#in another life mr everdeen gets grey in his hair

[tellmelater]

in another life

[nighteyed]

12 - Embers

Prompt 2 of 13

Fandom: The Hunger Games

Character: Mrs. Everdeen (Lily Everdeen (my made up name)) & Mr. Everdeen (Jacob Everdeen (my made up name)) 😂

Rating: General

Written By: forbiddencorvidae | corvids_5

The day was sunny and cloudless, my skin perspiring in the humid air. It would have been a beautiful day if it was a normal day, but it wasn't. It was July 4th, Reaping Day, and today not one, but both of my girls would stand in the square.

It was time.

I staggered in a haze, falling in and out of lucidity as I made my way to the outer rim of the square. I was to stand and watch, to be complacent to this grotesque display of power. My hand clenched at my throat, the sun beating down across my face as rings of sweat pooled and dripped from my face, my arms and my shaking back. 

I could hear them all. The hearts of every mother screaming out to their children pinned within the square. Each one of their voices raw as they reached out to the children they birthed, they raised, they loved. The screaming was drowned out by the rush of blood in my ears and the pounding of my heart, as Effie Trinket took to the stage. My tongue felt as if it was expanding, cutting off my air and choking me. I could feel everyone behind me press against me as they leaned forward, closer to the square. It was their desperate attempt to catch a glimpse of their children as mothers clung to fathers whose fingers twitched and pulled at their collars.

Effie’s mouth moved against the microphone but I couldn’t hear her. The fog that clung to my mind now so thick and consuming, it felt like it was swallowing me up. Like that day so many years ago. When the mine exploded into flames and rubble and left embers in my heart.  

Suddenly Effie began to walk across the stage, to the large bowl that housed a thousand scraps of paper. Each now a home to the names of every girl within the square. Some more than once, some a dozen times and some more than twenty, more than forty. A slim, pale hand reached into the bowl and rifled around the scraps of paper, before it settled on a single slip and pulled it forth, like a tick leaving flesh. 

That was what the Capitol was, leaching off the backs of the Districts, sucking their lives and children from them. 

My eyes could only trace Effie’s movements back towards the center of the stage, back to the microphone that she would use to usher someone to their death and she would do it with a smile like she always had. She tapped on the microphone, the loud thudding finally breaking through my clogged years, the blood draining from my face, my heart stopping in my chest when she smiled brightly and said my daughter’s name. 

“Primrose Everdeen.”

My world shifted around me.

I was gone, tuned out in mere seconds, to a time that was easier. To when Jacob would grip my face and tell me everything was okay, while he ran his thick fingers through my blonde hair. How his voice would sing the girls and me to sleep, how he would wake me in the middle of the night with heated kisses, his fingers slipping between my thighs.

The black layer of dust coating the living room floor was coal. The same coal that I found behind Katniss' ears and in the creases of Prim's knobby knees. It was coal that lined the seams of Jacob's eyes, crows feet splitting from the corners of his grey eyes as he sang and laughed. 

Prim wobbling around the front room, Katniss sitting on the porch delicately emptying the little brown sack at her hip, beaming as she recounted each plant and recited what her father had told her. Life was different here, in the Seam, but it was the life that I had chosen. The day I had seen him, three squirrels tied with a bit of string and slung over his shoulder, his coveralls lose around his waist. I had heard him before I had actually ever laid eyes on him.

I was out in the yard, collecting herbs from my father's garden, listening to the birds sing their lovely tunes when they had stopped. His voice was haunting, the low baritone sending vibrations through my spine as I spied him walking through the streets of merchant row. He had glanced in my direction and pressed on, never looking back. 

The next day he had come to the apothecary with a handful of medicinal herbs, rare ones, my father had said. He came back the next day and the next and every day he sang a sweet tune as he passed.  

The day my father told me that when I came of age I was to marry the baker’s son, I ran away with Jacob Everdeen, a rat from the Seam.  

Lily’s thoughts dissolved as another memory tore through her.

“Just like your mother you are,” Jacob picked Prim from the floor, dusting off her soot-stained knees. “Pretty blonde hair, my little blue-eyed girl,” Jacob cleaned the tears from Prim’s eyes has he righted her. 

Lily smiled at the seen in front of her. 

“You’ve even got your mother’s delicate hands,” Jacob’s laughter boomed across the room. 

“She is only a year old, what do you expect? Her to be working in the mines or combing the forest floor with you and Katniss.” My blue eyes focused on Jacob, hard as ice. 

“I’ll wait until she is ten. I won’t start her as young as Katniss. I promise.” Jacob sighed from the floor and cast a loving glance at Prim. “I don’t think she has the heart for it anyways. She is like her mother, I see it in her eyes. Calm, like the lake just past the Meadow”

“And Katniss?” My voice clung with curiosity. 

“Katniss,” Jacob hummed as he turned to look into my calm blue eyes. His grey ones burning into mine and marking me. He didn’t need to tell me who Katniss was like. I already knew. 

She was him, all heat and emotion burning beneath the surface. If Prim was calm like a lake with unflinching waters than Katniss was chaotic like the mines. She was strong and brave, not afraid to fall and pick herself back up, or protect. 

Katniss was everything that I loved in her father, bundled up in a daughter. Which was why my heart only smoldered, embers cracking when I heard her voice ring out across the square, breaking me from my trance. 

“I volunteer! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you got this far, thanks for reading this headcanon(?) of mine. Eventually I will get around to posting a master list of all these nature prompts. They will mainly focus on the following fandoms: HP, THG, Six of Crows, Cresent City & TFOTA. 

[allonsysilvertongue]

Ignorance Is Bliss. Or Is It?

The Ballad of A Drunk & His Lady: Ignorance Is Bliss. Or Is It?

Effie stirred, taking awhile to accustom herself to the unfamiliar surroundings. Slowly, the memory trickled in and she turned to look at the man sleeping next to her. Haymitch was a dead weight with his arm slung across her stomach and his leg hooked over hers.

Being here in his house, in his bed and the rarity of such occasion made it feel so much like a one night stand except Effie knew it wasn’t. Her heart grew heavy, knowing that they would never have more moments like this in his house.

Her stomach grumbled, reminding him of the reason she was awake in the first place.

She tried to push him off her carefully, finding a way to wriggle out of his embrace without waking him up.

It was futile. With a sigh, she shook his shoulder gently, quite aware of what could happen if she were to startle him. Thankfully, his knife was not within his reach.

“I have to go,” she whispered when he groused in annoyance.

“No,” he tightened his hold on her.

She loved it when he was in this state; half asleep to be truly and fully conscious of his actions. He was often more affectionate and clingy, so very unlike him when he was sober and alert.

“Stay,” Haymitch insisted.

“I’m famished. I should get back to the train in any case. I cannot be seen coming from your house. What will people say?” she tried to rationalize.

Katniss might be oblivious but Peeta and Mrs. Everdeen certainly wouldn’t be, and she would have to face the lot of them for the Reaping. Although, to be fair, the issue of her sneaking out of Haymitch’s house would be the least of everyone’s worry.

“There will be something to eat in the train,” she continued. “I’m hungry, Haymitch. I haven’t had anything since lunch.”

He opened an eye to look at her and then rolled on his back, freeing her from his hold.

“Me too,” he grumbled, pushing himself to his elbows. “The things we did… It makes a man hungry, sweetheart.”

She couldn’t help but smile fondly at him. Almost without thinking, she brushed her fingers through the lock of his hair.

“Stop it,” he caught her wrist with a frown.

The sudden rough movement threw her a little off guard but she matched his frown with one of her own.

“I might never get the chance to do this again,” she told him. She saw the look in his eyes and almost wished it back but the words were already out there. “We may never – “

“Stop that,” Haymitch rebuked. “We’ve talked about this. It’s got to be me. I can’t let Peeta go, Effs. I thought you understand this.”

“I know, I do,” she nodded. “And you’ve promised Katniss to keep him safe. I know, Haymitch.”

“Good. You gotta be stronger than this, sweetheart,” he said tucking her hair behind her ear.

When he had told her about his promise to Katniss, she had been upset. She had been angry with Katniss even; angry that she dared to ask that of Haymitch. But when she had calmed down – after he had fucked her and calmed her down – Effie realized that this was the only way. He had saved them once so if there was a way he could save them both again, he would never let the children go through what they went before.

“Alright, come on,” he tugged on her wrist, this time rubbing his thumb gently over the spot where he had grabbed earlier. “You said you’re hungry, yeah?”

She laughed at that.

“I am but I am not eating anything from your house, Haymitch,” she teased but followed him out of the bedroom anyway. “Who knows what had gone bad without you being any the wiser…”

“I’ll have you know, sweetheart, that since Katniss put Hazelle on housekeeping duties, nothing has gone bad around here,” he assured as they entered the kitchen.

He grabbed some bread and cheese from the cupboard and a bottle of wine from another. Effie made to take two glasses for the wine but realized that she had no idea where they were being kept. He nudged her towards the fireplace. He had a fire going the night before but it was dying and she wondered why he was kneeling in front of the fireplace to start the fire once more because she was leaving soon anyway.

“Sit with me,” he requested over his shoulder. “Come on, just relax. It’s at least two more hours or something before the sun comes up. It’s still dark out there – plenty of time for you to sneak back to the train.”

He was already settled on the floor and the warmth from the fire was far too tempting for her to argue too much so she sat next to him.

Effie reached out for the bread only for Haymitch to slap her hand away. “Wait,” he rolled his eyes.

He toasted the bread over the fire which made Effie frown. He could have used the toaster in the kitchen, couldn’t he? It seemed a little archaic.

She was about to make a remark when he took the bread away from the fire, tore off a piece and blew on it to cool it down. Her eyes widened in surprise when he pressed the bread against her lips, his intentions clear. He was trying to feed her. It was odd for her. Haymitch had never done anything like this before.

But he was patiently waiting, watching her quietly so she parted her lips for the bread and the cheese that he gave her next.

“I believe it is only right that I return the favour,” she said as she looked at him.

There was a look in his eyes, intent and contemplative. It made her shiver to be looked at that way, as if she was the only one that mattered currently.

“What’s gotten into you?” she asked, wiping the crumbs off his lower lip.

He blinked, looking away before finding her gaze again. She could get lost in the greys of his eyes, she thought.

Could die in the next few days, sweetheart,” he whispered, lips inches away from hers.

His hand rose to the back of her neck and he curled his fingers on her nape, pulling her slowly forward until he could kiss her.

“I’m scared, Haymitch,” she admitted in the cover of the night. “I’m scared for you. I – I don’t want to –“

He didn’t let her finish and he didn’t answer her. Instead he let his hand wander under her blouse again.

XxX

“I do apologise for my tardiness,” she said, taking off her scarf and coat as she entered Katniss’ house. “What’s this about?”

Since she was late, through no fault of her own but the train was delayed in District Eight, nobody answered her question.

It would seem that she had arrived in the middle of the ceremony. Peeta and Katniss had invited her two weeks ago but wouldn’t say what it was for except that it was important to them. Of course, whatever was important to the children was important to her as well. She had tried asking if there was anything she could help with but the children had assured her that only her presence was required. She wished she had taken an earlier train, even if it meant arriving a day early. She could have checked in into one of the motels or guesthouses.

Katniss’ living room was clean and cozy. It felt homely with the picture frames, paintings and vases of flowers decorating the room. The fireplace was lit up and there were rugs as well as cushions on the floor. Each of the guests invited was holding a glass of wine.

The atmosphere in the room was peaceful. Those in the room seemed relaxed even if there was an air of anticipation. Effie chanced a glance over at Haymitch to see that he had cleaned up well. His beard was neatly trimmed and his hair which was usually in a mess had been combed. He even made an effort with his clothes, Effie noted. She had not seen him since the day he left for Twelve with Katniss and he had filled out a bit since then. He looked healthy. Life seemed to suit him well.

Life after the war seemed to suit every one well. Even Johanna was smiling, with Finn seated on her lap. The boy was quiet, distracted by a long piece of string Johanna keep spooling and unspooling for him.

“Katniss, it’s time,” Peeta said, holding his hand out to her.

She took his hand and joined him in front of the fireplace, the both of them knelt on the red cushions. To his right, Haymitch handed each of them a steel skewer with a piece of bread skewed to its front and stepped back. They held it over the fire.

Effie smiled, even as she tried to hide the sudden feeling of discomfort that had creeped in. The scene was oddly familiar, like a memory from the past.

