Chapter 3: The Talk

*Piper's POV*

Everyone arrived at the hanger (except Stork who was driving the Condor) as they boarded their skimmers she looked at Aerrow who gave her a confident, warming smile, which she returned, then glanced at Finn who was looking at her. As he noticed her looking he gave her a nervous smile, she turned back to her skimmer without returning the smile.

"Everyone ready?" Aerrow called out. As everyone replied the hangar doors opened and they flew out to meet the oncoming enemy.

The battle - if you could call it that - was over in a few minutes, there was only a few cyclonians which Aerrow took out with a sweep of his blades, sending a wave of crystallised power over them, knocking them off their skimmers.

Aerrow and Piper stayed out a few minutes after the others to scout the area for more cyclonians, which there were none of. As they landed there wasn't anyone else in the hangar bay suggesting that they were on the deck celebrating.

She jumped of her skimmer and run over to Aerrow and jumped on him, making them both crash to the floor laughing.

"You ok Piper?" he brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear where it had fallen out of her band.

"Yea, perfect." Sighing with contempt and rested her head on Aerrow's shoulder. Everything at the moment is just… perfect. "C'mon, let's go join the celebrations." She said as she got up and headed for the door.

Aerrow got up, brushed off the dirt (considering he was the one who landed on the floor) and joined Piper at the door. Grabbing her hand, sending warmth through both their bodies, they both headed for the deck when Piper had a sudden thought. Finn! We can't walk in like this. I don't want to hurt him more than he already is.

She stopped and pulled Aerrow to a stop as well. "Aerrow what about Finn?"

"What are you-" he looked down at their entwining hands "oh,"

"I'm sorry Aerrow but, we don't want to upset him more, it could interfere with the group."

"Your right," *Sigh* He let go of her hand and smiled at her. Maybe later we could make up for it.

"Sounds fun." Before going through the door into the deck she turned and gave Aerrow a cheeky wink and went in to join the party.

*Aerrow's POV*

He entered the deck and looked around. Finn was doing his 'awesome' guitar moves under the lights, and at the sides Junko and Radarr where laughing at him. Stork was standing in the corner muttering about doom as per usual making it sociably uncomfortable to go stand with him.

He saw Piper at the table drawing maps and resisted the urge to go over to her. Great, I can't go over to Piper, I suppose I could try and talk to Stork… no, I'm not particularly in the mood for a lesson in doom and destruction. *Sigh* He walked over to the guys and joined in mocking Finn for the next half hour.

After a while he sat on the sofas and just enjoyed the sounds of his teammates enjoying themselves. Piper came and sat next to him after a while and rested her head on his shoulder. Smiling he looked down at her, "Tired?"

"Yeah, dancing with the others takes it out of you." She laughed.

Laughing he pulled her into a hug, where they both collapsed in a fit of giggles. "LOVE BUGSSSSS!"

"STORK!" They both shouted. Junko and Radarr were rolling on the floor laughing, whilst Finn just smiled to himself, although the smile was slightly forced. Noticing this Aerrow pulled both him and Piper up and he walked out of the deck into the corridor. Not looking behind him at the hurt look he knew was on Piper's face. I'm gunna have to make it up to her somehow.

Pushing his hair of his face sighing heavily, he leaned against the wall. I can't do this, I know Finn still likes her but… sliding down onto the floor he continued his line of thought. …I have to talk to him, soon.

At that moment Finn walked out into the corridor laughing about something. He didn't notice Aerrow sitting on the floor so he tripped on his legs and went flying across the room sprawled on the floor. He laughed to himself and got up to help Finn, as he reached out a hand to Finn, he gave Aerrow a look suggesting he doesn't want his help. But the look was gone in an instant and it was hard for Aerrow to know Finn would look at him like that.

"Thanks mate," Finn reached out and pulled himself up by Aerrow's hand.

Well, it's now or never Aerrow, just get it over with.

"Umm… Aerrow?"

"Uh? Oh sorry Finn. No probs."

"Cool, well I'm just gunna go to my room to get something." Aerrow noticed Finn was slowly backing away from him.

"Finn… listen, we need to talk-"

"About what?" Finn's tone was harsh and it surprised Aerrow, seeing the look on Aerrow's face Finn lowered his voice. "Sorry mate, I'm just tired that's all."

"Are you sure that's it Finn, I mean I've noticed the looks and the behaviour changes in you when me and Piper are together."

"I don't know what you-"

"FINN!"

"OK OK! Fine, you want the truth?"

"Yes." The bluntness of Aerrow was swaying Finn, so he looked around to see if anyone was there and pulled Aerrow into his room.

"Look Aerrow, I'm sorry but…"

"You're still in love with Piper aren't you?"

*Sigh* "Yea," he looked sheepishly at Aerrow as if he were going to strike him. Anger flared through Aerrow, which he quickly squashed. Now is not the time for that.

"Aerrow…"

"Sorry Finn, I was just thinking."

"Look I understand if you're mad-"

"I'm not, well not much anyway; I just want us to talk through it so we can move on and continue with our lives without this… bad feeling between us."

"Aerrow, I'm sorry."

"Don't be, I know you can't control it. I mean if you could you would I mean, you wouldn't intentionally risk everything over this would you?"

"No! of course not, I wish I didn't but… I can't help it. Every time I look at her I feel…"

"Don't go into that, please Finn."

"Oh, right yeah, but when I see you with Piper I just feel so much anger and pain."

"Finn…"

"No wait, I need to say this. I know I have no right to feel like this, I mean, I broke her heart for something meaningless. And I know you fixed her, and I'm glad you've found each other. Really. But…"

"FINN! I understand, I mean when you were with Piper, I felt the exact same way when you two were together."

"You did?"

"Yes, of course!"

"Oh, ok?"

"Look Finn, I know what it feels like and I know the pain don't ease but, you've got to contain it or get it out of your system somehow. Train, meditate, something. That's what I did."

"Ok I'll try."

"Great, I'm glad we talked Finn."

"Yeah sure." Aerrow turned and walked towards the door. "Hey, Aerrow?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"No problem Finn, and me and Piper will keep it to a minimum Ok?"

"Thanks."

Aerrow walked away to find Piper and apologise for how he behaved earlier. Hopefully she'll forgive me and I can make it up to her. Suddenly, something hit him. Finally! I've thought of the perfect gift! Now I have to prepare. Great. Piper's birthday is 5 days away.