Summary: Katniss and President Snow played their game, but Katniss never realized exactly how many steps he was ahead of her. She never realized Snow had his own game with Peeta as well. It was these two things that changed everything. AU.

Rating: T for future chapters.

Disclaimer: Hunger Games and anything Suzanne Collins wrote does not belong to me. I'm just letting my creative juices flow through her characters.

A/N: So, who cares to join me on this crazy ride? I've only a faint idea of where it's going, but there are no guarantees that hearts will not be broken or that tears will not fall. I hope you think it'll be worth it though. So...who's up for it? Reviews would be great.

Prologue

Capitol. June 25, 4018.

If you didn't know any better, you would think you were looking down on a field of flowers. Colorful petals swaying with the breeze, the aroma moving through the air and filling your nose. It's wonderful and a nice relief from all the surrounding buildings and lack of nature.

But there's always something that takes you out of the daydream. You remember that those colorful petals are wigs. That aroma is their perfume. There was no breeze either. It was just the people in the wigs moving around, jumping from one social circle to another.

"Papa, I can't hear!"

"Did you forget to charge it last night?" He asks slowly, signing the words with his hands as well.

She shakes her head, making her blonde braid swing back and forth. "Broken!" Her yelling and the annoyance in her tone catches the attention of people around us.

He kneels in front of her and checks the small device in her ear. "Did she really charge it?" He asks, looking up at me.

I shrug, not able to remember if she really did.

No one around us can tell, but I see it in his eyes. He's annoyed too. Maybe with the hearing aid, but most likely with my answer.

"Silly goose, it was off." He says as he fiddles with it and turns it back on. He smiles, smoothing down her hair. "Better?" He still signs with his hands, just in case.

She nods. "Thank you, Papa." She says in a much softer voice.

He gives her a kiss on her forehead before standing again. He leans next to me and places a kiss on my cheek. I don't move away from him, because I know the purpose behind the kiss. He has something to tell me.

"Please don't forget about the cameras."

I turn my face. Smiling, I give him a quick peck on the lips. "How could I?" I whisper back.

"There you two are! I knew that you had a special place of honor here, but I didn't think that it was so big! How are you doing?"

I rack my mind, trying to remember this woman's name, but my mind comes up blank. I believe we meet her at a party just a few weeks ago. It doesn't help that she has some new style that changes her appearance completely though. Blood red hair with black dots scattered in it. Her entire outfit and makeup matched the two colors. She almost reminds me of a playing card.

"We're doing just fine." He answers for the both of us. He wraps his arm around my waist and I have to remind myself to lean into him. "How are you doing?"

"Wonderful. They've finally started selling seafood again, which I've been dying for! Oh, but where's your little girl? She has a birthday in just a few weeks, doesn't she?"

"Yes, it's going to be her fifth birthday. But she's feeling a little shy." He motions towards his leg where said little girl has decided to hide behind.

The woman coos at her before looking at us again. "So when can we expect baby number two?"

My heart jumps at her blunt question. I don't want to give her an answer. And I don't. I'm saved by the music that starts playing. I feel my insides churning though. The cycle is continuing.

"Hello Panem! Welcome to the 80th Hunger Games!"