Wiress took Beetee's clammy hand in hers as they climbed the stairs to the Victors' Box near Caeser Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith's commentator booth. "Do you need any water or anything, Nana? We still have time before the parade." Finnick Odair asked Mags as he helped her sit down next to Beetee. Tears came to Beetee's eyes watching Finnick caring for her like his own son had helped Wiress when she was feeling ill. "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Tesla." Finnick said smiling.
"Hello." Beetee whispered around a choked-back sob. Finnick nodded somberly. "You're a lot like my son. He's a goofball most of the time, but when his mother or I need him to be there, he's there." Feeling a small gnarled hand take his, Beetee looked into Mag's sorrow-filled eyes.
"We saw the reaping. We know." Finnick whispered as Mags patted Beetee's hand. "Nana, no flirting with the other mentors, that's my job!" He said louder before blowing some kisses to random people in the Victors' box.
"Our children - " Wiress whispered gripping Beetee's hand in a death-grip.
"Will do fine." Beetee replied firmly even as the crowd began cheering for the District One tributes who had turned the corner into the City Circle. "NOAH! ESTELLE! UP HERE!" Though a small part of his brain told him that without external amplification, his children would be unable to hear his voice, his heart prompted him to lean against the railing waving frantically to his son and daughter.
"MY CHILDREN! MAMA'S UP HERE! MAMA'S HERE!" Tears of pride streamed down Wiress face as she watched Estelle standing proudly with her arm around her younger brother. As her large eyes scanned the crowd, she gave each section a smile and wave as she waved enthusiastically. Noah was also waving and smiling. The crowd quieted as President Snow rose from his seat. His words were muffled as Wiress and Beetee stared at their children who stood proudly facing their president with faces full of confidence rather than fear. Rising again, they called their children's names as the tributes rode back to the Training Center.
"MOOOOOOM! DAAAAAAAD! ESTELLE'S HITTING ME WITH A GLITTERY PILLOW AND IT'S GETTING ME GLITTERY! EEEEEEEW!" Estelle giggled wildly as each blow with her pillow showered her little brother in orange glitter. They had an hour after the Tribute Parade to change into their pajamas and relax before their mandatory viewing.
"Ok, kids, quiet down!" Beetee called through his laughter as Wiress shook her head and pulled the pillow from Estelle's grasp.
"You two be good through the program and we ordered -" Wiress began smiling.
"Ice-cream?" Estelle asked hopefully as her mother smiled. Facing forward as the seal of Panem flashed across the TV, she and Noah took their notepads and pens from their parents poised to take notes.
"They cut out -" Wiress began noticing the reaping broadcast end after Noah's name was called. She reasoned that the news network predicted that the district would be unhappy with the reaping. Yes, they were. And you know it.
"Yes." Beetee began. "There's Finn and Mag's kids. That boy looks young."
"Yes." Wiress whispered. "Like our Noah."
"Mom! I'm thirteen!" Noah protested before his father covered his mouth.
"Take notes, son." Beetee directed. The middle districts didn't hold many notable tributes.
"Mom! She's probably the youngest tribute here." Estelle pointed out as Rue came to the stage in District Eleven.
"Yes. Twelve." Wiress whispered.
"Mom, you won at twelve." Nodding, Wiress had mixed feelings as she stared into Rue's chocolate eyes. She would never wish entry into the Hunger Games on any child, especially a twelve year old, but she know who she would choose if it came down to Rue or her daughter.
"Primrose Everdeen!" The District Twelve escort called as her face filled the large flat-screen TV. The cameras panned out to show a trembling blonde-haired small girl approaching the stage.
"Another twelve year -" Estelle began before a scream emitted from the TV.
"PRIM! PRIM!" Noticing tears streaming down Estelle's face, Wiress put an arm around her daughter as they both watched a girl in her mid to late teens frantically fighting off the Peacekeepers to approach the stage. "NO! I VOLUNTEER! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!"
"Whoa! Her sister volunteered!" Noah gasped. Simultaneously, the Tesla kids wrote: Katniss Everdeen on their notes. They took further notes during the recap of the Parade and received hugs and kisses for standing so proudly and bravely.
"You told us to be strong, mom." Estelle whispered as Wiress held her in a tight hug and kissed her cheeks.
