MARRY YOUR KILLER
Chapter One Hundred Twelve: The First Birthday
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The morning came bright and golden.
The house was chaos. Percy had been up since dawn. He was in the garden, hanging decorations. Balloons. Streamers. Banners. A giant sign that said "HAPPY BIRTHDAY AURORA & ALEXANDER!" in gold and pink and blue. Honey was beside him, her face calm, her eyes sharp. She was holding the ladder. He was on it. He was not steady.
"Percy," Honey said. "You're going to fall."
Percy looked down. His face was bright. "I'm not going to fall."
The ladder wobbled. Percy grabbed the banner. The banner ripped. The ladder wobbled more. Percy grabbed Honey. They both fell. The grass was soft. The banner was torn. Percy was laughing. Honey was not.
"You fell," Honey said.
Percy grinned. "We fell."
Honey looked at the torn banner. "You fell."
Percy kissed her cheek. "We fell together."
---
Keiran was in the kitchen. He was making the cake. Flour was everywhere. Eggs were everywhere. Sugar was everywhere. His face was white. His hair was white. His shirt was white. Keigan was beside him. His arms were crossed. His face was cold. His eyes were watching.
"You're making a mess," Keigan said.
Keiran looked at his brother. His face was bright. "I'm making a cake."
Keigan looked at the flour on the ceiling. "You're making a disaster."
Keiran grabbed a handful of flour. He threw it at Keigan's face. Keigan's face was white. His hair was white. His shirt was white. His eyes were not.
Keiran laughed. "Now you're a mess too."
Keigan's face didn't change. "You're lucky it's the twins' birthday."
Keiran grinned. "I'm always lucky."
---
Care was in the medical room. She was packing her bag. Bandages. Medicines. Antiseptic. She was ready for anything. Cole was beside her. His hand was on her back.
"It's a birthday party," Cole said. "Not a war."
Care looked at him. "With this family? It's both."
Cole pulled her close. "You're prepared."
Care kissed his cheek. "I'm always prepared."
---
Lyra was in her corner. Her hands were in her pockets. Her face was blank. Her eyes were on the garden. Alex was beside her. His hand was in hers.
"It's their first birthday," Alex said.
Lyra watched Percy and Honey in the garden. Watched Keiran and Keigan in the kitchen. Watched Care and Cole in the medical room. "It's chaos."
Alex pulled her close. "It's family."
Lyra almost smiled. Almost. "It's chaos family."
---
Jay was in the nursery. The twins were awake. Aurora was standing in her crib, her hands on the rail, her dark eyes watching the door. She was waiting. She was always waiting. Alexander was sitting in his crib, his legs crossed, his face serious. He was watching his sister. He was always watching his sister.
"Happy birthday," Jay said.
Aurora looked at her mother. Her face was serious. Her eyes were bright. "Mama."
Jay picked her up. Her daughter was warm. Her daughter was wiggly. Her daughter was loud. "You're one year old today."
Aurora grabbed her mother's hair. She pulled. She was strong. She was determined. She was chaos.
Jay's face didn't change. "Happy birthday to you too."
She picked up Alexander. Her son was calm. Her son was heavy. Her son was serious. "You're one year old today."
Alexander looked at his mother. His eyes were dark. His face was serious. He touched her face. Small. Warm. Alive. He was saying he loved her. He was saying he was ready. He was saying he was home.
Jay kissed his forehead. "I love you too."
---
Keifer walked into the nursery. His face was soft. His eyes were on his children. "They're one."
Jay looked at her husband. "They're one."
Keifer took Aurora from her arms. His daughter was warm. His daughter was wiggly. His daughter was loud. "Happy birthday, little chaos."
Aurora grabbed his hair. She pulled. She was strong. She was determined. She was chaos.
Keifer's face didn't change. "You're your mother's daughter."
He took Alexander from Jay's arms. His son was calm. His son was heavy. His son was serious. "Happy birthday, little man."
Alexander looked at his father. His eyes were dark. His face was serious. He touched Keifer's face. Small. Warm. Alive. He was saying he loved him. He was saying he was ready. He was saying he was home.
