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Noel's POV

"I remember I thought you looked like an angel wrapped in pink so soft and warm. You've had me wrapped around your finger since the day you were born . . . You're beautiful baby from the outside in . . . Go on, take on this whole world . . . When you were in trouble that crooked little smile could melt my heart of stone.
Now look at you, I've turned around and you've almost grown . . . You're beautiful baby from the outside in. Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again. Go on, take on this whole world. But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl."

"Oh shit!" I gasped, scrambling to pull my phone off my nightstand, realizing it wasn't the radio I kept dozing off to, but instead the ringtone set for my dad. My fingers fumbled to slide the bar before I pressed the phone to my ear.

"Daddy?" Matt's eyes opened drowsily and his fingertips grazed my shoulder with a lazy smile curving his lips. My throat closed up at just how perfect he was before my mind yanked me back to the more important priority.

"I just saw the news. There was a shooter at your volleyball game. Are you okay? What happened?" I could hear mom mumbling to him in the background.

"It was three fallen angels who were named Tristan, Sam, and Dabria. Tristan shot at me and Matt with bullets infused with devil craft, but we're completely fine, not a scratch. We didn't see—"

"Matt is there with you?" Dad cut me off. I felt my stomach crumple into a little ball, realizing my words had slipped out before I could reel them back in. Matt's eyes were no longer drowsy as he watched me.

"Well, in case they came to the house, so I wasn't alone," We hadn't told my parents that Matt was my guardian angel. It was easier to get around their rules with Matt as a "human" than someone who was mind speaking with me just as regularly as they did.

"I guess that does make me feel better that he's with you because your mom and I won't be able to catch a flight back for three days. So he can stay until then. We'll talk more when we see you. For now, you're on lockdown. I don't want you leaving the house for any reason, do you understand? I don't care if your legs feel like they're on fire, you don't go for a run. I don't care if a random delivery guy comes to the door, you don't open it. I don't care if you see someone get mauled outside by a bear in the backyard, you don't step one foot out of the door. Your mom is going to call Gran B and let her know you're staying at a friend's house for the weekend, so she doesn't need to check up on you. We won't be home till Monday night, so don't bother going to school, if they even have it, and don't go anywhere. You got that Princess?" It wasn't until the end that his voice softened and it was like he was standing right there and I could see the terrified father on the inside.

"I got it daddy, don't leave the house for anything. Can I talk to mom?" I traced patterns with my finger all over Matt's chest and he looked like he was about to fall asleep again.

"Yeah, she's about ready to rip the phone out of my hand anyway. I love you Princess,"

"I love you too daddy," I said gently before hearing the exchange between hands.

"Noel? Are you okay baby? Did Dabria hurt you? Or the others? Thank God you made it home safe and is Matt okay too? Remember he's a lot more breakable than you," I almost barked a laugh because Matt was far from breakable with his tough guardian angel skin and the same quick healing that all Nephilim and fallen angels were equipped with. I couldn't tell her that though.

"We're both okay mama, I swear, not even a single bruise. We got out when the police managed to break the steel bars off the outside of the doors. The fallen angels couldn't shoot because we'd made it to the center of the crowd and they wouldn't risk their bullets hitting anyone else,"

"Why are you talking about fallen angels and devil craft in front of Matt?" My mom hissed.

"Because he's in the shower? I'm not stupid mom," I gave her brief dose of a snotty teenager because that would really convince her I was telling the truth. Matt's chest shook with the effort of not letting his laugh escape. I smiled at him and started to trace his fine facial features.

"Oh thank God, that would take a lot of explaining. I guess we should let you go; dad's going to start on some leads as to why fallen angels seem to have come back into the picture. I love you sweetheart, be safe,"

"I love you too mom and you better do the same," With that we hung up and I let out an exasperated sigh as I dropped my head against Matt's warm chest. He chuckled this time and I felt his lips meet the top of my head before his head hit the pillow again. We didn't talk for a while; I committed his perfect heartbeat to memory. It was my lullaby, my wake up call, my comfort, and my shield from all the bad things in the world. His heartbeat meant he was alive and that's all I needed to make it through my life was my Matt. Volleyball, school, and even my friends could all leave me in the dust. As long as Matt was there to help me back to my feet, I'd be all right, fantastic actually.

"That went over smoothly," He murmured and I gave him a look.

"Says the guy who didn't have to make two peeps as I formulated whole answers on the spot,"

"Don't be grumpy," He teased, his hands wrapping around the back of my thighs before pushing me up, so we were face to face.

"I'm not grumpy," I muttered indignantly and he chuckled in response before bringing his mouth to mine. I forgot about my parents, my team, and the world around me. The arms that held me were my anchor to this moment and I could never be happier. His teeth grazed my bottom limp and a soft exhale of breath blow out before I could stop it. I couldn't remember to be embarrassed as this kiss took me closer to cloud nine. The heat of his hands on my back through the thin cotton of his old shirt, every pulse that drummed through my wrists where they pressed on the sides of his neck, and I was a lost soul. We broke apart, my forehead against his cheek, and we learned what oxygen was for again. I pressed a kiss to his jaw and realized there was no paranoia. My parents wouldn't be yelling for the door to be wide open or us jumping apart every time we kissed because someone was coming down the stairs or hall. This was what life would be like when we went off to college.

"You're right, you're far from grumpy," Matt wiggled his eyebrows and I couldn't help but laugh as I pushed off of him. He frowned, catching my wrist, and then we could both hear the tremendous thunder emanate from my stomach, "But you are hungry."

