Chapter Thirteen: Slipping
The mansion was quiet.
For the first time in days, the chaos had settled. The guest rooms stood empty. The laughter that had echoed through every corridor had faded to occasional sounds—the distant murmur of the television in the game room, the soft padding of tiny feet, the gentle clink of dishes in the kitchen.
Everyone had left.
C.N. and Rakii had been the first to go, needing to get back to work. David and Freya followed shortly after, Freya promising to send Jay the book she'd been reading. Mica and Calix had lingered longest, but eventually Calix's work called them away.
Percy had been dramatic about leaving, as always.
"BABY SISTA! I'll miss you! Don't forget me! Text me every hour! Send photos! Keif, if you hurt her—"
"Percy." Honey had pulled him toward the door. "They'll be fine. Let's go."
"But—"
"Now."
He'd gone, blowing kisses until the door closed.
Aries had been more restrained, simply hugging Jay tightly and murmuring, "Call if you need anything. Anything at all." Ella had kissed her cheek and whispered, "He's crazy about you. It's adorable."
Even Yuri had left, though not without filming a dramatic farewell montage. "For posterity," he'd claimed. "The calm before the next storm."
And now, only four remained.
Keifer. Jay. Keigan. Keiran.
---
Jay stood in the kitchen, stirring something on the stove.
Keiran had requested his favorite dish—something Tita Gemma had taught her years ago, a sweet rice porridge with coconut milk and mango. He'd asked so sweetly, tiny hands clasped, eyes wide.
"Mamma, please? For me?"
She'd melted instantly.
Now she stirred, tasting, adjusting. The kitchen was warm and peaceful, afternoon light streaming through the windows. Music played softly from somewhere—Keigan's choice, some indie band she didn't recognize.
Life was good.
Simple.
Perfect.
---
Keifer appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame, watching her.
"You know," he said softly, "I could get used to this."
She glanced over her shoulder, smiling. "Used to what?"
"You. In my kitchen. Cooking for my brothers. Looking like you've always been here."
Her heart fluttered. "Maybe I have. Always been here. Just... waiting to be found."
He crossed to her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, chin resting on her shoulder. "What are you making?"
"Keiran's request. Sweet rice porridge. Tita Gemma's recipe."
"He's going to love it."
"He'd better. I've been stirring for twenty minutes."
Keifer pressed a kiss to her neck. "Thank you. For staying. For being here."
She leaned back into him. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be."
---
They stood like that for a long moment—wrapped together, comfortable, content.
Then Keiran's voice echoed from somewhere. "PAPPA! KEIGAN WON'T SHARE THE REMOTE!"
"I'M WATCHING SOMETHING!"
"IT'S BORING!"
"IT'S NOT BORING, YOU'RE JUST THREE!"
"THREE IS OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BORING!"
Keifer sighed against her neck. "I should go mediate."
"You should."
"In a minute."
She laughed softly. "Keif."
"One more minute."
---
But fate had other plans.
Jay reached for the coconut milk on the counter, stretching slightly. Her foot moved—and found something slick.
Oil.
A small puddle of oil on the floor, left from earlier cooking. She hadn't noticed. Hadn't seen.
Her foot slid.
The world tilted.
She gasped, arms flailing, coconut milk flying. The floor rushed toward her—
And then strong arms caught her.
Keifer moved faster than she'd ever seen him move. One second he was behind her, the next he'd spun, caught her, pulled her against his chest. They stumbled back together, his back hitting the counter, but he held her tight.
"JAY!"
"I'm okay—I'm okay—"
"I've got you—I've got you—"
They stood there, breathing hard, hearts racing. His arms were wrapped around her so tightly she could barely move. His face was buried in her hair.
"I've got you," he whispered again. "I've got you."
She felt him shaking.
Actually shaking.
"Keif." She pulled back slightly, looking at his face. His eyes were wild, pupils blown wide. "Keif, I'm okay. You caught me."
"I almost didn't—I almost—if I'd been a second later—"
"But you weren't. You were right here." She cupped his face, forcing him to look at her. "I'm safe. I'm right here. You caught me."
He stared at her for one breathless moment.
Then he kissed her.
Not gently. Not softly. Desperately. Fiercely. Like she might disappear if he let go. His hands framed her face, tilting her head back, pouring everything into that single kiss.
Fear. Relief. Love. All of it.
She kissed him back just as fiercely, wrapping her arms around his neck, holding on as tightly as he held her.
When they finally broke apart, gasping, he didn't stop. Couldn't stop.
He kissed her forehead. Her eyelids. Her cheeks. Her nose. Her jaw. Every part of her face he could reach.
"I can't lose you," he breathed between kisses. "I can't—if something happened—Jay—"
"Shh." She held him, let him press kisses to her skin. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
"You almost fell—"
"But I didn't. You caught me."
"What if I'm not always there to catch you?"
"Then I'll catch myself. Or someone else will. Or—" She pulled back, meeting his eyes. "Or we'll figure it out. Together. Like we always do."
He stared at her, chest heaving, eyes wet.
"I love you," he said. "I love you so much it terrifies me."
She smiled—soft, warm, sure. "Good. That's how it should be."
---
A small voice interrupted.
"Mamma? Pappa?"
They looked down.
