Jay pov.
We reached home, the maid serves us water. We took our glass and I nodded politely and looked around
"Where is Kade and mama???" I asked the maid because mama came here to stay with Kade till we went to hospital.
"They are in kade sir's room" she answered
"Ohh okay" I said. She nodded and left
"I'm so excited to tell him" I whispered looking at keifer.
He smiled and held my hand.
"Mee too. Let's go and tell him" he said pulling my hand and we headed towards kade's room.
He was sitting on the floor playing with his toy car making wroommm wrommm sounds and mom reyees was sitting on the couch watching him profoundly.
"You are home." Mom said standing from the couch "what did doctor say??' she asked
"MAMA!!! PAPA!!" Kade shouted and ran iny arms.
I caught him laughing softly as he wrapped his tiny arms around my waist.
"Careful buddy" keifer said and he put his hand on the small of my back.
Kade pulled back looking up at me." Mama fine??" He asked cutely.
I crouched down to his level "yes, mama is more than fine" I said and kissed his chubby cheek and turned to mama.
"Are you really fine??" She asked with deep concerned
I walked over and wrapped my arms around her "I'm more than fine " I repeated. "Actually... I'm pregnant " I whispered in her ear and pulled back. She froze for a second before her face lit up like a Christmas light.
Mama's face went through about five different emotions in the span of two seconds—shock, disbelief, and then pure, unadulterated joy.
"Pregnant?" she repeated, her voice coming out in a breathless whisper. Her hands flew to her mouth. "Oh my God. Oh my God, Jay."
She pulled me into another hug, this one tighter than the first, and I could feel her trembling slightly.
"Another grandbaby," she murmured against my hair. "Another little one to spoil."
I laughed softly and pulled back to look at her. "You're not supposed to spoil them, Mama. You're supposed to be the responsible one."
She waved her hand dismissively. "Nonsense. That's what grandparents are for. I've already got Kade wrapped around my finger, and now I'll have another one."
Kade, who had been watching this entire exchange with growing confusion, tugged on my shirt.
"Mama," he said loudly. "Mama, what happening?"
I looked down at him and felt my heart swell. He was looking up at me with those big eyes, his little face scrunched up in that way it always did when he was trying to understand something.
I crouched down to his level again and took his small hands in mine.
"Kade, baby," I said gently. "Mama has something very special to tell you."
His eyes widened. "Special?"
"Very special." I glanced up at Keifer, who had moved to stand beside us, his expression soft. He nodded at me, encouraging.
I looked back at Kade. "You know how Mama has been feeling a little sick lately?"
Kade nodded seriously. "Mama tummy bad."
"Right. Well, Mama's tummy isn't bad. There's just something very exciting happening inside it."
Kade's eyebrows furrowed. He looked down at my stomach, then back up at my face. "What?"
I took a deep breath. "There's a baby in there, Kade. A little brother or sister for you."
For a moment, Kade just stared at me.
Then his face lit up like the sun.
"Baby?" he shrieked, his voice going impossibly high. "Baby, baby, baby!"
He started jumping up and down, his little hands still clutching mine, and I had to laugh at his excitement.
"Yes, baby," I confirmed. "You're going to be a big brother."
"Big brudder!" Kade shouted, turning to look at Keifer. "Dada! I big brudder!"
Keifer crouched down beside us and ruffled Kade's hair. "That's right, buddy. You're going to be the best big brother."
Kade's eyes went wide. "Best?"
"The absolute best."
Kade seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding firmly. "I best."
I laughed and pulled him into a hug. "Yes, you are."
But then Kade pulled back, his expression suddenly suspicious.
"Where baby?" he asked, pointing at my stomach. "I don't see baby."
Keifer and I exchanged a look.
"The baby is inside Mama's tummy," Keifer explained patiently. "It's very small right now. It needs time to grow."
Kade stared at my stomach, then leaned forward and pressed his face against it.
