This will be the finale Episode. Then next monday will startup the next series. I plan to do some upgrades to the site this week which is the main reason there will be a delay. I also like keeping episodes postings in multiples of five so it stays orderly which is another perk of doing some upgrades. I will try to do a posting of one of the following: Dayton, Birthday shipment or Good Girlfriend so its not three days without content.
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“Where are we going?” Kelli asked, shifting slightly in Kayla’s hand as she peered out the car window. Her view was limited, more than it had ever been before. From her position, the towering buildings that stretched across the skyline were partially obscured, their shapes distorted by the angle. Car rides were different now. No longer could she simply turn her head and take in the world as it passed by. Instead, the window loomed too high, the view too restricted. If she really wanted to see anything, Kayla would have to hold her up to the glass like some child eager for a peek outside. The thought made her stomach twist.
Kayla, gripping the sleeve of her hoodie with one hand, stared out the opposite window, avoiding Kelli’s gaze. “We’re going to Sara’s,” she admitted, her voice quieter than usual. “I was gonna stay over.”
Kelli studied her sister, immediately noticing the tension in her posture, the way she curled into herself slightly as if bracing for an argument.
Kayla expected her to be mad.
And maybe a part of Kelli was. But another part of her, the part that had been working through the mess of emotions from earlier, wasn’t entirely surprised. Of course, Kayla had gone to Sara’s. It made sense.
Kayla didn’t want to fight, not really. She never had. She wasn’t like Kelli, wasn’t sharp-tongued, wasn’t someone who knew how to handle conflict head-on. When things got too heavy, Kayla pulled away. She retreated to where things made sense. And for her, as of late, had been Sara’s house.
The silence stretched between them, filled only by the hum of the car’s tires against the pavement. Kelli could feel the shift in Kayla’s breathing, the way her chest rose and fell unevenly, like she wanted to say something but didn’t know how.
Kelli wasn’t sure what to say either.
Kayla swallowed, her fingers twitching slightly against her hoodie. She thought back to earlier in the day when she had gone to Sara’s, back to the moment she had let herself fall onto Sara’s couch and just breathe.
The weight of everything had been suffocating.
She hadn’t even meant to talk about it, not really. She just wanted the company, to stay out of the house, to not think about the argument with Kelli. But the moment she sat down, the words had just come.
And Sara, true to form, hadn’t interrupted.
She hadn’t tried to fix anything.
She had just listened.
Kayla had talked about how impossible it felt sometimes, how no amount of training could have prepared her for being responsible for someone who used to be above her, someone who had always been the one to take care of her. She had vented about how exhausting it was, not just physically, but emotionally, to constantly be worrying, to constantly be the one making the choices, to constantly be thinking five steps ahead because one misstep could lead to Kelli getting hurt.
And worst of all, she had admitted the truth she had been too ashamed to say out loud before.
That sometimes, she wished she wasn’t Kelli’s guardian at all.
She had waited for Sara to judge her.
Waited for her to say something harsh, something about how Littles needed people who wanted to take care of them, about how Kelli deserved someone who wouldn’t second-guess themselves.
But Sara hadn’t said any of that.
She had just looked at Kayla with understanding in her sharp, knowing gaze and said, “Yeah. It’s hard.”
And that was it.
Not “You’re a bad guardian.”
Not “You should be grateful you have Kelli.”
Just simple acknowledgment.
That yes, it was hard.
That yes, it was overwhelming.
That Kayla’s feelings didn’t make her a bad sister.
Didn’t make her selfish.
Didn’t make her weak.
And then Sara had leaned back against the couch, Jordan nestled against her shoulder, and said, “You’re figuring it out. That’s enough.”
The words had stuck with Kayla in a way she hadn’t expected.
Because maybe that was enough.
Maybe she didn’t have to have everything figured out right now.
Maybe it was okay that she and Kelli were still struggling.
Maybe the fact that they were both trying, even if they were failing sometimes, was what mattered.
And maybe, just maybe, she didn’t have to be the perfect guardian. Maybe she just had to be there.
That was what had made her pick up the phone when Talisa tricked them both into the call.
At first, she had been annoyed, frustrated that Talisa had meddled, frustrated that she was being forced into something before she was ready. But then she had heard Kelli’s voice.
Not sharp.
Not angry.
Just tired.
And suddenly, Kayla had realized she wasn’t the only one struggling.
Kelli was, too.
Kelli, who had always been so sure of herself.
Kelli, who had always been the one guiding her.
Kelli, who now felt as lost as she did.
