The door hissed open, and Hannah took a deep breath as she stepped out of the transfer room, Emily’s hand still firmly clasped in hers. The air outside was warm and carried a faint floral scent, starkly contrasting the sterile atmosphere of the transfer room. The corridor stretched ahead, bright and expansive, its walls gleaming with the polished precision that seemed unique to the Amazon world.

Before Hannah could take another step, a shadow fell over them, and she instinctively froze. Standing just beyond the doorway was an Amazon transit authority personnel member, her sheer size overwhelming. The woman wore a neat uniform, her polished name badge glinting in the overhead light. She was massive—truly massive—and her height and stature were even more imposing than Hannah had remembered from her first visit.

Hannah’s breath hitched as she craned her neck to look up, her already-heightened nerves flaring. While she and Emily had prepared themselves for this—for the towering Amazons, the stark reminder of their diminished size—nothing could have fully prepared her for the reality. Especially now, smaller than she had been before. The woman seemed to loom over her like a skyscraper, her presence utterly dominating the space.

“Welcome back, girls!” the Amazon said, her voice bright and cheerful as she crouched slightly, bringing herself marginally closer to their level. Her movements were smooth and practiced, her demeanor warm but unmistakably patronizing. “You must be Hannah and Emily Verlain.”

Hannah swallowed hard, her free hand tightening around the waistband of her pants to keep them from slipping again. “Y-yes,” she managed to say, her voice quieter than intended.

The woman’s face lit up, her smile widening as she took them in. “Oh, you two are just precious,” she gushed, her eyes sparkling with amusement and affection. Her gaze lingered on their forms, flicking briefly to their midsections. Hannah felt her cheeks burn as she realized the woman’s eyes had landed on her diaper, its outline visible beneath her ill-fitting pants.

Emily stepped forward slightly, her voice steady and calm. “We’re here to meet our guardian,” she said, handing over their IDs with practiced ease.

The Amazon took the IDs, her massive hands dwarfing the small cards as she examined them. “Oh, Welby Verlain!” she said with a smile. “He’s a lucky man, having two sweet Littles like you under his care.” She winked, her tone playful as she handed the cards back. “Everything looks good. Let’s get you to the waiting area.”

She straightened, towering over them once more as she gestured for them to follow. Hannah felt her heart thudding in her chest as she walked beside Emily, her legs moving faster to keep up with the Amazon’s long strides. Each step reminded her of how small she had become, her view of the world now dominated by towering walls, high ceilings, and the enormous figure leading them.

The woman glanced back at them occasionally, her warm smile never faltering. “You two are just adorable,” she said, her voice dripping with the same patronizing tone Hannah had dreaded. “It’s so nice to see Littles traveling safely, wearing proper protection. You don’t know how many troublemakers we have to deal with!”

Hannah said nothing, her cheeks burning as she tried to focus on keeping pace. The warmth in the Amazon’s voice was genuine, but it didn’t lessen the sting of being reduced to something “adorable,” something small and helpless.

Emily gave her hand a light squeeze, drawing her attention. “We’re almost there,” she murmured, her tone low and reassuring.

Hannah nodded, steadily breathing as they followed the Amazon down the corridor. The world around her felt impossibly big, and each step reminded her how far from home they were. But Emily’s steady presence and the knowledge that Welby was waiting for them kept her moving forward.

As the girls stepped into the waiting room, the noise of the transfer station faded, replaced by the thundering beat of Hannah’s heart. Time seemed to slow, and her surroundings faded into a blur as her gaze landed on him.

Welby.

He stood near the edge of the room, towering even among the other Amazons, his broad shoulders and strong frame filling the space with quiet confidence. His neatly pressed shirt, a deep navy blue that complemented his warm, tanned complexion, stretched over his chest as he shifted on his feet. His dark hair, slightly tousled but carefully groomed, caught the light, a few strands falling across his forehead. A beard framed his jaw, meticulously trimmed but softening his sharp features.

His brown eyes, deep and rich like polished wood, scanned the room anxiously. His hands fidgeted at his sides, and Hannah could see his chest's subtle rise and fall as he took measured breaths. There was a nervous energy about him, but it was overlaid with an unmistakable warmth, a kindness that seemed to radiate from him even as he waited.

