MARRY YOUR KILLER
Chapter One Hundred Seventeen: The Teething
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The morning came loud and chaotic.
Liana was crying. She had been crying for three days. Her gums were red. Her cheeks were swollen. Her fists were clenched. She was teething. She was miserable. She was loud.
Care was exhausted. Cole was exhausted. The house was exhausted. Percy had tried singing. Liana cried louder. Keiran had tried making faces. Liana cried louder. Honey had tried rocking her. Liana cried louder. Keigan had stood in the corner. Liana cried louder. Everything made her cry louder.
"She hates me," Percy said, his face pale, his hands empty.
Honey looked at him. "She's teething. She doesn't hate you."
Percy looked at Liana. The baby was red-faced. Tears were streaming. Her tiny fists were waving. "She hates everyone."
Honey pulled him away. "She'll grow out of it."
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Care sat on the sofa. Liana was in her arms. The baby was crying. Her face was red. Her body was tense. Her screams were endless.
"I don't know what to do," Care said. Her voice was tired. Her eyes were red. "Nothing works."
Cole sat beside her. His hand was on Liana's back. His face was pale. "We've tried everything."
Care looked at her daughter. "She's in pain."
Cole kissed Liana's forehead. "I know."
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Aurora crawled into the room. She was fast. She was determined. She was chaos. She reached the sofa. She pulled herself up. Her hands were on Care's legs. Her face was red. Her determination was fierce.
"Baby crying," Aurora said.
Care looked at her niece. "Baby is teething."
Aurora looked at Liana. At her red face. At her tears. At her clenched fists. She reached out. Her hand touched Liana's face. Small. Warm. Alive.
"Baby," Aurora said.
Liana stopped crying. Her eyes opened. She looked at Aurora. Her face was still red. Her tears were still wet. But she stopped crying.
Aurora smiled. "Baby."
Care's eyes were wide. "She stopped."
Cole stared at his daughter. "She stopped."
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Alexander crawled into the room. 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.
Liana looked at her cousin. Her face was still red. Her tears were still wet. She did not cry.
Alexander touched her hand. Small. Warm. Alive. "Liana."
Liana grabbed his finger. She held on. She was strong. She was determined. She was Care's daughter.
Alexander's face didn't change. "Liana."
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Jay walked into the room. Keifer was behind her. She looked at Care. At Liana. At Aurora. At Alexander.
"What happened?" Jay asked.
Care looked at her sister. "Aurora stopped her crying."
Jay looked at her daughter. Aurora was now patting Liana's head. Soft. Gentle. Sweet.
"She's your daughter," Jay said.
Care laughed. It was tired. It was real. "She's our niece."
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The day passed. Liana cried. Aurora calmed her. Alexander watched. Liana cried. Aurora patted her head. Liana stopped. Liana cried. Aurora kissed her forehead. Liana stopped. Liana cried. Aurora held her hand. Liana stopped.
Percy watched from the armchair. His face was amazed. "She's a baby whisperer."
Honey looked at Aurora. "She's a miracle worker."
Keiran watched from the floor. His face was bright. "She's magic."
Keigan stood in the corner. His arms were crossed. His face was cold. His eyes were soft. "She's her mother's daughter."
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Care sat on the steps of the garden. Liana was in her arms. The baby was sleeping. Finally. Peacefully. Quietly. Cole was beside her. His hand was in hers.
"She's sleeping," Care said.
Cole kissed her hair. "She's sleeping."
Care looked at the garden. At the flowers. At the roses. At the life they had built. "Aurora saved us."
Cole pulled her close. "Aurora saved us."
Care leaned against him. "She's a miracle."
He held her. "She's a miracle."
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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.
"Aurora calmed the baby," Alex said.
Lyra watched her niece. Aurora was on the grass, playing with Alexander. Her face was serious. Her hands were steady. "She's your niece."
Alex pulled her close. "She's our niece."
Lyra almost smiled. Almost. "She's chaos."
Alex kissed her forehead. "She's perfect chaos."
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The night was quiet. The house was still.
Care lay in Cole's arms. Liana was in the bassinet beside the bed. Sleeping. Finally. Peacefully. Quietly. 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 Aurora."
He kissed her hair. "What about Aurora?"
She looked at the window. At the moon. At the stars. At the life they had built. "She's only two years old. And she already knows how to love."
He pulled her closer. "She learned from her mother."
She smiled. "She learned from her aunt."
He held her. "She learned from all of us."
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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 sleeping," Aurora said.
Care smiled. "Baby is sleeping."
Aurora climbed onto the bed. She crawled to the bassinet. She looked at Liana. "Baby sleeping."
Alexander climbed onto the bed. He crawled beside his sister. He looked at Liana. "Liana sleeping."
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."
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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. "Aurora is a baby whisperer."
Keifer pulled her close. "She's your daughter."
Jay smiled. "She's our daughter."
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END OF CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN