Companion

AN:

Whew! This is such a long journey for me being my first long story (and an AU at that!) Thank you for sticking around this far. Much appreciation for all the love. We all need a little bit of that.

The Everdeen-Mellark family grows.

The epilogues are written from Elrick's point of view. I hope you like it!

Special thank you to my dear friend, GinnyGinervaWeasley, for betaing my story.

P.S. I love the Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins owns everything!

EPILOGUE I

I never thought that I'd miss a place this much. I guess it's the expectation, the anxiety most likely. But more than anything, I needed the support. I may be twenty-five already, but I sure am not ashamed of asking for my parents. Parents. I still can't believe it, even now, that I have parents. I don't call them 'Mama' or 'Papa,' I call them by their first names, and they don't mind. The label just didn't stick, but our relationship sure glued us together. Katniss and Peeta are two of the most generous, kind, loving, and open-minded people that I know, and I'm glad that they call me son. And their son is going to be a father soon. The day that Peeta told me that he wanted to be my father has been coming back to me, over and over every night. I guess the distant memory fits just right at this point in my life.

"Elrick," she calls me. "Where are you?"

"I'm just thinking, Andi," I answer kindly. I guess 'Dice' is also one of those labels that didn't stick. She looks at me intently in the dim light of our train compartment, studying me with those brown eyes that I love so much. I seem to be getting lost in thought a lot these past few weeks. She has been asking me the same question repeatedly. "But I'm back now. Don't worry," I assure her.

"Are we almost in Twelve?"

"Yeah, in half an hour, we will be there. Do you need anything from your bag?"

"Aaauoohhh," she whimpers, and I know what's happening. Our unborn baby has been moving a lot lately, turning and exploring the space in her mother's womb. The doctor said that the baby is strengthening its limbs. I imagined our baby preparing for its birth and is positioning itself in the right way. I sure hope that it is the right way because I couldn't possibly imagine Andi delivering in a hospital due to a complication. She talked with our doctor multiple times about her birthing preference, and she is relentless in giving birth naturally. I guess Katniss having a home birth to baby Nathan opened up the idea to her eight years ago. I was just seventeen then, and Andi, nineteen, when my brother Nathan came into our family. I would never have guessed that the process of birthing would embed in Andi's consciousness so deeply even though she wasn't there at the birth. Katniss did wonderfully that cold winter morning. Peeta had been up all night rubbing her back and holding her hand. Annie and I only got to see Katniss when she started having contractions before midnight. The next time we saw her, she was holding our little brother. I never thought I would form such a powerful connection to another human being that I hadn't met before. Nathan was painfully pink yet beautiful. A mix of my parents' qualities. Katniss told us how Peeta cried the instant he held him on his bare chest. I imagine Peeta, my strong father, crying like a young man so desperately in love that it spills out of him. I wish I was there to have seen it. I'm sure it was such a captivating moment. A moment that I hope to have in just six short weeks. Andi and I didn't plan to have a baby until five years into our marriage. We got married young and just wanted to make our love official. I guess our baby had another plan, and three years into our marriage, we were expecting. There wasn't an ounce of hesitation or fear when Andi told me the good news. I was beyond happy and excited that I showered her with kisses all over, settling on her still flat belly and laying my first kiss to our child. Now, on our way to our home in Twelve, I can't wait to hold my baby.

"We're here," I say and catch the long red hair of Annie through the window. She's grown up fast and is turning heads all over the district, even in District Eleven, where she interned for two summers. She has been causing a bit of trouble with our parents, well mostly Peeta, with the number of suitors that vie for her attention. I guess my father and my mother's reputation no longer holds its strength. Either that or Annie's suitors are a bunch of idiots who are looking for trouble.

"Is that Byron?" Andi asks, and I look out the window again. "Wow, he's grown to be really stunning."

"Elrick!" My sister's high pitched tone separates from the crowd. "Andi! Over here!"

"Hey there, little sister," I tease her with a smug grin. She's not so little anymore, but I still look at her like the five-year-old that she is sometimes.

"Hey there, old man," she banters and gives me a punch on the shoulder before giving me a tight hug.

"Hi, Andi," she greets my wife. "And hi there, little bugger!" she says, kneeling down to talk to my wife's round stomach. "I can't believe I'm going to be an aunt soon."

