So I did delete the book sequel to this and just decided to add the chapters on here so it's easier for me to organize. Sorry for the inconvenience and enjoy these chapters.
This chapter's main use is to be a fill-in, bringing new plot and updates and runs on the shorter side. Next chapter will be more plot-driven and longer.
"Fuck!" Toby shouted, throwing his bag onto the ground and stamping on it. The mud from his shoes, due to the recent rain showers, printed onto his backpack, definitely soaking a squishing the tuna fish sandwich inside.
Panting, Jim met his friend around the building, surprised at how angry he was."Cool it Tobes." he said, wiping the sweat which had built itself at his hairline over after an hour of non-stop high-speed bike riding. In recent weeks, there had been multiple reports of loitering and shadow-like figures in Browns Mill and surrounding towns. At first, it didn't bring them any concern and they were still rebuilding from the battle against the Arcane Order and mourning the many trolls who'd lost their lives, so it wasn't a big deal. That was until one old man reported a horned creature standing ten feet tall approached him. Of course, the news called him crazy but Blinky(who had survived but had gone blind in two of his three eyes) knew better and came up with the theory the followers of the Arcane Order could still walk amongst them. Sadly, that meant Toby and Jim were forced to take night patrols, Aaarrrggghhh accompanying them occasionally but having to stay down in the Market most of the time to help with repairs.
"We lost the goddamn troll again!" he shouted, flailing his arms in the air from sleep deprivation, something Jim was very well adapted to. Actually, the stakeouts were a good preparation for Estelle who was due in a short two months.
"Don't worry Tobes, we'll get him next time," Jim assured him, tapping him on the shoulder as he passed by."Oh and quiet down. We don't want all of New Jersey knowing Trolls exist."
"True, now that would be a disaster," he said, getting on his bike with ease. After two years of being Jim's Warhammer sidekick, the pudgy boy had grown some muscle and even height, making the simple task of hopping on his bike, easy."But do you ever think we'll catch this guy? We have no idea who he is when human."
"I know, but Blink says he seems to hit mainly downtown so tomorrow we'll stick to down there," he said, bounding the curb as it began to pour. He sighed, glancing down at the bike he'd had since he was 16. Back in Arcadia, his mother had been driving to work when someone hit her car. It was nowhere as bad as the one Claire was in but bad enough she needed her car she'd given Jim and Claire, back. So they were back to bikes. Or for the time being. The one upside about New Jersey was he could find more people selling things front out of their garages and he'd recently found a rundown car from the 80s he hoped Blinky could help him fix once the repairs in Troll Market were done.
"How Shadowdancer?" Toby asked, gasping for air as they climbed a large hill that would meet up with the road both their apartment complexes were on. Switching to online courses for the last month and a half of school, Toby had been able to afford his own apartment after his Nana sold their house(she'd moved in with Varvatos, as she had planned for when Toby left for college.).
"Alright. Ess hasn't been too active lately but the vomit hasn't stopped, actually, I'm pretty sure it's gotten worse." he frowned, thinking of wife who was typically either home with Cassidy or at her job at Starbucks which she quite a few weeks back when the moving around grew to difficult.
"Worried bout the tykes getting along?" he asked, pulling his dark red helmet off and hanging by the strap on his bike handle. Using the muscle he'd built over the years, he picked up the bike and set it in the rack.
"Cass and Ess?" Jim questioned, receiving a nod in reply. He shrugged."We're not really sure. The only other baby she's met in Enrique and he's a toddler. We've been trying to explain with one of her dolls like there will be a little baby but she doesn't understand."
"Rough," Toby said, yawning."God my feet are dead from this running."
"Hah, Claire's are insane."
"Hah, I won't tell her you said that," Toby laughed, sighing in relief as they stopped in front of the complex he lived in.
Jim chuckled, placing his foot on the ground sadly falling right into a puddle."Thanks, right now I wouldn't be surprised if she did kill me."
Toby shuttered at the thought." Uhh… I don't wanna imagine Darcy when she's-" Toby stopped himself, an unamused expression on his face as Jim smirked."Stop, that is not implying we are, it is a in time."
"Whatever you say Tobes," Jim said, smiling slyly as he sped off before Toby could yell back. The teen laughed when he heard his friend's shrieks in response. Rain pouring down on him, he rushed to get his bike into the bike rack positioned beside the sidewalk. Shivering in his raincoat, the warmth of the apartment relieved him, muscles relaxing like he was being soaked in a hot bath.
"D-da d-a," Cassidy shrieked, flapping her arms enthusiastically when she saw her father. She was sat on the rug, toy Alphabet blocks surrounding her. She struggled to push herself up but managed to crawl a few feet forward."Hoo,"
"I'm home," he said, removing her soaked coat before kissing her on the top of her head. Cassidy squealed, crawling back towards her blocks but stopping at her tank. On her own, Cassidy figured out the magnets on the fridge would stick to her tank, causing the few magnets they had to be transferred to her oxygen tank.
"Hi, any success tonight?" Claire asked, receiving a sweet kiss on the lips. Her hand rested on top of her large stomach, tapping the remaining cheese off the spoon and ending it on the counter.
"Don't remind me," he sighed opening their closest to grab his pajamas.
Claire frowned, turning to the stove where she was cooking mac and cheese." That bad? Well how does from the box mac and cheese sound?" she asked, a pleasant smile on her face though her entire lower half ached and she was exhausted.
