DISCLAIMER: HG characters do not belong to me.

A/N: No update until after OCT 22

Chapter 114-Unexpected Visitor

"Katniss, Gale, how nice to see the two of you" Heavensbee says smiling.

Katniss however was not smiling, "What are you doing here?" she says in an almost accusing manner.

"A surprise to see me here I'm sure, I am here on official business for the Capitol. And I'm at this café to visit with my…..associates here."

"I thought they were friends?" Katniss asks, her guard still up.

"I consider them friends and associates" he says, continuing to smile despite Katniss's unfriendly demeanor, Gale giving a hard stare to him as well.

"Do the two of you come here often?" Heavensbee asks, not seeming to be fazed by Katniss and Gale's cold stares.

"Not too often no, only when we want to grab something quick" Katniss says.

"Well, you probably want to get out as much as you can, before your new…bundle of joy arrives" Heavensbee says his eyes moving down to Katniss's very round, very large stomach.

Feeling as if he was taking a dig at her, she instinctively places a hand on her stomach protectively. She calmly says, "Have a nice lunch" and grabs Gale's hand about to turn around and walk out.

"Katniss wait-I was wondering if I could speak with you for a moment. Just you." Heavensbee says in almost pleading manner.

His overprotectiveness kicking in, Gale moves in between Katniss and Heavensbee, blocking her from the former gamemaster. "We are leaving" Gale hisses. Katniss turning around and heading for the door while Gale continues to give a look that could kill.

Knowing that what he says next will get her attention, raising his voice slightly Heavensbee says, "It's about Mr. Mellark."

Quickly stopping and whipping her head around, Katniss says, "Is Peeta alright?" the fear evident in her voice.

"Can we talk outside?" Heavensbee says, ignoring Gale who was practically in his face.

Katniss sighs and jerks her head to the side letting him know to follow her outside. Katniss gives Gale a look letting him know she would be okay before she turns and heads outside.

Heavensbee follows her around to the side of the café, away from the incoming patrons. Once she sees they have complete privacy she says, "What's going on with Peeta?"

"He came to the Capitol recently to meet with his doctors, he has been given a new medication to help with his seizures, for they started to increase in frequency again. He seems to be responding better to his medication than his last, but…..he is beginning to show….other symptoms."

"What kind of symptoms" she asks holding her breath.

"He's beginning to lose some of his memory, and is beginning to have tremors. The tremors cause clumsiness."

Katniss sighs in relief and says, "I know, Gale told me he heard from Beetee that was beginning to happen to him. I was afraid even more symptoms had appeared."

Heavensbee raises his eyebrows as he says, "Gale saw Beetee? Where?"

"Not in the Capitol. They were friends once remember?" Katniss says annoyed that Heavensbee was wanting to know specifics.

"Oh yes, I remember. I also remember how the two of them worked endlessly on those bombs….don't you?"

Feeling her face turn red, Katniss gives him a pointed look as she says, "Like I could forget."

"Seems to me like you have. Back in 13 I had heard how you and Gale argued over the weapons that were being designed. The last thing you wanted was to see innocent people die."

"I haven't forgotten, my sister died because of Gale and Beetee's actions."

"Yet you have forgiven him for that."

"It took a long time, but yes."

"Yet now you are angry at us. At the Capitol."

"You could have come to us sooner. All of us. If I had known then what I know now, I might have decided not to-"

"Have children?"

"Yes."

"Perhaps we could have handled things differently. But a lot is still unknown. One thing I can tell you, is that our scientists are working hard on developing a treatment if not a cure."

"Well that's reassuring" Katniss says sarcastically.

"Your anger at us is irrational."

"Irrational? I find out that being in the arena is hazardous to my health, an arena I've been twice no thanks to you and there's a chance I might not see my children grow up and you are calling me irrational?"

"The only way we could have gotten you to lead the rebellion in 13 was to have you go back in the arena."

"I have every right to be angry at you, at Paylor, at everyone in the Capitol."

"People make choices they think is best. We made a choice to try to protect the Victors as much as we could."

"You think I should just….forgive and forget?"

"I think you shouldn't cut us off. Will you arrange for a day to come back to the Capitol for testing?"

