They lay together breathing heavily in the darkness.

“Sleep now.”

He turned her on her side, and soon she was doing just that.

Grace woke two hours later crying. Piper bolted out of bed. Reaching for the lamp, she switched it on and found her T-shirt and panties. Pulling them on, she nearly landed face first in the chair.

“I’ll make a bottle,” Dylan said getting out of bed.

Grace was red-faced and standing up in the cot.

“Hey, baby girl.”

“Mama.”

Piper could do nothing to stop the sob.

“I know, Gracie, I miss her too.”

Picking her up, she held her close.

“Jesus, what is that stench?” Dylan appeared in the doorway.

“Sh-she just asked for her mama.”

“That’s tough.” He placed a hand on Piper’s head. “But I think we have bigger problems, starting with whatever the hell is in that diaper.”

Piper suddenly became aware of the smell emanating from Grace.

“Oh my lord, that’s terrible!”

“Okay, operation diaper removal starts in five. Let me get the bed set up with a towel and bring in the things we need.”

“Did you get a face mask?”

“Funny girl.”

He was back with everything. After laying out a towel, Piper put Grace on it, and the little girl began to cry.

“She doesn’t want to be put down.”

“How are her eyes not watering?” Dylan pinched his nose. “How such a cute little thing can make that stench is beyond me. Here, give her the bottle.”

Piper did, and the crying stopped.

“Okay, so give her a bottle while changing a diaper... especially if it’s loaded.” Piper committed that to her mental notes. She then undid the buttons at the bottom of the bunny sleep suit and slid out Grace’s legs.

“So far so good,” she muttered.

“I’m torn between fascination about what the hell is in there, and wanting to run for my life at the same time.”

Piper opened the diaper tabs.

“Mother of God, no way did that come out of her!” Dylan made a gagging sound. “It’s like some kind of explosion.”

“It’s up her back, go get the other sleep suit.”

“Gladly.” She heard him running from the room.

“And a bag to put this in!”

Piper wiped as much as she could off with the diaper, then eased it from under the baby.

“You need to hold her legs up, or it’s going everywhere. Amazing how flexible they are, she’s not even flinching,” Dylan said, looking over her shoulder.

“Bag!” Piper snapped.

He held it out, and she dropped the loaded diaper in there.

“I think you should invest in a water blaster.”

“Wise ass,” Piper said, taking the wet wipes he held out for her. “Can you believe the color of that?”

“I’m kinda proud of her.”

“That’s something my cousins would say.”

“And likely will.”