Walking into the pub Finn directed Rae, with a hand on the small of her back, to their usual table. Nodding a greeting to the gang, he was lightly pushing Rae to one of the back chairs, so he could sit beside her, when Archie pulled the chair out beside him gesturing for her. At the other end of the table. Finn's smile fell. Feeling his good mood rapidly deteriorating, he redirected his steps to the bar for a pint.

He knew he shouldn't be feeling this way, like punching one of his best mates, but it pissed him off how Archie and Rae always seemed to be in close quarters. He didn't like to think about when they were alone. That was part of why he liked their new mode of communication, not only did he find it easier to express himself, but he got to touch her, which was a definite plus and it was something she didn't share with anyone else, unique to them only. There was a feeling of one-upmanship over Archie that boosted Finn's ego just a little bit.

"Couple a snakebites while you's at it." Finn turned at Chop's shout over the din of the crowd, just in time to see Archie move away from Rae's ear and her kiss his cheek. To which Archie flushed and Finn about gagged.

Slamming a few quid on the bar with more force than necessary, Finn gave the order and waited, grinding his teeth in irritation. Why don't I find a girl that's actually interested in me?

"Need some help?"

Ah, the girl of his frustration. "No." Finn replied gruffly.

Laying a hand on his arm, Rae asked, "What's goin' on?"

Shrugging away from her touch, he grabbed the drinks and started for the table. "Ya been a right prick since we got here." Rae said none to gently, following behind.

"Look, it's nothin' a'right? Just leave it alone." Which Rae seemed to take as leave him alone. Even though he'd intercepted several covert concerned glances from her, she didn't make any move toward him the rest of the night.

Bloody hell, he felt restless. Finn bobbed his head to the music, some shit mainstream, that him and Rae should be makin' fun of right now, instead she's laughin' it up with Archie on the dance floor, making Finn feel nauseous.

So he didn't object when Julia sat down beside him. "Fancy a dance?" She asked coquettishly.

Finn smiled, which he was sure looked more like a sneer, "I don't dance." A lie. He'd be out there on the floor now if Rae was with him and as much as he wanted to give in to the baser instinct of trying to make her jealous, it's just not in him. It was bad enough he was hurting, he didn't want to risk her feelings too.

"I wouldn't mind a smoke, we could go out back, have some privacy and... talk." It dawned on Finn the only reason he snogged her a couple months ago was precisely because there had been no words needed. A gesture, a halfhearted smirk and that was that. Wasn't particularly memorable for him, apparently she wasn't of the same opinion.

He supposed he should be flattered, after all Julia actually wanted him, but as his eyes unconsciously flickered to Rae, now at the bar with Chop, he couldn't stop the thoughts of wishing she was the one sitting beside chatting him up.

He felt pathetic. "Sorry, but I gotta head out." As Julia got up and weaved her way back through the crowd, Finn leaned over the empty chair next to him telling Izzy he was leaving.

"But why? It's still early. You haven't even made Rae put on good tunes yet." Finn chuckled. Izzy really was adorable. He and Rae had been talking the other night on the phone about how it was almost impossible to not be happier when Izzy was around, she was just so cheerful all the time. "The night's just getting started. Chop and Rae'll be so disappointed."

"Just not feelin' it tonigh, Iz." He reached around to get his leather jacket off the back of his chair, thinking Rae probably wouldn't even notice his absence. What with Archie's attentions and all. He was halfway to the door when he heard the object of his affection call out to him. Finn didn't turn around.

Shoving his hands into his jacket pocket, he used the walk home to try to clear his head and figure out what to do with this situation. He hadn't taken the scooter tonight, wanting the extra alone time with Rae on the way. He always wanted to prolong their time together, it never seemed like enough.

Finn felt like he was wishing for the impossible and it was slowly tearing him apart. The sweetness of her presence and the agony of sharing her with Archie. Because that's how it felt, everything was wonderful when they were alone together, but Archie always seemed to take her away from him once the gang got together. He didn't understand what was going on between them. She had rejected him, Archie should be moving on instead he's practically attached to Rae's side.

Walking into the foyer Finn kicked off his boots and hung up his jacket. Seeing the light shining through from the den, he made his way in to find his dad looking through a box, with two more stacked beside it.

Taking a seat in the cushy chair across from the sofa, "What's this?"

Mitch choked back a ragged sob, "Some things from Nan's storage. Your mum and aunt are going through other bits and pieces at her house." Raising his red rimmed eyes to his son, "Ya home awful early."

Scrubbing his hands down his face, "I just couldn't sit there watching Archie and Rae...doin' whatever they're doin'."

"What do you mean?"

Exasperated at the entire situation, and his own inability to express himself to the one girl that's ever meant anything to him, he launched into his rotten night, "We got to the pub and Archie zeroed in on Rae, they've been inseparable ever since. Dancing and whispering. She kissed him! She did ask if anything was wrong, but what was I suppose to say? 'I don't like seein ya like that with one of my best mates, cause I want ya?'" Pushing himself up in a huff, he started pacing in front of his dad, "Nan would have loved Rae. I could see them spending hours bangin' on about wha'ever, anythin'."

Mitch smiled and nodded. "There aren't many women around like my mum and I can tell Rae is quite like her, they both like takin' the piss outta ya and you let them. I think that says something itself." He chuckled and pulled out a battered old white bear. Tossing it to his son, Finn caught it and smiled fondly.

"I took this thing with me everywhere when I was at Nan's." Finn laughed examining the old bear, he hadn't seen him for years, almost forgot about it, " We called him Drum. One time she made an ascot for him with a piece of her black and white polka dotted scarf. God, I miss her. She would have the perfect advice. The last time I went to see her I was telling her about Rae, how much she irritated me mostly. Said she sounded like a keeper." Hugging Drum to his middle, Finn flopped back down into the chair. "Are you all right Dad?"

Shaking his head in affirmation he pushed the box aside and stretched his legs. "Maybe you should invite Rae for supper? You're Mum would love to meet her too and we can share stories of Nan. I think it'd be good for all of us. Get to know Rae and have a farewell of sorts for Nan. 'Sides, I think your Rae will be eager to meet Drum. She'll know where we both inherited our love of music." A beat passed before Mitch continued, "From Nan, not the bear."

Father and son chortled together, "Yeah, maybe I will." And with that they spent another hour looking through the boxes reminiscing.

Your Rae. My Rae. Finn liked how that sounded. He turned over in bed, eager now to have Rae over with his family. He was glad she stopped when he wasn't there and met his dad, it took the pressure off him, though he still didn't trust Dad to keep quiet. He had a way of letting things slip out that shouldn't. Still it'd be great to have the most important people in his life all together, talking about the only other woman that ever meant the world to him, his Nan.

And with that he drifted off to sleep contented.