I'm back! Sorry I've been busy with family issues.
Good news and bad news my sweet darling.
Bad news or more like sad news this story has about fiveish chapters left. Sad face.
Good news is I am already working on my next big project! I'll be releasing a lot of little works whilst I'm working diligently on my big project. I'll be posting semi-regularly on Scream for me, while I have three new stories called Nailed, Night Terror, and Don't Be My Romeo. Each of those will be posted before my big huge new idea which is going to be entitled Precious. I'll see you at the end darling.
Katniss and her family were flown to the Center City which was beginning their rebuilding process. Everything in the main city seemed so empty. However it seemed everyone had dressed up in their best for the day.
The streets lined with people all of whom were cheering, signs held up that read, 'thank you!' and 'World peace is ours!' Though it really wasn't world peace so much as it was temporary fixing of a huge problem.
Katniss spent a brunch with the only surviving head before meeting the children ambassadors for each area of the Kingdoms.
"My name is Alexien ma'am" A mousey little girl with a heavy accent said. "And this is my little brother Parker." Alexien was holding a little boys hand. The little boy smiled before covering his mouth.
"Nice to meet you." Katniss crouched to eye level with the little boy, "And where are you two from?"
"We're from Georgia, ma'am" Alexien said, "Parker, potseluy." She said and the little boy took Katniss's hand to kiss it.
"Thank you Parker" Katniss said before moving on to the next little boy.
"My name is Sebastian ma'am. I'm from the northern part of Ireland." He said this rather stiffly.
"Hi Sebastian. Can I ask you something?" He nodded, "Smile for me" He was missing two teeth, "You have a wonderful smile" She told him causing him to blush.
The next little boy shook her hand quickly, "I'm Trig, I'm from southern Portugal."
Katniss looked at the little boy, he was so full of happiness and light, "I've never been."
"It's very sunny" The little boy assured her.
She moved on to a very small little girl, "My name is Sicily. I'm from Italy, my parents named me after the city."
"How old are you Sicily?" Katniss asked curiously. The little girl held up three fingers, "Only three?"
"I'm the oldest in my town." Sicily said.
"Where is that?"
"Northern Italy around Rome." Katniss nodded still curious about the little girl, however she did not ask anymore questions.
"Hello" Katniss said to the next boy.
"Bonjour" The boy said, "Je m'appelle Quinton." Katniss's eyes grew a tad. "I'm just kidding, my name is Quinton. I'm from France."
Katniss smiled at him, "A little trickster are we?"
He blushed before saying, "I like to believe so."
"Need to keep life entertaining" She said. "Is that all of you?" She asked look around.
"Yes ma'am" Sicily said.
"Mrs. President dinner is ready."
"Thank you Lysander" Katniss said, "Come on let's eat something" Katniss herded everyone into the dinning area, "Alright everyone please tell me about yourselves."
"Like how?" Alexien asked.
"Tell me how you became ambassadors." She said.
Alexien looked down at the plate they served her. "My city was raided before the war started. They killed my dad right out, but they sold my mother into slavery." She looked at her little brother, "Parker and I found the other kids that had hidden away. I was the oldest and therefore took charge.
"Right before the war ended we were discovered by some Oceanic troops who claimed they were from South America. I was the only one fluent in English, so they asked me to travel with them.
"I put one of the other children in charge, but I took Parker along with me. Because he was all I had left." She kissed the little boys head before continuing. "We went from city to city helping the troop get to the border of Georgia. However the war ended and the troop had gotten new orders to return to head quarters.
"The troop took me back to find the camp, but when we got there only three children were still alive, all of them hiding. The camp had been raided by Kingdoms soldiers.
"The troop took my brother, the three other children, and I to your headquarters. We were sent to Center city where we were sent to a boarding school.
"I don't like school much but my teachers are good and kind. I brought my brother because, I never want to lose him again." She concluded.
Katniss felt her eyes become misty with the girl's story. A little six-year-old girl who was already well-traveled and a leader in her own right.
