All right everyone! The new chapter is here, and Emma is finally going to make some decisions about her life. it has been fun reading your reviews and guesses about who she is going to stay with. Congrats to Paulitapg13 for being the one to think of the right person! So, with no further ado...read on! I hope you enjoy it.
Celebrity Daughter
Chapter 7
I wake up in a comfortable twin bed and rub my eyes. My muscles ache everywhere. How long have I been asleep? I remember managing to leave the Capitol once I was let go from the hospital. My father made a few calls to make arrangements, especially to Haymitch to let him know that I was going away for a awhile and would not be accepting any offers for the time being. He told us he would take care of it. My mother made the call to District 6, and my presence was happily accepted. Disguised, I was whisked away to the train station so hopefully no one would recognize me. My parents hugged me close before I left.
"Take care, Emma Grace," my father says as he brushes my hair back. "Take all the time you need."
"Call us and let us know how you are," my mother continues. "We love you so much."
I am crying now as I tell them, "I love you too. I'll come home as soon as I can."
The train ride was uneventful, and I sleep some of the way, waking up as the train glides into the large station of District 6. I find my bags and smile at the handsome male face that picks me up. He leads me to his car and drives to a cozy two story house in the middle of town. Another familiar face greets me there, and shows me to my room, where I place my suitcases down and immediately lie in the bed and fall asleep.
So now, I am awake and have no idea how much time has passed. I wash my face, and then head downstairs. I enter the small living room, where I look out the window. It seems to be morning, and the sun is shining on the sign out front of the house that says Primrose Hawthorne, M.D. I decide to try the kitchen and walk into a room where the smell of cooking assaults my senses. A woman with a long blonde braid is standing at the stove as I enter through the doorway.
"Decided to finally join the land of the living again, did you?" she says not even turning around.
"Hi, Aunt Prim." I say. She turns and comes over to me for a hug. "How long have I been out?"
"Two days." She looks me over. "I think you've grown six inches since the last time I saw you. You're getting tall. Must be Peeta's DNA. Definitely not from the Everdeen side."
I nod, and she returns to the stove. She takes a plate and fills it with food. "Here," she says putting the plate on the table, "sit down and eat. You have to get your energy back."
"Obviously my mother told you everything," I sarcastically mention while beginning to wolf down some scrambled eggs.
"She didn't need to," Aunt Prim replies. "It was all over the news that you had collapsed and anyone with an eye could look and see why. I can't believe you did that to yourself, Emma Grace."
"I didn't mean to, I swear." I try to defend myself. "Everything just became so crazy and I just couldn't handle it. That's why I'm here. To have a chance to get myself back together and make some decisions."
"Sounds like a plan," she states. "You can stay as long as you need to. I don't think the reporters will find you here. I made sure Rory won't tell anyone, especially Gale." My aunt had lived in District 6 ever since she had received her medical degree, feeling it was the place where her services were most needed. The ever faithful Rory had followed her there, opening a shop in the town. It had been a while since Emma had visited them here, but she had always enjoyed coming and being able to talk with Aunt Prim. As her mother always said, "Prim is full of advice whenever you need it, or even when you don't." Right now, Emma needed it and was grateful to be in her presence
"Thanks," I reply. "I have to work things out before I see Mason…and Finn." The last part I say almost in a whisper, but my aunt catches it.
"Your mother told me about that too," she continues talking while she puts more food in front of me. "Sounds like you got quite a dilemma. I can see why you would be caught between them, but it wasn't right to do that Emma."
"I know," I say emphatically. "I didn't keep it secret from either of them, but I didn't work out my feelings either. I tried to, but it scared me to think about hurting either of them."
"Well, in my opinion," Aunt Prim puts on her authoritative doctor voice, "you are hurting Finn and Mason more by not choosing."
I put my head down in guilt. I know that she is right. My stubborn streak that my father claims comes from Mother still tries to come out, though. "How can I choose between losing my best friend, and losing the…" My sentence drops off although my mind completes the thought. Losing the one that I am in love with.
Aunt Prim sees my face and gives a knowing look. "It seems like your heart already knows the answer, it just needed to be heard. And I think you just listened to it."
I just stare ahead of me, still taking in the realization. My aunt continues her thoughts. "You should talk to both of them. Tell them honestly how you feel, and I think you will be surprised. You might not have to lose either of them, but the relationships will just be different."
"He'll be hurt." I say simply.
"Yes, he will," Aunt Prim replies, "but if I know my nephew, he may need time, but he'll come to terms with it."
I nod. With new resolve I tell her, "I know what I have to do, now I just have to figure out how I going to tell each of them. It's not going to be easy."
"No," she says, "but you don't have to rush anything. You can stay here until you are ready."
And I do. I spend about a month in District 6 going for walks, reading, and helping Aunt Prim in her office. It's the most peaceful time I have had in months, and I relish it. I finally have the freedom to be able to think. By the time November has come, I finally have a plan and for the first time truly know what I want for my life. Eventually, it is time to put it into action, and I tell Aunt Prim that I am going home.
"And which home is that?" she asks.
"The only home I really know…District 12." I answer her.
So, I leave with promises to come back soon, and take another train to take me home. I arrive to see my family waiting. They wrap me up in the arms and take me to our house. I breathe in the familiar scent of woods that is distinctly home and immediately relax. I decide that my plan doesn't necessarily need immediate action, so I just enjoy settling in. After a couple of days, though, I can't put it off any longer. I call the Hawthornes, who tell me that Mason is in the woods. I head out and go to our spot in the Meadow. He is there sitting on a large rock. I walk up to him and he turns around as I approach.
