And so the story truly begins! Enjoy mon amies :) Please note, some facts and realities are taken from the movies, some from the books. So if you notice absences or changes, don't freak out.

Chapter 1

Katniss' POV

I sighed as I braided Prim's hair. "Don't worry Prim. It's your first time in the reaping. You're only in their one time. You will not be picked," I said, trying to convince her for the infinite time in the last week. Ever since the games preparation had officially begun in the capitol, my little sister Primrose had been incredibly scared, believing she would be reaped her first time in the games.

Prim turned to me. "Katniss, you don't know that. I may be younger than you, but I'm not silly. I have just as much of a chance as anyone."

I shook my head, desperate to allay her fears, if only a little. "Prim, do you know how many people take tesserae? Heck, for the last four years Peeta and I have been taking it. And we've never been reaped."

Prim shrugged. "Katniss, it just scares me, so much. And it's not just about me. I know since Peeta got the job in the bakery we haven't been struggling like we used to, but I couldn't bear if either of you were reaped."

I just took her in my arms, knowing I wouldn't change her mind now. "I hope you know that if either one of us was ever reaped we'd do whatever it took to come back to you. We would never leave you and Mom."

"Exactly right Katniss," a voice said from the door. Prim and I turned around to see my younger twin brother Peeta walking into the room, already dressed in his reaping clothes. He walked over to us, joining our hug. "Prim, Kat and I would never leave you guys to fend for yourselves. We'll always be here."

We stayed like that for a moment longer, before Peeta turned to me and said, "I can finish her other braid, if you want to get ready." I nodded gratefully, giving his arm a squeeze as I left the room.

As I bathed I thought of my family. I hoped with every fiber of my being that no one get reaped this year. My anxiety seemed to increase ten-fold when Prim became old enough to be reaped. When our father was killed in a mining accident 5 years ago, life became even more difficult. Without the money, we fell on hard times, where we could barely scrounge enough together to feed us for a day, let alone a week.

Then things turned around when Peeta and I reached our twelfth birthday. We were both old enough to take tesserae. I began to hunt for game to eat and to sell in the hob. Peeta started doing jobs for Mr Mellark, the owner of the bakery, for which he was paid in bread, and a little bit of money, and we thankfully managed to survive. Now that Peeta and I are older, and able to work more, and Prim is able to sell cheese and milk from her goat, we don't take the tesserae anymore. But the threat of being chosen for the hunger games still looms over all our heads.

"Katniss," my mother said through the door, shocking me out of my reverie, "your dress is on your bed. Do you need help getting ready?"

I quickly wrapped myself in a large cloth that I used to dry myself, before going to open the door, simply nodding to my mother as we made our way to mine and Prim's room. We both knew that I could've done it by myself, but I always took this time before the reapings to spend with my mother. We were never close, Peeta and I always gravitating towards my father, while Prim was closer to Mom. But we also didn't need words to know that we were connected. We were family, and my mother was always strong through my father's death.

Fifteen minutes later Peeta and I were leading Prim to the sign in tables, and then we split from Peeta to stand with the girls. After the necessary Capitol video, through which I made eye contact with Peeta and pretended to gag, Effie Trinkett, the escort for our district, took the stage, as chipper as usual. She had become our escort three years ago, after the old one passed away, and from what I could gauge in these moments, she seemed far too happy to be sending kids to their deaths. Then again, pretty much the entire capitol liked, and even enjoyed, the games.

She stuck her hand into the bowl with female names, rifling through it, lifting a few slips of paper before dropping them again. Just pick one already! I thought to myself.

She picked a paper and my breath got caught in my throat. Her footsteps seemed to echo throughout my mind, as my heart started beating wildly. I have a bad feeling about this.

Then, in a moment that would change my life forever, she called out two words. "Primrose Everdeen!"

Everything stopped. There was a faint buzzing in my ears. The world turned to grey as my brain apparently short-circuited. Prim. Prim. PRIM.

I came back to the present, and heard crying. I realised it was Prim, and I instinctually rushed to her. Peacekeepers intercepted me, and I saw Peeta break out of his line and rush forward also. Before I could consider what I was saying, I condemned myself to save my sister. "I volunteer, I volunteer!" I shook the Peacekeepers off and stood tall. "I volunteer as tribute!"

Everyone stood in shock, no one said a word. The Peacekeepers released Prim, and she ran to me. I hugged her, before pushing her off, in the vague direction of my mother. "Go to Mom, Prim, go." When she wouldn't go, I stood back up, and tried to detach her from me. Peeta came up and grabbed her, lifting her off her feet and taking her to the back, where the adults waited. He didn't meet my eyes, didn't say anything, and for that I was glad. I don't think I would be able to keep my composure if he did. And I had to. For Prim.

I walked to the stage woodenly. I looked out at my district, I met the eyes of my peers. I would do this, for them. I wouldn't let the capitol see how scared I was, how terrified I was. I held my head high. Because even with all the factors contributing to what could be my imminent death, I would always keep fighting. For my family.

Effie made her way over to the male bowl, and I was so caught up in my thoughts, I barely heard the next words out of her mouth. "Peeta Everdeen!"

The words registered in my brain, and I could feel a door slowly shut on my soul. No, not Peeta, not my Peeta!

