The Last Mockingjay

Chapter 1

I wake up, shivering from the nightmares that have plagued me since my first Hunger Games. I feel the urge to scream, to let it all out, but then I remember that Peeta is here. He's right next to me like he has been every night for nine years. I collapse into his warmth, no longer fearing that I will lose him to the Capitol as I had in my nightmares.

As I inch closer to him, I feel his arms wrap around me; strong, yet gentle. I turn to face him and kiss him gently on the lips. I have never been so gentle with anything else in my life, except for maybe my children.

They have brought out a side of me people rarely see. The motherly side that I formerly had only reserved for Prim. At the thought of my little sister, I become teary eyed and tuck my head into Peeta's chest.

"You're thinking of Prim, aren't you?" Peeta says, wrapping his arms tighter around me. I nod, my tears silently soaking his shirt.

"Over nine years, Peeta, and I can't even think of her without losing it."

My voice falters on the last few words. Her life was taken too soon. She should have married, had children, become a doctor, but all those things were ripped away from her because of a stupid war tactic. I took care of the problem, though, so why don't I feel any better after all these years?

Then it hits me. I still blame Gale for her death. I don't want to, but I do. I also blame Coin for carrying out the task of dropping the bomb, and that's why I killed her. Most importantly, though, I blame myself for ever even putting Prim in danger to begin with. Ultimately, it's my fault, but nonetheless I feel a slight hatred toward Gale that I can't control.

Peeta looks over my shoulder to the window where the sun is slowly rising over the horizon. As he does so, I can't help but look at the strong muscles of his arms and his abs. Even after all these years, he's still the same strong and sturdy boy with the bread.

"It's time to wake up the kids for school," he comments, grunting as he untangles himself from me and gets out of bed. I follow suit and go to my dresser. I grab a simple gray t-shirt, brown cargo pants, my hunting boots, and my father's old, leather hunting coat. I get dressed and turn to Peeta to see if he is ready. He has put on a red button-down shirt, jeans, and a pair of dress boots.

"Why so fancy, Mr. Mellark?" I ask playfully, walking towards the door.

"If you must know, Mrs. Mellark, I am going into town to buy some wine for someone's upcoming birthday."

"You know I don't like to drink."

"But Haymitch does, and he wouldn't come if we didn't have any."

"Point taken," I reply as we walk down the hallway, then upstairs to the children's bedrooms.

"I'll wake Ash, you get Prim," Peeta tells me as we walk up to the two doors, straight across from each other in the hall. I nod and open the door to my right. I walk into my daughter, Primrose's, room.

On the walls hang pictures that Peeta has painted of flowers. The painting of a primrose hangs right above Prim's bed, while a painting of a field of dandelions hangs on the wall left of that, right above her desk.

Every time I see those paintings, I feel a twinge of pain, but I also feel a bit of peace, knowing that both Rue and my sister are a part of my home-- my family.

"Wake up, little duck," I say brightly, unrolling Prim from the cocoon of blankets. Her brown hair is still in a messy, lopsided braid down her back from yesterday. She looks like a carbon copy of me, except for her blue eyes. They are her father's.

"Mhm," is all I get in reply as she rolls away from me. I lean in real close, so that she can hear the slightest whisper I speak.

"Don't make me get the water."

Prim scrambles to her feet almost instantly, practically falling out of her bed in the process. I just watch and chuckle at the entertaining sight. Only her and Ashton can do this to me. Only them, and Peeta, can make me feel human. With them, I have hope.

"Get dressed and ready for school." I smile and walk out the door, only to be greeted by my little Ashton. His blonde curls bounce as he shuffles his way towards me, and his small grey eyes are warm and sweet as he greets me.

"Good morning, Mommy," Ashton says, wrapping his little arms around my legs.

"Good morning, sweetheart."

I lean over, so I am eye to eye with him. I brush his hair out of his face and kiss him on the head.

"Go get ready."

He does as I say and runs into his room giggling and stumbling over the wooden floors. I peek into his room. It is painted blue- by his request- and there are pictures of bows and arrows all over.

Bows, to him, mean fun toys, while bows when I grew up meant survival. It goes to show how much has changed in only nine years.

Peeta comes up to me after picking out Ashton's clothes. He wraps a strong arm around my waist and directs me downstairs to the kitchen where he begins to make breakfast.

I sit at the island, and look around at the counters and cabinets. In one corner is our fridge, and the sink is opposite to it. Peeta stands in the other corner cooking on the stove.

"You know," Peeta says as he cracks an egg into a frying pan, "I never thought you would be so good with the children. I mean, I had seen you with your sister and how gentle you were with her, but you are even more so with Prim and Ashton."

I flinch at the mention of my sister, but Peeta has his back to me, so he doesn't notice. His words surprise me a little. I mean, he is right. I have a special personality I reserve just for them.

"What? Are you saying that you thought I was cold-hearted and incapable of genuine love?" I smile at the taunt I made, waiting for Peeta to react. He turns around, face suddenly serious.

"Of course not. Why would you-" He sees my expression and immediately relaxes the tension in his face. "Ah. You got me there. I thought you were-"

"Serious. I never said I wasn't." Peeta rolls his eyes and turns back to the eggs in the pan.

"Sometimes, Katniss, I can never tell."

"Mommy, Mommy!" Ashton and Prim call as they run down the stairs.

"What is it?" I ask gingerly.

"We thought it would be fun if you taught us how to shoot!" Prim says excitedly.

I battle with myself for a few minutes not sure how to respond, but eventually I decide that now is better than later for them to learn.

"Okay. I will teach you after school today, agreed?"

They both nod, their excitement hardly containable.

"Breakfast is served!" Peeta calls, putting four plates filled with eggs and bacon on the table for us to eat.

Nine years, almost ten, now, and I think I'm finally getting the hang of this happy family thing.

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Hey! Thanks for reading and I hope you like it!

Now I know I don't exactly capture Katniss' thought process correctly, but I'm not Susan Collins, so I'm doing the best I can.

Also, please vote if you like it! I've gotta lot of surprises coming up! Be prepared!!!!

I'll be posting chapters every weekend.