We're finally to the end—except for the epilogue. Thank you for your support!
The characters of The Hunger Games Trilogy do not belong to me.
Thank you to Chelzie, my beta, for her constant support—she's fab!
Just FYI—like the last chapter, there will be a multiple POV.
Trigger Alerts: mentions of sexual assault, pedophilia, and prostitution. Attempted murder and suicide scene in the beginning italicized sequence.
Lazy
Part Seven: Hunger
"Katniss…wake up!" She opened her eyes quickly to see her Mommy sitting next to her in bed.
Mommy's eyes were strange again—the kind of strange that made her Mommy talk to herself or even her Daddy.
Even though Daddy was dead now.
He was cold and buried in the ground—and there was nothing they could do about it.
"GET UP!" Mommy demanded and Katniss listened dutifully, wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm in the dark, cold cabin. "They won't get it…no one will…they think that they could take my Lucas away…the secret will die with us…." Katniss looked over as her mother gathered a small satchel from the table before rushing over to grab her daughter by the wrist. "Hurry up!"
"Mommy—" Katniss didn't have time to put on her coat because she was being pulled out the door. Down the steps and into the forest in front of them, she tried to keep up but Mommy was going too fast and her wrist was starting to hurt. "You're hurting me, Mommy!"
"Katniss, don't you want to see your Daddy?" her mother asked as they continued through the forest. Branches scratched at Katniss' cold face. It hurt, but she knew better than to say anything to Mommy— especially when she was like this. "He's waiting for us!"
Her heart jumped at the words—for Katniss missed her Daddy. When Daddy was around, Mommy didn't act strange or forget to feed her. She didn't speak to herself or pull her hair out whenever the strange men came to talk to her.
When Daddy was around, everything was okay.
Katniss heard the rush of water and they suddenly stopped in front of the river. Their tree stood across from them, tall and strong. She could climb all the way up on it now and could even fit under the pushed up roots.
"Are you, are you…coming to the tree…" Mommy sang softly to herself as she pulled the metal box out from her satchel. "Katniss, come here."
Quickly, she went to her Mommy. "When's Daddy coming?" she asked carefully.
"He's not coming, Katniss," her Mommy replied, her smile soft as she pulled a rope from the satchel. She took the metal box and tied a hard knot onto the handle of it. Her Mommy hummed as she continued to wrap the rope around the box. "We have to go to him."
"Daddy is in heaven," she said softly. That's what the priest said to her and Mommy when they put Daddy in the ground. "How can we go to him?"
"Katniss, heaven is not up in the sky like people tell you," her mother said. Getting up, she lugged the box to the edge of the river and threw it with all her might. Katniss could see the long rope disappearing into the dark river. "So we have to swim to heaven and find him."
She turned to her Mommy. "I don't know how to swim…"
It all happened so quickly—Mommy was tying her ankles with the rope and it hurt. She started to cry but the light in her Mommy's eyes quickly quieted her whimpers.
"PLEASE, MOMMY! I'M SCARED!" She struggled as her mother grabbed her wrist. "STOP IT, MOMMY!"
The water was getting closer to her.
"DON'T BE AFRAID, KATNISS! JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES—AND YOU WILL SEE YOUR FATHER!"
But it was so cold. The water was so cold.
And it was filling her lungs.
Filling them quickly and making it harder to scream…
Then there was nothing else.
"KATNISS! STOP FIGHTING ME!"
Someone grabbed her flailing hands and her eyes snapped open to meet Peeta's panicked blue ones.
Katniss let out a breath of relief at seeing him in front of her. "Peeta?"
He nodded in assurance, quickly pulling her onto his lap and rocking her. She could feel the sweat all over her body, sticking to her clothes and to Peeta's skin. The tears that had escaped her eyes in her sleep heated her cheeks.
"It was just a nightmare," Peeta whispered, his lips against her drenched hair. "You're okay now."
"She needs water," Annie said from behind them. They pulled away to see their sister holding out a mug. Annie knelt before them to offer the cup to her. "Drink. Your throat is probably dry from all that screaming."
"Yeah," Johanna added as she joined the couple on the floor with a towel in her hand. She patted Katniss' forehead, wiping the sweat away. "That must have been one hell of a dream."
Behind them, she could see Haymitch and Gale, who had just rushed into the cabin, watching her worriedly. Finnick sat nervously in the lone chair in the room, his elbows resting on his thigh and hands fidgeting.
"It wasn't a dream—it was a flashback," she finally said, her voice hoarse. She looked up to Prim and Rue sitting up in bed. They looked afraid—and they probably had good reason to be. She could feel her heart beginning to calm down and after taking a sip of water, she let out a slow breath. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Peeta said softly. "Do you want to talk about it?" She felt herself slowly returning to normal. Peeta always seemed to find a way to bring her back. There was that constant assurance of love in his eyes. Since they found each other, Katniss had never been afraid, never been scared—because Peeta was there to protect her as she was there to protect him.
"Not yet," she told him. "Right now, I just want to hug my daughters." Katniss looked up at Prim and Rue. The two of them were already jumping out of the bed and she held her arms out to them. They found their way to her quickly and she enclosed them in her embrace. "I'm sorry if I scared you."
"It's okay, Mom," Rue said softly. "Everyone has bad memories."
"Sometimes they come rushing out," Prim continued, her voice haunted. "No matter how hard we try to bury them."
Peeta found Katniss sitting on the porch stairs staring out into the dark forest, her arms wrapped around herself.
Haymitch had told them that they needed a day to rest—and to mourn Rory.
Everyone had heartily agreed and gone about to do their own thing. Rue and Prim disappeared with their foster father to visit the collapsed mine and to place flowers at the site. Finnick and Annie were inside cooking dinner with the bag of groceries that Gale had provided.
Before leaving to talk to some of the townspeople about tomorrow's protest, Gale pulled Peeta aside and told him that he had gotten Katniss a can of lamb stew. It had been Katniss' favorite food—at least the version that Effie had cooked for them.
"She should eat," he told Peeta gruffly. "The next few days are going to be brutal." The man said it without any form of malice or jealousy; it was just his way of saying that he was worried about Katniss. Also, that there was no sort of romantic intent—Gale knew where he stood in Katniss' eyes.
"Thanks. I'll have Annie make it for her tonight." He could see that Gale was exhausted and in pain. "You know that there was nothing you could do—about the mine collapse, right?"
"I know—but, the townspeople need me, especially tomorrow," he told Peeta. "I have to do something."
Peeta nodded in understanding. Gale liked to feel needed and he needed a distraction from the pain. Idleness was never a good thing when it came to any of the boys. He would get anxious, Finnick would get needy and Gale would get sullen.
Haymitch had chalked it up to hormones as they were growing up.
However, none of them seemed to have kicked their bad habits.
His thoughts were interrupted by a soft cough and he turned to see Johanna sitting on the far end of the porch. A pen rested in her hand and two blueprint maps were laid out in front of her. His foster sister had spent a majority of the day sitting outside and making notes.
However, her eyes were always trained on Katniss.
Johanna gave him an encouraging smile before going back to her work.
Walking slowly to Katniss, Peeta sat down next to her. "Hey."
She gave him a tired smile. "Hey."
He held the blanket that he brought with him. "It's going to get cold out here soon." Carefully, he draped the blanket over her shoulders. "Annie and Finnick should have dinner ready soon."
"Where are the girls?" she asked.
"With Haymitch—they went to check out where the mine was," he said. "They wanted to put flowers at the site and say goodbye."
"They'll be okay, right?" Katniss asked him. "They're not going to be like me, are they? Screaming themselves awake." Tears filled her grey eyes and he took her hand. "I don't want this for them." He quickly draped an arm around her. "Because when I'm like this—I feel like the world is ending and I'm drowning in that river all over again."
