Kodi's Story 1

"Kodi Benson, age 22…  Well, this certainly isn't your average college campus accident…"
Kodi opened his eyes again only for them to be blinded by the bright hospital lights.  When he adjusted to the light, he looked around to see he was in bed inside a full-fledged hospital room. There was a doctor and nurse going through paperwork on either side of his bed, the covers of which were practically engulfing the bear.  Everything seemed gigantic to him now, and this frightened him and made him start to panic.
"D-…Doctor?  W-…what's going on?"
The doctor on his left turned and acknowledged him.
"Oh good, you're awake."
He slid his chair over to the bed and took Kodi's hand, which was tiny compared to his.
"Apparently you were in some sort of accident and knocked unconscious.  Some friends of yours must have found you and rushed you over here."
Kodi looked around the room, finding a sort of run-down atmosphere hospitals tend to have.  There was also a lack of medical equipment, making it seem like the doctors were doing nothing for him.
"Now Mr. Benson, this is going to sound very strange, but…your accident has left your body in a…regressed state."
"Regressed?  What do you mean?"
"The accident you had somehow…made you younger."
"Wha-?!  H-…how young am I?!"
The doctor found a small mirror and held it up to Kodi, who saw in his reflection a little bear cub that looked just like him.
"You're very young now," the doctor explained, "the accident caused you to regress earlier than your terrible twos so to speak.  You're a little older than an infant, but not quite a toddler."
Kodi began to sniffle and whimper as tears were flooding his eyes, the intense emotions of his regressed state coming to him all at once.  He looked at his small pudgy hands, then at his stomach that was rounded out with lots of baby fat.  As a final observation to confirm he really was this little, he decided to lift his covers and found his short fat legs and a nicely padded diaper substituting his old underwear.
"Oh," the doctor decided to explain, "we put that on you when you got here.  We figured your new younger form would cause you to…lose control."
"How could I have gotten younger?!  This doesn't make any sense!"
"We know, it's very strange, but I assure you it's real."
"Yeah…well, was there any injury?"
"Surprisingly no.  You're completely unscathed.  Your regression is just going to cause some problems, for example incontinence, trouble walking, motor skills…"
"Well, at least that's alright.  I'll just grow up again, right?"
"Actually…you won't be able to."
"W-…what?!  I-…I'm gonna be a cub forever?!"
"I am afraid so.  Whatever regressed you also locked your metabolism and other body functions that allow you to grow.  Your body will never age, and you will stay like this forever."
Kodi was one more bit of bad news away from bawling his eyes out.  He was just barely holding back the tears as he looked at himself again.  He struggled to find some sort of silver lining to this, tried to see something good about this new situation.  He eventually thought that, since he was a cub, he'd need someone to care for him.
"W-…well…who's gonna take care of me?  Where's my mommy and daddy?"
Kodi was shocked at how he was already starting to sound like a child, and as he covered his mouth the doctor responded.
"Well you mean your foster parents, Joe and Carol Benson?"
Kodi nodded.
"I'm afraid they won't be coming to get you.  As soon as you showed up here we contacted them and explained your condition.  At first they were concerned…but when we told them about the fact that you're staying this way…they said to find someone else."
"Well," Kodi said as the tears began to flow, "they've always been in a money crunch.  They…they were just barely able to afford me last time.  I…I guess now I'd be too much for them…"
The poor new cub couldn't hold the tears back any longer.  He began to just cry his heart out, not knowing what else to do.  Tears ran down his cheeks like a waterfall, and his crying seemed without end.  The doctor knew he had to calm him down, and there was only one thing he knew would work.
"Kodi please calm down, I have some good news."
"Good news?!  What could possibly be good about this?!"
"Trust me, this will cheer you up.  We have found someone willing to care for you."
Kodi's bawling subsided at this, and when he finally calmed himself he urged the doctor to continue.
"Okay…who?" The cub asked with big innocent eyes.
"Well, after your foster parents said no, we decided to track down your biological mother and father, Sarah and Matthew Benson."
Kodi was shocked.
"M-…my really mommy and daddy?"
He knew he used the same childish phrase for them, but he was so overwhelmed that they were mentioned that he probably would've used it even if he was older.
