Emily broke away from Finn. Embarrassment flooded through her, replacing the ecstasy she had been experiencing. An ocean of blue stared back, causing her already thumping heart to skip a beat.

What must Finn think of her?

It was bad enough she had practically attacked Finn, clinging to him like a spider monkey. But then her senses left, flew out the door and she had forced herself on him. She kissed him.

How could she have done it?

The image of her aunt, lying helpless and hurt caused memories of seeing her mother in her last days, lying in a hospital bed to bombard Emily's mind. It coupled with the passion ignited when Finn took her hand in the lobby. His fingers wrapped around hers had addled her brain. It all overwhelmed her.

Emily's defences broke and Finn offered an anchor in the storm.

Walking along the waterfront, hand in hand, Emily wished Finn did not have to go back to work. The bar would be busy tonight as people flooded into the resort town ramping up to the long weekend. He was pulling extra shifts for the next four days. This might be the last time they had time alone together for a while.

The man beside her was oddly talkative tonight. Emily had been complaining about her younger sister Beth's latest escapades. Even though she was halfway around the world, living with their Aunt in Japan for the summer, Beth still managed to cause ripples felt by the family on this continent. Emily was frustrated.

Finn had listened to her, nodding now and again. When Emily finally finished venting, Finn shocked her by starting to defend Beth. Soon understanding dawned on her, as he explained. Beth was young and losing your mother at any time is devastating, but at her age, it was doubly so. He knew because he had lost both of his parents at around the same age.

"I was lost. Delora tried but she was grieving as well. Simon ran away from me..." Finn cleared his throat. "From us as soon as he could. None of us knew how to handle what happened. I felt like nobody cared."

Finn stopped and leaned against the railing, looking off across the water. "I didn't feel like I belonged anywhere. And I was desperate for someone to tell me I mattered to them. So I acted out, trying to make Delora notice me. I..." He rubbed his chest.

Emily took a step closer and placed her head on Finn's shoulder, offering physical comfort, not wanting to interrupt him. Finn dropped his hand and wrapped his arm around Emily, tugging her tightly against him.

"I stayed out late, worrying Delora. She yelled at me and it felt good. The attention, I mean. I cut school, she got frustrated. Grounded me, making me stay home with her. I wanted nothing more, but pretended to be angry." Finn's Adam's apple bobbed. "Then she got pregnant. Her focus left me, went elsewhere. She was too tired, too overwhelmed to ... care anymore."

Emily squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the image of a young sweet Finn alone and feeling unloved.

"Do you see? You've got to cut Beth some slack. She's probably hurt, confused, feeling...lost."

"Thank you for telling me," Emily whispered, not sure Finn was finished, but wanting to demonstrate she appreciated him opening up to her. "I didn't think about it from her perspective."

Finn traced the curve of her arm, up and down in slow loops without saying anything. It seemed his verbose mood had slipped away. Emily squeezed herself in between the railing and Finn, taking his face in her hands. "You have my attention."

One corner of his mouth twitched, almost smiling. The angst she felt over his pain lessen a little. She wanted to do more.

"I was lost as well. Last year. My mother..." This was hard. Emily had not spoken about this with anyone. There was no one to speak to. Her mother had been her confidant. The only one in the family who understood her. Aunt E was wonderful but there were some things about being a teenager she did not comprehend. Especially when it came to her father.

Finn took her hands in his. Emily felt she could tell him. "My mother was the glue holding our family together." It felt strange talking about her in the past tense. "After she died, we all changed. My father ... a part of him disappeared. Without mom's guiding hand he started spending money like water, maybe trying to fill a void. He dotes on Mary indulging her in every whim. They are so alike. Mary laps it up without mom around to set limits. I try to reign them in, I do. But sometimes it feels pointless."

Emily rested her head against Finn's chest, breathing in his musky scent. It washed over her, giving her the strength to speak her worst fear. "She has this bitter streak, Finn. I've never seen it before. I..It scares me."

Finn ruffed a harsh laugh. "Bitter is a nice way of putting it. That woman has something stuck up ... well, you know where." He squeezed her hand. "And you?" Finn prompted.

"Me what?"

"You said you all. How did you change?"

Emily exhaled. "I guess I grew up. I became responsible for the family. Without mom, they needed someone to look after them. Everyone leans on me. Depends on me. I'm the anchor holding everything and everyone together. Or at least I try to."

"And who's your anchor? Who do you lean on?"

"Oh," Emily sighed into his chest. "I...I guess I don't have one."

Finn kissed the top of her head. His chest rose and fell. "Let me be your anchor."

Emily looked at him. "I'd like that."

Seeing her Aunt had crashed her defences. She needed some comfort. Finn had been kind and held her. In his arms, Emily felt at peace. For the first time in a long time. Nothing else in the world mattered except the rhythm of his heart, tapping out her favourite music. Warmth enveloped her. She felt safe, protected.

She should have been satisfied. Taken what Finn gave and left it there. Not pushed things. But his lips had been right there. Lips she longed to kiss.

Just a few feet from her Finn was now looking sour and Mary, who had found them, was fuming. Why did it have to be Mary?

Mary was not alone. Following on her heels, Beth holding Ben and her father tumbled into the room.

"Who's this?" demanded her father, studying Finn from head to toe and then back again.

"Dad, you remember Finn Wainwright. He..." Emily found herself holding the small charm at her neck. "He gave me a ride."

Finn stood up straight, rigid and alert. Her father's eyes bulged and his mouth opened to say something but a woman in a white lab coat pushed her way past them all and stood at the foot of the hospital bed.

"Two visitors at a time. Maximum. Family only." The middle-aged woman with dark hair and dark skin ordered in a stern but hushed tone. "The rest out. Now."

Mary and Beth practically ran from the room. Finn followed and Emily instinctively went with him.

"Emily," her father hissed, "your Aunt needs you."

Emily paused. Finn turned to look at her, a strange expression on his face. Emily wanted to go to him, explain about the kiss, shield him from Mary's impending insults, do something.

Her father called her name again, demanding Emily stay. It was no use. Family duty pressed against her desires. Emily relented, stepping back into the room. The doctor closed the door, blocking out the happenings in the hall.

Emily's family always needed her.