Baby Bear

Being Bear Cub

It took Barnacles a little while to get used to his new role. Sometimes, he had trouble slipping into it.

Dashi placed a box full of baby toys next to him. They were in the nursery, and Barnacles was wearing just his diaper and a blue T-shirt. He tipped his head at the toys, wondering what to do with them.

Dashi noticed this, and smiled fondly. "What's wrong?"

"You don't actually expect me to play with this stuff?"

"Yes."

"I'm not a real baby, you know." He didn't need this all the time.

Dashi smirked, knowingly. She turned to Barnacles, and placed her paws over her eyes.

"Dashi? Where'd you go?" Dashi giggled lightly.

"It's not funny! Where are you? Dashi!" He looked around the room. Dashi put her paws down. "Here I am! Heeheehee."

"How did you do that?"

"Oh, you know...magic." She picked up a toy from the box, and held it in front of Barnacles. "Baby want his rattle?"

"The magic thing got me. But this...no."

Dashi moved the rattle about, shaking it a little. She noticed the familiar glint in the captain's eye: innocence and wonder.

"Baby want his rattle now?" Barnacles stammered for a moment, before letting Dashi place it in his paws. It was suddenly the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen. He shook it, and heard a soft jingle. He started to giggle. Dashi smiled, and went about organizing the closet. She knew just how to keep her cub occupied.

It wasn't too hard for Bianca to find a sitter these days. In all honesty, she was grateful for that, especially today. She was so excited to spend some time with her brother.

The Octonauts had spoken to her online, and told  her to 'keep an open mind.' Bianca wasn't sure what this meant, but she had her suspicions.

Upon entering the Octopod, she was greeted by a rather nervous Dashi. The dog led her to her brother's room, trying to explain something to her.

"I take it, whatever this is, it's going to be something strange?"

"Well...yes."

"I'm fully prepared for strange. my brother has surprised me more than once over the years, you know."

"I know, we just...thought you should know about...this." She opened the door to reveal a friendly, yet oversized, nursery. Bianca glanced around, taking it all in. She turned towards the crib, and there was her brother, sleeping peacefully inside.

Dashi came up next to her, wringing her paws. "See...he's kind of.."

"This is his way of coping with his PTSD, isn't it?" Dashi blinked, surprised. Bianca smirked. "I had the feeling it was something unordinary. He talked to me about his disorder once." She wandered over to the crib, and observed. He was wearing a bright blue sleeper, and cuddling a teddy bear. A colorful pacifier bobbed up and down in his mouth.

"I'll give you two some time, then." Dashi left, hoping this would go alright.

Bianca watched her brother sleep. In all honesty, she found this a little out of the ordinary, but she wasn't going to judge her brother. Maybe just tease him a bit...

He started to fuss in his sleep. Bianca smiled, remembering the lullaby their mother used to sing to them when they were little. Once Barnacles heard the familiar tune, he settled in, and slept further. Bianca giggled. "My brother, back in diapers. Can't believe it."

Barnacles woke up from his nap about half an hour later, and looked around. He heard someone humming, and, figuring it was Dashi, turned towards the sound. Instead, he saw his sister in the rocking chair, flipping through a storybook. She looked at him, and smiled. "Well, never thought I'd see you sucking a pacifier again." Barnacles blushed, and muttered, "Quit teasing me." Bianca smiled, and walked toward her brother, gently patting his cheek. "Can't say I'm surprised, though." Barnacles whirled around, and thrust his tongue out at her. Smirking in response, Bianca snaked her paw toward his side. "Is that so? You forget I know all my brother's weaknesses." Barnacle burst out laughing as Bianca mercilessly tickled him. She giggled along, just enjoying messing around with her now, little, brother.

Barnacles Lay there for a moment, giggling, while Bianca got something from the corner of the room. He blushed when he saw what she had, and squirmed away. She smiled at him. "Don't worry, Barnacles, I'm not going to tease." She slid the changing mat under him, and opened the hatch in his sleeper. Barnacles let her change him, feeling that strange, yet familiar sense of helplessness well up in him. Bianca gave him a gentle smile, and sprinkled powder onto his lower half. a strawberry-scented cloud appeared, causing him to sneeze cutely. Bianca giggled, and blew a raspberry on his tummy, making him laugh again.

Bianca thoroughly enjoyed her visit.

Kwazii loved babysitting his brother. Barnacles was playful and sweet, and a rather easy baby.

Kwazii currently had him pinned down, and was tickling him all over. Barnacles laughed and laughed, not making any real move to resist. Finally, Kwazii let him go, and nuzzled his cheek, purring.

"Kwazii...I hate when you do that." Barnacles panted. Kwazii smirked, and shoved a pacifier into his mouth, rendering him speechless. Barnacles instinctively suckled on it, sometimes wondering why this even worked on him.

Kwazii watchedhim for a moment, before teasingly smiling. "I think you're not willing to go farther into your Little space." Barnacles tipped his head, watching as Kwazii picked up something nearby. Turning the handle, Kwazii smiled as the music box turned on and began to play. The tune soothed Barnacles, and he seemed to melt, just listening. He reached out and grabbed the first soft toy he could find, which happened to be a long, colorful caterpillar. He snuggled it, smiling, and finally not caring. Kwazii draped the captain's blanket over him, and nuzzled his forehead. "Good night."

Barnacles slept peacefully, not a care in the world, finally remembering what it was like to be little.