Disclaimer: Thanks for calling the ambulance.
Before I know it, the victory tour comes to District 4. I stand on the family platform, my arms wrapped around Coral and Pearl's shoulders. My father has both of his hands on both of my shoulders. It feels sort of like he's the only thing keeping me from collapsing. The peacekeepers wouldn't let marlin or our children stand up here. Direct family only, the peacekeepers said. Whatever that means.
Adair gives her speech, her glittering navy dress fluttering in the wind. Her ebony hair is whipping around her face, being thrown around by the wind. I expect her to be the brutal careershe played the part of during the games. She isn't, which makes it much harder to hate her.
"I'd like to say that I really am sorry for killing Azula. She would have killed me if I hadn't killed her first. I hope at least some of you understand this." She looks right at me. I nod. Thsi girl in front of me isn't the reason my sister is dead. The Capitol is the reason.
The feast comes, and I try to find her to tell her that I don't blame her. I find her and tap her shoulder. She turns around and, seeing who I am, hugs me.
"I really am sorry for killing her.I know what it's like to lose a sister. I think about Anna every single day." I look at her.
"Do you keep in touch with Oliver's younger brother?"
"Cato?"
"The one and only."
"Yeah, he's in the 75th class at District 2's Training Academy. Same as Clove. She's only six, but they moved her up to the nine year olds' class, because she's a whiz with throwing knives. At six years old. It's almsot sad. Funny, though, how their gonna be in the same games when their siblings were, too. I don't want her to be in the games when she's only fourteen. And with him, too. They've been best friends ever since he punched that kid who was being mean to her. I saw him do it."
"That reminds me of them. Anna and Oliver."
"Yeah, me too. Hopefully, he'll win the Quarter Quell, and she'll win one of the games she's eligible for after that, so they can grow up and live like you and marlin do. With children, without a care in the world."
Without a care in the world. Oh, Adair, if only that was true, I think. I don't tell her that I won't be rooting for a victory for either of them. For the rest of my life, I'll be hoping for either a District 4 win or an outer district victory.
"What are you going to name it?" Oh, she's talking about the baby. Seven months in, and I haven't felt queasy once. It's a personal record.
"Maybe Azula."
"I bet she'll be beautiful." I go ahead and decide to like Adair.
Marlin comes up beside me.
"Marlin, this is Adair, obviously. Adair, this is Marlin, my husband." Marlin stcick out a stiff hand. Of course he's bound to be hostile at first. After all, she did kill my sister. "Anna's sister," I whisper in his ear. He relaxes.
After she hugs me and goes to talk to Finnick and Annie, who is clenching Finnick's hand like it's her lifline to the world, marlin admits that she's not the stereotypical career that he thought she was. I wave goodbye to Adair before walking out hand in hand with Marlin.
Grey, who was watching the kids for us, meets us at the door. Her hair is disheveled, she's breathing heavy, and she looks leans on the doorframe, trying to catch her breath. I look down at her feet. Rivi and Kai are each latched onto one of legs, feet wrapped around her ankles, hands wrapped around her knees. River is nowhere to be seen.
"You guys... y'all sure have... spirited... children," she wheezes. Marlin snorts, lets go of my hand, and leans down to unlach Kai from her leg. Rivi stands up and runs back into the house. Kai follows soon after.
"Let's see..." I hand her a wad of money, then add more after she takes. She raises her eyebrows.
"What's the extra cash for, ViVi?"
"I have no doubt you'll wake up with a splitting headache and something will be missing from your pocket. River can steal the socks off your feet without taking your shoes off." Marlin nods solemnly.
"One time he did that to me. I fell asleep on the couch with my shoes on, and when I woke up, my socks were gone." I roll my eyes. "I never did get those socks back," he adds wistfully.
The extra money is to compensate for whatever he took this time. When I find it, I'll give it back to you."
"Oh, okay. See you tomorrow, then." We walk inside.
"I hope she's ready for the games," I say. Marlin just purses his lips and nods.