Brienne O'Dale District 6 {FIN}

Brienne O'Dale District 6 {FIN} Jun 11, 2014 12:10:38 GMT -5

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Post by ali on Jun 11, 2014 12:10:38 GMT -5

[presto]

BRIENNE O'DALE

EIGHTEEN

DISTRICT 6

ODAIR

[/presto]

** 2 years old **

Little Brienne was trying ever so desperately to stay awake till her mama came home. Her little dark chocolate eyes were drooping with exhaustion and her head bounced as she nodded off and suddenly woke up again. She missed her mama, she never seemed to be around. She would leave when the sun was just up and come back when it had gone to sleep and the moon came to say hello. Except this night there was no moon so it was almost pitch black in their little home, Brienne was petrified of the darkness. There were always monsters hiding in the shadows- they slept during the day but came out when the shadows were everywhere- that liked to eat little girls for dinner; or so her mother told her. Brienne was too little to understand a joke when she saw one. When she had been more awake, she had whimpered as the light escaped as the darkness began to fill the room like water filling a balloon but now the 2 year old was struggling to keep her eyes open so the darkness didn't really worry her much. Her eyes would close, then open, then close again as her eyelids got heavier and heavier and heavier. She must have fallen asleep on the floor at some point because she was awoken by soft, gentle arms scooping her up and a silk voice whispering in her ear.

"Little Duck, why you over her on the cold floor??" her mama cooed as she carried her to the solitary mattress- their bed- in the corner.

The child did not reply, she was too drowsy, but she did smile softly at the feel of her mothers warmth as she was cradled gently before being lain down onto the 'bed'. Mama pulled the quilt up, tucking it in around Brienne to make sure she was warm and of course keep her safe from the monsters. The quilt was itch but it was better than sleeping in only cotton vests and shorts in the dead of winter; frost had already begun to grow on the inside of the windows and it was only October. Mama ran her hands through Brienne's soft black curls- a remnant of whoever her father had been- as she hummed a lullaby soothingly. Brienne's eye fluttered closed again so she didn't see mama smile, leaning down to kiss her forehead whispering:

"I love you little duck"

Her mother lay down too and Brienne snuggled up in the curve of her Mama's body- feeling the heat and safety radiate from her- and fell into a dreamless sleep.

** 3 years old **

Brienne remembers playing with her toy. Her single, solitary toy which Mama had bought for her when she was even younger; a small teddy bear the colour of golden wheat with a red ribbon round its neck. Except the ribbon had fallen off now, Brienne hated the color red- Mama had been very angry when she had found out- so she pulled it off. Buddy was her best friend ever, he was great to have tea parties with and they always had the best conversations together when Mama wasn't around. Except Mama was around today so their talks of traveling to space in a spacecraft were done in whispers with the occasional giggle from the little black haired tot. At some point during the day, little Brienne looked up to her Mama and saw an emotion on her face that she did not understand; she had never seen her mother stare so blankly at the table with clasped hands and ragged breaths. Standing up, clutching Buddy to her chest, Brienne walked over to her Mama with a soft frown on her face.

"Mama...." she asked

Brienne's mum looked down at her and smiled weakly "What is it Little Duck?? Have you and Buddy run out of tea?"

Brienne shook her head "No..we're flying to space today"

Mama laughed a little and smiled like she always did when she was happy "That sounds like fun"

"Mama...are you okay?" Brienne asked, still noticing that strange emotion on her mothers face which was being masked by her smile. Mama sighed and hoisted Brienne up onto her knee- to which the tot smiled- and cuddled her tightly.

"Mama...." Brienne's mum paused briefly, thinking "Mama just found out some news from the Doctor"

"You okay??" the little girl asked with worry. She had overheard her Mama talking about people who were sick and then went away somewhere beginning with D- Brienne didn't know the word- to never come back. This made Brienne feel a little sad, she needed her Mama to look after her and get her and Buddy tea when they ran out.

"No, No Little Duck" her mother said "Mama isn't sick..."

