This isn't exactly what I promised and it's set much further in the past then the last chapter - which I apologize for but I hope you enjoy this chapter immensely! Dedicated to Baronesskika whom I love so so very much. :)
Noah is every bit as stubborn and persistent as his mother and right now it is makes Finnick want to pull a Van Gogh and cut off his ears.
He's tried everything from rocking him, to feeding him, to playing peek-a-boo with Noah's chubby toddler hands but nothing is calming the crying boy long enough to let his exhaustion consume him.
Checking the clock on the way back to the bedside table, having just paced the entire house four times, when Finnick realizes he's got three more hours before he needs to be up for work.
Fuck work. Fuck having to go in and listen to Seneca Crane complain about some numbers he pretends to understand. But Finnick has no other choice, as Noah's sole provider he needs the money. Hopefully, Peeta won't mind watching him for the day.
"Jesus Fucking Christ, Finnick," Johanna growls from the door frame, her eyes drooping around their dark circles. "Just put the little shit down already. He's giving me a headache."
Shooting her with a sharp glare, Finnick ceases bouncing the boy in his arms. Their eyes snap down at the sweaty toddler's as he rubs his eyes furiously and with a sigh, Finnick admits defeat. Placing the boy onto the empty side of the bed, thankfully, the crying melds down into hiccups.
Stripping Noah from his sleep sack, and sweat soaked pajamas Finnick and Johanna can almost hear the boy sigh in relief.
Checking the diaper, it miraculously stayed dry through the endeavour.
Finnick strips down, keeping one eye on the bed, before he crawls onto the inviting mattress and pillow that his body welcomes with instant sleep.
It isn't until several hours later and he's sitting at the conference table at the office, gulping down his coffee that his phone thrills in signal of a message.
"A little motivation." Is all the text says before a picture pings into his inbox. The smile that bursts onto his face has an energy flowing through his veins that puts caffeine to shame.
"I think I can get through the week now. Thanks, Anna."
"Any time ;)" She replies a second later. "Now knock 'em dead, or I'll come in there and do it myself. "
Chuckling to himself, Finnick turns the screen off of his phone just as Seneca the parade of department heads file into the room looking their boring, sleep deprived selves in their black suits, white shirts and black ties.
The wave of monotony nearly drags Finnick right back down with the rest of them. Flicking his phone back on for a second and looking down at the picture of his sleeping little bundle of joy stretched out like a starfish, sends an electric pulse through him.
A week was an understatement. As long as he has Noah, he'll get through his entire lifetime.