The dorms were on the opposite side of the village from the dining hall, so it was a bit of a trudge to get there and back.

Elisa walked down the path where she was supposed to meet Goliath, her stomach was doing nervous flip flops, but she felt hopeful and lighter than air. She was going to tell him.

She caught view of him from behind and she smiled, her heart pounding, and then she stopped in her tracks as her heart sunk like a lead balloon at what she saw.

Goliath was not alone.

He and Tsering were intimately entwined.

Elisa had been around gargoyle couples long enough now to know how they expressed affection, and this was unmistakably that.

Tears stung in her eyes, and she angrily turned and fled back up the path before she could be seen.

She wanted to scream and rage at them both; she felt humiliated and hurt.

What had been all of that earlier, Goliath calling her beautiful?

And what about what Pema told her?

He must have just been paying her a compliment, and somehow she had leapt to the conclusion that he was going to tell her he loved her. God, she was an idiot. What had she been thinking? Of course he would leap at the chance to be with his own kind.

Especially one as beautiful as Tsering.

But she couldn't stop the way she felt about him, and her heart felt like it had been shattered into a million pieces and the shards were digging into her chest.

She felt her carefully maintained control slipping. She wasn't someone who cried easily, but she felt the tears welling up in her eyes. She was struggling to keep her composure, and she ran to the dormitory and into her room, slamming the door behind her just as she lost it, and she let out a shuddering sob before the tears fell in earnest. For a few moments she cried brokenly, angrily, bitterly before she managed to regain her composure and force it all down.

She angrily wiped at her face. She was a grown, rational woman, not some teenager pining over a stolen boyfriend. This was how it is. If Goliath decided to be with another gargoyle, that was his choice. Tsering was beautiful and kind. She would be good to him, and Elisa knew he would be incredibly good to her. They could grow old together...have children together. It was the way it should be.

But, god, it hurt.

There was a soft knock at her door, and she whirled toward the offending sound. The last thing she wanted was for someone to intrude upon her well earned pity party.

She opened it to find the last person she wanted to see on the other side.

"What do you need, Goliath," she said, startled and angry to see him.

"Elisa..." Goliath began to speak, but he was momentarily distracted by her tear stained face. "Are you alright?" he asked, concerned.

"I'm fine," Elisa snapped. "What is it?"

Goliath recoiled at her anger which seemed to be directed towards him for some reason.

"I came to check on you. I thought we were going to go for a walk around the lake...to talk, but you never showed."

"I'm fine," she repeated. "I'm just tired."

Goliath eyed her with concern. She wasn't acting like herself, and she did not give into tears easily, but he thought perhaps she was just sad to be leaving Shambahla.

"I will leave you to rest then, if that is what you need," Goliath said congenially, but he still looked concerned. He'd never seen her look more miserable before. "But I'm worried about you, Elisa."

"I told you I'm fine," Elisa said annoyed. Goliath eyed her pensively. He wished she would just tell him what was bothering her, he wasn't a mind reader, but against his better judgment he turned to leave.

But then she called out to him.

"Is Tsering going to come with us when we leave?" Elisa asked, forcing a conversation she didn't want to have but needed to.

"No. Why would you think she was coming with us?" Goliath replied as he turned back to face her.

"Because you're not planning to stay here…right?"

Her heart sunk at the thought. He couldn't possibly, could he?

"Of course I'm not. Why would I?" Goliath replied perplexed.

"Because...I've seen the way you two are together. You and Tsering," Elisa said dejectedly.

"Elisa...there is nothing going on between me and Tsering. You are mistaken."

"I'm not. I know what I saw."

Goliath furrowed his brow.

"What did you...oh. You saw that."

He closed his eyes briefly and covered his face with his palm.

What a mess, he thought.

"I saw you talking with her, down by the river. You were...very cozy."

"Elisa...I can explain–" Goliath began, but Elisa barrelled on, finding courage she didn't think she had to speak what was burning in her heart.

