**Rated M! 18+ please! Had to give my lovers some love and romance before things really unravel, but they are married now... so... use your imagination. Also, a bit of language in this one. Brief, but strong. Chapters will be getting darker as we get closer to the end. Please R/R. Thanks and enjoy!

P.S- I never really thought that my story would be a 'Romeo and Juliet' base, as most of Gargoyles is either shaped from Shakespeare or myth, but I'm pleased with it. So, it was unintentional but works out, I think. Especially to where I want this story to go. Anywho, enjoy. :D**

~Chapter Twenty-Two~

Star Crossed

Gliding with Brooklyn was still one of the most exhilarating things for Rose, and even though he had to carry her in his arms the whole time, she could feel that he loved it too. Now that they had been together for many months she was comfortable being miles high above the City, even with her old fear of heights. She remembered when they first met and he took her gliding, she clung onto him for dear life, closed her eyes and refused to look down; but now, he could throw her in the air, do crazy maneuvers even, and she wasn't bothered by it at all.

Plus, she had fallen too many times to be afraid of falling now, especially when she knew that he would always be there to catch her.

Rose rested her arms around Brooklyn's neck, looked around at the amazing sights of the City below and marveled. All around them was tall skyscrapers, a buzz of summer fun, and even the warm summer breeze blowing through her long hair seemed to have an air of fun in it. Broadway, Angela, Lexington and Akira were flying close by, all smiling and chatting excitedly about how awesome the firework show was going to be.

As she recalled the last time that they all watched a firework show together was during the ice-cold month of January on New Year's Eve. A few nights before Kevin came to infiltrate the castle with the Quarrymen, before hers and Brooklyn's temporary death, and his death. Now, seven months later, she was being held tightly in her beautiful Gargoyle mate's arms, and all was well again; or how it appeared anyway.

With the warm wind blowing all around her face and hair, she glanced up into Brooklyn's face and studied every inch of him; as if she hadn't ever done so before.

Feeling her gaze upon him, Brooklyn looked down from watching where he was gliding and into her hazel eyes. Silently they stared at each other, a smile creeping on both of their faces and it was obvious that they were both thinking about the same thing. Brooklyn grinned happily at her and chuckled a soft laugh.

"What are you thinking about, my love?"

"You, of course." Rose answered gently, paused and then added, "I was actually thinking about the last time that we went to a firework show together on New Year's Eve. Do you remember that?"

He chuckled again, looked up to watch where they were flying since they were still above the City, and all around skyscrapers.

"How could I ever forget?" He said lightly. "Every single moment with you has been memorable, but that night was especially wonderful. It was during a hard time since you were living in the Labyrinth and we were forced to live apart. But our reunion from being apart, made that night all the more special, and if I recall, it was also one of the last romantic dates before… everything… went downhill with Kevin." He paused and took a deep breath. "But it was beautiful before all of that crap happened. So yes, I do remember. I also remember… how much I wanted to make love to you that night and not give you back to the Labyrinth Clan."

Rose smiled at that memory and added to his thoughts.

"Yeah, I remember that too. When we kissed each other at midnight… it was truly one of our most magical kisses we've ever had. I don't know what was so different about it, but it was amazing."

"It was and I fully agree with you. But that was only because we weren't allowing ourselves to mate with each other until we were married. That kiss was the only way we allowed ourselves to communicate those intimate feelings without actually having sex; by kissing so deeply and passionately, that we felt like we were one… while we undressed each other with our minds." He paused and they both laughed, before he continued, "but now that we are mated… it's almost kind of silly to look back at our past selves. Am I alone in feeling that way? I kind of feel like we've graduated to a completely different level of our love."

"No, you're not alone in thinking that way because we have and it's completely natural to feel that way." Rose agreed with a wide smile, holding herself closer to him. "I mean, before we chose to save ourselves for marriage, but now tonight, when we are alone again nothing has to stop us from seizing the rest of the night to become one with each other."

"Shhh…" Brooklyn said, glancing down at her once again with a bright and teasing smile. "Don't spoil the surprise, Rose. That's for me to know and you to find out. "

"Oh, right, my bad." Rose snorted, holding herself closer to him. "I would hate to guess your great surprise before you show me what it is." She then coughed the word, "Sex."

Brooklyn grinned a sharp smile at her, showing more of his pointed teeth and laughed, a fake evil laugh, which was adorable to her more than anything.

"Smooth." He laughed. "But yes, that'll be there too. Just you wait, Rose. I can't wait to see your face when I show you what I've planned for you."

"You actually had time to plan something for me?" She asked, impressed.

"Yes, of course. I always knew and planned that tonight was perfect for a little… romance. You just beat me to it when I first woke up. Which was… so awesome of you to do. Our minds truly are one and think alike."

"We are mates." Rose laughed. "Equals in every way."

Brooklyn smiled down at her again, grinned happily and then lifted her body up in his arms so he could gently kiss her on the forehead.

"Yes, we are."

They continued to glide along, but when the breeze changed to have slightly more humidity and coolness coming up from the ground, she knew that they were over the bay heading towards Ellis Island, where the infamous and iconic American statue stood.

There, shining brightly in the night sky against the dark bay and stunning skyline of Manhattan, majestically stood the Statue of Liberty.

Rose had only been there once with Emily, as a normal human tourist when she first moved to the City two years ago, but it was different being with the Gargoyles. Since they had wings, they could easily glide to places that she didn't think she could ever go.

The other's landed carefully down upon Lady Liberty's green crowned head, and Brooklyn followed suit. When his feet touched down, he carefully set her on her feet but she didn't stray too far from him. The views were incredible, but so was the sudden fear that she suddenly had course through her. The statue wasn't as tall as some buildings she had been on top of, or even as high up in the air, but somehow seeing the curvature of her large head and then the edge, so close to her, was enough to make her feel faint. Not feel- but actually started to black out.

Gasping out, Rose backed further away from the edge, towards the crowned head, her hands out behind her to grab onto something steady. Anything. She wasn't sure if the statue was blowing and swaying in the bay breeze, but she suddenly felt like she was on a boat- a very tall boat. Staggering backwards and feeling faint, Brooklyn's arms were suddenly around her waist, giving her the stability she had been searching for.

"Whoa hey… are you okay?" He whispered, as she took a few staggering breaths, closed her eyes and instantly grasped onto his arms, locking her body to his.

"Sorry." She gasped. "Yes, I'm alright. Just… felt dizzy all of a sudden, and it doesn't help that I'm still slightly afraid of heights. Old habits die hard, I guess."

"Are you going to be okay sitting up here?" He asked gently. "We can move to a different spot if you're uncomfortable…"

"No, no. It's okay babe." Rose chuckled, tapping her hand against his large bicep. "That's kind of you to offer, but I'm good now. The statue isn't swaying like it was a second ago. It must have been my mind playing tricks on me."

"Nope, this thing does sway." Broadway said, not being helpful. "This statue is made of copper, so it gives and takes in the wind."

Rose paled slightly at his words, as Brooklyn threw a nasty look over at his brother.

"Thanks Broadway…" He snarled.

"It's okay." Rose whispered to him with a smile on her face, turning to face him. "I'll be brave, I'm already a lot more comfortable now that we are here."

"I don't want you to have to be brave… " Brooklyn said, gazing down in her eyes with worry. "I want you to be comfortable and enjoy yourself tonight. Let's go somewhere else."

"But the fireworks are being launched directly across from us." Lexington argued in a whine, gesturing his claw out, as Rose opened her mouth to speak. "If we move now, then we'll miss it and not have the best spot in the City!"

"Yeah!" Broadway added. "Besides, you've been here before Rose. You weren't afraid of the heights then…"

"That's because we were sitting at Lady Liberty's feet." Rose mumbled more to herself than anything, but Brooklyn heard her, as did Angela.

"If Rose is uncomfortable up here then we can go somewhere else." Angela said with a smile, but spoke firmly to her mate and Lexington. He opened his mouth to argue again but she cut him off. "It's not a huge deal Lex, we have wings. We can be at a new spot near here in under two minutes."

"We are only a couple hundred feet up!" Lexington argued. "We glide higher than this… we've been on top of skyscrapers with her before for Merlin's sake!"

"But this statue feels a lot more unstable than those buildings do, darling. Please, don't be insensitive." Akira said softly. Rose smiled gratefully over at her as she always had hers and Angela's back, even if it meant that she argued with her mate. "I agree with Angela, we can move to another outlook point. It's not a big deal, besides, it won't be fun for Rose up here if she's terrified the whole time."

Rose glanced over at the bickering couples on if they should stay or leave, but she made up her mind. She had faced scarier things recently and the heights weren't that big of a deal. Pushing herself and Brooklyn back towards the crown, once she felt the base of the statue's crown, she slid out of his arms and onto the copper base, leaving Brooklyn to stand and stare down at her.

"It's good now guys!" Rose called out, ending their arguments. "Everyone sit down! We're here, and I'm comfortable now. No worries!"

Everyone stopped arguing and looked over at her.

"Are you sure?" Angela asked. "It's really not a big deal for us to move to a building or-"

"Nope." Rose said with a smile, crushing her knees up against her chest and holding her skirt around her ankles. "This spot is perfect."

Angela watched her with a sympathetic smile, but then nodded. The others then all then shrugged and went back to finding a comfortable spot on the edge of the head to watch the fireworks. Broadway was already ripping open some snacks and drinks that were being shared between everyone, and they were chatting excitedly about the upcoming fire show.