With the bread now off the fire, still kneeling, the kids turned to face each other. Peeta was smiling and Katniss… Effie had never seen Katniss that way; looking at Peeta with a glimmer of fondness. She was calm; shoulders relaxed and her gaze focused solely on Peeta instead of darting everywhere for any signs of danger.

Annie stepped forward to hand them each a glass of wine, and just like Haymitch had done before, she stepped back.

“Here,” Johanna pressed a glass into her hand.

Smiling, Katniss and Peeta raised their glasses, as did everyone.

“To the newly wed,” Greasy Sae’s said, startling Effie. “May a thousand years of happiness shine upon you both and your union be blessed with children.”

Katniss reeled in surprise.

A wedding?!

She had just attended a wedding. Had she not been in this exact situation in front of a fireplace, and the bread, and the wine, just three years ago on the morning of the Third Quarter Quell’s Reaping?

“To Katniss and Peeta,” everyone toasted.

Her gaze darted to Haymitch, eyes wide in shock and panic. He caught her gaze but promptly looked away, keeping himself busy by refilling everyone’s wine glass.

He avoided her. She was well aware that he was avoiding her because each time she tried to move closer, he moved away, immersing himself with the surrounding conversation which Effie knew from all the years spent working together was not something Haymitch enjoyed.

She seized her chance when she spotted him making his way to the empty kitchen. Effie excused herself from the conversation with Annie and went after him. He was searching the top cabinet when she walked in, fingers curling around the neck of the whiskey bottle when Effie closed the cabinet door.

He turned towards her to see her glaring at him, arms folded.

“Would it be wrong and presumptuous of me to say that you’ve been avoiding your wife?” she said coolly.

“Yeah.”

“Which would that be? The part where you’re avoiding me or the part where I’m your wife?” she crossed her arms.

“Listen,” he raised his eyes to meet hers briefly. “Now’s not the time to talk about it. The kids – “

“Are married,” she finished him off. “Apparently, so did we three years ago. We had a marriage ceremony by your district’s customs and you did not even think to tell me?

“Wouldn’t make a difference,” he muttered.

“What was that?” she demanded. “It wouldn’t make a difference?”

She wanted to grab the nearest thing and hurl it at him but she refrained herself. She was furious. How could he have kept her in the dark over something so important and life-changing? It felt like he had robbed an important decision and aspect of her life.

“We’ve been married for three years, Haymitch,” she hissed. “Three years!”

 “It’s just some stupid custom and tradition, alright,” he murmured. To his credit, his voice had a hint of guilt.

She sputtered, truly lost for words.

“A tradition is not stupid,” she countered. “It is rooted in – in … Oh, you are so unbelievable, Haymitch! I have half a mind to strangle you until you’ve regained some shred of common sense.”

“We didn’t register it,” he tried another point of argument. “Relax about it already.”

“No, oh no,” she laughed. If anyone were to walk in now, Effie was sure, she was the image of the mentally unstable. “I will not relax about it. I spent that last one year angry at you and another after that trying to piece my life together which by the way, involved me thinking hard about where I want you in my life. We spend the last one year being cordially civil with one another and you didn’t say a word about this, Haymitch. Not a word.”

“Exactly why I didn’t,” he thundered. “Because you’re finally talking to me, Effs. I finally felt as if I had you back. Look, you have a right to be angry with me. I gave you a lot of reasons to be furious and if you ain’t ever gonna forgive me, it’s right too.”

He rubbed his face tiredly.

“It doesn’t matter. The toasting and what it symbolize…. I don’t hold you to it. Truth is… I was selfish,” he chuckled derisively. “I thought I was gonna die, yeah? And I – I wanted to make you mine.”

Despite herself, Effie shivered at that word. She had never thought Haymitch would ever want her that way she wanted him.

“I wanted to have something,” he said.

“Why didn’t you tell me then? Why didn’t you tell me what we were doing?”

He shook his head and for the first time since they started this conversation, he took a drink from the bottle he was holding.

“Because if you knew, and if I died after, you’d be broken, sweetheart.”

There was some truth in that.

“I would still be broken whether or not we were – are – married,” she told him.

He raised his head, giving her a pained smile.

“I know,” he admitted quietly. “I’m sorry. Shit,” he cursed. “What I did, it wasn’t fair to you so … In all honesty, I know you’re tryin’ to get on with your life. You’re tryin’ to find your footin’ and move on. I want that for you, sweetheart. And if there’s a guy in the City,” he seemed almost visibly in pain just trying to get that word out, “that you know, you’re seeing… It doesn’t – What I’m tryin’ to say is, I don’t hold you to that sham of a marriage we had. It ain’t binding in the eyes of the law. You’re free. You were never tied to me.”

“That is true. It might not be legally binding but you heard them out there. No one feels married until they had had their toasting. Which means to the people here, and you by that extension, the toasting carries a heavier meaning and weight than any legal document.”

“And I’m telling you that I’m not holding you to it,” he growled in frustration. “So go.”

“Don’t do this, Haymitch,” she pleaded, reaching out to touch him. “Do you want us to be married? Tell me the truth, please. Do you still want what you wanted three years ago?”

He looked affronted, as if he had never expected to be asked that question. When had anyone ever asked him what he wants?

Effie studied him, waiting.

“What do you want, Haymitch? More than anything else in the world, what do you want?”

“Come on,” he tugged his hand free from her grip. “This is stupid.”

“It’s not. Answer the question, please.”

“A proper shot at life,” he told her truthfully once he realized that she would not budge. “And it wouldn’t mean shit without you, sweetheart.”

“So… What does that mean? Do you – Do you want me?”

“Yeah, course I do,” he nodded, looking down at his boots. “Every single day.”

“Okay,” she said. In a declarative tone, without giving him much room for argument, she told him. “I want to give this a try.”

“Being married?” he blinked.

She shot him a glare, and if looks could kill, he would have been dead.

“Being together,” Effie said. “We give that a shot and then we’ll do the toasting. Properly this time.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he repeated and he must have seen that she was about to argue because he pulled her close, a hand resting on her hip. She could feel his thumb drawing random, soothing circles on her hip bone. “It doesn’t matter to me if we’re married or not as long as you’re here.”

[everlarkficexchange]

Prompt 68

Written by: @lynamloveseverlark

Prompt 68: Katniss gets locked out of her apartment wearing only a towel and the only person she can turn to for help is her neighbour Peeta. (submitted by @sunflowerslyf)

A/N: A big thank you to @savvylark for being my beta on this.

I step into my shower, relishing in the feeling of the hot water trickling down my body, helping to relax my sore muscles. I hum along with the songs filtering out from my phone sitting on the counter. This is just what I needed after the hell day I had at work.

I lather up my loofa and scrub the grease and grime from my body and actually take the time to ‘de-fuzz’ as I call it. It’s just shaving my legs, since it’s becoming warmer out. I think I might stick on a dress and go for a walk in the park.

After my shower, I pad slowly into my living room to grab the new moisturisers I bought in the pharmacy on the way home. It’s very rare I treat myself to something new, but they were on sale so a couple of bucks won’t kill me.

Prim’s cat, Buttercup, looks at me from his post on the couch. I give him a scratch behind his ears. He’s getting old, his sight is going and, for some reason, instead of going deaf, his hearing seems 10 times better than it was when he was a young cat. If I have the tv on too loud, or an ambulance goes past he loses his shit.  

All of a sudden, my doorbell goes off. Buttercup flinches and stands up, his hackles raised.

“Who is it?” I call out. Nobody usually rings my doorbell.

“It’s me, Miss Everdeen,” calls a young voice, a kid from down the hall. “Mom ran out of milk and wanted to know if you had any?”

“Okay, hang on,” I reply through the door. Figuring I could just slip my head past the door and hand whichever kid it is the carton, then finish getting dressed.

I grab the milk, thankful it’s more than half full, and pad over to the door and start unlocking the bolts. I peek my head and shoulder around the door to hand out the milk when, out of  nowhere, a big red water balloon comes hurtling towards me. Hitting me square in the nose and bursting.

“YOU LITTLE SHITS!” I scream and run out into the hall. “WAIT UNTIL I TELL YOUR MOTHER! OR EVEN WORSE IF I GET A HOLD OF YOU!” I stop at the top of the stairs.

Realising I’m still in a towel, I look down and grumble “oh shit” to myself and walk back towards my apartment.

I stop dead in my tracks. The door to my apartment is shut!

“Double shit. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!” I groan. I try pushing the door but it won’t budge.

I hit my head off the door trying to think of what I can do. I don’t even think I left a window open. Not that I’d go out and climb up the fire escape in the tiny towel I have covering me. Fucking stupid me not doing the laundry and washing the big towels that actually cover me better than this one! It sits just at the cusp of my cleavage, not that I have any normally but I have this wrapped around me so tightly it gives the illusion of some, ending just above my knees but split halfway up my thighs.

I realise with horror, that I’ll have to knock into a neighbour.

I take a moment to think of my options. I won’t knock into Miss Mags, seeing me in this state of undress would probably give her another stroke, and I would no way in hell want to do that to the sweet lady. Seneca Crane is a creep so he’s a no too. Plus I think he’s in work but shit, he might be getting home soon. Shit! I gotta move fast!

I knock into the apartment across from me, hoping he is awake. Peeta is an EMT and was on a late shift last night, I think.

“Please answer, Peeta,” I mumble to myself, praying the door opens.

Peeta’s POV

I’m woken up by a scream, followed by shouting out in the hall. Well, not unusual for this apartment block. The kids around here are very rambunctious and don’t have consideration for their neighbours.

I try to doze back off, hoping to get a couple of more hours before I have to get up and get ready for my next shift.

I’m roused by a soft knock on my door. Wondering who it could be, I sit up rubbing my eyes. “Hold on, be there in a minute!” I call out.

Getting up off the bed, I pull on my gym shorts and grab a t-shirt. I’m pulling it over my head as I swing my door open.

I’m gobsmacked by who stands at my door.

My neighbour from across the hall, Katniss Everdeen, stands before me in a forest green towel that leaves very little to the imagination. Her long hair cascades down her back with a few strands falling on her chest. Water drips off her hair and my eyes involuntarily follow the droplet down her cleavage.

Shaking my head I break myself out of the filthy thoughts my mind is having.

“Katniss, what can I do you on?” I ask. Her olive skin turns red and she looks at me funny.

“Huh?” she asks.

Realising my slip up I turn beet red myself. “Sorry, eh still half asleep,” I mumble hoping that assures her I’m not a perv like Mr. Crane two doors down. “What can I do for you?”

She sheepishly smiles at me. “I seem to have locked myself out. I was wondering if you would be able ring the super for me?”

“Yeah, sure. Come on in. I need to find my phone. Do I want to know how you got locked out in a towel?” I ask as she follows me into my apartment.

“I was only out of the shower, when a kid knocked and asked for some milk for his mom. I got the milk, opened the door when a water balloon came hurtling towards me. I ran out after them before realising my state of undress, only to find my door shut. Don’t know how, but it is what it is,” she tells me while standing just inside my door, looking delectable as hell.

I walk into my bedroom and grab my cell phone. Walking back into the living room I notice she looks awkward and my chivalrous brain kicks in.

“Would you ehm, like to borrow something to wear? I might have an old t-shirt or something you can put on, if it will make you feel more comfortable while we wait.”

She looks at me with her slate grey eyes, weighing up her options. After what feels like hours of awkward silence she answers.

“Yes please. That would be nice, thank you.”

While dialing the super, Mr Abernathy, I walk back into my room searching for a clean t-shirt. He doesn’t answer and instead of leaving a message, I just hang up. Coming up empty, the only thing I can find clean is an old work shirt of mine that shrunk in the wash.

“I could only find one of my work shirts for you. I hope it’s okay,” I tell her handing over the shirt. “You can use the bedroom to change. Mr Abernathy didn’t answer but I might be able pick the lock for you.”

She quirks a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at me. “And how do you know how to pick a lock?” she asks me with amusement in her voice.

“Breaking into my dad’s liquor cabinet back when I was 16 has it perks,” I smile back at her. “Would you happen to have a Bobby pin on you?”

She stops dead from walking into the bedroom to look at me as if i have 10 heads.

“Really Peeta?” she asks me. “Do I look like I have a bobby pin on my person?” She shakes her head and continues into the room.

“Oh god,” I groan. “Sorry, I said I was still half asleep.”

I decide to search the bathroom as there must be one in there from when cousin Delly stayed with me a few weeks ago.

“Ah-ha!” I declare triumphantly holding one up. Walking back into the living room I stop dead at the sight of Katniss in my work shirt.

