MARRY YOUR KILLER
Chapter One Hundred Five: The Roast
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The morning came bright and warm.
Lyra was sitting on the sofa in the living room, her legs curled under her, a cup of tea in her hands. Her face was still pale, her body still weak, but her eyes were bright. She had been home for three weeks now. Three weeks of waking up. Three weeks of learning to walk again. Three weeks of holding the twins, of watching them crawl, of listening to them laugh.
She was alive. She was home. She was happy.
Aurora was on the floor in front of her, her small hands gripping Lyra's legs, her dark eyes looking up. She was trying to pull herself up. She was determined. She was stubborn. She was Jay's daughter.
Lyra watched her. Her face was blank. Her eyes were soft. "You're going to fall."
Aurora pulled harder. Her face was red. Her lips were pressed together. She was not going to fall. She was going to stand. She was going to win.
She stood. Her legs wobbled. Her arms waved. She took one step. Two steps. Three steps. She fell into Lyra's lap. She was laughing. She was loud. She was her father's daughter.
Lyra caught her. Her arms were weak. Her grip was steady. "You're trouble."
Aurora grabbed Lyra's hair. She pulled. She was strong. She was determined. She was chaos.
Lyra's face didn't change. "You're definitely your mother's daughter."
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Jay walked into the room. Her hair was loose. Her face was calm. Her eyes were on her daughter. "Aurora. Let go of your aunt's hair."
Aurora looked at her mother. Her eyes were wide. Her hand was still in Lyra's hair. She pulled again.
Jay walked to the sofa. She picked up her daughter. Aurora's hand came free. A strand of Lyra's hair came with it. Jay looked at the hair. She looked at Lyra. "Sorry."
Lyra touched her head. Her hair was a mess. Her face was blank. "She's strong."
Jay sat beside her. Aurora was on her lap, her hands reaching for Lyra again. "She's chaos."
Lyra took Aurora's hand. Small. Warm. Alive. "She's perfect."
---
Keifer walked into the room. He was holding Alexander. The baby was serious, his dark eyes watching everything, his small hands gripping his father's shirt. Keifer sat in the armchair across from the sofa. He looked at his daughter. "What did she do?"
Jay looked at him. "She pulled your sister's hair out."
Keifer looked at Aurora. His daughter was smiling. She was proud. "She's strong."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "She's a menace."
Keifer almost smiled. "She's your daughter."
Jay's eyes narrowed. "She's your daughter too."
Keifer looked at Aurora. At her dark eyes. At her determined face. At the small fist that was reaching for him. "She's perfect."
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Alex walked into the room. He was carrying coffee. He handed a cup to Lyra. He kissed her forehead. He sat beside her. He looked at Aurora. "What did I miss?"
Lyra took a sip of coffee. "Aurora tried to scalp me."
Alex looked at Aurora. The baby was now reaching for his coffee. He moved it out of reach. "She's going to be trouble."
Lyra looked at her niece. "She's already trouble."
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Percy walked into the room. He was carrying a tray of food. Honey was behind him. He looked at the group on the sofa. "What's happening?"
Jay took a piece of fruit. "Aurora is terrorizing her aunt."
Percy looked at his niece. Aurora was now pulling Lyra's shirt. She was trying to climb onto her lap. "She's terrorizing everyone."
Honey sat beside Percy. She looked at Aurora. "She's going to be a handful."
Jay looked at her daughter. "She already is."
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The morning passed. The family gathered. Aries and Ella came. Care and Cole came. Rakki and Ci N came. Mica and Calix came. Freya and Erdix came. Grace and Denzel came. Kuya Angelo and Ion came. Tita Gemma and Tita Rachel came. Keiran and Keigan came. The living room was full. The house was loud. The twins were in the center.
Aurora was on Lyra's lap now. She was pulling Lyra's hair again. She was laughing. She was loud. She was chaos.
Alexander was on Keifer's lap. He was watching his sister. He was serious. He was waiting. He was always waiting.
Percy looked at his nieces. At the chaos. At the laughter. At the family. "This is the best."
Honey looked at him. "This is chaos."
Percy grinned. "This is the best chaos."
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The conversation turned. It always turned. The family was comfortable. The family was loud. The family was roasting.