"Good.." Brienne announced

Mama smiled "Yes, very....the news is good. Mama is going to have a baby"

"A baby???" The little tot asked with awe

Mama nodded and then began to explain about how, soon, they would have another little girl or boy in the house; a little sister or brother for Brienne. She then went onto explain that Mama would have to work even more to make sure the three of them had a good nights sleep and something to eat every day. Mama smiled and said that Brienne would have to be a big girl soon and have to help Mama look after her little sister- something that excited Brienne greatly- and around the house- which didn't excite Brinne as much- so that they could live happy. Brienne sat and listened to this, frowning as she processed the words in her mind; trying not to get over excited.

"Mama" Brienne asked quietly

"Yes Brienne??"

"I am Little Duck?"

Mama smiled and kissed her daughter on the forehead "Yes, you will always be my little duck"

**~~Almost~~ 4 years old **

Mama had been screaming a very long time. Even though Brienne was playing at the neighbor's house with Tiffany and Jerry, she could still hear the ear splitting screams through the plasterboard walls. Mrs Hannigan told her not to worry, that Mama would be alright in a little while. Except she'd been saying that for the last 3 and a half hours, and Mama hadn't stopped screaming. Brienne could not concentrate on the game she was supposed to be playing and just sat at the makeshift table- made of milk crates and plywood- while Jerry pretended to be the Daddy and Tiffany pretended to be the Baby. Brienne didn't even flinch when Jerry swore and his Mama gave him a clip round the ear- she was just too busy concentrating on what was going on next door.

Mama had gotten a sore tummy around breakfast time and by lunch time, the tummy ache was really bad and she had to call the neighbors over and a nurse lady. Then she had been ushered into Mrs Hannigans house where now, she was being forced to play a Mama in a game of House; but she didn't want to play it. She wanted to be with her Mama because she was sick and she didn't want her Mama to go away without her; she also didn't want her new brother or sister to go away too. Jerry and Tiffany we're getting annoyed with her because she wasn't playing with them, instead she was staring at the front door. Eventually, they went off and played by themselves, leaving Brienne to watch the front door eagerly as her Mama screamed.

Finally, they stopped. Her Mama stopped screaming and there was a moment of no noise at all, silence, before a new noise began. Crying. Curious Brienne frowned, and listened to the wailing next door; she had heard that noise before, during the night and on the street when Mama's cradled their little starving baby's. Brienne got up excitedly realizing what that sound meant- it meant her little brother or sister was here!!! Maybe mummy's got tummy aches before the stork brought the baby, though she hadn't seen a stork before and babies were always being born here. She wondered where baby's really came from,when the front door to Mrs Hannigans flat and Miss Aubrey opened the door.

She knelt down so that she was at the little tots level, smiling, "Brienne, do you want to come meet your little sister"

Brienne nodded excitedly, taking hold of Miss Aubrey's hand and following her next door.

Mama was resting in the new bed she had brought with her job money. The nurse was busy cleaning her hands and Mrs Periwinkle from upstairs was stood by the bed; they all paused to look at Brienne as she entered the room with Miss Aubrey. Mama smiled as her little Tot approached the bed nervously, and Mrs Periwinkle took a step back so that the little girl could see Mama properly. Brienne could only see a bundle of cloth, as she peered over the edge of bed, wrapped tightly in Mama's arms; it was only when Miss Aubrey lifted her onto the bed that she saw a pink faced thing in the blankets.

Brienne frowned "It's weird"

Mama laughed a little "This is your baby sister..."

Brienne failed to see how this thing was even human. It was all pink, squidgy and loud. Very loud. It was still crying for some reason- its eyes were shut tight as it wailed and wailed- and Brienne had no idea why. She frowned ever more because her sister looked nothing like her when she had been very little- Brienne remembers the photo's Mama used to look at- and this confused Brienne greatly. This little baby had blonde hair which was barely visible on top of the baby's head because it was so pale and when the baby eventually stopped crying and cracked open her eyes, they were blue. Brienne was to shy to say anything so just kept quiet and stared at her little sister.

"Would you like to hold her??" her Mama said, to which the little tot nodded. Mama smiled and carefully put the baby in her arms "be careful"

"She's heavy"

"Yes.." her Mama laughed "she is..."

"What's her name??" Brienne asked watching her baby sister with awe.

