After everything they'd been through that morning and everything they still had to face that day, finding Michelle 'fucking' Harris on their doorstep was the last thing they needed.

Noah's fingers pressed painfully into the top of Luke's hand as the man's entire body tensed in fright. He flung around, blue eyes madly searching the room behind them.

"Hey…" Luke softly called to him, tugging his hand to bring him back around, "Hey…"

As soon as he had Noah facing him, Luke released his hold on Noah's hand so that he could bring both palms up to his pale cheeks. He worked at getting Noah to focus in on him rather than fly off in an unnecessary panic.

"It's okay. Look at me Noah."

The anxious sapphires met Luke's eyes. For a while they held each other's gaze, thoughts and feelings shifting back and forth between them. Where's Nicky? Why is she here? What does she want?

"He's out in the yard." Luke told him and instantly felt some of the tension dissipate from Noah's tall frame. "It's okay."

Luke nodded at Noah in reassurance and only when Noah nodded back did he remove his hands from Noah's cheeks.

Needing to maintain contact both for Noah's sake as well as his own, Luke took hold of his hand once more.

Relieved to hear that Nicholas was safely out of the way, Noah moved through the door with such speed that the woman on the doorstep had to take a step backward and Luke stumbled as he was pulled along behind him.

"Dammit, Michelle!" Noah seethed. "What are you doing here? You can't just show up here like this! What if Nicky saw you?"

Luke tried to put on a brave face but he knew Noah's stomach must be churning just the same as his. It wasn't so much that Michelle was standing on their doorstep; it was that she looked good.

In fact, she looked so good that it had taken Luke a moment to recognise her when they first opened the door.

Gone was the too tight mini skirt and faded, stained shirt in favour of a classic red and green floral summer dress.

No longer the stick thin instinct-like person she had been; Michelle had put on a healthy amount of weight.

Instead of hollowed cheeks and shadowed eyes, her face was full and rosy; her eyes sparking sea blue. Those Mayer good looks, the silky black hair contrasting starkly with smooth skin and red lips, shone from her now.

Luke felt his skin crawl with guilt at how he internally cursed Michelle's obvious turnaround. She made him feel so insecure and exposed.

The judge had given Noah temporary guardianship of Nicholas based on the drug addiction that made Michelle incapable of properly caring of her son. With that obstacle removed what chance would they have to keep the child if Michelle decided she wanted him back?

"Hello," she said now. Even her voice was different; kinder, sincere. "I didn't come to cause no trouble, okay?"

"Why did you come?"

"I…" she ducked her head, timid under Noah's intense glare, "I wanna see 'im."

"No chance!" Noah's reply was quick and definite.

The three of them stood in silence for a minute while Michelle processed this.

"Could ya at least hear me out before you decide?"

"No."

She sighed.

"I'm not the person I was… And that's down to you… You gave me a chance. And you know about me… you get the clinic reports, right? I'm doing real well at school and I'm clean now. I gotta job and I moved out of Branson. I left that life behind."

"Yes." Noah replied. "I know. And that's great… really it is. But it doesn't change the past, Michelle. It doesn't change what you put that baby through and I'll be damned if I let you within one yard of him."

To Luke's surprise her blue eyes began to tear over; her pained and regretful expression so much like her nephew's… like her son's… that Luke had to suppress the urge to step forward and comfort her.

"Do ya know what it was like?" she asked. "That first time when the shit cleared from my mind… when I got what…" her voice cracked. "I know what I did, okay? I didn't know then because the drug had me, but I know now."

Luke sighed and Noah watched him as he asked, "What do you want?"

"I told ya! I just wanna see 'im one time. I just wanna see my baby one time when I'm not all doped up! It's not much to ask, is it?"

Luke watched Noah's expression and saw the conflict there. It was the same conflict Luke felt at that moment.

Just how long did it take for an addict to turn into the monster that this woman had once been?

Would the same thing have happened to Josh if they hadn't taken him in that night? And had they not found a way to forgive him for what happened with the children? Josh had tried really hard to turn his life around? They had both witnessed him struggle until the pressure became too much and eventually killed him.

Wasn't Michelle just another Josh? Another Reg Addington? Didn't Michelle deserve the same understanding? Hadn't she earned at least some level of forgiveness?

"Even if we could let you see him, Michelle, the boy's terrified of you." As he spoke Noah began to shiver.

The trembles travelled up Luke's arm prompting him to squeeze at Noah's fingers.

"'e doesn't have to know I'm 'ere."

"What?" Luke asked.

"Like I says… I just wanna see 'im. Through the window even, like before when I was 'ere…"

Noah's hand left Luke's so that he could rub his temples with each of his palms. A vein pulsed with the built up tension still residing there.

