Author POV
The sun was high over the city, casting a brilliant gold glow over the sprawling shopping district. For the first time in weeks, the air didn't smell like gunpowder or expensive cigars; it smelled like new beginnings.
Inside the high-end mall, the atmosphere was a stark contrast to the dark underworld Jay usually inhabited. Grace, now eight months pregnant, walked with a slow, heavy grace, her hand instinctively resting on the high curve of her belly.
Beside her, Mia was buzzing with the energy of a hummingbird, pointing at every tiny display of lace and cotton. Freya moved with her usual calm elegance, acting as the anchor for the group.
And then there was Jay.
The legendary "Bloody Crimson" looked entirely out of place surrounded by pastel-colored onesies and stuffed bunnies. She carried the shopping bags like they were tactical gear, her eyes constantly scanning the exits and the crowds. Even in a baby boutique, her instincts never truly slept.
"Jay, look at these!" Mia squealed, holding up a pair of knitted booties so small they looked like they belonged to a doll. "Can you imagine a tiny human wearing these?"
Jay looked at the booties, then at Grace's glowing face. A rare, genuine softness flickered in her eyes. "They're... cute, Mia. But does the baby really need fifteen pairs of shoes before it can even stand?"
"Yes," Grace laughed, leaning against a display shelf to catch her breath. "According to Mia, this child needs a wardrobe that rivals yours, Jay."
They spent hours moving from store to store. They bought a hand-carved crib, soft bamboo blankets, and a high-tech stroller that Jay had personally inspected for structural integrity and "getaway speed." As they finished their haul, the weight of the bags grew, and the fatigue began to show on Grace's face.
They headed toward the mall's valet exit, the crowd was thick. Freya handed Jay her shopping bags.
"Stay here with Grace and Mia. I'll bring the car around so Grace doesn't have to walk to the parking structure," Freya said, already jogging off toward the lot.
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JAY POV
We stood near the glass sliding doors of the main entrance. The mall was crowded, a sea of faceless people rushing to catch sales or meet friends. I stood on Grace's left, Mia on her right. I felt a strange sense of peace, watching Mia chatter about baby names.
My internal radar was humming, but for a second, I let my guard down. I was looking at a tiny pair of socks Mia was showing me when a man in a heavy hoodie came rushing through the exit, eyes glued to his phone.
From the corner of my eye, I saw a man in a dark hoodie weaving through the crowd at an unnatural speed. He wasn't looking where he was going—or perhaps, he was looking exactly where he was going.
"Watch out—" I started to say, reaching for Grace.
I stumbled back, my heel catching on the curb. In my effort to regain my balance, I bumped into Grace. It wasn't a hard hit, but for someone eight months pregnant and off-balance, it was enough.
"Grace!" Mia shrieked as Grace tumbled back, landing hard on the concrete.
I caught her before her head could hit the ground, but the jar to her body was violent.
The man didn't even look back; he disappeared into the crowd. I wanted to hunt him down and break his legs, but a sharp, guttural scream stopped me cold.
"Ahhh! Jay! My—my stomach!" Grace gasped, her face draining of color.
"Grace, breathe. Stay with me," I commanded, my voice steady even as my heart hammered against my ribs.
"Look! Blood!Ate," Mia screamed, her eyes wide with terror. She pointed at the ground where a dark, terrifying stain was beginning to spread across the white tile, mixing with clear fluid. "She's hurt! Ate, she's bleeding! Help her!"
I dropped to my knees, my hands steady even as my heart hammered against my ribs. I checked Grace's pulse and the nature of the fluid. My "Queen" persona took over—cold, calculated, and efficient.
"Mia, shut up and listen to me!" I barked, my 'Queen' persona snapping into place. "She's not hurt. Her water broke, and the pressure caused a slight tear. It's labor, Mia. It's happening now."
Freya's SUV screeched to a halt in front of us. She took one look at Grace's agonized face and the blood on the floor and went pale. "What happened?!"
"No time," I said, lifting Grace into the backseat with a strength born of pure adrenaline. "Freya, get in the back with her. Mia, front seat. I'm driving."
"But Jay, you drive like a—"
"Get. In."
I jumped into the driver's seat, the engine roaring to life under my touch. I didn't care about traffic. I didn't care about the laws of man.
I drove like a demon, weaving through lanes, the speedometer climbing until the world outside was a blur. Every scream from the back seat felt like a needle in my skin.
Faster. I have to go faster.
I roared through the city, the engine of the SUV screaming in protest as I shifted through lanes like a ghost. Behind me, Grace was screaming, a sound that sliced through my composure.
"We're almost there, Grace! Hold on!"
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AUTHOR POV
The arrival at the hospital was a whirlwind of white coats and frantic shouting. Grace was whisked away on a gurney, her hand gripping Freya's so hard the knuckles were white.
The hospital doors burst open as Jay practically carried Grace inside, followed by a frantic Mia and Freya. Nurses and doctors swarmed them instantly. Grace was hoisted onto a gurney and wheeled toward the Operating Theater (OT) as the "Emergency" lights began to flash.
While Freya and Mia stood frozen in the hallway, Jay walked to the admissions desk. Her face was a mask of stone, but as she reached for the pen to fill out the forms, her fingers failed her.
Her hands were trembling.
She stood there, staring at the paper, the screams of her friend echoing in her mind. She felt a crushing sense of helplessness. In her world, she could fix anything with a blade or a bullet. But she couldn't fight biology.
She couldn't fight the pain Grace was in.
