DISCLAIMER: HG CHARACTERS DO NOT BELONG TO ME.
Words not spoken in English will be italicized.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews!
Chapter 132-Miracle
Gale frantically looked ahead of him trying to find Katniss in the mass of people. Looking for her signature black hair that had been styled for the semi special occasion. She had worn it down in curls. He figured she had probably gone down to the first floor to head outside, he still scans as much of the second floor as he can, just in case she happened to be there. By the time he reaches the first floor, he begins heading for the large double door front entrance when he is caught off guard by the sight of Katniss talking to two people, he approaches closer and gets a better look and sees she is indeed talking to who he feared she was talking to-Peeta and Delly. He tries to move around them without them noticing him so that he is behind Peeta in the crowd and can see Katniss's face. He sees them in deep conversation. He sees Katniss look down as she talks, tears falling down her face. His eyes move to Delly and he sees her look at both of them supportively. She is standing beside and holding the hand of a child, a boy who looked about five. Gale knows it is the child that Katniss helped Peeta and Delly adopt right after he lost his memory over five years ago. He thinks hard to remember what the boy's name was. After a few seconds it comes to him-Hunter. He was technically born in District 9, his birth Mother was from there, but his birth Father was from District 11. The parents were young, both having met at a school retreat in the Capitol. Both parents only in grade 11, they had seen each other in secret when they could traveling by train and meeting in the Capitol only during official school functions. When it was discovered the young girl was pregnant, she confessed to her parents who forbade her to see or speak to the young man from District 11 ever again. The young Mother decided on adoption, for her family was poor and from an area called the Downs that Katniss had told him was similar to but not nearly as bad as the Seam was and didn't like the fact that their daughter had a sexual relationship with a boy from an even poorer district. She wanted her baby to grow up to have the best life possible and she knew she couldn't provide that to him or her. She wasn't however, going to give her baby up to just anyone. So Child Services had reached out to Katniss and other contacts they knew around Panem to help match the potential adoptive parents once the baby was born. Katniss had recommended Peeta and Delly, however, due to Peeta's surgery and the complications, after Hunter was born, he remained in Child Services until he was 6 months old and then was released to Peeta and Delly once Peeta made a full recovery. The birth Mother had named him Hunter, and Delly and Peeta had chosen to keep the name.
Gale stares at the boy, his skin was a lighter shade of brown than most of the residents from District 11, no doubt due to his Mother's lighter complexion for Katniss said she had heard she was a red head. He had the typical black eyes of the residents of District 11 and his hair had tight curls and was dark, but had the ever so slight tint of red in it. His eyes move to Delly and he notices the very discreet but noticeable curve to her slightly protruding stomach. Having seen it many times with his own Mother and with Katniss, he can easily tell more often than other men can when a woman is pregnant. And by the looks of Delly, he guessed she was five months along.
His eyes move back to Katniss, he sees she is still crying, but not as hard. Looking incredibly sad, his first instinct is to go to her, comfort her as he has done so many times over the years when her tears fall. But he knows when it comes to the Games, he can't. He knows perhaps, the person standing in front of her perhaps is the only person who can. He sees Peeta reach out and hesitate before pat her on the shoulder, the exchange awkward, obvious that he is unsure what to do. He then sees Katniss move quickly and embrace him, squeezing Peeta tight, her eyes closed tight. She has a look of such content on her face, a look of…happiness. Jealously overcomes him, engulfs him, he wonders if that is how Katniss embraced Peeta when he returned to District 12 after the war, was that how she embraced him when they started their new life together?
He then looks at Delly to gage her reaction, and sees she continues to look at them with the same supportive look she had before, no jealousy at all shown on her face. Gale tries to call his nerves down as he watches Katniss break from Peeta's arms and wipe her tears from her face. He watches as the four of them head for Mags's section, no doubt Katniss wanting to show him the different sections of the people from who they formed bonds with. He turns to head back upstairs for he knows he better check on Juniper for he begins to think perhaps he should not have handled his baby girl to Haymitch, for the old man was clearly intoxicated for he had been taking quite a few sips from his flask since the minute the doors to the museum opened up.
