One hour passed by,and Gus was still asleep with Arthur, but Annie walked inside the bedroom calmly, heading to Arthur’s bed, slowly pulling the blankets out of them, as she calmly used her paws to rub both boy’s hairs.
“Wakey wakey, boys.” She said in her calm tone, repeating it a few times once she noticed they wouldn’t wake up.
Eventually, Gus moved a bit and opened his eyes, looking around and realizing he just had a nap. It wasn’t out of his routine back in the base, but he took medicines for that, just to stay asleep to don’t feel the needles around his arms, and would wake up for his physiotherapy, or for taking up other sets of medicines. Now, he just took a nap and woke up, and felt really great from it.
“Hi uh.. Miss Annie.” He said, stretching his arms and getting up from the bed.
Arthur was the next as he smiled at Annie and Gus, still hugging his plushie.
“Hi hi mommy. Hi Gussy.” He said, making Gus blush a bit, as Arthur called him the same childish nickname Annie calls him.
Arthur also got up from the bed, but he was also blushing like Gus, but it was for another reason, as Annie already spotted.
“It’s alright sweetie. It happens to everyone, even with Gussy, right?” She asked, looking at Gus.
Gus still hadn’t understood what was going on, but giving a better look, he noticed that Arthur’s pullups were different, and the prints on the front were all gone.; So that’s what they wanted to mean.
“Oh yeah.it happens with me too, Arthur. It 's hard.” He said a bit, noticing that Arthur got a bit happier knowing that he wasn’t the only kid around that still wet the bed.
“Let’s get you changed into a fresh pullup, and then we're all going to the shopping mall. There we can get an ice cream for you both.” She said, going to the wardrobe and grabbing another pullup from the wardrobe.
Gus blushed some, as Annie started to change Arthur’s pullup right there. He kept standing as Annie ripped off his pullup. It must be really embarrassing for Arthur. Gus thought for a bit while Annie was busy cleaning Arthur. He promised her he would help Arthur with it. He sighed a bit, closing his eyes and actually letting a small flow of pee reach the pullup.
Once he let it release into the pullup, he could feel it getting warmer and absorbing the pee, while the front prints also started to fade, exactly like Arthur’s did. By the time Annie had cleaned up Arthur and dressed him in another pullup, she smiled at them.
“Alright boys, let’s get some pants and then we’ll… Oh, Gussy, did you also have a wet nap?” She asks, almost instantly noticing his pullups.
Arthur looked back at him, and his embarrassed expression changed to a surprised one, followed by a relieved one. Gus on the other hand, couldn’t say anything else to Annie, just a shy nod, as she moved to him. She checked if he had finished wetting it, knowing by the warmness that it wasn’t done while he was asleep. She knew Gus had done it on purpose to help Arthur.
Would have been really hard for her to contain her surprised expression, but seeing a little one in a wet pullup, she knew how to deal with it, be it a regressed adult or not. She had done it before in the base, right on the early days from Gus’ regression.
She calmly ripped the pullups like she did with Arthur’s, and using some baby wipes, she calmly cleaned Gus’ crotch and bottom. She used a few wipes to make sure he was clean, and then grabbed the baby powder, applying some on her hands and rubbing it around the pullup’s area.
She then grabbed another pullup, this one had a different dinosaur from the previous one.Annie held the pullup near the floor with both paws, instructing Gussy to step in, exactly like she did at the bathroom, and he again got his right and left paws inside, as she lift it up, taping the back tape over the tail.
“Hey Gussy, our pullups have the same print!” said Arthur happily, noticing that both pullups had the same dino’s and pattern.
“There we go, two little silly boys all changed. This needs to go to your potty charts, sweeties.” She told calmly, heading to the wall, and placing a rainy drop sticker right at the side of both golden star stickers.
So far Gus’ potty chart just had a golden star and a rainy drop, while Arthur had a few more stars and rainy drops, but they were spaced enough. Gus remembered that Annie told him back at base that it’s 4 accidents in a week for being back to diapers, and with that rule, Arthur got his second rainy drop.
