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Like kids, littles are often curious, they learn through asking questions.
And like little kids, they don't always have a filter.
Sometimes that can be funny, but on the flip side, sometimes it's devastating.
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Ian is eating dinner with Anthony while regressed.
They're having soup and laughing until Ian goes quiet for a minute.
“Daddy?” He asks curiously
“What's up, bud?” He answers, taking a bite of his soup.
“Miss me when you left?” he asks and Anthony chokes on his food.
“Did I miss you? Of course I missed you bubba.” He answers, sliding his chair to be closer to his.
Ian nods, going back to eating like the conversation never happened.
“Bubs,” he says softly, turning the little's chair to face him.
“Do you think Daddy didn't miss you?” He asks worriedly
He shrugs, “Dunno,” he mumbles, fidgeting in his seat, “Missed you.”
Anthony sighs, pulling the little up into his lap. “Daddy missed you every single day.” He promises, combing his fingers through the little's hair
“Why go then?” Ian asks genuinely and he sighs sadly.
“We've talked about this before, remember baby?” He says sadly
Ian shakes his head. “Not why Daddy leave Ian.” he clarifies
Anthony takes a deep breath and the little grabs his hand and squeezes it.
“Daddy didn't want to leave you, love.” He admits sadly, “But in order to take time from our big boy friendship and try to save it, I had to step away from you too.”
“I knew I had to go, to save us bubs.” He explains sadly, “I didn't want to lose you forever.”
“It sucked.” Ian mumbles and Anthony laughs quietly as tears well in his eyes.
“I know it did.” He murmurs, pulling Ian into a hug so he doesn't see him crying.
“I know”
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Spencer is on FaceTime with Damien who's in another state for a convention.
They're both eating lunch and Spencer is regressed, with Damien calling him specifically to pull him away from playing video games.
“Why do you even want to be my caregiver?” Spencer asks as he takes a sip of his Kickstart, “I'm a dick, and I'm not even a cute kid to make it worth it.”
Damien looks into the camera, “Not every caregiver wants a baby,” he reminds him, “Besides, your personality is part of your charm.”
Spencer rolls his eyes, “I thought the whole deal with being a caregiver is getting the satisfaction from taking care of a little.” He tells him, “I don't need to be taken care of.”
“Why are we on the phone right now?” Damien counters, “You don't need the same care or as much care, but you still need it.”
“I can enjoy caring for a little kid from time to time, but they're a sensory nightmare.” He adds, “You're perfect for me.”
Spencer ducks out of frame to hide his smile, before coming back in. “You're cool too.” He responds nonchalantly and Damien smiles at him.
“I have to be across the convention hall in 10 minutes, so I have to go.” He tells him as he packs up his stuff and picks up the phone, “Text me when you age up, or I'll bother you about dinner.”
“I will.” he promises, holding his fist towards the camera, almost smiling when Damien fist bumps his camera.
“Bye Dames, good luck.” He tells his caregiver genuinely.
Damien smiles again, “Thanks Spence, I love you.” He responds, never expectant of him to say it back.
“Same.” He replies, hanging up and looking over at his discarded Switch before shaking his head.
Lunch then games.
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Trevor is sitting with Arasha in the little corner between videos. It’s a quick break so the two of them are just driving two of his rc cars around, Trevor expertly weaving though obstacles as Arasha attempts to chase him.
“Rash?” he asks, breaking the silence the two of them had been sitting in.
“What’s up kiddo?” she responds, looking over at him as he continues to focus on his car.
“Am I annoying?” he questions quietly, “Cuz I know I’m loud and I talk alot.”
Arasha places down her controller and puts an arm around him, “You’re not annoying,” she assures him, “You’re just an energetic little.”
“Did someone call you annoying?” she adds curiously, “Cuz I’ll kick their butt,”
He smiles at her and shakes his head, “Spencer does, but he says it cuz he loves me,” he tells her, “Mommy says he’s emotionally constipated, I don’t really know what that means but I think it’s just that he’s bad at them. When he calls me annoying that’s like him saying I love you.” he rambles.
“But I don’t want anyone else to think I’m annoying,” he explains, resting his head on top of hers.
“No one here at Smosh thinks you’re annoying.” she confirms, “You’re a little energizer bunny, but you’re such a good little.”
“Definitelly not annoying,” she reaffirms, “Just a chaotic, lovable little dude,”
Trevor grins, pulling her into a hug, “Love you,” he tells her, looking back at his car to drive it around again.
Arasha pats his back before grabbing her own controller again.
“Love you too, Trev”
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“Hey babe?” Shayne calls out as he walks towards their room, “Have you seen-”
He opens the door and the question dies in his throat.
