OoPs, told you I wasn't quite straight. Correction made to "Alexander's" Name, as far as Brooklyn being Angela's Beau, that stands, at least for my stories.

Thanks for the gentle prod out there, keepin me honest I see!

Darwin

Chapter Six: What a Night

"What a night," Elisa thought sullenly as she fought through the abating storm. Drizzle gathered on her windshield annoyingly, just enough to distort her vision and not nearly enough to use the wipers on. That only compounded her irritation at the night's events.

Elisa had heard about Goliath's near altercation with Brooklyn from Angela. She had heard both sides of the complaint it seemed, from her father and from Brooklyn, her beau. Angela was distressed at the turn of events, a tight spot to be in when her loyalties were strong toward both parties. She had been dismayed and appalled by Brooklyn's attitude toward the news. She had her own misgivings, but knew that airing them to her father was not the best thing to do. She knew that the best that she could do was to support the two of them through what had to be a trying time both for them and the Clan. Angela had said that shortly thereafter Goliath left, muttering something about needing some fresh air. Brooklyn had stormed off the completely opposite direction deeper into the castle. Angela was worried about the tension that hung like one of the thunderclouds outside waiting to strike the unwary.

No, things were definitely not going well tonight… not as bad as they had predicted no doubt but still a bittersweet night. Elisa sighed again in frustration thinking on her own conversation with Xanatos.

She caught up with him just as he rejoined Fox in the lower hall. Elisa slowed a bit as she caught up with them. Xanatos was relaying the general gist of the conversations above in his usual snide voice to his wife. Fox had Alexander in her arms and Elisa was uncertain that she wanted to disrupt their evening.

Elisa drew a deep breath and cleared her throat catching the couple's attention. They turned to face her each with what looked to Elisa to be a curious and fascinated look. Feeling altogether like an experiment they were interested in seeing come to fruition she brought herself to say, "I need to talk to you, Xanatos…alone," She finished giving Fox a look that dashed the hopes she saw in her face. Fox was very interested in what Elisa had to say to her husband, "don't worry Fox," She said sarcastically, "I'm sure he'll give you all the juicy details the minute we finish. It's just that I need to bend his ear in private."

Fox smiled crookedly and nodded toward her, "Congratulations, by the way, detective."

Elisa looked at her silently for long moments, swearing that was a dig, but unable to bring herself to challenge Fox for clarification.

"This way, if you please, Elisa," Xanatos said softly motioning toward his office.

Shoulders sagging Elisa followed the executive into his office, and it was larger than most people's homes. She was not looking forward to this, but as she had said to Goliath, it had to be done. She had no other means of surreptitiously having this child, she just didn't have the resources that he did. Steeling herself she finally said, "I have a favor to ask of you…a really big favor," she said glumly.

Xanatos raised his hand a smarmy smile plastered over his face, "I think I know what you're going to ask, Elisa."

Elisa crossed her arms, her hackles immediately rising, only worse for him using her familiar name, "Oh? So tell me oh omnipotent one, what do I want of you?" She quipped in none to gentle a tone.

"Well, it's obvious…the baby can't be delivered in a conventional hospital," Him hitting the nail on the head only made her more defensive. She had never liked him on their best days, and he was really getting her goat now, "You would like me to arrange for a doctor to deliver the child."

"Yes," She growled unable to help her tone.

"Done," He said smiling broadly, "Doctor Morton would be thrilled for the chance," he said thoughtfully scratching his chin, "He's already under a privacy contract so there would be no problems with the particulars of your case finding their way onto the news. I can have one of the rooms right here in the castle converted to a first class delivery room. Anything I can do to be of assistance."

Elisa's head cocked to one side her eyes narrowing, "So what's the catch?" She asked.

Xanatos looked surprised, innocent actually, and that incensed Elisa all the more, "Nothing…" he said, "I have yet to repay my debt to you, Ms. Maza, for all the heartache I caused. This would only go a long way toward that sizable debt of gratitude."

Somehow Elisa did not believe him, but found herself voiceless lest he rescind his offer to find her a doctor.

"Is there anything else?" Xanatos said to her as she stood there staring at his desk and fuming. All she could do is shake her head in the negative, "Well then, I will have Doctor Morton get a hold of you for your first check up."

"Great," She said tonelessly.

"And when you get closer you are welcome to move in here until after the delivery."

"Alright," she said just as blandly as her last response, her mind was still trying to process all this generosity Xanatos was showing her suddenly.

The thought still bothered her. She was sure there was an unseen and unspoken price dangling somewhere over her head for what Xanatos was providing for her. She had known Xanatos too long to believe that it was just out of kindness of his heart.

