(Author's Note: I do not own gargoyles. Gargoyles the series is owned by the respected owners, creators and whoever else adds their name to the list. That is all for my announcement.)

(Recap from a previous entry of the story)

"Actually Ms. Corwall. We feel that she should stay here for a few days."

"Why?"

(End Recap)

"Ms. Corwall, the reason for her to stay here is to provide safety for her."

"How much safer can she be inside a clock tower?" Juniper said pulling her arm up and waving it over the area. The place didn't look like much. You had the usual clock tower things. Gears and metal parts a giant clock face that is seen in the background. The only thing that wasn't normal for a clock tower was that there was a chair, TV set and a stocked refrigerator. It didn't exactly scream safety so much as hideaway from work for one or a group of the cops.

"For one the police station is right under us and there is always someone here." One point towards this place showcasing safety. Currently none for the opponent.

"I just don't think it would be a good idea for Ilaria to stay here. She needs to be at home. I can ask Mr. Xantos for some time off and stay with her till…"

"Did you just say Xantos?" Goliath said moving in with a curious scowl on his brow. The way he said it was enough to have me wish that Juniper didn't mention her boss.

"Yes. I did. I work for David Xantos in his pharmaceutical branch of the company. Though he has put me to work in his robotics wing for a short while."

"Robotics and Pharmaceuticals. Wow those are pretty tough fields to get into much less keeps up with at the same time." Lexington said child likeness was hinted at in his voice that only enlarged due to his large eyes. Honestly if this guy was turned into a bobble head and sold in Japan he would be up there with Hello Kitty.

"I also have degrees in marine biology. One of the hazards of being raised in paradise." She said like it really is no big deal anyone can do it sort of voice. Yeah Juniper anyone can get a degree in those three fields in as short time as you.

"Where is paradise?" Lexington asked interested in his possible new intellectual friend.

"That can wait Lexington. I would like to know if Ms. Corwall knows the truth about her employer." Goliath demanded more than asked.

"I know about his criminal history. He was arrested and sent to jail, fulfilled his time as a model prisoner and since then has had a somewhat quiet existence with his ex-convict wife Fox. Other than that I have no reason to fear for anyone's safety working for this man. Why do you know something about him that the public doesn't?" She asked but didn't really expect an answer from us.

"Do you know that this man has turned people into mutants? Or that he has tried many times in the past to harm or destroy my clan? Or that he has worked with someone who wishes to wipe out humanity?"

"What are you even talking about? All of this sounds like science fiction from a bad nineteen fifties movie. Do you perhaps have some visible proof of these alleged accusations? Something that could give me reason without a doubt that he has done things like this? Otherwise I may see you as more of a threat than him."

"A woman who lives with a gorgon that is the descendent of Medusa and has now found that gargoyles exists doubts that mutants exist?" He said ignoring her last words.

"Call me cautious then. But you cannot believe everything you are told. Some things need proof in order to be seen as the truth."

"A wise answer indeed from someone who has learned much in her lifetime. If you desire proof of what I say than I shall show you proof of mutants with permission from Elisa." There was some kind of connection that you could see pass between them. Not romantic connections mind you. Even though that kind of connection could be seen pretty well. It was a connection that was sparked from some event that the two of them had experienced. An experience that obviously involved mutants. Since well if no one followed the conversation so far, the conversation has been revolving around mutants. I wonder what that experience was? I don't think that the gargoyles count as mutants; otherwise they would have said they were mutants themselves and they would not have asked permission from Detective Maza. And gargoyles are more of a natural thing than a mad scientist in the creepy castle that angry villagers storm thing. Then this must be a personal to Detective Maza since well the personal view point and the fact that Goliath just asked for permission from her and well now that the round-about observational view that comes with a crime show deduction is finished maybe we will know about the personal connection now.

"I will be gone for a short time and will return with the proof needed to show you what your employer is capable of."

"I'll go with ya lad." Goliath and Hudson went up some stairs and out into the night sky. Juniper kept me always in her sight and I spent most of my time with Bronx. Since he was the only one who wasn't well scared of me and who I was not nervous around in turn. Lexington was the most scared and I could understand since I accidently turned him into stone when he shouldn't have been stone and the others saw what happened so yeah I can kind of see why they would be hesitant around me. The only reason I could think that Bronx wasn't was well I still think he is some kind of dog. Wait dog…pet…Oh my god! I can't believe I haven't asked about Rosebud!

"Juniper is Rosebud okay?"

"She is fine and not surprising I brought her with me."

"Really?" I could tell my eyes were getting starry eyed at seeing my pet. Juniper pulled her out and she made a small grunt of happiness at seeing me. Yes she has seen me in gorgon form before. I think she doesn't really see it as scary.