He heads at full speed back up to the third floor, once he finds them, he sees Haymitch sitting in a chair with Juniper in his lap, bouncing her up and down. He sees Johanna with Sienna, Avery and Jack at the 75th Quarter Quell section and sees Johanna teaching them some of her ax moves. He watches as his children try to copy her moves. He approaches them.
"Dad-Johanna's teaching us some moves" Avery says to him as she comes up running to him.
"And we saw Mom's training video from her second Games, she's so good" Sienna says not giving Gale a chance to respond to Avery. Gale had seen while they were touring around the museum that the museum showed each Tribute and Victor's training video, the President not wanting to show any violent footage from the actual games only the training simulation videos were shown in the museum.
"It's why your Mom won the games, she's the best" Gale says smiling at his two daughters. He then goes over to Haymitch and without warning picks up Juniper from his arms and says, "I found Katniss, she's with Peeta and Delly, I saw them all heading over towards Mags's section."
Haytmich blinks and gives a small sigh and gets up. Before he is out of reach Gale says, "Did Peeta ever get his memories back?"
Haymitch pauses before turning around, when he does, he gives Gale a look Gale had not seen in years and says, "You know he hasn't Hawthorne."
"I was just wondering."
"You know what I think? I think you saw something you didn't like between Katniss and Peeta. I see some things never change-even 20 years later." And Haymitch gives Gale a smirk before turning around and heading for the stairs.
Glad that he only had to deal with Haymitch once, maybe at most twice a year, Gale turns back to his children and sees them still engaged with Johanna-now watching opening ceremony parades. He comes over and sees Katniss and Peeta riding on the chariot, their costumes on fire.
"Mommy's on fire!" Jackson says in panic.
"It's okay, she's not really on fire, buddy" Gale says tenderly to his son putting his arm around him.
"It's one of the Capitol's old magic tricks" Johanna says with a wink.
The kids continue intently watching the parade as Johanna pulls Gale off to the side and says, "Where did Haymitch go? Where's Katniss?"
"He's with Katniss and Peeta. I saw Katniss downstairs with Peeta and Delly walking towards Mags's section."
Never being one to hold her tongue, Johanna responds by saying, "Two messed up people taking a stroll down a memory lane—holograms and all. Maybe you should be there with them, I can watch the kids and the baby."
Not wanting to see Katniss find comfort in Peeta's arms that way again, he says, "I think it's best if I stay here. Besides, they have to finish up here anyway." And Gale quickly walks over to join his children, placing Juniper in Sienna's lap, the kids now watching the opening ceremony.
Katniss moves as quickly as she can as she heads towards the exit of the large building. She knows the last thing she should be doing is leaving Gale and her children behind, but she knows Gale will make sure they will be fine. She needs fresh air to clear her thoughts, to get away from all the holographic images and pictures that have overwhelmed her mind. She has found over the years, sometimes taking a simple fifteen to twenty minute walk can help relieve her stress. And if it doesn't, she hopes by then everything will be wrapped up and everyone will be ready to go and they can walk to the train station and head back to Hazelle's and then back to Silver Lake the next day.
Moving so fast that she is not paying attention, she bumps into someone, she sees it's a man, but she does not look at him.
"Sorry" she mumbles as she tries to get around him.
"Katniss? Is that you?" the familiar voices says to her.
She looks up and sees Peeta staring back at her. It had been over five years since she had seen him. The last time being the day after his surgery, after he had lost his memories after the Quarter Quell. He looked much better, healthier, even younger.
"Peeta" she says softly.
"Are you here alone?" he asks with concern.
"No-my uh-my family, they are upstairs. I just-needed to-clear my head."
She shifts her eyes and sees Delly standing beside him and a young boy-Hunter.
