Disclaimer:
I created Adam Maza, everyone else is owned by Disney. These stories are written for
pleasure, not for profit. Please don't sue me. Oh pretty please?

AN: It's awesome to finally have time to write again...damn school...be prepared to
see my ficverse advance ALOT in the next few months! Enjoy!

Thanks to Ingram again! You are awesome dude!

2-Short Notice

August 28, 1997…

Jon Castaway, as he now called himself, walked triumphantly into the Quarrymen's
headquarters in the old dance studio in Queens, New York. In his hand, he carried
his hammer, which was smudged with dust and slightly chipped at the edges. He had
just been gargoyle-smashing. His sister, Robin, walked tiredly behind him, also
carrying a hammer, though hers wasn't nearly as dirty and used as his. She removed
her dark blue Quarrymen's hood as she walked behind her brother.

When they reached the meeting hall, they were met by a congregation of loyal
Quarrymen that were expecting them. Jon waved at his followers, who then shouted out
their praise of him. He walked up to the podium and waved his hammer, causing the
layer of dust to fly off of it.

"My friends, I checked out that park in the Bronx that had the statues in question.
We have destroyed those statues! Three less gargoyles!" He shouted, and looked over
at his sister, who had just finished rolling her eyes again. Luckily, he was too
preoccupied to have noticed this gesture of annoyance.

"The only gargoyle clan in New York is the clan we fought, and they wouldn't be
sleeping in the Bronx. They are in Manhattan. That was a waste of three hours."
Robin said under her breath, amidst the cries and hurrahs of the crowd.

"Thank you for waiting for us to return. We may now discuss what is to be done with
Detective Maza. She gave birth about a month ago. She has sufficiently recovered
from her ordeal with the gangster, she's had her time with her son, and now it's
time to avenge her betrayal of her own race!" Jon screamed. The crowd cheered,
raising their silver hammers in approval.
"We shall begin surveillance of her in the coming nights, and, when the time is
right, we exact our revenge! For humankind!"
"For humankind!" The crowd answered.

Angela awoke that night with the largest smile upon her face. She stretched and
shook off the remaining stone skin from her shoulders and arms, and stepped down
from the ledge she roosted upon. On either side of her, Broadway and Lexington were
waking as well, and doing the same as she had done. As Broadway stepped down, he
extended his taloned hand to her. When she took it, he pulled her into a tight
embrace.

"Slept well, love?" Broadway asked as he inhaled the intoxicating scent of Angela's
hair. She nodded slowly, still wrapped in his arms, and enjoying every second that
she was entangled there.

"Mmhmm. You?"

"Yeah, I did." He released her slightly, but still retained the tender hold of her
hand. He urged her to walk towards the courtyard, their favourite place on the
castle grounds. As they walked, Broadway smiled at Angela.

"Angela, we should really set a date now that things have died down and are slightly
back to normal." Angela grinned.

"I agree. Elisa is feeling much better, Adam is doing very well, and there haven't
been any attacks lately. Perhaps we should discuss this with Father first."
Broadway nodded. He knew she was going to say something to that effect.

"Let's go see if he's available before we go on patrol."

"Father, we would like to discuss our mating ceremony."

"Certainly, Angela. When did you have in mind?"

"Well, uh, Goliath, we weren't really sure what the protocol was for these sorts of
things, and since you've already been—" Broadway stopped suddenly when Angela
'accidentally' stepped on his toe. He cleared his throat, and began that thought
again.

"Since you have experience in this matter…"

Goliath looked down, exhaled, and shook his head.

"You need not tiptoe around this subject with me, Broadway. I cannot forget the vows
I made, or the promises that were broken, nor can I pretend that these events ever
happened." He sighed, then drew his attention upon his daughter, who was obviously
distressed at even the insinuation of Demona's betrayal. It was still a touchy
subject, but he was getting over it. He was already much better about the issue than
he had been two years ago. Goliath smiled at the realization that he took the issue
much more lightly than before.

"Angela, my experience in this matter should be put to good use. You and Broadway
may ask me anything you wish."
A relieved look replaced that of distress upon Angela's face.

"Thank you, Father. We just wanted to ask how long we should wait before planning
for our ceremony."

