A/N: I couldn't help myself, so here's a continuation of the previous chapter… I don't have the time to write entire interactions, so they're a bit more condensed. Also, this chapter is a bit more reflection, rather than interaction. But the next one will have some more interaction, hopefully. :)

Three months later…

~~ Blake ~~

A small amount of light started to filter in through the crack in her blinds – the only sign that the morning was approaching. Blake blinked, moving his head to the side to look over at Savannah. Somehow, she was beautiful even when she slept, with her hair splayed out around her head, and her expression peaceful.

It had been three months since they'd first met in person at the fancy restaurant. Ever since then, they'd seen each other whenever they could. It was a bit of a juggle, fitting it in around her work, as each week, the night before the new magazine was to be published, she had to work until late to get everything in order. He started to look forward to the late night meetings, however, and they often slept over at each other's houses, alternating the nights once they'd exchanged keys. While occasionally they went to his house, they spent most of their time at hers, because quite simply, hers was much nicer. She rented a penthouse on the top floor of an apartment building. While it wasn't massive, it was luxurious, with a comfortable couch, bed, a study and even a small kitchen. It put his cheap apartment room to shame. The view was stunning, as they were able to see New York city spread out beneath them. She'd wanted to live close to her work, so it was right in the heart of the city.

Feeling thirsty, he got up carefully and pulled on a shirt, not wanting to wake her. She didn't stir, and he exhaled quietly in relief, walking towards the kitchen. Usually, she had to get up earlier than him for work, but it was the weekend, so they both enjoyed their sleep in. He glanced at the study as he passed it. As usual, there were articles scattered over the desk, as well as pictures of various celebrities, that he wouldn't even be able to name. While such things didn't interest him, he always flicked through her latest magazines, knowing she was proud of her work.

He'd gotten used to their new routine surprisingly fast, and it was hard to imagine a time without her. Initially, he'd been cautious about the whole idea of a Match, but he couldn't deny that it worked. They were both attracted to each other in more ways than one, and he still couldn't quite take his eyes off her.

Making it to the kitchen, he grabbed a cup, before walking over to the sink and pouring a glass of water. Taking a sip, he noted how clean it looked. There was an easy reason for that – being that she hardly ever cooked. Her work always finished late, anyway, so often she'd bring home some takeaway – noodles or pizza or the like – and they'd eat it together. He smiled, finding it hard to imagine her cooking.

At the sound of the bell ringing at the door, he paused, frowning. Savannah never had visitors, and it was too early in the morning for any, anyway. Besides, you had to have a key card to even be able to get up to her floor via the elevator. He glanced back towards the bedroom, and when he heard no movement, he decided to answer it himself, not wanting to wake her if he could avoid it. Maybe it would be the cleaners coming early, or maintenance, or something like that.

As he walked to the door, he ran a hand through his hair to straighten it, knowing it probably looked ruffled after sleeping on it. After a pause, he opened the door, staring for a moment at the guy on the other side. He looked perhaps a couple of years older than Blake, and very put together with his suit and tie. In fact, he looked just as surprised to see Blake, as Blake probably looked to see him.

"… Can I help you?" Blake asked, raising his eyebrows when the man hesitated. Surely there would be some obvious explanation.

"I'm here to see Savannah," he replied, glancing inside, past Blake. "Is she home?"

"Who are you?" Blake responded, starting to feel a little uneasy.

The man stared at him for a moment longer. "I'm her boyfriend."

~~ Cole ~~

As Cole sat on his couch in a comfortable silence, he looked up from his book, glancing over at Stephanie. While he was reading Crime and Punishment - his favourite book - he had read it before, and it was no longer the only thing capturing his attention. He adjusted his glasses just slightly, realising he had grown used to them now. To keep up the disguise, he'd had to wear them every day, and he'd almost convinced himself that he did need them.

She was so focused on her writing, that she didn't notice him watching her. They often sat in such a way during the early hours of the evening – Cole reading a book on the couch, while Stephanie sat at his desk with her laptop, working on typing some more of her chapters. It helped, she'd said, working in a different environment, and he didn't blame her. Her little one-bedroom apartment hardly had room for a bed, let alone a desk or anything else. He'd grown used to her visits, surprisingly, even though in the past he'd preferred time to himself rather than time with anyone else.

He found during such times, that he noticed the small things about her. The way she bit her lip lightly and frowned as she concentrated. The way she wound some hair around her finger as she tried to come up with the right wording for what she was thinking. She was different, he thought. She didn't wear makeup or try hard like the other girls. She was sweet, and much too pure and innocent and good for someone like him.

"Cole?" she said, finally drawing him from his thoughts as she looked back at him.

Setting his book down, he met her gaze. "Yes?"

"Do you mind reading this part?" she asked, a slight flush to her cheeks. She was often like that, he'd noticed, when he read her work, as if nervous that he wouldn't like it. "It just doesn't sound right, no matter how I try to word it."

"Of course. I'll have a look," he replied, rising to his feet and walking over to join her. Resting a hand against the table, he leaned over her, to read the screen as she pointed to the section. Reading it carefully, he thought for a moment.

