Young Huntress,Young Musician and Young-flame Chapter 11

"Portia?" the soothing voice of her husband who she thought was gone forever rings out. Portia turns around and there he stands. Look as sexy as the day she first met him. Cinna is dressed all in black his best and favorite color. His hair is the same except for the occasional gray hair. And the final touch of golden eyeliner. Just perfect as always.

"Cinna?" Portia says slowly carefully not trusting her voice to speak.

"Oh my god it is you" Cinna says pulling her into his arms. "I've missed you so much" he whispers.

"I've missed you too" Portia says starting to cry. "Mister Cinna?" Ellie calls as she pulls on his pants

"Hold on my love" he says kneeling down in front of Ellie without letting go of her hand.

"Yes my little princess" He says smiling at the small girl in front of him

"How do you know Miss Portia?" she asks looking up at her old care-giver and uncle. Cinna is quiet as he thinks about how to explain this to this adorable five year-old. Cinna is about to speak but Portia beats him to it.

"Mister Cinna and I are old friends" she says and Ellie is about to say something but Katniss asks everyone to come into the kitchen. Ellie takes Cinna and Portia's hand and leads them into the kitchen. Katniss comes over and hugs both Portia and Prim. Katniss gives prim a kiss on the cheek

"So good to see you prim" The mockingjay says to her sister.

"You too Katniss" Prim says as they walk. "How is she doing? Is she adjusting well?" she asks as she watches Ellie socialize with everyone.

"She is doing very well, we did have a little bump in the road" Katniss says.

"What happened" Prim asks

"Well when we showed her her room, she was fine while we spent the day in her room today. Then an hour before you showed up. Peeta and I heard her screaming and thrashing, "She even called out mommy, in despration" Katniss says wiping her eyes with a tissue that Prim gives her.

"Did she tell you what the dream was about?" Prim asks

"She told me that a boy named Mark would bully her" Katniss says prim gasps. "Oh I had no idea" she says says in total surprise. "I do know about Mark and he does have history of bullying." she adds.

"Come on everyone let's eat" Peeta says as he wraps Katniss in his arms. Everyone digs in and savors ever bite. There is silence for almost fifteen-minutes with nothing but the sound of silver-ware. Its portia who breaks the silence.

"Peeta this is so good, you weren't lying when you said Peeta could cook, my love" Portia says still clutching Cinna's hand. Peeta beams over at his former stylist and smiles.

"Glad you like it Portia, it was Ellie's favorite meal" Peeta says winking at Ellie who giggles. Then five minutes later Ellie is tapping her glass. Everyone looks at her as she goes to stand next to Katniss and Peeta who smile as their youngest begins to speak.

"I'd like to say toast tonight now, first of all to my momma and papa, thanks so much for adopting me and taking me in to their home. I can't tell you how happy that made me. Idina Daniel thanks for being so welcoming. And finally hunter thanks for be being a playmate and cool brother" she says finishing

"Hear hear" everyone say clinking their glasses together. Peeta and Katniss both hug their daughter tightly.

"Ellie that was beautiful" Katniss says smiling down at her daughter.

"Yeah that was very grown up of you princess"Peeta says hugging his daughter.

"Thanks momma and papa" Ellie says

"Alright everyone ready for desert?" Peeta asks as as he picks up his golden haired princess. Everyone smiles and nods. "Alright for desert is another of Ellie's favorites, Katniss my love would you come help me bring it out."Peeta asks holding out a hand for his girl to take.

"Of Course Peeta"Katniss says taking his hand and getting up.

"Can I come too papa?" Ellie asks looking at Peeta

"Sorry princess then that would ruin the surprise" he says winking at her as he and katniss leave. Five-minutes later they return with a beautiful chocolate cake. On the cake five candles are burning. Haymitch turns down the lights as Katniss and Peeta begins to sing. Everyone else joins in smiling.

"Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday dearest Ellie!

Happy birthday to you"

The singing ends and everyone looks over at Ellie who blows her candles and then the whole room goes black. There's the pattering of small feet leaving the room Haymitch turns on the lights. The cake is still there and Peeta proceeds to cut it and pass it out. Katniss suddenly realizes that her youngest child isn't here. "I'll be right back"

Katniss's point of view

I leave the table and head up to Ellie's room, I get to the door and I hear sobs. I knock on the door "Ellie princess can I come in?" I call through the door.

"Come in momma" Ellie calls in a crying voice. I open the door and immediately see my little princess laying on her bed clutching her bear and Mr. whiskers close to her. I go over to her and sit next to her on the bed.

"Are you okay princess?" I ask as I rub her back. Ellie moves her head into my lap. "I'm sorry for leaving momma" Ellie says.

"It's okay my angel, were you scared?" I ask as caress her face. She looks up at me with those bright blue eyes that I fell in love with this morning. Ellie sits up and presses her tummy into mine and lays her head on my shoulder.

"I left because I haven't been in a room with some many people who care about me and when you and papa brought out that cake and started to sing to me it reminded me of my parents and when we would celebrate ."Ellie says taking the picture from her nightstand and shows me the picture of her parents.

"Did you ever meet my parents momma?" she asks looking up at me.

I shake my head sadly and pull her close to me which she likes "Im sorry princess I didn't' I say as Ellie yawns and nuzzles deeper into my shoulder and wrapping her arms around me. I do the mockingjay tune and Sam comes over and nuzzles his way into her shoulder. "hey Sam" Ellie says softly clearly about to fall asleep.

