Peeta has a problem in the form of one Gale Hawthorne. He wants to propose to Katniss during the Christmas Carol play, but there are Muppets everywhere, and Gale has come back into their lives like the Ghost of Christmas Past. Will Peeta ever get Katniss alone to propose?
I do not own the Hunger Games or the Muppets
Peeta sat backstage in his dressing room, staring at the engagement ring nestled in the velvety blue box. It was his plan to give it to Katniss, to ask her to have a Toasting with him. The ring had arrived today. It was their pearl, the one he'd given her in that arena, what felt like a century ago.
Effie had found it in her Mockingjay outfit, the one that they peeled off of her when they were trying to save her life after the explosion. Peeta felt his vision stood up and opened the door to the dressing room. He took a deep breath; the cool air instantly made him feel better. Pocketing the velvety box, he wanted everything to go well, but there was one thing that stood in his way.
Once he felt better Peeta turned to look at himself in the mirror. He was wearing coarse wool dark trousers, a high-neck white shirt, and a matching wool frock coat with a dark gray vest. Effie had insisted they wear period pieces just like in the movie Muppet's Christmas Carol. The play they were putting on was based on the movie. So everyone involved was suffering in one shape or form.
"I can't believe I've been roped into this," Katniss grumbled as she walked past his dressing room.
Peeta chuckled when he heard Katniss complain.
Katniss stood a few feet away in her long brown gown of cotton. She had a bulky knit wool scarf around her neck and tucked into the waist of the skirt of her gown. Her hair was parted down the middle and she had a low bun. She looked amazing, but Peeta knew how uncomfortable Katniss was.
"You!" Haymitch exclaimed, "I've got to wear this ridiculous outfit," he said pointing to his top hat and great coat.
"Haymitch, I'm wearing a strap across my waist that doesn't let me breathe or sit," Katniss complained, tugging at the corset underneath her clothing. It was squeezing her, but Effie was adamant that they wear period-approved clothing.
Haymitch snorted. "At least you look nice. I look like a peacock."
"Stop fretting Haymitch," Effie said, coming around the corner in her floor-length fitted gown with balloon sleeves.
"Tink…" Haymitch pleaded.
"Darling, this is for the children."
"Fine," Haymitch muttered.
Effie motioned for Katniss to come closer, "Katniss please do not slouch. The women of this period did not slouch."
"Slouch!" Katniss exclaimed. "I can't do anything but stand upright like a tree."
Peeta chuckled. No one was comfortable, but Effie was right. This play was going to raise a lot of money for all of the displaced children. This was the brainchild of Adeline Cartwright. Delly had fallen in love with the Capitol film and had come up with the idea of converting it into a play to raise money for the orphaned children. Delly convinced Effie that it would be a great idea, and roped in Haymitch. Delly convinced Peeta, and he convinced Katniss.
Peeta was sure Katniss was regretting saying yes to doing the play. On the daily, she complained about having to speak as if they were from the Capitol and wearing uncomfortable clothing. The worst of it were the Muppets they had to act alongside. There was a rat named Rizzo and a weird blue hooked-nosed Muppet named Gonzo. Along with a sweet Frog named Kermit, a sassy pig named Miss Piggy, and a not-so-funny bear named Fozzie. The Muppets movements were handled by Thom and his team, but the voices were done by Caesar Flickerman, Claudius Templesmith, Fulvia, and Katniss' prep team. Katniss, bless her heart, sometimes forgot she was supposed to speak to the Muppet and spoke to Thom or whoever was moving the creature.
Both Caesar and Claudius had jumped at the opportunity to lend their voices and talents. They were trying to improve their public image. During the war, Caesar was under the control of Snow and Claudius had been locked up along with Effie. It was discovered Caesar's family suffered if he did not do the things Snow demanded him to do. Yet despite this, both men went on what Plutarch called an apology tour.
They threw themselves behind good causes, and their reputations were healing. They were gaining the public's favor.
"Effie, stop looking at me like that," Haymitch grumbled.
"You look so handsome in your top hat and great coat," Effie said.
Haymitch didn't say anything, but Peeta imagined the man was lit up like a Christmas tree. Peeta laughed as he was sure someone heard Effie's compliment. There were people bustling around them. It was nearly time for the start of the play.
"Besides, Plutarch thought it was a marvelous idea and it's going to be broadcast all over the nation. This will raise money for all of the orphanages." Effie said.
