Meeting the Parents.

"Okay, what do you think I should make?" Annie asks. Nick is going to bring his girlfriend over for us to meet. Annie wants to make sure everything is perfect. "Do you think she likes fish?" Annie asks worried.

"She lives in Four, that's usually the main food course." I say.

She nods.

"Oh course." Annie says slightly distracted.

"You okay?" I ask her worried.

She nods.

"I will be. Besides, she's not coming over for a few hours." Annie says and I nod.

I hear the front door open and see Nick and his girlfriend, Kristen, come in. Kristen has dark hair, dark brown eyes, and pale skin. She isn't from District Four. She's from District Two.

"Wow this house is really great." Kristen says as she comes in. "Am I allowed to say that?" She says in a softer voice. I don't understand why, maybe it's because of the whole victor thing.

"Yes you can say that." Nick says.

"Okay. It's just so big and nice." She says.

"You should see the backyard." He says.

"Why?" She asks with a smile.

"My Dad build my Mom a garden with lots of flowers. It has fountain and everything."

"Why did he build her a fountain?" She asks intrigued.

"To make her feel better." Nick says. It's true that is why I made it. I made it before the war. Annie loved to sit out there and read or paint. She loved making flower necklaces and headbands out there as well.

"Oh." Kristen says awkwardly.

"Don't worry about it. My parents will love you." Nick says. Annie is the one who she needs to convince. Annie wants to make sure her only child is being treated well. Nick is only eighteen so he might not marry this girl but Annie needs to know that whoever Nick is with is good enough for him.

"Alright." Kristen says.

Nick takes her hand and leads her outside.

"Annie?" I say heading downstairs looking for her.

"What?" She asks.

I see her sitting in the living room.

"Were you spying?" I ask her smiling.

"We are supposed to meet her." She says.

"He's just showing her around." I say and kiss her forehead.

"Are you worried at all?" She whispers.

"Worried about what?" I ask.

"She's from District Two Finnick. I can tell from the way she speaks. District Two has a slight accent.

Annie is probably worried because for a few years District Two started a mini revolution. Paylor took care of it before it got too out of control. Still, the Districts who were closest to District Two; One, Three, Seven, and the Capitol got the worst of it. The Capitol and Two were working together. Some of the population of Two fled to other Districts. District Four isn't exactly close to Two so I don't understand why Kristen's family came here.

Some knowledge about the short lived revolution was only shared with government officials. For example, how District Two was working with the Capitol and how District Thirteen joined in with them because of what happened with President Coin. District Thirteen got most of their weapons taken away or were destroyed after the first war. Paylor thought no one should have that much power.

I know details that others don't, including Annie. Even though I promised her I would never keep secrets like this from her, I didn't want to tell her. I didn't want her to become worried and introverted again. She already was a little nervous when it all started and it didn't help that Nick was only six. Nick didn't really understand what was going on or why there were so many safety drills.

"Since when are you so prejudice?" I ask Annie somewhat surprised. Annie hugs herself.

"People from there hurt me." She says softly. It's true, District Two and people from the Capitol came up with most of the torture methods. Annie still has nightmares about that place.

"Kristen isn't going to hurt you. Remember Cressida she's from the Capitol." I say and kiss her cheek.

"I know." Annie says. "I just don't want anyone to hurt our son." She whispers.

"She won't, Nick has good judgement." I say and she nods.

She nods and hugs me.

"I don't want his heart to get broken." She whispers.

"Well, that might happen but he can take care of himself."

Annie nods.

"What if he moves far, far away." She says.

"Annie he's eighteen and has already decided to go to school here."

"Okay." Annie whispers.

I hear the porch door open.

"I really like the daisies." Kristen says as they walk inside.

"Those are my Mom's favorite as well." He says.

I kiss the top of Annie's head.

"Let's go Annie." I say and we walk into view.

"Mr. And Mrs. Odair." Kristen says. She does a strange bow. I remember people from Two doing this during the Hunger Games and when I go to the Capitol for government meetings. It must be a respect thing.

Mr. and Mrs. Odair sounds so formal though. Snow would always call me Mr. Odair so I don't usually like it.

"Nice to meet you." I say.

She smiles and Annie says the same thing. Annie goes into the kitchen to start dinner.

We talk and apparently Kristen came to District Four because her parents had friends from here. She came here young, obviously, because she was the same age as Nick. I don't know what happened to her parents because I know Kristen grew up in a group home.

Kristen goes to the bathroom and I head to the kitchen to see Annie because it seems like Annie has been hiding in the kitchen this whole time. But Nick gets to her first

"Mom." I hear Nick say. I'm close enough to be in earshot.

"Yes?" Annie says in her concentrated voice.

"Are you going to talk to her at all?" Nick asks worried.

"I just need to do this." She says harshly.

"You can make comments. I know you can hear the conversations." Nick says which is true.

"I know… I'm just worried." Annie says softly.

"She isn't-"

"No, she seems lovely." Annie says.

"Then why won't you talk to her?" He asks now frustrated.

Annie whispers something.

"Mom, you're not the one who is supposed to be worried." He says with a smile. "She's the one who is supposed to try and impress you."

Now I understand, Annie isn't worried about Kristen being from District Two. She's worried what Kristen will think about her. She's worried Kristen will think Annie's not right in the head.

