Chapter One

The Beginning of our Story…

It was pouring the day Ginger Everdeen was laid to rest. A small group of people stood under leaky umbrellas as sheets of late summer rain beat into them. The cemetery sat between the edge of the Seam and the meadow, the small headstones jutting out of the ground in an uneven pattern. No one in District 12 could afford an elaborate headstone; so many went unmarked, while others had a large rock with the dates of birth and death carved into them.

The only graves in the cemetery that had anything bigger were the graves of those that had participated in the Hunger Games. Twenty four children ranging from twelve to eighteen were chosen in a reaping and sent to fight to their deaths in an arena that seemed to be just as determined to kill them as their peers. All for the entertainment of the Capital. Every twenty-five years special rules applied. Those were called Quarter Quells. For the first, the districts had to vote for their tributes. The second, twice the tributes were sent. That was the year District 12 won.

Haymitch Abernathy had lived in a drunken stupor for 25 years, until the third Quarter Quell, when the Capital reaped the tributes from existing victors, and then destroyed the arena. Killing them all.

The Capital had wanted to squelch the rebellion that had been slowly building with each child that was sent home in a box. However, killing all the beloved victors, most of which were in the resistance, had the exact opposite affect. The war that ended the Capitals tyrannical reign over the districts was blissfully quick. President Snow had been killed and a new President voted in his place quickly after. Life was better in Panem, but still not perfect. But no one had to worry about their children being reaped anymore.

Katniss Everdeen had survived one reaping before the fall of the Capital. That same year she had lost her father and her innocence. Now, she stood next to the grave of her mother, in the shadow of all those children that had been sacrificed as the rain wept for all of them.

She watched the box as it was lowered into the ground by her best friend Gale Hawthorne, his younger brother Rory, their friend Thom, the grave digger and Mr. Mellark, the baker. She could feel her sister Primrose's hand gripping hers tightly and could hear the 14-year-old girl's soft snuffles as she cried. Katniss knew that her Aunt Juniper was behind her, holding the umbrella over their heads.

She knew all of this was happening around her, but she felt far removed from it, like it was happening to someone else. Or as if that big whole in the ground was what was left of her heart.

Things had changed so much since that day Ginger had come home and told the two of them about her illness. Prim had cried at first, her thin body pressed against their mother's as the news froze Katniss to her chair. Then, the young Everdeen girl had pulled herself together and threw herself into healer mode, questioning her mother at length about what they would need for her. Ginger had answered her blue eyes never leaving her other, stricken daughter. Katniss had just sat, her mind struggling to accept what was being said.

But all she could think was that her mother was leaving them again. This time there was no hope of her coming back to them.

As Prim fussed about herbs and what not, Katniss worried about what they would do if Ginger passed before Katniss' eighteenth birthday. And since she'd just turned seventeen that was a good possibility.

They couldn't go to the group home. Those kids were even more malnourished and uncared for as even the poorest family in the Seam. And once Katniss came of age, there was no guarantee that she'd be able to take Prim with her.

Just as panic was starting to set in, Ginger dropped her second bombshell. Their Aunt Juniper would be taking them in.

"Like hell!" Katniss had spat. Ginger's merchant family had disowned her once she'd married Katniss' father. They hadn't raised a finger after he died to help them, not even when they were starving. Of course, she didn't even think they knew that had happened. But why would she and Prim want to go live with the Merchant's that had spurned their mother?

"Katniss," Ginger had started, her faded blue eyes pleading with her daughter.

"I can take care of us. I've been doing it this long. Or we can stay with the Hawthorne's." Katniss had insisted. Gale was two years older than her. On his eighteenth birthday, he'd gone to work in the mines to supplement his mother's income and help support his younger siblings. His father had died in the same mine cave in as her father. And that was precisely Ginger's argument as to why they couldn't go live with the Hawthorne's'.

"We can't ask them to take in two more mouths to feed. They aren't kin."

"More than this Aunt you're trying to force us onto." She'd shot back. Her eyes burned the longer she looked at the frail woman in front of her. Prim had stared back and forth between them, her face sadness and grief pinching her young face. That's when Ginger pulled out the card that Katniss could never trump.

