DISCLAIMER: HG CHARACTERS DO NOT BELONG TO ME
A/N: To clarify in case there is some confusion, K/G's kids do know Haymitch, they do not him see real often, but over the years Haymitch had come to the house to see Katniss, she wasn't going to District 12 so he was coming to her. It is mentioned briefly right before Jackson was born, but, since this story was on a 3-year hiatus I can see how this small detail was forgotten.
Chapter 151-Making Amends III
When Avery arrived back at the house, her little Sister kept her busy and distracted. Unsure of how she was going to explain to Juniper why she was home, she did not have to come up with an excuse right away, from the moment Juniper arrived home from school and saw Avery there, she talked non-stop, not even asking why her older Sister was home. She talked about school, her friends, and a new hobby she had recently taken up-horseback riding.
Avery had known Juniper started riding over the summer, but thought it was something she would grow bored with by now, she was surprised to hear that Juniper still enjoyed it. She had taken a lesson with a friend and had asked their Father if she could take lessons on her own.
"Dad enrolled me in lessons until the end of the year. I asked him if I could have a horse, but he said no" Juniper says as they take a walk by the lake.
Shocked that their Father has said no to Juniper, she says, "Well, you just started, and our house is big and has land, but where would you put a horse?"
"At the stables silly, you can rent stable space at Silver Lake Stables, where I take my lessons at" Juniper says to her. Silver Lake Stables was so far away from the lake and the main part of town, Avery had almost forgotten where it was located. The stables and riding area were built fifteen years ago, after the old training facility for former tributes building was torn down.
Avery was happy her Sister has found a hobby that she enjoys, wishing she could take up a new hobby that could occupy her time and take her mind off things. But nothing interested her now, she couldn't believe how in less than a week she went from preparing from a future she wasn't prepared for to no future at all.
Gale is preparing dinner while Avery and Juniper are down by the lake. He hears his phone ring, and he sees it is Haymitch calling him back. When he answers, Haymitch says, "Hawthorne, what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Thanks for calling me back."
"I figured it must be important, you and I wouldn't be talking just to chat."
Gale gets right to the point of the call, telling Haymitch about everything that has happened with Avery in the last two months, he also told him about the disturbing scene he saw when he arrived at the apartment today.
"Back when Sae used to write to me, she often used to say in her letters how happy she was that Katniss was finally happy. I heard about the state Katniss was in when she first returned to District 12, I'm afraid Avery is heading down that same path."
"You can't let that happen" Haymitch says.
"It's why I called you."
"Me?" Haymitch says confused.
"I know that-you and Peeta, along with Sae, helped Katniss a great deal when she returned to 12."
"Did we though? I think we just, keep her-complacent. If she was truly happy, she never would have left District 12."
If Gale had this conversation with Haymitch ten years ago, he would have agreed with Haymitch saying that Katniss had been complacent, not happy. However, during the last three years they had spent together after she had stopped working for PES and was at home full time, they had grown closer in ways Gale had thought was not possible. On the days he worked from home, she would prepare lunch for them and they would sit outside and eat out on the deck during the spring and summer months and eat inside at the kitchen island during the winter months. During his one-hour lunch break she would sometimes use that hour to talk to him about things regarding her past. About her life back in 12 with Peeta and Haymitch during the seven years they were apart from each other. And during their many conversations about the subject, he learned a few things. He knew the backstory of what happened in her letter to him when she confessed her true feelings for him when he was engaged to Dez, but she went into a lot more detail with what transpired. Regarding her depression, how she finally had to the will to live again because of Sae and Peeta, and how she had to learn to deal with her anxiety and trauma with her list of kind acts she repeated in her head. She told him that when it came to her list of kind acts, and how she still repeats the list in her head even to this day, that Peeta ranked at the top for the kindest acts she had seen a person do. Gale had learned from their conversations that Katniss loved Peeta a great deal, and that a part of her still did and always would. She had told him that at one time, she felt falling in love with Peeta was inevitable, because he represented the promise of a better future, and that she associated him with destruction. But as time passed, she realized she was holding onto grief, and that the promise of a better future never came, not for her. It was a hard conversation for him to hear that day, but by talking about it brought them closer together.
"You did, trust me" Gale says with finality in his voice.
"I still don't see with what is happening with Avery has to do with me?"
"I think Avery, needs to be away from me in order to get better."
"Why? You are Father, she needs you."
Gale tells Haymitch about the recent conflict between Avery and Cassandra, and about how Avery got Cassandra fired at AMB.
