"KISS ME, FISH BOY.."

--¤☆¤--

A hour had pasted since me and Finnick's reunion, and not once did we let go of each other. We sat side by side, hands intertwined together tightly; in fear of loosing the other. I learned that after my 'death', Finnick's anxiety got worse; so he started to braided a piece of rope to calm himself. He would follow a schedule that was printed onto his arm, and spend his free time with Beetee and Katniss; learning about the Capitol's network.

Grabbing strands of my hair, I could feel Finnick tugging on some of them; as he began to braid them together. The feeling of his hands moving skillfully against the strands, tightening on a few as he pulled the hair out of my face. To the point where my hair was braided back with the rest being pulled up into a low ponytail. I could hear him hum and mutter small things under his breath, but I couldn't make out what he was saying.

"I met Hermes and the rest of your family." He said, as worry floods me.

"Really?" I ask, sighing at all the things they did; while I was gone.

"Yeah. Those Monroe kids, Carrie and Damian cornered me in the cafeteria. Threatened me with forks." He said, chuckling softy.

"A fork huh? I'm surprised they didn't try to poison you." I said, imagining Damian and Carrie holding blunt forks at Finnick's throat; standing on their tippy toes, because the two of them could barely reaching up to his shoulder's.

"Thalia did. She said it would be a shame if I were to 'choke' on a piece of chicken.." He said, emphasizing on the word choke; making me laugh.

Walking over to my side of the bed, he sits down beside me and grabs my hand once again. Smiling at him, he just me a lazy smile back and rubs circles onto the back of my hand. Scooting closer to him, I leaned my head against Finnick's shoulder; as we watch the doctor's run around the Infirmary. Things were much more tense, and the doctor's were unease as Peeta had brutal attacked Katniss; not even seconds after me and Finnick pulled ourselves away, from our own little world.

"So why did they threaten you?" I ask, his smile falling right away.

"They watched you die. They needed someone to blame. I don't blame them, I deserved it in a way. It was my job to protect you and I couldn't even do that." He said, looking down at our intertwined hands.

"I don't blame you. We were in the Games, we didn't have any necessary medical equipment. One way or another, I would have died. You did everything you could. Don't blame yourself, love." I said, adding quickly; as I placed my hand on his cheek, making him lift his eyes.

Stroking his cheek with my thumb, he smiles softly at me; before kissing the palm of my hand. Pressing a kiss on the corner of his lips, they quirk up slightly; but he still had a sad look in his eyes. Drifting his eyes away from me, he looks at the doctor's giving me time to think about my feelings for him. I liked him, maybe even love him; no, I did love him.

Looking at the side of his face, I could see the hurt in his body; it was practical oozing out of him. It hurt me knowing that he blamed himself for something, that would have happened; no matter what. Taking a deep breath, I clear my throat gaining his attention; he needed to know that I loved him, before it was to late. I had loved him, since I was eighteen; he deserved to know.

'Take a deep breath...Tell him the truth..' I repeat to myself.

"Finnick? I love you⎯I always have, but was scared of what Snow would do. But, I need to tell you. I have loved you since I was eighteen⎯and I always will love you, Fin." I said, as his smile widens; making the butterflies in my stomach grow.

"I love you too. I love you so much, Athena." He said, making my face flush; as the butterflies in my stomach intensify, if that was some how possible.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see Johanna elbowing a nurse in the stomach forcing her to move out of the way. Making eye contact with Johanna, she gives me a smirk and then looks at Finnick proudly. Blushing at the looks Johanna was giving me, I could feel her persistent stare on me; but I refused to make eye contact. If I looked at her, I was sure that my blush would only worsen.

"Don't even think about it. Don't say anything, Johanna." I said, picking at my nails; before looking up at her.

"I didn't say anything." She said, smirking at me.

"I know how you are. Your not the most subtle." I said, as Finnick chuckles; making my lips quirk up slightly.

Shooting her a look, she only winks back in return making both me and Finnick; shake our heads at her teasing. Squeezing my hand, I blush even more if that was possible; as he presses a kiss onto my forehead. Taking a breath to calm myself, I inhale the scent of sea salt and stale hospital air; a odd but somewhat comforting smell.

"You have ten seconds to get out what it is that you want to say. Got it?" Finnick said, counting down on his hand.

"And to think me and Haymitch thought that, Finnick was going to be the first one to confess his dying love for you. Oh right, Athena was the one to say it first⎯never mind." She said, 'correcting' her little mistake.

"Real funny, J." Finnick said, rolling his eyes in mock annoyance.

"You and Haymitch, working together? Without turning it into a competition? How much did you bet?" I ask, making Johanna smirk widen.

"I bet the last of my dignity⎯and Haymitch. Let's just say that I now got enough alcohol to last me a nuclear apocalypse." She said, giggling at the end, making me furrow my brows.

'Why on earth was, Johanna giggling? She never's giggles..' I though, confused.

Looking at Johanna, I could see the red surrounding Johanna's eyes; making me scoff. Sure her eyes were red before, from what I am guess was sleepless nights and harsh rubbing of water out of them. But they were suspiciously red, like the kind of red that Haymitch got when he was drunk beyond belief. Only she hadn't been drinking, meaning she was high off of the pain medication.

"Are you high?" Finnick ask's, as he seems to get the memo.

"Yeah! Yeah! I mean⎯How are you not, listening to this nonsense?" She said, pointing to her I.V bag and then us.

"I see the pain meds, have finally kicked in." I said, as we were approached by a nurse.

Holding a small tray of items in her hand, she places them onto a small table beside my bed; before grabbing a blood pressure cuff. Loosening my grip, Finnick dismisses himself as he approaches Johanna; giving me and the nurse some alone time. Watching him walk away, my hands felt cold at the lack of his touch; he was so warm and felt so reassuring. It felt like I was a ship without an anchor now, drifting off to sea without anything to ground me down in one place.

"Okay, Ms.Grey. I'm gonna run some test's on you⎯I'm gonna check on your blood pressure then we will collect some more blood and have you talk to Dr.Thomas. Is that alright with you?" She ask's, wrapping a plastic cuff on my arm and begins to pump air in it; tightening it.

"Okay⎯um⎯do you think that I'll be able to see the kids today? The Monroe kids." I ask, as the nurse checks my blood pressure.

+++++

And I am done with the chapter! Stay safe out there guys!

I hope you all are doing okay emotionally and physically in quarantine! I love you all!

I hope that you are enjoying the book so far! A quick reminder to comment below about the story of what you think so far!

✨ It happened ✨

P.S. Want to know more about Athena's origin? Check out, 'FRAGILE GIRL'. It covers her origin, the blooming romance with Finnick, and so much more!