Chapter: The Mood Swing Massacre
(AUTHOR'S POV)
The morning after the first check-up.
Watson mansion was peaceful.
For about three seconds.
Then—
Jay woke up.
And the mood swings began.
---
The Bedroom – 7:03 AM
Jay sat up in bed.
Stared at nothing.
Keifer stirred beside her.
"Wifey?"
She didn't respond.
Just stared.
He sat up.
Concerned.
"Jay? You okay?"
She turned to him.
Slowly.
Eyes wide.
"Why?"
He blinked.
"Why what?"
"Why is the sun so bright?"
He looked at the window.
Normal sunlight.
"Because— it's morning?"
She frowned.
"I don't like it."
"Okay?"
"Make it darker."
He stared.
"Make the sun darker?"
"Yes."
"How?"
She thought.
Then—
"Close the curtains."
He got up.
Closed the curtains.
Darkness.
She nodded.
Satisfied.
"Good."
"Now come back to bed."
He climbed back in.
She snuggled against him.
Then—
Suddenly.
"I want pancakes."
He blinked.
"Now?"
"Yes."
"With strawberries."
"And whipped cream."
"And chocolate chips."
"Lots of chocolate chips."
He nodded.
"Okay."
"I'll get them."
He started to get up.
She grabbed him.
"No."
He paused.
"No?"
"Don't leave."
"But— pancakes?"
"Not hungry anymore."
He stared.
"You just—"
"Mood swings."
She said it simply.
Like it explained everything.
He lay back down.
Held her.
"Okay."
"No pancakes."
She nodded.
"Good husband."
He kissed her head.
"Good wife."
---
The Kitchen – 8:47 AM
They finally went downstairs.
Keifer held her hand.
Carefully.
Protectively.
Warily.
The kitchen was already chaos.
Aries and Percy were making breakfast.
Fighting about eggs.
Keigan and Keiran were at the table.
Building something with cereal.
Normal morning.
Jay walked in.
Everyone looked at her.
Aries smiled.
"Morning, pregnant queen!"
Percy bowed.
"Your highness!"
Jay stared at them.
Long stare.
Very long stare.
Then—
"Why are you so loud?"
Aries blinked.
"We're— talking?"
"It's too loud."
He lowered his voice.
"Sorry?"
"Don't apologize."
"Okay?"
"Just be quieter."
Percy whispered.
"Like this?"
Jay's eye twitched.
"Now you're whispering."
"That's worse."
Percy looked at Aries.
Helpless.
Aries shrugged.
Helpless.
Keigan watched.
Fascinated.
Keiran watched.
Amused.
Keifer guided Jay to a chair.
Sat her down.
"Comfortable?"
She nodded.
"Hungry?"
She thought.
"Yes."
"No."
"Maybe."
"Are eggs evil?"
Keifer paused.
"Are eggs— evil?"
"Yes."
"No."
"I don't know."
"Are they?"
He considered.
"Eggs are... neutral?"
She nodded.
"Neutral is safe."
"Neutral eggs."
"With toast."
He nodded.
"Neutral eggs and toast."
"Coming up."
He went to the kitchen.
Aries and Percy scrambled out of his way.
Terrified.
Of Jay.
Of the mood swings.
Of everything.
---
The Breakfast Incident
Keifer cooked.
Perfectly.
Neutral eggs.
Golden toast.
Jay watched.
Calm.
For now.
Aries sat across from her.
Trying to be helpful.
"So, Jay."
She looked at him.
"Yes?"
"How are you feeling?"
She considered.
"Like a volcano."
He blinked.
"A volcano?"
"Yes."
"About to erupt."
"At any moment."
"At anyone."
She stared at him.
Directly.
Intensely.
Aries swallowed.
"That's— that's nice?"
"Is it?"
"I— I don't know?"
She kept staring.
He looked at Percy.
Percy looked away.
Traitor.
He looked at Keigan.
Keigan was building.
Unbothered.
He looked at Keiran.
Keiran shrugged.
"You're on your own."
Aries looked back at Jay.
She was still staring.
Then—
"Why are you wearing that shirt?"
He looked down.
His favorite shirt.
Blue.
Comfortable.
"What's wrong with it?"
"It's blue."
"Yes?"
"I hate blue today."
"Today specifically?"
"Yes."
"Tomorrow maybe different."
"But today—"
"Blue is the enemy."
Aries stared.
Opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Nothing.
Because—
What do you say?
When blue is the enemy?
Percy snorted.
Quietly.
Aries glared.
No power.
---
The Juice Catastrophe
Keifer placed breakfast in front of Jay.
Neutral eggs.
Golden toast.
Orange juice.
She looked at the juice.
Picked it up.
Smelled it.
Put it down.
"What's wrong?" Keifer asked.
"This juice."
"What about it?"
"It's orange."
"Yes?"
"It should be orange."
"It is orange."
"I know."
She picked it up again.
Stared at it.
"It's too orange."
Keifer paused.
"Too orange?"
"Yes."
"It's aggressively orange."
"It's attacking my eyes."
He took the juice.
Removed it.
"Better?"
She nodded.
"Thank you."
He kissed her head.
"Anything for you."
She smiled.
Sweet.
Calm.
For now.
Aries whispered to Percy.
"She's terrifying."
Percy nodded.
"Beautifully terrifying."
Keigan whispered.
"I love hipag."
Keiran nodded.
"Same."
---
The Toast Tragedy
Jay picked up her toast.
Inspected it.
Frowned.
Keifer noticed.
"What now?"
"The toast."
