Ceo Couple-Jayfer-Chapter 25 - 24: The Unexpected Guest

Saturday afternoon. Watson house.

Both families were gathered for their weekly chaos. Keizer was grilling. Serina reading. Keigan filming everything. Keiren running around with a toy dinosaur.

Jay and Keifer sat on the couch. Her legs over his lap. Him half-watching TV, half-watching her.

"You’re staring," she said without looking.

"Am not."

"Your eyes are on me."

"Your face is pretty."

She turned. Raised an eyebrow. "Smooth."

"Shut up."

"Make me."

He leaned in. Kissed her. Quick. Sweet.

Keiren ran past. "EWWWW."

Jay laughed against Keifer’s mouth. "Your brother."

"Our brother."

"Still gross."

"Probably."

The doorbell rang.

Keizer yelled from the backyard, "GET THAT, SOMEONE!"

Keigan was closest. Opened the door.

A man stood there. Tired. Suit wrinkled. Holding a car seat with a baby inside.

"Uh," Keigan said. "Can I help you?"

The man looked relieved. "Is Keifer here? I’m Marcus. His friend from college."

Keifer heard his name. Walked over. "Marcus? What’s wrong?"

Marcus practically collapsed inside. "I’m so sorry. Emergency. My mom’s in the hospital. I have to go. Now. I have no one else. Can you—" He looked at the baby. Then at Keifer. "Can you watch her? Just for tonight? Please?"

Keifer stared at the baby.

A tiny girl. Maybe one year old. Big eyes. Curly hair. Sucking her thumb.

Everyone gathered. Staring.

Jay appeared beside Keifer. "Is that a baby?"

"Yes," Marcus said. "My daughter. Mia. She’s one. She’s easy. I swear. Just feed her, change her, she sleeps through the night. Please. I have no one else."

Keifer looked at the baby. Baby looked at Keifer.

She smiled. Gummy. Cute.

Keifer’s heart did something weird.

"Yeah," he said. "Okay."

Marcus almost cried. "Thank you. THANK YOU. I’ll be back tomorrow morning. I promise. Her bag has everything. Instructions. Number. Please—"

"Go," Keifer said. "She’s fine."

Marcus hugged him. Kissed Mia’s head. Whispered something. Then ran.

The door closed.

Silence.

Everyone looked at Keifer. Keifer looked at the baby in the car seat.

Mia looked around. Blinked. Then started crying.

"Oh no," Keigan said.

Keifer panicked. "What do I do?"

Jay grabbed the car seat. "Give her here. She’s probably hungry. Or wet. Or scared."

She lifted Mia out. Held her carefully.

Mia cried harder.

Jay’s face fell. "Why is she crying MORE?"

Serina stepped in. Calm. "Let me try, baby."

She took Mia. Rocked gently. Shushed softly.

Mia kept crying.

Keizer tried. Jasfer tried. Mama Reycee tried.

Nothing worked.

Mia was full-on screaming now.

Everyone looked at Keifer.

He walked over. Slowly. Took Mia from Mama Reycee.

Held her against his chest. One hand supporting her head. The other patting her back gently.

And started humming.

Soft. Low. A melody no one recognized.

Mia’s cries slowed. Then stopped.

She sniffled. Looked up at him.

Keifer kept humming. Kept patting.

Mia’s eyes got heavy.

Within minutes, she was asleep.

The room was DEAD silent.

Jay stared. Mouth open.

Keizer whispered, "MY SON. THE BABY WHISPERER."

Serina had tears. "He used to hum that to Keiren when he was a baby."

Jasfer grabbed Mama Reycee. "HE KNOWS BABIES."

Aries crossed his arms. "Okay. That’s actually impressive."

Ella nodded. "Very attractive."

Percy was already texting Honey: KEIFER CALMED A BABY. I’M CRYING.

Honey: SEND PICS.

Percy: CAN’T. TOO BUSY WATCHING HISTORY.

Keigan filmed everything. "This is GOLD."

Keiren tugged Serina’s sleeve. "Mommy, why is Kuya good with the baby?"

"Because he’s going to be a great dad someday, baby."

Keiren nodded. "Oh. Can I keep the baby?"

"Not today, sweetie."

Keifer stood there. Holding a sleeping baby. Looking at Jay.

"Take a picture," he said flatly. "I know you want to."

Everyone took pictures.

Jay walked over. Stared at Mia. Then at Keifer.

"How did you do that?"

"I don’t know. She just... stopped."

"You’re magic."

"I’m practical."

"Same thing."

He almost-smiled. "Can you get her bag? She’ll need to eat when she wakes up."

