Peeta is haunted by Gale, much the way Ebenezer is haunted by the ghosts of his past. Can Peeta reconcile the past to get to the bright future?

I do not own the hunger games or the muppets

Backstage, all hands were moving furniture and changing the scene now to Ebenezer's bedroom. Peeta glanced around to see if he could find Katniss. He was worried that she would be panicking because of the camera.

He walked into the dressing room she shared with Delly and heard her laughing. "Hey Katniss," he said as he opened the door.

Gale was in the room with her. He was clearly laughing and he cleared his throat, and so did Katniss.

"What's so funny?"

"You wouldn't understand," Gale said.

"Katniss?" Peeta questioned.

Katniss snickered.

"It's…" Gale began but then broke down laughing.

This was the type of situation Peeta had been finding over and over again. He wasn't jealous, but he did feel left out and this brought doubts. For the past couple of years, he and Katniss were a unit, a team. They'd grown together, in all aspects. He and Katniss had moved in together, they made a home and he thought they were finally ready to get married.

"Sorry, Peeta…you needed to be there," Gale said.

"Uh, can I talk to Katniss?"

"Sure what's going on?" Katniss asked, but she didn't tell Gale to leave.

"But it's private," Peeta said.

"I thought you guys had no secrets," Gale said.

"I just…"

"Look if it's about the play, I'm okay. Did you know Snow was recording everything we did?"

"No," Peeta said. "I just wanted to give you a word of encouragement because we have to sing is all."

"Dang it, I forgot about that." Katniss turned pale.

"Why'd you go do that for?" Gale asked, frowning. "I had finally made her forget about the next scene."

"Katniss and Peeta to the stage," Plutarch said.

"Well come on," Peeta said.

Katniss stood up, her hands were trembling. Peeta took them in his and led her to the curtain. The music played. "You're with me, everything is going to be fine, just look at me."

Katniss nodded.

The music began to play.

Peeta walked out along with others, the curtains were a special type that could be projected on. "There's magic in the air this evening, there's magic in the air."

The crowd around Peeta sang, "The world is at her best, you know…"

Peeta sang as he walked slowly, as he sang with the crowd, he made to and fro and was now staring at Katniss, he sang, "After all, there's only one more sleep 'til Christmas."

Katniss walked out and the crowd cheered and clapped as she sang, "The world has got a smile today, the world has got a glow…"

The other actors sang as he and Katniss met in the middle, and sang, "After all, there's only one more sleep 'til Christmas."

The music swelled and everyone sang.

Vick, Rory, and Posey came toward the end of the air, along with Finn, Finnick's son, with his small crutch. "There's something in the wind today that's good for everyone…"

Peeta picked Finn up and swung him around as all of them walked, greeting and smiling. There were people dressed as Muppets walking around. Rizzo and Gonzo joined them singing, "There's something in the air..."

At the end of the song, Finn, who was playing Tiny Tim, sang, "After all, there's only one more sleep 'til Christmas."

Then Katniss smiled sadly and sang, "After all, there's only one more sleep 'til Christmas."

Finn coughed.

"Come along Bob, let's get Tiny Tim indoors, 'fore he catches a cold."

Peeta snuggled Finn to his chest, and said, "Right you are, Emily."

They all walked off stage right.

Backstage, Peeta put Finn down. He turned to Katniss but found that she was being hugged by Gale. Peeta's shoulders sagged as he went over to Katniss. He felt that heaviness in his stomach that was a trigger prior to an episode. He took deep breaths trying to calm his anxiety, as he approached.

"You did great, Catnip!" Gale exclaimed as he put her down.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready to play young Scrooge?" Peeta couldn't help the snark in his tone of voice.

"He will," Katniss said, frowning at him.

Peeta could feel the twist in his personality as the ghost of the hijacking serum tried to take over. He balled his fists. Rather than have an episode, he walked away, straight to his dressing room. He didn't share because of his condition. He grabbed the back of the chair trying to breathe in and out.

"What is your problem?"

"Not now," Peeta growled.

