DISCLAIMER: HG CHARACTERS DO NOT BELONG TO ME
A/N: Readers might cringe at what they read in this chapter, but remember it is temporary.
Dandelion in the Spring
Part VI
It is of no surprise to Katniss when he arranges for his staff to drop off her things along with Buttercup to her hospital room. She sees that he has packed almost all her stuff from the cabin, minus the things that were not essential.
She takes Buttercup out of his carrier and holds him telling the cat he will be home soon, for he was quite distressed being in an unfamiliar place.
Only one visitor comes before she leaves, Plutarch Heavensbee. As the hospital staff gather her things to take down to the hovercraft that was waiting for her, Heavensbee says to her, "I hope you will stop running into trouble, I hate to keep meeting in hospitals or prison cells."
"I thought you liked keeping me in the spotlight Plutarch."
"Panem easily believed the prison fight story, in some ways it as if not much has changed."
"And the fighting from the resistance groups?"
Heavensbee shrugs then responds, "things have been quiet, it is a little concerning."
"Well, Coin did send her army out to mop up Peacekeepers right after she took the Capitol, maybe they want to live."
"Or maybe they are planning something else, something big" Heavensbee says cautiously.
"As a former game maker, I'm sure you are thinking over possible strategies."
He gives a sly smile then says, "I'll miss you."
"Goodbye Plutarch" she says as she turns to leave. Wishing she could tell Heavensbee she will miss him too, she cannot bring herself to say it, for there was nothing she missed at all about District 13 or District 2. When she thought of Gale and the Hawthorne's, she thought of District 12, and they were the only thing she knew she'd miss from this place.
As the hovercraft takes off, her thoughts turn to Peeta, and she begins wondering if her relationship with him will ever be the same again. While he spent a lot of time in the Capitol getting the help he needed, she couldn't help but wonder could he still lose control and attack her. Would it even be safe to be around him?
Until those questions could be answered, she could at least look forward to seeing Haymitch and Greasy Sae again.
6 Months Later (June)
Katniss walks along the familiar paths in the woods as she goes out for her daily hunt. Now summer in District 12, she goes out early in the morning before the heat of the day. As she walks through the forest, hearing the birds, she looks out at the meadow once she reaches the forest's edge. She breathes in the fresh air, for she never gets bored being out here. When she opens her eyes, she looks over in the distance and sees the new construction going up. District 12's medicine factory will be complete by the end of the year, with the expectation that residents can begin working at the factory in the new year.
When she arrives back at her house, she has only one bird for Greasy Sae. Seeing the look Sae gives Katniss once she sees how small the bird is, she tells her to take the game home to eat with her Granddaughter.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. We have plenty of food here as usual" Katniss says in response.
"See you next week" Greasy Sae says as she gathers her things to leave. Now coming over twice a week to help Katniss around the house for which Katniss rewards in fresh game, and bread.
He started saying over by the end of April. When she first arrived back, she kept her distance, her only visitors Greasy Sae during the day and Haymitch at night. When Spring arrived in late March, she heard movement outside her house and opened the door expecting to see Haymitch stumbling up the steps but instead saw Peeta beside the steps, planting.
"What are you doing?" she had said to him in a defensive tone.
"Planting primroses" he says in a matter-of-fact tone.
She nods in response then says, "I have to go" and slammed the door shut, her emotions overtaking her.
Later than night, she knocks on his door and offers him fresh squirrel meat. Soon after, they started visiting each other once a day, then multiple times a day, then she found herself asking him to stay over on the nights Haymitch was passed out on her living room floor, sleeping in Prim's room that was right across from hers.
It was nice to have his company, for she spent so much time alone. When she had arrived back in 12, it took everything in her not to retreat to her chair in front of the fire, for a year has now passed since she lost the most important person in her life. She told herself in the cabin if she made it, that it was a sign that Prim, her mother and father wanted her to move on and find happiness. If Gale had not arrived when he did, she knows she would have eventually died.
With the planting of the primroses, she was reminded of her conversation with Peeta back in 13 when he was restrained in the hospital, how he had remembered when he gave her the bread all those years ago, and how she had picked dandelions. What she admired most about him was his sense of hope, how he could take any situation, no matter how dire, and look at it in a hopeful way. When he was reaped, he looked at it as an opportunity to get to know her better.
Perhaps he was her dandelion on the spring, the person who could inspire hope and not remind her of destruction and the people she lost. She knew she cared for Peeta, loved him even, but she was never quite sure if she loved him in a romantic way.
