Present Day – Mariano Mansion Living Room
The whole family was together. Mariano and Watson. Section E on video call. Everyone comfortable. Laughing about old stories.
Jay sat on Keifer's lap. His arms around her. Both comfortable.
Jane held up her phone. "I want to see baby pictures!"
Percy nodded. "Yes! Baby Keifer! Baby Jay!"
Keifer's face went red. "No."
Jay laughed. "Yes."
Serina smiled. "I have photos. Lots of photos."
Jeana stood. "Me too! Let's get the albums!"
The moms ran off. Excited.
Keifer groaned. Jay kissed his cheek. "It'll be fine."
Keifer looked at her. "You say that now."
Serina returned with three big albums. Jeana brought two more.
They spread them on the coffee table.
Everyone gathered around. Section E leaned closer to their screens.
Ci-N yelled, "SHOW US! SHOW US!"
Rakki nodded. "We need to see little Keifer!"
Keifer hid his face in Jay's shoulder. Jay patted his head.
Serina opened the first book. "Baby Keifer."
First photo. Newborn Keifer. Tiny. Grumpy face even then.
Jane screamed. "LOOK AT HIS LITTLE FACE! SO GRUMPY!"
Percy laughed. "He came out angry!"
Keizer nodded. "Didn't cry. Just looked around like 'where am I?'"
Keigan pointed. "He still makes that face!"
Keiren nodded. "Every day."
Jay cooed. "He was so cute!"
Keifer mumbled. "Kill me now."
Serina turned pages. Baby Keifer growing. Always serious. Rarely smiled.
One photo showed him at three. Holding a basketball. Frowning.
Drew yelled, "HE WAS BORN READY FOR THE GAME!"
Mayo laughed. "Grumpy little legend."
Kit nodded. "Still grumpy. Still legend."
Jeana opened her album. "Now baby Jay!"
First photo. Newborn Jay. Smiling in her sleep.
Jane gasped. "She came out happy!"
Percy nodded. "Always smiling. Even as baby."
Jasfer smiled soft. "My princess. Beautiful from day one."
Photos of little Jay. Always laughing. Always playing. Always bright.
One photo showed her at two. Covered in cake. Huge smile.
Grace laughed. "She hasn't changed!"
Rakki nodded. "Still sweet. Still messy."
Mica smiled. "So cute!"
Jay blushed. "Okay okay."
Keifer looked at the photos. Then at Jay. "You were perfect."
Jay's heart melted. "You were cute too."
Keifer shook his head. "I was grumpy."
Jay kissed his nose. "Cute grumpy."
Serina turned to a new page. "Now. The first time they met."
Everyone leaned closer.
The photo showed a big party. Rich people everywhere. Kids playing.
In the corner, two small children.
A little boy. Maybe seven. Dark hair. Grumpy face. Sitting alone.
A little girl. Maybe five. Pretty dress. Big smile. Walking toward him.
Jane gasped. "IS THAT THEM?!"
Jeana nodded. "First meeting. Watson-Marianos party. Years ago."
Jasfer spoke. "Keizer and I were friends. Business partners. We wanted our families close."
Keizer continued. "We thought... wouldn't it be nice? If our kids grew up together?"
Serina smiled. "We joked about them getting married someday."
Jeana nodded. "Just a joke at first. But then..."
Keizer finished. "Then we saw them together. That day."
Everyone looked at the photo.
In the photo, little Jay approached little Keifer.
He looked surprised. Like no one ever talked to him.
She held something out. A small toy? A flower?
He took it.
And in the next photo...
Little Keifer smiled. A real smile.
Jane screamed. "HE SMILED! LITTLE KEIFER SMILED!"
Percy fell off the couch. "NO WAY!"
Keigan stared. "I've never seen him smile in old photos!"
Keiren nodded. "Never! Not once!"
Serina wiped a tear. "Only Jay. Even then. Only Jay."
They turned pages. More photos of that day.
Little Jay and little Keifer playing together.
Holding hands.
Eating cake.
