MARRY YOUR KILLER
Chapter One Hundred Seven: The Fight
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The morning came bright and warm.
The house was quiet. Most of the family was still asleep. Percy was in the kitchen, making breakfast, his voice low, his hands busy. Honey was beside him, her face calm, her eyes soft. Aries was at the table, reading, their face peaceful. Ella was beside them, her head on their shoulder, her eyes closed. Care was in the medical room, organizing supplies, her hands steady. Cole was beside her, watching, waiting. Keiran was in his room, still asleep, his face soft, his hands open. Keigan was beside him, his eyes on the window, his face cold, his thoughts somewhere else.
Jay was in the nursery. The twins were awake. Aurora was standing in her crib, her hands on the rail, her dark eyes watching the door. She was waiting. She was always waiting. Alexander was sitting in his crib, his legs crossed, his face serious. He was looking at his sister. He was always looking at his sister.
Jay picked up Aurora. Her daughter was warm. Her daughter was wiggly. Her daughter was loud. "Good morning."
Aurora grabbed her mother's hair. She pulled. She was strong. She was determined. She was chaos.
Jay's face didn't change. "Good morning to you too."
She picked up Alexander. Her son was calm. Her son was heavy. Her son was serious. "Good morning."
Alexander looked at his mother. His eyes were dark. His face was serious. He touched her face. Small. Warm. Alive. He was saying hello. He was saying he loved her. He was saying he was ready.
Jay kissed his forehead. "I love you too."
---
The living room was bright. The sun was streaming through the windows. The twins were on the floor. The toys were scattered around them. Blocks. Stuffed animals. Books. Aurora had a block in her hand. Alexander had a book in his lap. They were playing. They were happy. They were together.
Jay sat on the sofa. Keifer was beside her. His hand was in hers. His face was soft. He was watching his children. He was always watching his children.
"They're quiet," Jay said.
Keifer kissed her hair. "They're planning something."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "They're babies."
Keifer looked at his daughter. Aurora was looking at her brother. Her eyes were sharp. Her face was determined. "She's planning something."
---
Aurora crawled across the floor. She was fast. She was determined. She was chaos. She reached Alexander. She stopped. She looked at his book. She wanted it. She always wanted what he had.
Alexander looked at his sister. His face was serious. His eyes were calm. He held his book. He was not giving it to her.
Aurora grabbed the book. She pulled. She was strong. She was determined. She was chaos.
Alexander held on. His face didn't change. His grip was steady. He was not letting go.
Aurora pulled harder. Her face was red. Her lips were pressed together. She wanted the book. She was going to get the book.
Alexander pulled back. His face was still serious. His grip was still steady. He was not giving up.
---
Jay watched from the sofa. Her hand was in Keifer's. Her face was calm. Her eyes were on her children. "They're fighting."
Keifer's face didn't change. "They're negotiating."
Jay looked at him. "They're babies."
Keifer looked at his daughter. Aurora was now using her teeth on the book. "She's negotiating."
---
Aurora pulled. Alexander pulled. The book tore. The pages scattered. The cover fell. Aurora fell backward. She landed on her bottom. Her face was shocked. Her eyes were wide. Her mouth was open.
Alexander looked at the torn book. His face was serious. His eyes were calm. He looked at his sister. She was on the floor. She was not moving. She was not crying. She was waiting.
Aurora's face crumpled. Her lips trembled. Her eyes filled with tears. She cried. Loud. Long. Heartbroken. The book was gone. The pages were everywhere. Her brother had not given it to her. Her brother had not let her win.
Alexander watched his sister. His face was serious. His eyes were soft. He crawled across the floor. He stopped beside her. He touched her face. Small. Warm. Alive. He was saying sorry. He was saying he loved her. He was saying she could have the next one.
Aurora stopped crying. Her eyes were wet. Her face was red. She looked at her brother. She touched his face. Small. Warm. Alive. She was saying okay. She was saying she loved him too. She was saying he could have the next one.
---
Jay watched from the sofa. Her face was wet. Her hands were in her lap. "They made up."
Keifer pulled her close. "They made up."
Jay leaned against him. "They're perfect."
Keifer kissed her hair. "They're perfect."
---
Aurora crawled away from her brother. She was fast. She was determined. She was chaos. She was going to find her father. She was going to climb on his lap. She was going to pull his hair. She was going to be the center of attention.
Alexander crawled away from his sister. He was slow. He was steady. He was calm. He was going to find his mother. He was going to sit on her lap. He was going to watch the world. He was going to be the center of her world.
