A/N: So here we are. The final installment of this little fusion piece. Thanks to everybody who is sticking with it, but I do have to give you one big warning. Do not expect quick and snappy updates. I'm about to start my senior year of college and I have a lot of work I have to do with it over the summer on top of two jobs. I just want this up and about because I promised you guys and it isn't fair to keep you waiting. Bear with me and if the wait has been too long feel free to PM me and demand a new chapter. I always try to update no more than a week afterwards. Now, enjoy the beginning of the end!

She stood in the ashes of District Twelve and felt misery all around. The beautiful homes she once saw were gone. The people were small. Many of them didn't escape the falling bombs or the raging fires beyond. Nate's friend, Paul was gone. All of the practicing priests were taken in the fire's grasp. At least, that was the way Jimmy had described it. He had been sent back during the Quarter Quell for representing a tribute not of his District. Honestly, President Snow wanted him present when the hovercrafts fired down upon the coal mines. It ended up exploding in his face instead. Jimmy had used the edict to damage the fence and save anyone he could. Haymitch had found a way for them to transmit messages like a phone without detection. Apparently what was left of District Twelve was picked up right before Sophie finally awoke.

A tiny pain in her rib cage reminded Sophie Devereaux that she wasn't alone. Nate's baby still grew inside of her, kicking at new body parts every day. The child was more active than not these days. Ever since the rescue it would just keep rolling around and causing havoc on its mother's already jumbled nerves. The baby knew something was wrong. It knew Daddy was gone.

Snow stole him away, Johanna too. Archie died when the lightning struck. His head injury made it difficult for him to move away from danger in time. Beetee barely made it out of the arena with his life. He was still sitting in a hospital over in District Thirteen, recovering very slowly.

District Thirteen had not been a myth like Haymitch had told them. No, it was very much real and alive. The colony moved underground. It was part of the deal they made with Snow during the first rebellion against the Capitol. They wouldn't fire down their nuclear warheads on the Capitol and in return they would be left alone, able to raise their children in freedom. Their children never had to compete in the games. That was where the refugees were taken.

It had been nothing but pokes and prods for the past five months. President Coin, District Thirteen's chosen leader, wanted to make certain nothing went wrong with the baby. Sophie hadn't even been allowed to leave the hospice for a week and a half because everybody feared the baby would suddenly die. Jimmy nearly had a panic attack when he found out she wanted to visit District Twelve. Haymitch had a mini stroke from the news. They only let her go with the promise that Jimmy would be there to shoot any possible enemies. He was the one who taught Nate archery after all.

"Let her go," Plutarch Heavensbee said, "Maybe a little tour of twelve is exactly what she needs to convince her we are on the same side." Then he laughed and munched on his oversized turkey, acting as if the world hasn't collapsed all around them.

Sophie stopped that train of thought as her foot hit something hard. She looked down and screamed in alarm. There was a small blackened skull attached to her right foot. Its teeth were kicked in because of the contact. She kicked the skull away and tried frantically to compose herself. Tears were in her eyes for a person she never knew. For a moment, she had forgotten there were people in District Twelve during the rain of fire. The child squirmed in her belly, sharing her discomfort.

"Shh," Sophie said, caressing her belly softly, "Everything's alright little one."

"Is everything alright down there?" Jimmy demanded, "Do you want me to come down?"

"I'm fine. I just needed a minute. We're staying."

"Alright," he didn't sound happy about it but he was still guilty over the Quarter Quell. It was his fault she and Nate weren't prepared for the rebellion after all.

"Get moving, Princess!" Haymitch growled, the very last voice she wanted to hear, "We don't know how long we have until the Capitol decides to send out some hovercrafts."

Sophie didn't dignify him with a response. She continued to rub her belly until the child stopped pitching a fit. Then she begrudgingly began to move towards the victors' village. Thankfully every district was alike in that small aspect. The victors' village was right at the outskirts of the district limits. It was always the most luxurious area with the greatest mansions anybody had ever seen. The houses were always assembled on the tallest hill, rising above the rest of the district to draw all eyes to it. The Justice Building was always built on the exact opposite side so all tributes could see it and envision their victory.

She reached the pleasant buildings in record time, purposefully avoiding the Justice Building where she and Nate were wed. She couldn't bear the thought of Paul lying in its rubble. It was no coincidence that it was targeted first. Everybody knew Nate's best friend had been a priest. There was no way President Snow would allow that opportunity to rest. The Hob was in ruins as well. Jimmy's favorite place, McRory's tavern, was nothing more than a wall. Parker had been so excited to show off that wonderful place when she first visited. It looked so different now, so grey.