Luke ached for him. He knew that Noah had come a long way that morning, but that old habits die hard and a part of Noah would always fight to remain controlled.

"'e doesn't 'ave to know I'm 'ere…" Her nervous voice was so incredibly hopeful, a mother's voice.

Noah's turned his head to Luke, "How do you feel about it?"

Luke blinked a few times. What he felt was the need to pull Noah inside and shut the door in the woman's face, but instead he stepped back into the house where Holden stood watching them from the middle of the room.

His father's temperate strength was of immense comfort and Luke sent up another silent prayer of thanks for the man's amazing foresight. Holden knew he would be needed but Luke guessed he couldn't have known how much.

"Dad, could you go outside and make sure the kids stay there please?"

"Sure."

He waited until Holden had closed the glass sliding door before pulling the front door open all the way in invitation to Michelle.

But Noah continued to stand in her way. Luke could feel every drop of his apprehension.

"Bubby?"

Noah looked back into the house at him and Luke almost broke at the fear he read there.

"It will be okay."

Noah thickly swallowed as he looked back to Michelle. He stood there a moment longer and finally stepping aside to allow her entry.

But before she could pass he shot an arm out to block her way, "You make one wrong move and I'm throwing you out. Understood?"

She sadly nodded at him and he removed his hand to allow her entry.

...

Noah stayed close on Michelle's heals as she followed Luke to the kitchen. His senses were on high alert.

What would they do? What would they do if she was here to claim back her son?

What would they do if they lost Nicholas too?

There were no words to describe the snake-like dread that was slowly coiling its way around his heart.

This was exactly what he'd been talking to Holden about just that very morning. This was that terrible, mind-crunching feeling that things were falling apart around him; that he was quickly losing this life he needed so badly.

Michelle audibly gasped as she approached the window and caught her first glimpse of Nicholas.

Holden, Mia and Nicholas were readying themselves to race down the length of the yard.

Little Nicholas looked to Holden on his left and then to Mia on his right. Satisfied that they were all ready he yelled, "Marks, set…"

Holden took off running, already halfway down the yard when Nicholas yelled at him. "No Grandad!"

His small hands rested on his hips.

"What?" Holden asked innocently.

"Not yet!" Nicholas proclaimed. "You have to wait for 'go', silly!"

"Oh!" Holden laughed, "I didn't know. I'm sorry, let's try this again."

Holden made his way back toward the kids, briefly catching Noah's eyes through the kitchen window and smiling his reassurance.

As Noah forced himself to look away from the scene he was just in time to see two teardrops fall down his aunt's cheek.

"He's so beautiful." She whispered and Noah wasn't sure whether she was talking more to them or to herself. "How did I never see how beautiful he is?"

Just as Noah's breath hitched he felt Luke's warm hand run down his back to rest in the hollow above his jeans. It was only then that Noah realised he too was crying. He used the back of his hand to rub his eyes dry.

"He's really smart." Noah told her. "He loves books. He loves to be read too. And he's an amazing artist. He draws and makes things all the time." Noah's voice broke periodically and he had to pause for a moment. "He… um… he…"

"…he sees things or rather he notices things nobody else does." Luke continued. "He sees the world differently we think."

She nodded and smiled gratefully at them both.

"We…" Noah tried but was again forestalled by a rush of intense emotion. "We love him."

"I know that." She said. "That's why… um… Noah I… I'm sorry about…"

Noah's heart had already plummeted at "I'm sorry" but before she could continue her sentence the doorbell rang.

"Kevin." Luke starkly announced, freezing them both for an instant.

Michelle's appearance had, for a small while, distracted them from the main event of the day.

Both men turned their head to watch little Mia trying to keep up with Nicholas as they sped once more down the yard.

"Oh." Noah breathed.

"What's going on?" A confused Michelle watched the little girl playing outside with her son.

"Michelle, we need you to wait in here." Luke told her. "Please don't come out. He… Nicky… it would really scare him, okay? We need you to understand that."

"I know." She nodded.

By now Noah was leaning on the counter.

"Come on, Bubby." Luke gently told him, one hand coming to rest on his shoulder blade. "It's a good thing, remember?"

Noah nodded, but before he moved he turned on the kitchen tap and doused his face with water.

The impatient doorbell chimed again and Noah turned to follow Luke from the kitchen, making sure to close the door behind them.

...

Kevin stuck the large stuffed elephant under his arm so that he would wipe both his sweaty palms down his jeans. He'd never felt more nervous in his life, not even on his wedding day.

"You can do this." He told himself.

Taking a moment to steady himself; he pressed the doorbell to Luke and Noah's modest L.A. home.

