Disclaimer: All the characters appearing in Gargoyles and Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles are copyright Buena Vista Television/The Walt Disney Company. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder. All original characters are mine and may not be used without authorization.

"Not Your Average Caterers. Allison speaking. How can we help you today?"

"I understand that you recently catered a luncheon for NightStone Unlimited. Is this correct?"

"That's correct. It was a free luncheon in hopes to achieve a more permanent business relation with her. May I ask why you need to know this?" Allison didn't like the bland tone this man took. He sounded like competition. She wondered for whom - NightStone or her own company?

"That's irrelevant. Was it successful?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but yes. We secured a five year contract as her caterers, with at least one luncheon every two week."

"Perhaps we should discuss this in person, Allison. My employer has a business arrangement of his own for you."

A click and soft plink later, a second voice spoke up. "What my associate means is that he'd love to discuss this over breakfast. He'll meet you tomorrow morning at 8 A.M. at Gareth's. Bring your appetite to table one."

Allison opened her mouth to respond, but the dial tone filled her ear. Throwing the earpiece to her phone on to her desk, she sighed. Looking up, she turned to her companion. "What should I do, Katrina? I know you heard all that."

Katrina's ears perked forward as she turned to face Allison. "It sounds like the first voice hasn't laughed at all his entire life and the second guy sounded sort of egotistical. Like he's used to getting whatever he wants, you know?"

"So, secretary and rich guy?"

"That's my guess," she purred.

Allison tucked an errant strand of blonde hair behind the tip of her ear and sighed again. "So, do I go?"

"What harm could there be? I could follow you in later and keep an eye on you if you'd prefer." Katrina moved over and perched lightly on the edge of the desk. "I mean, I could always claim to be headed to an audition for "Cats" or something of the like."

Allison took in her friend again. Standing at five feet and seven inches, the feline was quite a sight to take in indeed. Her black gleaming coat of fur was a stark contrast to the mass of red hair that topped her head. Her green eyes sparkled with mischief. "You just want to get out of this stuffy place, don't you," Allison chuckled.

Katrina grinned, revealing her sharp teeth. "Oh god do you know it!" She pushed away from the desk and looked out the window. "Not that I mind being here, you know, but I want to feel the sun on my fur and get out to see this new place. This is nothing like Seattle."

Allison winced at the reminder of their former home. "No, indeed not. This place is bigger, louder, brighter, and more dangerous."

"Oh, come on, Allison. Odin and Catherine go out every night and we're practically stuck in this office every day. What's wrong with living a little?" Katrina purred with anticipation. "Can't we at least go shopping? I'll wear a hat even."

"Kat," Allison countered.

"Oh, come on. You know you want to get out too." The feline grabbed a hat and pulled Allison out of her seat. "Here, I'll even write the note to the others. Don't forget Fluffy either. You know how that cutie hates to be without you."

Allison gave a defeated sigh and turned to poke at a sleeping blue bulge on the windowsill. "Why you call a scaly critter 'Fluffy' is beyond me," she retorted. "Tyranny, wake up you sleepy dragon."

Tiny violet eyes turned to face Allison. The blue ball stretched and gave a great yawn, its forked tongue quite visible. The critter measured about two feet in length, split rather evenly between its tail and the rest of its body. The tail ended in an arrowhead point. Scaly and quite bald, one could only guess where the nickname Fluffy had come from.

Allison smiled at the little dragon before picking her up. "You are one lazy little buggar, you know that."

Tyranny looked at her as if to say, "Your point is?"

"We're going out. Care to join us?"

The small dragon slipped away from her and climbed into the purse that lay open on the desk.

"I'd take that as a yes," Katrina quipped.

Mumbling, Allison hefted the purse onto her shoulder and moved towards the door. "You're paying for dinner, mind you."

"Yes, yes, I know."

Gareth's was crowded, even at 8 A.M. Allison realized that she didn't have a name for the hostess. "Look, all I know is that I'm supposed to be meeting a very bland, monotone sounding gentleman at table one right now."

"That would be me," said the monotone voice from behind female.

Allison turned around and immediately found herself dwarfed by a very tall, slender man wearing a dark blue pin striped suit. True to her nature, her eyes sought out his and she was startled to find that his cool, crystal clear blue eyes were very much like her own. ~Catherine would claim that his eyes were cold though. Almost emotionless. ~ His well-kept blonde hair was meticulously parted. His face was sharp with an almost hawkish look in his eyes. ~God, he's going to swallow my company whole. ~ After he quick survey of her dinning partner was finished, she offered her hand to him. "Allison Dort'honion, caterer extradonier."

