Hello, I come again. I want to explain that I am aware I spelled Seer wrong for the first half of this story and I am trying to figure out if there is a way to go back and edit. I only know of Seers from the show Merlin(Morgana's the Seer in the show) where it was mentioned like once and I never saw how it was spelled. Ya I know I should've looked up the true spelling and I'm sorry if it bugs you. But thanks to the two people who pointed it out to me. And if you notice the chapters are seemingly mislabeled they're not, I can count and I chose not to include the Announcement Chapter as a ligament chapter.
"This is nice,"
Jim felt his calm face move slightly, eyes glancing down at her and a smirk spreading across his face. He shifted his head to kiss the top of hers before leaning it back against hers. She was leaning almost completely on him, head resting on his shoulder, Cassidy fast asleep in both their arms. Moments like that were rare for the two teenagers, constantly juggling everyday life, part tie jobs, and raising a baby. But that only made them cherish the more.
"This is," he said, feeling his eyes begin to shut again. The last two weeks had been nothing but stress for the TrollHunter, still waiting on Blinky to give him more information on the strange rocks that seemed to be spreading, now not only present in Bagdewella's shop, but also in neighboring shops, pubs, and homes. Work had been just as terrific, the small Mall diner he'd been working at shut down unexpectedly, forcing him to search for new jobs. Adding in training and the day's Claire would work and he'd watch Cassidy, that left the two with little alone time, that was never alone time since they shared Jim's well-sized bedroom with their small daughter.
Claire burrowed her head into the crook of his neck opening her tired eyes just a little so she could look at Cassidy." I think she's asleep," she said, waiting for Jim to lift his head from hers so she could maneuver around the room quietly. Lying Cassidy down, she smiled with an exhausted expression as her tiny mouth opened and her pacifier fell out." Sshhh," she cooed, tapping her bottom, draping her baby blanket over her small body. The steady pats against her bottom hiccuped when she felt Jim's arms wrapping around her. She smiled."What do you want?"
"Mmm, just to be close to you," he said, inhaling the sweet scent of her vanilla-scented shampoo, holding her close to him.
She couldn't argue since it been so long since just the two of them had been able to relax together. She grabbed his hands that were at her waist, holding them with a firm grip." I like that idea," she replied.
Mouth closed, a breathy laugh managed to leave, luckily overpowered by the sound of Cassidy's tank that they were all used to sleeping with at the point. Removing his hands from her waist, he planted a sweet kiss on her right cheek. Already laying back down, ready to sleep, Jim noticed the sickly look on Claire's face."Are you okay?" he asked as she laid beside him.
Claire nodded, tucking her hands under her pillow, trying to keep from falling asleep." Ya, I just feel sick," she said as Jim pulled the covers over them.
"It is the Flu season," he said, yawning before lying back down. He ran his fingers through her hair, pushing it out of her round face."Did you eat my mom's casserole?" that night had been one of the rare nights Barbara cooked. Though Claire said she'd spent a while on it, it came out just as expected. Horrible.
"Mhmm," she moaned, burrowing her face in her pillow. As he began to drift to sleep, Jim mindlessly rubbed her back, falling into a dead and much-needed sleep as he did so. His brain shut off in a second and it was as if he'd met death itself, feeling absolutely nothing in a matter of minutes. It was a feeling that the teen had to feel, overwhelmed by everything happening around him, pushed to the brink by pounding stress that had infested him, refusing to leave. It was like a scar, similar to the one across his nose, he wanted, practically begged for it to leave but no matter how much he pleaded, it just wouldn't.
Claire? he thought, rolling on his side, expecting to feel his girlfriend's presence in their small twin-sized bed, but he didn't. She wasn't there. Too asleep, he didn't wake with concern, unsure what time it even was, and let himself fall back to sleep.
Cassidy? he thought that time, the too-familiar sound of his daughter's whimpers ringing like blaring horns in his ears. Just by memory, the sound permanently a sound he feared a knew by heart, he was able to tell it was close. Perhaps Claire got her? he thought since that would explain why he hadn't felt her beside him. Forcing his eyes that preferred to be shut, he could make out Claire lying in an upright position, head back as she snored almost silently. As he predicted, Cassidy was in her arms, cries beginning to grow louder. With a sigh, he propped himself up not his elbows, a feat that was quite the struggle as his body was screaming at him to sleep. Once stable and upright, he took Cassidy from Claire's limp arms, sitting up almost entirely as he rocked her gently.
