I do not own the Hunger Games
Sorry for the long wait
Okay I decided to change the ages a little didn't really want to go into the whole high school thing.
So Gale is 24, Peeta is 22, Parker is 15, Pax is 14 and Prim is 4. Rory is 13, and Vick is 12 Posy still is 2
Oh Peeta and his siblings last name is Hawthorne you'll see why later on
Tell me what you think
Chapter 3
28 hours later, packed inside an RV the Hawthorne's try to fight boredom as they trek across states to their new home. Haymitch is behind the wheel driving the last two hours. Once they left Montana Peeta and Gale offered to take turns driving. Even Parker got behind the wheel, for an hour before Haymitch took it back.
The usually spacious RV is now cramped with eight individuals who try to distract themselves as they draw nearer. The excitement felt earlier is now but all gone, replaced by nervousness and anxiety.
It is still early. Gale is asleep on a too small couch with Posy on his chest, his large hand resting on her back, both in their pajama's. She holds tight to her blanket that Hazelle made and sucking away at her pacifier. Gale had been weaning her off of it but this is a stressful time for everyone. His crème cowboy hat covers his eyes and knees are bent over the couches arm dangling with Vick resting against them as he reads on of his books.
Pax and Rory are busy playing with their Nintendo's on the floor. Peeta is sitting at a small table with Prim. They had been drawing but Prim fell asleep in his left arm. Drawing is a favorite pass time for the two of them. Peeta is an exceptional artist.
Lastly is Parker, who sits shot gun next to Haymitch acting as navigator. Haymitch knows the way by heart, coming down the same way for years but decided to give the boy something useful to do, even though he has the navigational skills as a rock.
"Are we there yet?" Vick whines, the only other noises came from Pax and Rory's game. Haymitch sighs, he prepared himself at the possibility of the dreaded question but after making it 28 hours with out he hoped it wouldn't come. Now with little less then two hours, and a thin patience is when he hears it.
"No" he growls from the drivers seat. He feels the boys brown eyes dig at the back of his head.
"When?" he asks quickly. Haymitch rubs his eyes tiredly. Out of all the days, today is the day he really wants a drink.
"Soon" he replies gruffly. Vick thinks for a moment, his eyebrows scrunch together. He isn't satisfied with the vague answer.
"How soon?" he asks again. Rory laughs to himself. He knew his younger brother would start with the questions sooner or later.
"Ugh" Haymitch groans. Knowing he will keep asking Gale decides to intervene. He rubs his eyes under his hat.
"Vick shush" Gale says sleepily from the couch. Posy stirs but only buries deeper into his chest. Gale smiles to himself and rubs her back causing her to sigh in contentment.
"Sorry" he mutters leaning back against Gale's leg. Grunts from the two kids on the floor as they reach a pinnacle in their game.
"Where will be living?" Rory asks looking away from his game he lost to his younger cousin. Pax smiles in victory.
"You'll be living in the Seam" Haymitch answers getting off the interstate.
"The what?" Parker asks looking up from his map stretched out across his lap. Their uncle glances at him and shakes his head. He reaches over and flips the upside down map. Parker smiles sheepishly.
"It's a neighborhood"
"I thought you lived in the Victors Village?" Peeta asks. He just finished as charcoal picture of their ranch. A last reminder of home.
"I do"
"Then why can't we live with you?"
"My place is..." Haymitch trails off trying to figure out how to word it.
"A dump" Gale supplies. He has his hat tipped up to see Haymitch's reaction.
"Unsafe for kids. And there's a rule for no kids allowed anyway" he says ignoring his nephews comment.
"What does that mean?" Pax asks confused. Living in the country for most of his life he isn't used to the idea of closed off neighborhoods.
"It means a bunch of old people live there and don't like kids making noise" Gale says tossing his hat on the top of the couch.
"Basically" Haymitch mutters.
"And it is probably filthy" Gale adds smirking. Haymitch looks at him form the rear view mirror.
"How would you know?" he asks the sulky adult.
"Have you seen yourself lately? And ma said you were always a slob" he answers honestly. Haymitch just shrugs.
"Fair enough. I'll still be around constantly checking up on you but you're responsible for the kids. Getting them up for school, food, bathing..."
"We aren't babies besides Posy" Rory defends. He looks at his niece who is awake now looking around. Parker looks around his seat to the cabin of the RV. Peeta wipes his black fingertips carefully not to wake Prim. Gale tickles Posy's feet as she wipes her eyes. She giggles as she buries her face in her fathers chest.