"They're going to be okay," he assured her. "Just because we had bad starts doesn't mean that we can't have good endings."
"Do you believe that?" Katniss asked him. "Really believe it?"
He nodded resolutely. "I believe in us—and in our family," Peeta told her. "I know that none of us are completely good, but we're far from bad. No matter what happened to us—we were lucky enough to end up with Haymitch and Effie."
Katniss wiped her eyes as she nodded. "I'm just so tired, Peeta."
He pulled her close and kissed her wet lips, tasting the salt of her tears. "I know, baby. We're ending it soon. And then I'm going to marry you and we're going to have the boatload of children that we wanted."
Katniss threw the blanket over his shoulders, moving closer so they were both wrapped in the snug fleece.
"I love you, Peeta," she said suddenly. "Whatever happens—I love you."
Her words chilled him. "What's wrong?"
"That dream, Peeta," she told him. "It was of that night—the night at the river with my Mother." He could feel her trembling against him. "Something that she kept saying keeps on playing in my head."
He looked into her weary eyes. "What?"
"The secret will die with us …" Katniss looked over at him. "Before my Dad died, I remember hearing them talking about getting rid of something. My mother was arguing that we needed to get out of our house and that now we had the means to do so. My dad didn't want to leave because he didn't want to leave our home."
"They were talking about the gold," he said in realization.
Katniss nodded. "When I was being dragged into the river, I thought she was holding me down—that she was holding my rope down. But it wasn't her—she was too busy drowning herself—" She looked to him. "I know where the gold is—the one that Sae was talking about."
"Where?" They turned to see Johanna behind them. Annie and Finnick were both at the doorway.
"Should we wait until the rest of them are here?" Katniss asked. "I only want to say this once."
"We're here." They looked to see Haymitch and Gale, along with Prim and Rue, trailing behind them. The girls quickly went to Katniss and Peeta, both sitting on the step below their parents.
"I remember their arguing and the clanking of metal—a metal box," Katniss told them. "That night, my mother was knotting the rope to the handle of a metal box. She threw that box into the river and I saw it disappear into that dark water." She put her hands to her mouth, swallowing her sobs. "The other end of the rope went around my ankles."
Katniss looked at them, her eyes shining in the remnants of the day.
"The secret was supposed to die with us—with me." She let out a sob. "All that time—Snow kept on telling me that I was paying for something! That my parents kept something from him—that I was keeping something from him!" Katniss cried out, her eyes going manic. "I WAS WHORING MYSELF FOR HIM! He kept special tabs on me…told the Capitol men that there was something special about me…because the more they wanted me, the more I was worth…"
Katniss looked around brokenly. "When all along, I was worth more dead than alive."
Peeta felt something build in him. "DON'T!" He grabbed her shoulders, ready to shake the look from her eyes. "DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT!" His eyes went to Rue and Prim. "Look at them, look at me—and then tell us that you're worth more dead."
"Stop, Peeta," Haymitch warned. "This is a lot for her—"
"No, because I know she doesn't really believe that about herself," he told their foster father. "She is scared because she knows how important she is and it scares her!"
The air laid thick around them.
"Everyone get in the house," Haymitch suddenly called out. He looked to Peeta and Katniss. "You both stay out here and talk this out now—because if you can't deal, then we'll do this without you. You can take the girls and get out of here."
The group shuffled into the house. Briefly, Peeta met Prim's eyes and she looked at him encouragingly.
"Bring her back to us," Prim whispered and then looked to Katniss. "You're important to us, Mama."
Rue squeezed his hand before kissing Katniss' cheek. "We can't lose you, too."
The two girls disappeared into the house and Haymitch closed the door.
Darkness engulfed them and Peeta stood up. He held out his hand to her. "Let's go."
She stared up at him before taking his hand and standing up. "Where are we going?"
"We need to make a decision," he told her.
Together, they walked into the forest. Peeta held his hand in front of his face to keep the long branches from hitting him and Katniss. Her hand was shaking in his and he turned to her briefly.
"I didn't mean to yell at you," he told her quietly.
"I know," she replied. "Sometimes I forget that I'm not alone in the Capitol anymore. I'm not that girl staring out the high-rise window waiting for another client—waiting to see how I can make their dreams come true while leaving my desires hidden away inside."
They stopped and Peeta turned to her once more.
"Just understand that for a long time, I was only worth what Snow charged for my services," she said. "In time, I thought that the more I became worth something in Capitol money, the more I became worthy of myself."
Peeta wrapped his arms around Katniss as she rested back against the trunk of a tree. His eyes adjusted to the soft moonlight and he could see her watching him intently.
"We have a decision to make together," Peeta said to her. "We can take off again. Take Prim and Rue with us and start over. They will all understand—we have more to lose if something happens to one of us."
"I can't," Katniss told him. "I have to confront Snow, Peeta. It has nothing to do with you or the family. It has to do with me. I want him to look at me—to see that I am more than just his Mockingjay. I am Katniss Everdeen and I should not be messed with."
"It really is okay to run. You'll still be Katniss Everdeen in the end," he assured her quietly. "You always have been to me."
She smiled sadly. "I know." Katniss put a hand to her chest. "But in here, I need to know that. I need to know it before I become Katniss Mellark." She drew him in for a kiss. "And I will be Katniss Mellark."
Their lips met once more in the darkness, hungry and wanting. Her hands wandered down to the button of his pants and Peeta ripped his mouth from hers to meet her eyes.
"What are you doing?" he asked as she reached into his now unzipped trousers to wrap her hand around his hard length. Peeta's knees buckled, feeling the sensation travel up his spine. "Oh, God…"
"The name is Katniss," she teased. "I'm just saying sorry—and we're both stressed out." Katniss met his eyes playfully. "I like to make you feel good. I made a lot of men feel good, Peeta. But with you—it's real and it's not just about pleasing the other person, but pleasing myself as well."
"When was the last time that I took care of you?" he asked in the darkness. Slowly, he dropped to his knees, the leaves crunching underneath him. His hands moved up her clothed thighs and Peeta felt her shiver. Finding the elastic of her thick stockings, he yanked them down hurriedly.
Peeta looked up and she gave him a smile through her half-closed eyes. "It's been awhile, honestly."
Carefully, Peeta helped her remove her stockings and tossed them behind him. His mouth found the inside of her thighs as he hitched them up on each shoulder and she pressed her back against the tree. He kissed along one leg before finding the soft skin of the other and heard her cry out softly as he nipped and teased, avoiding her covered mound, much to her annoyance.
"Please…" she called out into the air. "Make it go away…"
"Tell me," Peeta asked her softly as his lips kissed her center and she moaned when he sucked on her clit through the thin cloth of her panties. "What do you want me to take away?"
"This feeling of being on fire," she replied, her hips moving in sync with the movements of his mouth. "I don't want our first time to be here—but if you don't stop this feeling—it will be."
"No," he told her as he slowly pulled her panties off of her bottom. She helped him along—rushing to feel him against her. Without touching the ground, Katniss maneuvered her panties off one leg and then the other, letting them fall to the ground. "Our first time will be as husband and wife—I promise you that."
Her hands found their way to his hair, grabbing onto his locks as he sucked on her clit. He was a man starved, tasting every part of her without a thought as to what would come tomorrow. All that mattered was her and feeding the part of him that could only be satisfied with her essence.
Katniss rode his face wantonly and unabandoned, her eyes closed and mouth open to let out short gasps of breath. He could feel her need for release and so he pressed on—his tongue entering her soaked cavern.
He would not make love to her tonight, but he would fuck her with his tongue—because she needed it.
And Peeta promised himself that he would give her everything she needed.
The next day, they were all back to work.
Katniss plaited Rue's hair carefully as she listened to Johanna talk about her meeting with Paylor. Her artistic skills were amazing as her foster sister had imprinted one blueprint over another, showing how Agatha Jones' home was directly underneath the aquifer that Snow was coveting.
