Chapter 12 – Secrets and Backstories.
Mend felt something jump onto their bed and as they opened their eyes they saw Wonderheart giggling.
	“Good morning, Mend!” Mend took a moment to organize their thoughts as they replayed the event that had transpired and stretched. They ruffled Wonderheart’s hair.
	“Morning Wonderheart, you look to be in need of a change. Guess you still got sleep.”
	“Hehe…yeah…What about you?”
Mend blushed a bit realizing that they’d have to answer some questions, they moved and heard a squish sound and sighed.
	“Seems everything from last night put my body on edge, I’ll change myself after we get you taken care of.” Mend picked Wonderheart up and walked past Tenderheart’s room, Tenderheart himself was still sound asleep, since Wonderheart hadn’t woken him up yet. Mend Heart helped get Wonderheart changed and ready for the day. They went to the bathroom and got themselves changed and cleaned up before they both went to wake Tenderheart up.
	“UNCLE TENDERHEART!” Tenderheart shot up and fell out of bed, making Wonderheart and Mend fall over laughing, much to his chagrin. 
	“Alright ha-ha…Seems you both are ready for the day.”
	“Yeah, I got Wonderheart taken care of for you, Tenderheart.”
	“Thanks Mend.” Tenderheart patted Mend’s back. “Alright crew, let’s head to the Hall of Hearts. Seems dad sent a group chat last night. Oh, I’ll talk to him about adding you and Thief, Mend.”
	“Ah sounds good, thank you, Tenderheart.” Wonderheart took both Mend and Tenderheart’s paws as the three walked. Given the events last night, the trio were a bit closer as friends. Mend saw Thief and Swift coming out from the Watch Tower. Wonderheart squeezed Mend’s paw to tell them it was ok. Mend smiled and walked over to Thief.
	“Hey, Thief. I’m glad you got your badge back but—”
	“It’s fine, Mend. My plan was too risky and I risked my standing with the Bears and Cousins. Swift here gave me a stern lecture. Apparently Swift got a text from Bright about how badly lectured Champ got from Brave Heart.”
	“Thief and Champ being denied the first mission of the day as punishment seems good without it being overly mean. But Thief and I did get closer.” Swift put their arms around Thief’s arm with a small smirk. Mend chuckled and smacked Thief’s back as they joined Tenderheart and Wonderheart as they all walked to the Hall. Predictably, they were the last to arrive. Noble walked over to the group.
	“Thief, Mend, as part of recent events we’d like you both to sit with me, Brave Heart, True, and Tenderheart.”
	“Oh, the leader table. Seems you two are going to get grilled for answers. Wonderheart you know where to head.”
	“Mmhmm, see you later Uncle!” Wonderheart quickly headed over to the table where Tugs and Hugs were, sitting with them was Cheer, Share, and Lotsa.
	“Do those three always sit with the cubs?” Mend was quizzically examining how the group were chatting casually. 
	“Not always, there’s been times Funshine and Grumpy have been over there, times where a lot of the family have been chatting with the cubs. The groups sometimes break up to chat about news or something they were discussing earlier. The leader table is the only table with the same group every time. Come on you two.” Tenderheart led Thief and Mend as Noble followed. As the two sat down, they could feel the atmosphere from the four. The patriarch and matriarch of the Bears and Cousins, along with the leaders of the two groups. Brave gave a sigh before starting.
	“Thief, last night you pulled off a daring stunt to help Champ, Taking Hugs, Tugs, and Wonderheart with you to Void Heart’s castle was overly dangerous and borderline traitorous.”
	“I wouldn’t call it traitorous it wasn’t like I would have let Void Heart have them. Just my plan at the time required them due to they’re…Well in Wonderheart’s case her nighttime status, and with the other two it’s just age. Um…I could have probably thought the plan out more…but after hearing the two talk about the plan, I had to think fast and my plan was…What basically happened.” Thief rubbed his neck, a shade of pink on his gray cheeks. True spoke up to break the awkwardness
	“While, the plan went well, with your trust still shaky from yesterday’s early excursion, you need to be more careful young man. Now, with that said, Mend we have some questions. Specifically, about why you were wearing an adult diaper.” Now it was Mend’s turn to blush, the pink really showing on their viridian-colored cheeks. 
