JAY JAY POV
We finally reached the house, the drive quiet but warm, our hands still tangled together the whole way.
Keifer parked the car, turned off the engine, and we both stepped out.
"Let's put the presents in here so they don't open them now," I said, opening the storage room door.
Keifer nodded and carried the bags inside, stacking them carefully like they were made of glass.
"One more day until their birthday," I said softly. "They're going to turn four."
Keifer paused.
He nodded again, slower this time, eyes softening in that way he only ever showed when it came to the kids.
"Four…" he murmured. "I missed so much."
I stepped closer, brushing my hand against his arm.
"You're here now," I said. "That's what matters."
He looked at me — really looked — and for a moment, the anger from earlier, the tension, the guilt… all of it faded.
"Yeah," he whispered. "I'm here."
He closed the storage door gently, then turned back to me, hands slipping around my waist like it was instinct.
"Tomorrow's their big day," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "We're gonna make it perfect."
I nodded, leaning into him.
"We will."
Just then, the back door swung open and three tiny rockets launched toward us from the garden.
"MAMA! PAPA!" they yelled, voices full of pure excitement.
I barely had time to open my arms before all three of them crashed into me at once — little arms wrapping around my waist, little faces burying into my stomach and legs.
"My babies," I breathed, hugging all three of them tightly. The stress of the mall, the fight, the fear — everything melted the moment I felt them.
Keifer stepped in behind us, wrapping his arms around me and the kids in one giant, warm, slightly chaotic embrace.
"Family hug," he said, voice soft but full of pride.
Kade giggled.
Kevin squeezed my leg tighter.
Keira climbed halfway up my hip like a koala.
And for a moment, everything was perfect.
Keifer rested his chin on my shoulder, his arms firm around all of us, like he was silently promising he'd never let anything hurt this family again.
"Jay, this is the last time I'm babysitting your kids!" Aries yelled, running toward me like he'd just escaped a warzone.
I blinked.
Then stared.
Because Aries…
Aries was dressed like a princess.
A tiny pink skirt was wrapped around his jeans, he had glittery lipstick smeared across his mouth, and there were faint blush marks on his cheeks.
Keifer choked on his own breath, trying not to laugh. "What happened to you?"
Aries glared. "Your daughter happened to me."
I covered my mouth, shoulders shaking. "Aries… where is Kuya?"
Aries didn't answer.
He just looked toward the house with the expression of a man who had seen too much.
And then Kuya stepped out.
Wearing a fake tiara, a bright pink skirt over his jeans ,blue eyeshadow, blush, and the grumpiest face I had ever seen in my entire life
I lost it.
I burst out laughing so hard I had to hold onto the wall.
"Stop laughing!" Kuya snapped, pointing at me with a sparkly wand.
"Oh my god," Keifer wheezed. "Wait—where are Keigan and Keiran?"
Right on cue, the they came out.
Also in skirts.
Also in tiaras.
Also wearing makeup.
Also looking like they regretted every life choice that led them here.
I dropped to my knees, clutching my stomach. "Oh my— I can't— which one of you is responsible for this?"
Kevin and Kade didn't hesitate.
They both pointed at Keira.
Keira blinked innocently, hands behind her back.
"Ma, I wanted to play and they said okay."
I laughed even harder.
Aries groaned. "We didn't know she meant THIS!"
Then Keira turned to Keifer, eyes sparkling with pure mischief.
"Papa, it's your turn."
Keifer froze mid‑laugh.
"I don't think so, princess. That's not a good idea," he said, backing up like she was holding a weapon.
"Papa, please," Keira said, giving him the deadliest puppy‑eyes known to mankind.
Aries crossed his arms. "Yeah, Keifer. You can't say no to kids."
Kuya nodded, still wearing his tiara like a defeated king. "Do it. We did."
Keifer looked at me like I'd just betrayed him to the enemy.
"Do what your daughter wants," I said, patting his arm.
He didn't even get a chance to argue.
Keira grabbed his hand with the strength of a tiny dictator and dragged him into the room.
The door slammed shut behind them.
I exhaled a laugh. "Good luck, Papa."
I turned to the boys. "Where is Tita Mia?"
Kevin answered immediately. "She's taking a rest. She's been throwing up a lot."
My eyebrows lifted. "Has she now…?"
Kevin nodded seriously.
"Let's go meet her then," I said, guiding them inside.
We stepped into the living room, and I pointed at the couch.
"Stay here, okay? Don't move."
Three little heads nodded.
I went upstairs and knocked on Mia and Caleb's door.
Caleb opened it, looking tired but relieved. "Jay. Come in."
I walked inside and sat on the edge of the bed where Mia was lying down, pale and exhausted.
"So how are you?" I asked gently.
Mia groaned. "I don't know. I've been throwing up a lot and I feel dizzy."
I took her hands in mine, squeezing them softly.
"You'll be fine," I said, smiling at her. "Trust me… you'll get used to it."
