Intermission: 3 of 4

Once again a day comes to an end and loses the battle against darkness, only for it to retake the field in a few hours. It's a repetitive cycle and could be boring or even tiring for some people. It's called depression. And madness. What is the definition of madness? To do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. Like the soldiers on TV, Millie thinks and remembers a few of her brother's films. There, too, the same thing was done over and over again and the result was not accepted. In any case, she understood it that way because she wasn't allowed to see the films yet, although she had repeatedly begged BB to do so. 'This is far too brutal for you,' he had said over and over and achieved the same result. 'I don't want to scare you.' But for Millie, it isn't about the movies at all. She just wants to be with him, cuddle up to him and - if there is a part in the film that is particularly scary - press against him whimpering and experience his smell and gently touch. Sometimes a bad joke to cheer her up. Now it's the same again. And again Millie wanted to see one of her brother's films and again he said no. Again Megan teased her and for the first time, Emma suggested a solution that everyone can stand behind. Now they're watching a comedy. 'Grown Ups.' About a group of friends who spend their holidays in a house by the lake. Everyone giggled when Emma suggested the movie and Finn rolled his eyes. But Millie doesn't care about the movie, she doesn't care about anything. Because she has taken her place at the top of the world, sits enthroned on her brother's lap and shows the world and everyone who can see where her place is. Finn has wrapped his mighty strong arms around her and she can feel his breaths on her back. He is very calmly despite her weight on his body, doesn't move and concentrates - as he always does - more on Millie than on the film. He pats her head, brushes through her hair and sometimes tickles her neck. With her chest swollen with pride, she cuddles up to his frame, caresses his arms and also pretends to be only interested in the film. Every time Finn runs a finger slowly across her stomach, she relaxes and becomes wax in his hands. At first, they were on hr stomachs with her arms spread over them. But during the course of the evening - Millie doesn't know how it happened - her shirt slipped up a bit. When her brother carefully pulled the fabric back down so she wouldn't get cold, it happened. Millie was too focused on his movements and his breathing on the back of her neck, but somehow his hands are now under her shirt on her belly. His fingertips run around her navel and the contours of her lowest ribs, very slowly and almost imperceptibly. But the world blurs before her eyes and Millie can concentrate on nothing more than on the love of her life.

Somewhere far back, buried under the fog of his movements, she knows she must be strong for her brother today. Actually, she shouldn't give herself to him now. But she can't do anything, doesn't want to do anything about it. She likes the fact that Finn doesn't seem to waste a thought on whether she likes his touch. It feld bad for her to have the conversation with him and to let him know that she has secrets from him. And somehow she knows that he wants to calm her down with his gestures. She caught some of what Emma and Megan said about Carrie. It is a reassuring reward for her to be able to give herself to her brother. When he does what he thinks is best with her and she can only concentrate on him, she feels most alive.

Millie knows her friends are feeling that too. She never thought about it, but it only makes sense that Susan, Claire, and Denise would be drawn to Finn as well. They all share the desire to have someone who accepts, encourages and supports them no matter what comes. She already feels a little guilty when she looks over at Claire and Susan. Because Millie knows that Finn likes it, she left Denise on his lap at the beginning of the film. The girl was overjoyed and almost started purring, but pulled herself together in time. Millie giggled at the thought of the lecture Finn would have to hear from Carrie if Denise were gossiping. She likes to know that Finn wouldn't mind. But poor Claire keeps glancing over at Millie and her BB and looks pathetic. She nibbles on her fingernails again and again, has her legs clamped under her torso and is as tense as a statue. Maybe I'm doing them injustice, she wonders. Maybe I should let Finn pamper them too. Maybe... Her brother raises his hand, gently pushes her head to the side and at the same time brushes the hair from her neck. Millie now uses the shampoo of Megan to make her hair extra soft for him. He seems to like it. But she doesn't notice, because her brain switches off when his lips gently rest on her neck. A low whimper escapes her as his lips move.

"I love you" he whispers and Millie becomes as peaceful and relaxed as in the warmest and softest blanket there is. Finn doesn't want her to worry about anything today and she obeys him without thinking. She enjoys obeying him. It always feels so good. Finn gives her safety and security. So Millie can perceive her environment without bad feelings through the veil of love that Finn has drawn around her. Even if Claire and Susan can't be with him now, Finn wants it that way. And it is he who will find a solution to the problem. Millie can just enjoy her life and love for him now. He thinks it's good too - he has told her that often enough - and is happy about her optimism after the bad times. While her brother's hands warm her body and she feels light like a feather from his touch, she can think about her life without worry.

Yes, she was doing badly. But when she is honest with herself, other people around her have been worse off. Denise, whose stories Millie still can't quite believe. Maureen, whose development Millie escaped. Both are happy now and that's just because of her BB. She herself also tried to achieve a different result every day, even though she knew it was crazy. She could never escape her feelings for her great protector, did not want to, and can now give herself completely to him. Without Finn, she would have suffered a real depression. She was almost there. Then he came, give himself up for her, let her sleep by him. Then came Megan and then Emma. Now they are a family and Millie Lynchwood can see her future clearly in her brother's arms. Nothing can happen to her here. Because he is there, she is stronger and happier than ever in her life. Again she looks at Claire, who is gripping her sister's hand on the sofa next to Millie. Both girls take turns watching TV to at least give the impression that they aren't just concentrating on Finn and Millie and their happiness. Yes, it is through Finn that Millie has the best life. Others don't. Isn't it your duty to help your brother? She knows he doesn't like seeing other people unhappy. And Megan gave him Emma. Yeah, Millie knows what to do.