"That I am and I want you to give me a piggy back ride to the kitchen," Such a request didn't phase Matt and I was reminded just how tolerant and willing he was to make me happy. So that's how I got to the kitchen, Matt's hands hooked behind my knees as he walked, and set me down next to the refrigerator.

"Did I ever tell you how good you look in my shirt? You pull it off so much better than me," He whispered in my ear, arms wrapping loosely around my waist as he hugged me from behind, and I went on my tip toes to kiss his cheek before pulling out bagel bites for breakfast.

"Of course I do, I'm way better looking than you," He grinned evilly before trying to catch me again as I sprinted around to the other side of island. We watched the other's every movement and I faked out to the left before going to the right. Matt didn't fall for it though and caught me. I laughed as I rested my hands on his bare chest. From the slightly taller, barely muscular boyfriend in sixth grade, he was ripped now, and six foot seven. Then there was me, six foot one, which was tall for a girl, but I still felt small compared to Matt, which was its own reassurance. Matt's lips curved upwards as he kissed my neck, leaving a fiery path, and I stood completely motionless at the feeling of his lips on my too hot skin. He kissed on to my cheek, making a slow line from the corner of my jaw to my cheekbone, before dropping down to my lips. I locked my arms around his neck, keeping him for as long as I wanted him, and I wouldn't have minded one bit if this kiss went on forever. Then Matt's stomach voiced its own opinion and we laughed as our lips fell away from each other. I popped the bagel bites in the microwave toaster and pulled out a Mountain Dew before sitting atop the counter.

"Are you going to become a rebel or something? Bagel bites and Mountain Dew for breakfast? So this is what you do when your parents aren't home. No wild parties or getting in the alcohol cabinet, nope, just eating inappropriate foods for each meal," I laughed as I played with the hair at the back of his neck. It was soft, almost like down, and it was strangle addictive to touch.

"I know, I'm such a badass," Matt wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on my shoulder, breathing softly, and I held him back, still playing with his hair. Some days, coming out of class, Matt would pull me aside before we met with all of our friends, and just hold me. There never seemed to be a particular reason, most of the time we didn't even kiss or talk, just stood in utter silence. Then we'd pull apart, hold hands, and walk down the hall as if nothing had happened. The timer went off and Matt kissed the nape of my neck as he pulled away to remove the bagel bites. I playfully kicked his butt and he swatted my foot away when I went to do it the second time. I grabbed him his own Mountain Dew and we went in the living room to eat. Matt texted his parents that he was staying at Josh's house for the entire weekend. Josh was the friend that Matt's parents absolutely adored and wouldn't question it.

"Coach said there won't be practice for the next three official school days to allow recuperation time for everyone who is traumatized by what happened at the gym, plus, the school will be closed for the whole week while the police conduct their investigation, success!" Matt laughed at my enthusiasm. I didn't mind school, but now I could have Matt all to myself without volleyball or homework to pull me away.

"You're mom still doesn't like me, does she?" I wondered aloud while we watched an old action movie with badly timed fake blood and weapons with clear safety tips on the ends.

"She says you hog my time and she doesn't like that I always do stuff with you either at your house or in public and the fact that she was the only mom at the bake sale without her son's jersey on because you had my away game one, even though they all wore coats because it was cold, so no one knew but her. She'll just have to get over it though, because I plan on even more of my time being hogged by you in the future," I smiled as we kissed a couple of times before a woman's shriek from the movie made us pull apart with a laugh.

"Hey, you're doing well in math because of me, that's got to count for something,"

"She thinks you let me cheat off of you on tests. If only she knew how cruel you are as to help me work through every problem I don't get instead of just giving me the answer," He pouted for a moment before suddenly scooping me into his lap when the bagel bites were gone. I wrapped my arms around his neck as we smiled at each other.

"Just to be clear, I was not at all thrilled with your little plan at the school the other night. He could've caught you. I know you're a powerful half and half so to speak, but devil craft is lethal in any sense to anyone. Please, don't ever try to play hero again. I know you don't want me or someone else hurt because they're after you, but I don't want to risk losing you either," I sighed; I couldn't tell him that I didn't completely agree with that statement. I knew where he was coming from, but I couldn't imagine if the fallen angel had gotten a hold of Matt. Who was to say they couldn't possibly rip his wings out and take the feeling from his body? What if he survived such a thing and stopped wanting to be with me? I didn't want to risk Matt's life as much as he didn't want to risk mine.

"Just promise me that you'll protect you as much as you'll protect me, okay? You're self sacrificing, I know that, but if something happened to you . . . I don't think I could function anymore. I'd never feel again. I'd never love again. So you have to stay safe too, not just me," Matt's eyes were deep and thoughtful as he processed my words and I could feel the soft tug of his fingers playing with the ends of my hair. I pressed the side of my palm to his cheek so he would look at me.

"Noel, if something did happen to me, I wouldn't hold it against you if—"

"No, don't you dare talk like that Matthew Anderson, because nothing will happen to you . . . Please baby, promise me?" Matt sighed and finally nodded in surrender.

"I promise that I will look out for myself as well as you,"

"As much as you look out for me,"

"As much as I look out for you," He corrected, his thumb traced over the shape of my lips before both hands cupped my face.

"Good," I whispered, kissing his right palm. Matt smiled ruefully at me, knowing how good I was at getting my way, and I smiled back because it was true, at least with him. I sent up a silent prayer that this nightmare or murderous fallen angels would cease and it would safe for me to go back to a normal life where devil craft wasn't a threat.

AN: I know, not much action, but I figured Noel and Matt could use some personal time. Please review of course!