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As she combs through the hair of her youngest and only daughter, she reflects back on her life.
After the rebellion she stayed with Annie a bit to help with little Finnie, but after six months Annie nudged Johanna to go on and live her own life. "You know I appreciate everything you've done, but you need to go out and live, Johanna. I promise you Finnie and I will be alright" Annie persisted. Johanna sighed but nodded.
Before she left, Annie gave her a big hug and assured her that she would call if anything happened. "And please promise me you will find your own happiness. You deserve it after what we've all been through”.
Johanna rolled her eyes but nodded. She told Annie that she would be back to visit by the end of the year which made Annie beam. They said their goodbyes and Johanna kissed little Finnie on the forehead before entering the train heading to district two. As the train left Johanna smiled through the window and waved to Annie and Finnie before they became nothing but little specks in the distant.
In District 2 she stumbled upon Katniss' handsome "cousin", Gale Hawthorne. To her surprise, her and Hawthorne clicked instantly. He didn't piss her off as most people tended to. He got her a job and in the three months she stayed there they ended up becoming close. Friends as you would call it. At the end of the work day, the two would go out for some cheap beer and split some fries between them.
As the months passed they continued their little routine. Everything was fine until she had one too many and ended up kissing him as he walked her back to her apartment (which both her and Hawthorne knew she did't need, but he persisted). She pulled back quickly and looked at him mortified. She was about to make up some dumbass excuse, but before she could say anything, Gale pulled her back in and kissed her again. It was so intense she had to pull away and catch her breath.
After a moment of silence between them she brought her eyes up to look at him. He was staring back at her waiting for her to say something. Instead of saying anything she turned towards her door and got her keys out. She felt Gale's stare burning on the back of her head. She unlocked the door and entered, turning towards Gale who was watching her.
"You coming in or what" she asked, smirking.
It didn't take long before Gale strode over towards her and cupped her face, bringing her lips towards his. He kicked the door shut behind him, locking it without breaking contact from Johanna. She continued kissing him intensely as she guided them back to her bedroom, stripping every piece of clothing off him.
It was supposed to be a one and done deal. At least that's what she thought. It was so long since she's been with someone that she thought if she was able to scratch that itch, she would be content for a while. After the intense night with Gale, she woke up to the smell of bacon. The spot beside her in bed was cold, meaning Gale was the culprit for the smell.
She felt awkward to get out of bed and face him. It's been forever since someone has cooked for her, and this felt way too intimate for her liking.
She sighed and got out of bed, pulling his big shirt on that reached up to her knees. As she got to the kitchen she saw Gale focused on cooking what seemed to be eggs. He didn't notice her so she faked yawned out loud. That seemed to get his attention.
"Mornin" he said smiling. Johanna looked at him before looking down at his bare chest.
"You should put on a shirt" she said without thinking.
He chuckled. "I would, but you seem to be wearing it." he said. He shuffled in her kitchen with ease as if he’s done this before. He got some plates from the top shelf and began splitting the eggs and bacon onto each one.
"Plus you didn't mind me shirtless yesterday when you were ripping it off of me" he continued, smirking.
Johanna rolled her eyes. "yeah yeah, anyways lets not make this a habit" she said sitting down in here little kitchen nook.
Gale hummed in response and placed a plate in front of her then taking his plate and sitting across from her. They ate, they talked, they laughed.
After that day, what she said they shouldn't make a habit, became a habit.
She sat at the edge of their bathroom tub waiting for the test. She chewed at her nails as she waited. She was fucking nervous. She was three weeks late so she took it upon herself to get a pregnancy test to confirm her suspicion.
Back before the rebellion, these tests were only a luxury for the people in the capital, but now anyone can get it at any time. After a minute of silence and chewing her nails, she heard the little beep. She sucked in a breath and stood up walking towards the counter. She picked up the test, already knowing the answer. Fuck.
Gale came home that evening looking for Johanna. She would normally be on the couch reading some book, but instead he found her in the bathroom. Her back was turned away from him and she seemed so lost in thought that she jumped when he placed a hand on her shoulder.
