Teddy bears and pacifiers (age regression)

Making our kingdom

Chapter 6

The next weeks Rowan kept them mostly inside, which wasn't hard. The weather took a turn for the worse, the skies opening up, so much so that Rowan had trouble seeing the house on the other side of the street. But the wolf was not deterred in the slightest, he took the bad weather as a chance to let Theodore become accustomed to his new home.

Rowan encouraged the little to be around the house, not only to help Theodore learn the layout, but for him to get used to Rowan's close presence. It was a slow process as Theodore adjusted to freedom he'd never had, still expecting punishments for any self decided action.

Any chance presented was taken to encourage physical contact with the little. Stroking his hair in the morning, carrying him around the house, cuddling on the couch, even a few hugs here and there. More and more the contact was welcomed. Though still tensing when touch came unexpected, Theodore's progress was immense.

Theodore would sometimes follow Rowan. It first happened one day he was preparing a meal. He'd just gotten out the ingredients when the near soundless shuffling sounded from the living room. Theodore had taken to crawling to get around by himself as he could not stand on his foot, per doctor's orders. Luckily the living room floor was covered in dark burgundy carpets, making it easy for the boy to move around without hurting himself further. Rarely did the boy go farther than across the room though, still too timid and uncertain to venture further into the house on his own.

The shuffling grew closer. From the corner of his eye Theodore's silhouette appearing in the doorway. The boy sat there, silently watching, studying. Rowan pretended not to notice, going about his business with the dinner preparations. Inside he was elated. His darling has taken an interest in him. Enough to break the invisible boundary of rules he'd kept and cross the room to satisfy his curiosity.

Soon the smell of cooked salmon filled the room. Once done with the food Rowan released a breath, maybe a bit exaggerated, and patted imaginary dust from his hand. Theodore's silhouette quickly disappeared and Rowan smiled knowingly. Waiting a few seconds, he strolled casually back into the living room, as if unaware Theodore had been watching him.

The little boy sat with his head ducked playing with some crayons, looking far too guilty for the innocent act he was trying to pull. Suppressing a smile that would surely give his knowledge away Rowan crouched down.

"You ready for some dinner darling?" Shyly the boy gave a tentative nod, rising his arms ever so slightly to be picked up. This became routine for the two after that. Theodore peaking trough the doorway every day as Rowan prepared their dinner and Rowan pretending not to notice.

The bare room upstairs turned into a nursery during the first week. Rowan ordered paint, carpets and decoration to make the empty space into a proper room. In order to make sure it came out as perfect as could be, he had Theodore sit with him as he browsed the net for supplies the first day.

Just as when they shopped for clothes and necessities, Rowan could not get Theodore to admit what he wanted. The boy not believing the decision belonged to him. Luckily the boy had clearly never learned how to hide his emotions, and the wolf used it to his full advantage. By studying the boy's reactions, his breaths, small movements and lingering glances, it was not a difficult feat to select the colors and themes which the little most desired.

With smiles and encouragements a plenty he coaxed little Theodore into helping him paint the walls a sky blue. At first the boy was careful, looking to Rowan after each and every streak of the brush to make sure he was indeed allowed. But pretty soon the boy was painting every crook available, smile on his mouth and delight in his mismatched eyes. His simple outfit turned blue with paint platters at the end.