Pregnancy Arc — Chapter 5: "The Night Keifer Got Scared." 🌙👶
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It was supposed to be a normal evening.
That was the first lie.
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Jay was on the couch.
Laptop open.
Working.
Again.
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Keifer stood in the doorway for a full ten seconds just staring at her like he was trying not to explode.
"…What are you doing?"
Jay didn't look up. "Working."
"At 11:47 PM?"
"Yes."
Silence.
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He walked in slowly.
Too slowly.
Like he was approaching a dangerous animal.
"Jay."
"Hm?"
"You're pregnant."
"I noticed."
"That means you rest."
"I am resting."
"You are typing aggressively."
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She finally looked at him.
"…I'm fine."
Keifer didn't respond immediately.
Because something about her tone didn't match her words.
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The Shift
Jay stretched slightly—
and paused.
Her hand went to her stomach.
Just for a second.
But Keifer noticed instantly.
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His entire expression changed.
"…Does something hurt?"
Jay blinked. "No—just a small cramp. It's normal."
But that sentence—
did NOT help him.
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Keifer immediately knelt in front of her.
"Where? How bad? On a scale of one to—"
"Keifer."
"I need details."
"Keifer."
"I am calm."
"You are literally shaking."
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Silence.
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Jay sighed softly.
"…I said I'm fine."
He looked up at her.
And for once—
he wasn't joking.
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"I don't like it when you say that," he admitted quietly.
That made her stop.
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The room softened instantly.
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Jay put the laptop aside.
Then gently placed her hand over his.
"I'm okay," she said softer now.
"…I just get tired easily."
Keifer didn't move.
Just stayed there.
Like he was grounding himself.
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Then—
a tiny kick.
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Both of them froze.
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Keifer blinked.
"…Did it just—"
Another kick.
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Jay smiled slightly. "Yeah."
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And suddenly—
Keifer let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"…You scared me."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
He hesitated.
Then said honestly:
"Because I thought something was wrong with you."
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Silence.
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Jay softened instantly.
She reached down and gently cupped his face.
"I'm okay," she repeated.
Then added softly:
"And so is the baby."
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Keifer closed his eyes for a second.
Then leaned into her hand slightly.
"…I hate this part," he admitted quietly.
"What part?"
"The part where I can't control anything."
Jay smiled gently.
"You're not supposed to control everything."
He looked at her.
"And yet you try."
"…True."
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She laughed softly.
Then pulled him up beside her on the couch.
He sat immediately.
Still too serious.
Still too tense.
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So Jay did the only thing that worked.
She grabbed his hand and placed it back on her stomach.
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Another kick.
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Keifer froze again.
But this time—
his expression changed.
Soft again.
A little relieved.
A little amazed.
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"…They're okay," he whispered.
Jay nodded. "Yeah."
A pause.
Then she teased softly:
"You worry more than me."
"I am responsible."
"You are dramatic."
"I am protective."
"You are overdramatic."
"I am preparing for fatherhood."
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Jay laughed.
Finally.
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Then she leaned her head against his shoulder.
Comfortable.
Warm.
Safe.
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"…You're going to be a good dad," she said quietly.
Keifer didn't answer immediately.
Then:
"I'm trying."
Jay smiled.
"That's enough."
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A long pause.
Then Keifer suddenly muttered:
"…If you ever work this late again, I'm banning laptops."
Jay gasped. "You can't do that."
"I can."
"You literally can't."
"I will learn."
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Jay laughed harder now.
And just like that—
the tension disappeared.
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Because love wasn't just big moments.
It was this.
The quiet worry.
The soft reassurance.
The way he panicked but stayed anyway.
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And for the first time that night—
Keifer finally relaxed.
Just a little.
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END 🤍👶