Cole spent the day a nervous wreck. He didn't understand why. He had spent time with Noelle and Jacob so it couldn't have been that. Yet, his nerves had him waking up ridiculously early, finishing all the chores he signed up for at the farm, and then getting ready and heading to Noelle's much too early than he anticipated.

Of course he knew the show was probably in the evening. His doubts wouldn't let him wait though. Plus he wanted to see his two new favorite people as soon as possible. The few days since they had seen each other was too much in his opinion. The romantic part of his mind wanted to see them everyday forever and ever, but that was too strong of a feeling to deal with at the moment. Instead, he called Noelle and played it off like he didn't want to be late and with much luck she invited him to hang out with her and Jacob till they had to leave for his show. His heart never felt lighter.

Now that he was here with them, listening to Jacob tell him the Colee story of his day that he had already excitedly shared, while they both had a brownie Noelle made earlier that day. He was comfortable there. So comfortable it made him not want to leave, not go home to his boring, empty cabin. Sure, it had plenty new amenities, but it wasn't lived in like this home. It wasn't warm or inviting. It didn't hold the precious art work of the little boy that had a firm grasp on his heart. The halls weren't line with pictures of the beautiful woman who won't escape his mind. It didn't have love like this place.

Cole realized he was ready for love. He was ready to be vulnerable with someone. To trust them openly and freely and do the Colee for that person in return. And the person he saw with those feeling was the woman who was busy trying to re-clean the kitchen she had just wiped through with a rag already. She had spoken a little to him, but Jacob and his firecracker energy was the main person in the room with anything to say. He was getting a little less enthusiastic though, now that they were preparing to leave any minute.

As soon as they cleaned up and Noelle forced Jacob to use the bathroom before leaving, Cole was finally alone with Noelle. She was wearing a maroon top, with a cozy looking cardigan. Her black pants made her legs look a mile long. She was a truly stunning woman and Cole could only be so lucky to call her his.

"Are you alright?" Noelle's question to him caught him by surprise.

"Uh yeah I am. Are you?" Noelle chuckled at his slightly defensive response.

"Yes, you just seem...." She took a deep breath like she was afraid to be honest. He hoped that wasn't the case. "You seem worried or like your thoughts are elsewhere. Does that make sense?"

He knew he couldn't help but getting lost in thought. Not when they were mostly about her. "Yeah sorry about that. I had a busy day and I guess I'm trying to track through and make sure I didn't forget anything. Then I can focus on what I need to." Which is you and Jacob his mind reminded him. "I'm good now. Thanks for asking," his smile at the end was returned and it's like any stresses he had previously were melted away.

"If you have too much to do, I don't mind. I know Jacob will unders-"

"No!" He had to quickly shut that down. "Sorry. I just am where I need to be now, okay?" He hadn't meant to say that, but the blush and the shy smile that formed on Noelle's beautiful face meant everything to him. At least it didn't send her running for the hills so he counted that as a win.

"Oh, okay. That's good to hear," she said while combing some of her hair behind her ears. The redness in her cheeks failed to disappear and it took all the restraint in the world for Cole to keep his hands from touching them. Before anything else could be said, Jacob rushed back in.

"I promise I washed my hands this time I'll even show you," he said as he grabbed his coat, eager to leave. The nerves he was displaying earlier appeared to have been replaced by excitement.

As they made their way out and walked the couple of blocks to the auditorium, Cole took in the quaint little town Noelle and Jacob lived in. It was darker now, and the houses and businesses alike were lit with festive decorations. There were other people walking about too, some heading the Colee direction and Cole assumed they were going to listen to the kids sing as well. Jacob skipped along the way and instead of being a step ahead of the two adults like he was before, he ended up in between them.

Cole thought nothing of it until a small hand with a small mitten grasped for his oversized one. Cole's instincts took over and he wrapped his hand around the little one and continued forward, his heart beating fiercely. It felt like they were a family. He wanted to turn and look at Noelle to see if her face showed anything, but he resisted and marched forward. Only a few moments later they arrived at the front of the auditorium, other families made their way in ahead, and some of them stopped in their tracks when they saw Cole. Fortunately none of them stopped him for small talk or to take a photo. He'd gladly do it another time, but right now was for Jacob and Noelle.

As soon as they made their way inside, Cole tried to tune out all the extra hustle and bustle. The conversations and kids squealing were quickly overstimulating to him if he didn't focus on something right away. Fate took over for him, when a familiar woman waved at them, summoning them over. Noelle's mother Amelia and a man who Cole assumed to be Noelle's father sat in the front row of the auditorium. As soon as they made it to her she quickly lit up and pulled Cole in for a hug as if they were old friends.

"It's so good to see you again, sweetie," Amelia said, making Cole's cheeks heat up. "Noelle you didn't tell me he was coming! John, look who's here!" Cole didn't understand why she was talking to her husband as if he wasn't paying attention the whole time. The older man had his eyes on Cole the moment Amelia called them over. He didn't wear an angry face, more of one in observation. Maybe he didn't know who Cole was. Or maybe he didn't care for any man around his daughter.

"Hello, Mrs. Walters. It's really nice to see you again," he replied quickly before he held his hand out to meet John. "Hello, sir. I'm Cole Ni-"

"I know who you are, son," the man cut Cole off, sending warning signals all over Cole's mind. "How do you know my wife?"

"We met through Noelle and Jacob. I met them at my family's farm a few weeks ago," Cole felt the sweat forming at his temples and behind his neck." Cole was suddenly worried. Would this be the wall that keeps him from getting close to Noelle?