Author's Note/ Disclaimer:
To my previous readers: I'm back and am thrilled to publish my short story over a new show I am ABSOLUTELY obsessed with! I didn't think I would write another fanfiction this soon after my Gargoyles series, but I felt the itch to keep writing.
To my new readers: welcome to my story!
This fanfiction is all about Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia on Netflix (3 Below and Wizards). If you haven't watched it, you NEED to before reading this fan-fiction, and just in general, because it's that awesome. Guys. Guillermo Del Torro is a genius! I love his work and love this show SO, SO much. I can't wait to see the movie 'Rise of the Titans' in a few more weeks and see how the show ends.
I love all the characters, including Jim and Claire's romance. However, I found myself loving Walter/Barbara's chemistry the most. It appears that they get together in 3 Below, but we only got snippets of them, and I wanted to change that. (ha-ha)
Brief summary: Trollhunters: In Good Hands is about Walter and Barbara's relationship after Jim leaves for New Jersey, at the end of 'The Eternal Knight, part 2.' This book will be centered around the events in 3Below and parts of Wizards and I'll be adding to those scenes or creating new scenes.
Thank you for reading! As always, reviews are welcome and strongly encouraged.
Rated M: for brief language, minor violence, and brief sexual content/description. Mostly rated T.
Thanks! And, as always, this is a fanfiction story, and none of the characters belong to me. Some made-up support characters do.
Shine on!
~Sunmoonlight
~ Chapter One ~
After the Eternal Night
Doctor Barbara Lake watched the sunset on the western horizon with her arms crossed over her chest. All she could do was stare, and stare, and stare, despite how much she longed to shut her weary eyes. It had been a very long and exhausting day for her. And, unfortunately, it wasn't over yet.
The dusk was producing amazing yellow, pink, indigo, and blue colors throughout the vast sky, but the peace and beauty of the setting day did not hint at anything that occurred in the small town of Arcadia Oaks mere hours ago.
Gumm-Gumm Trolls attacked the surface, followed by their terrifying leader, Gunmar, and the lethal troll Assassin, Angor Rot. All wishing death upon every human.
But that wasn't all.
Trolls and Wizards fought each other, both good and bad, and her son, James Lake, Jr., was caught up in the middle of it all.
Barbara was still trying to process her new reality and how her life had been flipped upside down. The quiet wind blowing through her pulled-up, auburn-red hair gave her no peace as she recalled the past few days, including today.
During Gunmar's war, she spent over twelve hours in the local hospital's Emergency Department, tending to patient after patient who had gotten caught up in the battle.
Every moment she spent in the chaos, she prayed over and over again that her beloved son, her only son, would not be one of the injured to walk through the hospital doors. Nor be one of the unfortunate few that were now lying in the morgue.
Barbara clutched her heart, finally closed her weary eyes, and sighed out heavily. Though that thankfully didn't happen, she still couldn't keep those damning thoughts away. She worried for her son before the Trollhunting business, and now that he was leaving, her stomach was in a constant clench of anxiety.
Her sixteen-year-old son, Jim, was a protector, named the Trollhunter, and had spent the entire night fighting to protect Arcadia, both human and troll-kind alike, from Gunmar and his armies.
According to his mentor, Mr. Blinky, his friends, AAARRRGGGHHH, Claire, and Toby, Jim had battled not only Gunmar and his armies of Gumm-Gumms, the assassin, Angor Rot, but had also fought an evil sorceress, by the name of Morgana La Fay, and it was a near bloodbath of a battle.
Jim had gotten hurt badly, but he was alive, and Barbara was intensely thankful for that. However, that was one of the reasons why her stomach hadn't stopped clenching in fear and anxiety since she left the hospital an hour ago. The other was standing right next to her.
Merlin.
The ancient wizard was gazing out at the same stunning sunset she was, with one hand twisted around his back and the other clutching the golden staff of Avalon. Neither had said a word to the other.
