Yes, I accidentally wrote that Blinky had three eyes, my apologies. I've finally gotten halfway through the book and I find it funny how Blinky is blind in the books and it is his brother who is blind in the show. Speaking of which, I'm unsure if Dictacious exists in the series. Still, I suggest them greatly. The story is rarely different(Claire's British...) and it's refreshing to see James since in the books it was Barbara who left.

"Wrench," Blinky commanded holding his right hand out. After months of rebuilding, the Market was somewhat back to how it originally looked. More circular of a cavern with dug out shops and homes into the stone walls. Crystals were hung at the walls, lighting the dim cavern and the Heartstone sat in the far corner, underground river working around it and continuing through the deeper parts of the cavern. There were still permanent burn marks in the walls and flooring caused by Bellroc, but the trolls seemed to treat them as a reminder of their friends and families who'd died that day.

"Wrench," Jim repeated, fishing through the toolbox, eventually eyeing the rusted wrench. Just outside the cave's entrance, the forest was thickest, allowing trolls to exit during the daytime. Before the boy and troll, was a run down beat up dark green car, made who knows when. Looking at it, Jim was horrified but he couldn't hate it since he'd bought it for under a thousand dollars and the engine was working, well somewhat.

"I do apologize it was taken so long to finally fix your automobile," Blinky apologized, reading the manual with ease, unlike Jim who still struggled with instructions." Ever since the Arcane Order's quite sudden attack, things have been hard to manage." holding a bolt still with one hand, he used the other two to perfectly screw the bolt in in just one quick twist.

"No need to apologize," Jim assured him, staring into the toolbox for another bolt. Spotting the small metal object, he held it in the plan of his hand, holding it out for her mentor."Believe me, these last few months have been... overwhelming. I'm just glad we're getting it done before Estelle."

"I am not as educated on human reproduction as I'd like to be but don't the females of your kind have to keep the child within them for the length of a year?" he asked, holding out the wrench which Jim switched out for a screwdriver.

"Nine months and we just want to be prepared. Cass was a month early, of course, we don't think Estelle will be but we want to be more prepared than we were last time." Jim said, thinking about how Claire seemed to have already begun her nesting faze. Constantly cleaning whatever Cassidy played with and just keeping the apartment cleaner than normal. He also found it funny how she'd been so terrified and still was to go through labor, yet she seemed restless, just wanting to go into labor. Really he didn't understand it but chose to not question it since the last thing he wanted was his pregnant hormonal wife pissed at him.

"Ah yes, isn't it the celebration of your daughter's first birthing day?" Blinky asked, wiping his stone forehead, black oil trailing across the scars he received from the battle months earlier. Blinky, much like Jim, was lucky to survive. The leader of the trolls had been buried in multiple feet of rubble and deceased troll ashes. Shockingly, the only thing to permanently damage him was falling blind in two of his six eyes, both of which were on the left side of his face. At first, the troll was humiliated(though he hid it), constantly being reminded by his brother if he was nearly as blind as him. But over the months, he'd come to accept the fact he could only see through four eyes.

Jim laughed, always finding it funny how trolls dubbed human traditions."Birthday but ya her birthdays tomorrow."

"Have your families come to visit or is that not tradition?" he asked, treating the concept of a birthday like Thanksgiving.

Jim stood up, wiping the dirt from his knees." No, they mailed gifts but they're coming up when Estelle's born." he said, climbing into the driver's seat, starting up the engine. After inserting the key and turning it a few times, the engine finally kicked in, revving loudly.

"Eureka!" Blinky bellowed, tossing his arms up in the air.

Jim laughed at his mentor's enthusiasm, removing the key as not to waste the battery."It sounds great! Thanks, Blink, this'll make things a whole lot easier."

"It is my pleasure Master Jim," Blinky said, questions buzzing in his mind."But I do have a few queries on the subject of human traditions. For a start, these birthdays you celebrate. In the past, I am aware they involved initiations of the sort, now is that still part of it or...?"

"No, there's nothing like that. Birthdays really are dumb but they're a big deal when you're younger. It's just an excuse to spoil your kid and eat cake," he said, hoping Cassidy would like the doll they'd gotten her. It wasn't a bitty baby or anything like that but was still nice and came with a chintzy pink stroller you could push it in and they hoped that would push her to learn to walk. And seeing a baby doll could also help get her warmed up for Estelle, though he seriously doubted it would.

Though having received an answer, Blinky still remained quite confused."Well if it is such an exaggerated day then why celebrate it?"

"Well, it's not exaggerated. We humans don't live forever so birthdays are more precious for us than trolls. And though I'm not a birthday fan, it is fun to celebrate your own child's," he said, even if he was yet to celebrate her first birthday.

"Oh," Blinky said, a strand closer to understanding human culture."Well then, wish young Cassidy a happy birthday from me,"

"I will Blink," Jim said, leaning forward to pack up the tools, but couldn't as rustling was heard from behind and even before he could notice the sound, the person had pounced."What the he-"

"Jim!" Aja shrieked, hugging the TrollHunter much too tight." Toby said you'd be here, isn't it lively we were able to visit?! Darcy said it was your little girls birthday, and I love babies!" she exclaimed much too joyfully for any human being, well at least she wasn't human. At the moment she was portrayed in her human form, though it felt like she had four arms whilst hugging him.

