Jemima stood dumbfounded as Hannah jotted something down onto a piece of paper. “You ever need a sitter you just call, okies hon?” she said and handed her the paper and pinched the stunned girl’s cheek before running off, shouting “Bye baby!” as she faded out of sight.

Jemima sat down on her bed, the paper Hannah had given her sitting in front of her. “Adult baby, what’s that?” she asked herself. Jemima set the paper on her nightstand and opened her laptop, she typed in “Adult Baby” into the search box and opened the first page that came up. Her eyes went wide as she looked at pictures of adults dressed like babies and playing like babies.

Lit by the glow of the laptop monitor Jemima’s life changed forever.

Why is it that simple corolations are the hardest to make? I’ve always thought that my incontinence made me like a baby, but never would have imagined that wearing diapers could literally make me into a baby. I guess it’s hardwired into certain people’s brains or something, that you can take something like wearing a diaper and turn it into a lifestyle. I’m left to wonder though, if certain people are wired like that for life as some claim to be, can someone become that way after the fact?

“Hello, Earth calling Jemima!” Kim’s voice came from somewhere nearby.

Jemima turned her head and dumbly looked at her friend. “Huh?” she asked.

Kim smiled at her friend, “Welcome back, did you have a nice trip?” Kim asked jokingly.

Jemima got a confused look on her face and said nothing.

Kim shook her head, “You were like a million miles away there for a minute. I asked you what movie you wanted to watch.” she said with a smile.

“I’m sorry, I’ve got a lot of stuff on my mind right now.” Jemima apologized.

Kim nodded, “I can imagine that being a superhero can come with a lot of burdens.” she said, placing a reassuring hand on Jemima’s shoulder.

Jemima smiled absently and submerged herself in her thoughts again. Unbeknownst to Kim, she wasn’t thinking about her life as a crime fighter, far from it actually, she was thinking about what Hannah had said to her a few days prior, and what she’d seen on the internet. Jemima was thinking about how she was going to handle this new turn of events, and what it would mean for her life.

“So, is this you’re regular hang out spot?” a familiar voice asked from behind her.

Jemima turned to see Hannah standing in the doorway of the rooftop entrance. She shook her head softly and smiled, “This is where the Clockwork attacked and I got my powers,” she said thoughtfully. “The whole thing seems like a distant dream, like it happened forever ago.” she said, smiling again.

Hannah walked over to the edge of the roof and took a seat next to Jemima on the ledge. “So, why the quiet alone?” she asked, looking at Jemima and then down at the ground far below.

Jemima shrugged, “I’m still doing a lot of thinking.” she said.

Hannah scooted closer to Jemima and put an arm around her, “Is this about the other day?” she asked with a smile.

Jemima nodded softly and rested her head on Hannah, “I just don’t know how I feel about the whole thing.” she said after a long pause.

Hannah chuckled, “Why do you feel like you have to know?” she asked.

It was Jemima’s turn to chuckle, “It’s kind of a life altering choice I have to make. I mean giving in to my curiosity and embracing this other lifestyle means giving up the adulthood that I’ve fought so hard to keep in check despite my handicap. On the other hand, maybe the reason that I’ve had to fight so hard to be seen and treated like an adult is because I’m not meant to be.” she rationalized.

Hannah nodded, “Good points, but there’s only one problem.” she said.

Jemima looked up at her, “What’s that?” she asked.

Hannah looked down at her and smiled, “You’re doing all this thinking, and you’re not listening to the one thing that matters, your heart.” she said.

Jemima thought for a moment and nodded, “Maybe you’re right, maybe I should just do it, what’s the worst that can happen?” she asked.

“It could turn out that you don’t like it and you move on.” Hannah said with a smile.

Jemima looked up at Hannah and smiled, “Well, when do we start?” she asked.

“When do we start?” the robotic voice asked.

“We will begin wave one within the next few days, we’ll gradually increase the number of Clockwork forces in the city before we initiate your takeover my lord.” the man said to the hulking robot.

“Excellent! Soon this city will bow to the cold calculating brutality that is The Clockwork King!” the robot said, the dim light in the warehouse illuminating his gigantic form, and the dome atop his giant form that housed his human brain. “You’ve done well Mr Mac Donald, I am pleased with your performance and loyalty.” the robot said.

Richie Mac Donald smiled and bowed humbly toward the Clockwork King, “It’s my pleasure my lord, I will continue to keep the heroes in my charge from meddling in your affairs.” he said.

“See that you do, we can’t afford any mistakes this close to our goal.” The Clockwork King said.

Richie bowed again to the Clockwork King and left the warehouse, making sure not to be seen leaving the clandestine meeting.