Little Keifer protecting little Jay from bigger kids.
Little Jay making him laugh.
Ci-N was crying. "THEY WERE MEANT TO BE!"
Rakki wiped her eyes. "This is too cute!"
Mayo and Kit hugged. "JAYFER SINCE BABIES!"
Drew counted money. "I bet they get married in one year!"
David nodded. "My prediction says forever."
Even quiet Josh smiled. "Beautiful."
The Engagement Decision
Keizer spoke. "After that day, we talked. Jasfer and me."
Jasfer nodded. "We saw how happy he was with her. How she brought out his smile."
Jeana continued. "So we decided. If they wanted it later, they would be engaged."
Serina smiled. "We told them when they were older. But they forgot."
Keizer laughed. "Life got busy. They didn't meet again until college."
Jasfer looked at Jay and Keifer. "But fate brought them back together."
Keifer held Jay tighter. "Fate. Or just meant to be."
Jay looked at him. "Meant to be."
Keizer pulled out his phone. "I have video."
Everyone gasped.
Keizer played it.
Little Jay and little Keifer on a swing set.
Little Jay: "Push me higher!"
Little Keifer: "Okay." He pushed gently.
Little Jay: "You're my best friend!"
Little Keifer: (shy) "You're mine too."
Little Jay: "When I grow up, I'll marry you!"
Little Keifer: (blushing even then) "Okay."
The video ended.
The room was silent.
Then everyone exploded.
Jane screamed. "SHE PROPOSED AT FIVE!"
Percy cried. "HE SAID OKAY!"
Jeana and Serina hugged. "OUR BABIES!"
Jasfer wiped his eyes. "My princess always knew."
Keizer nodded. "My son always knew too."
Keigan and Keiren high-fived. "BEST VIDEO EVER!"
Jay looked at Keifer. Eyes wet. "I remember that day."
Keifer looked back. "Me too. I never forgot you."
Jay whispered. "You were my first friend there."
Keifer whispered back. "You were my only friend. Everywhere."
They kissed. Soft. Sweet.
Everyone awwwwed.
Ci-N sobbed. "THIS IS THE BEST CHAPTER OF THEIR LOVE STORY!"
Rakki nodded. "And it's just beginning."
They watched more.
Little Jay teaching little Keifer to dance. He stepped on her feet. She laughed.
Little Keifer giving little Jay his jacket when she was cold.
Little Jay wiping dirt off little Keifer's face.
Little Keifer protecting little Jay from a mean dog.
Little Jay kissing his cheek. Him turning red.
Jane recorded the screen with her phone. "FOR POSTERITY!"
Percy nodded. "For the wedding video!"
The albums closed. Phones put away. Everyone tired but happy.
Jay and Keifer sat together. Looking at one last photo.
The two of them. Little kids. Holding hands. Smiling.
Jay touched the photo. "We were so little."
Keifer nodded. "And I already loved you."
Jay looked at him. "You did?"
Keifer kissed her forehead. "I did. I just didn't know what love was yet."
Jay smiled. "Now you know?"
Keifer looked in her eyes. "Now I know. It's you. Always you."
They kissed. Soft. Sweet.
From across the room, Jane took a photo.
Sent to the family group.
Jane: Full circle. Little love. Big love. Forever love.
Everyone liked it.
On video call, Section E waved.
Ci-N cried. "Goodnight Jayfer! Dream of little you!"
Rakki waved. "Love you both!"
Mayo blew kisses. "JAYFER FOREVER!"
Kit nodded. "Since babies. Until forever."
Drew yelled, "I BET THEY HAVE TWINS!"
David smiled. "My prediction says yes."
The call ended.
Quiet. Peaceful.
Jay lay her head on Keifer's chest. His arms around her.
"Thank you for being born," she whispered. "Thank you for being mine."
Keifer kissed her hair. "Thank you for finding me that day. For making me smile."
Jay smiled. "You were cute when you smiled."
Keifer laughed softly. "Only for you."
They fell asleep. Together. Like always.
Little love grown big.
Big love lasting forever.