softly. "It's kinda scary, too."
"A lotta responsibility."
They both looked at each other.
"Think having kids feels like this?" she asked, searching his face. Carlos rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah ... I guess. Never really put all that together, you know?" He looked at the bedroom door. "Dan must be wigging right now. Settling into a house, wife possibly pregnant... a lot to think about."
"Yeah," Damali said, and then began sorting clothes again. She blew a stray lock up off her damp forehead. "Soon as we get the bedrooms in shape, one more meeting about the concert basics, then maybe we should just let people fall back... chill, bring in some grub. It's been a lot to absorb. Inez got the kitchen done with Marlene, then Mar broke off that detail to work with 'Bazz, Heather, and Dan on tactical sensors, double prayer barriers, and the works. J.L. and Krissy have the tech centers pretty much up and running for a second level of security. Mike is on weapons with Berkfield, getting our war room righteous. Jose's work ing on the studio with Rider. Tara's good to go with Marj on the family room, living room, dining rooms; they got some cool stuff to - "
"Damali," Carlos said, drawing her attention with the gentle tone of his voice. "We're gonna have to blow the groove sooner or later and tell 'em about the fawn." Damali briefly closed her eyes. "When we have breakfast with the Covenant tomorrow morning, okay?" The plea in her voice made him come over to hug her. "Carlos, just one night in our new home, family all tucked in safe around us, breaking bread, laughing, making love, whatever, just peace, be still, man ... before we have to go back out to war."
"We gotta count our blessings, even if they do weigh a ton." He kissed her forehead and tried to get her to joke about the weight of things every woman had selected for the house, but she only gave him a sad smile.
Damali looked around their partially furnished bedroom suite, forlorn. "I am truly thankful for everything, but I'm also being real about what's ahead. I know we're gonna have to go to our councils on this. I may have to revive my oracle, even though she's not fully healed.... The Covenant will be in it, because it involved Nod banishment edicts, we've gotta track down this Lorelei heifer... I feel like I should be saying, 'Hi, new house. Bye, new house,' because we're maybe gonna get a shower, change clothes, pick up weapons, and be out again - and I'm praying to God this time when we come home, the house is standing."
"With no demon habitation." Carlos kissed the top of Damali's head. "No argument." He pulled back and looked at her and smiled, pushing her locks over her shoulders. He dropped his voice and gave her a mock-serious expression that made her laugh. "Hannibal would tell me, 'Brother, sometimes you must water your horses.'"
"What?" she said, laughing.
"Sometimes," he said, kissing her nose, "you have to let your warhorses rest. You have to stop, give them water, c hill heal, replenish. Even vamps regenerate. Then live to fight another night." He kissed her again. "But you can run me into the ground, until I get this bedroom exactly the way you want it ... then you've gotta water me, baby. Oh, yeah, I'll be your warhorse."
She hugged him hard and closed her eyes as she pressed her cheek against his chest.
"Thank you."
"when did you do all this, 'Nez?" Marlene asked in awe.
"Girl!"
"I wanted to have the first real sit-down meal when everybody was up in here be real down home, since who knows when we might have to hit the road again," Inez said, beaming as she brought another huge dish to the table.
"Makes every piece of furniture I moved," Mike said, closing his eyes and shaking his head, "every time I had ta move it again," he added, making the group laugh, "whooooo, worth it all, baby."
Inez hugged him from behind and whispered in his ear. "Made you a peach cobbler."
"She's talking dirty to me at the family table, about peach cobblers and such. Woman, stop."
They laughed, they ate, they communed. They said thank you a hundred times, blessed every corner of the huge house and every plate that got passed. They gave themselves the right to be human and partake in butter-dripping macaroni and cheese, greens, cornbread, corn on the cob,