~ Chapter Six ~

Loving Embrace

Walter listened to Barbara care for the active children upstairs with amusement. Just as she laughed at him for various things, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself for the same things.

Raising children was challenging. More challenging than he'd ever anticipated, but Barbara handled the challenge well and was a natural at it. He couldn't believe that Barbara raised Jim on her own, all while working full-time as a doctor. The family wasn't perfect by any means, nor was he, but she was an inspiring, strong, and amazing mother.

Barbara was a beautiful woman. Not just on the exterior but also on the inside, and she inspired him. She was kind, patient, hard-working, funny, spunky, intelligent, and gave her all to help people. He looked up to her strength, courage, and positive thinking, especially when times were difficult. However, right now, she was struggling. She thought she was hiding it from him, but he could see past her barriers.

Each night, Walter tried to help her relax, but sometimes it wasn't for the best. He tried telling her to sit and read a book while he put the children down to bed, but she never listened to him, and he realized that not allowing her to be helpful would be detrimental to her trying to cope.

However, like any male in love, Walter wanted to fix all of the hurt Barbara was feeling and take all her worries away, but he couldn't give her what she truly needed or wanted. He couldn't bring Jim back from his quest.

After an hour of cleaning, Walter had the downstairs looking immaculate. Dinner had been cleaned up; he did the dishes, cleared the table, and swept the floors. By now, the house was quiet. Taking that as a good sign, Walter made his way up the stairs and towards Jim's old bedroom, where the door remained open a crack.

Peeking his head in, Walter found the room dark, save for the gentle swaying of the children's night-light in the corner, and the Familiar children were fast asleep. He smiled warmly at the sweet sight, but then, he realized that Barbara was no longer in the room.

Gently closing the door, he stepped back and walked towards her bedroom. The door was open, and when he peeked his head in, she wasn't at her bed.

Stepping into the room more, he looked around the large, dark master bedroom and found Barbara sitting at her window seat with her knees against her chest. Her phone's screen illuminated her face, and he thought she was merely staring down at it, but as he looked closer, his heart sank, and panic rose inside his chest.

She was crying, and his mind began exploding with worries and questions as to why.

Did she get a text from Jim? Or was she crying for another reason? Whatever the reason, however, he was going to fight all of her hurt and tears away.

"Barbara?"

Barbara flinched at his voice, quickly shut off her phone, and rested it between her legs. She then looked out her window and quickly wiped her tears away.

Walter faltered slightly. It hurt when she tried to hide her true feelings from him because he wanted all of her- the hurt, the insecurities, and the worry. He wanted to take every single beautifully flawed piece of her, wrap them up inside of his heart, and carry her burdens so she wouldn't have to. He wanted to love her completely and unconditionally.

"I'm fine," she said with a muffled voice, still wiping her tears away, but he sat down next to her anyway.

"Barbara..."

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not." Walter kept his voice calm, although he was shaking inside. "Barbara, please don't hide from me. If you want alone time, then tell me, and I'll leave. But, if there's anything I can do to help you, I want to." He reached over and took her hands, including her phone, within his. She glanced up at him, and it broke his heart seeing that much hurt inside of her eyes.

"Please," he whispered, "don't shut me out. Whatever is eating at you, I want to know. I want to support you." He tightened his grip around her hands. "I wish I could take all of your pain away, Barbara. In an instant, I would. But, because I can't read your mind, I need you to talk to me. Help me understand so that I can begin to try to help you."

Barbara continued to stare at him, and he could see that the dam within her chest was ready to burst. He didn't know what brought this on, but he would brace the storm with her.

"Are you injured?"

"No," she gasped out, taking a ragged breath. "I'm… I'm fine. Sore, but fine. That isn't what's wrong."

"What's wrong, then?"

Barbara paused again, took a deep breath, and when Walter glanced at the phone in between their hands, he knew.

"Is it Jim?"

Nodding, Barbara took her hands from his, wiped at her tears, and began sobbing loudly.

