"Avery, can you take this box up to Kellan's room, please?" With only holding clothes, Storm knew that her eldest son could carry the box up the stairs without any difficulty. The once empty living room was now full with mismatched boxes and furniture. A temporary holding place until everything found a proper home within the new house. "Now is not the time to start that, Kellan." She gently removed him away from the box that he felt the desire to climb. Placing him back down near his toys, she went back to sorting the boxes around her.

"Right then, last one then I will set you free to return to your family." Ewan said as he and Gaerwyn maneuvered the pieces of the last bed, Ewan's and Storm's to be precise, into place to put it all back together.

"Yeah, thanks. I see how I'm needed for the carpentry work. Speaking of...how's the new place coming along? Fine as this house turned out?"

Ewan braced himself for Gaerwyn's hammering and answered. "Not for a long while as yet. At least another month or two."

Gaerwyn grunted a little as he set the joints and added hammered the setting pin. "At least it has been a less unruly time for you to get to such a task."

Ewan had to nod, though inside he wondered when the peacefulness of the past month or so was going to depart. Simple things like moving into a new home and refurbishing an old office building would be set aside, and he hoped not any time soon though he could feel it in his bones.

Avery returned back down the stairs, jumping down them one at a time with his feet together, *The paint in my room is dry!* Storm chuckled, reaching over to wiggle one of Kellan's toys to have his attention away from all the boxes and potential climbing, "Well, that is good. You will not turn in your sleep and get blue all over your face." She heard barking from upstairs, and sighed softly, "Go make sure Whisper is not giving your father and Gaerwyn a difficult time."
As he ran out, Storm hoisted Kellan on one hip and grabbed a box with her free hand. She moved into the kitchen, and a grin grew at the additional space the new home provided. A home that Ewan and her had built together to fit their comforts and needs. The thought kept the grin in place as she set the box on the counter before walking back to the living room.

As the two men finished up their task, Ewan felt a strange sense of satisfaction. The house was by no means put together, but everyone's beds were in their proper places and that night, no matter how many crates, boxes, or bags were left to unpack, they would have their places to sleep.

He went to give Gaerwyn's hand a shake. "Thank you, Gaerwyn, and give my best to your family. You sail tomorrow?"

They walked the length of hallways and towards the door. "That we are. It was good to see you all, and glad I was able to give some aid. Until next time, Ewan."

"Next time, Gaerwyn," Ewan ushered the man out and turned with Avery and Whisper running up behind him. He went to the family room and picked up Kellan who was continuing his curious exploration.
"All beds put together, beloved."

"Thank you very much for your help, Gaerwyn. Send your family our love!" She called out just as she watched Ewan escort his cousin out. She ran a hand through her hair in hopes of getting most of the crimps and curls out of her face. "That is great, beloved. At least no one shall have to sleep on the couch or floor tonight." She walked over to him and gave him a soft kiss, "Welcome home."

"Welcome home to you as well," he kissed her again and then kissed the top of Kellan's head. "So, what task would you like to see the men of your house accomplish next? Finish putting the beds together if you have the sheets or...put books away...or toys?"

"I think setting up sheets would be a good start." She checked two different boxes before finding the set she was looking for. "They are all separated between these three." She glanced around, noticing that most of the furniture had already been moved upstairs. "I will go ahead and take Kellan's up, and take up the rocking chair as well." She reached down for the box that held Kellan's bedding, "Avery, come over and help your father."

At Avery's approach, Ewan handed over the sheets for his bed. "Come, my lad, we have been given a mission. I say we tackle your bed first before going on to conquer your mother's and mine." Ewan saluted Avery who returned that salute and with his silent laugh and Ewan's low, brief chuckle, they went about their work.

There was excitement, joy, and hope in the air in that home, and Ewan would speak with Storm later in the evening when the boys were settled to discuss what defenses they both will have made to keep their home secure so it would retain that joy and hope.

Storm chuckled as she watched them, before using her gift to gently and carefully carry the rocking chair in front of her up the stairs and away from knocking into the fresh paint on the walls. Directing the chair into Kellan's room, she lifted the crib and other furniture to rearrange it to her liking. The baby's furniture was lighter than the rest, and being empty made the moving all the easier. Once satisfied, she started the task of setting up the bedding, whistling a merry tune to match her mood.

"That should be quite the task." He wonders out loud and begins hunting for one of the boxes that held kitchen items. "But I am glad you are able to do so. That garden has a great many memories attached to it. Still, I suppose so does that house. We will have to make new ones here." He grins and starts to unpack the box he has found, at least the larger items he can reason out where they should go in the conveniently constructed kitchen.

