Always His Baby

Chapter 15
Puppy Love

Chapter Description: The clock is ticking. Can Sheridan's big girl thoughts survive the daddy/daughter day Dan has planned?

She dreams of a purple demon with emerald eyes chasing her into a cave. The creature snaps its razor sharp fangs in the dust she kicks up behind her feet. At first she can out-run it, no problem. She’s the roadrunner. She’s Sonic the Hedgehog. Then the cave begins to get darker and she feels she’s slowing down. Her legs are no longer as agile. They’re becoming shorter. Stumpy.

And then she trips, falling flat on her face, knowing that she won’t be able to crawl away from the monster behind.

Sheridan opens her eyes. It’s dark, the mobile above her head providing a soft blue glow to the room that’s hardly comforting at this moment. The shadows dance around her and increase her fear. She’s surrounded by bars. Is she in prison? A cage? Trapped? She opens her mouth and empties her lungs.

She can’t cry for Daddy this time. She can only cry. Wail. Bawl.

And then Daddy is there in less than ten seconds. He turns on the light, sending the shadow monsters running away. He scoops his baby girl into his arms and Sheridan finally catches her breath. Daddy’s here. Daddy’s holding her to his chest and talking so softly, so reassuring, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead. Didn’t they do this dance just recently? Wasn’t something different about it?

It’s hard to think. The monsters might still be sneaking around. She concentrates on Daddy’s voice. Daddy’s warmth. She’s relaxing again already. Her little brain finds it so tough to think of monsters and memories when Daddy is here. Her mind just becomes smooth as butter. Easy-peasy.

A bottle of milk on Daddy’s lap and then she’s quickly drifting to dream-land.

*

Sheridan sits on the living room rug, surrounded by her many soft teddies and toys. Her lioness is there, so much bigger now, and so is a much bigger brown bear and a white fluffy bunny. They’re all there to play with her.

Right now she’s having lots of fun with her learning table. It’s so colorful with so many big buttons for her press that make all sorts of different silly sounds! If she presses the button with a monkeys face then she can hear a monkeys giggle that makes her start giggling as well! And she can make music on the little piano by slapping her palm against the big keys.

She’s waiting for Daddy to finish making sandwiches for their lunch later. She’s already full from her breakfast and the nappy between her legs is clean for now, unlike earlier this morning when she had woken up to find it heavy, wet and smelling beneath her. It had ruined what had otherwise been a restful second sleep after her nightmare.

Daddy had quickly arrived, as always, greet her with kisses and clean her up.

"Phew. Baby made a big mess for Daddy, didn’t she? Good girl." He’d chided with a big smile so Sheridan knew it was okay.

A new nappy had been taped on along with a new outfit for today. No silly frilly dresses this time. Daddy’s dressed her red and white polka dot romper suit which, okay, does have some frills on the straps along with red ribbons on the front. She has white ribbons in her hair too, keeping it up in two pigtails. At least no one can see her nappy like yesterday, though she barely worries about that as much as she did.

She is just a baby after all. Daddy says it’s normal for her to be in nappies. So no one is going to think she’s odd, will they. Plus, Daddy says she looks a bit like Minnie Mouse which made her smile.

"Having fun, darling?" Daddy says as he comes in from the kitchen, looking down at his daughter with her teddies and play table.

Sheridan gives him a happy smile around her dummy before patting at the keys again to show Daddy the funny noise.

He crouches down close to her; "Can you get the cow to make a sound, Sheri? Show Daddy."

Cow. Which one is a cow? She has to blink and take a second to remember. Her hand hovers over the animal buttons. Cows make milk. Milk is white...just like some of that animals fur. She pats her palm down and that and is rewarded with a loud ’Moooo!’ from the table.

Daddy claps his hands; "That’s it! Clever girl." And Sheridan claps her hands as well, a bit clumsy.

Inside, behind the smile, she’s taking a breath. All she needs to do is keep this up. Letting Dad think she’s a simple-minded infant, enthralled in such menial and stupid past-times, while secretly keeping her adult thoughts stored away. She knows it’s a risky game but it’s the only plan she has right now. Dad won’t try any trick too strong like the familiar music yesterday if he’s confident she’s already swept up in the joys of babyhood.

