DISCLAIMER: HG characters do not belong to me.

Chapter 116-The Plan II

Two hours after Katniss arrived at the cabin, she sees Harper's ears perk up and the dog move to the front door, barking a few times letting Katniss know someone was coming. Getting up off of the blanket which she, Sienna, and Avery were playing on, she tells Sienna to stay with Avery while Katniss gets her bow ready. Avery oblivious to Harper's barking while she crawled around on the blanket, only able to crawl short distances right now. Katniss assumes it is Gale heading towards them, but takes no chances when it comes to the safety of her children and has an arrow aimed at the door. She takes a deep breath as she hears footsteps approach and before she even notices Harper's tail begin to wag she watches as the door of the cabin flies open, a tall figure dressed all in black coming in. Not recognizing him due to the fact he was wearing a black helmet that covered his face, Katniss instinctively points her arrow at him, the helmet quickly coming off, slamming on the hard wood floor Gale says, "Easy, it's me."

Katniss drops her bow and arrow and runs into Gale's arms. Hugging her tightly, she pulls back and says, "What happened?"

Gale sighs and says, "When the hovercraft dropped me off here, I just took off into the woods, I didn't even take off my helmet all I could think about was getting to you and the girls." He then moves towards the blanket and picks Avery up and holds her while he kneels down and hugs Sienna.

Katniss goes over to the bed and sits down on it and waits for Gale to join her. Once Sienna is occupied playing with one the toys Katniss brought for her, Gale sits Avery on his lap lightly bouncing her as he tells Katniss what happened in the Capitol.

He tells her how that morning he was doing his regular routine which consisted of a five mile run, followed by breakfast, followed by another training session. After he and his group showered, they were to go to District 1 to help with a presentation for new recruits. However, just before they were to get on the hovercraft they were informed to get their gear on and head for the Capitol square. Gale continues to tell Katniss that he didn't know why they were being sent there, but figured it was serious. When they arrive a few minutes later, he sees the square was on lock down and sees Enobaria's body hanging from the flag pole near the memorial.

"It was gruesome" Gale says explaining to Katniss how Enobaria's face had turned blue, her eyes bulged out saying that he guessed she had been hanged somewhere else before being strewn up for the Capitol to see.

He tells her how he helped take her body down, and that they had seen tucked on the inside of her jacket a small envelope. He says the envelope contained a note that said, 'This is what happens to someone who betrays us, consider it your warning next time you try to find us.'

Once her body was taken inside Paylor makes the decision to have every member of the group involved in finding the Jay Killers taken to a safe location. He tells Katniss he had called her first, followed by Haymitch and Johanna. He says a decision was made to have Peeta taken to safety as well, just in case the Jay Killers planned to use him as a target.

After all the phone calls were made, Gale says he was then allowed to be transported back to Silver Lake to ensure she was alright.

"I better call in now to let them know I am with you" Gale says as he reaches inside his vest to pull out the portable phone, putting Avery down on the blanket by Sienna.

Katniss looks over Gale's shoulder as she sees Heavensbee's face appear on the phone screen.

"Katniss-glad to see you are safe" Heavensbee says seeing Katniss's head peak out behind Gale.

"Where are Haymitch, Peeta, and Johanna?" Katniss asks.

"They are safe, we sent hovercrafts with soldiers to guard them. Your husband wouldn't say where you were going."

"We prefer you didn't know, not just you, no one from the Capitol" Katniss says curtly, Gale frowning at Heavensbee.

"We can't send soldiers to protect you if we don't know where you are" Heavensbee says, his face unreadable.

"I have protection" Katniss says pointedly, reaching around to grab Gale's hand, glancing quickly at Avery who was preoccupied by what Sienna was doing, Katniss hearing Avery making her usual babbling noises.

"Well, I can you hear baby in the background, in order to ensure complete safety, I really think you should tell us where you are."

"I think you should send soldiers to Silver Lake, have them keep watch on the area and our house" Gale says.

"We can do that, at least until we figure out what happened."

Gale tells Heavensbee that they would be back to their house within the hour and then hangs up. Katniss straps Avery back in her front carrier while Gale cleans up the toys on the floor and puts the toys and blanket back in the backpack. Gale carries Sienna and the backpack while Katniss carries Avery and her bow, Harper walking behind them. When they reach the edge of the tree line to their house, Sienna stands with Katniss holding her hand while Gale scans the area before they all go in.

They see the soldiers arrive not long after they are inside. Katniss pacing back and forth thinking about Enobaria and how she died in such a horrific way. Katniss thinks back to last spring when at the meeting with Haymitch and the others, how Enobaria had said she was surprised to gain information about Jasper disbanding the group and deciding to go smaller. She wonders if Jasper had been on to Enobaria then and if that was the reason she had gotten the information, if it was a test of her loyalty.

Seeing the anxiety on her face, Gale says, "Why don't you go upstairs to relax? I'll get Avery's bottle ready."

