JAY-JAY POV
The mansion doors swung open, and Keth shot inside like a rocket.
"Mama! Papa! This one's mine!" he shouted, pointing at the very first room he saw like he'd just discovered buried treasure.
I groaned, following slowly with Keifer leaning against me for support. "Keth, you haven't even looked at the other rooms yet."
"I don't need to!" he declared proudly, puffing his chest out. "This one is big enough for all my toys. And maybe a puppy. Or two puppies. Or a giraffe."
I stopped dead in my tracks. "A giraffe?!"
Keifer chuckled weakly, brushing his hair back. "He's already plotting. Honestly, I'm scared."
Keth spun dramatically, pointing at the ceiling. "This will be my kingdom! Mama, you can be queen. Papa, you can be king. And I'll be… the prince."
I sighed, shaking my head. "Sure."
Keifer raised a brow, smirking. "Wait, hold on. If you're the prince, doesn't that mean I have to do all the work while you sit around bossing us?"
Keth gasped, clutching his chest like he'd been insulted. "Papa! Prince don't do chores. They give orders!"
I groaned. "Oh dear god, save me from this monarchy."
Keth puffed his chest out, pointing at me now. "Mama, as queen, you must cook royal feasts every day!"
I narrowed my eyes. "Royal feasts? You're lucky if you get chicken nuggets."
Keifer chuckled weakly, brushing his hair back. "I'll allow it. Nuggets are fit for royalty."
Keth squealed, bouncing in place. "Yes! Nuggets for the prince!"
I covered my face with both hands. "This is going to be a nightmare."
Keifer squeezed my hand, his grin mischievous. "No, Jay. This is going to be hilarious."
"Oh god, just pick a room and get shower. I will make dinner," I said, already bracing myself for the madness.
Keth froze mid-step, eyes wide. "Dinner? Mama, is it going to be… spaghetti towers? Or pancake castles?"
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "It's going to be food. That's all you need to know."
Keifer leaned against the wall, smirking faintly. "If she says it like that, it's probably broccoli."
Keth gasped in horror. "No! Papa, save me!" He clung dramatically to Keifer's arm. "We can't let Mama win!"
I crossed my arms, glaring at both of them. "Win? This isn't a battle. It's dinner."
Keifer chuckled, whispering to Keth, "Don't worry, bud. I'll negotiate for nuggets."
Keth's face lit up like Christmas morning. "Papa, you're the best!"
I groaned, throwing my hands up. "Fine. Nuggets. But if either of you calls me 'Queen Chef' again, I'm moving into the guest room."
Keifer grinned, his voice low and teasing. "Guess I'll just have to follow you there."
"Idiot," I muttered, marching toward the kitchen.
Behind me, Keth shouted triumphantly, "The prince and the king have won!"
I rolled up my sleeves. "Alright. I'm cooking dinner. You two stay out of the way."
Keifer smirked from his chair. "Not happening. I'm helping."
Keth bounced beside him, already holding a spoon. "Me too! I'll stir!"
I groaned. "This is going to end badly."
Keifer dragged himself to the counter, pale but determined. "Relax, Jay. I'll chop something."
Before I could stop him, Keth climbed onto a stool and dunked the spoon into the pot. Sauce splattered across the counter. "Mama, look! I'm mixing!"
I gasped. "Keth! You're painting the kitchen with dinner!"
Keifer chuckled, sneaking a piece of bread. "Taste test. Very professional."
I slapped his hand. "Keifer, stop stealing ingredients!"
Meanwhile, Keth abandoned the spoon and started stacking plates like blocks. "Mama, I'm building!"
I spun around just in time to see the tower collapse with a crash. "Oh dear god, save me from these two."
Keifer leaned against the counter, laughing weakly. "Don't worry, Jay. This is teamwork."
"Teamwork?" I snapped, pointing at the mess. "This looks like a food war!"
Keth grinned, sauce on his cheek. "Best dinner ever!"
I covered my face, muttering. "This family is going to drive me insane."