Bracing himself for Haymitch's snide remarks at hearing that Gale is involved with someone, he is not surprised when Haymitch says, "I see you haven't lost your touch as a womanizer."
"It's not like that, I mean it was at first but-"
"Oh?" Haymitch says curiously.
"I didn't want it to become a relationship, but-"
"You let your guard down huh?"
"Yes" Gale says with a hint of shame in his voice.
"It happens, she would want you to be happy." Haymitch does not have to explain who 'she' is. "Just answer me this, do you plan to ever have this woman come to the house in Silver Lake?"
"No, I would never do that to my kids, that house still very much has Katniss's memory in it, that will never change."
"Juniper will be out of the house sooner rather than later."
"You really think I'd bring someone into the house I shared with my wife of over twenty years?"
"Some people do."
"Well, I'm not some people. And what we shared; some people can only wish they had a fraction of the life we had."
"Glad to hear it. But what if this woman wants you two to play house together?"
"Her life is in the Capitol, but I'd look into getting a bigger apartment for us there."
"Well, I don't know if I can help our Avie accept your new-relationship, but maybe I can help her get over her loss."
"Thank you" Gale says appreciatively.
"I hope you plan on having Avery come here, I don't leave the house much now that I am 77."
"Yes, is it okay if she stays with you?"
"Of course."
September 24 (Thursday)
"Call me immediately if there is a problem, especially if he's drinking, I'll have the government official send someone over" Gale says to Avery as he walks with her to the boarding area of the train station.
"I'm sure it will be fine Dad, I've been around Haymitch all of my life."
"Not for this long a period of time."
"I still don't see how going to District 12 is going to help."
"Give it a chance, it's either go to 12, or go see a therapist."
Knowing her Father is not bluffing, she sticks with the original choice of going to District 12. Her Father telling her that she needs to go to District 12 to learn some of the things that helped her Mother get over her trauma, and that maybe it will help her.
"And if it doesn't?" Avery had asked him.
"You won't know unless you give it a chance."
Knowing she cannot argue with that, she agrees to go. Her Father had already called ABM and ABM had let him know that she was excused from work for the next 12 weeks if needed on medical leave. Not knowing the details, ABM was aware that she was hospitalized and needed to recover at home.
Her train now ready to board, Avery grabs her carry-on bag and says, "Well I guess this is it."
"Don't forget to call your Sister" Gale says.
She knows he is talking about Juniper, for her little Sister was sad for her once she learned the truth after they returned from the lake why she had come home.
"I will."
She leans in and gives her Father a hug, she feels his sense of unease, for she knows things between them are still strained.
"Congratulations on your retirement, I hope your ceremony goes well."
"Thank you" he says appreciatively.
He watches as she boards the train, she turns and waves to him one last time, noticing that she has a small, but sad smile on her face.
October 15 (Thursday)
Gale heads up the elevator to Cassandra's apartment. He is nervous, for it has been a month since he last saw her, the last time the night Avery miscarried. They have not spoken on the phone either, only messaging each other every now and then. Avery still in District 12, he receives messages from her three times a week, letting him know everything was alright. His schedule has changed recently due to Juniper's riding lessons, for he now spends his Saturday's watching her train at the stables, and on Sunday's they have been going over to his Mom's for dinner, for his Mom was devastated after hearing what happened to Avery and Gale felt it was best if he and Juniper spent more time with her, Vick, Layla and his two other sons joining them when available. Vick's middle son, Sander, was 17 now and in his final year of school. While Oren was 15, and in the same grade as Juniper.
He had messaged Cassandra last week, seeing if she would be free today to meet, she messaged back saying she would be free after 1pm, for she had a photo shoot in the morning.
When she answers the door, he is surprised by her appearance, her hair was still long, but was now dyed a silver color, with holographic colors highlighted throughout.
"Your hair" he blurts out when she closes the door behind him.
"You don't like it?" she says sarcastically.
"It just, it looks very-Capitol like."
She rolls her eyes at him and says, "Well, I do live and work here. I don't expect you to understand. But this new modeling contract I have, requires a-certain look from their models. This company is different from AMB. I had to temporarily dye my hair platinum blonde to help get the job."
"I do understand. I just-need to get used to it."
She motions for him to sit down on her couch. She sits down on the loveseat across from him, keeping her distance. Wearing a black form fitting jumper dress, she is wearing a purple dress shirt underneath with matching sequined purple tights. She crosses her legs, Gale noticing that she is wearing black shoes with a large strap in the front. They sit in silence for a few moments, neither one saying anything as they stared at each other.
