Sunrise, Sunset

Life is temporary, and love is precious.

Gargoyles is the property of Disney. I don't own anything other than my OC. Please read and review, feedback is appreciated!

Author's Note – This is a revised version of the story I published a few months ago. Corrections made and details added.

I'd also like to thank Azkadela for the wonderful comments about the original story and I hope you'll read the revision and enjoy it even more!

Gilmores of pink, orange and yellow colored the sky as the first rays of sunlight reached the castle, announcing the approaching day. Careful of the precious cargo in his arms, he made his way through the courtyard, and sat straddled upon the bench they had favored for the last forty years.

A head of gray braided hair laid back against his bare chest as his arms circled her waist, insuring the shall around her would remain. She relaxed against him, causing him to sigh, and their fingers intertwining. "It may be too cool to be out here this morning."

Though she was dressed from head to toe in the thickest of clothes along with the shall around her shoulders, he could still feel the shiver she tried to hide. Turning slightly, she tucked her face into his neck, inhaling his natural scent. "Perhaps you're right, but I want to stay; please, Beloved?"

Relenting, he wrapped himself more around her, trying to shield the woman in his arms from the pre-dawn air. He hadn't been able to deny her much in all their years, and he certainly couldn't now. "Dawn is nearly upon us, mo ghràdh."

Her breath was shallow against his neck as fingers of her left hand shakily traced across his collar bone. "Tell me…"

A wave of emotions overtook him, and he had to push back the feeling of dread he been carrying. This wasn't supposed to be so tasking; he'd watched others deal with the same things and worse over the years, and yet it was proving to be the hardest night of his life. "There are streaks of color coming up from between the clouds, kind reminds me of a painting in pink, orange, and yellows. Like petals of a bouquet of fresh flowers, I suppose."

Her fingers traced the silver chain hanging around his neck and followed it down to the gold band that matched the rings around her own finger. "Does it compare it compare to our wedding night?"

Chuckling, his tension lightened slightly. They had wed at dusk all those years ago, the departing sun painting a beautiful backdrop to their ceremony; though in his mind nothing would ever compare to how beautiful she had been. "Nothing will ever compare to that, nor to the beauty of my bride." Leaning around her, he pressed a sweet kiss to her smiling lips and then retook his previous position.

As they sat in comfortable silence his memories of their wedding night flooded his mind. They'd been "together" for nearly three years, and thought the journey had not always been easy, their love had prevailed. At dusk she had joined him under an archway of flowers, and in the company family, they'd made the most coveted of promises. So many years had passed since then and their lives had been with love, laughter and the occicasional tears. Through everything he knew he could never have loved another.

"Penny for your thoughts, Beloved?"

As her tired voice broke the silence surrounding them and his thoughts, his hold tightening around her small form, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. "My thoughts are of you, my love, and the memories of our life together."

He could almost feel her smile widen as she laid against him. "Then let's make another, dance with me?"

Despite better judgement, he retrieved his hands from hers and scooped her up bridal style, standing and then setting her on flat upon her feet. He frowned as another shiver over took her small form. "This isn't wise; you'll grow tired too quickly…"

She smiled a smile he knew all too well and ran her hands up his torso, causing his rebuttal to die in the wind as her arms wrapped around his neck. "You've never been very good at denying me."

Shaking his head, his hands fell to her waist as he began to move them in small circles around the courtyard with her head resting upon his chest. "Should have fixed that mistake years ago."

Laughing now, she felt his arm encircle her back, allowing him to support her more completely as her eyes drifted closed. "Wouldn't have done any good, you know how I feel about change."

Laughter rumbled from him. "Yeah, you're still my princess, and a little bit of a brat."

She laughed again as she felt their movements slowing; and she became tired. She sighed. "I'm old too." In their thirty-seven years married her dark hair had turned gray, her body had become thin and frail, and her eyes had begun to fail her. She couldn't completely see his handsome face by moonlight anymore. "Maybe tying a young stud to me wasn't fair, after all we've only…"

Stalling their movements, he took her face between his hands. "You're still beautiful to me and our life has been wonderful."

Smiling, she kissed his palms and swayed, grateful that he reacted instantly, securing her against him. "I may have worn myself out."

Nodding to himself more than her, he turned for the castle, suddenly realizing just how limp she felt in his arms; he quickened his steps. "I'll get you inside, Xanatos may be able t..."

"Wait…" A few feet from the door, her left hand rose to stroke his check. "…I can see it…" Stalling mid stride, he looked down at the love of his life with tears in his eyes matching those running from her own. "…I can see the light."

Shallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, he kissed her forehead and continued into the castle. "My love, what do you see?"

She heard him kick a door open and the quiver in his voice as more tears feel from her eyes. "It's beautiful…warm."

With his heart was breaking, he approached the bed and deposited her genteelly against satin covered pillows. "Then you sh…should go clos…ser…" His voice was now breaking.

Though her movements were now completely shaky, with tears slipping from her nearly closed eyes, her hands reached for his. "I don't want to leave…I love yoo…ouuu."

Taking her hands, he took a knee at her bedside, his own tears falling freely now as he kissed her knuckles and tried to sound assured of her path. "You could never leave me…we'll always be together...I…I love you Danni, so much." Leaning forward, he kissed her lips. "Rest now, everything's going to be fine."

One thumb tightened over his hand and she laughed weakly. "You're a horrible lair."

He laughed as well. "Yeah, I know."

Smiling, she sighed in exhale. "I love you, Brook."

Brooklyn watched as her eyes slide closed and her hands began to fell heavy in his own, and her chest became still. "Da…Danni?" He stood when she didn't respond and he released her hands and checked for a pulse, finding none. He realized that she had died with that last declaration of her love.

Greif wasted no time in overwhelming him, his wings snapping open as his cry echoed through the castle. "Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!" Tears poured from his eyes, though he made no attempt to slow or remove them for his long face as he crumbled back to his knees. With trembling hands, he cupped her right, now already cold and brought it to his quivering lips. "Rest well, mo ghràdh."

As light begun to flood her bedroom, he felt the familiar draw of dawn, and opened his hands so that her own would rest cradled between them. He knew by night fall her body would have been long removed and with final tears falling, sleep began to overtake him. "Goodbye, my love."

Alex rounded the corner and found them an hour later, his Aunt Danielle's hand still cradled loosely in Brooklyn's own. He noticed the carpet and bedding beneight them was stained with tears. With a saddened heart, he closed the door and went to find his father; arrangements for only sister had to be made.

* I choose to use "mo ghràdh" which is Gaelic for my love in hopes of matching relatively close to the time period that the Gargoyles would have been in Scotland.