Jonah was thrusting his wet pull-up, that held his hard knotted peen into Tobias’ hand as the elder led the coyote to sit down on the couch. The cub did so with the clumsiness of someone who couldn’t see. His yellow eyes, though striking, appeared normal and healthy for someone of his species, but something about them just seemed off. His pupils rarely, if ever seemed to focus, though they appeared to have the ability. This was the most active Tobias had ever seen the pup.
	Tobias pulled down Jonah’s pull-up to reveal the musky sheath and half-exposed dick inside. The raccoon rubbed all over the yote’s body and whispered sweet things into his ear. The pup’s grunts of acknowledgement in response surprised the elder coon. He took a big whiff of Jonah’s pissy crotch and went in with his mouth, licking around the sheath and shaft area. He pulled the sheath back as he moved to the shaft to allow the cub’s knot to expand outside of the confines of its furry container.
	As he likcked around the shaft and took it into his skilled mouth, Jonah moved his hands to the coon’s head and applied gentle encouragement. This was not a surprise to Tobias, but the force and intentionality displayed was. It usually seemed more a tool to keep his balance than anything. This whole experience was making the young adult rather hopeful. None of his interactions with the young canine had been quite like this. 
	He went to work pleasuring the cub. He worked around the shaft and gently squeezed the knot, which elicited a pleasured squeal from the young pup as well as causing him to blink, his pupils monetarily narrowing in focus,  before going back to their apparently unseeing state. This would have shocked Tobias had he seen. The trash panda also gently played with the cub’s tight, immature ballsack as he worked on his shaft.
	This went on for some time, but it wasn’t very long before things were picking up. The cub thrust into Tobias’ mouth faster and faster, as the raccoon worked on his small dick. Due to being so worked up the little yote didn’t last long at all. With a grunt, Jonah shouted “I’m cummiing,” and his dick vibrated in a dry orgasm.
	Tobias stared at him in shock. The cub was smiling back at him, obviously completely aware of his surroundings.
	“Hi.” Jonah said with a shy wave.
	Tobias fell completely to the floor with a thud, and passed out in shock.
================================
	Jonah pulled up his wet pull-up over his crotch and redid the tail strap. It was obviously used, but not soaked, and would last a while more. That he was in a pull-up at all surprised the cub, though it did explain some of the sensations he’d been feeling in his more lucid moments. He had fully expected to be in a tape-on diaper when he came-to.
	The cub quickly took note of his surroundings, (a simple suburban living room with nice electronics) before closing his eyes in concentration and finishing the job that he’d been working on for years. How many years exactly he wasn’t really sure at that moment. He cast his mind to Tobias’ bedroom (“mine and Tobias’ bedroom”, the pup amended in his head), and suddenly it was done.
	He took in the sight of the unconscious raccoon before him. This was his first time really seeing the man whose kindness meant so much to him. He had seen glimpses before, mostly while in the throes of orgasm, but this was his first time really being able to take the sights in.
	The procyonid in question was tall and slightly chubby. His fur was mostly chocolate brown with nearly black markings around his eyes, and in rings around his tail. Additionally much of the underside of his face was a stunning cream color. He was dressed simply in some slightly ironic athletic shorts, and a graphic t-shirt. One got the impression this was how he always dressed regardless of the circumstances.
	He wouldn’t be most people’s idea of attractive, but Jonah liked what he saw. He looked very kind and friendly and reminded him of daddy, who Jonah was sad to think he wouldn’t be able to see for quite a while. He was starting to debate waking the coon up when he began to stir. Tobias moved a little and blinked a couple times before opening his eyes completely. His eyes themselves were admittedly rather striking, one bright aqua, and one deep purple.
	“Hi, Tobias!” The coyote said cheerfully to the elder fur.
	“H-h-ello Jonah.” Tobias shakily replied. “I’m glad that you’re finally what I’m guessing is yourself, but I’m honestly quite shocked at your sudden recovery.”
	“I guess I better explain.” The canine stated. “This is gonna be hard to believe, but I assure you, it’s all true.”
	“You’re saying you know the reason for your condition and seemingly instant recovery!?” Tobias questioned.
“Sure do.” Answered the cub. “So, you know the car crash my family and I were in?”
“Yes, and uh… Jonah, I’m sorry to say…” Started the raccoon.
“I know what you think happened, but you’re mistaken. All will be explained soon.” Shot back the young yote. Tobias looked like he was gonna say something but quickly just nodded and let the pup continue.
“Anyway, We were driving down the road when out of nowhere a car hit ours on the side. I’m still not sure what happened, because it should be impossible to sneak up on someone like daddy, but somehow it happened.” Jonah started.
“Yes, and your brother and dad didn’t make it.” Tobias blurted out.
“Yes, Danny did die, and I’m sure there was a funeral and everything, that’s really what started all this,” admitted the cub, seeming more annoyed than anything at the notion, “but daddy didn’t die, someone as powerful as daddy can’t really die. He merely needed to go off and recharge, which takes quite a while. I know for a fact that daddy’s body was never found, aren’t I right?”
Tobias was getting very confused, but he nodded.
“I’m sure the standard story is that it was obliterated in the crash.” The pup shuddered at that mental image, “but that’s simply not true. It physically wasn’t there, not even in atomized form. He transferred any energy left in it to me so I could fix this mess, and that’s what I did.”
“I...I...Wha...Well…” Tobias really had no idea what to say.
“Danny isn’t dead anymore. He’s laying in our bed.” The cub motioned to the two of them. “I used mine and daddy’s energy to pull him forward from right before the crash and leave a non-living replica in his place in order to not mess up the time-lines. This process was very energy intensive, and it took years to do it, and I kinda had to learn and build my power as it went. How long exactly did it take?”
“Four years.” Tobias answered without thinking. “...you mean like magic?” He added once he was somewhat able to process what was happening.
“Yep, I suppose that’s what it’d typically be called.” replied the young canine. “Though we’re pretty sure it’s a poorly understood natural or technological phenomena, rather than something truly supernatural.”
“Why had you been… like you were... for that whole time?” the adult questioned, honestly not knowing how to phrase it beyond that.
“Well, when this all started, I was only four-years old and not super advanced in the wizardly arts. Basically, it’s an advanced skill to be able to keep one’s mind connected to one’s body when doing such reality-altering maneuvers. The best I could do was build a simple auto-pilot, and that’s what you’ve been interacting with, mostly.” Jonah answered the raccoon matter-of-factly.