"Baby?" he called loudly. "Baby, you there?"
I felt Keifer's hand on my back, steadying me as I tried not to laugh.
"The baby can't hear you yet, sweetheart," I said gently. "It's too small."
Kade pulled back, looking disappointed. "But I want to say hi."
"You will," I promised. "In a few months, the baby will be big enough to hear you. And then you can talk to it all you want."
Kade seemed satisfied with that answer. He nodded and then pointed at my stomach again.
"Baby sleep?"
"Yes, baby sleeps a lot right now."
"Like me?"
"Just like you."
Kade grinned. "Baby is my friend."
Mama, who had been watching this entire exchange with tears in her eyes, finally stepped forward.
"Alright, alright," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I think this calls for a celebration. Who wants cake?"
Kade's hand shot up. "ME!"
"Of course you do." Mama laughed and held out her hand. "Come on, little man. Let's go see what we can find in the kitchen."
Kade grabbed her hand, but then stopped and looked back at me.
"Mama come?"
"I'll be right there, baby. Let me talk to Dada for a minute."
Kade nodded and let Mama lead him out of the room. As soon as they were gone, I let out a long breath and leaned into Keifer's side.
"That went better than expected," I murmured.
Keifer wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close. "He's going to be insufferable now, you know. He's going to tell everyone he's the best big brother."
"He is the best big brother."
"Don't tell him that. His ego is already big enough."
I laughed and rested my head against his chest. "You love it."
"I do." He kissed the top of my head. "I love all of it. I love him. I love you. I love this baby."
I closed my eyes and let myself feel the warmth of his words.
"We're really doing this again," I whispered.
"We are."
"Are you scared?"
He was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "Terrified."
I pulled back to look at him. "Really?"
"Not of the baby," he clarified. "Of... everything else. Of not being enough. Of not being able to protect all of you."
I reached up and cupped his face in my hands. "Keifer, you are the most protective person I know. You would move mountains for Kade. You would do anything for me. You're not going to fail at this."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know you." I pressed a kiss to his cheek. "And because I'm right here with you. We're doing this together. We're always doing this together."
He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine.
Then he smiled—that rare, soft smile that was only for me.
"Together," he agreed.
I smiled back and then pulled away. "Now let's go find our son before he convinces Mama to give him all the cake."
Keifer groaned. "He's going to be on a sugar high for hours."
"Yep."
"Bedtime is going to be a nightmare."
"Absolutely."
He looked at me with a mixture of exasperation and adoration. "Why do you sound so happy about that?"
I shrugged innocently. "Because I'm not the one who has to put him to bed tonight."
He stared at me.
I grinned and walked out of the room.
"Jay!" he called after me. "Jay, you can't just—I put him to bed last night!"
I laughed and kept walking.
The sound of his footsteps following me was the best thing I had heard all day.
---
The rest of the afternoon was chaos in the best possible way.
Mama, it turned out, had taken Kade's news as a personal mission to spoil him even more than usual. By the time Keifer and I made it to the kitchen, Kade was already sitting at the table with a slice of chocolate cake that was almost as big as his head, and Mama was beaming like she had just won the lottery.
"There you are," she said when she saw us. "I was beginning to think you two had gotten lost."
"We were talking," Keifer said, pulling out a chair for me.
"Talking," Mama repeated, giving us a knowing look. "Is that what the kids are calling it these days?"
I felt my cheeks flush. "Mama!"
She laughed and waved her hand. "Oh, relax. I'm just teasing. Sit down, sit down. I made enough cake for everyone."
Keifer and I sat down, and I couldn't help but smile at the scene in front of me. Kade was covered in chocolate frosting, his little face sticky and happy. He was humming to himself as he ate, kicking his legs back and forth under the table.
"Kade," I said, trying to sound stern. "What did we say about eating with our mouth closed?"
He looked up at me, frosting smeared on his chin. "But Mama, it's so good."
"I know it's good. But you're getting it everywhere."