Keiran stood in the kitchen doorway, Rex clutched in his arms, eyes wide. Behind him, Keigan hovered, concern on his face.
"We heard a noise," Keigan said. "Everything okay?"
Jay smiled, untangling herself from Keifer but keeping his hand. "Everything's fine, baby. I just slipped on some oil. Pappa caught me."
Keiran's eyes went even wider. "Pappa caught Mamma? Like superhero?"
"Exactly like a superhero."
Keiran considered this. Then he nodded solemnly. "Pappa IS superhero. I knew it."
Keifer laughed—a slightly shaky laugh, but genuine. "Thanks, buddy."
Keigan relaxed, leaning against the doorframe. "You sure you're okay?"
"I'm sure. Just a little oil spill. I'll clean it up."
"I'll clean it," Keifer said firmly. "You sit down."
"Keif—"
"Sit. Down."
She sat.
---
The next hour was a study in overprotectiveness.
Keifer cleaned the floor himself, refusing help. Then he made her sit on a stool while he finished cooking Keiran's porridge. Then he made her drink water. Then he checked her head injury (healing nicely) and her wrist (also healing).
"Keif," she protested. "I'm fine."
"You almost fell."
"I almost fell. I didn't actually fall. There's a difference."
"The difference is me being fast enough."
"And you were. Because you're you." She tugged him down, kissing his cheek. "Stop hovering."
"I don't hover."
"You absolutely hover."
Keiran, eating his porridge at the small kitchen table, nodded wisely. "Pappa hovers. Mamma says so."
Keigan snorted into his own bowl.
Keifer looked at his brothers, then at Jay, and sighed. "I'm outnumbered."
"Completely," Jay agreed. "Now sit. Eat. Stop hovering."
He sat.
---
After lunch, Keiran demanded a movie.
"ENCANTO! AGAIN!"
"We just watched it," Keigan protested.
"AGAIN!"
Keifer looked at Jay. "He does this. We've seen it approximately forty-seven times."
"Forty-seven?"
"Approximately."
She laughed. "Then let's watch it again."
Keiran cheered. Keigan groaned. Keifer pulled Jay onto the couch, settling her against his side.
The movie started. Keiran sang along to every song. Keigan pretended to be too cool but mouthed the words. Jay leaned into Keifer, warm and safe.
He kissed the top of her head. "I love you."
She smiled against his chest. "I love you too."
---
Later, after Keiran's nap and Keigan's retreat to his room, they sat on the patio, watching the sunset.
"Today was..." Keifer searched for words.
"Scary? Then nice? Then perfect?"
"All of those."
She leaned against him. "I'm sorry I scared you."
"Not your fault. Oil spills happen."
"But still. I saw your face. You were terrified."
He was quiet for a moment. "When I was nineteen, right after my grandfather died, I was carrying Keiran—he was just a baby. I tripped on the stairs. Almost dropped him." His voice was rough. "Caught myself on the railing. Held him tight. But for one second—one horrible second—I thought I'd lose him."
Jay's heart clenched. "Keif."
"Ever since then, I've been terrified of not being fast enough. Not being there. Not catching who needs catching." He looked at her. "When you slipped today, it was that same feeling. That same terror."
She cupped his face, made him look at her. "You caught me. You're always there. You're always fast enough."
"What if one day I'm not?"
"Then I'll catch you instead. That's how this works, right? We catch each other."
He stared at her for a long moment. Then he kissed her—soft, slow, full of everything.
"That's how it works," he agreed.
---
Dinner was simple. Leftovers and laughter. Keiran told long, rambling stories about his day. Keigan rolled his eyes but smiled. Jay and Keifer exchanged looks across the table—warm, knowing, full of love.
After dinner, Keiran demanded Jay tuck him in.
"Only Mamma! Pappa can come but Mamma does tucking!"
She laughed, scooping him up. "Okay, baby. Mamma does tucking."
They did the routine together—teeth brushed, pajamas on, story read, Rex positioned just right. Keiran hugged her tight.
"Mamma stays forever?"
Her heart melted. "Mamma stays as long as she can, baby."
"Forever?"
She looked at Keifer, standing in the doorway.
"Maybe," she whispered. "Maybe forever."
Keiran beamed, already half-asleep. "Good. Love Mamma."
"Love you too, baby."
---
Keigan was easier. A quiet goodnight, a brief hug, a mumbled "See you tomorrow."
Jay kissed his forehead, surprising them both. He blushed but didn't pull away.
"Goodnight, Keigan."
"Night, Jay."
---
Finally, they were alone.
The mansion settled around them, quiet and warm. Jay stood at the window in Keifer's room, looking out at the city.
He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Today was a good day," he murmured.
"Scary part aside?"
"Scary part aside."
She turned in his arms, facing him. "Thank you. For catching me. For always catching me."
"Always." He kissed her forehead. "I'll always catch you."
"I know." She smiled. "That's why I'm not scared."
"Not scared of what?"
"Of falling. Because I know you'll be there."
He kissed her—deep, slow, full of promise.
When they finally broke apart, breathless, she laughed.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing. Just... happy. Ridiculously happy."
"Good." He pulled her toward the bed. "Me too."
---
They slept wrapped around each other, as always.
And in the quiet darkness, Jay smiled.
This was her life now.
And she wouldn't change a thing.
---
End of Chapter Thirteen