~ Chapter Thirteen ~

Nothing is as it Seems

Barbara arrived at the cafe with sweat dripping down the back of her neck, her heart pounding, and her lungs angrily protesting against the sudden onset of cardio.

Mr. Benoit's French Bistro was a half-mile from the hospital but was still a bit strenuous for her to run the whole way. Leaning over to catch her breath, Barbara clutched her chest and took a series of deep breaths to gather her wits.

"I need to…" she gasped to herself, "exercise… more… often."

"Are you alright there, Luv?"

Gasping, Barbara turned and saw Douxie, the nice, nineteen-year-old waiter with black hair with blue streaks through it, approaching her. Barbara relaxed, straightened up, and smiled at him.

"Yes, thank you. I'm just catching my breath. I ran here from the hospital."

"Why? I know that you're a regular here, but are you that eager for coffee?" Douxie teased, and Barbara laughed.

"That's what it looks like, I'm sure, but no."

Douxie laughed. "Hey, I don't judge; it's all good. Well, are you going to be dining with us again? If so, shall I get your regular drink order going?"

"Oh, no, that's… wait…." She glanced at him in amazement. "You have my drink order memorized?"

"Yeah, what can I say?" Douxie nodded, shrugged, and laughed sheepishly. "I have a good memory, and if someone comes into the cafe almost every day and orders the same thing as you do, I tend to remember it." He clapped his hands. "So, that'll be one medium latte, with a double shot of espresso, in a to-go cup with a tad bit of cinnamon on top of the foam?"

Barbara chuckled and relented. "That's the one. Dang, you are good. I'm impressed and... slightly embarrassed. Maybe I should lay off the coffee for a little while."

"Nah, don't do that. It's what I do for a living, plus I need all the tips I can get," Douxie said with a charming smile, "but thanks. And uh, what about that male troll friend of yours? With the...er… knives? Will he also be joining you tonight?"

Barbara's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Walter, and she recalled why she was there. She looked around the small street corner, but there was no sign of him yet, and he hadn't texted or called her back either. Her heart sank into her nervously bubbling stomach at his silence.

"Um, I'm not sure," Barbara said, trying to remain calm. "But, hey, no coffee for me tonight. I'm going to just sit on these chairs out here and keep trying to catch my breath. Thanks, though."

"Oh," Douxie said, looking shocked, "alright, well, let me know if that changes."

Barbara thanked him as he turned to go inside.

Groaning, she sank into the metal outside chairs, took off her glasses, and leaned her head into her hands. Her mind raced as she thought about where Walter was and if he was okay, as well as Jim. It had been another four days since he last texted her.

Barbara pulled out her phone, checked her empty messages, and sighed again. She hated her phone, and she hated the forced attachment she had to have with it. It felt like chains she was forced to wear if she wanted freedom—a double-edged sword.

Just then, the sound of cooing children coming towards her broke up her thoughts. Barbara glanced up and gasped at what she saw.

Walking with a backpack of two children on his chest, and pushing the double stroller in front of him with two more babies, was Walter. Or at least she thought it was him. She had to take a double-take.

The troll-changeling walking towards her certainly looked like her boyfriend, but this one had changed. Walter usually only wore his brown shorts and cloak of knives, but now, he was dressed in a nice brown suit, with a dark blue turtle-neck collared sweater underneath, and had on slick black Van Heusen dress shoes. His skin seemed to be a darker green color and had a smoother look about it as if he had bathed. The closer he got to her, she swore he had gotten a slight hair trim and color adjustment, as well. No longer was his shoulder-length hair the white and grey color he had this morning, but instead, it was all black.

Walter must have caught her staring at him in awe because he smiled an adorably shy smile as he approached her.

"Walter?" Barbara gasped, looking him up and down as he approached her. She squinted her eyes. "Whoa, is that you?"

Walter chuckled and nodded. "Yes, it's me. While you were gone at work today, I decided that I would freshen up my look, so I didn't look so barbaric." He smiled warmly at her, reached out a clawed hand to caress her cheek, and his skin was as smooth as a polished or refined rock. "Do you... do you like it?"

