JAY-JAY POV
I had been waiting in front of the door since they left, my legs numb, my heart pounding with every passing second.
The silence of the night pressed down on me, heavier than any storm.
Mama Reycee came to me, her voice gentle, her hands warm on my shoulders. "Jay sweetheart, come inside the house. They will come soon."
She tried to console me, but I couldn't move.
I clung to her, sobbing into her chest. "He is just four, Ma… why did Kaizer kidnap him?" My voice broke, the words spilling out like shards of glass.
Mama Reycee stroked my hair, her own eyes glistening. "Jay, please stop crying. Keifer will bring back Keth and his brothers. He will not fail you."
Papa came to me then, his rough hands stroking my hair, his touch steady where mine trembled. His voice was low, firm, the kind that carried strength even when the world felt like it was breaking.
"Jay," he said softly, "you must hold on. Keifer is strong. He will not let Kaizer win. He will bring your son back."
I looked up at him through my tears, my chest aching. "But Papa… he's just four. He's so small. What if—" My voice cracked, the words choking me before I could finish.
Papa's eyes hardened, but his tone stayed gentle. "No 'what ifs.' You must believe in Keifer. He fights with a father's heart. That is stronger than any monster."
Mama Reycee held me tighter, her warmth steady against my shaking body.
Between them, I felt a fragile thread of hope weaving through my fear.
I pressed my forehead against Papa's chest, whispering, "Please… let them come back safe."
The night stretched on, heavy and endless, but I stayed at the door, waiting.
Waiting for the sound of footsteps.
Waiting for the moment my family would return.
After what felt like forever, they came.
Keifer stepped inside, bruised and bloodied, but alive.
Behind him, Percy guided Keigan and Keiran, their faces pale but safe.
And then—my breath caught—Keth.
My baby.
His little eyes lit up the moment he saw me.
"Mama!" he cried, breaking free and running straight into my arms.
I dropped to my knees, clutching him tight, tears spilling down my cheeks.
"Oh, Keth… I missed you so much," I whispered, kissing his hair, breathing him in like I'd lost him forever.
Keifer's eyes met mine, heavy with exhaustion but burning with determination.
He didn't need to say anything—I could see it in him.
He had fought for us.
For all of us.
I reached out, my trembling hand brushing his cheek, feeling the blood and sweat, the proof of his battle.
"You came back," I whispered, my voice breaking.
He leaned into my touch, his eyes closing for a moment. "I promised you I would."
Keigan and Keiran rushed forward, wrapping their arms around me and Keth, their voices shaky but filled with relief.
Percy stood behind them, his smile faint but proud, his presence steady like a pillar holding us all together.
For the first time that night, I felt whole again.
My family was here.
My son was safe.
My husband had returned.
And I knew—no matter how dark the shadows, no matter how cruel the monsters—we would face them together.
"Mama, what is on your neck?" Keth asked again, his little brows furrowed in confusion.
Keifer shifted uncomfortably, his face turning crimson.
I could practically feel the heat radiating off him.
"What happened? Nothing is on my neck," I said quickly, trying to wave it off.
"Ma, something big… like something bit your neck," Keth insisted, his innocent voice cutting straight through my attempt at denial.
Oh my god. It's the hickeys this idiot gave me.
I turned my glare on Keifer—no, not just a glare, a full death stare.
He turned even redder, his lips pressed tight like he was holding back a laugh and a groan at the same time.
"What is it?" Keth asked again, his curiosity growing.
"It's a mosquito bite," I said firmly, forcing a smile.
"Yeah, it's a mosquito bite," Percy chimed in, his grin wide, teasing me mercilessly. I shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel.
"Does the mosquito have the name of Keifer?" Keigan teased, his voice sly, his smirk dangerous.
Everyone chuckled, the sound filling the room, breaking the tension.
"Shut up," I snapped, my cheeks burning, though I couldn't stop the corner of my lips from twitching.
