Epilogue-
Katniss' POV
It's been two and a half years since Rye was born and our life has only gotten better. Willow started school four months after her fifth birthday, nine months after Rye was born. That was hard, I didn't want to send my girl off to the place she'll be five days a week, every week- aside from holidays- for the next thirteen years. But, as soon as Peeta and I let her go into the courtyard, she was making friends and having fun. When we went to pick her up seven hours later, she was so happy to be there. She wanted to go back in straight away. Peeta kept telling me that there could be her future husband looking over her as soon as she got into the school yard. I just shook my head and laughed at him. Peeta, always staying the same happy husband, father and man who saved my life. Willow is now in grade two and seven years old.
Three months later since Rye's birth in December, Effie and Haymitch announced they were expecting their first child together. I know it was hard for him to finally agree to her, from all the death and horrors which he experienced in his life. But, Haymitch was the best father to Sky and even better to their daughter. Maysliee Donna Abernathy. Sky had watched Haymitch's Games in school without his consent and she came back to them with the name. Haymitch apparently started crying when he heard it. Still, after all these years, he still cared about the girl he loved in the Games who died in his arms. I was there for Haymitch when he needed some who would understand. From all the time he spent looking after and out for me, I was finally able to give him the support and love which he needed when things got bad.
Haymitch had a rough patch when Effie was five months pregnant with Maysliee, he drunk himself unconscious. I found him in a house inside the Village, broken glass around him and dead to the world. At first, when I saw the blood and broke glass around his unconscious body, I thought he was dead. The instant pain and hurt I felt when I saw that, it was indescribable. When I felt his pulse, I stopped crying over him possibly being dead and over the fact that he was actually alive. I stayed with him, sobered him up and asked him what happened. Effie apparently had a false miscarriage, it sounds fake, but it happened. After Effie had gotten over it, that when Haymitch lost it. He thought nothing good could ever come to him and he was filled with nightmares he hadn't had since during the rebellion. I could only convince him that Maysliee was fine and then stay there when he needed me. Four months later, I saw Haymitch cry for third time in my life. First, when Willow was born. Second, after Peeta and I got married. Third, when he saw and held to Maysliee for the first time. I couldn't be more proud of Haymitch to this day for the life he has finally allowed himself to live.
You could say that since Johanna got pregnant with Raelea, it's been baby haven here in the Village. I had Rye, Effie had Maysliee and Johanna got pregnant with her third baby Adina Rose. Adina has ginger red hair, a complete shock. This caused a riot in the Hawthorne household. Gale was convinced she slept with someone else and that was why Adina had red hair. But, after weeks of fighting, they finally got the DNA test back saying that she was indeed Gale's daughter. Jo didn't speak to Gale for a few months after that, but like usual, they had rough sex and were perfect again. Jo didn't spare any of the details with me. After that conversation with Jo, Peeta and I shared very pleasurable sex the same night. I think everyone did. Currently, Jo is again pregnant with twins- a boy and a girl. Gale always loved having his huge family and Jo always wanted that, so the planned for a fourth one and then ended up with twins. So, they've got a huge family.
Sky and Harrison have yet to get married. They were in no rush. So, they just enjoy each day as engaged people. Sky moved out of the house after Maysliee was born, but only into the house a few down from them. Sky was there every day to help her mother with the baby and was there when they needed her. Harrison obviously moved in with her, so it's their house. They went and stayed in 10 for a month in the summer holidays with Harrison's family. They maintain a schedule to see them as often as possible. Indigo, Mandy and Wayne are living as happily as ever. Nothing huge has changed in their lives, they just love their small and perfect family.
My mother still lives with Annie and Finn. Annie was in the same boat as me when Finn had to go to school for the first time. Except, she needed him more than I need Willow. Not saying that Willow isn't important to me, she's my beautiful daughter who I love very much and will always care deeply about. But, I have Peeta to help me get through my days when I miss my daughter in the house. Annie doesn't have anyone. Finnick is gone and only his memory is with her. Finn was the only thing which helped Annie get through days when she needed her husband, but when Finn wasn't there and at school, she relapsed. She was put into hospital for a few days, before going back home with strong PTSD medication. Finn cares for his mother more than anyone else. He knows he's all his mother has and it's made him so much more mature for his age. Finn asks about his father, but doesn't push any questions. He knows it's a hard topic for his mother and allows himself to live without the knowledge of his father. He remembers him, but not as well as he did before.
My mother had a heart attack a year ago and it was hard for me. When Annie called me, I was in 4 within an hour with Peeta. To this day, they don't know what caused it, but gave her some medication which will prevent any heart attacks. Since Rye was born, there was big breaks in medical research. I was depressed seeing my mother like that and thinking that my only other person connecting me to my own family was on the brink of death, I relapsed. I had Peeta to pull me out of it and I was there for my mother when she needed me the most. I was lucky.
Jo was not so lucky. The only person from before her time with Gale died. She got diagnosed with something called cancer. It was very popular within people before the first rebellion and the dark days. Since the medical breakthroughs, cancer has been almost unheard of and very rare. As a child, Riv was exposed to nasty chemical which over time had begun her cancer in her lungs. I'd never seen Jo so depressed in her life. It wasn't just her death, but knowing the inevitable outcome of death. Jo was by her side the whole time. Jo cried and screamed for the doctors to come up with a cure, but their research into cancer was limited and not as highly demanded as other diseases. So, Jo just had to watch her second mother die in pain. Gale was there for Jo, but Jo was almost incurable after that. Peeta and I looked after Willow, Rye, Jason, Raelea and Adina, but it felt like nothing compared to the pain Jo was in.
