CHAPTER EIGHT

I exit the hover craft. We are greeted by those who stayed almost immediately. Katniss hugs her mother. Embraces are given all around. I scan the landing pad for Annie. Where is she? I pray they haven't taken her again. Not again. I shoulder through the mass of welcomers and enter the building sprinting down the steps.

"FIN!" someone screeches.

I'd know that voice anywhere. I see Annie lying on the bed screaming.

"You promised! You promised! Shut up! He promised!" she cries out.

I see her thrashing and covering her ears as I dash down the hall towards our room.

"Finnick Odair!" she sobs.

I near our door and her screams become louder. I finally reach our room and throw open the door, panting. She looks up teary eyed. Annie scrambles off the bed and into my arms sobbing. I hold her close and breathe in her smell. I love her smell.

"I'm here. It's okay," I say softly.

I close my eyes and see myself almost killed by mutts over and over and then Katniss reaching down and grabbing my arm saying: 'Don't do this to Annie! Please don't do this to Annie!' I remember the electric shock of energy that pulsed through me at her name. The adrenaline rush that fueled my kick at the mutt crushing its skull and sending me up to an escape.

I don't like the memory and open my eyes. I see something odd. A crib. I slowly release Annie and walk to the crib. Inside lays a baby. There's a tuft of light bronze hair on its head. The eyes the trademark District Four blue/green. The baby resembles me. This is my son. I reach to pick him up and-

My eyes shoot open. Annie is screaming, waking me.

"Annie, wake up," I say holding her shoulders trying to stop her from thrashing.

"You promised, Fin! You promised! Please come back," she whispers.

"It's a dream. Just a dream, Annie. Open your eyes," I say firmly.

She gasps loudly and sits upright. Her eyes flash open., darting all around the room. I gently rub circles on her back.

"Fin?" she breathes.

"Yeah, I'm here, babe."

She still looks around the room. Annie has explained this part of her attacks to me. It's where her surrounding aren't her surroundings. They're the arena from her Hunger Games.

"You're in our bedroom, Annie. In our house in District Four. We're married. We've been married seven months. You're seven months pregnant. There are no games. There's no arena. I'm here. I'm your husband, Finnick, and I love you. Alright?" I say slowly.

Finally her eyes quit darting about the room and focus in on me. She blinks at me. Those huge eyes full of panic.

"Hey, you okay?" i ask brushing some hair behind her ear.

Annie looks away and at something far off.

"Annie? Baby?" I say softly.

"You died," she murmurs.

"What?"

"You died in the rebellion…but it wasn't the rebellion like before. This rebellion was in the arena."

"Did you see Alec?" I ask.

She shakes her head.

"It was you instead. You got decapitated…" she whispers not meeting my eyes.

I pull her closer and rest my head on hers.

"But I'm right here," I correct her.

Slowly her head shakes.

"Not in my dream. A mutt decapitated you in my dream," whimpers Annie.

I don't dare mention that's what almost happened. Her pregnant dreams are scary accurate or seem so at least.

"Well, Annie, I'm not dead. See? I'm right here. I'm not Alec. I've proved that I'm pretty much invincible, Annie."

She is silent. Staring off. I haven't seen her stare off like this in months.

"Annie, come back," I whisper.

She does nothing. Just stares blankly at the wall.

"Annie…"

Unresponsive. I'm getting frightened.

"Annie Odair, come back to me," I order firmly.

Slowly she turns her gaze to me.

"Finnick?" she says in a daze.

I sigh in relief and kiss her gently.

"What happened?" Annie asks.

I wrap both my arms around her.

"You had a nightmare. Then you went off in a trance."

"I did?" she gapes.

I nod.

"Yes, honey. But it's okay. You're back now."

"I'm so sorry, Fin," she whispers.

"It's okay. Don't be."

"Did I say what the nightmare was about?"

I don't dare tell her. Not only would it do no good but it might make her hyperventilate.

"No, I think it was the arena. You said Alec's name," I lie.

She nods once and lays back down. Slowly I lie down beside her.

"Hey, Fin?"

"Mmm?"

"Did you almost die when you went on the raid?

How does she know this stuff? Oh, Annie. She's a smart one. I'll give her that. Do I tell her the truth? If I do she may become paranoid.

"Annie, when have I NOT had a close call when I risk my life?" I chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

She doesn't laugh.

"That's doesn't answer my question," she replies slowly.

She asked for it.

"Yes."

That's as far as I'll go. I might as well tell her the nightmare she had if I go any further.

"How?"

Dammit, Annie.

"I don't want to talk about it."

I know how stubborn she can be. She'll press me. She''ll pry until I tell her.

"Okay. I understand."

"Since when do you give up so easily?" I smirk.

Her lips twitch into a smile.

"Have I ever made you tell me about your Games? Or the Quell?"

That's a good point. She hasn't.

"I only pry when you are hiding something that affects me. Think about it," she adds.

I do. She's right.

"Thought so," Annie grins.

I smile back.

"Don't deny that you're stubborn, though."

"I wasn't going to," she snickers.

There's a long pause before she speaks again.

"I'm a lot of things. Stubborn, reasonably nosy, outgoing for the most part, good at hiding emotionally and physically. I'm impatient, hate surprises, quick tempered and sarcastic. I'm strangely great at being pregnant. More than any woman should be great at being pregnant. YOU say that I'm not crazy even though I go off in trances, have night terrors, and scream at voices in my head. I seriously can believe I'm sane…but it's hard for me to believe that I am going to stay that way after all this is over."

Looking into those sad, big blue eyes, I can see how worried she is.

"Annie, how often am I right?"

She laughs softly and shakes her head.

"Like, always…"

"Then trust me when I say that you are going to be fine. Just fine, baby."

She sighs and lays back down slowly. I lay down beside her and slip my arm under her. My free arm wraps around her waist and my hand caresses her stomach.

"Annie, you're going to be a great, very sane mom. I promise," I say.

"I believe you," Annie replies softly.

"So no more worrying about that?"

Annie laughs shaking her head.

"Let's not get carried away…" she says.

We fall back asleep easily. Annie doesn't move. She sleeps soundly the rest of the night. Me? I try to imagine how Annie could have went on without me. The answer? She couldn't have.

*MY LITTLE SHOT AT SUZANNE COLLINS FOR KILLING OFF FINNICK! ANNIE COULDN'T HAVE LIVED WITHOUT FIN. SIMPLE AS THAT.*

BTW, CAN I GET SOME REVIEWS? I MEAN, YOU WRITE ME A REVIEW AND TELL ME ONE OF YOUR STORIES AND I WILL ADVERTISE YOUR STORY IN MY NEXT CHAPTER.