The Last Embers

by The8thHorcrux77

its been 35 years since the war, and something terrible has happened to Katniss, so Peeta is left alone with his children, Liv and Alex. with Katniss dead, the new president sees the districts as weak once more, and decides to bring back the games, there is only one problem, Gale is the head gamemaker.

1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Peeta's POV

I found this book in the chest of her things. They told me not to look through her belongings yet, it would bring back to many memories, and they where right. I found this diary in her chest. It was written after the first games, probably to deal with the pain. sometimes I still have to remind myself that she's not here, she's gone, she's dead. Perfectly imperfect Katniss. Dead.

It took me seven months for them to let me out of care, but I'm not fixed. I can barely look after myself, let alone Liv and Alex. Not that they cant take care of themselves, there mother taught them how to hunt when they where young, as I to bake, but the entire district has money now, so its not like its needed, plus Liv is 17, and her brother is only 2 years younger. The doctors all tell me to do things, to take my mind off the pain, so like all those years ago I bake and paint. Dozens of paintings litter my house, the children don't yet know what they mean, they haven't seen the footage, the flashbacks, the nightmares. They don't even know about poor little Prim, or Gale, although about 15 years ago, Effie moved in with Haymitch, to all of our surprise, and they now have an adopted daughter, who is Alex's age. They are practically family, since all of ours are dead, even Miss Everdeen now. As for the district, after the war, we all got equal trades and money, although the capitol still has complete control, and have a bit more that the rest of us. But at least there are no more hunger games.

I am sitting on our… my bed, still not made, the thin white cover bunched up around my large frame, the window to the left of the bed open. I was looking through the old box of her stuff, god I can't even say her name without tearing up. seven months it has been sitting there, doing nothing. Seven months. She has been gone seven months. it feels so much longer, I miss her smile so much, her rare laugh, the feel of her lips against mine, our hands laced together. I hear the loud creek of the old wooden front door opening, and the familiar quiet footsteps, something they inherited from there mother. "Dad where home" I hear a female voice shout from the kitchen. I force myself to get up from the bed, not bothering to make it, and noisily make my way down the stairs. "how was school?" I ask, when finally locate my children, sitting on the sofa, Liv holding glass of water, and a cheese bun, and Alex with a cinnamon roll. "alright, I guess. There was lots of stuff about the new president, who got elected last night. You know, Cynthia Hawthorne, from two I'm pretty sure." There is a little chuckle from Liv. "what's so funny!?" Alex scowls, "that is the most you've talked all day."

"Ha ha, very funny. Anyway there's a mandatory viewing on in about 10 minutes, apparently there is supposed to be a big announcement or something." Nod a little. I watched the election last night, Cynthia is Gales wife. I guess I was happy for him, until I hared her speak, she is like a reincarnation of coin, and snow put together. I can imagine, what ever she has to say, wont be good. eventually the TV flickers into life. And none other than Ceaser Flickermen appears. To be honest, I'm surprised he's still alive, although age has got the better of him. You can see the wrinkles running down his face, although they have tried to cover most of them. His hair is a deep green, as well as his makeup, and suit which shimmers and sparkles in the lights from the stage. "Hello, hello everyone! Now we are about to hear some very exiting news from our new President of Penem! Hear is Cressida with the life footage, Cressida." The screen changes to the familiar girl, half of her head still shaven off, with a vine like tattoo on it. "Thank you Ceaser, now we are hear at the presidents mansion, to welcome our new, President Hawthorne." The camera zooms up to the balcony behind her, where Presedent Hawthorne is standing, none other than Gale by her side, I can feel the scowl rise up on my face, he didn't even come to Katniss' funeral. "Hello, and welcome, to the beginning of a new eara." The crowd cheers. "I thank you all who voted for me, for my life, for…" my mind is no longer listening. Just the sight of the capitol, the mansion, where I was tortured, and put on camera, is enough for me to want to vomit, but I don't instead my mind drifts, to that one horrible day, that day where I wished I was dead, the day that I am never going to forget.