The in between time on the Victory Tour and the next games was always easiest. A bit of downtime from the horror was good for everyone.
The Vipointe's were on there way back to normality in the capitol. Glimmer is called in regularly for interviews with Caesar, or Finnick was called in with her for interviews concerning their relationship.
They had decided to give into their magnetism and call their relationship what it was.
They were going strong and Snow wasn't bothering them as long as they kept up with the few appointments they still had to take care of.
Glimmers mother remained hopeful for the end of the relationship, not that she would admit to her daughter.
"Glimmer, are we going to Cashmeres for dinner or are you cooking tonight?" Finnick calls out, as he hears the door open, naturally assuming it's Glim.
"How would I know better ask honey bunches when she gets home."
He can't help but roll his eyes at the sound of Johanna's voice, "to what do I owe the pleasure, Johanna?"
She comes into view and throws herself down beside him. "Just running errands for Cashmere who's organizing your lovely girlfriends birthday party. Gotta make sure you're buying her something super nice."
Well hell. "When's her birthday? And why has no one mentioned this?"
"Figured you knew! Its two Mondays from now, thought you were gunna pop the question and make that young piece of ass yours, make the capitol happy! Then take your jolly ass's back to Four."
Johanna has, over the years, become one of his closest friends. "That's ideal," he murmurs, choosing to ignore her crude choice of words, "Don't think she'd say yes though, she's too young. I'm not sure she loves me like I love her. "
"Of course she does, she's young physically, but she's not mentally. It's love at its finest. She came out of those games an adult and you know it or you wouldn't have gone after her as hard as you have. Those goo-goo eyes she makes at ya, girl glows brighter than the lights at night when you're around. I know you Finnick, you love her, and you know you love her. You know she love's you too somewhere in the little brain of yours. I've gotten to know her myself, she's not her aunt or her uncle, she's real and gentle. So I will warn you, if you're not a hundred percent sure about her let go now before Cash, Gloss, and myself have to tear you a new one." She pauses, "Loves weird but you're lucky to have a second chance after Annie, don't fuck this up. I'd kill to be as lucky as you."
They sit in silence, Finnick digests every word she just threw at him. Maybe I could ask her to marry me. Maybe, just maybe, I could take her home to Four and give her a normal life. "She's going to be eighteen which is nice. Won't have to hear her on the phone with her mum reassuring her I'm not a pervert." This much makes Johanna laugh, as if she thinks he happens kidding to be kidding.
"Well, think about it, Cashmere is having her family and a couple friends come to the capitol for a week or two, Glimmers really low key excited about it. It's going to be a huge party downtown in the Plaza!"
It doesn't surprise him Cashmere is making this a huge event, the womans clearly bored out of her mind this will at least give her something to do. "Well hell I have to do something amazing then don't I?"
"If you want to avoid the scariest Vipointe's wrath I would say so, yes." She clearly thinks this is real funny, "I personally bought her some new pajamas since she always seems to be in your shirts. Ok that's not true but I did get her something nice."
"Oh what'd ya get me for my birthday Johanna?" Glimmer says, sparkles in her eyes, as she enters our home looking quite exhausted.
Johanna, as lady like as she can be, snorts, "Wait a few days and you'll see! Get changed though, we're all meeting your dear aunt and uncle for dinner at a new restaurant down town. I'll meet you guys downstairs in thirty ok?"
Glimmer and Johanna exchange that girly, friend hug they've become accustomed, "Of course, see you then Jo."
"Glimmer," Finnick whispers, pressing soft kisses to her neck, eliciting a sigh from her, "Happy Birthday baby." The light is dancing delicately through the windows, splashing across Glimmers pale face, illuminating her beautiful features.
"God I love you." Her giggle echoes through our room, music to his ears.
"Then marry me."
Marry him?! She just woke up, and is eighteen oh my god no she cannot be that girl!
Although, if she says yes they could just have like a seven year engagement, but If she says no, that could hurt him a lot and that could just be it. Sitting here, eyes blown open with shock and a dumb look on her face, isn't doing her much good either though.
She couldn't cope without him, wouldn't be able to make it day to day without him present, that much she knows.
Isn't that love?
Isn't that what you for when considering a life partner?
"Yes, yes I'll marry you." The panic on both their faces turns to grins.
Her mother is going to just love this, his dad will be pissed, but they have never had it easy.
Finnick is her home, he's all she thinks about, he's all she wants. If that's not love then hell, she doesn't know what is.
"I know we've only been together seven months, but I promise I will not leave you until you make me leave. I want to make you so happy. I will never stop trying to make you happy."
People constantly criticize her decision to be with him, but it's this moment. The love he shows her, his devotion, he understands her and what she has went through. He is the one person who enables her to continue on normally.
"You already make me happy, you don't even have to try. Just you being here." Glimmer can't help but wonder, "why me though? Why the girl who came out of the games with a dead boyfriend, and was part of the reason your sister was dead? Why even bother with me when I was just thrown into your life? You could have any girl in Panem but you chose me, you could have a woman who doesn't have night terrors every night, whose body isn't sold to the highest bidder. You could have a normal fiancée. You deserve more."