She gives him a look of appreciation as she takes him up on his offer and goes upstairs. Once she is undressed and the tub is ready, she submerges herself in the hot water, her skin immediately turning red from the heat. She wishes she could call Haymitch, but knows she probably will not get to talk to him until later tonight. She knows he is probably feeling an immense sense of guilt, for being inactive from the group for the last couple of months, wondering if perhaps had he still led the group would this have happened.

She tries to hold herself together as she thinks about the Jay Killers, and how it seems almost as if they are a force that will never go away, that she will always be looking over her shoulder, that they will forever be a threat.

When Katniss talks with Haymitch that night, her suspicions are verified when he tells her how he feels guilty for what happened to Enobaria. For he was the one who recruited her and how he knew the person who had taken over the group was not anywhere near as savvy as he was. Haymitch tells her that he plans to put his feelings about the Capitol to side to rejoin the group and resume his position as leader, stating he was doing it for Enobaria. He asks Katniss if she would consider rejoining the group as well, saying he needed his most trusted confidant beside him.

"Of course" she says without hesitation.


22 months later (August 5)

Haymitch tells Katniss goodbye as he hangs up the phone in his home in the Victor's Village, taking a seat in his living room. A lot had happened in the almost two years since Enobaria had been killed. He had rejoined the group and had eventually acquired information regarding Enobaria's fate. Jasper had indeed been suspicious of her about a year before he had killed her, and that when Jasper had found out that Enobaria had informed the Capitol that Jasper was planning an attack on Paylor, that he in turn invited her to a fake meeting in order to confront her on her betrayal before hanging her. There was no planned attack on Paylor, the news she found out a ruse.

Almost out of options, the group had considered officially giving up and telling Paylor that the only thing that could be done at this point was having increased security at all times along with extra monitoring of her employees. However, in a surprise move, a resident of District 1 had reached out to the Capitol informing them that they had information about Jasper's group. After a lot of interrogation and research, it was determined that the informant was being truthful about wanting to help.

Crystal was her name, and she had explained that her Father was a member of the group, a person trusted by Jasper who had not been given the boot when Jasper restructured the group. She explained while she didn't particularly care for Paylor or the rebellion, she had a hard time coming to terms with the Jay Killers killing Enobaria in cold blood the way they did, saying that what they did to her was unnecessary and showed to her how unstable Jasper was, and that he was not fit to lead Panem.

Though she knew she was betraying her family, she decided to help try to put an end to never ending terror the Jay Killers tried to ensue. A few small acts of violence had occurred over the last year, with a bomb going off in the Capitol square along with random riots breaking out in District's 6 and 4.

Crystal had told Haymitch and the group at their last meeting in June some names and locations of some of the members so that they can be taken into custody. She also said that she had heard that Jasper was currently in Panem, but was not sure of his exact location but made the point of letting the group know she didn't think Jasper was in the Capitol or a career district.

A decision was made by Paylor to capture the names of the men they were given all at the same time, so that the Jay Killers do not try to come up with a plan to go into hiding. Haymitch was planning on having Gale and Katniss capture a man who was in neighboring town from where they lived, but after talking with Katniss just now he realized he will need to reconsider that plan.

Katniss had just revealed to him that she was pregnant again, this time with a boy and that she was due at the end of December. While he knew it was none of his business and that he should be happy for his friend, he was annoyed that Katniss was now in a more vulnerable position. 'We are so close to finally defeating Jasper once and for all, but how can Katniss focus on the task at hand now that Hawthorne has knocked her up yet again?' he thinks to himself. This was the break that they had desperately needed.

He knows he is being selfish thinking about how this inconveniences him, but he was also thinking about Peeta. Peeta had told Haymitch right after Katniss left District 12 that he had hoped someday they could have two children and how that would be perfect. Fast forward to all these years later, Katniss leaving Peeta and eventually marrying Gale, having two children with him and the pain that Peeta felt causing him to almost take a pill to forget her, he didn't want to cause Peeta more grief telling him that Katniss was going to have a third child.

He was also concerned about her health, remembering that when she was pregnant with Avery how her migraines had surfaced. What if this pregnancy causes other symptoms to occur? The Capitol hadn't made much improvement in trying to develop a cure for what has happened to the Victor's and Haymitch was not buying Katniss's belief that the tribe's praying rituals were helping her condition remain stable, skeptical of the tribe's so called magic. While he tries not to, he is still concerned that Katniss or Peeta's condition could make a turn for the worst, not caring in the slightest if he himself becomes ill.

He realizes he needs to put more faith in Katniss, and that she must have known she was pregnant the last time she saw him but chose to not reveal then that she was expecting. He knows she will still be committed to the cause no matter what was happening in her personal life. He also knows if he wants to remain friends with her and see her daughters he has to be supportive. Haymitch loved Katniss's children, though he didn't see them often, they were really well behaved girls and Sienna now almost four, was a carbon copy of Katniss. She had Katniss's facial features, and of course had both her and Gale's dark straight hair and gray eyes. Avery now two, looked exactly like Gale's side of the family and she too had the same hair and eyes. Despite the fact he was shocked by this news a part of him was excited to see Katniss's daughters with a new baby brother.

