The Lady of the Lake

So here we are, chapter 26.

Still mosying through the meme on Tumblr. ALSO! Please still feel free to ask questions of the characters at the Tumblr. All characters in this story are fair game, which means you can now ask questions of Deccia, Lucan, Petra, Septim and the others, as well as Annie and the other District 4 residents.

We've reached an insane 452 reviews...which just...blows my mind. Really guys, I can't believe you love this story like I do!

The MODERN AU, has shifted in plot slightly...but it should still be insanely fun.

This chapter features Deccia being badass, family, Finnick and sex ed, and Skato.

I hope the ah...lovescene...is okay xD So selfconcious.

Review responses are at the end of the Chapter!

Enjoy


Chapter 26

The first thing I notice upon waking is Cato's arm leaving it's place curling around my waist, but I'm still drowsy and half asleep and so just snuggle further into the blankets, preparing to fall back into deep slumber.

Instead my eyes shoot open as Cato yells at the top of his lungs.

For a moment I'm disoriented, the pale grey of Cato's walls blurring with memory of stone, memories of the Arena and I leap to my feet, heart thundering with terror.

As my feet find the smooth floor though the haze of sleep, and memory leave me and I find myself helplessly awake, awake and out of the Arena, awake and in Cato's Victor home.

The sounds of struggling seem to be coming from the bathroom, just off the bedroom so I head in there, concerned about what I might find.

I don't expect to see Deccia standing there, dressed in excersise pants and red shirt with the District 2 insignia emblazoned on the breast, as well as another crest I am unfamiliar with. She's holding a struggling, swearing Cato under the spray of water from the shower, and by the looks of it, the water is cold. Cato looks furious and miserable, still in his sleeping pants, which are now drenched and plastered to him.

"Morning sunshine," Deccia smiles at me, and I smile back, wary. It's a dangerous smile that one, "Training starts early in 2, so I thought I'd come give Precious here a wake up call."

"I hate you!" Cato seethes from behind his glass prison, "Fucking bitch."

"Now, now Cato," Deccia smirks at him, "Don't make a spectacle of yourself." She looks back at me, "He's got temper problems…you saw a bit of that in the Arena didn't you?"

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here!" Cato barks, "And I'm awake now, let me out!"

"It's for fun now," his sister retorts, opening her hand to show me the two tap handles that had been unscrewed from the shower. Cato couldn't turn the cold water off, and with Deccia holding the door shut, he was stuck, "So sweetheart," she winks at me, "Got any weapons skills at all? I mean I saw you flail around with your trident a bit, and you had knives but you never used them."

"No," I say quietly, keeping an eye on Cato who was looking mutinous but more sullen than incendiary at the moment, "No weapons training at all."

"Well lucky you darling," Deccia finally lets go of the shower door and walks over to sling an arm about my shoulder, "Today you get to train like a District 2 Career. Maybe I can teach you enough to kick dipshit here in the ass once and a while."

"I doubt it," I laugh softly, as Cato lunges out of the cold water, glowering at his sister, "Cato's the best fighter I know."

That makes him preen, until Deccia snorts.

"That's because you haven't met the rest of us. Cato's just a baby."

"Deccia I swear I'm going to…" Cato drips his way over to me and brushes a kiss against my lips, "Can you wait outside sweetheart? I have to get changed." He glares at Deccia, "I want you to go too."

"Sure thing baby brother." She steers me out of the door, "We have no desire to see your worm and two nuts do we Sky?"

She ducks easily as the wadded ball of sodden pants flies through the air where her head would be and walks me out of the bedroom door, while Cato mutters things under his breath, left behind in the bathroom.


Around an hour later I find myself, washed, dressed and fed, standing in the middle of a huge field of trimmed grass, flat and wide. In front of me are all the Academy students of District 2, all wearing the same uniform and standing in perfectly straight, regimented lines.

It's bizarre, seeing so many children here.

There are approximately 10 males and 10 females per age bracket, 7 up to 18, some have a few more, but they never have any less than that. These are the children who will volunteer when they reach 18 years old, like Cato did for these Hunger Games.

