The morning after the wedding, the Fernandez house was quiet.
Not normal quiet—exhausted quiet.
Tita Gema was asleep in her chair, wooden spoon still in hand. Jasfer was sprawled on the couch, snoring. Serina had somehow made it to her room, elegant even in sleep.
Jay's grandma was in her rocking chair, but even she was dozing.
Keigan and Keiren were passed out in the living room, still in their wedding clothes. Grazel Jay was curled between them, bunny clutched tight.
Denzel and Grace had stayed at a hotel. "One night of peace," Grace had said. Grazel Jay was staying with her titas and titos.
Perfect.
Jay woke slowly.
Warm. Comfortable. Keifer's arm around her.
They'd fallen asleep on the patio couch. Blankets thrown over them sometime in the night. Probably Serina.
Jay smiled. Turned to face him.
Keifer stirred. "Mm."
Jay: "Morning."
Keifer: "Too early."
Jay: "It's 10."
Keifer: "Too early."
She kissed his nose. He smiled without opening his eyes.
Jay: "We should get up."
Keifer: "Should."
Jay: "But?"
Keifer: "But you're warm."
Jay: "Smooth."
Keifer: "Honest."
They finally dragged themselves inside.
The living room was a disaster zone of sleeping bodies.
Ci-n was face-down on the floor. Rakki was using his back as a pillow. Mica and Calix were curled together in an armchair. Freya had somehow claimed the entire couch, Edrix on the floor beside her, hand stretched up holding hers.
Freya: (asleep but holding on)
Edrix: (asleep but smiling)
Rory was at the dining table, head on his laptop. Drew was counting money in his sleep. David was David. Eren was outside talking to a bird. Josh was meditating peacefully.
Baster was humming in his sleep.
Percy and Honey were curled together in another corner. Percy's phone was still recording, battery at 2%.
Honey: (asleep but somehow still beautiful)
Percy: (asleep but somehow still dramatic)
Aries and Ella were on the floor, Aries' arm around her, both looking younger in sleep.
Ella: (soft)
Aries: (soft)
Jay: "They're all cute when they're asleep."
Keifer: "Don't let them hear you say that."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
Angelo appeared in the doorway.
Coffee in hand. Awake. Alert. Always watching.
Angelo: "Morning."
Jay: "Angelo! Did you sleep?"
Angelo: "Two hours. Enough."
Keifer: "That's not enough."
Angelo: "It's enough for me."
Jay: "You're impossible."
Angelo: "I'm efficient."
Keifer: "Same thing?"
Angelo: "Same thing."
He sipped his coffee. Surveyed the chaos.
Angelo: "Everyone made it home safe. Denzel and Grace are at the hotel. Grazel Jay is with the boys."
Jay: "You checked?"
Angelo: "Always."
Keifer: "Thanks, Angelo."
Angelo: "It's my job."
Jay: "It's more than a job."
Angelo: "Maybe."
He almost smiled.
Tita Gema woke with a snort.
Tita Gema: "WHAT—WHERE—THE FOOD!"
Jasfer: "Food? Where?"
Tita Gema: "IN THE KITCHEN! WHERE ELSE?"
Jasfer: "I'll help!"
Tita Gema: "YOU'LL BURN IT!"
Jasfer: "I'LL TRY NOT TO!"
Serina appeared, somehow perfect. "Good morning, everyone."
Jay: "Mom, how do you always look perfect?"
Serina: "Years of practice, anak."
Keifer: "And genetics."
Serina: "And genetics."
Jay's grandma woke. "MORNING! WEDDING WAS GOOD! I APPROVE!"
Keigan: "Lola, you've been asleep."
Jay's grandma: "I APPROVE IN MY DREAMS! SAME THING!"
Keiren: "Not the same thing."
Jay's grandma: "IT IS TODAY!"
The chaos woke everyone slowly.
Ci-n: "WHERE AM I?"
Rakki: "My pillow."
Ci-n: "I'M A PILLOW?"
Rakki: "You were."
Ci-n: "I ACCEPT THIS ROLE!"
Mica stretched. Calix's arm fell off the chair.
Calix: "I can't feel my arm."
Mica: "Worth it?"
Calix: "Worth it."
Freya woke. Realized her hand was in Edrix's.
