A/N: It's been a while and my life is crazy, but this was my priority this weekend. I hope it doesn't seem rushed and I'll appreciate any reviews. They really are quite affirming and I love getting the notifications. Send some suggestions my way, too, if you feel so inclined. :)
Prim was nervous wreck. The stop yesterday in District 11 was a nice distraction from the building nervous tension she felt about going to see her sister. She discussed her concerns with Gale and Twinge while they wandered through the fields and groves of 11. All three had different ideas about the best way to reveal all the shocking news to Peeta and Katniss but they all agreed that they would have to wait to see just what the situation was in 12. She had messed so much up in such a short period of time, she didn't trust her instincts like she used to.
She watched Gale walk back towards the train from his visit with Katniss through the window in her compartment that faced the town. She'd been pacing in the caboose for almost an hour driving everyone else crazy so she went to be by herself. Gale looked up at her window and winked before going to the end of the car to board. His smile was a good sign and when she finally plucked up the courage to slide open her compartment door he was standing there waiting.
"Well?" She breathed, wringing her hands and a little breathless.
"She asked me what my girlfriend's name was." He smiled down at her as he stepped in and wrapped her in a comforting hug. The compartment door slid shut and he leaned in and kissed her lightly.
"You told her?" She asked when he pulled away.
"No. She just knew. I didn't confirm anything, but I didn't deny anything either." Gale said backing up to settle on her bunk. He noticed how anxious she looked. "Hey," he said reaching out to her, "It's going to be okay. Everything went like we discussed the yesterday and it went well."
Prim went and sat in his lap wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight hug. "I just can't wait to see her and then I hope I can do everything right." She breathed in his familiar and comforting scent.
"Well, she knows Rue's brother is here and she took that well. Though, I think she's nervous about meeting him. She's still suspicious of peoples' motives, which is completely understandable. But in that particular case, however, I think that will be gone the moment she meets Twinge." Gale said. "And she's guessed that there is someone in my life, though she was worried it was Johanna. Did you know Johanna sent her a letter about me?"
Jealousy flared up in Prim's core and it took her by surprise. The fact that Johanna knew Gale in a way that Prim didn't really irritated her. And the fact that Gale wouldn't allow Prim to get to know him that way was really wearing on her self-confidence. She frowned at the thought, because it always confused her. Here she sat on his lap and in his comforting arms, but he wouldn't allow her to give him the same pleasure that he had offered and given her. It made her question her own ability as well as her desire for it. The latter thought actually made feel like she was dirty or immoral, but she tried to push that to the back of her mind. She had more important things to worry about.
"It wouldn't surprise me. She's hung up on you." Prim responded.
"Johanna Mason doesn't get hung up on anyone." Gale said. His hands moved up and down her back in comforting circles.
"I watched you reject her. If she wasn't hurt, she was angry. I probably had something to do with that because I was more than a little crazy that day." She smiled into his neck at the memory. "I really don't know what came over me."
Gale pulled the bun out of her hair and raked through the long locks with his fingers. "I'm hoping you were a little jealous." He pulled her lips up to his and brushed them lightly.
She looked back at him as she thought about this. She was still jealous of Johanna because Johanna still had a part of him that she didn't. That hurt and stung. "You like me being jealous?" Was the only thought she vocalized.
Gale didn't understand everything that flashed across her face. "Yes. It's kind of sexy. But, we have to stop this conversation before it takes us somewhere we shouldn't go right now." He shifted his hips to illustrate his point. "And we have many other things we should be doing including introducing the team to Katniss and Peeta."
Prim felt his arousal beneath her and was even more confused. He did want her and he wanted her to know it. It made her long for him that much more and she knew he was right about leaving and soon. She wondered how a person could feel shame, desire, joy, pain, and fear all at the same time. She nodded her head at him, gave him a quick, but very determined kiss, and stood up. "Let's go to the caboose. That's where they're all waiting."
"I don't like her." Katniss said as she looked for another cookie sheet in the lower cabinet. "What's with that fire tattoo anyway?" She found what she was looking for and dropped onto the counter just a little harder than she intended to.
"Kat, I think you need to give the whole team a chance and not pre-judge them too harshly." Peeta said wrapping his arms around her from behind and giving her a comforting hug.
"What are you talking about? I love Twinge! And Bow, I really like him, too." She declared.
"You like Rue's little brother and his best friend. Really? That's not much of a stretch. I haven't heard you say anything nice about any of the others."
