--: Author's POV:--
The soft morning sun poured beautifully through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of the master suite, painting the room in a warm, golden glow. The entire Watson estate was wrapped in a rare, peaceful silence. On one side of the massive king-sized bed, Jay-Jay was completely buried deep beneath a mountain of plush velvet duvets. Her messy hair spilled beautifully across the pillows, and she was sleeping like absolute deadweight, finally getting some much-needed, uninterrupted rest after the grueling physical toll of the past week.
Standing right by the edge of the mattress was Keifer.
He was completely bare on top, wearing absolutely nothing on his upper body. His massive, broad shoulders, heavily muscled chest, and sharp, sculpted torso were fully exposed, radiating that familiar, grounding heat. He was only wearing a pair of comfortable, low-slung grey lounge trousers that hung loosely on his hips. Held securely against his wide, bare chest was his one-week-old son, Kaden. The tiny baby was wrapped snugly in a soft, grey cotton blanket, looking like a microscopic dot against his father's powerful, unprotected frame. Kaden's big, dark, impossibly curious eyes were wide open, blinking up at the high ceilings, completely finished with his morning nap and ready for attention.
Keifer looked down at his son, his sharp features completely softening as he felt the baby's rhythmic, tiny breaths puffing right against his bare skin. Then, he glanced over at his fast-asleep wifey, making sure she hadn't stirred.
Moving with absolute, breathtaking precision, Keifer slowly leaned his massive frame over the mattress. With the utmost care, keeping his movements as fluid as water, he slid his large, hands out from under the baby, gently settling Kaden flat on his back right in the center of the plush bed. He made sure there was a safe, comfortable distance between the newborn and Jay-Jay.
Against the massive, sprawling expanse of the white sheets and giant, fluffy pillows, Kaden looked impossibly small—like a tiny, fragile little prince ruling over a giant velvet kingdom.
The moment Kaden felt the soft, cool mattress beneath him, his tiny arms and legs immediately freed themselves from the folds of the grey blanket. He began to squirm and wiggle happily, his microscopic fists punching the air in random directions. He turned his little head slightly to the side, his dark eyes instantly locking onto the massive, shirtless figure of his dad hovering over him.
Keifer braced his strong, bare forearms on the mattress on either side of the baby, completely shielding Kaden from the rest of the room. His deep voice dropped into an incredibly low, soft, gravelly whisper, vibrating warmly in the quiet air so he wouldn't disturb Jay-Jay's deep sleep cycle.
"Look at you," Keifer whispered softly, a rare, completely helpless smile breaking across his sharp lips. "You're completely awake. No more sleep for the little guy?"
Kaden let out a tiny, high-pitched coo, his little legs kicking excitedly against the sheets. As Keifer leaned down just a fraction closer, Kaden's tiny, uncoordinated hands began to flail upward into the air. He was instinctively reaching out toward his dad's face and bare chest, trying to grasp onto whatever he could touch.
Keifer slowly lowered his hand, extending his long index finger toward the baby's flailing arms. Instantly, Kaden's tiny, microscopic fingers reached out, wrapping themselves tightly around Keifer's thumb with a fierce, surprising little grip.
"You have a very strong grip for a guy who only weighs six pounds," Keifer murmured, his dark eyes shining with a deep, suffocating warmth as he watched his thumb completely disappear inside the baby's tiny hand. He gently used his other hand to softly stroke the tiny, messy tuft of dark hair on Kaden's head, which looked exactly like his own. "But we need to establish some ground rules while your mom is sleeping, little man."
Kaden let out a soft, milk-drunk sigh, his big eyes blinking up at Keifer, completely captivated by the deep, rumbling sound of his dad's whisper.
"First of all," Keifer whispered, using his free finger to gently boop Kaden's chubby, soft cheek, making the baby scrunch up his tiny nose in the cutest way imaginable. "You need to stop taking my spot on this bed. Every single time I look over in the middle of the night, you've somehow managed to wiggle your way right into the exact center of her chest. That is my nighttime comfort zone, Kaden. I've had that territory claimed for years. You can't just march into this mansion, lock eyes with me, and stage a midnight coup."
He leaned down a bit closer, inhaling deeply. The sweet, intoxicating scent of baby powder, warm milk, and pure heaven hit him instantly. Keifer shook his head slightly, a soft, amused rumble vibrating in his chest.
"And honestly... you do smell incredibly good," Keifer admitted in a tiny, gravelly whisper, his eyes melting with warmth. "I actually can't even blame your mother anymore for wanting to eat you up the other day. Looking at these ridiculous, chubby cheeks right now... even I want to eat you. You're entirely too small and it's honestly distracting."
Kaden kicked his legs happily against the white sheets, letting out a soft, squeaky little gurgle as his tiny fingers pressed against the rough stubble on Keifer's sharp jawline.
"Don't do that," Keifer teased, pulling his face back just an inch, though he didn't move his hand away. "You are not allowed to charm me. It's a conflict of interest. I am the King of this district, Kaden. I am feared by everyone. And yet, here I am, being held hostage by a person who doesn't even know how to hold a spoon yet."
Kaden stared intently at Keifer's face, his eyes wide and unblinking. He let out a long, dramatic yawn, which Keifer watched with complete fascination, as if he were studying the most complex security document of his life.
"Yeah, I find that boring too," Keifer rumbled, his voice dropping an octave, becoming even more intimate. "But listen, son. We need to talk about the future. When you get bigger, you're going to be surrounded by people who want things from you. You're going to have uncles—Keiran and Keigan—who are going to be absolute idiots around you. You have to be sharper than them. Keep your guard up, even if you're just playing with blocks."
Kaden let out another tiny, breathless squeak, his little legs kicking the heavy white duvet with newfound enthusiasm.
"And it's not just these two you have to worry about," Keifer continued, his low whisper rolling through the quiet room like a soft tide. He gently brushed his knuckles against the baby's incredibly soft arm. "You're going to inherit an entire legacy of headaches. There's the rest of Section E. The moment they get their hands on you, they're going to try to teach you how to cause chaos, how to break school rules, and how to talk back. Ci-N will probably try to feed you candy before you even have teeth, and the others will treat you like some mascot."
Kaden blinked up at his dad, his tiny mouth forming a perfect little 'O' as he listened to the dark, serious tone of the warning.
"And then," Keifer muttered, a slightly strained but deeply amused expression crossing his sharp face, "there's the F4. They're already arguing over who gets to buy you your first car, and you're only seven days old. They think because they have money and influence, they can corrupt my son into being a pampered prince. You need to look them dead in the eye and show them you cannot be bought. You are a Watson. We dominate the territory; we don't let a bunch of flashy uncles spoil our discipline. Do you understand me? When Thyme or anyone else tries to hand you a credit card, you take it, but you don't give them your loyalty."