"Will you ever sleep through the night?" he asked, recalling that either Estelle or Jaime had mentioned she had insomnia. He didn't know anyone with insomnia, therefore wasn't sure if it could develop at such a young age, but suspected that and her visions played a role in her newborn like sleeping schedule.
Cassidy stopped crying, eyes wide open, she stared up at him as if she were reading an interesting book."Wyvern."
Jim froze, unsure if the stress he'd been recently overwhelmed with was getting to him or his seven-month-old daughter had spoken." Wait what?" he wasn't sure why he'd asked. He didn't expect a response... or did he?
Their eyes locked in the dim light of the room. When there was no response from her, Jim began to chalk it up as just some babbles, but even that answer didn't have him convinced. The word Wyvern was somewhat familiar. He couldn't pinpoint when he'd heard it or even what it meant, but he couldn't let himself believe it was just the babbles of a baby.
Feeling tempted to ask again, Jim opened his mouth but was shocked when he was cut off by none other than his small baby."Amarillo Griffin,"
From Senior Uhl's Spanish class, he knew that Amarillo was the color yellow in Spanish. How Cassidy knew that was beyond him. Claire never spoke Spanish around the house unless she was muttering to herself or yelling at him(both were rare events). Besides that, the only time she would've heard any as the few times Jhavier had watched her or the one time Claire's relatives had visited. Then on the other hand, how he knew what a griffin was, was beyond him. She'd been to TrollMarket only a number of times and never had he heard Blinky or anyone else mention Griffins, he wasn't even sure if they were real. Though with trolls, aliens, and wizards being real, he wouldn't find it hard to believe. Keeping all that in mind, and somehow believing she'd heard both words, that still didn't explain how she was capable of pronouncing them perfectly. It was quite frightening the more he thought about it. And what made the whole situation scarier was once she'd finished the two words, she fell back to sleep, almost as if she'd been following orders.
. . .
"I do not understand!"
Toby moaned, exhausted from walking for over an hour, and bored of Krel's constant complaints."Will, you shut up already," he barked pulling at his eyelids, also upset with Jim for having him get up so early on a Saturday to seek out the person or thing Blinky believed would posses answers on the strange stone.
"And why should I?!" Krel asked, going red in the face as he wiped the bird poop that had been timed perfectly to land on his head."I mean first those insolent raccoons and now this! I find inconceivable they are permitted to do such things, and on royalties head no less!"
Jim fought back laughs, but it was easier that day since he was still flustered by what conspired with his daughter the previous night. He chose not to tell Claire about it since she too had seemed stressed that morning and planned on talking to Blinky about it sometime."Dude, chill, their birds. No one actually controls them and they can do their business wherever they want." Toby said, speaking as if he were some big Bird fan.
"What are you some Bird advocate Tobes?" Jim asked, enjoying some guy time even if the king of complainers had joined them for some reason that what just curiosity.
Toby rolled his eyes but chose to go along with it."That's esquire to you, the uhh... diaper dealer."
"Diaper dealer?" Jim asked, not impressed by his surprisingly creative friend." That's the best you could do? I prefer Jim the baby handed." he folded the map Blinky had laid out for him and place dit under his. In the distance, he could see what looked like an old well from the victorian era, the blocks siding it eroding slowly and the top of the well completely gone.
"I've told you I'm not good at improv." Toby reminded, groaning as Krel crashed into him as he avoided the squirrel and raccoon poop that was spread across the ground." Personal space Krel, personal space." he reminded, throwing his hands up to try and push the future king away.
"It is not my fault!" he yelled, stepping back and nearly avoiding another brown mound of fresh deer droppings."They all poop! I can't avoid it!"
"All animals poop," Toby said, nearly pushed to the brink by the alien beside him."It's just a part of life. When you gotta go you gotta go." Toby said as if he were some philosopher.
"It's an unfortunate and sad trait you mammals possess," Krel stated as they grew closer to the well that luckily had no poop surrounding it.
