251. ALWAYS

251. ALWAYS
"Uncle Kirill said Neve is a cow expert." Lilly kept talking. "She treated Captain Moo Moo. I want to become like her when I grow up."
Neve chuckled and ruffled Lilly's hair.
Kirill finally introduced the mother of his child to Layla and Zaley.
While the ladies talked cordially with each other, discussing about pregnancy, Zaley wondered how much cheque he should write for Neve for putting up with Kirill.
When the music swelled and Layla tossed the bouquet high into the air, the crowd cheered.
Seline and Kade, despite being engaged, immediately ducked and stepped in opposite directions as if the flowers were cursed. The bouquet arced beautifully, straight between them and landed in Kirill’s hands.
Everyone went silent for a beat.
Kirill blinked down at the bouquet, unimpressed, and muttered under his breath, “Aren’t you already engaged?” His gaze flicked toward Kade and Seline with something between disbelief and annoyance.
Seline crossed her arms, scoffing.
Kade raised his hands defensively. “I’m not touching that thing.”
The guests burst into laughter, while Kirill just stood there, bouquet in hand, looking like someone had handed him a live grenade.
The laughter that followed felt like a promise that life wasn’t done surprising any of them.
And life did go on.
Layla joined hands with Seline to open an interior design firm after learning sign language. Between them, they built spaces as full of life as their own messy families.
Kirill and Neve gave birth to a baby boy. Their wedding plans became the talk of every gathering.
Raya and Hair welcomed a girl into their home, adding one more bright voice to their already noisy household.
Spencer, of course, argued endlessly. “I need a godson. I’ve already got goddaughters from you two,” he’d complained, pointing accusingly at Raya and Layla. “What kind of best friends make me the godfather of only girls?”
Messy. Loud. Beautiful. The kind of life they had all once thought they’d never reach.
Layla was able to handle her nightmares.
Her past didn't make her hide in the shadows.
The sky didn't make her cry.
It made her want to take pictures of it.
Zaley was at ease.
The guilt of not being present for his girls surfaces sometimes.
But it wasn't often.
He was able to manage it just fine without wanting to destroy anything or anyone.
One night, the storm was relentless. Rain hammered against the windows like a thousand tiny drums, thunder rolling so heavy it seemed to shake the very walls of the penthouse. Lightning flashed across the sky, painting the rooms in quick, white light.
Luna’s scream pierced through the sound of the storm. “Big rain!” she cried, stumbling down the hallway with her blanket clutched to her chest. Her little curls bounced with every hurried step. “Daddy no home!”
Layla caught her before she could trip, crouching low and pulling her into her arms. Luna’s big eyes were watery.
“Shhh, baby. He’ll be home soon,” Layla soothed, pressing kisses onto her daughter’s damp forehead. The rain outside was wild, the kind Zaley always called battle weather. He should have been home hours ago.
Before Layla could comfort Luna further, a sound cut through the storm, the sharp click of keys in the lock, the heavy swing of the front door.
“Girls,” Layla whispered, her voice breaking into a smile even as relief softened her shoulders. “Daddy is home.”
The words were like a spell. Lilly, who had been sitting on the couch with a storybook forgotten in her lap, leapt up instantly. Luna wriggled free from Layla’s arms, her blanket trailing behind her like a cape. Both girls tore across the living room, feet pattering against the polished floor.
But Layla beat them to it.
She ran for the door, and the moment she saw him standing there, soaked to the bone, dark hair plastered to his forehead, water dripping from the edge of his jacket, her heart nearly burst. Without hesitation, she jumped into his arms, legs wrapping tight around his waist, arms looped around his neck. She buried her face against his shoulder, holding on as if she’d been waiting a lifetime.
Zaley caught her effortlessly, his strong arms locking around her like instinct. His laugh, low and warm, vibrated against her ear.
The girls skidded to a stop, their eyes widening at the sight of their mother clinging to their father like she was the younger one in the house.
“Mommy…” Lilly said slowly, her voice laced with suspicion as she tilted her head. “Are you a baby?”
Luna, never one to be left behind, puffed her chest, put her tiny hands on her hips, and mirrored her sister’s stance perfectly. Her little brow furrowed, and she repeated in her slightly slurred voice, “Mommy… you baby?”
Layla burst out laughing against Zaley’s shoulder, hiding her face as if she could escape the question. Zaley, on the other hand, grinned like the devil himself had gifted him this moment.
“She is my first baby,” he said, kissing the crown of Layla’s head. His eyes, those deep blue eyes, shifted to his daughters. “Before there was Lilly. Before there was Luna. She was mine first.”
Lilly narrowed her eyes, as though calculating how she felt about this new revelation. Luna blinked at him, confusion painted all over her face.
“Mommy is… big baby?” she asked.
“Exactly,” Zaley said, his smirk growing. “My biggest baby.”
Layla smacked his shoulder playfully, still clinging to him, but the girls weren’t done.
“Then,” Lilly began, tapping her chin like she was unravelling a great mystery, “if Mommy is a baby, do you have to tuck her in too?”
“Yes!” Luna squealed, bouncing in excitement at the idea. “Tuck-tuck Mommy!”
Layla groaned, her face red from laughing so hard. “Girls, go easy on me!”
But Zaley, ever the opportunist, leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “They’re right, you know. My first baby gets tucked in tonight.”
He set her down gently, only for the girls to immediately latch onto his legs. “Daddy, tuck us too!” Lilly demanded. “Not fair if you only tuck Mommy.”
“Yeah!” Luna echoed, tugging at his soaked jacket. “All babies!”
Zaley laughed, the storm forgotten as he scooped both of them up, one on each arm, while Layla followed behind, shaking her head fondly.
Minutes later, they were all bundled together in the big bed. Layla curled against Zaley’s side, her head resting on his chest. Lilly snuggled against her mother, Luna sprawled across Zaley like a starfish. Outside, the storm raged on, but inside, their world was warm and safe.
“Daddy?” Lilly murmured sleepily.
“Yeah, Little Lilly?”
“Promise… you’ll always come home? Even in big rain?”
Zaley’s jaw tightened, his hand brushing gently through her hair. “Always,” he said firmly. “No world could ever keep me from coming back to my girls.”
Satisfied, Lilly sighed and closed her eyes. Luna, half-asleep already, mumbled, “Big baby Mommy,” before drifting into little snores.
Layla tilted her head up, meeting Zaley’s gaze. He kissed her softly, whispering only for her, “You’ll always be my first.”
And for that night, no matter how wild the storm, their little family was untouchable.