bABy Island: Chapter 5

The trip across the Pacific was uneventful. So uneventful, in fact, that Dakota at times found himself forgetting just how abnormal a trip it actually was. If it weren’t for the destination, it would have felt like any other vacation - a three-hour layover at LAX, lunch at the airport PF Chang’s, in-flight movies, drifting in and out of sleep.

It wasn’t until the time came to board the bABy Island shuttle boat the morning after he and Daddy arrived in Davao that it all started to feel real for Dakota. As the pair sat at the harbor waiting for their vessel to arrive, Dakota had his first adult baby sighting. Or at least he thought he did. An untrained eye probably wouldn’t have been able to identify the man in question as an AB. It wasn’t as if he was dressed in just a diaper or some type of overtly infantile outfit. He was wearing a pair of khaki shortalls - plain, no patterns or appliques - over a powder blue t-shirt. He was standing beside a tall, rather severe-looking woman who looked to be somewhere in her mid-40s. The woman was inserting money into a vending machine while the man waited patiently - obediently - at her side. After a few seconds, the woman fished a soda and what looked like a candy bar out of the vending machine. She held onto the soda for herself and gave the candy bar to the man, who hopped up and down in a subdued but obviously excited manner and grabbed it from her eagerly. As the pair passed by Dakota and Daddy on the way back to their seats, Dakota thought he could make out a slight bulge beneath the front and rear of the man’s shortalls.

This made Dakota blush. The thought of being in Littlespace in a place like this was hard for him to wrap his head around. Still self-conscious about his Little side, he had declined Daddy’s offer to get diapered up for the flight (even despite Daddy pointing out the obvious practical benefits). He was already mentally taxed from the full day of travel and the apprehension he was still feeling over the upcoming three weeks he was to spend as a toddler. He couldn’t imagine performing little space in a public setting on top of all of that.

At the same time, however, Dakota couldn’t help but admire the shortall-clad man’s lack of shame. He seemed entirely content and not at all worried about being judged or ridiculed. Maybe he was onto something. Dakota looked around to see if anyone else had noticed the man - if any of the non-ABDL travelers found the man’s outfit and behavior peculiar - but no one seemed to have paid him any attention. How freeing it must feel to let go of the illusion that people are constantly scrutinizing what you’re doing, Dakota thought to himself.

“That’ll be you soon, kiddo,” Daddy said, giving Dakota a playful nudge. He’d been watching as Dakota’s eyes followed the man.

Dakota’s cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red as he folded his arms and shrunk into his seat, quickly forgetting the epiphany he’d just been in the midst of.

“How many other folks around here are wearing do you think?” Daddy wondered aloud, smirking as Dakota slumped further. It was as if the boy thought the lower he was to the ground, the less visible he’d be.

“We’re not there yet,” Dakota mumbled in a hushed tone. “You can’t be talking about that stuff.”

Daddy snorted as he stifled a laugh. “Hah! You kids are way too paranoid these days. Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything incriminating.”

“Hmph,” was all Dakota could retort as Daddy ruffled his hair. He knew the man was right.

“Also,” Daddy whispered, leaning in close, “little boys don’t get to tell daddy what he can and can’t say.”

The hair on the back of Dakota’s neck bristled slightly as Daddy’s teasing tickled his Little side. It would be the first of many times this would happen over the coming weeks.

- - -

A half hour or so later, the boat arrived. It was modestly sized - not much bigger than your standard ferry - with an open-air deck in front and a two-story indoor area occupying the back half.

“You ready, kiddo?” Daddy beamed as he and Dakota crossed the threshold onto the ship. “We’re just a few hours from your crib!”

The butterflies in Dakota’s stomach churned again, but not necessarily out of apprehension this time. He was starting to get in the mood to be a baby again - to be pampered, cared for, gently condescended to, to hand control over to Daddy…. Plus, purely from an energy standpoint, a diaper and a crib sounded like exactly what he needed right now. It was still early in the day, but between the travel and the anticipation of nearing his final destination, Dakota felt ready for some rest and relaxation.