He made his way up to the dais, looking down. When he got up here, he took my initiative and held his head high. If you didn't know any better, you'd say he was strong and unafraid. But I knew. I knew. I could see the tick in his jawline. I could see the way he grasped his hands tightly in fists. I could read the fear in his eyes.

"Well, how about a round of applause for our two District 12 tributes, Katniss and Peeta Everdeen!" Effie cried out, clapping her hands. Was it just me or did she actually sound sad?

Nobody clapped for us. Nobody cheered about this "great honour". They just raised their hands in the three finger salute, which Peeta and I returned. "Shake hands you two," Effie insisted, though I did not detect her usual bravado. I turned and looked Peeta straight in the eye for the first time since Prim was called, and we shared a moment. Instead of shaking hands, we clasped our hands together, and raised them above our heads. Saying that, no matter what, we would not be broken.

We were lead to a room where we would get to say our goodbyes. We didn't really have anyone. Other than Prim and our Mom, my closest companion was Greasy Sae, an old woman that taught me how to trade in the hob, and hold my own amongst the older merchants. Peeta was close with Mr Mellark, but other than that, we really only had each other.

They let us be together, because we were related. First our mother and Prim came in. Prim ran straight to me, and Peeta embraced Mom. "One of you has to win Katniss," she said, trying to speak through her sobs. I just hugged her to me, stroking her hair.

"Peeta will come back to you, I promise," I whisper, so no one else heard me. I know Peeta wouldn't like me saying that.

Peeta and Mom walked over to us, and I hugged her. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry that you have to go through this," she said, and then we were both crying.

Eventually, I wiped my eyes, and took Peeta's hand. "You'll both be ok. Prim, you can sell cheese and milk. Mom, Mr Mellark can help, I know he will. So can some of the people in the hob."

"Don't take the tesserae Prim," Peeta said sternly, "it isn't worth it. When Katniss wins, she'll be able to take care of you, so don't do it." I looked at him, mouth and eyes wide open. Did he really think I would be the one coming out of the arena alive?

No one spoke, but we all converged, holding each other tight. When we broke apart, Mom stroked our cheeks. "My babies, I am so proud of you both. I will love you always!"

They were taken out by Peacekeepers and I broke apart in Peeta's arms, crying as I clutched to him, now the only familiar thing in my world. The door opened and I raised my head, hastily wiping my eyes. When I saw it was Sae, I ran to her, hugging her tightly. She hushes me gently, touching my hair. When we pull apart, she takes something out of her pocket. It's the Mockingjay pin, the one I traded to her for a turkey carcass and some soap the other week. "For good luck," she whispers to me, "the Mockingjay will guide you." She then hugged Peeta, and smiled sadly at us before leaving.

Before we knew it we were in a car with Effie, who was jabbering away about something or other, and then we were pushed onto the train. I sat in the back, looking out the window to catch the last glimpses of my home. When we exited District 12, I made my way to the dining compartment, hoping that is where Peeta would be. I saw him sitting on an armchair, talking to Haymitch Abernathy, the only living victor of District 12. Our mentor.

Haymitch's POV

I shook my head as I boarded the train. Siblings, siblings, for crying out loud! Not only does the Capitol rip families apart, now siblings will have to kill each other. I'm going to need more liquor.

As I boarded the train, I saw the boy sitting in an armchair next to Effie. I shook my head. This was unfair. How was this kid meant to protect his sister? Every instinct he had was to push her away from harm. How was she meant to protect him? I made my way to sit in front of him, knowing I'd have to save one. I had to, for their family. Who that would be, I don't know, but it would be one of them.

"I'm not going to bother with congratulations," I said, looking him straight in the eye. He sat up in his chair, taking on a confident, relaxed stance as he heard the tone of my voice.

"There's no point. You and I both know this is nothing to be happy about. What I want to know is what you're going to do in the arena."

He looked at me. "I will be doing everything to keep Katniss alive."

"No you will not be," I heard a sharp tone from somewhere behind me, and I turned around to be met with Katniss Everdeen. Looking in her eyes was like looking into the depths of a fire. This one has a spark.

Peeta stood up. "Katniss, listen to me. Mom, Prim, they need you."

"And they don't need you?" she asked, walking towards him. No, not walking, stalking. Hunter.

"Uh, if I may-" I tried to interject, but Katniss turned to me, glaring.

"No, don't say anything yet. I'm not going to bother arguing about who will come out, who won't. We won't get anywhere and we both know it, because we'll never agree."

"Sweetheart, only one person wins the games, only one person comes out," I said, sighing and rubbing my beard.

She shook her head. Stubborn little thing. "Haymitch, no one wins the games."

Peeta seems to realise something that I haven't yet, because he looks at Katniss, and they share a moment. "Neither of us is going to die," Peeta said, looking wide-eyed at a satisfied Katniss.

"Neither of us," Katniss said, nodding.

"Neither of you?" I questioned, shocked. What was going to happen this year? I wondered.

Hope you all like it. It's different, but give me some time to win you all over.

I just wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year. May 2014 bring you happy memories, good times, and a bright future. Thank you for your love and support throughout this year, I am truly blessed to have such terrific readers :)