Not my regular post time, Sorry I forgot to post on Sunday.

To everyone who reviews, thank you so much, you have absolutely no idea how much they mean, and how much they motivate me to write.

This is a Chapter everyone's been anticipating. So...

Let The Chaos Ensue...

Chapter 17: Homecoming

July 19th, 11:48 am, Arcadia CA

Jim pulled out his phone and made two calls, the first to Strickler, the second was Darci.

"Jim?! Hi, uh, what can I do for you?" She stuttered.

"Darci, I'm back. I want you to bring Toby, Claire, Steve, and Eli to the park just after noon."

"What?! Really? Oh my gosh, I… I've got to get everyone together. We'll be there! I can't wait to see you!"

"I can't wait to see everyone. I have a surprise, I'll see you soon."

He hung up and smiled at the sight. "Welcome to Arcadia." It was a gloomy day, perfect weather for a troll to be out and about.

"Welcome to my town, Indigo."

"It's really big, comparatively," she smiled.

"Wait till you meet everyone! You're gonna love my friends! And Strickler, oh you're gonna love him. He's got a brisque personality, but he cares alot.

"And my mom, well me might not be on great terms but she'll like you. Just don't eat her food. And Toby, he's hilarious… And… Claire," he paused. "Claire…"

"Don't worry about Claire." Indi grabbed his horns and pulled him down to her level, kissing his nose. "Worry about being you."

Jim took a deep breath and gave a nod. He smiled and took Indi's hand, they took off toward the park.

…

"Darce, why are we here?" Claire insisted.

"Yeah, and why are we here?" Steve and Eli asked.

"And did it have to be right when I was supposed to eat lunch? Nanna made tacos!" He gave a metallic smile.

"I have a surprise for everyone."

"What is it?" Claire asked.

"I got a call this morning, and…"

"And I'm home." Jim sasid, dropping down from the nearest tree. The cloak draped around his shoulders, and his tail swaying happily. The group ran forward and embraced him, leaving Claire standing shocked behind.

The group dispersed, making room for Claire. She gave a breath and ran forward, jumping and throwing her arms around Jim. Then kissed him hard on the lips.

He quickly pushed her off and gave her a shy smile, shaking his head.

"Sorry," she said. Wiping messy tears from her eyes. "I just missed you a lot."

"Jimbo! You've been AWOL! What did you do for two months? Arcadia's been boring without you or the trolls!" Toby said, but his grin couldn't be wider.

Jim's smile fell slightly before he shook his head with a laugh. "You guys should've been watching the news. And it hasn't been two months, has it?" His question went unanswered.

"But seriously Lake, where have you been?" Steve asked.

"Well, I met your aunt and uncle, your cousins." He played it down, rubbing the back of his neck. "Saved them from their exploding car."

"Dude, that was you?"

He laughed and nodded. "Saved a lot of people. If any of you watched the news you would've seen. I even brought down a chop shop."

"That's so cool," Eli said, his voice breaking.

The group got quiet and Claire walked forward rubbing her arm. "Jim, I'm really sorry. For everything. I should've noticed, but I didn't because I was being selfish, and I'm so sorry I was hurting you. I know now though," she said. Looking Jim in the eyes, unshed tears in her own. "I want to be your girlfriend again, please."

He took a breath, pressed his lips, and shook his head. "I'm sorry Claire, I don't want to be your boyfriend."

Silent tears started flowing down Claire's face.

Darci marched forward immediately, the good friend she was. "How dare you, she's been waiting for you to come back and she's…"

"Woah, Darci, calm down." Jim said. He backed away as she marched up, lowering to his hands and feet.

"You had better have a good explanation," she growled. Toby and everyone else backing her up.

A nervous smile with lowered ears, his tail dragging on the ground. He looked toward the tree he'd come from and spoke. "Hey, uh, Indigo?"

With confidence to spare, Indiana walked out from behind the tree, walking next to Jim. She grabbed his arm and pulled him to a standing position. His tail coiling around her wrist.

"Hey everyone, happy to meet you," she waved.