"I think she's just jealous." Haymitch said from the table. He's was "testing" a pile of cookies that Peeta was baking for the team's trek into the woods the following day.
"And just what am I jealous of?" Katniss hissed at him.
"You're jealous that all these people know your Gale in a way you don't." Haymitch looked down at the cookie he just took a bite of. "These are damn good, Peeta."
"Thanks. I'm trying a new recipe." Peeta returned.
"I'm not jealous of anyone." Katniss stated vehemently. "Am I not allowed to form opinions of anyone without being judged?" She asked.
Haymitch snorted. "Sweetheart, you are such a hypocrite."
"How am I a hypocrite?" Katniss asked. She was really annoyed now. Ever since the news of Haymitch and Effie's little affair became common knowledge he's been insufferably happy. Katniss didn't know what to do with a pleasant Haymitch.
"You're allowed to make a judgment but no one is allowed to make one about you? You suspect Gale of having a relationship with someone and you then suspect every female he's near. That's a judgment, Sweetheart." Haymitch licked his fingers and continued, "You like Twinge because he's Rue's brother and you don't hate Bow because he's a man. You hate both the girls because it could be one of them, but in actuality it's probably neither and he's probably left her behind in 2." Haymitch wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and looked at Peeta. "Got any cookies with that tasty icing?"
"Not right now, Haymitch." Peeta smiled.
"Are you drunk? I don't hate that big guy. And he looks like a career. He should bring out my natural fear and hate." She responded.
"Again, he's a guy." Haymitch said. He stood up when he heard the knock on the door and moved to answer it since Katniss just stood there gaping at him and Peeta was knee deep in flour.
"Haymitch! Just the man I needed to see." Gale's voice filled the kitchen. Katniss closed her mouth and looked towards Peeta, who continued to look pleasant though the muscle in his jaw tightened. "I left some items in your kitchen that need attention soon, from District 2."
"Now?" Haymitch asked.
"Go ahead, old man." Peeta said from his counter. "You've already eaten a dozen cookies yourself and I'll make sure we save some with icing."
Haymitch harrumphed at Peeta, though inwardly grateful for the excuse to go see what Gale put in his kitchen. "You comin'?" He asked Gale.
"No. I have some things to talk to Peeta and Katniss about." Gale turned to the two of them. "If that's okay." He added.
"Don't fuck things up, Hawthorne." Haymitch warned. "Things are good here and I want them to stay that way." He gave Gale a meaningful look.
"Language, you old Goat! Why am I always the adult here?" Peeta asked to no one in particular.
Gale smiled at Haymitch and shook his hand. "I have no intention to. I just want to see this book Peeta mentioned earlier." Haymitch held his gaze, inhaled and let go of Gale's hand. He was obviously convinced of something so he turned to walk out the same door Gale entered through.
Gale turned back to Katniss and Peeta. "Peeta mentioned the book of plants that your family began a while ago. Peeta said that you two expanded it. I was wondering if we could look at it and possible scan it into our digital library."
Katniss was caught a little off guard. She looked at Peeta. "Sure, Gale. Kat, why don't you go get it and let him look at it at the table?" Katniss looked back at Gale and shrugged thinking that this situation was a little awkward, but couldn't see any harm in it. She went upstairs to find where she last put it.
"I'm not here to mess things up." Gale told Peeta. "I can see what you've done for her and Haymitch and I couldn't have wished for anything better." He paused. "And…I couldn't have done nearly as much." He added.
Peeta nodded. He had been a little worried, but he really didn't know about what. He knew that Katniss was going to meet him in the woods earlier that morning because she told him. He appreciated that because he was nervous about Gale coming back. Haymitch was right, Gale had a tendency to fuck things up. He had a hard day at the bakery worrying about how she would react to seeing him again, but when he returned home she was just fine.
They had a late afternoon meeting with Gale's team and they took a short walk near the woods with them. What Peeta found strange about the whole team was they were each very quiet in their own way and they each did and noticed very different had been totally taken with Twinge. When Gale first introduced them to each other they were both very shy; almost as if they were scared of each other. But Katniss spent rest of the walk talking to him with that little guy following along. Peeta thought his name was Bow, but hadn't quite heard it during the introductions. The dark haired girl walked in front of the big guy most of the way. She didn't say much to him, but he followed her around. Peeta wondered what that story was. They both looked at the trees and the other vegetation and then general topography of the land. They recorded data into their tablets and seemed rather professional.