Suddenly, a pair of strong, warm arms wrapped around her from behind. A familiar scent—sandalwood and something uniquely him—enveloped her. She didn't need to look to know who it was.
"It's okay, Jay. It's alright," Keifer whispered, pulling her back against his chest.
Jay's breath hitched," Keifer... Jay's voice broke, the stone mask crumbling. "I was right there. I could have stopped him. I saw him coming and I didn't move fast enough. It happened because of me."
Keifer turned her around, holding her shoulders firmly. He looked into her eyes, his expression fierce but tender. "No. It is not your fault. You got her here in record time. You saved her and that baby. She's going to be alright."
"He's right, Jay," Freya added, walking over and placing a hand on Jay's arm. "Stop carrying the world on your shoulders for five minutes.Don't let the darkness lie to you."
Jay nodded, though her heart was still heavy. She walked to the restroom to wash the sweat and the phantom feeling of blood from her hands. When she returned, the "In Progress" light above the OT had turned off.
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JAY POV
The room was filled with the soft, rhythmic beeping of monitors. Denzel was already there, sitting by the bed, his head bowed as he held Grace's hand. She was unconscious, her face finally peaceful in sleep.
Section E and the girls were gathered around, speaking in hushed tones. Keifer walked over and stood right behind me, a silent, towering presence that made me feel grounded.
A nurse entered a moment later, carrying a bundle wrapped in a pink blanket. My breath caught in my throat.
"Is the family ready?" the nurse asked with a smile.
Grace's eyes fluttered open. She looked exhausted, but when she saw the bundle, a radiant smile broke across her face. The nurse handed the baby to Grace, who held her for a moment before passing her to a teary-eyed Denzel.
Denzel looked at me, his eyes shining. "Jay... can you hold her?"
I hesitated. My hands felt like weapons, not cradles. "I... I'm not sure about my grip, Denzel. I might..."
"Sure you can, Jay," Denzel said, stepping forward and carefully placing the tiny girl in my arms.
The moment she touched my chest, the baby, who had been fussing, went silent. She opened her eyes—dark and curious—and let out a tiny, soft coo. A small, toothless smile spread across her face.
"Look!" Cin whispered loudly. "She already likes Jay-Jay!"
I felt a lump in my throat I couldn't swallow. Keifer moved behind me, his hands reaching over my shoulders to adjust my arms. "Support the head, Queen. Like this. See? She's perfect."
The baby's tiny hand reached out and curled around my thumb.
"She knows her Godmother," Grace said from the bed, her voice weak but full of love. "And her Godfather."
I froze, looking at Keifer. He was already looking at me, a triumphant, knowing smirk on his lips. "Godmother?" I whispered. "You guys want me to be the Godmother?"
"There is no one else, Jay," Denzel said firmly. "You are her protector. You are her family."
"And what about him?" I gestured to Keifer.
"He's the Godfather," Grace giggled. "The two of you... it just fits."
I looked back at the baby, my heart swelling with a feeling so pure it terrified me.
"Does she have a name?" Felix asked, leaning over my shoulder.
"Grazel Jay," Denzel and Grace said in unison.
"Grazel Jay ?" I repeated
"You've done everything for us, Jay. You gave us a home, a life, and today, you got them here safe. We wanted her to carry a piece of you," Denzel explained, his voice thick with emotion.
I gave them a wide, tearful smile. "She's beautiful."
The moment was interrupted by the rest of the group crowding in, cooing over the baby. But Grace wasn't done with me. She leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"So, Jay... when are you going to give Grazel a playmate?"
I felt the heat rush to my face instantly. "Wha—why are you asking me that?!"
"Because if Keifer is there, you better be ready for a child, Jay," David teased.
"Does that mean I won't be your baby anymore, Jay-Jay?" Cin pouted, clinging to my arm.
"Shut up, Cin! I'm no one's mom!" I snapped, though I couldn't stop blushing.
"No," Cin grinned. "You're mine."
I felt Keifer's breath against my ear, his voice dropping into that low, dangerous register that always made my knees weak. "So, Jay... should we start working?"
I blinked, confused for a split second. "On what?"
"To make a baby," he rumbled.
I turned my head and hissed at him. "I will cut your dick off, Keifer. I swear it."
Keifer didn't flinch. He just smirked wider. "Then how are we going to have a caretaker and a watcher for the next generation, wifey?"
"Call me wifey one more time," I threatened, "and I will surely cut it off. I'll do it right here in the hospital. The equipment is already sterilized."
Keifer sighed dramatically, looking down at his lap. "You are always after my little one, Jay. First, you kicked him during training, now you want to cut him off. Not fair."
I cast a pointed look downward and then back at his face. "Little one? I don't think so."
Keifer's eyes darkened, his voice dropping an octave. "Do you want to measure it then, Jay? I can find an empty exam room."
"Are you both done with your gossips?" Eren interrupted, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. "Or should we book a hotel room for you two so we can enjoy the baby in peace?"
I looked at Eren, the embarrassment finally bubbling over into my usual lethal wit. "How about a coffin for you instead, Eren? I can book that right now."
The room erupted in laughter, the sound echoing through the maternity ward. I looked down at Grazel, then up at Keifer, who was still looking at me like I was the only person in the room.
The "Watson's Curse" might be a legend, and the "Bloody Crimson" might be a killer. But in this crowded, noisy hospital room, I wasn't a Queen or a monster.
I was home.
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A/N
🍼 Grazel Jay is finally here, and it looks like Keifer has some big plans for the future! Do you think Jay is ready for the "Wifey" life?
Target: 30+ Comments! 🎯 Let me know your favorite part!