Belong - Cary Brothers.
"The man who can keep a secret may be wise, but he is not half as wise as the man with no secrets to keep." -Edgar Watson Howe.
"What!?" Johanna stared wide-eyed at Katniss. "Have you lost your mind?!"
"I think we all lost our mind when we entered the Games." Annie mumbled, but Johanna either didn't hear her, or ignored her.
"Katniss. We can't give in! We can't let them win!" Johanna slammed her hands on the table.
Peeta raised an eyebrow at her, his arm around Katniss' shoulders. "Johanna, you do realize that this is our children we're talking about, right? Not a war."
Johanna crossed her arms and leaned back. "It may as well be a war with those four."
James rolled his eyes at his wife before looking around the table at the other three. "Can we get back to the problem on hand."
"It's not a problem." Katniss spoke up. "I talked to Hope. And I'm pretty sure we are both on the same page now."
"Meaning?" Johanna raised an eyebrow, her arms still crossed.
"Meaning," Katniss glared. "That she understands where I'm coming from and I understand where she's coming from."
"How do you know she isn't faking..." Annie asked quietly.
Katniss looked a Annie with a small smile. "I just know."
"Well, that's all fine and dandy," Johanna throw her arms in the air. "But I still say you have lost your mind!"
"Johanna..." James sighed, but his wife cut him off.
"No, listen. It's bad enough they watched all our individual tapes, but to let them watch the 75th tape. A tape that we're all in... It's insane!"
Katniss stared at Johanna for a moment before speaking. "It's not the fact that they have to watch you kill that's scaring you, is it?"
Johanna sighed. "No. I mean, hell, they have already seen me at my worst."
"Then what's the problem?" Annie asked.
"The problems not them watching the tape, well it is, but it's not the big problem." Johanna explained. "The problem is how this tape ends."
Everyone sat in silences as they realized what Johanna meant.
"If we let them watch the next tape," Johanna explained softly. "Then they we just have a million and one questions to ask."
"And they don't already have a million questions to ask."
Everyone turned and saw Haymitch walk in the back door then take a seat at the table.
"What are you doing here?" Johanna crossed her arms.
"Well," Haymitch smirked. "I didn't want to miss the meeting."
"You weren't invited to this meeting." Johanna glared.
"Oh really." Haymitch's smirk grew bigger.
Johanna narrowed her eyes at Haymitch, then they suddenly went wide when she realized what he was talking about.
"Katniss!" Johanna turned to face the women in question, glaring. "You really have lost your mind!"
"He was there when our kids watch the other tapes," Katniss explain, also glaring. "He can help us."
"Besides," Haymitch said, making everyone turn to him only to see he still had a smirk on his face. "All we need is Beetee and Enobaria to be here and it will be a Victor's meaning."
This time, Katniss, Peeta, Annie and Johanna glared at Haymitch - all thinking of the last time all the Victors got together - while James just rolled his eyes.
Haymitch shrugged and sat back, pulling a bottle up from under the table that no one seen him bring in.
"As for your kids," Haymitch started, swallowing some liquor. "I think you should let them watch the tape."
"Course you do." Johanna mumbled.
"They may," Haymitch continued, glaring at Johanna. "Hell they will, have more questions at the end. But once the tapes are done and over with, you can have a big family get-to-together and talk."
"You know, if we do have a 'get-to-together', you will be there." Peeta told him, raising an eyebrow.
Haymitch just shrugged. "Just make sure to tell me when it is, so I can bring a nice few bottles of liquor."
"Hold up." Johanna lead forward. "Are we actually going to let them watch this tape. After they went behind our backs to watch the others!"
"They wouldn't have went behind you backs if-"
"Shut it Haymitch." Johanna glared.
"I think we should let them." Annie spoke up. "They already watched the others. And from what Katniss told us, it seems like Hope understands where we are coming from."
"Yes, Hope understands. But that doesn't mean Hunter, Tessa and Finnick understand." Johanna said.
"Hunter will understand." Peeta said. "He probably understood before they even watched the tapes."
Johanna sighed. "Already, I agree. Hunter probably understands. That kid is too smart for his own good. But what about Finnick?" Johanna turned to Annie.
Annie opened her mouth to comment, but was cut off by a chuckle coming from Haymitch.
"Trust me," he smirked. "If Hope understands, then Finnick understands."
The parents all give Haymitch odd looks, but he just ignored them, bring his bottle to his lips.
Still confused, Annie turned to Johanna and nodded. "He'll understand."
Johanna looked around the table, trying to find some other reason for the kids to not watch the tape. But she couldn't think of one.
