both of them. Satisfied with her work, she carried both plates to the table. “Ta-da!” Joyce cheered, as she placed a plate in front of Emily and then herself. She turned on the coffee maker as she grabbed napkins and silverware for the two, a fork and knife for herself, but just a fork for Emily. “Pancakes?” Emily looked down at her plate as she could feel herself begin to salivate. Joyce was truly a godsend from the kitchen heavens, as her food never failed to impress the eyes or taste buds. She had tried cooking for Joyce before during the week, as a sign of thanks; but it never turned out nearly as well with the practice and skill Joyce already had. She’d really need to get a few pointers from her... “We should start off the day with something delicious to get our big day started!” Joyce set out the utensils as the coffee maker finished doing its business. Emily noticed she was only given a fork, but decided not to protest, seeing as her meal was already cut up for her. She knew what Joyce was trying to go for, and didn’t not appreciate her kind gesture. Emily didn’t hesitate, as she already taking her first bite. It was as spectacular like all of her cooking was. The syrupy goodness blended so well with the bite of pancake that revealed a warm chocolate chip which melted on her tongue. Taking in every last bit of taste, she hurriedly moved onto the next bite. Joyce stared at her little girl as she poured their drinks, a bit disappointed in how she saw Emily sit in the regular chair. There was so much more she wanted to do for Emily, and she couldn’t chase the feeling away. Had it been Joyce’s way, Emily would at the very least be wearing a bib right now, if not also securely in a highchair. What were once fantasies, now felt like genuine possibilities with Emily. Joyce wanted to experience so much with her, but was afraid to break Emily with the pressures of unloading years of pent-up “mommying,” all at once. Slowly she would appease her own emotions, but Emily’s always came first. Joyce set her mug of coffee on the table while she gave Emily her’s, which was specially prepared. Emily eyed the cup as well, seeing it wasn’t ordinary. It was one of the cups she’d used in the house before, but now there was a rubber cap covering the opening, as there was a small top to drink out of. Almost like a sippy cup. Was it? Through the translucent plastic she could see a light brown substance, almost like chocolate milk. Curiously, she lifted the cup and took a sip, better put, sucked on the rubber top, to be rewarded with a stream of deliciousness. It was her kind of coffee that taste like it had been mixed with a generous amount of milk; a perfect balance between caffeine and a drink much more expected of someone substantially younger. She had been expecting something much more infantile, though, but was happy Joyce was making an effort to keep her feelings in mind, too. “Do you like your drink, honey?” Joyce asked as she sipped some of her own coffee, cutting a piece of pancake. “Mhm!” Emily mumbled through her chewing mouth, already eating more pancake. “Perfect. Only the best for my special girl.” Joyce happily cooed as they continued their meal. Emily was reluctant to drink from the cup at first, but she could stomach the embarrassment, knowing that this was what Joyce wanted, and probably the best she was going to get. With how Joyce had been describing it, this almost came off as a compromise. Did she have a bottle lying around somewhere, and decided against using it? Whatever the case may be, she considered it a blessing counted. It didn’t take long to get the hang of drinking from the pseudo-sippy cup, either; getting it down before she’d sucked it dry. Emily scooched her chair out from the table to get some more, walking over to the counter. “Oh, what are you up to over here?” Joyce was already behind the girl. “I was just refilling my drink.” Emily nonchalantly spoke, in the back of her head, wondering why Joyce would feel the need to ask. “Then don’t worry honey,” Joyce easily plucked the cup from her hand. “All you need to do is ask. Let me take care of it. You go finish your pancakes, okay?” “Okay…” Was all Emily could say, as she took her seat with the sound of a crinkle. She had almost forgot she was wearing a diaper, and wasn’t happy for being reminded. And it was weird, exploring her limits as Joyce’s...baby. The word felt so weird when referring to herself. Had she done something wrong by getting her own drink? Just how much did Joyce want to do for her? Emily was swirling in thoughts; the exact opposite of what Joyce wanted for her. “Here you go,” Joyce set down the refilled drink in front of Emily while she took the last bites of her food. “Just let me know if you want anything else.” “Thank you.” Emily said as she took a sip from her cup to finish off the morning’s breakfast. Joyce with the liberty of cutting larger pieces, finished a bit before