DISCLAIMER : I do NOT own any of the Hunger Games characters except for the OCs.

P/s : It's my first series so please don't hesitate to give me some advice! Thanks for reading :D

Chapter 1 - Welcome Home

The sun is blazing hot today and I can feel the beads of sweat trickling down my neck. The sound of waves smashing against rocks and seagulls were in perfect harmony, as the familiar smell of seawater washes up my nose. Taking a deep and long breath, I felt my heart grow warm inside.

This is my home.

"Fae,"

I glanced up a little from the ground, failing to open my eyes much due to the sun. But through my half-opened eyelids I could just make out the figure leaning against a tree. A tall, lean, masculine man gives me a warm smile while calling my nickname, and I couldn't help but return a smile back.

"Well hello dear brother. Back so soon?" I teased.

He chuckled, "Of course dear sister, can't let you miss me too much now, can I?" he emphasizes on the dear with a deeper tone but he can't hide the playfulness in him.

He hasn't change much even after being two months away from home, but I can feel the fatigue in him slowly eating away. I know him very well, he isn't one to complain. Fact is the Capitol wears people out, like poison slowly seeping into the roots of a tree. So much so that even the strongest and the smartest change after spending too much time in that hell-like city. Not to mention the Reaping tomorrow, it's unlikely we'll be feeling joy anytime soon.

"What are you doing rolling around anyways? You're all muddy," He complained while pulling a leaf off my hair, a look of curiosity and disgust plastered on his face.

"If you must know," I grunted while scraping fallen leaves. "I'm looking for Passion flower. It's for Annie, helps her sleep at night. Poor girl hasn't had much lately and we all know why." I sneaked a peep at him, carefully watching his reaction.

He is silent but I know what's going through his head. His face made it obvious for awhile before he put on his usual smile again.

"Anyways, I'm glad to finally see you. I hope you are hungry because I've got stew and blueberry pie waiting for you," He ruffles my hair vigorously and messing them up, but I could care less.

I stood up grinning, waving the picked flower in my hand before nodding.

"Of course I am, Finnick."

We ate in utter silence. Finnick tried to make small talk at first, asking me how I've been, about Mags and Annie, but it was obviously just a desperate act to make things lively; to get my mind off the Reaping tomorrow. With every passing year, Finnick gets more and more worried. I don't blame him, because I am too.

Every year, two children from each of the 12 districts are brought into a ruthless game, forced to battle for survival. What fun there is to watch people dying; to watch friends turn against one another; to watch families being torn apart is beyond my comprehension. Everyone knows about the games, we live fearing it.

Ever since Finnick won the 65th hunger games when he was only 14, life's been very different. I was rather young and I couldn't remember much of it. I vaguely remember people crying as he said goodbye, but wasn't aware that my brother was probably never coming home again. But he did; for that I am thankful that Mags kept her word and brought him back, alive.

Thanks to Finnick, we now live at the Victor's village now with too much money to spend. We have it easy compared to many families, considering how poor the district is. But even so, life wasn't all perfect.

The games might have given lots of wealth, but it took something even more precious away - Finnick. I don't see him very often because he's always busy making trips to the Capitol. Nevertheless, he's the big brother I adore. Unlike me who is rather "bland", being of a short height, weak and not particularly attractive, it's weird to even think we are of the same family.

"How's the capitol? Is it as lovely as ever?" I put as much sarcasm as I could conjure into the question.

He chuckled, "Let's just say it's not an ideal place for a holiday."

I sneak glances between scoops of my stew and see him fidgeting a little. Other people might not notice the fact that he balls his hands into fists when he's struggling to find the right words. I found it hilarious how the supposing charming Finnick Odair being lost of words, and started counting mentally to when he would finally spill the beans.

"Fae," he starts.

Not too bad, I was only at 498; he usually takes much longer than this.

"I'm sorry,"

My spoon was still suspended midair when he threw those words out, words filled with deepest regret. I blinked a few times, closed my opened mouth and waited for him to continue. The mood suddenly got even more sullen than before.

"I'm sorry that I can't stop all of this." He made gestures with his hands. "The games, the reaping, that I didn't make a better difference even after winning the games." He grimaced as if he was disgusted with himself.

"Most importantly, I'm sorry for not being there for you,"

I hate it when he does that, always blaming himself for every single thing when all he did was do his very best.

"Stop that." I ordered. "Stop killing yourself for what happened. The games, Annie, even me. We love you, Finnick. I know how you're suffering inside. No one gives a damn about us except you."

"I know. But if I could just do somethin-"

"You've done more than enough Finnick. Sometimes I think you've done so much, that you're starting to get annoying." I raised my brow and teased him before he could continue beating himself up.

This made his smile just a little. He grips both my hands in his. "It'll be fine, Fae. I know it will," he seemed to be directing that statement to himself more than it was for me. I couldn't find the heart to disagree with him, so I simply smiled and nodded.

I truly wanted to stay like that forever; Quiet, peaceful times. But somewhere deep in my heart I knew, fate brings things you never ordered in life.

"Take it from me, Fate doesn't care most of the time."
- Diana Wynne Jones