The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the park as they continued through the winding paths, moving from one ride to the next.

The Littles were laughing, playing their parts perfectly, their hands swinging in rhythm as they toddled ahead, their thick diapers forcing them into an unmistakable waddle.

Welby walked beside her, pushing the stroller, his expression calm, unreadable, but undeniably strong.

And somehow—

She was holding his hand.

It had been so natural, so effortless.

His fingers were warm and firm, and the rough callouses against her palm ground her in ways she couldn’t explain.

Her heart fluttered.

Just slightly.

The sensation was unexpected, unfamiliar, a flickering of something she hadn’t felt in years.

And then—

A memory.

It flashed through her mind before she could stop it.

Welby. His hands on her hips.

Not out of dominance, not out of control—

But gentle. Caring. Attentive.

His eyes on her, the way they had lingered when he had changed her, the way they had traced over her body, not in amusement, not in cruelty—

But with something else.

Something deeper.

A spark.

A desire.

Evelyn’s face burned, her fingers twitching slightly in his grasp.

She couldn’t deny it anymore.

He was attractive.

Strong.

Resilient.

He had been forced into the same humiliating situation she had—

And yet, he had protected her, comforted her, held her through it.

She glanced up at him, her lips parting slightly, her heart hammering a little too fast.

Despite everything—

Despite the diapers.

Despite the humiliation.

Despite the hell they were living in.

She wanted him.

And that realization terrified her.

The feeling in her chest lingered, a quiet, fluttering warmth she wasn’t sure how to contain.

She held Welby’s hand, felt his steady presence beside her, felt the way their fingers fit so naturally together.

And yet—

Fear gnawed at her.

Because she knew better.

She had been here before.

In the quiet moments, in the stolen glances, in the unspoken desires that never quite turned into something real.

Her own failed relationships were proof of that.

Every time she had let herself get close, let herself hope, let herself think she had found something real—

It fell apart.

And this?

This was Welby.

A man with a past as broken as her own, a man who had already been burned before, whose heart had been twisted and torn by people who had taken advantage of his kindness.

She knew his history.

She knew what had happened to him.

She knew what his exes had done, how they had used him, manipulated him, how they had left behind nothing but scars and regrets.

And the last thing she ever wanted to be—

Was another mistake.

She couldn’t do that to him.

Couldn’t push him too far.

They couldn’t risk ruining what they had now, the fragile, careful balance they had built.

What if he didn’t feel the same way?

What if he never saw her as anything more than a friend?

What if she pushed too hard, ruined everything, and kept him from finding real love?

She would not be that person.

She refused to be that person.

So she wouldn’t make the first move.

She couldn’t.

Until then—

They would pretend.

They would continue acting like a family.

They would play the part, hold hands, work together to protect the Littles, and share quiet moments like this.

And she would hope.

Hope that one day, maybe, just maybe—

He would feel it, too.

The walk to the next ride was filled with laughter, giggles, and the sound of tiny feet toddling ahead.

Emily and Lucas played their part flawlessly.

They held hands, their fingers laced together, as they skipped along the path. Their diapers crinkled beneath their clothes, and their steps exaggerated into playful waddles.

They pointed at things excitedly, gasped in delight at passing sights, and chattered about which ride they wanted to take next.

To anyone watching—

They were perfect Littles.

Completely carefree, completely happy, completely immersed in the joy of childhood.

And Evelyn—

She wanted to believe it.

Wanted to believe that maybe, for just a moment, they weren’t pretending.

But she knew better.

Knew Lucas too well, knew Emily too well.

Knew that behind the giggles, behind the bright eyes and playful antics—

Was a performance.

A carefully crafted illusion.

And she hated it.

They hated that they had to pretend, had to sell their captivity, had to make Miranda believe they were exactly what she wanted them to be.

But what choice did they have?

If they didn’t play along—

They would suffer.

And Evelyn wasn’t about to let that happen.

So she played along, too.

Smiling.

Laughing.

Pretending this was just another day at Disneyland.

They parked the strollers, making their way toward the line for the Ferris wheel.

The queue stretched long ahead of them, winding back and forth, filled with excited riders waiting for their turn.

But this wasn’t just any Ferris wheel.