---

"But I'm not so tired yet," protests Finn in vain. The film is over, Millie doesn't even know what was going on and everyone wants to leave the room quickly. Millie can't see the reasons of every girl, she's not as good at it as Megan or her BB, but she sees it in enough eyes to notice that many girls are jealous of her. It makes her proud.

"Nothing to say in that matter Biggie" replies Megan and pulls him up the stairs. “The rest of us are tired. And tomorrow we have a hard day ahead of us.” Finn grumbles a bit, but then lets himself be persuaded to change for bed.

"I'll come downstairs again," he says half-heartedly and Megan 'allows' him this little victory generously, which makes Maureen laugh. Millie is so happy to have her biggest sister back with her soon. A real family. As her brother's legs trot up, Megan turns to Millie.

“Everything ready?” she asks and means the overnight stay. At first, Millie hesitates. Actually, she would rather be with Finn now, feel his hands on her and hear his voice. Falling asleep in his arms is best. Megan understands her. "We can break off the evening and you can go up to him and..."

“No” quickly interrupt the youngest. Not out of malice, but because she fears that she will not be able to resist the proposal. She looks at her friends who are already holding their sleeping clothes in their arms and carrying the duvets in a large bag. "He wouldn't want that," she mumbles. Megan kisses Millie on the head.

“Brave girl. Finn is proud of you. And I too." Then she opens the door to the four girls. "I'll get ready quickly and then I'll say good night to you."

"Is Finn coming too?" asks Claire meekly.

"If you're nice I'll get him to say goodbye," Megan teases and Millie suppresses a giggle. Denise doesn't succeed, maybe she just doesn't want to. As far as being nice is concerned, the two are in a head-to-head race in which there is no second place. Spurred on by the words, the girls rush outside, laughing, and run across the now pleasantly cool lawn. The grass feels good under her bare feet and the warmth in the boathouse greeds them thanks to the fan heater that Finn turned on earlier. My BB thinks of everything.

---

It all is like a few days ago. Nothing has changed. Even the positions the girls sleep in. Only this time everything goes a lot faster somehow. First Susan and Claire go behind the partition to change. Millie can hear excited whispers and sometimes a louder giggle and the slender arms wave over the edge of the partition like in a puppet theater. Millie and Denise look at each other. Both have their pajamas under their arms and Denise has a small bag with her in which she keeps her most important belongings. Millie wonders what Denise feels like wearing the ears and the leash. Tonight could be a good evening to find out. In any case, she notices that the girl always has the bag close to her.

While the McKinley's voices can be heard behind the partition, the other two girls exchange looks. They are with Finn, are his girls. One is the little sister, worth protecting, the other the little kitten worth protecting. Finn connects them, has already... connected with them. And both want to spend their future with him. So why not? Millie is his sister, but there is no rivalry between the two when the sister asks the kitten the wordless question. Denise nibbles on her lip, but then realizes that there is no other way and that Finn will surely approve. She smiles. Then both girls begin to undress. At first, it feels strange to Millie. Denise is not Megan and Finn is not watching her. Never in her life has she shown herself so freely in front of other people when it wasn't about Finn. When her shirt takes her sight and she hears that Denise is doing the same thing, it doesn't feel so strange anymore. Both girls belong to Finn in a way or another and both will do that often enough in their relationship with him. Millie has no bra under her shirt and only stands in front of Denise in her pants and socks, who is wearing her black bra. The two girls smile at each other and the kitten reaches between her breasts without hesitation and lets the bra snap open. They exchange shy smiles as they look at each other. Both let their eyes slide over each other's breasts and imagine what the hands of Finn might look like on them or done with them. The breasts of Denise are slightly larger than the ones of Millie, she has brighter skin and her nipples have a softer edge. But neither of them feels any kind of shame. Finn showed them both that he loves them for who they are. Both of them brush their hair behind their ears and have to giggle too, they are more equal than they thought. Then it's the turn of the pants, panties and socks. Every girl proceeds differently here. Denise takes off her socks first, then her pants, Millie does it the other way around. In the end, they only face each other in their underwear. Millie has chosen a pair of boxer shorts that Finn gave her. She has to tie the wide trousers by the stream with a band, but Finn told her she looked fantastic in them. Megan also said that it would be a good tactic to wear her boyfriend's clothes to show him that she is comfortable with him. At first, Millie didn't understand why she should show him this, but apart from the fact that his clothes are really comfortable to wear, they also smell of him and the thought of her getting so close makes Millie wet. Denise wears a slip that goes with her black bra and looks really good on her. The two friends nod one last time, then take off their panties at the same time.

Neither of them says anything, but each looks particularly at the other. Both are curious to see the other naked and both see what Finn likes about their counterpart. Millie imagines what it must be like for Denise to see his little sister. Even for the young girls it is clear that they are doing something that hardly anyone in the world has experienced. Two girlfriends of the same boy undress, examine each other and are happy that their boyfriend has the other. Denise seems to be playing around the same thoughts in her head, Millie notices because she also looks at her with a happy grin. Millie looks down and notices that the girl is also damp.