"But doctor…they gave me away.  They wouldn't take me back."
"Well that's what we thought too, but still we tried them.  Your mother answered the phone, we told her of your complete condition and that you would need to be taken care of for a very long time."
"W-…well…what did she say?"
"She sounded so concerned even afterwards, as if she's always been your mother.  We told her that no one was willing to take care of you, and she immediately told us right out that she would, and your father too."
"Really?!  M-…my mama's coming?!  My real mama?!"
He noticed the way he addressed his parents had regressed even further, but he didn't care.  He had to find out.
"Yes." The doctor replied. "I made that call an hour or so ago; they will be here soon."
Kodi then started crying again, but it was out of great happiness.  He hadn't seen his real parents in nearly twenty years; he was this size the first time around when he saw them last.  The bear cub had found his silver lining; he was going to be taken care of by his real parents.  He was so overwhelmingly happy that they were coming, and that they wanted him again.  He was so little when he was given away that he didn't know exactly why they did put him in foster care, but he was sure they would keep him this time.
"They…they're really coming?  You're not just trying to calm me down are you?"
"I assure you Kodi, they're really coming and will be here very soon.  Just relax and wait for them."
Kodi did so.  He nestled into his bed and pulled the covers back over him, preparing to sleep now that all his worry had melted away and he had tired himself out.  He looked at the ceiling and the lights of the room, smiling and gleaming with the knowledge that everything was going to be alright.  He kept smiling and whispered assuring words to himself as his eyes began to close.
"Rest up little Kodi.  Your mama and papa, your REAL mama and papa are coming.  They're gonna take you home and take care of you for a long, long, long, long time.  Just rest, and when you wake up they'll be here.  They'll be here…"

"Where is he; where is my baby?"
A bear wife and husband were led into Kodi's room.  Both were in their forties and concerned for their biological child.  The wife was wearing a long red polka-dotted dress and plain red shoes, and had blue eyes nearly tearing up in concern.  The father was wearing a wet beige overcoat that implied it was raining outside.  The wife's dress had no more than a few small wet spots; the husband must have had a small umbrella and was holding it over his mate.  They entered the room together and were met by Kodi's doctor.
"Hello, are you two Mr. and Mrs. Benson?"
"Yes we are," the wife replied, "not to be confused with Kodi's foster parents."
"We're both Bensons," the father explained, "that's kinda why we picked them."
"I see," said the doctor, "so you two are sure you're ready for Kodi?  He's just a baby now, and he'll never grow up."
"Oh yes," the mother proclaimed, "we never really wanted to give him away.  The circumstances just weren't right when he was born; we both thought he'd be better off in someone else's care."
"I understand; it happens all the time."
"But we're more than prepared for him now.  Oh I don't just want to talk about him; I want to see him!  We want him to know we're here; where is he?  He needs his mama!"
"Just relax Mrs. Benson, he's right here."
The doctor pointed to the bed, where only the sleeping little bear cub's head could be seen poking out of the covers.
"Oh Kodi…he's really a little cub again…"
The wife came to the bed and lifted the covers to look at her newly regressed son.
"Oh he's diapered and everything; the poor thing must have been terrified.  Kodi?  Sweetheart?  It's your mama, my love.  Papa's here too.  It's time to wake up now."
She gently kissed her cub's forehead with care, and after feeling this subconsciously Kodi opened his eyes.
"M-…mama?"
"Kodi, my baby!  I'm here for you, sweetheart.  Aww just look at you; it's like you haven't aged a day in the twenty years we've been separated."
"But I did grow up, Mama.  I was big."
"I know honey, but it's okay.  Don't you worry now, Mama's here."
She lifted the cub from his bed and held him tight, and Kodi latched onto her like his life depended on it.
"Mama!" He proclaimed and cuddled endlessly into her.
"Aww, my baby!"
The doctor and father just watched the two share loving words and gestures from afar.  It was too tender a moment to interfere.
"You said Papa's here too Mama?"
"Yes, he's here too."
She nuzzled her cub again before bringing him over to his father.
"Here Papa, hold your baby."