The red-haired girl, who Peeta remembered was Rose because of her tattoo, was the most interesting to him. She seemed so familiar to him but he couldn't put his finger on why. She really kept her distance from the others observing and recording everything. Her green eyes moved over everything seeming to drink it in. Gale mentioned she was actually from 12 and was saved from the bombings. But he couldn't remember her at all and not even from their time in 13. Of course he was not very aware of his time in 13 having been hijacked and trying to kill his wife. The way she moved was familiar, but perhaps that was because she was from 12 and she just seemed to fit in here. He talked with her just a little bit, and her voice was even familiar even if her accent was off. Peeta had no idea why Katniss hated her.
Peeta's thoughts returned to Gale standing in from of him. "You've done great things where you are, Gale. I'm impressed with what you're trying to do."
"Thank you." Gale said imagining a deeper meaning than his simple words conveyed. "I'm done trying to hijack your relationship. I just want that out there."
Peeta came around the kitchen island wiping his hands on his jeans. He held his hand out to Gale who took it and then pulled Peeta into a manly hug.
"Whoa!" A voice came from the doorway. "There's a lot of man love in here." Katniss stated as she placed the family book on the kitchen table.
"Jealous?" Peeta asked smiling at his wife.
"Maybe a little." Katniss said. "But of whom I'm not going to say." And that statement cleared all tension that had built over many years from the air. The next hour or so was spent explaining plants in the area and eating cookies before all three of them headed out towards the train for a late dinner with the team.
Haymitch walked into his clean kitchen. Since he started seeing Effie on a regular basis he helped the local economy by paying people to clean his house. He didn't mind cleaning up after the geese, but he hated cleaning up after himself. The geese were cleaner.
He expected some paperwork to be left on the table. He did not expect a beautiful red-head to be sitting at his table. Gale said something from District 2. He was a little confused.
"Hello, Haymitch." She said. Prim saw him eyeing her and trying to place her.
Haymitch couldn't quite place the voice though it was very familiar. He had traveled so much over the years he had no idea who this girl could be, but her accent was 12. He watched her pull a small container out of her pocket poke her fingers into her eyes removing the lenses and then carefully place them into the container. When she looked back up at him he saw those puddles of blue and knew.
"Prim." He breathed and rushed forward and grabbed her into a hug. Prim knew this show of emotion was strange for Haymitch, but she just hung on as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
"You knew me." She breathed.
"Not at first, Honey." He pulled away and gave her a look up and down taking in the rest of her. "But I knew the plan and when I saw your eyes…" He studied her face and the changes made there. "Well, they made you more beautiful if that was at all possible." He said after his evaluation.
Prim blushed a little and sat back down in her chair. "Thanks, Haymitch. I don't feel too much different. How are you?" She looked around. "Your house looks…cl…er…nice." She said with a knowing smile.
"Yeah, well, I can pay someone to do it and it helps distribute my money to those who really need it." He replied with his own blush.
"Haymitch, why are you blushing?" Prim pried.
"Damn it!" Haymitch started. "I guess I better tell you before the gossip whores get there. That damn Peeta can't keep his nose out of people's business and he pulls your sister into it too."
"You're stalling. Why are you blushing?" Prim pressed.
"Fine. I've been seeing someone. That's all you're getting out of me." His ears turned red.
"Okay, Haymitch. I don't want or need to know all the sordid details. It's just good to see you again." She replied. "I just hope she's good to you. You deserve it."
"Since we're on the subject, who is Gale seeing? Katniss is positive he's seeing someone and that's the only reason he can stand to be around her." Haymitch dished and arched an eyebrow at her.
It was Prim's turn to blush. She turned a very deep shade of scarlet. "I thought you said Peeta was the big gossip. Sounds like you enjoy it as much as he does." She avoided the question.
Haymitch noticed her blush. "Now you're stalling, Honey." She could see that he guessed, but she couldn't read his expression. Haymitch didn't know whether to be happy or angry. "Are you going to say it?" He asked.
"Well, I guess you could say he's seeing me." She said quietly as she looked at the floor. Haymitch inhaled to give her a lecture on age differences and what men expect from girls and how she was so young and many other things he could imagine a father would say to a daughter even though he actually had no clue.
"Before you start lecturing me," Prim cut in, "This is well covered territory between Gale and me and my mother. It's just very awkward being here in 12 and we don't know how to tell Katniss when we finally get around to telling her I'm alive. That's part of the reason I'm here." She finished.
