This can't be happening

"I can't thank you enough Sarah, I know it's short notice but we can't bring Wren to pick her up"

Daddy hastily entered Auntie Sarah's house, I clung to him.

This was all agreed this morning. Daddy and Papa had to pick up their friend from somewhere and couldn't bring me so I was sent to Alex and Auntie Sarah's for a play date.

I screamed as Daddy tried to put me down on the couch, he couldn't leave me here. Papa was in the car, waiting for Daddy to come back out to him. I couldn't let him leave me

"Daddy no!"

"Wren honey, Daddy and Papa will be back in a few hours, you're gonna have lots of fun with Alex"

"Daddy please..."

"Baby bear, I'm sorry, you need to be very brave for me, can you be brave for me?"

"I can't... please daddy"

Daddy looked ready to cry himself

"I know you can be brave for me baby bear-"

He took my little backpack off his back.

"-you can show Alex Topsy, she hasn't seen him yet"

He pulled the elephant out of the bag and I held it close.

"Hey baby bear, you see that clock?"

He pointed at wall clock in the kitchen

"When the little hand reaches 7 me and Papa will be back, ok?"

The little hand was at 5, that wasn't too long.

"ok Daddy"

"Baby bear, you're so brave. I love you"

I hugged him

"Luv you too Daddy"

Auntie Sarah helped me wave goodbye. I watched them drive away and whimpered.

"Sweetie, it'll be ok, Alex and Josh are playing upstairs, lets go up, Alex is very excited to see you!"

Sarah carried me upstairs, she didn't notice how scared I was, probably thought it was just because of Daddy and Papa leaving.

She didn't notice little things I did when I was anxious. only daddy and Papa could notice them. Like I kept pulling my sleeves down on my long sleeves onesie, pulling at my skirt, fumbling with my fingers and scratching the back of my hands.

Alex did her usual excited to see me hug crush, but I didn't even notice. She dragged me to sit next to her at the small tea party table. She asked if wanted something but I couldnt focus. Josh was looking at me, topsy nearly popped I hugged her so tight.

"Hey buddy, is that your stuffie?"

I nodded slowly. Still terrified.

Sarah sat next to me, rubbing my back. A little bit of hope, Josh won't do anything while Auntie Sarah is here.

I nibbled on a biscuit as the tea party continued. I had used my diaper but I didn't want anyone to change me

But as a little time went by, Sarah got a phone call. She left the room to answer it, Josh standing up and following her. He stood in the doorway, not paying us much attention.

"Wrenny?"

I flinched as Alex whispered in my ear.

"You told no one right?"

I lowered my head

"told no one"

Alex smiled sadly and hugged me

"Thank you. I no really wanna play but Joshie says mommy'll get mad if i tell her, so please no tell"

I was about to say something when came in and kneeled next to us.

" Guys, I just got a call from work and I gotta go in for an hour, but I'll be right back. Josh is gonna look after you, ok?"

Alex had a look of slight panic but concealed it, I however put my hands over my face and started shaking my head, repeating no over and over.

" Wren, sweetie I'll be right back. why don't you Josh and Alex play a game?"

I screamed.

Alex hugged me, Auntie Sarah soothed and shushed me.

I calmed down a bit and Auntie Sarah deemed me ok. She gave me and Alex a kiss on the cheek and left.

Josh sat down next to us and smiled.

"How about we play dress up?"

>>>>>>>

"Ricky I've got a bad feeling"

Ricky, who was scanning over flowers, turned to me

"David, I thought I was the one to constantly worry about Wren, it'll be ok, Sarah would never hurt him"

"Its not Sarah I'm worried about"

"Again with Josh, he's perfectly fine and Sarah hasn't liked a guy this much since James and were not ruining this for her"

"I don't know, my guts telling me Wren isn't ok, I mean he really freaked out this morning and you have to admit he hasn't been the same since the party"

Ricky sighed, Wren's nightmares had come back stronger than ever. He had spent nearly all nights since in our bed.

"I know, but we can't take him with us, we have to get Maya, you won't let me drive up and you refuse to go by yourself"

Ricky friend Maya had just got released from the hospital after some leg surgery and needed someone to pick her up. Ricky had agreed immediately, not even thinking.

No matter what he might say, Ricky is a terrible driver. Small trips to the shops or something, I'm fine with, but long ass trips like this one, hell no.

And there was no way I'm picking her up alone. She's Ricky's friend and I'm not that close to her so the hour car ride up and back would be hell for me. I can't deal with the small talk.

"I-, I just can't shake this feeling, Wren isn't safe. We need to get him"

Ricky noticed the seriousness in my voice

"oh ok, lets head now. I'll call Maya and tell her we can't get her. She can get a taxi or something"

The car ride was decently quick, I may have broken the speed limit here and there but that's irrelevant.

"I'm sorry Ricky, I know this is probably a bad idea, not sticking to our guns. We're going against all those parenting blogs you tell me about"

"Ah those blogs didn't know shit anyway"

I laughed and gave him a playful shove, He laughed too.

We pulled up in front of Sarah's and saw her car was gone.

