The atmosphere in the Black Box had shifted from the cold, clinical terror of the medical wing to a state of forced, frantic joy. If the 6th month brought the shadow of death, Keifer decided the 7th month would be a festival of life. He wouldn't allow the house to feel like a hospital; he wanted it to feel like a kingdom awaiting its princess.
However, the medical reality remained: Jay was on strict bed rest. She was the queen of the castle, but her throne was now a custom-designed medical bed in the center of the grand sunroom.
POV: Keifer (Mark Keifer Watson)
I stood on the balcony overlooking the grand hall, my eyes scanning the chaos below. I had given Section E and the families a single directive: "Make it the most beautiful day of her life. If I see a single long face or a hint of worry, you're banned from the estate."
"Kuya, the flower shipments from Holland just arrived," Keigan shouted, directing a team of workers carrying thousands of white and blush-pink peonies.
"And the silk drapes?" I asked, my voice tight.
"Installed," Keiran replied, running past with a box of "Baby Astraea" party favors. "And Mayo and Kit are currently fighting over the height of the macaroon tower. It's currently six feet tall."
I looked toward the sunroom. Jay was propped up on silk pillows, her face pale but her eyes bright as she watched the madness. I walked toward her, the "Monster" softening with every step.
"How are we feeling, wifey?" I asked, kissing her forehead.
"I feel like a parade float, hubby," she laughed, though I could hear the slight rasp in her breath. "But it's beautiful. Thank you."
The "Chaotic" Committee
The baby shower preparation was being handled by the most unqualified, over-qualified team in the world.
The Logistics: Erdix and Felix had created a "Baby Shower Heat Map" on their tablets to ensure optimal guest flow and air conditioning levels.
The Decor: Aries (Horoscope) was hanging Swarovski crystals from the ceiling. "They will catch the 3 PM sun and bathe Astraea in healing light!" he shouted, nearly falling off a ladder until Percy (Blue Eyes) caught him.
The Security: Denzel and Rory were checking the gift boxes for "threats." "You never know," Rory muttered, scanning a stuffed bunny with a high-tech wand. "The bunny could be a listening device."
The Catering: Mayo and Kit had created an ice cream sculpture of a cradle that didn't melt. Emman had flown in his top chefs from the 7th richest hotel to assist.
Ci n walked in, wearing his white coat but holding a party popper. He checked Jay's monitors—hidden discreetly behind a flower wall—before nodding to me. "Vitals are stable, Keifer. But keep the guest list small. Her heart can't handle too much excitement."
POV: Jay (Jasper Jean Mariano)
I watched my family through the glass doors. Ma (Jeena) and Tita Gemma were sewing tiny lace borders onto the tablecloths, whispering stories about when I was a baby. Pa Pa (Jasper) and Kuya Angelo were sitting in the corner, looking at a blueprint of the hospital transport route for the hundredth time.
Even Alexander was busy. He was sitting at my feet, painstakingly organizing his toy cars into a "protective circle" around my bed.
"For Baby Astra, Mumma," he whispered. "So the bad germs can't get her."
"Thank you, my little commander," I said, my heart swelling.
Then, the mood swing hit. One moment I was smiling, and the next, I felt a crushing wave of guilt. I looked at Keifer, who was currently debating the "integrity" of a pink balloon arch with Calix.
"Hubby!" I called out.
He was by my side in a second. "What is it? Pain? Discomfort?"
"Why are we doing this?" I sobbed, the tears coming out of nowhere. "What if I'm not here to see her wear these dresses? What if we're just throwing a party for a ghost?"
The room went silent. Section E stopped moving. Aries froze on his ladder. The weight of the 6th-month check-up crashed back into the room.
The Vow of the Black Box
Keifer didn't flinch. He sat on the edge of the bed and took my face in his hands.
"Listen to me, Jay," he said, his voice echoing in the silent hall. "We are throwing this party because Astraea Solene deserves to know she was loved before she even breathed. And we are doing it because you are the Queen of this house. We don't celebrate 'what ifs.' We celebrate the fact that you are here, right now, fighting for our daughter."
Percy walked over, his blue eyes fierce. "And because if you don't stay, who's going to tell me my eyes are too bright? I need my sister, Jay. So you better plan on being at the next ten birthdays."
"I've already hacked the hospital's mainframe," Felix piped up from the corner. "The robots they use for surgery? I've optimized their code myself. No one is slipping, jay."
Ci n stepped forward, his hand on my shoulder. "I'm the pilot, remember? I don't crash. And I'm not crashing this delivery."
I looked around at the faces—the doctors, the killers, the hackers, the businessmen, and my family. They were all standing there, a wall of human steel, refusing to let me sink.
"Okay," I whispered, wiping my eyes. "But the macaroon tower needs to be seven feet tall, not six. Emman, tell your chefs."
"On it!" Emman shouted, relieved the "Monster" mood had passed.
The Final Touch
As the sun began to set, the Black Box looked like a dream. Thousands of lights twinkled like the stars Aurora lived among. The house was ready. The family was ready.
Keifer leaned down and whispered into my ear, "Tomorrow, the world sees the Watson Princess. And they'll see her mother, the strongest woman I've ever known."
I smiled, feeling a strong, rhythmic kick from Astraea. She was ready too.