Our Life After

Serious Problems

*Katniss's POV*

Lizzie and Josh went on a few more dates, and I wouldn't have allowed it if Peeta hadn't made me.

On the night of their fifth date, I was becoming more and more suspicious of them, because Lizzie would come home, give us vague details about how wonderful it all was, and disappear upstairs to bed.

But this time, I didn't let her slip by.  I love my daughter, I really do.  But I just don't like her dating Josh.  Or anyone.

“Hey honey!" I say cheerfully, “How was the dinner?  Did you have a nice time?"

“Oh yes, Mom.  It was wonderful.  I had a really great time, and it was a lot of fun.  I really like Josh."

“I can see.  So what did you do tonight?  We never really get to talk much about your nights out with Josh.  I feel like I'm missing out on my little girl's life."

And just for emphasis, I give her hair a little tussle and a smile, and she bats my hand away, giggling.

“Okay Mom," she says, and Peeta comes in.  “We walked into town, and we, um, held hands because we usually do, and we sat inside for dinner tonight instead of outside at the restaurant Luigi's.  We talked all night, we joked and laughed, and we walked home."

I eye her, intending to get anything else out of her if there was anything.  She shivered nervously, and I backed off, because whatever she was about to tell me, she thought that I knew what she knew already when I obviously didn't.

“Okay! Fine! When he dropped me off tonight, he kissed me, and I kissed him.  I swear it's never happened before, I promise."

I am suddenly filled with anger, and I haven't ever felt it before. My little girl was not to be kissed by a Hawthorne.  I wouldn't allow it.  I'm not entirely sure why I was angry, but it was probably the fact that my little girl just kissed someone.

Before thinking the better of it, I stood up, grabbed Lizzie's hand, and I walked  out the door, Peeta not far behind me.  It's past 8:00, so Christian is already asleep.

“Katniss, wait!"  Peeta says.

I turn around and say to him, “No Peeta, this is not okay.  I won't let it happen."

I march right up to Gale's house and pound on the door.

Johanna opens but a moment later.

“Where is Josh?  And where is Gale?"  I demand.

“Geeze, Fire Girl, calm down!  Just a second."  She responds, cool as a cucumber.

“No I need to see then NOW!"  I yell at her.  I don't know why I am yelling at her, she's my friend.  But right now, they're all the same to me.

“GALE!  JOSH!  COME HERE PLEASE!"  She yells behind her, not at all fazed by me.

The two of them show up at the doorway much slower than I would've liked, bringing Catherine along too.

Still holding onto Lizzie's wrist, I hold it up and say straight to Josh, “What in the hell did you think you were doing, kissing my daughter?!"

He steps back with his hands up, saying, “Ma'am, with all due respect she kissed me back."

“You think I care?" I barked at him.

“I'm very sorry ma'am.  I didn't think it would be bad for her.  But I really like your daughter, so I showed her how much."

I looked at him with pure anger at him, thinking this was all his fault.  Then Gale stepped in.

“Catnip, calm down a second.  I talked to him about this.  I told him it was okay, if he was sure this is the girl he wanted.  It's all fine, he was just using his Hawthorne charm."  And he decided it was a good thing to smirk at me after saying that.

Honey, was he wrong.

“What is that supposed to mean?  And you think Johanna liked to be shut out of y'all's decisions? We never wanted them to get together in the first place!  This was all a terrible idea!" I bark at him, looking up straight into his eyes.

“Be honest, Catnip.  You fell for me, long before you fell in love with Baker Boy here, who I'm still not convinced you love all the way."

Oh, he did it at that.  I started yelling horrible things at him, just about jumped on him, before Peeta pulled me away, telling Gale firmly, “Do NOT EVER again question me and Katniss's love.  You are wrong.  She never once fell in love with you.  Not in your wildest dreams."

Gale fucking LAUGHED.  “Is that so?"

Peeta grew tense, staring deeply into Gale's eyes, challenging him to speak again.  Gale seemed startled by this, and backed off. 

Then Johanna stepped in, saying, “Katniss, Peeta, I think you should go home."

A small part of me told me she was doing the right thing, but anger quickly took over that.  Well, I would have the final word in this conversation.

“I will go home, but listen here, all of you.  Do not ever, and I mean EVER let your children near mine again.  You hear?  NEVER.  And I mean it.  Not even Catherine.  I do not ever want to see any of you again."

“But Mom!" Lizzie yelled, “But she's my...."

“No." I said.  I hated what happened next.  Lizzie looked so genuinely hurt, I about broke and told them it was okay, that I'm sorry for bothering them, but I couldn't.  Not now.

So I took Peeta's hand in mine, and we turned and went home. 

As soon as we went through the front door, Lizzie turned and looked at me, screaming, “Mom what did you do?!" 

Tears rolling down her cheeks, I wanted to comfort her so bad, but my actions were done, there was no going back.

“You ruined my friendship!  My BEST FRIEND AND I CAN'T SEE EACH OTHER ANYMORE BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO STUPID TO REALIZE THAT I MAY HAVE FEELINGS FOR SOMEONE!  Get over it!  God, why did you have to ruin everything!"

Her tears came fast and her talking became stutters.

“I....I've been her best friend s.....since I was born!  H....how could you ruin something so s.....special!  Haven't you EVER had a best friend?"

She looked at me, and it was apparent she wanted the answer.

“Yes.  I had a best friend."

She looked at me, tears still running, and said, “What was her name?"

“He.  His name was Gale. He was my best friend, a long time ago."

“And now you've lost him and Johanna.  Way to go Mom." And with that she stormed upstairs.

I don't know why, but that gutted me pretty bad.  I hadn't realized that I just lost people who were important to me.

I turned and fell into Peeta's arms, saying, “What did I do?!  Oh God, what did I do?"