Babysitter

~~~~~~~~~Liz's POV~~~~~~~~~

I rush about, getting things ready for the day as Jay sits in his playpen, playing with his toys and watching Blue's Clues. Something big has come up at work, meaning that I'll be working late tonight, therefore taking Jay to daycare is out of the question as I won't be able to go pick him up before the daycare closes. Originally I was going to ask Jen to take him home after the daycare closed, but she had a date planned for later that evening, so she wouldn't be able to babysit him. I scratched my brain for hours until finally I came up with a solution, I'll get my younger cousin to babysit him!

Jen and I had introduced one of our cousins to the concept of age regression and caregiving a couple years back, which he took to greatly, wanting a little of his own one day much like my sister and I did. I can think of no better way to prepare him for being a caregiver than letting him babysit a little for a day. I'd sat Jay down earlier that day to talk about having my cousin watch him and while at first he was hesitant, after telling him how caring and sweet he is and how it'd be like Jen watching him, he agreed.

As I was finishing up a bit of last minute cleaning I heard the doorbell ring. I compose myself and head to the door, opening it to find my cousin standing there.

"Marcus!" I say, pulling my younger cousin into a big hug.

"Hey Liz, how you been?" He asks, giving me a big hug in return.

"I've been wonderful, especially with having a little rugrat to keep my busy" I say with affection, turning to look over at Jay, who is so engrossed in his show that he hasn't noticed Marcus yet.

"Oh my gosh, Liz. I can hardly believe it. I barely recognize Jay. He looks so darn cute" Marcus says with a grin.

"I know right? He's the happiest I've ever seen him. He makes the cutest little baby" I say as we walk over to him. "Jay sweetie, look who's here."

Jay turns his head, blushing as he sees Marcus standing there. He's met Marcus a handful of times, mostly at family events he's joined me on, and the two have gotten along quite well. I can tell though that he's still nervous having people he's met seeing him as a baby.

"U-um...h-hi" he says, obviously flustered having not seen Marcus arrive.

"Hey little buddy. You're looking awfully cuter than the last time I saw you" Marcus says, ruffling Jay's hair, making him giggle a little. "I hear someone's been having a good time living the dream, huh?"

"Uh huh!" Jay says with a big grin, holding Gray tight in his arms, paci dangling from his shirt.

"Oh? And who's that you got there, Bubba?" Marcus asks, looking at the stuffie in Jay's grip.

"Dis Gway!" He says excitedly, holding the little wolf out for Marcus to see.

"Well hello there, Gray. It's a pleasure to meet you" he says, shaking the stuffies paw, making Jay giggle some more.

"Say Jay, do you think Gray would like a friend?" Marcus asked, making both Jay and I tilt our heads.

"Fwen?" Jay asked Marcus as he slipped the backpack he brought with him off, opening it up and pulling out a raccoon Build-a-Bear, making Jay gasp. "WACOON!"

"That's right, buddy, it's a raccoon" Marcus said, holding the stuffed toy out to Jay who eagerly grabbed it, pulling both stuffies into a big hug.

"I wuvs him! Tank chu, Marky!" He said, making me coo at the adorable nickname he gave Marcus.

"Aww, you're welcome, little guy" Marcus ruffles Jay's hair again.

"Alright sweetie, Mommy's gotta get to work. You gonna be a good boy for 'Marky'?" I ask, kneeling down to his level.

"Uh huh! I pwomise, Mama!" He says, jumping up, leaving his stuffies sitting on the floor and giving me a big hug.

"Good boy" I say, kissing the top of his head as I hug him back. "In case I'm gone a little too late, Marcus, Jay's bedtime is ten. Make sure his has a bath and brushes his teeth. And be sure to check his diaper every hour or so" I say as I walk to the door.

"Relax, Liz. I've babysat before. I know the drill. Try not to work too hard, okay?" He chuckles as he walks with me to the door.

"I know, I know...I just..." I start to say.

"You've never left him here this long since he became your little. I get it, cuz. Relax. I got this" Marcus says with a confident smile.

"Alright. Just call me if anything comes up or you need anything, okay?" I say as I step out the door.

"Of course. Have a good day, Liz" he says as I start to walk out to the car, waving to me before shutting the door. I sigh, hopping into my car and starting off towards work.

~~~~~~~~~Jay's POV~~~~~~~~~

I sit on the floor, staring at my new raccoon, tongue hanging out of my mouth slightly as I think long and hard.

"What you concentrating on so hard, bud?" I hear Marcus ask, snapping me out of my focused state.

"I's twyin ta names my waccoon" I say as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh, that so, Bubba? Got any potential candidates yet?" He asks, making me smile.

"Uuuuhhh....." I think for a minute before an idea pops into my head. "SLY!" I say confidently and proudly.

