Chapter Twenty

"It's okay if it doesn't work. It's still beautiful, Rip." Fyn's voice calmed me as I had grown more and more frustrated with the task at hand. I'd set up everything with the fountain meticulously, as I completed every job, but when I'd turned it on, nothing happened. No water came from the horn. No beautiful, calming sounds of trickling water.

Just nothing.

"It's not, omega," I replied but quickly schooled my tone, which had come out harsher than necessary. "This is the main attraction of this garden, and if it doesn't work…" I let out a long breath. "Thia will be disappointed."

My sweet and very pregnant omega rubbed my back a bit as I worked but soon began searching for the problem. I was sure it was something simple as a disconnected tube or a leak somewhere, but damn it all if I could find it. "No one would be upset with you, Rip. We've all been working so hard. There is no way I would've gotten all of this done without my mates."

I looked up at him and stared in awe. Not only had we gotten all of this done, but he had been pregnant through most of it. As if carrying our babe inside of him wasn't a full-time job on its own. He hadn't complained once. Both Zeus and I took turns making sure he had some long baths and even longer massages at night to offset all the hard work, but once we opened the next day, things would be easier on him. Not easy. But easier.

"I know. But I would be upset with myself."

He nodded but continued to look for the problem. Half an hour passed, and I almost tore my hair out, when Fyn gasped. "I think I found it, Ripley. Look at this."

Sure enough, when I walked over to see what he spoke of, I saw a kink in the tubing. Enough to make the entire thing fail. "You are amazing and wonderful, and I love you, and you just saved my life!" I yelled, wrapping my arms around my mate.

He laughed and hugged me back. "Because I found a kink in the tubing? Damn. You're easy to please."

I kissed the life out of him while rubbing his belly a bit. "No, you are that incredible."

Zeus and Thia came running out of the motel where they had been setting up some things for the opening, with wide eyes. "What happened?" Zeus called out. "Is everything okay?"

He must've heard me yelling. "Yeah," I answered, wrapping my arm around Fyn's shoulder and pulling him tight. "You two are just in time for the reveal." I sent up a wish to whatever god happened to be listening that this would work. I wanted it to work for all of us.

Thia clapped, and I held the remote for the fountain after turning the water back on. With the kink now fixed, this garden should be ready. Of course, it would be more romantic in the night, with all the twinkle lights and solar glow balls I'd set up but, for now, this would be enough to make our little princess happy.

Making my mates happy was what I lived for now. How things had changed.

"You ready, Thia?" I asked.

Again, she clapped and bounced on her toes. "I'm ready!"

I pressed the button and turned it on. I heard the pump running and even the water flowing. Any minute now. Any. Minute. Now.

"There it is," I said. The water dripped from the horn of the white unicorn at first. I'd ordered the statue with glittery pastel rainbow hair. Of course, the colors would fade with time, but we would retouch as necessary. For now, it sparkled and shimmered in the light of the afternoon sun, and what was once a trickle from the point of the horn was now a full stream.

"Whoa!" Thia said. "Daddy, pick me up. I want to see it at the top."

Zeus chuckled and picked her up. I explained all the parts of the fountain and how we had to take care of it. I'd learned that from my alpha mate. He took care to explain everything to Thia, even if she might not quite understand. He never spoke to her in baby tones. It showed in her expressions and her level of communication.

"Have I told you lately how good a father you are?" Fyn said to Zeus, reading my mind.

"You have. The truth is, we all are. I couldn't have asked for two better mates to raise my daughter with."

We stood around the fountain for a few minutes, but there were things to do. "My part is done, omega mine." I turned to Fyn. "Tell me what else I can help you with."

He reached up and kissed my lips quickly. "I have a list. We can tackle it all together."

While we made our way toward the motel, I looked back and realized that garden was my best piece yet. Truly the projects that we did with love were the greatest, and it showed in that fairy wonderland. I'd already shared some pics online, but tonight, I'd take more, once the lights were on.

Also, I wanted to bring my mates back to the garden tonight. I'd inscribed something on the bottom of one of the benches—the date we were all brought together—actually, the date we all marked each other and solidified our new family.

It might be cheesy, but I wanted something to commemorate the night.