Angry Young Gargoyle

by Christi Smith Hayden (cshayden@juno.com)

All Gargoyles characters property of Disney and Buena Vista Television.

All other original characters and plots are copyrighted 1997 by Christi Smith Hayden.

Story #11: Lex is back from Avalon and he's thisclose from losing his temper.

Angry Young Gargoyle

Monday

Tish wandered into the walnut paneled game room tucked behind the bar. It was one of the lesser explored yet intregal parts of the Rockaway club. The lights were turned down over the four pool tables, balls racked up, cue sticks lining the wall. A long strip of cork board was the back stop for a row of dart boards. The bearded master of the room sat sorting poker chips while the last regular in the entire place sat in the corner, idly tossing cards down in a game of solitaire.

"Hey, there." The willowy brunette dressed all in black sat down and patted his olive green hand. "It's closing time, Lex. Time to go home now."

Lexington looked up blearily. "Hey, Tish. Izzy let me a win a few games tonight."

Tish raised an eyebrow. Izzy shrugged, the minute movement causing a ripple effect in his mane of long golden hair. The thin man nodded to a row of bottles behind Lex. The gargoyle had been drinking a lot over the weekend. True, it had been Labor Day, but still Lex usually knew his limit. If Izzy had thrown a few games to Lex, it was because he knew winners were less likely to embalm themselves. One of Izzy's more valued skills was his almost eerie ability to sense another's pain.

"C'mon, Lex. I'll walk upstairs with you." Tish gently pulled him to his feet. She lead him past Gomez the bouncer and Theo the doorman as they swept the club, tossing odds and ends in the lost and found box. Gomez kept an eye on them but as long as Lex never put the moves on Tish, the bouncer wouldn't touch him.

The green gargoyle wasn't as drunk as Tish first thought; in her professional opinion, he was just a little staggery from sitting too long. He yawned several times on the way up. "Can you make it home, Lex?" Tish asked. "I can always call one of your brothers to come get you."

Lex sighed. "Don't bother. They're busy." He wandered out of sight and stripped down to his loincloth, zipping his shirt and jeans up in the backpack he kept on the roof. "See you around."

Tish watch him flying off towards the Eyrie Building before returning inside. Izzy was sitting at the bar going through the box with Gomez.

"Here's one for your collection, Isadore!" Gomez said, mischief written over his dark Latin features. He held up a black lace bra.

The hairy gamesman raised an eyebrow and said in his squeaky, seldom-used voice. "Now, cousin, what would I want with the empties?"

The bouncer turned his heavy-lidded gaze to Tish. "What about you? It's your color."

"I don't think so. I'm a bit flat-chested for that."

He waggled his eyebrows at her. "Maybe you'll grow into it."

Tish rolled her eyes and laughed at him.

Izzy pointed at the ceiling. "What's with the garg boy? He hasn't been himself."

"I don't know." Tish frowned. "I wish I knew what it was. Lex disappears all summer and now he's majorly bummed."

Gomez yawned, giving them a rare glimpse of his overbite. "Whatever it is, Tish, we're not butting in. If he wants to talk, he will."

Most of the alcohol was burned out of his system by the time Lex made it back to the castle. It had been good to see Tish and the gang. He knew he'd had one too many drinks but under the circumstances he felt justified. The last week had been absolute torture. Goliath and Hudson had spent an entire night grilling him on refusing the mating flight and now whenever they were in the room, he could feel their disapproving looks following him. He had drawn double patrols for the next three nights afterwards. Brooklyn finally intervened and got Goliath to cut him some slack.

His rookery brothers were busy with their mates, not that Lex begrudged them that happiness. Brooklyn had taken the travelers aside and told them of the Weird Sisters' visit and Avery's accident. It had been difficult patrolling with only three gargoyles and even though Avery was fully recovered, they had all been taking turns staying at the castle with her. The little hybrid gargoyle was pretty before but her pregnancy made her glow, she was so beautiful. Avery threw Lex into a big hug the first time she saw him and he was grateful for her friendly gesture, even when the baby kicked him.

Hudson was still in his chair, snoring away with Bronx at his feet. Noiselessly, Lex went into the spare room to put up his back pack and toss his clothes in the hamper. He was usually careful about not messing them up but he always reeked of smoke after spending any time in the game room. It was the only place where smoking was allowed at the Rockaway.

Lexington took a quick look at the eggs, nestled in soft flannel in individual wicker baskets. Josh had been going through Harcourt's notes and had determined the eggs were within a year of hatching. It was no wonder the Quarrymen met such resistance from the few gargoyles defending the nest. The short green gargoyle knelt and stroked the speckled purple surfaces, talking to them soothingly. The eggs rocked in response to his presence as if they were glad to see him.

He got on the computer to check his E-mail. Still nothing from Tina and it had been a week. He frowned and drummed his fingers on the mouse pad. A thought occurred to Lex and he nipped over to one of Tina's favorite websites. The new season of "Deep Space Nine" started tomorrow night and Tina was sure to get on the chat line to kibbitz with the other Trekkies.

Tina had been on the chat line earlier in the day, arguing with somebody about Ferengis. Lex smiled at her responses as he fingered her St. Christopher medal he still wore around his neck. It was almost as good as hearing her voice. He got on and typed in:

TINA -- Got back from Avalon. Something's wrong with my Email. I'll be here tomorrow night if you want to talk.---LEX

He posted it and waited until he saw his entry go up. He crossed his fingers and went off to find something to eat.

Tuesday

Lexington went straight to the computer after dinner. He frowned. The computer was already on. He checked his E-mail. One or two generic mails sent by the server but still nothing from Tina. He went to the web site and grinned like a maniac. There were four or five identical entries spaced out since three-thirty that afternoon.

LEX!!! Welcome Home!! Waiting for you--Tina.

Rapidly, Lex typed in his response.

Tina -- Been dying to hear from you. How's school? --Lex

A few minutes later, Tina came back.

Lex! School's fine. My brain hurts! Got your Emails. Didn't you get mine? -- Tina

Tina -- No Email from you. Gonna try something. E me again and we'll see what happens. Missed you A LOT. Still Single! -- Lex

Lex --YAY!!! Still single here too! Fat lot Goliath knows, huh? Big dork, took me forever to teach him to use the computer. --Tina

Lexington raised his eyebrows in surprise. Goliath on the computer? He started to type a question when Tina came back.

Lex -- Almost showtime. Will send long Email later, okay? So glad you're back! XXXOOO Tina

Lex contacted his server and changed the password on his account. Avery came in, waddling slightly. She smiled at him.

"Hey, Lex! Did you get ahold of Tina?"

"Yeah, I found her on a chat line." He followed her into the spare room. Avery went into the closet, Lex still couldn't make himself think of it as a rookery, to check the eggs. He leaned against the door frame and asked, "Did you see anyone in here earlier? Somebody turned on my computer."

"I saw Goliath coming out of here but he had a book under his arm." Avery was on her knees turning the eggs. She was wearing black pants and an large white shirt. It was a funny sight because her stomach and the eggs were almost the same size. She smiled at him. "I think they're coming along nicely, don't you?"

"They're very active," Lex commented. "They seem very happy."

Avery sat back on her heels and laughed. "I will never get used to y'all talking about the eggs like that! Goliath reads to them, Hudson takes one out with him when he watches TV, Bronx sleeps with them, and I caught Brooklyn singing lullabies to them."

Lex grinned. "That'll put them off singing."

"My relatives aren't much better. Dennis wants me to put a radio in here so they'll grow up to be musical gargoyles." She patted the eggs affectionately. "Oh, that reminds me. Dennis is coming to town. He's been doing arrangements for a new band. They're going to do some new songs he's written and his agent is bringing some record company people to hear them."

"Dennis has an agent?" Lex asked incredulously.

"Yeah, he did it over the summer. Nina started Pre-K this year, and I think Dennis is tired of being on the road so much. He thought he'd give songwriting a try. He's always been good at it," Avery said. She tried to get up but couldn't quite manage it. She looked at him and sighed. "Lex, would you mind?"

The green gargoyle came in and heaved her up. "Here you go," he said cheerfully. Lex heard the other gargoyles in the main room. "Hudson must be besides himself these days. Eggs in the rookery, and you full of egg yourself."

"You have no idea," Avery laughed as she leaned against his arm. Lex escorted her out and Hudson promptly jumped up.

"Here now, lass. Are ye all right?"

Avery and Lex looked at each other and bit their lips. "Oh, I'm fine," she said. "Don't fuss over me."

