Little Victor

The Story of Poppy Everdeen

Chapter 4

15 & Fearless

Normal POV:

Now as Poppy grew older the more she resembled her father in looks & hair but had her mother's coloring, eyes & temper. Haymitch called Cato with a problem. A big problem. Poppy now age 15 & one week away from her 16th birthday is her mother's daughter in almost every way. Cato arrives a week early to take Poppy to the Capitol with Poppy's letter from Katniss.

Haymitch now walking with a cane , looks gaunt. Cato knows that gaunt look-Cancer. Haymitch tells Cato he has stage 4 Cancer. "You get Poppy now. Brutus & I agree. A child should live with at lease one living parent. "
Brutus "Poppy will be starting school in 2 next term."
Haymitch "Cato it's time to tell her. Pass time."
Cato "She already knows. (Haymitch & Brutus jaws drop) She has known for five years now. I can tell you it wasn't an easy conversation to have."
Both Haymitch & Brutus "Then why didn't you take custody?"
Cato " I wanted to. God only knows I wanted to but the only way I can claim Poppy is through DNA testing. Poppy through Katniss's will cannot be tested until she is 16 & only if it's Poppy choice. So Poppy & I waited. Now that the day's arriving we thought to let you know.

Haymitch gets up for his walk saying "I'll be back." Haymitch walks toward the Victor/Tribute section of District 12's cemetary to a grave in the middle of the two sections. For Peeta was a Victor in the 74th Hunger Games, he died as a Tribute in the 75th games. That is why he's buried between the two sections. Haymitch looking at Peeta's grave "Get ready for the party Peeta. Here I come." He leaves the cemetary & goes to a familar place at the Willow sits on the bench in front of Katniss's grave for one last time. "Thanks for trusting this old drunk Sweetheart. She's beautiful Katniss. You would've been proud. Poppy is her mother's daughter. " Two hours later when Brutus went looking for him, he found him on the bench, slumped over smiling as if in a dream, gone. Brutus looked at his watch, mutters "damn" puts a 50 in Haymitch's pocket saying "Goodbye old friend."

Victor's Cemetary-Capitol 3 days later.

Haymitch was taken to the Captiol & interred there next to his wife Effie who he had married at the begining of the rebellion. It was a simple affair per the request of Haymitch. However it was his last Will that got everyone's attention. Haymitch left 1/4 of his estate to Brutus for future bets & the remining 3/4 to an orphanage in district 12. Cato didn't understand why but Brutus expalined.
Brutus "Poppy is one of the richest kids in Panem. She has more money than she'll ever need so, she told 'Gramps' to give it to those who can do the most good with it. Poppy is due to your management of her trust, one of the richest kids in this country. Katniss sure knew what she was doing when she pick us.

Train in route to D-2; Filling in the blanks

On the way back to District 2, Brutus & Cato talk "Tell me in one word, what do you think about when I mention Katniss?"
Cato "Fireworks."
Brutus " She gave you a night to remember. You did at least return the favor, I hope?"
Cato " I hope so YOU interupted round 4 in the shower."
Brutus "WHAT! You mean to tell me the whole time everybody was scouring the WHOLE CAPITOL for her, she & you... You & she... You lucky son of a bit.. I just can't believe it. She & you... I'm speechless. Totally speechless."
Cato then went on & told him the whole story. Brutus asks "What did you do with that sketch of hers?" Cato took it out of his wallet & replied "I carry it with me, always."

