Disclaimer:
I do not own anything in relation to The Hunger Games Saga. Suzanne Collins owns the concept and the characters of the books.
Author's Note:
I want to thank my beta 3vlee for all of your help and support. The Poems are your words and so is a good chunk of this chapter are your words as well. If anyone would like to use any of the magnificent poems please contact 3vlee.
Please remember that this is rated M for a reason and I am always open to suggestions on how to make this story better.
Chapter 12:
Caesar POV
I was sitting in my dressing room to get ready for the show that is to prepare the Capitol for the tribute interviews when there is a knock at the door.
"Come in"
"Hello Caesar! How are you doing today?"
"I am very well thank you Brutus! What can I do for you today?"
"Well I know that this is late but with everything that has happened to her this year and all she want to to wait until the last minute to write them so that she could get all of her feelings out."
"Oh why thank you Brutus."
He turns and leaves.
I read the note that she has sent along with the poems.
Dear Caesar:
Here are the two poems per your request. I hope they are what you are looking for. Thank you for the opportunity to write my feeling out since I'm still unwell at present. Maybe after this we can sit down & have a chat. In your words "What do you think folks?"
Sincerely,
Katniss Everdeen
I am so stunned that a young woman can be so insightful. It is no wonder she has gained the respect of her peers and mentors so quickly.
I have heard of the treatment the poor girl has received from her tribute partner, and so has the President. I know he is very unhappy about the feud that has been going on between the two of them, and he is planning to something about it if it ruins his games.
I do know that I have made my choice for the contest winner.
I walk out of my dressing room and head to the front doors of the building. I get into my car and tell the driver to head to the Tribute Tower with all haste.
We pull into the front of the building. I get out and walk up to the 12th floor. I knock and the District 12 male tribute answers the door.
"Hello Mr. Flickerman! What can I do for you today?"
"I would like to talk to Ms. Everdeen Please."
"Okay, Please follow me."
"Thank you"
We walked to the young lady's room and that is when I hear the most beautiful voice. We walk in and I see a dark haired young lady laying on the bed asleep and another one standing in front of the window singing a very sad but beautiful song.
She left the car in the driveway
She left the key in the door
She left the kids at her momma's
And the laundry piled up on the floor
She left her ring on the pillow
Right where it wouldn't be missed
She left a note in the kitchen
Next to the grocery list
It said
You don't even know who I am
You left me a long time ago
You don't even know who I am
So what do you care if I go
He left the ring on the pillow
He left the clothes on the floor
And he called her to say he was sorry
But he couldn't remember what for
So he said I've been doin some thinkin
I've been thinkin that maybe you're right
I go to work every morning
And I come home to you every night
And you don't even know who I am
You left me a long time ago
You don't even know who I am
So what do I care if you go
You don't even know who I am
So what do I care if you go
I could not interrupt. It was so beautiful.
She turns around and sees me.
"Hello Mr. Flickerman! How are you doing today?"
" I am well and better now that I have heard your beautiful voice Ms. Everdeen. That was a beautiful song."
"Thank you Sir. I learned it from my father. He told me that in the dark days a lady by the name of Patty Lovelace had sang it. It really matches my mood today. Clove had come in and asked me to sing to her because she was up all night with pregnancy issues and didn't sleep well."
"That is very kind of you."
"Thank you. Is there anything I can do for you? Get you something to drink?"
"No I just came to inform you that you are the winner of the poetry contest in both categories. Now you are allowed to have someone read them for you. Oh and you must sing for the audience!"
"What can it hurt. I would like to have two people read my poems please."
"Okay. Who would you like to read them?"
"I would like to ask them before I tell you please."
"Okay, just send a message with the Avox when you have asked them. Also I will need for you and your two people will have to come and do a sound check to make sure that the delivery of the both the poems and the song will sound good to the people."
"Of course and Thank you."
I walk out of the room with a smile on my face. Boy are the citizens in for a surprise!
Cato POV
It's my turn to come on stage for my part of the interview. Cinna has me dress in mainly black with dark red for some reason. I come on stage and take my seat as Katniss has exited the stage (What The Fuck is going on, as I look up to my Mentor Brutus who is giving me a 'Payback is a bitch' look) when Caesar announces not only Katniss won the poetry contest but to read them on her behalf is Clove and Peeta.
I am basically floored that she won in both categories as Clove reads one of the poems and Peeta the other. Clove reads the one titled
Do You:
Hard, Gruff, Mean & Cruel
Not the things one should use to describe the father of your children.
Do you?
To do what is only 'required' is your game.
I'm surprise you even bothered to remember my name or ,
do you?