Brooklyn slowly slid to his knees next to her and took her hand back in his claw, and she glanced up into his eyes. "If I hold onto you and sit with you, would you wanna come sit next to them on the edge? Or would you rather stay here?"

"Um…" She began to say, wanting to be brave, but a smile crept up on his face and he instantly rotated around to sit on his backside, settling right next to her. With his back against the crown as well, he placed an arm around her shoulders, pulled her to his side, then intertwined her fingers through his and held onto her side tightly.

"You don't need to say anything." He said with a smile. "We'll stay here. It's still an awesome spot, plus we have back support."

"You sure?" Rose asked him weakly but completely relieved, and he instantly leaned into her, kissing her forehead.

"Yes, I'm sure."

Just then, a pop was heard from somewhere in the distance before an awesome blue and white explosion of fire erupted in the night sky, gaining the attention of everyone.

"It's starting! It's starting!" Lexington exclaimed as Akira sat next to him; cuddling close. He instantly wrapped his arm around her, kissed her forehead and rested his head down upon Akira's. Broadway and Angela doing the same. Rose took a deep breath, forcing herself to relax and eased herself closer to Brooklyn.

However, he suddenly opened his wings, pulled her onto his lap and then closed them both in them. She giggled as he pulled her onto him, but after a moment of sitting there, she completely relaxed against his chest. She wasn't tired, but could easily fall asleep against him listening to the gentle beating of his heart, while being in his warm and safe embrace.

She glanced up to look into his eyes as the booming of fireworks lit and sounded just a short distance away from the bay. The others were right, this was the best place to sit- but for her- it was here with her mate.

Brooklyn smiled and awed at the fireworks for a few minutes, but then slowly looked down into her eyes. The moment he did, she gently touched his beak and brought her lips to his. With the explosions of fire and celebration all around them, their own connections flowed between them like lightning. Her lips pulled and danced on his lips for a few seconds, before she pulled away and gazed lovingly at him. Looking at her in awe, Brooklyn wrapped his arms tightly around her, urged his face forward and began kissing her fiercely back.

This happened for a few minutes, they would kiss each other deeply, pull apart, to only attack again. The last time she did this, she pulled away from him, smiled and giggled at his desperate expression on his face; and then crushed her lips back to his. One arm stayed securely around her waist, while one claw slid up her half-exposed back, up into her long-thick hair; his rougher skin seeking and finding her soft one. With each caressing stroke of his hand on her back, Rose's body arched forward into his and responded in ways that she knew he wouldn't be able to resist.

As if on cue to her thoughts, Brooklyn instantly pulled away from her lips, looked over at the other's winged-backs and saw that they were all in their own worlds watching the firework show. Rose smiled at him, knew what he was searching for, and couldn't help but feel heat, deep within her stomach, filling her entire body. It was a hunger for him that only he could fulfill; a hunger that he was also feeling.

Seeing that the coast was clear, he looked back at her, reached a claw out to her neck and touched the necklace that he proposed to her with, and gently slid his claw down her perky cleavage, right over her the roundness of her breasts; then hungrily crushed his lips against hers. They kissed deeply for a few seconds before Rose hiked her skirt up enough that she could slide her legs apart to press herself to him. She opened up her hips against his waist and loincloth, pressed her groin and body to his, and opened her mouth to let his tongue in.

Brooklyn's body shuddered, he took a gasping breath in and grabbed onto her body at the same time an explosion of a close firework rocked through them, lighting that fuse that was burning within them. Just then, Brooklyn tore away from her, glanced over at his brothers and their mates and looked angry almost.

"Sorry…" She breathed, not really feeling sorry. "We can stop."

"Nuh-uh." He said instantly, bringing his face back to hers. "They are fine… and even if they see us, I don't give a shit."

He crushed his lips back to hers, thrusting his tongue into her mouth as she giggled, "Whoa… language…"

With a growl as his response, she laughed against his lips and wrapped her arms tighter around him, closed her eyes and gave into this moment.

With her safely hidden inside his wings, Brooklyn brought his legs up closer to his chest; bringing her body even closer to him and continued to touch, kiss and taste her. Rose gasped softly against his lips, pulled away to extend her neck, and he lowered his lips to claim that space. He kissed, licked and sucked on her skin, as one claw ventured over her breasts tenderly. She gasped at his touch and the feeling of his lips on her neck but her heart began pounding a great deal when he slid them down to touch her soft legs near her calf.

He cupped the back of her exposed legs, and he relished in how silky smooth they were, like the rest of her body. Her dress was sitting on her upper thigh, so taking advantage of it, he slowly eased his talons up her leg, towards her thigh and then kept going, exploring and caressing her skin higher on her leg.

Quietly moaning, her body melted as he got closer and closer to her sweet spot in-between her thighs. Breathing raggedly, he barely grazed a talon over her panties and it took everything for her not to cry out. She wanted him so much in that moment and wished that they were alone, instead of with the others. More than anything, she wanted him to keep going- keep teasing and touching her in that sacred spot. As if hearing her thoughts, he didn't let up with his teasings, which forced a small moan out of her lips, making her mouth go dry slightly.

Brooklyn kept kissing her neck, teasing her near her center by making small circles with his sharp talons, and used the other claw to cup her breasts. She closed her eyes, rested her cheek against his shoulder and tried to even her breathing as he touched and caressed her so intimately in between her thighs and over her breasts.

When Brooklyn realized that she wasn't wearing a bra underneath her dress, his own breathing began to stagger with desire. Still kissing her neck, he then slowly slid his lips and tongue up her skin until their lips met once again. The booming fireworks all around them were picking up with more frequency and being louder than thunder, they kissed feverishly now.

Minutes went by of them making out heavily, before Rose opened her eyes; held the back of his head and peered down into his dark brown- almost black eyes in the dark. His, unlike Kevin's, were soft and full of light and true love. She rested her head against his beak, held onto his neck tightly as he held her body to his. She smiled at his look of awe, then slowly began kissing him again starting with his closed eyes, his nose, and then lower down his beak until their lips crushed together again. Before he could urge her mouth to open to his, she pulled away again, grinning and ran her fingers through his long white hair.

"I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too." He breathed back. He rested his claws down on either side of her hips and ground her pelvis harder onto his hard one. She grinned at his arousal, tossed her long hair away from her face and rested her arms over his neck.

"You're so beautiful." He gasped out a bit breathlessly, still staring up at her. From her position of sitting slightly higher than he was, and could see the different colors of the fireworks reflecting on his skin; and nothing made her happier.

"You should see you from this angle." She whispered back. "You're beautiful too, my strong, amazing, handsome, devilishly sexy Gargoyle mate."

Brooklyn chuckled at her words, took a deep breath and then sat up a bit taller against the crowned head of the statue. He spread his legs apart and she slowly moved her pelvis off his, twisted around and sat with her back against his chest. With his wings still giving them privacy, he wrapped his arms around her chest and stomach. Rose watched a few amazing explosions of fireworks right above them with a big smile on her face, enjoying some of the show.

But with him right behind her, it didn't last for long.

Brooklyn's arms were draped over her large chest, the scent of her hair was in his nostrils, and instantly he felt himself melting. He took her hands in his, slid both of his talons through her fingers and Rose slowly played with them, easing her fingers in and out of his. It must have sent some erotic feelings through him, because she smiled as his hardened groin was pulsing harder against her back. With a growl forming in his chest, he slowly took one of his clawed hands and moved her long hair over to one side of her chest, and then began to slide his tongue and lips along her neck.

Laughing out quietly, she relaxed her neck back and watched the firework show, relishing in her very own show of fire and majesty within her body that only Brooklyn could make her feel. She reached a hand up and caressed his jawline, and when she met his eyes again she wanted to turn around and begin to release him from his loincloth.

His heart was pounding fiercely, their connection shooting through them like fire and ice; turning them on and bringing them both to life in a way they haven't felt in some time. This fierce desire to make love was overpowering and as raw as their honeymoon night, if not more. Unable to help herself, Rose inched her lips to his and kissed him. Her neck was hyper-extended, her chest open for exploring. Brooklyn slowly slid a claw over her breast before he brought it to rest around her neck. His talons played with her chin for a few moments as they kissed, but ultimately stayed there.

Normally, she would have never allowed anyone to touch her in such a way, not since her experience with being choked out by Kevin, or all the time he would hold her down by her neck in bed as he essentially raped her; but with Brooklyn, it was an entirely different experience. For her, Brooklyn's touch was like a whisper, and she trusted him with her entire life, soul, mind, heart and body. His touch was tender, respectful and very exotic for them both.

Almost as if he heard her thoughts, he slowly pulled on her lips a few times, before he pulled away all together and then moved his claw away from her exposed neck to hold onto her shoulder, and rested his beak against the side of her face. By this time, the firework show had been going on for close to an hour, the night had gotten even dark as it was nearing eleven o'clock; and Rose knew the show was almost over since the explosions picked up, building up to its finale.

Just like they were.

They watched the show for a few minutes, trying to keep their hands off each other, before another shot of intensity pulsed through both of them, making them both moan. Their connection urging their mating on.

"I can't wait for this to be over and for us to be alone…" He breathed against her skin, pressing small, slow, sensual and wet kisses on her skin- over and over again. "I can't wait for me to show you what I have planned for you."

"You don't have to do anything extravagant for me, Brooklyn. I just want you." Rose replied back in a whisper while turning her face to look up into his. "All of you."