Mia looked at me with the most dramatic, suffering expression known to mankind.
"I have to have this every day for nine months," she groaned, flopping back on the pillows like a dying Victorian princess.
I nodded sympathetically. "Take some rest. Your body's adjusting."
She sighed loudly, like she was being punished by the universe itself.
I squeezed her hand one more time before standing. "I'll check on you later."
When I stepped out, Caleb was waiting by the door, worry written all over his face even though he was trying to hide it.
"Take care of her, Caleb," I told him, poking his chest. "More cuddles should do it."
Caleb chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… I can do that."
I raised an eyebrow. "You better. She's carrying your child, not a bowling ball."
He laughed, shaking his head. "I know, I know. I'll spoil her."
"Good," I said, patting his shoulder. "She deserves it."
Caleb nodded, then slipped back into the room, already softening the moment he saw Mia curled up on the bed.
I went downstairs and instantly lost every ounce of self‑control I had left.
There they were.
Kuya. Aries. Keifer. Kevin. Kade.Keigan.Keiran. Even Percy
All dressed as princesses.
All wearing tiaras.
All wearing skirts over their jeans.
All wearing makeup.
All sitting around a tiny pink table having a tea party with Keira.
I slapped a hand over my mouth, but the laugh still exploded out of me.
"Percy… when did… you… come—" I tried to ask, but I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe.
Percy threw his hands up dramatically.
"Baby sistah, your daughter did this to me! I forgot my phone and came here to grab it and she did this to me!"
I bent over, wheezing. "I can't— I can't take it anymore."
All of them had the same expression:
The Grumpy Princess Face™
"My daughter did something I could never," I said proudly, pulling out my phone.
Kuya's eyes widened. "JAY, DON'T."
"Too late," I said, already snapping the picture.
Aries shot up from his tiny chair, skirt swishing.
"JAY, DELETE IT NOW!"
I laughed even harder, nearly dropping my phone.
Keifer, still wearing a sparkly tiara and pink lipstick, pointed at me with the world's tiniest plastic teacup.
"Jay, don't you dare post that anywhere."
I smirked. "I didn't say anything about posting."
All of them froze.
Even Keira gasped dramatically.
"Ma… are you gonna expose them?" she whispered.
I winked. "Maybe."
The room erupted.
Aries: "NO."
Kuya: "JAY, I SWEAR—"
Percy: "DELETE IT, BABY SISTAH!"
Kevin & Kade: "Mama, nooooo!"
Keifer: "Jay. Jay. Jay. Don't do this to me."
And Keira?
She just sipped her imaginary tea like a queen watching her court fall apart.
"Everyone calm down," she said, raising her tiny cup. "Mama is just joking."
I smirked. "Am I?"
They all screamed again.
Keifer marched toward me, skirt swishing, tiara crooked, lipstick smudged.
"Jay," he warned, "give me the phone."
I held it behind my back. "No."
"Jay."
"No."
He narrowed his eyes. "I will chase you."
I gasped dramatically. "In a skirt?"
He lunged.
I shrieked and ran.
The entire group of grumpy princesses scrambled after me, skirts flying, tiaras bouncing, makeup smudging.
Keira clapped her hands.
"GET HER, PRINCESSES!"
And that was how I ended up sprinting through my own house, chased by eight grown men dressed like royalty.
While I was running, dodging skirts and tiaras flying everywhere, I did the smartest thing I could think of:
I saved the picture.
Forever.
Now they couldn't delete it even if they tackled me to the ground.
Just as I hit the bottom of the stairs—
Two strong arms wrapped around my waist and lifted me clean off the floor.
"GOT YOU," Keifer growled in my ear.
I shrieked. "KEIFER! PUT ME DOWN!"
"No," he said, carrying me like a sack of rice while the other princesses cheered him on.
Aries: "YES, GET HER!"
Kuya: "CHECK HER PHONE!"
Percy: "BABY SISTAH, HAND IT OVER!"
Kevin & Kade: "PAPA, SAVE US!"
Keigan & Keiran: "DELETE THE EVIDENCE!"
Keifer held me tighter as I squirmed. "Jay, give me the phone."
"No!"
"Jay."
"No!"
He sighed dramatically. "You leave me no choice."
I froze. "Keifer… what are you—"
He started tickling me.
"KEIFER— STOP— I CAN'T—" I screamed, laughing so hard I couldn't breathe.
"Give me the phone," he said, smirking like a villain in a tiara.
"NEVER!"
He tickled harder.
I kicked my legs, laughing uncontrollably. "OKAY— OKAY— STOP— I'M GONNA DIE—"
He paused, letting me catch my breath.
"Phone," he demanded.
I smirked.
"No."
He stared at me.
I stared back.
Then I whispered, "It's already saved to the cloud."
Keifer froze.
The entire room went silent.
Keifer slowly lowered me to the ground, defeated.
"You're evil," he muttered.
I grinned. "Thank you."