Chapter 1: Warm Reunion

Martin Voss adjusted the cuffs of his shirt, the fabric slightly looser than it had been a month ago. Shrinkism was unpredictable, relentless, but he had made his peace with it. At just over two feet tall, life had certainly become more complicated, but he had never let it stop him. And today, of all days, he wouldn’t let it dampen his excitement. Daphne Keaton was coming. A few weeks ago, Daphne had called him asking for a massive favor. She needed somewhere for her two daughters to live, and Martin had offered to take them in.

He barely had time to smooth his shirt before the doorbell rang. A deep, melodic chime echoed through the house, and Martin took a breath. He moved to the door, grasped the oversized handle with both hands, and pulled.

The sight of her took his breath away.

Daphne stood on the doorstep, six feet and four inches of her, a vision in a tailored ivory pantsuit that clung to her curves like a second skin. Her hair, a cascade of brown waves, framed a face beautiful enough to grace the covers of Forbes and Vogue in equal measure.. Her blue eyes, alight with warmth, locked onto his, and in an instant, the years melted away. She was just as breathtaking as the last time he had seen her—perhaps even more so.

“Martin,” she breathed, stepping forward, her expression radiant.

Before he could utter a word, she swooped down, arms wrapping around him. The embrace was powerful, crushing, and for a moment, he could hardly breathe. Her strength was immense, her arms corded with muscle as she lifted him as effortlessly as if he were a child. She pressed him against her chest, squeezing tightly, her warmth engulfing him entirely.

“Daphne!” he gasped, caught somewhere between amusement and exhilaration. “I can’t—breathe—”

She didn’t let go. Instead, she cradled him closer, one hand running through his hair as she nuzzled into his neck. “God, Martin, I missed you so much,” she murmured. She rocked him slightly, her fingers pressing into his back, making him hyper-aware of how much stronger she was. He could feel the barely restrained power in her embrace, her body so much larger and stronger than his.

Then, before he could say another word, she kissed him. Deeply, hungrily, as if making up for lost time. Her lips consumed his, overwhelming in their sheer size and fervor. Her mouth was so much bigger than his that it felt as if she was devouring his lower face, her soft yet firm lips pressing against him with a desperate intensity. He barely had time to gasp before he felt her tongue slip into his mouth, warm, insistent, exploring him as if she were claiming him completely.

A low, contented sound vibrated from her throat as she deepened the kiss. Every part of her seemed to press against him, her sheer size and strength making him feel utterly enveloped in her embrace. For Daphne, it was as if years of longing had finally come to a head, and now, having him in her arms again, she wasn’t going to let him go. Kissing him felt so right, so perfect, as if the universe had finally given her what she had been missing. His smaller frame, the way he yielded to her, only made her desire for him grow.

When she finally pulled away, her hands lingered on his waist, her fingers tracing the fabric of his shirt. Her breath was heavy, her eyes dark with an emotion that hadn’t dimmed over the years. “God, I missed you,” she murmured, her voice husky. “You’re even more handsome than I remember.”

He chuckled, breathless. “And you’re just as dramatic as ever.”

She grinned, unrepentant. “I can’t help it. You’re adorable.”

She held him in front of her now, shifting him effortlessly in her grasp. Her hands, so large and powerful compared to his slight frame, moved over him with reverence. One hand gently brushed down his back, the other cupped his head entirely, her fingers easily encircling his skull. She marveled at how small he was in her grasp, how her fingers could nearly meet when wrapped around his waist. The sheer difference in their size sent a thrill through her, making her squeeze him just a little tighter, just to feel his tiny body press against her again.

“You’re so little,” she murmured with delight, her fingers petting his hair, tracing his cheek, appreciating every inch of him. “I could just hold you forever.”

Martin swallowed, aware of just how completely she enveloped him. Her thumb stroked over his chest, easily spanning across it, as if testing how fragile he was beneath her. Yet there was no malice in her touch—only adoration. Her hands were strong, yet they held him with such care, as if he were something precious to be cherished. She could probably lift him with just one hand if she wanted to, and the thought made his heart race.

She sighed contentedly, nuzzling her cheek against his. “You fit so perfectly in my arms. I love how small you are.”

His breath hitched as she pressed another lingering kiss to his forehead, her lips covering most of his upper face. The sensation sent a shiver down his spine. He had never felt so completely encompassed by another person before, and yet, in her arms, he felt safe.

A sudden chorus of impatient sighs made her step aside, revealing the two young women standing behind her.

Martin took them in—tall, poised, and undeniably Daphne’s daughters. Diana, on the left, had striking blue and purple hair, and wore a tight white top, her bare arms showcasing biceps that rivaled professional athletes. Her twin, Linnea, had sleek black hair and a sculpted frame that revealed washboard abs beneath her fitted shirt. They were eighteen, but already they carried themselves with confidence and strength that made it clear they were used to physical training and discipline.

“This is Diana,” Daphne said, gesturing to the young woman on the left. “And this is Linnea.”

Diana smiled politely. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Martin.”

Linnea, the more expressive of the two, smirked. “Mom’s been talking about you nonstop. We were starting to think you were some kind of superhero.”

Martin laughed. “I assure you, I’m not.”

Daphne gave him a knowing look. “Oh, I don’t know about that.”

Behind her, one of the twins snorted.

“Mom. You’re traumatizing the man.”

Daphne lowered Martin gently to the floor, though her fingertips lingered on his shoulder. He swayed, steadying himself against the doorframe.

He cleared his throat, gesturing inside. “Well, come in, all of you. Make yourselves at home.”

As the towering trio stepped over the threshold, Martin couldn’t help but marvel at how surreal it all felt. He had spent years adjusting to his new reality, to being smaller in a world built for giants. And yet, standing beside Daphne—standing beside all of them—he felt anything but small.