"Her name is Gabrielle"

** 6 years old **

Brienne woke, groggy from sleep; the sunlight was startling through the dank window pane. Gabrielle was asleep in the bed next to her, her blonde curls falling over her face. Brienne smiled as she watched her sleep for a few minutes before she clambered to her feet, and walked out of their box bedroom. They had been living in the new apartment for just over a year now; it had two bedrooms and a living area- a lot bigger than their old one roomed flat at the last building- and it was 5 minutes from river. Brienne did have to share a room with her little sister but she didn't mind, it was fun.

The little girl paused briefly and peered into Mama's room. The curtains were shut tightly and Mama was tucked into the covers of her bed nicely; she was snoring. Brienne didn't want to wake her Mama since she knew that she had probably got back from work very early that morning. Brienne didn't know what Mama did for a job, but it was a good one apparently. Mama was hardly ever home by the time she got home after school and she sometimes didn't come home until the next day.

Carefully backing away from the ajar door, Brienne headed to the mint green fridge- well it would have been mint green but time had caused the colour to fade and rust was growing around its edges and it always whined loudly in the middle of the night. Mama promised they would get a nice new one soon; one that wasn't green because she said it was a nasty colour (it happened to be Brienne and Gabrielle's favourite). The light flickered on as Brienne opened the door revealing the somewhat short supply of food inside; a slab of butter, some meat, a few carrots, tomatoes, an apple and a pint of milk was on offer.

Brienne's tummy rumbled angrily, hungry for some food. Grabbing the milk of the fridge, she began to prepare some porridge- for herself- before school. Placing the milk bottle on the counter, she dragged a dining chair towards the pantry cupboard so she reach the oats. Being 6 years old came with its hardships- like she had her difficulties in reaching things- but it also came with some perks- like going to school. Brienne loved school, she loved learning and reading, because it was an escape from her dull and boring life. Gabrielle would be starting school in a few years, the girl thought to herself as she boiled the oats and milk in a saucepan; her little sister was nearly 4 now.

Brienne knew her sister was different to her. She felt like maybe her Daddy was different to Gabrielle's; Mama didn't like to talk about it though. Her sister was much more pretty than Brienne, she was like a little princess with her blonde hair and blue eyes, who was more like a prince. She didn't mind though, Mama said she was pretty in her own special way.

"Bri??" her little sister said from the bedroom door, rubbing her eyes

Turning Brienne smiled "Yes?"

"I'm hungry...."

Looking at the porridge she had just made herself, then at the time. She would never have to cook another pan in time before Mrs Jones came to take her to school and it wasn't fair for Gabrielle to go hungry. Turning the hob off, Brienne smiled at her sister as she served up the porridge into a bowl and placed it on the table; Gabrielle climbed into the chair and began to eat hungrily. Smiling, the elder sister ruffled the blonde curls before heading to get dressed for school.

** 8 years old **

The young O'Dale girl was not exactly popular at her Elementary school- so she often found herself walking alone after dropping her sister off at Mrs Jones's. The ramble of other school children never bothered her, they were too interested in boys and pink and other things that just didn't interest Brienne at all. They would gossip about Mace Emberstatt and Topaz Ross and how cool they all were; Brienne just like to read stories about Wanderer's running from their past or loves stories about the Rebellion. Stories of heroes were exciting and better than her dull and ordinary life- better than recent victors and their pitiful romances on and off screen. Brienne knew her stories weren't real but they were better than the real ones.

As she rounded the corner and stumbled right into a group of Middle School girls. The O'Dale girl clutched her book close to her chest as the 4 snooty girls stared down at her with much distaste.

"What are you looking at nerd?"

"not..noth..." Brienne stuttered

"What's this??" Asked another, wrenching the book from Briennes tight grasp

"T-t-thats Libr-r-ary...proper-er-er-t-ty!" Brienne said "Gi-Give it back!"

The eldest of the girls smirked "Hear that girls, it's Libr-bra-brary property"

The girls cackled together as Brienne's cheeks began to blush red. She didn't like it when people made fun of her speech problem. She was shy around others and that was seen through the way she conveyed conversation; a series of broken up words. Her eyes stung with tears as the girls continued to laugh at her. They kept repeating what she said as if it was some sort of joke.

"What would happen if we did..." said the girl holding the book, as she tore out a page.