Brooklyn grinned and came over to take his mate from Lex. "Fussing over you is the number one pastime in this castle." He wrapped his arms around her, rubbing his cheek on the top of her head.

Lex slipped away from the expectant couple. He patted Hudson on the shoulder and said quietly, "I'm going on patrol."

"All right, lad. Goliath is up on the tower talking to Elisa but he and Broadway should be along to join you."

"Okay, if they ask, tell them I'm taking the west route." Lex knew Hudson liked to feel useful so he had been making an effort to make the old gargoyle involved, like the desk sergeant at the police station. The fact that Hudson had lightened up a bit on the big mating flight issue since Lex had started doing it made it worth the trouble.

The fact was Lex was feeling left out again. He rather liked helping Avery out now that she was entering the awkward phase. The feeling of someone needing him, he thought that's what he liked most about it. He actually resented Brooklyn when he came in and took over even though Lex knew it was a mate's duty to care for an eggbound female. It was only a matter of time before the whole thing would start over with Broadway and Angela.

Lex was tired of feeling this way, jealous and envious of his brothers. He came out on the battlements, preparing to take off on his patrol route. Down below in the courtyard, he saw Goliath and Elisa engaging in a moonlight tryst. The young gargoyle slipped into the shadows and watched. It was sometimes hard to think of his stoic leader as being tender and loving but occasionally, there were these moments when the lavender gargoyle was caught simply acting like a male in love. Lex watched them a few moments longer, feeling his suppressed resentment build. Finally, he slunk off to the far side and left on patrol.

 He did a fly-by of Times Square, looking for some criminal activity. Maybe busting a few heads would take off the edge. It had never bothered him much before, but watching Goliath and Elisa earlier, holding each other, whispering sweet talk in hushed tones, kissing--it made his blood boil. The more he thought about it, the more Lex thought Tina was right; Goliath had sent him to Avalon to split the two of them up. He didn't think Goliath was so hypocritical as to separate him from Tina because of their species; Goliath's own relationship with Elisa was proof against that.

He spied a couple of tourists being trailed discreetly by three street hoods and followed. When a convenient alley opened up, the muggers made their move. Lex put his own problems aside and went to work.

Lexington came back into the gargoyles' suite with a lighter heart and a bounce in his step. He was carrying a sandwich and can of Coke. He set them down while he turned his monitor back on.

Hudson looked over at him interestedly and turned down the late news. "You're in a good mood, lad," he commented.

"Three muggings, a couple of break-ins and a carjacking," Lex said around a mouthful of sandwich. "I guess the crooks want to get their last licks in before the weather turns cold."

"Aye, there'll be a nip in the air soon enough."

Bronx stood up, shook himself and nudged the old gargoyle's hand, whining.

"What, again?" Hudson raised an eyebrow. "Broadway brought you back only an hour ago."

Bronx whined again and padded to the door and back again. He cocked his head and looked pitiful.

Hudson sighed and switched off the TV. "Looks like you've got the room to yourself, lad. If anybody asks, you know where we'll be."

"Have nice walkies," Lex said absently, punching up his E-mail program. He put in the new password and jumped back. There were twenty messages waiting for him, all from Tina. The first one in the queue explained it all.

"Lex,

Since you say you never got any of my Emails, I went through and re-sent all the ones I've written from June on. Some of them are kind of soppy so feel free to trash 'em if they make you yak!

Love, Tina."

Lex smiled and turned on his printer. He selected them all and printed them out in hard copy while he read along on the screen. A lot of them were just Tina talking about her day, what was happening, and other trivia. Lex didn't mind. He could hear her soft Southern accent in his head and it was almost like she was there in the room. He read them all through but he kept coming back to one entry.

"8/1/97 -- 20:23

AUUUGH! Goliath makes my teeth hurt! I was up at the castle today because Avery and I went to the movies this afternoon. I hung around to say hello to everybody and see if there was any news. Of course, there wasn't. But Goliath asked me if I would show him how to use the computer. Seems he wants to send love notes to Elisa or something. Anyway, it took me FOREVER to pound the basics into that big melon of his. Whatever Elisa sees in him, it's not above the neck! (Below the belt, maybe! Ha!)

Anyway, he decided he had to have a heart-to-heart with me. How when you came back from Avalon, things might be different between us. Hint, hint. Finally, I'd enough, rolled back the chair, and tromped off, right over his tail. (evil grin) He yells almost as loud as you do!

*sigh* I remember the last time you yelled. I wish Mom and Hudson had waited just a little bit longer. I don't know about you, but it would have been my first time and for it to have been with a friend, someone like you that I really care deeply about, well, it would have been so special. I guess I just have to wait to find out.

Still missing you something awful.

Love, Tina."

Lexington leaned back in his chair, smiling to himself. He leafed through the hard copies until he found that page. He folded it up and stuck it in his belt pouch next to the letter Tina had left for him. The rest of the papers he locked in his desk drawer. He chewed his lip while he tried to compose a suitable response. He wanted to be romantic but not too anxious.

"Yeah, I wish they had waited too. When I was on Avalon, I dreamed about it. Your skin was warm against mine and you were in my arms and...it was a great dream. I'd give anything to have you in my arms right now. It's not so much that I'm lonely but that everybody seems to have someone, even Owen and that has been the strangest thing of all. I'm not used to a happy, cheerful Owen even if it's only when Natty's around.

Goliath and Hudson are unhappy with me. They really gave it to me the second night I was back. They think something's wrong with me, that I've lost my gargoyle self, as Goliath puts it. If he gives me the 'This is the Gargoyle Way' speech one more time, I'm going to scream. (I can't step on his tail! If I did, I'd go through the wall! Count your lucky stars you're a human girl.)

Hudson thinks maybe I was too young to fly a female. Yeah, right.

I could have flown the gargoyle of my choice. I just chose not to. I wish I could explain better. Maybe the next time we see each other, I'll have it figured out.

Love, Lex"

He jumped when a large hand landed on his shoulder. He looked up. "Oh, hi, Goliath."

The lavender gargoyle was looking around the room. "Where's Hudson?"

"The park. Bronx had to go walkies." Lex set his message up to send.

"Would you mind checking on him please?" Goliath rumbled. "There's a storm coming."

"Yeah, it was kind of windy earlier." He got up from the computer desk. "Be back in ten minutes."

As soon as Lex was in the hall, Goliath looked at the screen. The message was still sending. He reached over and maneuvered the mouse delicately between massive talons and selected CANCEL. He frowned at the machine before turning away to sit in the corner chair with a book. He stared at the same page for a long time, brooding.

Wednesday

His computer was missing. Lex stood there in the doorway, mouth hanging open. He stumbled in, staring at the blank space where the hard drive used to sit. Everything was as he left it the night before. He checked his drawer. It was still locked and when he looked inside, all the hard copies were still there. He shut them back up and locked it, muttering under his breath.

They had awakened to Owen waiting for them with a message from Elisa, asking them to meet her uptown to take care of a hostage crisis. Goliath and the Trio had the situation under control within minutes of their arrival and had returned to a hearty supper. Lexington had been in a very good mood, looking forward to Tina's response to his note of the night before. To walk in on this, it was like a slap in the face.

The monitor and keyboard sat on the desk lifeless. Lex sat down and twiddled with the end of the keyboard cord. "I don't get it," he mumbled to himself. "What's going on?"

Angela and Avery came in, heading for the eggs. The blonde hybrid looked at him and frowned. "Lex? Are you all right?"

He looked up blankly. "My hard drive is missing. Somebody took my computer."

"I overheard Father telling Owen that something was wrong with it," Angela said. "Perhaps he has it."

Lex jumped up but Avery spoke up before he took a step. "Wait! Natty and Owen had a date tonight. They won't be back for hours. There's no telling what Owen did with it."

The green gargoyle sighed and followed the females into the spare room. "I don't get this. Why would Goliath think my computer needed fixing? He knows I do all the work on it myself." He paced outside the closet door. "All I've done to it recently is change the password to the E-mail program."

"Maybe he tried to use it and couldn't get in," Avery suggested as she turned the eggs. "He used your computer a few times while you were gone. Elisa went on an undercover job and that was how they kept tabs on each other."

Angela paused with one of the eggs in her arms and frowned. "No, I don't see how that's possible. Father told Owen right as he was leaving tonight and I was out waiting for Broadway when everyone returned. We all went to dinner together and Father stayed to talk with Hudson afterwards. He didn't have a chance to check the computer tonight."