The father smiled as he reached for him, and Kodi did as well.
"Papa!"
"Hey there, big guy.  Come to Papa."
They embraced just like with the mother, lovingly and happily.  Kodi was so overwhelmed with happiness; it took a bad accident to reunite him with his family, but he didn't care.  He didn't care what happened to him anymore, as long as his real parents were here to take care of him.
Eventually, Kodi's mother took him back in her arms, cuddling him and loving up on him just like she used to do when they were together last time.  It's like the doctor told him; it's like she had always been his mother and right there with him.  Her motherly instinct was so strong; Kodi knew that this time they were ready to care for him.
"Guess what, honey.  We're going to take you home.  We're going to be one big happy family again, like we should have been from the start."
"Really Mama?  Even with my condition?  I-…I'm not gonna grow up; I'm gonna be a cub forever."
"That's fine with us, honey.  We don't mind.  If you think about it, it's like we're picking up right where we left off without pressing play.  This is the new beginning we needed baby; we're just going to start over okay?"
Kodi started tearing up.
"Of course that's okay Mama.  I wanna be your cub again.  I'll be your cub forever and ever."
Kodi embraced his mother with all the strength his little body had to offer, and in response she did the same.  They just remained that way for minutes on end, just in each other's arms, until the doctor cut in.
"Well I see there are no objections here." He said with a smile.
They all smiled, then Kodi's mother asked what they all were thinking.
"So, how soon can we take him?"
"As soon as you're ready; there's no reason for him to stay."
"Wonderful!  Then let's go right now honey, you have anything to take with you?"
"No Mama," Kodi answered with a smile, "we're starting over."
The mother smiled and embraced her cub once again before the three of them began to leave.  Just as they reached the doorway, however, the doctor stopped Mrs. Benson and gave her a used sheet of loose-leaf paper.  
"Here," he said, "these are the details on Kodi's condition, as well as what he'll need physically and emotionally."
"Alright, thanks again doctor."
And with that they headed out of the room, then out of the hospital into the dark rainy night, then finally into their car.  The doctor gave them a car seat for little Kodi, so they set it up and strapped their new cub safely in it.
"Aww, you're so adorable in your little car seat!" His mother proclaimed.
Kodi of course blushed in response as he still wasn't too sure about being a baby again, but within his blush he kept a smile for his real mother.  She admired him some more and shared more gestures of affection, then the parents got in their seats (his father driving, his mother in the passenger seat).  The father started the car and the reunited family departed.
"We're going to stop at the store first my darling," his mother explained as she turned back to him from the passenger seat, "and we're going to get everything you need.  Diapers, clothes, food, and all that stuff."
"Alright Mama."
She smiled at her child, incredibly happy not just because she had him back but because he hadn't changed one bit.  He was just like she remembered.  As she turned back to her husband, Kodi just relaxed in his car seat and whispered more comforting words to calm himself.
"They're here Kodi, you're with them now.  They're here to take care of you, it's all gonna be okay…"
Mrs. Benson heard her baby talking and smiled.  The husband and father in the driver seat eventually pulled into the parking lot of a big supermarket and parked the car.  As he got out Mrs. Benson did as well then she opened Kodi's door and got him out of his car seat.
"Come on sweetie, let's go shopping."

As they went into the store the family grabbed a big shopping cart and seated Kodi gently on its seat.  Then they went directly to where any other family with a baby would go: the diaper aisle.  Seeing all the packs of padded underwear stacked on the shelves made him a little nervous, for he knew that he'd be wearing and likely using them.  He blushed as a result of these thoughts, and his mother quickly noticed.
"Aww, are you embarrassed that we're buying diapers for you honey?"
"Well…a little…"
She stopped the cart and knelt down to look at her cub, then brought her nose to meet and nuzzle his.
"Don't you worry my dear, there's nothing to be ashamed of.  You are very little now, and you're at an age where everyone would expect you to be in diapers.  So don't worry, my love.  Don't be embarrassed, a little cub like you needs the padded underpants and everybody knows it."
Kodi was convinced and felt a lot better about it now.
"Thanks Mama." He said with a smile.
"You're welcome sweetie."
