Crossing Worlds

The group traveled to the glass elevators, Thomas’s Mommy leading the way. They arrived on deck five, traversing the ship's corridors, which were bustling with activity. Hannah was conscious of her overly squishy bum, blushing and fidgeting with her outfit. Hannah gripped Daddy’s hand, ensuring he didn’t walk too fast, but he seemed content to force her to walk, not bothering to scoop her up. 

Hannah wasn’t sure where they were headed, but it seemed the woman had a place in mind. All the restaurants were themed after Littles, and Hannah wondered which one they would enter. A few moments later, they pushed their way into the Binky Bistro. Upon entering the restaurant, Hannah first noticed the pastel-colored decor, with soft blues, pinks, yellows, and greens filling the space. Everything had a gentle, calming aesthetic, and the lighting was warm, casting a soft glow over the room. The tables were rounded and shaped like giant pacifiers, with the base of each table curving up to resemble the soft rubber of a binky. Instead of traditional chairs, the seating consisted of oversized high chairs with padded cushions. The chairs were adjustable, and while even the adult seats were similar, they lacked any restraints and were sized appropriately. 

Around the restaurant were murals of cartoon baby animals happily playing with binkies, bottles, and rattles, adding to the playful atmosphere. The walls were adorned with slowly spinning decorative mobiles, and soft lullabies played in the background, creating a relaxed atmosphere. The ceiling was soft and cloud-like, giving the entire space a dreamy feeling.

A crew member greeted them warmly, “Hi there, five? Right this way.” she said, ushering the group further into the restaurant. 

They were shown to their table, and Hannah, Emily, and Thomas added to the actual highchairs, strapped in nice and tight, the adults taking their seats. “Your server will be right with you.” The receptionist informed them as she left.

Hannah’s wristband buzzed and lit up. “Welcome to the Binky Bistro!” It said. Below the message, the holographic screen had a list of menu options Hannah could choose from. The menu seemed to consist of options catered towards Littles, Mashed Potato Clouds, Mini Grilled Cheese Stars, Carrot and Pea Puree, Bunny Noodles, Chicken Nibblers, Teddy Toast; the list went on. Hannah saw a box she could hit to select an item and checked the one for the noodle dish; it had sounded tasty enough.

The menu changed, listing drinks and various beverages, including flavored milk, fruit juices, and mocktails. Hannah had no intention of drinking milk or juices if she had an option, so she quickly selected a mocktail for a daiquiri. The last thing Hannah needed to choose was a dessert. Once again, she was presented with some fun options: Paci Puffs, Rattle Cake Pops, or Bottle Shakes. Hannah’s mouth was watering at the idea of a delicious cake pop; selecting the option, a message thanking Hannah appeared before the screen winked off. 

Around the table, the rest of Hannah’s party was scrolling through their menus, selecting different options. Everyone finished individually; a waiter stopped by moments later and served drinks. Hannah’s drink was served in a bottle, and the adults were in bottle-shaped glasses with straws. 

“How long have you two been with Daddy?” Thomas’s Mommy asked, smiling at the girls.

Emily said, “I’ve been with him for a month. Hannah is here, only a few days.”

The woman’s eyes widened, “Only a few days? And You’re already going on a cruise! How exciting! You must normally be very well behaved.” she said in a child-like tone to Hannah. “Do you have a Mommy?” 

Hannah and Emily shared a look, Daddy, thankfully, stepping in before they could answer, “They do not, no.” 

Hannah could practically see the sparkle of excitement in the woman's eyes as she sized them up, “A lone Daddy caring for two adorable baby girls, that’s an awful lot of work! Plus, there is stuff only a Mommy can do for her babies.”

Daddy chuckled, “It is a lot of work, but I’m more than happy to do it; I love my girls dearly; how long have you had Thomas?” he asked, redirecting her attention back.

The woman snapped out of her trance, glancing at Daddy and then at Thomas, “I’ve had him for just over a year now, isn’t that right?” she asked, pinching Thomas’s cheek playfully.

Thomas grinned, giggling and squirming, “Yes, Mommy.” he responded as his Mommy felt up his diaper, checking him.

“He’s such a good boy, especially since I took away his potty training. Are you going to take the natural route with them?” The woman asked, her eyes boring into Hannah suddenly.

Hannah felt a cold shiver at her words; what did she mean she took away his control? She hoped the woman only meant he had been trained out of it, but the way she said it, Hannah worried it was something far more nefarious. 

“I prefer the natural route with my girls.” Daddy responded, “They have responded very well to positive reinforcement.”

The woman's eyes lit up, “Really? That’s how I trained Thomas, too! Although he doesn’t need that big boy stuff anymore.” she said, ruffling his hair as their server returned. 