Freya: "Why are you holding my hand?"
Edrix: "You were holding mine."
Freya: "I wasn't."
Edrix: "You were."
Freya: "PROOF?"
Edrix showed his phone. Photo of them sleeping, hands together.
Freya: "Delete that."
Edrix: "No."
Freya: "EDRIX."
Edrix: "FREYA."
She glared. He smiled.
Freya: "...Fine. But don't show anyone."
Edrix: "It's my screensaver."
Freya: "I HATE YOU."
Edrix: "No, you don't."
Freya: "No, I don't."
Rory woke. "My laptop's dead."
Drew: "New bet! How many devices died last night?"
David: "All of them. 500."
Drew: "Safe bet."
Eren came in. "The bird's name is Harold now."
Josh nodded approvingly.
Baster hummed a morning melody.
Percy and Honey woke together.
Percy: "MY PHONE! BATTERY 2%! CI-N, BACKUP!"
Ci-n: "I HAVE 347 VIDEOS!"
Percy: "TRANSFER THEM NOW!"
They ran to find chargers.
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Dangerous."
Calix: "Chaotic."
Freya: "Perfect for each other."
Edrix: "Agreed."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Breakfast was chaos.
Tita Gema and Jasfer somehow produced a feast. Eman appeared to help (he'd slept over too).
Everyone ate. Talked. Laughed.
Angelo stood near the door. Coffee in hand. Watching.
Jay brought him a plate.
Jay: "Eat."
Angelo: "I'm fine."
Jay: "Angelo."
Angelo: "Jay."
Jay: "You're family. Eat."
Angelo paused. Took the plate.
Angelo: "Thanks."
Jay: "You're welcome."
Keifer appeared beside her. "He ate?"
Jay: "He's eating."
Keifer: "Good."
Angelo: "I can hear you."
Keifer: "We know."
After breakfast, everyone scattered.
Some napped. Some cleaned. Some (Percy and Ci-n) edited their footage.
Jay and Keifer found a quiet spot on the patio.
Jay: "Today is peaceful."
Keifer: "Today is rare."
Jay: "Enjoy it while it lasts?"
Keifer: "Always."
Jay leaned against him.
Jay: "I love our family."
Keifer: "Our chaotic family."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Keifer: "Same thing."
Angelo appeared at the patio door.
Angelo: "Denzel and Grace are back. Grazel Jay is asking for you."
Jay: "Coming!"
She stood. Pulled Keifer up.
Keifer: "I'm coming too?"
Jay: "You're her favorite Kuya."
Keifer: "I'm her only Kuya."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Keifer: "Same thing."
They walked inside together.
Grazel Jay ran to them. "TITA JAY! KUYA KEIFER! I MISSED YOU!"
Jay scooped her up. "We missed you too, baby."
Grazel Jay: "WEDDING WAS FUN! I THREW FLOWERS!"
Keifer: "You threw them perfectly."
Grazel Jay: "I KNOW!"
Denzel and Grace appeared, looking rested and happy.
Denzel: "Thank you for watching her."
Grace: "We owe you."
Jay: "You owe us nothing. She's family."
Grazel Jay: "I'M FAMILY!"
Keifer: "The best family."
Grazel Jay: "I KNOW!"
The day continued.
Laughter. Chaos. Love.
Angelo stood watch, as always. But now he smiled more. Talked more. Joined more.
At dinner, Jay raised a glass.
Jay: "To family. To love. To chaos."
Keifer: "To us."
Everyone: "TO US!"
Percy: "TO JAYFER!"
Ci-n: "TO SISTER JAY AND BROTHER KEIFER!"
Mica: "TO EVERYONE!"
Rakki: "To surviving."
Freya: "To not losing."
Edrix: "To winning."
Aries: "To Ella."
Ella: "To Aries."
Aries: "Same thing?"
Ella: "Same thing."
Drew: "To money."
David: "To sleep."
Eren: "To Harold the bird!"
Josh nodded.
Baster hummed a toast melody.
Grazel Jay: "TO FLOWERS!"
Everyone laughed.
Jay leaned against Keifer.
Jay: "Perfect."
Keifer: "Perfect."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "Never."
He kissed her forehead.
Angelo watched from the door. Almost smiled.
Almost.