---Month 1: The First Spark---
The first month was an absolute wake-up call for the Watson estate. The initial shock of the two pink lines had barely faded before my hormones decided to turn my brain into a complete, unpredictable war zone.
My emotional filter completely disappeared, and the mood swings hit like a sudden, violent storm. One Tuesday afternoon, I walked into Keifer's home office while he was silently analyzing a logistics security contract. He wasn't doing anything wrong. He wasn't even looking at me or making a sound. But just the sight of his completely calm, unbothered expression while my entire body was silently panicking inside suddenly made me furious.
"Why are you sitting like that?!" I snapped, marching up to his desk and slamming both hands flat against the polished glass. "You're just sitting there, looking perfectly fine and typing like a machine while my stomach feels like it's on a non-stop roller coaster! Go away! Get out of my sight, Keifer! Go sleep in the guest room!"
Keifer slowly stopped typing, his dark, piercing eyes locking onto mine in deadpan silence. He didn't argue. He didn't raise his voice or show a single ounce of irritation. He just calmly closed his laptop, stood up from his leather chair, and smoothly walked out of the room to give me the space I demanded.
The exact second the heavy mahogany door clicked shut, the sudden rush of anger vanished, and a horrible wave of regret hit me like a physical truck. *What the hell, why did I just do that?!* Big, hot tears instantly spilled over my eyelashes. Panic seized my chest, and I bolted out of the office, running down the grand hallway barefoot until I threw myself directly against his back, wrapping my arms tightly around his waist.
"I'm sorry!" I sobbed miserably into his black shirt, my tears instantly soaking through the fabric. "I'm so sorry! I don't know why I shouted on you! Please don't leave me alone, Keifer! I don't know what's wrong with me!"
Keifer didn't look annoyed at the sudden turnaround. A low, deep vibration rumbled through his chest as he turned around in my tight embrace, effortlessly pulling my trembling frame flush against his bare chest. A rare, breathtakingly soft smile touched his lips as he stroked my messy hair, grounding my frantic breathing.
"It's okay, baby. Don't cry," he murmured gravelly, his large, warm hand moving down to rest flat and steady over my stomach. "I understand. I'm not going anywhere."
---Month 2: The Battle of Senses and the Betrayal--- (A/N:- This is not my actual idea, I read one book with a similar idea and I liked it so much so I thought of adding it here, I know I should have asked the author, but I don't really remember the book with this idea as I read a lot of books)
By the second month, my nose had somehow transformed into a highly sensitive, military-grade tactical radar.
Unfortunately for Keifer, he was the primary target of its absolute wrath.
Every single scent, movement, and sound in the mansion was suddenly amplified a thousand times in my brain, and it was driving me completely insane.
"Keifer, seriously, stop it! Just stop!" I yelled from the bed, abruptly sitting up and glaring at him the exact moment he stepped out of the master bathroom.
He froze in place, a clean towel draped over his broad, bare shoulders, looking thoroughly and genuinely confused. "Stop what, Jay?"
"Stop breathing so heavily! Are you crazy?, you are literally inhaling all the oxygen in the master suite, and your scent is making my head spin!" I grabbed a plush decorative pillow from the headboard and threw it directly at his chest with all my might. "Go away! Get out of the room! Call Aries! Tell him to come to the estate right now! Aries is way better than you anyway—at least he doesn't breathe like a loud, suffocating corporate robot!"
Keifer effortlessly caught the flying pillow with one hand. He didn't look angry; instead, his dark eyes narrowed in an expression of pure, deadpan amusement, betrayal.
Without a single word, he reached onto the nightstand, pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and immediately put it on speaker.
"Aries," Keifer muttered smoothly into the line, his gravelly voice dropping into its usual calm register. "Your sister is calling for you. She claims I am breathing too loudly and demands your presence. Come to the estate now."
The line went dead with a sharp click.
True to form, it took exactly twenty-four minutes for the tires of Aries's sports car to screech aggressively outside the mansion's main entrance. He didn't even wait for the butler to greet him—he practically burst through our bedroom doors, looking fiercely alert, his shoulders tense as if he were expecting an elite gang ambush.
The second my eyes landed on him, the dark cloud over my head instantly vanished. My face lit up, and I clapped my hands in pure, childlike delight. "Aries! You're finally here! Thank goodness! Please tell Keifer to move his laptops and his entire desk setup down to the garage! He's taking up all my air!"
Aries let out a massive sigh of relief, dropping his defensive stance. He walked over to the mattress, sliding a glance at a silent Keifer before sitting on the edge of the bed and gently patting my head. "Are you okay, Jay? Did you eat anything yet? Do you feel nauseous? Did he check your temperature today? Are you sleeping well at night? Tell me if you need anything."
I stared at him as the heavy barrage of continuous questions hit my ears. The words just kept coming and coming, bouncing around inside my sensitive, hormonal brain until something in my head completely snapped. The sudden happiness withered away, replaced instantly by a violent wave of absolute irritation.
"Gagoo! Get lost, Aries!" I suddenly shrieked, batting his hand away from my hair. "You ask way too many questions! My ears are literally going to explode from your voice! Why can't you just sit here quietly?!"
Before he could even process what was happening, I buried my face straight into a throw pillow and began sobbing loudly, my shoulders shaking with deep, dramatic tears. "I don't like you! Go away! I want Kuya Angelo! He is the best brother in the world, you're just incredibly annoying! Keifer, tell him to leave right now! He's ruining my morning!"
Aries blinked in absolute, wide-eyed, staggering shock. He sat frozen on the edge of the silk duvet, completely silenced and utterly betrayed by his own little sister. He looked at me, then looked slowly up at Keifer, his jaw slightly slack.
Keifer just stood calmly by the grand window, his arms crossed over his chest. A wicked, thoroughly satisfied, and devastatingly handsome smirk slowly graced his features as he tilted his head toward the exit, making a deadpan gesture with his hand.
"You heard my wifey, Aries," Keifer murmured smoothly, his voice dripping with pure, dark triumph. "Get lost. You're bothering her."
Just as Aries was standing up, looking completely flabbergasted and offended by the sheer betrayal, the bedroom door opened again, and Kuya Angelo walked in smoothly. He had been downstairs talking to the security detail about the harbor shipments and had followed the sound of my loud, dramatic crying up the grand staircase.
The second I saw Kuya Angelo's calm, reassuring face, my crying stopped instantly. I poked my head out from behind the damp throw pillow, my tear-stained face lighting up as I reached my arms out toward him like a toddler demanding to be picked up.
"Kuya Angelo!" I gasped, my voice cracking as a fresh wave of happy, emotional tears rushed to my eyes. "You're here! You're the best! Please tell these two to leave me alone!"
Angelo let out a low, amused chuckle, walking over to the bed and completely bypassing a thoroughly irritated Aries. He sat down right where Aries had been sitting a moment ago, pulling me into a warm, gentle side-hug and brushing a stray strand of hair away from my forehead.
"What's going on here, little sister?" Angelo asked, his eyes full of pure, protective warmth as he rubbed my back to calm my breathing down. "Why are you crying so much? Did these two idiots make you upset?"
"Yes!" I huffed, burying my face into his jacket, feeling instantly safe. "Keifer is breathing all my oxygen, and Aries won't stop treating me like a crime scene investigation with a million questions! You're the only normal one here, Kuya!"
