Daddy chose a small café for their luncheon, so, this day, along with their previous Wednesday days out, reminded Kelly of their first dinner together. However, for lunch, Kelly was allowed to choose what she wanted to eat, even though her selection remained limited to only those items Daddy approved. And he wouldn't hesitate to veto her choice if she selected unwisely.

Though privately she was still his little girl, when they were in public, Daddy spoke to her as he would to a young adult. He didn't offer to feed her during their outdoor excursions, but he did correct her table manners and posture, which Kelly accepted as her due.

All the same, this afternoon had raised several uncertainties in Kelly's mind, so she admitted, "I'm curious about some things, sir. May I ask a few questions?"

"As long as you do so quietly, I don't see any problem with that."

"Do Littles usually have both a mommy and a daddy?'

"No. At least not from what I've seen. Most have one or the other."

"And what about the other?"

He frowned. "Could you be a bit more specific?"

"Sex," she whispered.

"You want to know if that's included in the majority of age play relationships?"

"Yes."

"Almost always, in one form or another."

"With both the mommy and the daddy?"

"Typically, yes, but each partnership is unique."

"So, do you secretly want to have sex with kids?"

"No, Kelly," he said firmly. "I believe I've told you before that I have no desire to possess a child or a minor sexually."

"Then, I don't get it. Why do you do this if you aren't interested in children that way?"

"Let me ask you a question. How do you feel when I take care of you, not in my room, but in yours?"

"You mean the nighty-night—"

"No. I mean being cared for like a child. Having all decisions made for you, including what you wear, eat, and do for the day. Do you find that liberating?"

"I'm not sure. I like it when you wash and comb my hair, but I'd enjoy that even as an adult."

"How about when I treat you like an infant?"

Giving her shoulders a shrug, she admitted, "Sometimes I like it. When I've got cramps, it's nice having everything done for me. Though the food could be better."

He laughed. "All right, I'll give you that one. Although I notice you finish all your milk without complaint."

Grinning back at him, she said, "But that's because of the special medicine you put in it to help me sleep."

He returned her smile and shook his head. "We're getting off track. The thing is, I like having you rely on me for all your needs. I like being the one in charge and taking care of you. But I only enjoy it because you don't require any of those things from me in reality. Does that make sense?"

She considered his words, then gave another shrug. "You take pleasure from doing things for me, but only because I don't really need you to do them." After pausing for a moment, she added, "I still don't get it."

"It's not an easy concept to verbalize, but the fact that you're an adult who's agreed to be my child and behave like one at my will is—fulfilling for me. And I'd like to think you find some enjoyment from it as well."

Did she enjoy being treated as a little girl? "You make me feel loved and cared for, as if I am special to you."

"You are special, and you're mine. I also happen to be very possessive."

"You also like telling me what to do."

"In part, yes, I do. But I also enjoy doing things that make life better for you. Both now and later. It pleases me to take care of you by making sure you eat balanced meals, get at least nine hours sleep, and live what I consider to be a stress-free existence. You don't need to worry about anything. I'll do all your worrying for you."

Nodding, Kelly ate her sandwich as she considered everything he'd said. He did make all her decisions for her when they were at home. Today, the most complicated decision she'd made was what she'd have for lunch, and even those choices were limited. She no longer worried about how she would make enough money to eat. Everything was provided for her. In some ways, it was a very cushy life. She regarded the man beside her. "What's a munch?"

He frowned. "Excuse me?"

"Mrs. Cartwright mentioned not seeing you at any of the recent munches. At first I thought she'd mispronounced 'lunch,' but you repeated the word. What is it?"

"A munch is a meeting of people who share the same lifestyle interests. It often occurs over lunch."

"So, do adults come dressed as children there?"

Smiling, he shook his head. "Not as a rule. As a group, I'd say we appear to be regular, respectable adults who talk a lot about caring for our children."

"Don't Littles attend?"

"Some do, but those relationships are usually married couples who enjoy age play in one form or another."

"Can you tell which one plays the adult versus the child?"

"I can. Very easily."

"How?"

