Chapter: The Second Month Check-Up
(AUTHOR'S POV)
Another month had passed.
Eight weeks pregnant.
Jay was officially in her second month.
The baby was growing.
The belly was showing.
Barely.
A tiny bump.
Jay was obsessed with it.
Keifer was obsessed with her.
The chaos crew was obsessed with the baby.
Everything was perfect.
Except—
Today was the second check-up.
And Keifer was nervous.
Again.
Terrified, actually.
But hiding it.
Badly.
---
The Morning – Watson Mansion
Jay woke up in Keifer's arms.
Blue the Cat beside her.
Keifer's hand on her tiny bump.
Always.
She smiled.
Didn't move.
Didn't want to.
His voice.
Rough with sleep.
"You're awake."
"Mmm."
"Nervous?"
She thought.
"A little."
"Excited?"
"More."
He kissed her head.
"Good."
"Me too."
"Both."
She looked up.
"You're nervous?"
He hesitated.
"Yes."
"Terrified."
"Happy."
"All of it."
She touched his face.
"My brave hubby."
He smiled.
"Your brave hubby."
"Terrified inside."
"Bravely terrified."
She kissed his chest.
"Love you."
"Love you too."
"Ready for today?"
She nodded.
"Ready."
---
The Kitchen – Breakfast Chaos
They walked downstairs.
Hand in hand.
Blue followed.
Because Blue went everywhere now.
The kitchen was already chaos.
Aries and Percy were making breakfast.
Arguing about pancakes.
Again.
Keigan and Keiran were at the table.
Drawing something.
Probably baby-related.
The moment Jay appeared—
Everyone stopped.
Aries pointed.
"THE PREGNANT QUEEN HAS ARRIVED!"
Percy bowed.
"ALL HAIL!"
Keigan ran to her.
"Hipag! Hipag!"
"Yes, Keigan?"
"I made you a picture!"
He held up his drawing.
It was... something.
A stick figure with a baby inside.
And a cat.
And hearts.
And the words:
"BEST HIPAG EVER"
Jay's eyes watered.
Pregnancy hormones.
"It's beautiful."
Keigan beamed.
"I used all the colors!"
Keiran walked over.
Held up his drawing.
It was more refined.
A family portrait.
Jay, Keifer, baby, Blue.
And all of them.
Uncles included.
Jay cried.
Full tears.
"They're both beautiful."
"I'm keeping them forever."
Keifer patted her back.
"Hormones?"
She nodded.
"Hormones."
---
The Drive – To the Doctor
Keifer drove.
Jay in the passenger seat.
Blue in the back.
With Aries, Percy, Keigan, Keiran.
All of them.
Insisting on coming.
Again.
"FOR BLUE!"
Aries had declared.
Blue was now part of the family.
Non-negotiable.
The car was crowded.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Perfect.
Aries leaned forward.
"Jay."
"Yes?"
"Do you think the baby has hair yet?"
She blinked.
"At eight weeks?"
"It's the size of a raspberry."
Aries deflated.
"Oh."
"So no hair?"
"No hair."
Percy tried.
"Fingers?"
"Tiny buds."
"Toes?"
"Tiny buds."
Keigan gasped.
"IT'S A BUD BABY!"
Keiran nodded.
"Bud baby."
"Growing into flower baby."
Jay laughed.
"Something like that."
Keifer squeezed her hand.
Smiling.
His family.
His chaos.
His everything.
---
The Clinic – Mrs. Peralta's Office
Mrs. Peralta's clinic.
Familiar now.
Comfortable.
Jay and Keifer walked in.
The chaos crew followed.
Blue followed.
Mrs. Peralta looked up.
Saw the parade.
Saw the cat.
Raised an eyebrow.
"Mr. Watson."
"Mrs. Watson."
"Entourage."
"And... cat?"
Jay nodded.
"Blue."
"Emotional support."
Mrs. Peralta smiled.
"Of course."
"Examination room is just for parents."
"The cat stays with the entourage."
Jay handed Blue to Aries.
"Protect him."
Aries nodded.
Seriously.
"With my life."
---
The Examination Room
Jay lay on the bed.
Keifer beside her.
Holding her hand.
Tight.
Mrs. Peralta prepared the ultrasound.
"Ready?"
Jay nodded.
Keifer nodded.
Mrs. Peralta applied the gel.
Warm.
Jay flinched.
Keifer squeezed her hand.
"Okay?"
"Yeah."
"Just cold."
"Again."
Mrs. Peralta moved the wand.
Searching.
Quiet.
Focus.
Then—
There.
On the screen.
Bigger than last time.
The tiny flicker was stronger.