Angelo smiled gently, shooting a highly amused, mocking look toward his younger brother. "Don't worry about them, Jay. If Keifer breathes too loud, we can just lock him out in the hallway. And Aries needs to learn to shut his mouth. Just relax, okay? Anything you want, your Kuya will get it for you."
Hearing his calm, soothing voice finally made the tight knot of frustration in my chest loosen up completely. I let out a contented sigh, while Aries stood near the doorway with his arms crossed, muttering under his breath about the absolute, staggering unfairness of pregnancy logic. Keifer simply watched the entire brotherly display from his position by the window, his stoic mask back in place but his dark eyes tracking my every movement with that permanent, unyielding protectiveness.
---Month 3: The Midnight Run---
By the third month, the morning sickness had finally started to back off, but it was immediately replaced by something far more aggressive: the most bizarre, intense midnight cravings my mouth had ever experienced. It wasn't just a casual desire for a snack; when a craving hit, it felt like a life-or-death tactical mission that demanded immediate, absolute compliance.
It was exactly three fifteen in the morning when my eyes snapped open in the pitch-black master bedroom. The mansion was dead silent, but my stomach let out a ferocious, empty growl that honestly could have shaken the villa's foundations. My brain was completely hijacked by a very specific, incredibly chaotic mental image, and my mouth literally began watering.
I didn't waste a single second. I whipped the heavy silk duvet off my legs, turned around, and shook Keifer's broad shoulder with an aggressive, frantic energy.
"Keifer. Keifer, wake up right now," I whispered loudly, poking his arm.
The response was instant. Keifer didn't wake up groggy like a normal person; his dark eyes snapped open immediately, perfectly alert, his body shifting slightly as if checking the perimeter for a security breach. He looked up at me in the dim light, his features sharp. "Jay? What's wrong? Are you in pain?"
"No, I'm starving," I stared down at him with wide, completely manic eyes, clutching his sleeve. "I need extra-sour green mangoes dipped in rich chocolate syrup, and they have to be topped with a mountain of crushed spicy barbecue potato chips. Right now, Keifer. If I don't eat it in the next hour, I'm going to start crying."
Keifer blinked once. Then twice. He just lay there on his back, staring up at me in deadpan silence, processing the absolute, unadulterated culinary disaster I had just described. Any normal husband would have groaned, told his wife she was being ridiculous, and gone back to sleep. But the ruthless King of the district simply let out a low, gravelly sigh, pushing himself up out of the blankets.
"Sour mangoes. Chocolate. Spicy chips," he repeated smoothly, his morning rasp vibrating in the quiet room as he threw on a black t-shirt and a heavy leather jacket. "Stay in bed. Don't touch the floor."
"Hurry!" I called out after him as he walked toward the door.
Downstairs, the garage doors roared to life. Keifer didn't even bother waking up the night staff or deployment drivers; he grabbed his keys, fired up one of his high-powered sports cars, and personally drove out into the freezing, empty streets of the district at three in the morning. He spent the next forty-five minutes tracking down an all-night international market and a late-night street vendor, using his sheer presence to get exactly what his wifey wanted.
When he finally stepped back into the master suite, the faint scent of the cold night air clung to his leather jacket. He walked over to the bed and set a brown paper bag down on the nightstand.
I scrambled forward like a feral animal, tearing the bag open. Inside was a perfectly sliced container of bright green mangoes, a bottle of dark chocolate syrup, and two bags of the exact spicy chips I had demanded. I immediately dumped the chocolate and crushed the chips right over the fruit, taking a massive, chaotic bite.
It was absolute heaven.
Keifer shed his jacket and slid back under the covers beside me. He propped himself up on one elbow, his dark, piercing eyes locked onto me in silent, utter fascination as he watched his wife happily devour the terrifying combination right on top of their expensive, custom-imported silk sheets.
"Is it good?" he murmured gravelly, reaching out to gently brush a stray crumb away from my cheek with his thumb.
"It's the best thing I've ever tasted in my life," I mumbled around a mouthful of chocolate-covered sour mango, my eyes crinkling with absolute happiness.
A low, deep chuckle vibrated through Keifer's chest. He didn't say a single word about how crazy the snack was. Instead, his large, warm hand smoothly slid beneath my oversized hoodie, resting flat and fiercely possessive over my still-flat stomach, pinning me to his side as he watched over his expanding territory in the quiet of the night.
---Month 4: The Emotional Pendulum---
By the fourth month, my body had settled into a slightly more predictable routine, but my mind was a completely different story. The fourth month was defined by the complete and total lack of an emotional filter. I became a human pendulum, swinging wildly between manic laughter, intense focus, and deep, sobbing despair within the span of a single afternoon. My hormones had officially taken the steering wheel, and I was just along for the ride.
I could be sitting in the sunroom, watching a hilarious comedy show on the television and laughing so hard my stomach textually ached, and then the very next second, the sight of a single, stray dust mote floating peacefully in a beam of sunlight would make my chest tighten.
"It's just… so lonely… floating there all by itself," I would think, my lower lip instantly trembling. And before I could stop myself, big, heavy tears would start streaming down my face, turning into full-blown, tragic, shoulder-shaking sobs over absolutely nothing.
Because of this, Keifer basically gave up on his grand, high-security office room downstairs entirely. He realized very quickly that leaving me alone for more than twenty minutes meant either finding me furiously rearranging the pantry or weeping over a commercial.
Instead of fighting the system, the ruthless King of the district simply migrated.
One Monday morning, I opened my eyes to find our massive master bed completely transformed. Keifer had set up camp right on top of the silk duvet. Two high-definition laptops, a stack of encrypted security ledgers, and three of his communication tablets were spread out neatly across the mattress.
He was sitting perfectly cross-legged against the plush headboard, wearing a casual black t-shirt, working silently as if conducting a multi-million dollar harbor acquisition from bed was the most normal thing in the world.
"Keifer?" I blinked, my voice groggy. "What are you doing? Why is your corporate empire on our blankets?"
"The network is secure here," Keifer murmured smoothly, his low, gravelly voice perfectly calm. He didn't even look up from his screen as his long fingers rapidly typed out a command line, but his left arm instantly reached out. Without a single glance, his massive, warm hand slid under the duvet, locking firmly and possessively around my waist, pulling my body flush against his hip. "And my primary asset is within arm's reach."
For the rest of the month, that was our reality. Whenever my emotional pendulum swung into a dark cloud and a sudden crying fit hit me out of nowhere, I didn't have to go looking for him. I would just crawl across the mattress, completely ignoring his important business files, and bury my face directly into his chest.
Keifer wouldn't even blink. He would smoothly adjust his laptop with one hand, continue reading a tactical grid report with his sharp eyes, and use his other massive arm to lift me directly onto his lap. He would let me wrap my arms around his neck, soaking his expensive collars with my random, unexplainable tears, while his large hand traced slow, firm, grounding circles over my spine.
"I don't even know why I'm crying, Keifer," I would sob miserably into his neck, my fingers clenching his shirt. "I'm just so sad for the dust motes. I'm losing my mind."
