Elisa stood there, gazing out across the city. Her bandaged arms were crossed on top of the chest high wall that surrounded the courtyard.
She heard, rather than saw Goliath land. She heard her son's squeal of delight at finding his grandfather there. The screen door was flung open and shut again.
Just as she had done countless times, she could feel Goliath's presence behind her. "Hey Big Guy," She said quietly. "You're late."
"Good evening, my love," He replied. giving her one of his old world deep bows. "And my deepest apologies. It seems that Angela decided that tonight was the night to finally get her egg in the rookery."
Elisa smiled. "Really? That is fantastic news!"
"We are all very happy for her and Broadway," Goliath said, moving up behind Elisa. Elisa felt his arms slide around her at the waist and smiled. Leaning back, she turned her head so that her cheek lay in his warm, solid chest.
"I'm glad you're here."
"As am I," Goliath said. "It has been too many nights since we were here as a family."
"I agree," Elisa said. "It has been too long."
The sound of Liam's laughter drifted out to where they stood, making his parents smile in reaction.
"I spent most of last night avoiding the television," Elisa said. "I was kind of hoping that if I didn't turn it on, that I could pretend it didn't happen. Like it was just one long bad dream."
Goliath wrapped his wings around her, trying to give her the added support.
"I finally gave in this morning," Elisa admitted, "and turned the news on. It really happened. The towers are gone and thousands of people are dead. They are putting together lists of the people who had been in the towers. Those who made it out and who didn't."
She finally turned her tear filled gaze to look at him then. "At least three hundred firefighters, another twenty or so police officers and almost forty officers from the Port Authority Police."
Knowing that there are some hurts that nothing can help, Goliath gathered her close and let her cry. He knew what it was like to lose a large number of friends and family due to a tragic event. Losing so many at once, feeling that much loss at one time, was indescribable.
"I went back down to the site today," Elisa said softly. She felt Goliath's muscles tense up, and she began softly stroking his arm. "Don't worry, Goliath. Dad kept a close eye on me, and a few new friends babysat me. I was relegated to the food tent, serving dinner and drinks to the other volunteers."
The tension slowly relaxed from Goliath's arms. "I swear, I was read the riot act by Dr. James who threatened to have security not let me out of the building. That is the man who has control over when I get to go back to work, so I didn't want to mess with him. But… I just couldn't live with myself if I sat around and did nothing."
Goliath chuckled softly. "I know you well, Elisa. I am just surprised that you waited so long."
"Yeah, I probably would have gone back out on the streets after getting stitched up," Elisa admitted now. "I went down there to try to help, but I couldn't even do that without a lot of help myself. I may go back tomorrow with dad, and help out in the food tent again, just to feel useful, but I know that I can't do the heavy stuff so rest easy, Big Guy."
They stood for a moment, gazing out at the changed skyline. Where the twin towers had once stood, there was now a bright pool of light, illuminating the darkness. There were still people there, even now, Elisa knew. There had been eleven people now that had been pulled alive from the wreckage, giving the people at Ground Zero hope for more. They would be there, twenty four hours a day for as long as they could continue.
Those lights would be there, shining brightly for a long time.
Elisa's shoulders rose and fell with a deep sigh. Together, they turned towards the condo. Elisa saw her father walking around with Liam slung over his shoulder, and Liam laughing like he hadn't a care in the world.
There were two large plastic take out sacks from Zio's on the table, and Elisa knew that Patty had made good on her promise to buy them all dinner.
Bless her.
"So," Goliath asked after a minute, "What happens now?"
"Now," Elisa said with a sudden determination, "We are going to go inside. We are going to have a fantastic dinner with our son and my father. We are going to enjoy our family, Goliath. We are going to make memories to keep the bad things at bay for the rest of the night."
"And tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," Elisa shook her head. "Tomorrow is another day. One day at a time, Goliath."
Goliath gave her shoulders a squeeze.
"Things will change now," Elisa said. "It is never going to be the same again."
Goliath nodded. "Things are going to change in the days to come, of that I am certain. Some for the worse, some for the better." But those were worries for the future. "Tonight, I would like to spend time with my loved ones, and enjoy the blessing that we are able to be here together."
Arm in arm, Elisa and Goliath entered the living room to the sound of their son's innocent giggles, and did just that.