Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

By the time she takes a seat at the bar in her father’s restaurant, Hope is emotionally drained. Not only is she drained but she’s also livid. Livid at herself, livid at Thomas, but most of all - she’s fucking pissed at Steffy.

But what else was new, she thinks bitterly as she orders a tall glass of tequila, deliberately ignoring the curious gaze Hollis gives her as he slides the shot over. She downs it in no time, slamming the glass back on the counter and orders another one, then another and before she could recall, she’s on her fourth shot of tequila.

Thankfully her father hadn’t been there tonight or she’d be in for having to listen about how she never should have gotten involved with Thomas in the first place, how toxic the guy had been in the past toward her, and blah blah blah.

She, quite frankly, didn’t give a single fuck anymore. She knew all of that, never forgot one moment about all of the terrible things he did to her and her family over the years…but they had moved past it. They got to a good point in their relationship that Hope had been able to forgive and move forward and even wear his ring around her neck.

Not that it mattered much now. They were over and she came here to get drunk and to maybe find a distraction to mend her broken heart.

Her eyes flit to Hollis behind the counter. He’s attractive enough, nice muscles, but he did try to bang her mother and so that’s out of the question. She takes a deep breath and goes to order her fifth shot of tequila but stops when she feels a hand come to rest on her shoulder.

“Finn?” 

//

He didn’t know why he chose to come here of all places but he did and now he’s taken aback to see Hope alone at the bar. He approaches and gently places a hand on her arm, offering a soft smile. “Hope, hi.”

It doesn’t take much for him to piece together that she’s upset, judging from how her mascara is smeared and her eyes are puffy and red. “Are you okay?”

“Uhh, no. No I’m not.”

“What’s wrong? Is it Beth? Or Douglas?”

“No, they’re good. It’s actually Thomas.”

His eyes narrow at that.

He didn’t have a good relationship with his brother-in-law to begin with and he definitely didn’t approve of Hope dating her former stalker only out of concern for her if Thomas reverted back to his old obsessive patterns, and judging by how upset Hope is… “What did he do now?”

“It’s not him, it’s me. He proposed to me again and I turned him down again.” 

“There’s nothing wrong over you doing that, Hope. If you’re not ready, then you’re not ready and he should respect your decision.”

“It’s funny, your wife doesn’t agree with that assessment. She thinks,” Hope pauses, shakes her head and adds, “Forget it.”

“I hope she isn’t blaming you over this.”

“Oh, she is. She even convinced Thomas to end things.”

“You two broke up?”

“Yeah, hallelujah, eh? Everyone finally got their wish.”

“I’m not going to pretend that this is a terrible thing for you but I hate to see you hurting. If there’s anything I can do, please tell me. I mean, you talked me through all of my issues over my mother’s death.”

“Thanks. I just may take you up on that.”

Chapter Text

The funeral was the next time she saw Finn since that night at the bar. He arrived alone, no surprise there, and kept his gaze low as he stepped over to the casket. Beside him, Deacon stood. Hope hated how hurt he was over Shelia's death and Finn... he was in pain too but also couldn't feel as if he was allowed to care or even show emotion about her... because of Steffy. Hope clears her throat and takes the spot next to her father, reaching out to grab his shaky hand.

"You came," he murmurs out of shock.

"I couldn't let you do this alone," she glances at Finn, "Either of you."

He offers her a sheepish nod and sighs, "Hope, hey."

"How are you doing?"

"I've been better," he answers honestly and she steps around Deacon to grasp his hand too. He stares at their intertwined fingers and for a split moment, Hope feels a twinge of... something deep inside her come alive but then her father interrupts to ask how she's doing.

"I heard about Thomas from your mom," he explains.

"I've been better," she echoes Finn's earlier sentiment. Truth is, she hadn’t been able to stop crying since Thomas took Douglas and flew half across the world to Paris out of spite for her denying his proposal of marriage again.

“I can’t believe he did this to you.”

“Me either,” Finn adds, “Nor can I believe that Steffy could do something this... cruel."

"Well, judging where we are right now," Hope lets the sentence trail off, the impression hanging in the air.