The call had been awkward at first, filled with stops and starts, unspoken frustrations bubbling beneath the surface. But eventually, words had come.
Kayla had admitted she was trying.
Kelli had admitted she was angry, but not at Kayla.
And somehow, that had been enough.
Not a full fix.
Not a perfect resolution.
But enough.
Kayla sighed, shaking herself from the memory. She could still feel Kelli sitting in her hand, warm and solid, the weight of her tiny frame grounding her.
“I know I should have come to get you sooner,” Kayla said suddenly, breaking the silence between them. “After our fight, I mean.”
Kelli looked up at her, her gaze unreadable.
Kayla hesitated, then added, “I didn’t go to Sara’s to run away from you. I just… I needed someone to talk to.”
Kelli let out a slow breath. “I get that,” she said after a moment. “I would have done the same thing.”
Kayla blinked. “You would?”
Kelli huffed a quiet laugh. “I did,” she pointed out. “I stayed with Talisa instead of asking her to take me back home. I guess we’re both bad at dealing with things like this.”
Kayla smiled slightly. “Maybe.”
Another pause.
Then Kelli shifted slightly, pressing a hand against Kayla’s palm, a silent reassurance.
“I don’t expect you to have all the answers, Kayla,” she said quietly. “I just… I don’t want to feel like I’m figuring this out alone.”
Kayla swallowed, the words hitting deeper than she expected.
“You’re not,” she said firmly. “We’re doing this together. Even if we suck at it sometimes.”
Kelli smirked. “Especially because we suck at it sometimes.”
Kayla laughed softly. The tension in her chest loosened, just a little.
The car slowed, the turn signal clicking rhythmically as Sara pulled into her driveway.
For a moment, neither Kayla nor Kelli moved.
They weren’t quite ready to get out.
They weren’t quite ready to face whatever came next.
But they were here.
THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Thanks
0) Will there be a post tomorrow?
1) “If she really wanted to see anything, Kayla would have to hold her up to the glass like some child eager for a peek outside. The thought made her stomach twist.” that would be an embarrassing thing to need.
2) “We’re going to Sara’s, I was gonna stay over.” Kelli gets to learn what a real Little bed feels like.
3.1) “Kelli studied her sister, immediately noticing the tension in her posture, the way she curled into herself slightly as if bracing for an argument.” that’s pretty much what she’s come to expect
3.2) “Kayla didn’t want to fight, not really. She never had.” poor Kayla
4) “She retreated to where things made sense. And for her, as of late, had been Sara’s house” Has Kayla been there often?
5) “And Sara, true to form, hadn’t interrupted. She hadn’t tried to fix anything. She had just listened” That does not sound like Sara, though her treatment of humans is a bit different then her true self.
6) “And worst of all, she had admitted the truth she had been too ashamed to say out loud before. That sometimes, she wished she wasn’t Kelli’s guardian at all” That would be a hard thing to admit, it sounds like she’s experiencing something close to post-natal depression.
7) “She had waited for Sara to judge her” Sara’s in no position to judge Kayla.
8.1) “Waited for her to say something harsh, something about how Littles needed people who wanted to take care of them” That would be a benefit, but not always.
8.2) “Kelli deserved someone who wouldn’t second-guess themselves” if you’re second-guessing yourself then it means you’re willing to admit plausible faults in your behaviour and fix them, it’s a good sign.
9) “But Sara hadn’t said any of that. She looked at Kayla with understanding in her sharp, knowing gaze and said, “Yeah. It’s hard.” Sara comforting Sara makes sense, she’s much better with Biggles than Littles.
10) “Not “You should be grateful you have Kelli.”” If anything Sara would tell Kelli she’s lucky to have Kayla.
11) “yes, it was hard. That yes, it was overwhelming. That Kayla’s feelings didn’t make her a bad sister. Didn’t make her selfish. Didn’t make her weak.” All things Kayla would need to hear,
12) “Maybe the fact that they were both trying, even if they were failing sometimes, was what mattered.” it is what mattered.
13.1) “And suddenly, Kayla had realized she wasn’t the only one struggling. Kelli was, too.” Probably something Kalya could have figured out, she was too distracted by her own side of issues to truly sympathise with Kelli
13.2) “Kelli, who now felt as lost as she did.” more lost, much more lost.
14) “Kayla had admitted she was trying. Kelli had admitted she was angry, but not at Kayla” both things that needed to be said.
