Another Foster (Private)

[justagirl4fun]

"There's no pool, no swimming. It's just a sprinkler," Alex assured Kaley. "You can try it if you want to, but you don't have to. We can just play outside."

Once Rocky had her swimsuit on she ran outside. Sarah was still setting up so she went over to the mud puddles from the day before. Most of the water had soaked into the ground or evaporated, but there was still some mud there. She stood in it, enjoying the way the cool mud felt on her feet but careful not to get her new swimsuit dirty.

[Shy-Diapers]

Kaley nodded hesitantly. “Just play” she echoed nervously. She was scared of the idea of playing in the water or there being a pool, but decided to trust Alex. She set her animals down carefully and stood up. “Mouse?” She asked hoping she’d be allowed to bring her beloved plush outside with her. 
 

“Rocky! Didn’t you hear Daddy? Kaley was going to wear that swimsuit.” Sarah sighed as she finished setting up the toy. “Go put your old one on please.”

[justagirl4fun]

Rocky's plan was instantly forgotten. "Why?" she protested. "It's mine! I didn't even get to wear it yet! She can't keep havin' all my stuff!"

"Mouse can come, but I think he better stay on the porch and watch," Alex said, not wanting to see what drama might unfold if the stuffed animal had to take a trip through the washer and dryer.

[Shy-Diapers]

Sarah sighed. “She’s just going to borrow it.” She said trying not to lose her temper. “Your old bathing suit still fits and Kaley doesn’t have a bathing suit.” 

Kaley frowned but nodded. She didn’t want to leave her on the porch, but didn’t want to get in trouble either. She grabbed her mouse from upstairs and followed Alex outside. She sad on the porch with her mouse for now, staring at Rocky and the splash pad intently. 

[justagirl4fun]

Rocky stormed past Alex and Kaley, stomped upstairs, and found her old swimsuit. It was from two years ago, a sky blue tank with the faces of the Seseme Street characters. She was a big girl now, she didn't even watch that show any more! The new one was so much better - the bottoms were black with a neon green stripe down each side, while the sports bra-style top was neon rainbow striped. She even had neon rainbow sandals to match! Hot tears streamed down her face as she squeezed into it. It did fit, technically, but she could feel the straps digging into her shoulders and the back riding up. Coming back outside she threw the new one in Kaley's direction. "Don't ruin it!" she barked, stopping just short of what might be considered yelling.

[Shy-Diapers]

Kaley was caught off guard when Rocky threw the swimsuit at her. After a moment of shock she quickly started shaking her head, throwing it off of her and scooting backwards from where she was sitting. Alex had told her she didn’t have to go in the water! She certainly didn’t want to put on a bathing suit. She leaned against the wall and kept a careful eye on everyone and the water, clearly scared and anxious. 
 

“Raquel! That was not nice.” Sarah scolded. She didn’t take it further than that though, not wanting to push it too hard. At least she was talking and doing things herself again she thought.

[justagirl4fun]

"Well this swimsuit isn't nice!" Rocky cried as she tugged at the straps. It wasn't tight enough to be painful, exactly, but with her sensory issues it was definitely unpleasant. 

Alex closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. He wanted to cut his daughter some slack, as he had promised, but she was making it so hard. When he opened his eyes he saw how nervous Kaley was and rubbed her back soothingly, though he assumed she was upset because of Rocky, not that she didn't want to play in the splash pad. "Hey, it's okay. Let's get changed, and if she doesn't play nice she can go to her room, okay?"

 

[Shy-Diapers]

Sarah sighed and rubbed her temples. Let it go Sarah. Just let it go. She told herself in her head. “The splash pad is all ready to go!” She said in a forced cheery voice. 
 

Kaley jumped when Alex rubbed her back. Hearing that she was supposed to go change gave her pause, then it dawned on her. He wanted her to change into the bathing suit. She felt tears well up in her eyes and she quickly shook her head, scooting away nervously. She carefully eyed Alex, wanting to trust him but how could she do that if he wanted her to change into a swimsuit and play in the water?

