He almost hadn't come back. By his own choice. While he almost said as much, the truth is he hadn't. The motives were different back then, though not by much, but now he'd always keep coming back.

"I never wanted to be away from you." If Finn had known that Poe was alive with the Resistance, he wouldn't have tried to leave the first time. He had to believe that.

Though he didn't like thinking about what would have happened if he made a different, easier decision on the Finalizer. At the same time, Poe's appreciation of him settled somewhere deep in his chest, warming his body completely. "I love you, too." Because that's what he meant, in a way. He hoped.