Work Text:
A teenage Courtney sits in her room alone, having just dropped for the first time.
It was disorienting, going from your normal self to a toddler.
She’d been doing her homework, fighting an abnormal migraine when it happened. It was almost instantaneous, the switch from teenager to toddler. She looked around mildly dazed, but figured it out quickly.
“Uhoh.” she mumbles to herself, closing her book and getting up from her desk and lying in her bed.
She pulls her covers over herself and curls up into a ball.
As far as she knows she’s the first little in her family, and she’s scared. Her parents have never said anything for or against littles, but Mormons in general are fairly back and forth about them, so she’s not sure what they think.
Courtney lays there, humming to herself under the covers for a long time, not knowing what to do, when she hears a knock at the door.
Taking a deep breath she calls out, “What?” in a voice that was clearly not her normal voice.
“Are you ok?” her dad calls back, “It’s almost dinner time,”
“I’m good,” she tells him, “Not hungry,”
She hears him sigh through the door, “Can I come in? I’m worried about you.” he asks carefully.
Not wanting to be alone anymore, and wanting her dad’s comfort, she yells, “Ok,” and he opens the door, carefully closing it behind him.
He sits on the edge of her bed and looks at her pityingly.
“How old are you, Courtney?” he asks quietly and she stares up at him.
“Dunno.” she mumbles hesitantly, “Little.”
Her dad sighs again, pushing her hair out of her face. “Your mom won’t like this.” he tells her bluntly
“I knew one of you would end up being little,” he admits sadly, “I was just hoping none of you would”
“Not because I care,” he adds quickly, seeing her face fall.
“I believe littles are a blessing.” He says genuinely, smiling softly at her, “I'm honored to get to love you.”
“Your mom, not so much.” He explains.
“It didn't come up until after we were married, and I stupidly thought it wasn't a big deal.” He tells her before stopping.
“You don't need to know this right now, I'm sorry pumpkin.” He says gently,
“I'll hang out up here with you tonight,” he says, “And I'll talk to your mother tomorrow”
“Is gonna be ok?” she asks quietly and he sighs, gently grabbing her hand.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with your mom,” he tells her honestly, “But if we have to, we’ll go somewhere else where you’re safe and free to be yourself.” he promises.
She squeezes his hand and he squeezes back. “I’ll bring dinner up here and we can watch movies all night, how does that sound?” he asks her and she grins.
“Fun!” she says excitedly, sitting up to hug him, “Thank you,” she mumbles into his shoulder and he kisses the top of her head.
“Anything for my kids.” He tells her, standing up and heading downstairs to bring them both dinner for the night.
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Courtney’s mom wasn’t happy that she was little, but didn’t openly share that with her.
Her dad said that she was upset, but had said like him, she knew at least one of them would probably end up “like that”
He made an agreement with her mom that she could regress in the house as much as she needs, as long as she stays in her room.
And she’s grateful her mom didn’t make her leave, but she can feel the distance growing between her and her mom. As well as the distance growing between her and her siblings still at home. Who don’t know what’s going on, only that she’s causing issues between their parents.
Her dad had said he’d watch her whenever he was home, despite being neutral himself, but with him being a firefighter, that wasn’t a stable option.
Like tonight.
Courtney was doing her homework and she dropped.
She’s done it a few times now, and while she can tell when it’s coming now, she can’t control it.
This is the first time she’s dropped when her dad isn’t home and she doesn’t know what to do.
She can’t call him, he’s busy at work.
Can’t tell her mom, she wants nothing to do with her.
That leaves staying in her room alone or talking to her older sister.
Dinner is coming, which means she can’t hide out in her room without her mom finding her, so she decides to look for her sister.
She cracks her door open and pokes her head out, looking both ways before sliding out. Not seeing anyone, she walks over to her sister’s door and knocks.
“What?” her sister calls, so she knocks again, not wanting her mom to hear her.
A groan is heard through the door before it's wrenched open.
“What do you want?” she asks annoyed
Courtney takes a deep breath, “Dad’s not home.” she mumbles in her regressed voice.
Her sister's expression quickly shifts from annoyance to concern, grabbing the little’s arm and dragging her into her room.
“You’re a little?” her sister asks her surprised, “Does mom know?”
“Yeah” she answers simply and her sister sighs in relief.
“I’m a caregiver,” she admits, “Mom said not to tell any of you,”
Courtney looks at her in awe.
Her sister laughs quietly, picking her up. “Is this why you and dad have been spending time alone in your room? I assumed you were in trouble.” she asks and the little nods.
“Mom say no leave room.” she explains and her sister sighs.
“Well now you’ve got me and dad. I guess she never told him about me either. We need to talk to the older three and see what they are. I’d just assumed everyone was neutral but me.” she admits.
“First little,” Courtney tells her, “Dad say.”
She hums, subconsciously rocking her, “I’m glad you came in.” she tells her honestly, “We can chill in here,”
Courtney smiles, “Thank you,” she says hugging her,
“Anytime.”