By Anthony "Archangel" Zucconi

AZUCCONI@HOTMAIL.COM

Disclaimer: All Gargoyles characters property of Disney and Buena Vista Television.

Author's Note: this story is a sequel to The Morning After.

Previously on Gargoyles:

"It will take time for us to come to trust you again Demona. That in itself may be too much for you to bear but you have the chance to prove yourself. I hope you succeed."

Demona placed her hand on Michael's which she found on her shoulder. "I will succeed."

Goliath motioned to Michael, "I think some introductions are in order."

Demona said," Allow me to introduce Mr. Michael Archangel."

Michael stepped forward," Pleased to meet you, but before we get into my story might I suggest we go inside your going to need to sit down."

********************************************************************************

Everyone entered the gargoyles living section of the castle making themselves as comfortable as possible giving the circumstances. Michael and Demona took the small sofa on one side of a large coffee table. To their left on the large sofa sat Angela, Lex, Broadway and Elisa. Goliath took the chair across from them. Hudson turned his easy chair to face them. Brooklyn, however, remained standing by the wall. Even though he had to admit something had changed in Demona, he wasn't ready to relax his guard just yet.

When everyone was settled Michael began. "My story began about four hundred years ago in France. A clan of gargoyles was living near Paris, but their safety was diminishing. The humans in Paris were suffering through some hard times and would take it out on anything they could. The discovery of gargoyles provided an easy target for them to lash out at. The clan leader decided they had to leave. At this time the king was trying to find anyone who was willing to go to America to colonize the land France had claimed in the Mississippi River valley. The clan was only fifty strong at that time. The leader sent word to the king of fifty willing to go which greatly pleased the king. He provided the clan with a ship, supplies, and granted them land at the mouth of the river. That land makes up most of the state of Louisiana today. Well now they set sail for their new home. Some of the clan had previously taken to fishing which gave them enough skilled sailors to crew the ship safely. With nothing left for them in France, they set sail for their new home. Their new home turned out to be a hard place to survive. They lost ten males that first year, but in time they adapted to this place. That's where things got interesting. The clan met some of the local humans. They regarded the clan as gods. They also shared their secrets with the gargoyles. The clan learned that this land was filled with an ancient magic and in time they learned how to harness this magic. Magic became part of their lives."

The mention of magic caused worried looks to pass between Goliath and Hudson, but everyone listened intently as Michael continued.

"The clan was thriving, but not equally. After their first hundred years, the females outnumbered the males more then two to one."

This little bit of news caused Brooklyn to almost completely forget about Demona.

"You can imagine how the females felt. Some decided to share a male, but that didn't work for most. Then one female decided to take a human mate." This caused looks between Goliath and Elisa as Michael continued. "When she became pregnant many others followed including my mother. She had the most powerful magic of the clan and that magic attracted my father. She never knew at the time but my father was hiding a secret. When the eggs laid we found that the human/gargoyle eggs hatched immediately after being laid. That's when my father revealed his secret. He was no human, but the lord of the third race, Oberon, himself."

The entire clan gasped at once. Some out of surprise, but most out of anger. Michael's story continued.

"He tried to take me away from my mother. He said it was so I could properly learn to use the magic I had inherited from him. He didn't know that the combination of his and my mother's magic had given me more power then he could even dream possible. I also had the knowledge and wisdom to use it. I was not going to be taken from my mother when I had just entered this world, so I let my father know how I felt"

Brooklyn interrupted him, "You stood up to Oberon?"

Michael laughed and continued with a cocky grin, "No, a hatchling just out of the shell beat Oberon with enough force to discourage any further argument. Oberon knew I was more powerful then he dared face so he made a hasty departure but not before forbidding me from ever setting foot on Avalon."

This brought a sour look from Angela but she was speechless. Brooklyn, however, did speak. "If you were so powerful why did you take that?"

"I may not always see eye to eye with my father, but he is still my father. Besides I was where I needed to be. As the most powerful of the clan I, in time, became leader. The halflings also had some major advantages over the full bloods. One, we looked enough like humans to blend in with them. Two, we didn't turn to stone by day. That allowed us to protect the clan by day. In time, as our numbers grew, we started to take high places in human society. Places in government and business giving us enough control over the humans to ensure our safety. By now the Americans were coming into power and they would not regard us as gods but demons. We had to infiltrate their society to ensure the safety of our kind. By now we were over two thousand strong so we decided to spread out over America. The halflings that were mated and controlled major corporations took equal numbers of full bloods and relocated to different parts of America. The younger halflings in government went from local to federal. As time went on our control over America grew. Aided by our magic abilities we managed to get a controlling handle on this country without the humans ever finding the full bloods.

