5 Years, 11 Months

Annie woke up sometime in the morning, with the light filtering in through their window upon her face. She felt Finnick's body against her, his naked flesh pressed against hers as he snored loudly. Annie attempted to open her eyes, but as soon as she did she immediately shut them again, light burned into her eyeballs, and pain throbbed in her head, as if a lumberjack was wailing on it with an axe.

She remembered the bar. All the girls had all been celebrating their graduation from Nursing School so they had gone out drinking with the gang. She remembered drinking a bit more than she should have, she remembered Finnick's lips which tasted like liquor, she remembered his hot hands on her bare hips, and then… nothing, caput, nada, a big black blank.

She groaned and rolled out of Finnick's embrace to his annoyance as he grabbed at the sheets, as if looking for her. Annie felt like she wanted to throw up, so she tried to get up-

And almost immediately fell back into bed.

Why the hell did her lower back hurt so much? And a horrible sense of foreboding was coming over her, simmering in her gut like an omen. What on earth could she be forgetting?

Next to Annie, Finnick groaned and flung her arm over his eyes.

"Damn, did we drink the whole bar?" He asked, squinting in the light as he ruffled his hair in an attempt to wake up. Even wasted, Finnick still looked fantastic. His hair bedroom messy, mouth smiling crookedly, as he sat up she could see the traces of the lipstick she had worn last night on his neck and-

And…

Annie froze.

"Finnick, did we use protection last night?" Annie asked Finnick who blinked still squinting, wasted, and half-asleep.

"Protection?"

"Like, as in a condom. As in, we obviously had sex last night, and I think we didn't use protection." Annie said slowly, as if her words would jog his memory, and he would say, 'Oh no, we used protection, don't worry Ann', however that was not the answer she received from him.

"I know we didn't for a fact." Finnick snorted, pinching the bridge of his nose. "God, my head hurts."

"Why do you know that for a fact?" Annie demanded her horror being drowned out by anger.

"Because last night when you were really drunk you said you wanted my babies. And since I was also really drunk I thought to myself, 'Gee whiz, that's a great fucking idea', and we had a lot of extremely hot sex. Oh, and by the way, you might also not want to try getting up fast again because if my memory serves correct, you also let me do anal. Which, I have to say, was a nice change of pace." Finnick said lightly, as if joking might make her feel better about the whole situation. Unfortunately the opposite was true, Annie felt like her face was on fire, like she wanted to sink into the ground and stop existing for a while.

"Oh my god." That was literally all she could say right now. They were always careful with sex, always. How could she have let this happen? And the worst part was that she couldn't even remember it. A person would think they would remember something as horrifyingly embarrassing as saying, "I want your babies."

"Ann, are you okay?" Finnick asked, suddenly switching to his concerned mode. "Did I hurt you last night?"

"Finnick, the last thing I'm worried about right now is my back." Annie nearly sobbed.

"What's wrong?"

"Finn, we didn't use protection! I…I could be pregnant, I could get pregnant. I'm not ready for a kid right now." Annie whispered, feeling lightheaded and dizzy, on the verge of hysterics. Annie couldn't be a mother, not now. Not yet. Finnick grasped her shoulder firmly, making her look at him.

"Annie, I want you to listen to me, okay?" He asked, his voice calm and serious. He had a perfectly composed expression on, and didn't seem to be freaking out on any level. As if his calmness affected her she managed to swallow and nodded. "Okay. We'll get you plan B. And then we'll deal with this as the time comes. What we did last night was stupid and irresponsible, but everything is going to be fine, okay?"

"Deal with it?" Annie croaked.

"If you really do end up pregnant, you can have an abortion if you want one." Finnick said, holding her trembling hands in hers. "This is your body. I don't want to force you into something you don't want, especially if it's with something as important as kids."

"What would you want, Finnick? I couldn't make that decision on my own." Annie said quietly, and Finnick smiled a smile that didn't reach anywhere near his eyes.

