"You fucking bitch!" Brutus screamed at her, throwing a beer bottle in her direction, causing it to shatter on the wall by Annie's head. Today, Annie was afraid. In fact, she was terrified. But there was also something else.

She was furious.

"How dare you!" She screamed right back, shielding her belly, swollen with her child that kicked desperately in response to her emotion. "I am pregnant with your child, don't you dare threaten me!"

At the almost uncharacteristic outburst, Brutus flinched. The Annie she had become with him had been weak willed and docile, but that Annie was no more. This was over, as evidenced by her bags at the door.

"You're the one who got pregnant you bitch!" Brutus shouted, snapped out of his surprise, "I never wanted a fucking kid!"

"Well that's all fine and dandy, but I have a child now." She seethed, throwing her last bag out of her room at Brutus's feet. "And you want to know what? I'm leaving to protect this child from you. We don't need you. This," She motioned to the house around them, "This is over Brutus!"

At this, Brutus turned beet red, and Annie knew why. It had all been about control. Forcing her away from her family and friends, restricting her contact with the outside world, forcing himself on her, it had all been about taking away control and empowering Brutus in some sort demented way. It had left her defeated, and pregnant. But as a result, he had inadvertently given her something to fight for. Something beyond just her. Brutus had given Annie a child, a child that gave her courage to seek out a new life beyond abuse. And that was something her abuser couldn't handle, because that was exactly what this was. Abuse. And Annie wasn't going to stand for it for a moment longer.

That was when he pulled out his pocket knife. The one Annie herself had given him for his birthday present three years ago. She could've laughed at the irony of the fact that her murderer would use a weapon she gave him. But no. She wouldn't allow this to happen!

She bolted, and in the cloud of adrenalin she felt him get in a swipe before she locked herself in their bedroom. With shaking fingers she called the police. Annie didn't care that she was bleeding and in pain, all that matter was the baby that was kicking away desperately inside of her. The police were in their home an agonizing minute later. Only after she was assured by the police that her husband was subdued did she dare open the door. EMTs rushed to look at the cut in her shoulder, when the first wave of pain hit her and wetness stained her pants.

Annie had gone into early labor.

The next twenty minutes or so was a blur. She was rushed to the hospital, hooked up to so many machines, as nurses and doctors nervously rushed in and out of her room. Annie was beyond panicked, somewhere in the country of distraught. Her husband had just tried to kill her and was probably in jail and she was just about a month early and in labor. She didn't care about the wound in her shoulder, or the thirty stitches she would need. All Annie cared about was her baby.

"It was the stress, sweetie. That's what triggered it. It's alright though, we've had preemies come sooner that have been perfectly healthy." One of the nurses soothed her but she sobbed as another painful contraction ripped through her.

"The baby isn't in the right position. We're going to need an emergency c-section. Get her prepped for surgery, stat!" The doctor shouted, causing a whirl of around her and for her heart to nearly stop.

"Is he going to be alright?" Annie begged, now jumping the border of distraught and into the land of hysteria. The doctor patted her hand.

"The baby's fine. The only person we need to worry about is you. The baby's in the position to rip something if we don't act fast."

"Okay, okay." She agreed numbly before being whisked off to surgery.

After another lapse of time that Annie couldn't registered, she was numbed and cut open, beyond a white curtain that she could quite see over. She was holding the hand of a nurse who informed her that her parents and sister were on the way. After what felt like an eternity the doctor broke the tense atmosphere with what sounded like a sigh of relief,

"Congratulations." He said as he lifted up a baby, her baby, that was so tiny and fragile, and hers, hers, hers. A strangled cry was wrenched from her throat as some sort of ungodly strength came back to her as she tried to get up, only to be forcibly held down, because she needed to hold her baby, and why wasn't he crying? Why wasn't he crying-

A weak cry came from her baby as his mouth was cleaned out, and that was enough. She lay there, more exhausted then she had ever been in her entire life, tears rolling down her cheeks, as her breasts ached to nurse. The doctors informed her that she was going to need to be stitched up, front and back, but she really couldn't hear them as she was so tired she could hardly nod.

She must have fainted or have been put to sleep, because the next thing she knew she woke up only to find her parents and sister Cora. Of course she was grateful to see them, and they were all nearly livid with anger over what had happened to her, but all that mattered at that moment was seeing her child.

Annie kept asking and asking, until finally one of the nurses wheeled her down to the nursery, to where most of the preemie babies lay sleeping. Annie was terrified at the strange blue case he was in, and the machines he was hooked up to, and noticing her fear the nurse said,

"He just has a touch of jaundice is all."

"Jaundice?" She asked, the term was familiar.

