May 3, 1997
Castle Wyvern

Goliath watched his clan from a battlement above the courtyard where they had informally gathered after the first meal of the night. It was a pleasant spring evening, and they were enjoying the mild weather. Most were just talking amiably with each other while Nashville tossed a ball back and forth with Lexington as Bronx and Fu-Dog ran back and forth, barking and trying to intercept the ball.

The antics and whoops and shouts of amusement warmed Goliath. It was nice to hear youthful joy once more. He thought of all of the clan's hatchlings Nashville's age who were lost in the massacre, and he felt a painful twist in his heart. He thought of their youthful faces, gone forever, to never grow and experience all the joys and sorrows of life. He shuddered and shook off the images before he grew too morose and sunk into a depressive stupor.

"It's nice to see, isn't it?" Hudson said as he walked up next to him.

Goliath smiled softly.

"It is," he replied to his old mentor.

"The London clan has a whole mess o' hatchlings Nashville's age. It did my old heart good to see them, and it also gave me somethin' I thought I had lost."

"And what's that?" Goliath asked.

"Hope," Hudson replied.

"I'm pleased you got to see them, my friend," Goliath replied warmly.

"Me, too, lad," Hudson said softly.

At that moment, Elisa walked unexpectedly into the castle courtyard. She intercepted the ball just as Nashville tossed it to Lex and then did some odd but amusing little dance that clearly conveyed her victorious glee while Bronx and Fu-Dog cavorted around her. Goliath laughed softly at her antics, and then she looked up at him, their eyes met, and her smile radiated up at him like the sun as she waved to him. He held up his hand in reply, and couldn't help the goofy love-sick smile that spread across his face.

"The two o' you make quite the pair," Hudson said.

"I hope you mean that in a good way, old friend," Goliath replied.

"Aye, I do. It's good to see ye both so happy, but I can't help but wonder...is Elisa content with yer arrangement?"

"What do you mean?" Goliath asked, concerned that Hudson may have observed something about his love that he hadn't.

"She's human for one thing, an' well...I can't help but wonder if she expects ye to make an…honest woman out o' her," Hudson said, stumbling a little awkwardly over the human phrase for when a woman hopes the man she is being intimate with marries her.

"I have not dishonored her, Hudson, and most importantly, she does not feel that way," Goliath replied seriously as he tried to withhold the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth over Hudson's parental concern for Elisa.

"I know that, lad, but…her ways are not our ways, an' she may be expectin' more from ye."

Goliath smiled and lowered his voice as he spoke conspiratorially to his old mentor.

"We have...something we're planning that I think will help unite our ways with Elisa's."

"Is that so?" Hudson said, raising his brows.

"We're still planning and have not revealed our intentions yet to Elisa's family, but when we do, we will inform everyone."

"I see," Hudson replied and he stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I'll speak nothing more about it then."

"Thank you, my friend," Goliath said, and he clapped him on the shoulder before he leapt over the wall and landed in the courtyard below. He strode over to Elisa, put a hand under her chin, and tipped her face up to his as he leaned down and kissed her.

In front of everyone.

There were a few whoops and whistles, mostly from Brooklyn, but a few of the others joined in.

Timedancing had matured Brooklyn in many ways, but it had not destroyed his spirit or his unique sense of humor, for which Goliath was grateful, but he waved him off dismissively anyway as he continued to kiss Elisa.

He knew he would get teased relentlessly about it later, not because anyone disapproved of his relationship with Elisa, in fact, it was quite the opposite. Because they loved Elisa and genuinely approved of them together, they felt comfortable enough to tease them about it.

Goliath kissed her openly to make a point. After observing Angela and Broadway and Brooklyn and Katana, he realized that he had forgotten how openly affectionate gargoyle couples were. They were constantly touching each other, not in an obscene way, but there was always a stroke of the brow here, a caress of the hair there, and he realized he had been needlessly reserved with Elisa around the others, and he needed to end that. He was not ashamed of his relationship with her, though his actions may have subconsciously transmitted that.

She was his mate. His life partner. And he needed to treat her as such.

Once he had made his point, and Elisa was thoroughly blushing, he took her by the hand and led her away from the rest of the clan.

"To what occasion do we owe the pleasure of your visit?" he asked as they walked together around the fountain in the courtyard.