They had joined the line for the swinging gondolas—the ones that rolled along tracks inside the wheel itself, rocking and shifting with every movement.

Evelyn tilted her head back, eyes tracing the massive steel structure.

It loomed above them, impossibly large, stretching into the sky. Its vibrant colors contrasted with the setting sun.

Even she felt small standing beneath it.

A shiver ran through her spine, not out of fear but sheer perspective.

She was an Amazon, and yet, compared to the size of the wheel, she might as well have been a child.

So then—

What did the Littles feel?

She glanced down at Emily, Lucas, and Hannah.

Lucas and Emily were still acting out their part, pointing at the wheel, bouncing on their feet, and giggling in anticipation.

But she caught the flicker in Emily’s eyes.

The way her smile faltered just slightly as she glanced up, realizing just how high they were about to go.

Lucas, meanwhile, was practically buzzing with excitement. His little hands gripped the bars of the queue railing as he turned back to Emily.

“It’s gonna be fun!”

Emily nodded, but Evelyn could tell—

She was nervous.

And Hannah—

Hannah was silent.

Nestled in Evelyn’s arms, her pacifier bobbing rhythmically, her expression unreadable.

Did she even comprehend what was happening?

Did she feel small? Trapped? Overwhelmed?

Or had Miranda’s conditioning dulled that part of her already?

Evelyn swallowed.

She wasn’t sure which answer was worse.

The queue moved forward, and they followed.

The wheel creaked softly. The gondolas rolled along their tracks, swaying as they carried riders into the sky.

The queue slowly dwindled, bringing them closer and closer to the loading platform.

Evelyn’s eyes tracked the movement of the wheel, watching as the gondolas rolled along their internal tracks, sliding forward, swinging wildly before swaying back again.

Every time one of the cars tipped too far forward, a chorus of screams erupted from inside.

Some of them were excited and full of laughter, and others were genuine terrors.

The closer they got, the more Evelyn could feel the tension in the group.

Lucas bounced slightly on his heels, practically vibrating with anticipation.

Emily smiled, but her grip on the railing tightened ever so slightly.

Hannah, silent, unmoving, still nestled in Evelyn’s arms, her pacifier bobbing in slow, rhythmic motions.

And Welby, standing beside her, his expression unreadable.

The wheel creaked again, the metal groaning as another gondola swung wildly before settling.

Evelyn swallowed.

Even she wasn’t immune to the sheer size of this thing.

It was massive, towering, overwhelming.

It had a way of making even an Amazon feel small.

So what did that mean for the Littles?

She glanced at Emily again.

At Lucas.

At the way they watched the ride, their excitement warring with the deep-seated knowledge that they were about to be flung into something far larger than themselves.

And yet—

They stayed in line.

They didn’t back out.

Even Emily, who was clearly uneasy, didn’t try to retreat.

Instead, she took a breath, held Lucas’s hand a little tighter, and stepped forward when it was their turn.

Evelyn couldn’t help but smile.

Even if this was just another performance—

Even if everything was just for show—

Watching them choose to face the unknown anyway made her feel something deep inside her chest.

And so, when the Cast Member gestured for them to step forward—

She followed.

They stepped into the gondola, the soft hum of the wheel’s machinery vibrating through the floor beneath them.

Evelyn moved quickly, pulling the restraints down over Emily and Lucas, securing them before they had time to second-guess their decision to ride.

Lucas, still grinning ear to ear, kicked his legs slightly. His excitement bubbled as he glanced around the enclosed space.

Emily, meanwhile, gripped her harness tightly. Her eyes flickered toward the floor as if she had realized for the first time just how far up they were about to go.

Evelyn and Welby took their seats, Hannah instinctively curling into Welby’s lap. Her small frame was completely relaxed against him, and her pacifier was still bobbing lazily in her mouth.

The Cast Member gave them a quick thumbs-up, and then—

The door shut.

A soft click, a quiet hum, and then—they moved.

Slowly at first, rotating out of the station, the mechanisms guiding them up, up, up.

The gondola rolled slightly along the track, shifting forward, dipping just a bit before swinging back into place.

