After a train ride that was mostly Katniss laying on Kawino as they talked, the train began to slow. "Get ready," he told her.

"I am are you?" She asked

"I meant for what you'll see."

"What will I see?"

"Hell, a LOT of Peacekeepers, hopeless citizens, at the very least one execution on the way. Our trip should be short and simple enough. Could have been a lot worse."

"I'm ready," she said.

"Okay then."

They left the car and headed up front. "We should be by the mines now."

"Mines in 2?"

"The marble mines. Masonry, you know. Where the poorest end up. Not that different I'd imagine from the coal mines in 12. Just a day load of back breaking, life threatening labor for barely enough to survive off of if that."

"That sounds just like home."

"I had just said that. Though in 12 the miners' children aren't still legally mandated to train for the games while nearly starving to death giving their bodies no choice but to eat down their own muscles for energy. I had the same problem, obviously."

"The starving bit you mean?"

"Yeah and the issues because of it."

"Well, we don't need to worry about that now."

"They still do."

"I know,"

"Also still has the same problems as the rest of the district."

"Yeah, I suppose it would."

"Nothing that can be done about it though."

"Right, let's just go."

"Not until we get to the center."

"Right sorry, nervous is all."

"You could stay here while I get her." Kawino offered.

"No, I don't want you to be alone in case."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Well, okay."

"It'll be alright." She said

"I guess we'll see."

"We will."

"Think we'll see them?"

"Probably waiting for us."

"That why you're coming?"

"Mostly."

"Well, thank you."

She cuddled into his side sliding his arm around her shoulders, "I love you Kawino."

"I love you, too, Katniss."

"So you'll be okay?"

"I think so."

"Okay," she said, as they stopped.

They separated slightly but kept each other's hands as the doors opened. There was the usual flash of cameras as they exited. They worked it not really having a choice.

Soon thought they reached the edge of the platform. Luckily the cameras were gone. Kawino looked around and there they were, standing and smiling. He immediately moved as close as possible to Katniss immediately confirming to her that it was them. "Hello son." The woman said pleasantly approaching him.

"Don't come any closer," Katniss order moving back and obviously taking him with her.

"Excuse me?!" the mother asked, turning her attention to Katniss.

"I know what you monsters had been doing to him. He told me everything."

"Did he now? Well, you know everything we did was for his benefit."

"I call bullshit. You practically tortured him."

"Says you, we increased his tolerance for most things he would face in the arena and that saved his life."

"It also made him ready to take a suicidal dive into the wolf mutts."

"That was not our fault."

"Yes it was. You're actions made him want to die. Just as his sister."

"What would you know about her?"

"What he told me and what I saw in the games last year."

"Like you paid attention to the games last year."

"She's right." Kawino suddenly snapped to his 'mother'. "You guys are the reason Clover's dead."

"We didn't tell her to not fight."

"You didn't the same things to her though, didn't you?" Kawino asked, the fear seeming to melt away only hot with fury.

"Well, we wanted her to live too."

"Liar!" Without even thinking about anything that could happen because of the action, Kawino full on tackled her pinning her to the ground. "You promised! I cooperate you leave her out of it! WE HAD A DEAL!" He shouted.

Before she had a chance to respond in anyway, if she even had a response to give, he slammed his fist down on her nose shattering the bone. The father sprang over pulling Kawino off. As soon as he touched him though, Kawino sent an elbow right to the father's mouth.

He drove his shoulder into the bigger man's gut knocking him to the ground. He felt a disturbing amount of pride seeing them both on the ground but he wasn't done yet. He needed them dead.

He took a few steps backwards as his father began to get to his feet still bent over clutching his stomach. Kawino sprinted towards him leaping up high into the air and brought his right foot down on the back of his father's head slamming him face first into the metal train platform. Katniss heard two very distinct CRACKS! She was sure the man's nose, neck, and skull had all just shattered.

Kawino double-checked his pulse though to be certain. There was nothing at all. An insane smirk crossed Kawino's face. "What's going on here?!" A harsh voice demanded from behind him.