"Have you thought about how you would like to proceed with it? Will it be modern or
traditional?"

Broadway nodded. "Actually, we wanted to do things traditionally. I remember your
mating ceremony. I described it to Angela, and we both agree that we'd like that
sort of ceremony for ours."

"But we also wanted to add little touches to signify our lives here, in Manhattan
and in his century." Angela added, touching the gold pendant that Broadway had given
her as an engagement present of sorts.

"So something simple and quick, then? Just the clan? It would be fitting." Goliath
commented.

"But how far in advance should we set the date? I mean, is it too impetuous to ask
for the ceremony in a week?" Angela asked, releasing her pendant and reaching for
Broadway's hand.

Goliath shook his mighty head and smiled at the couple, who seemed so excited to
become mates. They reminded him of when he and Demona asked the leader of their
clan, Hudson, to become mates. He frowned for a split second, and then realised that
the couple were still looking at him. He snapped out of his reverie and took Angela's
hands in his.

"Angela, if you truly wanted, we could have it tomorrow night. I would just have to
inform the Labyrinth clan and Elisa, and everything could be ready for then."
Angela suddenly looked contented. She turned to Broadway and said, "Tomorrow night
it is, then?" Broadway smiled.

"Awesome idea, love. After our patrols, I'll go with Hudson to the Labyrinth to let
Talon and the others know about our mating ceremony." He kissed Angela's cheek and
hurried off towards the rest of the clan who were preparing to take flight for the
patrols. Angela wrapped her arms around her father briefly. When she released him,
she smiled and said, "Thank you, Father." With that, she, too, hurried off towards
the rest of the clan. Goliath smiled as he watched his only daughter taking flight
with her future mate. He couldn't help but feel so incredibly proud of Angela at
that moment. He turned towards the ledge and unfurled his massive wings to catch a
breeze and accompany his clan on patrol.

The door to Elisa's apartment rattled as a key slid into the keyhole and unlocked
the deadbolt. The door swung open long enough for a tired Elisa to walk through the
door, holding in her left hand, the baby carrier, and over her right shoulder, a
blue diaper bag. She carefully set down her cargo while she turned and shut the door
behind her, locking it again. She kneeled down to see the angelic face of her son. He
was deep in sleep, for he was not moving very much. Though Elisa had caught herself
staring at her son on at least four separate occasions, she was determined to get
her chores done for the evening before seeing Goliath, so she rose from her spot and
picked up the carrier. She walked over to Adam's room and gently unbuckled the safety
belts that kept the newborn from flying out of his seat. She picked up the sleeping
boy from the carrier, causing him to stir in his sleep. He moved about a bit until
Elisa set him down upon the changing table. The angel boy's eyes widened as he
watched his mother caring for him. Elisa loved the way he watched her. These eyes
were innocent, pure, and they had only seen good things, and only watched people
that loved him. True, Dominic Dracon had kidnapped him for a few hours, and Adam had
surely seen his grandfather, but in his own sick way he did that because he cared for
Adam. Elisa shuddered at that thought, and then concentrated on getting Adam ready
for his bedtime.

Elisa had taken some of her mother's most valuable advice. 'Put Adam on a strict
schedule'
, she had told Elisa, and Elisa was in accord. So every night, Adam was
put to bed at 7pm, whether he wanted to sleep or not. Thus far, however, he always
seemed to welcome sleep. "It is something that comes with newborns," her
mother told her. "They always want to sleep. Cherish it!" And Elisa did. The
minute she saw that Adam had fallen asleep, she, either did chores around the
apartment, or took the opportunity to sleep, too.

This night was no exception. She bathed Adam, gave him a bottle, and changed him
into adorable baby blue pyjamas that Matt had purchased for him. She held her son in
her arms, smoothing out his hair and kissing his forehead sweetly before placing him
in his crib and pulling the thin sheet over him. Watching him for a few more
seconds, she grew misty-eyed, then shut the lights off and walked out of the room,
leaving the door ajar.

She then set out to clean the kitchen, fold some laundry and relax a bit before
Goliath made an appearance.

By 9:30, Elisa was finished, and even had some time to prepare a quick meal for
herself. She knew Goliath's patrol wouldn't take too much longer. She finished
eating her meal, washed the dish and went over to her living room where she turned
on the television and put the volume at the lower levels to prevent Adam from waking
up.

