Lily's POV

It's strange being back home after everything. The quiet familiarity of our apartment should be comforting, but instead, it feels like I'm living in a dream I can't quite shake off. Kam and Jen haven't let me out of their sight since I got back—hovering, fussing, making sure I'm okay. I don't blame them, though. They've been through hell watching me in that hospital bed for months. The worry still lingers in their eyes, even when they try to hide it.

I'm sitting on the couch, looking out the window, the sunlight filtering through the curtains. My body still feels like it belongs to someone else—weak, slow, heavy. I've been going to physio every day, trying to get my strength back after spending four months trapped in a coma. My muscles have a long way to go, and every step is harder than I imagined.

Kam walks into the living room with a bowl of fruit and places it on the table in front of me. "You've got your session at two, right?" she asks, her tone casual, but I can hear the edge of concern underneath.

"Yeah," I reply, giving her a small smile. "I'll be ready."

Jen walks in behind her, throwing herself dramatically onto the couch next to me, her legs flopping across my lap.

"Spoken with Finn yet?" she asks her grin wide.

"Like twice this morning alone," I roll my eyes, laughing softly. "I swear, if Kai didn't drag his ass to Barcelona for the friendly, he'd be stuck on me like white on rice."

He wanted to be by my side, every step of the way—helping with physio, holding my hand during the hardest moments. But Barcelona was a huge opportunity for him, and I'd be damned if he stayed because of me.

I sigh, "hope he's having fun though."

Kam crosses her arms, smirking. "Please, like he's having fun without you. He's probably moping around the whole time."

"Oh definitely, Kai said he's snuck his phone twice between drills to call her." Jen adds with a grin.

I laugh again, this time with more energy. "He's probably calling right now."

My phone buzzes on the coffee table, proving my point. I pick it up and smile when I see Finn's name flash across the screen. I answer, and his face fills the screen, the Barcelona stadium behind him.

"Hey, Butterfly," he says, his voice warm, and I can practically hear the smile in his tone. "Miss me yet?"

"Maybe," I tease, leaning back against the couch. "How's Spain?"

"It's beautiful, but not as beautiful as you." He winks, and I roll my eyes at his cheesy line, but it makes my heart skip anyway.

"Are you flirting with me from another country?"

"Always," he replies, grinning. "But seriously, how are you feeling? Physio going okay?"

I nod, trying to keep the conversation light. "Yeah, it's going. I'll be back to running circles around you soon enough."

"Can't wait," he says, but I can see the concern flicker in his eyes, even through the screen. "I'll be home soon, I promise."

"I know," I say softly. "Just focus on your game. I'll be fine. Kam and Jen are taking good care of me."

He glances at the time, then sighs. "I've got to go, but I love you, okay? Call me if you need anything."

"I love you too," I say, smiling as he waves before the screen goes black.

Kam watches me for a moment before shaking her head with a laugh. "He's whipped."

I snort, raising an eyebrow. "And Shawn and Kai aren't?"

Kam smirks, sinking back into the couch. "Oh, they're totally whipped. But Finn? He's on another level. You could ask that boy to swim across the ocean, and he'd do it without thinking twice."

Jen, lying across the couch with her feet up, throws a pillow at Kam. 

"As if Shawn wouldn't do the exact same thing for you! Please. Kai may not be as dramatic, but trust me, he makes up for it... in other ways."

Kam snorts, shaking her head. "I don't even want to know."

I laugh, feeling a lightness in my chest that I haven't felt in a long time. "Let's just say everyone's a little whipped in their own way."

Jen smirks, winking. "And I'm not complaining."

Kam leans back, crossing her arms with a grin. "You've got a point. I think we all lucked out."

******

"Butterfly!" Finn's voice cuts through the noise of the airport, and my heart does a little somersault as soon as I spot him. He's been away for a week—just a friendly match, but it felt like a year. I couldn't wait any longer, so I decided to surprise him this evening. Jen tagged along too, eager to see Kai.

Before I know it, I'm running toward him, and the second I'm in his arms, everything feels right again. His lips meet mine, and it's like the whole world fades away, if only for a moment.

"Really, guys? In the middle of the airport?" Charlie pretends to cringe as he walks past, earning a middle finger from Finn in response.

Charlie throws a casual arm around Finn's shoulder as we walk. His playful grin softens a little as he looks at me, his tone more serious than usual.

"Lily, how are you holding up... you know, after the accident?"

His question lingers, heavy but familiar. I take a breath, forcing a smile that feels more genuine with Finn here.

"I'm doing a lot better, Charlie. Especially now that Finn's back." I glance at Finn, giving his hand a squeeze. Just having him close again makes everything seem a little easier.

Before I can continue, I'm swept up into another hug, this time from Kai. He holds me tight, his presence as steady as ever.

"Missed you too, Lil," he says, his voice a warm murmur.

I laugh as I hug him back. "Missed you, Kai."

Finn smirks, raising an eyebrow. "Not too hard," he teases.

Kai grins, stepping back with his hands up. "Relax, man. She's still in one piece."

We share a laugh, but before Kai can respond, a voice cuts through the reunion.