Walter quickly crossed the room to her bedside table, grabbed some tissues, then returned and offered them to her. Barbara dapped at her nose and eyes, still not speaking yet. He sat on the window bench, directly opposite of her, and stopped himself from scooping her into his arms. Instead, he would let her gauge how she wanted to be comforted. So, Walter continued to dig.

"Have you heard from him? Is he safe? Is he alive?"

Walter cared for Jim long before he'd met Barbara and always thought of him as a son. It ate him alive at the very prospect of him not being safe on his dangerous quest with the rest of the Trolls, but he kept the faith that he was alright.

For Barbara's sake, he had to.

"Oh, Walter," Barbara finally lamented, her voice weak and cracking, "I wish I knew, but I still haven't heard from him. I keep checking my phone, voicemails, emails, everything, hoping and praying that he's contacted me, but he still hasn't."

That answered his question, but the sound of her sobbing felt like a knife was stabbing his heart. He hated seeing her this way. It made him feel helpless.

"Barbara…"

"I'm trying to be strong," Barbara cut in, sobbing and dabbing her eyes with the tissues, "and I'm trying to hold it together. But, with every passing day without hearing he's alright, I feel so afraid."

"I know," Walter whispered.

"Then," Barbara continued, crying into her tissue, "sometimes, like tonight, I get triggered with memories of Jim."

Walter narrowed his eyes slightly. "Triggered?"

Barbara nodded and settled down slightly, moving her glasses off her face so she could wipe the tissues at her tears.

"Yes. It's something that happens when emotional wounds are triggered by any of the human senses, sight, hearing, taste, sense of smell, and touch, and then those painful memories or feelings resurface..."

"I know what triggering emotions means, darling," Walter said gently, smiling at her as she dove into a more medical explanation. "I know all too well the diverse emotions between troll and human."

Barbara laughed weakly. "Oh, right. Sorry. Well, tonight, while I was rocking Walter Jr. to sleep, I subconsciously began singing a lullaby I used to sing to Jim when he was a baby. I didn't realize I was doing it, but holding that baby in my arms and singing that lullaby, I felt like it was Jim again. And, I don't know…" she paused, placed her glasses back on her face, and peered into his eyes, "being in Jim's old bedroom, with pictures hanging up as a reminder of him, is hard. I guess I'm still not used to being essentially an empty nester. I knew Jim would leave eventually, but that's still two years away when he's eighteen and college-bound! But now, this dangerous troll business has taken him away from home, and it frightens me, Walter. I know that he's going to return one day, or at least I hope for that, but sometimes I still fear losing him, just like I did with-"

She suddenly faltered, choked on her words, and instantly looked embarrassed and flustered. She never liked to talk about her past with her ex-husband, but Walter knew she was hinting at it. Her insufferable ex-husband took a massive toll on Barbara and Jim by leaving them the way he did when Jim was only five years old.

"Your ex-husband. James Lake, Sr.," Walter guessed, clenching his clawed hands into fists but forcing himself to remain calm.

Barbara scoffed and looked frustrated. "Yes, but I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring him up."

"It's alright, Barbara. You don't need to spare my feelings. Your ex-husband does not threaten me."

Barbara looked at him with surprise. "Really?"

Walter nodded and scooted closer to her so that he was leaning against the window seat more naturally and comfortably. "Yes, and how I see it, he's not here for you right now. But, I am."

Barbara nodded, considering that. "You're right," she said slowly, watching him with a strange expression on her face. It was as if she caught on to what he was hinting at because she scooted closer to him. "He's not."

Walter could have quickly closed the distance between them and kissed her, but instead, he cleared his throat. This moment was about comforting her, not about him or his intense feelings for her.

"And as for Jim…" Walter began slowly, but stopped, stared down at their enclosed hands and her silent phone, and wished he could give her better consolation than what he had for her. "I don't know what the future holds for any of us. But, Jim is with Blinkous, Nomura, Ms. Nunez, Merlin, and the other Trolls from Trollmarket. He's their beloved Trollhunter, and even when he was a human, he has made a very positive impact on them."

When Barbara looked down in despair, he gently raised her jaw so that she was looking into his eyes.

