So, I'm back with a new chapter! I have responses' to guest reviews.

Avid reader: I'm so glad to hear that I am able to make you smile, life is hard. But you got this! Show life who's boss and take impossible as a challenge. I hope you get your sparkle back.

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Random Person: I love getting your reviews, grammar and spelling are hard, it's all good. Thank you for your continued support. And life and I have a rivalry, so we try beating each other up, lol. Don't worry, I don't plan on dropping the story, the others have yet to find out. I've also got some future drabbles written that may or may not get published.

Trollhunters Fan: I read this review, and I wanted to post another chapter imidiatly, but I couln't, because I didn't have one. so I worked extra hard to make this one good for you. your kind words mean the world to me, reviews keep me going! I update every sunday unless life is a jerk and something comes up. And to your thank you, your welcome. Thanks for your support. and... A best selling book? You are too kind.

I hope you enjoy, this will be the last of the chill episodes for a few weeks, things are going to kick up.

I don't own Trollhunters. WORDS!

Chapter 16: Getting them to back off

"Why is this a thing?" Kyle asks.

"Because she's a bad ass." I say skimming through last year's yearbook. I'm laying on the floor of Maggie's bedroom while Kyle and Alex are first being introduced the the Hazard Room.

"She's a weirdo, and probably out to steel Jim away from you girl," Alex warns coming out of the hidden room.

"No she won't. And I can't explain to you why, but she doesn't even have a chance with Jim." I say without a care.

"Look, as much as you want to believe that your highschool crush will last forever. Chances are, it wont," Amanda says from the bed.

I shut the yearbook and sigh. "It's not a highschool crush. It's a, Jim's made his choice and that's final."

"If there ain't no ring," Maggie says. She enters her room with a box of pizza. "Claire, look. I'm sorry about last week. But he's cute, smart, funny, strong, how do you expect me to stay away?"

"I expect you to not go after my 'boyfriend'."

"Why did you say it like that?" Kyle asks.

I briefly tense before letting out a long held breath and hanging my head. "Man I wish you all could just be in on our life. It would make spending time with you guys, so much easier."

"Then why don't you?!" Alex exclaims. "If it's this frustrating for you, just tell us!"

I glare briefly before getting to my feet, waving the others to follow me into The Hazard Room. I pull a simple staff off the wall, it's short. About the length of what the Skathe-Hrün was, I spin it around in amazing display before stoping and pointing at the others. "If any of you three can beat me, I'll tell that person everything," I state. "Jim's and my lives are constantly in danger because of his title, his job, and his race. He and them, they court danger, and death. As his… partner, I have to have the ability to fight along side him. As does Toby, Jim's best friend back in Arcadia. If you know, lets call it 'the name', than you have to be able to fight. If you can best me, you'll be ready to maybe fight some goblins."

No one moves.

"That's why Maggie gets to know first?" Alex asks.

I nod.

"How can you say so much about, 'the name' and not say anything at the same time?" Kyle prods.

"Because we've been doing it for years," Jim's voice comes. I spot him leaning against the nonexistent doorframe. "Honestly, you know more than most people did before things went south."

"The supernatural accident?" Amancda asks.

I silently place the staff back in its place on the peg board.

He nods. "But you only know anything because of Justin. Also, fighting is only a tip of the iceberg when it comes to knowing these things."

"Should've implemented rule no. two when we had the chance," I laugh, only mostly joking.

Jim doubles over in laughter. "Agreed. Though I'm not all that comfortable doing that to a human. It's different with goblins and… 'The Name'."

The others stand utterly confused.

"Yeah, and kidnapping is still frowned upon," I sigh.

"Eh, Skinner wouln't let me keep him long." he grins then says, "we could kidnap Skinner too."

"What the hell are you guys talking about?" Alex yells.

"Damage control," I say briefly before turning my attention back to the disguised half troll in the doorway. "But I actually don't think he'll be a problem now. After you threatened with the hold," I give a slight laugh.

"Too bad we don't have one yet," he says.

"It's been about a month, do you know what's been done?" I ask.

"You two need to cut it out, we're right here," Maggie scolds.

"You're right, we should. Sorry Mags," Jim says.

"Anyways… Jim, what do you do for the time you're at the school?" Kyle asks.

