The Wrong Kind of Mother's Day

AN: I promised one of my readers this a long time ago and then never wrote it so I think it's about time I did. Also, I had intended for this to be posted on Mother's Day but I couldn't make myself wait that long.

LLB

Walt groaned as he slapped his alarm clock. Defiantly, he rolled over, reaching to wrap an arm around his wife. Her side of the bed was empty.

"Barbara?" He sat up.

Looking around, he saw that the bedroom was empty. He tossed off the blanket and stepped into the hall. Empty. But the light in the bathroom was on. He knocked on the door.

"Barbara?"

Only then did he hear the retching. He pushed open the door and found her on the floor by the toilet.

"When did this start?" He knelt beside her.

Barbara just shook her head and rubbed her temple. Walt hissed when he saw the blood trickling from her nose. Barbara wiped her nose and groaned.

"Not again." She reached for the toilet role.

"It's getting worse," Walt whispered, "You should definitely stay home today."

Barbara dropped the bloody paper in the toilet, "But-"

"No buts, Barbara," He carefully scooped her into his arms, "You're sick and you need to rest."

"Mum? Da?" Jim opened his bedroom door, "Is something wrong?"

"Young Atlas, could you please get your mother a drink? She's not feeling well."

"Sure," Jim shut his door and hurried down the stairs.

"Walt, I'm fine. Really." Barbara argued, "It was just a little nose bleed. It's nothing I can't handle."

"I know you don't like being sick, Love," Walt gently lay her back against the pillows, "But remember—"

"Don't you dare say it," Barbara shook her head, "If you say it, I will smack you."

"Do what's good for you or you're not good for anyone."

Barbara smacked his shoulder hard. Walt leaned back and chuckled before resting his hand on her knee.

"I know. I know. It's a dumb quote," He said, "But it's still true. You can't help people at the hospital if you're sick too. So take a day off and get some rest. You were throwing up this morning and you've been having nose bleeds for weeks."

Barbara sighed and nodded, "I know. You're right. I just don't like sitting idle. Not when I could be doing something to help. Especially with what's going on with Trollmarket right now."

"You can help more by getting better, Mum." Jim set a glass of water on the bedside table, "I put some soup in the fridge so all you'll have to do is heat it up and I'll come home right after school to check on you."

"And I'll be home early from training," Walt assured her.

"Alright. Alright." Barbara waved them both off. "Now go. Before the two of you end up late."

Walt kissed her cheek once more and grabbed his clothes to take a shower. Jim followed him out the door and tromped down the stairs towards the kitchen. Barbara wait until she heard his vespa pull out of the driveway before laying back down. Maybe a little rest would be ok.
LLB

"Hey, Da?" Jim leaned into his father's office during the lunch break.

"Yes, Young Atlas?" Walt waved him in but didn't look up from his phone, "Is something wrong?"

"Not really," Jim sat on the sofa, "I just kind of wanted to talk."

"Ok."

"I think you should take Mum out for a date night."

"Oh?" Walt sat up, "What brought this on?"

"I mean...You guys haven't gone on a real date since you became the Trollhunter, let alone since you got back from the Dark Lands." Jim shifted on the sofa, "And Mum hasn't been feeling well so I though maybe you should treat her to something nice. Maybe get Onkel O and Tanta Jay in on it and make a thing of it. And-"

Walt smiled and held his hand up, "Jim. It's alright. I was actually going to ask if you wouldn't mind leading the Young Trollhunters and taking the team's duties Saturday evening for that exact purpose. I was just making the reservation at Benoit's."

"Oh." Jim pulled his feet up and hugged his knees.

Walt sighed and stood up. He stepped around his desk and sat beside his son.

"I know you're worried about Mum," He whispered, "But she's going to be alright."

"I know." Jim leaned over until his head rest on Walt's shoulder, "But Mum's never really been sick before. And now she's been sick since she used that portal to evaluate Heartstone. And it's getting worse."

"I know." Walt nodded, "We should have made her take a break a lot sooner. But she's resting now and she'll get better soon,"

Jim nodded and sighed. Walt gave him a squeeze around the shoulders and rest his head on top of Jim's.

LLB

Barbara turned to admire her dark blue dress in the mirror. She hadn't worn this dress in ages. At least since Jim had started high school.

"Looking great, Mum," Jim said as he leaned in the door.