"Yeah, but this is different. She had no choice but to defend herself against Shelia, whereas this is just downright appalling. She had no reason to attack you and your relationship with Thomas. She should have stayed out of it."

"You'll get no argument from me."

“I’m sorry, Hope, I really am.”

She smiles softly, thinking to herself how ironic it is that her arch-rival has such a good husband who stands by her, even through her murdering his mother. "Thanks."

"I guess there's no point in waiting any longer," Deacon mutters and begins to step behind the casket, rubbing at his eyes. Hope and Finn sit at one of the tables, with her gently reaching over and holding his hand in a show of support. He smiles as Deacon starts Shelia's memorial by giving her a speech, detailing how much he cared for her and missed her, and despite no tears being shed on her part, Hope still felt terrible for her father. Beside her, she notices how Finn was attempting to act as if this wasn't bothering him.

"It'll be okay," she murmurs soothingly, rubbing his hand.

"I can't believe she's gone." 

//

"Well that was something," Hope says once her father had left to be at Shelia's side during her cremation, leaving her and Finn alone at the restaurant.

"Tell me about it," Finn mutters and sits in one of the chairs, "I attended a funeral for the woman that almost killed me."

"True... but that woman was your mother."

"Yeah, that's what makes this so difficult. On one hand, I understand why Steffy did what she did -  she defended herself and rightfully so, but on the other side of things..."

"She killed your mother," she finishes for him with a frown.

"I don't resent Steffy for it, I never could. But I also can't forget that Shelia is... was my birth mother. If not for her, I never would have been born."

"The only good thing Shelia ever did."

He cracks a smile at her, "Well thanks."

"Yeah, you're not so bad."

"Right back at ya." There's a brief pause in their conversation before he asks, "How are you really doing?"

"Oh, well, I'm doing my best to push forward and move on. It's hard sometimes, but I've been focusing on my work and Hope For The Future."

"That's good, but it's also good to have something else in your life besides your work."

She chuckles, "Ah, yeah, well, that aspect of my life has been put on the back burner for now."

"Why's that? If you don't mind me asking, of course."

"My relationship with Thomas ended not too long ago, so I'm not in any rush to jump into anything new just yet." 

"True, but, Hope, it's not as if you have to dive into a serious relationship. You could have fun."

"That's what got me to where I am now," she jokes.

“I meant with someone a bit more normal, not as chaotic as Thomas.”

“Ah, yeah. The thing is… I like the chaos he brought to my life over these past few months."

"Really?" He sounds surprised by the admission.

"With Liam, I don't know, that was... safe. Some might even say boring at times. So I jumped at the chance to explore myself with Thomas, someone who was unattainable and offered that rush of excitement and chaos."

"Well I'll agree with you about Liam," he admits and she chuckles, "But there's plenty of exciting men that would be thrilled at the chance to date you.”

There’s a beat before she smiles and sits down across from him, asking, “Do you have someone in mind?”

“I do know that this guy I work with at the hospital just got out of a situation similar to yours. I could give you his number if you want it.”  

“That’s sweet of you, Finn, but I’m fine with focusing on my daughter and my work for now.”

“Of course, but if you change your mind, let me know,” he pauses then adds, “You deserve to be happy, Hope, and maybe one day, whenever you’re ready, you’ll find a really great guy who will treat you the way you deserve.”

//

"Finn?" He looks up at the sound of his name being called by Steffy as she enters their bedroom with a confused smile, "You okay?"

"Yeah, just thinking."

"You've been quiet since you returned from Shelia's memorial."

"I'm sorry, it's just... it's been a long day."

"Tell me about it," she mutters and sidles up to where he sat on the edge of the bed, "Deacon never should've done this to begin with."

He raises a brow at her obvious disdain, "He's grieving in his own way."

"He should keep it to himself. It's not as if anyone else feels how he does about that psycho. I hope he realized that when he saw that you two were the only ones there."

"...We weren't the only ones there."

"Who else felt bad enough to go?"

"Hope."

Steffy barely manages to contain her eye roll, annoyed as she says, "Of course. Her daddy is off his rocker and she feels like she has to help him out."

"Steffy, come on. She's just worried about her father, it's not as if she agrees or even understands why he threw a memorial for Shelia."

