Elaine was now settled enough in New York that she could try to track down Brooklyn. So far, she hadn't seen any gargoyles around the city at night. But perhaps looking for this Elisa Maza might connect her to them.

Elaine looked through a phone book at her job and she found Elisa's address and phone number. She would call her later when she got home from work.

Later in the day when Elaine made it home, she used her new landline to dial up Elisa's phone number. She hoped she was home.

At Elisa's apartment, she was getting ready for her job but still had some time on her hands before needing to leave. She was watching a movie when her phone rang.

Elisa picked up her cordless phone and answered, "Hello?"

"Hello, is this Elisa Maza?" A woman's voice on the other line asked.

"Yes?"

"Hi, my name is Elaine Gettys. I am formerly from St. Louis, and I am friends with one of your special friends named Brooklyn." Elaine explained. "I was wanting to know how I can get in contact with him?"

Elisa paused. She remembered that Brooklyn had mentioned a woman by this name when he had been on his way home from Nevada. Then she spoke, "Elaine, is it?"

"Yes."

"Yes, I have a friend named Brooklyn, but tell me who he is that I believe you?"

"He's a red gargoyle who saved my life in Missouri. I know he wanted to go home soon, and I don't know if he got there okay, but I hope he did. I am in New York now to live. I just moved here. I went through a recovery period and want to see him again. He was the best friend I ever had." Elaine explained.

From what this average woman explained to her, she sounded like a nice person. Elisa then said, "Yes, that would be Brooklyn. He's told us about you. He said that you were raped."

"Yes, I was. Please don't repeat the story. I'd rather not. I want to move on with my life from that. I'm through the hardest time now. Can I meet up with Brooklyn?"

"Listen, Elaine. Brooklyn is in a very delicate condition right now and he has to go spend some time away from his clan for a little while, but he'll be back in a few months. Can you wait to see him for a few months?"

"I don't care if he's in a delicate condition. I really need to see him, please. I was in a delicate condition too at one time and it was hard being without him." Elaine tried to get through to Elisa.

"I'm afraid that it's just impossible right now, Elaine, but I'll tell him you called." Elisa said. "Please Elaine, just wait for a few months. Now is just not a good time to meet up with Brooklyn. His life is in danger and anyone around him would be in danger too. I'm sorry. Try again in a few months. I have to go to work now. Goodbye."

Elisa hadn't wanted to be rude to her like that, but she felt this was for Brooklyn's own good that he didn't hook up with anybody new right now. He had to go away for his and the baby's sakes.

…

On her line, Elaine was ticked that this Elisa Maza wasn't letting her see Brooklyn. He had said that she was trustworthy, and she didn't want to wait a year to see him again. She also remembered that Brook had told her about Xanatos Enterprises. She would find the building, no matter how long it took. She would find it tomorrow, hopefully before Brooklyn got sent away. Maybe he could come and live with her.

The next day, Elaine went looking for the building's address. She was determined to meet up with Brooklyn.

She was dressed as a professional businesswoman. She had a suitcase in her hand and an id card. Elaine met the guard at the check in desk and showed her id to him.

"Hi, I'm Elaine Gettys. I'm here for a business meeting with Mr. Xanatos." Elaine said. "Can you tell me where to go to meet with him?"

The guard pointed her towards the elevator that would take her to the top of the building. "Thank you." She thanked him.

Elaine got in the elevator and went to the level that the guard told her to. Then she would have to change them again to make sure she reached the right level. This was the city's highest building after all.

When the elevator got to a certain level, she switched and went up to the highest level possible. Then she stepped out of the that one and came upon a room of paradise. This was gorgeous! Who wouldn't want to live here? But where were the gargoyles?

She then saw more elevators and went into one of those. She had to get to the highest level. And it soon arrived, and the door opened up into the Great Hall. Owen was at the computer in there and he was surprised when a businesswoman stepped out with a suitcase in hand. He went over to greet her.

"Hello. Can I help you, Miss?" Owen greeted.

"Hi, I'm here to see Mr. Xanatos, Mr.-?" Elaine questioned.

"Mr. Owen Burnett." Owen replied. "And you are?"

"Elaine Gettys. I'm here for a business meeting with your boss." Elaine lied.

"I don't recall Mr. Xanatos telling me he had a meeting with your name today." Owen said, suspicious of her motives.

"Alright, I'm here for a meeting with Mr. Xanatos about a gargoyle named Brooklyn." Elaine stated.

"How do you know about Brooklyn?" Owen demanded.

