A/N: Hey everyone thanks once again for all of your reviews! Hope you enjoy this as well! Since it's been awhile: Gargs belong to Disney the Birds belong to DC/WB. Sadly I make no money offa this.

January 4th

Castle Wyvern

Manhattan

Midday

"So are the rumors true about you having some kind of prototype defense shield around this thing?" Helena asked the tattooed redhead walking along the stone corridors with her.

Fox Xanatos smirked as she glanced over at the younger woman. "Seems like you did more than just a little homework on us."

Helena shrugged. "I work with the all-knowing Oracle. Bruc- my father gave me a brief file on both of you and your companies, but I wanted to know more."

Fox chuckled, eye sparkling. "Must be a cat thing."

That pried Helena's attention away from the amazing architecture surrounding her. "Hudson told us a little bit about you and the others. Enough to wet one's appetite- especially since I practically worshipped your mother when I was a teenager and reaching the height of my rebelliousness."

Helena's eyebrows disappeared under her bangs. "You knew my mom?"

Strangely the emotions that ran across the older woman's face were mixed. "I came across your mother during a dark time in my very sordid past. It's not something I like to talk about, but sufficed to say, your mother helped me out as I stumbled through my rebellious phase."

She paused in the hallway and looked over at Helena, her expression relaxing finally. "It would seem that I followed the same path in life that your mother did. When I look at you, I see what my son can become one day. Your mother would be proud of you Helena, and I can see in your father's eyes just how much it means to him to have you to stand at his side."

The brunette ducked her head away, seeming interested once more in a sword collection on the wall. "Yeah, well it's been a long hard road to get to this place in my life," Helena said a little resentfully. "And it's only just beginning. Usually, just after things start going right, the rug gets pulled out from under me and my life gets turned upside down again," she added with a troubled look.

Fox chuckled and Helena raised an eyebrow. "Would life be interesting if it didn't throw us curveballs? It's a sad fact that people like us thrive on drama. If there were no crises to fix, problems to solve, or disasters to avert, we'd all be out of a job and bored out of our minds."

"Yeah, but what about when the stakes start to get too high?" Helena asked in a somber tone.

Fox's expression grew serious as well. "I may have been on the wrong side of the law for awhile, but a great deal has changed in my life over the past few years. We make tough choices in life Helena," Fox told her as a deep sadness filled her eyes. "Choices like whether the life of someone close to you is worth the lives of thousands of strangers you don't know. In the end we make the right choices, regardless of how much it will cost us personally, because that is who we are. We do it because we can make a difference when others can't. We hold a power that very few possess Helena, and only a small portion of those who hold that power use it in a way to benefit others. In the end, you've made a difference in at least one person's life and the stakes are never too high."

Helena mulled over that silently for a minute and then quirked her head to the side. "So, you really do have that force field huh?" she asked her lips turning upwards a bit.

"And it's more than just a prototype too," Fox answered with a laugh as she continued with Helena's tour of their building.

(break)

"I have to say you run a tight ship here David. I'm very impressed but what I saw…and what I didn't see," Bruce added with a smirk as he took the tumbler of scotch Xanatos handed him.

"A man can't give away all his secrets now- especially with you back in the game. You of course realize that you're going to have to make a press statement soon. I believe more than just a couple of my department heads recognized you."

"Hel and I discussed it a little on the flight over here and I think next week I'll hold a press conference. I need to meet with my Board first and appraise them of what's about to happen. It's going to take some serious restructuring on my part if I want to keep my company from going under."

"You have my word that neither of our companies will try to make any moves on yours Bruce. I believe you won't have anything to worry about from Nightstone either."

"I appreciate that David, although you must understand I'm a bit leery as to why you would make such a generous statement."

"I respect you a great deal Bruce. When I first started out, I thought you were foolish to waste so much money on charities and such. But my priorities have changed over the years, and I began realize just how much of a difference people like us can make. After Fox inherited her father's corporation, it was amazing how much we could accomplish once we began to pool our resources. I have no intention, nor any desire to take over your company, but I am hoping that we can work out a few suitable contracts that would be mutually beneficial for both our companies."

Bruce raised an eyebrow. "What exactly did you have in mind?" knowing full well the business tycoon already had something lined up.

"As you saw, we have made some incredible progress perfecting cybernetics and cyberbiotics. Your company has been specializing in drug research, and Nightstone has been playing around quite a bit with genetic research. I believe I could have a word with Ms. Destine and arrange a meeting that could help our corporations corner the medical research market."

