Jamie Middleton was positive that his hook up from the night before was going to wake before he could sneak out, but the older bear managed to stay asleep. Even as Jamie tripped over the shoes littering the floor, cursing up a storm, the guy didn't stir. Alcohol must have the opposite effect on him than it does on Jamie. After he has had enough to make him tipsy, he couldn't sleep worth a damn until the alcohol was out of his system.

His mind wanders to his best friend, Luca Flowers, who always forced himself to stay awake after drinking, just so Jamie didn't have to be alone.

His heart pounds as he remembers the phone call he had with Luca just a few minutes ago. He had known something was up with the other man, and knew he couldn't wait until tomorrow's breakfast to talk to him about it. He had snuck into the bathroom of his hook-up's apartment to call his best friend, and he is happy he did.

Luca likes to worry about others, but never about himself. He is so oblivious when it comes to anything concerning himself, even as a child. Jamie still remembers when they entered the local kindergarten together, and one of the kids whose family had moved from somewhere deep in the South, had made fun of Luca for having two moms. Luca hadn't understood the big deal, and Jamie hadn't really either, having two dads himself, but he had been quick to kick the other boy in the shin, standing in front of his best friend as if to protect him from the harsh words.

So, it really shouldn't be so surprising that Luca didn't foresee Rebecca leaving him. Jamie had been wary of her ever since they started dating. Every step forward that Luca wanted to take, Rebecca put up a huge fight. But Luca had persisted in the relationship.

Now, she is gone, and Jamie can't help but feel lighter, even though his heart still hurts for his friend. Jamie would be at Maris and Veronica's bright and early tomorrow in order to greet Luca and his baby.

That thought brings a smile to his face, even as he steps outside into the pouring rain. The Lyft he had booked was waiting outside for him, and he quickly climbed inside. The driver gave him a brief nod before driving away.

Jamie opened his phone and opening his camera roll, clicking through the hundreds of photos he already has of Noelle. She looked so much like Luca, just with a feminine edge to it. It made him smile every time he looked at her, heart skipping a beat.

He knew logically why Rebecca left, but he still questioned how she could leave behind a great man like Luca and the adorable little girl whom she birthed.

"We're here," the Lyft driver says.

Jamie looks up from his phone and notices that they are stopped in front of his apartment building. "Thanks," he says, before slipping out of the car.

The walk to his apartment is quick, and he greets the night shift doorman. His hair is soaking wet, and he runs his fingers through the strands as he bypasses the elevator to take the stairs. His apartment is only on the third floor, so it is a short trip.

As soon and he steps into the apartment, he is bombarded with meows. His two cats, Arry and Dragon, are already winding themselves around his legs before he can even get his coat off.

"Hi, my loves," he whispers, bending down to pet them after hanging up his coat. "Dif you miss me?"

Arry rubs her face against his, purring loudly, while Dragon bumps his face repetitively against Jamie's legs, his purr a softer lull than his sister's.

Jamie had picked them both up at the local cat rescue, Arry about five years ago, and Dragon almost a year ago. They were his babies, and his parents often remarked that they would be their only grandkids at this rate.

He doesn't blame them for wanting grandkids, especially since his younger sister is still backpacking across South America and his baby brother had just started college. They were getting restless. That's probably why they practically adopted Noelle as their honorary grandchild. Spoiling her just as much as her grandma's. But Maris and Veronica didn't mind.

The four of them had gone to college together and had remained best friends ever since. Jamie and his siblings had grown up with Luca and his sister. So, the parents often just treated the kids as all of their own. It meant great holidays and vacations when they were younger and now breakfast every Saturday now that they were older.

Speaking of breakfast, Jamie looks at the clock on his stove and groans. He has to be over at Maris and Veronica's at nine tomorrow morning, and it was already past three in the morning. He knew that he most likely wouldn't be able to sleep for a few hours, and by that time it just wouldn't be worth it to go to bed.

