Chapter 21
Katniss turns around and see a man who one woulddescribed as being extremely handsome. He is tall, muscular, and athletic, with tan skin, bronze-colored hair, and "incredible" Katniss and Peeta are staring into sea green eyes of Finnick O'dair who is very much alive and living with his lovely wife Annie and beautiful son Finn. Finnick is wearing tan shorts with a sea-green short-sleeved shirt, he is also barefooted. His bronze-colored hair still shining in the sun. "Hello Katniss and Peeta, it's good to see you both again" he says coming over and shaking their hands. "Finnick? Is it really you?" Katniss says looking at her close friend who was supposedly died when she used the holo to stop the mutts from chasing them. " Calm down a bit and I'll tell you guys what happened, OK?" he says
" OK," Katniss said calming down enough so Finnick could give her to Peeta.
" OK, so here's what happened," Finnick starts, as Annie come and hugs her incredibly handsome husband.
" OK, so when the mutts got to me I found a knife in my coat that I didn't find until then. Once I got the knife out I started trying to kill the mutts and when you sent the holo down I was able to throw it into a bunch of mutts and just the bits of mutt hit me," Finnick finishes looking at his two good friends.
" Wait, I don't understand, Katniss told me she saw bits of human after the holo exploded," Peeta said holding Katniss who is shaking slightly.
" Um, oh yeah that was because men had followed behind the mutts and the holo blew them up,"
" Oh, ok" Peeta says.
" Why didn't you come back? This whole time I thought you were dead," Katniss said.
" I couldn't, I'm really sorry Katniss, I really am, oh and sorry about your sister," Finnick said.
" Actually, she's just fine, she survived the explosion," Katniss says.
" Oh, that's really good! I'm sorry you've gone through so much, Katniss," Finnick said giving Katniss another hug.
" I'm ok, everything is better now," Katniss said, hugging Finnick back.
" Well Katniss, Peeta did you want to stay here or did you have other plans?" Annie said.
" Well we were planning on getting a place when we got here," Peeta said.
" Are you sure, we'd love to have you stay with us, I'd love to catch up with you guys?" Finnick said.
" Are you sure? I mean we don't want to intrude," Katniss said.
" We're totally sure," Annie said smiling. "It really is no trouble" she adds as she puts her hands up to stop her two good friends before they can protest.
" OK then I guess we have a place to stay now," Peeta said. "You guys must be tired from walking all the away from the train-station, come in come in" Annie says leading the way in the house. Katniss and Peeta begin to pick up their suitcases but Finnick stops them. "Oh please allow me" He says picking the suitcases up and carrying them in the house. "Come on Fish-boy" Finnick calls out to his son. "Comin' daddy" the small boy calls back. "Don't forget to put your toys away"Finnick adds which makes Finn stop as he picks up his plastic trident and put it away in his toy-box. Katniss see's this and a smirks "teaching him how to use a trident at a young age huh Finnick?" "You know it Mocking-Jay" Finnick says playfully. "hey now I haven't been the Mocking-Jay ever since my trial" Katniss says as she tries to smile but cant control the tears. "Hey now why so sad Katniss?" Finnick asks coming over and hugging Katniss. "It's nothing I'm fine, its just been a long trip" Katniss says as she calms down silently debating on wither or not to tell Finnick and Annie about the star-Crossed lovers obsessed fan she and Peeta met on their way over, she decides against it and pushes it away from her minds. "Well we are going to have fun while you and Peeta are here" Finnick says smiling as Katniss gives him a soft smile. "There's the girl I met that day at the chariot" he says
The door leading inside opens and Peeta is standing there a look of concern on his face but it goes away when he see's Katniss smile. "Everything ok?" Peeta asks as Katniss and Finnick step inside the house. Peeta takes her in his arms "you alright love?" he asks whispering in her ear. "Yeah Peeta I'm good it's just been a very long trip" Katniss says giving her husband a kiss on the cheek as they enter the house. The interior of the O'dair house is exquisite. The walls are painted a white that resembles sea-foam, there are two love-seats the color of sand. The floors are hardwood. The windows go up almost to the ceiling. Katniss and Peeta look around "Katniss Peeta can I get you anything" Annie asks as Katniss and Peeta join Annie and Finnick in their living room. Annie I would love a glass of water" Katniss says "I'll have a water as well Annie"Peeta adds "Alright I'll go get those for you" Annie says as she leaves to go to the kitchen. "So Katniss and Peeta what have you been up to since we last saw you?" Finnick asks them "Well we both were dropped back in twelve. Peeta and I got married, fifteen years later we have two beautiful kids. A boy and a girl." Katniss says turning to Peeta "where's the picture of the kids?" she asks as Peeta dig around his front shirt pocket and hands it to Katniss. "here you go love" Peeta says passing the picture of Idina and Daniel to Katniss who passes it to Finnick who is holding a squirming Finn in on his lap.
"I'm gonna go read daddy" Finn says as he slides of his dad's lap. "Alright buddy have fun" Finnick says as his son picks up a picture book "seventy-four victors" displayed in red lettering."They look like a mixture of both of you" Finnick says as Annie comes back with the water. "What do you got there Finnick?" Annie says after she hands Katniss and Peeta their waters and goes to sit down next to her athletic husband who puts a arm around her. "Just a picture of Katniss and Peeta's kids" Finnick says passing the photo to Annie. "Oh Katniss your kids look adorable" Annie says smiling as she hands the photo back to Peeta. "Thank you" Katniss says smiling."What are they like?" Finnick asks as Katniss takes a sip of water. "well they are the most perfect kids we could ever ask for well apart from Finn of course" Katniss says smiling as she looks at Peeta.