"Oh Rosebud." I cuddled her close to my chest. Her little grunts of joy echoing in the room were like a little symphony for me.

"Is that a pig?" Lexington said for once in close proximity of me since the accidently turn to stone earlier.

"Yes. Rosebud is a pig."

"You have a pet pig?" Detective Maza asked.

"Yes. I have a pet mini Juliana pig named Rosebud." I said cradling her.

"She is tiny." Lexington said looking at her closer.

"You want to hear something funny?"

"Sure."

"This is as big as she is going to get."

"What?" Broadway gasped.

"That's impossible." Stated Brooklyn.

"It is obviously a piglet." Lexington said now stroking her head. Rosebud will love him forever now.

"Nope. She is an adult since she is about six years old. The age of an adult is two years old."

"So she is a grown up pig?"

"Now you guys got it." I said while tapping the side of my head.

"Why would you want a pig as a pet? Aren't they smelly? The ones back home always were."

"You try living in a cramped space where you eat, sleep and poop in the same space every day for years. Odds are you wouldn't smell to good either. But to be honest pigs are actually very clean animals, bathing them is normally no problem and they are actually easier to train than dogs."

"Pigs are trainable?" Broadway was really thinking on that one. My guess is that this guy was only used to the form of pigs coming as meals not lovable pets. Now protective pet owner side is coming out and the urge to keep her away from the kitchen.

"Yes, they are. In fact I have trained Rosebud here to obey an interesting number of commands."

"You're pulling our legs." Brooklyn moved in closer behind taking a better look at Rosebud who was looking really cute like a baby in my arms.

"Nope. I did teach Rosebud tricks." I settle her down on the ground careful to make sure Bronx knew not to attack her. He went up and sniffed her for a second and Rosebud sniffed back wiggling her curly q tail. Bronx stopped his sniffing gave her a questioning look and then moved away to lie down on the stone floor.

"Okay do you guys have any fruit?"

"We have some raisins."

"That's perfect."

"What do you need raisins for?"

"They are treats for Rosebud after she does her tricks. It is to reward for her doing these tricks for us. Now Rosebud, sit." She sits down like a little lady pig and I give her a raisin.

"Now shake." She puts out her hoof and we shake. To be honest I still think it is cute when she does this.

"Up on your hoofs." She stood up on her hoofs and was getting excited now.

"Bang." She made a motion like she had been hit in the sides and then fell down pretending to be dead. A truly Oscar worthy performance for a talented pig. I gave her two raisins for that one and it was starting to show that the gargoyle boys were getting interested in what else this little piggy could do. I was going to enjoy this show. Like when I won the Pet show two years running. I picked up Rosebud and put the cloth over her eyes before turning around to ask Juniper a question.

"Juniper could you."

"Already on it." She left the room went downstairs and was out of sight. Once that was accomplished I put Rosebud back on the ground and removed the cloth piece.

"Rosebud go find Juniper. Go on little one." She gave a grunt that turned into a sneeze. Then strutted down the stairs over and began to grunt loudly. We could see Juniper coming up the stairs with Rosebud pushing her from behind. It did look ridiculous to see a little pig push an average sized human female.

"She found me."

"Good girl Rosebud. Come get your treat." She trotted over gleefully and accepted her deserved treats.

"I guess we were wrong about pigs." Brooklyn said almost chuckling.

"She is kind of cute." Broadway said giving her a little raisin treat. She did a little circle spin for him. Where is the camera when you need it? Lexington wanted to see if he could get Rosebud to do a trick when Goliath came back and this time with a friend. The friend had big bat wings and had a man's body that was crossed with a panther's. He had black fur that looked really soft. He was also really tall and was starting to scare me a little. Juniper on the other hand was not scared of the new comer. Well not exactly. You see she fainted into Bluestone's arms and now we had the task of waking her up from her involuntary slumber. It did not take long till she was awake. She did not make a scene. She did not jump up quickly or make any sudden movement. She did not scream out anything. She did not say anything at all. She just rose up slowly and stayed quiet for a while. You could tell inside of her mind that the clogs and gears were whirring and spinning and coming together to form a competent machine that understood what had just been brought before her. One word escaped her lips. Just one word.

"Why?"

"David Xanatos sees the world as something he can control. He does not always view the people's lives as something that he can't mess with." The panther man said. He then continued on with his words that you could feel pain from them.

"I use to be human once. Now my sister and I have to live with this transformation."

"Your sister?" I asked.

