When Jess Knash woke up the next morning, she didn't expect it to be in a tangle of bed sheets and limbs. She was lying on her side, facing the still open window, and her Master, Drake Stone, was pressed against her back with his arms wrapped around her waist. She took a deep breath and the arms around her waist tightened. Jess rubbed her eyes then tried to dislodge her Master's arms from her midsection. He was having none of it. When Jess tried to pull away, Drake pulled her back closer to him and nestled his face into the side of her neck.

"When," Jess started in surprise when Drake spoke; she hadn't though he was awake. She waited for him to continue.

"When I was thirteen," he said, "my Master, a Merlinian named Harrison Cole, took me in. He was an okay Master; taught me the basics, kept me out of too much trouble."

He paused for a long time and Jess wondered if he was going to continue.

"I was happy with my life." Drake turned his face further into Jess's neck and she felt rather than heard his next words, "When I was fifteen, I woke up one morning and he wasn't there. I thought he had just gone out for a bit; he did that often. But then I found the note on the kitchen counter and all his things were gone. I knew it was over. I lived on the streets for a long time. Did street magic mostly. Thought the real stuff would get me discovered. That's where Coral found me. She took me in, but that didn't really make me feel better."

Jess rolled so that she lay on her back. When she turned her head to look at him, Drake was so close their noses brushed. Drake's eyes were closed and his lips were pulled into a frown. Jess raised her hand and ghosted her finger tips over his eyelids and down his nose.

"That's why you check on me every night?" Jess asked softly.

Drake nodded, but didn't open his eyes, "I know you haven't left, but it makes me feel a bit better to prove it to myself."

"I understand. I do, but sneaking into my room has got to stop." Jess felt her Master tense.

"You're bed's bigger than mine, so there's no point in both of us sleeping here. If you cleaned out a drawer, I'd appreciate it."

Drake's chocolate brown eyes snapped open to stare into her bright blue ones.

"What?" Jess asked, "What did you think I was going to say?"

Drake laughed and pulled Jess forward into his arms, "It doesn't matter, love. You're here, so it doesn't matter."