DISCLAMIER: HG characters do not belong to me.
Chapter 125-Lost Loves II
"Uncle Rory!" Sienna and Avery say happily as Rory opens the door of his apartment wider so they could all come in.
"Whoa-it's good to see you too" Rory says with a smile on his face as both girls go plowing into his arms, almost knocking him over.
Once he is standing up again he gives Katniss a small smile and says, "Hey Katniss-how are you?"
"I'm good" Katniss says as she holds a squirming Jackson in her arms.
"He looks like he wants to move around" Rory says as he closes the door behind him.
"He just started crawling" Katniss says as she sets Jackson down on the carpet, Sienna sitting down beside him keeping watchful eye as her little brother crawls around.
It being only the second time Rory had seen Jackson, Katniss watches as Gale's younger brother interacts with Jackson and Sienna on the floor. Sticking close to her Mom, Avery sits with Katniss on the couch as Rory begins talking with Sienna and Avery, asking them about school and what they have been up this summer.
"We swim in the lake a lot" Sienna says with Avery chiming in, "And eat lunch every day in the meadow."
"Yeah, the meadow behind your house is nice. It reminds me of where your Mom and Dad and I grew up" Rory says giving Katniss a friendly smile.
"Your apartment is nice, it looks like it was newly built" Katniss says, finally engaging in conversation.
"I've been here about a year. The building was built three years ago. Would you like a tour?"
"Sure" Katniss says as she motions for Sienna to keep an eye on Jackson as Avery gets up and grabs Rory's hand while he heads for the kitchen. The apartment had a large living and dining room and Katniss notices a small table with two chairs near the kitchen. Rory escorts Katniss and Avery down the hall and shows them a decent sized bedroom, the bathroom next to it and then shows them his bedroom which was much bigger with a larger bed. Katniss sees a connected bathroom to his room with a stand up shower.
"So you're roommate is in the second room?" Katniss says as they walk back into the living room.
"Yes-he may be coming back soon."
"What's his name?" Avery says.
"Tobey."
"Is he your friend?"
Rory looks down at his niece and smiles and says, "Yeah we get along pretty well."
They head to the beach shortly after, all of them taking a stroll in the sand before grabbing lunch at a café near the ocean. Taking advantage of Rory wanting to hold Jackson, Katniss gets an opportunity to eat without interruptions while Rory gave Jackson his bottle.
After lunch they head back to Rory's apartment and Rory's roommate introduces himself to Katniss and the girls.
"I'm Tobey" the young man who looked to be close to Rory's age says to Katniss as he shakes her hand.
"Katniss. I'm married to Rory's brother Gale. These are my children, Sienna, Avery, and this is Jackson" Katniss says lifting Jackson up a little bit higher in her arms.
"Yes, Rory has told me a little about you. Very nice to meet all of you."
Tobey then excuses himself and goes into the smaller bedroom while they continue their visit in the living room. When Katniss sees it is nearing 4 pm she tells Sienna and Avery to use the bathroom before they head to the train station to return to her Mom's place.
Seeing that Rory seemed sad that they were leaving, Katniss extends an offer for him to join them at her Mom's apartment this evening.
"I need to Jackson down for his nap, I didn't think we'd be here this long" she says as she slings Jackson's baby bag over her shoulder.
"Are you coming with us Uncle Rory?" Avery asks.
"Um-yeah I think I will. I mean….if you don't mind" he says looking at Katniss.
"Not at all. I know you don't get many opportunities to make it to District 2" Katniss says.
"Well, work keeps me busy, especially in the summer."
"Tobey can join us too if he wants."
Katniss looks at Rory as he hesitates before saying, "I think it'll just be me, but I'll go tell him that I'm leaving."
They wait by the door when Rory comes out a few minutes later, curious as to what took so long, Katniss refrains from asking as they head to the train station. Only a fifteen minute train ride from Rory's apartment to her Mother's, they arrive by 4:45 and Katniss immediately takes Jackson into the guest room to put him down.
Katniss's Mom prepares a quick dinner and after Sienna and Avery convince Katniss to allow them to go down to the beach with Rory for a swim before dusk.
"Just make sure you are back here by eight" Katniss says to Rory as the girls go into the bathroom to change into their swimsuits.
