Disclaimer: I don't own Gargoyles. Don't sue me.
Note: This takes place after the end of Season 2. Season 3 hasn't happened. The beginning mentions a fanfic idea I've been playing with but could never get onto paper, so it instead simply summarizes it and this happens after said idea. I also often simply call Xanatos "David".
Note 2: This fanfic deals with some minor, if mostly one-sided, slash (male/male). Don't like it, don't read it. I don't want to be reading flames.
Chapter 1:
Three months had passed since the incident. Owen had saved Xanatos from an abomination of a machine, an unholy alliance of technology and magic. The machine was built to separate body and soul. Owen was a very special case, though. It had split Owen from the one who had created him – Puck. After the initial shock the Gargoyles, who arrived just moment previous, destroyed the machine.
"Owen, be a good man and start the limousine," Xanatos said, adjusting his tie in the hallway mirror.
"Of course, sir," Owen nodded. He wasn't much affected by the separation. Since he was created to be the complete opposite of Puck anyway, the lack of the Fey's sense of humor wasn't much of a change.
"Fox, darling," David knocked on the door to their room. "Are you ready?"
"Five minutes!" Fox called out.
David sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Didn't she say that five minutes ago?" a hearty voice quipped next to him. David glanced over and noticed Puck hovering beside him. The Fey had developed a habit of sneaking up on the residents of the Xanatos home. "Would you like me to pop in there and encourage her not to be late?"
"That won't be necessary," David said sternly, though he couldn't help but smile. He seemed to be the only one who appreciated Puck's…unique sense of humor.
Honestly, due to the decree made by Oberon, Puck shouldn't' have been able to use his magic. But the separation of him and Owen seemed to form a magical loophole. He still couldn't return to Avalon, but he was content helping the Xanatos' raise Alex. In fact, while David and Fox went to the Dollars for Daisies Orphan Charity Ball, Puck was to baby sit Alex, with the help of Lexington.
"You never let me have any fun," Puck complained, though it was all in good humor.
"Alright," Fox announced as she emerged. "I'm ready. How do I look?" Her hair was up in a fashionable mess on top of her head. She wore a sleek red dress with a slit on the side that showed plenty of leg, and was low-cut enough to show just as much cleavage. She finished the look with a pair of white silk gloves, black thigh-high stockings, and red heels.
David let out a long, low whistle. "You look like Jessica Rabbit gone wild," Puck said. "Complete with dorky husband." Fox laughed at the indignant look David gave him.
"Well, come on," Fox said, taking her husband's arm. "We're going to be late."
"Sorry to keep you waiting…" David muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, dear."
Puck followed them to the elevator. "You kids have fun! Make sure she's home at a reasonable hour!" he joked, waving as the couple stepped in.
"Take good care of Alex!" Fox said as the doors closed.
Puck waited until the elevator started down, then zipped back to Alex's room. The baby was fast asleep and Lexington sat cross-legged on the floor, reading a computer magazine Elisa had brought him.
Puck and Lex seemed to get along quite well. The thing they had most in common was their affections toward Alex. Puck spent what time he could spare teaching the child magic, keeping his agreement with Oberon so as not to raise suspicion. Lexington, on the other hand, enjoyed teaching Alex about everything else he could manage.
"Watcha reading?" Puck asked, hovering over Lex's shoulder.
Lex jumped, having not heard him come in. "I hate it when you do that!" he snapped.
Puck grinned and touched down onto the floor. "I wouldn't do it if you didn't." Lex just glared and went back to reading. He knew the Fey didn't really care about the magazine, but was only using it as an excuse to scare him.
Puck folded his arms on the edge of the crib, resting his chin on them and looking at the sleeping baby. One of the things that intrigued him about humans was their young. As humans grew older, their belief and acceptance in that which they didn't understand faded. But as children they never turned away what they saw and knew simply because it was there. He delighted in knowing that Alexander Xanatos would be different. He would grow up taught by Fey and protected by Gargoyles, and raised by the most openly tolerant people of the magical things the world held.