"I wanted to check in on all of you. I rarely get to see you all together these days, and it's been a while since I came by. The nights are getting shorter, too, and we don't get to spend as much time together alone," Elisa responded.

"I am glad to see you, but then I always am," Goliath said warmly, and he pressed his lips to the back of her hand. "How do you wish to spend your evening, it being your night off?"

"Hmm, well, I'd like to spend a little time with the clan, but later, maybe we could go for a glide?" Elisa suggested.

"Or I could read to you in the library," Goliath suggested.

Elisa gave him a scolding look.

"Hey...don't get any ideas. That was a one time thing. We got caught up in the moment."

Goliath grinned at her, his fangs glinting in a wolfish smile.

"A very diverting moment," he said reminiscing.

"You know how I feel about trysts in the castle," Elisa reminded him.

"You don't trust Xanatos not to spy on us, I understand," Goliath acquiesced.

"Which is why I suggested a glide," Elisa said as she stopped walking and turned to him, her hands on his belt.

"There's this beautiful spot along the coast I found recently," Goliath said as he ran his talons lightly through her hair.

"Oh?"

"Perhaps we could pack a picnic?"

"I'm liking this idea more and more."

...

...

"This is really nice," Elisa said as she snuggled up against Goliath and momentarily closed her eyes.

They'd set up a picnic on a remote beach, and they listened to the ocean, the waves crashing against the shore gently as they relaxed together.

"I love the sound of the ocean," Goliath said, his voice somewhat distant with memory. Elisa was propped up against him, and he stroked her hair absentmindedly. "I grew up next to the sea, and the sounds of waves crashing against the rocky shore were my earliest lullabies. It's comforting to me."

"I find it fascinating that we both grew up next to the Atlantic, but on different sides...and centuries," Elisa said as she watched a wave roll and crash.

"Separated by an ocean of water and time," Goliath mused. "But together now, at last."

Elisa found his hand and put her own in it. He curled his fingers around hers.

"Speaking of being separated, I'm going out of town next weekend," Elisa said.

"You are? Where to?" Goliath said, sounding slightly alarmed.

"Flagstaff for Beth's graduation," Elisa replied.

Goliath didn't seem comforted much by that explanation.

"How long will you be gone?"

"It's just the weekend. I leave on Friday, and I'll return on Monday."

Goliath nodded.

"But I need someone to take care of Cagney while I'm gone. Would you mind feeding him and looking after him for me?" Elisa asked.

"Not at all," Goliath replied. "I'd be happy to."

"Thank you," Elisa said relieved. "I'd normally have my parents take care of him, but they'll be with me."

"Elisa," Goliath said, his tone gently chiding as he turned and looked at her more directly. "Cagney is your companion, and I am your mate, you don't need to rely on your parents when it is something I can help you with. I should share in some of your responsibilities."

"You'll have to clean his litter box," Elisa pointed out.

"I see," Goliath replied a little uneasily, but he masked it with a smile. "It's not a problem."

"Thanks," Elisa said gratefully.

"Of course," Goliath said. She did so much for him, he was grateful when he had a chance to do something for her in return.

They returned to watching the ocean in silence, but the concerned look that lingered on Goliath's face did not go unnoticed by Elisa.

"What's bothering you?" she asked, her voice gentle as she wondered if he was slipping back into the brooding, dark thoughts that sometimes occupied his mind

"Hmm, it's nothing," he said dismissively.

"No it's not. Talk to me."

"It's just that...you will be hundreds of miles away. I won't be there to help you if anything should happen…and it makes me feel anxious," Goliath explained.

"I'm only going to be gone for a few days, Goliath. Nothing is going to happen," Elisa said as she bumped him lightly with her shoulder.

Goliath gave her a pointed look.

"Why do you do that?" he said, his tone slightly exasperated.

"Do what?"

"Invite trouble."

Elisa laughed gently.

"It will be fine," she said.

Goliath sighed.

"Then I hope you have a chance to enjoy yourself. You deserve a break," he said.

"I won't enjoy myself nearly as much without you there," Elisa replied regretfully.

"I imagine you will enjoy yourself far more than you did the last time we were there together," Goliath said with a light smile.

Elisa laughed and looked up at him.

"You have a point, but still, I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you, too," Goliath replied, and he kissed her as they were serenaded by the sonorous sounds of the sea.