The curiosity quickly evaporates when both realize that they have a young, somewhat insecure, cheerful and shy girl in front of them, who is head over heels in love with a boy who means everything to her and whom she really wants to please. Each has different reasons for their behavior and different ways of showing him their love, loyalty, and trust, but in the end, they are equal. That they love the same boy is the only thing that is different and that differentiates them from the many other women there are in the world. They both quickly shake their heads and come back to the world where Millie has a plan and Susan and Clair are about to finish dressing. Denise moves first and Millie can't help but take a quick look at her bum and thighs. She is given her clothes for the evening and when Denise throws on her sleeping clothes, Millie smells Finn as she puts on one of his long and comfortable shirts. It's a nice reward for Millie and she knows that her brother is with her here in the boathouse himself that night. She will need his support.

"You look beautiful," Denise says quietly.

"You too." They stretch their hands towards each other but don't know what to do with them. A handshake is too formal and Finn wouldn't like this official fuss. A hug maybe a little too early and Millie wouldn't want to go that far without her brother. Denise seems to see it the same way and so they hold hands. Finn would like that. One last shy smile after the hurdle they took for their boyfriend, then the voices of the sisters ring out behind them.

"Oops" makes Susan when she comes out from behind the partition. "You're already finished." Claire is also pulling a shirt over her head and the fabric is not yet covering her stomach when she steps into the room around the corner. She stares at the other girls curiously. Millie and Denise glance at each other and notice that they are still holding hands.

"We're both his girls," says Millie without needing to say who she meant and is incredibly proud. Denise pulls her stomach in and pushes her back through. “We'll see each other naked often.” Denise grins happily. Then their hands separate again when a knock can be heard on the door outside. While Millie and Denise calmly turn around to the sound, Susan and Claire drive around frightened and are torn from their dream world, into which they also want to enter. Millie calls her consent to the door, which then opens a crack.

"Are you dressed?" asks the head of Megan with a grin, her hand resting on her eyes.

"Yes," confirms Millie and looks at the sisters. "We're behaving very well." Susan looks down. The body of Megan comes into the room.

“Oh,” she says happily. "As I see we are not only passed by name as sisters," she whistles happily and also displays a shirt from Finn with satisfaction.

"There's a lot that connects us," says Millie calmly, the corners of her mouth rising as she thinks of the one thing they all share. Megan knows exactly what her sister means and pulls Emma into the room with one hand.

"Oh, I wish our friend would have heard that, right Emma?" Megan looks around the room and examines the faces present. Then she starts beaming. "Oh wait..." she says, amazed. "He did." She continues into the room and Emma pulls the reason for all the positive feelings of the last week into the boathouse.

"You don't always have to think of me as an attraction in Las Vegas," grumbles Finn, who is extremely embarrassed about the fuss. Nevertheless, the mood in the boathouse suddenly changes with the appearance of the guy whom everyone here desires. But somehow he is it already, an attraction, something that everyone wants to see because they don't believe that what he does is possible. Finn himself notices it too, when he tries to be the normal brother and not the boy every girl is in love with. He may be good at what he does, but even he cannot do anything against the **** that draws the girls in the room to him. He quickly finds himself wedged between Susan and Claire, Millie and the others around him. He talks patiently with the girls, laughs with them, shares a few jokes and shares his good nature with all of them to a point in which Megan claps her hands and sends him outside. The usual screaming starts but after one look from him, everyone is calm. He hugs Millie and Denise, says good night to all and waves goodbye. Then he is disappeared. But his aura is still in the room and Millie, who had the most contact with her brother that evening, notices how he affects the others. Megan handles it best - which doesn't surprise her - she has the longest experience with him. Emma sometimes looks at the door, but otherwise stays near the older girl. Denise, Susan and Claire have to be called to order when Megan pulls out a chair for herself and another for Emma and sits down. It needs some time, but soon all the girls are sitting in a circle and watching the middle sister.

"Can you manage the night?" asks Megan and grabs a bottle of apple juice that Finn left for the girls. **** is no longer a thing on this vacation. What started out as a big week-long party has become something completely different.

"I think so," says Millie. "Right girls?" Nodding and a muted hum comes back. Megan giggles and plays a yawn that maybe only Millie knows is an act. She stretches out her arms and cracks her fingers. Millie never made it and used to be a little jealous when Megan and Finn had their competition to see who can crack the bones the loudest. Her mother finally stopped that. But on the rare evenings when Millie wasn't sleeping by her brother and Megan was awake for a while, you could hear them both laughing.

"Then we'll go to bed, too, Emmer dear?" Emma looks at Megan through her glasses and gives Millie the evidence that she and her sister are closely related. Millie knows she is up to something but doesn't know what it is. However, it is clear who the subject will be about. "Unless any of you have another question." She says this so casually that the two older girls have already got up and walked to the door until Susan clears her throat quietly and shyly. Megan turns around. "Yes?"

"Uh... now that we're all sitting together, I wanted to know... we wanted to know... well..." It's funny to see Susan squirm and Claire excitedly patting her on the arm to urge her on, all under the bad try to hide their excitement. Megan looks at Millie and grins triumphantly. Then she sits down with Emma again.