Jim introduced her, though acted as if he were in trouble. "Everyone, this is Indi. She's my girlfriend."

Claire choked on a sob, turned and ran out of the park. Toby looked conflicted, Steve and Eli felt it too awkward and left. Darci nodded.

Darci walked forward and held out a fist bump for Indi. "My name's Darci, it's good to meet you. This is my boyfriend Toby, and Jim's best friend."

"I've heard a lot about you, especially you Toby."

The one in question's head was darting from Jim, to the direction that Claire left. He sighed and walked forward. Looking at Jim.

"I'm glad your home, but you're going to have to talk to her about this," Toby said.

"I know," he said, his ears drooping a little more.

Jim was about to continue when he felt a body slam into his own, to his surprise, it was Strickler.

"You're home! Finally, back and safe where I can keep an eye on you. And I swear, if you ever get shot again…" He looked down at Jim's shirt, the three bloodied bullet holes from the knight before adorned his shirt.

Jim shrugged. Toby yelled.

"You got shot Jimbo?! What the hell?"

"It was only like five times," Jim shrugged.

"When did that happen?" Strickler asked.

"Last night," Indi said. "He saved that one kid again, Andy." She laughed. "He scared the shit out of that poor gunman."

"I'm sorry," Strickler said. "But who might you be?"

She held out her hand to shake and spoke. "Indi Stark."

He took her hand, his eyes scanning her. "Walter Strickler."

"Strickler," Jim said with a toothy grin. "This is my girlfriend."

His eyebrows shot up. "Oh, it's nice to meet you. I suppose I'll be enrolling you in Arcadia Oaks then?"

"Only if Jim's coming with me," she smiled.

"There's no way he's letting me out of it," Jim said.

"Indeed not. Now, your mother is waiting at your house. I've alerted her to your arrival like you asked. Afterwards, I'd like to talk to you about some things."

"I expect no less from you," Jim said. He surprised the man with a hug and nuzzled his shoulder.

"Now head home, I'll tell mrs. Nunez you're back, she and someone else have been meaning to speak to you as well."

"I'm sure there's no shortage of people who want to talk to me," Jim rolled his eyes. "Come on Indi, let's go meet my mom."

…

He walked in the front door of his house, Indi following close behind. Barbara was sitting on the couch, and bolted from her seat when Jim called her name.

"Jim," she yelled. She pulled him into a hug then shoved him away. "What in the world were you thinking?! You've been gone for almost two months! Why did you leave?!" She demanded.

Shrinking slightly, he spoke. "I figured if I gave everyone, including myself, some distance, things would be better when I got back. It worked with Claire and Toby… how about you?"

She huffed. "I…" she deflated. "I'm gonna try," Barbara said. "I promise I'll try, okay honey?"

Jim nodded and let his ears perk up, he pulled Indi closer to him. "Mom, this is my girlfriend, Indi."

She smiled and held out her hand. "It's nice to meet you Dr. Lake."

Barbara smiled and shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you. Um… Jim if you'd like to go up to your room to sleep, I'll show Indi around town?"

"No, that's fine, I'd like to show her around… but I do have to talk to Strickler. If Indi doesn't mind staying here?"

She frowned, but nodded.

"Alright, I'll be back as soon as I'm done, then we can hang out again."

He left out the front door in a slight rush, out the window Indi watched his form four legged sprinting down the street.

Barbara sighed, she looked at Indi with a creased brows. "When did he meet you?"

Indi gave a small smile, rubbing her hands on her dirty jeans. "Well, first he saved me from my dad, but then he saved me again," she laughed. "Then he dragged my dad to prison."

"What?"

"Oh, it's nothing. But my dad's just a drunk, so he took him in to the police, then he asked me if I knew where some people lived, because he'd promised to visit, and I took him to their house. I asked him if I could come back to Arcadia with him… and that's most of it."

"And… him being half trol doesntl…"

"No," Indi interrupted bluntly. "I think he's amazing."

Barbara nodded, almost disappointed.

"Ma'm, if you don't mind me asking. Why does it bug you, Jim being a troll?"

