Peyton POV

Mom came to find me last week. I avoided her, but she left a note in the cabin saying Katrina's due date was in three weeks. That I should come down in one week and spend some time with the family. A month ago, I would have said screw it, but I do kind of miss seeing everyone. Just take it slowly. Get used to the idea of being part of a family again. My time out here in the woods has been good. It was nice to get some time to myself and be alone with my deranged thoughts. Plus there was no distraction from seeing her. She was the only one who confused me, and jumbled my thoughts. She was the only one who made me want to be like the old me again. But, in truth, I didn't want to be like the old me. I liked the new me. The old me was too soft, too weak. But now, the new me is stronger, wiser, and more of a man; even though I turned 18 in April (the legal adult age in Panam), I didn't feel like a man until I took to the woods. Living off the land; much like what mom did when she was a kid, and what mom and dad did in the games.

I had made quite a little home for myself in the cabin up here. I had a small bed in the side room, there was running water up here, and a wood stove for cooking. From hunting I skinned a few animals and made a blanket out of it. I had just a few sets of clothes up here, mostly hunting gear.

So now, I'm standing in front of my parent's house, expecting to be welcomed with hugs and kisses upon entering, but none come. The door is unlocked, which is common but no one is inside.

"Mom? Dad?" I call out into the silence. A note on the side table in the hallway catches my attention.

Peyton,

We've gone down to the hospital, Katrina's water broke. Please come down if you can.

Love, Mom

So the little thing is coming early. I turn and leave the house closing the door behind me. The walk down to the hospital isn't a long one. In fact it's rather short, five minutes maybe? The sun is shining bright overhead. It's warm this morning too, after all, it is summer. Speaking of summer, I'm not entirely sure if I'm considered to be graduated from school. I didn't exactly go back after what happened. Then again, how could I? I haven't spoken to any of my friends, even Zane. I wonder if he and Ronette ever worked out. Not that I really care, or do I? I don't know. Being down here always confuses me again.

I reach the hospital and can hear Trina's screams. A small smile comes to my face. Such a graceful scream; even when she's in pain she sounds musical. I reach for the door, but suddenly hold back. Do I really want to go in the front? There's sure to be cameras in there. Before any of them see me, I round the corner of the building and take the service entrance. The halls are as white as the last time I was here. The time I saw Jane in the hospital bed.

"What?" An angry male voice demanded. A voice I've never heard before. And it's coming from just down the hall. "You want to break up? It's that Mellark boy isn't it?" What? "You're still in love with him. I bet you've been sneaking around behind my back with him." He's shouting. Who the hell is that? That's when I hear her voice. I round the corner and see her with a guy I've never met.

"Shut up Trey. God just shut up! You never stop talking do you!? Well for your information, no I have not been seeing Peyton! I have only been seeing you, and you know what, it sucks! You are annoying and clingy and stalkerish. Just back the fuck off and leave me to my own life. By the way, your kissing sucks." She turns to leave, but he grabs her shoulders and pins her up against the wall hard. And before I realize what I'm doing I've crossed the hallway silent as an avox. My fist clenches and I pound it against his skull. He falls down to the ground out cold. Good riddance. No one touches her like that. Wait, what am I saying?

Her eyes are wide when she realizes who I am. I haven't looked her in the eyes in a very long time. Those big brown eyes, they remind me a puppy. She looks older since last I saw her; then again, I probably look a bit different too. Her mouth hangs open a bit, like she's in shock. I hear a baby's cry from down the next hallway. I move past her and find my family gathered in the delivery room. None of them notice me walk in until dad turns to leave. I stand in the doorway leaning to one side just looking at the scene. Dad smiles and walks up to me. He pats me on the shoulder, tears in his eyes then steps out of the room. Mr. Hawthorne (I still hate him) notices me next. He looks me up and down, and then with a curt nod of the head he moves towards me, now past me and out the door as well. Fairly soon, everyone notices I'm there and they make a hole for me to walk through. Katrina spots me and starts crying again, just lightly. Finn, my now brother-in-law is sitting half next to her, half behind her with his arms around her. He notices her crying and begins to comfort her. Finn's always been an annoying brother to me, now legally we are brothers, and the little thing Katrina's holding is my nephew. They still color code the blankets then? Blue for boy, pink for girl. The baby coughs a bit, and Katrina shushes him by rocking him gently. Finn is beaming. I move for a closer look. Dark hair spouting off of his tiny head, olive skin, and sea green eyes; and Odair family trait.

"His name's Roark." Katrina speaks softly.

"Cute kid." I say. He is very much Katrina's son. But the eyes are a dead giveaway about the father. Suddenly the doctor comes back in with the birth certificate.

Roark Wayland Odair, born on the 6th of July, 2:49pm, in District 12 Memorial Hospital. Parents: Katrina Rose Odair (Mellark), and Finnick Jr. Odair.

I leave the room, Finn and Katrina are both about to have an emotional melt down. I see Jane at the end of the hallway. She's leaning against the wall looking up at the ceiling. I wanted kids with her one day. A few months ago I told myself that I didn't want them anymore. Now I'm just not sure what I want. I move to leave the hospital. But mom stops me.

"Before you go, you need a haircut." This isn't a request, it's a demand. I sigh, knowing that no matter how hard I'd try, there's no way I'd get out of this one. She'd just guilty trip me saying that I'm never home anymore, the least I can do is let her treat me to a haircut. She takes my hand and leads me through the crowd of cameras, we both put our hands up to our faces. She even jumps at one of the men and he backs off. Then, down the street we go to the local barber. One of mom's old stylists. He opened up a shop right here in District 12 just for the memories. He does capital stylings and plain District 12 stylings. He asked if he could give mom purple and red hair once, she brought a knife to his throat.

She sits me down in the chair as she goes to the back to meet with him. He shrieks in delight when she finds him. Mom brings him out to the front where I am. She whispers something in his ear and he nods excitedly. He grabs my arm and yanks me up to the chair, and immediately tilts my head back and starts snipping away. I sit there for just a few minutes, and he's done. He sits me up and makes a "ta-da!" noise. He's almost cut it completely off. I look thirteen again. Mom smiles and says "I don't know how long you're going to be gone, so I had him take off a bit more than normal." I nod to her.

We wave goodbye to mom's old friend and start back up towards the village. "Don't suppose I can convince you to stay a bit longer can I?" Mom says looking up at me. I shake my head no.

"Are you even going to talk to me, or do I just get nods and sighs now?" She asks frustrated.

"Sorry." I say to her. "I just don't really feel like talking, or staying." She looks sad now.

"Is there any guarantee that you'll ever come home for good? We miss you down here."

I look down at her. "I can't give you any guarantee that you want. I just need time mom."

She nods then. "Alright. We'll I'll see you sometime soon won't I?"

"A month maybe." I tell her. She's forcing a smile.

"Okay." She says. I walk her to the front door of the house. Then she hugs me goodbye and kisses my cheek. Opens the door, and then she's gone. Though I hate to say it, I feel a little relieved that I didn't have to stay any longer. I can only take so much of this life. I leave the village and make my way towards the fence. Once beyond that, I take to the woods and head home.

Jane POV

Mom helps tuck in my jacket into my bag. "Promise to come back within a month's time." She says.

"I promise." I pick up my bag and make my way towards the woods. Spending some time to myself will be a nice change. And not just "time to myself" with other people around, but time isolated in the woods. I know how to battle the elements, and it's summer so it shouldn't be much of a problem. I know how to hunt and gather to feed myself. And I know how to defend myself against predators. I grab my bow and quiver in my secret hiding place and strap them to my back. I was never the best shot, but I shoot well enough to feed myself.

Part of me hopes that I won't see him out here. Part of me does. I find the clearing in the trees and look down at the valley below. So much of the forest still unexplored. To my left, the long trek up to the lake, to my right, hunting ground. Ahead of me, I have no idea, so that's where I'll go.

Think they'll run into each other? I think there might be some confrontation in these woods :)

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