Chapter 23

Wide Awake

Clove POV

7 days, 168 hours, 10080 minutes and we still haven't heard anything from Cade, according to Brutus and Cato if the Capitol would have take him, they would have already contacted us to ask for what they want but knowing that doesn't make it any better.

We have look for my baby all around district two, every house, school, park and store but nobody seems to know something about him. I wasn't able to tell Claire about this so Cato told her that Cade will be back in a few days but I can tell that she knows that something is wrong.

"Clo I think you should eat something"- the smell of scrambled eggs fills my nose and for a moment I feel hungry, but then I remember that maybe Cade hasn't eat in 3 days so I turn Enobaria's offer down.

"I'm not really hungry but thanks anyway"- I can see the concern in her eyes but she doesn't tries to convince me.

In that moment Cato comes in holding Claire, her tiny arms are hanging loosely around his neck and her head is resting on his shoulders, she is still drowsy when her father places her in a chair next to me.

"Mommy is Cade here already?"- She asks while she rubs her eyes.

The words get stuck in my throat and tears start filling my eyes, I look for Cato and when I find his eyes I can see my feelings reflected on them. He quickly recomposes and leans next to Claire- "I'm sure he will be back today princess"-

I swallowed my tears and waited for Cato and Claire to finish eating breakfast then I kissed my princess goodbye and we headed to the training center, as we were walking Cato took my hand and I let him; the anguish of not knowing where our son was and the determination to find him had finally brought us close again.

"You know that we are going to find him right?"- We suddenly stopped and he turned me around to face him.

"Of course we are going to find him, we have to find him Cato, he is my little boy"- He leaned forward until our lips touched softly and then placed a sweet kiss.

"Come on lovely I have a good feeling about today"- In the training center we parted, I had a class and while I was busy he will be with Brutus to see if there were any news and then we will switch.

My class went on quickly, my students knew what happened with Cade so they had been incredibly nice and quiet the whole class and as soon as it ended I went straight to Brutus office, when I walked in I saw him talking on the phone and Cato was standing by the window when he saw me he murmured Snow pointing at Brutus.

"Well it's true that the Capitol is not involved in this"- he let out a heavy sight; he had been just as worried as the rest of us and basically led the whole search.

I was about to ask what Snow had told him when the loud voice of a kid resounded in the hallway outside the office and then the door burst open and a flash of blond hair ran straight to me.

-Aunt Clooooooooooooove!- the tiny arms of Aiden Odair hug my legs, he is a whirlwind of pure energy and charm, after all he is Finnick son- "I've missed you so much".

I was extremely surprised to see him here, since I returned to district 2 I haven't seen Finnick and Annie and suddenly Aiden appears here in the training center.

"Aiden Finnick Odair come here right now!"- Annie's beautiful face popped on the door, her long brown hair falling past her shoulders and her unmistakable sea green eyes, she came in carrying a big suitcase which she could barely hold because of her big eight months pregnant belly.

"Oh God, I can't to this anymore Aid, mommy is getting really tired"- she sat on the loveseat in front of me- "You two come here and give me a hug because I don't think I can go over there".

Cato helped her to stand up and then he gave her a big hug, I was surprised because I didn't knew that they were close.

"We were both mentors Clove, Finn is also a good friend of mine"- of course they were, they had to go to the Capitol every year but usually Finnick went while Annie stayed in district four with their son.

I approached her and then I gently hugged her by the shoulders, her belly was so big that I wasn't able to reach her.

"Auntie Clo where are Cade and Claire? Can I go play with them?"- Aiden asked innocently, my face must have showed sadness because Annie looked worriedly at me. Then Brutus intervened

"And what brings you here Annie?"- She looked suspiciously at him-"Finn was out, you know in a mission and yesterday he called me an asked me to pack and come here, he said that he will meet us but didn't gave me any other explanation".

Brutus simply nodded and then went out of the office holding his phone and already dialing a number, "Annie you must be hungry why don't you and Clove go to the cafeteria while I take Aiden to the house with Claire?"-

"That will be so good, thank you so much Cato and you little monster watch out okay?"- They left and we walked slowly to the cafeteria.