Kaden's tiny fingers gave a sudden, sharp tug on Keifer's thumb, his legs flailing so hard he almost wiggled out of his little blanket wrap.
"Exactly," Keifer murmured, leaning down a fraction closer, his bare chest radiating immense heat over the small baby. "Strategic compliance. You take the assets and maintain your position. We need to prepare you for the real world because your mother is entirely too soft, and she will let everyone pull your cheeks until they turn purple. I am the only line of defense between you and a lifetime of being treated like a giant plush toy by thirty different people."
"He is literally... a small, one-week-old baby, Keifer..."
The incredibly sleepy, heavily slurred, and utterly exhausted voice drifted over from the pile of blankets on the other side of the king-sized bed.
Keifer instantly froze. His head snapped over toward his wifey.
Jay-Jay was barely visible beneath the heavy fortress of velvet duvets. She hadn't even opened her eyes yet; her face was entirely smashed into the plush pillow, her messy, tangled hair completely covering her forehead. She let out a heavy, deeply tired sigh, shifting her weight just a tiny bit as she buried herself deeper into the mattress.
"What are you... even teaching him..." Jay-Jay mumbled, her voice so thick with sleep it was almost a groan. She pulled the blanket up over her chin, her lips pouting automatically. "He doesn't even know... what a credit card is... stop talking about territory grabs at eight in the morning..."
A completely helpless, soft, and warm smile broke across Keifer's lips. He didn't move from his position hovering over Kaden, but his dark eyes melted completely as he looked at his wife's sleepy, disheveled state.
"I am establishing early strategic boundaries, wifey," Keifer rumbled back in a deeply soft, low whisper, his tone dripping with affection. "If I don't train him now, our friends are going to turn him into a completely soft target by the time he's a toddler."
"He's six pounds..." Jay-Jay whimpered sleepily from her pillow, her voice trailing off into a cute, lazy mumble as she drifted right back toward her dream world. "Leave my baby alone... let him be a potato..."
Keifer let out a very low, rhythmic chuckle that vibrated deep within his bare chest. He turned his attention back down to Kaden, who was staring up at him with those wide, dark, knowing eyes, as if he had understood the entire lazy intervention from his mom.
"You heard her," Keifer whispered to his son, his thumb gently caressing the baby's tiny wrist. "She wants you to be a potato. But you and I know better. We'll keep our training sessions strictly between us from now on. The meeting is officially adjourned."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Kaden's tiny face suddenly crumpled. The little prince scrunched his eyes shut, his nose turning a bright, angry shade of pink, and his little fists began to flail wildly in the air. A split second later, a high-pitched, piercing newborn wail erupted from his tiny mouth, shattering the peaceful morning silence of the master suite.
Keifer instantly stiffened, his broad, bare shoulders locking up as he stared down at the screaming baby in absolute, rare panic. "Hey, hey, wait a minute," he muttered frantically, his low voice completely losing its cool composure. "We just had an agreement, Kaden. No crying in the briefing room."
From the other side of the bed, the mountain of velvet duvets aggressively erupted.
Jay-Jay snapped upright, her messy, tangled hair flying wildly around her face like a small hurricane. She didn't even look completely awake, but the primal motherly instincts had her shifting into high gear instantly. She threw a fierce, lethal glare directly at her shirtless husband, her eyes slicing through him like daggers.
"Keifer!" Jay-Jay scolded, her sleepy voice cracking with defensive irritation. "What did I literally just say?! Stop talking about your work and your territories! See? You made my baby cry with all your weird king lectures!"
Keifer stopped mid-gesture, his hands hovering over the baby as he looked at his wife, completely appalled by the accusation. He pointed a large index finger at his own broad chest, his sharp jaw tightening as a wave of pure, unadulterated disbelief washed over him.
"Wait a minute," Keifer rumbled, his voice dropping into a deeply offended, brooding tone. "I am your baby!"
Jay-Jay completely and totally ignored him. She didn't even blink at his dramatic protest. Instead, she scrambled across the massive expanse of the mattress on her knees, her eyes fixed entirely on the screaming newborn. "Oh, my sweet little potato, come here to mommy," she cooed softly, her voice instantly transforming from a sharp scold to a gentle, melting melody as she carefully scooped Kaden up into her arms, cradling him tightly against her chest.
She rocked him back and forth, gently bouncing her knees on the bed. "Shh, don't listen to your crazy daddy, okay? He's just being loud and weird. Mommy's here."
But Kaden was not having it. The tiny boy continued to scream, his face turning an even brighter shade of red, his little mouth wide open as he wailed against Jay-Jay's shoulder. He was completely inconsolable, his tiny legs kicking frantically against her stomach.
Jay-Jay's brow furrowed in deep worry. She rubbed his tiny back, pressing her lips to his warm forehead. "Oh, no... why is he still crying? He wasn't stopping... Wait, it's already past eight. He must be starving."
Without a single shred of hesitation or self-consciousness, completely focused on comforting her son, Jay-Jay shifted her position to sit cross-legged in the center of the bed. With smooth, practiced movements, she grabbed the hem of her loose pajama top and pulled it completely over her head, tossing it aside on the mattress before quickly unclasping her bra.
Keifer, who was still hovering by the edge of the mattress, felt his breath catch sharply in his throat. His dark eyes locked onto his wife's exposed skin, his instincts instantly flaring up at the sight of her beautifully bare form in the golden morning light. His chest expanded as he took a heavy breath, his mind stepping completely out of "dad mode" for a fraction of a second as he took a step closer to the bed.
But before he could even open his mouth to say a word, Jay-Jay gently guided Kaden's tiny, frantic head down toward her chest.
The very instant Kaden's little mouth found its target, the piercing, chaotic wails stopped completely. The room fell into an immediate, profound silence, save for the soft, rapid, and enthusiastic swallowing sounds of a very hungry one-week-old baby. Kaden's tiny hands immediately pressed against the soft skin of Jay-Jay's breast, his microscopic fingers kneading gently as he drank his breakfast with absolute, blissful satisfaction.
Jay-Jay let out a long, relieved sigh, her entire body relaxing as she leaned back against the plush headboard. A soft, incredibly beautiful smile spread across her face, her eyes filled with nothing but pure, radiating adoration as she looked down at the tiny human feeding so peacefully in her lap. "There we go," she whispered tenderly, using her thumb to softly stroke Kaden's chubby cheek. "You were just hungry, wasn't it? My sweet little boy..."
Keifer stood frozen at the edge of the bed, his arms hanging loosely at his sides. He stared at the scene unfolding before him, and an incredibly heavy, dark cloud of pure jealousy settled over his features.