She flipped through the channels for a few minutes before she heard a tapping at the
sliding door to the balcony. She looked up and smiled. Goliath.

She stepped aside and let her love enter the apartment. He was unusually merry this
evening. It wasn't that he had said anything to alert her to his mood, but there was
something in his step that made her wonder about the source of his joy. As they
walked over to the couch and sat down, she had to ask.

"Goliath, not that I'm complaining or anything, but why are you so happy?"

"Angela and Broadway will be mating tomorrow evening." He said with an understated
smile. Elisa was a bit confused.

"Mating? Like they are having the ceremony tomorrow? Isn't that a bit short notice?"

Goliath took her hand and kissed it, causing ripples of electricity to course
through her.

"They wish to have a simple and traditional ceremony, with a few human customs added
of their own choice. No further planning is required, except for telling you and the
Labyrinth clan about it. It will take place tomorrow at sundown. The rest of the
night is for celebrating. My daughter is grown." He beamed, full of pride.

"Wow, that's great! So, am I invited?" She asked coyly. Goliath looked into her rich
brown eyes with love and a hint of playfulness.

"Of course you are, my love. You have always been a part of my clan. Someday…" He
paused. Elisa looked up at him, puzzled.

"Someday…?"

Goliath, feeling taken aback, hesitated before continuing.

"Uh, someday you will truly know that, my Elisa." He pulled her towards him and
hugged her lovingly.

"Uh-huh…" Elisa replied, unconvinced that was what he was going to say. "Well, I do
know that, and I always will." She reached up to his face and stroked it sweetly.
Just then, a hiccupping cry was audible from Adam's room. Elisa stopped stroking
Goliath's face instantly, and her relaxed look changed into one of worry for her
son. She rose from the couch and walked towards the room wordlessly, with Goliath
following closely behind her. The cries grew louder and louder until Elisa reached
the side of Adam's crib. She peered inside and smiled once she saw that he was only
calling out for attention. He recognized his mother's soothing voice and delicate
features hovering over him, and grew quiet.

"What is it, my angel boy? Hmm? You jealous of Goliath here?" She turned to see
Goliath smiling at the scene. She turned back to her son, and bent down to pick him
up into her arms.

"You have nothing to be jealous of, Adam. I love both of you." She laughed, rocking
him carefully in her arms. The one month old child looked up silently at his mother
and the gentle, smiling face behind her. Goliath touched his head slowly, smiling.

"I am relieved about that, Elisa." He answered her playfully, placing a mighty arm
around her waist. Though Adam was too young to actually distinguish between the
emotions, he seemed to smile just at that moment. Elisa caught this, and giggled.

"Did you see that, Big Guy? He just smiled! Didn't you, didn't you, baby?" She
snuggled Adam towards her lovingly. She leaned back against Goliath and sighed.

"I couldn't imagine anything better than this: a night with my two favourite guys.
I'm so lucky." She said happily. Goliath's hold on her waist tightened slightly in
response. He stroked her hair and said, "And we are lucky to have you, my love."
Elisa smiled at this. She glanced down at her son again and saw that he had closed
his eyes. He was dozing off.

"Another five minutes and I'll put him back down. He probably just heard our voices
and got restless. I'll be out in a minute." She said as Goliath loosened his hold on
her waist. She walked over to the white rocking chair. Goliath understood and quietly
walked into the living room to await her return.

As Goliath walked out, he heard Elisa humming a sweet melody quietly. He paused
briefly to hear her singing to a nearly sleeping Adam. He smiled as he listened.

"Won't you play the music so the cradle can rock,
to a lullaby in ragtime.
Sleepy hands are creeping to the end of the clock,
play a lullaby in ragtime.
You can tell the sandman is on his way,
by the way that they play,
As still as the trill of a thrush in a twilight high…"

Elisa sang this last line and Goliath smiled and walked over to the living room. A
moment after, Elisa was seen slowly closing the door to Adam's room. She walked over
to Goliath and he took her hands into his own.

"I had no idea you sang, Elisa. It was beautiful."

She looked bashful.