"Whatever they're your wards" Haymitch says trying to fight off a smile creeping on his face at his great-nieces giggles.
"Didn't figure anything different" Gale tells him "You know technically we didn't have to come. Peeta and I are way over eighteen"
"I know but I couldn't take the kids even though I am your uncle I don't have rights to them but you do. I'm glad too. It means I don't have to take care of them. Its a sacrifice having to deal with the two of you but its worth it "
"You can barely take care of yourself old man" Gale says laughing at the though of his uncle trying to take care of six kids. Peeta joins him thinking the same thing.
Gale sits up to let Peeta sit next to him. Parker gets up from his seat and walks over to his brother and cousin. Posy sits up and wiggles her fingers towards him. For some reason the girls love the teenager. He can always make them smile when they are upset and calm when they get cranky.
Parker smiles as he picks her up, kissing her head. He feels Posy's diaper and gives Gale a look, making a face. He lets out a laugh and grabs the diaper bag pulling out what he needs. When he reaches for her Parker swats his hands away and takes the diaper and wipes. Gale raises an eyebrow at Peeta as he steps into the bathroom.
"He says its good practice" he tells him letting out a long breath.
"It better not be for a long time. Like when Posy is a teenager, if even then" Gale says laughing but with a hint of seriousness. He treats his cousins like his siblings and with Posy and Prim he is extra protective.
"You don't have to tell me that" Peeta tells him as he gently moves a stray piece of blonde hair from Prim's face. She rubs her eyes and snuggles deeper next to him. He smiles contently at her. Haymitch's lips turn up at the sight in his rear view mirror.
"So Mitch" Gale starts. Haymitch sighs remembering when the boys father called him that. "Who were you and ma talking about earlier?"
"What do you mean?" he asks looking at him form the rear view mirror again. Parker steps out of the bathroom and sits back down next to Gale sitting Posy between them. Peeta and Prim on the opposite end.
"The woman uncle Alex wanted to marry but ran off with a baker. You said you see their daughter around"
"And?" Haymitch asks raising a pale eyebrow.
"It sounded like you watch out for her" Gale states. Their uncle sighs as he pulls into a gas station. He parks the RV and turns around to face them.
"In our town everyone knows everyone. Her father knew about Alex and Lavender and that Emily was my sister but he didn't hold anything against us. He asked me and Alex that if anything ever happened to him that we watch over his kids and he agreed to do the same for Alex's, vice versa for your father. We just never thought something actually would. When Jacob and Liam died, it hit us all hard..."
"Wait they died at the same time?" Gale interrupts quickly. All the kids look at him. Haymitch eyes widen for a second and lays his head in his palms rubbing his eyes.
"We didn't want you to know. But. Yeah. The same accident" he mumbles still not looking at them.
"How?" he asks quickly.
"Jacob heard the sirens for the mines where Liam worked. He rushed over and volunteered to help dig out any survivors"
"But it collapsed on all of them" Gale added. Haymitch sighed. Vick manages to squeeze next to Gale and the couches arm. He drapes an arm on his shoulders. Vick is the most sensitive out of the group especially when it comes to talking about their father. Gale feels some kind of respect for the man that risked his life to save his friend but ended up dying with him.
"Yup. Alex and I were left to watch over two families. But then Emily found out about our arrangement and demanded that Alex have nothing to do with the Everdeen" he says finally looking up. Peeta scoffs, tightening his arms around his daughter. He already doesn't like his mother. If he has anything to do with it she will never even get near Prim, or his brothers.
"You probably don't remember but you used to play with the daughter. Called her Catnip or something like that" Haymitch then says laughing at some memory. Gale thinks for a minute. A flash of brown and grey come into his mind, he smiles at the memory.
"Yeah she was tiny and scrawny with brown hair in pigtails. We used to go out to the woods behind our house. It seemed all the stray cats would follow her. That's when I asked if she hid catnip in her shoes" he finishes laughing.
"I remember you had quite a crush on her back then" Haymitch smirks. Gale shakes his head.
"I was just a kid, my taste has improved"
"Sure it has" he remarks looking at the tiny raven haired girl. Gale looks down. Posy is playing with a small stuffed bear Parker got for her, still sucking on the pacifier. He opens his mouth to say something back but shuts it, accepting that's its true.
"What's she like now?" Rory asks.
