Author's note: Here's a happier chapter for you after that depressing last one.

Edited 7/24/14.

Chapter 21: Meeting Meredith

"Annie, have I ever introduced you to my mother?" Finnick asked one night.

I looked up at him from my book and shook my head. "No. What's she like?"

"Her name is Meredith," Finnick says with a smile. "She still lives in the house I grew up in, on the top of the cliff at the edge of the district. She's one of those mothers who love their children to death, perhaps a little too much."

"Too much?"

"Oh, it's nothing bad. She's just a little nosy, but it's her job. She's been wanting me to bring home a girl for years, and is constantly worried about how I'm doing. You'd like her though."

"Why haven't you brought a girl home yet?"

"The right one hadn't come along," Finnick says. "And when she did, I just forgot, I suppose, and I wasn't sure if you could handle her yet."

I frown slightly. "Why wouldn't I be able to handle her?"

Finnick sighs. "I know you can handle it now, don't worry. She's just a little pushy."

I nod. "When can I meet her?"

"Does Christmas Day sound good?"

I hesitate. "Only if Ava and Superior can come. I don't want to leave them alone."

Finnick smiles. "I'll ask her. I'm sure she'll be fine with it; Mags always comes over too, anyways. She'll love the extra company."

Sure enough, Meredith is delighted, and on Christmas Day the five of us walk to the Odair home. The walk isn't far, just up a hill to where a string of houses sit on a rocky cliff. This is where the richest families in four live, excluding the victors, and the cliff can be seen from most of the district. I've never been up there before, and never thought I would. Yet, here I am.

Finnick leads us up to one of the houses and opens the door. "Mom," he calls, "we're here!"

An older woman wearing a simple yellow sweater and jeans comes down the stairs and wraps her arms around Finnick in a tight hug. She's in her late fifties, and has light reddish-brown hair, and warm brown eyes. Finnick towers over her petite stature, making their hug very funny to watch.

Breaking away from her son, Mrs. Odair turns to me. Her smile is very warm and welcoming "Hello, Annie. I recognize you from the games. I'm so happy to finally meet you. Finn couldn't stop talking about you once he finally told me you were dating. He's very secretive about his relationships, you know. You're different though; he's crazy about you."

I can't help but blush at that. "Thank you, Mrs. Odair. It's nice to meet you too."

"Oh, please." Mrs. Odair says. "Call me Meredith. Or Merry, that's what my husband Aberdeen called me, God bless his soul. Now, who are these lovely ladies you've brought with you."

"This is Superior Hudson, Annie's best friend, and Ava Cresta, her younger sister."

"It's nice to meet you girls, too," Meredith says, still smiling brightly. "Come in, come in, dinner's almost ready."

Mags goes into the kitchen to help Meredith, while the rest of us wait in the living room. Meredith soon calls us in, and we are happy to join them. On the dining room table are six plates filled with delicious-smelling salmon with pesto, sautéed wild rice, and a fancy Caesar salad. Fish is a typical Christmas dinner in Four, but I have never had anything so fancy, except for the food in the Capitol. It turns out Meredith is a wonderful cook, and everything tastes even better than it looks, if that's possible. Meredith is very social and talkative, and she apologizes to Ava and me about the loss of our family, but doesn't bring it up again. She also asks Superior about her life, and is sympathetic to everything she says as well. Meredith's favorite topic, however, is her own family, especially hilarious stories about Finnick.

"One day, Finn found a mouse in the yard and decided to keep it as a pet!" Meredith explains. "He even took it to school! My, did he give his teacher a fright!"

After dinner, everyone was full and content and Meredith took us to the living room to look at the pictures on the wall. Many of them were of Finnick at various stages in his life, and a there was also several with him and his parents. A few of the pictures were of a man with thick hair and a beard that is the same color of Finnick's. "Is this your husband?" I ask Meredith.

Meredith smiles sadly. "It is. That is my treasured Aberdeen, God bless his soul."