"Now, I may be a Troll Changeling on the outside, and some customs humans have are more foreign to Trolls, but I am more like a Human by heart and want to help comfort you. So, if I know anything about my more pure-blooded kindred species, then it's this: they will not allow anything or anyone harm the ones or things they care about, especially their Trollhunter. That is a fact, Barbara."

Barbara's bright blue eyes peered desperately into his yellow and red eyes, drinking in his words, and had leaned into him closely. Her eyes were still swimming with tears, but she was no longer sobbing.

Walter got lost in her beautiful eyes, and the air felt different suddenly. He gently caressed his hand across her soft face.

"I'm sorry that Young Atlas hasn't been contacting you," he continued in a hoarse whisper, "but I have faith in him and his abilities. I've fought him many times, and he could withstand my more aggressive and cunning tactics. When I changed my ways and returned to Arcadia, I spent almost every day, for weeks before the war, training him for battle, and I was, and still am, very impressed and proud of him, Barbara. You've raised an amazing child. One, who's strong, brave, honorable, true, and loyal to those who earn his trust and love." He stopped, then said gently, "now, as for your experience with young Walter Jr., tonight, I'm sorry it caused you pain, but I see the way the Familiar children look at you. You are their mother now, and a mother's love for her children is the strongest love there is. Even when you grieve or worry for their well-being."

Barbara was now inches from his face, smiling, and he swore he wouldn't make this moment about him, but it felt natural to tell her how he felt about her, finally.

"I have wanted to tell you this," Walter continued, his voice breathless now, "many times before now, but never found the right time. I've hinted to it and even told you after I nearly lost you last night, but I-I love you, Barbara. I know what I've done in the past was wrong and that I may not be the man you're searching for, but I wanted to be honest with you. I love you, Barbara Lake. I'll always love you and will always be here to protect you. To comfort and wipe away your tears, to hold you when you're scared or afraid, to uphold you when the world seems to push against you and stressors press down on your shoulders. I'll fight by your side, support and cherish you."

He paused, then whispered, "I'll never leave you again. Not like your ex did, and never again will I lie to you as I did in the past. You have my heart, Barbara, forever and always. And if you're not ready for that type of commitment or aren't wishing to be with me, then I'll understand. But, I just wanted to make myself clear on how I feel about you. Jim helped change my mind and evil ways, but it was you, my darling, who has forever changed my heart."

By now, Barbara was softly crying again, but this time, not out of grief. He was worried she would reject him, but to his delight, her smile said it all.

"Oh, Walter!"

Throwing her phone to the side and forgetting about it completely, she climbed on his lap and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck- hugging him- while also being mindful of his knife collar.

Walter stood up, held her with one arm, and carefully undid his cape with the other so that she didn't cut herself. Then, setting his cloak to the side, he sat back down on the window seat, where she carefully snuggled herself against him in between his legs. Wrapping both of his arms tightly around her, he cupped the back of her head with one hand and dug his face into her sweet-smelling hair.

Minutes passed where they said nothing to each other- but Walter wasn't worried that she didn't reciprocate his feelings just yet. The way she was intimately resting against him, holding onto him tightly, gave him hope that she felt the same way he did.

All his life, he'd learned to be selfish and to look out for himself and his Changeling sisters and brethren, but he'd always secretly yearned for love and to have these intimate feelings and moments with a woman.

Although he was a Troll Changeling, he was always more attracted to human females, anyway. And Barbara was the one for him.

Even before he used her for his twisted ways to get to Jim, he often found himself thinking about her, how lovely she was, and how unbelievable that she was still not married after ten years of being single.

Walter shut his eyes, leaned further down against the window seat, and held her even tighter as she sank against him. Even if this intimacy never led to more profound physical love, which could prove dangerous with her being with him, he was happy with just lying next to her and holding her while they slept.

Finally, Barbara raised her head to gaze into his glowing eyes and smiled warmly at him. The moonlight shone through the window, illuminating her beauty, nearly taking his breath away.