"Good... to see you too. Aja... can you let go," he gasped, not wanting his ribs to break again. The queen finally let him go, smiling awkwardly but still joyfully as she stepped back, Jim taking deep breathes.

"Sorry, it's strange that your not, uh..."

"Troll," he sighed, taking no offense but realizing it might've come off as rude.

The bubbly girl frowned, awkwardly scratching at her hair she'd recently cut to resemble a pixie cut."Sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"No no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come across as rude. It really is great to see you... Tobes?" he asked, leaning his head to the side so he could look past the blonde girl. At a loss of breath, Toby took shaky steps forward, holding onto a tree for support.

"She's... she's so fast." he panted, words breathless and unkempt."Hey... Jimbo," he said, waving a hand that fell back to his side almost immediately.

"Ahh one of the aliens," Blinky said in a welcoming voice.

Aja frowned."Akiridion," she corrected swiftly, unlike her brother who'd stretch it out so the one who messed up would get the message.

"Wait what are you doing here? I thought you were ruling back on your planet," he said, walking over to his friend, near death. Allowing him to use him as a crutch, Jim lead him over to the car, letting him go so he could sit down in the back.

"I am, but Zadra's covering for the weekend and we haven't had many problems so I took the opportunity to visit my brother." she said, turning back, but Krel wasn't present."Toby, where is Krel,"

"I... dunno. I was chasing you," he said, still panting loudly.

"WHY!" someone shouted in the near distance.

Aja smiled, nodding her head."There he is."

"Poop, even in New Jersey, there is poop!" Krel complained as he typically did. The bottom of his sneaker had a thin messy lining of what was most likely deer or raccoon poop.

"Young man, there are feces everywhere, you just so happen to step in it which is entirely by chance," Blinky pointed out with his finger moving in the air as if he were giving a lecture.

"Well it is still infuriating," he muttered, kicking his sneaker against the moss building up on the sides of rocks and trees. Failing to get the feces out of the bottom indents and not personally wanting to get his hands dirty, Krel sighed. Jim noticed the King in waiting, held a brown paper bag that seemed to contain something." Toby informed us it was your daughter's birthday, and it seems to be a custom to give gifts." he said, holding out to brown bag.

"Oh thanks," he said, surprised Krel would think to do such a nice thing, though he assumed Aja was the one to come up with the idea. Opening the bag, Jim went pale, certainly not expecting to see what he saw."Oh, this is..."

"It is formal on our planet to begin sharing the craft of battle at a young age," Krel said, a pleased smile on his face.

"Mhmm, we thought since you are the TrollHunter, you'd want her too," Aja smiled, bouncing in excitement as usual.

"Ya thanks but..." he pulled out the Akiridion's version of a sword. It wasn't one of their Serrators but a smaller version of it when activated to be a sword. He turned up to the happy faces of the queen and king in waiting, obviously thinking their gift was perfect."... she'll love it when she's uh, older." he said, slipping it back into the bag where it would stay until her fifth birthday.

"Good to hear, now where is the cake?" Krel questioned, placing his hands together as if asking an important question.

"Cass's birthday's tomorrow," Jim said, expecting that to clear things but both wore the same questioning expressions.

"Then what are we doing in the forest!?" Krel shouted, turning towards Toby who had finally recovered from chasing after the Akiridion queen.

Jim laughed, sitting down in the driver's seat again."Don't worry, we got this fixed so you don't have to walk back."

"You fixed this hunk of junk?" Krel asked, looking over the automobile."Might I ask why?"

"No, now do you want a drive?" he asked, not trying to be rude, but also not in the mood to have his car made fun of."Thanks again Blink,"

Blinky stepped toward a large but discrete stone, holding a horngozel in his many hands."You are welcome Master Jim, and a happy birthing day to Cassidy."


"Claire!" Darcy and Mary practically screamed, pushing past Jim to their startled best friend. It was a good thing she wasn't holding Cassidy, though Estelle was probably squished.

Claire's eyes widened, shocked to see her best friends."Hi guys, uhh back up," she said, pushing them away to relieve her stomach and baby inside. Her hand traced the outer edge, working towards the middle where it remained.

"Holy shit you're huge," Mary exclaimed, holding both hands out to gesture at her stomach.

Ignoring the curse since Jim had taken Cassidy on a walk, and ignoring the statement she'd typically be annoyed at, Claire chuckled, throwing her head back."Don't remind me."

"I mean, last time we saw you, you were showing but not this much," Darcy said, Claire, preferring the way she said it in contrast to Mary.

"Sure you ain't having twins?" she asked, hands resting on her small hips.

Claire rolled her eyes, shoving her in the shoulder." Were you asleep in biology class?" she asked, both Mary and Darcy sharing confused looks."It's impossible for me to have twins," she ended quietly, seeing she might be the only person in her class to have enjoy biology class.