Emily, and was just checking her tablet for any unforeseen work updates; not that anything would or could come between her and Emily today. She set her tablet down and gathered their plates, walking over to the sink and rinsing them. She set them aside and took out a washcloth next, wetting only part of it as she walked over to Emily. “You got a little bit of syrup on your mouth, sweetie.” Joyce was more than obliged to assist, taking hold of Emily’s chin while she wiped her mouth clean. Again a strange experience for Emily, she was thankful nonetheless. As the cold washcloth ran over her face, she needed to remind herself that it was okay to surrender like this; she let Joyce do her thing. Her face clean, Joyce left the washcloth on the counter while she lifted Emily again and moved her into the living room. Not seeing it before when they first walked through, there was a large quilt set up on the floor in front of the couch. It was decorated in ABC block designs on a powder blue background, and made for a better seat than the hardwood floor. As Joyce lowered her, it gave Emily a leveled view of what was on top of it: toys. There were a couple of things Emily recognized off the bat, like a toy ball, a speak-and-say, and a thick children’s book; very simple stuff. Her mind would vegetate if she were to mess around with the latter two as she were right now, and could only consider the possibility of being entertained by the ball for a short while. However, some of the other things she couldn’t recognize were things that maybe could occupy her for a bit longer. All different in shape and size, they all seemed to be logic puzzles varying in challenge and likely difficulty. Joyce could see her plan had worked to get some more “advanced” toys for Emily. Of course, it would be cute to see her use some of the more babyish things, but she knew she wouldn’t be very captivated with those few toys. Just because Emily was her baby didn’t mean she had the mind of one. Emily without paying too much mind to Joyce already started tinkering with one of the puzzles, a bit surprised by it’s genuine difficulty. Joyce was happy to see Emily engaging on her own without having to be pointed in the right direction, but also disappointed when looking at the quilt which Emily’s padded bottom sat on. Joyce wasn’t particularly a fan for superficial things. Whenever she needed something she could simply buy the correct item; she had earned the ability after all, and to resort to so many repurposed items for Emily was a terrible feeling. She wanted all the bells and whistles, and only the best of the best that was meant for exactly what she wanted to do. She wanted the best for her girl--her baby, but Emily seemed content, and that was enough to set aside her little peeves. Joyce flicked on the tv for some background noise while she joined Emily. She was tinkering with a puzzle shaped like a disc; three metal parts connected to look seemingly woven together, but they were supposed to detach, and Emily was trying to figure out exactly how she’d accomplish that. “Oooh that’s a tough one, isn’t it?” Joyce encouraged while on her knees, more than a head taller than her compared to the way Emily sat. “Mhm…” Was all Emily could say, busy trying to figure it out. She always loved puzzles, but at moments couldn’t be the best at them. This was one of those times. Emily openly sighed as she gave the puzzle another work-over, feeling as if she’d already tried every angle to pull them apart for the past ten minutes. “Here, how about we try it together?” Joyce suggested, as she repositioned herself. She stood up to move behind Emily, and sat in such a way where Emily was in between her legs, as if they were going down a slide together. As if Joyce were the back of a chair, Emily leaned slightly back while she used Joyce as a cushion to support her. Absolutely loving it, Joyce accepted the puzzle from Emily’s hands and began to work on it in front of her. This...didn’t feel so bad, Emily reasoned as she laid into Joyce. It almost felt like any other night when they sat on the couch together, but maybe a bit more intimate in some way? She always enjoyed the feeling of being with Joyce in some form, and that was no different even now. Maybe in a diaper, and sitting on a playmat, but it was still with Joyce. And she didn’t feel belittled by the puzzle either, as it really was challenging. Joyce may have been treating her like a baby, but she did it in a way where Emily didn’t feel mindless like she had expected. Yet she couldn’t understand why Joyce wanted this so badly? Emily did the like idea of being close to Joyce, but she had yet to see the charm in the approach they were taking. “And if I have it correct, I think it should go...like...this!” In just a minute or two, Joyce successfully unlatched the pieces, which then fell into Emily’s lap--her diapered lap, rather. Emily still wasn’t too thrilled about her new