DISCLAIMER: HG characters do not belong to me.
A/N: Words not spoken in English will be italicized.
Chapter 106-Dreamcatcher II
DECEMBER 31
Katniss puts an alert Sienna down on the warm animal skin and watches as the baby raises her head up and looks around for a few moments before putting her head back down. Katniss was beginning to have Sienna get used to being on her tummy and decided she would try a couple of minutes each day and try to work up to 15-30 minutes a day over the next few weeks/months. It was what the baby book told her to do. It was also recommended by Hazelle and her Mom.
She watches as the baby tries to lift her head up again, but sees that her neck muscles are just not strong enough yet. Sienna begins squirming from the noise she hears outside, for the tribe was beginning to assemble for the day's activities. Katniss picks Sienna up and holds her at shoulder level, letting her get a good look around the teepee. It was much easier for the infant to look at her surroundings this way as opposed to being on the ground.
Katniss continues gently holding her when she sees Gale come in. Getting more used to being around the members of the tribe, he is wearing a thick animal fur over his clothes.
"Hey how did it go?" she asks as he sits down beside them.
"Good, I think I impressed some of them with my hunting skills, and my language skills." It had been two years since Katniss had seen the tribe, and she had taught Gale quite a few more words in that two year time period.
Because so much time had passed, a lot had changed for the tribe. Almost exactly a year ago they decided to return to their village, despite the fact that Katniss had never come back to tell them it was safe to return. She had found out from Paylor and Heavensbee after returning to District 2 from their one week trip to 4 when she was actively trying to get pregnant that they had returned.
"Remember we've had cameras set up there for a while, ever since they fled the area. We periodically checked it and then all of the sudden, one day there they all were, they had returned. We have increased surveillance and plan to keep monitoring them, for their own protection of course" Heavensbee had told Katniss on the phone.
Katniss didn't want to tell Heavensbee of course she remembers cameras being set up, she was there, instead thanking him for the update and quickly ends the phone call. She wasn't surprised to hear they had gone back, she knows the harsh conditions so far north were too much for them to handle, especially since their tribe had an unusually large elderly population. Katniss had been told most of the Native tribes didn't have as many older people still living among them as the Sioux did. Katniss theorized it was due to the fact their village was not as far north and that they used herbs more than the other tribes did.
She had planned to make a visit, but then she did end up getting pregnant and with the pregnancy symptoms, Gale's abduction and getting a house built, life distracted her. Once Sienna was born though, she had promised herself she would make the long journey to see them, despite now having an infant. She told Gale she wanted to go during holiday break and be there until the New Year. Since Gale had only taken a few weeks off after Sienna was born, he was able to take two weeks off from work, which gave them plenty of time to visit.
They first took the train to District 9 to visit McKenna and Jocelyn, proudly showing Sienna off to them. The next day they were transported to the village in a very small hovercraft, piloted by Vick. Vick surprising them when he got off the ship before they boarded.
"They were asking for volunteers since so many soldiers are away on break" Vick had said smiling as Gale engulfed his youngest brother in a big hug.
Katniss sat with Sienna in the back as Gale got to sit with Vick in the front, it was by far one of the smallest if not the smallest hovercraft Katniss had ever been in. Seeing that it held a maximum of 4 people, with only one person flying.
Despite him not voicing it, Katniss knows Gale had no issue arranging a hovercraft to transport them due to the fact Jasper still had not been found. Though Katniss had not talked to Haymitch since finding out about Peeta getting the memory erasing pill from the Capitol, she knows from talking with Haymitch earlier that it was strongly suspected Jasper had fled to the wild territory, and that Jasper was not even his real name. Katniss knew no way Paylor would allow her and Gale to travel to the wild territory on foot, and with a baby though Katniss knew they would have been able to do it. Not many could do what they could.
Vick informs them when they arrive that he will pick them up and that he would be heading with them to District 2 for he would be on break for a couple of weeks since he had to work during the holidays. Telling them he was excited to see Layla, Hazelle, Posy, and spend time with his niece, for he had only gotten to see Sienna briefly for a day shortly after she was born.
When they approached the outskirts of the village, Katniss headed in first while Gale stayed behind with Sienna. As expected she was greeted with a loud voice and warning arrow asking who approached before they realized it was her. Once the three of them arrived in the village, she was greeted with friendly smiles, and a very joyful Morning Sun once she saw what was under the huge wrap strapped to Katniss.