She turned back to smile at him, "Thank you, Sweetheart. But what are you doing up here?"

"I just wanted to say bye before we headed out," he hugged her around the ribs, "And Tanta Jay and Onkel O are downstairs."

Barbara hugged him back before turning to cough into her hand. Jim frowned and stepped back.

"I'm fine, Jim." She waved him off, "It's just a cough. Trust me. I'm much better than I've been these past few weeks. You lot be careful on patrol."

"Yes, Mum." He kissed her cheek and transformed as he ran down the stairs.

Barbara smiled as she watched him go and then she turned back to the mirror. Her eyes had blackened and the lights had gone out. She gasped and scrambled away from the sink, nearly tripping over the bathtub. She sat on the edge and covered her eyes, bowing her head.

"Barbara? Are you alright?" Walt put a hand on her shoulder.

She jumped and stumbled away again. Walt took a step back.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She muttered, "I'm fine. My eyes were just playing tricks on me. I'm fine."

He knelt in front of her and put a hand on her knee, "We can postpone this if you're not feeling up to it, Love."

"No. I'm fine." She smiled and shook her head, "Let's head out."

Walt frowned, "Alright. If you're sure."

"I'm sure." She stood and pulled him up, "Come on. We don't want to make them wait."

Walt smiled wanly and pulled her close. She smiled and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him.

"I zought you vveren't making us vvait," Otto called up the stairs.

Walt sighed and rolled his eyes, "Little siblings. They never get over annoying you."

"I wouldn't know about that," Barbara grinned.

Walt gave her a look before kissing her again. Then, they went down the stairs and followed Otto and Lenora out to the car. Walt drove and looked in the mirrors at his passengers.

"It's been a while since we've been able to get out like this," Lenora leaned forward on Barbara's seat, "You'd think it would happen more often when the kids get older but here we are."

"Granted most families don't have superhero work to do in every spare moment," Barbara said over her shoulder, "I'm pretty sure we'd get out much more if that wasn't a factor."

"She's not wrong." Otto nodded, "But zings have been strangely calm since Gunmar took over Heartstone. Quiet. Makes me vvonder vvhat he's planning."

"No. No Trollhunters talk while on this date." Walt insisted, "We are just going to take a break and have a normal date night."

The car fell silent until they reached the cafe. They took one of the empty tables outside and Otto and Walt pulled out the chairs for their ladies. Then, they began looking over the menus they had near memorized at this point.

Walt looked up from his menu, "Have you two started thinking about what next year's play will be yet?"

"We were actually approved for a musical," Lenora admitted, grin spreading over her face.

"So vve vvere zinking vve vvould do "Shrek: Ze Musical"." Otto leaned his elbows on the table. "If vve can find enough dancers, of course."

"Oh! I love that one," Walt smiled.

"It's a newer one, isn't it?" Barbara asked, turning to cough into her elbow. "I remember Jim loved the movie as a kid."

"It is," Lenora nodded, "But we've done all the classics a million times. We thought we'd try something fresh."

"Gentlemen, Ladies." the waiter stepped up to their table, "What can I get for you this evening?"

Walt squinted up at him for a moment, trying to remember where he had seen the young man before, "Oh! You were the young man from Arcadia Oaks Academy handing out fliers for the battle of the bands."

"Yes, I was." The waiter nodded and turned to Otto and Lenora, "Was it your daughter what was in one of the bands?"

"That's right," Lenora nodded, "Our eldest."

"Might I ask how their rehearsals are coming along?"

"I'm sorry," Otto shook his head with a smile, "VVe can't disclose zat information vviz ze enemy."

The waiter laughed and nodded, "Fair enough. In that case, what can I—"

The table rattled as Barbara jolted forward, slamming her glass of water down.

"Barbara?" Walt put a hand on her back.

"I'm fine." She insisted, one hand over her eyes."Just dizzy for a moment. Go ahead and order. Just...come to me last."

Walt hummed but turned back to the waiter, "I'll have the steak. Medium rare, please."

"I'll have ze same," Otto nodded, stacking the menus on the center of the table.

"And I'll have the chicken but could I get carrots instead of the potatoes?"

"Of course." He nodded, writing it down on his paper, "And for you?'

"Steak. Raw! Dripping with blood!" Barbara growled before coughing and covering her mouth again, look of horror painted over her face. "I'm sorry! I don't know what that was. Um, Medium well, please?"