And yet, as their laughter filled the kitchen, I couldn't help but smile.
Because even in the chaos, it felt like home.
By the time I finally wrangled the food onto plates, the kitchen looked like a crime scene.
Sauce on the counter, flour on the floor, and Keth proudly wearing a streak of something across his cheek like war paint.
"Sit," I ordered, pointing at the table.
Keifer raised his brows, smirking. "Yes, ma'am." He lowered himself carefully into a chair, still pale but grinning.
Keth scrambled into his seat, bouncing. "Mama, I helped! Papa helped! We're chefs!"
I dropped the plates in front of them, muttering, "Chefs don't usually destroy the kitchen."
Keifer stole a bite immediately, humming. "Chaos aside… this is good."
Keth shoved a forkful into his mouth, eyes wide. "Mama! This is the best dinner ever!" He paused, then added with a grin, "Even better than nuggets."
I blinked. "Did you just say better than nuggets?"
Keifer chuckled weakly. "That's high praise, Jay. You should frame it."
I rolled my eyes, but warmth spread through my chest. "Eat before I change my mind and make you clean the kitchen."
Keth giggled, swinging his legs under the table. "Papa, we should clean it together! It'll be fun!"
Keifer smirked, leaning back. "Fun for you, maybe. For me, it's survival."
I shook my head, watching them laugh.
The food wasn't perfect, the kitchen was a disaster, but the table was full — of noise, of smiles, of us.
And for the first time, dinner felt like more than a meal.
It felt like home.
"Oh my god, Keth, it's 9 o'clock — your bedtime," I said firmly. "Now go to your room and get ready."
Keth froze halfway up the stairs, turning with wide eyes. "Ma… can I sleep with you two today?"
Before I could reply, Keifer jumped in, his grin mischievous. "Yep, that sounds like a great idea."
I whipped my head toward him. "Keifer!"
He shrugged innocently, leaning back against the wall. "What? He asked nicely."
Keth squealed, running back down the stairs. "Yay! Papa said yes!"
I groaned, covering my face. "You're supposed to be the responsible one."
Keifer smirked, his voice low and teasing. "I'm recovering. That makes me exempt from responsibility."
Keth clung to my arm, bouncing. "Mama, please? Just tonight! I'll be good!"
"Fine, but you better not kick in sleep," I warned, narrowing my eyes at Keth.
He nodded solemnly, as if I'd just handed him a royal decree. Then, of course, he grinned and dashed upstairs with his pillow.
We followed slowly, Keifer leaning against me for support.
By the time we reached the bedroom, Keth had already claimed the middle of the bed, sprawled out like he owned the place.
I sighed, climbing in on one side while Keifer settled on the other.
Within minutes, Keth wriggled closer, pressing against both of us. "This is perfect," he mumbled sleepily.
Keifer chuckled, brushing his hair back. "Yeah, bud. Perfect."
I shook my head, trying not to smile. "If either of you snores, I'm moving to the couch."
Keifer smirked, his voice low. "Guess I'll have to behave then."
Keth yawned, already drifting off. "Mama… Papa… don't leave."
My heart clenched at the quiet plea.
I reached over, smoothing his hair. "We're not going anywhere."
Keifer's hand found mine across the blanket, his grip gentle but steady. "All three of us. Together."
And as Keth's breathing evened out, the room fell into a soft, peaceful silence.
For the first time in a long time, it felt like family.
"Good night, Jay," Keifer said softly, his voice tired but full of warmth.
"Good night," I replied, turning toward him.
Between us, Keth shifted, already half-asleep, mumbling something incoherent before letting out a tiny snore.
I sighed, shaking my head. "See? He's already kicking."
Keifer chuckled weakly, brushing his hair back. "Don't worry, I'll take the damage."
I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugged at my lips. "Idiot."
The room fell quiet, the only sound Keth's steady breathing.
Keifer's hand found mine under the blanket, his grip gentle but sure.
And in that silence, I realized — for the first time in a long time — I wasn't just saying good night.
I was saying good night to home.