To protect the life that's left within me,
do I leave him behind?
Or, will I be stupid as well as deaf, dumb & blind?
Do you have a heart?
Do you even bother to care to care?
Do you even know we're having twins possibly in there?
Do you even know I'm here?
Do you?
Peeta then starts to read
For whom the Bell Tolls:
Raven my raven for whom the bell tolls for this day?
For who is your friend, Death is coming for to take away?
Do you hear the bell my friend?
Yes for sometime now Raven my dearest friend.
Is the bell soft or, is it loud my friend?
It was soft for days but now its louder Raven, dearest friend.
Who is Death going to take away Raven, my friend?
I must go my friend for Death is coming for you.
Death will be your companion from here on my friend.
For the bell that tolls is the end of your life.
May you rest in peace away from this arena & strife.
Rest in peace in the arena for,
Death came for you this very night.
On my face she sees confusion on me has I do not understand what Katniss has wrote. As they leave she whispers for me to see them and Marvel right after the interview. They exits the stage after the audience applauds MY partner's work. Katniss is sending me a message but again its coming in as a mixed signal.
Caesar will then goes on and said:
"When I was informing our winner about her work I caught her with her voice coach in a music room so after (at this point I look at Brutus again who looks back at me with that 'pay back is a bitch' look.) some pleading on my part she has agreed to do a song (I groan inwardly thinking 'oh shit how bad is this going to get for me?"). Here to sing "Good Enough" (Which surprise me because its' one of my favorites but I know there's a message from her. That's her MO.) is Katniss Everdeen."
The spot light goes on her and Cinna being the genius that he is, as she turn to face me her outfit changes from the brightly flame colored gown that she wore in her interview, to a black & dark red amber colored Victorian-Goth styled gown as she looks right at me like he is the only one there. Katniss zones the audience out as, she starts to sing right to me.
Under your spell again
I can't say no to you
Crave my heart and it's bleeding in your hand
I can't say no to you..
She's serenading ME! Oh shit what did I do now? In a sense.. She belts out of the park for all to hear. Her message to me;
I am human,
I do count,
I am the mother of your children,
I deserved to be loved too.
I sit there in amazement . I never knew that she could sing like that but why did she hide that from me?
HOLY SH... Sweet Mother Mary, WOW! She can sing and she's singing to me. WOW, that takes balls when you're invited on national television to do that kind of move.
We're going to get sponsors with that voice alone and I admire her for it. For outward appearances it looks like she's serenading me. Yet, I know the meaning of the song because it's one of my fav... I got the message.
Okay Katniss sheath the claws but wow. I notice as the song ends and I'm the first to stand up and applaud her. Now I know I have to talk to her. The sooner the better. As my interview ends with a few questions which I answer truthfully that Katniss is 'full of surprises' and I go backstage to the other tributes to talk to Marv, Peeta and Clove. As they are explaining what Katniss wrote from her point of view, I see that Katniss is sitting with Marv's girl Rissa.
I overhear her say "What did I do that was so wrong in my life to be treated that I don't deserve to be loved too? Am I that awful of a person that caring or being treated as a human being is too above me?"
"He'll get it Katniss. He does..."
"No Rissa. His heart belongs to another, it always will. I bet he won't even understand what I wrote. I had to go to a very dark time this year to get that out of me."
That is where she is wrong. My heart never belonged to Samantha. It never 'belonged' to any girl, ever. I realize I definitely have to talk to her now. Marvel looks at me mouths 'go to her.' Just as I was going to reply to Marvel, I hear Katniss shout:
"WHOA!"
I see her double over and I rush over to her, as I have Marvel go to find Brutus and Haymitch.
"Katniss, talk to me. What's wrong?"
"YOUR children are using my bladder as a trampoline and my ribs as target practice that what!"
So I put my hands on her stomach and it stops as if they're calmed by it. I also notice the dark circles under her eyes. She needs to rest more.
Just then her Dads walk in and I tell them what happened. Both Mentors/Dads agree however, we'll make a small appearance at the dinner for us to meet the sponsors. That is when I get the surprise of a life time on Pregnant women.
For never in my life I have EVER seen ANY woman eat as much as Katniss did that night.
THREE count them T-H-R-E-E LOADED plates full of food including Venison. Even the President Snow had a special shake sent to our table when she couldn't find it.
HOLY SHIT BALLS! The President has yet to do his speech and Katniss finished ALL THREE PLATES!
By the time Snow was midway Katniss and Clove finished their shakes. The two of them are eying one of the cakes as if getting ready for a battle and ask the waiter for another shake.
