**Chapters 8-10 occur around and during the events in 3Below's "Mother's Day" episode. Thanks! Please review what you think so far, and I hope you all are enjoying my story!**
~ Chapter Eight ~
Full House
Barbara and Walter went into town with the Changeling Familiar children the following day, and it was one of the most blissful days they both had in a long time.
With Barbara not working at the hospital for the week, she had the time to have breakfast and a cup of coffee with Walter at her dining room table before they left, and it was wonderful. He had made her a delicious Mediterranean-styled omelet with cut-up fresh fruit, a piece of toast, and a roasted black hot coffee. They conversed at the table quietly, taking turns in feeding the babies, and they often exchanged warm, loving smiles with each other.
The opportunity to have an actual morning together was infrequent.
After they fed the children, changed their diapers, and got them changed into their day clothes, she and Walter placed them into the double stroller and took a nice walk into town.
Arcadia Oaks wasn't very large, so it only took a few miles for them to walk into town. There they could find restaurants, dessert shops, cafes, book stores, parks, fashion shops, city hall, schools, grocery stores, arcades, entertainment centers, and the movie theatre. It was a perfect little town that had a little bit of everything anyone would need.
Walter and Barbara walked hand-in-hand while pushing the babies in a double stroller into town and talked the entire time amicably. That was one nice thing about their relationship. They could talk all day and night with great ease and not run out of things to say.
It was a beautiful summer day and a perfect day to be outside. So, they went to the grocery store together, gathering up various food and baby items for the week; then, they ventured to the nearby shopping mall where Barbara helped Walter pick out some clothes from the men's department's big -n- tall section.
He mentioned wanting to change up his look at breakfast, and since his human clothes couldn't fit his taller and broader troll form, they decided to go to the mall. Once there, he found himself a similar set of nice casual suits with sweaters to wear underneath that he wore as a human. When he came out from the dressing room to show her what he looked like, Barbara swooned over him.
Walter had chosen a dark brown suit and jacket and wore a dark blue sweater underneath the coat. He almost looked human, minus his green skin, yellow and red slitted eyes, and his long grey swirling horns which laid on top of his head of white and grey hair. But he still looked incredibly handsome to her.
Barbara grinned, nodding. "You look amazing, Walt. Very handsome."
"Yeah?" Walter turned to face himself in the mirror and adjusted the lapels on his jacket. Then, he suddenly smiled a handsome smile and turned around, with arms outstretched. "You think it's a good look for picture day?"
Barbara laughed, knowing he was half-teasing and half-referring to what he said to Jim when he first showed off his troll self. But she still nodded.
"Yes," she said genuinely. "Yes, it is," and Walter's broad and joyful smile made her heart melt.
Later, she and Walter had bags of groceries lining the bottom of their double-stroller, including the bags of clothing Walter bought to dress more human-like and were on their way home. By now, it was getting closer to dinner time.
They had just barely let the babies out to crawl and play in the nearby park, fed them each a bottle before loading them up, and were now walking casually back towards the house. Both not in any rush to return home just yet.
Walter and Barbara's hands were intertwined as they strolled along the suburban Arcadian sidewalks in mid-conversation. He'd been talking to her about his travels in Europe and his time in the Janus Order. The good, the bad, and the ugly- she listened to it all, and, still, she loved him.
She loved how open and honest with her he was, and how he made her smile and laugh, and how right his hand felt in hers.
"- and that's the last time Otto visited Guatemala," Walter laughed, finishing telling her a hilarious story, as Barbara hunched over the stroller, laughing as well. Walter snorted and rolled his eyes, thinking of his deceased Changeling brother. "He wasn't the brightest of Changelings, and never did he have the stomach for international travel."
"Oh my gosh, that was so funny," Barbara laughed, leaning into Walter's side, sighing. "I still can't believe some of your Changeling siblings can shapeshift into any person they want."
"Yeah," Walter said, "it was a choice we were given. A lot of us, however, did not wish for that ability to be a polymorph."
"Why not?"
Barbara watched Walter as they continued to stroll, and his eyes suddenly went distant.
"Because the magical… surgery, if you will, to become a polymorph is even more horrible than our original change into changelings."
Silence passed between them for a few seconds, and Barbara wasn't going to say anything initially, but she still had so many questions about his past.
"How did Morgana change trolls into changelings?" She suddenly asked, unable to help herself. Walter froze, and together they slowed down. When he spoke, his voice was quiet and careful.
