Elisa and Jason spent most of the next day lying around.
"I still can't believe how much she has changed." Elisa said as she laid her head on his shoulder.
"Do you think she's not being straight with us?" Jason asked curiously as he stroked her hair.
"I don't know, I want to believe her but…"
"…You just have to much bad history." Jason finished for her.
"Exactly" She propped up on her elbows as she looked into his eyes. "I want to be happy for Goliath, but a part of me is nagging at me that she may be scamming him again."
"Love, are you certain that's not your jealousy coming out." Elisa just grinned at that.
"No, I am in love with you and I'm happy that things are going well. I guess it's just all the years of bad blood between us." Elisa said as she settled back down and laid her head on his shoulder again.
As she nearly drifted off he whispered to her "Goliath and I were talking and we think that Hudson would be a good officiant for our wedding."
"I don't think he has ever performed a human wedding before." Elisa said suddenly.
"He hasn't but Goliath assured me that they are working to figure it out." Jason smiled down at her.
"It would be nice for our friends to be there as we planned, but I think I have another option. Matt is registered to perform marriages in this state and I was thinking that he could do it." Elisa said and then added "If that would bother you then we could go with Hudson."
"It's fine with me. I'll talk to Goliath about it, but I don't see there being a problem."
"Thank you" She kissed him and they both went to sleep.
The next night Jason went to the castle alone. Has Elisa predicted as soon as Rody found out about their engagement he put Maza on a desk assignment and assigned Jason with Peter until another partner could be found for Elisa.
As Jason reached the top he found that the gargoyles had already awakened. Goliath and Adela were on their way out.
"Jason, how are you this evening. How goes the wedding planning?" Adela asked as she welcomed him.
Jason looked at Goliath in surprise who just nodded. "It's going well thank you."
"Oh good, I will go out tonight I think and let you boys plan." She chuckled and kissed Goliath goodbye as she went to leave. "Oh, before I forget you need to make some time for us tomorrow night my love."
Goliath looked at her confused for a moment. "What's happening tomorrow night?"
"Just trust me. You'll want to make time for us tomorrow." Adela said as she glided away from the castle with Silvara. Silvara had just started courting Lexington and wanted to spend time with the other female gargoyles alone. Since Katana was busy helping Brooklyn on patrol Adela offered to take her out and see the sights.
"Goliath, Elisa would like for Matt Bluestone to officiate the wedding." Jason said as he took a seat across the gargoyle.
"Why? Did you not want Hudson to do it?" Goliath asked in shock.
"No, it's not that. We feel it's best if he came as a guest and got to see a human wedding up front before trying to officiate one." Jason pointed out then that he had never performed or even seen one before.
"That is true. Alright we can do it that way if you wish. When should we appear for the wedding?" Goliath asked.
"Sundown tomorrow night" Jason said.
"That's soon. Okay we will be there." Goliath said as he began to stand up.
"You guys will need to dress up. Don't worry I gave a tailor the appropriate specifications. Your tuxes and the ladies dresses will be ready on time. Just show up to this address tomorrow at sundown." He shook hands with Goliath and then left.
"Are you sure you're ready to watch her be married off Lad." Hudson said as he entered the room.
"How long have you been there?" Goliath asked wearily.
"Long enough to see the look of anguish on your face, Lad you need to decide what you want to do?" Hudson said as he sat in one of the libraries chairs.
"What I want to do regarding?" Goliath asked
"Don't look at me like that. You know damn well what this is regarding." Hudson said. "You can't have both. So, either decide now or tell Adela you love someone else."
"That's not what the look was about old friend." Goliath informed him as he sighed. "You've always been over protective and if you must know I have developed that habit myself."
Hudson eyed him skeptically. "Are you certain that's all there is to it, Lad?"
"Yes, old friend. Elisa is an honorary member of the clan and has such I am protective of her." Goliath sighed.
"She doesn't need our protection Lad. That's what you don't understand. She is every bit able to care for herself." Hudson stated.
"I know" Goliath replied.
"You love her still don't you?" Hudson smirked at him as they both went to leave the room.
"Yes, but as a friend and clans mate nothing more." Goliath stated firmly.
"Are you certain?" Hudson studied his expression for a moment.
"Yes, I am certain. Dem… I mean Adela is the only one I want and will ever want." Goliath said as he walked away.
