Note: Sorry to keep you guys waiting so very long. I've got no valid excuse really, except this stupid reason: life happened. Anyway, read on and let's hope this will still have the same feel as the earlier chapters.

P.S. This is a Catoniss story so don't expect some Peeta and Katniss loving 'kay? Just a clarification since I know there's confusion about Peeta being in the mix.

Chapter Four: Family Ties

Johanna Mason was a pretty little thing to anyone who met her for the first time. She was as dainty as a flower, beautiful and pleasing to the eyes but useless, mere decoration. However, this was only an image she portrayed to fool others. If anything, she was the most useful person to have around. She knew the latest gossip about almost anyone and anything and if they were true or not, had connections high up and down below, knew sources that had all the latest information, and could manipulate with a flirty bat of an eyelash or the hard hit of a fist. All in all, Johanna was reliable and wasn't someone to mess with.

Marvel Mellark too, was as reliable without the dirty work part. He wasn't manipulative like Johanna and only knew people he needed to know due to business or for appearance's sake, but it worked well enough because his strength lay in pulling strings. When something needed to be set in motion, through his position in the Mellark Group of Companies and using his business charm, he got things moving by starting a chain reaction until he got the desired result. He was an influential figure and knew it, knew how to use this fact to his advantage.

Cato, meanwhile, sealed deals and completed transactions. He had money and resources, two things that ensured things got done. With the success of his father's company and the money that came with it, Cato could purchase and provide anything that had a price tag or its equivalent in kind depending on the individual he was dealing with.

Over the years, he learned that Johanna's manipulation, Marvel's influence, and his money could get them anything they wanted. And since it had been a while since they discovered this and had haf much practice, getting Cato's name into Katniss Everdeen's bidding had been a piece of cake.

The only set back they encountered was that the guest list was already full. But Johanna merely sent Marvel a copy of the list for perusing and a few hours later, after making sure news about a business party he was supposed to be holding on the evening of the bidding reached its intended social climbing target, a slot on the list became available. A few brand new cars later from Cato and he was in.

"It changes venue every year, disguised as some random business convention," Johanna shared, looking from Marvel to Cato where they were all sat, in the sitting room of Marvel's office. After their small success, the girl had suggested they meet up to talk strategy. After all, Katniss Everdeen was not for sale but they were gonna buy her anyway. They needed a plan of some sort.

Sipping on her coffee, Johanna watched Cato's face from across the room as he looked at the same paper she had faxed Marvel a few hours ago. She continued with a slight smirk. "Most of the people on that list are frequenters - and Cato you have the funniest fucking face ever. Why do you look so surprised?"

The blonde looked up at her with disbelief. "And you were not when you saw the list?" he asked, eyes widening when Johanna shook her head no. "I know more than half the people here personally! I can't believe it!"

Marvel chuckled from his position, distractedly signing papers. It was still within working hours and he had a position to maintain. Looking up if only momentarily, his voice was both amused and exasperated. "Don't tell me you haven't suspected at least one or two of them? Anyone can be involved things like these."

Cato was staring down at the list still. "Well I never really cared what people got themselves into. I'm just shocked is all. Some of them surely look like they would never get into things like bidding for a Victor for some kind of personal pleasure."

Johanna scoffed, putting her coffee cup down. "Everyone's got dirt, Cato, you should know that first hand. Haven't we learned that just for being Mellarks, for example? People come to us like sheep but end up being wolves."

Marvel looked up from his stack of papers, apparently finished with the signing as he stacked them properly. "Oh come on 'Hanna, cut the boy some slack," he admonished, waving a hand as if to brush the issue away. "Besides, he's been busy with Peeta for years," He turned to Cato and spoke to him directly. "It's understandable that you haven't been digging around looking for dirt to use against our friends and business associates."

An unlady-like snort from her seat, and Cato himself had to smirk at her next words. "That's my fucking job, after all."

Marvel grinned. "So it is. But enough of all that - let's talk about Cato's game plan," he began, leaning against his seat and loosening his tie slightly. "Have you figured out what to offer to get them to sell you this Everdeen girl?"

At this question, Cato's smirk widened. "Of course."

There were a few seconds of silence where his cousins just gaped at him expectantly. "Okay... and?" Johanna prodded through gritted teeth, patience not being her strongest point.

He shrugged, placing his hands behind his head in a relaxed position. "And that's it. Just trust me when I say I'll get her. Money buys everything."

"You can't leave it at that!" Marvel exclaimed, throwing him his pen in exasperation. "What the hell is your plan?"

But Cato only grinned widely and merely shook his head, refusing to answer his cousins and just knowing with utmost certainty that there was no way in hell he was going home on bidding day without Katniss Everdeen in tow.

xoxoxoxoxo

It was strange to come back to this. In the Capitol, everything had been much more precise and vivid - all smooth planes and clean lines, outrageous outbursts of blinding color on people and places. Back here and things were rough and faded; worn out like most of its inhabitants, the black fading to gray and the white to dirty cream. Old and rusty, ready to fall apart through brute force or maybe even just sheer will.

But this, regardless of what it had (or didn't), was home; the only home she'd ever known all her life. And Katniss, so unfeeling and numb the entire ride back, was now near bursting with emotion as she stepped out of the train, stepped back into a life she could never really return to - not completely at least - marveling how little had changed, how unfair it was that she was no longer the same while everything about the scenery before her was how she left it.

No, this was not the first time she came home. The first was a couple of weeks ago, just several days after she was crowned Victor. It was mad then, what with the press capturing her each and every move but now it was a quiet homecoming - no media or a crowd waiting for her, just a heavily tinted car that was ready to bring her to her new home at the Victor's Village. And it was only now that everything was completely sinking in.

A new house, a new life... everyone around her probably thought her life was looking up, getting better. If only they knew all this winning was a sham.

"Your mom and sister are settled in at your new house now."

Katniss jumped slightly when someone spoke behind her. For a moment, stuck in a place inside her head she almost always frequented ever since the big revelation that winning didn't make your life less miserable, and she almost forgot she actually wasn't alone. Haymitch stood behind her looking slightly sober, hands deep in his pockets, looking out at the view before him as Katniss was. He continued, voice softer this time - and stern.

"I suggest, for their safety, that you don't disclose confidential information to them." Her stomach clenched, and for a quick second Haymitch's eyes met hers. "Of course." Katniss muttered. She wouldn't dream of telling her Mother or Prim - sweet, sweet Primrose, her sister and life - if it meant they would be in danger. It was better if they didn't have a clue, painful as it was to bear this knowledge on her own.

Haymitch nodded, turning away and gesturing toward their waiting vehicle. Without another word, she followed her mentor for a short car ride into town.

Katniss had never felt more alone.

xoxoxoxo

Note: In the next chapter, we change Katniss Everdeen's life forever.