"What no?" Katniss said, her hands began to shake.
"Hey," Peeta shouted as he practically ran to where Katniss was standing. They had kept the secret of the cameras out of Katniss's orbit. After the games, neither Peeta nor Katniss wanted to appear on camera again. However, Peeta was convinced to do this, on the condition that someone tell Katniss about the cameras that would be present on the show day.
"Peeta, you never said they're going to record this," Katniss hissed.
"I thought you knew, I thought someone told you?"
"No one said anything," Katniss frowned.
"Sorry Kid, I didn't think she'd do it if I told her," Haymitch said.
"Katniss," Peeta said, taking her hands in his. He squeezed them and rubbed them. "You won't see the cameras."
"Peeta," Katniss pleaded.
"Picture all of the good we will do," Peeta said. "There aren't any more games. It's been six years since the war ended. The arenas have been destroyed. Paylor has been elected again as president. It's a new era."
Katniss took a deep breath.
"Besides, you're only in a few scenes, and anytime you're on, you'll be with me, remember?" They'd both come a long way from where they were six years ago. He still had episodes but he had a list of things that triggered him, so he knew what to avoid.
Katniss nodded.
"Why don't you go sit in my dressing room," Peeta said.
"Sure," Katniss said, but she stopped as Gale stomped backstage.
"Delly," Gale growled. "Have you seen her…when I get my hands on her…" Gale said tugging on his cravat. His white frilly shirt billowed around him.
"Hey Gale," Katniss greeted.
"Katniss, have you seen Delly?"
"No, but I can help you look for her." Katniss offered.
Peeta helplessly watched Gale and Katniss walk away. He turned to Effie and Haymitch and gave them a meaningful look. Gale was the only problem he was having. Ever since he arrived to do the play, Gale and Katniss have been thick as thieves and there have been times when Peeta felt like the third wheel in their relationship.
It was Peeta's own fault; he was the one who nudged Katniss toward reconciliation between herself and her mother and then with Gale. Getting Katniss to do something she didn't want to do was like moving a mountain. But forgiveness was part of the healing process. They could not move forward without working on the traumas they faced.
The violence of the Games. The senseless destruction as part of the war. His own hijacking. There were things they spent the past few years tackling. They started sleeping together, not out of a romantic persuasion, but from comfort. Despite what they had been through, they were virtual strangers. Katniss needed to learn how not to be in survival mode. And Peeta needed to learn what triggered an episode. It wasn't easy. For the first year, they kept each other company during their nightmares. They clung to each other because there was trust, respect, and love.
This is why when they became romantically involved, it became as natural as breathing. But they could not reach that success without healing. One of the people that Katniss needed to forgive and reconcile with was her mother. Peeta confessed that he would rather have his mother alive just to hear her berate him than not hear her voice again.
This caused Katniss to break down and call her mother.
Peeta shared with Katniss, what he learned while in therapy was that in order to move forward to have some modicum of peace he had to forgive the people who wronged him. For them to move forward, it was necessary to forgive those who had betrayed them, those who in Peeta's case tortured him. Peeta did not want to continue having this hatred and loathing for all things Capitol. And for Katniss it was Gale.
It began with a letter of apology from Gale. It wasn't easy, because she refused to read his letters. But once she started reading them, she began journaling how she felt. When Katniss overnighted him a frozen squirrel for his birthday, Peeta knew Katniss was close to forgiving him. She said that if he could forgive the people who killed his family and tortured him, she could forgive a dumb kid who was brainwashed by Coin. Their reconciliation happened gradually when Gale came to do the play, they'd become friends once more.
It was great seeing Katniss putting her life back together. However, Peeta felt left out.
It was childish, but he was afraid that Katniss was going to realize that she and Gale made sense and that she didn't need Peeta anymore. He was terrified that she was going to say no. Gale was everything he wasn't. Gale was taller, and much better looking, his family was intact and he knew Katniss from before the games. They had this shorthand that Peeta couldn't decipher.
"Why would she want me?" Peeta wasn't aware he had spoken his insecure thoughts aloud.
"Peeta," Effie gasped, her hand on her chest.
"Boy," Haymitch gruffly muttered, "You're everything Sweetheart wants. You're the best of us."
"I'm not. I'm broken."