Kodi then looked around at all the different brands of diapers.  He hadn't completely lost his literacy yet, so he could still read most of what the packages had to say.  The different brands were plugging different things; it was so difficult to tell which was best.
"So…which ones am I gonna be wearing?"
"We're going to be trying them all," his mother replied, "and we're going to find out what kind deserves to stay on my baby's bottom."
"All of them?  Do you have the money to pay for that, Mama?"
"Well Kodi, we have a dozen grand in a college fund for you.  We started saving when you were born, and haven't dropped it since.  We meant to take you back before you were old enough to go off to college, but now since you're little and won't be growing up, you won't be needing college money.  You're going to be staying with us for a long, long, long, long time, and now we can use that money to pay for all the great many diapers you'll need."
"So that's how you're ready to take care of me."
"Yes honey.  We have plenty of money to support you; you have nothing to worry about."
Kodi smiled and watched as his mother grabbed a pack of each brand and kind of diaper and put it in their cart.  He watched as the packages started to get bigger as they went down the aisle, for these brands had more padding and absorbency.  They were getting very very thick, and Kodi was skeptical.
"Am I really gonna need diapers that are that thick?"
"We're not sure yet," his mother replied as she grabbed the big pack and placed it in the cart, "but we'll find out won't we?"
Kodi blushed again as they left the diaper aisle and went on to get other things.
"Now, I think we can feed you with the food we have at home.  The doctor said you can still eat anything you like, so there isn't really a need to go overboard with baby food and formula.  But…I suppose getting a bit wouldn't hurt, huh?"
"Baby food?"
"We'll just get a bit for you honey.  It's just to try, don't worry.  We won't make you eat it because you can still eat like grownups can."
"Well…alright Mama."
"Alright, then it's settled.  Let's get some formula and baby food for our cub to try."
They went to the proper aisle and collected the supplies they needed to make the food and formula as well as things to keep it in.  Kodi watched as his parents put the supplies in to fill up their cart.  When they felt they had enough food, his mother then told him where they're going next.
"Alright honey, now to get you some clothes."
The father pushed the cart further down the aisle where they had a mediocre selection of toddler clothes.  Mrs. Benson then took out some measuring equipment and got Kodi's numbers.
This wasn't strange to Kodi.  The one thing he knew about his real parents was their occupations, for his foster carers had informed him.
Mrs. Sarah Benson is a fashion designer for specific clients.  Just with a person's numbers, she could determine the exact outfit someone needed to fit them perfectly.  After decades of her career, she hasn't had a single disgruntled customer.  The words "satisfied" and "perfect fit" always show up in all her customer's recommendations.  Her specific job allows her to work at home sewing custom-made outfits for picky customers.  Despite a few calls to the office, she could be home almost every day to look after Kodi.
Mr. Matthew Benson is the CEO of a company that designs and manufactures umbrellas, which is why he was well prepared with one to help keep his wife dry in the rain.  He has made a few successful designs himself, and tends to keep them in random places around the house.  Such a career isn't exactly profitable, but with it combined with his wife's fashion career salary they have a steady prominent income.  He doesn't have to be at the office a lot either, but he'd be home considerably less than his wife to care for their reunited son.
"Alright then, we've got your sizes," Mrs. Benson told her cub, "now let's find the right outfits for you dear."
Kodi smiled and watched as his mom went to work picking out a few outfits.  She came back to him showing some onesies, shirts, and buttoned overalls.
"How do these look, Kodi?"
The baby bear looked at his soon-to-be attire.  He knew their sizes wouldn't be a problem, so he looked at their patterns and designs.  His mother had picked out two onesies, one with near-rainbow horizontal stripes and one a plain green.  There were also two shirts, one red with a childish racecar design and a light blue one with a teddy bear on the front, as well as two pairs of khaki and blue denim overalls.  Kodi found all this a little childish, but he knew that it was perfect for his new age.
"They're great Mama." He replied with a smile. He meant it.
"Wonderful, then let's put them right in the cart and be on our way."
Kodi watched her put them in, then his father pushed the cart on to the checkout counter.
"Oh, you're going to look so cute!" His mother proclaimed, obviously excited about the choices she made.