Her eyes wandered over to Peeta, who sat across from her. Prim sat next to him, her blue eyes blank at Johanna's words. She had talked very little since their visit to the mine—the loss of Rory hitting her a little harder today than yesterday.
Peeta looked over at her, his lips forming a small smile and she felt the warmth crawl up her cheeks.
They had returned from the forest, hand in hand, and unwavering in their purpose to destroy Snow. Everyone had already finished dinner, though Annie had saved them what was left of the lamb stew along with some cool bread.
She and Peeta had eaten ravenously, prompting Johanna to ask what they had done to make them so hungry.
"Walked," Peeta responded simply before going back to his dinner.
No one believed him, of course. Johanna smirked, Haymitch went back to reading his paper, and Gale rolled his eyes while Annie and Finnick continued to clean up the kitchen table around them. Thankfully, Prim and Rue had already fallen asleep. Katniss would've died of humiliation if they knew what happened.
As far as orgasms went, Peeta had delivered tenfold.
She had known since that first night that he was the only one who could make her come undone.
Because it had always been more than physical.
"How do you suppose that we'll get into Snow's party?" Haymitch asked from where he sat in the lone chair of the cabin. "Getting into the Capitol will be a lot of work itself."
Johanna pulled out a silver envelope and placed it on the small table next to Haymitch. "An invite to the party—black-tie, of course."
"I'll get my old tux out," Haymitch muttered.
"As for getting into the Capitol, I know some people—and I have a feeling that Paylor is willing to help," Johanna informed them. "Our one issue, however, is figuring out who is on our side—and who we can get to defend us when the time comes."
"How do you suppose we'll get support?" Gale asked. "And what do you mean, 'when the time comes?'"
"Poison." The words came from Annie—who stood against the wall with Finnick's arm protectively around her shoulder. "Untraceable in a coroner's exam—and mimicking a heart attack. Death will come in one minute—but it will be the most painful minute of your life." She looked around at them. "I will make it once and only once—the vial it comes from is destroyed immediately. No one can be in the room when I make it." She looked at Finnick. "That way if we were investigated, none of you can be tortured for the ingredient list."
Johanna nodded once and everyone followed in agreement.
"As for getting support…" Johanna looked around the room before meeting Katniss' eyes. "I suggest we look to our Capitol jewels—"
"NO!" Peeta stood up, his eyes hard. "I won't allow it."
"That's not up to you," Finnick suddenly said. "I can get people on our side. Some of those Capitol women—they had things to say about their husbands. They knew their weaknesses and how to break them down." He looked over at Katniss. "I'm willing to bet that the Mockingjay, not Katniss—would get their support."
"Finnick's right," she found herself saying. "I've been with their husbands—and I've listened carefully at their dinner parties or during their card games. A glass of wine will loosen any of their lips—"
"Especially when the Mockingjay is serving them," Peeta spat. He glared at her before going to the door and walking out, slamming it behind him. The strength of his hard slam caused the walls to vibrate throughout the small cabin.
Katniss winced before standing up. "I will do what I have to do to get this done—but you let me give Snow that final drink. I've earned it."
She found Peeta sitting on the porch steps, his hand twitching in front of him, his fingers restless and grasping.
"I didn't know you smoked that much," Katniss said as she sat next to him. He refused to look at her. "You used to be a one pack-a-day man, for sure." She took his twitching hand and was relieved when he didn't pull away. "When did you stop?"
Peeta turned to her. "The moment that Haymitch told me to get you," he informed her tersely. "I didn't know what kind of man you liked. I figured you would be into a non-smoker."
"Then you chose well," she told him. "I would've taken you any which way. I waited so long for you to find me."
His eyes met hers. "Do you really have to do this?"
"Are you upset because you're jealous?" she asked. "There isn't any reason to be."
"Part of me is jealous," he responded truthfully. "I know how possessive it seems. But, at the same time, I'm also scared for you."
Katniss entwined their fingers. "Don't you think I can handle it?"
"Of course you can, you are the strongest woman I know." Peeta met her eyes. "But if I lose you—" He turned away. "I don't think I could take it, Katniss. I'm not as strong as you."
"Peeta, look at me." Reluctantly, he turned to her. "I will be okay. I am strong—and there are things that I know about these men that they only shared with me. I can use this to our advantage and lead them to our side—as the Mockingjay. It's time for her to make her final Capitol performance."
She leaned over to brush their lips together. "But I hope you'll be there when she comes back as your Katniss Everdeen, soon-to-be Mellark. So, will you? Will you be there in the end?"
He looked into her eyes, nodding firmly. "Yes."
Katniss smiled, her head falling against his shoulder. "Well, okay then." They went silent for a moment. "I'm glad you stopped smoking—it's a bad habit."
He kissed the top of her head. "Thanks for taking me away from the bad parts of my life."
She sighed beside him. "Thanks for taking me from mine."
"It's probably best that you leave now," Gale informed him. "Before the Peacekeeper trucks arrive."
"I'm still not sure," Haymitch responded as they walked to his Jeep. "Is it safe to be doing this, Gale? You're the leader of the uprising—they'll go after you first."
"That's why I have to stay," his foster son responded, his dark eyes serious. "I started it and I have to see it through. The townspeople—they need me. No one has ever really needed me."
"We need you," Haymitch told him. Johanna joined them, her satchel in her hand. Gale's eyes briefly went to her. "Johanna, convince him of his importance."
A smirk played on Johanna's lips. "I think Gale is well aware of his importance."
He chuckled before heading over to where Katniss and Peeta were loading their own car. The girls were going to Portia and Octavia's until it was deemed safe for them to join the rest of the group. When he approached, the couple stopped and went to him.
"You got everything?" he asked softly. "Money? Enough gas? Instructions for Portia and Octavia?"
Katniss nodded. "Everything is set. If it gets too dicey, the girls go to District 4 with Mags—we will give Portia and Octavia enough to send them away. The girls have money, too. Annie and I sewed pockets full of cash into their coats. There's also a stash in the lining of both their luggage."
"You've thought of everything," Haymitch said in admiration.
"Of course," Peeta said as he put an arm around her. "We'll see you in the Capitol."
"HAYMITCH!" He turned to see Prim and Rue running down the cabin steps and towards him. He knelt down and the two girls were in his arms. His girls—they had been through so much and yet there was still that youthful innocence in their eyes. He hoped that it would remain there for as long as possible.
Pulling away, Haymitch looked at both of them, feeling his eyes grow heavy.
"Remember to take care of yourselves," he began, his voice shaky as he gazed at the wide-eyed girls in front of him. "Effie would want to you to be respectful to Portia and Octavia. Also, watch over one another." He took a deep breath. "And always remember that I love you both." He pulled them into his arms once more. "So, so, so much."
"We love you, too," Prim whispered.
"We promise to take care of each other," Rue added, her chocolate eyes sad. "Just take care of yourself, too."
Hesitantly, they all parted and Haymitch stood up. "You'd better get going before the sun comes up." He looked to Peeta. "You know the address?"
Peeta nodded. "All memorized—and Katniss knows it, too."
Katniss ushered the girls into the 4Runner, and soon Haymitch was watching them drive away.
"Effie, don't let it be the last time that I see our little girls," he prayed.
"Are you ready?" He turned to see Finnick, a tired smile on his handsome face. "I'll drive—you look like shit."
He laughed in response. "Well, we all aren't blessed with your looks, Golden Boy!"
The Capitol
"Is this everyone?" Paylor asked as they sat in the basement of the old commercial building.
Johanna had bought the property under a false name, along with putting the person into the Panem database so that nothing would look out of sorts.
"Almost," Johanna responded and looked over at Haymitch. "Did they give you a time estimate?"