They were up at the top of a nearby hill that overlooked Arcadia Oaks, but Barbara wasn't just admiring the beautiful colors from the sunset like he was. She was staring at the various billows of smoke from the damage the small town took during the war, listening to the distant sirens of firefighters, police, and EMS helping restore their now damaged little town, and thinking about all who she saw injured in the hospital.
She didn't know how the wizard could merely stand there, looking at great peace, when her heart was sick with anxiety, anguish, anger, and fear. Didn't he care about those who had gotten hurt? If he did, he wasn't showing it, but then again, nothing made sense anymore.
Barbara had accepted that her son was the Trollhunter and that Jim's friends, Claire Nunez, and Toby Domzolski, were his teammates. She also had accepted that two trolls by the names of Mr. Blinky and AAARRRGGGGHHH were his friends and greatest troll allies.
She could even accept that the man she had been dating, Walter Strickler, Jim's past World-History teacher at Arcadia Oaks High School, was actually a troll Changeling by the name of Stricklander.
What she couldn't make sense of, however, was why Merlin used a magical concoction on Jim and turned him into a half-troll.
No more was her son the skinny, smaller, gentle boy she always knew, but he was now taller than her, more robust, had blue skin made out of stone, horns coming out from his long black hair, and fangs rising out of his overbite. He looked like a troll beast, and according to Merlin, the change was permanent.
Barbara would always love and support her son no matter what he looked like, but she had no say in that change, and that was difficult for her because he is her son. She wasn't given a chance to say a proper goodbye to the son she once knew and raised for sixteen years by herself.
Now, Jim was being called to fulfill another quest in New Jersey to help the remaining good Trolls find a new Heart Stone to call home. And he was leaving at nightfall.
Jim killed Gunmar, Angor Rot, while his team of friend Trollhunters got rid of Morgana with the aid of Merlin, but now her son was going away. And she didn't know for how long.
Loneliness clutched at her heart, and the past pain of her first husband, James Lake, Sr. leaving her and Jim for another woman took hold of her as if it were a fresh wound.
It had taken her years to get over the betrayal of her ex-husband, and Jim had vowed that he would never leave her, but here they were. She understood why he had to go, and she was supportive of it, but part of her wasn't ready to say goodbye.
"You know. Arcadia Oaks really is a beautiful place. I'm amazed by how stunning this town is."
Barbara flinched slightly at the drawling voice of Merlin, who, suddenly, after minutes of standing next to her in cold silence, was now attempting to talk to her. She sighed angrily and didn't glance over at him as he continued, speaking more to himself than anything.
"I'm also amazed by what vast improvements in technology you mortals have accomplished over the centuries."
Barbara still didn't say a word.
"It is a shame that we have to leave."
Barbara shut her eyes and exhaled sharply. Anger boiled inside her, and the words lashed out of her mouth before she could stop herself. "Don't sit here and spew your lies to me. I know everything I need to know about you."
"Oh?" Merlin finally glanced over at her. His bushy black and grey eyebrows raised high. "Do you now?"
Barbara tightened her arms across her chest, unsure if she would try to hit him if she loosened them. "Yes," she said bitterly, still refusing to look at him. "You only care about yourself."
"You're so sure about that?" Merlin's voice was laced with amusement, which only made her angrier.
"I'm sure."
"Hmm."
Barbara gasped in exasperation, loosed her arms, and faced him. "Really? That's all you have to say to me? After what you've done?"
Merlin faced her now. "And what have I done to upset you so?"
"I...I… you… ugh…!" Barbara stopped and choked on her words.
Where should she start?
His amulet chose her son to be a Trollhunter in the first place, he then turned Jim into a half-troll to fight in a dangerous war, and now he was forcing her son to leave for an unknown amount of time. All this, Merlin was asking of Jim, and he was only sixteen, for heaven's sake!
Barbara had so much to say to the old wizard, so much anger to get off her chest, but she couldn't seem to get the words out. She wasn't always best at communicating things when she was upset.
