The couple of months that followed the union seemed to Seneca to fly by. Very soon he would be back in the Capitol, rarely seeing the outside of the control room. He had plans to keep Renata at the house, where she could wait for his return and stay out of the sights of certain Capitol frequenters. Despite his best efforts, Renata had not become pregnant within the early days of their marriage. He still felt wary of trusting her completely, though she had become quite obedient.

Renata had indeed learned exactly how to behave with Seneca. She didn't speak unless he addressed her first, and she remained by his side if he were ever to need anything from her. She was simply a shell of her old self, hollow and unfeeling. There wasn't any contact with anyone outside of the house, though he had promised her the use of the telephone to call Cecil. The house was a prison, and she was a slave to Seneca's bed. Every night, he would bed her. Some of the positions and the things he would have her do made her face burn red with embarrassment, but she obeyed him without protest, knowing that if she did he would hurt her.

She did feel a small shred of victory knowing that she controlled whether or she were to conceive, and with every test he made her take that came back negative, she inwardly applauded herself. Perhaps if she did get pregnant, he wouldn't constantly feel the need to mount her, but she also knew that if she got pregnant that there would be no chance of ever going back to her old life. She had discovered in the beginning of her marriage that Seneca was into very, for lack of a better word, kinky lifestyle, something that he had managed to keep hidden from her when she was only his call girl. Now that she was his wife, his property, there was no reason to. Whatever fantasy he desired, she was expected to fulfill. Sometimes, he would have her sit in his lap and take control of him.

"As if you could handle me," He said with a breathy chuckle, his hands at her hips. His fingertips pressed bruises into her pale skin, and later when the duty had been done, he would run his hands over them and proclaim that it marked her as his lover. Eventually he would drift off; rolling over on his other side and leaving her huddled on her side of the bed, naked and not satisfied. She could feel what he had left inside her and it took her every ounce of strength not to go and scrub her skin raw. Only when his breaths turned slow and heavy did she indulge herself in her thoughts. She would roll away from him, practically teetering on the edge of the bed and curling into herself.

"I love you, Renata." Finnick whispered in her head over and over. She grazed her fingertips over her shoulders and closed her eyes, pretending that it was him touching her skin. Beautiful, safe Finnick, whom she missed very dearly. Eventually she would drift off into unconsciousness, where she would not even dare to dream lest she call out his name in her sleep.

One morning, Seneca emerged from the hall dressed in a suit that he would only wear if he were going to the Capitol. Renata bit her lip as he strode over to the table and stuffed a biscuit into his mouth, sighing as he sat in his chair. "What is that look for?" He asked when an eyebrow raised. He motioned for her to come over and he pulled her into his lap, fighting a smile.

"You don't dress this dapper for me," Renata shrugged, running her hand over the black panel of his jacket. She slowly raised her eyes up to meet his, her lower lip sticking out in a small pout. "So I assume that it means you're leaving me here." She rested her head on his shoulder so her face was buried against his neck. "And I don't want you to. I want to go with you, I don't like being alone, Seneca…"

He smiled and he kissed her forehead softly, his hand slowly massaging circles into her lower back. "Well, I'm due there in a couple hours. If you're coming with me…you'd better get ready quick." He grinned when she sat up quickly, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Really?" She breathed, searching his face for some indication of trickery.

"Go on, and be quick of it," Seneca whispered, kissing her lips and patting her back. He watched as she hurried back to their bedroom and the sound of her throwing clothes on made him chuckle.

"Are you finished yet?" Seneca called over his shoulder, smiling when Renata came hurrying over to him, drying her hair with a towel. "I could've offered help."

She smiled and kissed his cheek softly, sitting beside him. "We would've missed the entire reaping."

He grinned and shrugged, slinging an arm around her shoulders and turning the television on. "Let's see who we've got to play with this year," he murmured, letting his fingers caress her upper arm.

"You won't go falling in love with any of them, will you?" Renata asked with a raise of her eyebrow, pursing her lips when he laughed. "I'm serious! This means that you can't go around wooing every girl you find appealing." She waved her wedding ring in front of his face, which made him laugh harder.

"I assure you, my dear," Seneca smirked, pulling her into his lap and cradling her like a baby. "My affection lies with you." He leaned down and kissed her lips, slowly deepening them until she had her arms worked around his neck, her fingers messing up his coiffed hair. He chuckled and pushed her away after a moment, the look of disappointment on her face making him grin wider. "I have to do my job, you know." He motioned to the television as the footage of the reaping began.

Renata blinked and she rested her head against his shoulder, her heart pounding as Districts One and Two were shown, both the typical Career types. "Look at him," she murmured, nodding at the blonde boy from Two. "He's very self-assured, isn't he? I don't understand why people would volunteer for this…"

"For honor, to prove themselves that they can survive," Seneca murmured. "People do it for different reasons, I suppose. Winning the Games gives you eternal glory, don't you know that?" He teased, his lips grazing the top of her head.

