A/N: Hey everyone! This is my first fanfic, so feedback would be appreciated! I've read tons of great stories from this site, but never actually went and created an account. So, on a whim, I finally decided to make one. This is just an idea that was floating around in my head for a while, so I thought I would post it and see what happens. :) Let me know what you think of it and if it sounds interesting.

This is an AU that takes place sometime after after Katniss and Peeta return to District 12.

Now, on with the story!

P.S. I do not own The Hunger Games Series ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It all started a several years ago.

Katniss was returning home from hunting in the woods. She was just about to enter through the front door when she heard loud voices inside, sounding like they were arguing.

Just as she decided to barge in, the front door flew open.

"Well, looky here, if it isn't little red back from her trip through the woods," says Haymitch, grinning down at her with a bottle clutched in his right hand, blocking her way through the door.

"What do you want, Haymitch?"

"Is that any way to treat a guest, jeez, what's in the water at the Mellark house today?"

"Please, Haymitch, you're hardly a guest, you live only two doors down."

"A neighbor, then"

"What're you up to?" Katniss squints up at him.

"Why do you assume I did something?" he mumbles.

"Because you're Haymitch," Katniss deadpans.

"Katniss!"

"Peeta!" she says as she spots him over Haymitch's shoulder. "Do you mind telling me what Haymitch – wait, Effie?"

The last time Katniss saw Effie Trinket was several months ago. For some reason, Effie thought it was her personal duty to show up for every holiday, birthdays, and anniversary. As if they couldn't possibly enjoy themselves without her there to organize the entire occasion. But the next closest birthday was hers, and even that still wasn't for another few months. Which meant Effie was here for another reason. Which couldn't possibly mean anything good.

"Hello, Katniss, it appears we have some news, and well, we're not quite sure how you'll take it."

Well, Katniss thought humorously, as she makes her way inside. Either Effie had finally convinced Haymitch to elope, or-

"What Effie means to say is... well…"

Katniss turned to Peeta, who seemed to be wringing his hands together, a nervous habit he developed after returning home from his treatment with Dr. Aurelis. Due in part, she supposed, to all that time he spent with his hands tied together during their mission to overthrow Snow.

After a moments pause, where it became apparent that no one was going to respond, Katniss sighed and turned back towards Haymitch.

Okay, so Peeta doesn't know what to say, she observed, which was never a good sign, Haymitch is drinking, which is the same, and Effie's practically teetering back and forth in her heels, which means-

"You know how I've been keeping in contact with Plutarch?" Haymitch says. "About everything's that's… going on? How Paylor's doing, new developments in the Capital, stuff like that?"

"Yeah, that's usually the kinds of things I stay clear of," Katniss replies stiffly.

"Plutarch's also been working to squash potential uprisings."

Wait, uprisings?

There are still uprisings?

"Katniss, dear," Effie starts. "Lets just say, even now, after all these years, there's some people in the Capital, former Gamemakers, people who were in places of higher power, who were able to hide away for a while. And well, these people preferred things the way they were…"

"And let's just say they have a taste for revenge," Haymitch interjects.

"Haymitch!"

"Not now, Effie!"

"They discovered a lab," Peeta interjects.

"A lab?" Katniss asks, trying to figure out where the conversation is headed.

"Recently abandoned, by the looks of it," Haymitch says. "But we don't think they found it by accident."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"In this particular lab, they found that certain kinds of... experiments were conducted."

Is that it, then?, Katniss thinks. They've created some type of new mutt? "So, what?" Katniss scowls. "They want me to get rid of it or something?"

"Not exactly," Peeta says reluctantly.

"What is it then?" Katniss bursts, her patience wearing thin. "Just tell me what-"

"They found a girl," Haymitch says. "Looks about five years old. And she had a letter. With your name on it."

Katniss shakes her head, trying to make sense of what's happening.

"Why would it have my name?"

"Katniss, they- they think the letter is from Snow."

She feels her stomach drop. None of this is adding up.

"But how is that possible, Snow's been dead for almost six years!"

"But all of his cronies aren't. We think he still had something up his sleeve, something that he thought would completely break you."

"But I thought that's why Peeta..." Katniss pales, not wanting to bring up those old memories. "How does the little girl fit into any of this?"

"That's the thing," Peeta smiles sadly at her, knowing what she was about to say. "We don't know."

Katniss takes a step backwards, and finally notices the paper clutched in Haymitch's hand. It looks crumpled and torn, like it was ripped up before someone realized they might actually need to keep it.

"What's the letter say?"

Haymitch passes it over to her. The words are faded and the paper's been taped together, but that's not what bothers her. Katniss can still clearly make out the words that are written on it.

I should've expected this, she thought. In fact, Katniss is sure she already knows what it will say before she even reads it.

The letter, more of a note, really, is short. Only two lines long.

"Remember, Ms. Everdeen,

It is the things we love the most, that destroy us."