She ignored the tears stinging her eyes and decided to focus on her goal. She was here to explore, and mourn.

Stop that, she thought, you just want a few things in case Snow decides to bomb the place again.

The victors' village was a stark contrast to the rest of the district. It was clean and sparkling. The fires didn't even touch it, another message from the president. There was no rubble, no ash. Even the grass dared to be green in spite of the grey surrounding it. The only sign of change was the utter lack of smoke pouring from the chimneys. Haymitch's home looked normal without the smoke. Nate's however, looked lonely.

The girl walked towards the house with fear in her heart. Her hand landed on the lonesome building and the memories began to pour. She met Parker at this very spot, Jimmy as well. She was just a stranger when all of this began. The old man treated her poorly under the impression that she only used his son's heart to save herself. She couldn't even figure out when she proved to him it wasn't true. It was probably when he discovered she was pregnant. No girl would go that far just to avoid death, especially when she could have just as easily used the distance already between them to do it. Either way it insured her survival.

Jimmy and Haymitch decided she would be the voice of their little rebellion. They didn't even tell Nate about their plans. They just came up with the idea and went through with it. She could have stomached it if the other champions weren't in on it. Beetee admitted to it with a grim smile on his face. At least Eliot apologized for it. He was a blubbering idiot as he explained his involvement and swore he did everything he could to bring Nate with him. The only reason she even forgave him was because he was going through the same thing. Aimee Martin, the girl whose scream Snow had the Jabberjays mimic to drive him crazy, was in the Capitol's arms now. They took her the same day they bombed District Twelve. Now the District Four champion was left in the hospital, insane with the grief of not knowing.

Sophie shook her head. She felt the baby bounce in some rare sign of saying it was with her. She smiled and caressed her bump again. She had no idea what miracle allowed her baby to survive the lightning bolt of the arena but she was grateful. The only thing that made everything worthwhile was the fact that she was carrying Nathan Ford's child. If it wasn't for that, she would probably be just as insane as Eliot Spencer was now.

Her hand slowly found its way to the handle. She gave it a slight twist and a soft push. The door was more than willing to obey her whim. She hurried inside before the ghosts could come after her. Then she bowed her head and sighed.

"What am I doing here?" She asked.

She had no idea what compelled her to visit District Twelve. Her parents were still in District One, prisoners in their own home along with the rest of her young siblings. Heavensbee and the rest of District Thirteen were dead certain she wouldn't go there no matter what she said to convince them. Jimmy and Haymitch even backed up their play, threatening to keep her bound to a bed until the baby was born and beyond. It didn't matter. She didn't want to endanger her family members. She pretty much counted them as gone for good. Snow wouldn't allow them to live for very long. They were nothing but a distraction, a trap to lure her out of hiding. He was probably torturing them just to get his way.

She turned around and stared. Nothing looked out of place. Everything was exactly as it had been when she left it. All of the papers Jimmy and Haymitch had with a plan were gone. Jimmy said they burned it before they left for the games. Nate had insisted on it. He wanted to make certain she couldn't be blamed for anything untoward. He wanted to ensure her safety above his own. Even when he didn't know half the plan.

She ignored the little buzz flittering through her brain, telling her to just give up and make herself at home right here. Instead she composed herself, pressed her hand to her stomach and rubbed gently to sooth her precious baby. Then she steeled herself for her original mission.

She climbed the stairs two at a time. Her fear of not having enough time forced her to quicken her pace. By the time she was finally at the top of the steps she was out of breath. Her eight months pregnant belly made life so much harder than it needed to be. She just quickly gained control of the air in her lungs before Parker and/or Jimmy had another panic attack. Neither of them had given her rest since this whole disaster happened. The last thing she wanted was to turn back when she was so close.

She turned towards the first bedroom she saw. It was Parker's.

The pregnant woman smiled at the mess that met her eyes. There wasn't a piece of cloth that wasn't on the ground. It was like the girl had never left it if memory served rightly. Pants covered the floor while shirts and jackets stretched luxuriously against any other surface. It looked as if a windstorm had erupted, intent on decorating the mess with more mess. The only surface unscathed was the bed.

