Author's Note: Takes place before the events of one of my favorite episodes to write for; "Rampage."

Dedication: My gift for Lacy Fairgold who requested a part where Rex meets Mama Nixon.

Never Can Say Goodbye

Part III

Once they neared the turn for his neighborhood Noah reached out and lowered the volume of the stereo system. He had been scolded more than once about his preferred level of music, and the last thing he wanted was to start off this special weekend being yelled at by his parents. In his periphery, he noticed movement in the passenger seat. He glanced over to find Rex shooting him a confused look before returning his gaze out the window where house after house rolled passed. It took Noah a moment to realize Rex had thought the reason he had lowered the volume was because he was about to say something to Rex.

"Some people don't share our love for loud music," he said hoping it was enough of an explanation.

He smiled when Rex grunted indignantly. "I'm guessing the complaints come from people who lack taste," he said loud enough for the middle-aged woman wearing a "pet-mom and proud" tee-shirt while walking her prize-winning Pomeranian. Well, that's what she claimed anyway. No one had seen any proof that Rumple Puppy Dog had won anything but the most unfortunate name Noah had ever heard. Whenever he saw the walking fluff ball he reminded himself never to let a four-year-old name the pets.

"Rex!" Noah hissed in warning, but only half-heartedly.

"I didn't mean you, ma'am. You look great," Rex said loudly, waving amiably as they rounded the corner.

Noah's cheeks hurt with stifled laughter as he pulled into the driveway. When Rex didn't move to step out of the Jeep Noah looked over at him and saw that his best friend was dubiously staring at the house, a thoughtful expression making his brows furrow.

Noah reached out and lightly pushed on Rex's shoulder. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Rex answered airily, pulling the car door open as if proving he was indeed okay.

"But?" Noah suggested.

"It's just…When your mom said she wanted to meet me I didn't think she'd ask me to move in."

"That makes two of us," Noah chuckled, hurrying around the front of his car he jogged up the front steps to the porch. "You're not having second thoughts, are you?"

"Nope. But it's worth saying out loud how weird this all is. Super cool, too, but weird that the first time I'll meet her is the same day I'm moving in, though I'm kinda pumped to live in a proper house for a change." Even if it's temporary, the rest of the thought was left unsaid, but Noah heard it anyway.

"Duly noted," Noah searched through his key ring for the key to the front door when it opened and his mother walked out. He flicked his gaze towards Rex just in time to see his reaction.

Noah had been aware of how attractive Nora Nixon was all his life. She was a retired model after all. And the first time anyone ever saw her they often tripped over themselves as she charmed them with a single smile.

"I thought I heard voices out here. It's good to know it wasn't in my head."

Rex laughed harder at the joke than politeness allowed and Noah knew she had him. Rex was entranced. He knew he should have expected this reaction, and yet when it happened, Noah hadn't realized he hoped Rex wouldn't have fallen under the spell his mother tended to cast on everyone. That somehow he would be able to resist Nora Nixon's charms.

"Uh, mom, this is Rex."

"Oh what a coincidence, I was expecting someone named Rex today," his mother replied drolly.

Noah reached behind his neck to scratch the nape nervously as he fought off his embarrassment. "Right, I guess that's pretty obvious," Noah observed. "Rex, this is my mother, Nora Nixon."

"It is so good to finally meet you," his mother held out her hand to him and for a moment Noah was sure Rex was going to kiss the back of it instead of shaking it.

"So that's where you get it from," Rex observed mostly to himself.

"Where I get what?"

"Your good looks," Rex stated obviously as if he was surprised Noah hadn't realized that before now.

Noah colored at the compliment, caught completely off guard by it and yet oddly pleased Rex thought him good looking. "Oh, thanks." It wasn't the first time someone had made that comparison, but it was the first time Noah didn't feel the need to contradict the statement.

If Rex was embarrassed saying the words Noah couldn't tell. Rex only hummed his acknowledgment, already preoccupied with taking in the sight of the house. His face was hidden from Noah as he took in his new surroundings. With a start, he realized this was the first time Rex had been inside the house since junior prom a few months back. Even then, it hadn't been a long visit, he hadn't seen any further than the den. After that night they normally would meet up at the basketball court or Noah would be picked up by Providence agents. But that was before Noah had saved up enough money to make a down payment on his Jeep. Once he had his own mode of transportation there hadn't been a need for him to wait around for Rex to come get him. No, he could stop by Providence pretty much whenever he felt like it. That meant Rex hadn't been in his neighborhood in a long time, and though it was the same old place for Noah, Rex was seeing a whole new side to his life. He picked up his pace, hoping to fix his mistake and play host until Rex got his bearings.