"Well, you better behave yourself then."

"Who says I'm misbehaving, old man?"

"Oh, I don't know ... our parents? You know, I just spoke with Peeta before coming here."

"He worries too much," she mutters while rolling her eyes.

"Well, now he has a distraction. So you're welcome." If my father had his way, he would have us stay with them in their house. He was that excited. But Andi and I thought we should have a place of our own. We settled into staying across the path into former Mayor Haymitch's old house. He gave it to us as a wedding present after Peeta and I upgraded his townhouse and the whole Justice Building.

"Where's Byron?" Andi asks, searching around the station.

"He goes by Finn now, by the way. He just got a cart for your bags."

"Finn?" I ask curiously. "Byron? Finn?"

"Yeah, his second name. James and Sarah gave them a second name when they adopted them remember?"

"Oh. And now, he is exploring?"

"Elrick," Andi warns me, "Remember when I wanted to be called Dice? I was exactly his age then. Let him try it out."

"Finn it is then."

There they are. My parents. Peeta, sitting on the porch swing while Katniss lays her head on his lap. They love that spot, love that position. My most vivid memory of them peacefully resting there was when Katniss was 20 weeks pregnant, with the belly of 24 weeks. Nathan was a big baby, and for a while, we thought my parents were having twins. With Peeta and Katniss, I had a good picture of what love is, and I think it was why I wasn't afraid of loving Andi so fully later on. Going through the trauma of war, losing my real parents, and moving to a far-flung district while living with guilt would have made me averse to letting people in, or worse, made me mad at life. I guess I was like that for a while. More scared and lonely above all. But because of Delly and everyone at the orphanage, I began to heal.

Katniss and Peeta are so important to me that I just owe them everything. The way they supported my interests and gave me advice when I needed them most. When they make me laugh when I am stuck on a project or am just having a bad day. The endless conversations with me about anything and everything our combined minds could possibly think of. Even the talk about human sexuality was hilarious and memorable with them. I didn't know I had such cool parents until that night with them. But more importantly, they molded me by living in their lives what they were teaching us. They weren't perfect parents, far from it. They would retract decisions right in front of me when I would counter them and make better sense. They would ask me what I want, far too many times than they probably should have as parents. On rare times, they would be unreasonably strict. This is when they realize that they don't have enough rules unlike the other parents - hence my very early curfew during my first official date with Andi. They could really have imperfect timing sometimes.

They doted on Annie and Nathan A LOT. For a while, they were becoming spoiled little squirts until my parents finally figured out the extent of what their parenting style was doing to their two younger children. Less than half of the time, they were sure with what to do, half of the time they weren't, and a few fractions of the time, they were downright clueless and needed to ask Sae or call Katniss' mother. In everything, they taught us to roll with the punches and to do it with the people we love. Mistakes to them were nothing more than things we could do better on next time. How did Katniss and Peeta get to this point? I don't really know. Their backgrounds are so dark and complex, and when they finally told me, I cried for several days for them. In the midst of it all, I realized, like the codes I had to break or equations I had to figure out or solutions I had to make, that the answer to their life was already in the given. The elegant solution to Katniss and Peeta was each other. They complimented each other perfectly, and they became better people for it.

Our family started out very weirdly. A five-year-old daughter and a fifteen-year-old son, who they adopted separately, followed by an energetic baby two years after. Mine and Annie's papers had to be changed at the Justice Building, twice. Baby Nathan's papers were pulled out too due to a typographical error because Peeta and Katniss couldn't agree if they wanted to give him a second name or not. It was all crazy but fun all the same. We're an "instant" family, but our connection spans infinitely further than a sliver of time. Oh, how Katniss and Peeta loved Annie, Nathan, and me so so much. That is why watching them now as we approach our old house, I have overwhelming joy and gratitude for them. Two human beings, just sitting there, simply enjoying the quiet and the diffused afternoon sun together. I love Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. My parents.

"There's our son!" Peeta calls the moment he spots us. His eyeglasses are thicker than they used to, but his eyes are still impossibly bright blue. "Elrick! Andi! Welcome home!" He hugs us generously with his still vigorous arms.

"Hey," Katniss greets me soothingly while brushing my hair, she really likes doing it to all of us, and we just let her. "You're looking well. How's the father-to-be doing?"