"It means his liver isn't fully functional right now. But that's normal even for full-term babies. And even though he's a tiny bit on the small side, it's nothing that isn't completely normal." The nurse said, touching her good shoulder, "A beautiful baby boy, Mrs. Victor."

"Ms. Cresta now. Ms. Annie Cresta." She said, her smile wobbly with her tears of joy as she touched the glass that separated her and the most perfect child in the world. "And he's my Lachlan James. My LJ. Mine."

Annie pressed closer to the glass, pretending it was just them as she whispered the most precious words she could imagine to the most precious child in the world,

"I love you."

Annie felt her son's little body wriggle into her bed at some point in the early morning, but it wasn't until it was nearly nine o clock that she registered that LJ was pressed very closely to her chest. He had a tendency to do that. As a baby he would constantly nurse when discomforted in any way, now he just like to be sandwiched between her body and the wall, in the warmest place possible. Annie sighed, gently running her finger through LJ's hair as he stirred.

"Good morning, sleepy head." Annie greeted, and her son smiled at her sleepily, clutching at his blue baby blanket.

"G'morning Mommy…" He sighed and she kissed his cheeks.

"Now, what are you doing here, little Caterpillar? I thought we had a conversation about this, that there is a reason why you have your own bed." Annie scolded her sleepy son, who frowned.

"I had the nightmare." LJ said quietly, "That you weren't here. I kept getting scared that you really weren't. So I slept with you so I could make sure you didn't go anywhere."

This was a nightmare that LJ often had, something that stemmed from Brutus. It still made her heart hurt as much as it did the first time LJ had told his councilor. (Annie regularly took LJ to counselling about all of the things he had had to deal with, his father being in jail and all)

"Pumpkin, don't you remember what Mommy always tells you? I'm never going anywhere."

"I know." LJ said quietly fiddling with his blanket.

"Alright, now do you remember what today is?" Annie asked, her voice excited while LJ frowned.

"Mommy, do I have to go to swimming lessons?" LJ asked, "I don't want to."

"Why not LJ?" Annie asked surprised.

"I don't want to go swimming with the other kids." LJ said quietly, "I'm not as good as them."

"Oh sweetheart, all the kids will be at the same level as you." Annie said, "And you really do need to learn. Won't you do this for me? Please LJ?"

At her request LJ nodded and she squeezed her son into a hug that he returned. Annie held her son there for a few moments, just relishing the feeling of her son in her arms, safe, before letting him go.

"Alright, now, how we get you dressed and we can make breakfast, okay?"

"Okay." LJ said, perking up at the prospect of food.

Over the past few years, Annie had put a lot of effort into their home, to remove the remains of what it used to be for her. Not a house but her prison. Annie had opened everything up, brightened all of the wall colors, and changed all of the furniture to pastels and florals. The kitchen was her masterpiece, full of precious pots of potpourri, hanging herbs, a fridge decorated by her son's wonderful drawings.

LJ sat down at the warm wood table that was always set for two as Annie served him oatmeal with apple and juice, and herself oatmeal and tea. They both ate, enjoying the silence and comfort of each other's company, except for when Annie reminded LJ of his manners or helped him to use his spoon. After this, LJ gathered up his plates and helped bring them over to the counter, and help to load them in the dishwasher.

The other chores were done quickly. LJ changed with minimum help, and brought his laundry to the laundry room, where Annie helped him sort out his laundry by darks, lights, and whites (LJ's favorite part of the laundry), before they packed for swimming lessons together, making a game to see who remembered how much of their list. Finally, Annie checked to see that LJ had indeed put away his crayons and toys from the night before as he sat in the kitchen, completely ready for swim lessons.

"You did such a good job with your chores, LJ. Why don't you put some change in your piggy bank?" Annie praised, patting his head. She reached into her purse, pulling out a dollar in quarters. Excitedly, LJ nearly bounced to the counter where the little piggy bank sat between a jar of sugar and the jar of brown sugar. He climbed up on his stepping block before carefully (oh so carefully) putting in each coin one by one. The smile on LJ's face was contagious as he shook the piggy bank hopefully before turning to her.

"Mommy, I think I'll have enough for the Spiderman leggo set soon!" LJ said happily, proudly, and Annie's smiled back.

"I think so too. Next week, if you keep up the good work, you'll certainly have enough. We can go to the toy store then." Annie said, helping her lace up his shoes. Annie always made it a habit to reward LJ's good behavior this way. If he did all his chores right, he earned his "allowance". And every three weeks or so Annie took him to the toy store to pick out a new toy. Though more often than not, she supplemented what he earned, and bought the thing herself, but it was still the thought that counted.

They got to swim lessons a bit early, and Annie spent most of that time assuring her nervous son that he could swim without a noodle, and not to worry because a teacher would be with him the whole time and she was right there too. Annie was so caught up in her son's worry that she almost didn't notice the extraordinarily good looking man who sat down next to her.