There was no answer at first and he moved over to the window, blocking the light with his hands to peer inside. The sitting room was empty.

Feeling a small stroke of apprehension he returned to the front door and pressed the bell again, feeling sure that they would be home. Luke knew when he was coming.

He was right, the door opened and his insides twisted at the looks on both Luke and Noah's faces. This was truly a difficult situation for them and he felt guilt for causing them pain after all they had done for Mia.

Despite his fears Luke smiled warming at the sight of his friend and drew Kevin into a friendly embrace, patting his back.

"Welcome jailbird! You look great!"

"Hi Luke." Kevin smiled and when Luke released him turned to shake Noah's hand. "Hi Noah."

"Hi Kevin. Welcome. Come on in."

Kevin walked into the house after them, taking a moment to notice the various photo frames that adorned the surfaces; many of the pictures featuring Mia. She smiled that sunshine smile of hers, looking every bit as happy as Kevin knew she was under Luke and Noah's care.

In one of the pictures Mia sat on the shoulders of an older boy, while Nicholas held the boy's hand. Kevin lifted this frame in his hands and softly smiled at the picture in it.

"This is Josh?" he asked and both men nodded.

Kevin replaced the frame almost reverently in its place on the shelf.

"Your house is really nice. It's exactly what I expected of you guys; simple and comfortable."

A childish giggle erupted from the yard and Kevin couldn't help but turn his head that way.

He walked forward until he could watch the children through the glass door. They were playing with an older man in the yard. Mia and Nicholas were building a sandcastle in the sandpit. Nicholas kindly handed her the coloured shells to decorate the sandy sides. The close connection between his daughter and this other child was instantly obvious.

He looked back at the two men standing apprehensively by the front door. On the floor by their feet was a small pink suitcase with white flowers; Mia's belongings all packed and ready for her to leave with her father.

"May I?" He asked them, gesturing at the sliding door.

He couldn't miss how Noah briefly closed his eyes and bit his lower lip before he nodded.

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" Mia excitedly yelped as her father appeared on the deck.

"Hey, Sunshine!" Kevin laughed, his heart warming with love.

He scrunched down to catch her as she ran up the wooden steps to meet him and kissed her on both her cheeks. Holding her hand he stood to greet the older man in the yard.

"Hello, I'm Kevin."

"Pleased to meet you, Kevin." The man had kind eyes. "I'm Holden, Luke's father."

"Oh, right." Kevin smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet the man who raised such an amazing person. I can't tell you what Luke's support has meant to me."

"I've read his story so I have some idea." Holden replied. "I have to tell you that you are one lucky guy. This little one is a pure angel if ever I've come across one!"

"Thank you, I know."

Kevin smiled down at an impatient Mia; who during this adult conversation had been pulling on his hand for attention repeating, "Daddy, Daddy… come… come… Daddy… come see…"

She was so excited both men laughed and Kevin followed her. She dragged him by the hand back into the house, following Nicholas who marched ahead of them.

"Look!" Mia announced to Luke and Noah when she caught sight of them. They still hadn't found the strength to leave their position by the front door. Noah's arms were wrapped around Luke and Luke rested his head back against Noah's shoulder. "Look! It's Daddy."

Barely hiding the raw emotion grasping hold of them, both men smiled at her as the small procession passed.

Kevin found himself led by the hand down the passage and into one of the three bedrooms.

"Look-it Daddy!" She announced, sweeping her hand at the room before jumping on the bed."

Kevin swept his eyes around the children's bedroom; observing on one side the boyish toys belonging to Nicholas, and on the other all the pink and floral décor any little girl would adore.

"This is your room?" He asked, as Nicholas jumped up to join his daughter on her bed.

Mia brightly nodded. "Ah ha! This is my bed! See… pretty flowers and but-flies."

She pressed her forefinger down on the tiny prints adorning the material on her bed.

"I see."

"And that's Nicky's bed."

"That's really cool." He told the boy, who shyly ducked behind Mia.

She hopped off the bed and showed him a large dolls house set up in one corner.

"This is my house." She said, opening the side and revealing the miniature rooms and dolls inside. "And this is where my dresses are…" she pointed at the closet.

"That's amazing, baby." He told her, a large lump forming in his throat as she confirmed all that he had been feeling the previous night and during the trip over.

He turned from his daughter to find Nicholas pointing at him, or rather, pointing at the toy he still held under his arm.

"Oh!" he remembered, "I brought this for you, Mia."

He handed her the large elephant and Nicholas jumped off the bed to examine it with her.

"WOW!" she exclaimed and hopped back and forth on her feet with excitement.

"And I have something for you too, Nicky."

He reached into his pocket and withdrawing the micro-truck he'd purchased from the gas station on the way over.

