Someone pointed out that that it was mentioned that when babies are taken from the darklands, the changeling can't transform. But I'm making it that as long as the baby stays safe, they can. It's just a lot harder if there's two identical humans walking around.

Also, WikiSorcerer created a TVtropes page for this fic! Check it out! fanfic/arcadiaorbust

They rolled into town at about 11pm. Claire was asleep in the seat behind Jim, while Merlin finally got his chance to sit up front.

Only for an hour, but Blinky chose to suffer the small backseat rather than listening to him complain.

First stop was the Nuñez's home. Jim pulled in the driveway and shut the truck off.

"Claire? Claire honey, we're home." He said softly.

"Hmm?" She groaned, blearily looking at her house. "Why are we at my house?"

He grinned. "I assumed you wanted to take a shower and sleep in your own bed."

She sighed with content. "My bed…"

Blinky smiled at the reaction. "You've been such a trooper through this whole trip. You deserve your rest."

"C'mon sleepy head." Jim said, getting out of the car. "I'll carry your stuff."

Claire's suitcase only carried a few things. Clothes, hygiene items, but her armor weighed it down considerably. She was happy that he offered to carry it.

The couple went up to the door.

"I think my parents are asleep," Claire figured as she reached for the handle.

Though before she turn it, the porch light went on and the door flung open.

Javier and Ophelia were inside, giant smiles on their faces. "Claire!" Then after a beat, "Jim!" They enveloped their daughter in smothering hugs and kisses. Jim watched with warmth. Despite all the miscommunications in the little family, they still loved each other very much.

Javier glanced over to Jim. "Oh, get in here you!"

Jim couldn't help it. The hug was warm, and wonderful and…a bit dangerous considering he just picked the three of them off the ground.

"Jim…" Claire laughed.

"Oh sorry," he set them down quickly, a blush on his cheeks. "I guess I'm just a little homesick is all."

Javier wrapped a paternal arm around his shoulder. "It's alright son." Then he leaned a little closer. "I don't see a wedding ring on either of you."

"No sir, I'll make sure to approve that with you ahead of time."

"And her virginity is intact?"

"Dad!"

"Yes sir," Jim answered honestly.

Javier gave him a firm pat to the back. "You're alright by me."

Claire shook her head and whispered a soft, 'sorry'.

Jim simply smiled at her. "Well, I'm sure you and your family have a lot of catching up to do. So get some rest, and…just text me when you're up. Maybe we'll give your parents a tour of Trollmarket?"

"Oh yes!" Said Javier with enthusiasm.

"Okay!" She grinned. She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a soft kiss to the cheek. "Night."

"Night!"

Back in the truck, a warm feeling settled in his stomach. He hoped his mom was home and awake. If not, he'd just have to go to the hospital. He had missed her greatly and now he was only a few blocks away from seeing her.

"Blinky, is it okay if I stop at home first? Or should we take the Heartstone to Trollmarket?" He only asked to be polite, because he really wanted to go home.

"In fact," said Blinky, wriggling around in the backseat. "I think we should go to your house. Arrgh is with Tobias, yes?"

"Oh yeah!" The warm feeling swelled.

In his own driveway, he spotted his mother's little red car parked, as well as Strickler's station wagon. Oh well, at least someone was watching out for her. And for a while now, Jim had started to get over the bitter memories of Strickler 'the changeling', and was slowly getting used to Walt, 'the-teacher-that-loves-my-mom'.

Just barely getting used to it.

He parked, and helped Blinky get out from behind the seat as Merlin got out of the car as well.

"I'm not one for touching reunions, so if it is all right with you all. I will go to Trollmarket. Perhaps I can find myself a suitable replacement for my laboratory."

"Or perhaps you could find a broom and try to clean up your attitude," Blinky suggested.

Leaving the bickering behind, Jim went to the door of his house. He breathed out, trying to contain his excitement. Then he turned the nob.

"Oh moooom!" He sang, "I'm home!"

"Jim!" He heard her shout as she ran from the living room and tackled him in a hug. He caught her with a spin and kissed her cheek. "I missed you."

"Oh I missed you too, kiddo!" Once on the ground again, she cupped his face. "You finally got your armor off so I can give you a proper hug."

He giggled. "Yes, and Claire has deemed me properly squishy."

"You're not going to be squishy if you eat all my silverware!" She teased.

She might have others fooled, but not him. Not with his senses. Her face was pale and there was a tremor in her hold. Her happiness was genuine, but she was…nervous, he finally decided. That's what the scent was. Of what, he didn't know.

But he would soon find out as his gazed moved from her to the two men standing behind her in the hall.

One, was Strickler, looking just as plain and tidy as usual in his human form. But there was very palpable unease on his face. Jim was only able to consider this for a moment as he glanced to the other man.

The warmth in his gut turned to ice, his eyes widened and his mouth set into a snarl. Strickler had tried to prepare him, but it wasn't enough. It wasn't anywhere near enough.

James Lake Sr, a man who walked out on his family, stared at his son in horror. "Jesus Christ Barb, what is that thing?!"