Katniss reminds the girls to be good for their Uncle as they head quickly out the door.
"Your visit seems to be going well" Katniss's Mother says to her once they leave.
"Yeah, I still feel sometimes that he doesn't completely trust me."
"Rory's always been more reserved than Vick and Posy."
"I wonder why he only visits once a year, surely he has more time off he's been working for the same fishing company for years" Katniss says.
"Maybe he works overtime?"
"Maybe" Katniss says unconvinced.
She lays down for a quick nap while Jackson sleeps, thankful for another opportunity to relax. Even though she didn't work in the summer, with Sienna and Avery not in daycare right now she had her days full taking care of them along with a baby. Laying down for a nap rarely happened.
Katniss wakes up to Jackson's cries she thought was a short while later, but when she looks at the clock she sees it is almost 9 pm. She sprints out of bed and picks up a screaming Jackson and cradles him in her arms, trying to quiet him.
She hears a couple of knocks then hears her Mother say, "Katniss-are you awake?"
"Yeah Mom, I think he just needs changed, I'll be out in a minute."
Katniss emerges a short while later with a now calm Jackson holding onto her shirt tightly as she walks into the living room. She smiles as she sees Rory sitting on the couch reading to Sienna and Avery, both girls in their pajamas.
"Hey-how was your swim?" Katniss asks both girls.
"Good. Uncle Rory is a better swimmer than Dad" Sienna says.
"I work on a boat remember? I'm near the water a lot more than your Dad is. But, make sure you tell him what you said" Rory says and winks.
Katniss watches as Rory finishes the story they were reading and once he closes the book she says, "Okay-both of you in the bathroom now, time to brush your teeth."
Both girls immediately get up and head down the hall. Once they are out of sight Katniss turns to Rory and says, "Thanks for taking them to the beach, I'm sure you need to get home now."
"I do have to work tomorrow so I better head out" he says as he gets up to stretch.
Katniss hands Jackson over to him so he can hold him one last time. When Sienna and Avery come back into the room, they both give him a huge hug at the same time, both girls wrapping their arms around him as he kneels down.
Once they all say their goodbyes Rory looks at Katniss and says, "I was wondering, if you wouldn't mind walking with me to the train station?"
Katniss looks to her Mother who quickly takes Jackson from her arms and says, "Come on you two, time to go to bed."
Katniss walks in silence with Rory as they leave the building, the warm ocean air hitting their faces.
"I miss the smell of the water sometimes" Katniss says finally breaking their silence as they begin walking down the street.
"Do you think you would have lived in 4 had you….not gotten together with Gale?"
"I don't know. No use thinking what if right? I'm happy living in 2. Really happy."
"I know my Mom wishes I'd visit more often."
"Why don't you?" Katniss says, finally getting the courage to ask.
He shrugs then says, "I was never a fan of District 2. I always felt like we were outsiders. I'm not like Vick, he can get along with anybody as can my Mom. Posy was young enough to fit in and Gale well, you know my brother has no problems meeting people, especially females. It was easier for them. I thought once Posy went off to school that my Mom would start visiting me but-"
"She has three grandchildren taking up her time" Katniss says, some guilt creeping in at the realization that Hazelle spends all of her free time with Sienna, Avery, and Jackson.
"Well she's about to have another one so I know there's no chance she'll come now" Rory says.
"It will be easier for Hazelle with Layla and Vick living so close" Katniss says. Vick and Layla lived in a townhouse that was a five minute walk from Hazelle's. They had informed the family in the spring that they were expecting a baby in the fall.
"Yeah but you know my Mom, she'll make herself available for whenever Vick and Layla need her."
Not knowing what to say in response, Katniss gives him a look of sympathy and he says, "It's okay Katniss, you don't have to feel bad."
"When Jack's older, we'll make an effort to visit 4 more. All of us" Katniss says.
"Not having baby number four next year?" Rory teases in response.
"Oh no- no not anytime soon."
He smiles as he says, "I'm glad my Mom has grandchildren keeping her busy. I wasn't sure how she'd do with Posy gone."
"She handled it well."
"Good. Katniss there's something I want to tell you."
"Okay" Katniss says slowing her pace, unsure of what he would say next.
