I didn't open my eyes when I awoke, but I did sit there listening to see what was going on around me. I didn't want to bolt right up to find that I was back in District Two with Gale and get in trouble for something ridiculous, but I also wanted to open my eyes to figure out what the hell was going on. Was he really back? But that was impossible. Wasn't it? He couldn't just be resurrected, and knowing what everyone went through with the capitol, he could just be a trick. Maybe someone was getting revenge at me for killing their precious president Coin. Yeah. That had to be it. He wasn't really back. He couldn't be. But what do I know, I never thought it would be possible for Gale to turn abusive, but look at where that got us. I wound up running from him fearing for my life.
I listened quietly for a few minutes taking in the sounds and trying to figure out who was in the room. There was obviously more than just Peeta in the room, and it made me wonder who else would be there. Even if my father was here, that wouldn't account for some of the other voices. I guess now was as good a time as any to just open my eyes and figure out for myself.
"Ow," I said, as the bright light hit my eyes. I squinted and waited for my eyes to focus on the group standing over me.
"Finally Fire Girl's waking up," said a surprisingly familiar voice.
"Johanna?"
"Yepp, it's me," she said with a slight smirk, yet her face revealed some concern.
"Katniss? You okay sweetheart?" Haymich asked with a similar look as the one on Johanna's face.
"Why wouldn't I be? I just saw my dead father,I think,after like eleven years of thinking he's de-" I stopped, focusing on the man behind Peeta. "Dad? Is it really you?"\
"Yea baby, it's me. I'm so sorry, Peeta told me some of the things you went through after the explosion. I couldn't do anything, I swear," he said.
"We should probably all sit down and explain what's going on here," Haymich said with a guilty look on his face.
"Why? Why should we have to listen to an explanation. Isn't it simple? My father left us to fend for ourselves and then we all almost died because HE WASN'T THERE!" I said, my voice getting louder and louder as I spoke. "If it wasn't for Peeta giving us some fucking bread when we were all starving one night, we wouldn't be having this conversation!"
"Sweetheart, please, let us explain. Please. It was the only way we could protect you guys. If anyone knew where he was, the capitol would have killed everyone to keep us quiet. If they had know that I was apart of it too, I would have been presumed dead too," Haymich said, looking like he knew what was coming.
"YOU KNEW?! You knew my father was alive this whole fucking time and you NEVER bothered to tell me?"
"I knew he was at the Capitol. I didn't know if he was still alive. I did know there was a slim chance though," he said, taking a step towards me with his hands up.
" I can't believe you wouldn't tell me you even thought there was a possibility," I said, letting the hurt and betrayal wash over me. Peeta came over to me and wrapped his arms around me as I began to break down.
"Sweethea-"
"NO. Don't finish that word. Tell me right NOW why he was gone while I can still think somewhat rationally," I said as I felt myself begin to lose it.
"Well you know the plan for the rebellion had been going on for a while before you were involved, right?" I nodded. "Well your father, along with me, Mr. Hawthorne, Mr. Undersee, and a few others were all apart of the planning, and when a spy found out about a few of us, they ran to the peacekeepers, and Snow planned an "accidental" mine explosion that took out who they thought were the only people involved. They took the people that they needed from the mines and blew the mines up so it would seem that their bodies would never be recovered."
"Dad?"
"yeah baby?"
"Is this true?" I asked, as I slowly got up out of Peeta's embrace and stepped forward towards the person I had prayed to see again almost every night since the explosion.
"Yeah honey, and I'm so sorry that I couldn't be there for you. If I had known, I would have done something," he said, opening his arms as he saw what I was doing.I stepped into his arms and for the first time in eleven years I hugged my father.
That night, I layed in Peeta's arms (my father was staying in one of the other houses in the Victor's village) thinking about everything that had happened. I began to go through everything I knew for a fact in my life, just as I had done during the rebelion.
My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am twenty years old. I won the Hunger Games. I escaped from the Quarter Quell. My sister Prim is dead. I think. I love Peeta. My dad is alive. My mother doesn't know. I need to tell her. Gale is abusive, and is probably trying to find me. He will probably be here soon...
AN: thanx for reading! I love you all for reading it this far! So now you all know how Mr. Everdeen is alive. But what will they do about Mrs. Everdeen? Will they tell her? What will she say? What will Gale do? Hmmmm... spoilers ;)
