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Disclaimer: I do not own nor make any profit off of Gargoyles. It belongs to Cartoon Network, etc. I also do not own 'How You Live' by Point of Grace.
A/N: Originally based on the song 'How You Live (Turn Up The Music)' by Point of Grace, but the overall plot has expanded a bit. The song is only a small part of the story as a whole. It is essential that you listen to the song once before you read the story, though. This follows the events of the episode as closely as possible, but with the addition of some “extended scenes”, so to speak.
How You Live
Elisa stood ahead of the two Canmore siblings, watching the clan disappear through the shattered window and up to the roof upon her suggestion to leave.
"I don't understand..."
From behind Elisa came Robyn's voice, filled with all the awe and incredulity the detective had felt the first time she'd been saved by Goliath and heard his tale. "He risked his life to save us all?"
"That's what he does," Elisa answered the unasked question the only way she knew how, glancing back at the blonde woman with a grave look. "That's who he is."
Demands from the police chopper outside the cathedral fueled fear in Elisa's heart. Those fears multiplied tenfold upon hearing subsequent shooting and the dark-haired woman stared up to the ceiling, wishing there was something she could do and praying for the safety of the clan... and the one she loved. Veteran police detective she might be, but at that moment Elisa Maza stood merely as a woman worried for her family and beloved.
"Come on." Robyn's voice became gentle, but firm. "We can't do anything here. And Jason needs help fast."
Such a simple statement evoked a reaction from Elisa like nothing else could have in that loaded moment. The eldest Canmore had saved her life. Elisa wasn't about to let Jason down when his own life hung in the balance.
"Let's go." The toughness and command of hard years spent in public service returned to Elisa. "We came in an ambulance. It's still waiting out front."
The next few hours passed in a blur for Elisa as she helped arrange Jason's stay in the hospital, attempted to help Robyn think up a suitable defense for the court, and worried herself half to death over the clan. Elisa had failed to even speak with Jason personally since he woke.
Xanatos' appearance in the hospital - barely a few hours after Elisa had left the church - almost ruined the night.
It wasn't until the often-villainous man took Elisa aside and told her the clan had been safely transported to the castle that the detective finally relaxed. For once in her life, Elisa actually felt more than happy to have David Xanatos around. He had a cover-up story for Jason and Robyn that sounded impenetrable even from the worst angles. After giving Elisa the most vital information she could ask for, Xanatos talked to the doctors and Jason and made nonstop phone calls which left Jason with an almost limitless amount of money and support backing his recovery.
Three heavy burdens had lifted off Elisa's shoulders with the appearance of her once-constant enemy.
Elisa found herself almost wanting to forgive Xanatos, even for what he'd done to Derek.
Of course, 'almost' could never be the real thing. Xanatos had yet to be proven as a truly apologetic man in Elisa's eyes. Everything Xanatos did for Jason, Robyn, the clan.... all could benefit him in some way - if he was actually pulling strings somewhere.
For the moment, however, Elisa willed herself to wait and watch.
Amidst getting everything settled with the Canmore siblings, Elisa amazed herself by not even flinching when she accepted Xanatos' offer of a ride back to temporary police headquarters. Robyn came as well, taking the passenger seat in front of the limo - presumably to have a little time to think on her own. The ride remained silent on Elisa's end; more because Xanatos remained glued to his phone in order facilitate what damage control he could, rather than because of any lingering animosity between them.
Matt waited at the doors and Elisa realized Xanatos must have called and informed her partner they were on the way. Elisa hadn't noticed being so out of touch so as to have missed that particular conversation. For the time being, the detective resigned herself to such feelings.
Another couple of hours passed in a blur for Elisa as she explained everything within the storyline Xanatos had hatched. Thankfully Matt filed the paperwork and soon a severely edited version of the night's events ended up on paper and Robyn Canmore waited in cuffs until her trial.
Another ride offered and accepted from Xanatos and then Elisa found herself back at the hospital to hear Jason would never walk again. Barely an hour-and-a-half to sunrise, Detective Maza left the former hunter's hospital room with so many thoughts running through her head that she felt ready to burst. Goliath featured mainly, but the entire clan, Matt, Elisa's parents, Derek and Beth, Jason and Robyn, and even Xanatos himself featured as well.
To Elisa's surprise - a far milder feeling than she expected - Xanatos' limousine waited outside.
Fortunately, most of the press had likely stayed at the scene of the battleground at St. Damien's. Otherwise, Elisa would have had quite a time explaining her companion to both the press and her boss. Settling into the back seat wordlessly, Elisa allowed herself to slouch once the door closed. Elisa saw little sense in hiding the obvious exhaustion from Xanatos.
"Wyvern?"
That single word held so many unanswered questions that Elisa's mind rendered itself speechless for several moments.
Elisa sucked in the corner of her mouth, worrying both her lower lip and the edge of her red jacket as she finally spoke. "I-I don't know... I'm just not... sure."
"Just drive, please, Owen." Xanatos' smooth voice snapped Elisa from her dazed outlook while the car took off fluidly into traffic.