Jay blinked. "You know when she’ll wake up?"

"Babies sleep about two hours. Then hungry. Then diaper."

"KEIFER."

"What?"

"How do you KNOW this?"

He shrugged. "I helped with Keiren. A lot. Mom was tired. Dad was loud. Someone had to be calm."

Jay’s heart melted completely.

"You’re perfect," she whispered.

"I’m not."

"You are. Shut up."

"Make me."

She kissed him. Careful not to squish the baby.

The families swooned.

Two hours later. Mia woke up.

Exactly like Keifer said.

She blinked. Looked around. Saw Keifer. Smiled.

Then saw Jay. Stared.

Jay waved. "Hi, Mia. I’m Jay."

Mia kept staring.

"She’s judging me," Jay whispered to Keifer.

"She’s one. She’s not judging."

"She TOTALLY is."

Keifer handed Mia to Jay. "Here. Feed her. Bottle’s ready."

Jay took her. Nervous. "What if I drop her?"

"You won’t."

"What if she cries?"

"Then I’ll take her."

"What if—"

"Jay. Breathe. You’ve got this."

Jay looked at Mia. Mia looked at Jay.

Jay put the bottle to her lips.

Mia drank.

"No crying," Jay breathed. "She’s eating."

"Good job, baby."

"I DID IT."

Keifer almost-smiled. "You did."

The families watched from the kitchen. Hiding. But watching.

Keizer whispered, "She’s a natural."

Jasfer nodded. "My baby girl. Feeding a baby."

Mama Reycee wiped her eyes. "They’re going to be such good parents."

Serina smiled. "The best."

Aries pretended to be tough. "It’s fine."

Ella poked him. "You’re smiling."

"I’m not."

"You ARE."

"...Fine. It’s cute."

After feeding, Jay burped Mia. Awkwardly. But it worked.

Mia let out a tiny burp. Then laughed.

Jay’s face lit up. "She laughed! Did you see that? SHE LAUGHED."

Keifer watched her. Soft. "I saw."

"She likes me."

"She definitely likes you."

Jay held Mia up. "I’m your favorite now, okay? Not him."

Mia grabbed Jay’s nose.

Jay laughed. "Okay, fair."

Keifer watched them. Heart full.

Dinner time was chaos.

Jay tried to feed Mia solids. Baby food. Carrots.

Mia did NOT want carrots.

She spat them out. All over Jay.

Jay stared at her shirt. Orange mush everywhere.

"MIA."

Mia laughed.

Keifer handed Jay a towel. "She got you."

"She’s evil."

"She’s one."

"Same thing."

He wiped her shirt. She let him.

Then Mia reached for Keifer. Arms up.

"She wants you," Jay said.

Keifer took her. Mia immediately calmed.

"Traitor," Jay muttered.

Mia smiled at her. Innocent.

"You’re lucky you’re cute."

Later that night. Mia’s bath time.

Keifer handled it. Like a pro.

Jay watched from the doorway. Amazed.

He tested the water. Held Mia carefully. Washed her gently. Sang softly.

Mia splashed. Laughed. Loved it.

Keifer’s shirt got soaked. He didn’t care.

Jay grabbed her phone. Recorded.

"You’re getting this on video?" he asked without looking.

"Obviously. Future blackmail."

"For what?"

"For when our kids are teenagers. I’ll show them how soft you were."

He looked at her. Almost-smiled. "Our kids?"

She froze. "I mean... if we have kids. Someday. Not now. Obviously."

"Obviously."

"Shut up."

He kissed her. Quick. Wet. "I like the idea."

"What idea?"

"Our kids."

Jay’s heart flipped.

"Yeah," she whispered. "Me too."

Mia splashed them both.

They laughed.

Bedtime. 9pm.

Mia was sleepy. Rubbing her eyes. Fussy.

Keifer sat on the couch. Mia on his chest. Patting her back. Humming that same song.

Jay sat beside him. Head on his shoulder.

"She’s almost out," Jay whispered.

"Mm."

"You’re really good at this."

"I had practice."

"You’re gonna be a great dad."

He looked at her. Soft. "You think?"

"I know." She kissed his cheek. "The best."

He kissed her forehead. "You too. You’ll be the best mom."

"We’ll see."

"I’ve seen. Tonight. You were great."

She smiled. "Thanks, baby."

"Welcome, love."

Mia’s eyes closed. Finally asleep.

They sat there. Quiet. Peaceful.

Ten minutes later, both Jay and Keifer were asleep too.

Jay leaned on Keifer. Keifer leaned back. Mia on his chest. All three breathing together.

The families crept in. Silent.