"You are a very brave little girl Alexien. You know something?" Alexien nodded, "I would have done the same for my little sister." The little girl smiled, and this time Katniss noticed the blonde was missing a tooth. "Alright who's next?"
No one said anything for a bit, "Well... I guess I can" Trig said, "I'm the youngest of eight. Now I'm an only child because of the war. I had eight older brothers all of whom fought in the war.
"I lived on a farm with my mom. She's all I have left now. Anyway, we live far out in the country, and a town was bombed near us. They all came to our farm. We put them to work as best we could, getting everyone to live in the stables and where ever they could fit.
"I was the man of the house, so to speak. I did my best to help everyone who came to us. My mom and I built a lot of houses in the spring and we kind of formed our own community. Now our farm is almost the size of a ranch.
"I'm not much of a hero, but when we were informed about the ambassador program, everyone elected me. So now I'm here"
Sebastian spoke up next. "I have two older sisters, both of whom are getting married to Oceanic soldiers. Ireland was capture at the very beginning of the war, so we've been under Oceanic control for a while. My dad was leading a group of under ground rebels before the war began so he got my family and our city on good terms with Oceania. I was actually sent to a school in Australia where they told me I was 'gifted' naturally I was afraid because in the Kingdoms Giftedness was outlawed, punishable by death even.
"But in Australia it's a good thing. I skipped two grades and have been put in advanced classes.
"I also met the president of Australia when my father made a treaty with them to Keep Ireland safe. He wrote me a recommendation letter nominating me as the child ambassador." Sebastian looked down afterwards, as if he were ashamed of what he had said. Or as if he spoke too much.
"I was raised by my older sister. In my portion of the country you were only allowed to have two children. My mom already had my two older sisters. My dad came home for a week and my mom found out she was having me.
"My oldest sister was almost twenty, which is the age you are required to have your second child. So my sister faked a pregnancy while my mom didn't leave the house until I was born.
"There was a raid though. When I was hardly two years old. The Republic attacked us, burned down our homes and tried to enslave everyone they could. My sister hid me away in the basement of our house. I sat in the corner for the whole night crying.
"But in the morning she found me. My nephew was taken though. So were both of my parents.
"My sister and brother-in-law took me with them to go find some place safe. We eventually happened upon Rome, where they were taking refugees. There wasn't enough food or water for everyone, but since I was so little, about the size of a one year old, they provided my family the essentials first.
"When the war ended my sister and brother-in-law took me back to where our home was in ruins. They're building it up now as we speak." Sicily smiled brightly, "And I'm getting a niece or nephew"
Katniss nodded when the three-year old finished her story.
Quinton looked around the table, "I guess it's my turn no?" A few of the children giggled, "Well I have a baby sister, I used to have an older brother, a mom, and a dad.
"I spent the majority of the war in school, my brother led a bit of a resistance group in our school. They planned a protest but all of them were killed the night before. My father was a soldier and he was almost exiled because of it.
"They found out I was related to my brother, and they started keeping me after classes and monitoring my every move. Oceanic troops invaded our town which was incredibly close to our school. I was able to run home to my mom, she told me to take my little sister and run. So I did.
"She was killed that night, at least I think she was, I haven't received word saying other wise. My sister and I ran, and we happened upon a group of men who had escaped a labor camp. We traveled with them, and soon discovered that they were from a homosexual camp.
"Two of the men were in a civil union and adopted us. Near the end of the war, Oceania captured the group my sister and I were traveling in. All of the men volunteered to join them, even I did.
"I actually ended up in a fight around the border of Spain. I had my sister on my back while I was shooting... I had never been more afraid in my life.
"But we escaped with our new parents, now we're helping rebuild France." Quinton finished however he didn't smile like the others had. He had seen battle, the worst the world had to offer.
Katniss looked at every face present in the dinning room. "I'd like to propose a toast. Everyone raise your glasses please." All of the children smiled up at her.
