Author's note: I just felt like some more Gale/Finn time was needed. Also, a little bit more of baby Mags.
Happy reading!
You Are So Much More Than I Deserve
Annie stirred a pot on the stove. She hummed to herself some old song. She froze. Then she sighed. It was a song Finnick used to sing all the time. She tried to think of another song, but nothing came.
Mags started crying then. She looked at her cooking. She couldn't step away.
"Hey, Finn." She called over her shoulder. "Finn!"
"Yeah?" he called down the stairs.
"Could you come check on your sister, please?"
"I'm doing something."
"If you don't want your supper burned, come and check on Maggie."
He came pounding down the stairs.
"Gross, she needs a diaper change." The boy complained.
"Well, you could be nice and do that for me." She called.
Gale's voice called from the front door, "I'm home."
"Good, he can change her." Finn said.
Annie glanced over her shoulder to see her son carrying the baby at arm's-length. She scolded, "Finn, don't carry her like that."
"Hey, there, Finn." Gale said, walking over. "Hand her over. Shew-ee, stinky! Let's go, baby girl." He stepped into the kitchen and planted a quick kiss to Annie's cheek. "I'll give you a better greeting in a minute."
He walked off and bounded up the stairs. Mags let out a laugh at the jiggling.
"Aren't you the sweetest baby? Is my Maggie a sweet baby? Yes, you are." He kissed her forehead. "Yes, my baby is."
When she was changed, he picked her up and lifted her in the air. She laughed. "Da!"
He gathered her close again. "What did you just say?"
She started babbling.
"Tell me about it." He kissed her little nose and stepped into the hallway. "No way. I don't believe it."
Finn laughed as he passed by.
Gale stopped and looked into his room. "What?"
"You're ridiculous."
"Ridiculous how?"
"The way you talk with her. She's just a baby, Gale."
"And?" He nudged the boy's shoulder. "You're just a kid, but I talk to you like you're, you know, a real person."
"I am a real person."
He smiled. "So is your sister."
The boy shrugged.
"Don't you have a test tomorrow?"
He sighed. "Yeah. In History." He made a face.
"Want some help studying after supper?"
"Yes, please. I feel hopeless."
"You're not hopeless, Finn. I bet you know it all already."
Mags gurgled in her father's arms.
"Maggie agrees."
Finn made a disgusted sound.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"It's got to be something."
The boy looked down. "Does Mom still love me?"
Gale let out a disbelieving sound. "What? Why would you ask that?"
"Because all she worries about is Maggie. You too."
He kneeled down. "Look, Finn, your mom and I, we both love you. We very much love you. Yeah, Mags had been taking up a lot of our time, but that's how it is with new babies. It doesn't mean you're loved any less."
"She…"
"She what?"
"Mom is different with her than she is with me."
"Your mom is a different person now."
"How?"
"When you were born, your father had just died. She was sad. For all of your life up to now, she didn't have anyone else. I think it's easier with Maggie because she's happier. Haven't you noticed that?"
Finn nodded.
"She's always loved you, Finn. She always will."
"She doesn't show it."
"Of course she does."
He was silent.
Mags started gurgling again.
Gale looked down and smiled. "You know, she's starting to look even more like your mom. You both do." He looked at his stepson. "The more I'm with you, the more I see your mom in your face. But I still see your dad. And that's all your mom sees. It's hard for her."
"I know it is."
"She loves you." he said again. "And she shows it the best way she can."
Finn nodded again.
"You want to go the range after school tomorrow?"
He brightened. "Can we really?"
Gale smiled back at him. "Of course." He stood. "And, hey, Katniss and Peeta are coming in a few weeks. I've been telling her how good you're getting and she wants to see. So we need to get you there to practice as much as possible, okay?"
He nodded enthusiastically.
He ruffled the boy's hair. "Good. Now, go wash up. I think Mom's almost done with supper."
They went their separate ways. Gale put his daughter into her bassinet in the living room and then walked into the kitchen. He walked up behind Annie and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her cheek.
She leaned back against him. "Hey." She turned her head and kissed him.
"Hey. How was today?"
"Good." She kissed him again. "She's not been crying as much."
He leaned his head against hers. "I love you."
"I love you."
"Talk about gross." Finn said from the doorway.
Gale pressed his mouth close to Annie's ear and whispered something before letting go of her. She smiled.
Finn looked at them in confusion.
Then they both converged on him and kissed his face, talking over each other as they would to Maggie.
He laughed and pushed them away. "Okay, okay, enough."
Annie smiled at him and gave him one last kiss on the cheek. Then she turned. "Who's hungry?"