AU – **The Hunger Games are still the same except no tribute actually dies; they just get taken out when they would have died. ** Katniss won the Hunger Games when she was twelve years old and ever since then has been treated like a child or sister to the other mentors. The 75th anniversary presents the chance for a past victor to prove they are indeed the best, so what happens when another victor begins to take a liking to her? Will she risk the rep she desperately wants for a chance with him?

Hey Guys! So I haven't done a Hunger Games Fic before but I'm a huge fan of most HG pairings – bar Peeta/Katniss – so hopefully you like this! I think Finniss is super cute, but it isn't my most favourite pair, it's pretty easy to write :)

Enough from me, here it is!

Disclaimer: All Characters and some plots belong to Suzanne Collins, not me :(

Chapter 1

Katniss

Staring at my reflection in the mirror again I replay the plan in my head. Just two months ago President Snow, also known as my grandfather, announced the twist to this year's games. As a reminder that there is only one strongest of us all, this year's tributes are going to be reaped from the existing pool of victors. I am quite excited to return into the arena. When I won the games I was only just 12 years old so I am still the youngest out of all the victors being just 17 now. This is going to be my chance to prove I did not win by fluke and I am skilled enough to beat everyone else, providing I am not the one reaped anyway.

I know what you must be thinking – the president of Panem is my grandfather? It's a long story but basically my father and my two uncles wanted to experience working on their own and all moved to District Twelve. They did that when the eldest, Haymitch, was just 15 years old. The very next year he was reaped for the games and ended up winning. That was the last Quarter Quell twenty-five years ago and now there are three of us with a great chance in this Quarter Quell. My cousin Gale being the third from our family.

When my father and uncle died in a mine explosion when I was eleven Gale and I hunted in the forest to provide for our families. We didn't take any help from Snow or Haymitch since we wanted to remain independent and not have to explain to the country the biggest secret in our family. Everyone knows Gale
and I are related but no one outside our family knows of the other, bigger ties within our family. We all felt it was better that way, more privacy for us.

Since I won my games Haymitch and I have brought home two other victors, a girl named Anastasia and, of course, my cousin, Gale. Anastasia is eager to return to the games as well so I know that her name needs to be called otherwise she will volunteer for me. Something I don't want to happen. Anastasia won the 72nd Games at 18 and Gale won last year's games at 18 also. We made quite the story having three victors in five years from a district that previously only had two victors. Haymitch says I have something to do with it but personally I think District 12 is just getting better.

"Katniss, are you ready to go?" Spinning around I see my beautiful little sister Primrose, Prim for short, standing at the door to my room. I know that she worries about me going back into the Hunger Games. Even though no one actually dies, tributes can still be seriously injured if someone manages to break though the armor we are wearing. Going back into the arena with all trained winners most likely increases her fear since a few of the past victors are ones that have broken through the armor.

Smiling at Prim I give her a hug before following her out of the house and down to the town square.

"No need to worry little Duck, I will be fine if I go back in, besides, you know that no matter how bad I want this win I would never endanger myself so bad that I couldn't come back to you. And no one has ever died in the Games anyway, so don't worry about me." She looks up at me and nods before hugging me tightly again. Glancing at my mother whom is walking alongside us. She gives me a reassuring glance and gently pulls Prim off of me, telling her they need to take their place. They begin to split from me and head towards the crown while I turn towards the stage.

Looking up at the stage I see all three other victors standing there waiting for me, looks like I spent longer getting ready than I originally thought. Oh well. Gale smirks when he sees me, probably because my choice of clothing makes it very clear I no longer want to be considered a baby or little girl to anyone. Dressed in my short, low cut blood red dress I mount the stage to stand beside Anastasia smiling at her as I do so.

"Someone's hopeful that she'll be needing sponsors isn't she?" Anastasia gives me a look to show me she's only half kidding. Laughing I shake my head at her.

"I could say the same for you Ana," I state looking her up and down. She too is dressed up for the occasion, most likely for the same reason as I. She simply smirks at me before looking towards the mayor who was about to start the ceremony.

Casting my eyes out around the population of District Twelve I notice many people have hopeful looks in their eyes. It is understandable that they are feeling such a way with how well we have been doing as a district over the past few years and two of our newest victors are about to go back into the arena. So, not only are we the youngest victors, we are some of the newest coming out of the arena, meaning it is still fresh in our heads.

Tuning back into the rest of the ceremony I realized that Effie is already speaking. I guess I tuned out for a long time. This happens to me quite a lot actually, something that needs to stop if I want to have a chance in the games this year.

"As usual, Ladies First," she flaunts over to the female's bowl and has to reach around a long time to pull out one of the two slips of paper sitting in the too-big reaping bowl. Smiling triumphantly Effie snatches one of the slips of paper into her orange-painted nails and struts back over to the microphone, the smile still on her face. I held my breath hoping, my name wouldn't be chosen, so I could volunteer for the chance to return to the games. I glance over at Anastasia and see her giving me a smile. There is meaning behind it but Effie begins talking again so I am unable to focus on what it could mean.

Dramatically opening up the slip of paper, Effie announces, "And our female tribute for this year is…"

Thanks for reading! More longer chapters to come!