Jay's POV
I don't know what time it was.
The house was silent.
Too silent.
The kind of quiet that only happens in the mountains at night.
I was half asleep, curled slightly toward Keifer, when—
A soft cry broke through the darkness.
Tiny.
Shaky.
Grazel.
I blinked awake.
The cry came again, a little louder this time.
Keifer stirred slightly. "Baby?" he murmured sleepily.
"Grazel," I whispered.
Across the hallway, I heard soft movement. A door opening. Grace's gentle voice trying to soothe her.
But the crying didn't stop.
It wasn't loud — just the confused cry of a baby in a new place.
I slowly slipped out of bed.
Keifer caught my wrist gently. "Where are you going?"
"I'll help."
He looked at me for a second, then nodded.
We stepped into the hallway.
Grace was pacing slowly with Grazel in her arms, trying to calm her.
Her hair was messy. She looked exhausted.
"I'm so sorry," Grace whispered when she saw us. "New place… she's not used to it."
"It's okay," I said softly.
Grazel's tiny face was scrunched, her fists waving weakly.
"Can I?" I asked.
Grace hesitated for half a second — then carefully handed her to me.
She was so warm.
So small.
I held her close instinctively, rocking gently like I'd seen Grace do earlier.
"It's okay… shhh… we're here," I whispered.
Keifer stood beside me, watching quietly.
I adjusted Grazel against my shoulder.
She let out one more soft cry.
Then slowly…
She settled.
Her tiny fingers gripped my night shirt.
Her breathing evened out.
Grace stared at me.
"You calmed her so fast…"
"I just… copied you," I said shyly.
Keifer's voice came low beside me.
"No. You didn't."
I looked at him.
There was something different in his eyes.
Soft.
Focused.
Proud.
After a minute, Grazel was fully asleep again.
Grace smiled, her eyes slightly glossy from exhaustion and emotion.
"Jay," she said gently.
I looked up.
"Your baby will be lucky."
I froze.
Grace continued, voice warm and certain.
"You're so natural. So gentle. So patient. Whoever your child is… they'll be very loved."
My entire face heated instantly.
"Grace—" I started, embarrassed.
She smiled knowingly.
"You should give Keifer a child now."
My brain stopped functioning.
"Grace!" I whisper-shouted.
Behind me, I heard a very familiar amused sound.
Keifer.
He stepped closer, lowering his voice teasingly.
"Well… if Keiren wants a brother or sister," he said casually, "maybe we should fulfill his wish."
I turned sharply to look at him.
"You are not helping."
He shrugged lightly. "I'm just being supportive."
Grace tried to hide her laughter.
I could feel my ears burning.
"I am going back to the room," I muttered, carefully handing Grazel back to Grace.
Keifer followed me immediately.
The hallway was dimly lit.
The moment our bedroom door closed behind us—
He leaned against it, arms crossed.
Still smiling.
"You'd look good holding our baby," he said softly.
I stared at him.
"Stop."
He walked toward me slowly.
"No teasing now," he said, voice dropping from playful to warm. "I meant it."
My heart skipped.
He stopped in front of me.
"Seeing you like that… it felt right."
I swallowed.
The air felt heavier suddenly.
"Keifer…" I murmured.
He gently brushed his fingers along my cheek.
"You don't have to rush anything," he said softly. "I'm not serious about pressure. I just…"
He paused.
"I could see it. Our future."
That wasn't teasing anymore.
That was real.
I looked down, suddenly shy in a way I rarely felt.
"And what did you see?" I asked quietly.
He smiled faintly.
"You. Still blushing."
I lightly hit his arm.
He caught my wrist gently and pulled me closer.
"I saw you holding our child," he continued, voice softer now. "And I thought… if that ever happens… I want them to have your heart."
My chest tightened.
The teasing was gone.
This was different.
I rested my forehead against his chest.
"You're making it hard to breathe," I murmured.
He wrapped his arms around me fully.
"I'm not rushing," he repeated gently. "Just dreaming."
We stood there for a long moment.
No noise.
No chaos.
Just warmth.
After a while, we moved back to bed.
He pulled the blanket over us and drew me close again, like earlier in the car.
But this time—
There was something new in the silence.
Not pressure.
Not expectation.
Just possibility.
As sleep slowly returned, I heard him whisper near my hair:
"Whenever you're ready."
And somehow—
That made my heart calmer than anything else that night.
Keifer's POV
Morning in Jaipur arrived with warm golden sunlight spilling through the curtains.
The city was already awake.
Somewhere outside, I could hear birds, distant traffic, and the faint sound of temple bells carried by the morning breeze.
I opened my eyes slowly.
Jay was still in my arms.
Only...
She wasn't asleep.
I knew because she was trying very hard not to move.
A smile tugged at my lips.