Annie proceeded to the wardrobe, getting two shorts, then went back to the boys. “Now that we’re all dry, let’s get dressed for the shopping mall, unless you both want to go in just your pullups.
Gus thought a bit. She wouldn’t do it, would? So far everything seems new that it might be common there, and he didn’t want anyone else watching him parading with disposable underwear on. He then watched Arthur start to run to Annie, and he did the same, almost as taking a real short race to her, causing her to chuckle a bit.
“Calm down silly. first Arthur.” She said, grabbing one of the shorts, a green one, and getting it ready for Arthur to step in the same way they did with the pullups, and right then the same with Gus, with red shorts.
Both boys stood as Annie helped them with a pair of sandals, and then they’re finally ready to go to the shopping mall.
“To the car, lil ones.” She said in an excited tone, that made Arthur give some happy jumps on his way. Gus giggled a bit but followed him, while wagging his tail a lot. Annie noticed the difference that a nap had done. Since his change, he hadn’t even looked down at his pullups.
They reach the garage, and Annie calmly opens her car door, revealing two car seats for them, a green and a yellow one, both with prints all over it. Arthur was quite used to it, so he just got inside the car and adjusted himself at his seat, just waiting for Annie to buckle him up. Gus took his time looking at it, until Annie helped him, grabbing him and sitting him over the second car seat, already buckling him up.
“Sorry sweetie, but the shopping mall is waiting for us.” She told him, buckling the blue skunk over the yellow car seat. She grabbed a strap from the seat’s sides, passed them through Gus’ arm and buckled them together.
“There we go sweetie. Now don't unbuckle yourself.” She told him in her soft tone as if she was talking to a real little kid, but he could notice she was a bit serious on this request. She then did the same thing to Arthur, and finally went to the driver’s seat, and started her way to the shopping mall.
Gus barely could see the windows being strapped there, The seat was actually comfortable, and he relaxed a bit, until Arthur ask him:
“So, What plushie you’re gonna get, Gussy?” He asked.
“Uh. hehe, I really don’t know yet. gotta see them all to choose the best.” Gus Answered back.
“Oh, that’s right. Wanna play with them once we get back home? We can pretend they’re from Space Pawtrol and save my other toys.”
“hehe, that seems fun. Sure then.” He said to Arthur, as Annie drove the car without any issues towards the commerce zone, and parking it near the big building
“Odereon’s Central Zone Shopping Mall…” Gus said as he read the shopping’s name, while Annie got out of her car and headed to the backseats, so she could unbuckle both boys.
“Alright boys, hold my paws, we don’t want any little boy getting lost.” she said, grabbing Gus and Arthur’s paws and finally walking with them inside the big building.
Gus followed Annie, but instead looking at the stores, he looked at people. Somehow for him, everyone they passed by knew that he wasn’t a regressed man,and worse, that he wore pullups under his shorts. It was a really awkward feeling for him.
Annie noticed Gus was quiet and looking down, as if he wasn’t feeling good about it. She understood that it was a new experience for him, and thought of a way to help him, at the same time they walked over to a toy store. Arthur’s eyes shined through all the toys. Annie smiled as they walked toward an aisle full of plushies. She released Gussy’s paw, and kneeled down to stay eye to eye with him.
“Alright, Gussy, I promised you could get a plushie friend before your nap.You can pick one plushie. Anyone you want. I’ll get to the board games with Arthur. His birthday is next week, and we’ll see what he wants. Pick one and wait for me here. Think you can do it, lil one?” She asked him.
Gus blushed some, looking at her. Once he noticed her soft smile and her calm voice at him, he smiled and nodded with his head. “Yeah, I can do it, Miss Annie.” He told her bravely.
Annie chuckled, getting up again. “Alright. Pick one and wait for me here.” She told him again, before getting up and leading Arthur to the board games. Even if it seemed Gus was left alone, they were just on the end of the hallway, and it was possible for Gus to see and hear them, especially Arthur pointing at the games and saying “Look at this one, mommy” each 10 seconds.