"What is it, darling?" She crosses her legs and her white wool pants and black sneakers are a sight Millie knows that Finn can hardly resist that. “Always out with the words. We're all friends.” Millie watches the girls' behavior closely. A little she feels the need to protect Finn, to test Claire and Susan, whether they are really ready to submit to him. The feeling fades at first when she sees the nervousness in her eyes and realizes that these girls pose no threat to her brother or his way of life.

"How is it to live with him?" Susan struggles to ask the question.

"You might be asking the wrong girl," grins Megan. “I'm a little biased about this. But if you look at it soberly, I would say: You take the best experience you have ever had with a friend and multiply it by... Emma, you are the intelligent one here. What would you say?"

"Hmm," says Emma and frowns. Millie quickly realizes that the girl with the glasses also likes teasing the sisters. “Multiplying is not enough. I would think, well… your best experience to the power of seven, no, eight.” None of the girls understands and Claire looks at Millie questioningly while Denise nibbles on her finger to keep from laughing out loud. "It's damn good Susan" laughs Emma and is probably proud of her joke. The answer doesn't seem to be enough for Susan.

"What if you haven't had a boyfriend yet?" She looks at Claire but also has a treacherous expression on her face.

"I thought Millie said you already had a boyfriend," Megan says with mock surprise.

"I did," replies Susan defiantly, only to make herself small again. "But we weren't together for long."

"Dad was against it," Claire explains dryly, but caresses her sister's hand.

"Hmm, I see." The older ones behavior changes, but not in the way Millie would have expected. “That wouldn't happen with Finn, I can tell you. My brother doesn't let anything stop him, especially not people who stand in the way of the happiness of the people he loves. You have to be clear about that.” Apparently Finn isn't the only one who has fun protecting his loved ones. Where Millie looks puzzled at her sister, the McKinley huddle close together because of the seriousness of the speech. "Finn isn't just some guy you drag home to piss off your parents, okay? He is the most important part of the life of us girls and is special because he only exists once. Do you understand? Finn can't be replaced.” Even Emma pulls her legs closer to the chair as Megan gets up and starts to pace across the room. The younger girls sit spread out on the floor and eagerly follow her movements. Megan turns to them and looks at them questioningly.

"We understand" murmurs Claire and throws her arms around her body.

“Do you do that? It's not a game that we're up to here. We all chose to share Finn with so many people for some reason. This is hard work and requires trust, faithfulness and loyalty and love. Each of us loves my brother and has vowed not to stand in the way of his happiness. We have neither the time nor the resources to deal with trivialities and arguments." Nods again. Megan looks downright terrifying to the sisters, and Susan and Claire seem isolated in the room. But Millie also understands her caution. She also feels the worry that the time at the lake will soon be over and is afraid that things will change. She knows that Finn won't let that happen, but she also has to admit that she doesn't know how to proceed. She can only rely on him to make it and is glad that Megan will help him.

"We don't mean you no harm," says Susan meekly, but Megan doesn't listen to her.

“The last time he trusted you, you undressed in front of Millie. Denise here has learned her lesson and found her place. I hope you know what you're doing Susan.” The older McKinley can't answer and swallows hard. “You want to know what it is like to be with my brother? It is wonderful. But it's because of him, not because of you or me. He is the key to everything. And we other girls only have two tasks. Getting happy and making sure that he can do what he does best. It's a cycle, you see? We're all part of it and it's the greatest feeling to see how the smallest gesture or the seemingly insignificant word can help my brother to make you the happiest little slut there is."

"Slut?" asks Claire hoarsely. Megan shrugs indifferently and Emma shifts impatiently in her seat.

“Finn can do whatever he wants with you. Again, it's not a normal relationship that we have. If you want to be 'normal', go back to school and date some nerd or the quarterback or whoever you want. Finn only exists once. It is not up to us to choose who we are in this relationship. Do you think Emma knew about her likings before Finn got her? And do you think I knew what I wanted in life before he took me under his wings? He decides. Everything. And before you think I'm telling bullshit, let me make it clear that it's the best thing that can happen to you in your life. He does not decide about you out of his desire, but out of the wish to be the best that he can for you. Believe me, you will not know what you want until you have seen my brother in his element. He decides what you are. He decides who you have sex with and how. He decides how you live and love. He decides your development. And you will love all of it and never want anything else. You throw yourselves at his neck and beg to be part of something so great that you will never experience it again in your life. And you will love it, love him. Each of us has signed this pact and me and Millie, who have known him the longest know, what kind of person my brother is and can tell you that there is nothing better in the world. And don't fool yourselves. Yes, the sex is amazing and when he takes what he wants from you and turns it into something you didn't even know you were addicted to, you know what it feels to live. But the best thing about my brother is everything else. Neither I nor anyone else can describe it. You have to experience that to believe it." When Megan ends, she looks down on two shellshocked and two pure fascinated girls. The room is dead silent and one could hear a needle drop. Susan grits her teeth to prevent what happens to Claire, who stares at Megan with her mouth wide open, speechless. Even the older one cannot take her eyes off the sister of Millie and girlfriend of Finn. "That's how it is to be with Finn Lynchwood."

---

There is no comedic interlude to improve the mood. That would take Finn now. Megan stands in the room and looks at the McKinleys. She has said everything that is important to her. Then Emma gets up slowly and softly clears her throat. The sound startles everyone, even Megan lost in her anthem.