"Through dark magical means."
Barbara shook her head. "I don't understand."
Walter finally stopped walking and faced her, looking wary. "Like Gumm-Gumms, Changelings were taken when we were younglings from our Troll families. We were then changed with dark magic to shapeshift, were taught the code of the Changelings, and raised to be warriors and assassins. We also learned about the nature of humans so that we could best blend in when we received our human counterpart assignment."
"Because Changelings are spies," Barbara surmised, and Walter nodded.
"So… when you say you were changed by dark magical means...? What does that mean, exactly?" Barbara asked, trying to piece together what he was telling her.
"While we were younglings, our physical bodies were changed and altered to fit our eventual human counterparts with Morgana's dark magic," Walter said softly. "It was an excruciating process. Even as a youngling, I remember being in so much pain, for many, many weeks."
Barbara stared at him in horror. "Oh my gosh, Walt, that sounds… awful." She contemplated his words, then bluntly asked, "what changes… ?"
"It's probably best…" Walter suddenly interrupted in a whisper, while bringing her hand against his chest, "if you don't know the details over that, darling."
"Walter, I'm a doctor," Barbara said softly. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I think I can handle it." She paused, then added, "I want to know. The good, bad, and ugly parts of you. Just like you have supported me in my flaws, I want to know everything about you."
Walter glanced into her eyes, staring for a few seconds, then slowly nodded.
"Alright. Well, the magical spell changes our Troll DNA to match a human's. So, that in itself is painful and is a difficult process to describe; however, one of the major changes made to us is…" he paused, sighed, then whispered, "infertility."
Barbara's eyes widened.
"We cannot reproduce with one another or with humans," he continued softly. "Everything is intact and works appropriately, anatomy-wise, but I could never pass seed in either human or troll ways of reproduction to make more Changelings."
He turned away from her now and faced his back to her. "We are made by magic, and the humans chosen to be our Familiars are stolen as infants and replaced with the Changeling Troll. The Familiars are then brought into the Darklands while we live in their places. For centuries, that's how we were able to live among humans as shapeshifted humans."
Barbara locked the wheels of the stroller, then glanced down at the sleeping faces of Nomura and Walter Jr. once. She wondered if the tiny babies recalled their time in the Darklands, and if it was as awful as it sounded or not, before she walked over and placed her hand on the small of Walter's back.
Walter looked down at her suddenly, meeting her soft gaze, turned, and collected her hands in his once again. Barbara opened her mouth to speak and offer him comfort, but he beat her to it and continued to speak in a whisper.
"Do you want to know the most terrible part of it all? Modern human medicine offers comfort to those who have all of their internal reproductive organs taken away. Humans have hospitals, and," he paused and nodded at her, "doctors, but our way does not. Changelings have healers, doctors, and nurses now, but back when I had my surgery done centuries ago, medicine was not as modernized as it currently is. For many weeks, many of my other brother and sister Changelings and I endured traumatizing pain for weeks until the wounds healed. Many early Changelings even died from the pain or suffered complications."
"Oh my gosh," Barbara whispered, shaking her head in sad disbelief. "Walter, that's horrible!"
"That is why I strived so strongly to bring Gunmar back to power," Walter said quietly, and as she stared into his eyes, she realized that he was opening up to her about a painful truth he struggled to live with for centuries. He was choosing to trust her. "I thought, by doing so, he would finally respect the Changelings for all he, Morgana, and the Gumm-Gumms put us through, and that he would see us as 'pure and worthy' before him or as his equals." He snorted darkly and shook his head. "But, I was very, very wrong. Gunmar was evil." Walter's gaze darkened. "He was nothing but a monster."
"I'm sorry," Barbara whispered, shaking her head. "I can't even imagine the pain you've endured in the past, Walt. I'm so sorry."
Walter merely shrugged and looked into her pained eyes with a gentle smile. "It's alright, darling. There is nothing to be sorry about. I survived and have for centuries…" his eyes changed slightly and softened, "until now."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, to be honest, I thought mere survival was all I was meant to have, and I was okay with it until I met you." He smiled and caressed a hand over her soft face. "Barbara, when I met you, I stopped surviving. When I met you, I was introduced to my first breath and taste of what living could be like, and I realized that I'd wanted nothing more." When Barbara didn't say anything, he continued, "I thought I knew what truth was, Barbara, but I was wrong. For so long, lies blinded me until I saw the truth for myself."
"Which truth?" Barbara whispered, leaning her hand into his hands, and Walter smiled.
