Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

The cozy warmth of the playroom wrapped around Jessica like a comforting hug. It was one of her favorite places at the Ranch, especially when she was in her Little space, surrounded by soft blankets, toys, and the smell of fresh crayons. The room had an air of safety, of being cared for, and whenever she was here with her Daddies, it felt like the rest of the world faded away.

Jessica was lying on her stomach, a coloring book spread out in front of her as she hummed to herself. Rowan had chosen her favorite shades of pink and purple, and she was happily filling in a picture of a unicorn. Nearby, Sebastian and Forrest sat on the large plush couch, watching her with gentle smiles on their faces, occasionally exchanging quiet words. It was a peaceful moment, full of warmth and affection.

Rowan knelt beside her, handing her another crayon as she finished up one of the colors. “You’re doing such a good job, princess,” he said, his voice playful as always. “That unicorn’s never looked so pretty.”

Jessica beamed up at him, her heart swelling with the praise. “Thank you, Daddy.”

But as she grabbed the next crayon and started coloring again, the unthinkable happened. She pressed too hard, and with a snap, the crayon broke in half. She stared at the pieces for a moment, a wave of frustration bubbling up inside her. The perfection of her unicorn was ruined, and suddenly, everything felt wrong.

Without thinking, she tossed the broken crayon aside, a pout forming on her lips. “Stupid crayon!” she huffed, her Little side surging to the surface in full force. “It’s not fair!”

The frustration grew, and before she could stop herself, she grabbed another crayon and flung it across the room. It clattered against the wall with a soft thud. She folded her arms tightly across her chest, kicking her legs against the floor in a mini-tantrum.

“I don’t want to color anymore!” she declared, her voice tinged with the sharp edge of anger. “This is stupid! Coloring is stupid!”

All three men froze for a moment, watching her reaction carefully. They had known this day might come—the first time she’d act out, and they’d need to discipline her. It was a delicate balance, one they’d all agreed on. No pain as punishment. They wanted to guide her with love and care, showing her that discipline was not something to fear, but something that would help her grow.

Sebastian was the first to move, his protective presence strong but calm as he knelt in front of her. “Jessica,” he said softly, his voice steady but firm. “Look at me, sweetheart.”

She pouted, glancing at him briefly but quickly turned her head away, her arms still folded in defiance.

Forrest shifted off the couch, joining them on the floor. His voice was soft, almost soothing. “We know you’re upset, babygirl. But throwing things, and shouting out unkind words isn’t how we handle our feelings, is it?”

Jessica bit her lip, feeling a wave of guilt wash over her. She knew what they were saying was true, but in her Little space, emotions sometimes felt too big to control. Her eyes darted toward the discarded crayon, and her stomach knotted with shame.

Rowan, ever the playful one, leaned in close and whispered, “Hey, I bet we can fix this, princess. Want to try again?”

But Jessica’s frustration still had a hold on her, and she shook her head stubbornly. “No! I don’t want to fix it. Throw away the picture. I’m done!”

Sebastian’s hand gently cupped her cheek, guiding her to face him again. “You’re allowed to feel upset, Jessica. But acting out like this? We need to talk about that.”

Jessica’s heart raced, and a small part of her feared what might come next. But she trusted them—she always had. Still, the idea of being disciplined made her nervous. Would they be disappointed in her? How would they punish her?

Seeing the conflict in her eyes, Forrest sat beside her, his calm presence a balm to her frayed nerves. “Remember what we talked about? Discipline isn’t meant to hurt. It’s meant to teach.”

Her bottom lip trembled, and she felt small under their steady gazes. “I didn’t mean to... I just got mad,” she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“And that’s okay,” Sebastian said softly. “But when we get mad, we don’t throw things, do we?”

Jessica shook her head, a tear slipping down her cheek. “No, Daddy.”

Rowan reached over and wiped the tear away with his thumb, giving her a soft smile. “Good girl for being honest.”

Forrest nodded, his voice kind but serious. “We’re going to have to give you a timeout, babygirl. Not because we’re mad, but because we need to help you learn how to handle these big feelings better.”

Jessica’s heart sank at the word “timeout”. She didn’t want to be away from them, but deep down, she knew they were right. She’d acted out, and she needed to face the consequences. Her Daddies weren’t doing this to punish her harshly—they were doing it because they cared.

“Come here, sweetheart,” Sebastian said, his arms open as he beckoned her forward.

With a soft sniffle, Jessica crawled into his lap, burying her face in his chest. His arms wrapped around her, holding her tight as she let out a quiet sob. The frustration, the guilt, and the love all swirled together inside her, making her feel both small and incredibly safe.

Sebastian stroked her hair, his voice a deep rumble in her ear. “You’re going to sit in the corner for ten minutes, with your nose against the wall. No toys, no talking. Just time to think about how you can handle your feelings differently next time.”

Jessica nodded, her fingers clutching his shirt as she held on for a moment longer. She didn’t want to let go, but she understood why they were doing this. Her tantrum had crossed a line, and this was how they were going to help her grow.

After a few more moments in Sebastian’s comforting embrace, he gently guided her off his lap and over to the corner. Forrest grabbed a soft blanket and draped it over her, ensuring she felt safe even during her timeout.

Rowan crouched down behind her, giving her a playful wink. “Ten minutes, pretty girl. Then we’ll cuddle, okay?”

Jessica sniffed, wiping her eyes as she nodded. “Okay, Daddy.”

The men stepped back, giving her space, though their presence was still close and reassuring. Jessica’s heart felt heavy as the minutes ticked by. She didn’t like the feeling of being separated, even for a short time, but the quiet allowed her to reflect on what had happened. She had acted out, but her Daddies weren’t mad at her. They were helping her, teaching her. Huge wracking sobs rolled from her chest as she realized how bad her behavior had been. She could have hurt someone when she threw the crayon across the room. Even worse, she could have hurt someone’s feelings with her unkind words and being so aggressive.

By the time the ten minutes were up, her sobbing had turned to soft sniffles, most of the tears having dried up. Forrest was the first to approach her. He sat behind her, his arm wrapping around her shoulders, pulling her close. “You did really well, Jessica. I’m proud of you.”

Tears welled in her eyes again, but this time they were tears of relief. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to be bad.”

Forrest kissed the top of her head. “You’re not bad, Jessie. You just had a moment, and that’s okay. We’re here to help you.” He pulled away, taking her with him, and she instantly turned and wrapped her legs around his waist, forcing him to carry her to the couch where he sat down, sinking into the plush cushions.

Sebastian joined them on the couch, pulling her onto his lap once more. “You’re still our good girl, sweetheart. Always.”

Rowan plopped down on the other side, waving a crayon with a mischievous grin. “Wanna finish that unicorn now?”

Jessica giggled softly, her heart feeling light again. “Yeah, Daddy. I do.”

As she settled back into her Daddy’s arms, her other Daddies’ presence all around her, Jessica knew their bond had deepened that day. They had disciplined her not with anger, but with love—and that made all the difference.