Just a quick question, would you rather I respond to reviews before the chapter or afterwards?

Enjoy!

Katniss watched as her now revealed foster father argued with her fiancée. They had done the same thing every night for the past week and it was getting on her nerves. And it was about the same thing every time: their destination. Gale wanted to know where they were going and if it was dangerous. Haymitch wouldn't say, claiming that if he told them now, he would have to kill Gale in order to keep it a secret. At that point, Katniss would intervene and stop the argument. "Though, maybe I should let it go on and see what happens. The only reason I ever stopped it was because they looked as if they were about to come to blows. Which they look like they are going to do now." She jumped off the log that served as her seat and stepped between the two men in her life. "That is enough." She growled. "We cannot be fighting each other or we won't be able to fight for our lives if the Peacekeepers find us. Remember, Gale was supposed to report to the mines and he never did. And then we suddenly disappeared with him. They're bound to be looking for us." It was a weak argument and would last a couple days at best. Haymitch pulled her away from the fire and from Gale. "Why do you keep trying to scare him away?" She asked in a hushed whisper.

"Where we're going, he's not going to be welcome. They'll imprison him the moment he steps foot on their grounds just because he was born here. Not to mention that your people won't be happy that you are in love with one of the enemy." Katniss shook her head.

"Then they know nothing. The day we left, I told Gale what you told me. And he didn't turn away from me. Instead, he insisted that he come with me and protect me and that he was going to marry me, no matter what anyone said. And if it is true that I am the princess,"

"Queen,"

"Queen, of Panem, then I can marry who the hell I want. Gale is not the enemy. The people of the Capitol are just as much victims as Panem and the Districts. And, if they still insist on imprisoning him, then they will have to find themselves another queen because I won't fight for them and Gale and I will run and hide. Forever if we have to." She looked at her foster father, the man she had called Dad for sixteen years.

"Yup, as stubborn as the king." Haymitch mumbled. "Fine," he said aloud, "I'll tell you where we are headed. If only to make sure you know the danger you are walking into." He said to Gale.

"I'll brave what I have to for her."

"Dad," Katniss said warningly and cut off Haymitch's reply.

"We are going to a place called Thirteen. It's not a District because it has people from both Panem and the Districts. It lies on the border of Panem and the Districts and would have been the thirteenth of either country had taken the land for themselves. But they left it in peace, knowing that one day it could be useful. And it is now. The president there has gathered anyone willing to fight from Panem and the Districts. The only reason they haven't attacked yet is because they have no one to place on the thrones of the countries they are fighting for. That is where you come in, Katniss. Once we arrive, they'll want to place you as a figure head and then fight. If they win, you'll become queen."

"I won't be used." Katniss growled. Haymitch smiled.

"That's my girl." He thought. "And I'll make sure you won't be. You already know what to do once we get there if it comes to it." He looked at Gale who got the meaning from the one look. "And I'll help you. I know someone who is in a power position there. She helped us get into the Capitol during the invasion. She'll be able to help us once we are in the compound. The only reason that I am telling the two of you this is so that you know what you are walking into. You still have the chance to go a different way and hide. But I am going there. I was found by someone from Panem. And I'm sure that the Peacekeepers are suspicious of me now. Thirteen's the only place for me now. But the two of you still have options."

"We are going to Thirteen." Katniss said. "Snow's games have gone on long enough. We need a new president." Gale nodded and Haymitch looked at the young woman he had called his daughter for fifteen years. The sixteen year old looked more like her parents now than she ever had before. I made him both proud and scared.

"If she is anything like her father, she'll fight until she can't fight anymore."

Katniss adjusted her pack and looked at the open ground before them. Haymitch had said that it was forest even past the border. But there was no forest to be seen now. Not even a tree stump. He wasn't going to like this. They weren't going to be able to sneak into Panem from here. She sighed and walked quietly back to camp. Gale looked up when he saw her. He had been the last on watch and they had decided she would go and scout the land without Haymitch knowing. Though, he would have to know now. She grabbed a handful of snow and packed it into a ball. She knew he slept with a knife under his head. Gale moved to stand next to her. She weighed the snow in her hand and then tossed it. It landed right on the back of his neck.

Haymitch jumped up, swinging his knife and cursing. Katniss couldn't contain her laugh and that stopped his raging. He scowled. "What was that for?" He demanded.