Katniss however did not walk away, as he expected her to. She instead wound her arms around his middle and whispered. "Come back to me…"

Peeta breathed in and out, in and out…his heart rate began to slow. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to get mad…"

"It's okay, we're all stressed."

"Haymitch on stage," Plutarch's voice could be heard.

"Do you want to stay here through Act Two?" Katniss asked.

Peeta smiled, "And miss Haymitch getting haunted by the ghosts, no way."

Together they walked off stage. This was the most complicated set yet. The audience would see one-third of the set leaving the two-thirds hidden so that they can switch things as necessary.

The curtain came up and Haymitch came out with a candle and a bowl. He sat before the hearth in his night robe and dressing gown. He sat before the fire rocking back and forth.

Gonzo and Rizzo were off to the side looking from a window above. "The home where Scrooge resided had once belonged to the Marly's. Once again, the Marleys were dead. He even wore their clothing."

"Isn't this a crime?" Rizzo asked.

"What are you talking about?"

"We're breaking and entering," Rizzo pointed out.

"No it isn't," Gonzo said. "We're the narrators."

"Well if breaking and entering isn't a crime, then I guess eating his bread isn't a crime either," Rizzo said, showing a piece of long bread.

The audience laughed.

"It's all humbug," Haymitch muttered. "I thought I saw those imbeciles, the Marleys on the door knocker, but it must be that I was hungry. Hunger will make you manifest the strangest things." Haymitch brought the spoon up to his mouth. He chewed and spouted. "Bah Humbug."

He stood and put his bowl on the table next to his chair. Suddenly the servant's bell began to ring, the flames blazed and he jumped out of the way screaming.

"AGGGHH!" Rizzo said as two Muppets appeared with chains. They looked ghostly and floated in darkness. The audience gasped.

Haymitch took a step back and grabbed his candle to strike. "Who are you?"

"In life, we were Jacob," one of the older Muppet appropriations said.

"And Robert Marley," the other said and they laughed. Their laughter was accompanied by the sound of metal chains.

"No," Haymitch said.

"Why do you doubt us?" They asked together.

"You could be a piece of cheese, some undigested bread."

The music began to play. Both Marley brothers began to sing "We're Marley and Marley."

"Avarice," Jacob sang and more chains appeared.

"...and greed," Robert finished.

"We took advantage of the poor," Jacob sang.

"Just ignore the needy," Robert sang.

They spun around him singing, they wrapped their chains around Haymitch.

"Your future is a horror story," Jacob warned as he sang.

"Your chains are forged," Robert laughed as Haymitch saw the chains around him.

"What are these terrible chains," Haymitch cried.

"We forged these chains in life by our acts of greed," Jacob bemoaned.

"There's a chance for you yet," Robert said.

"Three spirits will visit you, and maybe you'll be redeemed yet…." Jacob said.

"More like he'll be haunted," Robert interjected, and both Marley's laughed.

"The first one shall come when the clock strikes one," Jacob said.

"The second when the clock strikes two," Robert said.

"The third when the clock strikes three," they both said. Suddenly, they began to fade, it was as if they were being pulled back into the other realm. "This is your one chance, Ebenezer.

"Don't waste it, you big baboons," Jacob said.

"Don't insult the baboons that way," Robert said.

"You're right he's a buffoon." Jacob laughed and Robert laughed with him and suddenly the room went quiet.

"Are they gone," Rizzo said.

"Yeah," Gonzo said. "Now Ebeneezer did not believe his eyes. He looked at the flames and then at the bowl." As Gonzo spoke Haymitch acted out his words.

"Bah-humbug," he muttered.

"He thought he must have been sleepwalking so he went to bed, not knowing his old partners were doing him a kindness. He went to bed and as the night wore on suddenly the clock struck one."

The room was lit with a bright light and Miss Piggy came into the room, wearing a white beaded dress.

"Why is there a pig in my room?" Haymitch said.

"I am not a pig," Miss. Piggy said. "Moi is the spirit of Christmas past."

"Get out of my room," Haymitch said.

