The Hunger Games - Surviving The Storm - book 3

Chapter 17

The four weeks I went without my husband at my side was terrible. I was lonely, suffering from post-partum depression and taking care of twin infants on my own. My parents who were now legal citizens of the Capitol had taken up jobs along side Cinna and his wife and son, only they were trainers. My father trained others in camoflauge and my mother trained in archery and hunting. She even opened up classes at the arena where the citizens go to play in the games and taught the different ages.

Since this years Hunger Game events changed and brought in Capitol citizens everyone was fighting for one of 11 spots in the different aged classes. This kept my mother busy and on her feet all hours of the days. For weeks on an end she would be gone in the arena with her classes. Jacksons father was never around anymore since we moved into the Presidents house, which is amusingly called 'The White House'.

Funny enough back in the years before Panem was built up from the ashes of America, America had a place where the presidents lived that was also called the White House. That White House was taken from its original spot, piece by piece to the Capitol and was reconstructed. Now it hosts the Presidents that come by one by one.

Lucky for me my husband was due back today. In less than five minutes he should be arriving. The vision of him pulling up out front in the Capitol car kept resurfacing in my mind. I decided to get the babies up and awake so they could see their daddy. It's been 4 weeks and a day since they have seen their father.

I got Peeta and Cinna Rose up and in their little matching outfits and then laid them down in the pram before I headed on downstairs to wait on the porch. It was a beautiful day for my husband to return to me and our family. As it was even more beautiful when I saw the black car at the gate. I rose to my feet and pushed the stroller down the walk to meet him. When I saw him slip from the car I wanted more than anything to just run into his arms and hold him, but I kept myself rooted, I had our babies at my side.

I waited patiently for him to walk the 3 yards to my side and then I wrapped my arms around him. It was as if everything happened in slowly motion. His arms wrapping themselves around my waist and pulling me closer. Him inhaling my scent in deeply. His lips upon my forehead and then slowly trailing down my neck before they rested upon my lips.

Tears began falling down my face as I gripped him tighter in my arms. "I've missed you so much." I said before I released my arms and turned to the babies.

I lifted Peeta into my arms and rocked him lightly. "Look whose home PJ" I cooed as I handed him to Jackson.

"He reminds me so much of my baby pictures." Jackson said.

I turned to pick up Cinna Rose. "He's going to look just like you, I can see it already in his face."

He leaned forward and kissed Peeta on his forehead and then did the same to Cinna Rose.

"Are you ready to go inside?" Jackson asked.

I moved to get the pram before Jackson let me know that someone would bring it in. We then headed inside and sat down in the living room. The avox who had become a close friend of mine brought in the babies bottles and we began feeding them.

The avox's name used to be Roque until she was caught stealing food to try and feed her 1 year old sister. Her sister died that night of starvation while she was being brought into the Capitol to be turned into an avox. Roque did what she thought was right at the time, she was trying to save a life.

Over the past month I hired a sign language instructor to come in and teach Roque and myself sign language. We are now fluent enough to have conversations. As well she no longer is treated as a avox, she has the freedom to do as she pleases in the house. Because of gratitude towards my understanding she still helps out by putting the babies to sleep, making dinner, washing clothes and even helping feet the babies. She has in my eyes become part of the extended family.

"So how did you trip go?" I asked my husband.

He smiled as he turned PJ in his arms and began patting his back to burp him. "It went well. I've passed a few new laws. The first one is to start reconstruction of all twelve districts. District twelve starts construction tomorrow. The second law is the abolishment of the gates that seperate the districts and keep them bound. Now people can come and go freely into the other districts. The third law is what I call 'The Fair Chance' act. All the Districts will now work as one. They will be payed fairly and work less hours." He finished in excitement.

"Oh honey that is wonderful. Panem is going to be better once you have everything flowing well." I leaned over and kissed him on his lips. Leaning back I sighed before I let my eyes flutter open. My breath was taken short for a few seconds as his blue eyes connected deeply with my own. "It's nice to have you home."

He rose to his feet and placed a sleeping PJ into his bassinet before doing to same to Cinna Rose. He then turned to me and pulled me to my feet. He moved his hands to my waist and pulled me closely before we began swaying from side to side and then morphed into an elegant circle step.

I saw Roque enter the room and then I heard the song we danced to at our wedding start. I smiled at Roque as she quickly exited the room. That girl was wonderful. I brought my arms up and wrapped them around Jackson before I leaned into him and rested my head on his chest. I inhaled deeply and smiled as my head fluttered from the familiar smell of his cologne.

"How long are you here for?" I asked. "When do you need to go back?" I tilted my head back a bit to look into his eyes.

"For now I'm not needed anywhere but here. If they need my attention they can write to me or conference me in on a hologram call. Other then that I'm here and will be here from here on out. This is where I need to be." He finished before he brought me into a kiss.

I couldn't help but smile, at the same time a silent tear slipped from my eyes. Jackson was so good to me. He loved me and I loved him. As well we had our own family, two babies, Peeta Jackson Ripper and Cinna Rose Ripper. Both of whom had promising futures and families that loved them.

"Oh and I passed one more law. I just remembered this one since it was really a last minute thing. On my way home I was thinking about our childrens future and didn't like the idea of them having to go into the arena if they happened to be reaped. So I passed one final law for the month, Victor Immunity."

"Victor Immunity, what's that?" I asked.

"Any child born to a Victor has automatic immunity." he smiled.

I thought for a moment that my heart might have stopped but I was still standing and breathing. My husband saved the futures of our children. They were safe. Then another thought crossed my mind.

"What about our grand children? Are they safe?" I asked him.

I saw the happiness in Jacksons eyes fade away and knew that was a no. Since our children never had to go into the Games they would never be Victors which meant their children would have as much chance as being reaped as anyone out there. But that was in the distant future, atleast 20 years from now. I had to keep my mind on the present, my family.

"Well atleast our children are safe." I replied to his silent answer.

He pulled me back to his chest and kissed my forehead. "It's the best I could do." he sighed.

"It's good enough love, our children's future is safe."

The image of our children at age 12 not having to worry about their names being reaped made me smile. Especially when I imagined what they would look like. I envisioned blonde hair for Cinna Rose and a dirty blonde for Peeta. They wouldn't be thin like those from District 12 from not eating much but healthy and strong. They would be smart and funny and caring. They would be alive.