The man arched his eyebrow, but shook the young woman's hand, as he looked her over. "Owen Burnett, Xanatos Enterprise."

The hostess allowed the waitress to lead them to their table.

"Xanatos Enterprises! So you're after NightStone then?" Shock crossed her face as she slipped into the offered seat.

If he had been the type, he would have rolled his eyes at her ignorance. Instead he merely assisted her with her chair before moving to his own seat. "Though NightStone is indeed our competition, we occasionally pass along good business ideas. Ms. Destine merely passed along your business card to Mr. Xanatos at our last meeting."

"And here we are?"

"Indeed."

"The usual, Ms. Allison," the waitress asked.

"Yes, please," she replied with a warm smile.

"And you, sir?"

"I'll have the same, then"

Chuckling, Allison turned back to the topic at hand after the waitress left. "So Mr. Burnett, why couldn't we discuss this over the phone?"

"Mr. Xanatos insisted. He claimed that it would be better to get a face to face opinion, even though Ms. Destine's opinion is highly valued."

"Despite her being competition for his company?"

"Indeed. Shall we begin, Ms. Dort'honion?"

"Though you didn't butcher my last name, I'd prefer it if you called me Allison."

If her statement offended him, he didn't show it. "As you wish." He remained emotionless as the young female launched into her presentation of her company and gave reasons as to why her company was his company's best bet as far as caterers went. He wouldn't have guessed she was over five feet, two inches. She was slim, with a golden mass of hair that cascaded over her shoulders and partway down her back. The young woman wore a modest business ensemble of the deepest maroon. It was in good taste, of that he was glad. Her eyes were deep clear blue pools of warmth. They held a spark of life that Mr. Xanatos would often claim he forgot in his disguise. Obviously she enjoyed her job a great deal. Her lips were turned up in a smile as she finished her presentation – just in time for breakfast.

As the waitress left, Allison gave a slight chuckle. "I'd wager you thought someone of my small frame ate little to nothing at all, right?"

Owen merely raised an eyebrow at the young woman and nodded his head. The table was much fuller than he'd expected. Pancakes with syrup, scrambled eggs with cheese, fried ham, grits with bacon bits and butter were only a few of the dishes. Each of them had tall glasses of milk and OJ. A small fruit bowl for each of them sat nearby. When he finally found his tongue he asked, "How do you feel about Gargoyles, Ms. Allison?"

"One of my best friends is a gargoyle," she chuckled. "Why?'

Owen didn't laugh. "As you are probably well aware, Mr. Xanatos is currently providing the gargoyles from the clock tower residence at his castle. As there might be night parties, I must be assured that you and your employees are willing to sign confidentiality waivers."

Allison tapped the end of her fork against her lips as she thought. "Then I'm afraid you and your people will also have to sign a waiver, Mr. Burnett."

"Excuse me?"

She flipped her hair back over her shoulders and sighed. "You are paranoid that my employees and I are no doubt Quarry Men or some racist group that hates gargoyles. Did you ever stop to think that Gargoyles are not the only creatures that desire secrecy?"

"You aren't human," he surmised.

"That's very good, Mr. Burnett. I'll sign your waivers if you sign mine."

"Does Ms. Destine know about this?"

"No, Ms. Destine had no reason to know. She seemed to think she had nothing to hide and required no waivers of me. Therefore, none were required in return. She strictly insisted that all her catering needs would be daylight requirements." ~Tyranny, am I making a mistake? ~

Her mind touched, the little dragon stirred from her spot in her friend's purse. ~If you are, you'll find out soon enough. ~

"Perhaps you should meet Mr. Xanatos and his guests later this evening. Perhaps waivers will be unnecessary on both parts," Owen finished smoothly. "Also, bring him the menu you have shown me and a few sample dishes; though I am certain he will wish me to finish negotiations on a long term contract."

"Fantastic," she grinned - her fears forgotten in the prospect of a new client.

The rest of the meal was eaten in comfort; Gareth's being a most popular, if not expensive, spot to dine. In the end, she was given the Xanatos business card and a time shortly after sunset.

"Wonderful," she chirped. "It will give me some time to prepare the dishes I'd like to bring and still brief my night shift. I'll be there."