Almost.

In the past four years, Annie could count the number of times on her one hand that she had been intimate with a man. She simple hadn't had the time to date, nor had she really wanted to after her previous experience. But the man sitting next to her, God, he was gorgeous, and her age. He had sea-green eyes, bronze hair that was cut short at the sides, and kept long on the top to give off an effortlessly messy look, just the right amount of strategic scruff (enough to say, hey I'm a dad, without looking like he was about to go off and chop down some trees), and wearing a simple tee-shirt and shorts that did him oh so many favors. She saluted whoever had put a ring on him (though he wasn't wearing one right now, but she supposed that he probably hadn't wanted to get it wet). Half caught up in worry for her son as he pushed off the wall for the first time without her there, and half-scolding herself for looking at another woman's (oh so scrumptious looking) husband, she almost didn't catch what the man said to her,

"Your son's a great swimmer." He said, and Annie flushed wondering if he knew that she had been nearly gawking at him. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She wasn't a thirteen year old anymore. She was nearly twenty eight, a grown woman with a son and a job goddamnit. She really had to get her jaw off the ground.

"I'm…well, it's the first time he's been swimming without me." She explained embarrassed, hoping that he hadn't noticed she had been ogling at him.

"Hey, we all get nervous, right?" The father said easily, the light catching his eyes just right. There were smiles there, in his eyes, as if someone had made him eternally happy, "But it's important for them to learn. It's a life skill everyone should have."

Gathering her wits she managed to smile back at him and say with a soft laugh,

"You're right, of course. I should probably learn to relax. It's hard though."

"I completely understand." The man said, "I'm Finnick Odair by the way. The redhead acting like a buffoon is my son Fisher."

Annie took his hand, and nearly shivered at the feeling. Finnick Odair's hands were large, calloused, and warm. A hand that she imagined was gentle with his son and held the hand of the woman he loved sweetly.

They talked for the rest of the lesson, Annie was in near shock to see LJ conversing with the boy Finnick had pointed out to be his son. Obviously Fisher, Finnick's boy, shared his father's outgoing and talkative nature. LJ had a hard time talking to new people, and making friends because of that. Annie was already grateful, if LJ had made a friend, getting him to come back to swimming lessons would be so much easier.

LJ and Fisher nearly ran up to their parents and LJ smiled happily,

"Mommy, can I play with Fisher more?" LJ asked shivering slightly as Annie pulled out his towel and wrapped it around her slight son.

"Not right now, baby. Mr. Odair, has a lot to do today." Annie said to him as she wrapped a towel around him before kissing his forehead, "You did so good today, baby."

"Mommy, I did the lap with a noodle." LJ said, proudly.

"I'm really proud of you. And you said you couldn't do it! Remember what I always said, you can do anything you put your mind to." Annie told her son, giving him another kiss before LJ pulled on his tee-shirt. She turned to see Fisher talking excitedly to his father. Fisher was nearly a carbon copy of his father, down to the same adorable dimple. He was going to be a heartbreaker one day, certainly. Finnick Odair gave Annie a smile that made her heart flutter,

""It was wonderful meeting you. We'll see you guys next week, right?" Finnick Odair asked her and his smile was contagious that she could barely help but smile back,

"We'll see you next week."

Annie led LJ out of the YMCA, and drove them back home. To her surprise she saw her sister's car already parked in the driveway. LJ nearly ran up to Cora who grabbed him and spun him around.

"Hey LJ! How are you today?" Cora asked and LJ smiled.

"Good Auntie! Do you want to see the new drawing I did?" He asked excitedly, and Cora nodded.

"Why don't you go get it for me?" Cora asked Annie's son who nodded and ran off to get his new drawing. Cora smiled slyly at Annie.

"You look very pleased with yourself. Did something good happen?" Cora asked and Annie cleared her throat.

"LJ made a friend." Annie said before admitting, "And I made a friend with LJ's friend's father."

"Oh, Annie. Is he, you know, single?"

"Probably not." Annie said with a sigh before walking over to the kitchen. "But that's just my luck, right?"

"You never know, he might be single."

"I barely know him."

"Well get to know him better. If there's someone who deserves to be happy Annie, it's you. Don't hold yourself back." Cora told her just as LJ reentered the kitchen, drawing in hand.

"Maybe." She sighed before turning to the fridge to make them all lunch.

Ex-wife.

The word brought her so much joy that she could barely contain her smiles. In fact, she could've burst into song right there.

She had been on cloud nine for just about a week straight.

Finnick Odair was single. Single! S-I-N-G-L-E, single!

