Demona made her way back to Macbeth's house, leaving Lexington to work on his programming in the quiet solitude of the forest. She still didn't know how to solve the problem before her, but she was feeling far less fearful after having spoken with Lexington. His maturity and confidence had surprised her, and it was a bittersweet realization that he was no longer a clever and promising youth, but a talented and indispensable member of the clan.

Taking her time, she walked the path, not anxious to face Macbeth or learn that Detective Maza was on her way to join them. As she climbed, her thoughts were disturbed by some distressed voices coming from the patio and she hurried up the last few stones to find Goliath standing over Ophelia with a look of bewilderment. The young female knelt before him in a pleading posture, crying pitifully. Catching sight of Demona as she ascended the stairs, Goliath gave her an equally desperate look.

"Ophelia!" Demona exclaimed gently, "What is wrong?"

Clearly embarrassed to be found in such a vulnerable state, Ophelia quickly stumbled to her feet and attempted to right herself, only to succumb a moment later to another wave of tears. Demona glanced at Goliath, as if making sure he truly wished her to involve herself in the awkward situation and he nodded to her with a look of relief.

"Come, dear one," she said softly to her, guiding her to a bench near the railing, overlooking the valley, and enveloping affectionately under one wing.

"I was trying to make him like me," she confessed in a whisper, clearly humiliated by whatever had transpired between them, "I wanted him to…" The devastated young gargoyle fell silent, not wanting to share any more of her shame than necessary.

"I could guess as much," Demona replied to her, "But you must understand that Goliath isn't for you."

"But I love him!" she whimpered, "I've loved him ever since we battled with that Child of Oberon on Avalon. He saved my life and…I thought perhaps he loved me too."

Demona squeezed her shoulders tighter, letting her rest her head on her lean against her as she wept and hid her face from Goliath, who remained at a distance, perched on the other side of the patio.

"It's easy to fall in love in the face of such heroism," she explained, "Goliath does care for you, as he cares for all of his charges, but he is not meant to be your mate. For one, he's already chosen another. And for us, we choose our mate for life. You must wait patiently for the one that is meant for you."

Ophelia didn't reply to this, but continued to rest on her shoulder, weeping softly. Finally she sobbed, "Of course I was being ridiculous. What is he going to think of me now? I don't know how I can ever face him. What is wrong with me?"

"He won't think the least bit less of you," Demona assured her, "You are hardly the first young one to be struck with love sickness. He understands and he won't tease you. And I suspect there isn't a thing wrong with you."

Demona took Ophelia's claw in her own and pressed it against her abdomen.

"Ah, you see?" she asked, "That swelling there? And you probably can't feel it, but you are burning like a furnace!"

"Am I ill?" she asked anxiously, "I thought you said there was nothing wrong!"

"Not ill at all. I believe you are preparing for your first egg."

Ophelia's eyes widened in confusion and a little fear.

"My first egg?" she exclaimed, "But I…I don't understand. Why?"

"It is just your time. Most females have their first rookery summer about this age. You will bear a sterile egg this time, since you are not mated. Perhaps two eggs. Then, in seven summers, the cycle will begin again. Perhaps by then, you will have found the love that is meant for you and will be ready to give the clan children."

Ophelia dried her eyes, still looking a bit bewildered, but mostly relieved at Demona's explanation.

"Our mothers always taught us not to make any important decisions during our ovulation cycle. We have a tendency to regret it if we do," Demona told her with a soft laugh, "It was wise advice, though not all of us heeded it when the time came! Love sickness ran rampant in those days too. If you think we have it bad, you should have seen some of the antics of those young male warriors!"

"I wish I'd had a mother to give me such advice," Ophelia lamented, glancing across the patio at Goliath, "Before I went and made a fool of myself in front of him!"

"Don't give it another thought," she urged her, as she stroked the miserable girl's hair, "You are young, with a heart eager to love, and he was once the same. Truly, he understands."

"Will it hurt?" Ophelia asked her, "Bearing a sterile egg?"

Demona sighed, wishing to be truthful.

"The pain is worse for some than others," she admitted, "But you will have your sisters to help you through it."