"I'm a friend of his. He stayed with me in Missouri when he was traveling. He saved me from a mongering gang in St. Louis." Elaine explained. "Is he here?"

Owen recalled that he had stayed in St. Louis, Missouri on his way home and with a woman. Could this actually be her?

"So you are the woman that took Brooklyn in when he was there?" Owen inquired.

"Yes. He stayed with me for a few weeks and I liked his company. He saved my life. Please, let me see him." Elaine pleaded.

"I will let Mr. Xanatos know you're here, Miss Gettys. Wait here." Owen replied. He went to go inform David that a new woman was here to see him.

David was awestruck at what Owen said that a strange new lady had found her way up here. But because she was a stranger, they would have to take her seriously and watch her. They didn't know what she wanted with Brooklyn even though she had explained thoroughly why she was there.

Xanatos went to go meet Elaine to just know for sure that she could be trusted because no newcomers were going to be around Brooklyn until they could be certain they could be trusted.

"Hello, Miss Gettys. I'm David Xanatos." He greeted her.

"Hi, Mr. Xanatos. It's nice to meet you. I was told about you from Brooklyn. I would like to see him."

"Well, Brooklyn is not exactly presentable right now." David said.

"I know. He turns to stone, right?" she asked. "I know because he did at my place in the daytime. I know he's a gargoyle."

"How long ago did you meet Brooklyn?" David asked.

"About six months ago. When he was on his way back here from Nevada that he described. He helped me out against some crooked gang trouble." Elaine declared.

David felt that she was telling the truth. She didn't have an evil look to her. For Owen, the Puck inside him also felt she was being truthful too. He went up and told his boss.

David nodded. "Miss Gettys, it is nice to meet you. We will accommodate to your needs until nightfall. We'll inform Brooklyn that you're here and see if he wants to see you."

"Thank you, Sir." Elaine smiled.

She was led to a guest's quarters and allowed to make herself at home. She couldn't wait for nightfall when she would see her friend again. She hoped he wasn't already gone from what she had heard from Elisa. This was her time off, so she didn't have to work today. She laid down on the bed to rest until nightfall.

When the sun set, the castle was besieged by roars from the outside and on the inside too. Elaine's watch went off too, to wake her up. She awoke and stretched from her nap. She yawned and looked out the window. The gargoyles would be up now.

The clan was outside, though Brooklyn was in his room. He was not to be outside while stone. David greeted the clan while outside and told them that a woman had come up here during the day and she was wanting to meet Brooklyn. Owen had been sent to relay Elaine from just going out of her room and wandering the castle.

Owen greeted Elaine at the entrance to her room. "Hello, Miss Gettys, Mr. Xanatos said that he will come and get you when a meeting has been established with the gargoyles. I will take you to the appointed place." He explained.

"Thank you." Elaine replied. She followed him to the Great Hall, where she had come in at. She hoped she wasn't going to be taken to the elevator and forced out.

The clan met up with Brooklyn at his room and had a talk with him about the woman he had met in Missouri.

"Brooklyn, can you tell us more about this… Elaine you met?" Goliath asked his Second.

"What about her?"

"Anything."

"Well, she was nice to me, and I helped her escape a gang. She was raped and went to Nebraska to her family to recover. We had Thanksgiving together. She shared many things and were growing closer before she was raped. Then she shut down on me." Brooklyn explained.

"Well, a woman named Elaine Gettys is here to see you, Brooklyn. She keeps insisting on seeing you." Xanatos explained.

"Elaine? Here?" Brooklyn's eyes widened.

"Yes."

"Do you want to see her, Lad?" Hudson asked.

"We will be at your side to make sure she does nothing to harm you." Angela decreed.

"Yes. What Angela said." Broadway agreed with his mate.

Brooklyn was shocked that Elaine would even be here. She had pretty much not wanted to see him again after what happened to her. Why did she have to show up now and with him looking like a bloated buffalo? How would she see him if she saw him like this?

"I want to see her." Brooklyn said. "I missed her so much after I had to leave."

David and Goliath agreed that the red male could see this stranger. They all went in together to make sure she wasn't some Quarrywoman or something.

When they walked into the Great Hall, Brooklyn walked behind a giant lavender gargoyle. Elaine was looking at them all. So, this was Brooklyn's clan. She was amazed. Even Bronx was being cautious when he smelled someone new. He sniffed and gave a little growl.

"Easy, Bronx." Goliath said.

"Brooklyn?" Elaine stood up.

Goliath allowed his Second to step forward. Brooklyn's eyes widened. It was Elaine! "Elaine?"