"Yeah, she wasn't too worried about my brother when she was toying and playing games with him for months." He opens his mouth to argue but she silences him with a sigh and says, "You know what, I don't want to talk about Hope or Deacon, and I sure as hell don't want to talk about Shelia," she throws her arms over his neck and adds, "I just want to focus on you and me."

"So do I," he adds and pulls her down for a kiss. 

Chapter Text

Shelia was alive. The news spread fast between the Forresters, Logans, Spencers, and friends. Reactions varied from outrage and anger to unexpected happiness and relief.

Hope, however, had the first reaction. A few days later since that day in Deacon’s apartment, she was still reeling. The office was deathly silent as she poked her head in and found that no one was inside. She pushes the door open with a sigh and drops the stack of files she'd been carrying on top of the desk. She heard from Ridge that Steffy wanted a few days to herself without coming into the office, understandably, so maybe that's why things were unusually quiet around here.

It had to have been quite a shock for Steffy to discover that the woman who tried to kill her wasn't as dead as she originally thought. Not only that, but Finn wanted Shelia in his life, and he wasn't going to tell his birth mother to stay away from him anymore. "Honey, hi," Brooke greets her once she enters the office.

"Hey."

"Is there a meeting today?"

"There's supposed to be but with everything going on lately," she trails off and sighs.

"I can't believe it. Shelia's alive."

"Tell me about it, I can't even begin to imagine what Steffy is going through."

"Ridge went over there this morning to see how she's holding up."

"That's good, I'm sure she needs all the support she can get from him," Hope sighs again and sits in one of the chairs.

"Especially since it seems she isn't getting any from her husband."

"What do you mean?"

"According to Ridge, Finn and Steffy don't see eye-to-eye on this. She wants that psycho kept far away from her and her kids, while Finn... he wants Shelia in his life."

"Can she really blame him though? Don't get me wrong, I'm not Shelia's biggest fan either, but she is Finn's birth mother and he does have a right to want her in his life."

"You might not be Shelia's biggest supporter but it seems you're Finn's."

"Well yeah, he's been through a lot, Mom. He thought that his wife killed his birth mother. Now he knows that Shelia's alive and he feels as if he can give their relationship a real shot."

"At the expense of his relationship with Steffy," Brooke adds.

"I'm sure they can eventually work things out."

"I wouldn't count on that," Ridge suddenly says from the doorway of the office, surprising Hope as she looks over at him.

"How's Steffy?"

"Terrible, she's too scared to leave her house. I don't think I've ever seen her so frazzled, and it's all because of one woman."

"What did you mean by we shouldn't count on her and Finn working things out?" Hope questions with a head tilt.

"She kicked Finn out last night." 

//

Finn sighs as he sits up off the couch in his office, running a hand through his hair. After finding Shelia alive in that warehouse with Deacon, he never expected things to get this messy and complicated.

He’d been anticipating Steffy’s reaction, he knew she was going to be angry and confused, he hadn’t been expecting it when she turned the tables on him and began to accuse Finn of purposely pursuing this ridiculous narrative Deacon put in his head that he saw ten toes instead of nine, just out of spite for her killing that psycho.

He still couldn’t believe Steffy kicked him out over this. He takes a deep breath and moves behind his desk to begin the stack of paperwork he’s been putting off for the past few days. He works on it for about an hour before a knock on his office door catches his attention and he lifts his head to find Hope standing in the doorway, a small smile sent his way as she steps into the room and closes the door.

“I heard from Ridge,” she says, nodding to the blanket and pillow on his couch, “I’m sorry, Finn.”

“So my father-in-law is telling everyone at the office that Steffy kicked me out?”

“He told me and my mom, that’s all.”

“I bet he’s happy, thank god his daughter doesn’t have to worry about her husband’s crazy birth mother.”

“I’m sorry, I know how hard this is on you.”

He nods, sighing as he stands from the chair and runs a hand through his hair. “You might be the only one who does.”

“Speaking of which, my dad called me earlier and, are you ready for this? He and Shelia are engaged.”

Finn’s eyes widen at the sudden news. “Wow, um, that’s… wow. So Deacon just sprung this on you?”

