AN: I know its been a while, but I promise that I have not given up on this story! Rather real life and a spot of writer's block have been holding me back. I do have large bits of this story written. It is the transitions in between them that I am having the most problems actually formulating into real chapters. The following chapter is one of those pieces. I know it's short, especially with the wait, but I promise the next update will be soon and it will be longer!
In the days following his family's return, Peeta finds himself jockeying between their hospital rooms, his wife, training and his new post in command monitoring the airwaves with Betee; a job he finds rather frustrating as he often struggles to understand his place there.
It is here he finds himself, nearly 3 weeks to the date of their initial landing, when a call comes in about an unknown ship in Thirteen's airspace.
"Soldier Mellark," Bogg calls, appearing in the doorway, "you're wanted at the landing docks. The ship appears friendly, but Coin wants us to greet it armed."
Peeta quickly sprints after him, trying to keep up with the taller man's longer stride, nearly colliding with Katniss in the corridor.
"Where are you going?" She asks, gripping his shoulders to steady them both.
"Hovercraft… landing… unknown," he gasps out.
When he makes to continue on down the corridor, he finds her following along, walking or rather waddling as quickly as she can behind him.
"Katniss, stay." He warns.
"I'm not a dog to command Peeta," she sneers.
"Kat—I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry. It's just we don't know who's on board. It's not safe."
His apology appears to mollify her albeit briefly because the moment he turns the corner she trails after him.
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The sound of the rotors on the landing hovercraft echo around the cavernous landing dock, the noise overwhelming her ears. The force of the blades alone creating a maelstrom and anything not nailed down whips around in the air like an odd ballet with debris as the dancers.
Though her curiosity had won out, Katniss is still mindful that the craft's inhabitants may not be friendly and so she sticks to the doorway for safety.
The soldiers must assume the ship to be friendly because after a quick inspection they move in fast, lowering their weapons.
She spots Peeta waving enthusiastically to whomever is behind the slowly descending door.
She only needs to see a flash of cotton pink curls to know who it is immediately.
Effie!" She shouts, running over as quickly as she can.
"Katniss I told you to stay away." Her husband protests.
She sends a wry expression his way and he throws up his hands in resignation.
"Oh my darlings!" Effie cries, quickly running down the last few feet of the landing strip to embrace them both.
"Look at you!" She laughs, pulling away to run her hands over Katniss burgeoning belly.
Katniss smiles back, "Yeah, she'll be here sooner than we thought."
Her face grows more serious as she looks up at her escort, "I'm so glad you're here. We were so worried. Is Hay—"
But her question is cut off as a small movement from the ship attracts her attention and she looks up in time to see a young boy emerge. No older than 5 or 6, he makes a beeline for Effie, running to her but hesitating when he spots Peeta and Katniss.
He hides his face in Effie's side timidly.
"And who might you be?" Katniss asks gently.
Effie smiles warmly down at the boy and runs her hand through his mop of curls.
"Go ahead honey, tell her your name."
His response however is muffled by the dress's fabric.
"It's alright, Katniss won't bite. At least not that hard." Effie jokes.
Peeta chuckles and Katniss glares at him, but it lacks any real animosity.
The child hides further behind Effie, but his voice is clearer when he replies, "But, Mama she's a stranger."
"Mama?!" Both her and Peeta's jaws drop in cartoonish mockery.
Effie has the decency to look bashful. "Yes, this is my son- Elgin."
"Huh? Wh-?" Katniss' broken syllabic response are mirrored in Peeta's expression.
Clearing his head, he asks in rapid succession, "Where's he been? How old is he and how come we've never met him?"
As Effie attempts to answer, he raises his hand pausing her reply. "Wait, who's his father?!"
"That'd be me boy."
Slowly the body of their Mentor emerges from the ship's recesses. He walks towards them, the child now grinning as Haymitch scoops him up into his arms.
"He's mine," Haymitch clarifies, kissing his son's cheek. "This one too," he adds, protectively splaying his palm against Effie's abdomen. She blushes prettily under his intense gaze. "You two weren't the only ones who had something to fight for."
"But how?" Peeta asks.
"Didn't think I needed to tell you that boy, seeing as you're having one of your own," Haymitch jests.
"No, I mean I knew you and Effie were close," he offers, not wanting to admit his observations of their relationship in front of strangers. "But, you have a child? How long-?" He tapers off gesturing between mentor and escort.
"Listen kid we're beat and we still got a war to win. When this is all done, I promise I'll answer all of your questions."
Peeta nods reflexively though his eyebrows still knit in confusion. He takes Katniss' hand, who still numb from the news, needs a tug to get her going.
Effie amused at their reactions, grins at them, her smile brightening as Haymitch wraps his free arm around her waist leading the team from the hangar.