Author's note: I finished NaNoWriMo (and WON!) so I decided to reward us all! This one has a few tough moments, but also some hope.

Much thanks to my beta LavenderVanilla for helping shape this and for being so supportive of this story.

We're so close to the end, y'all! All those loose ends will be tied up in the coming chapters. I cannot wait to share the rest of this with you!

Happy reading!

Chapter Eighteen

Finnick tapped on the door. "Katniss, you in here?"

"Yeah." Katniss called back.

He pushed the door open and stepped in, leaving it slightly ajar. "You okay?"

Katniss looked up slowly from her spot on the floor. "No." She had a book open on her lap and it appeared to have drawings in it. But these weren't of him. "He drew my picture. He drew my picture every day until the baby was born."

He dropped down beside her and pulled the book onto his lap. "Annie said she loves Peeta." Flipping through the pages, he saw Katniss's face and form drawn with even more care than the images of him in the other book. "He's going to break her heart."

"He's already broken mine." Her voice was small as she spoke. She leaned against his side. "We need to figure this out."

"The four of us can sit down together after you and I have rested." Finnick said. "Maybe tomorrow."

Katniss nodded. "I think Prim should be part of it."

"You sure?"

"We didn't get to involve her in the decision to leave Twelve. She needs to be part of this."

Finnick nodded as he stood and handed back the book. "I told Annie never to wait for me when I was..." He took a shaky breath. "So I think I was ready for her to move on." He closed the door and leaned against it. "If we're going to leave, it should be sooner rather than later. There's a war coming and we should be settled before it gets bad."

She nodded. "We'll see." It took a few more seconds before she was able to close the book and stand. She dropped the book on the bed and wrapped her arms around his waist. He quickly relaxed into her embrace, returning it. "You really trust this Mags?"

He chuckled and smoothed a hand over her hair. "She pretty much raised me. My uncle's house was beside hers."

She looked up. "Do you think he's still there?"

Finnick shook his head. "I'm sure he's gone by now. Annie would have said something." Leaning his forehead against hers, he whispered, "You've been such a good friend to me, Katniss. Whatever happens, you can't go far from me."

"I'll do my best." She stepped out of his arms and pushed him out from in front of the door. "I'm ready to eat and then sleep in a bed for a hundred years." She stepped into the hall.

Finnick paused, a thought finally coming to him. "Where are we all going to sleep?"

"That's a very good question." Peeta said from the doorway to the kitchen. Looking over his shoulder, he called Annie into the hallway.

The four of them stood awkwardly for a moment. Finnick could hear Prim chattering on in the other room. Good thing she can adapt so easily, Finnick thought.

"What's going on?" Annie asked, reaching to wrap her arm around Peeta's waist. She froze with her arm in the air and her eyes darting around the group.

Katniss forged on. "Where are we going to sleep? You have three bedrooms and Peeta said that Johanna lives here, too."

Annie hugged herself and stayed silent. Finnick could see she was overthinking that impulse to be closer to Peeta. He stepped across the room, gently took her arm, and wove it around Peeta's waist.

"I'm okay with it." He whispered.

Peeta gave him a grateful look and draped his arm over Annie's shoulders.

Finnick turned to see Katniss barely hiding her discomfort. He patted her back and dropped his arm, standing close anyway.

Peeta continued the conversation. "You two don't want to share a room?"

"I told you. We're not like that." Katniss snapped at him.

Finnick placed a hand on Katniss's arm. "I don't mind sharing a room with Katniss. You got any extra blankets? I'm used to the floor."

"Prim is sleeping with me in there." Katniss pointed to the room she just left as she pushed Finnick's hand away. "I don't care where anyone else sleeps."

Annie finally looked up from the floor. "Johanna can share with me and Adam. You men fight out everything else." She stepped away from Peeta and walked into the kitchen once more.

Katniss looked between the two men and then followed Annie.

Finnick crossed his arms and lazily leaned against the wall. "If we're actually going to fight, I need to eat something first."