"Weird, she doesn't have work today"

Ricky shrugged and we both headed inside.

We rung the doorbell, there was no response, but the door was open so we went in.

We didn't see anyone around until we heard cries from upstairs.

We ran up the stairs and straight into Alex's nursery to find every one in various states of distress.

Wren didn't have his skirt on and he was wailing on the bed. Alex was wearing a Cinderella dress, tears streamed down her face as she lay dazed at the foot of the bed. Josh was kneeling beside her.

Wren seemed to notice us first. He practically screamed our names while reaching out. We dashed beside him, pulling him into Wren sandwich hug. I felt his heavy diaper on my lap, he was definitely getting a rash

"Wren, princess are you ok? What happened, it's all alright, Daddy and Papa are here"

He didn't seem to want to speak and just cried into us both. Ricky turned to Josh

"What happened"

The darkness in his voice was too real

"Well, we were playing dress up and they both wanted to be Cinderella but Alex said because it's her house she gets to be Cinderella so Wren threw a tantrum and pushed Alex off the bed and bit me"

He showed his arm and sure enough there was a bite mark

Alex mumbled

" Wren...push"

Ricky looked down at Wren with a disappointed look on his face.

" Wren, honey, is this true?"

"I I-"

Wren wouldn't meet his eyes, his whole body shook with sobs, I rubbed his arms reassuringly. Wren nodded.

" I'm sorry Josh, he's not usually like this-"

He isn't, something's up

"-but we can take him now, Wren we'll talk about this when we get home"

Wren whimpered and clung to me as I grabbed his skirt off the floor, I rubbed the back of his head soothingly.

The car ride back was silent, Ricky held Wren, running his fingers through his hair. We didn't want another fight with the car seat right now.

As soon as we were in Wren was changed and put in time out. It gave me and Ricky a chance to talk.

"Ricky you said it yourself, this isn't like him"

"I know... what do we do?"

" We're gonna talk to him-"

"But he won't tell us anything!"

I took Ricky's hands and rubbed his palms. It was true, Wren refused to tell us about his nightmares or when something was bothering him, so we'd have to weed it out of him.

"We won't take no for an answer alright?"

Ricky kissed me

"Alright, but what could be wrong?"

"something happened at Alex's birthday..."

Ricky hummed in agreement

"...and it has something to do with that Josh guy"

"With this again really David"

'Look this guy entered the situation, Wren gets worse. I don't think that's a coincidence."

The timer went off

I gave his hands a squeeze and we went back to Wren.

Seeing him like this kills me. His eyes were red and sore, he had been scratching his hand so much it was nearly raw. I'll have to buy him some mittens to try and stop that.

"Bubba, look at me"

Wren sheepishly looked up

"Do you know why you were put in time out?"

"Because I hit and bit Alex and Josh"

"now, why did you hit and bite them?"

"because..."

Wren paused to think

"because, I wanted the princess dress.."

He was very obviously lying.

I sighed and picked him off the naughty chair and brought him over to the crib. Ricky took down the front bars and sat down, taking Wren in his lap. I sat next to them.

The crib was sturdy it could take us.

" Wren honey, we know you're lying, please tell us the truth. We won't get mad or anything, please?"

Panic and tears flooded Wren's eyes. He stammered and stuttered but wouldn't say anything, at least nothing I could understand.

Ricky bounced his leg and ran his fingers through Wren's hair, trying to get him to calm down. Eventually Wren stuttered out.

"C-can't tell"

We kept our voices low, trying to keep him calm

"Baby bear you can tell us anything, you know that"

Wren nodded as I wipped more tears from his eyes.

"no tell"

I rubbed his cheek with my thumb

"No tell what Bubba?"

"Pwomise Alex, no tell tha Jo-"

Wren cut himself off, covering his mouth before immediately crying again.

Ricky comforted Wren but gave me a look. We both heard. He was about to say Josh.

My voice got unintentionally darker

"Wren.. What did Josh do"

Wren whimpered and hid in Ricky, who stared me daggers. Ricky spoke in a softer voice, rubbing the back of Wren's head.

"Wren please tell us what happened. We just wanna help baby bear"

"Pwomise Alex"

"Bubba, we won't tell Alex your told us, ok?"

Wren considered

"i-ih hard to say"

"Take your time princess, we have all the time in the world for you"

"Um ok..

Well um, at Alex's birthday when we were in her room she had a secret, and she say I no tell anyone, not even Daddy and Papa. But it really bad, it make my head hurt and make me think back. no wanna think back!"

He leaned in more to Ricky's touch as his hair was soothingly played with.

"Baby bear, what was the secret?

"can' say!"

"why?"

"Alex say I no be her fwiend if I tell an I wan be fwiends"

"Bubba you can tell us-"

"Don wanna!

Don wanna say it!"

"how about, If I guess it, you tell me if it's right or wrong. that way, you don't have to say it yourself."

Wren looked um sure but nodded

"Did Josh hurt you?"

Wren shook his head

"Has he hurt Alex?"

"I-i dunno"

"ok, did he try and touch you?"

