The day was long and the weather was only getting hotter. I trained for most of the afternoon between meals, combat with Raphael, swordsmanship with Cybele as well as another attempt at archery which had gone better. I still wasn't a great shot, but I did manage to hit the second ring which was improvement.

Meraki training happened before dinner, and I nearly fell asleep at the table before Raphael elbowed me in the ribcage. I'd jumped in shock, dumping half my orange juice in his lap which went as well as anyone could have expected. I earned a few more morning runs, which sounded miserable. Getting up any earlier was going to kill me.

Walking back to my room, my muscles ached. My body was getting stronger and stronger, everything looking more toned and defined when I looked at myself in the mirror. But it came with a price. My legs felt ready to give out after all the running and my arms burned from having to hold that heavy bow for hours.

Groaning, I lifted up my arm to open my bedroom door, flipping on the lights as I kicked off my shoes. It was late and I was about to pass out onto the floor. Walking towards the bathroom, something caught my eye as I stopped to look. It was a card on my dresser I realized. Picking it up, I opened it and read:

I think it's time to start doing more of those things we talked about before, My real apartment is located on the seventh floor of the Danvers building. Key code is 0626. Come and see me because I missed you today. -Finn  P.S. Do not tell Samaria my combo or else she will steal my boxers. Consider yourself warned, Sweetheart.

My smile was so wide that it hurt. I set the note down on the dresser before hurrying into the bathroom. I stripped off my clothes in a frenzy, taking the fastest shower of my life. He wanted me to come to his apartment! He wanted me to come see him because he missed me. Oh, I'd missed him too.

I giggled with glee while brushing out my hair. In a tornado of action, I found a pair of clothes that were casual, leggings and a black t-shirt, and struggled to put them on while blowdrying my hair. Tying it up in a ponytail and applying some mascara from Cybele, I smoothed my shirt before taking one last glance in the mirror.

For a full day of training, I didn't look half bad. My energy was returning every second, and after taking a quick glance at the key code one last time, I hurried from my bedroom and down the hall.

I went down the tube and walked into the night. The sun had set not long ago and the crystals along the path illuminated the way leading towards the guardian terrace. Now I'd finally be able to see his apartment. I couldn't pinpoint what had be so excited, but just the thought of finally knowing him and being alone with him made me smile from ear to ear. 

He'd seen my room plenty of times before, but seeing his... I got the impression that his room was strictly off limits to most. Perhaps that's what thrilled me about it. He was letting me into his space, and I was a member of the select few who got to experience it.

I found the Danvers building in the dark, slipping through the main set of doors as I walked towards the elevator. The open common area was empty and lined with a few couches, the lamplight illuminating the space. I pushed the button for the elevator, hearing its chime as the doors slid open.

Clicking seven, the doors shut as the floor gave a soft vibration before I felt it clicking upwards. I prayed to Fate that no one else needed the elevator, and too much glee, it didn't stop until the light glimmered floor seven.

The doors opened and I stepped out, gazing around at the hallway. Realization struck me; out of all these doors, I had no clue which one was Finn's. A figure walked around the corner of the hall to my left, and I realized exactly who it was. My jaw clenched; it was Madeleine.

She looked up and saw me, raising her eyebrows slightly as she gazed at me. She looked particularly interested. "Hey, Kate. What are you doing up here?"

I could ask the same.

"Madeleine," I offered her a smile, "I'm looking for the Commander's room. We had an... argument today and he wanted me to come up to go over my training schedule. Something about it not fitting with his schedule. I'm not sure what else because I didn't ask. He can be very intimidating."

She bought it with ease. "Oh, well his door number is 572, and it's to the left. Finn's less intimidating the more you get to know him, I assure you."

I only nodded my head, biting on my tongue. "Thank you."

She smiled with a nod before sliding past me into the elevator as I turned left down the hall, feeling my blood boil. I wouldn't even try to deny it; I was jealous. I was damn right jealous, especially since she pranced around acting like she knew him better than me.

Oh, I so badly wanted to grab Finn during the middle of breakfast and kiss the daylights out of him in front of all the guardians just to prove that he was min....

"Kate!" Finn's voice nearly made me jump in surprise, a flush rising over my cheeks as I saw him walking towards me. He came close, whispering. "I forgot to write my room number. I'm so sorry!"

"It's alright. Madeleine told me the way."

Finn clenched his jaw, "well, she's never been inside it so don't believe her if she says she has."

"I never thought anything of it." I replied, not letting my jealousy show. I felt like acting jealous would just imply that I didn't trust their platonic relationship. I trusted Finn, and if he told me he had no interest in Madeleine, I'd believe him. I'd believe him over her any day.

"Good." He smiled before glancing about the hall. "Come on, follow me." Finn didn't take my hand and I followed behind him, keeping a good distance in case anyone stepped out into the hallway.

Finn's apartment was at the end of the hall and on its own. The other doors didn't come close to his at all I realized as he approached his apartment. With a smile, he turned to me, gesturing to the key code.

"You can do the honors."

"Why thank you." I returned his grin with one of my own. Punching in the numbers 0626, I heard the click of the door as a green light flashed on the keypad. Finn turned the handle and opened the door for me.

