Jay-Jay's POV
The restaurant hummed long after plates emptied, laughter spilling into the night like it was making up for lost years. Keifer's mom — Lia, she'd said, simple and warm — fit right in, trading stories with Aunty Gemma while Keiren and Keigan bombarded her with questions. Section E orbited around them, Felix sneaking extra food, C-in snapping selfies, even Yuri cracking a small smile from the corner.
Keifer sat beside me, bracelet glinting on his wrist, his free hand laced with mine under the table. Every so often, he'd glance at her, like checking she was real.
"You okay?" I whispered, nudging his shoulder.
He turned, eyes soft. "Better than okay. Never thought family could feel like this."
I squeezed his hand. "It's yours now."
Lia caught us watching, waving us over. "Jay-Jay, come here."
I slid next to her, Keifer following. She pulled out a small photo from her bag — faded, creased, the four of us as kids under the mango tree. "Found this while hiding. Thought you'd want it."
My heart swelled. Tiny me, grinning with a missing tooth, Percy mid-jump, Aries bossy as ever, little Keifer with that water gun. "It's perfect."
"Keep it safe," she said, pressing it into my palm. "You're part of this now. All of you."
Warmth hit me hard. No tests. No warnings. Just belonging.
Later, as the group thinned out — hugs, promises of more dinners — Keifer and I walked her to her car. Stars dotted the sky, air cool and clean.
"Thank you," she said to me, hugging tight. "For bringing my boy back."
"I didn't," I replied. "He was always strong."
She smiled, eyes knowing. "Keep telling him that."
Alone at last, Keifer pulled me close under a streetlight. "Walk you home?"
"Always."
We strolled slow, hands linked, streetlights blurring past. No rush. No shadows.
At our door, he leaned in, forehead to mine. "Tomorrow. School. Normal."
I grinned. "With extra snacks?"
He laughed, kissing me soft. "Deal, queen."
As he kissed me soft ,gently rubbing my cheeks bracelet catching the porch light, one truth settled.
We'd won.
Not just the fight.
The life after.