"I've got you, wifey," he would whisper gravelly into my hair, his deep, steady voice radiating a physical warmth that instantly chased the panic out of my chest. He would press a firm, lingering kiss to the top of my head, completely unbothered by the chaos of my hormones. "Cry all you want. The territory is quiet."
With the steady, powerful thumping of his heartbeat right against my cheek and his fierce, unyielding grip anchoring me to reality, the emotional storms would slowly pass, leaving me feeling safe, protected, and completely cherished in the middle of his digital kingdom.
---Month 5: The Sudden Expansion---
By the fifth month, the secret we had been keeping from the rest of the world became impossible to hide. The baby bump didn't just slowly grow; it felt like it literally popped out overnight, turning into a perfectly visible, round little dome that completely threw off my center of gravity and altered my entire wardrobe.
One Saturday afternoon, I was standing in front of the full-length gold-rimmed mirror in the master bathroom. I had completely given up on my own clothes and was wearing one of Keifer's massive, oversized black cotton hoodies. The hem swallowed my thighs, but right in the middle, the fabric was stretched taut, clearly silhouetting the new five-month curve of my stomach.
A sudden, intense wave of hormonal insecurity hit my chest like a physical weight. *I look like a giant walking watermelon,* I thought, staring at my reflection. *My hips look wide, my cheeks look puffy, and my favorite jeans won't even go past my knees.* Before I could stop them, hot tears instantly welled up in my eyes, my lower lip trembling as I poked at the round shape through the thick black fabric.
The heavy bathroom door clicked open smoothly. Keifer stepped in, having just returned from a brief perimeter briefing at the front gates. He had his dark dress shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, looking sharp and completely put together. The moment his dark, analytical eyes caught my tear-stained face in the mirror, his entire posture tensed, his eyebrows drawing together in immediate concern.
"Jay," Keifer murmured smoothly, closing the distance between us in a single, massive stride. He reached out, his large hand instinctively checking the side of my neck for a fever. "What's wrong? Do you feel sick? Is the baby kicking too hard?"
"Look at me!" I suddenly wailed, turning around to face him, my hands aggressively smacking against the front of the oversized hoodie. "I'm huge, Keifer! I look completely ridiculous! I have no waist anymore, I'm just a giant circle, and none of my clothes fit! Don't look at me! Go away, go back to your office downstairs!"
I tried to push past him to hide under the blankets, but trying to escape the King of the district in his own territory was completely impossible.
Instead of stepping aside, Keifer caught my wrists gently but firmly. With a deadpan, unbothered shake of his head, he stepped up right behind me, trapping my back flush against his broad, muscular chest. He didn't let me turn away from the mirror.
Slowly, his large, warm hands slid entirely beneath the hem of the massive hoodie, his palms making direct contact with my bare skin. His long fingers spread wide, settling flat, steady, and unyielding right over the five-month bump, completely framing the round shape with a fierce, terrifying possessiveness.
I froze, my breath catching in my throat as the sheer heat of his hands radiated straight through my skin, instantly calming the frantic fluttering inside my stomach.
Keifer leaned down, burying his face into the crook of my neck, his rough morning rasp vibrating beautifully against my skin as he stared at our joint reflection in the glass.
"Stop talking nonsense, Mrs. Watson," Keifer whispered gravelly, his dark eyes locking onto mine through the mirror with an intense, breathtakingly proud look that made my entire body shiver. His fingers curled slightly, holding my waist as if he were anchoring the most precious asset in his entire empire. "You're beautiful. You're carrying out baby, and every single inch of this expansion belongs entirely to me. I'm not going anywhere."
I looked at his massive hands completely covering our baby, and then at the fierce, protective expression on his handsome face. The tears on my cheeks slowly dried up, replaced by a deep crimson blush as my heart did a wild, treacherous flutter. The insecurity completely melted away into the warm, unyielding shelter of his arms, leaving me feeling completely safe in the middle of our growing kingdom.
---Month 6: The Section E Invasion and The Big Reveal---
Month six was supposed to be a quiet period, but Section E had other plans. Since Keifer had put the estate on maximum security lockdown, the boys resorted to a literal "supply drop."
One afternoon, a massive delivery truck entered the gates. Ci-N had managed to order a customized, miniature leather jacket with a baby-sized silver zipper, while Rory sent over three giant boxes containing ten massive plush teddy bears. Ren had even drafted a twenty-page statistical blueprint on "Structural Reinforcement of the Nursery for Clumsiness Mitigation." I sat in the sunroom surrounded by giant bears, laughing until my stomach ached, while Keifer deadpanned at the nursery blueprints.
But the absolute highlight of the sixth month wasn't just the chaotic supply drop from Section E—it was our official gender reveal party! Because we were finally living like a completely normal couple, free from all past drama, I wanted to celebrate this milestone with something incredibly special, unforgettable, and deeply creative.
Popping a simple balloon or cutting into a standard cake felt way too ordinary for our little family. I wanted a dramatic, high-tech, and magical spectacle, and with Section E involved, they were more than eager to help me design the ultimate creative reveal.
I didn't even have to ask twice or try to convince Keifer. The exact moment I mentioned wanting a celebration, he immediately took charge to make it happen, completely devoted to giving his wifey absolutely everything that makes her happy. If I wanted a beautiful party, he was going to build the most perfect, flawless event on earth just to see me smile. He personally oversaw the transformation of the estate's grand, sprawling cliffside courtyard into our event space.
The entire area was breathtakingly decorated with soft, elegant ivory drapes, thousands of twinkling fairy lights wrapped around the palm trees, and beautiful white floral arrangements that danced in the evening breeze. A massive, tiered glass table displayed custom desserts, but honestly, the most captivating part of the entire event was my husband.
Keifer wasn't acting like his usual cold, distant, or overly stoic self at all. From the very second the guests arrived, his entire, undivided attention was completely anchored on me and our growing baby. He looked devastatingly handsome in a casual white linen shirt, completely relaxed and happy. He stayed entirely glued to my side the whole evening, his massive, warm hand resting flat over my stomach, feeling the tiny, occasional flutters from our little one. He was completely unbothered by our friends watching us, constantly leaning down to whisper sweet things in my ear, making sure I wasn't standing for too long, and bringing me plates of my favorite snacks. His dark eyes were filled with so much warmth, soft adoration, and protective love that the Section E boys couldn't stop teasing him for being a thoroughly whipped husband.
When twilight finally fell, painting the sky in deep shades of violet and indigo, it was time for the creative reveal I had been waiting for. Ren and Ci-N had spent the last two hours setting up an advanced laser-projection and high-tech fountain system right at the edge of the grand stone terrace facing the dark ocean cliffside.
"Alright, everyone! Step back and look out toward the edge of the terrace!" Rory cheered loudly through a microphone, pulling everyone's attention forward. "We are skipping the boring balloons. Section E does things with style!"
The ambient courtyard lights suddenly dimmed into complete darkness, leaving only the soft glow of the moon. Keifer immediately stepped up right behind me, wrapping his powerful, muscular arms around my waist and pulling my back flush against his broad chest. He rested his sharp chin on my shoulder, his large hands anchoring tightly over my belly as we both stared ahead.
Suddenly, a row of synchronized, high-pressure ground fountains shot up from the edge of the terrace, creating a massive, translucent wall of mist that stretched thirty feet into the air right against the dark background of the ocean cliffside.
