JAY JAY POV
I was in Keifer's room.
Section E and Aries had finally stopped hovering and left me alone.
Jare, Percy, and Jace went home too—they all needed a break after everything.
The moment the door closed behind them, the silence hit me.
I lay on Keifer's bed, staring at the ceiling, and the tears just… came back.
Quiet at first.
Then harder.
Like my body remembered everything I tried to hold in.
Eventually, exhaustion pulled me under, and I drifted into a half‑sleep—
the kind where you're not really resting, just shutting down.
I don't know how long I was out before I heard the door open.
Soft footsteps.
No talking.
Just someone entering the room like they belonged there.
I turned to the other side, wiping my face quickly, pretending I was asleep.
The mattress dipped behind me.
A warm body slid in.
An arm wrapped around my waist.
Slow.
Careful.
Like he was afraid I'd break if he touched me too fast.
Keifer.
He didn't say anything.
He didn't ask anything.
He just pulled me closer, chest pressed against my back, his breath warm against my neck.
His hand rested on my stomach, thumb brushing gently—
not asking, not pushing, just… being there.
I swallowed hard, my eyes stinging again.
I let out a shaky breath.
And without turning around, without saying a word,
I reached down and held his hand.
And the moment my fingers touched his,
the tears came back—quiet at first, then harder,
He didn't stop me.
He didn't tell me to breathe, or calm down, or be strong.
He just held me, his hand warm against mine,
his chest steady behind my back,
letting me cry until the shaking slowly faded.
When my sobs finally softened,
he gently guided me to turn around.
His eyes were soft, worried, hurting for me.
"Don't cry again," Keifer whispered, brushing my hair back.
"I hate seeing you cry."
He leaned forward and kissed my forehead—
slow, warm, grounding—
like he was trying to pull the pain out of me with his lips.
My voice cracked as I spoke.
"Keifer… I just miss them so much."
His hand slid up to cup my cheek, thumb brushing the last tear I hadn't wiped away.
"I know," he said quietly.
"But I don't think they'd be happy seeing you cry," Keifer murmured, brushing a strand of hair away from my face.
"Besides, if you cry, you look like a monkey—just like your brother says."
I glared at him and pinched his side.
"Ow—!" Keifer flinched. "What was that for?"
"Asshole," I muttered.
He only grinned, that stupid soft smile he gets when he thinks he's funny.
Then he leaned in and kissed me—
not rushed, not teasing,
just warm and slow, like he was trying to pull me back to the world.
When he pulled away, his forehead rested against mine.
"Profanity," he whispered.
I rolled my eyes, but my chest felt lighter than it had all day.
Then he made me sit up gently, one hand behind my back like I was fragile glass.
"Drink," he said, holding the glass to my lips.
I took a few sips, my throat still tight from crying.
He watched me the whole time, eyes soft but worried.
"Let me get you something to eat," Keifer said, brushing my hair back before standing.
"I don't want—"
But he was already halfway out the door.
A few minutes later, he came back with a tray.
"Keifer, I don't want it," I said, pulling the blanket up like a shield.
"Jay," he sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed, "I already got it na."
He placed the tray on his lap, picked up a spoon, and looked at me with that annoying, smug, boyfriend face.
"Come on," he said, leaning closer.
"Say ahh, wifey."
I stared at him.
He stared back, spoon raised like he was feeding a toddler.
I groaned. "Keifer—"
He smirked. "Ahh."
I rolled my eyes so hard they almost fell out, but I opened my mouth anyway.
He started feeding me again, slow and gentle, like he was scared I'd break if he moved too fast.
Halfway through, I stopped and frowned at him.
"Did you eat?" I asked.
"No," Keifer said, completely unbothered.
"Why not?" I asked, shocked.
He shrugged like it was obvious.
"I couldn't eat when my wife was crying."
I stared at him.
Then I grabbed the plate out of his hands.
"Sit," I said, scolding him like he was a toddler.
He blinked, confused, but obeyed.
I scooped a spoonful and shoved it toward his mouth.
"Don't starve just because I wasn't eating," I said, feeding him like he was the one who needed taking care of.
He chewed, eyes widening a little.
"Jay, the food is good," Keifer said.
"I know, your cook is really good," I said, taking a spoonful for myself.
Before I could swallow, Keifer leaned in and kissed me—
quick, warm, and completely catching me off guard.
He pulled back with a smirk.
"Jay, I take it back," he said, licking his lips dramatically.
"The food is tasty."
I smacked his arm.
"Asshole."
He just grinned wider, leaning closer like he was absolutely planning to steal another kiss.
And then he did.
This one wasn't teasing or quick.
It was slow… warm… the kind of kiss that made my chest loosen after a whole day of crying.
His hand slid up to cup my cheek, thumb brushing lightly as his lips moved against mine—
gentle, careful, like he was reminding me I wasn't alone anymore.
When he finally pulled back, he rested his forehead against mine, still smiling that stupid soft smile he only ever shows me.
We finished eating, and somehow the room felt warmer after that—
less heavy, less painful.
Keifer cleaned up the tray, then pulled me back into bed with him,
his arms wrapping around me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
We weren't just cuddling.
It felt like he was holding me together.
I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat—
steady, warm, grounding.
After a long moment, the words slipped out of me before I could stop them.
"Keifer… if anything happened to me, like I die—"
I didn't even finish.
Keifer didn't let me.
He leaned in and kissed me—
firm, sudden, almost desperate—
like he was shutting down the thought before it could exist.
His hand cupped the back of my head,
his forehead pressed against mine when he pulled away.