Now, at the very least, she didn't have to feel bad about having a crush on him. Her therapist had told her that she should start thinking more positively about herself, though Annie doubted that he was attracted to her in any way. After all, Annie was still Annie. But Finnick Odair was an attractive, successful single father. He had a lovely son, and a wonderful, warm home. He had a great job at an important company. Obviously his previous wife had been blind to how wonderful he really was. Annie doubted a man could come as close to perfection as Finnick did.

The trip to the zoo had been perfect. Everything had gone just right. Fisher was really such a good boy. Though he could be a bit loud, and the tiniest bit stubborn, he had a great heart and really did try his best at everything. Fisher was great at sharing, and when LJ didn't want to run around anymore playing superheroes, he would sit and ask LJ to draw things or build lego sets with him, allowing LJ to take the lead. And Finnick of course was a gentleman if there ever was one, he held open doors, paid when appropriate, and was always considerate to her. But Annie knew it was just him being a gentleman, after all, how could there be anything more to it?

It was August, one of the stuffy days with humidity that one could cut with a knife. Both with fair skin, Annie and LJ tended to stay inside on days like that. However, that day as Annie was making breakfast she got a call. She picked up the phone, cradling it with her shoulder and ear.

"Hello?" Annie asked and she heard Fisher's voice in background.

"Bud, I'm calling- Hey Annie! Are you doing anything today?" Finnick asked and Annie smiled.

"No. Why?"

"I was wondering if you two would want to go to the beach with us."

Annie placed down her spoon and turned to LJ who was sitting at the kitchen table.

"Sweetie, Finnick was wondering if you would want to go to the beach with him and Fisher today." Annie said, and LJ perked up and nodded furiously. Annie couldn't help but giggle as she said, "That sounds lovely. Do you want us to meet you there?"

"Nah, we'll come pick you up at how about ten?"

"Sounds perfect. Do you have an extra booster seat or do I need to bring mine?"

"I've got an extra in my trunk I think. Alright, we'll see you then." Finnick said and Annie said good bye before hanging up the phone.

She gathered their things up with LJ's help and he sat by the window, excitedly waiting for Finnick's Volvo to pull up, and nearly ran out the door when it did. Finnick took Annie's bags from her hands and loaded up the trunk, as Annie buckled LJ into the booster seat next to Fisher, and they were off.

Fisher and LJ excitedly grabbed the bag of toys before Annie pulled out her sun block.

"Are you two wearing sunscreen?" She asked Fisher and Finnick. Fisher made a face.

"Daddy made me put it on, but he never wears any!" Fisher complained and Annie raised her eyebrow at Finnick who smiled sheepishly.

"I don't burn?" He offered but Annie just sighed.

"Come here and put on some sunscreen." Annie said, using her 'mom' voice to Finnick's amusement.

"Yes ma'am, you two can play in the shallows, but no further. Wait until we get out there, okay?" Finnick told the boys who nodded and then ran down the beach to splash in the shallows closest to their chairs and umbrella.

"You should always wear sunscreen." She told Finnick, who squeezed some out onto his hand before rubbing it into his face, arms and chest. Of course, she thought to herself, he was chiseled and perfectly fit. He gave her a smile before holding the sunscreen out to her.

"Get my back please?" He asked as he lay down beside her and Annie took the sunscreen back. She tried to still her shaking hands as she rubbed it over his broad shoulders, tried to definitely not feel his taunt muscles, and warm skin. There was nothing more sensual then touching a man's back, Annie thought absently as she pulled away. Finnick blinked as if confused and tugged at her jacket, "Are you not going in?"

Annie subconsciously shrugged further into her jacket. She wasn't ashamed of her scar, but it sometimes got annoying when she had to deal with the looks.

"I already got a sunburn the other day, don't want to make it worse." She lied easily, with a smile. She sat down next to him as she rummaged in her bag for her sunglasses.

"Do you burn easily?" Finnick asked, and to her surprise, he casually brushed the side of her thigh with the pad of his thumb. Her breath hitched.

"Um yeah, I'm fair skinned. It runs in my family." She explained, flushed and flustered. Finnick was completely unfazed by her display and smiled.

"I got lucky and have my mom's Spanish skin. My brothers, not so lucky. They got my father's Irish complexion through and through." Finnick explained easily, sitting up.

"So you are Irish. That's what I thought." Annie said feeling much more in her element at this sort of conversation.

"Mmhmm, my Great Grandda would always say that when he came to the USA he said his last name O'Daire," Finnick had a delightful Irish lit to the last name before saying, "Spelt O apostroph so fast that the customs officer just sort of wrote it together. Thus Odair was born. What about you?"

"Polish and Scottish." Annie answered easily and Finnick smiled.

"Ah, the double threat. So you were basically doomed with fair skin from the start."

