Shortly after Elisa had fallen asleep, he had gone in search of Brooklyn and explained the situation.
"We knew this was a possibility," Brooklyn reminded Goliath. "The moment the decision was made to meet here in Manhattan with everyone wanting you to lead this whole thing, we knew that your relationship would come out eventually."
"Yes," Goliath said, resigned. "I did not want to hide it from the beginning, but Elisa insisted."
"We know," Brooklyn said softly. "But what other choice was there? The other clans are so out of touch with the humans that they wouldn't understand. Elisa had a good point in that easing them into the idea might have been the best idea, but no one saw something like this happening with the bombings, and Elisa put into danger like that." Brooklyn put a supportive hand on Goliath's shoulder. "No one blames you, Goliath. Least of all me. If it had been Skyler…" Brooklyn shook his head. "I would have dived in head first and damned the consequences."
Goliath clenched his fists at his side for a moment, before feeling his anger release. It would do no good to be angry now.
"One thing's for sure," Brooklyn said softly, "And that's that after all her efforts, Elisa's going to be upset at herself tomorrow." He shook his head. "We all know how certain kinds of pills make her loopy, because she so very rarely takes anything stronger than aspirin, and she probably wasn't thinking when she took them."
"She wanted to come home," Goliath said with a small smile. "That is what she told me."
"You know, that's one of the coolest things about Elisa," Brooklyn said with a grin. "Her concept of 'home' isn't a place. It's wherever you are."
"It's not just myself," He reminded Brooklyn. "It's all of us. We are all home to her. Come," Goliath said. "The sun is about to rise. We will work on this problem tomorrow."
-{- -{- -{- -{- -{- -{-
Goliath met Elisa on the top of his tower upon waking the following morning.
"Good evening, Elisa," He said, sweeping her into his embrace. He had missed this, and was glad that the charade was over.
"Big Guy, I don't know what to say," Elisa said, her voice muffled as she buried her face into his chest. "I am so sorry."
"There is no need to apologize," He hurried to assure her. "We all knew that we would not keep this secret forever."
"Not forever," Elisa said, "But waiting until after the negotiations would have been nice."
"How are you feeling?" He asked with a frown. "Are you not supposed to be at work tonight?"
"It seems that in the event of being that close to a bomb, with my finger literally on the button for a few hours buys me a few nights off for a psych evaluation." Elisa shrugged. At Goliath's puzzled expression, Elisa sighed and took a step back. "I have to go talk to a doctor so that he can make sure that I'm mentally fit to return to work with no side effects from last night."
Goliath's frown deepened.
"Hey," Elisa said, giving him a shoulder bump. "I'm fine, Big Guy. Besides," She grimaced, "I don't have a lot of clear memory from after I got here, but after talking to my dad, I can only assume that I made a complete fool of myself."
Goliath chuckled. "It was an interesting night."
Elisa covered her mouth with her hand, a deep blush beginning to work its way across her olive skin.
Goliath laughed, a deep rolling laugh that echoed through the stone walls of the castle. "It is never a dull moment with you around, my love." With that, he swung her up into his arms and glided them both down into the courtyard.
Upon landing, Goliath noticed the division between the clans right away. His clan were gathered together, looking wearily at the leaders of the foreign clans who were talking animatedly in a far corner.
Goliath set Elisa onto her feet as they both joined with their clan.
"What's going on?" Elisa asked Brooklyn.
"From what I was able to understand," Brooklyn said heavily, "They haven't completely written off the idea of the council, but," He looked uneasily at Goliath, "They would like to ask some questions."
Goliath frowned. "What kind of questions?"
Brooklyn raised one shoulder in a shrug. "Who knows?"
"Father," Angela asked tentatively, "Do you think this has anything to do with Chun-Hei?"
Elisa let out a small groan, bowing her head.
Goliath placed a supportive hand on her shoulder. "It may be."
Brooklyn rolled his eyes. "May be? Goliath, she has been the main cause of problems here this week."
"We only have tonight before they return home," Angela said.
"What can we do to help?" Broadway asked.
Goliath heaved a sigh. He was so tired of the clan politics. Right this moment, despite the advantages that the council would bring, he did not care if it happened or not.
He wanted his life back. He wanted his family back.
If the council was going to happen, the decision was to be made this night.
Goliath turned to approach the ambassadors.
"Good evening," Goliath greeted them with a bow. "I have been told that you have questions."
"Yes," Chun-Hei said.
"Aye," Argus said. "T'was one thing when we thought you were friends with tha Lass."
"But to mate with one?" Xiulan asked, but it was in a more thoughtful way than angry. "Surely you can understand our concerns."
"I do," Goliath acknowledged. "Come. We will answer your questions, and hopefully put your concerns to rest."
Turning, he led the group into the Great Hall, his own clan following quietly behind.