"It's important to want to have kids before you have them." Finnick explained quietly. Annie got the feeling from his empty eyes, and fake smile, that he was somehow talking about himself. Annie's heart rejected the idea that Finnick could have been an unwanted child. In her mind's eye, she imagined a small boy with summer rain eyes, unruly bronze hair, and a smile too large for his lips. She saw a boy who laughed and played and refused to sit still even for a moment. She saw a boy who was always finding ways to sneak cookies out of the cookie jar, and who would snuggle in bed with his mother to 'keep her safe' from a storm. How could anyone have not wanted the beautiful child who would grow up to be the one she loved most in this world?

Then again, the world was cruel to those who least deserved it. Look at what had happened to her brother.

"You would be a good father, Finnick." Annie told him just as gently, and his eyes warmed.

"Maybe. And I think you would be a good mother." Finnick teased Annie who sighed.

"Well, I want to be in a good shower right now, and have a good coffee in my hand."

"I could deal with that." Finnick said, pressing a kiss to Annie's lips. "We can go to CVS after we get changed and stuff."

"Okay. Sounds good." Annie said trying to stand up with slightly better results this time, before glaring at Finnick as she tried to massage the pain out of her lower back. "We are never, ever, doing anal ever again."

"Aw, come on babe." Finnick whined, "It's not like we do it a lot anyways."

"Well we aren't doing it anymore."

Finnick muttered something under his breath with a pout, that went something like, "You never let me have any fun."

Annie had a feeling that everything would turn out fine.

A few weeks later, Annie got the news that she wasn't pregnant. She had gotten plan B, taken pregnancy tests, and gone to her doctor, who had reassured her that she was in no way pregnant with Finnick's child.

That didn't mean that the whole pregnancy scare hadn't affected her. Truth be told, it had affected her profoundly. It forced her to think about the future that loomed ahead, not exactly ominously, but present. It made her think about her relationship with Finnick as well, and how it might also be affected by the future.

Finnick had recently gotten a job as the head coach of the recreation swim team at the Arena, and was working on getting an online degree in Business so he could hopefully, one day, become Aquatics Director on top of that. His salary had increased enormously, allowing him to quit his job at the supermarket and for them to live in pretty decent security as Annie had finished up school. Not only that, but Annie had already been offered a job as an RN at the local hospital that she was absolutely planning on taking. Life was good, life was secure. And during the times of security was definitely the times when she should be thinking about the things ahead and how she could help everything continue to be good and secure.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Finnick was an integral part of her future. Obviously neither of them were planning on breaking up, and though they hadn't exactly voiced it, they were planning on getting married one day, (and most of her friends wondered why on Earth they hadn't gotten engaged already. As Johanna put it, 'When is your boyfriend going to get up the balls to pop the goddamn question?'), and in that future, a child was definitely a possibility. Almost a fact. And if that was true, then they needed to discuss it. They needed to talk about what they would do if Annie did get pregnant, if they wanted kids, and all the other things that came along with it, just like how they had discussed before they had bought their used Sedan, and how they had briefly talked about buying their own house in the near future.

Annie was in the middle of those thoughts when she felt Finnick's arms around her, startling her from her mind and nearly making her fall out of her chair. He smiled, white teeth catching sunlight, sea-green eyes light and happy, and the color of the waves when they nibbled at the shore. (In the deep recesses of her mind lingered an image of a tiny boy with Finnick's smile, calling her Mommy in a summersweet voice)

"Welcome home, Space Cadet. How were your journeys?" Finnick teased, kissing her temple, while Annie just smiled back.

"Quite good. I wish you could've been there." Annie teased back, tipping her back slightly so Finnick could press a sweet, light kiss to her lips.

"That's great to hear. But you want to know where we could go together later today?"

"Where?"

"Oh, just a little restaurant called The General." Finnick said with a wicked smile, and Annie stared at him.