Never in my life have I seen anything more beautiful or arousing than what stands before me. I pray that not all of the blood in my body has ran south.

Katniss is standing with her back to me, her hair falling down her back. My work shirt swamps her tiny frame, one side of the collar shows the barest hint of her shoulder. The hem of the shirt comes halfway down her thighs and the side cut shows the barest hint of her unblemished buttock.

That, my other head thinks, is begging for a hand print. I mentally chastise myself.

“So I managed to find a bobby pin my cousin left behind. I can just go out and try to pick the lock on my own or you could stand out with me, whichever you would feel most comfortable,” I ramble out.

She turns around and I instantly decide this view is more beautiful than the last.

Her olive skin is tainted pink with embarrassment from the whole situation. She has left the top few buttons open which gives me a peek of the swell of her breast. The rest of the buttons are done up perfectly and still leaves little to the imagination.

I fleetingly notice she’s left the towel on underneath.

“I’ll stand out with you if that’s ok. Wouldn’t want anyone getting the idea you’re breaking into my apartment,” she replies.

“Well; that is what I’m doing Katniss,” I chuckle.

We walk out into the hall and I squat down and concentrate on opening the lock. Out of the corner of my eye I notice blood trickling down her leg.

“You’re bleeding!” I gasp instantly turning and grab her calf to get a better look at it. But as soon as I touch her I feel like I’ve been struck by lightning.

Pulling back, I look up at her apologetically, then get back to my task of opening her door.

[litlifelover]

First Sunday Lunch

I've got a request from @hawtsee​ for a follow-up of my Gadge-drabble "Meeting the Parents". Because I was on vacation and answered her privately that I'm working on it, I can't answer a second time. :(

Thanks for the ask, hawtsee! I loved writing it, and really hope you like it. :)

@xerxia31​, thanks for the edits, lovely!

Enjoy, guys!

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The first member of the Hawthorne family Madge encounters is the youngest one, Posy. Dark long hair, silver eyes and a slight scowl on her face, Madge could swear Katniss' younger version stands in front of her. Even though she's only ten, young Miss Hawthorne knows how to intimidate someone.

"That's her?" she asks her brother, one brow raised, eyeing Magde from head to toe.

"That's her," Gale confirms, smirking at his sister's attitude. "What did we talk about?"

Posy huffs once, but then straightens up and stretches out her arm.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Posy."

Madge is a little perplexed at first, but quickly reacts and takes the offered hand. "I'm so glad to finally meet you, Posy. I'm Madge. Gale told me you're the best soccer player in your year?"

And just like that the young woman gets the sunniest smile she's ever seen. "He did? I mean … I'm okay, I guess." With that she turns around and calls to the others. "They're here!" A second later she hurries away.

"Little Miss Posy is very protective of her brothers, even though she's only half as old as them," Gale whispers in her ear, his lips brushing over the shell, sending a shiver down her spine. It's ridiculous how a simple touch gets her weak in the knees.

"Welcome to the Hawthorne's!" The voice interrupting their intimate moment is deep, very masculine, with traces of humour vibrating through it.

Madge turns to him and sees an older version of Gale. Isaac Hawthorne's hair and beard are still dark, only at the temples, at the chin and along the jawline are the first patches of grey and white visible. His smile is blinding, showing crinkles around his eyes, witnesses of a life full of laughter and happiness. Only the color of them is different, the darkest chocolate brown Madge has ever seen. She imagines they turn black when he's angry.

"Hey, Dad." Gale steps over to his father and they hug briefly. A second later he's back at her side, his hand resting at the small of her back. "This is Madge."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Hawthorne," she stretches out her arm, ignoring the nervousness the best she can.

"I'm happy to finally meet you, Madge," Isaac Hawthorne replies, his huge hand swallowing hers completely. "This one," he gestures with his head in Gale's direction, "can't stop talking about you."

"Geez, thanks, Dad," Gale rolls his eyes at him, but a second later gives her a playful wink. She recognizes Mr. Hawthorne's sentence for what it is; to ease her nervous mind.

It's that moment the two other brothers choose to quarrel through the entrance area of the house.

"Give it back!" the younger, nerdier one demands, the glasses he wears sitting askew. He has the same dark hair all of the Hawthorne siblings have inherited, but his complexion is lighter, his body more lanky than the muscular form of his older brothers, and his eyes are - to Madge's surprise - emerald green.

"My turn, nerd," Rory shrugs and keeps a magazine just out of reach of his younger brother. Madge met him before. One evening, a couple of weeks ago, Gale picked him up from Hockey training and the three of them had dinner together. In short, Rory is the three-years-younger version of his brother, less broody, a little shorter, but nearly as broad in the shoulders and quite a bit cheekier.

"Vick! Rory!" Mr. Hawthorne's stern voice interrupts the argument, and Madge sees the flicker of black in his eyes she imagined before. "We have a guest."

Rory rolls his eyes. "You'd think the president's about to come with all the effort you've put in."

Madge can't stop the smile forming around her lips over the similarity between him and Gale at this moment.

"Watch it, Mister! Or the bonfire you want to take Primrose Everdeen to next Saturday is history," another voice interrupts, this time female. When Madge turns she finds herself face to face with Hazelle Hawthorne.

And Madge can see all the things the Hawthorne siblings inherited from their mother: Posy's beautiful dark hair, the shape of Vick's nose, Rory's dimpled smile and Gale's sparkling silver eyes.

Her boyfriend leans over and presses a kiss to his mother's cheek.

"It's so good to finally meet you, Magdalena," Mrs. Hawthorne gushes, before she steps over and gives a surprised Madge a welcoming hug. At first the young woman has no idea how to react, but eventually simply reciprocates. Never before had a welcome been so warm and friendly. "And now come, come. Lunch's nearly ready." The older woman links her arm with hers and guides her into the adjoining dining room. "The strawberry slushies should be cold enough when it's time for dessert."

Madge gasps and turns sharply to Gale. "I can't believe you told them!"

Laughter from all around her booms through the house, and she feels her cheeks turn crimson.

"Ah, don't worry, Madge," Mr. Hawthorne snickers. "If I remember correctly, that day he came home and grumbled about a girl who threw her drink at him because she thought he was about to grab her. I told him he should ask her out the next time he ran into her and didn't look like a pink gummy bear."

"Glad I took your advice there, old man," Gale replies smoothly, one corner of his lips turned up into a smile. Madge has to hold herself back from going over to him and kissing the dimple that appears there. When he wants, Gale Hawthorne can be cute as a button.

"May I throw up now?" Rory gags for dramatic effect, and Mr. Hawthorne slaps him slightly over the back of his head.

"Is strawberry your favorite flavor?" Posy pipes in now. Madge didn't even see her joining them again. She has the silent tread of her brother then.

"It is."

"Cool. Mine, too," the girl grins. "Will you sit with me at lunch?"

Madge beams. "I would love to."

Posy nods once and guides her over to a chair right beside a sunshine yellow table mat.

Next thing she knows the whole family shares Chicken Parmesan and salad, glasses are filled with homemade lemonade, a basket of bread goes around the table. Vick Hawthorne says the prayers, and soon everybody is enjoying their Sunday lunch together.

Gale leans slightly over to Madge and carefully squeezes her hand under the table. "See? I told you. No need to be nervous about anything."

For an answer she presses a quick kiss to his cheek and gives him her best smile, before she takes her first bite of many meals to follow.

[loveinpanem-blog]

The Right One

Well this is something I thought I would never do, write my own fic but here it is. Trust me, it’s a lot harder than you think and without the help of 3 special people, I don’t think I could have done it alone.

Firstly, I need to thank @thegirlfromoverthepond for her understanding and friendship. You are truly one lovely human being.

Secondly, my story would be nothing without my mentor and beta @finnicko-loves-anniec. Thank you for your patience and brilliant beta-skills. I really hit the jackpot with you as my mentor.  

And thirdly (and by no means lastly), @drivebyanon. Thank you for your never-ending support and encouragement throughout this whole journey, even when I wanted to give up. You were my very own cheer squad when I needed it the most so I’m dedicating this story to you.

Sorry, there’s no smut here. I’m still in the ‘pre-school’ stage but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

SUMMARY

‘we don’t meet people by accident, they are meant to cross our path for a reason,’ Rubyanne

Peeta didn’t know her name or even if she was real. All he knew is that he had to paint her image and hope that destiny would allow them to one day cross paths.

THE RIGHT ONE

“Well, thank you for applying. I do have a few other applicants to see, and I’ll be in touch if I need more information about your application,” Peeta said to yet another hopeful single young lady wanting to work at his bakery. It was becoming a joke between many of the other store keepers. They all knew why these girls were so interested in working at the bakery with Peeta. Ever since his father passed away almost one year ago, Peeta had been working around the clock to keep the bakery going and adding a few of his new ideas to make the bakery even more profitable than it already was. As a wealthy young bachelor, Peeta was finding it hard to find the ‘right one’. Obviously in another vain attempt to seduce Peeta, the young girl shamelessly fluttered her eyelashes and giggled whilst stepping closer, proudly showing off the low neckline of her dress that left nothing to the imagination.

“Thank you Peeta, it was nice to see you again after all this time. I’ll wait for your call. Don’t be a stranger, okay.” No, Peeta would not be calling her.

 As Peeta turned towards the front counter of the bakery, he thought about how all this came about. After his father died from a mysterious illness, his mother wasted no time in running off to District 2 to be with the man she had been having an affair with for the past five years, unbeknown to his father. Peeta, on the other hand had an inkling that something was not quite right. “Good riddance” he thought, but getting full ownership of his father’s beloved bakery cost Peeta an ‘arm and a leg’ in terms of monies that his mother said was owed to her for ‘pain and suffering’. For the years she had to endure working alongside her ‘good-for-nothing, spineless’ husband and his ‘wretched’ bakery, as she so coldly put it. Her parting words made Peeta even more determine to keep his mother out of his life for good. He agreed to pay her $50,000 which she happily accepted.

Yeah, good riddance indeed! Even at the ripe old age of twenty-four, Peeta was no fool and made sure that a legal contract was drawn so his mother (how he loathed calling her that) would not come back asking for more compensation. She would never get her hands on HIS bakery now.

“That’s the third girl this week, Pete,” Thom said as he locked the front door to the bakery turning over the sign on the door to ‘closed’. “What was wrong with this one? Clove right, was that her name?”

Thom helped Peeta out in the front of the bakery making sure the bread, cakes and pastries were always re-stocked and when the baked goods were sold, he helped clean up and counted the day’s takings. Thom was one of the few people Peeta trusted. But this was a temporary arrangement as Thom had a job at the local council as Head Building Inspector.

Peeta sighed. “All these girls want is to worm their way into this bakery thinking they can charm themselves for more than a paid salary. I’m not interested in any of them, and I’m certainly not interested in any sort of relationship. I just need to keep looking until I find the right one–I mean—applicant–I mean–I need someone who’s willing to work hard and help me with the daily running of my bakery–nothing more,” Peeta quickly added, his face burning hot with embarrassment.

As Thom looked at Peeta’s expression, he felt sorry for this young man that he had come to think of as his good friend. “You’ll find her, Peet. I bet you the right one is just around the corner.”

Peeta simply nodded head lowered and walked into the back kitchen.

The weather turned dismal the next day. Rain fell heavily and the wind became bitterly cold. Winter had arrived. The morning routine of firing up the ovens, kneading the dough, filling the cake orders was busily underway and the usual afternoon rush came and went. Thom and Peeta were glad they could finally start to shut up shop for the day.

While Thom wiped down the display cabinets and countertops, Peeta made sure everything in the kitchen was clean and tidy, ready for tomorrow morning’s baking. He turned off the ovens and decided to sit in front of them with a cheese bun he’d made only hours ago. “Okay, I’m going to sit down for a bit and maybe make a hot chocolate, do you want one?” Peeta shouted from the kitchen.

“Nah, I’ll take a raincheck though,” Thom said happily because Peeta’s hot chocolate was the best he’d ever tasted. “I’m going to lock up now Peeta, Madge is expecting me home early today,” Thom shouted back. He knew that Peeta enjoyed a bit of quiet time in the kitchen at the end of a busy day, just staring at that painting on the wall. The little girl with two braids. Who was she? He often wondered until one day he just came out and asked Peeta. He said he wasn’t sure, that maybe she was someone he met a long time ago, that he had to paint her before he forgot what she looked like.