"She isn't scrawny that's for sure" he smirks again. She is a replica of her father, strong and a fighter but came out with her mothers looks. Peeta raises an eyebrow at Pax who is giving Gale a mischievous smile. He nods to his older cousin. Peeta leans forward to see Gale has a ghost of a smile, seemingly in a distant memory. Rory makes kissing faces to his cousins who laugh. Haymitch notices too. He slaps his knees and stands up.
"Alright this is the last pit stop before we arrive so if you have to go, go or stretch. We'll leave in fifteen minutes" he says then walks out of the RV. Its early morning now, they'll probably make it by noon.
"Hey Mitch" Gale calls out to his uncle "What's her name?" Haymitch stops and turns back to his nephew smirking. He already can see how this will play out.
"Katniss"
An hour and twenty minutes later a sign they have been waiting for is coming up. The kids get up and rush to the windows of the RV.
"Welcome to District 12 of Panem County. Home of the Tracker Jackers" Peeta reads as they get closer. They pass by woods thick with trees. Peeta sighs already missing the open fields he grew up in. The only comforting thing is the mountains off in the distance like at home.
"Home sweet home" Haymitch mutters to himself. He breathes a sigh of relief. He knows though they aren't out of the woods yet. Once news of the kids arrival will be a true test. He prays his sister keeps her distance.
"What is a Tracker Jacker?" Pax asks once they pass the sign.
"Nasty little buggers" Haymitch comments visibly shivering at them.
"What's so bad about them?" Gale asks him.
"Yeah it looks like a wasp" Rory then says. Haymitch scoffs and shakes his head.
"Well they aren't. They're much worse. One sting can cause horrible hallucinations. Multiple ones can easily kill"
"Ooh" they say together.
"Used to be 'Home of the Mockingjay'. That was back when the town was first started"
"Mockingjays?" Vick asks as they pass by another sign, snapping Haymitch out of his thoughts. He sees Gale and Peeta shrug at the boy.
"Its a bird that only nests here. It can repeat almost any tune you sing to it. Most people have never even seen one. Some say they don't exist" Haymitch supplies.
"Cool" he says. He and Pax stare out the window trying to see if they can find one.
"Yeah but only if you can get it to listen to you"
"Have you ever seen one?" Peeta asks skeptically
"Of course"
"Is it true then? Do they sing back to you?"
"I've only known one person who get them to sing back"
"Who?" he asks inquisitively. Haymitch swallows down the memories.
"Jacob Everdeen" he says solemnly. They nod in understanding remembering what was said about Alex losing the girl once she heard the man sing.
"Alright go get dressed. Don't need you scaring the locals" Haymitch laughs looking at the group in their pajamas and bed hair.
Gale dresses Posy as the others get ready. Not much for anything too girly, he puts her in a purple and blue plaid shirt with dark jeans and her purple converse instead of boots. Peeta dresses Prim in a pink ruffled shirt and jean shorts with her twinkle toe shoes. For being raised in a family of boys she is already quite girly in what she wants to wear.
"Whoa" Pax exclaims. He is standing by the window with his mouth wide open. Gale looks out the window as he slips on a new undershirt. Down a separate road lined with oak trees he sees large houses, mansions really. The trees stop at the entrance, the houses are on a cul-de-sac creating a massive horseshoe. It's a picturesque setting complete with perfectly manicured lawns and fountains.
"Nice" Rory says coming up behind him. There was nothing like this in Montana. Some they cant even see the roofs from the RV.
"That's the Victors Village isn't it?" Parker asks sitting back in his seat.
"Yup that's it. Once you're all settled in I'll sneak you in for a tour"
"Suddenly I'm glad we are not living in there. Looks like a prison" Gale says noticing a golden gate at the entrance. A large man sits at a booth next to the gate.
"Believe me it feels like it sometimes" the older man comments to himself looking at the houses with distain.
"Then why live there?" Peeta asks while buttoning his shirt. If he hates it then why live there, he thinks to himself.
"Where else will I live?" Haymitch asks rhetorically.
"You could live with us" Prim says innocently, her voice still sounding babyish. Haymitch cant help but throw a smile at her over his shoulder.
"Sorry buttercup unfortunately I cant get out of my contract. Plus I don't think you'd want to live with me"
"Yeah didn't you here him snoring last night. No wonder none of us got any sleep" Rory remarks.
"That was him? I though a bear crept in. I almost had Gale chase it out" Vick says incredulously raising his hands in the air. They crack up at him.
