"My condolences," a lady said to Finnick and Taiya as she walked into their parent's joint wake service.

"Thank you," Finnick smiled lightly, shaking her hand as Taiya stared numbly ahead.

"I left a fish pie with Mags for the two of you, but you let me know if you need anything."

"We will," Finnick acknowledged and the lady walked through the entryway and into the wake.

Taiya scowled at everyone who was there. Barely any of these people knew them or their parents. They just wanted to see what the inside of the mayor's house looked like. "I don't want these people here," she whispered to Finnick. "None of them knew our families."

"Taiya your dad was the mayor, everyone loved him. They want to be here for you."

"They never made an effort when he was alive, what's the point now," she sighed.

"You just have to tolerate them, it's what your dad would have wanted."

"You don't know what my dad would have wanted," she snapped. Taiya turned to look at Finnick and groaned, running her hands down her face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

"I know," he cut her off gently. "I know. There's only an hour left and then it'll be back to just you and me and we can relax without the pressure of people watching us," he assured. Taiya had been living at Finnick's in the week since her parents died. She couldn't stand to be in her big house by herself and neither could he. He'd offered for her to move in permanently but Taiya was going to use her father's pension to get her own place to live. She would never want to intrude on Finnick's personal space, but he was too polite to say anything like that to her.

Taiya nodded, a few tears slipping down her cheeks, "there's Theo," she said as she spotted him manning the drinks table. "I'm going to go talk to him for a bit, I'll find you later," she said squeezing his arm before walking off.

"Hey Tay," Theo greeted as she came to stand next to him while he served drinks from a punch bowl. He looked down at the forlorn girl next to him and look over to see Finnick standing in the entryway, watching them like a hawk. "You hate this? Don't you?" he asked and she nodded with a slight smile on her face. She was never one for publicity, but she wouldn't want to tarnish her father's image in the community.

"Annie was so sweet," she smiled. "She gave me these lovely orchids. They were my mom's favourite. I think they're the only gift I actually appreciate. If I see another pie I'm going to scream. All Finnick and I would have wanted was a small ceremony with those who actually knew our parents. Not a big show that drags on all week and involves people who never said a word to any of them. It's insulting."

Theo laughed and kissed the top of her head as she yawned. "You tired?" he asked in concern, he could see the bags below her eyes.

Taiya nodded before she pulled out of his hold, "yeah, I've barely slept this week. I just keep seeing the explosion every time I close my eyes. And Finnick wakes up screaming from nightmares of the games, so I just haven't had a lot of opportunities to rest."

Theo looked around and lowered his voice, "you and Finnick get out of here ok? I'll look after the rest of the wake. He looks exhausted as well so you two go back to his and I'll tidy up. You don't even have to sleep if you don't want to, you just need to recharge, read a book, go for a swim, meditate, just do something that will calm you down."

"I couldn't leave, it wouldn't be right," she hesitated.

"You can. Please, I swear I'll be fine here. My parents are helping as well. We'd all feel much better if we knew you guys were feeling better."

"Are you sure?" Taiya asked sceptically.

"I'm sure," he guaranteed with a sympathetic smile.

"Thank you," Taiya sighed in appreciation, quickly spinning around and speed walking towards Finnick, "let's go," she whispered as she took his hand and quickly steered them out of the mayor's house.

"What's happening?" Finnick asked.

"Theo said he'll look after the rest of the wake, he said we could go back to yours and get some rest," she filled him in as they started walking around the corner to get to Victor's Village. As soon as they both left the wake they'd instantly become more at ease. Both of them were only able to fully relax when they were in each others company lately.

"I'm so sorry Taiya," Finnick apologised after a moment of silence.

"Finnick," she sighed, linking her hand through the crook of his elbow. "You have to stop apologising. Please. It wasn't your fault what happened. It's not your job to apologise."

"But what if it was?" he asked quietly.

"It wasn't. There's no one to blame for a faulty motor Finnick, if it didn't happen to our parents it would have just happened to someone else. They were just really unlucky Finn," Taiya assured and leant her head on his arm as they reached his front door.

Finnick unlocked the front door and the two of them walked through the threshold. Sitting on the middle of the table in the entrance of the home was a large bouquet of white roses that hadn't been there when the pair had left earlier that day. Immediately upon seeing these Finnick froze. He knew straight away who these were from, and he knew the thinly veiled threat that they carried.

"What are these?" Taiya asked as she walked forward to look at them. There was a card sitting next to the roses addressed to her and she picked it up and turned to look back at the frozen Finnick. "They're for me," she told him as she opened the card. "Dear Miss Ambersnow, I am very sorry to hear about the loss of your parents. They were loyal servants to Panem. I wish to come and offer you my condolences and discuss matters in person. I will be in District 4 tomorrow to visit with you. Sincerely, President Snow," she read. Finnick's eyes widened and he quickly moved towards her, snatching the card from her hand to read it. "Ok," Taiya muttered, confused by his behaviour.