"Ha-ha funny. Thanks." Annie said sarcastically before Finnick smiled a bit softer.

"I like your fair skin. It suits you." He said with that smile that made her heart flutter.

"Oh go use that smile on someone else." She said, waving him off. Finnick laughed and joined their sons in the water. He scooped both of them up, upon those strong capable shoulders she had just touched, and then charged into the water. Fisher and LJ laughed and screamed in delight as he did so.

Annie got up and went out, right to just about calf length. LJ ran back over to her, eyes bright, cheeks flushed with cold.

"Mommy! Mommy did you see me? I wasn't scared at all!" LJ said proudly and Annie was so proud of him her heart could've nearly burst.

"Oh LJ, that's fantastic! Good job, baby." Annie said, hugging her son, not caring if he was soaking wet. She was about to call to Finnick when another voice interrupted her train of thought,

"Annabel Cresta, is that you?" A woman's voice, her disgustingly coy tone so sweet it could've rotted out all of her teeth. Annie turned to see Enobaria Jaeger, her neighbor, walking down the beach. In absence of her two terrible daughters Clove and Glimmer. As soon as she spotted Finnick she fanned herself dramatically, "And Finnick Odair? My oh my, what do we have here?"

"Hello, Mrs. Jaeger." Finnick greeted from the water, "Nice seeing you!"

"Wait, you know each other?" Annie asked sheepishly, LJ tugged on her arm.

"Can I go back in the water with Finnick and Fisher?" LJ asked and Annie smiled at him.

"Alright, but if you start to get cold, come back here alright." Annie said before Enobaria put an arm around her shoulder, in a sort of awkward hug before saying quietly and as soon as they were out of earshot of the boys,

"Since when do you know Finnick Odair?" Enobaria asked and Annie looked at her confused.

"We met during our sons' swimming lessons, why?"

"Oh, I would've thought you knew." Enobaria said, placing her towel next to Annie's and she bit her tongue against what she really wanted to say, which was for her to mind her own damn business.

"Knew what?"

"He's a heartbreaker that one. I mean, just look at him. Of course I'm perfectly satisfied with my Cato, of course." Enobaria said, flipping her dark hair, mentioning her younger and rich husband, "But I've heard around that Finnick Odair has had more one night stands then a man should be boasting about. And especially around such young children of course."

"Finnick and I aren't like that at all, we're just good friends. And in any case, Finnick is a wonderful father. How do you even know this? How do you even know of Finnick?" Annie demanded, flushed.

"Honey, my hubby works for Gamemakers. I know all of the girls, and most of them have had something to do with Finnick." Enobaria said before smiling yet again, "Listen, Annabel, you're a wonderful mother. But you are a single mother, and I know that you probably want LJ to have a male father figure in his life. I wouldn't go looking for that in Finnick Odair. And after all, who knows what that boy of his has been exposed too."

Annie was infuriated at that point. First off, Annie was a capable mother, and she certainly didn't need a man. And secondly, Enobaria was insulting the integrity of wonderful man who had really done so much for them over the past few months.

"Mrs. Jaeger, I appreciate your…advice. I really do. But I would prefer to leave it at that." She said, playing her own hand at passive-aggressive confrontation.

"Whatever you say, dear." Enobaria said, getting up and gathering her stuff, "Just don't say I didn't warn you."

And then she left, and was down the beach and away from her sight.

Annie sat there, fuming for a few more moments, before she was able to recollect herself. Finnick and the boys came up the beach, both of them laughing as Finnick hauled them up.

"I think both of our men are hungry." Finnick said, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering at the word "our", and of course the way LJ looked at Finnick. It was hero worship at its greatest. Deep in her gut, she wondered, wished what it would be like if Finnick was truly LJ's father.

"I've got sandwiches and drinks." Annie said pulling out the cooler. "Two ham and cheese with mustard."

LJ and Fisher smiled as they sat on the reclining chairs, munching away at their sandwiches and Finnick sat next to Annie as she pulled out another Kaiser roll.

"Tuna salad?" Annie asked and Finnick smiled broadly.

"My favorite. You remembered?" He asked surprised as Annie pulled out her own sandwich.

"That and it's my favorite too." Annie said with a gentle laugh. Finnick took the sandwich from her grasp,

"You're the best Annie." He said, taking a bite before moaning, "Holy crap! This is good. What's your secret?"

"Lots of love." Annie answered, taking a bite of her own sandwich.

"That motherly touch just can't be imitated." Finnick teased and Fisher gave a sigh.

"Daddy, next time can I have the kind of sandwich you have?" Fisher asked and LJ nodded, Finnick just smiled deviously.

"Sure, that is if you like celery." Finnick said, and both the boys groaned.

