Months pass unheeded by the teen couple and soon winter claims the city in it's cold grasp. Phoenix takes the time to teach Gokudera how to cook and Gokudera in turn reads to Phoenix whenever the opportunity presents itself. Both teens enjoy this as the whole time is spent with nothing to distract them from the warmth of the other. This is what they are doing on Christmas eve, Phoenix is laying against Gokudera's chest her head over his heart and Gokudera is stroking her hair with one hand while holding up the book so he could see it.

"Hey, you better not fall asleep yet."

"But you're so comfortable!" Phoenix smirks and repeats what Gokudera had read in perfect Mandarin. "You know you should really practice you're Chines."

"I know, I know. I suck. No need to rub it in."

Gokudera continues trying to read but Phoenix wouldn't let him.

"You just need to practice more. Trust me, next to Swahili, Chinese is easy. But if you want to drop it I could teach you Gaelic."

Phoenix tilts her head back and smiles at Gokudera.

"Jesus, I remember trying to learn Swahili. Never again." He looks down at her. "But Gaelic…not I can try that. It shouldn't be too hard."

Phoenix laughs.

"Well it all depends on the teacher, which I am not. Maybe I'll just take you to Ireland and hand you over to Kyle, he'll make sure you get it right. Or he'll kill you."

Gokudera quirks an eyebrow. Here was another man in Phoenix's life that Gokudera knew nothing of. Phoenix had already told him about her team, which was filled with guys, and her sparing partners, which were all guys, and the last thing he needed as another man to pull Phoenix away from him.

"Kyle?"

"Old family friend…well technically his family are butlers but still. He's a few years older than me and no threat to you at all."

Phoenix had been with Gokudera long enough to know when he was feeling threatened.

"Threat? Who said he was a threat? Plus, it doesn't matter how old he is."

"Kyle is my family's butler Hayato. And he's a damn good teacher. Just trust me, you'll like him."

"Whatever you say. But I won't let him near you until I see that he is fit for the job."

"His family has been taking care of mine for a long time Hayato, trust me Kyle is fit for the job. Now read. I want to work on my Greek."

Gokudera sighs, this woman changed her mind faster than anyone else.

"Whatever. Anyway, Greek is pretty easy. I can't speak it but reading it is a breeze."

"It isn't when you had to learn it while running from the Greek Police."

Gokudera laughs.

"Actually yes that was when I had to learn it."

Phoenix's smile turns into a frown as someone knocks on the door.

"And Reaper strikes again. Wanna kill him this time?"

Gokudera stares at her and smirks.

"I hope you're being serious because I defiantly want to."

"Yes I am. He used my family against me. No one does that and gets away with it." She takes a deep breath. "I'm done with him."

Gokudera nods and sits up, brining Phoenix up with him

"I'll get some butcher knives…"

Gokudera smirks as he stands and pulls Phoenix up next to him.

"Wait. I forgot about the guards. We'll just have to wait until we get some good weapons, okay?"

Gokudera looks disappointed.

"Fine. But once we do, I want an AK-47 or two."

"No guns. Or at least wait until I'm not there."

Gokudera frowns.

"Sorry. I forgot…"

"You know you're going to have to make this better right?"

"I don't know how, but I'll try."

"I think a kiss might help." Phoenix smirks. "Or at least it'll hold me over until Reaper leaves."

"You little."

Gokudera leans in and kisses Phoenix gently anyway.

"I'm a little, what exactly?" Phoenix smirks and goes to the door. "God I really don't want to see him."

"Trust me, I'd do everything in my power to make sure you didn't have to."

"I know." Phoenix sighs. "Here goes nothing." Phoenix opens the door and her shoulders become tense as she darts out of the door and come back in holding a crying child who looks to be about a year old. "What the hell Reaper! You're kidnapping peoples' kids now!"

Gokudera hears the cries and rushes to Phoenix's side.

"What…the…HELL!"

Phoenix rocks slightly and whispers to the child.

"Shh Jason, it's alright. You're alright."

She glares at Reaper who walks in carrying a dipper bag.

"Oh don't look at me like that Little Birdy. Your teammate needed a babysitter and I took the job. But of course I hate kids and since you're his godmother…"

Reaper shrugs and drops the bag on the floor. Gokudera looks back and forth between Reaper, Phoenix, and the baby.

"Wait…you're…his godmother?" Gokudera looks confused and decides to just go back to glaring at Reaper. "You should just dump the kid on her!"

"Ah but Phoenix, you don't mind do you? After all do you really want to leave the kid with me?"

Reaper takes a step forward and Phoenix turns away, shielding the boy from Reaper.

"Touch him and die."

She growls.

"See, she wants to have him."

Reaper laughs and pats Gokudera on the cheek. The silver-haired teen jerks back and pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Can you just leave now?"

Reaper shrugs.

"Fine." He leaves and Phoenix sighs as she shifts the boys' position and turns to Gokudera

"Hayato, say hello to Jason Pierce. My Godson."

