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Finnegan Larson - Finn pulled her into another bear-like hug. "I won't ever leave you, Sunshine... I'll never leave you..." he murmured to her as he hugged her. Finn rubbed her back, trying to calm her down, but the sound of her sobs and the sight of her tears broke his heart. "Sunshine? Promise me you'll try to let me in, okay?"
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Sera’s breath hitched as Finn pulled her into his arms, the warmth of his embrace both comforting and overwhelming. She pressed her face into his chest, letting his heartbeat steady her own, but the weight of everything she’d been holding inside still felt too heavy. His words—I won’t ever leave you... I’ll never leave you...—wrapped around her like a blanket, both soothing and suffocating in their intensity. She wanted to believe him, needed to, but a part of her still hesitated, still feared that the moment she let her guard down, everything would crumble. She’d been abandoned before. Could she really trust him not to leave too? She felt his hand on her back, rubbing in slow circles, and the tenderness of it made the tears spill over again. She didn’t want to cry like this, didn’t want to be so vulnerable, but her heart ached with a need she couldn’t explain. His touch felt like safety, but it also felt like a crack in the wall she’d spent years building around herself. The sound of his voice—gentle but firm—cut through the storm of thoughts in her mind. Promise me you’ll try to let me in, okay? Her body went still for a moment, and she pulled back slightly to look up at him. His face was filled with concern, his blue eyes searching hers, as though he could see the battle she was fighting. “I don’t know if I can, Finn...” Her voice trembled, and she hated how fragile it sounded. “I’m scared of what’ll happen if I do.” But the softness in his expression, the way he held her like she was the most important thing in the world, made her want to try. Maybe... just maybe, he wasn’t like the others. “I’ll try,” she whispered, the promise slipping from her lips before she could second-guess it.
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Finnegan Larson - Finn smiled at her softly and swept her tears away gently with his thumb. He nodded and pressed their foreheads together, so all they could see was each other's eyes. "I won't leave you, Sunshine..." he whispered to her. "I'm always here for you... if you need someone to talk to, or you just need a hug, or even just for someone to be there, I'm always here for you and always will be," he promised her, taking her hand and interlocking their pinkies, just like he used to do as a child when they all used to make pinkie-promises.
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Sera blinked rapidly, as though trying to process the words he'd just said. Her breath hitched in her chest, a mix of emotions swirling—relief, gratitude, vulnerability—and something deeper she couldn’t quite name. She had always known Finn would be there for her, but hearing it now, in the softest voice he'd ever used, brought something new to the surface. Her heart stuttered in her chest as he pressed his forehead to hers, and she found herself drowning in the sincerity of his eyes. Always here for me... The weight of that promise made her chest tighten, and despite the tears that still clung to her lashes, she felt a warmth spread through her, like a faint but steady light in the darkest of places. She squeezed his hand—fingers curling gently around his—and her own pinky instinctively hooked around his, as if nothing had ever changed. As if we’re still those kids, making promises without knowing what life would throw at us... She managed a shaky smile, lifting her free hand to rest on his cheek. She swallowed thickly, trying to steady herself. But in this moment, with their pinkies bound together again, she realized she didn’t have to say it aloud. He knew. Finn always knew.
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Finnegan Larson - Finn smiled at her gently, keeping a hold of her pinky with his. "I love you, Sunshine... more than anything..." he murmured to her, continuing to stare into her eyes, his eyes full of love. He wanted to kiss her, right here, right now, but he wasn't sure if Sera was ready for that. If she wasn't and he kissed her, he ran the risk of losing her, and he couldn't handle that. So he just stayed still, forehead against hers, pinkies intertwined.
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Sera's heart fluttered in her chest, a soft warmth blooming inside her at Finn's words. She could feel the sincerity in his gaze, the tenderness in the way his fingers curled around hers. *More than anything...* The words lingered in her mind, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe. Her pulse quickened as his forehead gently touched hers, and she felt the soft weight of his love pressing in, both comforting and overwhelming. She wanted to tell him how much she felt the same, how much he meant to her, but she was afraid. Afraid that if she said it aloud, it might be too much, too soon. Instead, she tightened her grip on his pinky, just a little, and closed her eyes. "I love you, Finn," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath, but full of everything she couldn't express in words. "I just... I want this to be real. Us. I want to take my time, if that's okay." Her heart raced, her chest tight with the vulnerability of it all. She was scared of moving too fast, but she didn’t want to push him away either. *Please don’t pull away, not now...* The thought echoed in her mind, the uncertainty hanging there, but the love in her chest was undeniable.
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Finnegan Larson - Finn smiled and squeezed her pinky back. "I love you too," he whispered back to her, keeping their foreheads pressed together. "Of course, Sunshine. I wouldn't have it any other way," he smiled at her. "I'll wait for you. We can go at your pace," he murmured, and he meant it. He wouldn't do anything she wasn't comfortable with. Whether that was holding hands, kissing, or more. "You call the shots," he chuckled.
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Sera's heart fluttered, her cheeks warm as his words settled deep inside her. She couldn't help but smile, her whole body feeling lighter, like a weight she hadn't known was there was finally lifting. The sincerity in his eyes was enough to make her feel safe, to make her trust him even more. "I—" She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper as she met his gaze. "Thank you. I don't think I've ever had someone be so patient with me." Her fingers curled around his pinky again, the small gesture making everything feel more intimate than words could express. Her thoughts raced, but in that moment, she just let herself breathe, letting the quiet between them fill her with warmth. "You're... you're really something, Finn," she murmured with a shy smile, not sure if she was ready to say anything more, but grateful for the way he was making this all feel so natural. "I guess," she added after a moment, her voice a little steadier, "I like it when you call the shots sometimes, but only if you're patient enough to wait for me." She laughed softly, trying to lighten the air, though she felt a little shy about it. But with him... she felt like she could say anything.
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Finnegan Larson - Finn smiled at her, "Of course, Sunshine," he murmured to her. He just stayed there for a bit longer before he picked her up and plopped her down on his lap. Finn wrapped his arms around her and hugged her, with a little kiss on the cheek.
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Sera's heart skipped a beat as Finn's smile softened and his words wrapped around her like a warm blanket. Sunshine. It was one of those little things he always did that made her feel like everything in the world was just a little bit brighter. She let out a soft laugh as he effortlessly picked her up and settled her onto his lap, the familiar warmth of his embrace pulling her closer. Her cheeks flushed slightly as his lips brushed her cheek, a simple gesture, but one that sent a flutter of affection through her chest.
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