"I won on a fluke," She murmured in reply. "Lots of people in my District went to the academy to train, but I never did. Cecil-"

"No, he doesn't seem like a very brutish man himself. Here, love, District Four."

Renata sat up a little when the screen changed to the Justice Building, and she felt her throat close when the tributes were shown.

"That's strange," Seneca said. "They're both so young, I was expecting a volunteer or too, since you were the victor last year."

"Maybe I wasn't inspiring enough," She mumbled, turning away from the screen and burying her face in his chest. If she weren't married, she would be mentoring those kids this year. She'd be alongside Finnick, and like him she would be selling herself to help keep them alive. She sighed quietly, making Seneca clutch her a little closer to his chest.

"Would you rather be home?" He asked, rubbing her back.

"No!" She said quickly, shaking her head. "I want to be here, I want to be with you! I'm just tired is all."

He pressed a kiss between her eyebrows, letting his lips linger there. "You've been acting strange the past few days. Maybe you should see Dr. Kasnik just to be sure your fatigue is from lack of sleep…" He trailed off and Rini swallowed at the hopeful little smile that tugged up the corners of his mouth.

A warm blush spread across her face and she bit her lip. "Of course." She knew of course that that would be impossible, but she would go just to humor him.

"Whoa," Seneca said, sitting forward suddenly. "That's unusual." It was the reaping from District Twelve.

Renata watched as an older boy took away the little girl that had gotten chosen and another girl took her place. She furrowed her eyebrows, looking at the girl's face for a moment. She looked very familiar, she was sure they had met before.

"Katniss Everdeen," He said, whistling. "She'll be the first volunteer from there. Very interesting."

"I saw her. She and her little sister, I met them when I was on the victory tour," Renata stood up, wiping her hands on her pants. She stared at Katniss for a moment before Seneca flipped off the screen and set the remote down.

"So, what do you think? Any observations?" His mouth was quirked like she was about to tell him a joke.

"Well…I can't really say. The Careers are obviously good and they have an advantage…but we know nothing about the other tributes. They could have skills of greater worth than strength, but we won't find out until we see them in the arena."

He raised his brows and grinned at her. "Very astute, Mrs. Crane." He stood up and planted a peck on her lips, then went to pour himself a glass of one of the colorful liquids sitting on the bar.

Rini watched him for a moment, her heart pounding as she gathered up the nerve to speak. "Seneca?" She ventured a little closer to him, wringing her fingers. "I was wondering if…when the tributes arrive, if I could be allowed to go see them."

He was quiet for a moment and then he set his glass down, turning around to face her. "Why would you want to do that?"

She couldn't help the blush that rose in her cheeks. "I wanted to mentor, but I won't ask you for that again. If I could just go and visit, see Salvatore, and Fascal too-"

"And sneak around behind my back? I know why you want to go, Renata, I'm not a fool. I trust you, my dear wife, but not nearly that much."

"They're my friends!" She exploded, making his eyes widen in surprise. "I want to see them; I want to talk to someone besides myself! You leave me alone for days on end and I go crazy! It's not fair, I just want to visit, I won't do anything wrong…I'm good, I'm a good girl," She whimpered, suddenly on her knees begging him. "Please, Seneca…please…" She ran her hands up and down the front of his thighs, swallowing. She sniffled and watched him stare down at her, his facial expression strained.

"Rini," He muttered, pressing his lips hard together. He closed his eyes as she kept rubbing his legs, her hands stirring him. A low moan escaped his lips as she undid the button of his pants and tugged down the zipper, letting them fall around his ankles. "Oh, f-fuck…" Her lips were soft and warm against his skin and he folded both his hands into her wet hair.

"You can go," He said when she had finished him and he pulled his pants back up. "But I'm sending someone with you." He looked down into her eyes and gave her cheek a gentle pat.

Renata tapped her foot nervously as she rode the elevator up to the fourth floor of the training complex. A Peacekeeper stood silently beside her, his presence looming over her like her own personal storm cloud. He couldn't be much more thrilled than her to have him as her babysitter, but if it was the only condition that Seneca had for her to go see everyone, then she would take it. She had been very eager to give him whatever he wanted the couple of days that it took for the tributes to arrive to the Capitol, just for this small favor.

There were voices from further inside the floor when the doors opened, and Renata took a breath before stepping out of the elevator. What would they say to her? What if she shouldn't have come?

"Rini?!" Salvatore exclaimed when she rounded the bend and appeared in the sitting area. He got up, nearly spilling his glass of wine. "It is you!" He set down his glass and scampered over to her, pulling her into his arms. "Well, would you look at you? Marriage becomes you, lovely." He smiled, putting his hand to her cheek. "I'm sorry I couldn't make the wedding, would you forgive me if I told you I plan on getting you a big present?"