Sighing, Jamie pushes himself up off the ground, both of his cats meowing in protest. "Come on," he says, walking through his bedroom to get to the bathroom. "I'm showering, and the two of you can do your usual creeping."

Just as he knew they would, the perched themselves on his counter, watching in concern and meowing as he showered. And as soon as he got out, they were quick to rub against his legs again.

"Why do I even bother," he mumbles, rolling his eyes in exasperation, and of course receiving no answer.

The rest of the night passes slowly, with Jamie drinking coffee while cooking up some healthy breakfast muffins, television playing in the background.

By the time seven-thirty rolls around, his car is packed and he is headed to Maris and Veronica's.

Some of the houses in their neighborhood still have Halloween decorations up, despite the holiday being over a week past. Other houses already have their Christmas decorations up, the owners hopping from one Holiday into another.

Smoke is coming from the chimney when Jamie pulls up to the correct house. The rain is still coming down steadily, so he makes sure to pull his hood up before grabbing the covered muffins and ducking out of his car.

The front door is unlocked, just as it always is when the two of them are expecting guests. Jamie walks inside after wiping off his shoes.

Maris must hear the door because she comes walking out of the family room a few seconds later.

"Jamie, sweetie, you're early!" She walks over to him, barely giving him enough time to put down the muffins before she is wrapping him in a tight hug. "Oh, I missed you. It's been too long."

"I was here just a couple days ago." He chuckles returning the hug.

She pulls away, hands coming to rest on his cheeks. "Too long. I need to see at least one of my babies once a day."

"She really does," a slightly deeper voice calls from the living room. "You know how antsy she gets if she doesn't have anyone to fret over."

An exasperated smile spreads across Maris' face. "Oh hush, Roni." She looks back at Jamie, pulling her hands away from his face so that he can take off his coat, before she loops an arm through his. "Now, you go sit down in there, I'll grab you a coffee. And take those muffins in there, Roni will want to eat a couple of them before your dads get here and polish them off."

Maris walks with Jamie to the living room before slipping her arm from his in order to head into the kitchen.

Veronica is sitting in an over plush recliner, knitting needles in hand as she expertly crafts what looks like it is going to be a blanket.

"That for me?" Jamie asks, placing the muffins over on the table before walking over to her.

"Oh, please, I've already made you two of these." She smiles, despite her sarcastic words. She leans into him as he hugs her, dropping a kiss on her forehead. "Where's that son of mine and my darling Noelle?"

Sinking onto the couch closest to the fire, Jamie starts to relax. "They should be over soon."

She hums. "Becca coming as well?"

Luckily, he is saved from answering by Maris walking back into the room, a steaming hot cup of coffee in her hands. "I got some of the gingerbread creamer they are selling now. It tastes absolutely divine, sweetie."

Taking the mug from her, Jamie gently blows on the top of the coffee before taking a cautious sip. The flavor bursts across his tongue, and he hums in delight. "It really is, thanks, Maris."

She just smiles in delight, sitting next to him on the couch. But then the front door is opening again and Maris is on her feet in an instant, dashing out into the hall to greet the newcomers.

Those voices are ever so familiar ones, and Jamie sets down his mug before following after Maris.

"Jamie, my peanut!"

Jamie is swept up into a tight embrace by his dad, as if he hadn't just gone out to lunch with them and his little brother, Cole, just a few days ago.

"Hey, dad," Jamie mumbles into the thick scarf wrapped around his dad's neck.

"Michael, let him breathe," his Papa's amused voice says. "We don't want to smother him.

His dad pulls away, hand coming up to brush away his damp curls from his face. "How are you, peanut?"

"Did you bring more of those delicious muffins?" his Papa asks, giving his son's shoulder a squeeze before making his way into the family room.

"Don't you touch my muffins, Harrison."

The two of them bicker, and once the rest of them make it into the living room, half the muffins are gone and the two of them are shooting narrowed eyed glances at each other.

