20 years after the take down of the capital…

Katniss' POV:

It has now been exactly twenty years. Every year on this day I think back to my old life and I would not change a thing. Life is so much better now.

What was left of us district has now been rebuilt and are now little towns. Each town does not focus on one job but has many although most people still work at their old jobs. All of the resources are not sent into the capital but distributed equally.

The president part was a little dicey at first but now things are okay. We get to vote for our president and they serve for four years, we are a democracy now.

I was told I should run for president but I am quite happy at home with my children.

Peeta and I have two kids; Rue, and Noah. Rue is almost twelve,and Noah is eight. Peeta was always the one who wanted kids and finally I caved in and said yes but only if we were to raise them in what was left of District 12, which was not much.

We were not the only ones to return here but there were not many, some of the buildings have been rebuilt, but not many. Most we have just started from scratch. In some sense we need a reminder of what happened so that nothing like it ever happens again.

The kids are "taught" what happened in history class in school but it is nothing compared to what Peeta and I have actually gone through. We decided that if they ask questions we will tell them but so far there have not been many. When they each turn thirteen we are going to tell them the whole story.

When we moved back into District 12 Peeta decided that the first thing we were going to do was build a bakery. It was the first store to be open and soon was followed by many more. There are about two thousand people living here but it doesn't always feel like there is that many, most are friends but sometimes there are visitors.

After Prim's death my mother could not bear come back to District 12 which makes me sad, she's back to almost how bad she was when dad died. I go visit her once or twice a year but it is hard for both of us.

I snapped out of my thoughts, I hated today I was always thinking in far off places.

"Mommy?" Prim had just come home from school.

"I'm in the kitchen." I sighed, I was going to make cookies but got lost in my thoughts.

Prim walked into the kitchen.

"How was school?" I ask.

She sighs, "They were talking about you again."

I smiled, Prim found it a little annoying when my name or Peeta's was mentioned at school but I think secretly she was proud.

"Oh yeah, and what did they say?"

"They were talking about how you were the leader of the rebellion. Did you really do all that?"

"Yes I did, and more."

She smiled, "You're a hero aren't you mommy?"

"Maybe just a little bit of hero."

She laughed.

"When is your brother going to be back from school?"

"He should be back soon."

And sure enough a few minutes later he walked in and came into the kitchen.

"Oo are those cookies?"

"No sorry they aren't made yet, I think daddy is going to be back soon though and he told me he'd bring cookies."

Both of them smiled.

"Go up to your rooms and change for tonight, he'll be here when you come down."

I don't like to say I spoil my children, but I think I might. I grew up struggling for food, I never want my kids to know what it feels like to be hungry like I was.

Peeta walked into the house a couple minutes later, I went and greeted him at the door.

"Hey," he smiled.

"Hey."

He leaned in and kissed me.

"How are you doing?"

"I'm okay? You?"

"Good, work was good. Lots and lots of people today."

I smiled, "Well that's good."

"Yeah it is, oh and I brought you something."

I noticed he was carrying a brown paper bag in one of his hands. He walked into the kitchen and opened it.

Inside was two cookies one for each other kids, they sugar cookies with the mockingjay iced on them.

"Close your eyes."

"Pe-"

"Katniss common please just close your eyes."

"Fine, but this better be good."

He laughed, "Okay and open."

I looked down at the countertop and my favorite cupcake and it also had a mockingjay on it.

"Oh Peeta thank you."

I turned around and gave him a kiss.

Rue and Noah came running down the stairs and when they saw the cookies went straight for them.

Peeta started laughing, "No hello?"

The kids looked up from their cookies and waved but then continued devouring them down.

"Look at how we've raised our kids to be."

I started laughing, "I'm going to go change before we leave."

He nodded and I climbed the stairs. I needed to put something nicer on. Tonight there was a big town dance in celebration of taking down the capital all those years ago.