Later after the dinner, we go back to the suite. Katniss had fallen asleep in the car so I carried her up. She woke up in the elevator so I put her down when we got to the suite. Katniss went to our room to get a shower before going to bed.
Waiting for me, is Peeta and Clove.
"Did you get the message? In her eyes, that's how you treated her this year. She's given you so much yet you return so little. By the way, the second poem is not about her dying in the arena it's about ALL of us dying in that arena! Her fear of losing you in that arena is so great and you don't get it. Do you?"
Peeta takes over
"Katniss as never shown any type of feelings towards any guy until you, dipshit. And I do MEAN NOBODY has EVER had a shot with her! Trust me Cato MANY have TRIED! Boy have they tried. With this she may never again so, way to go Cato. Brav-fucking-o just because your heart is has cold has your eyes, doesn't mean you should harm another like that."
Peeta looks at Clove and they both walk away leaving me even more confused.
After Peeta and Clove left I go to our room & he hears Katniss singing in the shower. She stops in mid-song for some reason.
I go up to the bathroom door and I hear crying while the shower is still running. I decide to go in there so I strip down and get into the shower with her...
I strip off my clothes after I get two towels out for us to dry ourselves later & open the door to see Katniss with a tear stained face. Given the last couple of days, she won't reach out to me so I reach out to her & pull her in. She shaking. Oh my God, the Girl On Fire who out scored me by getting an 11, is SCARED! Holy Shit balls but, why is she scared?
Then it hits me, even if we are there for the minimum time of these games she can give birth in the arena so can Clove. But its' different, Katniss is having twins.
To top it off this has not been an easy pregnancy for her. I realize we're going in as a family whether if we like it or, not. That is what she was trying to tell me?
CRAP! I think to myself as I'm holding her even closer while rubbing all the knots out of her back. Only when I guide her hands up does she hold me, tight. I realize tonight is about her. Tonight she needs me there for her, to comfort her and that's what she going to get. Yet she surprised me again...
Couple of hours later...
HOLY SHITBALLS! Holy Moses, when any woman hit this stage of pregnancy warn a guy, will ya. Wow, I've heard about this stage, when a woman get horny but when Katniss gives whoo hoo!.
I think that this is the only time ever in my fuckin' sexual life that I SCREAMED a girls name FIRST!
EVER!
Thank god I remembered to lock the door. I figured she wanted to snuggle, cuddle believe me this was the last thing I thought she wanted tonight.
Afterwords as we lay together in bed, we started talking and again she surprised me;
" What are your traditions on naming children in your district if the baby is a girl?'
"In my family we name them after the grandmothers why?"
"In my family girls are named after flowers or, plants. So what is your Grandmother's name that you would pick?'
"Rosemarie. Why?"
"Well when they are born, we can't name them Baby A and Baby B now can we? I was thinking the are girls we could name our first daughter 'Sage Rosemarie' since Sage means wisdom and for our second daughter we can name her Rue Primrose. In 11 Rue and Prim became such good friends that to find one all you had to do is find the other. This way both families are represented here. What do you think?"
Cato felt good about it since this is the first thing he was included on with the twins
"I would like that very much. Thanks."
I paused for a few then broach the subject about the arena tomorrow.
"Do you think you can get to a bow tomorrow?"
"Cato, I don't even know if I'll fit into the tube to go up. I'm HUGE."
"You are not huge. Try to get to a bow tomorrow. If anything goes wrong you protect yourself & the twins, period. (as I pull her closer to me) Get some sleep, you're going to need it."
That night was the first night since the hospital that I've stayed with Katniss while keeping one hand on her stomach where the twins were.
Katniss POV
I am looking at Cato directly as I start to sing.
Caesar had to hear me sing before I went on his show so, during one of the training sessions where Cato is training with Brutus, and I was in our room because I was feeling tired due to the pregnancy.
I was getting ready to lay down to rest when Clove comes in and asks me to sing to her because she hasn't been sleeping well either.
I finish my song for her when Caesar hears me sing and askd me if I wanted to sing for the interview. I agreed and told him that I would let him know who my readers would be after I talk to them.
I talked to them and they agreed to read them. I send a note to Caesar letting him know who and that they will be with me the next day.
It is the next day and we are at the studio. We do the sound check and then are taken to get ready.
Now it is time for the interviews to start. We wait until it is mine and Cato's turn to be interviewed.
I am so nervous but things are going very fast and then it happens. I look at Cato.
I see the look on his face has Caesar announces that I won both categories inn the poems and to read them on my behalf are Clove from District 2 and Peeta from District 12.
That is when it hits me.
HOLY SHIT PIES I WON! In both categories!