"That Changelings are worthwhile creatures who can find a place in this world, and that we are more than spies or pawns for someone else's game. I've learned that I can decide my fate and choose how to live my life." He drew her closer to him and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I found that I am worthy of love, acceptance, and happiness. It just took a bit of convincing from your son and failures to slap me into that reality- and of course, you, not taking any crap from me, for me to figure it out."
Barbara laughed. "Are you saying I helped whip you into shape?"
"Yes," Walter whispered, smiling at the sound of her laugh. Then, when she leaned in to close the remaining space between them, he obliged and kissed her.
Their lips moved gently for a few seconds before she deepened the kiss. Being in the middle of a public park, Walter would have customarily taken precautions to avoid other people seeing them, but he didn't care right now.
After a few seconds of passionately kissing, Barbara pulled away, breathless, and smiled shyly at him. She then gazed into his eyes. "I'm sorry you went through all of that, Walt, but I don't see you as anything else than the incredible person you are right now. I love you."
"I love you too, Barbara," Walter whispered, leaning in again and briefly kissed her. When he pulled away, he looked slightly nervous. "So, after telling you about some of my past, you don't think too badly of me?"
Barbara shook her head and wrapped her arm around his waist as they continued their stroll through the park. "No, I don't." She paused, smiled cheekily, then said, "back when you were the slimeball trying to kill my son? Yes. Yes, I had some major issues with you."
Walter snorted out a laugh, and she grinned at him, then continued, "but the gentleman you are now? No, I never could." She caught the relieved smile on his face as they continued to walk. Walter wrapped an arm around her waist, then kissed her forehead.
"Thank you, darling."
"Of course. I love you, Walt, and I think you're pretty great," Barbara said, grinning, then poked his side, "Troll Changeling and all." She paused, then decided to turn the conversation back to a positive topic. "Hey, well, you want to know one of the positive things about being a Changeling in my eyes?"
"Sure. Enlighten me," Walter chuckled.
"You, Otto, Nomura, and the others got to travel to all of those amazing places around the World. I haven't left Arcadia Oaks in well over ten years." Barbara sighed. "It would be so nice to travel. I've always wanted to."
Walter looked down at her. "You wish to travel?"
Barbara nodded.
"Where would you want to go?"
At his question, Barbara's eyes and face lit up. "Oh, gosh, where do I start? I have a list, but I would like to visit Europe, most likely. You know, the usual countries. England, Scotland, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany. Then, after Europe, I would love to visit Iceland, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand."
Walter's eyebrows raised as she continued, "Oh, and Africa. Most definitely, Africa. Ooh, and then South America, India, and New York City. Oh, my goodness, I've always wanted to visit Manhattan! I would eat a greasy, delicious pizza, visit the Statue of Liberty, go to every show on Broadway, to name a few…." She stopped, squeaked, then added, "Paris! Oh, Walter, I want to go to Paris so badly. I can't believe I forgot that in my Europe list. It's one of my biggest dreams!"
Walter chuckled, took her hand in his as they continued to stroll casually with the stroller, and shook his head. "So, let me get this straight. It sounds like you want to travel basically around the entire world?"
"Yeah," she laughed, then teased, "what gave it away?"
Walter laughed. "Oh, just because you named almost every country in less than two minutes. But, there's nothing wrong with that, Barbara. I like hearing your dreams," he stopped, then added quietly, "because I want, more than anything, to make them come true."
Barbara snorted, waving him off. "You're such a romantic, Walt. Don't worry, one day I will travel to those places, but, for now, traveling isn't in the stars, and I'm alright with it." She shrugged. "It's just one more thing to look forward to when I get older and am retired from being a doctor, I guess."
Walter hugged her to his side and kissed her head. "Well, how's this for looking forward to something? I will take you to all those places, Barbara."
Barbara glanced over at him."What?"
"That will be my new goal: to take you traveling and to make your dreams come true, because…" Walter suddenly stopped talking, and both of them stopped walking. He glanced at their intertwined hands as he said softly, "well, because you are my new dream, Barbara, and you've made mine come true."
Barbara stared at him wordlessly, too moved to speak, and could only smile blissfully when he finally looked up at her. "Oh, Walt…" she breathed as her eyes welled up with tears.
"Would you like that?"
Barbara opened and shut her mouth, then settled with laughing gleefully. "I- Yes! Yes, Walt, that… that would be wonderful!"
