A/N: I own nothing except Aven Whitlock (A-ven)

Summary: My name's Aven Whitlock, I'm 20, from district 12, and my father is Haymitch. To add onto all of that I was the victor 68th hunger games, and Seneca Crane has an…interest…in me.

Ch .1

Even though I had gone through the reaping process for years, and then reaped and won the Hunger Games I still gave an involuntary shudder when they were mentioned. I woke and watched outside the window as the sun slowly started to rise and I felt the anger and anxiety wash over me as it rose in the sky. When it had fully risen and a roaster called I let out the breath I had been holding for God only knows how long. "Happy 74th hunger games." I muttered under my breath before slipping my robe on and pattering down the stairs to the kitchen. I started coffee for dad and made him a few piece of toast.

"Damn it." I heard someone mutter as a chair flipped over. Seeing as how James would be in the mine's by now I knew that left dad as the only option.

"Good morning to you too." I said sitting his mug and plate on the counter. He gave me a small smile and sat down taking a sip.

"Now where would I be without you?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Probably passed out on Snow's lawn." I said and he winced. He pulled a flask out which I quickly snatched away and glared at him. "You promised to stay sober for the reaping." I said and he winced again when he said it. He sighed and stood, tucking a piece of my dark brown hair behind my ear.

"So much like your mother, she made sure I didn't drink myself away either." I turned and went to washing the dishes. This was a particular subject I didn't like to talk about with dad.

"Go get yourself cleaned up, I'll take care of this." I said in an icy tone. He sighed and knew he had already lost this battle. He walked upstairs and slammed his door rather loudly and I fought to keep the tears at bay. It wasn't fair to him I know, James and I didn't lost just a mother. But dad lost his best friend, counterpart and soul mate. But in my defense if he could stay off the bottle for more than a second she may still be here.

"Aven!" I jumped and turned to see my brother standing there, covered in coal dust. "I've been trying to get your attention the past 5 minutes." He said sitting his hat in the sink to be washed later.

"Sorry Jamie, lost in my thoughts again." I muttered weakly and he pulled me close.

"Go get ready, dad'll be ready in a few minutes." I nodded and walked to my room picking out a simple black dress and pulling my hair back in a tight French braid. My skin was no longer an ashy olive color, instead it was a rosy complexion. My blue eyes were hard and cold, that of someone who had seen far too much in their life time. I sighed and grabbed my mother's locket before fastening it around my neck.

I heard a knocking on the door and dad poked his head in. "James and I are ready when you are." I nodded and took his offered arm as he lead me downstairs. Jamie gave a small smile and went to my other side. As we walked towards the town center I saw Katniss and her younger sister Prim. The little one smiled when she saw me and raced over, her little duck tail flopping.

"Hi Aven!" She said smiling up at me and I bent down and gave her a quick hug. I babysat Prim often when Katniss was hunting and Heather was too far gone to even remember to breathe.

"Hi sweetheart, you ready?" I moved away from my father and James and went to stand beside Katniss. She gave me a nod I understood, I was to take care of Prim, keep her safe no matter what. The peacekeeper took Prim's blood and we went to stand in our lines. Effie went up on stage and gave her god forsaken speech before saying the dreaded words.

"Now I do believe it's girl's first." I closed my eyes and squeezed Prim and Katniss' hands while hers fished around in the bowl. "Primrose Everdeen." She called and I could see her scanning the crowd. Oh you have got to be kidding me. Prim latched onto me tightly and two things happened at once, I would have to prepare this girl to kill, and Katniss started shouting.

"Stop I volunteer as a tribute!" she yelled running forwards and Effie had a giant smile on her face.

"Wonderful dear, and what's your name?" She looked at father and then looked at me.

"Katniss Everdeen." I was going to train her, and more likely than not watch her die. I wish my father was still the mentor, he could explain far better than I could. The reaping was over and I ran to find Jamie and dad. I found Jamie and collapsed in his arms crying, I couldn't do this. Couldn't have the cold air of indifference when I trained her.

"Aven listen to me, for her sake you cannot care about her." Dad said whispering in my ear and I nodded wiping my tears away. I felt a tug on my dress and I turned around to see Prim staring at me with tear filled eyes along with Heather.

"Katniss will be okay right?" She whimpered and my heart went out to this little girl. I crouched down to her level and wiped her tears away with my thumb.

"I'm going to do everything I can to make sure she is." I said giving her a small smile and walking with a peacekeeper to go and see her before the train left. He shoved me in forcefully and Katniss didn't bother to look at me.

"You'll take care of them won't you?" She asked in a dead voice looking over district 12.

"Katniss you'll come home, and you can take care of them." I said shakily and she rounded on me staring into my eyes.

"Just promise you'll take care of them. That's all I expect from you." I nodded and pulled her into a hug and she sobbed quietly.

"I promise Kat, I promise." I soothed and smoothed out her hair. The door opened and dad stuck his head in.

"It's time." He said and Katniss looped her fingers through mine and I gripped it tight.

"Together?" she asked and I nodded.

"Together."