"They should've been here by now," he responded. Calls were being made to Peeta's cell every few minutes—by each of them. "Maybe we should just proceed. We can update them when they get here along with Gale—if he can make it."
Johanna looked to Paylor. "Gale is another one of my foster brothers. He's in District 12—"
"I heard that there was a scuffle in the District over the mine collapse," Paylor replied. She looked over at Haymitch. "I'm sorry to hear about Rory."
He nodded. "Thank you."
"It seems that the revolt was successful, however," Paylor continued. "Over half the Peacekeepers have been hurt and there was quick retreat from the District." She looked around at them. "However, if you don't get this done and Snow is still in power by next week—I guarantee that District 12 will be obliterated."
They could hear the sound of footsteps above and in a matter of seconds, Katniss and Peeta were walking down the stairs. Both looked shaken and Haymitch immediately jumped from his seat.
"Don't worry," Peeta started as he helped Katniss out of her coat. "We're okay. Portia and Octavia were worried that they were being watched. Some men were out there looking at the wreck that was my garage. They did a good job of acting distraught over my supposed death."
"We've sent them all to District 4," Katniss continued breathlessly. "It's for the best."
Haymitch nodded before leading them back to where the rest of them sat. "Peeta, Katniss—this is Senator Paylor."
He saw Katniss start at the sight of the woman standing before them.
"The Mockingjay—why did I not put that together?" Paylor said uncomfortably. "Good to know that we are seeing one another again under less uncomfortable circumstances."
"My name is Katniss," his foster daughter said softly, her eyes on the woman. "I am not the Mockingjay."
Peeta stepped forward and held out his hand. "Peeta Mellark. It's nice to meet you."
They shook hands quickly and Peeta helped Katniss to her seat.
"How do you know one another?" Johanna suddenly asked looking between the two women.
"I met Katniss once—during my Congratulatory Party at the Senate," Paylor said stiffly. "As I am the only woman of the group, they didn't feel the need to change their entertainment. Also, Snow wanted to give me a present—some time with the Mockingjay." The woman looked over at Katniss. "As long as the rest of the party got to watch."
Finnick turned to Katniss, his eyes amused. "I didn't know that you had it in you—"
Katniss whipped her head over to him. "Like you never had to entertain a group yourself," she shot back, her eyes suddenly burning with anger. "Wasn't your specialty with couples?"
Annie banged her hand on the table. "STOP!" She looked at Finnick. "Why dredge up the past?" Her eyes met Katniss'. "We are doing this for our futures. Both of you need to keep that in mind."
"Sorry, Katniss," Finnick said, his arms crossed.
"Sorry, Finnick," Katniss muttered petulantly.
"Now that the children are subdued," Haymitch said. "Why don't we proceed?"
"Snow's annual ball is coming up," Paylor informed them. "However, during this week, most of the other leaders throw their own parties—preliminaries, you might say, in preparation for the real festivities. I am invited to all of them, of course." She looked over at Katniss and Finnick. "I thought maybe I could bring one of you to each party—depending on the party preference."
"Katniss and Finnick have been gone for a while," Peeta told her, his hand firmly holding Katniss'. "Hasn't that raised any suspicion?"
"Snow wants to keep everything quiet, especially with Cato's death," she responded. "Cato was Katniss' business partner at the club—and it was common knowledge that she was often his own entertainment." Peeta grimaced at the statement. "Snow has made the excuse that she is away on sabbatical, mourning her partner." Paylor looked over at Finnick. "What did you tell your clients?"
"That I was taking a trip with a lover," he told her, his eyes going to Annie. "No one questions me, they just envy me."
"Anyway, my first party is at Beetee Latier's apartment—tomorrow," Paylor said. "Any takers?"
"Beetee is of a sensitive nature," Finnick said and then turned to look at Katniss. "I'll take him." He looked over at Annie worriedly. "He only likes to talk—or watch. Sometimes, he just wants to show me a new gadget that he's invented. You're okay, right?"
"Of course not," she told him, her eyes hard. Annie took a deep breath before continuing. "But this is for the greater good. At the end of the night, you're coming back to me." She shook her head. "God help me—after all of this is over, no more and no one else, Finnick."
"There was never anyone else in here," Finnick paused, putting his hand to his chest. "But you." He took Annie's hand, pleading with his eyes. "You believe me, right?"
"I do," Annie said in a hushed voice. "I've always believed in you, too." She sighed and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
Finally, Finnick looked to Paylor. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Paylor really seems to be flustered by your presence," Peeta asked her the next night, as they got ready for bed. "What's that about?"
They had very little time to talk the night before. Katniss had fallen asleep quickly, thoughts of Prim and Rue in her head. She hoped that they were doing alright. Prim seemed to be catching a cold and she had asked Portia to buy her medicine if needed.
Finnick had left for the evening to attend Beetee's party—dressed in a tuxedo and looking very much like his Capitol self. He literally sparkled as he left with Paylor, who had given Katniss a nod before taking off with her foster brother.
The commercial building that they were occupying had many unused offices, so each of them had a pick of their own room.
Katniss looked over at him as she unfolded the cot that Johanna had given each of them, along with pillows and blankets. "Sometimes I forget that boys have a strange fascination with girl on girl action."
"It's not that," he responded as he unfolded his own cot next to hers. Peeta handed her a thick blanket and pillow. "I know very little other than what you've told me. I just worry that I'll get caught off-guard. I mean, I was last night at the meeting."
Sitting on her cot, Katniss wrapped her arms around her legs. It was true. There were a lot of things that she had forgotten or pushed out of her mind for good reason. She was embarrassed.
"I'm sorry," she told him. "I think I'm always hoping that you'll see me as the same girl that you grew up with. I guess I'm scared that you won't love me the same way if you knew what I had to do."
"Katniss, we've been through this," Peeta told her. "I was taken by surprise, but that doesn't change anything." His face heated up. "Maybe it's just me being a pure-blooded guy and I'm just curious about your female encounter."
She looked to him. "What if it wasn't my only female encounter?"
His face had turned a level of red that she didn't think he could reach.
"Paylor is embarrassed by the encounter because she liked it," Katniss told him simply. She could briefly remember the small sigh that had escaped the woman's lips as she had danced against her. Snow was aware of Paylor's sexual preferences and had used Katniss to confirm it—so that he could use it against her later. "When there's really nothing to be ashamed of."
She laid her head on Peeta's shoulder and looked up at him.
"Everyone has fantasies," she said against the crook of his neck. "That was my job—exposing them for Snow's benefit, or even Cato's when needed."
"Katniss, have you ever—" He stopped and then shook his head.
"Ask me," she urged him. There was nothing to hide anymore. In time, Snow would break them by any means necessary, including exposing everything that she had ever done just to watch Peeta suffer. It was his way of letting her know that she would never escape him.
That everything that she loved—he would destroy.
"Have you ever—" She watched him struggle to push the words out. "With Snow?"
Katniss nodded once, her eyes closing as she spoke. "How do you think he punished me for lying about the virginity auction? Besides killing Cinna." She could almost feel him, the smell of blood on his breath and the roughness of being held down by the Peacekeepers. "He told me to stop fighting and take what I deserved. Liars deserve to be punished." She opened her eyes to see Peeta watching her sadly. "Are you happy now that you know?"
He shook his head. "I didn't ask to hurt you."
"Then why did you ask?" Katniss looked at him angrily. "Being the Mockingjay afforded me a lot of things. I got to meet dignitaries, learn different languages, and watch beautiful performances—but all of it came at a price."
She bit her lip in frustration. "Because those dignitaries wanted me during the parties and after, the languages I learned were just so I could describe how I could fuck the person in their own language, and those performances I watched were as I fondled the man beside me in his theater box."