"Good," Walter said, grinning and pulling her close to him again. "It's a date, then." He guided her chin gently to kiss him when-
"Hey, Barbara, Walter, wait up! You're just the people we wanted to talk to!"
Flinching, Barbara and Walter pulled away from each other and turned to see that Ophelia and Javier Nunez, Claire's parents, were walking towards them.
Barbara blushed slightly and pushed some of her auburn-red hair back from her face as they turned to speak to their friends. Javier and Ophelia were pushing a triple stroller of their infant son, Enrique, and the two Changeling Familiar babies they took in.
"Hey, Ophelia," Barbara greeted them with a smile, "Javier."
"Hola," Javier said as Ophelia waved, both smiling at them.
"Good afternoon, Javier and Ophelia," Walter greeted warmly as they approached. "What can we do for you?"
"Oh, we're out on a nice stroll with all the kids, just as you are," Javier said. "It's a beautiful day."
"Yes, it is," Barbara agreed.
"Funny enough, we were going to call you both tonight and ask you a question, but when we saw you walking, we thought we'd stop and chat with you in person instead."
"Oh?" Barbara inquired.
Javier suddenly glanced over at Ophelia nervously, and when no one said a word, Barbara looked between them.
"Is everything okay?"
"Oh, everything is fine," Ophelia added, "but we are just… struggling with having two more infants to care for, on top of having Enrique, is all."
"Oh, I understand that," Barbara said, nodding empathetically. "I haven't had a newborn in over sixteen years! I know it wasn't easy to foster that many children," she looked at Walter then, "and we certainly couldn't have done it alone." She looked back at Javier and Ophelia. "So, I think it was awesome that you got all of Arcadia to step up to help out, Ophelia."
"Of course," Ophelia said, pulling out her constantly vibrating cell phone from her purse. "It was nice that most of the babies were reunited with their families. However, the older generation children stolen by the evil Trolls needed somewhere to go, so it was a no-brainer decision. As a City-Council woman to Arcadia Oaks, I had to set an example."
Despite what she was saying, her eyes were glued to her screen, and her fingers were typing away constantly. The closer Barbara looked at the couple, Javier looked exhausted, and Ophelia was worse than ever when it came to her hectic job as the Council-woman for Arcadia.
"Uh-huh," Barbara said, glancing at Walter, who had his eyebrows raised. They both knew something wasn't right. "So, you uh, said you needed to talk to us about something?"
"Uh, si," Javier said nervously. "We do."
"Okay," Barbara chuckled, continuing to glance between them. "Well, we're all ears. What's up?"
Finally, Ophelia put her phone down, and Barbara finally saw the shadows beneath her eyes.
"Uh," Javier began, looking even more scared, "well, uh, we…."
"There's no easy way to say this," Ophelia cut in, talking formally as if they were in a business meeting at City Hall, "but I have to be honest with you, Barbara. Having Enrique is already enough work, but adding two more babies to the mix has been too much for us. Between Javier's job and mine, to us worrying about Claire on that quest with your son, we are barely holding ourselves together."
"Oh," Barbara said slowly. "I… I understand. I miss the kids and worry for them too." She glanced at Walter, then asked cautiously, "I'm sorry to hear you guys are struggling. Is there anything we can do to help you?"
Ophelia stepped closer to them and sighed heavily. "Yes, actually. I'm so glad you asked. I hate to do this or be this way, but would you and Walter be willing to take on two more babies for a short while?"
"What?" Barbara asked, stunned. Next to her, she felt Walter freeze.
"We are in contact with a nice family who has struggled a long time with infertility and wants to adopt them," Ophelia explained. "However, the paperwork takes a few weeks to get processed with the adoption agency, and, unfortunately, we can no longer be responsible for them while the adoption finalizes. It's too much."
Barbara blinked, and she had a horrible sensation that her insides were melting.
Two more babies?
Barbara couldn't seem to look at Walter anymore, but she felt him tense beside her slightly. Nobody said anything for a few seconds, but Ophelia and Javier looked desperate.
"I know it's a lot to ask of you," Javier added, wrapping an arm around Ophelia's shoulders, "but we are in way over our heads and can't keep living like this."
Barbara finally blinked but swallowing was a tricky thing to do. "N-no, I get it. I do. Um…" she stopped, glanced down at the two sleeping faces of Nomura and Walter, Jr., and took a deep breath. Finally, she looked up at Walter, who looked unsure, a little nervous even, but she saw something else in his eyes.