underwear, but there were the perks to it she acknowledged from earlier. Trying not to pay mind to it, she collected the pieces and was already fiddling with them, now trying to do the opposite of what Joyce had done. “How were you able to do that?” Emily questioned, already trying to fit them into their awkward sockets. “What you need to do is twist and pull.” Joyce explained while she watched Emily, stroking her hair. “Yeah, but, how do you put it back together?” Emily aimlessly tried any combination to get them to fit into place, relaxing to the hand running through her hair. Now she wanted it back in one piece to try Joyce’s method. She held the puzzle up, as if a gesture for Joyce to solve it for her. “I can’t give you all the answers, silly! That would ruin the fun, wouldn’t it?” There was some truth to this statement, but Joyce wanted these toys to last until she could acquire some more if this wouldn’t be the last day they did this. And if Joyce was reading the situation correctly, that may just be the case... Emily sulked a bit as she started fiddling with it again, wishing for the instant gratification of Joyce showing her how to solve it. But next as if Joyce had read her mind, she produced the cup containing her favorite drink from breakfast. Emily happily took it and set the puzzle aside to take a swig of the caffeinated beverage. It was already half empty, but she tilted her head back further and further to get every drop; Joyce’s bosom serving as a pillow to support her efforts. “Thank you,” Emily said as she instinctively wiped her mouth with her hand, finding it to be dry. Then she remembered she was drinking from a sippy cup. Normally, she’d get the stuff on her mouth while sipping if she wasn’t careful, but this rubber cap prevented that from happening. In its own way it was kind of a perk, Emily figured. “Could I have some more please?” Emily asked, trying to look up at Joyce’s face by turning her head. “Why don’t we try some juice instead?” Joyce suggested, taking her cup and standing up. “Why juice?” Emily questioned, not particularly thrilled to be denied her special drink. “Because, you shouldn’t be drinking caffeine all day. That’s for the morning to wake you up.” Joyce explained. She appreciated that Emily liked the drink she made for her, but she didn’t want to make that her exclusive beverage. As Joyce walked away, Emily could already feel herself kind of missing her personal backrest. She messed around with the puzzle some more, but was ultimately getting nowhere. There was no way she would be able to beat that dumb puzzle. Joyce popped off the rubber cover and washed the cup out before refilling it with apple juice from the fridge. Apple juice was one of Joyce’s particular favorites apart from water, coffee and wine. She hoped the same would go for Emily too. Joyce put the cover back on as she walked back into the living room. She felt bad in a way, as she took her seat with Emily again, as if she were tricking her. Emily probably hadn’t thought about it yet, but Joyce wouldn’t object to keeping her hydrated--rather encourage it. The inevitable would happen soon enough, and then they could put one of the hardest steps behind them. “Thank you,” Emily said as she accepted the drink from Joyce, giving it a taste. She could tell it was apple juice, and it was pretty good. She very much liked her coffee-milk, but this was an acceptable substitute, she supposed. Emily grabbed a new puzzle while she turned her gaze to the tv, and Joyce shifted them over to the couch as the more comfortable option. Joyce encased her as they laid there, absolutely at peace as everything in the world felt right. Emily watched the show with Joyce while she occasionally tinkered with the puzzle, paused by taking a sip from her juice, while sitting in Joyce’s arms feeling safe and secure. “So how are you feeling now?” Joyce broke the silence, wanting to check back in with the adult Emily once more. “Better. compared to this morning.” Emily admitted. “Everything you’ve done for me I can’t appreciate enough. Minus the diaper and clothes, this doesn’t seem too different than normal. I..” Emily started to blush. “I like it when we’re together like this…” Joyce was overjoyed to hear such words as she gave Emily a little squeeze. “I like it, too.” “What about you? How are you doing?” “Emily,” She sighed. “I can’t thank you enough for this. I feel closer than I ever have before, and am loving every second of our time together. Doing this for me makes me the happiest woman in the world. All I’ve ever wanted is a little girl to watch over and care for, and you allowing me to do that makes you the most important person to me right now.” “You...you mean it?” Emily wasn’t sure why she was asking, nor why her heart’s pace started to pick up, and begin to flutter. “Absolutely and wholeheartedly.” While Joyce couldn’t see, a small smile crept over Emily’s face as she found herself