Annie laughed with Finnick about the boys' reaction, but really couldn't shake the seed of doubt that had been placed in her stomach.

"What do you mean your basement's flooded?" Finnick asked in shock, and Annie just covered her face with her hands.

"Oh God, Finnick. It's all such a mess. The house is falling apart, and I'm just kicking myself because when Brutus and I bought it we knew it was going to be a fixer-upper. But after he left… I can't do it alone. And I have to spend so much money renovating it if I even have some sort of chance at selling it. And there's going to be another bad storm coming tomorrow and we can't stay in that house." Annie said before admitting in a quiet voice, "I feel like such a terrible mother…and I don't want to ask my parents to take him on such short notice."

It felt good to rant to someone, but at the same time she was so distraught that it barely mattered. Rain had been pelting the county for the past three nights, and as the repairman had told Annie, they lived at the bottom of the hill and so it was just a matter of time before something like this happened. He had advised her to find a place to stay as the next storm came through the area, but Annie really couldn't ask her parents to take LJ. They were away at other relatives, as was her elder sister. And of course Panem U had a parent's weekend that weekend so no rooms were available at any of the hotels in the city limits. Annie had literally no idea about what she was supposed to do.

Finnick, to her surprise put his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder. She relaxed right into his touch, truly needing the comfort. Annie always needed to put on a brave face in front of LJ, but right now she was just simply exhausted.

"Ann, you guys can stay with us as long as you need to as you get the whole house situation figured out. I don't mind, and I know Fisher would be on cloud nine." Finnick offered and Annie knew she probably looked shocked.

"No, that would be imposing on you. I couldn't." Annie tried to refuse, but Finnick clearly wasn't taking no for an answer.

"Ann, you wouldn't be imposing on me at all. In fact, I'd feel much better knowing that you two were safe. How about it? We have an air mattress we can pump up for LJ, and I can sleep on the pull out." Finnick offered yet again and Annie smiled weakly.

"You're too nice Finnick."

"Call me a sucker, but I always believe in chivalry." Finnick joked, and Annie couldn't help but agree. Finnick truly was a gentleman, always helping a woman in trouble.

"Annie, you can't back out." Her sister's voice came over the phone. It was later that night, and Annie had just called her sister who was all the way in California, and no help to Annie over there. LJ was fast asleep in his room, the whole house stank of water and she just couldn't keep herself from panicking.

"I know but, I mean, I don't know if it's appropriate."

"Annie, for God's sake, stop it!" Cora told her, "Just snap out of it. You do realize that there are good men out there who just want the best for you."

"I realize that." Annie said sharply, and Cora gave an annoyed sigh.

"Oh really? Then tell me, how come you always do this? You meet a nice guy, go on a few dates, and then you just totally pull away. I'm sick and tired of your fucking self-sabotage! Annie, you need this. You need to be happy! It's been four years. Let someone in already." Cora shouted over the phone before Annie hugged herself.

"I don't think I can, Cora. What if-What if-Oh God, Cora, I'm such a mess." Annie said breaking down into sobs, "What if it's like the last time? I don't think I can pick up the pieces again."

"It's not like the last time. Annie, you're strong. You've been through so much. You deserve a wonderful man. Don't you dare let this one slip away, or you'll always regret it." Cora warned her and Annie wiped her tears,

"Cora, it's just that I'm scared. I'm scared of falling completely."

"I know you are. God damnit Annie, I'm scared for you. I've only ever wanted the best for you. You know that. Talk to Finnick about your fears. Be honest with him."

"Honest." Annie repeated, "Honest I can do."

"Okay. Start with that. Annie, just enjoy being in love."

And with that tidbit, Cora hung up the phone.

Annie sat on her bed staring at the phone beside her, having the urge to call her sister back. Just as she was thinking this she heard the door open, and saw her little son standing in the doorway, holding his baby blanket. LJ toddled up to her, eyes glassy with tears in a way that always broke her heart.

"What's wrong, baby?" She asked gently and LJ just sniffled.

"Mommy, I had a bad dream again." LJ said quietly before looking up at her, "Were you having a bad dream too?"

"Something like that." Annie answered, scooping her little boy into her arms. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"It was Daddy." LJ said, "He was being mean and yelling at me."

"Your Daddy won't ever yell at you again." Annie said firmly, before LJ cuddled against her chest. "And you know I won't ever do that."

"Finnick wouldn't do that, Mommy." LJ said and Annie blinked.

"What do you mean, LJ?"

"You talk to Auntie about being scared to like Finnick. Fisher said that Finnick likes Mommy." LJ said, holding his blanket close. "Fisher said that when adults like each other they become Mommies and Daddies. So if Finnick became my Daddy he wouldn't yell, I know he wouldn't. So you shouldn't be scared about liking him back, because Finnick is the best."