Hannah’s breath caught as his eyes locked onto hers. In that instant, the rest of the world disappeared. The nervous tension in his posture melted away, replaced by an expression of pure, unbridled joy. His lips parted in a wide grin, his eyes crinkling at the corners as if he could barely contain the happiness surging.

“Hannah! Emily!” His voice carried across the room, rich and full of emotion.

Before Hannah could process it, Welby was moving. He crossed the space in long, purposeful strides, his towering frame somehow graceful in its urgency. As he neared, he dropped to his knees, his massive form lowering to their level with a surprising gentleness.

And then he wrapped them in his arms.

Hannah gasped as Welby’s embrace enveloped her. His strong arms pulled her and Emily close to his chest. The hug was overwhelming, almost suffocating in intensity, but it was filled with so much warmth and love that Hannah didn’t care. She sank into it, her face pressing against the soft fabric of his shirt, her smaller frame dwarfed by his.

Welby’s hand cradled the back of her head, his protective and tender touch. “You’re here,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re actually here.”

Hannah felt her eyes sting with tears as his words sank in. The doubts and worries gnawing at her faded, replaced by the undeniable reality of his love and devotion. She felt his chest rise and fall beneath her cheek, his heart beating steadily, grounding her in the moment.

“I missed you both so much,” Welby continued, his voice trembling slightly. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

Hannah managed to lift her head slightly, peeking up at him. His face was glowing, and his joy was so palpable that it was almost contagious. His warmth and pride in his eyes made her heart swell despite her lingering nervousness.

“Daddy,” she whispered, the word slipping out before she could stop it. Her cheeks flushed, but Welby’s grin only widened.

“That’s right,” he said softly, his tone gentle but full of conviction. “I’m here, girls. I’ve got you. You’re safe.”

Emily’s voice broke the momentary silence, her tone soft but steady. “It’s good to see you, Welby.”

He turned to her, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder as his gaze flicked between them. “It’s good to see you too, Emily,” he said warmly, his voice brimming with affection. “Both of you.”

For a moment, they stayed there, wrapped in the warmth of his embrace, the rest of the world forgotten. Hannah’s worries hadn’t vanished, but here, in the safety of Welby’s arms, they felt a little smaller, a little easier to bear.

Welby’s arms tightened around them again, pulling Hannah and Emily into another warm, protective hug. The strength in his embrace made Hannah feel safe, cocooned against the towering figure she had known as her Daddy. But as he pulled back slightly, his brow furrowed, his gaze drifting down to Hannah.

“Hannah,” he said, his voice filled with curiosity and concern. “You… you’re smaller than I remember.”

Hannah’s cheeks flushed instantly, the heat rushing to her face as she lowered her gaze. She fidgeted with the waistband of her pants, suddenly acutely aware of how loose her clothes were. “I, um… I lost some height during the transfer,” she admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t think it would happen, but I… I guess it did.”

She glanced up at Welby, her heart sinking as she worried about his reaction. Would he be disappointed? Would he find her even more burdensome now that she was smaller, even more helpless? The thought twisted in her chest, and a pang of anxiety tightened her throat.

But Welby’s expression shifted immediately. The concern melted into something softer, something warmer, and his lips curved into a wide, reassuring smile. He scooped her up without hesitation, cradling her gently against his chest.

“You’re even cuter than I remembered,” he said, his voice filled with genuine affection. His words were lighthearted, but the sincerity in his tone left no room for doubt. He hugged her closer, his hand resting protectively against her back. “I guess I’ll just have to get some smaller clothes and diapers for my little girl.”

Hannah’s face burned hotter, her embarrassment mingling with a flicker of relief. She buried her face in his shirt, the soft fabric muffling her voice as she mumbled, “I didn’t mean to… I’m sorry if it’s a problem…”

“Problem?” Welby’s voice was gentle but firm, and he pulled back slightly to look at her, his brown eyes locking onto hers. “Hannah, it’s not a problem at all. You’re perfect just the way you are. I’m just happy you’re here.”

