A/N: Warning this chapter is sad. I was tearing up the whole time while writing and proof reading, especially at the end. Two sad chapters in a row I know but, next chapter will be happy because it's going to be the Father's Day one. They can be a family. The picture I think we all want for them :)

In Annie's POV

Consume

I lie in bed and close my eyes I don't want to get up. I don't want to leave it.

I roll over but soon feel a shaking on my shoulder.

"Mommy? Please don't be dead." He whispers. I open my eyes and sit up. I look to the clock, it is noon, but I don't care. It is going to be one of those weeks.

The fact that my son thought I was dead makes my heart sore. I don't want him to be thinking that.

"I'm sorry, I slept in. Do you want something to eat?" I ask and he nods.

I pick him up and take him downstairs. The fact that he looks so much like Finnick is almost a curse now instead of a blessing like usual. I just want Finnick here. I want him to hold me.

I go to another room and cry I don't like to do it in front of my son. I breathe in and out steadily and after a few minutes I head back towards him.

"Are you okay Mommy?" He asks.

I nod.

"Yes but, Grandma and Grandpa might be coming here later. They might want to take you to their house." I say. They will he taking him after I make a phone call because I know I can't take care of him not because I don't want to but because there's something inside of me that just stops caring after awhile. If I didn't have my parents things would be different for him, a lot different.

"Mommy I want to stay here."

"I know sweetie but I know you will have fun."

I give Finnick breakfast/lunch and then go to the phone.

I head to the other room. The chord is so stretched out I could probably go anywhere and be able to use it.

It rings twice.

"Hello?" I hear my Dad say.

"Dad, is Mom there?" I ask. I like to talk to her about this more than my Dad. They both know I'm doing the right thing but they have different opinions on the matter.

"Give me a second sweetie." He says.

I look at the pictures that are in here. My eye caches the wedding one and I sink onto a sofa.

"Annie? Annie?" I hear my Mom say.

"Mom." I swallow hard. I don't like saying this. It makes me feel like I'm a bad mother. I close my eyes though and start talking. "I… I don't think I can take care of Finnick for the next few days. Can you please, please-

"I can be there in fifteen minutes Annie." She says.

"Okay."'I say and can feel tears stream down my face. "Mom." I say.

"Yes?" She smiles.

"Please don't make me hear the lecture from Daddy again." I whisper.

He says the same thing every time so I don't need to hear it again

"Annie you should he able to take care of him by yourself." He says

"I know I should but sometimes I can't do it."

"Annie I love you and my grandson very much and I know you have had many struggles in life but sometimes you gotta step up." He says.

"Daddy I don't think you realize how hard it is to admit to you and Mom that I can't take care of my son. In my brain I know I should be but another part, the stronger part, that wins tells me it doesn't matter and he can take care of himself." I say. Which isn't true a four year old can not take care of themselves.

This is usually when he hands the phone over to my Mom or tells me they will be right there. I don't know why we have the same conversation when we both know the results.

"Of course sweetie. I love you and will be there soon."

"I love you Mom." I say and then hang up the phone.

I head back out there and see him smiling.

"Was that them?" He asks and I nod.

"Mommy can I please stay here with you." He asks.

I want to say yes but if I did it wouldn't be helpful because I couldn't do it. I need to be alone.

"You will only be there for a little while." I say and stroke his hair.

"Mommy I like it better here." He complains.

"You will have all your toys and Grandma and-

"I don't have you." He whispers.

"I will probably visit you Finnick." I say

He runs over and hugs me.

"Please don't make me." He whispers.

"Sweetie you're gonna be just fine and it will probably be only for a week." I say.

"Okay Mommy." He says sadly.

"I love you baby." I say and carry him upstairs so I can pack his clothes. He picks out outfits for two weeks. I know it won't be that long but he said he wanted options.

"Okay, let's go downstairs." I say carrying his bag in one hand and him in the other.

"Are you gonna be good for Grandma and Grandpa?" I ask.

He nods.

"Okay." I say and kiss his forehead.

A few minutes later the door bell rings. I go to open it and see my Mother.

"Hi sweetie." She says and forcefully pulls me in for a hug.

