Tangled Hearts

Finn's POV

Lily stirs again, her face pressed against my chest, and I feel the subtle change in her breathing as she starts to wake up. Slowly, her fingers flex against my skin, and I hold my breath for a second, wondering if she'll drift back to sleep or finally pull herself from the haze.

She lets out a soft sigh, her body shifting slightly as she nuzzles into me. I can't help the smile that pulls at my lips as I watch her, that quiet moment before she fully wakes up and realizes she's in my arms.

Her eyelids flutter, and she tilts her head up, blinking as she comes back to the present. Her sleepy eyes meet mine, and a soft smile tugs at the corners of her lips.

"Hey," she whispers, her voice rough from sleep.

"Hey, butterfly," I murmur, running my fingers through her hair, brushing a few strands away from her face. "You sleep okay?"

She hums in response, shifting to get more comfortable against me.

"I slept... better than I have in a while," she says, her fingers tracing light patterns on my chest, her touch grounding me.

I feel the weight of what she's saying without her having to spell it out. After everything—especially after the accident—sleep hasn't exactly come easily for either of us. I know the nightmares have haunted her, just like they've haunted me. But hearing that she slept well, here in my arms, is more than I could've asked for.

She shifts slightly, lifting her head to press a soft kiss to my jaw. It lingers, just long enough to send a familiar warmth rushing through me, stirring something deep in my chest.

"I missed this," she murmurs, her lips grazing my skin, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I missed waking up next to you."

My throat tightens, and I swallow hard, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Yeah," I say, my voice rougher than I meant it to be. "Me too. More than you realize."

She smiles softly, her eyes heavy with sleep but still full of that warmth I've missed for so long. "But right now," she says, stifling a yawn, "I'm going back to sleep. It's been a long time since I've slept this well."

I can't help but chuckle as she buries herself back into my chest, her body melting into mine like it's the most natural thing in the world.

"Go ahead, butterfly," I whisper, my hand stroking her hair. "I've got you."

She hums softly in response, already drifting off, her breathing evening out as sleep takes her again. 

I glance down at her, peaceful now, her lashes resting against her cheeks as sleep pulls her deeper. I press a kiss to the top of her head, letting the warmth of her body settle into me, and close my eyes.

But I can't sleep. There's something weighing on me, something I've been thinking about for a while now. I look down at Lily, and it hits me, clear as ever—I want this forever. Not just nights spent tangled up together, but everything. I want her beside me, every day, for the rest of my life.

***

"Finn!" Rosetta's voice echoes through the foyer as she pulls me into a tight hug. The warmth of it is familiar, but it feels different now—like something fragile holding us together. "What are you doing here? How's Lily?" she asks, pulling away just enough to study my face.

Before I can answer, Joanne approaches, her expression soft but cautious. "Yes, how is Lily?" she adds, her voice laced with concern. "We heard about the accident and the baby... I'm so sorry, Finn. Truly."

I swallow the tight knot in my throat. The mention of the baby still feels like a punch to the gut, a wound too fresh to talk about without breaking. But I keep my voice steady, giving them a small nod.