Sophie smiled at the mess and quickly moved towards the closet. As she suspected, the few dresses the blonde Seam girl owned were hanging as if they had never before been worn. The dress with faded yellow flowers on a blue field appeared on her right. It looked exactly as Parker had described it and she gladly pulled it from the hanger. She grabbed all of the girl's clothes, knowing they were inherited from Adrianne Ford. She ignored all other clothes and focused on her mission, rescuing family heirlooms.

"Hurry up, Soph," Jimmy called, "We've got trouble on our heels."

Sophie nodded and promptly headed towards her husband's room. Her heart stopped as she saw his messy bed, a tiny bunny peeking out from the mess. Her hand automatically worked to snatch it up before anyone could steal it. She turned towards his closet expectantly, needing to smell him once again. She opened the doors and smiled at the familiar fragrance fuming through her nose. Her greedy hands plucked towards his shirts and coats. She grabbed onto his jacket, the one he wore during their first games. He said Tara had given it to him at some point during her visit before the victory tour.

Tara, that was a sore subject. Nobody knew what happened to her or Effie Trinket. The only details they had about the stylist. Heavensbee said she was taken the same day William was beaten. Nobody knew what fate befell them though Alma Coin, the president of District Thirteen, did suspect that William Prentice was no more. Tara was still a mystery. Effie was thought to have sided with the Capitol.

Sophie pressed her hand against the pin on her shoulder. Nate had given it to William so that it would be delivered to her. It was her husband's promise to keep her safe, to keep their child alive. He meant it so much that he played right into Haymitch and Jimmy's plans. She and the child were safe and he was gone. The robbingjay, what everybody else liked to call a mockingjay, was still firmly planted against her chest. William's blood was still on it.

Now they have Nate and he is doomed to die.

Tears welled up in her eyes as those horrid thoughts swirled around. Her hand reached for his small jacket, her fingers caressing it like it was her lifeline. She snatched it away from the hanger and added it to her collection. Then she scrambled to decide what other beautiful clothes would belong to her. Tears filled her eyes at the aspect of losing any part of him. Each piece symbolized some part of the man she may never see again.

These were his clothes, Sophie thought miserably. Then she hissed at her own horrid thoughts. No, Sophie, he's alive. He's alive and he's coming back for you. You and your baby.

That was probably the worst part of Nate's capture. She didn't know if her lover was alive or dead. He was completely at the mercy of President Snow and there was absolutely nothing she could do about it. No, there was one thing she could do. She had to take care of herself and the baby. As long as the baby was born, President Snow would lose.

Just as she was about to leave the room, a new aroma filled her senses. Something unusual, cloying and artificial dabbed at her nostrils. She twirled around, eyes peeled for the source of her discomfort. A tiny white prick in her vision clued her in. There sitting on Nate's windowsill was a sparkling glass, a white rose sitting in the middle of it.

It was pristine and perfect. Its perfect petals sparkled as if they could never fade no matter how many times she smashed them to pieces. The fragrance tickled her nose constantly. She had to fight against the child squirming in her stomach to keep the nausea down. She backed away slowly, worry and fear filling her bones.

How long had it been there? Why would Snow come here? Why didn't he take anything? Did he find whatever it was he was looking for? Maybe he was waiting for her return, hoping she would fall into his trap in one way or another. Or maybe he was simply sending a message.

I can find you. I can reach you. Perhaps I am watching you now. Or maybe, just maybe, I have already found you. Maybe I am just waiting for you to turn around.

The young woman immediately obeyed her fearful whim. He wasn't there. His evil smile and the rosy smell of blood were nowhere nearby. He wasn't breathing down her neck, tongue lagging for a taste of her baby's unborn flesh. No, she was safe. Everybody on the hovercrafts above her quadruple checked that he and his men were nowhere to be found. Her baby was going to be fine. There was nothing to fear. Still, his message rang very clear.

He was coming back for more.

%%%

"It's about time you got up here, girl!" Jimmy practically shouted at her.

She politely ignored him and went to work organizing Parker's and Nate's clothes. She casually slipped on the familiar leather jacket and grinned at the immediate feeling of home. It even smelled like the trees from their first game.

"How are you feeling?" Jimmy asked, seemingly ignoring the fact that she wanted nothing to do with him.

He kneeled beside her and reached a gentle hand her way. She kindly refused to give him any form of comfort. He nodded his head and tried not to look hurt. She felt guilty for the pain she caused but he deserved it. It was his and Haymitch's plan that got Nate captured and taken away.

His eyes fell on the clump of clothes she brought with her. His expression turned dark with fury at them.

