Thank you for the reviews that you have given this so far, both the criticism and the atta boy's, I appreciate both. I am trying to beef this up a little as it goes along, it is an older story and back when I was less of a writer than I am now, it tends to be a little thin on the descriptive. Please R&R, I appreciate all feedback that I can get!

Darwin

Chapter Two: Sneaking Out

Broadway was busily fixing a sandwich, it was piled high with meat and cheese, lettuce and tomato, a Dagwood sandwich, he remembered hearing someone say. He hummed tunelessly to himself, enjoying the fact that the city was peaceful or relatively so on this night. On to the plate went a pile of chips that consisted of the entire bag and the whole thing looked as if it was going to tumble off. Gingerly he lifted the towering plate off the counter using his chin to steady the teetering sandwich and wrapped his hands around the potato chips that ringed the bottom.

Broadway stepped out of the kitchen to listening to his stomach rumble and thinking of just how good the snack was going to taste. He paused a moment as he heard talking growing louder, one voice was Elisa's and the other sounded like Goliath. He smiled to himself, waiting to greet his leader and the clan's friend. From his left he saw Elisa walking slowly across the castle floor, her arm laced through the arm of a tall human. His brow furrowed as he watched the two, walking slowly and conversing, the air punctuated with laughter from one or the other, "What in the world?" He muttered, "That's not Goliath…who is it?"

He watched them until they disappeared from sight, torn between interrupting them so that Elisa would introduce her friend, and asking the others if they knew what was going on.

Finally he turned to head for where the others were, dropping his laboriously built sandwich in the process. He burst through the doors startling the three there, "Who's Elisa's new friend?" He asked trying to sound non-chalant.

"New friend?" Hudson repeated, "What are ye talking about, lad?"

"I just saw Elisa leave with a human," He said incredulously.

"Funny, she came in here alone, looking for Goliath. I would think she would have introduced us."

"Well I don't know whether she found Goliath, but she sure seemed happy with this guy I saw."

Hudson looked equally stunned, "Perhaps we'd better talk to Goliath. Elisa may have said something to him she did not say to us."

They all stood to leave.

"So what do you think?" Elisa solicited. She had brought them to a small fine restaurant downtown that just happened to stay open at night. It was called the Full Moon Bistro.

Goliath glanced around nodding approvingly, "Very nice. How did you manage to find it?"

"Well, when you've worked nights as long as I have, you learn all the good spots to go."

He nodded again, looking down, "I feel awkward, as if I am cheating. I did not even tell the others."

"I'm not sure they'd understand this," Elisa reasoned.

"Angela would," he whispered, looking away, "I think she suspects my feelings."

Elisa smiled at him, "It's OK. Besides nobody is going to recognize you, so relax, enjoy yourself, you've earned it."

"I am trying," he said trying to smile.

"Uh oh," Elisa said peering over her companion's shoulder.

"What?" Goliath said starting to rise.

"It's OK, it's just Matt. Though, I was kind of hoping we'd have no disruptions tonight."

"I see," Goliath said seating himself.

The red headed detective made a bee-line for their table upon seeing Elisa, "Well, well," he said glancing between her and Goliath, "Fancy meeting you here, and with a date no doubt."

"This is Go... Gordon," She improvised. Goliath threw her a quizzical look, which she returned with a face that said, "Go with it."

Goliath stood again, facing the young man who had so long been Elisa's partner. He extended a hand toward the shorter man, who took it firmly, "Elisa has told me a lot about you," Goliath offered.

"Really?" Matt looked down at Elisa, "I never knew you thought so highly of me," Elisa only shrugged in return smiling wanly and Matt looked back at her towering date, squinting, "You look familiar... Do I know you?"

"No," Goliath said hesitantly.

"Your sure?" Matt persisted.

"I am," Goliath returned.

A tense silence filled the room, before Matt gave up sighing, "Well, I guess I'll leave you two to your dinner, then. Have a good night partner," He raised an eyebrow at Elisa as he walked away.

Goliath followed Matt's exit with his eyes, and when he returned his attention to the table, he found Elisa hiding her eyes and shaking her head, "I'm going to hear about this one tomorrow."

Goliath reached out a hand and lay it on the balled fist she still had on the table, bringing her back to the moment. She looked at the gesture then raised her eyes to meet his, a smile stretching across her features. Goliath raised his free hand to move a dark strand from out of her face. That hand slowly traced a path down her cheek, and Goliath leaned closer to Elisa, "You never gave me an opportunity to return the kiss you gave so freely that dawn..."

"I know," she replied looking down, "It was an impulse, spur of the moment."

"Oh?" Goliath said straightening slightly.

She looked back into his dark intense eyes, "It's not something I regret. It's how I really feel."

He smiled then, "Then, allow me now, to respond in kind," he breathed. As if connected they leaned toward each other in unison, only to be interrupted by their meal's arrival. Elisa sat up quickly as if spooked by the intensity of that moment. Goliath sat up more slowly reassuring her with a smile.

Their meal was eaten in silence, though an undercurrent of feeling flowed like water between them. It was only after they were finished and the dishes removed that Elisa spoke, "So what do you want to do now?" as she rose from her seat. Goliath mirrored her move, stepping closer to her. He lay his hands gently on her shoulders pulling her against his body, leaning down to press his lips to hers, something that had been so long delayed.

Neither rushed to be free of that intimacy, despite the stares of the other patrons in the restaurant. Even when that longing had been filled, they remained in each others embrace. Goliath drew in a deep breath eyes closed, sighing, "I wish to see the sunrise..." he stepped back then, "And remain flesh by your side," his words were soft, but the pride and love for her resonated in his deep voice.

She nodded, "All right."

"I can't find Goliath anywhere!" Broadway said in worry.

"Goliath wouldn't just leave and not tell anyone. That's not like him," Lexington added.

"Aye, ye'r right, of course. But he was troubled las' night and probably needed t' be alone."

"Especially if Elisa introduced him to her new friend," Broadway surmised.

"Auch, let's nae start that again," Hudson warned watching as Angela and Brooklyn returned from their tour of the city.

Angela touched down lightly on one of the cornices and hopped to the floor. Brooklyn was just behind her. Angela looked around in confusion. She had become accustomed to her father being there to greet the clan as they came in for the day. That she did not see him seemed to bother her, "Where's Goliath?"

"Good question, Lass," Hudson sighed, "Would that we knew."

"But," she started looking to the horizon, "It's nearly dawn!" she jumped back onto the precipice ready to take flight.

Hudson laid a large hand on her shoulder, "You have no time to search fer him today, Angela," Hudson advised, "He's a big Gargoyle, I'm sure he'll find a safe place to roost for the day. Don' worry."

Angela stepped back down again, "I hope you're right," she said turning away to the horizon looking anxious.

"Aye," Hudson returned, "so do I."

The rest of the clan looked at each other soberly as the dawn forced them into sleep.