JAY POV — THE MOMENT HIS FOREVER FOUND MINE
I don't remember breathing.
I remember light.
I remember the sound of the ocean, steady and patient, like it had been waiting longer than both of us.
I remember my heart beating so loud it drowned out everything else.
And I remember him.
Kneeling in front of me.
Keifer Watson—of all people—on one knee in the sand, eyes steady but shining, hands holding something that felt heavier than gold and lighter than air at the same time.
His voice reached me like it was crossing water.
Every word landed. Every confession. Every admission of fear, of wrong choices, of love that learned how to stay.
When he said my name—my full name—it felt like being seen completely. Not the girl I used to be. Not the woman I became out of survival.
All of me.
When he asked the question, my chest hurt in the best way possible.
"Yes."
The word came out like it had been waiting years to be spoken.
And when he slipped the ring onto my finger—
Oh.
I broke.
It wasn't just a ring.
It was six years of distance collapsing into one perfect circle.
It was pain forgiven.
It was nights I cried alone finally being answered.
It was proof that love didn't leave—it just learned how to come back better.
The metal was warm from his hand. Custom. Familiar. As if it had always known my skin.
I stared at it like it might disappear if I blinked.
Then he stood.
Then his hands were on my face.
Then his lips were on mine.
And nothing—nothing—else mattered.
The cheering faded. The world blurred. The sun burned brighter, like it was applauding too.
When we finally pulled apart, I rested my forehead against his, still crying, still laughing, still trying to understand how this was real.
I took a shaky breath.
"My turn," I whispered.
He smiled. Soft. Devastating.
I nodded once—grounding myself—and then looked at him properly. Really looked.
This man had loved me badly once.
And then he learned how to love me right.
"Keifer," I began, voice trembling but certain, "you once thought loving me meant leaving."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"I thought loving you meant surviving without you," I continued. "I was wrong too."
I lifted my hand between us, the ring catching the sunlight like a promise.
"This—this isn't just a yes to marriage," I said quietly. "It's a yes to every version of us."
I swallowed.
"To the girl who didn't remember everything but still felt the loss.
To the boy who carried grief like it was a sentence.
To the people we became when we chose healing over hiding."
His eyes were glassy now.
"I forgive you," I said simply. "Not because you begged. But because you changed."
I smiled through my tears.
"And I choose you—not because you're perfect, but because you stayed. You came back. You stood here instead of running."
I cupped his face, thumb brushing beneath his eye.
"I don't want a safe love," I whispered. "I want this one. The real one. The kind that survives storms and still laughs at breakfast."
A soft chuckle escaped him, breathless.
"So yes," I said, voice firm now, fearless. "I'll marry you. I'll build with you. I'll fight with you. I'll forgive you again if life demands it."
I leaned in, pressing my forehead to his.
"But just so you know," I added lightly, eyes glinting through tears, "you're still terrible at surprises."
He laughed—really laughed—forehead dropping to mine.
And in that moment, wrapped in sunlight, ocean air, and the sound of everyone we loved celebrating around us, I realized something quietly powerful:
Love didn't rescue us.
We rescued each other.
And this—
This was our beginning....
JAY POV — WHEN FOREVER GOT LOUD
For exactly three seconds after we kissed, the world stayed soft.
Just us.
Sunrise.
His hands warm on my waist.
My ring catching light like it was showing off.
Then—
"WOWWWW HUSBAND AND WIFEEEEEE—"
Section E exploded.
I jumped slightly, laughing into Keifer's chest as whistles, hoots, and dramatic gasps tore through the quiet beach like chaos had been waiting politely for permission.
"EXCUSE ME," Felix yelled, shielding his eyes dramatically, "THE SUN IS RISING BUT SO IS MY SINGLENESS."
"THIS IS A PERSONAL ATTACK," Rory added.
Keifer laughed—full, unrestrained—and I felt it vibrate through me. One arm came around my shoulders, instinctive, protective, proud.
"We're not even married yet," I managed between laughs.
"DETAILS," Cin shouted. "WE'VE DECIDED."
"Yeah," Yuri nodded solemnly. "Paperwork is just vibes anyway."
I was still laughing when Cole reached us first.
He didn't say anything at first—just wrapped both of us into a hug so tight I squeaked.
"I'm proud of you," he murmured into my hair. "Both of you."
Celeste was already crying.
Like—fully crying.
"Oh my GOD," she sobbed, pulling me into her arms, then Keifer, then both of us again. "I KNEW IT. I CALLED IT. I AM EMOTIONALLY SUPERIOR."
"You're emotionally loud," Keifer corrected gently.
She sniffed. "Same thing."
Then came Angelo.
My heart softened instantly.
He hugged me first—long, warm, grounding—then pulled back and looked at Keifer with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
"You hurt her," he said calmly, "I hurt you."
Keifer nodded without hesitation. "Fair."
Aries stepped forward next.
Once upon a time, he'd hated me.
Feared me.
Carried memories I couldn't.
Now he looked at me differently—measured, quiet, real.
"Congratulations," he said simply, then turned to Keifer.
And leaned in.
"Don't make her cry," he warned softly. "Because I don't need permission."
Keifer didn't blink.
"I won't."
That was enough.
Then—
"ALRIGHT," Keigan announced loudly, clapping his hands together. "AS THE OFFICIAL BROTHERS—"
"—AND FUTURE BROTHERS-IN-LAW," Keiren added with a grin—
They both pulled me into a hug at the same time.
"Welcome to the chaos," Keigan said.
"You're stuck with us now," Keiren added cheerfully.
I laughed. "I think I already was."
That was the trigger.
All of Section E descended at once.
Hugs.
Shouting.
Someone picked me up.
Someone else lifted Keifer.
Someone yelled "BACHELOR PARTY" way too early.
"WHO HAS THE RING?" Mayo panicked.
"It's ON HER HAND," David deadpanned.
"Oh," Mayo said. "Right. I got excited."
Keifer leaned down, forehead resting against mine amid the noise.
"You okay?" he asked softly, like the chaos didn't exist.
I lifted my hand between us, ring flashing.
"I'm engaged," I whispered, almost disbelieving.
His smile softened into something sacred.
"You're mine," he said. "And I'm yours."
"Good," I replied. "Because I plan to steal your hoodies forever."
He laughed. "Marriage contract accepted."
Eventually, we all headed back—sand in our shoes, sun fully risen now, warmth settling into everything.
In the car, it was quieter.
Just us.
His hand found mine instantly, thumb brushing over the ring like he still couldn't believe it was real.
I leaned my head against his shoulder.
"Hey," I murmured.
"Yes, fiancée?"
I smiled at the word. "I love you."
He kissed my knuckles gently.
"I've loved you longer than I knew how to say it."
And as the road stretched ahead of us—full of noise, family, chaos, healing, and a future we were finally walking into together—
I knew one thing with absolute certainty:
We weren't just in love.
We were home. 💗