Author's note: Welcome readers to (hopefully) the final in this epic that started with a single spark. Once again it's grain of salt time, if you don't know what that means you haven't read Sparrow's Song so my question is "why are you not reading that one…for that matter why are you even here if you haven't read the prequels?! Go…go now! Go read and review!"

For those who have stayed with me from the very beginning I am both honored and humbled and hope I don't disappoint.

A few things:

-there are multiple POV's again

-(oh horror) my first attempts at 'fluff'

-chapters are not all the same size (ie some are longer than others, or super short depending)

-might have polls open mid story…stay tuned for that.

- There will be drama and guns going off and blood in various amounts and violence however vaguely I describe it, I'm trying to keep it in "T" rating and I think I do a bloody good job of it

-by the time this story hits Mokingjay things are gonna shift a lot more than in Sparrow's Song, so it will tilt a bit AU at that point

-Finally this is a very very veeeery loooong story since I have put both Catching Fire and Mokingjay in one…so its well over double Sparrow's Song in length!

You have been warned

With that said: Let's get to it, as always reviewing rules apply (if you like review if not a PM will be nice so I can explain, simple no?) ready?!...excellent! *evil grin*

Chapter 1

On the road again

The wind whips at my hair as I speed down the vacant and ancient paths that used to be highways and back roads. This whole nation used to be something called 'The United States'. This used to be a nation with one voice, one heart. Now it's a simmering pot of oil ready to blow at the drop of a hat.

The voice of my ex-boss Doctor Church rings in my ears.

If the populous in the capitol that are against the games had a leader that could rally them, show them how to make an impression then there would be no stopping them. Most of them are young adults. In college or university, smart and able to bring their rabble together once a year to make a statement however weak.

But for me to take on that role, to do that, I can't go in there alone. I need time to think.

I need a place to think. I had packed up but as I had gone for my motorcycle Doctor Church was outside my apartment building with a large black doctor's bag. They are old standbys, almost unheard of in the Capitol, because honestly who does house calls? I open it and it's a treasure trove of medicines and painkillers and first aid supplies, everything I can think of and then some.

"In case you see need be doctor on your travels" she says nodding to herself, "safe travels Lexis"

I nod to her and we give an awkward hug. She's a tough old bird, and unless it was Maverick or Peeta, I wasn't forthcoming with hugs.

I decide to do a run thru most of the higher districts. Though I don't stay, a mere drive by in district two and three, I do end up finding myself in district four.

District four, home of Finnick, Mags, Annie and Snow's family.

I can't visit the victor's yet. But I can visit Victoria and her family.

Arora answers the door and her face breaks out into a huge smile. "Ariana!" she grabs me and pulls me in before anyone catches me, "You're here! You didn't call! We could have had a room made up for you!" She hugs me like I am going to disappear.

"Who is it 'Rora?" comes a voice

"It's her" she called back, "come and meet her Cass!"

Castiel is olive skinned and he has a gentle voice. His eyes are a dark brown that is warm and welcoming, and he has a stubbly goatee and messy black hair. When he sees me he tilts his head, "that's her? That is Crane?" he looks curiously at me.

"Yes it's her" Arora sighs, "when we got here I filled in my family about who you were and everything" I look annoyed and a bit fearful, "don't worry I did it outside and it's safe now, in fact mom and dad took out all the surveillance that night. Just on the slim chance you would visit"

"Maybe get your parents 'Rora" Castiel says, "lemme chat with this kid"

She bobs her head and Castiel and I head for seats on the veranda.

"So what brings you coastal?" he asks finally offering a glass of iced tea

"To be honest I have no clue" I tell him, "I should really go back to headquarters, but something in me says it's pointless right now"

"Headquarters?" he asks but I wave it off

"You wouldn't believe me if I said otherwise, lets just say it's a bit past never never land and Atlantis" I reply taking a sip of my drink.

"So you're…what…gathering followers?" he asks

I laugh; it's as absurd as when Plutarch said I would take down the capitol. This makes Castiel smile, "did I say something funny?"

"Yeah" I say wiping my eyes, "followers? Like I am some Joan of Ark"

"It's either you or that Everdeen chick from the games, and to be honest Crane, I would rather line myself with you than her" he leans back

"Is that so?" I do likewise, "why is that?"

"Because to change the world you have to be gentle, you have to give people a choice, and she won't. She will bark what needs to be done" he looks at me, "you would say what should be done and let people decide for themselves"

"Only fair if you ask me" I close my eyes briefly as the sea breeze waft across my face. "we all have brains don't we?"