A small gasp slipped from Emily’s lips, her fingers clenching the harness even tighter as she tensed against the movement.

Lucas, ever the thrill-seeker, giggled.

"Whoa! This is awesome!"

Evelyn smiled, watching as the waning sunlight bathed them in golden hues, warm and soft, stretching long shadows across their faces.

The sky was painted in soft purples and oranges, the last hints of daylight slowly surrendering to the coming night.

Higher and higher they went.

The park stretched out beneath them, its sounds muffled, distant as if they were being lifted away from reality itself.

And for just a moment—

Evelyn allowed herself to forget.

Forget Miranda.

Forget the diapers.

Forget the act.

Forget the fear.

Because right now, they were weightless.

Floating.

Suspended above the world.

Miranda had been quiet.

All afternoon.

Ever since the incident in the family restroom.

She had watched.

Watched them play their roles.

Watched them laugh, ride coasters, eat their cookies, and pretend like everything was fine.

Watched Emily and Lucas embrace their parts with almost disturbing ease.

Watched Evelyn and Welby fall deeper into the illusion, their hands brushing, their eyes lingering just a little too long.

She had said nothing.

Because she didn’t need to.

She knew exactly how to pull the strings, bend them into the perfect shape, and make them dance without lifting a single finger.

For now—

She allowed herself to look out over the park.

Golden sunlight stretched across the rides, glinting off the twisting steel of coasters, the gentle swaying of carousels, and the painted facades of fairytale castles.

The throngs of people moved like waves, laughter and music blending into a soft, constant hum.

A world of pure fantasy.

Of magic, of dreams, of promises that everything was exactly as it should be.

And yet—

She knew the truth.

This was a prison.

One that Lucas, Emily, and Hannah would never escape from.

One that Evelyn and Welby were only just beginning to realize they were trapped inside.

She let out a slow breath, the corner of her lips curling into a small, satisfied smile.

Let them think they were winning.

Let them think they had control.

Let them pretend.

The gondola swayed gently, the warm evening air wrapping around them, the golden hues of the sunset casting long shadows over their faces.

Evelyn’s eyes flickered across the cabin, landing on Emily and Lucas.

They looked so happy.

Genuinely, undeniably happy.

Lucas giggled, pointing at something far below, his excitement bubbling over in waves.

Emily laughed alongside him, nudging him playfully, their hands still loosely laced together.

And for a moment—

Evelyn almost believed it.

Almost believed they were really just two Littles having the time of their lives.

Almost believed they were free.

But—

How much of it was fake?

Where did the act begin and reality end?

Or worse—

Had the act become their reality?

Had they been playing the part for so long that it wasn’t an illusion anymore?

That they had become what Miranda wanted them to be?

Evelyn’s chest tightened.

She didn’t want that.

Didn’t want a world where they had to pretend.

Didn’t want a world where they had to smile through their suffering, laugh through their pain, and giggle as they lost themselves to whatever Miranda was shaping them into.

She dreamed of a day they wouldn’t have to act.

A day where they could just be.

Be who they wanted to be.

Be free to make their own choices.

Be more than what the world had forced upon them.

She wanted to believe that day would come.

That it was still possible.

That somehow, someway—they could escape this.

But as she watched Emily and Lucas giggle, as she saw the perfect way they played their roles, she realized just how effortless it had become for them—

A deep, aching dread settled into her bones.

What if—

What if they never stopped pretending?

What if—

One day—

They couldn’t tell the difference anymore?

Evelyn sighed softly, her gaze lingering on Emily and Lucas, their laughter, their perfect performance, and the effortless way they played their roles.

And that was exactly what Miranda wanted.

For them to become inseparable from the act.

For the line between performance and reality to blur so completely that there was no difference.

For them to become exactly what they were supposed to be.

And that thought—

It pained her.

Because Evelyn didn’t want a brainwashed Little.

Didn’t want an obedient, giggling, perfectly programmed doll.

She wanted Lucas.

She wanted Emily.

She wanted them to be themselves, to be able to laugh and play because they wanted to, not because they had to.

And Hannah…

Poor, sweet Hannah.

Evelyn glanced at the small girl nestled against Welby’s chest, her tiny hands curled against his shirt, her pacifier bobbing rhythmically, her eyes half-lidded, unfocused.

