Chapter 3
It was summer, and Roman and Finn were at the Drake house for a lazy, sunny afternoon by the pool with Hayden, Meredith, and the kids.
After swimming for the better part of an hour, Piper and Sage declared they'd had enough and wanted to throw a dance party.
Roman, of course, jumped at the chance and was now in the backyard twirling the girls around like a man possessed and not a hockey player recovering from bruised ribs, the girls' shrieks of laughter carrying all the way inside.
Finn, meanwhile, was in the living room with Edmund, carefully building a Merlin Academy brickset set.
The boy had slipped quietly up to his mom when the girls started blasting music and asked if he could go inside instead.
Finn had been quick to offer his hand and his company.
He always had a soft spot for Edmund.
The boy reminded him of himself sometimes, easily overwhelmed, shy, always trying not to be a bother.
It couldn't be easy, Finn thought, having two big sisters who were both whirlwinds of energy and extroversion.
Hayden sometimes admitted he worried about Edmund, about his quietness and the way he struggled to make friends.
Finn always tried to reassure him:
Look at me.
I had the best parents in the world, and I still ended up an anxious mess.
The fact you notice already makes you a good dad.
Right now, Edmund was working quickly, small fingers snapping together what looked like the Ashworths' chimney.
For his age, he was surprisingly fast, like his mind was always three steps ahead.
Sometimes Finn wondered if Edmund's quietness was due to too many ideas, too much imagination, all folded neatly inside.
The boy was always drawing, coloring, building.
Finn felt suddenly emotional at the thought of watching him grow up, find himself.
He wanted to be there for his favorite nephew no matter what life threw at him.
Finn reached out, brushing a gentle hand through Edmund's damp hair.
The boy looked up at him, soft smile tugging at his mouth.
"Uncle Finn, you can go join the party if you want," Edmund said softly, not quite meeting his eyes.
"I'm good on my own."
Finn shook his head immediately, his voice warm.
No, buddy.
I'd rather be with you."
Edmund's fingers fidgeted with a stray brickset piece.
"I know I'm no fun," he whispered, so quietly
Finn almost didn't catch it.
Finn's chest tightened.
He carefully set the brickset aside, pried the piece from Edmund's small hands, and tugged him into his lap on the couch.
He tipped Edmund's chin gently with his fingers.
"Edmund.
Look at me."
The boy blinked at him, hesitant.
"Who says you are no fun ?" Finn asked, dreading the answer.
"The other kids at school.
But it's okay, Uncle Finn !
I don't mind !" Edmund looked at him with big, earnest eyes, like Finn was the one that needed comforting.
"Edmund.
You are plenty of fun," Finn said firmly, holding his gaze.
"People just... have fun in different ways.
I have the most fun when I'm reading books about hockey, doing yoga or hiking.
While your Uncle Roman thinks fun means dancing like a maniac and making a lot of unnecessary noise." That earned him cute giggles from Edmund.
"And guess what?
I have so much fun with you." Finn leaned forward until their noses bumped, lowering his voice into a mock whisper.
"Don't tell your sisters, but... you're my favorite."
Edmund gasped, eyes wide, and then burst into a delighted laugh, clapping his hands over his mouth like he wasn't supposed to let it escape.
Finn couldn't help laughing too, hugging him tighter.
"I mean it," Finn said more softly now, his tone steady and sure.
And when I was a little boy like you?
I was the quiet one too.
I liked being on my own.
But then I found my people.
Your dad, for one, he's my best friend.
He was so stubborn about being my friend, even when I thought I didn't need any.
He made a place for himself in my life and never left.
And then your Uncle Roman came along.
And he loves me just the way I am.
The shy, quiet, sometimes boring version of me."
Edmund studied him with wide, thoughtful eyes, then tucked his face briefly against Finn's chest before admitting, muffled, "I feel alone sometimes."
Finn's throat tightened.
He pressed a kiss to the top of Edmund's damp hair, rubbing a soothing hand over his back.
"I know, buddy.
I really do.
But you won't always feel that way.
You're going to find your people too."
Edmund leaned back a little, frowning in thought.
"My soulmate ?
Like Uncle Roman is your soulmate?"
Finn blinked, then laughed in surprise, the sound caught between amusement and disbelief.
"Where did you learn that word?"
"The other day.
I heard daddy tell mommy, uncle Roman was your soulmate." Edmund's little brow furrowed, like he was trying to remember exactly.
"He sounded... like he was complaining a bit."
Finn chuckled, shaking his head and ruffling Edmund's hair.
"Yeah, well... he's right.
Uncle Roman is my soulmate.
That means we were meant to find each other.
That we'll support each other and push each other to be better.
That we'll love each other forever, no matter what."
Edmund's eyes widened, voice hushed with wonder.
"Do you think I'll have a soulmate?"
"Oh, baby.
I'm sure you will.
One day you'll meet someone who makes you feel safe and happy, like you've known them forever.
And then you'll never feel alone again." Finn kissed the boy's hair, then leaned back with a playful grin.
"And until then?
I can be your person, okay?
Uncle Roman will just have to share me with you.
He'll deal."
That got Edmund giggling again, wiggling in Finn's lap as Finn tickled his side.
"I love you, Uncle Finn," Edmund whispered, earnest and a little shy, placing a tiny hand on Finn's left cheek.
Finn hugged him tighter, whispering back, "Oh, buddy.
I love you too."