"The ceiling isn't that fascinating," I murmured.
She immediately looked away.
"I wasn't looking at the ceiling."
"No?"
I tightened my arm around her waist just enough to make her glance back at me.
"Then what has my wife thinking so seriously this early?"
"Nothing."
Her cheeks were already turning pink.
I leaned a little closer.
"Still thinking about yesterday?"
"Keifer..."
She hid half her face behind the blanket.
I couldn't help laughing.
"I didn't even mention what happened."
"You were about to."
"I was."
She sighed dramatically before trying to sit up.
I caught her hand gently.
"Five more minutes."
"We'll be late."
"We're on vacation."
"In Jaipur."
"Exactly."
She laughed despite herself.
I brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
"You look beautiful in the morning."
She blinked.
"You always say that."
"Because it's always true."
For a second, neither of us spoke.
The room felt peaceful.
Then...
A loud knock echoed through the door.
"Breakfast!" Honey shouted from outside. "And if you two don't come down, Percy said he'll eat your dessert!"
Jay laughed instantly.
"We should definitely get up."
"I refuse to lose dessert."
---
Breakfast
The dining hall was already full by the time we came downstairs.
Fresh parathas, poha, fruits, tea, coffee, and hot milk covered the long table.
Everyone had somehow become energetic before eight in the morning.
I still didn't understand how.
Keiren was already talking excitedly with Keigan.
Grace was feeding little Grazel while Denzel tried making funny faces to entertain her.
Krish sat near the end of the table, quietly reading something on his phone.
Eces arrived a moment later, greeting everyone with a simple morning before taking her seat beside Krish.
She looked rested after the long journey.
Keiren immediately looked between Jay and Eces.
"Good morning, Ate Jay!"
Jay smiled.
"Good morning."
Then he turned toward the other side of the table.
"Good morning, Ate Eces!"
She looked up from pouring tea and smiled faintly.
"Morning, Keiren."
Breakfast had barely started when Keiren frowned thoughtfully.
"Ate Jay is very quiet today."
Jay nearly inhaled her tea.
"I'm not quiet."
"You are," Keiren insisted confidently.
Then he pointed toward Eces.
"But Ate Eces is normal."
Eces looked up, confused.
"What did I do?"
"Exactly," Keieren replied. "Nothing."
The entire table burst into laughter.
Honey covered her face.
Percy dramatically pointed at Jay.
"Suspicious behavior detected."
Jay looked at me with narrowed eyes.
"This is your fault."
"I haven't said a word."
"Your face said enough."
Even Krish chuckled quietly into his coffee.
Grace smiled knowingly while gently bouncing Grazel in her arms.
Then Keiren suddenly became very serious.
"Kuya Keifer."
"Yes?"
"If you and Ate Jay have a baby one day..."
Jay froze.
"...can I teach the baby boxing?"
Silence.
Then the entire dining room erupted.
I rested my chin on my hand thoughtfully.
"If it's a boy..."
Jay closed her eyes.
"...or if it's a girl," I continued calmly, "boxing is still useful."
"KEIFER!"
She lightly kicked my foot under the table.
Honey laughed so hard she almost dropped her spoon.
Even Eces shook her head with an amused smile before quietly continuing her breakfast.
Krish looked between the two of us.
"I think you've embarrassed her enough."
"I disagree," Percy announced. "I think he can do better."
Jay stood up immediately.
"I'm going outside."
She walked away while everyone tried, and mostly failed, to stop laughing.
---
The Courtyard
I found her standing near the courtyard fountain, pretending to admire the flowers.
"You planned that."
"I absolutely didn't."
She folded her arms.
"I don't believe you."
"I'll accept that."
Before either of us could continue—
A tiny cry interrupted us.
Grazel.
Grace walked over slowly, rocking the sleepy five-month-old.
"She didn't sleep much after the drive," Grace said with a tired smile.
Jay's expression softened instantly.
"Can I hold her?"
"Of course."
Grace carefully placed Grazel into Jay's arms.
Jay adjusted the little blanket instinctively before gently rocking her.
Within moments, Grazel settled down.
Her tiny fingers wrapped around one of Jay's.
I stood there quietly.
Watching.
There was something effortless about the way Jay cared for children.
Natural.
Gentle.
Patient.
Grace noticed where I was looking.
"She's wonderful with babies," she whispered.
I nodded.
"I know."
Jay looked up at me.
"What?"
I smiled softly.
"Nothing."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're thinking."
"I am."
"And?"
I stepped closer and gently touched Grazel's tiny hand.
"I'm thinking..."
I looked at Jay.
"...that any child lucky enough to have you would never doubt they were loved."
Her eyes widened slightly.
The teasing was gone.
Only warmth remained.
She looked down at the sleeping baby, then back at me with a shy smile.