"No!" cried Brienne as the girls pulled out the pages one by one- she tried to get the book but the other 2 girls held her back as they laughed- until at least half the book was laying in the dirt beneath their feet. 1000 words of stories, crumbling away beneath her and there was nothing she could do..

"Here's your book, loser" spat the girl as she tossed Brienne's library book into the dirt. The other girls let Brienne go, but she was too scared to do anything other than fall to her knees and gather up the pages and the book before they were too ruined. Maybe, maybe I can fix it the girl thought as hot tears dripped from the tip of her broad nose like a leaky faucet. She listened to the girls laugh as they walked away, leaving Brienne all alone.

** 10 years old **

Mama had come home with a stranger, when she thought that both her daughters were asleep but in reality, Brienne had been woken by the drunken attempt at opening the front door. As she lay awake in the dim light of the nightlight- Gabrielle neatly tucked up against her side- she hear their voices in the kitchen, excitedly whispering with periods of gasping and giggles. The sounds were slowly increasing in volume and Brienne hurriedly slipped out the bed to close the bedroom door, muffling the sound; her face slowly turned pink. Turning away from the door, she saw Gabrielle sat up with a confused and concerned look on her face- she obviously hadn't learnt about that adult kinda thing yet- her blue eyes glancing at the door.

"Bri..." she asked quietly

"Go back to sleep..." Brienne whispered

"But, who is that guy in the kitchen with Mama?"

"I don't know.."

"Whats that noise??"

"I don't know" Brienne lied

"Do you think its our Daddy??"

Those words stung a little. Gabrielle was blonde at times, in the sense that she did not see the obvious; that her and Brienne were different from one another. They shared their mothers facial structure and nose for the most part but Brienne's face was longer than Gabrielle's, what the girls would call a horse face, and so was her nose. Brienne's hair was messy and ruley and hard to keep under control whereas Gabrielle had been born with perfect hair and the girls had a slight variation in skin tone- Brienne was pale and Gabrielle was more pink. Brienne knew their father was not the same man, she didn't know why but she could tell.

"No Gabie"

"Oh..." the girl said disappointedly

Brienne cross the room and crawled back into the bed again. She could see how sad Gabrielle about it not being her Dad. She really did want to meet him, though Brienne had never given much thought into meeting her father; she enjoyed things just the way they were. Her, Mama and Gabie. That is all they needed; but Gabrielle wanted a Daddy. Cuddling up close to Gabrielle, in an attempt to cheer her up, the black haired girl smiled "He might be Mama's boyfriend though.."

"Really??" Gabrielle asked "How'd you know???"

"Just a hunch" the girl said pausing briefly "How's about we get back to sleep?"

** 12 years old **

Rick, Mama's boyfriend was- according to Mama- the best thing that could have ever happened to the family. Brienne was introduced formally a few weeks later to Rick, he seemed polite when he and Mama picked her up from school one afternoon. Gabrielle met him a little while later at a dinner Mama had cooked them; only rice and some pork, so it was nothing extravagant. Rick was very kind to Brienne and Gabrielle, every time he came over he would bring them treats. Brienne occasionally got a sweet but now she was getting hard boiled sweets, toffee's and even chocolate on a regular basis. Mama told Brienne that the reason he could afford such sweets was because he had a good job but she wouldn't tell her what his job was.

A little under a year after Mama and Rick had met, the girls found themselves moving into his little 3 bedroomed house. It was quaint, as Brienne would put it. There was one bedroom downstairs as well as a kitchen and a living area which you walked into upon entering the house, the other 2 bedrooms and the bathroom were at the top of the stairs. Mama and Rick had the downstairs bedroom (since it was the biggest) and Brienne had the bedroom which face the little garden. The tweeny would miss having her little sister sharing with her, but she was right across the hall and she often enjoyed the solitude. She got unwanted attention from bully's at school so it was nice to come home and escape once and a while; life was good.

One day, Brienne was sitting at the dining table, concentrating on her homework while she still had the peace and quiet. Gabrielle was over a friends house, Mama was most likely at work and as for Rick? Well, the tween did not know where he was, which was odd since he was always at home either on the couch or in his bedroom. Brienne didn't mind though, it meant she could work without him pestering her if she wanted help. Even though she had known Rick for 2 years now, she still was not adjusted to him being in her life every single day. She still stuttered when she talked to him- he was not one of the few who she felt comfortable enough talking too.