He looked down at himself, as if just now noticing the mess. "Oh."
I sighed and reached for a napkin. "Come here, little monster."
He obediently leaned toward me, and I wiped his face clean while he continued to eat, completely unbothered by my efforts.
"He's going to need a bath after this," Keifer observed.
"Definitely."
"I'll do it."
I looked at him, surprised. "You don't have to—"
"I want to." He reached over and ruffled Kade's hair. "Besides, I need to start practicing."
"Practicing what?"
"Being a good big brother role model."
I snorted. "You're not the big brother."
"Close enough."
Kade, who had been listening to this exchange, suddenly dropped his fork and announced, "I want a bath!"
Keifer raised an eyebrow. "You do?"
"Yes! With bubbles!"
Mama was already laughing. "That child has the best timing."
Keifer stood up and scooped Kade out of his chair, ignoring the chocolate-covered hands that immediately latched onto his shirt.
"Alright, buddy. Bath time."
"I want the dinosaur bubbles!"
"The dinosaur bubbles it is."
As Keifer carried Kade out of the kitchen, Kade looked over his shoulder at me and waved.
"Bye, Mama! Bye, baby!"
I waved back, my heart so full it felt like it might burst.
Mama watched them go, then turned to me with a soft smile.
"You're going to have your hands full," she said.
I nodded. "I know."
"Two children. A husband who travels for work. A house to run."
"I know."
She reached across the table and took my hand. "And you're going to be amazing at it."
I looked at her, surprised by the sudden sincerity in her voice.
"I mean it, Jay. I've watched you with Kade. I've seen how you handle everything life throws at you. You're stronger than you think."
I felt tears prick at my eyes. "Thank you, Mama."
She squeezed my hand. "And if you ever need anything—anything at all—you call me. I'll be here. Understand?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
She smiled and let go of my hand. "Good. Now, finish your cake. You're eating for two now."
I laughed and picked up my fork.
She was right.
I was eating for two.
But more importantly, I was living for three.
Four, if I counted Keifer.
And I did.
Always.
---
Later that night, after Kade was asleep and Mama had gone home, Keifer and I lay in bed, the room dark except for the soft glow of the lamp on the nightstand.
I was curled against his side, my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
"Keifer," I whispered.
"Hmm?"
"I'm scared."
He didn't ask what I was scared of. He didn't say there was nothing to be scared of.
He just held me tighter and said, "Me too."
I looked up at him. "You are?"
"I told you. I'm terrified."
"Of what?"
He was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "Of failing them. Of not being the father they deserve. Of..." He paused. "Of losing you."
I reached up and cupped his face. "You're not going to lose me."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
"How?"
I took a deep breath. "Because I'm not going anywhere. I have too much to live for. I have Kade. I have this baby. I have you."
He closed his eyes. "Jay..."
"I mean it. I'm not going anywhere, Keifer. So you can stop worrying about that."
He opened his eyes and looked at me for a long moment.
Then he kissed me.
Soft and slow and sweet.
When he pulled back, he was smiling.
"You always know what to say."
"That's because I'm very smart."
He laughed. "And so modest."
I grinned. "I know."
He pulled me closer and kissed the top of my head.
"Get some sleep," he murmured. "You're growing a human."
I laughed and closed my eyes.
"We're growing a human," I corrected.
"Right. We."
I smiled against his chest.
We.
The best word in the world.
---
The next few weeks passed in a blur of doctor's appointments, prenatal vitamins, and Kade asking approximately seven hundred times a day when the baby would be here.
"No, baby is not coming today," I told him for what felt like the hundredth time.
"But I want baby now."
"I know, sweetheart. But the baby needs more time to grow."
Kade pouted. "Baby slow."
I laughed and kissed his forehead. "Yes, baby is slow."
He sighed dramatically and flopped onto the couch. "Fine."
Keifer walked into the room just in time to hear this exchange. He was holding a cup of coffee and looking extremely amused.