His eyes tracked his son's tiny hand, which was currently resting directly on a spot that Keifer considered his exclusive, highly classified, and strictly protected territory. Kaden was literally lying in the exact center of Jay-Jay's chest—the ultimate comfort zone that Keifer had spent years claiming as his own personal domain. And to make matters worse, Jay-Jay was looking at the little culprit like he had hung the moon and stars, completely oblivious to her husband standing right there, starved for attention.
Keifer crossed his massive arms tightly over his bare chest, his sharp jaw shifting as he let out a low, deeply brooding, and pathetic huff. He stepped closer, deliberately letting his heavy shadow fall over the two of them, trying to assert his presence.
"He's eating too fast," Keifer muttered smoothly, his gravelly voice dripping with an incredibly petty, deeply jealous edge as he stared dead at his own son. "Look at him. He's being greedy. He doesn't even have manners yet, wifey."
Jay-Jay didn't even look up from the baby. She just let out a soft, amused giggle, her fingers gently playing with Kaden's messy dark hair. "Keifer, shut up. He's a newborn. He doesn't need table manners to drink milk."
"I'm just saying," Keifer grumbled, his dark eyes narrowing as Kaden let out a small, milk-drunk sigh of absolute victory, his tiny toes wiggling against Jay-Jay's thigh. Keifer climbed onto the mattress, sliding his massive frame across the sheets until he was sitting right next to her hip. He leaned his heavy shoulder against hers, staring down at the back of Kaden's head with a heavy, unamused pout. "He's completely taking over. That's my spot he's lying on. You haven't even said good morning to me yet, and he gets a full-course buffet."
Jay-Jay finally snapped her eyes over to her husband, staring at his massive, brooding, and deeply pouting face for a long moment before she realized what was actually happening. Her jaw dropped slightly, a massive, teasing grin breaking across her lips.
"Oh my gosh..." Jay-Jay gasped, letting out a loud, breathless laugh that made Kaden pause his feeding for a split second to blink. "Keifer Watson... are you seriously jealous of your own child right now?! He is one week old!"
"I am not jealous," Keifer lied instantly, his deep voice dropping into a stubborn, defensive rumble as he looked away, his sharp jawline tightening proudly. "I am simply assessing the unfair distribution of resources in this relationship."
"You are totally jealous!" Jay-Jay laughed, leaning over to aggressively plant a wet, messy kiss right on Keifer's cheek, though she kept her arm securely locked around the baby. "You are a giant, ridiculous baby. Both of you are exactly the same!"
Keifer didn't move, but the sharp tension in his shoulders instantly melted at the feeling of her lips against his skin. He let out a soft, vanquished sigh, his dark eyes drifting back down to his son, who had resumed drinking with absolute contentment. Reaching out with a large, hesitant hand, Keifer gently used the tip of his long index finger to brush against Kaden's tiny, warm ankle, a soft, helpless smile finally breaking through his stubborn pout. He was completely jealous, and he was absolutely whipped—by both of them.
Jay-Jay's breathless laughter echoed softly in the quiet room, a sound that Keifer usually found completely intoxicating. Right now, though, he just maintained his fiercely protective, incredibly brooding stare down at the back of Kaden's tiny, dark-haired head.
"I am a grown man, wifey. I don't get jealous of six-pound potatoes," Keifer rumbled back, his deep voice vibrating right against Jay-Jay's side as he kept his shoulder heavily pressed against hers.
"Yeah, right. Keep telling yourself that, Keifer," Jay-Jay teased softly. She shifted her weight a tiny bit to get more comfortable against the headboard, her bare skin glowing in the golden morning light. The movement caused Kaden to let out a tiny, soft grunt, his little mouth never once breaking its tight seal as he continued to drink happily, completely oblivious to his father's silent existential crisis.
Keifer's eyes tracked the baby's tiny, microscopic fingers, which were currently splayed out wide against Jay-Jay's soft breast, kneading the skin with a terrifying amount of comfort.
Keifer's jaw shifted. He reached out with his massive hand, his long, calloused index finger gently but firmly nudging Kaden's tiny hand out of the way, replacing it by resting his own heavy thumb right against the edge of Jay-Jay's skin.
"Hey! Don't bother him while he's eating!" Jay-Jay hissed dramatically, though a soft, melting smile completely gave away how amused she was. She used her free hand to swat weakly at Keifer's massive arm. "You're going to distract him, Keifer!"
"I'm not bothering him. I'm reclaiming a tiny percentage of my property," Keifer muttered smoothly, his gravelly voice dropping an octave as his dark eyes flicked up from the feeding baby to meet Jay-Jay's gaze. He leaned his face in closer, his sharp jawline brushing against her neck as he inhaled her familiar, sweet scent, mixed with the soft fragrance of baby powder. "He has been monopolizing you since 4:00 AM. He doesn't even let me breathe near you without throwing a tantrum. It's a very tactical, hostile takeover."
Jay-Jay let out another soft giggle, her heart fluttering at how close his heavy, warm chest was. She looked at his massive, shirtless torso, the sharp lines of his muscles casting deep shadows over the sheets. It was honestly ridiculous how a man this intimidating, a man who could silence an entire district with a single cold glance, was currently losing a turf war to a newborn baby.
"He's a baby, Keifer. He needs me to survive," Jay-Jay murmured gently, her voice softening into that deeply sweet tone that always made Keifer's defenses crumble into dust. She leaned her head sideways, resting her cheek right against his solid, bare shoulder. "And besides... he looks exactly like you. When I look at him, I just see a tiny, chubby version of you. So technically, I'm still giving you all my attention."
Keifer paused. His dark eyes softened significantly, the stubborn pout on his lips twitching into a very faint, helpless smile. He looked down at Kaden's face, watching the baby's eyelids flutter lazily as his little gulps began to slow down, his tiny tummy fully filling up with milk.
"He has my hair," Keifer admitted in a very low, gravelly whisper, his finger gently stroking the tiny tuft of dark hair on the baby's head with absolute reverence. "But he has your ridiculous ability to completely ignore my authority."
"That's called karma," Jay-Jay mumbled sleepily, her eyes drifting down to watch their son.
Just then, Kaden let out a long, milk-drunk sigh. His tiny mouth slipped away from his breakfast, a tiny drop of milk clinging to his bottom lip as his entire body went completely limp and relaxed against Jay-Jay's chest. His big, dark eyes closed slowly, his long eyelashes brushing against his chubby cheeks as he fell into a deep, blissful food coma.
"Oh, look at that, someone is finally full," Jay-Jay whispered happily. She carefully pulled her pajama top back down, adjusting the fabric over her chest before gently leaning forward to burp the baby.