Jim shrugs. "Homework, sleep, eat sometimes, but mostly sleep."

"If you sleep that much you shouldn't always look like…" Amanda pauses for a minute to find the words. "A dead man walking."

He sighs, "I don't sleep as much as I'd like," he says shaking his head.

"Speaking of sleep," Maggie smiles. "Who wants to have a sleepover?"

"I'm down," Alex says.

"I'm here almost every night," Amanda smiles.

"I actually don't think thats a good idea," I state with nervous energy. Glancing to my unsure mate in the doorway.

"Why not?" is voiced in several different manors across the girls' tones'.

"Well… I don't wanna be without Jim," I say. I spare a look back to my mate who looks a bit shocked.

That's the truth, I don't wanna be without Jim. Sure there are several other reasons that would and should deter me from staying for a sleepover, like the sun, the fact that Jim gets agitated when he's not with me, only one horngazle, and a list of other things. But being without Jim, that's the kicker.

"He can stay, so can Kyle if he wants," Maggie states.

"Really?" The boy's and my voices echo.

"If my parents actually cared if I had boys over for sleepovers, they would be here. Not… somewhere else," she grits her teeth.

"Awesome!" Kyle pumps his fist.

"Do you have any rooms without windows?" Jim asks, being sensible.

"This one and the movie room, we can all bunk in the movie room for a movie."

"That sounds like fun," I say. I look to Jim, he nods his approval. "We'll stay, but we'll have to leave really early so that we can get back home before the sun is up."

"Why not stay all day, tomorrow is Saturday." Amanda states.

"Yeah, but I have some things at home to take care of. Still getting everything settled," Jim says.

"We could come over and help," Alex offers. The others echo in agreement. "Unpacking and everything is really boring, but it's more fun with friends," she smiles.

I hug myself slightly, and my eyes fall downcast. "You guys can't…"

Jim immediately picks up on my distress, he's at my side in an instant. A soft whine in his throat. "Claire, we can let them in. I know you want it," he whispers. "I hate seeing you so sad."

I want to nod my head, but I shake it instead. "No, Jim. We can't. I know we can't. It has to be longer. They aren't ready."

I love my life, with Jim, and going to this new school. Living in NTM, all of it. But I miss having a home filled with friends. Having people over. People who are human, and my age, and my friends, and… normal.

I feel my mate's small glamor hugging me tight, and a promise whispered in my ear. "Soon."

"Claire, are you ok?" Amanda cautiously asks.

I nod and sloppily wipe away at a few stray tears. "Just… missing home."

"You sure you're up for a sleepover?" Alex asks.

I nod and wrap my arm around Jim's waist. "Yeah, I'll be fine."

Jim wraps his arm around my waist and presses a kiss to the top of my head, simultaneously breathing in my scent, and subtly nuzzling me.

"Alright, follow me to the movie room," Maggie smiles.

Jim and I take the large beanbag in the front row, the others curl up on the couch and in recliners with soft, fuzzy warm blankets. The temp in the movie room is rather cold, so I snuggle up close to Jim's chest. Letting his body heat keep my warm throughout the movie.

After, we play several board games, a few video games, and finally start another movie. One that we can just fall asleep watching.

Amanda and Maggie are each asleep in their own recliners. Alex and Kyle are snuggled up on the couch. And I'm held tight in Jim's fully awake embrace.

"Why don't you take off the mask babe," I say.

"It's too risky right now," he says. "Unless we are planning on telling them."

"No, we both want to. And we both know why we can't. It's just going to have to wait," I sigh, "but, you're going to be up. So you can keep it off until someone stirs or once it gets close enough for you to sleep. We'll have to be up around five."

Jim nods thoughtfully. "Yeah, I know. And you're right," he reaches up and takes it off. Setting it behind him where he has quick access to it.

I relax more into his troll form's embrace, nuzzling my nose into his chest as he does the same with my hair.

Jim's breath catches in his throat, and not so subtly hugs me tighter.

"Jim? What's the matter?" I ask as I start tickling his scruff.

"What if… what if they're scared of me? What if they don't wanna be my friend once they find out what I am? What I look like?" He chokes. "I'll look like a monster to them."