"He came in while I was using it last night," Lex said. "He knew it was running fine then because I--" He froze. ...because I was writing Tina. He felt his eyes burn.

"...I think maybe Goliath sent you to Avalon to find a proper mate, a gargoyle girl."

"But Goliath asked me if I would show him how to use the computer .... it took me FOREVER to pound the basics into that big melon of his."

He didn't think Goliath was so hypocritical as to separate him from Tina because of their species; Goliath's own relationship with Elisa was proof against that.

The low growl building in Lexington's chest burst forth as a full-strength snarl. He ignored the startled looks of the females and tore out of the gargoyles' suite. He barreled past Brooklyn and Broadway in the corridor on all fours. The kitchen doors slapped loudly as he slid across the floor.

Hudson looked up where he was loading dishes into the dishwasher. "Here now, lad. What's the matter?"

"Goliath," Lex ground out. "Where is he?"

"Outside, but what--"

The sound of the swinging doors were the only answer the old gargoyle received.

The scent led Lex out across the flagstones, past the grassy courtyard and over the wall. The traces of the lavender gargoyle were dispersed amongst the millions of smells wafting over Manhattan. Lex dug his talons into the crumbling stone as he stood there, hunched over as his anger washed over him.

"Damn you, Goliath." He threw back his head and roared. "Damn you to hell!"

He had to get out of here, blow off some steam. Lex checked his belt pouch. He had some cash. The web-winged gargoyle headed for the Village.

Most clubs were closed during the mid-week rut. The Rockaway, on the other hand, was busiest place on the block. It was the bartender's night to shine and the drinks were two-for-one and one for all. The party was in full swing by midnight and showed no signs of slowing down.

Tish loved these nights when the old place was rocking with a neverending party. Things were hot and heavy in the balcony, the dance music was pumping away downstairs, and the pool tourney was in full swing. Izzy had a couple of Canadians with the funniest accents Tish had heard in a long time pitching darts. The door to the game room opened and she could hear a loud, cheerful voice call out, "Good shot, bye! Give us a turn, hey, Bonnie!"

The stairwell door opened as she passed. "Psst, Tish!"

The willowy brunette peered around the door. She looked the green gargoyle over. "You're a little underdressed, aren't you, hon?"

Lex gave a impatient sigh. "Please, Tish. I'm having the suckiest night of my life." He did look unusually out-of-sorts.

"Okay," Tish said. "Let me go see what's in the Lost and Found and I'll be right back."

A few minutes later she was back with a pair of black sweatpants and a long-sleeved T-shirt. "If you like, I've also got a three-piece suit somebody left in the men's room."

"You're kidding," Lex said as he retreated into the shadows to put on the clothes.

"Nope, nice suit too." Tish laughed. "The weirdest thing we ever found was an artificial leg. Of course, if we didn't notice a naked guy, why we would pay any attention to somebody hopping around on one leg?"

Suitably dressed, Lexington sauntered into the singles meat market of the balcony. He hadn't been up here in a long time, usually just passing through on his way to the dance floor with Tina. He leaned against the railing, looking down but not really looking at anything, just remembering the few times he took her here, the bands they'd listened to, the way it felt to have her swaying in his arms in a slow dance.

Tish tapped his shoulder with a bottle of beer. "You really look like you could use this," she said, "but I'm warning you, I'm cutting you off at two. Beer is not going to cure whatever it is that's bugging you."

He sighed and looked at her ruefully. "Thanks, Tish."

"Hey, Lex. Long time, no see!"

The green gargoyle shook himself out of his doldrums long enough to notice Ramona and Sasha sitting at a table nearby. "Ladies," he said politely and raised his beer bottle in salute.

Ramona wasn't satisfied with that. The tall auburn-haired girl jumped up and grabbed him by the arm, dragging him to their table. "C'mon, Lex. Sit with us. Where've you been all summer?"

"Yeah, baby. Tell us all about it," Sasha chimed in, flicking her long braids over her shoulder. "What did you do on your summer vacation?"

"Oh, I went to a mystical island populated with gargoyles and other magical creatures and when I got back, my whole summer was gone." Lexington took a long draw on his beer. "It sucks to be me."

"Bummer," Ramona said. "My mother was busy trying to set me up with some son of a friend that happened to be a doctor or something. He was dead from the waist down, if you get my meaning."

"You got it, girl," Sasha agreed. "Why do your parents do stuff like that? It's my life, I should be the one to pick who I want to have in it."

Lex scowled. "Yeah!" He tossed the rest of his beer down. "Damn Goliath anyway!"

"Who's that?" Sasha asked. "Your father?"

"No, but he acts like it sometimes." He looked at the empty bottle. "I was dating someone but she went off to school and now he's trying to keep us apart."

"Well, you know what they say, Lex," Ramona said, brushing her fingers across his back. "If you can't be with the one you love, then love the one you're with."

"I don't know, Ramona." Lex smiled ruefully. "That sounds like trouble."

"I've got it!" Sasha got up. "I'll be right back." She was back in a few minutes with three narrow glasses of a clear liquid. There was a bright blue flame coming from the surface of each beverage. "Voila! The Wednesday night special!"

Lex drew back skeptically. "What is it?"

"Oh, you don't mean you've never had a Pugsley?" Ramona took hers and blew out the flame, giving off the aroma of burnt sugar. Lex and Sasha followed suit and they clinked their glasses together.

As the warm liquor went down his throat, Lexington reeled under the alcoholic rush. The closest he could come to describing the taste was cotton candy with a hint of Crown Royal. It made his toes tingle.

"Mmm, cinnamon," Ramona said dreamily.

"Mangoes and cream," Sasha commented

"Cotton candy." Lex looked at the glass. "Are we all drinking the same thing?"

"Oh, yeah." Ramona propped her head on her hand. "Pugsleys are the weirdest drink in Manhattan. He mixes them up in a punch bowl, lights them and for some reason, they taste different to everyone that drinks them. Bartender has this real complicated explanation for it, says he's made a scientific study of the human taste buds or something." Her elbow slid on the table and she giggled. "I've never listened to him sober."

Lex dug in his belt and came up with a twenty. "I'll buy the next round if one of you ladies will order them." He rolled his eyes. "Tish has got me on a leash."

Sasha giggled. "You and Gomez and most of the men in here."

Hudson looked at the younger gargoyles gathered in the suite. "Where's Lexington?"

"Don't know," Brooklyn said from the couch where he sat with his arm around Avery. "We were just talking about him. Did you know that Goliath had his computer taken away?"

"Whatever for?" Hudson asked, sitting down in his chair. "I know he's been disappointed in the lad but that seems a bit extreme."

Avery frowned. "This is way out in left field," she said almost timidly, "but do you think Goliath's trying to keep Tina and Lex apart?"

The old gargoyle didn't answer but looked very troubled.

"Hudson?" Angela knelt by his chair. "What is it?"

"I can't say, lass. 'Tis not my place to go against the wishes of the leader."

"Why?" Avery asked. "Can't he see that it's hurting both of them?"

"I'll talk to Goliath." Hudson sighed. "I think I know what he's thinking but perhaps he's going about this the wrong way."

"You did WHAT with your tail?" Ramona asked, hazel eyes dancing.

"The dirty tail trick. That's what we call it. *hic* Here, I'll show you." Lex rolled over on one hip in his chair and unwound his tail, pulling the end of it out on the table.

Sasha screamed. "Auugh! Lex, put that thing away!" She hit the table with her knee, making the pile of overturned glasses in the center jingle.

"Aw, don't be that way." Lex stroked his tail like a pet cat, making the end twitch back and forth. "This is a girl's best friend."

"You don't mean that you can, you know," Ramona leaned towards him, "do the deed with it?"

Lex cast a sly look around, made a circle with finger and thumb and proceeded to demonstrate while the girls watched in wide-eyed fascination and squealed. He nonchalantly held the top of the sweat pants open and dropped his tail back in. The green gargoyle selected one of the beverages available on the table and had a drink.

Ramona scooted over next to Sasha. "Are you thinking what I am?"

"Girl, you are a freak." Sasha chewed the end of an acrylic nail. "Still, that was very ... interesting."

"Flexible, prehensile, and most importantly, unloaded. The ultimate in safe sex." Ramona giggled. "So, what do you think?"

Sasha counted the glasses on the table. "We bought ten Pugsleys. I had one, you had two, Lex..." They looked at their table partner. He was staring into space, moving his glass in time to the music. "Lex is in La-La Land," Sasha concluded.

"Perfect!" Ramona looked around. A couple was slipping into the stairwell and both of the antique phone booths had their windows steamed up. "Rats, all the good spots are taken."

