"Keep your eyes closed," he warns, then sweeps me up into his arms. I can't help but smile and drape my arms around his neck. "The terrain is rough, so I'll carry you."
"You'll love it," he continues, getting even more excited. After several minutes, he puts me on my feet, his hands over my eyes. His breath is on my ear. "Ready, baby?" I nod slightly.
He uncovers my eyes and I gasp.
In front of us is a beautiful aqua lake with a huge waterfall pouring into it. My eyes widen in delight as I watch the water fall off the rocks and into the pool.
"How does a swim sound?" Finnick asks, pulling out some rope. "I thought we could tie this to a tree branch and take turns swinging into the lake."
An excited sound slips past my lips despite the pain in my throat and I tackle Finnick in a hug. I bury my face in the crook of his neck, my feet barely touching the ground.
"I knew you'd like it," he chuckles. "How about we go for a swim?"
I nod and he gets to work tying a rope to a sturdy tree branch. We strip out of our uniforms, leaving on only the t-shirts and shorts they have us wear underneath. Well, I'm wearing a shirt. He isn't.
"Race you in!" he yells, grabbing ahold of the rope and swinging himself over the water, laughing like a little boy.
He lets go and he does some kind of cannonball into the water. I run over to the rope and get a good running start before launching off the ground. I can't help but laugh as I swing higher and higher, but I finally let go and land in the warm water. I resurface to see Finnick right in front of me, his bronze hair stuck to his face, a huge smile across his lips.
"I haven't heard you laugh like that in such a long time," he murmurs, pushing some of my wet hair out of my face. I shrug, not meeting his eyes. I'm only this happy when I'm with him. He kisses my forehead, then takes my hand. "C'mon."
He leads me behind the waterfall, where there's a small cave. I look at it in awe, my eyes wide. It's made of smooth, tan rock with various minerals growing in the walls. It's like something out of a dream.
Finnick climbs out first, then offers me a hand. I take it and am instantly freezing as the warm air hits my soaking wet skin. Goosebumps dot my skin, and I can't help but shiver. There's no use in hiding it from Finnick. He notices instantly that I'm cold, so he sits down and gestures for me to snuggle into his arms. I do exactly that, curling up to his chest and sighing in content when his strong arms wrap around me.
"I love this," he murmurs, kissing the top of my head. "Just you and me, away from the world." He laughs, almost to himself. "I never thought I'd be sitting just miles outside the Capitol with the girl of my dreams in my arms."
Let's just live in Four, after all this is over, I sign, looking up at him.
"Really?" he asks, shocked. I nod.
There are too many bad memories in Five, I tell him. But if we get married-
"If? Baby, we will get married. The second this war is over, you're mine forever," he informs me. I blush, burying my face in his chest. "I personally think Four will be an excellent place to raise our children.
"We can live in my house in the Victor's Village. It has plenty of room for a nice, big family, you know. You'll be able to teach our kids how to use a multitude of weapons and how to be as brilliant as you are, and I'll teach them how to fish and tie knots and use a trident."
I nod my agreement, looking up at him and playing with his hair. He closes his eyes, a small smile across his lips. I shift just the slightest bit in his arms and press my lips to his.
"I love you," I whisper hoarsely, pulling away from the kiss and looking straight into his eyes.
"I love you more," he says, a large grin on his face. He gently pushes my hair out of my face. "My beautiful girl."
As we walk back to camp, we talk about the simplest, yet important things. Finnick tells me how, once the war is over, he wants to be a writer. I'm surprised, but I tell him I think he'll be amazing at it. And it's true. He will be amazing at it. However, when he asks me what I want to do, I don't have an answer.
All I'm good at is knowing things and using weapons. I guess I wouldn't mind a government position. Maybe secretary of defense or something. That's what I eventually tell him, and he seems impressed.
"Don't leave my side once we're in the Capitol," Finnick whispers, once we're just outside camp. He holds my hands tightly, looking at me intensely. "If you got hurt and I couldn't protect you...I-I'd never forgive myself. Granted, you're probably a better fighter than I am, but still.
"I love you, and I value your life above that of anyone else. You are the most precious thing in the world to me, and if I lose you, there's no point in living. So I will protect you under any circumstance."
"I don't want you to die for me," I tell him quietly, staring up into his beautiful sea green eyes.
"I'll do my best," he says with an adorable smile. He wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side.
"Where have you two been?" Gale demands the second he sees us. "We are preparing for war and you two think it's some great idea to go frolicking in the woods?" He's outraged. Probably jealous, as Finnick would say.
"Excuse me for wanting some alone time with the woman I plan to marry," Finnick replies fiercely.
"What if she doesn't want to marry you?"
"Then I will wait until she does. However, considering we were just talking about having children and being married, I can highly assume she will marry me when I ask," he retorts, a small smirk on his face because of the clarity that he's won. If there's one thing Finnick knows, it's how to use words to an amazingly superior degree.
"Stay focused," is all Gale mutters before storming off. Finnick snickers, and I give a small smile at Gale's jealousy. It's not my fault Finnick's so perfect and lovable.
Besides, going through a life-or-death situation really does wonders for building a healthy relationship.
"Are you hungry?" he asks, gaining my attention.
I nod, suddenly aware of just how hungry I am. Finnick sends me back to the tent while he gets food. Something about being the man and it being his 'duty' to take care of me. I don't bother trying to argue. Finnick isn't easily persuaded once his mind's set on something.
He comes back within a few minutes, carrying two plates of smoked fish and bread. It smells delicious, so I can only imagine how wonderful it will taste. I eat mine slowly, managing to savor the taste. Soon, we'll be living off canned food, canned water, and who knows? Maybe even canned oxygen.