"No you are not," Effie said, approaching him. She placed her trembling hand on his chin. "You are Peeta Mellark, the sweetest, most charming, gentle, kind man that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Gale might be tall and yes he is handsome. However, he's not half the man you are. You withstood everything that dreadful Snow did to you and fought back to come back to us." Her eyes shone with determination. "Now do not fret. Chin up! You will know when to propose to Katniss. And she will say yes!"
"PLACES EVERYONE!" Plutarch's voice came over the microphone.
With that Thom and his group got into place at the front of the stage.
"Now, just remember to do as we practiced," Effie said, pinching his cheek.
"Just slip her the ring," Haymitch encouraged as Effie hauled him away for the beginning of the play.
Thom and Leevy were hidden behind an apple stand, in a corner across from the office of Ebenezer Scrooge. Their Muppets Gonzo and Rizzo were ready. Christmas music began playing and they could hear the audience become quiet. The curtains were slowly being raised and the audience began to applaud.
A cart was driven across the stage and various extras walked to and fro clearing out in a corner.
"Get your Christmas Apples," Gonzo called out.
"A tuppence a piece while they," Rizzo could be heard taking a bite of the apple. He spoke as he ate. "Last."
"Rizzo, you can't eat the merchandise," Gonzo condemned.
"Hey I'm creating scarcity, it drives the prices up," Rizzo said, holding a bitten apple up.
"Rizzo," Gonzo admonished.
Rizzo cleared his throat and pointed to the audience.
"Well hello," Gonzo shook his hand and it appeared that he stood taller. Welcome to the Muppets Christmas Carol, my name is Charles Dickens…"
"No it's not, you're Gonzo, Gonzo the weird," Rizzo said.
"Rizzo, remember I'm pretending to be the author, Charles Dickens, we're doing the play to help out all of the children."
"Oh yeah, right!" Rizzo said. He turned to the audience, "He's Gonzo and I'm Rizzo, and this here is a play, so give us your money."
The audience laughed.
"NO, Rizzo!" Gonzo exclaimed. "The nice people will call in and give us money during the play. We are the narrators."
"Sure…sure…just call the number…" Rizzo then disappeared.
"Rizzo, where'd you go?" Gonzo looked around.
"That's Ebenezer Scrooge…." Rizzo peeked up from behind a stack of apples. "He's…"
Haymitch walked onto the stage, his great coat flying dramatically as he purposely walked with his cane toward the office. The audience gasped at the sight of him. People moved out of the way as he walked. The music for Ebenezer began to play.
The people began to sing. "There goes Mr. Humbug, there goes Mr. Grim…"
As Haymitch stomped and wound his way across the stage everyone sang. There were muppets set up as fruits and vegetables. They began moving as children's voices began singing, "If he became a flavor you bet it would be sour…"
"The reason for this play, you see, the Marleys were dead, dead as a doorknob…"
"Hey, that ain't right!" Rizzo said.
"Well that's the way the story begins," Gonzo said.
The singing began again. "Every day in every way Scrooge is getting worse."
As Haymitch approached the office he yelled, "HUMBUG."
He dramatically opened the door and the stage turned around showing an antiquated office with a desk on the right and another desk on a platform on the left. Haymitch came in through the door at the center of the stage.
"CRATCHIT," Haymitch bellowed.
Gonzo and Rizzo were stationed by the window. "Bob Cratchit was Scrooge's employee."
"A long-suffering one," Rizzo said.
"Hush, Rizzo I'm telling the story," Gonzo pointed to the office.
"Yes, Mr. Scrooge." Peeta made his way onto the stage left and the audience erupted into applause. They needed to wait until the applause died down.
"I need the books," Haymitch grumbled.
"Here they are sir." Peeta made sure his voice trembled.
"Why is Applegate not paid?" Haymitch thundered.
"His granddaughter is sick, sir," Peeta said. "He needed a few more days and tomorrow being Christmas…"
"CHRISTMAS IS BAH-HUMBUG!" Haymitch roared and Peeta's hands shook. "I want his money by the end of today." Haymitch sniffed the air and then said. "Why is the air warmer?"
Peeta lowered his head for dramatic effect before saying, "It was so cold the ink was frozen sir. I put an extra shovel of coal in the fire."
"It'll come out of your wages," Haymitch snarled, walking to his desk.
Peeta walked to his desk.