"Who is he trying to kid?" Hudson mumbled as he followed along behind him. I may be old Lad, but I'm not blind. I know you love Adela more, but has your first human friend I think that girl will always hold a piece of your heart.
Hudson kept those thoughts to himself. He was proud of his protégé. After all he had gotten his granddaughter to rejoin the clan and he even bonded with her once more. I hope I'm reading too much into this Elisa thing. He thought to himself as they got back up to the terrace.
It would be daylight soon and the girls just landed and were headed to their parapets. The order had changed slightly and all of the mates were set next to each other. On the way to hers Adela rushed up and kissed Goliath passionately.
"Just that short time away made me miss you. I feel so young again." She purred as she mounted her parapet next to him.
The next day while the gargoyles slept was full of rushing around and planning for the soon to be bride and groom.
"Jason, I need you to go to pick up the cake we ordered last night, and also I'm meeting with my sister today to go over certain details regarding the theme we chose." Elisa said as she was working down a checklist.
"Relax Liz, everything will be fine." Jason began to laugh but quickly bit it off as she glared at him.
"I will relax when I get some competent help." She said venomously. Then she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, there is just so much to do and I'm already nervous as it is."
"I understand baby. We will get all this done." Jason said as he took the list. "I will hit the dry cleaners then my tailor, and I will get your dress from that special wedding store you found. It should be done by three."
"Thank you." Elisa smiled and she quickly kissed him. "Shit, I'm running late for my hair appointment. Get out, you'll have to take a taxi for the other errands." She said as he stepped out of the car. "I love you, and don't forget the cake." She said as she sped off.
"Yes, ma'am" He said under his breath as he called for a taxi.
A few hours later he had picked up the cake, all the tuxes and dresses, the floral arrangements for the tables and was putting things away at home until they would need them for the wedding when Elisa walked into the door carrying several large bags with her sister Diane Maza.
"Jason, did you get everything?" Elisa asked sounding panicked as she looked through the things he brought home. "Is this supposed to be a joke?" She screamed at him.
"What do you mean?" Jason asked as he came up to her.
"These silk napkins for the tables, I asked you to get white." She stated irritably as she threw them at him.
"These are white." He said studying them.
"No, these are off white. I want white. Go fix it." Elisa said angrily. Diane started to laugh but Elisa shot her a dirty look.
"It's okay; I'll go with him to fix it." Diane said grinning. "Guys are color blind, you should know that." Diane laughed again at the dirty look Elisa gave her, and the stunned look on Jason's face.
As they left Elisa began to get things ready muttering about her useless fiancée.
In the hall as they waited Diane leaned over to Jason. "Don't worry it's just a small case of bridezilla. I smashed the wedding cake at my rehearsal dinner because it was the wrong color." They both chuckled at that. "Count yourself lucky she didn't complain about the bouquets."
As they got to the store Diane quickly surveyed the items. She held up two sets of silk napkins.
"Now, you see this white is so much brighter than this one. That's what she wants when a bride says white think of fresh snow, and you can't go wrong." She grinned at him as she grabbed all that they had in stock.
"Do we need that much?" Jason asked as he began counting out his cash.
"Best to be over prepared than under" Diane said as she brought them up to the counter. They paid for them and left.
When they got into the car Diane began to look at Jason seriously for a moment.
"What is it?" Jason asked feeling uncomfortable.
"Do you ever think about us and what we could have had if we had stayed together?" She asked suddenly.
"Di, don't bring that up again please. It's over and being friends is the best thing for us, especially since I am marrying your sister."
When they got back to the apartment Elisa was waiting for them.
"I'm sorry I was such a bitch to you. I really do appreciate your help." Elisa said as they walked through the door.
"Are these white enough Liz?" Diane asked as she pulled them out of the bags.
"Yes, those are perfect. There are only a couple of hours before sunset. Jason, I need you to bring the outfits to the gargoyles, Derek's group, and Macbeth." She said as she threw him her car keys. "Sis, we need to get dressed and we still need to get our nails and makeup done. Oh, Jason before you leave I have a request of Hudson."
Jason listened and smiled about the request and quickly left with everyone's outfits.
As Elisa and Diane hailed a taxi to get to the manicurist's shop Jason quickly dropped off Derek's clan's outfits and drove to Macbeth's new house. It was a very large red brick Victorian style house with ten windows equally spaced on the front with a large blue roof with an attic window in the middle and two chimneys on either side. The white door that contained one of the windows in the center was surrounded by two large columns that held up a white stone archway, and there were several trees and even a coy pond in the middle of the very large courtyard. There was also a garage built into the side of the house.