Her chest tightened.

Hannah had been completely reshaped by Miranda’s hand.

Turned into an infant in every way except physically.

She would be lying if she said she hadn’t wanted this before.

She hadn’t dreamed of having a Little who nursed, who curled into her arms, who needed her the way Miranda had trained Hannah, too.

But—

To be forced upon her?

To be stripped away from the person Hannah had once been?

It wasn’t the same.

It wasn’t real.

And it made her feel sick.

Evelyn’s fingers tightened around the metal bar of the gondola, her heart heavy with guilt.

She had wanted a Little to care for, to nurture, to love—

But not like this.

Not when it meant stealing away who they were.

Not when it meant turning them into something they never wanted to be.

She felt horrible.

Because no matter how much she wanted to believe she was different—

Miranda had still pushed her into the same role as every other Amazon.

Even with the weight of guilt pressing into her chest, even with the unshakable fear of what Miranda was doing to them, Evelyn had to admit one thing to herself.

She was glad it was her.

Glad that if someone had to be the one forced into the role of Amazon Mommy—

It was her.

Because what if it wasn’t?

What if Lucas, Emily, and Hannah had ended up with someone else?

What if they had been given to someone like Miranda?

The thought sent a violent chill down her spine, one that had nothing to do with the soggy diaper between her legs.

Someone like Miranda would have been relentless.

There would have been no small mercies, no warmth, no gentle hands adjusting their clothes or whispering reassurances when no one was looking.

Just control.

Domination.

Complete and utter obliteration of who they had been before.

She thought of Emily’s bright, mischievous eyes, the way she could snap at someone with biting sarcasm one moment and giggle playfully the next.

Thought of Lucas, so eager to please, so full of energy, so pure in the way he loved and cared for those around him.

Thought of Hannah, poor Hannah, who had already lost so much of herself.

If Miranda had gotten her hands on them directly…

They would have been lost.

Truly, completely lost.

So no—

Evelyn wasn’t happy about being trapped in this role.

But she was grateful.

Because at least she was here.

At least she could soften the edges of their captivity.

At least she could offer them something Miranda never would—

A chance to hold onto the little pieces of themselves they still had left.

The gondola rocked gently, the vast landscape of the park sprawling out beneath them, painted in the golden hues of the setting sun.

As they neared the peak once more, suspended high above the world, Welby spoke, his voice soft, reflective.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

He leaned in slightly against her, his warmth pressing gently into her side, his tone not just referencing the view—but everything.

Evelyn smiled, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little as she nodded.

“It really is. It’s unlike anything else you’ll ever see.”

And it was.

Below them, the entire park stretched out like a glowing dream.

Paradise Pier shimmered in the fading sunlight, the water reflecting the colors of the sky, turning soft oranges into rich purples as the day slowly gave way to night.

The lights of the Incredicoaster twinkled. The track cut through the skyline like a jagged bolt of lightning. The cars roared over the loops, chasing the rebellious Little in a never-ending pursuit.

To the left, Pixar Pier pulsed with life, its colorful buildings and carnival games buzzing with movement, energy, and laughter.

The game booths were lively, with bells ringing, stuffed animals being won, and children squealing as they chased one another through the boardwalk.

The giant iconic Mickey face on the Pal-A-Round stared back at them, its towering frame casting long shadows over the pier below.

Beyond it, Cars Land flickered to life as the neon signs blinked on one by one, bathing the rock formations in a warm, nostalgic glow, transforming the landscape into a perfect mirage of Radiator Springs.

Farther out, Grizzly Peak stood tall, its rugged mountain silhouette majestic, wild, untamed, as if watching over the entire park.

Beyond that, Hollywood Land, where the towering Guardians of the Galaxy ride loomed, the structure shimmering under its flashing, multi-colored lights.

The main entrance, with its Art Deco-inspired architecture, glowed in the distance, the paths winding back toward Disneyland Park, the castle’s spires barely visible beyond the trees.

It was magic.

A world suspended between reality and dreams, where time felt both endless and fleeting.

Where even now, even with everything hanging over their heads, even with Miranda watching, even with the weight of their situation suffocating them—

For just a moment—

They could pretend.

