"Titanic: Gargoyles Style"
by Lisette: Lisette_1@lycos.com

Legalese: Nothing here is of my own creation. The characters from Gargoyles belong to Buena Vista and Disney. The characters from Titanic, the script of the movie, including a lot of the lines and descriptions, belong to James Cameron. In no way will a profit be made from this.

Rating: PG-13 due to language and content

Private Promenade -- Sunday, April 14th, 1912

As the sun drifted lazily in through the bright and clear windows of the promenade, it was obvious that it had no idea of the darkness found within. Sitting at the white table, Demona and Goliath did nothing but concentrate on their own meals, their eyes averted. Demona sat and read a financial report from her company, Nightstone, while Goliath did everything but meet his fiancée's eyes.

Sighing, Lexington watched all of this with sad eyes. He knew that the reason for the tension was somehow related to the fact that his master, Goliath, hadn't returned till late in the evening. Still, he was puzzled. For even though Goliath returned so late with no explanation, he also returned before Demona. Therefore, how could the mistress know of his tardiness?

"I had hoped that you would come to me last night," Demona said, at last breaking the tense silence that had filled the room. Sighing, she put aside her financial report and looked Goliath in the eyes as she picked up a cup of coffee.

"I was tired," Goliath answered shortly, his tone gruff.

Smiling evilly, Demona eyed her love. "Yes.. I suppose that your exertions below decks were no doubt exhausting," she said, watching Goliath's face as she revealed her knowledge of last night's events.

Stiffening visibly, Goliath slowly put down his own mug of coffee. "I see that you had that.. barbarian.. of a manservant follow me," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Ignoring him, Demona's eyes flared a bright red as she glared at her fiancé. "You will never behave like that again! Do you understand me?" she roared, her anger obvious.

Astounded at her anger and her obvious display of it, Goliath sat even straighter in his seat. "I am not some executive in your corporation that you can command," he said indignantly, a hesitantness in his voice. "I am your fiancé..."

Seething at the way that Goliath was talking back to her, Demona suddenly could hear no more of it. Jumping up from the table, she barely even heard her chair scrape roughly back from behind her. "YES YOU ARE!" Demona roared, her eyes that deadly red. With a broad sweep of her hand, suddenly all the food and fine china that had occupied the table now lay in shattered ruins on the beautifully sanded floor. "And my mate... in practice, if not yet by law," she continued, her voice not as shrill but just as deadly as she stalked forward and rested her deadly talons on the armrests of Goliath's chair, her face inches from his. "So you will honor me, as a mate is required to honor his mate! I will not be made out a fool! Is this in any way unclear?!"

Before Goliath could respond, Demona suddenly remembered the presence of Goliath's manservant in the room. Growling, she quickly backed away and stormed from the room, glaring at the little green gargoyle and leaving her amazed love sitting in shock behind.

Recoiling from Demona's evil glare, Lexington quickly turned his attention to his friend and master. "Goliath," Lexington whispered softly as he hurried to his side. When he received no answer, he quickly dropped to his knees and started picking up the shattered mess.

Breaking out of his shock, Goliath stood up slowly. "I.. I apologize, Lexington," he said, his voice gruff. "We.. had a little accident. I'm sorry," he murmured again as he slowly left the room, his thoughts in a whirl around him.

Goliath's Suite

Sighing, Goliath watched as Hudson slowly buckled his long, old sword to his side. It was time to prepare for yet another day in the zoo.

Looking up, Hudson saw Goliath's boredom and instantly snapped back to their conversation. "I repeat," he said, his voice gruff and stern, "ye're not t' see tha' trash 'gain! Do ye understand me Goliath? I forbid it!" Hudson roared, his eyes glowing a bright white.

Shaking his head, Goliath quickly recognized the tone as the one that Hudson usually reserved for speaking to hatchlings -- the no-nonsense tone that left no room for arguments. "Oh stop it, Hudson," Goliath muttered as he slowly got to his feet and crossed the room to stand before his elder. "You will give yourself a stroke..."