"Mom, if she doesn't like you then she isn't good enough. You're more important." Nick says.

She hugs him.

"I love you." She whispers.

"I know." He whispers and lets go.

Kristen comes out shortly and I notice she is looking at the artwork on the wall. She's looking at Annie's drawings.

"I made those." Annie says.

Kristen looks startled that Annie has finally said something to her.

"They're beautiful." She smiles.

"Thank you." Annie says. "Can you paint?" Annie asks.

"Oh no. I wasn't even good at color by number when I was little." Kristen says.

Annie smiles subtlety. I think only I am able to see this.

"Do you want some help Mrs. Odair?" Kristen asks and walks towards the kitchen.

"N-no." Annie stutters and I notice her hands are shaking slightly. Annie doesn't like when people help in the kitchen. I don't understand why, but she gets all nervous when people ask to help in the kitchen. She was even that way with Mags. She's even that way with me.

"Mom doesn't like when people help because she wants it to be perfect." Nick says to Kristen.

Kristen nods, but looks confused.

"Or if I mess up I'm the one to blame." Annie says.

Kristen nods but still looks confused.

"Do you have any siblings?"

Annie asks her

"I had a brother." Kristen says.

"Oh." Annie says softly and doesn't ask any further. Annie knows better than that.

"Are you going to school after you graduate?" Annie asks.

"Maybe." Kristen says. "I'm waiting to hear back from some places."

Annie nods.

We eat dinner shortly. Annie did a nice job with the food. But I can tell she is worried about how it tastes because she keeps looking at Kristen.

"How was it?" Annie asks when we are all finished.

"Really nice Mrs. Odair." Kristen smiles.

"It was good Mom." Nick says.

Annie smiles.

"Thank you." She says almost relieved.

Annie starts to clean off the table.

"I can help you Mrs. Odair." Kristen says and stands up.

"No you're fine." Annie says.

"Okay." Kristen says and sits back down.

"Come on." Nick says and they stand up and head to the front porch.

I wait until they are outside before I sneak to the foyer so I can listen in. I know I shouldn't, but I'm curious.

"You're family is interesting." I hear Kristen say from the porch.

"That's a generous way of putting it." Nick says and I smile.

"Do you think they like me?" She whispers.

"Yes they like you." Nick says.

"Are you sure your Mom does?" She asks softly.

"Yes she does." Nick says and I smile .

"Then why didn't she want my help with dinner?" She asks.

"She's always been that way.

Even with me and my Dad." Nick says.

"Is it that way with the dishes as well?" Kristen asks.

"Those dishes were her Mother's, they're important to her and she only uses them for special occasions." Nick says.

"I'm a special occasion?" Kristen asks surprised.

"Yes. You're my girlfriend and she wanted to make a good impression."

"Why does she need to make a good impression?" Kristen asks confused.

"She's nervous of what people… think."

"Why? Your parents are nice. I thought they would be different because they're… victors."

"Not by choice if you recall." Nick says defensively.

"You hear stories." Kristen says.

"That's why my Mom is nervous." Nick says.

"Oh because of the rumors about how she…" Kristen trails off. The choice of word has to be chosen very carefully because it could easily be offensive to us. Nick doesn't like when people call her crazy and neither do I.

"Yeah those ones." Nick says in his grumpy voice.

"She seemed fine. I thought she didn't like me because she was so quiet." Kristen says.

"She's like that with new people. Dad says it was like that before everything." Nick says.

I've never told him that before. I didn't even know Annie before the Hunger Games.

Kristen nods.

"Finnick." Annie says softly.

"What?" I ask.

"They're going to think you're spying on them." Annie says.

"That's what I am doing." I tease. Annie rolls her eye.

"And if they catch you?" She asks.

"That's only if they catch me." I tease.

Annie rolls her eyes as I walk towards her.

"Do we like her?" I ask Annie.

"She's nice and polite. I like her and so does Nick, which is all that really matters." Annie whispers.

I kiss her.

"Yes it is and I agree with you." I tell her.

I can see a question on her lips. I think I know what it is as well.

"I'm sure she likes you too." I say.

She nods and hugs me. I rest my chin on top of her head.

I hear the door open and Annie let's go of me, but she does hold my hand.

"So?" Nick asks.

"We love her." Annie says.

Nick smiles.

I ask the question I know Annie wants to.

"Did she like us?" I say.

"Of course." He says and walks over towards us. He squeezes Annie's shoulder. "Especially you Mom."

Annie smiles.

"You don't need to lie sweetie." Annie says softly.

"I'm not." He says. "She really liked dinner as well."

Annie smiles.

"That's good." She says.

"And I also liked that you didn't pull out anything embarrassing or tell embarrassing stories." He says.

"That's for next time." I say.

"I think we still have some of your childhood artwork." Annie says.

"She'd love to see that. I bet she'd also love to hear some stories." I say.

"Gee thanks guys." Nick mutters.

"It's because we love you." Annie says.

"I know." Nick says. "And because I love you, I beg of you not to do that… ever." He says.

"I don't think we can make those promises." I say.

Nick sighs and walks off.

"This could be fun." Annie says.

"It could. All those fond moments we treasure can now be shared."

"I can still hear you guys." Nick says as he walks upstairs.