“But when we, y’know... did yiffy or even cuddly stuff it felt like you were at least somewhat there.” responded the coon, very much on auto-pilot himself in a way. This whole situation was still quite foreign to him.
“That’s why I said mostly. Good feelings help bridge the gap, and made me able to actually experience what was happening with this body. The connection was tentative, but you’re affectionate enough that we’ve been able to actually interact quite a lot.” Jonah punctuated that with a beaming smile at the raccoon. “Talking comes last, and seeing right before that, so I’ve spent most of that time blind and mute, but it’s been more than enough to feel the great love you feel for me, and hopefully express some of that love back towards you.” This was enough to snap Tobias out of his shocked stupor as he smiled back at the pup and took his hand.
“Your cuddling is so constant that I’m actually able to follow the movies we watch together. I can’t see them, but I can pretty much hear every word. Now that I’m fully here, we really need to rewatch some of those. I’d love to actually see them with my eyes.” Both man and boy seemed happy with that notion. Jonah was already so full of love for the raccoon he hadn’t seen with his eyes before now. Tobias fully echoed that sentiment, and this confirmed to him that Jonah had truly been conscious those times, which was a massive relief.
“I’m glad our time together has been so special for you. It’s been special for me too.” Responded the elder of the two. “I love you more than I ever loved anyone Jonah. I knew I wasn’t crazy and you were a thinking, feeling boy all along.” He then proceeded to lovingly embrace Jonah, beaming with affection.
“I’m not sure why you stopped being so affectionate a little bit ago, though. I was very nearly done, but I needed to come-to fully to finish, and that needed a trigger.” This was enough to make Tobias shudder with guilt but Jonah held the raccoon's arm around him, smiling at him to tell him it was okay and continued.
	“Usually that wouldn’t have been a problem. The orgasms you give me always make me almost fully conscious, and you give me plenty of those, and I would have been able to make it complete and stick if you would have given me one, but for some reason you seemed to grow detached. You were cuddling me less, you weren’t doing anything yiffy with me at all, and you even were putting me to sleep in a separate bed from you.” Tobias’ feeling of guilt increased as Jonah continued, but the yote continued to provide touches of reassurance. I loved actually being able to experience falling asleep, and doing so while embraced in nice strong arms, but I wasn’t getting any of that.” Jonah tried to emphasize the positive nature of the interactions when they happened, but his confusion at why they had stopped was evident. 
“I was only really getting occasional flashes of consciousness when you cuddled me, and when I went potty. I haven’t always been very conscious when going potty - without physical contact from you, at least - and was wondering why I was recently until I noticed when I ‘woke up’ that you have me in pull-ups. I had to concentrate on being very horny and take matters into my own hands.” Jonah said, not bitter, but certainly confused at the change of their dynamic that seemed to have recently come about. He was nuzzing heavily against the raccoon now though, to let him know it was okay. Jonah could feel the adult’s guilt and regret and made sure he was comfortable enough to explain.
	“I’m so sorry baby.” Tobias said shakily as soon as Jonah’s affection brought up his ability to speak, an ironic turning of the tables. “I haven’t been loving you like I should, and I feel like shit about it. I thought you were getting ‘better’... and I was afraid of having to explain what we’ve been doing and that it would have to be secret.” Jonah continued trying to comfort Tobias, but was having little success. “I had no doubts that you loved it very much, I was just scared. I guess I didn’t have to worry about that. I’m guessing you’ve done stuff with your daddy and Danny. As for putting you in pull-ups…” Tobias stopped rambling when he realized what Jonah was doing
The pup in question was squatting down and had his tail flagged out behind him, just inches in front of Tobias, Soft airy farts could be heard first as he started pushing. Tobias did what he had done many times before and cupped one of his hands around a bulge in the back of the yote’s pull-up that didn’t yet exist and used the other to start rubbing his belly. The pup was cradled in his loving embrace as he did his business. Jonah pushed and the first turd crackled it’s way into his pull-up.
Tobias felt the forming bulge in the disposable undergarment as the pressure in the canine’s tummy became a comfortable weight in his pants Tobias kissed the back of the cub’s head, and Jonah turned his muzzle to kiss the coon face-on, as the turd dropped fully into the better-than-a-diaper diaper. 
The pup grunted as another turd started making its way out of his tailhole. Tobias kept up his intimate snuggle as the mess coiled up creating a nice, warm lump in the useful underwear that the coon gave a little squeeze. Jonah gave a pleasured yip at that. Tobias knew that the canid was probably getting rather hard, so he reached into the squishy front of the pull-up, and freed the cub’s knot from its sheath. 
The cub finished pooping as that was happening, and started thrusting up toward Tobias’ hand. The man took ahold of the cub’s peen loosely, and let him thrust into his hand, while at the same time applying gentle pressure to the lump in the cub’s pants.  Being so riled up, little Jonah came in seconds. “That was very nice” The pup said through labored breaths.
Tobias took his hand out of the front of the cub’s pull-up, and it was completely clean, save for some pee residue. “I guess that answers any questions I might have had as to whether you use the toilet.” Tobias said with a sly grin. “I did suspect that you didn’t, saying that you seemed to use your pull-up (or diaper as it was before) with as much intentionality as possible in your lucid moments.” He slightly teased the pup who smiled at him sillily, still in blissful afterglow in the coone’s arms. His mess was still secure and comfy in his pull-up.
 	“Anyway, the reason I put you in pull-ups started out with necessity. I ran out of your diapers, and put you in what I had, which was pull-ups from some babysitting I’d done. You seemed suddenly to be aware while you were using them, even without me cuddling and encouraging you, and you seemed to very much like what you felt. So, I just kept you in them. I’m guessing they were your preference.” Tobias explained simply to the boy he was still petting.
“Yep, very much so!” the pup responded. “Daddy never minded if I went in my pants instead of the potty, and I prefer going in my pants, so that’s what I do. I am a bit accident-prone when it comes to pee, and probably would have trouble making it to the potty, even if I tried a lot of the times. But I am fully continent for poop, I just prefer to go in my pants.” Jonah explained to the interested coonie. He did always love thinking about this kind of thing. 
“Pull-ups just seem to be the right underwear for me. They are slim enough so I can move around good, but absorbent enough where I’m not always leaving puddles everywhere. Plus, the sensations just seem to be better than with tape-on diapers, being enough to connect my mind to my body far more.” The pup smiled, extolling the virtues of his favorite garment to pee and poop in.
