The next couple days were spent doing what simple repairs I could do with a small tool kit I traded some of the stuff we didn’t need from the lab ruins to Bob Greene before his caravan left Stonecroft. Lily helped a little but spent most of the time playing with Yam and Willow. The fairies had told me that a couple of the villagers had come and checked out what I was doing, but never got too close to the cottage.

“Lily, why haven’t you helped me much the last couple days?” I asked as I put my tools away for the day. The sun would be setting soon, and I wanted to watch. The porch overlooking the valley gave an amazing view of the sunset that Lily and I had come to love very quickly.

“I have been helping silly.”

“By playing with Yam, Willow, and a couple other locals?”

“The playing is just play, but we have been working too.”

“How so?”

“We have been building up energy and recruiting some help.”

“What is the energy and help for?”

“You’ll see tomorrow,” Lily smugly answered. She crinkled her nose. “You stink!”

“That’s because I’ve been working hard!”

“And it’s appreciated too!” Lily replied grinning at me.

“Come here and give me a hug,” I said hold my arms out.

“Uh, no! You stink!”

“That’s the point,” I said running towards my pixie. Lily squealed and took off towards the back door. I ran after her laughing.

*

“Wake up, Jase!”

“Huh?” I mumbled and turned over in bed so I could face the sound of Lily’s voice.

“Rise and shine sleepy head!” Lily exclaimed landing on my pillow and poking my nose.

“Come on Lily! I’m tired from yesterday,” I complained waving a hand at my familiar.

“Jase, open your eyes and get up. I have a surprise for you!”

“Fine. I’ll get up,” I replied turning over onto my back and stifling a yawn. “What time is it anyway?”

“Ten minutes to six in the morning.”

“You couldn’t let me sleep until the sun came up?”

“No. This is important!” Lily replied. She kissed my cheek and moved away so I could get out of bed. “Besides, we need you to pull the building filter out of the storage unit.”

“Ah ha! So, the truth comes out!”

“Ok! We need your help and that’s why I woke you up. Happy now?”

“No, but I’m awake,” I answered. “Why do you need the filter?”

“Because we got the plumbing cleaned up and repaired last night while you slept like the dead.”

“Really?” I asked throwing the sheet off and jumping out of bed.

“Yep!” Lily answered before she flew to the bathroom and gestured to the doorway. I smiled and walked over. The room was spotless including the toilet, bathtub, and sink.

“This is amazing! The robot didn’t even do this good of a job,” I said. I meant it too.

The whole room looked brand new, just like the lab had. The paint was now a light blue instead of the dull gray it had been before. Lily led me to the downstairs bathroom. It had received the same treatment as had the kitchen.

“Lily, this…how?”

“Remember the stories about pixies helping people with chores?” Lily asked to numerous giggles. I looked up and saw at least one hundred pixies sitting on the shelves.

“Pixie magic, of course,” I replied. I bowed to all of them. “Thank you. All of you.”

“You’re welcome!” the pixies chorused. “Get the filter!”

I laughed. “Ok!”

*

“So, how do we get water?” I asked after watching the fairies install the filter. I was shocked they had let me watch. The only way to describe it is that the pipes and filter equipment had just floated and joined together.

“There is a well and stream that we will use,” a pixie named April answered.

“Oh. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome!”

“Alright you lot,” Lily said. “If you want to get paid, let’s get the water hooked up.”

“Aye aye, captain!” the pixies chorused.

“Hi hoooo!” Lily called out.

“Hi ho, hi ho, off to more plumbing we go,” the pixies started singing as they filed out past Lily and me. All of them were wearing coveralls, hardhats, and had tools over their shoulders. Lily winked at me, and I laughed as she joined the end of the line wearing the same clothes and carrying a shovel.