Gokudera stares at the baby.

"He's gonna cry any second now. I have that effect on kids."

"No he won't." The little boy blinks at Gokudera and smiles, speaking gibberish. "See. Jason's a smart kid. Aren't you?" Phoenix pokes the boy in the stomach and he laughs. "This was the first time I have ever heard him cry since we found him in St. Louis."

"You…found him?"

"Yeah, he's just finishes a job and I heard something in a dumpster. So I go and look and there's a baby playing in the garbage. Someone had thrown him away." Phoenix's expression darkens. "Well since I knew what the system is like there was no way I was just going to give him up to them, but I couldn't take care of him. But then Baza said he's take him in."

Gokudera touches Jason's hand with his finger, seeing if he'll grab it. Jason latches on to Gokudera's finger and laughs. Gokudera grins widely.

"Are you planning on taking custody of him once you turn 18?"

"Nah. Baza's his leagal guardian. I'm just there in case something happens to him. Isn't that right Jason." Jason makes a sound that sounds like 'yeah.' "See, he agrees."

Gokudera smiles wider.

"He's a cute kid. First one that hasn't cried at the very sight of me."

"Well like I said, he's smart. He knows you're perfect in every way." Phoenix puts Jason on the ground. "You're getting heavy kid." As soon as she lets go, he runs off into the kitchen. "Ah crap. Can you get his bag. I have to go make sure he doesn't hurt himself…again."

Phoenix follows Jason into the kitchen and the sound of Jason laughing can be heard.

"Oh come on, how bad can a one-year-old hurt themselves?"

Gokudera reaches down and grabs the baby bag, depositing it on the table.

"You would be surprised. Come on kid, get out of the kitchen. No! Do not touch that! Jason. Oh don't give me that look." Jason walks slowly out of the kitchen with Phoenix behind him. The child turns around and Phoenix points forward. "Go play with Hayato okay."

Gokudera give's Phoenix a bewildered expression.

"Oh no. I can't. I'd probably end up accidentally killing the kid. Not now. I'm not ready."

"There should be some toys in there, just take them out and he'll play with them. You really don't have to do anything. I trust you Hayato."

"But what if he chokes? Or maybe he'll break a bone or…or…" Gokudera's eyes give off his nervousness as well as his speck and he sighs. "I've never looked after a baby before. I'm just…worried I guess."

Phoenix sighs and goes over to Gokudera.

"Hey, if I can do it so can you. Just...think of it like he's our kid." She smiles slightly. "Just try to think of him like he's yours."

Gokudera's eyes widen and a slight hint of pink appears in his cheeks as he looks back at Jason.

"Our…kid?"

He unconsciously smiles to himself and Phoenix kisses him quickly.

"Think of it as practice." She grabs a few things out of the bag. "I'm going to make him some food, don't let him kill himself."

Gokudera smirks to himself as Phoenix leaves the room.

"Practice…I like the sound of that."

Gokudera looks down at Jason and finds the child staring at him. He takes a deep breath, slowly gets on his knees and gets closer before holding out his hands to Jason. The small child places his palm on Gokudera's hand and laughs.

"Og!"

Gokudera laughs.

"Not what I was expecting, but close enough." He claps his hands together and opens them again, a toy suddenly appearing. Jason's face breaks into a smile and he grabs the toy before looking at Gokudera expectantly. "Wow, I didn't think you'd like that magic trick. Hm…okay. How about…"

Gokudera pretends to hide his face behind his hands, slowly peeking out from between his fingers to see Jason imitate him. Gokudera takes this chance to quickly get up and jump behind Jason. When the boy opens his eyes, Gokudera notices his confusion when he doesn't see him and the silver-haired teens hands slowly edge closer the Jason's tiny sides. Gokudera tickles the boy and Jason laughs and smiles. He turns around and hugs Gokudera.

"Og."

Gokudera feels a sense of accomplishment flow through him as he picks Jason up and carries him.

"Og? Is that what you're gonna call me?"

"Og!"

Jason smiles and begins to speak gibberish again, masking the sound of Phoenix coming out of the kitchen. She leans against the door frame and watches them for a bit, smiling softly, before speaking.

"Now who said you're bad with kids?"

Gokudera quickly looks over at Phoenix, a blush spreading across his face.

"I thought you said you were cooking! And I am bad with kids! This one's just weird. He actually likes me"

"Not so much cooking as preparing. Trust me, we'll know when he's hungry. And don't call my Godson weird. Have you ever genuinely tried to be nice to kids before?"

"Oh please. You're weird as fuck. Your team…yeah…This kid has no chance at being normal." Gokudera gives Jason a goofy face and the child laughs. "And I never had a chance to be nice to a kid. They usually just take one look at me and start crying hysterically."

"You're lucky Jason's here or I would hurt you."

Jason looks at Phoenix and reaches for her.

"Enix! Od! Od! Od!"

Phoenix smiles and takes Jason from Gokudera.

"See. Told you so. Come on, we need to get him food."