"How are you?" he says finally breaking the silence.
"How do you think?"
"You never called" he said, his voice indicating his displeasure.
"I'm tired of this."
"I know, like I said before, things with Avery were complicated. But they have-stabilized."
Before he can tell her the truth of what happened, she shocks him by saying, "I really don't care Gale. Listen, you are wonderful Father, I respect how much you care and provide for your family. But I must walk away, I have to say goodbye."
He tries to hide his emotion, but he knows his face cannot lie for she then says, "You tried to warn me, I didn't listen, I tried to walk away before and I couldn't, but I am ready now."
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you, I've just-been pulled in all these different directions lately, but-one of the reasons I wanted to meet you today was to try to get us back on track-make things right between us."
"I think it is too late for that."
He wants to ask her to give him another chance, to prove to her that this time it will be better, that he will be a better boyfriend to her, but he knows he cannot truly give her what she wants. Not right now, not when he has other obligations to his family. And he loves her too much to continue holding her back from pursuing happiness with someone else.
He tells her that all his stuff has been cleaned out of his apartment and to let him know when she wants to go over to gather her stuff, telling her she will need to get her stuff by October 25th. She tells him she will message him to arrange a time for them to meet.
They meet on Friday, October 23. Arranging to be in the Capitol that day, he takes an extra hour for lunch to take the train ride out to the apartment and back. She brings him a present for his birthday, for he just turned 56 two days before.
He opens the small gift box and sees cuff links; the cuff links are gold, engraved with the initials GH.
"I've seen you wear cuff links with your suits, but I wasn't sure if you'd like it" she says timidly.
"I do, very much, thank you" he says, trying to hide the sadness in his voice.
She gives a small smile as she says, "I ordered them a while ago and still wanted to give them to you."
Once her stuff is collected and loaded into a taxi, Gays says to her, "I just want you to know, even though it may not always seem like it, I do love you, I tried not to but, you showed me that I can love someone again. I will always be thankful for that. I just want you to be happy."
She reaches up and touches his face gently, resisting the urge to kiss him, for she knows if she does, she will not be able to end things. She then brings her hand down and closes the taxi door without another word. Not looking back as the taxi takes off down the busy street.
November 7
Gale watches as Avery gets off the train and walks over to him. Looking more like her old self, she goes into his arms for a long embrace. Holding her tight, he smiles as she pulls back and looks up at him.
"You look well" he says to her.
"Thanks, the trip helped-more than I thought it could."
They go to pick up her luggage from the pickup area then board the train back to her apartment. She tells him a little about her time in District 12 and how she is anxious to return to work on Monday.
She surprises him by asking how Cassandra was doing.
Deciding not to hide the truth, he says to her, "Cassandra ended things, it is for the best, she deserves more."
"But you miss her?" she asks him.
"I do, but she should be with someone who can give her what she needs" he says.
He sees her nod slightly and look out the window, not wanting things to get uncomfortable he changes the subject, telling her about Juniper's continued riding lessons and how she was busy at the stables today for it was Saturday.
"I told her once she gets home, she can order pizza. I thought you and I could go out and grab dinner if you want before I head back."
"That sounds great" she says grabbing his hand in appreciation.
December 4
Avery is with Levi and his friends at a nightclub in an area of the Capitol known for its highly active and busy nightlight. While the Capitol is always busy, this area of town was not family friendly, and had multiple bars, nightclubs, strip clubs, and brothels.
Now officially a couple, Avery had grown closer with Levi during her time in District 12 for he had come to visit her there. Now on friendly terms with his friends, she was with him and two other males and another female friend. The five of them going from nightclub to nightclub, having fun dancing the night away.
Seeing it was just after midnight, she slips away from the group to head to the bathroom. Once she is finished and at the sink washing her hands, she hears people comment on the woman still in the last stall. She heard the soft cries when she entered the line in the bathroom but went about her business. Seeing that the woman was still in the stall and taking up a space, she thought maybe she should go in and see if she could help.
She is shocked when she approaches and looks down, sitting on the floor, with her knees pulled up to her face trembling was Cassandra. She is dressed in a noticeably short black mini dress with black tights, with black pumps. She has no coat on, and Avery notices her hair is now silver with holographic highlights all the way down her hair. She wonders if her Father saw this current hairstyle, for she knows he would not like it. She also sees that her face is bruised, looking as if she was recently punched.
"Cassandra, what happened, do you need help?" Avery says gently as she kneels in the stall beside her.
