Thank you to Speedy08 and BG-13!

Also thanks to everyone who has reviewed!

IMPORTANT: Thanks to iluviggyhesthebest, I have decided to change Glimmer to Madge. That was my original idea, and I'm not sure why I ended up going with Glimmer... anyways, Glimmer is no longer in the story, she has been replaced with Madge!

Snow's POV

I watched as my brother got in his car and left, sending me one last glare. I could feel the girl's stare digging into the back of my skull but I didn't acknowledge it till I was sure Seneca was really gone. Then I turned to see her still at the top of the stairs, watching me with an unreadable expression.

She was probably confused and suspicious of my motives. I may beat her on a regular basis, and I might enjoy it, as sick as that sounds, but that I will not stand for. She may think of me as a monster, she may hate me with every fiber of her being, and truth be told I'm not fond of her. Not at all. But even I have standards, as slim as they may be.

"Learn to solve your own damn problems, child. Next time I might let it happen." I spit at her.

Then her expression turned to outright anger. "I was handling it," she growled.

My eyes narrowed and I started walking up the stairs toward her. Fear flashed across her face and she took a step back. She knew better than to run; that only made it worse for her in the long run.

I grabbed a fistful of hair on the back of her head and made her look up at me. "You ungrateful little bitch," I hissed. "I could have let him have his way with you, I should have."

The worthless girl let out a cry as I threw her down the stairs. They weren't too many steps which is why I did it. I wasn't going to kill her. No, I would make Katniss suffer till she cursed her birth and that of her mother's. Slowly, I came down watching her as she tried to crawl away. I noticed some blood on the floor and I stopped to see where it was coming from. I grabbed her by her hair again and saw just above her right brow was a small gash.

"That's enough Snow," I heard a stern voice say.

"Mind your own business, Mags." I snarled.

"Katniss is my business." She retorted angrily.

I narrowed my eyes at the old woman, holding the girl's hair and pulling her up until a small whimper was heard. "I can easily fix that."

"No," the girl said, barely above a whisper. I looked down at her and saw her eyes pleading with me. "Hit me again, but don't send her away."

I smirked, it was a tempting offer. I almost did just that, but I had better and more important things to deal with so I released my grip, letting her fall onto the floor again. I made my way to my office, but not without stopping next to the elder. "Learn to hold your tongue if you really want to stay here and protect the little stray," I told her before walking into the other room and shutting the door.

Mags POV

I hated that man, hated him with every fiber of my being. I could never understand how he could beat his own flesh and blood this way. When Katniss was younger, the abuse hadn't been physical, mostly verbal and emotional. I remembered when she craved the love and care other father's showed to their children. As she grew older she began to realize that he indeed hated her, and with that realization the physical abuse began.

I even remember him breaking her arm when she said she wanted to play football at the age of only twelve.

As soon as he left I ran over to her, pulling her into a tight embrace. I felt her hold tighten on my jacket and I rocked her in her spot on the floor as I had done many times when she was little and frightened. She never cried, and that worried me. Katniss was human, she could only bottle her emotions for so long, and it was worrisome that I had never seen her cry. I didn't know if she did it when she was alone; I hoped she did. It would mean she wasn't too far gone to save, to know that she did have people who cared about her.

"Shh," I soothed, running my hand through her chocolate tangled mess of hair, undoing the knots. "Are you okay?" She used to always have it in a braid, but that only made it easier for Snow to grab it and yank her around. Now she only ever sleeps with it braided to perfection.

I felt a nod. "Promise you'll never leave me," she whispered. "Please, Mags. Don't ever leave me," her voice was choked but she still wasn't crying. No tears fell from her eyes as she looked up at me with eyes that looked as if they'd seen more than they should have.

I held her tighter, putting every ounce of love I could into the embrace. "I'm not going anywhere, Katniss," I told her. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

Katniss POV

Mags helped me get up stairs and into my bedroom. She had me lie down and opened the closet door to get Lady out. My dog hoped on the bed and lay next to me, whining up a storm. I smiled slightly at her and pet her head. I looked over and noticed Mags was coming with a bowl of water and a first aid kit.

Mags was one of the two human beings that cared about me. She knew about the abuse, and I knew it pained her to have to see it and not be able to move a finger. If she did, she would be fired. She wouldn't be there for me anymore, and there wouldn't be anything she could do to stop it.

She dipped the cloth and gently pressed it against the cut. I flinched, the natural reaction of anyone when someone touches their area of pain.

"How are you feeling?" She asked quietly.

"I'm alright," I whispered.

"You have blood on your shirt," Mags noted softly and tightly. "You should change it."

I nodded and sat up, slowly removing the shirt and taking in short breaths from the pain I felt in my midsection. I saw the horror reflected in Mags' eyes as she took in the bruises that decorated my abdomen. She placed a hand on my shoulder and I flinched, feeling a bruise already forming there from my fall.

Slowly I got up and headed over to the closet, pulling out a plain white shirt that was a little loose, and put it over my head before changing to my night boxers as well. Even simply changing was painful.

Mags' expression hadn't changed, it still remained horrified, and I shot her a small smile.

"I'm fine, Mags," I reassured. "Really."

"Katniss, how could you tell me that when you are covered with bruises?" She asked, shaking her head at my lies.

I placed my hand over hers and gave it a tight squeeze, flashing a smile as well.

"I'll be okay," I repeated.

She sighed and patted the bed, gesturing me to lie down. I went under the covers and turned onto my side so I was facing her before checking my phone. There was one unread message.

"Gear up, you're gonna try out tomorrow." As soon as my eyes danced across the screen I smiled broadly.

"What is it?" Mags asked, confused on why I would be happy at this moment in time.

"Madge says I'm going to get a chance to try out for the football team tomorrow!" I exclaimed, this is unbelievable, amazing!

"Katniss-" she began worriedly.

"I want to do this," I said quickly. "I've always wanted to. It's the only thing that will make me happy."

"If your father ever finds out…"

"I know, I'll get another broken arm," I whispered. He had a low tolerance for sports.

I saw Mags flinch at my words and I pouted at her.

"Please?"

She seemed to be deciding for a few moments and I pulled on my puppy dog face. She chuckled and nodded, she can never resist it. I hugged her tightly again before going back to bed, throwing an arm over Lady's form, who decided to lick my face repeatedly. I laughed and sighed in contentment when Mags began to run her fingers through my hair before gently braiding it's stringy pieces.

I was out in no time.

I'm not getting nearly as many reviews and followers I would like to have, but I thank you to those who are following, favoriting, and reviewing on this story!

On that note, don't forget to review, favorite, and follow! Oh, and remember to thank Speedy08!