Light was shining in Luca's eyes as he was trying to sleep, but even that annoyance couldn't bother him. The light breaths coming from his left made him smile. Ever since the night of the Christmas party, Jamie has been coming over more frequently. He had even started to bring his cats, Dragon and Arry, who were incredulous of his place, but they liked his big windows.

He had been getting the best sleep of his life. There was something soothing about sleeping next to Jamie. Noelle seems to be benefiting from it as well, going long hours without waking up. Half of the time she even ended up in bed with them, and she was all too delighted about it.

Luca cracked open an eye, looking over at Jamie, who was still fast asleep. The other man was on his stomach, face turned towards Luca. And just as Luca had suspected, Noelle was asleep between them. He always got nervous about her sleeping in the bed with them. After the second time it had happened, he had gone out and both one of those soft baby beds with the high cushions on the outside to prevent babies from rolling out and prevent anyone from rolling on them. When he had come back from the store with it, Jamie had been pleased, giving Luca a deep kiss before whispering promises of what he was going to do to him once Noelle went down for a nap.

She was in the cushioned baby bed now, fast asleep. She is swaddled but she managed to work one of her hands out and it is resting on her cheek. Her pacifier is bobbing periodically as she sucks on it, and he thanks the gods above for that wonderful invention.

As quietly as he can, he slips out of the bed. The cold air hits him, making him shiver. Once he has put on his sweats and an old, threadbare t-shirt, he makes his way out of the room, carefully closing the door behind him.

There are still some decorations from the New Year Party they had a few days ago. A few pieces of confetti were still hanging around no matter how many times he vacuumed or swept.

With the coffee brewing, Luca decided to check the mail. There shouldn't be anything too important, but he hasn't checked it in a few days. Sometimes there was a nice surprise, especially since his parents still liked to write him letters whenever they were in the mood.

The wind is biting as he makes his way outside. At least it had stopped raining and snowing. Now, there was just frost and wind. The combination made his journey down his driveway to the mailbox a precarious one. He managed to almost lose his balance only twice and didn't even fall. A success if you asked him.

Luca quickly grabbed his mail and slowly made his way up the driveway. It took twice as long, trying to walk up the ice. By the time he made it back inside, the coffee was done percolating. He set down his mail and poured himself a mug, wrapping his fingers tightly around the heated mug.

He takes his time drinking his mug, savoring the delicious taste. When he feels awake and whole enough, Luca finally allows his eyes to roam over the few pieces of mail he received. There is the usual credit card pleas and advertisements, which he quickly throws away. The only thing that catches his attention is a heavy, important looking envelope. On the front is his address, and when he looks at the top left-hand corner, he sees that it from...

His heart sinks. With shaky hands, he opens up the envelope, despite everything inside him telling him to throw it away. He knows that it is important, though. He can't just get rid of it and hope the problem disappears as well.

A few heavy sheets of paper fall out. His eyes skim over them, but it takes a while for the words to sink in.

They are custody papers, from his ex-girlfriend's lawyers. Luca had recognized the name on the front of the envelope. It was the name of the law firm that Becca and her parents went through. He remembered having to go in once when her parents were really pushing for them to get married once they found out Becca was pregnant. However, they had wanted Luca to sign a prenup, making sure that he wouldn't receive any of their assets if him and Becca divorce. But they had never gotten married, so it hadn't mattered anyway.

He forces himself to read the full letter, and that's when he sees that it isn't from Becca at all, but her parents entirely. They were asking for full custody of Noelle. The letter promised Luca visitation rights twice a month but that was it. There was even a mention of how he wouldn't have to pay child support, as if that would be his main concern.

These people, the ones who had always treated him like a pile of trash were now trying to take his daughter away from him.

His hands tightened on the paper, crinkling it. Frustrated, he threw it back at the counter. "No way in hell," he murmured to himself.

"No way in hell, what?" a familiar voice says.

Luca looks up, seeing that Jamie and Noelle must have woken up and he had not heard them. Jamie walked over to Luca giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek and handing him the baby before going over to the coffee pot in order to pour himself a mug.

Luca holds Noelle tight to him, not able to form the words to tell Jamie what is wrong. He buries his face in her hair, breathing in her comforting scent. She makes little mumbly sounds against him, cuddling close to him as well. She must sense that he needs the comfort, be the little baby just sags against him instead of trying to get to Jamie again.

A gentle hand rests on his back, and Luca looks up, seeing that Jamie has put down his coffee and is watching him with worried eyes.

"Luca, what's wrong. You're scaring me."

Instead of answering verbally, Luca just nods in the direction of the crinkled letter. Jamie follows his gaze, brows wrinkled in confusion. He steps away to grab the letter. Many different letters flash over Jamie's face as he flips through the pages, finally settling in contempt as he all but throws the letter back on the counter.

"Who do they think they are? They can't just swoop in and take her away." He runs his hands through his hair, shaking his head. "They didn't want anything to do with her for three months. Why in the hell are they interested now?"

Luca just shakes his head. "I-I don't know."

Jamie pauses in his ranting, hands dropping away from his hair. He steps closer to Luca wrapping his arms around his waist. Noelle is nestled in between them, and it is a comforting feeling for Luca. Jamie's hands rub and press along the bottom of his back in a soothing manner, but Luca can't find it in him to relax.

"It's going to be okay," Jamie murmurs, voice gentle. "This is all just a stupid attempt to hurt you. There's no way any judge would grant them full custody of Noelle."

Luca finds himself shaking his head again, swallowing past the lump in his throat. "You don't understand, Jamie. They have money, and not just newly acquired. They're one of those old, rich families. The ones with a lot of influence and connections everywhere. Knowing them, they probably already have a judge lined up for the case, someone who owes them a favor. It wouldn't be too hard for them to manipulate the system, and- and," he rests his cheek on Noelle's head, "and take her away from me."

One of Jamie's hands falls away from his back, and Luca opens his eyes when he feels the warm hand rest on his cheek. "We won't let them." His thumb runs along Luca's cheek. "We'll do whatever we have to, get a good lawyer and whatever else so that you'll win."

"We?" Luca says, meeting Jamie's eyes.

The other man just gives him a small smile. "Of course. We're family Luca. I'm not gonna let you battle this alone, and don't you dare try to push me away in an attempt to protect me. I love both of you, there's no way you can get rid of me."

His words are ringing in Luca's ears, and for the first time since reading that letter, he smiles. "You love me?"

Jamie pinches his side with the hand that was still on his back and gives Luca a disbelieving look. "Of course I do."

Luca leans forward, giving Jamie a soft kiss. The other man melts against him, making sure not to crush Noelle between them, though.

Luca pulls away just enough so that he can breathe. "I love you too."

Jamie just smiles. "I know."

His words have Luca chuckling, some of the tension melting away. Noelle starts to rub her face against his chest and he knows that she must be getting hungry.

Luca refuses to put her down, instead carrying her as he prepares her bottle. Once it is done, he pulls the pacifier out of her mouth, replacing it with the bottle. She relaxes even further in his arms, lazily drinking.

Noelle has gotten so big already. It seems like just yesterday that she was born when in reality, she will be three months in just a couple of days. She is his world, his love for her unbounded. Luca honestly can't imagine his world without her. Looking up, he watches as Jamie putters around the kitchen, humming to himself as he gets breakfast going.

This is his family, different than the one he imagined, but his family nonetheless. He would be damned if anyone tried to take them away from him. No, this was his; his little piece of heaven, and he would fight a war to keep it.