She then slowly turned her body to face him better, touched his chest with her hands, then closed her eyes and lowered her lips to his neck. Her tongue ran against his rougher skin and with each pulse of her lips, her body seemed to pulse against his, making him growl in approval. He closed his eyes, groaned and cussed quietly as she moved her lips along his skin, her fingers slowly down his chiseled chest. Her fingertips admired the lining of his pectoral muscles, before she moved them down his ripped abdomen, going further down to touch his aroused groin through his loincloth.

The moment she touched him, he gasped in air, his claws went into fists and his sharp teeth exposed as if he was in a great deal of pain. Seeing his reaction, she stopped her teasing and moved her hand away, watching him further.

"Sorry." She breathed, but he didn't respond. He took a deep breath, closed his mouth and then slowly lowered his gaze to hers. His eyes were piercing hers and instantly she felt the strong male Gargoyle that her husband was. She hissed a breath in at his intense gaze, and felt his uncontrollable desire to mate with her; the desire rattled through her being and awakened her own fierce self to match his hot and untamed side. She had activated something that he couldn't very easily fight away.

Luckily, just then, the fireworks went insane and the air was filled with bombs, explosions and never ending thunder as the night sky lit up with the firework finale. The excited bowls of the couples were lost in the noise, and despite all of the rumbling when he pulled her against him to hold and finish watching the show, he growled in her ear, "The moment this is over… you're mine."

"What about your surprise?" Rose teased him, turning away to face the spectacular show; one in which they barely watched.

"It's all going to be a part of it. We'll have our own grand finale."

Rose shuddered at his low, growling voice against her ear. As he spoke, his sharp teeth lightly grazed her earlobe and furthered along her feelings of intense desire for him to claim her body.

She took a deep breath, and tried not to think about what incredibly hot, wild and breathtaking sex they were going to have later on. He had rarely used his sharp teeth on her, but when he did, they were soft nibbles that only added to her insane releases.

"I look forward to it." Rose whispered with her back once again to his chest, and with the beast tamed within them, they watched with incredible awe as the night sky exploded all around them. The fireworks were right above them and were so loud, so intense, that she and Brooklyn could have mated; making each other roar and scream out in pleasure, and no one would have heard a thing. But they didn't and Rose wished that he would.

Again, hearing her thoughts through their connection, he gently grabbed onto her, whipped her around so that she was facing him, and growled, "Come here…"

Smiling blissfully, Rose wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as Brooklyn crushed his lips to hers. They made out fiercely, urgently, and took advantage of all of the noise and exciting chaos all around them. And they weren't alone. The other couples in front of them screamed in joy at the first part of the explosions, and then took to making out with their own spouses until the very end of the show.

"Wow! That was incredible!" Broadway gasped out in awe as the last explosion took to the night sky, leaving behind a smoky echo of silence. Seconds after that silence lingered over the bay, a strange wave of screams, yells and applause came from the City as all of the humans applauded at the incredible firework show.

From sitting on top of the Statue of Liberty, smoke, ash and pieces of firework settled all around them, making the air dense with gunpowder. The finale took close to ten minutes, but it was the best ten minutes of passionately making out that they had ever had. Since her and Brooklyn quit teasing each other intimately, they stuck with kissing, but to her joy; she could still feel his deep desire to let his own explosions go on her still strong. His groin wasn't hardened, so it didn't look like they were both highly aroused, but they both were barely able to breathe properly.

Lexington, Akira, Angela and Broadway all stood up and stretched; Broadway yawned, "I love this time of year! Humans do such cool things for their holidays."

"Yeah, we always love finding any excuse to blow things up." Rose teased.

"Well, we'll take this type of thing every night." Lexington laughed. "That was awesome!"

"It was!" Akira gushed, her long black hair flowing in the wind behind her. "What shall we do now?"

"We could head back to the Castle and turn on a movie?" Broadway suggested, but Angela stepped forward and placed her claw upon his shoulder.

"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea. We have to check up on our egg as well." She then turned to the others, smiled and waved. "We'll see you all a bit later!"

"We're right behind you!" Lexington called, spread his wings and called behind his shoulder to Brooklyn and Rose, "See ya guys!"

From where she and Brooklyn still say, Rose smiled and waved at them. Akira turned back to face them and gave them both a kind smile. "Are you guys going to be joining us back at the Castle?"

Rose opened her mouth to speak, but Brooklyn quickly mumbled in a low growl, "No."

Silence followed after that, and Akira couldn't help but smile more, seeming to understand what was going through his head.

"Alright then, have a wonderful evening you two! I hope to catch up with you woman to Gargoyle here soon, Rose. Let's make it happen, okay?"

"You got it." Rose said with a smile, waved at her, and watched as she turned from them, stretched her small wings and jumped off the head of the statue. Akira glided away, following after the others, and leaving her alone with her mate.

Brooklyn hadn't moved from his spot and was almost a bit too still, a stillness that was a little bit unnerving for Rose. Either the others felt his intense desire to mate with her and were staying clear from a male gargoyle who was feeling that way, or they all were moving on with their night. Either way, Rose could barely contain her own feelings inside of herself for him, but was trying.

With a sigh, she straightened her clothing, cleared her throat and gently pushed herself up from him; and to her surprise, he let her go. He opened his wings and watched her as she stretched, yawned, but she didn't move too far away from him.

Standing was even worse for her being on top of the statue, but the view was still nothing but incredible, even with the bay covered in a thin layer of smoke from the fireworks. Thoughts were going through her mind as she stared out at the Ocean, which was so dark, and calm. They were far enough away from the City that she couldn't hear any cars, people, or machinery.

It was just her and the wind for company, like her childhood.

"You know…" Rose suddenly said thoughtfully, speaking to Brooklyn and knew he was still behind her, watching and listening. "When I was eighteen, and my pop was still alive, I had so many dreams and plans for myself. I had just barely graduated high school, had some college under my belt, and was going to finish college… which I did. But then… after that, I was going to go on through medical school and become a medical doctor; I was going to help people heal. I was going to stay in Bar Harbor, maybe move to Portland Maine to have a bigger city to work out of, but still be close to my Pop. I was going to travel the world to poorer countries, help villages in need of doctors and medicine; then after my travels, I was going to come back home to Maine, get married to a man of my dreams… have children… grow old and watch those kids grow from my wrap-around front porch." She paused, shook her head and moved some of her long hair away from her face. "Never in a million years would I have ever guessed that a few short years after leaving Bar Harbor that I would be living in the busiest, loudest, and most godforsaken city in the entire East Coast. A city I always hated.

I loved Bar Harbour, with it's quiet, small-town cottages, the beauty of the trees around me especially in the autumn time, the only sound around me being the ocean, fishermen's boats, and an occasional chime of someone's wind chimes. So peaceful… so beautiful… yet… even with my Pop around, I was so alone. All of my childhood friends had moved away to find a better life for themselves, one away from the quiet where I was so content to stay, but still so restless." She paused for a few moments, wrapped her arms around herself and then couldn't help but feel a bit emotional, her eyes welled up with tears. "Even with all of those dreams, I always knew that I was going to stay with my Pop, run his store and help provide for him… putting my entire life and future on hold to care for him. But when he died, I didn't know what to do or where to go. I wanted to stay, but I quickly realized that without my Pop, I had no good reason to stay. No one to talk to. No future even though my future always returned back to Bar Harbor."

Rose took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and shuddered slightly.

"I know we don't talk about him… but… when I met Kevin, at Emily and Chris' wedding, believe it or not, I wanted nothing to do with him. Call it a forewarning, but I only ended up dating him because he was the only man who kept courting me… and I quickly fell to his charm. He was so handsome back then, had so many dreams of his own, and I understood that desire to be better than what I was. At the time, he was so… kind and thoughtful, he never raised his voice to me, never indicated that he had a drinking problem… or that he was abused all his life by his father. All I knew was that there was some bad-blood between them and he never let me meet the man. I met his older brother once, but he didn't seem as put together or nice as Kevin was. Isn't that incredible?" She mused to herself, knowing Brooklyn was still listening. "There are men out there worse than Kevin and I still didn't piece it together. I still didn't know that I was a lamb being led to the slaughterhouse. We never lived together before we got married, but when we did get married- I remember thinking that I had made it to my goals. My dreams were coming true… everything I ever wanted, I had, that was until I realized that I didn't." She paused again, this time speaking numbly with a shaking voice. "Never did I ever think… that I would have settled down with someone like Kevin and endure the abuse that I did. Never did I ever think that I would live in a City that I hated… with a monster I quickly learned to resent and hate… but… even through all of the nightmares I endured… had I not…?" She paused again and felt his body heat behind her, so she slowly turned. His eyes were piercing into hers as he slowly slid his claws over her waist and hip bones, pulling her close to him.

"I would never have met you, Brooklyn. Never would my life be so… complete so… happy." She finished in a whisper, tears falling down her face.

He slid a claw up her body, took hold of her right hand and then brought it up to his lips. He kissed her knuckles, still not saying anything, but she could feel everything that was pulsing through him. Unspeakable amount of love, desire, light, comfort, and friendship for her…

He was her mate and equal, and she, his.

"It's unfathomable..." He mumbled against her skin, moving her hand along his cheek. "...to think that we came from two different worlds, two different times… and yet… that night when the gunman was about to kill you, I found you. Then again at the Brooklyn Bridge when I thought I lost you forever… I found you again… and you have been mine ever since."