"Um, it's something I just started doing one day when Adam was crying. It calms him
down. I guess he likes George Gershwin just as much as his mom does."

"Who is—"

"Never mind, Goliath. So, about tomorrow, what should I wear…?"

Meanwhile, the Destine Manor

Angela left Castle Wyvern right after speaking with Goliath, insistent on having her
mother at her ceremony. Broadway had given her his blessing on inviting Demona. He
had the hope that she would refuse the offer, but he didn't dare word that hope
aloud to Angela, as it would crush her. Instead, he told her to seek Demona and
invite her to the celebration.

"Are you here, Mother?" Angela called as she landed upon the large platform of the
balcony. She walked towards the door and saw that there were no lights on inside.
"I wonder where she could be." Angela pondered aloud. Inspecting the serene balcony
and estate, Angela decided to call Dominique's personal assistant, Stacey and ask
where her mother was. She would call her and say she was a close personal friend of
Dominique's. Determined to find out where her mother was, she spread her wings,
caught an updraft and glided towards the castle to use the phone.

"Ms. Destine is on a working vacation in Paris, and will be away for an undetermined
amount of time. Would you like to leave her a message?"
Angela frowned.
"No, thank you." She said good bye and hung up the phone. Angela looked around the
Great Hall where she was standing. She needed a piece of paper, and found one on the
Lexington's computer desk. She began writing on the paper. After a few minutes of
writing, she folded the paper, and walked out of the Great Hall.

She returned to the Destine manor, the note clutched firmly in her hand. Once she
landed upon the balcony again, she walked over to the door to her mother's bedroom,
and slipped the note under the door. She then spread her wings again and glided
away.

Two weeks earlier…

Dominique Destine had been on 'working vacation' since August 2nd, but had only
gotten down to business two weeks after her arrival in Paris. She was on the lookout
for someone from her past that would be the key to eliminating Elisa Maza from the
picture, and realising her plans to rejoin her clan. Once she was told by her
source in Paris that her ally-turned enemy (and hopefully future ally) was still
alive, she went to Paris at once to seek him out and convince him that helping her
was the best option for both.

She had finally narrowed down her search for her past ally to one particular haunt
they used to frequent. It was an old abandoned building just south of the Eiffel
Tower, and there was a light on inside of it. That evening, as Dominique Destine
reverted into her regular form of Demona, she glided towards the building in search
of him. She would not be disappointed…

August 29, 1997

The evening of the mating ceremony came. Elisa and Adam arrived just before sundown,
and David and Fox were preparing a very simple decorative piece when they arrived.
Owen was supervising the progress while he kept a watchful eye on fifteen-month old
Alexander as he ran around the hall.

"Momma!" Alexander shouted excitedly, tugging at his mother's skirt. She glanced
down at her son and laughed, bending down and gathering him up in her arms.

"Alex, do you like what your daddy and me are setting up here? It's an arch. It has
flowers all over, see, sweetie?" She pointed at the various coloured flowers. David
exhaled as he finished moving the arch where the gargoyles had said they wanted it
to be.

"It looks good, but didn't they just want things to be simple?" Just as he asked
this, Elisa came walking in, holding one month old Adam.

"They wanted to add some human touches to their special day. Besides, it's still
simple. It's just prettier." She mused as she straightened out her light summer
dress. It was a yellow and white floral pattern that Elisa was still not used to,
but knew that she looked incredible in nonetheless. She had already lost some of the
weight that she had gained with her pregnancy, but there was a bit left around her
midsection that she felt would have to be exercised off in time. This
spaghetti-strapped dress showed off this slightly more voluptuous figure she had
recently attained, and Elisa loved the feeling of the silky material upon her skin.
Also, it matched with another recent favourite in her wardrobe: a white button down
sweater. She wore the ensemble as if she was accustomed to wearing dresses all the
time—with a confidence and grace she wasn't even sure she possessed when it came to
fashion.

Alex, still in Fox's arms, pointed at Adam.

"Baby." He stated. Fox nodded.

"Yea, it's a baby. His name is Adam. A..dam." She enunciated, trying to get Alex to
attempt to say the name.

