Finally at ease with her newly discovered talent, Abby is ready to face her public. The magical public that is. A Summit has been arranged and everyone who is anyone or anything will be there. Using her celebrity is an uncomfortable situation for her, but with the Oak Point Guard at her side, as well as her creatures, she is prepared to get through anything, even the trial of her arch nemesis. With the panels and festivities contrasting sharply with the solemnity of the trial, Abby feels torn in too many directions. Can the relationship she has with Xander survive meeting his family, or will social pressures drive them apart? Will the gnomes and gargoyles behave, or will Abby be called in by Hotel Specter security? Find out in Gargoyles in the Round.

Excerpt:

“Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Hanover.” He shook the hand that her stunned mother extended to him. She couldn’t blame her, the first day she had met Xander, she backed straight through her house while carrying on a conversation.

“Oh, Elizabeth, please.” Her mother was blushing. Dear god, she was blushing. It was a sight that Abby had never thought to see, and was honestly creeped out by witnessing.

“Elizabeth then. I do believe that Abby is settling in well here on Oak Point Way, what do you think?”

It was a breathy gush that pronounced, “It’s lovely.”

Abby bit her tongue to keep from asking if she was referring to the house or to Xander’s chest, his t-shirt was exceptionally well fitting today. “My mother was just leaving. She has to attend an important Bingo strategy session.”

Her mother snapped to attention at that. “You are absolutely right, Annabeth. I am sorry, Alexander, but I do have to be going. I look forward to meeting you the next time I come to visit, which will be soon, won’t it, dear?” Her glare was unmistakable. She wanted a chance to flirt and she was depending on Abby to supply it.

“Yes, Mother.” She gave her mother a half-hug and steered her out the door.

Xander’s voice was rife with amusement, “It was nice meeting you, Elizabeth.”

It was no small feat to get her mother into the sedan and on her way, but with many promises of future invitations, the queen of neat and tidy made her way off Abby’s territory. Exhausted by the exposure to her parent, Abby took up a seat on her front porch and sent the signal to the gnomes and gargoyles that they could come out of hiding. It took them less than three minutes to get back to her and start tidying up her kitchen.

Xander joined her with a plate of spaghetti. “This is good, I didn’t think you could cook.”

“I got by before I started enchanting garden gnomes. There were a few things that I counted as my specialities. Homemade ravioli was one of them. You can make it, freeze it and take it out serving by serving after work. It’s great.” She was still calming down after her enchanting visit. Nothing could stress her out like a visit from her mother, no matter how much she loved her.

“That sounds really good. Do you think the gnomes will let you back in the kitchen?”

“Possibly, if I distract them with another kegger. That seemed to do pretty well.” Buffy swooped down on her and dropped a rose in her lap. “Thanks, Buff. Where are the boys?” Two baseball hats landed next to her. The male gargoyles hovered just out of reach, but had a palpable smugness. “Now Angel, Firefly, I have told you not to steal these hats from the park. People are capturing you on film and that has to be doing something odd to the local newscasts. Not to mention YouTube.”

“Perhaps you should scrap them and start over.” Xander slurped at the pasta and almost missed her horrified look. He quickly back tracked, “Or maybe you could make the gnomes responsible for them?”

“That won’t work. The gnomes can’t fly and I am not giving them that particular skill. As for draining the energy from the gargoyles, I am going to pretend that you didn’t mention that one.” She loved her beasties. Every one of them. So what if they were a little disobedient, they weren’t human, and weren’t children. They were independent thinkers and that was the way she liked them. Her creatures. “Not that I don’t love having you over, Xander, but you knew my mom was coming over today. Why are you here?”

Harby came over and took the plate from Xander while Bitsy took the hats and rose. “I am here because you have to travel on your first formal excursion as the Nexus. One week from now there is a meeting of the Magical Council and all of its members.”

“So, I have to go to a magical trade show? How do we get there? We can’t fly. I can’t put the gnomes in my luggage.”  Her mind spun as she tried to work out the logistics.

“The gnomes can’t come. They would be too disruptive to the proceedings.”

“What proceedings?”

“Miranda’s trial. It is being held at the council meeting. It was easier to schedule it this way as all those who are going to serve on the jury will be there anyway.”

“The gnomes are coming or I don’t go.” She knew that she was being pouty, but she didn’t care. Those little critters had saved her life on a few occasions and they had provided the means by which Miranda was foiled. She thought of them as her insurance policy as well as faithful companions.

Xander thought about it for a moment. “Will you leave the gargoyles here?”

“Nope. They are still feeding off me. I can’t leave them yet.” She relented a little, “But I can ground them until we leave.”

“And how are you going to do that?” He was sceptical. She could see it in the tilt of his head.

“Simple. Angel, Buffy, Firefly?” She called them to her and within a minute, they had ceased their flitting to come to a halt in front of her. “You are grounded until further notice.  No flying, no strafing, no harassing, and play nice with the gnomes. If you don’t misbehave in the next few days, you can come with us to the magic event. If not, I leave you here with a magic drip and you guys have to stay in Sargent. Are we clear?” Three little faces didn’t look happy, but they nodded.

“Alright, Xander, when do we leave?” She was braced for anything.

“If you insist on not flying, we have to leave tomorrow.” The instant that he said it, the gargoyles perked up. They only had to behave for one day and then, road trip.