Finn rang just after nine to make sure he was looking at the right time table. Rae grabbed her ticket off the counter and confirmed that she was arriving at the train station at 5:46 p.m. "You're sure?" Finn asked for the third time. "For fuck's sake, Finnley. Yes!" She heard a tiny snicker through the receiver and smiled warmly. They were silent for a minute before Finn told Rae he couldn't wait to see her and hung up with a soft click. Rae's heart skipped a beat as soon as she heard a dead line and bolted up the stairs to get ready for their meeting. Given all that had happened before her trip home, she was not expecting a date with Finn when she got back to university, meaning she didn't pack anything that was worthy.

Is it a date? Does he still want that after everythin' that happened?

She rifled through her closet searching for something that would work. She mostly had band t-shirts but that's all she ever wore. She wanted something different. She found a burgundy skirt that she completely forgot she had and thought it would look wonderful with her new pea coat.

Now to find a top… I wonder if mum will let me borrow one…

"MUM!" Rae hollered out of her bedroom door so her mother could hear her from the kitchen.

"Yes, Rae?" She heard her mother say from the bottom of the stairs.

"Can I borrow a top?"

"For what?" Her mother teased.

"For… Uhh…"

"Oh, it's alright, Rae." Her mother's laugh made its way up the stairs. "Of course you can. Just make sure it's not one of my new ones." She added turning back to the kitchen.

"Thanks!"

Rae pushed the door of her mom and Karim's bedroom open and was met with the comfortable scent of Karim's aftershave and her mom's perfume. She smiled as she breathed in, the feeling of a warm blanket closing around her. She walked over to her mother's walk-in closet and her mouth fell to the floor.

"Jesus, mum. When did you become so fashionable?" Rae breathed aloud.

There was a wall length rack of color organized shoes running along the bottom of the closet. There were dresses of various lengths, styles, and colors hanging just above them. Against the back wall was a shelving unit with jeans, slacks, and shorts folded neatly into cubbies. Blouses and knit tops lined the left side of the wall and Rae figured she was sure to find something there.

How do I know which ones are new? I've never seen her wear any of this stuff and I've only been gone two months! Where did they get the money for this stuff?

Rae was going through the blouse rack as if she were in a department store. She stopped every so often to take one out and look at it, wondering if it would match her skirt. She was about to give up and just go with her one of her many band shirts when she saw it. It was the last thing on her mother's rack and it was perfect. It was a hunter green, chiffon blouse with cutouts in the arms. She checked the tag to make sure it would fit her and saw that it was her exact size. She ran her hands down the material and was falling even more in love with it as she did so. That was until she got to the end of the arm and noticed the tag still attached to the sleeve.

Oh, bollocks. It's one of mum's new ones.

Rae was just about to put it back on the rack when she heard her mother's voice from behind her.

"Ya know, I bought that for ya a few years ago." Rae turned to see her mother's warm smile directed towards her.

"You what? Really? Why'd ya never give it to me? I'm sorry, that was presumptuous and rude."

"No, no it's fine. I bought it for ya as a gift for when ya got out of hospital but then you were so adamant about only wearin' long sleeve shirts. I guess I just didn't want to give ya anythin' that would make you upset. We were just startin' to rebuild our relationship and I didn't want ya to think I was forcin' you into anythin'." Her mother shrugged.

Rae thought back to that time in her life and agreed that had her mom tried to give her this shirt she would have taken it the wrong way. She instantly felt guilty that she could have ever been so rude to her mother.

"Why did ya never return it and get ya money back, though?" Rae wondered.

"I just had a feelin' that one day you'd want it." Linda beamed.

"It's beautiful, mum." She said, swallowing a lump in her throat.

"So are ya gunna wear that for your date with Finn?"

"Is it a date, though? I haven't really decided what it is. He may just be pickin' me up and takin' me home."

"I think it's a date, Rae. I think he may have somethin' planned after he picks you up which is why he was so concerned with the time."

"I just don't want to get my hopes up, ya know? I – I just… I don't know." Rae sighed.