The gate leading into the driveway was already opened. Maybe their expecting me He thought as he drove up to the garage. He got out and began to unload the outfits when he heard a sound like breaking glass. Drawing his gun he ran up to the front door and found it unlocked.
Jason carefully opened the door so as not to make any noise. He went in surveying the rooms as he passed then he heard a man yell out in pain from upstairs so Jason ran quickly up the stairs and just missed a masked man tumbling down the stairs with a letter opener jammed in his throat.
There were still sounds of a struggle coming from the bedroom so he ran in and saw Gruoch being held by one thug while the other holding one arm close to his side obviously broken held a gun to her.
"You couldn't just behave yourself could you lady. Now, you're gonna pay for killing my boy. Take that damn dress off her Mike." Before anyone could move Jason slammed the butt of his pistol into the side of the man's head knocking him out cold then held the gun on the man using Gruoch as a shield.
"You won't shoot. You'll hit the bitch." He sneered at Jason as he held a knife at her throat. "Now, put the gun down tough guy, and let me out of here and I'll let her live."
"The bitch as you call me has a name. I am Lady Macbeth." She said as she slammed her foot down on his and elbowed him in the gut giving Jason a second to act and he shot quickly downing Mike with one shot to the forehead.
"Nice shot, although I don't think I will ever get used to the sound of those things." Gruoch said as she began to help Jason take the bodies out back.
"You know with a house like this you should really invest in a security system." Jason grinned as he cuffed the leader and then helped her move the dead bodies to the back yard.
"A what?" Gruoch asked as they began to light a pyre.
"A system to tell the police if someone like them breaks into your home" Jason said as he threw the first body on it after he retrieved the letter opener and lit the pyre.
"We have weapons to protect ourselves." Gruoch pointed out.
"Yes, but in your time you also had guards I believe. In this time think of this system as castle guards to warn you and your allies that someone or something has trespassed into your home." Jason said as he threw the second body on top of the first.
"That's a very good observation. I will bring that up to my lord when he returns. So, what do we do with him?" She asked as she looked down at the handcuffed leader.
"Whatever you want, I'm not on duty so it matters little to me." Jason grinned "I'm just glad I got here in time."
"Why did you come here?" Gruoch asked after thinking about that for a moment.
"I came to deliver your outfits for the wedding tonight. Oh, shit. I'm running late, I'm going to have to run." He headed for the door. "I left your outfits hanging on the front door. Will you be okay with him?" He asked as he started to rush then he heard a few gunshots. Turning quickly he ran back and saw Gruoch holding one of the thugs guns and she was emptying the clip into the leaders head.
"Yes, Jason. I believe I will be just fine. I think I am beginning to like this century." She grinned wickedly at him in a way that made him shiver. Not having time to dwell on that however he ran back to the car. He could have sworn he heard her say if they had done their jobs right they would have lived, but decided he imagined it as he got in the car and drove off.
Jason had to speed all the way to the castle with his lights and sirens on to make it in time and he just barely made it has he grabbed all the remaining outfits and ran up to the elevator. He kept pushing the button waiting for it to come down.
"Come on, come on." He said as he pushed it again and again. Finally, the door opened and he ducked inside and hit the button for the top floor.
He paced back and forth in the elevator and he ran into the castle and then hung all the outfits on the wall next to the parapet of the corresponding gargoyle. He got to Goliath and Adela's just as they awakened.
"Jason, it's good to see you, but shouldn't you be at the chapel now?" Adela said as she hugged him. "You're covered in blood. What happened?" she asked concerned.
"Gruoch was attacked in her home. Don't worry." He said upon seeing their shocked looks. "I got there just in time and she's fine, but now we just need to get to the wedding before Elisa thinks I'm not coming." He let out a nervous laugh at that.
He looked at his watch. "I'm late. I have your outfits here and I left all the other gargoyles with theirs. He saw Hudson walk up to them. "Oh, Hudson, Elisa has a request for you. I was going to leave a note but since you're awake I can just ask you now. Elisa would very much like you to walk her down the aisle during the ceremony."
"What does that mean?" Hudson asked looking to Goliath and Adela who only shrugged.