"Depends. This testing…..how long will it last?"

"Two days."

"And they will be injecting radiation into me?"

"Very small doses."

"What about my baby? If it's not safe now for me to do the testing what about when I'm feeding her?"

"Well, you won't be able to feed her. The radiation will stay in your body for at least a few days if not a week, maybe even longer than that."

"Well then I am not coming to the Capitol. I can't go that long without being able to feed her. The testing will just have to wait."

"No offense Katniss, but I would think getting tested would be most important. Formula has been proven to just as healthy to a baby."

"My baby is what is most important. I'm not against using formula. But I'm not like the people you know who think breastfeeding is an inconvenience to their busy schedule, I'm not from the Capitol or a career district. My baby will get the best nutrition from me, not formula. I don't expect you to understand, you don't have children."

"Because only people with children know what's best? We are talking about your life here."

Seeing that her words have stung, she tries to compromise by asking, "Can you give me six months?"

"You go back to work mid-September, what about getting tested at the very beginning of the month. That will give you almost five months to be with your baby."

She thinks over his proposal and says, "Okay."

She sees him take out a small notepad from the inside pocket of his jacket. He opens the notepad and looks at it and says, "I will schedule your appointment in the Capitol for…Monday September 5."

She makes a mental note of the date and says, "I'll be there."

She sees him write it down in his notepad and he then puts the notepad back in his pocket.

"One last thing, I was hoping you could talk to Haymitch for me."

She narrows her eyes at him and says, "What about?"

"The President really wants him to remain on the team. We need his help to help find Jasper." He then moves in closer to her and says softly, "It's one of the reasons I am here, my associates may have some information."

"Then why are you meeting them here in public?" Why don't you just go to their house? Or have them come to the Capitol?"

"I am trying not to raise suspicion. The people I know here….well, going into their home crosses a line. I was part of the rebellion remember? People see me enter into someone's home here raises suspicion."

Realizing that what he is saying makes sense, she says, "Fair enough. But I can't promise you that I can convince Haymitch to change his mind."

"Will you at least talk to him?"

"Yes."

"Thank you."

She doesn't tell him the reason she is willing to help him is because she's relieved that he is not forcing her to be tested right after the baby is born. If Coin had been in charge she knows she wouldn't have had a choice.

"I better go find Gale."

"Yes, I'm sure he's wondering what is taking so long. But Katniss-"

"Yeah?"

"If you still experience headaches after your baby is born, I hope you will consider coming to the Capitol sooner rather than later."

She nods her head letting him know that she will. They then both turn around and head back around the front of the café. She sees Gale standing by the hostess near the front. She sees the hostess give Gale her undivided attention as they talk.

Shaking her head that the hostess would try to flirt with him despite the fact he had arrived there with his obviously pregnant wife, she opens the front door and when he sees her at the door, walks away from the hostess without another word and says, "You okay?"

She nods her head and looks over to see Heavensbee tell the hostess he needed a table for three. Heavensbee looks back at Katniss one final time and nods his head at her before heading to the back to be seated.

On the walk back to the house, Katniss tells Gale about her conversation with Heavensbee, and about her appointment on September 5.

"At least I can breastfeed her until then" Katniss says.

"Katniss, I hate to agree with Heavensbee but he is right, formula is just as good."

She stops and glares at him and says, "Have you forgotten my Mother was a healer? I know what's best for my baby and what's best is me feeding her at least in the beginning."

"But Katniss-"

"This isn't up for discussion Gale! Look-I told Heavensbee that if my headaches continued I would go. Can we just see what happens after she is born please?"

Not wanting their disagreement to spiral into a full blown argument, he says, "Okay."

She smiles at him in appreciation and leans up to kiss him. She then takes his hand in hers as they walk beside the lake, seeing their house in the far distance.


April 7

Katniss sits in a hospital bed as she holds her baby in her arms, the baby feeding from her breast while Katniss gently touched the top of her head. Having less hair than Sienna, she sees the tiniest bit of black hair at the top of her head. But just like Sienna, this baby also had her and Gale's deep gray eyes.

While watching her baby's eyes start to close, Gale enters the room and says, "Your Mom will be here by tomorrow."