Deccia had explained the system over a light breakfast, while Cato was still sulking upstairs.

"Each age group are assessed and ranked based on skills, and then the scores are added up to get an overall tally of lethality. If one of the other children of the District, ones untrained by the Academy is picked at the Reaping, then the highest ranked Academy trainee Volunteers. However in some cases Academy kids are the ones Reaped. We have a signal; you can give it if you do not think you are ready for the Games. We want no heroics; this system is in place so we have the most chance possible to get one Tribute home. Clove was Reaped, and she chose to take her chance. Some untrained boy was Reaped and so Cato, as the highest ranked of his age Volunteered."

Standing now, in front of rows of almost trained, lethal young would-be killers, I keep close to Deccia and Cato who stand, fearless, either side of me. This is their world, but to me it is alien and vaguely terrifying.

"Listen up snowflakes!" Deccia's voice booms out across the field and the students, some of whom had been talking or just idling, straighten up instantly, all of their eyes snapping to the front, "Today we have a visitor," and her hand presses into my lower back, shoving me forward a pace, "You all watched the Games this year, so you all should know this is Schuyler Cavendish, the Victor from District 4."

The intensity of the scrutiny from the assembled students is unnerving to say the least and I glance around at Cato, who gives me a tiny nod.

"So," Deccia continues, "I expect you little shits to be on your best behaviour. Now, what were her principle weapons in the Arena?"

Hands shoot up and I glance at Cato again, am I a training excersise? Really? He shrugs, and I turn back to the crowd as Deccia points out a boy.

"Hunting knives, fishing trident and trident." The boy replies, and then swallows nervously, "However only the trident was used for actual combat. Cavendish didn't fight until the final day."

This is so bizarre.

"Then how did she survive?" Deccia asks the crowd, folding her arms, "Hmm? You are all trained that the strongest, the better fighters, survive. How did she survive, if she was not seeking out kills?"

"By spreading her legs for the District 2 Tribute." A voice comes from the back row, and there are choked gasps from around the field, wide eyes, glancing back and then towards Deccia and Cato.

Cato snarls furiously and steps forward but I catch his arm.

"No," I whisper, watching Deccia stroll down the line of recruits, "She's got it…"

"Vittor," Deccia says, in an almost friendly voice, "My favourite little reprobate." The crowd shifts, and I see her walking, cornering a boy who looks to be in the 17 year old age bracket. He's huge, tall and strong with thick dark hair and snapping dark eyes. In a flash of movement she has the boy on his knees and then, drags him, with him scrambling wildly along, by his hair, back up to the front of the group.

As he gets closer I realise just how large the boy is, strapping, but not as bulky as Cato or Thresh had been. He was taller, leaner but strong, and there was an ugly twist to his mouth.

"Sky, sweetheart," Deccia introduces us, "This is Vittor, you may have been familiar with his sister…Clove."

My heart skips a beat.

Clove's brother.

He sneers at me and then yelps as Deccia yanks on his hair, "He's an arrogant little shit. One who doesn't know what's good for him." Vittor's mouth opens to retort something but Deccia overrides him, "Ah, ah…one more foul little peep out of you you side slopping sack of ooze and I will make sure you aren't given a good enough mark for top Ranking."

"On what grounds?" he growls out, glaring up at her, "I'm the best fighter in my age…."

"Fighting isn't everything," Deccia informs him, "I'll cite your unsuitability on attitude. Which leads to the point I was trying to make." She turns back to the group at large, none of whom look ruffled by the manhandling, "This year, the Career supplies were destroyed, and it left Cato and Clove vulnerable. They were vulnerable because we were complacent, relying on supplies which weren't actually a given. Fortunately they were able to secure an alliance with Sky here…and her survival skills kept the three of them alive for a time."

Her hand twists idly in Vittor's hair and he winces, "I'll speak plainly for all you special girls and boys in the crowd today. Any derogatory comments towards our guest, and you and I will be having some one on one time like Vittor and I will be. And you really don't want that."

All the heads on the field shake from side to side obediently.


In the end I am the one fortunate enough to get training with Deccia, one on one, mostly because she insists someone else will do it wrong.