He stops and turns to face her. "I know we haven't been that close since you came back into my family's life but, I want you to know there was a reason I kept my distance from you."
"Which was?"
"I felt bad for Peeta. I didn't like the way you just up and left him then made your feelings known to my brother while he was engaged."
Katniss sighs and says, "I wasn't planning on leaving Peeta. I loved him, I just-"
"Love my brother more?"
"Took a long time for me to admit that. A really long time."
"I owe Peeta for something I don't think you know about."
Katniss looks at Rory questioningly and he says, "After Gale told me you were back in 12 with Peeta after the war, I wondered if he would have told you. I figured since you never asked me about it either you didn't know or you wanted to honor Peeta's request you keep it a secret."
"Honor what? What are you talking about?"
"A few months after I turned 13-back when we were all at the same school-Peeta….discovered something about me."
Katniss stares at Rory in silence waiting for him to continue. He pauses before he says, "Do you remember my friend Ash?"
"A little." Katniss had remembered that Rory often hung out with a merchant boy that was in his class. She remembered how Gale used to go off that Rory would spend so much time with someone who's family looked at the people from the Seam as garbage. Ash's Father worked in the Mayor's office and was known to exhibit a superior attitude to anyone who wasn't blond haired and blue eyed. Katniss remembers telling Gale on many occasions that it was Ash's Father who showed such hatred, not Ash himself. She also remembers how Gale had brushed off what she said like he often did back then.
"He was my best friend in school. In a lot of ways he was my only true friend."
Katniss knew what Rory meant. Finding a true friend was hard, especially back then.
Katniss watches as Rory gets a pained look on his face as he says, "One day, right after school let out, I was cornered by a few boys in your class. They told me to pass a message along to Gale to keep his distance from a girl he was friendly with. Apparently the girl was the girlfriend of one of the boys. But the girl had flirted with Gale a lot and wasn't shy about it."
"And they couldn't tell Gale themselves" Katniss says bitterly.
Rory smiles and says, "Of course not, they were cowards. Anyway, in order to ensure I passed the message along they-knocked me around a bit."
"Were you hurt?" Katniss asks, not remembering ever hearing about Rory being beaten up in school.
"They kicked me in the stomach mostly, I tried to fight back but-it was three against one and they were three years older than me. Anyway, I ran into town, the last place I wanted to be was at home. I knew where Ash would be, he always got bread at the Mellark bakery for his Mom every day after school. He saw me when he came out of the bakery, and we went to the back of the store to talk. I told him everything. I just let it all out, and I started crying. Ash started to comfort me….and then he…."
Katniss lays a hand on Rory's shoulder, encouraging him to continue for she could see he was struggling to get the words out.
"He leaned forward and he kissed me."
Katniss was at a loss for words, shocked by what he had just told her.
"I realized at that moment, that I had more than…just feelings for him as a friend."
Katniss leans forward and says softly, "What happened?"
"I kissed him back, the next kiss lasted longer and then we heard someone approach. Peeta saw us. He had gone around back to take out the trash."
Katniss knows that few people in 12 would have been understanding of witnessing two adolescent boys kissing, and that one of those people was Peeta.
"Ash pulled away from me and got up and kicked me in the stomach calling me a sicko and ran off. Shocked that he would do that, I just….started crying harder. Peeta sat down beside me and comforted me. I was humiliated and ashamed, but, he was so kind to me. He brought me some bread and a washcloth for my face. He told me he never tell anyone what he saw. No one."
Katniss smiles hearing about Peeta's kindness, it was what drew him to her so easily. "He kept that promise. He never told me" she says in response.
"I remember he had lost a lot of his memories after he was freed from the Capitol."
"He did, perhaps-that's why he never told me after we returned to 12. Or maybe, he just wanted to honor his word."
Rory shrugs and says, "True. Anyway, Ash and I never spoke again after that day. At school he avoided me and I just…kept my distance. A few weeks later the Hunger Games started and you and Peeta were reaped. I remember being so conflicted. I of course wanted you to win the games, be the victor and come home. I swear my brother didn't sleep a wink during the games, we were all worried about you. But I- also worried about Peeta. I was so happy when you both came home."
