Fire and Ashes {Sequel to Sea Salt and Roses}

Chapter 8 + Epilogue

A/N: I changed the ending in chapter 7, so if you've already read it, just check it again, otherwise this may not make as much sense.
While you're reading this chapter, just listen to "There Are Worse Games To Play/Deep In The Meadow/The Hunger Games Suite - From the Mockingjay, Part 2 Soundtrack - James Newton Howard (till 4:08)
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It didn't seem real. No matter how long we had been fighting for it freedom was not something I could just wake up too. I all had the vision of it - living in peace and justice, being equal. But freedom hadn't been there when I was born and I was pretty sure it wouldn't be there when I died.
But this day finally came. We had won this endless war, ended the regime, changed hoping into planning. Katniss had shot Coin, and Snow was dead.
Everyone was rejoicing around me, pushing around, crying and hugging people standing the closest completely disregarding if they were strangers or not.
Yet it all was so overwhelming it made me feel as if I was outside watching them behind blurred screens. Voices even though loud as trumpets that were playing all around a cheerful and victorious melody seemed to come from afar.
I felt my throat contracting. I still remembered the sewers very clearly, his screams of my name that fell from his lips. His pain and agony. But I saw reminders of that incident everywhere. Katniss on the screens with Peeta by her side. Beetee sat on his wheelchair surrounded by smiling friends. Haymitch leaned against the wall with his casual smirk on and a bottle in hand. But no trace of Finnick.
I decided to change my spot, trying to get the squad out of my mind. People were getting even more blurred. All their uniforms and work-clothes, their banners and coats. Everything lost their shape the more I walked.
Suddenly I felt a strong pull on your shoulder and the next second my body was bent just slightly to allow someone to kiss you. When I felt warm lips touching mine, my hand shoot up in the air trying to punch the stranger until my wide eyes noticed it wasn't stranger at all.
The hand that was raised slowly fell back before stopping on the crook of his elbow and climbing to his shoulder.
I gripped his grey uniform tightly as my lips answered his just as fervently. One of his hands travelled to my hair messing them up completely. He felt soft, warm and alive. This fact made me cling to him harder.
Only the sounds of whistling tearing through your moment brought you to reality. Finnick pulled away still dipping you slightly and looked over your head at the people who were smiling at him and raising their thumbs up. He laughed shaking his head before his eyes focused on you. They immediately softened, twinkles behind his irises seemed to be more prominent now that your face filled his vision.
'Hello there love' he said bringing you up so you could stand on your legs fully. 'Been looking for y...'
"You're not real."
His smiling face contorted to one of a heartbroken man. He placed a hand on my cheek, catching one of my tears, his blue eyes troubled.
"I'm very real love. I'm here, right here with you." I couldn't believe that this wasn't a dream. That Finnick, my Finnick was really here.
"Wha-how? I saw you die, Finnick! The bomb, the mutts."
"Well, Beetee, had originally made me bombproof-"
I didn't give him a chance to finish as my lips sealed to his in another kiss. He didn't seem to mind.
Finnick grabbed my hand and pulled me close and pressed his forehead to mine.
"I love you." He said, and I savored the warmth of his embrace.
"I love you too."I whispered, trying to keep calm.
"If you still believe I'm real," Finnick said in a hushed tone, "Will you marry me?" He asked, flashing that charming smile that made my knees weak.
"Hell of a time to ask me that, Finnick." I said, trying not to cry, "Yes, obviously I'll marry you when we get out of this." He grinned and slipped a beautiful ring on my left hand. Two vines, entwined together with a blue rose. I examined it and he said, "You're the rose, and I'm the sea. So, blue rose. You were the black rose, but I think you outgrew that."
I laughed and said, "Interesting logic, Mr Odair." He smiled, "I would think so, Mrs Odair."
I rested my head on his strong chest, listening to his soothing heartbeat, smiling, tears streaming down my face.
He was real. He was warm and soft, because he was alive. Now, he's going to marry me.

Epilogue
I sat in my room in District 13, looking into the mirror but not seeing my reflection. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the simple, but elegant white dress laying on my bed. Today was the day. I was finally marrying Finnick, the love of my life. Annie came over with a bright smile, hugging me and giving me a kiss on the cheek. I was happy she was here. One of the most precious people in me life, the other one was standing beside me.
"I wish you all the luck in the world." She nods, congratulating me before stepping aside to let someone else through.
I had been in a sort of daze throughout the whole ceremony, not noticing much that had happened. The only thing I concentrated on was Finnick. I was happier than I'd ever been. I haven't believed this day would really come but here I was, with the man I loved more than anything in the world.
Finnick nudged me in the side and smiled at me when he saw me drifting away into my thoughts, "You still with us?" He whispers into my ear.
"Mhhm." I smile back up at him, "Yes."
He takes my hand and pulls you away a bit, "Ready for a dance, love?"
"Do I have a choice?" I reply, a small smile tugging at your mouth.
"No." He grabs your waist, swinging you around to the sound of the music, "I was just being polite."
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So that was the story of the Black Rose, and it was mine. Maybe one day, I'll tell my children what happened in the arena, but for now, I was happy. I had a family that loved me, and I loved them. Every story had an ending, but mine hasn't quite ended yet, because I still had room to make new memories with Finnick and our baby boy and girl, Carter and Julie Odair.