TNS Oneshots

Faded memories

Finn walked through the dimly lit halls of the hospital,clenching and unclenching his fists to distract himself from his thoughts. He usually loved hospitals,considering them places of great happiness and relief because of the patients that get treated here,recovering and getting ready to go out into the world. What he had failed to consider,with his always positive outlook,is that lives have also been lost here. People have lost loved ones to the point of no return,and he understood the feeling now that he's experiencing it.

A nurse passing by curtly nodded at him as a greeting and flashed a tight- lipped smile,probably recognizing him from the many times he's been here to visit Piper.Finn was too lost in his own thoughts to notice her and kept walking with his eyes trained on the floor. With everyday that passes Piper is slipping away from him,bit by bit. Every single day he visits her at the hospital he's utterly terrified it'll be the day she'd forget him. Ever since she developed dementia her memories were slowly leaving her until Finn had to grasp to the little she still remembers and make the best out of it.

He stood in front of the closed door to her room,wiping his sweaty palms on his pants. She's not gonna forget you.That's what he thought to himself everyday,tyring to convince his restless thoughts. He slowly opened the door,peaking his head in and walking inside. Please remember me,please remember me,please let her remember me. She looked up at him. His heart shattered into a million pieces. Her eyes held no hint of recognition and her eyebrows scrunched together like they do when she's confused,but this time it's about him. All he wanted to do was run out that door and not have to face her,not have to go through the heart breaking process of explaining to her who he was,trying to remind her of all the memories they've shared that only he held sacred now.Alas,he couldn't leave her,even if every rational part of his being is begging him to. He sat in the chair facing her and she backed away on the bed,her eyes calculating.

"Who are you?"

Finn tightly gripped the arms of the chair but then let go,placing them in his lap. He decided to go simple.

"My name is Finn"

She considered him for a moment and apparently decided to trust him,for her whole demeanour changed. A smile graced her face and she extended her hand,her cocoa eyes sparkling

"Hi Finn,I'm Piper"

He shook her hand,the motion seeming almost foreign to him.That's the hand he's used to holding when they're out on dates together,or walking on the street,and now here he is shaking it like this is the first time he's met Piper.

"Do you know anything about dance? I really like it!" She squealed, her smile growing larger.

"Oh yes. What's your main style?"
Contemporary. It's contemporary and Finn knew it,but he had to keep her talking.

"Contemporary. Although Hip-hop seems really cool"

"My main style is hip-hop" Finn told her,and instantly spotted her excitement

"That's amazing! Wait,can you teach me? I've always wanted to learn hip-hop!"

Finn smiled at her,feeling hopeful.Even if their old memories are gone,he may be able to replace them with new ones. That's how the two of them spent the next few hours.Talking about useless stuff and laughing together,and Finn couldn't help but appreciate the fact that he still gets to hear her beautiful laugh. He would still be able to hold her hand,even if it's just in a friendly manner. He's still able to admire her. His Pipes was still with him,even if  she doesn't know it. He hasn't completely lost Piper.

Finn was recounting the tale of how his older sister once claimed that she knows more about tea then he does,when he suddenly heard her mutter something that made his heart stop. His speech halted and she looked up at him,raising her eyebrows

"And then Vanessa said...?" She questioned, encouraging him to continue his story.

He hesitated, not sure if he should ask her. The song she was singing under her breath was the same song he had written her during Dancemania a while back,and if she still remembered that day then that means there might still be hope. He knows the answer would break his heart,but he also needed to make sure he correctly heard her.

"Piper can you please repeat what you were muttering in a higher voice?"

The confusion was apparent on her face,and she tilted her head to the side in a quizzical manner "Umm wha-"
"please just... do it"
"Baby don't you see that we were meant to be,baby won't you come back soon" She repeated the lyrics and his breath caught in his throat. It's the same song.

"Where do you know that song from?" He asked in a calm tone,as to not frighten her.

Her eyes clouded over and she bit her lip,as if trying to remember. She finally looked at him,shrugging "I don't know.But what I do know is that I remember it from someone special"

He felt a mix of relief,sadness and joy. But what he knew for a fact is: He's still with her. Deep inside,a part of Piper still remembers him. And that was enough for him.

He went on to tell her about the day he sang her that song on the Dancemania stage,and how that was the first time they said they loved each other.However he made sure to not mention the fact that she was a part of that day. Piper,failing to realize the story was about her,kept her eyes trained on him, greatly paying attention and excitedly asking questions.

"wait,why was she mad?"
"Well I was late to my flight,and almost jeopardized her dance career"
"Seems pretty stupid to me.I mean,I wouldn't be mad over something like that"

Finn laughed,shaking his head

"It isn't.She had every right to be mad at me,but the days where she wouldn't talk to me were literal hell"

"Finn..."
"Hmm?"

"Does she love you?"
Finn stared at her,greatly considering to reply to that question with a question of his own: Do you love me?

"She said she did...does." He corrected himself. "She does. She loves me."

Piper contentedly nodded,fiddling with the silver charms on her bracelet.

"Do you love her?"
Finn contemplated that question for a moment. Does he love Piper, does he still love her? Then the answer came to him as clear as water.

"With every bit of my being"