Peeta often stared at the picture he painted a long time ago of a young girl with black hair that she wore in two braids. He hung the painting of her proudly in the kitchen because he was sure he could feel her presence. Maybe she was someone from his past, perhaps when Peeta was a young boy but the urge to paint her image was so strong that it took over him until he was satisfied that he had captured her very essence on canvas. Most of all, he needed to make sure he’d captured the right shade of grey in her eyes. They seemed to speak to him each day, greet him good morning and wish him goodnight at the end of the day. The feeling of calm and warmth coursed through his veins each time he looked upon her image.

The bell at the top of the shop door chimed announcing a customer had entered, only this time a very wet and cold young lady came in shivering with her arms crossed over her chest. She had dark hair that was braided to one side. Her skin was an olive complexion and her eyes were silvery-grey. She was obviously nervous. She looked across the store waiting for the old gentleman who was buying his usual loaf of bread leave.  She kindly stepped aside and opened the front door for him. He briskly walked outside in the rain with his baked goods tucked snuggly under his raincoat.

“Can I help you miss?” Thom asked.

She looked almost frightened but she slowly walked up to the counter and hesitantly started to speak. “Good morning Mr. Mellark, I believe you have a position for a helper available,” she said with teeth chattering.

 “Oh yes, we do, but I’m not Mr. Mellark.  He’s out the back taking a break but let me get him for you,” Thom said with a puzzled look on his face. You look familiar, where have I seen your face before? Thom quickly came to his senses. 

“No, no don’t bother him, it’s okay. I don’t want to stop him from his break,” the girl stuttered out.

Just as Thom was about to call Peeta, he came rushing from the kitchen. Peeta felt a sudden urge to go out to the front of the shop. His feet were walking, almost running before he had time to think and when he stopped at the doorway, he thought he had seen a ghost, no, not a ghost, a vision he wasn’t sure. Whatever he saw, he couldn’t speak—move or breathe for that matter.

“Peeta, this young lady is enquiring about the job-“ but before Thom could even finish his sentence, Peeta came out of his frozen stoop and quickly walked over to this mysterious woman. He couldn’t stop staring at her and it made the young girl feel very self-conscious.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi,” she replied. Peeta could not stop staring at her eyes. Those beautiful grey eyes.

I’ve seen those eyes staring back at me a thousand times and now…. now you’re here, he thought.

“I..I..I’m Peeta Mellark miss and you are?” His hand instantly stretched out to her offering a gentle handshake which she accepted instantly.

“Katniss. My name is Katniss Everdeen, pleased to meet you,” she replied. “I’m new in town and I’m staying at my uncles for a while and he said you were looking for someone to help you in the bakery.”

“Yes, yes I am Miss Everdeen, Katniss? That’s a beautiful name.” Peeta whispered to himself. “Oh my goodness, how rude of me, you’re soaked to the bone. Please, come around the back the ovens are still warm. I’ll get you a clean towel to dry off,”

“Oh no, please Mr Mellark, I don’t want to impose. Like I said, I understand you have a job offering, but if this is an inconvenient time I can come back tomorrow.” Katniss was about to start walking out towards the front door when Peeta gently grabbed her arm.

“No, please, don’t go. It’s raining and you’re cold, please, stay.”

Katniss could not understand the warmth she felt at Peeta’s touch even though she was soaked to the bone. “Okay, but I can’t stay long. My uncle will be worried if I’m not home soon.”

“Okay, sure, no problem. I can walk you home if you like–and it’s Peeta, please call me Peeta.”

Katniss quickly nodded then spoke in reply, “Katniss, you can call me Katniss, if you like.”

“Yes, I’d like that Katniss, I’d like that a lot, thank you”.

As Peeta and Katniss walked to the back of the shop where the kitchen’s ovens were still warm, Thom could hear Peeta ask Katniss if she could start working tomorrow. “Yes, tomorrow, that would be great,” Katniss said enthusiastically. “I don’t have much experience with working in a shop and I really don’t know anything about baking. But I love bread and cakes and buns.”

“Buns, oh then you’ll have to try these,” Peeta said. “It’s a new recipe of mine and I think they’re good but I haven’t put them out to sell yet.” Peeta quickly grabbed two cheese buns that he had made earlier onto a plate and handed them to Katniss.

“Hmm, they smell wonderful,” Katniss said.

 “They taste great with hot chocolate too. It will only take a minute.”

 “No, please don’t go to any trouble Peeta, I feel like I’m imposing.”

 “No imposition at all Katniss, I was just about to have a cheese bun and hot chocolate myself so to share with you would be… nice.” Katniss nodded and smiled with blushed cheeks. Peeta handed her a clean towel from under the bench to dry off and as she reached out to take it their hands gently brushed against each other. That warm spark was undeniable, both felt it. Peeta quickly turned to the stove and started on the hot chocolate. The beam that shone from both their faces was hard to miss.

As Thom watched Peeta and Katniss together in the kitchen, he smiled and quietly walked over to the front door, turned over the sign and locked the door. Hmmm, am I imagining it, her eyes are strangely like the ones in Pete’s painting, the one in the kitchen? I’m sure of it, he thought.

Yes, tomorrow was going to be a new day. Thom would be teaching Katniss how to work in the bakery and he knew in his heart that this was the start of Peeta and Katniss’ story.

Yeah, Peeta just found the ‘right one’. 

[ellanainthetardis]

Prompt, Based on the one where Katniss calls Effie 'Mom': The group visits Annie & Jo in 4. Katniss' mom finds out they're there & overhears Katniss' kids calling Effie 'Grandma', & cue regret that she'd never met them, maybe someone even had to tell her who the kids were, & perhaps envy that Effie's closer to them all than she'll ever be now?

Here it is, some toastbabies with a side of old very domestic hayffie {X]

Grandma

The playgrounds in Four were a lot bigger thanthe single one in Twelve and Effie was running herself frayed trying to keep aneye on the children. Next time, she vowed, she would force Finn to come withthem. He was a nice young twenty-three year old man and he would never refuseher. He was even sweeter on her than his father had been. It was shocking torealize Finn was older than Finnick had been when he had died and when she hadseen him waiting for them on the station’s platform with Annie and Johanna, shehad been forced to swallow back a gasp.

“Relax, sweetheart.” Haymitch snorted.“Willow’s right there.”

Willow was climbing the monkey bars, urging hernewfound friends on – she was just as reckless as her mother and just as promptto make friends as her father. Effie blamed most of her grey hair on the eightyears old.

“And Rye?” she worried.

“Still in the sandbox where we left him.” hepromised, relaxing further against the bench they were sitting on.

He looked tired, she noticed, briefly takingher attention away from the children to study him. One of his arms wasstretched behind her along the length of the wood, his other hand was on hisknee and his fingers were restlessly drumming an uneven rhythm. He alwayslooked restless since the surgery. Or perhaps it was having been forced to giveup liquor for good.

On bad days, days when he felt weak and sick,he blamed her for what he was going through. He would have simply given up anddied if she had let him, let cirrhosis win and take him away from her… She hadfought and fought until he had surrendered and accepted to go to the Capitol toget a second opinion and then she had fought and fought until he gave in andagreed to have the operation. They could do all sort of things in the city, cure all sort of things that would haveotherwise been considered terminal. It simply had a price because those privateclinics didn’t operate pro-bono.

All their savings and a part of Peeta’s hadgone into getting him into that program and Plutarch still had been forced topull strings.

But it had been worth it. Oh, so worth it.

Now he had a brand new liver grown especiallyfor him from his own DNA – and perhaps it was similar to mutts and perhaps hehad had reasons to be wary but she didn’t care because he was alive. They wouldn’t have had much morethan a few more months together without that surgery and instead they had had twoyears and hopefully many more to come. Having to take meds every morning andnight and staying off the liquor were a small price to pay in her opinion.

“We are far too old for this.” she sighed.  At fifty-eight, she didn’t have the energyshe used to and the children were a handful on the best day. At sixty-four,Haymitch was even less partial to entire days spent watching children all tooprone to accidents. Babysitting was fine but she wasn’t sure how they wouldsurvive an entire week as their sole caretakers. “Next time, they can send themto Annie and Johanna.”

Truth be told, that week was supposed to be asecond honeymoon for Peeta and Katniss who had packed up for Seven while theytook the children to Four for the traditional summer trip. The children wouldjoin them later, at which point, Haymitch and Effie would switch hotels for asmaller cozier one where they would be able to have some honeymoon time of their own.

Haymitch tossed her an incredulous glance. “Youwanna send your preciousgrandchildren away for a whole week with only Annie and Johanna to supervise?”

“They didn’t do such a bad job raising Finn.”she countered.

His lips twitched into a smirk. “Have you metWillow?”

“Point taken.” she chuckled. Willow and Johannawould be a bad mix. Willow was always up to all sorts of shenanigans and Jo wasalways too willing to humor her. “Oh, no! Rye is crying…”

The three years old must have gotten some sandinto his eyes. Effie was already halfway up but Haymitch waved her down,hauling himself off the bench to hurry to the boy. Despite his grumpy attitude,she watched as Haymitch’s irritation melted around the baby of the family. Ifanyone had ever told her she would see Haymitch Abernathy, Quarter Quellvictor, willingly sit down in a sandbox to play with a little boy, she wouldhave laughed hard enough to break a rib.

Rye being safe with Haymitch, she turned herattention back to Willow who had now urged her little group of friends to theslide. They were apparently playing at having an adventure and Effie smiledwith fondness at the girl’s antics. She was having the time of her life, itseemed. Hopefully, if she exhausted herself enough she wouldn’t beg to go tothe beach later on. Effie refused to let the children in the water if there wasno adult to supervise – which often meant herif Annie or Finn were otherwise engaged. She could never say no, of course, it was the point of theholidays after all but… She wouldn’t have minded a quiet afternoon, truth betold. A fashion magazine, a cocktail…

Perhaps they could take the children furtherdown the pier where there were carousels and ice cream to distract them fromthe ocean when they would be done playing. They would enjoy it and they couldall go to the beach in the morning instead of…

“Miss Trinket?”

Effie looked up at the woman who had called hername, adjusting her pink sunglasses on her nose to see better – she was up toall tricks to keep people from knowing her sight wasn’t as good as it once was,she wore contacts and had her sunglasses corrected. It took her a few minutesto place her because it had been years since she had given her any thought atall.

“Mrs Everdeen…” she said slowly, without anywarmth.

Her feelings about the woman had always beensomehow mixed because she didn’t believe an eleven years old should have beenforced to care for her family when there was a capable adult present. But thathad been another world and she could have understood if the woman hadn’t packedup and left right before the end of Katniss’ trial, leaving Haymitch forced tostep up to take custody of the girl and thus compelled to leave her behind in the Capitol to look afterPeeta when she had barely been able to take care of herself and when theirrelationship had been at a very fragile breaking point. It had added a lot ofdifficulties that the obvious pain Katniss had felt at her mother’s desertionhadn’t helped curb. Never mind the lack of surprise on the girl’s part.

The healer looked hesitant but she flashed hera small smile. “I thought it was you. You haven’t changed at all.”

Effie patted her dyed strawberry blond hairself-consciously, she kept the reddish hue because Haymitch was fond of it andbecause it was close to its original colors. There were lines at the corner ofher eyes but she supposed the sunglasses hid those. The blue summer dresshugged a figure that, fortunately, was still appealing enough in her ownopinion, the scars having faded enough in the last two decades not to be sonoticeable. The hands, though, were the dead giveaway. They were old woman’shands now. Wrinkled and sometimes swollen at the joints, preventing her fromsewing or knitting.

Wait until you hitsixty, Haymitchalways mocked because it was went his body had finally cried uncle for him. Notonly the liver but his knees and his back.

“You neither.” she offered politely.

It wasn’t a far cry from the truth. AsterEverdeen looked the same, albeit a little older. Her blond hair was mostlywhite now, it fell in a long braid over her shoulder. Delicate hands wereclutching the strap of a medical bag passed over a shoulder over a medicaluniform of some sort.

“Are you still living in Twelve?” the womanasked with a touch of… eagerness. “Katniss mentioned you had moved there a fewyears ago.”

Effie pursed her lips. As far as she knew,Katniss had had almost no contact with her mother aside from the occasionalphone calls in the years after the war – and those phone calls had becomeshorter and shorter until they had simply stopped. Aster hadn’t come to thewedding and the girl had never forgiven her for it.