At first, Noah thought Rex was following his mother into the kitchen but really he had paused by the fireplace, looking at the display of family photos on the mantelpiece. There was a neat little row of frames lined up showcasing Noah's achievements in school and during several summers of camps and milestones of growing up in a busy and loving home. A soft smile came over Rex's lips as he looked over the photos studying each one like he was going to be tested on it later.

Noah cleared his throat regaining Rex's attention. The EVO grinned sheepishly at him as if he was embarrassed to be caught looking at them.

"Sorry," he said stepping away from the fireplace.

"Nothing to be sorry for," Noah promised. "I mean, they're there because they're meant to be looked at."

Rex darted a glance back to one of the photographs and Noah followed his gaze and tried not to groan at the middle school photo. "I didn't know you had to wear braces."

"Well, perfection doesn't come to us all so easily," Noah said before he could think better of it. Rex chuckled and grinned, his perfect, even rows of teeth glinting in the light.

"Show off," Noah mock pouted and bumped Rex in the arm with his shoulder, making Rex bark out in laughter.

"What's so funny?" Nora asked coming into the room with a glass of lemonade in each hand. She handed one to Rex and the other to Noah before gesturing for the pair of them to sit down.

"Nothing," Rex said quickly taking a sip of his lemonade, so he wouldn't have to say anything else for a moment.

"We were just talking about that horrible middle school picture and why I haven't thrown it into the fire yet."

"Oh, don't you dare destroy the photo! You look so handsome in it!" Nora exclaimed but the side smirk playing on his face told them she was just as aware of the embarrassment value of the photography as the boys were. "If it ever goes missing I'll know who to go after."

"Fine," Noah groaned good-naturedly and drank some lemonade.

Mollified, Nora turned her attention to Rex. "Rex, thank you for choosing our home as your

temporary base," she giggled, clearly thrilled to be using the military term. "I hope you find everything is in order. I followed all your instructions to the letter."

Rex looked over at Noah silently asking if Noah knew what she was talking about. Noah lightly shook his head. "What instructions?"

Having seen the exchange between the boys Nora pursed her lips. "The email with the list of instructions that was sent to me by your caretaker," she explained. She pulled out her cell phone and pulled up the email and handed Rex the phone to look it over. Noah leaned closer to have a look over Rex's shoulder when Rex snorted after he read the email.

Thank you for taking in our most precious asset. His care is paramount to our work and every precaution must be taken to ensure that he is well provided for. Here are a few things he will need during his stay.

What followed was a list of all of it high quality and expensive items from face creams to a silk robe. It didn't sound like something Six would insist Rex needed for his stay with Noah and his family.

"Six didn't send this," Rex admitted, confirming Noah's thoughts.

"Are you sure?" Nora didn't seem upset by the news, just slightly confused. "This is how I prefer to travel."

"That's because your job demanded it," Noah commented. In an industry where looks were everything, models were required to maintain their bodies and complexions like there were mobile temples. It was no small wonder how his mother wouldn't think twice about the list. She had never met Agent Six, and since Noah didn't have many reasons to talk about him, she had no idea what to sort of man he was. Maybe if he had, she would have known that Six didn't send the email. "Please tell me you didn't buy all this stuff."

"Of course not," Nora answered with a coy grin. "I had most of it already."

Rex chuckled while Noah huffed.

"Well that's good to know," a new voice announced making everyone jump.

"I should have known it was you who sent that email," Noah grumbled as Bobo-Haha sauntered into the room like he owned it.

"Who else fits the description of a precious asset?" he challenged. He hopped onto the lazy boy and grabbed Noah's lemonade off the coffee table with his left leg. Noah let him have it, he was no longer hungry.

"You are many things, but precious isn't one of them," Rex said trying to hide his smile behind his drink. Bobo started to make what surely would have been a rude hand gesture if Nora's scream hadn't cut through the exchange.

All three boys turned toward his mother. Nora had her hands over her cheeks, her eyes wide and

her mouth agape as she screamed at Bobo-Haha.

Rex started to get out of his seat to help calm her down, but Noah held his hand out to stop him and shook his head. "Just watch," Noah instructed nodding towards his mother. Sure enough, Nora's shriek turned into a squeal of delight.

"Oh my! Aren't you wondrous?" Nora rushed over to Bobo grinning madly and took a seat of the ottoman parked in front of the lazy boy.

"Yeah, you could say that," Bobo answered, preening under Nora's praise.

