Violet took over as soon as she was able to put on something more comfortable. Dinner for Annie and Finn was prepared and cooked by her in one of her summer dresses that Finn would grumble at if she wore it public. Indoors he was less uptight. And this evening he wasn't exactly in the mood to care either way. She answered all of Annie's questions about the memorial hall choosing wisely which parts to censor. It was grand and glorious, a testament to the builders of District Four and even with a wild imagination like Annie's, there was no mention of any hologram impersonating her late husband.
A few times Finn glanced up from his plate in gratitude at Violet. She was like a daughter to Annie. Accepting of her eccentricities. She would pause just as Annie would when she stared into space, then start up talking right where she left off when Annie seemed to come back to their world. Violet was patient with his mother, loving even. Finn's only worry whenever Annie and Violet were alone was how much they were talking about him.
After dinner Violet volunteered herself to help Annie to bed while Finn cleaned up the kitchen. Since she was on a roll by not divulging any horrid details from earlier today he allowed it. She knew the routine. Nightgown on the bed. Pills crushed up into water by her bedside. Lock all the windows. Close all the blinds. Turn on the ambient light above her bed. Violet had an added touch she never bothered telling Finn about. One she wouldn't even do in her mother's presence. She would sing Annie a song that her mother used to sing her. She enjoyed sharing the song, seeing the same wonder in Annie's eyes as she had in her as a child.
Once Annie was ready for the night and the pills were taking effect, Violet left to find Finn. The kitchen was cleaned and empty so she knew exactly where to look next.
Not that it was a large house, but it was more than enough room for Finn and his mother. A two story beach house with a pristine view of the ocean. Each of the bedrooms were on the top floor ,which one would suppose would allow the residents to wake up with the morning sun. To ensure his family's privacy Finn was adamant about closing each and every blind in the house at night, preventing any stray eyes from peering into their world while he and his mother slept. It was necessary unfortunately.
As a child, Finn had more privacy growing up in the same home he still shares with his mother. People knew of him but he was respectfully left to enjoy most of his childhood. The odd person would recognize him and shake his hand and comment on how much he looked like his father. The older he grew, the more hypersensitive he became that people thought he would turn into his father, in the worst way that is. He shunned that idea and resorted to the opposite lifestyle. If he could cover up his face he would have. Instead he tried to make himself the least desirable man possible. Rarely smiling and never alluding to a single person he had anything than pure intentions. Then he made the tragic mistake of turning eighteen and learned he needed nothing more than his name to become the object of Panem's affections. His day to day life became national news from whatever pictures were snapped of him. What he ate for lunch. What pair of shoes he put on in the morning. What girl caught his eye on the way to work. Then the rumors started. Girl after girl claiming to be pregnant with his child. Stories of whirlwind romances dripping with lie after lie. He never gave anyone a reason to target him and even his mother was powerless to stop the constant harassment of Finnick Odair's namesake.
Violet Mellark had a passing thought one day though. And usually she just needs an inkling before she decides what her next move will be without actually thinking of the consequences. Her heart is always in the right place. She was visiting Finn a few months after the world had turned against him. They took a rare chance and went to talk on a pier near his house. Finn was in a dark place and Violet could only see one way out for him. He didn't notice at what point her feet brushed against his in the water as they let their feet dangle in the ocean but he figured it was an accident. He wasn't aware of how close her body shifted beside his because he was too busy scanning the beach for cameras. They were there, hidden but capturing every moment. Her whisper in his ear was his wake-up call. "I'm going to kiss you now. Not a real kiss... just on your cheek." He protested at first until she spilled out the rest of her idea. The world could read into it as much as they liked. She didn't care if her face was plastered across the televisions screens as Finn's newest love interest in the flow of women they expected to see him with. They would prove them wrong. They were friends, friends who never let each other down. And the daughter of the Mockingjay wasn't someone to be played around with. The world saw what she could do with a bow and arrow. If Finn was with Violet he would have to be faithful, loyal and true. She wouldn't have it any other way. Until he found someone actually suited for him they could keep up the act originated by her parents.
Four years later, they've perfected it. No one would ever doubt their commitment to each other. Their monthly dates have become a staple in the news world. Knowing the offspring of the only two pairs of Victors to have children together have found happiness together... it's as if it helps every citizen in Panem sleep better.
Finding Finn in her bed, Violet knows she can predict sleep isn't on their agenda tonight.
