Chapter 105: baby tyler forever

Jordan groggily rubbed his eyes as he sat up, the morning light filtering through the window. He blinked a few times, trying to process the scene before him.

Jake, Alex, and Tyler were all in their oversized playpen, giggling and babbling as they played with various plushies and toys. Meanwhile, Noah and Evan sat cross-legged on the floor, completely absorbed in the new gaming system they had been raving about all week.

From the kitchen, he could hear the faint sounds of Mrs. Faulkner and Miss Harper chatting over coffee, their laughter and easy conversation filling the air.

"Morning, Daddy!" Tyler's voice chirped happily, snapping Jordan’s attention back to the playpen.

Jordan froze. **Daddy?**

He studied Tyler, noticing the way he clutched his stuffed lion close to his chest, his lips instinctively wrapping around his thumb as he rocked slightly. His eyes held a dreamy, faraway look—one Jordan had only seen in moments when Tyler was feeling especially little.

"Ty, buddy…" Jordan started cautiously, shifting to the edge of the bed. "You doing okay?"

Tyler giggled and lifted his arms, the universal sign for wanting to be picked up. "Up, Daddy!" he whined, kicking his feet in impatience.

Jordan hesitated. Tyler had always leaned into his little side, but this? This was full **baby brain** mode. There was no doubt about it now.

With a sigh, Jordan stood and stepped over to the playpen, lifting Tyler into his arms. Tyler immediately snuggled into him, his face nuzzling Jordan’s shoulder as he let out a happy hum.

"You’re really in it today, huh?" Jordan murmured, bouncing him slightly.

Tyler just yawned in response, tucking himself even closer.

From the kitchen, Mrs. Faulkner glanced over and smirked. "Looks like someone woke up extra little today," she commented, taking a sip of her coffee.

Miss Harper chuckled. "Guess that means you're on full-time Daddy duty today, Jordy."

Jordan groaned, but deep down, he didn’t really mind. Looking down at Tyler’s content expression, he sighed in resignation.

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered. "I got this."

Little did he know, the day was just getting started.

Jordan felt Tyler shift slightly in his lap, then heard the unmistakable sound of a diaper filling up. Tyler giggled, wiggling a bit as he finished, clearly unbothered by what had just happened.

Jordan groaned, rubbing his temple. "Ty, did you just—?"

Tyler let out another giggle, snuggling closer. "Uh-huh! All done, Daddy!" he announced proudly, kicking his legs happily.

Mrs. Faulkner, overhearing from the kitchen, smirked over her coffee. "Well, Daddy Jordan, looks like you’ve got your first diaper change of the day."

Miss Harper chuckled. "Better get used to it. Something tells me he's gonna be like this all day."

Jordan sighed dramatically but couldn’t help the small smile forming. "You’re lucky you're cute, kid," he muttered, standing up with Tyler still clinging to him.

Tyler just giggled again, clearly loving every second of it.

Jordan sighed as he finished taping up a fresh diaper on Tyler, making sure it was snug but comfortable. He grabbed the rash cream and powder, making sure Tyler was fully taken care of before patting his tummy.

“There, all clean, kiddo.”

Tyler beamed up at him. “I wanna wear a onesie, Daddy Jordy!” he said excitedly, kicking his legs.

Jordan shook his head with a small chuckle. “Alright, alright, let’s find you one.” He walked over to the dresser, rummaging through the neatly folded clothes until he found a soft blue onesie with little stars on it.

“This one good?” he asked, holding it up.

Tyler clapped his hands. “Yes! That one!”

Jordan helped him into the onesie, snapping it at the bottom before scooping him up again. Tyler snuggled against Jordan’s chest with a happy sigh.

Mrs. Faulkner walked by and smirked. “You’re a natural, Jordan.”

Jordan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I think he’s got me wrapped around his little finger.”

Tyler just grinned. “Love you, Daddy Jordy!”

Jordan sighed but smiled. “Love you too, little guy.”

Jordan puts Tyler back with the other boys in their playpen.

Jordan sat down at the kitchen table with a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. Mrs. Faulkner and Miss Harper glanced at each other before looking at him.

“You alright, sweetheart?” Mrs. Faulkner asked, setting down her coffee.

Jordan exhaled slowly. “Yeah, it’s just… Tyler.” He glanced toward the playpen, where Tyler was happily babbling with Alex and Jake, completely in his little world. “I love taking care of him—I really do—but it feels like he’s slipping further into this baby mindset every time. It lasts longer, and it’s getting harder to bring him back.”

Mrs. Faulkner nodded thoughtfully. “You’ve noticed it too, huh?”

Miss Harper leaned forward. “It’s not necessarily a bad thing if it’s what makes him happy, but I get why you’re worried. You don’t want to lose the Tyler you grew up with.”

Jordan ran a hand through his hair. “Exactly. I don’t want to take this away from him, but I also don’t want him to lose himself in it completely.”

Mrs. Faulkner reached over and patted his hand. “You’re a good boy, Jordan. You care about him, and that’s what matters most. Maybe we just need to help him find balance.”

Jordan nodded slowly. “Yeah… I just hope I can.”