"You can't meet him," Finnick told her.

"I don't have a choice, Finn. If the President tells you that you're meeting with him, then you're meeting with him. It's not optional."

"Yes, you do have a choice. You can't meet him."

"Finnick, you can't turn down a meeting with the President because you don't feel like it," Taiya said rolling her eyes. "And telling me I can't meet with him isn't giving me a choice either."

"It's not safe," Finnick cried out, his eyes filling with tears as he grabbed the bouquet of roses and stormed to the front door and threw them as hard as he could so that they landed in the middle of the street and broke apart.

"Finnick!" Taiya snapped as she ran forward to look at the ruined roses. "What is wrong with you?" she demanded. "Why would you do that? Do you know how insulting that will be when he sees that mess lying in the middle of the road tomorrow?"

"Who cares what he thinks Taiya?" Finnick grumbled before he slammed the front door and stormed through the house to go sit on the pier.

Taiya growled before she stomped after him and sat down next to him. "Why do you hate the President so much?" she asked quietly as she watched him cry silently. "I saw the way you reacted to him on your birthday. You were shaking. I know you, Finnick. I've never seen you act like that before. It kind of scared me."

"He's trying to make me into someone I don't want to be," he answered quietly, he couldn't tell her the truth, she was already so upset and he didn't want to lose her.

"How so?" she queried.

"I can't explain."

"Finnick," she said taking his hands and forcing him to look at her. "You can tell me anything."

"I can't tell you this," he said shaking his head.

"Why not?" she asked sadly.

"Because you'll think differently of me and I don't think I could handle that. You're the only person left that I care about," he explained.

"That's not true," she denied.

"It is."

"Finn. You have so many people left. We both do. We may have lost our parents. But we still have Mags, Theo, the entire Cresta 's my uncle, aunt and cousin on my mom's side that I don't know all that well but they were great with the funerals. They all care for us both and they'll be there for us," she said as she placed her hands on the side of his neck gently. "Nothing you say will change the way I feel about you. We love you for you. And I'm not going to leave you. No matter what."

"Promise me?" Finnick asked as he placed his hands on her cheek.

"I promise," she swore.

"Finnick, how do you think President Snow knew I was staying with you?" Taiya asked from the couch as Finnick paced the living room as they waited for the President to arrive the next day.

"He knows everything," Finnick muttered.

"But wouldn't he have sent the flowers to my place if he wanted me to get them rather than to here?" she pressed.

"He knew you were staying here and he wanted me to know it."

"What does that mean?" Taiya asked.

"Nothing," Finnick replied as the doorbell rang. Taiya stood up and started making her way to the door when Finnick ran in front of her, "just stay behind me," he whispered to her before opening the front door. "President Snow," he greeted.

"Mr Odair," Snow smiled. "My condolences on the loss of your parents. And of course to you too Miss Ambersnow, I knew your father quite well, he was a good man," he said smiling at the girl who was being largely blocked from view by Finnick.

"Thank you, President Snow," she said as she tried to move around Finnick, however, he stuck a hand out to stop her from moving forward.

"Mr Odair," Snow warned. "Poor manners seems to be a recurrent issue for you when I try to talk to Miss Ambersnow. Step aside," he ordered and Finnick shook his head defiantly. He couldn't let Snow get to her. He couldn't lose her.

"Finnick," Taiya hissed as she shoved at his side. "Move," she asked him quietly, shoving him as subtly as she could until he relented and stepped aside slightly, allowing her to get a clear view of Snow.

"Much better," Snow smiled as he laid eyes upon the girl that Finnick was so protective of. "Miss Ambersnow, there are some formal matters I wish to discuss with you. If you'd be so kind as to take a walk with me?" he requested as he gestured her to walk out of the house.

"Of course," she agreed immediately and took a step forward, only to be pulled back by Finnick.

"Mr Odair I will only be talking to the young girl," Snow smirked. "And it's not a request," he said coldly. "If you will," he asked Taiya again, and she yanked her arm out of Finnick's grasp and walked out of the house, leaving the shaking boy standing in the doorway alone.

"I apologise for Finnick," Taiya said as she and Snow walked through Victor's Village. "He's been quite distraught since the death of our parents last month. Hasn't quite been himself," she said, trying to cover for her friend's strange behaviour.

"A tragic occurrence," Snow sympathised. "That is in fact what I have come to talk to you about today Miss Ambersnow, as I am sure you'll be aware, there are some formalities that need to take place following the death of the mayor before their term is complete." At the very mention of her father, Taiya sucked in a deep breath as she tried to control her emotions.

"I am aware yes. I understand the situation," Taiya smiled lightly.