Renata laughed and she shook her head. "You're already forgiven, don't worry." She embraced him again, inhaling his familiar scent of lemongrass. She looked at the other people in the room that were staring at them; the two young tributes, Fascal and the other stylist Credence, and Finnick.

He sat forward on the couch, clutching his glass of wine tightly. His eyes flitted from her to the Peacekeeper standing in the background, making the connection on her conditional visit. He wondered how she was able to manage this one. "Mrs. Crane," He said with a nod, bringing the glass to his lips to conceal the growing smile on his face.

Renata bit her lip and smiled at him, nodding in acknowledgement before Fascal barraged her with kisses. She giggled and hugged him tightly, knowing that his blue lipstick covered her face.

"Alan, Ellone, I'd like you to meet my muse, Renata Kelde! I mean Crane! Oops," He giggled, covering his mouth. "It's because of me that she survived the arena, you know."

The two kids stared back at him blankly, but that didn't faze Fascal from laughing at his own joke.

It turned quiet after a moment and Rini cleared her throat. "Is there any more of that wine? I'd like a glass, if there's some to spare."

"I can pop open another bottle," Finnick said with a smile, standing and motioning for her to follow him to the adjacent room. The others resumed their talking of the schedule, and when Renata glanced over her shoulder, she saw that the Peacekeeper had followed them as well. "We've got a couple bottles, actually. Have a preference?"

She shook her head, her heart fluttering. She felt like her whole body was tingling as she watched him open a bottle of wine and pour the pinkish liquid into a glass for her. "Thank you," She whispered, reaching out to take it from him. Their fingers brushed and Renata's cheeks burned bright red. The wine was tart and she couldn't help but pucker her lips, making him laugh.

He started to reach out and touch her lips, but stopped himself, instead tracing a ring on the countertop.

The tension hanging in the air was so thick that Renata sipped at her wine frequently just so she was doing something other than trying not to stare at him. "How old are they?"

"What?"

"The tributes. They look like they're just children."

"Alan is thirteen. Ellone is sixteen," Finnick answered. "They are children. We all were." He stared at her for a moment, his copper curls dangling onto his forehead. "But thirteen year olds and sixteen year olds have won before."

"You think they have a chance?"

"Well," He said, a smile growing on his face. "You won, didn't you?"

Renata laughed and she set down her glass, clearing her throat. She could see the Peacekeeper standing watch out of the corner of her eye and she stood a little straighter. "I had help. I want to help them, but I-"

"There are other ways to help. I'm sure that your husband would let you donate some of his money to the cause. And if not, I'm pretty good at getting what I want," He said with a strained smile. He reached out to take her glass at the same time she did and it fell to the ground, shattering. "Rini, I'll get it."

She knelt down and gasped in pain as one of the pieces sliced open her knee and she started bleeding on the floor. "Um, h-help?"

Finnick hurried around to her side and he winced at the state of her knee. "Come here, it doesn't look so bad. You," He addressed the Peacekeeper, "on the ground floor there's a doctor. Bring him here; he'll need to stitch her knee. What are you waiting for?" He demanded when the man hesitated. "Go!" He slid his arm under Renata's knees and he lifted her into his arms, carrying her towards one of the bathrooms. "Let me see," He said, gently setting her down on the sink and taking hold of her leg. There were a few shards of glass stuck in her skin, and he removed them carefully, a look of utmost concentration on his face.

"It doesn't hurt much," She whispered as he wiped the blood from her leg with a wash rag.

"I don't think you'll even need stitches. That's the old way of things. He'll probably just put a bit of medicine on it and you'll be right as rain."

"Finnick."

He looked up at her and in the blink of an eye, he leaned up to put his lips to hers.

"I want you to come see me," Renata breathed in between their hurried kisses. She was speaking so quickly, she wasn't quite sure where the words were coming from. "When he's working, I want you to come to me. He's gone for so long, and I know he won't let me out. Please, Finnick. Promise me." She looked into his eyes and they shared the gentlest of kisses as they heard footsteps approaching.

He stepped away from her right before the doctor knocked on the doorway and the Peacekeeper appeared behind him. "I promise."

Helloooo there lovelies! Ugh guess what the next chapter is gonna be good just so you know. It should be. I want it to be. So it will. Omg I'm about to break 100 reviews for the first time! I'm so honored eeee thank you thank you everyone :') i feel like i should do something special for the 100th reviewer...hmmm that would be interesting. Each time someone reviews, thats another smidgeon of happiness for Finnata, don't you know? Teehee! Thank ya'll soooo mucho :D

-Kelsey :3