"You know her. She's right behind you." Juniper and I turn around to find ourselves looking at Detective Maza. That explains the why Goliath asked permission. It was personal. This guy, her brother was turned into a mutant by Xanatos. Oh god what if he had the chance to do something like this to me? I'm already a freak, what happens when you add more DNA? The images of having two heads like those snakes you hear about on interest pieces came to mind. I don't want to have two heads! Even if I could sing 'If I Didn't Have You' from a realistic stand point I still do not want to have two heads.

"He did this. He really did this." Juniper's hand rested itself on her forehead and her eyes closed deep in thought. A large sigh escaped her chest and she opened her eyes before speaking.

"This makes things difficult for us."

"Oh come on. All you have to do is quit your job with Xanatos and then that's the end of it." Broadway said pleased that he had come up with a solution to the problem.

"It is not that simple. I cannot just quit working for Xanatos. I'm under contract with his company for quite a bit of time."

"Is it possible to settle this in court?" Detective Maza asked. Juniper shook her head sadly from side to side before looking up at the rest of us to answer fully why that was not an option.

"Even if I could get the contract null and void, I would be facing more than just looking for a job. The apartment is tied in with the contract, I would have to start looking for an apartment as soon as I had quit. Trying to do both is hard to do when you do not have much money to begin with. Then there is the matter of possibly being blacklisted by Xanatos. If he did that I could statistically not even get hired by any well established company and Rosebud would be shipped back to Hawaii." With that comment I pulled Rosebud closer to my chest.

"Why would Rosebud have to go back to your old home?" Brooklyn asked.

"Because technically pigs are not allowed in the city, but somehow Xanatos has been able to obtain permission for Rosebud to be allowed in the city." Detective Maza said while starching behind my pig's ear.

"Then you will have to stay in the employment of Xanatos. Keep up the façade. Make it seem as if everything is fine with both of you. Please allow her to stay with us for the nights she is a gorgon."

"Why should I?"

"We can help her. Watch over her when you cannot. There will be another time where he shall try again. We have had experience with such things. She will be safe in our hands. You have my word on that." Goliath said with such deepness that he showed experience and wisdom within his voice.

"If I were to let you do this, you swear to protect her?"

"We all swear to protect her." The nods of heads followed from the others including the two detectives.

"Then I will allow it for this time only. After the time has passed she is coming home with me."

"We will not stand against these decisions."

"I will come to check in every once in a while. I'll bring Rosebud too." She came over and picked up Rosebud placing her in her purse. "I'll tell the school you aren't feeling well. That should give you enough cover for a short time."

"Thank you. Take care of yourself okay?"

"Isn't that what I have to keep saying to you?"

The goodbyes for now are said and the two detectives and Juniper have left with Rosebud grunting away. It is at this short amount of time that I have just realized that I will be staying with some male gargoyles for a couple days. Oh ode to joy. Wonder what will be going on with the time? Well needless to say that after everyone left including Talon things started to feel a little awkward. Like what do we do now that she has to stay here? Or do I just stay quiet for the rest of the week? Until someone got curious and decided to break the quiet mold.

"Hey Ilaria can you do other things with this gorgon ability?"

"To be honest I don't know if I do have any other abilities besides turning people into stone and being able to sense body heat. I haven't really had the gorgon power that long to understand and well the gorgon gene did skip my Dad's generation, so he didn't have any helpful hints or notes for me to follow in order to understand this ability I have been born with. So I am pretty much a novice with no clue. Does that answer your question to your standards?"

"I would say that you have some clue to understand what you are so far." The little green guy said with a smile.

"Thanks. Still it would be nice to know more specifics about what is going on with this transformation I have to go through."

"Are you sure that you have no other family that you can learn from? Your mother perhaps?" Goliath said looming over me with great curiosity.

"No. My mom died when I was a baby and Dad didn't have any other family members that were alive. That's one of the reasons that Juniper became my guardian after my father died."

"I am sorry to hear that."

"Thank you."

"Tell us young one about yourself."

"There really isn't much to tell. I'm a teenage girl from the state of Hawaii."

"Hawaii?'

"A state located on the west coast of America. It's a tropical archipelago. That means it is a group of islands."

"Can you tell us more about this Hawaii? Perhaps paint us a picture of it through your words?"

"Well to start off it is very different from New York city. We have modern buildings like the ones here, but the whole atmosphere isn't just filled with buildings like you see when you look out the window here. There are large trees, vines and other well grown vegetation that stretches as far as you can see. There's sugar cane and pineapples grow in abundance. The waters that surround the islands are clear and amazing shades of blue that shift and form into beautiful waves that crash upon the shoreline. The flowers bloom into amazing shapes and colors that enhance the beauty of the wonder that is the state of Hawaii. Plus the flowers give a fragrance you just want to bottle up and keep with you wherever you go. Where you can hang out on the beaches, hike the terrain, learn the culture; which involves a rich history and fascinating lore. At least that is what we put on the brochures to attract tourists. Still it was a pretty awesome place to live."