"Don't," he whispered, voice low and tight.
"Don't ever say that."
His thumb brushed my cheek, still trembling a little, even though he was trying so hard to look calm.
"You're here," he murmured.
"You're with me. And I'm not losing you."
My chest tightened.
"But Keifer… Eden—she's trying everything to kill me," I whispered, voice cracking again.
His jaw clenched instantly.
"I will protect you from her," he said, no hesitation, no doubt.
And that—
that was exactly what terrified me.
"That's why I'm scared," I whispered.
He blinked, confused, brows pulling together.
"Why?"
I swallowed hard, my fingers curling into his shirt.
"What if something happens to you?"
My voice broke.
"I can't take it. My brothers can't take it. I can't lose you, Keifer."
His expression changed instantly.
He cupped my face with both hands, gently, like he was holding something fragile.
"Jay," he whispered, leaning his forehead against mine, "nothing is going to happen to me."
I shook my head, tears building again.
"You don't know that."
He pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me like he was trying to shield me from the entire world.
"I'm not going anywhere," he murmured into my hair.
"I'm not leaving you. Not now. Not ever."
"And you're not going anywhere," Keifer added, pulling back just enough to look at me.
"You know I already got our future planned out. After we get married—after your 18th birthday—we'll finish college, then we'll have Caretaker and Watcher."
I smacked his chest lightly.
"Idiot."
He suddenly shifted, facing me fully, eyes glinting with that annoying smirk.
"You know, Jay… I won't mind if Caretaker and Watcher come early."
I blinked. "What is that supposed to mean?"
He slid his hands under my shirt, resting them gently on my stomach
"I mean," he said softly, still smirking, "I wouldn't mind if we started the process of having Caretaker or Watcher."
My eyes widened.
"Asshole."
He laughed quietly, brushing his thumb over my skin in a comforting way, not crossing any lines—just teasing, just being Keifer.
"Stop cussing, wife," he whispered.
Then he leaned in and kissed me—
slow, warm, and full of that stupid tenderness he tries to hide behind jokes.
And even though he was being a complete idiot…
I kissed him back.
We pulled back, both of us breathing a little unevenly, his forehead still resting against mine.
"I'm serious, Jay," Keifer said, voice low but steady.
"You won't leave me alone. Not until we're old. Maybe after 100 years we can die."
I blinked at him.
He wasn't joking.
He wasn't teasing.
He meant every word.
He pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me like he was anchoring me to him.
"We'll raise our children," he continued softly.
"And their children. And their children. Maybe we can raise three generations of our family."
The way he said it—
so sure, so certain, so full of quiet hope—
made something warm bloom in my chest.
He wasn't just comforting me anymore.
He was giving me a future.
I rested my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat—
steady, warm, real.
"Three generations, huh?" I whispered.
His arms tightened around me.
"More if you want," he murmured into my hair.
"As long as you're with me."
And for the first time that day,
The ache in my chest didn't feel so heavy.
"Hmm… I like that idea," I said to Keifer, my voice quieter than I meant it to be.
He pulled me even closer, tucking my head under his chin like I belonged there.
"I knew you would," he murmured, his hand rubbing slow circles on my back.
"You and me… we're going to build something good. Something long. Something real."
His voice dropped, warm and steady.
"No more losing people. No more being alone. We're going to grow old together, Jay."
He kissed the top of my head.
"Three generations," he whispered.
"Maybe more. As long as you're with me."
I smiled at him, still curled up against his chest.
"Keifer… how many kids do you want?" I asked softly.
He didn't even hesitate.
"It depends on my wife," he said, brushing his thumb over my hand.
"We'll have however many you want."
My heart squeezed a little.
"What if I don't want any children?" I asked quietly.
I knew he loved kids.
I knew he dreamed about a big family.
And for a second—just a tiny second—I saw it on his face.
That flicker of sadness he tried to hide.
But he covered it fast, leaning in with a soft smile.
"Then I'll be your baby forever," Keifer said.
I couldn't help it—I smiled.
"Keifer… I want twelve kids," I said.
His eyebrows shot up, and that teasing smirk came back instantly.
"Twelve kids, Mrs. Watson? You're sure you can make twelve tiny versions of us and raise them?"
I laughed quietly.
"Babies are just too cute, Keifer. I want twelve. Or more. Maybe twenty."
He burst out laughing, the sound warm and real.
"As long as you can carry them," he said, pulling me closer, "I don't mind."
His hand slid to my waist, holding me gently, like he was already imagining that future—
a loud house, tiny feet running everywhere, chaos and warmth and family.
"Maybe we can start now," Keifer murmured, his lips brushing my neck.
I swatted his shoulder lightly.
"And my grandpa will make sure we never have more than one kid if I get pregnant now. He warned you, remember?"
Keifer didn't even pretend to be scared.
He just smirked… and gently nipped my neck.
A tiny gasp escaped me before I could stop it.
"Like I'm scared," he said, kissing my cheek, then my jaw, then the side of my face—soft, warm, nothing rushed.
I pushed at his chest half‑heartedly.
"Keifer—"
He only pulled me closer, his forehead resting against mine.
"You think your grandpa can stop me from loving you?" he whispered, voice low but full of that stubborn warmth he always had.
I rolled my eyes, but my heart felt stupidly full.
"You're impossible," I muttered.
"And you love me," he said, brushing his thumb over my cheek.
I didn't deny it.
I just leaned into him, letting his warmth settle over me like a blanket—
safe, steady, exactly what I needed after the day I had.