Her Victory, Their Life| F. Odair

9. Life After the Games

Everyone boarded the train back to their Districts. Emory smiled at Finnick. "Well, I guess I'll be seeing you in a few months," she told him.

He smirked at her, "you certainly will." SHe waved to him as she left for her part of the train with District 5.

~

As soon as the victory tour ended, the reaping started. Emory was now a mentor and she got back on a train to the Capitol. This time, she stayed in contact with her family. Her brother was hard at work, helping their parents and sister with the new generator they were making.

The victor's parade was later that day and Emory was visited by President Snow. She walked onto the District 5 floor and there he was waiting. Falle and Evan coughed, "I think we should come back later," Falle told him, and he nodded, leaving back down the elevator.

"President Snow," she nodded with a smile. "What do I do you the honor of this visit for?"

He smiled at her, "Have a seat dear." She did as she was told and sat next to him. "I know you've become awfully close with Mr. Finnick Odair so I know you knew this would come."

Emory nodded, "I knew something was coming."

Snow nodded, "Some people in the Capitol find you desirable. They want you and they are willing to pay for a so-called 'date'. If you agree, you will get the money that they pay for you, you will have a train sent for you, your hotel will be payed for, food, ask and you shall receive it from your clients."

"If I refuse?" She questioned, meeting his eyes. He smiled evilly at her.

"I think you shall find one less family member when you return home." Her breath hitched in her throat and she nodded.

"I'll do it."

Snow smiled gratefully at her as he stood up, "wonderful. You will start after the Hunger Games. I hope your tributes do well."

He left with his peacekeepers down the elevator and as soon as she was sure that he was gone, Emory started to cry to herself. She ran to the elevator and pressed floor 4.

It opened and Finnick stood up from the couch as he saw her come through. He ran to her as she fell on the floor crying. "Hey, it'll be okay. I promise it will. They can't hurt you, they can't hurt you."

~

For her first day, Emory was tranported to the Capitol on the train. She was set up in a hotel room. She was given a robe to wear and a werid outfit that didn't cover much. There was a knock at the door and Emory opened it. 

She was given a file with the name, a picture, and how much he was paying. The more he paid, the more she did.

"Hello, Mr. Fife," she greeted with a large smile, and he came right in. 

"Hello indeed dear," he said pulling off his coat as he entered the room. He looked around and changed the lighting around. 

"No reds please, they hurt my eyes," she told him with a gentle smile. 

He scoffed, "I paid-"

"And I'm performing, would you rather me leave and keep my money?" She questioned him. He huffed and looked her up and down. 

"No, I suppose not," he crossed his arms. He left it on blue and put the remote down. He opened his bag and took out candles, lighting them around the room. He sat on the bed and gestured to her.  "Put on a show."

Emory's heart started beating ridiculously fast. She thought it was going to beat out of her chest, her family didn't know anything. Why should they? There wasn't anything they could do, better if they didn't know. When she went to Finnick's house, he had given her some tips. 

She turned on some music and started to sway as she removed her robe. Mr. Fife smirked as she walked over to him for his fun to begin. 

~

OVER! IT'S OVER YOU CAN LOOK AGAIN!

The 67th hunger games had come and gone. Augustus Braun was the victor. Emory started her dates. Some of them were just that–dates, some were more than that.

They were getting weirder. Some of them had also invited Finnick. Emory couldn't say that she didn't enjoy it more when he was there. He at least made it bearable.

Sometimes she debated on ending it, but when she made it back home and saw her family, she was reminded why she didn't. The nightmares changed and started to slow down.

At least twice, sometimes more a month her and Finnick would meet up, either in the Capitol, in District 4, or District 5.

They were getting closer and were best friends. The 70th Hunger Games was when Annie Cresta won. Her games were brutal, like Emory's the arena was flooded, however Annie was injected with tracker jacker venom and suffered from terrible hallucinations, and she now had troubles discerning what was real and what wasn't.

~

It was Emory's 17th birthday, four years since she won her games. Her and Finnick were spending it in the Capitol. They just had another 'date' last night and were planning on heading back after dinner.

"Happy birthday," Finnick whispered in her ear at breakfast. They shared a hotel room when they had the same client. Emory jumped around and smiled at him. He bit his lip before leaning closer, kissing her.

"What was that for?" She asked him. Not that she minded it, she absolutely loved when he did it. Her stomach erupted in butterflies every time he did. 

"I love you," he admitted, and she grinned.

"I love you too." Finnick shook his head with a chuckle.

"No, I love you. I want to be with you, I have since I was 16," he told her, and Emory smiled at him.

"I've loved you since I was 14," she whispered in his ear. She grabbed his neck and pulled him in for a kiss.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" He asked as they pulled apart, gasping for air.

"YES!"

~

The next year, they added a new friend to their circle, Johanna, the victor of the 71st Hunger Games from District 7. Snow offered her to go on 'dates'. She refused and her house was burned to the ground with her family inside.

Since then, she didn't spend much time at her home, it reminded her too much of her family and how they died. She spent her time with Emory and her family in 5 or with Finnick and Annie in 4. Johanna would only go home for reapings and when she was needed.

When Emory was 21 and Finnick was 23, they had a wedding in secret. If their clients knew they were married, they would be outraged, and Snow might threaten their families.

It was a quiet ceremony with only Emory's family, Mags, Evan, Haymitch, Johanna, and Annie.

Emory wore a light flowy white dress. Her father walked her down the aisle and all of her family cried as they said their own vows. Her Uncle Cameron officiated of course. 

Their lives had become normal, with Emory working with her family and Beetee on technological advancements and Finnick joining the fishermen when they weren't on dates or mentoring. A lot of time now, they lived in District 4 as Emory and her family were completing advancements outside of their district and were now working directly with the Capitol.

This was until the 3rd Quarter Quell. When the rebellion started.