Hannah immediately noticed that the adults had not had to order off the same menu as her. Daddy was still served some sort of beef dish, simmering and sizzling, and Thomas’s Mommy was served some chicken salad. That said, Hannah’s dish didn’t look bad either. The noodles were a pasta dish made with soft, curly noodles and a creamy sauce, topped with carrots sliced to look like little bunnies. Her dessert, a cake pop in the shape of a rattle, dipped in colorful icing and coated in sprinkles. She found it odd that dessert was served simultaneously, but she didn’t question it. Emily was served bite-sized grilled cheese sandwiches cut into star shapes and served with warm tomato soup and mini cream cuffs shaped like pacifiers filled with sweet vanilla cream or chocolate mousse. 

Her food was delicious, as was everything Hannah had tried thus far in the Amazon world. While the food lacked flavor complexity, it made up for its quality. While Daddy didn’t tell Hannah to finish all her food, she knew from experience she would need to clear her plate, and since her food wasn’t disgusting puree, she was more than inclined to do so. Hannah happily finished her meal, ending with the delicious, moist, succulent cake pop, ending her meal with the mocktail. 

“You seem like a nice guy, Welby; how haven’t you married yet? Especially with Little ones!” Thomas’s Mommy continued.

Daddy shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with the line of questioning. Hannah thought it odd that Daddy hadn’t lied about his name but was willing to lie about his marital status. “The girls were a recent requirement; I focused heavily on work before them, but I can finally take a more relaxed role and have the time to care for Little ones. As for being married, I have been. Does Thomas not have a Daddy? It seems he could benefit from a strong male role model.”

The woman smiled coyly, “He does not, and he most certainly could, although Thomas here will never have to worry about growing up to deal with the silly nonsense of being a man. I, too, was married once; we split on neutral terms and different interests. Have you considered enrolling your girls in a reprogramming class? They are well-behaved now, but Littles tend to hide their true nature.”

Hannah shifted uncomfortably in her seat, Emily looking equally as discomforted, trying to focus on eating rather than the conversation. 

“They were for a week.” Daddy replied, “However, I prefer a more hands-on approach; I prefer to get my hands dirty and do things myself.”

“I like a man who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.” The woman replied, shifting closer to Daddy, “It’s good to see you aren’t afraid to do what needs to be done. Have you been able to complete their step-down programs yet? What sort of trouble have you encountered, and how have you overcome it?”

Hannah shifted again, feeling her diaper squish beneath her. She had to remind herself that it wasn’t a messy diaper constantly; it was just wet. The line of questioning the woman was asking fell in line with an interview, granted, a very odd interview. It also seemed she was flirting with Daddy, or was she reading too much into it? Hannah glanced at the woman, her legs shifting to point towards Daddy, her elbows on the table, and the look on her face as she studied him. She WAS hitting on him! Granted, it was in a fashion Hannah had never seen before, but the signs were there; it was as if she were testing him, seeing if he were a potential mate. The idea made Hannah increasingly uncomfortable, sitting awkwardly between them as they chatted. 

“They are both well advanced in most areas of their program.” Daddy explained, “We’ve had some trouble, but ever since I took complete control, it’s gone far smoother. They are rewarded for good behavior and punished for bad behavior. They haven't been wholly desexualized yet, but I see that as a tool, a reward for extra good behavior. Over time, it’ll fade, especially as we get closer to completion. Has Thomas responded well to positive reinforcement? What sort of techniques have you found that worked well for him?”

The woman grinned, leaning back, her finger twirling the straw in her drink, “For him, I’d never stimulate him directly during the early days, Thomas. Honey, why don’t you tell the nice man what you would do?”

Thomas giggled, blushing, “That’s big boy stuff, Mommy; I shouldn’t talk about it.”

“Just this once, pumpkin, only to explain what you used to do, how naughty you used to be.” his Mommy replied.

Thomas looked down but did explain, “Well, Mommy would put me in humpers, which only work once you are wet and messy, and I’d have playtime with my stuffies until I had big boy feelings and…” he trailed off, seemingly mortified at his admission.

“He would make cummies.” Thomas’s Mommy finished with a grin, “But, of course, that was a long time ago; you don’t need that silliness anymore!” 

Thomas perked up, shaking his head and smiling once again, “Nuh-uh! I’m Mommy’s little pamper packer!” he said with a giggle.

Hannah wasn’t even the one who had admitted it, and she blushed deeply. She had no clue what these humpers were, but considering they seemed to be a type of diaper, she could infer what they did. She was equally embarrassed to hear that they had been used to entice Thomas to enjoy using his diapers; she hoped Daddy wasn’t taking notes. 

