The Celestial Accord

Chapter 17 Coming Home

After she returns she looks through the tablet and pulls out a note pad from her backpack and starts making lists of pregnancy comforts like belly pillows and bath salts and lists things for making baby blankets and bibs a nd everything that they might need she turns to Damon and asks if he still knows how to do wood working knowing that in his youth his father's business was making furniture in S. Carolina

Damon glances over at Evie’s lists, then back at her—a flicker of something nostalgic crossing his features and says, “Woodworking. That's... been a while.”

He leans back in his seat, remembering, when his father thought him how to make a cradle him trying out a rocking chair he had spent weeks making and it tumbling to the floor in a heap, laughing at the memory he says, “My father was obsessed with it. Before everything went to hell. Furniture, cradles, intricate details. I was decent at it once.”

His jaw tightens slightly. “Haven't touched a saw or chisel in over a century, but muscle memory doesn't die for vampires.” He looks at your lists, then at you with quiet intensity. “Would you want me to build things for them? Cradles? Furniture?

There's vulnerability in the question—the idea of creating something with his hands for your children, something that will last.

Evie’s whole face lights up as she looks over at him seeing the worry and desire written on his face as she says, “Yeah if it's something you want to do?” she replies shyly

Damon's expression softens, the sarcasm melting away. “Want to do it? Evie, I'd be honored.”. He reaches over and takes your hand, threading his fingers through hers as he imagines building the very things his children will use everyday.

Damon smiles and says “Cradles, changing tables, toy boxes. Things built with my hands for our children. That's... that's everything.” His voice drops lower, more vulnerable than usual. “I spent centuries destroying things. Breaking people. And now I get to build something that matters. For them. For you, for them”.

Lexi watches from across the cabin, her expression tender. “Look at you, Damon. A craftsman again. A father. A husband. I am so very proud of you”.

The jet begins its descent toward New Zealand's rugged landscape below, mountains rising like ancient sentinels.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we've begun our initial descent into Queenstown. We'll be landing in approximately 60 minutes. Light turbulence expected, please make way back to your seats”

The announcement faded, replaced by the quiet hum of the engines as the jet gradually began its descent.

Lexi glanced out the window, the snowcapped peaks beginning to emerge through the clouds. A slow smile spread across her face. "Well..." she said, looking back at Damon and Evie. "No turning back now." She nodded toward the mountains. "Welcome to New Zealand."

Then, with that familiar mischievous grin, she looked at Evie. "And if those two decide another growth spurt sounds like fun during landing..." she pointed teasingly toward Damon, "...he's cleaning up the mess."

Damon snorted, "Deal. But if they wait until we're on the ground, I'm blaming their mother."

Evie rolled her eyes., "Oh sure. Blame the pregnant woman."

Lexi laughed. "That's more like it. I'd hate to arrive at destiny without a little sarcasm and humor."

He gets up to go to the galley to get her something to drink before final descent.

Evie says to Lexi “I think him making their things will help him settle down and be more present giving him something he can accomplish instead of going stir crazy”

Evie grabs her tablet making another revelation so she adds gardening supplies to the list thinking about Lexi needing the same thing or else she will smother her she chuckles to herself

Damon checks his phone, calculating, Airport to cabin is about ninety minutes. Then a stop at the big Bunnings warehouse for supplies—probably another hour, hour and a half depending on crowds.

He glances at Evie with concern. That puts us at the cabin with maybe three hours before the next growth spurt hits. Tight, but doable. Hands her the water and asks, “how are you doing any pain?”

Evie takes the glass from his with a smile and says, “thank you honey and no I’m good at least for now”

45 mins later another announcement from the crew “At this time, we ask that you return to your seats, secure all personal belongings, and fasten your seatbelts as we make our final descent into Queenstown. Local weather is clear with light winds. On behalf of the flight crew, thank you for flying with us today." The jet's landing gear descends with a hydraulic hiss.

Lexi: I'll make calls ahead. Get the store staff to have everything staged and ready so we're in and out fast. No lingering.

Lexi looked between Damon and Evie. "Once we land, I'll make some calls ahead. Then we can have the store staff pull everything on our list and stage it for us. We'll be in and out fast. No lingering... if that's what you want. I know you were hoping to spend some time in town, but we can't risk taking too much time."

Evie smiled softly "I know we need to be careful, and I don't want to take any unnecessary risks. But... I'd really like to pick out a few things myself. Not everything—I know most of it can be ordered—but I'd like to hold a few blankets, feel the fabric, choose their first little outfits. I don't know when or if I'll have another chance to do something as ordinary as this, and I think every mother deserves to pick a few things for her babies with her own hands."

Seeing the longing in her eyes, Damon reached over and laced his fingers through hers. "Then that's exactly what we'll do. We get the essentials loaded first, keep an eye on the clock, and you take your time picking out the things that matter most. If you start feeling uncomfortable, we leave. No arguments."

Lexi nods her head and smiles warmly, "I can work with that. I'll make sure everything else is waiting so you can spend your time being a mom instead of pushing a shopping cart."

Evie laced her fingers into his while looking into his eyes and smiled saying “thank you I need this we’ll be careful.” she then turns to Ahora and asks is there a cloaking spell we can use while were in the store?”

Ahora responds, “Yes, Your Majesty. I can veil us from supernatural senses and make us less noticeable to anyone who isn't looking directly at us. It won't make us invisible, but it will greatly reduce the chance of anyone recognizing you."