Jamie is led to the couch by Michael, who is quick to tuck a blanket around him, much as he did when Jamie was a boy. "You didn't get a chance to answer my question earlier. How have you been, peanut?"

"I'm fine, Dad," he murmurs, knowing that the questions are going to start coming rapid-fire.

Sure enough...

"You look exhausted, did you sleep at all last night?" His dad's fingers press against his cheek, before pulling away. "Or did you just take home a different guy to have fun with?"

His words would have caused other sons to blush, hearing their dad speak like that. But his parents had always been brutally honest with him, especially when it came to the embarrassing topics, such as sex.

"Dad..." Jamie mumbles, trying to squirm away from his dad's too prying eyes. Usually, his Papa would be quick to swoop in and stop his Dad's prying, but the other man is too distracted watching Roni, making sure she doesn't take more than her fair share of muffins.

"We worry about you, peanut," his dad says, words softer now. "You're twenty-eight, and haven't had a serious boyfriend since undergrad. What is holding you back from settling?"

His dark brown eyes, much like Jamie's own, were openly pleading with his son, and it made guilt settle in his stomach. "I just... I haven't found the right person yet."

His dad sighs, hand coming to brush away the strands of hair that had fallen in his face. "It's hard, I know it's hard. I didn't meet your Papa until I started at the University. It's just a lonely world out there, peanut. I don't want you to end up with no one when you are so amazing."

Not knowing what to say to that, especially since Jamie can't dispute his father when he started in on the 'my children are perfect and wonderful' speech, Jamie relaxed into the couch, sipping at his coffee as he waited for Luca to arrive.

Longer than Jamie thinks it should have taken him, Luca pulls up to the house. His dad and Maris are up in a flash, opening the front door and ushering him in. Their voices grow louder as they get closer to the living room, until finally, they reach them.

Luca looks suitably disheveled, Jamie notices, for someone who had his girlfriend leave him in the middle of the night. His best friend's hands are free, Maris having taken the baby bag, while his Dad was carrying the baby.

Luca zeros in on Jamie and makes his way over to the couch, collapsing down onto the furniture with a weary sigh. His blue eyes are barely slitted open as he looks over his friend. "Did you sleep at all last night?"

"Did you?" Jamie responds, not wanting to answer any more questions about his nightly habits. It was bad enough that he had his dad pestering him, he didn't want Luca to join in as well. "You look like shit."

Luca snorts, his lips tipping up into a lopsided grin. "I would be worried if I didn't."

Just then, Noelle wakes up in her car seat, blinking up at those surrounding and cooing at her. Maris comes in from the kitchen with a warm bottle and stands back as Jamie's dad unbuckles the little baby from her seat.

"Hand her over, Michael." Roni has her arms outstretched, clearly wanting her granddaughter.

Michael turns away, however, going to sit in the recliner next to the fire. "You have to share her, Roni." Maris just has a dopey grin on her face as she tucks a blanket around the baby and hands Jamie's father the warmed bottle. "Since Jamie isn't going to be settling down anytime soon, we get to coddle and love on her just as much."

His words cause Jamie to roll his eyes, but he doesn't say anything. It is useless to argue anyway. He got his brashness and stubbornness from his dad.

While the four grandparents continue to argue over the baby, Jamie returns his attention back to his best friend. Luca looks withdrawn, the smile has slipped from his face, replaced by a frown.

"How are you feeling, Luca?" he asks, hand settling on his best friend's thigh.

"A bit better than last night, but not much."

"To be expected," Jamie says, hand rubbing back and forth, warming the jeans beneath his fingers. "It gets better. It may not seem like it. But it will, eventually."

"I know."

"You have your parents and mine. And you will always have me."

He looks over at Jamie then, face unreadable, but his steady gaze causes Jamie's stomach to flip. "I know I do, Jamie."

His hand falls on top of Jamie's and they both let the conversation drop. Instead, they tune into the argument that is still going on between the parents, and a sense of overwhelming comfort washes over Jamie, for the first time in a long while.