Gwen wakes to the sound of someone moving around in her apartment and the smell of bacon wafts past her nose and she knows it can only be one person who's responsible for this intrusion. With a quiet groan, she rolls over and tries to go back to sleep only to feel someone pounding on her backside through the covers a moment later. She pulls the blankets over her head and burrows down deeper under that blissfully warm cocoon only to have them ripped off of her body a moment later.
"Lars!" she loudly whines as she reaches for her lost warmth.
"Don't you 'Lars' me, young lady," Lars huffs, keeping the blankets well out of reach. "I didn't slave over a hot stove so you could sleep the day away. Now rise and shine."
"'And while you're eating breakfast, why don't you tell me all about your date last night'," she says, her voice dropping an octave in an attempt to sound like her friend as she cracks an eye to glare at him. "It's Saturday, it's my day off and I'm sleeping in."
"You have slept in, sugar," he states, pointing the ladle in his hand at her clock. "It's nearly noon. And telling me about your date last night is the least you could do for me since I made you breakfast."
"I don't suppose it could be breakfast in bed," she grumbles as she sits up.
"That is something that should be reserved for the morning after your first night with some stunningly handsome, well to do and extremely sensitive man," he smugly tells her as he turns to leave.
"The only problem with that scenario is that he'd also have to be straight," she counters while she swings her legs over the side of the bed and lets out a huge yawn. "I hope you made coffee."
"Of course," he snorts from the kitchen. "Do you really think that I'd forget the nectar of the gods? And I made the good kind too. Not that dark mud you get by on."
"I can afford the dark mud," she reminds him as she finally gets to her feet and staggers after him. "I can't afford the good stuff."
"What about the coffee beans I gave you for Easter?" he asks as he starts to pour her a cup of the delightful dark stuff.
"That was nearly six months ago and I drank it all," she answers as she gladly accepts her cup from him and takes that first sip of heaven. "Dear lord, that's good."
"Good thing Christmas is coming up," he muses as he gets out a couple plates and starts to load them up with food.
"Lars, you know you don't have to get me anything," she says, trying not to think about all the presents she has to buy and mail or how much it's going to cost.
"I know, but I like doing it and there's nothing you can do to stop me," he smirks as he finishes filling the plates with food and heads for her tiny table.
"One of these days…," she starts to threaten, following him.
"I'll find a man who will love me for my brain instead of my body," he interrupts as she sits down across from him.
"Let's hope it's about the time I finally have my loans paid off and enough money in the bank for a one way ticket home," she sighs as she butters her French toast.
"I'm not sure I can wait that long," he moans, pretending to be horrified with the thought.
"Very funny," she grumbles as she starts munching on her bacon.
"So, how did last night go?" he asks after she gets a few swallows in.
"Ok, I guess," she replies with a shrug. "We went to The View on top of the Marriott, then we went and saw you in The Lion King and then he brought me home."
"While I'm thrilled that you came to watch me steal the show, I can't believe the entire evening was complete flop," he replies.
"I spent half of dinner listening to him go on about some conspiracy theory about some group called the Illuminati and it was just about as exciting as the Greek history class I took back in college," she grumbles. "At least he was passionate about the subject where as that professor was about as exciting as a dead fish."
"I've never heard of this Illuminati thing," he tells her.
"Be glad," she replies. "It just about put me to sleep. The only thing that kept me awake was trying to spot Brooklyn and Lexington."
"What were they doing there?" he asks in surprise.
"I think they were just curious," she answers and then smiles. "Though, it was amusing to see Brooklyn fall off of the roof of the restaurant."
"He fell off of the roof?" he laughs. "That must have been some sight."
"It completely caught me by surprise," she admits with a chuckle. "He's lucky no one else saw him."
"So, I take it there aren't any future dates planned," he says.
"Not currently," she responds. "He's not a bad guy, once you get past the Illuminati stuff, but I don't really think he's my type."
"Honey, you haven't dated enough to have a type," he teases.
"Thanks a lot," she growls and then goes back to her eating.
"So, have you got everything ready for tonight?" he questions after a minute or so of silence.
"God, I don't even want to think about tonight," she moans as she pours syrup all over her French toast. "It was nerve wracking enough knowing who was taking me out last night. I don't even know who's picking me up tonight. It could be Jack the Ripper for all I know."
"I doubt Jack would come back from the dead just to ask you out on a date," he teases. "It has to be someone you know. Complete strangers aren't going to send you a dozen long stem roses and invite you to one of the nicest restaurants in all of New York. So, who do you know that is single, male and likes you?"
"Well, the single and male covers about half of the men at work, not that we're sure it's from someone at work," she muses and then thinks of something a little worrying. "How can we be sure it's a man? Talk about making things awkward at work if it's a woman I have to let down."
"Ok, let's not panic," he says worriedly.