15) “I didn’t go to Sara’s to run away from you. I just… I needed someone to talk to.” Yes, she did, and talking to Sara wasn’t the plan.
16) “I get that, I would have done the same thing.” The Wallace sisters are a bit alike.
17) “I stayed with Talisa instead of asking her to take me back home. I guess we’re both bad at dealing with things like this.” I just assumed Kelli didn;t realise that was an option.
18) “I don’t expect you to have all the answers, Kayla, I just… I don’t want to feel like I’m figuring this out alone.” Very fair want from Kelli.
19) “We’re doing this together. Even if we suck at it sometimes.” – “Especially because we suck at it sometimes.” If I had friends that’d be our motto.
20) “For a moment, neither Kayla nor Kelli moved. They weren’t quite ready to get out. They weren’t quite ready to face whatever came next.” I’d also have that trepidation about Sara’s home.
21) Great end to this series (though, to be honest, the last three chapters all felt like great endings).
19) we’re friends 🙂
Thanks C M.
0) unsure which day will be a post. As I will need write and render it.
1) Something tells me Kelli wouldn’t be asking for the likes of that. I feel like she has a bit to much pride for that.
2) Well she probably have had a little bed while she was waiting for Kayla and the facility. Granted probably not hte highest of quality probably just a standard bed.
3) Thats fair although Kelli could expect the same. Kayla isn’t innocent in this.
3.2) No one likes fighting especially with family. Its understandable why she would want to avoid it.
4) Kayla hangs out with Sara quite a bit. Especailly as Sara has taken her under her wing. Its not abnormal for Kayla to be at Sara’s if shes not at home gaming.
5) Sara treats other people pretty well. But littles like Jordan while she does love and care about Jordan. Jordan is her pet. So things would be a bit different then they would be with another person. There aren’t many people Sara has been mean to beyond bullies like Charity. .
6) It also is intended to play on the fact she didn’t desire a little. She isn’t anti-little or anything. Just all the extra stuff you have to do never appealed to her. Kind of like how someone may like dogs but they don’t necessarily want a pet dog as you have vet, food, cleaning. shots. etc.
7) To be fair, Sara wasn’t judging her though. Kayla was just expecting judgement as she is used to being bullied. But Sara is changing that mindset in her slowly.
8) It still comes down to who the person is. Bad people generally make for bad guardians and vice versa.
8.2) I would tend to agree. 2nd guessing yourself can be good to a point.
9) Sara is a pretty good people person and generally considerate to most people. ALthough where you and Sara go off track is Sara doesn’t think of littles as people and you do. So while your reservations i think aren’t as accurate when it comes to how she would interact with kayla.
10) That would be more likely. I could see that being said. Maybe not in those words but she would highlight the things Kayla does for Kelli.
11) It is. Sara giving Kayla reassurance would be a big boon for Kayla. A major contribution on why she was in a good headspace when Talisa did what she did.
12) that is the crux of it.
13) sometimes you get to much in your own head to see the forest from the trees.
13.2) It would take a long time to refind or reinvent yourself. As so much of what who Kelli was is lost and Kayla not being as social doesn’t help. Jordan wasn’t all that social before so he doesn’t have that same loss of identity in the way Kelli would
14) Its not unexpected that she would talk to Sara. She only has so many people she could discuss it with.
15) I don’t think Kayla thought that far ahead as she was upset and venting to carter and didn’t think much beyond that. So when Sara and Ellie came. She just went that way.
16)must be hereditary.
17) That was partly Kelli just kind of throwing Kayla a bone. It would have been in convenient for Talisa to take Kelli home. Its not even near on her way being she had to take a subway to get her home and could just skatebaord to that park from Kayla’s.
18) Its a reasonable ask that’s for sure.
19) its not a bad motto.
20) Lol going into Sara’s house was not wh twas causing trepidation for them. I can see why you would though. IT would be like a priest walking in some kind of satanic room.
21) That is a fair assessment. TH least few chapters could have all been endings. Wanted to give people something a bit uplifting after the normal fair. which can be viewed as not as positive.
1) Plus, it wouldn’t do her limited vision that much good.
2) That makes sense.
3.2) Some people like fighting, they are collectively known as the worst.
4) I see, so Kelli’s been there too?
5) To me they are both people, and Sara’s treatment of Jordan is just as much how she treats people as her treatment of Ashley or Ellie.
6) It does so well, I’m like that with pets, but my siblings have dogs I’d take in in a heartbeat.
7) She didn’t, even seemed to genuinely help Kayla
8.1) My point exactly
8.2) Up until it becomes indecision.
