So this is the last chapter before the time jump! It was fun to "research" (by that I mean marathon watch Gilmore Girls). Thanks to everyone who has messaged me or left a comment about this story! A few things: In the show, the main character Lorelai named her daughter after herself, much like Katniss did in this story, and in the show the daughter goes by Rory. In this story Katniss' daughter will go by Kit, which is a combo of her first and middle name - kind of. Next chapter will be 15 years (almost) in the future!
September 1998
"Katniss! Pick up Kit's stroller today! I will not ask again!" Margery yelled to Katniss from downstairs early one morning.
Katniss groaned and rolled over in bed, looking over into Kit's crib, to find her baby sitting up and smiling in her direction.
"Yeah, it's funny isn't it you little munchkin? Grandma likes yelling at mommy, it's her favorite thing to do." Katniss couldn't help but grin as Kit began to laugh. It was infectious, and it made waking up in the morning a lot easier.
The eleven months since Kit had been born hadn't been the easiest for Katniss but they were undoubtedly happy. Sure her parents and her still fought like cats and dogs, with their constant reminders that she was nothing better than a teenage mother, and her relationship with Gale was a distant memory but still, her baby was healthy and looked at her like she shit gold.
That look actually terrified Katniss, because she was pretty sure if she didn't' get them out of here soon it would turn from a look of pure love to whatever look she gave her own mother, and she couldn't handle if it did.
Kit had proven to be smart for a baby, which wasn't really surprising given that both of her parents were fairly smart to begin with. Kit wouldn't know that though, given that her father rarely came around and when he did it was only long enough for the guilt to set in before he basically ran out of the house.
He was in his senior year of high school, and Margery had been true to form, informing Katniss of every step Gale took. How she knew was a mystery to Katniss, and she was partially convinced her mother had been making most of it up just to get under her skin.
Gale's lack of response towards parenthood rested solely on Katniss' shoulders according to her parents. When she denied marrying him again, it was her fault when he didn't show much interest in the baby, because of course, everything was Katniss' fault.
Whatever trust she had had in Gale was gone now, and the letter she was planning on sending to him this afternoon was all the explanation he was going to get from her until he decided to get his shit together.
She waited upstairs for a little bit, spoon- feeding Kit her food, listening for the sound of the door closing. When she was sure it had, she pulled the suitcase out from under her bed.
Today was the day. Kit had begun walking recently, and Katniss knew it was time to get a move on. She had some money saved up, enough maybe for a used car, and knew where she was headed, and that was all she really needed.
"You ready to get out of this hell hole?" She asked her daughter, who cocked her head to the side, probably confused by her mother's nervousness.
"Sure you are. It'll be fun. We'll be actually staring our lives, and instead of waking up to the sound of my mother's screaming, we can wake up to something much nicer. Maybe some Metallica, or you know, a chainsaw." Katniss was rambling to herself, but she had Kit's rapt attention so she kept going.
She loved that her daughter seemed to hang on her every word. Kit was one of the few people who she really even talked to at this point, and even though she knew the baby didn't understand any of what was being said, she still appreciated it.
Picking up her daughter, Katniss made her way down the stairs with a bag in hand to fill with all the baby items she would need.
She had packed away all of the clothing she could, all of the medicine and plenty of food and blankets, intent on making sure Kit would be taken care of even if the immediate future was uncertain.
After packing everything she could in the few bags, she put Kit on her hip, and walked out to the mailbox, depositing the letter to Gale. The one for her parents was upstairs waiting on her dresser, but she wouldn't lay that one on the table until after they left for their function tonight.
The cab coming to get the two of them wasn't arriving until 7:30 that night, half an hour after whatever thing her parents were going to was supposed to start. Until then it was a waiting game.
Katniss and Kit spent the day amusing each other, as was normal. A long amount of time was devoted to Katniss sitting on the floor with her hands held out encouraging Kit to walk into her arms, and the baby girl was determined to do so, her face set in concentration as she stumbled her way towards her mother.
When Kit was thoroughly exhausted, Katniss read to her from one of the books she had stashed in a bag. She knew she should probably be reading her baby books, but she settled on the classics instead, and they seemed to hold Kit's attention better anyways.
Katniss liked that about her daughter. Hell, she liked everything but that was one of her favorites.
After sitting through a long dinner, where her mother once again yelled at her about the damn stroller, and her father once again made a remark about how Gale was doing great in school, Katniss waited tensely for her parents to leave.