Human Jim had no words, just pure shock and dumbfounded muteness. However, Troll Jim had a different reaction. He clutched his mother too tightly, protectively. Then his maw opened and a feral, guttural noise burst forth and rocked the house.

"Jim!" Barbara begged for his attention. "Calm down!"

"Young Atlas!" Walt stepped between him and the other man, "let's talk this out…"

James staggered backwards and ran into the kitchen.

Jim just continued roaring, unable to do anything else. He thought he was over this. He thought his father's absence was a moot point. But right now, his actions proved otherwise. He couldn't even tell what he was feeling. Anger? Sadness? Betrayal? All he knew was pain as hot tears started to run down his cheeks.

"Barb!" James called, now entering the room again with a shotgun. "Get away from that thing!"

"James Lake Sr! Don't you dare point a gun at our son!"

"Our son!? Have you gone mad, woman?!"

"I told you he doesn't look normal anymore!"

As his roaring died and his throat burned, Jim finally got a hold on himself, and pried his hands off his mother. He shifted, his back facing the intruder. "M-mom…" His voice cracked.

"Jim, honey, it's okay. I'm so sorry, I didn't know how to tell you…"

Trembling in every limb, Jim placed a kiss on her cheek. "It's nice to be home…" He said with a hallow voice. Without another word, he left.

Outside, Jim leaned against the door.

The argument followed him through the door. "That thing is not Jim!" He heard his father yell.

"So he's a half troll! Who cares!? He's got blue skin and teeth and horns, but he's still our child!"

"Barb, I didn't leave a demon in your care!"

"That's right!" She shouted back. "You left a little boy! A little boy who needed his daddy!"

"Master Jim?" Blinky asked, tentatively. "Are…you alright?"

Jim leaned forward and allowed Blinky to envelop him in a hug. "My father is here…he's back…I don't…"

"It's alright to be upset." The wise troll comforted. "That…is quite the revelation."

"I need to calm down, let's go to Trollmarket."

"Yes, good idea. First we need to retrieve—"

"JIMBO!" Came an excited shout. Toby was running as fast as his chubby legs could carry him and embraced his friend with tears streaming down his face. "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too, Tobes." Jim replied, finally letting some of the pain melt away.

"Arrrgh and I heard you roar all the way from my house, what happened?"

"Jim in pain?" Asked Arrrgh, finally reaching the group.

Jim sighed, "I'm fine now, I just…my father is home."

"Aw Jim…" Toby frowned. "Dude, forget him. You don't owe him anything. You're the savior of the universe! Earth's mightiest hero!"

"I'm the hulk?"

"Like if the hulk and Iron Man had a blue-horned baby."

"Ew!" Jim snickered. Toby never failed to make him feel better.

"Missed Jim!" Arrrgh stated, treading over and nuzzling his friend.

"I missed you too Arrgh," Jim said with a little laugh. Yes, this was his family now. James Lake Sr. may be back for the time being, but what did it matter?

It was then that the door to his house opened again, and Jim whirled around with a snarl.

Barbara leaned against it, looking exhausted. "I'm sorry honey…"

Jim relaxed. "I'm sorry for reacting like that…" he said, now shy. "I don't even…I thought if I ever saw him again, I'd be able to treat him like…like just some guy."

"Honey, it's fine to be upset. And, maybe if you were human, you would have been more calm." She approached him, raising a hand to his cheek. "I just want you to know…I didn't mean to do this to you."

"Why is he here?" He whispered.

Barbara sighed, glancing at the assembled Trolls, and Toby. She trusted the group, and knew that Jim would need their support in the upcoming emotional battle, so she began her explanation. "Your father…well, we both assumed the other had filed for divorce, without sending the papers. But…neither of us did. Neither of us contested the property of the house, or who gets custody over you."

Jim's eyes widened.

"You see Jim, James is in a very dangerous situation right now. The woman he went off with…" She sighed heavily, her brows furrowing. "She was involved in some…sketchy business."

"What kind of sketchy business?" He prompted.
"Drug business." She finished. "And by extension, James got involved with it as well. He made some bad decisions, and he came here to hide."

"I'm kicking him out," said Jim stalking towards the door.

"Jim, he owns the house."

That was news he'd never heard before. "What?"

"Since we never had a divorce settlement, I didn't even think about it, but the house is completely in his name. By his right, he could kick us out."

"That son of a—"

"Jim!" Barbara tugged on his arm. "I know. I know, I'm angry too." She sighed, feeling small. "But we're finally going through the divorce, and we're going to reach a settlement. If worse comes to worse…I could live with Walt, or in Trollmarket, I suppose."

"I hate this." Said Jim honestly.

"So you're still married, Dr. L?" Asked Toby, meekly.

"Unfortunately, yes. For the time being."

"Awkward…" He muttered.

"It is," she replied with a half smile. Then she returned to her son. "I know this is hard for you Jim, and if there is any thing that bothers you during this, don't hesitate to let me know."

"There's a lot that bothers me." Jim said with a huff.

"Yeah…" Barbara agreed. "For starters, I'm going to work on getting him to see you as his son. He at least owes you that much."

Jim shrugged. "…he's not my dad anymore."