"Oh… mi amor…" I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tight. "By than they'll know who you are, not what you look like…"

"Claire," he interrupts me. Gently nuzzling into the crook of my neck before pulling away. "I'm not human. How are they going to react, when they find out that my 'race' is actually a different species? Sure we've told them I'm different, but they think that this is actually what I look like. What happens when we tell them and I take off the mask… the might run away screaming." Jim keeps a small whine in his throat, fighting back persistent tears.

Once they spill over I wipe them away with my thumbs, licking one away myself. "It's not something we've really taken into account. I guess we'll just have to make sure that they're more ready," I sigh.

"How?" He pushes his face further into my hands.

"I… I don't know. We've warned them fairly extensively that it's danger filled, but they still want to know. Maybe tell them things in the 'supernatural' world look different. Or maybe we don't need to worry."

"Or maybe we need to up the game, because about the only thing they know is: Our life is dangerous, I'm very different, and we're deep in supernatural. And the last isn't even true."

I give a small laugh, "We're deep in the mystical and magical. So what do we want to tell them?"

"Well, I'm sure that these people are the ones we want to tell. But maybe just a little here and there."

"Or…" I pause in thought, while nuzzling Jim's nose. "We set a milestone, a action or something that we won't tell them. But once they do that thing, then we tell them."

"Like what?"

"Like… how about once they actively make an effort to not know about our secrets?"

He gives a little chuckle, "That would be quite an achievement for them. Alright, that's when we'll tell them. Still worried about how they'll react though.'"

"Dont," I say. I roll over and press my back to Jim's chest. He scents my hair before resting his chin on my head. I hold his hand of the arm draped around my waist. "You're the most amazing person I know." I take a breath. "And the sooner I can tell Maggie that you and I are mates, the better."

His chest bounces with a small laugh."Why do I feel like that will be the first thing you tell her after she finds out?"

"Because it will be, she needs to stop throwing googly eyes at my mate."

He purrs, moves his head and flicks my cheek, "I love it when you say that."

"Well," I scoot closer to him. "Good night my mate."

"Sleep well," Jim says, a quiet purr in his chest.

I'd fallen asleep probably around three, but I didn't stay asleep for long. Claire started turning sleeplessly, moaning, and panting. She'd started sweating and mumbling too.

I nuzzle her, try whining and moaning, and lick the sweat away, having forgone the mask. Though I can't seem to wake her, I'm holding her, trying to get her to calm down. Before I can, she screams.

The others quickly wake and I'm forced to put the mask back on. Claire tries to sit up in my arms, but I hold her tight. I hug her close to my chest, nuzzling her all over as she presses close to me.

Our friends quickly run over, asking if she's alright, and what the matter is.

"Give her some space!" I snarl.

The others jump, but do as they're asked.

I keep nuzzling her face, to hell if the others see me. "Claire? Baby? What's the matter?"

Her breath shutters, tears are flowing down her soft cheeks. I feel my ears flick against my scruff under the mask, I reluctantly brush her tears away with my thumb, instead of my tongue.

"Just a nightmare," she says, though trembling.

"Claire, you just screamed bloody murder, it wasn't 'just' a nightmare. Are you sure you're ok?" Amanda asks.

I try not to glare at her Amanda. Claire is my mate, it's my job to make sure she's ok.

"Claire, what was it? Was it… her?"

Claire's had nightmares before about Morganna, none that have gotten her in such a panic though.

She shakes her head and places a hand over my heart, seeming to relax once she could feel its beat. "You… you didn't wake up. On the bridge… and you…" her sobs come full force and she buries herself into my chest, wetting my shirt.

I pull her as tight and as close as I can, "I'm here, I'm right here. She didn't kill me, I'm alive. We're here, and everyone is safe. You saved everyone from her." I try to purr to calm her, but can't seem to make the sound. It comes out as a strangled moan.

The others view us with concern, Alex and Amanda seem to be trembling.

"But you… she killed you. You saved me, and she killed you," Claire weeps.

"No, I saved you. And you saved me. I'm here," I assure her. I press one of my hands over hers, helping her feel my heartbeat. "I know the nightmare. I get it too," I whisper and silent tears roll down my face while I whine.