Shaking his head, Hudson glared at his student. "Goliath, tis not a game! Our situation be precarious. Ye know t'at th' castle be gone!"

Growling, Goliath jerked away from his mentor as though he had been hit. "Of course I know that it is gone! You remind me every day!" Goliath growled, his voice low and filled with a past full of pain.

Sighing, Hudson shook his head. "Th' last leader of our clan left us nothin' but a legacy of bad debts hidden by a good name... the castle be gone 'cause of her!" Hudson growled, the memory of the horrible leader leaving his mouth dry. "An' t'at name is th' only card we have t' play."

Sighing, Goliath shook his head and closed his eyes against the sight of his mentor, wishing that he could close his ears as well. The wise words of his mentor crashed over him like a wave of responsibility.

"I do nae understand ye," Hudson continued as he firmly grabbed the shoulders of the large lavender gargoyle before him. "Tis a fine match wit' Demona. Th' lass be the CEO of a large corporation and twill insure our survival."

Shaking his head, Goliath slowly brought his large hands up and covered his face, the beginnings of a massive headache coming on. "How can you put this on my shoulders?" he half sighed, half growled.

At this, Hudson's one good eye grew large as he looked at the massive gargoyle before him. "How can ye say that, lad?" Hudson asked, his voice incredulous. "Ye're our leader now.. th' fate of th' clan be restin' in yuir hands, lad. Do ye want t' see them smashed wit' no home for a protection? Do ye want t' see their remains scattered t' th' winds?"

Growling, Goliath knew that his mentor's words were right -- which was why it hurt so much to hear them. "It is so unfair," he muttered softly, finally looking up into the dark eye of his mentor.

Seeing the pain and torment in his young friend's eyes, Hudson felt himself soften. "Of course it be unfair," he replied quietly, his voice full of understanding. Ye're th' clan leader, lad. Our choices are never easy."

"For something to live something must be sacrificed," Goliath murmured, his eyes downcast, knowing that the words were ones that he had to live by.

First Class Dining Saloon

Whistling to herself, Elisa quickly descended down the fine stairs, admiring the view in the bright daylight from the glass dome up above. At the bottom steps, she stepped over towards the glass doors that would lead into the dining saloon from the night before. Smiling as she walked forward, she could just see the large group of first class passengers gathered together, singing hymns for the morning service. As she finally reached the doors, she saw Goliath somewhere in the middle of the crowd. Reaching out, Elisa went to grab hold of the door handle when two pair of arms reached out and stopped her quickly.

"Hey, wait a minute! You're not supposed to be in here," Jason Canmore said quickly as he took in the woman's appearance. From her form fitting blue jeans and her snug black shirt, it was obvious that she was not a first class passenger.

"But.. I was just here last night," Elisa sputtered. Strangely enough, she hadn't been expecting resistance about coming to see Goliath. Stupid of her. "Don't you remember?" she asked, her voice faltering. Certainly, she recognized the handsome young man before her who had been gracious enough to hold the door for her last night.

"No, sugar, we don't," the other man replied.

Sighing, Elisa barely glanced at the guy's nametag. "The name is Maza.. don't call me Sugar," she said. Suddenly, she caught sight of MacBeth, Demona's servant as he quickly stepped across the large room and joined them outside. "He'll tell you!" she said quickly, a smug smile appearing on her face as she looked at the annoying porters.

Sizing up the situation with his age-sharpened eyes, MacBeth slowly turned away from the help and gazed at the young woman. "Demona and Hudson continue to be most appreciative of your assistance," he said, his voice even and light. "They asked me to give you this in gratitude..." he said, a small smile on his face as he held out two twenty dollar bills to Elisa.

Astonished and a little upset, Elisa quickly shook her head and pushed the money back at MacBeth. "I don't want your money, I-" she said, her voice icy.

"...and also to remind you," MacBeth continued, as if Elisa hadn't even interrupted, "that you hold a third class ticket and your presence here is no longer appropriate."

