Author's note: This one's a long one, but packed full of some very important information. I can't wait to hear your thoughts! You can find me on Tumblr, if you're interested, at booksrockmyface. I would be very happy to answer any and all questions and concerns you have, discuss some of the deeper points of this work, or just chat about your day!

Many thanks to my beta LavenderVanilla for her insight and suggestions and support throughout this piece so far. It has been very useful (and this story would not be the same). Go check out her stuff already!

Happy reading!

Chapter Eight

Katniss stepped into the apartment and dropped her basket by the door. She turned to the room and paused when she saw the single white rose sitting in the middle of the table. It was then that she noticed the overwhelming scent of the flower in the room. She did a quick search of the space to find any other signs of an intruder, but there was nothing.

She sat and stared at the rose, trying to determine its meaning and how it had gotten there. She twirled it between her fingers and brought it to her nose to smell it tentatively. It smelled exactly like a rose. She wasn't sure what she thought she'd smell. No other clues on the flower itself gave away its reason for being there. She was still staring at it an hour later when Finnick returned from work and stripped by the front door.

"No water this time?" He asked.

She looked up. "I didn't clean the floor."

He shrugged and picked up his clothes, dropping them by the back window to shake out the coal dust as soon as he was done cleaning up. He disappeared behind the curtain.

"What are you doing?" He finally asked as he stepped behind her.

"We had a visitor." Katniss held up the flower. "Do you recognize this?"

Finnick froze. "Where did you get that?"

"It was sitting in the middle of the table when I walked in." She watched her husband, his face became fearful. "Are you okay?"

Finnick locked the door and sat down close to Katniss. "I've kept something from you." He said softly and quickly.

Katniss gave him a concerned look. "You think this has something to do with you?"

"Maybe." He rubbed his hands along his thighs "Annie was my lover and she had my heart. But other people had my body. Many other people." He swallowed and looked down.

"Finnick, you don't have to tell me this." She said softly.

"But I do." He coughed and Katniss got up to pour him a glass of water. Nodding gratefully, he gulped the water down and continued his story in hushed tones. "It's why it was so easy with you. I'm used to…pleasuring others. And most of them liked making me…"

He stood and started pacing. He sighed and rubbed his face, working hard to calm himself. Katniss grabbed his arm as he walked past. He slipped his hand into hers and squeezed.

"It's okay, Finnick." She said softly. "You don't have to say anything else."

"I want to." He sat down again, his hand still in hers. "My uncle brought me. But I know he never set it up. There was always a white rose." He picked up the flower and looked at it almost wistfully. "If I met someone anywhere that wasn't their private home, it's how I identified who I was to meet."

"Do you know who wears white roses?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

He nodded. "Do you?"

She nodded. "He visited me the day before our wedding. Told me if I refused, he'd marry Prim to someone cruel. And I couldn't let my sister have that fate."

A look of concern passed over Finnick's face. He moved his chair closer. "I've only seen him in crowds. Never alone. He's very imposing."

Katniss nodded again and squeezed his hand. "I think this means he's watching us."

"I think you're right." He whispered.

Her voice was as soft as his. "He told me he wanted us to have babies."

"My uncle told me the same thing. Said it was required." He stood again, dropped the rose unceremoniously on the table once more, and went to the stove. "So what do we do, Katniss?"

"I don't know." She sighed and went to Finnick's coal dust covered clothes. "If it's what I hear whispers about, they take the prettiest babies from their parents."

"And do what with them?" He demanded as he began cooking their supper.

"There are a lot of possibilities." Katniss said. "The least of which is a new underground slave trade. Servants. But I fear if they are taking the pretty ones that some of them become…" She glanced over his shoulder. "Well, like you were."

The pan he held clattered to the stovetop. He rubbed his face. "You aren't with child, are you?"

She shook her head. "We both took great care. If I am, it would be a feat."

Relief spread over his features as he went back to the meal. "How have you been taking care of it?"

"One of my mother's teas." She said softly. "I drink it every day. I have for a while."

"With Peeta?" He asked, going back to the meal preparation.

"I was never in a position to need it with Peeta." She took Finnick's clothes into their sleeping area and hung them up.

Finnick threw aside the curtain. "You weren't?"

"No." Katniss felt her face heating up. Maybe she should have had this conversation with her husband long ago.

"So when you and I…?" His voice trailed off, his face full of anguish. "Katniss, I'm so sorry."