"What happened to him?" Superior asks gently.

"He had a sudden heart attack at work two years ago. It was completely natural of course, but still unexpected. Finn and I miss him terribly, don't we Finnick?"

Finnick nods, gazing absent-mindedly at one of the pictures. "Of course."

We then gather around the tree and exchange gifts. For everyone on my list, I give a simple gift. I gave Finnick, Mags, Superior, and Ava a homemade picture frame made of seashells, each containing a different picture. I feel bad for not making Meredith one, but Finnick told me not to worry, that I could share his. Finnick's picture was taken by Mags, and is of us staring lovingly into our eyes. Mags' is one of Finnick and I strolling on the beach, Superior's is the two of us when we were younger, and Ava's is one of the whole family before I went off to the games. They clearly love them, which makes me happy to see. Finnick gives me a beautiful music box that plays a classical district 4 song. "To store special moments in," he says, and I kiss him on the cheek in return.

Meredith surprises me for bringing a wrapped present down for me. I open it to find a beautiful woven quilt. "Aberdeen's mother gave this to me when she was sure I was the one. After hearing my Finn talk about you, and seeing you together, I'd like to give it to you."

"Thank you," I gasp. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely, dear. You're a wonderful girl," Meredith sighs dreamily. "I just can't wait to start planning your wedding."

The room gets quiet then, and I feel my cheeks get warm. "Mom," Finnick says gently, "We've been together for five months. We're not thinking about getting married yet."

"I'm sorry," Meredith sighs. "It's just that Finn has always been so secretive about his love life, and he's never brought a steady girlfriend home before. I'm a bit excited."

"It's fine," I say softly, but her words cause me to think. What would it be like to marry Finnick someday? Would I want to? Even now, at only eighteen years old and after only dating him for five months, I would say yes. For the first time, I start imagining spending my future with Finnick, even having kids. Is this normal, and would Finnick want it too?

Suddenly, I feel someone gently tugging on my sleeve, and Finnick is looking at me in concern. Huh, I must have drifted off. "Are you alright, Ann?" He asks.

I nod. "Just fine." With that, we go back to opening gifts. Yes, I like that future. I like it very much.

It isn't long before Finnick and I decide we should move in together. He's over at my house more than his anyways, and sometimes doesn't go home for days. When Finnick suggests we live with each other permanently, I agree. The only problem is what to do with Ava. She already feels like an intruder when Finnick's over and would feel even more so if he was a permanent resident. Suddenly I get an idea. Superior is in need of extra money, and is struggling to get by. Maybe she and Ava could live in my house. It's a crazy idea, but who's to stop us? The peacekeepers won't care; they rarely come to Victor's Village unless they have a message for one of us. I talk about my idea with Superior and Ava, and they agree. Superior is incredibly thankful, and Ava agrees it's for the best. "You guys need space," Ava tells me with a smile. "I get it. Plus, it's kind of weird when you get all lovey with each other." Oh, Ava. She's the best.

By March, our "house swap" as Mags calls it, is complete. Finnick gives me a tour of his – well ours, now – house. When he takes me into the bedroom, the first thing I notice is a blue and white stuffed whale sitting on the side table next to the head of the bed. I instantly pick it up and cuddle it. The whale is made of soft fleece and is about the size of a small pillow.

"This is so cute!" I exclaim, grinning at Finnick.

Finnick smiles. "That's Blue. I've had him since I was little."

I set the whale down with a smile before asking Finnick about something I've been worried about for a while but never brought up. "What am I going to do when you go away for the games?" I ask softly.

"You'll have Ava and Superior with you remember? You're going to be fine," Finnick says soothing, and kisses me in the way that drives me even crazier than I already am.

Next chapter: The reaping for the 71st games arrives, and Annie is worried for her sister's safety. Is she right to be? Plus, Finnick deals with yet another games, which includes making a trip to see his lovely Capitol "friends".