Lyra looked at Alex. Her face was blank. Her eyes were sharp. "You cried at our wedding."
Alex's face went red. "I did not cry."
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "You cried when I walked down the aisle. You cried when we did the rounds. You cried when we exchanged garlands. You cried when—"
Alex put his hand over her mouth. His face was red. "I did not cry."
Aurora pulled his hand away. She was laughing. She was loud. She was chaos.
Lyra looked at her niece. "See? She agrees."
Alex looked at Aurora. The baby was now pulling his hair. "You're supposed to be on my side."
Aurora pulled harder. She was laughing. She was not on his side.
---
Jay looked at Keifer. Her eyes were sharp. Her smile was small. "You threw mud at me."
Keifer's face didn't change. "You threw mud at me first."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "You threw mud at me."
Keifer looked at her. "You threw mud at me."
Aurora looked at her father. Then at her mother. Then at her aunt. She was confused. She was curious. She was waiting.
Lyra looked at the baby. "They're both idiots."
Aurora laughed. She was loud. She was chaos. She agreed.
---
Percy looked at Honey. His face was bright. His voice was loud. "You threatened to kill me."
Honey's face didn't change. "You were being annoying."
Percy's mouth opened. "I was not being annoying. I was being charming."
Honey looked at him. "You were being annoying."
Aurora looked at Honey. Then at Percy. Then at her aunt. She was waiting for someone to tell her what was happening.
Lyra looked at the baby. "He's annoying."
Aurora nodded. She didn't know what it meant. But she agreed.
---
Aries looked at Ella. Their face was calm. Their eyes were soft. "You fell asleep during our first date."
Ella's face went red. "I was tired."
Aries smiled. "You were snoring."
Ella covered her face. "I was not snoring."
Aries pulled her hands away. "You were snoring. It was adorable."
Aurora looked at Ella. Then at Aries. Then at her aunt. She was waiting. She was always waiting.
Lyra looked at the baby. "They're in love."
Aurora nodded. She didn't know what it meant. But she agreed.
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Care looked at Cole. Her face was calm. Her eyes were sharp. "You were afraid of me."
Cole's face didn't change. "You threatened to kill me with a scalpel."
Care's eyes narrowed. "You were annoying."
Cole smiled. "You were beautiful."
Aurora looked at Cole. Then at Care. Then at her aunt. She was waiting for the joke.
Lyra looked at the baby. "He's whipped."
Aurora nodded. She still didn't know what it meant. But she agreed.
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Rakki looked at Ci N. Her face was hard. Her eyes were bright. "You annoyed me into loving you."
Ci N's face was soft. "You threatened to kill me."
Rakki grinned. "I gave you two and a half."
Ci N pulled her close. "You gave me everything."
Aurora looked at Ci N. Then at Rakki. Then at her aunt. She was waiting. She was always waiting.
Lyra looked at the baby. "They're disgusting."
Aurora nodded. She didn't know what it meant. But she agreed.
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Mica looked at Calix. Her face was focused. Her eyes were sharp. "You sat in my chair."
Calix's face was bright. "You threatened to shoot me."
Mica adjusted her glasses. "I threatened to count to three."
Calix pulled her close. "You gave me two and a half."
Aurora looked at Calix. Then at Mica. Then at her aunt. She was waiting. She was always waiting.
Lyra looked at the baby. "They're nerds."
Aurora nodded. She still didn't know what it meant. But she agreed.
---
Freya looked at Erdix. Her face was sharp. Her eyes were soft. "You never talk."
Erdix looked at her. "I talk."
Freya raised an eyebrow. "When?"
Erdix pulled her close. "When it matters."
Aurora looked at Erdix. Then at Freya. Then at her aunt. She was waiting. She was always waiting.
Lyra looked at the baby. "They're silent."
Aurora nodded. She didn't know what it meant. But she agreed.
---
Grace looked at Denzel. Her face was hard. Her eyes were soft. "You were on your phone during our first date."
Denzel put his phone away. "I was working."
Grace crossed her arms. "You were working."
Denzel pulled her close. "I'm not working now."
Aurora looked at Denzel. Then at Grace. Then at her aunt. She was waiting. She was always waiting.
Lyra looked at the baby. "He's smart."
Aurora nodded. She didn't know what it meant. But she agreed.
