MARRY YOUR KILLER
Chapter One Hundred Sixteen: The First Days
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The morning came soft and golden.
Liana was one week old. She was small. She was pink. She was perfect. She had Care's eyes and Cole's calm. She slept through the night. She ate when she was hungry. She cried when she was wet. She was the easiest baby in the world.
Percy was convinced she was plotting something.
"No baby is this easy," Percy said, staring at Liana in her bassinet. "She's planning something."
Honey was beside him. "She's a baby. She's not planning anything."
Percy shook his head. "Aurora was chaos from day one. Alexander was serious from day one. This one is too calm. It's suspicious."
Honey pulled him away. "Let the baby sleep."
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Care was in the nursery. Liana was in her arms. The room was yellow. Soft. Warm. The color of morning. The color of hope. The color of new beginnings. Cole was beside her. His hand was on her back.
"She's perfect," Care said.
Cole kissed her forehead. "She's perfect."
Care looked at the window. At the sun. At the garden. At the roses. "I never thought I would have this."
Cole pulled her close. "You have this."
Care leaned against him. "I have you."
He held her. "You have me."
---
Aurora was in the living room. She was building a tower. Alexander was watching. She stacked the blocks. He watched. She stacked higher. He watched. She reached for the top block. The tower wobbled. It fell. Aurora looked at the blocks. She looked at her brother. She started again.
Jay was on the sofa. Keifer was beside her. His hand was in hers.
"They're quiet," Jay said.
Keifer looked at his children. "They're planning something."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "They're babies."
Keifer looked at his daughter. Aurora was looking at the door. Her eyes were sharp. Her face was determined. "She's planning something."
---
Aurora crawled to the door. She was fast. She was determined. She was chaos. She reached the hallway. She crawled to the nursery. The door was open. She crawled inside.
Liana was in her bassinet. Sleeping. Pink. Perfect. Aurora pulled herself up. Her hands were on the bassinet. Her face was red. Her determination was fierce.
"Baby," Aurora said.
Care looked at her niece. "Baby."
Aurora reached into the bassinet. Her hand touched Liana's face. Small. Warm. Alive. "Baby."
Liana opened her eyes. Just a slit. Just enough. She looked at Aurora. She did not cry. She did not fuss. She just looked.
Aurora smiled. "Baby."
---
Alexander crawled to the nursery. He was slower. He was steadier. He was calmer. He reached his sister. He pulled himself up. He looked at Liana. His face was serious. His eyes were calm.
"Liana," Alexander said.
Care's heart melted. "You said her name."
Alexander looked at his aunt. His face was serious. His eyes were calm. He touched Liana's hand. Small. Warm. Alive. "Liana."
Care pulled them close. Her arms were around her niece and nephew. Her face was wet. "You're going to be the best cousins."
Aurora hugged her. "Best."
Alexander touched her face. "Best."
---
Jay stood in the doorway. Keifer was behind her. His hand was on her back. Their children were in the nursery. Their children were loving their cousin.
"They're perfect," Jay said.
Keifer kissed her hair. "They're perfect."
Jay leaned against him. "Care is a mother."
Keifer pulled her close. "Care is a great mother."
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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.
"The twins love Liana," Alex said.
Lyra watched her niece and nephew. At Aurora touching Liana's face. At Alexander saying her name. "They're going to protect her."
Alex pulled her close. "They're going to love her."
Lyra almost smiled. Almost. "They're going to be chaos together."
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Percy was in the kitchen. He was making breakfast. Honey was beside him. His face was bright. His voice was loud. "Liana is one week old!"
Honey looked at him. "She is."
Percy's eyes were wide. "We should have a party!"
Honey crossed her arms. "No."
Percy's face fell. "No?"
Honey kissed his cheek. "No."
Percy sighed. "No party."
---
Keiran was in the garden. He was playing with the hose. Keigan was watching. His arms were crossed. His face was cold. His eyes were on his brother.
"You're getting water everywhere," Keigan said.
Keiran sprayed the roses. "I'm watering the flowers."
Keigan looked at the roses. "You're drowning them."
Keiran sprayed Keigan's face. Keigan's face was wet. His hair was wet. His shirt was wet. His eyes were not.
Keiran laughed. "Now you're watered."
Keigan's face didn't change. "You're lucky Liana is here."
Keiran grinned. "I'm always lucky."
---
Care sat on the steps of the garden. Liana was in her arms. The sun was warm. The flowers were blooming. The roses were red. Cole was beside her. His hand was in hers.
"She's one week old," Care said.
Cole kissed her hair. "She's one week old."
Care looked at the baby. At her dark hair. At her tiny fingers. At her small nose. "I never thought I would be a mother."
Cole pulled her close. "You're a great mother."
Care leaned against him. "I'm trying."
He held her. "You're succeeding."
---
The family gathered in the living room.
The sun was high. The windows were open. The curtains were moving. Liana was in Care's arms. The twins were on the floor. Aurora was building a tower. Alexander was watching. Percy was on the sofa, his face bright, his voice loud. Honey was beside him, her face calm, her eyes sharp. Aries was with Ella, their hands intertwined. Rakki was with Ci N, her face hard, her eyes soft. Mica was with Calix, her laptop open, her fingers still. Freya was with Erdix, her arms crossed, her face sharp. Grace was with Denzel, her fists open. Kuya Angelo was with Ion, his face calm, his hands steady. Tita Gemma was with Tita Rachel, her face wet, her hands shaking. Keiran was with Keigan, his face bright, his voice loud. Keigan was beside him, his arms crossed, his face cold, his eyes soft.
Lyra was in her corner. Alex was beside her. Her hands were in her pockets. Her face was blank. Her eyes were on the family.
"They're loud," Lyra said.
Alex pulled her close. "They're family."
Lyra almost smiled. Almost. "They're chaos."
Alex kissed her forehead. "They're our chaos."
---
The night was quiet. The house was still.
Care lay in Cole's arms. Liana was in the bassinet beside the bed. Sleeping. Pink. Perfect. Her hand was on her heart. His hand was on her back.
"You're thinking," Cole said.
She looked at him. "I'm thinking about Liana."
He kissed her hair. "What about Liana?"
She looked at the baby. At her dark hair. At her tiny fingers. At her small nose. "I'm thinking about her first birthday. Her first steps. Her first words. Her first everything."
He pulled her closer. "The first everything."
She smiled. "The first everything."
He put his hand on her stomach. "I love you."
She put her hand on his. "I love you too."
---
The door creaked. Small footsteps. Soft breathing. Care looked up. 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.
"Baby," Aurora said.
Care smiled. "Baby."
Aurora climbed onto the bed. She crawled to the bassinet. She looked at Liana. "Baby."
Alexander climbed onto the bed. He crawled beside his sister. He looked at Liana. "Liana."
Care pulled them close. Her arms were around them. Her face was wet. "You're going to be the best cousins."
Aurora hugged her. "Best."
Alexander touched her face. "Best."
---
Jay stood in the doorway. Keifer was behind her. His hand was on her back. Their children were on Care's bed. Their children were hugging their aunt. Their children were loving their cousin.
"They're perfect," Jay said.
Keifer kissed her hair. "They're perfect."
Jay leaned against him. "Care is a mother."
Keifer pulled her close. "Care is a great mother."
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END OF CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN