Kaylee was startled awake, her breath catching in her throat as a strange sense of wrongness settled over her.

Her limbs felt heavy, her head clouded, her body not quite right. She groaned softly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she sat in the crib. The soft rustling of plastic filled the air as she shifted—familiar, but off.

Her body felt different.

She glanced down at herself, expecting to see the same thick diaper she had grown accustomed to wearing over the last few days.

Instead—

Her eyes widened.

The diaper was stretched, its tapes straining against her hips, the normally snug fit now warping, barely clinging on.

Her heart pounded as she sat up more fully, her movements causing the delicate balance to fail—with a soft rip, one of the tapes gave out, and the swollen diaper drooped, barely hanging on to her waist.

"What the—"

Kaylee blinked.

The room felt… smaller.

Not drastically so, but enough that she noticed. The crib bars didn’t seem quite as tall. The space between the mattress and the railing wasn’t quite as imposing.

Her breath hitched.

The serum.

Her fingers twitched, reaching up, running over her arms, stomach, and legs—they felt stronger. More defined. Not Amazon-sized, not even Tweener-sized, but…

Bigger.

Older.

Her heart pounded as her gaze darted to Ash, still asleep in bed beside the crib.

"Ash?"

Her voice was hoarse, unsteady. She didn’t remember anything after the injection.

"Are you awake?"

The words came softer than she meant, but the urgency was real.

Something had changed.

And she needed to know what.

Ash startled awake, sitting up abruptly, her messy hair poofed out in every direction. Still caught in the haze of sleep, she blinked blearily, her expression flickering between confusion and exhaustion.

"Kaylee?" Ash’s voice was hoarse, rough from sleep. She rubbed at her eyes, trying to focus. "Is that you?"

Kaylee nodded, her heart still pounding in her chest.

"Yeah… it’s me."

The relief that washed over Ash’s face was instant. She exhaled heavily, her shoulders sagging as tension melted from her frame.

"God, I was worried." She swung her legs over the side of the bed, stretching briefly before standing, her sleep-worn shift slipping slightly against her shoulders. She stepped up to the crib, blinking at Kaylee like she saw her for the first time. "You weren’t acting like yourself at all yesterday…"

Kaylee felt a prickle of guilt at that, though she had no memory of what had happened.

"I don’t really… remember yesterday." Her brow furrowed as she sat up straighter. "But I feel… weird."

Ash tilted her head, still studying her. She reached down, her fingers brushing against the loose diaper clinging to Kaylee’s hips.

"What’s going on with this? Hold still—"

She tried pulling the tab back into place, her brows furrowing as she fumbled with it, but—

It wouldn’t reach.

The diaper was too small.

Ash’s fingers stilled.

Kaylee’s breath hitched.

Slowly, very slowly, their eyes met.

A beat of silence.

Then—

Kaylee’s lips twitched.

Ash snorted.

The grin came naturally, bubbling between them before either could stop it.

"Oh my god," Ash murmured, half-laughing, half-stunned.

Kaylee grinned wider, looking down at herself again, realization settling in.

"I think I’m growing!"

Kaylee let out a small yelp as Ash scooped her up, holding her gently but securely as she carried her toward the bed.

"Careful!" Kaylee laughed, instinctively grabbing onto Ash’s shoulders as she was set down.

"Sorry, sorry," Ash grinned, but her hands remained firmly in place, holding the too-small diaper closed to preserve what little dignity Kaylee had left.

Kaylee rolled her eyes but grinned just the same.

Ash whistled as she moved toward the dresser, retrieving a fresh diaper—this one from the next size up. "Well, look at you," she mused, shaking her head as she knelt beside the bed. "You're on the upper end of Little sizes now."

Kaylee beamed, stretching her arms over her head.

"And maybe not for much longer."

Ash shot her a look. "Let’s not get ahead of ourselves."

Still, Kaylee could hear the excitement in her voice.

Ash worked quickly, untaping the shrunken diaper and wiping Kaylee down before slipping the larger one into place. It felt different—not better, necessarily, but different.

"Do I still need diapers?" Kaylee asked, tilting her head.

Ash didn’t even hesitate. "Of course you do." She patted the front of the diaper for emphasis. "You’re still Little-sized, aren’t you?"

Kaylee sighed, but she didn’t argue. Not yet, at least.

Ash grinned, giving her leg a playful pat before helping her off the bed. Kaylee’s feet touched the floor for the first time, and it felt… different. More stable. More hers.

They both hesitated, sharing a look of unspoken hope.

Then—

"Breakfast?" Ash offered.

"Breakfast," Kaylee agreed.

The two of them made their way toward the kitchen, Ash moving naturally while Kaylee adjusted to her new footing.

But in the back of both their minds, a single thought loomed—

The real test would come later.

When—or if—Kaylee was forced to watch more Naomi and Oliver.

Would the serum protect her?

Would it hold?

Kaylee only hoped she wouldn’t have to find out the hard way.

The kitchen was quiet, apart from the gentle clinking of dishes and the occasional sizzle of food in the pan. Morning light filtered through the apartment’s windows, casting soft golden rays over the small but functional space. Ash moved with practiced ease, her sleep-rumpled shift swaying slightly as she flipped a few plain slices of toast onto a plate, followed by a single, underwhelming scrambled egg.

It wasn’t much.

But it was warm, and it was real.

Kaylee sat at the small dining table, adjusting her highchair as she tried to get comfortable. Everything still felt off—not wrong, but not quite right. Her body felt heavy like her muscles were being stretched and molded into something new. Others moved sluggishly like they had to push through the fog before reaching the surface.

Ash placed the plate in front of her before taking the seat across from her, pulling her share of toast and eggs onto her lap.

"How are you feeling?" Ash asked, studying Kaylee over the rim of her lukewarm coffee mug.

Kaylee exhaled, picking apart a piece of toast between her fingers. "Weird," she admitted. "Like… woozy, I guess. My thoughts feel slow."

Ash frowned. "Slow, how?"

Kaylee sighed, shifting in her seat. "Like… I can think fine, but everything feels like it’s lagging a second behind. It’s hard to explain."

Ash nodded slowly, eyes sharp, calculating. "And physically?"

Kaylee tilted her head, stretching her fingers out before flexing them. "Like I’m going through a second puberty or something. My whole body aches. My joints, muscles—hell, even my bones feel weird." She let out a small, breathy laugh. "Growing pains, I guess."

Ash smirked at that. "Well, you are growing."

Kaylee grinned, shaking her head. That part still felt surreal.

For so long, she had shrunk and been made smaller, weaker, more helpless—a Little in every sense of the word. Now? Now she had proof that she was fighting her way back.

She popped a piece of toast into her mouth, chewing slowly as she let herself hope for the first time in a long while.

But then—

Her stomach twisted.

The cartoons.

She swallowed, the bite suddenly heavy in her throat.

"I’m nervous about the cartoons," she admitted, staring at her plate. "I… I don’t know how I’ll do against them."

Ash didn’t respond right away.

When Kaylee glanced up, she found her watching closely, fingers curled around her mug, gaze searching.

"Yeah," Ash said finally, voice softer than before. "I was thinking about that too."

Kaylee shifted, her hands resting against her lap. "I mean, the serum’s working, right? I’m getting bigger… but does that mean it’s gonna help my mind, too?"

Ash set her mug down, exhaling as she leaned forward slightly. "That’s what we need to find out."

Kaylee’s hands tightened in her lap.

"And if it doesn’t?" she whispered.

Ash’s jaw tensed.

Then—firmly—

"Then we’ll find another way."

Kaylee let out a shaky breath, forcing herself to believe it.

She had to believe it.

Because if she sat in front of that screen and felt herself slipping again—

If Naomi and Oliver’s voices still wrapped around her like chains—

If she lost herself—

Then what was the point of growing at all?

Breakfast ended far too quickly for Kaylee’s liking.

She had wanted to linger. To delay what came next. But Ash, ever practical, was already clearing their plates, moving forward as if the day's weight wasn’t pressing down on them.

Before she knew it, Kaylee was back in the bedroom, standing near the crib as Ash rummaged through the dresser.

"Let’s see what we’ve got that fits you now," Ash muttered, flipping through the daycare’s standard-issue onesies. Most of them were too small, but after some digging, she finally found something that might work.

Kaylee huffed as Ash pulled the fabric over her head, helping her thread her arms through before tugging it down. The soft material stretched over her new frame, the buttons at the crotch barely snapping into place.

"Hah!" Ash grinned, patting the onesie. "Look at that; you’re almost officially outgrowing Little Sizes."

Kaylee smirked, rolling her shoulders in the snug fit. "Took long enough."

Ash shook her head and moved toward her dresser. She grabbed simple work pants and a fitted shirt with the daycare’s logo embroidered neatly over the chest. Kaylee watched as Ash peeled off her sleep shirt, swapping it out for something cleaner and more professional.

That’s when she saw it.

Just for a second—a flicker of hesitation—Ash’s gaze drifted toward the stack of diapers in the corner.

Kaylee blinked.

Ash’s fingers lingered on the hem of her pants before she pulled them up.

Kaylee’s stomach twisted.

.

No… No, that’s ridiculous.

She shook the thought from her head, forcing herself to rationalize it.

Ash was thinking about the daycare and probably calculating supplies for the day, mentally preparing for another round of endless diaper changes.

That had to be it.

It had to be.

Because Ash would never, in a million years, willingly wear diapers.

Kaylee knew that.

… Right?

Kaylee barely had time to blink before Ash had set her on her feet, taking her hand as they descended the stairs toward the daycare.

The morning hum of activity was already in full swing—the Tweeners had arrived ahead of them, moving through the space with practiced ease as they set up for the day. Supplies were unpacked, bottles were stocked, cribs were fluffed, and the changing stations were prepped for what was sure to be another long day.

"Morning, boss!" one of the workers called, offering Ash a warm smile.

"Morning," Ash responded smoothly, slipping into professional mode. She kept her grip light on Kaylee’s hand, but Kaylee could feel the shift—Ash was moving with purpose now, focused on the day ahead.

Kaylee barely had a second to process the transition before cold, mechanical hands snatched her away.

Her feet left the ground instantly, her stomach lurching as the Nanny Bot intercepted her ruthlessly.

"Processing: Little Kaylee. The assigned status is confirmed. Initiating morning placement."

"Hey—Wait!—" Kaylee yelped, flailing as the bot lifted her effortlessly.

It didn’t listen.

It never did.

The next thing she knew, she was plopped into a baby bouncer, her legs dangling as the elastic bands flexed under her weight. The pacifier was shoved into her mouth before she could protest, the rubber nipple forcing itself between her lips with clinical precision.

Kaylee let out a muffled groan, her feet barely skimming the ground as she bounced weakly.

Ash—who had seen the whole thing—paused just long enough to offer her an apologetic shrug before turning away, already diving into her work.

Unbelievable.

Kaylee breathed through her nose, her eyes rolling heavily as she shifted against the seat. The padding of her fresh diaper pressed against her, thick and undeniable, making the situation all the more infuriating.

Her morning had been off to such a promising start, and now here she was—strapped into this, sucking on this, forced to wait until someone deemed it appropriate to let her out.

Great. Just great.

Left alone in the bouncing seat, Kaylee let out a long exhale, her fingers curling into the soft material of her onesie.

The real test was coming.

And she could only hope—pray—that she wouldn’t break all over again when the time came.

The day passed in a blur—a haze of giggles, crinkles, and the ever-present hum of the daycare’s daily cycle.

Littles arrived one after another, ushered in by their Amazons or plucked from the nursery’s cribs, all tumbling into the carefully orchestrated daycare routine. Bottles were fed, diaper changes came and went, and the air buzzed with the constant background noise of cooing, babbling, and the occasional wail of a fussy Little.

Kaylee drifted through it all; her mind caught between awareness and conditioning, and her thoughts were sluggish as she was guided from activity to activity.

It wasn’t until midday, when one of the Tweeners lifted her onto the changing table, that something finally snapped her from her daze.

At first, she barely noticed, letting the familiar routine wash over her as the girl undid her diaper tapes. The cold air against her skin was jarring, but the Tweener worked quickly, wiping her down, her movements smooth and practiced.

But then—

The girl paused.

Kaylee blinked, her senses sharpening just enough to catch it.

The Tweener hesitated, tilting her head as her fingers brushed over Kaylee’s hip as if checking something.

Then, without a word, she reached for a different package.

A larger one.

Kaylee’s breath hitched as she watched the Tweener pull out a diaper one size up from the one she had used earlier.

Her stomach twisted.

Did she… did she grow again?

The Tweener didn’t comment. She simply fastened the larger diaper around her waist, smoothing it into place before patting the front.

"All done, sweetheart!"

Kaylee swallowed, her lips parting slightly as if to ask, but before she could, she was lifted down, guided away—her chance lost.

The realization lingered, sending electricity through her limbs.

She wasn’t imagining it.

The serum was working.

Her heart soared, but before she had time to process—

Everything screeched to a halt.

Suddenly, she was sitting in front of the screen.

That dreaded, all-consuming screen.

The one that had broken her over and over again.