"Tell Katniss your alive? What's happened? Why do you get to tell her?" Haymitch momentarily forgot about the lectures he wanted to give her.
Prim spent the next twenty minutes telling Haymitch about embryos that Twinge and Bow discovered and their work with BeeTee to make a deal with Cash that would allow her to reveal herself to Katniss. She shared with him all her reservations that Gale had helped her discover as well as the tentative plans that Twinge had helped them develop since he knew their secret.
"I need a drink." Haymitch declared. He got up and headed towards his refrigerator. Prim was a little worried until he came back and opened a can of grape fizzy drink.
"You like grape soda?" Prim asked wryly.
"You just told me that you're doing your sister's former flame who just happens to be five years older than you, AND who is SUPPOSED to be your cousin, and you're judging my choice of beverage?"
"I am not 'doing' Gale." Prim said defensively with a tone of sadness to her voice as well. "I am in love with him, though." She said a little softer.
Haymitch sighed in relief. "I'm glad to hear it. Does he love you, too?" He asked with fatherly tone.
"Yes, he does. He's not with me because he's hung up on Katniss. That is also well covered territory." With a small smile she added, "And I like that you're drinking grape soda instead of white liquor. It's pleasantly amusing to me."
"Look, Haymitch. We need your help because you know how well Katniss is doing and what will end up hurting her. We don't want to do that, but, I miss her so much I am going crazy. I've been very impetuous lately and I've learned that causes more harm than good. I want to do this right. I want my sister back."
Haymitch ran his hand through his hair and then scratched his beard. "I just left Gale at her house with Peeta and her alone. If they survive that, you'll have a good chance at something. Let me think on it and poke around a little bit and see how she feels." He concluded. "And have a really good reason for that tattoo." He added. "That tattoo really irritates her, but she hasn't said why."
Prim smiled thoughtfully at that. "It was supposed to irritate her when my original plan was different. Things changed and it has come to serve a whole different purpose." She looked at her watch. She knew she had to leave and make it back to the train before Gale showed up with Peeta and Katniss.
"Maybe Katniss hates it because she noticed that lovebite right next to it and she's put two and two together." Haymitch raised his eyebrow at her while she blushed all over again.
"That…that is a very long story that I don't have time to tell you now. Can you come by the train later tonight?" She asked.
"I don't want to hear any kinky stories about you and…" Haymitch started.
"Shut up!" Prim interrupted. "I'm not going to tell you any kinky stories. We just need to talk and I want you to meet Twinge." She batted against his chest then stood up to leave. She gave him another hug.
"It's good to see you again, Honey." He hugged her tightly. "I'll see you later tonight." As she walked out the door he called to her, "Hey? What do I call you?"
"I'm Rose. They all know me as Rose." She smiled and raced back to the train.
Prim was seated in the dining car with everyone waiting for Gale to show up with Katniss and Peeta. They had met earlier that day, but she tried really hard not to draw attention to herself. That didn't go along with the persona she had originally adopted at Rose.
Ashley looked at Rose just a little concerned. "You okay?" She asked Rose.
"Yeah. Just really tired." Rose answered.
Twinge smiled across the table at her. "You should go to sleep earlier." He said in a low tone. Prim blushed again. Gale told her about their conversation the other morning and Twinge had taken to making cryptic comments under his breath.
"Maybe I should, Twinge." She kicked him under the table. He grinned at her.
"So why weren't you all up in Katniss' business yesterday asking her all your questions and showing off all your knowledge?" Ashley asked. Jovis was sitting next to her. He had been very attentive to her since his rude comment the other night. Prim didn't know if she was still being aloof and playing the game, or if they had both really changed.
"You've seen what happens when I come on strong." Prim responded. "I've been warned what could happen if I do here." It wasn't a lie so she could make that statement with sincere conviction. There weren't many people in the room that weren't in on the secret; Ashley and Jovis were the only ones who didn't know. But she didn't want to rock the boat right now. Not with Peeta and Katniss almost there. "I'll learn more if I just keep my mouth shut and listen." She finished.
Jovis chuckled. He hadn't said much the past few days. Ashley actually looked over at him. "What?" She asked him.
"She just makes a lot of sense." Was all he said. Ashley was caught off guard by his matter-of-fact tone and looked up at him. He wasn't flirting with Prim and he wasn't trying to be funny. She patted his leg under the table and then quickly removed her hand.