Jim grinned, draping his arm over her shoulder." It sounds great," he turned down, pulling his hand down and placing them both on her swollen stomach. She was much larger with Estelle than she had been with Cassidy, mainly since she never had the proper time to fully heal and get back into shape."How's Ess?
"Okay, not moving too much but my feet are killing me." she complained, shifting between legs, the weight becoming hard to handle."I just hope she doesn't grow much more."
"I know, you were half this size with Cass," Jim said, regretting it the moment it was spoken." Oh I mean…" he stuttered, avoiding her glaring eyes and grimacing frown.
"Why don't you put a foot in your mouth while your ahead," she suggested, both eyebrows raised. Jim smiled awkwardly in response, unable to string any other words."How's the other search going?"
Not paying attention, Jim furrowed his brows, oohing and sighing when he realized what she was talking about."Nothing. She's vanished. Blinky says since she didn't show any threat we shouldn't worry but I'm more worried about her."
Somehow, when Toby was watching both of them, Briar miraculously disappeared. He couldn't think of any magical presence or even hearing the door open. It was simply one minute she's there and the next she wasn't. Being discrete, as not to gain his neighbor's attention, they investigated the surrounding businesses, the forest they found her in, and parts of the Market, parts that weren't rubble at least.
"It doesn't make sense," he sighed, much more focused on this strange missing girl than a possible changeling roaming amongst them. He had no reason to be focused on Briar besides the fact she was a mystery. Every single thing she'd said added to the mystery of who she was and where she came from. Of course, she was from Camelot but when exactly? And how was it that there was a TrollHunter when the amulet wasn't even being drafted yet? Sadly it was these questions that overwhelmed him and made him forget about the problems they were facing here and now. For starters, rebuilding the entire Market whilst everyone was healing, tracking down an elusive and almost impossible to catch changeling, and preparing for Estelle. But for the TrollHunter, that was every day. There was never a weekend he could kick his feet up and relax. No, there was always some end of days threat or diaper that needed to be changed. Making him look forward to the day he and Claire would finally get to take that honeymoon or vacation to who knows where.
Claire's lips oriented to the side, chestnut eyes staring him down as the ice blue ones belonging to her husband chose to drift off, in the direction of their daughter but never focusing in on her. She lifted her hands, lacing them around his neck."Don't stress yourself about it. If we find her, we find her, if we don't well we don't. From what you told Blinky, he said she didn't seem like a threat so there's no need to worry."
Eyes gliding and meeting up with hers, Jim couldn't help but smile, remembering how he'd fallen in love with those eyes years ago."I know but-"
"The great TrollHunter, slayer of Gunmar and Bular, banisher of the Arcane Order, donning a heart too big for his own body," she stated dramatically, throwing her head back. Though tough and kind, Claire Lake could be harsh when it came to jokes.
"I know you're mocking me," he informed her, something she was quite aware of. His hands glided down the edge of her swollen stomach, holding her gently at the waist, reminding himself she was sore there so not hold too tightly.
Pleased with herself, Claire let her grin fall back into a content smile."You know, we should really be taking this time to our advantage."
"What do you mean?"
Surprised he hadn't caught on, Claire cocked an eyebrow, turning her head towards Cassidy as they moved around in a dance-like pattern."We barely have time together the three of us let alone the two of us, and once she gets here it'll be near impossible."
"I know," Jim admitted, looking towards the ground with a frown. After another rotation, he'd mustered the courage to continue and met her gaze again."I promise, once we get this changeling stuff over with, I'll be here 24/7."
"Well if she's anything like her sister she'll be early," Claire initially laughed, but shuddered, recalling how hard that day had been from not only being in a car crash but also having her baby a month early without the guarantee she'd survive, it was unbearable.
"Let's hope not," he said, scanning the apartment. Since Estelle was a girl, they planned on just using almost all of Cassidy's baby clothes since the soon to be one year old was growing them out. Cassidy still used her crib so they'd purchased a bassinet that would work until she grew it out and Estelle could use it. He was concern about Cassidy's reaction to a new sibling and prayed they'd get along for Claire and his sake." Any news on the birth plan?" for almost the entire pregnancy, they hadn't been sure if Claire would be able to deliver naturally or have to get another cesarean section.
Fear spread across the teen's face as she thought back to her last doctor's appointment." She said I should be okay to have her naturally but if it's needed they can do a c-section,"
Jim smiled, thinking about how she wanted to be able to have her naturally." That's great," he exclaimed, joyful tune making her silence more noticeable. His smile faded, lifting a hand to her pale cheek."You okay?" he asked, concerned. The last time she looked so scared was when she was unsure if she'd be able to use Estelle's manipulative abilities. But even then, she was scared, but somehow not as scared as she appeared at the moment.
"I guess," she said, timidly looking up at him." Just nervous. With Cass, I was so scared already to just be a mom but when she came early and nearly..." she immediately shut her eyes, pressing her head into his chest."I don't want that to happen again. So much can go wrong in labor and I've never done it, what if she gets... hurt?"
"Cass wasn't your fault Claire," he knew she was referring to the lifelong disability she now had, and the annoying task of lugging the large metal tank with her everywhere." Yes, she might have to deal with that tank forever and not get to run like a maniac, but she's alive and she's done so much more than anyone said she would." both turned - Jim still holding Claire close - to face Cassidy. The girl giggled as she knocked all the magnets off again and flapped her arms up and down.
The duo laugh, Claire's hand trailing down to her stomach." I hope they get along." she said, startling at a sudden kick.
"Me too," he whispered, holding her stomach, smiling at the light taps from within."Me too,"
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