I thought it would be neat if Amy's birthday was Halloween and that's why I chose it as I realized that this point that her birthday should have been mentioned earlier.
Chapter Seven- Birthday Surprise
Brooklyn gazed around the NYU campus as he followed Amy. The place was huge and very pretty. He could easily see Amy studying in this setting, especially since she had registered a few days ago. Both had been floored when Xanatos offered to cover Amy's class cost for the semester and she accepted. Once she paid off her classes, she led the way to the bookstore to get the books she already knew she needed.
"This is it?" he asked as they waited in line, three books in Amy's arms.
"This is all I know. Some professors don't tell students ahead of time. I won't know what other books I'll need until I get the syllabus."
"But, won't you need them on the first day?"
"The professors plan for the entire semester so I'll have time to buy the books after class." They got to a register and were soon leaving the store, books in hand. Amy proceeded to lead Brooklyn around campus, pointing out buildings where her classes would be at, where the library was, and the student union. Brooklyn had to admit that despite the cost, college life looked cool.
September arrived and soon Amy was busy with classes and work. Brooklyn would spend most of his daytime sleeping so he could watch over her on the way home from work and patrolling the city. He wasn't feeling lonely, despite Amy's busy schedule, because she didn't have classes on the weekends and made the time for him before going to work.
Then, in October, Amy had a week off from school for fall break and took the opportunity to add more time at work to earn more money for school. She and Brooklyn spent the mornings together before Amy went to work about mid-afternoon and worked until her evening shift was over. Brooklyn slept while she worked and followed her home at night. Her father wasn't making the time to see her and he wondered if his involvement with her was the reason her father wasn't seeing her.
"It's not you," she told him when he voiced these thoughts. "It's our conflicting views about gargoyles. It was going to come out eventually."
"Amy, there's something I realized I forgot to ask: When's your birthday?"
Amy laughed. "Oh my gosh, I can't believe I didn't mention it! Well, believe it or not, it's Halloween."
"Wow! Halloween is my favorite holiday."
"I can imagine why."
"Yeah, but at first it looked like this Halloween wouldn't be so happy. Now, it's happy again and always will be."
Amy giggled and kissed his beak. "Brooklyn, you are the sweetest guy I've ever met."
"And you're a special young lady. I'm going to make sure that your birthday is a happy one."
"You don't have to."
"Maybe, but I want to and I think I know just the thing."
Brooklyn refused to say what he was planning and Amy, sensing it might be a big surprise that would require time off, asked for her birthday and the day after off from work. Both days were weekend days so school wasn't a problem.
On Halloween morning, Brooklyn started the day off with a cozy breakfast for two in the dining hall and then a walk around the city, visiting Amy's favorite places as well as some shopping. They then returned to the castle where a romantic dinner awaited them.
"Brooklyn, this has been one of the nicest birthdays I've ever had," Amy said.
"It's not over yet," he said. He stood up and held out a rectangle box. She accepted it and opened it to reveal a tunic outfit similar to Angela's. She looked at him in confusion. "I don't understand."
"Shortly after dawn this morning, Alex cast a spell that will allow you to be a gargoyle for one night."
Amy's green eyes widened. "A gargoyle? Really?"
Brooklyn grinned. "Happy birthday."
Amy squealed as she leaped out of her seat and hugged Brooklyn. Brooklyn laughed as he returned the hug. Amy pulled back and brought her lips to Brooklyn's and his eyes widened. They hadn't kissed while he was human and the sensation was different. He liked it- a lot. I wonder if this is how Goliath felt when Elisa first kissed him.
They parted and Amy said softly, "I think we better get dressed for tonight."
"Yeah. You're right," Brooklyn replied just as softly. Amy gathered up her outfit and they retired to their room, emerging minutes later in their night outfits and heading for the courtyard.
"Brooklyn," Amy said as they watched the sunset. "Is my change going to hurt?"'
He was quiet for a moment. "I think so," he said at last. "In my experience, magic usually hurts."