A split second later, Ren activated a specialized, high-powered laser projector. A brilliant, mesmerizing light show began to dance across the giant wall of mist. First, neon outlines of tiny baby footprints and floating hearts raced across the watery screen, accompanied by a beautiful, cinematic musical track that built up the anticipation. The lights violently flickered between bright pastel pinks and vibrant blues, reflecting beautifully and illuminating the excited faces of our friends.
My heart was hammering violently against my ribs, the sheer creativity and magic of the moment making me hold my breath. Keifer's grip on my waist tightened, his chest expanding with a deep, shaky breath as he leaned his face closer into my neck. He was just as captivated, his focus entirely locked onto the spectacle we were sharing.
"Get ready! Three... Two... One!" Ci-N shouted, hitting the final trigger.
The flashing pink lights vanished completely. With a sudden, synchronized explosion of sound, the entire thirty-foot wall of mist was violently flooded with a brilliant, blinding, and mesmerizing shade of deep electric blue. At the exact same micro-second, the projection sharpened into focus, displaying a beautiful, looping laser animation of a tiny, glittering gold crown over the words: It's a Boy!
To make it even more magical, hidden smoke machines along the terrace border released an immense cloud of thick blue smoke that rolled across the courtyard floor, while a dozen sparkling blue cold-pyro fountains shot up into the sky from the stone railings, illuminating the entire estate in a breathtaking blue glow.
The courtyard instantly erupted into wild, chaotic cheers, screams of pure joy, and high-fives from the Section E boys. It was a boy!
The moment the blue light illuminated our faces, Keifer didn't even look at the water show anymore. He instantly spun my body around in his arms, his dark eyes shimmering with pure, overwhelming happiness and a rare, breathtakingly soft smile that completely melted his sharp features.
He didn't care about the cheering crowd or the spectacular light show behind us. He immediately cupped my face in his massive palms, leaned down, and slammed his lips onto mine in a deep, lingering, and incredibly proud kiss.
He poured every single ounce of his love, his relief, and his excitement into the kiss, holding me so tightly against his chest it felt like he never wanted to let me go. When he finally pulled away just a fraction to let me breathe, his hands were trembling slightly against my cheeks, his eyes locked onto mine with a suffocating, beautiful depth of devotion.
"A boy, Jay-Jay. Our little boy," Keifer murmured gravelly, his voice cracking slightly with emotion as he leaned down to press a soft, adoring kiss right onto my stomach. "He is going to have everything. You did so well, wifey."
I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, burying my face into his chest as the blue fountains continued to sparkle around us, making our creative, beautiful gender reveal the most perfect and unforgettable night of my entire pregnancy.
---Month 7: The Sweet Tooth---
By the seventh month, my sour cravings completely inverted into a massive, unstoppable sweet tooth.
I became completely obsessed with a very specific, rare street-style strawberry leche flan that was only sold at a night market on the completely opposite side of the district. One rainy evening at midnight, the craving hit me so hard I started weeping into my pillow.
Without a single complaint, Keifer grabbed his car keys, deployed a two-car security detail to clear the rainy highway lanes, and personally drove across the territory just to bring back three containers of the sweet dessert.
He sat on the edge of the bed, calmly wiping a bit of caramel syrup from my chin as I ate happily.
---Month 8: The Exhaustion Settles---
Month eight turned me into a permanent resident of the bed. My limbs felt like lead weights, and even walking down to the kitchen felt like a tactical mission.
Keifer's protective instincts reached an absolute, suffocating peak. He barely let my feet touch the floor. If I needed to go to the sunroom, he carried me. If I wanted to sit on the veranda, he carried me. The ruthless leader of the district had completely transformed into a full-time guardian, his dark eyes constantly tracking my breathing, his large hand never leaving my swollen stomach as the baby kicked aggressively against his palm.
---Month 9: The Final Countdown---
And then, the ninth month arrived. The mansion was in a state of absolute, quiet readiness. The medical detail was on standby, the bags were packed, and the entire district network was operating on a silent grid to ensure perfect peace.
I lay against the pillows, my breathing heavy as I looked down at the massive bump beneath the duvet. The frustration, the mood swings, the random crying fits over noodles and heavy breathing—it all felt incredibly distant now.
Keifer slid into bed beside me, his massive frame radiating that familiar, grounding heat. He pulled me gently into his arms, his large fingers tracing soft, soothing circles over my stomach, where our baby was quietly waiting for the right moment to enter the world.
"Are you still scared, Jay?" Keifer whispered into the dark, his gravelly voice thick with a raw, intense emotion that made my heart flutter just as wildly as it had five months ago.
I turned my head, looking into his deep, piercing dark eyes, and smiled softly, pressing my face into his neck. "With you? Never. Just make sure you don't breathe too loudly in the delivery room, Watson."
Keifer let out a low, deep chuckle that vibrated beautifully against my chest, his grip tightening in a fierce, unyielding hold. "Understood, Mrs. Watson. The territory is ready for our baby."
++++++
--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
It was a perfectly quiet, late afternoon during the final stretch of the ninth month. The massive master suite was bathed in the warm, golden glow of the setting sun, and for once, the constant buzz of the district felt completely far away.
I was sitting propped up against a mountain of plush pillows on our bed, wearing another one of Keifer's giant grey hoodies. I wasn't doing much—just lazily resting my hands over my massive bump, watching the curtains sway slightly in the breeze.
Beside me, Keifer wasn't working. He had completely set aside his laptops, security ledgers, and communication tablets for the day. He was just *there*, entirely devoted to keeping me company. He was sitting close, his massive frame radiating that familiar, grounding heat, while his long fingers gently and slowly traced soothing circles over the side of my stomach, feeling the baby's quiet movements. His left arm, as always, was wrapped tightly and possessively around my waist, pulling me flush against his side.
"Keifer, move a little. You're radiating too much heat," I muttered, though I didn't actually pull away, secretly leaning into his solid chest.
"No," he replied deadpan, his gravelly voice incredibly soft in the quiet room. "The room temperature is optimal. Stay right here."
I rolled my eyes, preparing to launch into a mini-rant about his suffocating control, when a sudden, strange *pop* echoed inside my lower abdomen. A fraction of a second later, a warm, heavy rush of fluid completely soaked through the duvet and onto the mattress.
I froze. My breath caught instantly.
"Uh... Keifer?" I whispered, my voice hitting a high, shaky octave.
"What's wrong?" He instantly stopped tracing circles, his piercing dark eyes snapping directly to my face, his entire body going rigid.
"The... the water broke, Ahhhb, the baby is coming right now!"
The words had barely left my mouth before a massive, agonizing contraction rolled through my lower back. The pain was so sudden and violent that a loud, sharp scream tore right out of my throat. "AHHH! Keifer, it hurts!"
--: Author's POV: --
For the first time in his entire life, the King of the territory completely lost his stoic alignment. Keifer launched himself off the mattress, his face turning incredibly pale. Seeing her gasp for air and clutch her stomach in pure agony sent a rare, terrifying wave of panic straight through his chest. The formidable, unyielding leader was genuinely terrified by the sight of her in pain.
"Jay, breathe. Look at me, just breathe," Keifer muttered smoothly, though his voice shook with a raw, anxious edge she had never heard before.