"I will have to appoint a replacement mayor for the district by the end of the month. This means that the new mayor will need to take possession of…"

"The house," Taiya finished. "I've had help clearing some of my families belongings out already, it'll be clear by the week I promise. We've moved their stuff into the spare rooms at Mags' home."

"Very efficient Miss Ambersnow, that will serve you well in the future I am sure. There is also the matter of the pension to discuss. As I'm sure you know, there is a pension that is paid to the immediate family of a mayor following their death. Unfortunately Miss Ambersnow I must inform you that the pension is only available to those who are of age," he said making her freeze.

"You have to be 18?" she asked shakily. She was only 16.

"Indeed. Unfortunately, my dear girl that was not my decision. It was already written into law."

"I understand," she nodded quietly. What was she to do with no income? How would she survive?

As they walked past Tyler Silvergaze's house, another victor, the front door of his house flew open and he jogged towards them. "President Snow," he greeted. "Fine day. Taiya," he said turning to her with a smile, "how are you today? Feeling better?" he asked as he patted her hand and squeezed himself in between her and the President. "Going for a walk, are we? Mind if I join?" he asked Snow, deliberately ignoring Taiya's stare. She didn't know this man, she'd never had a conversation with him before, but he knew her and had run out of his house to walk with her and Snow. Why would he do that?

"We were just turning back Mr Silvergaze," Snow sneered.

"Ah well it'll be a quick walk then, even better," he smiled as they turned around and began walking back towards Finnick's house.

"Young love," Snow spoke up after a while of silence. "It is so fascinating to observe, wouldn't you agree Mr Silvergaze?" he asked and Tyler tensed up.

"Immensely," he replied through gritted teeth.

"I thought you'd agree," Snow smiled. "It was unfortunate that yours had to end so unfavourably," he taunted and Tyler clenched his jaw.

Taiya looked at the two of them, unsure of what to say, she didn't understand any of the context of their conversation. "You're right of course, President Snow," Tyler agreed once he'd managed to calm himself down and stop himself from saying what he really wanted to say.

"I will enjoy watching what becomes of you and Finnick, Miss Ambersnow," President Snow said to her.

"Hmm?" she asked confused.

"Watching the love blossom between the two of you," he explained.

"Finnick and I aren't… I mean we're not… we're just friends," Taiya stuttered as Tyler watched her carefully.

"Oh Miss Ambersnow," President Snow laughed as Finnick's house finally came back into sight, "I may be old but I am not blind. I see everything."

Taiya decided not to press any further when she saw Finnick walking down the path towards them quickly. As soon as he reached them he placed a hand on Taiya's arm, "enjoy your walk?" he asked her and she nodded gently. "Would you mind if we talk for a moment, President Snow? It'll only be brief," he asked.

"Of course," Snow smirked victoriously.

"I'll stay with her," Tyler said, wrapping an arm around Taiya and pulling her away, leading her back into Finnick's house. Taiya kept looking backwards, trying to see what Finnick was talking to Snow about, but Tyler wouldn't let her into the line of sight of Snow. "You ok?" Tyler asked her when they entered Finnick's living room and she nodded. "Good, made me nervous when I saw you out there alone with him," he said, running his hands through his hair as he peered out of the window.

"Why?" Taiya asked confused as to why Tyler and Finnick both seemed to harbour fear and hatred for the President.

"No reason in particular," he answered back quickly.

Taiya came and stood next to him at the window, watching curiously as Snow and Finnick spoke. "What do you think they're talking about?"

"Victor things," he answered vaguely.

"Finnick looks upset," Taiya noted and Tyler scoffed in response.

They watched in silence as Finnick nodded at President Snow before turning around and storming back to his house. He opened the front door with such force that it made Taiya jump. He immediately ran up to Taiya and pulled her in for a hug, "thank god you're ok," he breathed as he kissed her forehead.

"I'm fine," Taiya assured as he released her. "What did he talk to you about?" she asked.

"I have to… mentor this year," he said sadly, looking at Tyler.

Tyler sighed and ran down his hands down his face before he stepped forward and patted Finnick's arm in sympathy, understanding exactly what Finnick meant when he said 'mentor'. "Nice to meet you Taiya," Tyler said glumly before leaving Finnick's house.

"He's a little weird," Taiya noted.

"Good guy though, good to talk to. What did Snow talk to you about?" Finnick asked.

"My dad," she said sadly as she led the two of them over to the couch so they could sit. "I can't get access to my dad's pension until I turn 18 which means… are you sure you meant it when you said I could live here?" Taiya asked.

"I'm sure," he promised, "I kind of need you."

HungerGamesFan36: Wow thank you so much that means a lot! I hope you like this chapter

twinia1: I haven't decided yet when I want Finnick to tell her, I've got a few different options