"It would be a good opportunity for Prim. Your aunt has no children and when she passes, the apothecary will go to you girls." Ginger held Katniss' gaze as she let that sink in. Katniss glanced at Prim to see hope warring with her grief.

Defeated, Katniss merely nodded. Then, unable to deal with all she'd learned, Katniss had escaped the house. She'd spent the night out in her beloved woods, crying.

"Katniss," Aunt Juniper's voice penetrated her thoughts and she looked up. Her aunt's face was wet with tears but her gaze was steady. Katniss was still leery of her, but she'd come to appreciate the older woman's strength. "They're ready."

Juniper nodded towards the grave where the men were waiting. She met Gale's grief clouded grey eyes. He gave her a sad smile and held out his shovel to her. Katniss looked at Prim, who was staring back with wet blue eyes. Prim gave her a smile as well and let go of her hand.

Stepping over to Gale, she took the shovel from him, not caring about the rain beating down on her head. The clothes she was wearing, for the first time in her life, were new and fit well. The sweater and dress were quickly soaked through without the protection of the umbrella. The mayor started to say the final words of the service, his daughter and Katniss' only other friend Madge standing next to him.

Katniss shoved the shovel into the muddy dirt and dropped it on the simple box that held her mother's body. It landed with a heavy wet thunk that made her stomach twist.

Prim stepped beside her, her blond head covered by the umbrella Aunt Juniper held. She took the shovel and repeated Katniss' action. Then, she took the umbrella from Juniper so her aunt could do the same. Juniper then handed the shovel back to Gale and they all returned their attention to the mayor.

"May you rest in peace." Katniss took a deep breath and blinked against the burning in her eyes. She felt a hand reach for hers and give a squeeze. The familiar feel of the calloused fingers had her holding on tight for a brief moment. Then, she let Gale's hand go so they could start to fill in the grave.

"Thank you, Mayor Undersee. You're welcome to come back to the house." Katniss heard Juniper saying. Katniss half listened as Hazelle, Gale's mother, wrapped her in her sturdy arms.

"We'll see you at home." Hazelle said, resting a palm against Katniss' cheek.

"Okay." Hazelle moved away to hug Prim and exchange a word or two with Juniper. Than she herded her two youngest children with her to walk back to the Seam.

Home. For one more night, the house she grew up in would be home. Tomorrow, they'd move to town. Katniss still wasn't sure what to think about it. They turned and watched silently as the med started to fill in the hole, each shovel full of dirt sealing hers and Prim's fate.

"Come on, girls. We need to get some tea started to warm these men up when their done." Juni ushered the girls away from the grave. Madge reached out and gripped Katniss' hand before falling into step beside them. The walk took longer than usual, as none of them were eager to get back to the place their mother had died. So, Katniss wasn't surprised when they stepped inside the tiny Seam house to see Hazelle already there.

She'd brought over a pot of stew that morning and was heating it on the stove. There was bread from the baker, fresh strawberries from Gale, a salad of fresh greens and cheese that Prim had made from her goat's milk. Someone had made lemonade and she could see the kettle on the stove for tea. She saw a plain white box set on the table next to the other food. Curious, Katniss walked over to it and opened.

Cookies. Katniss took one out and traces the delicate flower that it was decorated with. A Katniss flower.

"I ordered those for today. Picked them up this morning and this is what Peeta gave me."

Peeta. How was it, even today, hearing his name made her heart beat faster? She ignored the knowing smirk she was getting from Madge and took a bite of the cookie. It was sweet and buttery, but only tasted like dust to Katniss. She forced herself to finish it anyway.

"I was surprised to see his father here." Madge said pulling Katniss with her to the room she had shared with her mother and Prim. Prim was curled up on their old couch, clutching her ugly cat like a lifeline.

When they got in the room, Madge grabbed a towel from the dresser and handed it to Katniss to dry off. Then she went in search of dry clothes for her friend.

"Aunt Juni said mom and Mr. Mellark were friends when they were kids." Katniss sat on her mother's bed and half-heartedly rubbed her hair with the towel. Madge put the pants and t-shirt she'd found down and took the towel back from Katniss. She set to drying the heavy, dark tresses herself.

