CHAPTER SIX
FINNICK'S P.O.V.
Annie is six months along. I thought I was excited before, but now I feel even more excited. I feel thrilled. Just three more months.
I stand in the ocean spearing fish with my triton. Annie sits on the porch I finally finished, watching me. I spear a fish and pick up my triton, walking over to the bucket with the fish I've caught in it. I wave at her with my triton. She lounges on the chair, hands crossed over her stomach. She waves back at me and I smile.
Thinking about my new life, Capitol free, with my gorgeous wife of six months and as a father in a beautiful home made me genuinely happy. I didn't have to pretend anymore. No more smiling and waving at all the fans. No more blowing kisses to strange girls I didn't know. I could finally be Finnick Odair. The fisherman's son from District Four.
Speaking of which, my parents who had moved to District Seven were coming today. They had moved because there were too many memories here. Every time we talk they work on convincing me and Annie to move to Seven. Today they would see why we weren't moving. Because Four was just as beautiful and we had a wonderful home. We would have traveled to see them, but I didn't feel good traveling with Annie at six months pregnant. She was already fatigued enough without having to travel.
Truth be told, Annie had never met my parents. Now, she was perfectly sane and my family would get to know the real Annie.
I had met Annie's dad three times and he would also be joining us. He still had a shop here in Four that I had helped him rebuild.
"Fin?"
I turn around. Annie stands before me. A vision in sea foam green. The ocean breeze blue her knee length dress and long dark auburn hair. Her pearly freckled skin even more luminescent than usual. Her bright eyes sparkling.
"Yeeeeeeeesssss…." I reply sticking my triton in the stand and staring at her with a brow raised.
"Our parents will be here in a few hours. I need to get started on the fish," she says.
I sigh and gently take her by the shoulders.
"For the third time, Annie… I am cooking!" I reply.
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head.
"Finnick, I can cook!"
"Says the girl who vomited the last time she cooked fish…"
"Hey, that's not fair. I was able to eat fish two days ago and didn't throw up," she retorts.
I raise a brow at her and raise the bucket up to her face, swaying it so the smell of fish wafts over her. She looks at me, her eyes set with determination, lips pursed.
"The fish…" I whisper.
I set down the bucket with a smile.
"Alright, just let me catch a few more."
She nods and then her eyes widen.
"Annie?"
She leans slightly and wretches, vomiting.
"That's what I thought…" I say, shaking my head and spearing another fish.
Annie straightens up and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand.
"I'll just get started on the mashed potatoes and green beans," she nods.
"Mmhm…" I laugh.
She starts to walk off towards the house with a groan.
ANNIE'S P.O.V.
I feel so inept. Normally I would be able to cook finish if I wasn't pregnant. Why could I eat fish and not cook it. I groan as I near the steps.
Suddenly something snatches my hand and gently pulls me backwards. I step backwards only to land into the arms of Fin. He looks at me and kisses me full on the lips.
"It's almost over. Three more months and it'll be all worth it…" he whispers hugging me as best he can, without my belly coming between us.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah!" he replies.
My smile fades and I glare at him.
"YOU did this to ME," I say pointing a finger at him.
He laughs softly, releasing me.
"You'll thank me later!" he calls as I head back to the house.
I wave him off and head inside. My husband, everyone.
…
I slid the tray of green beans into the oven and heard the back, sliding door slide open. Fin.
"The green beans are baking and I'm boiling the potatoes now!" I call out.
"I left the fish out on the porch. They're in a bucket of water. Do you want help with the potatoes before I grill the fish?" he asks.
"No, go ahead and start. That's the one thing I CAN do. Let me do it," I insist.
His arms wrap around me from behind and touch my stomach.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay. It was just the smell of raw fish," I sigh.
"You feel okay now, then?" he asks.
I look over my shoulder at him, stopping stirring the potatoes.
"I'm fine. Don't worry," I whisper, kissing him on the lips gently.
"And the baby is fine?"
I sigh and smile at him, shifting so I'm facing him.
"Finnick, the baby is fine. If something was wrong with the baby, you would be the second to know. I would be the first, but only because it's in my body. Okay?" I whisper.
Finnick rolls his eyes and shakes his head.
"When did I become the crazy one?" he groans, touching his forehead to mine.
I look at him and raise a brow.
"I thought I wasn't crazy," I say.