Keizer pulled out his phone. "I need this photo."

Serina nodded. "Me too."

Jasfer took one from the other side. "For the wedding slideshow."

Mama Reycee was already crying. "They look like a family."

Aries whispered, "They DO look like a family."

Ella kissed his cheek. "Told you."

Percy filmed a slow pan. "Honey’s gonna lose it."

Keigan captured everything. "Archives. Special section."

Keiren tiptoed closer. Stared.

"Mommy," he whispered. "Kuya has a baby?"

"Not his baby, sweetie. Just visiting."

"Oh." He thought. "Can we keep her?"

Serina smiled. "We’ll see."

Keiren nodded seriously. "I’ll be a good big brother."

Everyone melted. Again.

An hour later. Keifer woke up.

Felt the weight on his chest. Mia still there. Sleeping peacefully.

Felt the weight on his shoulder. Jay. Head on him. Drooling a little.

He looked at them.

His girls.

Tears filled his eyes.

He didn’t cry. Keifer Watson didn’t cry.

But his eyes were wet.

He kissed Jay’s hair. Whispered, "I love you."

Then kissed Mia’s head. Whispered, "I’ll protect you. Always."

Jay stirred. Blinked. Saw him.

"You okay?" she mumbled.

"Perfect."

"Why are your eyes wet?"

"Something in them."

"Liar."

"Shut up."

"Make me."

He kissed her. Soft. Sweet. Careful not to wake Mia.

When they pulled apart, Jay looked at him. Really looked.

"You’re thinking about our future," she said. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"How do you know?"

"Because I am too."

He smiled. Real smile. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." She touched his face. "I want this. With you. Someday."

"Someday."

"But not yet."

"No. Not yet."

"Lots of time."

"All the time in the world."

Mia stirred. Snuggled closer to Keifer.

Jay laughed quietly. "She likes you more."

"She likes us both."

"She definitely likes you more."

"Jealous of a baby?"

"Obviously."

He kissed her again. "You’re my favorite."

"Good. You’re mine."

They sat there. Three of them. Together.

Morning came too fast.

Marcus arrived at 8am. Tired but relieved.

He found them in the living room. Keifer on the couch. Mia on his chest. Jay curled beside him. All asleep.

Marcus’s eyes got wet.

He cleared his throat softly.

Keifer woke instantly. Alert. Protective.

Then relaxed. "Marcus. Hey."

"Hey. Thank you. So much."

Keifer shook his head. "She was fine. Easy."

Marcus took Mia. She woke up. Saw her dad. Smiled.

"Dada!"

Marcus hugged her tight. "Hi, baby girl."

Jay woke up. Stretched. "Oh. You’re back."

"Yes. Thank you. Both of you. I owe you everything."

Jay waved. "It was fun. She’s cute."

Marcus looked at them. "You two are good together."

Jay and Keifer looked at each other.

"Thanks," Jay said.

"We know," Keifer added.

Marcus laughed. "Yeah. You do."

He left with Mia. Waving.

The door closed.

Silence.

Jay leaned into Keifer. "That was weirdly perfect."

"Yeah."

"Like... a test run."

He looked at her. "For what?"

She smiled. "You know."

He kissed her. "Someday."

"Someday."

The families emerged from wherever they’d been hiding.

Keizer: "WE SAW EVERYTHING."

Jasfer: "THE CUDDLING. THE KISSES. THE TEARS."

Serina: "Keifer, you cried. We saw."

Keifer’s ears went red. "I didn’t cry."

Mama Reycee: "Your eyes were wet, baby."

"Allergies."

"INDOORS?"

"Strong allergies."

Jay laughed. "Let him live."

Keiren ran up. "Kuya! Kuya’s girlfriend! Can we get a baby?"

Everyone laughed.

Jay knelt down. "Not today, Keiren."

"But you were so good with her!"

Jay looked at Keifer. He looked at her.

"Someday," she said.

Keifer nodded. "Someday."

Keiren sighed dramatically. "Fine. But I’m reminding you."

"Deal."

Later that night. Jay and Keifer alone.

"Today was crazy," Jay said.

"Every day with you is crazy."

"True." She leaned on him. "But I liked it."

"Me too."

"Mia was cute."

"Very cute."

"Made me think."

"About?"

She looked up at him. "About us. Our future."

He pulled her closer. "Good thoughts?"

"The best."

He kissed her. "Me too."

"Our kids are gonna be so loved."

"So loved."

"And so spoiled by both families."

"Definitely."

"And we’ll be annoying parents."

"The most annoying."

"Perfect."

"Perfect."

They watched the stars.

Someday. But not yet.

And that was okay.