They could all see it coming, the inevitable split between the two biggest lovebirds in Radiator Springs was well on its way. Finn knew that Sally would not take the split well, and if she was angry at Lightning then Lightning would be angry at himself. Quietly observing the racer he looked for any trace of apprehension or fear, and after finding what he was looking for he quietly stood from his stool and made his way over.

Laying his hand on Lightnings shoulder he quietly whispers a message to him in their created language, hoping he still remembered, and passed by him so he could flee to his cozy cone. No matter how gentle Lightning was, their breakup was not going to be pretty. He didn't want to be there to witness the meltdown, and was sure no one else would have wanted to watch it either.

He stayed in his room for the rest of the day, choosing to have a granola bar for lunch and three bananas for dinner. Sifting through all the files on his laptop he clicked on the one labeled "Delete" and he had meant to delete it, he really had... But he ended up scrolling through picture upon picture of them before everything. Before Lightning left, before Project K, before Luxesion... Before Lightnings smiles stopped reaching his eyes...

He paused at one in particular, it was a Christmas photo of them... their second Christmas together as a couple. They were... 16? no, no, they were 15! That was the year Lightning had given him his favorite sweater and a mix tape with all his favorite songs on it (then later he had given him a box of condoms, but Finn carefully avoided thinking about that) and Finn had given him a bouquet of flowers, a pair of red fingers gloves, and a skeleton watch that he had seen lightning wearing two days ago. It didn't make much sense for him too keep it, but he had truly loved that thing and had been to afraid it would be hurt or stolen on a mission, so he kept it in its case on the nightstand more often than not. Usually when you change lives, you throw out everything of you're previous life, but Lightning had always been more sentimental than he, so he guessed he had grown fond of it over the years...

But Finn had no right to judge, he still had his sweater.

Shaking his head Finn exited out of all the pictures and shut his laptop. Rubbing his eyes tiredly he glanced at the clocks blinking red numbers, 8:58. He didn't have much time. Sliding his laptop off his bed, he pushed it underneath his nightstand and flicked his light switch off and waited.

At 9:01 he wondered if lightning had forgotten their language. or maybe he just hadn't wanted to come. At 9:03 he had decided to call it quits when the jiggling of his doorknob stopped him, after 10 agonizing seconds it clicked open and the tiniest bits of light filtered through, highlighting the figure stepping in. As the door clicked shut Finn was thrown into pitch blackness and felt the bed dip near him as Lightning adjusted his place on the bed.

They were close, but not touching. Lightning was making sure to keep his hands to himself, he was being careful not to get his hopes up just to have Finn tell him he hated him.

"I didn't invite you over to say I didn't love you." Finn reached out and slipped his fingers between his and frowned when lightning tried to pull his hand away only to give in to the comforting touch.

"I left you." His voice was quiet, "I hurt you... I left you for years without a proper goodbye and you still..?"

The silence stretched on for what seemed like hours before his reply that was almost to quiet to catch, "Forever."

Tightening his fingers Lightning let out a bitter laugh, "Forever," He echoed, "Or at least until you want to leave and become a famous racer, huh?"

"I never blamed you." Blue eyes flicked over in surprise, "Not once. Not when I found your note, not when I burned the macaroni for the seventh time, not when I woke up on my birthday and realized you weren't gonna bring me breakfast in bed, not when I kept ordering take out for two, and not when I saw your picture in the paper and the heading "Lightning McQueen; Rookie Racer VS The Pros" okay? I never blamed you, so you shouldn't blame yourself for what happened with me or what happened with Sally."

Silence that lasted a lifetime, "I'm sorry I didn't give you a proper goodbye."

"I think I liked the note better. I would have tried to convince you to stay."

"Why would that be so bad?"

"You would have been miserable." Finn closed his eyes, "You were never meant for spy life, I saw the signs but choose to ignore them. Becoming a racer, finding Radiator Springs... It was the best thing for you."

"Was it?" Lightning contemplated quietly, "I guess you're right... And you were never meant for anything but the spy life. You treasure invisibility too much... We had to part ways to be happy. I just wish we had kept in touch."

"That was my fault, I still have your note."

"Why didn't you call?"

"I was afraid of what I might say."

He didn't reply, and Finn didn't expect one. They held each others hand and soaked in each others company because when the sun came up in the morning they would slip their masks back on and go about their lives.

But they had tonight, and maybe that was all they needed.