“I don’t mind changing you either.” Tobias assured the young one. “I’m honestly pretty into wetting and messing.” He giggled. “Though that was probably obvious from how I make it feel good for you when you go. And like I’m not into poop besides that but changing isn’t bad at all and comes with the fun. Plus, I’m all for self-determination when it comes to going in the potty or not. If a cub wants to go in their pants, I would never make them use the toilet, and vice-versa.” Tobias explained.
“I love you Tobias. You are exactly the type of fur I was hoping would take care of me.” Jonah said flattering Tobias. “You really are just like daddy, or at least how daddy has been since I came around, and made him see some things differently. So, uh... what do you do for a living? You took care of me, so are you a nurse, or...”
“Nah, nothing like that. There was nothing medically wrong with you, and you still kinda reacted to stuff goin on. You would still eat as well as walk on the treadmill. Not sure if you wondered how you stayed in shape. I actually have a feeling you could have programmed your auto-pilot to use the potty if you wanted to.” He gave a knowing look at Jonah at that, the pup blushing slightly under his fur. “So yeah, they didn’t need whoever took you in to have any sort of medical experience. I’m more your adopted parent than anything, including legally. As for my job, I’m a computer programmer, and I work from home.”
“Yeah, I could have programmed the autopilot to use the toilet, but I think it’s obvious why I didn’t.” Jonah giggled. “It would have been fine if someone like you had taken me in, but most other people wouldn’t understand and would be mad that I could use the potty just fine while seemingly barely alive but not when ‘normal.’” He shook his head as he did air quotes at that last part. “Anyway, let’s go see Danny.”
Tobias had been pretty much playing along before that, but now, he felt the need to get serious. “Yeah, about that. All you said seemed very convincing, and I’m sure it’s very real to you, but I’m sorry to say, love, Danny is dead.” His mouth had gone bone-dry as he twiddled with his fingers and collected enough saliva to swallow. “He died in that car crash four years ago. I don’t know why you were like you were, but I really don’t think it was magic. I guess there was brain damage, or something, and your imagination just went very overactive.” He was stressed, wanting to temper the pup’s expectations so he wasn’t too devastated when Danny wasn’t there, which still seemed to be the inevitable outcome to Tobias.
“Just follow me, and you’ll see.” With that, the cub started heading towards the big bedroom. Still just as excited as ever, he smiled back at Tobias and ushered him along.
“Alright then, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” The coon said, as he followed. Admittedly he was begging to get his own hopes up, with how sure Jonah was.
When they got to the room, they saw exactly what Jonah expected to see, and what Tobias thought was impossible. There was a coyote cub, nearly identical to Jonah, including in size and age, sleeping on the bed. While Jonah was wearing just his now well-used pull-up, this cub was wearing a t-shirt, and shorts that hid whatever underwear he was wearing. 
Tobias blubbered in shock, while Jonah went to wake the sleeping cub. “Wakie-wakie, Danny.” the nearly nude yote whispered into his brother’s ear in an almost sensual manner. He had a huge grin on his face.
“Brubber!” Danny shouted as he woke up. “Danny wubs brubber.” As he saw Tobias he added. “Connie! Danny no know coonie, but still wubs him.”
“Oh, I see…” Tobias started, thinking he made some sort of realization.
“If  Danny will stop acting like a retard, ‘brubber’ will suck his dick” Jonah said. Laughing at what he knew was his older bro’s silliness.
“Okay, I think I’ll take you up on that most generous offer.” Danny responded, himself bursting out in good natured laughter.
So, Jonah did as he had offered. While they were at it, Tobias decided to finally paw-off, since in all that mess, somehow he never got the opportunity to cum. He focused particularly on the bulge he could see in Jonah’s pull-up as he was laying down and servicing his brother, and shot his load in under a minute. Danny was fast behind him, his dick twitching as he came dry in his formerly younger brother’s mouth.
After that, Tobias and Danny set out on getting to know each other. The older cub quickly corroborated Jonah’s account of their father and the magic and all that. Danny said that Tobias seemed like a really nice guy, and said he was glad that he was the one who was watching them while their father was away.
It turned out that it would take years for the duo’s daddy to recharge, and it wasn’t something that needed to be worried about at the moment. Also, neither of them would have access to magic anytime soon. Jonah’s powers were well-spent, and Danny never had much in the first place - Jonah seeming to get most of those genes.
At the same time as he had placed Danny in his and Tobias’ room, Jonah had taken all of his and Danny’s possessions from where they were stored to the living/play room.
“So, do you wear pull-ups like your brother, or are you more of an undies-wearing, toilet-using type of kid?” Tobias asked Danny.
Danny got kinda a strange look at his face. “...Undies,” he responded. “It might not have been this way, but uh... Daddy’s changed since he tried to potty train Jonah.” He said looking thoughtful, though not letting on any of his deeper feelings. “Before he was super strict, and rammed the idea of having to use the potty to be a ‘big boy’ into my head pretty hard.” 
Jonah looked sadly over at Danny as he said this and took his paw in his own. “Well, you know you can do as you please now, right? I’m pretty sure your daddy wouldn’t care either.” Tobias responded. Though there was obviously more going on than he was privy to, Tobias thought he had to make that known just in case.
“Yeah, I know.” Danny said sharply. Obviously trying to end that specific course of conversation. At this, his brother hugged him, but sneakily gave a thumbs-up in Tobias' direction, showing that while it was time to let it be, he thought the raccoon was doing good.
================================
	Before anyone knew it, it was night, and time to go to bed. They mutually decided that Danny would sleep in the big bed with Tobias and Jonah, as the cubs had always slept together with their father.
	“I know you said you don’t really wear these, but you’ll like not having to get up at night, or when you first wake up to go pee.” Tobias said, offering Danny one of Jonah’s Pull-ups. “We all know you don’t need them, it’s just a convenience thing.” 
	“No,” Was Jonah’s concise and forceful reply.
	“Alright, but if you change your mind, just tell me. Please know that there’s no shame in wearing or using a ‘diaper’ and it can come in handy in many circumstances. I respect your decisions either way in this matter, I just have a feeling that you’re holding back,” Tobias responded. He reassuringly smiled at the cub, who smiled back, showing that whatever was going on in his head he wasn’t angry at Tobias. Truth be told, he had already stashed a pull-up in the nightstand drawer just in case the pup changed his mind.