Ha, take that Career of the Year!
I also see Pops and Cranky Dad looks and when Pops looks at Cato it's a Payback is a bitch look. Yet do I get a hint of pride when the Dads looked at me?
Oh shit, get my head in the game, Caesar just started my introduction; 3, 2, 1 here I go.
Under your spell again
I can't say no to you
Crave my heart and it's bleeding in your hand
I can't say no to you..
Cinna my, friend knew what I needed and he did his job well. With the exception of my arms being bare my dress transforms in a single half turn into this high collared dress from a different time. It's Black and Deep Red as in a burning amber to keep with the 'Girl on Fire' thing.
Cato is looking at me.
Does realize he was the voice and face I needed to see that day on the roof back in his district? Does he understand I'm here? I feel, I count. Don't I deserve love and respect too?
All of a sudden I hear the audience clap and I look Cato is the first to stand as he applauds. I receive a standing ovation from all.. Then his buzzer goes off and he walks off stage.
By then I am sitting with Rissa, Marvel's partner while Peeta, marvel and Clove wait for Cato. I am so tired and HUNGRY!
Yet I talk to Rissa not giving a damn who hears me at this point;
"What did I do that was so wrong in my life to be treated like that? I don't deserve to be loved too? Am I that awful of a person that caring or being treated as a human is too above me?"
"He'll get it Katniss. He does..."
"No Rissa. His heart belongs to another, it always will. I bet he'll won't even understand what I wrote. I had to go to a very dark time this year to get that out of me."
I tell her I need a moment and as I get up to stand BAM!, BAM!
Our twins are in rare form tonight. One insist on using my bladder for a trampoline while the other keeps kicking my ribs, hard.
The twins started their attack so fast and hard.
"WHOA!"
I double over in pain.
Well this got Cato's attention as he sent Marvel to get the Dads.
"Katniss, talk to me. What's wrong?"
"YOUR children are using my bladder as a trampoline & my ribs as target practice that's what!"
Cato put his hands on my stomach and it stops as if they're calmed by it. Thank god. Cato can also see that I am exhausted has the Dads come up to make sure I'm okay.
They also notice that I'm nearing the end of my day yet we go to the banquet to meet the sponsors who all compliment me on my voice.
I am looking at the food for a few things, Pineapple, pickles (YES!), blackberries, oh yeah chocolate covered strawberries (come to Momma baby), rabbit, what no venison?
Cato notices.
"What's wrong?"
"Where's the venison?"
At this Cato just rolls his eyes. Then I spot it VENISON as my eyes get huge to go with my smile. Even President Snow looks at the guys with amusement as he remarked to Brutus:
"I think Ms. Everdeen acquired her targeted craving."
I am looking for the beverage table when President Snow asks:
"Did we miss something Ms. Everdeen?"
Cato gets this shocked look on his face as I replied:
"I can't seem to find the triple death by chocolate malted shakes with whip cream. Clove told me they are wonderful."
"We'll make sure one is sent to your seat."
To which I thanked him as he walked off chuckling. Has we sat down to eat good to his word there waiting for me was a triple death by chocolate malted shake which brought a big smile on my face.
Later, on the way back to our suite at the training center I hear:
"I never seen somebody eat that much that quick. BEFORE the President began his speech she ate three plate fulls of food then started on the shake. Holy shit!"
I cracked an eye open and replied:
"When you carry twins and go through natural child birth with what YOU'RE blessed with, then you can talk? Wake me when we get there. nighty night."
I hear the Dads chuckle.
We arrive at the training center. Instead of waking me up Cato carries me in, but I wake up none the less.
As soon we're back in the suite, Cato lets go of me so I can hit the showers. I saw in his eyes he didn't get anything that I wrote in my poems nor, what I sang to him on national television.
I am taking a hot shower so that the steam hides my tears. I can't believe he didn't get it.
Now I have to quit worrying about Cato. I have to care for two others besides he doesn't...
HELLO NURSE...
There is Cato with nothing on but a smile needless to say Momma like what she saw.
A lot!
Yet I don't touch him until he takes me in his arms. I guess he figured it out but I needed him for once even if its only for tonight. It's not about sex.
Its about being there for each other, to comfort each other. Even if its just me that's scared of losing our lives in there tomorrow.
Yet Cato is here and we go into the arena tomorrow as a family whether, we like it or, not.
For a lack of better phrasing the twins are going in the games too & maybe born in the arena. Knowing this scares me. Maybe it scares the both of us yet, Cato doesn't tell me.
Maybe he is going into that frame of mind, the Career frame of mind but for now he's here at lease for the twins if for anything else.