Hiiiiii I'm so, so sorry that I am a day late, but my siblings were using the laptop for a long time watching movies and stuff so I didn't have time to type much. Also, belated Merry Christmas!!!! ILYSM.

Tell me if you catch any fandom refrences😏😉😜. I'm really bad at naming chapters... so bear with me, okay? Fun fact: My parents got married on December 22nd.

   After playing cards, the five people sat on the couch together, savouring the peace and happiness and excitement. They were excited because Barbara was getting married soon, she'd just told them the wedding date: December twenty second.

   Jim showed them his new armour, and he tried to summon the sword again, but to no luck.

   "It looks so good on you, Jim!" Claire said. "And we'll figure out what's happening with the sword."

   Toby took Jim's arm and raised it, examining the detailed engraving of his right gauntlet. "So cool, so cool!" He said amazedly.

   "It does look great, thanks to Krel and Douxie." Jim said.

   Douxie smiled. "Thank-"

   Jim interrupted him by sitting next to him and giving him a hug, still clad in armour. Douxie was surprised at first, but he returned to embrace.

   Barbara reached out and touched Jim's pauldron, then the side of his face after he pulled away from Douxie. She grinned. "You look very handsome, Kiddo."

   "Thanks, Mom."

   Toby, who was standing with Claire, turned to her and declared, "Thumb war!"

   "Oh, you're on, Quagawump king," She smirked.

   He rolled his eyes, and they took each other's opposite hand and said in unison, "One, two, three, four! I declare a thumb war! Bow, shake, begin!"

   Douxie laughed mischievously, and pulled out his phone. After a few seconds, he found what he wanted to, and clicked play. Duel of Fates from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace played, and Jim and his mom cracked up.

   "Augh!" Toby groaned as Claire pressed his thumb down under her own, pinning it down.

   "There's always next time, Tobes, but the food is getting cold. We should eat now." Jim said, and then shot Claire a congratulatory grin.

   Toby gave him the stink eye. "Who's side are you on?" He asked, crossing his arms. Jim gave him an innocent look, and Toby's expression softened a little bit (he couldn't stay mad).

   Jim's armour disappeared, and Jim slipped the amulet into his jeans pocket.

   When he'd served the food after everyone else had sat down, Jim sat with them at the head of the table, in between Douxie and Claire. Toby sat next to Barbara and Claire, and Archie(yes, he got his own chair) sat on Barbara's other side.

   Every once and a while, Douxie's hand came over and petted Archie's fur.

   "This is so good, Jim! Heavenly delicacy," Douxie told Jim.

   Jim laughed. "You really think so?"

   "I haven't tasted food this excellent in thirty years."

   "Whoa."

   "Yeah." Douxie laughed.

   Claire raised her eyebrows, swallowing. "Hey, Teach. You've got something. Some, uh, drool." She dragged her finger from the corner of her mouth and downward.

   "Ha, ha. Very funny." Douxie rolled his eyes, and kept eating.

   "They are good, Jim," Claire chuckled. Toby agreed.

   Jim smiled. "I'm glad that you like them."

   Maybe Douxie had been imagining it, but when Jim said, "I'm glad you like them," he swore he saw something in Jim's eyes. He'd changed a lot in the last year. Physically, and in his attitude.

   A new idea surfaced at the back of his mind.

   The sword was being problematic and nonexistant, maybe that was somehow connected to the idea. Douxie felt like like he was grasping at strings that could lead nowhere but it was one step closer to doing something about the problem.

   Douxie ran his fingers down his face. Then twisted his skull ring, deep in thought.

   "Uh... Doux?" Jim asked, reminding Douxie of reality.

   He blinked, and Jim raised an eyebrow. "What is it? You alright?"

   "Oh. Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. I just... had a thought. An idea... maybe?"

   "What kind of idea?" Claire asked.

   "Well a crazy one, like... the usual kind."

   "Ah." Jim said. "What's the idea?"

   "I was thinking- Maybe you could try Excalibur one more time."

   The table fell silent. Everyone's eyes widened.

   Douxie gulped, and kept going. "It's bee a year since you tried last, Jim. I've seen how much you've grown and changed. I don't know if it could work, but I figured it was worth a try. How it could possibly mess up your amulet, I don't know. I'm going to look into it tomorrow as much as I can.

   "I... I don't know. I guess we should try that. Play all the angles."

   "Yes. I'm sure it will all come to an agreeable conclusion."

   Jim didn't look all that hopeful, but Douxie was glad he was okay with giving it another shot.

   "When could you go try?" Douxie asked

   "Monday, after school?"

   "Can me and Claire and AAARRRGGHH!!! and Blinky come? It's at the Museum, right?" Toby cut in, leaning his chair back on it's legs. Dr. Lake gave him a look, and he dropped back forward guiltily.

   "'Course. It's still in that hidden spot, right?" Jim asked.

   "Yep," Douxie replied.

   "Douxie, are you still working full-time?" Claire tucked her hair behind her ear, and took Jim's hand on the table.

   "Yes, but we can meet later in the day to talk, in case I find something, or Jim pulls out the sword."

   A full hour later, Douxie said that he and Arch had to go. "Bye!" Claire said.

   "Goodnight!" Jim said.

   "Ciao!" Toby said.

   "Have a good night, Douxie. And keep Douxie out of trouble, Archie." Barbara said.

   "I'll try, Dr. Lake." Archie replied.

   Douxie gave them a wave goodbye, and left into the night A few minutes later, Claire said that her dad was picking her up.

   She gave them hugs, and kissed Jim on the cheek with a smile. "Bye," he told her.

   "I love you," Claire said, and closed the door behind her.

   Everyone was silent for a moment, before Barbara hugged Jim goodnight, and walked upstairs.

   "G'night, Dr. L!"

   "Good night, boys." She called back.

   "Welp, wanna watch a movie, Tobes?" Jim asked.

   Toby grinned. "But who's choosing it? Because that changes everything, you know."

   "Let's watch Tron: Legacy."

   "I hope the visuals are better than in the first one,"