"I killed him," Kawino said. "I can explain though," he added, turning to the Peacekeeper.

"You had better!"

Kawino proceeded to tell him everything they did to him and Clove.

"Is this all true?" The peacekeeper asked. He turned to the woman still on the ground clutching her broken nose and trained his gun at her head. "Is it?!"

She looked to Kawino as if pleading. Kawino met her gaze with a glower of pure hatred. She closed her eyes not wanting to look at that or the gun barrel in her face. She saw no point in trying to fight it anymore, not with her husband already dead, so she just nodded slowly, her eyes still closed.

There was only a second before the trigger was pulled. The bullet went straight through her forehead killing her instantly. Kawino visibly relaxed, with a sigh. "I told you that you can take them."

"Maybe." He said.

"That's exactly what you just did, Kawino."

"Yeah, I suppose I did."

"How do you feel?"

"Relieved," he admitted honestly. "They can never hurt me or anyone else ever again," he muttered looking back at their bodies.

"Exactly."

"Is it bad that it feels this good?"

"No, not really. It would for most people after everything they did to you."

"Yeah, but it's over now."

"Exactly."

"Let's go get Cady." She nodded and took his hand. He smiled and led the way.

"Do you know where you're going?" Katniss asked.

"Sort of yeah."

"Okay." He led her down several streets.

After a while of searching they found the right place. "Here we are." Kawino said staring at the house.

"Very nice place."

"Well, she is sort of the mayor's daughter."

"Oh, that makes sense then," Katniss realized, fingering her pin.

"Yeah." Kawino said approaching the door and knocking three times.

It was only a few seconds before Cady answered. "Kawino!" She smiled hugging him.

"Cady!" He said hugging the smaller girl tight.

"I was so scared." She said, as he picked her up.

"I know but I'm okay now."

"You almost left me though," she said, tightening her grip.

"I'm really sorry for that."

"You came back though."

"Yes I did. Also, my parents are dead now."

"How? I just saw them headed for the platform."

"I killed them. Well, him, then a Peacekeeper got involved so I told him everything and she was shot."

"That's great though."

"Yes it is," Kawino smiled.

"So you're free now?"

"Yes I am."

"So, what will you do?"

"We're going to 12."

"So you're leaving me?" she asked.

"No, we were hoping you'd come with."

"Really?! I can?!" she asked.

"Yeah, Snow gave the okay during the post-Games interview."

"You want me to come along?"

"Of course I want you to come along. You're practically my sister and the first person I ever trusted with my secret."

"I would love to come, I can't just let you go."

"Then get packing."

"What about mom and dad?"

"We can ask them if you can."

"Okay."

"Come on then." She said hoping down and taking his other hand before catching sight of Katniss.

"So, you guys are together?"

"Yes we are," Katniss said.

Cady was instantly looking her over. "Hmm." She hummed carefully. "Tell me about yourself Girl Who Was on Fire."

"What do you want to know even?"

"Anything really."

"Well, I am sort of an anti-social person for the most part but as you could tell if you saw my Reaping, those who I do care about I'd do anything for."

"I did see your reaping, do you care for Kawino as much?"

"Yes I do. Though I wouldn't have been able to do the exact same thing."

"I know, but I had to ask."

"Yes I do though."

"Okay," she said. "You can date him," Cady permitted.

"Thank you." Katniss said.

"Let's go then."

"Right follow me," Cady said.

They headed in. She led them down a hardwood hallway. She headed to her father's office. He was there seated behind his desk. "Daddy," she started.

"Yes, Cady dear?" he asked, before looking up and surprised to find Kawino.

"Kawino's going to 12 and I wanna go with."

"You want to leave 2?"

"Is it really that shocking?"

"Well, I suppose not..." he said carefully.

"Daddy please, you know I'm miserable here."

"Will you take care of her and keep her safe?"

"Yes, I promise I won't let anything happen to her," Kawino swore.

"Well, dear, if you really think you'll be happier there."

"I do think so."

"Then I suppose you can go."

"Thank you." She smiled and hugged him.

"Please be careful dear."

