Finnick cupped her face after she answered, kissing her for a long moment. He wanted so badly to be deserving of her. He knew the start of the dinner would hurt -- they would be excited to hear about where they had gone in the Capitol and what they had eaten. Had they got to meet the president again, and they'd probably gush over how pretty Annie's dress had been. All that would hurt beyond hell. But after that, the Capitol would fade to the background, and it would be him, at home, with his family, with Annie, with Mags -- where he was supposed to be.

"I love you," Finnick breathed against Annie's lips. He felt emboldened now that he had said it once, and he wanted to tell her it every day, every hour. "I'll wait downstairs." Finnick suggested, figuring he owed some reassurance to Annie's mom after they had been up here for so long, locked in the bathroom while Annie shouted at him.