So I was asked how future and time works with Cass being a seer. Basically, what happens in the current timeline, effects the future entirely. Yes, most will be the same but that doesn't mean Jim has the ability to not change it completely. Now with Cassidy being a seer, all of her seer visions are different from the future ones. Some are the same but whatever Cassidy sees will definitely happen. Like say she saw Jim dying on her fifth birthday in a car crash(NOT going to happen just an example), that would definitely happen and she couldn't change it. And this is what makes being a seer such a burden because she knows her fate.

Any Spanish in this chapter is from google translate, feel free to correct me. I still take French.

"Master Jim what is the meaning of this!?" Blinky bellowed, not a fan of the idea of having a baby down in TrollMarket.

Already overwhelmed, not used to taking Cassidy out anywhere on his own. It was already hard enough bringing the diaper bag(he was using his messenger bag as one since it had no use ever since he'd dropped out of Highschool) and carriage, but add in her oxygen tank and even without the baby it was a struggle."Sorry Blink but Claire is helping my mom with some wedding stuff and then is going to her parent's house to help set up for Dia de los Muertos. Toby and Darcy had plans, Strickler is also helping with other wedding plans and I don't trust Steve with Cass." he explained, reaching into the carriage to hand Cassidy a stuffed Owl toy that she seemed to fancy. Cassidy - who had grown more and more aware, a fact that surprised doctor - reached up and tried to cling her fingers to the toy but of course couldn't grasp it entirely. Jim smile and gently let the toy fall onto his daughter's tiny lap that the Owl was easier bigger than.

Blinky sighed, doubting they would be able to get much done with a small baby there." Very well," he gestured one of his arms to the table free of books, while the other's wrapped around his body, acting like he was crossing them."There is space there but we must get training. After you missed the last two, we are in dire need to get back on it, in anticipation for when we face the Arcane Order."

Jim rolled his eyes. Two training sessions and that was it. Even with a baby, and working almost every day as a waiter, he managed to make some room out of his surprisingly busy schedule to go to training. But he misses two and brings his daughter and suddenly he's committing a crime."Ya ya I know," he muttered, pushing the carriage over to the table. Unbucekilng the wide-awake girl, he picked her up, resting her on his hip. Doctor's said she was still small for a seventh month old so they had to be careful, but Jim questioned their judgment because she was quite stable.

"Why is it that such a small thing requires so much equipment?" Blinky asked, looking over the baby carriage, overwhelmed with the diaper bag, oxygen tank, and blanket in the spot Cassidy laid in, in the unlikely event Jim get her to sleep.

Holding her close while he laid out a blanket so he could change her diaper, Jim pulled her hand from her tube." Cassidy Lake you know you aren't supposed to do that," he said sternly. His stern expression broke as Cassidy forgot about her tube and began pulling at his hair, a thing she still did. Laughing as he leaned his head down so Cassidy could reach it, he answered Blinky's question." Babies just need a lot of stuff. Cass needs extra because of her tank and ahh, okay that's enough little lady." he said, lying the smiling seven-month-old down on the blanket.

"Peculiar," Blinky hummed, for some reason Jim couldn't decipher, was so perplexed on the concept of human babies." With your flour sacks, you weren't carrying around all of these extra necessities, and was or was that not supposed to simulate raising a child?" he asked, sorting through a pile of books. Blinky had asked him to come to that training in particular after an angry hoard of gnomes got into the library and brought all the books down off of the shelves.

"Oh uh, yes they were a simulator but just to try and keep it alive." he stuttered, remembering that unit had been extremely awkward, though since life put him through being a teen parent, he was happy he'd learned some parts of pregnancy and caring for babies. Even if the awkward fifteen-minute talk about how to use protection was no use in preventing Cassidy, something he didn't regret happening.

Blinky was no less confused."But to keep Lady Cassidy alive, you need all of this stuff."

"Shit," Jim muttered quietly under his breath. He'd learned that with Blinkous Galadragal, there was no such thing as a short cut answer." Umm I don't know. The school can barely provide enough flower sacks, let alone the supplies." he said, pretty sure his mentor wouldn't be able to muck up another question. Jim pulled the carriage closer to him as Cassidy squirmed not a fan of having her diaper changed." Cassie please," he practically begged, already exhausted from being up most of the night with her. The stone was helping soothe the visions and make them less frequent, but that didn't mean they didn't happen. Jim longed to know what she was seeing, what she was going through. But alas, he couldn't.

