It was lost, our hope of a new victor was lost on the last day once the Careers split up. From what I had seen on the screen those first few moments and from what Finnick had told me the arena was almost completely grasslands. Far and wide with little places to hide and hardly a slick of water so it really didn't contribute to our specialties. Evidentially Lena had lasted longer, killing the female tribute from 1 before her partner got Lena from behind. Both had died quickly which is all you could really ask for in the arena, besides winning of course. But I was almost glad because that meant we got to head home early and I could get out of the room I had been locked in for the past three weeks. I barely got that however.

They had wanted to keep me in the capitol for monitoring and other such things but my guess is that someone high up had told them to send me home with some lie because a crazy in another room was better than where eyes could see her.

With an easy smile I moved onto the train earlier than I needed to, but I didn't want there to be any delay and even though I was still in the Capitol it felt more like home than that room did in the Training Center. Plus here there weren't any eyes, not even Irid—who had no need to escort Finnick and I home. So, just bypassing my own room I moved back to his and changed into a pair of loose sleep pants and a tank top from the blouse and skirt I had on for the ten minute trip to the station. After all the facts would only become more evident if they had all seen me with a line in my arm and in lounge wear.

For the first time in the three weeks I finally was able to relax with the knowledge that we were going back home and slipped under the covers, closing my eyes.

"My sweet Annie," The voice whispered from behind me and instantly I tensed because I didn't want to see it, hearing it was fine but seeing was a whole new thing. Keeping my eyes squeezed shut, I smelled the horrid charred almost rotten stench as the rough fingertips brushed back my hair. "You're almost there honey," She soothed and I nodded But, then I did what I shouldn't have and opened my eyes. There she was, my mother, but not as how I wanted to see her. Her beautiful dark blonde hair was half gone and charred at the ends, and half of her face with covered in cruel, red, uneven scars that flowed down over her neck, shoulder and arm, at least where her blackened and holey shirt didn't cover.

"I just want to get better again," I whispered back as tears brimmed.

"I know sweetheart," She brushed her unburned hand over my cheek and gave a lopsided smile. "Now you can. Everything will be alright. Just go to sleep."

Nodding, I turned onto my side and closed my eyes as she rubbed my back and slipped off into a dreamless sleep thanks to the medication still flowing through my system. Next thing I knew, I felt someone sitting down on the bed beside me and instantly I tensed up slightly as they touched my shoulder but as they jerked back I knew that it was a mistake. Slowly he started to stand up but I quickly turned onto my back and grabbed his wrist.

Running my eyes over him, from the messy hair to the slightly dishelved clothing, I could tell that he had just got on train. By the look in his eyes, I could see that he knew I knew it too and even though I wanted nothing more than for him to just lie down here with me I saw he wouldn't be comfortable until he took a shower. Shifting my hand around, I took hold of his hand and slipped out from under the covers. Moving over to him on my knees, I pressed a small kiss to his cheek and then stood up. "Come on," I whispered and confused he followed me into the bathroom. Truthfully, I felt like I needed a shower as well just to wash the Capitol off of me and just pulled him in clothing and all as I flipped on the water.

Without a word he took hold of my tank top and pulled it over my head before I gripped onto his shirt and for the first time grave a small chuckle as I attempted to get it over his shoulders and head. Giving his own smile, he helped me and stooped down a little bit. As I dropped it to the ground, he seemed to catch onto my idea of washing the Capitol away and reached forward, turning up the temperature of the water a little more so it was almost scalding.

Quickly all our clothing was on the floor and as he stooped down and grabbed the back of my legs, picking me up. I slid my arms around the back of his neck and pulled him into the first kiss we had shared in almost four weeks. "I missed you," He murmured out against my lips.

