Chapter: The Backseat Chaos
(AUTHOR'S POV)
The morning after the pregnancy news.
Angelo's house was still buzzing.
Coffee.
Talking.
Joy.
Everyone gathered in the living room.
Jay was on the couch.
Cat beside her.
Keifer next to her.
Protective hand on her belly.
Already.
Didn't matter that she was only six weeks.
Didn't matter that there was nothing to feel yet.
He was protecting.
Always.
Angelo walked in.
Coffee in hand.
Looked at them.
"You're going back to the mansion today?"
Keifer nodded.
"Yes."
"Jay needs rest."
"Comfort."
"Home."
Angelo nodded.
Then looked at Aries and Percy.
They were on the other couch.
Arguing about something stupid.
As always.
Angelo spoke.
"Aries. Percy."
They stopped.
Looked at him.
"Yes?"
"You're going with them."
Aries blinked.
"What?"
Percy tilted his head.
"Why?"
Angelo pointed at Jay.
"She's pregnant."
"I know."
"She needs company."
"And protection."
"And entertainment."
Aries pointed at himself.
"Entertainment?"
Percy pointed at himself.
"Protection?"
Angelo nodded.
"Yes."
"Both of you."
"You're going to the mansion."
"To be with Jay."
"While Keifer works."
"While she rests."
"You'll keep her company."
"Make her laugh."
"Make sure she's okay."
Aries and Percy exchanged glances.
Then—
Grinned.
"ROAD TRIP!"
Percy cheered.
"MANSION CHAOS!"
Jay looked at Keifer.
He looked at her.
Same thought.
Same realization.
Same—
"Are we sure about this?"
Keifer sighed.
"Kuya said so."
"We have to."
Jay groaned.
But she was smiling.
Because—
Chaos was coming.
And honestly?
She needed the laughter.
---
The Car – Packing
The car was massive.
Keifer's car.
Black.
Luxurious.
Spacious.
Perfect for a pregnant woman.
Perfect for chaos.
Jay sat in the back.
Cat beside her.
Comfortable.
Happy.
Keifer drove.
Because he trusted no one else with his pregnant wife.
Aries and Percy were in the back too.
On either side of Jay.
Because Angelo said so.
Because they were "protectors."
Because chaos needed to be contained.
Spoiler:
It wasn't contained.
Not even close.
---
The Drive – First Five Minutes
The car pulled out of Angelo's driveway.
Smooth.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
For five seconds.
Then—
Aries looked at Percy.
"You're on my side."
Percy blinked.
"What side?"
"The seat."
"I'm not on your side."
"You're leaning."
"I'm not leaning."
"Your elbow is on the armrest."
"MY elbow?"
"Yes, YOUR elbow."
Percy looked down.
His elbow was on the armrest.
Shared armrest.
The sacred territory.
He looked back at Aries.
"So?"
"So that's MY side."
"There's no sides."
"There ARE sides."
"Says who?"
"Says ME."
Percy snorted.
"You don't own the armrest."
"I do today."
"Since when?"
"Since Jay is pregnant."
"What does THAT have to do with anything?"
"I'm PROTECTING her."
"By claiming the armrest?!"
"YES."
Percy stared at him.
Long stare.
Very long stare.
Then—
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
Aries gasped.
"DUMBEST?!"
"Yes."
"DUMBER than your face?"
Percy pointed.
"My face is NOT dumb!"
"It is today."
"IT'S THE SAME FACE AS YESTERDAY!"
"Yesterday it was dumber."
Percy grabbed his chest.
"PERSONAL ATTACK!"
Aries nodded.
"ACCURATE ATTACK!"
They glared at each other.
Neither moving.
Neither backing down.
Jay watched.
Lips twitching.
Keifer glanced in the rearview mirror.
Saw her face.
Knew what was coming.
"Jay—"
She waved.
"I'm fine."
"Fine."
"Totally fine."
She wasn't fine.
She was fighting laughter.
Hard.
---
The Fight Escalates
Aries pointed at Percy's shirt.
"What IS that anyway?"
Percy looked down.
"My shirt?"
"It's HIDEOUS."
"It's FINE."
"It's GREEN."
"It's MINT."
"It's DISGUSTING."
Percy grabbed his collar.
"YOU wore this shirt LAST WEEK!"
"I did NOT."
"YOU DID."
"I wore BLUE."
"This is BLUE?"
"It's MINT!"
"Same thing!"
"DIFFERENT!"
"NOT DIFFERENT!"
"VERY DIFFERENT!"
Aries turned to Jay.
"Jay, what color is this?"
Jay looked at Percy's shirt.
Mint green.
Clearly.
Beautiful.
She opened her mouth.
Aries interrupted.
"Before you answer—"
"Remember I bought you the cat."
Percy gasped.
"BRIBERY!"
Aries shrugged.
"STRATEGY."
Percy pointed.
"Jay, I helped carry the cat!"
"My arms STILL hurt!"
"That counts for something!"
Jay looked between them.
Aries.
Percy.
Both waiting.
Both hopeful.
Both ridiculous.
Her lips twitched.
Her shoulders shook.
She covered her mouth.
Failed.
A snort escaped.
Then another.
Then—
Full laughter.
Bent over.
Crying.
Unable to breathe.
Aries blinked.
Percy blinked.
They looked at each other.
Same thought.
Same confusion.
Same—
"What's so funny?!"
Jay couldn't answer.
Just laughed.
Harder.
Keifer glanced in the mirror.
Smiling.
His wife.
Laughing.
Because of these idiots.
Perfect.
---
The Laughter Continues
Jay finally caught her breath.
Wiped her eyes.
Looked at them.
"You two—"
"You're FIGHTING—"
"Over an ARMREST—"
"And a SHIRT—"
"Like CHILDREN—"
Aries crossed his arms.
"It's the PRINCIPLE."
Percy nodded.
"ARMEST RIGHTS."
"FASHION INTEGRITY."
Jay lost it again.
Doubled over.
Cat squished between her and the door.
Didn't care.
Keifer's voice.
Calm.
Amused.
"She's laughing."
"That's good."
"That's what we wanted."
Aries nodded.
"Mission accomplished."
Percy agreed.
"Best protectors ever."
Jay waved.
"Shut up—"
"Let me breathe—"
They grinned.
Proud.
---
The Next Fight
Two minutes later.
Peace.
Brief peace.
Then—
Aries looked out the window.
Pointed.
"Look, a cow."
Percy leaned over.
"Where?"
"Right there."
"That's not a cow."
"What is it then?"
"A horse."
Aries stared.
"That's a COW."
Percy stared back.
"That's a HORSE."
"Cows are black and white."
"That one is BROWN."
"It's a BROWN cow."
"BROWN COWS DON'T EXIST."
"YES THEY DO."
"NAME ONE."
"BROWN COW."
"That's not a NAME."
"It's a DESCRIPTION."
"A DESCRIPTION isn't a NAME."
"It is TODAY."
Percy grabbed his hair.
"YOU'RE INSANE."
Aries nodded.
"PROTECTING MY SISTER."
"What does THAT have to do with COWS?!"
"EVERYTHING."
"NOTHING!"
"EVERYTHING!"
Jay watched.
Tears streaming.
Laughing so hard she couldn't breathe.
Keifer checked the mirror.
"You okay back there?"
She waved.
"Don't— don't stop them—"
"This is—"
"The best—"
"Car ride EVER."
He smiled.
Drove on.
Let them fight.
Let her laugh.
Perfect.
---
The Final Blow
The car approached the mansion.
Almost there.
Aries and Percy were still arguing.
Now about:
Who was taller.
Who was smarter.
Who was funnier.
Who Jay loved more.
Jay answered that one.
"Neither."
They gasped.
"WHAT?!"
She grinned.
"Keifer."
"He's my favorite."
They deflated.
"OH."
"Fair."
"But still—"
Aries pointed at Percy.
"You're still wrong about the cow."
Percy pointed back.
"You're still wrong about the shirt."
They glared.
Jay laughed.
Again.
Because—
These idiots.
Her brothers.
Her chaos.
Her family.
Perfect.
---
The Mansion – Arrival
The car stopped.
Keifer got out.
Opened Jay's door.
Helped her out.
Cat in her arms.
Aries and Percy climbed out.
Still arguing.
Still fighting.
Still ridiculous.
Jay leaned against Keifer.
Watching them.
Smiling.
"Thank you."
He kissed her head.
"For what?"
"For bringing them."
"For letting them be them."
"For making me laugh."
He smiled.
"Always."
"Forever."
"No question."
She hugged him.
Cat squished between.
Didn't care.
Aries and Percy stopped fighting.
Looked at them.
Aries fake gagged.
Percy fake vomited.
But they were smiling.
Because—
This was family.
Chaos.
Laughter.
Love.
Perfect.
---
That Night – Their Room
Jay in his shirt.
Cat beside her.
Keifer holding her.
She was still smiling.
"Today was good."
He nodded.
"Good day."
"Their fighting—"
"Ridiculous."
"Perfect."
He laughed.
"They're idiots."
"Your idiots."
He kissed her head.
"Our idiots."
She snuggled closer.
"Love you, hubby."
"Love you too, wifey."
"And baby."
"And cat."
He smiled.
"And baby."
"And cat."
"All of you."
"Forever."
She grinned.
"Good."
"Because we're not going anywhere."
He held her tighter.
"Wouldn't want you to."
They slept.
Happy.
Together.
Perfect.
---
The End
(For now.)