Barbara shut her eyes and ran a hand through her hair. She was overwhelmed, and the anger within her heart was turning into sorrow.
Giving up on trying to explain herself, she scoffed, turned away from him again, and swallowed down the burning tears welling up in her eyes. Her scathing words wouldn't change anything.
To her relief, Merlin seemed to sense what was bothering her. "Ah," he said quietly. "You are still upset that I changed your son into a half-troll."
Barbara sniffed and moved her glasses so she could wipe her tears away.
"That's one of the things. Yes."
When she heard the sound of his clanking armor approaching her, she turned to face him, and his dark brown eyes were weary with concern.
"The war would have turned out a lot differently had I not changed Jim into the Trollhunter he was destined to be," Merlin explained quietly. "Don't you realize that?"
"Yes, I do," Barbara whispered, still wiping tears away. "I'm not trying to stop Jim from being or doing whatever he needs to do, but I am so worried for him! He's been through so much already, being only sixteen, and now that you turned him into a half-troll, I'm worried for his well-being! He has just barely begun living his life! I've watched him struggle for so long, and I'm having a hard time learning to-" She stopped suddenly and bit her lip.
"Let go?" Merlin guessed, and she reluctantly nodded. He sighed, and the smug look in his eye faded slightly.
"Yes, it is always hard for a parent to let go of their children and watch them grow through trial and hardship. More so for you, I'm sure, since your child has a great destiny in store for him and the burden is great upon you both. But, rest assured, Barbara Lake, that my amulet does not make mistakes. It chose your son because of his pure heart, his undying courage, and loyalty. Jim has grown immensely as a young man, friend, and warrior because of it. You just have to have faith in his abilities and believe that he knows what to do to come back home at the end of his quests."
"I do believe in him and have always believed in my son," Barbara said firmly. "It's just been a lot to watch him be so stressed out from being the Trollhunter to him losing his identity, fighting in a war, and now leaving for another quest. It's just a lot to process and accept."
Turning towards the western horizon again, Barbara watched the sun dip behind the distant mountains and continued to battle the burning tears she longed to shed. The yellows faded into a pink, purple, and blue hue. The night was coming, as was the inevitable goodbye she would have to make.
Merlin walked up next to her and stared at the horizon once again."We cannot always choose our destinies. Sometimes, destiny chooses our fates, and we must embrace and become what it wishes us to be. Fear is but the precursor of valor." Merlin paused, and Barbara sighed heavily again, clutching her chest.
The familiar clenching and churning of her stomach continued, her heart began to pound, and more tears threatened to spill.
But, still, she refused to shed them.
"Jim will be just fine, Barbara," Merlin suddenly said softly, and she felt his gaze on her. "Have faith in your son, stay strong, be brave, and continue to battle your fears. You'll see him again."
"How can you be so sure?"
The question left Barbara's lips before she could stop herself, nor wipe the pure terrified gaze from her face as she stared at him, but Merlin simply smiled at her.
"Because Jim has you for a mother," he said warmly. "Everything that has made him my champion Trollhunter is no doubt because of you, Barbara Lake. You should be very proud of that."
Barbara should have felt relieved or comforted by his heartfelt words, but she still couldn't shake her fears. Shutting her eyes again, she clutched a hand over her mouth and exhaled out the pressure building up inside of her.
Just then, a gentle rustling in the bushes behind them brought both hers and Merlin's attention away from the sunset to the forest behind them.
Emerging from the Arcadian forest was her half-troll son, Jim. Mr. Blinky, his troll mentor, AAARRRGGGHHH, his giant troll friend, and a few other trolls hung behind in the shadows. While their stone-skins could handle the sun, now that it had set, it was clear that they were giving her and Jim space to say goodbye.
Jim was clutching his side, limping slightly, and was dressed, head to foot, in his daylight- mixed Eclipse armor. His glowing red amulet was tucked securely over his heart and shined as brightly as the soul she knew to live inside of him.
