Disclaimer: Disney's, not mine. Kristi and Denice are mine, though.
Summary: Kristi and Denice meet the rest of the clan, who, along with Puck, recieve a surprise...
A/N: There will be hints of Goliath/Elisa this story... at this stage they've recently started 'dating'.
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Kristienne Johnson was worried. Denice had been gone for over an hour, that wasn't like her. Something must have happened. Den was always so protective of her that she found this delayed absence alarming.
For the fifth time in as many minutes, she searched the night sky for a hint of her friend's presence, playing with the amethyst butterfly pendant on her silver chain.
What she saw made her jaw drop. Denice was headed in her direction, which was a relief. What had made her jaw drop, however, was the fact that her friend was flanked by two other gargoyles.
They landed in front of her with concerned expressions although she detected a hint of relief on Den's face. "Kristi, you're okay! I was worried about you."
"I was worried over you. Where were you?" Kristi tried to sound angry, but Denice heard her relief, and grinned.
Turning towards the two other gargoyles who were exchanging looks, she answered the question. "I ran into these two. Actually they ran into me."
The female stepped forward with a gentle smile. "Hi, my name is Angela." She extended her arm which Kristi grasped firmly with a pleased smile.
"Kristienne Johnson, but you can call me Kristi." She repeated the same greeting with Broadway. "I'd heard about gargoyles living in New York, but I never expected to actually meet some."
"Well, we ourselves didn't expect to see your friend here." Angela smiled, looking at Denice. Kristi grinned, showing her pearly white teeth. "It's nice to know I have family in the area. I miss my clan." Broadway smiled and cleared his throat. "Denice told us that you might be in some sort of trouble."
Kristi gave a dry laugh. "Might be? Den's talent for understatement never ceases to amaze me." Angela and Broadway exchanged glances.
"Is it the Quarrymen?"
Kristi smiled sadly. "No one anywhere near that nice." She turned away from the others and the moonlight glinted off the amethysts in her silver earrings. Angela stepped forward.
"It's okay. You can trust us."
Kristi turned around, an apologetic expression on her face. "It's not that, I just don't want you hurt in what's going on." Broadway and Angela heard genuine concern in her voice, but there was also a note of pain. Denice stepped forward.
"Kristi, let them help. We're not alone anymore. We stand an actual chance of facing this enemy and living with increased numbers." Kristi sighed. "I know, I know." She looked at the two Manhattan gargoyles.
"I accept your offer." Broadway smiled.
"We'll be glad to help; but tell us, what's going on?" Denice looked at Kristi, who nodded, then she faced the Manhattan gargoyles. "I suppose you know of the three Races."
Broadway nodded. "Humans, gargoyles and Oberon's Children." Kristi smiled self-consciously. "I'm a hybrid of all three races." Angela's eyes widened.
"How is that possible?" Kristi gave a mysterious half smile. "Long story." Broadway frowned slightly. "You look completely human."
Kristi gave a low, throaty chuckle. "I get that a lot. But that's because the eye generally only sees what it wants to see."
She snapped her fingers and the two gargoyles' vision blurred slightly. After blinking furiously, their vision cleared and they looked at Kristi. "Oh…" was all Angela managed. Kristi's eyes sparkled a clear emerald, making a beautiful contrast with her milk chocolate skin.
Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders and she tucked some stray strands behind her ear. They were the same small size, but were slightly pointed at the tip. Her clothes were unchanged (a white knit shirt, black leather gloves, black leather trenchcoat, a black pair of leather pants and black leather kitten heeled boots).
The last change was a prehensile tail that ended in a spade-shaped tip. She smiled. "I wanted everything out in the open if we're going to be working together." Having got over their initial shock, they smiled.
Broadway suddenly snapped his talons. "We should take you with us to Goliath. You can explain what's going on there." He looked around him at the old, abandoned building.
"In fact, you could stay with our clan while you're here." Kristi gave a wide grin.
"I would like that. Let me get my stuff." She disappeared down a small staircase. Angela smiled.
"She seems really nice."
Denice gave a tiny smile. "Yeah." Kristi reappeared with a small bag.
"Ready! Where does your clan live?"
Broadway hoisted a brow ridge. "Would you believe it if I told you we lived in a castle?" Denice's eyes widened. "The Aerie Building? Owned by David Xanatos?" A strange expression passed over Kristi's face, replaced by a small smirk. Angela nodded and grinned. "You're sure he won't have a problem with us staying there." Denice said with a worried look.
"Trust me, nothing could be farther from the situation." Angela reassured. Denice smiled.
"Okay, then. Lead the way." Broadway took Kristi's bag and jumped off the ledge, followed by Angela.
Denice scooped her friend up in her arms. "Finally, we're leaving this hellhole." Kristi smiled.
"That we are." Denice jumped off and followed the others. "Things are finally looking up."
vvvvvvv
Brooklyn sighed as he walked into the library. Lex was on the computer (as usual) and Brooklyn snuck up behind him.
