Hey a little romance here. And I warn you I am very awkward at writing that. Hope it turns out OK.

Chapter 3

Aspen yawned as she woke up from her nap. She had called in then went to the hospital. She had come up with a lie how she had slipped in the bathroom. The doctor didn't believe her, but there wasn't anything he could do. So her sent her home with painkillers and ten stitches. She had came home at five and laid down. It was now dark. She stretched and rubbed her sapphire colored eyes and climbed out of bed. Walking over to the closet she pulled out a black and blue sweater and a pair of black jeans. Brushing her thick black and blue hair to a shine she decided to leave her hair down. Walking into the living room she lit the fireplace. She was warming up her hands when there was a tap on the French doors. She jumped and turned. Brooklyn slid the door open.

"Aspen?" he called out hesitantly.

"Right here Brooklyn. Come on in. I know that it's cold out there. I have a fire going." Aspen waved him in and over. She sat down on the white fur rug in front of the fire. Brooklyn walked over and sat down as well. The fire felt warm and the comfort of the dark surroundings relaxed him.

"So Brooklyn. How long have you gargoyles been in New York?" Aspen asked.

"About two years now. We was brought over here by Xanatos…"

"Wait a minute. David Xanatos? The rich guy?" Aspen interrupted.

"Yes. Why?"

"Nothing." Aspen said.

"I guess he's alright now. Anyway, he brought us over from Scotland. We had been frozen in stone for a thousand years. He broke the spell and we have been here ever since." Brooklyn said watching her face.

Aspen looked thoughtful. " Well…you must have had a good nap then Rip Van Winkle."

"Rip Van Winkle? Who's that?" Brooklyn asked confused.

"He's a guy that had slept for a very long time." Aspen was grinning at him.

"Rip Van Winkle…" Brooklyn chuckled.

Aspen laughed lightly as well. She turned her face back to the fire. She was aware of Brooklyn staring at her. "You are really lucky Brooklyn. You know your family. Mine was taken way from me when I was fourteen. A fire. It was my fault. I was having a nightmare and didn't know about my fire and everything caught on fire. The fire doesn't harm me but it brunt my family. No one knew what had caused it or why only I survived. I was pasted from foster home to foster home. I finally learned to control it and by the time I was eighteen, I had had ten different foster homes. I was able to get my inheritance and I bought this apartment and found a job. So almost all my life I had been alone." Aspen looked back at Brooklyn. He had been watching her the whole time. She wiped a tear away, then smiled. "I survived. And am still doing it. It gets hard some times, but now that I have met you gargoyles, and especially you, life is indeed good again."

"Me? Why?" Brooklyn felt pity for this girl. She had had a rough life, but held it against no one. He also felt something else.

"I like you Brooklyn. You are funny, sweet and very cute…for a gargoyle." She smiled playfully.

She was flirting just like he did with any female that didn't run screaming. "Well…you are pretty cute too…for a human." He smirked.

Aspen laughed. She placed a hand on his knee. And looked back into the fire.

They were like that for hours. Somehow they had scooted closer and four o'clock found Aspen asleep against Brooklyn's side and his right arm holding her close. He looked up at the clock and saw that it was two hours to sunrise. He hated to leave, but he had to get back to the castle. So gently picking her up, he carried her to one of the doors hoping it was her bedroom. It was. The rich dark colors made the room have a sleepy look. He laid Aspen on the bed and covered her up. Brushing her hair out of her face he then knew what the other feeling was. He had a crush! Everything told him to stop it, but Brooklyn decided to go with it. He'll just watch it until he knew her true feelings. He regrettably walked out of her bedroom. Opening the French doors, he stepped outside and hopped up on the railings and took off toward the castle. He couldn't wait until the next night.