I walked into Finn's apartment, looking around as he shut the door behind us. He flipped on the lights before walking into the kitchen, and I stood behind him while taking in the room.

His apartment was much larger than my room as I gazed at the spacious living room. It could fit my entire bedroom at least four times. Everything was clean and straight, all the furniture and decor in hues of grey and blue which I found to be a soothing combination. His couch looked extremely comfortable as I found myself moving towards it before plopping down to see for myself.

It was heavenly, and the navy blue blanket resting on the arm chair was the softest thing I'd felt in my life. He hadn't been lying about having soft blankets as I rubbed my fingers along it.

"Do you want anything to drink? Anything at all?" Finn asked me and I looked up to where he leaned against the counter. He'd taken off his sweatshirt at the door, and now I could see he was wearing a black, short sleeve shirt which was new.

He must have wanted to cover up even just in the hallway, but now just the two of us he had nothing to hide, our new closeness making me feel warm inside. I could see all the muscles and veins running along his forearms in a way that made me pause for a moment before I could answer.

"No thank you." I smiled, "I love your apartment. I'm stealing this couch and your blanket. Thank Fate you weren't lying about the blankets."

"Thanks." He gave me one of his smiles that made my heart do backflips. "I'm sure there are more blankets around here somewhere if you want a few. But, the couch might be a little harder to take with you."

"Really? You'd let me have one of your blankets?"

"Considering how excited you look, yes, you can have it." He chuckled, sipping from a glass of water. "Since the couch is too heavy to move, you'll just have to come visit it often. Hopefully me too and not just the couch."

I laughed, standing up as I walked across the living room towards him. "The couch is priority number two." I walked around the island towards him, his arms coming around my waist to hold me closel.

He tilted my chin up with his fingers, his baby blue eyes meeting mine. "I'm glad you like me more than my couch or my blankets."

I responded by rising on my tiptoes, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I definitely like you more than your couch. If I could take you with me instead of a blanket, I would."

Finn kissed my lips, claiming them with a heat that made me shudder from my fingertips to my toes. His wings came around us both, holding me up against his body as we kissed deeply. I wrapped my arms around his neck, digging my fingers into his hair as I nibbled on his bottom lip.

He groaned in reply, his fingers running fire up and down my back as his tongue dominated mine. My fingers slid underneath the edge of his shirt, Finn giving me his approval by kissing me even harder. I felt him shiver at the touch of my hands running up his muscular stomach, each pack of muscle only making me kiss him with more urgency.

"I need... Kate..." He said against my lips, pulling back to cup my face in his hands.

"What is it?"

"I wanted you to come up here because..." Finn paused, finding his words with caution. "You see..."

"Are you breaking up with me?" The words came out of my mouth before anything else as I swallowed.

"Of course not!" Finn snorted, placing a kiss on my forehead. "Never in my life would I be that stupid!"

"Oh thank Fate!" I rested my head against his chest. "You had me worried for a minute."

Finn cradled me against him, resting his chin on the top of my head. "I'm sorry that I worried you, Sweetheart. But, we still need to talk. The reason that I really wanted to see you tonight is because a large group of Guardians are being shipped out tomorrow, and that includes me."

I raised my head to meet his eyes, feeling my stomach sink. "you're... leaving?"

"Yes, tomorrow morning I'm leaving on assignment. It isn't a big mission so I should be gone for a few days at most, a week if things get complicated but I don't see that happening. I didn't find out about it until this morning."

"What are you going to be doing there?"

Finn ran a finger along my jawline. "Demon attacks have been occurring in a town on Pugnam, and we're almost positive that Nocen is there." I touched his face, feeling him lean into my palm. "I'm going to lead troops as well as try to bait Nocen. Cybele and Raphael are leaving with me too."

"Oh." It was the only word that came from my mouth, Finn's crystal blue eyes gazing down at me. I now held his hands in mine, biting my lip as a knot formed in my throat.

"I wish I didn't have to leave you, Kate. I really wish I didn't, but I can't get out of it."

"I understand, Finn." I looked up at him, giving his hands a squeeze. "I'm not upset about you leaving, Finn. It's your job to lead. I'm just... just..." Clearing my throat, I could finally reply, "please come back to me safe. I'm worried about you fighting and hurting yourself. Really worried."

He stepped in closer to me. "I'm going to be completely fine, I promise. I'll come back to you in one piece. After 60 years of this, I think I can handle myself."

"I know you can. It's just that..." I sucked in air as I wrapped my arms around my chest. "All that I'm going to be able to think about is the possibility that you might not... come back."

He stared down at me before cupping my face in his hands, stepping close until I could feel his body heat radiating through my clothes. "I don't want to leave you either, because I'd rather spend my evenings with the most beautiful girl in the universe. Please know that I'll come back to you. Nothing could stop me from coming home."

Home. The word echoed in my ears with such a beauty it almost made me forget why I'd been so worried. "My parents didn't come home, Finn." I stuttered, "I don't know what I'd do if you didn't either."

"Your parents were soldiers?"