"I know. You just want things to go back to how they were before. You two had a rough week and you just want to make sure nothin' happens to disrupt things again."

"Exactly!"

"Can I give you some advice?" Linda asked.

"'Course."

"It will never be like it was before. You want to go back to a time when you couldn't hurt each other because you didn't know each other's true feelings, but you can't. I would never, not in a million years, wish this upon you, but if you and Finn were ever to stop lovin' each other, for the rest of your life, you two will never be 'just friends'."

"That's a terrifyin' thought. I never want there to be a time when Finn's not in my life."

"Love's terrifyin', Rae. It's givin' someone the power to break you in the most cruel and unimaginable way possible but trustin' them enough not to. But it's also the most rewardin', sensational, exhilaratin' ride of your life. Don't be scared of it, Rae. You'll miss out on some of the greatest moments of your life if you are."

Rae stayed silent for a moment. "What're ya thinkin' about, Rachel?" He mother asked gently.

"I trust Finn," she answered confidently.

"Are ya ready for this?"

"I am."

Rae spent the entire train ride thinking about what her mother said. She never knew love before. She'd seen it in movies, on tv shows, in her own home, but she never felt it. On their good days, Rae believed she loved Liam. Or at the very least, thought the only love she deserved was Liam's. But now there was Finn. Wonderful, brilliant, special, kind Finn and for the first time in her life, she believed she deserved to love him and to be loved by him. As soon as the conductor announced her stop was next Rae's heart started hammering like a drum. Even though the train ride back to university was as long as the one to Stamford it felt eons shorter for she knew Finn would be waiting for her and it made her anxious. She was always nervous before she saw him, even when they were just friends. She was always terrified that one day he'd realize he was better than her. That his life would be so much better if she weren't in it and he'd leave.

All last week those same thoughts poisoned her mind and she was terrified that he was actually going to leave her. Even though they talked in the mausoleum and everything seemed to be back to normal, she knew their conversation was far from over. She still had questions and Finn was going to answer them. She trusted Finn, wholly and truly, but he still hurt her and though he promised it would never happen again, she needed to know why it happened in the first place. What changed? It couldn't have just been about not telling him about Liam and Tixy. There was something else, something deeper inside Finn and she desperately needed to know what it was.

I wonder if it has anythin' to do with his mum…

Rae felt the train's speed start to descend and her heart was threatening to beat right out of her chest. When the train stuttered to a stop, Rae's heartbeat slowly started to calm itself. She never understood how Finn had the power to make her heart beat faster and slower at the same time. How he had the ability to excite and calm her with one look. It was a confusing notion really. But she guessed that's just what love was.

Rae stepped off the train as a sharp breeze engulfed her. Having grown acclimated to the heat of the train, Rae shivered and hugged her pea coat closer to her body. She searched up and down the platform for signs of Finn's shaggy hair, wondering why he wasn't there when he checked the time table multiple times before Rae left Stamford. She figured she might as well wait inside for him and was making her way to the station just as the door was being forced open against the wind.

"Hiya!" Finn's smile instantly warmed Rae.

Swoon.

"Hiya. Have you been waitin' long?" Rae smiled back, noticing the skin around his nose and cheeks was shining pink from the wind.

"Oh, not too long. Probably about thirty minutes. But I got a little cold since someone still has my leather jacket and I have to make do with this shabby thing." Finn teased shrugging the shoulders of his worn plaid jacket. "Oi, speakin' of. Is that a new coat?" He asked, tenderly taking in her appearance.

"Oh, yeah!" Rae blushed, thankful for the cold so it wasn't too obvious. "My mum and Karim gave it to me as an early birthday gift. You like it?" She questioned shyly as she spun around.

"I love it. It looks great on you!" He beamed. "I don't know if you know this but navy blue is my favorite color."

"Oh, really? I had no idea." She grinned back to him.

Jackpot.

Rae noticed he was fidgeting with a rumpled piece of paper in his hand. It looked like it had her name on it. "What's that?" She asked pointing to the paper.

"Oh! I, uh, I made you a sign but the wind kind of took advantage of it." He laughed holding up a sign that he had decorated with her name on it. "I wanted to pick you up like those rich and famous people are picked up at the airport."

