Keifer's PoV
Jay clung to me like the world had just ended and somehow, I was the only thing keeping it from falling apart completely. Her breaths came in short, jagged gasps, her body trembling against mine. I could feel the life inside her—soft, insistent, proof that we were creating something stronger than fear, stronger than hate.
"Shh… it's okay," I murmured, pressing my forehead to hers. "You're safe. All of you… you're safe now."
Her hand hesitated on my chest, fingers brushing over the slight rise of my heartbeat, as if confirming I was real. "Keifer…" she whispered, her voice raw, uncertain.
"Yeah," I said, holding her tighter. "Keifer's going to be okay. You're going to be okay. And… we're not letting anyone hurt you again."
She swallowed, tears spilling over, and I felt the baby shift—fluttering softly against her ribs. It was a small, quiet miracle, but it anchored me more fiercely than anything else ever had.
"I—I don't even know how to…" Jay started, panic still underlining her words. "How am I supposed to… handle all of this?"
"You don't have to handle it alone," I said firmly. "Not ever. We'll figure it out… together. One step at a time. Keifer, you, me—we've got this."
She nodded slowly, finally allowing herself to relax, leaning into me. And in that moment, the chaos outside—the anger, the fight, the fear—all of it seemed to fall away. It was just us.
Then, almost hesitantly, her gaze lifted. "You… really mean it? About staying? About us?"
I cupped her cheek, thumb brushing against her temple. "Every single day. No one, nothing is taking this from us. You're carrying our future… our family. That changes everything. And I'll make sure the rest of the world knows it."
Her lips quivered, and she laughed softly—a mix of disbelief and relief. "Okay… okay. Then I trust you."
I pressed my forehead to hers again, feeling her heartbeat sync with mine. "That's all I need."
Outside, the night held its breath. But inside, we were a fortress. And nothing—no one—could tear us apart. Not now, not ever.
Jay clung to me like the world had just ended and somehow, I was the only thing keeping it from falling apart completely. Her breaths came in short, jagged gasps, her body trembling against mine. I could feel the life inside her—soft, insistent, proof that we were creating something stronger than fear, stronger than hate.
"Shh… it's okay," I murmured, pressing my forehead to hers. "You're safe. All of you… you're safe now."
Her hand hesitated on my chest, fingers brushing over the slight rise of my heartbeat, as if confirming I was real. "Keifer…" she whispered, her voice raw, uncertain.
"Yeah," I said, holding her tighter. "Everything's going to be okay. You're going to be okay. And… we're not letting anyone hurt you again."
She swallowed, tears spilling over, and I felt the baby shift—fluttering softly against her ribs. It was a small, quiet miracle, but it anchored me more fiercely than anything else ever had.
"I—I don't even know how to…" Jay started, panic still underlining her words. "How am I supposed to… handle all of this?"
"You don't have to handle it alone," I said firmly. "Not ever. We'll figure it out… together. One step at a time. Me, you—we've got this."
She nodded slowly, finally allowing herself to relax, leaning into me. And in that moment, the chaos outside—the anger, the fight, the fear—all of it seemed to fall away. It was just us.
Then, almost hesitantly, her gaze lifted. "You… really mean it? About staying? About us?"
I cupped her cheek, thumb brushing against her temple. "Every single day. No one, nothing is taking this from us. You're carrying our future… our family. That changes everything. And I'll make sure the rest of the world knows it."
Her lips quivered, and she laughed softly—a mix of disbelief and relief. "Okay… okay. Then I trust you."
I pressed my forehead to hers again, feeling her heartbeat sync with mine. "That's all I need."
Outside, the night held its breath. But inside, we were a fortress. And nothing—no one—could tear us apart. Not now, not ever.
I know this isn't the right time but….. "Jay, it's been weeks since we went to school. Section E is worried"
"You really think this is the right time. And I can't come to school, not with this belly. Its a good thing your shirt is big"
I laughed, small, true. "How about online"
"Keifer" she hissed
Therebwe go again. Intense mood swings. But I'm glad we're fine now. Almost.