"Walter," she breathed, clutching at her chest, "oh my gosh! Yes, I do! Honey, you've always been so handsome, but now, you look amazing! I… I'm almost out of words." She stepped close to him and rested a hand upon his chest. "You look wonderful, and all I know is that I'm utterly, helplessly, and completely in love with you."

"Thank you, my beautiful darling. I love you too," Walter said softly, hugging her gently as not to squish the babies. "I merely wished to blend in a bit more, despite my… outward appearance. I want to be a bit more of who I was as a human, and also, more of the male you've helped me become and am striving to be."

"Yeah, bossman has been busy today prepping and pampering himself," NotEnrique added, suddenly popping out from the basket underneath the double stroller, "all to try and impress you."

Walter raised an eyebrow at the smaller changeling but didn't seem mad at him. Instead, he merely smiled and shrugged.

"I'm not going to deny the truth nor be ashamed of it. I wanted to be more attractive-looking for the stunningly beautiful human woman who has stolen my heart." He then threw a charming grin at Barbara and then winked. "Besides, everyone deserves a nice grooming day or two. Even troll changelings."

Nearby, Barbara saw two teenage girls at the coffee shop swooning over Walter, and she automatically leaned in to block their view from him.

"Well, I think you look incredibly handsome in every form," Barbara complimented sweetly. "I am very impressed."

Walter grinned. "Thank you, darling." He glanced down at the stroller holding Jeffrey and Sarah, then said, "well, I must apologize for being a bit later than planned. It was a bit of a chore to get these four going, and they aren't going to remain calm forever. Shall we order our usual and have a quick bite of dinner together before you have to head back to work?"

Barbara nearly nodded out of habit but then stopped and remembered why her stomach was still in a nervous clench.

"Um, no… actually, honey, something has come up. I got distracted for a moment by you and your amazing look, but we…" Barbara paused, and his eyes narrowed slightly. She could never hide anything from him. "We need to talk."

Walter's handsome face fell slightly upon seeing the nervous expression on her face. "Is everything alright?"

"I was trying to call you earlier, and I even left you a message, but you didn't pick up at the house or your cell phone."

"Oh, I'm sorry, darling, I must have had it on silent." Walter dug through his pocket, pulled out his cell phone, and looked at the screen. "I didn't realize you were trying to get a hold of me. I see you left me a message." He glanced up at her now, right as she glanced behind her. She kept having the feeling that someone was watching them.

Walter's brows furrowed slightly. "Barbara? What's wrong?"

"We should get out of the open." When his eyes widened in shock, she quickly added, "it's not because of how you look or anything, but…." She exhaled sharply, hating this. "Okay, it kind of is because of how you look, but only because there are some people in town right now, that will hunt you down because you're a Changeling."

"What?" NotEnrique asked loudly. "Doll, what are you talkin' about?"

"Listen to me," Barbara said in a hushed tone, placing her hands on Walter's chest and gently backed him and the stroller into Benoit's nearby alleyway. "I was trying to call you guys to have you stay home. Part of the Military is in town for some strange reason. I guess there's been some strange alien or other monster sightings that have attracted them here, but they are also tracking down trolls!"

"Aliens?" NotEnrique then snorted out a laugh. "Yeah, right, doll. Don't tell me that you believe all of those crazy theories like that chubby trucker believed? You know. The one who nearly killed you last week?"

"That's the thing! I didn't believe it either," Barbara argued quietly. "However, today I've been crazy busy at the hospital dealing with injury after injury, and every single person has been talking about an alien-related attack, of sorts! So, that cannot all be a coincidence or people losing their minds. Besides, it's not so crazy anymore to think that trolls or changelings are real… or… or even wizards, for that matter. I mean, Merlin, the Merlin, lived in my house for a few weeks right before the Earth opened up and Gumm-Gumm's, Angor Rot, Gunmar, and Morgana attacked Arcadia Oaks. I mean… I've seen a lot, so who's to say that the aliens in town aren't real either?"

"Yeah, but trolls have existed for centuries," NotEnrique said, picking at his teeth, "as has magic. So, that's not out of the ordinary. Aliens, however, are another story."

"Fine,'' Barbara snapped, folding her arms over her chest. "Don't believe me, but do you care to explain to me, then, Mr. Know-It-All, why the entire freaking Army from Area 49-B is here in Arcadia Oaks running laser tests on people and testing them for abnormal anomalies?"