A sense of duty.
"Um," Barbara said, turning to Ophelia and Javier, "could you give us a second to talk this through?"
"Of course," Ophelia said as both she and Javier backed away. "Thank you for even considering. We really appreciate it."
Barbara didn't say a word, but when she and Walter took a few steps away to discuss, she still couldn't say anything. Walter watched her eyes for a few seconds before taking hold of her shoulders and holding her close to him.
"Barbara," he began, but she suddenly cut in.
"Two more babies, Walt? Are… are they serious right now?"
"I don't know, I don't like it either, but I would much rather the Familiars be in a home where they get the proper care they need. If the Nunez' can't care for them, for whatever reason, then we have to consider it."
"Consider it?" Barbara squeaked. "Walt, we would have four infants at the same time that we would be in charge of! I don't… I don't know if we even have the crib space in the house for that!"
"I understand all of this, trust me, I do, but they are my kind's Familiars," Walter finally whispered. "I have to protect them, and since they are from an older generation and have no living families, would it really be the worst thing to take them until they are adopted?"
Barbara exhaled out sharply and looked down. "I… I don't know, Walt, I suppose not, but four infants is a huge responsibility added to our already full house! Besides, it hasn't been a walk in the park for us, either!" She paused, then looked at where they were, and couldn't help but chuckle. "Okay, that's not what I meant."
"Yeah," Walter chuckled, "because we were just on a walk in the park with our sleeping babies, having a very nice day together."
Barbara sighed, right as he cupped her face and made her look at him.
"I'm going to leave it up to you, Barbara, but don't forget that I will be there to raise these kids with you." He suddenly looked sad. "I'm sorry this whole experience hasn't been easy on you. I had no idea you felt that way."
"No, I don't feel that way," Barbara cut in, shaking her head, "I'm sorry I even said that because it's not true. It hasn't been difficult having two babies because I have you by my side, Walt. You have been the real hero in this scenario. Most nights, I am stuck working at the hospital while you are home with the children, and I've yet to hear you complain." She sighed and rested her hands on his chest. "I love you, Walter, and you are a great father figure to these children." She smiled as his face melted in shock and awe. "As long as we continue to do this together, as a team, then I'm fine with it."
Taking her face in his hands and not caring who was watching, Walter leaned down and kissed her lips gently and modestly. After a few seconds, they released each other, smiling, then turned to face the Nunez's, who were watching them with eyes and mouths open agape.
"Okay," Barbara said, walking with Walter by the hand towards them, and ignored their stares, "we'll take the two babies for you. As long as it's until they are adopted to a good, caring, and loving family, then we'll make due."
Ophelia and Javier continued to stare at them with a look of disbelief before Ophelia snapped out of her shock.
"Oh, okay, um… yes, gosh, thank you, Barbara and Walter. We feel awful for doing this, but we are truly grateful that you're helping us out."
"Don't mention it," Walter said, taking hold of the stroller that belonged to them while still holding onto Barbara's waist. "We are happy to help since, you know, these infants once belonged to my Changeling brethren and sisters. I want to make sure that they are properly cared for."
Ophelia stayed silent and a coldness suddenly formed in her eyes, her smile too sickly sweet.
"Are you implying that Javier and I aren't suitable caretakers for these babies?"
"Not at all," Walter said seriously. "You are wonderful people, but it's like you said, you already have a lot on your plate, and if fostering these two children was a mistake, then it's best we rectify that mistake and find a suitable home for them. That way, you and your husband can focus on Enrique and your jobs. That's all I'm saying."
"Right," Ophelia said slowly, smiling at Walter as if she wanted to hit him instead. She cleared her throat loudly. "Well, gosh, look at the time. We better get going. But, thank you both again. Um, would you be alright if we bring the kids by tonight? We'll include all their food, cribs, high chairs, clothes, and another double stroller if you'd like. The items were donated by Arcadia's citizens, after all."
Barbara nodded. "Yes, that should be fine. Of course, the cribs will be the most important thing to have, but there should be some room in Jim's old room for them. We'll just…" she paused, then smiled painfully, "find a way to make it work, I suppose."
"Oh, you two are angels," Ophelia exclaimed distractively, right as her phone began ringing. "Ooh, this is the Mayor's office, so I gotta take this. Shall we say tonight at… eight?"
