Quick Announcement: I have a Deviant art and Ao3. I sometimes post fanart for my fics. My Ao3 has Gargoyles stuff. There's two stories on my Ao3 that are only on Ao3. Gargoyles Tumblr Chats and Talia Xanatos: Extras. My username is for both is still emyy250.

Chapter 36

Twists of Fate

Lexington's POV

I got up off the battlement, closing my laptop. Amp was doing ok. It was late there. We talked about fun stuff. It was nice. I brought my laptop back inside.

I went back to kitchen. Goliath and Elisa were still there. Demona was waiting for Angela. Fox had gotten us to give her a chance. We were letting her visit on the condition that she can't be alone. For some reason, she was keen on finding Talia. Angela came in.

"Come, daughter, we must go train." Demona said forcefully.

"Alright, Mother. I'll see you later." She started following her.

"Demona." Goliath called after her.

She looked back.

"Don't overexert her. She cannot do what you can." He said.

"Fine." She said with false anger.

I went to the fridge and made myself a snack. Goliath would go check on them in a bit.

Lexington's POV End

Alex's POV

"Get some sleep for your playdate with the little witches." Mommy walked behind me.

"Serena Anderson is mortal and Sophia Kyle is a witch." I explained.

Mommy tucked me into bed. "How did you end up in the same class with two sets of doppelgängers?"

"I dunno." I said.

"I love you." Mommy smiled.

"I luv you. G'night." I yawned.

"Good night, Sweetheart." She left and I laid in bed.

I couldn't wait to show them the castle. Maybe Puck and me could make cookies. I wondered if Kai liked cookies. Daddy and me taught Kai a lot today, but he said we weren't halfway done yet. Kai was taking forever to make. Tai needed more servants… I snuggled my pillow and fell asleep.

Alex's POV End

Kai's POV

I dragged Mister Bluestone's present to my den. It was sleep stuff, Elisa said he was having bad sleeps. I set it down and got out the special paper. I knew how to hide the present now. Fox showed Alex because he had went to a birthday party. But the tunnel was at a funny angle so I didn't get a full on view. I tore it off the tube and set the stuff on the boring side.

Then I folded it up and licked it. Stay, stay. It stayed. I got the black paint out of the drawer and squeezed some out on my tray. I picked up the paint brush.

To: Mathew Bluestone

From: Kai

I added my paw print. I washed my paw and sent the present away. I tugged my painting out of hiding. It was of the whole family with me and Mistress in front. I would finish the gargoyles today.

Kai's POV End

Matt's POV

"Bluestone, my office!" The captain yelled.

I followed her and closed the door.

"You sure you're ready to work?" She asked.

"Yes, I'm sure." I handed her the doctor's note. She looked at it.

"Fine, but if anything is slightly off, you're on desk duty." She frowned.

We got to Elisa's car and drove to our area for the night. It was fine, but the streets seemed busier than normal. More crowded. Elisa wasn't in the mood to talk. I saw something on the edge of a building. A person shaped figure.

"Elisa, stop the car!" I shouted.

She braked. "What's wrong?"

It jumped and… flew away? It did some loop-de-loops before flying above buildings.

"It was… An eagle, I think. I saw it on the ledge and reacted." I muttered.

"Ok…" She restarted the car.

What was that? It wasn't a bird or gargoyle. A robot? No, I didn't see any jet trail. I shoved it on the back burner and decided to try and lighten things. She relaxed as patrol went on. We went back to the station a little before 5.

"You gave us quite a shock, Bluestone. A sudden migraine out of nowhere." Morgan stopped us as we walked in.

"I'm fine. The doc cleared me. I stayed home the whole time like the Captain wanted." I said.

"I made sure of it." Elisa added.

"So, how was first night back after two weeks off?" He smiled lightly.

"It was fine. Phone duty treating you well?" I asked.

"As well it can. There's a gift on your desk, dunno who it's from." He jerked his thumb.

Elisa frowned. We went to our desks and sure enough, there was a gift. It was light blue and somewhat large. There were black scribbles on the wrapping paper along with a paw print.

"Should I open it?" I asked.

"It won't go away until you do." She said; the strange shimmer around her glowing a bit more.

"I don't understand…" I frowned.

"Right, you haven't been there since. Someone's been giving the clan, and the Xanatos' gifts. Goliath's copy of Beauty and the Beast kept following him until he opened it." Elisa told me.

I sat. Carefully going at the seams, I saw my fingers covered in a weird electric-ish shine. It felt tacky and dry at the same time. I grimaced. Elisa tensed.

"The paper feels funny." I explained.