"Whoa, come again?" NotEnrique asked.

Walter flinched and gasped, "What?"

Barbara faced Walter now and placed her hands on his chest, getting straight to the point. "They were at the hospital, Walt, testing everyone. They are looking for aliens who have somehow shapeshifted into humans."

Walter's eyes widened. Understanding now. "Like us."

Barbara nodded. "Right, and when I spoke with the Colonel in charge, demanding what they were doing at the hospital, I quickly found out that she's a nasty piece of work. She means business here and is concentrating her efforts on finding the aliens." She paused, took a deep breath, then whispered, " Walter, she also knows about the Eternal Night War and knows about Changelings. Long story short, she isn't a fan of you guys and plans to entrap, capture, and even kill anything that isn't human." She glanced between him and NotEnrique, who was finally silent, and added, "her words, not mine."

"And because we ain't capable of using our human familiar's for cover anymore..." NotEnrique slowly pieced together; Walter then added, "... we are not safe in the open in our Troll forms."

"Right again," Barbara said, then sighed and hung her head, "though I wish you weren't. But you guys are sitting ducks if you continue to be out in the open without the ability to blend into your human form. That being said, I think that it's probably best if you guys lie low and not leave the house until this all blows over." She glanced between them and sighed heavily. "I'm sorry."

Walter nodded silently, looking upset, but still offered her a brave smile.

"It's alright, darling, it's not your fault. This, unfortunately, has been mine and NotEnrique's reality all of our lives. Changelings have no real place in the human world without Familiars, and since we are seen as impure and untrustworthy to the Trolls, we could not live with them either. We are strangers and outsiders to both worlds." He paused, smiled humorlessly, then added, "however, when we were humans, we were at least the closest to knowing what true happiness was- what it was like to be loved, respected, trusted, and to feel like we belonged somewhere."

"Yeah," NotEnrique added heavily, looking devastated. "Sad, but true."

Barbara looked between them, and tears filled her eyes. Anger and sadness filled her at the same time. Sniffing, she stooped down, lifted NotEnrique from the basket, and hugged him tightly.

"Whoa, whoa, what are you-?" He began to say, but when she pressed a kiss on his forehead, he stopped talking and froze out of happy shock.

"Not with me," she whispered to him fiercely. "You two are a part of my family and will always have a place in my home."

NotEnrique's face melted into warmth and appreciation. "Thanks, doc."

Barbara smiled, then let him down. She then leaped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Walter's neck, pressing her mouth against his and kissing him fiercely. The babies on his chest cooed and pulled at Barbara's face and hair as they let their lips dance, but she didn't let up.

Walter wrapped his arms around her, deepening their kiss as Barbara ran her fingers through his silky hair. He smelled wonderful and had a nice musky cologne on that made her never want to stop. They kissed for a few passionate seconds before she pulled away but held onto his face and stared intently into his eyes.

"You are loved beyond measure, Walt, and I wouldn't want you any other way than who you are now."

"I know, sweetheart. I know. Thank you." He then wiped one of her tears away. "Please don't cry. I didn't mean to make you sad."

"I'm not sad, Walt. I'm mad. I'm so upset that this is happening to the ones I love." Barbara took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. "But, we'll get through this together." She offered him a brave smile, then. "As always."

"Yes, we will. Thank you, my darling," Walter whispered, smiling warmly. "Thank you for the heads up. NotEnrique and I will head home and remain there until all of this blows over. I'll also try to be more vigilant in having my cell phone on me just in case you need me." His brows furrowed with worry suddenly. "But, what about you? With all this going on, will you be alright?"

Barbara waved his comment away. "Of course. The Military won't hurt the civilians unless we give them cause to, and I don't anticipate starting a fight with them." She smirked. "Though, punching that Colonel in the face does seem appealing, but, since that's frowned upon, I, too, will lie low. I'll do my best to keep my head down and mouth shut." She then pulled Walter in for another hug. "I'll bring you home some coffee from Benoit's every once in a while, and we'll make a romantic date out of it at the house. Maybe we'll make a fire pit in the backyard, go to the roof, or we head back to the cliffs."

