Hello my dears! I am SO SORRY for the cliffhanger before Christmas. I realized right after that it was probably more cruel than waiting to post, haha.
Not a whole lot of action in this one but LOTS of talking ;) you'll finally have some answers and maybe some of them will surprise you!
"It wasn't me," Margaret said miserably. "I tried to stop them… I even pleaded with the Capitol… I never meant for it to happen!" Haymitch's brow furrowed as he sat in a chair across from Bran. Margaret sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed her face.
"What does that file say?"
"There isn't anything about Ash. Just a contract between you and… President Snow." Bran closed his eyes and inhaled sharply. Haymitch looked at him quickly but Margaret released a little sound that Haymitch swore was a choked sob.
"You know that I was raised at the Apothecary. With my brothers."
"Michael and Morgan," Haymitch nodded.
"We were very close. I'm the youngest so they were very protective of me. They knew I wasn't… particularly fond of the idea of marrying the Baker. It was arranged and I tried to be happy. But I knew that Bran loved another."
"Margaret-" She threw him a look that made him fall silent and play with his hands in his lap.
"When Bing was born, I was overjoyed. And then Ryen… we were very happy with two boys. But I wanted a girl, more than anything. I begged Bran to give me a daughter. I sought out soothsayers and healers… I went to the old woman everyone said was a witch."
"Greasy Sae? She's no witch, just a wise old woman who can make soup out of anything-"
"Many women spoke about her hidden magic. So I visited her in the Seam one day. I asked her if I was destined to have a daughter. She told me the child I would bear would be a blessed child. But she didn't say if it would be a boy or girl. When I became pregnant again, the doctor said I was carrying a girl. I visited the old woman again and she told me the same thing as before. The child would be blessed. Peeta was born under a blood moon and I feared him. I feared what that meant."
"So you sold him," Haymitch asked incredulously. Her eyes flashed.
"I don't have to continue, you know."
"Sorry. Please continue," he tried to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.
"Fine. I'll skip ahead. One night when Peeta was very young, Bran went out for a delivery. But he didn't come home until morning. He told me he had gotten lost in the dark and had to seek shelter in a barn until the sun came up. I thought nothing of it. But my brothers came to see me shortly after with news. They had seen Bran in the meadow with a woman… with her." Haymitch sighed and glanced sideways at Bran.
"That's why she hates me," he whispered. "Violet, I mean. I was passing by too. I told Ash immediately." Bran's eyes swirled with tears and guilt.
"The next time I saw that…woman, she was pregnant again. I managed to avoid them completely. But then her child was born and Bran came home one day looking…." she sniffed in disgust and shook her head. Bran swallowed and bit his lip.
"I had Peeta on my shoulders…we were picking up supplies from the train station and I… I saw them coming down the lane. Katniss with her father, and a little blonde-haired girl with her mother. I knew immediately. I came home and locked myself in the bathroom. I didn't want to tell Margaret-"
"And he didn't. Until they came into the bakery one day. The girl was a tiny child but I saw the way Bran looked at her. With longing in his eyes. I left the bakery and went straight to my brothers."
"You told them what happened?"
"I was devastated! The whole story came out and they were furious. Michael said he knew Everdeen was involved in something illegal and they could get him into some trouble. I just thought he might get thrown into jail for several nights and give her a scare. But Michael started going out at night and spying. He discovered there was rebellion brewing and that Everdeen was leading it. He and Morgan contacted the Capitol."
"Oh and I'm sure you had nothing to do with it," Haymitch scoffed. "If you knew they knew about the rebellion, why didn't you tell anyone?"
"I told them to forget about it. But the letter had been sent. When Capitol Peacekeepers arrived in 12, I knew what would happen. So I wrote a letter, under the penname JabberJay, to warn Everdeen."
"That was you?" Haymitch gaped.
"I wrote several of them. I urged him to go into hiding. Told him to dissolve the rebellion quickly."
"I remember," Haymitch nodded. "Ash wondered if it was an enemy trying to frighten him, or a friend trying to help. We contacted 13 and discussed Ash fleeing."
"The Peacekeepers went to Michael and then to Morgan. I had asked them to stay quiet, to lie about his involvement with the rebellion. But they were so angry. They had seen the little girl and said they could see Bran in her. They wanted to punish the woman responsible for my pain. Said it would hurt her if they put Everdeen in jail." Haymitch gritted his teeth.
"If the sons of bitches wanted revenge, they should have done something to the man responsible for your pain!" Bran nodded sadly.