soaking in the moment. She wasn’t sure how she would react to becoming a baby like this, but the love Joyce gave her made it worth every second, and started to make it more than bearable; actually enjoyable. The two laid there after many juice refills for a few hours or so, until the clock had just about crept up on two. Joyce had been paying attention, as she flicked off the tv and gathered Emily in her arms. “Wait, what? Where are we going?” Emily asked, just in the middle of watching something. “It’s naptime, sweetie.” Joyce gave her a light bounce as they walked down the hall. “But I’m not tired.” Emily retorted as they entered her room, trying not to say the most cliché thing any kid in her position would. “Don’t you always take naps during the day, though? When you wait for me to come home?” Joyce had a point, but those weren’t until later. It was still about an hour before those even entered the realm of possibility. “Yeah, but, those aren’t until later.” “Then let’s get you into the habit for this time then. Soon enough you won’t even feel the difference.” Joyce explained as she set Emily down on her bed. “Do you want the shades open or closed?” She asked while pulling a blanket over Emily. “Could you leave them a little open?” Emily asked. She wanted to leave a sliver of light in, just to remind her that it was still daytime. “Sure,” Joyce said, doing exactly as she requested. “Now try to get some shuteye. I’ll come back to wake you up in a few hours, okay?” “Mhm.” Emily nodded as she was authoritatively ordered to sleep. That was about how long she napped for normally, but it felt different being told to. “Perfect. Sleep well, my princess.” Joyce cooed, as she lightly kissed the top of Emily’s forehead. Emily’s cheeks burned as Joyce quietly shut the door, now alone with her thoughts. Making a deep sigh, she reflected on the day’s events thus far, rolling over on her side. While she couldn’t fully comprehend what Joyce was getting out of this, Emily’s own enjoyment was starting to grow on her. Being treated like an infant was different, but she felt closer to Joyce than she had ever before. Up until now when they were together Joyce still always cared for Emily, just to a much lesser extent. It’s as if by intensifying the level of maternal instinct Joyce had for her, so did their bond, and the feelings she felt from it. She loved being with her like this; being cared for--the center of Joyce’s attention. It was unusual, thinking so selfishly, but it felt good to feel that way, because she knew Joyce felt the same too. Yet again though, Emily had trouble placing her feelings for Joyce. Was this love? The idea kind of scared Emily. She liked men...but was it possible she liked women too? No, no, maybe that’s not it. She didn’t like women in that way; she simply liked Joyce. She always felt like a mother figure to her; just on a more intimate level. Whatever they had between them right now was perfect. Nothing less, and nothing more. Satisfied with her emotional conclusion, Emily closed her eyes, and could feel herself working her way into her usual nap routine. Emily opened her eyes sometime later, in the partial darkness of her room, minus the light from outside. She quickly got to the bottom of what woke her up; feeling pressure in her bladder. Oh crap, no, please no! Emily hopped out of bed and crinkled her way to the door. Why did this have to happen? Being Joyce’s baby may be fun, but this part certainly wasn’t as well-received. She made a beeline for the bathroom like years of routine would command; twisting the handle to only have it jiggle in resistance. “No, no, no! Please!” Emily jiggled the handle further, having no idea why the bathroom was locked. Joyce! She needed to find Joyce. Quickly she opened the door to her room, finding it untouched and empty. She looked in the living room and then the kitchen, finding no one. This was bad! Where had she gone? Did she leave her? The worst of her fears were bringing on tears, as she paced around, unsure of what to do as her bladder ached more. Why did she have to drink so much juice? Why did Joyce let her drink so much? Ugh! This was so frustrating! Out of instinct, she wanted to take off the diaper, but unless she got into the bathroom, what’d be the point in taking the thing off? “Joyce…” Emily sobbed as she sat on the couch. “Emily? What are you doing up?” The missing figure had suddenly appeared. “You should still be…” Joyce trailed off as she took off her glasses. Emily looked at her in tears with a posture overwhelmed by stress. “I thought you left…” Emily sobbed, afraid of being left in such a dire situation and attire. “Of course I’d never leave you!” Joyce gave her a hug. “Is that why you’re so upset?” “No…” Emily whined. “I need to pee…” So that’s what it was...Joyce sighed as she pulled Emily into her lap on the couch. “Shhh...shhh...It’s okay, Emily.” “But I need to use the bathroom!” “Then