"I miss my momma and papa" Ellie says in a shaky voice laced with tiredness. Its been a long day for this little girl and I am so proud of her.

"I know you do, princess" I say holding her tightly and looking at her. "Are you ready to get ready for bed princess?" I ask and she nods. "But what about everyone downstairs." she asks as I help her into her pink nightgown and then I begin to tuck her into bed. "Don't worry princess, they understand that today was a big day for you" I say as I lean forward a kiss her on the forehead and then the cheek. I am about to move away when she grabs my arm.
"Mommy?" she adorably asks

"Yes Princess Ellie?" I ask

"Since it's my first night here do you think you could spend the night with me?" she asks looking up at me with those bright blue eyes that are so much like her fathers. I immediately know that I can't say no to that.

"of course princess, just let me say goodnight to everyone and then I'll be back" I say smiling and laying her down on her bed. "I'll be right back" I say and she nods. "Hurry mommy" she says cutely curling into her pillow. Sam is still curled up her shoulder. "two minutes princess" I say looking over at her and smiling. Peeta meets me in the hallway and pulls me into his arms.

"Hey my love, everything go ok with our little princess?" he asks

"She's doing good now, she told me the reason that she ran away from the party is because and I quote "I left because I haven't been in a room with some many people who care about me and when you and papa brought out that cake and started to sing to me it reminded me of my parents and when we would celebrate., unquote Katniss says "and then she showed me the picture of her parents. She adds.

"Yes that would make anyone nervous" Peeta says wrapping his arms around my waist.

"She also asked me to sleep with her tonight, because its her first night here" I say laying my head on his shoulder as Peeta begins to rub my back. "And I told her i'd be back in two minutes" I say looking at Peeta who smiles at me and then lets me go but not before giving me a loving kiss. "I love you so much Katniss"Peeta says. "go ahead and sleep with Ellie. I tell everyone you were tired and then i'll join you guys" he says giving me a hug.

This is why I love this man so much, he's always putting me and our children before himself. I have no regrets when he asked me to marry him years ago. I bury my head in his neck inhaling the smell of vanilla.

"Thank you Peeta" I say as I move to the room containing little Ellie Faith. "Five minutes" I whisper to my amazing husband. "Five minutes he repeats. I open the door and immediately sense that Ellie is having a nightmare I go over to her and see I am right because she has tear tracks on her face and she's mumbling "momma help me" over and over again. I sit down next to my little girl and pull her into me, rubbing her back soothingly.

"Shh come on baby-girl wake up, I want to see your beautiful blue eyes" I say as I kiss her forehead.

Ellie's point of view

I am having a dream in which my wonderful family is singing to me, they have just ended and the dream goes from good to worse. There's a knock on the door, and momma goes to answer it and then she returns with two peacekeepers. I see my momma crying and papa is holding her. I am confused but then I hear the male peacekeeper say "We are here for a Ellie faith Mellark" I begin to cry "Momma help me" I say as the peacekeepers advance on me. Momma tries to get to me but the other peacekeeper blocks her. "Momma help me" I scream. I feel someone one pick me up and then they start rubbing my back soothingly. "Come on baby-girl I want see your beautiful blue eyes"the voice says. I open my eyes and I am staring into the gray eyes of my momma who I cling to like a lifeline.

"You're not going to send me back are you momma?" Ellie ask as she finally calm down still clinging to her momma. Katniss feels tears in her eyes as she strokes her daughters face"No of course not princess, we want you forever." she says and then it hits her "Was this what your nightmare was about?" the old mockingjay asks her shaking chick who is clinging to her. Ellie just nods. "Do you want to talk about it Princess?" Katniss asks. Ellie is silent "It might make you feel better cutie" she says. The youngest Mellark considers this as she looks at her mom. "Ok momma" Ellie says as she nuzzles into her momma's shoulder and then she begins.

"Well its started out good, momma" the little cutie begins giving her momma a small small as she talks about how everyone was singing to her and having a good time. Ellie's face goes from happy to sad as she remembers what happened to her. "And then two peacekeepers show up and follows you into the party. You start crying and papa comforts you. I Stand confused as the the male peacekeeper says. "we are hear for a Ellie faith Mellark" he says. "and then you say help me momma help me" Katniss says as Ellie looks at her and nods. "How did you know momma?" she asks as she lays her head on her moms shoulder. "When I came back you were whispering "help me momma help me" Katniss says smiling. "You dont have to worry you never have to go back to the children's home ever again." a voice says coming from the door. Ellie and Katniss both look over and see Peeta standing there where his pajamas.

"Papa" Ellie says happily as she climbs out of Katniss's lap and running to Peeta

"Hey my little-princess" Peeta says picking her up and holding her tightly as he brings her over to the bed.

"how are you doing?" he asks as he sits next to Katniss.

"I'm doing good papa" Ellie says as she starts to yawn

"I think its someones bed time" Katniss says as she begins to take off her flats and then lays down on the bed ,Ellie snuggles in to her momma and Peeta comes up behind her wrapping his hands around his girls

"Will you and papa stay with me?" Ellie says laying on her back ,looking look at her parents who smile at their little princess. They look at each other then back at Ellie as they both respond "Always" and then they all fall asleep feeling safe and content.