She glanced at the boy who was now busy withhis favorite game of let’s climb Grandpa andwondered if the woman even knew about them. How long since the last timeKatniss had talked to her mother? She remembered it had been a big deal duringKatniss’ first pregnancy, how the girl had uncharacteristically sought her company at odd times because shefelt insecure and needed the input of another woman, one she was close to andto whom she could confide things that would have had Peeta and Haymitchrunning.

“I have been living in Twelve for more thantwenty years, yes.” she confirmed. “With Haymitch.”

“Oh, of course.” Aster smiled awkwardly. It was public knowledge after all. It hadmade quite the scandal and they had appeared together at various officialevents since then – the anniversaries of the rebellion weren’t things they wereallowed to miss, particularly when they hit a new milestone. The healer clearedher throat. “And how’s…”

“Grandma!” Willow shouted, choosing that momentto come running to the bench. “Grandma! Can I get Tali’s number so I can callher tomorrow for a play date, please? Her mother says I can have it and we cangive her Auntie Annie’s if you say it’s okay.”

Effie glanced from the flushed girl to thewoman who was standing next to another bench with a little girl, clearly aboutto leave. She rummaged in her bag for a piece of paper and quickly scribbledAnnie’s number on it. Willow snatched it from her hand and was gone before shecould even blink.

She shook her head with an amusement thatquickly faded when she looked back at Aster. The healer was staring at thechild.

“I didn’t know you had children.” Mrs Everdeencommented.

“I don’t.” she denied. “Not biologic onesanyway. Willow is…”

She never had time to confirm what the womanprobably already suspected because the girl was back, her prize clutched in herlittle fist. “Can you keep it safe for me, Grandma? I really like Tali. I don’twant to lose it.”

“Of course, darling.” she promised, placing thepiece of paper with her little friend’s number in her purse for safekeeping.“Wait.” she ordered before the child could scamper away. “Here, drinksomething. It’s too hot to be running around without proper hydration.”

Willow took the plastic bottle full ofstrawberry flavored water without protest and dutifully sipped from it, knowingthat the sooner she complied the quicker she would be allowed to go back toplaying. Her grey eyes fell on Aster and her eyebrows shot up, she pointed outat the woman’s hair. “My mommy does the same kind of braids.”

“Does she, now?” Aster breathed out, her eyesshiny. She dropped on the bench next to Effie who had half a mind to protestbut didn’t quite know how to handle the whole thing. What would Katniss wanther to do? It wasn’t her place todecide how to introduce the woman.

“Yep.” the girl nodded enthusiastically.“You’re a friend of Grandma?”

Mrs Everdeen flinched and Effie realized itmust have been a slap in the face to realize she was grandma. Their biologicalgrandmother was a stranger to them.

“I…” Aster hesitated.

“Hey, squirrel, why don’t you go back to playingwith your friends, yeah?” Haymitch suddenly cut in, his voice a touch wary.“They look like they’re waiting for you.”

Willow didn’t need to be told twice. She tossedthe bottle at Haymitch who caught it easily despite the boy clinging to hisneck and snickering hard at the game. It wasn’t long before Haymitch hadsecured the three years old against his chest and had handed him the bottle hissister had left behind. Rye took a few sips with obvious relief. He was lessflushed than Willow but it was clear he wouldn’t have minded some peace andquiet. The way he was rubbing his eyes, Effie figured it wouldn’t be longbefore he took a short nap. Without him needing to ask, she handed him the frayedstuffed horse that usually resided in her bag when it wasn’t in his arms. Hewedged it between Haymitch and his body, cuddling it close.  

“Hello, Haymitch.” Aster said, a bit waryherself. “Hello, young man.” Rye peered at her under his long eyelashes andthen buried his face in Haymitch’s neck, placing his horse over his head forgood measure. The woman smiled sadly. “I trust this one isn’t yours either?”

Effie shook her head. “Why don’t you say helloto the nice lady, Rye?” The boy clung to Haymitch a little tighter and refusedto look at the stranger. She shrugged apologetically. “He is a bit shy but heis such a sweet child…”

“He’s tired.” Haymitch said, his grey eyesnever wandering away from Aster. Effie knew that look. It was the way hewatched out for threats. “I was coming to tell you we should bring the kidshome.”

“Wait.”Aster pleaded, sounding scared. She searched Haymitch’s gaze, found no sympathythere and turned to Effie. “How old are they?”

She hesitated but really… “Willow is eight and Rye is three.”

“Rye…”the woman repeated. “Wasn’t one of Peeta’s brother…”

“Yes. His favorite one.” Effie nodded.

“Oh…” Aster breathed out, desperately staringat Willow who was once more leading her friends in an adventure. “But Katnissdidn’t name the girl after…”

“It was too difficult for her.” she interruptedswiftly. Rye was now watching them without looking like it and he was a brightlittle thing. He would tell his sister who was naturally curious and would putthe puzzle back together. Questions would be asked if certain names wereraised. “We all wanted a clean slate.”

Naming the children after dead friends andfamily members… Nobody had opposed Peeta’s choice to give his son his favoritebrother’s name because none of them had been close to the dead young man. Primnow… It would have been too painful. Rue had been pushed aside for the samereason. In the end, Katniss had decided her children wouldn’t carry that sortof weight.

“And they call you Grandma.” Aster stated,almost accusative.

Effie opened her mouth, feeling all defensive,but Haymitch got there first and there was a growl in his voice that hadintimidated more than one powerful person. “Cause she’s there.”

“Do they know you aren’t their realgrandmother?” the healer asked.

And it hurt.

It hurt alot.

She looked down at her knees, brushing imaginarycreases off her blue dress. Haymitch automatically cradled the back of Rye’shead as if to shield him from those words. Unfortunately, the boy’s blue eyeswere staring straight at Effie who gave him a small reassuring smile. It wasenough for the child to smile back before he started sucking on his thumb. Itwas a habit they were trying to break him out of but she didn’t chide him forit.

“Now, you listen and you listen hard.” Haymitch hissed. “Effie’s just asreal as…”

“Enough.” Effie declared, standing up.

“Sweetheart.” he warned with a  glare, clearly dying to say his piece. He hadclaimed to understand Aster’s decision to not go back to Twelve after the warbut her behavior since then, her failure to come back into Katniss’ life hadleft him angry and bitter. He hated to see his victor hurt.

“Darling.” she replied in the same warningtone. She found another piece of paper in her bag and scribbled Annie’s numberfor the second time before handing it to Aster. “Katniss and Peeta will join usnext week. Call your daughter if you wish to see your grandchildren.”

“Don’t call if you’re just gonna take offagain.” Haymitch snapped. “They’re kids,not toys. You can’t just waltz in their lives and disappear right after.”

“I didn’t disappear, I left her with you.”Aster protested faintly, rubbing her face. “I could never have… I knew you werethe best choice, Haymitch. I knew you would look after her better than I evercould have. She had always been closer to her father, you know, and you… Youfilled that gap in her life.”

“Yeah, well…” he grumbled. “Effie filled theone you left so…” He shook his head.“I mean it, Aster. If you call, you better be ready to own it.”

“Willow!” Effie signaled to the girl they wereready to leave and the child came running, wrapping her arms around her middlewith pleading eyes. “No, darling, we really need to go home. Your brother wantshis nap.” she said firmly before Willow could beg for five more minutes thatwould turn into a half hour. “However Iwas thinking that after a nap and a snack we might just go to the pier.”

Where there would be carousels and all sorts ofgames and where, she was sure, they would end up with one of those giganticstuffed toys Haymitch grumbled so much about because they had ended up with ahuge stuffed panda and a zoo of smaller animals in their guest room given thatWillow was running out of space to stock them at home.

The girl’s eyes brightened and she squeezed herwaist harder. “You’re the best Grandma in the whole world!”  

Aster flinched and Effie almost felt sorry forher. Almost.

It had been her choice to give up on herdaughter after all.

“How about me, squirrel?” Haymitch scowled,faking a pout. “Don’t even get a hug? I smell or what?”

Willow laughed, carefree and happy, andswitched targets to barrel into Haymitch. He winced a little when her head hitthe always tender spot on his stomach but it was soon smoothed away by anexpression of utter fondness.

“I am afraid we have to go.” Effie told Aster,polite but a touch cold. “Do consider giving your daughter a call.”

They didn’t give her a lot of time to ponderthat. Haymitch herded the children away, Willow clinging to his hand. Theyhadn’t gone really far from the playground when the girl grabbed Effie’s freehand so she could walk between them and peered up at her curiously. “Who wasthe lady?”

“An old acquaintance.” she dismissed.

The word seemed to puzzle Willow who made aface and turned to Haymitch for clarification.

“Just someone we used to know, sweetheart.” heshrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”

Willow pondered that and then probably decidedit wasn’t worth her interest because she started hopping happily between them.“Can Finn take us to the aquarium again sometimes? I like watching the fish.”

“We will ask him tonight.” Effie promised. “Butif he can’t we won’t insist, alright?”

Finn had been working at the aquarium since thebeginning of the year and she didn’t want him to get in trouble for them. Heloved his job, he loved taking care of animals, and she wasn’t sure giving themthe behind the scenes tour had beencleared with his superiors.

“Okay.” the girl agreed readily. She escapedtheir hands to run a little ahead.

“Stay in sight!” Effie demanded, shaking herhead at how impetuous that child was. A glance at Rye confirmed the boy was nowsound asleep in Haymitch’s arms. “What did you think?”

“Not sure.” he admitted. “Just hope she’sserious about it if she decides to call Katniss. The girl’s been let downenough.” His lips twitched with anger. “She had some nerves too, saying you’renot their real grandmother. What’s thatsupposed to mean? Who was there when Katniss went into labor? Who changeddiapers? Who stayed up all night with the kids when Willow had that fever?Who’s always there to watch the babies when the kids need some air?” Hescoffed. “Got some nerves, I’m telling you.”

She smiled at how protective he was of her butwaved a dismissive hand in the air. “She was just jealous, I think. What I getto be to those children… She will never have it.”

He seemed a little surprised. “Didn’t botheryou?”

“The comment did a little.” she admitted.“But…” She shrugged. “A few years ago, I would have been afraid of her stealingthem all away from me. Now… Now I know nothing can drive us apart.”

They had all been close since the war, theyformed a solid family unit that the children’s babies had only strengthened.But after Haymitch’s health troubles… Katniss and Peeta had rallied around themin a way that had brought her close to tears a few times. Katniss had beggedhim to take the surgery, she had raged until she had burst out in full sobs andshe hadn’t stopped until he had held her close like he almost never did becauseneither of them were touchy-feely –as they claimed. Peeta was the one who had sat Haymitch down and had forced himto consider everything he would be leaving behind if he chose to just give upand accept his fate – not only Effie but Katniss and him and grand-children whoworshiped the ground he walked on. The children had been there every step ofthe way. They hadn’t come to the Capitol with them but they had called threetimes a day to check on him, to talk to him, to make sure everything was goingas best as possible – to the point he had one day exclaimed that he didn’t needto be that coddled, all the whileflushing red in embarrassment and, Effie was sure, pleasure at knowing he wasloved that much.

So, no,she wasn’t scared of Aster Everdeen coming and stealing the matriarch placeback because that place belonged to Effie and to Effie alone. Katniss herselfhad confessed she felt closer to her than to her own mother. There was noquestion about how Peeta felt about her. And the babies… Well… Willow and Ryeloved her, she knew it deep down and she was secured in that knowledge.

“Look at you being all wise.” he teased.

“It suits me well, I think.” she teased rightback.

It didn’t have to be all hers or all Aster’s.She could share a little of them.

But it was Aster Everdeen’s decision to takethat first step.

[jlalafics]

“A Babysitter’s Life”-A THG Alternate

I’m trying something a little different. Actually…really different.

For some reference, this story takes place about seven-ish years after the Rebellion, putting Katniss and Peeta in about their mid-twenties. Consider a Post-Rebellion Alternate where Rue was not picked for the 74th Hunger Games. All other deaths, however, have occurred.

_____________ 

Summary: “It’s my lauded life to take care of you Mellarks.”

In need of something new, Rue takes a job in District 12 for the Victors of the 74th Hunger Games.

This is my first time on a train. Actually, it is my first time anywhere.

Underneath me, I feel every track as we head towards my destination—District 12. Outside, a forest envelops our rickety train and I take a deep breath when a whiff of pine hits my nostrils. Already, I am getting accustomed to something new; our trees are mostly fruit-filled, smaller but plentiful and sweet-smelling. The forest around me is encompassing, filled with the rustic scent of undisturbed life.

