I'm not a puppy! (age regression)

24. Part of the Family

They took a breath before saying
"I'm scared... I don't like that I'm scared"
"Well it's ok to be-"
"I know it's ok to be scared but I still don't like it. Makes my tummy all flippy"

I frowned, thinking that maybe Jamie still wasn't ready to take this step. They were clearly going fuzzy just at the thought.
"Bambi we don't have to do this today, I can tell Tom to get lost. He'll understand"
I scooched in a little closer to jam and put my hand on their back, rubbing lightly. They whimpered.

"No... I wanna get it over with"
Jamie didn't say alot, but they didn't need to say alot. The past week has been truly exhausting for us both and I was definitely sympathetic to them

I sighed and brought jamie into a hug, incidentally pulling them into my lap.
"Bambi, I feel like a broken record saying this, but I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I'm so, so sorry. And I'm gonna make this as easy as I possibly can for you. I promise that"

Jamie sniffled, not moving themselves from my chest as I loosened my grip.
"How. how're you gonna make it easy?"
They took a shakey breath
"Cuz It doesn't feel a whole lot easier...sorry, don wanna be mean to you"

I waved off that worry
"Nono Bambi, don't say sorry for that. You're completely fine in saying so... hmm"
I thought for a second, deciding on whether or not to make Jamie laugh or be serious. I went for a joke first
"Well I was considering turning this entire room into a double fort but you wouldn't believe how much that'd cost"
Jamie giggled a little and I chuckled too, then moving onto an actually serious suggestion
"However, we can change this room any way you want to make yourself comfortable here"
Jamie looked up at me, a little in disbelief.
"Really? Anything?"
"Yeah Jam, it's your room, you get absolutely anything you want. Well within logical reason. I don't think I could fit a water slide in here"

Jamie giggled again, before going silent, then very quietly asking.
"Can we make the walls purple?"
It was such a simple request, that they made so apprehensively that it just pulled right on my heartstrings.
"Of course Jam, you like purple?"
Jamie nodded
"Uh huh, 's the best colour...but I like blue too-"

Jamie stopped, really thinking before adding
"And orange.....and green, an yellow, an red"
They rambled on and I chuckled
"So you like all the colours jam?"
"Y-yeah, but purples the best"
They mumbled a little embarrassed, the pesky little voice in their brain no doubt making them feel bad over how they sounded. It was my mission to rival that voice.

I gave Jamie a little squeeze.
"Purple is definitely the best Bambi"
Jam proudly hummed in approval, before putting their head back down to my chest, silently requesting some more cuddling time.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The doorbell went off.

Jamie whimpered, sitting down in their chair at the kitchen table and tucking June into their lap. I knelt down quickly giving them a hug.
"Were gonna be fine Bambi, I promise"
"I know"
They said, staring off. I gave them a final squeeze and ran off to get the door.

I took a deep breath and opened it.

"Hi Tom-"
I barely finished my greeting before I was cut off by Tom's own greeting, as he immediately engulfed me in a tight hug.

He eventually pulled away, saying simply
"Had the feeling you would need that"
I didn't realise I needed it until he said it, so I smiled and nodded.
"Thanks"

There was an awkward lingering moment before I stepped back into the house
"We'll do it in the kitchen, come on"
Tom followed me into the house and I couldn't help notice a paper bag he was holding.