"Dominique Destine? The woman has a reputation worse than Luther did. According to my sources she's been gathering her resources for months now to make a bid for my company. I can't imagine her going into a deal like this without some ulterior motive."

Xanatos gave him a cryptic smile. "Oh, she has an ulterior motive alright, just not what you could possibly imagine. Trust me when I tell you she's a very different woman now, and would be very interested in this deal."

The two executives held each other's gazes and Bruce finally nodded. He held out his hand and they shook on it. "Perhaps next week after we've all taken care of our personal business, we can sit down and discuss the basics of this deal?"

"I look forward to it. In the meantime, perhaps you would like a tour of the castle as well? You really should stay to see the gargoyles wake up…it's an incredible sight."

"We wouldn't want to impose."

"Nonsense. Hudson was looking forward to seeing Helena tonight, and the rest of the Clan were eager to meet both of you as well. Besides, Owen has already begun preparations for dinner for both of you."

"It would be a pleasure to meet the gargoyles. Helena says they are magnificent creatures."

"They truly are a sight to behold," Xanatos agreed as he opened the door to his office. "It's a shame Goliath was killed in the Dock Wars. His loss has hit the Clan- and others- very hard. I can only hope that they will recover from this blow as they have others in the past," he sighed, genuinely sad.

"My….family has had many good things to say about Detective Maza. I know the loss she is feeling right now, and if she is half the woman that I've been told, she'll come back from this even stronger than she was before. I look forward to being able to meet her in person."

"Well I definitely wouldn't recommend it be tonight," Xanatos told him dryly. "She has not been in the best of moods lately and even her family has been at a loss as to what to do to help her."

"Perhaps, therein lies the problem," Wayne told him as they entered the private elevator that would whisk them up into the castle.

"Having her family around?" Xanatos asked puzzled.

Wayne shrugged. "I don't know about that. What I meant, was that perhaps it isn't help that she wants right now. From what I've been told, Detective Maza strikes me as a fiercely independent woman- a warrior through and through. I've come to know more than a few of those kinds of people over the years," he admitted with a faint smile. "We all have our egos and pride David, and the last thing any of us want to admit to is a weakness. And if she's feeling like Goliath's death is her fault, then she's going to put herself through hell and back because she feels like she's deserved the pain and suffering that she's now having to endure."

Xanatos looked at the older man thoughtfully and chuckled. "So tell me, did you study psychology while you were away?" he chuckled quietly as the elevator opened and they stepped out into the massive stone entryway of the castle.

Wayne chuffed softly and shook his head. "No. Just some lessons I've learned over the course of my life…some the hard way," he answered quietly as his eyes grew distant and sad for a moment. It only lasted for a breath, and then he smiled. "Helena said she wanted to check in with Elisa. Given her lack of beside manner from what Barbara has told me, I think it could be just the thing Elisa needs right now."

"Hope her reflexes are as good as Hudson claimed. Last person to try and enter the room had a lamp thrown at them," Xanatos laughed.

One Hour Later…..

Helena and Fox joined the men out in the courtyard, a few minutes before the sun set. "Man and I thought New Gotham was cold," Helena remarked as she drew her long leather duster tighter around her slight frame.

"It's about the same really," Xanatos explained, even as he zipped his own heavy jacket up. "We're so high up though, that there's nothing to block the wind."

"Mommy! Daddy!" a young voice called out excitedly, as it's owner came dashing across the courtyard.

The two parents smiled warmly, and Fox crouched down to catch her exuberant toddler as he launched himself into her arms. She hugged him, as he squirmed in her grasp eager to tell her about his day. "Did you have fun with Uncle Owen today?"

"It was soooooo neat mommy!" he exclaimed his eyes bright. "We saw lost of dinosaurs an' bones an' there was even a T-Rex!"

"Owen took him to the Museum of Natural History this afternoon," Xanatos explained with a grin.

"Hey it's the cat lady!" Alex grinned as he caught sight of the new visitors.

"Now Alex, mind your manners young man," his mother scolded him lightly, even as Helena burst out laughing and Bruce smirked.

"Hey there kiddo," Helena chuckled as she reached out to ruffle short red hair.

"But she is mom!"

"Yes, but her real name is Helena."

"Ok," he sighed dramatically as he squirmed to get down. Once on the ground he walked over to Bruce and craned his head up to look at the tall man.

Bruce looked down at Xanatos' prodigy and held the child's curious gaze. The boy's eyes seemed to age for a moment, and the older man tensed up slightly as he felt the hairs on his neck begin to stand. "Alex," Owen said curtly, startling everyone.