My mother tells me this is the opportunity of a lifetime. It is a chance to see another District; meet some new people and to really learn what skills I have. I can tell, however, that my mother is more anxious to see me settled in somewhere…anywhere, really.

I think that she’s just tired of finding me laid up in another wheat field staring up at the sky.

The train begins to slow down as we reach our last stop and my new home.

It is still early and my train had very little passengers; there’s a handful of people waiting for their loved ones—and one boy.

He is grey-eyed and olive skinned with thick, inky hair brushed back from his sharp face. The boy leans against a post and when our eyes meet, I know that he has come for me.

Steeling myself, I stand up when the train comes to a halt and make my way out.

The boy is already in front of me when I step down onto the platform.

He lifts a strong brow at me. “Rue Andrews?”

“Yes,” I confirm.

“Rory Hawthorne,” the boy replies. “I’m to take you to the Mellarks.”

Rory reaches for my lone bag and I whip it away. “No need. I got it.”

He guffaws, a small grin on his lips as he holds his hands up in surrender. “Just trying to be polite.”

“I’m sorry,” I say as we head off the platform into what I’m guessing is the main part of District 12. “I’m not used to—”

“People trying to be polite?” he responds.

I let out a snort. “It’s just very early…” Something niggles at my memory and I look to him, trying to remember where I may have seen him. A poster drifts into my thoughts… “Why do you look familiar?”

Rory gives me a long look. “Maybe you’ve heard of my brother—Gale?”

Oh yes—Gale Hawthorne.

Part of the Star Squad during the Rebellion and currently the sweetheart of District 2. His wedding to some businessman’s daughter was splashed all over the papers and the Capitol’s main channel. My mind recalls a picture of Gale with his family and I briefly remember an image of Rory in a fitted suit.

I turn to him. “You look better in your regular clothes.”

Rory colors. “Yeah…Alice, Gale’s wife, wanted us to wear those monkey suits.” He meets my eyes. “So, how did you fall into the job of glorified babysitter for the Mellarks?”

“My mom was visiting her sister in District 4 and met Mrs. Everdeen,” I explain. “She was telling my mom about how Katniss is expecting another child and has to limit her activities because this pregnancy is a little more difficult. Also, that their daughter needs someone to run around with while Peeta is at their bakery. So, my mom volunteered for me.”

I also jumped at the chance. I needed something new.

Rory nods in understanding. “It can get stifling sometimes.”

“Don’t I know it,” I reply as we reach the end of town and toward a border fence. “So, your family was close to Katniss’, right?”

“Yes. Katniss and Gale used to go hunting together,” Rory recalls. “He was in love with her at some point…but she chose Peeta. It was the right choice, in my opinion.”

“Oh…so you also knew Pr—”

“I knew Prim,” Rory finishes hurriedly. “We grew up together and when we were in hiding in District 13, we took care of each other. Then, she joined the medical team—” He stops, his expression heavy. “We’re here.”

I stare up at an iron archway, leading to the cul-de-sac of grand houses. “Victors’ Village.”

“Yup,” Rory replies wryly. “Population: Four and a three-fourth people. I guess with you—five and three-fourths.”

I roll my eyes at him. “Thanks for the math lesson.”

We reach the first house on the right. There’s a well-tended garden in front and a pathway leading up to the house created with…primroses.

Rory follows my gaze as we approach the front door.

“Peeta planted them when he came back from the Capitol.”

“For Katniss,” I muse. “That’s romantic.”

A laugh comes from in front of us.

“I don’t think we had romance on our minds…we were just trying to keep ourselves from attacking one another.”

I look up to find a very pregnant Katniss Mellark standing in the open doorway.

++++++

Katniss Mellark looks surprisingly young.

While we are just a few good years apart in age, Katniss’ smooth complexion and clear greys could easily fool someone into thinking we are school-age friends instead of employer and employee. I have a hard time registering that the woman in front of me was once a seventeen-year-old who, in one action, started a revolution.

“Thanks for picking Rue up,” she tells Rory. “What do I owe you?”

“Nothing,” he tells her easily. “I got to walk a cute, intelligent girl to your house. That’s reward enough.”

I turn to him. “I appreciate the intelligent. I hate the cute.” Reaching into my pocket, I hand him a few bills. “Here. Buy yourself a thesaurus and come up with some better adjectives.”

“I like you already,” Katniss says with a smirk before looking to Rory. “Stop by the bakery. Peeta has a few things that he needs help with.”

“You got it,” Rory replies. Stepping onto the porch, he gives me a wink. “I’m glad you’re here. See you around.”

He turns and saunters off before I can reply.

“Rory is a real charmer,” Katniss remarks as she closes the door.

“He’s a little much,” I tell her.

She laughs and then looks me over. “So, what made you decide to leave the lush orchards of District 11?”

“I don’t know.” I look around the entryway—painted a cool blue—before glancing to each side where the living room and den are. “There was just a yearning, I guess. A chance to do something new.” Turning, I meet her eyes. “Isn’t that what you fought for? A chance for the generations after you to live fully?”

“At the time, I was just trying to stay alive,” she says, somewhat shyly.

Her hands go to her belly; she’s entering her seventh month, from what I can tell. I’m the oldest of six and by the time Charlene—the last of my siblings—was born, I knew without my mom telling me that she was in labor.

“Well, it worked out in our favor. Thank goodness for that.” Katniss’ mouth opens just a bit as if to reply before it firmly closes. “Sorry. I’ve been told that I speak with absolutely no filter at times and it can throw people off.”

“You remind me a lot of Johanna,” she tells me.

“Johanna Mason?” I think for a moment. “She seemed a bit blunt during her interviews and I was never good at axe-wielding.”

“Talk to Johanna for five minutes and you might want an axe of your own.”

We both laugh and I can see the tension melt off her. I can also see that she is exhausted, her hands imperceptibly going to her lower back.

“Why don’t we go to the kitchen and you can tell me more about my duties?” I say gently.

Katniss nods, letting out a small breath. “Right down the hall towards the back.”

We head past the stairs and make a turn into the open archway where the kitchen is. It’s homey; peach wallpaper with a delicate filigree pattern and dark wood. A table stands adjacent to the backdoor heading to the yard and I lead Katniss to a chair, pulling it out for her.

“You’re perceptive,” she remarks. “Aster will like you.”

“Where’s your tea?” I ask and Katniss nods towards the cupboard next to me. I go to the cupboard and find the chamomile easily. “I like the name. Totally makes sense.”

Katniss gazes at me curiously. “What do you mean?”

“Aster—it means star.” The kettle is already filled on their stovetop so I just turn the flame on. “You know, because you and Peeta were ‘The Star-Crossed Lovers of District 12’.”

“Damn, I never thought of that,” she tells me with a smile. “She was born in September and that’s her birth month flower; we just kind of stuck with a theme.”

“If this one is a boy, are you going to give him some sort of bread name?” I tease as I search the cabinets for a mug. Their kitchen is organized well enough for me to find them in one of the upper cupboards.

“Actually, I wouldn’t mind a flower name for a boy,” a jovial voice says behind me.

Peeta Mellark looks quite different compared to the propos footage from the Rebellion.

Back then, he was gaunt; his blue eyes somewhat blank as Katniss stood at the forefront of the cameras. It was a little disheartening as he had so much charm during his Caesar Flickerman interview.

Besides Thresh, my mom favored him.

Putting memories of my past behind me, I watch as he greets Katniss, dipping his head to meet hers in a sweet kiss.

“Hello, my love,” he greets her tenderly.

In return, Katniss reaches to run a hand through his dirty-blond locks.

Present Peeta Mellark is, by far, my favorite.

“Rue, right?” He gives me a bright grin and I nod. “You’ve got Rory singing your praises.”

“It doesn’t seem all that hard to impress Rory,” I say wryly. Pouring the boiled water into the mug I find, I dip in the tea bag and place the cup in front of Katniss. “That tea bag would probably impress him.”

Peeta laughs warmly. “You’re going to fit in just fine here.”

++++++

Aster Mellark wakes up from her mid-afternoon nap.

By then, I have already set myself up in the room next to hers and I can hear her slight wail as she pulls herself from her slumber.

Without thought, I go into the nursery and find her in her daybed, staring up at the hanging mobile of the planets. The room is painted a sage green with the opposite wall being a beautiful mural of a meadow.

Going to the bed, I sit at the edge looking down at the toddler. “Hi Aster. I’m Rue.”

Aster has the brightest blue eyes I have ever seen. They are large and almond-shaped with thick lashes framing her gorgeous orbs. Her hair is raven black and thick; it hits her shoulders and I think of the many hairstyles that I can do with such locks.

When she’s a grown-up, Katniss and Peeta will have their work cut out for them.

“Woo,” she repeats my name. Aster holds her arms out to me and I can’t help but reach for her.

I love the ‘little one’ smell and mourned each time one of my brothers or sisters outgrew that innocent scent of babydom.

Standing up, I give her a smile. “Are you hungry?”

“My wuv,” she says simply.

“What does that mean?” I ask.

Aster points outside. “My wuv! My wuv!”

“Your parents might need to fill me in,” I tell her as I carry her down the stairs, heading for the den.

Katniss and Peeta sit on the sofa, her head on his shoulder and his hand on her belly, as they talk to one another quietly. I almost hate to break up the intimacy of the moment, but Aster is already scrambling down my body and heading towards her parents.

She waves her hands out at Katniss, who picks her up. “My wuv, my wuv.”

Katniss turns to her husband. “Now she will never call me Mama.”

I think back on Peeta’s greeting and I bite back the need to coo—I am not sentimental.

But the thought of Aster imitating her father is just too much for me.

Next thing you know, I’ll be singing love songs and reading sonnets.

++++++

The next few days are pretty much routine.

I wake up first to get dressed and ready before Aster wakes up. I am lucky because I get the hallway bathroom to myself. Katniss and Peeta have their own in the master bedroom.

After that, Aster usually wakes up and I bring her downstairs to make her breakfast and some toast for Katniss. Morning sickness did not go away after that first trimester and she remains nauseous mostly in the morning, though there is an occasional afternoon disappearance into the commode.

Peeta, who wakes up at the crack of dawn to heat the ovens, comes back to deliver a fresh loaf of bread to check in on his wife and Aster. I make sure that he brings his lunch to the bakery before he takes off with a final kiss to his family and a friendly wave for me.

I can tell that he is assured that his two ladies are safe with me. We share one goal; to make sure they are cared for.

Eventually, I meet Haymitch Abernathy. He is a bear of a man, but his dark eyes soften when Aster rushes into his arms.

“Nice to meet you,” he says gruffly. “You know…if it wasn’t going to be them, I was rooting for Thresh.”

“Yes, I know.” My eyes go to the rough ground. “Thresh was that kind of guy, though—kind enough to save Katniss from Clove. Had a bit of a crush on him back in 11, but he never saw me as anything but the little sister type.” I look up to see Haymitch still gazing at me, his eyes full of empathy. “Kind of broke my heart when he—”

Haymitch puts a hand to my shoulder. “Well, it’s a damn shame because you grew up very lovely.”

“For some reason, I feel like you don’t give compliments too frequently,” I say with a smile. “Thanks.”

I think I can find myself caring for Haymitch as much as I’m beginning to care for the Mellarks.

“Get out!”

A shout comes from the house and immediately Haymitch gives Aster back to me.

“Wait here,” he commands. “Do not come in until I say it’s okay.”

There’s nothing I can do but nod in agreement.

++++++

It’s a full hour before Haymitch emerges from the house—he looks exhausted.

“Katniss is asking for Aster,” he says.

“What happened?” I cradle Aster who has long fallen asleep against me.

We head towards the house and I can’t help but feel a little apprehensive. The house looks as it normally does in the evening; warm yellow light seeping through handmade curtains and quiet as a mouse. However, there is a sinking feeling hitting my core as we walk up the steps.

“Once in a while,” Haymitch starts. “Peeta has these…episodes. Usually triggered by stress or in this case, a memory of the old bakery. They’re infrequent but when they hit, they hit hard. Katniss, in her condition, isn’t able to handle it so their old mentor is in charge.”

“Thank you,” I tell him. “Not many mentors would care to help.”

“I like ‘em,” he says offhandedly.

A smile grows on my lips. “You more than like them.”

Haymitch opens the front door for me. “Well, just don’t tell them that.”

After telling him goodnight and promising to update him later, I close the door behind me. I go to the den first; Katniss is lying down on the couch, her eyes closed.

