It's been a week since Finn's breakdown, and I thought it'd be best for him not to be alone, so I moved in with him – just till school starts resumes and our friends are back.

The days have been a mix of quiet support and gradual healing. Finn has been opening up more and sharing his thoughts and feelings, and I've been there to listen and reassure him. We've spent our time cooking meals together, watching movies, and going on long walks to clear our heads – well, his head, and I just stare at the beauty that is Finn Brooks.

One afternoon, we're sitting on the couch, a movie playing in the background. Finn's head rests on my lap, and I'm absentmindedly running my fingers through his hair. He looks up at me, a soft smile on his lips.

"You know," he starts, his voice thoughtful, "I've been thinking a lot about what you said. About facing things together."

I nod, encouraging him to continue.

"I want to reach out to Mum and Daphne," he says, his eyes meeting mine. "I'm still angry, and I don't know how to deal with all of it, but I feel like I need to at least try."

"That's a big step," I say, my heart swelling with pride for him. "And I'm here for you every step of the way."

He sits up, taking my hands in his. "I know, and I can't thank you enough for that."

"We're in this together," I remind him, squeezing his hands gently.

The next day, Finn decides to call his mum. He brings out a crumpled-up paper and dials the number written on it. I sit beside him for support, holding his hand as he dials the number. His mum answers on the second ring, her voice tentative.

"Hello?"

"Mum, it's Finn," he says, his voice steady but with a hint of vulnerability.

There's a pause, then a shaky, "Finn, hi. I'm so glad you called."

"I've been thinking a lot," Finn starts, glancing at me for reassurance. "I want to meet Daphne. I want to try to understand everything."

His mum's voice wavers with emotion. "Thank you, Finn. That means so much. When can we meet?"

They arrange to meet the following weekend. Finn hangs up, letting out a deep breath, and I pull him into a hug.

"You did great," I whisper, feeling his tension start to melt away.

*******

Finn's POV

When the weekend arrives, Lily and I drive up to meet Mum and Daphne at a park near their home.

My heart pounds with a mix of anxiety and hope. Lily's hand in mine grounds me, giving me the strength I need to face what's ahead.

We walk toward the meeting spot, and I see Mum sitting on a bench, looking nervous. Beside her is a young girl, around eight years old, with wide, curious eyes. As we approach, Mum stands up, her expression a mix of hope and fear.

"Finn," she says softly, reaching out but hesitating.

"Mum," I respond, my voice thick with emotion.

Daphne looks up at me, then Lily, her eyes full of questions. "Are you my brother?" she asks, her voice small but precise.

I kneel down to her level, offering a gentle smile. "Yeah, I am. And this is Lily."

Daphne nods, studying us both. "I've always wanted a big brother."

I smile at her, "Well, you've got one now," I lightly chuckle.

Mum and I spend the afternoon talking, slowly bridging the gaps that years of separation have created.

I learned that Daphne has a rare genetic disorder and that, with the right amount of treatment, she could be cured, but Mum didn't have the money, which was why she came back to ask Dad.

Though I'm not entirely thrilled at the idea of her leaving and only coming back when she needed something, the fact is she's back, and we could both try to, while I'm not entirely pleased that she only came back when she needed something.

The reality is she's here now, and we both have the opportunity to try and mend our fractured relationship.

It'll be a start, a small but significant step toward healing and rebuilding.

As we drive home, I look over at Lily, my eyes full of gratitude and a renewed sense of hope. "Thank you for pushing me to do this," I say, using my free hand. I take her hand towards my lips and press a small kiss.

"I couldn't have done it without you."

She smiles. "We're in this together, remember? One step at a time."

I nod my grip on her hand, firm and reassuring. "One step at a time."

The drive continues in comfortable silence until we reach my place.

She leans over to kiss me softly before getting out of the car. "Call me if you need anything, okay?"

"I will, Butterfly", I promise, watching her walk inside the building before starting the car again. I take a deep breath, readying myself for the next step. It's time to talk to Dad.

*****

The drive to my father's house feels longer than usual, my mind racing about what to say. When I finally pull into the driveway, I sit there momentarily, gathering my courage.

I walk up to the door and take a deep breath before entering. Once I enter, I bump into Joanne.

"F-Finn", Joanne stammers, "We weren't expecting you." She finishes.

"Yeah, well, I need to speak with Dad," I say before walking past her. She looks concerned and upset. I take a breath again and pause, walking.

"We can try to be friends, civil at best," I say before continuing to find Dad, and from the corner of my eye, I can see Joanne smile.

I find Dad in his study, hunched over a pile of papers. He looks up as I enter, surprise flashing across his face.

"Finn, what are you doing here?" he asks, setting down his pen.

"We need to talk," I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

"Of course," he replies, gesturing to the chair. "Have a seat."

I sit down, meeting his eyes. "I met Mum and Daphne today," I start. "And I need to understand why you never told me you were in contact with her all these years."