After that, the three headed to the big king sized bed. Before going to sleep, they had a quick romp. Tobias wasn’t sure if Danny was going to be comfortable being intimate with him after just meeting, but the previously older brother was the one to initiate it all.
	Following their fun, they all cuddled up to one another to sleep. One cub was at each of Tobias’ sides, with one of the Coonie’s arms wrapped around each little coyote. It wasn’t long at all before the three joined the land of slumber.
================================
	Just as quickly as they had fallen asleep, it was now morning, and the three were slowly waking up. They basked in the warmth and the comfort of each other, and contimed cuddling. None of them felt like getting up anytime soon, though. Jonah had fallen back asleep, but Danny and Tobias were more awake.
	There was one little problem, though. Tobias noticed that Danny was squirming and being uncomfortable at the raccoon’s right side.  “What’s wrong buddy?” the man asked.
	“Nothin, Tobias.” The cub lied. “Let’s just cuddle,” he continued, obviously still unable to get comfortable.
	“I think I know what’s wrong young one,” the procyonid started, “You have to pee.” Still he did wrap his arm around the coyote affectionately.
	“Nah, I don’t.” Danny insisted, paw going to his crotch, and proving himself wrong.
	“Look, it’s clear that you really don’t feel like getting up. You’re gonna either force yourself to get up, or your gonna wet yourself. I have a feeling that you’re really close to doing the latter.” He saw Danny blush as he said that, still holding his crotch.” I know you’ll feel a lot better about yourself if you let it happen, instead of having an accident. Personally, I wouldn’t even care if you soaked the bed, but I have something just for this occasion,” Tobias said as he reached over the desperate cub. He smiled in love and reassurance at him as he grabbed a pull-up from the nightstand.
Danny hesitated for a bit, but then made a yelp, and quickly tore the pull-up from Tobias’ hands. He rushed as he pulled down his cute briefs, and pulled the absorbent garment to his waist in their place. He hadn’t been wearing anything over his undies thankfully.
	No sooner did the ‘yote don the padded undergarment than did he soak it. Tobias pulled the pup to him, and pett his back, while whispering encouragements. He kissed the top of the pup’s head affectionately as he snuggled. The front of the thing yellowed and it swelled, absorbing the musky fluid. Tobias put his paw on the pup’s crotch feeling the warmth.
	Danny was finally relaxing, and letting himself enjoy the sensations he was feeling, as soon the last golden drops drained from his bladder into the pull-up. He gave a contented sigh.
	“See, don’t you feel better?” Tobias asked, already knowing the answer.
The pup shyly nodded, and cracked a little grin, looking up at the raccoon, his eyes full of grateful love.
“Just hand me those undies, and I’ll toss them in the hamper, I should be able to make the throw from here.”
At this Danny started looking slightly nervous. “Well… I.. Um..” He started fidgeting still in Tobias’ warm embrace.
“It’s okay if you didn't quite make it,” Tobias assured the boy, renewing his physical comfort, petting his chest and kissing his forehead. “Wet undies can actually be very sexy. “
“But big boys aren’t supposed to have accidents,” The little yote responded. Leaning into the touch.
	“Nonsense!” Tobias shot back. “Plus, with how soaked that pull-up is, seems like most of it made it there just fine.” Tobias giggled and pressed a proper kiss to the yotey’s lips.
Danny shyly giggled through the kiss before breaking off slightly, lips still inches away from the adult’s. “Alright Mr. Tobias, I suppose you’re right.” He said and reached under from where he was laying, handing the raccoon the slightly dampened cartoon undies.
	Tobias then took a deep sniff from the crotch-area of the garment. “See, little one, it’s sexy, not embarrassing.” This made Danny giggle even more, as Tobias’ large hand idly rubbed his squishy padded crotch.
After that incident, it still took time for Danny to get used to the idea of wearing and using pull-ups when it was the best option. A couple days later, the three were watching a movie, and though the pup had been advised that wearing a pull-up would be the best option, he declined, saying he could hold it just fine through the movie. He nearly had another accident, before he admitted that he needed a pull-up, and he still had to be gently encouraged by Tobias and Jonah. Luckily, Tobias had one ready, and he was able to change right there.
Tobias still was wondering how exactly they were gonna explain Danny. Jonah was easy to explain, having simply recovered from whatever was ailing him, but Danny was supposed to be dead.
It turns out he had nothing to worry about. Jonah had used his magic to forge some documents at the same time he saved Danny, and he was able to make it look like Danny was just a cousin of his who Tobias had also adopted. They would have to be careful and not let it slip that Jonah was supposed to be four years younger.
================================
	It had been about a week since Jonah had finished saving Danny  and gotten back to his former self. The three were settling into their new routine. The brothers were very happy to see each other again, and they were all having a lot of fun, both of the yiffy and plain varieties. Danny had also gotten increasingly used to peeing in pull-ups when it was the better option, and had even done it a couple times just for fun. He had never pooped in them, though.
	Tobias had just gotten done with some work in his home office. He came across the boys in the living room playing video games. Danny was wearing just a T-shirt and undies, and Jonah was dressed likewise, but in a pull-up. Unsurprisingly, Jonah was both wet and messy. His loaded pull-up bulged under his happily wagging tail.
	The elder coon decided to simply watch them play a bit, and to not make his presence known. Everything went pretty much as normal with Danny winning because he was the older one after all, at least in terms of the amount of time spent living a normal life. Jonah was not far behind at all though, and took it in good spirit as he lost. Both boys were happily giggling.
	Though Tobias started to notice something. Danny kept letting off little airy farts and was shuffling around quite a bit. Tobias was pretty sure the cub was quite desperate for a number two. He could even begin to smell the boy’s need in the air, admittedly making his cock stir slightly. He figured that the boy would soon pause the game and go to the toilet, he was player 1 after all.
	Instead he kept playing and was getting increasingly desperate. His gas became more frequent and the tell-tale aroma of a desperate boy saturated the air, distinct from that of Jonah’s already released load contained in his pull-up. Still he was happily gaming the whole time laughing along with his brother. Tobias hoped he wasn’t about to have an accident. Of course, he didn’t care about cubs messing themselves, he just didn’t want it to be accidental, and seen as humiliating.