Before Barbara could collect Jim in her arms, she saw that he too was already crying. His bright blue eyes, which matched hers exactly, were swimming with tears. They took tentative steps towards each other, both wanting to avoid saying good-bye, when Jim looked down from her gaze, sighed heavily, and lamented, "I promised I'd never leave you."
Grief struck her heart at his words, but so did something else—the overwhelming desire to comfort her son and be strong for his sake.
"Oh, honey," Barbara said softly, taking his large, stone face in her hands and forcing him to look into her eyes. "I knew this day would come. I just…" she paused and looked down, fighting more of her tears away, "never knew when." She and Jim stared at each other for a moment, then gathered each other in an embracing hug and let their tears flow freely.
"I hope you find what you're looking for," Barbara cried, resting her face onto his armored shoulder, sobbing quietly.
Jim tightened his grip around her, which nearly took her breath away. To her, he was so strong, and so different, but yet so familiar, all the same.
"Just call often," she continued, giving the same talk she always used to give him when he was human. "Every day. Twice. Text, now and then?"
"Of course, mom," Jim chuckled through his sob, and his deeper voice broke slightly. "I love you."
Barbara broke, and another sob escaped her mouth. "Not as much as I love you, kiddo."
"Are you ready, Master Jim?" The deep voice of Jim's mentor, Mr. Blinky, asked as he approached both Jim and Barbara. They released each other from their hug, and Jim sighed but nodded.
"Ready as I'll ever be."
Blinky turned to Barbara and watched her with his six eyes tenderly. He thought of Jim like a son, and she appreciated the love he had for him and the respect he had for her.
"I don't know what tomorrow brings," Blinky told her with profound wisdom, "but with our Trollhunter by our side, I don't fear it, either."
"I really appreciate that, Mr. Blinky." Barbara couldn't help but smile at him. She knew that he would do whatever it took to keep Jim safe and would bring him back home.
Just then, more rustling came from the side of the forest, and Claire Nunez, Jim's girlfriend, approached them, dressed in her purple armor. Her parents, behind her.
Jim gasped. "Claire… I can't ask you to-"
"You didn't ask," Claire cut in, smiling at him, and Jim gave a breath of relief, looking up at her parents. Her mother, Council-woman Ophelia Nunez, approached them.
"She has enough credits to graduate early. We're treating this like some time abroad."
"As long as she comes back soon," Claire's father, Javier, added, jabbing a threatening finger at Jim, who laughed, despite the threat.
Just then, a flap of wings beat against the air above them, and they all turned their attention to the sky. When Barbara saw who it was, her heart gave a sudden flutter.
Waltolomew Stricklander, or Walter Strickler, as she still called him, descended upon the scene in his full-troll changeling form. For a troll, he was handsome; Barbara had to admit, but, more than that, she had fallen in love with his human counterpart, Walter Strickler.
Like Jim, Walter's troll appearance didn't bother her but, instead, it comforted her. He was tall, slender, and was highly handsome as a human, and his troll form wasn't much different.
Walter, as a changeling troll, was tall, lean, had an olive-green stone for skin, claws on both hands and feet, shoulder-length grey and white hair, spiraling grey horns which came out of his head, an underbite with sharp fangs, bat-like wings he could produce at any time, and he had glowing yellow and slitted-red eyes.
Walter was a skilled fighter and warrior, and his skill of knife-throwing was lethal. He was a menacing-looking troll, but his changed heart made Barbara fall in love with him.
Despite his checkered past in trying to kill Jim, his calm, collected, kind, and gentle demeanor had recently kept Barbara's emotions grounded during all of the changes in hers and Jim's life. Unlike her first husband, Walter had stuck around and been an anchor for her in times of great need, especially when Jim became a half-troll- and he was now a father figure to Jim, as much as Blinky was.
Walter touched down on the cliff gently behind her, and placed another Changeling, by the name of NotEnrique, on the floor, then straightened up and faced Jim with a warm smile.
"Good luck, young Atlas."