The boy blinked, breaking from whatever small trance he had gone into, and then held out his hand. "Hello Mr. Wayne."

Bruce hesitantly reached out to shake the child's hand and he didn't miss the sharp look from his daughter when he did hesitate.

"I apologize for that Mr. Wayne. Alex still has a great deal to learn in the use of his talents…..etiquette being one of them. It seems his teacher has been very remiss in that area," Owen stated as he came forward and rested a firm hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Well, boys will be boys," Bruce forced himself to say as he tried to give as genuine as smile as possible. He was most definitely not comfortable around the halfling, given that the child was still learning when it was and was not proper to probe another's mind. But the boy's power had saved Dinah's life and he obviously had both a good heart and a good instructor.

"The sun's setting!" Alex whispered excitedly, shrugging off Owen's hand as he ran towards where the gargoyles were sleeping.

The adults followed him with a chuckle, and stood a safe distance away as the sky began to grow darker and the sound of cracking filled the suddenly calm air. Bruce watched in fascination, as the statues of solid stone morphed into living beings. As the last stone chips were shaken from clothing and hair, the aging billionaire realized that Helena's description of 'breathtaking' had been very apt. After finally taking a breath of the frigid night air, he chuckled slightly to himself, and grinned.

Helena slid a knowing look over at him, and then moved forward to greet the eldest clan member with a hug. "Hey gramps," she laughed as he held her at arm's length to look her over carefully.

"'Tis good to see ye again lass," he greeted warmly. "An' ye be looking like ye have been healing nicely," he noted, taking in the nearly faded bruises and cuts on what skin was visible.

"Yeah, good old meta healing. You look good yourself."

"Aye," he acknowledged, sadness creeping into his aged features. "The battle at the train yards went quickly and with few injuries thanks to Nightwing an' his friends." The rest of the Clan had gathered around the small group of humans by now, with Alex immediately making his rounds of hugging the gargoyles good morning.

"Lass I'd like for ye to meet the rest o' the Clan. This is Lexington, the one I said Barbara would love to get to know."

"Ah, the techno geek," Helena grinned as she shook the smaller gargoyle's clawed hand.

"Hudson tells me your friend may be a better hacker than me," he grinned back.

"Well I may be a bit biased, but I'd say Barbara is the best hack in the world. Course she's got…or at least had…a computer on steroids at her command. I'm sure when you two meet there's gonna be some wreaking of cyber havoc."

"This be Broadway and Angela."

Helena nodded and smiled at the couple. "So you're quite the up and coming detective from what Elisa told me."

The portly gargoyle's eyes widened a bit and Helena swore she saw him blush. "Wow. She really said that?"

"You bet. Told us about how you helped her break that cocaine smuggling case last year. Nice work," Helena complimented. She looked at the quiet female who stood at his side, her taloned hand clasped tightly in his, and smiled gently as she held out her hand.

"Angela, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. Between Elisa and your father, I feel like I've known you for years. I'm looking forward to having a chance to visit more with you."

The lavender young woman shook her hand firmly, her eyes moist, but a tentative smile gracing her own lips. "Hudson has had a great many tales of you and your family. I also look forward to getting to know you."

Helena grinned and raised an eyebrow towards Hudson. "Now you haven't been telling too many stories about me have you gramps? Cause I might have to tell them about how you are now the YMCA king back in New Gotham."

Hudson held up his hands in innocence, as he growled a mock warning at her when everyone's eyes snapped between the two of them at her reference. "YMCA King?" the crimson beaked gargoyle asked speculatively, a smirk growing on his long features.

"Let's just see how much Hudson told on me before I give up any juicy gossip about his stay in NG," Helena laughed as she winked at the older gargoyle who relaxed visibly. "You must be Brooklyn. Heard a lot about you too."

"I swear it's not as bad as it sounds," he chuckled as he shook her hand firmly.

"Don't worry, I get a bad rap back at home. We rebels will just have to stick together, and prove you can have fun and get the job done."

Brooklyn grinned back at her and then as she pumped his hand one last time she turned towards her father. "Everyone I'd like for you to meet my father, Bruce Wayne."

"Whoa, I thought you were dead or something," Lexington said in surprise, his eyes wide.

"No…just away for a very long time," the billionaire admitted as he moved forward to shake hands.

"Huh, guess this means your gonna have more than Dem- Dominique, to play with now," Brooklyn said to Xanatos, catching his slip a little late.

"We were just talking about that a little while ago actually. Things could get very interesting for all three of our companies in the near future. Angela will your mother be stopping by this evening?"