"Yes." Rose breathed, stepping even closer to him and longed to get lost in those eyes that she fell in love with the moment she saw him. Tears continued to fall down her face, as she took a staggering breath and whispered, "And I thank God every day that you did find me, Brooklyn. That you never gave up on me, even when I had given up on my life… and that you continue to love me the way you do. You say I saved your life, but you have truly saved mine. I would have been dead if not for you. Not just by Kevin's hand, but my own..."

At her words, he pulled her body to his and crushed his lips down on top of hers, forcing her mouth to open to his so he could be one with her. Rose gasped when his tongue entered and touched hers, felt her body shudder at his sensual touch, but he never let her go. His claws were all over her body, back and was pulling at her dress.

"We've been blessed, my love." Brooklyn suddenly gasped against her lips. "That's all I can describe it as. Never did I think that I would leave my time in the year 994, lose most of my Clan, but end up here in New York in the year 1994; my thousand year spell of stone sleep broken. Never would I have thought that we would be hunted like we've been, hated… and yet… so richly blessed with finding and adding Elisa, Angela, Akira… and now you to our Clan, as well as an egg." He paused from kissing her, looked down into her teary face, and caressed a talon down her face as soft as a whisper. "I love you Rose, my sweet mate… my beautiful wife. I only wish for you to be happy… to chase your dreams and to feel fulfilled. If you want to go to medical school to become a doctor, then do it, become a doctor. You have my full support. If you want to move to Bar Harbor… then that should be where you go to feel peace and at home. I never want to be the reason that you aren't fulfilling your dreams…"

Rose blinked at his words, and seeing the sadness on his face, she suddenly realized that he misunderstood her thoughts. Somehow, he was mistaking that he wasn't being included in her vision, her dream, when in fact, it all revolved around him now.

Shaking her head, she grasped onto his face and whispered her thoughts to him, "All of my dreams revolve around you, my love, and nothing has ever made me happier. I was saying all of those things because it's amazing to me how my life has changed for the better. I've received a life that I never thought I would have, a life that an eighteen-year-old girl from a small fishing town could never conjure up in her brain… because I've gotten so much more."

She caressed a hand down his face, down his chest and then lower to his abdomen, her eyes trailing what she was doing. She slid them across his waist and wrapped her arms tightly around him, bringing her lips up to his pointed ears.

"You are my new dream, Brooklyn. And it's everything I'll ever need to be more than happy"

A breath was finally exhaled out of him, and it was almost like he had been holding it in the entire conversation. His hot breath waved across her neck and then within a swift movement, he bent down and cradled her up into his arms, spread his long and strong red wings out, stepped up to the edge of the statue's head and breathed in her face, "And you are mine."

Then, without a moment to lose, he crushed his lips to hers, and somehow they were now gliding through the air, still kissing fiercely.

Minutes turned into a half-hour, or so Rose thought, and yet they were still gliding over dark, placid waters of the East River and bay, but by now, Manhattan was far behind them. Wherever Brooklyn's surprise was, wherever he was taking them, it was a long way north of Manhattan. To their left, she saw the providence of Brooklyn, but he soon made a curve, north east, and they were suddenly over the dark ocean- away from all civilization. She had tried asking him where he was taking her a few times, but he would only smile down at her and tell her, 'it's a surprise.'

Well obviously. She thought to herself. Unless you're gonna drop me in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. He smirked at her mental sass and attitude that he heard in his own mind, but still wouldn't budge. After a few times of it being the same answer, she stopped asking.

The night was growing closer to midnight at this point, and she still wasn't sure where he was taking her, or how much longer they had until they reached their destination. So, to help pass the time by, they began talking about more of her childhood, his childhood, and were essentially finding out new pieces about each other that they didn't originally know.

"Wait, wait… so… you decided that it would be smart to jump down from a tree branch and try to ride a horse?" Rose asked him, midway into a conversation.

"Yeah, all of the Humans were doing it, so I was intrigued by what it would be like." Brooklyn said with a smile, which quickly turned into a smirk. "It was fun until the horses decided they didn't like it. I got bucked off a few times."

"Horses are very smart animals." Rose laughed. "So it probably serves you right. You are a being with wings and have no such use for riding a horse for transportation."

"It was still fun." Brooklyn grinned.

"Maybe for you…" Rose teased. "The horse? Not so much."

"True that." He laughed, the cooler oceanic breeze blowing through both of their skins. Rose shivered slightly and he instantly tightened his grip on her.

"Sorry, we are almost there."

"There being… where, exactly?"

"Even if I told you, I don't know if you would actually know where it's at." Brooklyn said with a devilish smile. "I only found out about it by reading a map book… and from searching, I was intrigued by this place a few nights ago, so I flew here and brought some supplies with me, and fell in love with the spot. I hope that this can become our place"

"Can't you tell me more than that!?" She cried out, and he smirked at her.

"Okay… you may ask one question, so make it a good one."

"Oh don't you worry, I've got one." She replied.

"Let's hear it then."

"Where are we going?" She immediately asked, and he looked down at her with raised eyebrows and a look of amused disbelief on her face.

"Seriously? You're wasting your one and only question on the same one you've been asking me for the past half hour?" He then laughed at her and she growled in true frustration now.

"Guh… okay fine… can you please give me one small hint to where we are going?"

"Hmm…" Brooklyn mused. "No."

"But you just said…!?" Rose exploded and Brooklyn laughed and placed a talon on her lips to quiet her down.

"I'll give you three hints." He explained with a smile, trying not to enjoy teasing her too much. Rose glared at him for a few seconds before she exhaled and took his compromise.

"Alright, fine, what are they?"

"This place we are going to is beautiful, far away from city lights, civilization, and is surrounded by cliffs and forestry."

"Is it still in New York?" She inquired and he smiled at her, loving how easy she was to tease and how much she hated surprises.

"That's two questions."

"Brooklyn…"

"Okay, okay- yes, it's still in New York." He answered with a laugh. There was a slight pause and then Rose asked another.

"Are you lost?"

"No, I'm not lost, I know where I'm going." Brooklyn laughed again and she continued to push him back.

"Because if we are… it's okay to ask for directions."

"I'm not lost." He repeated again, but again she kept pushing him.

"You males are all the same… we are lost and you are too damn stubborn and prideful to ask for help…"

"Rose! Holy crap, I'm not lost!" Brooklyn snapped and glanced down at her. Seeing her amused face, he then snorted and shook his head at her. "You're such a brat sometimes."

"But I'm your brat." She said in a sing-song voice and then held her ring finger up to him. "Forever baby."

Brooklyn smiled, kissed her ring and then went back to gliding. Rose laughed at herself slightly, which then faded into a sigh. After a few minutes of quiet, she couldn't take it anymore.

"Where are taking me, Brook?"

Brooklyn barked out a laugh, then cried out, "Oh for Merlin's sake woman, you're driving me kinda nuts here!"

"Then tell me one more clue of where we are going!" Rose laughed.

"Holy hell, Rose…" he then looked at her and grinned. "I love you."

"Yeah, yeah…" She teased and then clapped her hands. "Okay… secret place. Ummm… you said it's in New York, but we are flying over in the middle of the ocean… so yeah, that's weird…"

"How is that weird?"

"Well… seeing that I'm annoying you enough, you might drop me in the middle of the Atlantic to play survivor."

Brooklyn rolled his eyes at her and scoffed, "No I would never. Try again. One more question about this place…"

"Is it secluded?"

"Yeah." He added happily. "Where we are going, especially at night, no one will be around to bother us."

"Hmmm…" Rose mused. "So the plot thickens…well, it sounds like a super romantic place or is the perfect setting for a slasher horror film. It could go both ways here."

Brooklyn snorted. "Oh… Merlin… give me strength."

Rose laughed at him, but then as she let his description settle into her mind, flashes of similar scenery seemed to show through her mind, and she suddenly turned very serious. His description felt as if she had been where he had described before.

"Wait… did you say that it has cliffs and forest?" Rose asked, suddenly realizing something.

"Yup."

Then, before she could stop herself, she suddenly asked, "It's not… in the location where I dreamed, all those months ago, that Kevin was stabbing me to death… is it?"

She felt Brooklyn jump under her arms as he whipped his head down to look into her eyes, and for a moment, she saw the great shock over her bringing up that horrible first nightmare she ever had to him.

"What? No, Rose, I…" He began to say, but then stopped and suddenly looked horrified as he thought it over, and instantly, she regretted asking him. "It… actually does look similar now that you mention it… it… oh… NO!"

Ohhh crap. Rose thought to herself, seeing him instantly spiral.

"No, babe it's fine!" She instantly said frantically, pulling on his neck and trying to calm him down. "Hey! Look at me… It's fine, no! It's okay!"

"No, it's not okay." Brooklyn said, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "It's too similar, you're right! I'm so sorry… I never thought about that… we'll turn around. Forget this whole thing."

"No, please, Brooklyn take me there." Rose begged, wishing she didn't ask or say anything. "I'm sure it's not the same place!There are a lot of places around here with cliffs and forests… "

However, he wasn't listening.

"It was during the summer months…" He mumbled to himself, his eyes growing wide. "And you were… wearing a dress…"

"There are no similarities to that vision and this night, Brooklyn-"

"And you are my mate now…."

"Brooklyn! Stop!" Rose finally snapped, grabbing onto his beak and forcing him to look into her eyes. His wide eyes met her angry ones. "I want to go where you've planned. I don't want to live in fear anymore over the chance that something bad might happen or is going to happen, or whatever! I want to begin living my life with you. I want to be swooned and brought to a romantic place where you and I can bond, be alone, and… make… the most insane, passionate and wild sex all we want without any judgement, without anyone around to tell us that we can't or shouldn't. Okay? I want this night so badly with you! Please… just… take me there."