"The Big, who serves as the parent or dominant, is the one in charge. The caretaker. The Little is the one being taken care of. If you watch long enough, you'll see who orders the food, or makes sure the other has everything he or she needs. The differences can be subtle, but if you know what to look for, you'll see them."

"Oh."

"Do you want dessert?"

"Are you trying to reward me for something?"

"I shouldn't, since you were naughty earlier, but I also feel the need to make up for what happened. You saw it, and tried to warn me, but I didn't listen closely enough. I thought you were merely jealous."

Kelly snorted, and received a light tap on her thigh as a warning. "She wanted you."

"Who?'

"Little Miss Susie-Q, but I don't think she wanted you solely as her daddy. She was licking her lips, literally, when she looked at you."

He chuckled. "So, you were jealous."

"Damned straight."

Frowning, he gave his head a shake. "Language. You know I don't like swearing."

Kelly gave a nod and murmured, "Sorry."

"I will still allow dessert, if you want some."

"Yes, please," Kelly replied with a wide grin."

And he even let her eat cake.

* * *

As a result of their outings, Wednesdays turned out to be one of Kelly's favorite days of the week. She enjoyed the long walks and window-shopping, and Daddy indulged her whimsical side. He didn't scold her for wanting adult things but commented on whether or not he thought something would be attractive on her.

One of the primary reasons Kelly really liked Wednesdays was because Daddy allowed her to behave more naturally when they went out, even to the point where he almost treated her like an equal. The result was Kelly held herself straighter, walked with purpose, and even laughed occasionally. This meant she sometimes forgot her rules and found herself staring at the sights with avid interest and even smiling at passersby. Most times that would earn her a sharp reminder to keep her eyes lowered. Other times, however, he'd let her gaze about for as long as she liked. She knew he was aware of what she was doing, so it would depend on how many people surrounded them at the time. If they were alone, he'd pretty much allow her to do as she pleased. If the streets bustled with activity, he preferred she attract the least amount of attention possible, so she was to avoid making eye contact with others. Especially men.

On days when they went to museums, Daddy encouraged Kelly to ask questions. He also took her to the New York City Library, natural history museum or the planetarium at least once a month. But his favorite thing to do was visit the various art museums where he'd discuss art history with her for hours.

Still keeping to somewhat of a schedule, he planned their day so they returned to the penthouse around 5:00 p.m., which meant the cleaning service was done and gone. In the beginning, Kelly wondered what these outsiders thought about her daddy's unusual lifestyle. Certainly, they had to consider it odd he kept an adult-sized high chair and changing table, along with an oversized rocking horse and swing chair in a room decked out like a little girl's nursery. When she asked him about it once, he told her he insisted anyone who worked for him sign a confidentiality agreement in which they promised not to discuss anything they saw. So, they couldn't talk about it, but Kelly was sure that didn't stop them from thinking about his situation.

After an afternoon of learning and exploring, Kelly played quiet games until Daddy had dinner on the table. If she'd been bad or irritable, she was sent to her room to lie down. Amazingly enough, even though she protested being relegated to the nursery, Kelly often slept during that hour, which surprised her. Not that she obeyed him, since Daddy had a very firm hand, but the fact that he seemed to know her so well. There was something comforting and reassuring in being cosseted, especially since Kelly had lost her childhood at age six. The longer she stayed with him, the more she appreciated her time spent as a little girl. She even enjoyed being reduced to a babbling baby who had every need instantly gratified once a month, as long as it didn't interfere with their Wednesday outings.

* * *

On one of their shopping days, Daddy escorted her into a huge toy store. As they stood before the directory, he asked, "What sort of toys or games did you enjoy playing when you were little?"

Kelly shrugged. "I was an only child, so I was primarily given educational gifts, and I didn't play many games."

"No dolls or stuffed animals?" he persisted.

"A few. I do recall a stuffed white rabbit with floppy pink ears that I liked to play with a lot. Not sure what ever happened to him."

"Was there ever something you wanted but didn't get?"

She started to shake her head, since she couldn't recall anything, but then a memory returned of a conversation she had with her mother. "I remember saying I wanted a Cabbage Patch doll. My mom told me I might get one for my birthday, or maybe Santa would bring me one for Christmas. But my parents died before either occasion took place. And after they were gone, it didn't seem important any longer."

