A/N: I own several characters in this story, but so far, the only tribute that is of my creation is Ever Abernathy. All others were submitted by other authors on FF and credit goes to them!

A/N2: Tributes still needed: District 2 female, District 3 male, both for 4, District 5 female, both for 6, boy for 7, both for 8, boy for 9 & 10 and boy for 11. :)

A/N3: GAH I know ch. one was in past tense, but present tense seems easier for this story! Sorry I'm switching it, hope it's not too confusing!


Haymitch's Little Tribute


Ever...

I hold my breath and twirl my chestnut brown hair around my fingers as Tanith Rudo announces the name of my fellow Twelve tribute. "Robert Hester!"

I gasp. Robbie... I frantically scan the crowd for him. I finally find him, standing near the baker and his family with his father and brother- the mother died in a mining accident a few years back. His green eyes lock with my brown ones for a split second before he makes his way to the stage. He gives me an odd look as he takes his place next to me. It was almost a look of pity, somewhat one of disgust, but also one of relief. He has to be at least six feet tall, maybe more. In other words, he is scary enough without looking at me like he knows I will be an easy kill. Perhaps it was the knowledge of which Tribute killed my mother that made me so wary of my district partner, however, it could just as easily be the fact that I know his personality. Rough, tough, quick to fight.

Daddy's drunk. Really really drunk. He goes to give Tanith a big hug. She tries to evade it, but fails.

I, along with all of Twelve and probably a lot of Panem begin laughing hysterically. I look at Robbie. He is stoic.

Tanith gives her ending speech and the anthem on Panem played.

The whole time, I stand there, frozen. I don't even think I blinked- perhaps my heart even stopped. It felt like everything in the world was continuing on but me. I do not return to reality until I smell the liquor and felt a hand gently touch mine. Daddy is staggering, as usual. He guidesme to where the Peacekeepers are. Ugh, those people have given me the creeps since I can remember. The Peacekeepers lead us inside the Justice Building. Once inside, Robbie and I are each brought to separate rooms and left alone.

As much as I hate to admit, it was one of the nicest places I'd been in. Sure, our house in Victor's Village is kinda nice, but it is always messy. Wine, whiskey and vodka bottles strewn everywhere, half-eaten plates of food, dirty clothes and old towels- despite my efforts to keep the place clean, it is always re- defiled within 48 hours. Us Abernathy's just aren't known for our cleanliness. Being drunk. That's the only thing I can hope to be good at.

Growing up, I accompanied my father to the Games almost every year. Daddy and Chaff, his friend from District 11, often jokingly offered me a sip of something from a bottle. Once, when I was about eight, I accepted and Chaff let me take a sip. I spit it out all over the District 2 mentor, causing Chaff and Daddy to laugh until they were on the floor in tears, holding their stomachs and gasping for air.

I am pulled away from my memories when the large double doors open. Right. The hour Tributes have to say goodbye to their loved ones.

In walk my my mother's brothers. "Uncle Rexton! Uncle Raphael!" I exclaim, running into their open arms. But then I remember, I have to hate them right now because none of their daughters offered to go in their 12-year-old cousins place. Uncle Raphael, the older of my uncles, seems to sense my changing emotions. "Nina wanted to go in your place, she was about to volunteer, but Caleb reminded her that she has three younger sisters."

Cousin Caleb. Figures. He hates me, always has.

Uncle Rexton gives me another hug. "If Ziva were old enough, she would have volunteered. You know how much she loves you."

I nod. Uncle Rexton and his wife, Susan have always been my favorite Aunt and Uncle. Their children, my favorite cousins. "It's okay Uncle." I say to them both.

Uncle Rexton pulls something out of his coat pocket. "You're allowed to have one token from home."

"Yes." I say, pressing him on.

"Hold out your hand."

I obey.

He drops the object into my hand.

I examine it. It is a silver chain with two rings on it. I look up at my uncles.

"It was Rose's." Uncle Raphael explains vaguely. He always referred to my mother as 'Rose' and never, 'your mother.'

Uncle Rexton goes into more detail. "The smaller ring was passed down in our family for generations. It's a little mockingjay. It was made for a young girl, that's why it's so small. The slightly larger one...well, that was your mothers' engagement ring. From your father."