"Why did you come here to live?" The sound came from the thick accent of the gargoyle named Hudson.

"Why does anyone have to move? Juniper got the amazing job offer of a one David Xanatos that she just couldn't pass up. So we had to move here. And from that point on you can guess what happened next." The answer sat with them since no one really wanted to divulge in the incidents that had happened the day before. That didn't mean I didn't have questions for them that I wanted them to answer.

"Is it alright that I ask all of you some questions?" My eyes travel from one gargoyle to the next wondering who it was that was going to answer the question with a yes or no. Goliath was the one to answer.

"We can answer some of your questions, but others will have to be decided if you should know the answer to them."

"Where are you from exactly?"

"To know the whole story you would have to understand complex events that led up to this point of time. Far too much to tell after barely a two night meeting. We will tell you that we hail from Scotland from a different time. More will be told later."

"Okay, I get it. I think." Geez that was a little more than what I was expecting and brought up more questions than I would have thought would come up. And what was the deal with him being all cryptic? Maybe it's a generation thing. Like his Generation was raised to be cryptic with answers towards new people that he has just met.

"If you are indeed content with that answer then perhaps you would like to eat something?"

"I guess I could go for a little bite."

"Let's take a look at the fridge. Hopefully Broadway here hasn't eaten all the food we have." Brooklyn said as I followed him.

"Yeah we should check…Hey!" The big guy was a big eater go figure. We go to the fridge and find that there was enough to make some sandwiches to eat. A ham and cheese with pickles was just what the doctor ordered. The problem was keeping I ate in minimum. Don't want to overstay my welcome on the first official night over. The others begin to get a little use to me. I think that the glasses certainly help a great deal with aiding the worry. Lexington has even come with in seeing distance of my eyes. Talon stays for a sandwich before he goes off into the sky to who knows where. I wondered if Talon was the only one who was a part of the experiment gone wrong or were there others who had become a flying bat cat creature. If there are others like Talon then where do they go to live? What do they call home?

"You got something on your mind?" It was Broadway who asked. I look up in surprise thinking that wow I must be really transparent or I am thinking far too much about it.

"Nothing on my mind that needs to be answered right this minute. So what do you guys do at night?"

"We do a lot of things. We have patrols around the city, fight bad guys, deal with Zanatos and sometimes we go to a movie or a concert…"

"You guys go to concerts?" This was defiantly an interest the conversation if they could go to concerts then what's stopping me?

"Yeah all the time. We can get the good seats because we can sneak in through the roof of the theaters or stay on the branches in the park. And well sneaking into a movie is not that hard either." He has a point there. Sneaking into a dark movie theater is not hard maybe with a trench coat it would be made even better an operation to sneak in.

"Hey you know what? If you feel up to it we can take you some time."

"Really? You mean it? Wait what about my condition? I mean it's not exactly easy to hide."

"Can't be harder than trying to get us in without anyone seeing us." He said it like yeah it is totally not a big deal, easier than rocket science.

"I don't think that it will be wise for the lass to be out and about so soon after her capture."

"Come on Hudson. I'm sure she will be fine with Brooklyn, Lexington and me. It's not like we are going to go out into the crowd and shout 'hey everybody look at this gargoyles and a gorgon.'

"Hold it there lad. I didn't say anything about her not going at all with the trio. I meant that you should wait a good amount of time before you do go out." The elder gargoyle was not a stiff that is good to know. But he does bring up a good point. I have to remain incognito. And as I stay incognito what am I going to do so that I don't end up stir crazy? There was a TV, but it would get dull to just stay and watch TV every day and night.

"Um Broadway, is there anything that could cure boredom around here besides the TV?" Goliath was the one to answer first.

"There is a library downstairs that you are welcome to. Just be sure to put the books back in there place."

"I guess that will work for the couple of days that I'm going to be here for. I am only going to be here for a few days right?"

"Already getting sick of us lass." Hudson said jokingly.

"No, no. It's not like that. I was just making sure that I knew the game plan." I said putting my hands up in a defensive manner.

"I see. If you want lass. I can show you were the library is before the sun rises."

"I will go with the two of you. I have to return Richard the third."