Peeta chuckled and leaned against the opposite wall, his hands in his pockets. "You been keeping an eye on her?"

"Katniss?" Finnick snorted. "More like she kept an eye on me."

Peeta nodded. He looked down at his feet for several silent moments before he said, "Annie's not taking any of this well." He looked up. "I'm sure you noticed."

"I've noticed a lot about her since we walked up on the shore." Finnick gave the other man a grateful smile. "You both seem to being doing well, though. And that baby, too. He's one lucky kid."

Peeta took in a steadying breath. "I never wanted to take your place, Finnick. And we tried—"

"Look, I just need a place to lay my head." Finnick interrupted. "As it stands, I do feel more used to Katniss and Prim. So tonight, I want those blankets on the floor in their room. Tomorrow, we can look it all over again." With a sigh, Finnick pushed off the wall. "Keep your place in her bed. Jo doesn't deserve it." He clapped Peeta on the shoulder as he walked past.

The kitchen was as lively as Finnick remembered being around Mags and Jo. He and Johanna had been children together, causing all sorts of trouble before Finnick fell hard for Annie and followed her around like a lost puppy. Annie and Mags had been his safe-haven from his uncle passing him around. And Johanna had been the comic relief.

Mags handed Finnick a stack of plates. "Make yourself useful."

Finnick started setting the table and paused when he realized Katniss held the baby, looking down at him with a calculating gaze.

"He looks like a healthy baby." Katniss commented, passing him back over to Annie and looked up at Finnick. "What did you decide?"

"I'm not leaving your side until I know you're really ready." Finnick said softly as he passed out plates.

Katniss smiled and nodded, turning back to Mags. "How can I help?"

Mags sat a large bowl in the middle of the table. "Don't need any. Time to eat."

Adam started fussing and nudged against Annie's breast. She got up and mumbled a quick apology as she left the room.

Finnick slipped out after her and stepped into the bedroom after her. "Do you mind?"

Annie shook her head and settled onto the bed, freeing her breast to offer it to Adam as his cries grew louder.

"Why did you name him Adam?" He sat on the edge of the mattress.

She didn't answer for a while, looking down at the baby. Finally, she said, "I needed him to be at least a small piece of you."

He leaned closer. "And Peeta doesn't care?"

"Peeta understands." She looked up. "I missed you. But you always told me..." A sob escaped her and she covered her mouth. "Sorry."

Finnick patted Annie's knee. "You didn't think I would be back."

"It's not fair." She cried. "None of it is."

He felt the stinging in his eyes. Annie was the only one who could ever really make him feel anything. All his other emotions were masked by his humor.

Slowly, he moved closer and rested his forehead against hers. "I dreamed of you every night, Ann. Every. Night. And I would lay awake sometimes thinking of when I could make it back. But we were watched by some dangerous people." He cupped her cheek and smoothed a hand over Adam's head. "I'm sure they know we're here."

"What does that mean?" She whispered.

"I don't know." He whispered back. "Maybe it's not safe for us to stay here long."

She clutched at him. "I just need to know you're safe, Finnick. That was always my worry."

"Katniss kept me safe and well-fed. Her and her family. She's a good shot with a bow. Wherever we go from here, I'm sure we'll be fine." He stood and headed for the door. "Come eat."

"I'll put Adam down and I'll be right there."

Finnick nodded and made his way out with one more look over his shoulder.

Katniss watched the door until Finnick returned, her hand on Prim's shoulder the entire time. When Finnick finally walked into the room, she relaxed.

"It's okay." He said as he slid into the chair across from her. "Annie will be in here soon."

Peeta nodded.

Mags asked, "So, Finnick, you a miner now?"

Finnick chuckled. "Well, I was for a while. I never thought I'd do anything other than fishing." He piled food onto his plate. "I haven't seen so much fish in three years."

"Don't you remember that time you caught all those catfish from the pond?" Prim asked, leaning forward. "Then you and Daddy fried it all up. It was the best day."