Miss Harper smiled. “You will. He trusts you more than anyone.”

Jordan glanced back at the playpen, watching Tyler giggle as he hugged his stuffed animal. He knew he’d do whatever it took to make sure Tyler was happy—without losing himself in the process.

Jordan says do you think maybe it would be a good idea to get him a brain scan?

Mrs. Faulkner and Miss Harper exchanged a glance at Jordan’s question. Mrs. Faulkner took a thoughtful sip of her coffee before answering.

“That’s not a bad idea, sweetheart,” she said gently. “If you’re really concerned, it wouldn’t hurt to rule out anything medical.”

Miss Harper nodded. “I mean, it could just be that this is how he’s wired—something comforting that he’s leaning into more—but if there’s even a small chance something else is going on, a doctor could help.”

Jordan exhaled, looking back toward the playpen. Tyler was happily sucking his thumb, completely at ease. “I don’t want to make him feel like something’s wrong with him,” he admitted. “I just… I need to know if this is just a part of who he is or if something’s changing in his brain.”

Mrs. Faulkner reached over and squeezed his hand. “We’ll support whatever you decide. If you want to look into it, we’ll figure it out together.”

Jordan nodded slowly. “Yeah… I think I’ll talk to him about it first. I don’t want him to feel like I’m forcing anything.”

Miss Harper smiled. “That’s why you’re the best person to look out for him.”

Jordan glanced at Tyler again, watching the way he giggled with his brothers. He knew this conversation wouldn’t be easy, but he had to make sure Tyler was okay.

Jordan picked Tyler back up and set him on his lap and said tyler can you understand me, I'm worried about you buddy I want to get you checked out, you've been slipping more and more lately but I way you to know I love you either way.

Tyler blinked up at Jordan, his thumb still in his mouth as he processed the words. Slowly, he pulled it out, tilting his head in thought.

“You… you wanna take me to a doctor?” he asked softly.

Jordan nodded, keeping his voice gentle. “Yeah, buddy. Just to make sure everything’s okay. You’ve been slipping into baby mode more and more, and I just want to be sure nothing else is going on.”

Tyler’s lower lip wobbled slightly, and for a moment, Jordan worried he’d upset him. But then Tyler snuggled closer, resting his head against Jordan’s chest.

“You still love me, even if I’m more like this?” Tyler asked, his voice small.

Jordan kissed the top of his head. “Of course I do, Tyler. No matter what.”

Tyler was quiet for a long moment before nodding. “Okay, Daddy Jordy. If you think it’s a good idea, I trust you.”

Jordan let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Thank you, buddy. We’ll take it one step at a time.”

Tyler gave a soft yawn, his body relaxing completely in Jordan’s arms. “Okay… can I still wear my onesie?”

Jordan chuckled. “Of course, little man.”

As Tyler drifted off to sleep, Jordan exchanged a look with Mrs. Faulkner and Miss Harper. He’d gotten Tyler’s approval—but now came the hard part of actually setting up the appointment and figuring out what, if anything, was happening inside his best friend’s mind.

Mrs. Faulkner wasted no time. As soon as Jordan voiced his concerns, she pulled out her phone and started making calls. Within minutes, she had arranged for an emergency brain scan at the local hospital.

“They can see him this afternoon,” she told Jordan. “I pulled a few strings. We’ll get some answers soon.”

Jordan let out a relieved sigh. “Thank you, Mrs. Faulkner.”

She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “We take care of our own, Jordan. You’re doing the right thing.”

Jordan looked down at Tyler, still curled up in his lap, sucking his thumb. He looked so peaceful, but Jordan couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper was going on.

Miss Harper handed him a diaper bag. “I packed everything you might need. Snacks, spare clothes, his favorite stuffed animal—just in case.”

Jordan nodded, grateful for their help. “I just hope we can get some answers.”

Mrs. Faulkner gave him a firm nod. “We will.”

With that, Jordan gently woke Tyler, dressed him in his favorite onesie, and got him ready for the trip to the hospital. It was time to find out what was really going on.

Mrs faulkner took Jordan and Tyler to the hospital while Miss Harper watched the other boys, after arriving at the hospital they sign in,  30 minutes go by and a nurse comes out and calls them in the back, Tyler gets put in the machine but ask Jordan to hold his hand.

Jordan sat beside the machine, gripping Tyler’s hand tightly as the scan began. The machine hummed softly, its rhythmic sounds filling the quiet room. Tyler squeezed Jordan’s hand every so often, his eyes darting around nervously.

“It’s okay, buddy,” Jordan reassured him. “I’m right here.”

Mrs. Faulkner stood nearby, watching with a protective gaze. She had been through enough medical situations to know that waiting was always the hardest part.

The scan lasted about twenty minutes. When it was over, the technician helped Tyler sit up and handed him a juice box.

“You did great, kiddo,” the tech said with a smile. “The doctor will be in soon to go over everything.”

Jordan lifted Tyler onto his lap, rubbing his back soothingly. “See? Easy peasy.”

Tyler nodded sleepily, still sucking on his juice box.