As she came to the end of the first page, she heard the front door open and Rick came in. He smiled.

"Afternoon"

"H-H-Hi..." the girl whispered as she continued on her work.

"Whatcha doing??" he asked as he put down the grocery bag he had been holding. When Brienne shrugged he came over and leaned in to see what she was doing; he was a bit too close for comfort. "Homework?? Isn't that a bit boring??"

Brienne shrugged.

"Why don't you take a break and do something fun" he spoke as he sniffed her hair.

Brienne froze for a moment. Did he just sniff my hair? she thought to herself. She hadn't even comprehended it when she felt his hand on her thigh. The tween jumped back off the chair, stumbling backwards. He had touched her, indecently, and he was staring at her; it was wrong. Confused and scared, Brienne turned and ran up the stairs and shut her door. Leaning against it, Brienne listened for Rick following her up the stairs but he never did.

** 14 years old **

Hell. Hell is the only way Brienne could describe the last few years living with Rick. He had made more advances on her, and being to scared to stop him, she had let him; he had told her if she told anybody, he would hurt Gabrielle. Her little sister was the only weakness. Scared that it would slip out, that she'd get Gabrielle hurt, Brienne became more recluse; hiding away in her room. Mama never noticed because, over the years, she had become distant from her daughters; she was even more rarely home. Gabrielle did not understand why Brienne wasn't talking to her anymore.

Brienne knew she was doing it for her little sister safety, but with Gabrielle not being able to know why her older sister was ignoring her, great distance began to form between the two. This upset Brienne and she often found herself crying because she missed her sister; even though she was only across the hall way. Lonely and afraid, Brienne thought that life couldn't get any worse than it was right now.

She was wrong.

One afternoon, Brienne woke from a nap when she heard shouting downstairs. Cursing her light sleeper habit, the teenager snuck out of bed and headed downstairs to see what was going on. She knew Rick and Mama were having an argument but her inquisitive nature wanted to go see what was going on. Pausing half way down the stairs, the teenager peered through her messy curls and the banister to see the scene unfolding in the living room. Rick and Mama were very very angry- both were almost purple face- and shouting in each others faces.

"I WANT OUT RICK!!" Mama screamed "I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE!!"

"I PAID FOR YOU RACHELLE- YOU SIGNED A FUCKING CONTRACT!"

"THAT WAS 16 YEARS AGO, I WAS 17!! I WANT MY LIFE BACK, I DON'T WANT TO BE USED FOR MONEY!!"

Used...for money? Brienne thought.

"YOU SIGNED A CONTRACT!"

"I KNOW I SIGNED A GOD DAMN CONTRACT RICK BUT IT'S OVER!! I WILL NOT LET YOU SELL MY BODY FOR MONE-" Mama stopped mid sentence, staring up at the stairs where Brienne crouched. Rick frowned and turned and also saw the girl there, listening in on their conversation. He made his way towards Brienne "RICK NO!!"

Brienne turned and ran as quickly as she could to her bedroom but as she closed the door, Rick burst in; furious like a bull being showed red. He yanked at her hair and pulled out the room as the young teenager screamed, kicking and flailing. He dragged her down the stairs and threw her to the floor at her mother's feet where he began to beat her. One after another the kicks and blows came. Brienne could barely breathe as she felt things snap and crack inside her as Rick delivered kick after kick after kick. She felt his foot make contact with her head, a sharp pain shooting through her entire skull, as Mama screamed for him to stop.

Everything began to fade in an out, her ears were ringing loudly and unconsciousness began to take hold. In her final moments of consciousness, Brienne saw her mother hit Rick over the head with a book. After a moment of blackness, she saw another image of Rick attacking Mama. Another moment of blackness and then Rick had his hands wrapped around Mama's neck. Blackness, and then Brienne saw Mama's body lying opposite her, still and unmoving; at that point she thought Rick had realized what he had done because she saw him staring at Mama's body in shock before she blacked out one last time.

She woke 3 days later in the local hospital, to find out her Mama was dead.

