Prompt Nineteen

Reunited

(Post-Series, Human Jim)

Claire winced. "I think she's going to take after her Grandpa. He did like playing soccer. Ouch."

Jim put down the box of diapers into the cart and came to her side. "Is it bad?"

"I don't know if 'bad' is the word. Those tiny muscles are impressive is all. And it's my kidney. I miss not needing to pee constantly." Claire ran a hand down the curve of her stomach and Jim knelt, putting a warm hand over it. In less than two weeks their baby was due and Claire, even in the haze of pregnant weariness, felt a warm little thrill at the love in his eyes.

"Hey, give Mommy a break in there. She needs those organs." A flicker of movement against his palm made him grin. "She likes kicking at me when she hears me."

"Better outside than in. I predict now she will be a Daddy's Girl." Claire smiled as he stood. "Are we just about done? We've got the diapers, wipes, swaddling blankets, powder…"

"Add that to the gifts from the shower and we're swimming in baby preparation. Enough to set up a place in Trollmarket for when Blinky watches her during missions." Jim returned to pushing the cart, Claire walking – she refused to think of herself as "waddling" – beside him. "Are you hungry?"

"Lately, always." She pecked his cheek. "I could do with a salad…maybe with jalapeños on it." He cringed and she laughed. "Cravings are real! My mom was dying for raisins and ranch dressing when she was pregnant with Enrique. Together."

"I may throw up in my mouth. Jalapeños on salad sounds pretty normal now." He paused to let another person through the aisle, a dark-haired man with a ten-year-old in tow. Claire watched them fondly – that might be Jim in a few years. Well, except it would be a girl.

"What do you think Tommy, would Mom want vanilla or chocolate?" the man asked.

"Chocolate, that's her favorite." The boy took a box off the shelf and put it in the cart for his father. The pair moved on and Claire smiled.

"That's cute. Chocolate sounds kind of good right now too, if I'm honest-"

She stopped. Jim wasn't listening. He was staring ahead, eyes glued to the wall, and he was so still he might have been stone. Claire stepped closer, touching his back. "Babe? What is it? You okay?"

He blinked a few times. "…That was my dad."

Claire paused. She looked after the man, disappearing around a corner. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I know his voice. I remember." He didn't sound angry, just stunned. Jim leaned on the cart, staring down. "I guess Vermont lost its appeal." Claire awkwardly put her arms around him, difficult because of her belly.

New Jersey was much closer to Vermont than California, she supposed. "You okay?"

"…I'm fine. Let's just finish up and get home." Jim took her hand, squeezing reassuringly, though whether it was for her or himself was hard to say. "Let's get some salad and jalapeños."

Checkout was uneventful and Jim put the cart away, not allowing her to hold more than the jar of jalapeños, the bag of salad, and a few chocolate bars she'd found a little too appealing to pass up. He carried the other items easily – wielding a sword was the equivalent of multiple arm workouts she thought.

They stopped as they left the store. "…Is this some kind of divine punishment?" Jim asked, glancing at her. She shook her head slightly, doubtful of the sight. A delivery truck for the grocery sat in the parking lot, a flat tire visible from their place. It blocked half the lot; several people were watching in exasperation as employees swarmed the truck, trying to lighten the load so they could get a new tire on it. And not ten feet from them stood James Lake and the boy, Tommy. He had dark hair just like his father, though his face wasn't quite as gentle as Jim's. It didn't surprise her. Jim's features were very like his father's but there was a softness to his eyes and jaw that made him inviting. That was all his mother.

She took her husband's arm. "You want to go wait inside?"

"No. There's a bench over there, why don't you sit down?" Claire sighed, as her feet were starting to ache. She settled on the bench, Jim standing beside her to leave the other part of the bench open. She held the bag in her lap and looked into it.

"I'm half inclined to go ahead and just start eating straight peppers," she said in an effort to distract him. Jim smiled faintly at her. "This little girl is going to love spicy food. Toby will have competition."

"Ah, sounds like my wife with Tommy." Claire glanced up, startled. James was looking at her, expression friendly. Her heart hammered and she forced her face to remain blank. Fudge-knuckle. "She liked hot salsa."

"Oh. Yeah, those cravings are something." Claire directed her attention instead to the boy. "Does that mean you like spicy stuff?" He grinned and shook his head, half-hiding behind his father.

Jim said nothing. Claire boiled inside, seething. This man didn't recognize his son? Maybe he just looked and sounded a lot like James? It didn't matter really; she couldn't lay into him in front of his little boy, it wasn't fair to the kid. Even if it was James Lake. The boy looked up. "Dad, can I go play the claw machine inside? I'll come right back."

