(no subject)

[reluctant_gargoyle]

It was, in fact, more opulent than her own wedding had been, but Elisa did not mind.  She considered herself a simple woman and at the time of her marriage to Goliath, luxuries had been few and far between.  But Angela, who had grown up hearing Princess Katherine's stories of royal weddings, was another matter entirely.  Besides, they had the castle now.  It would have been wrong not to take advantage of the splendor it offered.

Today, or rather, tonight, the castle played host to numerous guests, in addition to the Clan.  Derek, Maggie, Claw, and the clones.  Matt Bluestone.  Elisa's parents, Peter and Diane.  Xanatos and Fox.  And, of course, their numerous extradimensional friends.

Broadway, looking more polished and dignified than Elisa could ever remember seeing him, already stood before Goliath. Elisa stood next to him, holding their daughter, Hope, while the other members of the Clan sat in the front row of chairs.

And then, the music cued up, an old Scottish ballad, and Angela walked toward them.  Elisa and Katana had spent much time making certain that her hair, jewelry, and dress were just right.  Today, Angela looked even more beautiful than usual.

Oddly, Elisa found herself wishing Demona were here, real and flesh and blood, not forever locked in stone and placed out on the turrets of the castle.  In spite of her genocidal tendencies toward humanity and her outright murderous jealousy where Elisa was concerned, Demona truly had cared for Angela.  It seemed somehow wrong, then, that she would miss this, the most important day in her daughter's life.  That she could almost wish for the presence of the woman who had tried to kill her many times over boggled Elisa, but she brushed the thought aside as Angela took her place next to Broadway, joined her hands in his.

Goliath waited a moment and then began to speak.  "When we first arrived in this place, in this time, I did not think I would ever have again the pleasures of performing the mating ceremony for one of my Clan, least of all for my own daughter.  Nor later, when I was blessed to learn that the Clan's eggs had survived, did I expect to adopt the role of father, reunited though I was with the daughter I had never known."

He smiled.  "I am glad to have changed my mind and my ways.  Though I have known you for little more than a year, Angela, you have brought me great joy.  But now had come the time for you to give that great joy to another."

His gaze fell on Broadway who shifted only slightly.  "To you, my young friend.  I have known you nearly all your life, watched you grow from a child who used to steal snacks from the castle's kitchen to a young warrior who surely and well completed his rites of passage into adulthood and now, into the fine and thoughtful, responsible man I am proud to give my daughter to.

"Broadway," he said, "are you ready to accept the responsibility that comes with taking Angela as your mate?  Is your love for her strong and true?"

Broadway nodded.  "It is."

Goliath returned his attention to Angela.  "And you, Angela, are you prepared for those same responsibilities?  Is your love true and strong?"

"It is."

"Then here, before friends and Clan, it is my pleasure to formally recognize you as mates."

"Now's the time to kiss, kids," Elisa added.

There was much kissing to be had.

"And now," Goliath said, "we invite you all to join us inside, for a feast."

Comments

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

"Heh. That's right, isn't it? Oh, the stories I could tell when Kat was..."

He stops, suddenly, under the amused, but still somewhat threatening glare of his mate. "Never mind."

[harley-is-love.livejournal.com]

"Good stories, all of them I am assured." Harley offered his her hand. "Could you help me to my feet?"

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

Brooklyn took the hand in his own. "No problem, Harley."

[harley-is-love.livejournal.com]

"Thank you." Harley was able to get to her feet with ease with his assistance.

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

"No problem" he says.

"You are doing well, then, Harley?" Kat asks.

[harley-is-love.livejournal.com]

"Doing okay, so far. This will be a busy month for both Spike and I. And trying not to be stessed, since the doctor did not some problems. But luckily I will have another appointment before the wedding." Harley smiled.

"So just taking it one day at a time."

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

Kat nods. "I have some meditation techniques that may be of use to you, in reducing stress, if you are interested?"

[harley-is-love.livejournal.com]

"Ohhh yes, please. That would be appreciated."

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

"Then I will make sure you have them before you leave," she says, with a small smile.

"C'mon!" Nash insists, darting in front of them, quickly followed by Tachi. "You guys are too slow!"

[harley-is-love.livejournal.com]

"Your children are so beautiful." Harley smiled.

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

Brooklyn laughed. "Yeah. They're great kids. When they're not being enough trouble to make me wanna sell 'em to the zoo."

Nash stuck his tongue out. "Aw, you know they'd just send us back!"

[harley-is-love.livejournal.com]

"Well if you ever need a night off, I would be up to watching both of them."

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

"That would be most appreciated," Kat said.

[harley-is-love.livejournal.com]

"Anytime you need me. Just call."

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

"You've got it."

[harley-is-love.livejournal.com]

Harley dished up a large plate of food. "So, what it hard raising your children away from your family?"

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

"It was... a challenge," Kat concedes. "Gargoyles, at least those of the times Brooklyn and I are originally from, are not geared, culturally, for the idea of being parents to just one child. Children are reared by the whole Clan, each according to their means and willingness."

"It meant a lot of hands on training," Brooklyn adds. "And actually, we got a lot of help from some humans we met along the way."

[harley-is-love.livejournal.com]

"I know I am glad that I have the clan nearby, especially with this being a high-risk pregnancy." Harley touched her belly. While still balancing a plate of food with the other hand.

"You are all the only family I got."

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

Once plates were filled for themselves and their kids, Brooklyn and Kat quickly led the way to a stable, so Harley could sit.

"We'll always be here for you, Harley. You're as much a part of this Clan as any of us."

[harley-is-love.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That is why I am so glad Goliath offered to walk me down the aisle." Harley sets down her plate at an available spot and sits.

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

Kat nods, taking a small bite of her food--a bit of rice, in this case--before speaking.

"I must confess, I am looking forward to your wedding, Harley, out of curiosity, if nothing else. The last human wedding I was present for was several centuries ago."

[harley-is-love.livejournal.com]

"Well, it is not going to be quite a human wedding." Harley chuckles. "I am marrying Spike, after all."

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

"Spike's not human?" Tachi interrupts. "What is he? A Gargoyle? A Fey? A moose?"

"A moose?" Nash blurts out, giving her a funny look.

"It could happen," she insists.

[harley-is-love.livejournal.com]

"Spike is a vampire." Replies Harley, softly.

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

"Ooooh," Tachi says, seemingly impressed. She follows up with, "What's that?"

Kat gives her a "Mom" look. "You are being rude, little one."

"Sorry,"