We Didn't Start The Fire
by FanficAllergy & RoseFyre

oOo

Chapter Six: Take On Me

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Last Time in We Didn't Start The Fire:

"So I'm to understand that your newest condition is that we no longer compel genetic donations from any and all transplants. Is that correct?"

I nod my head.

Coin smiles. It doesn't meet her eyes. "Your new demand has been noted."

oOo

Katniss is released from the Infirmary a few days later. At the same time, Rain is transferred down to the nursery. We tried to convince the officials to let us take Rain home with us, citing that with three of us we'd be more able to take care of the infant. The doctors refused. Even Dr. Andrews, who normally is willing to consider alternate solutions, was adamant. Our son will stay in the nursery until he can sleep more than five hours at a time. They aren't willing to take any chances with the well-being of our son. At least Violet's working in the nursery and will be able to keep an eye on him when we can't.

As much as I would like to have our son with us, I can see Thirteen's point. Katniss is still moving gingerly, which is unsurprising considering she just gave birth, but I can tell she's frustrated with her body's limitations. She had such an easy pregnancy that this ongoing discomfort is new to her. Gale and I go out of our way to try to make sure she's happy and well tended to without letting her realize we're coddling her. It's a delicate balancing act.

The day Katniss is released is also the first day we get to see the compartment that will be our new home. As promised there is a small window that looks out on a field of grass and not much else, but at least it gives sun and occasionally we're able to glimpse the black and white wing of a mockingjay. It'll have to do. The room itself is much larger than our previous quarters, with a small conversation area in addition to a sleeping area. There's a chest of drawers and a small sofa and table. There's also a closet filled with several of the ubiquitous Thirteen gray coverall in our various sizes, but, to our surprise, the clothes we retrieved from the cave are also there. I sense Fulvia or Cressida's hand in this. The only other additional space is larger bathroom and a little niche which holds a crib.

There's three doors in the room. One leads to the hall. One leads to the bathroom. Having access to actual bathrooms is one of the few things I do appreciate about life in Thirteen. We've all gotten used to using the outhouse and chamber pots and bathing either in the river or in that tub Rory found, but this is nicer. More like what I grew up with. Even if we do have to bathe at specific times according to our schedules.

The third door won't open. I guess it leads to an adjoining suite of rooms, possibly a child's bedroom.

We transfer our few personal items to our new quarters. The picture frames holding the portraits of Gale's and my families and the crystal bowl Katniss received from Rory which holds my father's pocket watch, all of our mockingjay pins, and the necklaces Gale made for us go in a small niche in the wall above the bed. The bowl makes a convenient storage space. Most of the time, all three of us wear the pins and the necklaces and I like to carry my father's pocket watch, but none of us like to sleep in the jewelry.

Gale carefully places Posy's doll in the crib for Rain when he gets older. There's an expression of sadness in his eyes and before I can reach out to comfort him, Katniss is there. Pulling our husband's head down so that she can kiss him tenderly.

"You always do that when I'm in pain," he says.

"I know," she murmurs. "I love you, Gale, and I want you to be happy."

"I am. It's just… she would have loved being an aunt, you know?"

"I know," I say, thinking of my own missing family.

As one, we return to our task of getting situated. We hang the sketch I did of the three of us above our bed. We don't have a family portrait, so I made one during the long winter. Gale's father's shaving kit is placed in the bathroom, where we find that there's also a discrete mechanical covered litter box for the cats. I guess we're going to have several roommates, a fact that has Katniss frowning.

"I'm not the one who wanted to keep the cats! That's Prim!" she protests.

"But that's just it," I point out. "Prim and Rory are in communal housing and your mom's down in the nursery. Where else would they put the cats?"

"I don't know! Anywhere but here! Buttercup hates me."

"Dandelion likes you just fine," Gale says with a poorly concealed grin. The gray kitten adores Katniss, equating her to be her rescuer. Dandelion likes Prim, everyone likes Prim, but she adores Katniss, much to her chagrin.

Katniss glares at Gale, but I can tell she's not really angry and I'm sure Gale can too.

There's a chime. Someone's at our door, probably Neil or James to escort us to whatever Thirteen has planned for us next. Our schedules have been oddly blank as of late, with only mealtimes and bathing written in for Gale and me. Katniss has been taken care of in the hospital, one of the few places in Thirteen that doesn't run on a strict schedule.

