The next day, the door opened, waking Finn up from his afternoon nap.

"Sorry," Cathy said softly, moving through the living room, "didn't mean to wake you."

"That's alright," he yawned, "I'm basically a newborn these days."

"These days?" she smirked back at him as she set up in the kitchen.

"Watch it," he returned the smile, pulling himself up off the recliner and leaning against the island in the kitchen. "Can I help?"

"You can help by standing still and not moving your shoulder at all."

"I'm fine, love,"

She bent down to preheat the oven, ignoring his request.

"I can open the tomato sauce."

"You definitely can't."

"I can…"

"you can move over," she nudged him with her hips to start assembling the lasagna in one of his glass pans.

He watched her standing there, making a little mess of sauce and cheese as she layered them in with the noodles. His good hand brushed the small of her back and she shivered a little bit before letting him wrap it around her waist and pull her into him tightly. She never took her eyes off her work but leaned into it. Finn pressed his lips to her neck, smiling, and she pushed him away gently, a hand to his chest.

"Do you want this thing in the oven or not?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna go lay down for a minute."

"Okay newborn."

Finn collapsed on the recliner again, resting his shoulder on the armrest. The grogginess was still lingering. Across the room, Cathy took off her oven-mitts and left them on the island.

"40 minutes."

"Hmm, what could we do in 40 minutes do you think?" he gave her a flirtatious grin, patting his lap.

She rolled her eyes but slipped into his arms.

"This alright?" she crossed her leg and tried to take her pressure off his shoulder.

"It's wonderful. You're wonderful. 'Ave I told ya that?"

"No," she responded quietly, nuzzling into his cheek.

"Think there's a lot I 'aven't told you."

"Like what?"

"Like…like how beautiful ya are."

"Nah you tell me that all the time. Usually comes with that brow furrowing thing you do."

"Alllright."

"That all you wanted to tell me?" she grazed his lips with hers.

"Catherine…"

"There you go again. Say my name so you don't have to say anything else."

"I..." he sighed heavily, looking up into her eyes. "I…I think I've been keepin' ya at arms distance because I've been…scared. Of this."

"Yeah?" she bit her lip, he'd never seen her do that before.

"The idea of you an' me… actually bein' you an' me, bein', somethin', somethin' real-"

"Finn, you're babbling."

"Sorry."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I've been half-there with you. I wanna give ya more, I know ya want more."

"I didn't say I wanted more."

"You…I jus' thought… the way ya got on my case about havin' an excuse to be gone when you wake up."

"You do always have an excuse. And I don't really like feeling like I'm a one-night stand that happens over and over again."

"But you…don't want more?"

"Well I didn't say that," she looked down sheepishly.

He tipped her chin up with his forefinger and thumb, running over her lips gently, "Catherine,"

"Don't overdo it," she chuckled.

"Your turn to say somethin'. What do ya want? Do you want…more?"

"I want better."

"Better? Better than me?"

"Better than waking up alone in your bed. Better than being your bud who you happen to also have sex with. Better than…" she trailed off and looked away.

"Than what, Cath?"

"Finn, have you…been with others? Since that night?"

He looked down at the floor before softly admitting, "yes."

"Let me guess, none of them mean to you what I do."

"Actually, yes."

"Oh please," she pushed off his lap and walked back towards the kitchen.

"Ya don't believe me?" he followed her, his shoulder crying out from jumping up.

"Never heard that one before," she said, checking on the oven.

"Well it's the truth."

"Maybe you think that now, but you're gonna change your mind. I've played that game before."

"I'm not gonna change my mind. An' what game exactly? Did ya want somethin' exclusive? Cause ya failed to mention that when we were grinding against that wall over there-"

"Don't." She spun around to face him, unafraid of the distance between their noses. "Don't be a dick about it."

"I want this," he said softly, gruffly. "Tell me ya want this."

"I don't think you know what you want."