"Finnick, that's the most expensive restaurant in the city." Annie said, flabbergasted. She had only gone there once, with her family for her parent's anniversary and the food had been as exquisite as it had been expensive, but Finnick just smiled.

"We haven't been on a date in a while now, and only the best for my girl." Finnick explained, and Annie realized that no, they hadn't been on a proper date in a long, long time. They had both been increasingly busy, Finnick with his online courses and his job, Annie with interviewing and things of the like. The pregnancy scare had been the cherry on top, and to her shock she realized that they hadn't touched since.

Obviously they kissed and slept in the same bed, but they hadn't actually had sex in a few weeks, which was strange to think about because they normally had a very fulfilling sex life. Finnick had probably not wanted to exacerbate the situation, but now that they were in the clear he assumed it was time to get back on track. Annie didn't really mind, especially because Finnick was going out of his way to be romantic and sweet. (Not to say that Finnick wasn't those things already, because despite his protests they both knew who was the sappy romantic in their relationship)

"How did you even get reservations?" Annie asked him, brushing a lint ball off of his shirt.

"Connections, my dear Annie, are something I have plenty of." Finnick said in a scholarly tone while Annie felt her lips turn up.

"You're amazing, you know that?" Annie told him, and he smiled yet again.

"That's why you love me."

"It's one of the many reasons, yes."

So, later that evening, the both dressed up relatively nice, Finnick with a button down blue shirt and khakis, and Annie in the pretty dark green short sheath dress Cora had gotten her for her birthday and her well-worn silver heels, and drove over to The General.

Annie ordered a flute of champagne, and Finnick had a glass of red wine, but they drank in good taste. The dinner itself was lovely; Annie had grilled ahi tuna with a delicious seasonal salad, while Finnick had gotten some seared Atlantic salmon with some sort of jalapeño-crab slaw that he devoured with relish. Dessert was something both of them enjoyed, but Annie teased Finnick that he enjoyed too much. Annie had gotten a simple tiramisu, while Finnick on the other hand had gotten a monster of a slice of chocolate cake, complete with gelato, candied nuts, and whipped marshmallow.

The whole night was turning out as lovely as Annie had expected it would…but throughout the whole dinner Annie noticed that Finnick was getting strangely nervous. His eyes kept darting side-to-side, his foot tapped out an incessant beat, he wiped his hands nervously on his pants. Annie got a peculiar feeling. Was she forgetting something? Their anniversary wasn't until the end of May. If that was the case, then why was Finnick getting so antsy?

Finally, as Finnick ordered a coffee cocktail with some sort of desert liquor in it with a dollop of mascarpone cream, for both of them, and as the waiter placed it down, Finnick touched Annie's hand gently where it had been resting on the table.

"I hope you liked dinner." He said, with a gentle smile, his eyes warm by the candlelight.

"I loved dinner, Finnick. Really, thank you." Annie said sincerely, wondering if that was what Finnick had been worrying about. He reached across the table and kissed her gently, before smiling a smile that danced with a touch of mischief.

"I hope you don't mind, but I have something else I would really like to talk about." Finnick said teasingly and Annie frowned as he coaxed her to her feet.

"What?" She asked him.

Finnick got down on one knee, and pulled out a small box, opening it to reveal a small ring inside.

Annie felt like she was going to faint.

"Finnick!" Annie said, covering her mouth to hold back a sob. Everyone in the restaurant was staring at them, but she didn't care because Finnick was proposing to her!

"Do you remember when we first got together, Annie, how I told you the only thing I could give you was me and that wasn't a lot?" He asked her, eyes shining with happy tears and Annie nodded, terrified to speak or she might break down. "You've taught me that I am a lot, you taught me that I could be more then what life gave me. You've taught me so many things over the years, been patient with me, and loved me through everything. You're not only my best friend, Ann, but also my partner, and the love of my life. I want to continue to learn and share and love you for the rest of my life, and this is the next step. So, Annabel Evelyn Cresta, will you marry me?"