"Hey, Katniss. It's so good to see you," I tell my mother genuinely and give her a hug. "It feels incredible to be home."

"Speaking of home," Peeta cuts in. "There's a water leak in Haymitch's kitchen, so I moved all your things to our house. It's not safe to live there just yet. Don't worry, I fixed your old room upstairs." Katniss and Annie are both rolling their eyes as he says this. I'm tempted to tell him that I could effortlessly fix a leak, but he is much too adorable at this time to disappoint.

"Thanks, Peeta," I say like normal. The glint in his eyes at his sense of accomplishment cannot be hidden. He really needed a reason to have us stay with them.

"I guess Finn and I will be bringing your bags in this house then?" Annie chimes in and calls Finn, who is already moving the bags to the other house.

"Let me help Finn," I offer quickly.

"No, son. He's got it," Peeta seriously says, eyeing Finn across the path. I think he's testing him.

"Anyhow," Katniss interjects with a grin. It's obvious she's trying to hold her laughter. "You need to pick up Nathan from school, Elrick. He's been asking for you."

"Don't worry, old man. We'll take good care of Andi while you're away."

"I'll see you later, okay?" I tell Andi, squeezing her hand. She's in good company.

"See you later," she says and gives me a quick kiss.

Walking to town, I see all the new developments in Twelve. There's another medicine factory where Sarah is the operational engineer. A small-scale farm where the east fence used to be. Upgraded and furnished shops line town, which to their credit still sticks to the district's organic vibe, and a calming water feature in front of the Justice Building is just impressive. The homely extension of the lower school building is a testament to growth. The population in Twelve almost doubled due to returning residents and citizens from other districts wanting to begin a new life.

Nathan is in second grade, and he is classmates with Delly's daughter, Cecilia. There are twenty children in class, which doesn't seem much until you consider the energy of eight-year-olds. Delly and Thom have three kids now, and they look like real experienced parents. Thom has been sporting a beard and a mustache since his firstborn. Delly is still as lively as ever, juggling work and home skillfully. We will visit her tomorrow when she is not so busy with the orphanage, no, the Center for Women and Children. There are still more children in need seventeen years after the war. What used to be just an orphanage is now expanded to help women in crisis in Panem. Delly, Lindy, Christa, and Katniss still run everything. They're such a tight team of strong and empowered women.

Our dear Sae, unfortunately, passed away just three years ago. She went quietly in her sleep, and we were grateful for her lack of suffering. We all miss her dearly. She was a character, playing tricks amongst us, but most importantly, she was a wisdom-filled mentor and grandmother. The night before she crossed the path to be with her beloved Jonathan, Sae gave Peeta and Katniss the handcrafted pendant that Jonathan made for her when they were sixteen. Sae said it's my parents' time to keep it safe now. They didn't know it would be her last night, but they said that it felt like she was saying goodbye to them. Peeta couldn't shake the feeling, and I saw my parents crying together on the porch swing later in the evening. Katniss always has the necklace around her neck. She says it makes her feel that Sae is still here with her. Peeta gave a heartfelt eulogy during her wake. He captured Sae's unrelenting life, positive energy, forward banter, and unequaled love for all the people she allowed to be part of her family. Sae considered all of us as her family. Her ashes were scattered in the meadows, right across the fence where she and Jonathan had their first kiss. She had asked for it several years ago and said that even though they were just twelve then, they felt that they discovered a secret in the universe through their young eyes. They knew love would never fail them.

"Elrick! Elrick! Elrick!" My brother's sunny and carefree voice rings out, and I am drawn back to where I am now. "Teacher, see, that's my brother!" he says proudly while pointing at me. Nathan bounds down two steps and jumps on me, making me step back. He's always been a big child. He gets it from Peeta, obviously.

"How are you, Nathan? I missed you so much!" I tell him happily. He's such a cute and affable kid, and none of us could resist his charm.

"You're finally here!" Nathan shouts in my ear. He's giggling and jumping in my arms like a rider on a horse. "Did you bring me sweets? Or another puzzle? Did you? Did you?"

"I did," I say confidently.

"Which one?" he asks excitedly.

"You'll just have to wait and find out. But first, how about some ice cream?"

"Can we eat it with cookies? Papa and I made cookies this morning."