"I knew this would happen sooner rather than later" Morning Sun says proudly, not at all surprised to see the now awake baby despite the fact the rest of the tribe was not expecting to see Katniss and Gale with a baby.
Katniss gives a small smile and shakes her head as she begins unwrapping Sienna, then hands her to Morning Sun's outstretched arms. Morning Sun begins softly chanting to the baby, while Sienna's gray eyes look up at the old woman with wonder.
Now a more relaxed baby, the first two weeks with Sienna had been hell for Katniss and Gale. She had to constantly keep her either held tight or wrapped or else she screamed and screamed. She sometimes would allow to be held by Gale and never allowed herself to be held by Katniss's Mother during the week she stayed with them. When Hazelle and Posy had come to visit the following weekend Hazelle was shocked that she couldn't get the infant to settle despite having raised four children of her own. Katniss continued to not get much sleep, or even get that many chances to shower. Shortly after Mrs. Everdeen left, Katniss was upstairs in their bedroom feeding her and when Sienna had fallen asleep despite just beginning to nurse, Katniss gently put her down on the bed and began stripping off all her clothes and ran into the shower without a word to Gale who was planning to try to catch a quick nap himself. He slowly gets up off the bed and follows her into the bathroom and hears the water run as he sees her close the shower door.
He opens it slightly, the steam of the water hitting his face. He looks at her and says, "Do you want me to move her to her crib?"
"No! I don't want to risk her waking up. She'll probably need to feed again soon she didn't take that much. Besides, I want to be in here as long as I can, even if that means being in here for an hour."
Resisting the urge to join her and knowing he won't be able to be intimate with her for a few more weeks, he closes the door and goes back to the bed. Watching in awe as his daughter slept soundly. He takes out the book he is currently reading as Katniss enjoys herself in the shower. When she emerges 45 minutes later, she looks much more relaxed, her skin red from the hot water.
He smiles at her and quietly gets up off the bed and walks over to her, pulling her close to him. He bends down and begins kissing her, with her reaching her arms up and giving into his kisses eagerly. It was the first time they had gotten close like this since Sienna was born. They continue to make out for a few more minutes before they hear Sienna's soft cries that suddenly got louder and louder.
Katniss laughs as Gale sighs while he rests his head against hers. "Hey, we signed up for this" Katniss says as she pulls him with her back to the bed. Katniss picking her up and leaning back against the headboard. Knowing that she needs nursed, Katniss opens up her robe and begins feeding. Gale turns on the TV and leans back beside them, putting his arm around Katniss.
Once Sienna is finished, Katniss closes her robe and chuckles when she sees Gale passed out beside her, sleeping soundly. Distracted by the TV show she was watching, she didn't notice he had fallen asleep.
It was a tough two weeks for the couple, but by the third week things had begun to calm down. Sienna had begun letting Gale hold her more and no longer screamed if Katniss wasn't the one holding her. She also started nursing for longer periods of time and sleeping a little bit longer which made things much easier for Katniss. By the time Sienna was six weeks old Katniss and Gale were able to go out for dinner and meet up with Kimber and Livia, with Posy and Hazelle babysitting for them.
When Sienna was eight weeks old, Katniss had taken her downtown to get all of her shots in preparation for the trip to the wild territory. While Katniss wasn't concerned, she was given a lecture by Hazelle that she needed to make sure Sienna didn't catch any diseases if bitten by insects. Not wanting to argue with her Mother-in-law that most likely the insects are underground due to the fact it was winter, she obliged Hazelle and arranged for an appointment.
While in the doctor's office, Katniss was approached by one of the nurses and was asked if she wanted the birth control implant inserted since she was already at the office.
"We can add it to your bill. It only takes a few minutes to insert as you already know" the nurse says to her.
Katniss not expecting to be approached about this, pauses for a moment. Sex was the last thing on her mind these days, and she had not begun menstruating again. "I'm still breastfeeding, does that matter?" she asks.
"Well, a lot of times women don't get pregnant while breastfeeding but it is no guarantee. It is not recommended getting pregnant again at least for a year so, the implant is good for that extra protection."