Hannah’s heart swelled at his words, the knot of anxiety in her chest loosening as his warmth enveloped her. The corners of her mouth twitched into a shy smile, and she nodded slightly, her head still resting against his chest.

“You’re my little girl,” Welby continued softly, brushing her hair soothingly. “And nothing’s going to change that. Not your size, not anything.”

Emily, still standing beside them, offered a small, amused smile. “I think she’s going to hold you to that,” she said lightly, her tone teasing but affectionate.

Welby chuckled, the sound deep and full of warmth. “I wouldn’t expect anything less,” he replied, his gaze flicking briefly to Emily before settling back on Hannah.

As Welby held Hannah close, his fingers brushed against her ill-fitting clothing; the fabric bunched awkwardly around her smaller frame. He tugged lightly at her shirt, his brow furrowing as he adjusted her pants to sit more snugly. The motion brought his hand to the waistband of her diaper, and he paused, gently pressing his palm against the padding.

“Hmm,” he murmured, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he felt the telltale warmth. “Looks like someone’s wet. I’ll have to change you when we get home, sweetheart.”

Hannah’s face turned scarlet, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She buried her face in his chest, mumbling something unintelligible against his shirt. Her small hands clung to his collar, seeking comfort despite the flush of humiliation.

Welby shifted slightly, cradling her securely in one arm as he focused on Emily. “Let’s check you too, little lady,” he said playfully, his free hand reaching out to press gently against the front of Emily’s diaper.

Emily, standing with as much composure as she could muster, rolled her eyes slightly but didn’t resist. “Daddy,” she said in a half-exasperated tone, though the corners of her mouth twitched into a faint smile.

Welby’s grin widened as he straightened, his hand finding Emily’s and giving it a light squeeze. “Well, look at that,” he said with a warm chuckle. “Both my girls came prepared, huh? Diapers and all. You’ve made your Daddy very proud.”

Hannah groaned softly, her voice muffled against his chest. “I’ve been… wearing them full-time since we returned to Earth,” she admitted quietly, her words nearly lost in the fabric of his shirt.

Welby’s brow quirked in surprise, though the twinkle in his eye was unmistakable. “Oh, really?” he teased, his tone light and affectionate. “So you knew, deep down, you were always my little baby?”

Hannah pulled back slightly to give him a flustered glare, her face still bright red. “That’s not… I didn’t—” she stammered, her voice trailing off as Welby’s laughter rumbled in his chest.

“I’m just teasing, sweetheart,” he said softly, kissing her head. “But I’ll admit, it makes me happy to know you were thinking of me. Of us.”

Emily gave a small, knowing smile as she adjusted her grip on his hand. “Let’s just get out of here before you embarrass her even more,” she said, amused but protective.

Welby chuckled again, nodding as he led them toward the exit. With Hannah nestled securely in his arm and Emily’s hand firmly in his grasp, he strode confidently through the bustling transit building. The world around them felt impossibly big, but with Welby’s presence grounding them, the girls felt a flicker of reassurance.

Hannah peeked up at him through her lashes, her embarrassment still simmering but softened by the warmth of his smile. Despite her smaller size, despite the vulnerabilities she had been so afraid to face, she felt safe in his arms. Maybe this world wouldn’t be so daunting after all—not with Daddy by her side.

*

Ash stared out the airplane window, the clouds below stretching like an endless, fluffy sea. The hum of the engines filled the cabin, a steady sound that should have been calming but only grated on her nerves. Her hands rested on her lap, clenched tightly enough that her knuckles had turned white. She didn’t dare look to her right, where Miss Kaylee—now reduced to an infant form—sat strapped into her seat.

Miss Kaylee shifted uncomfortably in the diaper Ash had reluctantly put on her earlier, her tiny legs dangling uselessly over the edge of the seat. The woman who had once towered over Ash now looked like nothing more than a helpless baby. But despite her diminutive form, her voice carried the same desperate intensity as before.