When she heard the door shut, she immediately went about pulling the luggage downstairs, setting it next to the stroller her mother had been bitching about all day. She held Kit in her lap as she sat nervously on the couch, and when the knock on the door came she set the letter down on the table for her parents to find.
The cab driver helped Katniss load everything into the trunk, and Katniss secured Kit in her car seat in the back before climbing in next to her.
"Where to again?" The cab driver asked and Katniss took a deep breath, glancing over her shoulder at the monstrosity house she was leaving behind.
"Panem City. An Inn called The Hob."
The cab driver nodded his understanding and took off down the driveway, and Katniss didn't dare look back again.
When they arrived at The Hob is was dark, but only about eight in the evening, so Katniss knew it would still be open, or she hoped at least that someone would still be there.
She unloaded all of her belongings, pulling Kit from her car seat and wrapping her in a blanket before marching up the front steps.
She was determined to get a job and hopefully a place to live, and was prepared to not take no for an answer. She couldn't afford to take no for an answer.
She couldn't go home, especially since she wasn't particularly wanted there. She was tired of hearing about what an embarrassment she had turned out to be, and how her life had taken a toll on her parents. She couldn't go back, even if she had wanted to.
Reaching up she knocked on the front door of the inn, and stood back, waiting for someone to answer.
After a few moments, a woman near her mother's age answered the door.
"Can I help you?" The woman asked, looking at Katniss quizzically.
"I'm here for a job. Any job." Katniss responded, her voice firm despite the fact that inside she was shaking. She felt Kit reach for her braid and tug on it, and suddenly she was prepared to grovel at the feet of this woman.
The woman eyed her for a moment before stepping fully out onto the porch.
"Okay, what are your qualifications?" She asked.
"I don't' have any." Katniss responded, shifting the baby in her arms. She didn't want to break eye contact, but the need to make sure the blanket covered Kit was more important. After she was done tucking the blanket around the girl's ears, she turned her gaze back towards the older woman.
"Recommendations?" The woman asked.
"None." Katniss answered, shifting on her feet, not daring to break eye contact.
The woman regarded her silently for a few minutes, her gaze shifting to the bags behind Katniss, before finally coming to rest on Kit as she played with Katniss's braid.
"Are those your bags?" She asked and Katniss nodded.
"Do you have a place to live?" She asked and this time Katniss shrugged her shoulders.
"I… no. But I'll find somewhere. I just need a job first." She felt Kit snuggle into her breast, and instinctively brought her hand up to hold her head there, hoping to trap whatever warmth she could.
"And is that your baby?" The woman's voice was softer now as she indicated towards Kit.
"Yes. This is my daughter." Katniss answered, holding Kit to her more tightly.
"Alright. Come inside and get warm. I'll have the boys bring your bags upstairs until we can find you a more permanent living situation here on the grounds. You can start work in two days." The woman held the door open wider and waved a hand towards the girls on her front porch.
Two men came rushing outside and the woman told them to get the bags and carry them upstairs to room 12.
"Thank you, thank you so much." Katniss told her as she stepped inside, instantly grateful for the warmth.
"I have a feeling you'll more than make it up to me. I'm Sae." The woman held her hand out and Katniss took it.
"I'm Katniss. This is my daughter…. Also Katniss, but she goes by Kit." Katniss smiled at the older woman, instantly feeling more relaxed.
"Well Katniss, let's have a seat in the dining room. All the guests are in for the night so we'll have it to ourselves. Let me get us some coffee alright?"
Katniss nodded and followed Sae into the dining room, sitting down at one of the tables, watching as she disappeared behind a door. When she was out of sight, Katniss felt herself tremble slightly, and hugged Kit to her for a long moment.
"We're going to be okay love. We're going to be okay." She told Kit, who responded with a gurgling laugh, once again preoccupied by her mother's braided hair. Katniss smiled down at her and sat her down on her lap.
Sae returned with a tray, two coffee cups and a sippy cup present.
"I hope it's okay, I brought some water for Kit."
Katniss smiled at her, thankful, and instantly began to coerce Kit into drinking some of the water. She complied easily, gulping it down as quickly as she could, and when Katniss was satisfied she had had enough, she set down the sippy cup to grab her own cup of coffee.
She inhaled the smell, her eyes closing briefly, and she heard Sae chuckle.