He stared down into her eyes, and her anger faded, leaving her only with desire and longing.

"Please… take me there."

"Okay." Brooklyn finally mustered, giving in, but his jaw was set and firm when he looked back up. "Well, we already are here… but if there is any sign of trouble, we are leaving. You understand?"

"Of course."

He nodded once, before he started making a slow descent over the ocean, turning south towards a piece of land. There were no lights, no cities, no towns; just cliffs, beaches, trees, and the night sky all around them. He came to a cliff, a few miles above the ocean and slowly touched down on a nice forested opening with grass and a circle of trees all around them. He carefully set her down on her feet, and she found that short grass was all around them. This place was very different from her dream, thankfully, and was not a place she had been to before; which was a small relief in her mind.

While he was looking around for any signs of danger, since she stupidly freaked him out, Rose's breath caught in her throat as she looked around at the setting that he had made. On the ground was a large blanket, with wine glasses, a tall bottle of sparkling juice, candles and on the nearest corner of the cliff was a telescope. When she looked up to see what they were going to be looking at, her breath was taken away. Magnetized almost, she slowly walked towards the edge of the cliff to stand next to it, and looked up at the sky that she had been flying in just moments ago. But somehow, it wasn't the same sky.

The mist of the ocean must have passed by, because now, the sky was clear, and the entire universe, milky way and stars… were all within her reach. All around her, as far as she could see, the vast black sky was lit up with celestial stars, and for a moment she was reminded just how insignificant she was as one small human in this large of a world. It was humbling.

"Do you like it?" He asked her from behind, his claws sliding up her arms. He had obviously calmed down since there was no sign of danger.

"It's beautiful." She breathed, not realizing that she was crying again. He stepped in front of her, cupped her face and gently wiped her tears away with his thumbs. She tore her gaze away from the stars above to look into his eyes. He smiled lovingly at her and pulled her tightly into his arms. He was right, there wasn't a soul in sight, and beneath the heavens it was just him and her and their love.

"This isn't the place I had that nightmare." She whispered, hopefully to make him feel better. "Instead, this will be a place of refuge, of peace and love." She paused, ran a finger down his beak and whispered, "You're right, it'll be our place."

"I'm glad you like it." He breathed back.

"In all seriousness, where are we?"

"This park is called Caumsett State Park. We are technically in the northern part of Lloyd Park, New York, right below Connecticut."

Rose continued to admire the area, and he was right, she had never been here or heard of it before, but it was beautiful. The air was so still around them, the ocean crashing so far away, whispering was all it took to communicate with each other and still hear.

"I love it." She said with a smile. "Thank you so much."

He opened his mouth to speak, but she pulled him to her, and passionately kissed him, pressing her groin to his, wanting and needing to feel him. He kissed her back with great fierceness for a few seconds, before he pulled away and smiled down at her.

"There will be a full night of that later," he said. "For right now, I want to show you my surprise to you."

Rose grinned at him widely, "Okay."

Still smiling, he intertwined his talons through her fingers and pulled her back towards the blanket. She sat down on the soft fabric, took off her sandals and watched him pull out a match box, from a bag he had sitting next to the blanket, and began lighting the five to seven candles all around them.

Once they were lit, he grabbed the wine glasses, popped the sparkling juice bottle open and began filling her drink with sparkling grape juice. She smiled as he did so, and then took her glass when he handed it over to her.

"Thank you."

"You're very welcome." He said, filling his own glass up. "I know you don't like alcohol, so I figured this would do."

When he set the bottle down, he wrapped his wings around his shoulders, and then laid down on his side on the blanket. He stared at her, patted the ground next to him in encouragement, and instantly she settled down on her hip, facing him, and held the drink in her hand.

"A toast… to us." He said, holding his glass up. "To you and me Rose, our love and our future together. I love you so much baby."

"I love you too." Rose said, clinking her glass to his and then took a few seconds to sip hers down. The grape taste and bubbly sensation of the drink sent butterflies into her stomach, and seemed to ease the nausea that seemed to always be at bay during these parts of the night. And for her, it was when she could relax, eat food and pretend that it wasn't an issue for her.

"Mhmm." She said, placing her drink down and holding onto it. "I love this… you are so sweet and thoughtful, thank you."

"You're very welcome." He said, placing his own drink down after gulping most of it down. "I've been wanting to surprise you with a night of romance for some time now."

"Well, I'm definitely surprised." She said, smiling lovingly at him. "This is so wonderful. Candle light, drinks and laying out underneath the stars… it can't get much better than this."

"I'm hoping it can." He said with a smile and wink, taking another drink until his glass was empty. "But we'll see."

He poured himself some more juice, topped hers off, and then continued to gaze at her, as if memorizing every inch of her.

"Hmmm… you know, I used to really like wine." Rose said softly, coming up with anything to talk about. "I didn't drink alcohol too much, and the last time I really did was at Emily's bachelorette party the night before her wedding…" She snorted and began laughing.

"What happened?" He asked with a smile, loving her laugh.

"I was hammered… plastered…and straight up drunk off my ass." She replied, shaking her head and laughing more as he laughed. "Oh my goodness, I was… miserable the next day. I was throwing up, my head was fit to burst at any sound and light, and I had to endure a full day of being there for her wedding as her maid of honor. She was hung over as well, but not as bad as me. I couldn't stop throwing up, and the nausea… ugh… it was terrible. She even served seafood at her dinner… and I just hugged any garbage can I could get a hold of."

"That sounds pretty awful." He laughed and she nodded, "It was. I haven't touched the stuff since then... and especially with how much Kevin drank, I never wanted to."

"Understandable, I don't blame you. Me, however, it was different. I grew up on red wine because that's all we really could drink." He said, adding to the conversation.

"What?" She laughed. "Why?"

"The drinks back then weren't what they are nowadays. Some drinks had horrible amounts of alcohol content, but for us, it was more like juice since our metabolisms burned off the sugar and alcohol faster than it did with Humans."

"Didn't you ever drink water?" Rose asked with raised eyebrows.

"No. Not unless I wanted to die from Cholera." He paused to chortle. "Trust me, babe, back then you did not drink any water. It was not clean." He paused, shook his head and was reminiscing as well. "We had clean water from the lakes and rivers for some time, until the humans took over our hills and the cliffs, and built Wyvern Castle. Our waters turned dirty, and the water they collected… they would have ways to clean it but it still never was… pure. Sanitation wasn't as great in the medieval days as it is now, so we never drank water and only wine."

Rose made a face and groaned. "Ew… I can only imagine… how gross."

"Yeah, it could be pretty rancid, but we took care of the place and of each other to the best of our ability."

"Do you sometimes miss that time?" She asked softly.

"When I first woke up in this strange world… at first… yes." He answered. "It was a very hard adjustment to make, but now? I wouldn't go back to 994 if I was forced at gunpoint. I like the sanitation here, technology, how far advanced literature, science and technology has come along; even war and weaponry is incredible." He paused, smiled and reached out to touch her hand. "Plus, the year 994 didn't have you."

"It had princesses." Rose said with a shrug, drinking her drink down with a smile.

"Which doesn't mean a damn thing compared to you… my angel."

"Awe…" Rose moaned, placing her drink aside. "Thank you." Winking, he drank the rest of his second glass down as she caressed his hand.

"So…" she said. "Since we are talking about our childhoods, tell me about your very first crush. Or kiss. Who were you pining after in your Clan back then?"

Brooklyn snorted the last of his drink, nearly spitting it out and had to carefully swallow it, instead of spraying her.

"Um…" He cleared his throat and set his drink aside as well. "Well, no one… actually. My Clan was full of my rookery brothers and sisters that I hatched and grew up with. If I wanted a mate, which at that time, I was just barely coming into mature age to begin looking into before our curse, I would have had to venture to another nearby Clan and seek out one; but as you know, I never got the chance."

"So…" Rose asked slowly, piecing it together. "Maggie, Delilah and Angela were kind of your first… loves?"

"No." He answered honestly, took a deep breath, placed his arms behind his head, and laid completely on his back. Rose slithered closer to him on her side, laid on his bicep and rested her head close to his.

"No?" She teased. "Oh come now, Brooklyn, you can admit your past loves to me. You are kind of a flirt and womanizer anyway, so don't deny it. If I could guess out of those three… I would definitely say… Maggie, and then Angela second..."

"They weren't my first love." He said, looking back over at her with his piercingly dark eyes. "Crushes… yeah, okay, I'll admit that they were. But first love? No. My first love is you… Rose, and will always be you."

An overwhelming feeling of love and amazement went through her as he stared at her with intense eyes and a smile that melted her down.

"Oh… Brooklyn." She whispered, placing her hand upon her heart.

"You were… my very first kiss." He continued to muse. "My very first girlfriend, the very first female I felt my soul connect to, which is rare and doesn't happen to just anyone. You share my thoughts, my feelings, my heart, my soul… and my body." He paused to smile endearingly at her. "And you were the first one I've ever made love to."

At his words, a sudden sadness filled her being, and with all of her heart she wished that she had the same purity to give him. She wished that she hadn't been violated and touched by another man before him…

"Well… I hope I've met your expectations." She said quietly, and to her surprise, he laughed out loud.

