A/N: Just a note that this chapter has some smut. Sorry for the delay. I haven't abandoned this story, despite what it might seem like. Thank you to everyone reading and favoriting and reviewing.


Chapter Eleven

"What are you doing?"

Finnick stood, wiping the sweat form his brow and leaning on his shovel. "I'm making a pond."

Mavis held out the glass of water to him. "What for?"

Finnick shrugged. "I just thought it would be nice. We could fill it with fish. Let them breed for a while then have our own little fishing hole."

"It's going to take you forever at the rate you're going. Exactly how long have you been going?" Mavis asked, peering at his sizable hole.

Finnick sighed and sat down, staring at his hole. "Since this morning."

Mavis's eyebrows shot up and glanced at the horizon where the sunset was casting a pink and orange glow. She was silent for a long while before she sat down across from Finnick. "What's happening?"

Finnick squinted at her for a moment. "What do you mean?" Mavis opened her mouth, an annoyed look on her face. "Sorry, stupid question. It's just hard to want to think about it."

"Who are all those people? I mean, I know Effie. But why is she here?"

"Press conference," Finnick said. "Or something like that. Apparently the Capitol can't get enough of us."

Mavis shook her head. "That's not it though, is it?" Her eyes beseeched him, and Finnick felt his heart constrict.

"Come here," he mumbled, tugging her forward into a hug. "You know who I am right?" Mavis nodded against him. "Well, I didn't know who I was when I came here. I have this whole other life. I have a wife. I mean, Katniss and Peeta-" Finnick broke off, a sour taste in his mouth. "I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know what's going to be happening," Finnick admitted.

Mavis looked up at him, her brow furrowed. "Are you going to leave us?"

Finnick didn't answer, just hugged her tighter to him.

Their moment was interrupted by a new arrival. "Effie's driving me crazy," Katniss admitted as she stood awkwardly behind the pair. "Can I join you?" Finnick nodded mutely, his heart tight and mouth dry. "We're hosting the reception at our house," Katniss explained, arching a brow at the notion of it. "It's chaos."

Katniss sat beside Finnick, shyly looking up at him. The sunset cast a soft glow on the trio, and Finnick stared down at Katniss, noting the soft look in her eyes and the way she nervously tucked her still short hair behind her ear as she waited for him to say something. Thoughts and feelings bubbled up in his chest, but none of them meant anything, and so Finnick dipped his head and kissed Katniss quickly but softly on the lips, not even caring that Mavis was still tucked against his other side. Katniss flushed and pressed her cheek against Finnick's shoulder. And they say there as a family watching the sunset for perhaps the last time.

"Katniss, Finnick, there you are! Darlings, you really shouldn't wander off when we're on such a tight schedule. Now where has Haymitch got to?" Effie exclaimed excitedly as the little family returned to the house that was being transformed from their cozy sanctuary to a grand reception hall. "Octavia!" Effie called, waving the aesthetician over. "Please get them started."

Octavia arrived with Flavius and Lavinia on either side, and each one of them grabbed one of the trio and pulled them away. "Now dear," Octavia said as she ushered Katniss off, we love the natural look you've got going on, but it does need some tweaking. Don't give me that look, Katniss, it won't hurt but a little."

Flavius pulled Finnick away, tutting at his farmers tan and insisting that Finnick stop wearing shirts all the time in favor of evening it out. Finnick let the man lead him to a little make up station that had been set up, and let Flavius fuss over him. "The scars aren't too bad, did you use the cream?" Finnick nodded absentmindedly, watching Katniss and Mavis being fawned over in the chairs to his left. "You must have run out though, these are still pretty significant. Not to worry, handsome, I always bring some along." Flavius massaged some cream onto Finnick's face and Finnick jumped as it burned him a little. "Hush now, it's only a little burn. I always carry industrial strength scar cream, for times like this. Twice the results in half the time."

Finnick glared at him. "Why do I have to do this anyway? Isn't this Katniss's big reunion?"