Outside, the runway materializes through the clouds—New Zealand stretching vast and wild below.

Good, Evie thought. About ninety minutes to the cabin... another stop for supplies... I should still have close to four hours before the next wave.

Damon squeezes her hand. “with the cloaking spell we have more protection and a little while before the next one hits, go ahead take your time. Enjoy it. We'll follow your pace.”

The jet touches down smoothly on the tarmac. Through the window, New Zealand's raw beauty stretches endlessly—snowcapped mountains rising beyond rolling green hills, ancient forests disappearing into mist.

As the aircraft taxied toward the terminal, an excited energy settled over the cabin.

"We're really here," Evie whispered, unable to keep the smile from her face.

Damon glanced over at her and smiled. "Yeah... we are."

A few minutes later, the cabin crew opened the doors, and cool, crisp mountain air drifted inside. It carried the scent of pine, fresh earth, and something wild Evie couldn't quite place.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment and took a slow breath. "It smells..." she laughed softly, "...alive."

Damon chuckled as he reached for their carry-on bags. "I think you're going to fit in just fine here."

Lexi stands, grabbing her jacket and starts to grab luggage from the overhead bin as she says, “Let's get her to that store. I want to see this Queen in her element, picking out everything for her babies.”

They made their way through the small airport, collected their luggage, and cleared customs surprisingly quickly. Lexi was already on her phone, confirming deliveries, adjusting pickup times, and making sure everything they'd ordered would be waiting when they arrived.

"The rental SUV's ready," she announced. "Bunnings already has most of our order pulled. The grocery store's setting everything aside too."

"See?" Damon said, nudging Evie's shoulder. "That's why we keep her around."

Lexi smirked without looking up from her phone. "I assumed it was for my dazzling personality."

"And your terrifying organizational skills," Damon replied.

“and don’t forget her “World-class sarcasm skills” Evie adds.

Lexi just shakes her head smiling and adds “you bet your ass”

The drive from the airport was everything Evie had imagined and more.

Towering mountains framed the horizon while crystal-blue rivers wound through valleys dotted with sheep and wildflowers. Every turn revealed another postcard-worthy view. She found herself constantly looking from one window to the other, afraid she'd miss something.

"I don't think this place could be any more beautiful," Evie whispered.

"It gets better," Lexi promised from the front seat. "Wait until you see the cabin."

Before long, the quiet mountain roads gave way to town. Nestled beneath the peaks, Queenstown buzzed with visitors wandering cafés, boutiques, and outdoor markets.

Damon pulled into the shopping center parking lot and shut off the engine. "You ready?" he asked.

As they arrive at the store Evie is practically bouncing in excitement and runs towards the mall big smile on her face as she heads for the comforter section knowing she wants their bed to feel like a cloud and she's off and running getting everything 3 shopping carts full of everything.

Damon and Lexi follow behind Evie while Ahora waits in the car coordinating other things and keeping the clocking spell activated.

He follows behind Evie, watching as her move through the store with purposeful joy—selecting cloud-soft comforters in pale blues and soft greens, organic cotton sheets, hypoallergenic pillows.

Damon says to Lexi, amused, “She's in her element. I haven't seen her this happy since... well, since Vegas.”

Lexi pushes a third cart, laughing as Evie loads it with pregnancy pillows, body supports, and heating pads. “Let her have this. She's nesting. Building their world before they arrive.”

The store's fluorescent lights catch the glow of your skin—the cosmic energy subtly luminous as your maternal instincts amplify.

Damon's protective gaze never wavers, tracking your movements through the aisles.

She's like a little kid able to get what ever she wants then it suddenly hits her maybe she's over doing it and asks “Am I spending too much I didn't think about the cost and I should have I'm sorry maybe we should put some things back”

Damon stops mid-step, turning to face her with an expression caught between amusement and exasperation. “ Evie. Stop.”

He walks over and gently takes her hands, stilling them from reaching toward a cart. “Do you have any idea how much money I have? How much Stefan has? We're vampires who've been accumulating wealth for over 2 centuries.”

His voice softens, more vulnerable. “Our children—your children—deserve cloud-soft beds and every comfort we can give them. Money means nothing compared to that.”

Lexi nods from behind the third cart. “He's right. Spend it all if you want. This is what matters now.”

Evie exclaims, “Wow that's awesome but no we need to make sure we can give them a future” she smiles “but I'm glad I don't have to put anything back but I'm tired so we can get the rest on line later”

Damon immediately wraps an arm around her waist, steadying her as fatigue settles in.

“Come on. Let's get these to checkout and head to the cabin. You need rest before the next wave hits”.

He signals to Lexi, who begins efficiently moving the three overflowing carts toward the registers. The store's fluorescent lights blur slightly as exhaustion pulls at you. Damon's warmth against your side grounds her.

Damon says with a low, intimate voice, “You're thinking like a mother already. Protecting their future. That's who you are.”

The checkout line moves quickly, Within minutes, bags are loaded into the rental SUV parked outside.

Mountain air hits Evie’s face as she step into the fading afternoon light as she says, “I think as soon as we get there we need to put the bed toppers and bedding on our bed so I can lay down for the wave.”

“Aroha texted twenty minutes ago. She's already left for the cabin. She already had the housekeeper Irene set-up the medical suite. All ready for any contingences”

He glances at Evie in the passenger seat, reading the exhaustion creeping across her features. “We'll get the bedding on first thing. You'll be horizontal and comfortable before that wave even thinks about hitting.”