Before she could even respond, his massive, powerful arms slid beneath her back and knees. With zero effort, he lifted her completely off the bed, cradling her barefoot frame securely against his broad chest. He marched straight out of the master suite, holding her like she was the most precious, fragile asset in his entire world.
The loud, echoing sound of Jay-Jay's sharp scream had instantly vibrated through the upper floors of the mansion.
Just as Keifer reached the top of the grand staircase, the doors to the adjacent suites slammed open. Keiran and Keigan came rushing out onto the landing to check on her, their faces filled with immediate alarm.
"What happened?! Is the —" Keiran started, but he completely froze the moment he saw Keifer carrying a crying, sweating Jay-Jay in his arms.
"Her water broke," Keifer commanded, his gravelly voice tight as he hurried down the stairs, his grip unyielding. "Call everyone. Tell them to head to the hospital right now."
Keiran and Keigan didn't waste a single second. "On it!" Keigan barked, already whipping out his phone as they bolted down the stairs right behind Keifer, sprinting toward the main garage.
Within a minute, they reached Keifer's private armored car. Keifer gently slid Jay-Jay into the passenger seat, adjusting the pillows to make her as comfortable as possible, before sprinting around to the driver's side and slamming his foot onto the gas. The tires screeched violently as the car launched out of the estate gates.
The drive to the hospital was pure, high-stakes chaos.
Keifer was driving with a fierce, manic focus, his knuckles turning stark white against the steering wheel. Every time Jay-Jay let out a painful whimpering cry, Keifer's eyes flared with pure fear. He kept reaching out with his left hand, tightly gripping her trembling fingers, trying to absorb her pain.
"It's okay, Jay... hold on," Keifer murmured, his rough voice thick with an emotion he couldn't hide as he looked at her pale face. "You can do it. You are very strong, wifey. Just look at me. I've got you."
In the backseat, Keiran and Keigan were on their phones, frantically calling the family and the district hierarchy.
"Kuya Angelo! Get to the private clinic right now, Ate Jay is in labor!" Keiran shouted into his phone, his usual playful demeanor completely replaced by urgent gravity.
Beside him, Keigan was barking instructions into another line. "Thyme, clear the path to the medical wing. Tell Section E to assemble at the hospital. Move!"
--The Delivery Wing--
The moment the car screeched to a halt at the clinic's emergency entrance, the medical team was already waiting with a stretcher. Keifer didn't even let them lift her; he personally moved Jay-Jay onto the gurney, his hand never unlocking from hers as they wheeled her frantically down the hallway and straight into the private delivery room.
The nurses and doctors quickly rushed around them, preparing the equipment, but Keifer refused to step back for even a single second. He stayed glued to the side of the bed, physically supporting her, propping up her shoulders and holding her trembling body against his broad chest whenever the heavy contractions racked her frame.
Seeing her like this—sweating, breathless, and completely vulnerable—sent a wave of profound, agonizing helplessness straight through the King of the assholes. Every time a sharp, agonizing scream tore out of Jay-Jay's throat, Keifer's face grew more pale, his chest tightening with a deep, suffocating sadness. He had faced rival turf wars without flinching, but watching his wifey suffer in a way he couldn't fight off was a terrifying torture.
"Keifer... it's paining so much! Ahhh, it hurts!" Jay-Jay wept, her fingers digging so hard into his hand that her knuckles turned white.
"I know, Jay. I know, wifey," Keifer murmured, his rough, gravelly voice cracking with a raw, desperate fear he had never shown to anyone in his life. He leaned down, pressing his forehead against her damp temple, his breath hitching as he tried to absorb her pain.
"Look at me, Jay. Just look at me. You can do this. You are the strongest person in this whole world. I'm right here, I'm holding you."
The primary doctor quickly took his position at the foot of the bed, looking up with a serious, focused expression. "Okay, Jay-Jay, the baby is right there. I need you to take a deep breath and push for me, okay? Push for two to three times with the next contraction!"
A massive, blinding wave of pain slammed into my abdomen, and I instantly threw my head back against Keifer's chest, screaming out in pure agony. "AHHHHH! Oh my god, it hurts so much!" I squeezed my eyes shut, big tears streaming down my face as I tried to push with all the remaining strength I had left, but the pressure was completely overwhelming.
"That's it, keep going! Two more times, Jay-Jay! Push again!" the doctor called out urgently.
"I can't! Keifer, Ahhh, I seriously can't do it anymore!" I wailed breathlessly, my voice cracking as I shook my head violently against his shoulder, completely exhausted and terrified by the intense pain. "It's too much, I don't have any strength left, I can't do it!"
Keifer's grip on my hands tightened instantly, his powerful arms wrapping even more securely around my trembling shoulders to hoist me up.
"No, negative, Jay-Jay. Look at me. Open your eyes and look right at me," he commanded gravelly, his voice fierce, unyielding, and completely desperate as his dark eyes locked onto mine. "You can absolutely do this, wifey. Don't give up now. I am right here holding you, I'm not letting you go. Just two more times for our boy. Push, Jay!"
Hearing his desperate voice gave me a sudden, final surge of adrenaline. I gripped his hands with a terrifying strength, locked my eyes onto his, and screamed at the top of my lungs as I pushed down with every single ounce of life left in my body.
For over an hour, it was a grueling, intense battle. Keifer stayed completely unyielding, acting as her physical anchor, rubbing her back, and whispering fierce, protective words into her ear through every agonizing push.
And then, finally, a sharp, loud newborn cry echoed through the surgical room.
The heavy tension in the air instantly broke, but before the nurses could even clean the baby boy and place him down, Jay-Jay's grip on Keifer's hand suddenly went completely limp. Her eyes fluttered shut, and her head fell back limply against the pillows, her exhausted body losing all consciousness.
Keifer's heart completely stopped. Panic, cold and violent, seized his entire frame.
Before even looking at his newborn son, before even making a move to take the baby into his arms, Keifer whipped his head toward the primary doctor, his dark eyes wide with an absolute, lethal terror.
"What happened to her?!" Keifer demanded, his voice dropping into a dangerous, frantic register that made the medical staff freeze for a fraction of a second. He gripped her shoulder, his hand trembling. "Why is she not breathing right?! Check her!"
"Mr. Watson, please calm down," the doctor replied quickly, keeping his voice steady and reassuring to anchor the panicked leader. "She just passed out from sheer exhaustion. Her vital signs are perfectly stable. The delivery took a massive toll on her body, and she just needs to sleep. She is perfectly safe, I assure you. She is resting."
Hearing the words, a massive, breathless shudder escaped Keifer's chest. He closed his eyes for a brief second, his shoulders dropping as the terrifying weight of losing her finally lifted.
The head nurse then stepped forward smoothly, carefully holding a soft, pale blue cotton blanket. "Mr. Watson... would you like to hold your son?"
Keifer slowly turned his head. Wrapped in the blanket was a beautiful, healthy baby boy, sporting a tiny tuft of dark, messy hair exactly like his own. With shaking, trembling hands, the formidable King of the district carefully reached out and took the fragile bundle into his arms, cradling his son against his chest with a fierce, instinctual protectiveness.