"I know I shouldn't be so selfish, especially if you have the chance to be with one of your own kind...but the thought of you with someone else…it hurts too much."

Goliath blinked, and then his whole countenance shifted from defensive to something far softer.

"Oh, Elisa..." he said simply. "You're right about what you saw, Tsering was attempting to court me, but did you not see the part where I turned her down?"

"I left quickly because I couldn't stand to see you with someone else," Elisa said as she realized what Goliath was saying.

He nodded and took a step towards her.

"I told her I could not love her because my heart already belongs to another."

"You did?" Elisa said, and she felt the pain in her chest lighten.

"So…you don't love Tsering?" she said quietly, hopefully.

Goliath shook his head as he looked down at her, his face was full of gentle rebuke, and he took a step forward so that she was forced to look up at him. He took her face in both his hands, his fingers threading through her hair. "No. Of course not, Elisa…how could you possibly think I could ever fall in love with someone else when you know I am completely and hopelessly in love with you?"

Elisa stared up at him, her eyes welling with fresh tears.

He'd said it.

He'd actually said it.

"But...you and I…it would be impossible," she said as tears slid down her face, and he brushed them away with his thumbs.

"Nothing is impossible, Elisa, but if I had to choose between a life of only friendship with you and a romantic relationship with anyone else in the world, I would choose you, without hesitation."

Elisa's eyes softened and more tears fell.

"I don't want that," she replied in a quiet but firm tone. "That's all we've had for the past two years, and it's killing me."

"What do you want then, Elisa?" Goliath asked with reserved hopefulness.

"You. I want you," she said, and she slipped her arms around his neck and stood on her toes to press her mouth to his.

Goliath was shocked by the embrace at first, and he pulled back for a brief moment and peered into her eyes. Then he groaned and wrapped her up in his arms and pressed his mouth to hers, throwing himself hungrily into the kiss. Elisa buried her hands in his hair, her fingers raked against his scalp and she pressed her body to his. A low growl rumbled in his chest, and he took a few steps forward pressing them both further into the privacy of her room.

"Shut the door," Elisa said breathlessly, breaking the kiss momentarily.

Goliath obeyed her and closed the door with his tail, shutting them both into her temporary quarters and away from the rest of the world.

He kissed her jaw, her neck, reveling in the taste and feel of her skin against his lips. He was desperate for more, but he dared not go farther than she was ready for.

But Elisa had other ideas. Her hands went to the sash at her waist, and she began to untie it, but Goliath put his hands over hers and stopped her.

At first, Elisa thought he was going to tell her they shouldn't. That it wasn't a good idea, and her heart fell, but then he untied it for her. He looked at her as he did, his eyes never leaving hers. Then he slipped his hands under the collar of her dress, his hands gliding over her neck and shoulders as he pushed the dress off her arms, and it whispered over her skin before it fell to the floor in a delicate puddle of silk.

He gazed at her breathlessly for several heartbeats.

She wasn't wearing anything underneath, and she stood before him naked and vulnerable.

"I didn't expect…" Elisa said haltingly, nervously. "But I hoped–"

He silenced her with a kiss that was awkward but sweet as he put his arms around her.

His hands moved down the smooth, strong muscles of her back, caressing her spine and the flair of her hips and down over her toned backside and back up. He pulled the ornament out of her hair that held it up, and watched her hair spill like a cascade of water around her shoulders and down her back. He looked at her as he dragged his talons through some of the thick strands of her hair, and he shuddered almost imperceptibly. Then he gathered more of her hair up in his hands the way he'd always longed to and fantasized about. He trailed his hand through her hair down to the ends, the backs of his fingers lightly grazed the tip of her breast as he did, and she inhaled sharply.

He cupped her breast exploring the way she felt, her nipple hardened beneath his palm, and her lips parted and she sighed.