Sasha glanced over the rail at downstairs. The long-haired games master was at the bar talking to the bouncer. "Pool tournament is over."

"That'll do." Ramona bounced out of her chair. "C'mon, Lex. Let's have some fun." She dragged the gargoyle down the stairs.

Tish came out of the office and looked the place over. The crowd was finally thinning out. She sat in a corner and began to tally up the drink orders. All in all, a highly profitable night. The bouncer wandered by and stopped, never taking his eyes off the crowd.

Gomez leaned over and said in Tish's ear, "Something screwy's going on. I just checked at the bar. Sasha and Ramona are buying Pugsleys but I never see them drinking them."

"That is odd." She flipped out her order pad. "Uh, oh. Lex's been buying nothing but Diet Coke and club soda."

"Diet Coke?" Gomez raised both eyebrows. "I thought he said all that aspartame gave him a headache." He started looking around. "Where is Lex anyway?"

An ear-splitting whistle caught their attention. Izzy took his fingers out of his mouth and began gesturing at the game room door in his unique form of sign language. The most prominent sign was a pumping forearm motion.

"Oh, damn," Gomez said as he pulled the fire extinguisher off the wall, "Somebody's boinking on the pool table again."

The phone rang in the gargoyle's suite. Broadway answered. "Hello?" He listened intently. "Lex was doing WHAT? With his...nevermind, I've got the picture. We'll be right there."

Brooklyn looked up from his New York Times. "What's up?"

"You're not going to believe this," Broadway said, hanging the phone up. "We've got to go pick up Lex at the Rockaway. Tish says he's too drunk to fly home."

Lexington blinked at the bright lights above him. He was laying on something hard and fuzzy. The last thing he clearly remembered was showing the girls his tail. He sat up, moaning a little as the room swam in circles around him.

"Hey, Garg boy!" Izzy's squeaky voice pierced through the fog in his head. "If you're awake, get off my pool table. Never fails, they always go for the newly re-felted ones, I swear, mumblemumble...." The games master's voice drifted away in a high-pitched grumble.

The floor reached up and grabbed his feet. Lex stumbled a bit until he reached the nearest chair. "What happened? What am I doing down here?"

Gomez came in, a darker expression than usual on his face. "Ramona and Sasha were in here having their way with you. Izzy walked in on it before they got you completely stripped down." He and Izzy sat down on adjoining chairs. "We gotta know," Gomez began, looking around. "What was that thing with the tail? We've never heard girls make sounds like that!"

Izzy nodded his shaggy head vigorously and looked on interestedly.

Lex held his head in his hands and moaned, "I wish I knew! I don't remember any of it!" He was suddenly aware of being clad in only his loincloth. "Did I enjoy it?"

Izzy whistled and made drinking motions.

"Yeah, I think he's been playing with the formula on the Pugsleys, too."

"Maybe they just react differently on gargoyles," Tish suggested as she walked in. "Sasha said it was the first time he's ever had them and he had seven."

"Seven?" Izzy squeaked. "A quart of Pugsleys in your gas tank will get you all the way to New Jersey!"

"Did you get the girls taken care of?" Gomez asked.

"Cabbie just took them home. They're both on one month probation. No access to the club." She came over and lifted Lex's chin. "And you, my little green drinking machine, are banned for two weeks. Your brothers are coming to get you."

He looked at her blearily. "Ahh, that's nice."

"I think I'd better help you haul him upstairs," Gomez said, standing up. "You get out on the floor and keep an eye on things, Iz."

They managed to get the green gargoyle to the stairwell discreetly enough but halfway up, Gomez's pager went off. He checked it. "Uh, oh. Situation at the front door."

"I can handle Lex. Go on." Gomez was almost to the first floor by the time Tish had finished speaking. She shrugged. "Guess it's just you and me, sweetheart." She hung Lex's arm over her shoulders and helped him up the stairs.

Brooklyn and Broadway circled in for a landing. A willowy figure in black waved at them as they descended. "Evening, Tish," Broadway called. He noticed the quirky tight smile on her face and the minute shaking of her shoulders. "What's wrong?"

Tish wiped her eyes on the back of her sleeve. "Oh, Lex has had quite a night. First, he gets drunk, then Izzy catches him on a pool table with two naked girls and just now," she giggled and leaned against the big blue gargoyle's shoulder. "Well, there's this snooty assistant D.A. that's forever coming around to hassle us about something, the morality committee, or threaten us with the A.T.F. for the bartender's microbrewery in the basement or here lately about letting you gargoyles party with us." Tish grinned. "She and that white bread cookie cutter man of hers parked their BMW right next to the alley and well, Lex did have a LOT to drink tonight!" She hung on to Broadway's arm, laughing.

"Oh, swell." Brooklyn looked around. "You don't mean he--"

"Oh, yeah and I don't think their sunroof was sealed very good. It couldn't happened to more deserving people!" Tish looked towards the front of the building happily. "I hope it eats right through the paint job."

Lex staggered out of the shadows, with a dopey smile. "See? Fat lot Goliath knows. I can so make human women happy."

"You certainly can, you little green fountain, you!" Tish reached out and tweaked his cheek. "I could just kiss you!"

"Oh-kay!" Lex reached out and gave her a big, sloppy kiss.

Unfortunately, Gomez had just come out of the stairwell in plain sight of the proceedings. His heavy eyelids opened wide, revealing bulging headlight eyes and he bared his teeth in a gap-toothed maniac grin. "That's it, garg boy. You're toast!" He jerked Lex off his feet by his tail and prepared to hurl him off the building.

"Adam Anthony Gomez!" Tish shouted, arms held stiffly at her sides. "You let go of him right now or it's the couch for you, mister!"

"No problem." Gomez ground out through his teeth. He released Lex at the height of his swing and watched the drunk gargoyle cartwheel through the air.

Brooklyn swore and dove after him, catching Lex a few feet from the dumpsters in the alley below. He shot a dirty look at Gomez as he soared up, heading for the castle.

Broadway looked at the bouncer. "Was that really necessary?" he asked pointedly.

"There's only one rule I make no exceptions on," Gomez said, smoothing out his jacket. "Nobody touches my wife." He gave Tish a little smile.

The willowy brunette attempted to act mad but found herself scowling with a smile. "Well, it's a good rule." She threaded her arm through Gomez's. "Lex is still on probation, no access for two weeks. I told him but he's not real coherent right now."

"I'll remind him," Broadway said. "Thanks for calling us."

"Hey, that's what friends are for," Tish said. She and Gomez watched the gargoyles flying away.

Angela and Hudson looked up as the Trio walked into the room. Well, Brooklyn and Broadway walked, Lexington was more or less draped between them going through the motions and giggling.

"Good Lord, lad!" Hudson exclaimed. "What th' devil have ye done to yuirself?"

"Don't ask," Brooklyn said disgustedly. "Halfway back he decided he wanted to do his own flying and I almost didn't catch him."

"Lucky for you he splattered himself on that billboard," Broadway said. "Otherwise, he'd be all the way into Connecticut by now. He kept going on about following the north star and stuff."

"And straight on till morning!" Lex said suddenly, lurching into a chair. He sat there giggling, arms and legs sprawled out limply.

Brooklyn shook his head. "First he goes running through the castle on rampage and now this." He looked at the old gargoyle. "You and I both are talking to Goliath about this. Is he back yet?"

"I didnae think so," Hudson answered, easing out of his chair. "But you're right, lad. It's a bigger problem than I thought if Lexington is willing to do this to himself."

"We swung by Elisa's on the way," Broadway said, "and nobody was home. Maybe he's following her on patrol."

"Well, let me check on Avery and grab my police-band radio, and we'll go find him." Brooklyn stalked off, tail slashing the air.

They could hear voices out in the corridor and Owen and Natty came in, apparently back from their date. Owen was in spotless evening wear and Natty was in a tea-length burgundy dress, dark hair pinned up in a serpentine coil. They eyed the inebriated gargoyle.

"What led this on?" Owen asked curiously. "His computer only needed a good cleaning. It was going to be returned in the morning."

"It's a bit more complicated than that," Hudson sighed and he left the room.

"Where was he drinkin?'" Natty asked. "Just out of professional curiosity, y'understand?"

"We picked him up at the Rockaway," Broadway answered.

Natty took a big sniff of Lex's breath and stood up quickly, eyes watering. "Whoooeee!" She fanned her face. "He's been drinking Pugsleys!'

"You can tell just by the smell?" Broadway asked.