"Hello Delly" Katniss says forcing herself to smile.
"Hello Katniss" Delly says, no hint of malice in her voice. Delly then introduces Hunter to Katniss and Katniss bends down and introduces herself to the young boy. When she stands back up, she sees Delly's slight, but protruding stomach.
"Delly-are you expecting?" Katniss says without realizing what she has just said.
Delly looks over at Peeta who nods at her before responding. "Yeah, almost five months. All this time, we didn't think we could have children naturally-I've been telling everyone it's our miracle baby."
"Congratulations" Katniss says, clearly happy for them. "Do you know what you are having?"
"A girl" Delly says smiling brightly.
"I'm going to be a big brother" Hunter says to Katniss.
"Yes, you are" Peeta says proudly giving his son a pat on the back.
"Wow Peeta, that's great, I'm really happy for you" Katniss says.
"How are you? How are things in your life?" Peeta asks gently.
"Good, kids are good, Gale is good."
He sees something that is bothering her, all these years later still able to tell when she is holding back.
"But" he says.
She looks down, she hesitates before saying, "I found out about seven months ago that I've developed-side effects from my time in the arena. My t-cell levels are low."
"What does that mean?" Peeta asks with concern.
Katniss shrugs and continues look down as she says, "More prone to infections, fluid build up in the lungs are some examples."
"Is the Capitol providing treatment?"
"Of course."
"Good. I'm glad you have your family during this difficult time. I'm sure you'll be fine."
Katniss wanted to tell Peeta just as she longed to tell Gale the truth of what she knew concerning her future, but she knew that neither one of them could know the truth. Gale because he wasn't ready for it, Peeta because it wasn't right for him to know and not Gale.
She thinks back to July when they visited the tribe, Morning Sun asking her if she planned to tell Gale what she knew regarding the very last vision she had.
"You should tell him what you know" Morning Sun had said while making a dreamcatcher for Juniper.
"He's not ready to know-not yet" Katniss had said in response.
"The longer you wait to tell him, the worse it will be" Morning Sun said.
In the present moment, she begins to feel completely alone. The tears begin to fall-hard and without warning.
Fearing he said something wrong, Peeta approaches Katniss closer and says, "I'm sorry-did I say something wrong?"
Katniss shakes her head and says, "No-you didn't. I'm sorry, I just-I'm so sad." The tears continuing to fall.
"I am too, it's why we are so late. I didn't want to come here. But I came here to honor those we lost. I came out of respect for them. And for…Prim."
Her eyes shoot up and she looks at him in the eye. "Do you remember?" she asks, hoping against hope that he remembers what happened to Prim.
"No I don't. But I still remember how you volunteered for her. I'll never forget that" he says as he gently reaches out and pats her on the shoulder.
Touched by his words, she embraces him and closes her eyes. Her feelings of sadness turning to gratitude. She holds him tight for a few seconds before letting go, wiping her eyes.
"Feeling better" he asks with a smile.
"Yes" she says smiling back.
"Where should we start?" he asks looking around.
"Well the place is pretty big. There's so much to see. But if you don't mind, I could show you some highlights."
Peeta turns to Delly and she says, "Sure, we could look at the must see things first and make our way back here to see if there is anything else we want to see before we leave."
Katniss then escorts them to Mags's section, eager to show him what she looked like as a young woman.
Gale sees Katniss, Peeta, Delly, Hunter, and Haymitch approach them. Juniper now asleep in his arms, the kids were continued to be entertained by Johanna. He was thankful Johanna was with him, for Katniss and Haymitch had been gone for quite a while.
"Mom!" Avery calls out to Katniss and runs to her at full speed.
Gale watches as Katniss goes over to Avery and gives her a big hug. He sees Peeta look at Sienna, Avery and Jackson with interest at Katniss introduces him to them. Katniss then introduces Delly and Hunter to the kids and Gale watches as the kids begin talking to Hunter and pull him off to the side, engaging him in the games they were playing with Johanna.
