The Black Box had been transformed into a high-security wonderland. Keifer had spared no expense, turning the grand ballroom into a "Midnight Starlight" theme. Gold-trimmed balloons floated against the ceiling, and a private orchestra was playing soft classical music—which was quickly being drowned out by the chaos of the Watson-Mariano clan.
The "Savage" Wardrobe Protest
POV: Jay
I stood in the middle of the nursery, holding a custom-made, hand-stitched silk dress that cost more than a small car. It was beautiful, puffy, and very pink.
Astraea, now a full year old and possessing the stubbornness of both her parents combined, was currently sitting in the corner of her crib, wearing nothing but her diaper and a look of pure defiance.
"Astra, please," I coaxed, holding up the dress. "It's your birthday. You're a princess today."
"No!" she shouted, her favorite word echoing off the walls. She pointed at Alexander, who was standing by the door in his full black tactical "Ninja" suit, complete with a plastic katana strapped to his back. "Nee-ja! Nee-ja!"
"She's right, Mumma," Alexander said, crossing his arms solemnly. "A princess can be captured. A ninja does the capturing. She needs the gear."
I looked at the pink silk dress, then at my daughter's fierce expression. I sighed, tossed the dress onto the bed, and grabbed my phone. "Keifer, cancel the 'Royal Debut' theme. We're going with 'Tactical Elite.' Tell the orchestra to play something with more bass."
The Grand Entrance: Tactical Edition
Thirty minutes later, the grand doors of the ballroom swung open. The elite guests—politicians, billionaires, and the entire Section E—gasped.
Instead of a floating pink cloud, Astraea entered sitting on Keifer's shoulder. She was wearing a custom-fitted, miniature black tactical vest over a black jumpsuit, with tiny combat boots. She had a headband tied around her forehead, and she was waving a small, blunt wooden dagger.
"Presenting the Birthday Queen," the herald announced, though he looked deeply confused.
"That's my girl!" Keiran and Keigan roared, giving her a standing ovation.
Percy (Blue Eyes) wiped a fake tear from his eye. "She's so beautiful. She looks like she's about to lead a raid on a diamond mine."
The Cake Sabotage
The centerpiece of the room was a five-tier cake designed to look like a castle. Mayo and Kit had spent forty-eight hours on it.
As we gathered for the "Happy Birthday" song, Keifer held Astraea close to the cake. "Make a wish, Princess," he whispered, his eyes soft with a father's love that he only showed within these walls.
Astraea didn't wish. She didn't wait for the song. She looked at the top tier, let out a war cry, and lunged forward, grabbing a handful of blue frosting and smearing it directly onto Ci n's pristine white tuxedo jacket.
"Gah!" she cheered, shoving a fistful of cake into her own mouth.
"Direct hit!" Rory shouted, checking his stopwatch. "Target neutralized in 1.5 seconds."
"I am a world-class surgeon, Astra!" Ci n cried, looking at his blue-stained chest. "I am not a canvas!"
"You are today, Doc," I laughed, wiping a smudge of frosting off Astraea's nose. "It's her world. We're just living in it."
The Gifts of Chaos
The gift-opening ceremony was a peak into the madness of our family:
Aries (Horoscope): A massive, raw emerald. "For prosperity!" Astraea immediately used it to try and crack open a walnut.
Erdix: A custom-built, child-sized laptop with military-grade encryption. Astraea used it as a step-stool to reach the juice boxes.
Percy: A pair of miniature designer sunglasses. Astraea took them, looked at them, and then tucked them into Alexander's pocket. "Nee-ja," she whispered.
Keifer: He stepped forward, handing her a small, velvet box. Inside was a key. "It's the deed to a sanctuary in the mountains, Astra. It's yours. A place where no one can ever find you unless you want them to."
I looked at Keifer, my heart aching with love. He wasn't just giving her property; he was giving her the one thing he struggled to find his whole life: Peace.
The "Savage" Romance (Birthday Night)
By 11:00 PM, the guests were gone, and the Black Box was a mess of wrapping paper and cake crumbs. Astraea was fast asleep in her tactical gear, clutching her wooden dagger.
I was standing on the balcony, looking out at the Manila skyline, when I felt Keifer's arms wrap around my waist. He pulled me back against his chest, his chin resting on my shoulder.
"One year," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "One year since you almost left me."
"I told you, hubby," I said, turning in his arms to face him. I reached up, tracing the sharp line of his jaw. "I'm too savage to die that easily. And besides, someone has to keep you and that little monster in check.
Keifer leaned down, his forehead resting against mine. "She's exactly like you, Jay. Stubborn, brilliant, and completely terrifying."
"And she's exactly like you," I countered, pulling him into a deep, lingering kiss. "Possessive, protective, and a total softie for the people she loves."
"Don't tell Section E I'm a softie," he growled playfully, his hands sliding down to the small of my back. "I have a reputation to maintain."
"Your reputation is currently covered in blue frosting, Mark Keifer Watson," I teased, pointing to the smudge on his collar.
He laughed—a real, genuine sound that echoed into the night. He picked me up, spinning me around as the stars shone above us. The "Starlight" was one year old, the Queen was stronger than ever, and the Monster? He was finally, truly home.