AN- Thank you for the nice comments on the last chapter. I am not very pleased with this but thought I'd give you a little something for the nice reviews.
Finnick watches quietly as Aunt Katniss washes the few remaining dishes. She is humming a tune, a sad little melody that makes Finnick think of only Haymitch. As if there is anyone or anything else he could possibly think about today.
"You know, with Haymitch gone, you're one of the last people alive who knew my mom and dad."
Aunt Kat's humming stops abruptly, and for all her soft sighing and forlorn nods Finnick knows just how hard Haymitch's death has struck her. How badly it has struck everyone. He can picture, clear as day, many afternoons spent in the old man's company, sitting on knees and spinning tales of the brave warrior Finnick Odair Sr. Finnick misses his friend so much his heart aches. He can't imagine how Aunt Kat is feeling.
"I suppose I am." The words makes Aunt Katniss sound a lot older than her 40 odd years. He suddenly feels bad about bringing this up but even though he's 30 years old, hearing about his father is the only thing that makes Finnick feel better when he's this upset.
"Yeah, there's only you, Uncle Peeta, Gale, Effie…oh! Johanna too. That's about it, I think."
She drops a dish into a sink full of soapy water and gives Finnick an annoyed look, "Well thank you for reminding me that so many of my friends are dead."
He feels his cheeks heat up, "Sorry, I-….I just can't help but think about them today. Funerals will do that to you."
"Finnick, an ocean breeze makes you think about them. I know that you'll understand that I don't want to think about your parents today." She sighs and dries her hands on a nearby towel. Aunt Kat has her hair in a childish braid that she tugs at now, and Finnick wonders why she wore her hair like that, "Today is for Haymitch."
He feels five years old again, "Of course, I'm terribly sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. Haymitch…he meant a lot to me too. I'm sorry I didn't get to spend more time with him."
"He loved you very much, Finn."
It was Haymitch's pet name for Finnick, and he hasn't heard it in so long that he feels tears sting his eyes, "Not as much as he loved you, Aunty Kat."
She sighs again and turns her eyes to the ceiling, something she does when she's trying not to cry. Aunt Katniss steps around the island to quickly take Finnick in her arms. Their hug is brief, as Finnick can hear Aunt Katniss sniffling. He knows she doesn't want him to see. She pulls back and turns away from him, resting a hand on her heart.
"Would you like me to get Uncle Peeta?"
"Yes sweetheart, thank you." She says gently.
Finnick abandons the room swiftly, leaving his Aunty to her grief. He is stopped only by the sound of Aunt Kat's voice trailing after him.
"Finn, wait!"
He turns back to see her reaching out to him, as if the space between them barely exists. He isn't sure what he's expecting her to say, but Aunt Kat's words tear through him like knives and settle somewhere painful in his heart,
"You remind me very much of my sister."
Forcing a smile, he quickly shuffles out of the room again. Families can be so confusing.
He just wishes he had someone to give him advice.