"Yes, that sounds fine," Barbara said, "we will be-"
Ophelia suddenly raised a finger to Barbara to silence her as she answered her phone. "Hello? Council-woman Nunez speaking." She paused, then said formally, "oh yes, hello, sir, how are you doing this evening?" She laughed suddenly. "Yes, sir, I will be in the office tonight." She mouthed, 'thank you,' to Walter and Barbara, then turned away, leaving them to stand in a state of incredulity and shock.
Javier offered them an apologetic glance before he suddenly walked away, pushing the stroller after his wife.
Minutes passed as they watched the couple leave, and Barbara's mouth hung open.
"Well, that just happened," Walter suddenly said sarcastically and ran this thin clawed finger through his hair. "So much for proper etiquette and gratitude." He shook his head after them. "You know, they may be your friends and neighbors, but if Jim ever marries their daughter, I think you've got a very, uh, interesting future in dealing with in-laws, darling."
Barbara stayed silent for a second more, then smirked and turned to face him. "More interesting than having a Changeling Troll being a part of the family?"
"Oh, but I'm not a part of any family, darling. There's a difference."
Barbara blinked and then frowned at him. "What are you talking about? Yes, you are! You're a part of mine."
To her surprise, Walter laughed and shook his head."Not officially, darling. There's no blood tie to you, nor are we in a legally binding marriage."
The way he disregarded the idea made her suddenly angry. Before she could stop herself, she scoffed and snapped, "well, not yet, anyway," and Walter suddenly whipped his head to stare at her.
"What?"
Barbara froze and choked on her words. She tightened her grip on the stroller and refused to look at him. Her face was burning.
"I said, not yet," Barbara said lightly, trying to remain casual, "simple as that. I mean, we don't know what the future holds." She then laughed nervously. "And you did just promise to take me traveling one day. That sounds like a long-term commitment to me."
"Yes, but you would consider getting married… to me?"
Blinking and heart-pounding, Barbara cleared her throat. She didn't mean for this conversation to happen, but she would be lying if she said she hadn't considered it before. Being the awkward person she sometimes was, she suddenly threw out a teasing elbow into his side.
"I may have to," she chuckled, "who else is going to spend the rest of his life helping me raise four infants that he agreed to take on, if not you?"
Despite her teasing, Walter continued to stare at her in seriousness as he asked, "and you would marry me for it?"
Barbara shyly moved some of her beautiful auburn-red hair away from her face and took the stroller from his grip. "Maybe," she said softly over her shoulder before walking away.
"Alright. Walk me through it again. You two did what, exactly?"
Walter cleaned up dinner as Barbara sat at the kitchen table, feeding the four babies their dinner while NotEnrique, who was lying on the table and sneaking bites of her food when he thought Barbara wasn't looking, was interrogating her.
A short while ago, Ophelia and Javier had dropped off the boy and girl they were fostering, named Sarah and Jeffrey.
Javier was kind enough to help Walter set up two more cribs in Jim's room, but then, both he and Ophelia left quickly, leaving them with extra clothes, bottles, diapers, and food to handle the four infants by themselves. Now, she and Walter were multi-tasking the chaos that came with having four babies in the house at one time.
Aaarrrggghhh was hanging out with Toby at his house to give them more space, but NotEnrique insisted on staying to 'help out' but was currently doing the opposite.
Barbara tried not to roll her eyes at the sometimes very annoying, loud-mouthed, but small Changeling as she scooped some squash baby food onto a small spoon and took turns feeding the four hungry infants.
"It's just for a short time," Barbara explained as gently as she could. "The Nunez's said that they couldn't handle two more babies, on top of taking care of Enrique. So, we've offered to help them out until a good family adopts the two kids. That's all."
"I'm calling B.S. on that," NotEnrique said loudly, slurping at some used orange juice. "You forget that I lived with the Nunez family, posing as their son, Enrique, for months. The cold, hard fact-of-the matter is that the parents did nothin' for me, and they were okay with that! It was Claire who essentially raised and put up with me. Javier is clueless and tired, and Ophelia prefers her job runnin' this town over being a mother. They didn't have the patience to deal with a dependent baby, nor did they want to, let alone raise two more! They only started puttin' up with me when they thought that I was sleepin' through the night. But, when they found out about Trolls and Changelings, they booted me out the second Claire left."
"Gee, I wonder why," Walter added quietly as he picked up some dishes near them, and Barbara stifled a laugh.
"Ha-ha," NotEnrique quipped, swiping some meatloaf from one of the plates he was taking away, and loudly gobbled it down. "Tease all you want, but I'm tellin' ya, this is bad news. You guys are takin' on a pretty hefty load here."