"Clo what is wrong? It's written all over your face, what is it?"- Annie knows me perfectly, we became best friends when I moved to district four, she let me cry every night on the phone the first month because I was still very hurted, we lived pregnancy together, Aiden is only a couple months older than the twins, she supported me when I decided not to tell Cato about the babies, she was like my sister so it was easy for her to know when I was not okay.

I told her the whole thing as she was eating, she was scared and worried but I tried to calm her because it wasn't good for the baby, she holds me when I start to cry, rubs my back and waits till I am done.

"He is okay Clove, the connection of a mother and her child is so strong that she can feel when he is not okay, have you felt like that?"

"No, but I can be calm until I have him in my arms Ann, I can do this, I can't stand not having him here"- finally I broke down, the past days I tried to be strong for Claire and Cato but the truth is that I can't hold it anymore.

"You can do it Clove, you have reasons to fight and soon he is going to be here".

Cato came in just when we were leaving so we waited for him while he bought coffee and then we returned to the office, he and Annie started chatting and I went to look through the papers in the desk, trying to distract my mind, I started to check on the class program for next week when suddenly I looked sideway someone in the doorframe and my eyes couldn't believe it.

Finnick Odair was standing there holding Cade's hand.

Cato POV

If I tried to explain what I felt when I saw Finn and Cade standing in the door I wouldn't be able, Clove ran towards him immediately and hugged him as if life depended on it, I quickly joined them, hold my little boy in my arms felt like I was able to breathe again.

"Oh my God honey are you okay? Something hurts? Are you hungry?"- Clo asked frantically, of course being the excellent mother that she is she feels extremely worried about Cade.

"I want to go home mommy"

Finnick was with Annie and they followed us to the house, when we arrived Claire, Aiden and Enobaria were very happy to see Cade even though the kids didn't knew what had really happened, they played for a little while and then Clove and Annie took them upstairs to give them a bath.

Finally being alone with Finn I was able to talk to him and I didn't even had to ask because he started explaining right away.

"The Rebels took Cade away Cato, their intention wasn't to hurt him, and they only did it to push Clove because they think that she is with the Capitol. Nobody knew about this you know that if Johanna, Annie, Mags or I knew we would have never allowed it"

"But dammit Finn he is my son and Plutarch knows perfectly that I am with the Rebels"- Rage was running all over my body.

"He didn't ordered it Cato, it was Alma Coin and he didn´t knew that Cade is your son, is not an excuse but as soon as I returned from my mission I went to the center and when I got into her office I saw Cade, I explained him that Clove didn´t knew about the rebellion and that Caden is also your son that's why she allowed me to take him back home"

The whole thing made sense but still it didn't erase the fear and anguish that we felt and of course it was not an excuse that they didn't knew the complete information. I got up from the couch and walked towards Finn.

"I will never be able to thank you for this Finn"- I patted his back- "You have brought back one of my most bigger treasures"

"I know that you will do the same for me man"- and of course I would.

After a while the girls came down and Finn and I cooked dinner, it was a great night, we were finally relaxed, enjoying of watching our children play and talking about old times; when Aiden and Annie started to feel tired I offered them my house to stay since I would be staying with Clove, there is no way I'm going to be apart from them anymore.

They left and we took the twins upstairs to put them on their beds, they fell asleep quickly and Clove and I keep watching them for a while before going to her room. She quickly changed into her pajamas and I into mines, I knew that nothing else was going to happen tonight, so we just cuddled up together under the blankets, after 7 days, 168 hours, 10080 hours we could finally get a good night sleep because our most beautiful nightmare was sleeping next door along with his sister.

Finally the sun has shined for Cato and Clove! The happy ever after is close my dear readers, I hope you enjoy this chapter, I did it a little longer as a thank you for supporting me with the note that I left, for your comments, suggestions, congratulations, supportive words etc… you don't know how much you guys help me to keep writing!

I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas, hope you get to be with the ones you love and get a lot of presents!

How about a Christmas special? Just like the one of Halloween? Post your comments and let me know!

I also been thinking very seriously to get a Beta but I will give you info later!

Love you so much! xoxoxo

Marianeclover.