"It was a good day." Finnick agreed.

Katniss finally dropped her hand from Prim's shoulder when Annie came in. The other woman looked around a moment before she finally took the seat beside Peeta.

"Eat something." Peeta said, putting a little bit of food on her plate.

Annie picked up a piece of fish and curled into Peeta's side. "I'm exhausted."

"I know." Peeta said, rubbing her arm.

Katniss felt her stomach contract and she pushed away from the table. "You know, I'm pretty tired myself. I think I'll go to bed."

"It's still pretty early." Finnick argued.

Katniss looked pointedly at Annie and Peeta and then back at Finnick. "I need to be alone for a while."

"You've done that a lot today." Finnick pointed out.

Katniss gave him a direct look. "I think it's perfectly acceptable for me to have some time alone." Her steps were quick, despite the protest from the others. She paused in the hallway and peered through the bedroom door on the right.

Adam laid there, his arms waving in the air. And Katniss felt a sudden burst of anger. Not at him. He was just a baby and had no say in any of this. But she was angry with herself for fighting so hard to make it here when there was a chance Peeta had moved on. There was no point staying any longer than it took them to rest. Peeta and Annie loved each other.

"Katniss?" Annie's voice was soft behind her.

Without turning, Katniss asked, "What is it?"

Annie didn't say anything for a while and Katniss finally faced her.

"I don't want to get into an argument with you." Katniss said, feeling defeated.

"I don't either." Annie stepped closer. "I'm just really used to... It's no excuse, though, is it?" She sighed. "I want to show you something." She grabbed Katniss's hand and pulled her outside. The evening sunlight slanted into their eyes.

Katniss didn't know where they were going. Annie kept walking as the houses became closer together and there were more and more buildings. People milled about from one place to the next and it reminded Katniss a lot of her home.

What were her parents doing? Were they safe? What about Gale and his family? She missed them all so much. Would she ever see them again?

Annie pulled Katniss around behind a building and produced a key to let them into the door. "This is the bakery." Annie led the way up a flight of stairs and opened the door to a small apartment. "And this is the apartment. If you would feel more comfortable, you can live here with your sister and Finnick."

"Annie, I—"

"Please listen." Annie grabbed Katniss's hands. "We just got you back. It would be lovely to get to know you. To find out more why Peeta loves you so much. And I'd like to be your friend." She squeezed Katniss's hands gently. "Please stay. I can't lose Finnick again and I know that it would tear Peeta apart if you just left." Annie suddenly let go and pressed her hands to her ears, taking several deep breaths. Slowly, she dropped her hands and smoothed down her dress. "If people really are watching, the best place to be is in plain sight. Why hide? It will only make it worse for all of us. I can't have Adam harmed. And I know you must feel the same way about your sister. If not for either of them, I'm sure this decision would be easier."

Katniss took a deep breath and let it out. "I have to talk with Finnick and Prim. Thank you for this offer." She walked to the window that overlooked the street below.

Annie followed, staying a few feet away. "We didn't mean to hurt you. I promise we didn't."

"I know." Katniss snapped. "And I have no right to be angry because we did the same thing. I just didn't have a baby to remind me of my indiscretions."

Annie nodded slowly, a sad look in her eyes. "Well, you're lucky then. I was never very smart about that whole thing. And we just didn't think about it. I've always wanted a houseful of babies. Peeta's my husband. We didn't really talk about it until Adam..." Annie chewed her lip. "I can't apologize enough. Because without our baby, you and Peeta could just be together. And Finnick and I could. Who brought all this on us? Who's really to blame?"

"President Snow." Katniss whispered. "And I intend to make sure that we see justice."

Annie grinned. "Have you told Finnick that?"

Katniss shook her head. "I just decided." She turned from the window. "If there's a war, I want to fight it."

Annie took Katniss's hands in her own. "You're going to kick ass, Katniss. I can tell." She pulled Katniss's arm through her own and led her back out of the bakery and toward the beach.

The sun was setting. Peeta's favorite time of day.