JAY-JAY POV
I woke in the middle of the night, my stomach twisting painfully.
Before I could even think, I bolted from the bed and ran to the bathroom.
The nausea hit hard, and I leaned over the sink, throwing up until my body shook.
Then, gently, a hand pulled back my hair.
I glanced sideways, breathless, and saw Keifer kneeling beside me, his face etched with worry. "Jay…" he whispered, his voice soft but steady.
Tears pricked my eyes, partly from the sickness, partly from the tenderness. "I'm sorry," I murmured, embarrassed.
He shook his head quickly. "Don't apologize. I've got you."
His hand stayed firm, keeping my hair back, his other hand rubbing circles on my back.
The quiet of the house wrapped around us, broken only by the sound of my breathing and his steady presence.
When the wave finally passed, I slumped against the wall, exhausted.
Keifer handed me a glass of water, his eyes never leaving mine. "You're not alone in this. Not for a second."
"Thanks," I said, my voice small, still shaky from the nausea.
Keifer brushed a strand of hair from my face, his touch gentle. "You don't have to thank me, Jay. This is what we do. Together."
I leaned against the cool bathroom wall, clutching the glass of water he'd given me. My chest tightened — not from sickness, but from the weight of his words.
He sat beside me on the tiled floor, refusing to leave my side. "I'll be here for every moment. The hard ones, the messy ones, the beautiful ones. All of it."
"Keif," I called softly.
"Hmm?" he answered, his arms still wrapped around me.
"I want chocolate," I whispered, cheeks heating.
He blinked, confused. "Chocolate, Jay… you just threw up."
I pouted, tugging at his shirt. "So? Chocolate makes everything better."
Keifer sighed, shaking his head with a half‑smile. "You're impossible. First you scare me half to death, then you ask for sweets."
I giggled, hiding my face against his chest. "That's because you make me feel safe enough to ask."
His expression softened instantly. He brushed his thumb across my cheek. "Then tomorrow, I'll get you chocolate. The best kind. But tonight, you rest."
I nodded, closing my eyes as his warmth surrounded me. "Okay… but don't forget."
He chuckled, kissing the top of my head. "I wouldn't dare."
And in that quiet moment, I realized — even in the strangest cravings and the hardest nights, his care was my comfort.
Later that night, we lay side by side, the blankets pulled up to our chins. The house was quiet, the kind of silence that made every whisper feel like a secret.
Keifer's arm was draped around me, his thumb tracing lazy circles against my shoulder.
"Jay," he murmured, his voice low, almost sleepy.
"Hmm?" I whispered back.
"I keep thinking about them," he said. "Three little lives. What they'll look like. What they'll call us."
I smiled faintly, turning to face him. "They'll call you Papa Keif. Or maybe Dad. Or maybe… trouble."
He chuckled softly. "And you'll be Mama Jay. The one they run to when they want chocolate at midnight."
I blushed, nudging him. "Don't remind me."
"You know if they look like you and they have my attitude, we will not survive," I said, half‑laughing, half‑serious.
Keifer's eyes widened, then he broke into a grin. "Oh no… little me with your fire? That's a dangerous combination."
I buried my face in the pillow, giggling. "Dangerous? That's world‑ending chaos."
He leaned closer, brushing his nose against mine. "Or the world‑changing. Imagine it — tiny versions of us, running around, bossing everyone, breaking rules, making people smile."
I groaned. "You make it sound cute. But I know better. They'll drive us crazy."
Keifer chuckled, pulling me tighter against him. "Then we'll go crazy together. And we'll love every second of it."
I looked up at him, my blush refusing to fade. "You're too confident."
He kissed my forehead softly. "No. I'm just sure about us. Whatever they inherit — your attitude, my grin, our chaos — we'll survive. Because we'll have each other."
I sighed, smiling despite myself. "Fine. But if they gang up on us, I'm blaming you."
He laughed quietly, his hand resting over mine. "Deal. I'll take the blame. As long as I get to watch our little versions of us grow."
I shifted closer under the blankets, my cheek pressed against Keifer's chest. The quiet of the night made every word feel like a secret.
"Okay," I whispered. "If we're really doing this… give me another name."
He smiled faintly, his fingers tracing circles on my arm.
"I want them to have your initials and mine in their name," Keifer said, his voice low, almost shy.
I blinked, surprised, then smiled faintly. "Our initials? J and K?"
He nodded, brushing his thumb across my hand. "Yeah. Something that ties them to us. A reminder that they're ours."
I bit my lip, thinking.
Keifer's hand stayed warm against mine as he whispered, "Their last name will be Mariano Watson. That way, every name we choose carries us, but they'll all share the same ending — the same family."
I smiled faintly, letting the words sink in. "Mariano Watson… it sounds strong. Like a name that can carry history."
He nodded. "Exactly. So now it's about finding the first names that fit. Jasprit Kane Mariano Waston… that one felt right to me."
I giggled softly. "It's bold. Powerful."
"Yeah, what about for a girl?" I asked, my voice soft in the quiet.
Keifer thought for a moment, then whispered, "Hmm… Jean Kariera Mariano Waston."
I tilted my head, smiling faintly. "Maybe… Jean Sarina Kaiera Mariano Waston."
His eyes widened, his voice catching. "My mom's name?" he asked softly.
I nodded "Yeah."
For a moment, silence filled the room — not heavy, but reverent. His hand tightened around mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles like he was grounding himself.
"You thought of her," he whispered, his voice trembling with something deeper than joy.
I smiled gently. "She's part of you. And I want her to be part of them, too."
Keifer's eyes shimmered, raw and unguarded. He leaned closer, pressing his forehead against mine. "Jay… that means more than I can ever say."
I kissed his cheek softly. "Then maybe one of our girls will carry her name. A piece of her, a piece of you, a piece of me."
He exhaled shakily, pulling me into his arms. "Jean Sarina Kaiera Mariano Waston… it's perfect. It feels like family.