The door to the office opened and Gale walked in. "MERRY CHRISTMAS UNCLE!"
There was a smattering of applause for Gale.
"Bob," Gale greeted.
"Congratulations on your recent nuptials, Fred," Peeta amicably spoke.
Gale gave Peeta a wreath with a large red bow and a small package. "For you and the children."
"Thank you, Sir, most kind of you." Peeta took the packages. "And a very Merry Christmas!"
"HUMBUG!" Haymitch called out.
"Uncle, Christmas is not a Humbug," Gale said as he sat before Haymitch's desk removing his hat.
"If I had my way, every fool that celebrated Christmas would be fined and incarcerated or they should be boiled in their own pudding!" Haymitch spat, as he wrote in his ledger.
"Oh, uncle…" Gale began but Haymitch cut him off.
He looked from his book for the first time and menacingly said, "You keep Christmas your way nephew, and I'll keep Christmas my way."
"Uncle, Christmas is a time of year when mankind can put aside petty differences and come together in peace with goodwill." Gale took a deep breath before continuing, "I believe that even though it has never put an ounce of gold or silver in my pockets, Christmas has done me good and will continue to do so in the future. I say Merry Christmas to all!"
Peeta waved his quill in the air to celebrate.
"See yourself OUT!" Haymtich yelled.
"Not until you accept my invitation to the Christmas feast tomorrow."
"Are you mad," Haymitch said, standing up to his full height. "Christmas is a HUMBUG and I shall not, nor will I ever celebrate the putrid day."
Gale stood from his chair. "Even if you do not come dear uncle, the invitation still stands." Before he left he tipped his hat to Peeta.
Several people came in and paid their debts. Peeta accepted the coins, and the audience watched Peeta count them. The door opened again, and Caesar and Claudius made an appearance.
"Mr. Scrooge I presume," Caesar greeted, removing his top hat with a flourish and bowing. The audience clapped and Caesar smoothly glided forward.
Haymitch once more did not look up as he spoke, "Who are you?"
"We are from the Orphanage foundation and we are here to ask for a donation," Caesar said.
"For whom?"
"For the children Mr. Scrooge, as you well know this time of year it is hard for all of the orphaned children," Claudius said.
"Are there no prisons or workhouses?"
"Indeed," Claudius said.
"Plenty," Caesar quipped.
"Oh for a moment I was worried," Haymitch said, dipping his pen in the ink jar. The quill got stuck and Haymitch had trouble getting it out. The audience chuckled because it was so cold in the office the ink had frozen over again.
"Some of us are endeavoring to raise a fund for the poor children," Caesar began to say.
"How much should we put you down for?" Tempelsmith held a small pencil and pad ready to write.
"Nothing," Haymitch replied.
"Nothing?" Both Caesar and Claudius repeated.
"Nothing," Haymitch said with an annoyed voice.
"You wish to remain anonymous?" Caesar said.
"Of course, many a donor has done this," Claudius said.
"So?" Caesar asked. "What would you wish to do sir?"
"I wish to be left alone," Haymitch said standing up.
"But sir, the children," Claudius said.
"Some will surely perish of hunger or illness."
"Then they will decrease the surplus population." Haymitch gave them a malevolent glare and shouted, "Now Get Out!"
Both men left with a huff.
The sound of a clock could be heard in the quiet.
Haymitch looked at his pocket watch.
"Sir," Peeta said standing from his chair. "I must leave now if I am to make it to the bank before they close. They will not be open tomorrow…because it's…"
"Cratchit if you so much say that world I'll fire you."
"...bank holiday…" Peeta made his voice go up an octave.
"I suppose you want tomorrow off," Haymitch grumbled.
"If you don't mind, sir," Peeta replied.
"Fine, but you will not be paid for it, and I want you here at 6 in the morning the day after. We will be giving out notices to Applegate."
"Yes, Mr. Scrooge," Peeta said, his shoulders deflated. He quickly gathered up his things and left.
Haymitch sighed heavily; he took his hat and put it on his head. He stared at the audience. "Christmas is a humbug I tell you," he said quietly before shouting. "HUMBUG!" As he shouted and slammed the door. The curtains fell as the audience applauded.
So special thanks to my beta and bestie for editing this story. This is dedicated for Wendywobles. I promised an Everlarked Christmas Carol with Muppets and sining - I hope you guys enjoy this mad capped story.