Wren went rigid but shook his hand

"Wren did he try and touch you"

Wren shook his head

"Did he touch Alex"

Wren went rigid again, not shaking or nodding his head, just stammering

Ricky still kept his voice low

"Baby bear, I need you to tell me what happened today"

"Y-you no believe me"

"Baby bear of course we'll believe you, please tell us"

Wren took a deep breath

"Everyting was fine then Sarah left because of work like papa. Josh asked if we wan-ed to play dress up. I no wan-ed cause *sniff* Alex said he play nono bad games with her and that she din wanna play anymore. He told us to get nakey

Alex got very nakey and put on princess dress. I din wanna so I took of ma skirt but kept the one-y. Josh tell me to take it off and he try but I scream and he leave me alone.

Then he told us to get on the bed. He sat to Alex and asked if she wanted to play a big girl game. Alex say no! He try anyway.

Alex try say I was there so no big girl games but he say am just a baby an no understand. but I did

I didn wan Alex to get hurt so I push her away. I didn mean for her to hurt pinkie promise! Then Josh reach for me an I bite him, he no touch but he say no one would believe me..."

Wren trailed off. Me and Ricky stayed in stunned silence. Slowly Ricky stood up, passing me Wren who's cheeks were freshly stained by tears.

"Ricky what are you doing"

Ricky did not turn and walked right out of the nursery, I followed suit. Wren was beginning to panic again, at Ricky leaving. I have him little encouraging words to calm him

Ricky walked into the kitchen and reached into the back of a bottom cupboard, behind the sink. He pulled out a bottle of wine.

"Ricky no"

"David I need to end this man, this is all my fault and I need to lose some"

He inhaled deeply, uncorking the bottle, spooking Wren

"Inhibitions"

I quickly snatched the bottle

"Not now, not ever, you are not throwing away 50 years. especially not for this"

I emptied it done the sink. Ricky's mouth gaped.

"We will end this man, there is no doubt to that but no Ricky, just remember Wren"

Ricky snapped out of his trance like state and grabbed Wren, holding him tight and sinking to his knees. .

"Baby bear I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left you there, I'm sorry"

Wren hugged Ricky

"Daddy no leave"

"Daddy never leave"

I spoke

" Wren, look at me"

He turned and leaned back into Ricky

" That was so brave of you to tell us and I'm so proud of you. I'm sorry we didn't know earlier but what matters is you told us and that we can stop this monster. You are the most brave, honourable and courageous person I know. You're my little knight"

Wren spoke softly

"Am a princess"

Ricky giggled and Wren did too.

"Baby bear you must be tired, I think it's time for bed"

"it early, no bedtime"

"Princess it's been a very tiring day and you and Daddy need your beauty sleep"

Ricky laughed "Darn right"

"Now, you can also pick two rewards for being the best baby boy today"

Wren thought hard for a moment

" Can I choose in a secun?"

"Course you can baby bear, David you fix him a bottle, I'll change and medicate"

I fixed Wren's bottle, putting a little vanilla in. A once in a while treat that he deserved

I went back to the nursery to find Wren babbling and giggling behind his rainbow pride pacifier in just his diaper. Ricky was babbling back pretending to have a very interesting conversation.

"you guys all done?"

"Sorry you couldn't understand, Wren and I were talking in our own language that only we can understand

I held back a laugh

" and you'll never get it, right Wren?"

Wren made a bunch of incoherent squeals while Ricky grabbed a footed space themed onesie. Wren was quickly dressed for bed and was soon happily sucking the bottle in my lap.

Near the end of the bottle I asked him

" Have you thought about your rewards yet Bubba?"

He nodded. Wren finished the bottle and I burped him.

"So what rewards you gunning for lil bug"

Ricky asked as he sat on the arm of the chair, stroking Wren's head. Wren was practically whispering

" Can I have another story chapter?"

" course baby bear, Alice in wonderland?"

"ya!"

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

David and I walked out of Wren's nursery, two chapters of Alice in wonderland later.

"Ricky-"

I knew what was coming

David took my hand and led me into our room. He kicked off his shoes and sat at the head. He gestured at me

" come on"

I took of my shoes and sat in front of him. David pulled me in and practically cradled me like he would Wren. He leaned again against the headboard but rested his head on top of mine

"Ricky, when did you get that bottle?"

"a couple of years ago"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I knew you'd pour it out like I should've done but it was... I don't know, reassuring that it was there."

David sighed

"You haven't caved have you?"

"nuh uh, still clean 50 years"

David nuzzled the top of head

" I'm so proud of you, if the urge is ever strong again, tell me"

"I will"

We stayed cuddling for a few minutes beforeDavid sat up, me still in his lap

"Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna go take out some trash"

I saw his fangs glinting and smirked.

"Do me a favour babe"

"yes babe?"

"show him no mercy"

David took his coat and left. As I awaited his return, I watched reruns of the real housewives of New York

Soon he returned. Surprisingly there was no blood.

"What happened?"

"Sarah took care of him, I told her and , dear god. I had to run to cover Alex's eyes and ears. Sarah doesn't fuck around"

"So he's gone"

"long gone"