✦ CHAPTER — "One More Night." ✦
Jay's POV
Eight months.
And my body felt it in everything now.
In the way I couldn't turn properly in bed. In the way I woke up every hour. In the way breathing sometimes felt like effort.
---
And Keifer noticed all of it.
Of course he did.
He noticed even when I tried not to show it.
---
Tonight, I couldn't sleep again.
I shifted for the fifth time with a frustrated sigh.
"…this is impossible."
The second I moved—
I felt him move too.
Immediately awake.
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"Jay."
His voice was quiet in the dark.
Tired, but alert in an instant.
"What is it?"
---
I looked at him.
"…I can't get comfortable."
He didn't even hesitate.
His arm was already around me.
Careful. Familiar. Protective.
---
"Turn slowly."
"I am turning slowly."
> "Slower."
BRO 😭💀
---
He helped me shift gently, adjusting pillows behind my back without even fully sitting up anymore.
Like he'd memorized every discomfort I had.
---
After a few minutes, I exhaled softly.
"…you're not sleeping."
"I am."
"You're literally awake."
Silence.
Then:
> "I'm resting my eyes."
😭🤍💀
---
Eventually, he gave up pretending and sat up fully.
Running a hand through his hair slightly.
"…come here."
He pulled me closer immediately.
---
And just like that—
I was leaning against his chest again.
Warm. Familiar. Safe.
---
✦ NURSERY ✦
A little later, he carried me there.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like always.
---
The nursery was glowing softly now.
Almost finished.
Cream walls. Tiny furniture. Soft blankets folded neatly.
It felt… real.
Too real.
---
We sat together on the floor.
Mochi immediately jumping beside me and curling against my bump.
Protective as always.
---
Keifer rested behind me, legs stretched out, one hand automatically on my stomach.
Always.
---
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Just the rain outside.
And the soft quiet of everything we had built.
---
Then I whispered:
"…are you scared?"
---
A pause.
Longer than usual.
Then quietly—
> "Terrified."
---
I turned my head slightly to look at him.
He wasn't joking.
Not hiding it.
Just honest.
---
"I've faced worse things," he continued softly.
> "But nothing like this."
My chest tightened.
---
"Like what?"
He looked down at my stomach.
And his voice softened even more.
> "Losing either of you."
BROOOOO 😭🫀💌
---
I reached for his hand instantly.
He held mine tightly back.
No hesitation.
---
"You won't lose us," I whispered.
He didn't answer immediately.
Just squeezed my hand slightly.
Like he was trying to believe it.
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✦ BABY MOMENT ✦
Then—
a strong kick.
Sudden.
Unexpected.
---
I gasped softly.
"Keifer—"
He immediately froze.
Then his hand pressed firmer against my stomach.
Waiting.
---
Another kick.
Stronger.
---
And suddenly—
he leaned forward, forehead resting against my bump.
Quiet.
Focused.
Almost emotional.
---
"…you're awake too?" he murmured.
I laughed softly.
"You're talking to her again."
> "She listens."
BRO 😭💀🤍
---
He stayed like that for a while.
Just speaking quietly.
Not even full sentences.
Just soft words.
Comforting words.
---
And I watched him.
This man who was feared by so many people…
being so gentle with something so small.
---
Eventually, exhaustion caught up with me again.
My body relaxed against his chest slowly.
---
"…Keifer?"
"Mm."
"…don't overthink tonight."
A pause.
Then softly:
> "I'll try."
---
His arms tightened around me carefully.
And I fell asleep there.
Against him.
In the nursery.
Surrounded by everything we built together.
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✦ KEIFER'S POV ✦
She fell asleep first.
Her breathing slowed against my chest.
Warm. Steady. Safe.
---
I stayed awake longer.
Just watching her.
Then the bump.
Then Mochi curled beside her.
Then the room.
---
Everything felt too fragile.
Too precious.
---
My hand rested over her stomach.
And I whispered quietly into the dark:
> "Stay with us."
A pause.
Then softer:
> "Both of you."
---
For the first time in my life…
I wasn't preparing for a fight.
I was waiting for a beginning. 🫀🤍
✦ CHAPTER — "Stay With Me." ✦
Jay's POV
It started in the middle of the night.
At first, I didn't even understand what was happening.
Just a strange sharp pain that pulled me awake.
Then another.
And suddenly—
warmth.
Too much warmth.
My breath hitched instantly.
---
"Keifer…"
My voice came out shaky.
"…Keifer."
No response.
He was still half asleep beside me.
One arm lazily around my waist.
---
I tried again, louder this time.
"Keifer!"
He stirred slightly, still not fully awake.
"…five more minutes…"
Then, sleepily:
> "What do you want to eat?"
---
I froze.
Even in pain.
Then stared at him in disbelief.
"…what?"
He sighed softly, eyes still closed.
> "I'll get it later."
---
Another wave hit me harder.
I sucked in a sharp breath and grabbed his shirt instantly.
"Keifer!"
That time, he opened his eyes slowly.
Confused.
Still not fully there.
---
"…Jay?"
My voice broke.
"My water broke."
Silence.
A full, terrifying silence.
---
He blinked once.
Twice.
Then suddenly sat up so fast the blanket fell off.
"…what?"
I grabbed his arm tighter, frustrated through pain.
"My water broke!"
---
Everything changed in an instant.
---
Keifer's POV
I went completely still for half a second.
Then my entire body snapped awake.
---
"Why didn't you say that first?"
She glared at me like she wanted to hit me.
"I DID."
---
I didn't waste another second.
I lifted her immediately into my arms.
Bridal style.
Careful. Fast. Protective.
---
"Keifer—"
"Breathe," I said quickly, already moving.
