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District 12 was a lot quieter than District 2 was.

Johanna had known that for a while, but knowing it was her home now made it a little different.

She quite enjoyed it actually. District 2, especially where Gale had lived, was busy and near the city center. There were cars and aircraft noises at all hours of the day and night, which while she had gotten used to it, she found she preferred the cricket and bird noises District 12 was full of. Perhaps it was because it reminded her of her childhood home.

Victor's Village was a decent distance away from the town square and from the medication manufacturing plant. It was a particularly sleepy part of the already sleepy District. No wonder Katniss and Peeta still felt comfortable living there. They were hardly disturbed, but they were still close enough to walk to anything they may have needed.

The other good thing about living in District 12 was that Gale was around much more often. He still had to go to work, but he had a shorter day. Plus, he worked out of City Hall like Rory, and though they were in different departments, it was obvious that practically working with his brother made Gale's days a little more enjoyable.

And even when Gale was at work, Johanna no longer had to be bored by herself because she didn't know any of Gale's stuffy neighbors. Now she could just go next door and bother Katniss. Or if she was feeling like it, she could even go see Haymitch and Effie.

They had settled in over the last few weeks and Johanna had grown accustomed to unannounced, but pleasant visits from Hazelle, the sounds of Haymitch's geese, lots of baked goods from Peeta, and the general companionship she felt in the District.

Gale had convinced her into the woods once thus far. She had made it about halfway to where they were going before she broke down into tears. She had not been into thick woods she felt comfortable in since she was a child in District 7. The joy of it, the memories both good and bad attached to her home, and crippling anxiety had hit her hard. It probably didn't help that her emotions had been a bit all over the place the last few weeks thanks to hormones and things. She had sat on a log until she calmed down enough to leave and they went right back the way the came. She had apologized on the way out, but Gale had simply shaken his head and suggested that they try again some other time, to which she agreed.

Johanna had started walking up to the school some days to greet Posy after her school. She had decided to do that as Hazelle had mentioned one day that Posy had always wanted a sister, and that the teenager simply adored Johanna. It occurred to Johanna that Posy had barely known Johanna as anything but a friend to Katniss and Peeta. The girl, though she now knew the history behind the things that happened in her early years, still only associated Johanna with being a friend and her beloved older brother's significant other, and treated her as such. It was an honor which Johanna wasn't entirely sure she deserved to be given, but she appreciated it none the less.

Johanna had arrived to the lower school five minutes before the bell would ring and she leaned against a tree near to the doors to await Posy's exit. It was a nice, warm Friday and Johanna had decided to take the enthusiastic young lady to get ice cream, which Johanna had learned was one of Posy's favorite things in the entire world.

Not many people waited outside the intermediate doors as most of the kids simply made their way home on their own, but there was a crowd of people on the other side of the yard outside the primary doors waiting for the little ones' school day to end. The thought that in a few years she would be standing over by the other doors to gather her own child after school made her smile to herself.

The bell rang for the school day to end and the little children started out of the doors immediately into the arms of their parents, down one of the paths that lead towards their home, or over to the high school doors to await their older siblings who had to stop at their lockers before exiting. The happy chatter filled the air and soon, the older students made their way out of the building.

Posy walked out of the doors with another, shorter girl and a boy, chatting happily, but she still caught sight of Johanna and broke into a wide smile. She bid her friends goodbye and bounded over to Johanna and hugged her.

"Hey kid, I figured we'd go get some ice cream. If that's okay with you." Johanna didn't tend to ask Posy about school, that was her mother's job. If she was going to assume the role of big sister, she wanted to do it right.

Posy replied with a smile and together, they headed off towards the ice cream parlor in town. Posy chatted a bit about her friends and complained a little about algebra on the way there, and Johanna was fully paying attention responded appropriately, but she couldn't help but notice the looks she got from some of the people of the District. District 12 accepting a fourth former victor, one that wasn't even theirs, was proving to be a little more difficult than expected. Perhaps it was the circumstances in which she had moved there or perhaps it was simply just the shock of it all. Word traveled fast in 12. Johanna had gotten used to the looks over the years and it no longer bothered her, but the idea that people's opinions would follow her child bothered her slightly.

Eventually, Johanna and Posy arrived at the ice cream store, got their ice cream, and sat at a table outside, across from each other. The little shop was rather busy.

Posy looked a lot like the rest of her family- on the taller side, dark hair, gray eyes, olive skin. Her hair was naturally curly, and she wore it in two low pigtails that reached her shoulder blades. Her salmon colored hoodie was unzipped, revealing a teal shirt printed with a heart made out of various scientific tools. Posy loved science more than anything, and she had an incredible knack for it. She was bubbly and enthusiastic and outgoing, very friendly and very studious. Almost the exact opposite of her eldest brother.

"Are you excited to get out of middle school?" Johanna asked Posy, who was methodically mixing her sprinkles around in her chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.

Posy nodded. "I got recommended for Honors Biology and they have a chemistry club and stuff at the high school."

"Sounds about right up your ally."

"Yup! I can't wait. There's also a scientific decathlon team and we would compete against 11 and 8's teams, and then move on from there until there's only two teams left in the country and then we'd compete in the Capitol."

"Oh, interesting. You gonna join that?"

"I'm going to try out for sure. I'd like to be on the team."

"Well, I think you'd be a shoe-in."

Posy smiled. "Thanks,"

The fact that the only competition Posy was thinking about was an elective science one meant more to Johanna than Posy would probably ever understand.

Everything she had been through had meant something. Posy did not have to worry about starving any more or getting chosen to fight to the death. All of Posy's worries were those a typical teenaged girl should have. And yet, Posy still remembered a time when she was hungry, when there was the threat of loosing one of her brothers to the Games.

After the ice cream, Johanna and Posy had gone their separate ways to their houses. Johanna walked past a little kid riding a bicycle with training wheels on the sidewalk. The child's mother was following after him, just behind him, watching him. The child was beaming. That child would never live with the fear of death looming over him.

Her life, her struggles, her pain, everything she and her friends had faced, had lead to a generation of children who would never have to go through it themselves. In that moment, it was all worth it.

She entered the house she now called her home, the home that would be full of childish laughs and toys before she knew it. It was worth it. Everything was worth it.

She could do this whole parent thing. After all, she had helped fight for the ability to be one.