Flavius tutted again, patting Finnick on the arm before attacking his eyebrows with some tweezers. "It's not just Katniss, obviously. Well mostly it is her, she's still the Capitol darling despite the revolution. And there's her mother and Gale and obviously Peeta, we're all dying to know about. But Finnick Odair alive and hiding in secret with Katniss! What have you been doing all these months? What's been happening between the Capitol's sex symbol and their Girl on Fire? And with Annie Cresta – sorry, Annie Odair- living her life in District Four completely unawares. Oh you're big news too, Finnick."

"Why is Mavis being done up?" Finnick asked crossly, seeing the girl's distress in his peripheral.

Flavius paused a moment to glance over at the girl. He shrugged, resuming his tweezing. "She lives with you, she must be part of the family some way or another. It's a reunion after all, the reunion, and everyone is invited. All of District Twelve is getting prepared right now, actually."

"What!" Finnick yelped, gaining himself a few curious looks. He coughed and narrowed his eyes at the man before him. "Why are they all getting ready?"

"Honestly, haven't you been listening to a thing Effie has said? We're having the reunion here. It's not just a reunion for you, of course, many of District Twelve has family members that got separated from them in the war."

"Oh," Finnick said, feeling his cheeks flush lightly. He hadn't actually thought about the other people that were affected by the war. Of course others had lost members of their family.

Flavius chatted at him the rest of the way, brushing Finnick's hair, rubbing lotion on his skin to even out the farmers tan, and giving him one last gob of scar cream.

"Flavius, dear, do pass it over!" Octavia called. "I've forgotten mine at home."

Flavius tossed her the container he had just been using on Finnick and rolled his eyes, but Finnick scarcely noticed. He was transfixed by Katniss. While normally she was pretty, the slight transformation by Octavia had made her absolutely stunning. Her hair was shiny and sleek, falling in slight waves. She practically glowed in the light shining down on her, though, Finnick mused, that could just be the foundation she had on. But when Katniss caught his eye and blushed, warmth spreading across her cheeks and chest, Finnick felt his heart stutter.

The words were out of his mouth before his brain caught up. "I love you."

"What was that dear?" Flavius asked, looking up from the pedicure he was giving Finnick.

"Nothing," Finnick said, not looking away from Katniss, who was even redder than before. He knew she had read his lips.

"Alright everyone!" Effie said, clapping her hands. "Time to wrap it up people, we've only got – oh Haymitch! There you are. Stop! Grab him now! Quickly! Thank you. Right, as I was saying, two hours left. Let's get them into wardrobe." Effie breezed by, pulling Haymitch by the ear out of the room. "I'll shower you myself if I have to, Haymitch."

Finnick couldn't help but chuckle despite the dread rising in his chest. Two hours was all he had left before…before he didn't know anymore. He glanced over at his two girls and gave them a weak smile. Mavis returned his with her own halfhearted one, but Katniss just looked away.

"Alright, Finnick, you heard Effie. Time for wardrobe."


Forty five minutes later found Finnick nervously pacing his bedroom. He'd been dressed in a ridiculously revealing outfit that didn't include a shirt, which he promptly refused, and went on to refuse the next few outfit changes until Mavis knocked on his door, carrying a pair of linen pants and a button down shirt in a nice ivory.

"I was saving this for Christmas but…anyway, here." Mavis pushed them into Finnick's hands and retreated.

"Ohhh yes, that is just perfect," Flavius said, helping button Finnick's shirt when the latter's bionic hand wouldn't quite cooperate. "Just perfect," he sighed, giving Finnick the once over. "She's a very lucky girl," Flavius said, gathering his things to leave.

"Who?" Finnick asked.

Flavius paused at the door to the bedroom and gave him a sympathetic smile. "Whoever it is you end up choosing."

Finnick stared at the closed door for some time, trying to calm his nerves. He started pacing but stopped once to look into the mirror he never bothered to look at since he'd moved in. He remembered now what he looked like before he was mauled, but never before tonight had he looked so much like the old Finnick. His hair was shorter than it normally was, but it still felt past his ears in messy waves. The scars on his face and neck were almost non-existent after two rounds of industrial strength scar cream, and his pants hid his bionic leg down to the ankle. Finnick ran a hand through his hair, trying hard to recall who it was he used to be.