"Ohhh babe, you not only have met them, but you've blasted above and taken me higher than I've ever expected. I am more in love than I ever thought was possible, and I'm happier… the happiest I've ever been in my entire life, Rose. You've done all of that, and I love you more with every passing minute."

Rose continued to clutch her chest, smiled and mumbled, "Thank you," and let him take her body down to his to kiss. She expected for that moment to quickly turn into intimacy, but he let her go and suddenly stood up, lifting her up with him.

"Well… enough chat for a moment, what do you say? Want to look at some stars and planets through the telescope now?"

With his sudden excitement, she couldn't help but smile brightly and nod. Taking her by the hand, he dug into the backpack he brought and pulled out a star chart, as well as another piece of paper. They walked over to the telescope together, and Rose quickly began to look up into the heavens and check out the stars up close.

For the next several minutes, they both peered through the lens and found the moon, Venus and Jupiter, and without the telescope they both found all of the major constellations. Rose excitedly pointed up at a gas giant she found, and even though it wasn't a clear view, she was still excited that she found something that amazing to behold from so far away.

Brooklyn glanced down at the other paper he brought, which still looked like a map, and suddenly handed it to her.

"What's this?" She asked curiously, taking it from him.

"Since you're a lot better with the telescope than I am, do you think you could find me… this star?" He asked, pointing to a star circled in red that looked to sit dead center in between the milky way galaxy.

"Um… sure." She responded, looking at him with an eyebrow raised and then slowly began to compare the night sky with the map. Minutes passed as she studied the map, then studied the stars above. Brooklyn watched her with a smile as she would go to the telescope, look into it, adjust it to where the map said, and then would look again to make sure she was right.

She kept doing this, over and over again, until she was absolutely sure that the telescope was pointing to the right star. She adjusted the distance of the telescope and was amazed at how bright and beautiful it was.

"Okay… I think I found it."

Excitedly, he walked over, leaned down and carefully looked through the lens, to see that it was indeed bright and beautiful… perfect like he wished it to be. When he stood back up, he chuckled and nodded.

"Yup… that's it all right. It's absolutely stunning, thank you for finding it…"

"Why did you have me look up this star?" Rose inquired softly, standing next to him and looking up at the sky with him.

"Because that is my favorite star, of all time."

"Yeah?" She grinned brightly. "And why is that?"

"Because it's name is 'Rose'."

Stunned, Rose quickly looked over at him, her eyes searching his face as he slowly looked over her. From behind his back, he pulled out a scroll-looking piece of paper and shook it at her. "I found a really cool website called the 'International Star Registry' and I paid to have this beauty named… " He pointed to the star above and then looked back at her. "After you, my love."

Silence passed between them for a few seconds and she wasn't sure what to say. Tears welled up in her eyes and she was stunned beyond words.

"See?" He told her, unfolding the paper and showing her the document. "I mean… it's uh… not from NASA or anything, so it's probably a marketing gimmick, but I thought it was-"

Rose stepped forward and crushed her lips against his, kissing him deeply, passionately and with as much depth as she could. Tears fell down her face as she kissed him, her tongue slid into his mouth and her arms tightly around his neck.

He moaned against her lips, and pulled her body in his arms, sliding his claws up into her hair. The kiss didn't last very long, as she suddenly pulled away from his lips, slid them along his jawline and then crushed her body to his and hugged him tightly; and before he could say anything, he quickly realized that she was sobbing. Her breath wasn't coming very easily and her body shook in his embrace. Finally when she could breathe again, she inhaled a gasp and continued to cry earnestly in his shoulder.

"Rose?" Brooklyn asked, pulling away and looked nervous. "Sweetheart… what's wrong?"

"Nothing." She gasped, as he wiped more tears away. "I promise, nothing… I just… I've never had anyone… I've never… you are… " She took another staggered breath, controlled herself and then looked up into his eyes.

"I love you so much, Brooklyn. I've never had anyone do anything like this for me before, and I… I am stunned and… honored to be yours. I've never loved anyone more than I love you and… I am so thankful that you are mine. " She turned to face the whole set up with tears still streaming down her face and laughed at herself. "Thank you, what a beautifully sweet and thoughtful surprise."

"Oh Rose…" Brooklyn breathed, holding her face in his palms. "You're very welcome, my love. You are my life, my heart and my love. I would give you the entire heavens if I could, for there's no one I've ever loved as much as I love you, as well." He smiled at her, pulled her to him and kissed her lips wholly, yet slow and unrushed. Their lips pulled on each other's, their bodies moved in a sway and with every touch and every passing moment, she felt closer to the heavens being in his arms.

Again, he pulled away, held her tightly in his embrace and smiled down at her.

"I did this… so now… whenever you look up into the night sky, right in between Cygnus or the heavenly cross, you'll see that you are the center to my universe."

Again, Rose didn't say anything as she held onto him. He was too sweet, too amazingly romantic and too wonderful- she didn't deserve it- but then again, a small part of her screamed that she did. As if he heard her thoughts, which she didn't doubt that he couldn't, he lowered himself down, scooped her up into his arms and carried her back to the blanket, kissing her sweetly. Their connection flowed through them, coming to life again, bringing the heat and mating desires that they felt so strongly at the firework show.

Keeping her pressed to him, he slowly lowered her to the ground on their blanket, with all of the candles surrounding them and kissed her.

Their lips pulled on each other passionately, she began to moan and urge her body upwards to his, her hands going all over his body trying to pull him down to her. However, for whatever reason, he kept teasing her- and stayed off of her- as if waiting for the perfect moment. He pulled away from her and with him straddled over her, gazed deeply into her eyes and exhaled a breath, again as if he had been holding it.

"You're so beautiful…"

"Not as beautiful as you are." She said softly, but he chuckled, shook his head and mumbled, "Not a chance."

Slowly, he then lowered himself to her again, this time to her absolute pleasure, pressing his entire weight and body on top of hers, making her gasp out in desire, and slowly began to claim her neck. His lips and tongue slowly slid over her skin, making her mouth go dry with how much she was gasping. He placed one arm under her head for comfort and kept them grounded, while the other claw ventured from her soft face, down to her shoulders and slowly- even slower than usual- went to her breasts and began to massage them.

Rose closed her eyes, hiked her skirt up to wrap her legs around his waist and straddle him back, and instantly he gasped at her skin as heat entered both of their bodies. When she re-opened her eyes, looking past his head, she got lost in the way he was making her feel while staring up into the vast and beautiful heavens above. Brooklyn slowly started to rub his body all along hers, making her gasp out some more and hold onto him tighter, but his love reminded her of one of her favorite lines from a favorite play, one she knew he would know.

"For when he shall die…" She whispered in his ears. "Take him and cut him out into little stars. And he will make the face of Heaven so fine, that all the world be in love with the night… and pay no worship to the garish sun."

Brooklyn slowed down his movement on her, slowly looked up into her eyes and could see the very reflection of the stars in her eyes. He swore that his heart would burst at her beauty and awe.

"Romeo and Juliet." He breathed back with a small smile on his face.

"Yes… very good… how did you know that?" She asked with a small gasp, and he laughed at her.

"Um… babe, you do know that myself and the Clan read at least a couple hundred history and fine literature books over the years to fully encapsulate us into this century, right? We had to know what happened in this world from 994 to when we woke up. And Shakespeare was one of the writers that we all loved… plus he wrote all about the Third Race in 'A Midsummer's Night Dream,' and our old… enemy of sorts, 'Macbeth.' His plays were… almost personal history for us as he brought certain legends to life."

"Oh yeah, that's right… " she mused, thinking to herself, and then snorted a laugh as she thought of something that he didn't hear.

"What?" He asked.

"Emily thinks that you and I are living out a 'Romeo and Juliet' romance, as we are apparently, and I quote her, 'Star-Crossed Lovers'." Rose then laughed a small laugh. "But I am not sure about that."

"And why not?" Brooklyn mused curiously, resting down on top of her with his forearms holding him up. "I think we are such lovers like them. To be a 'star-crossed lover' means that we love each other despite outside forces trying to tear us apart… and give what has happened to us, I would say that's a pretty accurate description."

"Yeah, okay, maybe so, but that story ends with such tragedy." Rose said a bit too softly, as though afraid to say it out loud. "And with as much darkness as been following me around… I would hate for our ending to be similar to the woeful story of, 'Juliet and her Romeo.' "

Brooklyn pondered upon her words for a few minutes, leaving them both in peaceful silence. There were a few crickets nearby that made noise, but nothing else. Their connection flowed strongly between them, sending lightning and tingling sensations through every single limb of theirs, all the way down to their fingertips and toes.

"Our story won't be a tragedy…" Brooklyn finally said in a breath-like voice. "Nothing can tear you from me, Rose, and I from you. Our love is a force stronger than any force on this Earth."

"What about forces not of this Earth? Like Hela's?" Rose whispered, and again, he froze. Seconds passed by, before he slowly shook his head and lowered his lips to hers. His lips pulled on hers, before he breathed against them, "Even then, nothing is stronger than our love Rose, that much I am positively sure of."

With an exhale, he pressed his lips down upon hers even stronger.

"How can you be so sure?"

Brooklyn chuckled lightly against her lips, lifted up and gazed down into her eyes for a few seconds. "Because I am choosing to believe it my love, and that's good enough for me. That's all I can do is hope for a bright future with you. We've discussed this before… I know we have one, but we gotta just keep believing in that."