"Eh, it ain't all that bad." Toby said."And I don't really wanna be an alie-Aciridion though glowing would be cool." Jim ignored their conversation that was quite disturbing if you really thought about it. Instead, he began something much more productive that was searching for the entrance. Blinky hadn't led on too much of who they were visiting, just that they would know about the rock and have at least some information on it. The map was pretty easy to follow but he didn't understand why it ended at a well, not a cave or house.
"You humans can control when and where you urinate, so why can't these vermins find a more respectful spot to do their business?" Krel asked in a serious tone.
Toby sighed, feeling like there was no winning against him."Animals are like babies, they poop whenever and there's really no teaching them."
"True but I'm hoping Cass will learn to use the bathroom," Jim said, scarred with having poop cover every spot on his hands in the short seven months he'd been changing diapers.
"Ah yes, I have been wondering since you humans are more organic how is it that you repopulate?" Krel asked.
Both Jim and Toby turned to the alien with questionable expressions."You're joking right?"
Krel frowned, almost as if he'd been insulted."Did you perceive my question as a joke? As I have seen you humans are not as advanced as us Acridions and am I right or wrong that the conception of your child was not a joyous or planned event."
Jim ignored the anger he felt hearing the way Krel had worded it. He wasn't wrong, he wasn't necessarily happy when Claire told him she was pregnant, but he didn't look back at it as a regret."Yes, we weren't necessarily happy but that-"
"For us Aciridions, having children involves DNA copying and then imprinting that into a new and blank core, a planned thing. But if your child was not a planned event then why would you and Miss Nunez do whatever you humans do to have young?" Krel's very serious question left Toby laughing his head off and Jim red in the face unsure how to respond.
"Let's find that entrance," Jim managed to say, opening his map up again. He leaned it against the well and began to examine it closely." Come on Blink," he said, seeing no indication of how to get in.
"I don't know what your troll friend is trying to lead us to, but I came to see more of your strange creatures, not to be attacked by animal feces," Krel said, leaning against the well with his arms crossed like he were a two year old.
Toby moaned, sleep-deprived, and annoyed to the point of insanity."Will, you shut up for one goddamn minute?!"
"I have every right to be speaking thank you," Krel said snarkily.
"Not if it makes me want to break your-"
"Stop," Jim said, realizing something as he looked down the well.
Looking over the edge and seeing nothing abnormal, toby questioned what his friend noticed."What is it, Jimbo?"
"The well," Jim said, gesturing a hand down."It has no water."
"It's an old well," Toby said, unsure what was up." Water dries up over time."
"That," Jim said, summoning daylight and standing on the edge of well."Or there's now after because this is the entrance."
Due to his slight fear of heights and falling from them, Toby turned pale as a Gruesome when he looked down the well."Ya, I feel like that's a bit of a stretch."
"Blinky said he wasn't sure the entrance but knew it was near this well. Well, perhaps it isn't just near it but it is it." he said, turning back to only see Krel and Toby still on the ground."Come on don't tell me you're afraid of heights now."
"I am not!" Toby humphed an obvious lie." I just don't think we should risk it-wait JIM!" he yelled as the TrollHunter jumped down the well.
As he had predicted, after falling for a few seconds, he didn't hit water but instead hard ground. Standing up, he saw that the cave was quite dark and dreary no signs of life anywhere. Above he could hear Toby and Krel calling if he was okay." I'm fine! I was right it is a cave!" he shouted up towards his friends, not noticing the large looming figure that approached him from behind. Turning to scope it out, he eventually became aware the creature was standing directly in front of him. It was too dark to see what it was so Jim ended up doing the best thing he could, which was scream. Fumbling back, Jim felt a rush of relief when the torches on the walls of the cave lit up and he was able to see that the beast he thought would try to kill him was only a dragon. Why this didn't have him freaked out was because Blinky informed him the dragon he was seeking out was a dragon named Charlemagne, who also happened to be Archie's father.
"Sorry if I had you frightened," the dragon apologized in a low voice."I wasn't necessarily expecting guests and the sword had me concerned."
"No no I'm sorry," Jim said, stumbling to his feet. Seeing it was safe, he let his armor go and slid the amulet into his back pocket."It was rude of us to barge in but we need your help."
"Help you need?" Charlemagne asked, seeming to be delighted to offer some."But of course, I can offer my assistance on whatever seems to be troubling you."