"I'd advise changing-…" He rattled off a few ideas that'd he'd come up with, and she nodded, quickly moving her mouse to make the corrections. She always seemed to trust his ideas, and he found he didn't mind.

Thanking him, she soon became engrossed in her thoughts again as she came up with a new idea, and he went to sit down again and pick up his book. He'd never been so interested in anyone before. In the past, he'd had some 'fake' relationships, where he'd enjoyed the thrill of the chase, and the power and control that came along with it. But with Stephanie, it was different, and he wondered whether it was because she was his Match.

He'd looked it up on the website, out of curiosity. Studies had shown that 92 percent of people felt an instant attraction within the first forty-eight hours of meeting their Match. With the other 8 percent, it could take longer, due to psychological issues – anything from a mental illness like clinical depression to emotional problems, like trust issues or if someone had built up barriers. Interestingly, he'd read that even psychopaths could fall in love – but that they often don't fall in love the same way normal people do. He supposed while he wasn't in the 92 percent, he'd never expected to be. He couldn't deny, however, that there was something about her.

Stephanie shifted, hiding a yawn behind her hand, as she glanced at the time. "It's late," she stated, a little reluctantly. "I'd better go."

Cole nodded, watching as she packed up her things and put her laptop away in her bag. Looking over at him, she gave him a genuine smile. "Thank you for letting me work here again. It's nice."

"I was thinking the same," he replied, getting up to help her to the door. She never stayed over until the morning.

"I have some free time tomorrow evening, if you're free," she said, pausing to glance back at him.

He inclined his head, his eyes glittering. "You're welcome to call by, then."

~~ Kellan ~~

Kellan had been keen to show Ethos a beach near his home, but he hadn't wanted to pick a busy, tourist kind of one like Venice Beach or Santa Monica. He'd gone for a beach that was a bit more of a drive, but it was less known, which made it consequently less busy, but definitely still beautiful. Walking beside him along the sand, they both pointed out various shells and other sea life that they saw.

They had tried to meet whenever there was a chance, although that was hard with Ethos' job. Kellan appreciated the time they did have, however, and it felt like they were good friends that had known each other for a long time, even if it had only been a few months. He wondered sometimes whether Ethos was attracted to him in the same way that Kellan was attracted to Ethos. In a way that was more than friends. He did not give any indication, and Kellan was unable to bring himself to ask. He did not know how one even asked such a thing.

He had found out that Ethos was an only child the second time they'd met up, and Kellan couldn't help but share about his own siblings. They were too important to him. When he'd told them he'd been Matched, his youngest sibling, Grace, had been ecstatic for him. It had taken a long time, after all. Zach had been happy too, and he was Matched already, and was engaged to his Match. Kellan had always hoped he could find a connection like theirs for himself. That was why he already had such faith in the test, he supposed – he had already seen it successfully work. He had seen the result of what happened if you were not Matched as well, in the case of his parents. His father had been left broken-hearted, with a young baby to raise. He hoped he could avoid such a thing, through finding his own Match.

"What does your sister do?" Ethos asked with a smile, glancing over at him. "She has already finished school, right?"

Kellan nodded, always happy to talk about them. "She's at university," he replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "She's studying a double degree – law and politics. It's not an easy course, but she's passionate about it. She has her own opinions on everything."

The sea breeze shifted his curls a little. "And Zach's busy planning his wedding. It will be happening early next year, with any luck." He opened his mouth to say more, before giving an embarrassed smile. "Sorry. Once I'm on the topic, I could probably talk about them all day. I just can't help myself."

He noticed a hint of amusement in Ethos's eyes. "I don't mind. I've always been fond of the idea of siblings. And it's nice to hear you talk about the people you care about."

Kellan blushed – that was the problem with pale skin, it was always visible – and he paused. Ethos came to a stop as well, after him. "Would you like to meet them?" Kellan blurted out, before he had a chance to think of how to word it better.

Ethos' smile grew and he seemed almost surprised. "I would love to meet them, if you are happy for them to meet me."

"Then our next meeting, I will arrange it," Kellan said, his eyes lightening. "Maybe you could come over to the house where I grew up. Grace and my Dad still live there."

Ethos hesitated, for just a moment. "Do you think they will like me?" he asked, as if nervous by the thought.

Kellan did not need to pause to think. "They will love you," he assured him, easily. "You don't have to worry about that."

"I am glad, then." Ethos looked content at the thought, his gaze once again going to the ocean. Kellan always found himself calmed by such a steady, unwavering gaze.

It was nearly time for them to part ways, but neither brought it up, both drawing out the time as much they could. As Kellan watched him subtly, the sun hit the gold highlights in Ethos' hair, making them glow brightly, and his breath caught.

"Is it alright if-… if I kiss you?" he stammered, nervously. He felt like he needed to ask, to see whether Ethos was comfortable with the idea. If he even liked it. If Kellan was turned down, then he wasn't sure what he would do. Perhaps he'd just die from embarrassment.