The one that had turned her mind to fog had molded her into something she wasn’t and had made her want to be good.

Her throat tightened as the first notes of the theme song began to play, the colors flashing across the screen in soft, mesmerizing waves.

"No…"

Her fingers twitched.

Her diaper crinkled as she shifted.

Her pacifier was already in her mouth—had someone put it there, or had she done it herself?

She didn't know.

And that terrified her.

This was the real test.

She had to fight.

She had to fight.

But the voices of Naomi and Oliver had already started.

And Kaylee wasn’t sure if she was strong enough.

*

Despite its weightless plastic casing, the remote felt heavy in Ash’s fingers. She had done this countless times before: pressed the button, let the show play, and moved on.

But this time…

This time, she lingered.

The screen flickered to life, colors blooming across the daycare, washing over the Littles in soft, mesmerizing hues. Naomi’s voice was instant, a warm, inviting melody, too sweet, smooth, and perfect.

"Oh, hello there, my precious Littles!"

Ash’s grip loosened, the remote slipping slightly as her arm went limp at her side.

"It’s so good to see you all again!"

She wasn’t looking away.

Her pulse quickened.

The room blurred around her, the voices curling through the air like silk, slipping into the crevices of her mind before she could stop them.

Naomi’s eyes.

They were on her.

"You’ve worked so hard, sweetheart," Naomi cooed, her golden curls bouncing as she twirled across the screen. "Wouldn’t you like to take a break? Just relax? Just let go?"

Ash’s breath hitched.

Her bladder ached.

The warmth of it pressed at her, an awareness she hadn’t noticed before, hadn’t needed to see. The thought of letting go, of just giving in, itched at the back of her mind.

She swallowed hard, her thumb twitching, her knees locking as something deep in her brain screamed for her to pull away.

But she didn’t.

Not yet.

Not until—

A hand landed on her shoulder.

"Ash?"

The world lurched back into focus.

Ash was startled, the weight of Naomi’s voice snapping like a thread as she tore her gaze from the screen, blinking rapidly.

The Tweener assistant looked at her curiously, her brows furrowed. "Do you know where that new supply package is?"

Ash’s lungs burned. Had she even been breathing?

She forced herself to move, shaking her head sharply as she gestured vaguely toward the storage area. "Yeah—yeah, over there."

The girl nodded, moving toward the supplies, already forgetting the moment.

Ash set the remote down immediately, her fingers trembling slightly as she turned on her heel, forcing herself away from the screen.

The bathroom. She needed to go to the bathroom.

Her body ached for release, the pressure stronger than it should have been. Her mind was still buzzing from the lingering echoes of Naomi and Oliver’s lullaby-like cadence.

She pushed open the door, shutting it behind her with too much force.

Her hands braced against the sink, her breath uneven, her reflection pale.

But the worst part?

She could still hear them.

"It’s okay, sweetheart."

"You don’t have to be big all the time."

"Just let it happen, darling."

Ash squeezed her eyes shut, gripping the counter tighter.

No.

She was not going to let this happen.

She was not going to end up like them.

Not like Kaylee.

Not like the Littles in her daycare.

Not like the ones she had already failed to save.

She turned on the faucet, splashing cold water onto her face, forcing herself back into reality.

Ash exhaled sharply, forcing herself to move and focus on what was real—the toilet right in front of her, the small relief it promised.

She took a step forward—

And paused.

Her eyes flickered to the stack of diapers beside her, neatly stacked atop the changing table. They were for the Tweeners—a small comfort she had managed to provide, a way to let them have some dignity, at least in privacy.

That’s all they were.

That’s all they ever had been.

But then—

Her breath hitched.

Her stomach dropped.

Because there was a diaper in her hand.

She hadn’t grabbed one.

She didn’t even remember reaching for it.

But there it was—

Soft. Thick. Waiting.

Her fingers trembled as they ran over the plastic shell as if testing it, feeling it, before she could stop herself.

"Oh, sweetheart."

Naomi’s voice was sickly sweet, curling around her mind like a snake, pulling her in.

"You’re so tense, baby girl."

"You work so hard. You deserve a break, don’t you?"

Ash shuddered, her legs locking, her grip tightening on the diaper as if she could crush it into nothing.

"Just feel it, darling. You remember, don’t you? How soft is it?"

Her fingers twitched.

She should throw it away.

She should drop it right now.

But instead—

Her fingers unfolded it.

Just a little.

Just enough to let the cool air rush against its soft, padded interior.

Her chest tightened.