Gus was alone in the middle of two rows of plushies, from all species to sizes. That shouldn't be a hard decision, but that’s many choices around. So many species, so many sizes. Part of him wanted to just pick one, as it felt silly having a plushie, but the other part, wanted to choose the best plushie, to make Arthur and Annie happy., or maybe himself too.
It took him sometime, but he spotted a giraffe plushie. Gus grabbed it, giving a good look at it. It seemed big, but not giant. He could hug it with one arm and still be able to walk and do other stuff without it getting on the way. He gave a cute blush, as he actually used both arms to hug it tight. It really felt nice, as if it was going to protect him, whenever Annie isn’t around.
He kept hugging the plushie for a while, and hadn’t noticed when Annie and Arthur were back.
“Hey sweetie. Found a little friend for you?” Annie asked, giving a look at the plushie.” Ooh, such a nice choice. Have a name for him?” She asked nicely, while grabbing his paw and heading with him and Arthur to the cashier.
“A name?” He asks, thinking about it. Yeah, plushies need a name, especially this one, as it’s his first plushie.
“Don’t have to choose it now, silly. Once you find a great name for your friend, let us know.” She said again, calming Gus’ thoughts for a while about it.
Arthur had a board game on his paws. It was a simple one, to don’t let the little plastic monkeys fall from the tree. Quite simple but fun for little ones.
Annie got the boardgame, then noticed Gussy still hugging the plushie with one paw.
“Now hun, Can I borrow it for a second, so the cashier lady can check it’s price?” She asked him calmly, as Gus nodded and gave her the plushie, so the cashier could scan it. Annie then grabbed it back and gave it to him again. “Thank you sweetie.”
Gus could swear he heard the cashier say something about him, but was focused on hugging the plushie again. Annie got Arthur’s board game inside a bag, together with something else she bought there, then got the bag through her arm, and again grabbed the paws of Gus and Arthur, as they left the toy store.
“That’s a nice plushie, Gus. We’ll play a lot once we’re back at home.” Arthur said while walking with Annie, looking at Gus holding the plushie with one arm.
It all just made him look way more childish through everybody’s eyes, but the important thing is that Gus wasn’t being all that paranoid again. Annie got both boys over to a clothing store, this one called “Tot’s Style”.
Annie already had bought a clothing set for Gus, and so far, it seems he could wear Arthur’s clothes too, but she knew what was missing, and went straight ahead for the pajamas section.
Gus looked at all the pjs around, but instead being able to chose it like he did with the plushie, Annie grabbed a 2-piece pjs, with a dalmatian puppy on its front, and the pants being being all white with black dots all around, and a small drawing of a tail on it’s back.
“This one is perfect. So adorable and warm.” She said, knowing this would fit, as it’s the same size Arthur wears. “Now we just need some proper beach outfit and we’re good to go.”
Gus just followed Annie, as they headed to the beach area, and Annie got a red speedo, with a green and white shark print on its front and a big picture of it on its back.
“Alright, I think that’s all the shopping we need for now. Who’s ready to go home?” Annie asked, happy with the clothes she chose for Gus, as she went to the cashier to pay for them.
Gus spent all the way hugging his plushie with one paw and being led by his paw by Annie. Gus smiled some each time he gave the plushie a small hug and even a small nuzzle,unaware about the time they stopped in a line, and only getting back to it once Annie offered him an ice cream cone. He grabbed it from her, and started to eat it up.
“Thank you, Miss Annie.” He said, as Annie gave another one to Arthur, and they walked through the shopping mall until they both finished their ice creams.
Arthur was the first one to finish it and have Annie clean up his paws with some napkins, then Gus went through the same process, but he also got his mouth cleaned with the napkin, making him squirm a bit there.
“Sorry sweetie, but we don’t want to get ice cream on your new friend, or in your seat.” She told him, as they went back through the parking lot.