Uncounted moments later, Xanatos spoke quietly, sounding more understanding than Elisa had ever thought him capable of.
"You could wait. You nearly drowned yesterday evening. From what Mr. Canmore told me at the hospital, you then came almost directly to the cathedral after less than a full day of recovery. Not to mention all you've dealt with since leaving St. Damien's. You're exhausted and need rest. First and foremost, he would want you safe and well."
It went unspoken just who 'he' was, although the identity could hardly be confused.
From there, Xanatos left Elisa to her thoughts, staring out of the window and waiting for some sort of order to take hold of her mind in a sudden flash.
Elisa had told Jason the truth. There was someone who would always come first.
Goliath.
The gargoyle had come first in Elisa's heart practically from the first moment he'd explained his past to her. She'd probably never know why, but Goliath had just the same and now always would. Countless times they had saved each other since then. Goliath held her to him while gliding through the night sky on so many occasions that the detective had begun to think of his arms as "her" spot.
What Elisa felt for Goliath could only be sincere, genuine feeling. That much Elisa knew. As to how safe or realistic it might be to have a relationship with Goliath, Elisa had no answers.
In the midst of Elisa's inner turmoil, Xanatos apparently thought music would help clear her head, for Elisa heard music coming from the speaker behind her. She wanted to snarl angry words at her momentary host for his insensitivity, but the words stuck in Elisa's throat when she heard the first lines of the song.
During the entire length of the song, Elisa grew mesmerized. Poignant lyrics struck incredibly close to home and Elisa felt moved beyond any words she could possibly speak. Tears came unbidden to brown eyes, but she felt powerless to stop them.
"It's how you live," Elisa whispered to herself through the tears. "Yes... it is."
A gentle pressure on her hand drew Elisa's gaze down to find a handkerchief lying on her fingers. A sly glance over at Xanatos proved him to be looking out his own window, giving no sign of his gesture. Elisa shrugged delicately and dried her eyes, sniffing once or twice. The emotions passed soon enough, but her resolve remained firm.
"Wyvern." Elisa's voice stayed strong then, despite its mild quaking, and she could see Xanatos smile.
"You heard the lady, Owen."
Neither of them spoke again until they reached the stairs which led to Goliath's old perch.
With barely fifteen minutes to spare before sunrise, Elisa initiated discussion of new yet old conundrums.
"Are they really safe?" Mistrust failed to take either Xanatos or Elisa by surprise as they began their ascent.
"Of course they're safe, Detective." The man looked ready to roll his eyes, but at Elisa's raised brow, Xanatos seemed to backpedal. "Goliath just saved the world. More important, he saved my son. The least I can do is reinstate his clan to their ancestral home."
"What's the catch, Xanatos?" Elisa finally allowed the full strength of her lingering doubts to push their way to the surface. She stepped partly in front of Xanatos to halt his progress and gain a satisfactory answer.
"No catches, no tricks, no strings."
For all her mistrust, Elisa couldn't help feeling a sense of sincerity in the businessman's words after all.
"The feud is over, Detective."
Said detective gave one last look of doubt to the man who had done harm to everyone she loved in one way or another, but Elisa couldn't force herself to keep the look on her face for long. Somehow, she trusted Xanatos this time.
God help her, but she really did.
"He's waiting for you." Xanatos' pressure on Elisa's shoulder prompted her to moved up once again, heading toward the one for whom she cared so deeply.
Listening to Bronx's happy barks while her feet carried her to where Goliath stood, Elisa felt certain how she lived would be changing very rapidly from here on out. No amount of wishing would (or should) change that, as far as she was concerned.
"So…" Goliath's deep rumbling voice and wildly blowing mane of black stole the petite woman's breath away in the pre-dawn light of the day. Nothing had ever caught her attention like the sight of Goliath's current appearance. "Things have come… full circle."
"Somehow," Elisa grew thoughtful, pushing some hair back behind her ear in a vain attempt to keep her line of sight clear, "they always do."
Elisa stared shyly up at Goliath, heart pounding furiously in her chest. The moment of truth had come. She had to tell him what she felt. Even if Goliath refused to follow the path Elisa offered, he at least needed to hear the truth from her heart.
"You know how I feel about you… right?" Elisa offered, words gentle and truthful. Nothing blatantly romantic escaped her lips, just a simple truth Goliath could accept or reject as he wished.
That was not to say Elisa would give up on the possibilities altogether. No, if it didn't work out now, Elisa would have to continue to try in future.
"How…" Goliath seemed to debate the words for a moment, speaking slowly with a slight smile growing, "we both feel… yes."
Elisa's heart swelled and she jumped up in bright excitement tempered with deep affection for her wonderful and sentimental gargoyle, wrapping her arms tightly around his warm neck.
"Good." One word was all Elisa needed, reveling in Goliath's surprised face and kissing his lips quickly as the sun rose behind him.
Jumping back down, Elisa turned around with a smile and pulled the collar of her red jacket up to guard against the strong wind just as Goliath's form solidified with the sun's golden rays, a startled, but giddy smile on his features.
"Welcome home, Goliath," Elisa murmured affectionately as she walked away. "Welcome home."