~ Chapter Ten ~

Dancing in the Moonlight

Barbara wasn't much for flying, heights, or taking big risks, but being in Walter's arms while flying was an adrenaline rush she'd never known before. The rush to her head and heart, the wind blowing in her face, and the sheer terror of flying without being in an airplane, but then to know that she was safer now than she was at any other time, was exhilarating.

She had once been in his arms, flying high above the clouds like this, when she found out Walter had wings to his troll form, and he saved them from a surprise Gumm-Gumm attack. That was, also, before two Stalklings attacked them in mid-air.

Barbara would never forget that night and how terrified she was, but Walter had protected her with his life. Even during the heart-stopping moments when she was knocked out of his grip and free-fell towards Arcadia's floor, and he saved her just in time.

It was that night when he protected her with a ferocious intensity that Barbara truly began to see Walter for who he was- and she realized she still had intense feelings for him. Now that they weren't in any danger, flying with him wasn't as terrifying.

Barbara reached in her back pocket, reapplied her glasses to her face, and continued to enjoy the beautiful and peaceful night around them. Like that night, all those months ago, the moon was full and shining brightly, the skies were clear, and the stars were bright.

"So, where are we going?" She asked him after flying in silence for a few minutes.

"You'll see," Walter answered with a smile. "We are almost there."

"You know, it's kind of nice to fly with you now that we don't have two over-grown killer troll bats chasing us."

Walter suddenly tipped his head back and laughed out loud. "Stalklings, darling. They are called Stalklings."

"I know what I said," Barbara teased, and Walter shook his head, laughing some more.

Barbara closed her eyes, sighed happily, and snuggled against his chest. They continued flying in relative silence, both enjoying the beautiful night when Walter suddenly collapsed his wings, and they descended at free-falling speeds.

Barbara gasped and clung onto him as her heart pounded in her chest, but before she knew it, he was already flapping his wings to touch down upon the ground, then they were no longer flying.

"We're here, my darling," he said gently, taking her hand and guiding her to where he wanted to go.

Barbara looked around in awe, and her mouth fell open. He had taken them to one of the many overlooks over Arcadia's dark forested cliffs, and they were somehow a lot closer to the moon and stars. The ridge didn't have many trees near the edge but was filled with tall grass, flowers, and soft dirt. Above them, the stars twinkled brightly, and the moon was so close, she swore she could simply reach out and touch its cratered face.

Barbara gasped and clutched at her chest. "Oh, Walt, this is so much better than playing a board game."

"I'm glad you like it," Walter said happily, guiding her by the hand over to the edge. Below them, half of Arcadia was darkened due to the power outage, but the darkness was peaceful.

Barbara sat down on the ground, sighing contently, then patted her hand on her ground next to her, motioning for him to come over. Smiling, Walter silently obliged, sitting behind her, wrapping his arms tightly around her chest.

Barbara closed her eyes, scooted between his legs, and rested against his front.

"Oh, yes. This is wonderful, Walt," she whispered as he kissed the side of her head. "I need more nights like these, where it's just us, the moon, stars, and the tranquility of nighttime."

"I agree," Walter replied softly. "We need to make more time for moments like these, that's for sure."

Barbara nodded. "Flying here reminded me of when the overgrown troll bats were chasing us-"

"-Stalklings-"

"Same thing."

Walter snorted, and Barbara grinned, then continued, "since you demonstrated your amazing flying skills, and I never questioned them, you said you were also a 'keen' swimmer? Tell me about that."

"There's nothing much to it," Walter said, smiling in amusement. "I simply enjoy swimming and have quite the strong skill set at it."

"What else are you good at? Or enjoy doing?"

Walter contemplated her question for a moment before answering."Well, I enjoyed teaching World History as Mr. Strickler. Teaching was my life. But, when I wasn't trying to take over the world and had some spare time for myself, I suppose that I enjoyed reading, listening to music, reading history, and traveling. However, recently, the only thing I enjoy is being with you."

"Ah," Barbara cooed, "you're too sweet."

Walter kissed her head.

"What else?" She whispered, and he hummed thoughtfully. Thinking.

"Well, let's see. I can cook a decent meal, as you know, since I cook for you, and I enjoy doing that."

Barbara snorted. "Yeah, I know that I'm terrible at cooking. You don't need to rub it in."

"I wasn't, dear," Walter laughed. "If it makes you feel any better, I can't cook like Jim so that we can agree on, but, as for other things, I suppose I'm not a terrible dancer. However, I haven't developed too many talents like you have, my dear."

"What?" Barbara laughed, turning to face him. "What talents do I have?"

"Well, you are an incredible artist," Walter said softly. "Do you remember all the paintings you created when your memory came back when Vendel healed us? The paintings you made from your dreams? You had canvas after canvas lining your basement of exquisite art."