She turned towards him with a stick in her hand. Before he could ask what's going on, she blurts out "I'm pregnant".
Johanna was always sure that she wouldn't have children. At least that's what she assumed when there was a rebellion going on. When Gale and her found out she was pregnant, he was the calm one and she was freaking the fuck out. They've been together for a little over a year and they had yet to discuss the topics of children or marriage. Gale sat her down calmly and asked her what she wanted to do. It was like her mouth spoke before she could process anything.
"I want it" she said, surprising not only Gale but herself.
She has never seen a smile so wide spread across Gale's face before. He brought her into him and placed his lips on top of her forehead and mumbled "then we got this".
Nine months later, she's holding her baby boy in her arms. She had never felt so much love for a person before. When she got together with Gale and her feelings for him deepened, it freaked her out. The thought of loosing him always crept up on the back of her mind.
She always kept her guard up when it came to loving someone as the result of the capital taking them away from her, but Gale always reassured her that they would be fine, that no one would take him away from her, that the games and rebellion were over.
When she held her little boy in her arms, she couldn't even describe how she was feeling, but she felt whole. She remembers Gale beaming down at her and the baby in her arms.
"You did so good, Jo" he whispered ever so softly. She tiredly smiled up at him. "What shall we name him" she asked, softly.
He thought for a moment. "How about River" he suggested. Johanna tested the name out loud. "River. River Mason Hawthorne. I like it" she said turning to meet Gale's eyes, smiling.
"River Mason Hawthorne" Gale repeated, leaning down to give their son a peck on the head.
A year after River came along they decided to get married. They always said that having a ring and a ceremony didn't matter, which it didn't, but after having River, they wanted things more official. River being present made it even more special and intimate.
The ceremony was small and was held back in District 2 with only Gale's family, Katniss and Peeta, Annie and Finnie, and of course the lovely Haymitch being present.
They incorporated both District 12 and District 7 traditions. A toasting which was traditional to twelve, and an exchange of gold bands with leafy details on the outside of the ring and each other's initials on the inside of their respective bands as tradition to seven. The night ended with good food, good people, and good laughter.
Both Gale and Johanna never felt happier.
Kai Phoenix Hawthorne came along a year later after the wedding. He was a mama's boy and Johanna loved it. Each night Gale would take the boys and give them a bath while Johanna would prepare their beds. The two boys shared a room since they were close in age. River especially loved being an older brother. He would be so careful when it came to Kai, touching his baby brother's head oh so delicately.
When Gale brought the boys in for bed, River would run up to his bed and climb it while Gale would lay Kai in his crib. Gale would then sit on the edge of River's bed while Johanna would read a bedtime story to the boys. She wasn't halfway through the book before she heard little snores coming from River. Johanna and Gale would look at each other and lightly chuckle before they both got up and kissed each son on the head before leaving their room quietly.
They would end their night on the couch cuddling with each other, something that Johanna used to hate doing, but has come to enjoy it. They would both silently stare at the fire that was lit in the fireplace, enjoying one-another's company. Johanna would soon fall asleep, her head on Gale's chest. After a few more minutes, Gale decides it was time for bed and would lift Johanna up careful to not wake her, and bring them to their room.
Despite it being years after the war, they both would wake up in cold sweats; their screams now silent. When one woke up, the other woke up, and they would just hold onto each other. They would reassure the other that everything would be fine, that the war is over and that they were free. They would talk about their fears, hopes, and dreams for their children. They would talk about the good things that have come to them and would hold each other until they fell back to sleep.
Now she reflects on the present. She's combing though the hair of her youngest and only daughter, Aspen. "Pennie" the family would call her. She was five and was the spitting image of her mother. She was a daddy's girl, having Gale wrapped around her little finger. Gale would try to deny it, but Johanna would just raise a brow, shake her head, and chuckle.
Despite going through the horrors of the games and the war, she wouldn't change how her life has come to this. She still has those moments of fear, but she has Gale there to reassure her.
Their children will never know the horrors and the pain that their parent's went through. They will never have to relive the violence, the blood, the screams of others as Gale and Johanna had.
The kids are alright and that eases Johanna's mind.