"We need to get you out of the house sweetie," Darcy said, voice dripping in concern as her hand rubbed her shoulder.

"Ya and we outta soon," Mary said, setting a pink gift bag on the table."You could pop any day now."

"Okay, that's a little far. I'm only 32 weeks," she reminded them, turning towards the counter and placing the chocolate birthday cake Jim had made earlier. The frosting was dark chocolate and in white frosting, he'd manage to write out Happy Birthday Cass."Where's Aja? Jim said she was visiting for the weekend."

"She is, had to go do some Queeny stuff but she'll be here soon." Mary said, staring at Darcy who was practically glaring at her."Stop it," she ordered, trying to be discrete.

Darcy continued to glare but turned more towards Claire."Is everything alright?" Claire asked, put off by Mary's, unlike Mary attitude.

"Everything is fine," Mary stated, spending time to pronounce every word fluently. And besides her want to convince and diverge the conversation, Claire was left unconvinced.

"No," Darcy said, letting the word stretch out. She frowned, turning towards Claire."Not everything is alright."

"What's wrong?" Claire questioned, worried since it had been months since she'd last seen either of her friends and hadn't had the time to keep up with their lives."Mary, Darcy?"

"Talk to her," Darcy forced, glaring at Mary through half-closed eyes.

Mary glanced up from the floor, seeing Claire's worried face. She sighed for a minute, trying to prepare herself."You never told us with Cassidy, if you ever considered an abortion."

"What?" Claire asked, the question confusing and seemingly off-topic."No, I didn't really consider one, with Cass at least. With Estelle, I did because we had so much on our plates but we never planned on actually getting one. Why do you ask?"

Mary gave no answer but crossed her arms in what could only be shame. Claire gasped silently." You... Mary," she said, voice understanding and endearing. Stepping forward, she pulled her friend into a caring embrace Darcy soon joining to hug.

"I wish I hadn't," she said, near tears but refusing to let any shed.

"When?" Claire asked, not wanting to sound forceful since it was a sensitive subject.

"The week after you told us you were having a girl." she answered, voice choked and retreated."I'd been waiting but Hank started saying that I was getting fat. When I realized I hadn't gotten my period in a month... I knew. I'm a horrible person."

"No you're not," Darcy said, rubbing her back in circular motions.

"There is nothing wrong about getting one," Claire assured her.

"Bu...but you were sixteen and didn't get one," Mary said, a single tear rolling down her pale cheek, puzzled by her answer.

Stroking her cheek, Claire smiled sweetly."Yes, but everyone is different. I could've easily gotten one and our life would be a hell of a lot easier but it wasn't what we wanted."

Mary's lip quivered."I didn't... Hank said he'd leave me if I didn't. So I did and when I didn't get over it quick enough he left me."

"The dick," Claire cursed, hugging Mary again, ignoring her destroying urge to pee."It isn't right that he made you, in no way, but you don't have to beat yourself up. Even if you chose to on your own, that wouldn't change anything but the fact you weren't ready and that's fine," Claire said, smiling.

Mary nodded, wiping the few tears which had fallen."Thank you, I just... wonder what it would be like if I hadn't gone through with it."

"That cake would be gone between the two of you, I tell you that," Darcy said, attempting to lighten the mood and receiving a chuckle from Claire and Mary.

"Thanks," Mary repeated, smile back on her face."I needed that."

"Of course and if you need to talk again, I'm here." Claire reminded her, pulling the plates out from the cabinet above the counter.

"And when Claire's back to being a baby's chewing toy you can talk to me," Darcy added on.

"Hah, please I haven't stopped being a chewing toy. I'm talking about Cassidy," she said unamused as Darcy perceived the information differently.

The door opened and Jim sighed, pushing in the baby stroller that held a sobbing Cassidy."What happened?" Claire asked, waddling over to them as Jim pulled her out of the stroller, tears streaming down the poor girl's cheeks.

"Cars scared her, and I'm pretty sure she's tired," he yawned, exhausted his self from no sleep in two days.

"Oh did the cars scare you my brave one-year-old?" she asked, rocking her back and forth." How does opening Abuela and Abuelo's birthday present sound?" she asked, walking toward the table where the present from Mary and darcy, along with presents their parents had mailed from Arcadia."Would that help?"

"Mhm," she answered in a sniffle.

The room laughed and Cassidy soon was overwhelmed by the doll from her parents, wooden doctor's set from Barbara and Strickler or Grammy and Papa as they were called, older baby books from Ophelia and Javier or her Abuela and Abuelo, entirely ignoring the adorable clothes she'd gotten from Mary and Darcy.

"You're one lucky little girl, Cassie," Jim said, unboxing the doctor's toys from his mother and step-father.

"Jimmy Jam," Mary's voice rang from the spot she and Darcy sat, along with Aja, Toby, and Krel, all of whom had just arrived.

Jim turned his head, smiling at the shirt they forced on the one-year-old. It was black and in white bold lettering read: Best Big Sis. Claire sat in the chair at the table, holding in her hands a baby onesie that was black and read: Best Lil Sis.

Reviews and Critiques are Welcome.