As Jim hoped he wouldn't, Blinky figures another question." But if the school can not franchise the vent why not use the flower for a better purpose. Like what do you call it? Ah yes one of those baking evenTREACHERY!" the troll bellowed, grabbing with each hand, a thick and hard spined book, holding them up as a defense, ready to strike if needed.

Cassidy wailed, startled by Blinky's shouts. Luckily Jim had finished getting her diaper on and jumped back at his mentor's burst out. Quickly, he picked p his daughter, angered since she'd been so calm after such a restless night." Blinky what he heck? Ssshhh," he cooed, always fearful when she cried so much since she was always at risk of having an attack, even with her tube.

Blinky didn't seem to notice the young adult's question. Holding all books up ready to strike at any moment, Blinky approached Bagdewella who stood at the doorway to the library. Perched rudely on her shoulders were multiple gnomes."Keep those pests out of here. We are still reorganizing after their very unwanted break in and I would rather not have them add to the mess."

"Oh quite your whiny," Badgewella said, shaking the gnomes off her shoulders and began to stamp at them. Scurrying around her feet, the gnomes rushed out of the library, offering Blinky some relief." I am not here for your complaints, I'm here for the TrollHunter." she said, scoffing when she saw the decorated TrollHunter, calming a baby."I see the TrollHunter is still the baby handed."

Jim ignored the mocking comment and continued the attempt to calm Cassidy as he questioned Badgwella."What's wrong?" he asked, expecting some gnome infestation.

"What's wrong? Everything." she stated quite dramatically." My shop has seen little to no business lately and I find that you as the TrollHunter must fix that."

He sighed, seeing this was just another case of Badgewella being overdramatic." I'm sorry your shop hasn't been active but we have some more important issues to deal with than that," he said, timidly, fearful of the troll's reaction that he predicted would be bad.

"I think you'll find the issue in my shop a very important issue to deal with, TrollHunter," she said his title as a curse before holding out a fragment of stone she'd chiseled from her wall. Typically, the stone walls of her shop were a deep blue stone, but this was a grey, with darker cracks all throughout. Looking at it closer he could see small parts of it, falling off right before his eyes.

"Fascinating," Blinky said, holding the stone gently, bringing it close to his many eyes so he could get a better look at it.

"Any clue what it is Blink?" Jim asked, prying Cassidy's curious fingers from her breathing tube. She pouted, beginning to wine again." Here," he whispered, holding her Owl toy in front of her. She immediately stopped pouting and instead began to try and hold the owl plush, but her small hands just could never manage.

"Not the foggiest," he stated, bringing the ashy stone closer to the glowing ones overhead. Getting a closer look, a single speck of what looked like dust began to fall. But this dust was strangely colored, glowing orange and yellow."Interesting," Blinky said, placing one of his many hands out so the speck fell onto it."It seems to be a type of dust, perhaps a type of ash."

"I'm human but I'm pretty sure ash doesn't glow," Jim said, switching Cassidy to his other arm and hip. For an underweight, premature, health deficient baby, she was already quite heavy.

"Very right Master Jim. Ash is the product of burnt matter, that does not possess the capability to illuminate. Badgewella where did you acquire this unusual stone?" Blinky questioned, Bagdewella just responding as if the answer were obvious.

"My shop!" she shouted, startling Cassidy but not as much as Blinky had moments earlier." Business was just getting back to normal when the back corner's walls were all like this. Now I don't see a single soul besides these pests and I don't plan on going out of business over some ash!" she said in a tone quite cross and unchangeable which was her typical tone.

"Actually no, though your information is quite useful to us, this for say, is not ash if your claim it was once part of your wall is correct." that was for Jim sadly, the beginning of a long minute of bickering between the two trolls while he had a more important thing to focus on.