Annie easily found her car, and buckled both boys on the back seats properly, this time without Gus even thinking about it, but still blushed when Annie buckled him up. Once she got Arthur also buckled up, she went to the driver seat, and headed with the boys back to her house.
“What did you think about the shopping mall, Gussy? Wasn’t it fun?” She asked while still paying attention to the road.
“Yeah, it was pretty nice, Miss Annie. And thank you again for the… uh… “He said, hugging the plushie, and still thinking of a name for it.”
“You’re welcome, Now you have your friend to play and sleep with, and some nice and warm pajamas. Did you know it’s quite cold around here by evening?” She asks him.
“N.. Not really.” He said. Since he was sent to work in the base, all environments have an artificial controlled temperature, and it didn’t change after the months after his regression.
“Yeah. You’ll see how suddenly it gets cold. It’s by that time I will help Arthur get ready for his bedtime.’ She said, explaining to him that the pjs she bought for him were quite needed.
“Uh huhs. mommy knows when it’s bedtime, without even having to look at a clock… Maybe she’s magical.” Said Arthur giggling a bit at his seat.
“Yes sweetie, mommy sees everything.” She said playfully, making a different but funny voice, getting more laughs from Arthur and some chuckles from Gus. Then she turned on the car’s radio, turning on a children’s songs playlist.
Arthur knew all the lyrics, while Gus, even if he knew the songs, never listened to them too much to decorate them, so he hums and moves his feet in rhythm during most of the trip back to Annie’s house.
Once they arrived, Annie helped them out of the car and guided them back to the living room. As she closed the door, she kneeled down to them, and helped both boys out of their sandals and shorts, leaving both once again in just their shirts and pullups. She also didn’t waste any second and immediately asked both boys if they needed to use the potty.
Gus was alright, and stood in the living room hugging his new toy. It actually felt really great, that he lost track of time, that when he realized Arthur was already back as Annie went to the kitchen, so she could get the lasagna she did earlier inside the oven.
Eventually Gus had to use the potty, so he stood up and went to the kitchen, telling Annie as he was instructed by her to do, so she could guide him through all the way towards the bathroom, helping him sit on the potty and make sure he cleaned himself properly after using it.
Gus was guided back to the living room, where Arthur waited for him, holding his own plushie.
“You’re back! Come on, we got a huge planet to patrol and friends to save!”
Gus realized that he wanted to play, as he already talked about it while going to the shopping mall.
“Oh, right, let’s go!” He said, grabbing his new plushie and following Arthur, which started to run pretending to be flying on a spaceship towards his bedroom’s door, as Arthur then pretended to be looking at a new planet and moving the plushie, pretending it’s talking.
“Dairy report… We found the planet, but it seems our friends are stuck inside a chest!” Arthur said, pointing to the toy chest nearby.
“Oh no! Can we help them?” He asks back, moving his plushie to pretend it’s talking too.
“Sure we can! All we need is a plan!” Arthur’s plushie says, as they walk inside the bedroom, looking at the chest. It was just closed and not locked, but even then Arthur pretended it was locked.
They walked around the room for awhile, and whenever they saw something that could help, they detailed their plan to open the toy chest, for example, using the blanket to get through it and pull the chest, opening it. Another plan was to wait for one of Arthur’s action figures to use the potty and try to open it while it’s away. All the plans made both boys giggle at how silly they sounded. It was safe to say it became the most fun part of this game.
As the boys keep thinking and pretending they’re trying to open the chest, Annie walks into the room, calling both boys for dinner. She watches them heading out of the bedroom, leaving their plushies there so they don’t get dirty by the food.
Both boys quickly sat on the same chairs from the lunch, and over the table, there’s a plate with a piece of cheese lasagna for each one, and a bigger piece for Annie. Gus looked at the plate, and once he realized it was Annie’s lasagna, he got the fork and started eating it.
Annie’s lasagna was Gus’ currently favorite food. Even with the restrictions while stuck in the base’s hospital room, Annie was able to sneak in some of it for him whenever she prepared it. She really appreciates when other folks enjoy her meals, and especially when the meals give a nice smile for whoever eats. It was so special for her seeing Gus having it back then, as she knew he was stuck with hospital food and mixtures and medicines.