"That and you did say he was drinkin' at the Rockaway. The bartender there came to one of our Professional Bartending Society meetings with a bucket of Pugsleys once." Natty shuddered. "None of us remembers what happened afterwards but I know I went to the meeting wearing matching frilly feminine underthings and I woke up the next morning wearing plaid boxer shorts."

Owen had a distinctly Puckish expression on his face. "And you call me a fun date," he said impishly. "Seems we should have skipped the opera and gone pub-crawling instead."

"Oh, no. I like to be fully awake while I'm having fun, thank you very much." Natty pursed her lips and regarded Lex thoughtfully. "Well, I can't just leave him with all that raw alcohol in his system. Owen, I need to use the office bar."

"Very well, my dear." Owen left their coats on a chair near the door and followed her out.

Avery shuffled into the room in her robe and slippers, hands on the small of her back. She looked at Lex and made a face. "Good God, I thought Brooklyn was exaggerating."

Lex giggled and pointed at her footwear. "Lookit the bunnies. Here bunny-bunny-bunny!"

Owen and Natty returned, with Xanatos following behind with an interested look on his face. Natty was holding a tall glass with a vigorously fizzing dark liquid in it. She smiled at Lex and held it out to him. "Hey, sugar! I mixed you up a little chaser for all those drinks you had earlier."

The green gargoyle looked at her blearily. "Is it good?"

"Oh, it's terrific. It's a Keith Richards cocktail, y'know, after one of the Rolling Stones." She kept smiling as he took it and chugged it down. "Owen?" she asked as she carefully started backing away.

"The bathroom door is open and the path is clear," Owen replied. "As you requested, darling." He put his arms around her as she backed into him and asked quietly in her ear, "What's going to happen?"

"One of two things and I like to be prepared for both." Natty held her nose.

Lexington's eyes went wide and he BELCHED. It could be heard echoing all the way down the hall. The smell was indescribable. Avery abandoned the room at that point, hand clasped over her mouth. Lex smacked his lips, blinked a few times and as a sickening awareness crept over his face, bolted for the bathroom. There was several minutes of noisy retching.

Broadway grimaced and shut the door. "What was in that thing?"

"I didn't see all that she put in it," Xanatos said cheerfully, "but I know the main ingredients were Tabasco, Alka Seltzer, Folger's Crystals, and Pepsi."

Everybody stared at Natty. She shrugged. "Hey, It's a Keith Richards cocktail, the morning after drink of college students everywhere."

"Well, he's slowing down," Broadway said with his ear to the door. "Whoops, my mistake. Now he's heaving body parts."

"When Lex finally stops, put him in a warm tub for an hour or so and let him soak," Natty said firmly. "It'll help the hangover."

"Are you sure?"

"Hey, a good bartender knows how to get you drunk and," Natty grinned, "how to cure you the next day."

Voices in the next room woke up him up. The water around him in the bathtub had cooled to almost body temperature and a wet towel was draped across his eyes and forehead. Lex vaguely remembered Broadway putting him in there and the incredibly vile taste in his mouth reminded him of what had occurred immediately before. He wished he had the energy to brush his teeth.

The voices seemed to be arguing. Lex didn't care what the topic was, he just wished they'd stop yelling. His head was throbbing enough as it was. The door opened and Brooklyn came in. He sat down on the edge of the tub.

"Hey, Lex. How do you feel?" the red gargoyle asked softly.

The green gargoyle sat up slowly, rippling the water. "Like the inside of my head's being re-upholstered." He cast a look to the door. "What's all the yelling about?"

"Disagreement over management policies," Brooklyn said lightly, but with a tight expression. "You're in for a long talk with Goliath, but it'll wait till tomorrow. Dawn's in about fifteen minutes." He reached in and pulled the plug. "I'll help you out to your perch."

Lexington groaned as his brother pulled him out of the tub. "Aw, just hit me with a hammer, will ya?" He dried off and made a futile attempt at dressing. "Ow!" he yelped as he jabbed himself in the webbing with his belt buckle.

"Give me that. This reminds me of the old rookery days before you learned to dress yourself." Brooklyn chuckled as he threaded the belt through Lex's webbing while his brother held the loincloth in place. "Next time you get an urge to drink, do it here so one of us can talk you out of it."

"No problem." Lex got a death grip on Brooklyn's shoulder as they walked slowly out to the battlements. "I'm not touching another alcoholic drink for a good long time!"

Thursday

Goliath swooped down from above before any of the clan had time to disperse. "Broadway," he said, "I would like you and Angela to take Bronx to Riverside Park. Elisa and Matt have a missing person case that requires a sensitive nose. Time is of the essence. A small child has been lost since this afternoon."

"We're on it," the big blue gargoyle replied and easily picked up Bronx, gliding off with his mate.

"Goliath?" Brooklyn asked. "Shouldn't we all go?"

"Elisa has more than enough help. Bronx has abilities beyond mere bloodhounds. We shall follow later." He looked at Lexington who was rubbing his temples. "I would like you and Hudson to be present while I talk to Lexington."

They followed the lavender gargoyle into their quarters. The computer was back in its place, everything connected and plugged in. Lex sat down in his chair and rested his hand on the hard drive. His memory was a little fuzzy after all the drinks at the Rockaway but one thing was burned indelibly in his mind. "Why'd you do it, Goliath?" the green gargoyle asked.

"Tina is a lovely human girl but you need to think of the clan."

"The clan?" Lex felt his lip curl up into a snarl. "Do you do think of the clan when you're with Elisa or how she makes YOU feel?"

"Elisa and I are different."

"No, it isn't." Lex felt his eyes burn. "I never get drunk when I'm with her. I'm never lonely when I'm with her. Even on Avalon when I could had my choice of any female gargoyle, all I wanted was Tina. What is so wrong with that?"

Goliath finally turned and looked at him. "Do you know how many web-winged gargoyles there are in the world?"

Lex was taken aback. He thought a moment. "A couple on Avalon, Brentwood and me, that I know of."

"Exactly. I traveled the world, met many different kinds of gargoyles but your type is almost extinct. If you do not take a gargoyle mate, you might very well be the last of your kind. Brentwood is only a clone and his genetic makeup is less than perfect. We won't know if the pair on Avalon will breed true in our lifetime, time passes so differently there."

"This is the real reason you were upset about the mating flight," Lex said with a sigh. "You thought I'd bring a mate back."

"I hoped you would. I know your love of technology would bring you back to the real world and you are clever enough to be quite persuasive." Goliath looked at Hudson. "We had high hopes for you."

"Aye, lad. We don't mean to belittle Tina, she's a grand, clever girl but Avery was a miracle that even science cannae explain. There's no guarantee that you'd even bond with Tina much less breed together." Hudson flipped his remote over in his hands nervously. "I've had a word with her mother and while she isn't of the same mind, she would much rather you two stayed friends rather become lovers. Tina is still very young."

"I can't frigging believe this," Lex said finally. "This is ridiculous." He glared at them. "This is MY life you're talking about here."

Brooklyn sighed. "For what it's worth, Lex, I agree with you. It's your life. It's your choice. You can choose to follow the ways of the clan and find a suitable mate or you can choose to do what you think is right for you but you need to make up your mind." He got up and headed to the door. "Don't leave Tina just hanging. You owe her that much."

"Wait up, lad." Hudson rose from his chair. He stopped by Lex and put a hand on his shoulder. "Think hard about it, Lexington. Do you really want to be the last web-winged gargoyle?"

Goliath watched the future and the past leader depart. "I owe you an apology. What I did with your computer was wrong but when you came back from Avalon alone, I cannot describe how disappointed I was. I was hoping that by making it seem that she had lost interest in you, you would give up your infatuation with her."

"Infatuation?" Lex felt the corners of his mouth turn down in disgust. "Infatuation? Don't you think I know my own heart? Just because I'm the smallest and the youngest doesn't mean I'm stupid!"

"I have never thought you were stupid," Goliath said haughtily. "You would have never made warrior as soon as you did if you were. However, because of your behavior recently, you have castle duty tonight." He strode from the room.

"Yeah, well, up yours too," Lex muttered as he switched on the computer. He started to get his E-mail a few times but kept thinking about what the others had said. He was staring at the screen when Avery came in.

"Doesn't that hurt your eyes?" she asked as she passed through.

"Hmm?" Lex blinked and realized how painfully dry his eyes had become. Rubbing them, he followed her to her nightly egg-turning.

Avery gave him a curious look as she rotated the eggs in their baskets. "Are you feeling better tonight?"