She fought the tears burning her nose and shook her head. "Don't do that. Please. I did it because I wanted…"

He crossed the space and pulled her to his chest. She was tense for several breaths, but soon relaxed and wrapped her arms around him.

"I never thought this was how I would hurt you." He said softly, kissing the top of her head.

"You didn't." She pressed her eyes into his shoulder. "I was the one… It didn't hurt me, it hurt Peeta. He's going to be so disappointed." She sobbed. "I hurt myself, Finnick." She wailed.

He rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head again. "We're done with it now. No more. Not even if our visitor comes back. I'll fight tooth and nail. You save it for Peeta now."

She nodded and stepped back. "Do you want me to finish supper?"

He shook his head. "You could probably use a few minutes lying down. I'll bring your meal." Placing a finger under her chin, he tilted her head up and looked into her eyes. "I'll get you back to him, Katniss. Somehow. I promise you, if it's the last thing I do, you will be back with Peeta."

"Thank you." She said softly and then turned toward the bed. Finnick tucked her in and then slipped out of the curtain, leaving Katniss alone with her thoughts.

Had Peeta given himself to Annie? Did he hurt, too?

Finnick stepped through the curtain and held out a plate of fried potatoes and squash along with a few strips of pickled squirrel. It wasn't one of his favorites, but it was tasty enough when one was hungry. Katniss happened to like it and she accepted the plate with a smile.

"Would you like some water?" He asked.

"Yes, please." She paused. "And for you to join me."

He nodded. "Of course." After delivering her water, Finnick returned with a chair and his own plate. He sat beside the bed, resting his cup next to hers. "How is the herb business?"

She smiled around her latest bite and nodded. "Good." She swallowed. "Very good. I didn't have to deal with the Mellark Shrew, so that was even better."

He gave her a questioning look.

"Maureen Mellark has never liked me. Never liked I was in love with Peeta. Never liked my parentage. Never liked my personality. She's a bitch."

Finnick laughed. "Where is she? I heard a rumor she was gone?"

Katniss shrugged. "Graham said she went to see her mother."

He stopped with his fork halfway to his mouth. "Oh."

"What?"

"What if she informed…" He looked toward the other end of the room, obscured by the cloth, where the offending rose still sat on the table. "She's on his side. The Mellark men said so at the meeting."

"Oh my god." She said softly.

He nodded.

They finished eating in silence. Katniss scooted out of the bed and took Finnick's plate, heading into the other room. "If she knows, then I worry what that will mean for Peeta. Will she do something to us? To Peeta and Annie? Prim?"

"We'll figure something out." He assured her as he stepped behind her at the sink. "I'll talk to your daddy."

"In private. Not at the mines." She chewed her lip. "We're inviting them over tomorrow night. I'll tell Mama." She finished the washing up, waving him away when he tried to help. "Go to bed. You have work in the morning."

He rested his hand on her back. "Are we friends, Katniss?"

She looked over her shoulder. "We are."

"Good." He kissed her cheek. "Don't stay up too late. I've gotten used to sharing a bed with you."

He picked up the rose from the table, walked toward the stove that still burned with bright embers, and tossed the flower in. They both stared transfixed as it caught fire in a lovely quick burst of flames. And then it was nothing.

He walked away, blowing out the extra lamps as he went.

Katniss sat the last pan back on the stove and blew out the main lamp. Stepping toward the window, she opened it and looked up to the stars. She'd pointed out the constellations to Peeta many times. Her father had taught her, telling her the stories of his parents navigating by the big dipper as they helped slaves escape to safety.

She looked to the right. West. West to District Four and to Peeta. How many days it would take, she wasn't sure. But very soon, she would sneak out with or without Finnick and make her way to Peeta.

Katniss turned and got ready for bed, watching Finnick sleep soundly. A smile played on his lips. He must be dreaming about Annie. Poor Annie. From the sounds of it, the girl was a little mad. She knew Peeta was kind and patient and could withstand anything, but she feared he'd get wary.

Katniss slipped into bed beside Finnick and he rolled toward her, draping his arm over her waist. She rested her hand on his cheek and kissed his forehead.

His eyes opened slowly. "Hi."

"Go back to sleep." She rolled away, pushing his arm off.

"Let me hold you." He said softly, wrapping his arm around her again. He breathed softly behind her.

Reluctantly, Katniss allowed it, stuffing her hands under the pillow.

"Why didn't you?" Finnick asked softly just before she fell asleep, startling her.

