Fara made her way inside the lodge, which was an open but cozy public space, full of skiers and snowboarders taking a break and enjoying either hot chocolate or a stiff drink. She made her way to the bar, which seemed weird to her given her recent change in status, but she was technically old enough to sit there.

“You must be Rachel’s,” The bartender asked knowingly. The bartender was a tall and muscular woman with light black skin. She was dressed in much more breathable clothing than the rest of her clientele as she spent most of her time in the heated interior.

“Yeah I guess so,” Fara said meekly.

“Well boss lady told me that babies like you don’t get any alcohol so don’t even try it,” she said with a smirk. “Now what else can I get you.”

“Just a hot chocolate,” Fara pouted in her barstool and the lady went off to make the requested drink. Fara was as always amazed at the level of influence Rachel had. To own a cabin and a ski lodge up here. She at times appeared to have an all-encompassing reach. Given that she was her mommy though, Fara couldn’t help but imagine the long reach giving her a big hug. She was a little annoyed that she didn’t have the option of alcohol even if she wasn’t going to order it anyway. Part of being a baby was getting rid of adult things as well, so Fara just reasoned that this, and the embarrassment at being called out, was part of the baby experience.

Riley entered the lodge shortly after Fara sat down. She spotted Fara at the bar still waiting on her hot chocolate. This would be the only chance she got to talk to Fara without Rachel being around. She would have to be careful though. Previous interactions had made the relationship between the two of them strained. Riley wouldn’t get anywhere if the conversation just made Fara hate her more.

“Sup?” Riley said as she casually took a seat next to Fara.

“Oh hey Riley,” Fara said with a sigh. “I’m just taking a quick break.”

“Same here. A girl can only fall over so much before she gets tired of it,” Riley joked.

“You should get Sarah or Rachel to show you the ropes,” Fara offered.

“No thanks,” Riley internally threw up a little at the thought of being subservient to either of them, even in the innocuous role of student. “Speaking of though, you guys have really gotten … close.” Riley always struggled dancing around issues.

“You’re talking about the mommy thing?” Fara knew Riley. Knew when she was dancing around something and what that something usually was.

“Yeah that. That’s a big step for you. I wouldn’t think you would be into that. You never seemed interested in relationships.”

“Well this isn’t a typical relationship,” Fara blushed.

“Well I don’t want to assume, but I thought it would eventually lead to sex.”

“I don’t think so. At least she hasn’t brought it up yet.”

“So what’s in it for you? I mean I don’t understand.”

“I don’t either really. It’s just nice to not worry about things I guess. She sort of takes care of everything for me. Sarah explains it better than me, but it’s really freeing to have someone else make all the decisions for you.”

“And the diapers and outfits?”

“Well I guess all that happened to be there anyway, but they’re really great actually once you get over the initial feelings. They are cute and comfy and make me feel safe, and it’s nice to look cute. I pull it off better than looking serious. There’s a reason it helped all those people at little land, it’s nice.”

“True I guess you do look pretty cute,” Riley said leaning over the bar.

“What am I getting ya?” The bartender said to Riley as she dropped off Fara’s hot chocolate.

“Just a soda please,” Riley said quickly. The bartender left to prepare the drink and also to contact Rachel. Though with Rachel on the slopes with Sarah it would be a while before she got the summons. She handed the drink to Riley and busied herself while subtlety listening to the conversation. “I guess it’s good that all this stuff was already here before you decided to let Rachel be your mommy.”

“Ugh not this again,” Fara sipped the hot chocolate annoyed. “I know it seems like a conspiracy to you, but it actually is all coincidence. A happy coincidence. I wouldn’t have found out about this if it didn’t happen, and I’m glad I did find out about it because it makes me happy.”

“Ok ok,” Riley said apologetically. “I wasn’t making conspiracy talk I was just saying. It is good. I’m glad you found a relationship you can be happy in. It’s actually kind of made for you if I think about it.”

“Oh ok,” Fara sipped from her coco.

“I’m a little hurt you never told me about it before,” Riley said quietly.

“What do you mean?” Fara put her drink down. “Riley this is as new for me as it is for you?”

“Oh?” Riley exclaimed as she may have stumbled onto something on accident. “Everyone else is under the impression you came to Rachel to explore this part of you. Not that you found it while you were here.”