He sat down on the edge of the mattress, right beside his sleeping wife. He looked thoroughly unraveled, his shirt wrinkled and his hair messy, but as he stared down at his son, a rare, beautiful glint of moisture appeared in his dark eyes.
He reached out his long finger, gently brushing the baby boy's tiny palm. Instantly, the newborn's tiny fingers locked tightly around his thumb in a fierce, instinctual grip.
Keifer's breath caught in his throat. He shifted, his massive arm sliding smoothly around Jay-Jay's waist to pull her sleeping frame securely against his side, while his other hand settled gently over both her and their baby boy. He leaned down, pressing a deep, lingering, breathtakingly proud kiss against her forehead.
"You did perfectly, Mrs. Watson, My baby you did itt!!" Keifer whispered gravelly into the quiet room, his eyes locking onto her peaceful face with a deep, suffocating possessiveness. "Sleep well. The territory is secure... and our boy is finally home."
--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
The heavy, exhausting fog of the delivery room slowly began to lift, and my eyelids fluttered open. The harsh, bright surgical lights were gone, replaced by the soft, warm glow of a private luxury recovery suite. My entire body felt weak and completely spent, but the moment my mind cleared, my heart began to race.
*My baby.*
I turned my head slightly on the pillow, and the most breathtakingly beautiful sight met my eyes.
Keifer hadn't moved an inch from the edge of my bed. He was sitting up, his massive, broad shoulders relaxed, with our newborn son cradled securely against his bare, muscled chest. The little boy was completely engulfed by his father's warmth, sleeping in absolute, peaceful silence.
The exact micro-second my breathing shifted, Keifer's eyes snapped open. There was no coldness, no distance, and no stoic walls in his gaze—the moment he saw my eyes open, his entire face completely softened with a deep, overwhelming wave of pure relief and raw adoration.
"Jay-Jay," he murmured, his voice incredibly low, thick, and gravelly from sleep. He immediately leaned over, careful not to disturb the bundle in his arms, and pressed a deep, lingering, and unbelievably tender kiss straight against my forehead. His hand reached out, his long fingers gently caressing my cheek. "You're awake, wifey. How are you feeling? Are you in pain?"
"I'm okay... just tired," I whispered breathlessly, a soft smile breaking across my face as I looked up at him. "Let me see him, Keifer."
With the most terrifyingly careful and gentle precision, Keifer shifted his weight and slowly lowered the tiny, soft bundle into the space between my arms and my chest. The moment the baby boy's warm, fragile little body settled against my skin, tears instantly blurred my vision. A wave of profound, suffocating love crashed over me so hard it completely took my breath away.
"Oh my god," I wept softly, my voice trembling as I carefully reached out to brush my fingers against his impossibly soft, chubby cheeks. "Look at you... you're so perfect. Mommy's beautiful little prince."
As if he could hear my voice, the baby boy let out a tiny, soft sigh, his little head tilting instinctively closer toward my warmth. I leaned down, burying my face into his soft blue blanket, inhaling his sweet, perfect newborn scent and kissing his tiny forehead over and over again. My heart felt so completely full it was practically bursting.
Keifer moved closer, his massive arm sliding smoothly around my waist to pull my back flush against his chest, trapping both me and our son in his protective embrace. He rested his sharp chin right on my shoulder, his large hand settling gently over mine as we both looked down at our little creation.
"He needs a name, Keifer," I whispered softly, turning my head slightly to look into his dark eyes, which were shining with a rare, beautiful warmth. "Something perfect and meaningful."
A slow, incredibly proud smirk suddenly touched the corner of Keifer's lips. He adjusted his arm around me, looking entirely confident. "I already have the name for our boy, wifey."
My eyes narrowed instantly as a terrible realization hit me. I stiffened against his chest and pointed a trembling finger at him. "Keifer, for God's sake, don't you dare say 'Caretaker' as his name!"
Keifer's smirk vanished, and his jaw tightened as he actually looked offended. He defended himself, his deep voice dropping into a genuinely confused, gravelly rumble. "What is the problem with that name? It is a highly respectable title."
I turned my head fully and gave him the most terrifying, icy death glare I could muster in my exhausted state. If looks could kill, the King of the district would have been buried right then and there.
Sensing the sudden, dangerous shift in the room's temperature, Keifer cleared his throat quickly, his eyes widening just a fraction as he raised his large hand in a rare gesture of complete surrender. "Ok, ok... No Caretaker. So... what should we name him, Wifey?"
A soft, triumphant smile returned to my lips as I looked back down at our beautiful baby boy. I had the absolute perfect name picked out for him—something short, incredibly powerful, and carrying a wealthy, royal elegance that suited him completely.
"Kaden," I whispered softly, the name tasting sweet on my lips as my thumb traced his tiny jawline. "His name is **Kaden Watson**."
Keifer stayed silent for a quiet moment, his deep eyes tracking the word as I said it. The rich, authoritative sound of it resonated perfectly in the quiet room. A genuine, breathtakingly soft smile completely melted his sharp features as he looked from me down to our son.
"Kaden..." Keifer rumbled low, leaning down to press a soft, adoring kiss to the side of my neck before shifting down to press another lingering kiss onto baby Kaden's tiny, dark tuft of hair. "Little King. It's absolutely perfect, wifey. He belongs to you... just like everything else I have."
I smiled through my tears, tightly gripping Keifer's hand as we held our sleeping boy together, completely lost in the quiet, perfect magic of our new beginning.
-----
--: Author's POV: --
The peaceful serenity of the recovery suite hadn't lasted nearly as long as Keifer would have liked.
While Jay-Jay had been deep in her post-labor slumber, the private medical wing had basically been subjected to a full-scale, chaotic invasion. Her parents, her aunt, Kuya Angelo, Aries, Percy, Keiran, Keigan, the entire legendary Section E, the F4, and the girls had all crammed into the room.
They had crowded around the glass bassinet in a massive, hovering huddle. But because they were incapable of doing anything quietly, the room quickly devolved into a war zone of loud, aggressive whispers.
"Look at his tiny hands! He has Keifer's nose, thank God he didn't inherit the resting jerk face!" Ci-N had squealed, pointing wildly.
"Shh! Shut up, Ci-N! You're going to wake up the baby!" Rory had hissed, accidentally slamming his elbow into a metal tray, causing a deafening clatter.
"You're the one making noise, gago!" Aries snapped, pushing Rory back.
Between the girls cooing dramatically, the Section E boys bickering over who would be the favorite uncle, and the sheer volume of people breathing the recovery room's air, the baby had started to squirm, and Jay-Jay had let out a tired, pained groan in her sleep.
Within seconds, a stern, heavily unamused head nurse had marched in, her arms crossed. "Excuse me! This is a recovery wing, not a public market! You are disturbing the baby, the mother, and every single patient in the adjacent rooms. All of you, out. Right now!"
Kuya Angelo had to physically drag a protesting Aries and a pouting Keiran out by their collars, while the rest of the horde was ushered down the hallway, still whispering loudly about who the baby looked like.
Now, finally, the storm had passed. The medical detail had cleared them for discharge, and the real journey was beginning.
--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
The transition back to the Watson estate felt like a dream.
Even though my body was still incredibly sore and a heavy blanket of exhaustion clung to my limbs, I refused to let anyone else carry the car seat.