"Why didn't I what?" She mumbled, shutting her eyes again.

"You love Peeta. You obviously know passion. So why not go any further?"

"We experienced everything else." She sniffed and wiped at a stray tear. "I wanted to wait for when we were married." She pulled his arm tighter around her in an attempt to keep herself from breaking apart. "Then I was stuck with you instead."

She felt his entire body mold to her contours as he relaxed into her. His nose pressed into her hair. "I'm sorry to be such a disappointment, Katniss." He drawled.

"I wasn't disappointed. It just wasn't what I wanted."

Finnick tangled his fingers Katniss's. "Like wanting fried chicken and all you have is pickled squirrel."

She chuckled and squeezed his fingers. "Exactly."

"Well, I'm sorry I'm not fried chicken." He rolled away.

"You're a good friend, Finnick." She reached back and found his hand, curling her fingers around his as she drifted off to sleep.

Finnick awoke to his fingers still curled up with Katniss's. He drowsily kissed her hand.

And was met with a sharp slap to the cheek.

"Ow!" He exclaimed, rubbing his cheek.

"I'm not sorry." She said, sitting up and ripping her hand from his. "You kissed my hand and I wasn't prepared."

"Are you prepared now?" He asked as he stretched.

"No." She readied herself for the washroom line and left their apartment.

"Good morning, Katniss!" Delly's chipper voice greeted his wife outside the door.

Thinking quickly, Finnick gathered his own things and met her outside. He pressed himself close, boxing her in with a hand beside her head. Leaning in, he murmured in her ear, "Just play along." He brushed a kiss to Katniss's neck and hummed into her skin.

Katniss sighed and wrapped her free arm around his back, leaning her head back against the wall.

His lips made contact with hers in a series of small, fleeting kisses. He saw out of the corner of his eye that Delly was watching with a gaping mouth while at the same time trying to make herself disappear.

Katniss grabbed the back of his head and pressed her mouth to his ear. "I think that's enough."

Finnick pulled away with a grin. "Maybe for you."

Delly squeaked when the washroom door opened and Wiress stepped out. Stumbling into the room, Delly shut the door firmly behind herself. Wiress looked between the door and the couple and then shook her head as she returned to her room on the next floor.

"I can't believe you." Katniss hissed when they were alone.

Finnick grinned and held his finger to his lips. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Got her to keep quiet for a while."

She shook her head, trying to inch away. "It was a little mean."

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, pressing his semi-hard member into her hip. "You want to help me with this?"

She pushed him away. "You know the answer to that." She laughed softly. "You can go ahead of me if you need to."

He let out a heavy sigh. "You really show you care."

"You know me, my dear." She winked, slipping past Delly who blushed deeply as she passed Finnick.

Finnick leaned against the wall and opened his lunch pail with a grin. On top was a scrap of paper that said, "Thank you for saving me from Delly. Pickled squirrel for lunch, fried chicken for dinner. Promise."

He unwrapped the piece of meat and ate it quickly. The biscuits on the bottom would be savored for the last few minutes of their lunch break.

Caleb took the seat beside him and unpacked his own meal. They sat in silence and ate while the rest of the crew chatted around them.

Finnick sat back with his second biscuit and broke a chunk off. "I miss Four's bread." He said softly.

Caleb chuckled. "It's different in Four?"

Finnick nodded. "We use fish stock and seaweed. It's salty. Shaped like fish." He indicated the biscuit. "These are bland in comparison, but Katniss does a good job."

Caleb laughed again. "Don't ever tell Katniss her food is bland."

"Oh, the rest of her cooking is great. But she knows my feelings on these and she tries to make it better every once in a while." Finnick handed over a piece and laughed when his father-in-law made a disgusted face.

"You say that's bland? I'm thirsty now." He picked up his cup and drained the rest of the liquid. "Just how salty is that bread in Four?"

Finnick laughed. "It gets some of the salty flavor from the fish stock and seaweed. I wish I remembered the recipe. I could at least get the fish part." His face fell. Looking around to make sure the other crew members were occupied, he leaned in and said softly, "I don't hate it here, Caleb, but I don't feel at home."

Caleb nodded. "I understand." He looked at his pocket watch and stood, calling out, "Pack up your lunch, men. Time to get back to work." He started back toward the mouth of the cave, but Finnick stopped him.

"Katniss and I would love for you to join us for supper tonight."

Caleb grinned. "Of course. Thank you."