"Why not?" she demands, her eyes wide with worry and a panicked look on her face. "I can do panic. I do panic very well."
"You hoping for an Oscar nomination with that act?" he asks sarcastically.
"I'd thought I'd practice when Willie shows up tonight," she replies with a snicker.
"Who's Willie?" he inquires.
"The guy who mucks out the elephant and giraffe stalls," she answers. "He barely speaks English, weighs about the same as a water buffalo and has the same hygiene habits as a musk ox. Smells about as good as one too. He always gives me a big smile when I go by."
"Ok, lets assume that the person who's going to show up tonight one, knows your work schedule so he knows you have today and tomorrow off, two, is male, three, has a high enough position at the zoo to afford to send you those roses and take you out to a very nice restaurant four, likes you and five, has decent grooming habits," he lists, counting each item off on a finger as he goes.
"Six, is completely fou, seven,…," she tries to continue.
"Fou? What the hell is fou?" he interrupts.
"Crazy, insane, nuts, cuckoo, loco," she replies. "It's French."
"Ok, I get the idea," he chuckles as he gets up, taking his empty plate into the kitchen. "A man doesn't have to be crazy to date you. It'd probably help, but he doesn't have to be."
"Thanks a lot," she huffs as she drains her coffee cup.
"Come on, sugar, finish up," he tells her as he refills her coffee cup. "We've got work to do."
Her only response is a groan of defeat.
Tired, sore and unable to keep a small smile from playing across her lips, Elisa leans against her car in the early evening light waiting for Matt to make an appearance. By the time he does show up, she's about done with the monster cup of coffee she has to help her wake up and to keep her warm. She takes one look at his ticked off face and decides she doesn't want to know what's got him in such a mood.
Without a word to each other, they get into the car and start to make their rounds. After about an hour of cruising around, making sure that they're beat is all quiet; Elisa heads towards the castle and the gargoyles. Matt is so involved with his own thoughts that he doesn't even realize where they are until they step into the elevator.
"Why are we here?" he asks grumpily.
"I thought we'd go up and say 'hi' to the guys," she answers, carefully making sure her hair covers the sides of her neck. "I'd like to see how Broadway and Angela are doing."
"Yeah, great, let's go check in on the love birds," he grumbles.
"What's got you in such a snit?" she asks.
"Oh, not much," he nearly snarls as the elevator doors open. "Just the lovely Dr. Knight lies through her teeth."
"How so?" she questions as they start to make their way through the castle.
"Remember how she said she's from Switzerland?" he asks.
"Yeah, so?"
"Well, I doubt that's where she's from at all," he grouses.
"Why do you say that?"
"She gave me this whole spiel about being descended from this band of refugees and how they barely made it out of the British Isles with their lives and how she's a direct descendent from their leader," he starts.
"Ok."
"Then she tells me how she grew up on a farm and how she was always reading and how she just wasn't suited to be a farmer's wife and how her family sent her out here when she was sixteen and how she put herself through college and that she's up to her eyeballs in debt because of it," he continues.
"Alright."
"For the final kicker, she tells me that she's not interested in a long term relationship since she plans on moving back to Switzerland once her loans are paid off," he finishes as they step out into the cold night air.
"So, you're mad because she doesn't want to go out with you again?" she questions, a bit confused.
"I'm mad because I found out that while she's giving me this whole sob story about wanting to return home and missing her family, she's got plans go out with another guy tonight," he snarls. "She's probably planned on going out with this guy for weeks. She was playing me for a fool."
"Actually, she told Lars that she wasn't planning on going on either the date with you or the other guy tonight," Lex states from his perch above them. "If I hadn't asked Fox to help out then she wouldn't have had anything nice to wear for your date last night."
"Not that I'm the greatest judge on human fashion, but I thought she looked pretty good last night," Brooklyn adds as he lands next to the two detectives.
"I saw both of the invitations and there weren't any names on either one, so I doubt she knows who she's going out with tonight," Lex puts in as he glides down to join them.
Elisa and the gargoyles all look at Matt to see how he responds to this news and after a few seconds he just gives a short laugh and shakes his head.
"I guess the joke's on me," Matt sighs as scratches the back of his neck. "I feel like I need to apologize to her now."
"Does she know that you were mad at her over nothing?" Elisa asks as the sound of more gargoyles landing reaches their ears.
"No," Matt answers.
"Then don't worry about it," Elisa assures him as she turns to face the new comers. "Hey, guys."
"Evenin', lass," Hudson greets first. "What brings ya up here?"
"Nothing much, just wanted to say, 'hi'," Elisa replies while Bronx rubs against her to get his head scratched. "Check how things are going."
"It's always a pleasure to have you in our home, Elisa," Goliath adds, intently gazing at her.
She looks up at her new mate and she can feel her cheeks and other interesting places getting warm.