But before she could even shift her weight, Keifer smoothly slid his massive, bare arms under Kaden's tiny frame. Effortlessly, with the precision of a seasoned professional, he lifted the sleeping newborn out of Jay-Jay's lap and propped him securely up against his own broad, bare shoulder. His massive hand gently cupped the baby's back, supporting his tiny spine.
"I'll burp him," Keifer stated flatly, his tone brook no argument. "You need to rest. Your energy levels are below optimal."
Jay-Jay didn't even protest. She let out a long, grateful sigh, sliding her body down against the pillows, her messy hair scattering across the white linen. She watched with a deeply soft expression as her giant, muscular husband gently patted the tiny baby's back, a low, hollow *thump-thump* echoing in the quiet room.
A second later, Kaden let out a surprisingly loud, cute little newborn burp right against Keifer's bare shoulder, followed by a tiny, wet puddle of drool landing directly on Keifer's skin.
Jay-Jay instantly burst out laughing, pressing her hand over her mouth to muffle the sound so she wouldn't wake the baby. "Oh my god, Keifer! Your pristine skin just got initiated!"
Keifer didn't even flinch. He looked down at the tiny white smudge on his shoulder, then back at his laughing wife, a completely deadpan, unamused look on his face.
"He did that on purpose," Keifer muttered with absolute conviction. "It was a targeted strike."
--:Keifer's POV:--
The master suite had fallen back into that deep, heavy quiet that only ever existed in the earliest hours of the morning. Against my side, the rhythmic, slow rise and fall of Jay-Jay's breathing told me everything I needed to know. She was completely gone, pulled under by an exhausting week of healing and late-night feedings, her body sinking like deadweight into the plush mattress.
On my shoulder, the tiny, warm weight of Kaden had finally gone completely limp. His small, milk-scented breaths puffed softly against my collarbone, a faint trace of wetness dampening my bare skin where he had successfully left his mark.
Moving with the absolute minimum amount of friction, I slid my hand beneath his lower back, supporting his neck with the other as I peeled him away from my chest. I rose from the mattress, the sheets barely making a sound as my weight shifted off them.
I carried him over to the dark wooden crib resting near the floor-to-ceiling windows. With the absolute, cold precision I used for handling high-value assets, I lowered him onto the soft, white sheets. He didn't even stir. His tiny arms naturally spread out, his little fists clenching once against the air before relaxing completely into the mattress. I pulled the light, grey cotton blanket up to his chest, tucking the edges beneath his sides so he couldn't wiggle out of it in his sleep.
"Stay put," I muttered in a barely audible whisper, staring down at his relaxed face for a single, lingering second before turning on my heel.
My skin felt sticky from the morning humidity and the tiny parting gift my son had left on my shoulder. I walked into the adjoining master bathroom, shutting the heavy glass door securely behind me to block out the sound of the water. I turned the handle, letting the spray hit the black marble tiles until it turned steaming hot, then stepped under the torrent. The heat targeted the deep knots in my shoulders, washing away the lingering exhaustion of the night shifts. I didn't linger. Five minutes was all it took to rinse off, clear my head, and get back into a state of total awareness.
Stepping out, I grabbed a fresh, dark towel to dry off before heading into the walk-in closet. I pulled on a pair of comfortable, structured black trousers and grabbed a loose, simple black t-shirt from the shelf, sliding it over my head and adjusting the fabric across my shoulders.
When I stepped back out into the main bedroom, my eyes automatically scanned the territory.
Jay-Jay hadn't moved an inch. She was still completely buried under the velvet duvets, a soft, faint snore escaping her parted lips.
But when my gaze shifted over to the crib, my jaw tightened slightly in pure disbelief.
The little guy who had just been in a total, milk-drunk food coma ten minutes ago was wide awake. His dark, unblinking eyes were staring straight up at the ceiling. He wasn't crying, but his tiny, microscopic arms were flailing upward into the air, his fingers straining and stretching toward the plush, silver stars hanging from the musical mobile above his head. He would reach as high as his short arms could manage, his little fists punching the empty air, completely failing to touch them, before dropping his arms back down with a tiny, frustrated kick of his legs.
I sighed silently, running a hand through my damp morning hair as I walked over to the edge of the crib, shadowing his view.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" I murmured, dropping my voice into that incredibly low, gravelly whisper so it wouldn't carry across the room. I braced my forearms on the wooden railing, leaning down until my face was entirely in his line of sight. "Aren't you a sleepy baby? Look at your mother. She is sleeping so soundly over there. You're supposed to be following her schedule, not staging another morning stakeout."
Kaden didn't care about my logic. The moment he heard my voice, his tiny mouth formed a little 'O' shape, and his arms instantly shot back up into the air, his fingers twitching as he reached past my face, still trying to grasp those stupid, high-hanging plush stars.
"You're stubborn," I muttered, a small, involuntary smile tugging at the corner of my lips as I watched his total focus. "You want the stars, but you're completely skipping the basic physics of height and reach."
He let out a tiny, high-pitched coo, his legs kicking against the blanket as if he were frustrated by his own physical limitations.
I looked up at the hanging mobile. It was fixed to the crib frame; I couldn't lower it without dismantling the whole thing and making enough noise to wake Jay-Jay. But then, a specific memory clicked in my mind. The idiots from Section E had practically broken through the front gates to deliver a massive box of ridiculous, over-the-top baby gear. I remembered seeing a couple of smaller, plush stuffed toys in there—ones shaped like stars, moons, and whatever else they thought a newborn needed to look at. I had ordered the staff to dump the entire box in the third-floor playroom just to get the clutter out of the main hallway.
I looked down at Kaden one more time. "Don't move. I'll go and bring them."
Turning silently, I stepped out of the master suite, ensuring the heavy mahogany door clicked shut with absolute zero noise.
I moved down the long, carpeted corridor of the west wing, heading straight toward the playroom. The house was dead quiet, the morning sun casting long, geometric shadows across the marble floors. I pushed open the double doors of the playroom, my eyes immediately locking onto the mountain of bright, obnoxious gift bags piled in the corner. I strode over, shifting a giant, unnecessary five-foot teddy bear out of the way until I found the smaller box underneath.
I dug my hand inside, pulling out a small, incredibly soft plush star with a ridiculously goofy smile embroidered on it, along with a tiny, crinkly cloud toy. It was exactly what Section E would buy—completely sentimental and loud. But it was soft enough for a one-week-old to hold without bruising himself.
Tucking the plush toys securely under my arm, I turned around and began heading back toward the grand staircase landing.
The exact second my bare feet hit the polished wood of the main landing, two figures materialized from the shadows near the east wing staircase.
Keiran and Keigan.
