"Oh princess Wren, let your blanket down"

Wren giggled, adjusted his tiara and threw down his blanket, holding on to the top. I pretended to climb up the blanket, reaching the top of wren's slide shelter thing, or as it was now proclaimed, his castle.

I leaned on the deck, wheezing and pretending to be all out of breath.

"Da-ddyyyyyy"

Wren kissed my forehead, I rested my head on my hands, looking up at him.

"Yes little princess?"

Wren sat down, his poofy net dress flowering out.

"Am I pwetty daddy?"

"You're the prettiest little princess i ever did see baby bear"

Wren giggled and clapped his hands.

"Am I pretty baby bear?"

"Vewy daddy"

"Papa's lucky to have us, isn't he?"

Wren hummed in agreement before falling onto his back and rolling onto his tummy.

"Daddy slide!"

He crawled towards to the slide and I hopped off the ladder, leaving the blanket and running around to the other side.

"Nonono honey wait"

Wren whined when I held him back from sliding.

"Don't want you hurting yourself hun, go ahead now I'm here"

Wren scooched forward and slid down on his tummy. Before he reached the grass I swung him up into my arms, in a fit of giggles.

"Aw my giddy princess, my special boy, my darling angel child-"

I tickled under his chin and he wriggled about in my arms.

"Ricky!"

I stopped my tickle attack as I heard David yell from the backdoor, I turned to see him holding out his phone. He didn't look very happy.

"Its Sarah, apparently you need to start picking up your phone"

David said through gritted teeth. I met met him halfway and took his phone. He quickly handed it off and left, presumably returning to his office.

I couldn't help the small frown that came to me, I hated when david was in a bad mood and recently it's been going pretty hard.

Since the daycare incident, David's been working from home, working on a case against that awful place. He's been blaming himself for what happened to Wren, even though we really couldn't have known.

It seemed like the perfect place, stellar reviews and a discounted rate cause David worked there. Sometimes you just can't predict stuff but he can't seem to let it go.

Pushing my grievances aside I held the phone up to my ear, and sat down in the long grass with wren, him pouting a little over the stop of our playtime. But he occupied himself playing with my other hand.

"Helloooo"

"Ricky, pick up your damn phone for once-"

I whined

"I left it inside, leave me be"

"Never! Look, do you have my pie dish?"

I pondered for a minute, scratching the side of head. Making wren wine over the loss of his new toy. I immediately gave him back control of my hand and quieted his whines.

"Its probably somewhere in the depts of my cabinets, why?"

"I need it"

"

Why?"

"Pie! What else?"

"I dunno, probably make a good hat"

I half laughed at my terrible joke, i could practically see her deadpan expression.

"Come on, I promised Alex and her friend we'd make pie and I need my dish, please Ricky, come on, your family's in need.... don't be a dick"

I left her in suspended silence

"...fine, I'll bring you your dish, but only because I'm so nice"

"God, thank you Ricky, you're a light saver"

"I know"

I heard her laugh and hung up.

"Alright Wren, guess I've got to be a good brother and being aunty Sarah a pie dish"

More speaking to myself then Wren, I stood and began walking inside but not before grabbing wrens blanket off the slide and handing it back.

Wren however, was not well pleased. He wiggled over my shoulder and reached out.

"Nuu Daddy, castle! Castle!"

I bounced him as I walked further away from the castle. Wren put his face against my shoulder and cried out in frustration. I rubbed his back and gently shushed him.

"Its alright honey , well keep playing later, daddy just has to do something real quick"

Wren stopped the cries but crossed his arms and pouted as I carried him through the kitchen. I knelt and dug through my cabinets till eventually, the legendary pie dish was revealed.

I left it on the kitchen table and walked on to David's office. I stood at the door and knocked. David yelled to come in and I did so.

He didn't look up from his computer as I entered and walked right up to him. I placed his phone down, making him look up to thank me, but wren's little attitude caught his attention

"Oh? What's turned our princess into a little fussy pants?"

He took wren off me and coddled him in his lap, only making wren more pouty as David teased his huffing.

"Wren wants to keep playing princesses but I have to drop a pie dish around to Sarah's"

Wren yelled out, unimpressed and annoyed. David gently shushed and bounced him.

Wren went back to his pouty crossed arms and I continued.

"Soooo- can I please use the car, it'd be so much easier"

David stared a me with a blank face while I battled him with my puppy eyes. I won.

"Fine!"

