The pizzas had arrived, and the clan had gathered when Danielle came rushing back into the living room. From the adjourning doorway, the head of table could be seen and as she slipped by Goliath called her name. "Danielle?"

Knowing there was no sense in avoiding it, she stepped into the dinning room and tried to smile. "I'm not very hungry, so I'm gonna skip supper." Her eyes locked with nearly everyone at the table and her emotions took over. With tears beginning to steam again, she turned and rushed for the door.

Xanatos and Goliath shared a disappointed glance after watching her leave. David and Hudson stood at the same time, and he graced the elder with his full attention. Hudson wiped his mouth and placed the napkin on the table. "Please lad, allow me?"

Nodding, he retook his seat. "By all means." Hudson gave a small smile and left the room.

Xanatos watched him go and then turned his attention to Goliath. "This has gotten out of hand."

The head gargoyle nodded, a rumble resounding in his chest. "Agreed."

Xanatos stood, placing his own napkin over completely forgotten pizza. "Shall we do our part then?"

Goliath stood with a nod. "After you."

-At Danielle's bedroom

*Knock, knock*

Hudson could hear stirring coming from behind the door, his heart broke for the wee little lass. "I'm not in the mood, David."

He chucked inside. "It not be your brother, Daniella." A second later, the door opened to reveal a heartbroken Danielle trying desperately to gain control. "Ye have no reason to hold back with me, lass."

Offering her his hand seemed to open the flood gates and she instead walked into his arms. "Oh Hudson."

As his hold on her tightened, his frustration towards their situation grew. 'The lad don't know what he's givin' up.' As her tears poured, her shoulders shook, and the old gargoyle felt his heartbreak more. "Come now lass, it'll get better, eventually."

-On the battlements

Brooklyn didn't have to look up to know he encored the wrath of the of the entire clan. He assumed that Xanatos and Goliath had come to express their disappointments, but instead they just stood a few feet away and stared. After a what felt like hours but was only a matter of minutes, he stood and faced them. "I won't insult either of you by apologizing. The fight between us got heated and we're both to blame."

Xanatos glanced at Goliath before turning his attention back to Brooklyn. "Can't say I'm not disappointed that things between you didn't go better. I'd really hope you could find some common ground."

Goliath rumbled his consent and his gaze locked with Brooklyn's. "Tell us something Brooklyn. If things were better, what would you desire from Danielle?"

The younger gargoyle's eyes widened, and he could feel his emotions working to the surface again. "I care for her, I'm just not sure we could make a long-distance relationship realistic for either of us. Not with my life limited to the night."

Xanatos sighed. "I'm beginning to believe you're right, the stress wouldn't make things any better between you than they are now. And Danielle just renewed her contract last week for another year."

Goliath's frown deepened. "Then perhaps they are just not meant to be."

Brooklyn felt like Goliath's words had punched him but could not deny that the thought felt valid. But could he except that? 'No, I can't. I love her, I have to make this right.'

Suddenly determined in his goals, he met their gazes and straightened. "I'd like your permission to see Danni again, there's something I have to tell her."

-Danielle's bedroom door

Brooklyn reached for the door and yet hesitated. He'd gained approval from Xanatos and Goliath but that still left an angry Hudson to get through before being able to speak to Danni. He knew when the two had wished him luck he'd need it. Few were as precious to their elder as Elisa, and like Angela when she'd first joined the clan, Danielle fit the bill.

Raising his hand again, he knocked and waited. As expected, Hudson answered her door with a frown. "Ye won't be upsetting my wee little thing again tonight."

Knowing he had a lot to prove, he met Hudson's stare with all the sincerity he could muster. "That's the last thing I want Hudson. Just want to talk if she'll humor me with a few minutes?"

He watched as Hudson turned his back to the door, a silent exchange going on between them. A moment later he turned and pulled the door open wide, Danielle at his right side. "Where?"

He stared into her eyes, knowing the pain he'd help put there and offered his hand with the same sincerity. "Would you walk the courtyard with me?"

Nodding, she leaned over and kissed Hudson's right check before stepping out into the hallway and taking Brooklyn's offered elbow. Hudson stepped out of her room and closed the door, meeting the younger gargoyle's gaze. "Ye best do right by her this time, lad."

Without blinking, he held his elder's gaze. "I intend to."

Hudson nodded and started down the hall. "Be off with ye then."

They'd walked from the castle and around the courtyard for several minutes in complete silence, nether quite sure of what to say. Finally, under an Elm tree Brooklyn turned to face her, his resolve faltering as he saw the pain in her eyes. "Danni, I'm sorry. You rushed home for me and all that's come of it is both of us in tears."

She nodded. "I'm sorry too. I should have stayed in touch, done better to get home but every time I thought of you and Celine…"

He pulled her against his chest, arms wrapping around her shoulders as her own encircled his waist. "I love you, there's no denying it, you have to know."

She nodded against him, spilling fresh tears down his chest, though neither of them could care. "I love you too."

He kissed the top of her head. "I think I fell in love with you that first night you'd moved in." He laughed. "You followed me outside and even though we were in the fresh air I couldn't breathe. It was such a hush, it scared the hell out of me."

Danielle laughed and leaned back meeting his gaze. "I can remember thinking how cute you were when you after blushed after saying I was beautiful. And how natural flirting with you was. You brought my soul a sense of peace I hadn't found in a long time, Brooklyn."

He smiled, the first she'd seen all night. It took her breath away, staring into each other's eyes only drew them closer. Finally, their mouths met in a sweet exchange.

After a moment, Brooklyn broke the contact and cupped her face between his hands. "Danni, we can't start this now."

Her attention fell, she could feel new tears begin to fall. "Wa…why not?"

He kissed her forehead and brushed dry her checks. "Look at me, please." She did so. "I don't deserve you right now. I need to get my mind and body right again, I want to worthy of your affection."

She frowned. "Then what should we do, I just renewed my contract, and…"

He shushed her. "I know, Xanatos already told me. Regardless, this isn't how I'd want to court you." She blushed, and he continued. "Let's consider this year…a pilot. We'll have more contact by phone and video chat and if your schedule allows, you come back home more often. It'll give us a chance to put our friendship back. After that, if you decide not to renew your contract and we still feel the same…"

Danni sighed. "You're talking about living a year with intention but no commitment."

He nodded. "To put human terms on it, yeah. I just don't want to ruin our friendship because we went about this the wrong way. Loosing you, for you to hate me, that's my worst fear."

She sighed, knowing that it would destroy her as well. Hell, they'd come close to that tonight. Taking his hand, she laced her fingers through his talons and met his gaze again. "So, are we saying no overly affectionate acts then?"

Brooklyn brought their joined hands up to his beak and kissed her knuckles with a smirk. "I wouldn't say that. My point was just to keep us from going overboard." Lowing their hands, he caressed her face with the other. "I want to get there, believe me, but I'm willing to wait until we're on stable ground."

She took a moment to absorb his proposition and smiled. "I can agree to that."

"Good." He leaned forward and kissed her check. "Let's get something to eat, whatcha say?"

Smiling, she took his offered arm again as he led her back towards the castle. "Sounds good to me."