Chapter 2. Grown Up

As much as she wanted to, the young blond fought the urge to dash up the stairs to her sister's room again. Prim remained frozen in the living room after having heard her sister's scream and watched Peeta rush down for his medical kit. Whatever the situation was, she knew her presence wouldn't help. These days, it might make matters worse actually.

Primrose clenched her medical kit tightly in her hands as she stepped out the front door. As always, Buttercup wanted to follow after her but the girl's assertive tone was more than enough coaxing for the creature to stay put. She shut the door quickly before the cat could decide whether or not he wanted to dart outside.

The house had gotten progressively more lonely over the past year. Haymitch and Effie had moved out from the overpopulated home, as did Hazelle and all of Gale's siblings, though that was probably for the best. Seeing anything that reminded Katniss of Gale would probably throw the older sister into a frenzy. Besides, the Hawthornes hadn't been taking things well either, especially Posy. The once shy, quiet girl now threw tantrums at random intervals and cried uncontrollably. The last time the child had seen Katniss, Prim remembered having to clean up the vase the girl threw and having to inject more morphling into Katniss than she probably should have. It was that incident that made Hazelle decide to move out.

Rory, however, had gone the opposite route of Prim. Since his brother had died, he had quickly taken over Gale's spot as the man of the house. He felt like it was his duty to take care of the family as his older brother had. Nearing sixteen, he had joined the Bonum Army to bring more money into the house to provide for his mother, Vick, and Posy. While the President had at first been reluctant to allow Rory to join due to his young age, the boy had quickly changed his mind with his determination and rage at Panem for taking his brother from him.

Since the Hawthornes had moved in just next door to the Victor's house at Rory's request, the now eldest Hawthorne boy glanced up from his spot on their front porch as Prim slammed the door. He sighed internally. While he loved the youngest Everdeen, while he had always loved her, her constant anger sometimes caused him confusion. He was so used to the small, innocent Prim from District 12.

Regardless of his current personal feelings, he immediately got up and walked over to Prim, tucking his hands into his fur coat. "Hey Prim."

The blond girl locked the door of her house before glancing back over towards Rory. She didn't smile, even though she was relieved to see him. She rarely smiled anymore. "Morning, Rory. Heading to training too?"

He nodded, giving her the comforting smile he usually reserved for Posy during her temper tantrums. "Want some company on the walk?"

Prim gave him a nod back before turning in the direction of the training grounds. Rory fell into step next to Prim, his hands clenching in his pockets. Usually, he would attempt to hold her hand. But that was before Gale died and Katniss went crazy. He cleared his throat after a moment. "How's the house?"

"Same as always. There was some screaming going on, but I figured I would just get in the way if I went and investigated."

"I doubt that's true. You're always so helpful."

"Not when it comes to her. I just get in the way and break her more."

Rory bit his lip against the negative comment that he wanted to make against her sister. "She's not any better?"

"She'll never be any better."

"Don't say that, Prim," Rory scolded before hesitantly setting one of his large, dark, awkward teenage boy hands on her shoulder. "She's upset. We're all upset. But if you and Peeta stay, she'll come around. She loves you too much not to."

"If she was going to come around, then she would at least start showing signs," Prim shook her head before stopping her walk entirely.

Rory stopped beside her and, feeling slightly encourage, set his second hand on her other shoulder. "Don't give up hope, Prim. Your mom came around eventually, didn't she?"

Prim, however, clenched her fists again. "S-she should realize it..."

"Realize what?"

"She's doing to same thing Mom did and... Katniss hated Mom because of that. I don't want to hate Katniss, I love her, but she... she's acting just like Mom did. I j-just keep thinking that maybe," Prim continued, but her voice cracked slightly as her smaller figure began to shake. "Maybe I'll learn s-something at these stupid medic training days that can help her... but nothing works."

Rory paused, only for a brief moment, before wrapping his arms around the small blond in front of him. He set his cheek on the top of her head, much taller than her since he'd had his growth spurt. He gently ran a hand down her back, closing his eyes. "Prim... it's not your responsibility to make her better. Only she can do that. It's not her body that's wounded; it's her mind. We... we were all damaged when G-Gale died. She just doesn't know how to handle it. She will one day. It'll just take time and patience. I know it's hard."

"It's too hard," she muttered with her head tilted down and eyes on the snow covered sidewalk. She searched but couldn't find the right words for what she wanted to say. Her mind was too jumbled and heart too heavy to think straight. Instead, she tried to calm herself by watching the snow on the ground melt when her tears made contact with it.