[justagirl4fun]

Rocky just wanted to have fun, but it was so hard when it seemed like everyone was against her. If she didn't talk, she was told to use her words. If she did use her words, she was told she wasn't nice. She couldn't win! She sat in the middle of the splash pad, but found it hard to enjoy herself when she could tell everyone was mad at her.

"Kaley, what's wrong? Do you want to wait til Rocky's done, and you can play by yourself?" he asked, thinking she just didn't want to play with Rocky. 

[Shy-Diapers]

“No!” Kaley cried when Alex pushed the subject. She was terrified and was not happy that Alex wanted her to play in the water so badly. That was bad news in her mind. She got up and bolted, running and trying to hide under the treehouse type play structure. She wanted to climb up and hide on top of it but didn’t want to risk trying a ladder for the first time. She backed into a corner and sat clutching her mouse, ignoring what Alex said about the plush staying on the porch, being more preoccupied with watching everyone and making sure she didn’t go near the water. 

[justagirl4fun]

Rocky rolled her eyes as Alex went after Kaley. As far as she was concerned the dumb girl could just run away and that would be just fine. She splashed at her a little as she passed by.

"Kaley, why are you so upset?" Alex asked. 

[Shy-Diapers]

Kaley cried even more when Rocky splashed the water at her. “NO!” She shrieked. She shook her head and watched Alex as he approached her. She was trembling and terrified. She didn’t want to go in the water and Alex had told her she didn’t have to! But now suddenly he was trying to get her to go in and wear a bathing suit! After years of mistreatment and bad things happening to her under her father’s care, she had grown to link bathing suits and water play with scary things. She had no idea how to tell anyone and she had tried earlier but now Alex was trying to make her!

[justagirl4fun]

Alex reached over and slapped Rocky across the face. Promise or no promise, he'd had enough of her antagonizing Kaley. "Knock it off," he ordered before following after Kaley again. "Kaley, it's okay. You don't have to go in the water. Calm down." He was truly baffled that the girl was freaking out so bad over a dinky little splash pad when she didn't even put up a fight when he put her in the tub, which certainly held a lot more water.

Rocky just sat and cried. First she got yelled at to change into this stupid old swimsuit when the brat wouldn't even wear her new one, and then Alex actually hit her over a little splash of water that didn't even hurt anyone? None of it seemed fair.

[Shy-Diapers]

“Alex what the hell?!” Sarah yelled in shock. Grabbing Rocky by the arm was one thing and bad enough, this was a whole new level. She ran over to Rocky and picked her up, ignoring that she got soaked in the process. She knew it was mean of her to splash at Kaley, but that didn’t compare to her husband slapping her. “It’s okay baby.” She comforted. “Do you wanna go back inside or stay out here?”

Kaley watched wide eyed as Alex slapped Rocky. Any fear she had was instantly multiplied. “No hit!” She cried, cowering when Alex came close to her. If Alex got mad and hit Rocky, what’s to stop him from getting mad and hitting her? She always seemed to make her father mad why wouldn’t she make Alex mad too?

[justagirl4fun]

"Inside," Rocky cried into her mother's shoulder. Never mind that she had played in the water for less time than it took Sarah to set the thing up - between the too-small swimsuit that was currently giving her a major wedgie and Alex hitting her, she was over it.

Alex suddenly felt guilty for striking his daughter, if only because it scared Kaley. "No, no,no, I'm not going to hit you, I promise. You're a good girl, I will never hit you."

[Shy-Diapers]

Sarah paused only to bend down and turn off the hose before heading inside. She took her own and her daughter’s shoes off, grabbing a towel and wrapping her in it. She carried Rocky to to her bedroom and sat on the girl’s bed, rocking her and trying to comfort her. “It’ll be okay baby. It’s okay.” She repeated, trying to believe it herself. She was still in shock that Alex had done such a thing. 
 

Kaley was full on sobbing at this point. She didn’t know what to do. Alex was supposed to be the person who was kind and trustworthy, but now she was all sorts of scared and confused. “No hit” she repeated, not knowing how to describe anything going through her mind right now. “Did hit” she choked out, her sobs getting harder, completely oblivious to the fact she had started having an accident from being so scared. 