"Thank you for your concern, but I think Walter and I can handle this," Barbara said, watching Walter walk into the kitchen to finish the dishes, then added, "and, besides, I think it's also our decision to make."
"Sure, sure," NotEnrique mused, lying on his side now, picking at his teeth. "But, this has gotta be detrimental to your romance."
Barbara froze mid-bite from feeding Nomura Jr. and Jeffrey, missing their mouths entirely, and turned to look at NotEnrique.
"Romance?"
"Yeah," NotEnrique chuckled. "Don't think I don't know what's goin' on between you and bossman."
A nervous fluttered churned in her stomach, but Barbara forced herself to remain calm.
"What are you talking about?"
NotEnrique snorted. "Please, doc. I may be mindin' my own business most nights, but I ain't stupid. I see what's goin' on between the two of you. Y'all got major mating pheromones goin' on. Why do yeh think Aaarrrggghhh and I decide to split and leave most nights?"
Barbara was trying to clean up the mess she'd made on Nomura Jr.'s face but jumped at NotEnrique's words.
Mating pheromones?
Barbara couldn't stop the blush as it burned on her face. She was a doctor and could handle most conversations about sex, the body, and other medical things- but she hadn't gotten that far with Walter, nor have they discussed it. The fact that she was having this conversation with the small, loud-mouthed changeling was not something she was prepared to have.
Just then, Nomura Jr. smeared her hands all over the bowl of baby food, and Barbara sighed out in frustration, slapping the dirty towel on the table instead, giving up on cleaning her up.
"And your point to all of this… is?"
"I'm saying that if you and the bossman want to make your relationship work out, then I suggest you not have four infants in your care at one time," NotEnrique suggested loudly. "It was already chaotic around here, as it was! Now, it's grown ten-fold!"
"Yeah?" Barbara snapped, turning on him now. "Well, the only reason I am watching these children and am stuck with them is because Gunmar used you, Changelings, in his war! And when Jim set these poor babies free from the Darklands, someone had to take care of them!"
NotEnrique raised his eyebrows at her, and she instantly regretted her words. She didn't realize she felt this way nor meant to use the information Walter shared with her earlier about Changelings as a weapon.
Glancing in the direction of the kitchen, she was worried that Walter had heard her.
"Wow," NotEnrique said slowly, "I see Bossman told you a little bit of our history, but you forget, sis, that it was Knome Chompsky and me that saved these babies from the Darklands, and we nearly died doing so." He snorted and shook his head. "Geez, can you say, shot's fired?"
Barbara sighed. "No, I… didn't mean that. Look, I'm sorry for snapping at you, NotEnrique. That was uncalled for. I see where you're coming from, and you're right. It's chaotic here, and things are only going to get more crazy, but Walt and I are doing the best we can for these children who have no homes or families."
When NotEnrique didn't glance in her direction, she reached out and touched his hand. He flinched at the touch and looked at her with slight disbelief, but she smiled apologetically at him.
"I'm sorry."
"Oh, it's alright, doll," NotEnrique said a bit more sincerely, melting at her genuine care. "I'm sorry too. Look, to be frank with you, I think you and Bossman make a lovely couple, and I like living here. I just worry about you, doc, especially with Jim being gone. I'm just tryin' to look out for your well-being."
"Thank you for your concern, but we're going to be fine." Barbara glanced over at the four babies, who were just playing with their food now, and sighed heavily. "Here." She passed the four jars of baby food over to NotEnrique. "You can finish these off if you'd like. The babies certainly aren't eating them."
"Oh-ho, sweet! Thanks!" NotEnrique exclaimed, diving into the squash jars, slurping the food loudly. Barbara was wiping the babies' faces off and began cleaning them up when he stopped slurping his baby food and said thoughtfully, "you know, doc, for a minute there, I was thinkin' that you were bringin' all these babies in to help you replace Jim." He laughed. "Phew! I'm glad that this setup is only temporary and isn't the case at all."
Barbara froze from picking up Nomura Jr., gasped, and quickly turned to face NotEnrique with wide eyes.
"What did you just say?"
NotEnrique slurped more baby food from the jar, oblivious to her reaction, right as Walter came out from the kitchen doors, announcing, "alright, the dishes are done, dinner is put away, and the house is clean. I'm ready to settle down for the night and spend time with my beautiful girlfriend!" He clapped his hands at the children, speaking to them now and making them coo and laugh. "Now, who's ready for pajamas?"