"Yes! Yes!" Annie she barely managed to croak as Finnick slid a simple white-gold band with a single diamond on her ring finger.

The whole restaurant erupted into cheers as she threw herself on Finnick, wrapping her legs around his middle and her arms around his neck and kissed him furiously, not caring that she was wearing a dress and that it was probably inappropriate for such a fancy restaurant because Finnick was her fiancée and they would be married.

She was sure that both their lips tasted like salty tears, but never had any taste been better because their smiles and tears tasted like pure happiness.

Finnick had never gotten her out of her clothes so fast before.

They were nearly drunk with happiness, he held her hand the whole ride home, they tripped up the stairs, and Finnick barely took his lips off hers even as Annie struggled to open their door. And as soon as they got through the door, Finnick carried Annie to bed, pulling off her dress and his clothes and wrapping himself up in her embrace.

"You're so beautiful." Finnick whispered as he entered her, "God, I love you. I love you so much."

"Yes, yes! Finnick!" Annie gasped, tightening around him. They hadn't done this in so long, and it felt so good to have him inside of her again. She hadn't realized how much she had missed his flesh being pressed against hers, the rhythm of his heart pounding next to hers, missed this closeness.

"Ann, you're so tight." He groaned between clenched teeth. She dug her fingers into his broad back, loving how sturdy he was, how warm his skin was, how he looked like he might start crying with happiness again, she loved every single thing about him, him, Finnick Dylan Odair, her fiancée, the man who was going to be her husband, the man who was going to marry her and be with her for the rest of her life.

"I can't help it." Annie gasped as he began to move. "It's been too long."

"I'll just have to make it up to you." Finnick laughed breathlessly in her ear as he continued to move, his thrusts deep and slow, as if he was trying to savor the sensation. "I'll make love to you all night, sweetheart."

"God, Finn, more!" She cried out, bucking her hips against his. In response he began to time his thrusts to when her hips came up to meet his. She was seeing stars, never before had sex been so good, so wonderful, just like everything else. He was sealing his lips hungrily against hers, desperately, as if he believed this would be their last kiss. But no, this was the first kiss of forever, because Annie was getting married to Finnick and his lips would be the only lips pressing kisses to hers forever. Her hands would be the only hands twisting in his hair, her body would be the only body he made love to, her love would be the only love he would receive. Everything was perfect, perfect, perfect.

She came crying Finnick's name, clutching to him desperately, wrapping her legs around his hips. Never before had she come so hard in her entire life, and Finnick came soon after with a shudder and a groan of her name. She lay there, with her chest heaving and still tangled in Finnick's embrace, and she burst into tears.

"Ann, don't cry." Finnick said, disposing of their condom before kissing her tears away.

"I'm so happy!" Annie sobbed, becoming a blubbering mess. "Finnick, we're going to be married."

"We're pretty much already married." Finnick pointed out, but couldn't hide his lurking amusement under his straight face. "You already fold my socks."

"Shut up you bastard! Don't you ruin my moment!" Annie demanded her smile feeling wobbly but so deliriously happy, wiping away her dumb tears.

"Excited to be Annie Odair?" Finnick asked, kissing her again.

"Of course, but maybe you should be Finnick Cresta." Annie teased him, while he smiled that thousand-watt smile that left her breathless.

"I think Annie Odair rolls off the tongue easier." He said, as he pulled up the covers, Annie cuddled against Finnick's chest as his fingers trailed up and down her back.

"Maybe."

For a few moments they lay there, before Annie spoke up again.

"Why did you choose tonight to propose?" She asked him, and he sighed contently.

