Danielle arrived at five-thirty that morning to a still darkened sky, and an incredibly quite castle. As she walked the halls, moving towards the room she occupied when here, she had to remind herself that David, Fox and Alex weren't home. Still she'd expected to hear the clan.

Leaving her things, she made her way into the main living room and was greeted by a heartwarming sight. Broadway was in the floor with his hatchling daughter, showing her how to fight the shapes from a block toy into their spaces.

Angela came into the room from the kitchen carrying a tray and nearly dropped it upon seeing her. "Danni?!"

This caught Broadway's attention and he looked up with his usual smile. "We didn't know you were coming home." He stood, scooping up their daughter in one arm and wrapped her in a fierce hug with the other. "I'm glad you're here."

Overcome with emotion, she nodded from against his shoulder and reached out to tickle Amara. The little gargoyle was green, like her father but had been graced with her mother's beauty and hair. "She's beautiful Broadway."

He laughed and released her. "Well yeah, but that didn't come from me."

Angela had set down her tray and came to greet her with a warm hug. "Is it safe to guess what's brought you home unexpectedly?"

Danni sighed. "I'm so sorry guys. Things at work have been hectic and with Travis blowing up my cell I'd taken to leaving it on my desk. I can't believe I missed so many calls."

Angela took her hand and led them away from Broadway and Amara. "So, Hudson's told everything then?"

She met her gaze as they sat on the couch. "I don't know about everything, but he said enough and then I heard Brooklyn argue with him about going out last night. I couldn't believe it was him."

"He's a mess…" We turned to see Brooklyn standing in the battlement doorway. "Isn't that what you were going to say Angela?"

He was thin, thinner than he should have been and leaning heavily on his right shoulder against the frame. She could see that his normally vibrant skin was dull, mostly likely from his poor eating habits of late. He grinned at her, lifting a bottle in a brown bag to his beak. "Brooklyn, I…"

She watched him take a long drag from the bottle and then stumble to right himself with a sloppy smirk. "What's wrong Danni don't like what ya see?"

Broadway stood, nodding to them before scooping up Amara and leaving the room. Brooklyn's gaze followed him, and he huffed, drinking again. "Who needs ya."

Angela sighed as he turned and moved back outside, drawing Danielle's attention again. "Don't know if your visit will do him any good. Father actually didn't want you bothered with this."

She shook her head. 'He's worse than I thought.' "No, Hudson was right to call. I'm at least partially to blame for the way he's thinking." Angela touched her hand, and their eyes locked. "I kissed him, before I left the first time."

Shock spread across her face, but she smiled anyway. "I kinda figured something like that had happened."

Danielle glanced over her shoulder, making sure Brooklyn was still outside. "What happened to the Avalon clan? Brooklyn wouldn't tell me the last time I was here and like a coward I never asked anyone else."

Angela frowned and crossed her arms. "They didn't want to stay. Things here are too foreign and while I couldn't blame them for that, other circumstances played into the decision." She sighed. "I really don't know why my brothers came in the first place."

Danielle nodded. "And Celine?"

Angela's gaze moved to the battlement doors before meet her own again. "They tired for a while, even after Matthew informed her that Brooklyn had been involved with you. After three months the others were asking Goliath to arrange their return to Avalon. I think Celine really did care for Brooklyn, but it never grew into a mating courtship, they fought about his desire to be here."

"She wanted him to go?"

Angela nodded. "She asked, more than once in the last few nights they were here. Demon finally punched him, accused him of still being in love with you and demanded she return with them. Celine knew you had plans to return for the photo shot and didn't protest after that."

Danielle shook her head. "I'm sorry Angela, I shouldn't have seen Brooklyn that night."

She shrugged. "Do you truly believe any difference would come of that?" She nodded towards the doorway. "Dawn is nearly upon us. Why don't you go see him before it's too late?"

Danni looked toward the doorway and nodded, squeezing Angela hand as she stood and made her way. Brooklyn was slumped against the wall, empty bottle beside him. He didn't even acknowledge her knelling in front of him until she ran her fingers through the top of his white hair. "You look awful."

He scoffed, his attention on the battlements behind her. "Like you care."

His breath reeked of the whiskey he'd been drinking, and his tone cut her deeper than his talons ever could have but she couldn't let that deter her. 'You smell worse.' "For your information, if I didn't care, I wouldn't have dropped everything for you."

This seemed to catch his attention and he shrugged. "Not like you still love me, so what's the point?"

That was nearly enough to break her heart. She'd never would have imagined him like this. "Brooklyn I…"

He laughed and pointed behind her. "Dawn's comin'. Sorry Danni but you're just going to be another drunkin' daydream. I've had a dozen but never this good. I could almost feel your hand in my hair." His left hand lifted the empty bottle and he laughed again. "Have ta remember to get more of this."

Glancing over her shoulder, seeing the sun just starting to reach them, she panicked. 'I have to reach him now!' Turning her attention back to Brooklyn, she cupped his face in both hands and pulled him forward, pressing a kiss to the end of his beak.

Startled, his eyes shot wide and as she pulled away, Danielle could she the confusion in his clouded gaze. "Danni, you're really her…"

Staring at his sleeping form now, she sighed, feeling drained. "Yeah Brooklyn, I'm here."

"I'm glad too."

She turned to see Elisa standing in the doorway with a tired expression. "Goliath kept the others in the living room." She smiled and offer her hand as Danielle stood up. "Are you okay?"

At Elisa's gentle tugging they made their way back into the castle. "Yes and no, but hopefully he will be."