He regarded her pensively for a moment, so she assumed the discussion was over as they headed up the escalator to another floor when, after a few minutes of watching a miniature train traverse through a model village, he said, "I don't believe you ever told me when your birthday is. We should do something special for it."

She sighed. "That's not necessary."

"All the same, I'd like to know when it is."

Meeting his gaze, she answered, "June twenty-sixth."

"June," he repeated. "A little girl should have fun on her birthday, so I want you to think about what you would like to do."

"What if I want to spend the day as an adult?"

"I think we could address that desire in the evening, but the day should belong to the little girl in you. As a princess for the day, you could ride a pony or go to an amusement park. Maybe even see a show or something like Disney on Ice, if they're in town. Give it some thought and we'll talk about it next week. All right?"

Kelly shrugged. The idea of being treated like a princess held some appeal, but she'd given up expecting anyone to give her birthday much more than a mention. "Okay," she replied without enthusiasm, but when Daddy smiled and winked at her, she couldn't help but smile back.

* * *

As time passed, Kelly forgot their toy store conversation and had no real reason to mark the passing of time, so she was surprised when Daddy woke her one morning to say, "Happy Birthday, sweetie."

Kelly blinked several times as she struggled to sit up while gaping owlishly at the huge stuffed white rabbit he held out to her. It was much larger than the one she'd had as a child, but it had pink satin ears and sparkling black button eyes, just like her bunny had.

With a grateful smile she grabbed the two-foot-tall animal and hugged it to her. "Thank you, Daddy."

"You're most welcome, pumpkin. Now let's get you washed and dressed so you can see the other surprises Daddy has for you."

Her curiosity piqued, Kelly did everything he asked of her that morning without any fuss. She wasn't an early-to-rise person, so her morning rituals were often peppered with a large smattering of grumpiness.

Taking her by the hand, he escorted her into the dining room where the table had over ten gaily wrapped packages waiting for her.

She reached for one when he lightly smacked her hand. "Breakfast first. Presents after."

Though she scowled at the reprimand, she obediently sat in her chair and consumed the oatmeal he had prepared for her, along with the toast, milk, and juice.

When she was done, he wiped her mouth and nodded his permission for her to open a present.

She ripped off the paper like an excited toddler, revealing a Cabbage Patch doll whose birth certificate named her as Amy Elizabeth. Delighted, Kelly clutched the cute little girl to her as she continued to unwrap three outfits for her new toy, a carry bag that held a pacifier, feeding bottle, a dish with plastic utensils, a bib, and other sundry items. In addition to the clothes and sundries, Daddy also gave her a bathroom kit for Amy Elizabeth, complete with a comb and brush, sponge, bath soap, and powder. If that wasn't enough, he led her by the hand back to her room where he'd set up a crib/cradle, high chair, and small dresser, just for her doll.

It was almost too much. Much more than she ever expected or would even wish for. Tears filled her eyes as she gazed at the man who did all he could to bring a little girl's dreams to life. "Thank you, Daddy," she murmured softly.

He held out his arms and drew her close for a tight hug when she ran to him. "You're welcome, sweetie. I also thought we might spend the day at the amusement park."

She gaped at him. "Do we have to stay in the little kids' area?"

Chuckling, he gave her a playful squeeze. "As long as you're with me, we can do whatever you want."

"I can ride the big kids' rides?"

"Yes, you may. If that's your pleasure."

* * *

The day was more magical than Kelly ever imagined as she was treated like a true pampered princess. Other than limiting the number of sweets and fatty foods she consumed and making sure she spent at least fifteen minutes of quiet time sitting with him after she ate, he didn't deny any of her requests. In fact, he was the one encouraging her to try different things.

It was nearly 11:00 p.m. when they returned home after the fireworks display, and Kelly had trouble keeping her eyes open, so he insisted she undress, wash her face, and brush her teeth then get into her own bed. When she pushed out her lower lip in disappointment, he gave her nose a tap.

