OMG I'M STILL ALIVE! Sorry for the complete absence and total silence, I've been so swamped and overwhelmed! I have an update for all the fanfics coming soon, but I couldn't resist sharing this little tidbit from a new story I'm going to be pursuing after Doctor's Game is finished! It takes place some time after Stale Bread.

Read, enjoy and please let me know what you think! Also, still on the hunt for a Beta!

Finn

There's an ancient quote my dad used to tell me when I had a hard time saying good bye to anything. He couldn't remember the author or the situation behind it. 'Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.' I don't understand it to be honest, but that may just be the ignorant Odair coming out in me.

There's nothing sweet about this parting, it's nothing but pain and sorrow. It feels like my heart is being ripped out and stabbed repeatedly with Tracker Jacker venom.

Pearl sleeps peacefully, blissfully unaware of what is happening.

I slip my boots on soundlessly and look at her beautiful form. She's got such a bright and wonderful future ahead of her. She's going to stay here in the Capital, start her acting career and have all her dreams come true.

Me… I'm off to District Two to report in and be shipped off for war. I'll probably die, or at least I will if I'm lucky. The war has been raging on for three years now and it's my turn to go to the front line. I haven't told anyone, not even my own family. I know they would have talked me out of volunteering, but it's something I had to do.

I stand and look down at her, taking her in for what very well may be my last time. Her dark brown hair is sprawled out over the snow-white pillows. Her face is pale in the early dawn's light wafting in from the window, the cool night's breeze gently caressing her skin. Those bright blue eyes are closed, but their light and joy will keep me company in the coming weeks, months, years… Hell, let's be honest, days.

I reach out to lightly run the back of my hand along her smooth, flawless cheek. Tonight had been the best night of my life, but it was time for reality to set in. A quiet sigh leaves my heavy chest before I slip my wedding band off and set it on the table by my side of bed.

Two weeks of marriage and now I was about to make her a widow. What had I been thinking?

I curse myself before leaning down to kiss her forehead. "I love you Pearl Everlark-Odair. You are the most beautiful, sweet, tender, thoughtful and talented young woman I've ever met in my whole life. You're going to go on to have the most spectacular life anyone could ever dream of. Please don't hold on to me, please understand why I did this?" I plead quietly before grabbing my bag and getting out of the room without a noise to alert her.

The apartment is small, it's all we could afford, but it's been home. The one room place has a pretty view of the mountains and it will be more than enough for her. I used my signing bonus to pay for the next year of all her utilities, rent and so I know she's taken care of. My letter to my parents should reach them by morning so they'll be here to make sure she's doing well, I'm positive of that.

This is the worst thing I've ever done in my whole entire life and I hate doing it, but I can't face her.

My heart is heavy as I take a deep breath and walk through the front door. Time to meet my true fate.