When she didn't say anything more, he lowered himself back down to her, opened his mouth to hers and slid his tongue in. Rose closed her eyes and moaned against his lips, believing and trusting in him; wanting and desiring for him to take her as his and help her forget all of her fear and uncertainty.

As you wish, my love… he said in her head, and she had to smile at his silky voice.

Just then, their intensity picked right back up again like back at the fireworks. Brooklyn lips and tongue crushed against hers, as his claws went for her breasts. He moved one palm along the curvature of one, before he slid a talon underneath her strap, pulled on it and slid it down her arm. Rose worked with him in helping him lower her dress straps down off of her shoulders, leaving it to be one easy pull before her breasts were naked to him. Moaning, he began to slide his body the full length of hers, creating such heat and intensity that nearly made her faint.

"Oh Brooklyn…" She gasped, but they were nowhere near their end point.

Brooklyn's claws ventured down to her legs, which were wrapped around his waist, and began to lift up the loose fabric of her dress, higher and higher again towards her panties. At the same time, he gave her mouth a break and lowered his lips and tongue to caress down her neck, over her necklace and then in her cleavage.

Rose clung to his head, ran her fingers through his long- white hair and was gasping for him to continue. Feeling that he was completely aroused, he growled, sat up and stared down at her once again, this time, debating which pleasurable point he wanted to start with. Rose wet her lips, smiled up at him and kept breathing deeply, wanting him; needing him. To her utmost joy, he gave her a devilishly handsome smile, slid himself lower and pressed his lips to her legs, bringing his lips and tongue higher and higher up her legs towards her thighs.

Rose closed her eyes, arched her head back and grasped the sides of the blankets in her hands. Her toes curled forward as his mouth came to her underwear, when he did, he stopped. Unable to breathe properly, Rose stayed still and let him continue to do what he wished with her. He then grabbed onto the bottom of her dress, slid it up over her hips, which exposed her underwear and then flat stomach to him and further up to tear completely off of her. She arched her back up, threw her hands up to make sliding the dress off of her easier, and when she was naked, he threw her dress off to the side and gazed down at her with intense hunger and passion.

To him, her body seemed to gleam in the soft light of the moon, candles and stars, but that light that came off of her was all her own and nothing else. It was as if he could see the beautiful soul within; the one that shined as brightly as the sun. She was still wearing a thin and lacy pair of underwear, but her flat stomach was exposed as well as her beautifully large breasts, and he felt his breath leave his lungs. Each time with her was like he was mating for the first time. He had seen her naked countless times, but each time he did, it was a new experience for him.

"Oh… Rose… so… beautiful." He whispered, a growl formed in his chest and he quickly relieved himself from his loincloth, making her eyes widen with pleasure. Her breathing intensified seeing him completely naked in front of her, and with a smile, he slowly came back down to her lips, teasing his aroused groin to her underwear and stomach as he kissed her passionately.

Then, he trailed his tongue down her neck and finally gave her beautiful breasts all of his love and attention. Cupping them gently in his hands, he placed his mouth around her nipples, making her cry out instantaneously in pleasure. She hadn't orgasmed yet, but he could feel that him licking and sucking them were bringing her incredible pleasure. Her body began to move and rock against his, begging and pleading for him to enter her, but he wasn't going to, not just yet.

Rose held tightly onto his hair as he did erotic things to her breasts, flung her head back and tried to focus on her breathing.

"Brook-lyn…" She gasped, moaning and groaning for him. "Take me… take me… please!"

He raised his lips from her breasts, smiled at them and then trailed his lips and tongue further down her abdomen, his claws pulling her underwear down as he went. Again, Rose closed her eyes and was crying out happily that he was giving her so much pleasure. His hot breath against her skin was delicious and everything she wanted and needed.

With her underwear pulled off, Rose spread her legs for him as he kissed her lower. He was near her hip bones, when he suddenly began to speak against her skin.

"Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!" He breathed. His tongue, lips and hot breath hovering around her hips. "For I ne'er saw…" lower… Rose gasped… "true beauty… "

"Oh God… Brooklyn…!"

"Till this night."

Rose arched her body up in a shuddering motion, crying and gasping out into the silent night as he claimed her sensitive center with his mouth and tongue. The true sensations that flowed through her were intensified somehow. Her connection to him was stronger, sharper, and was feeding them both with an inferno fire of passion. She continued to shatter, crying and gasping out; when he lifted himself up, growling now, and reclaimed her lips and tongue with his. He adjusted himself over her, held her hips down with his claws and entered himself into her hot slick body with more ease than they both remembered being possible for them.

Again, Rose gasped out at how he felt to her, and with their naked bodies one and pressed together, he began rocking himself inside of her. Her lips, tongue, taste and scent was all around him and it was intensifying everything for him.

"I love you, I love you, I love you…" Rose kept breathing in his ear, her voice between a gasp and a moan. "Oh, I love you…"

"I love you more." He growled, pushing himself in her deeper and harder, going faster and faster.

"I know! Oh… Brooklyn… I love you so much!" She gasped out, and instantly he crushed his lips down to hers, kissing, tasting and breathing her in as they rocked in unison. With the hard ground beneath them, he could feel more of her than he could on a soft mattress. Here there was less give and take, here they could feel every muscle, every sensation and it was just them.

With the stars crashing down upon them, they made love more passionately than they've ever done before. Rocking, touching, tasting, humping and kissing each other madly until the minutes passed into an hour. By this time, they both were sweating a great deal, their bodies slick, and he had made her orgasm twice. A third was building and it would be his finale. Rose detached her lips from his, breathed into his neck and then shot her hands up his back, in between his sensitive wings- and he was there.

Her body arched up against his, a scream left her lips and he roared, shattering the peaceful calm all around them as he dove himself rougher into her. His claws grabbed the grass, dirt and earth to the side of her head as he shattered inside of her, giving himself to her as she had given himself to her. He rocked himself a few more times past his amazing release, when he finally stopped and was breathing raggedly and hoarsely on the side of her face. His body was trembling, and for her, she could barely feel her body it was so numb from sensation.

Both of them were shaking so badly that it felt like the ground was actually shaking. Rose kept her eyes closed, ran her fingers through his long hair and let him lie on top of her as long as he needed until he got the strength to look up at her. Sweat poured down both of their bodies, their lungs both gasping for air. Brooklyn kept himself inserted inside of her, but slid his head to lie on the ground, just on top of hers and closed his own eyes.

"I love you." Rose breathed against his shoulder while gently running her hands along his back and arms, tickling his rougher skin. He shuddered at her light touch, and with a grunt of effort, he raised himself up just enough to look into her face; and upon seeing the stars still in her eyes, he knew that this would go all night long.

"I love you too… oh, more than I could ever begin to describe." He breathed back. "My sweet love… my precious mate… my goddess wife… I love you."

He crushed his lips back to hers, wholly and tenderly, kissing her passionately for a few minutes. Then he pulled back up and both laid there, breathing deeply until their breathing slowed down. Minutes or hours could have passed as they both laid there, and with him still inside of her, they both had nowhere they'd rather be than to be one with each other.

"Brooklyn?" Rose suddenly whispered, and at her soft voice, he slowly opened his eyes and looked down at her.

"Yes, my angel?"

"Can we stay here like this all night? Making love under the stars? I never want to leave this place… to never want to be apart from you."

"We can stay as long as you wish." He whispered, lowering his face and kissing her breasts while still staying inside of her. Upon his touch, like gasoline to a fire, both of them began to fire up again. Her nipples were tender to the touch, but he was so soft and gentle with them, a fire coursed through her again, warming and wetting herself for him, and instantly, his groin harden even more inside of her, their bodies revamping for more pleasure.

"Until sunrise?" She breathed, and to her pleasure, he wrapped his arms and wings around them, allowing her to come on top of him as he laid down on his back. Grinning down at him, she slowly began to rock herself pleasurably over the length of him and with a gasp and a laugh of joy, Brooklyn closed his eyes and gasped, "Yes, my love. I'm yours all night…"

"Hmmm… yes." Rose purred, coming back down to lower her mouth to his. "You're mine."

"I'm sorry… what?" He asked, grinning and she laughed.

"You're mine."

"I can't hear you." He growled as she dug herself harder over him.

"Brooklyn… my bounty is as boundless as the sea; my love as deep. The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.' "

As if he got what he wanted by her quoting Shakespeare again, he growled louder, rotated her back onto her back and used every muscle he had to pulse into her, their bodies one, their lips and tongues all over each other.

"That's right, and you're mine." He breathed against her skin as he made love to her again, and again, and again. "Our love… is forever."

They continued to make love all throughout the night, taking only a few breaks before going at it again. The heaven's above them slowly rotated out and the sky began to lighten with the coming of the dawn. Sometime around three or four in the morning, Rose begged for a rest and within a few minutes of him pulling out of her, did she finally fall into a deep sleep, and had been unmovable since. Brooklyn held her tightly in his arms, wrapped in his wings and slept by her side, allowing his body a small rest and nap before sunrise.

They had been sleeping peacefully for an hour, when Brooklyn's eyes slowly opened. His body clock being stirred to the coming of the sunrise. Their candles had burned out by now, and the once pitch black darkness of the night was being replaced with a lighter blue. Knowing he still had to bring her home, he inhaled through his nose, yawned and got up. The air was cool, if not cold, and the minute he moved away from her naked, warm body, she shivered and melted herself back to the warmth.