"Each and everyone one of you has gone to extraordinary lengths to survive and save those you love. You are the future, and each of you make it brighter. Each of you has been tried again and again. Every one of you deserves honorable mention. To courage" She said clanking their glasses together.
Once dinner was finished Lysander reported she'd be escorted to the Republic for the signing of the peace treaty and a meeting with Manaal.
She brought the children ambassadors to meet her children and her husband.
"Don't be nervous, they are children just like you okay?" She carried Sicily as the girl was very small.
"Yes ma'am!" Sebastian saluted.
Lysander held Trig and Alexien's hand. Alexien kept Parker close by while Trig and Sebastian walked side by side.
"Are you ready?" She asked them before opening the door. Lacey, Bram, James, Peony, and Leif all look up from their playing to see her. "Come on I have some people I want you all to meet." Katniss said getting the ambassadors to line up.
"These are my two children Peony and Leif"
"Hi!" Peony stepped forward to the girl to look at Alexien closer, "What's your name?"
"Alexien" She says. "Nice to meet you Peony"
Leif walks over to Trig, "Your almost my height!" Leif said to the boy who laughed in well nature.
"And these three are Lacey, James and Bram." Katniss introduced them.
"Hey I know you from somewhere" Quinton said.
"Hey you're those kids from Finland right?" Sebastian asked.
"Yeah" Lacey says. "And who are you?"
"I'm Quinton."
"And I'm Sebastian."
Peony went over to Sicily and observes her. "You're really little. I bet I could carry you"
Sicily looked at her in awe, "Really?"
"Yeah." She picked up the little girl to prove it to her. Sicily clutched Peony's shirt in fear as she was lifted off the ground. Peony placed the little girl's feet back on the ground and looked at her quizzically, "What's your name?"
"Sicily" She said. Soon all the children were playing together.
"Peony honey, where's daddy and uncle Haymitch?" Katniss asked after watching the children play for a while.
"I dunno. He told Bram he was in charge and then left. Uncle Haymitch went after him but he didn't say anything either." Peony went back to playing.
"Bram, where's Peeta?"
"He didn't say."
"Did he take Scarlet with him?"
"I'm not sure." Bram replied earnestly.
Katniss nodded and continued to watch the little ones play, until the phone rings.
Katniss hastily answers it, "Hello?"
"Kat... It's Prim"
"Hi Prim" Katniss says happy to hear her little sister. "What's up?"
"Well..." Katniss could almost hear her little sister smiling through the phone as she tried to find the words that would make the most sense.
"Come on Little Duck tell me"
"I'm getting married"
Katniss was taken aback by this statement. "You're-you're WHAT?"
"Look I know it seems sudden but it really isn't" Prim claimed.
"But you're-"
"Yes I am to a really wonderful guy Kat"
"Who is he?"
"Well, his name is Ashton, he's a doctor from District Two. I met him a while ago back before... Gosh before Leif was born. He's been a really great friend for years now.
"He's a widower now, his wife died in the war, he's got the most beautiful daughter, Katniss. Her name is Eva and I simply adore her. We started dating the second year of the war after he had mourned over his wife. He came and visited Peony and Leif while you were in a coma. He offered to help Peeta since he had lost his wife.
"He's just... So great and wonderful. I think this is right Kat, he makes me feel... Like I'm worth a damn."
"Hey you're worth way more than just one." Katniss said minding her language in front of her children.
Prim laughed on the other line, "He just asked me. Oh Katniss I think I love him!"
Just then Peeta walked in the door but Katniss paid no attention and did not notice "Well I have to meet him first."
"Of course"
"Did mom know?"
"Mom met him, we had him over for dinner a couple of times... Mom really liked him."
"How old is he?"
"About twenty-seven"
"Prim that's a six-year age difference! For god's sake that's older than me!"
"I know but he's more mature"
"Prim"
"Look Kat, I'm twenty-one years old. I'm old enough to make my own decisions."
"Oh god, my baby sister is not twenty-one that means you can drink legally."
"Kat!"
"What?"