"Whatcha doin'?"
The olive gargoyle nearly jumped a foot out of his chair and glared at his rookery brother. The brick red gargoyle grinned sheepishly. "Sorry."
"Don't you have anything better to do than spy on defenseless people?"
"No, actually. Goliath and I just returned from patrol and I've been looking for someone to hang with. Hudson's watching Jeopardy! reruns and I can't find Broadway or Angela."
Lex sat back down and shrugged. "They haven't come back from patrol."
"Probably decided to enjoy the remainder of the night together." Even though the comment was made offhandedly, Lex heard the bitter tone in his brother's voice.
He turned to the red gargoyle. "Probably not. You know that there's something going on with the two of them. They've hardly spoken to each other all week."
Brooklyn sighed again. "I know. That's why Goliath put them on patrol together. I'm sure that by now they've resolved their problems and are having a cozy romantic evening."
Lex shook his head and turned around. "You know, you're only going to make yourself feel worse."
Brooklyn bit his lip. Lex turned of the computer. "Come on. We're going to the kitchen." Brooklyn smiled sadly.
"So I can drown my sorrows?"
Lex shook his head and grinned. "No; so I can get a sandwich. I'm starving."
vvvvvvvvv
"There it is!" Angela shouted above the rushing wind.
"It's beautiful!" Denice shouted back. "We're late from patrol. I bet they're wondering where we are." Broadway grinned. He flew next to Angela.
"I'm going to get the others," he said. "Okay, let me hold the bag." After giving Angela the bag, Broadway headed in the direction of the parapets. Angela landed in the courtyard followed by Denice who put Kristi down.
The honey colored female looked around her in wonder. "It looks even better here than on a magazine cover." Kristi rolled her eyes. "Most things do. David Xanatos must be so proud of himself."
Angela nodded. "He is a bit smug."
Meanwhile, Broadway had found his rookery brothers in the kitchen. "Have you two seen Goliath?" he asked as soon as he got inside.
Lex gave him a charming smile. "Hello to you too, Broadway. How was patrol?"
Broadway sighed. "Very… interesting. That's why I need to find Goliath."
Brooklyn shot up from his seat, a worried look on his face. "Is Angela okay?"
"She's fine. We just ran into-"
"Demona?" Brooklyn cut in, eyes taking on a whitish cast.
"Let him finish," Lex hissed.
Shaking his head, Broadway continued. "We met two gargoyles-"
"What?" Brooklyn interrupted again.
Shooting his brother an annoyed glance, Broadway continued. "They're from the British Virgin Isles and we've invited them to stay here."
"Where are they?"
"In the courtyard, with Angela."
Lexington was starting to get more excited by the minute. "Let's go meet them!" Broadway smiled.
"You go meet them. While you're there, tell them to wait in the library. I still need to find Goliath. It's an important matter."
Brooklyn's expression turned from one of excitement to one of concern. "Are these guys in some sort of trouble?"
"Unfortunately, yes. And it's girls, not guys."
Lex nudged his brick red brother. "Well, second-in-command, don't you think we'd better go see what we can do for these… damsels in distress?"
A grin slowly spread across Brooklyn's face. "Of course. Oh, wait a minute," he frowned. "Maybe we should tell Xanatos. You know he'd like to know if other gargoyles were staying here." Broadway raised a brow ridge.
"It's 3 A.M. Isn't he sleeping?"
Brooklyn sighed. "Probably. What about Owen?"
"What makes you think Owen isn't sleeping too?" Broadway asked. Brooklyn looked at him.
"The guy never sleeps."
"Good point."
"Brilliant plan! You can go find Goliath, Brooklyn can go look for Owen and I'll go welcome our guests." Lex beamed. He gave Brooklyn a slap on the shoulder and left for the courtyard.
Shaking their heads, Broadway and Brooklyn also left the kitchen going in opposite directions once they entered the corridor.
vvvvvvv
Goliath sat down at one of the tables in the library and sighed. Elisa had called to say that she was swamped with paperwork and couldn't make it to see him.
He sighed again and opened the book he had selected, something about swashbuckling musketeers that the trio seemed to find entertaining. He thought that now was as good a time as any to discover what all of the fuss was about.
"Um, Goliath?" The lavender gargoyle turned to find Broadway in the doorway. "Ah, Broadway. I see you have returned from patrol."
Broadway smiled. "Actually, I've been back for some time; I was looking for you." The turquoise gargoyle took a deep breath.
"While we were on patrol, we ran into two gargoyles from the British Virgin Isles. They're apparently in some sort of trouble so we offered them our help."
"That was the right thing to do, my young friend." smiled Goliath, getting up from his seat. "What sort of trouble are they in?"
"I don't exactly know. I thought that we should bring them here so that they could tell you first." Goliath nodded his approval. "Where are they?"
"Well, they should be here anytime soon. I told Lex to bring them here."