“What?” Fara was shocked. “Sarah was supposed to handle telling everyone else about my problem. Why would she lie?”

“I dunno,” Riley looked over to the entrance to the lodge where Rachel and Sarah had just come in. “Maybe you should ask them, but I’m glad you weren’t keeping this from me. I should go.” Riley quickly left, as she saw Rachel talking with the bartender. She really had eyes everywhere it seemed. But now she knew for sure what she had suspected. Rachel and Sarah were lying. About that one thing for sure, but who knows how much else was a lit. She felt some small form of vindication at that at least. But they had successfully convinced everyone else, no doubt they would wiggle out of this one too. Riley was right, she knew it.

Rachel approached the bartender as soon as she entered the bar, under the guise of ordering a drink.

“What did she say?” Rachel questioned quietly, noting that Fara was only barely out of earshot.

“She said something about you guys telling all of her friends she was into this stuff.”

“Right thank you,” Rachel said lost in thought. “How do we play this?”

“Don’t worry,” Sarah said calmingly. “I’ve thought this might happen, but luckily Riley is something of an unreliable source to Fara, and we have an edge here. Her name is Tara.”

“I see where you’re going,” Rachel nodded. “I approve. It’s about time we got Riley out of the picture anyway, and this should do the trick.” With a nod Rachel and Sarah approached Fara. “Hello sweetie,” Rachel smiled. “Why the long face.”

“Riley,” Fara sighed as she finished her hot chocolate.

“What is it this time?” Sarah feigned annoyance.

“Well,” Fara glanced at Rachel and Sarah unsure. “Did you guys tell everyone that I was already into this stuff? That’s what Riley said. I left it up to Sarah but I don’t know exactly what you said.”

“Oh don’t be ridiculous dear,” Sarah giggled. “I may have had my suspicions about you being a little, but there’s no way I could’ve known you would be back when I told everyone about you needing protection.”

“Well if she’s right then you guys made me like this stuff.”

“Dear listen to yourself,” Rachel put her hand on Fara’s back. “Does what you’re saying sound right to you.”

“I mean … It is convenient that you, someone who was into this stuff, was there to help me.”

“Yes very, to both of our benefits I might add. Ever since little land more and more people are figuring out they are littles or caretakers, it’s not as unlikely as it may first appear that one of your dear friends would be interested in being a caregiver.”

“Yeah I guess you’re right. I mean I do like it, it’s not like you can’t make me like it.”

“Still unconvinced?” Sarah sat next to Fara at the bar. “Well I know a way we can clear this up. Let’s just ask one of our friends what it was exactly that I told them. Then you’ll know from them whether or not we lied to you right?” Fara looked apologetic. “Don’t worry I understand. I don’t know what Riley’s damage is but she seems pretty determined to keep you to herself, and she’s done a good job of making you doubt us. I understand wanting confirmation.”

“I believe I saw Tara close by,” Rachel was already getting out her phone and texting away. “I’m sure she would be happy to clear this up for us.”

Tara had actually just finished another toboggan run with Patty. The two were having tons of fun there and forgot that there were both skiing and snowboarding to try as well. Tara giggled with Patty as she glanced at her phone. She was almost annoyed to see a text from Rachel. One text asking her to come clear up a discussion, and a second one with instructions on what to actually do as well as an instruction to delete the message upon reading it. Tara sighed. She had already put more effort into this little scheme of Rachel’s than she was initially told was required. The reward was too great though. The trip was almost over, there was not a lot of time left to rope her into anything else. Hopefully this would be the last thing.

“I’m gonna grab a drink Patty,” Tara gave herself an excuse to leave.

“Aww doncha wanna go again?” Patty held the toboggan pleadingly.

“We’ve been going for like two hours,” Tara sighed. “Why don’t you give something else a try?”

“I suppose I could try sliding down on my tummy instead.”

“No I meant like skiing or snowboarding.”

“Oh yeah that stuff’s here too. Thanks Tara,” Patty skipped away as Tara made her way to the lodge.

Inside Rachel was sipping a drink with Sarah and Fara by her side. Thanks to the now deleted second text, Tara knew what was going on and what to do.

“Sup,” Tara approached the group perhaps a little too casually. “Whatcha need?”