"Why doesn't he have it?" I ask them, putting the ring necklace around my neck.

Rexton's perpetual smile fades. "You see, Ever...damn, I wish I told you this story sooner."

"How come?"

"It's a long, emotional story, and I don't have enough time. Long story short; when my sister was killed in the area, Haymitch nearly went insane. You were the only thing keeping him going. He loved Rose with all his heart and had this happy vision of her winning, the two of them getting married, and you having a good family. When I brought him the ring, it was too much for him. He said he couldn't bear to look at it every day and think of what should have been. I asked him if I could keep it and he told me I could as long as I promised to take care of it. I put it on a chain with the ring she wore as a child. I think it's best it goes to you now."

"Wow," I breathe, admiring the token. "I didn't know my father had like, real emotions."

Uncle Rexton's smile returns and my lame attempt at humor. "She'd want you to have it."

"Thank you." I whisper, just before a Peacekeeper comes in, telling us that our time is up and the next visitor must come in.

"Goodbye, Ever." Uncle Rexton whispers in my ear as he hugs me.

I stop the burning tears before they can fall. "Goodbye Uncle Rexton. Uncle Raphael."

I know my next visitor wouldn't be my father, since we will have time on the train. I am not expecting anybody else, but Ivy, Josh and Damien all pile into the room. Ivy immediately throws her arms around me and cries. "Ivy, not good support, here."

"I-I-I'm so so so s-sorry Ever! It's j-j-just-"

Josh puts a hand on his sister's shoulder and finished her thoughts, "She's loves you so much, almost like a sister, and well...we all know what happen to Lauren and Jared."

I nod soberly. Lauren and Jared Hopeflame, Josh and Ivy's older brother and sister. They were Tributes two years after each other. Both died. Lauren only last year.

"I'm sorry. I should be encouraging."

"It's okay Ivy." Before I know it, the Peacekeepers are ushering them out.

Lastly, Kenton Rainriver, my big brother walks in. Un-biological brother. Brother by choice. He immediately hugs me. "Kick those Careers asses, okay?"

"I understand that I'm not coming back. No need to pretend I am." I say honestly.

Kenton punches my shoulder. "DON'T say crap like that! You WILL survive and when you get home, were going to go running and have a hell of a time!" Running is mine and Kenton's code word for 'hunting.'

Sure, I have no need to risk my life, but hunting was fun. Kenton learned his hunting skills from Gale Hawthorne, an older boy who pretty much took him under his wing. I've met Gale but once and to be honest, he scares the life out of me. Kenton took me under his when I was seven and he was ten. "Kenton, don't-"

"You WILL Ever. You have to." He hugs me again and harshly whispers, "Get a bow and arrow, a few knives, anything that will help you survive."

"Kenton, I'm not that good. You re the expert with the bow and arrow."

"You're good for a twelve-year-old girl. It'll give you an edge."

"Kenton, come on. In District 12, Tribute means the same thing as corpse."

He squeezes my hand. "The Ever I know would fight anyway, no matter what the odds."

I wrap my arms around him and let the tears fall.

"Shhh, it'll be okay, Ev."

"No it won't." I argue through my tears.

He hugs me tighter.

Right then, the Peacekeepers come to take Kenton away.

"Tributes follow me!" Calls one. Robbie and I both walk out of the separate rooms we were in.

I look around for my father, but he was nowhere in sight. Robbie and I ride with Tanith Rudo and two Peacekeepers to the train station. I love car rides. In District 12, the opportunity is rare. I glance over at my district partner. Unlike me, Robbie doesn't seem to be trying to enjoy the ride.

"Hey Robbie?" I ask him.

"What do you want kid?" He snaps back.

I clench my fists, ready to punch out his teeth.

Tanith sees this and puts a cold hand on my right fist. "Don't." She warns.

I unclench my fists and lookup at Robbie. "Never mind." I hope Daddy lets him die. Then I quickly scratch that thought. Daddy hates having to watch kids die each year.

As soon as I step on the tribute train, I expect a hug from Daddy. Instead, there is a little table with tons of food. I shouldn't have expected any different. It's the same routine every year. Though, I never get to eat with the tributes. I stay holed up in Daddy's compartment and he brings me food.