** 16 years old **

Rick had gone under investigation by the Peacekeepers but apparently they had no time to interview a 14 year old witness about the events. Rick had denied beating up Brienne, he told them that she had fallen down the stairs. As for Mama, they had no evidence she had been murdered, only missing. That was because Rick had thrown her body into the canal, an beknownst to anyone. Since their Mama was missing and they had no other family to go to, Rick became their legal guardian. One signature and she was his own. The thought made Brienne sick with fear, that they would never be able to escape his evil clutches. Brienne feared that he would turn them into prostitutes like he had with their Mama; she didn't want that for Gabrielle.

She managed to keep Gabrielle safe, she let Rick abuse her and use her the way he liked to stop him going after her precious sister. Except secrets can't stay secret forever. It all happened when Brienne was grabbing a glass of milk from the fridge downstairs and turned to see Rick standing there in nothing but his boxers. The teen dropped the glass, spilling glass and milk over the floor, because she feared he was going to hurt her again. As he approached her, his eyes roaming over her, undressing her, Brienne whimpered quietly; tears filled her eyes.

As he began to unbutton her shirt, they both heard a timid voice from the stairs "Bri....Rick???"

Gabrielle was stood at the foot of the stairs, staring at Brienne and Rick. Rick turned slowly and saw her; his fists clenched around the fabric of Brienne's nightgown before he went for her little sister. Gabrielle's eyes widened like a frightened doe and she sped off up the stairs. Afraid for her little sister, Brienne grabbed Ricks arm and tugged back. He stopped, turned and backhanded Brienne round the face. Her skin stung and tears streamed down her face as Rick shoved her into the cupboard under the stairs. Before she realized what he was doing, he had closed the door and plunged her into complete darkness.

Frozen in fear, Brienne stared into the darkness around her. She could feel the eyes of the monsters who lived in the shadows watching her as she sat there, shaking. Upstairs, she could hear Rick beating at Gabrielle's door. She must have blocked it trying to escape. BANG BANG BANG. She could hear Gabrielle screaming for help but help would not come in time. Brienne felt something overcome her as she heard her little beloved sister screaming for her help. Bravery. Standing shakily, Brienne began to ram herself against the cupboard door several times in an attempt to get it open.

She heard the door upstairs finally give way and Gabrielle scream. One last shove against the door and the lock broke and Brienne tumbled into the living room. Regaining her balance, she looked around for a weapon to use against Rick. Grabbing the fire poker, she sprinted up the stairs and into Gabrielle's bedroom where Rick was trying to touch and hurt her baby sister. Rage striked through her, like a lightning bolt. Full of adrenaline, Brienne raised the fire poker high above her head.

"LEAVE HER ALONE YOU CREEP!!" she screamed as she bought the poker down on his head

Rick fell to his knees. Gabrielle shuffled away, crying her eyes out. As the sick man tried to get up again, Brienne struck his legs with the poker causing his knee to crumple beneath him. The teenager lost it at that point as she began to scream wildly as she repeated smashed at his skull with the poker. Gabrielle screamed and screamed as blood splattered all over the place. Brienne eventually lost the adrenaline and found herself sobbing loudly on her knees; covered in blood.

Eventually, the peacekeepers turned up and discovered the girls and their dead stepfather. They molded the curly hair teenagers hands around her back and cuffed them, arresting her on the charges of murder. Brienne didn't care. She did not put up a fight, even when she heard her little sister screaming for them not to take her, that it wasn't her fault. It clearly was and as Brienne was escorted into the back of a peacekeeper van, she turned back to Gabrielle who was being restrained by a female officer.

"You're safe now Little Duck!!" she shouted as she climbed peacefully into the van "I'll come find you when I get out!!"

The doors closed as Gabrielle screamed "BRIENNE!!"

** Now **

She was finally going home. It had been hard, in the Detention center, to live without losing her sanity but she had managed. They had not told her at first where she was going, she had been woken up in the early hours of the morning and escorted with a bag on her head to the vans. Brienne hated the bag: but she breathed slowly, repressing her fear as she clambered into the van. At first, she thought she was being transferred to another block or perhaps being taken to be executed but after an eternity of wearing the bag, it was removed. She found herself on a train, much like one she had left District 6 in.

