The rest of the time spent in the Republic was spent in a dismal manner. Katniss was guarded at ever corner, hateful stares everywhere she went, and absolutely nothing worth doing.
Manaal requested help from Panem, but it was help Katniss could not provide. Another war, sending funds, and food, those were things she could not give.
The group left once Katniss's presidency was finished. She was finally free, able to be with her children and the rest of her family.
They planned to stay in District Two for a week, before heading home. Katniss and her husband showed up on Prim's front door.
"Hi Kat" Prim smiled hugging her older sister. "The kids are out back. We missed you guys. Scarlet especially." She opened the back door and stepped outside.
Peony and Leif were running around with another little girl, who they later learned was Eva, and Hunter. Lacey, James, and Bram sat aside talking to one another.
"Mommy! Daddy!" The two squealed and ran to their parents.
"Hi baby." Katniss said to her son, "Were you good for Auntie Prim?"
"He's been nothing but trouble." Prim laughed sarcastically. Leif pouted for a moment before hugging his mother.
"Hi Hunter" Katniss called to the little boy who ran to his Aunt.
"Mommy, are we going home?" Peony asked when Her father let go of her.
"Soon honey I promise, very soon." The children ran back to their game as Katniss stood up. "Where's Scarlet?" She asked.
"Oh," Prim walked back into the house for a brief moment. She walked back outside with the infant cradled in her arms. "She was taking her nap." Prim said handing the little girl off to her mother.
The little girl reached out to hold onto her mother. "Hi Scarlet," Katniss swayed back and forth before handing her husband their daughter.
"Auntie Katniss," Hunter ran up to her, "Mommy and Daddy are trying to get me a brother or sister."
"Really?" Katniss smiled.
"Yeah! I'm gonna be a big brother some day." He declared proudly.
Leif ran up behind his best friend and jumped on him, "Rawr!" Leif laughed as Hunter bobbled around trying not to fall over. "Come on Hunter I'm still the dragon!"
Hunter nodded and followed after his friend.
Katniss pulled her sister aside. "We'll be staying in town for a few days." She said.
"That'll be great you can meet Ash." Prim smiled, "Oh Kat you'll love him. I know you will."
Katniss nodded half heartedly. "My baby sister is getting married."
"Yeah." Prim nodded. The two of them watched Peeta play with the children and coax his youngest daughter to join the game.
"I have three kids." She sighed, "Three, I never wanted one." Prim hugged her then.
"I'm glad things haven't turned out like we planned." Prim smiled.
"Me too little duck."
"You're going to call me that till the day I die won't you?"
"Yep" Katniss smiled.
"Mommy!" Leif called, "Play with us" He demanded. Katniss laughed and joined in their game.
A few hours later Prim went back into the house and brought out Jo and Gale.
"Well if it isn't the ex-president herself." Gale laughed.
"In the flesh" Katniss said.
"We thought you died." Jo claimed.
"It takes more than a little work to kill me." Katniss retaliated.
Hunter ran over to his parents and allowed his mother to carry his tired body.
"Hi sweetie." Jo greeted her son. "You ready to go home?" The little boy nodded. "Okay let's go"
Gale looked over at his old-time friend. "Hey you want to take the kids out with me tomorrow? We can hunt like old times."
"That sounds great." Katniss assured him. The two of them left before another person appeared.
Prim went inside to greet them and Katniss went to the three older children.
"Katniss" Bram nodded to her, "You wouldn't believe it, I've been getting mail from all over."
"Really?" She asked sincerely.
"Yes, from the child ambassadors. They've been updating us on their progress with their country. Look" He pulled out a picture of Alexien and Parker standing with the troop who had taken them in. "They've been adopted by one of the guys and his wife. They'll be living in Bolivia."
Lacey pulled out a picture of little Sicily standing with her older sister and brother-in-law. "Sicily says they've fully rebuilt her town, she's being sent to the same school Sebastian is attending. Her sister had a little boy." Lacey smiled down at the photo before pulling out one of Quinton and his baby sister, "He says He'll be living in France but within the next year or so he'll be traveling here."
James took out a letter from Trig, "He says that all is well on the farm, they're apparently making a ton of money now. He says that He'll be staying with Quinton for a bit hoping to become bilingual."
"I'm assuming Sebastian hasn't sent anything?" Katniss asked.
"Well he didn't have to, he was in town last week. He's doing very well." Bram said.
"I'm glad."
"Me too." James said, "They deserve to be well off."
"Kat" Prim came from inside. Katniss walked over to her sister. Prim pulled her inside so she stood to face a man, "This is Ashton. Ashton this is my big sister."
