Archangel Of Twilight
X & The Single Gargoyle
Chapter III
Contemplations
Adrienne sate in Xanatos' library. She locked herself away from the rest of the world. She needed time away from the others. There was much that needed contemplation. so much had happened in such little time. Now, she was on the precipice of a new era in her life.
There was too much to consider. She was pregnant. How was she going to financially deal with that? She couldn't be active with the X-Men for much longer. Her condition would soon precluder her from that.
[I don't have medical insurance.]
Panic coursed through her. She never felt so completely and utterly alone.
[What will Goliath say? Neither one of us was expecting1!]
There were no other alternatives for her. She knew all too well the stigma attached to an unconventional arrival into the world. She didn't want that for her unborn child. Adrienne decided immediately that the little person growing inside her would have the love of two parents. It didn't matter that one of them had wings and a tail.
She browsed through the bridal magazines on the table. How she longed for the white lace, the veil, flowers and the bridesmaids. It would never happen. She longed for a traditional wedding with all the trimmings.
[Not in this lifetime.]
[He's eight feet tall, lavender, has wings and a tail. He's stone during the day and hung like a Russian race horse. He isn't even human. He's never earned a paychek or paid a bill. He can't vote. Talk about him and his clan being a disenfranchised minority. I'm utterly screwed.] Adrienne scoffed.
Yet, she coul not deny the indefinable tie she shared with Goliath. Yes, he was alien and exotic and other than human. Yes, he was dramatically different in body and mind from her. Yet it was those differences she cherished and treasured so much. They shared many of the same beliefs and values. His mind lacked the chaoitc randomness of human thoughts. His emotions were purer and stronger. What he saw and felt became the same for her. Love of clan and loyalty to loved ones were integral to his psyche. His desire to protect underlied it all. Mind and emotion had never been so elementary to understand. His integrity and character were beyond reproach.
Yet, Goliath entertained the ability to close his mind to their empathic bond. She wondered if all Gargoyles were immune to her Empathic communications. She had yet to test her abilitites on other Gargoyles. Goliath was astoundingly complex. Things with him were stunningly clear and resolute. He was comtemplative, melancholy, and reticent at times. He had the heart the spirit of a warrior, the heart of a poet, and the mind of a sage. He protected Manhattan. It was so simple for him. Yet, would he welcom another child into this world? He had Angela and Darius? Would he be so willing to accept another?
She looked down at her hand. Four fingers and a thumb were in front of her. She knew that Goliath had three talons and a thumb. At least having children was now a known possibility. She remembered how David Xanatos gleefully had informed her that Owen surmised that she and Goliath would be "quite fertile in any way, shape, or form."
He couldn't have been more right.
Adrienne Jayede Westfall carried a unique child in her womb. Of Gargoyle, Human, and Kiari heritage, he or she would certainly be an enigma. Her monthly menses had been late and she thought nothing of it. it was of little notice until she became ill over the past month. She dared to take a pregnacy test and it camb back absolutely, blatantly POSITIVE
Dr. Reyez had done the rest. "Congratulations, Ms. Westfall. You're going to be a mother."
Those words haunted Adrienne for two days. She knew neither sleep nor appetite. She wasn't ready for this unexpected predicament. She didn't think it would actually happen to her with Goliath. It was ll too much too soon. She had no one to talk to about this, no one had been through this before. She never felt more alone or afraid.
[How do I tell him?] She knew about his son Darius from his first marriage.
Sje wamted tp retirm tp tje Xavier Institute and talk about it with Jean. SHe alway gave Adrienne wise counsel. Yet, Adrienne knew that her reaction would also be one of disappointment. She didn't want to betray Jean's faith hin her by letting her know that she was pregnant.
"Adrienne?" A feminine voice called from the entrance of the Library. "Are you here?"
It was Angela. Damn it. Adrienne didn't want anyone to see her this way. Adrienne held her breath in tense silence. She prayed that Angela would simply go elsewhere.
"Adrienne? Are you in here?" Come the question more earnest this time. Adrienne heard the soft footsteps of Angel heading in her direction. How she wanted to teleport out of the Library to somewhere else in the castle.
"Adrienne, here you are." Angela said brightly. "We've been looking all over for you tongiht." Her cheery greeting vanished when she saw the red eyes and the tear-stained cheeks.. "What's wrong?"
She saw those large brown eyes look soulfully at her. Angela knelt beside the young woman and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.
[Sometimes, she truly is her father's daughter. Goliath would behave in the very same fashion.] Adrienne thought fondly of the affectionate gesture.
"Not much, really. I just needed to get away from everything for a while." She lied. "Empathic overload."