The moment we stepped through the grand front doors of our home, Keifer immediately took charge. He was playing the role of a pack mule, effortlessly carrying the heavy duffel bags of hospital clothes, the medical folders, and my personal stuff in his massive hands, while his dark eyes remained permanently glued to my steps.
Keiran and Keigan were hovering right at the base of the grand staircase, practically vibrating with excitement. They had been waiting up for us, their eyes wide as they stared at the tiny bundle.
"Kuya... Ate Jay..." Keiran whispered loudly, taking a eager step forward, his hands twitching. "Can we play with him? Just for five minutes? We bought a miniature soccer ball!"
"Yeah! We promise we won't drop him!" Keigan added, nodding rapidly.
Keifer stopped at the foot of the stairs, shifting the heavy bags in his grip. He leveled his younger brothers with a flat, terrifyingly deadpan stare that instantly froze them in their tracks.
"No, not now" Keifer rumbled low, his gravelly voice dropping into an authoritative, protective register. "You both can play with him tomorrow. Right now, both of them—my wifey and our baby—need to rest. And you both also need to sleep."
Knowing better than to argue with the King when it came to his family's security, Keiran and Keigan slumped their shoulders in a synchronized pout. "Fine... tomorrow," they muttered in unison, waving weakly at the baby before retreating down the hallway.
With the perimeter finally cleared, Keifer guided me up the stairs and into the quiet sanctuary of our master suite. The room had been meticulously cleaned, a pristine wooden crib sitting beautifully near our bed.
I carefully walked over to the mattress and sat down, slowly leaning my sore back against the plush velvet headboard. I let out a long, relieved sigh, settling my arms comfortably as I looked down at the miracle in my lap.
Kaden was wide awake. His impossibly dark, beautiful eyes were blinking up at me, completely fascinated by the shifting shadows of the room.
While Keifer quietly began unpacking the hospital bags, setting the items neatly onto the vanity and arranging the baby supplies, I leaned my head back against the headboard and completely lost myself in my son.
"Hiee, baby..." I cooed softly, my voice dropping into a sweet, high-pitched melody I didn't even know I was capable of making. I gently traced my thumb along his incredibly soft, chubby cheek. "This is your mama. Yes, it's me. I'm the one who had to suffer for nine months because you kept kicking my ribs, you little monster."
Kaden blinked his big, dark eyes up at me, completely unfazed by being called a little monster, and let out a tiny, milk-drunk sigh that nearly made my heart burst right then and there.
"You have no idea what you put me through in there," I continued, my voice dipping into an even softer, dramatic whisper as I leaned down closer to his face. "You were throwing full-blown dance parties at three o'clock in the morning while your daddy was fast asleep. You'd wait until the exact second I finally found a comfortable position to sleep, and then—bam!—a sharp little kick right to my bladder or a sudden stretch that made me feel like my skin was cracking. I had to give up my favorite jeans, I couldn't even see my own toes for three months, and don't even get me started on the weird food combinations your tiny stomach demanded from me. You made your dad drive out into the freezing, rainy night just because you wanted sweets and spicy chips at the same time!"
I gently captured one of his tiny, fragile hands, marveling at how his microscopic fingers instinctively curled tightly around my index finger. The sheer warmth of his skin made tears prick the corners of my eyes all over again.
"But you know what? Looking at you right now... looking at these perfect little eyes, this messy dark hair, and these ridiculously chubby cheeks... I would do it all over again in a heartbeat," I whispered, my voice trembling with a sudden rush of overwhelming emotion. "I would endure a million more kicks, a thousand more sleepless nights, and all the crazy labor pain in the world just to hold you like this. You are worth every single second of it, my beautiful little prince. Mama loves you so, so much, Kaden. More than all the stars in the sky."
I leaned down even closer, completely intoxicated by his presence, burying my nose into the soft fold of his neck and inhaling deeply. "Oh my god, Kaden... why do you smell so good? You smell like sweet milk and pure heaven." I kissed his cheek over and over, giggling as his tiny face scrunched up. "You're so perfect, I just want to eat you up! I'm literally going to eat you, you're so cute!"
"Don't you dare!"
A sudden, sharp command echoed across the room.
I snapped my head up, startled, only to see Keifer standing frozen by the closet. He had a stack of baby blankets in his hands, but his face had gone completely pale, his dark eyes wide with a look of genuine, absolute horror.
"Don't you dare, wifey, to eat our baby!"he barked fiercely, taking a frantic, protective stride toward the bed.
I let out a massive, highly irritated sigh, rolling my eyes so hard it practically hurt. "Of course I won't eat our baby, Keifer! I am just talking to him! Why are you interfering in mama-baby talk?!"
Keifer didn't look convinced. He walked over to the side of the bed, carefully setting the blankets down before sliding his massive frame onto the mattress right beside me. He leaned over, his large hand coming down to gently frame Kaden's tiny body, effectively putting himself between my mouth and our son.
"I am just protecting our baby," he murmured deadpan, his gravelly voice completely serious.
I stared at him, utterly dumbfounded by his absolute lack of understanding when it came to normal human expressions. "From his own mother? Really, Keifer?! You think I'm going to turn into a cannibal and devour our newborn son?!"
Keifer shifted slightly, his broad shoulder brushing against mine as his dark eyes tracked the way Kaden's tiny fingers wrapped around his thumb. A slow, incredibly possessive, and slightly amused glint returned to his eyes.
"You have very erratic pregnancy cravings, Mrs. Watson," Keifer replied smoothly, his deep voice vibrating against my side. "A week ago you wanted to eat spicy chips dipped in chocolate. I am not taking any security risks with my son's safety. No eating the asset."
"He is a human being, not a corporate asset, you robot!" I huffed, though a soft, helpless smile broke across my face anyway.
I rested my head against his solid shoulder, watching as the ruthless King of the district gently stroked our baby's tiny chest with the ultimate, breathtaking tenderness. Kaden let out a soft yawn, finally closing his eyes under his father's protective touch, sealing the perfect, beautiful chaos of our new reality.
-----
The soft, rhythmic ticking of the master bedroom clock was the only sound echoing through the dark, cavernous suite.
Kaden had finally surrendered to sleep, nestled securely inside the pristine wooden crib right beside the massive bed. For the first time in what felt like days, the heavy, suffocating blanket of exhaustion completely claimed Jay-Jay. The sheer physical toll of labor, combined with the chaotic rush of coming home, finally caught up to her.
She was sleeping soundly, her small body completely deadweight against Keifer's broad, solid chest. One of her arms was draped over his torso, her fingers loosely clutching the fabric of his shirt. Keifer remained awake for a long time, his strong arm wrapped around her waist, holding her securely against him. He stared at the ceiling, listening to the synchronized breathing of his wifey and his son, feeling a rare, profound sense of absolute peace.
Eventually, even the King's eyes grew heavy, and he drifted into a light, protective slumber.
[3:42 AM]
The peaceful silence was shattered in an instant.
A sudden, sharp, and incredibly loud wail cut through the darkness of the room. Kaden's tiny lungs were working at full capacity, his high-pitched cries bouncing off the high ceilings.