	“Um…So…ugh I’ll have to talk about my past. I dated someone a few years ago, I really loved them but…they eventually decided to shatter my heart. I felt like my heart would never heal and shut myself in for a few days. Eventually I came across a post about adults wearing diapers and well…I dug deeper. I learned a lot do it to help with trauma and to relax from stress and…I got a sample and tried it. It took a bit of time but eventually I started to recover. I hid the desire to my alone time. Eventually, I met Thief, and when he found me in one I was afraid he’d use it to harm me. He didn’t.” Mend looked over to Thief. 
	“Instead, I walked over to Mend and held them close. We talked while they were in my embrace, I helped them feel comfortable about wearing them with me around. When we started to travel we’d have sparse moments where Mend could wear one and relax. Of course, we didn’t count on Tenderheart learning or last night’s event.” True looked at Tenderheart.
	“How did you learn, Tenderheart dear?” 
	“Ah, well I noticed how their lip would quiver when they lied, they only did it to help Wonderheart agree to wearing one when they were staying the night. Wonderheart feels self-conscious about it around newcomers. I logically concluded, and successfully deduced, that Mend Heart was into diapers. However it only goes as far as the diaper, not children.”
	“I would hope so. I don’t think you’d allow anyone like that near Wonderheart.” Brave Heart leaned back in his chair fixing his posture. 
	“Alright, so with that said, Mend, do you have an idea of who to send on the next mission?” Noble Heart’s voice sounded a bit less energetic but it was obvious to see he was trying to keep from going into the Monotone state. 
	“Right, I think Grumpy, Lotsa, and Funshine for sure. You know what, Bright Heart was involved with the stunt by staying in the Watch Tower and allowing Champ to go, let’s have him join the group. Finally…” The group heard some cheers go up as Grams had once again hit the bullseye with her darts without issue. Hugs and Tugs being the loudest to cheer. “Grams, she’ll be the fifth member. Is this normal for her?”
	“Grams has always been a sharpshooter with throwing projectiles. If anything, she can probably show us all up easily…” Tenderheart sunk in his seat with the thought. Mend stood up.
	“Excuse me, I’m going to gather the five and discuss the mission in detail. Thief, Smoke bombs and throwing knives please?” Thief smirked and used his badge to bring out two sacks, one for smoke bomb, and one that was a strap to go around the arm or leg to hold throwing knives in. Mend smiled and headed over and gathered the five. They explained the mission and how to not overdo anything. Bright rubbed his neck in embarrassment when he was told why he was chosen. Grumpy pouted but with a bit of a sly look. Lotsa looked pumped along with Funshine. Grams beamed as she attached the throwing knives to her left leg. 
	“Now don’t think I’ll be needing to be watched, I may not be in my prime but I haven’t lost my moves yet. Let’s wrap up breakfast, dearies.” The others all agreed as everyone helped gather plates, washing and drying them as a team. Everyone started splitting off. Mend saw Thief walk over. 
	“I know we could ask Share, but I made an update to the bracelets. It’s a bit of an apology for my stunt last night. They track one another.”
	“Well dearie, while you were reckless with the cubs, I can see you’re trying your best to make up for it. While we’re on this mission, how about you play with them. Oh, Champ dear.”
	“Yes Grams?”
	“You’re stuck with Thief. That includes diaper duty.”
	“Diapers?! But Grams, I can’t do diapers! Bright and I were horrible at it.”
	“Wow, sounds like a skill issue Champ. Even I could change the twins with no issue. I did help at a daycare for six months before that town ran me out with unwarranted suspicions.” Thief shrugged and sighed. “Anyway, no problem, Grams. Fair reason. Let’s go Champ, you’ll be a diaper changing pro if I can help it.” Champ groaned as Thief led him to the cubs. Tenderheart and Mend headed to the Watch Tower, as Grams got on her cloud scooter, having Funshine join as her co-rider. Grumpy got in the cloud car as Lotsa and Bright joined him. The two vehicles roared to life as their drivers drove to Void Heart’s castle. Each one determined to avoid Void Heart as much as possible.