Jim smiled, pulling out the stone fragment from Bagdewella's shop and holding it up so the dragon could see."The stone in TrollMarket is all starting to become like this and it has us concerned since ti's begun to reach the Heartstone."
Charlemagne frowned."Why that is quite the dilemma but as my great grandfather always said, there is always a way, even in the direst of predicaments," Jim laughed, the quote sounding like something Blinky would say."Bring it here and I should be able to place just what type of geode it is." he said, Jim stepping forward as two crashes were heard from behind.
Both turned to see Krel fallen ontop of Toby."Why me..." he moaned opening his eyes and going insane when he saw the dragon."Woah, Jimbo, this is crazy town banana pants!"
"It isn't your banana's with pants," Krel said in the matter of fact tone he typically spoke in." No this is fascinating," he declared climbing off of Toby, his foot landing directly in the poor boys face as he stood. Krel was oblivious to Toby's moans and shrieks, as he marveled at the dragon.
"Might I ask who these two are?" Charlemagne asked Jim who'd hurried to see his hurt friend.
Letting Toby use him as a crutch until stable, they walked back towards the dragon and alien."Krel and Toby, they came to help."
"No, Toby came to help, I came from the will of curiosity," Krel restated, leaving Charlmange appearing quite insulted.
"I am not some exhibit, for you to poke a prod," Charlemange said sternly to the young king. Krel glared up at the dragon, about to snap back before the dragon turned to Jim."Now may I see your infected stone?"
"Uh yes," Jim said, holding out the stone.
"Hmmm," Charlemagne hummed, looking closely at the stone for a better examination. "Now where did I put my glasses yes here they are," he exclaimed, spotting his glass's that was on top of his furry head."Now let's see... no I don't recognize it but the eroding looks familiar like I've seen it somewhere," he said, turning away to scavenge his expansive library.
"So this is Douxie's cat's dad right?" Toby asked, finally feeling alright after his fall and foot to the face.
"Yup, Arch briefly told Blinky bout the location, and apparently he knows everything about everything. So if we wanna find out what this rock is about he's our best bet." Jim responded feeling his phone vibrating. Pulling it out he saw a missed call from Blinky, impatient as usual.
"Aha!"Charlemange yelled, turning back towards the trio." This erosion is ash."
"Ash?" Toby questioned."I beg to differ, president of the geology club here and as president, I know that it is impossible for rocks to be burnt."
"No stubby dwarf," Charlemange said, toby going red with anger causing Jim and Krel to have to hold him back."Rocks in fact can be burnt but only by dragons breathe. Now not all dragons, myself included, can not burn stone but if under dragons heat for long enough, some breeds are capable of burning stone, like Oriental, Dragonnet, Wyvern-"
"Wait," Jim said, recognizing the word his seven-month-old had said."Did you say Wyvern?"
"That I did. Wyvern's, in particular, to have been rumored to have roamed the northern parts of this continent in the past so it is possible that one inhabits the caves in TrollMarket. And if that is the case, it could be not only dangerous for your Heartstone but also the trolls inhabiting it." he said turning the book he was holding the show a terrifying fire breathing dragon.
"Oh shit... if that's the case were in trouble," Toby said, staring with wide eyes at the dragon.
Jim went pale grabbing his phone and quickly dialing his mentor."Hey Blink? We've got a problem."
. . .
Jim stood at the crib, watching as Cassidy slept peacefully. It was late and he'd just relieved his mother of babysitting duty since Claire had been working for most of the day. He didn't know why he found enjoyment watching her sleep. Call him creepy but it was almost like a reminder that at the end of the day, nothing besides the small baby before him's well-being and happiness matter.
From behind he heard the door open and in the corner of his eyes he could see Claire walking over to the dresser they had to share."Long day?" he asked, seeing the bags she always had under her eyes appear darker.
With a yawn she nodded, smiling sweetly."Ya, but I got an extra tip," she said. It was crazy how valuable a mere ten dollars was. But those ten dollars, those tips and painful hours away from Cass would pay off when in who knows how long, they'd be able to afford an apartment, house, or condo.
"How much?" he asked, as she walked beside him sleepily leaning against his shoulder.
