Enchanted; A Finnick and Annie Fanfic ♥ (Currently Revising/Editing)

Epilogue

In the years following Finnick’s death, a lot of things happened.

First, my mother moved in with me permanently. Things were kind of awkward at first, but we adjusted to each other as I learned to completely forgive her. Some nights, she’d get me talking about the Games, and eventually I told her what happened because she never could bring herself to watch them. That was hard for me though, talking about Vince, because the moment he died was when everything in my brain changed.

Sometimes, especially when she’d ask me questions about the past, I’d get lost in the darkness again. I’d cover my ears and black out, but then I’d hear a voice—his voice—telling me that everything would be okay, and I’d find my way back to reality.

Second, Mrs. Everdeen opened her hospital. She had been right on the hovercraft—pretty much the entire district was in ruins—but with the addition of her hospital, things got better. I stopped by there most days and helped her out by visiting with her patients. Sadly, she threw herself into her work, so I hardly got to talk to her. But that was her way of grieving, I guess, and I couldn’t really blame her. My mother also took up a steady job at the hospital, so she was there when she could be. I was still her priority though.

Third, and probably most importantly, mine and Finnick’s son was born in the summer. I had been right the entire time about him being a boy. I decided to name him Finnick Jr., in order to further honor his father. He had Finnick’s eyes, which made me happier than I could have ever imagined.

My mother helped me raise him. Through his younger years, we tried to keep what happened as much of a secret as we could, but once he started school, they told him some things and he got curious about the rest. One night, he sat with me on the couch, and I told him everything. I told him what a wonderful man his father was, and when he asked if he’d ever get to see his father, I told him to look around, because Finnick was with us always.

I had my bad days, of course.  That was to be expected. If I left reality for whatever reason, and my mother was home, she’d send Finnick Jr. to his room until she could calm me down. If not, he’d learned to call her or Mrs. Everdeen, and they’d come and help me.

Word came to District 4 that Katniss and Peeta were to be married about the time Finnick Jr. became a teenager. We were taken out to District 12 for the occasion, and all of us got to catch up. Johanna even said that she would like to come visit me in 4 sometime, and that I could always visit her in 7.

For some reason, after the wedding, Katniss and I began to talk more. We’d call each other almost every day, send Christmas cards and packages, whatever it took to keep in touch. Sometimes, when I felt the darkness coming on, I’d call her, and she’d calm me down before Finnick Jr. had time to get worried.

I was the first person outside of District 12 to hear about the birth of her first child, a daughter, and even the second child, a son. When the kids were old enough, they took a trip to see me in District 4. I became their Aunt Annie, which was nice.

Finnick Jr. and I set up a memorial for Finnick in the spot on the beach where we’d had our first kiss, since his body had apparently been torn up so much there was nothing left to bury. There were always seashells and purple flowers there, surrounding a picture of the two of us someone had gotten at our wedding in District 13.

I never tried to find love again, because I know there was no way I could love anyone the way I loved Finnick. Sometimes I went out to his memorial to talk to him, though. I’d tell him about how my days had been, about how much our son was growing, and about how much I missed him. And sometimes, it was as if I could hear his voice responding to me.

One day in particular, when I was on the urge of a breakdown, I went out there. Finnick Jr. was at school, my mother was working at the hospital, and it was just one of those days where I missed Finnick more than anything. I sat next to our wedding picture and started to cry, tucking my knees up to my chest.

I felt someone’s company there with me, which was weird because anyone I really talked to was gone. But when I looked up to investigate, I saw Finnick sitting in the sand next to me. Some part of me knew it wasn’t really him there next to me, because this Finnick was slightly transparent and shimmering, and he looked the exact same as when I’d seen him last.

Still, he reached out towards me, and I went willingly into his arms. He ran his fingers through my hair and held me tight against his chest. When I was done crying, I looked at his shimmering face, and whispered, “I miss you, Finnick.”

I know you do, Annie. He said, and his voice sounded like it was part of the wind. I miss you too. But you have to be strong, alright? For our son.

“But it’s just so hard sometimes,” I said, and I started crying again.

I know that. But you are the only real family he has. So you have to be strong for him.

“What if I can’t?”

I know you can. And I’m always here to help you.

“I love you, Finnick.”

I love you too, Annie. The shimmering form of Finnick leaned in to kiss me, and for a moment I thought it was the real thing, until I heard Finnick Jr. calling me in the distance. The wind changed, and I saw Finnick Jr. running down the beach towards me.

“There you are, Mom!” he said. “I’ve been trying to find you for like, five minutes.”

But I didn’t really hear him. I pointed to where Finnick had been a moment ago, and exclaimed, “Did you see him?”

“See who, Mom?”

“Finnick! Your father, he was right there.”

“There’s nobody there.”

“But he was just…” When I looked at where he had been, there was nothing there but the grass and the sand.

I started shaking really hard, the way I did when I had my breakdowns. Finnick Jr. sat down next to me, where his father had been just moments before, and wrapped his arms protectively around me.

“I believe you, ya know,” he whispered in my ear.

I looked up at him, and he shifted so that only one of his arms was around my shoulders. “What?” I asked.

“I said, I believe you. I see him too sometimes.”

“You see him?”

“Yeah.” A smiled appeared across his face, and when I looked at him, all I could see was Finnick. He looked just like his father. “I see him a lot, actually. Whenever I get a good grade on a test, he’s there. Whenever you and I make cookies together or walk along the beach, he’s there.” He paused, smiling wider, before saying, “But do you know when I see him the most?”

“When?” I asked.

“Whenever you’re sad and you’re having one of your episodes. I usually run and call Grandma or something, but before I do, I always see him with his arms wrapped around you protectively. Like he’s trying to comfort you and make you feel better.”

Tears fell down my face, but they were happy tears, because I smiled wider than I had since the day Finnick and I were married. I hugged Finnick Jr. and murmured a quiet, “Thank you,” but it was the wind that responded, saying that it would always be there for me.

And that was what I knew all along. Sure, I had my moments, and sure, I missed him more than anything, but in the end, everything was alright, because we’d never really be apart.