She knew deep down that was way she only comforted him in embraces. She had not kissed him since that day on the beach. Knowing he would wait for her to make the first move, he continued to sleep in Prim's room. When he had a flashback that resulted in him almost losing control but not fully, she watched as he gripped the back of a chair, or hold onto the edge of the bed, sometimes she held him while he fought through it. When she woke up in the middle of the night screaming, he'd come into the room and hold her until she fell back asleep, when she awoke the next morning, he'd be gone.
She heard from Gale and the Hawthorne's once since returning to 12. They called her on her birthday. She spoke to Posy first, then Vick, Rory, Hazelle, and Gale last. Their conversation very superficial at first, she updated him on District 12, Greasy Sae and the survivors from the Seam who returned, he in turn updated her on his job and how it was going, and how busy he continued to be. Finally, he got the courage to ask her what had been on his mind for months, "Have you given any thought to coming back here? I've been saving quite a bit of money, I plan to buy my mom a house near here, we could look for a house in a village near the mountains. Something far from the city but close to the train so I can still get to work and not be too far away."
She pauses, for what he proposed sounded intriguing. The mountains of District 2 were beautiful, with high elevated peaks covered in snow, lots of waterfalls, streams, and fresh lakes, and quite a bit of game. But it was still District 2, near the nut and the Capitol, and the destruction of her past.
"It sounds wonderful but…."
Hearing the hesitation in her voice he finishes her thought by saying, "You won't come because you still can't forgive me."
Wanting to tell him that she's trying, but that something was holding her back, Peeta calls up the stairs loudly that dinner was ready, not realizing that she was still on the phone, for her phone calls never lasted longer than 5 minutes.
"Was that Peeta?" Gale says in a confused tone.
"Yeah, he's been making dinner on the days Sae is not here and he bakes" she says reluctantly for she had hoped he didn't hear Peeta's voice in the background.
"Of course," Gale says bitterly.
"It's not what you think" she says defensively.
"Isn't it? It is almost 8 pm, perfect time to eat a romantic dinner by the fire to celebrate!"
"Like you are so innocent-how many girls have flirted with you-how many have tried to kiss you?"
"They've tried, believe me, but I made it clear I was already in a relationship, should I tell them I'm available now?"
Her anger rising, she shouts, "go ahead and return to the slagheap days!" and slams down the phone.
"I thought romantic dinners by the fireplace was our thing" she mumbled to herself before walking down the stairs to join Peeta at the table.
Even after their one and only phone call, things stayed the same with Peeta. She didn't know how long he would be okay with their arrangement, but she figured she'd deal with that conversation later.
By the end of summer, Gale had packed her remaining things from the cabin and from his house in District 2 and mailed five boxes to the victor's village. In one of the boxes was the plant she received from the Hawthorne's last year, in another was Buttercup's automatic feeder and water fountain.
She takes the plant and hangs it up in the kitchen, allowing the plant to get plenty of sunlight. She sees the plant is double in size from when she got it, Hazelle obviously taking good care of it in her absence.
She then puts away the dish and water bowl she was using before and fills up the automatic feeder and fountain and sets them out for Buttercup who was out for his morning stroll.
She tries to ignore the fact that it bothered her he didn't leave a note, and that no one else left a note either. Not that she could blame them, knowing that she disappointed them and hurt their brother, and Hazelle's first born son, she knows she probably will never see or talk to them again.
But what came next was even more painful.
September
Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch sit and eat dinner in the kitchen while they watch Paylor address the nation. Katniss learns that the dam that was destroyed during the war has been rebuilt in District 5, that Panem has rolled out occupational safety standards to be followed in all of the Districts, and that District 12's medicine factory is on schedule to be completed by December 30th, and the factory is set to begin production the second week in January. Paylor then begins encouraging whoever would like to apply for a job to do so, for the Capitol would provide assistance to help former and new residents move to the District.
"Wishful thinking, there's what, fifty people here now if that? We will be lucky if another fifty come back" Haymitch says as he chews his food.
Katniss can't deny he is most likely right. Who would want to return to a District that has a mass graveyard filled with their family members, friends, and former neighbors and colleagues? And the residents who did make it to District 13 easily found jobs and were provided housing in the Capitol, with some finding work in other Districts as well.
After dinner, Katniss and Peeta sit in the living room and continue to watch television, Haymitch returning to his home to finish the night with a bottle of alcohol, they find themselves watching Caesar's show. It was Sunday night, and the former master of ceremonies now hosts an hour-long entertainment show. Katniss figured most likely he would be discussing with his guest the topics Paylor just updated the nation about.
She and Peeta took bets on which former Victor Caesar would be hosting, but both lost the bet once Caesar announced in his bubbly voice that his special guest tonight would be the government official from District 2.