Holding Cassidy in the position he did when trying to coax her to sleep, Jim switched between legs, praying he could get her to sleep."Come on, Mommy doesn't want you to be cranky when you meet her family and especially on a holiday." he cooed, making sure to be loud enough that the baby in his arms would hear over the feuding trolls."Why don't I go check it out," he suggested, smiling as he saw Cassidy's blue eyes beginning to shut.

"Splendiferous idea and a much better use of our time than arguing," Blinky responded in a stern tone as he tried to overpower Badgewella's shrieks back at him as their fight withered to an end.

Bagdewella didn't lose her scowl as she turned towards the exit to the library."Well hurry it up then, I want you in to get rid of this ash then out so I can get my customers back."

Blinky began to correct her again on the fact it wasn't ash but a substance like ash, but Jim quickly cut him off."Leave it alone Blink," he said, laying Cassidy who was in a light sleep down in the carriage, draping her blanket and owl over her. He felt uncomfortable leaving her alone, especially since she was prone to pull out her tube while she slept.

Blinky sighed, taking another look at the rock."You are right Master Jim, my apologies. We mustn't waste our time on foolish things such as grammar. No, we must use this precious time to investigate this-"

"I'm going to investigate," Jim said, calling on his armor, trying to be quiet with his steps so Cassidy wouldn't wake.

"Master Jim, I beg your pardon?"

"I'm going to go investigate," he continued, checking the small oxygen tank he had stored in the bottom part of the carriage. Once it was good he straightened up, still uncomfortable leaving her there."You are going to watch Cass for me." he said, pulling the cover of the carriage over her face so the loud noises of the market wouldn't affect her sleep.

Blinky straightened up, not believing the Trollhunter."Master, I ploy you too-"

"Cass needs to nap and I have to check those walls out. You don't have to do anything, just if she starts crying move the carriage back and forth," he said, walking out the library before Blinky could argue against his role of babysitter.

. . .

It doesn't make sense, Jim thought, looking down at the new chunk of the almost burnt stone he'd harvested from Bagdewella's shop. She had been telling the truth, half of the back wall was no longer a hard bluestone but instead a stone that looked as if it had been scorched which was impossible. He hadn't broken it open so was unsure if there was any more of the glowing dust inside, but even without doing so, he knew burnt rocks were impossible and definitely strange.

What could this be? he questioned, sighing mentally as he felt drained from thinking so hard about some dumb rock. Releasing his armor, he could feel his phone vibrating in his back pocket, letting him know he had multiple notifications. Pulling it out, he managed to not drop the strange rock and he read the text messages and missed calls, all of which were from Claire.

Pausing outside of the library to call her back, Jim was relieved to hear no cries or complaints. Actually, he heard Blinky talking or calmly arguing with someone but it didn't set him off since the old troll didn't sound as crazy as he could when mad. From the other end of the phone, he heard a brief ruffling sound before Claire's voice.

"Hi, sorry if I was interrupting your guys re-organization." she apologized voice exhausted. Jim had tried to let her sleep in but in the end, what Cassidy wants she'll get and as the night grew older, she wanted her mother more and more.

"No, we haven't started. I had to de-gnome Bagdewella's shop," he lied. Claire was already under so much stress, helping his mom all morning and now helping her parents set up, he'd tell her about the stone that at the moment gave him no concern, later.

She chuckled, quite amused, from the other end."Oh the great TrollHunter, bottle in hand he shooed out all the gnomes."

"Ya ya, I get it's not as heroic as slaying a warlord but I'm rusty," he said in his defense.

"Please, you're rusty? I haven't done anything near battling in over a year for god's sake. Uh, es Jim," she said to someone obviously not him. He knew enough Spanish to know she was simply saying "it's Jim", probably to her Abuela who spoke more Spanish than English."Don't wanna rush your gnome exterminating but my Abula says to get your ass over there with that baby."

Jim laughed, for what he knew, her Abuela would not be one to say such vulgar things."Did you add in the ass or is she just that psyched?"

"She seems pretty excited but I added in the ass, it's nice getting a brief chance to say stuff like that." Cassidy couldn't say much but was picking up on words, attempting to say them. Sadly that meant both Claire and himself had to be cautious of what they said around her.

"Don't you have a toddler brother and tween cousin there?" he asked,d trying to get back at her for making fun of his profession that entailed exterminating gnomes for the most part.