"I see. But, it'll be worth it, though."
"Absolutely. It hurts when I change to human or gargoyle but it's worth the pain considering I can walk in the sun and glide at night."
Amy watched the sky light up with a fiery sunset and gradually darken. It was then that she felt a stabbing in her abdomen. She doubled over, grabbing at her stomach and groaned. She heard Brooklyn moan, but that was all as she was consumed by the pain that engulfed her.
She felt skin stretching and pushing out of her back and spine. Her fingers became four claws, and her feet widened as her heels traveled up. She felt other parts of her change as well as new additions appearing before she stretched and let out a cat scream a second before Brooklyn roared as did the clan. It was that sound the made Amy realize the pain was gone and she had become a gargoyle.
Brooklyn gazed at Amy. She was just a beautiful as a gargoyles as she was human. Her eyes were black and her skin was as green as her eyes had been. Her hair was tucked behind pointed ears. A pair of horns laid horizontally below her hairline and traveled to both sides of her head to end above the points of her ears. Her wings looked a lot like Goliath's with single fingers and her tail was long and ended in a leaf-blade shape.
The clan descended into the courtyard and took in Amy's gargoyle form. Since Brooklyn had spent time setting up for this surprise, he had let the clan know what he was planning. Angela was the first to speak. "Amy, you look great. Green is definitely your color."
"Thanks, Angela."
"Hey, happy birthday, Amy," Lexington said and the others echoed the sentiment. Amy thanked them for the greeting and stated that she wanted to start learning to glide. Brooklyn took to teaching her and was surprised by how quickly she picked up the basics. It was as if she was born to glide. He joined her in the sky and a nighttime glide together began.
Amy felt as if she was dreaming. She often imagined what it would be like to be able to fly and now she had wings of her own, if only for one night. The city looked even prettier than when Brooklyn gave her a ride.
I'm glad I have tomorrow off since I don't plan to sleep tonight. She smiled as she did a barrel roll and laughed at her success.
Brooklyn couldn't help smiling at Amy's laugh. She was really enjoying her gift. He watched as she tried out other aerial tricks and surprisingly succeeded every time. She gave the impression that she always had wings. She would be well suited to being a gargoyle, but she has classes and a job. She wouldn't be able to do either if she changed at night like me. Her job is at night. If she couldn't work, she wouldn't be able to pay for her classes. She accepted Xanatos' offer, but had said she was going to pay for the other semesters herself. He saw Amy land on a building and he followed suite.
"That was amazing," Amy sighed. "Better than I imagined."
"You took to gliding easily," Brooklyn said.
"I will never forget this night." She wrapped her arms around Brooklyn.
"Neither will I." Brooklyn ran a claw across her right horn lovingly.
Brooklyn and Amy painfully changed into humans the next morning and promptly went to sleep once back in their rooms. Amy dreamed about last night and reflected on it when she woke up.
They had soared over the famous parts of Manhattan such as Times Square and Broadway. They ventured over the Halloween Block Party and shared their stories of their first and only block party.
"I bet you looked great as a pirate," she had giggled.
"And I bet you looked great, too. What was your costume?"
"It was an angel."
"You still look like an angel."
Amy had smiled as she watched the party, her hand holding Brooklyn's.
I wish I could change every night. I saw how I looked and I looked good. Hmm, maybe I could be a gargoyle for special occasions like my birthday and New Year's Eve, for example. Stifling a yawn, she rolled out of bed and continued the homework she had started Friday afternoon.
Brooklyn and Amy went out to lunch later, shopped around, and attended a P.I.T. meeting. There was a buzz of excitement when the group learned of a legislature meeting taking place in two weeks on a Saturday.
"I propose some of us gather at the steps and rally, peacefully, for gargoyle rights. We will gather at noon and stay until almost dark. Any volunteers?"
Brooklyn immediately put his hand up and so did Amy. A daytime rally for gargoyle rights sounded exciting and he did not want to miss it.