"Cookies and ice cream do sound nice. Let's get yours and Andi's favorite flavor."

"Yey!"

"Yey!" I reciprocate his joy.

"Hi there," I serenade my wife. She's sitting lazily in the porch swing.

"Hi," Andi says as if she's a shy sixteen-year-old. She never was. "Did Nathan finally go to sleep?"

"Nah, my parents are up there with him reading a story. Katniss will probably sing him a lullaby too just to get him to sleep."

"That's so sweet," Andi says with a dreamy smile on her face. "Come scoot over."

"I think we should get a porch swing in Three. You always have a smile when you sit here."

"I do, don't I? I just can't help it. It feels perfect being here, you know? Like I'm totally safe and calm and warm," she says, then snuggles on my chest, resting her head on the crook of my neck. She feels perfect.

"You forgot loved," I tease.

"I already feel that as long as I'm with you," she coos, then grins at me like a child.

"You're cute."

"And you're perfect."

"Wow. How I love your hormones right now."

"Want to have an adventure?"

"In my parents' house?"

"I'm not the loud one, you know?"

I just chuckle.

"Right," she says simply, then pulls me down for a hormone-charged kiss. Oh, how I love Andi being pregnant.

"Let's go," I huff.

"Ehem," Annie coughs out as I walk through the kitchen. Andi is craving cookies and milk, and of course, I can't deny her anything.

"Ehem yourself," I reply in jest. My sister is eyeing me as I look for the milk bottle in the fridge. "What are you doing up so late?"

"Oh, I don't know ... I thought I heard cats meowing in the yard, then there was some banging on the wall. Did you hear anything suspicious?"

"Nope," I say quickly. How could I possibly concern myself with felines when I'm cuddling with my wife.

"Oh ... it was pretty loud, actually. I can't believe you missed it," Annie says with big eyes. Why is she pushing this?"I actually thought Buttercup came back to life."

"Well, I missed it," I say straight-faced while pouring some milk in two glasses. "Why are you so concerned with cats, Annie? Buttercup is resting in peace. What's the deal?" I ask, finally unable to play this game of hers. I turn around to look at her, and she's looking at me like I'm a clueless idiot.

"You know, sometimes I don't believe that you're smart. You could miss the picture entirely even though it's staring right in front of you."

"What is it, Annie? Andi wants some cookies, and I have to bring this to her," I say, my patience growing thinner.

"Elrick, hello, meow? Moaning? Banging? On? The? Wall? My room is just beside yours, you know, and I hear everything."

"Oh"

"Yeah, oh," she says, then chuckles at my reddening face.

"Right," I say, embarrassed. "Duly noted. We'll keep quiet then."

"Don't worry, I'm sleeping on the couch. I'll say I fell asleep watching the television."

I laugh thickly then pat the top of her head. Watching TV was an excuse I made up to get away from my room when Katniss and Peeta were particularly loud. And they were loud many times when they first got married. "We'll move out soon, don't worry. We're just indulging the soon-to-be grandparents."

"No, don't," she says, pleading. "They're exceedingly happy that you're both here. I like seeing them that way. I'll be fine."

"Oh, Annie."

"Hey, little squirt," I greet Annie like usual. She's been sitting alone on the back porch for an hour now. "What's on your mind?"

"Are you going to call me that until I'm eighty, old man?" We usually start our conversations this way, a little sibling banter before the serious stuff. We've always found it easy to talk to each other. Katniss and Peeta ingrained that in us.

"As long as I still have teeth." I snicker, then sit beside her on the steps. She lazily leans her head on my shoulders just like she used to when we were younger. "So, what's on your mind?"

"Everything and nothing in particular," she huffs.

"Have you decided what you will do after graduation?" Annie has been interning in different districts to help figure out what she really wants to do.

"I wish I was as sure as you, Elrick. You've always known what you wanted from an early age. I feel a little jealous."

"Don't be," I try to reassure her. "You'll figure it out soon enough. Some just have it easy, but some need more time. You have time, Annie." We all have time. And choices too. That's what my parents fought for so many years ago.

"I guess so," she says thoughtfully, but there's more in her mind than just that. Annie is easy to figure out as she's always so transparent. It's one of her endearing qualities.

"How's Byron?"