Katniss motions for Gale to get the door. He opens the door to reveal Cressida and Pollux.

"Did we miss a propo?" Katniss asks from the sofa.

"No, no, no," Cressida says hastily. "There's no propos planned for at least a week. We want you to look your best, Katniss, and frankly, well… you don't."

Katniss smiles. "Thanks. At least you're honest about it. So… what are you doing here?"

"Do you want to come to a wedding?"

"Are you and Pollux getting married?" I wouldn't have expected it, they certainly haven't seemed close any of the times we've seen them. But I can think of stranger pairings.

"Oh no no no, not us!" Cressida shudders, waving her hands at us. "Lavinia and Castor! They've been waiting for you to be discharged and fully settled here in Thirteen so you could come. They really would like you to come, especially Lavinia. They never would have had a chance to get married before, on the outside."

"Have you considered filming it?" I ask. "I mean, it would be a rebellious gesture."

Cressida brightens. "I hadn't thought of it, but that's a good idea! I'll go run and get my camera! Pollux, you can lead them there, right?"

The man nods and smiles and Cressida darts off. I shrug. There's no point in saying no. "Sure, we'd be happy to come," I say, speaking for all of us. "Is there a dress code?"

Pollux shakes his head, motioning that what we're wearing is fine.

"Wait a second," Gale says.

I tilt my head. Katniss sits back down from where she'd started to stand up.

He goes over to the crystal bowl and picks up the jewelry, divvying it up between the three of us. "If this is going to be filmed…"

"Yeah, good thought," I say, taking my jewelry and putting it on.

Pollux smiles and gives us a thumbs up, showing his approval.

We follow him down to a medium-sized room. There's a podium with several papers and a book placed on top of it, and a few chairs line the walls. On the table behind the podium lies the most ornate pen we've seen in Thirteen next to a large sheaf of papers.

Lavinia looks up and smiles when the door opens. It's clear she's happy to see us. She comes over and reaches out for Katniss's hands, tugging our wife forward slightly. She clearly wants Katniss to stand up with her. I'm assuming Pollux is doing the same for his brother.

There aren't very many people here. It's a little surprising. Weddings back home are large affairs, with singing and dancing and music. Instead, there's only what's left of Cressida's group, including the former Peacekeeper, Thorn. Fulvia's seated next to her, chattering away. I feel sorry for the dark-skinned woman, because when she meets my eyes she rolls hers at me exaggeratedly. There's also an older male soldier from Thirteen seated next to Messalla. They appear to be holding hands. Good for them.

Cressida runs in a few minutes later, out of breath and holding a camera. "Did I miss it? Did I miss anything?"

"I don't think there's anything to miss," I say wryly.

A thin reedy man with the typical Thirteen pallor comes in and clears his throat. "Are the participants and the witnesses here?"

Castor nods his head. "Yes."

"Then we can begin. Have you decided what name you'll use?"

They both nod. "We've decided to go with my last name, Allison."

"Okay." The man reaches behind the table and places a few papers on the podium in front of Lavinia. "Then you'll need to sign these forms authorizing a change of names. You'll need to sign here, here, here, and here, date here, initial here, and I'll need your thumbprint right here." He takes out a pad of ink and takes her thumbprint. "Okay, that's complete. Now, are you filing for married couple housing?" The clerk peers at the two.

"Yeah, of course we are," Castor says. He seems confused as to why anyone wouldn't. I'm just as confused. We fought for our right to remain together as a married trio, and while I wasn't enthusiastic about how Gale went about it, I fully supported his cause. I wouldn't want to be separated from my husband or my wife. I can't imagine why anyone would.

"Not all registered couples do," the reedy man says. "But since you are, you'll both need to fill out this form." He pulls another pack of papers out. "Initial here, sign here, and date it. I'll need both of your thumbprints again, and we'll notify you within a week when suitable accommodations become ready." They follow his instructions quickly.