Keifer kissed his forehead. "I love you too."
---
The garden was ready.
The balloons were tied. The streamers were hung. The banner was fixed. Percy had climbed the ladder again. Honey had held it steady. He had not fallen. The cake was on the table. Two tiers. Pink and blue. Gold stars. "Happy Birthday Aurora & Alexander" in sparkling letters. Keiran had made it. Keigan had cleaned the kitchen. The flour was gone. The eggs were gone. The sugar was gone. The ceiling was still white.
The guests arrived. Rakki and Ci N came first. Rakki was carrying a giant stuffed elephant. Ci N was carrying a giant stuffed tiger. "For the twins," Rakki said.
Percy's eyes went wide. "Elephants!"
Rakki grinned. "Elephants."
Mica and Calix came next. Mica was carrying a box. "Educational toys," Mica said. "Mathematically perfect."
Calix smiled. "She's been working on them for months."
Freya and Erdix came. Freya was carrying a small wooden sword. "For protection," Freya said.
Erdix nodded. "For protection."
Grace and Denzel came. Grace was carrying a punching bag. "For training," Grace said.
Denzel smiled. "She's been waiting to give it to them."
Kuya Angelo and Ion came. Kuya Angelo was carrying a book. "Stories," Kuya Angelo said. "For bedtime."
Ion smiled. "He's been reading them for weeks."
Tita Gemma and Tita Rachel came. Tita Gemma was crying. Tita Rachel was holding her hand. "They're one," Tita Gemma said. "They're one."
Tita Rachel kissed her cheek. "They're one."
---
The family gathered in the garden.
The sun was high. The balloons were bright. The cake was waiting. The twins were in the center. Aurora was on Jay's lap. Alexander was on Keifer's lap. They were wearing matching outfits. White shirts. Blue shorts. Pink bows. Aurora had a bow in her hair. Alexander had a bow on his shirt. Percy had insisted.
"They're perfect," Percy said.
Honey looked at him. "They're chaos."
Percy grinned. "They're perfect chaos."
---
The cake was brought out. The candles were lit. The family sang. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Aurora and Alexander. Happy birthday to you.
Aurora looked at the candles. Her eyes were wide. Her face was serious. She reached for the flames. Keifer caught her hand. "No, little chaos."
Aurora looked at her father. Her face was red. Her determination was fierce. She reached again. Keifer caught her hand again. "No."
Aurora looked at her mother. Jay was smiling. "Blow the candles, Aurora."
Aurora looked at the candles. She blew. The flames flickered. They did not go out. She blew again. Harder. The flames flickered more. They did not go out. She looked at her mother. Her face was confused. Her eyes were asking for help.
Jay leaned down. She blew the candles out with her. The smoke rose. The family cheered.
Alexander watched. His face was serious. His eyes were calm. He did not reach for the candles. He did not try to blow them out. He watched. He waited. He was always waiting.
---
The cake was cut. The pieces were served. Aurora had cake on her face. On her hands. On her shirt. In her hair. She was laughing. She was loud. She was chaos.
Alexander had cake on his plate. He was eating it slowly. Carefully. Neatly. He was watching his sister. He was always watching his sister.
Percy looked at Aurora. "She's your daughter."
Jay looked at her daughter. "She's our daughter."
Keifer looked at his son. "He's your son."
Jay looked at her son. "He's our son."
---
The presents were opened.
Aurora got the elephant from Rakki. She hugged it. She would not let it go. She got the tiger from Ci N. She hugged it too. She had an elephant in one arm. A tiger in the other. She was happy. She was loud. She was chaos.
Alexander got the educational toys from Mica. He looked at the blocks. He looked at the shapes. He looked at the numbers. He started sorting them. By color. By size. By shape. He was focused. He was serious. He was his mother's son.
Mica's eyes were bright. "He's mathematically inclined."
Calix pulled her close. "He's your nephew."
Mica smiled. "He's my nephew."
---
Aurora got the wooden sword from Freya. She swung it. She hit Percy's leg. He yelped. She swung it again. She hit Keiran's leg. He yelped. She swung it again. She hit Keigan's leg. He did not yelp. His face did not change.
