Finn felt the flames of anger pulsing against his temple. Mary Montgomery was pushing her luck.

The woman seemed to have an uncanny ability to interrupt him and Emily at the worst ... or was it the best... possible times.

After almost a decade, he had kissed the woman he loved. That one act spoke volumes, covering more ground than all the things Finn had planned on saying.

Had she received the message? Finn was not sure. The look on her face as the door closed made him doubtful. Emily had looked pained like she regretted something. Severely.

And now Mary was nattering away in his ear, demanding to know why he had been kissing her sister. Because I love her, Finn wanted to yell. But he kept silent.

The room started to spin a little and Finn sank into a nearby chair. Get it together he reprimanded himself as he tried to calm himself using a breathing technique he usually implemented on the battlefield. He had to remind himself not to listen to Mary Montgomery.

With the holiday weekend upon them, Finn was working double shifts at the bar. For the most part, it did not bother him. He was glad for the opportunity to make some extra cash. Saving for a cell phone was now a priority. Giving Emily the ability to reach him whenever she needed him top of mind.

Unfortunately, extra work meant less time with Emily. Her father was having a big bash at their lake house and his girlfriend was helping with the preparations.

Finn failed to suppress a grin when he thought of Emily as his girlfriend. He had a girlfriend. An amazing, gracious, sexy girl who chose to be with him. Every time the door to the bar opened, Finn's eyes strayed towards it, hoping Emily would drop by for at least a drink or a kiss.

Unfortunately, the other Montgomery sister showed up instead. Decked out in a bright pink sundress, Mary sat at the bar, sipping her iced tea. Finn noticed her watching Simon, following him around the room with interest. When his brother chanced to turn around, Mary averted her gaze, finding her nails to be of extreme interest.

Simon ignored Mary, meaning Finn took her order and kept her drink filled. Mary barely managed a thank you each time he topped up her glass.

Somehow, they had gotten off on the wrong foot. Emily swore Mary would warm up to him. All she needed was to get to know him. Finn doubted it. Besides, how was he supposed to make a good impression if Mary was never around?

Emily always wanted to spend time at the boathouse, claiming she liked it there. Finn found it hard to believe. With that huge mansion of hers, the lake house, what could there possibly be at his one-room shack to entice her? But her insistence also suited Finn - he had no desire to visit her family home. It reminded him of their differences and everything he could not give Emily. Still, the thought Emily might be keeping him away from her family had started to take root.

In a blazingly stupid idea, Finn had tried to talk to Mary. She was Emily's sister after all. It had been a mistake.

Later in the day when Emily did show up, Mary's words had been marinating in Finn's head for hours. The clientele was streaming in, securing their spots for the evening ahead. Emily waved at him and found her usual spot at the end of the bustling bar. Having served everyone their drinks, Finn could not avoid her anymore and brought her a lemonade.

"Hey, you." Her smile was bright and friendly and tore at Finn's heart. "It's crazy in here."

Finn shrugged, rearranging the lemon and lime wedges below the bar for the second time. Emily squinted at him, trying to catch his eye.

"You okay?"

"Tired."

"Oh." Finn could hear the disappointment in her voice. "Can I do anything? Help?"

Finn winced. Why did she have to be so nice? Not trusting himself, he continued to evade her watching face and shook his head.

Simon bustled into the bar area, giving Finn more drink orders. Simon paused to say hello to Emily and asked her how she was enjoying her holiday. Emily answered his brother politely.

Mixing the drinks, Finn could feel her eyes on him. He kept his back to her, setting up the tray with glasses and handing it to Simon.

"Need more lemons." It was a lie, but Finn had to get away from Emily's prying eyes. He wished she would leave. Go back to where she belonged. To the people she belonged with.

Instead, Emily followed Finn down the hall towards the kitchen. She grabbed his hand, forcing him to stop.

"Finn?"

He hated the pain in her voice. Finn reminded himself it was not real. It was...temporary. Maybe if he pushed Emily away now he could save himself.