"I think we should go now," Emma says so calmly that the outburst seems like a distant memory. Nevertheless, all can see that every single word, every syllable, has burned itself into the ghosts of Claire and Susan. Megan looks like as she is a little beside herself and just growls her approval. Emma grabs her heand and is led to the door. Millie quickly gets up and accompanies her sister and friend outside. But before the door closes Emma says audibly: "Let's take you to Finn." Then the door closes behind the three girls. Millie feels the cool grass under her feet again. She looks back to the spot by the lake that will always be the place where her life began on the last day of her eighteenth year.

"Oh man Megan," Emma laughs softly and Millie sees the look on her face as she reaches out her hand and caresses her cheek. "But that was a speech."

"Do you think it worked?" asks the other girls, yawning from the exertion. Emma looks at her sister.

"Millie can tell you that in the morning."

"Sugar cane and whip little one," Megan says, patting Millie on the head. So far the plan has worked and in addition to her desire for Finn, the youngest sister also feels the need to give him something that means more to him than money or things for his great day. But there is little that she can give him. She already belongs to him, but Millie sees it more so, that her brother gave her something. Megan understands her perfectly. "Go get them."

---

When Millie closes the door behind her and is back in the boathouse, the situation has not changed. Claire and Susan have moved close together and are holding hands while Denise does not take her eyes off Millie. She is not as strong-willed as her sister and so she has to take a deep breath and arm herself before stepping into the room.

“Sorry, people,” she says and sits down in the circle like last time. She gently places a hand on the thigh of Susan who is closest to her. Claire is in her arms. "My sister can be really mean sometimes."

"You don't say.” Susan laughs, but only weakly and not very convincingly. Claire looks at Millie apologetically, little Lynchwood not knowing why she is doing this.

“But she only means well. She loves Finn and he's her brother too.” Millie doesn't have to pretend to make her voice sound in love. “He does so much for her and sometimes she just has to pay him back. It's not always easy because we actually know that he's in control. But when you are so perfectly happy, you want to pay him back somehow.” Denise is quiet, still staying out of the developing situation. She knows what Millie is up to, just isn't sure how best to help her master. Millie understands that and her BB has given her enough strength to go ahead with her plan on her own.

"It's okay," Claire mumbles so softly that it's almost a whisper.

“We don't mean anything bad to him, honestly,” agrees Susan. "How did Megan get that?"

"It was probably just a precaution." Step one: Will. “We'll be home soon, where we don't have the opportunity anymore to have him all to ourselves. We all get nervous that we can live up to him."

"I see," Claire mumbles and sits up a little more upright. Her loose hair falls on her face but she doesn't think about tying it in a ponytail like her sister did. Millie is waiting, has cast the bait and is now hoping one of the girls will take a bite. If not, there is nothing wrong with it. The worst that can happen to her is that she has to go to Finn tomorrow without two presents for her brother. She knows that even if she tries hard not to please him, all she will achieve will be a tight hug and a kiss. And sex with him... Then she is focused again on the girls in front of her and manages to make her victorious smile seem like a friendly togetherness. She doesn't care what she's doing. Claire and Susan want the same thing as Millie and Claire proves to her that she is going the right way for herself, the sisters and above all for Finn. "It must be nice to be so closely connected to someone." She looks Millie straight in the eye and even if Megan is a clairvoyant compared to her, Millie can read everything she needs to know in the look. "I envy you." Then the younger McKinley turns to Denise. "And you too."

"I haven't had much luck in my life," mumbles Denise, glancing at Millie for confirmation. "But with Finn, I have everything I need." She looks over to her bag and the two sisters follow her gaze.

“And that really works for all of you?” asks Susan curiously. She's doing better, faster than her sister, but Millie also notices that they are still holding hands.

“If we all live our roles, then yes,” replies Denise and is proud. “Megan was telling the truth. It only works if we all support him and listen to what he says."

"And it's not that he makes decisions about us because he enjoys it," Millie continues to examine the sisters. If they fail their test then the others will not let them into the group. Everyone has agreed that Millie should run the test that Megan designed. If Finn is bothered by that, it is she who catches his anger. "We trust him, give him freedom and control and he uses that to make us happy." Susan looks at the floor but is not ready yet. It was all new for Millie too a week ago and whenever she is with her BB, butterflies fly around in her stomach and she can hardly think, so in love she is. Fortunately, she has now found a task for the evening and the feeling she has is the same as a week ago. She guides the two girls to her brother and the best time of their young lives. But only if she can also let Susan take the first step after Claire. “It's not like you said Susan. He's not like that. He's very different, much better than I can describe. He doesn't do that for him as you said. He does that only for us.” And Susan follows her sister.

“I'm so sorry Millie. I didn't know what I was talking about. I was stupid. I did not know him." She gulps down her fear of getting left behind in the desert of loneliness. "That has changed. We talked and I understand him better now, honestly.” Susan sounds driven, eager to show Millie that she poses no danger to her brother. “And I apologize to you Denise too. It was idiotic to challenge you to drink. I didn't know what I was doing. I thought of him as a nice looking goy. Now I know what a person he is and would never dare to take something off him." She looks down. "Like I could."

"I didn't know that either" helps Denise and plays the good cop.