"So-so." He sighed and slumped against the door. "I don't know what's going on any more."

The blonde gargoyle leaned against the wall. "Lex, are you happy?"

He frowned. "No."

"I've noticed even before Avalon, you've been kind of, I don't know, unsettled. Sometimes humans your age go through the same thing, y'know, just don't know where they're going. All they know is that they've gone as far as they can where they're at and that it's time for something else, a new challenge."

"What did you do when you were my age?"

Avery smiled. "I went away to college and became roommates with Natty." She laughed. "Now that was a challenge!" The pregnant gargoyle started trying to get up but Lex was there to help her before she had a chance to ask. She took the opportunity to give him a hug. "You're gonna figure it out sooner or later," Avery said as she let go of him. "Don't worry about it so much."

Lex sighed. "I hope so. I'm tired of feeling this way."

Friday

Piano music lured the gargoyles away from the kitchen. Brooklyn and Lexington looked at each other and said simultaneously, "Dennis."

Avery was laying on top of the vintage Steinway with a large pillow propping her up. Dennis was playing some classical piece, a very relaxing, soothing tune. He looked up at them, grinned and finished up. He reached up and patted his cousin's tummy. "Now, that was Beethoven. Bay-toe-ven. Can you remember that?"

Avery rolled her eyes and laughed weakly. "Dennis, you are so odd."

Brooklyn walked up, chuckling. "What are you two doing, re-enacting a scene from 'The Fabulous Baker Boys?'"

"Oh, yeah." Avery tried to sit up and failed. "Can't you see my stunning resemblance to Michelle Pfeiffer?"

Dennis leered over the keyboard at her. "Honey girl, if you were Michelle, I'd be on you like a duck on a June bug." He smacked his lips. "Yum, yum!"

"But seriously," Avery said, "Dennis thinks there needs to be more musical gargoyles in the world."

"So voila! Professor Bishop and his Prenatal Music Appreciation Class!" The piano player began improvising around a ragtime tune. "This is Spike's grandson, after all. He's bound to be musical."

"Well, whatever that is you're playing, it's making the baby kick."

Dennis promptly stood up to have a feel. "Yup. He's got big feet, don't he?"

"Dennis, I wish you'd stop that. We don't know if it's a boy or a girl."

"Whut?" He blinked. "Have I or have I not correctly predicted the sex and closest delivery date of every baby born on the ranch? I'm tellin' ya, this is my musical nephew you're toting around in here."

Brooklyn perked up. "Oh, yeah?"

Avery gave her mate a sour look. "Brooks, don't get him started."

"Oh, hush, cuz." Dennis looked thoughtful while the surface of Avery's tummy moved under his hands. "Hello. He's turning. Here's the head. He's got horn buds."

"Oh, please, Dennis!"

"Calves are born with horn buds. I damn well know what they feel like."

"DENNIS!"

Her cousin put his long-fingered hands back on the keyboard and went back to playing. He winked at her and started to sing with a definite Texas twang:

"Oh, Mommas don't let yer babies grow up to be cowboys,

Don't let them play guitars an' drive them old trucks.

Let them be doctors and gargoyles and such.

Mommas, don't let yer babies grow up to be cowboys.

They'll never stay home and they're always alone,

Even with someone they love.

Cowboys like dusty old pool rooms and clear mountain mornings

Gargoyles like flying in the wind and blondes in the pale moonlight.

Seems to me, they're a whole lot like us.

So, if yer out ridin' th' range and sumpthin' flies by in the night,

Chances are it's a lonesome gargoyle and there's nuthin' to fear

Give him a howdy and invite him down for a beer!

Oh, Mommas don't let yer babies grow up to be cowboys,

Don't let them play guitars an' drive them old trucks.

Let them be doctors and gargoyles and such.

Mommas, don't let yer babies grow up to be cowboys.

They'll never stay home and they're always alone,

Even with someone they love."

"Man, Dennis, you are a piece of work!" Brooklyn said as he slid Avery off the piano. The hybrid gargoyle was too busy laughing to do more than drape her arms around his neck.

"Hey, it stopped her yellin' at me, didn't it?" Dennis shut the lid on the keyboard and stood up. "Hey, Lex! How's it hanging?"

"Don't ask."

Dennis raised his eyebrows. "Yow, surly, depressed, bachelor gargoyle. Even worse than you said, cuz." He shrugged. "Ah, well. Lex, you're coming with me. I have a big surprise for you."

The giant doorman at the Rockaway blocked the door. Dennis looked up at him in surprise. "Hey, Theo! What's the big deal? I'm with the band, you know that."

The big man blinked slowly and rumbled, "You're in. He's out."

"What for?" Dennis demanded. "This is Lex! He's a regular!"

"Probation."

Dennis ran a hand across his face and turned to Lex. "Boy, whut did yeuw do t'get busted in here?"

The green gargoyle sighed. "I got plastered on Pugsleys, was caught on a pool table with two naked girls and I kissed Tish."

"Good God!" Dennis exclaimed. "And you're still in one piece? Was Gomez sick that night?" He sighed. "Look, let us come in the lobby. I want to talk to the boss. Okay?" He gestured at the curious passerbys. "I'm not gonna leave him out here."

"Errrr," Theo grumbled while he considered the idea. He had taken one too many flying headbutts during his long career as a professional wrestler and higher thinking took a while to process. "Okay," he said grudgingly and opened the door.

Gomez saw them instantly from across the dance floor and flashes of his silver and black striped suit jacket could be seen moving rapidly towards them through the crowd. Tish shot down the stairs just as her angry husband reached them. Dennis read the warning signs and got in front of Lex.

"Hey, Tish, Gomez," Dennis said pleasantly. "Band setting up?"

"Oh, they're here all right," Gomez said. He glowered past Dennis at Lex. "Garg boy's on probation, he's outta here." He turned his back on them.

"Uh huh." Dennis offered his arm to Tish. "Madame Proprietor, I should very much like to have a word with you and your significant other, if I may." He looked back at Lex. "You stay right there."

They went into the office. Tish and Dennis took seats around the desk but Gomez stood by the door. "Look, I really need Lex to see this band tonight."

"He's on probation," Gomez said bluntly. "Two weeks non-entry for first offense. You know the rules. I wanted him banned for life but Tish wouldn't let me."

"I think I've got a cure for what's been ailing him," Dennis said. "And she's singing in the band."

"I don't know, Dennis." Tish crossed her arms and leaned back in her throne-like rattan chair. "There was a girl he was really serious about and I think he's missing her a lot."

"Yeah, I know. It's just, this girl is uniquely suited for Lex and I think the minute he sees her, he'll know it." He looked at Gomez. "Look, if Lex acts up or picks a fight or so much as looks at Tish cross-eyed, I'll let you break my fingers." He held out his hands. "On my word as a native son of the Lone Star state."

Gomez and Tish exchanged a look. "Dude, busting your fingers would be like putting a brick through the big stained glass window down at the cathedral. Are you feelin' all right?"

"Yeah," Tish said. "You're looking a little outta sorts yourself, Dennis."

"Nah," he said, brushing it off. "I've just been traveling too much. After tonight, I'm going back to the ranch and sit on the porch swing with my baby girl. I really want to make this work for Lex, though. Just this one night, okay, Gom? If it works," Dennis grinned, "he'll be too busy to come back and bother you."

There was a knock at the door and Isadore Thomas, the games master came in. "Hey, Cousin," he said to Gomez in his squeaky voice. "Did you know the garg boy was out front?"

"He's with Dennis," Tish answered. She looked at Gomez. "Special dispensation, for tonight only."

His eyes flared open but Gomez agreed. "Tonight only." He gave Dennis a hard look. "You're responsible for him."

"Hey, I can wrangle horses, cattle, and sheep. Managing gargoyles is a snap. Thanks a lot, you guys." He left the office.

Izzy got a curious expression on his face as Dennis left and stared after the musician long after the door closed. "Something's wrong," he murmured.

"Cousin?" Gomez asked.

"It's probably nothing," the thin man said, shaking his long, golden hair around his shoulder. "But I've got the weirdest feeling that the piano man's luck is running out. Strange."

Dennis picked up Lex and led him to a table near the stage. "You've got a special arrangement for tonight only so you'd better behave yourself," he said as they sat down. "I told Gomez he could break my fingers if you screw up."

Lex blinked. "You're kidding. Dennis, why would you do a thing like that?"

"Gomez needs to be impressed with sincerity sometimes," the musician said with a shrug. "'Sides, I really want you to see this band. I helped them out with their stuff and they've really come a long way since they got their new singer in July. She's got an amazing voice."

