September 2002
The sun trickles through the cracks in the blinds, glowing warm behind Finn's eyelids and prompting his brain to fuzz into consciousness. He doesn't want to open his eyes yet, savouring the familiar feel of Rae's fleshy hip cupped beneath his splayed hand, her smooth legs entwined with his, her warm, comforting bed smell, her-
"FUCK!" Comes the chocked shout from beside him, before Rae violently tumbles out of bed, slips slightly on the polished wooden floor, and hurtles into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. Milliseconds later comes the weak sounds of Rae retching and spluttering into the toilet. Finn's eyes snap open and he stumbles out of bed, rubbing sleep out of his eyes while fishing for his boxers on the floor. He unsuccessfully tries to pull them up his legs while executing a half-run/half-walk to their en-suite bathroom, having to stop and pull the checked blue boxers up properly, before he slips as well.
"Babe? Rae?" He mumbles, pushing open the bathroom door. He's greeted by the image of mostly-naked Rae kneeling in front of the toilet, spewing up her guts, her messy raven hair falling all over the place. He kneels beside her, gathering her silky locks out of the way into his hands, before he rubs her back comfortingly.
"Bloody Hell…" Rae groans, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand. "Pass us some water Finn?" She implores, still sitting cross legged on the floor in front of the toilet, leaning back against the side of the bath.
"What a wakeup, eh?" He sighs, handing her a glass of water before sliding down beside her. He notices the flash of worry in her eyes, and how she suddenly starts biting her bottom lip, rolling it between her teeth until it turns white.
"Don't worry Rae Rae, its probably just some 24 hour thing, yeah? I'll call ya in sick at work?" He asks, tracing a heart on her arm.
"Yeah…" She sighs absentmindedly, playing with her fingers. "Yes, yes, course, its just some bug I'm sure." She adds, her tired eyes snapping up to meet his soft brown ones as she flashes him a smile.
"Anyways, you'd best be going mate, you're going to miss your interview!" She grins, poking him in the cheek.
"Oh bollocks!" Fin shouts, leaping off the floor and marathoning it back into the bedroom, followed by a grinning Rae.
"You've got me nervous now!" He mumbles, pulling clothes out of the antique wooden wardrobe. "Oh shush you cheeky bastard, you know you're going to get this job. They'd be fools not to hire you." Rae laughs, coming up behind Finn and wrapping her arms round his chest, pressing her warm body to his and dropping a chaste kiss behind his ear. He groans, but continues sorting through his clothes.
"Go back to bed you div, you're ill and however much I'm enjoying this-" He turns, running his hands down her sides "-I'm going to be late!" He says, turning back towards the stuffed wardrobe. Rae sighs, heading back to bed and crawling under the still warm sheets. She'd forgotten how drowsy she was, and wasn't she having quite a good dream before her body's sickey wake up call? She can't quite remember, she thinks, before slipping back off to sleep. Finn turns at the sound of Rae's light snores and smiles, trying to push the worry over her sudden nausea out of his mind, readying himself for the tough interview ahead.
Rae is awoken later by the feeling of Finn's soft lips dropping a kiss onto her forehead. She groans slightly, before opening her eyes and surveying the sex god before her. The 6 year's they'd been together, Rae had only ever found Finn's looks to be increasing, finding him more attractive each day, both in body and mind. She smiles softly, and his eyes twinkle back, his mouth breaking into a large grin.
"Alright babe, I'm off. I've called in sick for ya, yeah? And there's tea for ya on the side. I'll call you when the interviews done."
"You're too good to me Finn. I love ya, ya know? Good luck with today!" "Not that you'll need it!" She adds as an afterthought, smiling up at him from the bed. She looks happy, but Finn can sense the worry in her somewhere. She looks tired, worn out. Is she stressing about the interview, or something else? He pushes the worries from his mind, replying:
"Thanks babe. Love you too, sickey." He smiles, leaning over the bed to properly kiss her, before striding out the door and into the waiting taxi.