Kiss Me: The Fray Version.

"Breathe…you can do this." Finnick's firm grip latched to my shoulders. He was careful not to disrupt the fall of my gown. Cora worked meticulously on this one. It was a strapless gown, and a dipping neckline. The top of it was the same color as my skin and rest of it was a flowing skirt that grazed the floor. The gems that covered the skirt started at the waist in a deep blue color and then became a lighter blue down the skirt. The crystals at the bottom of the gown were white, and just hit my feet. Cora said I was supposed to represent a wave in the ocean. It really was a beautiful creation. Over my shoulders, he draped another net, but this one was gold and shorter than the last, with bigger cutouts. I was still the girl trapped to him. But he did seem to take a liking to me as time went on.

"I don't know Finn," I said quietly, keeping an eye out for other tributes or mentors that might invade our private moment. Finnick was cautious about people and how they perceived our relationship.

He grew exceptionally angry when one of the other mentors, Johanna Mason, asked me if I thought sleeping with him would save me, or when other tributes accused me of being less than reputable.

"Stop it," Finnick reprimanded me now turning me to face him. "Your eight in training roped in sponsors, the interview is the last shot." He said with a focused determination, "So…Just remember what I told you," He said with a small hopeful smile.

I tried to list them off in my head. Be funny. Be charming. Be open. Be innocent. "Ok," I said in a small voice.

But Finnick kept his small smile, pushing back loose strands of my hair. "You're going to win them over," He told me quietly, "Just remember…charm them like you charm District Four."

I scoffed with a small laugh, "I don't charm District Four…you do."

Finnick laughed with me, but it was pity, shaking his head at me, "No, it's not to the extent that you have. Trust me," He wrapped me in his arms, "Tell them your secrets, make them love you, be vulnerable, just like I told you." Finnick said, holding his arms around my shoulder for a few seconds longer. When we heard the footsteps of Mags and Thomas approaching, he let me go. They lined us up. Each tribute was dressed in something more glamorous than the opening ceremony had been. Thomas looked very nice, still complimenting me in his wardrobe and ignoring me in his actions. I waited nervously, but patiently as they were all interviewed before me. But soon, it was my turn.

"Annie Cresta from District Four," Caesar Flickerman called out. A few Capitol servants escorted me to the stage. Caesar seemed genuinely excited to speak with me. "Hello, hello Annie, my you look stunning! Tell us Annie, how have you been?" He asked, shaking my hand and reaching out to hug me. After a quick embrace, he helped me in my chair across from him.

"Thank you." I smiled, as elegantly as I could, as Finnick taught me, "I'm fine Caesar, and you?" I asked politely.

Caesar clapped his hands together. "Marvelous! But enough of me my dear, come, come, tell us what are you thinking? How's your stay been in the Capitol? What can we look forward to in that arena?" He asked in his true host fashion. He was a natural at these things, and everything I said felt forced and rigid.

I giggled to mask my fear. The questions were extensive; they were dying to know me. "My, there are a lot of people watching, aren't there?" I said, trying to be as cute and enchanting as possible.

Caesar reached across to me, clasping his hands on mine, "Oh! Do you get stage-fright?" He asked, watching me with sympathy and then looking to the audience, smiling.

I giggled again, watching the audience with a wary eye, "It seems too soon to tell, doesn't it?" The Capitol reacted with giggling and applauding, encouraging me, but not enough to keep me comfortable.

But even with my discomfited responses, Caesar moved on flawlessly, "So, Annie, tell me, what were you thinking after reaping?" He asked, folding his hands across his lap.

I watched the audience and then him, the camera, and then to the crowd…to Finnick, "Well, I was honored," I lied. He smiled slightly and then returned to a face of stone. "But I knew I would miss my family terribly. And the ocean…and…" I said, letting my voice trail. I watched the glittering floor of the stage and then met Caesar's curious eyes.

"And?" He asked anxiously with a never fading smile.

I giggled, waving my hand, "Oh, it's silly," I said with an airy voice. Caesar still searched with a mischievous smile. I became vulnerable like Finnick trained me, "But I miss someone else…" I said quietly.

The entire audience whined in disappointment, gasped with shock, and some 'ooh-ed' with intrigue. "Oh do tell darling."