"Still asking about the baby?"
"Always."
"He's persistent."
"He's your son."
Keifer grinned and sat down beside me. "That's true."
Kade, noticing that his father had entered the room, immediately sat up.
"Dada, when baby come?"
Keifer looked at me for help.
I just smiled and shrugged.
"Uh," he said. "In a few months."
Kade considered this. "How many months?"
"About... seven?"
Kade's face fell. "That's too long!"
Keifer winced. "I know, buddy. But that's how it works."
Kade crossed his arms and frowned. "I don't like it."
"I know."
"I want to play with baby now."
"You can't yet. But you can help us get ready for when the baby comes."
Kade's ears perked up. "Help?"
"Of course. You're going to be the big brother. You have a very important job."
Kade's eyes went wide. "Important?"
"Very. You need to help us pick out clothes for the baby. And toys. And you need to practice being gentle so you don't hurt the baby when it comes."
Kade nodded seriously. "I can do that."
"I know you can."
Kade jumped off the couch and started running toward his room.
"Where are you going?" I called after him.
"To get my toys! I show baby!"
I looked at Keifer.
He looked at me.
"He's going to bring us every single toy he owns, isn't he?"
"Probably."
I sighed. "And he's going to want us to save all of them for the baby."
"Definitely."
"We don't have room for all of them."
"We'll figure it out."
I looked at him. "You're enjoying this."
He smiled. "I am."
"Why?"
He leaned over and kissed my forehead.
"Because this—all of it—is everything I never knew I wanted."
I felt my eyes water.
"Keifer..."
"Don't cry," he said, wiping a tear from my cheek. "You're pregnant. You're supposed to blame your hormones."
I laughed through my tears. "I hate you."
"I love you too."
I leaned into him and closed my eyes.
For the first time in a long time, everything felt right.
Everything felt perfect.
And I knew, deep in my heart, that whatever challenges lay ahead, we would face them together.
Because that's what family did.
That's what we did.
Together.
Always together.
---
The next evening, after Kade had been put to bed and the house had settled into its usual nighttime quiet, I found myself standing in front of the mirror in our bedroom.
I lifted my shirt and looked at my stomach.
It was still flat.
No sign of the tiny life growing inside.
But I knew it was there.
I could feel it in the way my body had been changing, in the exhaustion that seemed to follow me everywhere, in the way certain smells made me want to throw up.
Keifer came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice soft.
"Looking."
"At what?"
I smiled. "At our baby."
He rested his chin on my shoulder. "It's too small to see."
"I know. But I can imagine."
"Imagine what?"
I placed my hands over his on my stomach.
"I imagine a little boy with your eyes and my stubbornness. Or a little girl with your smile and my temper."
He laughed. "Our children are going to be terrors."
"Absolute terrors."
"The world won't know what hit it."
I turned around to face him. "Are we insane? Having another baby?"
"Probably."
"Do you regret it?"
He cupped my face in his hands. "Not for a second."
I smiled up at him. "Good. Because neither do I."
He kissed me, soft and gentle, and I melted into him.
"I love you," he whispered against my lips.
"I love you too."
He pulled back and took my hand.
"Come on," he said. "Let's go to bed."
"But I'm not tired."
"You're pregnant. You're always tired."
"I resent that."
"It's true."
"It's offensive."
"It's science."
I huffed, but I let him lead me to the bed anyway.
He pulled back the covers and waited for me to climb in before joining me. Once we were settled, he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close.
"Goodnight, Jay."
"Goodnight, Keifer."
I closed my eyes.
But I didn't sleep.
Not right away.
Instead, I lay there in the dark, listening to the sound of his breathing, and let myself imagine the future.
Kade playing with his new brother or sister.
Keifer holding a tiny baby in his arms.
The sound of laughter filling our home.
It was a beautiful picture.
And for the first time in my life, I didn't have to imagine it.
Because it was real.
All of it.
And it was only the beginning.