"Only twenty but it's better than nothing," she said resting a hand on the crib's frame. Both started own at Cassidy who had one hand on top of her Owl and the other beside her cord, probably from trying to grab at it."What did you find out?"
Jim sighed, not pleased with the information."It's a dragon."
"What!" Claire yelled, nearly waking Cassidy.
"We think there is a dragon in a neighboring cave to the one Morgana was found in. He's the reason the rocks and stone have been almost burning. We aren't sure if he's a threat or not but Blinky wants us to investigate sooner rather than later," he paused, still trying to not think of what they'd have to do if he was one."Their worried the Heartstone will be damaged. Blinky says there are already infected parts of it, and if it gets worse fast and we can't get rid of him then they'll have to find a new one."
"In New Jersey," Claire said, figuring out what he was getting at."We'll figure it out."
"No, there's no figuring things out. We can't afford a place here let alone New Jersey." he pulled his hand from under hers, looking down at the floor instead of Cassidy."It would be best if you girls stay here."
Trying to not yell since a sleeping baby was right there, Claire took a deep breath."Apartments are cheaper in New Jersey and we've saved enough for at least two or four months of rent."
"Claire..."
"Jim where you go we go," she stated turning towards him. Gently she grabbed both his hands, holding them tight. Jim was genuinely shocked when he saw tears in her eyes and her smile shaking."I know things haven't been easy, but I-we need you. I don't care if we're in a house or a car, Cass and I are coming. We're a family we need each other."
Jim smiled hearing her call them a family."You're right,"
"Things will be better, I know," she said, grip on his hands tightening.
Jim found her wording strange, he wasn't sure why but he did."What?" he asked, unsure what was so wrong with her kind words.
Instead of responding with a question, Claire looked down at the floor for a moment before responding."It's a gut feeling,"
Still confused and feeling like something was up, Jim raised an eyebrow." What do you...?" his words disappeared in motion as she took both his hands and gently pressed them against her flat stomach.
"I'm pregnant," she finally said as a warm smile drifted itself across her face.
Jim froze, overcome with more shock than when he'd found out she was pregnant with Cassidy."What... how?"
To his shock, Claire laughed, though a fear tears of what looked like joy instead of sadness ran down her cheeks."Do you really need me to explain that?" noticing how shocked he was, Claire frowned, letting go of his hands."Look, I know we wanted to wait a while before having another and weren't trying, but I'm not upset. Sure this makes things a lot harder but I'm glad it's happening now." she frowned seeing his expression was still fearful." Are you okay?" she asked.
About to speak, Jim stopped. That was Estelle. The girl he'd met before she was even created. A smile broke onto his face as he placed his and up against her stomach again." I'm happy too," he said, laughing as Claire smile,d pressing her forehead against his and placing her hands upon his."How long have you known?" he asked, curious since she hadn't been sick but had been complaining about ill like symptoms.
"I've been pretty sure for a few weeks, but I only took a test after you left this morning," she laughed."Cass was with me though I don't think she understood why mommy was crying."
Jim laughed, excited to see Cassidy dealing with being a big sister so young."I bet, were they happy or..."
Claire fell silent for a brief moment."Shock at first, I've been positive for a while that I was but actually seeing it... it was crazy to think we were actually having another."
"It is," Jim said, hoping that the dragon was no problem since with just one baby it would be hard enough living on their own, in a state with no other family members, but add on one on the way and it was just madness."What the hell are we going to do?"
Claire chuckled."I have no clue. But no matter what, we're staying together."
"Without a doubt," Jim said, grabbing her hand and looking at her engagement ring."One thing, before the madness ensues, I want to marry you."
Claire's eyes turned up to him."We can barely afford a one-bedroom apartment let alone a wedding."
"It'll be simple. No venue, not a lot of people, no crazy things," he said.
Claire smiled in agreeance." How about here, just in the backyard?" she suggested."Just our immediate family and close friends."
"That sounds perfect," Jim replied, not into the idea of having their wedding be a public event."A month."
"How about we wait till after Christmas," Claire said."I don't want our wedding to be overshadowed by the holidays."
Jim grinned, excited for what was to come."It's a date,"
I'll try to include Eli, Steve, and Krel more, I just never finished watching 3Below since I'm more of a fantasy and history buff than an alien person.