“Ash, please,” Miss Kaylee said, her voice high-pitched and strained with emotion. “You have to believe me. I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”

Ash’s jaw tightened, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon. She didn’t respond, didn’t even glance her way. The betrayal was still fresh, the wounds too raw to allow for any acknowledgment of the words spilling from Miss Kaylee’s mouth.

“I was trying to help,” Miss Kaylee continued, her hands gripping the armrests of her seat as she leaned forward as much as her tiny body would allow. “You’ve been through so much—too much. I just wanted to make it better.”

Ash let out a bitter laugh though her gaze remained fixed on the window. “Better?” she repeated, her voice low and icy. “You thought turning me into some mindless, regressed doll was going to make it better?”

“No!” Miss Kaylee’s voice cracked, her small fists clenching as tears filled her eyes. “That wasn’t it at all! I just… I thought if I could take away the memories, the pain, you’d finally be free. I didn’t want to hurt you. I wanted to help you heal.”

Ash’s head snapped toward her, her amber eyes blazing with fury. “Heal?” she spat, her voice rising just enough to draw a glance from a nearby passenger. She lowered it again, though the venom remained. “You don’t heal someone by taking away who they are. Those memories? That pain? It’s part of me, Kaylee. You don’t get to decide to strip that away just because you think you know what’s best.”

Miss Kaylee flinched at the intensity of Ash’s words, her small frame shrinking back into the seat. “I wasn’t trying to take away who you are,” she said softly, her voice trembling. “I was trying to give you a chance to be happy again. You’ve been through so much, and I see how it still hurts you. I just… I wanted to make it stop.”

Ash let out a slow, shaky breath, her hands unclenching as she turned her gaze back to the window. “You don’t get it,” she said quietly. “And you never will. You’re still one of them, Kaylee. You think you know what’s best and can decide what’s right for someone else. But you can’t. And you never could.”

Silence fell between them, and the only sound was the soft rustle of the diaper as Miss Kaylee shifted in her seat. Ash’s mind swirled with memories—Laura’s cruel smile, the humiliations she had endured, the helplessness that had nearly consumed her. She had started to believe that Miss Kaylee was different, that she could trust her. But now, that trust felt like a cruel joke.

Miss Kaylee sniffled, her small hands brushing at her tear-streaked cheeks. “I never wanted you to feel like this,” she whispered. “I just wanted you to be okay.”

Ash didn’t look at her. “Well, congratulations,” she said bitterly. “You’ve made sure that’ll never happen.”

The weight of the betrayal hung heavy between them, a chasm neither words nor apologies could bridge. Ash turned her gaze back to the window, her expression hardening as she stared into the endless sky.

She was on her own now, just as she had always been.

The cabin’s hum seemed louder in the tense silence that followed Ash’s sharp words. Miss Kaylee shifted in her seat, her tiny form struggling to find a posture that conveyed the urgency of her emotions. She looked at Ash, her eyes wide and pleading, the streaks of tears on her cheeks glinting faintly in the dim cabin light.

“Ash,” she began again, her voice softer now, almost a whisper. “Please, just listen to me. I know I made a mistake. A terrible mistake. But it wasn’t because I wanted to hurt you. I was trying to help you. I—”

“Help me?” Ash snapped, finally turning her gaze from the window. Her amber eyes burned with fury, her voice cutting like a blade. “You call this helping me? You were planning to turn me into a baby again. Again! After everything I’ve been through!”

Miss Kaylee flinched as though the words had physically struck her. She pressed her lips together, her small hands wringing nervously in her lap as she glanced down, unable to meet Ash’s fiery gaze. “I… I was,” she admitted finally, her voice trembling. “I thought… I thought if I could show you the love and care you deserved if I could rewrite those memories—”

“Rewrite them?” Ash’s voice rose, sharp and incredulous. “You mean erase them. Erase everything I’ve fought to survive. Everything that makes me me. You wanted to take that from me and replace it with… what? Your version of what I’m supposed to be?”

Miss Kaylee shook her head quickly, her small hands raised defensively. “No! Not erase. Not replace. I wanted to heal you, Ash. I wanted to undo the horrors those other Amazons put you through. I thought… if you could have the care and love you were denied—real love, not what Laura twisted it into—you could finally be free of it.”