Finnick was exhausted when the day was done. He headed home ahead of Caleb and found Prim and Katniss laboring over several pots on the stove.

Katniss pointed toward the curtained area. "I have clothes and some water waiting for you."

He smiled. "Thank you." He leaned in and kissed Prim on the cheek, chuckling softly when she blushed deeply. He tried to kiss Katniss on the cheek afterward, but she turned her head at the same moment and he caught her lips.

She glared at him. "Go clean up."

"Yes, my dear." Finnick said with another laugh as he walked away. He listened to the sisters' soft conversation across the small space.

"You act as though you don't like him." Prim pointed out.

"You like him enough for both of us." Katniss commented dryly.

Finnick laughed and heard his wife mutter underneath her breath that sounded something like, "It's not funny, Finnick."

He scrubbed his skin until it was red and then dressed just before Caleb and Iris arrived. He pulled the curtain aside and tied it to the wall. With his father-in-law's help, Finnick moved the table the few small feet beside the bed.

"Need to find you another chair." Caleb commented.

"Been meaning to do that for a while now." Katniss commented, setting a covered bowl in the middle of the table.

"Good thing we don't have company often." Finnick commented.

Prim opened up the oven door and took out a pan of very crudely molded rolls. As Finnick examined them, he noticed a couple of them looked like fish.

Katniss gave Finnick a reluctant smile. "Prim got an idea to surprise you. We asked all over to find a recipe. It's not going to be anywhere near as good as what you grew up eating, but it's the best we could do."

"I was just talking to your daddy about this today." Finnick said as he leaned close and breathed in the fishy aroma he'd somehow missed when he came in. "Seaweed gives it just a little extra flavor that I can't explain. I wish you could try it that way." He picked up one and broke off a piece. As he popped the bit of bread into his mouth, he closed his eyes. The fish taste wasn't quite as strong as the bread he remembered eating back home, but it was as close as he'd gotten in well over a year.

"Is it right?" Prim asked anxiously.

"It's really good. So close." He opened his eyes and pulled Prim into a hug. "Thank you, Prim." He said softly. He stepped toward Katniss and pulled her in a tight embrace, murmuring in her ear, "Thank you so much, Katniss." He kissed her cheek and stepped away. "I'd say I'd just eat the bread, but it looks like the rest of the meal is just as delicious."

Katniss grinned and pulled the towel away from the largest bowl. "I did promise fried chicken."

Iris said, "Katniss's fried chicken has been better than mine since she learned how to make it."

"And I know she learned from the best." Finnick grinned as he took a seat on the bed.

"I was going to sit there." Katniss said as she walked around to the seat opposite.

"We could make Prim sit there." Caleb said. "She is the youngster, after all."

Finnick patted a spot beside him on the mattress. "She can join me if she really wants." He winked and chuckled when his young sister-in-law blushed at his flirting.

Katniss sent him a sharp look and pulled out the chair to her left. "She'll sit by me."

"I was teasing." Finnick said, a smile still firmly in place.

"I don't care." Katniss shot back. "Eat your bread."

Finnick picked up one of the rolls that was shaped most like a fish and bit off the part that was supposed to be the head, glaring at Katniss playfully as he chewed.

"How are the mines these days?" Iris asked Finnick as she filled her plate.

Finnick nodded. "Not bad. Dirty."

Katniss grumbled, "There's coal dust in all the corners of this apartment, even when I clean every day."

Iris nodded sagely. "It's one of the most frustrating things about the life of a coalminer's wife."

Prim asked, "Can we please talk about something that isn't the mines or herbs?" She looked to Finnick. "Will you please tell me what Four is really like?"

Finnick chuckled. "I've talked about it before."

"You've talked about what it looks like and what it smells like and even what it sounds like, but you haven't said what it's really like there. What about the people? Your friends and family? Annie?"

Finnick went very still with a forkful of mashed potatoes halfway to his mouth.

Katniss turned to her sister. "Where did you hear that name, Prim?"

"I heard you and Mama talking about her once." Prim said softly.

Finnick sat his fork down. After taking a few calming breaths he finally said, "She was someone very important to me once, Prim. Someone I love very much." Images of kissing Annie in the cave filled his mind and he lost his appetite. "I need some air." He made his way quickly outside into the cooler night air and leaned against the wall, rubbing his face and trying to calm his churning mind.

