For the first week they were up there at Xanadu, Fox talked with Brooklyn about what to expect with what was left of the pregnancy. Things that Hudson couldn't comprehend. The baby feeling heavier, more need for sleep, sometimes feeling Junior kick into his ribs or diaphragm, pressing on the bladder more, Lamaze breathing techniques that were needed, lighter exercise, the baby's movements needing to be counted, laying on the left side more when resting, keeping ankles supported, back pain and heartburn possibly, more exams, more restlessness, nesting instinct, wanting to clean to make sure the place was safe for Junior, and so on.

Brooklyn already felt back pain and swollen ankles. There was some harder breathing already too. He did feel ready and scared about becoming a new father. He was also lacking supplies to keep him in, but he wanted to have his son at the castle, not here.

The clan was going to give him a surprise when he made a little visit back. Yes, he would be allowed to visit them too, but they would come visit him more often.

There was a tv up there for him to watch some programs and his movies. He was glad for that. There were also some games as well. There was Battleship, Poker, Monopoly, Sorry, Skip Bo, Trouble, and Uno. Lots of games.

Brooklyn also really began to try to think on what he wanted his son's name to be. There were so many out there to pick from. How was he to decide? He himself had picked his own name. Names never used to be a gargoyle thing. But clans all over the world now had names. Human ideas had just grown on gargoyles all over the world, especially with names. There might have been some that still didn't have any, but that would have been rare anymore.

He had seen his son on ultrasound many times by now, but still wondered what he was going to look like in person.

Fox did the cooking while she was up there for Hudson and Brook. They both were grateful for the food. Brooklyn also had strong cravings. If only Broadway was up here to do his cooking.

…..

In New York, the clan was doing their patrolling duties as usual. But they still hung out at home as well. They missed Brooklyn and Hudson. Their clan was down to five here currently. It just wasn't the same without them.

Elaine was making arrangements at her job that she had to leave for a while to go take care of a sick family member. She would be back soon, but she was the only one that could take care of him, she lied. Her boss and coworkers were quite understanding even though she hadn't been working there long. He said that she would be paid for her time off. That was part of her paid package plan by working at this bank. Elaine was totally grateful.

Elaine was not taking no for an answer. She was going up to Xanadu even it killed her. She didn't want to be away from her red gargoyle friend for so long. She had waited long enough to find him again when she had been going through a hard time and recovery.

She went up to the castle that first weekend and had a bag packed and ready to go. She wasn't going to miss this chance to see Brooklyn again. Xanatos allowed her to go.

Lexington also really wanted to see his brother too, to see how he was doing and was wanting to do some stuff with him. The whole clan went up there that weekend to see how Brook and Hudson had fared. Alex also wanted to see his mom. David flew them up there in his helicopter.

When they got there, they got out and went in search of their clan mates. Fox had greeted them, happy to see her son and husband.

Elaine was most anxious to see her friend again. When she saw him in the kitchen eating, she cried out, "Brooklyn!"

"Elaine?" he questioned. The woman couldn't contain herself and she ran to him and into his waiting arms. He was glad to hold her in his arms. They had a tight hug. "I missed you so much!" she said in his ear.

"I missed you too." He replied.

"I have a leave of absence from the bank. I want to stay up here with you." Elaine told him.

"I want you to stay too." Brooklyn stated. "Now we just have to convince Goliath and the others, plus Xanatos."

Lex had seen their display of affection from a distance. He knew he wasn't going to get that kind of greeting that he hoped for. But there was still a chance they could play games together. The others could distract Elaine for a while to get to know her more.

When there was an invitation to go gliding around the property, Brooklyn was all too happy to do that. He didn't do it quite as much now but was willing to do it for fun. The place seemed safe from enemies at the moment and hope it wouldn't be found out by anyone else.

Elaine knew better than to tell anyone about it. She wasn't going to tell anyone else about Xanadu.

Brooklyn's gliding was off kilter because of the weight that he carried in his belly, but he still could, nonetheless. Especially if he really had to. It was just a small celebrity glide over the woods with the reunion of the clan. Elaine was asked more questions by the human allies while the gargoyles were gliding.

The woman explained what had happened to her and how she and Brooklyn were so close. She had missed him and wanted to see him again. Now she did. She had been willing to move far away from her family in the Midwest to be with the gargoyle she longed to be with. It was obvious that she loved him. He seemed to show that he loved her too. This would be another human and gargoyle relationship.

It was hard for Brooklyn to get away from Elaine, but Lex wanted to hang out with him alone too. He wanted to play some games with him.