They were still wearing those matching, oversized grey hoodies, their hair sticking up in every direction from sleep, but their eyes were wide and practically vibrating with an aggressive amount of energy. The moment they spotted me, they didn't look at my face. They didn't look at the black t-shirt I had just changed into. Their eyes dropped instantly to the plush toys tucked under my arm, their faces lighting up like a pair of emergency flares.
"Is Kaden awake?!" Keiran blurted out in a frantic, loud whisper, taking a massive step forward.
"Yeah, is he up? Can we see him now?!" Keigan demanded right after, his hands literally twitching at his sides as he completely ignored my existence as a human being.
I stopped dead in my tracks right in the middle of the landing. A wave of profound, ultimate betrayal washed over my features. I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, squeezing the plush star against my ribs as I leveled my two younger brothers with a completely flat, heavily unamused, and deeply sarcastic stare.
"Wow," I rumbled low, my gravelly voice dripping with pure, unadulterated sarcasm as I stared at them. "Good morning to you both, too. I'm doing excellent, thank you for asking. Your concern for my well-being is truly touching."
The brothers instantly froze on the spot. Realizing they had just completely blanked the King of the mansion for the second time in less than an hour, they let out a synchronized, incredibly awkward, and nervous laugh. They rubbed the backs of their necks, their ears turning a bright shade of pink under my heavy gaze.
"Hehe... oh, uh... right! Good morning, Kuya!" Keiran said rapidly, flashing a goofy, highly apologetic grin to ease the sudden tension.
"Yeah, good morning, Kuya! You look... very sharp in black! Very healthy!" Keigan chimed in with a frantic nod, trying his best to look completely innocent.
I raised a single, sharp eyebrow at their sudden, terrified politeness, a tiny, deeply hidden glint of dark amusement burying itself beneath my stern expression. I let out a low, controlled sigh. "Yes. He is awake. He refused to stay in his food coma."
The brothers' faces instantly transformed, their eyes practically sparkling with desperate excitement. They took another eager step closer, trying to look past my broad shoulders toward the master suite door. "Can we please play with him now?" Keiran pleaded, his voice cracking slightly in his eagerness. "Just for a little bit, Kuya? We'll be careful!"
I shifted my massive frame, deliberately blocking the path to the door as I looked down at my two chaotic younger brothers. I let the silence hang for a long, heavy moment, making sure the gravity of my next words sank in completely.
"You can come in," I stated flatly, my deep voice dropping into a low, warning rumble. "But listen to me very carefully. If you wake up your Ate Jay, if you make my baby cry, or if you drop him... you will have to face me. And I assure you, the consequences will not be something you can laugh off."
Keigan let out a soft, nervous chuckle, but he didn't look intimidated this time. Instead, a massive, confident grin broke across his face as he held his hands up in total surrender. "We've practiced enough, Kuya! We spent all of yesterday practicing with the giant pillows downstairs. We won't drop the baby, we swear!"
"Yeah, and we won't make a single peep," Keiran added, already lowering his weight into a ridiculous, exaggerated stealth stance. "Ate won't wake up. We're going to be completely silent."
I looked at the two of them, my sharp jaw relaxing as the heavy, protective instinct softened just a fraction. I extended my hand, tossing the plush star and the crinkly cloud toward Keiran, who caught them with surprising reflexes.
"He's trying to reach for the stars above his crib," I murmured, my voice softening into a rare, quiet warmth as I looked toward the bedroom door. "Give him those. Keep him occupied. And stay quiet."
"On it, Kuya!" they whispered in perfect, eager unison.
I stepped aside, watching with a silent, proud shake of my head as my two younger brothers began to tip-toe toward the master suite door, moving with the hilarious, hyper-focused precision of two kids trying to sneak into a treasure vault.
Without a word, I casually fell into step right behind them. There was absolutely no chance I was leaving these two alone with a newborn, even if they had practiced with throw pillows all afternoon. I kept my stride slow, smooth, and completely silent, tracking their awkward, synchronized steps like a shadow as we crossed the threshold back into the dim warmth of the master suite.
Keiran reached the door first, his fingers wrapped around the heavy brass handle with an intensity that made it look like he was diffusing a bomb. He turned it millimeter by millimeter, letting out a tiny, relieved breath when the latch clicked open without a sound. He pushed the door open just wide enough for his lean frame to slip through, with Keigan glued right to his back, and me looming directly behind them both.
The room was still bathed in that quiet, golden morning light. On the massive king-sized bed, Jay-Jay hadn't shifted an inch. She was still completely buried beneath the mountain of velvet duvets, her breathing deep and rhythmic, totally dead to the world.
A few feet away in the crib, Kaden's tiny arms were still flailing in the air, his dark eyes wide open as he fought his losing battle against the high-hanging stars.
The uncles practically materialized at the edge of the crib, their faces lighting up with matching, completely whipped grins. Keiran immediately held up the soft plush star I had given him, lowering it slowly into the crib like a crane operator.
"Look, little guy," Keiran whispered in a voice so incredibly quiet it was almost a whistle. "We brought you a real star. Don't cry, okay? Look at the star."
The moment the fuzzy, smiling plush star hovered within his limited field of vision, Kaden's frantic movements suddenly stopped. His big, dark eyes locked onto the toy. A split second later, his tiny mouth formed a perfect little 'O' of absolute wonder, and his microscopic hands reached upward with newfound enthusiasm. His tiny fingers slapped right against the soft fabric, burying themselves into the plush material with a fierce, surprisingly strong little grip.
"Oh my gosh, he grabbed it!" Keigan gasped in a frantic, suffocating whisper, his hands flying to his mouth to stifle his own excitement. "Keiran, look! He's so small! He's literally the size of a loaf of bread!"
"I know! Don't let him drop it kuya!" Keiran whispered back, carefully letting go of the toy so Kaden could hold it against his tiny chest.
Seeing that the newborn was perfectly calm and highly entertained, the twins exchanged a quick, mischievous glance. Moving with absolute care, Keiran slid his hands beneath Kaden's tiny frame, supporting his neck and lower back exactly the way they had practiced. He lifted the six-pound baby out of the crib with trembling, hyper-focused precision, his teeth clenched in pure concentration.
"Careful, careful..." Keigan chanted under his breath, acting as a spotter as they slowly tip-toed over to the massive bed.
They bypassed Jay-Jay's sleeping form completely, keeping a very safe distance from her territory, and carefully climbed onto the far edge of the mattress. They sat down cross-legged, facing each other on the plush white sheets, creating a secure little protective circle with their knees. Keiran gently settled Kaden flat on his back right in the center of their lap fort.
The moment Kaden felt the soft mattress beneath him again, he wiggled his tiny toes, his dark eyes blinking up at his two uncles.