"Hi," I begin.
"HI yourself," he responds and jumps off the rock. "You're here."
"Yeah, I'm back for good," I say.
"That's great. And how are you?" I can see the curiosity in his eyes.
"Good. Really good," I respond. "I went to District 6 and got better. I got a lot of things figured out while I was there." I slowly look up at him as I say this. His grey eyes look into mine, and I know that he knows what I am going to say.
"You did, huh?" he says with a hint of sadness. "And I can see that it's not in my favor." The hurt is evident and this is what I was so afraid of.
"I'm sorry, Mason." I plead. "You really are my best friend, like a true brother. Its love, but not the kind of love you want from me. I don't want to lose you, though. I want you to still be a part of my life."
It's silent for a few minutes as he takes it in. He still seems sad, but finally speaks. "I understand Emma. If this is how you really feel, then I have to accept it. It's going to take me some time, and I may not come around for a little while until I work it out, but I'll still be in your life. We've known each other too long to lose that."
"That's all I ask." I say. I take his hand and squeeze it. There's an awkward silence before he says, "I think I need to be alone for now, Emma."
"Okay. I'll be here when you are ready to talk again." He nods and I slowly walk away leaving him there alone in the woods. I still feel a sense of loss at the thought that even though we will still be friends, we both know that it will never quite be the same. At the same time, relief floods me that the conversation was over and the truth was out there. Now, it was time for the second part of my plan.
Finn had not tried to contact me since the runway show. I guess that he took to heart the instructions from my parents that I needed to be left alone. But, after more than a month, I wonder how he is feeling. Does he still feel the same, or after so much time is tired of waiting on me? I ask my parents if they might know anything from Finnick and Annie on how Finn is, and they tell me all they know is that he is still in District 4, and seemed to be leading his usual life.
"They did say, though, that he is missing you," my mother offers. I take heart of this news and make the decision that I will the letter that I have planned to him. That night I sit down to work at my desk to compose what I will say.
Dear Finn,
I've missed you so much. As you know from the news, I lost it at Cinna's show. I just couldn't deal with all that was going on. After that, I knew I had to get away from everything and everyone to sort myself out. I went to District 6 and stayed with my Aunt Prim. It gave me time to think without the all the distractions around me. And it worked, because now I know the path I want to take with my life. I want to tell you all about it, because it does involve you. I am at home in District 12 now. You once told me that you wanted to come and visit me here, and I was wondering if that offer still stood. Can you come to see me? I want you to, and be able to tell you some important decisions I've made. Please say you will. I will wait for you until then.
-Emma Grace
I send the letter off, and then wait. I wasn't sure what to expect exactly, but I at least thought he would give me some kind of reply one way or another. But strangely enough, days, then weeks pass, and there is nothing. I think about trying to call him, but I know that I can't because I have left the ball in Finn's court. It just seems strange that he would not say anything, though. It's unlike him, and I wonder if he even received the letter. I go back and forth on what to do, but in the end just keep waiting.
Before long, it's December and Christmas has come. All of the festive mood is around me, but I can't seem to totally get into it. I smile as best I can and try to enjoy the merriment on Christmas Eve as we sit in front of the tree swapping presents. I have some lovely gifts this year, like a bracelet from my parents to match the locket they gave me for my birthday. I also receive a scrapbook that Effie has made from all of my photo sessions in the Capitol. We are eating some desserts made by my father, when Haymitch enters in from the cold.
"Hey everyone," he says taking off his coat and hat. "I made it. Let the party begin!" We all groan but I go to give him a hug.
"How are you doing little sweetheart?" he asks.
"Better." I say. "Thanks for watching out for me and keeping the hounds away."
"It's what I do." he says. "Anything for this family."
More presents are passed around, and everyone has gotten something from the agent until I am the last one.
He turns to me, "Emma Grace, your present is outside on the porch." I look at him with eyebrows raised. What kind of a present would he leave on the porch? I put on my coat and gloves, and go out the front door. I look around for a box of some kind, but instead find a figure sitting on the bench swing my parents usually sit in.
My smile turns to about a thousand watts. "Finn!" I shout, and he stands up as I go over to him. Not knowing what his reaction to me is, I hesitate for only a second, until I see his arms open. I go into them and wrap my arms around his neck. There is snow that had fallen in his hair and his cheeks are pink from being out in the cold. They set off his green eyes amazingly.
His arms are eventually around my waist and he leans down and kisses me. There is so much behind it. So much time has passed now and we are just rediscovering each other. He finally ends it and I look up at him.
"You got my letter," I say.
He chuckles at this. "I did. I know I could have come sooner, but I thought coming on Christmas Eve would be a much more dramatic entrance."
"You left me here waiting!" I jokingly scold.
"It's not like I haven't been waiting for you either, Emma. I'm here now, though. There was something really important you wanted to tell me?"
I get serious now. This is it. "Yes, there is." I take a deep breath. "I love you, Finn."
His smile lights up his entire face. "I love you too." He runs his hand through my hair. "Merry Christmas Emma."
"Merry Christmas." And with the snow falling around us, he kisses me again. When we break apart, I take his hand.
"Let's go inside. Everyone will want to see what my present is. I'm sure they are not expecting a boyfriend!" He laughs at this as we walk together into the house and our smiles tell the whole story to my family.
"Thanks Haymitch!" I shout as I look up at Finn. "Best Christmas gift ever."
Yea! Hope that everyone is happy with this part. So far I am! There is still more for these two to discuss, but that will come in the next chapter. I hope you have liked it. Thank you all again for reading and all the amazing reviews. Please, please, please, keep writing to me and letting me know what you think! : )