She made a deal with that...genie woman. She intends to see it through. If she can.

*

Before they can go to have their picnic, Daddy takes her to the Mum & Baby Club at the local surgery. Sheridan wants to ask why the club is called that when daddies are welcome too. A third of the parents in the room today are fathers, some on their own like her daddy and others accompanying their wives. She doesn’t remember all those years ago when Daddy brought her here for the first time. Back then he was the only dad there and had to use some of his very best charm to convince the woman in charge at the time to let him join, mostly for the sake of wanting Sheridan to interact with other babies.

The parents sit in a circle with their little ones on their laps. They guide their hands to clap along to the nursery rhyme the pediatrician in charge is leading positively. Sheridan fights the urge to show off, to prove that she can clap and bounce better than all the other stupid babies. Then she remembers that she’s supposed to be acting like those stupid babies and she stays at their pace. She responds as they expect. She giggles when toys are dangled in front of her. She jostles happily in Daddy’s arms to the soft music that’s played.

When Daddy starts chatting about boring grown up stuff with another single father, who’s here with his dribbling baby boy, Sheridan declines the offer to play and stays sitting near Daddy, drinking her ba-ba of juice. She looks at the man’s son; sat on his dads knee in a red onesie and clumsily eating a biscuit, crumbs breeding swiftly around his lips. His eyes are glassy, almost unaware, while his father wipes his face clean.

"Messy little tiger, aren’t you!" His dad beams and the baby just babbles and bounces.

Sheridan looks up at her own father. Why does he want her to be like that? She sticks her thumb in her mouth to concentrate. The need to understand is fast replacing her instinctive anger at the subject.

Another sing-song and then it’s time to go (thank God). Sheridan prefers it when they’re away from others, especially other babies. They’re a reminder of what she is. What she might become if she’s not very, very careful today.

Does she have to wait the whole day? Or just a day from after the genie turned her into a baby? She tries to look up and around at Daddy’s hand on the push-chair to catch a glimpse of his watch. She squints but the lines and numbers make no sense to her. Then Daddy catches her looking.

"You trying to climb out, sneaky princess?" He chides; "When we get to the park you can have some time to explore."

How much time, she wonders, sitting back against the supportive fabric as Daddy wheels her through the town, watching all the people move like giants around her. Will she have a chance to escape? Even if she could, where would she go? No matter how hard she tries to speak, nothing more than a few meaningless syllables escape. And her little hands are too clumsy to hold a pen or probably finger-paint. Her body is weak and useless.

At least the park is pretty. Daddy picked a good day for this, the sun beaming down on the grass and the duck pond. It’s not too warm but Daddy puts a matching polka dot hat hat on Sheridan’s head anyway before letting her out of the push-chair and onto the picnic blanket.

This is her ’freedom’. Being able to crawl several feet towards the grass. The second she moves off the fabric, Daddy’s hands are on her middle and easing her back on the blanket, patting her padded bottom gently.

"I’m not letting you go that easily, missy." He smiles, softly.

Sheridan pouts at him and Daddy’s expression changes. As if he regrets the words he just spoke.

"Daddy just wants you to be safe. Daddy will always look after you, Sheridan." He assures her, "C’mon. Time for yum-yums."

Sheridan can’t silence the rumble in her tummy. She agrees to sit on the rug and let Daddy feed her the soft buttered bread followed by some delicious strawberry yogurt. The fruit is so lovely that it does raise her mood a little. Daddy pulls a cheeky grin and takes a little spoon-full himself. He ends up with some yogurt on his nose.

Sheridan laughs, waving her hands at him. Naughty Daddy!

She feels much better after her food and another ba-ba. She plays Peek-A-Boo with Daddy for a bit and then he lets her crawl in the grass with him standing nearby. Sheridan grabs at the blades, finding herself fascinated by the tiny ants and the pretty ladybird that looks similar to the color of her romper except with black spots. It’s so strange and wonderful to look at the world through tiny eyes.

She’s reminded of all the names of the colours, the plants, the flowers and the bugs because Daddy is lying beside her, watching her every move and talking to her.

