The letter came on a Thursday.
Not from the Council. From Keifer's father.
Keifer,
I've heard about your "conditions" for the Council. You don't make demands. You accept opportunities. I taught you better.
Your father
Keifer read it. Face blank. Hand steady.
Then he crumpled it and threw it in the trash.
Jay, watching from his bed, raised an eyebrow. "Bad news?"
"Same news. Different package."
"Your dad?"
"The one and only."
She crawled over, wrapped her arms around him from behind. "What did he say?"
"The usual. I should be grateful. I should accept. I shouldn't make demands."
"You should do whatever makes you happy."
He turned, kissed her forehead. "That's what I'm doing."
The Council's response came the next day.
Mr. Watson,
We are open to discussion. Please come to the capital next week. Bring your... associate.
The Magical Council
Jay read it over his shoulder. "'Associate'?"
"They mean you."
"They couldn't say 'girlfriend'? 'Partner'? 'The woman who keeps him sane'?"
"I'll suggest it."
"You do that."
The trip to the capital was chaos.
Lyra insisted on helping them pack. "You need to look professional. Impressive. Like a power couple."
"We ARE a power couple," Jay said.
"Then LOOK like one." She held up two outfits. "This one says 'I'm his girlfriend and I'm proud.' This one says 'I'm his girlfriend and I'll fight you.'"
"What's the difference?"
"This one has more pockets."
"Pockets. Always pockets."
Adrian gave them a briefing. "The Council is formal. Traditional. They like protocols. Follow them."
"We know how to behave," Keifer said.
"You argued about coffee in front of the entire school yesterday."
"That's different."
"How?"
Keifer opened his mouth. Closed it. "I don't have an answer."
Adrian sighed. "Just... try not to be yourselves. Be professional versions of yourselves."
"What if professional me is just me with less yelling?" Jay asked.
"Then yell less."
"I'll try."
Bella gave them a sketch. "For luck. It's you two, being powerful and in love."
Jay looked at it. "We're holding hands in this."
"Powerful AND in love."
"I love it."
Keifer looked at it. "My hair looks good."
"Your hair always looks good."
"I know."
"That's not humble."
"I'm not humble about my hair."
Mila gave them snacks. "For the road. And for waiting. And for stress."
"How much did you pack?" Jay asked, lifting the bag.
"Enough for three days. Just in case."
"We're only gone for one."
"Just in CASE."
Daniel gave them one piece of advice. "Don't let them separate you. They'll try. Make you wait in different rooms. Talk to you alone. Don't let them."
Jay blinked. "That's... actually good advice."
"I have my moments."
"When?"
"Shut up."
The Council building was huge.
Marble floors. High ceilings. People in robes walking everywhere, looking important.
Jay whispered to Keifer: "I feel like I should whisper."
"You're already whispering."
"That's how powerful this place is. It makes me whisper."
He almost laughed.
They were separated immediately.
"Mr. Watson, this way. Miss Mariano, please wait here."
Daniel's voice echoed in Jay's head: Don't let them separate you.
"I'll wait with him," she said.
The attendant blinked. "Miss, the Council requested—"
"He's my associate." She grabbed Keifer's arm. "We come together."
Keifer looked at her. Proud. "She comes with me."
The attendant hesitated. Then nodded. "This way."
The Council chamber was intimidating.
Long table. Old people. Serious faces. They stared at Keifer. Stared at Jay. Stared at their linked hands.
"Mr. Watson. You had... conditions."
Keifer sat. Jay sat beside him. Hands still linked.
"I had questions," he said.
"About the position?"
"About flexibility. Location. Schedule." He squeezed Jay's hand. "About my life outside the Council."
One Council member, an old woman with sharp eyes, looked at Jay. "You're the girl."
"Jay," she said. "My name is Jay."
"The one he's making demands for."
"The one he's building a life with." Jay smiled. Not nice. "Same thing."
The negotiation was intense.
Council members pushed. Keifer pushed back. Jay watched. Said nothing. But her presence said everything.
Finally, the old woman leaned back. "You're asking a lot, Mr. Watson. For someone who hasn't proven himself."
"I'm asking for what I need to do my best work."
"And if we say no?"
Keifer looked at Jay. Jay looked at him.
"Then I find another way," he said.
The room went silent.
The old woman smiled. "Good answer."
They walked out hours later. Exhausted. But victorious.
"They agreed," Keifer said. "Flexible schedule. Remote work. Time to visit."
Jay grinned. "They agreed because you were stubborn."
"They agreed because I had good arguments."
"You had good STUBBORNNESS."
"Same thing."
"Not the same."
"IS."
"IS NOT."
"IS."
"IS NOT."
A Council attendant hurried past them, looking alarmed. Jay and Keifer stopped arguing. Started laughing.
"We're never going to stop, are we?" she asked.
"Arguing? Never."
"Good."
Lyra was waiting at the gate when they returned.
"WELL?"
Keifer held up a folder. "We have a plan."
Lyra grabbed it. Read it. Screamed.
"FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE. REMOTE WORK. TIME TO VISIT. THIS IS PERFECT. THIS IS EVERYTHING."
Adrian took the folder. "The Council agreed to this?"
"They agreed to Keifer's conditions."
"His CONDITIONS?"
"He's very stubborn."
"He's VERY in love."
Bella was already sketching. "The Council chamber. The negotiation. The hand-holding. I'm calling it 'Power Couple.'"
"Can I see?" Jay asked.
"Not yet. It's not done. It needs more... power."
Jay looked at Keifer. "Do we look powerful?"
"You looked powerful when you told them you were coming with me."
"I WAS powerful."
"Same thing."
"It's really not."
"IS."
"IS NOT."
Bella kept sketching. "This is going in the 'Argue About Everything' series."
Mila hugged them both. "You did it. You actually did it."
"We did it together."
"That's the only way you do anything."
"It's the best way."
Daniel stood nearby. Didn't say anything. Just nodded.
Jay nodded back.
That night, in his room, Keifer held her.
"We have a future," he said quietly. "A real one. Planned. Possible."
"We always had a future."
"Now it's official."
She kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Even though I'm wrong about coffee?"
"Even though you're wrong about everything."
She poked him. He didn't move.
"Keifer?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad we're doing this. Life. Future. Everything. With you."
He pulled her closer. "Me too."
The next morning, Lyra's whiteboard had been completely redone.
THE COUNCIL VISIT
Council Members Intimidated: 7
Arguments Won: ALL OF THEM
Hand-Holding Duration: THE ENTIRE TIME
Power Couple Status: OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED
JAYFER STATUS: ETERNAL (COUNCIL-PROOF)
Bond Strength: UNBREAKABLE
LEARNINGS:
Never separate them.
Keifer is stubborn.
Jay is unstoppable.
Together, they're a force of nature.
P.S. The Council regrets everything.
Jay read it. Laughed.
Keifer appeared beside her. Coffee in hand.
"Ready for the future?"
"Ready for you."
They walked away together.
Arguments. Coffee. Love.
Perfect. Always.