And because she refuses to let Cato train me.

"You're not meant for the sword," she informs me, "That's the weapon for loud, unsubtle bastards. You're too quick and smart for such stone headed foolishness."

She sends a grumbling Cato off to lead the would-be Tributes off around the oval for cardio training, building stamina. And the sight of Cato running, golden and handsome, with young men and women trailing behind him like ducklings following their mother, makes me smile slightly.

Then Deccia has me practicing knife throwing movements again and again, to get me fluid, she says. There can be no tenseness when throwing knives, or else you will rip something when going from one movement to the next. So she moves me, and I copy her, throwing again and again.

"So," she says after a while, moving up to reposition my hips again and breathing in my ear, "Cato recruited me."

I jerk slightly in her hold, twisting, but she keeps me still, so I make a throwing motion again, "Recruited you?"

"Mmmm…" Deccia, moves away, "He knows me. I'm loyal, but only to people who earn that loyalty. The Capitol," she pretends to yawn covering her mouth, "Not endearing."

"And we are?" I arch an eyebrow at her, throwing once more, feeling a twinge through my arm.

"Aside from the fact Cato is my brother," Deccia, shrugs, "I figured everyone else out there in the wide world of Panem were too whipped. Thrilled to hear I was wrong. You have support here…they'll follow you... not that lump of coal Cats-piss or whatever her name is. You're practically family. And Cato, for all he's a bossy, arrogant, aggravating little shit, is 2's golden boy. He loves you, you saved him, you're one of us, and we…we will follow you."

"But I'm not a leader," I murmur, "I'm just…helping."

"Fuck that," Deccia snorts, "You had the Capitol eating out of your tiny little hand. You're going to lead this rebellion."

"Katniss is the symbol," I reply, shaking my head, "Not me."

"Cat-piss isn't any kind of symbol for District 2." Deccia's voice is surprisingly solemn, "Not for us. Without you, Cato would have died, and she would have won with puppy eyes Mellark. The rest of the Districts might flock to her sparkly fire filled tail, but we're stone baby, we're worn down by water, not fire."

"That was very poetic," I say quietly, thinking of Teesa and her comments about Cato's surprising eloquence, way back in Tribute training. Thinking of her brings the familiar pang of grief and as always I push it away, swallowing down the lump in my throat.

"Thanks," Deccia smirks, "Been practicing, you know."

"I'm glad you're watching his back though," I say, looking over at Cato, who is showing a group of younger boys some sword moves. He looks relaxed, enjoying sharing his knowledge with them, and I smile softly.

"Yeah," Deccia's voice is soft and I look back around at her. She's watching my face as I look at him, "I'm glad he has you too."

Comfortable in our understanding of one another, we smile, and then go back to watching Cato, who is blissfully unaware that we're both gazing at him with tears in our eyes.


It's evening, after dinner, and I'm settled in Cato's study, dialing Finnick's home number, while Cato heads upstairs for another shower, a warm one this time.

"Finnick," I sigh with relief as he picks up on the third ring, "It's Sky."

"Sky!" Finnick's voice is bright and warm, and I feel a pang of homesickness, "How is my precious girl?"

"I'm well," I smile, curling up in the cushy chair, "Trained like a Career today."

"You're kidding!" Finnick laughs, and I hear him flop onto something soft, "Tell me everything, I've always been curious about those uptight 2's and their Academy."

"They're pretty decent," I say, smiling, "Met Clove's brother though. He hates me."

"You can't win them all," Finnick's voice is gentle, "What about pancake's family?"

"Cato's family is lovely." I grin, "His sister is terrifying, but awesome."

"Everyone from 2 is terrifying in some way," he says wisely, "Have they been treating you well?"

His concern makes my eyes well up with tears.

"I miss you," I say quietly, and I hear his breath catch at the wobble in my voice, "I miss Mags, I miss my mother and father…I miss Annie…I miss….I miss…"

"You miss Darrien. And Teesa."

He knows me so well.

"Yes," I mumble, wiping my eyes, "I should be over this by now…it's been four months, they aren't…they aren't coming back."

"Love, you know it doesn't work like that."