"Enough. You had an exciting day riding rides, playing games, and pigging out, but it's late and you need your rest."

"But I thought we would—"

"No. Not tonight," he insisted more firmly. "You're dead on your feet. Perhaps tomorrow night, when you're more rested. No arguments, pumpkin. I don't want to end this fun day with a spanking, but I will if you don't do as I say. Get into bed, cuddle next to Amy Elizabeth and settle down to sleep."

Though Kelly wasn't the least bit happy with his pronouncement, she knew better than to argue, and less than two minutes after she'd lain her head down, with her new playmate snug at her side, she fell asleep.

Happier than she could remember being for a long, long time, Kelly couldn't imagine anything destroying her delight. Then, two weeks later, it happened.

* * *

Though she'd been lucky for the past several months, given that Kelly's period was regular, occurring approximately every twenty-eight days and lasting anywhere from three to five days, it was inevitable it would fall on a Wednesday sometime. And it did, in July, her sixth month living with Graham.

Feeling a little off when she awoke that morning, she put it down to something she ate. She had permission to get up by herself on Wednesdays, which meant she could use the toilet and dress herself without Daddy looming over her. So, she was in the process of getting ready for their promised outing to the natural history museum, one of her favorites, when the first cramp hit, and along with it came a rumbling in her bowels that had her scrambling for the bathroom.

Cramps overwhelmed her in two places, and all she could think of was how she would keep her condition a secret. No way did she want to be relegated to wearing diapers today, and her period had come a day early. If she was already out with him, she was almost positive he'd let her buy some feminine supplies and continue their outing, rather than insist they return. Taking her home simply to put her into diapers would be ridiculous, wouldn't it? So, she needed to pretend nothing was wrong, which would be difficult since, in addition to her menses, her system chose to torture her with diarrhea as well. Shit. Literally.

Wiping herself carefully, she flushed away the evidence then ran into her room for some wipes and a Pull-Up, which was the closest thing she had to a maxi pad, and scurried back into the bathroom to clean up. She'd need to be careful, since Pull-Ups were bulkier than normal underwear and the outer plastic lining tended to crackle when she moved a certain way. That meant no slacks for her today. Daddy would definitely wonder about that, because when given a choice, Kelly preferred shorts or jeans to skirts and dresses, but the only time he permitted pants of any sort was on Wednesdays. Couldn't be helped, though.

Once she'd taken care of things as best as she could, she selected a youthful, but not too girlish, top and skirt. After her first bout, the cramps had eased somewhat, so she finished her normal routine of getting ready then joined him in the kitchen.

He smiled at her. "My, don't we look pretty today. A skirt. What's the occasion?"

She shrugged. "I just wanted to feel pretty. You did say we were going to the museum, right?"

"That's correct. Go ahead and sit down, and I'll serve you breakfast."

Kelly smiled and did as she was told, though what she really wanted was some ibuprofen and Imodium, not breakfast. Maybe they could stop at a drug store near the museum.

Daddy had gone out of his way to make scrambled eggs, toast, and Canadian bacon. Yum. But when he set it before Kelly, her stomach lurched in protest.

"What's wrong?" he asked with concern as he bent over her.

"Nothing. My tummy's a little off. That's all. I'm so excited about today, Daddy," she quickly added, hoping to distract him. "I love looking at the dinosaurs and fossils." She babbled on about all the things she enjoyed seeing at the museum, but he was much too observant to fall for her attempts to fool him.

"Kelly… What do you mean your tummy's off? Were you sick this morning?"

"No, Daddy," she promptly answered with a grin. It wasn't a total lie. She hadn't thrown up, but no way did she want to be put into diapers with what her body was doing.

"What is it you aren't telling me, little girl?" He sat down beside her and pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. "You're looking pale and a trifle green, but you're not overly warm."

"I'm fine. I'm just excited."

"No. You're lying to me. What did Daddy tell you about lies?"

Kelly's stomach sank as though she'd swallowed a bowl of lead instead of a forkful of fluffy eggs. "That they were bad."

"And?"

She hesitated then admitted softly, "I'd get punished if I ever told one."

