Growing up in a small town, a small community, you are much closer to your neighbors than in a bigger city. Finn knew that and had always taken for granted that he was going to always know and grow up with the people around him.
He was one of the middle children of five brothers. Up and down the block were other kids their age and some a little younger. The neighbors had four girls, but they were all younger. The oldest was the same age as Finn's youngest brother. Still, the girls were a standard in the neighborhood, out riding their bikes, playing, squealing on their trampoline.
When Finn turned 18 and joined the military, they were still girls. He came home on leave a couple times a year, but never really noticed them much until his youngest brother started dating the oldest girl. Then the families always seemed to spend a lot of time together.
He signed up for another 4 years and ended up on Japan, only going home once on leave. Once he got out, he stayed there with a girl he had met. Three long years later, they broke up and he had to go home. There was no real place for him, not yet, just back with his parents until he got a job in the states. It wouldn't be hard, he was highly trained, but he had to be there to interview. That meant at least a few weeks home with his folks.
They were excited, he was less excited.
He pulled up in the old neighborhood, paid the Uber driver and went in, noticing that the house next door was all lit up and there was some sort of party happening.
"Ma?" he called.
"Finn! Oh my little Finn!" she yelled, running out of the kitchen to hug him. She jerked to a halt and stared at him, like he knew she was going to when she saw him. "Finn?"
"No hug, ma?"
She moved closer, slowly, hugging him as she looked him over in confusion. "What is all of this? You... there are so many!"
"Tat's ma. Ink."
"I... I see that. So many, Finn! How do you expect to get any kind of job with all of those on your body? And even your neck! Look at you! You are so big! And your hair... and your face! That is... quite a beard?"
Finn chuckled and hugged his mother. "What time will pop be home?"
"Nine? He is still on swing shift. Oh, come in and sit! Charlie will be in tomorrow! And Max, he lives here in town, him and Savannah."
"He married her, huh?"
"Yes! And you would know that if you kept in touch! Got that facebook!"
"Nah, ma. I'm not into social media. I was busy livin life!"
"I see that. Look at you! I just hardly recognize you at all! The hair... is that a mohawk, is that what they call it?"
"Nah. Mohawk would just be a strip of hair, I only have the sides shaved."
"The top is so long!"
"Not too long."
"It's in your eyes!"
"That's the style ma," he laughed, waving her hands away as they sat down in the living room.
"And this beard! I never imagined any of my boys with a beard! So many tattoos, Finn! Are they everywhere? Even your legs! Look at you! Finn Shepherd! It is winter and you are wearing shorts! And sandals!"
"Easy ma, when I left the airport, it was warm. It's only cold here and it's not so bad. I brought a bag."
"Likely no warm clothes in it! I have some of your fathers..."
"Ma! Settle down, I am fine, promise."
"When did you get all of these tattoos?"
"Kaito was a tattoo artist."
"So she gave you all of these?"
"All but two. This one here? She and I went and had these done together. This one? Her brother gave me."
"You didn't say what happened, just that it was over and you were coming home?" his mother prompted.
"We were planning on getting married. She kept putting it off and putting it off. Turned out her father was forbidding it and she was trying to get him to change his mind. I asked her to come back here with me and we could get married anyway... she said no. She picked her family."
"I'm sorry, Finn."
"It's whatever. That's three strikes," he laughed. "I'm out. Done with women."
"Don't be that way! And Cherry shouldn't count at all!"
"I dated her for three years, Ma."
"In highschool! That doesn't count. She was too young, both of you were."
"She was just too impatient. Couldn't wait to open her legs the week I left for basic."
"Only adult relationships count!"
"Neveah was worse. I was three days away from marrying her before I found out she had three kids and had lied to me. She just wanted a military husband so she could live on base, she didn't give a shit about me. When I found out and told her to fuck off, she was married the next week to Monahan. Convinced him to take her to Vegas. Poor fucker is still married to that cunt."
"Finn! Language!"
"Sorry Ma. I'm just done with women. I'll date them, but no getting serious. Not at all."
"You aren't getting any younger!"
"Don't start with that!" he laughed. "I know you are a gramma already, a few times over. I don't need to give you grandkids too. So this weekend, huh? I get to meet all the little fuckers?"
"Finn!"
"I'm kidding," he laughed.