Barbara rolled her eyes. "How could I forget that?"

"You drew Jim, Trollmarket, Blinkous, and… me. And although you were cross with me, I am slightly proud to admit that my canvas was the largest and most fearsome spectacle. I knew, then, that you still loved me."

"Yeah. I was all sorts of ticked off at you for leaving me," Barbara said, smiling at the memory. "Little did I know that, at the time, I had already met your Troll counterpart before and wanted nothing to do with you." She laughed at herself. "Now, look at me." She closed her eyes, reached an arm behind her, and touched his face. "I am sitting in the most beautiful place with said fearsome Troll and am madly in love with him."

Walter hummed deeply in her ear and squeezed her tightly against him. "Good, because I'm madly in love with you too."

Barbara smiled to herself, knowing he wanted to kiss her when suddenly something he said stuck to her.

"Wait, did you tell me that you can dance?

"Huh?" Walter looked confused for a moment, and then it dawned on him. "Oh, yes, I did. That is a small talent I have, yes. I'm not the greatest at it, but it's something I've learned to enjoy and excel at over the years." He looked at her. "Why? Do you dance?"

Barbara sighed, leaning her head back on his shoulder. "I haven't been dancing since… oh gosh… since high school, probably."

"You enjoy dancing?"

"Enjoy it?" Barbara whispered, then sighed, "it was my life growing up. My parents put me through ballet, and I was an amazing dancer back in the day."

"You danced ballet?" Walter asked, sounding surprised, and Barbara nodded.

"Yeah, I danced from the time I was about six years old to about when I was eighteen." Barbara smiled sadly. "Then, I had to give it up."

"Why?"

"My father died from cancer when I was eighteen, and he was the one who encouraged my dancing," Barbara explained softly. "I was in my senior year, and my mom couldn't afford to keep paying for my classes outside of school. So, I quit. I stopped dancing at school, and I quit my ballet company. After a few years of going through junior college, I had the idea to give ballet another go, so I joined a class, thinking it would release all the stress I had to do the prerequisites to become a doctor. However, one night, during a recital for the college, I stepped out on stage, all ready to dance, when I naturally looked at the front row seat my father once occupied, and it hit me that he wasn't going to be there."

Barbara paused, and Walter's eyes grew sad as he watched her get lost in her more painful memories.

"And without him there, I couldn't bear to dance anymore," Barbara continued to whisper. "That passion for dancing faded, and I'll never forget that moment because I could have danced. I could have faced my fears and my grief, but I didn't. Instead, I walked off the stage and never looked back. I focused on my education and became a doctor instead."

"There's nothing wrong with that. You're a wonderful doctor," Walter said softly, and she smiled sadly.

"Thank you. I wanted to make a difference in people's lives and help them get better when they are sick or in pain because that is what I wanted more than anything to do when I watched my father suffer the way he did. Not dance." Barbara wiped a tear from her eye, then whispered, "I'm sorry. I sure laid a heavy thing on you. It's just that… I've never shared that with anyone before. Not to Jim. And..." she paused, then let out a humorless laugh, "actually, not even to my ex-husband."

Walter tightened his grip around her waist and felt a sense of pride. "Well, I am honored that you shared that with me. I didn't know you were a dancer. Nor, do I know who you were before I met Jim." He smiled at her. "I'm happy you confided that piece of you with me."

"What about you?" Barbara asked suddenly, and he glanced down at her face.

"What about me?"

"Who were you before the Janus Order? Before you became Mr. Walter Strickler, Arcadia Oak High's World History teacher? Before… Gunmar's war?"

"I was…" Walter began slowly, then sighed heavily, "a terrible person, Barbara. Changelings live as long as Trolls do, and before I was assigned to live as my Familiar, Walter Strickler, I led the Janus Order for many, many years. Then, when I was assigned to be Walter Strickler and hide in the human world, I was raised by his parents, Peggy and Henry Strickler, in Sussex, England. That is where I lived until I went off to college. After that, the Janus Order kept their tabs on me and manipulated my education so that I became the weapon I needed to be while blending into the human world."

"Once I got my teaching degree, my human parents died from old age, and so, I moved to the United States and began working as a teacher in Washington State. Then, I moved here to Arcadia Oaks to lead the Order's Western Headquarters and be where Trollmarket was. While stationed here, I kept my eye on Trollmarket and helped build Killahead Bridge so Gunmar could return from his banishment in the Darklands."

Walter paused, shut his eyes in regret, then exhaled out heavily.

"But, enough about me, dear. I don't like to linger on my dreadful past. Instead, I prefer to live in the present." He glanced down at her then and looked over her near-perfect features. "I prefer being with you."