Katniss put on a quick smile, "Hi" She said quickly.
"It's great to meet you. Prim's told me all about you." His features were very defined. He was tall and well proportioned. He had caramel colored skin and light brown eyes to match. He seemed almost proud in his stature.
"I've heard nothing about you" She said.
He chuckled nervously, "Well... Um."
Peeta walked in just then. "Katniss... Oh hi" He said.
"Peeta this is Ashton, my fiancé. Ashton this in my brother-in-law." The two shook hands and slipped into conversation with ease.
After a good fifteen minutes Katniss spoke up, "Wait did you leave our children unattended?" Katniss asked walking swiftly back outside. and saw her two children and little Eva.
She heard the door close behind her as she walked to her children. "Peony where's your sister?"
"... I dunno mommy" She shrugged.
"Leif where's your baby sister?" The little boy shrugged as his sister had. Katniss felt frantic as she looked around the yard. It wasn't that big so where could she have gone?
Little Eva walked over and tugged on Katniss's pants. The little girl pointed off towards the far end of the yard where little Scarlet was balancing herself to walk.
Katniss sighed and ran over to her daughter. "What are you doing silly little girl?" She smiled. The little girl took a few tender steps, and Katniss watched in amazement. "Did you teach yourself to walk?" She asked and the little girl fell into her mother's arms.
She kissed the baby's head and smiled. "My six month old baby tried to teach herself to walk." She walked back toward the other children, "You are my daughter, stubborn." She watched her children run around a bit longer before saying, "Come on let's go inside so you don't get burned." The six children filed inside the house.
"Daddy!" Eva ran over to Ashton. He lifted her up and kissed her cheeks, "Are you gonna leave tonight too?" She asked sadly.
"I'm sorry sweetie, but I'm on call all week. But you get to stay with Prim" He told her. The little girl looked down a bit disappointed.
"Okay daddy." She said. He kissed her again before setting her on the ground.
Peeta walked over to his children and kissed their heads, "go wash up we're going out for dinner tonight."
Peony took her brother's hand and led him up stairs.
"This child is definitely my daughter" Katniss said before handing Scarlet to her husband.
"Why?" He laughed.
"She just tried teaching herself to walk."
"Yeah, she's your daughter" Peeta rolled his eye before taking the baby up to change her.
"I walk out side and see my six month old trying to walk along the wall. I didn't even know she could crawl" Katniss sat down with Prim and Ashton.
"I didn't know she could crawl either, it's okay." Prim assured her.
"So Ashton what District are you originally from?"
"I'm from District Eleven, but during the war I became a certified doctor. After the war I went to the Capitol and became a surgeon."
She allowed him to talk about his training and meeting Prim. Their friendship, her comforting as he mourned the loss of his wife. He talked about them dating, about his time in the war.
He told her when she had been missing he'd kept Prim level-headed, and almost lost his job for her. He spoke at great lengths about his relationship with Prim, how much time they'd spent together.
She honestly felt like he was trying too hard to impress her. Then Little Eva came tumbling down the stairs, "Prim, I can't find my dress." She said.
"Which one honey?" Prim asked taking the little girl in her arms.
"The pink one."
"All of your dresses are pink Eva" Prim laughed taking the little girl up stairs.
"You know" Katniss spoke, "If you really love her than I won't stand in your way, but even think about doing something stupid you're dead." She looked at him head on, "I'm one of the most influential and lethal people on this planet. Don't screw with her or you screw with me."
Ashton looked back to where Prim was walking away. "She's the woman I was always meant to marry. My late wife just had to push me there."
Katniss nodded.
"There isn't a thing I don't know about her."
"Really?" Katniss asked.
"I was the one who told her she can never have children." Ashton looked down, "From that point on we grew closer." He shrugged slightly, "I'll be there when she needs me. I always have been."
Katniss nodded slightly. She understood him in a strange way. She understood just what he wanted, and that was to make her baby sister feel worth something.
He'd be good for Prim, and Peeta had been for her.
"Love her, that's all I need you to do."
"I've already done that." He said.
"Good." She smiled.
So writer's block sucks but hey this Wednesday I promise the next chapter will be posted. Guess what? Four chapters, that's all I have left four, can you believe it? Four, I'll be done by May. I'm legitimately upset by this but I am also certain that this story has been an amazing piece of work and has inspired me to write some of my own original work on the side of Fan Fictions. I'll not be leaving here but I may have original work on another site. Well anyway my beauty I don't know if I still need to tell you this but Stay Lovely.