"Hey there, tiny Watson," Keigan whispered warmly, leaning his face down close. He gently extended his index finger, letting Kaden's flailing hand instinctively wrap around it. "We're your uncles. We're the cool ones. Don't listen to your dad, he's way too serious."
I stepped closer to the edge of the mattress, looming over the three of them with my arms crossed over my black t-shirt, my dark eyes narrowing slightly at Keigan's little slander. "I can hear you," I rumbled in an incredibly low, gravelly whisper that vibrated with a silent warning.
Keigan instantly stiffened, throwing a guilty, goofy grin up at me without letting go of the baby's grip. "Just establishing our brand, Kuya," he whispered back innocently.
Keiran, meanwhile, was completely captivated by the baby's tiny features. He reached out with the crinkly cloud toy, gently tapping it against Kaden's soft, chubby cheek. The little crinkling sound made Kaden scrunch up his tiny nose, letting out a soft, high-pitched newborn squeak that practically melted the uncles on the spot.
"He looks exactly like you, Kuya," Keiran murmured, his eyes shining with a deep, quiet affection as he stroked the tiny tuft of dark hair on the baby's head. "He's got the exact same stubborn forehead. But his cheeks are definitely Ate Jay's."
"Yeah, he's totally an Section E baby," Keigan agreed softly, using his free hand to gently boop Kaden's tiny, kicking foot. "He's going to rule Section E one day. We're going to teach him how to pull the best pranks."
I stood there, my massive shadow falling over the bed, watching the three of them interact in the quiet morning light. The heavy, protective tension in my broad shoulders finally began to thaw completely. Despite my constant lecturing about strategic boundaries and territory defense, seeing my chaotic younger brothers sitting so gently on the mattress, completely hushed and utterly devoted to keeping the tiny six-pound boy happy, was a view I didn't mind sharing my room for.
Kaden let out a long, dramatic yawn, his tiny fists punching the air as he squeezed Keigan's finger tighter, completely ruling over his new kingdom.
++++++++
2 DAYS LATER
--:Jay-Jay's POV:--
Two whole days had passed since my giant, ridiculous husband had tried to draft a literal military peace treaty with our one-week-old son in the middle of the night. You would think that after surviving Section E for years, I'd be used to absolute madness, but nothing—and I mean *nothing*—could have prepared my poor ears for the level of loud, adorable disaster that was waiting for us downstairs.
It was exactly 10:30 in the morning, and the entire Watson mansion felt like it was actively vibrating. The floorboards beneath my feet were practically humming with an aggressive, chaotic energy that could only mean one thing: the floodgates had opened. Section E had gathered in full force alongside the legendary F4, Percy, Aries, the entire girl gang, and little Grazel. They had practically broken through the front security gates, descending upon our house like a pack of hyperactive puppies with one singular, hyper-focused mission: to claim their rights as godfathers and godmothers and squeeze the life out of my tiny, six-pound prince, Kaden.
But upstairs, right outside our master suite doors, Keifer and I had just finished fighting a very different kind of battle.
We had been right at the threshold, my hand literally resting on the doorknob, just about to step out and face the roaring crowd downstairs, when Kaden suddenly decided to stage a dramatic pre-meeting protest. Before his tiny blue-bootied feet could even cross the doorway, my little potato scrunched up his nose, turned a bright shade of pink, and let out a piercing, high-pitched newborn wail that echoed down the long marble hallway. He was absolutely starving, and he wanted everyone to know it.
Instantly, Keifer had locked down into total, overprotective, brooding dad mode.
His broad, massive shoulders stiffened under his dark shirt, and he immediately tried to block me from leaving the room, fully prepared to stand guard at the door like a giant stone wall to keep the howling mob downstairs from invading the second floor while I took care of the baby. It had taken me a solid ten minutes of gently pushing his rock-hard chest, laughing at his incredibly intense face, and reassuring him that I would be perfectly fine to finally make him understand that *someone* had to go downstairs to keep the chaotic crowd from storming the stairs.
With a heavy, deeply tragic sigh that made him look like he was signing away his kingdom, Keifer had finally relented and trudged downstairs to run interference.
After a peaceful, quiet nursing session in the rocking chair, Kaden had finally finished his breakfast, leaving him completely content, limp, and milk-drunk. I smoothly fastened my nursing bra and pulled a comfortable, soft, oversized top properly over my head, making sure I looked completely decent before facing the crowd. Then, I dressed Kaden in a pair of incredibly soft, comfortable pastel-blue cotton clothes that made him look like a tiny, edible cloud.
Cradling the now-silent, blinking newborn securely against my chest, I took a deep, grounding breath, stepped out of the safety of our bedroom, and began my slow descent down the grand, sweeping staircase.
The very instant my foot touched the absolute bottom step of the living room, the entire floor erupted into pure, unadulterated theater.
"SHE'S DOWN! THE BABY IS DOWN! WE HAVE VISUAL CONFIRMATION!" Keiran screamed at the top of his lungs, completely throwing his "silent ninja" training from two days ago straight out the window.
Before I could even take a single step forward or draw oxygen into my lungs, a massive, suffocating human wall instantly swarmed me, completely surrounding me from every possible angle until I couldn't even see the living room walls anymore. Thirty pairs of hands were waving frantically in the air, and thirty different voices began screaming and shouting at the top of their lungs, completely obliterating any sense of quiet boundaries in this mansion.
"Come to me, Kaden! I am your favorite, most successful uncle, Aries!" Aries yelled over everyone else, aggressively shoving his way right to the front line with his chest puffed out like a proud rooster. "Give him to me, Jay! I have superior tactical handling skills and reflexes! I won't let these idiots drop him!"
"Oh, back off, Aries! Give the baby to me, Jay!" Rakki bellowed right next to him, using his entire body weight to try and wedge his shoulder past Aries' arm. "Girls has primary custody rights by default! We are the original protective circle around this family, you flashy suit!"
"No, me first! F4 takes elite and financial precedence here!" Thyme shouted, his sharp, handsome face twisted in a look of supreme entitlement as he aggressively waved a flashy, gold-plated baby rattle right in front of my face. "I already bought him a miniature sports car that matches mine! He belongs in my arms first! Move!"
"Get out of the way, Thyme! The baby obviously goes to the most cool, sophisticated godfather first!" Rory countered smoothly, leaning his weight over Blaster's shoulder to try and catch a glimpse of the blue blanket in my arms.
"Rory, you are not cool, you're a literal walking hazard!" Freya shrieked, swinging her designer purse with terrifying accuracy to clear a path through the boys. "Step aside, boys! He will go to his incredibly beautiful godmother first! Out of the way, let a lady pass!"