Barbara smiled and gently touched his face. "I love being with you too, Walt, and just so you know, I don't judge you for who you used to be. I only care about who you are now, and right now, you are the changeling that I love."

"I love you too, Barbara," Walter whispered, leaning forward. "I don't deserve you… but I'm so thankful that you are mine."

"Me too," Barbara whispered, closing the gap between them and kissing him. Their lips moved slowly, deeply, and time seemed to slow down.

Barbara turned in his embrace, pressing her chest against his, as her hands grasped through his hair and kissed him more soundly. Their kiss continued, both not in any rush to speed things up nor slow down. Finally, Walter opened his mouth to her, letting her tongue in, and groans escaped both of them simultaneously.

Walter's hands climbed up her back and grasped onto her soft hair when suddenly he pulled away, leaving them both breathless.

"Why'd you stop?" Barbara breathed.

"Because I want to make this night even more romantic, and I think I have a good idea for it."

Barbara raised an eyebrow at him. "What's more romantic than kissing the woman you love under a full moon and vast universe of stars?"

Walter grinned at her but stood up suddenly and pulled out his phone from his shorts pocket. He skimmed through a few things before he turned on the music, and a beautiful piano piece began softly playing through his phone speakers. He turned to face her, smiling warmly, then extended his hand out to her.

"How about dancing under the full moon and vast universe of stars and then kissing?"

Barbara clutched her chest and was moved beyond words. "Oh, Walt…!"

"Now, I know it's not ballet, nor do I know how to dance like that, but I can waltz, and you said you hadn't danced with someone since high school. So, what do you say, my beautiful darling?" He stepped closer to her, still holding his hand out. "May I have this dance?"

Tears welled up in Barbara's eyes as she clutched her chest and stared up at him. He was so beautiful to her, so genuine, so romantic, and thoughtful. Sniffing back tears, she took his hand.

"Yes," she whispered in a choked voice, "I would love to dance with you, Walter."

Walter helped her off the ground, then slowly pulled her into his arms, holding her close. Never taking their eyes off each other, he led her in a gentle waltz to the softly tranquil piano masterpiece, and she recognized it instantly.

"Clair De Lune," Barbara breathed, melting into the song and in his arms, "Walter, I love this song."

"I do too," Walter whispered, holding her close. "It's certainly one of Debussy's greatest compositions and is the most popular to most folks. But, for tonight, I thought that it compliments the ambiance we have under this beautiful moon and perfectly describes how I feel about you."

Walter swayed her to the music, gently spun her around once, then brought her back close to him. She rested her face against his face, and minutes went by in relative silence. The gentle piano melody guided their steps, and as time passed, what turned from a simple waltz and him spinning her around, settled into a gentle swaying of two hearts, bodies, and souls wholly in love.

Barbara kept her eyes shut as she rested against Walter's chest, holding him tightly. Then, she felt his hand caress her cheek, and she naturally raised her lips to find his. The instant their lips met, she kissed him wholly and soundly, and this time, he didn't pull away.

Holding each other tightly, they swayed to the music, kissing and dancing under the moonlight.

Hours passed, and the moon had settled further down the horizon, and eventually, they found themselves lying down in each other's arms on the soft ground with Walter's wings draped around them for warmth. They were gazing up at the stars and hadn't done anything more than kiss and hold each other, but that was something Barbara longed to change.

"Walter," Barbara breathed against his lips, pulling away slightly. They had been kissing for so long, her lips felt raw, but she didn't want ever to stop.

"Yes, my darling?" Walter whispered, caressing her face.

"I love you, and I want to move forward in our relationship."

Walter glanced warily down at her. "What do you mean?"

"When we get back to the house, I don't want to be separated from you anymore."

"But, you aren't," Walter whispered, smiling and misunderstanding her. "I'm just in the basement, darling."

"Yes, but I don't want you to sleep there anymore," Barbara said, gathering up the courage to be honest with him. "I want you…" she faltered and meant to say that she wanted to sleep by his side, but he got the idea.

Walter's eyes widened, and he suddenly looked afraid.

"Barbara… no…."

"You won't hurt me."

"I…" Walter began, then whispered, "we don't know that, and I've never been with..." he shut his eyes briefly. "I've never been with a human before. I don't think it's..."

"Please," Barbara begged, hating that she'd come to this, but she'd been sleeping alone for over ten years, and the fact that she couldn't imagine leaving Walter's arms and sleeping alone again, she gave it all she had. "Please, Walter? I want you to sleep with me, even if it's just sleeping, for now. But, I want to take this step with you."

Walter stared into her eyes, losing the battle in refusing her, so she continued to make her argument.