"Just breathe, okay?"
---
She gripped my shirt tightly as another pain hit her.
And I felt something in my chest tighten painfully.
Not fear of enemies.
Not danger.
This was different.
---
I got her into the car in seconds.
My hands shaking slightly as I buckled her in.
"Stay with me," I said firmly while starting the engine.
"Look at me."
---
Jay's POV
"I can't— it hurts—"
"I know," he said immediately, voice low but steady. "Look at me."
---
I forced my eyes to meet his.
He was driving too fast.
Too focused.
But his hand reached back and grabbed mine instantly.
---
"Breathe with me," he said.
In. Out.
In. Out.
---
Another wave hit me and I squeezed his hand tightly.
He didn't let go for a second.
---
"You're okay," he kept saying.
"Almost there."
---
Hospital
Everything moved fast after that.
White lights. Doctors. Wheels. Voices.
---
And then—
the delivery room.
---
I don't remember when the pain became too much to think clearly.
Only that his hand never left mine.
---
Keifer's POV
She was shaking.
But she was here.
With me.
And I wasn't letting go.
---
"Jay," I said firmly, leaning closer so she could see me.
"Look at me."
---
Her eyes found mine through tears.
Good.
---
"Stay with me," I repeated.
"I'm right here."
---
She squeezed my hand hard.
Hard enough that it hurt.
I didn't move.
---
"Don't look away," I said quietly.
"Just me."
---
And she did.
Even through everything.
---
I kept my forehead close to hers as she went through another wave of pain.
My hand still in hers.
The other on her shoulder.
Anchoring her.
---
"You're doing well," I murmured.
"I've got you."
---
Jay's POV
Through the pain, through everything—
I kept looking at him.
Because if I didn't, I felt like I'd fall apart.
---
His voice kept pulling me back.
His hand kept holding me steady.
---
And even when I thought I couldn't take it anymore—
he was still there.
"Stay with me," he kept repeating.
And somehow…
I did.
✦ CHAPTER — "First Cry." ✦
Jay's POV
Everything blurred after that.
Pain. Voices. Hands. Light.
Until suddenly—
there was nothing but a strange quiet in my body.
Like something heavy had been lifted away.
---
My breathing felt lighter.
My limbs tired.
My eyes barely staying open.
---
I heard it first.
A sound that didn't belong to the room.
Small.
Sharp.
Alive.
---
A cry.
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Keifer's POV
For a second, I couldn't move.
Then I heard it again.
Louder.
Real.
---
My chest stopped completely.
"…Jay."
I looked at her instantly.
She was still there.
Eyes closed.
Too still.
---
Fear hit me so fast I almost couldn't breathe.
"Jay."
I said her name again, sharper.
Nothing.
---
I turned immediately toward the doctor.
"What's happening?"
---
The doctor barely looked up, still focused on the baby.
"She's okay. She's just resting."
My breath shook slightly.
"…resting?"
"Yes."
---
I turned back to her instantly.
My hand went to her face.
"Jay."
My voice came out lower now.
Careful.
"Open your eyes."
---
Jay's POV
I felt his hand on my cheek.
His voice calling me back.
But everything felt heavy.
Warm.
Safe.
Too safe to fight sleep.
---
"Keifer…"
It came out weak.
Barely there.
---
Keifer's POV
She responded.
That was enough.
My entire body loosened slightly in relief.
---
I leaned closer immediately.
"It's okay," I said quickly.
"You did it."
---
Another cry filled the room.
And then—
the doctor lifted something into view.
---
Small.
Wrapped.
Moving.
Alive.
---
My breath stopped again.
---
"…a baby girl."
The doctor's voice was calm.
But I didn't hear anything after that.
---
Because I was already walking closer.
---
Jay's POV
I forced my eyes open slightly.
Just enough.
---
I saw him.
Standing there.
Completely still.
Looking at something in the doctor's arms.
---
His expression wasn't anything I could describe properly.
Not fear.
Not shock.
Something softer.
Broken open.
---
"…Keifer," I whispered.
---
Keifer's POV
I heard her.
But I couldn't look away.
---
They placed the baby carefully into my arms.
And for a second—
I was afraid to hold her wrong.
Afraid she'd disappear.
---
But then I felt her.
Small.
Warm.
Real.
---
My hands tightened gently around her immediately.
Careful.
Protective.
---
And something inside me shifted completely.
---
"She's…" I whispered.
Then stopped.
Because there were no words that felt right.
---
I turned slightly toward Jay.
She was still watching me.
Tired.
Barely awake.
---
I walked to her immediately with the baby still in my arms.
Carefully leaning down so she could see.
---
Jay's POV
He came closer.
Slow.
Like he was carrying something more fragile than anything in the world.
---
And when I saw her—
I forgot the pain.
Everything.
---
A tiny face.
Soft.
Perfect.
---
My breath caught.
"…she's here," I whispered.
---
Keifer's POV
I looked between them.
My wife.
And my daughter.
---
Then slowly, I placed the baby near Jay so she could see properly.
But I didn't let go completely.
My hand stayed there.
Holding both of them.
---
"She's safe," I said quietly.
"To both of you."
---
Jay's POV
My eyes filled instantly.
But I was too tired to cry properly.
So I just smiled instead.
Small.
Weak.
Real.
---
"She looks like you," I whispered.
---
Keifer's POV
I actually laughed softly under my breath.
"No."
Then after a pause—
"…she looks like you."
---
The baby made a tiny sound again.
And my hand instinctively tightened protectively around her.
---
I looked down at her.
Then at Jay.
And for the first time in my life—
I understood something I never had words for.
---
Home wasn't a place.
It was them.