"Unfortunately yes" he jokes, "it's like Mellark, saying those things, he made a lot of people believe he was in love with her"

"Who says it was an act?" I ask, "he is in love with her"

"Crazy what love does" he smirks

"I wouldn't know" I reply

"You're still young kid, it will happen" he looks at the clear blue sky, "its not fireworks, or like lightning, its like knowing that this person is that other part of you"

"Other part?" I ask and he goes into his shirt and takes out what looks like two interlinked tear drops with opposing accents.

"This is what is called a 'yin and yang' it's a very old symbol" he takes off the pendant so I can hold it, "imagine you are the light, the white part, even you have a dark piece in yourself. The other side of you will be dark with a hint of light"

"So whoever I am going to be with will be my opposite?" I look confused

"Not opposite, more…complementary" he takes the pendant back, "you will have common threads, common feeling about important things just maybe he will be more like Everdeen"

I laugh again, "me with someone like Katniss? She's more hot headed than a bald man getting a suntan"

"Well that's what Arora is for me" he says, "you never know kid, but I tell you one thing for nothing, whoever hooks up with you is gonna be something special because you are something special"

"Sure Cass" I reply and close my eyes having a nap.

I wake to see four faces staring at me in curiosity.

"Sorry they didn't want to wake you" Arora says, I recognize Victoria who seems to look miles better since her stroke. She smiles and I get up and she hugs me gently. She doesn't speak but she places a thin hand on my face and brushes the hair away.

"It's so good to see you Mrs. Snow" I say and she kisses my cheek.

The other two adults I have never met.

"Daria Kinkaid" the lady says, she has bushy blond hair full of thick curls, "this is my husband Brome"

Mr. Kinkaid , a man with coppery hair and bright green eyes, shakes my hand, "we can't thank you enough for saving Arora, if there is anything we can do…anything at all"

Castiel comes in he has a smile on his face, "like I said you're collecting followers"

"Cass enough already I ain't doin' it" I let go of Mr. Kinkaid's hand and march to him, "its not my place, not right now"

"Cass you were trying to rally her?" Daria sighs, "that's rude!"

"What did my fiancé ask" Arora says

"Fiancé?" I turn to her

She smiles and shows the simple ring with an aquamarine stone at its heart. "I had said if the star-crossed lovers win I would accept his proposal"

"Whoever made that happen has her eternal gratitude" Castiel says with a smug grin

"You're welcome I guess" I shrug and go outside, I still feel hollow after leaving. True Peeta is safe; his family has no one left to reap. But Katniss pushed too hard and now Snow has them in his sights.

"Hey" Arora is at the doorway, "what's with you? Last time I saw that look on your face is when I outted you"

"Snow killed my brother" I say softly, "Everdeen has pushed too far, now my friend Peeta will be in trouble"

Arora come to the balcony and leans forward with me, "y'know for someone younger than I am you are taking a lot of responsibility for everyone else" she tilts her head to me, "who's taking care of you?"

"I'm old enough to do that myself don't you think?" I reply

"True I give you that, I mean eighteen is the cut off" she says

"Not for me" I say, "I would have an extra year in the game due to when I was born" I reply, she gives a small gasp, its true what they say about children born during the games, we are very rare.

"So it wasn't an act? You actually spent your birthday in the arena?" she looks saddened by this fact

"The perils of living in a district and not the Capitol" I remind her

She watches the sun set with me and we sit outside in the balmy night, I wish I could make sense of everything and usually I can if given time, but I feel like I don't quite understand what people see in me and Katniss, I was just a kid wanting to share and she was holding the game makers to their word. Nothing more.

And yet people saw so much more.

"I wonder what it's like to be normal" I say glibly, it makes Arora laugh

"Overrated" she nudges me, "someone like you can't be normal you have too much heart and too much intelligence for your age"

"So says you" I retort

"So says me, Cass, my mom, my dad and even grandma thinks so" she pauses, "though she ain't speekin' much"

I nod, "it will come and even if it doesn't there are other means to communicate"

"She doesn't need to" my capitol friend says, "her presence is all that is needed to quell a room"

Quells.

Quarter Quells….

Fifty years of unneeded slaughter.

"What if next year's games was the last one?" I ask her

"Come again?" she looks at me confused

"What if we stopped the games? What would happen?"

"Anarchy in the capitol and celebration in the districts" she yawns, "the night gives you inspiration kiddo, but it wears me out, we'll talk in the morning okay?"

She heads inside but since that idea sparked in my head I can't think of anything else.