Brooklyn couldn't contain himself. "ELAINE!" he cried out and ran to greet her in excitement. She also ran to him. He engulfed her into his arms. "Brooklyn, I missed you so much!" she cried out in his ear.

The clan saw how happy that Brooklyn and Elaine were. She hadn't been lying after all. For a few moments, Brooklyn forgot about the baby that he carried. Then he felt it kick him.

"Oh!" Brook grunted. Elaine let go. "What's wrong?" she asked. She saw that he was rubbing his belly. She also saw that he had gained a bigger belly since the last time she saw him. He didn't look all the same since last time. He couldn't have gained weight so fast that he missed her that much.

"You didn't have to gain weight because you missed me." Elaine joked.

Brooklyn cracked a smile. "I uh, didn't really have a lot of choice."

"Sure, you did. But how are you otherwise?" she asked.

"Elaine, this weight gain you see before you isn't what you think it is." Brooklyn began to explain. "You know I told you about my capture why we encountered each other in the first place."

"Yes. You were going home when you saved me the first time." Elaine stated.

"Well, the man, Ray, who kidnapped me, it turned out that he had really found a way to… uh, get me pregnant." The red gargoyle blushed.

Elaine was dumbstruck. How could a male be pregnant? That was the dumbest thing she had ever heard.

"How could you be pregnant? Males don't get pregnant." Elaine exclaimed.

"It's true, Elaine." Angela declared, stepping up for the red Second. "We have all seen the baby on the ultrasound."

Elaine looked again at Brooklyn's belly. It had the roundness of a pregnancy. She also glanced at Broadway and Hudson. They had big bellies too. Males could get fat, but not pregnant.

"How do I know it's not just weight gain?" Elaine questioned.

"Here. Give me your hand." Brooklyn said. He took her hand and placed it on his stomach. "Come on, little one. Do something." He smiled.

Elaine thought this was weird. She had trusted Brooklyn before, but he was different now. But it didn't take long and suddenly, she felt a bump beneath her hand. She gasped in surprise. Brooklyn smiled. "Feel that?" he asked.

"Yes."

"That's my son." Brooklyn declared.

"You know it's a boy?"

"Yes. The ultrasound revealed it." Brook said.

"I'm sorry I doubted you. It just seemed ridiculous because it doesn't happen to men." Elaine said.

"I know, but Ray somehow did it. And he keeps on trying to get at me because he wants my baby." Brook explained.

"Is that why you're being sent away?" Elaine asked.

"How did you know about that?" Lex demanded.

"Your friend, Elisa, told me. She said that you were going away and that I should wait a few months to see you, but I couldn't." Elaine explained. "I missed you so much, Brooklyn."

"I missed you too." Brook stated and embraced her again. When they broke apart, he then asked, "But do you accept my pregnancy?"

Elaine knew it would be something she had to get used to. This was all new to her. She was happy that she had found her friend, but if she was going to be in his life, she had to accept what was. "I know this is all too strange that a male friend of mine is having a baby, but yes. I do accept your baby, Brooklyn. I'm sure he'll be cute."

The clan could all breathe a sigh of relief, but they would still be watching Elaine for a while to make sure she was what she really said she was.

Elisa came by later on to see that Elaine had managed to make it up to the castle and find the gargoyles. She was worried for Brooklyn, about what this could do to him. She really hoped for his sake that she wasn't just trying to lure in Brooklyn for this Ray person, or anyone else maniacal.

But Elaine was there purely out of her caring for Brooklyn, despite what any of the others thought. It was understandable why everyone was on edge when Brooklyn told her why they were so watchful and worried about him. His life was in danger from Ray while he carried this baby.

Elaine would have been willing to go away with him. She didn't want to leave his side again. She knew she would when she had to work, but other than that, she wanted to stay with him. Then, he could also move in with her if he wanted.

The clan didn't feel comfortable with that. They didn't even know her that well.

Xanatos said that it was alright if Brooklyn could go up to Xanadu for his own good for a little while. Elaine would be welcome to visit, but she wouldn't be allowed to stay there until she could be trusted more so. She could visit on the weekends when she didn't have to work.

Dr. Sato also still had to see him once a month for his wellness checks. He would be flown up there for those checkups.

Brooklyn agreed that Xanadu was the next best place to go for now. Just when he was getting his life on track and hadn't been miserable about missing girls and now Elaine showed up. Now he would be missing her again when they were apart. Unless Elaine made arrangements at her new job that she was going away for a little while, she had to keep on working to be able to afford her apartment.

Elisa found out the next day that Elaine had been crafty, and she had found a way up to the castle and met with Xanatos and the gargoyles, especially Brooklyn.