It was—It was just curiosity.

That’s all.

"Oh, you’ve missed it, haven’t you?"

Naomi’s voice was purring now, wrapping around Ash’s thoughts, each word pressing deeper into her mind.

"Go on, sweetheart. Just sit down. Not there, silly girl."

Ash gasped, realizing she had been about to sit on the toilet—the right choice. The adult choice.

Naomi giggled. "No, no. Not there, darling. That’s not where you belong."

Ash swallowed hard.

This wasn’t—

This wasn’t real.

But her legs moved anyway.

Her thoughts buzzed, her breath came quicker, and before she even knew what was happening—

She was climbing onto the changing table.

The plastic surface felt strangely familiar, no longer cold and clinical, but comforting—safe.

Her hands tightened around the diaper, and she felt its plush interior. Her nails dug in slightly as she traced its edges.

She wasn’t—

She wasn’t going to put it on.

She just—

She just wanted to feel it.

"That’s a good girl," Naomi crooned. "Doesn’t that feel nice?"

Ash’s fingers twitched.

She should stop.

She had to stop.

But Naomi was still there, whispering, urging, guiding her deeper—

And Ash wasn’t sure if she could pull herself back out.

"Just feel it, sweetheart."

Naomi’s voice slithered through her thoughts, warm and silken, wrapping around her like a lullaby spun from honey.

"You don’t have to fight it, darling. You’re so tired of fighting, aren’t you?"

Ash wasn’t tired. She wasn’t weak. She wasn’t falling for this—

Yet, her fingers moved anyway.

The soft, plush interior of the diaper brushed against her trembling fingertips. It was impossibly smooth, teasing the sensitive skin of her thighs as she ran her fingers over the thick padding.

It was wrong.

It was so, so wrong.

And yet—

Her breath hitched.

It was so soft.

So welcoming.

"You work so hard, Ash," Naomi purred, her voice dripping with affection. "You take care of all those Littles. You never get to be taken care of, do you?"

Ash squeezed her eyes shut, her heart slamming against her ribs.

"That’s not true."

"Oh, sweetheart," Naomi giggled, her laughter light and playful, like a mother teasing her fussy child. "You don’t have to pretend. Not with me. Not with yourself."

Her bare skin was achingly exposed, her legs trembling as she tried to stop—tried to pull away.

But she wasn’t wearing pants.

No silly big girl panties to protect her.

Nothing but the cool air brushing against her bare thighs—and the waiting softness in her hands.

"Just once more, Ash," Naomi cooed, her voice closer now, pressing into Ash’s ears, curling around her thoughts like a tender embrace.

"Just feel it. That’s all. Just lay down, sweetheart. Just let it touch you."

Ash shook her head, her breath coming faster, her fingers tightening on the diaper as she held it hovering over her lap.

"I can’t," she whispered.

"You can, darling."

"No, I—"

"Shhh, shhh. No one will know, sweet girl. It’s just you and me. No big girls here."

Ash sucked in a breath, her fingers trembling, and then—

Then, it was beneath her.

She didn’t even remember lowering herself down—didn’t even register the moment she gave in—but the second her bare skin met the pillowy softness, her entire body shuddered.

A strangled gasp tore from her lips.

The diaper cradled her, thick and impossibly plush, the padding tingling against her sensitive skin in a way that made her pulse pound in her ears.

"Oh, that’s a good girl," Naomi sighed, her voice thick with praise, full of approval. "That’s my sweet, sweet girl."

Ash’s head spun.

It felt—

It felt too good.

Her legs spread slightly, her body responding before she could stop it, her hands pulling the diaper up between her legs without even thinking—

The padding cupped her perfectly, the thickness pressing against her, the absurd, humiliating security of it sending a thrill through her nerves.

Euphoria.

Pure, unfiltered euphoria.

It rushed through her like a wave, tingling in her fingertips, pooling in her stomach, coiling deep in the pit of her belly.

She felt weightless.

Her breath hitched, and her fingers pressed against the soft plastic. The smooth crinkling sent an unwelcome thrill up her spine.

"Such a good girl, Ash," Naomi cooed, her voice melting into her thoughts, blotting everything else. "My good, sweet girl, right where you belong."

Ash gasped, her mind reeling, her body numb and electric.

The aching in her bladder and bowels pressed harder, her muscles wavering, her body urging her to just—

Just let go.

And for the first time in years, Ash realized—

She wasn’t sure if she could stop herself.