He shuffles more papers, pulling out yet another stack. "Then that just leaves the last form, the official registration of marriage, that in the event of either one of your deaths that the other one receives all of your effects and property as well as whatever death benefits they might be entitled to, that any children your union produces will be both of yours and will be under the guardianship of the remaining spouse on the event of one of your deaths," he recites in a bored tone. "This is true whether they're biologically yours or if you choose other methods. Surrogacy is an option, and it would be helpful if, in the event you choose to have a surrogate, that you yourself, if able, will be willing to surrogate or provide genetic material for others. Now, sign here, here, and here, date here, and put your thumbprints here."

They follow his instructions again.

"Good. Other than that, do you have any questions about your new change in status?"

Castor and Lavinia seem more befuddled than anything, but they both shake their heads.

"No?" the reedy man asks. "Good. Then can the witnesses please sign this line on all the forms?" Katniss and Pollux comply. They also seem pretty confused as to what's going on. The man nods at Castor and Lavinia. "Everything is in order. Enjoy your life together." He gathers up the papers and slips them carefully into several folders before scuttling out of the room.

"Is that it?" Cressida asks, lowering her camera. The whole thing can't have taken more than ten minutes, and most of that was Castor, Lavinia, Katniss, and Pollux reading and signing the forms.

I nod my head. "That seemed oddly perfunctory, but I guess?" I go up to shake Castor's hand. "Congratulations, man."

Castor beams at me. "Thanks. I don't care that it was short, it just means I get to spend more time being married to Lavinia here."

Lavinia beams at her husband.

Katniss, sensing that she should do the same, says, "If you want, we'll do more for you. There's a traditional wedding song in Twelve, if that would be okay?"

Cressida lifts her camera again. "Please do!" she says emphatically.

Gale pipes up. "You could also say vows to each other. That's what we did." He motions to me and Katniss. "Didn't have the ceremony down at the Justice Building, but we did everything else."

"That sounds nice," Castor says. "But what would I say?"

"Just speak from your heart," my husband answers.

"And what about Lavinia?"

"I can translate," Messalla offers. Lavinia nods and smiles at him.

I need to make it a point to learn Avox sign as quickly as possible. It could be useful later.

Cressida turns her camera on all of us. "Whenever you're ready, we can begin!"

Katniss takes mine and Gale's hands and starts singing. The wedding song from Twelve is old, really old. It's a little sappy and, well, really sappy, and a bit trite. But it works, and Lavinia and Castor seem to be affected by the lyrics as most couples in Twelve are.

When Katniss finishes, Castor takes Lavinia's hands. "Lavinia, my heart, my soul, I promise to be with you for as long as I am able, to love you for as long as I have life, and to care for you with every fiber of my being. You're the light that I never knew I needed and the friend and helpmate I've always wanted. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life loving you, learning you, and being your husband."

Lavinia reaches up and kisses him thoroughly before stepping back and dropping his hands. The motions she makes are fluid, graceful, and I can see that Castor's moved by her words even before Messalla translates for the rest of us.

"Castor, my love, I never thought I'd find happiness, especially after what the Capitol did to me. But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because without them I would have never found you. You are the light in my darkness, my reason for being, my joy, my love, and my life. You give me hope that the future will be bright and full of sound and color to make up for the silence that the Capitol inflicted on me. I love you, my husband, and I look forward to the rest of our lives together."

Squeezing Katniss's hand, I swallow thickly. Despite Thirteen's efforts to make the wedding nothing more romantic than a business transaction, these two have managed to forge something beautiful.

I wish them a lifetime of happiness.

oOo

"No."

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Uh huh."

"That sucks!"

"Tell me about it."

"You mean they don't do anything?" Madge asks, still shocked. "No singing or dancing or vows, just sign your name here and poof, you're married?"

"Yup," I say. I'm sitting in Madge's hospital room, taking the chance to talk with her now that she's healing and my schedule is emptier. She's doing a lot better, but Nurse Stephens says that it'll still be a couple of weeks before they let her out, and even then she'll have to return for regular checkups and physical therapy. At least she's not trapped in a bed all the time anymore. "That's exactly what the wedding was like. If Katniss and Gale hadn't suggested a few things, the whole thing would've just been us viewing the signing of a pile of forms."

"But that's nothing! Weddings should be celebrated!"

"I agree with you. I mean, heck, even our wedding we managed to do some kind of celebrating." Our celebration was small but perfect. Remembering still makes me smile. I fiddle with the mockingjay pendant Gale made me absently.