"Isn’t this lovely, princess? You’re having such fun, aren’t you." He says, rubbing her back; "You’re so careful with the ladybird. Maybe when you’re older we can think about getting a puppy? You always asked me before but I wasn’t sure you were ready...I’ll try to have more faith in you this time, my clever little girl."

The thought of a puppy makes her roll over and giggle. Daddy blows raspberries on her tummy and she can’t escape the infantile bliss invading almost every sense for a few moments.

Daddy carries her to the pond and gives her some bread to throw to the duckies. She laughs and wants to pet them but Daddy says they’re very busy right now and it’s rude to interrupt their dinner. That makes sense. Instead, Daddy takes her to the swings. She wants to share a big one with Daddy but she’s far too little so she’s put in one of the toddler ones.

It’s still oh so fun, the wind against her face as Daddy pushes her higher and higher. The joy increases so rapidly that she doesn’t even notice how wet her bottom has become. Or the familiar voices until the swinging starts to slow down.

"Hi, Mr. Tyler!" Robin’s voice calls before she turns to Sheridan; "Hey munchkin! How ya doen? Having fun with Daddy?"

Sheridan blinks for a moment. How does she know Robin again? The girl with the big glasses? Oh right! Robin’s her babysitter. Robin is always nice to her. She makes a big grin and waves her hands at her. Robin takes her fingers and kisses them happily.

"What you guys up to?" Daddy asks them kindly, which is when Sheridan notices that Robin isn’t alone.

Her brother is standing right behind her. Jake.

He’s just standing there, in his sports vest and jogging bottoms, barely even acknowledging the baby there. Robin is doing most of the talking, their parents old friends of Daddy’s. Why isn’t Jake noticing her? The stupid boy should be looking at her, kissing her hands like his sister did. And why does that matter so much...

A thought pops into Sheridan’s head. Followed by another. And another.

Soon her mind is like a pan of popcorn on a stove. Her eyes are wide and her mouth round. She remembers Jake kissing her before. Not just her fingers. But her feet, her thighs, her hips, her lips and her chest. When her chest was much bigger, not flat and small like it is now. She remembers those eyes, not just looking at her, but gazing in teenage lust and adoration. Now he’s forgotten her. He thinks she’s nothing but a silly baby, not even worth regarding. The daughter of some friend of his mum’s. Babies aren’t interesting to teenagers unless they can make some money off looking after them.

He would be interested in her if he knew the truth. Maybe that’s why he’s here. Maybe it’s destiny. He’s here to save her.

True loves kiss can break any curse.

Sheridan makes an excited gurgle and reaches out her little hands towards Jake. They all look at her and laugh, fondly.

"Someone is popular today!" Robin cheers.

Jake smiles but looks awkward. He reaches out and pats Sheridan’s hat; "Good baby."

Then Sheridan grabs onto his wrist tight with both hands.

"Wow. Looks like you’ve got a new girlfriend, son." Daddy teases the boy; "Why don’t you take her on the pony, she’d love that?"

Jake’s clearly more favourable in Daddy’s eyes when he doesn’t hold the threat of being a potential boyfriend.

"I dunno." He hesitates, not too fond of babies.

"Go on, bro. Show your sensitive side. Will win you points with the girls in your class, trust me." Robin eggs him on.

That seems to be enough to make Jake roll his eyes and lift Sheridan out of her seat, holding her awkwardly on his hip, his arm supporting her wet nappy.

"C’mon then, squirt. Time for a pony ride."

The pony is a one of a few plastic animals attached to springs in the playground attached to springs for babies and toddlers to bounce on to their hearts content. Sheridan isn’t interested in that though. For now she clings to Jake’s vest as he takes her further away from her father and his sister.

She takes a breath and looks into his eyes. How is she going to get him to understand her? She has precious few seconds to spare.

"Christ, you’re getting heavy. I’m gonna tell Rob and your dad to cut down on the biccies they stuff you with or you’re gonna be a fattie by the time you’re at school, squirt." He jests, not thinking too much about his words. "Good luck getting the boys to like you then."

"You said you’d love me no matter what size I was!" She says, the words finding form in her throat, releasing in a squeaky, soft tone that startles her.

She’s not the only one. Jake is frozen in place, staring at her, skin paling quickly as if he’s just seen a ghost.