DISCLAIMER: HG characters do not belong to me.
A/N: For those who wanted more action, there will be soon. All part of the grand finale with Jasper.
Chapter 119-Snow
November 30 (Saturday)
Katniss looks outside the window as she watches the first snowfall in Silver Lake. It is 8 am and knows her children will be waking up soon. She gets herself a cup of juice and sits down on the kitchen island, waiting for Gale to come back in with Harper, having taken the dog for a quick walk.
Just as she takes the last sip of her drink she hears the back door slide open and Gale comes in, with Harper moving slowly behind him. Now ten, Katniss knows this most likely will the last winter they will have with the dog, for he was having more and more difficulty moving around. Katniss had hoped that Harper would make it to the spring, but was concerned that he might not. All she hoped for now was that he would live long enough to see the new baby.
"It's starting to come down out there" Gale says as he removes his boots and jacket.
"Be a good day for a sled ride with the girls" Katniss says in response.
"If they ever get up" Gale says teasingly.
"I like the peace and quiet. We won't have that in another month" Katniss says.
"No" Gale says as his eyes roam to Katniss's stomach before placing his hand on it. He leans down and kisses her softly as she sits on the bar stool. A few moments later they hear movement coming from above them, knowing that Sienna has woken up for her room was right above the kitchen.
Katniss pulls back and just before she is about to get up Gale stops her and says, "I'll help them get ready, you stay here" and he kisses her cheek before heading upstairs.
Katniss pours herself another cup of juice and picks up the latest copy of Panem Daily and begins reading. On the front page is an article about PES and a new recruitment program that was being started. Katniss had heard about this at school but didn't know details. She reads through the article quickly and learns that PES has begun a program where some of PES's former teachers would be traveling throughout Panem to find new recruits to enter the program. Because enrollment was still down in Districts that were not former career Districts, PES decided to try a more hands on approach and have their teachers go out and try to actively recruit. Katniss thought it was a great idea and hoped that some of 12's residents would consider it.
She looks through the rest of the paper, curious to see if anything would be reported concerning the Jay Killers. She doesn't see a single article mentioning them and knows that this lack of reporting shows nothing had changed regarding the Capitol's attempt to get more information on where Jasper was and who he was.
Paylor had the 17 Jay Killers they captured still in their custody. While originally 16 had been captured, they were able to find one more hidden in the woods a couple of days after the ambush. Tracking locators found him near a lake, desperately trying to hydrate himself after a long period of having no water. The other man who had escaped could not be found, assuming that the man headed for the wild territory.
Paylor had decided that until Jasper was captured, none of the men would be released. They were currently in a holding facility in 13, far away from Panem's residents.
Seeing that Caesar had written an article about a possible new love interest in Paylor's life, Katniss was about to begin reading it when she hears voices in the hallway. She looks up and sees Avery running into the kitchen laughing.
"Mama" Avery says happily putting her arms up for Katniss to lift her. Instead Katniss gets up off the stool and bends down, hugging her tightly. "Avie you know I can't lift you right now" Katniss says before giving her daughter a quick kiss on the head.
"Because of my baby brother?" Avery asks as she playfully wraps her small arms around Katniss's stomach.
"Yes."
"I want flakes" Avery says as she pulls away from Katniss and runs over to the sliding door window, watching in awe as the snow continues to come down heavily.
Katniss smiles as she gets up and heads over to the food pantry. Flakes were Avery's name for her favorite cereal, letting Katniss know that's what she wanted for breakfast.
"Sienna do you want cereal?" Katniss calls out as she opens the door to the pantry.
"Sure Mom" Sienna says as she sits on the floor next to Harper, petting the dog gently.
Katniss reaches up for the box but is unable to grab it, her pregnant stomach in the way of her reach. She realizes she is even bigger than she was a week ago, and wonders if her baby will be coming sooner rather than later. She feels Gale's hand on her shoulder gently pushing her aside as he says, "Here" his tall frame easily grabbing the box and handing it to her.
"Thanks" Katniss says as she heads over to the island and pours both girls a bowl and then pours two more bowls for her and Gale. The four of them eat at the table, Gale asking Sienna and Avery if they want to go out and play in the snow.
"Yeah!" Avery says loudly with Sienna nodding in agreement.
Gale tells them they need to clean up their rooms first and once finished, they could go outside and play. Both of them quickly finish their food before running back upstairs. Katniss stays downstairs and goes over to the fireplace and lights it, letting the room warm up for it was beginning to get slightly chilly. She relaxes on the couch watching TV when she sees Avery and Sienna come over, both dressed in large pink coats.
"I'm ready" Sienna says to Katniss.
"Yes, you are" Katniss says as she places a light pink hat on her head, Gale doing the same for Avery.
"You staying in here?" Gale asks Katniss as he helps Avery get her boots on.
"For a little bit yeah, I might come out later" Katniss says.