He sees Katniss look around for him and when she sees him, she smiles and comes over to him.
"There you are" she says as she bends down and gives him a quick kiss.
"You were gone for a while" Gale says curtly.
"Sorry, I lost track of time. I ran into Peeta and Delly and showed them some of the sections, and Haymitch found us."
He sees Peeta start to approach them, he slowly rises with Juniper still in his arms and holds her protectively.
"Is this your youngest?" Peeta asks smiling. Gale knows Peeta poses no threat, but for no good reason Gale didn't like the idea of him meeting his children.
"Yes, this is Juniper" Katniss says and motions for Gale to bend down so that Peeta could get a better look at her. He obliges.
"She's beautiful Katniss, just like all your children are" Peeta says.
"Your family is beautiful as well, I'm so glad Hunter has you and Delly in his life."
"We are the lucky ones" Peeta says.
Just then they hear very loud laughter and screaming from the kids, causing Juniper to stir and begin crying, Katniss takes her from Gale's arms and tries to soothe her.
"She may need to feed. I'll be back. We'll probably have to go soon, I think the kids are getting restless. We've been here since the doors opened" and Katniss excuses herself to head to the ladies room.
With just the two men remaining, Gale makes small talk with Peeta. He asks him about District 12 and what was new with the District. Peeta informing him that the District continues to make medicine and that the population remains steady, but still no significant growth.
"How's Greasy Sae?" Gale asks.
"Not good. I don't know if she'll make it through the winter. She's pretty old now you know." Gale had heard from Haymitch she wasn't doing well health wise.
"I'll have to make the trip out to 12."
"I hope Katniss can make it as well."
"That be up to her" Gale says shortly.
"Gale-you know you don't have to worry about me right? I think you should know after all this time, I'm no longer a threat."
"I didn't like the way you were looking at my children."
"I'm sorry, I just-I can't get over how much Sienna looks like Katniss. She's a carbon copy of her. And your son, he looks exactly like you. Your daughter Avery looks a lot like you too."
At that moment, Sienna comes walking over to them. Gale turns to her as she reaches out her hand to him and says, "I got tired of playing, they still want to play tag."
"We'll be leaving as soon as your Mom is done feeding Juniper" Gale says putting his arm around her.
Sienna turns and smiles at Peeta and says, "I saw your interview when you were in your first games. You secretly liked my Mom didn't you?"
Peeta smiles at Sienna and says, "I did, very much, but that was a long, long time ago."
Gale wishes he could be anywhere but here at this moment but is rescued from the awkwardness when Katniss comes out of the ladies room, signaling it is time for them to leave. The kids say goodbye to Hunter as Katniss and Gale say goodbye to Johanna and Haymitch, then goodbye to Peeta and Delly.
Gale watches as Katniss gives Peeta a final goodbye hug, Peeta whispering something in her ear. Gale shakes Delly's hand as Peeta says, "Safe travels back to District 2."
"Same to you as well" Gale says extending his hand for Peeta to shake.
As Katniss and Gale walk out, they see Heavensbee approach them with Beetee wheeling behind, trying to keep up.
"Katniss! Gale!" They both stop and let Heavensbee approach.
"What did you think of the museum?" he asks.
"The museum is very impressive, overwhelming, but impressive" Katniss says in a matter of fact tone.
"Wonderful! We will be mailing out survey's to those in attendance, make sure you fill it out and send it back. I especially want your input on what you thought of the Rebellion Room."
Katniss shoots him a look of disbelief and walks away, Gale and the kids not far behind. She hears Beetee call out to them but she keeps walking full speed ahead.
"Katniss maybe we should-" but before Gale could finish Katniss interrupts and says, "I just want to go to the train station Gale, it's been a long day."
Not able to argue with her statement for he was in full agreement, the five of them continue to head to the train station and back to Hazelle's, eager to get out of the Capitol.