After allowing ten minutes for passengers to board, the boat backed away from the docks and made its way out into the open sea. It was warm outside and the sky was clear, so Dakota and Daddy found a table on the main deck where they could settle in for the journey. As the pair sat enjoying the ocean air, Dakota observed some of the other folks on board. His suspicion about the man in the shortalls had been correct. He and his female companion were seated by the railing on the roof deck atop the boat’s indoor area. The man now had a pacifier in his mouth, which was attached to one of the shoulder straps on his shortalls with a pacifier clip. Others on board had also started to show off their Little sides more openly now that the boat was offshore. One man Dakota had seen dressed in plain clothes at the harbor was now wearing a Mickey Mouse tank top and a pair of cargo shorts that appeared to have snaps in the crotch. Another had removed the baggy sweatshirt he’d been wearing when he boarded, revealing a t-shirt with a baseball bat graphic and the words “Little Slugger” written across the chest. When he strolled past where Dakota and Daddy were seated, Dakota could just barely make out the edge of a diaper peeking out above the elastic waistband of his jeans. There also appeared to be a few baby girls on board. One woman who had been wearing a t-shirt and jeans at the harbor was now dressed in a pair of denim skirtalls with a butterfly applique near the hem. Her hair was tied into pigtails with pink bows. Another who Dakota didn’t recall from the harbor was wearing a light yellow cat-ear hoodie and a matching pair of sweatpants. The shape of a diaper was clearly visible beneath the sweatpants, and she was sitting on the lap of a tall, muscular man who Dakota assumed was her daddy.

“I have your diapers and baby clothes in my suitcase,” Daddy piped up, noticing Dakota curiously surveying bABy Island’s clientele. “Just say the word if you’re ready.”

“Oh, um….” Dakota stammered, slightly caught off guard by Daddy’s offer.

For some reason the thought hadn’t occurred to him. He’d just assumed he wouldn’t diaper up until he and Daddy arrived on the island. But there was no reason he couldn’t do it here. The ship only had one destination. Everyone on board was ABDL-friendly and wouldn’t bat an eyelash even if he strutted onto the deck wearing nothing but his pampers.

“No need to be shy about it anymore, kiddo,” Daddy interjected, seeing that Dakota was considering his proposal and hoping to capitalize. “Everyone here will be on the island. They’ll probably see you in your diapers eventually.”

Dakota blushed again, but more out of giddiness this time than embarrassment. It seemed like the closer he got to bABy Island, the more his apprehension had given way to excitement when it came to the idea of people seeing him in baby mode. The long journey had him yearning to regress again, and seeing the other passengers freely showing their Little sides had begun to calm his nerves. He’d been told this would be a judgment-free space, but now he could see that firsthand.

“Okay, sure,” Dakota replied after a minute of silent consideration. “If you don’t mind.”

Daddy laughed. “Of course I don’t mind, silly! If I did we’d have a problem, ‘cause I’m the one that’s supposed to be diapering you for the next few weeks.”

“True, haha,” Dakota chuckled sheepishly.

He knew, of course, that Daddy would prefer to put him in a diaper sooner rather than later. He had no explanation for why he asked Daddy if he minded other than that he was flustered and already starting to slip into a submissive headspace.

“Alright then, kiddo, let’s get to it!”

Daddy stood up and grabbed his suitcase, then reached out a hand to help Dakota to his feet. He led the boy across the deck and through the entryway to the indoor section of the boat. Across the sitting area from the entryway was an alcove with four private, unisex bathrooms. Daddy ushered Dakota into one that was unoccupied and quickly strode over to the changing station, which was built into the wall across from the toilet. Dakota stared at the changing station for a moment, somewhat surprised to see that it was a good five feet long - obviously designed for an adult. “Kanga Kare” said the lettering on the front. Above that was a cute cartoon of a diapered baby kangaroo.

Daddy smiled amusedly as he watched Dakota take in the sight of the changing station.

“Koala Kare was trademarked,” he remarked as he unlatched the table and folded it downward.

Dakota chuckled. It really did look a lot like the Koala Kare logos he was used to seeing on real baby changing stations.