"I will. I will miss you though."

"I will miss you too dear, you should tell your mother as well. Visit us please when you can."

"I will," she promised, letting go.

"Kawino, you swear she will be safe?"

"I swear. I don't want anything to happen to her either."

"I am trusting you with my daughter."

"I know and I won't you down."

"I hope not," he said seriously.

"I swear."

"Good now let's go speak to my wife." Kawino nodded and he took them out.

He led them to a library. Cady's mother sat at one of the tables reading. "Dear, Cady wants to say something," he said.

She put down the book and turned to her daughter. "What is it, Cady?"

"Well, mom Kawino is going to go live in 12 and I wanted to know if maybe I could go with him? It's not that I don't love you and dad, but I am miserable here," she said.

"Well, as much as we'll miss you the last thing we want is for you to be miserable."

"So, you're okay with me going to live with him?"

"As long as he takes good care of you."

"Of course, I will, Ma'am. I promise," Kawino said.

"Then yes you can."

"Thank you, Mommy," she said, hugging her

"We're going to miss you though."

"I'll miss you both as well."

"I'll try to visit if I ever get the chance though." Cady promised though she wasn't sure she'll be able to since it's a miracle Snow's letting her come to 12 in the first place.

"Also, you go pack. I have a few things I want to give you to take," her mother said, rising and heading to her bedroom. Cady nodded a sprinted off to her room to pack leaving Kawino and Katniss alone with her father

"You know, I've heard a lot about you, Kawino, but I don't think we've ever actually meet." The father observed since Cady had kept his secret even from her family. Which is an impressive feat for someone so young not to go screaming to her parents.

"You have heard a lot about me huh?" Kawino asked wondering just how much Cady had told her parents, she was after all young so who knows? He didn't think she had told them everything, but maybe. "Like what?" he asked.

He was surprised by the question but answered, "Nothing bad, just that you're really nice and helpful. Stuff like that."

"Oh okay, well she is a great little girl and I tried to help her in class," Kawino said, though he visibly relaxed to both of them.

"How come I've never met you before?" He asked, finding it odd that both of his kids had known him so well but this was his first time seeing him in person.

"Well, that's a bit of a long complicated story. I sort of had, what you could only really call terrible parents, and they would not let me go anywhere." Kawino said keeping the worst of it out as long as he could. "They're dead now though." Kawino added getting that out of the way as soon as possible, not wanting him to get worried or try to take any action because of it.

"They are? That is interesting. I just got word of two executions for child abuse and neglect." He said casually looking over a plant on the nearby table.

"That would be them." Kawino gulped knowing that was bound to raise more questions on the pressed charges. It occurred to him after the words came out that he could have just lied on either account but it was too late to take the words back.

"That was them?" He asked turning his attention to the young man who now didn't want to look at him. Kawino bit his lip and nodded slowly staring at the ground. He didn't want to see the man's face. Didn't want to be looked at like he's a kicked puppy or something. "That is unfortunate. Why didn't you tell anyone?" He asked feeling bad for the boy, but curious as to why he had let this go on.

"Clove was safe... well... I thought she was. I figured an orphanage would have been bad for her. After her death I just kind of gave up." Kawino said almost too quiet to be heard. It could have solved everything for the both of them if he had known they were hurting her, too.

"What do you mean you thought she was?" He asked approaching the young man concerned wondering just how bad things had been for him, and possibly others since the two executed had been teachers at the Academy.

"I found out much later that they had been abusing her too but letting us both think we were keeping the other safe." His voice cracked as he continued to glare at the ground. "I was so stupid. I should have known not to trust them not to hurt her."

"But they, they trained my kids, many kids. How could we not know that?" He asked getting more afraid.

"They were great at pretending and as far as I know they didn't hurt any of the other kids." He hesitated for a few seconds looking over at the door Cady headed out of not sure how he'll respond. "Cady knew though."

"She knew, why didn't she tell me? I could have helped you all." he said, feeling that he had failed as a Mayor.