--
"David Xanatos!" a slightly elderly man greeted David and Fox at the front door to the Vaden Estate. The Estate belonged to Nicholas Vaden, a former lawyer who had more than enough money to keep him happy in retirement. The man who greeted them, however, was John Freid, who ran the Daisy Orphanage. He was balding and had a round figure and a kind smile. His wife, who had died five years previous in a plane crash, was the one whom the orphanage was named for. After she died Vaden, a family friend, started the Dollars for Daisies Orphan Charity to help keep the orphanage from falling under. Every year the biggest names in Manhatten gathered to boost their image by donating. There was also a drawing for one of them to take an orphan home for a week, furthering their generous and caring image.
"John!" David replied, smiling. They shook hands firmly. "John, this is my lovely wife, Fox. Fox, this is John Freid."
"How nice to finally meet you," John smiled, kissing her politely on the cheek. "I've heard so much about you. And, forgive me if this seems rude, but you look just like my late wife, Daisy, did in her younger years."
"Thank you," Fox replied. "I'm sure she was a lovely woman. I'm sorry I couldn't have met her."
"And Owen, good to see you again!" John shook his hand firmly as well.
Owen nodded. "Likewise, Mr. Freid."
"How many times must I ask you to call me John?" the elder man asked in good humor. "Forgive my rudeness! Come in! Come in! Enjoy the party!" He gestured them inside and led them to the ballroom, where people of all over Manhatten high society mingled and danced.
"So, what's been happening? How's your son, eh…" John trailed off and developed a concentrated look on his face.
"Alex," Fox finished patiently. "He's fine. Growing healthy and strong."
"And devilishly smart," David smirked.
"Just like his father, eh?" John laughed, slapping David on the back. "If he's a chip off the old block, Manhatten better watch out! We were barely ready for one David Xanatos!" He let out a loud belly laugh.
"Yes, but he has plenty of his mother in him as well," David replied, smiling at his wife with a twinkle in his eye.
--
Lexington glanced up from his magazine, seeing Puck watching Alex sleep. Something about Alex brought out that side of the Fey. "How's he doing?" he asked.
"Sleeping soundly," Puck replied, leaning away from the cradle and taking a seat next to it. "What happened to me? I was once one of the most respected members of Oberon's Court. Now I'm not much more than a glorified babysitter…"
"You met Xanatos," Lex answered bluntly. "That was probably your first mistake."
Puck rolled his eyes. "You act like it's that simple. It's easy to deal with him as Owen. A simple 'Yes, sir', 'Of course, sir', 'Right away, sir' suffices just fine. But as me? As the Puck?" he sighed. "It's complicated."
"You get along with him fine," Lex said, confused.
"It's not about getting along with him. It's being needed by him. Owen does everything he needs. Being needed by Alex is great and fine, but…" Puck glanced at the crib. "To David, I'm useless. He doesn't rely on magic. He likes to do everything by hand."
Lexington's eyes lit up with realization and he smiled coyly. "You love him."
Puck nearly fell off the stool he sat on. "W-what?!" he yelped, completely caught off guard. Alex was woken up by the outburst and started crying. Puck and Lex jumped into action. Puck waved a hand, a stream of silvery magic lifting the baby out of the crib and rocking him back and forth. Lexington grabbed the pacifier off of the night stand and stuck it in Alex's mouth. After a few minutes Alex calmed and fell back asleep. Puck gently lowered him back into the crib and Lex tucked him in. They sighed in relief.
"I am not in love with David," Puck insisted in a whisper this time.
--
David and Fox settled into mingling with the rest of the crowd. A couple of songs they danced, Fox even agreeing to dance with John to a waltz his wife had enjoyed when she was alive. Soon, though, with checks and donations in place, the event was drawing to a close.
Nicholas Vaden, a man slightly older than David with light-brown hair kept short and neat and a slight mustache, took the stage in front of the band. He stood next to John, who was holding a glass jar filled with little papers. "And now, ladies and gentlemen," Vaden announced. The room went silent for his deep voice. "Before we say out goodnights and share the final dance of the evening, it is time to find out who gets to take home one lucky child for a week." He nodded behind him and a drum roll started. John held out the jar and Vaden reached in, looking in the opposite direction to make sure everyone knew he was choosing at random. "And our temporary parents are…" He pulled out a paper and looked. "David and Fox Xanatos!"
Everyone broke into a polite applause. Many congratulated the couple, but they themselves simply looked stunned. When John joined them, he noticed their faces. "What's wrong? Aren't you glad you won?" he asked.
"We would be," David said darkly.
Fox finished the sentence, "If we had entered the drawing."
To be continued...