now or never ~ future everlark

Finneas

~ 6 months later ~

it was January now, the air had a slight chill to it and the windows of my house where covered in frost each morning. I rolled out of bed gingerly and slid on a pair of slippers and a robe. I picked buttercup up off the bed and held him tight, for both warmth and comfort. I checked the clock whilst scooping him up in my arms. 10:35am : I had slept in, I knew that by now peeta would be at the bakery manning the counter by himself because his only employee was barely ever sober enough to attend. I walked down the stairs shivering.

My bare legs aching with chill. Even outside was warmer than in here. That had to mean something, the heater system was broken, instead of bringing warmth it had lead a flood of glacial air through the near empty shell of the house.

I was left bored. The house was far too cold to stay in, peeta was at work, it was getting late in the day, I couldn't hunt because it was snowing and I couldn't go see Effie or haymitch because they had been spending a couple days a week in the capitol.

I walked back upstairs and into the bathroom, knowing for a clear fact that the only solid way to maintain heat was through the shower. I turned it on and undressed. I took the braid out of my hair and stepped into the shower.
I squirted the shampoo into my hand and mixed it over my hands, running the soapy palms through my scalp, the conditioner numbing the cottered ends.

I stepped out the shower and grabbed two coarse, uncomfortable towel off the shelf. I wrapped my body and hair In them and walked out of the now steamy and humid room. I walk over to the wardrobe and pull out a pair of brown pants and a red and green tartan button up along with a black turtleneck. I got ready quickly, distracting myself from the discomfort of the atmosphere.

Knock. Knock. Knock. I heard a sequence of knocks coming from the front door, rushing downstairs i unlatched the many paparazzi protection locks I had placed along the rim of the frame. I opened the door and was greeted by a tall child, of which I would place around the age of 10-12. He had sea-green eyes and beautiful shiny hair, it was a deep red towards the roots with bronze tips. Finnick. This child looked like Finnick.

'F..Finnic..finnick?' I stuttered, I was wordless, my best friend stood in front of me, in the body of a child.
' No ma'am, The Names Finn, Finneas Odair!'
The child stuck his hand out, waiting for me to shake it. I was in utter disbelief, I hadn't thought about the fact finnicks son did in fact still exist.
'Well finneas, where shouts is your mother kiddo?'
'Right here! Finn Love I told you to wait for me!' A muffled voice echoed in the distance.
Annie Cresta stood behind him, hands full of bags.

She was still as breathtaking as ever, her long dark hair cut shorter now, flowers clipped into it. She was wearing a beautiful green coat with a pair of blue jeans. She stood smiling, almost a little too happy that her husband had died, then again, people move on at different rates..

'A..Annie?' I stated in that same tone.
'Yes it's me, I am so sorry I didn't call, me and Finn here are taking a world tour sort of thing! Just thought we'd pop by a few days thats all love.'
I invited them in and was thanked by Finneas, who let out a charming Finnick-like smile.

I took him upstairs and turned on the bath tub, he was cold and wet and as Annie warmed herself up by the fire I just couldn't let him be sat freezing.

I chatted to Annie whilst her son was bathing, she told me that my mother was healthy again now, running a childrens hospital named 'the primrose center' back in district 4. I really did feel sick to the stomach, she hadn't called or visited once in the last ten years because of the pain it brought her, because I reminded her of her dear beloved primrose but it was perfectly fine to name a hospital after her? Well I never.

Annie had been struggling with grief and ptsd recently, she told me she had taken the trip as an escape and to visit some old friends. They saw a racking Johanna in district 7, a grieving Enobaria in district two who was morning the loss of her only two loves, Cashmere and Brutus. They saw Effie and haymitch in the capital, Beetee and his cats, each named after Wiress' four favorite things: Beetee Jr. Wirey, Rope and fish. Everyone was a lot different now from what I had heard.

We sat with Finneas now, indulging in leftover food peeta had made yesterday and chatting about how finn was doing. I had to step out a couple of times to take deep breaths, seeing finneas reminded me of Finnick, I felt so bad for not saving him.. I knew for a fact he would've saved me.

'Hello? I'm home Katniss!' Peeta echoed down the hallway. He walked into the kitchen and his jaw dropped. 'Annie?! Wow I haven't seen you in ages!' He grew a smile on his face, one that anyone else but me could've thought to be real. 'And you little man, must be finn... right?'
Finneas nodded. Watching peeta with children was wonderous. But then again. I didn't need or want children... not now atleast.