The lavender gargess nodded, a puzzled look in her eyes. "Yes she said she would be here shortly after sundown," she answered quietly.

"Excellent. I think it would be a great opportunity for her to meet Mr. Wayne. Owen, do we have room for one more guest?"

"Of course Mr. Xanatos."

"Very good. Well, shall we head inside where it's warmer?"

(break)

Bruce sipped from his wine glass as he casually observed the group surrounding him. Barbara wasn't kidding when she said Helena was a quick study. Of course, the young woman had inherited a natural talent to socially fit in nearly anywhere she went. Her charming smile, easy laugh, and casual demeanor put anyone around her at ease, and in the process loosened tongues nicely. She would be a killer on business dates.

She had also done more than her fair share of homework. When he had given her that dossier to read on the Xanatos', it had merely been to introduce her to the wealthy couple. He figured that once she was going to meet with the couple on a more professional level, he would then have her take a more in depth look into their companies and their lives. Granted, she had heard quite about their personal lives from Elisa, Goliath, and Hudson during their stay in New Gotham. But from the pointed questions about their businesses, it had been very clear that she had hit Barbara up for some extra information.

Despite the fact that the Clan was still clearly mourning the loss of their leader, she had helped to manage keep the meal conversation light, and would steer things away from any topics that seemed touchy. Hudson helped a great deal as well, finally caving to everyone's persistent asking of what Helena meant when she called him the YMCA King.

As Helena and Brooklyn launched into an impromptu competition of who nabbed the dumbest crook, his eyes drifted over to where Angela sat close to her mother. Demona. He had heard rumors of her in the past, but had chalked her existence up to superstition, since he himself had never come across her or her kind. He was still trying to figure out why Xanatos wanted him to meet her.

She had supposedly changed her ways over the last couple of years, but there was something about the indigo gargess that made him uneasy in her presence. Her casual gaze took in everything, constantly measuring everything and everyone up with almost predatory intent. What caused him the most discomfort was the fact that she seemed too familiar. There was something in that lightly accented- almost haughty- tone, the angular features, and the fiery red hair, that had every fiber in his being telling him he had seen her before.

She obviously knew who he was, given the surprise on her face when she entered the dining area and was introduced. And she was more than a little familiar with his company, from the pointed questions she was asking and the keen interest she had displayed as he discussed small business matters with Fox and David. Finally, as dinner wound down, she stood to excuse herself saying she needed to attend to some business of her own. Leaning down to give her daughter a brief hug, Demona assured her daughter that she wasn't leaving the castle yet and that she would see her later.

Angela nodded, and Bruce watched as the Clan warily watched her go. It would seem that most of them were still wary around Demona. As Owen began clearing the table the small group began to break up, as Brooklyn, Lex and Broadway headed out for a brief glide through the city on an un-official patrol. Helena and Angela excused themselves and Fox held out her hand to Alexander as she declared it was time for him to wash up and begin preparations for settling down for the evening.

"Shall we retire to the entertainment room for a drink and to discuss the future?" Xanatos offered.

"Aye, that sounds like a fine suggestion," Hudson answered as he pushed his bulky frame up.

"Shall you be requiring my assistance sir?" Owen asked tonelessly.

"I think I can handle pouring a few drinks Owen. I don't think Fox or I will be needing anything else tonight."

"Then I believe I will retire for the evening then if that is acceptable."

"Thank you Owen, but I think we can manage the rest of the night on our own. Go ahead and take the rest of the night off, you've most certainly earned it. I know the boy has been wearing you out lately with all of his… 'lessons'."

Owen's face never betrayed one ounce of emotion, but Bruce caught the brief look cast in his direction from the blonde man. "Indeed. Alexander is becoming stronger everyday and is requiring more supervision now that he has grasped the fundamentals of his lessons. Due to my…limitations, it has been growing increasingly difficult to keep them under control. I may have to suspend them until I can find a solution to this dilemma."

"Well Alex has had more lessons these past few weeks to last most people a lifetime. I think it would be good for the boy to learn a little patience. I'll speak with Fox on the matter, but in the meantime, consider yourself relieved of any exercises with him until a suitable solution has been found."

"Thank Mr. Xanatos," the majordomo said blandly. But all three men saw Owen's shoulders lift just a slight bit, as the small burden was lifted off of them.

"Goodnight Owen."

"Thank you for a wonderful meal Owen. And your choice of wine was excellent," Bruce added politely as he thought of Alfred back at home.

