46. Memories

^Finley's POV^

"Is today the opening of the museum?"

Mari asks as he lounges in the living room while I dig through the fridge.

"Mhm,"

I grumble as I grab a can of soda and pop the tab before stopping by the living room. Crashing into a cozy chair with my crisp white dress shirt still unbuttoned, my socks still missing, and my pants went unpressed but I didn't give a shit. I still have an hour left before a certain someone would be knocking on our door to escort me to the event as the elite trash I am.

"What's wrong?"

Mari instantly senses my anger and I look at him. He was talking to me but I knew his thoughts were on his hands as he rubbed his stomach.

"You're looking fatter than ever," I comment and he turns to me with a frown.

"That's not fair, I'm pregnant,"

"Same thing," I grunt, taking a sip of the ginger ale. Feeling slightly nauseous after my fight with Kae.

"Fuck off," He snaps and I roll my eyes. His attitude was all over the place these days with the stupid mood swings from the babies. I just want my nephews out so I can have my sweet cousin back. My phone starts to vibrate and I look down to see it was Kaeden calling me. Again.

Fucker.

I throw the phone so hard, it shatters against the wall and Mari jumps up in shock before he relaxes.

"Fin, what happened?" He asks and I take another sip of ginger ale before snapping.

"It's Kaeden! Nothing can ever be simple, can it! I always have to end up heartbroken and, and.." My voice cracks and I suck in a deep breath. Mari was quickly at my side without sparing a single second.

"Fin, what happened?" He repeats and I close my eyes, leaning back to stop the tears.

"He's been so distant these past few weeks. He tries to reassure me that he's not but I can tell he is. There's something on his mind and he's not telling me or letting me in. He's never done this shit before but now that he's thinking of running for prime minister of the fucking country, I guess he's not the same man I fell in love with after all." I sigh and Mari pulls me into a tight hug.

"He's been acting so weird around me, like he's walking on tiptoes or some shit. I think there's someone else. I think he's cheating on me and he's trying to find a way to leave me. Of course, he would find someone better! Anything's better than me! I'm just useless trash anyway," I speak the truth and Mari pulls back from me with such a force that I'm shaking in my seat.

"That's not true Fin and you know it. Kaeden loves you and he would never break your heart. I know that for a fact, trust me," He says and I wipe the few tears that had broken loose.

"How are you so sure but not me?" I ask and he visibly gulps making me suspicious.

"Just talk to him Fin. You won't be sure until you talk to him," He says and leaves me alone in the living room to soak in my own self-loathing.

I look at the time on my watch and curse myself under my breath. Kaeden would be here any minute and I pull myself back together.

If it hadn't been for the opening of the museum, I wouldn't be going anywhere near him.

I button up my shirt and wrap my tie around my neck before shrugging on my suit jacket and slicking my hair back. I just finished washing my hands when a ring of the doorbell gets my attention. I wipe my hands on a dish towel in the kitchen before opening the door and quickly wishing I hadn't.

The ever so handsome Kaeden Tremblay stood before me in a rich navy three-piece suit, a white button-up shirt underneath.

The light pink tie he was proudly sporting just so happened to be one of the many I had gotten for him a while back because I think he looks so cute in pink. As I eat him up with my eyes, I notice the elegant watch on his wrist was also something I bought him for Christmas last year and matched the one he had bought me which I was wearing on my left wrist.

He was leaning against the doorway like the cocky son of a bitch he is and wore a small pout; that he knows for a fact drives me crazy, in search of forgiveness.

"I hate you so much. I'm finding it so hard to fucking hate you when you're standing in my doorway looking like...this," I wave my hand in a circle to represent all of him and his pout turns to a small smile which makes me want to slap him and kiss him at the same damn time.

"I'm sorry for hanging up on you. I didn't mean to I swear. It's just frustrating when you're asking me the same question you know the answer to so I figured we could talk in person and it would be...better," His gaze shifts to behind me and I follow it to the shattered phone in the living room.

"I ask you the same question because I know you're lying to me," I say and he looks into the apartment.

"Can you just chill for a minute and let me-" I cut him off by stepping into the hall and pushing him out of the way, closing the door behind him.

"Let you what? Lie to me again and say nothin's wrong. We've been together for three years Kaeden. After years of peace, I can sense the disturbance in the air and I know somethings up so just lay it on me now. Who is he?" I ask and Kaeden's eyes open wide in shock.

Okay.

Maybe I was wrong.

"Do you really think I would cheat on you?" he asks and I can hear the hurt in his voice which causes me to instantly wish I could keep my suspicions to myself.