"Get ready to leave and I'll show you." She answered. Haymitch grumbled, but packed up his blanket and holstered his gun. Once they were ready, Katniss led them to the spot she had been an hour before and pointed. Haymitch cursed. "What now?" Gale had pointed out the watch towers along the border which she had missed before.

"None of us have papers. I burned ours once we were safely in this country. I never thought that we would have to go back."

"We could play that one of us is a victor on a trip home." Gale suggested.

"That won't work. They've watched all the Games and will realize that you are not one of the victors."

"But they won't recognize you, Dad." Katniss said. Haymitch and Gale looked at her. "You are older than most of these Peacekeepers,"

"Thanks a lot."

"They won't recognize you." Katniss continued without commenting on the interruption. "You can hold yourself like you are a victor and we can be your child and her friend going for a visit to Panem. We pulled off me being your daughter for fifteen years, we can pull this off."

"It's risky. And if what you said the other night is true, they'll have a poster of at least me up."

"I doubt it." Gale said. "We have a good week and half on any papers that could have been sent to the border. As a rule, there is no electricity here so that the Districts and Panem don't get a hold of it and revolt. They'd have to send riders before they knew about you if you're that important at all."

"But it's ten miles to the closest depot."

"So we walk across. They won't want to question a victor's motives. There's no telling if they'll ever have to go back into the Arena." Katniss said with a wink and Haymitch glared.

"Sprint, damn it! How are you supposed to get away from a fellow tribute if you can't sprint across this field?" Gale taunted as he and Katniss walked a few feet behind a sprinting Haymitch. Though to Katniss, it could hardly be called sprinting. It was more like fumbling across the open field. He was old. He had been in his prime when she had been born and was glad that he wasn't actually a victor. Though, it could be played off that he was greatly out of practice. "Do you think this'll work?" Gale whispered through gritted teeth as Haymitch finally collapsed on the ground.

"I hope so. Being a soldier, I thought he would always be able to be ready to go." Haymitch mumbled something into the dirt. Katniss and Gale helped him up as several Peacekeepers neared them.

"What is going on here?" The one in command demanded. Katniss looked at him.

"He's training. He was a victor before I was born and he's now worried that he might have to go back in someday."

"And who is he to you?" The man's voice was a little more gentle.

"I am his daughter. My name is Catnip." The Peacekeepers snickered and she glared. The name had been Gale's idea and she wasn't as thrilled with it as he was.

"Is he alright?"

"He will be. This was his idea to train while we traveled."

"And where are you traveling to?"

"To Panem. He says he has family there that he wants to see before he dies."

"Are you sure he is telling the truth?"

"Would you question your father?" She countered. She felt Haymitch chuckle. The lead Peacekeeper dismounted.

"Well, the orders are to help any victor who is about. And it looks as if your father is about to pass out from exhaustion." He helped Haymitch onto the horse and they began walking. Gale stayed a step or two behind her while she stayed close to Haymitch. The Peacekeeper walked next to her. "So who is he?" He pointed a thumb at Gale.

"A childhood friend of mine. He wanted to come along and loved the idea of my father training again. I think he hopes that Dad will go back into the Arena so that we could see him in action. Though, I doubt that he'll last long in the shape he's in."

"You don't know who you're talking about." Haymitch finally pitched in and he and the Peacekeeper started talking. Katniss fell back to walk with Gale.

"Seems to be working." He mumbled. She nodded and watched Haymitch. The falling in the dirt had been an act and she knew it now. He had recovered too quickly for it to be real. It told her what he really thought about her plan and how he planned to make the most of it. They reached the watch towers and they were given food and horses to continue their travel with. They were told it was because Haymitch was a victor and that all victors were near royalty in the Capitol. Katniss and Gale said nothing while Haymitch gushed thanks and mumbled about how he was finally being appreciated. Finally, they were on their way and crossed the border an hour later. Once safely out of ear shot, Haymitch laughed.

"I've never had that much fun since before I was on the guard." He said. Katniss rolled her eyes.

"It was my idea."

"Yes, it was. But I milked it for all its worth." Katniss rolled her eyes again and said nothing.

Had to have a little humor after all the seriousness that came before and what is no doubt going to follow. Thanks for reading and please review!