Owen inclined his head towards his guest. "Thank you Mr. Wayne. It was indeed an honor to meet you in person."

Wayne's lips twitched upwards into a smirk. "In this guise at least?" he asked casually.

Xanatos grinned, Hudson chuckled, and Owen merely raised an eyebrow. "We all have our secrets, don't we Mr. Wayne" he answered back blandly. Bruce shook his head, as he too chuckled. "Touché."

(break)

"This is quite the home you guys have here. Dinah….she's like my kid sister… you should have heard her go on and on about how this place was built. You'd have thought she was the one who drew up the plans for this thing," Helena chuckled.

Angela grinned shyly. "It is an amazing feat. I grew up on Avalon where there was no technology to speak of beyond rudimental equipment and weapons- we simply didn't need it. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined such a complex world."

"Bet you suffered more than a little culture shock the first time you stepped off that boat," Helena grinned.

"I think I was first taken aback when Elisa, Bronx and my father showed up on Avalon's shores. Her clothing was so strange to us! And she had left Manhattan while wearing her gun- we had never seen a weapon of that sort before. Even though none of us knew it was empty, she tried to force King Oberon to back down from his attack on us, when she threatened to use it on him."

"That's sounds like Elisa. Barbara thinks I'm crazy, but that cop is crazier- and ballsier- than anyone I've ever come across. Hell, she and Reese-my boyfriend- had rigged the docks back at Gotham to blow if something went wrong. None of us knew about it, but if it had gone down bad, they had both agreed that at least one of them would make sure that none of the bad guys got away. Reese finally admitted that unless something had happened to her, Elisa would have done it. She rides the edge of insanity closer than anyone I know."

Angela suddenly looked away, pain filling her eyes. "I fear that all of this has finally pushed her over that edge."

They had entered into a room, and Helena looked around to see that they were inside a massive library. Alfred had mentioned that Goliath had been extremely fond of the library back at the Manor. She suspected it reminded him of home, and that he and his loved ones had shared good memories in this room. "What makes you say that Angela?" she asked gently as she strolled over to the massive fireplace and crouched down to inspect it.

"She speaks madness lately," the young woman answered, her voice trembling slightly. Helena busied herself with starting up a decent fire, as Angela seemed to gather her thoughts. Once the chill in air was being chased away by the warmth of the flames, Helena curled up on the couch across from the fire and patted the plush cushions next to her.

Angela sat heavily, her eyes shimmering with tears. "You want to talk about it?" Helena encouraged.

"Elisa has come to be more than just Clan and a friend to me over the years. I think my father wanted for her to become a mother figure for me, and while Elisa was willing to be a friend and a mentor, she told me on more than one occasion that she could never replace my mother. But she has always been there for me….and she was the one who made it possible for my mother to change. If it hadn't been for her encouraging me to not lose hope, or sticking up for me when my father found out I was sneaking off to visit Demona…." Angela trailed off shaking her head as a few tears made their way down her cheeks.

"I've watched her sacrifice so much for us- for me. Now she needs our help, but she said-" Angela's voice broke. "She said that she didn't want to be with us anymore. That's she's giving up," she finally whispered painfully as sobs began to shake her shoulders. "I don't want to loose her too."

Helena drew in a slow breath and laid a comforting hand on Angela's shoulder. "Elisa's going through a lot right now Angela. She's not thinking straight, and she doesn't realize what she's saying. Take it from someone who's been through this twice in less then a decade. I've said and done a lot of bonehead things over the last few years…this past one especially," Helena admitted ruefully.

Angela, sniffled for a few minutes. "Hudson said your mother was killed when you were younger."

"Yeah," Helena answered quietly. "She…she was killed right in front of me. She died in my arms….much like Goliath died in Elisa's from what I understand. There's nothing worse than watching the person you love most, take their last breath while you sit helplessly at their side. I was pretty messed up after that, and I don't doubt Elisa will be either. She's already been through hell these past few years from what she told us, and she went into that fight expecting that if anyone was to die it would be her. She just needs some time and patience Angela. Lots and lots of patience," she added with a distant look in her eye.

"Does it still hurt? Do you still miss her?" Angela asked in a choked voice.

Helena sighed. It was hard talking about this to someone that she had only just started to know. But she understood Angela's need to know. She understood all too well, what Angela was going though right now. "Yeah…I still miss her. I think about her everyday, wishing I could have shared something funny that happened or cried on her shoulder just one last time. It hurts knowing that she never got to see all the things I have done or will do with my life. But that pain eases a bit with time and love from everyone else around you. You'll get through this Angela, just as Elisa will."