"I know what you've done in the past," Barbara finally whispered, resting her forearms on his chest and keeping her face inches from his. "But, I see you, Walter. Whether you're Walter Stricklander or Walter Strickler, you're the man, the male, I've fallen in love with, as well." She smiled even brighter at him. "I've loved you, pretty much, from the first time you visited the house as the highly-esteemed World History Teacher, who was concerned about Jim taking on too much on his shoulders, and kissed my hand.

"Then, every time we went to Benoit's for coffee or tea, and you made me smile or laugh, I felt my heart healing. You were everything I had ever wanted." She paused, and her voice shook slightly. "I still loved you, even when I wanted to hate you for leaving me as my ex-husband did. You had broken my heart, but I still loved you. I loved you, despite you transforming into a Troll for the first time when you returned to protect Jim and myself from Angor Rot."

Walter was beyond words. But to his joy, Barbara continued, inching herself towards him as she did so.

"I have forgiven you already for all the lies, deception, and twisted ways, Walt. I saw your heart had changed before Merlin turned Jim into a half-Troll, and I knew that I needed you in my life again because…" she paused, then whispered, "because you are the best of me, Walt. Whether that be in your human or Troll form, it didn't matter to me and still doesn't matter to me." Her blue eyes burned through his soul. She was so close to him now. His heart was pounding under her hand as she neared his lips with her own. "I have loved you, Waltolomew Stricklander, since the first day I met you, and no matter your form, I will always love you because..." she paused, then whispered in a choked voice, "well, because you are the one for me, Walter. You are the love of my life."

This was the moment he was waiting for, and his heart began singing.

She loved him! He'd known she did, as he did her, but to finally communicate it with each other was what he'd been waiting for.

When he didn't answer, Barbara chuckled, looking happier than he'd seen her in a long time, and she cupped his face in her hands.

"Walt?"

"Yes, darling?" His face must have been stuck in a shock, for she looked amused.

"Aren't you going to kiss me now?"

Walter's heart was pounding in his chest, but with her so close to him, he couldn't stay away. No matter how strange the Trolls thought this custom to be, he was human long enough to know that he wanted to kiss her. By the gods, he wanted to kiss her. He cupped her face, smiling endearingly.

"Yes, darling," he breathed, pulling her to him, "I am."

Barbara closed the distance between them on her own, and their kiss was everything both she and he had dreamed it would be. They had kissed once before, but it was very brief, and they were not in love with each other like they were now.

Barbara wrapped her arms around his neck as their lips moved and danced in unison. She raised her hands and gently grasped onto his shoulder-length hair, and they both could feel their hearts pounding against each other's chests. She suddenly pulled away, breathing heavily, but stayed close to his face, holding him tightly.

"Barbara," Walter began breathlessly but stopped. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she was when she leaned forward and suddenly began kissing him again. He was surprised but wasn't objecting as he pulled her tightly against him.

Seconds turned into minutes, but this time, their kiss turned more passionate. Barbara opened her mouth to him, and he met her gentle demand. Their tongues danced slowly together, and her fingers twisted around in his shoulder-length hair.

Barbara and Walter broke apart with a shuddering gasp, both trembling in each other's arms and staring intently into each other's eyes. She was nestled tightly against his body, resting in-between his legs, and was half-lying on him. Panting and slightly breathless, they smiled at each other, their joy authentic and genuine.

"That kiss was-" Walter began breathlessly, struggling to find the right words, "Barbara, you are-!"

"I know. I love you, Walter. I love you so much," Barbara whispered, leaning forward and quickly kissing him again. However, this time, she didn't give him a quick peck but kissed him deeply for a few seconds before pulling away.

Walter smiled at Barbara and caressed his hand down her soft and beautiful face.

"I love you too, Barbara. More than anything."

Barbara's smile, in response to him, melted his heart. They didn't have to say anything more because their kiss and love said it all. She sighed happily, closed her eyes, snuggled into his embrace, and rested her head on his chest.

Walter kissed the top of her head, rested his head down upon hers, and closed his eyes. If they slept in the small window seat together or merely stayed for a few hours, he didn't mind. All that mattered to him was in his arms and the fact that they now, officially, loved each other.

**More chapters to come, thanks!**