"I've never seen you cry, Adrienne." Angela said. "Did someone hurt you? Please, tell me what's wrong. Is there anything I can do?"
[Damn it to Hell! She's as perceptive as her father. I'm surprised that she can't smell that I'm expecting.]
"To be honest, I have much on my mind and I need time alone to sort through some issues." She truthfully answered. "I just need to be by myself with my thoughts."
"If there's anything I can do.." Angela offered.
"I appreciate the thought. Thank you." Adrienne replied. "But, this is something that only I can deal with."
Angela looked hurt at that statement. Her mindset was Gargoyle, not human. It was natural for he to think that others in pain or need would turn to the others in the clan. She watched those wings fold defensively around the young Gargoyle. [The same way that a human would cross his or her arms to ward away an invader. Perhaps we're not so different.]
"I'm glad that I have someone to turn to if I need to." She added urgently. "It's just my way of dealing with things."
"Adrienne, we all care about you. You are a part of our clan; be you human or otherwise. We will always be here if you need us." Angela sat down beside the young woman.
It was too much for Adrienne to bear in addition to the other worries.
"I know." She sobbed and buried her face in her hands.
"She felt wings encircle her. she envied the Gargoyles in that respect. They had a wonderful ability of the double embrace. Once with arms and then with wings. She took solac in Angela's comforting gesture.
A few minutes passed as she regained her composure. She took several slow, deep breaths and wiped her face free of tears. She stood up and straightened her clothing. "I feel much better, Angela. Thank you."
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" She asked quietly.
"Positive." Adrienne replied.
"I'm glad you know that we're there for you always if you ever need us." Angela smiled at her. "You've brought happiness back to my father's life, Adrienne. I think you may have saved his soul."
"That's a fairly tall order. I know that he's brought me great joy." Adrienned admitted happily. "He's everything I've longed for in a ma-, a gar-, a soulmate and could never seem to find."
"My father is an amazing individual." Angela chose her words carefully.
"They chatted for a few more moments. Adrienne realized that the Powers-That-Be must have been looking after her that night because Angela's appearance was at the perfect time. Adrienne still felt trepidation regarding her unplanned pregnacy and the rapid rate of change occurring around her. However she didn't feel isolated anymore.
She knew she had to find the courage to tell Goliath. She just didn't know when or how.
X & The Single Gargoyle
Chapter III
Contemplations
Adrienne sate in Xanatos' library. She locked herself away from the rest of the world. She needed time away from the others. There was much that needed contemplation. so much had happened in such little time. Now, she was on the precipice of a new era in her life.
There was too much to consider. She was pregnant. How was she going to financially deal with that? She couldn't be active with the X-Men for much longer. Her condition would soon precluder her from that.
[I don't have medical insurance.]
Panic coursed through her. She never felt so completely and utterly alone.
[What will Goliath say? Neither one of us was expecting1!]
There were no other alternatives for her. She knew all too well the stigma attached to an unconventional arrival into the world. She didn't want that for her unborn child. Adrienne decided immediately that the little person growing inside her would have the love of two parents. It didn't matter that one of them had wings and a tail.
She browsed through the bridal magazines on the table. How she longed for the white lace, the veil, flowers and the bridesmaids. It would never happen. She longed for a traditional wedding with all the trimmings.
[Not in this lifetime.]
[He's eight feet tall, lavender, has wings and a tail. He's stone during the day and hung like a Russian race horse. He isn't even human. He's never earned a paychek or paid a bill. He can't vote. Talk about him and his clan being a disenfranchised minority. I'm utterly screwed.] Adrienne scoffed.
Yet, she coul not deny the indefinable tie she shared with Goliath. Yes, he was alien and exotic and other than human. Yes, he was dramatically different in body and mind from her. Yet it was those differences she cherished and treasured so much. They shared many of the same beliefs and values. His mind lacked the chaoitc randomness of human thoughts. His emotions were purer and stronger. What he saw and felt became the same for her. Love of clan and loyalty to loved ones were integral to his psyche. His desire to protect underlied it all. Mind and emotion had never been so elementary to understand. His integrity and character were beyond reproach.
Yet, Goliath entertained the ability to close his mind to their empathic bond. She wondered if all Gargoyles were immune to her Empathic communications. She had yet to test her abilitites on other Gargoyles. Goliath was astoundingly complex. Things with him were stunningly clear and resolute. He was comtemplative, melancholy, and reticent at times. He had the heart the spirit of a warrior, the heart of a poet, and the mind of a sage. He protected Manhattan. It was so simple for him. Yet, would he welcom another child into this world? He had Angela and Darius? Would he be so willing to accept another?