"Excuse me? If we are talking about aesthetics and visual development, he will come to this most handsome face!" Percy confidently declared, flipping his perfectly styled hair back as he somehow managed to slide right next to my left elbow, flashing a bright, dazzling, toothy smile down at my son. "Kaden only deserves to see handsome, perfect faces first! We cannot risk corrupting his newborn vision with the rest of you amateurs!"
"Oh, shut up, Percy! I'm his uncle too, and I'm way more reliable!" David yelled from somewhere in the middle of the huddle, jumping up and down repeatedly just to see over the top of Keifer's broad shoulders.
"Yeah! Don't look at Percy, Kaden! Look at me!" Yuri chimed in loudly, holding up a custom-made, incredibly expensive plush velvet baby blanket with the Watson crest embroidered in real gold thread.
"Move, move, move! You guys are suffocating the kid!" Edrix barked, trying to navigate his way through the massive sea of oversized hoodies and leather jackets.
"F4 doesn't lose a territorial dispute, get out of the way!" MJ laughed loudly, though he was actively trying to intercept me from the left side with his arms wide open.
"Kavin, hold Thyme back! He's going to squeeze the baby!" Kaning yelled, pulling Gorya along by the wrist as they both tried to form a protective girl barrier around me to give me some breathing room.
"I can't hold him, Kaning, he's fully operational and unstoppable!" Kavin shouted back, actively dodging an accidental elbow from Eren.
"Everyone just calm down! You're crowding her and she just had a baby!" Gorya and Ren screamed in perfect unison, though their own hands were eagerly reaching out toward the tiny blue bundle in my arms.
"Baby! Let me see the baby!" Josh and Eman chanted rhythmically like they were standing in the middle of a football stadium, while Felix, Calix, and Mica started an intense, separate argument over who would get to teach Kaden how to drive his first car.
"I am the ultimate godfather! Me first!" Denzel shouted over the absolute din, while Grace desperately tried to pull him back by his hoodie collar to make him behave.
"Don't listen to any of them, Kaden! Uncle Ren is the calmest, most peaceful one here!" Ren stated with a serene, beautifully polite, but deeply competitive smile, holding his long arms out perfectly wide.
"Hey! Stop pushing me, you giants! Give him to his favorite godmother Naomi right now!" Naomi yelled, trying to use her elbows to drill a path straight through Gorya and Rakki.
"No, no, no! Mayo and Kit are the official babysitters! Out of the way, professionals coming through!" Mayo yelled, with Kit nodding frantically right beside him like a bobblehead.
The sheer volume of thirty people screaming, shoving, waving toys, and fighting for absolute dominance right in front of my face was an absolute nightmare. In the exact center of our chaotic little huddle, Kaden's tiny face suddenly scrunched up. His little nose turned a bright, angry shade of pink, his microscopic fists began to flail wildly against his soft blue sleeves, and a split second later, a piercing, heartbroken, and completely terrified newborn wail tore through the living room.
Instantly, the entire room fell dead silent.
It was like someone had hit a master pause button on the universe. Every single person froze mid-shout, their mouths hanging wide open, hands suspended in mid-air as they locked into place like guilty statues.
I stopped walking right where I was, leveling the entire crowd with a fierce, deeply unimpressed, hardcore maternal glare that I had learned from the best. I gently patted Kaden's back, rocking him back and forth against my shoulder as he let out another loud, dramatic sob.
"See?!" I scolded sharply, my voice echoing perfectly in the sudden, terrified silence of the room. "You made my little potato cry! You all came in here like a literal pack of wild animals!"
The second those words left my mouth, I immediately cut myself off, taking a deep, steadying breath. I didn't want to scream at them or add any more loud noise to the room when my poor baby was already so startled. Instead, I lowered my voice to a sharp, intense, and dead-silent whisper, leveling the entire thirty-person crowd with a fierce, deeply unimpressed maternal glare that I had learned from the absolute best. I gently patted Kaden's back, rocking him back and forth against my shoulder as he let out another loud, dramatic sob, ensuring my tone stayed completely quiet but incredibly firm.
"Seriously, guys, hush," I whispered, narrowing my eyes at the front line. "He has tiny, incredibly sensitive newborn ears. You can't just barge into a private residence yelling at the top of your lungs like you're standing in the front row of a rock concert. Look at him, he's absolutely terrified. Lower your volume right now, or I am taking him straight back upstairs."
My quiet whisper bounced off the high, pristine marble walls and the grand gilded ceilings of the living room, and for a solid, agonizing three seconds, absolutely nobody in that crowd even dared to draw oxygen. The collective guilt in the room was so thick you could have sliced it with a knife.
Thyme was frozen completely solid like a statue, his ridiculous gold-plated baby rattle still awkwardly suspended mid-air as if he'd been caught red-handed in a heist. Drew looked exactly like a deer caught in high-beam headlights, his puffed-out chest deflating instantly as he swallowed hard. Percy's dazzling, textbook-perfect handsome smile completely vanished from his face, replaced by a horrified, panicked grimace as he looked down at my crying baby like he had accidentally dropped and shattered a priceless, one-of-a-kind museum artifact.
They all stood there completely paralyzed, absolutely terrified of triggering the quiet, protective wrath of a sleep-deprived Jay-Jay. Kaden's tiny, heartbreaking, high-pitched wails were the only sound filling the massive, echoing space of the estate. His little blue-clothed chest was heaving up and down rapidly, and he buried his bright pink face right into the comforting crook of my neck, seeking shelter from the loud giants. I kept rocking him smoothly, bouncing slightly on my heels and shushing him into my shoulder, all while throwing absolute lethal daggers with my eyes at the legendary F4 and Section E.
While the entire army of fully grown adults stood there looking like absolute, utter idiots—completely frozen in fear and exchanging panicked, silent glances with one another—a tiny, quiet savior materialized out of the crowd.
Slowly, smoothly, and without making a single sound, little Grazel navigated her way through the maze of frozen legs, oversized hoodies, and hanging hands. She didn't say a word, completely ignoring the incredibly tense, heavy atmosphere as she stepped right up to the bottom step of the grand staircase, stopping directly in front of me.
Kaden, whose loud, dramatic sobs were finally starting to slow down into little pathetic, breathless hiccups, sniffled softly against my lavender top. Slowly, his heavy little head rolled back, and he blinked his big, tear-filled, dark glossy eyes downward. The very moment his newborn gaze locked onto Grazel's exam, gentle, and unbothered face, his crying stopped entirely. It was like literal magic. His tiny mouth opened slightly, letting out a soft, wet little gasp as he stared down at her with pure, intense baby curiosity, completely captivated by her quiet presence.
Grazel tilted her head to the side, a soft, incredibly sweet, and maternal smile breaking across her face as she looked at him. Then, she raised her big, hopeful eyes up to meet mine.