let it go,” Joyce cooed into Emily’s ear. “Mommy’s here, there’s no reason to be scared.” “Please Joyce, I’m not joking, I need to go!” “I know you do sweetheart,” She locked eyes with her. “Which is why I want you to go right now.” Go!? Did she mean in her diaper? Emily knew she agreed to this, but saying and doing were different things! “Please! Don’t make me do this.” Emily started to plea and sob again, as she was fighting Joyce’s grip. Joyce didn’t feel great; forcing Emily to pee herself. But she’d need to do it at least once to know what it feels like. She wanted to push Emily at least that far before the day was over. This was it; the big moment. “Just relax. Instead of holding it back, give it a niiice...biiig...push.” She cooed into Emily’s ear, doing her best to calm her down. Emily’s body was rejecting everything Joyce tried to coax. It felt wrong, and she didn’t want to do something she hadn’t done in decades! “I can’t,” Emily begged between her sobs. “Please let me use the toilet!” “I know honey, it’s hard. Let mommy help you, okay?” “No! Please don’t!” Emily struggled as she knew what was to come. Her urge to pee was growing ever stronger and she did not want to do this in a diaper. Anything but that! This wasn’t right; she couldn’t do this! Emily’s fears only grew as the pressure built. Joyce couldn’t really want this! She’d be disgusted with her! With one arm still securing Emily, Joyce took her free hand and slowly rubbed her abdomen in a gyrating motion, applying a firm amount of pressure. “Please stop!” Emily was crying as Joyce pressed further, making the urge even stronger. Slowly she was reaching her literal bursting point. Joyce started to hum in Emily’s ear, as her struggling rapidly declined as it was already too late. Emily could feel a rush of pee escape her as it quickly broke out into a steady flow as if she were on a toilet. Only she wasn’t. She was in another woman’s lap. She tried to hold it back, but it was a losing battle, as once she started it was impossible to stop. The warm liquid crept up and down her front and all the way to her bottom. She cried freely as she thoroughly wet the diaper, her diaper. Joyce’s restraint turned into comfort as she stroked her hair and gave her a hug. The tenseness in her muscles had completely dissipated; too emotionally drained to bother moving. Not that she had anywhere to go anymore... “You did very well my good girl.” Joyce consoled the crying Emily. The stream stifled off into a few drops and then nothing. Emily couldn’t emotionally control herself, as she felt hot from her emotions and warm from the now used diaper. She could see the discoloration in the once white underwear as the strip had turned from yellow to blue. The initial shock had ruined her completely; this was too strange for her… “Good girl, Emily. I’m so proud of you! You’re my big strong girl...There, there…” She was...rewarding her? What Emily considered to be shameful and disgusting, was praise-worthy and delightful to Joyce. She was too confused right now, for betraying her body’s hardwired instincts and yet feeling the praise from her carer made everything seem okay. “You don’t...hate me?” Emily managed to hiccup through her tears. “Hate you? How could I ever hate my sweet Emily?” Joyce tightened her hug. “I want you to feel happy and safe; know that I will always love and care for you no matter what! I expect you to wet your diaper. I know it feels unnatural at first, but you took the first step, and it becomes easier every time…” Emily didn’t know how to feel about that, but there was comfort in knowing she had Joyce to lean on. Her diaper felt wet and squishy as she shifted, it was certainly a strange feeling on its own, but knowing that her urine was the culprit certainly didn’t help. “I feel gross…” Emily whined; she wanted to be out of this immediately. “That’s okay honey...it’s normal to feel that way at first. You haven’t done this in a long time, haven’t you?” “No…” “That’s right. But it’s all about rediscovering those feelings of being okay in a wet diaper. But, I want you to know that I love you all the same; no matter what. I don’t want you to feel embarrassed or ashamed when these sorts of things happen. They’re expected of you, and you should feel the same.” Emily still cried as she sorted through her feelings. Joyce was her emotional crutch right now as her world had just been turned upside down. But Joyce said it was okay...so she should feel alright… “I just want these feelings to go away…” Emily sobbed further as she turned in Joyce’s lap and cried into her shoulder. “I can help you feel better honey...would you like me to try something?” “Mhmm.” Emily mumbled from her shoulder; anything to make this situation feel good, or at least alleviate it in some way. “Mommy can teach you how to like wet diapers…” Joyce whispered into Emily’s ear; even feeling a bit apprehensive herself about what she was going to