However Brutus turned the tables on him & told him a story. How he finally called in a favor to Snow. Brutus went on & told him he was feeling bad for giving you a hard time about being the third victor when he should 've been grateful that you came out alive at all. "So I called in my favor to Snow with the only requirements to make it 'extra special' & it was for the whole night. So that night after the Victors ball Barry & I left leaving you the place for the night & told you we be back sometime tomorrow. I never knew that he sent Katniss to you. Boy you better done it right & done me proud, damn it!"
Cato looked at Brutus & filled in the blanks for him just like he did with Haymitch all those years ago ending with by the way started back up where we left off the night before plus three rounds. I didn't know that bathtubs could be sooo much fun. By the way, thanks Brutus.
What I don't get is why Brutus? Why wouldn't she accept my help? When she was 5 months along with Poppy, I went to her. I begged her. B-E-G-G-E-D her to let me go to Snow. He knew that I was Poppy's father. I knew what he was cooking up for the 75th games. I even asked for her. (Brutus did a double take) Yes Brutus I did. Snow knew that the 'Star-crossed Lovers' was fake because Peeta did Clove when Katniss was treed that night with the burn on her leg. Katniss saw it from where she was. Imagine being betrayed like that on national television. I was going to rub it in but I didn't I couldn't."
Brutus "Why?"
Cato "A single tear. She got me with that one tear. I think it was because she thought for once somebody actually liked her for herself. then to find out it's all a lie to get sponsors. Hell even Haymitch didn't even know what Peeta was up to. Anyways she saw me, bit down on a stick to fake it was the burn. I knew it wasn't. After the 74th games Haymitch had Katniss stick with Peeta until they got back to 12. The tour, the ball & you know the rest. So did Snow & made Katniss pay for it."
Brutus "Katniss was punished for Peeta's lie."
Cato "Yeap. When Katniss found out about Poppy, Snow was going to force her to marry Peeta. Snow demanded to know if I was the father. So Katniss turned the tables on him for lying about selling her viriginity to Peeta for the night. (Brutus did another double take) when Cato showed another letter that Katniss wrote to him before going into the 75th arena with Peeta. Snow's plan was to force her to marry Peeta or, kill me. Haymitch gave me the letter per Katniss request after they went in. Poppy doesn't know. When Peeta died I went to the game makers to get Snow to stop the games but by then Katniss was attacked by the monkey, went into labor, gave birth & said her last words to Poppy. Since Haymitch is gone, we now have to fill in the blanks for her. She now has the right to know all now." Cato then shows Brutus the letter from the 75th games:
Cato;
Only one will be the joke now. I didn't you down to hurt you. I turned you down not to hurt you. I turned you down so you don't get hurt by me. Snow would've done that to you & you know it. It'll be up to Haymitch, Brutus & You to care for Prim & Poppy. Snow used you to try force me to agree to marry Peeta. Peeta already knew that you were the father of Poppy. Snow wanted to hurt you by having Peeta raise Poppy. That's crossing a line that I won't allow! It's wrong not only to you but to Poppy. You're not to be in it for me anymore. Your job is to protect Poppy & Prim at all cost from Snow. I changed my will for both Prim & Poppy. Raise her well. We'll have our time. Just not now. Remember round 5. :-)
Always
Katniss

Brutus "Round 5? What for fuck sakes is round 5?"
Cato looked around again "What you & Enobaria call page 75. Just add in the shower."
Brutus "Oh yeah I love it when Bar.. Why you lucky son of a bit... How in god's name can you be 'that' lucky?"
Cato "Oh really Brutus! If I was 'that' lucky, how come I had to stand by & watch two others help raise MY child for over 15 years?; How come I couldn't save her from Snow when his plan was to kill them both her & Poppy in that arena? If I was so lucky... If I was so damn lucky... I knew I wanted her since the tribute parade in the 74th games. I wanted her even more after the tracker jackers & blowing up our stuff at the Cornucopia because she was such a fighter. You wanted to know all those years ago why I couldn't kill them in the last battle? I knew if I got Peeta even after what he did to Katniss, she would never forgive me. I could've killed Peeta & had her as my prize but I would've only had her body. I would've never had her fully. So no Brutus I'm not s lucky for if I was Katniss would be here with Poppy & I. "
Brutus looked at Cato in awe when he said "You loved her. Even after all these years, you still love her."
Cato "Always"
Then they heard a sob, feet running & a compartment door slam shut. the two were over heard by none other than Poppy Rue Everdeen herself.