They would lay down bets on what type of food they would owe the other one on who won or lost certain games. It all depended on what they had in the cabinets too. It was just to keep things a friendly game and a bit competitive. Even being pregnant didn't keep Brooklyn from wanting to have a competitive edge. But at least this time, it was nothing to do with a female.

Brooklyn was having a feeling that he somehow had found the love of his life. Elaine was about everything he wanted in a mate, just that she wasn't a gargoyle. It was already tricky for Goliath and Elisa to be together as a couple. But they would take their chances.

Elaine wasn't going to leave Brook's side now that she was up here. He needed some female support with his condition. Hudson was great yeah, but he wasn't female. Women, even ones who hadn't had kids before, just had better understandings than other males, especially with what Brooklyn was going through with moods and everything else.

The other males tried to be understanding of the Second's condition. But it was so unusual. This was totally new for any of them; a male being pregnant.

Brooklyn just really hoped that Ray wouldn't find him up here. He never wanted to go back to that maniac. At least he was to him. Even if he claimed he wanted what was best for the future of gargoyles, what he was doing was insane in his search for Brooklyn and he wouldn't take no for an answer.

…..

While the Xanatos' were up here at Xanadu, Owen was the one running the place back at the Eyrie Building. He could have a break from watching Alex.

Lex was still crazy for watching young Alex whenever he could. One evening, his parents went to town to get some dinner for themselves and would bring home some food for the clan. While waiting, Brooklyn came into Alex's room to see his brother hanging out with the toddler.

"How's it going, Lex?" Brook asked.

"Fine. We're having fun, aren't we, Alex?" Lex smiled.

"Yes, much fun, Unce' Lex!" Alex replied. They had been rolling a ball back and forth on the floor. "Pway, Unce Brookwyn?" Alex asked.

Brooklyn smiled at the invitation. "Sure." He replied. "Just let me sit down here." He sat down as slow as possible due to the weight in his stomach. "Okay."

Alex rolled the yellow ball to Brooklyn, who rolled it back, then it was rolled to Lex, and they started rolling it in a triangle.

They played like that for a little while, but when Alex felt he wanted to give Brooklyn a hug, he got up and left the ball where it was. "You done playing?" Brook asked as the boy walked to him.

"Want give hug." Alex said.

"Sure, why not?" The red gargoyle smiled as the boy walked into his arms. Then he felt his son give a good kick. "Ugh!"

"What?" Lex asked. Alex let go of Brook's neck. The red male held his belly.

"Oh, just felt the baby kick me." Brooklyn stated.

"Where baby?" Alex asked.

"I have a baby inside my belly, Alex." Brook declared. "Here, you want to feel him?"

"Otay." Alex said. Brooklyn helped the boy put his hands on his stomach. It wasn't long before the baby kicked out again. "Feel him?"

"What move?" Alex asked as he moved away.

Brooklyn chuckled. "That was my baby, Alex. He kicked at your hands."

This sure was an experience even though the Xanatos boy wouldn't remember this later in life. Brooklyn was glad to share this with the boy though. Lex would remember it too.

….

Brooklyn would let almost any of his clan feel his son move inside him. The gargoyles all wanted to especially since this might be their only chance at feeling a baby gargoyle move inside their parent since baby gargoyles always hatched from eggs instead of live birth.

Angela knew that when her time came to get pregnant, she wouldn't feel her child move inside her. But she knew that her mate would want to feel the egg either way. And who knew if Brooklyn would have a mate by the breeding season. Hopefully he would.

The clan had gotten to know Elaine even more and were starting to trust her. She spent time with the clan just as much as Brooklyn. They all had tales to tell her of their past, and she was intrigued of the stories that she heard from any of them from times clear back in the past that humans of today could only imagine. The times from ancient past back to the 900s and back.

Elaine liked to hear about when the Trio was young especially, and Brooklyn was about to become a father soon. When they were little, where there was one, the other two would always be right there. That was why they had become called the Trio and were the best of friends growing up. But of course, times had changed when they were brought to New York. They all now had more adult responsibilities and weren't as close as they once were.

Broadway was closer with Angela now. Lex hung out more with his projects or Alex. Brooklyn had been alone more but was still being taught to be a leader being Goliath's Second in Command. He had been a leader for six months during the Quest, but that changed when Goliath had come back and assumed the role right away. Brooklyn had been glad to give up the role for a while longer. There was still much more that he needed to learn. But now, Brooklyn could add to his role that he had Elaine in his life again.