Noelle scolded herself for not warning her parents about Cole joining them at their home. It was always a 'door's open for everyone situation' so she hadn't thought twice. Now, watching her father look at Cole like didn't deserve to breathe the Colee air reminded her that they had witnessed his poor decision that left her and her son upset for the better part of a week.

Cole appeared to be taking it all in stride, however. He was respectful towards everyone and acknowledged her father's boundaries when he stood tall, arms crossed, not ready to receive any sort of welcome. Noelle and her mother shared a look and collectively rolled their eyes. Noelle knew her father would protect them as much as he could. She also knew he was a softy and the facade wouldn't last very long. She had already seen moments where her father's mask was cracking. When Cole helped Jacob with his plate of food, she saw a small smile slip on his face for a moment and again when he was talking football with her brother. As much as Noelle wasn't a fan of anyone needing to protect her she appreciated the attempt no matter how fickle it was. She almost felt bad for not being a shield for Cole, but she was quite relieved to see him taking her family all in stride.

Jacob kept near Cole as much as possible, soaking in every time Cole gave him full attention and trying to join in the conversation when the older gentlemen were talking. Jacob looked more relaxed than he had been since before his school's show and the relief washed over Noelle that it was all getting better and better.

"He's smitten," Noelle's mother said lowly into her ear. When Noelle looked at her confused she continued. "I mean Jacob. Well, now looking at both of them it could be either him or Cole. Jacob's been hanging on to every word that man says," she observed.

"Mhm..." Noelle responded while watching Jacob laugh at something Cole said. A moment later Cole looked down at Jacob and mussed his hair playfully. Noelle was glad she had ribs to keep her heart from jumping straight out of her.

"He's a good one," her mother chimed in once again. "I take it you're going to keep him?"

Noelle chuckled at her mother. "I don't know if I am allowed to keep people, but we're going to try being...something." She shrugged at her mother and then looked back at the men where Jacob and Cole seemed to veer off in their own conversation. Noelle could only imagine what Jacob was speaking to him about, but Cole looked fully invested and held a smile on his face. Noelle couldn't stop swooning.

The next couple of hours flew by at her parents house where Cole was slowly initiated into the family. When Jacob and his cousins finally ran out of energy and took a nap, the adults sat around talking about everything and nothing. It wasn't until Noelle's father started asking Cole questions, that she realized he must have gotten over everything completely. They all seemed to be getting along much better by the end of the evening and Cole had even invited her father and brother to visit the farm sometime soon. It all felt so real for Noelle and as much as she wanted to panic, her heart was mostly beating erratically from the excess of joy and happiness she hadn't felt in a long time. She had never had a serious partner other than Jacob's father, and when he turned out to be a dud, she didn't think it could ever be better than that.

The drive back to Noelle's house was quiet, Jacob seemed to have finally run out of the rush that Christmas brought and he had been in and out of sleep since leaving his grandparents. Cole took the keys from Noelle to drive and insisted she relax, but she could do anything but. With her heart feeling complete, it also came with some overwhelming thoughts. She tried to brush them away, but watching Cole and Jacob together as well as Cole molding into her family with ease, all she could do was picture more and more christmases with him in the picture.

The trip back to her home was quick and while Cole carried a sleeping Jacob inside, Noelle followed behind them soaking in more of seeing them together. Just two days ago Jacob was pretending Cole didn't exist anymore and now they were glue. On top of the wonderful thoughts overflowing in her mind, some of the worrisome ones slipped in as well. Would he keep his word and not run away when it's too much like before? Would he grow tired or bored of them? Fortunately the good thoughts outweighed them by plenty and the lingering doubts she had pop up didn't last very long.

"Where should I put him?" Cole's question brought her back to the present and she guided him to his room where she then helped change him into pajamas before taking him to the bathroom to wash up quickly. Cole waited back in the living room while Noelle tucked Jacob in where he was half asleep and seemingly delirious.

"Tell Cole nanight," Jacob mumbled before Noelle kissed his head and left the room with his nightlight on. .The fact that he remembered to tell Cole anything made her heart grow even more. She had such a wonderful kid and he kept reminding her of it.

When she made her way back to the living room she she only saw a large shadow on the couch in the low glow of the Christmas lights. She was glad she didn't say anything loud to startle him because once she made her way to him she saw that his head had fallen back and his mouth was slightly open. Noelle wanted to giggle at the large man now sleeping on her couch, but she forced herself to hold it in. As comfortable as her couch was and as great as he looked on it, she couldn't put him through sleeping a whole night with his neck bent like that. When she placed her hand on his shoulder and lightly shook him he almost jumped, startling her.

"Sorry," she said with a light chuckle. "Didn't mean to scare you. I figured you might want to sleep somewhere a little comfier."

Cole tried wiping the sleep off his face. Once more, Noelle contained her giggles at how adorable the man was when sleepy. Her brain almost instantly jumped to waking up to him like this in the morning and Noelle felt her cheeks flushing.

"I can head out, if you're uncomfortable. I didn't realize how tired I was." His hoarse voice was so alluring Noelle felt goosebumps cover her arms. She took a deep breath to wrangle her mind.

"I don't mind," she said shyly, happy that the lights were low and he was probably too sleepy to see her blushing. "We have a guest bedroom for a reason. It's a queen size so it should be able to handle you," she joked. His light chuckle told her how tired he must have been and his slumped walk behind her confirmed it. She felt bad for making him stick around all day, but at the Colee time she loved every second. Plus, he was the one who wanted to stay so she hoped he enjoyed it just as much.

As soon as Cole made it to the bed in the guest room, he practically fell asleep on the way down. He looked uncomfortable in the bed with his boots hanging off the edge.

"Cole..." she said lightly as to wake him, but not startle him completely. "I'm going to take your shoes off, okay?" His mumbled yes and a nod were enough for her to get to work. His giant boots that held his giant feet were difficult for Noelle to take off, mostly because she was trying to be delicate. She realized though, that there was nothing delicate about the former pro athlete. He was pure ruggedness. She shivered at that thought and then got back to work.

It was minutes after Noelle got him settled in bed that she made her way out and closed everything up in the kitchen and living room before dragging herself to her own bed. What a day, she thought to herself and smiled.

Now if only every day could include Cole.