He could hear her dramatically sigh, responding in almost a whisper to what sounded like one of her Abula's questions."Yes but they're both playing Candy Land in the living room. But if I were you I'd hurry cause now Angie's asking about where she is."

Jim smiled, feeling like this time he wouldn't be viewed as the guy that knocked up Claire, but instead her boyfriend(... and fiance) and also Cassidy's dad. A dad that stuck around."I'm coming but don't expect her to be dressed like a doll. Changing her diaper was a struggle, let alone a dress."

"She'll look darling either way," she assured him, a very true fact. Even with an obnoxious breathing tube that wrapped around her round head, she was still precious."And I can't really expect a boy to get a little girl not a dress without a disaster."

"You spoiled all confidence I had moments ago." he joked, though was unable to reject the true fact. It had been a struggle to learn how to get her dressed in an onesie, let alone a fancy outfit."I don't even get why she has to wear it."

Claire frowned, quieting her voice so her other wouldn't hear."My mom picked it out, saying she had to make a good impression."

Jim scoffed. Ophelia had watched Cassidy a total of two times and both times, Claire was present. He didn't for say not trust her, he just found it annoying she almost forgot about Cassidy's existence, until it had any slight effect on her own life."That makes me want to dress her in a paper bag."

Claire rolled her eyes, even if she felt the same(but didn't want to dress her daughter in a paperback)."Just put it on to please her."

"I will," he assure her, though still considered the paper bag idea."We'll be there soon."

" M'kay," she responded, hanging up the phone.

Slipping it back into place in his back pants pocket, he entered the library, terrified for a brief moment when he saw the carriage empty. Ready to call out daylight or begin a thorough and panicked search, Jim was put at ease when he saw that Blinky was holding Cassidy in one of his hands.

"Preposterous," he stated." From my studies on human culture and their strange ways, an Owl most certainly says hoo,"

Cassidy who seemed fully awake at that point pointed towards her Owl again, that laid in one of Blinky's other hands." Meee," she said.

"Hoo. None of the bird species for what I know say, Meee," Blinky said, speaking as if he were talking to an adult.

Jim couldn't help but laugh as he watched a hundred tear old troll, have an argument with a baby."She's trying to say milk," Jim informed him, grabbing Cassidy from his hand."Not a fan of daddy today huh?" he asked, Cassidy trying to grab at his hair."Is this all I'm good for?" he questioned as he held her closer to his head so she could pull at his hair, something she enjoyed doing for some strange reason.

"Master Jim, I employ you to inform your offspring of animals correct sounds instead of this off-putting babbling for words," he said, beginning to organize the books, onto the shelf.

"We will when she gets older, but babies really only babble," he said tugging Cassidy away from his head and set her down in the carriage."If you want I can come back tomorrow without her, but we have to really get going. Claire's family's visiting and she wants me to bring Cass over."

"No, I'll manage on my own. Aaarrrggghhh will probably be willing to assist me and Dictatious knows this library better than anyone, but enjoy your as you say, family bonding time Master Jim," he said, holding out Cassidy's Owl.

Jim smiled, taking the Owl and handing it to the wide-eyed baby." Thanks, Blink," he then smiled down at Cassidy," we will." As he turned, he remembered that he had the chunk of stone from Bagdewella's shop."Oh Blink, here." he said, gently setting the stone in his hand.

"Curious," Blinky said looking closely at the stone."This was from Badgewella's shop, am I correct?"

"Yes, the entire wall is like this. Not all was falling apart but some were," he said, rocking the carriage forward and back.

"Hmm," Blinky hummed, deep in thought as he examined the stone."I will see if I can find any recording of stones like this one. Thank you, Master Jim."

"All in a days work,"

. . .

"Where is your Ninita, Claire?" Her Abuela asked, setting a platter filled with freshly made tamales out onto the kitchen table that was already filled the edge with delicious foods that would be eaten through the course of the holiday.

Claire forced a smile, pretending to not be exhausted or annoyed that this was her Abuela's hundredth time asking." Jim said they'd be heading over soon, he had to stop by Barbara's house to get her dress," she explained, pouring a bag of tortilla chips into the circular platter with a large bowl of guacamole, she'd prepared in advance, in the center.