Annie heart felt like it was about to burst. Of course, it was something so obvious that even her four year old could see. Annie just held him closer, letting her tears slip down her cheeks and resting her chin on the top of his head.

She had made her decision.

"It's just as good as Grandma's." Fisher whispered to Finnick who nearly laughed at his son's admission.

"I'm glad to hear that." Annie said happily, "Clam chowder is one of my favorites."

LJ and Annie were seated at Finnick's table, Annie having made dinner for all of them. She was nearly shocked at how…easy it was. Natural. As if they had been a permanent fixture in the Odair house all along. Annie could see herself there, doing dishes side by side with Finnick, watching as their boys tumbled on the floor in a play fight. Finnick, of course itched to play with their sons, the sight of him playing super heroes with the boys having nearly brought tears to Annie's eyes.

"No bacon in it?" Fisher asked, curiously as he stirred the chowder.

"Mommy's a…a pew…pewsa…pewsatarian." LJ tried to answer and Annie patted his head.

"Good job, LJ. That's a hard word. Your right though, Mommy's a pescatarian. It means I don't eat meat other than fish or eggs." Annie said before explaining, "I grew up on a farm, and had to butcher the animals, and so I'm not really able to stomach it anymore. I don't mind making meat for other people though. Next time, I'll put bacon in it, Fisher."

"You don't need to Annie. I like it like this!" Fisher said politely, "It's really, really good."

"Thank you, Fisher." Annie said, as she looked to Finnick who was looking at her, an expression that she couldn't put her finger on in his eyes, though it was intense enough to make her blush.

All the boys, Finnick included, nearly cleaned their plates twice before eating the cake she had brought. Sleepy and worn out from all the playing LJ and Fisher had done that day, fell asleep, both of their heads upon her lap. Annie ran her fingers through both of the kids-their kids' hair. Both had mop tops of curls, though LJ's was dark brown, while Fisher had inherited his father's bronze locks. Fisher was like a miniature Finnick really, he had almost all of his features. In the future, she mused, Fisher would be a lady killer if there ever was one. Though were some features that came from his mother, the nameless woman Finnick never mentioned. Eyes that tended towards blue rather than Finnick's green, a nose that was a sliver thinner, a mouth that was just a bit fuller. Annie needed to know, why Finnick had left the other woman. Annie needed to dispel all the doubts, because she trusted and…loved Finnick, and she just needed to know. And in turn…she wanted him to know about her.

She was just about to ask as Finnick came back into the room before he chuckled.

"Alright you two, let's get you to bed." Finnick laughed and both boys mumbled as he carried them easily up the stairs, resting them both on those strong, beautiful shoulders of his. She watched as he disappeared upstairs and gathered her wits as he came back down, ducking into the kitchen only to bring out to her surprise two wine glasses and a bottle of merlot.

"Want one?" Finnick asked and she nodded as he poured the wine for both of them. Annie took the glass hesitantly, having not drank in a substantial amount of time, and absently trying to remember the last time she had shared a drink with a person.

"It's been a while." Annie said, still lost in her thoughts as she took a sip. By this point the storm had picked up substantially, and she reminded herself to thank Finnick profusely later for letting them stay.

"Sometimes things like this are good. It's been a long time since I've had any one to share a glass with." Finnick admitted, "Especially like this."

Ignoring her dry-mouth, Annie finally plucked up the nerve to ask,

"Finnick…I need to ask you something."

"What?" He asked absently.

"If this is too personal a question you don't need to answer but…why did you and your wife separate?" Annie asked and Finnick sighed, taking a sip of his drink. It was as if he had suddenly aged, his eyes dark with sadness and shoulders hunched, as if the memory was painful. Annie tried to brace herself, though she really couldn't for what she heard.

"We just…fell out of love." He began, "To be honest I don't know if we were in love to begin with. We weren't planning on getting together, but she got pregnant with Fisher. I thought we could make it work. I was all in, you know. But as things went along, she got more and more distant. After Fisher was born, well, that was when things really took a turn for the worse. I was the one working, and Cashmere had always wanted to be a model or something. For some reason, she thought that we were in her way to getting that. We got into a stupid argument that escalated into something more. She said things that I swore to myself I would never tell Fisher, that I would take to my grave. Things like how she never wanted Fisher, that he was in her the way of her dreams, and that she wished he had never been born. And then, I just lost it. I told her to get out of my house. That I never wanted to see her face ever again. How dare she say something like that about my son? We didn't need her so she should just leave. And so she left and I served her up divorce papers two days later which she signed, and gave all rights to Fisher to me." Finnick explained, taking another sip of wine, almost sounding frustrated, "That was when Fisher was one. She hasn't been back since. Though recently, she's tried to get in contact with us. Apparently some tabloids found out what a shitty human she is and she wants to make amends. Well, she doesn't deserve to know Fisher."