"I've been thinking about the future. Ever since the scare…I kept thinking, if we ever want kids, I want them to have the safe, healthy, wonderful childhood that I never had. I want them to have everything I never had. And when I was thinking of that, the only other thing I could think of was how I want to be with you my whole life, how you are the rest of my life. How one day…if we ever have kids, I want them to have a Mom and a Dad, a Finnick and an Annie. I had been putting money away for a ring for a while, waiting for the right moment. And I realized, every moment was the right moment. That I wanted to get married to you, and I wanted to get married right at that moment." Finnick explained with a smile, "And don't worry, I made sure to ask your parents before hand."

Annie's eyes must have been as wide as saucers, and she felt her jaw go slack.

"You asked my parents?"

"Oh yeah, I went right into the lion's den, babe. I gave them this big speech, and your dad laughed at me like I was an idiot, while your mom said yes just so I would stop spouting all the poetry I've ever wrote about you." Finnick said with a suggestive wag of his brows. Annie's face hurt from how big her smile was.

"The worst thing is that I can actually imagine you doing that. Did you tell Mags?" Annie asked, intrigued, and Finnick smiled.

"Of course. She asked me what took me so long, smacked me upside the head, and then told me that if we have a girl she wants us to name her after her." Finnick laughed, and Annie imagined the whole scene underneath her eyelids and she joined him in his giggling.

"Everyone's going to freak out." Annie said, "Especially Delly."

"Of course, she'll probably have a litter of flying puppies." Finnick said with a roll of his eyes, "And Johanna will probably punch me and ask me why it took me so long."

"And Peeta will volunteer to make our cake." Annie offered and Finnick looked as if she had just suggested something amazing,

"We should definitely have Peeta make our cake. That guy knows how much I love sugar." Finnick said excitedly.

"And he'll probably put three-times your body weight of butter into the frosting." She laughed and pumped his fist in the air.

"Oh yeah! I can't wait for the cake! Just like I can't wait to have you in white." He said dreamily as they both settled into each other's arms for the night, the first of an eternity to follow, and Annie couldn't be happier.

"One of your fantasies?"

"One of my realities now." Finnick said nuzzling his head against her neck, breathing in deeply. "And it's only possible because you love me, just as much as I love you."

"Forever." Annie promised, their hands intertwining under the blankets.

"Forever." Finnick agreed.

With Finnick by her side, forever would surely not seem like enough.

Someone made a request for lemons and fluff.

Well here you go, I made you a lemon meringue pie. :D

Oh fluff, how I adore you and your cavity-inducing wonder. I hope I gave all of you your sugar fix after last chapter. Thank you, all of you, for your lovely reviews. I really don't deserve your praise.

What did you guys think of the engagement scene? I figured Finnick would have wanted something flashier or something, but knows that Annie likes simple things. A nice dinner at a fancy restaurant seemed perfect. The best thing however, is the fact that I asked my mom how my dad proposed to her, whilst trying to get inspiration for this chapter/researching and this is what I got:

Apparently one morning over breakfast, my dad just asked my mom if she wanted to get married. Literally. No ring. No cute speech, nothing. Just, "Hey, we should get married." My mom just kinda brushed him off while she was reading the paper all like, "Yeah, yeah, sure. Someday." And then my dad said, using arm motions, "No, WE should get MARRIED." And my mom looked at my dad like he was an idiot and said, "Are you proposing to me?" And, exasperated, my dad replied, "YES!"

And then they got married.

Yep. My parents are the least romantic, socially inept people on this planet.

Whatever, they're going on twenty-something years, so I guess it worked out for them somehow. Moral of this story? I dunno…being unromantic is the key to success? Sure. Let's go with that. Oh, and also never ask your parents about stuff while researching for your fanfiction story that your parents have no idea about. Yeah. That works to.

Please review and let me know what you think! Oh, and also, ideas for their wedding! I've been researching, I've figured out a lot of stuff, but where should it happen? Color combos, flowers, help! Planning an imaginary wedding takes a lot of work! Also, this chapter name are actually lyrics from a song called, Inevitable by Anberlin.

Until next time, yours truly ~OMGitsgreen