Slightly glaring, she spoke. "You didn't know him before, he's completely different, and a troll."

"You're right," she said. And for a moment Barbara thought she'd won. "I didn't know him before, and that doesn't matter. Because I love who he is now. He cares about me, about everyone. He's funny and clever. He's someone who's walked the whole state, helping everyone he met, his very existence brings hope to people, and fear to criminals. He saved an entire family, rescued children, stopped robberies and muggings, and stopped a sucide.

"I don't know if you've been paying attention, but your son is a hero to the whole state of California. And if I recall correctly, the reason humanity still stands."

Deflating, Barbara nodded. "I just wish I could be comfortable around him, and I don't understand how you are."

Indi laughed. "Dr. Lake, just in case you haven't noticed, he's kinda like a big cat."

"What?" Too shocked to say anything else, her brain froze.

"Nuzzles, purrs, likes his head scratched, he's a part of a pride of lions for crying out loud," she laughed.

Barbara couldn't help but laugh a little. "Really?"

"Yeah, he treats the cub like a little brother…" she let out a sigh. "Look, I'm not gonna tell you how to parent, my parents are no roll models. But he loves you, and he just wants you to be a part of his life."

A small smile, slowly nodding she spoke. "You two planned this out, didn't you?"

"His knowledge of everyone here and his prediction skills are insane, he guessed everything that's happened so far," she laughed. "My mind is honestly blown."

Barbara laughed with her. Then made tea.

ʘ‿ʘ …

…

"What did you want to talk to me about, Strickler?"

"A few things, Jim. First, 'Atlas'?"

Jim rubbed the back of his neck, giving a shaky laugh. "The Media was struggling, and when I helped with the Chopshop sting they had to have something to call me."

"Hmm, alright. Though I wanted to tell you, I'm proud of you. For going out of your way to help people and staying out of the spotlight."

"Thanks," she said, his ears lowering with his blush.

"Second, do you know who Dr. Shane is?"

Jim shook his head.

"Alright, he's a pediatric therapist and social worker, and he would like to speak with…"

"No."

"What?"

"I'm fine," Jim said. "I've never been better. I'm happy. I don't need therapy."

Strickler frowned. "You have an appointment with him next week, and you're going, I will fight you."

Jim rolled his eyes. "We'll see. Next?"

"Mrs. Nunez, as I said, needs to speak with you about a number of things, not including public affairs."

"Interesting, I'll talk to her after I grab Indigo from my house…"

"Indigo?" Strickler interrupted. "I thought she said her name was Indi."

Jim gave a laugh. "Yeah, long story. In short…" Jim forced his Iris' to turn red then purple. "My eyes turn indigo when I look at her sometimes."

Strickler looked shocked as Jim's eyes returned to their normal hue.

"My word, what… when did they start changing?"

Jim bit his lip. "Back when I broke up with Claire was the first time."

"And when…"

"Anger triggers me to see red, literally."

"Intriguing," he gaped.

Jim laughed, "Yeah, it's been interesting."

"Now lastly…" He took a breath. "Miss Indi?"

"I saved her once in Tehama, then again in Gasquet. After a while she asked if she could come with me. And after what happened, I wasn't gonna say no," he said with a slight smile.

"'What happened'?"

Jim contemplated his words then just shrugged. "The universe sent me to her, I believe I'm meant to be with her."

"The universe?"

"I… I can't really explain it, I kinda… It was like a pull. I was heading towards the freeway and I just… this energy was pushing me toward her." He shrugged again. "I don't know, that's just how it was."

With wide eyes, Strickler could only nod. "I guess the only thing I can say is…" he blew out a breath. "I guess just treat her well, not that I would expect anything less from you."

"Thanks."

"Now, I believe your next order of business is to attend to Claire's broken heart?"

He took a sharp inhale, and winced. "Yeah… I guess you're right."

Strickler stood from his chair and walked Jim to the door. "You know I am. I also want you to know I'm proud of you. For everything you've done."

Jim gave the man a hug. "And I want to thank you for everything you've done for me… And also tell you you're never getting your cloak back," he grinned.