"When the wedding music starts you walk with her down the aisle all the way to the altar and give her away. It's very symbolic for us and technically it's supposed to be the bride's father but since he isn't here she would very much appreciate it if you accepted that honor." Jason said as he studied the reaction of the old gargoyle.
"Of course I will Lad, now go get married we'll get everyone to the chapel on time." He said smiling at Jason as he gently pushed him to encourage him to hurry. As Jason began running back towards the elevator Goliath, Adela, and Hudson were quickly gathering the other gargoyles and dressing for the wedding.
Jason quickly drove back to the chapel and ran out and hurried around to the side entrance and rushed to his dressing room. He quickly began to get dressed when there was a knock at his door.
When he went to answer the door he was wearing his shirt and boxers. He stood there shocked for a moment as he opened it and saw Diane standing there wearing only a purple teddy with matching panties and black thigh high stockings.
"You never had a bachelor party so I thought that I could be your last wild fling before you got married." She said as she stepped in and shut the door.
Meanwhile Elisa was quickly getting ready and checking out her reflection for the fiftieth time that night to make sure everything was perfect.
The guests began to arrive and the gargoyles took their assigned places and seats. Hudson waited at the door leading into the main room for Elisa. The tuxes felt weird to the gargoyles but they were willing to deal with them for Elisa.
Jason heard the crowd outside and quickly snuck Diane back to her room after he got dressed. Hudson saw as he got her to her room but shrugged it off as he was helping her walk.
Before Adela and Goliath took their spots she leaned into Goliath and whispered. "Don't forget we need to make time tonight." Goliath just nodded and grinned as they took their places. Even if he wanted to say no he wouldn't now, the dress Adela was wearing gave her a very seductive look and the way she purred the words made his knees weak and he was glad there was a pillar that he could use to hold himself upright.
Jason came through the side door of the chapel suddenly and took his place next to Goliath and handed Goliath the rings.
"The best man holds onto the rings for the ceremony." Jason whispered to him.
"I know I attended Xanatos's wedding." Goliath replied as he took the rings and pocketed them.
Then the music began and Jason stood there nervously as the doors at the end of the aisle opened up and Elisa and Hudson walked through arm in arm.
As all of the guests stared Elisa blushed from all of the attention and walked steadily up the aisle. She was thankful Hudson was there for support, because she didn't know if she would be able to walk up there without him.
As he watched her walk down the aisle Jason felt as if he was the luckiest man in the world. Goliath leaned forward at that moment.
"You had better be good to her." He whispered
"I will." He assured the gargoyle.
Matt watched as she walked down the aisle. The feelings of jealousy sprang up again for a moment as he thought she should be with him. He took a deep breath and let the feelings go as Elisa arrived at the altar and Hudson let go of her arm and she joined Jason.
Matt called for everyone to sit as the couple turned to face each other and the groomsmen and bridesmaids followed suit. Now, we're all here to witness the joining of two souls in holy matrimony. They both have chosen to write their own vows so I will leave it to them now, Jason."
"Elisa as most of the people and gargoyles in this room could tell you I haven't always been a good person, but since I met you I've been able to see a life not consumed by revenge for something that I honestly never understood. Having you in my life is the greatest blessing that could ever have been bestowed upon me and I promise that for the rest of our lives I will be forever grateful that you chose me."
With that he took the rings from Goliath the engagement and the wedding ring and put them on her finger as she shook with nervousness.
"Elisa, it's your turn." Matt stated quietly.
"Jason, I have been searching for someone to share my life with since I was a little girl. I thought it would always be my cat Cagney and me, but then I was partnered with you one day and that as it turns out was one of the best days in my life, because you made me realize how wonderful you are. I can't imagine ever wanting to be with anyone else. I know that if you let me I will make you very happy that you chose to marry me."
Elisa nervously took the ring from Adela and nearly dropped it but caught it in her shaking hands as she placed it on Jason's finger.
"And now with the power vested in me through Father Michael via a web based course I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride. You know if you want to." Everyone in the room chuckled at that.
Jason kissed his new bride and the room erupted in applause. Lexington and Broadway were looking around at the scene.
"Why are all the females crying?" Lex asked suddenly
Angela rolled her eyes in disgust, and pretended not to hear him. It was evident Broadway didn't understand either but he didn't ask after seeing the look on Angela's face when Lex had asked it.