---
Aurora reached Keifer. She pulled herself up. Her hands were on his legs. Her face was red. Her determination was fierce. She climbed. Her father's hands caught her. His arms were around her. His face was soft.
"You won," Keifer said.
Aurora grabbed his hair. She pulled. She was strong. She was determined. She was chaos.
Keifer's face didn't change. "You're your mother's daughter."
---
Alexander reached Jay. He pulled himself up. His hands were on her legs. His face was serious. His calm was steady. He climbed. His mother's hands caught him. Her arms were around him. Her face was soft.
"You're okay," Jay said.
Alexander touched her face. Small. Warm. Alive. He was saying he loved her. He was saying he was home. He was saying she was his.
Jay kissed his forehead. "I love you too."
---
Keifer looked at his son. Alexander was on Jay's lap. His face was serious. His eyes were calm. He was watching his sister. He was always watching his sister. "He's your son."
Jay looked at her son. "He's our son."
Keifer pulled her close. His arm was around her. His daughter was on his lap. Her hands were in his hair. "They're perfect."
Jay leaned against him. "They're perfect."
---
Lyra walked into the room. Alex was behind her. She was carrying coffee. She stopped. She looked at the scene. Keifer with Aurora on his lap, her hands in his hair. Jay with Alexander on her lap, his face serious. The family was together. The family was chaos. The family was home.
"What happened?" Lyra asked.
Jay looked at her. "They fought over a book."
Lyra looked at the torn pages on the floor. "Who won?"
Jay looked at her daughter. Aurora was now pulling her father's hair again. "She did."
Lyra looked at her niece. "She's your daughter."
Jay sighed. "She's our daughter."
---
Alex sat on the sofa. Lyra sat beside him. He handed her coffee. She took it. She looked at the twins. At Aurora on Keifer's lap, her hands in his hair. At Alexander on Jay's lap, his face serious.
"They're quiet," Alex said.
Lyra took a sip of coffee. "They're planning something."
Alex looked at Aurora. She was now trying to climb onto Keifer's head. "She's planning something."
---
Percy walked into the room. He was carrying a tray of food. Honey was behind him. He stopped. He looked at the scene. Keifer with Aurora on his head. Jay with Alexander on her lap. The torn pages on the floor.
"What happened?" Percy asked.
Jay looked at him. "They fought over a book."
Percy looked at the torn pages. "Who won?"
Jay looked at her daughter. Aurora was now standing on Keifer's shoulders. "She did."
Percy looked at his niece. "She's your daughter."
Jay sighed. "She's our daughter."
---
Honey sat on the sofa. Percy sat beside her. He put the tray on the table. He looked at the twins. At Aurora on Keifer's shoulders. At Alexander on Jay's lap.
"They're perfect," Honey said.
Percy pulled her close. "They're perfect."
---
Aries walked into the room. Ella was beside them. They stopped. They looked at the scene. Keifer with Aurora on his shoulders. Jay with Alexander on her lap. The family was together. The family was chaos. The family was home.
"What happened?" Aries asked.
Jay looked at them. "They fought over a book."
Aries looked at the torn pages. "Who won?"
Jay looked at her daughter. Aurora was now pulling Keifer's ears. "She did."
Aries looked at their niece. "She's your daughter."
Jay sighed. "She's our daughter."
---
Ella sat on the sofa. Aries sat beside her. They looked at the twins. At Aurora on Keifer's shoulders. At Alexander on Jay's lap.
"They're beautiful," Ella said.
Aries pulled her close. "They're beautiful."
---
Care walked into the room. Cole was beside her. She stopped. She looked at the scene. Keifer with Aurora on his shoulders, her hands in his hair. Jay with Alexander on her lap, his face serious. The torn pages on the floor.
"What happened?" Care asked.
Jay looked at her. "They fought over a book."
Care looked at the torn pages. "Who won?"
Jay looked at her daughter. Aurora was now using her father's head as a drum. "She did."
Care looked at her niece. "She's your daughter."
Jay sighed. "She's our daughter."
---
Cole sat on the sofa. Care sat beside him. He put his arm around her. She leaned against him. They looked at the twins.
"They're perfect," Cole said.
Care kissed his cheek. "They're perfect."
---
Keiran ran into the room. His face was bright. His voice was loud. "I heard fighting! What happened?"
Jay looked at him. "Aurora and Alexander fought over a book."
Keiran looked at the torn pages. "Who won?"
