DISCLAIMER: HG CHARACTERS DO NOT BELONG TO ME
Chapter 139-Finding Peace
May 30
Katniss waves and smiles as she ends the virtual call with Sienna on her phone. With technology in Panem more available to everyone, phone calls can now be virtual if someone has a portable phone. With both Sienna and Avery away at school Katniss and Gale have found this to be a good way to keep in touch with both of their older daughters. Her Mom and Gale's Mom however, do not care much for virtual phone calls and prefer using a regular phone, as does Haymitch. But Katniss likes this method of communication to talk to her friends, to see a face every now and then, especially since she was not traveling as much in the last few years.
Sienna was taking a summer classes in the Capitol, informing Katniss she probably wouldn't make it back to District 2 to visit until July. Studying to be a medical doctor, Sienna had a strict schedule of classes she had to take in sequence, wanting to take an additional chemistry class she needed before taking her more advanced classes this fall. With still three more years of classes left, she was at the half-way point but knew she still had a long way to go.
Avery now 20, still in District 8 studying fashion, was home for the summer and would be returning to District 8 in September. Still unsure of what her future plans were, she informed her parents that she wanted a job that required styling of some sort.
Jack now 17 was about to enter his final year of school in Silver Lake. Undecided what he wanted to do, Katniss had planned some career exploration this summer to help decide, Jack of course looked at it as schoolwork and was not pleased with his Mom's plans for him this summer.
Katniss currently had the house to herself, Avery had taken Juniper to the lake for the day, while Jack was out with Ana. Jade, Juniper's cat was currently curled up and sleeping on the living room couch, out of Katniss's hair for which was how she preferred it when it came to the black cat.
She looked at the clock, seeing it was 2:30 pm, if she got started now, she should have enough time to finish what she wants to do before Gale gets home from work at 5:30 pm.
She takes out a piece of paper and a pen and begins writing.
August 23
Katniss looks at her reflection in the mirror in the hotel. She is in District 12, getting ready to meet Haymitch in a private room downstairs in the restaurant, knowing he is probably already at the bar. She has secretly come to District 12, not wanting the residents of District 12 to know she was here, or Peeta, she knew she couldn't visit Haymitch at his home in the Victor's Village. With still only one hotel in the whole district, the hotel had recently undergone some renovations. The restaurant now had private rooms available to dine in along with a buffet.
She was meeting Haymitch alone, for Gale was meeting the government official from District 12 for dinner at his house. Gale invited her to come, but she declined letting him know she already had already made plans with Haymitch, promising to go next time with him.
When she sees Haymitch, he engulfs her into a big hug, when she starts to cough slightly he pulls back and says, "Sorry sweetheart, it's been a long time".
They talk for hours, Haymitch telling her about life in District 12, updating her about Peeta, Delly, and their kids, and of course they discuss their disappointment how even though District 12 is much better today than in the past, it is still a disadvantaged district. Katniss begins telling him about life in District 2 and shows him recent pictures of the kids on her phone.
"Wow-sometimes I have to make sure the corrective surgery the Capitol did on my eyes really worked, am I looking at Sienna or you the first time I saw you what-34 years ago"?
Katniss nods and says, "She doesn't braid her hair though, she refuses, I think she is just fed up with people constantly asking her if she is my daughter, especially now that she is in the Capitol".
"How's your Mom?"
"Same-nothing really ever changes with her".
"Hazelle doing ok?"
"Oh yeah, busy with all of her grandkids. Oren and Juniper are the same age, so she still has two grandchildren that are not quite teenagers yet. And Jack and Taran are the same age-both 17. She's officially retired now".
"Good for her" Haymitch says with sincerity.
"No kids for Posy?" Haymitch inquires after a short pause while Katniss takes a long sip of wine.
"No-though you never know, I don't ask. But I know Hazelle would not be sad if more grandchildren came into the family". Posy, still living in District 8 and working as a designer, was now 37 and recently divorced. Gale telling Katniss he didn't think his little sister would ever get married again, for unfortunately the ending of the marriage was not on good terms.
"You still go see those Natives?"
Katniss sighs as she says, "Not as much as I'd like. I used to try to go at least once a year, but, for the last four years I had not gone to visit. Until last week-Gale and I finally were able to get up there. Red Bear is their leader now".
"That older woman you admired died right?"
"Yes, years ago. I've told you this" Katniss says looking slightly annoyed.
"Unfortunately I think that was during one of our phone calls where I was, you know. But wait, I do remember her name-Morning-Morning Sun!" Haymitch says as he pours himself more wine.
Katniss nods in response. "Well, I'm glad you got to see them again" Haymitch says.
Katniss begins coughing, she had been coughing lightly all night but the cough deepens and Haymitch says, "Maybe you should get that cough checked out".
"It's fine Haymitch, I've had this cough for a while. The herbs I've been using help a lot. I also drink an herbal mix every morning."
"But-"
"No buts, I've had this discussion more times than I can count with Gale. If it makes you feel any better, I am going to see my doctors in the Capitol in September. Gale insisted".
"I knew there were rare occasions when I thought Hawthorne was okay".
Katniss laughs as she pours herself more wine, as the two continue catching up.
August 25
Katniss looks at the water in tub as it fills up. Not paying attention that it is about to overflow. "Katniss!" Gale shouts, pulling her back into the present.
"Sorry" she says as she quickly turns the water off.
They are still at the hotel in District 12, just getting back from dinner with the District 12 government official with his wife at their house. Even though Gale is technically on vacation, he has been using the opportunity being in District 12 to catch up with the official. The dinner between the four of them going well much to his relief.
"You okay? It was like you were somewhere else" he says looking at her apprehensively.
She pauses before answering and says, "Long day".