"I could have anyone, you're right, but I don't want them. I want you. You are so much more than your past Glimmer. You are gorgeous, smart, kind, and yea you have your flaws but so do I. You make me feel whole," he places his hand, with a feather light touch, on her cheek. "You understand me in a way no one else ever could. I fell for you so fast, I didn't know I was missing anything before you came along, but I see now I was always waiting for you."
"Zip me up?" The dress her prep team chose is extremely tight, tremendously short and very sexy.
She looks like she's about to pop out of the silver material and its not even zipped yet.
He can tell she notices him looking her up and down, she shoots her fiancee a sly grin, "Of course my love," he purrs in return.
The zipper goes up smoothly, she throws her golden curls over her shoulder. She never fails to make him weak in the knees.
So beautiful. "You look absolutely stunning Glimmer." She turns and smiles softly, that smile that melts his heart.
She adjusts his tie and kisses him on the cheek. "And you, you look so handsome Finnick. I'm so lucky to have you." Snaking his arms around her thin waist, he kisses the top of her head.
They make their way from their apartment and to the elevator, calling it with a push of the button.
"I am really nervous," she bites her lip, as they step onto the lift.
They're going meet her family, and then they're off to the plaza.
They had decided that Finnick would propose officially with the ring at the party so that they wouldn't have to tell everyone individually.
"Don't be. Just have fun, tonight is your night." He intertwines their hands, "I love you."
This brings a smile onto her face, "I love you more."
"Always?"
"Always."
The music fills the Plaza, capitolites are dancing, celebrating their newest victors birthday.
Friends old and new wish her a wonderful birthday. Presents are stacked upon each other on the table near the entrance. It's a raging success.
Glimmer hasn't run into anyone from her past yet, something she's thankful for.
She stays tight with Finnick and their closest friends.
Johanna and Gloss dance together, something that draws eyes, no one was aware of a budding relationship between the two but never the less they're happy for them.
Cashmere dances with Brutus of District Two, also surprising but she deserves it, no one says anything, they just smile at the two.
Finnick pulls Glimmer up to the main stage as the set finishes; it's time for his speech, and to make it all official.
"Thank you all for being here tonight! " Finnick announces into the piece they handed to him. The crowd cheers, "It is my lovely girlfriend Glimmers eighteenth birthday, and I feel so lucky that I get to spend it with her, and with all of you!"
The couple smiles at each other as the partygoers woo in approval once again. "
It has been a whirlwind seven months for us, and I can easily say they've been the best seven months of my life. I have never met someone who is able to make me smile so easily, who makes my knees go weak. But love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction. It's four words, fourteen letters, which take forever to say. They're stuck inside of me, they try and stay away. This is too important to let them have their way. I need to do it now, I must do it today," He gets down on one knee, pulling out the black box, opening it, "Glimmer, will you marry me?"
Glimmer feels her heart skip a beat all over again, excitement and nerves fill the air.
"Yes, oh god Finnick, yes." Even being planned, Glimmer tears up all over again. Finnick slides the giant diamond onto her ring finger, stands and twirls her around, and places a kiss onto her lips.
The air is buzzing, and music starts back up.
"I told you she was no different," the girl Gale thought would lead some revolution is marrying another Capitol fake, making her right again.
A frown settles on his face, though "I still think she's different. She shows some kind of empathy other victors don't, she shows real emotion." He throws a pebble into the lake we're sat by.
"Why do you want her to be different so badly Gale?"
"Because Katnip, I want the world to be different, and it only takes one person to start a change."
After everything cooled down, and snow began falling the soon to be Odairs began discussing their wedding, choosing to not wait, scheduling the huge day two weeks before the after the games they would be able to spend a week with each of their families, already approved by President Snow himself.
Things in the Capitol were going great publicity wise, Cashmere and Brutus began dating, as well as Johanna and Gloss. The next games were approaching quickly, nerves spread through all the mentors, hoping no one they knew were drawn, hoping maybe this year would be easier. They could only hope.
Glimmer was particularly nervous if she was honest, all the other mentors she talked to said the first year was always the hardest, they usually send in someone you know to break you down. It was hard to focus on planning her wedding, the biggest day of her life, when she had to think about the Games.
It was easy to think about the small things, her beautiful white dress, a simple silk bodice then the dress explodes into gauzy fluff at her hips. It's just enthralling to spin in.
It's easy to look at the monstrosity of an engagement ring and smile because she has never expected a ring like this.
It was even easier to spend evenings tasting the dishes with Finnick, as well as the cake. The wedding colors were to be gold and cream, beautiful and luxurious.
It was so easy to be lost in the details in the moment, but when she laid to bed just listening to the soft rise and fall of Finnicks breath she could not help but be sick with worry due to the approaching games.
She wasn't strong like her aunt or uncle; she couldn't take her old friends parents possibly blaming her for their children's death. Because no matter how things turned out at least one of them would die in the games, she couldn't protect both of her tributes.
"Turn your brain off Glim," Finnick murmured into her shoulder, voice full of sleep. "You need to rest."
She snuggles into her fiancée, turning in his arms to place them face to face. "I will, I'm just-"
"Worried? Freaking out? I know Glim, your eyes tell me all I need to know these days. Just know, I've got you. Always."