Tanith, Robbie and I begin to eat in silence when Daddy finally walks in.

"Finally! The lousy drunk arrives!" Says Robbie loudly.

I give him a death glare, Tanith's mouth makes a perfect O shape and Daddy just smirks at him, obviously more than a little buzzed.

"A smart one, eh?" He says, examining him. "Let's hope you can fight." He doesn't acknowledge me. That hurts.

He sits beside me though, which I guess helps. Robbie and I pile our plates with whatever looks good. We pick up forks and knives and spoons and begin eating.

Tanith looks at us and smiles proudly. "At least you two have table manners. The two last year at with their fingers like savages! It was appalling!"

Robbie and I both glare at her. The pair last year, Lauren and Gregory, were two kids from the Seam who never had enough to eat. Table manners were surely not something they cared about when they had this good meal. Robbie and I share a devious glance. Almost on cue, the two of us load our fingers with mashed potatoes, gravy, peas and ham and shove them in our mouths. "Mmm." Robbie says.

"Good." I finish for him.

Tanith looks completely disgusted.

For the grand finale, I wipe my hands on my jeans.

Tanith nearly faints.

Daddy is laughing so hard that he causes the bottle he is drinking from to shatter on the floor and he doesn't even notice.

I sigh and clean up the mess like I do at home. I love my father, but he's so drunk all the time that the majority of the housework falls on me. When I sit back down, I make a conscious effort to eat the rest of the meal with my fingers and constantly wipe them on my jeans.

"The three of you would do well to learn more about presenting yourselves!" Scolds Tanith.

"Blah, blah, blah." I say, tossing a pea into the air and opening my mouth to catch it.

The four of sit in silence for a while before Robbie speaks up. "So you are supposed to help us out, right Haymitch? Give us advice?"

He shrugs. "Stay alive."

Robbie throws all his weight across the table, taking both me and my father down. "You think this is a joke? No wonder every tribute from Twelve dies!"

"Shut up Robbie!" I shout.

"I don't need to be bossed around by a little baby."

"Oh! That's IT!" I shout, hopping up.

Tanith pleads with us to stop fighting.

Right before my fist connects with his face, I smell the liquor and feel the hand stopping my fist. "No fighting...yet." He says.

I nod and put my fist down.

Robbie smirks triumphantly.

"Both of you!" Daddy says seriously. He hands us both a knife. "I want you to throw those knives at me with the intent to kill."

"But-" I begin to protest.

"No buts, Ever. You throw first. As soon as the knife leaves her hand, Robbie, I want you to throw yours. Understand?" He says harshly.

"Y-yes." I stutter.

"Got it." Says Robbie firmly.

I throw the knife as hard as I can, aiming for his shoulder. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Robbie throw his. Daddy dodges mine and catches Robbie's in one quick motion. "Hm..." He says.

"HMM...what?" Robbie shoots back.

"Both knives went in a straight line once you threw them. I'm guessing that if you two really wanted to kill me, and I wasn't expecting it...well, I'd be dead by now. It looks like I've got some fighters this year."

Killing. I almost forgot that's what these stupid Games are about. "Um, do we really have to kill people?"

"Do you want to die a violent and painful death?"

"No?" I say slowly.

"Then yes. You have to kill people." Daddy is giving me the same cold look he gives all the tributes. Is one fatherly hug really that much to ask?

I look down silently.

A few second pass before he speaks again. "I'll get you two as far in the Games as I can, but you have to do exactly what I say."

Robbie nods.

"Anything." I mummer. I don't see the use. If anyone on this train is going to win the Games, it is Robbie. The 18-year-old boy with muscles to spare. Against him, I stood no chance. Me, a girl who is barely twelve. Sure, I have some muscle, but I am still very tiny.

Tanith turns our attention to the television. We watch the other reapings. Tanith takes furious notes while Daddy opens up another bottle and takes a sip.

Robbie and I however, are glued to the television. Unlike Tanith, we intend to commit every detail about these tributes to memory. Starting with District 1.

First the anthem of Panem. Then the names start flying at us.