"Dum," was Alex's reply. Elisa smiled. "Close enough, Alex. Now, we're just waiting
for Derek and the others to get here…"

"Someone say my name?" Talon came in, followed by Maggie, Claw, and the clones,
including Delilah. He smiled when he saw his nephew in Elisa's arms, although the
child did anything but smile. Adam caught a glance of his uncle, and immediately
began screaming in terror. Elisa began rocking Adam back and forth with
determination to stop his crying.

"Adam! What is the matter with you! That's Uncle Derek!" Talon took a few steps
backwards away from mother and child in order to leave Adam's view, and gave Elisa
an apologetic look.

"Elisa, he does that every time he sees me. He doesn't understand that I'm his
uncle. Just leave him." He said as he walked towards Maggie.

"Derek, he will come around to us in time." Maggie said optimistically, stroking his
hand in her own. Talon scoffed, though he welcomed the kind gesture from his
girlfriend.

"Doubtful. He already seems to get along fine with the other gargoyles, but with me,
he's terrified." Elisa was still having a difficult time relaxing Adam. His scared
cries echoed in the Great Hall, even though she cradled him against her shoulder.

"Maybe the fresh air will calm him down." She stated, motioning with her head that
she was going to take Adam outside. She walked out of the Great Hall with the
others looking on. Fox, still holding onto Alexander, chose her words carefully. She
looked over at Talon, Maggie and the still silent Mutates and said, "Children are
inconsistent. Don't worry." Talon frowned and turned his attention to the impending
sunset, which was happening momentarily.

Destine Manor

Demona had just arrived at her estate for the first time in over a month. Being
overseas for so long, she had to stop by her office to see if there was any pressing
business she needed to attend to before going home. Good thing her jet landed an hour
before sunset. That had given her just enough time to check her messages at the
office and change back into Demona without any unusual questions being asked. The
transformation took place in her office, which she had had the insight to soundproof
when the building was under construction. Once back to her gargoyle form, she took
flight and within a few minutes, she spotted her estate.

She landed upon the balcony to her bedroom, chanted a few words in Latin, and the
doors to her bedroom swung open. She had used a magic spell on the doors to her home
so that no one could open them but her, even with the key. Demona smiled at her own
resourcefulness and was about to step inside when her eyes caught a glimpse of a
piece of lined paper on the floor. On it was written, 'Mother', and it was dated
August 28. It was from Angela. She bent down and took the paper in her hand.

Mother,
I know this comes with short notice, but Broadway and I have decided to have our
Mating ceremony tomorrow night at the castle. We couldn't wait any longer. It would
have been wonderful if you were there, but since you're overseas for an undetermined
amount of time, as your personal assistant said, I think it's best if we go ahead
with our plans.
Love, Angela.

Demona frowned. "Mental note: Fire Stacey." She said coldly. She was about
to crumple up the letter when she thought better of it and paused to think about
what she was going to do next. Was she going to go to that castle, and watch her
daughter become another gargoyle's mate, or was she going to stay away… Demona paced
a few steps back and forth, letting this question sink into her head. What were the
pros and cons of her decision? If she were to go, Angela would be pleasantly
surprised, Goliath would see that she was trying to make an effort to reach out to
her daughter, and the clan wouldn't feel as antsy around her as they normally do. On
the other hand, if she were to go, it would mean that she would be amongst those who
have tried to destroy her in the past as well as those who she has tried to destroy
in the past, especially Elisa Maza. There was no doubt in Demona's mind that Elisa
and her bastard child would be there, too. Still, this was a perfect opportunity to
show Goliath that she was trying to change her ways and reform herself. This would
actually prove to be a good idea in her grand scheme of things…

Outside the Great Hall, Elisa carried Adam towards the still statues of their
protectors. The sun crept lower and lower upon the horizon, and Elisa was hoping
that seeing them would quiet the child. She held Adam to her shoulder, as if she
were burping him. As she stepped slowly closer to the edge of the castle where the
gargoyles were in stone sleep, she hummed serenely to Adam. Her sweet melodic voice
was having the desired effect on the child. He had stopped crying, and now was
tugging gently at Elisa's hair.

"Hey, baby, don't do that," She said, pulling the strand of hair out of his tiny
hand and kissing the hand after and adjusting her sweater around her shoulders.