Strickler rolled his eyes and said goodbye, and once again, Jim took off running down the road.

…

Jim rapped on the window of Claire's bedroom before climbing inside. The girl he was looking for was curled up on her bed facing Jim, she rolled over, turning her back on him.

"Claire…"

"Don't," she bit. "Don't come back and pretend to feel sorry for me."

Jim snorted. "I don't feel sorry for you."

"What?" She turned and glared at him.

"You deserve better than me, someone who can give you the attention you need."

"No," she scolded. "I deserve you!" She yelled. "I deserve the guy who went to hell and back to save my brother, the guy who danced on the line of life and death, the swordsmen, the guy who gave his humanity to save his family and friends! I deserve you! You were mine." She sobbed, slamming her fist down on her mattress.

"I was yours, now you need to let me go."

"Since when did you get wise?" She said pouting, and still glaring.

"I didn't," he said. "I just know Indi makes me happy, and she likes the attention I give her."

"But I can…" Claire cried. "I realized, I know that you can't act human anymore. I understand that now. It took you breaking up with me to get that, but I do now."

She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, taking Jim's hands.

Slowly, he pushed her hands away and scooted off her bed. "I think it's great that you get that now, but you're missing the point. You're not understanding, I love Indigo."

"But you… You said you loved me!" She cried. "You… you said it when you broke up with me."

"And I do, I love you as my friend, but I love Indi because she loves me. Even though I'm a troll."

"But I love you!"

"You loved human Jim," he said.

"But you're the same." She pleaded.

"No, I'm not." He got up and walked out the door of her bedroom.

…

Jim walked down the stairs, scaring Mrs. Nunez half to death.

"Oh my, Jim what were you doing upstairs?"

His ears lowered, he spoke. "I was talking to Claire."

"Yeah, she came in sobbing and ran to her room. What happened?"

He pressed his lips, his tail slowing its sway. "I came back, and she thought we would get back together, but…"

"But?" she pressed with a curious smile.

"But I came back with a girl."

"Oh," she said.

"Yeah, I came to try and make her feel better but I think I made it worse."

"I think she's just scared," Ophelia said, wringing her hands.

"What? Why? Is this what Strickler said you wanted to talk to me about?"

She nodded, gesturing to the couch. Enrique sat on a spread out blanket with a few toys in the middle of the room.

"Shortly after you left, Claire started getting nightmares. She never explained them, but sometimes she would scream your name, or 'Morgana'. Sometimes we would catch her still asleep, mumbling that you were going to kill her. Something about not caring."

"Oh." Jim's expression fell, he buried his face in his hands and gripped his horns. "I know what her nightmares are about."

"You do?" She blurted, she leaned forward in her seat, waiting for Jim's explanation.

Slowly, he nodded. "Claire was possessed for a while," he explained, and braced for an outburst. When it didn't come he continued. "We had two options to get rid of Morgana. Free Claire from the Shadow Realm, or… Or kill her."

Ophelia's face darkened, but she didn't interrupt.

"She probably is having these nightmares because she feels she's not important to me anymore, and so if she were possessed again she thinks I'd kill her," he said. "Which I would never."

She nodded. "That makes sense, and it fits."

"This is just a tricky situation now. Because it's not that I don't care about her…"

"It's just that you don't want to date her," Ophelia finished. "And that's okay. It's just going to be hard for her to move on. You were her first boyfriend."

Jim nodded. "Yeah, it took me a while to move on too, I just have a different way of coping."

Mrs. Nunez smiled. "You mean like fighting crime and beating up criminals?"

Jim laughed. "Yeah, like that. Anyways, please help Claire understand that I still want to be friends with her, and if you or she needs anything, I'm here."

She nodded, standing and moving toward the entrance. "Of course, and the same goes for you. I'd love to meet this girl sometime, what's her name?"

"Indi," he smiled.

"You seem fond of her, I look forward to meeting her. You run along home, I'm sure you've missed your bed… well, you know what I mean."

Jim smiled and nodded, leaving and heading for home once again.

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