"Can I have it?"

"It's a bit rumpled." He answered slightly embarrassed.

"I don't mind. That's the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me, Finn." She smiled up to him. He matched her smile as he handed over the paper to her, his hand lingering in hers for a beat longer than necessary.

"Right." He coughed, pulling his hand away. "You ready?"

"Yeah." Rae answered bending at the waist to get her bag. "Where're takin' me, Finnley?"

"Oh, well if I remember correctly, someone once told me they were pretty sensational at bowlin' and I just have to see for myself."

"Ohhohoho." Rae chuckled. "You're in for a rude awakenin', mister."

"Care to make it interestin'?"

"How so?"

"Uh, I – haha – I haven't actually thought that far yet."

"Oh, well I have an idea. But you'll just have to wait until we get there." She quipped at Finn's curious expression.

They spent the 15 minute drive from the train station to the bowling alley laughing about all the terrible things they could make the other do if they won.

"If I win," Finn thought. "You have to listen to Archie lecture you about the differences in political power from World War I to World War II."

"You wouldn't!" Rae gasped.

"Oh, but I would."

"Well, alright. If I win… You have to listen to the Backstreet Boys on repeat, at top volume, for an hour." Rae smiled to herself triumphantly at the look that fell across Finn's face.

"That's just cruel, Rae." He shivered.

"Good thing Chlo has the album. I think she may even have a recorded concert as well." She winked, resting her arm on the center console claiming her victory.

"Well I guess it's a good thing I'm going to win." He smirked, laying his arm next to hers. Rae could feel the heat from his body radiating through her coat.

"Whatever you need to tell yourself, Finnley."

Finn laughed as he parked the car in front of the bowling alley. "You're not really goin' to make me listen to the bloody Backstreet Boys, are ya?"

Rae remained silent as she got out of the car and smiled down to him. She had something much worse in mind for Finn when she won, which she knew she would. What Finn didn't know is that Rae, Chloe, and Izzy had gone bowling together one Sunday night when they first got to university and Sunday night at the bowling alley was also karaoke night. Finn seemed to read her mind as soon as they walked in.

"Nooo. Nononono." He frantically shook his head.

"Well I guess it's a good thing you're goin' to win then. Right, Finn?" She beamed.

Finn swallowed hard. "Fine. But if I win, you have to sing. Deal?" He stuck his hand out for her to shake, sealing their accord.

"Deal." She responded by plunging her hand in his and shaking firmly. This time when it was time to part, Finn never removed his hand. Instead, he switched hands and kept them clasped as he led their way to the shoe counter, Rae blushing the whole time.

Oh, god. Is my hand sweaty? He thinks it's gross, doesn't he? Calm down, Rae. Deep breaths!

When the toothless man behind the counter told Finn it was going to cost 20 pounds for the shoes and the lane, Rae reached into her bag to grab some money. Finn shook his head in the direction of her purse as he reached for his own wallet.

"But–" Rae started but was swiftly silenced when Finn squeezed her hand.

"It's on me, Rae."

"Yeah," the toothless man whistled. "Let yer boyfrien' do summat nice fer ya."

The pair froze at his words, the wounds still fresh from the last time someone unknowingly called Finn her boyfriend. Finn was fidgeting in his wallet, clumsily trying to get a 20 pound note out. Rae knew what she had to do. "Ya know what, sir?" She smiled at the man. "You're right. Thank you, Finn." She reached up to give him a soft kiss on the cheek, his skin hot against her lips. As she pulled away she noticed he was the same shade of red as the carpet they were standing on.

Oh my gosh, he's blushin'…

Finn gave the man his money and grabbed both pairs of shoes. "Lane 14 is all yers. Have fun!" The man said with a wink as they turned to leave. Lane 14 was the second to last lane in the alley and there was no one to their left or right, leaving them virtually secluded from the rest of the place.

"Now, are ya sure ya don't want the bumper, Finn?" Rae joked as he was putting their names on the screen.