"Good day, Ms. Dort'honion."

"You too, Mr. Burnett. Perhaps we can do this again sometime."

Owen nodded as he held the door open for the young woman and watched her disappear into the crowd that flooded the streets of Manhattan.

"So, who was the stiff," Katrina asked. "Do you think he's ever been laid?"

Allison rolled her eyes even as she stifled a giggle. "I don't know and I don't really want to think about it. However, I bet somewhere deep inside him there's a Puck waiting to be released. I'd wager that was just his game face."

Miming gagging, the feline sighed. "Yeah, right." She turned her green eyes on the blonde female and smiled. "So, who was he?"

"Mr. Owen Burnett from Xanatos Enterprises."

"Xanatos Enterprises! As in rival to NightStone? What'd he want?"

"A contract offer with us. I'm to meet his employer with a sample of dishes just after sunset tonight at the Aerie Building."

"Why so late?"
"Because I need to talk to Odin and Catherine and he is harboring the Manhattan gargoyles. I'm to meet them."

"Why?"

"Because I traded a secret of my own to show him why we'd need our own waivers signed."

"You showed him Fluffy?" Katrina seemed shocked at the very thought.

Allison rolled her eyes again. "No, I did not! You had Fluffy, remember? I tucked some hair behind my ear. It didn't stay, but he caught on quick enough."

"You took quite a wager there, elf."

"Not until he told me about the gargoyles."

"He could have been bluffing."

"I'd hate to play poker against that face," she chuckled.

"Shouldn't you be wearing something else," Odin asked. He towered above the elf with his six foot frame with his bat ribbed wings capped around his black form and his green eyes pierced her back. A single set of horns curved back over his baldhead.

Allison stepped over the gargoyle's mace ended tail as she packed the last platter into its container. "What's wrong with this outfit?"

Catherine moved a wisp of her black hair out of her brown eyes and looked over the outfit. "Blue jeans and combat boots?" She shifted her five and a half foot frame so she was snuggled against her mate's side. "Even before I was turned I had more fashion sense than that."

"Remember you promised not to tell the other gargoyles of my choice in mate," Odin pressed.

"Odin," Allison chided, "I don't give a damn what the others think of your choice of mate. The point is it's your choice. You shouldn't care either."

The male shook his head. "They would shun me. There are so few of us left."

"What do you really think they'd be upset about? That Cath's not a gargoyle or that she's undead?" The voice that spoke did not belong to anyone in the immediate room, but instead came from the doorway. Katrina leaned against the doorframe with Tyranny in her arms. "Odin, if the other gargoyles give a shit, tell them to go to hell."

He hung his head until his chin rested on Catherine's head. "It's been so long since I've seen another of my kind. It would be a shame if my heart wasn't accepted."

"Do you have to go with her," Catherine asked. "I mean, can't you wait to see if they're a friendly group before you risk exposure?"

"If they're not a friendly bunch, would you have me leave Allison defenseless against a clan of gargoyles?"

"Allison is far from defenseless," his mate prompted. "What if I went with her instead? I held my own against you the first night we met. I'd be able to get Al out of there without a problem."

"And if they found out you were a vampire?" Allison re entered the room with her car keys and purse. "We don't know anything about these guys. I'm hoping Odin and I will be enough proof that waivers aren't necessary. I mean, can't hold legal action against people who don't actually exist, right?"

Catherine frowned. "I still don't like this idea."

"Look," Katrina interrupted, "obviously they can handle gargoyles, but vampires and talking cats? Perhaps Al is right on this one. Let's just order out tonight, Cath, and hope for the best."

"Trust me," Allison smiled.

"Famous last words," mumbled the vampiress.

"Allison Dort'honion to see Mr. Burnett, please. I'm expected."

The security guard moved to pick up the phone on the desk, but was stopped as the elevator doors opened revealing Owen Burnett.

"Ah, there he is," Allison cooed. She offered the guard a small plate of goodies with a business card displayed in the center of the plate. "Remember NYAC next time you plan a party. We're not the norm which equates to twice the fun."

"Ahem," Owen interrupted.

The guard stiffened from the slightly relaxed pose this female had coerced him into with her smile. He watched as the blonde pushed her cart over and planted a kiss on the pale man's cheek. ~How's a stiff like that land such a hot ball of spunk like her? ~

"Owen," she purred, nice to see you again. And how was your day, dear?" Without missing a beat, she pushed her cart into the elevator and threw a wink at the guard on duty. His perplexed look was the last thing she saw before the doors closed.

