~Chapter One~
Rue. I see her standing in the arena I stood in many years ago. She motions me toward her,so I slowly approach her. When I get to her show holds up three fingers,and whistles the little tune she taught me.
"Rue. Come back. Rue! Come back! Help me Rue! Help me!," I yell.
She lightly kisses me on the forehead and whispers,"You don't need help. You don't need me Katniss." She flutters her eyelashes and turned into a bird,a mockingjay.
"I DO NEED YOU! RUE!" I cry,"Rue." I stay still for a second,and observe the arena. Then,I hear soft footsteps. I turn around and there is Prim and Buttercup.
"Prim,"I say softly. She doesn't answer,she doesn't even turn around. I walk towards her,pacing but not too fast. I slam into a clear wall,a force field. I bounce backwards,and land hard on the ground. I roll over,and see Peeta died,knocked out cold. "Peeta! Peeta! Wake up! Peeta wake up!,"I scream at him. I'm sobbing and screaming so bad I don't notice the blood rushing down my side like a small river.
"Peeta!,"I scream again. Suddenly Peeta's eyelashes flutter until he is looking at me in the eye. Then her opens his mouth and says,"Mommy. Mommy. Mommy wake up." Suddenly everything goes dark.
I find my self opening my eyes. "Mommy,Mommy,"I hear softly. My eyes fully focus and I see my 8 year old son,Calico. He looks at me,all bug eyed. Oh crap! I forgot! Peeta and Shiloh were at the bakery,I must have fallen asleep.
"What time is it,"I say softly. He runs to the kitchen,then comes right back and says,"5:56." I smile at him and give him a small hug. I look into his grey eyes,comb through his golden hair,and say,"Shiloh and daddy will be home any minute now." He smiles,and then runs off to his room.
I sit on the couch and stare out the window. Snow is falling silently and swiftly. Then sun is setting in a beautiful orange color. Orange,Peeta's favorite color. The door slams open and Shiloh comes running in. She has snow all over her,and her little nose is blood red. She kicks of her boots,and sheds her layers. When she's done she runs over and plops down next to me. I brush through her hair and say,"How was your day." She smiles and says," Awesome! Daddy let me help decorate a birthday cake for a boy just a few years older than me. It was fun,I made cool little boy stuff,like something Calico might have. And I made a special cupcake for you mommy! Daddy has it!" She bounces on the couch like a ball full of energy. I grin and ask,"Where is your dad by the way." She points out the window and says,"He got hung up talking to ." I look out the window and see Peeta on Haymich's front porch talking to him. I couldn't see Haymich very well,but I guess if Peeta sent Shiloh back he was drunk. Shiloh usually stays and joins in the adult conversation. Social butterfly,defiantly a Peeta trait,not mine. Shiloh eventually ran off to Calico's room,and she didn't ever come out. I just sat and waited for Peeta. I look on the coffee table and see the remedy book my mom and dad started years ago. Peeta and I have been contributing to it for years,maybe even before the quarter quell. I put in remedies and edible plants,while Peeta drew detailed pictures. Shiloh and Calico help sometimes to when they can. I snap out of my daze when the door opens. Peeta stands there as red as ever. "Cold," I say. He grins and says,"Ya,just a little bit." He slumps down next to me and takes a deep breath. I sit there in silence with him but then said,"Shiloh said you were with Haymich. What were you talking about?" He turns to me and says,"When are we going to tell the kids?" I look at him like he's crazy. "The games,"he says,"When are we going to tell them. Shiloh might learn about it in school soon. And Calico will be right after. It might be hard Katniss,but I think we need to." He gives me a look and I look down at my feet. I finally say,"What does this have to do with the talk you had with Haymich?" He sighs and says,"District 4 decided to open a museum kinda memorial thing to honor the tributes of the games. Haymich says that us,the kids,and him need to attend the opening. He said everyone alive from them is coming. If we go,or when we go the kids need to know what's going on." I look back down at my feet,comprehending what Peeta just said. What? How do I tell the kids about this horrible thing? The thing that gives me nightmares? What lead to Peeta's episodes. How do I explain that to a 11 and 8 year old? Should it give them nightmares,just like me? Tears fill my eyes,and then Peeta says softly,"You think about it. By the way,you might to get ready,we will have visitors tonight." Visitors? On a snowy Sunday evening? Who could it be? I didn't bother asking Peeta. I just got up and went to the bathroom. I took my hair down and brushed it out. I braided it in my normal braid wrapped around my head. Cinna did it in my hair for the games. Cinna. I get chills and shriek some. I splash some cold water on my face and then pat it dry. Peeta walks in and says,"Real or not real. You and Finnick had an affair when I was captured by the Capitol." Still patting my face I say,"Not real." Peeta turns into the hall and Calico is standing there looking like he just saw a monster. He heard Peeta say that he was captured. After a second he runs down the hall back to his room. "Calico!"I yell. Peeta turns and says,"It's ok," then leaves towards the kitchen. My heart races,and I stand there and look at my reflection forever. There was a knock on the door. I stand in the bathroom and don't move. I hear Peeta open the door and then he shouts,"Katniss our guests are here!" I walk down the hall and see a woman a little bit older than me,with red hair,and bright eyes in the doorway. Next to her is a young boy just about as tall as Peeta. I recognize him,but can't think of his name. He has bright eyes also,and reddish-brownish swept back hair. "Katniss you remember Annie Cresta. Or I apologize Annie Odair." The lady smiles from ear to ear and says,"Oh my. Katniss and Peeta,I never knew you two married!" Peeta nods and says,"Ya. It took a while for me to get the guts. And our kids Shiloh and Calico are getting ready for bed too. And this is?"
The boy smiles and Annie says,"This is my son Finn,he's I had him right after Finick..." She trails off. This is Annie and Finick Odair's son,Finn.