A Happily Ever After

When Finnick Comes Home

Chapter 12

~Katniss POV~

It's not real. Finnick Odair is not in my house right now. It's not real.

Annie just stands in his arms, crying into his chest as he holds her and whispers comforting words to her. All the others of us just stand. Frozen.

"But you're dead!" I squeak. Both him and Annie look back at me, a huge, watery smile on her face.

"Katniss, I'm-"

"I WATCHED YOU DIE," I scream angrily at him, backing up farther into Peeta. Annie then looks as terrified as me.

"Sh-she told me you were d-d-dead," She squeaks up at him.

"BECAUSE HE IS, HE'S DEAD, HE WAS EATEN BY THE LIZARD MUTTS, HE'S DEAD, DEAD!!" I scream at him, sounding crazier by the second. Everyone stares wide eyes at me except for Finnick himself, looking sadly at me as I scream like I'm mental.

"Katniss, calm down," Peeta says softly, turning me around, plucking me up easily and holding me in front of him. My legs go around his waist by habit and my trembling hands grab his hair, angrily almost.

"HE'S DEAD, WE BOTH WATCHED HIM GET TORN UP BY THOSE GODDAMN LIZARDS, HE'S DEAD," I scream in his face.

"Katniss, calm down, he's okay, I think, I know as much as you do," Peeta says gently. I shatter, breaking into sobs and chokes, gasping for air and hyperventilating the smallest bit. He pulls my head to his shoulder and bounces me slightly, shushing me steadily.

"Peeta he's dead," I sob.

"Katniss, no he's not, he's right here!" Peeta says softly. I shake my head hard.

"No he's n-n-not!" I scream into his shoulder.

"Katniss, why won't you listen?" He whispers gently. I start crying harder.

"If he's dead and he's here, he's coming to take someone," I hiccup.

"Katniss," he says softly, kissing my cheek and flipping me around. Finnick smiles hopefully at me, Annie tucked in his arms. "Does he look real?" Peeta asks me.

"Kinda." I squeak, nuzzling closer to him.

"It's a yes or no question,Mockingjay." Finnick says, smiling softly. I hold onto Peeta's forearms nervously, but studying Finnick. He's thinner and scarred. Noticeable scars. Up his neck and down his forearm. A lot like mine, only not burn marks, they look like slash marks from the lizards.

"You touch him first," I whisper to Peeta, but never taking my eyes off Finnick and Annie. He gives me a squeeze. He lets me go and Annie steps away from Finnick, coming to my side. She takes my arm and holds me steady.

"Katniss, I promise you, he's real, he's there," she whispers understandingly. I don't speak, just clench her tiny hand in my own tiny one. Peeta and Finnick face each other, hands in their hips, observing each other. Up and down, their faces, around the side. Just observing. Then they both grin and look back at each other, green eyes on blue.

"Wow." Peeta breathes.

"What." Finnick whispers, grinning.

"It's Finnick Odair," Peeta whispers. Finnick chuckles and pulls him into a hug, which Peeta returns. "Wow. Wowowow."

"In the flesh." He chuckles.

"Just...wow," Peeta says.

"I really must wow you, that's a lot of wows for ten seconds." He says. Peeta snorts. Finnick holds him at arms length and smiles softly. "How've you been." He whispers. Peeta smiles.