"Figures," he muttered.

"Are you trying to spread rumors, Ms. Dort'honion?"

Allison leaned up against her cart and smiled. "Rumors are fun, Mr. Burnett. I wager that if that guard is still on duty tonight when I leave, that he'll ask me what it is I see in you. I mean no offense when I say this, but you look like the type of man who hasn't gotten any in his entire life."

Owen chose to answer that remark with a stony silence.

Releasing a sigh, Allison asked, "How far up are we going?"

"All the way."

"All the way? As in to the top?"

Owen saw the way the once vibrant woman paled at the destination. "Ms. Dort'honion, are you telling me you're Acrophobic?"

"If you're asking whether or not I like heights, the answer's no."

"I was under the impression that nothing could phase you," Own said, allowing himself an inside smirk.

"Normally nothing fazes me. Normally, I'm not invited to the top of the tallest skyscraper in the city." The thought was making her heart beat faster and her temperature was rising because of it. "I don't know if I can do this. Not even for Odin."

"Who is Odin?"

"My friend. He's interested in meeting the gargoyles that you claim live here. He's waiting for the ok a couple of buildings over."

"They will not be pleased that you are treating them as a side show before you…"

"He's a gargoyle," she said before slipping to the floor and placing her head between her knees.

A few building away, Odin cursed.

Their first stop, after Allison had managed to calm down, was the office of one Mr. David Xanatos. Joining him that evening was his lovely wife Fox and their five-year-old son, Alexander. Allison ran through her presentation again, giving dessert to the little red headed prince before starting. As she spoke, she offered several types of dishes to the adults in the room. "My company is comprised of a unique group of individuals. Catherine Delano is our night supervisor. She heads all the details and has things laid out for the day shift the night prior to any party or event we host. Her mate Odin is head of security. Katrina Keegan is my main help during the day. We four make up NYAC. We've catered weddings, funerals, anniversaries, birthdays, and all sorts of special and 'just gotta have it' occasions. The references for each event we've catered are there in front of you. Most of those customers are repeat customers. The few who aren't would still be pleased to give you their opinions on us." The dishes were emptied and her presentation over with, Allison smiled. "We like what we do and that's why we do it."

Xanatos templed his fingers and peered over them at the female. "You have been told about my gargoyles?"

Allison arched an eyebrow. "Since when did owning living beings become legal again? I heard you helped the gargoyles escape St. Damien's Cathedral and that they have taken refuge here. Other than that, I don't recall anyone saying anything about legally owning the gargoyles." ((Except for Disney, that is.))

Fox picked up Alex and handed the empty dessert plate to the blonde female. "True," she said, "the gargoyles are more family than anything else. They rescued Alex shortly after that. What David means is…"

Holding up her hand, she waved it off. "It's alright Mrs. Xanatos. I spoke out of turn. My apologies." Last thing Allison wanted was to ruin Odin's chances of meeting these gargoyles.

"Owen says you refuse to sign the required waivers," Xanatos noted.

"No," she replied, "I said I would have to get you folks to sign waivers for my people as well. We have our own secrets to keep, Mr. Xanatos."

"Such as?"

Allison shook her head with a humorless chuckle. "Not all of us are human."

"Are you," Fox asked.

"No ma'am, I am not." She gave a low bow to the room at large. "My name is Allison of Dorthonion. It means Land of Pines. I am an Elf."

Owen's eyebrow went up as he studied the blonde female. "That would explain the ears," he commented.

"Excuse me?" Allison whirled on him. "And just what is wrong with my ears, pray tell."

"Elves are an off shoot of the Third Race, long since ignored and forgotten by Lord Oberon and Queen Titania. Only a few fae remember them, whether by coincidence or because they choose to." Owen relayed the information without any more movement than it took.

Allison's eyes narrowed at the pale man. "And how do you know this," she demanded.

"We have our ways," Xanatos said somewhat smugly.

"Fine," the elf sighed. "Odin would like to meet the gargoyles. Is this possible?"

"Odin is," the multibillionaire prompted.

"A gargoyle," she admitted.

"Where is he?"

"Waiting for me to appear somewhere he can see me."

Xanatos nodded as he stood up. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt anything. After all, we know your secret."

~You don't know the half of it, ~ she thought with smile.

To Be Continued….