9) That sounds 100% correct.
10) She’d totally mention it to Kelli.
11) Broken clocks I guess.
13.2) Kelli’s probably never going to be as she was before, never be as happy again.
14) And Sara’s the number 1 guardian, she’s got some credibility.
15) Improvise, adapt, overcome
17) She was showing Kindness even when frustrated.
20) I know, I was looking, Sara’s satanic house of Little oppression is not a place I’d want to go, as a human or a little.
Lethal, you got me to go back and read the early chapters on Sara and now I totally agree with with Sara’s oppressive racist attitude with littles and finding glee in being a giant to Jordan to throw around and possibly hurt a male adult now within her power. I think she has gotten more mellow with Chole’s influence so I hope that relationship stays strong so she can hopefully see the light and treat littles as people even though that are just humanoid’s not human anymore.
4) Kelli has been to Sara’s house a few times with Kayla.
5) That is understandable view to have. I feel like its how most readers would view things at least that is how I assume they would.
However it does create a difference philosophically on how Sara and the reader are viewing a given situation. As based on society of Sara’s world she isn’t wrong even if based on the rules and ideals of our society she would be vilified for having that stance. It’s a cultural difference between the world you could say.
13.2) I would tend to agree.
14) Sara has a decent amount of sway with the likes of Kayla.
20) Lol Sara’s satantic house of little oppression. That one got me.
5) I get that it’s a cultural difference, and it’s a difference the real world has had too, any slave-trading culture has a similar philosophy to Sara and the government in this world. Slavery wasn’t wrong for them even if they’re vilified now by us.
We know America had slavery because Dani mentions it, meaning this America already got rid of slavery once and is welcoming it back with open arms, the philosophy isn’t just different, it’s reverting.
I’ll admit, my first impression of her wasn’t her best moment, and she’s softened a bit since I started reading. But she’s yet to redeem herself for what she’s done, additional to the points I made above.
1) This is a example of Kelli needing to except she is a little and will need to ask for help from Kayla all the time and ask nicely with respect for Kayla because Kelli is smaller then a little kid and shouldn’t be embarrassed about asking for help because she is living in a giant world and its not set up for people as small as her. Until till she excepts this she will be unhappy.
2) I will be good for Kayla to get to learn more about how she can set Kelli up at home and how to walk with being smooth for a little. It will be good for Kelli to get attention for Jordan and for her being taller then someone and be able to talk about what’s going on with her with Jordan so hopefully Jordan can chill her out and have her except her position as a little and what goes with it.
3) This is something Kelli has said sorry for but needs to say sorry again and promise she will work with Kayla and be more thankful of her giant younger sister before Sara convinces her to be a bully with her little sister and go back on her promise and maker her a pet sister.
4) I hope she is getting healthy advice that doesn’t have making littles pets.
5) Sounds like giant Sara throws her size around but when she is around normal people she is understanding and a listener lol.
6) I think she could ask Sara of a way to talk to Kelli and tell her that her constant resistance to letting Kayla try to take care of her and make her part of her life makes it hard for her to want to be her Guardian. I think that would put Kelli on notice that she needs work more with and be more thankful to Kayla.
7) Sara has made a lot of mistakes in the first part of her story with being very horrified ruff with Jordan that still surprises me that he never got hurt with being dropped all the time for higher heights.
8) Well having a guardian that excepts to be a good to their little is more important because of Married couples and other family’s members stepping up. I am curious how the mother of Tamara treats her little husband and if they are able to make it work or if she treats him like a pet or gave him up to the government.
9) I’m hoping Sara said what she said because I’m hoping she has been getting better at treating littles better because of Chole’s influence.
10) I think she should tell her they are both lucky to have each other and be able to have a sister relationships closer then any other sisters.
11) Its not bad feeling like that but its bad not asking from help from her parents or someone else till she can get on her feet because Kelli is the one that takes the hit whiles she is figuring things out alone.
12) Kayla and Kelli are both at fault for not working together and I am glad they said they were sorry and work together in the future.
13) Very much agree with you, Kayla no knowing Kelli was in a lot more danger and depressed from their new roles because she lost everything including her humanity and Kayla just has to look after her little older sister but really hasn’t lost anything, you could even say she gained a lot having her little sister.
14) Agreed .
15) dumping her little sister with a untrained Talisa and going over to Sara’s without saying when she was going to pick her up is the definition on running away like a immature person.
16) Its important that Kayla and Kelli understand they are so much alike and can be a great team.