Barbara smiled to herself at the fond nickname he gave Jim, from back when he was his school teacher, and liked the fact that Jim smiled amicably back.
Jim then took Barbara's hand in his stone one, and she knew it was time. Their sapphire blue eyes met each other's, not needing to say anything more. Jim backed away from her with a nod, sliding his stone hand from her flesh one, and walked away.
Barbara gasped, took a few steps towards him with her hand stretched out, wanting to say more, wanting to keep him there, but stopped, clutched her hand into a fist, and looked down as tears blinded her. She had to let Jim go. He had a destiny to fulfill and was needed by the Trolls.
They needed him more than she did.
"You did good raising him, doc," the small green-skinned Changeling, NotEnrique, offered kindly. Before Barbara could respond, he suddenly held out a brightly colored, orange rock to her, and she took it with curiosity. "Here's a thousand new babies to raise."
Barbara gasped at seeing the many changeling familiar babies' faces cooing, laughing, and crying up at her from the stone. She knew that the children had been saved from the Darklands and that the Changelings, like Stricklander, would never be able to shift into their human form again while they remained in the human world.
"What?" Stricklander cried out hoarsely, looking shocked. Barbara continued to stare down at the babies, not sure what to think or feel. But NotEnrique only laughed at them and ran away.
"Have fun with that, you two."
"Wait!" Stricklander called out, holding an arm out, right as someone else called out, "wait! Wait for me!"
Toby Domzolski, Jim's childhood best friend, was rushing towards Jim and Claire. He, too, was dressed in the armor that Merlin made for him, but as Barbara watched the friends reunite, Jim told him also to stay behind.
"Tobes, you have to stay," Jim said heavily.
"What?" Toby asked blankly. "You're going on a quest! I love quests! We go everywhere together."
Jim placed a hand upon his shoulder. "I'm hurt, and Claire lost her shadow staff. You are the only one who can protect Arcadia."
"No, Wingman," AAARRRGGHHH, the giant, but gentle troll, added in his deep and slow voice. He walked from the shadows to stand behind Toby. "I help. I stay."
Blinky gasped, blinking all six eyes at his dear friend, but then slowly smiled and accepted his friend's choice.
"So, you're staying with me…?" Toby pieced together slowly, looking from AAARRRGGGHHH to Jim, "and you're leaving?"
"But, we'll be back," Jim said softly, then added, "someday."
The friends stared at each other for a few seconds before Toby lost it. Crying, he pulled Jim and Claire in for a hug, holding them tightly, and sniffling.
"You'd better."
"And then we'll get tacos," Jim said, hugging his best friend back.
"And enchiladas," Claire added, hugging Toby as well, as they all chuckled. Tears streamed down Jim's face.
"We sure found that adventure. Right, Tobes?"
"Yeah," Toby sniffled, chuckling through his sob. "I'm really glad we took the canal that morning."
Jim smiled at him, then stood.
As he glanced down at his friend, Barbara could sense that he was ready to embrace the new journey he needed to take- and if her son was prepared to take this journey by himself, then she would be too.
"Keep Arcadia safe. You're its only Trollhunters now," Jim told Toby, taking Claire by her hand, while Nomura, the other Changeling, hugged Toby.
They departed into the forest where Merlin was waiting for them, who handed Jim a piece of his broken Daylight sword.
"I believe this belongs to you, Trollhunter."
At his words, the sword healed itself with bright red and blue magic and rested into Jim's outstretched hands.
A gleam grew in Jim's eyes when he took the sword, and when he swiped it through the air a few times, Barbara smiled proudly at the confidence she saw in her son.
Jim turned to leave again but stopped and gave everyone staying one last glance.
AAARRRGGGHHH, Toby, the Nunez', NotEnrique, Stricklander, Gnome Chompsky, and Barbara waved goodbye to them. Jim smiled at them all as Blinky clapped his shoulder.