"While you guys are in the library. We're going to go on patrol." Said Brooklyn. Goliath nodded his head to the three young gargoyles and then they went off gliding into the night sky like Talon did not too long ago. The two older gargoyles and I went off down the stairs to the library. It was like the rest of New York big and proud of it. There were lots of good books. And not a single Twilight book in sight. Oh my gosh this was a paradise library. I found a copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and William Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream. A play had read already but wouldn't mind reading again. The whole story gets a laugh out of me every time and a sense of hope when it comes to love.

I went up to the clock tower before the other two who were still searching the library for one book or another. I was alone. Well not alone, alone. I had Bronx with me and he helped with the lonely feeling that was starting to settle in. I went to the balcony enjoying the breeze as Bronx fell asleep near the chair inside. I saw a shadow pass by and guessed that it was one of the gargoyles who came back.

"How was patrol?" I asked to be polite.

"What patrol?" That was not one of the trio that went out. It wasn't even Talon. This voice was a bit more refined and defiantly cocky in a way. I turn around and find that no one is there. Then I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn back around to find someone this time. A someone with white hair that was long and some colorful Greek or roman based clothing. He was also floating. Floating in midair right in front of me. I feel my mouth opening to scream and find his hand clasping over it.

"Please do not scream. The last thing I want is to get them all riled up." He released his hand from my mouth.

"Who-Who are you?"

"Who, who. I thought you were a descendent of a snake instead I find an owl." He lied on his stomach at eye level with me. In retaliation I moved forward ready to let him have it.

"If you came here to insult…" he moved quickly out of the way and then came back right to my face.

"Relax young gorgon. I mean no harm to you. I am but a merry trickster who enjoys the fun humans create so easily for him. I come bearing nothing but curiosity. No malice. No ill will. Just curiosity over someone like you."

"Someone like me. Listen whoever you are where I come from it is normally considered polite to say who you are to someone."

"I shall tell you my name. I am after all an honest Puck."

"Puck? As in Shakespeare?"

"Ah a reader of but one of my tales. How charmed am I to have met one such as yourself." He said bowing I thinking mockingly before flying off.

"Hey!"

"We shall see each other again someday soon. Fair gorgon of the clock tower." My first thought on the encounter was what the heck. Then came the second thought which tried to rationalize it as a hallucination. But that scooted out the door when gargoyle flashed inside my head. Yeah until I know more about anything the gargoyles know I can start eliminating what is and isn't real.

"Ilaria." The trio are back.

"Yeah?"

"It's almost dawn. You might want to head inside and get some rest." I give them a nod and go inside the clock tower to find Hudson, Goliath and Bronx heading out. I curl up on the chair and find myself drifting into sleep. It is noon when I wake up from my sleep and find the rumbling of my stomach. I was hungry alright. I look into the fridge and find that the only thing in the fridge is butter. Oh wait my mistake there was also a box of baking soda. How appetizing. I am supper hungry. So I brave the uncertain and go downstairs to the police station. The place was so busy that no one noticed me moving around the place. No one, but a certain detective Matt.

"Ilaria what are you doing down here? You know you are supposed to be incognito."

"I was hungry. The only two items of food up there was butter and a box of baking soda. How is that supposed to be filling?"

"I see. Look go back up to the clock tower and wait for me. I'll bring you up something to eat. How about a sandwich from the deli?"

"Egg salad with a big pickle?"

"Deal."

"And some chips?"

"Alright. But you have to go upstairs right now." Already going up the stairs. I get up the stairs and wait by reading the books that I got from the library yesterday. I started with of course A Midsummer's Night Dream. I felt that a little research was in order. Granted the story make Puck seem harmless enough as a trickster. It didn't give me a broader picture. But it did make me feel certain that I was going to have to pay attention to what he was saying.

"What cha reading?" I jumped. "Whoops didn't mean to scare you. I have your lunch."

"Thank you." I said starting on the pickle and chips. Bluestone picked up the book on the table and examined it.

"Didn't think kids today read the classics, at least willingly."

"What can I say? I am not always the norm."

"Last night clarified that with the scales."

"Don't forget the moving on its own accord hair I posse."

"Okay that too. Are you starting to feel stir crazy yet?"

"Maybe a little, but I will be okay. It's just a few days right?" I hope that the idea of staying longer hasn't come up.

"That should be the case. I need to get back to work. If you need anything use this number and it will go right to me." He penciled it on a piece of paper and gave it to me. Guess he doesn't want me to make any more surprise visits. I can always prank call him later.

"Just be sure to use it if you really need something. That means no prank calls." Curses foiled again. He leaves the room and I enjoy a delicious egg salad sandwich and wait for the gargoyles to 'wake up'. When they finally did. I was given a surprise. I would get to go on a patrol. That means I get to fly with them. Oh good grief.