Katniss had seen Gale interview on TV before, government officials regularly appear on TV to give updates on what is happening in their assigned District or Districts, but none had ever appeared on a late-night entertainment show. Knowing this was typical for Caesar, for Gale's camera-ready face and ties to the Mockingjay made for good ratings.
She tries to keep a neutral face as she watches Gale interact with Caesar. Remembering how surprised she was at how Peeta played up the audience with Caesar, Gale gave Peeta a run for his money. He easily charmed the audience while discussing Paylor's updates. Katniss found herself holding her breath when the conversation turned to District 12.
"So, Gale, what are your thoughts in regards to the medicine factory that is being built in District 12?"
"I think it's great. The medicine factory will bring a new industry to District 12, one that is safer and healthier for the residents."
"You used to be a coal miner, didn't you?" Caesar asks a little too excitedly.
"I was, for about a year."
"Can you tell us what that was like?"
"Grueling. I worked six days a week for twelve hours a day. And it was dangerous, I cannot tell you how many accidents I saw in the short time I did the work."
"I don't know if any of us could understand the hardships you and the residents of 12 went through, I know the District is in good hands with our current President" and Gale nods at Caesar's response.
"Now, I must ask, how is your cousin doing? She is one of my favorite Victors."
She leans forward, intently staring straight ahead, she notices he doesn't flinch as he smirks and says, "Caesar, you know Katniss is not my cousin."
"Well…." Caesar laughs off in response, but Katniss can tell when he is thrown off, and he was not expecting that answer from Gale.
"I know we look similar."
"You do!" Caesar says a little too quickly and the audience erupts in laughter.
"But your viewers deserve to know the truth. We are not cousins. That was a lie orchestrated by our former President."
Uncomfortable silence quickly overtaking the large room, Gale adds, "I know it was done by the former Capitol to control the narrative. There was so much focus on Katniss and Peeta and their relationship, I would have been a distraction if people knew who I really was."
"Which is?"
"Katniss's best friend."
The sounds of the women gushing could be heard, combined with the sounds of suspicion. Katniss notices that he is looking at someone in the crowd when Caesar says, "judging by this crowd's reaction, interviews could have been really interesting if I had the three of you on at the same time."
Gale shrugs and says, "I honestly think people would have been disappointed, there was never any drama between Peeta and I."
Katniss ponders how that statement is not exactly true but not exactly false either.
"How is she doing though? I think I can speak for all of us when I say she is in my thoughts" and Katniss pauses for she swore she heard someone sniffle loudly.
She sees him pause for the briefest of seconds before saying, "Naturally she is having a difficult time."
"An unimaginable loss!" Caesar interjects.
"But she has a lot of support in District 12."
"Peeta you mean?"
"Yes, along with other friends from the District, people she has known for years."
"And she has her best friend" Caesar says with a smile.
Gale responds with what she can clearly tell is a forced smile.
"Before you go, I understand you have a birthday coming up young man" Caesar says.
"I do, next weekend."
"And how old will you be?"
"22."
"That's it? You've been through and accomplished more than people twice your age. Tell me, what are your plans to celebrate?"
"Nice quite dinner at home with my family and I will be visiting District 4 for a few days right after."
"Stopping by the beach I hope."
"Yes, we will definitely be planning multiple trips to the beach."
"We? Are you taking someone special?"
"You could say that" Gale says teasingly.
"Is the special lady here?" and the camera pans to the audience then zooms in to a young woman with long, dark hair and bright blue eyes sitting in the front row. Katniss is not surprised to see that Gale has a girlfriend, or that she is stunning.
She sees that the woman does not look uncomfortable at all to be on camera, especially when Caesar points her out to the audience and forces her to wave. She wonders if she is from District 2, for she did not have the look of a Capitol resident, nor did she think she could ever see Gale date someone from the Capitol.
Her mind continues to wander, and she tunes out what Caesar says to Gale as the interview officially ends, as well as Peeta.
"Katniss? Did you hear me?"
Blinking a few times before turning her head to look at him she says as if in a daze, "sorry."
"You okay? I'm sure that wasn't easy."
She pauses, unsure what she should say. She couldn't tell Peeta what she was truly feeling, for it would require her to be honest about her and Gale's relationship.
"Gale's right when he says you have support here. You have Greasy Sae, your friends from the hob, Haymitch, and….I think you know how I feel about you."
She and Gale had done a fairly good job hiding their relationship while in District 13, not counting what happened when they left the District once they joined squad 451. But even Peeta had asked if she and Gale were a couple when he saw them in the dining hall. Unsure if he forgot that conversation, for he was still under the mental control of the Capitol, she wonders if he will ask to know the truth the next time they play real or not real.
A week later he does demand to know the truth during real or not real, but not about Gale, but about her feelings towards him.