"Honestly Kaeden...I don't know anymore. Soon you're going to be off running a fucking country and I'll never see you. Maybe I'm just not-"

I'm cut off when Kae reaches forward and grips my face in his hands, anger flashing through his beautiful light brown eyes.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence," He almost growls and I try to avoid our direct eye contact.

"Whatever, It's fine. I don't care. I just don't like to be dragged along is all," I say. Pushing him away from me before walking down the hall to the elevator. He joins me in an uncomfortable silence and I lean against the elevator wall for support instead of Kae.

What if there isn't someone else after all?

If there was, would he really wear the things I bought for him?

Would he even care enough to apologize?

Probably not.

"Finley...Something has been going on and we need to talk." He breaks our silence and I turn to him. He was staring dead ahead with a serious expression that could kill.

I wanted his smile back.

"After the opening, I'll tell you everything. I swear," He says and looks at me to show that he was being honest with me.

And I believed him.

***

"Are you okay baby?"

I questioned Kae as we reached the Natural History Museum of London and he gives a quick nod before getting out of the chauffeured car. He closes the door behind me and quickly wraps his arm around my waist.

"I'll be okay as long as you're here with me," he says and although I was still concerned, I knew the most I could do was just be there for him as we entered the crowded lobby.

The museum was unveiling a new history exhibition tonight and we were invited as special guests because we were apart of it.

It was a showcase of the transgender genocide which led to a civil war.

Walking in, we were met with a large wall of concrete. On it was the preferred name of every life lost in the war, which extended to over 837 people.

"Look baby," Kae grabs my attention and points to Tizzy and Noell's name on the wall and pulls me a little bit closer.

"Hey, guys! You really gave us a scare for a few minutes there. We thought you wouldn't make it!" Vahn comes up to us and gives both of us a tight hug with his wife following close behind him. We attended their small wedding in Italy last month and they were so happy together that I couldn't help myself when I felt a small twinge of jealousy.

They were married and happy.

Meanwhile, I was on edge because tonight might be the night Kaeden asks for us to divorce.

"Kae! Fin!" We turned to see Cassie and Maisie, the newly engaged couple attack us in tight hugs.

"Oh, the gang is back!" Cassie squeals and Maisie's genuine smile was one that never left when Cassie was around.

Cassie kisses both of us, to our dismay, before Maise quickly steps in to try to get the lipstick off.

"Babe, you've tainted them!" She yells at Cassie who rolls her eyes and talks to Vahn's wife.

"How does it look?" Kaeden asks and Maisie smiles.

"Go check it out for yourself," she nods to behind the concrete wall, getting off the last smudge before letting us go. Kaeden grabs my hand once again before we walk into the exhibit together.

Holographic displays on either side, portray the events of the war, from when Damien Giani first came into power to his rightful downfall.

Kae pauses on the famous picture that took the world by storm. It was a photo of Kaeden holding Petunia and standing up to the police with a transgender flag flying behind him.

There was also me, looking like a frozen fool behind him, but I like to ignore that.

"Powerful huh?" Sonya says as she stands beside me with my older brother holding her waist.

Seeing my brother so lovesick grossed me out but for Sonya's sake, I tolerated it.

"It's beautiful," I say but Kaeden stay's quiet.

"Oh, while you're here. Dad and Papa told me to tell you that their stopping in London for a business meeting and they're coming over to my place for dinner. Which means your attendance is necessary so don't try anything," AJ adds and I scrunch up my face about to protest but Kaeden speaks before me.

"We'll be there, I love it when Johnny and Ash swing by," Kae chuckles and AJ shakes his head.

"I've got to say, they have taken a liking to you. I was always on your side by the way. Oh and they're very excited." AJ says before walking away and I turn to Kae confused.

"Excited? For what? You talked to my parent's?" I ask and he gently kisses my temple.

"Nothing bad, I was just mentioning taking a family vacation with them is all," he smiles and for the first time in a very long time, I couldn't tell if he was lying or not.

"Ah, Kaeden. It's almost time for your speech," A woman running the event interrupts us and he follows her.

"Would you like to come with me?" He asks me and I shake my head.

"No, you should be by yourself up there," I politely object and he nods before following the woman.

"Do you love him?" AJ asks me out of the blue once Kaeden was out of earshot and I turn to him.

"Of course I do. I love him with everything I have to give," I say without a moment's hesitation and he crosses his arms.

"Hmm good. He's a good guy. I really like him," he says, approving of Kaeden for the first time before stepping away to find Sonya.

The touching sentiment had me emotional and I hold his words close to my heart.