"You should be able to tell me these things," he replied as he crawled over to her cot. "Because in the end, I will love you—all of you. The part that was the Mockingjay and the part that is Katniss Everdeen. I'm sorry if I hurt you by asking."
Katniss found herself straddling his lap. "I will love you, too. All of you."
Peeta wrapped his arms around her waist as she leaned down to kiss him.
The door suddenly burst open and Johanna rushed in—along with Finnick, still in his tuxedo. Annie and Haymitch followed the two.
"I thought you were saving it for the wedding night," Johanna asked when she saw them sharing a cot. She sat down on Peeta's empty one. "May I join in?"
"What do you want?" Peeta asked from beneath Katniss.
"Paylor and Finnick are giving a report down in the basement—five minutes," Johanna informed them.
"Then why are all of you up here?" Katniss asked.
"Because we all wanted to see if you broke your chastity clause," Finnick told them with a smile. "I guess I win tonight."
Katniss gave him the finger.
"Beetee is in," Paylor reported. "He's apparently had it out for Snow since he turned down his request to experiment with water filtration systems."
"Makes sense," Johanna added. "Anything to keep others down. If Beetee were to discover a new filtration system, then having ownership of the aquifer would be obsolete for Snow." She looked to Paylor. "On the positive end, I know that Beetee is clever enough to find a way to keep your grandmother's house intact while using the aquifer."
Katniss looked at Finnick. "Are you alright?"
"Beetee was…nice," he told her slowly. "He said that he missed me."
She nodded in understanding. A lot of the men were lonely—sometimes they needed someone to just hold them or lay alongside them in bed.
Judging by Finnick's rumpled appearance, she could see that the latter must have occurred.
Finnick looked over at Annie. "I told him about her—and he's happy for me. Also, Beetee wanted me to give you his regards—he said that he developed a new bow and it made him think of you."
The first time that Katniss had gone to Beetee's apartment, she was fascinated by his indoor shooting range and he had been intrigued by her shooting skills. There was never anything remotely sexual about their relationship, though she suspected that her tomboyish nature was appealing to him.
Once, he had asked her to shoot—completely naked—and she never felt like he was leering, more like analyzing.
"He will be in charge of security and media during Snow's party, including cameras, and will be able to make you invisible, if needed," Paylor told them. "Plutarch Heavensbee's party is two days from now." The woman looked over at Katniss. "He's looking forward to welcoming you back from your sabbatical—I asked him to keep your appearance quiet. You didn't want to take away from his thunder."
She tightened her hold on Peeta's hand under the table—they both had history with Heavensbee. The man had been the cause of her fiancé's constant guilt. He had paid Peeta off to steal and had cost a woman her life.
There was nothing to do but let him have his way—all for the cause. Peeta squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"In two days, the Mockingjay will be making her grand return." Katniss stood up from the table. "I'm going to bed." She turned to Paylor. "I'll be ready by seven. Good night."
Rushing up the stairs, Katniss managed to keep herself intact until she reached her and Peeta's room.
When her head hit the pillow, Katniss let herself cry.
She continued to cry, even when Peeta came into their room and laid down beside her, wrapping his strong arms around her waist.
The tears persisted when Haymitch sat beside her, his grey eyes gazing sadly down at her as his rough hand caressed her head. And even when Johanna appeared to take her hand, hugging it in-between her own.
"It will be quick," Finnick assured her when he came. "Has Heavensbee ever been mean to you?"
"No, but I'm over dancing for him," she replied against her pillow. "Sometimes he lets me read to him, though."
"The ball is in your court," Finnick responded as Annie came in with a mug in her hands. "Be interested in current affairs, ask him how the Capitol has been since you've left. You can pick out any insecurities in Snow that way."
Katniss nodded, sniffling into her pillow. "I just don't want to be their pawn anymore."
Finnick leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "I know, sis."
"Drink," Annie said softly. "Sleep and dream of your future—our future."
Katniss sat up briefly to take a small sip, feeling her eyelids already beginning to get heavy as she laid back onto her pillow.
"All of you—stay with me," she said before closing her eyes.
As her eyelids drooped, she heard Peeta's familiar words in her ear, comforting and constant.
"Always."
"You look nice," Paylor said as they stood in the elevator.
"It's the dress," Katniss replied stiffly, her eyes staring at the gold elevator.
All of her dresses were still in her old apartment at the top of her club, so Johanna had conveniently found her a dress to wear from her own wardrobe. It was the color of coal with a full skirt and a sweetheart top that held her cleavage enticingly.
Her hair was pulled back from her face, as the rest of it was curled and left to flow down her back. She remembered that Heavensbee enjoyed her hair down as he often buried his nose in it. The thought made her cringe inside. It was a credit to how much she had changed. She would never think twice on the thought of him touching her—it was her job to pleasure and entertain.
"Are you alright?" Paylor asked, her eyes still trained in front of her. She was in her own burgundy dress, a gold clutch in her hands.
Katniss looked over at her. "I'm whoring myself out again. How do you think I feel? How will my daughters understand the life that I lived?"
"They will understand that their mother did everything she could to be with them," the other woman replied. "But if it's worth anything, I'm sorry that you're going through this."
She smiled softly at Paylor, touched by her words. "Thank you." Looking back to the door, Katniss took a nervous breath. "I'm sorry that Snow humiliated you."
"You were humiliated more than I was," Paylor informed her. "The men enjoyed it thoroughly—while I was outed. Snow never let me forget that I showed weakness in front of all of them and that it made me disposable."
"That was always Snow's way," Katniss replied. "Peeta asked me about our experience—the universal intrigue of same-sex interaction. I will never understand it." The two laughed at her words.
The elevator door opened and the two women walked onto the marbled floor of Plutarch Heavensbee's penthouse apartment.
Katniss felt him right away, his lips grazing her ear. "Darling girl." She turned to see the smiling face of the party's host.
She straightened herself and pressed a kissed to his cheek. "Did you miss me?"
"Of course," Plutarch responded as she took his arm. "I heard that you were off mourning Snow's nephew." She saw the twisted sneer on his lips. "I, for one, don't miss the boy at all. But don't let Snow know that."
"You seem to have held a grudge against my partner," she remarked. They were traveling down the familiar hallway towards his bedroom and she felt her stomach turn. "Did he fuck your wife or something?"
"My niece, actually," he told her. "Poor Fulvia was never the same after that."
She placed her hand over his and gave him a pout, her lips drawn to look full and ripe. Heavensbee had a thing for youth—the smell of baby powder, free-flowing hair, and wide expressive eyes and she delivered in spades. Underneath her dress was a soft pink corset and frilly panties, his favorites. She was a woman to the public, but his girl in private.
"I'm sorry," she replied gently as he led her into his room, closing the door behind him. "Is there anything I can do?"
"You can tell me how to help you," he told her softly. Katniss whipped around at his words. "There's been talk, my sweet. They say that you did it."
"And if I did?" Katniss approached him, her eyes trained on the man before her. "What would you say?"
"I would say—finally," he replied, his eyes following the sway of her hips. "Get rid of the rest of them—the Snow family is poison on Panem."
"What do you mean?" Katniss watched him approach her and she steeled her resolve.
"Turn around," he commanded and Katniss slowly followed his directions. His hands moved her hair aside and she could feel his breath against her neck. The sound of her zipper being pulled down caused her breath to hitch anxiously. "Whatever you're doing, I want in."
"And what's in it for you?" Her dress fell to the ground and she stepped out of it, sparkling heels and soft pink negligee her only clothing now. Her mind wandered to Peeta and his promise to stick by her—even if she had to do unspeakable things to be in favor.
"Power, of course," Plutarch responded. He gestured at the small chess table to the side of his room. "Come and play—then we'll talk."
His eyes followed her as she sat in the chair on one side of the board. "I have missed you—and I will miss you when you go," Heavensbee began. "You remind me a lot of my niece. We weren't related by blood, but I cared for her like family."
