So, I know this is maybe not the most opportune time for my American fans to read this, and being American I understand that it may still be five in the morning where you are. The truth is, I am very sick and did not get to update when I wanted to so I just got on and posted this morning.

I want to thank you all for you kind reviews, you guys make my day every time I read them!

I also would like for you to tell me if you ever think any of my author notes are cocky, I hate to read other people's where they just sound like idiots expecting kind reviews and such. I understand that it is a REVIEW button, not a 'tell me how great I am' button. If anyone ever has a problem with my writing or notes TELL ME! I love it when my readers tell me things they don't like about my ANs. I want to make reading my stories an uplifting and great experience for you all!

Love to All,

Dedicated

. . .

The smell of the earthy woods fills my nostrils, sending my brain into sensory overdrive as a wave of happiness rushes over me like a tsunami.

"Happy are we?" the quiet, startling whisper in my ear sends chills down my spine, making me shiver ever so slightly.

"Yes" my response is almost as silent as the woods around me.

"That was my goal" his smirk seems to brighten my darkening surroundings.

My breath hitches in my throat as I look into his sea green eyes. For once I don't see the cocky victor of the 65th hunger games. I see a boy, just like me, a boy trying to survive in this wicked world. I see a boy that only wants someone to care for him, and I see a boy that cares for me.

"You're thinking too much Katniss" his husky murmur shocks me as I look to the ground, my eyes widening.

"What am I thinking too much about?" I joke trying to lighten the mood; I don't have to be a judge to tell that it failed miserably.

"Us" he responds, before I can even think he's leaning down, my heart is driven into panic mode as his lips touch mine.

Somehow he gets me to relax, and I press back into the kiss, letting out everything into our deepened caress. My mind stops thinking all together as my back hits the rough bark of the tree. His hands finally stop their search and rest gently on each side of my waist.

He pulls away just as the first crash rings through the forest, echoing off the trees around me with a thunderous boom, a second and then a third follow.

My thoughts are wild as Finnick throws me to the ground, covering me with his body as debris is flung around us.

District 13 is being destroyed for a second time.

. . .

"No" I scream, only to be drowned out by the constant crashes of the bombs "Prim" I try to move to her, my mind snapping back into survival mode. I struggle against Finnick's heavy body, trying to find a way to get free.

"Katniss, stop it" he hisses, pinning my arms down at my sides "Do you want to die" his eyes search mine for any source of recognition, praying that what he sees in my eyes won't be real, it's not real.

In a flash, I'm back.

"Hey, hey, hey Kat calm down. It was just a bad dream, they can't get you anymore." Peeta's soft hands cover my shaking arms, rubbing them in gentle circles.

"But it was real," I cry, turning into his chest with deep ragged breaths "Everything is gone Peeta, district thirteen, Prim, Finnick, Johanna." My words come out muffled and for a second I'm positive he didn't understand a word I've said, but then I realize who it is, it's Peeta, the one who understands everything about me.

"No, none of that happened, do you want to call Jo right now? And your mom is still alive, Prim didn't get blown up in district 13 and neither did Finn, there's no way any of that could be real." He plants a reassuring kiss on my forehead and I snuggle further into his perfectly bronze arms.

My mind reels after a second of thought, bronze arms.

"Finnick?" I whisper cautiously, looking into the familiar green eyes above me.

"Go to sleep Kat," he whispers, for some reason this just feels so right "Do you want me to sing you to sleep?" I nod furiously and he clears his throat.

His words calm me effortlessly and as he sings I relax in his arms

Somewhere beneath the blue sky

A bird sings with the sound of the wind

Come set me free

The little bird sings

The little bird fly's far away

He knows a change is here

There's no need to fear

Somewhere beneath the sky

A little bird sings

My eyes snap open as the song continues, Finnick is still singing, his eyes closed as he rubs the same circles on my arms.

He must notice how much I've calmed down and he stops singing as his eyes gently open.

"It was you" I whisper, holding my shaking hands to my eyes as another round of heat and debris fly around us.

He gives me a small smile and shakes his head "What was me Kat" he chuckles gently, tugging a piece of rubble out of my messy braid.

"It was you all along, I should have known, I should have known" my body starts to shake and I start to question my mental stability as I'm sure Finnick is at this moment.

"Shh, calm down, it's all going to be ok" he whispers soothingly in my ear, kissing me lightly on my forehead.

"Was it you that saved me in the arena" I whisper quietly, for the longest time I've thought it was Peeta that picked me up, carrying me to the jaws of the hovercraft with his gentle hands before he was taken away, but now after having that dream I'm not sure what happened.

Peeta's arms, even after being in the hot summer sun, were never that tan. I just remember those pair of bronze arms picking me up and running, the rest is black and hazy.

"Yes" he responds with a silent nod.

My heart breaks into a million pieces right then and there, everything I once knew as true is gone.

"I saw you all alone and I knew, somehow I knew you wouldn't make it unless I helped you. Peeta was trying to get everyone else into the other hovercraft and I thought it was going to be ok. You both could live happily ever after. I knew from the moment I saw you in the parade that you were special, all that fire and I could tell that you had it inside too. I did everything I could to get you out alive, I just maybe wanted to meet you or know you I guess. I thought that if I could just forget everything for a while that I could be normal again, and seeing you, you made me forget. I know it's crazy and I know it doesn't make sense, but it's real" he whispers in my ear, covering me from the rocks that hit his back.

"Oh Finn" I whisper, hugging him softly as he gently flips me, planting kisses down my face, finally resting on my lips.

"I'm so sorry for not saving him" he breaks down and tears fall on my face from his own above me.

"You didn't have to save him Finn, you thought he was ok" I push back his brown hair; it's lost so much color since we've been down in the bunker.

I don't know how long we lay like that, covered in rubble and rocks. The steady beating of Finn's heart keeps my own going.

We both cry for a while and it feels so right, being so vulnerable around a person. Finnick Odair has changed my life, maybe for the better.

. . .

If we get enough reviews, I will post the next chapter that I have prewritten up by Friday night? Sound good?

So my plan for this story is:

Next Chapter: they will go back and search the bunker

Four or Five more chapters at wherever they find

Rebellion!

Review!

Dedicated

PS please check out spoke to me or stand by me!

If you review spoke to me I will read one of your stories and review it!