When my steps creak against the floor, she opens her eyes and sits up carefully, her hands resting on her belly. Every day, I see her little one growing even more. Her grey eyes are weary and lined with tears, but she reaches for Aster immediately.

I place her in Katniss’ arms. “Are you okay?”

“He came across an old rolling pin of his father’s,” she explains quietly. “Mr. Mellark was always such a nice man, but he wasn’t without his faults. He never defended Peeta or his brothers from their mother.”

I nod in understanding. “I’m guessing she wasn’t the mothering type.”

“Far from it. Peeta wanted to understand their relationship,” Katniss continues. “It’s just with being a father or a mother, it’s hard to understand how anyone could not love their child. Mrs. Mellark didn’t love her kids and Mr. Mellark couldn’t muster enough love to defend them.”

“But Peeta still loves them, anyway?”

Katniss smiles, her eyes faraway. “That’s just the way Peeta is. He can’t help but love—even if you treat him badly. I’ve been one of those.”

“It was hard to see that through the camera’s view,” I remark. “But for some reason, from the beginning, I thought it was real.”

“Maybe it was.” Katniss shrugs, her eyes full of tears. “I was just too young and stupid to see it. Peeta…he always knew—and that’s what I fell in love with. That damn hope of his.”

“It’s a good way to be,” I reply. “Do you need anything?”

“Can you just check on him?” she asks quietly. “Peeta never wants me to see him after one of these episodes.”

“I’m sure that’s not true.” However, I’m not sure if I’m wrong or not. “I’ll go make sure he’s okay and let him know that you’re down here.”

Katniss nods, before closing her eyes and cradling Aster even closer.

Going upstairs, I turn the opposite way of my room and toward the double doors. In the few weeks that I’ve been here, I have never been in the master bedroom as there was no need. However, I can’t help but worry about what state I’ll find Peeta in. Katniss has tiptoed around the torture tactics of the Capitol, but obviously it has damaged Peeta in some way.

Carefully, I knock.

“Come in,” Peeta says dully.

I let out a breath before turning the doorknob and stepping in.

I don’t close the door—just in case.

“I told Katniss I’d check on you,” I start as I walk into the room.

Peeta is laying on the bed, turned away from me, in a fetal position and I can hear him sniffle.

“I don’t know why…I acted horribly towards her.”

I stay where I am, but I feel like whatever happened has ebbed and now I’m facing a shell of a person.

“Katniss loves you,” I reply. “You know that, or you wouldn’t be feeling so bad.”

He laughs gruffly. “That’s true…I’ve always loved her, you know. Since we were kids.”

“I know.” Who doesn’t remember their time in the cave? My mom only let me watch it because it was featured on the screen at our town square. More than one woman swooned over Peeta’s sweet story of Katniss and the Valley song. “And that’s how I know that you never really mean to hurt her.”

“You have more faith in me than I do at the moment,” he tells me.

Peeta finally turns to me and I can see that his hands are bandaged. There is a small bit of blood on his lower lip while his blues are red-rimmed with regret.

“I do. I have faith that you love your family more than anything,” I say. “More than your parents may have loved you. Aster and the new baby will never feel that they weren’t adored because you and Katniss would rather die than let that happen.”

He nods in agreement. “I’ll go check on them…after I clean up.”

“I agree. You look like crap.”

Peeta guffaws. “Get to sleep, Rue. You’re done playing therapist for the day.”

I grin. “It’s my lauded life to take care of you Mellarks.”

“You’re doing a good job.”

I tell him goodnight, closing the door behind me. I listen briefly behind it, just to make sure that he’s alright and leave only when I hear him getting out of bed.

In my room, I remind myself to call my mother. She is a stoic woman—not quite as affectionate as others—but I can tell that she loves her children fiercely. She wouldn’t be working her butt off from dawn till dusk if she didn’t.

After I change and settle down, I still feel restless. It must be the adrenaline of everything that has happened in the last few hours. Also, I hate to admit, but I do worry about the Mellarks. Despite everything, Katniss and Peeta are still young adults just trying to make their way. They’re still learning how to be parents to Aster and their soon-to-be-arriving baby.

My mother tells me that she and my father made all sorts of mistakes with me, but it made them work as a team and made them stronger.

I hope it’s the same for Katniss and Peeta.

My stomach growls and I realize that I haven’t eaten dinner. There’s always a little something in the fridge so I’m quickly on my feet and out the door. It’s as I head down the stairs that I hear something; it’s coming from the den where I left Katniss.

“I’m so sorry, love.” It’s Peeta. “Sometimes, I don’t how you put up with me. Part of me thinks that I’m never going to be fixed.”

“There’s nothing to fix,” Katniss tells him. “You can’t repair what’s a part of you…a part of us. This damage from the rebellion and the Games, it’s not going to go away. But we can’t let it take over us. Every day, we just try and live as best we can. We fought so hard to get here.”

I hear the smile in Peeta’s voice. “When did you become the optimist?”

Katniss snorts. “All these stupid hormones have made me soft. As soon as this one is out, I’m going into the woods and shooting something.”

“I look forward to it,” Peeta tells her.

They laugh quietly and it fills me with happiness.

For all is well in our little home.

++++++

“So, everything is alright?”

I walk along the edge of the forest with Rory on a rare day to myself. It has been two months since I’ve come to District 12 and I feel like it’s become part of my skin. I know every creak of the Mellark house or the exact cry that Aster makes whenever she wants the blue spoon and not the pink one. I know the right amount of time it takes to make Katniss’ favorite tea and when a homemade loaf made by Peeta has been proofed enough.

I can even feel the seasons change; this autumn is tense. Baby Mellark is almost here—and sometimes I feel I’ll know the exact moment that he or she is ready to come.

“Yes, it’s been quiet since the incident,” I tell Rory as we walk into the woods just beyond the border of District 12. “How were they when they were younger? Before the Games?”

“I didn’t know Peeta all too much,” Rory says as he kicks a stone in his path. “He was always a good guy…like his Dad. I’ve known Katniss since I was a kid because she spent so much time with Gale. She was serious and stubborn like him; they were peas in a pod. In the end, they were too much alike. My mother always knew that they weren’t meant for each other, but Gale was insistent that she was his.”

“And the Games changed that?”

“Katniss learned to care for someone outside her circle,” he tells me. “She didn’t have to take care of Peeta, but there was something about Peeta that just made him special…and it killed Gale. I mean, any idiot watching the Games could see that kiss was real.”

“Is it silly that I always wanted a kiss like that one in the cave?” I admit. “Not the ‘fearing for my life’ aspect of it, but that ‘I’m seeing something wonderful right in front of my face and I can’t let him go’ part.” I smile dryly. “So far, none of my kisses have been like that.”

“Mine were.” Rory stops, his eyes looking out ahead. “Back in District 13, Prim and I…” His fists clench. “Maybe it was because we weren’t sure what was going to happen from one day to the next…but they felt real.”

“I didn’t know Prim.” My hands instinctively go to his to stop him from breaking skin. “But from what you’ve told me and what Katniss tells me whenever she can muster up the courage to, Prim was not the kind of person who would just kiss someone and not mean it.”

“What if it never happens again?” he asks.

I shake my head. “One day it will and if all else fails, I’ll give it a go.”

Rory grins at me. “You’ll take me on?”

“I never said that,” I say. “I’m just realistic. I don’t think that I’ll ever have a kiss like Katniss and Peeta’s from the cave. Love doesn’t come in spades.”

“You sound just like Katniss,” Rory teases. “She was always saying she never wanted kids, especially when the Capitol was up and killing them for show. And she was still adamant after it was all over—took Peeta years to convince to her to have Aster.” We stop and Rory helps me onto a rock overlooking the wide meadow before us. “My mom was there the day Aster was born. She told me as soon as she was in Katniss’ arms, that resistance…that fear…just melted from her eyes.”

“And you think one kiss will change my mind about love?”

Rory grins at me. “I don’t know—but it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give a try.”

++++++

“Hi Mama!” I call out into the phone receiver. It’s been forever since I’ve heard from her; my mother has been working tirelessly since returning from District 4. She is a supervisor in one of the orchard fields and it leaves her little time to catch up with me here in 12. “How is it going?”

“Same old, same old,” she replies. “We really miss you out here. I mean, Casey has been doing just fine taking care of the rest of the brood, but he can’t make the roast and potatoes the way the younger ones want it!”

Casey is seventeen and should be focusing on school. Instead he takes care of my younger siblings and takes a night shift at one of our production factories. As beautiful as it is in District 11, it doesn’t come without hard work.

“They shouldn’t be so picky,” I admonish.

“How are Katniss and Peeta? Their little ones?” Mom asks curiously.

I bite back the need to roll my eyes; I am sure that she’s been telling everyone that her oldest is living in the Mellark home, reaping the benefits of some Victors.

It is quite far from that.

Over time, I have come to realize that the rewards don’t necessarily balance out the punishment of winning the Games. Wonderful as Katniss and Peeta are, they work hard to create a semblance of normalcy for themselves and Aster.

It can be a trial for both, but I have seen them work through moments of gripping table edges or counters, biting back tears at memories, and having nightmares that leave them both trembling in cold sweats.

And I am here to take Aster in my room when needed or bring one of them a glass of water or cup of tea after a hard day.

In some ways, it’s important to me that they live as normally as they can—because they’ve fought so hard.

“It’s just fine. Katniss and Peeta are just a run-of-the-mill couple with a different kind of love story,” I tell her. “Aster, their daughter, is just precious. It’s almost time for the next one to come so we’re just waiting.”

“That sounds great,” my mother replies. There’s a long pause. “Sweetheart, Troy has been asking about you.”

I grip the receiver at the sound of his name. “Oh yeah?”

“He’s been asking if you’re coming home,” she continued carefully. “I don’t know what happened between you two, but you’ve been connected since birth. His mother and I practically worked in the orchard side by side when we were having you both—”

“What are you saying, Mama?” I ask abruptly.

“In about a month, a job will open up here in 11,” she tells me. “We miss you. I’m not trying to pressure you—I just want you to think on it.” There’s a sigh and I’m not sure if it’s coming from me or Mom. “And, this whole thing with Troy—you have to make a decision, either way.”

“I know,” I reply. “I have to go. Aster is going to wake up from her nap soon.”

“Alright, Rue.” There’s resignation in her tone. “Talk soon. I love you.”

“Love you too, Mama.” I hang up, biting back the need to sob or scream into the receiver.

I lied. Aster is already awake, sitting on the porch with her parents.

I feel bad for lying, but I’m not ready to face what I’ve left behind.

Stepping out onto the porch, I find Peeta and Katniss sitting on the swing seat. Across the way, Aster is sitting on Haymitch’s lap as he plays a game of chess with Rory.

I sit down on the steps of the porch, leading to the courtyard. The sun is just beginning to set and I close my eyes to take in that last bit of orange warmth.

“You okay there?” Katniss asks. “Did your phone call go alright?”

“Yes.” I let out a breath. “Just going through something similarly like the whole Gale situation, if you know what I mean.”

“So, you ran here,” Peeta says.

It isn’t a question and we both know it.

“I needed a change.” I turn to them. “Troy has been my friend since birth; our mothers worked side by side while we were in their stomachs. So, I guess he always thought I belonged to him.” I open my eyes, finding Rory looking to me, curiosity in his gaze. “I just want to belong to me. I’m not ready to just…give in.”

“Woo!” Aster toddles over to me, perching herself in my lap. “Sing.”

“Sing? What am I—your own personal songbird?” I tickle her and she giggles. “Well, if I’m going to be someone’s songbird, I would love to be yours.” Aster settles against me and I take in that wonderful smell of youth before deciding on a song—one that I heard when I was a child whenever my father came home from work, when my mother still danced.

“Something in your eyes, makes me want to lose myself

Makes me want to lose myself, in your arms…”

I’m not much of a singer, but Aster nestles herself against me contently. Haymitch and Rory have paused their game to listen and though it should scare me, I feel light singing this song.

It reminds me of better times.

“If you knew how lonely my life has been

And how long I've been so alone

And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along

And change my life the way you've done…”

“You’re dancing with me, Katniss.” Peeta helps her stand carefully. “I don’t want our last dance to have been at Snow’s Ball.”

Katniss doesn’t argue instead letting him lead her into the courtyard to dance along the fireflies.

As I watch them, they look lightyears away, wrapped up in nothing but each other.

