**I Do not own the Hunger Games nor its characters**

75th Battle Cry

A Katniss Story

Chapter 10

Pay Thy Dues

Part 2

President's Mansion, Capitol

President Snow was in his office when Romulus returned from the arena that Victor Cecilia from district 8 picked. Snow even chuckled at the memory of when Cecilia asked to 'borrow' Cato's swords & Brutus notes to make the pain worse. Even Snow knew never to mess with a 'mother' he chuckled to himself then he sobered up as he looked at the Skylar brothers' records including the quality of care they received from their foster parents. He was not amused with the foster parents.

Snow "Romulus thank you for getting me the information I requested. I believe that an award for the boys is long over due. I want this added to their trust for helping me & therefore the country."

Romulus "My pleasure sir. I'm surprised they made it to their cells after young Mace said 'I was robbed of my Daddy' sir. I thought every Victor wanted to lynch the four on the spot with, Coin helping them by bringing the rope. I almost fell over laughing when he had to go to the Judge of a 'language edit'. "

Snow "So did I. So like Damien. (as he shakes his head) Anyways, I also want the headstone for their parents graves that is currently there replaced with something more fitting for my rescuer. After that I want to see if the head game maker would be more open to criminals paying their dues than the children. What say you Romulus?"

Romulus "Well it's about time, sir. I believe that will solve the unrest with the Districts for now Mr. President. As for your request, it will be as you wish. Would you like them to know that its from you Sir?"

Snow "Only if they ask. Thank you Romulus that will be all."
Romulus got up, bowed & left. When he was outside he contacted Brutus but has Brutus told him where he was Romulus said he'll met him there. Romulus got into his car in a hurry & sped away.

Medical Center-Capitol

Cato had Effie watch Rosie has he took Katniss to the medical center at the training center late in the night. It was a servant who found her doubled over in the bathroom as Cato returned from escorting the four. They did an ultra sound only to find that there was no heartbeat. Katniss miscarried. Now he is sitting in a waiting room with Haymitch & Brutus on either side of him. His head in his hands. Katniss is in surgery for the procedure. They assured Cato that they did nothing wrong & can still have more children. Brutus just got off the phone with Romulus who is meeting him there.
Brutus "Cato, she's going to be alright. 1 in four pregnancies end in miscarriage. No one knows why. Romulus is on his way from the President with a big announcement for the boys."

Cato "We just lost our child Brutus. Our child. I wonder if its my fault from the first year with Katniss. If this is Karma for what I did..."

Haymitch "STOP IT... Right now Mister. YOU have to be strong for her now! So you think she's not asking those very same questions for herself? She still feels guilt for what she had to both times in the arenas. She needs you as you need her. YOU need to be there for her now as she would be there for you. Now I know it sucks Cato. Before you go off, I've lost my child. YOU need to be there for her. YOU have to MAN UP!"

Just then Romulus came in & can tell this isn't good. Brutus informs him that Katniss miscarried. Romulus calls the President also that the doctor stated that Katniss will be okay. The President has Romulus hand the phone over to Cato.

Snow "Cato please let me express my condolenes on your & Mrs. Lungren's lost. Cato What I'm going to tell you your never heard. After Damien died, Amanda miscarried. I thought I would never make it through or, even worse I was going to lose Amanda. We made it through, it wasn't the same but we made it through. Two years later we had our daughter. You will get through this too. My advise young man is be there for your wife. In the words of Mr. Aberthany if I may be so bold "MAN UP." Understand? "

Cato "Yes Sir, thank you sir." Has he hands the phone over to Romulus who ends the call "Yes, sir I will have Brutus keep you informed. Goodbye, sir." Romulus then tells the gang what the President is going to do for the boys. All sat in shock & amazement for never in the country's history has the President been this generous to anyone.

Brutus "Seth must have made one hell of an impression with the President last night."

Cato "No Brutus that is where you are wrong. It was Mace when the boys were being crowned. Both boys made great first impressions but as we all know Mace tends to steal the show." Just then the doctor came out to let Cato know what happened. Katniss had a tumor & that was the cause of the miscarriage. They already told her & let her know it that she did nothing wrong. The doctor also said she asking for Rosie & for him. Cato gets up & Haymitch calls Effie to check on Rosie. Brutus looks at his former protege with new found respect as he watches him walk down the hall towards his wife's room. Has he enters he sees his wife in a way that he thought he will never see her, broken defeated. No words were spoken for none were needed.