Before the cry could even echo a second time, Keifer's eyes snapped open. The hardwired instincts of a man used to midnight ambushes kicked in, but within a millisecond, he realized the threat wasn't an assassin—it was a hungry six-pound human.
Beside him, Jay-Jay let out a weak, pained groan, her eyelids fluttering, but she was so deeply exhausted that she could barely lift her head.
"Stay down, wifey," Keifer murmured, his voice incredibly deep and gravelly from sleep. "I will handle it."
Carefully sliding out from under her so he wouldn't disturb her any further, Keifer stood up. He walked over to the crib in his sweatpants, staring down at the flailing, crying bundle. Kaden's face was completely red, his tiny fists punching the air in absolute outrage.
Keifer stooped down, his massive, hands looking ridiculously large as he carefully scooped the screaming infant into his arms. He held the baby flat against his chest, trying to recall the manual on infant care he had memorized months ago.
"Listen to me, Kaden," Keifer rumbled low, his voice dropping into a stern, commanding whisper as he began pacing back and forth across the hardwood floor. "Cease fire. Stop crying immediately. You are disrupting the mother's recovery cycle. Your current volume level is unacceptable."
Kaden, completely unimpressed by the King's authority, simply let out an even louder, ear-piercing shriek.
Keifer frowned, his eyebrows knitting together in frustration. He began swaying from side to side, rocking the baby with stiff, robotic movements. "Negotiations are failing. Kaden, I am ordering you to stand down. Look at me. Silence is an asset."
He paced near the vanity, then toward the balcony doors, bouncing the baby slightly. But the little monster was ruthless. Kaden kicked his tiny legs, his face turning a deeper shade of crimson as he let out a dramatic, sobbing wail that echoed through the entire master wing.
From the bed, a very sleepy, very raspy voice broke through the noise.
"Keifer..." Jay-Jay mumbled, propping herself up weakly on one elbow. Her hair was a messy nest, and her eyes were barely half-open. She looked at her husband, who was aggressively but gently pacing around the room like a panicked giant. "Give... give Kaden to me. He's not an enemy soldier, you idiot, don't command him. He's just hungry."
Keifer stopped pacing, turning toward her. He looked incredibly out of his depth, holding the crying baby like a fragile piece of expensive glass. He walked over to the side of the bed and carefully lowered the screaming bundle into Jay-Jay's waiting arms.
The moment Kaden felt his mother's warmth, his sharp cries instantly de-escalated into soft, pathetic whimpers.
"See? He knows his mama," Jay-Jay murmured sleepily, a soft smile tugging at her lips despite her sheer exhaustion.
She adjusted her position, leaning back against the plush headboard. She was wearing one of Keifer's black, ridiculously oversized graphic t-shirts, which swallowed her small frame entirely. Without a single thought, still half-asleep and driven purely by maternal instinct, Jay-Jay pulled the neckline of the oversized shirt down, exposing her shoulder, and reached underneath to unhook her nursing bra.
Keifer's dark eyes tracked the movement. In a split second, his protective, highly possessive instincts went into overdrive.
Before she could fully pull the fabric away, Keifer practically bolted across the room. His long legs cleared the distance to the master bedroom door in two silent strides. He grabbed the handle, turned the heavy lock with a sharp, definitive *click*, and even slid the secondary security bolt into place.
Jay-Jay blinked sleepily at him, raising an eyebrow. "What are you doing? Nobody is going to walk in at four in the morning, Keifer."
"Risk assessment," Keifer replied deadpan, walking back to the bed. "My brothers have zero concept of boundaries. Section E has zero concept of locked doors. The F4 are unpredictable. Security must be maintained during feeding protocols."
He climbed back onto the mattress, sliding his massive body right next to her. He sat up, propping his back against the headboard alongside her, his broad shoulder completely pressing against hers.
Jay-Jay let out a tired chuckle, too exhausted to argue. She carefully guided Kaden toward her breast. The moment Kaden's tiny mouth found her nipple, he latched on with surprising eagerness. The room instantly grew quiet, save for the incredibly soft, rhythmic, and sweet baby sounds Kaden was making—tiny, satisfied gulps and little nasal hums as he happily drank his milk.
Jay-Jay's head started to loll back against the headboard, her heavy eyelids closing as she began dozing off, her hands automatically keeping the baby secure against her chest.
While she drifted in and out of sleep, Keifer sat perfectly still beside her. His dark, intense eyes were locked onto the scene unfolding in his lap. He watched the way Kaden's tiny, microscopic fingers were pressed flat against Jay-Jay's soft skin, anchoring himself. He watched the absolute devotion on his son's tiny face as he greedily took his nourishment.
A highly complex, ridiculous emotion began to swirl inside the King's chest.
He stared at Kaden. Then he stared at the specific spot Kaden was currently occupying.
*That is my spot,* Keifer thought, his jaw tightening slightly in a look of profound, deadpan seriousness. *My wifey. My territory. My nighttime comfort zone.*
For the past several years, Jay-Jay's warmth, her skin, and her attention belonged entirely to him. He was the one who got to hold her close, the one she comforted, the one who claimed her body as his safe haven. And now, this tiny, six-pound, noisy little human—whom he loved fiercely, but still—had casually marched into their room, locked eyes with him, and completely taken his place.
Keifer leaned down slightly, his dark eyes narrowing into a sharp, unamused glare directed entirely at his own newborn son. Kaden, still happily sucking away, didn't even open his eyes, completely unaware that he was currently winning a silent turf war against the most feared man in the district.
Jay-Jay, feeling the sudden shift in the air and the intense aura radiating from her husband, slowly opened one eye. She looked down at Kaden, then looked up at Keifer's face. He looked like a giant, brooding gargoyle, staring at the baby with a mixture of immense fascination and deep, childish betrayal.
A tired smirk spread across Jay-Jay's face. "Keifer..." she whispered, her voice laced with sleep. "Are you seriously glaring at our son right now? Stop glaring at my baby!"
Keifer didn't break eye contact with the baby. His deep voice vibrated heavily against her side. "He is demonstrating highly aggressive territorial behavior, wifey."
Jay-Jay let out a soft, helpless giggle, shaking her head. "He's eating, you big baby. He's a newborn."
"He has taken my position," Keifer stated smoothly, his tone completely flat and unyielding. "That specific part on your chest belong to the King. He has staged a successful coup in the middle of the night. It is an act of domestic aggression."
"Oh my god," Jay-Jay mumbled, closing her eyes again and leaning her head heavily onto Keifer's shoulder. "You are unbelievable. He's *your* son. He literally has your face. You're jealous of your own clone."
Keifer finally shifted his gaze away from the baby, looking down at his wifey's tired, beautiful face resting on his shoulder. The hard, possessive edge in his eyes softened instantly into something breathtakingly warm. He reached down, his massive hand gently wrapping around Jay-Jay's waist, pulling her even tighter against his side, while his other hand came up to softly stroke the back of Kaden's tiny, fuzzy head.
"I am not jealous" Keifer murmured, his lips brushing against her hair as he spoke. "I am simply keeping score. He may win the midnight shift, Mrs. Watson... but you are still mine."
Jay-Jay just smiled, letting out a soft, content sigh as she drifted back to sleep against his solid chest, completely wrapped in the ultimate, protective warmth of her overpossessive King and their sweet, milk-drunk little prince.