Annie replies by pinching me, as in really pinching my waist. She always does that when I hit the topic right on the money.

"Sorry," I offer to stop her from obliterating my love handles. "I mean Finn, not Byron, by the way."

"He's all right," she says casually, but I know there's more than she's letting up.

"I can't believe Peeta is testing him. He practically watched him grow up. Plus, he's your best friend."

"Papa could be so protective sometimes, you know?"

"I know. Finn is a good guy though, right? I mean, he doesn't get into trouble, is always polite and respectful, kind, and is very good looking?"

"He is ...," Annie says dreamily, then catches herself. "I mean, he is all those things and many girls like him. I think that's why Papa is being protective. He thinks he's a playboy or something."

"Well, is he?"

"Not in the slightest, and sometimes I wonder why not," she spats.

"Why do you say that?"

"I don't know," she replies defensively.

"How about your other suitors then?" She punches my shoulders this time. I didn't expect that. When she does that, it means that there is usually more. Double trouble. "Who is he then?"

"You don't know him. He's from Eleven. Papa and Mama met him when they took me there to intern."

"Is he nice?"

"He's all right. He's my age and interns on the farm," she says casually again, and I chuckle. "What's so funny, old man?"

"When you say things in that tone, I know that you like him too. Come on, Annie, I'm your brother remember?" I receive a scowl. How is it possible for her to mimic our mother's scowl?

"How do you know, Elrick?" she asks, shifting the mood to something like sadness and frustration. I've never seen her get riled up this way before. It must be more serious than I thought. The answer to her question is difficult to explain. How does one know who to love? Who to marry? Not that Annie is marrying soon, my parents would start an uprising all over again. But how does one really know who to choose?

"I think you may be asking the wrong person, little squirt. I've only ever loved Andi. She's been the only one ever since."

"But you must have known?" she asks like she's so sure I have an explanation. "I almost envy your certainty with Andi. You both just knew," she adds, and I smile because Andi and I were indeed so sure.

"This is what I know about love, Annie," I start. I'm not offering her a straight answer but courage, "That it is a choice. And like choosing what you will do after graduation who you will love is also a choice you have to make on your own. Some have the easy choice, like Sae and me, but some not so. I mean, look at Mama and Papa. They met each other at thirty-three and got married at thirty-four. Katniss almost married General Gale Hawthorne - they were even engaged." Goosebumps run right up our arms. "Then Peeta had two girlfriends before meeting our mother. They both had their own decisions to make from different choices and odds, and it took them years until they finally found one other. In the end, they chose each other. Actually, they chose us first separately, then, later on, chose each other. Love is a choice, Annie. Just be brave to take it. Then if it doesn't work out, know that you can love again."

"What if I'm just not brave enough?" I shake my head when she says this. Annie is never the coward. She's just confused right now.

"Have you looked at our family?" I offer another explanation. I exhale deeply and rub her forehead. She swats my hand playfully. "Annie … our family is a bunch of choices made by brave people. And those brave people raised you." I turn to her with exaggerated wide eyes. "Look at us. If we were to walk in a new district where people didn't know us, they wouldn't even think we were a family. We all look so different. Papa has bright blue eyes, curly golden hair, and pale skin. Mama has stormy gray eyes, thick dark hair, and olive skin; I have beautiful brown eyes, straight black hair, fair skin; and you have big sea-green eyes, red hair, ivory skin. And Nathan? Even though he's a son by blood is a combination of light gray eyes, thick golden hair, and pearl white skin. None of us look the same, Annie. But once people start talking to us, they'll know exactly our connections. That we are a family. And our family is made by choice. I'm proud of our family Annie, and you have us in spades."

"You're right," she offers in a whisper, and I know that she has made up her mind. My little sister is growing up.

"Of course, I'm right!" I tease, and it lightens up the mood. Annie has a small smile on her face now. She's becoming more and more beautiful as a young adult.

"I know who to choose, Elrick."

"Good," I say and kiss her head. "Please break Peeta's heart gently."

How do you like Katniss and Peeta being parents? I think they did a wonderful job, didn't they? Elrick and Annie turned out all right growing up. And Nathan? I guess we will see. I haven't explored his character much yet. What would Katniss and Peeta be like with a rambunctious kid like him? Hahaha.