He stopped for a moment, his eyes lost in hazy memories. "Sometimes, she would let me sleep in her bed and her warmth brought me comfort. The closest thing I've had to that is you. Cato ruined her—and Snow let it happen."
Katniss swallowed the bile rising in her throat. The story unfolding in front of her was more messed up than she realized.
"Did I ever tell you about the rumored meeting room in Snow's mansion?" Heavensbee suddenly said. "It's soundproof and impenetrable. Anything could happen in there—and no one would know."
"Too bad that no one has the blueprints to confirm its existence," Katniss replied as she began to set up her pieces.
"The person who created the room would," he told her before holding up a rolled up parchment. "The same person would probably have the blueprints to the mansion, too. They come in handy when sneaking people in." He winked at her, his eyes briefly traveling over her outfit.
She leaned over to help set up his pieces, her lush cleavage peeking out from the frills of her bodice.
"Now what?" she asked him.
"Now," Heavensbee said. "We play."
"This is destroying her," Peeta argued.
Their support list had grown over the week. Finnick and Katniss quietly collected people to help their cause, along with Paylor—the new leader to the silent Rebellion.
That first night after her visit with Heavensbee, Katniss came back with blueprints and a blank face. She disappeared into the bathroom, where Peeta found her sitting in the tub, water running over her and her skin scrubbed raw.
He picked her up from out of the tub and carried her into their room, where he had dried her gently. His touch had brought her back and she had burst into tears against him. After, she had told him of her strange chess game with Plutarch Heavensbee—in her negligee.
"He never touched me," Katniss told him. "But it didn't make me feel any less dirty."
"I'm so sorry," he replied as he toweled the droplets off her back. "Tell me what I can do."
"Just hold me," she asked. "And lock the door—I can't deal with any more questions."
So Peeta held her and when that wasn't enough, he brought his lips to hers.
And when that wasn't enough, he made her come—first with his fingers and then with his mouth, until she could do nothing but sleep.
"Tomorrow, this is over," Johanna argued.
The group sat around the table except for Katniss, who had spent a lot of time sleeping until she had to entertain. They were all worried—she ate very little, especially since her last visit. Peeta had insisted that she share everything that happened during her visits with him. He had even taken to writing it all down in a journal.
When the time came, she could read the notebook—or burn it.
The last visit was to Caesar Flickerman, a Panem television host and part of Snow's PR team, who loved the camera. So much so that he often used it in his private activities.
Katniss had thrown up when she returned from that visit—for there had been photos.
Caesar had given her copies and Peeta burned them immediately, both of them unable to see her in such a vulnerable position.
"He still has the others," she whispered as they watched them burn in the fireplace of the main floor.
"Those aren't you," he replied, his arm around her. "Not the real you—remember that."
"Sometimes I'm not sure who the real me is anymore," Katniss told him before they went to bed.
"I will go tonight," Finnick volunteered and Paylor nodded. "Seneca Crane has no preference. He only wants power and pleasure." Annie cringed at his words and he looked to her. "Honey—"
"No, you should go tonight," she replied quietly. "There is something wrong with Katniss. Being here in Panem is killing her."
"It's a man's world in Panem," Johanna told them. "Here, Annie is nothing but a man-pleasing chef, Katniss is nothing but the President's whore—and I'm nothing but lowest rung in the long-line of male executives because of what's in-between my legs." She looked around at everyone. "Trust me, being in Panem is killing more than just her."
Haymitch wandered upstairs as the meeting went on. He didn't feel right leaving Katniss lost to her own thoughts.
Katniss had always been the most complex of the children—sweet but taciturn, friendly yet standoffish and open-hearted to only a select few, including her foster family. She had fought with Effie the most, but she had also opened her heart to her foster mother the most.
That's how his wife knew that what had transgressed between Katniss and Peeta was different. Together, Katniss wasn't so closed off and Peeta was stronger—they complimented one another well.
Just like her and Haymitch.
Knocking on the door, he found Katniss sitting by the window sill—an open notebook on her lap.
"Sweetheart?" She turned to look at him as he approached. "You should be in bed. Tomorrow is a big, big, big day."
Katniss smiled at his mimic of Effie's trademarked words. "I always loved her excitement."
His eyes went to the notebook. "What's that?"
"After each visit, I talk and Peeta documents—it's a way for both of us to get it out," she said as she closed the book and handed it to him. "Peeta says that I can do whatever I want with it after all of this is over."
Briefly, Haymitch opened the book and looked over an excerpt. He felt his stomach turn and closed the book quickly after.
"Tomorrow seems so far away," she whispered as she looked out the window. Tears were in her eyes, the moon reflecting against them as they fell down her face. "Haymitch, are we going to be okay?"
"Yes, we will, and I will watch you walk down that aisle to become Peeta's wife," he promised. "Because there is nothing I want more than to see your dreams come true. It was Effie's dream, too."
"What did Effie promise when you got married?" Katniss suddenly asked.
"Six or seven children—and she delivered as promised." He laughed softly. "I couldn't be prouder of them—" Haymitch stopped, looking at the young woman in front of him. "And of you. Just be good to Peeta, even when he gets on your ass."
Katniss smiled at him, her face relaxing as she did. "I will love him, trust him, nag him and look at him the same way Effie did when she looked at you."
Haymitch swallowed thickly. "How did she look at me?"
"Like you were invincible."
"How does it feel to know that about 75% of these men have seen your fiancée naked?" Johanna asked Peeta. The two walked arm in arm among the Capitol elite. Once in a while, an associate would greet Johanna, sniff at him, and then walk away. "Gives your mission a little more purpose, doesn't it?"
"Trust me," Peeta replied. "The fact that there's a gun inside my tuxedo jacket hasn't escaped my mind."
Snow's mansion was indeed beautiful—all white stone and marble. The courtyard was filled with men and women dressed to the nines in beautiful silks and velvet; some even wore masks, as the theme was a masquerade ball.
Among them was Annie in a deep peacock blue ball gown with a feathered eye mask, as well as Finnick in a dark burgundy suit, his bright smile capturing the attention of the Capitol women.
Gale made his appearance at the last moment, a gash on his right cheek from a fight with a Peacekeeper. He was walking around as Paylor's escort, looking very Phantom-esque with his half mask hiding the wound.
"Haymitch is scouting the area with Beetee, checking on security and such," Johanna told him quietly. "We will slip out after Snow's speech."
It had been very easy to move around the mansion, thanks to the proffered blueprints. All of them had memorized the layout and gone over it as they entered the mansion. The only person who had not made an appearance was Katniss, who was arriving with Heavensbee.
"What time is Katniss supposed to arrive?" he asked worriedly.
"Well, her escort had a very special dress made for her," Johanna told him. "Oh God—after everything she's told us—you don't think that she going to come in looking like a twelve-year-old? With a frilly skirt and everything?"
Peeta shook his head at her. "Why did they put us together?"
"Because I'm the only who can distract you," she said with a grin. Her eyes went to something behind him. "However, I think your wait is over."
"I feel like a tool," Katniss told Heavensbee as they walked down the stairway.
"You look radiant," the man said. "I have to say—I have great taste. White really does stand out in this crowd."
She had to admit, the dress was beautiful. It was a gleaming white, one-shouldered and gauzy. The top draped loosely along her chest as the rest clung to what curves she had before trumpeting out to a floor dragging skirt. Her hair was soft and curled, flowing freely down her back as Heavensbee liked it.
"Just look at how the crowd envies us—envies me," he whispered, his mouth against her ear. "Where is your young man?" Now that she knew where his loyalty was, Katniss had disclosed some of her story to him, including the part with Peeta in it.
She looked across the room and spotted Peeta in his dark tuxedo, looking roguishly handsome. Her heart leapt from her chest seeing the way his eyes penetrated her even from across the room.