He pulled her in closer, his other arm went around her waist as he drew her near. He pressed his mouth to her neck and felt her rapid pulse under his lips. He worked his way down, dropping to his knees so that they were at a more even height as he kissed the long scar over her breastbone. Then he replaced the hand upon her breast with his mouth, flicking his tongue over her hardened nipple. Elisa gasped and gripped his hair tightly as he lavished attention on the one before he moved to the other as he held her, one hand in her hair, the other kneading her posterior.

Her knees buckled and he caught her and laid her down gently on the soft bedding.

He hovered over her, resting his weight on one arm.

He had no idea what human women liked.

He knew Elisa was an experienced woman, she'd had lovers in the past, and he was actually quite relieved that she had. She could tell him what she wanted, what she liked.

"Tell me how to please you," he said softly as he pressed kisses to her neck and shoulder.

Elisa let her legs fall open wide for him.

"Touch me," she begged, her tone a little nervous.

"Show me how," Goliath growled, his voice thick.

Elisa put her hand over his and slid it between her legs.

"Here," she sighed as she showed him how she liked to be touched.

"Like this?" Goliath asked.

She bit her lip and nodded and then gasped as his touch sent shivers up and down her body. Goliath's eyes grew wide with pleasure as he watched her reaction to his touch. He was very much relieved by the fact that it seemed human females liked a lot of the same things gargoyle females did. He caressed her again and she made that same wonderful sound. She melted into him. Sighing and moaning in his arms the way he had always dreamed she would as he touched her. His face was close to hers, his mouth just a few inches away from hers, and he could feel the puffs of her breath against his lips as she panted with pleasure as he drew small circles with his finger.

It didn't take long before she was grasping at him desperately, her hips surged against his hand.

"I need you," she moaned, and her hands went to the belt at his waist.

"Elisa, are you sure about this?" Goliath said, suddenly feeling apprehensive.

"More than anything," she said and she began to work the clasp of his belt and unthread the thick leather strap.

"Elisa, I'm not human–" he protested.

"It's ok, I'm not worried. Pema warned me that gargoyle are a little different from humans," Elisa said reassuringly.

"I'm grateful for her foresight, but what I mean is, if we do this...there's no going back to what we were before. Not for me," he said quietly.

Elisa paused and looked up at him.

"Good," she said. "I don't want to go back. I love you, Goliath."

Goliath sighed at her words, and he kissed her before he helped her to get his loincloth off. He waited for some sign of regret or apprehension, but she took him in her hands and guided him to her.

Elisa's breathing quickened with nervous excitement. Her heart pounded so loudly he could hear it.

He ached for her.

Stars, he wanted her.

She grasped eagerly at him, trying to pull him down to her, her legs wrapped around his hips, her feet pressed against his tail.

He buried his face in her neck and kissed the delicate skin there. He inhaled the scent of her hair and skin as he slowly began to press forward into the warm depths of her body as he felt her flesh yield to him. She grasped urgently at him as her body embraced him eagerly, but she gasped loudly as though pained as he slipped inside her, and his talons dug into the floor.

"Are you alright?" he whispered.

"It's ok...it's ok," she said, her eyes wide.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"Don't you dare!" she growled.

He carefully moved out and back in again.

"Please, oh god, you feel so good," she moaned.

He continued the torturously careful pace, but he was rewarded by her moans of pleasure that grew louder and louder, and he kissed her to silence her. The walls here were thin, and he did not want to announce what they were doing to the whole clan.

Her mouth warred with his, her tongue darting into his unfamiliarly but in a way that mimicked the way their bodies were moving together further below, and it drove him absolutely mad. He desperately wanted her to touch his wings, but he would save that for another night when he didn't feel like he was barely clinging onto his self control.

It had been so long.

His eyes flared white, and he turned his face away and closed his eyes, worried that his natural but unfamiliar response to arousal would alarm her, but Elisa put her hands on his face and forced him to look at her.

Elisa couldn't make out the details of his eyes, the nearly black irises with their almost metallic sheen and flecks of deep violet that she had become so accustomed to looking at, but she knew he could still see her, and she wanted him to know she wasn't afraid of him or their differences.

