When Our Stars Aligned

chapter 16- Adventures with Gracie

*The next Morning*

Damien woke up early to prepare breakfast for himself and Cricket. From past cooking mishaps he really wanted to pitch in since he knew Cricket enjoyed cooking for him and he wanted to surprise her. He was just finishing pouring the orange juice when he heard a gasp. He smiled as Cricket walked into the kitchen surprised. "Good morning angel eyes', he replied as she wrapped her arms around his waist giving him a hug. "You really didn't have to do this babe". Damien smiled softly blushing "I wanted to surprise you. And hey at least I didn't burn anything this time well except for some bacon but then I remembered you love your bacon a little burnt". He gently pushed a chair out for her and gently pushed it closer to the table. As she made her plate, she was admiring the effort that was put in.

After breakfast was cleaned up Cricket got ready and had just finished packing some drinks and sandwiches away in a cooler as Brayden and Gracie arrived. Damien smiled as Gracie excitedly hugged Cricket. "I can't thank you guys enough for this. Gracie has been excited all morning about going to the zoo. I have a backpack, stroller, and car seat for you. I don't think she'll give you a hard time about nap time", Brayden instructed and helped his sister hook the car seat as Damien and Gracie packed away her stroller and cooler into the trunk. Bryden smiled hugging Gracie and Gracie "Be a good girl okay?" Gracie giggled "daddy I was good girl". After Brayden left Cricket smiled making sure Gracie was safely secured into her car seat before pulling out of the parking lot. As she drove, she smiled listening to Gracie ask a million questions to Damien about what animals at the zoo he liked best.

-At the Zoo-

Gracie smiled excitedly holding Crickets hand as they walked around looking at all the different animals. Damien watched in awe seeing Cricket in aunt mode especially as she read each animal fact to Gracie and answered each of her questions. He didn't want to overstep his boundaries when Cricket wasn't sure how to answer a question, but she did her best and he loved every time Gracie got excited to see a new animal and smiled when she saw her favorite animals.

After lunch Gracie was too tired to walk and refused to go into her stroller. "Can I please go on Damien's shoulders like how daddy does it when we go to our zoo?" Cricket bit her lip and looked to Damien to see what he thought. He smiled "I don't mind at all as long as you're okay with it?" Cricket smiled and helped lift Gracie onto his shoulders. Gracie giggled "Aunty Damien's tall!" Damien smiled as they began to walk through the zoo. Gracie's excitement grew as they walked into the penguin and she saw a few penguins swimming. Cricket smiled as she and Damien took turns reading the facts about penguins and Damien took the time to answer her questions. After the last exhibit they visited the gift shop. Cricket bought a dark gray hoodie and matching jogger pants, along with a pink flamingo for Gracie, a cute lion onesie for baby Adam and a cool alligator hoodie for Brady. Damien bough himself a hat and hoodie that matched Crickets except his was black.

On the ride home Gracie fell asleep as Damien drove home. Cricket smiled and blushed as he kissed her hand "Thank you for a fun day angel. I really enjoyed watching you in Aunty mode", he remarked as Cricket's blush grew 'Well thank you for coming with us and being amazing with Gracie". Damien beamed happily at the compliment. The rest of the ride was quiet but enjoyable. Gracie woke up with brand new questions as they pulled into their apartment parking lot as Brayden arrived with their brothers. Cricket smiled watching Gracie excitedly hugged Braydon and showed him her new pink flamingo and the gifts for her brothers. Brayden chuckled "Auntie spoils you guys" Cricket playfully rolled her eyes "I also spoil them with love". Gracie yawned again as she hugged and said goodbye and thank you to Cricket and Damien. She got into Brayden's rental car and drove to the airport to fly back to Seattle where she could tell everyone about her adventures to the zoo and meeting Damien's cats.

Later that night after dinner was done and the dishes were washed and put away, Cricket curled up with Damien in their room as they watched the latest episode of Damien's current favorite anime. She thought about how much fun they had, and she couldn't believe she was happier then she could ever imagined. she happened to look up as her eyes caught a glimpse of Damien gazing lovingly at her "I love you", he whispered softly kissing her head as her heart fluttered. "I love you too", she whispered softly falling asleep resting her head against his chest as he continued to watch tv.