“Oh there’s more. He asked me if I’d be Shelia’s maid of honor… and if I could convince you to be his best man.”

“What? He can’t be serious, Hope.”

“Look I get it, but also… this would mean a lot to them if we came to their wedding.”

"Yeah, but, this is asking a lot."

"You are the one who told Shelia that you wanted her in your life," Hope adds carefully, gauging his reaction.

"I didn't say that outright."

"It was implied."

He groans softly, eyes rolling as he says, "Okay, okay. But if I do go to the wedding... you and I both know Steffy won't be happy."

"She's already kicked you out so..."

She trails off, shrugging, and he knew she was right. So he nods and eventually says, "You may have a point."

"Plus," she leans forward in her chair and smiles, "I'll be there and we can have fun getting drunk together at this wedding."

"You make it so tempting," he teases, "Let me think about it and I'll let you know, okay?"

//

It's past seven when there's a knock on the cabin door.

"Hang on," Hope calls out, scrambling to zip up her dress while racing to answer the door. Behind it, Finn stood there.

"Wow, um, you look," his stammering pauses and he clears his throat, "Beautiful."

She smiles, "Why thank you. You don't look so bad yourself. Come on in," she adds and steps aside to let him enter the cabin.

"Sorry I'm late, I got distracted by a patient."

"Oh, no worries. I was still getting ready anyway."

"Plus I'm sure we agree there's no need to rush to this thing."

"Yeah," she nods while slipping on her heels. She was still a little surprised Finn agreed to come to the wedding. He called her the other day, telling her he'd go with her only to keep the peace and, as he put it, to keep her company. "Wanna pre-game it a little before we go?"

He snorts, "I'd take any help I could get."

"You wouldn't believe the amount of shit I had to listen to from everyone when I mentioned how I was going to my father's wedding."

"Probably the same amount I heard coming from Steffy, my mom, oh and Liam too."

"Liam? I can only imagine."

"He came to my office yesterday all high and mighty, proclaiming how if I wasn't going to protect Steffy and her family - he would."

"Oh boy," she couldn't help but laugh at the thought. "Well, I'm ready to get out of here, how 'bout you?"

"Yeah, maybe it's best to get it over."

"That's the spirit... I guess." 

//

The wedding was finally over and though they couldn't leave yet, Finn wasn't having a terrible time.

A big part of him felt bad for even thinking it, but he couldn't deny that seeing his birth mother happy, after the whole ordeal she just went through with Sugar, made him feel a tad happy for her. Then there was Deacon and Finn could tell how ecstatic and in love the other man was as he said 'I do' and slipped the ring on Shelia's finger.

Plus Hope... his train of thought stops and he glances across the restaurant for the blonde. Last he saw her, she was dancing with her father and looked... happy. Maybe not jumping up and down excited for him but she kept her doubts and misgivings about Shelia to herself, which Finn was grateful for too. Because he didn't have to lie and act as if this bond he shared with his mother didn't exist, unlike with Steffy or Li or someone who didn't understand and made him feel guilty for being relieved that the woman who brought him into this world was alive.

With Hope, she listened without judging.

"You look lost in that brilliant mind of yours," Shelia says with a warm smile, sliding into the chair opposite him.

"Got a lot on my mind."

"I'm sure you do."

He watches as Hope walks back into the restaurant, their eyes meeting and he smiles at her.

"You know Deacon and I are thrilled that you and Hope showed up to our wedding, it meant a lot to us."

"I know."

"I hope that going forward; you and I will get more chances like this to spend time together."

Finn nods, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her.

"There's my beautiful wife," Deacon murmurs when he and Hope make their way over to the table, "Care to dance?"

"How could I say no?" Shelia stands and takes his hand, adding, "You two should join us."

Finn catches the flicker of... well he wasn't sure what that emotion was but Hope quickly masks it as she says, "Oh no, I doubt Finn wants to dance."

"Actually, I would love to dance with you."

"You would?"

"Of course, come on." He reaches for her hand, tugging her with him to the restaurant's center.

//

Across from them, Shelia watches as her son and Hope sway to the music, a sly smirk forming.