Ash’s laugh was bitter, devoid of any humor. “Free?” she repeated, her voice dripping with scorn. “You think putting me back in diapers, feeding me bottles, and treating me like I’m nothing more than a helpless infant is going to set me free? Kaylee, that’s the nightmare I’ve been trying to escape.”

“I wasn’t trying to take away your strength,” Miss Kaylee said, her voice cracking with emotion. “I was trying to show you that you’re more than the pain they inflicted on you. That you’re worthy of love, of care, of kindness.”

Ash’s hands gripped the armrests of her seat, her knuckles white with tension. “You don’t get it,” she said, her voice low but quivering with suppressed rage. “You think you’re different. That is because you say it’s out of love, and it’s okay. But it’s not. It never will be.”

Miss Kaylee’s shoulders sagged, her small frame trembling as she wiped at her cheeks. “I just… I didn’t know what else to do,” she said quietly. “I saw how much you were hurting, Ash. How much you’re still hurting. And I wanted to fix it. I wanted to fix you.”

Ash inhaled sharply, her chest heaving as she tried to steady her breathing. The words cut deep, reopening wounds she thought she had begun to close. She turned back to the window, her voice cold and distant. “I don’t need fixing, Kaylee. What I need is to be respected. To be treated like a person, not a project or a doll you can mold into what you think I should be.”

Miss Kaylee remained silent, her head bowed as she absorbed Ash’s words. The weight of her mistake pressed down on her, and for the first time, she realized just how deep the rift between them had become.

“I… I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the engines. “I thought I was helping. But I see now… I see how wrong I was.”

Ash didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the endless clouds below. She couldn’t find the words to express the depth of her anger, betrayal, and pain. All she knew was that fragile and hard-earned trust had been shattered. And she wasn’t sure it could ever be repaired.

Miss Kaylee turned away, her small, diapered form shifting awkwardly in the oversized airplane seat. The tension between them was palpable, a heavy weight that seemed to press down on the cabin. Ash tried to focus on the view outside, the endless expanse of clouds drifting below, but the sound reached her ears—soft, muffled sobs.

Ash’s fingers tightened on the armrests, her gaze fixed firmly on the horizon. She didn’t turn, didn’t acknowledge the crying woman beside her. But the sound burrowed into her thoughts, persistent and unrelenting.

Miss Kaylee’s crying wasn’t loud. It wasn’t the wailing of a tantruming Little or the exaggerated sobbing of someone seeking attention. It was quiet, restrained, raw. The kind of crying that came from someone who had genuinely been hurt.

For a moment, just a moment, Ash felt the flicker of remorse. Her harsh words, her sharp tone—had she gone too far? Miss Kaylee tried to explain herself and express what she thought was her way of helping. And now, reduced to this fragile, infantile state, she seemed so small, so broken. It was a pathetic sight that tugged at a part of Ash she’d worked hard to bury.

But then, the memories surged back. The suffocating weight of Laura’s control. The humiliation of being dressed, fed, and coddled as if she were nothing more than a helpless baby. The overwhelming fear of having no agency, no escape. Ash’s chest tightened as the flicker of remorse was snuffed out, replaced by the sharp clarity of her resolve.

No. She couldn’t afford to feel pity, not for someone who had come so close to taking everything from her again.

Her gaze hardened as she stared out the window, her fingers digging into the armrests. If she hadn’t protected herself, she would be in that diaper, she reminded herself fiercely. It would be her crying helplessly at the mercy of an Amazon all over again.

The thought sent a shiver down her spine, her muscles tensing instinctively. She had fought too hard and endured too much to let herself be weak again. Trusting Miss Kaylee had been a mistake she wouldn’t repeat.

Ash exhaled slowly, her breath fogging the glass of the window. The sound of Miss Kaylee’s sobs softened, though it didn’t fade completely. Ash didn’t turn to look or offer any words of comfort. She couldn’t. Not now. Maybe not ever. Because survival came first, and if Ash had learned anything, it was that letting down her guard, even for a moment, could cost her everything.