Hey this is for the In a Rather Festive Arena The Holiday Games (Competition) on Starvation. This is a Clato story. I love this pairing.

The smell of the fire the careers had started brought memories back to Clove. Christmas memories. There was one special one that popped into her mind on this night. She stared into the crackling flames of fire and let the memories carry her back.

She could smell the scent of cookies like it was yesterday. In fact it could very well have been yesterday. The sights and sounds of her family and friends baking cookies.

"Clover," called her older brother Basil motioned her over to where he was hanging lights from the ceiling, "help me with this will you."

Clove ran over to her brother. "What can I do?" she asked him.

"Seeing as your small just hold these here. Can you do that for me?"

She nodded her head. She held onto the lights as her brother went around the house. Half way through she felt herself being lift. She looked behind her to see who was culprit. She giggled to herself as she saw Cato holding her by the waist.

"Cato," she squealed, "put me down."

Cato chuckled at this. Then relented and put Clove down. "Why don't I help you with those lights Basil?" he asked.

Basil nodded after seeing Cato was there. "Of course Cato," he said.

The two boys went on hanging the Christmas lights. Clove walked over to where her mother and sister Pepper were sitting mixing another batch of cookies.

"Come help us Clove," cried Pepper.

Clove walked over scooped Pepper up. "Alright Pep," she said placing the little girl on her lap. "Do you want to put this flour in the bowl." She said as she measured out the flour.

The little girl nodded and poured the flour in the bowl. They continued this way for all the ingredients.

"You mix it Clovey," squealed Pepper.

"Alright," said Clove mixing the cookie.

Cato and Basil had finished hanging the lights and walked over to the girls. Basil lifted Pepper out of Clove's lap. The little girl giggled and squealed.

"Hey Pepper want to go outside and make a snowman?" asked Basil.

Pepper nodded and ran off to get her snowsuit on. Basil laughed and followed her to get his own jacket on. That left Clove and Cato sitting waiting for the cookie to bake.

"Clove I want you to know I'm volunteering for the Hunger Games this year coming," said Cato. He was hoping that this would make her proud. He wasn't expecting to see tears rolling down her face.

"Cato why?" she asked voice choked from crying.

"I thought that I would make you and my family proud."

"I thought that you said you would stay here with me and our families."

"Clove it's what I've been training for most of my life. It's what we've both been training for most of our lives."

Clove rolled her eyes. Training didn't mean anything if you died because of it. And in the Games only one person ever comes out alive.

"You know only one person can come of their alive Cato," she sobbed.

"Don't worry Clove. If it bothers I won't volunteer," he told her.

The timer for the cookies went off.

"I think you might want to take those out of the oven," he said.

Clove walked over and took the cookies out of the oven putting them on the stove.

"Are you sure Cato?" she asked.

He nodded. "Now let's celebrate Christmas without any more talk of the Hunger Games."

Clove nodded as her mother called her and Cato to dinner. They headed to get some food. That Christmas was the happiest of Clove's life. Until the day of the Reapings.

A tap to her shoulder broke Clove out of her thoughts bringing her back to reality of things. She looked up to find Cato standing next to her.

"What are you thinking about Clove?" he asked.

"Happier times," she said with the whisper of a smile on her face.

This is my very first Clato story. I hope everyone enjoys it. Please let me know what you all think. And a early Merry Christmas to all.