As Annie gave her third forkful and Arthur was halfway done with his plate, Gus smiled as he showed his clean plate.
“Can I have another piece, Miss Annie?” Gus asked, causing Arthur to giggle as he ate it quickly.
“Hmmm, alright, but just another slice.” She said as she got another piece of lasagna inside his plate.
The dinner went without any issue, and as Gus finished his second piece, Arthur was done and yawning a bit on the table. Annie noticed it, getting all the plates and bringing them over the sink, then helped Arthur get out of the chair.
“Alright sweetie, let’s get you ready for bedtime. Gus, you watch some tv and I’ll soon be there to get you ready too,understood?” She told him, while already heading with Arthur back to the bathroom.
Gus went back to the living room and climbed on the couch again, looking at the tv for now, where a show about some 3d animated race cars was on. Gus enjoyed some of the race scenes, but these were just a small part of the show, with most of it being the cars finding a problem and trying to solve it.
As he watches it until the end and the credits appear on the screen, Annie arrives.
“Nice to see you’re having fun with these shows, Gus.” She said smiling, as Gus listened and looked at her.
“Oh. They are quite interesting… Never watched anything like that before, and it’s really well done.” He said back, blushing a bit.
“Well, Arthur’s already sleeping. He gets so sleepy after dinner, especially now that he had a wonderful day with you.” She said, patting Gus’ hair.
“Ohs? Wonderful day with me?” Gus asked back.
“Yeah, he told me during his bath. He really enjoyed spending time with you. He kept telling me you were fun, and didn’t make fun of him when he had that accident after his naptime.”
“Oh, well, it was nothing at all.. I mean… I also had an accident there… right?” Gus asked, blushing a bit as he remembered it wasn’t an accident at all, that he just peed in the pullup in front of them.
“Yeah. Thank you very much for this “accident”. “ She said, blinking an eye to him, aware that it wasn’t an accident. “But now I’d like to know what you’re thinking about your time here.”
“Well… uh… it’s really good so far… It’s nice not having to get through any needles, and excellent food, and you and Arthur are really nice to have around.” He said, blushing a lot, as he started to shiver a bit.
“I told you it gets cold. Guess it’s a good moment for you to take a bath too.” She said already getting up from the couch, as she helps him out of the couch..
She walks with him to the hallway, passing through Arthur’s bedroom, as it’s possible for Gus to see him sleeping on his bed, hugging his plushie. They eventually make it to the bathroom, as Annie closes the door, and removes Gus’ shirt.
“Alright, I'll get the warm water on.” She said going to the bathtub as she gets the warm water flow coming from it, filling the bathtub. As she watches the bathtub halfway done, she stops with the water and looks at Gus, who is just waiting there, still wearing just his pullups with a small blush around his cheeks..
“What are you waiting for, silly?” She asks him playfully.
"Hummm.. You know… uh… “ He was about to say the same speech Annie knew, how embarrassing it was having her around while he would take a bath.
“Now Gus. It’s not the first time I’ve helped you with baths, right? “ She asks him.
“N..No but. now it's totally different.” He kept trying to find an excuse to avoid his bathtime, just because she was around.
“Well, to me it isn't, because right now I'm seeing a little guy trying to avoid his bath, exactly like he does back in the hospital zone… Come on, don’t you want to be a good example for Arthur?” She asks, sitting on the floor, now looking at Gus eye to eye with a soft smile, poking the tip of his muzzle playfully, causing him to blush a bit more.
“Yeah but… Arthur’s already sleeping and.” He said, starting another excuse to avoid the bath, when a tearing sound caught his attention, and he felt his pullups leave his waist. He looked down, and saw Annie tearing the other side, making it fall on the floor, just to increase Gus’ blush.