"He's around," she responded lightly. "He'll come when he's needed."
The lights dimmed as they made their way down the stairs and the President's theme started on the speakers.
Snow had arrived.
Turning, they looked up at the balcony to see Snow walking forward to the roaring applause of his guests. The man smiled benevolently and she felt her anger rise at seeing the triumph in his eyes.
"Thank you, thank you," Snow began. "Welcome to this most auspicious occasion. It is wonderful to see loyal citizens of Panem come together to celebrate our glorious nation. While this is a joyous time for myself as your president—I have also felt the pain of loss. A short time ago, I lost my dear nephew to a senseless act of violence. While I mourn as an Uncle, it has also strengthened my resolve to make our districts safer, and that includes our beloved Capitol."
Snow's cold eyes swept across the crowd and he found her immediately. Katniss straightened herself—her own stare just as steely.
She wasn't afraid anymore—especially of him.
"Panem is built on the idea of rebirth," Snow continued. "And with that comes new hope for a stronger nation birthed on unity. I am not alone in this idea—the idea of starting anew. My nephew's young business partner, who has been away mourning his death, has come to join us tonight, her own resolve stronger and eager to forge into this new era." He looked to her coldly. "Our Mockingjay, please join me."
All eyes turned to her and Katniss took a deep breath before pasting a smile on her face. Heavensbee tightened his hold as he walked her towards the balcony steps. She briefly brushed past Annie and Finnick. Her brother and sister nodded at her quickly—they would be there when the time came.
Katniss lifted her skirt as she walked carefully up the stairs, letting it fall back down as she walked towards him.
Soon, she found herself right in front of Snow.
"Hello, Sir." Katniss pressed a brief kiss to his cheek. "It's been too long."
"I'm sure that you didn't miss me," he replied. "Spending time with your foster brother and all—what is his name?"
"His name is Peeta Mellark—and he is twice the man that Cato was," she hissed quietly as they pulled apart.
"Don't make me angry." He grabbed her hand. "Now, be a good girl and smile for everyone."
Her heart pounding, Katniss let him raise her arm with his in unity. The crowd was appreciative—whistles for her and applause for him.
"Glad to know that you're still worth something," Snow sneered at her as they waved to the crowd before turning towards the mansion entrance. "Let's go talk in private."
"Where are Haymitch and Beetee?" Gale asked as he and Paylor joined Peeta and Johanna.
"As far as I know, they are in the security room—Beetee is in charge of the production and security," Finnick informed them. He pulled out his phone. "I just got a message from Haymitch—Snow and Katniss are heading down to the meeting room. There are two Peacekeepers with them."
"They're most likely there to guard the door," Paylor informed them.
"Has anyone seen my escort?" They turned to see Heavensbee approaching them. "I've seemed to misplace her."
"Cut the crap," Johanna said to the man. "You saw Snow lead her away!"
He nodded at the woman. "Nice to see you, Johanna." He looked to Peeta. "Aren't you going to introduce me your date?"
"This is Peeta Mellark," she said shortly as Heavensbee looked at her calmly. "Peeta—this is the pervert who makes your fiancée dress up in little girl nightgowns."
Heavensbee didn't bat an eyelash at her words. Instead, he approached Peeta and held out his hand.
Peeta eyed him briefly before shaking the man's hand.
"Wise to be cautious," Heavensbee said with a smile. "Did Katniss show you the blueprint?"
Peeta nodded. "Yes."
"There's a trick door to the left of the house—a shortcut to the downstairs meeting room that actually opens like an emergency exit. You're armed, right?" Peeta nodded and patted his jacket pocket. The man nodded firmly at him. "Go now."
"Who pulled the trigger?" Snow asked Katniss as they sat next to one another in the steel-walled room. It was silent as death—made to feel like a coffin.
"I did," she replied, her eyes never leaving his. "And I enjoyed seeing him bleed out—" The hit came hard and she could feel the pain vibrate through her body. "An eye for an eye—" She touched her bleeding lip. "You killed my father for gold that never existed and tried to take the only home I've ever known away from my family."
"The place is going burn to the ground just like your precious lover boy's garage," Snow sneered. "The gold does exist—your father just found the most—and he refused to share. So I spent a whole night watching him pan for it—at gunpoint. Then I sent him home with a little drink. We told him that it was a strengthener. The idiot just believed us."
"You will pay," she said quietly.
"I will not," Snow replied unrepentantly. "Hurt me and you will pay."
Katniss shook her head. "I won't need to," she said as she reached into the trick pocket of her dress. "This is for you." She slid the envelope towards him.
Snow took the envelope and pulled out the folded paper. Reading over it, he scoffed before placing it on the table.
"Foolish girl, I won't sign this," he said. "Do you really think I'm going to stop the destruction of your home, or Miss Jones' for that matter? Those places are much more valuable to me without the useless sentimental hovels."
"You will sign it." Katniss looked up to see Peeta approaching them. He winked at her. "Hey, sweetheart."
Katniss grinned. "Hey, baby. How did you get in?"
"Heavensbee showed me this neat little emergency exit—it's going to make it a lot easier to leave this place without being seen." Rounding the table, he went to her side and met Snow's eyes. "Sign it."
"Your lover?" Snow asked Katniss. "He looks a lot like Cato."
"My fiancé," she replied. "And Cato never held a candle to him."
The main door opened and Johanna walked in along with Annie. They closed the door behind them and grinned at the couple.
"Sorry we're late," Johanna said breathlessly. "It's harder to fight two peacekeepers when your skirt is so heavy." She met Snow's eyes. "President Snow—a pleasure."
"Oh yes, Miss Mason and Chef Cresta," he said as he watched them sit down. "Anyone else joining us?" The door opened once more—Gale, Finnick, and Haymitch entered easily with Paylor, Beetee, and Heavensbee in tow. "Oh, good. More traitors." Snow looked to Haymitch. "So sorry to hear about your wife and your boy—such a shame, really."
"You're not coming out of this place," Haymitch told him. "Not until you sign my home back to me."
"And if I don't?"
"Then we will leave you to the mercy of the people in the courtyard," Paylor told him unrepentantly. "They'll take care of you nicely once we play that special edition of Caesar Flickerman's show on the back wall of your mansion."
"I mean, if they get angry about the segment on Cato's psychotic behavior towards some of the Capitol ladies—they're going to be pissed about the fact that you paid off a lot of people to keep it quiet," Finnick said to the man with a wry smile.
"Not to mention the unauthorized Peacekeeper raid on Distict 12," Gale added. "I bet none of those people out there know about that—but I guess they'll know now."
"And if the people outside don't kill you," Annie said as she went to Katniss and handed her a small vial. "The people coming from District 12 to raid this mansion in the morning will."
Katniss had always been good at reading people—and she saw it then—the fear in Snow's eyes. He didn't fear death, he feared exposure.
Once everyone saw Snow for the tyrant he really was, it was as good as being dead.
Haymitch went to the table and placed a pen next to Snow's hand. He stared at the man for a moment before turning away.
"There is a special place in Hell for you," Haymitch hissed at the man. "Say hello to your nephew for me."
Unfolding the paper, Snow signed shakily before pushing the paper away. He looked to the group around him.
"THERE!" Snow's face was scarlet with rage. "ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?"
Katniss stood up. "Not quite."
Approaching him, she placed the vial that Annie had given her in front of him.
"What is it?" Snow asked with an angry tremble.
"A strengthener," Katniss replied simply as her hand reached to caress his chin. "Now be a good boy and stop fighting. Take the medicine you so rightly deserve."
The death of President Coriolanus Snow was announced the following morning.
According to the newly-appointed President Paylor, the heart attack had occurred in the middle of the night. Assistant to the former President Snow, Seneca Crane, had found the man in bed—and immediately sought medical attention.