"What you two have is really very nice and I..." Now it comes. "I want that too." Susan first looks to her sister, then to the others. "We didn't lie last time either. We envy you Millie, and you too Denise." Claire nods her head eagerly. “We want something like that in our lives too. You really hit it perfectly, and... we're happy for you and Denise.” The sentence ends in sadness, real sadness and Susan earned the point. Millie looks at Denise who understands her signal. Convincing Denise was the hardest part of the plan. It was Emma who finally told her that Finn fell in love with both sides of her, not just the submissive one, and that he wished he could have Denise as the girl who he met at the beginning of the vacation. She was allowed to decide things herself and if she had difficulties with it, Millie would be there who could do anything and Finn would not let her down.

"Right" Denise speaks up. "Now that Finn owns me, my life is perfect.” There is a pause during which the sisters process the words.

"Owns?" asks Susan confused. "You mean you belong to him." At the thought of him and their connection, Denise becomes a kitten again and Millie watches with fascination as the girl changes before her eyes. She sits more upright, puts her hands on her lap, arches her back and tilts her head slightly to one side.

"No. I mean, that I am his pet,” she says proudly. "I'm his little kitten." The sisters just look at her, speechless. Then Claire looks at Millie. Is she serious? In response, Denise gets up and pulls her bag towards her. With it she sits back down in her position, sitting on her lower legs and pushing her bum outward a bit. She holds out the leash and ears to the girls. “I can't put them on because only Finn decides when I can. But I can decide for myself when to take them off. Here.” She holds out her hands. Susan takes the leash, Claire takes the ears. Both feel the material and Denise tells the story one more time about how she became happy. “I'm his girlfriend when I'm not wearing them. The ears make me his kitten. Then he can make decisions about me and tell me what to do.” She shakes her bum a little and the sisters look up from the things in their hands. “If I'm naughty he can punish me and I don't have to decide anything. And when I'm on the leash I can do whatever I want, he's in charge. He can also let me do things that I don't want or that I don't dare to do. He is responsible and I just have to make sure that I am happy."

"Denise, I didn't know ..." Susan starts but the kitten just waves it away.

"That does not matter now. I am with him and no matter where I am, he is always in my head and my heart. Nobody has ever done something like this for me and without the way he treats the other girls it doesn't work. Of all the people in my life, it is he who saved me. I will never forget that. That's why I give myself completely to him, whether as Denise or as his docile servant."

"And you want that?" Inquires Susan.

"Of course!" Denise seems almost angry and Susan winces. Millie has never seen ether of her friends like this before. "Finn didn't **** me to do anything."

"But the evening..."

“Was confusing, yes. But he showed me who I am and that I can trust him.” A happy smile. “And after that, we slept together and it was perfect. I was his kitten and he took care of me. He was so wonderful...” She breaks off and reminisces. Millie looks at the door, imagining the place in the grass, the moon above. So this is what I look like when I think of him.

"And were you Denise, or were you... you know." Claire asks while holding the ears in her hands. Her gaze reveals the ruse to know more and she grasps the ears tighter. Step two: trust.

"Denise wait." The girl looks over at Millie and nods. And the sisters respond as planned.

"What?" asks Susan worried. "Why?" She almost sounds panicked.

"For the same reason I do almost everything," Millie says with conviction. "To please my BB." This part is the hardest for her. She's not as strict as Megan or as clever as Finn. She doesn't want to treat her friends badly, especially since it is obvious that they adore her brother. But nothing is decided yet and she wants to be sure before putting Finn in danger. She takes a breath and doesn't have to strain to sound sorry. “You don't belong to our group. I like and trust you. You and Denise are my closest friends and you have always been there for me. I would trust you with everything. Friends until the end.” But it doesn't help, and Millie knows it's a good sign. It is important for both of them that Finn trust them. “But this is not about me, but about my BB. I was way too reckless, Megan said that about herself too. We all have to live with the fact that many people know our secret. We all trust you, but when we get home we will be in enemy territory. Finn told me that.” Denise nods in agreement. “Finn isn't our real brother, but Megan and I have slept with him before together. It was against the law. And you know that if we get in trouble, Finn will stand in front of us. Denise is also in danger after everything that has happened to her because nobody will understand what my brother means to her. Maureen has also joined. Only Emma is on the safe side. But if only one of us... or you... divulges the secret, we will all suffer."

"But you can trust us!" Claire almost screeches. "You can both."

"We just want to know why you guys are so happy," explains Susan dejectedly. “We would never even think of harming you. We feel the same for you and Denise. You are our friends!"

"We couldn't do anything bad to you at all," says Claire with a shaky voice. Both girls hardly hold it in their seats anymore and their pajamas are stretched and pulled by their hands.

"Why?" asks Denise, sounding a bit defiant. “We all have something to lose when he's gone. A brother, a lover, a master. A purpose in life. What would you lose?” Millie is surprised at the seriousness of the question.

"We need him too!" shrieks Claire and jumps up, only to dash down again in the same motion and crouch on her knees. “Shit!” she shouts and hits the wooden floor with surprising ****. “Don't you understand? I feel safer with Finn than with anyone! My whole life has been a struggle for good grades and praise and kindness. It goes so far that I sometimes see my own sister as a rival!” Then she becomes calmer, more interpretive but pleading too. "Don't you see that Finn is what I need to be able to live my life?"