	Suddenly, he saw Danny whisper something in Jonah’s ear. He couldn’t hear what it was. Jonah quickly whispered back, and the two had a short conversation that Tobias couldn’t make out for the life of him. Soon, the cubs seemed to have made a decision, and Danny redoubled his concentration on the game.
	Then something happened that Tobias was not expecting at all. Danny hunkered down a little, scrunched up his face. He let off let more gas, now seeming to intentionally empty the last of the air out of his colon, and started grunting. If Tobias didn’t know better, he’d say the cub was pooping his…
	And sure enough he was, Tobias could see the first turd start to strain against his undies, standing out in between his young cheeks, and then tent out the back of them. Danny was absolutely pooping himself, and Tobias could tell it was on purpose. This made Tobias fully hard and out of his sheath as he watched in awe, and started to gently play with his cock.
	Soon the cub finished pushing out the first turd, which dropped fully into the seat of his undies. Tobias could see another one coming, and tenting slightly above the existing bulge. The cub was grunting and pushing, all the while not taking his attention off of the game for a moment. The bulge in the seat of his undies was getting bigger and bigger as he dropped the load into them. The pup seemed to sigh in pleasure at the sensation as his tail wagged right above the load.
	Soon, the second turd was done, but there was a third. That one was pretty small, though, and soon enough the cub was done. Danny hummed in contentment as his tongue stuck out slightly. At the end of it, Tobias admired the bulge in the back of the cub’s undies, looking nice and snug under his tail. It was pretty sizable, and obviously all of the cub’s poop for the day.
	The procyonid had been rubbing his dick through his pants that entire time, and quickly came into his own underwear.. He decided to let the cubs play for a bit before he finally made himself known and asked about it.
	A few minutes later, the cubs were still playing, and Danny didn’t seem to mind the load in his undies at all. The raccoon even saw him shift slightly and seem to moan in pleasure at the sensation. Tobias had a feeling that this was hardly the first time the cub had done this. Of course, he didn’t mind at all, he just didn’t know why the cub had never told him before. It should be clear that he wouldn’t mind.
	Tobias slowly walked up to the cubs, and tapped Danny on the shoulder. The cub instantly froze and dropped his controller, obviously starting to panic. “I-I-I didn’t mean...” Tobias thought fast and cut him off by enveloping him in a huge hug, before picking him up and holding him close, rubbing the cubs back as he calmed down.
	“It’s okay pup, I can tell you’ve been through a lot, but I promise it’s okay. I know you did it on purpose but that’s okay.” Tobias kept petting the yotey’s back as he said this, even cradling the poop bulge once gently to drive him his point. 
	“I… I… I know.” Danny said simply and buried his face hinto Tobias’ shirt, gently sighing seemingly mostly in contentment. The cub seemed to be on the winning side of a long-time internal struggle, but still noticeably conflicted and in the midst of said battle.“It’s complicated, and Jonah can explain, he was better at words than me even when he was 4, right now, let’s just snuggle.” Danny nuzzled Tobias' chest and relaxed completely. He even released his bladder, soaking his undies and the front of Tobias' clothes. The coonie didn’t mind in the slightest.
	As he held and pet the messy and now wet cub, Tobias asked Jonah what the deal was. “Basically, Danny never really liked using the potty much more than I do. He isn’t completely adverse to it, and never really objected to it when it was convenient enough. But for him, interrupting play or any other fun time for a dumb bathroom break wasn’t something he wanted to do. The problem was that daddy... wasn’t very kind about this subject when Danny was young, and well... it left some lasting effects.” The previously younger coyote explained, the subject obviously troubling him with the trauma the past had left on his brother.
	“He looked to be very used to pooping himself though, and with how close he’s come to having pee accidents already while here... I imagine they can’t be too uncommon.” Tobias interjected. Danny blushed at this, his breathing becoming worried again momentary, showing signs of panic, before Tobias calmed him down with firmer pets. And whispered reassurances into his pointy ears, allowing the boy’s younger brother to continue.
	“Yeah... About that, despite being able to hold it just as good as any other cub, he really has never been able to tear himself from what he's doing to pee, so that skill is often wasted. Unfortunately even though daddy had stopped really punishing him for it even before it was clear that potty training was off the table for me, and has made it clear since that it’s 100% okay for him too, Danny is too full of trauma and shame from how it used to be to let himself do it on purpose.” Jonah continued to explain, taking a more detached almost academic tone, though his facial expressions betrayed he was actually rather torn up by how much his big bro had been hurt.  “And as for pooping, that’s similar but something that Danny used to see more like an addiction. Okay with it in the moment but beating himself up about it afterwards, feeling that daddy was in the right for shaming him for it.”
“Hasn’t your daddy made amends and apologized? And what exactly did he used to do?” The coon inquired as he continued to comfort Danny the young pup obviously trying and doing a pretty decent job at focusing on the good thoughts over the bad, as he chilled out in Tobias’ arms, his blonde tail comfortably cradling his mess.
	“Well to be frank, daddy still isn’t perfect. He obviously feels bad for how he made Danny feel about himself, and he reassures him that it’s more than okay whenever he wets or messes now, but he’s too stubborn and afraid of conflict to properly apologize. As for what he did, it was the ‘standard’ potty training stuff,” Jonah said that last part with utter disgust and contempt. “Shaming him at any suggestion of choosing his pants over the potty, taking away privileges for convenience wetting and messing, shaming even genuine accidents as something that only ‘babies’ do... the works. I was strong-willed enough that that never worked on me, and I even got him to reverse course. But my big bro, well… he needs to be treated delicately which is something he missed out on there. I’ve been doing my best, and he really has opened up to you too.” Jonah smiles, beaming at the thought of his big bro finally starting to properly heal from those scars, and that it was him and Tobias especially who spurred that on. Despite being so much younger, he had been the protective one for as long as he was able to.
“I-I-I think I can do it.” Danny finally spoke up. “I think I can be okay with what I like. I think I can be okay with ‘me.’ Jonah’s the best little brother a cub can ask for, and Tobias, you’ve done more for me these past few days than I know how to say” Danny gently got down from Tobias’ embrace readjusted his full, and now soaked undies, yipping in pleasure as he felt the mess again, and got a determined look on his face. He gave Tobias another hug, smiling the happiest the coon had ever seen him, before he walked over to the TV
	“What’cha say we get back to plain the game, little bro?” He said and took his controller in hand” Smiling confidently at Jonah, his mess sagging under his wagging tail comfortingly.