"She's strong," Keigan said.
Keiran rubbed his leg. "She's chaos."
Alexander got the punching bag from Grace. He looked at it. He touched it. He punched it. Small fist. Strong hit. The bag swung. He punched it again. It swung harder. He was focused. He was serious. He was his aunt's nephew.
Grace almost smiled. "He's a fighter."
Denzel pulled her close. "He's your nephew."
Grace nodded. "He's my nephew."
---
Aurora got the book from Kuya Angelo. She looked at the pictures. She turned the pages. She pointed at the elephant. "Rora." She pointed at the tiger. "Rora." She pointed at the lion. "Rora."
Kuya Angelo smiled. "Everything is Rora."
Ion kissed his cheek. "Everything is Rora."
Alexander got the stories from Kuya Angelo. He looked at the book. He opened it. He looked at the words. He looked at the pictures. He was focused. He was serious. He was his father's son.
Kuya Angelo put his hand on Alexander's head. "He's going to be a reader."
Ion smiled. "He's going to be a thinker."
---
The sun was setting when the guests left.
The garden was quiet. The balloons were still. The cake was gone. The presents were inside. The twins were in the nursery. Sleeping. Safe. Home. Aurora was holding her elephant. Alexander was holding his bear.
Jay stood in the doorway. Keifer was behind her. His hand was on her back.
"They're one," Jay said.
Keifer kissed her hair. "They're one."
Jay leaned against him. "They're perfect."
Keifer pulled her close. "They're perfect."
---
Lyra was in her corner. Her hands were in her pockets. Her face was blank. Her eyes were on the nursery. Alex was beside her. His hand was in hers.
"They're one," Alex said.
Lyra watched the door. "They're one."
Alex pulled her close. "You love them."
Lyra almost smiled. Almost. "I love them."
---
Percy was in the garden. The balloons were still. The streamers were still. The banner was still. Honey was beside him. Her hand was in his.
"They're one," Percy said.
Honey nodded. "They're one."
Percy pulled her close. "We're family."
Honey kissed his cheek. "We're family."
---
Keiran was in the kitchen. The cake was gone. The flour was cleaned. The eggs were cleaned. The sugar was cleaned. Keigan was beside him. His arms were crossed. His face was cold. His eyes were soft.
"They're one," Keiran said.
Keigan nodded. "They're one."
Keiran grinned. "We're uncles."
Keigan's face didn't change. "We're uncles."
Keiran pulled his brother close. "The best uncles."
Keigan's face didn't change. His eyes did. "The best."
---
Care was in the medical room. Her bag was unpacked. No one was hurt. No one was injured. No one needed bandages. Cole was beside her. His hand was on her back.
"It was a success," Care said.
Cole smiled. "It was a success."
Care leaned against him. "No chaos."
Cole kissed her hair. "No medical emergencies."
Care laughed. "That's a first."
---
The night was quiet. The house was still.
Jay lay in Keifer's arms. Her head was on his chest. His heart was beating beneath her ear. The twins were in their cribs. Sleeping. Safe. Home.
"You're thinking," Keifer said.
She looked at him. "I'm thinking about the birthday. About the cake. About the presents. About the chaos."
He kissed her hair. "It was perfect."
She smiled. "It was chaos."
He pulled her close. "It was perfect chaos."
The door creaked. Small footsteps. Soft breathing. Aurora stood in the doorway. She was holding her elephant. She was not going to sleep alone. Behind her, Alexander crawled into the room. He was holding his bear. He was not going to let his sister have all the attention.
Jay sighed. "They escaped again."
Keifer looked at his children. "They're our children."
Aurora climbed onto the bed. She crawled between her parents. She pulled the blanket over herself. She hugged her elephant. She closed her eyes. "Mama."
Jay kissed her forehead. "Mama's here."
Alexander climbed onto the bed. He crawled beside his sister. He held his bear. He closed his eyes. "Dada."
Keifer kissed his forehead. "Dada's here."
Jay looked at her children. "They're perfect."
Keifer kissed her forehead. "They're perfect."
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END OF CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED TWELVE