"This is why you had to come here?" He scowled, "To pick up some worthless clothes. This is what's worth risking the life of my son's baby over?"

"They once belonged to your wife and daughter," Sophie growled back, ready for a fight, "And some of these things belong to your son, my child's father. I want it to have something to remember in case President Snow finally decides to give us some relief and kill him! Don't you dare tell me Nate's memory isn't worth that!"

Plutarch Heavensbee appeared out of nowhere, acting as if nothing is awry. He looks between us and shrugs.

"We're clear to leave," he said, "I just wanted to make sure you were well taken care of."

Sophie forced a beaming smile on her face and turned towards the former head Gamemaker.

"Thank you," she said.

He nodded his head and left the two alone. Apparently he didn't want to deal with the incoming battle. Jimmy and Sophie faked smiles as he left and made a beautiful show of ignoring each other. Sophie just kept fingering through her husband's belongings while Jimmy stared at her rather mournfully.

"Pretty bad down there?" He asked.

"Everything's gone," Sophie nodded, "The only thing left is the victor's village."

"A message designed specifically for you," Jimmy nodded, "I apologize for not seeing it before. I should have realized… I'm sorry."

Sophie opened her mouth to reply for a moment. She wanted to tell him about the white rose Snow left as a message. She wanted to tell him that their pain had only just begun. She wanted to tell him so many things. But her tongue was tied. She couldn't trust him anymore.

Jimmy waited a few more minutes for some kind of reply. When he finally realized he wasn't going to get one he gave a giant sigh and moved towards the seat closest to the hovercraft's cockpit. He wrapped his arms around his chest and stared out the window.

The silence continued for the rest of the flight. Jimmy made no move to speak and Sophie made no move to listen.

District Thirteen looked just as wonderful as District Twelve. Sure the rubble wasn't smoking but there was nothing above the ground. The city had indeed been bombed, but the people didn't die. They moved underground, successfully building a catacomb of houses and structures. It was a city that the Capitol allowed purely because they had no other choice.

During the Dark Days, District Thirteen threatened the Capitol with some nuclear bombs. They already had some cells built underground in the event of some bizarre thing called a "no clear winner." The cells were meant for the world's most powerful but Thirteen found a way to turn the tables on the Capitol. They made an arrangement. President Snow would back away and let them live their lives the way they wanted to. And they, in turn, would play dead and live underground so nobody would know of their arrangement. It seemed to be working, for now.

Sophie ignored the stunned looks from the crowd rolling towards her. She held her chin up high and swiftly moved towards her new home. Jimmy didn't even bother to stop her. He just followed her like a guard dog and barreled anybody who wanted to talk out of the way. He even took the liberty of carrying the clothes for her, albeit begrudgingly. He tried to take Nate's jacket as well. Sophie gave him the biggest glare in her arsenal and was now wearing the jacket proudly, Nate's robbingjay pin gleaming on her shoulder.

"I've got a very important meeting to go to, Soph," Jimmy seemed apologetic as he carefully set the clothes on the nearest bed. Nobody bothered them on their way to the room after their first appearance. At first it seemed Jimmy's brute force was the cause. Sophie soon figured out it was the wristband on her arm, marking her as mentally unstable, that was the true culprit. She was okay with that.

Sophie quietly began folding the clothes with great care. She gently placed them into the dresser and tried not to cry. The baby swirled in her stomach, reminding her of the constant flux of emotions going around. She quickly sniffed Nate's jacket and pictured his arms around her. It was enough to bring a smile to her face and remind her of her duties to the family.

"One of these days you're going to have to talk to me, dammit!" Jimmy's voice snapped her back instantly.

"That was too harsh," he said, suddenly appearing at her side and pulling her to face him, "I'm sorry. I miss him too."

She felt tears once again prickling her eyes at his quiet admission.

"I know," she said.

"I promised him I would protect you at any and all costs. You need to understand that the decision I made was to carry out his wish. I promise you I would have never made it if I had known he wouldn't return. I didn't want to leave him."

Jimmy's eyes grew red and puffy. He swallowed back whatever emotion seemed to clog his throat. It was so familiar that Sophie couldn't help but feel sorrow for the older man. She smiled lightly to encourage him to continue. He didn't disappoint.

"I just had to."

Sophie took a moment to swallow back her emotions as well. She could see the suffering written plainly on the man's face. Jimmy Ford, her secret father-in-law, was in pain too.

"I know," she said and that seemed to absolve him of everything.

