Elisa had to admit that telling the clan had gone a little more smoothly than she'd anticipated.

Oh, she was happy that no one outwardly seemed to have a problem with it, but she had expected… something.

Goliath had brought her home, they'd talked and she'd fallen deeply asleep. When she'd woken up, Goliath was not in the rooftop courtyard, so she assumed that he had returned to the castle before sunrise.

Now the sun was up on her last full day of being off work. She was waiting in the living room of her condo, waiting for her parents to come by with Liam so that she could share the news with them as well.

She was worried about how they would take it. They had accepted everything else in her life with a calmness that had boggled her mind. She could only hope that they would accept this pregnancy with the same grace and acceptance that she had come to count on.

Gods, she would sell her soul for a cup of coffee she thought. From the moment she'd found out that Elisa was pregnant, Skyler had been researching and had even made a trip to the supermarket for what she seemed essentials. She had made shopping lists, to-do lists, and a handful of other lists that Elisa didn't dare ask about.

She had even made a list of dietary restrictions. Top of the list; No Coffee. That had been underlined multiple times. When Elisa had bee-lined for the coffee maker, Skyler had hurried to cut her off, and poured her a large cup of orange juice.

She took a sip now, and shook her head. Nope. Not even close to being the same, but she imagined that there were going to be quite a few changes for the foreseeable future.

Elisa turned and reclined back onto the couch. She threw one arm over her eyes, blocking out the mid-morning sun, and drew in some slow breaths in an effort to relax. Her other arm unconsciously wound around her abdomen, where that tiny, new life was being held.

She had never, thought about having children of her own. She could admit that now, if only to herself. Then along had come Liam, and he had fit into their lives so seamlessly, that she hadn't really had to think about it.

Now, however…

She found herself drifting, lost in visions of a child with Goliath's hair and her smile. Boy or girl, it didn't matter. She just wanted it to be healthy and happy.

There was no question of it being safe. This child would be a miracle, and protected as such by both humans and gargoyles alike.

There was a buzzing sound that alerted her that someone was on their way up in the elevator. Being that the front desk security hadn't called beforehand, it could only be her parents bringing Liam home.

Elisa got to her feet, and made it to the door just in time for Liam to come flying at her.

"Mom," He laughed, throwing his arms around her waist.

Elisa laughed and hugged him around his shoulders. He was getting so big, Elisa thought.

"Hey, little man," Elisa said, somewhat embarrassed to find tears in her eyes. "Did you have fun with Grandma and Grandpa?"

"Yeah!" He said. "Grandpa took me horseback riding, and Grandma made awesome cookies!"

"Snickerdoodles," Her mother said, entering the door with a large grocery sack in her arms. "He really likes snickerdoodles."

Elisa gave a soft laugh, trying to unobtrusively wipe the sentimental tears from her eyes. Why was it that the minute she found out she was pregnant, those damn pregnancy hormones kicked in? Wouldn't she have had symptoms before now? How had she not known?

Diane Maza made her way in to the kitchen where she began unloading the bag. "I made Lasagna last night for dinner," She called out. "I brought some leftovers for you all so that you could have some later."

"It's a mom thing," Peter Maza said, the last to enter the condo. "She has to feed everyone."

Elisa moved into the kitchen, walking up and hugging her mother from behind. "Thank you," Elisa said.

Diane hesitated a moment. It wasn't that Elisa wasn't affectionate, but this was a little more so than normal. While she appreciated it, the show of affection had come from out of the blue, and honestly is made her a little nervous. "You're welcome," She responded, giving Elisa's hand a pat. "It's just lasagna, though. Nothing fancy."

Elisa reluctantly let go, and backed away.

"So," Diane busied herself putting the lasagna and extra cookies for Liam away. "What is this big thing that you need to talk to your father and I about?"

"Let's go sit down in the living room," Elisa suggested. If they were going to get a shock, might as well be near soft and cushioned surfaces in case fainting happened.