When Haymitch saw Gale a few days later at the President's Mansion, he brings up the subject asking if he and Katniss would be willing to bring in the man from the neighboring town.

"The plan is set, the President decided on September 7 to be the day everyone is brought in" Haymtich tells Gale.

"I'm in, but I don't think Katniss should go, she's…."Gale hesitating unsure if Haymitch knows about the baby.

"Pregnant again I know. Congratulations, I hear it's a boy this time. I've got to hand it to you Hawthorne, you sure are keeping her busy, squirting another baby into her" Haymitch says while taking a sip from his flask.

Gale glares at Haymitch for the uncalled for remark, he wants to punch him in the face, but restrains himself for Katniss's sake. He clears his throat and says, "We are both busy, but we wouldn't have it any other way."

"I worry about her health" Haymitch says moving closer to him.

"You think I don't?"

"She had terrible migraines when she was pregnant with Avery. What if something else happens? Did that even cross your mind?"

Gale moves in so that he is mere inches from Haymitch's face and growls, "Don't ever question my intentions when it comes to my wife. I know you still hate me for taking her away from 12 and from Peeta."

Haymitch backs away and says, "I don't hate you Hawthorne. You and I will never be best buds but I know how much you mean to Katniss. And believe it or not, I care a lot about your daughters, they are wonderful girls. But I do get angry when I think of how Peeta was robbed of the chance of having children."

Gale's look softens, he knows that Haymitch is referring to the fact that Peeta's condition has again taken a turn for the worst. Katniss had recently told Gale that Haymitch had told her that Peeta's doctors have determined that he is infertile. Most likely a result of the radiation inside the arena. While Peeta and Delly were still together, they were not married but had decided to try for a baby. Delly being Delly, wasn't that upset about the news and told Peeta they could always look into adoption, Peeta however was devastated as expected. He knows the news of hearing that he and Katniss are having yet another child could cause resentment.

"Katniss says she is willing to help Peeta and Delly find a baby to adopt. She still has contacts with people she knows in Districts 9 and 11, remember how we almost ended up adopting a boy ourselves. Babies are still being left behind from time to time."

"Does Katniss ever hear from the couple who adopted him?" Haymitch asks becoming curious.

"River's parents? Yeah she does. She gets a letter each year around the holidays with a picture. He's really growing up, he's almost six now."

"And you think Katniss can really help Delly and Peeta?"

"Absolutely. PES still has the goal of getting more of Panem's citizens educated, Katniss is actually on a committee for recruitment of potential teachers from poorer Districts. Like I said, she is still in contact with a lot of people from those Districts. She can ask around."

Haymitch nods his head in approval. He then asks, "So-I'll have Katniss update you when I get more information about the plan for September 7?"

"Yes, I am going to see if my Brother can go in Katniss's place. He's a pilot and we can easily get the man we are looking for on a hovercraft back to the Capitol."

"Katniss told me Vick is married."

Gale smiles as he says, "Yep. My youngest Brother has been a happily married man for about two years now. We are waiting on the news that they are expecting."

"And your sister?"

"Posy is studying fashion design in District 8."

"Well, sounds like the Hawthorne clan is just one big happy family that keeps on getting bigger and bigger" Haymitch's says not hiding his sarcasm.

Again trying to refrain himself for shooting back with his own sarcastic remark Gale says, "Well, I better get to my meeting with the other government officials."

"Tell Hazelle I said hi, and let her know my cleaning lady in 12 can't hold a candle to her cleaning skills."

Gale finally giving Haymitch a smile says, "Sure."

When Gale tells Katniss a few days later about his conversation with Haymitch, she agrees to help Delly and Peeta and says she will make phone calls to the people she knows tomorrow after work.

"I'll start with Harvest Moon first. Last I heard, the Downs was still a poor area."

Gale nods his head as he watches Katniss undress while he sits on their bed. He looks at the very visible and now much larger curve of Katniss's stomach. At five months along, she is much bigger with this baby than when she was pregnant with Sienna and Avery. She joked that the baby would be a typical Hawthorne boy, and that he would be ten pounds when he's born and grow to be taller than Gale.

Gale feels a sense of pride seeing that his son is growing fast inside of her. Noticing that he is staring at her, Katniss gives him a puzzled look and says, "What?" as she puts her maternity nightshirt on.

Gale raises his eyes to hers and says, "Nothing, just….getting excited."

"That we are finally having a boy?"

"Yes and no. I mean, I'm happy that we are having a boy, but you know I would have been just as happy with another girl."

"Well, we better begin discussing names" Katniss says as she sits down beside him.

"I think Avery is upset he won't be dressed in her and Sienna's pink and purple clothes" Gale says smiling.

Katniss rolls her eyes playfully and says, "They have each other to play dress up with."

"Yeah but it's not as fun as dressing up a newborn" Gale teases.

Just as Katniss is about to lean in for a kiss, the phone rings. Gale gets up to answer it and pauses after he answers and holds the phone out to her and says, "It's Haymitch-Peeta's being sent to the Capitol, he collapsed and stopped breathing at the bakery."