L.

Trapped In A Bubble Made Of Air

Chapter 7

The last few hours were a whirlwind of events that left me utterly confused. From Finnick being alive, to Gale talking to me and Effie being mother-like and I don't even want to begin thinking about the pandemic going on above our heads.

I was currently lying curled up in a ball in the bed back at the house while everyone else bustled about the doing things. It was soothing to hear the echoing of footsteps, Gale's almost constant stream of cursing and Finnick's steady, calm voice.

What wasn't so soothing was Effie's mother-like pecking at my health, mental and emotional state every ten minutes. Like clock-work she'd pop into the room bearing a cup of tea or snacks and ask how I'm feeling, if I need something or if I want Peeta.

Or Gale.

Or Finnick.

Speak of the devil. "Katniss? May I come in?" She entered anyway before I even took a breath. "How are you? Do you feel ill? Lightheaded?"

"I'm fine thanks Effie." I sighed and watched as she placed a tray filled with biscuits and tea on the bedside table.

She then turned to face me and patted my hair as though I were a two year old. "Why don't you sit up and have some biscuits and tea?"

Even though I wanted to tell her to go away and just leave me to my thoughts, I couldn't. She was being so nice and motherly that if I were to snap at her I'd just look and feel like a bitch. "I'm fine Effie-really thanks." I tried to roll over onto the other side of the bed but she grabbed a hold of the shirt neckline and pulled me back. "Effie w-"

"Katniss I'm only trying to help." She patted my arm and made herself comfortable, forcing me to sit up and lean back against the pillows-how she managed that I don't know because it was a king sized bed with more than enough room. "Now why don't you and I have a little talk hm? I think it's time." As much as I wanted to tell her to go away, there was something in her soothing voice and that worried mother-hen like eyes that made me comply.

So I nodded.

"Good." Immediately she turned to the bedside and began to pour the tea. "As you probably figured by now Gale and Finnick are snooping about-looking for more food, water and such and Peeta your lovely fiancé is making food." She slowly turned and handed me a cup.

It smelled delicious.

Like something made especially for the nervous.

"It's Earl Grey." She smiled knowingly. "Lucky for us Finnick found a box stashed away in one of the guest bedrooms."

"It tastes good." I mumbled as I sipped at it. Really it did taste good, soothing, like a hug on a crisp fall morning.

"Early Grey is one of my favorite." Effie stated and handed me a biscuit. "We also found several more gas masks of various types which is good." She studied the biscuit before taking a small bite of it and sipping her tea. "Gale found a biohazard suit-alarming but reassuring at the same time."

"Wait." Something dawned on me just then.

Something that I should have picked up on before.

"I thought you knew Peeta and I were being 'taken care of' here." I turned to face her. "You said you knew before."

Slowly, she nodded a guarded look on her face.

"Then shouldn't you have known what's in the house? And why haven't we seen you? Where are the people that use to take care of us? And what's with the lack of pictures but abundance of things for kids?" I knew my voice was rising and it was a miracle that the tea hadn't ended up on the bed but I needed answers.

There have only been more questions upon questions yet only bits of answers that lead to ten more questions! It's frustrating!

Effie, sensing my growing panic took my cup and set both of ours down before drawing me into a hug. A much needed hug. "It's okay Katniss, its okay. Go ahead and cry…you've been through a lot." She mumbled into my hair before resting her cheek atop my head and rubbing circles onto my back.

I didn't cry though, I sniffed and stray tears fell but I wasn't frustrated enough to cry crocodile tears. I did however; settle into Effie's surprisingly comfortable arms. Maybe it was her scent; there was a faint smell of tea and perfume around her that reminded me of better times.

Times when she wasn't a mother-figure, there wasn't a pandemic right outside the front door, and there was hope in the population.

Back to the days when all she cared about was Peeta and me being on time and looking good, where image was the most important thing and Effie was always buying more clothing and having them tailored.

When she would never be caught dead looking like she just mathematically calculated her way out of hell.

"We didn't visit the house." Effie stated softly. "We didn't have to. It wasn't our job…Finnick guarded the entrances to our little hideout with Gale and I-"

"Became the mother?"

She let out a wry chuckle. "Yes…yes I became their mother."

"Isn't there anyone else?"

"In the hideaway? No…people come and go, pass through but we-that's our station. They're the guards while I've become the surrogate mother." She said fondly and rubbed my back.