"But just to Sarah's and back, no joyrides no offroading and please don't drive on the wrong side of the road"

"That was one time!"

David chuckled, his bad mood seemingly clearing away.

"And I'm never gonna let you live it down love"

Unfortunately another certain someone's mood was not clearing away.

"Nu! Dada nu!"

Wren threw blankie to the ground and started to cry, signifying the start of a tantrum. We needed to stop that quick.

I gently held his hand and ran my fingers through his hair while David rubbed his tummy. Wren still tried to kick but I ignored it.

"Hey hey hey Wren, no need for a tantrum, what's going on sweetie, tell us"

Wren wouldn't meet my eyes as he began mumbling.

"Wanna play wif dada, Dada nu go"

"Well dada's gonna be right back and you can play with papa-"

"No!-"

Wren yelled and his pacifier dropped from his mouth.

"-Papa always busy, Papa no play. Wan Daddy"

I could see a bit of hurt in David's eyes but he packed that away to deal with fussy pants here.

"Well why don't you go to aunty sarahs with daddy and ill try to finish what I'm doing by the time you're back and then papa can play too"

"Oki"

Wren mumbled, and despite the issue being resolved, he still pouted and shifted about. David hummed.

"Perhaps there another reason his majesty has turned into a fuss pot"

David reached a hand down and felt under wrens dress.

"Think I found the problem, my smelly little boy needs a change doesn't he"

Wren whined and covered his face with his hands. David chuckled and cooed at the whiny baby.

I retrieved blankie off the floor wnd got handed Wren, so I could go do the dirty work. Which luckily I allowed me to do with only a bit of fuss. I fixed a new, star covered diaper and pulled away wren's fingers which had somehow snaked into his mouth. I replaced them with his paci.

"Do you wanna get changed before we go baby?"

"Noh, d'ess peas"

"You want one of your teddies"

"Noh, blankie an dada good"

"Whatever you say darling"

I quickly searched for a pair of frilly socks and Mary Jane's to slip over wren's currently bare feet. Now with Wren fully dressed, tiara to his Mary janes I picked him up, fixinghis dress to make sure nothing was bunched up.

I grabbed the already made diaper bag and with wren securely clinging to my side, I left the nursery.

Through the hallway I was met by David at his office door. I stopped for him to give us both our deserved goodbye kisses. He obliged but gave Wren a few more and whispered

"I'm sorry I called you smelly bubba".

Wren giggled.

"S'ok Papa"

With all our matters mostly resolved I grabbed the pie dish from the kitchen and yelled a final goodbye to David and left.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

Today wasn't going to plan for me. Playtime may have come to a grounding halt but I was determined to keep playing princesses, cause everything's better when we play princesses. I get all daddy and Papa's attention and it's great, no work no talking about daycare, jus me getting treated like the princess I am!

Well now I'm going to aunty sarahs with Daddy. I'd rather be back at my castle but this is pretty ok.

Usually both daddy and papa are in the car, I don wike it when it's just one of them, means I get all bored. I can't even see into the drivers seat to look at daddy with my stupid baby seat.

I whined as I tried to crane my neck, fiddling with my straps to see daddy.

"Baby bear, what are you doing?"

"I wanna see daddy! I'hs bowing..."

"Aw I'm sorry little one, we're nearly there just no more messing your special seat, you're gonna hurt yourself"

"Oki dada"

He reached back with his hand to pat my leg but before I could grab it, he pulled it away to put both hands back on the wheel. He swerved a bit and I went right back to pouting.

True to Daddy's words we arrived at Aunty Sarahs and I was soon back up in his arms. I smiled, now I had all Daddy's attention we can go back to playing.

"Daddy, pincesses w'en wans-a p'ay"

I gurgled from behind the pacifier

"Sweetie we can't play just yet, but as soon as we get home ill build you a massive couch castle and we can play all the rest of the day"

I whimpered and murmered quietly

"Buh I wanna pway now"

Daddy was about to say something when the front door opened.

"Hey hey, what're you doing just standing there like a lemon. In!"

Daddy walked into the house and handed off the dish when Sarah clocked my beautiful dress and tiara.

"Hi Wrenny-benny. What have you got going on here, are you a little princess?"

I didn't feel like talking so I just turned from aunty sarah huffed.

"Wren come on now, sorry he's been fussy all day"

I whined, that's totally not true. It's just no one's listening to me. I shoved my face into daddies neck and he scratched the back of my head.