"What's that look for?" Deacon asks.

"Nothing, just thinking about how great things are turning out."

For her, and Finn. 

Chapter Text

Her head's pounding. 

She's tried pain pills, soaked in the tub for well over an hour, she even tried the massage trick Finn showed her. As far as Hope could tell, nothing was working; it felt like the pain was worsening. Not one to sit around and wait for it to subside, she grabs her phone off the table and texts the number that has become oddly familiar the past few weeks. Her phone dings the response less than five minutes later. 'Stop by my office,' it read.

So she follows the request, standing from the couch with a pained sigh. She gathers her things and heads out of the office, unaware she's being watched. When she reached his office, the pain was unbearable. Wincing, Hope knocks on the door and he calls out for her to enter. "Hope?" She's got one hand on her forehead when she walks in, if not for her leaning on the door she probably would've been on the floor by now.

"Hey, look at me," he worriedly mutters, hand grabbing hers.

"It hurts," is all Hope can manage to whisper.

"Is it worse than before?" She nods, regretting it afterward. "Here, sit on the couch." He guides her to it, fingers immediately going to the back of her head. The pressure that'd been building felt an immediate relief, making her sigh and lean into his touch. "Feel good?"

The question is innocent enough, only out of concern. But she can't help how her brain works, how these thoughts of Finn have been appearing frequently more and more these days. "Yes," she replies, impish. She hadn't meant for it to sound so... so breathy, so that.

His finger tense on her shoulders, his voice low in her ear. "Want more?"

Eyes flying open, she glimpses behind and quirks a brow. Was he flirting? Course, it wasn't hard to believe that he was. "If you're offering."

"Always," his smile is warm as his fingers return to massaging her neck and head.

She can't help when a moan slips past her lips, it feels too good to care. Behind her, Finn chuckles. "You've gotta stop getting so stressed, it's not good for your health."

"I'll do better next time."

"You better or else," he playfully warns.

"Or what?" Her voice held a challenging lit to it, curious to see how far he'd allow her to take things.

"Or I'll personally make sure you take a break from work."

"Oh," she sounds disappointed, "I thought you'd do something fun."

He exaggerates a hurt frown, "Ouch, calling me boring, Ms. Logan?"

"Prove me wrong."

She wasn't expecting it when the door blew open and Steffy entered, eyes glaring daggers at the blonde on the couch with her husband. "I should've known."

"Steffy, wait," Finn begins to say, hurrying off the couch with a sigh, "She's been having headaches lately and I've been-"

"Oh, I can only begin to imagine what you and this slut have been doing."

His eyes narrow, "Don't call her that."

"What should I call her, Finn? A tramp? A whore? Or how about all of the above? Seems they all fit her perfectly."

"Takes one to know one, doesn't it?" Hope counters, tired of listening to the countless bullshit Steffy threw at her day after day.

"I'm nothing like you."

"No you're right, I've never slept with my father-in-law."

"Don't even bring my past into this," she practically growls.

"Why? You're all too happy to throw mine or my mom's into our faces... only seems fair."

Ah, there it was. The predicted bitchy glare and scoff. "Get out of my husband's office. Now."

"I'll leave if Finn wants me to." One glare at Finn forces him to sigh and politely ask Hope to leave. She couldn't even be mad at him, look at what he had to deal with, the controlling wife from hell. "I'm here if you need to talk," she mutters intentionally before she pushes past Steffy and slams the door shut.

"Did you invite her here?"

Finn sighs, annoyed. "Yes I did, like I tried to tell you - she's been having terrible headaches and I've been helping her to manage the pain."

"Prescribe her medicine, problem solved. She doesn't need to keep bugging you with her pathetic problems."

"I'm a doctor, listening to people's problems is kind of my job."

"Exactly - your job. Nothing more. You had your hands on her when I walked in! That's not okay."

"Why's it matter to you? You've already kicked me out."

"I had to! You won't listen to what I tell you to do! You can't respect my wishes, Finn!"

"What you tell me to do? Wow, okay. Last I checked, honey, I'm a grown man who can make his own choices."

"Apparently not good ones."

