Our Life After

A Surprise Party for Lizzie

*Katniss's POV*

I called up Annie, Fin and Finnick, Gale and Johanna and family, and Haymitch and Effie and we've all planned a surprise party for Lizzie in District 4, which we are leaving for today.

We asked to keep it a secret from all the children because kids are not great secret keepers.

Haymitch and the crew from 12 will take another train different from ours so it can be a secret as long as possible.

We get off the train in D4, and had to the Odair residence where we will be staying the next week. Tomorrow is Lizzie's birthday, and I have her bow ready.

It is made of strong oak, with an engraving reading, "Elizabeth Marie Mellark". I think she'll like it. Peeta won't tell me what he got her.

When we get there, it's around dinner, The D12 gang will get here tomorrow morning, with the party around noon.

We sleep in a guest room, with Lizzie on a mattress on the floor.

The next morning, we say our happy birthdays at breakfast, and Fin asks if he can play with Lizzie. We of course agree so Peeta can make the cake in secret.

While Peeta manages the cake, I sit on the porch swing with Annie and Christian.

"They just grow up too fast. Fin is already 8, your Lizzie already 6. Seems like they were born yesterday."

We keep having "mother talk" as I like to call it, until we deem it time to go inside.

Later, Haymitch and everyone shows up, Peeta is finishing the cake, and everyone is arranging things just right. The cake here, the presents there, and we hear Lizzie and Fin coming up the porch.

"Everyone hide!" Peeta yells, and we all do. The moment they walk in the door, we all jump and yell

"SURPRISE!"

Lizzie's face lights upwhen she sees everyone. All get friends, her family, her "fake" family, meaning everyone she calls uncle, aunt, or grandpa that she's not actually related to.

She runs and gives everyone a hug, and talls to Catherine for a bit before deeming it time to eat cake.

Peeta has prepared a simple white cake with honey vanilla frosting and blue/sliver lettering announcing today. It also has a few flowers. Lovely.

We all enjoy the delicious cake before it's present time. The kids chant a little tune about present time that they picked up somewhere, who knows where.

"Present time! Present time! Open up and see what's inside!"

So she does just that. She starts with Effie and Haymitch's gift, which is a book and kit on how to make friendship bracelets. Annie and Finnick bought her a cute little fishing pole, which she loves. It looks like mahogany. Along with it comes a card from Fin.

Gale and Johanna gave her a journal with a collaged cover made by Catherine of all the pictures of the two them together. Joshua said he helped.

She finally got to Peeta's present, which she opened a slender box and pulled out a locket with a heart shape, and inside was a picture of our family. She smiled and hugged Peeta, then turned to her final present from me.

She picked it up and dropped because it was rather heavy. When she opened it, a smile the size of Panem spread across her face as she lifted the bow out of the box. It was a tiny little six year old bow which she looked like she couldn't wait to try it out.

After saying our thank you's we all went for a picnic on the beautiful sandy beaches of District 4. What a wonderful birthday for her.