Trendy Twilight is the name of the eighteen-year-old girl with blonde curls and blue-grey eyes from One. She rushes forward to volunteer after a girl who looks about 16 named Sparkle Bloomsparkle was called. Sparkle Bloomsparkle looked mad that Trendy Twilight volunteered. It was obvious Sparkle wanted to go, and Trendy was sure she could win.

City Ballantine is the name of the boy tribute from One. He looks younger than Trendy and Robbie, but older than me. City has brown hair and really nice eyes. Too bad I have to think about killing him. He's kind of- no, really- cute.

The girl from Two has a pretty cool name...and nice hair...if I cared about girly crap like that.

Slate Fallon is the boy from Two. He calmly responds to the reaping.

Zayna Code from Three... something about her really stands out to me. Maybe it's the fact that she is dressed like a kid from Twelve, though she is from a rich District. Her jeans are pretty oily and her grey T-shirt looks clean...enough. "Tanith! Can you possibly rewind Three?" I ask hurriedly.

"Um, y-yeah. Sure." She says, rewinding Zayna's reaping.

I pay attention to where Zayna starts walking from. The only person she is really standing with is another girl, a few years younger than her. Can't be family. Zayna has pale skin while the girl she is standing with has brown skin. Not as dark brown as Chaff's though. (Think Latina. :])

"Do you want be to rewind it again?" Asks Tanith.

"No, no. I've seen what I wanted to. Thank you." I say.

We continue on.

The boy from Three looks scared out of his mind.

The redheaded girl from Four looks about 12. But certain, erm, physical features suggest somewhere in the 14-16 range...just really short.

The boy from Four doesn't stand out to me in any way what so ever. He may be one of the few from the career Districts that gets weeded out early.

The girl from Five seems absolutely nonchalant. I wonder why, but then I think back. The year Ivy and Josh's brother, Jared, was a tribute, a girl with the same last name as this year's Five tribute won. Last year, a boy with the same last name as them took out both kids from Twelve and later, became the victor. It hits me. This is the younger sister of two victors.

The boy from Five is originally "Daren Phillips." But a 12-year-old boy who was calmly standing in the front suddenly changes his demeanor altogether and screams, "Let me go!" Then just like that, "Darren Philips!" was safe and this 12-year-old boy was off to the Arena. I think his last name is Quinley.

The girl from Six looks very scary. Almost as big as Robbie and the Career boys. Not fat. All muscle.

The boy from Six is older than me and the boy from Five- WAY older. But he looks more scared than me and the Quinley kid put together.

Hollie Stern in the girl from Seven. She doesn't look very intimidating, but several boys back away from her as she walks to the stage. From that, I'm just guessing she can fight and she hits hard. Whether it's with fists or blunt objects, I never want to know.

The boy from Seven naturally looks more scary than Hollie, but I assume he's really nice from the sad looks the crowd gives. A girl his age kisses him on the lips. Girlfriend. I think.

Both tributes from Eight look unimpressive. And that's from a weakling point of view like mine.

I am expecting the same from Nine. Until "Asia Heddvig!" is called. When asked how old she it, she replies, "Thirteen." I grab the remote and pause it. "Thirteen?" I ask myself. I un-pause it and hear Asia from Nine add, "As of two months ago." I bite my lip. I am 12...as of four months ago. I am barely eligible and she is practically still 12 herself. I see Lissana Heddvig- the victor of the 66th Games give her a pat on the back and a good luck kiss on the check. "Hedvigg, Hedvigg, Hedvigg...H-" I whisper to myself.

My father catches on to what I am thinking. "They are sisters." He says aloud before whispering so only I could hear. "You met her during the 69th Games."

I nod and turn back to the television.

The boy from Nine walks up quickly when his name is called. He wears glasses, but very thin-rimmed ones.

Nevaeh Tierney of Ten seems very...odd. Maybe in a good way. I feel bad that she's in the Games. Someone like her seems like she can contribute a lot. Oh well, it is what it is. Maybe she'll at least win.

The boy from Ten who ends up being a tribute volunteers for a boy who was supposed to go. The boy is originally reaped was trying to look brave, but his nervousness wasn't hidden. I immediately respect the boy tribute from Ten for what he did.