I bit my lip, announcing my secrets like he had wanted me to. I became nervous. I'd have to confess it, aloud. I'd become innocent, giving away my biggest secret to an audience of strangers, so what? So they'd feel sorry for me? Desire me? "I fell in love with him back home," I admitted, never saying his name. "I've never told anyone that," I said quietly, with a small nervous laugh. I shook my head, continuing with my new persona, "Not even him. Honestly, I don't think he'd ever love me back." I said, leaning on the arm of my chair, letting my chin rest elegantly on my fist.

Caesar roared in defense, shaking his head and watching me in sympathy, "Nonsense! You're beautiful, he'd be a fool not to! Am I right?" He asked the audience. They roared with him in agreement. My heart swelled with pride.

The audience cheered for me. They stood for me, applauded me, it was amazing the affection they had for their new piece game piece.

Once they quieted down he asked, "If you won, would you tell him?"

I smiled and finally answered, "I'm winning for him." I didn't look to Finnick. I didn't look anywhere but at the floor and then back to Caesar. He stood up to hug me.

"Admirable and beautiful!" He exclaimed. "Well, good luck Annie Cresta!" He said, presenting me one last time to a cheering crowd. The threw their flowers to me and I ran backstage to wipe away all emotions before Finnick or any tribute caught up with me.

It wasn't long before Finnick ran up to me, "Annie, you did it! They loved you! They're bowing at your feet!" He said, embracing me and spinning me in circles. "You've…you've done it," He said again, a little winded but beaming.

I hugged Finnick tightly around the neck, "Thank you Finn." In the midst of smiling and laughing, congrats and nerves, he lifted my chin and watched me with a sad smile.

"They'd be fools not to love you," He said quietly, fingers pining for something to feel. He pushed back my hair and held my face in his strong hands. His green eyes searched mine, swimming in an ignited passion, "I'd be a fool not to love you," Finnick whispered, his thumb ran across my lower lip as he stared into my eyes hungrily. His lips crashed into mine, kissing me with a new passion. Although there was a fire roaring inside us, there was a lingering sadness that I knew would never leave.

The games were in a few short hours and he would be torn away from me. In a few short hours, I would be helpless and dead. "Finnick," I sighed, leaning into his chest. We went back to our quarters, gathering around the television as the interviews played back. Thomas didn't seem pleased, but the rest of our team 'oohed' and 'ahhed' at my appearance. "You look beautiful! Stunning! Gorgeous!" They raved. But soon, time came to sleep. I grew nervous as everyone began to leave the room. Typically, that would have left me and Finnick alone, but Thomas stayed behind. "Are you scared?" He asked me.

His tone worried me. I didn't know whether to answer honestly or lie. But he stopped me before I had a chance to answer. "You should be. You and I don't have much of a chance now do we?" He growled with a menacing smile still plastered to his handsome face.

Tension spread across the room, stunning me. "Don't talk to her like that!" Finnick snarled. Thomas rolled his eyes and laughed fiercely.

He stood up, still eyeing Finnick coldly. "See you in the arena Cresta," Thomas waved at me with a smirk lingering on his lips. Anger filled his eyes and controlled his movements. He stormed out of the room leaving Finnick with me, and me with my swarming thoughts.

Finn, still standing, watching to make sure Thomas was gone, spoke first. "Don't worry about him." He gave me comfort in that but the anger in his voice made me uneasy.

I didn't speak, just cowered silently in my chair. Finnick pulled me up and walked me to my room. "But I am scared Finn," I finally said, as we reached the door. I leaned against it, facing him and letting my hands hit the doorknob.

Finnick, only inches away touched my face and that set me off. I grabbed his hand, holding it in place and my free hand wrapped around his arm as he moved closer to me, hugging me tightly. "Do you want me to stay?" He asked me quietly.

I smiled weakly, "I was hoping you'd ask."

I opened the door and he shut it behind us. I crossed to the bathroom, letting down my hair. He turned back the sheets, and I stepped out of my gown into some cotton pajamas that sat by the sink, left out for me by an Avox. Finnick stripped out of his fancy Capitol suit and down to his boxers. He didn't look at me. There was something painful about the way he moved. He seemed nervous and frustrated. I attributed that to the Games tomorrow. The thought speared at me, creating a harsh pain in my chest. I began crying again. It was silly. Stupid even. Crying at the drop of a hat… but fear overwhelmed me. I tried to wipe away my tears, washing my face and staring at the mirror, cleaning up before he noticed, but he did notice. He took my hand and gently pulled me across the room.