This was a side I never thought I'd see in Effie, this caring, nurturing side. At first I thought it was an act to win us over, after all a caring, fostering woman is more likeable and easier to trust and listen to. Then again when situations are thrust upon you, you adapt.

Something I know well.

"I know I've changed a lot Katniss…suppose this is what happens when everything is stripped from you. You revert back to what nature intended. Women to be the nurturing one and men to be the protectors." At that she laughed. "I must say though, I like this doting part of me."

Ignoring her laugh-because I knew I was seconds from wiping the smile from her face-I cleared my throat and stared straight ahead at the wall. "Effie…do you know about my Mother? Or Prim? Did they…did they-"

"No." She cut me off, her voice low but strong. "Prim is still dead…as for your Mother, I don't know." I felt her shift to pull me closer but at the last second she faulted. "Katniss this is the honest truth," She sucked in a shaky breath. "We don't really know who's still alive or dead…information has been scarce, all everyone is concerned about is getting supplies to ride out the pandemic."

"Oh." It really was all I could say, it wasn't like I thought Prim would magically come back to life. Finnick was a fluke, and my Mother? Well she wasn't in my life anymore, after Prim's death she couldn't even look me in the eye. Even before this pandemic it was like she had died back in the war; on holidays all she would do is send a card.

Trapped In A Bubble Made Of Air Trapped In A Bubble Made Of Air

About twenty minutes after Effie left the bedroom I walked into the kitchen to see a fairly normal sight; there stood Peeta cooking at the stove, Gale and Finnick sat at the table playing cards and the oddest thing was Effie-there she stood atop a chair cleaning one of the cabinets.

"Erm…" It was really, the only thing I could think of to say.

At least that gained everyone's attention.

"Katniss you're finally up and around!" Effie sent me a motherly smile and as much as I want to say it annoyed me, it was nice to have that mother-like figure around at a time like this.

Someone who gazed at you in that thoughtful, parental way.

I didn't realize how much I missed it; the hen-pecking, nurturing, soothing, looking-out-for-the-best older person floating around.

First it was my mother before everything spiraled out of control.

Then Cinna.

And now Effie.

"Yeah, I am." I took the seat Gale pulled out and stared down at the cards on the table-but honestly I had no idea what sort of game they were playing.

"Would you like some tea, honey?" Peeta smiled at me and walked over, almost immediately his hand dropped to the back of my neck and I leaned up for a kiss.

"No thanks. What are you making?" I mumbled against his lips.

"Dinner." He grinned and pulled at my lower lip. "So how about that tea?"

"None of that cuddling shit at the table please." Gale's rough voice cut into our special moment. "We'll be eating here and-"

"Gale be nice." Effie cut in harshly. "And help me down from here." I looked over just in time to see Finnick hold out his hand for her to grab and climb down off of the chair. She sighed and fluffed up her hair before dragging the chair back to the table and smiling at me. "How do you feel? Dizzy? Hungry?"

"I'm hungry." Gale muttered darkly and threw down his cards. "Twenty-one, I win."

Trapped In A Bubble Made Of Air Trapped In A Bubble Made Of Air

After dinner we all settled into the living room, Peeta and I took the couch while Gale sat on the stiff backed chair opposite us and Finnick paced, inspecting everything from the ceiling to the gas masks lying about. "So…" I mumbled.

Finnick paused his poking at the ceiling to look at me expectantly.

Now I had to say something, but I really didn't know what. I just wanted to hear their familiar voices instead of silence. "What's going on?"

He snorted but sent me a half smile. "You mean right now? Or what we found poking about while you were having nap-time?"

I had to smile at that one but shrugged in response, Finnick did know how to deal with situations. "Well alright then." He clapped his hands and settled down on the couch next to Peeta. "Right now I'm sitting next to your fiancé; you're sitting beside him, while Mr. Hawthorne over there is glaring daggers at us all and why! If I'm not mistaken if looks could kill we'd all be dead! He looks like a grandpa waiting up for his daughter to come home-all he's missing is a shot gun in hand." He laughed and as much as I want to say I at least slapped Finnick for his stupidity, I didn't.

I laughed as well.

A full on, belly shaken, tear forming laugh.

And honestly, it felt great.

Trapped In A Bubble Made Of Air Trapped In A Bubble Made Of Air

L.

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