Chapter thirteen
Jesse sat on the couch the next morning, with Alex on her lap, watching cartoons. It was Saturday. The worst day to be sick. David had planned on this, and had Owen rent all the movies Jesse had wanted to see. That was to take place after breakfast. But for some reason, everyone was tired. It seemed as though Jesse and Alex were the only ones who slept. David and Fox were just going to bed when Jesse had woken up, at nine. Owen was in the kitchen making Alex's breakfast, and even he didn't seem his to have usual stiff countenance.
She took one look and told him to go to bed. After he refused, she let him go on. But after one more yawn, he decided that he had lost the battle, and went upstairs to his room.
Jesse had fed Alex, and now they were watching TV. Then it would be time for his nap, and she would watch her movies until an adult woke up.
Alex let out a small yawn, and Jesse grinned.
"Well, Master Alex, it seems to be your nap time." She lifted him to shoulder level and began her course to the nursery.
* * *
Jesse decided that instead of lying on the couch like a vegetable, she would go sit out on the battlements where Goliath's statue used to stand.
On her way up the stairs, she ran into Owen.
"Owen! What are you doing up?" She asked, slightly upset that her plans had been ruined.
"I think, miss, that I should be asking you the same question." He returned, crossing his arms, one flesh, one stone. "I do believe that Mr. Xanatos ordered you to stay on the couch, until tonight."
"But. . ."
"Go."
Jesse turned around and walked back to the TV room, with Owen following close behind.
"Sometimes, the fact that you are Puck really gets to me." Jesse muttered under her breath.
"The fact that you are the daughter of the person I most loath doesn't help you at all, either."
"Touché." She said laughing, and returned to the couch.
He put in a movie and retreated to a chair on the other side of the room.
"Are you sure you got enough sleep?" She asked, giving him a concerned look.
"Positive. Besides, I don't trust you."
"Thanks, Owen."
* * *
That afternoon
Fox and David, wandered out of their bedroom around four o'clock.
"You look well rested." Jesse said removing her eyes from the movie.
"What are you watching?" Fox asked, making Jesse move her feet so she could sit down.
"A Child's Name." Jesse said, grinning. "Owen cried."
Fox looked over to her husband's majordomo. "Owen, I didn't know you were the sensitive type."
"A momentary lapse, I assure you." Owen said, shoving his handkerchief back in his pocket and giving Jesse an 'I'll get even, just you wait' look.
Jesse gave him one of her smile's and turned back to her movie.
David motioned to Owen from the doorway.
"If you'll excuse us, we have some business to attend to." The two of them exited.
Fox and Jesse exchanged glances. "What do you suppose they are up to?" Jesse asked.
"I guess you'll just have to wait and see." Fox said, smiling.
"Is now a good time to tell you I hate surprises?"
* * *
That evening
David Xanatos stood at the topmost tower, where Goliath's stone form stood. As the sun dipped below the horizon, small web-like cracks covered the statue, and seconds later the skin shattered and Goliath roared.
"Good-evening, Goliath. Sleep well?"
Goliath spun around, surprised. "Xanatos, what do you want?"
"I came with an invitation. We're having a small welcome home party for you. And our guest of honor will prove most intriguing."
"Why should we trust you?"
"I did, let you back at the castle, did I not?"
"True, but how do I know you do not have some plan hidden in the works?"
"Detective Maza is coming."
Goliath sighed. "Very well, you talked me into it."
Xanatos grinned.
* * *
"Do I have to wear a dress?" Jesse asked, sitting on her bed.
"Well, you don't have to wear a gown, but a summer dress might be nice, this is partly for you."
"Why?"
"Don't ask questions. Just cooperate." Fox said, setting a short flower-print dress on the bed. "You're the guest of honor, and I don't want you to be rude."
"Who's coming?"
"That, is a surprise."
Jesse fell back on the bed, moaning. "I HATE surprises."
* * *
The Maza's, all of them, stood in the Great Hall, where there was food, drinks, and decorations. A banner hung over the doorway proclaiming, WELCOME HOME GUYS, and balloons hung everywhere.
"Elisa, I think you outdid yourself again." Diane said.
"I did have some help." Elisa said pointing over to Xanatos and Owen.
"Yeah, I guess you did." Diane said. They were all still uneasy around the Xanatos', especially after what had happened in Arizona.
David walked over to Peter. "So Mr. Maza, are you enjoying yourself, the party is about to start."
"Uh. . .yeah, Xan-- I mean Mr. Xanatos."
"David will do fine."
"Okay, David."
The gargoyles entered the room. "Let the party begin." Xanatos said.
Elisa walked over to Goliath. "Hey big guy, let's party!" She pulled him out to the dance floor with the others following. The music started and so did the dancing. Broadway went over to the food table, and seeing his favorites, decided it was time to eat. Diane and Peter joined the group of dancers and the party was on its feet.
Owen worked the CD player, and also chose the music, though there was input from the trio. They were basically from Jesse's collection, all upbeat, and loud.
* * *
Jesse stood at the top of the stairs with Fox. She wore the flower print dress with spaghetti straps, a pair of heeled white sandals, and Fox had managed to contain her hair in a tight French braid.