The coroner's report detailed that death was quick—the president suffered very little during his death.
They all knew better.
"It's amazing how easy it is to falsify reports," Johanna said as they all relaxed on the front porch of their old foster home. She looked over at Haymitch, who sat on the porch swing with Prim and Rue flanking his sides. "By the way, Paylor said that you're always welcome to come visit."
"I guess I'll have to—seeing as I'll have to make sure that you're not causing all sorts of trouble," the man retorted. "How does it feel to be Senator Mason now?"
"Just like being Johanna Mason—just two floors higher." Johanna looked over at Gale and grinned. "I'm not the only one with the new job. Selectmen Hawthorne, when do you have to report to District 12?"
"In a day or two," Gale said from his seat on the porch steps. "We're holding elections for council people."
The front door banged open as Finnick and Annie emerged from inside the house. Annie was carrying a plate of sandwiches, and Finnick was carrying a pitcher of lemonade along with some disposable cups.
"Eat up, everyone," Annie called out cheerfully. "Because you're not getting anything as good as this after we get back to District 4!"
"It's weird to imagine that Golden Boy over here is going to be working on a fishing boat," Gale said as he grabbed a sandwich.
"I CAN DO IT!" Finnick protested as he handed cups out. "Annie and Mags will teach me—and plus, it will be great for my tan." He flexed through the fitted shirt he wore.
Haymitch stood as Prim and Rue jumped up to grab some sandwiches. Looking around, he spotted his last two children lying back against the trunk of the tree—Katniss' head on Peeta's shoulder as they talked quietly, their hands entwined.
His eyes watered watching the two and he looked up to clear blue sky. "We did it, Effie. They're all going to be okay,"
Waving them over, he watched Peeta help Katniss up and they walked over to the group.
When the two reached the porch, they went to their foster father.
"I wanted to ask you something," Peeta said to him, a grin on his face with his arm around Katniss' shoulder.
"What do you need?" he asked his foster son.
"Permission to marry Katniss," Peeta replied.
Haymitch looked over at Katniss and he lifted her chin.
He grinned at the beaming woman in front of him. "You want to marry him?"
"More than anything," Katniss said, her grey eyes brighter than he had ever seen them.
After a moment, Haymitch nodded his consent. "When are you going to do this?"
The couple smiled at one another before Peeta responded.
"Tonight."
The Northern Coast in the former state of Oregon
"Peeta?" He froze at sight of his bride standing before him, a small smile on her lips. "How do I look?"
"You're breathtaking," he responded as he took her hand. "Portia and Octavia really went all out."
"After I showed them the picture, it didn't take them very long to get it done," Katniss said shyly. "Effie always said that it had been her favorite dress after her wedding gown."
The dress was a sleeveless champagne-colored slip dress with lace on the bodice and an array of white, beige, cream and blush lace overlaying the lined skirt, which dragged elegantly against the sand. The two women had ruched up one side and gathered it against a silk flower that Prim and Rue had made for their mother.
She wore her hair down, holding it back with two of Effie's ivory hair clips to show off her high cheekbones and smoky eyes.
The design had been taken from an old picture of Effie in her debutante dress. When Katniss had first seen the photo as a child, she had been enamored by it. She stared so much that Effie let her keep the picture—and it had been one of the things she had kept with her during her time in the Capitol.
"You'd better get down there," Katniss told him with a soft smile.
Down the path and along the shore was their family—Haymitch would officiate with the special license that Paylor had granted him over the phone. The license had already been processed in the Panem registry, stating that they were officially married as of today.
"Are you kidding me?" Peeta replied with a grin. "After everything we've been through, I am never letting go of this hand."
It was amazing what money could get you.
The small set of wooden cabins they all occupied all had an amazing view of the ocean below them. Haymitch, along with Gale, had taken one, while Johanna, who was watching Rue and Prim, stayed in another. Finnick and Annie were nestled in the smallest cabin—not that they minded.
Peeta and Katniss were given the biggest of the wooden houses—and the most private.
After all, it was their wedding night.
And Katniss Mellark was now a very wealthy woman.
Divers had been able to grab the metal box that had held his wife down in the river's freezing depths as a child. Upon opening it, Katniss held up the giant pearl-shaped gold nugget that had weighed the box down, along with the stack of bills nestled inside.
The money, however, mattered very little to her and Peeta. Most of it would go into trust funds for their daughters and to any other future children. There was also the sizable anonymous donation to keep the foster homes of Panem running, especially the new one that they had named after Rory in District 12.
They had also recovered her mother's body—and Katniss had her buried next to her father so that the past could finally rest peacefully.
It was all over now.
Peeta kindled the small flames in the stone fireplace, letting the fire build. As the cabin began to warm, he removed his dress shirt to cool himself in the building heat.
The door to the bathroom clicked and Katniss stepped out in a pure-white silk chemise that grazed the floor. Her thick, licorice-colored hair framed her face in small waves, falling onto her shoulders gracefully.
Standing up, Peeta watched as she approached him, the familiar sway of her hips drawing him in and leaving him winded at the sight of her.
"Can you believe we're finally here?" she asked softly.
"This isn't real," he breathed in wonderment. "I'm going to wake up tomorrow, alone in my garage—from the most beautiful dream of my life."
Her hands went to the straps of her gown and Katniss pulled them gently off her shoulders, letting the rest of it fall to the soft, fur carpet beneath their feet. She stood before him naked, her olive skin glowing in the orange firelight.
"It's real, Peeta," Katniss told him, her lips brushing against his chin. He sighed, his mouth dropping open from the sensations she created within his body. "I'm your wife, and I am very real." She took his hand to place it against her soft chest. "Touch me. Feel my heart beat—I'm here."
He let out a choked gasp at her words. "I love you, Katniss."
She looked up at him, tears in her own eyes. "I love you, too, Peeta."
Their lips met in a slow, tender kiss—each of them tasting of the salt of their tears and the sweet happiness of their union.
It had been a long time coming; years of separation and pain had finally culminated in this.
Her hands slowly unbuckled his belt and she deftly undid the button of his waistband. Sliding the zipper down, he let his pants fall to the ground before kicking them away.
Katniss grinned. "A little eager, aren't we?"
Peeta laughed. "We've had over ten years of foreplay—wouldn't you be?"
She reached inside his boxer briefs and ran her hand along his hardened length. His eyes closed as she slipped the last bit of cloth off of his hips towards the rug. His heart pounded in anticipation, and when he felt the slow lick on the underside of his cock, he almost fell apart. His eyes opened to see her watching him—a small, satisfied smile on her peach lips.
They both knelt on the rug and her eyes met his nervously.
"I'm scared," she whispered. "It really feels like my first time."
"Me, too." Peeta pulled her into his arms. "We can go slowly. We have all the time in the world."
Katniss nodded and after a moment, she laid back, her eyes molten and beckoning.
Leaning down, Peeta took his time to explore her lips, tracing the shape of them with his own mouth.
Every sigh that escaped her mouth as he roamed her body would forever be imprinted in his mind.
He would always remember what made her laugh and what made her cry.
He entered her slowly, inch by inch, watching as she let out a small breathless moan as they joined for the first time. Her eyes opened to meet his as they began to move and she smiled up at him, happy tears escaping her eyes, before they both fell apart in frenzied ecstasy.
He would always know what made her crazy and what calmed her.
He would always know her, inside and out.
That had been his wedding vow to her.
And when he awoke in the morning—the sun rising against their bare skin, Peeta opened his eyes to see his sleeping wife in his arms, his hand tangled in the beautiful mess that was her hair.
Peeta almost wept at the sight of her—for he wasn't alone anymore.
It hadn't been a dream.
It was real.
FIN.
I'm just going to write the notes in the epilogue…see you there.
Until then, JLaLa