Barbara clutched her hands to her chest in pride now. Though she was sad and worried about her son's well-being, the goodbye went better than she hoped.
As long as Jim had his friends by his side, she knew that her son would come home. Someday. And she would be waiting, with open arms, for that wonderful day.
Jim took a deep breath, smiled once more at her, then turned and disappeared into the forest.
A dry sob escaped Barbara's mouth when she could no longer see her son, and Walter Stricklander, who had replaced his wings with his usual brown cape with a collar full of sharp knives, instantly wrapped a hand around her shoulder to comfort her.
"It's going to be alright, Barbara." His deep, raspy voice was gentle. "Jim will be fine."
"I know," Barbara said shakily, taking a deep breath of courage. Gazing up into his glowing yellow and red eyes then, she smiled at him. "I know he will be."
Barbara leaned into his embrace, taking him by surprise. After a few seconds, however, he relaxed and held her even closer to his side.
"Thank you, Walt," Barbara whispered.
"For what?"
"For deciding to help Jim through all of this. For saving our lives back when Gunmar held us captive." She paused, then looked up at him. "For staying by my side through all of this mess."
"Of course," Walter said with a smile. "I'd do anything for you, Barbara."
Barbara opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Instead, they stared at each other, unsure what to say, and a slightly awkward silence passed between them. Beside them, the others began to disperse from the cliffs.
Walter then roughly cleared his throat.
"So…uh? What now?"
Barbara chuckled dryly and shrugged. Moving her glasses off her face, she wiped away more tears.
"I honestly… don't even know." She looked at the cradle stone he was clutching in his other arm. "What are you going to do with all those babies?"
"Uh, well," Walter started to say, looking down at it, "I'll probably bring them back to my apartment and release them from the Cradlestone. Changelings develop a bond with our familiars, so they are literally like my children, and therefore, are my responsibility. Since Jim rescued them from the Darklands, we Changelings will now remain in our troll forms, and I must remain hidden from society." He then looked down at himself, his bare chest and brown short-like loincloth covering his lower half, and sighed heavily. His tone was sad. "I suppose my days as my human familiar, Walter Strickler, are over."
"That's not true," Barbara said gently, reaching out and touching his shoulder. "Now that Arcadia knows about Trolls, they shouldn't have an issue with you, especially since you fought to save us all. You're a hero."
Walter laughed hoarsely. "Not quite. Although I have tried to be much better," he stopped and turned away from her, "there still is much for which I have to atone for and certain amends to make still." He looked over his shoulder at her now. "Especially to you, Barbara- for trying to kill Jim in the past, for deceiving and lying to you, and serving that monster Gunmar and Bular willingly. I do not deserve your forgiveness."
"True," Barbara said slowly, pulling at her pretty white blouse shirt and black pencil skirt, then smiled at him. "But, it's also the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, and some people deserve second… or, in your case, third chances."
Walter turned to face her and looked shocked. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I have the next couple of days off from working at the hospital." Barbara moved some of her auburn-red hair behind her ear and smiled shyly at the ground. "You can begin making amends to me, starting tomorrow morning at, let's say, Benoit's Bistro for a cup of tea or coffee?"
When she glanced up at him hopefully, Walter's large mouth was open agape.
"R-really? You would still want to spend time with me? Like we used to? After all, I've done? Despite who I am?"
Barbara shrugged. "Sure. Unlike the other Trolls, you can be in the sunlight and eat actual food instead of garbage, which means we can spend more time together. I, also, cannot make as good a cup of coffee as they can, and I have missed their particular brew." She paused, then looked down shyly. "As well as the company."
Walter stared at her blankly for a few seconds, then slowly smiled warmly and gently grasped her hand in his.
"I have missed you too, Barbara."
Barbara blushed, but her thoughts were slightly confusing.
What was she doing?
Weeks had passed since Walter returned to protect her and Jim and begin his amends for the terrible things he had done or tried to do, and they still had a lot to discuss the status of their budding relationship and where it was to go.
