Goliath and Elisa returned home to the condo a short time later. Time that they spent in each other's company, and each other's arms, sharing their thoughts and dreaming of the future.
Elisa, tired from the effects of the pregnancy and the emotional rollercoaster that she'd been on all day, fell asleep almost two hours before sunrise.
Goliath, once he was sure that Elisa was warm and comfortable, returned to the castle with his own thoughts. He'd been given two big surprises tonight, and he needed to think about it all.
He was atop his tower when a familiar presence joined him. He knew who it was before the other Gargoyle spoke.
"I thought ye' would be here."
"Hudson," Goliath greeted with a smile. He rose from his kneeling position and held out his forearm in the traditional gargoyle greeting.
"It was a clear night," Hudson said, coming to lean on the low wall surrounding the tower and tilting his face to the sky. "I was thinkin' about just getting' some fresh air."
Goliath slanted a look at his old friend and mentor. "I do not think that is all that you came out here for."
"Nae," the older gargoyle admitted. "But it was a good excuse to catch ye' by yourself."
Goliath gave a low rumble and nodded thoughtfully. "What would you like to speak of?"
"Goliath," Hudson said, dropping his head and stroking his beard, deep in thought. "It is not that we're not happy about the babe, but we are all a mite worried."
Goliath frowned. "Worried?"
"Aye," Hudson said, dropping his stroking hand and crossing his arms. "A babe born of a gargoyle and a human. It has'na happened before, and we are all… concerned."
"Concerned," Goliath repeated, an unreasonable anger beginning to spark in his chest, despite the fact that he had worries of his own. "What concerns do you have?"
"Now, lad," Hudson said, as if he were talking to a hatchling. "They young ones, they asked me to come and talk to you." He shrugged, "I was wantin' to speak to you on my own, so t'was no hardship to agree to it on their behalf."
Goliath said nothing, only crossing his arms over his chest and nodded an encouragement for the clan elder and his mentor to continue.
Hudson sighed, dropping his arms to a more neutral position. "We've all been given a bit o' news this evening, with the news of the coming baby. Now that Elisa's not here, and the young ones aren't around, I wanted to offer myself if you need someone to talk to."
Goliath let out a low rumble as the tension released from his shoulders. "It is not just the baby," Goliath admitted. He leaned against the wall next to Hudson, and told him all that he had learned that night. When Hudson still looked a little confused, Goliath reminded him of the legend that Xuilan, the Chinese clan leader, had told them all while they had been here to solidify the plans for the Gargoyle Council.
About Elisa's vision while she'd been so injured, and about the Dragon's boon, the slower aging.
And about the Dragon's Wife's gift. That Elisa was given the ability to "create a link" between the three races.
Hudson stiffened when he made the connection between the old legend and the revelations of the night.
"So the lass will be around for a while," He said with an affectionate grin. "That be good, for all of us."
"Yes," Goliath agreed, feeling his heart soar once more at the thought. He had gone into the relationship fully knowing that, unless something killed him, he would long outlive Elisa. He had chosen her anyway, having long decided that a short time with her in his arms was worth however many years he would have without her.
"And the babe?" Hudson asked softly.
Goliath Sighed and admitted something to his oldest friend that he would probably never say out loud again. "The baby will be, indeed, a gift," He admitted. "When Elisa first told me, all I could think of was the child. However, now that I have had time to think, I worry about the cost." He sent a worried look to Hudson, "I do not want a child at the cost of Elisa, and I worry about the strain having a half gargoyle child will put on her."
Hudson nodded wisely. "I remember, when I was young and in love, when my mate was expectin'. It is a worrisome time for both the male and the female, but one thing I have learned is that the females are much stronger than we think they are. Many of them are stronger than they themselves think they are," He chuckled. "But Elisa, now, she is a warrior in her own right. She has already survived much more than even we thought she was capable of." He placed a supportive hand on his leader's shoulder. "Elisa is not alone. Neither of you are alone," He emphasized. "We are all here to help you and keep an eye on the lass."
"Thank you," Goliath said, feeling as if a weight had been released from his chest.
"Besides," Hudson said softly, "If I have learned nothing else in my time, is to never question the strong magics. If this dragon and his mate have decided that this babe be born, then it will be."
Goliath nodded again. He still had little doubts in his mind, little traitorous voices whispering in his thoughts and planting seeds of doubt and fear for Elisa.
"Come, lad," Hudson said, slapping a hand against Goliath's shoulder. "The rest of the clan be wantin' to congratulate you properly."