"Well, it's not like we didn't sneak into the woods and go to the lake and have a picnic lunch, then take a long walk in the woods before going out to dinner tonight".
"Our woods you mean" she says smiling.
"I'm glad you remembered the trails better than I did".
She smirks as she begins undressing, getting ready to get into the large tub. Once she is submerged, she leans back and relaxes. Gale now finished getting ready for bed says, "I'm going to turn on the TV, hopefully there's better programming to watch tonight".
Once she is finished in the tub and dried off, she climbs into the large bed beside him. Curling her feet up with his she leans her head against his and begins watching the comedy show he has on. She laughs at the silly parts, even at the parts that weren't all that funny, Gale asking her why she was even laughing. "I don't know, I think because-I'm happy".
"Happy to be back in 12?" he asks.
She shrugs and says, "Yeah. Us being in our spot again, it was like old times".
He nods and says, "I should take your lead and think of good memories instead of bad when I'm here."
He was surprised when she had asked to come to District 12 for a visit, for in all of the years they have been together she had never asked to come here. When they had originally planned their vacation it was arranged they would go to the wild territory to see the tribe and come back to District 2. But right before they left Katniss had asked if he could take an extra week off so they could come to 12. He arranged for Juniper to continue to stay with his Mom while Avery kept an eye on Jack back at the house. He wondered if she was getting restless at the house; and wanted to get away to take her mind off of things.
They fall asleep curled up under the covers, the TV automatically turning off after a long while.
Hours later, Katniss awakens and sees it is 5:30 am. She sees Gale sleeping soundly on his side. She knows she has to leave now if she wants to see the sun rise. She takes the note out of her purse and places it on nightstand beside Gale as she begins getting dressed.
Gale awakens and sees it is 7:30 am. He rolls over and sees Katniss is not there. Figuring she is in the bathroom he takes his time getting out of the bed, not seeing her note. When he knocks on the bathroom door before entering and seeing she is not there, he then figures she must have gone down downstairs to grab breakfast to bring upstairs. Fifteen minutes pass before he finally notices the note that was left for him. He grabs the note and begins reading, his anxiety raising. He finishes the note and grabs his phone and leaves, knowing where he needs to go.
He is glad that just yesterday they were in these same woods, for he didn't think he could find this place otherwise. Once he got familiar with the area, the memories of his birthplace came back to him. He knows where she will be.
He makes it to the lake and frantically looks around, he sees her sitting down leaned up against a small tree on the other side, near the hill.
"Katniss!" he yells but she does not respond.
He rushes around the lake and goes up the hill, finally approaching her, as he gets closer, he sees that her eyes are closed. She's in her Father's hunting jacket. Still a perfect fit after all these years. She has not worn it in many years. He notices around her neck is the locket Peeta gave her, the locket with her Mother, Prim, and his picture in it. He bends down and gently shakes her shoulder.
"Katniss" he says, repeating her name a few more times to try to rouse her.
He leans his head down in front of her face and it takes him a few seconds to realize the horror of what was before him, that Katniss, his Katniss was gone. Forever.
He screams out in agony, knowing no one can hear him, he continues screaming. A part of him wants to jump into the lake, end his own life so he can be with her, but the rational side of his conscious takes control and instead he runs down the hill, and begins vomiting beside a nearby tree.
Minutes pass, he is not sure how many. He goes back up the hill and sits down beside her; the sun begins to get brighter. He sits there for he does not know how long, the tears continuing to fall.
He leans up against a tree as the medics remove her body. He has already called his Mom and arranged for her to take Juniper to Silver Lake immediately to stay at the house with Avery and Jack. He also asked her to call Sienna and have her return to Silver Lake tonight. He knows when he talks to all of them it will be hardest conversation he has ever had in his life. Having just gotten off the phone with Katniss's Mom, she only asks a few questions and politely asks him to let her know what the funeral plans are and hangs up. Not able to imagine how she must feel, with the news she has now lost both of her daughters, he knows he needs to call her again tomorrow.
One of the medical examiners who arrived at the lake comes up to Gale and says, "We have done the necessary tests and will send the tests to the lab. Would you like us to make arrangements for her to be returned to District 2?"
"No, she'll remain here" he says with a flat voice.
"Okay, we will make arrangements to transport her to the morgue. We are very sorry for your loss Mr. Hawthorne". They leave without waiting for Gale to respond, for he continues to stare straight ahead.
He looks at his phone and sees it is 4 pm. He calls the President and informs her what happened. She arranges for a hovercraft to pick him up at 5 pm to return to District 2. While on the flight back home he calls Haymitch, Joanna, Posy, Vick, and Rory. He knows Haymitch will inform Peeta and while he knows there are so many more people he needs to call; he does not have it in him, not tonight. For he knows he now has to keep his composure, for in a few minutes he is about to see his children and tell them what has happened to their Mother.
Plutarch Heavensbee is in bed and is watching the 11 pm news on the Panem News Network. It is part of his daily routine before he goes to bed. Now 82, he quite enjoys his regular routine in the Capitol.
Expecting to hear next the local updates regarding each District, a breaking news ticker flashes across the bottom on his screen.
BREAKING: KATNISS EVERDEEN FORMER VICTOR OF THE 74TH HUNGER GAMES AND THE MOCKINGJAY OF THE SECOND REBELLION PASSES AWAY AT AGE 50 DUE TO UNKNOWN CAUSES
He blinks a few times, making sure what he is reading is correct on his TV screen. A sense of shock and numbness overcomes him. Then the phone beside his bed begins ringing.
A/N: The story is not quite over yet, have to wrap up what happens after with Gale, the kids, Panem, and everyone else. And you will see later what was written in the letters Katniss was writing.