do. Like them? How could she do that? With one hand, Joyce cupped the front of Emily’s diaper as she slowly started to rub, up and down. Emily could feel the wet friction against her most sensitive parts as Joyce started to move her hand, up and down. “Joyce…? What’re you...doing?” She pulled from Joyce’s shoulder slightly, feeling a bit of stimulation in her nether regions. “Shhh, I’m making all the bad feelings go away. You did so well for me that you deserve a reward.” Joyce eased Emily’s head back towards her, slowly increasing the pressure and pace. “Joyce…” Emily started to take more breaths; starting to feel something...good. “Doesn’t it feel nice? Rubbing your diaper?” “No…” The shameful, yet aroused look on her face said differently, though. “Y...yes…” Emily was starting to pant a bit from the action Joyce was giving her. She wanted to say no after going through something so traumatizing, but she couldn’t help but embrace this rush of wonderfulness Joyce was creating. “I’m here to take care of you in every way…” Joyce said as she continued to rub. She didn’t know if this was the right thing to be doing, but she wanted to alleviate the pain Emily was feeling, somehow. Emily had put so much trust into her, she had to take her every step of the way. She could feel Emily start to tighten her grip on her body. Emily didn’t want her to stop...It felt so amazing, yet she felt so...naughty. What should be so embarrassing, Joyce helped her derive pleasure from. Was this right? Joyce said it was, so it had to be. Wasn’t that all that mattered? “You’re a good girl, Emily. I want to make you feel happy and to let you enjoy yourself when you’re in my care. It’s okay to feel this way, and to feel any other emotions when you’re with me. You’re my baby, and it’s my job to take care of you; I want to care for you. You don’t have to feel scared or embarrassed when you’re with me. I love you for who you are and will always, no matter what you do.” Emily couldn’t take it anymore. She started to moan and bury her face in Joyce’s shoulder. She simply clutched tightly as she let Joyce do all the work. She started to cry again as she reached an internal conflict. Her mind raced a mile a minute as Joyce rubbed more and faster. Finally, it stimulated her in just the right way, she reached her climax and felt a wave of pleasure wash over her body. Instantly she grew limp, the only thing supporting her being Joyce. Tears ran down her eyes as the sexual pleasure was overwhelming; shaking from the excitement. “You’ve done so well Emily…Such a good, good, girl.” Joyce now hugged Emily; happy to see Emily had truly felt pleasure. Emily knew she did something so embarrassing...but she felt so amazing right now. Her wet diaper was a thing of the past as she had now gone in it both ways, and it felt great. Being Joyce’s baby wasn’t so bad...Even at such an all-time low, Joyce made it feel amazing… “C-Can you...change me?” Emily said in a weak voice as she panted. “Of course, honey.” Joyce wasted no time taking her back to her room, laying Emily down, who was too tired to stir or really move. Up until now, she had the energy to move if Joyce didn’t guide her, yet feeling so drained now as Joyce did what she’d always done, Emily now knew what it was like to be cared for. She only had complete trust for someone who only made her feel such good things so often. She never knew what it could feel like to give someone else complete control; to be so submissive. It was scary--losing control, yet it felt so great to be guided by someone she trusted so much. Beyond her orgasm, Joyce created a whole new sense of feeling for her. This newfound pleasure Emily felt wasn’t sexual...it was simply being under Joyce’s absolute care... Emily felt a cool rush of air as the diaper was untaped and discarded, feeling the cool wipe guided by Joyce’s hand wash her clean. “Do you want to go back into panties, Emily?” Joyce asked, already accomplishing her goal for the day; not wanting to press her any further. “Yes please…” Emily spoke, still physically tapped; still shaken up. Emily looked to be in a state of pure bliss, as Joyce snaked a pair of panties up between her legs. Today had been a good day; turning out even better than Joyce expected. She slipped the monkey shirt off of Emily, even unclasping her bra and putting a new one on, met with little resistance from Emily. Joyce grabbed her some shorts and a T-shirt and dressed her in them as well, guiding the girl back to the couch as she came to her senses. Sitting down, Joyce asked: “So...how do you feel?” Emily looked as if she were about to cry again. “Amazing.”

Haha, sorry about that! I'm slowly going through the older parts and am adding any sort of revisions I think should be made. For the first chunk of the story that you see here, it's gonna be cleaned up grammatically in certain areas compared to my other spot; you may not even notice. Slowly but surely!