Disclaimer: The characters, with the exception of Rose, are not mine. They belong to Buena Vista & the Walt Disney Company. This story takes place just after "Angels in the Night" from The Goliath Chronicles.
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It was April 1997. The clan has been accepted by the people of Manhattan. A new era of peace has begun.
I was relieved. I could rest easy, knowing that I was a bringing a new gargoyle member into a place of peace & understanding. I had reached my sixth month of pregnancy & I was getting anxious. Genie had told me that, due to his magic, the baby wasn't going to take the usual nine months it takes for humans or the ten years it takes for a gargoyle egg to be laid.
Brooklyn came to join me in the courtyard, where I had been sitting, writing a list of names.
�How�s the list going?�
�Rather well. I�ve got ten names.�
�I bet you�re nervous.�
�I am. Very nervous.�
�Let�s look at these names,� Brooklyn suggested.
We did so & afterwards the list was sooned narrowed down quite a bit.
�Well, we�ve decided on three names,� Brooklyn said.
�And it�s time to sleep,� I replied, getting up. We walked to our places & turned to stone.
Day passed & the clan had awakened. After a few minutes, the clan took off for patrol. I was left behind, as usual. This has been done for two months. I thought about this:
Brooklyn & I were out for our patrol as we usually did. I had reached my fourth month. We spotted four men about to attack a woman. Brooklyn & I plunged in & attacked the men. We took care of them, but one of them had socked me in the stomach.
Brooklyn carried me back to the castle & attended me. Owen did a check said the baby was all right. I sighed with relief. However, Goliath said I should stay at the castle until after the baby�s born. So, two months later, I�m still at the castle.
I walked through the castle hallways, feeling slightly bored. As I approached Alex�s room, Fox asked me to give her a hand with her son. I helped Fox keep Alex steady while she changed him. After she was done, she put him to bed. No sooner was he asleep, then I started having contractions.
�I think it�s time,� I gasped.
Fox laid me down on the floor, then dashed out of the room. She came back with towels, warm washcloths, a sharp knife, & her husband.
She placed the towels under me, & told me to push, while she was gently pushing on my stomach.
�David, you�re receiving,� Fox called.
Xanatos�s face went blank, �Receiving?�
�The baby!�
�Oh, right,�
The delivery took an hour and a half as I was later told, but it felt like eternity.
�Well, congratulations, Jasmine. It�s a ,� Fox announced, when the baby came out.
I took a deep breath, then let it out. Xanatos cleaned her up, cut the cord, then handed her to me.
She was absolutely beautiful. She had skin that resembled my human skin color, her wings were wrapped around her, a graceful powerful tail was curled around one of her legs, & there was a full head of black hair on her. That surprised me. I guess gargoyles are born with hair. And teeth, I added to myself as my daughter opened her mouth, showing her teeth to me.
Suddenly, the door burst open & there stood�Demona. I grew nervous. What was Demona doing here? Fox & Xanatos stood in front of me.
�Ah, Demona. What can I do for you?� Xanatos began in a calm, cool tone.
�Where�s Jasmine? I heard the clan mention a baby. It must die!� Demona snarled.
�You can�t do that!� I shouted, standing up, clutching the child.
Demona leaped over Fox & Xanatos & stalked over to me. Then, in a flash, an idea struck me.
�You don�t want to kill your own granddaughter, do you?� I asked.
�What?� Demona was confused.
�I�m convinced that you�re my mother,� I said softly.
�Your mother!� Demona exclaimed. Just then, my daughter gurgled.
Demona & I looked down. She was waving her little claws at us & smiling. When I looked up, Demona was looking at me.
�Jasmine, how can I ever repay you for what I�ve done?� Demona asked softly.
�There�s no need. I�ll manage,� I replied.
Demona turned to leave, then turned around again.
�Have you picked a name?�
�No, not yet.�
�I hope to see you again�my daughter.� Then Demona left.
About an hour after Demona left, the clan returned. I heard them rushing to the TV room, where I moved to let Alex sleep.
�Jasmine, Jasmine!� Brooklyn cried as he burst in. He was out of breath.
�Brooklyn it�s all right. I survived,� I smiled, �We have a daughter.�
The clan looked at her, whispering about how beautiful she was, & how they could miss the birth.
�What is the little lass�s name?� Hudson asked.
Brooklyn & I looked at each other. Then he pulled the list out of his belt. He looked at it.
�How about Rose? It�s on the list,� suggested Brooklyn.
�It�s perfect,� I breathed.
I looked at Rose. My beautiful daughter. I had also gained a mother & was able to make peace with her. Yes, peace is what life is all about.