"Is this all we need?" The father asked.
"Yes it should be, and if it isn't we'll just come back when we need more…" The mother replied with a smile as she looked to her cub. "…Because we'll certainly need more food and diapers at some point."
Kodi giggled at the remark as his parents checked out.  After everything was paid for and bagged, they pushed the full cart out to their car and put it all in the trunk.  After that, they strapped Kodi safely and snugly into his carseat, then strapped themselves in and pulled out.
"We're going home now baby," his mother told him, "just relax and we'll be there before you know it."
The lights inside the car didn't stay on long after the doors were closed, and it was currently way past any cub's bedtime.  Even though a lot of the traits of being a baby again hadn't fully returned to Kodi yet, he was beginning to feel drowsy even still.  A streetlight flashed inside the car every now and then to keep him awake, but after a while of riding the white noise of the car lulled him to sleep.  

"Kodi, wake up dear."
Kodi shook himself awake at his mother's words, the lights of the car brightly glowing as his side door was open.  He looked around a bit, trying to remember the circumstances he was under before his nap, then looked up at his mother.
"What's going on?"
"We're home Kodi dear, you fell asleep on the way back."
"Oh…"
Mrs. Benson then unbuckled her cub, picked him up, and gave a few gentle loving pats to his padded rear.
"We already brought all the things we bought inside, now all that's left is to put my baby back in his room."
"M-…my room?"
"That's right honey.  Come on, let's bring you inside."
Kodi rested his head on his mother's shoulder as she brought him into the house.  She turned on the living room lights and brought her baby down into a cradle.  She tickled his little tummy with her pointing finger, causing the cub to giggle with delight, but when she brought her eyes down to his diaper she found a tiny yellow spot on its front.
"Uh oh, looks like my baby bear piddled a little bit in his diaper while he was sleeping."
"Huh?" Kodi looked down to it and blushed. "I-…I wet myself?"
"Yes, but it's alright dear," his mother assured him, "it's just a little tiny bit.  No need to change you yet."
"Oh…okay…"
"Don't worry honey; remember you're in diapers now.  It's perfectly normal and alright for you to do that; you fill your diapers up as much as you want."
"Okay Mama."
Mrs. Benson smiled as she took Kodi down the hall to a bedroom door, where she stopped and looked down to her cub.
"Now Kodi, this is your room."
She opened the door and turned on the light to reveal a small nursery-type bedroom.  There was a full-fledged changing table and a dresser likely filled with his old clothes, but there was no crib or even a toddler bed.  Instead, there was a great big Twin-sized grownup bed.  Kodi looked around the room with delight, as he knew all of this used to be his, and as he came to the bed a great smile came to his face.
"You see," his mother explained, "the bed is the only thing we've changed in here.  As the years passed, we thought you wouldn't want to come back to a bed someone half your size would want.  But now, since you're a cub again, maybe we should bring the crib back in…"
"No Mama," Kodi replied, "I bet the covers on that will engulf me like a great big bear hug.  I want the grownup bed.  If that's alright…"
"Whatever you like, honey.  If you want it, we'll keep it for you."
Kodi smiled before releasing a yawn, and his mother carried him to the bed.  She pulled back the covers, then placed him belly-up on the mattress as gently as can be so his little head was rested on the big fluffy pillow.  After making sure he was comfy, she pulled the covers back up over him and tucked him in snugly.  She then gave her son a kiss on the forehead to wish him goodnight, but also did so verbally to follow.
"Goodnight Kodi dear.  We'll start all over in the morning."
"Night Mama." Kodi said as he settled into his great big bed.
His mother smiled and went to turn off the lights and then leave the room, closing the door behind her.  Left in the darkness of his old/new nursery, Kodi nestled into his pillow and looked up at the ceiling.
"Well little Kodi," he whispered to himself, "you're home now.  Mama and Papa are right outside the door; they're right here with you.  They're here, and they're gonna take care of you for a long, long, long, long time.  You just go to sleep, and tomorrow…everything'll be brand new again.  Goodnight…"
After his self-assuring words Kodi was out like a light, and he fell fast asleep so that he could start again fresh in the morning.