The centerpiece of the event is unveiled as Kaeden takes the stage. Everyone oohs and ahhs at the beautiful Le Mis inspired bronze stature of Kaden and his friends in a v shape. With Kaeden in the front holding a candle in his right hand. The flame of the candle held the only color other than bronze, flickering in vertical pink, white, and blue.

On his left side, a depiction of me was created holding his arm and looking upon him with a mixture of concern and sadness. Behind me was Masie pressing behind my back but looking straight ahead. Her look was that of anger. And behind her was Cassie, with her head tilted to the side as she looked at everyone else before herself. Sonya stood behind Cassie with a fierce look as if she was ready for battle.

On his right side, Noell stood underneath the flickering candle, staring straight ahead in their white dress with a look of determination in their eyes. Behind her, Vahn stood with a protective hand on her shoulder and Tizzy's.

It was the perfect depiction of the eight of us.

Kaeden Tremblay then takes the main stage and starts his inspirational speech as the rest of us look on.

My boyfriend was a different person onstage. His wit and charm made the crowd practically sway towards him. His beautiful smile was comforting to the people in the room and he gave off big dick energy that all the men who thought they were stronger, instantly submit too.

But as his gaze shifts throughout the crowd, it constantly meets mine and I give him a reassuring nod to let him know he was doing great and he finishes with a loud standing ovation before getting off the stage with a charming wave.

Holy shit, he's amazing.

Whoever he might be leaving me for will be lucky to have him.

The women behind me were all a panting mess as he starts walking towards us, muttering about how hot he is and how much they hope he's single.

"God, I just want to seduce him into a corridor and let him fuck me into an oblivion," One of the women moan's and I grit my teeth, turning in my seat on the end to face her.

"Trust me, honey, you don't have what it takes," I snicker and she looks at me confused until her pervy eyes nearly pop out of their sockets as she looks behind me, knowing who it was the moment I felt his strong hand on my shoulder.

"Come with me my love, we're done here," Kaeden whispers into my ear, loud enough for the women to hear and I turn to my sweetheart, as we walk away.

"What was that about?" He asks and I roll my eyes.

"Apparently you're a wanted man Mr. Tremblay," I mutter and he kisses my cheek.

"But I'm already taken," He says and I gently push him away. He seems hurt by the gesture but I was hurting too and I couldn't care less.

"They don't know that. No one knows that Kae. To everyone else, I'm probably just a passing thing you do on your spare time," I say as we get outside the museum.

"I know we're already married and official and all since the start but do you really want me Kaeden?" I ask and he grabs hold of my wrist, holding it so tight I thought it was going to bruise as he drags me out onto the sidewalk.

"OW! KAEDEN!" I call out his name but he doesn't care as he pulls me into the closest tube station without stopping.

***

"Okay, I admit what I said wasn't fair, but can you blame me? You've been acting so fucking weird and one moment I think you're going to leave me then the next you're mentioning a vacation with my family." I point out as Kae and I ride the underground to an unknown stop.

He stood up, even though he didn't have to on the empty train and looked extremely nervous.

I poke his thigh and he looks down at me with his stupidly handsome face causing my heart to skip a beat.

Fuck, why does he always get me with just a single glance?

"Are you even listening to me?" I ask and he nods.

"Every single word sweetheart," he says and turns away from me again. I groan and sit back on the seat, kicking my feet up.

"I thought your speech was incredible, there's only one part I didn't like," I change the subject, knowing I wasn't getting anything out of him.

"And what was that?" He asked facing me and I defensively cross my arms.

"When you got on stage you unleashed a wave of what my friends and I call 'big dick energy' and the whores behind me wanted you to fuck them into an oblivion," I say and he chokes on thin air in shock.

"I turned around and told them they couldn't handle it. I mean maybe before, but after you got bottom surgery? Haha, no way, that big dick is mine and I'm not sharing," I add, with a stern tone and he gently bites his bottom lip, trying to contain himself but he couldn't take it anymore as he yanks me up from my seat and kisses me passionately on the empty tram car.

"I fucking love you," he mutters into my mouth as I wrap my arms around him, wanting to suck his face off, but our kisses is broken when the train stops, sending up flying forward and tumbling onto one of the seats.

"Mmm, as much as I'd love to fuck you into oblivion, this is our stop," he grunts as he picks me up in his arms and carries me off the train before putting me down on the platform.

I recognized the stop instantly since we spent so much time here before...

well, before everything.

"This is where the theatre is," I mumble as we walk up the stairs holding hands and he pulls me through the crowd, unable to slow down for a second.

"I thought the theatre was destroyed?" I mention before we stop right in front of the theatre in the round where our journey started.

"I had it rebuilt," Kaeden says and produces a key from his pocket.