"Hi Mom." I say into her chest. She let's go and then puts both of her hands on my cheeks.

"You're gonna be okay sweetie." She smiles and kisses my forehead.

"I know Mom I just need some alone time." I smile. "You gonna be okay to take him?"

"Of course we are, sweetie we love having Finnick stay with us."

"Okay." I say.

"How long so you think it will be?" She asks.

"In don't know a couple a days a week at the most." I say.

"Okay sweetie." She says and kisses my forehead. "Promise you will be taking care of yourself."

"Don't worry Mom, I will. I am." I say.

"Okay."

"Finnick!" I say and he comes running in here.

"Yes?" He smiles.

"Grandma is here."

"Mommy." He says and I pick him up and kiss him.

"You're gonna have fun at her house."

"Mommy I want to stay here." He says.

"Oh but Finnick Grandma needs to see you. I miss you." My Mom says.

"Oh." He says.

"I love you Finnick." She says and reaches for him and I give him to her.

He hugs her.

"I love you too Grandma." He says and kisses her.

"We are gonna have lots of fun." She says.

"Okay." He says.

"Now say goodbye to Mommy." She says and give him back.

"I love you Mommy." He whispers and kisses my cheek.

"I love you too." I say and kiss his forehead.

"Are you gonna miss me?" He asks.

"Of course I will. Lots and lots." I say and kiss him. "Are you gonna miss me?" I ask.

He nods.

"You're gonna be a good boy for Grandma and Grandpa right?" I ask.

"Yes Mommy."

"Okay." I say and kiss him and set him down. "I love you sweetie."

"I love you too Mommy." He says and then my Mom takes him to her house so he can be taken care of because being around him right now is like the wind is being kicked out of me.

I head to the living room and lie on the couch. I see a picture and press it to my chest. It's the wedding photo.

"I miss you." I say and a few tears fall out. I eventually fall asleep. I stay downstairs for three days mostly on the couch. I need eat a few things here and there.

When I'm like this it's almost as if I'm being told Finnick is dead all over again.

I breathe in and out. I can't stay like this forever I have a life to live and a son to take care of. A son I love more than anything.

"I need him back." I whisper referring to my son. I need him back because I know how he can make me feeling better.

I head upstairs to take a shower which I haven't in there days. I get dressed. I look in the mirror and am wondering if I can get rid of the blood shot look in my eyes. It's probably from the crying. It can't be from lack of sleep because I have been doing more than I should.

I head downstairs and go to the phone and call my parents to bring Finnick home.

"Mommy!" I hear the door open and him run towards me.

I pick him up and spin him around.

"Hi sweetie did you have fun with Grandma and Grandpa?"

He nods.

"I always have fun there but I missed you Mommy." He kisses my cheek. "I love you."

"I missed you too baby and I love you too." I kiss his cheek multiple times. "So so much."

He giggles.

My parents tell me that he was good but he did keep saying he wished he was here. I feel guilty when I hear this but it's not like I can take of him when I'm like that. It was only four days it could have been longer. It has been longer.

They leave and I take Finnick on the couch and have him sit on my lap facing me.

He starts to play with my hair.

"Mommy." He says.

"Yes sweetie?" I ask and kiss his forehead.

"I love you."

"I love you too." I say.

"I wish I didn't have to leave sometimes." He whispers.

"I wish that too." I kiss his forehead. "I wish that too." I say. I do wish that. I do wish he didn't have to leave because I know I can't take care of him. I wish it wasn't like this but then again I have lots of things I would wish for.

"Mom." I hear and can feel him rubbing my back. I pretend to be sleeping."Mom I know you're awake." He says. I open my eyes.

"Yes?" I say to my sixteen year old son.

"Mom you've been in bed almost all day."

"Have I?" I say already knowing the answer.

"Yes, you should get up maybe go for a walk. You must be hungry I made-

"I'm okay sweetie." I say.

He looks at me strangely at first I think it's because I'm clearly lying to him but them he reaches for it. The picture frame I hold to my chest to make me feel better. It's my wedding photo.

He looks at it and looks sad.

"You miss Dad." He says and it isn't a question.

"Finnick you can go to your grandparents for a few days and-

"Mom, no I'm staying right here with you."