"You're the one who got married and pregnant at the ripe young age of seventeen remember?"
"That was completely different!"
"Oh yeah how?"
"I was going to be killed!"
"But you were in love Kat. I think I am too now."
"Prim-"
"Sorry hold on a minute" Prim had a side conversation briefly before returning to the phone. "Sorry Eva is here,"
"How did I not even know you were dating?"
"I remind you again. You were in a coma"
"You should have told me"
"You were also pregnant and very stressed remember?"
"All too well."
"So you remember when I sent Bram to your house all alone right?"
"Yeah... Why?"
"Well I was kind of sort of on a date with Ashton. He was flown in when the district was attacked and we were on a case together... We stayed out kind of late we lost track of time-"
"DID YOU HAVE SEX!? I will murder him in his sleep!" Katniss screamed
"No! I'm still a virgin, Kat, just hear me out."
"I will kill him" She shouted again.
"KAT! I COULD EASILY SAY THE SAME ABOUT PEETA WHEN HE KNOCKED YOU UP!" Prim screamed back.
"I'm not denying that! I just don't want anyone touching my baby sister like that!"
"Come on Kat!"
"Imagine what Gale will say, this is PG, be grateful."
"Oh god I don't want to tell Gale. Do you remember that time Posy brought a boy home when she was four and said they were married?"
"Yes, didn't he nearly break that kids skull open?"
"Yeah... Anyway Kat. I only worked three times a week the other times we were on dates. I know him really well. I've known him for years and I think I love him.
"I really want you to like him. So when you come back I want you to meet him. I'm going to get married whether you like him or not, don't get me wrong. But I prefer you like your brother-in-law"
"Okay Prim, when I get back I promise." She looked up and saw her husband sitting on the couch bouncing Scarlet. "Now if you'll excuse me I have a bone to pick with my husband."
"Bye Kat, I love you"
"I love you too little Duck" Katniss hung up. "Where have you been?" She demanded.
"I was just downstairs with some of the newly elected officials."
"And you brought our baby?" She asked taking the little girl out of his arms.
"I couldn't just leave her alone." Peeta claimed. It was then they both noticed Haymitch laughing so hard tears streaked down his face.
"Did you let him get drunk?"
"No... Haymitch what's wrong?" Peeta asked.
"You two are hysterical!"
"Huh?" She asked.
"She's yelling at her little sister for getting knocked up and she yelled back about you getting knocked up! Priceless family moment"
"Prim's pregnant!?" Peeta asked, "I'll kill him!" He stood up.
"She's not-... Sit down Peeta" Katniss sighed taking a seat on her own. "My baby sister cannot get pregnant first off. Second off she's getting married."
"She dated someone?"
"Yep and apparently he's been to our house."
"What?"
"My baby sister is twenty-one and marrying a twenty-seven year old."
"But we're twenty-five!"
"I know, honey, I know." Katniss introduced all the ambassadors to her husband and Haymitch before they all went to bed.
"So how was the dinner?" He asked laying down in bed.
Katniss began to think about everything those children had been through, their lives and stories. How these children were broken because of the freaking Kingdoms.
Little Sicily the oldest child to have lived through the raids, not being allowed to have her mother as her mother. Nearly starving in Rome before the war ended.
Quinton having his oldest brother die on him, having to leave his mother to die, and fighting with his little sister on his back.
Alexien taking over a group of children as their leader, keeping so many people alive, and then they die so you only have your brother. Not to mention a mother sold into slavery.
Trig having to take over his fathers roll at only six years old, having to take care of his mother, and loosing seven siblings.
Even Sebastian who was relatively normal, afraid to be gifted. Afraid of what will happen if he doesn't conform.
Katniss began to cry.
"What's wrong?" He asked as she crawled into bed beside him.
"I hate the Kingdoms. I hate them for everything they've done!" She whispers before recalling the children's tales.
So YAY! Here you are lovely thanks for your patience and I'll see you Wednesday. As always my dear, Stay Lovely!