“Just to clear something up for Fara here,” Sarah put a hand on Tara’s back. “Would you please tell Fara what I told you and the rest of our friends before embarking on this trip?”

“You mean when you guys all smoked out of the back of A.J’s truck?”

“Yeah that time,” Sarah’s voice got lower as Rachel shot a mildly disapproving glare.

“Well I don’t remember exactly what you said, but it was something about Fara needing to wear pull-ups and not making a big deal out of it. Though I think we’re past that at this point.”

“Specifically what was the reason she had to wear protection?”

“Some kind of medical reason, you didn’t go into specifics.”

“But I never told you she was doing it because she liked them did I?”

“Well not then, but doesn’t she like them now right?” Tara’s feigned confusion was more believable.

“Well yeah I do now,” Fara blushed. “I didn’t then though. It was just a stress thing.” Tara doubted that it was stress causing Fara’s issues, not that it mattered now.

“Thanks for the help Tara,” Sarah said with a smile. “Does that make you feel better Fara?”

“Yes,” Fara sighed. “I’m just shocked. Well I shouldn’t be. With how she’s been acting lately I should’ve known she’d lie about this.”

“Oh geez I’m not touching this one,” Tara backed away with her hands raised.

“I think Tara may have the right call on this one,” Rachel chimed in. “We still have the rest of the day and a whole car ride back with Riley. I think it’s for the best if we let it go and not bring it up to anyone until we can all get some helpful separation.” More accurately until Rachel and Sarah could get Fara home in an even more sheltered and controlled environment.

“Yes please,” Tara added. “I’d rather not spend the whole ride back with vague unanswered tension.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Fara said quietly.

“Mommy always is,” Rachel grinned. “Now I think someone probably needs a change. Have you been keeping up with it like a big girl?”

“Maybe,” Fara blushed. “I think I’ve only gone twice, but I’m not super sure.”

“Maybe it was too much for such a little baby like you to keep up with,” Rachel cooed. “Come we can go get you checked and changed.” Fara blushed but followed Rachel deeper into the lodge.

“Some well thought out plan you two have,” Tara complained to Sarah when Rachel and Fara left. “You guys owe me a starting bonus for saving your ass for like the third time.”

“We’ve had to adapt sure, but the plan is still working,” Sarah aid a little offended. “Better than expected.”

“Well you better stay on top of this. All this lying is eventually going to catch up with you. You can’t keep everyone in the dark forever, especially with Riley catching onto you.”

“Well before long Fara won’t be able to leave so easily regardless of whatever lies we took to get her there. And besides she loves it. Does it matter if we lie as long as it makes her happy?”

“I don’t think we have time to get into the philosophical ramifications of that statement. Just make sure Rachel knows how much, and how often I’ve helped you two when the first paycheck comes.”

“Oh she knows,” Sarah smiled.

“There we go nothing happier than a baby after a diapee change,” Rachel said leading Fara out of the restroom pants still unzipped showing the now clean diaper that still had rather babyish prints on it. “What do we say?”

“Thank you for changies mommy,” Fara said quietly.

“We’ll work on that,” Rachel finally zipped up Fara’s pants. “And you can stop working on keeping track of when you wet your diaper. Clearly you’re too much of a baby to keep up with it yourself. Mommy will just have to keep an eye on it for you. Just stay by mommy from now on ok.”

“Yes mommy.” Fara said meekly. Rachel smiled. Not only because she could spend more time with her baby girl, but the guise of keeping Fara’s diaper checked gave her a convenient excuse to hover over her and block any further attempts by Riley to make Fara aware of the deception.

“Wow she’s only been your baby for like a day and you’ve got her pretty well trained,” Tara remarked. “Well not potty trained.”

“I am very proud of her,” Rachel praised. “She’s been a very good girl.”

“Mommy,” Fara whined as she blushed.

“She still has some work to do though before she’s all proper,” Sarah smiled. “Isn’t that right Mistress.”

“Yes pet she’s not quite as well trained as you are.” Sarah beamed at the compliment.

“Barf,” Tara said sarcastically. “If you don’t need anything else I have to go make Sure Patty doesn’t slide down the slope on her tummy, and I wish I was joking about that.”

“Indeed,” Rachel put an arm around each of her charges. “Let’s not let one little hiccup ruin our day. There’s more fun to be had together.”