"Of course" Katniss says gently.
"Ash and his family didn't make it out of 12 the day the Capitol attacked us."
Katniss suddenly remembered not seeing them in District 13. She gives Rory a look of sympathy in response.
"Even though he hadn't talked to me in over a year, I was still devastated. When our family moved to 2, I tried having relationships with girls but, it just wasn't the same. I was never….with a girl. Once I finished school I knew I had to get away, figure out who I really was. I never felt like I could tell my Mom, or Gale or Vick."
"Gale loves you, he would never stop loving you" Katniss says fiercely.
"I know my brother loves me. Both my brothers and my sister. But 2 was never home to me. I wanted to try fishing, I learned to love being near the water. A few years after being here, I started…to figure out who I was, who I wanted to be."
"So..you and Tobey…."
"Yeah" Rory says as he looks down. "He's been living with me for a year, we got the apartment together."
Katniss nods in understanding, she thought it strange Tobey's room looked so bare, and noticed a lot more stuff in Rory's room.
"So you say he's your roommate to people who don't know?"
"Yes. District 4 is a little more open minded than other Districts but….it's not the Capitol."
Katniss understood where Rory was coming from. Same sex partnerships were only openly acknowledged and accepted in the Capitol before the rebellion. That type of relationship was not permitted in the Districts, not even the career ones. The Districts had to produce as many children as possible to provide for the Capitol and for names to go in the reaping bowl. Anyone who engaged in such behavior would be captured and turned into an Avox, or possibly killed. After the rebellion, it became more acceptable to some, but it was still considered taboo to many. A lot of older and younger people wanting to live openly with a same sex partner moved to the Capitol, if they could find work to support themselves.
"You never wanted to go to the Capitol?"
"And do what? I wasn't going to be a soldier. I like my job. I like it here. I'll admit, my life didn't turn out the way I wanted it to, but I'm happy."
"You still miss Ash?"
"I do. Even though he ran away from me that day, I never stopped thinking about him. I think he thought of me too. I sometimes would catch him staring at me in class. I have a good relationship with Tobey, we are close, but-Ash was my best friend. I never had another best friend after him."
"I'm so sorry" Katniss says sadly.
"I've decided, I'm ready to tell my family. I just-don't know how they will react."
"They love you."
"Doesn't mean they will approve."
"We are not in 12 anymore. Things are different now. Hazelle will be supportive, as will Posy and Vick."
"And Gale?"
"All he wants, is for his family be happy. He will be supportive, I know he will."
"I hope you're right" Rory says.
"Thank you. For confiding in me, I appreciate it."
"I'm sorry that I was so resistive to you and Gale for so long."
"I understand why you did, especially now."
"Is Peeta doing ok?"
"I think so. He's still living with Delly at my old house. His memories have not come back. I'm beginning to think, maybe it's for the best."
Hazelle had told Rory what happened to Peeta after his operation. Hazelle had also told Rory that Katniss was trying to help Peeta and Delly adopt.
"My Mom hasn't told me if you are still helping them adopt a baby?"
"I am. The process takes time, but-I think there might be a baby available at the end of the year for them to adopt. If the Mother is still in agreement with letting the baby be adopted. She's a young girl from District 11."
"Well, I hope it works out for them."
"I hope so too" Katniss says.
"I better get to the station."
"I'll walk with you." They walk in silence the rest of the way to the train station. Katniss walks with him to the door and says, "Thanks again for the wonderful day with the girls and Jackson. I hope you plan to visit District 2 soon."
"I'm going to see if I can get off in October for Sienna and Gale's birthdays."
Katniss smiles and says, "I think they would both like that."
"Take care Katniss."
"You too Rory. And I hope you already know this but, I won't say anything to anyone, not even Gale. It's not my place to say anything, I'll let you tell them when you are ready."
Rory smiles gratefully at Katniss and says, "Thanks."
A/N: I am so sorry this update is so late! With the holidays and work I just got so behind. As for Rory, I hope this makes some sense as to why he acted the way he did to Katniss. I know in a lot of stories Rory likes or ends up with Prim, while I think the two of them would have been cute together, I wanted to do something really different with this story. And touch upon a subject I think would have been taboo except in the Capitol in the HG universe.