His face broke out into a pained smile. He softly ruffled her hair and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.

"I see why he chose you," he said, "President Coin keeps wondering when you're going to attend one of those."

"What do you keep telling her?"

Jimmy's smile grew and his blue eyes shined with the exact same mischief Nate's did. He gave her a little wink and started towards the door.

"Soon," he replied just as the door closed behind him.

Sophie smiled in satisfaction of that reply. She scooped up the nearest dress, the blue one with yellow flowers Parker wore the day of her visit to District Twelve. That dress deserved a higher honor than the dresser could supply. She picked it up and gently placed it on Parker's bed. The girl's reaction of surprise alone would be worth waiting for.

"Sophie!"

A body slammed into the pregnant young woman before she even had a chance to react to her name being called. Blonde hair flooded her eyes and a smile came upon her face instantly.

"Parker," she said, wrapping her arms around the young girl with vigor.

"You're back," Parker stammered, "They never told me you were back. I spent the whole time worried about you."

"I tried to tell her you would come back but she didn't believe me," Alec exclaimed.

Parker smiled at the young man's confidence in her. Alec Hardison was the one who had met Nate in the woods and told him of the existence of District Thirteen. Apparently, he and his Nana weren't far away from their saving grace. Alec tried to even get the message across but couldn't. The announcement of the Quarter Quell had already been made and Alec's plans interfered with the bigger picture. His message got through to Haymitch instead.

Since they came to the district Alec and Parker couldn't be separated. They spent every moment together having no idea what they would inevitably become. The pair was the exact same age but Parker seemed older because of everything she's had to deal with. Sure Alec experience similar events but his Nana was there to keep him from growing far too fast. Jimmy wasn't there until it was almost too late… then Parker was selected as a tribute.

"Thank you, Alec," Sophie finally said, snapping away from her musings just long enough to realize the boy was still talking. He was quite a chatter box.

"I better go," the boy seemed to sense the need for family because he was already heading out the door, "I'll see you at training, Parker."

"See ya," Parker waved, staring at the plentitude of clothes all over her bed. She waited until Alec closed the door before she spoke again. "Is that why you went back home?"

Sophie smiled. "I just wanted out and that was the only place I had left to go."

Parker nodded in understanding. Her tiny hand shot out and gently clasped the brunette's. She gave it a gentle squeeze and bowed her head on her shoulder.

"You didn't have to rescue Adrianne's clothes," she said.

Sophie smiled again. A light chuckle rumbled in her chest and erupted its way through her throat. Before she knew it, it was past her lips and echoing off the walls around them. She even felt blue-grey eyes stare at her in confusion for a few seconds. Then the sound was stronger, louder and not completely her own. Sophie didn't realize the laughter had turned into sobs until she was on the floor with Parker's head buried into her shirt, tears dripping down her cheeks.

They stayed like that for a while, cuddling and cringing in fear for their missing family member. The feeling of loss and pain filtered and bounced around the room. Only when the tears were gone and dry did anybody even venture to say a word.

"It's my birthday today," Parker whispered.

She looked older in that moment, at least five or six years. She sounded tired too, oh so tired. Of course, they were all tired.

"Is it?" Sophie asked, brushing her bright blonde hair behind her ear, "Well then happy birthday, Parker."

"I wish Nate was here," she mumbled.

Sophie felt her heart squeeze at the little seam girl's plight. Even the tiny child in her womb was moving in discomfort at the statement. Tears once again sprung to the pregnant woman's eyes as unbearable thoughts coursed through her mind. She pushed those emotions away and pulled the girl close.

"Me too, Parker," she said, "me too."

Big blue-grey eyes stared up into the District One champion's soul. Tears were glinting but they refused to fall from those eyes.

"Do you think the baby's coming tomorrow?" She asked, "Because that would be the best birthday present ever!"

Sophie smiled and giggled at the girl's remark.

"Oh Parker," she said.

Secretly she was grateful for the change in subject. Moping about losing Nate seemed the only thing she was allowed to do. Nobody in District Thirteen was quite willing to trust her with anything else in her condition. Even Jimmy was keeping her on a tight leash. He nearly had a conniption when she asked to visit District Twelve. Life was dimmer without Nate in their lives. Everybody seemed to care more about keeping the baby fine than about her anyway. President Coin even ordered her to stay away from any important meetings because of the stress it might cause the baby. She was getting awfully tired of being coddled. Maybe it was time to throw them for a loop.