He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. "That's right. So, I suggest you tell me the truth before I start adding to your punishment."

Kelly's eyes misted over as she crawled onto his lap and hugged him. "Don't be angry with me, Daddy."

She would be getting a spanking, but he never pushed her away when she willingly came to him for comfort. As a reflex, he put his arms around her and gave her backside a gentle pat when they both heard the telltale crackle. "Why are you wearing Pull-Ups today?"

Kelly laid her head on his shoulder and didn't answer. What was the point? Further lying would only compound her problems, and he'd insist on checking for himself.

Without another word, he picked her up, carried her into the bathroom, and gently set her feet on the floor. Then reaching under her skirt, he pulled down the padded panties. The red smear was plainly obvious. She'd leaked.

He turned her to face him. "Why didn't you tell me the truth?"

"Because I didn't want to be a baby today. I want to go to the museum."

"You lied to your daddy, Kelly. Bad little girls don't get to go to museums, do they?"

"No," she replied in a soft whisper.

He sighed and straightened up. "Unfortunately, I have some business to attend to, so Nanny-cook will need to stay with you instead."

WTF? He was attending to business on their day out? "No!" Kelly promptly tried to move away but got hung up on her Pull-Ups and would have fallen if Daddy hadn't caught her by the waist. Picking her up again, he carried her over to the toilet and lowered the lid. Kelly knew that meant a spanking, so she struggled to get free.

"Bad girl. Stop that, Kelly." His hand fell with a sharp smack.

"Ow, Daddy. Please don't spank me. I'm sick."

His hand landed a second time. "Was that another lie you told me?"

Kelly whimpered. "No."

"A third lie?"

Her response was a baby-like wail. Babies weren't spanked as a rule. They might receive a light swat here and there, but not a full-fledged spanking.

Sighing, he gave her backside a gentle rub. "I should make this naughty bottom sore and sorry, but I suspect being put into a diaper will be punishment enough for you today."

Kelly sniffed as he carried her back to the changing table to undress her.

He continued to scold the entire time. "I'm very disappointed in you, babygirl. Telling fibs is very naughty, and you deserve to be soundly paddled for lying to Daddy." Then his voice gentled. "Is your tummy hurting?"

She nodded. Just then, she'd say anything if it would prevent a spanking, but she didn't consider the ramifications of what she was admitting. Not fully.

He pressed the flat of his palm against her slightly swollen abdomen. "Here?"

Babies didn't talk but they could nod, so that's what she did.

"Your eyes are puffier than normal, and your belly feels fuller. Are you having trouble going potty, too? Is your bottom sore?"

Blinking, she gazed at the man and briefly wondered if he was psychic. She hesitated.

"Don't even think about lying to me, Kelly girl. You've already earned one spanking when this is over, and I don't think you want to make your punishment worse, do you?"

One head shake.

"So, tell me the truth. In addition to your menstrual cramps, are you suffering from diarrhea?"

Miserable, she nodded.

"Okay, here's what we're going to do, and I'll offer you a choice. We can play sick or well-baby. Either way, you'll be put into diapers, but if you choose to be sick, you'll be given extra cuddles and loving with no spanking when you're well again. If you prefer to be well, same treatment as normal, but you will get a spanking for the lies you told once your period is over."

Where was the downside? What was she missing? Why wouldn't she choose to escape a spanking and be cuddled more? It sounded too good to be true. She frowned at him.

"I'll still need to leave, sweetie, so Nanny-cook will be the one staying with you, sick or well."

Kelly shook her head. That she didn't want.

"I'm afraid we have no choice in that regard, but I'll give her instructions, and she'll take very good care of you, I promise. I should be back by four, so it won't be that long. But, since I won't be here, and you're not truly sick, just experiencing a side effect, I'll let you decide. Is Daddy's little girl feeling bad?"

Realizing the extra care and attention would be welcome, she gave a slow nod."

"Good girl. Thank you for being honest with Daddy. Okay, roll over."

She blinked at him.

"In addition to taking medicine for the tummy cramps, sick babies need their temperature taken every few hours to make sure they're not running a fever."

Crap. And there it was. The downside.