"The One" – Part 19

Summary and additional notes in part 1.

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! Didn't mean to hype this chapter, but babies are cute and Coyne Twin interaction is awesome! (We don't get enough of it on the show anymore..)

This is not related to my Degrassi timeline fics. (See my Author's Profile for details!)

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Degrassi!

-oOo-

"One more time!"

Finlay laughed as his aunt raised him in the air and spun him around. He loved being held and looking around as all his surroundings blurred together.

Fiona caught her breath as she put her nephew down on the grass. Like him, she was now a bit dizzy. Declan looked on, thoroughly amused.

"Keep this up and he may nap all the way through lunch," he smirked. It would allow him and Fiona to enjoy their meal uninterrupted.

Fiona looked down at the strawberry blond haired toddler. He was still giggling as he looked up at her. She shook her head. "I don't like the sound of that! Who needs naps anyway?" she said in a teasing manner.

Finlay mirrored her movement. "No nappy!" he declared. He and Fiona smiled at each other.

Declan laughed. "You guys make quite the pair," he noted.

Twenty minutes later he returned from tucking Finlay into bed. The tyke had worn himself out.

Declan sighed as he joined his sister at the patio table. "Trust me, this is a good thing. He's like the energizer bunny these days. Peace and quiet is few and far between!"

Fiona grinned. "You look exhausted."

He shrugged. "It's been a busy week. Heather's in town with her husband and kids. They're out sightseeing right now, but Holly J and I have been hosts at Hotel Coyne." His sister-in-law and her family came down from Toronto on Tuesday night.

Fiona laughed. "I can see how that would be tiring. With their kids, you guys have four kids under ten under one roof!" It sounded hectic but she thought it was great that Finlay could play with his cousins.

Declan nodded. "I'm looking forward to family dinner at the Penthouse tomorrow. Holly J and I will get a break because Heather and Will are going to watch Finlay."

"He's not coming?" Fiona asked disappointed.

Her brother shook his head. "Not this time. When babysitting is offered, we take it!"

The twins laughed.

"Right, it's a limited commodity," she quipped.

"Well, his favorite Aunt used to come around more but she's been rather busy as of late," he teased.

Fiona playfully rolled her eyes. "Whatever do you mean?" she questioned innocently.

Declan smirked. "Oh I don't know, maybe I'm referring to everybody's favorite trans man," he quipped. "Especially back in Toronto," he added.

Fiona gave him a look. "Very funny," she deadpanned.

Declan laughed. "Oh come on, that's just one joke!"

"Fine," she dismissed it. "Anyway, it has been an eventful week."

"You could say that again," he agreed. "How are things going with you guys?"

Fiona visibly brightened. "Amazing! Really, this week has been perfect."

Declan raised an eyebrow. "So I hear."

"I'm sure Holly J and mom gave you the rundown," she acknowledged. She found it somewhat annoying, but it was what it was.

Declan nodded. "Any regrets?" he questioned. She seemed pretty happy being with Adam, but he wondered if she had any second thoughts about ending her relationship with Beth.

Fiona let out a breath. Whenever she thought about the break up, there was one thing above all else that she wished she had done differently.

"When we were breaking up, I really wish I would have said 'it's not you, it's me' or something that was more vague. I was a little too honest and told her some things I wish I hadn't," she answered. She winced as she recalled Beth's reactions to her words. She thought Gretchen was right that she had been too forthright about why she wanted to end things.

"Wow, that's you're only regret?" Declan chided her. "I guess you really are over Beth…"

Fiona narrowed her eyes at his judgmental tone. "It's not like that," she protested. "It was a really hard conversation. One of the most difficult ones I've ever had."

Declan shrugged. "Not to be a stickler, but your words and actions don't match up. You seem kind of cold-hearted about this."

Fiona looked at him hurt. "How can you say that?" His words truly stung.

Declan sighed. "I'm just saying, you guys went out for two years and have been broken up for less than a week, yet you've already moved on," he argued.

Fiona frowned. It bothered her that her twin brother couldn't see where she was coming from. "I know it was sudden but I handled it the best that I could, Declan. Put yourself in my shoes. What if you were with a great person who had done nothing wrong, but Holly J came back into your life? What would you do?"

Declan was quiet as he considered her words.

"Would you stay because it was the 'right' thing to do and you didn't want to hurt them? Would you ignore what your heart was telling you and let the person you were meant to be walk out of your life again?" she continued. "And how would it feel knowing whatever decision you made, someone was going to get their heart broken? It's only a matter of one heart or two?"

Declan had a wry smile. He and his wife had been adamant all week that no good could come from Fiona's hasty decision to end things with Beth. However, he had to admit she had a point. If it was him, he would move heaven and earth to find his way back to Holly J. Hell, it was hard enough convincing her to give him another chance when they were at Yale. They didn't officially get back together until the very end of sophomore year.

"Alright… It's a shitty situation," he acknowledged.

Fiona looked at him with a small smile. "It definitely was. I didn't sit back and let it fester. I didn't lie or cheat. Once I recognized how I felt, I dealt with it head on. I was honest with Beth and Adam. Probably too honest, but I was direct about where I stood," she asserted.

Declan nodded. "Yes, you were and that's commendable," he agreed. "What I don't understand is… Why did you move so fast with Adam? I mean, couldn't you guys have waited a bit? From what I hear you're practically living together!"

Fiona softly laughed. "Things are moving fast, but we're not living together! I just visit… a lot."

Declan raised an eyebrow. "Right… Adult sleepovers. Gotcha…"

She gave him a warning look. "Not those kind of sleepovers," she clarified.

Declan looked back at her unconvinced. "I find that hard to believe…"

She rolled her eyes. "Well, believe whatever you want. I'm just happy to have him back in my life." She sighed happily.

Her brother laughed. "I can see that!"

.

tbc

A/N: Aww! Sibling bonding! Declan took her to task, but they came to an understanding. Maybe he and others will finally stop bringing up Beth every few minutes. Lol! And, aww, Fiona and Finlay were cute!

FYI, Heather is Heather Sinclair, Holly J's older sister – who miraculously has never been seen on the show! Lol!

In the next chapter, we'll meet some of Adam's friends! Booyah!

Review! You know you wanna! :D