	“You bet’cha stinky bro!” Jonah said and jokingly held his nose, being just as stinky himself, pulling his brother into a quick romantic kiss on the lips, before the two went back to playing,
================================
It was about 3 weeks later, and the boys and Tobias were at the park. Jonah was of course wearing his pull-ups under his pants, not really caring if the waistband showed (which of course it often did, in adorable fashion) and Danny was wearing his normal undies. While he was getting much better allowing himself to wet and mess, and wear pull-ups when he wanted to, he still didn’t quite know what to think of the idea of wearing diapers in public, and did like wearing undies sometimes anyway.
Shortly after the trio arrived at the playground, Tobias gave both cubs the go-ahead to play to their hearts' content. Jonah gladly took it, rushing off, laughing the waistband of his pullup showing more than a little as his shirt was caught in the wind. Danny however stayed behind, he was pacing and looked rather nervous. He opened his mouth to speak but then seemed to change his mind and simply said “nevermind… I... I’m gonna go play.”
	Tobias gently stopped him with a hand on the shoulder. “What’s wrong pup?” He asked, concerned.”
“Nothing’s wrong, I just uh… I was just gonna ask something, but changed my mind.” Danny responded, nervously wringing his hands.
	“Go ahead and ask, it’s okay, I promise. The worst I can do is say ‘no.” Tobias said reassuringly and patted the cub’s shoulder.
	“Well I... uh...  CanIJustPeeMyPantsIfIHaveToGoWhileImPlaying?” The cub asked, going fast like ripping off a band-aid.
	“Come again?” Tobias asked, thinking he heard the jist, but wanting to make sure.
	Danny swallowed deeply and blushed. Thankfully he seemed more bashful and embarrassed than ashamed. 
	“Umm, Can I pee... in my pants… when I have to go… while I’m playing?”  Danny forced the sentence out. “I know you’ll probably say no because other people asking weird questions, and because if I wanted to, there are pull-ups available, which is why I didn’t wanna ask, but I kinda just wanna go in my pants right now, even though I know other cubs will try to tease me.” Danny rambled obviously still nervous.
“I mean since when was I to tell you you should care what people think?” Tobias said with a sly smile. “If this is what you want, you have my full support. I have pull-ups if you change your mind or wanna change, as well as spare undies and pants in your size.” To be frank he was rather shocked by this development and the question, but the last thing he was gonna do was discourage the cub becoming more comfortable with himself.
	Danny was slightly surprised at the latter article of clothing, but on second thought really ought not to have been. He was kinda... accident prone... come to think of it. With that thought, he shook his head at himself and shyly, as he went off to play, waving at Tobias, his tail happily wagging.
	About 30 minutes later, the cubs were in the full swing of playing. Tobias could see from the slightly increased thickness around Jonah’s crotch, as he swung on the swingset, that he had done a pretty big wetting in his pull-up not long ago. Some other cubs had noticed that the canine was diapered, but he had mostly laughed them off and ignored them, and when they realized he wasn’t about to take the bait, they had nothing to do really than to leave him alone. 
	At the other side of the playground, Danny was climbing on the big toy. Tobias could see he was starting to squirm pretty bad, and obviously needed to pee. He knew there were three options that the pup would choose one of. Either Danny would make good on his plan and pee himself on purpose, or he’d chicken out but still end up having an accident, or he’d actually both decide to and succeed in making it to the toilet. Knowing the young yote, Tobias found the third by far the least likely. He gave the cub a smile and a thumbs up, to hope to encourage him towards option one. He knew that it would be a lot less stressful for the cub if his wetting happened on purpose.
	Danny got the sign and that was enough for him to decide to go through with his plan in earnest. He had been meaning to already, but he also knew if he held it too long and had an accident, it would have felt much worse emotionally, which he had trouble keeping himself from doing by force of habit and cowardice.
	However after going down the slide yet another time, spurting a bit into his undies in the process, he knew it was now or never, so he went under the large play structure, to get outta the other cubs’ way more than anything, adjusted his legs slightly, stood still and started soaking his jeans in full view of Tobias and many others. He sighed contently, and piss flowed from his sheathed dick into his admittedly quite stained undies, moaning in pleasure and relief as the dark spot travelled from his crotch down both of his legs, to his bare paws. The first trickle, then flood of warmth following it, eventually settling in a puddle at his feet, soaking into the bark chips. The onlookers besides Tobias himself were mostly parents of the other kids at the park, and just ignored the happenings as not really their concern.
“Oh wow,” Danny said under his breath. “That felt so awesome.” he breathed heavily as he continued basking there in what he had done. Admittedly he was aroused, but that was neither here nor there. After enjoying the feeling for a few more seconds and feeling satisfied, relieved, and frankly happy, he shook off each leg one-by-one so he wouldn’t be dripping too badly, and ran back off to play, his tail happily wagging behind him as he giggled. His soaked pants and musky smell left no question what he had done.
Of course all the other cubs, including the asshole bullies noticed immediately. They figured if the diapered one didn’t take the bait, maybe the soggy one who - in their eyes - seemed to need the same, would.
”Look at that BABY over there!” One cub said to one of his friends loudly, gesturing to Danny, who was obviously the true intended recipient of the message. “I guess he needs diapers like his stupid brother!” The cub continued.
	Soon a few cubs were laughing and pointing. Danny felt the familiar burn of humiliation and shame setting in, but he knew he had to fight it, he was not going to let them win. He would do what he liked, and he would enjoy it. He wasn’t going to let other cubs ruin it for him.
	“Yeah I peed my pants, and yes Jonah wears diapers, what of it?” He went off. ”I know it isn’t the smell you mind!” He jeered at them, laughing. “Most of you smell like you haven’t showered in a year and never learned to wipe your asses! If that’s what you’re going for, more power to ya, but I don’t think it is.” The young pup continued.
Someone looking close may have been able to notice him squirming slightly and letting off silent gas as he ranted. The bullies didn’t notice though and simply stood in shocked silence as they were absolutely roasted. Some even looked like they might be getting tears in their eyes.
	“At least when I..,” as he continued talking, he - without missing a beat - lifted up a leg and squatted slightly. He started grunting cutely as he began to push a load into his awaiting cartoon undies, the first log quickly tenting them out as it settled against his bum. He’d had to go since before they left, but hadn’t decided how he was gonna deal with it. It had only just become pressing when he peed, and he hadn’t decided whether to poop himself or not. This made up his mind. “...smell like shit it’s… on… purpose!” The last three words were punctured by more grunting and pushing as he successfully pushed his entire load into his waiting undies. All told, he had 3 good turds bulging his jeans out noticeably.