"Oh, I'm quite sure, Rachel. But, by all means, we can put them up if you need them."

"No," Rae explained as she examined each ball in the ball return, looking for one that was just right. After finding the one she was looking for, she walked over to the line and bowled a perfect strike. "I think I'm good."

Finn was awestruck. "Where'd ya learn to bowl like that?"

"My mum's been in a league me whole life. Ya sure ya want to keep goin' with this bet?"

"Oh, absolutely!" Finn smiled at her as he made his way to the ball return.

Finn wasn't lying when he said he was a decent bowler, he definitely gave Rae a run for her money. The game had been back and forth the whole time and when it came to the tenth frame, if Rae bowled a strike, she'd win no matter what. But, if she bowled anything less all Finn would need to bowl was a spare to win.

"Hey, Rae. No pressure, but you need a strike in order to win." Finn bantered.

"Really? That's all? Easy, peasy then." She mocked.

"Hope you're warmin' up them vocal chords."

Rae walked to the line trying to hide a smile while Finn was behind her, jokingly singing scales. Rae brought her arm back, took the few steps to gain momentum, swung her arm forward and released. The ball slid gracefully down the lane, gathering speed as it went.

"Do, re, mi, fa –" The ball started to veer left as Rae leaned to the right, willing it to stay on course. "Sol, la, ti, oooooh." The ball struck just to the left of the center pin, leaving five still standing on the right.

Ugh, the bloody left side again?! I swear, this floor is slanted or somethin'.

"Nice try, Rae! That was really close!" Finn said warmly.

"Thanks! It's just been goin' to the left all night, hasn't it? Oh well."

"You still have one more try, ya know?"

"I know, but I'm still not gunna win."

"Ya could. I have to get at least a spare."

"Which we both know you're gunna do."

"Maybe. Maybe not. I could gutter it."

"Finnley Daniel Nelson. If you gutter it on purpose, so help me." She laughed.

"I would never disrespect ya like that, Rae." He answered sincerely.

Rae heard her ball clamber into the return and when she went to get it she felt one of Finn's hands on her back and the other on her hand.

"Try holdin' the ball like this," he demonstrated. "It will spin to the right a bit as it makes it way down the lane."

"Thanks," she swallowed as she turned to see his face was near inches away from her own.

"Knock 'em dead. Literally." He smiled.

"You're so corny." She teased.

"I know." He shrugged. When he moved his hands away, Rae immediately missed his touch. She didn't realize how much she craved it until this very moment. She walked up to the line, holding the ball exactly how Finn showed her, took a deep breath and let go. Just like Finn said it would, the ball drifted slightly the right, knocking the remaining pins down.

"Thanks for the tip, Finnley."

"Yeah, I probably coulda told ya about it after the first time you missed left, but then you woulda had an unfair advantage." He smirked.

"You cheeky bastard!"

"Hey, I'm just tryin' to save you and me both from social embarrassment." He said, pointing over to the karaoke part of the alley. Three girls were holding each other up as they swayed to the rhythm of the song they were singing.

"Dickhead." She murmured.

"You're the dickhead." He shouted as he walked over to the line and bowled his fifth strike of the night.

Oh, fuck.

Finn was rubbing his hands together as he walked back to her. "Nicely done, Finnley." Rae stuck her hand out to congratulate him on his win.

"Well, thank ya, Rae. You were a damn fine opponent I must say. Now, to settle our bet." He grinned mischievously. He grabbed her hand and led her over to the bar where the karaoke machine was set up. Finn flipped through the song book as Rae ordered them drinks. "Nothin' to poppy, please, Finn. I beg of you."

"I would never think of it, m'dear." He smiled cheekily.

"He's gunna torture me," she said to the bartender who did nothing but stare blankly back at her. "Never mind."

Rae made it back to their table just as Finn dropped the card into the song bucket. "Oi! I don't even get to know what song I'm singin'?"

"Not until you get up there." He answered, taking a long pull from his pint.

The same three girls that were swaying together earlier were up at the mic again, this time singing their own version of "Shoop" by Salt-n-Pepa that sounded nothing like the original. Finn and Rae were having so much fun watching them attempt to rap that when the MC announced Rae's name, she'd completely forgotten that she had to sing.