"Saturday," she said, giving him a nod. "Everyone will be here on Saturday so you can meet your sisters in law and nieces and nephews."
"Good. I have a couple days to prepare myself for all the disappointed looks like you gave me."
"Finn!"
"Teasin, Ma. I knew you were expecting something different. I'm used to it."
"You are perfect, Finn. It just surprised me is all."
"What's going on next door?"
"Party I think. The youngest girl's birthday."
"Yeah? What are they, like teenagers now?"
"Hah! The youngest is 18 today!"
"Shit, really? Has it been that long? Fuck. Now I feel fucking old!"
"Language, Finn!"
"Sorry Ma, habit. I'm going to go put my bag in my old room. Wait, is it still my old room?"
"Yes," she said laughing. "All of your rooms are still your rooms. I will finish up supper and call you down when it is ready. Or you can come talk to me while I cook?"
"We'll have time Ma, sorry. I have a huge time adjustment to get used to, I am dead on my feet."
She nodded and pulled him down to kiss his cheek. "I am glad you are home."
Finn went upstairs and tossed his bag on the old bean bag chair in his and Charlie's old room. He dropped into the bottom bunk, scowling. He tried not to let himself be bitter and angry, but he was still furious. Three years wasted.
She couldn't even tell him to his face, sending her brother. He had been an asshole about it too, acting like he thought Finn would try and fight or something. That meant she had told him he would get violent. She had lied to her brother just to get out of telling him to his face.
Bitch.
He rolled over, glaring at the wall, but couldn't relax enough to fall asleep. Being there was like a glaring reminder that he had been removed from his home. The home he had shared with her for three years and he had helped pay for. He hadn't even been allowed to get anything but a few clothes he could pack in two minutes while her brother stood yelling and threatening to call the police. His books, records, 8 years worth of military memories in every form. Gone. He'd had no rights there. She had made sure of that with her lies.
Bitch.
He rolled again, then sat up and looked around. He went to the side window and squatted, looking at the house next door and all of the loud teenagers with their louder music. Punks. It was a weeknight.
He chuckled then, laughing at himself this time. It was 7 PM.
God damn, he was getting old.
Macy smiled at the bouncer, her eyes shining as he looked at the fake ID. He handed it back and stamped her hand and elation sang through her as she hurried in behind her friends.
"I told you!" Allyssa whispered. "They don't care! It can be the worst fake ID ever and all they care about is money."
Macy only nodded and looked around, her first time in a bar. It wasn't overly full, but full enough. Most the men and women were older, but she didn't care. They were there to celebrate her 18th birthday for real, getting drunk for the first time in her life.
They went to the bar, her and her four friends.
"We want shots!" Bree called gleefully. "Something really good!" she said to the bartender, who smirked at her like he knew they were all underage and didn't care.
"Try these," he yelled over the music, pouring four shots.
She handed him her credit card. "Can we run a tab?"
"Sure thing babe, tabs run an automatic twenty percent tip, that cool?"
"Yeah! We want drinks too! Something good! Something sweet and yummy!"
"I'll take care of you!" he answered with a grin, pushing the shots across the bar.
The four girls took the little glasses and lifted them. "To birthdays!" Allyssa yelled.
Macy laughed and downed the shot, which was much better than she had imagined it would be. "That was good, what was that?" she asked the bartender.
"Slippery nipple," he answered with a smirk.
"Four more slippery nipples!" Bree yelled.
The girls all laughed and had another shot, then went to find a table with their drinks.
"Let's play pool!" Harmony yelled over the music, spotting the tables in the back.
"I want to dance!" Bree yelled. "Come on Mace, let's dance!"
She pulled Macy to the dance floor and they danced, joined by the other two as they all laughed and danced, drinking into the night.
Two hours later, Macy was stumbling out of the restroom and she looked up and blinked at the man in front of her who was heading back to the bathrooms.
"Finn?" she asked, confused.
He stopped and looked down at her, then smiled as he leaned against the wall and reached up, touching her lower lip with his thumb. "You know me, obviously, but I am sure I would remember a lady as lovely as you. I know I would, so I am sure we haven't actually met."
"Sure we have," she answered, pulling away from his hand. "Macy?"
"I don't know any Macy," he said, shaking his head. "But I think I would like to."
"You lived next door? You even babysat me a couple times."