Keifer rubbed the back of his neck, muttering under his breath, "I told you it would show…"
I glared harder. "And I told you to be careful."
The boys laughed louder, Percy nearly choking on his drink, while Keth tilted his head, still confused. "That must have been a big mosquito."
With that, everyone burst out laughing.
The sound filled the house, echoing through the walls, chasing away the fear and shadows that had haunted us all night.
I couldn't help it—I laughed too, even as my cheeks burned.
Keifer buried his face in his hands, his ears red, muttering something under his breath that only made Percy laugh harder.
Keigan leaned back, smirking. "Ate, I think that mosquito is still around."
"Shut up," I said, swatting at him, but my smile betrayed me.
Keth blinked at all of us, still lost in the joke, his little pout returning. "I don't get it… but I'm still hungry."
"Then let's go and eat," Mama said, her voice firm but gentle.
We all nodded, but Keifer groaned, rubbing his temples. "Keth, we just came from the restaurant and you're still hungry?"
"What restaurant?" I asked, confused, my brows furrowing.
Keifer sighed, his tone tired but amused. "Well, while coming back he said he was hungry, so we went to the restaurant."
I turned to Keth, who only smiled innocently, his cheeks puffed out like he was hiding a secret.
"So what? He's hungry, he wants to eat, so he will eat," I said, shrugging, my voice sharp but playful.
Keifer just shook his head, muttering under his breath, "This boy is going to eat us out of house and home."
Keiran chuckled, nudging Keigan "like mother like son"
My jaw dropped, heat rushing to my cheeks. "Excuse me?" I snapped, glaring at them both.
Keigan smirked, leaning back with that same teasing glint in his eyes. "Well, Ate, you do get hungry every hour."
Percy nearly spit out his drink, laughing so hard he had to cover his mouth. "They're not wrong," he teased, his grin wide.
I crossed my arms, trying to look stern, but the corners of my lips betrayed me, twitching upward. "You all better stop before I make you cook your own food."
Keth gasped dramatically, clutching his stomach. "Nooo, Mama, don't! I'm starving!"
The boys burst out laughing again, their voices filling the room with warmth.
Keifer leaned back, shaking his head, but his eyes softened as he looked at me.
And in that moment, I realized—this was our peace.
Not silence, not perfection, but teasing, laughter, and the chaos of family.
The laughter slowly faded into softer chuckles, the kind that linger even after the joke is gone.
Keth climbed into my lap, still pouting about food, while Keigan and Keiran sprawled across the couch, their energy finally dipping after the storm of the night.
Keifer sat at the edge of the sofa, his shoulders heavy, his face bruised, but his eyes never left us.
I could see the exhaustion in him, the weight of the fight, and yet—there was peace too.
I stood, fetching the small tin of ointment Mama Reycee always kept in the cupboard.
"Sit still," I told him, my voice firm but gentle.
He groaned. "Jay, I'm fine."
"You're bleeding," I countered, kneeling in front of him.
My fingers brushed his jaw, dabbing at the cut on his cheek.
He winced, but didn't pull away.
Keth leaned over, wide-eyed. "Papa, does it hurt?"
Keifer smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Not when Mama's taking care of me."
The boys snickered, Percy smirking from the corner. "Careful, Keifer. She might give you another mosquito bite."
I shot him a glare, but my lips curved into a smile anyway.
The room was warm, filled with the soft hum of voices, the clatter of dishes as Mama Reycee set food on the table, the boys arguing over who got the bigger portion.
It was ordinary, chaotic, and perfect.
I pressed the last bandage against Keifer's skin, my hand lingering on his cheek.
"You scared me," I whispered, my voice breaking just a little.
He caught my hand, squeezing it gently. "I promised I'd come back. And I did."
I leaned into him, resting my forehead against his.
Around us, laughter and chatter carried on, but in that moment, it was just us—two people who had survived the storm, holding onto the quiet after.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
🌹✨ Author's Note ✨🌹
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