Finn chuckles bitterly, hand running down his face. God, he was so tired of this. "Did you come here to put me on blast or what?"

"I came here to let you know our son wants to see you. If you weren't connected to that psycho bitch of yours I would say that you could move back in."

"Are we really going to do this? What's next, Steffy? Divorce?"

For the first time since she arrived, her attitude changes and she becomes more conflicted of sorts. “No, I don’t want that.”

“Neither do I, so how do we fix this?”

“You should come for dinner. I know Kelly and Hayes miss you, I miss you.”

His smile is soft as he nods and tells her, “I’d like that. How about I come by at six?"

"Great, looking forward to it, babe." 

//

It all started when he overheard Hope and Steffy arguing over Hope's line. He couldn't begin to imagine how upsetting and heartbreaking that was for Hope to hear, how the line she's had for years was being ripped away from her. It was still on his mind during dinner, he tried to keep it to himself and act like everything was fine so the kids didn't notice but once Steffy returned from reading Hayes a bedtime story and checked on Kelly in her room, his calm facade slipped.

"God, what a day," she sighs and drops onto the couch.

"Pretty rough?"

"Who knew my father had such a strong opinion."

"You mean who knew he'd disagree with you?"

Her brow quirks at him, "You got a problem?"

"Yeah, actually I do. Steffy, you wanted to take Hope's line away from her."

"It's not profiting like it should be, it's a no-brainer that the line should be axed."

"Hope doesn't see it that way."

"Well, she's an idiot."

"Steffy," he chides her, completely taken off-guard by her candid and blunt remark.

"What? You wanna defend her? Go right ahead. See how far that gets you."

"What has gotten into you? You've never been so," he didn't know how to describe it. Controlling? Rude? Disrespectful?

"So what, Finn? Finish your sentence."

"I didn't come here to argue."

"Well then you shouldn't have opened your mouth to defend that little Logan slut."

"She's not a slut."

"Oh, more defending. Keep digging that hole for yourself."

He was flabbergasted. How did this night end up going so terribly? "Steffy, Hope is not your enemy."

"Right, just like Brooke wasn't my mother's enemy," she murmurs dryly.

"You guys are family, your daughters are sisters and best friends, why can't you just get along?"

"Because I don't like her, I don't like the Logans and I never will," she stands from the couch and scoffs at his disappointed look, "You wanna be her friend, fine. Go ahead. Just don't expect me to still be your wife if that happens."

"Are you seriously giving me another ultimatum?"

"Yeah I am, either you go run off and be friends with that bitch or you stay here and be my husband. Your choice."

"Oh wow," he deadpans, "I get to make my own choice?"

"Oh please, don't act like I control you."

"That's all you do."

"Then get out if you don't like it! Seriously, go!"

He scoffs and runs a hand down his face, "Okay, I will. But this is far from over."

"Good luck with that."

//

Knocking at her door past ten was unusual, so Hope hurries off the couch and peers through the window. "Finn?"

She opens the door to let him come inside the cabin, confused when he stumbles into her. "Hey, Hope."

He's been drinking, and clearly needed to sit down. Carefully, she guides him over to the couch and sits beside him. "What's going on?"

"Hmm, fight."

"Fight? You got into a fight with someone?" She didn't see any bruises or cuts on him.

"Not someone, Steffy."

"You fought with Steffy? Why? When?"

"After dinner, she kicked me out again."

"Why?" She repeats the question.

"Because of you."

"Me?"

"She was being so rude and saying all these mean things about you, and I don't know," he shrugs nonchalantly, "It bugged me. You are so nice and thoughtful, and I guess I got upset over how she treats you."

"Oh, well, Finn, I'm touched you think so highly of me, but, I don't want you getting into trouble with your wife over me."     

“She made me choose,” he must’ve noticed her obvious confusion and adds, “You or her.” 

“But you’re here.”

He smirks and moves in closer to her on the couch, hand tentatively cupping her cheek. “Yeah I am.”

Then he’s kissing her, all real this time and not just in her head. It’s better than she ever thought it could be, his hands grabbing at her hips as his tongue sweeps into her mouth. “Finn, wait.”

“No more waiting,” he leans forward and captures her lips again.