Dad sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't want to hurt you more than you already were. I thought it was best if you believed she was completely out of our lives."

"But it wasn't your decision to make," I counter, my voice firm. "I deserved to know the truth, to make my own choices."

He looks down, nodding slowly. "You're right. I'm sorry, Finn. I thought I was protecting you, but I see now that I was wrong."

"Good," I say, feeling a sense of relief. "Because I want to be there for Daphne. And I want to try and rebuild some kind of relationship with Mum, even if it's just for her sake."

Dad smiles, "I think that's a good idea. And I'll support you in any way I can."

"Well, you can start by helping Mum pay for Daphne's medical bills," I say, watching his reaction closely. "She's been struggling, and it's not fair for Daphne to suffer because of our past."

Dad's face softens, and he nods again. "Of course, Finn."

We sit there in silence for a moment, the air between us feeling lighter than it has in a long time. Then Dad clears his throat, looking a bit nervous. "There's something else I need to tell you."

I raise an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I'm marrying Joanne," he says, watching my reaction carefully. "We're planning a June wedding. I know it seems sudden, but I really love her, Finn. She makes me happy in a way I haven't felt in years."

I take a moment to process this. "A June wedding?" I echo, feeling a mix of emotions. "That soon."

Dad nods. "Yes, it is. But I don't want to wait. I've spent too many years waiting for happiness. I want you to be there, Finn. And I'd like you to bring Lily. It would mean a lot to me."

I look at him, seeing the earnestness in his eyes. "I'll think about it," I say, my voice softening. "And I'll talk to Lily."

"Thank you," he says, relief evident in his tone. "And Finn, do you love her? Lily, I mean."

I smile, feeling a warmth spread through me at the thought of her. "Yes," I say quietly.

Dad's eyes soften, and he nods. "Lily seems like an incredible girl. I'm glad you have her in your life. Love like that is rare, Finn. Hold onto it."

"I will," I say, "She's seen me at my worst and still chooses to stand by my side." I pause, feeling a knot of guilt tighten in my chest. "Though I've been lying to her."

Dad's expression shifts, concern replacing the softness. "Lying? In what way?"

I sigh and explain the whole Rachel debacle to him. It's been a while since Dad and I have had a proper heart-to-heart conversation. I think the last time was when he told me I should pursue my dreams of being a footballer, and that was when I was twelve.

He gives me a weak smile, "Between the both of us, I never really liked Rachel", he laughs, "But Finn's honesty is the foundation of any strong relationship. If you love Lily, you owe it to her to be truthful, no matter how difficult it might be. Secrets like this can erode trust."

"But what if telling her makes things worse?" I ask, my voice tinged with fear, "What if she leaves?" I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

Dad looks at me with a mixture of sympathy and sternness. "It'll only get worse, but that's a risk you have to take. If you don't come clean now, the betrayal she'll feel when she finds out will be far greater. Trust me on this—integrity matters. Own up to your mistakes and give her the chance to forgive you."

I nod slowly.

Dad smiles a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "That's how you know it's real. The fear of losing the person has to be greater than the fear of facing the truth. When you're willing to be vulnerable, to risk everything for the sake of honesty, that's when you're truly in love."

I smile, but I can feel the guilt gnawing on my chest.

"You know, your mother and I... well, we lost that somewhere along the way. But with Joanne, I've found it again. And it sounds like you've found it with Lily."

I nod, feeling a surge of gratitude and love for Lily. "I have. She's my everything."

"You're lucky to have found each other," Dad says. "Make sure she knows how much she means to you, and you're honest with her."

"I will," I promise, thinking of all the ways Lily has shown her support. "I don't want to take her for granted. She deserves the world, and I want to give it to her."

"Good, and you can start by being honest," Dad smiles.

We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of the past week slowly lifting. I feel lighter, more hopeful, and ready to take on whatever comes next.

"Thanks, Dad," I say finally.

"No, thank you, Finn," he replies. "For giving me a chance to make things right."

As I drive back to Harrington, thoughts of Lily fill my mind. I think about her smile, her laughter, and the way she looks at me. I think about how she held me when I cried, how she listened without judgment, and how she always seems to know exactly what I need. She's been my rock, my confidant, and I can't bear the thought of losing her.

The guilt weighs heavily on me, knowing I've betrayed Lily's trust by not being honest about Rachel. My heart races as I imagine the look on Lily's face when I tell her the truth, the hurt she might feel.

Dad's words echo in my mind.

"Integrity matters. Own up to your mistakes and give her the chance to forgive you."

I know he's right. I need to be honest with Lily, no matter how much it scares me. The fear of losing her is greater than the fear of telling the truth.

I picture her in my mind, her kind eyes and gentle smile. She's seen me at my worst and still chooses to stand by my side.

I love her. She deserves the truth, and she deserves my honesty.