Mikey expected to be handed over to his Mommy, who stood in front of him ready to take him in her arms, but Jim hesitated.
"Wait, I think we should talk about the changes before you breastfeed again." he said.
Stacey looked at him. "Hm, I guess we have to talk, all three of us. But do you think he's up to making a decision right now? He's barely awake."
Mikey looked up at her, a bit annoyed at his parents talking over his head again but also not quite sure what this was about. Pieces were still falling into place in his tired toddler-sized brain that longed for milk and cuddles and sleep.
"He might end up an infant, or even in your womb!" Jim said, and Mikey remembered with a start that he had gotten younger the day before after drinking from mommy.
"Ah!" he grunted behind the pacifier. "'anna enine mymem!"
"Sorry, we can't understand you with the paci in your mouth." Stacey said and Mikey spit it out. "Wanna decide myself!" he repeated loudly.
"OK, let's sit down in the living room." Jim suggested while Stacey picked up Mike's fallen pacifier, absentmindedly wiped it on her shirt and slid it into her pocket.
They sat on the living room couch with Mikey in the middle, squirming to find the most comfortable position between his parents' warm soft bodies. He felt tense and tired, overwhelmed by the big decision he might be about to make. He was aware he might be irritable and whiney, his little body demanding it's due. For a moment, he wondered if this feeling was a consequence of the changes, but then he remembered mood swings and raw toddler emotions he'd experienced since he initially turned into a kid, before they'd started breastfeeding.
"Okay, let's think. What kind of changes have happened that might be related to breastfeeding?" Stacey asked.
"Well, last time, I got changed." Jim said, gesturing at his beard.
"I got younger yessaday" Mikey added.
"My body changed a bit too, and... well, I met Moira at the store, and to her we're just a normal family. She even said we were doing well over the last year." she said.
"See?" Jim said, "We have to be careful, everything might change."
"But the changes aren't all bad - I was happy I didn't have to explain to Moira why I had a stroller and bought diapers. It looks like... reality around us is changing to fit the changes that already happened to us."
Mikey snuggled up to Stacey's side, looking up at her chest. He badly wanted milk and cuddles now and started to climb into her lap, distracted from the conversation. Stacey pulled him up and sat him in her lap, placing her hand on his tummy to gently keep the fidgety toddler calm. She remembered the pacifier and handed it back to Mikey who immediately popped it in his mouth.
"But what if we lose our memories, forget what things are supposed... what things were like before all this?" Jim asked.
"I still have all my memories. It's actually a bit weird as others seem to remember me having a baby a year ago and I don't. But do you think things would be worse if we had always been his parents? I think we'd still love each other, wouldn't we?" she said, looking at Jim.
He looked back and forth between Stacey and Mikey who started to suck his thumb in her lap.
"Yeah, I'd definitely love you. Both of you." He smiled. "But what if he becomes younger until he ends up in your womb?"
"Well, I don't want to live a day without this absolute cutie." Stacey gently patted Mikey's belly. "Let alone up to nine months, but if it's our fate - God's will, I guess - that we bring him into the world from the beginning, then I guess we'll have to. But I think we won't. I feel like the last few changes are us and everything adjusting to you, Mikey, as you are now rather than you getting younger." she explained the conclusion she'd just come to. She was surprised by her own resolve to let any potential changes happen and go along with them, but it was what she felt - everything would be fine.
"What do you think, Mikey?" Jim asked.
"'an' Mama miwk! Now!" Mikey said in a whiney voice, clearly enough for his parents despite the paci in his mouth.
"So you mean you want to nurse despite the risk you might become a really little baby? Or unborn?" Jim asked.
Mikey didn't think twice and nodded his head repeatedly. Being unborn sounded scary and dangerous, he didn't really want himself and Stacey to have to go through birth. On the other hand, maybe it would be interesting to experience the world as a helpless tiny baby, but it would also be annoying to be unable to move around and talk. He hoped Stacey was right and that he wouldn't change further. But anyways - Mommy's milk was certainly worth the risk.
"Well, if you are both okay with it, I guess we'll take the risk. But I hope we'll stay this way for now. I can't wait to see you grow up, champ." Jim said and ruffled Mikey's hair.
Mikey turned around in Stacey's lap to face her and watched her get ready to feed him. "Hey, careful!" she protested when he latched on vigorously as soon as her shirt and bra cup were out of the way, hard little milk teeth pinching her sensitive breast. But the feeling of her baby's warmth and weight as he relaxed once the milk was flowing felt so right, so peaceful and comfortable the painful moment was soon forgotten.
Jim put his arm around her, and together they watched their child's eyes drift shut. "Are you really OK with this?" Stacey whispered, a bit worried she might not have paid enough attention to Jim's fears.
"Definitely." He replied and kissed her cheek. "We'll see where life takes us, but as long as we're together it will be good." he whispered gently.