Return of the Mockingjay

Chapter 1

"Hello Megan, she's fine"

Megan came back to 12 to help me out with Rue but I know she misses Gale all the more with the passage of time. I need to let her go back to 13 even for a short while but people always seem to think they owe Peeta and I something. It's almost as if everyone feels bad for the sacrifices we've had to make. I've asked her to return to 13 on numerous occasions but each time she refuses. Maybe I'll get Peeta to tell her to go, she won't dare turn down the president would she?
I look to the clock again to see its 9. I start to fidget in my seat and Megan can see me getting excited.
"I'll take this little one up for her bath" she says as she picks Rue up out of her chair.
I smile as Megan takes Rue off upstairs, talking to her and pulling faces. I take my Mug and wait by the phone. Time passes so slowly 9:05, 9:06 still nothing. I'm about to pick up the phone and call Plutarch when I hear that familiar sound of a hovercraft landing on the green outside.
"Peeta!" I leap from the chair knocking my tea flying and spilling the remains across the floor, I throw open the door to see Lyndon and the Rapiers all dressed in black presidential security uniforms taking their positions around the dropship. I run down the steps just as Peeta, Plutarch and Elise make their way down the ramp. Peeta's dressed in a black suit and white shirt with the top buttons undone. He spots me and opens his arms ready for me to run into them, he picks me up spinning me round whilst I giggle. "hey beautiful" he says into my hair that's now covering his face. I pull away and crush my lips onto his. "I guess you've missed me then?" he says once I pull away.

"Yeah" I say shyly as I look around to see the Rapiers, Plutarch and Ellie all looking on smiling at me still in my bath robe and slippers. I embrace Plutarch and give him a peck on the cheek and then give Ellie a hug. We've grown so close over the last few months. The hero worship thing she had for me and Peeta has passed and we're more like sisters now. "Hey Ellie" I say.

"Hi Katniss, how's Rue?" she asks

"She's fine, come, I'll show you"
I take Peeta's hand and lead him back to the house to see Megan standing at the top of the steps with Rue dressed in a pretty blue dress cradled in her arms, why the dress I think to myself? But then I realise this was all one big surprise and Megan was in on it. Peeta lets go of my hand and runs up the steps and scoops Rue up into his arms. "Hey Princess, wow you're really growing" he says as he cradles her in his arms. Once again her arms flail around and her legs kick in excitement.

"Okay, let's get inside and get this little one out of the cold" says Plutarch.

We go inside and I run upstairs to get showered and changed. By the time I've come back everyone is sat around the kitchen table with Rue sat on the table in front of Peeta, he has to support her with his hand as she's not yet strong enough to sit up on her own. He constantly plays with her tiny fingers whilst she sits watching and dribbling.
"It's great to see you guys" I say as I pour myself another cup of tea.
"How have you been, you look fantastic Katniss" says Plutarch.
"I've been fine Plutarch, although I often find myself thinking of Haymitch. I feel guilty being so happy when I spend time with Rue knowing that Haymitch is gone. I just really miss him"

"We all miss him Kat, every single one of us" says Peeta.

"Katniss, there is another reason why I came along with Peeta this morning" says Plutarch nervously.

I sigh "really? okay let's hear it"

"Well, over the last few months we've had a lot of refugees arrive in 13. Nearly all have fled Wolfe's army and have made their way there. There's a lot of anger Katniss, anger we feel could be used against Wolfe. If we could build this into a new army of trained civilians it could give us a slight edge in the battle"

Peeta continues...
"You see Kat, we're vastly outnumbered and we need as many soldiers as we can find. If you returned as the Mockingjay it could give these people the motivation to fight, someone to follow"