Later when they released Katniss from the hospital, she didn't feel like being around anybody. So she just went into their room & went back to bed. When they returned home in District two, other than caring for Rosie she did nothing. That vancant look has returned. When she was sleared to travel two weeks later for Cato to get the school started in D-12 she still had that vacant look. This had Cato concerned, very concerned has he informed Brutus daily so, he did what he thought he would never do. He called in reenforcements from a bigger boss. Cato called his Mother-in-law.

District-12 D-Day:

Camille comes into her house after a days' gathering of herbs for her balms. She gets to the kitchen when the phone rings to find that its Cato & he's not sounding good at all. Yet she's been expecting this since hearing about the miscarriage. Katniss is in a place that only she knows too well.
Camille: Cato, what is going on?

Cato: She's getting worse not better Camille. Other than caring for Rosie, she's vacant. Half alive if that. It's worse than before the 75th arena if you can describe anything worse than that. I know I'm not your favorite person Camille but I don't know what to do. I need your help, please.

Camille: "So you called in the big guns. Okay this is what you do..." has she lays out her plan, Cato gets it all. At this point he'll take all the help he can get. Camille ends the plan with "Once you get here, you take Rosie over to Haymitch's house until I call you back. Be forwarned this may take days before you two see her so be prepared. Now call Brutus & send the 'boss' in. See you when you get here-bye."

Cato "Ok. Got it-bye." Hangs up calls Brutus who makes the call to the mansion but its not the President who Brutus is calling.

Snow gets a visit from the his wife who updates him on Katniss. Amanda ended "Dear its worse than that. From what Cato describe it was after Damien & that's is not good for Rosie. I'm meeting up with Mrs. Everdeen tomorrow in D-12."

Snow "They're calling in the Boss & the the big guns. Cato is a wiser man than I thought. Before you go Amanda, what do you think of this draft going before the Senate?" Amanda does a quick double take as it been years since he's asked for her opinion on any drafts. Amanda then picks up the draft that her husband wrote. Looking at it she gets a big smile on her face.

Amanda "Dear this is by far the best one you have ever done. Push it. I don't think you can get one dissection on it."

Snow "You think so dear?"

Amanda "I know it. Not after the nation saw Mace yell at Thatch 'I was robbed of my Daddy because of you, sir.' If anything they will push it so they will never have to see a boy go through that again. Would you want me to give you an update when I get home dear?"

Snow "When you get there, Amanda.," as he gets up to hug her "Have a good trip & may the odds be ever in our favor dear."

The next day Cato & company arrive at the train station. Haymitch meets him there telling him all is in place as he takes Rosie. That's when Katniss goes over to him to take her. Haymitch & Cato go "no." Katniss looks puzzled at them as Cato walks her over to her mother's house which in Victory village as sees Haymitch take Rosie over to his place. This is when Katniss loses it & starts screaming at Cato. Cato picks up Katniss puts her over his shoulder & carries her in. There she greeted with the sight of the First Lady & Camille as Cato sits her down in a chair. Gets up & leaves without a word. It was the hardest thing he ever had to do but he knew for their family's sake he had to do it.

The first lady looks "Well that's an improvement from what I hear."

Camille "Yes it is." Has both turn to her & tell her the reason why she is here. Now its up to her when she can get back to Rosie. Her mother ends it with "For a girl who is known to be so tough, a fighter, you sure can fool me."

Katniss "Like when did you ever miscarry mother? I know I'm not the only one. Do you think its easy, think again. I'm still trying to figure out how this happened & why? Until then there will be no more children."

Camille fired back " I miscarried your brother at 5 months when you were 2 years old. That's why there is a almost a 5 year difference between you & Prim! So yes I do 'know' something of the subject."
Amanda Snow look at the two. Seems there is more likeness to mother & daughter than we realized she thought. She pulls Camille aside to let her know that she'll be going now give a couple of days she's almost there. She tells Katniss "While its okay to mourn, not to check out of life completly. You'll be alright." As Amanda leaves for home she calls her husband & tells him on the progress of Katniss on her own but there's still work to be done. She stops by Haymitch's house to talk to Cato.
Amanda "Cato be ready. For when she's comes for Rosie, boy you're going to get it." Cato nods not knowing what to expect of Katniss. Yet it seems that something as happened. For after the First Lady left Katniss went for a walk. A long walk.