"Are you ready?" Fox asked.
"They're really gonna be there? All of them?"
"Uh-huh." Fox said smiling.
Jesse started her slow descent of the stairs.
* * *
Fox joined her husband's side.
"She's ready." Fox whispered into his ear.
David drew his finger across his throat, the signal for Owen to cut the music.
"What's going on?" Goliath asked.
Elisa smiled at him, and patted his arm. "It's a surprise, a welcome home present."
They got quiet, and soon could hear the sound of heels coming down the steps.
"Elisa, who. . ."
"Shh." Elisa silenced him.
A small girl entered from one of the streamer covered doors. She gave them a shy smile.
"Hello, Goliath." She said.
"Who, are you?"
"Do ye not remember me?" She asked. "Tis me, Jessondra."
Brooklyn stepped forward, "Jessondra? Is it really you?"
"Do not believe her. This could be another trick." Goliath said.
Jesse recoiled. "Why do ye not remember me?" she felt tears in her eyes. Then a thought came to her. The old Scottish song Goliath used to sing to her as a lullaby. She sang it with her sweet voice.
The expression on Goliaths face softened. Jesse stepped closer as she came to the end of the song, and held out her hand, palm down.
Brooklyn's eyes teared up, as he saw the ring on her finger. "It is you." he said and embraced her tightly.
"My love, it's been so long." Jesse said, the tears falling down
"A thousand and two years." he finished.
Goliath looked at the two and couldn't believe his eyes. His daughter, alive. How could this be?
Owen, seeming to read his thoughts, said, "Someone such as yourself should not question the magic of Avalon."
"Goliath looked at him. "Avalon?"
"That is what I said."
"It seems that she has much to tell us."
"Not as much as you do." Hudson said to Goliath. "Were they this close back in Scotland?"
"Uh. . .well."
"Do not make him answer a question that we should answer ourselves." Jesse said. "But first you must answer my question." Jesse stepped away from Brooklyn. "Who is this lovely young female gargoyle here?"
Angela blushed.
Goliath stepped forward. "Jessondra, this is Angela, my daughter."
Jesse gasped "You mean from Avalon? Angela?"
Angela nodded. "The princess, Magus and Guardian Tom, saved us."
"Yes, I know. I was there. I used to care for you as a wee babe! I gave you your name! Look how much you've grown since I last saw you!"
"But how?" Angela was confused. "If you lived back then, why did you not age?"
"Two reasons, but it's a long story." Jesse said, smiling.
"And we have all night." Brooklyn said, wrapping his arms around her again.
Jesse sat on the couch the next morning, with Alex on her lap, watching cartoons. It was Saturday. The worst day to be sick. David had planned on this, and had Owen rent all the movies Jesse had wanted to see. That was to take place after breakfast. But for some reason, everyone was tired. It seemed as though Jesse and Alex were the only ones who slept. David and Fox were just going to bed when Jesse had woken up, at nine. Owen was in the kitchen making Alex's breakfast, and even he didn't seem his to have usual stiff countenance.
She took one look and told him to go to bed. After he refused, she let him go on. But after one more yawn, he decided that he had lost the battle, and went upstairs to his room.
Jesse had fed Alex, and now they were watching TV. Then it would be time for his nap, and she would watch her movies until an adult woke up.
Alex let out a small yawn, and Jesse grinned.
"Well, Master Alex, it seems to be your nap time." She lifted him to shoulder level and began her course to the nursery.
* * *
Jesse decided that instead of lying on the couch like a vegetable, she would go sit out on the battlements where Goliath's statue used to stand.
On her way up the stairs, she ran into Owen.
"Owen! What are you doing up?" She asked, slightly upset that her plans had been ruined.
"I think, miss, that I should be asking you the same question." He returned, crossing his arms, one flesh, one stone. "I do believe that Mr. Xanatos ordered you to stay on the couch, until tonight."
"But. . ."
"Go."
Jesse turned around and walked back to the TV room, with Owen following close behind.
"Sometimes, the fact that you are Puck really gets to me." Jesse muttered under her breath.
"The fact that you are the daughter of the person I most loath doesn't help you at all, either."
"Touché." She said laughing, and returned to the couch.
He put in a movie and retreated to a chair on the other side of the room.
"Are you sure you got enough sleep?" She asked, giving him a concerned look.
"Positive. Besides, I don't trust you."
"Thanks, Owen."
* * *
That afternoon
Fox and David, wandered out of their bedroom around four o'clock.
"You look well rested." Jesse said removing her eyes from the movie.
"What are you watching?" Fox asked, making Jesse move her feet so she could sit down.
"A Child's Name." Jesse said, grinning. "Owen cried."
Fox looked over to her husband's majordomo. "Owen, I didn't know you were the sensitive type."
"A momentary lapse, I assure you." Owen said, shoving his handkerchief back in his pocket and giving Jesse an 'I'll get even, just you wait' look.
Jesse gave him one of her smile's and turned back to her movie.
David motioned to Owen from the doorway.
"If you'll excuse us, we have some business to attend to." The two of them exited.