Hannah’s many drinks were catching up to her yet again, and she felt her bladder aching. She sighed, relaxing, letting it soak into her diaper, swelling further. Hannah had no clue how much more these could fit; hopefully, Daddy would change her soon. She wanted to bring it to his attention but feared what would happen if she did. As Daddy had said, Hannah had to trust that he knew what he was doing.

Daddy had been looking between Emily and Hanna but glanced back at the woman, “I will certainly have to keep that in mind. How long were you and your ex together?” once again, changing the subject.

The woman sat back, glancing at Thomas, “Four years, although that was a while ago. Once we split, I took on Thomas to help me get over my grief; I’ve poured all my love and devotion into him.” he said, smiling and kissing Thomas’s forehead, “What about you?”

Daddy grimaced, “We were only together for two years, but we split recently.” he admitted. 

Daddy declined to admit that it had only been a day since their departure, although Hannah knew it would likely protect them as much as it was to defend himself. The less this woman knew of their true nature, the less likely she would be able to backstab them should she find they were wanted criminals.

Thomas’s Mommy winced, glancing at Daddy, “I’m sorry.” she said softly, her playful nature replaced with genuine sincerity, “Does it still hurt?”

Hannah had been so wrapped up in their escape she hadn’t stopped to think about Daddy or his feelings. She felt ashamed at this; Hannah’s life on the Amazon world had been one of constant turmoil, bouncing from one chaotic mess to the next, fending for herself as much as she was battling for Emily. Hannah had constantly been looking out for herself, thinking internally, and being trapped in a world that deemed her incapable of self-preservation. These Amazons, for all their quarks, still had human-like emotions. Hannah had seen it before; Daddy, for his stoic nature, cared deeply. She had seen it in his face when they were picked up from school, at the park, or put to bed; Daddy cared deeply. 

Hannah saw it in his face as he was asked the question; a world of pain was hidden just beyond the facade of a strong parental figure. Being sent away had been a mild upset to Hannah, bouncing from one place to the next. To Daddy, however, his entire life had come crumbling down. Daddy spent his whole life developing his career and skills, stoking a relationship, and presumably marrying the love of his life. They fought to have their children and fostered a solid parental connection while raising Little Evan. 

To Hannah, she had been able to escape a woman who wanted to torture her and left a brother behind whom she genuinely didn’t know or understand. To Daddy, his grief ran much more profound. To him, he had left behind his son; he had left behind an entire life. Daddy’s whole world had been shattered, his life strewn amongst the ruins of Hannah’s harrowing escape. Daddy’s eyes met Hannah’s; she saw a deepness to him he frequently hid. She was his daughter, even if it had only been a few days. Daddy hadn’t just sided with her and Emily; his life had been entirely upended because he wanted to protect them; he genuinely believed he was doing what was right by them. Daddy could have quickly gone with what Mommy wanted, sending them off to have their minds wiped, denying any connection to the Resistance; it would have been so easy for him.

Their eyes met, and Hannah could see the agony in his eyes. He hid it well, but he had been crying. Hannah could see the subtle tear-stained cheeks, now wiped clean, the sleeplessness in his eyes from a long, uncomfortable night of silently weeping for his loss. Daddy put on a solid front for Emily and her because it was what a parent did for their child. At this moment, Hannah saw through the mask to the natural man beyond, and she wanted to cry for him. Despite the crack in his facade, Daddy met her eyes and smiled; oh, how he still smiled. The smile made Hannah want to run to him and hug him tightly; even now, with his guard down, he still put on a solid front for Hannah. This man was far more than met the eye.

Daddy’s eyes never left Hannah, nodding softly, “Yes.” he whispered. 

Thomas’s Mommy extended a hand, laying it atop Daddy’s, “I’m sorry.” she replied softly, Daddy’s attention shifting to her, “I understand your pain.”

Daddy smiled in return, “I appreciate it; I will be fine.”

Hannah’s heart ached for the man. She could see now how much Daddy hurt, and she felt powerless to help. The woman turned to Hannah and Emily, “Why don’t we hang out the rest of the day, and I take the girls tonight?”

Daddy glanced at Hannah and Emily, shaking his head, “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want to be away from them.”

“I understand; allow me to extend my expertise and at least take some of the burden then.” The woman responded, squeezing Daddy’s hand, “I know the pain you are going through, Welby; I will not try to take her place, but at least let me do you this small favor.”

Daddy turned to her; his eyes had gone a pinch glassy, although he quickly recovered and stifled his emotions. Hannah’s heart ached for the man; he nodded slowly, turning to the girls, “Girls, I’d like to formally introduce you two to Miss Kaylee.” 

Miss Kaylee turned to them, offering a warm smile, “Hi, you two, it’s nice to meet you.”

For as much trouble as the woman had caused, she respected Miss Kaylee for helping Daddy in a time of need. Hannah smiled, returning her greeting, “Nice to meet you,” Emily followed suit. 

