Now I feel everything.
The grief. The fury. The relief so intense it nearly rips me open.
It’s Finn who moves first.
He crosses the room then lowers himself beside her. I watch as he reaches for her hands. It’s a silent offering, one she takes just as silently.
There’s a wild look in her eyes—guilt, relief and something else.
“I thought if I left, you’d all be safe.”
Finn covers his face with one hand, shoulders shaking as the first sob breaks loose. Surprise blooms across her features. She looks so fragile as she reaches out and runs her fingers through his hair.
Jonah's jaw tightens as he goes to her. He pulls her up and wraps both arms around her.
Finn wraps his arms around her waist from the other side, burying his face in her hair. His shoulders shake as he chokes the words out. “I love you. So fucking much.”
“Oh, Finn…I’m so sorry. And I love you, too.”
She knows she’s home. And this time, she’s not going anywhere.
She’s still wearing the god awful wedding dress. What’s left of it anyway.
We should have torn it off her the second we got here, but she needed a moment. The hem is shredded. One strap hangs down her arm, barely clinging to her shoulder. It looks like it’s been dragged through hell and back.
Her gaze moves between us. There’s no panic in her eyes now. Just exhaustion.
“We’re gonna take care of you now.”
She nods.
I cross the room and reach for the strap slipping from her shoulder. Jonah moves to the zipper at her back.
“We’ll be gentle,” he says.
“You don’t have to be,” she whispers. “I trust you.”
He unzips the dress and the fabric slides down her body.
She steps out of it slowly, letting it fall to the floor. She lets us look at her bare body and I’m unable to look away.
Finn kisses her shoulder while Jonah lifts her arm and kisses the inside of her wrist. I step forward, wrap my hand around the back of her neck, and rest my forehead against hers.
“You’re safe now, baby.”
She nods again.
We guide her to the bathroom. The water takes a few minutes to heat up. Jonah checks it while Finn finds the towels. We all quickly undress.
When she steps into the shower, it’s Finn who follows her first. He grabs the shampoo, lathers it between his palms, and gently begins to wash her hair.
Jonah and I join them and we each begin soaping up her body, being careful not to be too rough. I trace every inch of her with my hands.
She closes her eyes and leans into each of us as we move around her. By the time we turn off the water, she seems more relaxed.
We towel her dry together, moving in sync. Finn wraps her body up carefully. Jonah dries her hair with another towel. I kiss her lips before murmuring, “Bed.”
She follows without question. When she climbs onto the bed, she doesn’t look anxious or worried anymore. She looks ready to be properly fucked.