Chapter Twenty-Four

(Finnick)

There are an awful lot of trees in the woods around District Twelve. I love them all. I can't escape the feeling that if I hadn't come here a year ago – it's been a year and four months since Katniss and Gale executed two presidents of Panem in seconds – I wouldn't be alive now. This place is rebuilding and I haven't been much help with that, but I can feel myself rebuilding along with it. I'm so happy Annie made this decision for us.

I can walk on my own over flat, short distances – and more all the time – but since it's a long way to the lake I'm using a wheelchair. The only thing that bothers me about it is that Beetee attached a platform to the back, along with turning it into an all-terrain sort of vehicle, and is standing there rather than using his own wheelchair. At least I get to carry my son to his first experience in water that's not in a tub.

Cres is eight months old. I think he looks like Annie. She thinks he looks like me. Haymitch tries to settle it by saying Annie and I look like brother and sister so he looks like both of us. That just sounds weird so we ignore him.

"Earth to Finnick," Katniss says, waving her hand in front of my face. "You still with us?"

It's nice to be asked that question because I'm daydreaming instead of because I'm dying. It's a little embarrassing to be caught so openly but we all do that. I blink and realize we're at the edge of a sparkling lake. Cres squawks on my lap, trying to lean forward.

"Are you sure this is safe?" Annie asks Katniss' mother and Primrose for the sixty-fourth time today. "He absolutely can go in the water?"

She doesn't mean our son. She means me.

Katniss' mother squeezes Annie's hand but it's Prim who answers. "Yes, Annie. You're going in with them, right? You'll save your husband and your son if they struggle. And Katniss is a good swimmer," she pauses to wink at her sister, who toes her boots off and avoids eye contact, "so she'll be there to help too."

"I can swim too," Johanna protests, pulling herself away from Gale for a minute. It's so strange to see her smiling and laugh and flirt and blush – strange in the best possible way. "Come on, let's get Finnick and Cres in the water so we can get them out and have lunch."

"That's my girl," Gale laughs, not letting go of her even as she squirms, "never letting anything get between her and her food."

While they bicker about this, Peeta and Haymitch deposit Cres in Mrs. Hawthorne's arms and then help me to my feet. "I don't swim," Haymitch announces once he deems me ready – in that I'm not wearing shoes but I refuse to take off my shirt around anyone but Annie, Prim, or Katniss' mother because I don't want to see the jagged scars so no one else will – for the water, "so somebody that does better pay attention before I just shove him in."

Annie squeaks and pushes her dress off her shoulders, stepping out of it as it pools on the ground. "Don't you dare, Haymitch." She crosses the grass to me and takes my hand. "Are you ready?"

"Am I ready?" I shake my head and kiss her. "Please. I want to be in water."

She smiles and walks slowly into the water with me.

It feels like home.

We stay where our feet are can touch the bottom and hold hands.

Katniss wades in far enough to give us our son and then retreats to the edge where she and Johanna are the lifeguards for the moment.

Cres gurgles happily, slapping at the surface of the water and kicking his feet as we each keep one hand on him. He's a natural.

And he makes Annie relax. She smiles watching him and then she meets my eyes. "I love you," she mouths to me."

I shake my head again. "Not as much as I love you."

She rolls her eyes and spins us slowly out into the deeper water. "Let's not try and define that love, okay? Time is better spent being aware of just how indefinable love is."

THE END

Thanks so much for reading, everyone! I'm so happy you were all willing to see this story through to the end! I adore you! 3