“You’re both very good girls for finishing all your food. I’m sure after all that, you two need fresh diapers; why don’t we get you both changed?” Miss Kaylee asked, standing and proceeding to help pull the girls from their highchairs. 

Daddy observed, tracking Miss Kaylee's motions, and while he didn’t say anything, Hannah could tell he was conflicted. On the one hand, Daddy wanted to protect and care for them, but he had thrown away his entire life to do what he felt was right. Yet, on the same token, he hurt deeply, and Hannah wondered how long he could keep up the strong front. As much as Daddy didn’t want to admit it, he needed help, so it was with reluctance that he didn’t step in as Miss Kaylee scooped Hannah into her arms, helping Emily and Thomas down from their high chairs and holding hands as they left the restaurant. Hannah found it interesting that they didn’t need to pay, but if everything was included as the crew member had indicated, perhaps they didn’t need to. 

Daddy followed behind, and while he closely watched them, Hannah could tell the man needed help. Miss Kaylee led their party down the deck to a changing area, laying Hannah down first as she still carried her. “Positive reinforcement.” Miss Kaylee said to herself, she felt at Hannah’s diaper, smiling, “Such a good girl! Do you need to go poopies at all, sweetie? That was a big meal you had!” 

Hannah felt her face flushing in embarrassment at the question. While Hannah would have been helped over to the potty to relieve herself in any other situation, it was evident she would be permitted no such luxury. While Miss Kaylee gave Hannah the decency of allowing her to go now and have a clean diaper for longer, she made it evident that Hannah would be using her diaper if she needed to go.

“I, umm, maybe…” Hannah admitted, blushing, “I’ll try.”

“Here, let me help.” Miss Kaylee said with a smile.

Hannah’s first instinct was to be afraid and get away from this woman. No, in her history of being here, Amazon had good intentions regarding Hannah’s bathroom habits. Allowing an Amazon to ‘help’ her go seemed utterly lousy. Instead of forcing something into Hannah, the woman peddled Hannah’s legs in either hand. What on Earth was she doing? Miss Kaylee peddled Hannah several times, bringing her ankles together and pushing them towards Hannah’s tummy. The nature of the peddling was to help promote movement, and bringing her legs up like this helped force Hannah’s body to push.

As Hannah’s legs were brought towards her tummy, she felt a gurgling, gas escaping, and suddenly she was pooping herself. Hannah’s face flushed deeply as the mess pushed into the tight confines of her diaper. Miss Kaylee relaxed her grip, peddling and making again, but Hannah’s diaper swelled even more. Hannah was mortified, lying there as the woman helped her poop herself. After several cycles, the woman lay Hannah’s legs back down and popped the tabs of her diaper, humming softly.

“There we go! Such a good girl! I’m proud of you.” Miss Kaylee said, a warm fluttering feeling filling Hannah’s heart at the praise, “Let’s get you into a nice, clean diaper.” 

While Miss Kaylee may have been more adaptable at changing boys' diapers, she was no stranger to girls either and quickly changed Hannah, thankfully fitting her into a fresh, clean Little’s diaper this time. Hannah felt relieved at not being forced into another squish diaper. Hopefully, she wouldn’t find herself in other ‘fun’ diapers.

Hannah’s diaper was pulled into place, Miss Kaylee leaning down and kissing the front of her clean diaper before playfully blowing a raspberry on Hannah’s tummy. Hannah squirmed and squealed in surprise as Miss Kaylee pulled her shorts back into place. She lifted Hannah from the changing table, patting her bum and offering her to Daddy.

“One down, three to go.” Miss Kaylee said with a smile as Daddy took Hannah in his arms. 

Daddy nestled Hannah in the crook of his arm as if he were holding an infant, smiling down at her. “Hi, baby girl,” he said warmly.

Despite the pain Hannah and Emily had caused this man, Daddy still loved them; he cared for them and their wellbeing. Hannah desperately wanted to repay this man for all the hardship he endured on their behalf. If any person ever deserved it, it was Daddy. This man had been through hell and back for them; Hannah’s heart ached for him. Laying there in his arms, she realized that while she couldn’t directly help, she couldn’t exactly help him find new love, but maybe there was something she could do. 

Daddy had fought tooth and nail for his girls; he wanted them so badly he had been imprisoned for what he believed in. Hannah felt shame for forcing him to be hard on her and strict with her. Hannah realized that the best way she could help Daddy was to be a good girl for him. 

Hannah grinned, giggling and nestling into his arm, “Daddy.” she replied with a playful smile. 

She reached up to Daddy’s face, making a playful gesture. Daddy smiled at her, resting his cheek in her open palm, “My sweet, baby girl.” 

End of Chapter 39