From the moment he got on the plane Sunday morning, Annie planned for his return. Making reservations for a romantic dinner of fondue, on the first night, while stocking his fridge up with fresh meat, vegetables and wine for the other two nights they will have the house to themselves.

Although Finnick's plane is scheduled to arrive late afternoon on Wednesday, he walks through the front door of his home several hours earlier.

Startled by his presence, Annie hesitates briefly before she wraps her arms around him and kisses him soundly on the mouth.

Usually, once Finnick returns home, he wraps his arms around her, pulls her close and kisses her back with fervor. However, this time, his lips do not press into hers nor do his arms shift from his side. Overcome with hurt, Annie pulls away only to see his bright green eyes cast in gray.

"Finnick," she calls out to him, running one of her thin fingers down the stumble on his cheek.

He does not return to her, his mind is still lost at the border where he abandoned his son to hop on the first plane that took him as far away from the boy's toxic mother as soon as possible.

"Finnick," she tries again, pressing another kiss to his lips and weaving their fingers together. This time, he blinks behind his thick frames and the smile that pushes past his lips breaks her heart.

"Hi," his voice cracks from lack of use. "Miss me?"

"Of course I did," Annie holds back the tears that threaten to form in her eyes.

"I missed you too, Annie cakes," he says, each word laced with strain as he squeezes her hand tightly and tugs her back towards him. Hoisting her up, her legs instinctively wrap around his waist and her arms loop around his neck while his hands guide her face to his.

Finnick kisses her slowly. Each touch of his lips to hers lingers a little bit longer than the last. Her fingers twist at the long strands of hair tangled by the nape of his neck, holding him close to her while a shiver runs down his spine. The quiet pop of their lips brings a genuine smile to each of their faces.

Once they reach their bedroom, he places her gently on the queen sized bed. Sliding her hands up the hem, Annie helps him pull his faded blue t-shirt along his defined stomach muscles and over his head.

"I really do love when you wear your glasses," Annie says, reaching up and cradling his face in her hands once more. "You look really sexy," she tugs at the plastic arms and slides them down his nose. "Really smart too."

Finnick chuckles, crawling on top of her, "Well, I'll have you know, I am as smart and sexy as I look."

"It's a wonder Noah turned out so modest with a father like you," Annie teases, placing his glasses on the bedside table and weaving her hands through his hair to pull him down for another kiss.

But he jerks out of her touch and falls back onto his knees.

He slips away again, returning to the airport gate where a sleepy Noah rests his head in the crook of his step-father's neck as he lazily waves goodbye to his dad.

Running his hands through his hair, Finnick gently begins to tug on it.

"I just… I just up and left him there. In a foreign country. With people he barely knows," his voice borders hysteria. "What if something happens to him? What if he gets injured or sick and he's crying out for me but I can't help him because I'm here."

Separating his fingers out of his hair with her own, Annie takes his shaking hands into hers. Guiding him down onto the bed, he lands onto the empty space beside her.

"I shouldn't have left, Annie," he chokes. "I'm a bad parent. I should've stayed. Even if Cashmere makes want to shoot a bullet through my skull, I shouldn't have left him alone."

Stroking his hand with her thumb, Annie can hear the deep breath he takes in an attempt to calm down.

"You are the furthest thing from a bad parent," she reassures him. "You're letting Noah branch out on his own; learn about the other half of his family and allowing him make his own opinions." She smiles at him, while sitting up to straddle over his limp body.

"What's most important, though, is that's he's with people you trust. Once he realizes that, that'll get him to trust them too." She places a soft kiss through the smile that stretches across his face.

Finnick's rough hands find the smooth skin of her core, running them up her sides and back down to the waistline of her skirt. His fingers dancing around the hem before his hands slide down the length of her thighs and around the fabric, bunching it up at her hips.

"I still can't believe how lucky I am," he says, trailing a finger along the seam of her panty covered folds. "Someone so… so… able to be who I need is just…"

Annie smirks as she looks down at him through her lashes, "Tongue tied much, handsome?"

Letting out an undignified grunt, Finnick rolls her onto her back. Hooking his fingers under the elastic of her silk panties he yanks them down to her ankles before pushing one finger into her.

"Finnick," Annie moans, her hips bucking with intent as his fingers move at tantalizingly slow pace. "Please…"

The whine that passes through her lips is music to his ears, "And what can the luckiest guy in the world do for his girl?"

"I…um…ah … faster," she pleads, as he trails his finger back along the seam of her wet folds, grazing her clit each time.

"Like this?" he asks, leaning over her for a kiss as he pushes his finger into her again, quickening his speed. "Or would you rather I start making good on those plans of yours?"

Watching him through hooded lids, Annie smiles, "As long as I am the one on top."

Finnick cannot help but laugh as he rolls her back on top of him. Cupping her face in his hands, he touches another kiss to her lips. "You make it so easy to love you, Annie Cresta."

Annie returns the kiss with a smile, "Only because I have someone like you, Finnick Odair."