Again Elisa sighed as she pulled into the parking garage near her building. Wondering where Goliath might have gone she ascended the elevator toward her penthouse loft. The door opened with a high squeak of protest and she let herself in. She turned on the light and began to strip down to something more comfortable. From there she headed for the kitchen, famished again, so shortly after she had just eaten. Seems her appetite had come back after her morning sickness with a vengeance. As she was fixing herself a midnight dinner she glanced over at her loft window just as a bolt of lightning outlined a large shadow sitting outside her window, Elisa couldn't help but jump. She sighed in relief realizing it was Goliath, sitting with his back to the glass. Letting the steak grill for a moment she moved toward the sliding door leading out to the roof.

Goliath's skin was glistening with drizzle and his dark hair hung limply around his shoulders. He glanced her direction but said nothing looking worn and worried. Elisa stepped onto the roof moving over next to him.

"I was wondering where you went," Elisa said softly, "Angela said you and Brooklyn nearly had it out."

He looked down only nodding. His face was drawn into an ugly frown, "Angela told you?" He whispered.

"Yeah, not too much that the family won't find out," Elisa said, remembering her mother had said that a lot. He nodded still not talking. Elisa decided to change the subject, "Have you eaten yet tonight?" She asked him, "I'm right in the middle of making dinner, I could throw another steak in the frying pan if you're hungry."

Goliath looked up at her, and it seemed by the expression on his face that he was going to refuse her offer. Suddenly his face broke into a small smile and he rose to his feet, "Actually I am quite hungry."

Elisa smiled broadly, "Good."

Dinner was eaten quickly and in complete silence, though each of them stealing glances at the other, shy and awkward glances. To look at it a spectator would think that they had only just met and not friend for the past three years. When dinner had been finished they sat staring at each other, they both were smiling, and the cares of the day seemed forgotten as they shared the silence of the night.

Elisa rose suddenly from the table clearing the plates and heading toward the kitchen, "Let me help you," Goliath rumbled rising from his own seat and taking the plates from her hands. She led the way into the kitchen as he followed, placing the dishes in her sink. He turned to face her and she leaned on the counter behind her regarding him curiously. "That was very good," Goliath commented, then went silent again. Goliath closed the distance between them and reaching out he ran a hand through her dark hair, "It has been a tough night," He said softly.

Elisa nodded looking down, "That is an understatement."

"I think that we both need some time to relax," Goliath said with a small smile, then leaning down he kissed her. The same electric shock of longing coursed through her body at that kiss, just as it had the night and day they had spent in each other's arms. Her arms wrapped around his neck of their own accord as the kiss deepened. They were slow to separate from that contact and both of their hands were wandering slowly over each other's bodies lightly exploring. Goliath was the first to break the contact, but he did not jerk away from her as if he felt guilty. He backed away and straightened a bit, never letting his eyes lose contact with hers, he seemed to know that it was not a time for that kind of contact. He was smiling and some of the tension had eased both from his face and his body.

Elisa smiled warmly, "What was that for?"

"For love," He answered simply, "For being the bravest human I know, for teaching me the meaning of love all over again, when I had sorely forgotten what it was, and for being my strength when I feel lost."

"That was nice," Elisa added both for the kiss and the soliloquy. She turned away moving slowly back toward the living room. Goliath joined her, like a large purple shadow, and he sat down on the floor his tail wrapping his legs. Without invitation Elisa sat down on one large knee, and he automatically wrapped her up in his arms and his wings. Elisa sighed blissfully, glad for some normalcy in these recent crazy weeks. She knew it was only the eye of the storm, but anything that took her back to the more carefree days of years past was a blessing.

Thus they spent the rest of the evening, enjoying simple pleasures and each other's company, without expectation, without regret, without the nagging doubts that had plagued them since Elisa had found the hard truth.

By predawn they were lying next to each other on the floor of the main room in her loft talking small talk, and recalling some of their earlier adventures together. Suddenly Elisa rolled toward Goliath, feeling him lift some of the weight of his muscular arm off her so that she could. She looked him deep in the eyes as she said, "Just…what do you thing the baby will look like?"

She felt him stop breathing for a moment. He exhaled ruffling her hair as he looked away, "I don't know," Goliath replied as if he had never before considered the question, then he smiled down at her, "I would say like me."

Elisa only smiled and lay her head down. It was not long after that she was asleep in Goliath's arms. He raised his head from his arm hearing her deep and regular breathing, he looked down into her sleeping face, smiling lovingly. Carefully he gathered himself up and lifting her gingerly he moved to her bedroom. She stirred slightly as he rested her on the soft mattress and covered her in her sheets. He paused there a moment looking at her relaxed face. He smiled again as he leaned down to kiss her on the forehead, then he straightened and let himself out onto the roof.

He did not want to return to the castle tonight, he did not want to return to the guilt and accusation that brooded there at the moment. He wanted nothing to spoil his mood, his one bit of happiness in the last year. He stood with one foot propped on the ledge watching as the black gave way to purple and then an orange stain painted the sky. He was smiling as the rays of the rising sun struck him, going to sleep with the thoughts of their simple evening, such a fine evening it had turned out to be.