"Sly? That's a great name, bud!" Marcus praises me, making me smile and clap happily.

"So JJ, what would you, Gray, and Sly like to do, hmm?" He asks me, sitting criss-cross in front of me.

"Hmmmm....pway hide an seek!" I announce excitedly, grinning as Marcus smiles back at me.

"That'll be fun. Alright bud, I'll count and you hide" he says, covering his eyes and starting to count back from fifty.

I take off running, Gray and Sly in toe, looking back and forth, trying to think of a good hiding spot as I hear Marcus hit thirty. A thought pops into my head. I bolt into the nursery, ducking into the closet where I'd hid a couple months prior, knowing it took Mommy a while to find me there. After a little bit I hear Marcus finish counting.

"Ready or not, here I come!" He exclaims as I giggle lightly to myself, hearing his heavy footsteps echoing on the hardwood.

I sit in the closet for ages, hearing Marcus walk about, hearing an occasional 'not here' from him as he searches for me. Eventually after what feels like forever I hear him walk into the nursery and start looking.

"Hmmm....not under the crib...Not behind the changing table....so he must be..." I hear him say as he yanks the closet door open. "...In the closet!"

"You found me!" I erupt into a fit of giggles as Marcus picks me up.

"You certainly didn't make it easy on my, Bubba. You're a good hider" he says, bouncing a little as he carries me back to the living room.

We continue to play hide and seek for a little while, Marcus finding me several times, but not as much as I found him. Him being so tall made it difficult for him to hide much of anywhere. After a little while I started getting bored of hide and seek, and after a quick but reluctant diaper change, I decided to color in one of my coloring books for a while, coloring a picture of a green T-Rex for Marcus, thinking he might like it. I feel like he's more of a dinosaur than a space person.

Soon enough it was time for supper. Marcus decided we'd do breakfast for dinner so I got some bacon, scrambled eggs with cheese, and buttered toast! He helped me eat and then cleaned me up, taking me to the bathroom for a bath. I was hesitant at first having him bathe me, but he bribed me with my bath toys and I had lots of fun playing while he washed me with him doing silly voices during my game, making it more fun.

After my bath was done and I was dried off with a hooded wolf towel Marcus carried me to my changing table, laying me on it before pulling open one of the drawers.

"What diapee you want, little buddy?" He asks me as he looks through my selection.

"Hmmmm....Monstews!" I giggle, shivering a little laying on the table nakey.

"A fine choice, Bubba" he says, picking up a monster diaper and grabbing the powder, oil, and rash cream.

Marcus quickly slides the diaper under me, adding a booster to it so it'll hold more in the night, applying the cream and oil before powdering my butt and privates and taping the fresh diaper up, deciding to be mischievous and blowing a raspberry on my belly, making me erupt into giggles. After he helps me into my shorts and rocket t-shirt, clipping my galaxy wolf paci to the hood before picking me up and carrying me over to my crib.

"Want a bedtime story, Bubba?" He asks, looking over at my bookshelf of story books.

"Cans chu weads Goodnight Moon?" I ask, curling up with Gray and Sly on either side of me, tucked under my arms under my weighted blanket.

"Of course, little buddy" he says, grabbing the book and walking over to my crib, reaching in and popping my paci in my mouth which I suck on happily.

He begins the story, his voice almost as soothing as Mommy's, each word making me sleepier and sleepier. As the story ends I hear him say a simple goodnight before I drift off to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~Liz's POV~~~~~~~~~

I pull up into the driveway, thoroughly exhausted from a long day at work. I get out of the car and go inside, finding Marcus on the couch watching TV.

"Hey Liz, how was work?" He asks, turning to look at me as I walk over to the couch.

"Absolutely dreadful and I hope I never have to work this late again" I half laugh, half sign as I plop down on the couch. "How was babysitting Jay?"

"It was a blast and only made me wanna be a caregiver even more" he laughs lightly. "You're gonna have to be careful, Cuz. I might just have to come steal him.

"Not a chance" I laugh. "Hopefully you'll find you a little soon, but I wouldn't focus on it too much right now. You start college in a couple months after all."

"Yeah, you're right. But who knows? Maybe I'll get lucky and meet someone at college?" He chuckles as he stands up, walking to the door with me right behind him.

"Yeah, maybe" I say hugging him. "It's good seeing you again, Marcus. Maybe come by and visit on your breaks? I think Jay would enjoy seeing you again."

"I'll definitely try to" he laughs, turning and starting out the door to his car. "See you later, Cuz."

I wave to him as he drives off before going to check on my baby, finding him fast asleep in his crib, paci hanging halfway out of his mouth. I gently push it back in, causing him to resume sucking on it, before leaning over and kissing his forehead.

"Goodnight my sweet little prince" I say, walking out of the nursery and gently shutting the door, ready to go to bed myself.