"What?" Elisa asked in confusion. "But I just need to talk to Goliath for a-"

"Gentlemen," MacBeth said quickly, breaking in on Elisa as he turned to face the two attentive porters, "please see that Miss Maza gets back to where she belongs," he ordered as he handed the stewards the twenties. "And that she stays there."

"Yes sir!" Jason cried out quickly as he reached forward and grabbed one of Elisa's arms.

"Come along Sugar!" Dracon ordered as he grabbed her other arm. Together, the men quickly began dragging Elisa towards the stairs.

"Wait!" Elisa cried out, unable to believe what was happening. "Goliath!" she cried out as she turned her head to watch over her shoulder.. watch as Goliath disappeared from view, never seeing her being drug away.

Aft Well Deck, B-Deck and A-Deck

As she strode down the corridor, her determination was evident. Shaking their heads, Brooklyn and Matt followed quickly on her heels. Sighing, they followed her up to the stairs leading from the third class to the second, following her over the gate that separated the classes.

"He'd be a great catch for you," Brooklyn huffed as he hurried to walk beside Elisa, "there's no denying that. But he's in another world, Elisa... forget him. He's closed the door."

Ignoring her companions, Elisa slid furtively to the wall right below the A-Deck promenade. "It was them, not him," she replied, her voice hard. Turning, she quickly looked around the deck. Finding that it was deserted, she indicated for Matt and Brooklyn to step closer. "Ready.. go!" she ordered.

Shaking his head, Brooklyn stepped forward, obviously resigned to being unable to change her mind. Bending low, he quickly cupped his hands and watched as Elisa put her small foot within. With little effort, he quickly boosted her up to the next deck where she scrambled nimbly over the railing and onto the first class deck. As his friend disappeared from sight, Brooklyn growled. "She's not being logical."

Staring up at where his longtime partner had disappeared, Matt laughed quietly. "When it comes to Elisa, logic is never an issue."

A-Deck, Aft

Landing lightly on her feet, Elisa quickly moved away from the railing. Before her, a young boy, about seven or eight years old, was busy showing his mother and a different man the wonders of his little Game Boy that he held in his hand. Looking around, she saw that the woman had dropped her red bomber jacket on a nearby bench.

Seizing the opportunity, Elisa stealthily darted forward and snatched the coat into her hands. Slipping it on, she was delighted to see that the coat was a perfect fit. Promising to borrow it just for a little while, Elisa realized that from a distance, she could pass for a lady now.

Bridge, Chartroom

Darting around a group of first class passengers that were no doubt getting a tour of the ship, the young Junior Wireless Operator hurried up to Captain Chavez. "Another ice warning, ma'am. This one from the Baltic," he said quickly as he passed a small, white slip of paper to the Captain.

Nodding her head, Captain Chavez glanced calmly at the slip of paper. "Thank you," she said dismissively as she nonchalantly put the warning in her pocket. Noting the tour group's eyes watching her curiously, she put on her brightest smile. "Not to worry. It's quite normal for this time of year."

"It is?" Goliath asked doubtfully.

"Yes. In fact, we're speeding up. I've just ordered for the last boilers to be lit."

Upon hearing this, the Magus quickly shook his head before leading the tour group from the room, just as Second Officer Angela stepped onto the bridge.

Looking around, she quickly saw the gargoyle that she was looking for. With long strides, she crossed the distance across the bridge. "Did we ever find those binoculars for the lookouts?" she asked, her eyes resting on First Officer Broadway.

Sighing, Broadway shook his head quickly. "I haven't seen them since Southampton," he admitted quietly, his voice low as he turned and glanced back at the smooth seas.

Boat Deck, Starboard Side

As the group of passengers slowly moved back from the bridge along the boat deck, Goliath slowly sidled up to their leader. "Magus," he asked slowly, turning his eyes on the wizened man, "I did the math in my head, and with the number of lifeboats times the capacity you mentioned..." Sighing, Goliath turned to make sure that no one else was listening. "Forgive me, but it seems that there are not enough for everyone aboard," he said quietly, his rumbling voice low.

