Once Abandoned, Now Found

Chapter 17

"Next we want to talk about wants and needs, do you know what they are munchkin?" Danni took over the conversation now, Maggie was looking emotionally drained.

Alex thought for a moment and then shook her head.

"That's okay baby, so a want is something that you would like to have, like certain toys, more stuffies, certain foods. A need is something that you can't go without, like Teggs or cuddles, or maybe time to yourself" Danni explained, wanting to clear up the difference.

"Then there are comfort items, these can make you feel safe, secure, wanted and emotions like that. There will be needs and wants that fall into this, and if anything ever changes, you need to let one of us know."

Alex agreed, and at the mention of Teggs, pulled him closer again.

"So is there anything that you need, anything that you can't go without?" Danni asked, wanting to keep this conversation as simple and easy as possible.

"Teggs?" Alex suggested nervously.

"That's a good one baby, you need your Teggs don't you" Maggie was quick to praise the little, and from Alex's face, she made a mental note of that need.

"Um, cuddles? Oh, and playtime!" Alex continued, beginning to have some confidence in her choice. The women praised after each, so Alex knew that there wasn't a wrong answer.

"Okay, so Teggs, cuddles, and playtime, can you think of anything else? And don't worry, if you ever come up with more, we can add them to the list, this isn't a one-time chance." Danni wanted to make sure they had everything right.

"I like it when you say I've done good things, and I like the names you call me" Alex began to blush, her confidence on edge as she wondered if it was too much.

"So you like it when we praise you, tell you you've done a good job?" Danni confirmed.

"And you like the pet names, like bug, little one, munchkin, darling, baby" Maggie checked this time, smiling as Alex blushed and looked down at Teggs.

"They, they make feel like I belong, you know? Like I'm ok and wanted?" Alex explained quietly, the immediate praise from the women helping boost her confidence again.

"That's all good baby, if that's what you need, we'll keep doing it, and we like to do it. It's important to know when you've done a good job and to feel wanted, they are important emotions bug" Danni wrapped an arm around Alex and pulled her into her side, hugging her closely.

"Can you think of anything you want, this can be trips to try or do things, food, toys, anything you like?" Maggie asked while Alex was still being hugged.

At this, Alex's face lit up and it was clear she had a lot of ideas.

"Ooo, I'd like to go to the place where you sit and watch movies on the giant screen, and the zoo, and the park, and the place where you put coins in and try to win things, and the beach, and the place with the rollercoasters that go really fast" Alex spoke quickly as she tried to think of everything she had seen and heard other people do, but she hadn't done herself.

"Oh" Alex's hands were beginning to flap she was so excited, "there's the shop where you get to make your own stuffie, and the play areas indoors with slides and tubes and different levels, and the place with all the bouncy mats that you can jump on" Alex was still going, and Danni and Maggie were trying desperately to stay positive as Alex kept listing things she hadn't done.

"And there are the travelling shows that have rides and games and people doing really cool things, and the place with all the water animals" Luckily for Danni, Alex began running out of ideas, she had been struggling to keep up with all of Alex's ideas.

"Okay munchkin, for trips we have: the cinema, zoo, park, arcade, beach, amusement park, build-a-bear workshop, play centre, trampoline park, the circus and the aquarium." Danni rattled off the list, Alex nodding enthusiastically.

"Is there anything else baby?" Maggie asked, wondering how Alex had gone her whole life without going to something as simple as the beach.

"Umm, I'm not sure" Alex couldn't think of anything else outside the house that she hadn't done.

"I'd like to build one of those forts with all the blankets and pillows?" She suggested.

"That sounds great darling, I'm really good at building blanket forts!" Danni boasted as she noted it down.

"I'd like it if I could have some more stuffies, or maybe some new paint on my walls? Maybe I could have like a big day every week or something, just so I'm not permanently in little space? I'd really like to try some foods like spaghetti, ice cream that isn't vanilla, erm hot dogs. I don't mind if I can't do everything though" Alex trailed off, having firstly run out of ideas, and secondly not wanting to seem like she was turning into a spoiled brat.

"I'm pretty sure we can manage all of these baby, and more, because I think Maggie has some ideas too!" Danni felt heartbroken that there was so much that Alex hadn't done, and that she was okay not trying anything.

It was quickly becoming the Briggs' mission to show Alex the world and everything she had missed.

"Can I check a few little things with you ladybug?" Maggie asked, turning the attention to Alex's headspace.
"Do you mind wearing the diapers or pull-ups?"

"I don't mind, I'm not very good at remembering to go when I'm little" Alex admitted.

"What about that skin-to-skin contact we've had when you've been really upset?" Maggie questioned again, trying to suss out what Alex needed in her headspace.

"I really like it, it's soothing and you guys end up being so warm it's like an extra big hug." Alex wasn't quite sure how to explain the effect that the skin contact had, it was as if all her worries went away, all that mattered was the hug and the sound of the heartbeat and breathing.

"Would you like it more, or just when you're upset?"

"I'm not sure, maybe just when I'm upset for now, or if I need the closeness?" Alex suggested, trying to find a decent compromise.

"I've noticed you suck on your fingers a lot baby, have you thought about a pacifier or a teether before?" It's was Danni's turn to suggest something.

"I've never really tried one, I guess it isn't always good to suck on my fingers though. Would it be okay if I tried it, but I don't know if it'll work or not?"

Danni and Maggie were impressed by how well Alex was taking to the conversation, and they were happy that she had the confidence to express her needs.

"Of course baby, how about we buy a couple of packs tomorrow if you use them great if not, that's okay too?" Personally, Maggie wanted the fingers out of Alex's mouth as soon as possible, along with the corner of a blanket, one of Teggs' scales or his tail, it wasn't hygienic at all.

It was then that both women noticed how tired Alex looked, and a glance at the clock told them that they had been speaking for hours, it was nearly time for dinner and Alex hadn't had a nap today.

"Alright Lexi, unless you can think of anything really specific right now, I'd say we're done for now. We'll go through what you can't have after a nap." With a sense of finality and relief, the notebook closed and the rules poster was collected ready to be put up in the kitchen.

Without saying it, Alex was very relieved that the conversation was over, and it wasn't long before she found herself falling asleep on the sofa, still tucked into Danni's side.