"I'm sure we can get Tessa to understand." James spoke up. "If the other three get it, she will."
Johanna sighed. "I guess they're watching the last tape then?"
Katniss nodded. "They need to know Johanna."
"Yeah, remember that next time one of them wakes up from a nightmare." Johanna crossed her arms.
"This is what they need." Peeta said. "Hope said that she is scared of the nightmares because she doesn't know how it ends. Katniss is right, this is what they need."
"Well," Haymitch stood up, making everyone turn to look at him. "See ya."
"And where are you going?" Peeta stood up, stopping Haymitch.
Haymitch raised an eyebrow. "Home? You and your kids have a tape to watch."
"You think we're watching the tape with them?" Katniss also stood up. "No. You are."
"Me? Why me?"
"You watched the others with them. Now you can watch this one with them too."
"I only watched Johanna's tape and Yours and Peeta's with them." Haymitch glared.
"Fine you can leave." Peeta said. "That means you have to answer all their questions."
Haymitch continued to glare at Peeta for a few moments before turning around and sitting back in his chair, mumbling under his breath.
"I guess we should get the kids." Annie said, looking away from Haymitch - who was sitting there glaring, crossed arms - and turning to the others.
James nodded. "I guess so. Johanna, want to go get them?"
Johanna nodded before leaning back in her chair and turning her head towards the stairs. "KIDS! GET YOUR BUTS DOWN HERE!"
Katniss glared at Johanna as they heard movement upstairs. "We could have done that."
"Then why didn't you?" Johanna smirked and Katniss just kept glaring at her.
Hope jumped back from her bedroom door when she heard Aunt Jo yell out for them.
"Whatever it is," Finnick said, getting off the bed. "I'm blaming Tessa."
All four teens where in Hope's room ever since Hope and Katniss got home. Katniss told her to get Tessa, Hunter and Finnick and they could hang out in Hope's room while Katniss talked to the other parents.
Hope could only imagine what they were talking about.
Once the four teens where in Hope's room, Hope told them what happened between her and her mother. The other three listened and didn't speak until Hope was done.
Once she did finish, they all sat in silence for a few moments, and Hope knew that they now all understood why their parents kept the games from them.
After sitting around and talking about the tapes, games and Katniss' and Hope's talk, Hope got up and listened by the door, wondering what was taking the parents forever.
That was when Aunt Jo yelled out for them.
"Why me?" Tessa glared at Finnick, crossing her arms.
Finnick shrugged. "Why not you?"
Tessa glared at Finnick harder and opened her mouth to saw something, but Hunter stopped her.
"Not now." Hunter glared at them both. "Let's see what Aunt Jo wants. Then you can beat each other up."
Tessa rolled her eyes, but walked past the other three and made her way downstairs.
"Well," Finnick said, following after Tessa. "The queen has left. We must follow."
Hunter rolled his eyes as Hope laughed and the three made their way downstairs and into the dinning room, where the parents and Tessa were.
"You can watch the last tape." Johanna said so suddenly that the teens weren't sure if they heard her right.
"No beating around the bush, is there Johanna?" Haymitch mumbled.
"What?" Hope asked, shocked.
"You all understand where we were coming from right?" Katniss stepped forward before Johanna could say anything. "You understand why we never wanted to tell you about the games?"
The four teens nodded, truly understanding.
"Then you can watch the last tape."
"Wait. I don't get it." Tessa shook her head. "You are letting as watch the last tape. Just like that?"
"Well, you already watched the other tapes-"
"Behind our backs." Johanna mumbled, cutting James off. But he continued, ignoring her.
"So we are going to let you finish."
"Then any questions you have, we'll sit down together and answer them for you." Peeta added.
"Don't worry." Annie smiled. "We had a big talk about this. We know what we're doing."
The teens stood there for a moment, just staring at their parents, until Hope stepped forward and hugged Peeta and Katniss.
"Thank-you." She said softly and soon, the others were hugging their parents as well, thanking them.
"Well. Coming on." Finnick smiled at Hope, Tessa and Hunter. "We have a tape to watch."
"Not so fast." Peeta stopped them, making the teens turn back. "We are going to go while you watch the tape."
"Okay..." Hunter started.
"So. Haymitch is staying with you."
The teens turned to Haymitch in shock.
"Trust me. They are making me." Haymitch grumbled before taking his bottles and walking into the living room. "Come on. Let's get this done and over with."
The teens walked with Haymitch into the living room as the parents walked out the back door.
"Well, put that baby in." Haymitch said as he sat in the chair, Tessa on the couch and Hope and Finnick were back on the love seat.
