Chapter Text
.\./.\./.\./.\./.\./.\./.\./.\./.
“The last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”
~ Viktor Frankl (1905–1997)
.\./.\./.\./.\./.\./.\./.\./.\./.
MANHATTAN, NY
In the week that followed Skyler and Brooklyn’s commitment ceremony, life seemed to return to almost normal.
Elisa and the kids had moved back home to the condo, her sister moving in temporarily to give Skyler the chance to stay at the castle kid free and have a honeymoon with her new mate. Luckily, Beth had hoarded her vacation time and had opted to take all of it at once to be able to help out.
Enjoying playing Indulgent Auntie, Beth was having the time of her exhausted life. The kids were running her ragged, but as Elisa pointed out, that was her own fault for feeding the kids sugar all day long.
Elisa said that as Nayeli was climbing Beth like a jungle gym.
Elisa had been going to work, coming home and getting used to her new “normal”. That included having to see Wing members everywhere. At her condo building, she’d run into them in the elevators, in the hallways and even as they were “just hanging out” outside the front door.
She’d agreed to it, she reminded herself, but she didn’t have to like it.
When that got to be a little too much for her, on her night off, she took the kids to the castle.
…Where she ran into more Wing members.
It was almost a relief to be at work some nights, except that something seemed to be wrong with Maria.
She was in a foul mood, and had been for weeks. Everyone noticed, and most of them steered clear not wanting to be the target of her irritation.
When asked, she would snap at people and give short, terse answers.
Elisa wasn’t buying it. She considered it a privilege, one of a very few on the job, being Maria’s god-daughter and able to approach her in a personal, not professional, capacity. Elisa was eyeballing Maria through the window of her office, watching Maria give someone a dressing down over the phone before slamming the receiver down and leaning her head against the back of her chair.
Elisa debated the wisdom of this, then thought about all the times Maria had helped her out as she grew up. Both on and off the job, Maria took her position as Godmother seriously. If Elisa looked out of sorts, Maria pulled her aside and gently (and sometimes not so gently) pried until she got the reason out of her.
The only exception had been anything to do with the Gargoyles for years, but now even that was open for discussion between the two of them.
Whenever Elisa had the chance to help Maria, she did so. Tonight, Maria looked like she needed it, so Elisa walked to the door, gave a short knock and walked in.
“Maza,” Maria said after glancing at her. “I’m not sure I’m up for any drama tonight, so if it can wait…”
“I don’t think it can, Captain,” Elisa said with a shrug.
“Fine,” Maria said with a deep sigh. “Make it quick.”
“I’m worried, Maria,” Elisa said, closing the door softly behind her. “Something's obviously bothering you, and I want to know if there’s anything I can do to help?”
Maria chuckled humorlessly. “No, Elisa. I’m afraid there’s nothing that you can do to help.” She lifted her head and looked at Elisa, giving her a tired smile. “But thank you for offering.”
“I won’t push, but if you need to talk…” Elisa began, but was cut short when there was a brisk knock and the door opened.
“Maria,” A familiar voice said, “I brought you something to eat.”
Harry “Eagle” Bird, former head of the NYPD SWAT team and currently with the ATF, strode into the office, a smile on his face and a paper bag in his hand.
Maria looked at him with irritation. “Really? You came into my office when the door was closed, interrupted a conversation, for that?”
Eagle just grinned, seemingly to be too used to Maria’s snapping for it to affect him. He looked at Elisa, “Oh, hey Maza. Sorry to interrupt.”
Elisa watched in awe as Eagle braved Maria’s wrath as he didn’t even break stride. He lifted the bag and gave it a playful shake. “Now, I know you’ve got to be hungry, and I brought you a sandwich from the deli you like.”
A muscle in Maria’s jaw jumped a little, as if she were clenching her jaw.
Maria hesitantly reached for the bag. “What kind of sandwich?” She asked slowly.
“It’s that chicken salad that you like,” he said. “You know, the one with the pickles and the…”
That was all he managed to get out before Maria was on her feet and shoving the bag back at him.
She looked a little green and made a mad dash for the door.
Elisa watched as Maria practically took the ladies room door off its hinges in her haste to get through.
“I… I’m going to go make sure she’s alright,” Elisa said slowly, gesturing to the bathroom door.
“I guess I’ll wait here,” he said slowly, looking unsure.