17) I agree, I don’t remember Kelli being given a option.
18) I agree because Kelli cant figure it out alone because the government wont let her do anything without her sister.
19) That is a great moto for them to have to work through their lifelong team together.
20) I agree, not knowing how Sara is going to advise on their relationship.
21) I wouldn’t say they were a great ending, I think they are good set up’s for a large chapter of them talking out all their feelings and setting up a plan that will last them a lifetime. That would be and ending and make it so Kayla and Kelli can show up anytime in Smallara and other chapters because they would be a known team. Right now they are still a team that you are not sure how they are going to be.
1) Acceptance would be good on Kelli’s part but that is also a difficult step for people when it involves great change.
2) talking it out generally helps everyone involved.
3) I doubt Sara would convince Kayla to be bully as Sara isn’t really a bully by nature. Its a bit of a perspective thing. It comes down to how you view littles as the reader. As Sara generally treats littles as a lesser species than humans as that’s how they are viewed by society at large and what is propagated.
However, outside of people who are generally mean to her she hasn’t gone out of her way to bully anyone. Even then she isn’t seeking them out. She wasn’t looking for Tamara or Charity. They just happened upon her.
5) This kind of goes back to point three. She does think of littles as pets. She refers to Jordan as a pet person. Something between a human and a traditional animal. From her viewpoint she isn’t really bullying them. She just treating them as they are. There natural station in life if you will
11) I don’t know if you can blame that on Kelli. As while those are things you want for Kelli. Kelli herself hasn’t actually asked for those yet or actually wants them like a separate home.
So i don’t know if its fair to hold that against Kayla when it hasn’t really been a request.
15) I do think this can also be a bit of a perspective situation. As it can also be a maturity to remove yourself from situation before something is said or done that you can’t take back or someone get hurts.
Not everyone has that maturity. She left her sister with someone she can trust. You can’t really say in one breath Sara is wrong for not treating JOrdan as an equal. then in the next breath argue Kayla is wrong for leaving Kelli with Talisa as she isn’t trained. As that infers that a inequality. As Kelli is an adult.
It is a great finale to a wonderful series Kayla and Kelli agreeing to figure stuff out together is a huge step forward for the both of them.
Good luck with the upgrades to the site, I’m also looking forward to more Dayton: JGC and the Birthday Shipment.
Thanks, it was a big moment for Kayla and Kelli specifically.
Hopefully things go good. It’s pretty simple but you never know.
hopefully we can see Sara and Jordan and Kayla and Kelli boarding together , starting a new chapter of Kayla and Kelli enjoying doing stuff together.
Amazing as always! I love the both of them, ooooo she’s sleeping with jordy tonight!!! Bow chicka wow wow😝
Thanks.
Well its left unsaid what the sleeping arrangements were
Love them both lol they’re so good for each other. It’s definetly tougher for siblings where one’s a little and the other is the guardian, especially with a change in power dynamic, but it’s also got way, way more upside to be harmonious. I’d like to see Nicole and her sister at some point, too. maybe not to the extent of Kayla and Kelli, but at least to a point pre-Junior Guardian where Dayton does\says something to piss Nicole off regarding her sister and she snaps at her and shocks dayton. Both for Drama and for showing that while Nicole is struggling similar to Kayla, she still is watching over her sister and not letting people push her around.
great ending. Happy we got the open dialogue between the two. and Sara just listening and being supportive made me feel better, cause she definitely has some sway over Kayla that could have been problematic
At some point Nicole and her sister will be shown. I don’t think it would be a pre-junior guardian though. As the junior guardian is, Dayton’s story arc where you get to see her life and her experiences during and after.
So if Nicole appears with her sister it would be after Dayton’s classes.
I’m glad you enjoyed the ending. Sara does have sway with Kayla i agree. But Sara treated Kayla as a friend.
So is the Smallara story with Sarah and Jordan coming back soon? Been very hopeful for an update. 🙏🙏🙏
You will probably be happy next week then
Awesome! Looking forward to it. Also the website looks very good!
The upgraded site will take some getting used to.
It’s a big change. I do like there is now a dark mode toggle at the top. The original layout and scheme was haphazardly put together with the whole deviantart shennigans.
Could there be a way to close the recent comments section on the right? It makes all of the text smaller, and I want to story to be the main thing when I am reading.
Good feedback. I eliminated the recent comments section on the story pages it shouldn’t appear. But should show up on all non story pages.
So much better. I can see the picture better too!
thats good. it was good feedback. its appreciated