The family ties of Lily Juniper Abernathy (book 3)

Chapter 22

Haymitch

I was sat at the bay window in the corridor looking into the darkness and listening to the sea. I slowly turned around and Lily was stood beside me "Can I talk to you for a sec?"

I tapped the seat next to me and nodded "Go for it kid?"

"Well, I think you should marry my mom."

I smiled and mumbled "Me and your mom were having this conversation not so long ago?"

"So, you've both decided your meant to be together? Because that was what I was going to say- I think you always have been it's just you were too drunk to notice and mom was just...Well, mom, I guess?"

I nodded "But that's not the only reason? I know it's not a nice subject to talk about but if, while all this terrorism is going on, anything happened to me or-"

"Dad don't say that, please." She whispered

"I know it's hard to think about Lil but it could happen- and if it does then me and your mom want to know everything will be ok and you and Charlie will be alright, yeah?"

"Dad, you aren't going to die?"

I shrugged "It's a just in case thing? No one knows how long this is going to last or how many people won't make it?"

She frowned "Ok?"

"Do you understand what I mean?"

She nodded "Yeah, you and mom are just looking out for me as per usual?"

I nodded "Got it in one sweetheart."

A short silence followed until she mumbled "What are you awake for anyway?"

I shrugged "Couldn't sleep? What about you?"

"I woke up, wide awake about 20 minutes ago?" She paused and mumbled "I don't get how people can have so much to worry about and still sleep right?"

"Me neither."

"Yeah, so, just in case mom's considering it I'm a little old to be a flower girl?"

I chuckled "Yeah, I'd say so- it's only going to be quiet anyway- cuz I don't have any extended family and your mother's won't show up."

She nodded "That's true."

"Oh, morning?"

Lily giggled "Umm, morning mom?"

She sat beside Lily and I watched her squeeze her in a hug "Morning darling."

"Did I wake you up?" I murmured

"No, I was just wondering where you'd gone when I woke up?"

Lily untangled herself from Effie's arms and mumbled grinning "I'll leave you two alone shall I? night?"

"Night kid?"

I turned to her "Can you not sleep either?"

"Not really no-" she paused "I'm scared?"

She grimaced and I slid putting her arm around her "None of us know what's going to happen but-" I trailed off

"I'm afraid that one day I'll wake up and I'll get a phone call that my family is dead....and I'll be miles away and...I left them on bad terms- and if something did happen to then I don't know how I'd take it."

The saying goes that if you love someone you should let them go

"If you think you need to go back to the Capitol then...I get it?"