After a healthy late breakfast, Rose cozied up with Finn on the couch becoming a little braver. Seeing piles of toys arranged artistically, "Do you like me more or Arna?"

Finn chuckled, getting a trivial question. Turning off the business news channel, he pulled her close to lean on him as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Let me think…"

​​

Rose: "..."

She had thought he might laugh at her but seeing him think, she flipped around in his embrace and waited to hear him.

"I like my Snow more…" He saw her putting on a fake air of anger so he continued, "I can't see her cry and I can make you cry all night… Ouch…"

Rose failed to pinch him longer when Finn held her hands before comfortably resting her head on his chest. She asked next question purposefully to see if he gets irritated by a silly question, "If you have to save one from water, who will you save? Me or Snow?"

Finn: "..."

He was rendered speechless. What kind of question is that?

"Shouldn't you compare yourself with Alia?" He asked thinking if she was jealous but scared to take Aria's name.

Rose started laughing at him before revealing, "You think President Cooper needs you to save her? She might save the whole boat of people by keeping herself safe."

Finn: "..."

He couldn't understand why his little woman wasn't jealous of Aria in any way. However, he knew he likes that the most about her.

He internally sighed and responded to her question, "Go learn swimming, I want to save my goddaughter."

Rose was flabbergasted seeing him wake her up to send her swimming. She snuggled back to his arms and cried, "I am sore…"

"Huh?"

Flushed red, "I am tired." She buried her face on him and heard his chuckle.

After a little tease and fun, Finn asked, seeing her anticipation, "You really want to hear?"

Rose didn't know if she should let him out of the past or just forget it and spend time with him so she left the choice to him, "If you don't want to remember, it's alright."

'Don't I want to remember?' Probably he will never forget the past but lock it away safely in his memories and live his life with his little wild cat.

Something flashed in his mind and asked, "Rose, do you like kids?"

Rose vigorously nodded, "Especially Snow and Nemo. I just love them"

Finn relaxed hearing her and teased, "You don't like dumb kids like you?"

Rose controlled her urge to bite him unwilling to get more sore. "Nope, I like heartless and brainless kids like you."

Finn truly wanted to show what a truly heartless man is like hearing her call him heartless every time. However, not to freak her out and to give rest to her sore body, he just bit her lips after robbing her breath.

"Quick learner." He said licking his lips and earned a slap on his waist before she hugged him.

She remembered how she had lost hope three years back, after leaving Starlight and drank senseless crying to Aria to stay with her. Reminiscing of Aria and Alan resting on the couch in her condo, she smiled for having Finn.

Three months back, she really hadn't thought they would be really together for a month, she didn't expect Finn to fall for her slowly too, take care of her and her preferences without speaking a word of it.

Finn's hand caressed her head as he reminisced the eight years back like it happened just yesterday.

--- Eight years ago ---

Lethargic yet curious, Finn sat in the airport lounge anticipating how his life is going to be for five years. He didn't know if he will regret it or enjoy it but he looked forward to it.

Just then he saw a slender, pretty girl repeatedly look behind, holding herself strongly without daring to shed a single tear. He didn't know who she was anticipating to see but he was curious seeing her unwillingness to leave, yet moving forward.

He saw her open her palm to see something before a determination flashed in her eyes and didn't look back again. He was smiling and entertained by her little expressions when he noticed a little crowd increase around her.

Since his eyes were on her, he noticed two small shining metals fall on the ground and she had walked ahead aware of those fell down while keeping in the bag. He instinctively stood up to tell her and realized those were couple-rings.

He thought how could the man not send her off in the airport. He almost had a negative view of Alan but saw the rings reach the hand of a man leaving him stunned.

He couldn't believe Alan Morgan was in the airport yet didn't meet Aria Cooper but silently watched her from afar. He had many questions to ask them but didnt voice it aloud.

He had thought Alan was doing everything because of the Cooper and Morgan's family connection and for Aria's safety. The longing in the two pair eyes didn't lie to him that two souls were getting apart for five whole years.

His anticipation for five years wanted to know, 'Will they stick up with each other for five years? Do they really love each other and prove that distance means nothing? Does love really exist? Won't they cheat?'

He had no anticipation of his own five years of life. He didn't care how he will live for five years but wanted to witness how these two will grow in those five years.

He silently followed her to check-in and sat after hopping in the flight. She knew him yet she didn't bother to see anybody out there probably holding her all willpower to move ahead without running out of the airport.

It was the first-class section of the flight and very few passengers were there other than them. Her seat was next to the window and his seat was next to her with a walkover gap.

"Hey…" He greeted passing his backpack to the air hostess to keep in the storage.

He didn't hear the voice back but the melancholic gaze as though she was losing a part of her. However, he still extended his hand.

Halfheartedly, she shook his hand for a second or two before leaving his hand and gaze outside clutching the hem of her dress completely ignoring his presence.

He wanted to speak but controlled hoping they shouldn't start off five years on a bad note so he left her to get over and accept the fact that she was leaving for five years and that's her own decision.

Despite knowing he was right there, she didn't utter a word to him, even when he completed his immigration, and followed her out to the departure gate, she didn't bother to speak.

They had met before in the city B yet, he felt she was completely a stranger. The same pretty doll which lost the charm. Both went in a different cab to the same regency yet she didn't bother to ask him or talk to him.

He really doubted if she could stay in country S or run back home in the morning.