He remembered guilt and self-loathing, years of faking he was someone he wasn't. But he also remembered quiet nights on the water, early morning fishing, and days of swimming through the water. He remembered Mags who had been more dear to him than anyone else had ever been, and he remembered her death with such stunning clarity that he had to wipe angrily at his eyes.

Finnick remembered the first time he laid eyes on Katniss, the day she volunteered for her sister. He knew then that she would win. It was with a heavy heart he had mentored that year, knowing they stood no chance. And he remembered meeting Katniss for the first time. Watching her from across the room and feeling, for the first time in longer than he could recall, butterflies erupt in his stomach as he slowly approached her.

They were the same ones he felt when he turned around and saw Katniss standing there, leaned against his closed door. "Katniss! What are you doing here?"

Katniss shrugged not leaving her spot. "I wanted to see you."

Finnick stood there, hesitating for a moment. "Do they need us downstairs?"

Katniss shook her head. "I don't care."

He looked at her stiff posture, the way she couldn't quite meet his eye. Finnick approached her slowly, not wanting to scare her off. "I'm glad you're here," he said, slowly taking her hand in his own.

Katniss smiled slightly, the corners of her mouth turning up a fraction. She interlaced their fingers. "You're making a pond."

"I wanted us to be able to fish without going all the way out to the lake." Katniss edged forward, away from the wall and Finnick stepped in closer, cutting the distance between them in half.

"I'd like that," she said. "Though we still have to go swimming in the lake."

"You couldn't keep me away," Finnick said, gravitating towards Katniss even closer. She looked up at him through her lashes, and Finnick only looked away for a moment to watch her bite her lip with her teeth before speaking again.

"I know everything is going to – going to change soon. But for just this moment, could we forget about everyone else?" Katniss whispered.

In response Finnick pulled her to him, capturing her lips with his own. Her breath hitched in surprise, a nice flush spreading across her features, before Katniss returned his kiss with fervor. He lifted her up, walking somewhat unsteadily to his rarely used bed, and placed her down. He looked behind him but saw that the door was already locked and he smirked at Katniss. She noticed his observation and averted her eyes. "I didn't want anyone to bother us."

Finnick crawled onto the foot of the bed and bent down to kiss her toes. Katniss giggled as he kissed his way up her leg, but she gasped when he reached her inner thigh. But Finnick passed on by, to kiss down her other leg. Before Katniss could protest too much, he ran his tongue up her leg again, stopping when he got to her center. Katniss had been dressed in a green that he knew matched his eyes perfectly. He fingered the soft material of her dress, his brow furrowing as he thought.

"It's new. Mavis made it for me," Katniss explained.

Finnick looked up at her and smiled before kissing her through the lacy panties she was wearing. "Did Mavis make these as well?"

Katniss flushed but didn't back down. "Yes."

Finnick covered his surprise by moving them to the side and kissing her folds. "I love them."

Katniss squirmed, embarrassed. "Finnick – "

Finnick covered her mouth with his own again, kissing her leisurely, soothing her. Gradually she began to relax under him and when her hands reached behind him and tangled in his hair, Finnick lowered himself on top of her, slowly grinding against her.

He heard Katniss moan and she bucked her hips upwards. She released his hair to fumble at the buttons on his shirt, stilling again as he pressed his hips into hers. At last she unbuttoned the last button and shoved his shirt off his shoulders. Finnick obliged, discarding his shirt, and reached behind Katniss to undo the buttons holding her dress in place at the neck. Luckily there were only three and it took him only a few minutes of fumbling while kissing her to undo them all.

He pulled the dress up over her head and tossed it on top of his shirt before marveling at the woman before him. Katniss only retained her lacy undergarment, and Finnick couldn't help but run one hand up her side, stopping when he got to where her hands covered her breasts. He took her hand gently in his own, slowly leaning down to kiss her wrist, her palm, her fingers, until she relented and uncrossed her arms. Finnick looked at her again, but her grey eyes were averted, the flush on her cheek flowing down her chest, and Finnick kissed her softly on the lips until she looked at him.