"That's what I told her when she told me all of this. I wish they had punished me. Ash didn't deserve that. Nor did his family."
"And I can't believe you didn't do anything to help them after he died," Haymitch hissed. "You really are a cold-hearted bitch."
"Haymitch, please," Bran shook his head. "Let her finish."
"They came to me next. And I lied. I said my brothers were wrong, that I'd heard nothing about rebellion and that Everdeen was a hard working husband and father. They left 12 and I felt relieved. Things went back to normal and I figured it was over. But at that point… they already knew. I think others must have confessed, or my brothers had strong evidence, I don't know. They stayed away for a long time and we didn't hear from them again. I told my brothers to let it go, as I was trying to move on. One day, out of the blue, the Peacekeepers reappeared. It had been years, so I didn't think they were back for Everdeen. But they had been building a case and gathering evidence; they showed Michael a statement of arrest and he told me immediately. I tried one last time to warn Everdeen. That letter found its way into the Peacekeepers' hands. The next day I heard about the explosion. And the Peacekeepers came to my house, threatening to throw me into jail for assisting in the rebellion."
"I know you despise Violet but you should have gone to her and told her!"
"I couldn't. I didn't want him arrested but I could not face that woman. Not only did she have a child with my husband… she had a daughter. A beautiful little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. The one I had always wanted. And it was only supposed to be arrest! I had no idea that they would actually… if I had known what they had planned… " Her shoulders fell and she lowered her head.
"I wish now that I had gone to their house. Talked to him in person. But I was a coward with too much pride."
"I can't believe you're defending her," Haymitch spat at Bran. "You've got a daughter that you never got to know, and she nearly starved to death because her father died, because YOUR wife got jealous!"
"Take it easy, Haymitch," Bran raised his hand. "None of this is easy… for any of us, but we have all made many mistakes. Yes, I knew Prim was mine but Ash… Ash was her real father."
"He knew," Haymitch sighed, rubbing his forehead. "He never used Prim in any of his propo videos, like he did with Katniss. He must have known she wasn't truly his."
"If you were the one who told Ash about us, then yes, he likely knew." Haymitch exhaled long and hard.
"Did she say why? Why she was cheating on her husband?" Bran winced and glanced sideways at his own wife, but she was staring at the blankets.
"All I know is that they had a fight... I think it did have something to do with the rebellion. But she got angry and ran away, leaving Katniss at home with Ash. I found her crying in the meadow and I... I only meant to comfort her and let her know I would try to help, if I could. We didn't... we didn't want to hurt anybody." Margaret's nostrils flared and Haymitch shook his head.
"OK. Skip ahead. Ash's death, Peeta and Katniss would have been… around 11?"
"Peeta is a bit younger than Katniss, so he was 10. And I'll let Margaret tell you this next part." Bran's teeth were gritted so Haymitch knew it was a sensitive subject for him.
"How did you keep the peacekeepers from throwing you into jail?"
"I pleaded with them to spare me. That my sons needed their mother. President Snow himself came forward from the group of Peacekeepers and asked if there was somewhere we could speak privately. I set up a bistro table in the back, so we wouldn't be seen. I was shaking so badly that I spilled the tea twice. He sat across from me and told me by all rights, I should be in jail. I had tried to assist a traitor and therefore was helping the rebellion. I begged and cried that I would do anything. At first I thought he was interested in the bakery. He kept looking back at it and studying it closely. He did mention it and I told him it had been in Bran's family for generations. But then he started asking me questions about my family. Specifically, my sons. He said…. He said he needed strong-abled men to join his army. He asked about my firstborn and… well, Bing has always been my favorite child, that's no secret. But I explained that that the eldest would be the one to inherit the bakery one day. And then Peeta and Ryen came outside to play and the President watched them closely. I shooed them back inside and the President told me I could give him Ryen, for his army. And he wouldn't arrest me. I couldn't imagine selling any one of my sons, Haymitch! Honest. I wasn't a good mother to Peeta but I never wanted to send him away. But he knew I was about to protest and he started talking about how traitors were punished in the Capitol and how much he doubted I would survive prison. So I told him I would give him my youngest son. I figured he wouldn't take Peeta until he was grown. Peacekeepers don't start training until 16, typically. So that would have given me more time to figure something out, to keep them from taking him from us. But he rose from the table and told me he would return the next day, to see Peeta. And that I was not to tell my husband about the conversation. They returned early the next morning and the President stared at Peeta for the longest time before announcing someone would return to the house later that evening to take him to the Capitol. I protested that he was just a boy and one of his Peacekeepers hit me. The President presented a contract for me to sign. I told Peeta that he had to go away, and to pack his things and not tell his father. I'm not altogether certain of what happened after that, but the Peacekeepers took Peeta that night, after Bran had fallen asleep. When I woke up, Peeta was sitting in the kitchen, eating breakfast. He looked quite shaken and said the men who had taken him had died. I knew a 10 year old couldn't have done anything but I was so grateful that he was back, I didn't pay it any mind. The President sent me a message a few weeks later saying Peeta could stay with me until he turned 16. And to stay silent about it, or he would have the bakery destroyed. I started to fear the bakery was bugged, so I was silent most of the time. I avoided Peeta, knowing I had sentenced him to a lifetime of service to the Capitol. What else could I have done?"
