AN: I know it's a bit late, but here is the fifth and final chapter of The Smell of Roses! It would've been up sooner but I have final exams coming up and things have been pretty crazy. I'm quite proud of how this turned out and I hope people like it. Unfortunately, I won't be able to start much of anything else for a few weeks, but once finals are over, I definitely plan to start another project. In the meantime, I have a few more one shots up my sleeve. ;) A million thank yous to everyone who has favorited or followed or reviewed this story. Enjoy the finished product!

The gray, ominous clouds in the sky got thicker and thicker as the train approached District 4. Through the debilitating haze in his mind, Finnick noted how unusual that was—it hardly ever rained in District 4, and he didn't think he could remember the last time there was a thunderstorm.

Annie sat next to him in silence. As soon as they had gotten on the train to go home from the Capitol, he had tried to put a hand on her shoulder and formulate an apology. But to his horror, she had pushed his hand away (something she had never done before) and said, "Don't, Finnick. Just don't. I can't right now." Heartbroken, he had respected her wishes and taken his place a few feet away from her. Neither of them had spoken a word since.

When they finally arrived back in District 4, raindrops had started to create glistening patterns on the windows of the train car. As they got off the train and made to exit the train station, they heard a distant rumble of thunder and noticed people running every which way trying to get back to their houses. The drastic change in weather had apparently been unexpected.

"Come on," Annie said, speaking for the first time since they had left the Capitol. She began to lead Finnick back to his house in Victor's Village, which wasn't far from the train station. Even so, by the time they reached the street lined with immaculate houses that overlooked the now rough waters of District 4, the rain had picked up and they were both drenched from head to foot. Finnick clumsily dug his key out of his pocket once they were standing on the porch of his house and let Annie in before following her and shutting the door behind them.

Neither of them said anything right away. The elephant in the room was gigantic and obvious and had no chance of going away on its own. Finnick, steeling himself, took a deep breath and said, "Annie…"

Annie spun around to face him. "Finnick, I don't know what you think you're going to say—"

"Please!" Finnick held his hands up, cutting her off. "Please, Annie, just listen to me. You can say whatever you want once I've finished, just…please listen."

Annie sighed. "Alright."

"It started when I was sixteen," Finnick said. "There hasn't been a single moment where I haven't been entirely disgusted with Snow since then, but even the hatred I feel for him can't hold a candle to the hatred I feel for myself every time I have to leave you to go to the Capitol. The last thing I ever want to do is hurt you, and I know I have, and I can't tell you in words how incredibly sorry I am. I was going to tell you, Annie. I really was. But I just…I've never been able to find the right words, or the right time. I've been a coward, keeping it from you, and I know that. You have every right to be horrified and repulsed and I only hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me one day, although I certainly don't deserve it."

Annie was staring at him as though he had grown another head. Her jaw was slightly dropped and she had one eyebrow raised. She didn't say anything for a few seconds, but then, with a slight shake of her head, she wandered over to the back window and stared out at the stormy sea whose waves were advancing further and further up the shore.

Finnick felt his heart shattering into a million pieces. She didn't forgive him. Of course she didn't forgive him. He hadn't been expecting her to, but there had still been a sliver of hope inside him… "I understand." He said quietly, fighting the rising lump in his throat. A flash of lightning illuminated the house, followed by a crash of thunder.

Suddenly, Annie spun around and marched back over to him, wearing an incredulous expression that Finnick had never seen before. "You have got to be kidding me, Finnick Odair!"

He stared at her, not sure how to respond. "I—I don't'—"

"You think I'm upset with you because of what Snow's been making you do?"

"Aren't you…?" Finnick had no idea what was going on.

"Finnick." Annie looked him straight in the eye. "Listen to me very closely. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. It's safe for me to say that I wouldn't be standing here today if it weren't for you. When I was fighting for my life in the arena, you were the reason I kept on going. When I had to go on that awful Victory Tour, you didn't leave my side once. And even now, when I become trapped inside my own head, you're still the only one who can bring me back to Earth. I trust you with my life, Finnick, and I'd like to think you do the same for me. I was hurt because you hadn't allowed me to help you through this, although, to be fair, I understand why. If you think I'm disgusted with anyone but Snow and the Capitol, then you are very severely mistaken."

Finnick's own jaw had dropped. He wasn't sure if he was hearing her correctly. She…didn't hate him? "You mean…you're not…" His voice seemed to have abandoned him.

"Finn, we do everything together. I hardly live in my own house anymore. We eat together, go on walks together, and spend practically every night together. This is no different. I'd sooner die than leave you because of something you have absolutely no control over. We face this together, Finnick. I don't think there's any other way to do it." Annie's voice had started to shake and a few tears had escaped her eyes and made their way down her cheeks, mingling with the raindrops that hadn't yet dried.

Finnick hadn't realized that he was crying, too, until he reached up to wipe the tears off his own face. He couldn't think of anything to say to Annie that could properly express the love and gratitude he was feeling, so he did the only other thing he could think of: he walked the few feet of distance between them and pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her still damp hair and wondering how he had gotten so lucky.

They finally broke apart after a good five minutes. "Hey, the rain stopped," Finnick said hoarsely, wiping his eyes on the back of his hand one more time.

"How's that for a metaphor?" Annie smiled, taking his hand. "I bet there's a rainbow and everything."

Finnick laughed. "There's nothing like symbolism. Hey, you know what? We should wander over to Mags' place. I showed up at her door in kind of a panic earlier and I'm sure she'll be interested to know that we're both still in one piece."

"Sounds good to me," Annie replied.

Hand in hand, the two of them made their way toward the front door, an aura of peace hanging over them like it hadn't in a very long time. Just as Finnick was reaching for the doorknob, he was stopped by Annie's hand on his arm.

"Finn, wait." Before he could turn to look at her, she had pushed him up against the wall and was kissing him passionately. Finnick returned it in full, suddenly feeling more alive than he had in days, even weeks.

When she finally broke the kiss, he smiled down at her. "What was that for?"

"Just because," she replied, smiling back. "Whoever steps in the most puddles on the way to Mags' house wins?"

Finnick laughed and pulled the door open. "You're on."