The boy was tentative.

"It's okay," he assured him. "It's for you."

Nicholas smiled and took the car. "Thank you."

The boy looked so much like Noah. He wondered whether Nicholas was Noah's real son and filed the question away to ask Luke at a later date.

Both children laughed and ran out of the room yelling, "Luke! Noah! Look! Look!"

He arrived to find the kids showing their new toys to the two men by the door. Luke's father stood to one side, out of the way of the events as they were unfolding.

"Okay… well… we have a bus to catch Baby. We'll have to go in a few minutes." Kevin announced. "It's time to say goodbye."

Her face changed then, a deep frown of confusion.

"Luke and Noah coming?"

Kevin shook his head. "No Baby, just you and me."

"And Nicky?"

"No, Baby."

Shaking visibly, Luke lowered to her height and held both her arms.

Her tiny face crinkled with worry.

"We spoke about this, remember Mia? We packed your suitcase so that Daddy could come and fetch you…"

"So we can live toge-ver again?"

"Yes."

"So we all go toge-ver?"

Chocked with emotion Noah suddenly took off out the back door and stood with his back to them, jerking back and forth. Luke watched him sadly holding back tears and Holden left to put his arm around his son-in-law.

Kevin watched as Holden told Noah something and Noah nodded, arms crossed tightly in front of him.

"You and your Dad are going to leave together, Sweetheart." Luke continued.

"When's Mia coming back?" Nicholas asked from beside her.

Noah spoke this time as he and Holden returned to the room, "Nicky, Mia will only come back…"

"…on Monday." Kevin finished.

Noah turned slowly to him, eyes wide.

Kevin approached his daughter and crouched just as Luke was doing. He eyed his tortured friend for a minute and then turned to Mia.

"You and me are going to spend a lovely weekend together, and then I'll bring you home in a few days."

There was an emphasis on the word 'home' that actually caused Noah to release a slight squeak.

Luke's lower lip dropped open and trembled as he struggled to breathe.

"That's if those arrangements suit you guys?" Kevin asked him, holding a steady and sure gaze.

Luke slowly stood at the same time as Kevin lifted Mia in his arms.

"I was up all night thinking about it. And seeing her here today..." Kevin stopped and took a deep breath, looking at his daughter and stroking a strand of hair from her face. "She has a home here... a family. She's really happy and I can't upset that, at least not yet. Not until I have some place stable for her. I need so much. I mean my Mom left me some money, but it's not much. I don't even have a job or anywhere permanent to live yet."

Noah dropped heavily into a dining chair, staring at Kevin as though he were afraid to believe what he was hearing.

"Are you saying…" he asked.

Kevin nodded. "I'm asking… I need to do what's best for her, not what I wish could be. Will you guys keep her here… with you?"

Both men were left speechless.

"I think we can safely say it's a yes." Holden told Kevin.

Luke held out his arms and Mia fell immediately into them. He hugged her close and took her over to where Noah sat. Noah stood on shaky legs, stared at the two of them for a moment and then enfolding them both, burying his face into Luke's neck; broad shoulders slumping in relief.

With wet eyes Noah pulled back and kissed the side of Mia's face.

"Bye Baby." And then he laughed. "Have fun with Daddy and we'll see you soon."

She grinned at him and blew him a kiss, something she had recently learnt off of Luke.

Both Luke and Noah laughed wetly and Luke hugged her, swaying slightly, before returning her to Kevin.

"Thank you." He managed to whisper.

Tearing up himself, Kevin took back his daughter, picked up her case and said, "Say goodbye to Nicky, Mia."

"Bye Nicky!" Mia smiled, still clinging to the stuffed elephant.

"Bye Mia." Nicholas waved.

Luke opened the front door and Kevin walked through it, stopping once to say goodbye to Holden.

"Goodbye Kevin. Enjoy your weekend."

The door closed and Luke slumped up against it, falling to the floor in a puddle of tears.

"Why you crying Luke?" a worried Nicholas asked, holding his new toy car with both hands.

Noah moved quickly across the room to join Luke on the floor and they hugged tightly.

"Did that just happen?" Noah asked.

"I think so." Luke replied, laughing through relieved tears.

"Why are you crying?" Nicholas asked again.

They broke apart and smiled at the little boy who stood before them.

"Because we love you and Mia so much Nicky… Do you know that?"

"Yeah silly!" he laughed and dived at them hugging one arm around each of them as Luke ruffled his hair.

"Um, guys?" Holden asked. "What about your other visitor?"

As they hugged Nicholas to them, the eyes of both Luke and Noah fell on the closed kitchen door.

Thanks for reading... Please comment... thanks... :-)