He let me climb in first and then followed me. The bed was soft and the cool sheets calmed me. Silent tears trailed down my face, so I curled into a little ball on the far side of the bed. I faced the window with a dimmed view of the Capitol lights. Drapes colored over the neon shades coming in. Neither of us had moved. We stayed on opposite sides. It was lonely but I hated him seeing me so weak. But I was weak. And I needed him.

I crawled across the sheets and settled beside him. A smile crossed his face and he wrapped his arms around me. It was better with him than without. The aching in my chest slowly subsided. Lying there with him was the safest I had felt since they called my name at reaping. He was the last bit of security from District Four I had left, him, and his ring, the tiny gold band that stayed on my finger. I placed my hand on his chest and he jumped at the cool metal of the ring. With his free hand, he examined my right hand, kissing the ring and then my forehead. I leaned into his chest listening to his racing heart. This was the most vulnerable side of him…and of me. "Finnick?" I whispered in the eerily quiet dark.

He kept playing with my hand, "Yeah Annie?" His deep voice was so soothing. The way he held my hand in his made me sad that I wouldn't see him after tonight.

I shivered at the thought of my dead body being delivered back to Four. My mother crying, sinking in darkness. My father growing old and frail. My Finnick moving on…alone, drowning in his own fears. "What if I don't come out?"

His answer wasn't as sure or aggressive as it had been, "Annie…I need you to come out." His voice croaked.

"I'm so scared." I couldn't stop saying it, or thinking it, or meaning it.

And Finnick finally broke, "Me too," He admitted quietly.

"Were you this scared when you went in?" I asked him, staring into the darkness.

I looked up at him and he was smiling faintly, "No. Because I knew I was going back to you." Finnick sank down in the sheets and pulled me up to him by the waist. He grabbed my face with a soft touch. He took my hair in his hands and twirled the soft ringlets around his fingers searching my face with those beautiful deep emerald eyes. "Annie, I love you."

I sank down to his sternum, hiding my face in his chest. It was becoming a bad and too familiar habit. I covered my ears. "Stop," I commanded quietly. "Don't say that please."

"I'm sorry if I upset you." Finnick said, wrapping his arms around me again, tighter now.

But I broke free, falling to my side of the bed. I still stayed close to him, adrenaline racing through me. He loved me. The idea made my heart soar. Hearing that small confession was my temporary, personal Heaven, but it was also a taste of Hell. "No…you didn't. I just don't want you to say that. I mean I do…but not now."

He pulled his arm around me and cradled me again, "When would you like me to tell you?"

"When I come out of that arena…that's when." I said looking up at him. He shared the same smile I did. "Tell me everything then."

Finnick shifted again, now on his side and I was on mine. He faced me, our hands interlaced between us. "I should have told you before now," He told me sorrowfully. "But I was scared." His whispered confessions gave me chills, but I wouldn't let go of him.

I pressed my forehead against his, "I'm glad you didn't."

Finnick's smirk was audible, keeping me calm in the dark. "Why?"

I held his hands in mine and then used on hand to reach up and push his hair back, "Because now, I have a reason to come back…" I smiled, reaching up to kiss him on his nose.

And although we both seemed to be calming down, I knew Finnick was still troubled. "So you want to know it all?" He asked cautiously.

My hand ran through his hair and then to his face, and then his neck where the rest of my body gravitated to. "Tell me what you couldn't tell me before…everything…and then tell me you love me." I said sinking down to lie down in the crook of his neck, in the place of comfort reserved for me. "Just no goodbye confessions," I breathed as we finally found peace in the stillness.

"No goodbye confessions," He repeated.

I smiled desolately, knowing within a few hours this would be simply a memory. My last sweet moment with Finnick, gone in a matter of minutes and this was all I had to hold on to…that I would come back to him. "I am going to miss this though, and the ocean, and swimming..."

Finnick let his arm fall over me, keeping a strong hand on my waist. "Well, when you come out of that arena, we can go back to the ocean and we'll be safe." I breathed in his sweet scent remembering my mother's song. "We'll be free." We would be free after this. Maybe free in death, hopefully free in life.

He held me next to him and I still felt miles apart. "Closer," I whispered. My heart broke when he pulled me tighter. It broke at the idea of being away from him. It broke when I thought of the two lovers at sea. He pulled me in, holding me tighter than he ever had. He had loved me more than I could have ever dreamed and this was more than I could have ever imagined. And even after all the kisses of the night, I still felt miles apart. "Closer."