Smiling, the Magus quickly shook his head, his long white hair flowing out around him. "About half, actually," he said, his voice low as well so as to not be overheard. "Goliath, you miss nothing, do you? In fact, I put in these new type davits, which can take an extra row of boats here," he said as he gestured along the deck. "But, it was thought by some," he continued, a small frown playing across his aging features, "that the deck would look too cluttered. So, I was overruled."

Much to their surprise, their conversation was overheard by one. "Waste of deck space as it is," Demona broke in, her voice sugary sweet as she swept a hand out at the row of lifeboats, "on an unsinkable ship!"

Ignoring the rude gargess, the Magus turned his kind eyes on the large gargoyle. "Sleep soundly, young Goliath. I have built you a good ship, strong and true. She's all the lifeboat you need," he said, his voice reassuring.

Still, as reassuring as his voice was, Goliath couldn't dispel this nagging doubt he had in the back of his mind. Stopping, he watched as the rest of the tour group slowly moved ahead without him. Suddenly, a young lady in a red bomber jacket slowly broke away from the side of the ship and tapped his shoulder lightly. Surprised, Goliath turned and stared right into the dark eyes of Elisa Maza. Before he could say a word she quickly grabbed his hand and led him to a nearby door, which opened up into the empty gymnasium. Finally finding his voice, Goliath stared at Elisa in shock. "Elisa, this is impossible!" he rumbled quietly, his dark eyes boring into hers. "I can't see you."

Cutting him off, Elisa quickly reached out and rested her hands gently on Goliath's broad chest. "Goliath, you're no picnic," she said quietly, her voice firm. "You're.. you're a whipped little gargoyle, but under that you're.. you've a strong, pure heart," Elisa whispered, her eyes twinkling. "And you're the most amazingly astounding gargoyle I've ever known and..."

Sighing, Goliath quickly shook his head. He shouldn't be hearing this. "Elisa, I.."

"No, Goliath, let me try to get this out," Elisa interrupted, lifting her hand to touch her fingers softly against his lips, instantly dispelling his words. "You're amazing... and I know that I have nothing to offer you, Goliath. I know that. But I'm involved now," she whispered, her voice soft. "You fight, I fight, remember? I can't turn away without knowing that you're going to be alright..."

Seeing the tears fill her eyes, Goliath shook his head quickly. Oh how his heart was breaking right now. Elisa's words had gone straight to his heart, completely bypassing his brain. She was so open and real... not like anyone else he had ever known. Growling slightly, Goliath tried to break the connection his eyes were having with her own. "You're making this very difficult," he muttered, trying to look anywhere else but in her dark eyes -- the windows to her soul. "I'll be fine.. really."

Shaking her head, Elisa recognized brave words when she heard them. Reaching up, she very gently took Goliath's chin in her hands and forced him to meet her direct stare. "I don't think so," she murmured, her voice holding the truth. "They've got you in a glass jar like some exotic butterfly," she whispered, her voice filled with sadness -- an infinite sadness. "And you're going to die if you don't break free. Maybe not right away, because you are strong... but sooner or later that fire in you that I love so much is going to go out."

Lost in the spell in her eyes, Goliath shook his head slowly. "It's not up to you to save me Elisa.. not this time."

Sighing, Elisa nodded at him. "You're right. Only you can do that."

Shaking his head, Goliath quickly stepped away from the woman who was working so hard to pierce the veil of lies he had draped around himself. The lies that he showed to the world and to himself. The lies that said he would be alright. "I have to get back," he said quickly, "they'll miss me. Please, Elisa.. for both our sakes, leave me alone." Trying not to see the hurt look flash through her eyes, Goliath quickly turned on his heel and left the room as fast as his feet would take him... not wanting to see the small tear trail down her smooth cheek... a tear for him and his sacrifices.