Johanna didn't take well to the addition of a new woman in her "family's" life. Annie became all Finnick and Noah ever talk about. The way she could get Finnick's shoulders to fall when he flashes that easy-going smile and Noah to open up about his anxieties without any coaxing made Johanna feel useless in comparison.

Having tried to take herself out of the equation, she finds herself sucked back in. Johanna found she can't say no to Finnick or his little bundle of joy. They are her men; she couldn't deny them anything.

So, she copes the best she can with Annie Cresta fluttering around her house. Sitting on Finnick's lap while they watch a football game together, helping Noah with his homework and cooking hot dinners for them to come home to.

However, her irritability doesn't go unnoticed.

Whenever Annie finds herself in the same room as Johanna, she can sense the stale tension that lingers in the air. Despite her desire, she refrains from bridging this gap in their relationship. Fear makes even the strongest people weak.

This gives Finnick no other choice but to step in, something he has avoided since he brought Annie home for dinner that first night and it ended in a disaster.

He finally loses his patience with the situation when he catches Annie peeking over her shoulder every time Gale and Johanna holler at the television set when the Vancouver Canucks shoot a goal.

"Why don't you go sit down and watch, I'll finish," he offers, lifting the wooden spatula out of her thin hands.

"It's alright, they're losing anyhow," she sighs, bending down to take the strainer out of the bottom drawer.

"Damn right they're losing, Cresta. I bet even during off season they couldn't hit a hole in one," Johanna's laughter bellows above the cheering from the television and high five's Gale's waiting hand.

"Enough is enough with this crap !"Finnick shouts, unintentionally making Annie jump. "I won't let you continue to antagonize her over trivialities. Both of you are equality important in my life and I can't let the two of you keep going like this!"

"And what do you suggest, Odair? We go shopping? Get our nails done? Gossip about your skills in bed?" Johanna prompts, with a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

Annie watches as Finnick's face contorts in thought. She finds it charming the way he pulls his bottom lip between his teeth and taps his fingers on the top one. If he were wearing his glasses, they would slide down to the bridge of his nose.

Her favourite part, however, is when his thoughts fade and the answer sparks. Finnick's green eyes widen and eyebrows shoot up into his hairline as a smile creeps across his face. If they weren't in the company of Johanna and Gale, Annie would indulge in her feelings towards his silent charms.

Finnick pivots around to the stove, turning off the elements and moving the simmering pot to a cool element before he grabs his thick, pea coat off the back of the chair.
"We're going to go down to Blight's tonight," Finnick beams. "Drinks are on me."

Johanna's smile drops.

"Are you sure?" Annie inquires, cautiously. "There must be another way we could bond. Drinking isn't our only option."

"It's a fun option, though," Gale chimes in toeing into his shoes with a small smile. "Who knows, a little alcohol in your system might even loosen the two of you up enough to start kissing."

"No," Annie and Johanna call out in unison as they shoot Gale an angry look. Throwing his hands up in defence, he lets the idea drop as the girls share a startled look.

Flashing each other an inconspicuous smirk from the doorway, Finnick and Gale bump fists. He really missed the good old days.

"So then he climbs up onto the railing. I swear to fucking God I thought the bastard was going to die he was swaying so much. But he fucking dove off the banister and didn't even fucking splash when he hit the water," Gale shares, animatedly, shocking Annie into silence while Johanna howls. With his face in his hands, Finnick groans. There were a million other stories Gale could have told them that didn't involve him looking irresponsible and reckless. But drunk Gale doesn't have a filter.

"Professional diver or not, you're an idiot," Johanna wheezes before downing the last of her beer. "I can't believe you still want him, Annie. You could do a lot better that this oaf."
"Hey!" Finnick calls across the counter. "I resent that."

"Aww, honny," Annie coos, leaning her head onto his shoulder and placing a kiss on the joint of his jaw. "I love you even if you've done some really stupid things. Without them, I wouldn't have met you." Finnick smile down at her and kisses the top of her head.

"Heeyyymitch! Bring us another ro-und, you lovable stud you," Johanna shouts, with a grin, before falling back into another set of snorts and giggles with Annie.

"No," Haymitch states firmly. "You've had enough. I refuse to carry your drunk ass home."
"Why do you think we brought Hawthorne?" Johanna smirks, punching Gale in the shoulder. He sways longer in reaction than he should.

Haymitch doesn't look up from the glass he is cleaning. "You're not getting another."

"Pleeaase," Annie pleads, batting her long lashes at the bartender, grabbing a hold of Johanna's hand and twining their fingers together. "Johanna and I are finally getting along; can't we have one more drink to toast our new friendship?" Annie tries to cover up the giggle that passes through her words.

Lifting his gaze, Haymitch looks her up and down then directs his attention to Finnick.

"So, you've decided to marry this one?"

"That's right," Finnick grins as leaves a kiss on Annie's cheek. Sending her into a new giggling fit.

"And you, where's your girl for the night?" Haymitch directs at Gale, whose wide eyes blink, "You've got a ring on your finger."

"Oh. At my friend's place. She's not feeling well, really nauseous. Y'know, pregnancy shit," Gale shrugs as he licks at the tendrils weaving down the side of his glass.

Their little group falls silent. The harmonizing howls of the patrons sound from behind them as the Leafs score the winning goal of the game.

"What?" Gale grunts, staring out at their small group with narrowed eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" Finnick shouts, slamming his glass on the table.

"Hey watch it, Odair; you break it I buy it," Johanna calls out.

"Calm your shit, I just found out a couple days ago," Gale mumbles. "She doesn't want me telling anyone so shhh," his scowl pulls into a grin.

Letting go of Johanna's hand, Annie twists on her stool and throws her arms around Gale. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks, Annie-cakes," he hugs her back, shooting Finnick a satisfied smirk who returns his friend's gesture with the finger. No one called her Annie-cakes but him.

"So what do you say, now?" Johanna wriggles her eyebrows at her boyfriend. "One last round?"

"Fine. But I'm still not carting your ass home, sweetheart," he grumbles as he collects the mugs and fills them half way.

"To baby Hawthorne," Finnick starts with a grin, lifting his glass up.

"To Finnick's generosity," Gale laughs while his friend groans.

"And to bonding," Annie says clinking her glass with Johanna's.

"Yeah," Johanna smiles. "To bonding," she says, pushing her glass against Annie's.

"Cheers!"