The show started almost an hour later and the most of the tables by the stage were filled. A new band attracted as much attention as one of the Rockaway regulars. The curtain went up and revealed an underwater scene. The stage was lit softly with rippling colored lights. Oversized seashells and clear bubble-like balloons littered the floor. The band, three guys and two girls, all dressed in light, watercolor clothes, a shocking contrast to the darkness of the club.

The first song started. Synthesizer and guitars merged into a backbeat for a soprano sax to weave a haunting melody around it. A unique tone began to echo the sax's tune and Lex noticed he wasn't the only one looking for the mystery instrument. In the back of the band, a muted spotlight came on, back-lighting what had appeared to be merely decorative curtains. Behind the layers of translucent material, a silhouette became visible. The concealed person lifted a microphone and began to sing.

Words could never describe that voice. Lex could only think of singers that vaguely hinted at it. She had the soft sultriness of Sade but the eerie range of Annie Lennox and the edge of Melissa Etheridge. Her accent was unusual, giving the lyrics an almost unearthly quality. With each song, another piece of fabric would fall to the stage, revealing tantalizing glimpses of the songstress.

The last sheer curtain dropped as the singer reached the crescendo of the last song and stepped into the spotlight. Lex felt his jaw hit the table. The owner of the exotic, hypnotic voice was an aquamarine female gargoyle. She was small, slim and walked with sinuous grace to the front of the stage. In place of a brow ridge was a pair of fin-like 'eyebrows' that flexed with her inflections. They served to accent the large oval turquoise eyes. She was bald save for a curly torrent of white hair at the nape of her neck like the crest of a wave. Her costume was cape-like collection of diaphanous gauzes that both concealed and left very little to the imagination. Lex swallowed.

Dennis leaned back in his chair, his hand half-hiding his smile as he watched Lex's reaction. The green gargoyle was barely breathing and he was perched on the very edge of his chair. He nudged Lex. "So, what do you think?" the musician asked impishly.

"Where did you find her?" Lex asked back, not taking his eyes off the singer for a second.

"I was down at South Padre Island with a bunch of friends that were trying to get a new band together. They had the sound but not the right singer. We were sitting on the beach, jamming on some new tunes I'd just wrote and suddenly, there was this voice coming out of the surf. It was like pure sound, no words, just echoing the music. We played for two hours before she crept into the firelight."

"She was alone?"

"There had been a big tropical storm off the Yucatan peninsula," Dennis said. "She had been swept into the Gulf of Mexico and was resting up to swim back when she heard us."

"She swam, not flew?" Lex shot Dennis a puzzled look. "Are you sure?"

"That's what she said. You'll understand when you meet her." He smiled slyly. "You do want to meet her, don't you?"

"Yeah!" Lex resumed staring at her. "The others will want to meet her too."

On stage, the band was finishing its set. The club erupted with applause and Lex found himself jumping to his feet cheering with everybody else. Gomez came on and had the entire band take a bow. He took the mike. "Weren't they great, ladies and gentlemen? Our opening act tonight, Aquarius!" Another round of applause ensued. The bouncer offered the female gargoyle his hand in a very courtly gesture and she allowed him to lead her out to center stage. "Featuring the song stylings of the one and only Marina!" She lowered herself into a graceful curtsey.

The curtain began drawing shut and the performers disappeared into the wings while hurried moving sounds began back stage. Gomez gave the house a tight-lipped smile and announced, "There's going to be a brief pause while we change sets for our headliner tonight, from the big island of the North Atlantic, Great Big Sea!"

Lex only vaguely heard the announcement. He was too busy following Dennis backstage.

"Hey! Great Show!" Dennis called as he entered the dressing room. "Next time you play here, it's gonna be as the main act!"

"The question is, Denny, is how'd your agent like it?" asked the lead guitarist as he put away his instrument.

"I clean forgot about that." Dennis stopped in his tracks and blinked. "Y'know, I reckon I'd better go check on that. This is Lex," he said as he headed back out front. "Keep him out of trouble, will ya?"

The guitarist eyed the gargoyle. "Please tell me you speak English?" he asked in a pleading tone.

"Well, yeah..." Lex leaned on an amplifier. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Her highness, the diva," he thrust a thumb at the curtained-off side of the room, "only speaks Spanish."

"She sang in English."

"Marina has one hell of a memory," the guitarist admitted grudgingly. "The songs are about all the English she knows."

Dennis reappeared a few minutes later, beaming. "We're a big hit!" he announced loudly. "Tomorrow we've got an appointment at the record company!"

The band members gathered around Dennis as he went into more details for everyone. Lex hung back against the wall. He became aware of someone else also standing apart from the crowd.

Marina had changed into a white linen caftan with blue and purple Mexican embroideries accenting the neck and sleeves. She had an intricate headband of tiny seashells and one large teardrop pearl dangling between her eyebrows. Delicate spiral seashells served as earrings on her bat-winged ears.

Lex caught her looking at him from beneath lowered eyelids. He smiled and wondered what she thought of him. He didn't look very gargoyle-like in the dark green fatigue sweater and jeans, although it was one of Lex's favorite outfits.

Dennis came over and spoke to Marina in Spanish. She answered him speaking rapidly with a curious accent and gestured at Lex several times. Finally, the female gargoyle nodded and followed Dennis over to Lex.

The Texan's blue-gray eyes twinkled. "I think I've got her curiosity up. She says she'd like to meet the rest of the clan."

Lex smiled at Marina. "I know they'd like that." He pointed at himself. "I'm Lexington of the Manhattan clan. Welcome to New York."

She peered at him warily, standing partially behind Dennis. She pointed at herself and Lex found himself staring at her long-fingered webbed hands. She tapped her chest. "Muh-rrree-nah! Marina, aquagoyle del Mejico."

"Ah-kwah-goyle?" Lex raised an eyebrow. "What does she mean?"

Dennis laughed and started herding the two gargoyles to the door. "It's what she calls herself. It's an interesting story, Lex, and everyone might as well hear it at the same time."

Marina kept Dennis between her and Lexington all the way from the club in the taxi cab to the trip up in the elevator. She seemed suitably impressed with Wyvern Castle from the ostentatious grandeur of the Great Hall to the tour of the grounds. Lex had run ahead to gather the clan while Dennis showed her around.

"A new gargoyle, lad?" Hudson asked, smoothing out the front of his tunic. "Why didn't Dennis say anything earlier?"

Avery laughed from her seat on the couch next to Brooklyn. "It's just the way he is, Hudson. Dennis has always loved a good surprise."

"Well, you're in for a treat," Lex said from the spare room where he was changing out of his clothes. "I know I was surprised."

"Esta la sala de los gargoyles," Dennis was saying as he entered the room. Marina paused on the threshold and stared.

Goliath stepped forward and introduced himself. "I am Goliath, leader of this clan. Please, be welcome in our home," he said in a pleasant rumble.

Marina hadn't moved, had barely even breathed. Her complete attention was riveted past the gargoyle leader. The others looked at each other, puzzled. Before anyone could react, Marina's lip curled in a snarl and she was across the room in a split second, pinning Angela against the wall.

The Spanish-speaking gargoyle uttered her first English word.

"Demona."

One of Marina's webbed hands completely enclosed Angela's head, her intradigital membrane effectively cutting off the lavender female's air supply. None of Angela's attempts to free herself seemed to affect the smaller newcomer; Marina was far stronger than she looked. Broadway immediately tried to put a stop to the attack but Marina spit a yellowish slime at him, hitting him directly in the face.

"That's it!" the big gargoyle bellowed. "Let go of my mate!" Broadway barreled in but froze in mid-swing with a horrified expression on his face. He toppled over like a living statue.

"No, Marina," Dennis said calmly as he walked slowly towards her. "Se llama Angela. No esta Demona." He took hold of her wrist gently and began trying to force her back. "Por favor, Marina. Angela es mi amiga." He pried his long fingers under the webbing, making an airway.

Marina breathed deeply of Angela's scent and frowned. She rattled off a spate of angry Spanish. Dennis retorted back something just as rapidly and just as angry. The aquamarine gargoyle suddenly released Angela and stalked away.

Dennis eased Angela to the floor and Avery was there as quickly as she could move in her condition. She looked at her cousin while she checked Angela's vitals. "What th' hell was that all about?"

"Beats me. Normally I tape her when she talks that fast. All I know is Marina is royally pissed at some puta named Demona and for some reason, she thought Angela was her."