"And we knew you guys were watching. Along with the Engineering Academy back home." Noah explained.
"You're good kids - both of you - I'm - I couldn't ask for better." Beetee choked out before wrapping his son, daughter, and wife in a hug. They all shed a quick round of tears.
"Daddy, we can do this." Estelle whispered.
"I know, my star, my smart boy. I know." Beetee said kissing them both before sitting up to wipe his eyes. "Thank you, Gearton." Beetee said as the District Three avox tapped him on the shoulder to indicate his order was on the dining room table. Like many avoxes at the training center, Gearton was a district citizen caught in an act of rebellion against the Capitol. The Teslas knew Gearton first as a factory foreman who wrote a scathing letter to the Secretary of Technology demanding better wages and working conditions to produce electronics. "Keeping the kitchen equipment in good repair?" Beetee joked. Gearton rolled his eyes and chuckled in response. "Kids, come to the dining table with your mother and I."
"ICE-CREAM AND CAKE!" Estelle and Noah cheered looking at a heaping metal bowl of min-chocolate chip ice-cream and a meticulously frosted marble cake with circuit designs on the icing.
"Mom! Is that - is that made like your wedding cake?" Estelle gasped. Smiling, Wiress nodded. Earlier that year, she and Estelle were going through her wedding pictures, making copies and photo-editing the copies with Beetee's newly developed computer program.
"Yes, she insisted on a fancy cake - and it was a very good idea, dear." Beetee finished quickly seeing a flash of indignation in his wife's large eyes. Giggling, their children began eating a slice of cake with ice-cream. "Ok, kids, let's get down to business. Name potential allies and threats."
"The Careers we need to stay away from." Estelle pointed out. "Maybe we can help that little girl from Eleven."
"We can see if Six has inventors like they did with you guys." Noah began. "Actually, what if we convinced the Careers we could invent something for them?"
"NO!" Estelle snapped.
"'STELLE! I'm not done!"
"You're NOT getting killed in front of my face because of some ridiculous idea -"
"So you're just gonna run?" Noah asked indignantly. "What if mom and dad want us to fight?"
"Mom and dad want us back home!" Estelle yelled standing up and pounding the table.
"GUYS! Estelle - sit back down. Noah, you will calmly explain your reasoning and then you will listen good and hard to what we say. Understood?" Beetee asked firmly.
"Well - the Careers wanna hunt us down, and they've won for the last few years, so maybe if they knew we could invent something cool for us, we could ally with them and then double-cross them then win."
"Hm." Beetee paused. "Ok, you let your mother and I think about that one. In the meantime, learn both survival and weapons. Both of you. That's what your mother and I did. And in the afternoon tomorrow, begin scouting out alliances, ok?" He paused. "And keep an eye on that Katniss Everdeen. Whatever happens, I think she will play a key role in these Games."
"Should we be her friend?" Estelle asked.
"Just - what your heart says." Wiress said quietly. "My children, we must go to bed. No tired eyes first day of training." She smiled as her children's eyes began drooping.
"Wanna 'nother scoop of ice-cream?" Noah asked reaching for the metal bowl.
"Not now, son." Beetee chuckled as Noah yawned. Putting his arm around Noah's shoulders, he walked him down the hall. "There you are, son."
"Mama? Dad?" Estelle asked quietly as Wiress walked her toward her room. Beetee perked up as the two approached him and Noah. "Do you remember when we would all stay in your room?"
"Come, my star." Wiress whispered as the four of them made their way to the master bedroom. Beetee grabbed pillows from Noah and Estelle's rooms.
"Are you comfortable, buddy?" Beetee asked tucking a navy blue pillow under his son's head. Eyes closed, Noah nodded. A smile played on his face as his father kissed his forehead.
"There, little star." Wiress whispered placing a squishy purple pillow under Estelle's head before watching Estelle roll over and put her arm around Noah. Wiress crawled into bed next to her daughter as Beetee climbed into bed next to his son. They pulled the covers over themselves and their children as Wiress began humming a lullaby. Pushing a switch on the nightstand, Beetee turned out the lights. "Sleep, my lovely children," Wiress whispered as a tear slipped down her cheek. "Sleep safe with us."