Courtney is laying face down on the bed, their shoulders moving while they press a pillow over their head.
Shayne enters the room and sits on the edge of the bed, hoping it will alert them of his presence without scaring them too much.
“Go ‘way” they mumble halfheartedly as they lift their head to look at him, their face red with tears.
“Do you want me to go?” He asks, wanting to respect their privacy, even if they're clearly little.
They stare at him for a minute before shaking their head, reaching for him.
He obliges them, lying down next to them and allowing them to crawl up to lay on his chest.
“Hi princess,” he coos gently, running a hand through their hair, “Wanna tell papa what's going on?”
Courtney sighs sadly, turning their head to look up at him.
“What if papa go?” they ask quietly, clutching his shirt.
“Papa will never leave you on purpose.” He assures them, “I'm your papa as long as you want me to be.”
They sniffle, leaning into his hand, “You get tired?” they continue, but he shakes his head.
“I could never get tired of you,” he promises, “And even if some day I'm tired in general and need a break, that just means we talk about it. You're my baby, I wouldn't leave you, I'd ask Damien to watch you for the night or something.”
“Where’s this coming from?” He questions quietly, lightly scratching their scalp, “Some yucky intrusive thoughts?”
Courtney shakes their head, grabbing their phone that's laying abandoned in the bed and handing it to him after unlocking it.
Mom: surprised he isnt tired
cant imagine how exhausting it is to take care of you on top of everything else he has to deal with
“Your mom is wrong.” He tells her firmly, “I wake up every day happy that I get to spend it with either my wife, my baby, or both.”
“Happen before,” they murmur and he sighs.
“He also stole from your work,” he reminds them, “He kinda just sucked in general.”
They smile wryly, “Low bar.” Courtney jokes and he chuckles quietly.
“Papa's too in love with you to leave.” He admits honestly, “You're my world,”
Courtney looks at him lovingly before resting their ear over his heart. “Papa best papa,” they whisper, “Mine forever.”
“Forever and ever.”
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“Dada?” Chanse asks as Tommy places a plate of pasta in front of him.
Tommy smiles at the nickname, still getting used to it. “What's up bub?” He replies as he sits, sprinkling some cheese over his pasta.
“Do you wish I was a baby?” He asks, shaking pepper onto his food.
He looks at the little, surprised. “You're perfect just the way you are,” Tommy assures him, but Chanse shakes his head.
“That doesn't answer my question,” he pushes, “Would I be better if I was littler?”
Tommy takes a bite of his food and shakes his head. “I love that you're my independent little boy,” he promises, “Babies are cute, I love Angie and Court, but I've always known I wanted an older little.”
Chanse hums through a bite of food. “Why?” He asks curiously before eating another bite.
“Like I said, I love Court and Angie, but I don't think I could handle parenting a baby all the time.” He explains, “You need my help, and I love helping you and being there, but I don't think I could deal with how much work goes into it every day.”
“We play and watch stuff I already like, and then I make food and make sure you do what you need to do every day. You know how much work babies are.” He tells the little, who nods.
“And every once in a while, I get littler Chanse, and I love getting to dote on my little guy.” He adds lovingly, “You're the best by being you.”
“And if I ever wanna hold a baby, I can hold Angie, and then return her to her mama.” He finishes
Chanse nods as he processes everything Tommy said. “Don't wanna be a baby,” he decides, “I like being me.”
Tommy grins at him,
“I like you being you.”
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“Mama?” Angela asks, lying in bed next to Amanda right before they're supposed to go to sleep.
“Yes angel?” She answers sleepily.
“What I do wrong?” She asks quietly.
“You haven't done anything wrong baby.” Amanda answers immediately,
“Then why so much bad?” She asks sadly.
Amanda reopens her eyes and gently cups the little's face.
“Unfortunately, bad people don't care about how great you are.” She tells her gently, “No matter what you did, those people were gonna do what they did.”
“Not fair,” Angela whispers with tears welling in her eyes.
“Unfortunately,” Amanda murmurs, gently wiping her tears, “Life isn't fair. If it was, nothing would have ever happened.”
“And I would have gotten to you sooner,” she adds quietly, gently kissing her forehead.
Angela whines, burying her face in Amanda's chest, “Hate.” She says sadly, her tears soaking into her shirt.
Amanda rubs her back, “I hate them and I hate what they did to you.” She whispers, “You deserved so much better, and mama and your friends try to give you that every day.”
She doesn't respond, continuing to cry into Amanda until her breathing slows and she falls asleep.
Mindful of not waking her, Amanda gently moves the little's head back to wipe her face and flips her own shirt around before placing her face back.
Cradling her baby to her chest, Amanda lets herself cry as she also drifts to sleep. Wishing she could have protected Angela sooner.