"They are on their way over aren't they?" Katniss asks her eyes still glued to her baby.

"I think they would like to see her before she falls asleep yeah" Gale says bending down and touching the baby's head, the baby opening her eyes in response.

Not expecting to go into labor so soon, Katniss woke up in the morning to strong contractions, and Gale had to hurry up and pack her bag along some of Sienna's things and called Kimber to come over to take Harper. He then calls the school to let them know Katniss was in labor. Once Kimber arrives, Gale calls a cab and he, Sienna, and Katniss head to the hospital downtown. Gale completely stressed out holding his daughter in his lap while he held onto Katniss's hand on the ride there, at times Katniss squeezing the life out of it. Her contractions increasing in frequency, Gale doesn't get a chance to call his Mother once they arrive, Katniss being taken to the delivery room right away. Gale takes Sienna to the small child care center in the hospital. Staying with her for a few moments before she begins playing with the other kids, Gale sneaks out while she is distracted and hopes she doesn't become too upset when she sees that he is gone. He quickly heads back to the delivery room, anxious to be with Katniss to make sure she is alright. Having arrived just in time for her to be given the numbing medication, she begins pushing once her pain is under control. She pushes for an hour with Gale by her side, Gale holding onto her knee while the other held onto her shoulder.

Just as he did when Sienna was born, Gale begins crying and leans his head into Katniss's shoulder when he sees the first glimpse of their baby's head. His words of encouragement through his tears help Katniss get through her last long and final push before the baby's head is out. She then gives a small push and sees the shoulders and torso come out before Gale comes over to cut the umbilical cord. She cries as she watches Gale cut the cord and the nurse then places the baby on her chest. Katniss smiling though her tears as she holds her baby close to her. Giving her a few moments, Gale leaves the room to call his Mother. Hazelle informs Gale she would pick Posy up from school and that they would be at the hospital within the hour.

An hour later, after the baby is cleaned up and checked out by the doctor, Katniss is told her baby weighs 6 pounds. A lot smaller than Sienna who was 8 pounds when she was born. The doctor tells her not to worry, and that even though the baby was born over two weeks early, that the baby was healthy.

Wanting to bond with her baby as soon as possible, Katniss unties her gown and begins breastfeeding once the nurse and doctor leave the room. Once he sees the baby begin to feed, he leaves the room to call her Mother. When he goes back into the room after, he sees Katniss looking down at her baby in adoration. He tells her that her Mother is on her way, and she in turn asks him about Hazelle and Posy.

Gale comes over and begins kissing Katniss softly as their baby continues to feed. Hearing a knock on the door he pulls away from her as Katniss pulls her gown up to cover herself as the nurse comes in and says, "Your family is here." Katniss nods her head and reluctantly pulls her baby away from her.

Wrapping the baby in a pink blanket and putting a pink hat on the top of her little head, the nurse hands the baby to Gale while Hazelle and Posy walk in.

Smiling brightly Gale immediately places the baby in Hazelle's arms as Posy goes over and hugs Katniss. Hazelle gushes at the new baby and then hands her to Posy as Gale leaves the room to head down to the child care center to get Sienna.

When Gale walks into the room, he sees Sienna sit in one of the daycare worker's lap, the young woman reading to her. He can tell she had been just been crying, most likely scared that her parents were nowhere to be found. When Sienna sees Gale she immediately stands up and runs into his arms. She then says, "Me up" letting Gale know she wants to be carried.

Gale holds his daughter in his arms as he thanks the daycare workers and heads back to Katniss's room. He tells his daughter that they are going to see her new baby sister.

"Baby" Sienna says, used to the word for Katniss and Gale had said the word to her many times in the last couple of months, often placing Sienna's small hand on Katniss's belly to show Sienna where the baby was.

"Yes, you are a big sister now. There she is" Gale says as they enter the room.

Sienna looks down at Katniss and the new baby, the baby still alert in Katniss's arms. "Mama-baby" Sienna says reaching for Katniss.

Katniss reaches up and places her arm around Sienna and gives her a kiss while the other cradles the baby. Posy and Hazelle smiling happily at the scene before them.

Gale pulling Sienna back up says, "Sienna, meet your new little sister, Avery."