"Ah, fuck." She sighed as she stood up.

"You got this!" Finn said as he playfully smacked her butt.

Oh! Well that's new.

Rae made her way up to the mic, extensively aware that all eyes were on her. She knew she was a good singer, she'd be in choir her whole life, but she hadn't sung in public since before Liam. He made her believe she wasn't good enough, at anything, so she stopped.

Please have picked a good song… Please have picked a good song.

"Basket Case" by Green Day came up on the screen in front of her.

Oh, thank god.

As soon as the music started playing, everyone started bobbing their heads to the music and she scanned the room for where she knew Finn sat and locked eyes with him. He flashed his most charming smile and put two thumbs up in the air. Her eyes still locked on Finn's as she started singing, her nerves vanishing almost instantly.

"Do you have the time to listen to me whine about nothin' and everythin' all at once?" Finn's face softened as he listened to her sing. She still had it. Everyone was up and dancing by the second verse. Everyone but Finn who was still sat at their table, watching the girl he loved sing one of his favorite songs. As the song came to a close, everyone was on their feet giving her a round of applause. She jumped off the stage and half ran to Finn who was standing with his arms open for a hug.

"I did not know you could sing like that, girl! That was brilliant!"

"Well, thank ya, Finnley. It's been a while since I've sang actually. I forgot how much I liked it."

"You should definitely do it more often. We should come back next Sunday."

"We should." She beamed at the thought of them making this a weekly tradition.

A weekly date night perhaps? Oh, Rae…

"Can I get Finn to the stage please?" The announcer asked over the microphone.

"What? You're gunna sing?" Rae asked confused. "But you won."

"Well I didn't want ya to be the only one to make a fool of yaself. But since ya didn't, I guess I'll be the only fool here."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll do just fine. Plus, I think the 'Shoop' girls are the biggest fools here." She winked at him.

Finn made his way to the stage and locked eyes with Rae just as she did to him when he got in front of the microphone. Rae was wondering what song he was going to sing when the first chords of "Wonderwall" started to play. Rae softly closed her eyes.

Is this actually happenin'? This has to be some sick dream, right? This is just too perfect. I'm gunna wake up and be back in Stamford.

When she opened her eyes, Finn was well into the first verse of the song, his eyes searching her face. In a room filled with nearly thirty people, it felt like they were the only two people there. His eyes never left hers and he sang each words with such conviction that Rae was sure every single person in the room could feel the truth he felt behind them. It took everything she had not to cry.

When the song was finished, Finn slowly made his way through crowd to their table in the back.

"What'd ya think?" He asked shyly.

"Well, ya were a little flat on the second chorus," she grinned. "But other than that… It was beautiful, Finn."

When they sat back down, he grabbed her hand and laced their fingers together, his thumb gently stroking hers. Rae couldn't recall a time when she was happier. For the first time in her life she had everything she ever wanted.

A few songs later, one of the "Shoop" girls got up to sing Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic and Rae jokingly made the vomit sound, quiet enough for just Finn to hear.

"Not a fan of the song, the movie, or Celine Dion in general?" He asked.

"The movie mostly and that's really only because of how obsessed with Leonardo DiCraprio everyone is. Izzy and Chlo dragged me to one of his movies last Sunday and it was just terrible. As we were leavin' they were tryin' to convince me of how fit he was. I just don't see it. I truly don't understand how everyone thinks he's so hot." Rae shook her head in mild disgust.

"Ohh! That's who you were…" Something clicked in Finn's brain.

"What?" Rae questioned.

"Nothin'," Finn insisted, a smile tugging at his lips. "It's nothin'."

"Okay, weirdo." Rae joked, nudging him with her shoulder.

The two of them stayed for one more beer and a few more songs before they decided to call it a night. Rae was feeling slightly drunk on the beer and so high on Finn that when he leant in to whisper, "You ready?" and his humid breath hit a cold patch of sweat on neck, she shivered involuntarily and a completely different emotion took over: lust. When she turned to meet his gaze, his face was so close to hers that their noses brushed and she could only make out one of his honey colored eyes.

