Always His Baby

Chapter 12
Showtime

Chapter Description: Finally the truth is revealed. But that doesn't mean the journey is over for poor Sheridan.

A pair of green eyes framed by long, purple hair is revealed behind the cabinet door, along with a smile that practically sparkles.

"Hi there, petal!" The creature greets, brightly; "Playing hide and seek? Or did you happen to evesdrop on a grown up conversation?"

Sheridan grits her teeth. She lunges herself head-on at the woman who has reduced her to...this! All her bubbling anger at her father, grandmother and the rest of the world is targeted at the supernatural being who set this all into motion. She tries to grab at her stupid bright locks but finds her chubby wrists being gripped by the woman’s firmer hand.

She makes a tutting sounds, more amused than provoked by the attack. She then lifts Sheridan up and brings her out of the cupboard, setting her down on the floor, placing a finger to her forehead that seems to send a message to Sheridan’s limbs to stay completely still so as not to rush at her again. Sheridan growls but at least she’s able to glare up at the woman.

"Nuh uh uh." The creature smirks; "You don’t wanna be doing that, sweetums. Not unless you want to make me very cross...and I think even you are smarter than that. You wanna talk then you use your big girl words. Got it?"

Oh she could use some very Big Girl Words if she could remember them right now, Sheridan thinks to herself.

"You...you a genie?!" Even after everything that’s happened she can barely believe the words coming out of her mouth.

The woman shrugs; "Pretty much. You can call me Madame Ivina. If we become friends then I might let you just call me Ivy. "

"F’ends with you! Look wha’ you did to me!" She hisses, pointing at her shrunken frame; "You ruined my life."

Ivy raises an eyebrow; "Now c’mon, honey, I think you know your life wasn’t all that peachy before. Sure you may have been the popular girl with the hot boyfriend but I knew even before me and your daddy got talking that inside you were just a scared little girl. All I did was bring her out from hiding. What an adorable little thing she is too!"

She wants to smack this bitch’s teeth out. But she doubts her tiny arms have the co-ordination for that, let alone the strength, even if they were free from whatever spell Ivy has her under.

However, right now, she needs to get down to brass tacks. She needs answers.

She takes a breath; "My dad asked you to do this. Why? To punish me for something? Because we had a fight? Because he didn’t like Jake? What?!"

"You really think so little of him, don’t you." Ivy shakes her head down at her; "Considering what a brat you were, is it any wonder he just wanted his sweet little girl back? To be honest, I wasn’t expecting you to be this stubborn. I assumed you’d love being six. Back to a life of simple lessons, real friends and being Daddy’s little princess. But no, we had to go younger...and even this isn’t enough, it seems."

Sheridan feels a bit scared now. And sick.

"What do you mean ’had to’? Why do you keep making me younger?" She demands to know.

Ivy rubs her chin in thought. She circles Sheridan as if evaluating her silently.

"For me to make your daddy’s wish complete, I need you to be a happy little girl again. I can change your age but I can’t force you to accept it. Looks like yours and your daddy’s relationship is more strained than I thought at first. Six wasn’t enough. Nor is three it seems..."

Sheridan’s frozen legs buckle beneath her.

"Please...n-not younger...I’ll be good. I-I won’t argue with Daddy...Dad, anymore." She quivers, already feeling as though she’s getting smaller before the scary magical woman; "I won’t be h-happy if younger...I be mis-ra-bell..."

"How do you know, sweetie? We need to be sure first of all." Ivy kneels down and touches Sheridan’s nose, her green eyes shining; "Tell you what, you be a baby for twenty four hours and if your mind is still that of a big girl, I’ll turn you back. Deal?"

No. No deal. She doesn’t want to make any sort of deals with this thing.

"N-not baby...Stay big girl...P’ease!" Her dress feels loose, the bunched sleeves slipping down her tiny arms.

She hears the softest of thuds and looks down to see her dry Pull-Ups around her anklet socked feet.

"Just for a day, cutie. Then we’ll see." Ivy winks; "You’re definitely looking sweeter already! Those chubby little cheeks. Your daddy is going to be over the moon to have his baby girl back."

She tries to shake her head that suddenly feels heavier and heavier. The motion makes her dizzy and she falls back onto her bottom as her dress begins to swamp her. She looks down at the bows and frills puddling up around her little body. She wants to put some of them in her mouth. How silly is that?