"I know I will," the gargess answered resolutely, and Helena could see a large part of Goliath's determination in her from the set of her shoulders. "But Elisa lost so much more…and I fear that she may never recover from this."

"I'm going to go see her in a few minutes. How bad is it?"

(break)

"I don't think that it would be wise to dist-"

A growl cut off the woman's warning and she quickly retreated back to the small room that she had come from. Demona turned the knob on the door in front of her and entered without waiting for the room's occupant to grant her permission to enter.

Elisa Maza looked up startled at the sudden intrusion into her room, and was even more shocked by who her unwanted visitor was. Gripping the edge of the dresser she was standing next to, her jaw clenched tightly.

"Get out," she ground out tightly.

Demona took a purposeful step further in the room and sized the injured detective up as she folded her arms across her chest. "Make me."

Elisa drew in a sharp breath, and straightened at the taunt. Limping painfully across the room, she fumbled for a second through a garment bag that held the dress uniform that Matt had dropped off earlier. Demona watched with a mixture of amusement and irritation as the raven haired woman pulled her service revolver from its holster and aimed it back in her direction.

"They actually let you have a gun in your possession right now?" she asked condescendingly.

Elisa's whole body jerked, and the weapon trembled. "How dare you," she whispered harshly.

Demona's entire posture shifted suddenly as she quickly advanced on the human and ripped the gun from her weak grasp. "No Elisa. How dare you," Demona threw back at her angrily, her eyes glowing blood red.

Elisa didn't know whether to be shocked by the fact that Demona had just called her by her name for the first time, or by the hurt and pain she saw in the immortal's eyes. Either way, for the first time in all their conflicts, Elisa looked away and sagged into a nearby chair defeated.

"Go away," she requested once more, in a strangled voice.

When Demona seemed frozen in place, Elisa looked up finally to see her standing in the same spot staring at her with a shocked expression on her angular features.

Demona sniffed the air once more, her mind unwilling to process what she was scenting from Elisa. But there was no denying it. She had been alive for far too many centuries to know it wasn't a mistake. Elisa was pregnant. She suddenly realized that the human was looking up at her, a defeated look still in her eyes as she waited for the gargoyle to make the next move. Her eyes flared red for a brief second, but it quickly disappeared when she saw something else in Elisa's features that she had seen all too often in the past. A look she had seen every time she had looked at her own reflection over the past millennium.

She willed herself to relax her stance, but the anger never left her voice as she spoke to the human. "I will not leave until I've said what everyone else in this castle is too afraid to say. As much as it pains me to admit this, to you of all people, you have been the closest thing to a mother Angela has had since Goliath brought her from Avalon. She…loves you and you turn your back on her now!"

Elisa began to protest, but Demona cut her off. "She told me what you said to her and that's what your doing, don't deny it. You got hurt, and now you're pulling yourself away from the Clan."

"Damnit Demona they are going to get hurt!" Elisa shouted as she pushed herself to her feet, and swayed unsteadily as she pushed a finger into the gargoyles face. "I can't believe that you of all people don't see that. You were right okay? Humans are a bunch of psychopathic murders who seem bent on wiping every living thing off the face of this planet. Brooklyn and the Clan have been in meetings that will bring the gargoyle race back into public light. When they do that, god knows what lunatic groups will pop up to try and exterminate all of you. History will only repeat itself here, and I can't be a part of that."

Demona's clawed hand gripped Elisa by the front of her sweatshirt, and would have lifted her off the floor until the human gasped as healing injuries were strained. "Don't you dare ever say that to me again," she told Elisa in a deadly tone as she released Elisa and let her stumbled back into the chair.

The furious gargoyle began to pace restlessly in front of the human. "Don't you dare say those words to me, when you were the reason I began to change." If she hadn't been so pissed off, Elisa's expression would have made her smirk. "That's right Elisa. You."

"But..Angela…"

"Angela helped me to remember what it was like to love someone again, and be loved in return. But it was you that made me see that not all humans were evil. I hated you so much, because I could not deny that you genuinely cared for the Clan. Time after time I watched you risk your own life to save one or all of theirs. But when you gave my daughter back to me, even after I had tried to kill you all those times, I realized I had been wrong."

Elisa could only sit and stare at Demona in stunned silence. "Angela was part of the reason I began to let go of my hatred. But if you could look at me and see a hope for change after everything that had passed between us….well, I sure as hell wasn't going to back down from that challenge," she answered as her lips twisted ever so slightly upwards. Elisa snorted, and then finally looked away.