Faster.
More defined.
A head.
A body.
Tiny limbs.
Mrs. Peralta smiled.
"Look."
"Your baby."
"Growing perfectly."
Jay stared.
Tears filled her eyes.
Keifer stared.
Tears filled his eyes.
That tiny shape.
That tiny life.
Their baby.
Their love.
Their future.
Jay whispered.
"It's bigger."
Mrs. Peralta nodded.
"Eight weeks."
"Size of a raspberry."
"But look—"
She pointed.
"Heartbeat strong."
"Arms and legs forming."
"Everything perfect."
Keifer couldn't speak.
Just stared.
At the screen.
At the tiny person.
At his child.
His hand tightened on Jay's.
She looked at him.
Tears falling.
Happy tears.
"We made a person."
He nodded.
"A tiny person."
"Growing."
"Inside you."
She smiled.
Kissed his hand.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Both of you."
Mrs. Peralta watched.
Smiling.
Warm.
"I'll give you a moment."
"Take your time."
She left.
Quietly.
Just them.
And the tiny person.
On the screen.
Growing.
Perfect.
---
The Waiting Room – Chaos Crew
The boys were waiting.
Blue on Aries' lap.
All of them.
Nervous.
Excited.
Aries spoke first.
"How long does it take?"
Percy shrugged.
"I don't know."
"Ask Blue."
Aries looked at Blue.
Blue stared back.
Unhelpful.
Keigan bounced.
"I hope the baby is okay."
Keiran nodded.
"Me too."
"Baby has to be okay."
"So many uncles waiting."
Aries nodded.
"Best uncles."
"Best baby."
They waited.
Together.
Family.
---
The Door Opens
Mrs. Peralta walked out.
Smiling.
They ran to her.
Aries grabbed her.
"WELL?!"
Percy behind him.
"IS THE BABY OKAY?!"
Keigan jumping.
"BABY?! BABY?!"
Keiran waiting.
Calm.
But hopeful.
Blue watched.
Unbothered.
Mrs. Peralta laughed.
"Everything is perfect."
"Baby is growing beautifully."
"Heartbeat strong."
"Size of a raspberry."
"Mom is good."
They cheered.
Screamed.
Hugged each other.
Jumped.
Cried.
Happy chaos.
Jay and Keifer walked out.
Holding hands.
Smiling.
Tears still on their faces.
Aries ran to them.
Hugged them both.
"RASPBERRY BABY!"
Percy joined.
"BEST RASPBERRY EVER!"
Keigan hugged Jay's belly.
Carefully.
Gently.
"Hi, raspberry baby."
"I'm your Uncle Keigan."
"Grow big and strong."
Keiran hugged Keifer.
"Good job, Kuya."
Keifer laughed.
"Thanks."
---
The Photos
Mrs. Peralta handed them photos.
Ultrasound pictures.
Multiple copies.
For everyone.
Aries grabbed his.
Stared.
"That's the baby?"
"That tiny thing?"
Jay nodded.
"That's the baby."
Percy grabbed his.
"It has a head!"
"And a body!"
"And little buds!"
Keigan grabbed his.
"I'M FRAMING THIS!"
Keiran grabbed his.
"Me too."
"Best picture ever."
Even Blue got a copy.
Attached to his collar.
Official family member.
---
The Ride Home
The car was full.
Happier than before.
Louder.
More chaotic.
Aries held his photo.
Admiring it.
"Raspberry baby."
"Baby Raspberry."
Percy nodded.
"Nickname."
"Baby Raspberry."
Keigan agreed.
"Baby Raspberry Watson."
Keiran added.
"Until we know the name."
"But Baby Raspberry forever."
Jay laughed.
Leaned against Keifer.
"Baby Raspberry."
He kissed her head.
"Perfect nickname."
She smiled.
"Perfect family."
---
That Night – Watson Mansion
Everyone gathered in the living room.
Photos passed around.
Admired.
Framed.
Blue sat in the middle.
Photo on his collar.
Proud.
Aries held up his photo.
"To Baby Raspberry!"
Percy raised his.
"To the best raspberry ever!"
Keigan raised his.
"To Hipag!"
Keiran raised his.
"To Kuya!"
Jay raised her water.
"To all of you."
"Idiots."
"Chaos."
"Family."
They drank.
Laughed.
Loved.
Keifer pulled her closer.
Kissed her head.
"Best day."
She nodded.
"Best day."
He touched her belly.
"Hey, Baby Raspberry."
"In there."
"Growing."
"We love you."
"Already."
"Forever."
Jay cried.
Happy tears.
Again.
Hormones.
But also love.
So much love.
---
The End
(For now.)