"Look mister, you're coming with me!" Miss Piggy roughly put her hand on Haymitch and he was lifted up into the air.

The audience gasped.

"Wait for us," Gonzo put his hand on Haymitch's robe.

"Where are you taking me? What is that light?" Haymitch asked.

"That is the past." Miss Piggy growled in that high-tone voice of hers, "And if you would've come peacefully, I wouldn't need to drag you!"

A bright light flashed and suddenly they were ascending into the past. They were now in a classroom, where a boy sat working.

"That's me!" Haymitch said. "I was often alone. I never went home."

Suddenly Annie Odair stepped into the room. "Ebeneezer!"

"Fanny," the young boy cried. "What are you doing here?"

"Father has asked me to come and get you."

"Father?"

"Father has changed so much, come Ebenezer, come home."

"Ebenezer watched his childhood pass in a blur," Gonzo said.

"My sister was so beautiful," Haymitch said.

"Yet you cannot see her beauty in her son," Miss. Piggy said. "Come, there is more to see."

Once more she lifted them up into the air and Gonzo and Rizzo held on to Scrooge's dressing gown.

"Did I ever tell you that I hate heights!" Rizzo exclaimed.

"Just hang on," Gonzo said as they were once more flashed with lights and wind before they once more ascended. Rizo and Gonzo landded on a lamppost. Gonzo looked below before addressing the audience, "Scrooge found himself looking at a building he hadn't seen in years."

"Tell me Ebeneezer, do you know this place?" Miss Piggy asked.

"Why is it Fezziwig's old rubber chicken factory," Haymitch said with awe.

"It was Christmas Eve and the lamp lighters were plying their trade," Gonzo said as he began to light the lamp.

"Hey, hey!" Rizzo exclaimed. "Light the lamp not the rat, light the lamp, not the rat!" He took a dive into a pile of snow and it sizzled and a plume of smoke went up, and the audience laughed.

"Come on Rizzo," Gonzo said, jumping down. "Let's go…"

"Mphhhh," Rizzo said.

"Look there's Old Fezziwig's himself," Haymitch pointed to Fozzie the bear.

"Everyone," Fozzie said. "Welcome to Fezziwig's annual Christmas party. I normally have a Christmas speech."

"A speech," Jacob Marley shouted from behind a table.

"Don't you mean it's time for a nap?" Robert Marley shouted back, and both Marley's laughed.

"Never mind them," Fozzie said. "Thank you all for working so hard, and Merry Christmas!"

"That's horrible," Jacob spat.

"That's short," Robert said looking at his brother.

Then together they said, "We loved it!"

"Let's dance," someone shouted.

Suddenly the Muppet band began playing a lively tune.

"Look, it's me," Haymitch said.

Gale came walking out with a beard and mustache. "Master Fozzie, do you know how much this costs?"

"Ebeneezer put down the ledger and enjoy yourself." Fozzy walked toward Effie who smiled. "In fact, I'd like for you to meet someone. Mister Scrooge I wish to meet Miss Bell, a friend of the family."

"You remember her," Miss Piggy said.

"I do," Ebenezer said. "It is Bell."

"I know of another Christmas with Bell," Miss Piggy said. She stomped her foot and the light flashed and it was just Gale and Effie standing on stage. The curtains projected an outdoor scene.

"Another year before our wedding, Ebenezer," Effie said.

"The business is growing, Bell."

"I often wonder who you love more," Effie looked at Gale.

"Bell, do not speak such trivialities," Gale said harshly. "My business needs tending."

"Ebeneezer, you have no need of money…all I ask is for you to take one day to marry me, but you cannot even do that."

"You have no idea of business nor the demands. Most women don't." Gale crossed his arms across his chest.

"This is what our life would be like. Me at home and you with your mistress."

"Mistress," Gale said, frowning. "What do you go on about?"

"Money is the other woman in our relationship and you love money more than you do me. I am sorry, Ebeneezer." Effie stood and took off her ring and gave it to him. She wiped her face with her hand. "I hope you have a wonderful life and a Merry Christmas."

Effie walked off stage leaving Gale on stage with the ring.