Hunter walked over to the screen and put in the tape, which the parents left on the coffee table for them, then he walked over to the couch and sat down, pressing play.
They teens and Haymitch were meant with the familiar big, fancy, gold letters fading across the screen, reading: The 75th Annual Hunger Games: Third Quarter Quell.
"Is it odd that it's somewhat comforting to see those words?" Finnick asked.
Hunter shook his head. "We never got to finish and we knew the 75th games were last. It's almost over."
"Well, let's hope this one is over faster than Aunt Katniss and Uncle Peeta's tape." Tessa crossed her arms. "I want these tapes down and out of my life."
Caesar then walked onto the screen, and Finnick glared.
"Look Finnick. It's your long-lost friend." Tessa smirked.
"Shut up Foss," Finnick turned his glare at her before back to the screen. "Just look at him he's so... so..."
"We know Finnick." Hope rolled her eyes, but smiled.
Finnick then turned to face Hope and smirked at her, making her cheeks turn pink.
Yeah. She need to talk to Finnick the moment this tape was over.
The teens watched as Caesar looked at the crowd and smiled before speaking.
'This year is a very special year! It's the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Hunger Games. You all know what that means. It's time for our Third Quarter Quell! Now, if you would all help in welcoming our wonderful President, President Snow, in the Reading Of The Card!'
"Well, those words sound oddly familiar." Hope said, arms crossed.
"They really don't like change do they?" Hunter said, then turning to Haymitch. "Was the same thing said at the first Quarter Quell?"
"I believe so." Haymitch shrugged, bring a bottle to his lips.
"He may like it Hunt," Finnick smirked. "But he's not that old."
Haymitch glared at Finnick over the bottle. "Shut up Odair."
President Snow then walked onto the stage. He was the same small, thin, paper-white hair and snake-eyed man as the last tapes. In fact, even the boy holding the wooden box looked the same. Which was really odd seen as he should have aged twenty-five years since the last time they saw him.
President Snow gave the same long speech about how the Hunger Games started before going on the talk about the other two Quarter Quells.
'On the twenty-fifth anniversary, we had our first Quarter Quell. As a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every district was made to hold an election and vote on the tributes who would represent it.'
Hope shivered. "That's still horrible, even hearing it a second time."
'On the fiftieth anniversary, was our second Quarter Quell. As a reminder that two rebels died for each Capitol citizen, every district was to send twice as many tributes into the games.'
All the teens looked down as the remembered all the people they watched get killed.
It was the first tape they watched and it felt like forever ago. They watched Maysilee, Randy and even little Samara get killed. All for the Capitols enjoyment.
They felt like they were coming fill circle watching this tape, and thinking back on past tapes
In a sick way, this was a good tape to end with.
Looking at Haymitch, Hope saw him with a bottle to his lips, trying to drink away his pain.
Hope shared a look with the others before turning back to the screen.
'Now, we honor our second Quarter Quell,' The boy with the wooden box stepped forward and Snow pulled out a card marked with a 75. 'On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to all districts that even the strongest among them can't overcome the Capitol, each district must reap their tributes from their existing pool of victors.'
"You know," Hope started. "Even though we already knew that the Quarter Quell was something along those lines, it's still horrible to hear."
"How can they do this?" Tessa asked. "They tell the Victor's they are safe and then are just like, joking! It's... it's..."
"It's Snow." Haymitch mumbled, taking a drink.
The teens gave him odd looks, before turning back to the screen.
District One came across the screen and the teens took note on the different tributes, just like they did for Katniss and Peeta's games. Only this time, Haymitch talked to them about the tributes.
There were a nice few people lined up on the stage, which was different from every other games.
"They had all the Victors line up on stage instead of in the crowd," Haymitch explained when the teens questioned this. "Guess they thought it would be easier."
The first tribute from District One was a beautiful women with long blonde hair that cascaded in curls and she was in her mid-twenties.
"Cashmere?" Finnick raised an eyebrow. "What's with District One and their ridiculous names?"
"Nice one talking. Finnick." Tessa smirked.
Finnick glared at Tessa, before also smirking. "You sure about that. Robyn."
Now it was Tessa's turn to glare at Finnick. "There's nothing wrong with my name. I just don't like it."
"Would you two shut up." Haymitch glared at them both before Finnick could say anything. "Doesn't matter how funny her name it. She was one of the strongest in the games."
"Really?" Hunter questioned and Haymitch nodded.
"Well, she sure as hell shares a resemblance to Glimmer." Hope comment, which made Tessa sigh.
"Great. Another Barbie doll."
The second tribute was a blonde hair man named Gloss - the name making Finnick roll his eyes - who looked a hell of a lot like Cashmere.