Brooklyn chose this moment to enter with Owen who was looking slightly annoyed. "You told Lexington to bring who here?"
Broadway gaped at the major-domo. "You mean Brooklyn didn't tell you?"
Brooklyn grinned. "I wanted to surprise him." "Surprise me with what?" Owen said, glancing around warily.
Goliath shook his head and was just about to answer when the group heard voices coming down the corridor outside.
"You mean to tell me that you're the only female in the clan?" an unfamiliar female voice with an unfamiliar accent was saying.
"Lucky you." Another unfamiliar female voice said. Owen turned to Brooklyn with one eyebrow raised. At that moment Lexington, Angela and the owners of the unfamiliar voices entered.
"Father, this is Denice from the B.V.I clan." Denice stepped forward and gave Goliath the traditional warrior handshake. "It's an honor to meet you."
Goliath smiled. "Likewise." He turned to indicate the other members of his clan.
"This is my second-in-command, Brooklyn." Brooklyn was staring transfixed at Denice with his mouth wide open. The honey-colored female managed to condense the grin that was threatening to spill onto her face into a smirk.
Goliath continued. "I believe you have already met Broadway." Denice grinned at the turquoise gargoyle and nodded.
"And this is Owen Burnett, Xanatos'-" lackey, he yearned to say. " - second-in-command. Of sorts."
After shooting the lavender gargoyle an annoyed glance (which Goliath ignored), he turned to Denice and gave a faint smile, which she returned.
Angela cleared her throat. "Okay, here's where it gets strange. Father, everyone, this is Kristienne Johnson." She stepped aside and Kristi was visible to all.
The group that had not seen the hybrid before shared bemused glances. Well, all except Owen; who was focusing on Kristi with a curious expression on his usually non-descript features.
Kristi, Angela and Denice were looking slightly amused. Kristi decided to help the confused looking males by breaking the ice. She grinned. "I get that reaction a lot. Apparently, hybrids aren't that common over here."
Brooklyn gaped. "You're a hybrid? As in two species together?" Kristi opened her mouth to say something, but Lex spoke first, giving his brother an amused stare.
"That would explain the tail on an otherwise human looking body wouldn't it?" Brooklyn shot him an annoyed glance then smiled at Kristi.
"I'm sorry, but you're right. Gargoyle/human hybrids are sort of unheard of over here."
"Rare, yes; but not unheard of."
Everyone turned to look at Owen.
"What about a hybrid of all three Races?" Kristi asked, stepping forward.
The two of them locked gazes.
"That would be unheard of."
"Until now." Kristi countered. By now the room was completely silent as the occupants focused on the tall blonde man and the hybrid in the middle of the room still staring into each other's eyes, bemused looks on both faces.
vvvvvvvv
Inside Owen, Puck was stirring. This was impossible! A hybrid of all three Races? Such things were unheard of, at least in his considerably long lifetime. This girl was… He gazed deep into her eyes. She was telling the truth. Those were not mortal eyes. They danced and sparkled in the way common to most of the Children.
Plus, there was an aura of magic that clung to her like perfume. Very faint, but noticeable. He had a very good idea as to how she came to be, as Oberon's Children had bred with both human and gargoyles, producing various hybrids throughout history. However, whenever fey hybrids had tried to mate with gargoyle human hybrids, they were never able to produce offspring. It was, as the humans would say, a 'genetic impossibility'.
Was this girl aware that she was, in effect, a miracle? He had to observe her further, that is, if she and her companion decided to stay here at the castle.
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Denice glanced at Angela who was looking a bit worried. "Is she okay?" the lavender female asked. Denice frowned. Kristi and Mr. Burnett were standing as if caught in some sort of trance, a slight frown creasing her friend's face.
She'd known Kristi long enough to realise that when her friend wasn't feeling right about someone she put them under intense scrutiny. Kristi's scrutiny was more intense than most people's because of her fey abilities.
Once she reached a conclusion about something, it was never wrong. If they were in danger from this man, her friend would know. The honey colored female gave a weak smile in answer to Angela's question.
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Kristi shook her head slightly and blinked a couple of times. Denice came right over and put her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Everything okay?"
Kristi nodded. Owen cleared his throat and the pair turned back to him. "Ms. Johnson, Mr. Xanatos will be delighted to host you and your friend for the remainder of your stay." Kristi smiled.
"Thank you, Mr. Burnett, we appreciate it." She then turned to the rest of the clan who were looking puzzled.
"I'm sure that Broadway has informed you that my friend and I are in trouble. We've waited until now to tell you exactly what the problem is and I hope you will be able to help us."
Goliath nodded. "We will try."
Kristi turned back towards Owen. "Mr. Burnett, I believe that it would also interest you to here our story." Owen nodded once.
The hybrid then turned back towards Denice and the two shared an understanding expression. "You all might want to sit down, get comfy, this could take a while." Denice said softly.