"I missed you, too," I whispered with a smile as I pulled him in tighter.

oOo

Carefully, I stepped over him and off the edge of the low platform bed. Grabbing a pair of jeans out of my bag and t-shirt, I moved out into the corridor and towards the dining car where they most likely had breakfast laid out already. As we got closer and closer to home I could almost feel the pressure coming off of me, but that didn't stop the fact that I was broken again.

"You said you'd get me out of there," Lena's voice, which had been ringing I my head since early this morning spoke from her spot on the chair at the table. Her neck was bruised and a little awkward looking, something that I hadn't been able to see in the dark bedroom.

"I know," I whispered sadly, glancing to her. "I tried."

Angrily, she flipped around the knife in her hand and stabbed it into the table, "Not hard enough!"

"I held on for as long as I could," I answered.

"No, you gave up!" She screamed and ripped the knife out of the table, storming towards me. Wide eyed I backed up and crashed into the back of the couch and flipped feet over head. Crashing into the floor, I half expected her to me right on me but as I looked around the room wildly she was nowhere to be seen. Closing my eyes, I took a few deep breaths then stood up. Reaching down, I fixed the things on the table and put the cushions back into place so it looked like nothing had happened before doing what I had planned on do and that was to get a plate of food. Though, as I turned towards the table I saw Finnick standing there already and just looking at me with this look that told every single emotion he was feeling: sadness, guilt, and also fear.

Licking over my lips, I looked down to the floor in embarrassment because we were almost right back to where we had begun. I was back to hurting him. He moved in front of me and carefully reached forward, taking my elbow which had banged into the table and stooped down, kissing it softly. "I'm sorry," I whispered out, not knowing what else to say.

"Don't," He answered firmly and moved his head back up, but not enough to stand up fully, just enough to look in my eyes. "Don't apologize, My Annie. There's nothing to apologize for." Giving me a smile, he took my face in his hands and we met in a soft kiss. "Let's go get something to eat and go back to bed."

Giving my own smile, I nodded and together we raided the table, stacking things on plate and as he grabbed the pitcher of juice I grabbed two glasses before we headed back to the bedroom. As he scooted back against the head board, I folded my legs under me and sat across from him with the food in between us on a tray.

Taking a bite of eggs, I glanced up to him as he dove into a sugary roll, as always loving his sweet things. "What's my middle name?" I asked softly and he looked up at me both confused but also a little alarmed until I gave a small smile.

"Elizabeth," He answered, catching on.

"Favorite color?" I asked, my smile getting a little wider.

"Light blue." He answered. "But not an ordinary light blue, the color of light blue sea glass."

"Favorite animal?"

"A narwhal, with a horn on it's nose," he joked and mimicked me like I had those long months ago.

"Wrong," I chirped slightly, taking another bite just before he stole the bowl out from in front of me and moved the tray onto the side table. Grinning, he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me forward onto his lap easily.

"A sea turtle," He whispered with a wide smile and I nodded. "You know why I don't want you to apologize, don't you?" Slowly my smile dropped as I shook my head slightly, because I didn't. I put him through so much, he deserved an apology. "it's because you are an amazing woman, Annie. You shouldn't have to apologize for seeing things that others are too afraid to and end up blocking out with other methods. You are strong for facing them and shouldn't have to apologize for that."

"Do you truly believe that? That I'm strong?" I whispered unsurely.

"I don't have to believe it. It's true. Do you believe it?" He asked and I gave a small smile to him, but shook my head, because it wasn't an easy thing to believe. "Well, you'll just have to trust me then."

"I already do," I answered, because I did trust that he did think I was strong. It's just that I didn't know if it was just because he loved me, or if he truly believed that. Leaning in, I pressed a loving kiss to his lips as I scooted closer to him and wrapped my arms around the back of his neck. Smiling, he returned the kiss before we just paused and leaned our foreheads against each other.

"Annie Cresta," He whispered after a long moment. "I'm going to marry you someday. The first chance I get, I'm going to marry you."

Smiling at the promise, I rubbed my nose against his gently. "I know, Finnick."