"Well, I guess we'll be here a minute." The man gave Tommy a couple dollars. "Stay right there in the window where I can see you, all right?" The boy hugged him before taking off, running back into the store. James shook his head fondly. "First time parents?"

"…Yeah." Jim's hand tightened a little on hers as he said the word. "You have any other kids?"

"Ah, a daughter with my current wife." Claire's ears were pounding with blood. Was there a spot of guilt on his face? He should be drowning in it. James was blind if he couldn't see the resemblance. But was it him?

"Your name, is it James Lake?" she blurted. Jim twitched and the man's brows shot up.

"Yeah, it is. How'd you know that miss?" Claire felt heat rise in her cheeks and she could have sworn the baby in her belly whirled in an angry tornado with her. "Have…we met?"

"Not before today." Jim squeezed her hand in warning but Claire stood, aware that James was taller than her. "I'm Claire. Claire Lake." The man's brows furrowed. "This is my husband Jim. After his father."

What was the expression that appeared on his face? Was it horror? No, not quite surprised enough. Was it shame or defiance? Was it a molten conglomeration? Claire's jaw ached – was it too crazy to want to physically bite his face off? Was that pregnancy hormones affecting her mood or just pure hatred? Tommy came running back, clutching a soft yellow bear in his hands. "Look Dad, I won! Sissy will like it, don't you think?" He turned and Claire closed her eyes. "Lady, your face is red. Are you okay?"

She breathed out slowly. Look at the child. He didn't deserve to deal with…any of it. None of anything was his fault. She managed a smile. "My baby's just temperamental. I think she's going to play soccer she kicks so much." Tommy looked concerned.

"Mom used to drink tea with Sissy. Have you tried tea?"

The anger reluctantly dredged back. "I'll have to drink some later. That's a very good idea. Tommy, right? You seem like a very nice boy." She nudged Jim's side. "You kind of remind me of my husband. Isn't that funny?"

"I'm not old enough to get married," Tommy said seriously. James fidgeted and Claire laughed.

"Oh I know sweetie. I only need one husband anyway." She kept her tone light and lifted her gaze to James. "You're a lucky man to have such a good son. I hope you know that." He nodded slightly and Jim patted Claire's arm.

"I think they're about to move the truck hon. You want to get going?"

"That sounds good. It was nice to meet you Tommy." Claire stood again with an effort. She didn't look at James again, walking in front of Jim as the truck moved out of the lot. They remained quiet until they were both seated in the car.

Claire sat in the passenger seat and punched the dash. "That stupid-! That jerkface-dumbbutt-bushigal-eater!" She kicked at the floor before crossing her arms and glaring out the windshield.

Jim looked at her. "'Jerkface-dumbbutt-bushigal-eater?' Really?"

"Babies can hear in the womb. I don't want her to be a potty mouth." Claire fumed in her seat. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable but I wanted him to know. He missed out! Tommy seems like a good boy but he could have had you, and he lost out on something special! He could've at least been a man and left on mutual terms and supported you and your mom! Sucks to be him because he didn't get to be part of your life and you're a mother-loving treasure so he can just – just – sit in a tipped-over port a potty!"

Claire panted for breath, aware that the baby was in a tizzy from the yelling. She patted her stomach. "Sorry little one. Mommy's super mad right now."

"Claire." Jim was looking at her, and his eyes were gentle, a little amused. Her anger lessened – she'd made him laugh so that was a victory. "I'll admit I was kind of shocked, but…it's best this way. It looks like he's sticking around for Tommy so that's good." He took her hand and kissed it. "And me? I've got a great mom and a few really awesome father figures. Best friends that helped me get my life back. A job to take care of a whole civilization. And one amazing wife that going to give me a daughter that we'll raise together." He lifted her hand and tucked it to his face. "I made out like a bandit. I don't need him."

"…Well, you did get a pretty cool wife." Claire relaxed slowly. "Did I act too crazy?"

"Nah. Perfect amount of crazy." Jim turned the key in the ignition. "Let's get back. After we drop off the stuff we can go to Trollmarket, Blinky wants to make sure the nursery there is human-baby proof."

Claire laughed. "He's so excited to be a Grandpa it's adorable. But I am definitely throwing a salad together when we get home." They left the lot and the sour, unpleasant sensation of an unwanted, unexpected reunion far behind.

End of Prompt Nineteen