The waiter chuckled nervously, "O-Of course. The chicken with carrots and three steaks. Two medium rare and one...medium well…"

He slowly backed away from their table fiddling anxiously with his bracelet. Barbara groaned and slid her chair back.

"I'm going to run to the bathroom real quick."

"Want me to come with you?" Lenora offered.

"I'll be fine." Barbara waved her off, "I won't be long."

Lenora hummed and sat back in her chair. As soon as Barbara rounded the corner Otto turned to his brother.

"So...zat's vvorrisome, ja?"

"Yes...yes it is," Walt nodded, "I think we might have to postpone the movie for tonight. Otto, can you stay on call? And...maybe call Nono and Blinky if I call you?"

"Of course." Otto nodded, "But you be careful, Fleidermaus. I'm beginning to vvorry somezing elsemight have come zrough her portals…"

"And I'm beginning to worry that you're right."

Lenora leaned over and stood up, "I'm going to go and check on her."

"Alright. But you be careful too, Zaubermaus."

She smiled down at him and nodded before leaving the table. Otto and Walt were left with only each other for the short time that she was gone. When she did return, her face was pale but Barbara was right behind her."

"Everything alright, you two?" Walt asked.

"Perfectly fine, Wally." Barbara replied, her voice sickeningly sweet.

Walt leaned back in his chair but smirked, "Hey, I thought we agreed that you would never call me that again."

Barbara grinned and reached for her knife. She tapped it on the table. Walt twirled his knife between his fingers.

"Oh, now you're just showing off," Otto teased, tapping his knife on the table between each of his fingers.

Lenora rolled her eyes, "Children. I married into a family of children."

"Well, you are quite a bit older than the rest of us." Walt said.

"Und you knew about Barchen und Princessin beforecrowns, children."

"Oh," Otto turned, "Zat's a new vvone."

"She's nothing if not creative," Walt shook his head, taking the bag from his sister.

"Well, she is most certainly possessed," Blinky said as he heft himself through the door.

"What took you so long?" Nomura asked, watching him bind the chains around Barbara tighter.

"I was trying to wait for Arrrgh but he never showed."

"I'm sure he's fine," Walt insisted, "It's not always easy to get away when spying."

Blinky hummed and looked back at Morgana. She cackled and rolled her head back.

"I do not recall her being like this before." He muttered, "Yes, it has been centuries but even then I recall her being more...calculated. More direct in getting what she intended."

"A few centuries of solitary imprisonment," Morgana rolled her head to face him, smile never wavering, "And you'll talk too. Perhaps that is what I shall do with you once I devour the others' souls."

"Um. I vvould like to not have my soul devoured. Bitte." Otto turned back, "Have you found anyzing yet?"

"I thought we had agreed not to delve too deeply into dark magik," Blinky scrutinized the book, "The book of Ga-Huel is one of the most dark artifacts we have."

"And I thought we all wanted to save Barbara." Nomura snapped, "Sometimes, the only way to fight dark magic is with dark magik."

"She is, unfortunately, correct," Walt flipped the page again, "Dark magik may be the only way we can save Barbara."

Morgana lunged forward and snapped at Otto. He gasped and leapt back, sighing as he moved to stand next to Walt.

"If she's properly possessing her then she's simply using her as a vessel," Nomura thought out loud. "So that means that she had to put the real Barbara somewhere."

"Yes," Walt scanned the page, "But where? Is she buried in her mind? Or was Morgana able to send her somewhere?"

Blinky groaned and fished around in his own bag. He produced a glowing red totem and presented it to Morgana, to no visible affect. Otto watched for a moment before turning back to Walt's book. He jumped.

"Vvalt! Look! Her shadow!"

Walt looked up and gasped. Sure enough Barbara and Morgana cast now shadow on the wall.

"Of course! Morgana is a shadow mage! The Mistress of Shadows. If she's not casting a shadow then that means she must still be connected to the Shadow Realm."

"If she's still connected to the Shadow Realm then maybe that's where she's keeping Barbara," Nomura reasoned, "But how do we get to them?"

Walt looked around the room as he thought, "The Skathe-Hrün! The Shadow Staff. Barbara's been using it to open the portals but it was Morgana's staff first."