Barbara knew he loved her, as he admitted that she meant the world to him when Gunmar held them captive and forced him to free Morgana using the staff of Avalon. Still, she never got the chance to tell him how she felt about him- about how, despite everything he'd done in the past, she loved him too.
Barbara sighed and pushed those thoughts away. She wasn't in the right frame of mind to tell him that yet. She was mentally and emotionally exhausted. Barbara squeezed his stone-like hand back and then pulled away.
"Let's go home."
"What?" Walter blinked. "Go… home?"
"Yeah," Barbara sighed. "Now that Jim is gone, and you're technically on summer break from any sort of teaching gig, we have some catching up to do, and-" she glanced at the cradle stone in his arms, "- I guess, have a few babies to raise."
Walter paled slightly. "Oh. Yes, I suppose so."
"I may have been a good single mom, but I cannot raise a thousand children, even with your help. Nor do I have the space for that many babies in my house," Barbara continued, thinking it through. "We can maybe keep a few and put the cribs in Jim's old room until he returns. And, maybe Ophelia Nunez would be willing to rally the community in fostering the rest of them that don't return to their original homes and families."
"Yes," Walter said slowly, thinking it through and looking a bit more relieved at the concept of not raising thousands of children. "Yes, that may work. As long as my changeling familiar brothers and sisters are in a safe home, I think that's a great idea."
He stopped and narrowed his eyes on her. "But, as for bringing them into your home. I, uh, well, I was just going to go back to my place and leave you out of this mess. You've been through so much, as it is-"
"Oh, don't try to push me away now," Barbara said, taking the cradle stone from him and elbowing him playfully in the ribs. "I'm too involved and am thoroughly mixed into this mess." She paused and then chuckled. "Besides, did you really think that you were going to raise all these children by yourself?"
"Well, no," Walter mused, looking anxious. "But, I assumed that you wouldn't want... well, me… around."
Barbara's eyebrows raised high on her face in surprise.
Walter was being so humble and accepting of her possible rejection. However, as she stared into his yellow and red, cat-like eyes, she smiled warmly.
Stepping closer to him, she placed her hand upon his bare, stone chest.
"I've told you this before, Walt, but I'll say it again. We're in this together. I meant that then and I mean it now."
Walter gasped in astonishment. "Really? Do you mean it? You still want to be with me, even after everything I've done? Everything... I am?"
Barbara lowered her gaze to look down at his troll form, and she had to stop herself from blushing. A small smile crept over her lips.
"Yeah, I do mean it."
Shock and utmost relief flooded over his face. He smiled endearingly at her, grasped her hand in his, and pulled her close against his chest.
"I don't deserve you, Barbara Lake."
"That may be true," Barbara said lightly, not going to disagree with him, "but there is always a chance to change that, and I'm hoping that we can start our relationship anew."
Walter caressed the back of his rough hand against her smooth face. His yellow and red eyes gleamed passionately at her.
"You are a beautiful woman, Barbara, and you mean everything to me; I hope you realize that. Thank you for forgiving me."
"Oh, I never said anything about forgiving you," Barbara laughed lightly before gently tapping him on the forehead. He flinched but then chuckled at the playful gesture. "One step at a time, Walt. Buy me a Benoit's coffee or tea, and then we can talk about forgiveness."
Walter chuckled and nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
Barbara laughed and stared deeply into the Changeling troll's eyes that had, surprisingly, captured her heart and helped her through many fears as she learned to deal with Half-Troll Jim.
Reaching up, she caressed a hand down his stone face gently, and with a smile of true joy, Walter embraced her hand and leaned into her touch.
A lot was still unclear to Barbara about the Trolls, this new strange world full of magic and mythological creatures, including her, now half-troll son, but one thing was clear: as long as Walter was by her side, she had nothing to fear.
"Let's go home, Walt," Barbara whispered, her face inches from his. To her true joy, he nodded in agreement and pulled her into a gentle hug, speaking softly into her hair.
"Yes, ma'am."