"It wasn't just doing the nasty?" She winks at me.

I shake my head at her. "A bit more. We said some vows, did the toasting, had a feast, and then Katniss, Gale, and I went off on our honeymoon."

"I still can't wrap my head around that," my friend tells me with a light laugh. "Katniss I get. You've been in love with her for ages and Delly and me have been pushing you to just ask her out already." We pause for a moment, missing our friend. Then Madge shakes her head and continues, "But Gale? I didn't think you swung that way. There's nothing wrong with it, I'm just surprised." She pauses, looking over at me with a puckish grin. "Although this does explain your unholy fascination with Finnick Odair's abs."

I roll my eyes. I do not have an unholy fascination with Finnick Odair's abs. They're just nice abs and the cameras tend to focus on them. It's not like I have a crush on the guy.

"It's complicated, but I love them both," I say instead. "Isn't that what matters?" I want Madge to understand. I want to have somebody from my previous life who doesn't judge me or think that the only reason I'm with Gale is for Katniss. I can see why they think that. I'd do just about anything for her and they know that, but I'd do just about anything for him, too.

"Well, what made you fall in love with him?" Madge asks. "I'd have thought you two would be all 'grrr, Katniss is mine!'" She mimes fighting with her fists. I smile.

"Well there was a bit of that."

"Uh huh. And how'd that go?"

"Really badly. Katniss kind of put her foot down on all of that."

"She would. She's got a low tolerance for bullshit, giving a fair warning here."

"I'm already perfectly aware of that," I say, holding up my hand. That isn't news.

"But you still haven't answered my question." Madge leans in. "How did you fall in love with Gale?"

It's not an easy answer, and it definitely was a gradual process. But Gale and I, we just get each other, more than Katniss and I ever do. But that doesn't take away from my love of my wife, in fact it strengthens it. I look at Madge. "It didn't happen overnight, I can tell you that much, but one day I kind of realized that I cared about him the same way I cared about Katniss. And even more amazingly, he felt the same way too. It just… makes sense."

"That's really kind of sweet."

"So," I say, changing the subject, "you and Rye. How'd that happen?"

"Well, I didn't plan it, if that's what you're asking."

I can't stop the laugh that burbles out. "I'm pretty sure you didn't plan it. I know you had a crush on my husband for a while there." I stick my tongue out her. "Too bad I got him first!"

"Shut up!" she protests.

"What? It's true. I distinctly remember you doodling 'Mrs. Gale Hawthorne,' 'Mrs. Madge Hawthorne,' on several assignments. I'm surprised you managed to pass Mrs. McCoy's class last year."

"Shut up!" Madge hits me lightly on the shoulder.

"What? If you've still got a crush on him, I'm sure Gale would be happy to let you down easy."

"Don't you dare, or I'll tell Katniss that it was you who gave her all of those painted cookies, not your father, and that it was you who left her that Valentine's Day card in her cubby back when we were seven."

I wince, thinking back. It wasn't my best work and it said 'Roses are red, violets are blue, well they're really purple, but I still like you.' I managed to misspell about four of the words and I barely fit the last sentence on the page, but at least the drawings did look like roses and violets. "Okay, okay, you've made your point. I promise to keep your secret if you keep mine."

"Deal." We shake on it.

"Still," I say, unable to let go of the original subject, "how'd you end up with my brother of all people?"

"It just kind of happened? He started tagging along with me when I was painting those mockingjays all over Twelve, then we just realized we had a lot in common."

"What, he likes my husband too?"

She smacks my arm again. "Shut up! I am never going to live that down, am I?"

"Nope!" I retort, shaking my head. "But I promise it'll stay between us."

"It'd better." She glares at me until I nod, then she starts talking again. "I don't know, it just kind of happened. First he came to live with my dad and me, to take Rachel's place after she died and to get him away from your mother, what with Farl moving out and all, and he just kind of… grew on me. One moment we were fighting like cats and dogs, the next we were kissing. I'd say it was like a Capitol movie except for the writing was much better, 'cause it was real. And it was us. But... I love him. You can keep your husband. I'm much happier with your brother."

"I still can't wrap my head around it."

"Now you know how I feel about you and Gale!"