He smiles and shakes his head.
"NOW you agree that you aren't crazy? Right when I need to feel sane…" Fin grins.
I laugh softly and kiss both his cheeks.
"Wow, Annie…"
"What?" I ask.
He slowly pulls away and takes my hands, shaking his head with a small smile.
"I'm so proud of you, beautiful," he says.
Tears well up in my eyes.
"Aw, don't cry, Annie," he says.
"Stupid hormones…" I groan.
He chuckles softly and pulls me into a hug.
"Why are you crying?"
"Because…I'm happy…I haven't felt this sane in a long time…" I sniff.
He kisses the top of my head.
"I don't want it to go away…" I breathe.
He pulls me away and looks into my eyes.
"Why would it go away?"
"Because it started when I got pregnant…When I'm not pregnant…Well, what if I go back to be a complete lunatic? I'll be the worst mom ever," I sigh, shaking my head.
"Annie, I bet you anything…anything…you're gonna be fine. You're going to stay sane. You'll be an amazing mom. I wouldn't lie to you… You know that, Annie. I never have. Never will."
"But what if I do?"
Finnick grins and laughs softly.
"We'll just have to keep having babies."
"What?" I laugh.
"Yeah, you'll just have to keep being pregnant. Like, the second you give birth, we send everyone out of the room and make another baby."
I laugh and lean against the counter.
"And we can end up with like, fifty kids?" I laugh.
Finnick nods with a serious expression.
"That's fifty chances to get this parenting thing right," he says pointedly.
I laugh and shake my head.
"Don't shake your head. This is our backup plan."
"That's a horrible plan. There's always psychiatry," I suggest with a grin.
"Oh, that's your plan! A psychiatrist?"
"Yes!" I exclaim, smiling.
"Psychiatrists know NOTHING!"
"That's not true!"
"Yes, because last time they did such a good job…" he scoffs.
I smack his arm.
"Shut up! Doctor Aurelius was Peeta's doctor and helped. I'll try him if something goes wrong."
"Annie, nothing is going to go wrong," Finnick says kissing me.
"Yeah?" I sigh.
"Yeah," he replies.
He kisses me again with a hug.
"I'm going to start on the fish if you're sure you can finish the potatoes."
I nod, taking him by the shoulder and turning him towards the back porch.
"Go do the fish…" I say.
He kisses my cheek quickly and walks outside.
"Be back soon, sexy!" he calls.
I smile to myself. It's official… I have the best husband in the world.
…
FINNICK'S P.O.V.
My mom is still talking to Annie. Annie's dad had left after dinner. He said he had a lot of work to do on the shop before he went to bed. I am pleasantly surprised at how well everyone got along.
My father and I stand by the tree outside our house. Their train leaves in twenty minutes. They have a five minute walk to the station. I look at the house where Annie and my mother stand talking. Annie's eyes turn to me and she waves delicately. I nod at her and she turns back to my mom.
"I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised," my father says.
I grin.
"Elaborate?"
"Well, the way you described Annie, I thought that she was…unstable…" my dad says ruffling his bronze hair.
I sigh and fold my arms, looking down at my feet.
"She was…but then she got pregnant…and things changed…" I say.
He nods and looks up at my mom and Annie. My mom laughs hysterically at something Annie said.
"Well, she's very funny. Very beautiful. She's actually glowing. I never even saw your mom do that."
I can't help but smile.
"She's really something. You hit the jackpot, son."
I look back at my dad and smile. He looks away from my mom and Annie and back to me, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"You got quite the life, Fin. I can see why you want to stay here. Are you going to get a job? I know you got the money from the government for helping in the Rebellion, but what are you going to do about a job?"
"Annie's dad wants to hire me, actually," I say.
"Cresta Bate, Fish and Nets?"
"Yep."
"That's really nice of him to hire you, son."
"Yeah, I've been helping him rebuild the shop behind Annie's back."
"Why don't you want her to know?"
I smile, my hands in my pockets.
"Because me and her father are making a surprise for her."
"What kind of a surprise?" my father asks.
"A playroom for the baby."
"You don't have one here?"
"The baby will have a bedroom and the living room. Our other room is a guest-room which we were going to make into a play room but then Annie's dad offered to make a playroom for the baby where if he ever watches it the baby can play there. Annie's dad is only five minutes from here so we can always take the baby over there whenever we want."