Diane frowned a little, then moved to join the others in the living room.

Skyler had evidently come to collect Liam and keep him occupied somewhere else. Elisa wanted the time to speak to her parents alone. Both Goliath and Elisa would be sharing the news with Liam this evening at the castle.

Elisa gave Goliath's stone form in the courtyard a quick glance. Just seeing him there helped to calm her a little. Why was she so anxious about this?

"Elisa," Peter said, taking a seat in one of the recliners, "Is everything alright?"

"We've been a little…," Her mother seemed to flounder, trying to find the right word. "Worried since you called last night."

"Sorry," Elisa said with a sigh. "I just got some news yesterday that I wanted to tell you about in person."

Her parents stared at her expectantly, and Elisa took a breath before beginning. "I had to go in to see Doctor James last night…"

"Are you sick?" Diane asked, her hand coming to her chest.

"Diane," Peter said, reaching for his wife's hand. "Let her finish."

"Goliath actually took me in because we thought I had a stomach bug," Elisa admitted. "They ran some standard tests and…"

"Oh, God," Diane breathed. "Tests? What did they find?"

Elisa cringed at the panic that resonated in her mother's voice. She ran a hand through her hair. "I'm messing this up," She muttered. It shouldn't be this hard, should it? Why did it look so effortless on television or in the movies?

"Elisa," Peter's calming voice said, "Maybe you should just tell us."

"I'm pregnant," Elisa blurted out.

The silence was deafening.

She looked from one stunned face to another. "Say something, please."

Diane raised her hands to cover her mouth as she gasped, tears coming to her eyes.

"Was this planned?" Peter asked with a frown. "I mean, I know that women today have… options… on how to get pregnant…"

"Dad!" Elisa burst out.

"What?" Peter asked, looking between his wife and his eldest child.

"The baby wasn't planned," Elisa said, unaware of how her hands moved to cover the baby. "And we certainly didn't think it was possible."

"Wait," Diane said, dropping her hands. "You're saying that Goliath is…"

"The baby's father," Elisa confirmed.

"But… How?" Diane asked. She held up her hands at Elisa's look. "I'm so happy to have the chance to be a grandmother again, Elisa, but I'm concerned."

"I think we both are," Peter said softly.

"How far along are you?" Diane asked.

"About six weeks," Elisa said, then gave the barest of shrugs, "At least that's our best guess."

"And you've already been to see Doctor James?" Diane asked.

"Yes," Elisa replied. She got to her feet and got the ultrasound picture. "I got the news yesterday, and told Goliath first," She admitted, handing the picture to her mother, "But I wanted to tell you both together."

"Oh," Diane said, looking at the ultrasound. She passed the small printout to Peter. "Oh, Elisa…" She got to her feet and threw her arms around her daughter. She leaned back suddenly, "Have you told Beth? Derick? What about Liam?"

"We're going to tell Liam tonight," Elisa said with a watery laugh. "Goliath and I wanted to tell him together. Outside of the clan and the clinic staff, you're the only ones who know."

"But you'll tell them soon," Diane insisted with a smile. "I'm not sure how long we'll be able to keep it quiet."

"I'll tell them soon," Elisa promised, then turned to her father who still hadn't said a word. "Dad?"

Peter Maza, the stoic former police officer, was staring at the ultrasound as if it held the answers to all of the secrets of the universe.

Elisa knelt in front of him. "Dad?" She asked again, quietly. "Say something, please."

"It is a hard thing," Peter admitted gruffly, "For a man to accept that their daughter is grown. You are married, and that was a hard thing to face," He said, then looked up into Elisa's eyes with a suspiciously watery gaze. "Then you adopted Liam, and gave us a grandchild, and I was humbled by your actions. Now…to be given the gift of another…" He shook his head and drew Elisa into an embrace. "You have always made me proud, daughter, and I am truly happy for you."

Elisa let out a breath that she hadn't been aware that she'd been holding. "Thank you, dad," She said, her traitorous voice wobbling a little.