"The giant portal she made when she evacuated Heartstone!" Nomura snatched the staff from its spot in the corner, "I bet that's how Morgana got in!"

Walt hastily flipped through the book, "So, that would mean someone would need to go into the Shadow Realm to get her back."

Morgana laughed again, "You'll never find her. You'll find your own death first!"

"Don't zink for a moment zat you're going in zere alone," Otto glared at his brother, "Vve're not doing zat again."

"I'll stay here and keep the portal open," Nomura promised, "As long as I keep it open, you can get back."

"And I shall run interference," Blinky held up his right hands, "Hopefully it won't be so easy for Morgana to distract her if there are two of us. And I can keep my eyes on both of you."(1)

Nomura rolled her eyes and heft the staff in her hands. Walt shook his head.

"I'm going to need an emotional anchor to locate her," He stood and jumped into the doorway, "I'll be right back."

He hurried down the hall and into the living room. Hanging right over the sofa was Barbara's favorite photo. It had been taken by one very clever Lucky at their wedding. Part way through the reception, Barbara had been dosing against his shoulder, Jim tucked safely in their arms. He snatched it off the wall and hurried back down to the bedroom.

"Alright." He said, "Nomura, you'll cast the portal. Otto, as soon as we're in the Shadow Realm, grab the photo and I'll say the spell. It should bring us straight to Barbara. You three," He pointed at Blinky, Nomura, and Morgana, "No killing each other. No fighting. We'll be back as soon as we can."

Everyone nodded their agreement and Nomura cast the portal. Walt and Otto each held a side of the photo and stepped through the swirling portal and into the cold darkness of the Shadow Realm.

LLB

Walt and Otto clung to each other and the photo as they were dragged through the Shadow Realm. As more and more debris rushed past, Walt tucked Otto closer and wrapped one wing around him.

"Vvalt, is zat your house?"

He looked up and gasped as an exact copy of his home, right side up, came into view on top of one of the floating asteroids. The spell set them gently on the asteroid but it was still a bit of a hike up to the house. The door was unlocked and they let themselves in. The door slammed behind them and the TV snapped on. Snapshots of the past few months began to play. Not just on the television but also over the windows and mirrors.

"I don't like zis," Otto took a step back.

Walt hummed his agreement and led the way up the stairs. The further up the stairs they went the quieter it became.

"Barbara?" He called, "Are you here love?"

Sobs echoed from Jim's room behind them.

"Young Atlas?"

He and Barbara's door opened and a blue, shadowed illusion of her hurried down the hall. She was still in her scrubs, her hair still tied up tightly.

"Jim? Sweetheart what happened?" She pushed open the door to Jim's room and hurried in.

The room looked different from when Walt had been in it just that morning, pictures of Jim, Toby, and Mary mysteriously vacant, no signs of the posters Walt had helped him hang.

"Sweetheart, what happened?" Barbara repeated, sitting on the edge of the empty bed.

"He's gone!" Jim's voice wailed, "Why did he leave us!"

Walt furrowed his eyebrows and knelt in front of his wife. Something was very wrong here. That didn't sound like Jim now. It sounded like Jim ten years ago. If this were about him going into the Dark Lands alone, why would Jim be five?

"I'm right here, Barbara. Jim. I'm right here." He tried to put his hand on her knee but it went right through, landing on the bed below her.

"Oh, Baby," Barbara pulled nothing into her lap and held it gently, just as she would hold Jim when he was little, "I don't know. But I promise it's going to be ok. We still have each other and we're going to be ok."

"You're not going to leave too, are you Mommy?"

Walt gasped and shook his head.

"Of course not. I promise, I'll never leave you." Barbara nuzzled her head against Jim's non-existent head, "I'll always be here if you need me. Do you think you can get back to sleep?"

"Can I sleep with you?"

"Sure. But I'm going to be up for a little while longer. I still have some homework to finish. Ok?'

"Ok."

Barbara stood and made her way back down the hall. Walt and Otto watched her go before Walt stood back up.

"I really don't like zis," Otto whispered, "Somezing is very not right here."

Walt said nothing. He just followed Barbara down the hall and into the bedroom. It was shockingly sparse. No pictures of them. No pictures of Jim. His bookshelf that stood in the corner was gone. The desk was covered in medical textbooks and haphazard papers. Barbara stroked the invisible Jim's head gently before going back over to the desk and hunching back over the book. Walt and Otto stepped up on either side of her.