"Finnick-

"Mom, I don't think Dad would want you to lie around all day or cry all day. You shouldn't be alone, not when you're like this." He says.

He is true Finnick wouldn't want me to mope around all day just because I'm sad. He didn't like that when I was too afraid to leave the bedroom. He let me stay a few hours and then slowly eased me to leave and go to the kitchen or living room. I wouldn't leave the house but I wouldn't stay in bed all day.

"I just want to be alone." I whisper.

"You shouldn't be and I'm not leaving." He says.

I get that tightness I do in my throat when he says things like this.

It's been almost seventeen years and sometimes I get that feeling. I know every single victor can never fully move on. I think we all break down from time to time but, I don't think they do like me.

"Mom." He says gently.

"What?" I say. I sound annoyed probably because he isn't leaving like he should be. This plan I had worked so well until he was about thirteen because he slowly started to figure out why he went to his grandparents for a few days and it wasn't just so he can see them.

"Mom, I know I don't know what you're feeling or what it is like. I never will because times are different and all those." He pauses probably unsure what to say. Saying Hunger Games in this house is like saying a swear word. "games are over. I know you miss Dad and I know you're afraid sometimes but Mom." He stokes my hair. "don't let it consume you because you're stronger than that and there are a lot more things to be grateful for than to be sad." He says.

"What did you say?" I say. I sound a little appalled that's not what it is though.

"I said I don't-

"No the end." I say.

He looks at me strangely.

"You shouldn't be consumed by these feelings-

I stop listening because I have heard something like that before.

Annie?" I hear him say. He is probably looking for me. I was afraid so I got up and found a nice little cubby to hide. I have my hands over my ears and am rocking back and forth.

It wasn't a nightmare. It wasn't a flashback. It was just the sense of going to the Capitol again to mentor.

"There you are." I hear Finnick say. His voice doesn't have pity something I can never understand about Finnick. He doesn't see what other people do just like my parents.

I make a whimpering sound instead of replying.

He sits next to me and wraps his arm around me.

"Annie I know going to the Capitol is scary, believe me I do but you can't let that fear consume you. You're a strong enough person to not let one emotion control you. You're Annie Cresta one of the strongest people I know."

I remove my hands from my ears and look at him strangely. I look in his eyes and see no sense of lying. I don't say anything I just hug him after awhile I whisper 'Thank You'

"Mom." I feel a light shaking on my shoulder. "Mom." He says again sounding worried this time. "Mom." He says and the shaking has gotten a little harder.

"What?" I ask.

"You had that glazed over look, are you okay?"

I shrug.

"I think so."

"Good enough answer for me." He smiles. "I made you something to eat Mom. I know you said you're not hungry and that you don't want to leave but I think if you just went downstairs and ate something you would feel a little better." He says.

He thought about this, he just didn't come in here to see if I was alright. His intentions were to get me out of my bedroom. He's taking care of me.

"You shouldn't be doing this." I whisper.

"Doing what?" He asks.

I didn't mean for him to hear that.

"You should be outside with your friends not inside taking care of me. You shouldn't be taking care of me because I'm the Mom and you're the kid."

He smiles.

"Mom it doesn't matter what role we play I see a person who needs help so I'm going to help them. I love you Mom and I can't leave you when I know you're like this. I can't leave you when I know you need help. And no matter how much you say you want to be alone I think we both know you're lying." He says and kisses my forehead.

I look at him strangely and then run my fingers through his hair.

"When did you get so smart and wise." I smile.

"I learned it from the person I look up to, they're pretty smart and wise."

"And who might this person be?" I ask.

He looks at me strangely.

"Mom, it's you."

I smile and hug him.

"I was so hoping that was the answer." I whisper.

"Who else would it be?"

"I don't know." I say.

He smooths my hair and kisses my forehead.

"I love you Mom." He says

"I love you too sweetie." I say.

He eventually does get me to go downstairs and eat something just like his dad would've. I guess he has more in common than just the name and good looks. He has the same kind hearted nature Finnick had.

He's the best person and I'm proud to call him my son.

"I love you." I say one more time.

He smiles.

"I know." He says and hugs me.

"Yes I do." I say.