Noelle noticed his trembling, but smiled. She realized that... the man she was with now was really Garrett. That she was actually seeing him and not what he wanted her to see. She hugged him close again, pressing their bodies together. She kissed his cheek, his other cheek, his nose, his chin and then finally she pressed her lips softly against his in a kiss. She loved him more then anything in the world and she hoped he knew that.

Garrett exhaled and kissed her passionately before starting. It was smooth and passionate. There was no holding back. He wasn't thinking about what to give her or how to make it better. He just was. Was just with her for the first time. He let her calm him and keep him safe. He worked to keep her safe. He worked to feel everything he possibly could. To take her reactions and make them his own.

***

Jacob nodded slowly. "Garrett's does though don't you think? I mean his rules always make a lot of sense."

Sazan shrugged. "He's had to change them over the years though."

"Really? Why? What did he change?" Jacob asked curiously. He wondered...Garrett had pounded the rules into his head.

Sazan looked up to Jacob. "Well, I'm sure several things, from their creation," he said. "But the one I remember most has to do with love."

Jacob frowned. "Love? But he loves Noelle doesn't he? I mean they say it all the time right?"

Sazan chuckled and nodded. "Yes, he does," he said. "But you met him after Noelle got to him."

Jacob smiled. "What was he like before mo-Noelle?" he managed to correct himself there with a frown.

Sazan smirked, but didn't say anything about the slip. "He was... alone," he said. "Always."

"Really? Not even a friend?" he asked softly. "That's lonely!" He frowned. "Why was he alone all the time?"

"Thought it was the only way he would be truly safe, truly free," Sazan said with another shrug. "Or... so I think. Don't ask me to delve further into that sewage, Jacob. He's better now, that's all that matters."

Jacob frowned and nodded. "Alright. Just no one ever tells me about him. I've been living with him for four years and I still don't know him. Everytime I ask he changes the subject."

"He's a... locked box," Sazan said, nodding in agreement. "I've known him too long, that's the only way I know... and only some things. Noelle would be best to ask..."

"I ask her too and she always says 'well that's the way he is'." Jacob sighed and crossed his muscled arms. He was pretty fit; Garrett was definetly building a master piece.

Sazan chuckled and nodded. "Sounds like Noelle," he said. "Well... I don't want to not answer you Jacob, but sometimes... it's better if you figure it out on your own. You know?"