[justagirl4fun]

Rocky just shook her head and popped a thumb in her mouth, trying to calm down. It wasn't okay, nothing was okay any more. He hadn't hit her that hard, but even with the way he'd been acting since Kaley's arrival she had never expected him to hit her at all. 

"I know, I did hit Rocky. I shouldn't have done that and I'm sorry I scared you," Alex apologized. "but I promise I will never, ever hit you. Ever." He wanted to hug her but worried he would just scare her even more at this point.

[Shy-Diapers]

“Do you wanna get some dry clothes on?” Sarah offered gently, figuring a cold bathing suit wasn’t going to help the girl’s mood whatsoever. 
 

“No hit.” Kaley repeated. She couldn’t help herself and reached out and attached herself to Alex, unaware of her accident. She hadn’t ever had as much affection as she’d had the past few days and now that she was so scared she craved it even more than when she arrived. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest, still sobbing and shaking, her mouse still in a death grip. 

[justagirl4fun]

Rocky nodded and started tugging at the swimsuit. Once it was off she selected a pair of soft fleece shorts and a hoodie. Even though it was too warm for such clothing she found the soft fabric comforting.

Alex hugged Kaley, realizing after a moment that she'd wet herself. "Okay, let's go get changed," he said and carried her to her room to pick out something to wear.

[Shy-Diapers]

Sarah helped Rocky get dressed into her selected clothes, pulling her back up into her lap after. “Do you wanna read a book or play something” She offered once the girl seemed a little calmer. 
 

Kaley started panicking when Alex mentioned changing, scared he meant into a swimsuit. Once she was in her room and away from the water and bathing suits, she was calmer. She picked out a pink short sleeved dress with white hearts all over it. She eyed Alex the entire time she was getting changed and cleaned up. Once she was clean and in fresh clothes, she clung to Alex, hiding her face in his leg. “Dog?” She asked meekly, wanting an easy distraction. 

[justagirl4fun]

"Can we watch a soccer game," Rocky asked, just wanting to sit on the couch and snuggle?"

"You want to watch Bluey? We can do that." Alex scooped Kaley up and headed back downstairs. He got settled on the couch and found the episode she'd left off at the night before.

[Shy-Diapers]

Kaley curled up with her mouse and quilt, leaning against Alex and staring intently. Her mind was still racing and she was occasionally looking up at Alex to make sure nothing would happen. She wanted to trust him, but between the bathing suit and seeing him hit Rocky, she had her reservations. 
 

Sarah nodded and scooped her daughter up. “Let’s go see.” She said, being careful not to make promises. When they got downstairs, Sarah noticed Alex and Kaley watching TV. She sighed and looked at them. “Can we use the tablet? We’ll give it back if Kaley needs to talk.” She reasoned, hoping it would cause the fewest meltdowns possible. 

[justagirl4fun]

Alex stroked Kaley's hair soothingly. "It's okay, just relax." He turned when he heard his wife's voice. His first instinct was to say no - after all, he had told Rocky she wouldn't be using the tablet any time soon - but he didn't have much of a leg to stand on after his actions that morning. "I guess so. But only for a little while."

[Shy-Diapers]

Kaley kept her focus on the TV, slowly starting to relax more as Alex stroked her hair and talked kindly to her. Maybe she could trust him again. She started sucking on the corner of her quilt again for the first time in a few days, needing the extra comfort. 
 

Sarah nodded and grabbed the tablet from the coffee table and headed upstairs to Ricky’s room with it. “I know it’s not the TV, but we can still watch the game on here.” She said in a cheerful but soft voice. 

[justagirl4fun]

Alex got up and found the pink chewy tube for Kaley. The thought of her chewing on the corner of that quilt that got dragged everywhere just grossed him out.

Rocky was a little torn...the tablet was finally back in her hands, but soccer was so much better on the big screen - and it was Kaley's fault she couldn't watch it. Stupid Kaley. But arguing was futile with Alex around, so she accepted the tablet, found the streaming service that aired the games, and scrolled through until she found a replay of a match she hadn't watched yet.