I slipped on a dress and quickly fixed my hair before walking back downstairs. The kids were all ready to leave and Peeta had put a tie on.

"You ready?"

I took a deep breathe, "I think so."

He took my hand a squeezed it, "It'll be alright."

We walked out of the house and down the road till we got to where they had rebuilt the town hall. There was a stage in front where someone was playing music and slowly everyone was gathering in front, having a nice time.

The kids saw a few of their friends and quickly ran off. Peeta and I walked around saying hi to people, but I was not feeling up to talking much today.

"Do you want to sit down for a bit?"

I nodded, "I'm sorry, I just keep having flashbacks."

He put his arm around me, "It's alright, I kept getting them today too."

The town mayor walked up onto the stage, "Ladies and gentlemen I am so glad to see all of you out here today at this celebration. I'm going to make this short so you can all go back to your fun but here today we have a special guest. All of you know Katniss and Peeta but someone else has come too. Do not ever forget the events of what has happened but remember them so that they may never happen again. Do not pity the dead for they have fought for a worthy cause but pity us, the living if that ever happens again. Do not live in fear but do not forget. Please have a fun night but remember the message, and if you see him please say hello to my friend Gale."

My heart dropped, what would Gale be here?'

Peeta looked at me, "Are you okay?"

I nodded.

"Do you want to leave?"

"No, I'm fine just, let's not run into him."

"I fully agree."

We got up and walked around a bit when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I should not have turned around.

"Hey Katniss, I've been looking for you."

"Hi, Gale." I gulped.

Peeta turned around too.

"Oh, Peeta you're here."

"Nice to see you too Gale."

Both of them looked at each other angrily.

"Gale what are you doing here?" I asked.

"Katniss can I talk to you for a minute?"

I looked at Peeta and he shrugged.

"Fine but just a minute."

He nodded and we walked in silence for a minute or so away from all the people and noise.

"Gale what are you really doing here?"

"I wanted to see how you were."

"Why?"

"Katniss I miss you. When we were growing up we best friends and then after the reaping you just went and got all attached to Peeta."

"Okay."

"Well I should have volunteered for him in the reaping, I kick myself everyday for not having volunteered. I could have protected you."

"I didn't need protecting."

"Well you came pretty close to death multiple times."

"Yeah, but look at me Gale, I'm alive."

"Are you happy?"

"Yes."

A tear slipped down his cheek, "Katniss how the hell are you happy!"

"Gale I have a life now, kids, a husband, I'm happy."

"No your not, you're just saying that so I go away."

"Please stop."

He looked up, "Katniss be truthful you're not happy."

I didn't say anything but put my arms around my stomach.

"Are you pregnant?"

I didn't say anything.

"That means yes doesn't it?"

Both of us were crying now.

"Katniss, I love you."

I took a couple of steps away from him.

"You can come with me, we can be happy together."

"Gale I don't love you."

"Oh please you know you do."

I shook my head, "I really don't."

Gale's expression changed, "Well if you are not going to come with me you are not going to go back to Peeta."

He pulled a knife from his pocket.

"Gale please don't hurt me."

He took a couple of steps closer.

"What happened to you after you left the capital?"

"Well let's see my best friend wouldn't talk to me and so I had to go and find a new place to live, too bad that girl though had told people we were no longer friends and how I had hurt her so no one wanted to talk to me. I got an awful job and was just struggling to survive. If you come with me Katniss we can be happy, we could even take over the capital."

I wanted to scream, this was not going good.

He took a few more steps forward and I stepped backwards, into a wall.

"No place to run now."

He took another step forward plunging the knife into my stomach. I screamed.

"Katniss."

"Katniss."

"Katniss!"

I was suddenly jolted.

"Katniss it was just a dream."

I turned to my left and Peeta was sitting right beside me.

"It's alright Katniss, it was just a dream."

He pulled me closer to him and stroked my hair.

"J-j-just a dream."