"Barbara, snap out of it!" Otto shouted, trying to shake her shoulder but going right through her again, "Ugh!"

"She can't hear us, Otto." Walt looked over the desk, "I think she's in some kind of alternate reality nightmare. Wait."

He spotted a manila envelope tucked under some of her textbooks at the corner of her desk. Carefully pulling the edge away to read the label. He growled. "Divorce Settlement Agreement: Barbara Lake nee Sturges, James Lake Sr."

"Damn it!" He stood and turned, "Of course! Why is this always the outcome!"

"Vvhat outcome?" Otto took a step back as Walt rounded back on the desk.

"They're alone!" Walt snapped, "Had I not been in Arcadia at the time that James left, she and Jim would be alone! None of us would be there and she has to do it all alone!"

He shoved the books out of the way to grab the envelope. They toppled off the desk and Barbara jumped, looking over her shoulder at the bed as if to make sure Jim were still asleep.

"Vvalt! Ze books! She saw zem move!" Otto grinned, "Vve can't touch her but vve can touch ze zings around ze room!"

Walt starred at his wife for a moment before scrambling for one of her notebooks and a pen. Barbara gasped and scrambled back, one hand pressed over her mouth. Walt turned the notebook to her.

"Please, Barbara. Read it! Just read it and wake up!" He begged, "Please! We're right here! I'm right here!"

She looked around the room frantically.

"Vve're right here, Barbara!" Otto shouted, "Just vvake up! Look at us!"

"Barbara! Please!"

"Walt?" She turned back to him, "Otto? Stop shouting. What are you doing here? Where's Jim?" She looked around again and noticed her hands, "Why am I see through!? Oh, God! I'm dead! Something killed me in that bathroom like a cheep horror movie!"

"You're not dead!" Walt put his hands on her shoulders, "It's ok. You're ok. Jim is safe. But, right now, we need to get out of here so we can be safe."

"Walt. What's going on?" She repeated.

"Morgana currently has your body," Otto explained, "Und vve have to get you back to ze human realm to put you back in and get her out."

Barbara stopped and turned back to look at him, "Excuse me? Your mother has possessed me?"

"Yes. And the clock is ticking to fix it!" Walt grabbed her hand hand hurried out the front door.

LLB

Walt and Otto tumbled out of the portal and onto the ceiling. A moment later, the house righted itself and they were thrown to the floor.

"Are vve dead?" Otto groaned.

"Not until you get off me," Nomura snarled.

"Es tut Meir Lied, Schwesterchen."

He rolled off of her and they all turned to watch Barbara in her chair land neatly on the floor. Walt scrambled to his feet and took her face in his hands. Slowly, she blinked up at him.

"Walt?" She groaned.

"Yes, Love?"

"Untie me."

"Oh! Right! Um."

"Here." Nomura handed him a creeper sun knife, "I brought it as a last resort."

"I feel like I should be more concerned about that," he muttered, cutting the chains and pulling Barbara into his arms once more.

They sank to the ground, Barbara's arms wrapped tightly around his chest.

"Are you alright?" Blinky asked, forcing himself to his feet.

"I think so," Barbara nodded against Walt's chest, "Just a little disoriented. She was in my head. She could see my memories and everything but...I think I could see some of hers. Mostly Merlin training her but…"

She held put her hand and summoned her staff. With a flick of her wrist, it collapsed and she tucked it into her pocket. Then she looked around the room.

"Oh, this is going to be fun to clean up."

"Yeah. You kind of turned the house upside down." Nomura chuckled.

"I'm seeing this."

"No." Blinky shook his head, "Literally. You flipped the house upside down."

"Oh. Oh! Wow! That's a new one…"

"I'd expect nothing less from one as strong as you," Walt assured her, kissing her temple gently.

"I just hope zat zis loss holds zem off for a little longer," Otto sat heavily on the edge of their bed. "Gunmar still knows how to bring about ze Eternal Night. Und he can free Morgana for real."

"One step at a time," Walt looked out the window, "Lets just take this victory for tonight. The rest can wait for tomorrow."

LLB

1) The Exorcism of Claire Nunes took place right after Bad Coffee. And, Nomura was the instigator this time so, between that and kidnapping Jim and Bagdwella before, Blinky's a little more suspicious of her than the rest of the family right now.