"Why didn't you bring them with you? We would have loved to meet them."Finnick adds. "well we decided to go on this trip with it just being the two of us and kinda of like a celebration of Katniss's confinement has been lifted." Peeta says starting to say more but Finnick stops him. "wait wait what do you mean you were confined to twelve until you were thirty?" He asks looking from Annie to Katniss and Peeta. "I was found to be mentally incompetent after my trial after the rebellion" Katniss says surprising even herself seeing her voice is strong as Peeta puts an arm around her for reassurance that everything will be fine.
"Remember I told you after you came home from the hospital when you asked me how Katniss and Peeta were doing" Annie says as she watches Finnick remember. "Oh yeah I remember you telling me that. Thanks Ann" Finnick says putting an arm around her. "So apart from having two adorable kids and being able to move around Panem again what else has happened? Annie asks snuggling in Finnick's side. "Well my mother came back to twelve to stay with us and help raise the kids. Prim is also alive it's been great having her back with us."Katniss says smiling at Peeta. "Well that's great you two" Annie says. Katniss lets a small yawn escape her lips. "you must be tired let me show you two to your room" Annie says getting up Finnick joins her never breaking their hand hold just like they did back in district thirteen. They lead their guests up to the second floor that is beautifully furnished. The carpet is a cool sea-green the walls are a white that looks like sea foam. "Annie your home is beautiful" Katniss says as she and Peeta follow. "Thank you Katniss I appreciate that" Annie says looking over her shoulder at Katniss and smiles. "Here's your room" Finnick says smiling opening the door and leading the way inside.
The room is beautiful there a queen sized-bed that has white sheets and sea-green comforter, there a door leading out to what appears to be a balcony. The walls are painted white. The windows go all the way up to the ceiling with a built-in window seat. There's a bathroom and closet which is bigger then the one they use at home. A sofa is set up by one of the windows that is close to the bed. "this is wonderful thank you guys" Peeta says looking around the room. Katniss is at the bed running her hand over the bedspread"No problem guys"Finnick says. "why don't you two rest up and we will see you for dinner in a few hours" Annie says as she and Finnick head out leaving Katniss and Peeta alone in their room. "Thanks for having us" Peeta says as walks to the door with Finnick "anytime" Finnick says as he shuts the door.
This place is beautiful isn't it Peeta?" Katniss says as Peeta comes back as they both sit on the bed. "That it is Love That it is" Peeta says taking her in his arms and moving up towards the pillow. "Annie looks happy, little Finn is adorable he reminds me of Daniel, and Finnick hasn't changed a bit, he's still the heart-throb guy I met years ago while we were waiting for the chariot ride during our second games" Katniss says curling up next to Peeta. "Thanks for coming with me" Katniss says as she slowly drifts of to sleep as she feels Peeta tighten his hold on her. "Always" Peeta says they fall asleep.
Katniss wakes up an hour later feeling refreshed, Peeta is still fast asleep next to her "Peeta Peeta come on wake up" Katniss says softly as she pushes his brilliant blonde hair out his eyes. When her fingers graze his face and move towards his forehead Peeta's eyes begin to open. "Hey Kat" he says smiling and reaching up and caressing her beautiful face. "Sleep well?" he asks as she lays her head on his stomach. "yeah I did" Katniss says turning her head and looking into those radiant blue eyes. "Did you sleep well?" she asks giving Peeta a kiss on his nose. "I did indeed love" Peeta says smiling as he feels the kiss on his nose warm slightly. Katniss sits up propping herself up, her back supported by pillows and Peeta's arm around her. Peeta looks out the window and a smile forms around his face. Katniss must see him smile "What's with that smile?" she asks laying her head on his arm.
"Oh I was just looking outside and I saw the beach and I remembered what you said when your mom asked where you wanted to go to celebrate your ban being lifted. I think Annie and Finnick's house is right on the water. Wanna go walk along the beach love?" Peeta asks looking over at Katniss who is smiling. "Yes let's go" Katniss says leaping off the bed with Peeta right behind her. They walk hand in hand down to the first level of the house. They find the O'dair family relaxing in the living room. Annie is polishing some sea-shells she must have found on the beach.
Finnick and little Finn sit reading the book the lad was carrying earlier, when they enter Finn looks up at them then at his dad whispering a question that's barely audible. "go ahead and ask them"Finnick says putting his son on the ground "Hey you two" Annie says looking up from her project. "Hey guys" Katniss and Peeta says at the same time. Little Finn comes over to Katniss and Peeta book in hand. "Miss Katniss?,Mr Peeta?" the small boy asks looking up at Katniss and Peeta with those stunning green eyes that sparkle just like his dad's. Katniss lowers herself to the boys level Peeta joins her. "Hey Finn whats up?" She asks looking at him. "Will you come with me to the beach" he asks his boyish face brimming with hopefulness.
It takes Katniss all of two seconds to respond to the boy. "Yes Finn, I would love to go to the beach with you"Katniss says as Finn smiles. "Yay I'm going to go get ready" Finn says happily as he scoots from the room."He has a lot of energy for a seven year old" Katniss says as she smiles as she watches the young O'dair leave the room. Annie and Finnick just smile in response as Peeta speaks up "How far is the beach from here?" he asks as he puts a arm around Katniss. "Oh it's just out the backyard we have privet beach front property with access, one of the perks of being a victor" Finnick says grinning. There's a pattering of sandals on the hardwood floor as Finn returns wearing swim trunks and carrying his plastic trident. "OK I'm ready" the lad says looking at the group. Annie and Finnick slide off of the couch and slips into their sandals grabbing towels and a beach umbrella. Katniss takes Peeta hand and they follow the O'dair family as they head down to the beach.
Hope you guys like it. Please review. until next weekend...