Barbara glanced over to Blinky, giving him a soft smile. "I know. He should see you as his son, even if you don't see him as a dad. You don't owe him anything, but he owes you a lot."

A thought seemed to occur to Jim and he sneered. "If he brings any trouble around here, I'm kicking him out. I don't care if he owns the house, he's not putting you in danger."

"Ohmygosh!" Toby said, with a little hop. "We have to go to Trollmarket!"

"In a minute," Jim said, a bit forcefully since he had been interrupted.

"No! Arrrgh and I have to show you something! It's really good! It'll help!"

Barbara nodded, giving Jim a pat to the cheek. "Go on. Enjoy being home. We'll talk more later. In fact, how about dinner tomorrow night? Claire and Blinky can come too, for support."

Toby gave him a thumbs up, encouraging him.

Jim didn't like it, but sighed. "I suppose you'll want me to cook then?"

Barbara grinned.

Jim took the truck down to the canal.

Since it was night time, they hadn't gotten the chance to look at the renovations to the town. But the giant hole in the canal had been paved over. So that had to be a good thing.

Right?

"You can thank councilwoman Nuñez for that," Toby mentioned, pointing at the new cement. "She got it filled quickly so no one would try to snoop and fall and break their neck."

"That is smart!" Jim said with a laugh.

Once parked, Jim, Blinky, Arrrgh, and Toby (bless his heart) lifted the stone from the truck and carefully took it over the entrance and down into Trollmarket.

Jim hadn't been into the market once Gunmar took over, and as it stood, the place was a mess. He looked around, taking in all the broken down stalls and the rubble that just seemed to persist everywhere. The once proud and glorious heartstone was just a husk, gray and lifeless in the middle of the cavern.

"I was a lot worse," said Toby, giving up trying to help. "When we first came down here, there was…a lot of Troll remains."

"Gruesome came," Arrrgh continued. "Cleaned up and left."

"Where did it come from?" Blinky asked with concern.

"Deep underground. Came and went."

"It just ate the remains and left? No trouble?"

"No trouble," said Toby with a shrug. "I think it was full."

"That sounds suspicious, if not convenient."

"Well, we can look into it more later. But we have other stuff to worry about."

Finally, they reached the old Heartstone, and took the stone inside the core.

Merlin was there, surveying the area.

"If you think you're going to take this space, think again!" Said Jim with a snarl.

Merlin huffed, "no. This isn't my taste at all. I think I would prefer somewhere with a nice view of the Heartstone, but not in it. Besides, if it does regenerate, it will only cause problems for me and my magic." He glanced over the runes engraved into the floor with a frown. "I'm not deaf, you know. I heard the conversation with you and Morgana earlier."

"Morgana?!" Arrrgh and Toby exclaimed together.

"It's a long story," Jim stated simply.

"I'm not to use any magic on the Heartstone, or it will die. But you and Claire are to spend as much time around the stone as possible. Have I got that right?"

Jim didn't answer, not liking the condescending tone.

"So, I'm scouting out an optimal place to plant the little heart stone." He pointed to a little alcove in the wall. "Right here is the the best, I think. Closest to the heart, and the most direct exposure to other crystals."

With a shrug, Jim and Arrrgh placed the stone in the hole, almost fitting it perfectly.

"And," continued Merlin. "I surmise this cavern is suitable for human habitation. So I suggest you make this your marriage home."

"Marriage home?!" Cried Toby.

"Not married yet!" Jim returned.

"And that's all I have." Merlin said with a shrug. "Now if you'll excuse me. I was taking a look at a little nook on the eastern wall. Secluded, but it seemed to have a large emerald deposit nearby, ideal for me." And without another word, he wandered out of the hall.

Toby blew a raspberry once he left. "Man, I don't envy for you having to travel cross country with him."

"Yeah, it wasn't great," Jim agreed. He was surveying the cavern. If he and Claire were, in fact, going to make this their home, he would need to make some changes to make it the palace Claire deserved.

"So Tobias, what is this great thing you had for Jim?" Blinky asked, interrupting his thoughts.

Toby brightened considerably. "Oh! Ohohohohoh! This way!" He shouted and hustled out of the cave.

Jim and Blinky followed hot on his heels, confused as he headed towards the heroes forge.

Inside, the forge looked to be in near perfect condition, completely cleaned and restored from Gunmar's reign.

"Wow!" Jim smiled in appreciation. "This looks great guys! If the forge looks like this, then Trollmarket will be a cinch!"

Toby was practically buzzing. "That's not the surprise!"

"Oh?"

"Eeeeeee!" Toby squeaked. "Oh great restorer of the forge! The trollhunter has returned!" He said this with bravado.

Oh, so the surprise was another person? Jim wasn't sure if he was ready for that, but waited patiently, regardless.

Toby's surprise walked in, and shock, awe, and confusion hit both parties. They just stared at each other, trying to decide if what they were seeing was real.

"Trollhunter?"

"Draal?"

Eyes widened as it was decided. Yes, the trollhunter was truly a troll now, and Draal wasn't a pile of dust in a flooded cavern.

"Trollhunter!"

"Draal!"