"Godmother... can I hold the baby?" she asked, her voice so soft and sweet it practically healed all the acoustic damage the boys had just caused.
My heart completely melted into a puddle right then and there. All the irritation and tension vanished from my face, replaced by a warm, adoring smile. "Of course you can, sweetheart," I whispered gently, leaning down slightly before casting one final, lethal warning glance at the frozen crowd around us. "But first, let's go over to the couch, okay? Safe protocols first. No standing up with the baby."
"Okay, Godmother," Grazel replied eagerly, walking right beside my hip like a perfect little assistant.
I walked over to the massive, plush velvet sofa in the center of the living room, sitting down carefully and adjusting Kaden securely in my arms. The moment I moved, the entire army—Aries, Percy, Section E, the F4, and the girl gang—instantly broke out of their trance. They followed us across the room like a giant trail of hyperactive ducklings, their voices immediately picking right back up into a fierce, hushed whisper-argument as they tried to stay quiet while still being incredibly competitive.
"Okay, Grazel gets first dibs because she's an angel, but I'm definitely second!" Rakki whispered aggressively, pointing a finger at David.
"No way, Rakki! I brought a custom velvet blanket, I have comfort priority!" Yuri argued back in a frantic whisper.
"F4 sits on the couch next, it's a rule of luxury!" Thyme grumbled, trying to slide into the edge of the sofa before Kavin pulled him back by his jacket.
Once I was completely settled against the cushions, I carefully and slowly guided Kaden down into little Grazel's waiting arms, making sure her elbows were positioned properly and that the baby's head was perfectly supported in the crook of her arm. The moment Kaden settled comfortably into her lap, he let out a tiny, content little coo, his small, microscopic fists resting peacefully against her sleeve.
Instantly, a massive human dome formed over the couch. Aries, Percy, Thyme, Yuri, Rakki, Ren, Gorya, Kaning, and the rest of the girls , and boys completely surrounded the sofa, leaning over so close their heads were practically touching. They were bending down at impossible angles, making ridiculous baby faces, waving their fingers, and cooing at my newborn like a bunch of total idiots.
"Look at his little toes! Oh my gosh, they're so tiny!" Naomi squealed softly, her hands clutched against her cheeks.
"He's looking at me! I swear he's looking at his handsome Uncle Percy! This is the first time I am going to say this, he is actually handsome than me." Percy whispered excitedly, waving a single finger near Kaden's face.
I let out a soft, tired breath and quietly slid out from the center of the couch, stepping backward to give them all some space. It wasn't because I actually wanted to leave my baby, but honestly, with the constant, inevitable territorial warfare of who would get to hold him next, I had to physically back away just to avoid being crushed by the F4's expensive elbows or Section E's oversized hoodies.
I stood a few feet away near the edge of the rug, watching the chaotic, huddled mass of friends with a fond, slightly exhausted smile.
"Hey. How are you?"
I blinked, turning my head to the right. Out of nowhere, Ci-N had quietly stepped up right beside me, completely ignoring the loud, whispering crowd over by the couch. He was holding a small, warm plate filled with fresh, delicious pastries he had clearly retrieved from our kitchen. He looked down at me with pure, genuine concern shining in his soft eyes, completely tuning out the baby chaos. "Is he letting you sleep at all? Or is he just crying his lungs out the whole night? You look a little tired, Jay."
My eyes instantly welled up with highly dramatic appreciation. I placed a hand over my heart, throwing my other arm up in the air as I gestured dramatically toward the screaming mob over by the sofa.
"Ohhh! See?!" I loudly declared, raising my voice just enough so it would carry over to the couch. "Only Ci cares about me! None of them even asked how I was doing or if I was surviving! They just marched into my house to steal my baby and completely ignore the mother!"
Over by the couch, Thyme, Felix, Percy, and Rakki instantly paused their intense baby-talking. They all turned their heads toward me at the exact same time, letting out synchronized, incredibly awkward, guilty laughs.
"We love you, Jay! You're doing great!" Calix called out quickly with a goofy, nervous grin, before immediately diving right back down to make funny faces at Kaden. They completely prioritized my son over me, leaving me in the dust.
I rolled my eyes playfully, a happy, genuine chuckle escaping me as I turned back to Ci-N, happily taking a warm pastry from his plate and taking a bite. "I'm totally fine, Ci. He does get a little cranky and cross sometimes during the day when he wants to be held, but honestly, he is usually completely asleep throughout the night. And whenever he does cry at night, he's just hungry or wants a little attention."
I laughed softly, my eyes naturally drifting across the busy living room until they locked onto Keifer. My massive, intimidating husband was currently standing directly behind Thyme and Aries like a dark shadow. His large, heavy hands were resting firmly on their shoulders, and he was actively exerting a terrifying amount of physical pressure to make sure they kept their mouths shut so Kaden wouldn't get startled again. He was working so incredibly hard to keep them quiet, his sharp jaw clenching every single time someone laughed just a little bit too loud.
"And," I added, my voice softening into a deeply sweet, incredibly proud tone as I watched my giant husband glare Thyme into absolute submission, "Keifer helps me a lot with everything, so it's really good. He's basically the ultimate bodyguard for the crib."
Ci-N smiled warmly at me, but the exact second he saw Thyme and Aries momentarily look away from the sofa, a look of pure, chaotic ambition flashed across his usually innocent face. He quickly set the plate of pastries down on a nearby side table and rubbed his hands together like a mastermind.
"Okay, bye now, Jay! I am going to go play with Kaden!" Ci-N announced, completely abandoning me without a shred of hesitation. He took off toward the sofa, waving his arms dramatically as he practically sprinted into the huddle. "Kaden! Your favorite godfather comes here!"
I stood there entirely frozen on the rug, my pastry halfway to my mouth as I watched his quick defection. I lowered my hand, my jaw dropping in utter disbelief as I stared at his retreating back.
"Wow. Betrayal," I sarcastically whispered to myself, shaking my head. "Absolute betrayal. I really thought you were the chosen one, Ci."
Ci-N didn't even look back. He smoothly wedged his way right between Percy and Rakki, diving face-first into the baby huddle until he was looking directly down at my son's curious little face.
"I am going to play a lot of games with you, Kaden!" Ci-N cooed enthusiastically, a massive, triumphant grin breaking across his face as he gently tapped the baby's tiny hand. "But remember... you are the second child of your parents, and *I* am the first! Don't you ever forget who the eldest sibling is!"
Over by the counter, Keifer let out a very low, heavy rumble of a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as the living room immediately erupted into another wave of hushed, competitive bickering over Ci-N's sudden claims to the family hierarchy. I couldn't help but laugh, entirely giving up on having a quiet morning as my chaotic family continued to completely rule over our noisy little kingdom.