Talking about Annie with Katniss was something he wanted and was used to, but he tried to keep it to himself otherwise. It had been difficult enough hearing his father-in-law talk about it at the meeting, but hearing Prim mention his lover's name…

"She didn't know." Katniss said softly from a few feet away.

He looked over sharply. "You were talking about it with your mother." He accused.

"I needed to talk about it with someone." She said as she leaned on the wall beside him "I was frustrated and the only time I really get to be alone with someone is when I'm with Gale in the woods. And it's not Gale's business. I tried to keep it between Mama and me."

He looked at the ground. "I appreciate that."

"I know it doesn't excuse talking about her to my mother where Prim could hear and I'm sorry."

He reached out and slipped his hand in hers. "I just wasn't ready to hear her name coming from your sister's mouth."

She moved a few inches closer. "Come back inside. We have company and I worked hard on that fried chicken."

"Just give me a few more minutes?"

"Sure." She squeezed his hand and left him alone.

Staring up at the sky as the first stars peeked out, Finnick sighed. "One day, Annie. Soon." He rubbed his face. "Please?" He took a few more deep breaths and pushed away from the wall to head inside.

Katniss watched Finnick the rest of the evening. He chatted kindly with her sister, the incident seemingly forgotten. But Katniss knew Finnick well and she could see the distance in his eyes.

"I'll clean up." Finnick offered, picking up their plates when everyone had eaten their fill.

"And I will help." Iris said as she followed after him.

"Daddy, can I talk with you?" Katniss asked after the table was back in place.

"Sure, honey." Caleb said.

Katniss looked among the group. Finnick and Iris laughed together as they scrubbed the dishes clean. Prim slid away from her father and sister and started putting away the plates.

Katniss led her father to the far end of the room. "Why didn't I get to know about your group?"

Caleb grumbled, "Of course he told you." He gently rested his hands on his daughter's shoulders. "It's not safe, Katniss. Your Mama and I are in the group to keep you and Prim from a worse fate."

Katniss shrugged off his touch. "A lot of good it did. Peeta is gone and I have to be married to him." She pointed at Finnick and leaned closer to her father. "I would have liked being brought in on the secret, Daddy. I deserved to know."

"You did. But I didn't want to risk it." He framed her face in his large, comforting hands. "You are my child, Katniss. I won't have you hurt. I know that I failed you. But it's a very tangled web. One I don't want you or Prim trapped in."

"But it's fine to pull Finnick in?" She grabbed his wrists. "I'm not good enough for you, is that it?"

"You listen here, little girl, you are more than good enough." Her father scolded.

"So let me in." She begged.

Caleb glanced up at his wife. Iris shrugged.

Katniss looked between her parents and then asked, "What?"

He kissed her forehead. "Let me talk to some people." He stepped away. "Primrose, say your goodnights." In a few long strides, Caleb made his way across the room. He held out his hand to Finnick. "See you bright and early."

Finnick nodded and shook his father-in-law's hand. "Too early."

Caleb chuckled and clapped the younger man on the shoulder.

Katniss exchanged hugs with her family and followed them to the door. When they were gone, she untied the curtain and began to change for bed behind it.

Finnick stood on the other side and said, "Thank you again. For the bread."

"I've been trying to find a recipe for a while. Prim brought it to me from one of her school books." She stuck her head out of the curtain. "I'm decent." She stepped back and climbed into bed.

He watched her a moment before he blew out the lamp. "I don't care that your mother knows about Annie, but you should say something to Prim so she doesn't accidently give information to someone who doesn't need to know." He slipped through the fabric and walked around the bed.

"I'm sure Mama and Daddy will talk to her." Katniss commented. "But I'll say something."

There was silence in the room as Finnick changed. He slipped into bed beside her and took care not to touch her.

She rolled over and wrapped her arm around his waist. "You looked like you were somewhere else after Prim said her name."

After a few moments, he rolled over to look in her face. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "I miss her so much, Katniss."

"I know." She whispered back. "I miss him."

"I know." He pulled her closer. "It's worse at night."

Her eyes drifted closed. "Tell me."

"She loves the night." He drew slow circles on her back with his fingertips. "There's a cave near her house. We'd meet there on the nights I wasn't otherwise occupied."

His calm voice combined with the movement of his hands relaxed Katniss. She could feel herself close to sleep. "Hmm." She sighed.

She felt him kiss her forehead. "Goodnight, Katniss." He whispered.

A smile tugged at her lips as she finally fell asleep.