Chapter 7: Back to Home
One Week Later
Jay was going crazy.
Seven days of bed rest.
Seven days of being treated like glass.
Seven days of everyone hovering.
She loved them.
She really did.
But if one more person asked if she needed anything, she was going to scream.
---
Keifer walked into his room with a tray of soup.
Again.
"How are you feeling?"
Jay stared at him.
"Keifer.
It's soup.
Again.
For the seventh time this week."
He set the tray down.
Unbothered.
"Doctor said rest.
Soup is restful."
"Soup is not restful.
Soup is soup.
And I'm tired of soup."
He sat on the bed beside her.
Took her hand.
Kissed her knuckles.
"What do you want?
I'll get you anything."
She softened.
Couldn't help it.
Those storm-gray eyes undid her every time.
"I want to get out of this room.
I want to see sunlight.
I want to eat at the table like a normal person.
I want to stop being treated like I'm going to shatter."
Keifer studied her.
Considering.
"Promise you'll take it slow?
No sudden movements?
No running?
No falling?"
She rolled her eyes.
"I promise.
I'm not made of glass."
He helped her up.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Hand on her elbow like she might collapse.
"Keifer.
I'm fine."
"Humor me."
She humored him.
---
They walked downstairs together.
Jay moving slowly.
Not because she had to.
Because Keifer wouldn't let go of her elbow.
The living room was full.
Mamma reading.
Keiran building something with blocks.
Keigan with his volcano book.
Percy and Aries arguing about something stupid.
Pappa pretending to read the newspaper but actually watching everyone.
They all looked up when Jay appeared.
Keiran launched himself off the floor.
"KUYA JAY!
You're out of bed!
You're better!"
He hugged her legs.
Carefully.
Gentle.
Like everyone had taught him.
Jay ruffled his hair.
"I'm better, little monster.
Not completely better.
But better."
Keigan nodded approvingly.
"That's good.
Volcanoes rest after they erupt too.
Then they're stronger."
Jay smiled.
"Exactly, Koya.
Exactly."
---
Mamma stood.
Crossed to her.
Checked her face.
Her eyes.
Her bandages.
"You look better today.
Color in your cheeks."
"Because I'm finally out of that room, Mamma.
No offense to Keifer's room.
It's beautiful.
But four walls get boring."
Mamma laughed.
Pulled her into a gentle hug.
"I understand, darling.
But we were worried.
You scared us."
Jay hugged her back.
"I know.
I'm sorry.
I'll try not to almost die again."
"See that you don't."
---
Percy appeared at her side.
Grinned.
"Look who's finally joined the land of the living.
We were starting to think you liked all the attention."
Jay snorted.
"The attention where you all treat me like I'm breakable?
Yeah, no thanks."
Aries walked over.
Hugged her carefully.
"The breakable treatment ends today.
But the hovering?
That's forever.
Get used to it."
Jay laughed.
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
---
They settled in the living room.
Jay on the big couch.
Keifer beside her.
His arm along the back.
Not quite touching.
But there.
Ready.
Keiran climbed up on her other side.
Shoved a block tower under her nose.
"Look what I made, Kuya Jay!
It's a castle!
For dinosaurs!
Rex is the king!"
Jay examined it seriously.
"It's magnificent, Keiran.
Rex is very lucky."
Keiran beamed.
"I know.
I'm a good builder.
Kuya Koya says so."
Keigan looked up from his book.
"I said you're enthusiastic.
Not the same thing."
Keiran stuck out his tongue.
"Same thing."
"Not same thing."
"Same thing!"
Mamma intervened gently.
"Boys.
Kuya Jay needs quiet.
Remember?"
Keiran stage-whispered.
"Sorry, Kuya Jay.
I'll be quiet like a mouse."
He was quiet for approximately three seconds.
Then started whispering loudly about dinosaur politics.
Jay caught Keifer's eye.
He was smiling.
That small, real smile she loved.
"This is chaos," she whispered.
"Best kind of chaos."
---
Lunchtime
Jay insisted on eating at the table.
With everyone.
Like a normal person.
Mamma relented.
But made her sit in the most comfortable chair.
And brought her food first.
And checked on her every five minutes.
Jay tolerated it.
Because it came from love.
And because the food was amazing.
Keiran chattered through the whole meal.
Percy made him laugh so hard he almost choked.
Aries kept everyone's glasses full.
Keigan asked Jay about her singing.
Pappa told stories about Keifer as a child.
Mamma beamed at her growing family.
And Keifer.
Keifer watched Jay.
The whole time.
Like she was the most precious thing in the world.
Under the table, his hand found hers.
Squeezed gently.
You okay? his eyes asked.
She squeezed back.
Better than okay.
---
After lunch, everyone dispersed.
Keiran dragged Percy outside to play.
Keigan asked Aries to help with a new experiment.
Pappa retreated to his study.
Mamma went to check on dinner.
Jay stood by the window.
Watching her brothers with Keiran and Keigan.
Laughing.
Playing.
Being part of something bigger.
Keifer came up behind her.
Wrapped his arms around her waist.
Carefully.
Gently.
Mindful of her still-healing head.
"What are you thinking?" he asked softly.
She leaned back against him.
Let his warmth surround her.
"I'm thinking...
A month ago, I was a poor girl singing in a pub.
Three jobs.
No future.
No family except my brothers."
She paused.
Watched Percy push Keiran on a swing.
"Now I have this.
This huge, beautiful, chaotic family.
A mom who makes me soup.
A dad who tells stories.
Little brothers who call me Kuya.
And you."
Keifer kissed her hair.
"And me."
She turned in his arms.
Faced him.
Those storm-gray eyes looking at her like she was everything.
"How did this happen?" she whispered.
"How did I get so lucky?"
He cupped her face.
Gentle.
Reverent.
"Luck had nothing to do with it.
You walked into my office with your secondhand clothes and your messy bun and your complete lack of fear.
And you changed everything."
She smiled.
Tears pricking her eyes.
"You changed everything too, Keifer.
You gave me a home.
A family.
A reason to stay."
He kissed her.
Soft.
Sweet.
Full of promise.
"Always," he whispered against her lips.
"Always."
---
Evening
Dinner was loud again.
Beautiful again.
Perfect again.
Afterward, they all gathered in the living room.
Mamma suggested music.
"Jay, dear.
Would you sing for us?
Keifer says you're wonderful."
Jay hesitated.
"I don't have my guitar.
It's still at the old apartment."
Keifer stood.
Walked to a closet.
Pulled out a guitar case.
Jay stared.
"Is that—"
"I had Aries and Percy bring your things.
All of them.
Your room is fully furnished now.
But I kept your guitar here.
Thought you might want it."
Jay's eyes filled with tears.
"You did that?
For me?"
He shrugged.
Small smile.
"You said the guitar was important.
So I made sure you had it."
She took the case.
Opened it slowly.
Her battered, beloved guitar.
Safe.
Here.
With her.
She looked up at him.
At this man who caught her when she fell.
Who held her when she broke.
Who brought her guitar because he knew it mattered.
"I love you," she said.
Right there.
In front of everyone.
Keifer's cheeks went pink.
But he smiled.
That real smile.
"I love you too, Jay."
---
Keiran made gagging noises.
"EWWWW.
Kuya Kai and Kuya Jay are gross."
Percy howled with laughter.
"Little man, you have no idea how gross they're going to get."
Jay threw a pillow at him.
Percy caught it.
Grinned.
"Play, Jay.
We want to hear you."
She settled on the couch.
Guitar in her lap.
Fingers finding familiar chords.
She looked around the room.
Mamma and Pappa on the big chair.
Keigan on the floor with his book but listening.
Keiran curled up beside Percy.
Aries leaning against the wall.
Keifer right beside her.
Watching.
Always watching.
She started to play.
A song about home.
About family.
About love.
Her voice filled the room.
Soft.
Strong.
True.
When she finished, everyone was quiet.
Then Keiran clapped.
Loudly.
Enthusiastically.
"AGAIN!
Kuya Jay, again!"
Everyone laughed.
Jay laughed too.
Happy.
Full.
Home.
---
Bedtime
Later, in Keifer's room, they lay together.
City lights outside.
Keiran's dinosaur on the nightstand.
Jay's guitar in the corner.
Keifer's arms around her.
"Today was perfect," she whispered.
"Good.
You deserve perfect days."
She smiled against his chest.
"I love your family.
I love this house.
I love—
She stopped.
Looked up at him.
"I love you.
I know I said it before.
But I keep meaning it more.
Every day.
More."
He kissed her forehead.
Her nose.
Her lips.
"Good.
Because I keep loving you more too.
Every day.
More."
She snuggled closer.
Safe.
Warm.
Loved.
"Keifer?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you.
For bringing my guitar.
For making me feel like I belong here.
For everything."
He held her tighter.
"You do belong here, Jay.
You belong with me.
Always."
She smiled.
Eyes closing.
Sleep pulling her under.
"Always," she murmured.
"Always."
---
The Next Morning
Jay woke to sunshine and silence.
Keifer was still asleep beside her.
His arm around her waist.
His face relaxed.
Beautiful.
She smiled.
Pressed a kiss to his jaw.
He stirred.
Mumbled something unintelligible.
Pulled her closer.
She laughed quietly.
Let him hold her.
Let herself be held.
This was her life now.
This beautiful man.
This beautiful family.
This beautiful home.
Jasper Jean Mariano,
she thought,
you made it.
You finally made it.
And downstairs, she could hear the sounds of morning.
Keiran's excited shout.
Keigan's quiet response.
Percy's loud laugh.
Aries's calm voice.
Mamma humming.
Pappa's paper rustling.
Her family.
All of them.
Together.
Under one roof.
She closed her eyes.
Smiled.
Listened to her heart beat in time with Keifer's.
Home, she thought.
Finally, home.
---
End of Chapter 7