Danielle arrived back at the Eyrie building that night around seven o'clock. She knew the clan would have been awake for two hours now and have already eaten so she finished off the sandwich she'd bought and threw her suitcases in her room.

David had arranged for the apartment she'd rented to be packed up and her things shipped up within the week. After that, they would contact the landlord and arrange a time to close her account. She could hardly believe after more than a year she was moving back into the castle.

She made her way through the halls and noticed as she turned the corner that the library fireplace was lit. 'Finally…' She thought as she neared the doorway. '…a moment alone.'

That hope was crushed though as her gaze locked with Broadway's, sweet little Amara asleep on his chest. He smiled. "Welcome home, Danni."

Smiling she stepped further into the room. "Hey, what's going on?"

Though the library was open to everyone, she rarely found Broadway here. He was more at home in the kitchen, and later on in the evenings in the living room with Angela while Amara played in the floor. Her green skinned brother sighed. "I wanted to get Amara out of the way before things could get heated."

As confusion filled her features he frowned. "You didn't know?" She shook her head and he stood, coming around the couch to stand in front of her. "Your dad is here, been laying into Xanatos since before we woke up."

Worry filled her, though she was mindful of her tone since Amara was still resting on Broadway's shoulder; even though she'd stirred since her arrival. "Laying into him about what, or should I even ask?"

Broadway shrugged casting her a 'you already know' expression as he leaned forward and kissed Amara's forehead. It made sense that a fourth copy of the mockup would land in her father's lap. "You're going in there, aren't you?"

Danielle nodded with a frown and her own pointed gaze. "Where are the others?"

Broadway sighed. "Goliath sent Angela and Lex to patrol, Hudson and Bronx are in the den, and far as I know Brooklyn was going to stay with Goliath and Xanatos."

Danielle kissed Amara's head and his check before turning towards the door. She glanced over her shoulder meeting his gaze. "Fox and Alex?"

Broadway had turned to retake his seat but met her gaze over his own shoulder. "Gone out with Elisa for donuts, gonna bring home some."

She'd reached the living room's closed double doors before her pacing mind even registered it. Now presented with a barrier, she stopped and leaned close, determined to know what she was walking into.

She heard David's voice first. "We're talking in circles Pop, she's a grown woman."

Their father, Petros', voice and accent boomed. "She's still a woman and from where I'm concerned this choice isn't acceptable!"

For nearly a moment nothing more was said, and she was sure they were standing nearly nose to nose staring each other down. Heavy footsteps caught her attention and Goliath's voice carried through the door. "I had hope this would be settled by now."

David laughed. "He's stuck in the past, in dying traditions that will mark his grave but not ours."

Their father cursed, though it was something so rarely used now, it didn't translate. "This is your doin' Goliath! If you hadn't taken a human mate and crossed the lines, we wouldn't have to deal with any of it now!"

She could almost see the confection in his eyes as his deep voice rumpled. "I admit to being the first to cross line between us. But I also acknowledge that times are not what they were and the clan as well as our human families have adapted to accept our relationship. I see no reason in this age for two consenting clan members, human or gargoyle, to join if that is their desire."

Danielle sighed and had reached for the door handle when she heard her father's attention turn to who she could only assume was Brooklyn. "And what makes you think you're worthy of my daughter?"

"I'm not."

The tone of Brooklyn's voice nearly broke her heart. Her hand rested lightly on the knob and her pulse quicken as he once again spoke. "I pushed Danni away once, tore us both apart doing it because I thought that was what would make her happy. I thought if I pushed her away, she'd find a husband, settle down, have the family I'm sure you've always dreamed would be her future." He sighed. "The only thing that came from that year was misery for both of us."

She could almost see their father cross his arms. "Someone has to make the right choice for Danielle."

Finely ready, she pulled the doors open and stepped into the room. With a smile, she let the accent she'd long ago buried fill her voice. "But I've already made my choice."

David smiled, and she realized he must have known she was standing just behind the door. "Nice of you to join us."

Smile still in place she moved to her father and pressed a kiss to his check before walking to David, Goliath and Brooklyn, and gifting each their own. Now next to her gargoyle love, she took his right hand and laced her fingers through his talons before meeting her father's gaze. "I love him, Daddy."

Their father scoffed. "This is nonsense, have you even contacted the boy and seen what he's wantin'?"

Danielle laughed, cold and scarcity. "He's offerin' me a life in marital chains while he runs off and beds any whore he comes across. Behavin' just as he did before, I don't have to speak a word to him to know that."

Brooklyn extracted his hand and then wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She leaned back against him, though the thought of her living that way made his blood boil. "Easy Danni."

Petros locked eyes with his daughter. "I won't allow it Danielle, I won't! Why if your mother were here…"

"Pop." David stood from his place leaned against a corner table and frowned, his eyes hard. "I wouldn't."

Goliath sensing the tension, cleared his throat. "Perhaps this would be more productive if continued another time?"

Danielle straightened from Brooklyn's side, fighting back tears that threatened to overwhelm her, and shook her head. "No, I'm finishin' this now." Her attention fell to their father. "I love Brooklyn, and he loves me. I'm gonna be his mate."

He cursed again. "No daughter of mine is gonna be with anythin' that isn't human."

She frowned, allowing a single tear to fall and her accent dropped. "Then you have no daughter." Cupping his face, she turned Brooklyn's attention to her as more tears threatened to fall. "Take me out of here, please, my love?"

Without a word, he flared his wings; she could she the furry building behind his eyes in anger for her pain. The arm that hand still been draped around her shoulders, moved to her mid back as his other scooped her legs up and against his frame. As she trembled with unshed tears, Brooklyn wrapped his wings around her. There was significance to this, both Goliath and Xanatos knew it. She was his mate, no one else could change that now.

He turned, pausing just long enough to meet Goliath and David's approving nods, before carrying his precious cargo to the battlement doorway. There he glanced back to meet their father's stare with one of his own. 'You'll never hurt her again, not so long as I live.'