He sniffed the air and sighed contently, readjusting his pants, and churring as he felt the mess at his tailhole, relieved to have it out of him. He then turned around, and hopped on the monkey bars, his load secure under his happy tail, while the rest of the cubs and even their parents looked on in awe, some with newfound respect, some utterly humiliated at the fools he proved them to be.
The boys played for a couple more hours after that, the state of their clothes and Jonah’s pull-up ceasing to be novel. They actually managed to make some new friends who admired their boldness, and wanted to be more like them. They mostly played normally, though Danny avoided going down the slide because he didn’t want a huge mess. Thankfully, he was light enough, and his mess firm enough, where merely casually sitting on something soft still left it mostly intact. This allowed it to stay snug and comfy as he had his fun, and didn’t get all over the place.
Soon though it was time to go home, and the boys piled in the car. Neither had changed the whole day. Danny had peed once more, and Jonah’s pullup had leaked quite a bit the last time he went, but it wasn’t an issue, and a good day was had by all.
================================
The ride home was uneventful. The trio just discussed their day at the park, and Danny’s extreme power move that put the bullies in their place. Jonah kissed his brother when they got in the car together and told him how proud he was of his older brother. Danny wasn’t actually too foreign to the idea of riding in a car with a messy butt as pull-ups were kinda forced on him on long car trips whether he liked it or not back with their daddy, so he was content with the firm load against his backside as he loved on his brother throughout their short journey.
After they pulled up to the driveway they quickly got out of the car and walked through the threshold. As soon as they were through the door, they all seemed to get the same idea to shower together. Tobias stripped completely naked, usually wearing undies and using the toilet when in public to avoid uncomfortable questions. At the same time Jonah got down to only his soaked pull-up any sign of the wetness indicators long gone, and streaks of wetness obvious on his fur all the way down his legs. Danny also got removed most of his clothing, admiring how soaked his jeans were after removing them, until he was in just his soaked and loaded undies, his load still tight and secure under his alert tail.
	Tobias let the way into the bathroom, the boys following him close behind. The load in Danny’s undies bounced cutely with each step under his gently swaying tail, and Jonah’s soaked pull-up hung slightly off him with the weight and swayed. They didn’t bother to grab clothes or anything beforehand. The bathroom had towels, diapers, and cleaning supplies in it which was really all they needed.	
When they entered, the first thing Tobias did was lift Jonah up and start kissing him deeply. He admittedly was rather horny after watching cubs play for hours including his own wet and messy ones, and his crooked coon dick was fully out of its sheath, as he rubbed the cub’s soaked pull-up and made out with him. He did this at this moment in particular mostly so they could both enjoy the absorbent garment a bit more before it had to be thrown away. He felt Jonah start to grind against him, the tip of his dick out of his sheath rubbing the saturated absorbent material. 
Tobias continued petting the puppy’s back but broke off the kiss, smiling lovingly at the boy. Jonah smirked back and gingerly climbed down from the man’s arms. Both knew this was only the beginning of their fun. Jonah took off the pull-ups like they were undies, never bothering with the sides when they were only wet. He let them drop to the ground with a dull thud due to how soaked they were. Picking up the well-used garment he gave the crotch a deep snoof, grinning happily and flushing as his dick grew more out of its sheath. Still not wanting to get too side-tracked he dropped it into the diaper pail.
Now it was Danny’s turn for some one-on-one love. He happily nearly jumped into Tobias’ arm when his little bro was done, feeling the situation. He locked lips with the older coon whose arms wrapped lovingly around him. Danny’s tail was wagging happily with the tight bulge in his undies just below. As the two kissed, Tobias slowly trailed one of his arms down the pup’s back to his full undies.
Danny moaned though the kiss as Tobias felt and gently applied pressure to his poop from the outside of his well-used underwear. The cub was able to feel it very well and enjoyed it a lot, but it didn’t mush or flatten to a noteworthy degree. As the man and boy kissed and Tobias fondled Danny’s ‘accident,’ the yote started to get hard in the soaked front of his trainers, gently starting to thrust into Tobias’ chest and giving out small yips of pleasure.
As he continued his loving, Tobias took his second hand and gently and firmly pet long strokes down Danny’s back, continuing onto his sandy tail, going all the way to the tip. Between this, the kissing, and the fondling, the pup nearly melted and even peed a little more into his already soaked undies and Tobias' chest fur as he was grinding his partially hard puppy cock. This was the part of messing he never really got to experience before on account of his history and shame. Jonah would have happily had this sort of fun with him, but he wasn’t comfortable with himself then. Still, he knew that it was time to get down and that the real fun would happen soon, so he did. He seemed nearly drunk with happiness and smiled up at his adoptive guardian.
	On account of being messy, and wearing normal briefs, Danny needed more help cleaning up. This had become a familiar routine the past weeks of finally being able to embrace his toilet habits, or lack thereof. He stood, tail wagging with his back turned to Tobias, the smell of pee, poop, and sex in the air, all three conpunding to add even more to the latter. Tobias gingerly eased Danny’s ‘ruined’ undies off, making sure that the surprisingly intact load stayed in place as the pup raised each leg in time, resting his hand on the coon’s shoulder and smiling in contentment at the now familiar experience. Tobias went over and dumped the load into the toilet flushed it, and threw the undies into an awaiting bucket of sanitizer. He then grabbed a washcloth, dampened it with warm water and used it to remove the bulk of what had stuck in and near the cub’s tailhole. Danny moaned once again at the sensation and came almost fully out of his sheath, looking up at the adult with love in his eyes. The coon then put the cloth in the same bucket as the undies to be dealt with later.
The three males now stood with their dicks both big and small, fully out of their sheaths, and their tails swaying happily. They were all excited for the shower to come. Tobias walked over to the shower and turned on the water, feeling it with a paw as the water heated up to the perfect temperature nearly instantly. The raccoon had a large shower and a good water heater that could comfortably accommodate the three of them for hours if need be. Once the shower was ready, they quickly filed in, basking in the warmth of the water as it began to rinse the grime of the day from their fur. The water ran yellow as it always did when the cubs showered, them almost always having a good amount of pee dried into their fur.