"Don't do this Elisa," Demona told her as the anger finally left her voice completely and took on an almost pleading quality to it. "Don't go down that dark path I did. I lost too much in my life because of it- things I will never be able to get back no matter how long I choose to live." Elisa was looking back up at her again, confusion in her scarred features.

"I can see it in your eyes." Elisa winced, and Demona mentally smacked herself. Nice choice of words genius, she chided herself before pushing on. "Look at you. You have never backed down from me in a fight. You're not even half the woman I despised for so long. Goliath gave his life so that you could live. Make his sacrifice worth it and pull yourself together."

"Don't bring him into this," Elisa hissed, a sob lodging into her throat.

"I will bring him into this because he has everything to do with where you go from here."

Elisa was on her feet again her words half shouts, half sobs. "He wasn't supposed to die that night! You saw it in my eyes Demona. You saw that it was supposed to be me! For all that you have gone through, can you honestly say that you understand how I'm feeling right now? I knew I was going to die and I had come to accept that. I wasn't ready to lose him!"

"And you think I was! Just because we didn't see eye to eye, didn't mean I stopped loving him. I never stopped loving Goliath, and when I watched him killed due to the actions of my most hated enemy, everything that I had begun to let go came crashing back down on me. I was this close Elisa," Demona breathed harshly as she held her talons a hairsbreadth apart. "I was this close to going berserk and killing everything and everyone in sight. And then you got back to your feet and took those bullets that were meant for me."

The gargoyle backed off, her own breath uneven as her wings trembled visibly with barely controlled emotions. "Angela asked me the other night why I stopped you from killing the Hunter. I couldn't answer her then, because I was still trying to deal with all of these damn emotions that I viewed as weak for so long. But I stopped you from killing the Hunter because I couldn't let you go down the path I did. If you need some time to get things straight in your head then take it. The Clan can handle being on their own for awhile if that's what it's going to take. But if they find themselves facing off against you like they did with me, it will destroy them."

The gargoyle paused, and locked eyes with the human. "I won't let you do that to them or yourself."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a promise I hope I never have to keep," Demona answered her shoulders sagging slightly. "Find a way to cope, and by the dragon get some actual rest before the funeral. You look like hell."

(break)

Helena blinked, surprised as the door to Elisa's room swung open just as she raised her hand to knock on it. She was more than a little surprised to see Demona of all people coming out of the detective's room, and quickly entered to make sure Elisa was okay.

She was relieved to see that at least Elisa was alive. Okay was a whole other matter however, given the tears and silent sobs. Helena crouched next to Elisa, resting a hand on her shoulder. "You want me to go kick her ass for you?" she asked with gentle humor.

"Helena?" Elisa sniffled as she lifted her face from where they had been shielded by her hands.

Despite Angela's descriptions, Helena was still hard pressed to control her shock at actually seeing the injuries. She mustn't have controlled it completely because Elisa quickly looked away, shame filling her features and causing fresh tears to flow.

"Hey, don't do that," Helena said quickly as she placed a firm finger under Elisa's chin, which seemed safe enough, and forced her to look back. "It's just that with my meta abilities, I rarely see someone injured as badly as you are. Should you even be up?"

Elisa gingerly wiped away her tears as she struggled to control her emotions and shrugged. "Not really, and these are supposed to be covered. But they've had me blind for the past week, and I'm tired of banging my shins against everything every time I get up. I'm not going to Goliath's funeral in a chair," she explained vehemently.

Helena nodded, and said nothing more on the matter. "So the offer still stands to go kick her ass if you want," she repeated with a grin.

Elisa managed a shaky one of her own, but shook her head. "When did you get here? No one said you were visiting."

"Probably because you were too busy scaring everyone off and going on benders all by yourself."

Elisa groaned and massaged her uninjured temple. "Jesus, does the whole world know about that?"

"Like everyone knows all about my little problem this past year," Helena answered with a sympathetic look. "See with me, it takes at least two bottles of the hard stuff to even get a buzz. So be thankful that you don't have my metabolism because you would have really been getting their panties in a twist."

Elisa snorted and then sighed. "So what brings you to Manhattan and please don't tell me it was to check up on me."

"Okay. Then I'll tell you it was to accompany my father on an informal lunch date to meet the Xanatos'."

"Your father?" Elisa gasped.

"Yeah. The big black bat you ran into back at the docks?"

"I know…it's just well with everything that has happened. I didn't know if he would stick around or not. To be honest I haven't thought about much this past week," she told the younger woman tiredly.