Pulling his hand away from her, Finn leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. Emily stepped closer, invading his space.

"What's wrong?"

Finn's throat convulsed. Mary's words clamouring around his brain. "Nothing."

Turning his head from her stare, he tried to create space between them. It failed. Emily moved closer.

"Not true."

"Like you care," he mumbled under his breath.

Emily gasped. "Why would you say that?"

She was too close. He could feel the heat of the warm skin he loved to caress calling to him, conflicting with the anger he felt towards her. His brain fizzled and he spat out, "Why don't you ask your boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" Emily was convincingly confused. Finn squeezed his fists together resisting the pull to punch something.

"Don't play all innocent. Mary told me about Josh."

Mary had enjoyed it too. Popping out factoids about Emily's perfect Harvard bound boyfriend and how they were meant to be together. Prestigious name. Handsome. Destined to be a lawyer. Comparing his qualities to Finn's shortcomings. Pointing out Finn was nothing more than a summer fling, a distraction while Josh was the real deal.

It all fit. Finn had known Emily was out of his league. He had ignored the voice in the back of his mind telling him he was a fool to believe a girl like Emily would be interested in him. It was all too good to be true. Because it wasn't. Emily had a boyfriend. She would abandon him.

Emily paused. When she did speak, her voice was harsh. "She did, did she. What did Mary say...exactly?"

Finn's blood boiled. How could Emily ask him to calmly discuss another man? "Oh, you know, the basics. He comes from a good family, he's smart, he swept you off your feet..."

"He's a cheating bastard," Emily interjected.

Finn faltered. For the first time, he looked at Emily. Her face was flushed and her grey eyes were swimming in potential tears. His heart skipped a beat. "What?" he whispered.

"My so-called boyfriend, who dumped me months ago I might add"

"But Mary said..."

"Finn," Emily sighed. "Mary likes to play games. You can't trust her." He felt his body start to tremble as the adrenaline started to leech away. Slumping against the wall for support he looked down at his hands.

"I'm sorry. I thought you were...playing me."

Emily put a hand on Finn's chest. It was warm and the touch was tender. "I'm not playing you. I would never do that. I promise." She leaned in and placed her cheek over his heart slipping her arms around his waist. "Don't doubt my feelings for you."

Finn wanted to respond; tell her he would never do it again. A lump in his throat prevented him from speaking. Still, Emily understood him, letting him bury his face in her neck and wrap himself around her. She knew words often failed him. Emily let Finn use his body to do the talking for him.

When Finn returned to the world, Mary was staring down at him like he had two heads. "Did you hear what I said?"

He had not. Nor did he care. He only cared about the woman on the other side of the hospital room door and what she was thinking.

"Lance," cried Beth. Both Mary and Finn turned to see the blonde stride up and engulfed his pregnant wife in his arms. The site made Finn's arms ache. He wanted the freedom to be able to hold Emily again.

Campbell and Max trailed behind, jogging down the hall, stopping in front of Finn. "Wainwright." Campbell nodded at him. "Sitrep?"

Mary gawked at the two men, threw her hands up in the air and muttering something about the place going to the dogs, walked away.

"Em..." Finn cleared his dry throat. "Emily's in with the doctor now. And her father." Finn nodded in the direction of the closed door. "No word on the Aunt's condition but they moved her from Emergency so that must be good."

Max looked like he was having needles stabbed into his eyes. Finn knew the man hated hospitals. Knew too well how not everyone made it out of the emergency room. They all did. Standing, Finn suggested they leave.

"Don't you want to ... wait?" asked Campbell.

Finn glanced at Lance, comforting his wife. Then at Mary holding Ben in her arms, patting his head. And back at Max, who was now starting to sweat and looking like he might need a visit to emergency soon if they stayed any longer.

The image of Emily looking full of regret before the hospital door had separated them floated before Finn.

"No. She's in good hands. She has her family."