Ethos turned to watch him slowly, and for the first time, Kellan noticed Ethos' cheeks redden. "Yes, if you would like to."

Swallowing, Kellan leaned forward, his heart thumping quickly in his chest. His lips met Ethos' and he kissed him gently, his hand reaching up to rest on his shoulder. Ethos hesitated at first, as if unsure of what to do, before reciprocating, with his hand resting tentatively against Kellan's waist. Kellan smiled as he eventually pulled back. Ethos still looked adorably flustered, with his cheeks still red. He guessed that maybe it was Ethos' first time ever kissing someone, and he found that he liked the thought.

Once they eventually parted ways, promising to meet again soon, Kellan raised a hand to his lips as he watched him go, finding them still tingling, in a pleasant way.

So that was what it was like to kiss the one you were Matched with.

~~ Aspen ~~

Aspen had never met someone quite as frustrating as his Match. But perhaps he'd never met anyone as fascinating, either. After their first meeting, he'd decided to hang around a bit longer, determined to find out more about his Match. He managed to get a job helping out at a bar during most nights, so that he'd have enough money to afford his rent and some food. During his spare time, when he wasn't with some kind of company, he found himself researching more about Caspian online. Annoyingly, he hadn't been able to find out what crime he'd committed – he guessed that maybe his parents had paid to keep it quiet. Rich people could do that, right?

When he had a spare chance – although not too frequently that Caspian would get annoyed - he went to visit him. He liked to think that maybe Caspian had grown softer on him over time, although maybe it was just his dogged persistence and that Caspian had given up on trying to fight it.

One day, he followed him to the horse stables. "You ride horses?" he asked, a little dumbly. Of course, it was such a rich person thing to do.

Caspian walked over to one of the horses in the stables – a midnight black one - and it nickered in greeting, tossing its head. "Why else would I be here?" he replied, simply. At least he responded to him more than in the past, Aspen supposed.

"If you want to ride, you can ride that one," Caspian said, nodding towards one in a stall nearby. It was a bay horse that waited calmly. "It's my mother's."

Aspen raised his eyebrows. "Won't she be angry if I ride her horse?"

"It's ironic, don't you think, when you were the one they turned down?" he said with a nonchalant shrug.

Aspen couldn't help but agree. There was one problem though. "I've never ridden before. I-… I don't know how to."

Leading his horse out of the stall, Caspian paused. "Good thing she's docile, then," he muttered, and Aspen swallowed.

Caspian walked over to the other side of the stable, and Aspen suddenly wondered whether he'd ride off without him. He breathed a sigh of relief however, when Caspian picked up a saddle, instead. "You'd better use this," he said, walking over to the horse Aspen was to ride. He put a rug over the horse, before flicking the saddle on top. Reaching under the horse, he took hold of the girth strap, and buckled it up with ease, before checking the stirrups.

Leading the horse out of the stables, he then held her steady. "It's easy," he said, watching him. "Just use the stirrup to help you up, and keep a hold of the front of the saddle and the reins." Reaching out, he guided Aspen's hand to the font of the saddle, and passed the reins to him. Aspen hid his surprise at the fact that Caspian had even touched him in the first place.

Aspen nodded, eyeing the horse. He hoped he'd be able to control her, since he'd never been that fond of animals. Putting a foot on the stirrup, he then managed to hoist himself up – a little less gracefully than he'd intended to – before bringing his other leg over the other side.

Caspian ran through quickly how to use the reins and control her walking pace, before he walked over to mount his own horse. It was well trained, Aspen noted, waiting patiently for Caspian.

Once he was ready, he took off, and Aspen quickly urged his horse to follow. It didn't seem so hard, although the ride was bumpier than he'd expected.

His horse seemed to know what to do, keeping pace with Caspian's, which he was grateful for. It gave him an opportunity to glance at Caspian sidelong. He could tell that he enjoyed the ride, his blond hair whipping about his head, while he half closed his eyes. It was a nice sight, seeing him relaxed for once.

It was a little amusing, the thought that he was riding Caspian's mother's horse. He wondered what she'd think if she knew that he was here and that he was doing such a thing. He doubted Caspian had told his parents that Aspen was even here.

They rode for a decent time, before Caspian glanced over at him, noticing him starting to tire. Horse riding wasn't very comfortable, he decided, when you weren't used to it. As Caspian directed his horse back towards the stables, Aspen's horse followed.

The ride was a pleasant one – as pleasant as riding a horse could be – right until they returned to the stables. There was two people waiting there, and Aspen recognised them instantly from the photos online. It was Caspian's parents.

He glanced over at Caspian, trying to read his expression, although he kept his expression carefully concealed. "Just let me handle this," he said, in a low tone, and Aspen kept his mouth shut.

A little worried that he'd be left stranded on the horse, he was glad when Caspian dismounted, before turning to him. Holding the horse steady again, he took the reins from Aspen, allowing him to dismount. He stumbled, a little embarrassed to dismount so clumsily in front of his parents, and he then straightened, smoothing down his shirt, and pretending that nothing had happened.

It was not exactly how he'd envisioned meeting Caspian's parents.