He cupped her cheek and kissed her nose, eliciting a little giggle before he moved back down, kissing along her jaw, her clavicle, down to her breasts. Her nipples were hard and she gasped when he captured one in his mouth, tugging at it with his teeth. Her nails dug into his back and she arched up to press herself against him and he felt himself straining uncomfortably in his pants.

He let Katniss go for a moment to remove his pants and Katniss's last remaining clothing, but when he looked back he could see the hesitation in her eyes. Finnick slowly returned to her, running his hand up and down her leg, goose bumps spreading across her skin wherever he touched, until his hand came to rest between them, fingers eagerly rubbing her clit. Katniss was wet, but not ready. He kissed down her belly, through her soft curls and then moved his fingers so he could kiss her before dragging his tongue along her folds. He paused when he heard her giggle and wiggle slightly out of reach but then he went back to it, grabbing her thigh and licking her again. This time she laughed louder, squirming away from him even further.

"I-it tickles!" she gasped, pushing at his shoulders to get him away. Finnick frowned slightly.

"I can tell," he said coming back up to meet her.

"Sorry," she said, looking up at him sheepishly.

"It's alright," Finnick breathed in her ear before biting her earlobe, and kissing his way down her neck. He nipped lightly at the spot where he neck met her shoulder and felt better when she moaned again and brought her hands back up to tangle in his hair.

Finnick reached down between them, rubbing Katniss again, excitement shooting through him when he whimpered in need, bucking her hips to try and get more. He slipped a finger inside of her, capturing her gasp into his own mouth as he kissed her, teeth clashing and tongues probing each other. Finnick added another finger, using his other hand to tease her nipple and massage her breasts.

When Katniss breathed out, "More," into his ear, Finnick felt himself twitch and he bit down on the juncture where he'd earlier left a little mark. Katniss moaned at the sensation, and Finnick inserted a third finger, stretching her. She grimaced only for a moment, but Finnick lavished her neck with attention, and she quickly returned to ecstasy.

Finnick used her thumb to rub her clit, and Katniss gasped again, digging her nails into his back. "F-Finnick. I – "

She didn't even finish before Finnick felt Katniss's walls clench around his fingers, pulsing around him, as her nails left red streaks down his back. Finnick let her come down gently, slowly stilling the circles he was rubbing, until she looked up at him with hooded eyes.

"I want to – " Katniss stopped, looking away and swallowing hard. "I want to – " She stopped again, then, feeling suddenly bolder, Katniss grabbed him and started to stroke him. Finnick groaned.

"You want to – I can – Can we?" Finnick stuttered out, the sensations overwhelming him.

Katniss nodded, stilling her motions and letting Finnick take control. He positioned himself, lining his tip up with her entrance, before slowly pushing in.

"Tell me if you want me to stop. Or go slow," he said. She nodded, biting her lip, and he captured it with his own, trying to distract her from the discomfort she was surely going to feel. He released himself when he was enough inside of her to not need guidance, and crept his fingers up to rub her clit again. "Relax," he told her, releasing her mouth to kiss her neck again. Finnick hungrily kissed her neck and played with her breasts as he pushed slowly inside.

"Wait," Katniss panted when he was halfway there. Finnick immediately stilled all his actions. "I just need to adjust," she murmured. Finnick drifted his hand up and down her body, gently stroking her skin, and kissed the bridge of her nose. Slowly she began to relax and finally she nodded. "Okay, just go slow."

Finnick nodded and resumed moving inside of her until at last he was completely in. He moaned, pressing his forehead against hers as goose flesh broke out across his skin from the ecstasy of being inside her. He stroked her cheeks, and kissed her lips, settling his nose into the crook of her neck to breathe her in. Finnick slowly started to move, and when Katniss tensed up he resumed kissing her gently. He knew it probably wasn't all that pleasant for her, and while he felt bad for causing her this discomfort, Finnick couldn't help but lose himself a little in the feeling of Katniss.

