The Odd Ones (Jim x reader)

Chapter 2

SARAH'S POV:

I hummed to myself, washing some dishes. Tonight was Poetry Night...it was a whole inn full of creatures. I smiled, thinking. That little girl's poem was so cute. It reminds me of Jim when he was little, rambling on and on about his new sail boat toy.. I laughed out loud.

"Heh, what is it Mom?"

I turned on my heel, seeing Jim pick up the rest of the dishes around the inn. I grabbed the small stack of dirty plates from him. "Oh nothing, dear, I was just thinking about some of the poems we heard tonight."

"Oh yeah..." He laughed and leaned against the wall in front of me. "Like Morph's poem about food and living the luxurious life." He laughed more.

I giggled, agreeing with him. "Yes, especially that one."

Jim crossed his arms, his smile fading a bit.

I put the plates in the sink, letting them soak. I looked up, seeing his smile fade completely. "What's wrong, dear?"

He quickly looked up and covered up his feelings. "Nothing, just....do you think Doppler is avoiding us? It's been 5 years....I'm almost twenty!"

I softly smiled and stepped to him, hugging him with my wet and soapy hands. He relaxed in my grip and hugged back.

"Sweetie, I don't think he forgot about us, or is avoiding us. You forget that he has to take care of two sets of twins."

"Oh yeah...Sunny, Tillie, Matey, and uhhh...."

"Jib."

"Yeah, Jib."

I gave him a slightly tight squeeze. "Maybe in the morning, we can go out and visit him. I'm sure he'd love to see u-"

Just then, there was a loud bang on the front door. It made me and Jim both jump.

"...the hell is that at this time of night?" Jim whispered to me.

"Well honey, it is an inn, who knows." I whispered back and walked over to the door. Jim peaked through the windows.

In the doorway was Delbert, shaking furiously because of the cold. "Delbert???" Speaking of the devil....

"H-hi S-S-Sarah..! W-wonder weather w-we're having-g, eh?"

I immediately wrapped my arm around his shoulders, ushering him inside. "Come, Jim just made a fire in the pit. I'll put on some tea."

He smiled softly. "Thank you, friend." I shut the big door and locked it. Jim walked up to Delbert. "Hey! We were just talking about you- we've been worried."

Delbert sighed sadly as he draped his coat on a nearby hook. "Jim, Sarah, I need advice..."

I put the kettle on the stove and sat down on the couch by the fire. Delbert followed behind, grateful that a fire was made. Jim sat across from us in a chair. I held his dog-like hands in concern. "Is everything all right?"

He smiled sadly. "Yes, yes, all is well, but I adopted this girl..."

My eyes widened and I grinned happily. That's great! He'll have help with the kids, and can focus more on his family! "That's great news!"

Delbert took his...paws out of my hands and was suddenly interested with the ground. "Yes, b-but I adopted her since she was a baby, a-and that was a-almost 18 years ago.... A-and only you, my family, and I know that she exists." He exhaled, feeling better after bottling everything up.

When I heard this news, my smile dropped and my eyes became wider. Wait. Wait. Let me process this for a moment...Delbert had a TEENAGER GIRL this entire time??? Why didn't he tell me? His best friend?? Maybe he was worried I might've tried to get Jim and her together..heh Jim would have my head if he knew that. Now it all make sense to me.. All the times that he declined my invitations, like tonight's event, when he stayed in his house all the time and only went outside for short periods of time. He had a child...

"Delbert, I never knew! What advice do you need?" I was prepared for any question. I now understood his stress was caused by: teenager problems. "Actually, you know what? We should meet her. Jim? What do you think?"

"Now Sarah..."

"I think it's a great idea, Mom. Let me go get Morph too. He always loves meeting new people." He got up from the chair and ran upstairs to his room.

Doc face-palmed when he dashed up the stairs. I smiled down at Delbert. "Don't worry, everything will be alright."

"I hope so...." He sighed as he slipped on his jacket once more. Something is bothering him...I can tell.

I walked over to him, helping him with his scarf. He was always confused by the way of scarfs. "Hey...what's wrong?"

Delbert looked at me in the eyes for a long moment before whispering. "You see, (y/n) was born with emotional powers, as I like to call them. Every time she has a fit or something upset her, she'll produce...fire like actual hot fire! Sad and scared feelings will produce ice. I-I don't know if she was abandoned for that reason, or because her eyes aren't like ours...but I found her in a box...away from the city..I only know that she has these....powers, and she could be dangerous to new things.."

"Oh Delbert I...I didn't know, I-"

We heard the bottom step creak, and we turned around, seeing Jim with his little pink friend.

"You didn't know what, Mom?"

Doc sighed softly as he opened the door to the winter wonderland. "Nothing for now...I'll go get Delilah for us." Delbert softly smiled at me, finally believing everything will be okay. "You'll find out soon, Jim. Come on."