"Yes I do. An' if ya want exclusivity, I'm offerin' it, right now." He let his hips push lightly against hers, pinning her against the counter, before kissing her lightly. "Jus' hold my hand an' leap with me."

"It's not that I've minded the way things have been."

"But you want me all to yourself, don't ya? Why bring it up if ya don't?"

"Of course I want you all to myself," she kissed him back, running her hand up his good arm. "Finn you're…"

"Yeah?"

"You're wonderful. Okay? But…"

"But? But what?"

"I want you, not…" she laughed bitterly and shook her head, "not Prince Devitt."

"Babe,"

"I know, I know what I said. But. If Prince Devitt sleeps with me and then disappears by morning, then we should've left this as a one night stand."

"Is that what you want?"

"No! I want the guy who's sweet and thoughtful, the one who's always nervous around me and maybe a little bit cheeky but definitely not smooth and calculated."

"That guy's a loser, Cath," his eyes were pained. "He's needy and awkward-"

"He's wonderful."

"He's no Rockstar, that's for sure."

"I don't care. As long as he's mine."

He sighed and smiled softly, accepting it for now. He kissed her deeply, "all yours, love. All yours. No more casual, no more games. Jus' tell me, are you my girl?"

"Yeah, I'm ya girl," she smirked at the imitation of his accent, but it was wiped off her face by him kissing her roughly. She moaned into it and he pushed against her harder, rolling his hips.

"Fuck. If I had both arms I'll plop ya on this counter right now," he growled.

She didn't respond, gasping for air in between their lips moving on each other. A buzzing broke them out of the trance.

"Think it's done," Cathy leaned down again before taking it out of the oven. "Dinner, remember?"

"I need to sit down," he said breathlessly, his head spinning.

Later that night, he gave her those convincing puppy dog eyes and she found herself back on his lap, straddling this time. His lips were more eager than usual, his hands running through her hair. She backed off once he got more intense, it was clear what he wanted.

"Will you be alright?" she whispered, close to his lips.

"I honestly dunno," he chuckled. "Let's stay here, an' just…slow."

"you slow?" she laughed, shimmying his joggers down over his knees. "The injury really is getting to you."

"Slow doesn't mean light, love. I can still show ya things you ain't never seen before"

"So show me," she let him pull her tshirt dress off, tossing it to the side.

Finn slid her onto him slowly, letting her run her hands all over his torso. He gripped her hips roughly, bouncing her up and down, and kissing through moans. Really, he wanted to flip her onto her back and go to town, but they made do. He made up for it with demanding kisses and she returned with her nails on his back, grazing over his skin with a tiny bit of pain.

"How's this?" he asked breathlessly.

"It's fine,"

"Fine? Is that a challenge?"

She ignored him, "how's your shoulder feel?"

"It's alright, don't worry about me." He pulled her down rougher, but she saw the wince of pain on his face.

"Shh, slow. Remember?" She slowed the pace and he wasn't in much of a position to argue. "I kinda like having you under my control."

"Yeah yeah, ya always like to drive."

She ground against him slowly, savoring each moment and enjoying tangling him in the air. His lips gasped for her and she kept him just ever so slightly at bay. Eventually, he gave in, giving up control and letting her tell him how. Her head rested on his one shoulder and her fingertips grazed over his scar affectionately. She kissed his neck, her hips still working on him.

"Catherine," he whispered. "I like this. I want this."

"I want this too."

After a while, she slipped off again to clean up, pulling on his tshirt that was thrown over the couch.

"Will ya stay?" he pulled his boxers back up one side at a time.

"Uh sure, just, where?"

"Right here," he patted his lap again.

"Sounds uncomfortable," she laughed.

"I'll hold ya tight."

"Alright," she returned, curling up to him. There was enough room on the recliner for both of them.

Finn pulled up a blanket, snuggling her into the crook of his good side.

"Goodnight," he kissed her softly on the lips.

"Goodnight."