Walter chuckled and held her tightly against him. "Thank you, darling. That sounds lovely. We'll plan on it."

They broke apart and turned around right as two blacked-out SUVs jumped the curb by Benoit's cafe, making people scream and jump out of the way. The vehicles stopped at the alleyway, blocking them in, and their bright headlights blinded them all.

"Ah, blimey, that's bright! What's going on?" NotEnrique cried out, covering his eyes from the light. Just then, shadowed outlines of two men jumped out of the vehicles.

Walter's grip on Barbara tightened, and he automatically stepped in front of her. However, when she realized that the two men were a part of the Area 49-B operations team and that Walter had two babies attached to his chest, she fought out of his hold.

"That conniving snake!" Barbara yelled in outrage.

"What?" Walter asked, gritting his sharp teeth as the uniformed men quickly and tactically approached them, pointing large laser guns at them.

"That, Colonel Kubritz! The witchy lady in charge of this whole operation!" Barbara cried back. "The one that I said I would like to punch. She must have had me followed!"

"FREEZE!" One soldier yelled out, raising his gun to them. "Hands up where I can see them!"

Barbara instantly fought past Walter's hold and stepped out in front of him and the babies with her arms held out. "Stop!" She yelled. "Don't shoot!"

But, one soldier pointed his gun at her face threateningly, screaming, "I SAID, FREEZE!"

Walter growled loudly and tried to pull Barbara behind him, but she whipped around to face him, her eyes wide with terror. "You have to go, Walt! Get yourself, NotEnrique, and the babies to safety! Please, I'll be fine! Fly out of here and go!"

"I'm not leaving you here," Walter growled menacingly, but Barbara pushed him in the chest, forcing him deeper into the alleyway.

"Yes, you are!"

"DON'T MOVE! I'M GOING TO SHOOT!"

"Hold on, Drew," the other soldier suddenly said, "let's not be so hasty."

The first soldier faced his companion. "Why not? They may not be the alien children the Colonel is searching for, but these are two Trolls! They are still foreign beings she wants to have tested and researched. I, also, don't want to be the one the Colonel beheads for losing them, so let's shoot them and ask questions later."

"NO!" Barbara yelled, guarding Walter, NotEnrique, and the children.

"Drew, you can't," the other soldier suddenly urged, "the large troll is carrying babies on him! And the doctor is a civilian!"

The agitated soldier, Drew, glanced between Barbara, Walter, NotEnrique, and the babies with a shaking gun. "She's guarding something that is a danger to the United States and all citizens," he finally whispered shakily, "that's her decision and fate. Nevertheless, I must do what I was ordered to do."

"But, is it the right thing to do?" The second soldier whispered, and Drew suddenly swiped his leg out from underneath him, knocking him to the ground.

"Oh, shut up, John. I don't have time for this," Drew said, pointing his gun back at Walter, "if you're going to sissy out, then I'll do this myself." He approached Barbara with his weapon raised and jerked it to the side. "Alright, lady, get away from them, nice and slow, and you won't get hurt."

"Touch them, and I'll hurt you," Barbara hissed, not budging.

"Barbara," Walter warned, moving slowly not to attract the gunfire, and grasped at her elbow to pull her behind him. "Don't!"

Drew looked between them, then pointed the gun at Barbara's forehead. She froze in terror.

"I said,… MOVE!"

"Lower that gun from her face!" Walter snarled, pushing the stroller behind him, and guarding the babies on his chest with an arm, while his other arm reached out to negotiate with the soldier. "LOWER IT!"

The soldier, however, pointed the gun at Walter with shaking hands. "GET BACK, MONSTER!"

"Drew!" The soldier, John, yelled. "DON'T! HE HAS KIDS ON HIM!"

Just then, Nomura and Walter Jr. began crying loudly, filling the alleyway with shrill cries, and Barbara could see that it was agitating the first soldier more.

Drew glanced between Walter and the now crying babies and was trembling.

"Drew," John tried again. "Let's think this through."

"What's there to think about, John?" Drew yelled. "For all we know, these babies were a creation between this troll and the doctor, somehow. If that's the case, then Colonel Kubritz will want all of them in custody. She can sort them all out later." He then placed his finger on the trigger and lined the gun up to Walter's face. A laser dot lined his forehead. "She did also say she wanted these troll creatures 'dead or alive,' and an order is an order, in my eyes."