"She's right," Susan clears her throat in a voice as rough as sandpaper. “I've never seen my sister like this before.” She laughs hoarsely. “This baby. Curls up on his lap, snuggles up against him. I wish that too. I've never met anyone who'll listen to me no matter what I have to say. Finn gives me time and trust. Trust! How could we throw that away?” She throws her arms in the air and Millie feels a mixture of joy, sadness, pity and shame. But she has to go through that now. Her plan. For Finn. “That he learns with us is incredible. He compliments us! He throws us into the water and plays with us! "

“He likes to spend time with us”, Claire summarizes the dilemma of the two highly intelligent and strictly brought up sisters. “He likes us, respects us. That's simply enough.” Denise slides down on her knees and hugs them. The three apparently have more in common than she first thought. The doubts Millie had had are dispelled. Step three: love. The hardest one.

"I understand you," Millie mumbles and has to pull herself together. How does Finn do it? How does he stay strict when it comes to us? Inwardly she hits her forehead with the flat of her hand. It's about us. And this is about him. “But Megan, Maureen, Emma, Denise and I love Finn with all we have. For one reason or another. Taking advantage of it is the worst thing you can do. To take advantage of him and take what he gives without signing the contract. We already told you that our relationship doesn't work the normal way.

Silence. Dead silence. Susan and Claire look destroyed, vaporized. Millie has just opened the door for them, showed them what was behind it, and when they thought they could enter the holy land, the door slammed shut in front of them with full ****. And now they lay there bleeding, lonely and alone on the dirty floor. Millie feels miserable and Denise has long since started to comfort the two sisters. Millie is happy that at least one can do something nice tonight. She is not. How much she would like to be with Finn now, in his arms.

"That's unfair!" Now it's Susan who flares up. Like her sister, she immediately falls back to the ground. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me.” She feverishly struggles for words. Millie gives her the time she wants while Denise takes care of Claire. Finally, Susan found herself. “I know you are all with Finn. Really, as a couple... or a group or something. And I... would never say anything against it, really. I... What I'm saying is: How does love feel?” She looks at each of the girls. “Denise, you thought you knew what love was. Then you met Finn. Do you feel different than you are with Nathaniel?” Denise looks at Millie and grimaces painfully in a wordless apology.

"Yes, it feels a life better."

"Do you see. Millie. You and Megan have loved Finn all your life. You don't know what it's like to be without support, and that's why I envy you. I don't want to attack you, just say that you've had this feeling all your life. Has it changed?"

"No," Millie has to admit. “It was always there. Now we can only live it out freely."

“You were always happy and just weren't when Finn wasn't around. This is how Claire and I have always felt. Left behind. Maureen will surely confirm my point that she didn't know how she felt about Finn. And Emma is certainly happier now than then. And it all happened within a week. If someone asked you, you would all say for sure that you are still sure about Finn and I and Claire believe you that with every fiber of our body.” Susan scratches her head and messes up her ponytail. "I... I can't tell what love feels like with Finn. But you have all said that there is something that only he can give you. It's the same with Claire and me. And believe me, we won't betray him or you right away only because we get a nice new tutor who listens to us too and has his looks.” Denise giggles and Millie experiences anew feeling. Getting swayed by a compliment for her brotherly lover.

"If we ever needed one," Claire mumbles and looks at Millie. "I never had a boyfriend. And Finn makes me feel... things. When he hugs me or when I'm with him, I always want more of him. He feels great and... smells good. I don't know if this is love, Millie. I'm so sorry. I would like to tell you something else. But I don't wanna lie to you. I don't know if I love Finn, but I know I shouldn't stand between you and him. I want... I need him. I like him. Really, really like him... very much. He's funny and when he threw me in the water... I felt something. I don't know what it was. I have no experience with that. I wish I had, but... "She looks up and Millie sees a fire behind her eyes that she knows all too well about herself. "But I can only imagine him to teaching me these things."

Millie has hit a stalemate. The two sisters did not provide the needed proof of love. But love is essential to a relationship. Especially with Finn. Millie knows that a 'relationship' can do without love. But Finn wouldn't want that, nor would she dare to suggest this to him. It would go against everything he taught her in life. The first time she'd heard a curse word from his mouth - a real curse word and not one that he always uses to make her laugh - was when he'd just broken up with his girlfriend. 'There are enough sluts in the world Millie,' he had said. 'You don't have to make an effort to find one. But what we have here is only available once in the whole world. And I would always choose my sisters if someone challenged me‘.

She cannot give Susan and Claire this point. It's too important to turn a blind eye here. Denise sees the decision in her face and quietly begs Millie to change her mind. This will break both of their hearts. Denise submits to Millie like she does to Finn and Millie feels the responsibility on her shoulders. So this is how Finn feels all the time. She wants to make the sisters happy, wants to hand them over to Finn and let him take care of them for their good. What would he say? What would he do?

---

Weighing! Suddenly shoots through her head. If Finn was asked if he'd hurt two nice girls and they didn't pass part of the test, he'd weigh the points. What is more important?
The silence in the room is almost unbearable and the McKinleys squirm in the arms of Denise and all of them look worriedly at Millie. The youngest Lynchwood, bearer of her brother's trust in this boathouse, ponders. Susan is right when she says we all can't judge them. And Finn wouldn't want me to hurt them. She smiles. He would want me to be the good little sister. And the two have already proven that we can trust them. BB has the final say. He'll know what to do. And then something else strikes her and that makes the difference. And if I fail those two on this test, I'm not helping Finn make the world a better place for them. I actually have to let the two pass so that I can make my brother proud. The decision has been made, but she doesn't tell the sisters that. They can still lose at: Step Four: Loyalty.

