Jacob froze and pushed forward on top of Whisper to...keep her decent. "Mom! GET OUT!" He yelled, paniced. "COME ON!"

***

Jace smiled and nodded. "Ready darling." he whispered, taking her hand and walking quickly to his horse. He mounted and helped her up front.

Whisper's cheeks went instantly red and she curled over as much as she could under Jacob. Oh shit! Shit shit shit! She just had this awful feeling they were in so much trouble...

Noelle turned her back. "Clothes. On. Now. Both of you out in the living room." She said, lowly. Noelle hadn't sounded like that since Eve.

***
Ginny nodded and leaned back against her father and smiled. "I love you Daddy." She sighed, happily. "Where are we going?"

Jacob exhaled through his nose. "Whisper, stay here." He said getting up and pushing Noelle out of his room, closing the door behind him. He was only missing a shirt, so it wasn't too bad. He stood over a foot taller then Noelle. "Mom. no. I'm seventeen years old I can make out with a girl if I want to."

***

Jace shrugged. "It's a surprise." he said lightly. "Just get some sleep. We'll be there by morning."

Whisper swallowed and grabbed her shirt none the less, holding it to her chest as she tried to listen through the door.

Noelle turned around. "You don't understand." She said. "YOu don't. Jacob." She looked up at him sternly. "I can't believe that you would just.... go and do that! YOu know how your father and I feel. YOu need to... talk to us before jumping into things. You know that's what we've always told you."

****
Ginny nodded and closed her eyes, snuggling a bit into his chest as they rode. She fell asleep almost instantly, so exhausted.

"I'm an adult! What do I have to ask permission before I kiss her? Hmm?! And we weren't jumping into things! We were just playing around! I wouldn't have sex with her yet mom! That's too soon!" he lied. "Really! It was just some harmless play! What you want me to be flailing whenever I do have you permission to get into a relationship? This is healthy---seventeen year old stuff."

Whisper cringed as their voices got louder, and pulled her shirt over her head. She sat on his bed in the dark, pulling the covers around her nervously.

Noelle shook her head, fuming, angry, scared. "No! Jacob. No. I know you and I know how you jump into things. Don't tell me that you don't. I'm not going to remind of past mistakes because they weren't yours. They were ours. We couldn't keep you safe and do you remember what I told you? I vowed to never let anything happen to you ever again and if that means that I am overprotective then fine! So be it! But you can't sneak around our home with some girl and expect me not to talk to you about it!"

"Well talk to me mom! She's Sazan's apprentice! If she was Eve or something malicious Sazan would be able to tell. This is none of your business because of something that happened four years ago!" Jacob argued. "And you're not talking! You're yelling!"

Whisper winced again and glanced to the window. She could get out it... Should she just go? Or would that make things worse? She bit her lip, looking to the door again before falling over and hiding under the blankets.

Noelle shook her head, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes for a moment. "I'm scared, Jacob... I'm scared for what happened and what could happen. Sazan couldn't tell last time and he woulnd't be able to tell now.... Jacob... you have to understand what that was like for us. To see you hurt like you were." She sighed and looked at him, still angry, still scared. "This is my business... this is my business because it concerns you and you're my son."

"You're not my real mom. Stop trying to be." Jacob said, calmer, almost pleading. "Just let me be. I really like Whisper. She's kind and sweet and funny I just wanted to have a good time." He turned his back to her. "Just leave us alone." He opened the door to his room and closed it behind him.

Whisper was still hiding under the blankets, afraid to come out. She knew... it must be Jacob, but... all the shouting had brought back memories she really hadn't wanted to think about, ever again. She couldn't bring herself to peek out and make sure...

Noelle stood there for a long moment, staring at the door. Slowly small tears filled her eyes as she looked at it. "Jacob..." She whispered, putting her arms around herself for a moment. It was without a doubt the worst feeling she's had since Garrett broke her heart all those years ago. Jacob... had broken her heart. She walked over to the door and left, closing it behind her. That was her home and yet.... he had managed to make her feel like nothing. She'd loved him like a son for as long as she'd known him and yet.... she wasn't his real mom... so stop trying to be...
Noelle was crying when she walked into Sazan's home, heartbroken from what he'd said and wanting Garrett to come back..... with all of her heart she wanted Garrett to come back. "Gods..." She whispered, leaning against the door and sliding down slowly, putting her head in her arms on her knees.