Chapter 15
Moving into the Victor's Village had been easier than Katniss had imagined. Most of the furniture was already there, just waiting for them to use, and most of the things from their old home was easy to pack or stayed where it was. They brought all of Keegan's furniture because she was used to it, and they brought the mattress because they were so used to sleeping on it.

After hearing Haymitch's words, Gale was very cautious about letting his daughter out of his sight, only trusting her with his mother or Katniss's. He only told her what Haymitch had said while hunting a few days after she had come back.

"So let me get this straight," Katniss had fumed, "Because I have a heart, because I generally have morals, I'm therefore showing them up and making them look bad?"

Gale had nodded, "Seems that way, Catnip."

She had stormed off for a while, killing any animal that dared to cross her path. They'd gotten a really good haul out of it, and Katniss had let off a little steam. They decided to keep only what they needed, the rest would go down to the Hob.

Since they had more money than they knew what to do with, they always made sure to jingle their money to everybody in the old warehouse. They had also taken to delivering some of their game to different hungry families in the Seam. It made them feel good to know they were putting their time to good use and actually helping someone else.

But at night, they would make love as if it was the first night Katniss had come home all over again.

Gale had put Keegan to bed in the room next to his and Katniss's. she walked in to kiss their daughter goodnight and sing her lullaby. When they were satisfied that Keegan was asleep, they tiptoed to their room and he properly welcomed her home.

She had been back a week, and every day the routine was the same: rise early, drop Keegan at the Hawthorne or Everdeen place, go hunting a few hours, trade at the Hob, get Keegan, go home, shower (most of the time together), cook lunch, find a hobby, cook dinner, put Keegan to bed, and then go to bed themselves.

They were very happy with this new life, neither of them had any worries. Katniss had nightmares from time to time, but it was Gale's strong arms that brought her back to the present, to reality. She feared she was starting to lose herself, so she spoke to Haymitch about the nightmares.

"I had them for years," He had said as he had taken a drink.

"What made them go away?" She had asked.

He had pushed the bottle of white liquor her direction.

After that, she didn't speak to Haymitch about much of anything.

Occasionally, Peeta would come over for dinner. Katniss had noticed how good he was with Keegan, and Gale had finally decided to trust him with his daughter. He had brought his wife home, after all.

Five months after Katniss had come home to them, Peeta had announced at dinner that Katniss would need to get ready for the Victory Tour. She had scowled at the same time Gale did. Another way to remind the districts of the hell they were going through.

Peeta had explained that it wasn't all bad, and because she was married, she got to bring Gale and Keegan with her—on Snow's request.

Gale had Katniss had exchanged dark looks over that one. But Katniss felt better because at least her daughter would be with her, instead of wondering how she was all the time. Keegan was turning 10 months old while they were gone, and Katniss was happy their family would be together for it.

So Gale and Katniss had packed very lightly, Cinna was bringing most of the clothes they'd be wearing, and said goodbye to their family for two weeks.

The train ride to all of the districts was a very somber procession among the adults, but Keegan was having the time of her life. She had started to understand when her parents told her no, but then she'd babble in a world all her own. This 'baby babble,' as Peeta called it, was entertaining to everyone. And all seven of the adults would sit around her at night rather than the television.

She slept in her crib some nights, but most nights were spent between Gale and Katniss, who were taking Haymitch's advice seriously and were afraid to let their baby out of their sight.

When they arrived at District 11, their first stop, Katniss felt her throat constrict. She couldn't say the Capitol-prepared speech, it just wouldn't be enough to cover what she felt for these families whose children had been sacrificed so she could return to hers. She had wept all morning, not caring about her appearance once she got there. Cinna had understood and had dressed her in black as if she were headed to a funeral, and maybe she was.

As Katniss left the train and took to the podium, she noticed that everyone who was here and associated with District 12 wore black like she was. She smiled at Cinna, who knew she was truly mourning for Thresh and Rue.

She looked at the Capitol-made speech in her hand and threw it over her shoulder, letting the words spill from her heart.

"District 11, I am Katniss Hawthorne. I don't know if there is anything I can say that will help, but I trusted Rue with all my heart. She was like my own little sister, and I will never regret my alliance with her. i—" Katniss choked on her words, "I loved her... as if she were my own flesh and blood."

She wiped a tear from her eye, looked at Gale, and went on. "And I will never be able to stop owing Thresh. He gave me my life back, he let me return home. Sacrificing his life so that my baby girl didn't have to grow up without me... that's something only a true man could do. And I don't know how I could ever repay him."

As Gale caught her shoulder, she turned back to the microphone. "And I want to give half my winnings to your families, as a thank you for what has happened."

Gale, Peeta, and Haymitch groaned at the same time.

As Katniss smiled, an older man from the audience touched his middle fingers to his mouth and outstretched them to her, and many others followed suit. Before anyone on stage could realize what was happening, the whole district had saluted Katniss, as an acceptance to her apology.

She let silent tears fall down her face as she saluted back.

…

In one swift moment, several things happened.

The first was President Snow spilling his tea—something which pissed him off. He barked an order into a microphone.

The second thing to happen was a Peacekeeper ushering Gale, Katniss, Peeta, Effie, and Haymitch into the Justice Building.

The third thing, which wasn't put on National TV, but Katniss heard anyway, was the gunshot of the bullet that went straight into the older man's head. Katniss screamed at what was before her, knowing she had caused this. Keegan began to cry, and Gale grabbed Katniss's arm to hurry her on the train.

Without any fanfare or any parties thrown in their honor, they were all whisked away to district 10 for the speech to be given the next day.

And each district came and went like the one before, save for 11. Katniss stuck to the script she was given, at Haymitch's instruction. She smiled, she waved, she kissed her husband and baby as she was supposed to. During the parties, when Gale and Katniss were expected to make appearances, Haymitch would elect to stay behind and babysit, that way Keegan was in safe hands and they could do their duties as a Victor and her husband.

The two weeks were going by mercifully quickly until they reached District 2. Katniss stumbled on her words, clearly effected by the harsh glares Cato and Clove's families were giving her. When the speech was over, they were taken to District 1 because 2 had no party to throw them, 2 had no reason to want them to stay.

In 1, Katniss gave her speech, she and Gale attended the party, and they waited in the train to come upon the Capitol, for the biggest party yet. Katniss bit her lips till she drew blood at the sight of the place she had grown up hating her whole life, knowing the charade would have to continue for at least another night longer.

...

From his office, President Snow smiled as he learned that the happy family had arrived in town. All too soon would he be speaking with Mr. & Mrs. Hawthorne, and all too soon would they know of their daughter's fate.