"NO!" Barbara screamed, jumping forward and forcing his gun upwards, right as he pulled the trigger. Bright green laser blasted into the sky, destroying a street light, which rained down the glass upon them, and Barbara and the soldier both fought desperately for the gun, grunting angrily.

Drew yanked her violently, trying to get her hands off his weapon, but she refused to let go. She stomped on his foot, then kneed him in the groin, making him yell out in pain and anger.

As quick as lightning, he recovered and viciously backhanded her across the face with all the strength he could muster.

Barbara cried out in pain as the slap echoed in the alleyway, and she could do nothing but fall. She slammed to the ground and felt something wet splatter on her face while her glasses landed next to her face. When she raised her hand to touch the moisture, she glanced down and gasped at the bright red blood coating her hands.

Barbara whimpered once in pain, but Walter had roared out in rage before she could get up. Launching forward, he took the soldier down with him and began fighting him with full troll-like strength and fury.

"Walter!" Barbara cried out, wanting him to stop, but he was past hearing. He was in full protection mode.

"OI," NotEnrique roared, also joining the fight by pounding the other soldier on the head repeatedly with his fists, "DON'T YEH EVER PUT YOUR HANDS ON HER AGAIN!"

When Barbara looked up, still holding her bleeding nose, Walter was rolling around with the soldier, fighting him and snarling viciously. Barbara watched in horror at the blurred sights and vivid sounds of destruction and fighting.

Nearby, the children were still screaming their heads off, and Barbara instantly began crawling towards them. When she got close, relief filled her chest. Walter had taken off the backpack of babies sometime when she was fighting the soldier for his gun and set them by the stroller. They were safe, at least. She instantly began trying to console them all while continuing to watch Walter fight the two soldiers with wide, terrified eyes- and while she had terrible eyesight- it wasn't hard to see that he was winning.

Walter picked up the soldier who slapped her over his head and tossed him like a ragdoll across the alleyway with a deafening roar and snarl; then, he went for the other soldier and bore his sharp teeth and claws at him. The soldier screamed in fear, raised his gun as Walter launched for him, and shot it.

Then, time seemed to slow to a stop, for it was too late.

"WALTER! NOO!" Barbara screamed and held out a hand out in desperation right as the laser's bright green light filled the alleyway. She watched the laser shoot for Walter's chest in horror, anticipating the worst, when a bright blue light suddenly created a shield in front of him.

The gunfire ricocheted off the barrier, and both Walter and Barbara stared at it and each other in stunned shock. He was alive and uninjured to her relief, but that blue shield did not come from either of them but seemed to be another form of laser technology.

Just then, a young man stepped into the alleyway. His wristband was glowing with the same blue light, which Barbara realized, was controlling the shield that was protecting Walter.

"I agree with the troll," the young man said, glaring at the soldiers. "Nobody touches a lady."

Barbara's eyes widened at the sight when the young man came into view, and her jaw fell open agape. It was the black-haired waiter from Benoit's French Bistro, and his wristband hadn't made a shield out of technology at all, but it was magic.

"Oh my gosh," Barbara gasped. "Douxie?"

Douxie stepped up to the soldier and crossed his arms in a formation, wielding the magic to follow his lead.

"Who… who are you?" The remaining soldier asked shakily, looking between him and Walter in fear.

"Someone who doesn't appreciate thugs who think a fair fight involves guns, a woman, and children!" Douxie replied, strolling into the light. Upon seeing the magic surrounding his hands and wrists, the soldier's face paled. "Now, nighty- night, mate."

With that, Douxie uncrossed his arms with a snap, and the soldier suddenly fell face forward on the ground, asleep, and then, just like that, the fight was over.

Wiping the blood from her nose, Barbara stood and placed her glasses back on her face so she could see better again, but then suddenly Walter stumbled over and collected her in his arms.

"Barbara!"

They held onto each other tightly for a few moments before Walter pulled away and cupped her face, his eyes wide with worry. Looking at her, she had a cut on her lip, some blood on her teal-colored scrubs, and a bruise forming under her right eye. His face fell at the sight of her battered face, and his heart sunk.