Jo got suicidal, she tried to kill herself, which just about killed us when we heard. She cut up her arms with a razor and almost died on her bathroom floor from blood loss. She actually died. Her heart stopped when they brought her into the hospital because Jo was left bleeding out for too long. But, they pumped her back up with blood and she was fine. Aside from being diagnosed with suicidal depression, she eventually got back on her feet. She had an epiphany when she died, Riv apparently told her to get a grip and look after herself and her grandchildren. After getting some help from Dr Aurelius, she was given antidepressants and Gale and Jo were looking after their children again within a month. Days for her can either be great or the completely opposite. We help out when we can. It was two months after getting back onto her feet that she found out she was pregnant again.
As Rye as grown, we have found out his special traits which he inherited from Peeta and I. He got Peeta's quietness and kindness. He's very independent when he wants to be, just like me. He is closed off and stubborn like me also when he isn't demonstrating Peeta's kindness. He refused to talk until he could spit out sentences and that was only a few months ago. His first word, well sentence was- "I love you Mummy." I cried when he said that to me. I couldn't contain that proudness of hearing son say that for the first time. He then said- "I love you Daddy." and "I love you Will.". They are his favourite things to say. He's always saying it, every day just to make sure that we know for sure.
He loves his sister more than anything. Willow loves him and protects him just like I did for Prim apparently, according to Mum, Peeta and Gale. Willow helped him to talk, constantly saying "Mummy" and "Daddy" for him to repeat, but he just kept quiet and took everything in. Willow was so excited when he could finally walk and run. She would always be playing tag with him, playing around the house and causing big messes. I sometimes get annoyed with all the mess, but Peeta just laughs and sometime joins them. He's as bad as they are! But, he loves them. He listened to me when I said I didn't want anymore. He was happy with the beautiful little family we have. It was all we needed to be happy. If I didn't get pregnant with Willow, I think I would have ended up like Haymitch. I wouldn't have wanted to bring a child into a world where things can go wrong in a push of a button or an announcement. I'm happy I did get pregnant with her because if it wasn't for her, we wouldn't be in the place we are now.
Some of the best nights Peeta and I have with our children is after a morning when Willow made a cubby house with the dinner table. One morning, Peeta and I came down from upstairs to find the table completely covered up and boarded up. We ducked our head in to see Willow and Rye drawing pictures on the ground. Peeta and I loved the idea so much that we played in it all day. We went to put them both to bed and found them both fast asleep in the pillows. So, Peeta and I opened it up a bit more and we slept along with them. The next day when Willow was at school, Peeta and I finally went and cleaned out Hunter and Ash's room. Over the next week when Willow was at school, we transformed the room.
The next Saturday, we revealed to Willow and Rye our creation. We had made a huge cubby house out of blankets, sheets, pillows and fairy lights. It went up to the roof and covered almost the whole room. Peeta painted the walls to look like clouds and it was just the perfect way to fill the room which previously made me feel pain. It was a good way to honour Hunter and Ash's memory, because I know that if they were here, they would find joy in it also. It was called the Cosy Room. Willow and Rye stayed and played in it for months. And still to this day they do. Even when I am having a bad day, I go in there to find some peace and serenity. It always pulls me back out because it's covered in the drawings and filled with happy family memories. It shows me that even on the worst of days, I still have a whole lifetime of love to give to my family and who I love around me.
They play in the Meadow. The dancing girl with the dark hair and blue eyes. The boy with blonde curls and grey eyes, struggling to keep up with her on his chubby toddler legs. When I first felt her stirring inside me, I was consumed with fear and terror as I realised the inevitable which I imagined was coming true. Only being able share the joy with Peeta was the only way I could tame that fear and terror. Carrying him was harder, but eventually got easier.
The questions are just beginning. The arenas have been completely destroyed, the memorials built, there are no more Hunger Games. But they teach about them in school, and the girl will eventually know that we played a role in them, even herself playing a role in the revolution. The boy will know in a few years also. How can I tell them about that world without frightening them to death? My children, who take the words of the song for granted:
"Deep in the meadow, under the willow. A bed of grass, a soft green pillow. Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes. And when you wake, the sun will rise. Here it's safe, here it's warm. Here the daises guard you from harm. Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true. Here is the place where I love you."
My children, who don't know they play on a graveyard and dance near graves of our loved ones. Peeta says it will be okay. We have each other. And our family within the Victors' Village of 12 and 4. We all can make them understand in a way that will make them braver. With so many of us, someone will help them correctly understand in a way they can become stronger. Maybe Haymitch, Johanna, Annie, Peeta, maybe even Gale. But one day, I'll have to explain to them about the nightmares Peeta and I both have. Why they come and why they won't ever really go away.
I'll tell them how we both survive them. I'll tell them that on even the worst mornings, it feels impossible to take pleasure in anything because I'm afraid it might get taken away from me. That's when I go into our family's happy place and make a list in my head, of all the good things I've seen someone do. It's like a game. Repetitive. Even a little tedious after all these years.
But, there are much worse games to play.
End of Book 2
That's it! Freedom's Finally Ours is over! Don't fret, a third and final book will be made. So, I'll update you guys on that when i've created and posted it! Thank you to everyone! It's you fans and your kindness which writes these chapters! And my obsessive need to continue! But thank you. And for a final time on this fanfiction, please review!
everlark4ever75 xx
Also, I need some help! I want to name the next fanfiction Children of the Village, but i feel like it needs to fit in with the Fight til the end and Freedom's Finally Ours names. You know 'F' names. It would really be amazing help if you guys could lend me some help and time! Thanks in advance, Kat.