"Excuse me! Have you forgotten about your girlfriend?" Jennie's voice is playful, but there's that teasing edge that makes Kai pause. She steps forward with a mock glare, arms crossed, clearly amused by how easily he jumped into a hug with me.

Kai's eyes widen in mock surprise. "Jennie! I could never forget about you."

Jennie raises an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Oh really? Because it looks like you just did."

Kai quickly pulls her into a hug, laughing. "Come on, babe. You know you're my number one."

She rolls her eyes but wraps her arms around him, unable to keep the smile from breaking through. "Uh-huh, sure."

"Come back to mine?" Finn asks softly, his voice a little lower, the question filled with more meaning than just the words.

I nod without hesitation. "Of course."

The ride back to his place is quiet but comfortable, the kind of silence that only comes when you're completely at ease with someone. When we get to his apartment, the familiarity of it wraps around me like a warm blanket. I've spent so many nights here, but after everything that's happened, it feels different—more necessary.

Once we're inside, Finn turns to me, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I missed you, Butterfly," he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. There's no teasing smirk now, just the raw honesty of someone who desperately loves me.

I smile up at him, feeling the same intensity swirling inside me.

"I missed you more." And I mean it—every single word.

Finn leans in, his lips brushing mine softly at first, but the second our mouths meet, it's like everything we've been holding back bursts free. The kiss deepens, his hands sliding into my hair as he pulls me closer. I can feel the intensity between us growing, the tension simmering just below the surface, and my heart races in sync with his. It's been too long, and I've missed this—missed him.

But just as I'm losing myself in the heat of the moment, Finn suddenly pulls back, his breathing ragged. His forehead presses against mine as he tries to catch his breath, his eyes clouded with conflict.

I blink up at him, my chest tightening in frustration. "Finn..." I whisper, the need for him pulsing through me, but there's hesitation in his gaze, and I already know what's coming.

"I—I can't," he mutters, stepping back, still panting. His fingers drag through his hair as if he's fighting himself. "Lily, I don't want to hurt you."

My stomach twists, frustration bubbling up. "Finn, I'm fine," I argue, my voice more desperate than I intend. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

But his jaw tightens, his hands clenched into fists at his sides like he's trying to hold himself back. "I know you say that, but after everything... after the accident... I just—" He cuts himself off, struggling to find the right words.

I feel a pang of hurt in my chest. "You're scared. You still don't believe I'm okay."

He meets my eyes, guilt flickering across his face. "I just... I need to be sure."

My frustration simmers beneath the surface, a mixture of disappointment and heartache. I know he's trying to protect me, but all it feels like is a wall between us, and I don't want that.

"Finn, you're not going to break me," I say softly, hoping he'll see what I'm trying to tell him, that I need him to believe in me as much as I believe in him.

But he just sighs, backing away even more. And as much as I hate it, I know this is his way of dealing with the fear that still grips him.

I take a step closer to Finn, my heart pounding in my chest, and gently lift his hand, guiding it to rest over my heart. His warm palm presses against me, and I hold it there firmly, not letting him pull away this time.

"Do you feel that?" I whisper, my voice barely above a breath. His eyes flicker between my face and his hand, confusion and emotion warring in his gaze.

"That's my heartbeat, Finn. I'm alive. I'm here, and I'm fine," I say, my voice stronger now, hoping he understands what I'm trying to show him. "You don't have to be scared of hurting me."

His eyes close for a moment, his fingers tightening slightly against my chest as if he's absorbing the steady rhythm beneath his hand. I watch as his chest rises and falls, his breath shaky, and I know he's struggling with his fear, fighting to believe me.

"I need you to believe that I'm okay," I say softly, my own emotions bubbling to the surface. "I need you to be okay with this."

For a moment, he doesn't move, just standing there, feeling the steady beat of my heart. Then, he opens his eyes, and there's a softness there, a vulnerability I don't often see in him. He nods, just once, but it feels like a promise.

A small smile tugs at my lips as I try to lighten the mood, the tension in the room still thick between us.

"You know," I say, my voice teasing as I keep his hand pressed against my chest, "the physiotherapist did give me the all-clear for strenuous activities."

Finn's eyes widen slightly in surprise, and then a soft laugh escapes him, the tension in his face easing just a bit.

"Oh, did they now?" he asks, his lips twitching into a smirk, though the concern still lingers in his gaze.

I nod, biting back a grin.

"Yep, official recommendation. Said I could handle just about anything... within reason." I arch an eyebrow at him, hoping the playful banter will break down the walls he's put up around us.

Finn shakes his head, the smirk growing. "You're impossible, Butterfly." But I can see the shift in him, the way he's finally starting to let go.

"Good thing you love me anyway," I say, my voice softer but still filled with warmth, giving his hand one last squeeze before letting go.

His eyes lock on mine, and I can see the hesitation from earlier starting to fade away.

"Yeah, lucky for me," he mutters, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. Without warning, his arms slide around my waist, lifting me effortlessly. My legs wrap around him, instinctively holding on.

"Let's see how far we can really push those limits," he murmurs, and before I can respond, his lips are on mine—hard and demanding—making my pulse quicken and any words I had left vanish.

God I've missed this.