oakleypembrookeâ:
Oakley felt so at ease, so comfortable as they swayed together in the kitchen. There was nowhere Oakley loved being more than in her husbandâs arms. Her eyes closed as she listened to Birch speak. He was right. Their children were growing up. Theyâd be leaving them before they knew it and Oakley wasnât ready to let go of that. Â
Her forehead rested against his shoulder while they kept swaying.  âMe too,â she murmured softly.  âI know rationally things are safer here than in Eleven, but with everything that happened itâs hard to trust that.â
The more Oakley thought about it, especially knowing Birch had considered it too, made her curious.  âMaybe we should see how things go?â she suggested.  âIf this was just a one off thingâŚmaybe it will be safe enough.â
Birch loved the way that Oakley could turn a cold spot in his heart into a warm one. He wanted to believe that this one attack would be dealt with and wouldnât happen again. And the way Oakley said it, he wanted to believe her. But, there was just something nagging. This felt like the beginning and he wasnât sure that they were safe here anymore.Â
âWe can see how things go,â he agreed, placing another kiss on her temple. âI just donât think this thing is going to go away.â Sadness laced between his voice. He wanted to have the family that him and Oakley deserved. Karma should be rewarding them at this point for everything.Â
âI donât know if I want the Capitol to win though,â he said quietly, voicing the concerns that flooded his mind in the quietest moments of his life. âI want us to be safe, but the Capitol has put us through so much. I donât know what to think Oaks.â