His brow was furrowed in concentration and the rising tension in his body. She touched his face lightly. Her lips parted as she clung fiercely to him, her eyes wide and wild. She felt like she was going to break apart.

She cried out loudly, and then she pressed her face against his shoulder and bit him to keep from screaming as she climaxed.

That aggressive and rather gargoyle-like move pushed him over the edge. He snarled and shuddered spasmodically against her as he came, and his talons dug furrows into the floor.

They didn't move afterwards.

They clung to each other fiercely as they came down from the high of their unexpected union. Goliath was stunned at what had happened, and absolutely thrilled, but then he became aware of his surroundings again and noticed Elisa was making quiet, shuddering little breaths beneath him.

"Are you ok? Did I hurt you?" Goliath said, alarmed.

"No...no...I'm good. Really good," she said with a light laugh as she ran her hands up and down his chest as though she was trying to remind herself he was really there. "Just...catching my breath. I kind of got a little light headed there at the end."

"You're not regretting–"

"No, of course not," Elisa said firmly.

Goliath pressed his face into the crook of her neck and sighed with relief.

"I just..." she began as she stroked his hair. "I can't believe I waited so long for this! It seems ridiculous now."

"You had reasons. Good ones," Goliath said gently.

Elisa shifted a little uncomfortably, and he rolled over onto his side and covered them with a wing.

She curled into him, her head against his chest. He kissed her temple and toyed with her hair.

"I apologize for the, uh, awkward performance," Goliath said as he ran a lock of her hair through his fingers.

"What awkward performance? What are you talking about?" Elisa laughed incredulously.

"I have no practice with kissing," he said.

"You were fine," Elisa said. "And it's not that important once things really get going."

"I certainly did not think the night would wind up like this," he said lightly.

"I had every intention of seducing you, until well…" Elisa's mouth pressed into a thin line.

"I should have rebuffed Tsering sooner. I never thought she would be quite so...forward."

"You underestimate your appeal," Elisa smiled at him.

"Apparently," he said with a sigh. "And I thought the females in Ishimura were aggressive. They are subtle compared to Tsering."

"What?" Elisa said with surprised humor.

"Uh...well–" Goliath started to explain.

There was a frantic knock at the door.

"Elisa!" came Angela's voice.

They both went absolutely still and looked at each other as they both tried to decide what to do.

Elisa pressed her eyes closed together momentarily, and then she spoke, raising her voice so Angela could hear her.

"Angela? What is it?" she called out, trying to sound casual.

"I'm looking for Goliath. Have you seen him? I can't find him anywhere!"

Goliath sighed with annoyance.

"What's going on?" Elisa asked.

"There's a fight!" she said panicked. "I think they might kill each other!"

Goliath reluctantly let Elisa out of his arms as she got up and slipped back into a robe and opened the door ajar slightly, just enough so she could peer out but Angela could not see in while Goliath got his loincloth back on.

"Who's fighting?" Elisa asked.

Goliath fumbled with his belt in his haste to get his loincloth back on, and there was a loud clink of metal and a rustle of cloth as he nearly dropped it.

Angela keyed in towards the sound, then she looked back at Elisa and took in her swollen lips, her disheveled hair, the flush to her face and skin, the bite marks on her neck…

Her eyes grew wide with realization, but even wider still as Goliath put a hand on the door and opened it wider to peer out at her from inside Elisa's room. Elisa was trying really hard to look everywhere else but at her.

Angela's face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Ah ha!" she exclaimed. "Finally!"

"Angela, you said something about a fight?" Goliath said mildly put out.

"Oh! Right! It's Rinchen and Norbu! They're fighting in the Monastery."

"Let's go find out why they're at each other's throats and stop it then," Goliath said.

"I'll get dressed and join you," Elisa said.

Goliath sighed reluctantly. He was far from being done with her yet and wanted nothing more than to carry her back into her room and lock the door behind them.

But he had to help first.

He briefly nuzzled her brow, then he left with Angela and Bronx.