"Not sold your child," Haymitch spat.
"What would you have done, Haymitch? In all seriousness? You're a Victor. You know what the Capitol is like. What President Snow is like. What else could I have done to appease him?"
"He had my family killed because I didn't appease him," Haymitch said in a low, angry voice. "My mother, brother, and girlfriend. All dead because of me. I'm the wrong person to ask that."
"Then can you blame me, if you can't think of another way?" Haymitch heaved a great sigh and stared at his hands.
"I don't know," he finally said. "This is way more complicated than I thought."
"It's easier to think me a cold-hearted bitch, isn't it," Margaret said with a weak smile.
"That doesn't explain the beatings. I know you hit him long before you sold him. What's your excuse for that?" Margaret's eyes fell to her hands in her lap.
"I was still so bitter, about having a son instead of a daughter. I remembered what my brothers told me, about him being a curse to the family. Being born under a blood moon is bad luck. I thought he was bad luck."
"Sounds like the family was a curse to him. He was such a gentle boy, Margaret. I remember seeing blackened eyes and bruises on his skin. How could you treat a little boy like that?"
"I... I…"
"How long have you known," Haymitch turned to Bran. "About all of this?"
"She just told me. I knew something had been bothering her for a long time and I finally persuaded her to share with me."
"It's being here, being so close to everyone. I could at least avoid them back in 12. Here, I see her daughters everyday. And even though the little girl is the sweetest person I've ever seen, I can't be anything but nasty to her. She really does have a lot of Bran in her."
"Does Peeta know? About Prim?"
"Of course not. We've never told him, and those files are classified."
"Well, Peeta had them in his office," Haymitch held up the thick file. "It also has the contract between you and Snow. But I don't think he has seen them. The boxes were all in his office, I think they had just been brought there when he moved home."
"No one else knows about Primrose," Bran shook his head. Haymitch's brow raised.
"That's not entirely true." Bran and Margaret stared.
"She came to me, asking about it."
"Primrose did?"
"She's way smarter than we give her credit for. She said she has suspected it for awhile and asked me if I knew if it was true. I asked her if she had talked to her mom about it and she laughed in my face. So I asked her if she had talked to Katniss, and she said that her sister had way too much on her mind and she didn't want to bother her with it. But she knows it's true. So maybe you should be the one to talk to her." Bran gaped, mouthing wordlessly.
"I… I don't think Violet would like that very much."
"Then you and Violet need to do it together. She deserves to know the truth."
"Why are you dragging all of this out, Haymitch," Margaret said sharply. "How can any of this help anyone?"
"There's an experiment that the docs want to try on Peeta. To help him regain his memories and reverse what the Capitol has done. Prim came to me about it a few days ago. She thinks that her blood can help Peeta. Something about womens' genetics. Anyway, the doctors won't do it unless they're sure Prim and Peeta are related. And this isn't just for the mental stuff. Peeta has had lots of things done to him in the Capitol and in 2."
"Such as?" Haymitch could swear that Margaret actually sounded concerned.
"According to this file, there's a serum they injected into him. To increase his strength. They wanted to turn him into some kind of… super soldier, or something. At the same time, they were hijacking his mind. Altering his memories to make him forget who he was. They've done it many times. There's notes in here about how shocked they were that he survived that much poison and the serum that had been injected must have been protecting him. The doctors want to fully inspect him and see if they can reverse what's been done."
"But a super soldier sounds like a good idea, especially if he's on our side," Margaret pointed out.
"Except we don't know if he will remember anything. Ryen said he didn't even remember Katniss. We just have to wait and see if Katniss brings him home. Then we can worry about the experiments."
"What does Primrose have to do with anything? I'm his mother, shouldn't I be the one to donate blood?"