In the time after her mother's illness was revealed, Madge had become indispensable to Katniss. She hadn't wanted to tell anyone, but the blond girl she shared lunch with managed to ferret it out of her. After that, whatever the Everdeen women needed, Madge would help in her quiet way. And while Katniss hated owning anyone or asking for help, Madge had put her in her place in that simple, unassuming way she had.

"We're friends. This is what friends do. Get over it."

And really, she wouldn't have questioned Gale or turned him down if he offered. So she let Madge in. It had been one of the best decision Katniss had ever made.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Madge asked quietly.

"No." Katniss answered without hesitation. She could hear the movements of the other women in the living room and dreaded going back out there. People would start to come soon. Friends, patients of her mother's, maybe some of Prim's friends. Everyone that wanted to give condolences, the ones that could would bring food, others just kind words. Katniss wanted none of it. She knew it would probably comfort Prim, though.

"It won't be that bad." Madge said, putting the towel aside and finger combing Katniss' hair. Her nimble fingers then began to swiftly braid it as she talked. "You'll be right next to the bakery."

"Madge," Katniss nearly laughed at her friend's persistence. She knew Madge was trying to cheer her up, even just a little and Katniss appreciated it. She just didn't think anything could manage that today. "He hasn't noticed me by now, I doubt he will just because I live next door. I trade with his father every week."

Nearly seven years before, Peeta Mellark had saved her and her family's life. Her father had just died and her mother had fallen into a depression so deep, she couldn't take care of herself much less her daughters. In desperation, Katniss took to digging in the trash bins behind the bakery looking for anything edible. She was crushed to see they were empty. Unfortunately, Mrs. Mellark had seen her and chased her away.

She only got as far as the apple tree in the bakery's back yard before despair had her sinking to the ground. It was raining that night as well. It had been much colder, though.

Katniss had thought she might just lie there and die. She'd pretty much given up when she heard the witch screaming again. She thought that the baker's wife was coming out to finish her off and so she tensed. Instead, she saw the young boy in her class, Peeta. He had two burnt loaves of bread clutched in his hands. The witch shrieked something else, causing him to turn back for an instant. When he looked back at her, his expression was so dark that chilled her more than the rain. Then, he seemed to shake it off and concern replaced it. He darted off the porch and stopped in front of her.

"Here," he said, thrusting the bread at her. She stared at the loaves in disbelief. "Take them, hurry. Before she comes back."

That was all she needed. She snatched the bread, shoved them in her jacket and took off. The next day, she'd seen him across the courtyard at school. She saw the bruise blooming against his cheek and it made her chest ache. His dark blue eyes rose to hers for a long moment. Finally, she gave him a slight nod. After a second of consideration, he returned it. Then, he looked away. Surprised at the hurt she felt, she dropped her grey eyes to the ground and saw a dandelion. Hope bloomed through her as she suddenly realized how she was going to feed her family.

That was the first and last interaction Katniss had ever had with Peeta Mellark, besides being in the same class their entire lives. But, his act of kindness on that cold, rainy night had given her back hope and she knew that she was a goner.

"All right. Change out of those wet clothes and lets get this day over with." Madge patted Katniss' shoulder and stood up. "I'll go get you some tea. Come out when you're ready." Katniss nodded and watched as her friend started to leave.

"Madge?" She waited until Madge paused at the bedroom door.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks, for everything." Katniss told her with a wave of her hand.

"We're friends." Madge said once again. Then she smiled and left Katniss to change.

A/n- yes. I killed all the victors in the Quell. Including Haymitch. I'm sorry. Please don't hate. But I truly believe that was Snow's intention all along and that it was incredibly naïve that Peeta or Katniss thought either one would get out. Also, I didn't want to have to deal with the hunger games, but I also wanted them recent enough so that they would have impacted Katniss' life in some way. So, hope you enjoy this and please review, review, review. I'm almost done writing Promise to Keep, only two chaps or so left to write. So I decided to play with this one a little. Already started chapter 2. Lisa/Jypz.