The dining car door opened and Gale, Peeta, and Katniss entered. Katniss frowned she saw Twinge sandwiched between Bow and Jovis. She decided to sit across from him, but that put her next to girl with that fire tattoo. Gale sat on the girl's other side and Peeta sat next to Katniss.
Rose smiled at Katniss who just looked down at her impassively. Peeta leaned over to Katniss and whisper in her ear. "Be nice, Kat."
Rose looked at Gale who reached over and squeezed her hand under the table. There was small talk going on around the table. They talked about what they had seen and possible places to build the factory and the possible serums that could be produced cheaply for wide distribution. Every time Prim made a statement or a suggestion, Katniss did something derisive like roll her eyes or tut. Most people wouldn't have noticed it, but the people sitting on her side of the table—those who knew her the best—both saw and understood. Prim, for the first time in her life was extremely irritated at her sister. Prim knew that Katniss didn't know who she was, but everyone else who had known Prim well had seen her goodness through the disguise.
Peeta flashed Katniss a look after a very noticeable eye roll that Twinge noticed. Peeta also bumped her leg. "What?" She asked him loud enough to gather the attention of the whole table. Peeta just shook his head at her and smiled to the others at the table.
Prim had had it. She turned to face Katniss and asked, "Just what is your problem with me?" Prim had changed clothes after her talk with Haymitch and was wearing a shirt that covered the hickey and the majority of the tattoo. She saw Katniss' eyes flicker to it.
Katniss pushed Peeta away who was trying to soothe her a little. "I'm just having a difficult time taking you seriously." Was all she said.
"That's obvious." Prim replied. All movement had stopped. Gale felt like he was back in one of his dreams it was so quiet. "Would you care to explain why? We have to work together on this project, so we might as well get it out in the open."
Gale leaned forward and whispered in Prim's ear, "Be careful, Rose." It did not go unnoticed by Katniss and her eyes narrowed.
"I can't trust anyone who would fall for such a capital trend as getting a tattoo; especially one like that. You're supposed to be from 12, right?" She asked. Prim nodded. "How can you be from here and have that tattoo?" Then in a move totally out of character, because Katniss didn't like to touch people, she reached her finger forward and slid the neckline of Prim's shirt to the side that not only revealed the tattoo, but the healing lovebite, too.
"Who's that from?" Jovis asked in disbelief noticing the dark purple mark for the first time.
"Why do you care?" Ashley asked him. "You told me just this morning that you were completely over her." This started them arguing amongst themselves.
Bow started off in a fit of silent giggles that had him shaking the entire table. Twinge smirked at Gale who put his head in his hands. Peeta, taking all this in and realizing who probably gave Rose the mark gently pulled Katniss' hand away.
"So who did give it to you?" Katniss asked flashing a glance at Gale on the other side of Prim. She knew him too well. She knew when he was embarrassed.
"Why is this even any of your business?" Prim threw back. "You don't know me. You obviously don't want to know me. So why should I share anything with you?" She reached her hand back to place it on Gale's leg in comforting gesture. She wanted to reassure him that everything was going to be okay.
Katniss noticed that, too. "It seems like all the men know you here." Katniss raised her eyebrow and let the insinuation linger in the air. Peeta and Gale both inhaled at the same time. Things were about to get very out of control.
"I don't." Bow managed to get out between giggles. Twinge elbowed him in the ribs.
"Gale, is this her? Is she the reason you were able to get over me?" Katniss asked in an unbelieving tone.
"Why is that so impossible to believe?" Prim looked at Gale. "Why do people not believe that I am good enough for you?" She stood up to leave the dining car. Gale reached out and latched onto her wrist stopping her exit.
Twinge caught her eye and held her gaze. "It's because they don't know you." He said in his low tone. "Breathe, pretty flower. You can do this." Prim smiled weakly at him in a thankful gesture.
Katniss was more irritated that Twinge was sticking up for her. She had a wonderful talk with him earlier that day. She was upset that this red-headed tart had her ally's brother fooled. She decided to point that anger at Gale.
"So you're marking your prey now? You never used to be into that." She said making her words like an arrow pointed at Gale's heart.
"You, Katniss, wouldn't know. You never let me get that far." He stood up and pulled Prim into a protective embrace in an attempt to shield her from any more of Katniss' barbs.
The compartment door slid open and a smiling Haymitch walked in. "Hey!" He announced. "Looks like the fun has started without me!"