Disclaimer n the first chapter.
Walt scooped up Jim, kissing the todler on the cheek. Barbara had already left for her classes and Draal had already gone to Trollmarket. Walt just had to drop Jim off across the street at Mrs. Domzaski's before he, too, could head to the Hero's Forge.
"Are you ready to meet Nana's grandson, Young Atlas?"He asked his son.
"Yeah!" The two-year-old cheered, "Yeah, Dada!"
Dada. Walt never tired of hearing Jim say that simple word.
Walt grinned and opened the door,"Well, then, let's go!"
Jim wrapped his arms around his father's neck and the two set out across the street. Only a moment after Walt nocked did the old woman, with a rather chubby todler on her own hip, answer the door.
"Ah! There you are, Walt!" She said in her shrill voice," Toby Pie has been so exited to meet Jimmy. Can you say 'Hi' to Walt and Jimmy, Toby Pie?"
"Hi," the todler gurgled with a large, gap-toothed grin.
"Hi!" Jim replied with a matching grin.
Walt set Jim on the floor and knelt in front of him.
"Alright, Young Atlas," He said,"Dada will be back to get you in a few hours. You have fun with Toby and behave for Nana, understood?"
"Yes, Dada," Jim hugged his father as if he were leaving forever.
Walt chuckled and kissed Jim's forehead one last time, freezing when his lips touched smooth, cold, stone rather than soft, warm, flesh. Walt looked down at the whelp in his arms.
"'M sorry, Dada," Jim whimpered,"I tried not to."
Walt looked up at Nana and Toby fearfully. He and Barbara had worked very hard to keep this a secret.
"Nana! Nana!" Toby squealed, "He like me!"
To Walt's surprise, the red-haired boy changed much like his own just had! He had four arms, sky blue skin, sea-foam green hair, and black and blue eyes. Walt's jaw dropped and Nana's eyes went wide.
"I'll keep your secret if you keep mine?" The old woman offered.
Walt nodded,"Agreed. Shall we discuss this more with Barbara. Over tea when we come to pick Jim up?"
"Agreed," Nana nodded.
Nana set her grandson on the floor with Jim and bid Walt goodbye.
Barbara starred at the two blue children in front of her. Toby and Jim, who had become fast friends, lay on the floor by the sopha, drawing.
"So..." She began,"Toby is a..."
"An alien, yes," Nana admited, "And Jimmy is a...Troll?"
"Sort of," Walt clarified, "Technically he is a pollymorph as he does not have a human familiar. I've only met one other and he does not have the same origin as Young Atlas. (1) Jim's father was a changling, like I am, but Barbara is human."
Nana raised her eyebrows, "'His father'? You mean Jimmy's not yours? But he looks just like you!"
Barbara laughed loudly.
Walt blushed,"You wouldn't believe how often we hear that. No, um, I adopted Young Atlas when he was six-months-old. But that doesnt matter to me, Jim IS my son."
Nana turned to Barbara, silently asking about how passionate Walt had suddenly become about the topic. Barbara shrugged.
"Changlings tend to be extremely paternal," she explained, "Well, most of the time."
Walt held Barbara close and kissed her temple before turning back to Nana.
"So, what is Toby's story?"
Nana chuckled, "My husband, Horace, was really an alien named Vex. (2) He went by Horace in an attempt to blend in better. He was called back to his planet just after the wedding and soon after I found out I was pregnant. I was so worried that Albert would be born looking like his father. But, I guess it skipped a generation because only Toby Pie has this ability."
"Mummy!"Jim interrupted, "I maked this for you!"
The little boy handed his mother his drawing as his new friend handed his to Nana. Despite the 'made-by-a-two-year-old' quality, Barbara could tell who everyone was ment to be.
"It's lovely, Kiddo!" She praised, "You even included Popa Vendal and...is that Uncle O on a computer?"
"Yeah!" Jim said.
"And that's Mommy and Daddy and us when they get back!" Toby babbled to his grandmother.
"That's great, Toby Pie," Nana said, "but where's Put Put?"(3)
Toby looked around,"Put Put? Puuut Puuut?!"
The old ginger cat poked her head out of a box and meowed.
"There she is!" Toby giggled.
Put Put padded over to Jim and purred.
"Very good, Toby Pie," Nana praised, laughing, "but, I meant in your picture."
"Oh..."Toby snatched the drawing from Nana and hurried to add Put Put.
Walt smiled at Barbara as they watched the two boys. Toby had abandoned his drawing in favor of playing with Jim and Put Putt.
"So," Nana addressed, "Will you keep my secret if I keep yours?"
The Stricklers didn't have to think long before agreeing. Sure, they were surprised to discover that aliens exist but, when you live with trolls, you learn to get over it fast.