I finished opening it and then the box. I frowned as I pulled out a box of chamomile tea, a night light, a bottle of Valerian essential oil and a teddy bear. Things started making more sense when I got to the pajamas and melatonin. And a sleep mask all the way at the bottom.

"How did they know?" I puzzled.

"I don't know, Goliath asked how you were a couple days ago, but this doesn't seem like something any of them would do. This isn't really Puck's style either." She shrugged.

"Who else got gifts?" I asked.

"Hudson got set of celebrity hockey DVDs, Broadway a cookbook, Lex got computer stuff, Brooklyn and Katana got sword polish, Gnash got a couple video games. Bronx got a whole steak, Angela got a trinket box.

Xanatos 'received' an antique painting. Fox got a diamond broch. And Alex got a toy motorcycle. I don't think Owen got anything. I'll ask later. Just pass it over here for a minute." Elisa starting writing everything I got down.

Matt's POV End

Adri's POV

Mom was making grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup for lunch. It had been awhile since our last mother-daughter get together.

"Sweetie, where's Tai? She wasn't at your birthday." Mom asked.

"Mom, that wasn't her fault. I know she would have if she could." I defended her.

"It's just, shouldn't her head injury have healed by now?" She gave me my sandwich.

"She lost her memories before. They don't want her to get worse." I sorta lied.

"I suppose. How is your art?" Mom sat.

"It's fine. I got a gallery coming up." I remembered.

"Where is it?" She sipped her drink.

"MOM." I whined.

"I wanna see my baby's art." She smiled.

"You always say that, but you never like it." I grumbled.

"The bird cage diorama was scary. I like your flower paintings better." She said.

"I thought it was cool. Not cool enough to keep in the house." Dad kissed the top of my head before going to Mom.

"It sold so it doesn't matter now." I ate some soup. "I do have some flower paintings you can look at."

"But we want to see more of your art." Mom explained.

"Ugh, fine." I conceited.

"Where's my lunch?" Dad asked.

"You don't like grilled cheese, dear. I think there's some steak left in the fridge." Mom replied.

Dad reheated the steak and got some salad. Mom and I talked a bit more. Then I went back to my apartment. My Manhattan skyline piece, which I called Manhattan from the Clouds, was still sitting on the easel. I had just got the daytime sky done. I decided to do some shading next and then get to the buildings.

Adri's POV End

Owen's POV

"Owen?" Mister Xanatos pushed the paperwork aside.

"Yes, sir?" I asked.

"In Luna's vision, how many of those women are… in the present?" He asked.

"The thing about visions is that they rely on symbolism and context. The context being when and who had the vision. Luna's visions of fate are relatively straight forward, compared to others. Those women aren't just women, they represent, groups of her lovers. The ones closer to her are more likely to be born sooner. The featureless ones are too far to be predicted." I explained.

"Lovers as in people she fucks or…" He trailed off.

"Or what, sir?" I needled.

"Or her soulmates?" He asked casually, but I knew he was cared.

"Both. We, as in Children, have more soulmates because we live longer. But they're still rare. Adriana is her Mortal Soulmate. Before Talia was a Halfling, Adriana was her only soulmate. But now that her magic is waking up, she'll have more." I told him.

"Owen, how many grandchildren will I meet?" He frowned.

"Less than one percent, sir… But by Avalon, will she try." I failed to hide the devilish glee in our voice.

His jaw slowly began working again. "If she has-"

"When." Puck interrupted.

"When she has kids with other Children, what will they be? They can't be Halflings, can they?" He thought.

"No, they wouldn't be Halflings, sir. Just as your son is 3/4th mortal, they would be 3/4th Fae. We call them Sprites. They are more vulnerable to iron and other such things. They have more magic as well." Puck growled as he realized what I was saying.

I wrestled with Puck's overwhelming urge to tear the city apart and hide our daughter away. Our magic burned beneath my skin. Puck screeched to let out. Our claws grew and scratched my palms. Sweat dripped down my face. My vision began to blur. I barely won.

"Owen?" He breathed.

"You have to understand that I rarely have my own children. When a Fae has a child, we tricksters… take a swing at them." I slumped into the chair next to me.

"Is that bad?" He pressed.

"It is extremely… upsetting. Because Talia is royalty, mine, and also extremely fertile, they're going to try more than usual." I looked at his desk, his mug, and he nudged it toward me. I drank thristly.

His phone rang and he picked up. The other person spoke briefly. He hung up. "That was the front desk. Said Uncle Peter had business with Talia."

"Puck needs a minute." I informed him.

"I figured as much. We'll be in one of the lower conference rooms." He left.

