Liberosis - The Hunger Games

28

District 4 welcomed us back with open arms, specifically the arms of an overjoyed Andante, who tackled me into a hug at the first sight of us. I squeezed the boy tightly with a chuckle as he moved to hug Finnick, I was followed with a hug from my parents, another from Asher and an apprehensive squeeze from Addison. It was more than I had expected from her, I was grateful for it.

I walked them back to their house, saying goodbye to them as I went. Andante gave me a friendly smile, gripping my hand and running back in the direction of the Justice Building. I had noticed something in his eyes before I left, not sinister, but unsettled, like a storm brewing over the horizon.

Little Phoenix was wide awake by the time Finnick, and I had wandered around to visit the new parents. Ophelia, who was flat out exhausted, collapsed on the sofa with a pile of blankets. Finnick and I took turns nursing the child, giving Reign and Ophelia a rest from the complete lack of sleep they had had in the past week. With the small bundle secure in my arms, I stepped out onto the balcony, gently rocking the child into a sleepy haze, the repeated sound of the waves followed by the gentle patter of rain on the roof was sending me into a tired trance as well as the baby in my arms. "Careful," Finnick chastised me, lifting Phoenix from my arms, and leading me over to the porch swing, "You look exhausted," Finnick told me fondly. I yawned in response, resting my head on his shoulder, I let my eyes flutter shut to the sound of the waves crashing onto the shoreline.

"Hey there little Phoenix," Finnick cooed to the baby, I pursed my lips to restrain the laughter bubbling in my stomach, "It's your Uncle Finn here with your Aunty Rory, we've just come back from her tour, someday you'll understand what that means, but for now you're safe," He whispered to the boy fondly, "You know kid," He continued, "As stubborn as she is, I love her with my whole heart- the way your father loves your mother, I have faith that someday you'll know what it feels to love someone that much. I won't sing you to sleep, god knows I'm terrible at that, your mother's a beautiful singer, so's your Aunty Rory but she'd never let anyone know it."

I fell asleep on his shoulder after that, it was sweet listening to Finnick talk to the child and the idealistic half of me said that someday, in the distant future the child in his arms would be our own. It was a long way off, impossible even, a distant light on the other side of the pier that fell just out of my grasp.

Finnick woke me up not long after and with a gentle kiss on Phoenix's head, he handed the baby back over to Ophelia. Reign gave me a short hug before we left, passing me a fresh loaf of bread and some other essentials groceries I had not had time to buy. "Come to the Cove with me," Finnick said, holding me in his arms from behind as I fumbled to unlock the door, "Just you and me, like old times,"

I pushed my front door open, walking inside the house, Finnick flipped me around, pressing me against the doorframe and holding my waist, "Like old times?" I raised an eyebrow.

He wore a cheeky grin on his face as he leaned down, pecking me on the lips, "But better," He smiled, pulling me into another passionate kiss, "Because now you're truly mine,"

"I was always yours," I responded, stepping away from the wall, "I'll go get ready," I told him, wandering over to the staircase of my house.

"I'll join you," Finnick remarked.

I let out a loud laugh, "You're a pig," I told him as he smiled, shaking his head, and walking out of my house to get himself ready. My hair was thrown into a messy bun, and I wore a light blue dress with long flowy sleeves. Addison had made the dress for me before my games, even now, it was still one of my favourite dresses I had ever owned.

Finnick greeted me at the beach, wearing his usual at-home attire of a cream sweater and black pants. He held a large woven picnic basket in hand, a wide grin on his face, "Don't you look dashing," I joked, taking his free hand, he chuckled at my comment, kissing my hand that was grasped around his own.