"Yeah, well he and Reese helped to rescue Barbara just in time. Everyone's back at the Manor now recovering. By the way, thanks for sending the kid and his Keebler pal," Helena told her sincerely. "Leslie didn't know if Dinah would have pulled through this okay without their help."

"She's ok then?"

"Talking our ears off and eating like a horse," Helena assured her with a chuckle.

"How is everyone else? I- I haven't really heard much about what happened…" Elisa admitted.

"Harley blew the Clocktower to hell and roughed Barbara up pretty good. Barbara's arm was broken pretty badly amongst other injuries. She's having to fight all her co-dependency insecurities all over again because she's pretty limited to what she can do by herself until her arm heals enough to start taking her weight again. It's healing nicely though and knowing Babs, she'll be wanting start therapy in another week," Helena told her with rolling eyes as she settled herself on the edge of the bed.

"What happened back at the docks after I left?"

"Reese left to go help my dad once he came around from Dinah's mental backlash. Gordon and the surviving metas rounded up the stragglers, and gift wrapped all the bad guys for the police. Heard you made quite a little scene with the Captain by the way. Reese said the guy was ready to have your badge, but the Chief told him to shove his own badge where the sun don't shine. Anyway, the police mopped up the scene, fed the press a slightly altered account of what happened, and everything's slowly been going back to normal."

"Quinn?"

"Harley's dead. Reese killed her," Helena answered quietly. "Her brother went straight to Arkham. Guess his girlfriend, who happens to look just like Harley, was more than a little disappointed to see him there. Tried to kill him the first night he was there," she chuckled humorlessly.

"So that's how she got out without anyone knowing?"

"Yeah, Barbara's been going over the video of this woman and its scary to see how much she resembles Harley. It's also a little creepy too, seeing as this guy was sleeping with her," she added wrinkling her nose at the thought.

Elisa nodded, and then fell silent. "So how are you doing?" Helena asked finally. She held out her hands in defense as Elisa gave her a dirty look. "Hey I've told you all about us. You don't honestly think I'm gonna come down here, risk having you hurl things at me, and not ask how you are? Come on Elisa, you know I'm all about being direct. I think I've done a pretty good job dancing around this for this long."

That got a wry smirk from the older woman, and she sighed. "Well, as Demona so tactfully pointed out, I'm a mess right now," she answered drolly. "Everything went to hell so quickly that night Helena. One second I was telling Tony to shoot me and Canmore, and the next, that crane is crashing down around Goliath. I wasn't ready to watch him die in front of me."

Helena's eyes grew distant. "I don't think anyone can ever be ready for that Elisa. But we can't change the past. All we can do is make their sacrifice worthwhile. It took me along time to realize it, and I know that it's going to take awhile for you to accept, but all we can do is learn to cope with the loss and move on. No one is expecting you come through this unscathed Elisa. But there are a lot of people here who love you and are worried that you're giving up."

"Some days, I feel like it would have been better if I had died with him that night," Elisa admitted.

"Take it from someone who's been where you're at. Don't act on those thoughts right now. All you will accomplish is hurting the people you love far more than Goliath's death has done. I tried to OD on drugs a month after my mom died, and the look in Barbara's eyes when she found me will haunt me for the rest of my life. Give it some time and you will see that life moves on."

Elisa scowled up at her. "What, did you guys decide to pick a night to all gang up on me?"

"Nah, Demona just beat me to it. But I've had this speech prepared all day so I wasn't about to let all that brain work go to waste."

Elisa sighed and rubbed her hand though her hair tiredly. "This whole situation is so screwed up. He was just so…huge. He seemed larger than life, and I never thought I would be the one grieving over his grave first," Elisa said, her voice thick with emotion. "Now I've gone and hurt Angela and my family, and I have no idea how to fix any of this because I can't even think straight right now."

"Give it some time, Elisa," Helena encouraged. "Listen, I gotta head out of here pretty soon, because we're heading back to Gotham tonight. Get some rest, take some time to figure things out, and don't shut out your family. They're the ones that will help you through this, trust me on that okay?"

"Yeah…okay."

Helena stood, confident that Elisa would at least contemplate the wisdom of her words. She crossed over and bent down to gently hug the injured woman. "I'll see you in a few days. Everyone will be there for the funeral."

"Thank you. Say hi to everyone there…and tell them I'll be okay."

Helena smiled and Elisa forced herself to return it as the younger woman left. As soon as the door closed, the smile faded and the devastated woman wondered if it would really be possible to pick up the shattered pieces of her life.