Katniss's arms crossing his back, hands gripping his shoulders. Katniss's breasts pressing against his chest. Katniss's hips bumping against his every time he pushed back inside of her. Katniss's hair tangled through his fingers, silky soft in the hand he still had feeling in. Katniss surrounding him, her hot, wet pussy willingly yielding to his slow strokes.

Katniss ventured her hands to his chest, exploring the muscles there. She pinched one of his nipples and he shuddered in pleasure. Noticing his reaction, Katniss pinched the other one and grinned wickedly at him. She pushed resumed her perusal of his form, occasionally tweaking his nipple, but familiarizing herself with the way he fit against her. When she slowly licked her way up his chest and bit him just below his clavicle he lost his rhythm.

"Fuck, Katniss," Finnick groaned, picking up his pace. He thrust into her faster, his movement becoming more erratic as he neared his peak, and when Katniss repeated her earlier motion he cried out, arching back and coming inside of her. As he came down from his high, Finnick lay on top of Katniss, catching his breath. She played with his hair but he noticed her labored breathing and Finnick pulled out of her and pulled her close against him, tucking her head under his chin.

"Are you okay?" he asked, lethargy taking over. He wanted a nap. Needed it. He hadn't had sex for…god knows how long, and he longed to be able to just close his eyes and nod off. Katniss smiled against his chest and hummed her affirmation. Finnick snuggled her closer, his eyes falling shut. "Me too."

He's only just drifted off when a knock on the door alerted him to someone else's very unwelcome presence. "Finnick! You in there? You gotta help me." Finnick groaned, feeling Katniss stir underneath him, and a jolt went through him. Finnick grinned like an idiot, pressing a kiss to the top of Katniss's head. "Finnick! Effie's – agh!" The sound of high heels clamoring down the hall accompanied Effie's lyrical voice.

"Haymitch! Why aren't you dressed in the outfit I chose for you? Oh no you don't – don't make me take these shoes off!" she cried.

Finnick listened to them clamoring down the hall and squeezed Katniss closer to him again. She stirred sleepily against him. "Shh it's just – " Awareness hit him then, taking all his breath away. "Shit. Katniss? Hey, Kat?"

"Hmm?" she mumbled, burrowing herself closer to Finnick.

"Katniss, we need to get up. I think we need to go downstairs now."

"No," she grumbled.

Finnick sighed and held her close for another couple of minutes, relishing the feel of her in his arms. "Alright then, guess I'll clean us up," he muttered, mood quickly turning dark. "I'll be right back," he told Katniss before easing her out of his embrace. Finnick quickly donned his clothes and snuck out of his room down the hall to bathroom. He grabbed a couple of wash cloths and ran them under some warm water. He cleaned himself up first, before grabbing an extra dry towel and sneaking back to his room. Katniss was sitting up in bed when he returned.

"Uh, I brought some things for you to clean up," Finnick said, feeling suddenly shy. He offered her the wet and dry wash cloth and turned his back as she wiped herself down. "Katniss?"

"You can turn around." Finnick sucked in a breath, watching as she shrugged her dress back on. "Will you help me?"

Finnick nodded, slowly buttoning her back up. "You'll probably want to use the restroom. Good to clear it all out," Finnick said, finishing up the buttons. He nervously shifted his weight. "Katniss, do you have any birth control?"

Katniss turned around to face him. "Yes. Hazel gave me some. In case, you know."

Finnick breathed out a sigh of relief. He tugged on Katniss's hand, smiling. "How are you feeling?" he asked, pulling her into his embrace.

"Okay. Different, but okay."

Finnick grinned wider, bending down to kiss her. He felt ebullient, happiness spreading through him at an alarming rate as he stared at the woman before him. "I love you," he told her. "No matter what. Don't ever forget that."

Katniss pulled him down for one last kiss. "I love you too," she whispered. Finnick watched her, building her defenses back up, putting up her wall to hide behind.

He wanted to tear them down, to crawl back into bed with her and worship her and love her the way she deserved. Instead he brought her palm up to his mouth and gave it a quick kiss.

"Ready to face them?" he asked.

She squeezed his hand, glancing up at him with hidden tenderness. "As long as you're by my side."

Finnick squeezed back but turned away, knowing it would never be that simple.