"Let me guess. They're brother and sister right?" Tessa joked.
But to her surprise, and the others, Haymitch nodded his head.
"Are you serious?" Hope said. "They are actually brother and sister?"
"A brother and sister who both won the Hunger Games?" Finnick added.
Once again, Haymitch nodded. "They both won different years. But yes. They are brother and sister. And both are, were, the strongest in the games."
"Cause you know, that's how brother and sister's bond." Tessa crossed her arms as District Two faded across the screen. "They kill together."
The female tribute for District Two. If there was ever a person the four would be scared to meet, it was Enobaria. Even if they didn't know about the Hunger Games and seen her on the street, they would run screaming.
"And she is one of the survivors?" Tessa asked, amazed.
"What the hell is wrong with her teeth!?" Finnick asked Haymitch, wide-eyed.
"She had them done like that after she won the 62nd Hunger Games." Haymitch explained as he took a drink.
"Why?" Hunter asked.
Haymitch looked at Hunter as if to saw 'You shouldn't have asked that', but told them anyways.
"She became famous for ripping other tribute's throat out with her teeth during her games."
"WHAT?!" All four yelled together.
"All together now." Haymitch mumbled, taking another drink.
"You can't be serious!" Hope asked Haymitch, still in shock.
"Oh, I am."
"Well, now I would love to meet her on the street." Tessa said sarcastically.
"Who knows, you still could." Finnick said. "She did survive after all."
"Yes. But she could be dead now." Tessa glared. "That was years ago."
"She's not." Haymitch told Tessa. "She lives in District Two right now."
"Thanks for letting me know Haymitch." Tessa grumbled as the male tribute came on the screen.
He was... big. In about his early forties. And his name was Brutus.
"Reminds me of Cato." Hope said.
"Makes sense." Hunter nodded. "He would have mentored him."
"Great, means he is going to be hell to kill." Tessa sighed, leaning back on the couch.
From District Three, there was a older women, about early fifties, named Wiress.
Haymitch just said that she was a bit crazy and the Johanna even nicknamed her 'Nuts' - which made Hope and Hunter roll their eyes, while Finnick just about died laughing and Tessa smirked.
He also said she helped their parents out a lot in this games, but when asked how, Haymitch just ignored them, taking a drink.
Then, there was Beetee. A man with black hair and glasses, about fifty years old.
"Beetee..." Hope looked thoughtful before turning to her brother. "He survived right?"
Hunter nodded at Hope. "He and Enobaria were the only ones, besides our parents, who made it out of this Arena."
"Is he still alive now?" Finnick asked Haymitch, who nodded.
"He's back in District Three."
District Four came onto the screen and Finnick sat up straighter.
His father's tape was the second one they watched, and it seemed like forever ago that they last seen Finnick Sr. and Annie. The last time they saw her, she looking like she was slowly going insane.
Finnick took in a shaky breath as he saw his mother and father standing together on the stage, Finnick's arm around Annie as she seemed to be talking to herself.
Hope could tell Finnick was trying hard to hold it together. So, she reached out and took his hand in her's, moving over so there was no space between them. Finnick didn't turn around to look at her, but he didn't need to, for he squeezed Hope's hand, thanking her.
The teens weren't surprised at all when Annie's name was called but an elder women stepped forward and volunteered for her.
Most ever District had a volunteer. It was like all the remaining Victors from that District got together and decided who would go into the games.
However, it did surprise them that a women, who was about 80 years old, took the place of a young lady in her early twenties.
"Mags mentored Finnick," Haymitch explained when Hunter questioned him. "She also helped Finnick mentor Annie. As you know from Annie's games, and what you seen when the parents found out about the tapes, Annie... has some problems. And they were worse at this moment," Haymitch pointed to the screen. "The chance of Finnick going into the games was high. Mags didn't want Finnick and Annie to be in together, plus she knew Annie wouldn't be able to take it. So she volunteered for her."
"What do you mean by dads chances of going into the games was high?" Finnick asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No one believe's the Reapings are random," Haymitch took a drink before continuing. "Snow had a pick in who got reaped. Finnick was the youngest Victor, and... a hit with the people in the Capitol. He would be put in this game for sure."
"And if Finnick went in, Annie would go in." Hunter added, catching on.
Haymitch nodded. "Snow loved to tear people apart."
"Wait!" Hope looked up suddenly. "The Quarter Quell wasn't random either!"
Tessa looked at Hope, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Think about it. Snow hates mom, who won the 74th games with dad. Mom is the Girl On Fire. She is the sign of a rebellion." Hope explained. "And it just so happens, that the 75th games is to show people that even the Victor's aren't as strong as they think. Snow did this is stop all the Victor's from coming together and rebelling."