"I asked her not to tell anyone," he said quickly jumping to Cady's defense. "If they ever found out she knew they'd most likely hurt her, too."

"I never would have let them hurt her, they never should have hurt you two," he said, sounding offended.

The words came out before he had a chance to stop them giving way more than he had intended. "I was scared okay and so was she. Most people would be if they just unexcitingly walked in on their trainers beating their son with a mace!"

"They beat you with a mace?!" He gasped now looking directly at the boy who was shaking a little now. Kawino nodded mentally kicking himself for not keeping his mouth shut. Why was that suddenly such a difficult feat? "I can't believe that we allowed this to happen! It's terrible."

"Yes it was but you had no way of knowing," Kawino corrected, looking up at him for the first time since this conversation started. He didn't blame him for anything. He didn't blame anyone but them and in some cases himself.

"I should have checked up on the school if I had...I could have saved you and any others they may have hurt," he said, seeming disappointed with himself.

"Maybe but I'm free now and beating yourself up over what you could have done isn't going to change the past."

"I still failed to check the school thoroughly, that's one of my responsibilities as the Mayor." He sighed.

"As I said, they were great at pretending." Kawino frowned not liking him blaming himself. "They made sure that you didn't find anything."

"I'm so sorry. I wish I had noticed." He sighed feeling very regretfully.

"I don't blame you." Kawino said seriously, looking him right in the eye. He couldn't blame anyone for what they didn't know or do especially since he tried so hard to make sure they didn't.

"It's my responsibility and the principal's as well. We both failed you and your sister," he said.

"Well, I don't care. I could never blame either of you for what happened to Clover and me."

"You should." He sighed.

"I don't and it's my own choice who I blame and don't blame."

"Alright, but still I'm sorry," he said.

"I forgive you."

"Thank you, I feel a little better." He said

Cady came back in before either of them could say anything else. She looked between them noticing the look on her father's face which could only mean one thing. "You told him?"

"Yes, sorry, I told him. It just sort of happened. Don't worry, he's not made at you," Kawino said carefully.

"When did you find out?" he asked his daughter.

"About a year ago, when I went back after hours for my jacket."

"Did Cato know?" He asked them both, wondering if his late son had found out as well

"No, he had no idea."

"How is that possible wasn't he dating your sister?"

"That he was but considering it was kept so well from each other it's not really that surprising."

"Right, I get you. Well, Kawino at the very least I have something for you. I was going to give this to Cato, but..." He trailed off sadly thinking of his son hurt.

Kawino looked back down hurting by Cato's suicide as well. "What is it?"

"Give me a moment I'll go get it," he said, heading into the same room his wife had gone.

"Do you know what it is?" Kawino asked Cady.

"I have a few ideas." She said. "It's a surprise though," she added, rocking back and forth on her heels.

"In a good way?" Katniss asked hopefully.

"Of course in a good way."

Her mother returned first with a small golden locket on a similar chain and gave it to Cady. "It's beautiful," Cady breathed, looking over the engraved design on the locket before popping it open.

It opened to show a picture of her mother and father together and then to her surprise another of Cato and Clove, smiling lovingly at each other. The last spot was empty. Tears sprung to her eyes as she traced the picture of Cato and Clove with her finger. "I was going to give it to Clove as a gift and then the reaping happened...I think you should have it." She said.

"Thank you," Cady whispered, still tracing the picture.

"No need to thank me, they loved you so much. It seems only right for you to have it."

"They never deserved to die," Cady said, her voice cracking.

"No, they didn't. Rarely ever does anyone," her mother said.

"It's not fair. I needed them. Kawino needed them. How could they just abandon us?"

"Cady, they didn't abandon us," Kawino said, approaching her and picking her up.

"They just left though."

He picked her up and hugged her close. "It was not like that, they didn't see it that way. You never think things through when you're depressed," he said.

"I guess but it still really hurts."

"I know, believe me I know, but they loved us, Cady. I promise they didn't mean to abandon us," he said, stroking her hair gently.

She sniveled but nodded closing and putting on the locket. "Okay, I believe you."

"You still have me though," he said.