And just like that Nora had enchanted yet another of her son's friends. Rex sat opened mouth as Nora's full attention landed on his primate partner. Noah couldn't help but laugh. Rex's eyes moved over to Noah, looking over at him before grinning conspiratorially, making warmth spread over Noah.

"You have excellent tastes in self-care," Nora commented referring to the list of Bobo's demands.

"Finally, someone who understands the need for proper hygiene," he sniffed.

"Says the chimp who uses his feet to eat," Rex chuckled.

"Jealous much, chief?" Bobo countered, good-humoredly.

"More than you know."

Noah felt his face contort into disgust, and both Rex and Bobo laughed at the sight.

"What?" Rex asked. "It looks very convenient. Imagine how much more I could eat if I could use my feet too!"

"Speaking of eating," Nora cut in before her son could reply, "we should get dinner started." She rose from the ottoman and made her way towards the kitchen. "You should know we have a rule about dinner; only those who help prepare it, get to eat it." That spurred the boys to their feet and with lemonade glasses in hand, they raced to the kitchen.

"What's on the menu, Mrs. N?" Rex asked, surveying the countertops for any clue.

"Oh, nothing fancy," Nora promised, pulling out a large pot, "just a simple dish of shrimp and pasta.

"With fresh garlic bread? Noah asked, hopeful.

Nora smiled, "of course."

Noah could practically see the hunger in Rex's eyes. "That sounds delicious. So what do you want us to do?"

After a moment of thought, Nora quickly assigned everyone a task. Rex was put in charge of making the salad, Bobo was given the task to set the table and then told to sit out and wait for dinner after he refused to promise not to use his feet when placing the silverware down.

Noah didn't need to be told what he was supposed to, having made this dish before, he moved towards to the freezer to grab the bag of tiger shrimp. He caught sight of Rex's gloves and nudged him with an elbow, when he got Rex's attention he lifted his hand and mimed a simple tugging motion over his wrist.

Rex blinked, taking a moment to figure out what it was Noah was trying to tell him. It wasn't until he noticed he was about to put his gloved hands under water to wash the head of lettuce that he understood. He grinned sheepishly at Noah in thanks and put the head of lettuce down on the counter before pulling off his gloves.

Noah repressed the urge to roll his eyes at his friend while he set to work filling a large bowl with cold water.

"How would you like them cut?" Rex asked while rinsing off the cucumbers.

Noah shrugged, focused on putting the frozen shrimp into the bowl of water to thaw before he started to pull off their shells.

"However you like it should be fine," Nora said preoccupied with starting the stove.

"Cool," Rex replied. Noah saw Rex nod in the corner of his eye before Rex turned around and went to work.

Shrimp pasta was a simple dish to make, and soon the kitchen was filled with the smell of sauteing onions and fresh garlic. Noah's mouth watered with anticipation. It was one of his favorite dishes. He had a pretty good inkling that Rex would enjoy it too. Except for green peppers, Rex would eat anything placed in front of him. A theory he and Bobo would often exploit during their occasional prank wars.

After a few awkward moments where Rex checked every drawer and cabinet for a cutting board he seemed to get into the swing of things, and they settled into a rhythm.

"Oh! I forgot to make something for dessert." Nora exclaimed, startling the boys.

"That's okay Mrs. N. I don't have much of a sweet tooth."

Both Noah and Bobo scoffed at the declaration.

"Since when?" Noah asked incredulously.

"Yeah, if I recall correctly you're the reason I can't keep my chocolate stash in stock," Bobo added.

Rex blushed and mumbled that he just didn't want to make Nora feel bad for forgetting such a small thing.

"I appreciate the sentiment, Rex. That's very considerate of you," Nora said with an encouraging smile.

Rex smiled back weakly. "Thanks."

"Now that I know that our new housemates would enjoy something chocolaty after we eat I am going to make a quick trip to the store."

"Allow me to accompany you, Madame," Bobo interjected with a low bow.

Noah and Rex exchanged amused looks as Nora giggled and accepted the primate's offer.

"Noah, I trust you and Rex to hold down the fort while I'm away," Nora instructed grabbing her purse from the hook just outside the kitchen.

"Yeah, mom. We got it."

"I know you do, sweetie," Nora said pressing a kiss to his cheek. "We'll be back soon." She promised, leaving Noah and Rex alone to continue to cook.

Thank you for reading. I am currently working on Part IV and hope to have it up by the end of the month. I know that seems like a long time, but honestly, it's pretty short considering the amount of time it took for me to upload this chapter.

Bramblerose4