"Yes?"
"It's cut diagonally."
"Yes?"
"I wanted straight."
He blinked.
"Straight?"
"Square?"
"Rectangles?"
"Yes."
"Not triangles."
"Triangles are wrong."
"Today."
He took the toast.
"More toast?"
"Coming up."
She nodded.
He went back to the kitchen.
Made more toast.
Cut it straight.
Perfect rectangles.
Brought it back.
She inspected.
Nodded.
"Good."
"Thank you, hubby."
He kissed her head.
"Always."
She ate.
Happy.
For now.
---
The Aries Sacrifice
Aries thought he was safe.
He was wrong.
Jay finished eating.
Looked at him.
"Aries."
He tensed.
"Yes?"
"Come here."
He stood.
Walked to her.
Carefully.
Like approaching a wild animal.
She grabbed his arm.
Pulled him closer.
He yelped.
She hugged him.
Tight.
He froze.
"What—"
"You're my brother."
"Yes?"
"And I love you."
"I— I love you too?"
"But—"
She pulled back.
Glared.
"Your shirt is still blue."
He looked down.
Blue shirt.
Enemy.
"I— I can change?"
"Yes."
"Now."
"Before I cry."
He ran.
Literally ran.
Upstairs.
To change.
Percy laughed.
Jay looked at him.
He stopped laughing.
"Percy."
"Yes?"
"Your turn."
He walked to her.
Carefully.
She hugged him.
Then pushed him away.
"You smell like cologne."
"Yes?"
"I hate it."
"Today."
"Go shower."
He ran.
After Aries.
Keigan watched.
Amused.
Keiran watched.
Amused.
Jay looked at them.
Softened.
"You two are safe."
Keigan beamed.
"Why?"
"Because you're cute."
"And young."
"And not wearing blue."
Keiran nodded.
"Noted."
"Blue is enemy."
Jay nodded.
"Blue is enemy."
---
The Return of the Victims
Aries came back.
New shirt.
Red.
Safe color.
Percy came back.
Showered.
No cologne.
Safe smell.
They sat carefully.
Across from Jay.
Watching.
Waiting.
Jay looked at them.
Smiled.
Sweet.
Calm.
"Thank you."
Aries blinked.
"For what?"
"For changing."
"For understanding."
"For being good brothers."
Percy softened.
"Of course."
"Anything for you."
She nodded.
Then—
Suddenly.
Tears.
Full tears.
Streaming down her face.
Aries panicked.
"WHAT?! WHAT HAPPENED?!"
Percy jumped up.
"IS IT THE BABY?!"
Jay waved.
"No— no—"
"I'm just—"
"Happy."
"They're just—"
"So good."
"And I love them."
"And the baby will love them."
"And—"
She cried harder.
Aries looked at Keifer.
Helpless.
Percy looked at Keifer.
Helpless.
Keifer walked to Jay.
Kneeled beside her.
Held her.
"Shh."
"It's okay."
"They're good brothers."
"You're happy."
"That's okay."
She nodded against his chest.
"I know."
"Can't stop."
"Pregnancy hormones."
He kissed her head.
"Cry all you want."
"I'm here."
She cried.
Aries watched.
Percy watched.
Keigan watched.
Keiran watched.
All of them.
Quiet.
Respectful.
Terrified.
---
The Aftermath
Jay finally stopped crying.
Wiped her eyes.
Looked around.
Everyone staring.
"What?"
Aries spoke carefully.
"Are you— okay now?"
She considered.
"Yes."
"For now."
Percy nodded.
"Good."
"Good."
She stood.
Walked to the kitchen.
Everyone watched.
She opened the fridge.
Pulled out ice cream.
Grabbed a spoon.
Started eating.
Straight from the container.
Aries whispered.
"Is that— is that allowed?"
Keifer nodded.
"She's pregnant."
"She can do whatever she wants."
Percy nodded.
"Whatever she wants."
Keigan raised his hand.
"Can I have ice cream too?"
Keiran pulled his hand down.
"Not now."
"Let her have this."
Jay ate.
Happy.
Calm.
For now.
---
The Peace – Brief
She finished the ice cream.
Put the container away.
Walked back to the couch.
Sat.
Pathed the seat beside her.
Keifer sat.
She curled against him.
Content.
Aries whispered to Percy.
"Is it over?"
Percy shrugged.
"Maybe?"
"Probably not?"
Keigan whispered.
"I love hipag."
Keiran nodded.
"Same."
"Even when she's scary."
"Especially when she's scary."
Jay looked at them.
Smiled.
Warm.
Genuine.
"I heard that."
They froze.
She laughed.
Soft.
"Love you idiots too."
They relaxed.
Grinning.
---
That Night – Their Room
Jay in his shirt.
Cat beside her.
Keifer holding her.
She was calm.
Peaceful.
Happy.
"Today was wild."
He laughed.
"Very wild."
"Aries and Percy—"
"Victims."
"Perfect."
She giggled.
"They ran so fast."
"When I said change shirts."
He nodded.
"New record."
She snuggled closer.
"Thanks for handling me."
He kissed her head.
"Always."
"Forever."
"No question."
She looked up.
"You're not scared of my mood swings?"
He smiled.
"A little."
"But worth it."
"You're worth it."
"Both of you."
She softened.
"Love you, hubby."
"Love you too, wifey."
"Even when blue is enemy?"
"Especially then."
She laughed.
Snuggled closer.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
"Dream of neutral eggs."
He smiled.
"Always."
They slept.
Happy.
Together.
Perfect.
---
The End
(For now.)