"Oh, Barbara, my darling! You're hurt!"

"I'm alright," Barbara gasped, snuggling back into his chest. "It's just a little blood. Don't worry about me."

"I will worry about you," Walter said softly, caressing her face, "because a little bit of blood or bruising is not okay with me. Not in the least." He made a fist and rage-filled his glowing eyes. "These men will pay for what they've done to you!"

"No," Barbara said, resting her hands on his chest. "They've been taken care of, Walt, no more fighting. It's alright."

"No, it's not alright! It's…"

"Walter," Barbara breathed, gazing deeply into his eyes. He glanced down at her, and after looking into her sapphire blue eyes, the anger in his glowing yellow and red eyes disappeared. Walter sighed out in defeat, shut his eyes, and pulled her into a tight hug.

"You're right. The fight is over." He leaned his cheek down upon her head. "I'm sorry, Barbara."

"Hey, sis," NotEnrique said as he crawled on all fours towards them. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm alright." Barbara nodded, wiping more blood from her nose. She then turned and picked up the screaming Walter Jr. into her arms, shushing and comforting him. Walter and NotEnrique followed her to care for Nomura Jr., Sarah, and Jeffrey.

As the babies settled down, Douxie walked over and whistled a low whistle.

"Blimey, four infant Familiars? I heard how many more were adopted or fostered by other families, but that many babies for one household is crazy. I don't know how you guys are managing it."

Barbara and Walter turned, and Douxie smiled warmly at them.

"Wha… how?" Barbara began, but couldn't find all the words to ask how he knew about changelings, trolls, the Familiars, or magic. So, she merely sighed, "thank you so much for helping us."

"Eh, don't mention it," Douxie replied casually, shrugging. "I wasn't about to let these two twits attack a helpless woman, two trolls changelings who didn't start any fight, and four babies. Not on my watch. Not ever."

"Thank you," Walter said sincerely, wrapping an arm around Barbara's shoulder. "Had it not been for you helping us, my life could have possibly taken a nasty turn for the worst."

"Eh, it's part of the job," Douxie said with a smile. "You saved our lives when those twit Gumm-Gumm's attacked, and I saved yours now. We're even."

Walter smiled back. "Yes, it is, and it would appear that we have another wizard ally on our side. One that existed underneath our noses for quite some time."

"Wait, what?" Barbara added, blinking in surprise. "Another wizard? Like… like Merlin?"

"Merlin?" Douxie's face fell seriously. "You… you say that like you've met him before."

"Yeah, I'd say we've more than met," Barbara replied dryly. "He lived at my house for a few days before the Eternal Night Battle, turned my son into a half-troll, then took him on a quest for an unknown amount of time. So, yeah, I would say that I'm fairly acquainted with him." Then, when she saw the slightly distressed look on his face, she added, "why? Do you know him?"

"Yes," Douxie said softly, "I'm ah… actually his apprentice. I haven't heard from him in over nine hundred years. I expect him to communicate with me any day now. But… he hasn't contacted me yet."

"Nine hundred years?" Barbara gasped, looking him up and down. "But you're… ?"

"Nineteen?" Douxie added with a humorless laugh. "Yeah, I am. We wizards age a lot slower than most." He paused, then frowned. "Wait, you mentioned that he lived at your house for a few days and turned your son into a half-troll?"

"Yeah," Barbara sighed, nodding and pushing some hair behind her ear, "he did."

"Why would he do that?"

"Because…" Barbara stopped, unsure if she should divulge anything, but then something lit up in Douxie's eyes.

"Wait a moment. Is he-? Holy Fuzzbuckets, is your son the Trollhunter?"

Barbara smiled and nodded. She was grateful she didn't have to explain all of that to him. Douxie laughed and clapped his hands together.

"Incredible! So, I just saved the troll hunter's mother?"

Barbara laughed. "Yeah. I suppose you did."

"Well, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance officially," Douxie said, kissing her hand briefly. "My full name is Hisirdoux Casperan, Douxie for short, and I am Merlin's apprentice and a Wizard-in-training."