She shakes her head yes in response, continuing to stare straight ahead as she continues to whimper and cry. Unsure what to do next but knowing she cannot stay here; Avery gets up and rushes out.
She finds Levi and the others still on the dance floor, pulling Levi off to the side and shouting into his ear for the music was blaring, she tells him that someone she knows is in trouble, and that they need to get a taxi and take this person back to her apartment immediately.
Avery watches as Levi's two friends, Scott and Harrison, pick Cassandra up off the floor and Harrison carries her out of the nightclub as Levi finds a cab large enough for all six of them to fit into.
Once they are all squeezed into the taxi, Levi sitting up front with the driver, Levi's friend Chesney turns to Avery and whispers, "Is she a friend of yours?"
"Not exactly" Avery says in a low voice back.
Once they are back at Avery's apartment, Harrison sets Cassandra down in Avery's spare room on her bed. She curls up in a fetal position, once the two of them are alone, Avery says, "do you want me to call law enforcement?"
"No" she says harshly as she stares straight ahead, not making eye contact.
"Is there anyone else you need me to call?" for Avery noticed she did not have a phone on her either.
"No thank you, I just want to be left alone."
Avery nods her head and leaves. She then goes into her room and calls her Father, for she knows he would want to know what has happened.
She sees the time is 1:10 am while the phone rings, he answers on the fifth ring.
"What's wrong" he says in a worried tone, telling by the tone of his voice that is on high alert even though she has awoken him from sleep.
"I'm fine, it's Cassandra."
"Cassandra?" he says confused.
"I was out with friends and, I was in the bathroom and I saw her in a stall, crying. We brought her back to my apartment. I don't know what happened, but whatever it was, it was bad, she's hurt."
"Hurt how?" he says in a worried tone.
"It looks like she's been assaulted, her hair is all messed up. I don't know what else, she's not talking, and she won't let me call law enforcement."
"I'm on my way, I'll leave a note for Juniper, it will take me a while to get there because I have to take a train downtown first." Avery knows no trains run into the Capitol this late at night and that he has to go to District 2's downtown train station and catch a train from there.
When she goes back out into her living room area, she lets them know that her Father is on his way.
"Your Father? Why is he coming?" Scott asks.
"She's his ex-girlfriend."
She smirks as sees the looks of shock on Scott, Harrison, and Chesney's faces. Levi already knowing about Cassandra, has a look of realization on his face hearing that the woman in her spare room is the one he has heard about.
"Yeah, it took me a while to come to terms with it, and she's actually older than she looks" Avery says.
"Younger women dating and marrying older men was very common before the war, especially in more disenfranchised districts, it doesn't always mean that the woman is a gold digger or that she has daddy issues" Chesney says. Chesney was studying to be a psychiatrist at the University and was also in her fifth year of schooling.
"Well, she wasn't from a disenfranchised district, but I agree that she's not a gold digger or messed up, she loved my Dad, unfortunately I didn't realize it until it was too late."
"Well, hopefully your Dad can help, especially as a government official maybe he can find out who hurt her and get her to press charges" Levi says encouragingly.
She thanks them for helping her and Cassandra as they leave. She then showers and changes into her sleep clothes and dozes off on the couch until she feels her Father gently wake her.
She sees the time is 3:35 am. She gives him a brief hug as she says, "I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do."
"It's okay, I'm glad you called me, I take it she's in the spare room?" he asks.
She nods and follows him as he approaches the door. She lingers by the door as she sees him gently knock and enter. She sees that Cassandra is still awake and sitting up in the bed, she is under the covers, but her legs are still pulled up to her chest. Her head leaned down resting on her knees. She raises her head up when she hears Gale come in, her face still soaked with tears.
She begins crying when she sees him standing there, desperate for him to come to her. He goes over and sits on the bed, taking her into his arms he says, "I'm here, you're safe here."
She does not respond and continues to cry in his arms, holding onto him tightly. Not wanting to impose on a private moment, for she saw the look of devastation mixed with relief on Cassandra's face once her Father walked in, Avery closes the door behind her and goes to her room.
While in District 12 she realized she needs to make amends with Cassandra, after returning to the Capitol and hearing that Cassandra had ended things with her Father, she felt the opportunity to try to make things right had come and gone. Now that a new opportunity had presented itself, she knew this was her last chance to show Cassandra, that she was sorry and was willing to put aside her own personal feelings for her Father to be happy. Seeing the two of them just now, she saw in the way they looked at each other before they embraced, that they loved each other. And she realized, that for the first time, it did not bother her.
A/N: You will see what happened with Avery in District 12 in the next chapter or the following one.