For the first time in a long time, Brienne saw the sky and she didn't know how much she missed it until she saw it's endless blue outside the window. It was relaxing to see the outside again but she was even happier to find out she was off home. As the train slowed, she saw the district come into view. Oh how she had missed the huge smoke stacks and factories which packed medicine. Brienne was nervous. What if she couldn't find Gabrielle- what if Gabrielle was dead? She didn't want to think about that.

Yet as the train pulled up to the station, she saw a familiar sight of blonde wavy hair. Gabrielle smiled as she saw the train stop and her sister climb out of it. Once the peacekeeper escorting Brienne took her handcuffs off, both girls ran to one another and hugged tightly. Brienne shut her eyes, burying her face into her little sisters should, who wasn't so little anymore. She smelt nice. After a few minutes of hugging, the peacekeeper coughed- urging them to leave the platform. Pulling out of the hug, the sister hurried off and onto the main street.

As they walked down the road in silence, Brienne wondered where she had been all this time.

"So..." Brienne said

"Hm??"

"Where have yo-yo-you been...since..."

Gabrielle stopped at a road crossing, looking left and right before speaking "I was put into care for a year or so until I was adopted by a lady called Angie."

"Is sh-she nice?" Brienne stammered a little.

"Lovely, she sorted out the paperwork for you to live here after they held the trial for your crime"

"They held a trial, with-without me there??"

"Yeah...you nearly got life but some of Mama's friends who were Rick's employees vouched for Rick's violent nature...I gave my statement..I lied for you."

"Wh-Wh-What?!" Brienne hissed "Gabi!"

"you would've been away longer if I hadn't" she said timidly as they approached a large town house

Brienne couldn't believe her sister had lied in court, she could have gotten in serious trouble is they'd found out; but what was done was done. The girl followed her little sister into the building and up 2 flights of stairs before they stopped at the front door to an apartment. This must be where she lived. Gabrielle's shakily took the keys out of her pocket to unlock the door. When Brienne saw her sister was struggling to keep her hand still enough to unlock the door, she took her hand.

"Let me..." the curly haired girl said, taking the key and unlocking the door.

"Thanks.." Gabrielle said as she stepped into front room. It was fairly nice, the walls were clean and there was even a separate kitchen area; Brienne could not quite believe her eyes when she saw that there was a physical wall separating the kitchen and the dining area, the dining area and the living room, and the living room and the kitchen. "Miss Angie is a Doctor..."

Their new guardian actually told them her place of work. That was a change. "This...i-is hers?"

"Sort of...this is a hospital owned building..." Gabrielle said "Lots of nurses and Doctor's live her..because it's clean"

Brienne nodded "O-Okay"

Gabrielle smiled weakly "Come on...I'll show you our room and get you some new clothes.."

The blonde gestured to the dirty prision clothes she was wearing before leading her sister out of the living room. Down a small corridor, they passed the bathroom (which actually had a bathtub!!), an office and the kitchen before stopping outside the door on the right. Pushing it open, Gabrielle turned and smiled at her sister. Stepping in, Brienne saw two neatly made beds; one with green covers and one with pink. She guessed Gabi liked pink now, since her wall was nicely decorated with pictures of Capitol celebrities and Victors. She had become one of those, Brienne grimaced inwardly as she walked over to the bed and sat down. Gabrielle hurried over with a pile of clothes and set them down on the bed.

"Here..." she said "I picked them specially for you..."

Browsing through them, the teen saw knitted sweaters, cotton shirts and dresses that weren't too girly- hopefully they wouldn't be too big on her flat chest, or too short on her long legs- they were just what she liked "Thanks.."

"Oh and Miss Angie bought you a few books..." she gestured to the small bookshelf

"C-C-Cool..remind me to thank her"

"And I got you this..." Gabrielle said shyly as she handed her sister a teddy bear. Not just any teddy bear, Buddy.

He was still in his rough condition- missing an eye, his ribbon, having a different coloured arm- but he was still perfect. Squeezing him tightly, Brienne hoped that this finally would be a fresh start. After all she had been through over the last 6 years of her life, she really hoped that those bad things would not haunt her in her new life with Gabrielle and this Miss Angie woman. Cuddling Buddy tight, Brienne smiled.

"I missed you little duck"