Within a week Jim and Toby were nearly inseparable. And, as a pair, the two todlers caused a lot of mischief! Some of their trouble was punished, others where photographed, and most of it was both. It took Draal more than a little time to learn how to play GENTLY with the boys.
Nana was out shopping when she got the message. She flipped open the phone and grinned at Barbara's text. Walt had Jim on his lap while Nomura had Toby on hers. All four of them were talking, excitedly, with Otto, Walt and Nomura's brother from Germany, on a computer screen. (4)
"Otto is exited to meet Toby," Barbara explained,"Jim talks about him all the time."
Nana laughed. She was glad that the Stricklers and their family were happy with Toby around. But, a part of her couldn't help but worry about how the boys would react when Toby had to go back to San Francisco. Another text arrived and pushed the sad thoughts from Nana's mind. Jim and Toby laughed as Otto fought down a strange,, hairless, GREEN cat. She laughed again.
Walt and Barbara were snuggled comfortably in bed when the house phone began to ring. Walt groaned and answered, wondering who in their right mind was calling at two in the morning!
"Strickler residence," he mumbled.
"Walter?" Nana's voice shook slightly, "I hate to wake you at such an hour but would you be able to watch Toby Pie for a little bit?"
"...Now?" Walt asked, slowly waking up.
"Um...yes, please," Nana got quiet, "There-there's been an accident. Al-my son and his wife were lost at sea. I need to get to San Francisco."
Walt sat up, shifting to his human form, "What! I'm on my way over!"
Barbara moaned and sat up, "Walt? What's going on?"
"I'm going to get Toby," Walt told her, "His parents-*sigh*- there was an accident. Neither of them survived. Nana has to go to San Francisco."
Barbara lept out of bed,"I'll set a cot up in Jim's room. I'll want to know everything when you get back, though."
In only a few minutes, Walt had walked across the street and returned with the sleeping two-year-old. Barbara had set up a low cot up next to Jim's small bed. After tucking Toby in the duo went back to their own room.
"Alright, Walt,"Barbara sat on the edge of the bed, "What happened?"
Walt sat, heavily, next to her, "A storm sank the cruise ship. There were no survivors, Toby's parents were found among the dead. Nana is going to San Francisco for about a week to take care of the paperwork to get custody of Toby. I...denied payment for watching Toby. I just didn't seam right."
"I agree, Walt," Barbara assured him, "But...did Nana say what to tell Toby?"
"Only that she would explain to him when she got back and to call if there were any problems," Walt explained, "He-he's only two, B-barbara."
Barbara knew her husband was not one who cried easily. So, to see him choking up over the little boy in their son's room, she had a feeling there was a deeper cause.
Much to everyone's surprise, Toby showed no surprise to waking up at his best friend's house. Quite the opposite, in fact. The moment Barbara went to wake the boys he looked up at her, with tears in his eyes.
"Mommy and Daddy arn't comming back," It wasn't a question.
Not knowing what to say, Barbara hugged the toddler as he bagan to cry and had Walt call Nana.
"How could he possibly know?" The old woman asked.
"He said he saw them in his dream," Walt explined, "That he only sees people in his dreams if they're not coming back. He...hasn't said anything since. Not even to Jim and Put Put."
As the week passed, Toby still refused to talk. Even when Nana came home and Jim begged him to.
"Mummy," Jim cried, "Why won't Tobes talk with me no more? Does he not like me now?"
"Of course he does, Baby," Barbara explained, "It's just...sometimes, when people get really sad, they don't want to talk for a while. Sometimes for a really long time. Toby will talk to you again someday but untill then your gonna have to help him, ok?"
"How?" Jim asked, drying his eyes.
"You see how Toby moves his hands? That's how he talks now. It's called sign-language," Walt crouched down next to his wife.
"Thats right," Barbara agreed," But not everyone knows sign-language. By learning, not only will you and Toby be able to talk again but you'll also be able to help people who can't understand Toby know what he is saying."
"Ok, Mummy, Daddy," Jim agreed, I'll do it! I'll do anything to help Toby!"
Barbara hugged her son, "That's my brave little knight."
Jim returned his mother's hug, squeezing tighter when his father joined them. Walt couldn't help but think of how much Jim was living up to his nickname.
'Mind your back, Young Atlas,' he thought, 'You're to young to carry so much.'
1) This is just a personal headcannon about Polymorphs. I have nothing to support this.
2) 3Below refrence! Also a personal headcannon.
3) In the books we hear about one of Nana's cats known only as "Cat number six". Put Put is meant to be this cat!
4) For Forever-Furuba. One of of your guesses was that Otto would appear on screen. Here he is...on a screen!
AN: Well, looks like Chapter Four got out before NaNoWriMo after all! I genuinely didn't think I would actually get this finished in time. However, this Will be the last chapter untill after November. Let me know what you think! TTFN Ta Ta For Now.