Right here? In front of all these peoples?! No. This is not where we're goin' to have our first kiss.

Rae swallowed hard and shook her head yes. Finn quickly pulled away and stood to let her out of the booth. Their fingers remained laced over the center console of Finn's car the whole drive back to Rae's suite.

How do I get him upstairs? Also, what if Chlo and Izzy are up there? That's goin' to be awkward… I wish there was a way I could let them know we're comin'. Why isn't telepathy a real thing?! Chloe and Izzy, if you can hear me, Finn and I may be comin' up in a bit… So… ya know… Leave.

Finn opened the boot of the car to grab her bag and slung it over his shoulder as they walked to the front door of her building. An awkward silence filled the air as they both remembered what happened the last time they stood in this very same spot just the week before. He let go of her hand and dropped her bag to the ground. "No crazy ex-boyfriends are gunna pop out of the corners of the car park, are they?" He half joked.

"God, I sure as shit hope not." She answered timidly. "Uh, ahem, do you want to come up and get your jacket… Maybe?"

"Nah, it's fine. You can keep it. I like this one a lot actually. I kind of forgot I had it," he responded quietly, shuffling the rocks around his feet. "Plus, if I go up there, I don't think I'd make it home. And I don't want that for our first date." He looked up to catch her eyes as he said it. Given all that had happened, he still wasn't sure how she felt about him anymore.

"So this was a date?" She asked hopeful.

"I, I mean, I was kinda hopin' it was. Ya know. I mean, if you don't want it to be, then it doesn't have to be. I just thought, I mean…" He was rambling.

"Finn," she said softly reaching for his hand. "I wanted it to be a date, too." His smile lit up the night.

"Good, cause it was the best first date I've ever had."

"Me too." She beamed.

"So, uh, when can I see you again?" He puffed out his chest with fake machoism.

"Well, I'm free for lunch tomorrow. I usually meet a friend of mine, but I think I can kick him to the curb and pencil you in."

"Poor bastard." He quipped.

"Poor bastard indeed."

A beat.

"So, um, I'm gunna go…" He said uneasily.

"Okay…"

"But I wanted to say somethin' first."

"What?"

"Ahem, um… I – I like this jacket." He blurted out as he reached for the second toggle of her peacoat.

HUH?

"Is that it?" She asked confused.

"No," Finn whispered defiantly. "This is." He looped his finger through the second toggle and pulled Rae forward, their lips meeting each other instantly. Finn reached up to grab the back of Rae's head to bring her even closer to him. Their lips moved tenderly against each other before Rae parted her mouth slightly, allowing Finn's tongue to work its way inside. She finally had all of Finn and nothing in her life ever tasted so sweet. It wasn't greedy or rushed like the kisses from her past had been. This was gentle and sincere, passionate and loving. Their kiss was breathing life into their souls and holding the promise of all their tomorrows. It took Rae's breath away and filled her with the greatest desire she's ever known. She never wanted their lips to be apart and as far as she was concerned, she'd only ever be able to breathe properly when their lips were connected. She gripped the back of his shirt tightly as he moved his hand from the back of her head to gently caress her face. Whether they were there for thirty second or thirty minutes, Rae wasn't sure. All she knew was that when they parted and Finn gently bit down and worked her lower lip between his teeth, she was breathless and hungry for more.

"Whoa," Finn.

"Jesus," Rae.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that." He exhaled, their foreheads pressed together, his hand still on her cheek.

"Oh, probably about as long as I've wanted to do that." She laughed. He gently kissed her one more time, the taste of his beer still on his lips, before he asked, "Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow." He kissed her forehead lovingly and let go.

Rae was rooted to the spot she stood, not wanting to go inside. She wanted this moment to last as long as it could. She watched Finn's retreating figure dance through the car park to his car.

"Woo!" Finn shouted as he shot both arms in the air.

"You're so corny!" She hollered out to him.

"You love it!"

More than you could ever know, Finnley. More than you could ever know.