Nearly three months later…New Year's Eve

Brooklyn watched Elisa, Fox and Danni from the battlements with Goliath and Broadway. The three women we're deep in their own discussion about something and were all smiles.

It had taken effort, but they'd worked out a system for those long weeks Danni was away. It wouldn't tie either of them down into the terms of a real relationship just yet but keep them in touch enough to be satisfied.

Every fourth night or so, one of them would call. He would retreat to the library, picking up whatever book they'd been reading together. Most nights he would set the phone on speaker and read until she fell asleep. Then he would wish her sweet dreams and end the call resisting the urge to whisper he loved her, just barely.

Though she'd missed Halloween, Danielle had pushed herself and her team to be off for not only a long weekend at Thanks Giving but the entire week of Christmas and through New Year's. She been home eight days now, and despite his best efforts, he was finding it hard not to want to catch her in every corner and kiss her breathless. Sure, they shared the quick pecks a couple times a day, and he had taken to catching her off guard for a searing kiss more than once; still he wanted more.

Angela joined the women carrying Amara, just as Matt Bluestone arrived. Elisa's partner had become as much a member of their clan as anyone and spent quite a bit of time in the castle as the weather turned too cold.

As the gargoyles moved inside, Alex, who had been in the floor by Hudson's feet took notice of Amara and ran over. He laughed and having earned the attention of his mother and aunts and produced a sprig of mistletoe above Danielle and Matt's heads. "Kiss, kiss!" The three-year-old had become engrossed with amusement at dangling the plant over every couple's head this week and even as he was now, created some new couples in his mind.

His laughter and pointing drew their attention to it and Danni scooped him up, peppering kisses all over his face. Confusion struck him for a moment before pushing her face away and pointing at Matt. "No, no. You kiss Matt, Auntie."

Fox laughed as everyone did and took her opinioned son from Danielle. "Now Alex, it isn't nice to order people to kiss."

Dani and Matt's eyes met, and they shrugged, what was the harm in humoring him just once. The detective bent down and pecked a kiss on her lips. Alex's excitement was unmeasurable. "Yay! Kiss Auntie again Matt!"

Fox smiled and patted his bottom. "Oh no little man, you've played cupid enough, it isn't even the right month." Everyone in the room chuckled again, and she left with the little trouble maker in tow; it was nearly his bed time after all.

A few minutes after that, Brooklyn watched Matt leave Elisa and Danni's side and start towards him. Though they weren't courting officially yet, everyone in the clan knew their intent was still to possibly do so after Danni's contract ended. What they and no one else addressed aloud was that they might as well have already been mated, they only had eyes for each other.

Matt joined him by the wall with a smile. "Happy New Year's, Brook."

He nodded. "Happy new year, Matt."

Though they'd done this in the castle for three years now, it was the first Matt had been able to attend. The other two years he'd been stuck in the prescient pulling doubles for officers with families. His human friend smiled and took a drink from the cup he held before voicing the concern Brooklyn knew was coming. "I hope that kiss won't cause any hard feelings, it wasn't my intention."

Brooklyn smiled and glanced to where Danni and Xanatos were now laughing, she winked. They both knew that Matt would apologize for that kiss. "Don't sweat it. Danni and I aren't official yet and it wasn't like you hit on her."

Matt sighed, the thought of upsetting the recently recovered gargoyle had troubled him. "You took that awful well."

"Well, of course…" A wide smirk spread across Brooklyn's face. "…I've already kissed Danni tonight, and every night and morning she's been home, I could spare you one."

Doing a double take, Matt's smile widened. "Good on ya."

From across the room, Dani watched the moment between them and smiled.

-Later that morning, twenty minutes till dawn

Danielle walked arm and arm with Brooklyn as he played escort to her bedroom. Their New Year's festivities had wrapped up just a few moments ago, with the clan and human members bidding each other a good rest. Now they would be able to catch a moment of privacy.

Kicking open her door, Danni smiled and pulled Brooklyn into the room, pushing his back against it in searing kiss. Her red skinned love moaned and returned her kiss with equal passion. Once they broke, Dani smiled softly. "I'm proud of how you handled that kiss with Matt."

Brooklyn purred, his hands running along her back. "Then shouldn't I be rewarded?"

"Indeed, you should." She laughed and kissed him again, digging her hands into his wild white hair.

He moaned again, broke the kiss, and pulled her flush against him. He'd stopped worrying about her feeling his excitement through her cloths and his loincloth, he couldn't deny it. He wanted, no, needed her. "It's getting harder and harder to want to honor the agreement."

She laughed and rocked her hips against him. "Mm, it would be a shame to break it at only three months in. What would our clan think?"

He hissed, his hands coming down upon her hips to squeeze them as she leaned back to met his gaze. The dress she'd worn tonight was festive but also short and tight, leaving little to the imagination. Add in the thigh high black boots and it was no wonder why he was having second thoughts. "Dani, if you don't stop, my will power is going to break."

She sighed and stepped back, admiring the look of him still pressed against her door. He smirked. "See something you like?"

In three months, he'd reversed whatever damage the drinking binge had done to his body. His skin had returned to his normal rusty red color and his hair held its shin. He'd put on muscle, getting back to his original size and then adding some. He looked healthy again and Dani had found him haunting her dreams in the last weeks, granting her permission to worship his amazing body which once again exuded his confidence since Goliath had returned his command.

She met his heated gaze and shivered. "You know I do."

Chuckling, his attention moved outside, the sun would be upon them any minute. He took her hand, leading her to the balcony doors, pulling them together once more. They're eyes locked. "You're not leaving until tomorrow, right?"

She smiled. Her leaving was still hard for them, especially since neither would ask to change their agreement. "Right, I have a flight tomorrow morning around eleven. Matt is even taking me to the airport."

He sighed and kissed her, deepening it for only a moment. When their eyes met again, each could see the lite desire of the other. "Till tonight then." They stepped back just as the sun rose. Brooklyn smiled, still holding her hand loosely and leaned into her right ear. "I love you, Danni."

Surprised, she watched the sun taken him as tears filled her eyes. Nether of them had said those words since this agreement begun. Freeing her hand, she affectionately caressed his check and kissed it. "I love you too." With butterflies in her stomach, she turned and climbed into bed, all the while Brooklyn's declaration filled her memory.