Eileen and Ty now sat in her living room chatting and watching t.v. Ty greatly enjoyed his time with Eileen but noticed something peculiar as the morning wore on. Eileen seemed to be acting like more like a school girl and less like the adult he had grown to know over the last couple of years. Eileen seemed more "giggly" and looked at Ty like a little girl with a crush. Ty noticed that their conversation seemed to be becoming more juvenile as time wore on. Before Eileen had asked questions about his new powers and what else he could do. Now she began to ask if Ty thought her outfit was cute and if he had a girlfriend. Concerned he decided to conduct a test.
"Hey Eileen," he asked. "I don't know about you but I'm starting to get hungry." Eileen's face brightened. "Wow me too," she exclaimed. "Would you like me to make you something to eat?" Ty nodded. Eileen sprang to her feet and quickly made her way into the kitchen. "Okay give me a few minutes," she called. "I'll make us some eggs and bacon."
Ty slowly got up from the couch and snuck over to the kitchen. While he was hungry his request for food had another purpose. As he peered into the kitchen he watched as Eileen began to cook. At only 10 years of age Eileen was forced to use a step stool to retrieve items on the higher shelves. That was something Ty expected, what concerned him more now was how Eileen cooked. Eileen seemed somewhat unsure of herself as she began making scrambled eggs and bacon. The girl paused often as if she had only cooked once or twice before. Her uncertainty caused to girl to groan slightly as a worried expression crossed her face. Ducking behind the wall Ty called to her. "Everything okay in there?"
Ty heard an audible squeak escape from Eileen. "Yea everything is okay," she said. Ty frowned. Eileen's voice had cracked, as if she was on the verge of tears. She seemed to be not only younger in body but younger in mind as well. "Shes losing her maturity," he thought. The idea seemed ridiculous but no more than someone becoming physically younger. Ty began to wonder, could he have inadvertently changed reality when he changed Eileen? Ty decided to check one more thing.
Ty slowly walked over to the end table by the couch where Eileen kept her purse. Opening it quietly he began searching through it. Grinning he removed Eileen's license and examined it. "Uh oh," he whispered.
Ty had expected to find Eileen's license to be unchanged, he believed that he would see a picture of the old Eileen with her old age imprinted on license. Instead Ty saw a picture of Eileen from 10 years and a birth date saying she was now 30. As Ty gazed at the license he saw the picture and information change again. According to the license Eileen was now 29. Ty silently cursed to himself as he realized the implications of what was happening. Reality was adjusting to Eileen's current age. Eileen in mind, body and soul was becoming 10 years old again. The woman she was and that still resided inside her 10 year old body was regressing as well. "Here Ty I made you breakfast," Eileen said shyly.
Ty turned to look at the young girl in front of him. Eileen was blushing brightly and giving him a look of a smitten school girl. The meal, while edible, appeared slightly burned and a bit of a mess. Ty had eaten Eileen's cooking and knew her to be a phenomenal cook. This meal had the look of an amateur chef. Not wanting to alarm Eileen Ty smiled and gratefully took his meal. "Thanks Eileen," he said as he bent down giving her a peck on the cheek.
Eileen blushed again and began to giggle. "Oh wow whats the matter with me," she said still giggling. "I really am feeling more and more like a school girl." Ty smiled warmly as the two made their way to the dining room table. As Ty eat he glanced over at Eileen. The young girl swung her bare feet rhythmically under her chair as she gazed at Ty with puppy love filled eyes. Ty smiled as he now thought about what to do. He cared very deeply about Eileen and did not want to alarm her. He also found his own feelings changing for Eileen. He began to view the girl as more of a little sister than a surrogate mom. Despite his power it appeared he too could be influenced by the changing reality. He needed to make a decision though and soon. If he waited much longer the woman Eileen was would be gone and only the child would remain.