"I must say, I do like a person who appreciates coffee."
"I've always liked it, but having a baby has turned it into a necessity. It rivals air for me most of the time." Katniss shrugged and took a long sip out of the mug.
"Well Katniss, how about we get to know each other a little?" Sae suggested and Katniss nodded, not particularly ready to answer any personal questions.
"How old are you dear?" Sae asked, pushing a plate of cookies towards her.
"I'm 17." Katniss took a cookie off the plate, hoping there wasn't an age requirement here.
"17. And how old is Kit?" Sae asked.
"A year in October." Katniss responded, and she couldn't help the way her lips curved into a smile when Kit looked up at her questioningly.
"Yeah, a year since you put me through hell kid. But it's okay, it was worth it." She leaned down and placed a kiss on Kit's forehead, causing her to squeal.
Sae laughed at the display and Katniss felt her cheeks warm.
"Well Katniss, I have a maid job open. Does that sound alright to you?"
"Yes, really anything would be great. Thank you." Katniss spoke with fervor wanting her new boss to know how grateful she was.
"And for tonight you can stay in one of our vacant rooms, but I've already told the boys to start clearing out the little potting shed we have. It's not much, but it will fit a bed and it already has a tub and a toilet. It has heating and air, and a little bench outside, and you can live in it rent-free until you get on your feet. Does that sound okay?"
Katniss nodded, hoping the tears in her eyes wouldn't fall just yet. She didn't want to be seen as weak, but she also knew she had caught quite the break. This woman was taking her in, and saving her from whatever unknown future she had set up for herself upon leaving her parents home.
When Sae reached across the table and grasped one of Katniss' hands, she looked up and locked eyes with the woman.
"Welcome to The Hob dear."
"Thank you." Katniss said once again, quietly. And she meant it.
As it turned out, watching maids work around her throughout her entire life had rubbed off on Katniss. She was good at the work, getting her job done quickly and better than everyone else (much to the dismay of the other maids who didn't bother to hide their contentment of her).
She grew close to Sae, who took her under her wing, watching Kit during the day while Katniss worked.
She fixed up the potting shed, pulling a curtain around the tub and the toilet, effectively creating a bathroom. She and Kit shared a bed, but Katniss didn't mind that in the slightest. As Kit grew, Katniss learned to make jumpers and other clothing for her, adapting to not having any type of money at all. What money she did have she saved earnestly in hopes of affording a new place to live, but Sae made her promise not to be in a rush.
She was welcomed at The Hob for as long as she wanted.
It was nice to be wanted, to be cared for. She was realistically still a kid herself, but she worked hard and took care of her daughter, growing up in the process.
At night, after dinner, she and Kit would sit out on the bench in front of their home, feeding the ducks, which always made Kit smile and laugh. Sometimes The Hob would be putting on a party for a guest and they would listen to the music that rang out across the grounds.
(One night when Katniss was tired from a long day, Kit had been insistent about going outside, shouting "Duck!", while Katniss stood dumbstruck that her daughter had just spoken a full word.
It wasn't lost on Katniss that Kit's first word was an insistent and stubborn plea. It reminded her a lot of herself. )
Her parents found her, but other than a letter that was more than somewhat insulting, they didn't have much contact. Katniss relented eventually and paid them strained and contentious visits on major holidays after Kit turned three, not wanting to shut them out of her daughter's life, but every time they went she was even more intent on not letting them into her own.
They didn't have much, but Katniss was eventually able to buy a Jeep to transport her daughter around in, and by Kit's sixth birthday, she was able to move them out of the potting shed and into a relatively nice house in Panem City. She moved up at The Hob fairly quickly, moving into better positions all the time, until she was eventually a part of management. She was good at her job, and she actually really loved it, which was surprising given her normal distaste of people, but the more distance there was between her old life and her new one, she began to think that distaste was more of the type of people she was constantly surrounded with growing up.
She and Kit spent their time reading, watching movies, listening to music and talking. Kit was an avid reader of all types of books, and Katniss made sure to keep her thirst quenched. She was smart – so smart sometimes it freaked Katniss out a little – and was able to charm the pants off of anyone she met. They spent all of their time together, and every moment made Katniss impossibly happy.
They might not have had much, but they had each other, and that was enough.
I kind of summarized the ending because I didn't want to spend a whole lot of time on the childhood aspect since this is based on a show where there wasn't a childhood aspect if that makes sense