The sun finally set. Elisa held Adam in her arms and covered his ears lightly to
prevent another terror attack from the screams as the gargoyles awoke from their
sleep. One by one, they broke free from their stone-induced slumber, sending chards
of stone skin flying all over. Elisa stepped back a few feet to ensure none would
reach Adam. Lexington was the first to step down from the ledge.

"Hi Elisa! Hi Adam!" He said, giving the baby his pinkie talon to grasp. Adam did
just that, and it was a tight hold. Lexington pulled his talon out of the child's
grasp with a bit of difficulty, then smiled and walked into the Great Hall.
Brooklyn, Hudson and Bronx were next to walk towards Elisa.

"Hey, how's my godson?" Brooklyn asked as he approached Elisa.

"He's being a bit fussy, but it seems to be passing now. Slept well?"

Brooklyn's face instantly saddened as he was brought back to the reason why Elisa
and Adam were there to begin with. "Uh, yeah, sure. I was really looking forward to
tonight…" He said almost sarcastically. Hudson came from behind him, placed a
fatherly hand upon his shoulder, and said, "Chin up, lad. As they say, there are
plenty a fish in tha sea. Besides, this is a joyous occasion." He smiled, then
released Brooklyn's shoulder to touch Adam's hand. He smiled at Elisa.

"Lass, how are ye?"

She smiled. Someone was actually asking about her for a change. Lately it was all
about her son, not that that was a bad thing…

"I'm alright. Thanks for asking, Hudson." She beamed. He nodded and followed
Brooklyn and Lexington inside. Bronx rubbed up against Elisa's leg in greeting and
followed as well.

"Wow, if I'd have known any better, I'd think he was a larger version of Cagney just
now…" She mused aloud. A ways off, she could see that Broadway, Angela and Goliath
were walking slowly together, talking. When they caught sight of Elisa and the baby,
their pace was sped up and their smiles widened.

"Hello Elisa!" Angela exclaimed. Her happiness was apparent to anyone who saw her.
Her skin seemed to glow. Elisa loved seeing her like this. If Broadway could make
her this happy, he must be the right gargoyle for her.

"Hi Angela, hi Broadway." She then looked up at the lavender gargoyle that made her
happier than Angela was at this very moment. "Hi, Big Guy." She breathed, smiling
sweetly.

"My love, thank you for coming to share this night with us." Goliath replied,
sending her a smile that would melt the coldest heart, and dispel any bad day Elisa
would ever have by far just by the sight of it. He placed a tender hand upon her
cheek briefly and then touched Adam's head. He looked down at the child and said,
"Hello, Adam. I hope you have been a good boy for your mother." Angela and Broadway
laughed, while Elisa rocked Adam slowly. He reached out and grabbed one of Goliath's
talons as he had with Lexington, and held on tightly. Goliath smiled, then looked
back into the eyes of his beloved.

"Elisa, I could swear that his appearance has changed since the last time I saw him.
He looks more like you everyday." He said, brushing a stray hair from her face.

"Really? I can't even tell, since I see him everyday. He just seems to be growing
bigger to me." She laughed. "But I guess that's a really good thing." Elisa added,
causing her mind to wander back to Tony Dracon and how some of his features were
sure to come out in Adam's appearance eventually. She frowned at the thought, but
Goliath was attentive enough to understand where her train of thought was taking
her.

"He is your son, no matter what. Remember that, my love." He said reassuringly. It
worked, and Elisa nodded.

"You're right, regardless of who my son looks like; I will love him until the day I
die. No matter what." She said determinedly. As she finished her sentence, Hudson
came walking towards them.

"Would ye like to get started now? The Labyrinth Clan is here, and Xanatos and Fox
are ready."

Angela and Broadway looked at each other and grinned. "Yes, I mean if everything is
ready, that is…"

"Alright, then, lass, let us go inside and make you two mates!" Hudson beamed,
putting his hands on both gargoyles' shoulders as he walked between them, leaving
Elisa, Goliath and Adam in the courtyard. Angela turned around to her father before
being led inside.

"Goliath, do you remember what Broadway and I told you to say?"

"Yes, Angela. I remember." He laughed in his own regal way, and watched as Angela
nodded, and allowed herself to be led inside to the Great Hall.