"They were drafted into the military when I was little, and to this day I never knew them." I said softly. "They never came home. They never made it back, Finn, and I have no clue where they ended up or how they died. Please be safe because you need to come back to me."

He rested his forehead against mine as I wrapped my fingers around his wrists, his hands still holding my face. Finn swallowed, "I'm coming home to you, and that's a promise. Don't worry, Kate, because I'll be back before you know it. Tonight, my only agenda is to pack and enjoy my time with you if you'll have me."

"Of course I'll have you." I couldn't help but let a small smile pass over my lips. I kissed him on the lips. "So you have to pack?"

"Hmhmm yes..." Finn responded, mumbling as he kissed my neck while his hands skimmed dangerously close to cupping my ass. "But I don't want to..."

"Do you not want me to see your turkey boxers that match Raphael's?"

This made him nearly choke as he raised his head to look down at me. Finn wrinkled up his nose with a low snarl. "I can assure you that none of my boxers have thanksgiving turkey on them."

"What about bones?" I said with a mischievous smile. "I mean wolves are related to dogs..."

I didn't finish because Finn picked me up and sat me on the kitchen counter, making me giggle as he leaned in to kiss my lips. I wrapped my legs around his waist, kissing him back softly.

"No bones I can guarantee you." He breathed against my lips, making goosebumps rise on my skin as he pulled back with a smile.

"I'd still like you a lot even if you had turkey boxers." I laughed, tracing my fingers along the veins running up his forearms. My fingers came up to either side of his face as I placed a kiss on his nose. 

His arms wrapped around my waist as he held me closer to his chest. "Well aren't I lucky?"

I grinned before kissing his lips, gripping him tighter just as he pulled me in closer. His lips were soft and I couldn't keep my heart from racing in my chest as he ran his fingers up my back, making a shiver ripple through my spine.

"Are you cold?" He whispered.

"Hardly." I said, kissing him as I felt a need stirring inside me that only Finn could fill. He kissed me back, a rumble like a low purr echoing in my ears. His hands ran down my back to my waist before gripping my ass hard.

I squeezed my legs tighter around his hips, arching my back to kiss the side of his neck as he let out a hiss of pleasure. I trailed kisses along the soft hollow of his neck, stopping to nibble on his collarbone. "Finn..." I breathed against his skin, making a shudder roll down his body as he gripped me tighter.

He growled, making my heart beat quicker and my toes curl against the counter. He claimed my lips and stole the air from my lungs, erasing all my abilities to think. Finn teased the skin along the side of my neck, making my thighs shudder as I closed my eyes. He felt amazing, and sparks ran up from my stomach.

Finn was running his hands all along my body as he kissed my neck and collarbones, drawing out a moan when he took some of my skin along my neck in his teeth. He didn't bite for long and soon his lips were back against mine, our tongues dancing together as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

I arched my back, feeling my hips grind against his in a way that made him groan in reply. Instinct ran through me as I took his bottom lip between my teeth, biting it softly. It felt as though I'd been set into overdrive now, a jolt of electricity running through me as all I wanted now was to make him moan my name until he couldn't pronounce it.

I wanted to rip his shirt off and kiss every scar, to make him feel how much I wanted him. My mind was running rampant now at the thought of all the wonderful and bad things he could do to me and I to him, my abdomen tightening as my heart pounded with every fantasy.

I wanted to take off whatever color boxers he was wearing now, turkey themed or not. I wanted him now, all of him. And it was a desire more intense than any I'd ever felt for any man in my life.

"I... I need..." I panted when I released his bottom lip, making Finn pull back with the same breathlessness I was experiencing.

"What... is it? What do you... need? Do want to stop here?" He replied with a puff, his cheeks a soft scarlet against his dimples that only made him more handsome.

I reached up to touch his shoulder, my veins now glowing a soft gold. As soon as I touched him, something exploded inside me. In that instant, I felt a spark leave my body, darting from the core of my meraki as it shout out through my stomach and up my arm straight into Finn's chest.

His entire body went rigid as he fell forward, knees giving out while his hands gripping the edge of the counter for support. He let out a loud snarl in response as he seemed to go limp. His arms and lips quivered as his head fell against my shoulder, and I cried out in fear.

"Oh my Fates! Finn! Finn!" I held him against my chest. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I've hurt you! I knew I would! Finn, please say something! Oh Fate, I could have killed you!"

Finn panted as he gripped my waist, trying to steady himself as though he'd just run two marathons. "I'm... fine. Kate, it's ok. It wasn't your..."

"It isn't ok! I hurt you! My meraki nearly knocked you unconscious, Finn, just like all the others!" I groaned in horror, "this is what happened with Leighton when we... when we..."

"Please... do not explain... sex with him... to me." Finn snarled in reply, his golden eyes looking up to meet mine. "I can bet on my life that... you definitely didn't hurt him. You didn't hurt me at all."

I stared at him in surprise, raising an eyebrow. "Wait, what? I didn't hurt you? You just... nearly fell on me in pain."

Finn clenched his jaw, his cheeks turning a little pink. "Definitely not in pain. The opposite."

"What do..."

"Whatever the hell you just did to me... Fates, I hate to admit it but you made me cum in my boxers."