I sat until Puck wore himself out. It wasn't easy. I called the front and asked where Mister Xanatos and Uncle Peter went to. They were in conference room 4C. I suppose bringing him to the castle would send an odd message. I went the fourth floor and found them. They went sitting across from each other, close to the door. I noticed a plate of cookies and small maple tree on the table.

There were chocolate chip and… Hazelnut. I recognized the scent now. They were made of ground nuts, the size of thumbprint cookies and topped with a melted Kiss. Puck wanted to try one, he hadn't (either had I) had this sort before. I sat at the end.

"Ah, Owen. I was about to call you. Peter has some things for Talia." He slid over a folder.

I opened it and realized it was a will. 'In the event of passing, Lilliann Witeman leaves her propriety, business, and assets to Peter Xuan Lee. However, should Talia Samantha Jones be found, it shall be transferred to her to do with as she pleases.'

"Who is Lilliann Witeman?" I asked. Puck was drawing a blank right now. His tantrum no doubt contributing to our lack of recollection.

"She was our old boss, me and her father's. Originally, it was going to her parents, but then the fire…" He trailed off.

I furrowed my brow slightly. I looked at Mister Xanatos. He chewed one of the hazelnut cookies slowly. This was for me to decide.

"Peter, have you heard about the Manhattan gargoyles?" I asked.

Owen's POV End

Shari's POV

"Ok, Talia, one more lap." I poked her side.

She vacantly glanced at me. Her features shifted a bit before settling down. We ran around the gym. I grimaced as another wave of pain rolled through my body. This sucked in particular because she was so strong. I hated magic puberty so much.

Flashback

"WHY IS TALIA GETTING WORSE?" Thailog bellowed.

"I believe the changes in her DNA have retriggered the pituitary gland. I've been seeing more luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in her blood." Sevarius said, pondering.

"SHE'S GOING THROUGH PUBTERY? SHE'S 23 YEARS OLD!" He fumed.

"So, how do we make her not get worse?" I asked.

"Food, exercise, the usual." Sevarius rattled off.

Thailog growled. "Come with me, Shari."

I got off the stool and followed him to his office. The door slammed shut. His talons gouged the floor.

"What is happening with her?!" He yelled.

"It's like the man said, puberty. But with all her magic fighting for dominance." I shrugged.

"With all her magic?" He repeated.

"You know, Puck's and the other two." I said. He stared at me. "Did you really think I wouldn't find out about her parentage?"

"That doesn't answer my question." He snarled.

"Sure it does. She's got 3 very different magicks and they want to express themselves." I waved my hand.

"Why does magic have be so finicky?" He asked and I shrugged.

Flashback End

I placed Talia's hands in the cuffs. She was washed and fed her second meal. Thailog compromised and let Talia have slightly more food. She was asleep already. Playing prison guard wasn't my favorite thing to do, but Thailog had no idea how weak Talia was. The five months she was here, underfed and chained up, had taken a toll. I needed to speed things up. She was of no use to anyone like this.

I stuffed her gym clothes in a trash bag with the others. Then tossed it in the janitor's cart. Thailog wanted me to burn them since they smelt. But mistakes happen.

Shari's POV End

Brooklyn's POV

"Hey, Brooklyn?" Broadway asked.

"Yeah?" I said.

"I heard Matt got a gift, pajamas and stuff. Who do you think leaving all those gifts for the clan?" He frowned.

"I don't know, man. But Puck and Demona said they were safe so it's probably not revenge." I told him, uncertain.

Fu-Dog sniffed the air, wiggling in my arms. He's been getting more and more restless. Bronx too. We had no idea why. Nothing we did seemed to work. Fu-Dog jumped out of my arms suddenly.

"Fu-Dog, no!" I shouted.

I tucked my wings and swooped after him. The wind bit at my face. Fu-Dog let out a choked whine as I grabbed him. I ran parallel to ground for a bit before the weight was too much. We tumbled to a stop.

"Brooklyn, are you ok?" Broadway landed, helping me up.

"I'm fine. Ow, it smarts though." I rubbed my arm.

Fu-Dog licked his wounds then something caught his attention. He barked at me and ran off. We went after him. He was rooting around in a dumpster.

"Hey, get out of there!" I tugged him out. He dragged a garbage bag out. It was full, but not heavy.

"I think he wanted that bag." Broadway said.

The plastic tore and a pungent scent came from the clothes inside. It was sweaty, yes, but also sorta sweet. Fu-Dog rolled in them. I grabbed a sock and sniffed it.

"This isn't good." I held out the sock.

"What do you mean?" He asked, sniffing it.

"Talia's powers are waking up." I told him. "And she's becoming more fertile."

Brooklyn's POV End