Pretend this was real.

That they were just a family on vacation.

That they were free.

Evelyn let out a soft sigh, her hand tightening just slightly in Welby’s, grounding herself.

Just as their gondola reached its peak, it stopped, leaving them suspended high in the sky, the world stretching endlessly beneath them.

Emily and Lucas gripped onto one another instinctively, their wide eyes scanning the breathtaking view below.

For a moment, neither of them spoke; neither of them moved, simply taking it all in.

And then—

A distant boom.

The first burst of golden light erupted from the lagoon below, cascading outward like a shimmering flower of fire.

The fireworks show had begun.

The sky lit up in a symphony of color, each explosion sending vibrant reds, deep blues, soft greens, and electric purples rippling across the park.

The reflection in the water below danced and flickered, the illuminated fountains of World of Color bursting upward in perfect synchronization, pulsing and shifting with the music.

It was a spectacle unlike any other.

The park itself seemed to glow beneath the fireworks, with every building and pathway bathed in flickering hues of red, gold, pink, and silver.

The coasters continued their roaring circuits, the neon glow of Radiator Springs pulsed with life, and from above, it all looked so small, so dreamlike, so surreal.

Emily and Lucas let out awe-filled gasps, their fingers tightening around one another’s as they gazed outward, completely captivated.

For once—it didn’t seem like an act.

For once—they were just kids, watching fireworks from high above, lost in the magic of it all.

Evelyn felt her breath catch, her heart tightening.

She glanced at Welby.

The fireworks reflected in his eyes, his expression soft, thoughtful, distant.

For once, Miranda was quiet.

For once, there were no demands.

For once, there was only the sky, the lights, the moment.

The world was a blur of color, of fire, of light.

The fireworks burst across the sky in shimmering cascades, painting the night in hues of gold and crimson, of sapphire and violet, of emerald and pearl.

Beneath them, the park shimmered, alive with magic. The air was thick with the hum of music, the crackling energy of a moment that felt like it had stepped out of time itself.

And then—

She felt it.

His fingers.

Warm. Gentle. Steady.

They touched her chin, barely there at first, like a question, a whisper, a thought unspoken.

Her breath hitched, her heartbeat stuttering as he turned her face toward him.

Welby.

His eyes flickered in the firelight, soft, searching, holding something she had never seen before.

A smile curved his lips.

A real one.

Not forced.

Not for the Littles.

Not for Miranda.

But for her.

Her lips parted slightly, a question forming in her eyes.

And then—

He leaned in.

The world collapsed.

Every sound faded into nothing.

The fireworks became mere whispers in the background, the colors melting into a haze of gold and red behind her closed eyes.

Because the moment his lips touched hers—

Evelyn’s world exploded.

It was electric.

A spark raced through her veins, igniting something deep inside her that had been waiting, smoldering, aching to be set free.

Her breath shuddered, her entire body melting into him, into his warmth, into the undeniable truth of what this was.

She had wanted this.

For so long, in so many unspoken ways, in fleeting glances and gentle touches and quiet moments of understanding.

She had fought it, buried it, and convinced herself that it could never happen.

But now—here, beneath the fireworks, with the park stretching endlessly below them, with Lucas and Emily caught in the magic of it all, with Hannah nestled safely in his arms—

He had kissed her.

And she kissed him back.

Her fingers curled against his shirt, gripping onto him as if he were the only thing keeping her anchored to this moment.

Because she didn’t want to lose it.

Didn’t want to wake up and realize it wasn’t real.

Didn’t want to face the cold reality that tomorrow, Miranda would still own them, that the diapers would still be there, that the world would still see them as something they weren’t.

Right now—

There was only this.

Only him.

Only the way he felt solid, strong, and steady, the way his lips moved against hers with such perfect, aching slowness, the way he tasted like the warmth of stolen dreams and the lingering sweetness of melted chocolate.

Only the way the fireworks exploded beneath them made it seem as if the universe itself had been waiting for this moment.

Only the way her heart soared, untethered, free.

And for the first time in as long as she could remember—

She let herself believe.

Believe that maybe—just maybe—

There was still something worth hoping for.