"Maybe she didn't think you would," he shrugged. "You still come off as a cold-hearted bitch to Peeta, even after he has grown up. Plus, I don't think his wife is overly fond of you."
"Can't say I blame her," she sighed, shaking her head. "I haven't done a lot to warrant respect or like from anyone."
"Maybe now's a good time to start," he suggested. "Start by apologizing to all three of them."
"You're actually going to tell her that I helped kill her husband?" She looked wide-eyed and terrified. Haymitch bit his lip.
"You didn't. It was your brothers who reported him. You tried to save him." Margaret swallowed.
"Now Katniss will want explanations… and what about Michael and Morgan? Are they still alive?"
"I haven't seen them in 13, so I can only assume…" she trailed off, looking like she was about to cry.
"Do we have to tell them, Haymitch," Bran asked gently. "Who benefits from this information?"
"Katniss has been asking who is responsible for weeks now."
"And you don't think that will cause a little tension in their marriage, if Peeta's uncles were responsible for her father's death," Margaret pointed out. Haymitch bit his lip.
"I have to think."
"It's apparent that you do. Now you have the answers. Do we have to hurt people further for the truth?" Haymitch looked up at Bran and saw his blue eyes were steely.
"I just don't get it. You said Peeta just reappeared in your kitchen? Do you think he killed them?"
"No," Margaret said sharply. "He was ten years old. He looked terrified. All he said was that they died." Haymitch frowned, rubbing his chin.
"And Snow didn't say anything about it?"
"No. Just that he would stay with us until he turned 16."
"But he didn't, did he? I mean, he was taken before his birthday, wasn't he?"
"Correct. They came to the house and announced they were taking Peeta and Ryen. I stepped in to argue that I had only signed the contract for Peeta… Bran was shocked."
"I think Bing overheard and tried to hide Peeta. But then one of the soldiers held a lighted torch close to the wall and threatened to burn the bakery with us inside, if we continued to fight."
"They assured us they wouldn't be hurt," Margaret added, tears streaming down her cheeks. "That they would both make fine soldiers and we may see them again one day. They told us not to tell anyone what had happened to them. I told Bran I thought the bakery was bugged and we silently agreed not to say anything about their disappearance. We let the rumors spread. We told Bing to stay quiet too. I prayed I would see my sons again one day."
"Not expecting your skinny little boy to return as a hulking Peacekeeper Lieutenant, were ya," Haymitch smirked.
"If you want more answers, I suggest you speak to Greasy Sae. She'd know more about the magic than anyone else."
"Magic? What magic?"
"What else could it be," Margaret rolled her eyes. "Peeta was under some sort of protection spell, right? The men who were kidnapping him just suddenly died? What kind of coincidence is that?"
"Well… yeah, but… I mean, magic?"
"Your roots are deep within 12, Haymitch. You know the old legends and mysteries."
"Legends, you crazies! Myths! Not real!" Margaret merely shrugged.
"Call me crazy but something was protecting Peeta that night. And I think the President knew something about it because he suddenly decided that Peeta could stay until he turned 16. That's not what the contract had said, so he'd changed it when he returned to the Capitol."
"Perhaps it has something to do with what Sae said after Peeta was born?" Bran held out his hands. "About being twice-blessed?" Margaret shrugged again. Haymitch stood and tucked the file under his arm.
"Well… thank you for being honest with me. I'll keep all of this between us for now. But Bran you really need to have a chat with your daughter." Bran winced.
"I'll… I'll speak with Violet first." Haymitch nodded and opened the door.
"Have a goodnight, you two. I will alert you if I hear anything." Bran nodded in thanks. When Haymitch was gone, Margaret fell forward on the bed. Bran hurriedly scooped her into his arms and kissed her forehead.
"I'm proud of you, dearest."
"What's stopping him from telling everyone in 13 how horrible I am?"
"He won't," he assured her. "I think he understands… most of it, anyway. And I sort of want to seek out Miss Sae myself and talk to her about it. Maybe she does know something. Peeta will be looking for answers when he returns to us." Margaret didn't say anything else so Bran pulled the blankets back and pulled her to his side.
Rosalie blinked up at the clock and frowned. Peeta had been gone for a long time and she was starting to worry. She stood up and Blaze rushed forward.
"Can we get anything for you, Mrs. Mellark?" Rosalie pointed at the clock and tapped on her wrist.
"Oh! General Mellark is just fine, ma'am! He's with our Commander. There is a lot to see in District 2. Can we get you anything to make you more comfortable?"