"Yeah, I know…" I clear my throat huskily, "Anyway, that's not why I called…I just…I wanted some advice?"

"Advice?" Finnick sounds surprised, "From me?"

"Yeah," I roll my eyes, "Who else, you idiot."

"Alright," he sounds pleased and I can almost see him wiggling down deeper into his couch, "Shoot."

I hesitate for a moment and then I blurt my question out.

"I need you to give me advice about…sex."

There's a thump as Finnick flails off his couch and a yelp down the line.

"Sex!?" he cries, "Is that lout pressuring you again?"

"No!" I huff at him, "Finnick, this is my idea, I just…I thought you'd have some tips."

"Darling I can give you the step by step guide complete with diagrams and motivational slogans." Finnick sounds shaken, "I just…be safe yeah? Do it because you love him, not because…you're scared, or lonely."

I think about it for a moment, but only for a moment.

"I love him."

There's silence and then Finnick speaks again, his voice soft, tender, "Then you don't need any advice from me love. Just be happy."

"Thanks Finnick," I say, wondering if this is the moment to tell him that he's the best brother I could hope for now that Darrien is gone. Peeta would have been mortified at the questions, but Finnick…well Finnick had been mortified but he'd answered. Maybe I should tell him how special he is to me….

"Just make sure you use protection. And ask him if he has communicable diseases by dicking."

Maybe not tonight, I think, rolling my eyes and hanging up.


I hesitate at the bedroom door and then I push it open, leaving the safe haven of the bathroom behind.

Cato is sitting up in bed, and I have to stop myself from grinning at how adorable he looks.

His soft fair hair is unstyled and messy, fluffy from its recent wash, and he's wearing a new pair of sleeping pants, his chest bare. But it's the pair of small reading glasses perching on his nose, and the book of Arthurian legends he's holding that really make me fight down my smile.

Slowly I move across from him and shed my dressing gown, blushing slightly as the nightdress I'm wearing is revealed.

I hadn't packed the silky slip of cloth. But I'd found it there in my bag, folded in soft blue tissue paper and with a tiny slip of cart resting on top, tucked just in the folds of the garment. It had been a love heart, drawn carefully with a cautious, slow hand, and underneath had been a neat little x and the letter A.

Annie is watching out for me, just like Finnick.

Cato's icy blue eyes lock on me in the nightdress, and I see him swallow, slowly putting the book down.

"Sky…"

"Cato." I say softly, trying to hide my nerves under a smile, "I'm yours."

There is silence for a long moment as he stares at me, and then his face breaks out into a wide grin, and he tosses the book to the side, along with the glasses, before he lunges forward, hauling me bodily onto the bed beside him.

I laugh at the delight in his eyes and then his lips find mine, teasing them open.

The kiss is intense, deep, hungry, and there is an edge to it now. It's not kissing for the sake of kissing; it's not kissing without a purpose. This is kissing, knowing that we have the whole night ahead of us, the whole night to enjoy one another.

The intensity of it, the passion, the lust, the arousal, the need we have for one another is tempered by his clumsy and eager, but tender and gentle caresses, and kisses. It's awkward and fumbling but in a way it's perfect in its imperfection.

This is ours, and no one can take it from us.

I relax under his hands, letting them skim up and over my waist, stroking my sides through the satin material, and I drop my face to his neck, kissing and sucking there, marking him, as he once marked me.

It hurts when he enters me, but I've been expecting the sting of it, the burn of stretching in a way my body never has before, but I'm soothed by his kisses, interspersed with soft words, mumbles of my name, and sorry.

But soon enough the pain fades and then it is only me and Cato, moving together, foreheads pressed together, lips breathing together, his eyes on mine, and mine on his.

Afterwards we lay tangled up in one another, both of us naked, and my hair loose as I lay sprawled half on and half off his body. His fingers gently stroke through my hair and down my spine, gentle brushes that reassure both of us that this is real, that we really are here, and we really have each other.

"Cato," I murmur, kissing his chest drowsily, "I…"

"I know…" he mumbles back, smiling slyly.

I lift up slightly to look at him with a frown.