“It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me

It feels like I'm all the way back where I come from

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me

It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong…”

I close my eyes once more, rocking Aster against me. I fall into memories of warm fall nights and the smell of coffee on the stove. I can’t even make a pot sometimes without wanting to burst into tears. It just evokes memories of a man who would drink coffee to stay up so he and my mother could have a conversation to themselves sans their six children.

“But I'm alright, 'cause I have you here with me

And I can almost see, through the dark there is light…”

I open my eyes just as Katniss embraces Peeta and for a moment, I don’t see them.

I see my mother and father dancing to their wedding song.

“Well, if you knew how much this moment means to me

And how long I've waited for your touch

And if you knew how happy you are making me

I never thought that I'd love anyone so much…”

I always told myself that I wouldn’t settle for anything less than what they have. Seeing Katniss and Peeta with one another strengthens that resolve, nothing less than having someone look at me the way that they look at one another.

Like they’ve found home in one another.

I finish my song, and everyone applauds softly as Aster has fallen asleep in my arms.

“You’re crying.” I didn’t even notice that Rory has found himself on the porch steps. He reaches forward to brush away the stray tear that managed to hit my cheek. “I never pegged you as the sentimental type.”

“My parents used to dance to that song every night after us kids went to bed,” I find myself admitting. “If I close my eyes, I can still picture them as I peeked behind my door. Then Dad was gone, and the music just stopped.”

“Makes you wonder if love like that could even last forever,” he says. “Or are we all just destined to muddle through half-lives and half-loves.”

“Half-lives and half-loves.” I find myself almost laughing…or weeping. “If there was ever a more appropriate word for how my life is currently going.”

“No.” Rory shakes his head, gazing into my eyes until my skin tingles. “Someone like you could never do anything but live fully and love fully. You’re just afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

“Afraid because you already know everything that you need to be happy.”

++++++

The arrival of the fourth Mellark comes when the first leaf of autumn hits the ground. I am sitting in the kitchen with Katniss having a cup of tea; her stomach has reached its limit at this point and so has she.

“So, this…Troy…” She takes a sip and sighs in contentment. “What made you run away?”

I try to gather my words before responding, “I think he only really saw me as a woman when others started to notice.” I smile crisply. “It bothered me, too—this ownership he thought he had—like I was just waiting for him to decide that he wanted me. Love shouldn’t be an obligation; it should be an honor. In the end, all I want is for someone to look at me the way my father looked at my mother. Like Peeta looks at you.”

“I understand,” Katniss replies gently. “Sometimes, when you feel the world is falling apart around you, you tend to keep who and what you know close to you. Because it’s just too scary to see what might be on the other side—” She suddenly grimaces before letting out a breath. “Just some stretching pain, nothing to worry about.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “No, I think it’s more.” I help her up. “I’m going to help you up to bed and then call Peeta.”

“You sure?” she asks doubtfully. “It didn’t feel this way with Aster.” Another gasp escapes her mouth. “Oh, that felt different.”

“My mother had six children,” I tell her. “No two births will feel ever feel the same.”

Together, we make our way upstairs and into the master bedroom. I go to her wardrobe, taking out a nightgown and handing it to her.

“Aster is still down for her nap,” I inform her as I turn and give her privacy. “I’ll check on her, call Peeta and Mrs. Hawthorne then come back. Is there anything you need while I’m downstairs?”

Katniss shakes her head as she gets into bed. “No, I’ll be okay.”

“I’ll make you a sandwich and bring up some water,” I tell her. “You’ll need your strength.”

She smiles gratefully. “You think of everything.”

++++++

Peeta and Mrs.Hawthorne arrive quickly. After a quick exam, it seems that Katniss has a long while to go. We all continue throughout the day as normal; Peeta bakes in the kitchen knowing that we will need sustenance throughout the next few days. Mrs. Hawthorne sits at Katniss’ side knitting a swaddle blanket for the little one while I care for Aster.

Aster comes to visit her mother a few hours into the labor. She jumps onto the bed and nestles at her mother’s side.

“Hello wuv,” she says, her bright blue staring up at her mother.

“I’m bringing you a little brother or sister,” Katniss informs her as she lets out a small exhale. “Will you be good for Daddy and Rue?”

Aster nods, her blue eyes solemn. “Yes, wuv.”

There’s a knock and Peeta emerges from behind the bedroom door. He places a kiss on his wife’s forehead and gives her a bright smile.

“How are you doing, love?” he asks.

“Oh, you know the usual—trying to push your child into the world,” Katniss answers with a small grin.

“Rory and Posy are downstairs,” Peeta tells us before holding his arms out to Aster. “Why don’t you come downstairs with me so you can have dinner?”

“I’ll take her,” Mrs. Hawthorne offers. “I want to check in with the kids, anyway.” Going to Peeta, she offers her arms to Aster. “Come on honey, let’s go.”

“Thanks Hazelle,” Peeta tells her gratefully.

“No problem.” Mrs. Hawthorne holds Aster protectively. “I sure miss them at this age.”

They disappear into the hallway, leaving me with the couple.

Peeta looks to his wife. “How are you really feeling?”

“Like someone is grabbing my lady parts and just twisting away.” Katniss grimaces. “Here comes another one…”

I immediately go to support her back. “Breathe out slowly.”

Katniss clenches her teeth. “Oh, this feels intense.” She looks between Peeta and me. “Someone distract me.”

“Well, we got a new custom cake order—”

“No! Peeta, I love you, but I can’t get excited about frosting the way you want me to,” she tells him.

“I left District 11 because Troy proposed to me.”

Peeta and Katniss turn to me in shock.

“Besides my Mom, you’re the only other people who know,” I continue quietly. “I sometimes go to lay out in a field near my home…it’s my spot. One day, Troy was there and before I could even think, he was down on his knee.”

“Then what?” Katniss asks.

I shake my head. “All I could think is…get the hell out of my field.” I look between the couple. “Is that bad of me?”

Peeta shakes his head. “What was your other option? Just say yes to save his pride? No offense, but from what you’ve been telling Katniss, it doesn’t seem like a match made out of love—but out of obligation.”

“I just feel bad because…I don’t want you to think that I came here to run away—even if it sounds like it,” I explain. “The truth is that I never felt like I was more home than when I came to District 12. When I came to stay with you three…almost four, I started to feel like myself.”

Katniss takes my hand, giving it a squeeze. “You do belong here.”

Peeta covers her hand and grins at me. “This is your home now—if you want it to be.”

I tried to hold my back my tears, but my thank you still sounds a bit watery.

++++++

“Okay, Katniss…push!”

Mrs. Hawthorne stands at the edge of the bed, ready and waiting for the newest Mellark to arrive.

Night came and went as we can now see dawn coming in through the bedroom window. I put Aster down to sleep many hours ago while Posy, who volunteered to stay the night, stayed in the bed adjacent to her. I then took a quick nap when—at around three in the morning—Peeta roused me because Katniss was requesting my presence.

Currently, I am holding one of her legs while Peeta holds the other.

“I can’t…I’m too tired…” Katniss is exhausted and delirious…tears and sweat intermingling her flushed face. She looks to Peeta. “I’m sorry…”

Peeta shakes his head. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. You are tired and you’ve had no rest. I am a rotten husband getting you into this situation.”

Katniss nods. “You kind of are!” Her face crumbles. “I want Prim.”

We all go silent at her admission.

Because as much as we want to give her comfort, there is no way to get her sister back.

Tears fill my eyes thinking of the many occasions that I have wished for my own father. I think of all the important moments that he won’t be there for: my wedding…the birth of my children—

“You can pretend I’m Prim,” I tell her softly. “Close your eyes and just imagine that you’re gripping her hand…” Katniss looks to me, smoky eyes filled, before doing what I say. “And, just imagine what she would tell you at this very moment.”

“She would say to suck it up. There are more important things to do right now,” Katniss says.

I move closer to her ear. “Suck it up. There are more important things to do right now.”

Katniss nods, eyes still closed. “Okay, I think I’m ready to push again.”

“At the count of three,” Mrs. Hawthorne begins. “One…two…three!”

Katniss bears down and it is a long, tense-filled moment as we wait to see if there is any progress—

A shrill cry breaks the moment.

“It’s a boy.” Mrs. Hawthorne grins before taking the little one and putting him on Katniss’ chest. “Looks like he’s got a little gold on him.”

Katniss lets out a content sigh, her eyes on the sticky, little thing currently laying on her. “Hello there.”

“We have a son,” Peeta says in a thick voice. He gives Katniss a kiss on the forehead. “Thank you, love.”

“Always.” Katniss then turns to me. “Thank you.”

“It’s my job,” I tell her before wiping the tears from my eyes.

++++++

Stepping out into the hallway, I am surprised to discover Rory coming up the stairs.

“What are you doing here?” My voice is hoarse with exhaustion and I lean against the wall to keep my body up.

“I slept downstairs in the den,” he explains sheepishly. “So, the baby is here?”

“A boy.” I smile to myself. “Beautiful like the rest of his family and golden-haired like Pr—” I stop, struggling to suppress the emotion churning inside of me. “Why did you stay?”

Rory goes scarlet. “I stayed…for you.”

I shake my head. “You stayed because you were helping Prim’s family. I’m nothing but a glorified babysitter. Remember?”

I turn away so he won’t see me cry over the dumbest reason in the world—I don’t want to be Prim’s substitute.

Suddenly, Rory crosses the space between us and pulls me into his arms.

“I came here for you.” His hand reaches gently into the tangle that is my hair. “The person who cared for Prim—who loved her—was still just a boy. He will always love her in some way, but he had to grow up.”

“And now?” I ask into his chest.

A wisp of a kiss brushes against my forehead. “The man holding you stayed for you.”

I hold him closer to me, never wanting to leave this feeling of belonging—of home.

“Thank you for staying.”

For now, this is the closest I can get to ‘I love you’.

++++++

“Careful now,” I instruct Aster as I help her hold her little brother. “He’s still very fragile.”

“Ohh…baby,” Aster says in awe. The newborn in her arms let out a yawn and she giggles. “Hello wuv!”

“I guess you’ve been dethroned,” I tell Katniss with a laugh as I settle into the chair next to the bed. “Maybe she’ll start calling you Mama now.”

“I’ll gladly relinquish the title,” she replies, looking at the children by her side. “They look like they’re going to be a handful.”

“Aster is a spitfire in herself!” I look to the little girl who I’ve come to love like one of my own siblings. “But she’ll protect her little brother—like you protected Prim.”

Katniss meets my eyes. “Listen, Peeta told me what you did before I had the baby. I was tired and I say things that I don’t mean. When I had Aster, I asked to see my dad…”

“It’s really not a problem,” I say in what I hope is a light voice.

“It is, because you’re not Prim…she’s gone,” she says in a tight voice. “And because we all care for you, not just as some replacement Prim—but because you’re you.” Katniss places her hand over mine. “Peeta and I hope you will stay for the long haul. Aster needs you…so does Oak.”

“I still can’t believe you named him that,” I tell her.

I jokingly told her and Peeta weeks ago that since they’re into flower names for girls, they should look into tree names for boy.

When they asked for an example, I gave them Oak—my father’s middle name.

“It sounded right,” Katniss responds with a wave of her hand. “Anyway, the point is we need you.”

I settle back for a moment, taking in her words, before finally answering.

“May I make a phone call?”

Katniss’ mouth widens in a grin. “Take all the time you need.”

I leave the room, heading down the stairs and go into the kitchen first to place the kettle onto the stove to heat some water and then take Katniss’ favorite cup out of the cabinet. Making sure that Peeta’s lunch is packed, I then head into the den where the telephone is.

Taking a deep breath, I reach for the receiver and dial.

The call is answered immediately.

“Hello Mama.”

++++++

We walk around the forest, steps steady as we head towards an unknown destination.

“So, you’re staying?” Rory says, his eyes ahead.

I nod, letting the smile rise on my lips. “I’m staying.”

He reaches, his hand taking mine, our fingers intertwining with ease. It feels right. “Now what?”

I stop and Rory follows suit turning to me.

My hand reaches to the nape of his neck, pulling him close enough so that I can push onto my tiptoes to press my lips to his. He pulls me closer and I sink into him, losing myself as we fall deep into the kiss.

Moments…hours later, we finally separate, breathless and grinning.

I take his hand once more.

“How about you show me the rest of our home?”

FIN.

  This is different, but I enjoyed writing it.

I hoped you enjoyed reading it.

 Song: “Feels Like Home”- Chantal Kreviazuk

Thank you again if you even got through this. Aster and Oak really appreciate it.

Please feel free to message me with any questions, comments, or requests.

 Until the next story,

JLaLa