"Well that's ok, anyway come in, do you want a drink? I've got the kettle boiled"

"Sure I could go for a cuppa"

They walked into the kitchen and sat down, aunty Sarah pouring 2 mugs of tea.

"Wren do you want some juice?"

I pulled away from Daddy's neck to nod and was handed a sippy cup of juice.

Daddy kept a protective arm around me, bouncing me with his leg a little as he chatted with Aunty Sarah.

"So Where's Alex?"

"She's upstairs with her friend, strictly no grown ups so I've been banished"

Daddy laugh and sipped at his tea, I sipped at my juice in unison.

"Oh- I've been meaning to ask, you brought Wren to daycare right? How'd that go?"

I shrunk up in Daddy's lap, bringing my knees up and snuggling into blankie for comfort. Daddy put down his mug.

"Not well Sarah, not well"

Daddy rubbed my back, I hoped it'd just be left at that, daycare was really scary and I don't wanna talk about it, I don't think about it anymore.

"Oh? What happened?"

"Well the- wren sweetie what're you doing?"

Daddy spoke through my hands, which I had shot up to cover his mouth. My sippy cup falling to the ground. I didn't want to hear about that place. Being there was enough and then I have to hear it over and over, not again.

Daddy gently pried my hands off his face. He could read I wasn't ok.

"Is everything ok little bat?"

I whimpered, it's not ok. Today was supposed to be nice but its just going downhill, now I'm on the verge of crying in front of aunty Sarah. So I did the only thing I think of.

I pathetically whispered

"Um I's.. wet"

"Oh, ok then, Sarah can we just-"

Daddy did a quick whistle, before guttering to the stairs with his thumb. Aunty Sarah nodded and drank more tea.

"Please go ahead, you know where the mat is"

Daddy carried me upstairs into the bathroom. He sat on the toilet with the lid down and felt my diaper.

"Wren you're dry, what's going on baby?"

I let out a high pitch cry, and curled up in Daddy's lap.

"No talk bout the d-d-ay care. Peas daddy I don wike it. I jus wann-ed ta pway to-day, when we pway evwytings ok. No bad thoughts, bad thoughts bad. Make wrenny cry an get mad "

Daddy comforted me, nuzzling the top of my head as he held me close.

"I'm sorry honey, Daddy's being an idiot today. I should've known you wouldn't want to hear about that stupid place again. That's a grown up conversation I shouldn't be letting you hear. Daddy's so sorry wren, I'll finish up with aunty Sarah downstairs and then we can go home ok?"

I smiled as dada wiped my tears.

"Oki dada"

I started sucking on my fingers and daddy just tutted, taking them out and replacing them with my paci. He sighed.

"Baby bear, I need you to promise me something"

I tilted my head, inquisitively at daddy and he continued.

" Tell me or papa when those bad thoughts start to pop up, cause I know how hard it is to ignore them, I know they'll always be a little bit there. But if me and Papa know... then we can help you. I do it with papa all the time"

"Weally?"

"Yes really, those bad thoughts... I sometimes get them too.. and that's ok. They come, but I know they will go and papa just makes it easier for me"

"Ok dada, I say when bad thinkies come now"

Daddy smiled at me.

"Mhm... my good little bat"

After a little more cuddling, me and daddy left the bathroom. Suddenly Daddy stopped as he walked down the hallway. Right outside Alex's bedroom door. He hummed to himself before setting me down and crouching next to me.

"Honey, It's probably still going to be a while with aunty Sarah so would you rather play up here with Alex and her friend?"

I nodded enthusiastically, i still get to play today!!

Daddy took my hand and lead me the few steps to the door, I still hid behind his leg. Bit of a force of habit.

Daddy knocked ok the door and I heard whispering then a voice I didn't recognise say

Daddy opened the door and poked his head in.

"Hey girls"

"Sowwy uncle Ricky buh its no grown-d ups allow-ed"

"Oh I heard, but I was just wondering if you had room for a another little princess"

Daddy opened the door more and stepped aside, revealing me in all my poofy dress, tiara wearing, blankie clutching glory. I blushed and was about to back behind daddy when Alex squealed.

"Hiya Wrenny!"

She jumped up and ran over, grabbing my arm and pulling me to where she was sitting. Her friend, a girl I'd met at Alex's party called Tara, sat waiting with a big smile on her face.

Daddy reminded her to be gentle with me and I giggled when Alex reminded him it was no grown ups allowed.