"Barbara's his mother, yes?" her Tia, Isla, asked as she reprimanded Angie for eating too many sweets and that she'd spoil her appetite.

"Si," Javier replied for her.

"Haven't you been staying there with the baby?" her Abuela asked.

Ophelia shot her daughter a look saying not to answer, but over the last year, she'd learned to ignore her other's wishes and do as she pleased."Ya, Cass and I have been staying there until Jim and I can afford an apartment." she said, wondering when that day would come. They were nowhere close to being able to afford even a studio apartment and there weren't many options for apartments and condos in Arcadia, forcing them to think about surrounding towns that might offer cheaper rent.

Though none of her family members gave a weird or disgusted look at the news, Ophelia continued to glare at her daughter, a glare Claire managed to shake off, well until her Abuela opened her mouth again."Better keep an eye out, Ophelia, or you'll be getting another grandchild." It was supposed to come out as a joke and her Tio and Tia just laughed and her father did a little. But Ophelia went pale before turning to Claire who was just as pale, wearing an expression of you better not. Claire wished she could've shouted don't worry but she couldn't. It wasn't that they were considering trying for another baby, which at the time they weren't, she was just so stunned how she felt so similar to how she did when first pregnant. It hadn't been a joyous event at first and she hadn't felt that feeling o walking shame in so long. But the fact her mother, would view another grandchild(even if she was 20) as a burden and piece of shame reflected on her, hurt her deeply. This was mainly since she and Jim didn't want to wait until they were 20 to have another. Of course, they planned don waiting until they were married, moved out, stable jobs and income, and until Cassidy was at least one, but still, then she'd be around 19 almost 20. She didn't want to be viewed as a piece of shame, she didn't want her mother to see her daughter and future children as pieces of shame. But no matter how she wanted to change her mother's perception of her, there was no way. She'd always be a piece of shame to the family and to her mother.

The loud sound of the front door opening caught her attention and broke her from her spiraling train of thought. Just by turning her head slightly, she could see Jim struggling to enter with Cassidy's car seat in one hand, diaper bag over his arm, and her oxygen tank in his other hand. Rushing over to assist, she took hold of her oxygen tank, holding the door open so he could enter.

"Sorry we're late, she gave a fuss with the dress and fell asleep right before we left so I thought I'd let her sleep a bit." he apologized, setting her car seat down on the ground.

"Don't worry about it," Claire said, glad he wasn't there for their previous conversation."You look so pretty, Miss Cassie," she said beginning to unbuckle Cassidy who had a pout on her face until she saw Claire, breaking into a pink gummed smile. She was dressed in a white dress, with frills that overlapped towards the top. Throughout the entire dress was different colored embordered stripes. Matching the dress, a white headband with a fabric white, orange, coral, and turquoise green flower, was wrapped around her head." This dress isn't going to survive the night," she muttered to Jim who nodded. She wasn't the biggest fan of baby food, but could be coaxed to eat some. But that of course resulted in whoever was feeding her and Cassidy, getting covered in gross baby food.

"You should mentally prepare your mom for that," Jim joked receiving a sigh frown Claire as she remembered that her mother seemed already mad at her for no good reason.

"Oh Mija!" her Abuela exclaimed, hurrying over to see Cassidy who was relieved to be free from her car seat."What Bonita Nina!" she said, practically ripping Cassidy from Claire's arms, causing the young mother a rush of panic.

"Be careful," Claire warned, nervous her Abuela could try and walk off to the kitchen with Cassidy, a length that her breathing tube wouldn't reach.

Jim luckily took back hold of her tank and began to follow her into the kitchen, wheeling the cart behind him."Don't worry," he whispered, gently grabbing her dainty hand.

Claire managed to smile, getting swept up as she stared into his ocean eyes. Though not any less worried, about anything happening at that moment or what was to come, for a moment, leaning her head on her fiance's shoulder,r she pretended everything was perfect."I'm not."

All of this is according to google translate so I am very sorry for any errors and please correct me if there are any. I also don't celebrate Dia de Los Muertos so all information came from either my friend who does or the internet.

Nina: girl

Ninita: little girl

Bonita: pretty