Chapter 20: Cecelia Gives In
From my very first days in the rebel stronghold, I come to understand that District 13 prides itself on efficiency.
Every morning in Peeta's and my shared apartment, we are expected to stick our arm into a sensor, which then tattoos a complete daily schedule onto our forearms. We are expected to follow it to the letter. Refusal to do so incurs sharp punishment.
This morning, I am to report to President Alma Coin's office for a debriefing about the end of the 77th Hunger Games. As I wait outside her office, Cecelia Rheys takes a seat beside me, nodding to me absently. Her mind is clearly elsewhere, and after only a few moments, she has taken to pacing the floor.
"What's the matter, Cecelia?"
"My children are still missing after the Capitol blew my homeland into oblivion - that's what's the matter!" Cecelia shrieks in frustration. "I've been coming here every day to get an update, but there still hasn't been any word!" The door to Coin's office opens and a stocky, dark-skinned woman emerges. Cecelia's eyes light up with excitement.
"Oh, it's Cloth Paylor, she's from the school... Excuse me, Principal Paylor, have you received any word about my babies?!"
"The President has sent a retrieval team in Eight, Miss Rheys," Paylor assures her. "We should know in a few hours how many survivors they have, and who."
It turns out to be a few minutes, for Brutus Barsetti suddenly comes barreling down the hallway.
"Cecelia! Cecelia! You won't believe the status report that just came in!" And the large Career Victor actually picks Cecelia up and swirls her around, the beautiful young woman yelping in surprise before her sets her down.
"Well?" she smiles weakly. "What did you hear?"
Brutus just beams. "Come with me."
Taking her by the hand, he drags her to the main hangar bay. Since I am quite early to my meeting with Coin, I follow.
A military transport has just landed, Thirteen patrol officers helping a group of refugees - many of them children - disembark. Beside me, Cecelia's eyes go wide, and she suddenly dashs forward, crying out:
"Cardella! Aaron! Veronica! My darlings!"
Three children, ages 17 all the way down to 8, fling themselves, crying, into their mother's arms. Turning back to Brutus, Cecelia throws her arms about his neck, sobbing.
"Oh... thank you!"
Brutus just smiles. "I hoped ordering that rescue mission would put your mind at ease."
Cecelia draws back in astonishment. "You did?" she gasps, gazing up at Brutus with her arms still around his neck.
Brutus flushes scarlet, scratching at the back of his neck. "Well... at least one of them's mine, right?"
My Seam grey eyes widen. Well, this is news.
Cecelia appears as stunned as me, gaping at Brutus in wonderment. At last, she seems to decide something. "Come with me," she murmurs low, taking Brutus by the arm and dragging him back into a darkened corner. Wordlessly, I follow and peer around the bend, silently observing them.
Sparkling hazel eyes shining, her plush lips slightly parted, Cecelia reaches up, loops her arms around Brutus's neck and pulls his face down to hers, kissing him sensuously. Brutus immediately sinks into the kiss, sliding an arm about Cecelia's waist and pulling her closer, his other paw of a hand falling into her chestnut curls. Cecelia sags against him, moaning. "Mmmmhmmmmmm..."
The kiss soon eases into little fevered pecks, with Cecelia taking control of the embrace. In an uncharacteristic move for her, I watch as she boldly grips Buruts between his legs as she kisses his face, his cheeks, along his strong jaw. Her lips peppering up to tug on his earlobe, I just manage to hear her hiss.
"Hmmmm... If we get married, you can't ever tell me what to do."
She mashes her lips along Brutus's passionately once again, though he seems to have grown still. He recovers quickly enough, though, and the hand at her waist gropes lower, feeling up Cecelia's shapely bum and squeezing the flesh there until she gallingly raises her leg to his waist. Hooking her thigh about his torso, Cecelia wriggles her hips a little before yanking back out of the liplock.
"Mmmm... And I think I'd be open to having one more baby, provided we talk about it first. Aaron was... a happy surprise."
Brutus chuckles. "Agreed."
Tentatively, Cecelia smiles. "OK," she gets out weakly. Playing with the nape of his neck, she smirks. "Go ahead, then... ask me. Ask me to marry you."
Brutus swallows. "Cecelia Rheys, will you marry me?"
Cecelia's smile widens. "Yes," she whispers.
And, giggling, Brutus and Cecelia embrace and kiss.
A few weeks later, Cecelia stands at the altar with all three of her children by her side, clutching a bouquet of District 8 carnations with a beaming, hopeful smile.
A proud as a peacock Brutus shyly exchanges vows and rings with her, and as he takes her in his arms, the beautiful Cecelia murmurs:
"I love you. It took me a while to accept it, but I love you. I love my husband."
And leaning in, she wraps her arms around Brutus and lets her eyes drift shut as they passionately kiss to cheers.
I continue to shoot propos for the war effort. Emilia joins me, rallying the troops at not quite 15. Before long, many in District 13 begin referring to her as 'The Little Mockingjay.'
The Capitol finally falls, and many in District 13 begin to depart for their old homes, or to new lives.
Among them is Mother, who approaches me and Peeta one day hand-in-hand with Dalton, the preacher.
Seeing the two of them together, I raise an eyebrow, but say nothing, glancing past them both to see Prim and Rory bringing up the rear.
"Where are you all off to?"
"To District 4. Finnick and Annie are going to help us set up a field hospital."
I glance to Dalton. "You'll take care of her?" I nod to Mother.
He nods and smiles. "You have my word. When we are ready to have a Toasting, we'll write you and let you know."
I nod. "You have my blessing."
In the main hangar later that afternoon, Gale and Johanna hug me goodbye. "Jo's going to take me back to District 7. They need Captains there to keep order and security."
Smiling at them both, Johanna and I kiss cheeks. "May all that is good protect and watch over you."
I even get to say goodbye to the Barsettis - Brutus, Cecelia and her three little ones.
"District 8 is our home. And my babies need a father," Cecelia beams at her new husband lovingly.
Brutus just lets out a low chuckle. "I think I am due for a little of the quiet life." The strong Career Victor grants me one last hug and pumps Peeta's hand. "Good luck to you both."
I wave to the Barsettis as they board a hovercraft bound for District 8, then turn back to my fellow District 12 Victors. Smiling at Emilia perched on Haymitch's shoulders, I slip Peeta's hand into mine and softly kiss his lips with a tired smile.
"Let's go home."