"Bell," Haymitch cried.

"If you have faced such heartbreak, no wonder you dislike Christmas," Miss Piggy said.

The light slowly dimmed, and the theater went pitch black. When the lights came on Haymitch was on his bed, with his hands in his face. "Oh Bell," Haymitch bemoaned.

"Ebenezer thought it was a dream when he woke up," Gonzo said, sitting in the chair that was in front of the fire.

"Bell," Haymitch shouted into the room. He searched his bed then laid back. Suddenly the clock struck two.

The fire in the fireplace grew and out hopped a frog in a long cheerful robe. "Come along I am Kermit the frog, the ghost of Christmas present." The room was filled with light. There was a tree decorated with period Christmas ornaments, fresh pine branches, and forest greens, and there was a table laden with food.

"Scrooge grew weary of this apparition," Gonzo said.

"What heartache do you have to show me?" Haymitch spat, tying his robe belt tighter.

"I will show you the present, come along, I shall only be young once," Kermit said.

"Are there many of you?"

"There have been over 1800." Kermit hopped down.

"In his hand, he held a torch, his eyes were filled with kindness and joy, and he hopped about like a child filled with glee," Gonzo said.

"Look at all of the feast," Rizzo said as he tried to grab food. Gonzo picked him up. "Put me down!" Rizzo Exclaimed.

The audience laughed.

"I suppose you are here to show me some sort of Christmas?" Haymitch snarkily asked.

"I will show the joys of Christmas present, come with me," Kermit said warmly. "And know me better man."

Haymitch took his hand and they walked off stage to the right. The stage turned and there was a lively party in a house. Delly and Gale sat together, alongside their friends. The house was lavishly decorated and a large tree sat in a corner with twinkling decorations.

As this scene took place on the other side of the stage Katniss and Peeta took their places.

"Are you okay?" Katniss asked.

Peeta took a deep breath, "I've got a lot on my mind."

"So does Gale," Katniss muttered.

"Can we not talk about him," Peeta asked.

"What is your problem, ever since he arrived you've been acting weird," she whispered fiercely.

"Maybe it's because I feel like I'm the third wheel. Last week he was wearing one of my shirts."

"He spilled coffee on himself, Peeta." Katniss rolled her eyes.

"I just feel left out, that's all," Peeta said.

"But you don't like hunting, and you make so much noise…" Katniss said.

"I know, I sound like wild bears running through the forest," Peeta muttered. They heard the audience laughing.

"They must have told the unwanted creature joke," Katniss said. "You better go off stage and find Finn."

Peeta left to find Finn, but he found Gale instead, standing off stage looking miserable, and a fuming Delly.

"You're ugh, how could you?" Delly squeaked.

"The script said to show a sign of tenderness," Gale argued.

"There was no necessity for you to kiss me on my cheek, in front of the entire NATION!" Delly stormed off stage, but she made sure to stomp on his foot.

"Aghh," Gale said, hopping around.

Next to Peeta, Finn shook his head, before wisely saying, "He shouldn't have kissed her on the cheek. It wasn't in the script."

Peeta wanted to laugh at Gale, but he couldn't because he was having his own troubles.

The stage moved and the audience saw Kermit lead Haymitch to Cratchit's house. This house was poor in comparison to Fred's house. The walls were not covered in rich wallpaper. The walls were not even painted, the furniture looked worn down. But it was cheery and evergreen rushes decorated the mantel and windows. Bright red ribbons were tied on the chairs. There was a light that came from the hearth.

The laughter of children filled the air.

Gonzo and Rizzo were inside of the house off to the side. Gonzo began speaking, "It was the spirit's own nature and sympathy for all creatures that led Ebenezer to Bob Cratchit's house."

"What are we doing here?"

"You asked me to bring you to a place where kindness abounded."

"Posy, let me know the moment your father arrives," Katniss said, putting the small chicken on the table. There was a plate with three potatoes cut up, another small bowl with chopped roasted carrots, and a medley of parsnips and sprouts. There was a bowl with two oranges. There was even a loaf of bread and gravy.