“Now Gussy… It won’t hurt you, and here or there, I’m always here to help you. “She said, getting up from the floor, as she calmly got her paws under Gus’ armpits, lifting him up and placing him down inside the bathtub.
Once Gus touched the warm water, he relaxed a bit, thinking about what she said, that she would always help him. It felt really nice hearing these words. He wasn’t scared about the bath at all, or about her watching him without any privacy. He was already used to it back in the hospital zone, and even had her around while he used the potty here. Why this time it seemed so different?
Maybe it was the environment? Not being in a place full of doctorsan machines keeping an eye at you everytime could have something about it. Hmmm, maybe it’s also due to the fact Arthur’s not here, so Gus doesn’t need to pretend to be a little kid to her? It makes sense, but also felt he could disappoint Annie if he didn’t.
As he thought about the possibilities, he rubbed the sponge with soap around the left arm a few times while Annie watched it. She knew he could be thinking about anything today, but also knew that he wouldn’t finish his bath if he kept on this same rhythm.
“The other arm, Gussy.” She said to get his attention and bring his mind back.
“Oh. Oh right, sorry” He said as he started to rub the sponge on his other arm. This went on a small loop,with Annie having to tell Gussy where to soap next, until he was totally clean.
Annie then helps Gus, by getting him out of the bathtub, and wraps a fluffy white towel around him, rubbing it over his fur, so it can leave his fur all dry. Eventually Gus got all dry, but kept with the towel around, as he could feel the cold weather.
Annie grabbed him, adjusting him, making him sit on her arm, while she held his back with the other, as they left the bathroom. She went with him to her bedroom, as she laid him on her bed. She grabbed a pullup from a package nearby, and started to pull it through Gussy’s legs.
“These ones are for bedtime, so they’re a bit thicker than normal. Don’t worry about them. '' She said, as adjusts his tail on the back hole, making sure the pullup was and would stay in the right place.
Once the pullup was on, she got the pajamas she bought for him, and after removing the price tag, she started to slide the pj pants through Gus’ legs., properly getting them to hide the pullup and adjusting his tail through the tail hole.
“There we go, a half skunky half dalmatian, almost ready for bedtime.” She said rubbing his hair, as she got the pj shirt ready for him. “Arms up, Gussy.”. She told him, getting him to move his arms up, as she slid the pj over them and his head, pulling it over.
The pajamas were incredibly warm. She was right about that, and it was so comfortable that even while checking it by himself, Gus’ tail started to wag, causing Annie to chuckle a bit.
“Alright sweetie. Let’s get back and watch some more tv for a while.” She said, helping him out of her bed.
Gus finally could walk by himself, and he had to admit that she was right about needing the pajamas. He could feel the cold weather, but now his entire body was protected from it, and being warm. As he climbed back to the couch, Annie offered him a sippy cup with warm milk, which Gus accepted and started to drink from it.
As the minutes passed, they chatted a bit remembering their moments before the accident, and even some moments during Gus’ rehab. Eventually, a small yawn escaped from Gus’ mouth, and adding it to the comfortable pjs he was wearing, it evolved into a big one, but he kept trying to fight the sleepiness, only to be defeated once he didn’t said anything for a full minute, and fell asleep on the couch.
Annie looked at him there, making sure he’s totally asleep before grab him from there, and carry the sleepy skunk toward Arthur’s room, placing him calmly on the bed at side of her son, and placing his giraffe plushie on his arms, to see almost instantly he hold it, and sleep peacefully.
Annie couldn’t help but take a picture from her phone, as she left the sleeping boys and went to the bathroom, so she finally could get ready for her bed with a relaxing bath. As she bathed herself, she thought on Gus acting like a cute kid at the shopping mall and even here, trying to avoid the bath. She chuckled some, getting out of the bathtub once her bath was done, and brushing her teeth, thinking about everything today, including Gus wetting his pullups on purpose to help Arthur feel better after his accident. She wonders if he’ll do it every time Arthur misses it.
By the time, she was back in her bedroom, laying down and chuckling more as more memories came to her mind. She fell asleep with a nice smile.