"You don't even know what I was going to say,"

"You were going to say, 'I love you'," he shrugs casually, "I heard you talking to Odair, I wanted…to see if you were okay."

"You…oh…" I flush and put my head down, "You're such an ass; you could have let me say it."

"You could say it now," he offers, stroking the small of my back, "I'm listening."

"No," I huff at him, rolling away, "You've ruined the moment now."

He laughs and tugs me back against him, curling around me protectively.

"And if I told you…that I feel the same?"

I look around at him, and find him watching me, blue eyes tender, "You…what?"

"I…" he coughs slightly and ducks his head, kissing my shoulder, "I…love you too. I am yours, and you….you Schuyler Cavendish. You are mine."

I smile at him and remember what he'd said to me, all those months ago in Training, "You are mine. Now say it 2."

And I give a shriek of laughter as he growls, rolling me under him, kissing me deeply.

This night is ours. And I don't think we're going to be sleeping any time soon.


Still looking for requests for the meme. I need One colour, Two capitol citizens, Three brotps, Four locations, Five otps, Six deaths, Seven outfits, Eight scenes, Nine quotes, Ten characters.

Next chapter: The conclusion of Sky's visit to 2, her return to 4 and the beginning of the Victory Tour.

MoonlightDiva – Nope, not good at all!

Mt – I pronounce it as Deh-see-ah, however it's perfectly fine to pronounce it as Deckia. And here we have the…furthering. Hope you like it…I am so self conscious about sexy scenes.

Tribute-Trials – I love Deccia, she just…kind of marched on into my head and insisted on being involved. Yeah Cato has changed, I think having someone to ground him has been nothing but beneficial. He's not a brutal kid anymore.

Sarah'1595 – Yeah I always saw him as having a very loud and dominating family, but in a loving way. I hope I got the dynamic right!

Coco2008 – Glad you like the siblings! They were fun to write, especially Deccia. Petra is next chapter. Yeah it was nice to have them back together…they don't like being apart in my head.

Bluetigers – Nope! Nothing boring happening at the DuGrey house! Sky finds the Academy unnerving…understandably.

Livea – The picture of Sky is up on the Tumblr love!

Reviewer08 – No one is like Peeta He'll be back next chapter. As you can see we met a part of Clove's family here, although he's not really too pleasant. And Sky has golden brown, almost dark auburn hair and green eyes

Germany – They are the Skato fanboys and girls, all oogling and going oooooooh aaaah.

Eve – Finnick is love. And he had to chime in on this chapter. Cause that's just how he rolls. The drabble will be written within the next few days. Have a few ideas for it…should be very funny.

Loopyloola – Deccia is definitely intimidating, Septim returns next chapter

Cookiecrazy224 – Drabbles will be being written in my little notebook tomorrow! :D Should be fun. And I love his family too.

Luli Cullen – Nope! Not bad at all. I like her too, she's fun to write. Xxx

CatoSkyOBSESSED – There may be squeeing when I see your long reviews love. Sky and Cato's awkward phone conversations were fun to think of in my head. They didn't all make it into the final fic, but the ones I plotted out were funny. And yes Deccia is a funny one, and YES, his family make him want some control over other spheres of his life. And they stop him from getting too overbearing.

Aasta The Evil Bunny Foo Foo – Gale will make an appearance in the fic later so I hope you'll like that when we get there. The Victory Tour will be fun…and it's getting ever closer.

Aumack – I love them too. And yes they both feel much more grounded together than when they're apart and unsure. I will definitely give your fic a looksie

WonderGirl556 – Septim will be back next chapter! He is fun Yay Skato!

Blueberrytoast – Wow, in one hit? Dedication! Here is an update!

Guest – Yeah Cato in District 4 should be fun, since she has like three families now. I think he'll be a bit shy about meeting Darrien's family.

everyday . reader – Thank you so much for the compliments lovely! Skato ftw!

Ravenclaw Slytherin – District 2 bond over weapons and sweat. It's just how they roll.

BrunetteAnnabeth - *Pets* we all were gutted when Darrien passed specially me.

Guest – A younger brother? Noooo, don't think so…but I could be wrong…xD