She mused on the thought of the last house while grabbing a box with the smaller kitchen items into the kitchen so that she could assemble them to her liking. She remembered the first few nights in the little home alone. The bed frame without a bed, and the broken heart that needed a place to mend. She wouldn't bring up the line of thought, but finally broke the long silence with a warm smile, even if to herself, "I think we will have many happy memories here."

As he passed behind her, he set a kiss to her neck and murmured. "So we will." And he went to find another box as well as take a moment to look for Avery outside just to keep an eye on him. "Beloved?" he spoke the word plainly from the other room knowing she would hear it but it not disturb Kellan who was hopefully finally taking a nap. "Did you want the vases in the kitchen or in the back mud room?"

A quick shiver sent down her back at the touch of his lips to her neck. The smile grew as she placed the towels in a drawer. She frowned slightly, not because she couldn't hear him, but because she didn't understand, "The mud room?"

He had no idea what to call it, but could rather imagine what it would look like when it was tromped through by Avery and Whisper.. "That small room that leads outside in the back. It has the bench and coat hooks? Whatever that place is called. Do you want the vases in the cupboards there or in the kitchen?"

"Oh, you can place them in the kitchen. No one will see them in this mud room we have." She chuckled at the phrase, knowing that now that room would always have that name. "What trouble are Avery and Whisper finding?"

Ewan looked out the windows, uncurtained as they were, again to find Avery and Whisper playing tug of war with a large stick. "Nothing catastrophic as yet." He smiled and returned to the kitchen with the box of vases, being very careful with them. "I did mean where to place the vases for storage, beloved, but if you would rather they be placed along the tops of the cupboard as display, that sounds like a fine idea as well."

"I think I would, considering the likelihood that one of our children would find a vase in the kitchen than in a room that leads to the backyard. Better place to avoid accidents." She licked her lips as she opened a few cupboards, deciding which one was best, "I think this one." She paused and looked at him expectantly, before giving a sheepish smile, "Well, I suppose I could just put them up there easily."

"You stay with those little utensils of yours of which I have no idea where you want them. I can manage." He grins and starts to put the vases away, grateful for his modest height and long reach. "I suppose the plates should be next, so you think about where you want them now so I know where to put them. Since we plan on going into town for dinner, I suppose we should discuss now what defenses are already in place on this house."

"It is rather helpful that are have a good foot over me, and long arms with that." One finger slowly trailed down his side as he stretched, before she gave a soft sigh and started to open cupboards again, "Perhaps the the cupboard right next to the sink would be best. And the lowest part, for Avery's reach." She found the box with the plates, and started to assist in putting them away, "Certainly beloved. Thus far, we have the setup that you gave, though I will admit I cannot remember them all."

He allowed a squirm at the touch down his side, particularly hard to fight anyway in such a stretch, so he does not. Vases put away, he assists with the plates. "We will have a tour of them tonight after the children are asleep." He nodded and continued. "The Tunnelers will not be able to keep as close an eye on this place, but someone will come out this distance once a day. If nothing else, we will at least know if someone is studying the residence or our comings and goings."

She nodded for the evening tour of the secret passages, and started to place the bowls on the next shelf of the cupboard, "And within the next few days I will start to rebuild the shields and work on the doors so that only our family can open them. Did you discuss my exchange for the Tunnelers? Would they like for me and a few Earths to inspect and repair the tunnels?"

"Compass is considering it. I am concerned about you being in the tunnels, and I did not feel like explaining to him why others would be necessary. I think if it were just you with me accompanying you, he may allow it. I think he is overly cautious, not that he does not trust your people, per se, just...the more people that know what his people do, the less secrecy they have. I will see if he will not consider maybe if I accompanied one of the Earths. Do any reside here in town?"

She shook her head slowly, "None that I am aware of." She took a deep breath, "Me going into the tunnels is a short and temporary discomfort for the protection of our family. I can get the inspection done just the same, though it would take me longer than an Earth."

"Perhaps ask around if there is one. If there is, a few of the Tunnelers may be aware of him or her, not fully aware, but at least seen them about. That might ease negotiations. If not, then we will see what Compass has to say in the end of what he will allow and what he will not." He smiled to her to ease her concern on the matter. "We have offered and that is the best that can be done."

His smile banished the darkness that lurked in her memory and she smiled in return, "I will begin to ask around. For now though, I think it is a good time to break and get some food, yes?" She kissed him warmly, before heading up the stairs to gather Kellan.