However, Barbara didn't move and continued to stare at NotEnrique with wide eyes. The small Changeling noticed, realized his mistake, and began to skirmish nervously.
"Uh, yeah, they are," NotEnrique said, then turned to Walter. "Here, uh, I'll-"
"No, tell me what you said about-" Barbara began to demand, but NotEnrique cut over her, loudly.
"I'll help you two out tonight!"
"You? Help?" Walter snorted as he began picking up Jeffrey and Walter Jr. from their seats. "That doesn't sound anything like you."
"Huh, funny," NotEnrique said dryly, still avoiding Barbara's heated gaze. "I can be helpful when I want to be! I just never... want to."
"Shocker," Walter snorted, and NotEnrique stared dryly at him.
"Anyway, I figured I never pull my weight around here, so uh, I'll take the girl for you." NotEnrique reached his arms out to take Nomura Jr. and Sarah from Barbara, but she suddenly pulled the babies away as if he were offering to light them on fire.
"No!" Barbara half yelled, and NotEnrique froze. "I want you to tell me what you just said, just now!"
Walter straightened up from taking Walter, Jr., out from his high chair and faced them with confused, narrowed eyes.
"Who are you talking to, darling?"
"NotEnrique."
Seeing her upset face, Walter frowned and looked between them seriously.
"What's going on?"
"Uhh," NotEnrique said nervously, "I don't remember what I said. I was… just talkin' mindlessly. Not really thinkin'..."
"What did you say to her?" Walter growled, glaring at him.
"Nothin'! Nothin'!" NotEnrique held his small arms up in surrender. "I swear!"
"You said that you were glad that I wasn't taking these extra babies to replace Jim?" Barbara paused, then gasped out, "Is that what you think I've been doing? Replacing my son?"
Walter tensed, but Barbara continued to stare at NotEnrique with a hurt in her eyes that enraged him.
"Yeah," NotEnrique said sheepishly, beginning to back away. "I did say that, and it was stupid of me. But, I'm… I'm sorry, Doc! I meant nothin' malicious by it. Honest."
Despite his apology, angry tears welled up in Barbara's eyes, and she felt betrayed. "Why would you say that to me?"
"Well… I mean…" NotEnrique paused, then said, "between you getting close to Bossman, as well as takin' in all these babies, I was just making sure that whenever Jim did come back, that he wouldn't feel replaced. That's all!"
Taking a deep breath, Barbara settled both babies on her hips and grabbed two warm bottles that Walter had made for them.
"Well, you're wrong," she whispered, trying to keep her tone calm, "I could never forget about or replace my son." She then left, biting her lip to keep the tears at bay as she walked up the stairs. Before reaching the top, she heard NotEnrique suddenly yelp out in pain.
"Ow! Not me scruff, not me scruff! I'm sorry!"
"Why would you say that to her?" Barbara heard Walter snarl in a dangerously angry voice to NotEnrique."Do you have any idea what you've just done?" But, she didn't bother to listen to him reprimand the smaller Changeling as she walked the babies into Jim's old room and shut the door behind her.
The room was quiet, despite Walter and NotEnrique's muffled yelling from downstairs. Sighing heavily, she quickly got both babies in new diapers, with warm pajamas, wiped their faces off from food, and then laid them down in their cribs with bottles.
Backing away, she stood in the middle of the room, with four cribs surrounding her, and felt overwhelmed. Barbara looked up, stared at the picture of herself and five-year-old Jim, and tears welled up in her eyes again.
Pulling out her phone by habit, she then checked it and saw nothing. No new message or text when she'd last responded to him. Opening her phone, she read the message she sent him and wiped her tears away.
Thanx for the update, Jim. I'm glad you and the others are safe. Please keep your phone charged and stay in contact so that I know you are safe. I luv u, kiddo. I miss you. Come home soon.
Barbara didn't know what else to say, as she wanted to say a lot more to him, but now, as usual, she was back to waiting for another reply from him. Her heart felt empty, and her stomach was sick from the nervous clenching.
Shutting her eyes, she slapped her phone on the side table in between the cribs in frustration, backed up, and stood against the wall. Taking her glasses off, she pinched her nose and tried to control the burning tears threatening to fall.
Was she so bothered because NotEnrique was right? Was she subconsciously trying to fill the hole in her life that Jim had made with Walter and the babies? Or was it something else, entirely?
She didn't know anymore.