Jay looked at her daughter. Aurora was now using her father's head as a jungle gym. "She did."
Keiran looked at his niece. "She's fast."
Keigan walked into the room. His arms were crossed. His face was cold. He looked at the scene. At Aurora on Keifer's shoulders. At Alexander on Jay's lap. At the torn pages on the floor.
"She won," Keigan said.
Keiran looked at his brother. "She always wins."
Keigan looked at his niece. "She's your sister's daughter."
Keiran grinned. "She's our niece."
Keigan's face didn't change. "She's chaos."
Keiran laughed. "She's the best."
---
The morning passed. The sun was high. The living room was full. The family was scattered across the sofas, across the chairs, across the floor. Aurora was on Keifer's shoulders, her hands in his hair, her laugh loud. Alexander was on Jay's lap, his face serious, his eyes on his sister.
"They're perfect," Percy said.
Honey looked at him. "They're chaos."
Percy grinned. "They're perfect chaos."
---
Lyra watched her niece. Aurora was now trying to climb onto her father's head again. "She's going to fall."
Alex looked at Aurora. "Keifer will catch her."
Lyra looked at her brother. He was calm. He was steady. He was watching his daughter. He was always watching his daughter. "He will."
---
Jay looked at her daughter. Aurora was now standing on Keifer's shoulders. Her arms were out. Her face was bright. She was balancing. She was brave. She was chaos.
"You're going to fall," Jay said.
Aurora looked at her mother. Her eyes were dark. Her smile was wide. She was not going to fall. She was going to fly.
She jumped.
Keifer caught her. His arms were around her. His face was soft. His heart was pounding. "You're your mother's daughter."
Aurora laughed. She was loud. She was chaos. She was perfect.
---
Alexander watched his sister. His face was serious. His eyes were calm. He was not going to jump. He was going to watch. He was going to wait. He was always going to wait.
Jay kissed his head. "You're your father's son."
Alexander looked at his mother. His face was serious. His eyes were soft. He touched her face. Small. Warm. Alive. He was saying he loved her. He was saying he was home. He was saying she was his.
Jay held him close. "I love you too."
---
The sun was setting when the family finally left.
The living room was quiet. The twins were in the nursery. Sleeping. Safe. Home. Jay stood in the doorway. Keifer was behind her. His hand was on her back.
"They fought today," Jay said.
Keifer kissed her hair. "They made up."
Jay leaned against him. "They're perfect."
Keifer pulled her close. "They're perfect."
---
Lyra stood in the doorway of her room. Alex was behind her. His hand was in hers.
"They're loud," Lyra said.
Alex smiled. "They're family."
Lyra looked at him. "They're annoying."
Alex kissed her hand. "They love you."
Lyra almost smiled. Almost. "I love them."
---
Percy stood in the garden. The roses were red. The sun was setting. Honey was beside him. Her hand was in his.
"They're happy," Honey said.
Percy nodded. "They're happy."
Honey leaned against him. "We're happy."
Percy pulled her close. "We're happy."
---
Keiran stood in the hallway. Keigan was beside him. His face was bright. His voice was loud. "Aurora won."
Keigan's face was cold. "She won."
Keiran grinned. "She always wins."
Keigan looked at his brother. "She's your niece."
Keiran laughed. "She's our niece."
Keigan's face didn't change. "She's chaos."
Keiran nodded. "She's the best chaos."
---
The night was quiet. The house was still. Jay lay in Keifer's arms. Her head was on his chest. His heart was beating beneath her ear.
"You're thinking," Keifer said.
She looked at him. "I'm thinking about the fight. About the book. About how Aurora won. About how Alexander let her win."
He kissed her hair. "He let her win."
She smiled. "He's your son."
He pulled her close. "He's our son."
The door creaked. Small footsteps. Soft breathing. Aurora stood in the doorway. She was holding her blanket. She was not going to sleep alone. Behind her, Alexander crawled into the room. He was holding his bear. He was not going to let his sister have all the attention.
Jay sighed. "They escaped again."
Keifer looked at his children. "They're our children."
Aurora climbed onto the bed. She crawled between her parents. She pulled the blanket over herself. She closed her eyes. She was sleeping. She was safe. She was home.
Alexander climbed onto the bed. He crawled beside his sister. He held his bear. He closed his eyes. He was sleeping. He was safe. He was home.
Jay looked at her children. "They're perfect."
Keifer kissed her forehead. "They're perfect."
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END OF CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SEVEN