Claire looks up worried, "Who…"

"Everyone, Claire. You, the most. But everyone," I take a deep breath. "But it's just a nightmare. We beat her, and him, and I won't let anyone take you away from me. And I won't leave you."

"Promise?" She stutters.

"Promise." I say. Holding her tight to my chest, I nuzzle her face again. I use my shirt to wipe her tears.

"Are… is… you ok?" Maggie says in quiet tone.

I give a harsh laugh. "Yeah. we're fine, just really traumatized."

"What… was the nightmare?" Kyle dares to ask.

I can't help but glare, and growl. "The 'accident', wasn't an accident. We all almost died."

"Who…?" Alex tries.

"Stop." I demand, though the command sounds more tired then forceful. "It doesn't matter anymore. I killed him, and she's trapped somewhere she'll never get out."

"If we're lucky she'll die in that hell hole," Claire grits.

"You will all find out later. Right now, let Claire be."

"You're right, sorry," Amanda says.

"Why don't I go make some breakfast?" Maggie suggests. "Before Jim and Claire have to leave."

"Yeah, that sounds awesome. Jim can help you," Claire says slowly. "He's the best chief."

About 30 minutes later…

"Wow, this is so good!"

"Is it legal for an omelet to taste this good?"

"I wish my mouth was bigger."

"Mmmmm."

"Thanks for breakfast Babe," Claire says.

"Why aren't you eating?" Kyle asks.

"I told you, you will never see me eat."

"Besides, he was snacking on the ingredients while he was making the food," Claire grins.

My glamor blushes slightly, I ate some egg shells and plastics while no one was looking. "You saw that?"

"Yeah, but don't worry. They didn't, otherwise we'd be having a very different conversation."

"I don't get you guys." Alex points her fork at Claire and I.

"That's normal," I state.

"We'd better get going soon though," Claire says. She starts running her fingers though her hair, smoothing it out.

"How do you two still look this after waking up," Maggie asks.

True to her words, Claire's and my hair doesn't look the least bit messed up. My clothes aren't ruffled either.

Claire bites her lip, sparing a glance at me.

"Don't tell me you can't tell us that?!" Amanda says in disbelief.

"I mean, my hair…" Claire plays with her silky hair and shrugs.

Amanda reaches over to her her head and feels her hair. "OMG, what the hell? How is your hair that soft?"

Claire can't stop a laugh as Maggie and Alex come over to feel her hair.

"Dude…" Alex breaths.

"It shouldn't be humanly possible for hair to be that soft," Maggie states.

"I mean, technically you're right," Claire laughs.

"How do you get it like that?" Amanda asks.

Claire pushes the girls off of her. "Jim, he…" she bites her lip again.

"We need to get going," I say with a sad smile.

"I feel like every aspect of your life is something we aren't allowed to know about," Kyle sighs.

"And we really would love to tell you, but you have yet to prove you're ready," I say.

"And that would be?"

"Can't tell you that either," Claire says.

"Whatever, head on home," Maggie says. "We would all hate for you to get caught in the sun and die," she rolls her eyes.

"You do know I wasn't kidding when I said that, right?"

The group shrugs, "It's hard to tell with you."

Claire sighs and gathers our school bags from Maggie's room. "Alright. We'll see you on Monday."

"Wait," Amanda says. "I figured out what we're going to be for halloween."

Really? What?" Claire asks.

"Pirates," She grins.

"I'm down," I state.

"Cool," Everyone chimes.

Claire and I say our goodbyes before we leave. Making it back to the entrance of NTM with plenty of time.

"Kyle is right," I say.

"About what?"

"Every aspect of our life, all of it. We have to keep it from them. From why your hair is so soft, to why they can't come over, and why they don't see me eat."

"Yeah, and it sucks. But until they stop asking why. We can't tell them anything." She pauses and sighs. "Jim, I'm sorry I didn't know about your nightmares."

"Don't be, I didn't want you to worry about me. I'm just sorry I couldn't comfort you with the glamor mask off."

She gives a shaky laugh, "It was weird waking up to your human face."

"I was frustrated because I couldn't lick your tears away, my ears were going nuts."

We laugh and fall to a comfortable silence, holding hands as we walk.

Once we enter our cave, we find an unexpected sight waiting for us in our living room. Sitting nervously on our couch, wringing his four hands.

Blinkey.