"What was that, Big Guy?" Elisa asked curiously.

"Something about a human custom. You'll see in a moment." He smiled, and then took
her hand in his. "Shall we go in, my darling?" He asked, dropping his head to
Elisa's level. He brought his lips to hers, causing a sigh to escape her lips after
they parted.

"Mmmhmmm…" She replied, slightly flustered from the romantic gesture.

The Great Hall was decorated with white flowers. The arch that David and Fox had set
up was situated in the middle of the Great Hall, as the tradition went with all the
human weddings that they had heard of and/or witnessed in the past. Normally,
gargoyle mating ceremonies occurred outside, but since the castle was theirs, they
would make their own traditions now. There were no seats for the guests to sit upon
and watch the ceremony, as they, too, were a part of it. Hudson directed them all to stand in a
large circle around the arch, even the Mutates and the Xanatoses.

Outside in the Courtyard, a gargoyle landed upon the stone ledge quietly. She
stepped down from the ledge and walked towards the Great Hall, where she was sure
the ceremony was being held. She hoped that she was not too late to witness it.

The small congregation of family and friends formed a large circle around the couple
and Hudson. Most faces were graced with smiles. Brooklyn, on the other hand, was
trying to keep his angst inside without success. Lexington made sure to stand beside
him to watch for any sign that he needed help calming down or cheering up.

Hudson cleared his throat and began.

"Everyone, thank ye all fer being with us tonight. We are here to call attention
upon love between two clan members, and to have this love recognised by the clan.
First, I ask…uh…who gives this gargoyle, Angela, away to be mated?" Hudson asked,
struggling to remember the wording that Angela and Broadway had told him. Goliath
stepped forward into the circle.

"Her father does." He smiled, looking at the happy couple and Hudson. Angela nodded
as Goliath had gotten it right.

A voice came from the doorway of the Great Hall.

"And her mother does as well."

Demona entered the Hall with a joyous grin. The silence of the gargoyles and people
in the Great Hall gave way to a collective noise of surprise, and even outrage. The
latter was quelled by others as they saw how Demona's presence was making Angela so
happy.

"Mother! You came! I thought you were in Paris!" She said as Demona entered the
circle and hugged Angela.

"I returned this morning and saw your note. Thank you for inviting me, Angela." She
smiled genuinely. Angela beamed and took her place again under the arch and holding
Broadway's hand. Demona walked over to where Goliath was standing, nodded to him and
watched the scene. Elisa, who was standing on Goliath's other side, looked over at
Demona. She seemed almost self-satisfied. Elisa found that strange, but then it was
strange that she would even be there at all. She also felt a pang of jealousy rise
inside of her, though she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Goliath loved her and
no one else.

Hudson cleared his throat again, and said, "Well, uh, wonderful. Now, we can begin
the ceremony. Broadway, will ye read what ye wanted te say?" Broadway unfolded a
small piece of paper he had in his hand and looked at it, then put it away.

"Angela, someone once said that a loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge. I
know this is true because I know that I know nothing without you." He smiled and
kissed her hand. "Oh Broadway." She sighed. "Broadway, you are everything I ever
wanted in a mate, and I am eternally grateful that Father and Elisa came to Avalon."
Demona cringed upon hearing this, though she did not dare to look in their direction.
"My life began when I began loving you." She added. Hudson nodded.

"As members of this clan, do any of ye object ta this union?" He said, purposely
looking in Brooklyn's direction. He said nothing, and did nothing except stare at
the floor.
"In that case, it is my pleasure t'announce that Angela and Broadway are mated in
the eyes of the clan!" A series of hurrahs resounded from the circle of friends and
clan members as the happy couple embraced each other and wrapped themselves in their
wings. Alexander began yelling, "Yay, Angie! Yay Bro!" while in his mother's arms.
Adam only watched the scene with blank curiosity. Owen Burnett suddenly appeared
seemingly out of nowhere.

"The food is ready, sir." He said to David, then turned and walked away.

"Xanatos, we didn't want you to go to any trouble…"Goliath commented.

He raised a hand in protest.

"It was certainly no trouble at all. It isn't everyday that I am invited to a mating
ceremony. Please, consider it a small wedding present. It will be up shortly."