Then, a few years ago I received word of gargoyles sited in Manhattan. We have clans on Long Island and in Albany. Even some halfling operations here, but no full bloods live in large cities. We had discovered a new clan. We began observing your clan to find the best way to approach you. We noticed that you had violated our most sacred law. Gargoyle will not fight gargoyle for any reason. This had to be stopped. All of this violence bore from over a simple disagreement over dealing with humans. Demona, here, had been hardened by centuries of dealing with their violent nature. The rest of you never tried to accept her for who she had become. I knew she was where I had to start. I also had my own agenda.

As the son of Oberon, I was cursed with immortality. I had never taken a mate because I would have to suffer their death. Demona, being immortal as well made her the only possible mate for me. Also by ending her loneliness I could end her hate. I infiltrated her business and gained her trust. By now she had been made half human by Puck which fit in well with my plans. She could be this clan's halfling representative to the American clan giving her the position of leadership she desired without interfering with Goliath's leadership of the clan. It's a good deal all around. All I had to do is get you to accept her back in. That brings us to now."

The room was silent for a long while. Then, finally, it was Hudson who spoke. "Just how many gargoyles are therein your clan lad?"

"At last count we numbered over five thousand full bloods and close to two thousand halflings."

Now Angela spoke, "So many, how do you keep their existence secret?"

"Like I said, magic is a major part of our society. Simple spells of disguise and the full bloods can walk among the humans unnoticed."

"Could we use this spell," Lex asked?

"You're not trained to cast it, but if you like I could show you how."

Goliath stood, "We thank you for your offer, but we don't need to blend in with the humans if we must resort to casting magic spells."

"I would not force anything on you. It was only a suggestion."

"Is there a way to meet these other gargoyles," Brooklyn asked excitedly.

"By all means. In fact, most have already expressed an interest in meeting your clan. If you like, I can take all of you to a gathering of my clan in New Orleans."

"You would have us stop protecting our city," Hudson asked.

"Not stop, just take a little vacation. The city will be fine in the hands of the police for a while. Besides, I'm sure you could use the break."

"Perhaps you are right. We could take some time off of our patrols in order to meet some new gargoyles." Goliath agreed.

"Especially some female gargoyles," Brooklyn added.

Michael looked at Brooklyn with a grin. "My friend, remember to bring a large stick."

"Why?"

"Because you, being, second-in-command of this new clan, and being unmated, you'll need it to beat away the females."

"When do we leave?"

"I need a couple of days to arrange Dominique's, I mean Demona's schedule and arrange the transportation. How's Friday sound to y'all?"

"Friday will be fine, but how do you plan to transport all of us that far," Goliath asked.

"I'll have a plane sent to fly us down."

"Goliath, I don't know if I could go with you. I used most of my vacation time on our little journey around the world," Elisa said.

Michael spoke before Goliath could answer. "Detective, Captain Chavez will tell you she needs you to go to New Orleans for some reason, maybe to transport an extradited prisoner, I'll come up with something. You won't have a thing to worry about. You can travel on company time."

"Can you do that?"

"No problem. She'll have your ticket in your hand by Friday. Just get the clan to the airport when the ticket says and I'll take care of the rest. For now, though, it is getting late. We have a busy day tomorrow so we must take leave of you for the evening."

Michael and Demona stood to leave. The rest of the clan stood and followed. In the courtyard Michael gave Elisa a number to reach him and Demona for any reason. Then, after being silent for so long, Demona spoke. First to Goliath, "good night." Then paused and finished, "my brother," as she clasped his hand.

"Good night, sister," he answered bringing a happy smile to her face.

Then she turned to Angela, "Good night, my daughter."

Angela through her around her and said, "good night mother."

Finally Demona addressed the rest of the clan. "Good night my friends."

They all responded, "Good night."

With that Michael and Demona leapt off the wall and glided off into the night sky.

As they watched Brooklyn announced, "Things are about to get interesting."

EPILOGUE

As Michael and Demona flew home, Demona circled around him happily. She can along side of him and spoke. "So, just how long did you have this planned?"

"I put quite a lot of work into it. That doesn't upset you does it?"

"No, everything happens for a reason. I only wish to protect myself from being hurt again. Somehow, however, I feel safe with you."

"You always will be, but if you have any doubts, think of this. You are the only possible mate on this planet for me. I won't lose you. You and I are one, now and forever."