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Kuya Angelo looked at Ion. His face was calm. His eyes were warm. "You cried at our wedding."
Ion's face went red. "I did not cry."
Kuya Angelo smiled. "You cried when I said my vows. You cried when we exchanged rings. You cried when—"
Ion covered his face. "I did not cry."
Kuya Angelo pulled his hands away. "You cried. It was beautiful."
Aurora looked at Ion. Then at Kuya Angelo. Then at her aunt. She was waiting. She was always waiting.
Lyra looked at the baby. "They're in love."
Aurora nodded. She didn't know what it meant. But she agreed.
---
Tita Gemma looked at Tita Rachel. Her face was wet. Her eyes were bright. "You've been holding my hand for forty years."
Tita Rachel squeezed her hand. "I'll hold it for forty more."
Tita Gemma cried. "I love you."
Tita Rachel kissed her cheek. "I love you too."
Aurora looked at Tita Rachel. Then at Tita Gemma. Then at her aunt. She was waiting. She was always waiting.
Lyra looked at the baby. "They're goals."
Aurora nodded. She didn't know what it meant. But she agreed.
---
Keiran looked at Keigan. His face was bright. His voice was loud. "You love me."
Keigan's face was cold. "I tolerate you."
Keiran grinned. "You love me."
Keigan looked at his brother. His face didn't change. His eyes did. "I love you."
Aurora looked at Keigan. Then at Keiran. Then at her aunt. She was waiting. She was always waiting.
Lyra looked at the baby. "They're brothers."
Aurora nodded. She didn't know what it meant. But she agreed.
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The conversation turned to Keifer.
Jay looked at her husband. Her eyes were sharp. Her smile was small. "You said you would never fall in love."
Keifer's face didn't change. "I didn't fall in love. You pushed me."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "I pushed you?"
Keifer looked at her. "You threw mud at me."
Jay laughed. "You threw mud at me first."
Keifer pulled her close. "I love you."
Jay kissed him. "I love you too."
Aurora looked at her parents. She was waiting. She was always waiting.
Lyra looked at her niece. "They're disgusting."
Aurora nodded. She didn't know what it meant. But she agreed.
---
Keifer looked at Aurora. His daughter was now on Lyra's lap, pulling her hair again. "She's going to be trouble."
Jay looked at her daughter. "She's already trouble."
Keifer looked at his wife. "Next time, it will be a boy."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Next time?"
Keifer's face was calm. His eyes were steady. "The next baby. A boy."
Jay crossed her arms. "How do you know?"
Keifer pulled her close. His lips were at her ear. His voice was low. "I'll make sure."
Jay's face went red. "Keifer."
Keifer's voice was steady. "Positioning."
Jay pushed him away. Her face was red. Her eyes were wide. "You can't just say that in front of everyone."
Keifer looked at the room. At the family. At the chaos. At the woman he loved. "I can say whatever I want. I'm the father of your children."
Jay's face was red. "You're impossible."
Keifer pulled her close. "You love me."
Jay kissed him. "I love you."
Aurora looked at her parents. She was waiting. She was always waiting.
Lyra looked at her niece. "They're in love."
Aurora nodded. She didn't know what it meant. But she agreed.
---
The sun was setting when the family finally left.
The living room was quiet. The twins were in the nursery. Sleeping. Safe. Home. Lyra was on the sofa, her legs curled under her, her eyes on the window. Alex was beside her. His hand was in hers.
"They're loud," Lyra said.
Alex smiled. "They're family."
Lyra looked at him. "They're annoying."
Alex kissed her hand. "They love you."
Lyra almost smiled. Almost. "I love them."
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Jay stood in the doorway of the nursery. Keifer was behind her. His hand was on her back. Aurora was in her crib, her arms spread, her face soft. Alexander was in his crib, his fists clenched, his face serious.
"They're perfect," Jay said.
Keifer kissed her hair. "They're perfect."
Jay leaned against him. "Next time, a boy?"
Keifer pulled her close. "Next time, a boy."
Jay smiled. "You think you can control it?"
Keifer's voice was low. "I know I can."
Jay laughed. "You're impossible."
Keifer kissed her. "You love me."
Jay kissed him back. "I love you."
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END OF CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FIVE