I chuckle and then sigh. I lean in and speak quietly. I don't think there are any listeners, but you never know. "Madge, you can't tell anyone here what you and Rye were doing back in Twelve."

"What?" she asks, her brow furrowed.

"The mockingjays. They think Katniss did it."

"But she was already gone," she points out.

"They don't know that," I hiss. "They don't know that we all left together, and we don't want to tell them."

"Why not?"

"Because it protects you. It protects you both. It keeps you out of the public eye. They'd want to make you a symbol, and I don't know, I've got a feeling that they'd rather have a dead symbol than a live figurehead. Katniss can take care of herself. You…"

"You don't have to say it, Peet." Madge looks down, twirling her hair around her finger. "I'm useless. And with my leg, I'm even worse than useless." She looks back up. "But that doesn't explain why Katniss needs to take the credit."

"If they didn't think she had a role in our so-called rebellion, which she does, but not to the level that they want, they'd consider her expendable or, worse, fit only for making babies."

Her eyes widen. "That's awful."

"I know. So please, for your safety and my wife's, keep your illicit activity to yourself."

"I'll tell Rye when he comes in to visit me," Madge says, nodding her head. "We'll keep it quiet."

"Thank you."

We sit in silence for a moment, just enjoying spending time together as friends.

"So it sounds like it's pretty dangerous here in Thirteen," Madge finally says.

"It's a lot like home in that respect." I shrug. "Some things aren't so bad. Nobody's starving and nobody's going to be sent off to die on national TV. But it's not paradise."

"What are you going to do?"

"I can't keep going the way I've been going." I'm glad I have Madge to talk to. She thinks differently from my spouses, more like me. She's used to saying one thing and meaning another, acting a part. It comes from being the Mayor's daughter. Which means I can use her as a sounding board in a way I can't use my spouses. "Coin hates us. Oh, she's been polite and accommodating, and she's certainly put on a public facade that she likes having us here in Thirteen, but I can tell. She hates us. And the moment we're no longer useful for her cause is the moment we become expendable."

"So make yourself indispensable," Madge says like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"How?" I shrug my shoulders. "It's not like they need a cake decorator here, or a tanner. And I'm not about to be the father of Thirteen." I pause for a second, considering Coin's request. "And I do mean that literally."

Madge shudders.

"Tell me about it."

"So creepy requests aside, you were pretty good at wrestling," she points out. "Rye's the only one you couldn't beat, and that may not be true now. Coin may not like you, but Coin's just one person. District Thirteen's got thousands more people. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that people can't touch you if you've got a lot of allies. You need to do what you do best, Peet. Make people like you."

"It's been a long time since I've had to think that way," I admit ruefully. I should've thought of this on my own. I'm glad Madge did, though. Now I just have to listen to her.

"So what's Thirteen's big deal?" she asks. "What's the thing that everyone seems to like?"

I don't have to think about it long. "The military. Thirteen respects the military."

"Then I think you've got your answer, Mr. Mockingjay. Looks like you're in the army now."

I chuckle. "I hope the uniforms are better than the ones in that Finnick Odair movie."

"Which one?"

"All of them!"

She laughs.

Looks like I'm going to be having a talk with my spouses tonight. I'm not looking forward to that conversation.

oOo

AN:
Written:
4/16/15
Revised: 7/22/15
Revised 2: 7/28/15

The title of this chapter comes from probably the best thing to come out of Norway since the Vikings the synth-pop band, A-Ha and their one-hit wonder in the U.S. "Take On Me." The music video is iconic but it's the lyrics that actually sold us on using the song as inspiration since they deal with both love and uncertainty. Which kind of fit.

We've realized that part of our problem with our update schedule was the sheer length of our chapters, and the fact that editing each chapter twice within the necessary timeframe was becoming a serious drain on our resources. Our chapters have all been significantly over 5000 words lately, and not only is that a lot to read, it's also a lot to write - and more importantly, edit. Therefore, we are going to be shortening our chapters from here on out. We will still have some long chapters, but we're going to be aiming for chapters that are between 3000 and 6000 words rather than between 5000 and 8000 words. This will hopefully allow us to continue our weekly update schedule on this fic.

Real life is still hitting the both of us. So fair warning this fic might still get a brief hiatus if any more happens.

We didn't randomize anything this chapter.

Thanks for reading!