Not having any desire to have another baby anytime soon, Katniss decides to get the implant put in. When she tells Gale that evening of her decision she sees a look of relief on his face, and a look of mischief.
"Just let me know when you are…you know…..I'm always ready for you" he says seductively as she puts a sleeping Sienna into her crib.
Gale follows her as they walk back into their bedroom, with Katniss turning on the baby monitor and placing it on the nightstand.
"Well, don't think just because I got the implant that I feel like doing anything, because I don't. I feel anything but sexy" she says as she changes into her sleep clothes, trying to get some sleep before Sienna wakes to feed.
Not surprised by her answer for nothing had happened between them beyond kissing and some cuddling, he got annoyed by her rebuff. "Then why get it at all?" he huffs.
"I'm not taking any chances" she says calmly in response as he heads into the shower.
By the time they had arrived in the village, their situation hadn't changed. Gale had hoped Katniss would be willing to be more intimate if she was able to get more sleep. He knew Morning Sun along with some of the other women of the tribe would not mind watching Sienna in order to give her more time to spend by herself, and hopefully with him.
As expected, Morning Sun loved spending time with Sienna, as did Rain's sisters. He watched as Katniss enjoyed spending time with the tribe again, though she kept her distance from Strong Wind, for he had harsh words for Katniss when she returned.
"You never came back" He says angrily to Katniss after she had been summoned into his teepee.
"I told you it could take years before it would be safe again. I told you to come back here."
"And I told you I would not put my people in danger and yet I have, by bringing them back here. But I had no choice. We would have lost too many had we stayed through another winter."
"You are angry with me" Katniss says to him in a matter of fact tone.
"They are…..watching us."
"Yes, when you left the warriors began watching you again, they have to, it is the only way it will be safe."
"The only way to be safe is to be away, far away."
"You could have destroyed them you know."
"I wanted to make sure, you knew we had come back."
Katniss sighs in relief, fearing she was no longer welcome based on Strong Wind's attitude towards her. Knowing that the Sioux didn't destroy the cameras so that she could find them again reaffirmed to her that they still looked at her as one of them.
"I trust the people who are watching you, please believe me."
"I do Killing Bird. But I am disappointed in you."
"How so?"
"I see sadness in your eyes again. When will you see you belong here with us?"
"What you see is lack of sleep in my eyes."
"And sadness, deep down you know it is true."
"I have a new baby, you think I am not happy?" she asks in disbelief.
He doesn't respond and goes back to smoking his pipe. Knowing that was her cue to leave she gets up and walks out, avoiding him since.
Feeling hungry, Katniss hands Sienna to Gale as they leave the teepee and get breakfast. Morning Sun sings to Sienna as she and Gale quickly eat, Gale asking her what she wanted to do today.
"I was thinking, once Sienna goes down for her afternoon nap I want to….go out hunting…by myself." Sienna was now at the point in the afternoon she would sleep for almost 6 hours.
Surprised by this request but not wanting to deny her wishes, Gale decides to stay back with Sienna in the teepee while Katniss goes out. Pleading with her to be careful, she shows Gale her distress on her wrist before heading out.
She heads along the familiar path she had taken countless times before when she lived with the tribe four years ago. Seeing that not much had changed, she easily found her way to her favorite spot atop a hill. She stands and looks out over the trees and mountains before her, seeing everything snow covered. Thankful to not be as far north she is able to tolerate the cold air better. Once finished looking out she begins scanning the area, looking for game. She spots a small fox and stoops down as she watches it. She takes out an arrow and aims, then suddenly hears a voice say, "Don't shoot it!"
She bolts up and looks towards where the noise came from, seeing the fox take off in the corner of her eye. She sees a figure move behind a tree and she moves towards it. She hears the voice then say, "It was just too cute to be killed."
She recognizes the voice then, even though the voice was a much deeper, grown up voice than when she last heard it. It was Prim's voice. She stares in shock as she sees Prim approach her.
"Prim" Katniss chokes out, unable to move.
Katniss sees that the Prim standing before her is Prim at age 25, the age she would be had she lived. Her hair still blonde and her eyes still blue, Katniss realizes most likely this is how her Mother once looked.
Prim smiles her bright smile and says, "I like the name you gave your baby, Sienna's a pretty name. And I see you gave her the second half of my name."
"It was Gale's idea" Katniss manages to say, her voice hoarse.