With that, the circle disbanded and small groups formed in different parts of the
Great Hall. In one corner, Fox, Lexington, Maggie and two of the mutates were
talking. In
Another, David, Brooklyn and Hudson were chatting. Closer to the door, Demona stood
with her daughter.

"How was your trip? Fruitful?" Angela asked Demona curiously. Demona smiled.

"You can say that. But that's enough about me, daughter. Tell me how you are
feeling."

Angela beamed again, as she had been doing from the moment she awoke that evening.

"I feel that I am gliding infinitely. We are both so excited."

"That's how your father and I felt when…" Demona stopped, watching Angela's
reaction. As she didn't look very disheartened, she continued. "…when we were mated.
It is a joyous feeling that lasts as long as you want it to." She looked at her
daughter proudly. They spoke briefly and then Broadway whisked her away to talk to
the other guests. Demona stood against the wall watching her enemies, and her family
mingling. She was happy that she had super hearing, because it might come in handy in
just such an occasion.

In another area of the room, Elisa, Goliath and Talon were standing near the
fireplace. Adam had not seen Talon yet, and Elisa wished for it to stay this way.

"Goliath, can you hold him while I talk with Derek for a few minutes? He is scared
of him, and I don't want him to cry like that again tonight. He might not fall
asleep after that." Goliath nodded and allowed Adam to be placed in his arms. The
child did not raise any objection to being in Goliath's strong and protective arms.
In fact, he looked almost as comfortable in his arms as he did in Elisa's.

Once they were away from Adam and Goliath, Elisa put an understanding hand on her
brother's shoulder.

"Derek, I'm sorry about Adam's behaviour before. I don't understand why he reacts
like that to you."

Derek shook his head.

"I know why. It's because I'm like this If I weren't like this, my nephew
would be fine around me, and I would be free to marry Maggie and we could have
children of our own."

Elisa sent him a sympathetic look.

"Xanatos is still trying to work on the cure. I know that he isn't 100 trustworthy,
but he is making the effort. He saved my life and he helped to save my son's life.
Don't give up hope that a cure will be found, Derek."

Derek exhaled loudly. "Alright."

"You promise?"

"Cross my heart,"

"And hope to die," Elisa replied, finishing off their usual promise to each other.

Demona noted this in her memory, and turned to see another scene.

Goliath began walking towards the different tapestries and artefacts upon the walls
and explaining them to Adam.

"This rug is from when I was a small lad, back in 979. It was given to the king of
the castle at the time in a sign of friendship by the English. That did not last
very long, as I am told," Goliath said, pointing to a large rug that hung across
four feet of wall surface. He walked over to another hanging piece. "And this one is
from a time when Princess Katharine's ancestor, King Douglas the first was king…"
Goliath continued. Demona noticed and narrowed her eyes at the sight. He was being
fatherly to that whore's child. She silently decided that her plan should be put
into place sooner rather than later, or else her chance to regain what was stolen
from her would slip by forever.

After another ten minutes of walking with Adam in his arms, Elisa came back to
Goliath. She looked at the child in his arms, and smiled.

"Thank you for holding him, love. I can take him if you want."

"That's alright, Elisa. He seems to like being with me."

She giggled. "So do I, Big Guy. So do I." She said, allowing Goliath to put one
caring arm around her shoulder. She wrapped her right arm around his waist and held
on tightly.

"I love you so much, Goliath." She said adoringly. He looked down to her smiling
face.

"I know, Elisa. And I love you." He said, tightening his gentle grasp on her
shoulder, pulling her as close to him as possible without hurting her.

Demona couldn't take this anymore. Feast or no feast, she had to leave this place
now. She watched her daughter's smiling face for a few more seconds, then, realising
that she was too busy to notice that she was gone, walked out of the room and spread
her wings to catch a current of wind and take off.

Back at the Destine manor, Demona sat in one of her favourite chairs on her balcony
and thought about her plans to destroy Elisa and have Goliath for herself once
again. She was nearly in agony when she was reminded of those words that he and the
human shared that were supposed to be heard only by them. She felt complete torture
when she thought of Goliath returning Elisa's feelings, but she convinced herself
that they would pass and his love for Demona would return stronger than ever in
time.