She waves her arms that slip out of the sleeves to freedom. Now her hands can explore the soft, silky texture of the frock. She looks up to notice the lady still standing over her.

"Noh bay-beh." Sheri protests again, one fist gripping the frock. Her big girl frock. What she’s supposed to be wearing.

She wants to say more but her tongue feels heavy and awkward in her mouth. It doesn’t want to work.

"If you say so, stinky. See you soon!" The genie clicks her fingers and vanishes in a swirl of sparkly green and purple light that leaves Sheridan open mouthed with wonder and surprise.

Sheridan is left on her own in the kitchen, sat in her big girl dress that no longer fits her. She was supposed to be escaping, wasn’t she? The stupid magic lady stopped her. Made her little. Not just little but a baby! Things can’t get any worse than this. She looks down at her form and struggles to guess how old she is. She puts her hands to the floor and manages to push herself to her feet, but a single attempted step causes her to fall back onto her bottom, her dress making the landing a bit softer thankfully.

It’s not enough relief. She wants to cry. She can’t escape now. Maybe she can try crawling but how far will that get her? No. No crying. Crying is exactly what a baby would do and Sheridan has to prove to Madame Ivy that she can keep her big girl thoughts for a day. It can’t be too hard, surely? She’s been little for a few days now and still knows she’s supposed to be bigger. Stubborn. She’ll prove to them all just how stubborn she can be. She’ll show the genie, Dad, Grandma, all of them...

Sheridan keeps gripping her pretty frock. She focuses on knowing she’s supposed to fit into it...except it’s so easy to be distracted by how soft and lovely the fabric feels. How pretty the bows are. She’s so bored and worried now. It would be so nice to just lay down in the fabric and roll around. To touch the pretty pink bows and put one of the sleeves in her mouth. So lovely!

The door opens and Sheridan looks around. It’s Grandma.

"Oh darling! What are you doing there? And what are you wearing, hmm?" She coos, rushing forward and scooping her up; "Who dressed you up in that? I think one of your cousins was being naughty with you, weren’t they!"

Sheridan gazes at her grandmother. She thinks she’s supposed to be angry with her but she can’t remember why. At least she’s not alone anymore. She makes a gurgling sound and reaches to touch Grandma’s face.

The elder woman smiles; "Yes, who’s a lovely baby! Grandma get you properly dressed, don’t you worry. We can’t have little babies going for too long without a nappy on, can we."

She chuckles and pats Sheridan’s naked bottom before carrying her out the room.

Sheridan babbles with discontent. She doesn’t need a nappy. She can control going wee wee and poo poo. She knows how to use the potty in the den. She tries to tell Grandma this but the woman doesn’t seem to listen, just humming and bouncing Sheridan in her arms before taking her upstairs. The music Grandma hums does help Sheridan feel less anxious and she relaxes a bit more in her grandmother’s arms.

She doesn’t really need to worry so much right now, does she. Grandma’s here to look after her. All she has to do is just be patient and wait a day. She’ll still be a big girl surely. What do babies do anyway? Nothing. Absolutely nothing except sleep and eat and sleep some more. So she’ll have nothing to make her start thinking like a baby obviously.

So for now she lets Grandma take her to her bedroom to lay her down on the bed while she finds some more fitting attire for her granddaughter. Sheridan lays on her back and just focuses on being a big girl again. How she’ll be able to get back to nursery soon...No. Proper big school where all her friends are! How she’ll be able to go potty and put on clothes all by herself!

And how much she’s going to tell Daddy off for making her little. Let him know how naughty he is.

It will all be within her grasp again soon. For now there’s nothing wrong with Grandma dressing her in the most adorable of sailor dresses that comes up too short to cover the chunky nappy that’s been taped around her middle.

"I know these are old fashioned nowadays but I can’t resist, just this once!" Grandma coos, tying a blue bonnet around her head. Sheridan should be mortified but she barely notices. In fact it makes her head feel warm. She gives a content smile as Grandma lifts her up; "Let’s take you downstairs to show your aunties and uncles! Your new little cousin has been stealing all the limelight."

Her words drift over Sheridan’s head a bit but they all sound happy and bright. Grandma has such a sweet smile. And what’s the harm when she pops a white dummy between Sheridan’s lips? It just makes everything feel so much better.