He glanced down lovingly at his beautiful wife and mate, hovered over her and began to slowly kiss her lips, cheeks, nose and forehead. Surprisingly, she moaned a little but didn't stir after that. Her breathing was still deep and he could tell that she was in a very deep sleep.

"I love you…" He whispered, kissed her again, and then breathed, "so much."

Reaching over her head, he grabbed her underwear, dress, sandals and carefully began to dress her. To his further surprise, he was able to get her clothes back on, all without waking her. Chuckling, he kept his wings around her for warmth and pulled on his loincloth and large black belt, and whispered, "You must be exhausted, love."

When she still didn't answer and he was fully dressed, he caressed a talon lightly over her face and pecked her cheek again. "You sleep then. I'm bringing you back home…"

Still no word from her, he smiled, opened his wings quickly with a whoosh of cold air, scooped her up into his arms and then took to the sky with a running start. When he jumped off the cliff and into the night sky with ease, he held her tightly to him and took the time in silence to go over the amazing night they had, over and over and over again. Reminiscing over how lucky he was, how beautiful and amazing she was, and how blessed they both were to have their love.

A half hour passed and Brooklyn was gliding over the Manhattan skyline, heading towards their rooftop home, when Rose suddenly started to stir in his arms. He tried hard to shield her from the cool morning wind and upper atmosphere chill, but without a jacket on, it was hard for her to keep sleeping comfortably.

She inhaled through her nose, her eyes fluttered open and when she saw that they were gliding, she gave him a sleepy smile and cuddle even closer to his warm skin.

"Good morning." She breathed.

"Good morning beautiful." He whispered back. "You can keep sleeping, love. We are almost home."

"Mmmm… I love you so much." She whispered, still in delirium, which made him smile. Pressing his lips to her forehead, he held her closer and whispered back, "I love you too… more than I could ever say."

"Last night was…" she yawned, "... unbelievable. The things you do to my body…"

He chuckled, but felt a sense of pride wash over him. "Thank you. But it's all because of how you make me feel… I am in love with you, mind, body and soul, Rose."

"Me too." She breathed with her eyes closed, then she scrunched up her nose and shivered again. "Crap… it's cold out."

"Sorry." He chuckled. "I see our rooftop just up ahead. I'll get you inside and snuggled into our nice warm bed before you know it."

"Can't you stay with me?"

Even half-asleep, her same question brought a gut punch to him. What he wouldn't give to still be with her during the day. It seemed like such a simple thing to want, but for them, it was something deeply desired.

"I… I wish I could, but I can't." He looked ahead, took a deep breath and rested his head down upon her face. "I'm sorry, Rose."

"S'okay." She mumbled, half-way asleep again. "I love you."

Feeling horrible again, he sucked his lips in and willed his body and wings to get them to their home faster. Sunrise was closer to five-thirty now, and it was only five. He would have a half-hour to rest next to her in bed before he turned to stone, and that was something he could give her before being forced to sleep. When they got there, he flapped his wings to land gently on their rooftop, and when his claws hit the ground, he adjusted her in his arms and smoothly walked across their patio, heading towards the door that led inside.

When he looked down at her, her eyes were open and staring at his chest; her finger making a small circle on his skin. He smiled endearingly again at her, opened the door to the top patio and began to walk down the steps.

"I can walk." She said softly.

"I know you can. You just rest though… I'm happy to carry you to our bed."

"Thank you." She mumbled, and his heart melted again for her. Carefully balancing her in one arm, he turned the handle of the bottom door, stepped inside and shut the door behind him. However, when he turned around and smelled a deadly scent, he gasped, froze and stared ahead at his dark house. Sensing his sudden change of behavior, she lifted her head up from his chest and sleepily asked, "Sweetheart…?"

"Shhhh…!"

Rose blinked in shock that he rudely shushed her, but when she looked up into his face and saw his utmost look of protective alertness, she felt more awake.

"What is it?" She asked, looking around their dark house. Just then, he sniffed the air a few times, shuddered, and his eyes lit up bright white.

"Someone has been here…" He growled.

"What?" Rose gasped, fully awake, and he carefully let her down from his arms. "Who?"

"Someone who doesn't belong here!" Was all he growled, before he swiftly grabbed her hand and kept her close to him as he investigated the intruder.

Rose's eyes peeled for any shadow movement, sign of burglary, or damage; but there wasn't any- until they walked further into their living room. She flipped on the light and saw that someone had indeed been in their house, and whoever it was, disliked them a great deal and their pictures apparently. Nothing was ruined or touched except for all of hers and Brooklyn's pictures that were out on display. Glass was shattered all over the hardwood floor and rugs, the frames destroyed; but luckily the pictures inside remained intact.

Stunned and shocked, Rose kept hold of his claw and looked further to see that one picture was destroyed, and it was their nice wedding picture from the wall- it was shredded up and laid wasted on the ground. Brooklyn growled even more venomously, and she instantly touched her hand to her chest.

"Who… what burglar would do this?!"

"This was no burglar." Brooklyn hissed in a low voice, his bright white eyes still searching the house all around them. "Whoever was here smells of death and decay… but it's been hours. The scent has faded slightly, but it's all over the place…"

Gasping, she turned to face him, and placed her hands upon his chest. "Do you think it was another Draugr?"

"The Draugr smelled way more foul than this intruder did… and neither did they care to destroy our personal property… unless you killing those six really pissed them off."

"Wouldn't surprise me." Rose whispered, feeling truly sick to her stomach again. Being early morning, and after a night of intense countless rounds of sexual pleasure, her stomach was beginning to clench, churn with intense nausea, and this break-in wasn't helping.

"Come on…" Brooklyn whispered, pulling her with him, heading towards their bedroom with a sharp claw out to attack whoever and whatever visited them, if they were still hanging around. She clung onto his claw and arm, and had to remind herself to breathe, to will the vomit to stay down as they rounded the hallway into their bedroom. Brooklyn stopped outside of their closed bedroom door, glanced over at her, and then kicked the door open. He pulled out of her grasp, jumped into the room snarling and looked around.

However, again, nothing was there… but the smell and more damage to their pictures. He stalked into the room further, and then turned and entered the bathroom, as Rose entered behind him and looked around at the mess of glass from picture frames, but again, nothing else was tarnished.

"Where did they enter from…? Rose asked in a whisper.

"I think I found out how."

Rose turned to look into the bathroom and stood behind him. There in the middle of their bathroom was more glass shattered all over the tile and the busted skylight. Brooklyn's eyes faded back to normal, even though she could still feel how angry he was; and he growled out a sigh.

"I've got to figure out a different layout for this ceiling. This is now the second time that something unwelcome has broken into our home by this damn skylight."

Rose took a deep breath, backed up and held her stomach while leaning her back against the nearest wall. She closed her eyes and willed herself to stay calm and breathe. Even if it was another Draugr, she had dealt with them before, and though they weren't pleasant, she knew how to kill them. Setting them on fire or decapitation of their heads and they were done for; and fire was something she could try to learn how to better will out of her magic, if that was the case.

She stayed against the wall, feeling more ill with every passing second and hated that she was dealing with it again. For once, she just wanted all of the nightmares to go away, the nausea, the drama… why couldn't it stay away and let her and Brooklyn live their lives in peace?

From inside the bathroom, she listened to Brooklyn continue to inspect and talk to himself, or her, she wasn't sure.

"Who in the hell…?!" He muttered. "Someone would've had to have wings to get in here… but there are no claws marks from the Draugr's like before… I don't understand…"

Rose opened her eyes to get back in there to assist him with cleaning up, but before she could, something strange was on her nicely made bed… something that she didn't recall leaving there. Even though she couldn't see it exactly, her heart began to pound with fear. Deep down, she almost knew who had been here, and though she couldn't bear to face it, she just knew that it was him.

But, it couldn't' have been… he didn't know where she lived…

When she approached her side of the bed and saw what was left for her, her breath left her lungs, her blood ran cold and she couldn't feel anything. Unsure how she managed to reach out to touch the gifts, she lifted up a single piece of paper- which looked to be a part of a book that was ripped out- and then in her right hand she picked up a single red rose, with a black ribbon around the stem.

A dead, wilted, red rose.

There was only one person she knew who ever spited her by leaving her a red rose… only one person would play a cruel mind game like this. Rose stared down at the words of the poem and found out that it was ripped out of her Shakespeare book… more specifically… 'Romeo and Juliet' and now she was more than sure she was going to black out.

She heard Brooklyn's voice behind her but it was muffled, faded, but he could feel that something was wrong, very, very wrong….

His claw grasped down upon hers, and he whipped her around, his mouth moving but she still couldn't hear, but she knew what he was asking. Without another word, she gave him the poem and finally managed to whisper, "I know who was here…"

Brooklyn stared at her with wide eyes, and had to hold onto her to keep her from falling down. Without another word, he looked down at the paper and read it, and when he did, his blood went cold as well.

"These violent delights have violent ends,

and in their triumph die, like fire and powder,

which as they kiss, consume…"

Brooklyn looked up from the words at Rose and was horrified. From the dead rose in her white, shaking hands, to the words, he knew who it was as well- and who very well might have stalked them all night while they made love under the stars. Who had found their safe haven, their home and left his dead scent all over the place. Mocking them and telling them that he was back, and never really left.

"Holy shit… " Brooklyn breathed in horror. "... Kevin…"

Rose didn't need to hear anymore. She dropped the rose on the ground, pushed past him and sprinted for the bathroom. She slid into the glass, not caring that she cut her knees up, and violently emptied the contents of her stomach into the porcelain toilet bowl.