He clenched his jaw before looking down at Prim. He gently set his hands on her cheeks, wiping her tears with his thumbs. "You're strong, Prim. You've always been so strong. If you ever feel overwhelmed, you can talk to me. I know I can't help at the house... I would if I could, but I look too much like..."

"I know," Prim interrupted him as she put her hands on top of his, her eyes still on the snow though. "T-thanks, Rory."

Rory nodded once, understanding, before pressing his lips against Prim's forehead briefly. Instantly trying to lighten the mood, he smiled down at her gently. "Come on. You don't want to be late, Miss Everdeen."

Prim turned to look up towards him, finally cracking the smallest of smiles. She nodded slightly before wiping her eyes clean of the tears that still lingered in her tear ducts. "Y-you're right, let's get going."

He just released her face and reached down to grasp her hand gently, leading her back down the street and toward her training class.


Nightfall came as the trainees all piled back into their home. Amur was among the first to walk in the door, though, being the gentleman he was, he held it wide open as the others walked in. Johanna and Chaff followed inside without thanking him, but he was used to it.

"Thanks Amur," Willow said softly to him as she walked in after Chaff. Since Gale, a man she considered to be her best friend, died, she had been more serious and quiet than ever. She focused solely on her job as General, performing with a gusto that bordered on obsession. Amur had noticed this too, but he knew the girl well enough not to press the matter.

As the girl walked into the living room, however, a child no older than a year and a half picked herself from the floor, standing rather unsteadily. She took a few cautious steps forward before waddling fully towards Willow, grasping onto the girl's leg. "Woah-woah!" the baby giggled out as she patted the girl's knee.

Amur couldn't help but smile as he shut the door. Out of anybody, with perhaps the exception of Haymitch, the fisherman seemed to have the majority of his wishes come true. Thanks to Willow, not only had Amur managed to visit his now wife, Sandy, and daughter, Serena, in District 4, but they had succeeded in moving them back with them to Bonum. It made him especially pleased to see that Serena had taking a liking to the younger General and hoped that she could help cheer Willow up at times.

Willow allowed herself a brief smile before bending over slightly. She picked up Serena, pulling the small girl into her arms. After the way she had ignored Sage in the Arena because of her brother, she vowed she would never deny a child attention because of her personal feelings ever again. It was the best decision she ever made.

"Look at you, Serena. Big girl walking all on her own."

"Big gwirl!" Serena giggled, happy to have Willow's attention. The toddler reached up, patting Willow on the cheek a few times before looking over towards Amur. Almost immediately, she reached her arms out towards him, wanting his attention now too.

The father couldn't help but laugh as he walked over to the two. He reached his hand out to his daughter, who immediately took it and nibbled on his index finger. Willow smiled slightly at the small girl before handing her up to Amur. "I don't know why she likes me so much."

"If it wasn't for you, she wouldn't be here in safety. I'm happy she's fond of you," he smiled before taking his daughter in his arms. The girl dropped his finger before reaching out and clinging on to his shoulder. Amur smiled. "Serena, where's mommy?"

"Nummies," she muttered, biting slightly down on his bicep. Amur laughed, deciding she meant her mother was in the kitchen and not that his shirt tasted good.

"Oh, baby language," Willow looked up at Serena in Amur's arms. "How do you understand her?"

"I'm not really sure. I just do," Amur admitted as he hugged Serena closer to him. "I'm going to go check on Sandy. Are you hungry?"

Willow shook her head briefly, lowering her hand from Serena's head. "I'm going to check on Katniss." It had become a ritual of her's. Whenever she had time, she would go and sit with Katniss for a while. She figured she owed Gale that much, although the Mockingjay never seemed to pay attention to her.

"Let me know how she's doing then," he requested of her, concern evident in his tone. However, he quickly turned his head back down to Serena, not wanting the girl to see her father upset. Amur turned towards the kitchen to check up on his wife.

Before Willow could step on the stairs, however, a sudden knock came at the door. Unlike when the soldiers came to visit, in those rare occasions that they did, the knock was not soft but instead loud, intrusive, and continuous. Willow paused, glancing toward the door. She felt a small amount of panic at the insistent pounding, her heart beginning to race slightly. She pushed the emotion down, though, and immediately forced her face to become impassive. She stepped over to the door, opening it quickly.

The sight of the woman before her probably didn't help much to keep her emotions bottled. Two serious brown eyes stared down at the girl as Paylor lowered her hand from where the door once was. "Willow. Or, rather, General Pierce so I've heard now. Is the Mockingjay around?"