Her heart broke and released a tidal wave of tears. Anything she could've imagined was nothing in comparison of that. How could a mother say that about her own child?

"Oh God, that's so awful." Annie said her horror so consuming that it was devastating. Oh poor, wonderful Fisher. "Fisher's such a good boy. How could anyone…how could anyone ever say that about him?"

"Oh Ann, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry." Finnick said quietly, wiping at her tears with his warm fingers. Annie made up her mind then.

"I want to show you something." Annie said, pulling off her sweater and brushed her hair over her shoulder to reveal her scar.

This was the hard part. She took a breath and began.

"My ex-husband…did this. He was sweet to me only when he wasn't drinking. But when he drank he…he abused me." Annie said quietly. "I got this on the last night, he got drunk, and was swinging a knife around and threatened LJ. After that I left."

She didn't know what sort of reaction she had wanted from Finnick, though she was relieved she didn't have to hide this from him anymore. She had gotten a lot of reactions from her story before. People calling her stupid, not understanding that she couldn't just leave, thinking that she was some sort of glutton for punishment, thinking she was somehow "damaged" goods, or pitying her and LJ. The worst was Brutus' family, who believed that she had provoked him, that somehow what he had "become" was her fault. She couldn't see Finnick's face, and she was grateful. Annie assumed that one of those reactions was his.

What she didn't expect was for Finnick to kiss her scar.

Shivers erupted over her skin, and she gasped as she felt his strong, dependable arms wrap around her waist, his lips lovingly tracing up the sensitive skin of her scar, to her shoulder neck, jaw, perhaps she was in a fog as she turned her head and met his lips with hers.

They both moaned into each other's mouths. This had been what she dreamt about for so long, his gentle hands cradling her, his mouth gently coaxing gasps from her lips as he so deliberately slipped his tongue into her mouth. The taste of him, beyond her wildest fantasies, was sweet like the cake frosting he had jokingly taken from the bowl, and beyond that like the butterscotch candies he was always sucking on. It tasted so much like home.

He pulled away and Annie nearly broke down into tears of joy at his expression, as he cupped her face in his hands. The tenderness overflowing from his every feature, the love, the honor. This was a man who would never hurt her, a man who was so full of love to give, and all she had to do was give herself to it, and in turn give him the love he deserved.

"I love you." Finnick whispered, as if the secret was too much for one man to bear. The words were so full of meaning, those three tiny words were everything. Annie touched his hands with hers, and with joy released all that was holding her back and said back,

"I love you too."

That night they made love that was more than anything she had ever known possible. This had been meant to be, she realized. The way their bodies moved together, there was no rush, no ending to this, it was something so natural. There was no taking, just giving, and Annie realized that she had so much to give to Finnick, who had so much to give in return. For the rest of her life, she would be with him.

The gift of love was endless, and she had finally found the person to share it with.

"Mommy, Daddy, look what we found! It's our pet!" Fisher exclaimed holding up to Annie's horror, a garden snake.

"You two, put that poor creature back outside. It's probably terrified. And next time, wipe off your shoes before you track mud in everywhere!" Annie scolded, both of the boys pouting before rushing back outside to return the snake to its proper home. Annie heard Finnick chuckle, and turned to see her husband appearing from the other room, shirt off, hair still wet from a shower.

"Finally got Dylan to stop crying." Finnick said before motioning to his bare-chestedness (that Annie certainly didn't mind), "Though a burp wasn't the only thing he needed to do."

"Sorry, I was dealing with the boys, who apparently thought it was okay to try to tame a snake from the garden." Annie said and Finnick laughed and wrapped his arms around her, hand smoothing over her shirt to where the latest addition of the family had just began to be visible. "Maybe it'll be a girl, so I would at least not have to worry about one of our children digging for worms in the backyard."

"Either way, I'm happy." Finnick whispered, and Annie placed her hand on his.

"I am too." Annie said, with a smile.

"And you want to know what would make me happier?" Finnick asked, his seductive purr saying all that needed to be said, "Not having to change diapers. I will do anything you want for just a little tiny break."

Annie couldn't help but laugh as he suddenly tickled her, before holding her close. Their sons, hearing the commotion ran back inside, demanding the same attention. Annie smiled, and held LJ and Fisher close, not caring about the dirt on their faces, just overcome with happiness and Finnick joined in the hug.

Annie knew the truth right then and there, just how she knew it the first time she and Finnick had made love. It was simple and beautiful.

To be with the ones you love was all that mattered after all.

Part two.

ASDFHJKKUHUBUSJBLURGH

That's the sound of me exploding from the feels.

You're welcome.