“You're right,” Millie finally agrees. They get a few extra points by sagging too relieved as Millie would like. “We all don't know what it's like to be the two of you. I shouldn't have been so strict with you." She wants to say, that it was about her BB, but doesn't come to it.

"No!" springs Claire between the sentences, full of hopeful energy again. “That was okay! You just want to protect your brother. And I promise that we will make an effort to live up to him."

"What do you mean by that?" asks Millie. She has to hurry because she can't stand her game for a long time. She wants to see Finn. Absolutely! She wants the life he has built for her and feels uncomfortable to be outside the framework he has built for her. But she still has to get that over with. Susan looks at her questioningly and hesitates. Long. She knows that there is no nice way to find out the next question. She swallows and her lips are dry.

"I thought... that would mean... us and him..."

"I don't decide that," laughs Millie, and is really amused at the idea of telling her brother something. On the other hand, she doesn't accuse Susan of being naive. After all, what Millie has with Finn is very special. "Only Finn decides that." She points to Denise and then to herself. "We have nothing to say about it."

"He would say it differently," mumbles Denise and giggles softly. She also finds the thought amusing.

"That's true. He's the one who makes the decisions. We obey them. Megan said it well. That requires the will to submit to Finn, the trust of him and the group, actually also the love for him and we let him decide on that point as always.” She waits and as she continues she almost breaks off because of the seriousness in her voice. The others notice it too and stiffen up. Even Denise, who no longer has anything to fear. “But that brings me to the last point. Loyalty. We are all loyal to him and his way. He has five girlfriends. Maureen. Megan. Emma. Denise. And me.” Millie looks Susan in the eye until she can no longer hold her gaze up. She looks at the ground. Then Millie does the same with Claire. Both McKinley's crouch on their knees waiting for what the little sister has to say.

Millie is confused. She has never been so fierce in her life. She doesn't know what Finn might think about it. She has to ask him. She needs to know what he requires from her and whether he approves of what she is doing. Even if she does it for herself. She just wants to be his little sister again. His princess. His little one. She wants the clarity again that only her BB can give her. She doesn't want to be confused. And there is something else she has to ask her brother. She has to ask him why she is wet.

"Finn has five girlfriends... so far." The sisters' heads snap up and Claire almost throws Denise to one side so excitedly she looks at Millie. Both bodies tremble with excitement and adrenaline, their pupils are dilated and both mouths are open in amazement. Millie lifts a finger. “And because you don't know what love feels like for him, this point is particularly important. Loyalty. We all know that at some point the time will come when one or more of us put my brother in a position where he has to decide against our will for our happiness. I know what I'll do when the time comes."

"Me too" mumbles Denise and sounds determined.

"And so do we!" screeches Claire and grabs Denise by the arm so tightly that she flinches. But Millie just shakes her head.

“You can't know that at all. And that doesn't matter. Because it is my BB who knows things. We just have to listen and do what he tells us. Without contradicting or grumbling. This is the only way it can work. That keeps us all together. That we let Finn decide whether we like it or not.” Millie touches her bracelet. She doesn't have much time left. She's damp and sad, a strange combination of feelings. Only one thing is clear: She wants to see Finn. “That is loyalty. If we all remember only one thing, it's that. Yes.” That was the end. Finally! Now all she has to do is wait and see what the sisters say. It's no surprise, not even to Millie. The sisters hold hands and look at each other. They have a silent conversation with each other that only lasts a few seconds. Whatever they discussed, both of them fully support it and apparently there were no alternatives. They are finished in seconds. Susan does the talking but sounds so insecure but also so overconfident like never before.

“What should we do to prove our loyalty to you, Millie? What should we do to prove us worthy of Finn?” The last sentence is so difficult for Millie that she can hardly say it. Nevertheless, she manages to articulate it without hesitation. For Finn.

“I told you a week ago. Do exactly what I tell you."

---

Okay, Folks. 9,589 words for you. I can't control it. Feld really good to write for you. And I would love to do so even more. Sadly, the next three days are packed full of work for my family.

I will leave you with a poll. You decide what will happen in the next chapter.

So little Millie had a hard time with the McKinleys. She isn't a harsh person but does so to protect her BB. The McKinleys have to prove their loyalty to the group and Finn. The question is: Should Millie test them in the next Chapter/this night, or should she let Finn handle things?

• Finn is better with that than Millie. She trusts him and doesn't want to be bad to her friends. So they can let Finn handle the 'problem' and we celebrate his birthday next. She would stay the little princess of his heart.
• Or Millie could take things into her own little and inexperienced hands to help her brother. He could be proud of her. Try to mold the girls a bit to fit the Protagonists' taste a bit more. Prepare them, even if she is scared of the task. That would be a new experience for Denise as well. Would let to some action but without the guidance of Finn Millie couldn't handle the things as smoothly as he does.

It is a decision of taste and will not change too much later on. I just want to embed you a bit in the process.

There are good reasons for both ideas. I don't push you in any direction. Hope I made the points as balanced as I think.

https://strawpoll.com/ogwecpv9b

---