Fox and Jesse exchanged glances. "What do you suppose they are up to?" Jesse asked.
"I guess you'll just have to wait and see." Fox said, smiling.
"Is now a good time to tell you I hate surprises?"
* * *
That evening
David Xanatos stood at the topmost tower, where Goliath's stone form stood. As the sun dipped below the horizon, small web-like cracks covered the statue, and seconds later the skin shattered and Goliath roared.
"Good-evening, Goliath. Sleep well?"
Goliath spun around, surprised. "Xanatos, what do you want?"
"I came with an invitation. We're having a small welcome home party for you. And our guest of honor will prove most intriguing."
"Why should we trust you?"
"I did, let you back at the castle, did I not?"
"True, but how do I know you do not have some plan hidden in the works?"
"Detective Maza is coming."
Goliath sighed. "Very well, you talked me into it."
Xanatos grinned.
* * *
"Do I have to wear a dress?" Jesse asked, sitting on her bed.
"Well, you don't have to wear a gown, but a summer dress might be nice, this is partly for you."
"Why?"
"Don't ask questions. Just cooperate." Fox said, setting a short flower-print dress on the bed. "You're the guest of honor, and I don't want you to be rude."
"Who's coming?"
"That, is a surprise."
Jesse fell back on the bed, moaning. "I HATE surprises."
* * *
The Maza's, all of them, stood in the Great Hall, where there was food, drinks, and decorations. A banner hung over the doorway proclaiming, WELCOME HOME GUYS, and balloons hung everywhere.
"Elisa, I think you outdid yourself again." Diane said.
"I did have some help." Elisa said pointing over to Xanatos and Owen.
"Yeah, I guess you did." Diane said. They were all still uneasy around the Xanatos', especially after what had happened in Arizona.
David walked over to Peter. "So Mr. Maza, are you enjoying yourself, the party is about to start."
"Uh. . .yeah, Xan-- I mean Mr. Xanatos."
"David will do fine."
"Okay, David."
The gargoyles entered the room. "Let the party begin." Xanatos said.
Elisa walked over to Goliath. "Hey big guy, let's party!" She pulled him out to the dance floor with the others following. The music started and so did the dancing. Broadway went over to the food table, and seeing his favorites, decided it was time to eat. Diane and Peter joined the group of dancers and the party was on its feet.
Owen worked the CD player, and also chose the music, though there was input from the trio. They were basically from Jesse's collection, all upbeat, and loud.
* * *
Jesse stood at the top of the stairs with Fox. She wore the flower print dress with spaghetti straps, a pair of heeled white sandals, and Fox had managed to contain her hair in a tight French braid.
"Are you ready?" Fox asked.
"They're really gonna be there? All of them?"
"Uh-huh." Fox said smiling.
Jesse started her slow descent of the stairs.
* * *
Fox joined her husband's side.
"She's ready." Fox whispered into his ear.
David drew his finger across his throat, the signal for Owen to cut the music.
"What's going on?" Goliath asked.
Elisa smiled at him, and patted his arm. "It's a surprise, a welcome home present."
They got quiet, and soon could hear the sound of heels coming down the steps.
"Elisa, who. . ."
"Shh." Elisa silenced him.
A small girl entered from one of the streamer covered doors. She gave them a shy smile.
"Hello, Goliath." She said.
"Who, are you?"
"Do ye not remember me?" She asked. "Tis me, Jessondra."
Brooklyn stepped forward, "Jessondra? Is it really you?"
"Do not believe her. This could be another trick." Goliath said.
Jesse recoiled. "Why do ye not remember me?" she felt tears in her eyes. Then a thought came to her. The old Scottish song Goliath used to sing to her as a lullaby. She sang it with her sweet voice.
The expression on Goliaths face softened. Jesse stepped closer as she came to the end of the song, and held out her hand, palm down.
Brooklyn's eyes teared up, as he saw the ring on her finger. "It is you." he said and embraced her tightly.
"My love, it's been so long." Jesse said, the tears falling down
"A thousand and two years." he finished.
Goliath looked at the two and couldn't believe his eyes. His daughter, alive. How could this be?
Owen, seeming to read his thoughts, said, "Someone such as yourself should not question the magic of Avalon."
"Goliath looked at him. "Avalon?"
"That is what I said."
"It seems that she has much to tell us."
"Not as much as you do." Hudson said to Goliath. "Were they this close back in Scotland?"
"Uh. . .well."
"Do not make him answer a question that we should answer ourselves." Jesse said. "But first you must answer my question." Jesse stepped away from Brooklyn. "Who is this lovely young female gargoyle here?"
Angela blushed.
Goliath stepped forward. "Jessondra, this is Angela, my daughter."
Jesse gasped "You mean from Avalon? Angela?"
Angela nodded. "The princess, Magus and Guardian Tom, saved us."
"Yes, I know. I was there. I used to care for you as a wee babe! I gave you your name! Look how much you've grown since I last saw you!"
"But how?" Angela was confused. "If you lived back then, why did you not age?"
"Two reasons, but it's a long story." Jesse said, smiling.
"And we have all night." Brooklyn said, wrapping his arms around her again.