She looked down at her hand. Four fingers and a thumb were in front of her. She knew that Goliath had three talons and a thumb. At least having children was now a known possibility. She remembered how David Xanatos gleefully had informed her that Owen surmised that she and Goliath would be "quite fertile in any way, shape, or form."
He couldn't have been more right.
Adrienne Jayede Westfall carried a unique child in her womb. Of Gargoyle, Human, and Kiari heritage, he or she would certainly be an enigma. Her monthly menses had been late and she thought nothing of it. it was of little notice until she became ill over the past month. She dared to take a pregnacy test and it camb back absolutely, blatantly POSITIVE
Dr. Reyez had done the rest. "Congratulations, Ms. Westfall. You're going to be a mother."
Those words haunted Adrienne for two days. She knew neither sleep nor appetite. She wasn't ready for this unexpected predicament. She didn't think it would actually happen to her with Goliath. It was ll too much too soon. She had no one to talk to about this, no one had been through this before. She never felt more alone or afraid.
[How do I tell him?] She knew about his son Darius from his first marriage.
Sje wamted tp retirm tp tje Xavier Institute and talk about it with Jean. SHe alway gave Adrienne wise counsel. Yet, Adrienne knew that her reaction would also be one of disappointment. She didn't want to betray Jean's faith hin her by letting her know that she was pregnant.
"Adrienne?" A feminine voice called from the entrance of the Library. "Are you here?"
It was Angela. Damn it. Adrienne didn't want anyone to see her this way. Adrienne held her breath in tense silence. She prayed that Angela would simply go elsewhere.
"Adrienne? Are you in here?" Come the question more earnest this time. Adrienne heard the soft footsteps of Angel heading in her direction. How she wanted to teleport out of the Library to somewhere else in the castle.
"Adrienne, here you are." Angela said brightly. "We've been looking all over for you tongiht." Her cheery greeting vanished when she saw the red eyes and the tear-stained cheeks.. "What's wrong?"
She saw those large brown eyes look soulfully at her. Angela knelt beside the young woman and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.
[Sometimes, she truly is her father's daughter. Goliath would behave in the very same fashion.] Adrienne thought fondly of the affectionate gesture.
"Not much, really. I just needed to get away from everything for a while." She lied. "Empathic overload."
"I've never seen you cry, Adrienne." Angela said. "Did someone hurt you? Please, tell me what's wrong. Is there anything I can do?"
[Damn it to Hell! She's as perceptive as her father. I'm surprised that she can't smell that I'm expecting.]
"To be honest, I have much on my mind and I need time alone to sort through some issues." She truthfully answered. "I just need to be by myself with my thoughts."
"If there's anything I can do.." Angela offered.
"I appreciate the thought. Thank you." Adrienne replied. "But, this is something that only I can deal with."
Angela looked hurt at that statement. Her mindset was Gargoyle, not human. It was natural for he to think that others in pain or need would turn to the others in the clan. She watched those wings fold defensively around the young Gargoyle. [The same way that a human would cross his or her arms to ward away an invader. Perhaps we're not so different.]
"I'm glad that I have someone to turn to if I need to." She added urgently. "It's just my way of dealing with things."
"Adrienne, we all care about you. You are a part of our clan; be you human or otherwise. We will always be here if you need us." Angela sat down beside the young woman.
It was too much for Adrienne to bear in addition to the other worries.
"I know." She sobbed and buried her face in her hands.
"She felt wings encircle her. she envied the Gargoyles in that respect. They had a wonderful ability of the double embrace. Once with arms and then with wings. She took solac in Angela's comforting gesture.
A few minutes passed as she regained her composure. She took several slow, deep breaths and wiped her face free of tears. She stood up and straightened her clothing. "I feel much better, Angela. Thank you."
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" She asked quietly.
"Positive." Adrienne replied.
"I'm glad you know that we're there for you always if you ever need us." Angela smiled at her. "You've brought happiness back to my father's life, Adrienne. I think you may have saved his soul."
"That's a fairly tall order. I know that he's brought me great joy." Adrienned admitted happily. "He's everything I've longed for in a ma-, a gar-, a soulmate and could never seem to find."
"My father is an amazing individual." Angela chose her words carefully.
"They chatted for a few more moments. Adrienne realized that the Powers-That-Be must have been looking after her that night because Angela's appearance was at the perfect time. Adrienne still felt trepidation regarding her unplanned pregnacy and the rapid rate of change occurring around her. However she didn't feel isolated anymore.
She knew she had to find the courage to tell Goliath. She just didn't know when or how.