Finnick, Hunter and Tessa turned to Haymitch, who nodded. "She's right."
"Wow Hope," Tessa turned to Hope, smirking. "Didn't know you where that smart."
Hope smirked back at Tessa. "Shut up Foss."
However, the smirk fell of her face when she felt Finnick tense up beside her.
Turning to the screen, Hope saw that Finnick's name was just called. She saw him give Annie a hug before stepping forward and standing next to Mags.
"He makes it out Finnick." Tessa reminded him softly.
Finnick sighed. "I know. But he still dies."
No one knew what to say, and they knew that whatever they said wouldn't make Finnick feel better. So they just turned back to the screen, Hope rubbing Finnick's back, trying to cheer him up.
District Five didn't really have anyone that Haymitch said was important. He even said that he forgot their names until they were called, which made the teens roll their eyes.
He said the same thing about District Six. However, he did tell them that the tributes were called 'Female Morphling' and 'Male Morphling'.
When the teens asked why, he told them it was because they became a 'morphling addict' sometime after their first games, which gave him odd looked from the teens.
District Seven came on the screen and Tessa smiled when she saw her mother.
"Johanna." Haymitch shook his head and took a drink.
Tessa raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"
"She just... she has a way with people." Haymitch told them with a smirk. "Especially Katniss."
Tessa was about to ask what the hell he was talking about, but Hunter stopped her.
"He's just going to say it'll be in the tape, or he'll explain later."
Tessa crossed her arms and sat back, knowing Hunter was right, but didn't like it.
The male tribute was a man named Blight and Haymitch didn't really have much to say about him. Just that he helped play a part in the games. Which left the teens even more confused.
District Eight had a female named Cecelia and a male named Woof.
Cecelia was, as Haymitch said, very motherly. When asked why, Haymitch just looked down and said she had three kids at home with the Quarter Quell happened, making the teens very angry.
Woof was one of the older ones, in his mid 70's and Haymitch didn't really have much to say about him. Which, the teens started to realized, was just another way of saying watch the tape to find out.
District Nine and District Ten didn't have anyone really important - Haymitch's words - so the teens didn't really listen as the names were being called.
Then District Eleven came across the screen, and their tributes were a women named Seeder and a man named Chaff.
Seeder had to be one of the oldest in the games. About sixty. And, again, Haymitch didn't have much to say about her. Just that she was, 'nice'.
However, when Chaff came onto the screen, the teens seen Haymitch looked down and he genuinely looked upset.
"Haymitch?" Hope asked softly. "You okay?"
Haymitch stared at her for a moment before bring the bottle to his lips. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
When Hope gave Haymitch a looked that said 'I don't believe you one bit', he looked down again.
"Chaff was... a good friend of mine." Haymitch explained. "We often drank together. Troublemaker he was. Could never stay out of a fight." Haymitch smiled a bit, before taking a drink.
As the teens shared a look, they knew they weren't going to get anything else out of Haymitch on the subject. He wasn't one to, open up.
Just in time, District Twelve faded across the screen.
Haymitch. Katniss. Peeta. They were the only tributes on the stage. Waiting.
"Makes more sense now." Hunter said, before explaining. "About what Hope said with the Quarter Quell not being random. Snow knew that Katniss would be in this game no matter what. She is, was, the only female Victor in District Twelve."
Hunter was, of course, right.
They watched as Effie pulled Katniss' name and no one could volunteer for her, if they wanted to. She had to go in the games.
However, to their surprise, they found out the Haymitch was picked out of him and Peeta.
"Snow knew," Haymitch explained. "He knew Peeta would volunteer for me. Besides, Peeta wanted to go in. Made it easier."
"Made what easier?" Hope asked.
Haymitch just shrugged. "A lot of things."
"Let me guess," Finnick sighed. "We're going to find out in the tape."
Haymitch nodded, taking another drink. "Yup."
"In that case," Hunter said, the screen fading to black. "Let the 75th Hunger Games begin."
Tessa leaned back into the couch. "And may the odds be ever in your favor."
I really like this chapter, and I hope you guys do to. I know it's different from the other Reapings, but I wanted to go into detail with this one.
I can't tell you for sure when the next update will be, but it will be sometime early-mid next week. Only two chapters plus epilogue left :(
**Don't forget to follow me on twitter - LoveingAwkward - I post there a lot about updates, chapters, new stories etc.
Keep the reviews coming! I love reading/seeing them! It's know exactly 12:00am where I am and I want to wake up to tons of emails :)
I love each of you to the moon and back, xox
