"Everyone up! It's a big big day!" Effie trilled marching into the bedroom. "I need- oh goodness!"

Haymitch and I were still laying on the bed exactly like we were last night. He was half asleep, though how he slept through Effie's voice, I wasn't sure.

"Effie the door was closed for a reason," I said.

"Well it's almost noon so you two little love birds need to wake up. If you're coming to the Capitol we need to leave soon."

She pranced out of the room.

"Haymitch. You need to get up. We have to go soon," I whispered softly, sitting up.

He moaned and sat up as well. "Whatever you say sweetheart."

I grabbed some more clothes from the room and headed to the bathroom to change. I was happier than I had been in awhile like a huge weight had been removed from my chest. Talking to Haymitch really had helped. This time my father's jacket was going to the Capitol with me.

I could hear Effie downstairs scolding Haymitch while I showered. Something about the fact that I was only 18 and we were sleeping together. Then Haymitch saying we never 'slept' together we were just laying in bed together. I got dressed and headed down the stairs.

"Katniss I'm so delighted you two are coming with me! This will be so much fun!" Effie gushed.

"Fun Effie? Talking about people we've seen die? Yes, I'm sure that will be fun," I snapped.

"Katniss!" Haymitch warned and because I liked him I listened, for once.

Effie actually looked ashamed of what she said so I gave her a hug and whispered an apology.

"Well then are we all ready to head to the station then?"

Even now she was still a schedule freak.

"Ready," I said.


The Capitol was as big as I remembered and still made of the same plain concrete as before. As we pulled into the train station, I recognized roads where various pods had exploded. I squeezed Haymitch's hand tightly as we passed the street Boggs had died, feeling my throat constricting in terror.

"Easy Katniss," he whispered reassuringly.

"Well, we are almost there. We will be heading to a center where we have apartments ready for you two. If you'll be needing two," Effie said.

She had narrated practically the whole two day trip which had surprisingly been quite nice. I listened to her drone on and on and was able to forget my own crushing fear of the Capitol and what I associated it with.

The train came to a gentle stop and I stepped into the bright sunlight blinking, still clutching Haymitch's hand.

"Haymitch! Katniss! Come with me right this way!" Effie ordered.

A small crowd was gathering to see why a tribute train had once again arrived at the station. I ignored Effie as usual and looked out at the crowd. Someone pointed at me and slowly silence fell over the entire station as everyone stopped to stare at us. Haymitch put his arm around my shoulders as if telling me he'd watch over me.

Then a little girl, Prim's age, stepped forward and stopped in front of me. She lifted a tiny hand and took my finger and pulled it down, and I knelt down out of Haymitch's comfort.

She was not a Capitol raised child. Even after several month of being well fed, it was obvious this girl had once been a malnourished child from one of the outer districts.

She felt the braid that hung over my shoulder carefully, then looked into my gray seam eyes.

"You're Katniss," she whispered in awe.

I smiled and nodded. A single tear slid down the little girl's face.

"Thank you. If it weren't for you I would have been in the reaping this year," She murmured and wrapped her skinny arms around my neck. "When I grow up I want to be just like you."

This was new. I had never heard someone real thank me before, especially someone I had truly impacted. Tears were welling up behind my eyes as I returned her embrace.

"You know what? When you grow up, don't try to be like me. Be yourself," I whispered in her ear.

She smiled and ran back into the crowd to find her family as quickly as she had appeared.

The whole time no one had spoken or moved. One by one each member of the crowd took their middle three fingers, pressed them to their lips, and raised them in the air. I brushed the tears away from my eyes and hurried out of the station after Effie.

"That was really beautiful Katniss," Haymitch said.

I didn't answer because I was sobbing uncontrollably. Effie gave me a hug and Haymitch joined as we stood in the middle of the street blocking people from walking.

"I love you guys."

"Love you too Katniss," Effie answered.

"Well we all know I love you," Haymitch chuckled and I kicked his shin.

We all pulled away laughing.

Effie straightened her hair and checked the time, "Let's get you two to the suite. There are some very special people waiting,"


Effie abandoned us at the elevator saying she had to go visit her parents. It never occurred to me that Effie had parents before. I think she wanted to give Haymitch and me elevator time. I hit the elevator summon button thing.

"Katniss!" A scarily familiar voice called.

I spun around and saw Johanna running toward us down the hall. She body slammed me with her violent hug shoving me back into Haymitch, only she could make a hug violent.

"Is this really a legit thing? Haymitch and Katniss? Love really is weird," She laughed as she joyfully squeezed the air from my lungs.

"Yes it is," Haymitch responded just as the elevator announced it's arrival.

Johanna let me go so we could get in.

Johanna. Elevator. Parade. Tree. I thought. But what did that mean- oh, Johanna in the elevator after the parade stripping down because she hated her tree outfit.

"Uh Johanna? Any chance you could leave your clothes on this time?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes. "If I must." Then she laughed so I knew she was kidding.

The elevator arrived at the top floor. Annie stood there holding a baby while Beetee sat on the couch with a little wire trying to fix god only knows what. I really didn't know Annie that well so when she came up and gave me a warm hug I wasn't sure what was happening.

"Thank you Katniss," she whispered in my ear. I knew what she meant. The safety of her child, the fact that she and Finnick we're able to be something.

She stepped back and ushered us deeper into the room. It was a living room area with a connecting dining room and bedrooms connecting to the living room through mini halls.

"This is your guys's room," Johanna said.

"Who else is here?" Haymitch asked.

"Beetee, Johanna, and I. That's it. none of us really wanted to see Enobaria again," Annie answered. "I'm your first guest speaker or whatever."

Guest speaker about...oh no. Our first tribute was Finnick.

Haymitch and I piled our stuff in our room and I glanced over at him.

"I don't think I can talk about Finnick, Haymitch."

I felt his arms around me as I cried into his familiar chest.

"Be strong sweetheart."


I am so sorry this took so long to update! I had no idea where I was going with this for awhile but I think I got it now. Also please leave comments, you guys are killing me. Comments help me update faster also btw. And sorry if this chapter was terrible I'm feeling really off. COMMENTS PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!

PLEASE!