"That’s it, sweetheart," Naomi purred, her voice a honeyed whisper that curled through Ash’s mind, lulling her deeper, deeper, deeper.

"You know what you need to do, don’t you?"

The euphoria flickered, fading just a touch enough for a shadow of doubt to claw its way back into Ash’s mind.

This was wrong.

The thought drifted through her haze, weak, fragile, but there.

So wrong.

And yet—

And yet, she couldn’t stop herself.

Her bum pressed firmly against the plush thickness of the diaper, the padding molding around her as her fingers tightened their grip, pulling the front snug against her achingly warm crotch.

"Go on, sweet girl," Naomi whispered, so soft, so tender, like a mother guiding a sleepy child. "You don’t have to think anymore. Just let it happen. Let it all go."

Her bladder trembled, a deep, aching pressure pressing against her muscles—

And then—

Then, she broke.

The dam burst, and Ash gasped, trembling as the hot flood rushed into the thick, waiting padding beneath her.

Euphoria slammed into her like a crashing wave, ripping through her nerves, sending a pulse of pure, mind-numbing bliss straight to her core.

Her legs shook, her arms went weak, and her head lolled back as shudders wracked through her.

Her eyes rolled back, her thighs twitching as she pulled the saturated diaper tighter against herself, pressing into the warmth, holding onto it, her fingers gripping the crinkling plastic desperately.

"Ohhhh, that’s my good girl," Naomi cooed, her voice thick with adoration, praise, and control. "So perfect. So precious. You needed that, didn’t you?”

Ash couldn’t answer.

She couldn’t think.

She could only breathe, her chest rising and falling in short, desperate gasps, her whole body pulsing with pleasure, with something deeper, something primal.

And then—

She pushed.

She didn’t even realize it at first—

She didn’t even register the shift in her body until—

Until she felt it.

The warm, squishy mass pressed against the back of her diaper, spreading effortlessly as her body surrendered completely.

A fresh wave of bliss crashed over her—

Stronger. Overwhelming. Dizzying.

She let out a soft, breathy moan, her fingers curling tight against the sodden bulk between her legs, her muscles turning to liquid, her mind breaking apart under the pure, unfiltered pleasure consuming her.

"That’s my sweet girl," Naomi sighed, the warmth of her voice wrapping around Ash like a blanket. "My perfect, obedient girl."

Ash barely heard her.

Her body was boneless, her thoughts unraveling, the sheer euphoria pulling her under like a riptide.

The world dimmed, her vision swimming with stars, her lips parting, her moans filling the bathroom.

Ash had no idea how long she lay there.

Her breath was still ragged, her body trembling, her fingers locked in a desperate grip on the front of the diaper, pulling it tight against her aching core. Her hips had been rocking against the thick, squishy padding, grinding desperately, her body still riding the aftershocks of the overwhelming, mind-melting euphoria.

Her mess had caked against her backside, warm and all-encompassing, the sheer humiliation of what she had just done hovering over her like a fog.

And yet—

She hadn’t moved.

Couldn’t move.

Didn’t want to move.

Naomi’s voice lingered, soft and purring in her mind, whispering sweet, soothing reassurances.

"There now, sweetheart."

"That wasn’t so bad, was it?"

"You’re such a good girl, Ash. My sweet, sweet girl."

Her face burned. Her body ached. She was soaked and filthy, and yet her fingers wouldn’t let go of the diaper between her legs.

She was trapped in the aftermath of something she couldn’t even begin to process.

Then—

A knock.

Ash jerked, her breath catching in her throat.

"Hello? Is someone in there?"

The voice was familiar—one of her assistants.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

"Oh God—"

Ash’s voice cracked, her throat raw from whatever sounds had escaped her earlier. She tried to call back, wanted to tell them to wait, to hold on—

But the door swung open, the one she had forgotten to lock in her panic.

Her stomach dropped.

"Hey, the Nanny Bot flagged one of the Tweener daycare diapers as heavily soiled. You’re Sarah right? The new girl who just started here? I didn’t see you out on the floor, and you’ve been in here awhile; I just wanted to see if you needed help—"

The assistant’s words cut off mid-sentence.

Her eyes widened as she stepped in far enough to see Ash.

Ash lay frozen, sprawled across the changing table, diaper still pulled tight between her legs, her entire body red as a tomato.

The silence stretched.

The shock on the assistant’s face was undeniable; her gaze locked on the humiliating scene before her.

Ash couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t move.

Couldn’t think.

And for the first time in her life—

She had no idea how to fix this.