"Demona is Angela's mother," Goliath said as he joined them at his daughter's side as Angela began to cough and sit up. "There is a small resemblance."

Avery turned her attention to Broadway. Brooklyn was already there. "What is this stuff?" he asked and started to scrape it off but Avery stopped him.

"Don't touch it! It's some kind of paralyzing agent, like venom, maybe." Avery looked towards the spare room. "Lex!" she shouted. "Bring me the medkit in the big orange tackle box. Dennis, find out what she's done here."

Dennis gave Angela a reassuring smile and went across the room. "All right," he said in Spanish, "What did you do to him, Marina?"

"He startled me," she said defensively as she glanced at the big gargoyle. "It is not fatal. Clean it off and he should recover within the hour. He is aware of everything. He is merely unable to move."

"'Merely unable to move?'" Dennis crossed his arms. "Why didn't you tell anyone you could do this?"

"Why else would I refuse to kiss people? I'm poisonous to anyone but another aquagoyle." Marina wiped the corners of her mouth delicately with the edge of her sleeve. "It is a common hunting technique amongst those of us who are of the water. The cliff dwellers have never been capable of it."

Dennis sighed. "I know you've been moody and irritable lately but this was NOT the kind of impression I wanted you to make on my friends."

"Yes, yes, I realize that," she answered impatiently. "We shall ride this wave for as far as it shall take us. Do not worry so much."

"Marina says she's sorry," Dennis said as he knelt by Broadway. "He startled her. That stuff is some sort of poison they use for hunting."

"Like snake venom?" Avery asked as she carefully scraped the viscous excretion into a ziploc bag with gloved hands. "I'll save this for Josh. What does this venom do?"

"Just paralyzes him. She says he's perfectly awake." Dennis patted Broadway's arm. "It's gonna be okay, dude. It was just a misunderstanding. She says after you remove that goo, he'll come around on his own in an hour or so."

"Well, this is quite a surprise you brought us," Avery commented as she cleaned the blue gargoyle's face meticulously with a cotton pad and alcohol. "A singing, neurotoxin-spitting gargoyle and what's with that dialect? That's the funkiest Spanish I've ever heard. I could only get about half of it."

"She comes from somewhere near the Yucatan. Her everyday language is some kinda slang mix of Indian dialects, Mayan and Spanish. Her English is pretty much confined to song lyrics but I think she knows more than she lets on." Dennis rolled his eyes. "Marina's got a huge ego. If she can't do it perfectly, she won't try it until she can."

Angela settled on the couch and Goliath manhandled Broadway on the opposite end. The big blue gargoyle's limbs were beginning to relax and he was blinking. Goliath motioned to Dennis. "I want to know precisely what provoked her to do that and what exactly Demona had to do with it."

The Texas musician dug around in his jacket until he came up with a small cassette recorder. He relayed the questions to the aquamarine gargoyle. She regarded the human a few seconds, then walked solemnly up to Goliath.

"Lo siento, el jefe." She bowed her head and added several other Spanish phrases.

"She says 'I'm sorry, leader,'" Dennis translated. "Her anger at Demona got the best of her."

"Demona has that effect on people," Goliath said bluntly. "How did Marina met her?"

Marina pursed her lips and began speaking, pausing occasionally for Dennis's translations.

"It was in the summer storm season that she appeared in a small wooden boat reeking of spoilt fish. We thought perhaps she was a cliff dweller caught out in daylight so we towed her to the nearest land."

"Hold on," Hudson interrupted. "What does she mean by cliff dweller?"

"We of the water--aquagoyle--live in the islands and coastal caves, hunting and swimming in the ocean." Marina extended fully her long-fingered webbed hands, fanning them through the air like swimming strokes. Her feet were likewise modified, webbing between the long toes. "My people long ago took to the water but we have always kept ties with the cliff dwellers, like you, that keep to the high places on the land. We help each other so when we found the blue-skinned female with red hair, we thought nothing of it." She looked up with fiery scarlet eyes. "The more fools, we."

"We took the Demona, she called herself, to the nearest cliff dweller place but it was in ruin. Smoldering fires, sleepers pounded to rumble, stinking blood stains everywhere, it was truly terrible. But la sala de huevos -- the rookery -- it was empty. We were uncertain as to the exact number of eggs, but there should have been at least a dozen. It was a large colony and some of the eggs were aquagoyle as well."

"You don't keep your own rookeries?" Avery asked.

"Yes, we do, on secluded islands far from land but occasionally if a female is caught away from the rookery when the time comes, the cliff dwellers are more than happy to make room in their egg-laying places. We keep their eggs as well and it has always been a bond between us." Marina sighed and turned away for a few seconds, then continued the story.

"The Demona was enraged at the attack. She spoke most eloquently of vengeance and retaliation against the humans. Our elders disagreed, wishing to confer with the next nearest colony. Demona accompanied us there and the cliff dwellers reported seeing dark flying things," Marina frowned, making a rotating gesture, "Whump-whump-whump? Heel-lee-oh-kop-terrs?"

"Helicopters?" Brooklyn suggested.

"Si, flying over the jungle near the destroyed colony. There has been much unrest amongst the humans of the area, much unhappiness but the natives have always known to leave all of us alone. The Demona argued for attacking the humans but the elders refused. They did not think it was any of the local militantes, ragtag groups of rebels. The West Coast colonies have been dealing with them for years and their groups are much more hostile than ours on the East Coast. They have never been interested in us, they are too busy killing each other and the elders said as much. She would not listen to them." Marina crossed her arms and a black look came over her face.

"Somehow, some way, Demona made her way to the militantes camp in the daylight, a thing that still seems impossible, and killed many of them. It was only a training outpost, most of the humans were no more than children. She slaughtered them like pigs and left them for the adult rebels to find. Those of us roosting at the cliff dweller colony nearby woke up to Hell. The Zapitas were setting fire to the underbrush all around the cliff base to smoke us out and firing at those who flew out."

Marina's voice rose angrily. "It took us three hours to enlarge a narrow tunnel so we could get the eggs and hatchlings to safety. Many lives were lost needlessly. We spied on the humans, learning of a mysterious red-headed attacker. The trackers trailed her to the sea and we aquagoyles pursued her even though we could sense the weather changing. I was with two others when we caught up to the wooden boat. The Demona laughed at us and her laughter was all that was left when the mists swallowed her up, just as a terrible storm hit. We tried to make for shore, a coral reef, some safe nook for the day. The waves threw us apart and I was lost." She shut her eyes. "I turned to stone not knowing how deep under the water I would awaken or where I was or where my companions would be. I woke up alone, in unfamiliar water, miles from home."

She looked at Angela. "I promised myself if I saw the Demona again, I would kill her. I realize I acted in haste and I am truly sorry for my error."

"I accept your apology," Angela said quietly. "It's not the first time I've been mistaken for my mother."

Dennis brought Marina a glass of water and he stood there with her, sipping from his own glass. "I came across her down at South Padre Island, near the Texas/Mexico border. She was in the surf, listening to a bunch of us jamming on the beach and started singing. It took a while but she eventually came up to the campfire and joined us. She's been on tour with Aquarius since July and it's surprising how audiences have responded to her. We tease the people along, a little peek here, a little peek there, and by the end of the set when we reveal the big secret, that the incredible voice they've all been hearing is coming from a gargoyle, well, that really doesn't matter so much. All the audience knows is they have entertained like they never have before." He smiled and clinked glasses with Marina.

Goliath looked thoughtful. "How many gargoyles are there where she comes from? She mentions colonies on both coasts."

Dennis relayed the new questions. Marina flexed her eyebrows nervously and looked unsure. Finally, she stammered out, "Of the cliff dwellers, there were three colonies of between twelve to twenty gargoyles in our territory. There were two on the West Coast that we knew of and a larger group to the northwest in the Sierra Madres. There is a vast canyon system there, very deep, steep walls. The Aquagoyles, our numbers vary. We do not gather in one place, but school together at certain seasons -- for breeding and egg-laying and to raise hatchlings. There were at least fifty at the last gathering." She sighed. "I won't be there when they next meet. I will never find my way home again."

Lex reached up into the book shelves over the computer desk and took down the atlas. He looked up the section on Mexico and brought it over. "Maybe this will help," he suggested, opening the book to a map showing the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

Marina looked at the map interestedly and started to trace the outline of the Mexican coast with a delicate talon. She flicked her eyes towards him and froze. Her turquoise eyes opened wide as she looked Lex over methodically. She actually walked completely around him, taking it all in, a little