"We can take things slow with sexual intimacy if that's what you're worried about, but I need you to stay by my side from now on. I'm... a bit embarrassed to admit this, Walter, but I haven't had anyone by my side for years, and I can't take it anymore. Not after sharing this beautiful night with you. I love you, I need you, and I want to be with you. In every way possible." She closed her eyes and caressed a hand over his stone-like chest. "I'm ready."

Walter stared down at her but didn't say anything. Barbara glanced up at him, and the hurt in her eyes was almost more than he could take.

"Unless…" she whispered painfully, "you don't… want me...?"

"No," Walter suddenly gasped out, shaking his head. He gently held onto her arms and rested his forehead to hers. "Heaven's, no, that is not the reason for my hesitation at all. I want you, Barbara, trust me, I do. Especially in that way. I'd like to share that with you, more than anything, but..." he paused, inhaled deeply through his nose, then whispered, "I don't know what I would do if I ever hurt you, Barbara. I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

"Walter," Barbara began, but he sat up from her now and clutched her hands in his.

"No, Barbara, I can't take that chance with you."

"But..."

"You don't understand. I can't return to my human form while Walter Jr. has been rescued from the Darklands," he whispered fiercely. "I cannot be who you need me to be, Barbara."

"What are you saying?" Barbara whispered. "Are- are you saying that you don't want to... be with me... anymore?"

The idea made her heart clench in unbelievable pain, and tears filled her eyes. Walter instantly shook his head and cupped her face. "No! No, absolutely not. I love you, Barbara, and I'm not going anywhere."

Tears had filled Barbara's eyes, and she had to calm her breathing down. "Okay," she gasped, nodding. "I'm sorry, I just… I just never thought I would need someone so much. You… you must know that I have fear about people I love leaving me. Right?"

"Yes, darling, I do know," Walter breathed, drawing her face inches from his. "But, I'm not going anywhere."

Tears spilled out of her eyes now, and her voice shook, shaking him to his very core.

"Promise?"

Walter stared intently into her eyes, trembling slightly as he cupped the back of her neck. "I promise. There is nowhere else I would rather be than with you."

Barbara bit her lip and still felt her anxiety clenching in her chest. "Are you sure?"

A growl left his lips, startling her, and when he spoke, his lips were inches from hers.

"Where else... would I go, Barbara?" He whispered in a low, guttural voice. "How else can I live and breathe when you have my heart?"

"Oh, Walter," Barbara cried, and before she knew it, his lips had found hers, and her anxieties melted away. Groaning, they wrapped each other up in each other's grasps and passionately kissed.

Minutes went by, and when they broke apart, Walter sighed, "Barbara..."

"I'm sorry," she whispered breathlessly; every inch of her was trembling. Not out of fear of him, but fear of losing him. Losing this level of intimacy she had found with him. "I... I shouldn't have even asked or brought this up. It's alright if you're not ready or comfortable with the idea. We... we don't have to..."

"No, Barbara, I want to." Walter met her gaze with great intensity. "But... but, you have to understand that while I'm more human-like than the other Trolls, my Troll form isn't fully compatible with a human, and that hasn't been done before. It's all unknown territory. Engaging in sex could be extremely dangerous to you!"

"I do understand that, but you won't hurt me," Barbara breathed, gazing intently into his glowing eyes, and he gaped at her. "I trust you, Walter. With my life, heart, and soul, I trust you, and I love you." She paused, then cupped his face, forcing him to look at her, and added quietly, "I don't need you in your human form for you to be who I need, Walt. I just need you. Who you are now, and who you were as a human, are one in the same person to me."

Walter shut his eyes. This was a fight of willpower he was sorely losing.

"Oh, Barbara…"

"If you're not ready, then I won't hold it against you. I just wanted to be honest with you about where I was in my feelings for you."

Walter lowered his gaze for a moment. "I love you, Barbara. There is no doubt about that, and I find you…" he paused, then urged, "extremely attractive, but I don't want to rush anything. For now, I'll stay by your side and sleep with you to provide companionship and comfort. The rest we can feel out and take our time with." He paused and searched her face. "Is that alright?"

Barbara smiled, leaned forward, and kissed him. Their lips danced and moved in deep, languid movements for a few, long minutes. When she pulled away, he was left breathless.

"Yes," she breathed. "Anything to remain by your side… I am all for it." She paused. "Thank you for doing this for me. I love you, Walter."

Walter chuckled breathlessly and shook his head. "No, my darling. Not as much as I love you."

Barbara smiled and raised an eyebrow at him.

"Oh, we will see about that."

"Challenge accepted," Walter breathed, and both of them laughed. Then under the stillness of the moon and stars, they kissed gently and unhurriedly, lying in each other's arms.