Katniss stands by the door as she looks out and sees Gale making a snowman with Sienna and Avery. She sees the three of them laughing as they start throwing small snowballs at each other. Gale looking over to the door after wiping snow off his face and smiles waving to her, signaling for her to come out and join them.
Once her coat and hat are on, she goes over and nudges Harper, seeing if the dog will get up. She watches as he slowly rises to his feet and follows Katniss outside. Once she reaches them she is greeted by Gale who gives her a big hug. Katniss smiles into Gale's shoulder as she wraps her arms around him. She feels the baby move and Gale pulls back saying, "Guess he woke up" a big smile on his face.
They then hear cries of laughter and look over to see Avery sitting on top of Harper, trying to ride him, the big dog just standing there patiently. Gale quickly moves and picks Avery up moving her off of the dog and says, "Avery you cannot climb on top of Harper, you know better." His tone harsh as he puts her back down in the snow.
"He doesn't mind" Sienna says as she reaches over and touches Harper's face, his tongue licking Sienna's hand.
"Just because Harper will let you climb all over him doesn't mean it doesn't hurt him" Gale says harshly.
"I'm sorry Harper" Avery says as she goes over and hugs the dog.
Katniss smiles as she watches Gale, Sienna, and Avery sled ride down the small hill on the edge of their property line, right before tree line bordering the next property over. Hearing her stomach start to rumble, she waves to them before heading inside, Harper following behind her. Once inside, she fixes herself a salad with bread. As she begins eating she hears the phone ring, grabbing her bread as she walks over to answer.
"Katniss-do you have time to talk? I have some updates" Haymitch says on the other end of the line.
December 18
Katniss takes a deep breath as she prepares to get her injection to help ease her contractions. Two days ago at her last doctor visit, the decision was made to induce due to the baby's size. The due date originally December 30, Katniss's doctor felt it was better for her to deliver early in order to avoid possible complications later.
Her Mom managed to arrive to District 2 right before she went to the hospital, and was in the room with Gale while the long needle was inserted into Katniss's lower back. Sienna and Avery were with Hazelle at the townhouse, with Harper at Kimber's house.
The medicine working almost immediately, Katniss's breathing returns to normal as the intense pain subsides. She sits up in the hospital bed as Gale and her Mother stay in the room with her as she waits until she is ready to begin pushing. To help pass the time, they play a crossword board game Gale bought in the hospital lobby. Reminding her of how she played crossword games in 12 for it was the only game that people in the Seam played for it cost next to nothing to buy, especially old used ones. Despite the fact they were sitting in a hospital room, it felt like old times to Katniss, even though Prim was not with them as she often played the game with Katniss and her Mom.
Three hours later she is fully dilated and ready to push, Katniss surprises her Mother by inviting her to stay in the delivery room. Her Mother thanks her, but let's her know she will be out in the waiting room and that she would call Hazelle to head over with the girls, wanting to give Katniss and Gale their privacy when she gives birth.
Katniss pushes for almost two hours before the head emerges, exhausted but relieved that it is almost over, she sees a head full of black hair when she looks down. Gripping Gale's hand even tighter, she holds back her tears as she gives her final push, hearing Gale's soft cries of happiness as he watches his son's birth. Once the baby is out, Gale again goes over to the doctor to help cut the umbilical cord. The baby is then placed in Katniss's arms as he begins crying. Tears slowly coming down her face, she smiles as she looks down at her son, holding him close to her chest. She reluctantly lets the nurse take him away as they begin cleaning him up and wrapping him in a light blue blanket.
"He's a big baby, he's just shy of ten pounds" the nurse says to Katniss as she places him in her arms.
Katniss looks into her son's gray eyes as he stares up at her. Gale leaning in behind them, he gently touches his son's cheek as the door opens and Hazelle, Sienna, and Avery appear followed by Katniss's Mom.
Sienna and Avery run over to Katniss's bed and Gale picks both girls up and places them on opposite sides of Katniss so they can both see their new baby brother.
"His face is all wrinkly" Sienna says bluntly.
"He's cute" Avery says in the baby's defense before Katniss or Gale can respond to Sienna's observation. Avery then reaching out and touching the baby's cheek.
"So I'm sure you have a name picked out" Hazelle says as Gale places the baby in her arms.
"We do" Gale says looking over at Katniss.
"While I never met him, he was important to someone who was important to me, and the minute I heard the name I loved it. We decided his name is-Jackson Birch Hawthorne."
"But the plan is to call him Jack" Gale says happily.
A half hour later the four of them head back to the townhouse, while Katniss and Jack are taken to the recovery room with Gale. Gale pulls up a chair beside Katniss as Jack's eyes get heavy as he nurses from her.
"I know you want to go to the wild territory after the New Year, but I think you should wait. At least until we know more about Jasper's whereabouts" he says to her, hoping she doesn't get mad that he is bringing this up now.
"I have to go before I go back to work."
"Which isn't until March."
"I'll wait until then, but then I'm going…okay?"
"I love you" he says before leaning over and giving her a deep, long kiss as Jack drifts off to sleep.