"Just say the word, Mrs. Mellark! Oh- um- my goodness, I mean, just… let us know what we can get for you," Maximus was blushing bright red. Rosalie shook her head. It was high time for her to learn to communicate by other ways. She would ask Peeta for a writing board, later, upon his return. She settled back in her chair and continued to watch the clock. Maximus and Blaze chewed on their lips as they exchanged looks.
Rosalie must have fallen asleep in her chair when someone was gently shaking her awake. She opened her eyes to see bright blue ones inches from her face. She jerked back and gasped when she saw Peeta kneeling in front of her.
"Are you alright?" She nodded, leaping to her feet. "Good. Maximus, Blaze, thank you for taking such good care of my wife. Might you escort us to our lodgings now?"
"Of course, General!" Peeta offered her his arm and flung their bags over his shoulder.
"Thank you again for the tour, Commander Rossex. I shall see you tomorrow."
"A pleasure, General," Rossex said with a sneer from the corner of the room. Maximus and Blaze hurried the couple from the room and Rossex's lips curled.
"Quirin! Crawlty!" Two buff soldiers hurried in and saluted their commander.
"Make preparations for the General's visit tomorrow. You have the list of unruly soldiers who need to be dealt with. General Mellark promises to be most thorough in his examination tomorrow morning." The two soldiers exchanged cruel grins.
"Did he prove himself to be as vicious as we have heard?"
"It was like watching a weak boy shape shift into a monster." The soldiers continued to chuckle.
"Be sure to extend an invitation to those two blunderheads who left with the General just now. They're far too soft to be in this army. General Mellark needs to show them the same treatment that he received when he first arrived."
"Yes, Commander." The two soldiers saluted again and bowed out of the room. Rossex smiled as he sat down and lifted his teacup.
"It sounds as if the rumors about those experiments are true, General Mellark. I wonder how quickly you can sort our soldiers out tomorrow." He chuckled into his cup, his eyes blazing with the malice he had felt ever since he had had his first meeting with the General.
Peeta knelt to turn on the water, wincing at the pain in his leg. He used the edge of the bathtub to push himself back up and cleared his throat before poking his head out of the bathroom.
"Lavinia! I've got our shower ready. Won't you join me, love?" Rosalie peeked into the bathroom, looking bewildered. Peeta put his finger to his lips before pulling her into the bathroom and shutting the door.
"Our best chance of not being heard, if the room is bugged," he explained as he closed the toilet lid and motioned for her to sit down. He sat in front of her, leaning against the tub.
"Are you alright? I mean, they didn't do anything to you, right?" She shook her head and held out her hands for good measure.
"Good," he breathed. "I want you to be ready to run tomorrow." Her eyes widened and he bit his lip.
"I've… I've agreed to return to the main base tomorrow to, um, exercise my authority. I had to beat a soldier today." Rosalie wanted to yell at him but even if she still had a voice, she could tell he was already beating himself up about it. She touched his shoulder and he turned away from her. But she'd seen the tears on his cheeks.
"I didn't want to! But that commander… he clearly hates me. I think I must have done something to him when I was last here. I don't remember a lot about my time in 2. But he thought I was weak and said it didn't seem like I was the same Peacekeeper. So I flogged the poor man, to show him I wasn't weak. And I have to go back tomorrow." Rosalie shook her head.
"I don't want to return. So we have to run. We'll cross the border and find refuge in District 4. I think I know someone there. So be ready, ok? We leave before dawn." Rosalie nodded and watched him stand. She grabbed his hand and brought it to her lips, not really kissing but breathing her strength into his palm.
"Tonight, I want you to try to jog my memories. I'm seeing Katniss more clearly but we need to figure out a way to help me remember the rest. Can you help me?" She stood and reached for his hands, holding them in hers. Peeta looked so hopeful that it hurt her heart. She needed to come up with a way to help him remember. Would drawing help again? She wished she had more pictures instead of just the one. Peeta chuckled at her intense expression.
"Let's have dinner before we force our minds to work. Come on." She huffed and followed him to the kitchen, her mind racing, frantic for a solution.
Did the truth surprise you? I know there's more answers to be found but right now, for the most part, the pieces are laid out for everyone and the puzzle is starting to come together. Now how do you think Katniss will react if Haymitch decides to tell him?
I leave for New York for vacation on the 1st so wanted to go ahead and post the last chapter of 2019! Hope everyone has a wonderful New Years!
XOXO