My dad smiles and looks over at Annie then back to me with a smile.
"You love her, huh?"
I laugh.
"That's why we got married."
He pulls me into a hug.
"Well, we'd better get going."
He calls my mom and she embraces Annie and gives her a kiss on the cheek. Annie waves and waits at the top of the stairs. Stairs are kind of difficult for her lately.
"Bye, son. We'll see you soon," my dad smiles.
I nod. My mom throws her arms around me.
"She's wonderful. I can't wait. We'll be back in three months, Finnick," my mom smiles.
I nod and squeeze her. They start heading into town. I jog up the front steps to stand next to Annie. My arm slides around her waist and I kiss her on the cheek. We wave to my parents.
"Good job, babe."
"Yeah?" she smiles.
"They loved you."
"Really?" Annie gapes.
"They couldn't quit talking about how beautiful and funny and sweet you were."
"Really?"
I nod and press my lips to hers, starting to guide her inside. I have the best wife in the whole world.
…
Annie and I lay in bed. My hand on his stomach. The baby kicks steadily.
"Does it hurt when the baby kicks?" I ask.
She shakes her head.
"Not really. It DOES feel a little weird," she says looking at her swollen stomach.
"Wow, that's amazing," I whisper.
"You still think I'm pretty?" Annie asks with a small grin.
I shake my head.
"Naw…"
"Fin!" she laughs, hitting my arm.
"I-You didn't let me finish! Annie! I didn't finish!" I chuckle as she continues to hit me.
She stops and smiles at me.
"I was going to say that I think you're beautiful."
Her arms wrap around my neck and her lips gently touch mine.
"I love you," she says.
"I love you too, babe," I reply.
She kisses me again and I raise my brows at her with a smile.
"I don't think so… No…"
"Annie, what's the worst that could happen?" I ask.
"The baby grabs you and takes it away," she says with a serious expression.
I laugh and shake my head.
"The baby won't take me, Annie."
She sighs and starts to sit up. I take a pillow and prop it up behind her back. Annie groans softly as she maneuvers around her stomach to sit up.
"You wanna know the truth?" she asks.
I nod brushing some hair behind her ear.
"I really don't feel attractive and it's hard to want to when I feel like a whale," she sighs, looking down.
I raise my brows at her and shake my head with a smile.
"It's not funny," says Annie, with a frown.
"Kind of," I shrug.
She looks at me, smirking, her brows furrowed.
"How is it funny?" Annie whines.
I give her a smile, my eyes sympathetic.
"Because you're so beautiful. Your skin is glowing. Your hair is flowing. Your eyes are constantly sparkling. Your-"
"-as big as a house," she finishes.
I laugh and shake my head, kissing her gently.
"Annie, you're pregnant. You're supposed to be big. I hate to break it to you, but you're only going to get bigger. I mean, you have three more months of the baby growing."
Annie groans angrily.
"But you know what?"
Her head turns limply to face me. My hand touches her face.
"I'm more in love with you than I've ever been. I mean, how could I not be? You're the mother of my child. There's nothing more attractive and beautiful than that," I say.
Her eyes swim with tears and she cover her face. I hear her sniff.
"Aw, Annie, don't cry."
"I told you, it's hormones," she says, muffled by her fingers.
I hold her and kiss her the hand. Her hands don't leave her face. I gently pry them off and she looks at me, her sea foam eyes red from crying, slightly swollen but huge still.
"And honestly, I'm the luckiest man in the world. I have a pregnant wife who isn't having hormones that lead to biting my head off," I add.
"Don't jinx it!" she hisses.
I kiss her.
"You aren't going to be. Annie, I've already told you. You've taken really well to pregnancy. I can't believe how well you've taken."
Her lips touch mine. I smile.
"We don't have to have sex," I shrug.
Annie smiles, her brows furrowing in concern.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
She sighs.
"Not never, Fin. Just not tonight."
"Okay. But what do you mean by 'not never'?"
"I mean not never during both the pregnancy and our life, just not tonight. I need to be more comfortable with myself."
"That's understandable."
She kisses me and then yawns.
"Are you tired?" I ask.
She nods scooting down into a laying down position.
"Goodnight, Annie," I say, wrapping my arms around her.
"Goodnight, Finnick," she replies.
I meant every word I said. Annie Cresta is the most amazing person in my life.