"It's nice to meet you officially," Barbara said kindly. "For a moment there, I was worried I was only going to be known as the woman with an unhealthy coffee obsession to you." Douxie laughed as she added, "I'm Doctor Barbara Lake, and Jim Lake, Jr. is my son and the troll hunter."

"And I am Waltolomew Stricklander," Walter said, holding out his claw and shaking Douxie's hand. "Strickler or Walter, for short." He pointed to NotEnrique, then added, "this is my other Changeling brother. NotEnrique."

"'Sup," NotEnrique said, waving.

"Nice to meet you, mates," Douxie said, nodding at both of them before he turned around and looked at the unconscious soldiers. "Well, now that this is taken care of, I probably should head back to work." He faced them and began searching through his glowing wristband. "I don't want to get in any trouble with the boss. I do need the money this job… sort of supplies me."

Barbara sighed and nodded. "I should probably do the same." She checked her watch and groaned. "I'm already running a bit late."

"Or…" NotEnrique suggested, "you could say, 'hey, I was nearly shot by two insane Area 49- B soldiers in a dark alleyway,' and call it a night? I mean, last time you worked, you were nearly run over and killed by a truck."

Barbara chuckled. "I wish it were that simple, but no matter the dangers, mommy still has to work."

NotEnrique stuck his tongue at her, and she laughed. Just then, Douxie walked over to the soldiers, reactivated his wristband of magic, and pointed his fist at them.

"What are you doing?" Barbara asked him.

"I'm going to summon a memory spell. Don't worry, it's not harmful to them, but I doubt we want these blokes to remember that they found you and the Changelings. Trust me, I know all about trying to keep a low profile, and this is the best way you're gonna get it."

"Thank you," Barbara said softly, "I appreciate you helping us, Douxie. I don't know why the Military is here. The Colonel said it was for aliens, but it would appear that she knows more about the Trolls, Changelings, and possibly even Wizards and magic. She probably thought me suspicious of hiding something and sent officers to follow me. How else could the officers have found me?"

"Makes sense," Douxie said, standing up and pointing his arm at the soldiers. "Things aren't what they seem here in Arcadia Oaks."

Barbara snorted. "Nothing is as it seems anymore. Never was."

Douxie snorted out a laugh, nodding in agreement, then turned and delivered the memory spell on the soldiers. As he did that, Barbara helped Walter place Walter and Nomura Jr. back onto his chest in the backpack holder and gave the babies their pacifiers so that they continued to remain calm.

Walter cupped her face when she was done and planted a long and profound kiss on her forehead.

"Be careful, Barbara," he whispered, holding her tightly to him. "Watch your back, and please text me when you get to the hospital and off work. I need to know that you're safe. I can't..." he stopped, shut his eyes, then urged, "I can't stand the thought of you getting hurt again. Not like tonight. I should have… I should have stopped that soldier before he…." he shook his head in strain and gritted his sharp teeth, "I didn't think he was going to…. Ugh… what kind of a man raises his fist against a woman?" He shook his head in disgust, sighed in defeat, and opened his eyes. He took her hands in his, and Barbara had never seen him this stressed out before. "I'm so sorry, Barbara."

"Hey, I'm okay," Barbara whispered. "But, thank you, Walter. I love you."

"I love you too. Please, be safe."

"I will," Barbara promised. "Same for you."

Walter smiled. "I will."

Barbara turned to Douxie, who had just finished his memory spell and was approaching them. "Thank you again, Douxie. We will, hopefully, be seeing you around more often."

"Count on it, Luv," Douxie replied, throwing up the rocker's devil's horns with his hands. He placed his hands in his pocket and made his way out of the alleyway.

"Oh, and tell Jim I say hello and that I cannot wait to meet him," he called over his shoulder. "If he's with Merlin, then I can hope that my time to be trained by my Master, some more, will soon be at hand."

With that, he left the alleyway, and Barbara turned in Walter's arms again, hands resting on his rock-hard chest.

She opened her mouth to speak, but Walter suddenly leaned forward and kissed her on the lips deeply, moving his lips and mouth languidly with her. After a few seconds, he pulled away, cupped her face, and pressed his forehead to hers.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too," Barbara whispered back, "please, be safe. I'll see you tonight."