	The first order of business would be to properly clean Danny’s hole. What Tobias had done before was merely to reduce chances of mess getting places it really shouldn’t. Now it was time for the pup to be fully cleansed of his day’s fun. As the three sighed contently and enjoyed the soothing heat of the shower, Tobias pumped some fur soap from one of the bottles beside him directly into his hand. The raccoon cupped it and let some of the shower water in to warm it up before gently lathering it. He went intimately behind the young coyote and kissed his neck as he started to wash his dirtired sphincter.  This made the pup’s small knotted cock pulse and quiver in pleasure as he moaned sensually in a way only a young boy can quite master.
“Oh… Tobias, wow…” He came dry with a yelp before Tobias even got the chance to give him the reach around. After a bit more gentle cleaning with Danny like putty in the raccoon’s large loving hands, his tight butt was properly clean. Tobias helped him rinse it, and rinsed his own hand under one of the multiple shower heads that were there. This was merely the beginning of the fun they all had in store.
	While Tobias was cleaning Danny, Jonah was looking on and gently stroking his cock, though trying not to cum right away. Once his brother was clean, Tobias motioned for him to come closer to them. He put a few more pumps of fur soap on his forepaws, and lathered it up well, going straight to washing both cubs in such a very intimate way only a pedofur really could. One puppy was on either side of him, as he reached down with each of his two sudsy hands to wash the cubs’ bellies. He started there simply because it was easy to reach and quite intimate. Both boys gently moaned in pleasure and contentment as he lathered the shampoo into their furred bellies, though Danny’s were more subdued and relaxed because he had just came.
Jonah on the other hand was still quite horny, and he took it upon himself to lather some of the fur soap into his own paws - the bottle being just within his reach - and went straight for the raccoon’s hard dripping cock. Tobias moaned deeply in intense pleasure at this, and decided to return the favor by quickly and efficiently trailing his own hand down Johna’s belly to his awaiting member, which seemed to be nearly vibrating in readiness. The man and the boy each stroked their lathered hands along the others’ hard cock ostensibly ‘cleaning’ but in fact very close to orgasm. All the while, Danny was still having his belly washed, though it was turning more into a comfy belly rub. However the sheer erotisism of the situation was making him begin to swell again in his sheath, and he gently eased Tobias’ hand toward said organ, the coonie gladly complying.
	In no time at all, Tobias and Jonah came virtually at the same time, Tobias’ squiggled dick shooting thick ropes arcing onto the floor of the shower, with Jonah’s tiny puppy cock merely vibrating as he let out a loud yip of happiness. Tobias’ breathing was quite labored for a bit as the soft-bodied coon caught his breath. Jonah was also breathing somewhat heavily but recovered a lot quicker. Adult and cub both had huge, blissed smiles on their faces as they enjoyed their afterglow. The smell of sex filled the shower as Danny got fully hard once again, gently thrrusting his length against Tobaias’s hand the raccoon having stopped washing him after he came.
	“We… We should probably properly wash up before we all fall asleep with the water still running.” Tobias said after properly catching his breath through yawns. The cubs nodded their agreement, even as horny as Danny was, he was also quite sleepy and wanted to get the shower over with. They made an earnest attempt to focus on actual showering after that, lathering each other all up and cleaning and caressing each other, but horniess prevailed and they all ended up cumming at least once more before all was said and done.
Afterwards, they all stumbled out of the shower blissed out and barely half awake. They stepped under the large fur dryer Tobias had installed. After the coon managed to push the button to turn it on after fumbling with the remote for a few seconds, they sleepily raised their arms and moved all around to make sure the warm air reached and dried every inch. However this made them even more tired, and Danny ended up on the floor asleep by the end of it. So much for ‘I’m just gonna rest a minute.” The other two also were fighting hard against sleep.
	As exhausted as Tobias was, he knew it was his job to take initiative. Once they were all dry, he led Jonah out from under the dryer and picked up Danny, gently putting the 8 year old over his shoulder, supporting his naked bum with the other arm. They walked over to the diapers, and Jonah, seeing that Tobias’ hands were full, grabbed a pull-up for both him and Danny. He put his on, looking in the mirror as he adjusted it slightly, making sure the tail strap was done up right. He smiled at the cute pup which caught his gaze, his reflection still reminding him more of Danny than the image he has of himself which was mostly that of a four-year old. 
	Jonah handed the other pull-up to Tobias who gently eased it over Danny’s hindquarters and did the tail strap up, gently patting the pup’s padded butt which made him stir slightly and hum in contentment. Jonah then reached above where the pull-ups were kept, seemingly reading Tobias' mind as he grabbed one of the coon’s large tape-on diapers. Tobias reached out a hand making a motion to take it and try to put it on himself, but the pup just shook his head and went up in front of Tobias, his skinny furred sheath in the boy’s face. For once though he paid it no mind and put the absorbent undergarment on over it, bringing up the back with his other paw, then proceeded to do up the tapes in a surprisingly competent fashion, patting his caretaker’s diapered rear and smiling at him. Tobias beamed back and said simply “Thank you pup.”
The three of them made their way back to their room, Tobias and Jonah barely able to stay awake, and Danny still happily asleep in Tobias’ arms. After nearly collapsing a couple times, somehow all without waking the sleeping pup, eventually they managed to stumble through the door into their large room. Their destination though was the bed that never truly ever got properly ‘made.’
	Tobias got in first, never having to fully end his embrace of Danny. He did manage to get a good feel of the little coyote’s pull-up though confirming his suspicion that Danny had peed a bit in his sleep. He thought he felt some warmth there a while back. The slight commotion was enough to wake the little pup as he smiled lovingly at Tobias. The raccoon of course returned the favor. Once they were in position with Danny snuggled close against one of Tobias' sides, Jonah hopped up in the bed and nearly fell asleep that instant. He managed to persevere and take his place at the man’s other side. Tobias had one arm holding each cub close.
	“I love you so much boys'' He said after managing to stop yawning. “You coming into my life - first Jonah, and then Danny - is the best thing to ever happen to me.” He was now obviously losing consciousness fast. “I’m so happy to be able to take care of such wonderful...” He yawned. “Such.. wonderful.. perfect.. little boys...”
	“Mmmm... we love you too, Toby.” The boys managed to say at the same time, as they were themselves nearly dead to the world. “So much.” With this the trio shifted slightly once again before drifting off contently into dreamland. They dampened their diapers intentionally out of habit, filled with comfort, warmth, and excitement at what their life together might bring.