His green eyes meet hers with a shy expression. The same one every time she finds him in her bed. She wants to yell at him that they've been sharing a bed for two years now but she doesn't. That would only scare him away and while it would be easier on her to shoo him away, she knows he needs it.
He looks twenty years younger than he is. Like a small child who snuck into his mother's bed. Shaggy hair, plaid buttoned-up pajamas, sitting under the covers he's pulled up over his lap. How could she ever turn that away?
"I put your pajamas in the bathroom," he says.
"The black lacy ones or the sheer white ones?"
No one would ever guess how the subject of lingerie would turn Finn Odair's face redder than a tomato in one second flat. She makes comments like these far more than he would like. Just for a little fun.
Finn barely makes eye contact with her as she exits from the bathroom in her long-sleeved cotton pajama shirt and pants. He knew she was kidding but still. If his body didn't react so harshly every time she brought up such subjects he wouldn't feel so embarrassed.
Both slide into their familiar positions on their sides, facing each other and leaving a safe amount of distance between them. This is how they sleep when they are together. Not since that first kiss on the cheek has Finn allowed anything more affectionate to happen. Sure, a hug here and there. Holding hands is acceptable... during a short walk. She understands. He isn't comfortable with intimacy. With his mother it's fine, normal. With any other person... well, because of his father's past she's accepted Finn has to be more particular with his touch.
"Thank you... for everything today," he starts off softly. "I know it wasn't quite what you expected."
"What either of us expected. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole idea of it... you can bet I'm going to sit down with whoever is planning ours and get some answers. Like who they plan on turning into a hologram. Can you imagine my mother or Haymitch... oh my goodness, Finn!" Her eyes burn bright as she mentions Haymitch's name. "New plan, I'm going to march right in there and demand to have input. They can't deny me, right? Then whoever they have planned I'll counter with Haymitch. I'll have creative input over every word that comes out of his mouth. Should I make him sound like the kind grandfather he's tricked everyone into thinking he is? No, we need to capture his true essence. Do you think they can add smells? Oh, and we should have at least half a dozen geese trailing behind him. Our memorial hall is going to blow yours out of the water." Finn can see her mind is still filling with ideas. And there is not a chance he could make her see reason to any of them.
The ideas don't stop spilling from her mouth as she goes on to describe where the hall should be, how it should be made to look like Haymitch's bottle-filled house, how drinks should be free to all who enter, and what kind of outfit Haymitch should be dressed in. Finn's eyelids eventually droop down as he listens unable to fathom a designer agreeing to any of her ideas. Once she realizes his strong chest has found it's rhythm she pulls in the reigns on her nonsense ideas and takes her first real breath of the night.
She knows she should follow suit. It won't be long before he wakes up either from the terrors implanted by her description of Haymitch wearing nothing but a coal miner's hat or from their unexpected visit with his father. But this is the only time she gets to be alone with Finn where she doesn't have to hide behind her tough exterior.
Sleeping, she can see more resemblance to Finn's father than he'd ever like to know. Nearly as fit though he's had less reason to bulk up than his father did. His nose is an exact replica. The soft light placed above her bed that watches over every sleeping Odair enhances the golden tan of his skin. A beauty in the making and so far it's only been her eyes that he's unknowingly allowed to appreciate it.
It's laughable when she thinks about it. She's done crying over it. Confident Violet Mellark inches away from the desirable Finn Odair. Both could have anybody they want if they listened to other's opinions. Yet here they lay, side by side. Neither having ever been with another person. Finn so emotionally damaged by his parents' past it's doubtful he could be with anyone but a psychologist. And her. So deeply in love with him she willingly follows him anywhere even with the ocean of distance he manages to keep between them. She's as close to him as anyone could ever be and yet he's still clueless as to how easily he could have her if he just showed her the tiniest bit of interest. A touch. A look. One word... heck, half a word and she would jump into his arms.
She silently traces his face with her blue eyes. Imagining it's her fingertips brushing away the strands of hair from the face she's fallen in love with... until it starts to hurt too much to stare so closely at what she'll never have. She forces her eyes closed and tries to fend off harmful thoughts. Like if Finn and her were meant to be he would have realized it by now. She's done everything possible to show him how much she cares for him. Any conversation that starts to steer towards adult topics always makes him retreat into a child's mind though. How could she possibly ever bring up the topic of how she actually feels when he shuts down at the slightest reference? Still, she hasn't accepted Finn is a lost cause. Not until she sees him walking down the aisle with another woman will she lose hope. She is a Mellark after all.