“You stay here,” Elisa said. “I’ll try to give you a warning when I come out if you need to take cover.”
He sent her a little salute, and Elisa hurried for the ladies room to find Maria.
She wasn’t that hard to find. As there weren’t many females in the station that night, the room was empty except for Maria and Elisa. Of course, the sound of Maria’s retching in the bathroom stall almost sent Elisa running for one of her own in a twisted sense of female solidarity.
Elisa waited until the sound stopped, before calling out, “Maria? Is there anything I can get you?”
“Mouthwash,” she practically gasped out. “Bottom Drawer, left side.”
“On it,” Elisa said, going back out to the hallway. She spotted a pair of female file clerks heading that way and shook her head at them. “Trust me, you do not want to go in there. Do us both a favor, and use the one down by the motor pool.”
The two women looked at each other, shrugged and went in the direction of the motor pool.
Elisa returned to the office, and walked straight to the desk. As she reached for the drawer, she spoke to Eagle who, true to his word, was still waiting there. “Eagle, I need you to stand guard at the hallway. No one gets past you, and if anyone needs the restrooms, they can use the ones between Mechanics and the Motor Pool.”
“Gotcha,” He said, and went to take up a post in the hallway.
Elisa grabbed the mouthwash, then realizing that her walking around with the large bottle of green stuff would probably catch attention and raise curiosity, Elisa grabbed the bag with the sandwich in it, emptied it onto the desk and placed the bottle inside.
She cautiously opened the door to the bathroom. Maria was there, hands braced on the sides of the sink, her head bowed.
“Here,” Elisa said quietly, handing her the sack.
Maria nodded her head in silent thanks, took the bottle and poured a good amount in her mouth.
Elisa watched Maria, her godmother and sometimes mentor, and asked the question that had sprung to the forefront of her mind.
“How far along are you?”
Maria froze, her cheeks slightly puffed out as she was swishing the minty mixture in her mouth. She closed her eyes, leaned forward and spit the green liquid into the sink. She turned on the tap, rinsing the sink out, then turned to Elisa.
“How did you know?” she asked.
Elisa pointed to her head. “Detective, remember?”
Maria groaned, and leaned her forehead against the mirror’s cool surface. “Does anyone else know?”
Elisa shook her head. “I don’t think so,” she admitted. “I haven’t heard anything.”
“Good,” Maria said. “Forgive me, Elisa, but I’m a little embarrassed about this and not ready for everyone to know I was this stupid yet.”
“You weren’t stupid,” Elisa corrected.
“I wasn’t smart,” Maria shot back. “I’m fifty, for God’s sake. It’s not like I’m some brainless teenager who didn’t know any better.”
Elisa sighed. “You’re right. You’re not a brainless teenager. You’re a grown woman with a good job and the ability to take care of a baby.” Elisa stepped forward and put a supportive arm around Maria. “Do you want this baby?”
“Yes,” Maria whispered, then gave a watery laugh, “Of course, it would have been nicer to have a baby a few years ago instead of now…”
“Do you know what it is yet?”
Maria shook her head.
“And Eagle is the father?” Elisa pushed.
“Yes,” Maria sighed.
“He’s a good guy, Maria,” Elisa said. “He’s out there right now, guarding the hallway and redirecting foot traffic to give you time to get put back together. At the risk of starting the digestive pyrotechnics,” Elisa pointed to the bag, “I’ll also point out that he brought you food, from your favorite deli, which is on the other side of the island from here. He made the special trip, just to make sure that you ate and are happy.”
“I know,” Maria said, straightening upright and fussing in the mirror for a moment. “Okay,” she said with a sigh. “I think I’m ready to go pretend that this never happened.”
“Crackers,” Elisa suggested. “Saltines worked best for me. Keep a sleeve or two in your desk drawers for when you start to feel queasy. It helps.”
Maria eyed her skeptically, but nodded. “Have any on you?”
Elisa shook her head. “No, but I can go get you some. Or,” she said, her eyes glinting in humor. “You can send Eagle out for some.”
Maria laughed then. “He’s not my slave, Elisa.”
“No,” Elisa said with a grin. “He’s the father of your baby, and in my experience men are willing to do almost anything for a pregnant lady.”
Maria shot Elisa a small grin. “Maybe I’ll see if he could make a store run, and we can test that theory.”