"Okok I'm going, I'm just downstairs if you need me baby bear, I love you"

I blushed again, whining a little as the girls giggled. Daddy chuckled and closed the door behind him.

Alex quickly pulled me down to sit between her and Tara. They were playing with pretty dolls. Tara quickly introduced herself.

"Hi wren! I'm Tara, but you sawed me before. Were playing barbies, but we don't have another one for you."

I looked and as she said, there were only 2 barbies. Alex realised as well.

"Oh, we should play somthin else den, so it's fair"

Tara hummed.

"Umm how bou' house, wren can be the baby!"

Alex's face lit up while mine dropped.

"Yesh! We can use my old baby stuffs, it's just in my wardwobe"

I whined, trying to cut out the idea before it went any further. They both snapped look at me and I whimpered.

"I don wanna be a baby, I'm- I'm- a pwincess"

I pointed to my tiara. Tara looked a little confused.

"Buh you're a boy, boys are pwinces"

"Daddy says it doesn't matter"

"Huh... I didn know dat. Anyway plain ol princesses is bowing"

My bottom lip jutted out at that and began to wobble. A light bulb suddenly went off in Alex's head.

"We can do popstar pwimcesses! Wike in da movie!"

Tara smiled wide and stood up, jumping up and down with Alex.

"Yeah! Dats way better-"

I wanted to protest a bit, but decided to settle, at least this way I'm part princess.

Tara stopped jumping and grabbed Alex in excitement.

"We can do makeobers!!"

They both squealed and I covered my ears. What even is a makober? Alex stopped rejoicing for a second and frowned.

"But your daddy got weal mad afta last time"

"He only got mad cause we did eachother, this time we jus do wren!"

I had my concerns about that bit

"-an mommy put my make up weally high"

"Awwwww, what do we do now?"

"Well majority rules on house, so-"

I whimpered, thinking fast, I really didn't want to play house.

"I can cwimb high! I get da makey-up"

Alex stared at me.

"Its up weally high do, look"

They ran over to her wardrobe, me toddling after. Alex opened it up and pointed to a top shelf. I could see a pink box slightly sticking out. I've never climbed anything that high before, usually just my crib buh Papa says I can do anything I set my mind to... within the rules, but there's no specific rules against climbing.

With this in mind I gently put down blankie and kicked off my shoes before taking hold of a piece of shelf and hoisting myself up. Alex and Tara stared, mouth agape as I scaled the closet walls, absentmindedly using flat wall as footing without realising how impossible that should've been.

I eventually reached the case, reaching out and knocking it down, where Alex caught it. I casually climbed and was met by Tara and Alex, still staring.

"That... was..."

I winced, expecting a bad reaction.

"SO COOL!!"

Alex squealed and speedily ran back to the middle of the room.

"Come on wrenny! It's makober time"

I smiled and waddled back over to them. I was promptly sat on a stool while Tara opened up case, showing off an aray of kiddy make up and a few normal art supply items.

"Oki so princess popstar wren has to have coloured hair right?"

Tara began and Alex immediately agreed, I went to say something but Alex shushed me.

"Wren wren, we're your stylists... so um, just relax and we'll do everything ok? Do you wan your blankie?"

I smiled, sucking on 3 fingers as i nodded. My paci must've fallen out at some point. Alex ran and grabbed blankie.

Once I had blankie back in my arms I was ready.

"So, hair streaks?"

Alex nodded in agreement. And they grabbed chalks out of the makeshift makeober kit.

"Your gonna look just like keira! Squeeee"

Alex said as she swiped chalk through my hair.

"Who's keira?"

Tara looked offended.

"She's the coolest popstar evur, from the barbie movie"

She grabbed her barbie and thrust it toward me.

Granted the doll looked really cool, her hair was purple and she was all sparkly. I quietly murmured.

"Pwetty"

"Uh huh, now let's style!"

Alex and Tara got so giddy over my makeover, in turn making me a giddy mess. I giggled at the tingly sensation the gloop put on my face left.

Alex said I looked really cool and I took my word for it. For a final touch I was told to close my eyes and they poured a pot of sparkley glitter over my head.

I giggled and made happy babbles. Everything was sparkley now!

Tara and Alex smiled at me

"Wren you look so good, Alex I think dis our best work!"

"We gotta show mommy and uncle Ricky!"

Usually Alex's energy was enough but her and Tara just kept bouncing off eachother, getting more and more hyped.

They dragged me out of the bedroom and down the stairs. But I had to slow them down so I didn't break my neck.