“They pull out all the stops here, don’t they,” the boy laughed.

“They sure do!” Daddy beamed in reply. “Now sit.”

Daddy stepped aside and gave the changing table a couple quick pats. Dakota did as he was told.

“Reach for the sky!” Daddy commanded once Dakota seated himself.

Dakota obeyed once again, raising his arms high above his head so Daddy could remove his t-shirt.

“Good boy,” Daddy praised as he tossed the shirt onto Dakota’s duffle bag, which he had set next to his suitcase against the wall beside the changing table. “Last time you’ll be wearing anything like that for a while.”

The jest sent a warm shiver down Dakota’s spine.

“Okay kiddo, now pants!”

Daddy placed a hand on Dakota’s chest and began coaxing the boy into a lying position. Dakota acquiesced and was soon flat on his back, the plastic of the changing table cool against his bare skin. Moment’s later, Dakota’s pants and boxers had joined his t-shirt atop his duffle bag, leaving the boy completely naked. Maybe it was the chilly air in the bathroom, or maybe it was the sweet feeling of vulnerability that came with being undressed by someone else, but something about the situation made Dakota’s member start to stir.

“Hmm… we might need to do something about that at some point,” Daddy remarked, giving Dakota’s hardening rod a playful poke as he fastened the changing strap over the boy’s lower abdomen. “We don’t want Little Kota getting up to no good.”

A pang of cold sweat ran through Dakota’s body. He had until that moment forgotten that he and Daddy had discussed the possibility of trying out a chastity cage during the trip. Was he ready for it?

Dakota didn’t have time to give the idea much thought before Daddy once again lifted his legs into the air. He felt the man slide a diaper underneath his bum - an ABU Kiddos he’d fished from his suitcase a couple seconds earlier. Once the diaper was situated, Daddy lowered Dakota’s legs and picked up another item he’d pulled from his suitcase. It was one of the thickest boosters Dakota had ever seen, so thick that Dakota thought it was a second diaper at first. “Gigapad” it said on the front.

“Don’t give me that look,” Daddy chided with a patronizing grin when he saw Dakota’s eyes widen. “There are tons of other diapered boys and girls on this ship. No one’s gonna make fun of you.”

Daddy unfolded the Gigapad and lifted Dakota’s legs a third time so that he could get the booster into position. Not only was it thick, it was long too. It extended all the way from the front of the Dakota’s diaper nearly to the back waistband. Dakota could feel the extra bulk immediately as Daddy folded the diaper up over his crotch and began cinching the tapes.

“Perfect,” Daddy remarked once the diaper was snug. “Now we don’t have to worry about accidents anymore. It’s a miracle we made it this far, isn’t it scamp?”

Daddy gave Dakota’s cheek an affectionate squeeze as the boy flexed his legs to get himself accustomed to his new padding.

“Now I know you’re still a little shy,” Daddy said as he made his way back to his suitcase, “so Daddy’s gonna be nice today and not make you wear a onesie or a romper.”

“Thank you Daddy,” Dakota replied demurely, very much in Littlespace after all that had just had transpired.

Daddy bent down and began rummaging through his luggage. “Hmmm… what would be fun for today…? Oh! Here we go!”

The man stood back up and held the outfit he’d chosen above the changing table so Dakota could see it. It was Dakota’s denim shorts, which were like any normal pair of shorts aside from the elastic waistband and the hidden snaps lining the crotch. Pretty tame overall considering the options Daddy had at his disposal. The top Daddy had chosen, however, was decidedly less tame. It was a fire-engine red tank top with a large graphic of the Paw Patrol puppies on the front. Dakota didn’t recognize this one, so it must have been a new acquisition for the trip. Dakota’s face flushed nearly the same color as the tank top when he saw it. So much for Daddy letting him be discreet.

“Oh come on,” Daddy taunted, his sardonic grin widening. “You’ll look like a big boy in these compared to the other things I could dress you in.”

“I know, Daddy,” Dakota replied defeatedly.

There was no winning this battle. Whether he liked it or not, his journey back to toddlerhood had begun.