"It's not a very big goose, mother," Vick said.

"That's because it's a chicken, we couldn't afford a goose, but at least we have something," Katniss said, hugging Vick on the side.

"Is Rory coming?"

"His employer said he would give him half a day off," Vick said.

"Rory's coming," Posy cheered.

"Happy Christmas, Mother," Rory said, hugging his brother and sister as he joyfully entered the scene."Here mother, chestnuts; they're still warm."

"We shall feast like kings," Katniss said, taking the small bag of chestnuts. "Yesterday Mr. Scrooge's nephew gave us two oranges."

"An orange!" Rory exclaimed.

"Mother, Father is here with Tiny Tim!" Posy said, getting off the chair.

"Tiny Tim was beloved by all, his heart was like that of his father's. He was a joy to all of those who beheld him," Gonzo said.

"Hey, Gonzo," Rizzo said.

"What, Rizzo?"

"Do they have a cat?" Rizzo asked as two muddy yellow eyes showed from beneath a table.

"Yeah, why?"

Rizzo began running as the Muppet version of Buttercup ran after him. This made the people in the audience laugh.

"Rizzo, can you stop playing with the cat…" Gonzo said as he sat in one of the chairs.

The door opened and the cat ran outside as Rizzo ducked to the side.

"My two favorite fellas!" Katniss exclaimed.

"Mama it smells wonderful in here," Tiny Tim said, hobbling to the table. He walked with a small handmade crutch. "Look at all of the food."

"It is a feast, and I think we should eat!" Peeta said.

Everyone watched as the family gathered around a meal that should have fed a family of three but it was feeding six people, three of whom were adults. Peeta helped Finn sit at the table, nearest the fireplace.

"To Mr. Scrooge the founder of our feast," Peeta said, raising his glass.

"The founder of the feast indeed. If he was here, I would give him a piece of my mind," Katniss said scowling.

"Dear, not in front of the children," Peeta said.

"Fine because it is Christmas, to Mr. Scrooge," Katniss said, lifting her glass.

"Bless us all," Tiny Tim said.

The music began and Finn's voice sang softly, "Life is full of sweet surprises, every day's a gift…bless us all who gather here."

Katniss sang, "The loving family I hold dear…"

Peeta sang next, "No place on earth compares with home, And every path will bring me back from where I roam…"

Katniss, Peeta, and Finn sang together, "Bless us all, that as we live, We always comfort and forgive…"

Then Rory sang, followed by Vick, and then finally by Posy. Finally, everyone sang together until Tiny Tim sang the last line, "Bless us all…"

As Finn finished he began to cough. Peeta lifted him from his chair and put him on a small cot by the fire.

"Spirit, tell me, does Tiny Tim live?"

"That is the future," Kermit said. He sported a long white beard.

"Please spirit," Haymitch begged.

"I see an empty spot by the table and an unused crutch against the hearth," Kermit sadly said.

"Please spirit, tell me it cannot be," Haymitch said as he followed Kermit toward the side of the stage. The lights dimmed.

"If these shadows remain unchanged by the future, then none of my kind will find him here," Kermit looked at Haymitch, "Besides, if he is likely to die, best he do it now and decrease the surplus population."

Haymitch lowered his head and walked away. The curtains slowly lowered and the screen behind him showed an image of a graveyard. "I've seen such joy tonight, even though they have naught."

"My time grows short," Kermit said, appearing with a white wig and beard.

Haymitch gasped. "You grow old?"

"It is nearly my time to leave you…" Kermit said. "My time with you will end upon the strike of midnight."

"But I have learned so much from you spirit…please do not leave me." Haymitch got on his hands and knees. "You've touched my heart, you've changed me…"

"It is time for the ghost of things yet to come…" Kermit began to slowly disappear into the stage.

"Please do not leave me," Haymitch shouted as the theater became dark.

The crowd applauded.

Thank you to my brilliant Beta norbertsmom. And I hope Wendywobbles enjoys this 2nd edition. Thank you for everyone who read and liked the first part. What do you think of part 2...