"My sisters?" she repeated in confusion, "But they are all on Avalon!"

Demona looked at her with surprise, "I assumed you would wish to return to them now, since you see that Goliath is not meant for you."

"Oh, no!" Ophelia replied earnestly, "I wish to remain with you and return to the clan in Manhattan! It's true, I was hoping to win Goliath's love, but that isn't the only reason I wished to come. He'll still have me, won't he?"

"Of course, if that is what you wish," Demona assured her, "And I will help you when the time comes to bring forth your egg. And Linnet will be with us as well. She needs to learn herself. We won't let you go through it alone. I…"

Demona paused, her face suddenly dark and pained. The memory of enduring season after season of bearing sterile eggs during her time as a rogue stirred in her a long-forgotten sorrow. The physical pain had never been too much for her, but each barren season was a bitter reminder of the love she had lost, and she had no choice but to bear it in the solitude she herself had created.

"What is it, Adelpha?" the young one asked, concerned as the sudden change in her.

"I just realized that I made the same promise to Angela," she told her, "I worry about how much time she has left. Goliath is right. We must return to the castle soon."

Ophelia smiled at the name of her sister.

"I can't wait to see her! I miss her so much!"

"We could speak to her now, you know," Demona suggested with a sudden cheerfulness, "Come. Macbeth hasn't returned yet. Let's go in and destroy that man's phone bill!"

Ophelia looked a little hesitant at this violent-sounding declaration, but she rose and followed her to the sliding door. Goliath rose as well, giving Ophelia a warm, and reassuring look that finally convinced her that all was forgiven.

"How was that?" Demona asked him plainly and he nodded his head, saying,

"You have my gratitude."

"Keep it," she replied, a rare, genuine smile breaking across her face, "For a moment, it was as if I was well and whole again, just having a quiet talk with one of my own sisters as we always did."

"Ophelia is the daughter of our sister. It seems right for you to feel that way,"

"Does it?" she replied, her face falling, "But what right have I to speak to her so, when it is because of me that my sister can not?"

Goliath sighed, turning away from Demona to look up at the night sky.

"Your sister loved you, and you her," he told her, "Even when you would quarrel, your closeness was apparent. I think she would be just as happy to know you enjoyed a moment of wellness and wholeness as she would be to know that her child was guided with wisdom and love."

"Speaking of guiding children with wisdom and love," she quickly changed the subject, "Angela is nearing her time to deliver her egg and I made her a promise I will not fail to keep. We must return to New York as soon as possible."

"Xanatos is making arrangements now to fly Elisa and her partner here to interrogate Macbeth's henchman. When they are finished with their task, we can all return on his aircraft.

"Very well, " Demona agreed after a moment of thought, "But let it be understood that this mission is not over. I still have to use Felix's healing gem to break the spell. Furthermore, the situation with my three warriors is temporary. They will not be staying with the clan for any length of time."

"Understood," Goliath replied with a nod, but he seemed troubled by something that he was hesitant to mention.

"Well, what is that expression?" she asked suspiciously.

"Is there anything that can be done?" he asked in a low, hesitant voice, "To comfort you?"

"Comfort me?" she replied, "Why should I require comforting? I told you I don't need any token of gratitude for speaking with Ophelia…"

"I mean," Goliath interrupted awkwardly, "When your own ovulation begins. It can't have been easy, all that time alone. I don't wish you to suffer any more if there's anything…

"Don't concern yourself with that," she interrupted before he could go any further, "My seasons were all completed centuries ago. Perhaps the one single mercy the Weird Sisters ever granted me, was that when they restored my youth, they did not see fit to restore my fertility. It's for the best though, isn't it? Rookery summers are a great gift to the young who have the hope of love and the chance of new life before them. Without that, what good are a lot of lifeless, empty eggs?"

"None," Goliath agreed.

"Very well, then," Demona replied, thankful that such an awkward conversation did not need to occur.

Goliath watched her as she disappeared into the house. He reasoned that it should be a relief to him that rookery cycles were no longer a burden for her, but oddly, it didn't feel that way. He resolved that if it wasn't bothering her, he shouldn't let it bother him, particularly when there were more pressing issues for him to attend to.