He meant everything to her. Three years later and she'd still do anything to keep him safe, sacrifice everything to protect him- even if that meant keeping him at an arm's length.
She was the one person who truly knew him. The one person he'd choos...
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— — —
Three Years Post-Victory
Finnick and Peia had been up for hours, getting everything ready for everyone to show up. Kai and Johanna had been a big help with that, while Sawyer had watched Maggie. It was her second birthday and since the happy family hadn't seen their friends and loved ones in what felt like years, they were throwing a little party. A celebration so that they could all be together.
From the people that had written her back, Thresh, Annie, Lily, and her family were coming. Ever since that night after her first date and their talk, things had been nothing short of perfect for her. And now, one year later, she was freshly married to Hunter. They'd moved a little over a month ago, resettling further away from them. Sawyer had been disappointed, but he couldn't deny what he saw when he looked at his daughter-in-law— hope.
Lily had found her home again. She'd found her second chance. No one could possibly take that peace from her again. It wasn't the same as Rhett, but she didn't want it to be. He would always be her first love; that would never change. But Hunter was her second chance. He was someone who had found her in her darkness, pulled her out, and brought light into hers and Malakai's lives.
And as always, Sawyer had welcomed Hunter into their family with open arms. In his mind, that boy brought her happiness, and he would not stand in the way of that. Plus, Hunter was pretty likable. He wasn't Rhett, but he was likable. Despite becoming a Whitlock, Lily would always be a Winterton. They'd been through too much together for a change in last name to break that bond. In a way, Hunter had also become one. He was part of their family now, whether he liked it or not.
Since getting married for the second time—six months ago—they'd been incredibly busy and since moving, Lily hadn't had much time to bring Malakai over. So this was the perfect opportunity to let him and Maggie see each other again after a month of being apart. At times, it had felt like a lifetime had passed. Peia didn't believe that life was promised, but why would she? After everything she'd lost, no one blamed her. So one thing she wasn't going to add to that very long list of losses was time. Life can change in mere moments, so she didn't want to waste a second.
That's why she was throwing Maggie such a big party. She was turning two, happy as ever with her big brown eyes and cheeky smile. She deserved to be with family and she deserved to be celebrated after what had been endured to get her there. Anyone they knew—well, liked—had been invited. She wanted everyone she was close to to be there.
And they were.
"Uncle Kai!" Malakai shouted, running the short distance to him.
"Little man!" Kai exclaimed, picking him up and placing him on his hip. "Should we go find Aunt Jo?"
He eagerly nodded his head.
"Okay. Let's go!"
Peia smiled, enveloping Lily in a hug as Kai ran off with Malakai. "It's so good to see you."