About fifteen minutes later, a doctor entered the room, holding a folder with Tyler’s results. He took a seat and looked at both Jordan and Mrs. Faulkner with a calm but serious expression.

“We’ve reviewed Tyler’s scans,” the doctor began. “And we did notice something….”

Jordan felt his breath hitch, his grip tightening around Tyler as the doctor’s words sank in. Mrs. Faulkner placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, her face unreadable but eyes filled with quiet sorrow.

Tyler, still sucking on his juice box, looked between them, completely unaware of the weight of the conversation. “Daddy Jordy, why you sad?” he asked, tilting his head.

Jordan swallowed the lump in his throat, forcing himself to keep his voice steady. “I’m not sad, buddy. Just listening to the doctor.”

The doctor sighed, turning back to the scans. “His regression has been progressive, but based on these results, by the end of today, his cognitive function will match that of a permanent infant state. He won’t recognize memories, he won’t be able to make decisions like he used to, and—”

Jordan cut him off. “But he’ll still be Tyler, right? I mean, he won’t just… disappear?”

The doctor gave a small, sympathetic nod. “In a sense, yes. He’ll still be here physically, and his personality will remain intact, but his ability to process memories, learn new things, or even fully understand what’s happening will fade. He will need full-time care, likely for the rest of his life.”

Jordan’s heart pounded. He held Tyler tighter, stroking his hair. “But he’ll be happy?”

The doctor offered a small smile. “Yes. From what I can see, his mind is adapting in a way that won’t cause distress. He won’t be aware of what’s happening to him, so there won’t be fear. He’ll just… be.”

Tyler yawned and nuzzled into Jordan’s chest. “Sleepy,” he mumbled, unaware that the world he once knew was slipping away.

Jordan’s eyes burned with unshed tears, and Mrs. Faulkner gave his shoulder a squeeze. “We’ll figure this out,” she said softly. “Together.”

Jordan nodded, pressing a kiss to Tyler’s hair. “Yeah, together.”

They go home Tyler sleeping resting in the car Jordan picks him up and carries him up to his crib, Jordan comes back down to the living room miss harper sees Jordan looking sad.

Miss Harper set down her tea and patted the spot next to her on the couch. "Come sit, Jordan," she said gently.

Jordan hesitated for a moment before sighing and dropping onto the couch beside her. His shoulders were slumped, his hands clasped tightly together. Mrs. Faulkner walked in from the kitchen, drying her hands on a dish towel, and sat across from them, waiting patiently.

Miss Harper spoke first. "How bad is it?"

Jordan swallowed hard. "The doctor said… by the end of today, the Tyler we knew will be gone." His voice wavered, and he clenched his jaw to keep his emotions in check. "He won’t remember things like he used to. He won’t be able to make choices. He’s just… slipping away."

Miss Harper’s eyes softened with understanding. "But he’ll still be happy?"

Jordan nodded slowly. "Yeah. He won’t know what’s happening, so he won’t be scared. He’ll just… be a baby, permanently."

Mrs. Faulkner sighed, placing a comforting hand on his knee. "That’s a lot to take in."

Jordan ran a hand through his hair, exhaling shakily. "I know. And I’ll take care of him—I want to. I just… I don’t know how to prepare for it."

Miss Harper gave him a small smile. "You’ve already been taking care of him, Jordan. This just means you’ll keep doing what you’ve been doing—loving him, protecting him, making sure he’s comfortable and safe. You’re not alone in this, okay?"

Jordan closed his eyes briefly before nodding. "Okay."

Mrs. Faulkner stood up. "Why don’t you get some rest? You’ve had a long day."

Jordan shook his head. "No, I want to be with Tyler when he wakes up."

Miss Harper smiled softly. "Then let’s make sure he wakes up to love and comfort. That’s all we can do now."

Jordan took a deep breath, standing up. "Yeah. That’s all that matters."

With that, he made his way back upstairs to check on Tyler, bracing himself for the moment when everything would change.

Jake, Alex, Evan, Noah all hug Jordan saying Tyler aways seemed happier when he went baby mode so at least now he will always be happy.

Jordan felt a lump in his throat as he hugged the boys back, their support meaning more than words could express. He looked over at Tyler, who was now awake in his crib, rubbing his eyes with his teen fists.

"Uppies, Daddy Jordy," Tyler mumbled sleepily, reaching out.

Jordan's heart ached and warmed at the same time. Even though things would never be the same, at least Tyler would always be safe, loved, and happy. He walked over, gently lifting Tyler into his arms.

"Of course, buddy," he said, holding him close.

Tyler snuggled into Jordan’s chest, letting out a content sigh as his thumb found its way to his mouth.

Jake, Alex, Evan, and Noah smiled at the sight. Alex spoke up. "See? He’s happy. And as long as he’s happy, that’s what matters, right?"

Jordan nodded, pressing a kiss to Tyler’s soft hair. "Yeah… that’s what matters."

Mrs. Faulkner and Miss Harper watched from the doorway, exchanging a knowing look. This family—unconventional as it was—would be just fine. Tyler had all the love and care he needed, and Jordan had the support of everyone around him.

No matter what happened next, they would face it together.