"I miss him" Prim says suddenly looking sad.
Katniss rushes to console her little sister, wrapping her arms around her and holding her, not letting go. Katniss feels a sense of peace as she feels Prim's arms wrap around her. She closes her eyes as she feels the tears begin to fall, and begins holding onto her tighter, suddenly she realizes she is hugging a hard surface, and collapses as she realizes she is hugging a tree. Her vision of Prim having been in her imagination.
She sits in the snow, her legs getting wet as she cries. She cries because she realizes what Strong Wind meant when he said he saw sadness in her eyes. She was sad, she was sad because even though she was thrilled beyond belief to have Sienna, she couldn't share this happiness with Prim, the person she missed most. While time can heal all wounds, Katniss knows this is a wound that will never truly be healed, and felt in some ways the wound had reopened now that her daughter was born. Katniss never doubted her love for Prim, it was the only love that came naturally to her. When Sienna was born, that feeling resurfaced, strong as ever. Despite the fact that she grew to care and love River it was different, for she didn't want to grow attached to him but it snuck up on her anyway.
She knew she needed this time to grieve and spent what seemed like hours just sitting. Seeing the sun begin to shift she forces herself to get up and head back to the village. She doesn't look at anyone as she quickly heads for her teepee. She sees Gale emerge from the teepee giving her a questioning look as she approaches him and without a word embraces him. He squeezes her tight and doesn't ask what was bothering her, for he knew by the look on her face that she didn't want to talk about it.
They are interrupted by Morning Sun who tells Katniss she has something for her. Katniss follows Morning Sun while Gale stays back and walks over to her teepee and waits while Morning Sun goes in to retrieve what it was she wanted to give to her.
Expecting perhaps another shawl or necklace, she is shocked when instead she sees Morning Sun hand her a dreamcatcher. Slightly smaller than hers, this dreamcatcher was white, with white feathers dangling from the bottom. The web pattern inside was brown with small light blue beads.
"For your daughter."
"Thank you" Katniss says, touched by the thoughtfulness of the gift.
"This way no bad spirits ever come to her."
That night, Katniss hangs Sienna's dreamcatcher above her head while she slept. Katniss then looks up at her own dreamcatcher hanging above her and smiles. Thankful for the friendships she knows never would have developed had things not happened the way they did, she reminds herself that everything happens for a reason. Prim's death happened for a reason, and she needs to keep reminding herself of that.
She looks over and sees Gale begin to undress, staring at his now scar free back, she comes up behind him and begins kissing his back shoulder blade. She moves her arms around his front and begins running her hands down his smooth, flat abdominal muscles. She hears him sigh deeply as she continues her movements.
"It's not fair you know" Katniss says.
"What?" he asks confused by her statement.
"I get to look at your body and you get to see…well….this" Katniss says shrugging as she pulls away. While her stomach had gone down quite a bit since first coming home from the hospital, she still was not back to her pre baby weight.
"I like what I see" he says as he bring his hand up to caress the side of her face.
"It might not ever get flat again" she says looking down at her stomach.
"I'm not expecting it to after we make more babies" he says teasingly.
"Gale" she says blushing.
"Seriously Catnip, you are beautiful to me no matter what you look like."
She kisses him in appreciation and they get under the thick animal blanket. It had gotten colder and Katniss could hear the wind blowing outside for it had begun snowing. Not wanting the moment to end, she moves on top of him as she begins pulling his pants off. Wanting her to decide what she's comfortable with, he lays back as she begins stroking him once he is undressed. They then take turns going down on each other and Katniss reaches for him and guides him inside her once he bring his head up towards her. Uncomfortable, but not wanting to stop, she has him slow his pace as he moves inside her. After a while the pain subsides and she begins to enjoy herself, and begins to moan softly when she feels Gale's lips on hers, trying to silence her for he didn't want their precious time together disturbed. Katniss bites onto Gale's shoulder when she climaxes, his fingers on her clit driving her over the edge as it so often did. He then kisses her one last time before moving off of her and onto his side. They continue to hear the wind outside and begin to hear wolves howling in the distance.
Laying side by side, their legs tangled up and their arms wrapped around each other, Gale moves a loose strand of black hair behind her ear as she says, "Happy New Year."
He smiles and kisses her in response, not wanting the night to end.