Brooklyn tried to convince her that Elaine was trustworthy. He was also doing the same for his clan. Of course, his clan meant everything to him, especially in that they were going to help him raise his son. He couldn't do it alone.

In a few days, Brooklyn would be taken up to Xanadu for the remainder of his pregnancy. It was just for his own good. An area would be prepared for his surgery up there, or they would bring Brooklyn back for his c-section.

According to Sato, the baby still wasn't far enough along to be outside Brooklyn's body. It still had more growing to do. The lungs were not developed yet. Brooklyn had just entered his seventh month. Why does the due date have to take so long? Brooklyn thought to himself.

Brooklyn packed up his pregnancy books and some educational videos to watch up there. He also took along some music tapes to listen to as well. He didn't need much. Fox was going up with him because she was a pilot and she would stay with him for a little while. Hudson was also going up as well to keep Brooklyn company. He couldn't be up there alone. The clan would also make visits up there too here and there.

"I don't mind spending the rest of my pregnancy up there to be safe, but can I please have my son back here?" Brooklyn asked of Goliath and Xanatos.

"Sure. We can grant this favor." Xanatos replied.

"We wouldn't have it any other way, Brooklyn. We would all love to meet him on the night he enters the world." Goliath smiled.

With goodbyes to the clan and human allies, Brook and Hudson got into the chopper with Fox, and she would take them up north. The clan would scout the area to make sure that Thailog wasn't in the vicinity.

Elaine was sad to see Brooklyn go. They had just gotten back together after so long and already he had to go away again. Elaine wasn't going to let him get away though. She would wait on him. She wanted to be with him. She might be human, but that made no difference. Goliath and Elisa's relationship proved that.

On the trip up to Xanadu, Brooklyn thought of Elaine. He had missed her. He hadn't stopped missing her though when he found out about his son that he had been kept busy from being depressed all these months and had him looking forward to something positive. Now he had more to look forward to. He never knew how he would feel about a human woman, but Elaine made him feel special. Maybe he could have a bond with her. Right now, it would be friendship until they were sure they wanted something stronger, more intimate.

The feeling of the helicopter made Brooklyn's stomach feel a little awkward. He could also feel the baby shifting about inside him. He rubbed his belly. "We'll be there soon, son." He said.

"What's wrong, Lad?" Hudson asked.

"My son is just moving a lot inside me." Brook replied.

"That's to be expected. Strange noises and motions can affect the baby too, along with the mother's emotions." Fox explained.

"Is there plenty of food and supplies up there?" Hudson asked.

"We'll find out." Fox stated.

They soon arrived and got out of the chopper. Brooklyn was glad to be out most of all. Flying in that thing was different in this condition versus when he wasn't. He was used to being in the air though, just not in a chopper.

Hudson hadn't seen the area from before. The area was heavily wooded and beautiful. It smelled like forest and pine trees. Up here, Brooklyn could even do some gliding if he felt like it, but back in the city, it was too risky of being caught.

Fox would only stay up here a few days with them. Then it would be just them. The Xanatos' would check in on them every weekend.

If Elaine proved trustworthy after a certain point, they might let her come up and stay too. A female influence might be needed as well. The clan were also welcomed to visit too.

Fox, Brook, and Hudson went into the house to look around. Fox went to check the kitchen to see if there was enough food to last them a week and see if she needed to go shopping. Brooklyn and Hudson explored the house together.

Brooklyn could still climb stairs but with the weight that he carried in his belly at this point, it left him going upstairs a lot slower than he used to. His son was getting heavy inside him. He was also breathing harder too.

Hudson knew that the young male was quite athletic usually, but he could see that he was breathing harder. "Are ye alright, Lad?" he asked in concern.

"Yes, Hudson. I'll be fine. The baby just leaves me a little more breathless." Brook explained. "He's feeling heavy inside me. Oh, I wish I could just get him out of me."

"I know it's a discomfort to ya. I'll do the best I can to help ye." Hudson declared.

"Thanks."

There were some nice rooms upstairs and two bathrooms there. A laundry room, a basement, kitchen, and living room. A dining room. There was a VCR hooked up to the tv in the living room. There was one bedroom on the main level too.

After climbing the stairs and being breathless, then going downstairs again, when Brooklyn found the last bedroom, he figured it would be best if he took the room downstairs for his room temporarily. It was better that way. This room would also serve as the new ultrasound room for him too when Sato would visit. It was easier this way.

Brooklyn really hoped that time would fly by while he was up here. He wanted his pregnancy to be over with and soon. But it would still be a few more months.