"Awe that's really nice Kae, but what does this have to do with anything?" I ask and he unlocks the door, pulling me inside.

"You'll see,"

I take a few steps forward into the dark theatre, dimly lit by a few small candles set up on stage.

"Isn't that a fire hazard?" I ask but he only rolls his eyes, taking my hand in his as we stood at the bottom of the stairs to the booth.

"Promise me you won't look back until I tell you to okay," he makes me swear and I was still confused but nod in agreement.

"Sure, but what did you want to talk to me about?" I ask.

Figuring maybe he wants to reminisce about Tizzy and Noell and lit the candles in memory of them.

"Fin, I brought you here to tell you how much I love you," he says and we start walking up the stairs at a very slow pace.

"But I already know how much you love me Kae. You didn't have to refurbish our hideaway to tell me that. Just tell me what's been going on."

"Can you let me finish?"

"Yeah sure go ahead,"

He stops for a moment and touches one of the chairs, a chair with a small bullet hole in it.

"This theatre holds a very special place in my heart. It's the first place where I felt safe after coming to England, It's where I met my chosen family..." he pauses and continues walking us up.

"And without it, I never would have met you," he adds.

We reach the top landing and he stops in front of me. Holding my hands in his sweaty palms as the soft glow from the candles flickering across his face which at the moment, looked like he was absolutely enamored by me.

But why would he be so enamored if he was going to break up with me?

"I don't know how or why you've got this thought stuck in your head that you're worthless and insignificant, but that couldn't be further from the truth," He continues and I was entranced by the softness in his voice and his serious face as he says this.

"The simple fact of the matter is, if I hadn't met you, I would not be standing here today." He says and I try to break away from his intense eyes but he only tilts my chin up.

"Finley, I spent my entire life accepting the fact that I would walk this world alone. I told myself that is would be impossible for anyone to love me because I am transgender. I listened to those who told me I would never be a 'man enough' for a lover. My life plan was to live on the countryside somewhere and die alone," he confesses and I feel my bottom lip tremble with sadness for the little Kaeden.

"But the day I met you, everything changed. You took care of me in the hospital when I was healing when no one else would. You licked all my wounds and laughed in the face of my dysphoria. Taking it on subconsciously without ever thinking I would notice but I did, and I only loved you more for it. You proved that everything I once thought was impossible was now achievable. But you never give yourself the credit you deserve," He says and brings the backs of my hands up to his soft lips, kissing them gently.

"Without you, I would have died unloved that night, Giani would still be alive, and millions would have been forced into long-term oppression," he says and I could feel the tiny emotional tears slipping from my eyes.

The thought of Kaeden dying in my hands always brings scary memories I hated.

"You're an important man in history, but you're also the most important person in my life. You are my world, Finley Oliver Grayson. You are the beauty in my darkness, the light in my depression, and the reason why I'm the man I am today. So Finley..."

He takes my sniffling body by my shoulders and turns me around so I could see the stage which now read out, "Will you marry me?" by the shape of the candles from earlier. I felt like my legs had turned to Jello when I saw it and felt so stupid for not seeing it earlier.

"So Finley, will you really marry me this time?" Kaeden asks and I turn to see he had gotten down on one knee, holding a little velvet ring box with a beautiful diamond ring inside.

"Kaeden!" I croak at my smiling sweetheart and was utterly speechless. Only able to nod a yes before he got up and gently placed the ring on my finger and pulled me close.

"Oh baby, I didn't think you would be turned into a complete mess," he chuckles as he wipes my tears with his sleeves and pulls me into his arms as I burst out in tears of joy.

"DON'T MAKE FUN OF ME! I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS AT ALL!" I yell, lightly smacking his buff chest and he laughs, nuzzling his head against mine.

"Good, I didn't want you too," he says and I cling to his shoulders, scared that this was just a cruel dream.

"Mmm, how d-did you even d-do t-this ?" I stutter as he holds me tight.

"Marry you? Well I asked your dads first and they said yes but then they told me that to marry a Grayson you needed to have the king and three Grayson members approval so I had to go through Marius, then AJ he was a hard one, and I went to Pierce to get the third one before moving onto King Henry. As for the set up of this, all of our friends helped me patch up the theatre and set up the candles. I've been so busy with this and nervous about asking you that I guess that's why I accidentally became distant. Sorry sweetheart, I...promise..."

After getting enough of an explanation I pressed myself against him causing him to pause as he wrapped his arms around me in a tight embrace. Our heads only an inch apart, as he attacked me with his eyes.

"I promise to make you the happiest man alive," I swear to him and he finally graces my lips with his soft kiss.

"You already do,"