"I wish I did. He's lucky Posy is a heavy sleeper" Gale says looking at Haymitch. He just shrugs laughing.
"Whatever. If I'm a bear then I heard a few cubs"
"Like Rory" Prim giggles. Rory whips around from the window to look at his blonde cousin, eyes wide.
"Hey! That was Gale" he shouts. They laugh at his attempt to throw the accusation to his older brother.
"I don't call you 'Roars' for nothing" Gale says laughing.
"Roar" Posy shouts making what she thinks is a scary face. Everyone laughs. Even Haymitch cant help but chuckle. Rory crosses his arms blushing. Gale hugs him rubbing his hair laughing. Rory pushes him away but is fighting a smile.
"This is the town. Any thing you need you can find here. But I will warn you some people don't like outsiders"
"But we are from here" Peeta reminds him.
"Its really just going to be the whole merchants and seam"
"Huh?" they ask.
"Like in the movies, the surfers and the motor heads...never mind. People here have a messed way of thinking. The merchants or Townies tend to think they are better than the people from the Seam"
"But aren't we half merchants?" Vick asks.
"Yeah but they will see it as an insult. Your parents marrying beneath them"
"If any one gives you problems come tell us" Gale tells the kids, gesturing to him and Peeta. They all nod.
"How can we tell who is merchant or not?"
"People from the Seam tend to look the same. Dark hair, olive skin and grey eyes. Townies are typically blonde hair and blue eyes. You have mostly a mix not really belonging"
"I think its stupid" Rory remarks.
"Stupid!" Posy giggles. Gale gives her a look and she stops, then he looks at Rory. He just shrugs.
"I know but its how it has always been. People don't want to change"
The RV becomes silent as they watch everything pass by. Shops line the streets. A flower shop, shoemaker, jewelry, a small market, sweet shop at which Posy screams.
"Try and not to get sick or hurt. Alex is the only doctor in town. I'd rather you all keep away from them for as long as possible" Haymitch tells them as they pass a small clinic. The kids nod and watch as it goes by. Peeta gets a sick feeling knowing his mother is in there.
A large governmental looking building comes into view. It has 'Justice Building' carved into the stone at the top. What looks like a sheriffs office is close by.
Then it all stops and woods begin. It thins out at one corner to reveal a blanket of wildflowers.
"Park!" Posy squeals. Everyone laughs. Posy is quiet for her age. She only talks if it interests her much like Gale.
"That's the meadow" Haymitch corrects.
"Flowers" Prim awes at the expanse of wildflowers. Her nose pressed against the window.
"What's with the fence?" Gale asks. A high chain link fence seems to surround the meadow then darts off into the trees.
"Had trouble with the wild life a few years ago. It keeps them out. Not really looked upon to go out there though. Say it for our own good"
"Looks like it keeps the people in" Peeta mutters. Gale nods looking into the trees. A flash of green seems to run by. Gale presses closer to the window but whatever it was is gone. He isn't even sure if he really saw it or not. He shakes his head as what looks like houses comes into view.
A old wooden sign greets you to the Seam. Although nothing compared to the Victors Village it doesn't look too bad. The homes are older, wooden frame built but not in terrible shape. No manicured lawns or fountains greet you but picket fences and kids playing in the streets. Some granted are in better condition than others but that can be said of any neighborhood.
Why do people in town make such a big deal about it?, Gale thinks to himself. He doesn't even remember seeing any houses in town.
"Here we are" Haymitch announces bringing him from his thoughts. The RV parks along side a decent looking two story house. A large moving van is sitting in the drive way. Haymitch cuts the engine and jumps out greeting the movers.
The kids hurriedly jump out of the RV after a long trip, happy to stretch. Parker runs ahead with Prim. Peeta and Gale step out last, Gale holding Posy. They notice some people milling around looking to see who the new neighbors are.
"Welcome home" Haymitch tells them with open arms. He walks up the stone path with the kids quickly following. The movers open the truck and begin unloading.
Peeta nudges Gale pointing to several girls whispering and giggling at them. They figure they must look strange. Gale is in his blue plaid shirt rolled up, faded ripped (homemade not premade) jeans, brown boots and crème cowboy hat. Peeta is dressed similar in a red plaid shirt, cuffs rolled up to his elbows, faded jeans, black boots and black cowboy hat.
For laughs Gale waves and winks at the girls who giggle more. He laughs and turns to his cousin who shakes his head but also has a smile on.
Maybe this wont be so bad after all, they both think.