"Thanks," she hastily replies before turning towards the other couple in the group. "Hey, you two, how are you doing?"
"We're good," Broadway answers but Angela looks like she's about to burst into tears.
"Angela, are you ok?" Elisa questions worriedly.
"I…I…," Angela stammers, shifting nervously from foot to foot and Broadway puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Elisa, about the other night…"
"Don't worry about it," Elisa assures her. "You weren't exactly yourself that night."
"But you got hurt," Angela replies, still very upset.
"By Demona, not you," Elisa points out as she walks up to the female and lays a reassuring hand on her arm.
"I'm sorry," Angela whispers, not quite able to look at the woman.
"It's alright," Elisa softly tells her.
"Thanks," Angela quietly responds, finally looking at Elisa and giving her a small smile.
"Not a problem," Elisa replies with her own smile before turning back to the group at large. "So, what have you guys got planned for tonight?"
"There's a Humphrey Bogart marathon on tonight," Hudson replies starting to turn towards the door and Bronx begins to follow him.
"Patrolling," Goliath states in a commanding voice and there are several groans from the younger gargoyles. "The past several nights we have been lax in our duty protecting our new home."
"Things have been a bit hectic the past few nights," Elisa agrees.
"True, but it is time for us to get back to our duties," Goliath replies.
"Well, boy, it looks there won't be any Bogie for us tonight," Hudson sighs as he pats the hound's head while Bronx whines sadly and then the eldest clan member heads for a nearby wall.
"Come on," Broadway says as he takes Angela's hand in his. "I know a place where the muggers like to hang out in Central Park."
"Speaking of work, we should probably get back to work too," Elisa says, looking at her partner.
"Yeah, ok," Matt replies with a shrug and starts to head for the door.
"Ah man," Brooklyn grumbles as he starts to head towards the castle wall.
"Don't worry, I know the perfect place to patrol tonight," Lex tells his friend as he follows the red gargoyle.
"Oh yeah? Where?" Brooklyn questions.
"Rockefeller Center probably has lots of thugs that need to be straightened out," Lex answers confidently.
"What's happening in Rockefeller Center?" Brooklyn asks as they hop up onto the wall.
"Oh, you know…stuff," Lex evasively replies as they both launch themselves into the air.
"I wonder what those two are up too," Goliath grumbles.
"You know, maybe we should check out Rockefeller Center, just in case there are any problems," Matt suggests.
"And if a certain vet and her date just happen to be there, all the better, I don't think so, partner," Elisa smirks as she turns back to the remaining clan member. "I'll catch you later; we do have to get back to work."
"Take care of yourself, Elisa," Goliath says while he turns towards the wall.
"You too, Big Guy," she softly calls back to him as she turns and heads back inside. "Come on, partner, let's get back to work."
"You know, I really think we should make sure that Rockefeller Center is secure," Matt suggests again as they travel back through the castle.
"Not going to happen," Elisa chuckles while they walk down the corridor.
"But…," he tries to continue.
"You are not crashing that poor woman's date if I have anything to say about it, mister," she sternly tells him. "Come on, I'll buy you a cup of coffee and then you can tell me all about your date. Maybe if you ask Lex and Brooklyn nicely tomorrow night they'll tell you about Gwen's date tonight."
"Bet he'll get a kiss goodnight," he grumbles as they step into the waiting elevator and she just shakes her head as the doors close behind them.
"You ready?" Lars asks as she fidgets in front of her mirror.
"No," she nearly whimpers while readjusting her nylons and wondering how women wear the blasted things on a daily basis. "Do I have to do this?"
"Oh, please, let me get the cheese platter to go with that whine," he teases as the door buzzer goes off. "Ok, sugar, this is it. Show time."
"Can't I cancel?" she begs as he heads for the speaker next to the door.
"No," he tells her just before pushing the 'talk' button. "Yes?"
"Hi, I'm here to pick up Gwen," a tinny man's voice responds through the speaker.
"At least my date's a man," she mutters as she slides her feet into her shoes.
"Please come in, she'll be down in a minute," Lars tells the man and pushes the release button for the door downstairs. "Ok, sugar, let's go."
She makes another whimpering sound and then picks up her bag and wrap before joining Lars in the hallway. She takes an inordinately long time to lock up and she turns to find her friend with his hands on his hips and tapping his foot with impatience. She meekly follows him down the stairs, taking it slowly and carefully, not so much because she's stalling and dreading who might be waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, but because she's afraid she's going to break an ankle in the blasted heels she's wearing.
By the time she reaches the landing before the last set of stairs, Lars is already there with a big, stupid grin on his face. She frowns at him and then slowly makes her way to the last set of steps before looking down to see who's waiting for her. Her jaw drops when recognition of the man waiting for her registers in her brain.