Elina Herb, the 14-year-old girl from Eleven seems like a worthy competitor...for the other worthy competitors. Me? She'll crush like a bug. Not without me inflicting a few battle scars myself, but I will surely be the one who dies if we face off. At first, I was expecting her to have dark skin like Chaff, but instead, her skin was the same color as Robbie's. She must be from the small upper class in Eleven...it's even smaller than Twelve's upper class. In Eleven, those with pale skin, or those with dark skin and fine clothes are usually the upper class. A tribute form them is rare. Really rare. Usually, they pay off a poorer kid to go in their place. Not this time. Elina Herb has paid nobody off to go in her place. She wants to go...like a Career. This realization makes me shiver.

The boy from Eleven isn't nearly as eager, but isn't as scared as me, the Quinley kid- definitely not as scared as the boy from Six.

Then they show Twelve's reaping again.

My name being called. Me, a 4 foot 8 and a half, 90 pound girl walking up to the stage. Daddy and I mouthing back and forth to each other. The wind blowing when Tanith asks for volunteer. Robbie being called. The anthem. End program.

"I'll kick all their measly tails." Robbie says cockily.

I roll my eyes.

"Don't be so sure Robert." My father says, using his full first name, earning a glare from him.

The four of us decide to go to bed.

I have my won compartment this year, but I don't go into it. Instead, I wait until Tanith, Robbie and my father are all in theirs and I make my way to my father's. I angrily knock on his door.

"Hello Ever." He says without looking. He reeks of alcohol, though not as badly as usual.

"What was that out there?"

"What was what?"

"Exactly! You didn't even acknowledge me, but to remind me that I met Asia Hedvigg's older sister! I was expecting a hug or at least a squeeze of my hand. Something- anything to tell me that everything will be alright!"

He waits for me to finish before saying, "I wanted to do that what it was just us two."

I fold my arms over my chest. "Jerk!"

He sighs and hugs me.

I try to pull away but even when he's drunk he is too strong for me to escape. After my failed escape attempt, I hug him back. No, cling to him, like I did before the reaping today. Only this time, he clings to me too. Though he won't admit it, he is just as sure as I am that I will not make it out of that arena alive. I reach into my canvas bag and pull out nine envelopes. I am crying when I explain them. "These nine envelopes...they're for my closest friends, Uncle Rexton, Uncle Raphael, Ziva, Nina...and there's one for you. But don't read it yet. They're for when I...when I-" That's it. I cannot form anymore words. The tears fall harder.

He gently kisses my forehead and picks me up and sets me on his lap, like he did when I was little. I lean into his jacket, not caring about the smell. He let's me cry all I want. When I look up, he notices the ring necklace. He holds the rings and part of the chain in his hand. "Where'd you get this?" he asks.

"Uncle Rexton gave it to me. It's my token. He said...he said they were Mom's."

He swallows. Holding back tears, no doubt.

I hug him. "He said you really loved her. That's why you didn't keep the engagement ring. He said you said it hurt to much."

He flashes me a half-smile. "I loved her more than anything. Then when you were born- well, I had another reason to love her."

"Aw, Daddy." I say sheepishly. Wow. He has like, legit human emotions! "You think she'd..." I trail off, deciding not to ask the question I was about to ask,

"Hm?"

"Never mind."

"Ask. Go ahead."

"You think Mom would like me? Like, as I am now?"

He's stunned. "Of course she would. You're a lot like her. She'd be happy to have a little minion...that's what she liked to joke about. 'Haymitch, me and Ever here will make your life hell. I'm going to train her to be my little minion. That means two nagging women!'" He says, lost in a memory. He returns to reality. "That's what she said when you were about a month old."

I smiled. It isn't often that he talks about Mom. I have to press really hard to get information. I guess the rings triggered memories he had to let slip.

He shrugs sadly. "She'd want you to have it." Daddy says, letting the rings and chain fall to my shirt.

I yawn.

"I think it's bedtime." he says.

"I'm not sleepy." I insist.

He pretends to yawn.

I yawn for real. I giggle sleepily. "You're mean."

"I know."

"Can I sleep in here tonight? The train scares me alone." I am sure he knows it is really because I want to stay near him, but he pretends to buy my scary train excuse.

"Sure, sweetie." He says. Making space for me on the bed.

I put my head where his feet were.

"Your feet smell."

"So do yours. Now shut up." I say sleepily.