Walter nodded once, then he quickly turned and walked further down the dark alleyway, pushing the stroller.

Barbara watched him leave, and when he and NotEnrique were out of sight, she took a deep breath, turned, and glanced warily at the soldier's once before walking away.

She knew what storm was waiting for her at the hospital with Colonel Kubritz. Facing her without being in the custody of her soldiers was a dangerous move to make, and it could turn into another fight, but it was a fight she was more than willing to participate in without regrets.

No one was going to threaten the people she loved and get away with it.

No one.

Colonel Kubritz was busy overseeing the testing at the hospital when she suddenly noticed Doctor Lake speaking with Wanda, the hospital manager she talked to earlier, and anger shot through her entire being. She had sent her soldiers out to follow her, and yet, the doctor was back at work, and she hadn't yet heard a word from her soldiers.

Kubritz growled to herself in anger, then turned to Sergeant Costas.

"Sergeant! Why haven't we heard back from our field-A team yet?"

"Um," Sergeant Costas said slowly, "I'm not sure, Colonel. I've been doing a background check on Doctor Lake like you've asked me to."

"And?"

"And… she's clean," Costas said. "She grew up and attended high school through medical school in Los Angeles. When she was twenty-five, she married a man named James Lake Sr., and they had a son together. But, then the couple divorced eleven years ago when the boy was five years old. She's been working here in the ER clinic for those eleven years when she and her son moved from Los Angeles to here."

The whole time Costas was talking, Kubritz stared at Doctor Lake from across the ER floor, with her hands behind her back, studying her. The middle-aged doctor was thin, healthy, had a thick bun of auburn-red hair, blue eyes, and glasses- much like her own- however, something else wasn't right the more she stared.

Doctor Lake glanced up at her after speaking with her manager and met her gaze. She had a busted lip and a bruise under her right eye, which was something she didn't have before, and she looked furious when they met each other's gazes.

Barbara scowled in her direction but quickly looked away and went about her normal business, but Kubritz smiled darkly, knowing what had happened.

"Shall I… continue, Colonel?" Costas asked slowly, seeing that she was no longer paying attention to him.

"No," Kubritz said slowly, still staring after Barbara. "We have more pressing matters to attend to at the moment. However, I want to keep this… Doctor Lake… under my radar for the next little while."

"Why?" Sergeant Costas asked, looking confused. "I've told you that her record is spotless."

"No one can truly have a spotless life," Kubritz said slyly. "It's all a matter of catching them at the right place and right time and divulging their true natures when the time comes."

Costas furrowed his brow, not understanding. "Colonel?"

"Our priority remains the same," Kubritz said, moving on and turning to face him finally. "Find the Tarron brats and tell General Morando to keep his armies coming. I'll keep my eye on the doctor and deal with her later. For now, we will focus on capturing those Akiridion royal brats and working with General Morando to do so."

"Are you sure about him, Colonel?" Sergeant Costas asked, his tone full of uncertainty. "Are you sure that we can trust him?"

"Absolutely," Kubritz said darkly. "General Morano has promised us the most powerful Akiridion technology in exchange for the royals and has no other fight with Earth, which sounds like a good deal to me. Our job is to protect the Earth and all humans within it." She turned away from him and smiled evilly. "And he and I have the perfect way to ensure that we do just that."

"How?" Costas asked, but Kubritz didn't answer him.

He wouldn't like the answer, for it involved General Morando sending an asteroid directly towards Earth in a ploy to trap the Tarron children into helping them.

Kubritz knew the men and women she was employed with would disapprove of hers and Morano's secret plan to entrap the Akiridion-five royal children, but she didn't care. As long as it brought her the results she wanted, she was willing to get her hands dirty.

In all her years of being Colonel over Area 49-B, she had learned that things were never what they seemed and to side with whoever offered her more power, weapons, and knowledge. That is the way to win a war.

"Colonel?" Costas asked again, and she blinked out of her thoughts. She turned to face him, smirking, and yet again, didn't answer his question.

"Ready our forces, Sergeant Costas. We've got work to do."

**I always hated Colonel Kubritz. She's awful. haha. But, I changed Walter's appearance as to what he looks like in 'Rise of the Titans.' Can't wait to see the movie!**