My gaze is completely fixated on Finn's reaction. His eyes flutter back to mine. Green eyes reflecting the love he declared in that moment back at me again. "I know," I whisper to him. "Now do you?"

Slowly… gently… this time he kisses me. I feel him come back and I know it was all worth it.

It was more than worth it. Answering every one of Plutarch's questions. Revealing how we fell in love, our time in Four, what happened during what were almost our last days together in Twelve. All worth it to have Finn breathing in my arms again.

Finn took over as the questions turned towards our future. Playfully deflecting them with "I'm sure you'll find out soon enough. Someone here seems to have trouble keeping secrets."

The pull of the audience wasn't great enough to keep Finn from pulling me off stage to question me more directly. I couldn't get you to feign slight interest in me with your parents around and then you make the proclamation heard around the world? This isn't going to be over any time soon. We're going to be followed, they're going to hunt us down to get any and every shot of us together. Even when we're apart-"

"Never," I say. "Never are we ever going to be apart again. You thought I was crazy before? Let me tell you something Finnick Odair, if you ever, EVER, try to leave or even hint at leaving again I can't promise you we'll both be walking off that stage alive next time."

His lips curl into a smile. "I suppose that rule doesn't go both ways?"

"You're the expert on me, aren't you? What do you think?"

"Just when I thought my troubles were over..."

"If you wanted me back so badly you could have also just done this," he pants as I kiss away the tears rolling down his cheeks. We've never come together so intimately, me sitting in his lap, legs wrapped around his waist, him still inside of me.

"Next time, answer the phone and we could have skipped the sideshow," I tease.

He smiles and lays kisses up and down my neck, caressing my backside with his warm hands. My eyes flicker closed the more he kisses but I force them open, just as I did the entire time we swayed together. I struggled to show the same desire and want that came so easily for Finn to show but this time… this time he was the one whose heart and body was overcome by my intensity.

"Do you have any idea the agony I went through to get you here?" I'm still teasing but I don't mind reminding him so I never have to experience that again.

"Hmm, do you mean your makeover courtesy of the prep team?

"That is exactly what I mean." I couldn't get out of that dress quick enough. Fortunately Finn had the same desire and it was off seconds after the door was closed – and locked.

He looks up at me in adoration. "I have to admit I was impressed you went to such lengths. Not only did you show up on stage where I least expected you but you went through their rigorous beauty treatments. With only slight improvements."

I furrow my brow. "Such as?"

"You skin is even more kissable soft. And your dress came off quicker than your clothes usually do."

I giggle. "By mere seconds."

"I've learned every second counts with you."

Brushing his lips across my jaw he pauses at my mouth. And we just breathe into each other. Staring. Caressing.

"Ask me Finn."

This gives him pause. "What if you run?" I look down at us enveloped in each other. This is the least likely position I could ever escape from, would ever want to escape from.

"You'll catch me. And then we'll have to do this again." I rock into him and begin our motions again.

He responds by pulling me in tighter, hardening inside of me and rocking with me.

"Violet…" he says with uncertainty.

"Finnick… ask me." I hold his face and lock eyes with him, while our bodies still sway into each other. "Please," I plead.

"If I must…"

I kiss him. "You must."

"If this is what you want…"

I kiss him again. "I want."

Finn slows us down and takes my hands in his. "It took a single moment for me to know what I wanted. I wanted you to be mine. I needed you to be mine. I will always love you Violet, unkempt or polished, brave or irrational, you are the one for me. Life is only worth living if you let me live it with you. Say yes…marry me…"

I tell him my answer. And we become what we were meant to be. One.

~ 1 chapter left ~