Across the courtyard, I noticed Eces and Krish discussing the day's sightseeing plans while the rest of Section E argued over which palace they wanted to visit first.
The house was lively again.
Full of laughter.
Full of family.
And standing there beside Jay, watching Grazel sleep peacefully in her arms, I couldn't help thinking...
Jaipur was already giving us memories none of us would ever forget.
The courtyard had settled into a comfortable morning rhythm.
Jay was still gently rocking Grazel in her arms beneath the shade of the old trees. The little girl slept peacefully, her tiny fingers curled around the edge of Jay's dupatta.
I couldn't seem to look away.
There was something so effortless about the way Jay held her.
Gentle.
Patient.
Natural.
Before I could get lost in that thought again, the sound of footsteps echoed across the stone pathway.
Krish and Eces walked into the courtyard together, already prepared for the day's sightseeing.
Both of them slowed when they noticed us.
Krish glanced from Jay... to Grazel... then to me.
One corner of his mouth lifted.
"So," he said calmly, "looks like breakfast isn't the only thing happening this morning."
Jay blinked.
"What does that even mean?"
"It means," Eces answered with a small smile, "someone seems very comfortable holding a baby."
Jay looked down at Grazel before looking back up.
"I'm just helping Grace."
"Of course," Eces replied, her expression completely innocent.
I had known her long enough to recognize that look.
She was absolutely teasing.
Just then, the back door burst open.
Section E.
Honey, Percy, Aries, Keieren, Keigan, Ci-n, Rakki, Calix, and the others wandered into the garden, still chatting among themselves.
Then they noticed Jay.
Holding Grazel.
Standing beside me.
Honey covered her mouth dramatically.
"Aww..."
Percy pointed between us.
"This looks suspiciously wholesome."
Aries nodded with fake seriousness.
"I feel like we're seeing a preview of the future."
Jay immediately shook her head.
"There is no preview!"
Keiren's eyes widened.
He looked from Jay to me.
Then to Grazel.
Then back again.
"Ate Jay..." he asked carefully, "you're really good with babies."
Jay smiled warmly.
"I like children."
Keiren nodded thoughtfully.
"I think you'd be a really nice mom."
The sentence was so genuine that Jay froze for a second before her cheeks turned bright pink.
I couldn't stop smiling.
Then Ci-n, fourteen years old and never one to hide exactly what he was thinking, folded his arms.
"I have a complaint."
Everyone turned toward him.
Jay blinked.
"A complaint?"
He nodded very seriously.
"If you and Keifer ever have a baby..."
He paused dramatically.
"...then that baby is going to steal all your attention."
The garden fell silent.
For exactly one second.
Then laughter exploded everywhere.
Jay laughed so hard she had to be careful not to wake Grazel.
"Ci-n!" she said between laughs. "That's what you're worried about?"
"Obviously."
He shrugged.
"Right now, if I need advice, snacks, or someone to listen to me, I come to you."
He pointed toward Grazel.
"If there's a baby, I'll have to stand in line."
Honey laughed so loudly she almost doubled over.
Percy wiped imaginary tears from his eyes.
"He's worried about customer service."
Even Krish chuckled quietly.
I looked at Ci-n with an amused smile.
It wasn't really surprising.
Ever since I'd known them, Jay had always treated him like a younger brother.
Not just because he was younger.
Because they genuinely shared that kind of bond.
He trusted her.
Argued with her.
Annoyed her.
Asked her for advice.
And somehow, she always had time for him.
They were best friends in the most sibling-like way possible.
Jay shifted Grazel slightly before looking at Ci-n with a fond smile.
"You know that's never going to happen, right?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"No matter how busy life gets, you'll always have my attention."
Ci-n studied her for a moment before pretending to think it over.
"...Fine."
He nodded once.
"I'll accept that answer."
Everyone laughed again.
I stepped closer to Jay, smiling as I looked at both her and the sleeping baby.
"You handled that well."
She looked at me sideways.
"What choice did I have?"
I leaned down slightly so only she could hear.
"I think he believed you."
She smiled softly.
"I meant every word."
Across the courtyard, Keieren was already asking Percy whether babies could actually learn boxing, while Honey insisted she would be the "cool aunt."
The teasing continued, the laughter echoing through the garden.
And standing there beside Jay, watching her reassure Ci-n so naturally, I realized something.
Family wasn't only about blood.
Sometimes...
It was built through countless small moments of trust, laughter, and showing up for one another.
Looking at Jay surrounded by everyone, I couldn't imagine a better place to call home.
++++++++++++++
And guys, I am not getting enough comments and yet here I am leaving my 12th studies uploading chapter, so please comment guys..
Sorry for not uploading the yesterday. Actually i was ha headache so I couldn't upload 😔
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