"Yeah, and I'm glad for that. I'm sure you have Katniss now, too," he added.

"Yeah, I'm here," Katniss assured.

"Really?" she asked, over Kawino's shoulder. "You said you were anti-social though." Cady remembered from when she asked her about herself.

"I am except with some people."

"Why me?"

"A little because of how much you mean to Kawino, but more because you seem like a nice little girl, and I would love to get to know you more."

"Well, thank you." Cady smiled a little wiping the tears from her eyes. Though it was unexpected, it was nice to know.

"You want down or no?" Kawino asked her. Cady shook her head snuggling into him. "Okay, I've got you." He said smiling a little at her.

"Thank you, Kawino."

Just then, her father returned with a mid-sized box. "This is for you," the father said, giving him the box. Kawino took it, but still holding Cady couldn't open it without dropping it.

"Um… I could get down." Cady said awkwardly.

"Could you? Just for a moment?" Cady nodded and got down from his arms.

To her surprise she walked over and stood by Katniss. "You could have just stayed with him you know."

"I know, but maybe I wanted to get to know you?"

"Well, alright, I guess."

"Is that a problem?" the little girl asked worriedly.

"No, just kind of weird."

"Why? I mean, we have to get to know each other."

"I guess."

"Sorry, I am not exactly good at being social," Cady admitted.

"Neither am I." Katniss laughed. "Haymitch said I have as much charm as a dead slug."

"That's not true."

"You barely even know me."

"You charmed Kawino."

"I didn't even really do anything to do that."

"Still you did."

"Then I certainly handled it well the next day." Katniss sighed remembering that 'conversation' they had on the first day of training.

"What did you do?" Cady asked.

"I didn't believe that his offer of an alliance was for real and not a trap. Which was more to be expected, until Clove was brought into it."

"Oh, I see." Cady said.

"Yeah, I told him that if he really cared about her that much he should have stopped her from volunteering."

"Okay, that was a huge misstep on your part," Cady said.

Meanwhile Kawino opened up the box to find three smaller boxes within. The center smaller box was open showing a black cross on a back chain. In the center of the cross was another much smaller cross made from very small clear diamonds. "What is this?" Kawino asked looking over it confused having never seen anything like it.

"It's a necklace, the design is a cross, it's been passed down to the eldest child in my family since just after the Hunger Games. I think that you should have it now."

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, I'm sure, it seems right."

"Well, I guess. Thank you."

"Take good care of that please?"

"I'll make sure to."

"Alright, the other are things Cato was going to give Clove when she got back..."

"He had a lot of confidence in her." Cady sighed.

"So did I." Kawino sighed. "She would have won, too. If she had wanted to," he added.

"Yes, well things happened, terrible things." Cady sighed.

"I know that now."

"Yeah, we all do now."

"It shouldn't have taken so long though."

"I know, but you can't change the past no matter how much you may want to."

"I know." Kawino sighed.

"Well, as I said, he was going to give her these." Kawino hesitated and took one of the other boxes.

There was a silver ring in each of the other two smaller boxes, one meant for a boy the other for a girl. They seemed to show two lizard like animals except three head scales were small diamonds. "And what are these?" Kawino asked, looking each of them over.

"These are promise rings." He said.

Kawino still didn't know what that meant but Katniss was shocked. "Um... I am clearly missing something here," Kawino said.

"Um, do you know what marriage is?"

"Yeah, why?"

"A promise ring is basically a promise to get married someday."

"It is?" he asked, staring at the rings

"Yeah," Katniss answered breathlessly. Though she never knew either of them, the pieces of Cato's suicide were fitting together, clearer than ever.

"Oh, I never really...I didn't know." Kawino said blinking rapidly. "This is terrible." He breathed turning the one that was supposed to be for his sister over and over in his hand.

"He was going to give it to her soon."

"But then he lost her. He lost the girl he loved and couldn't take the thought of going on without her. I know what happened after that." Kawino said crying a little. "I understand why but I certainly don't like it." Kawino chocked.

"I'm sorry, it feels only right that you take these." Mr. Harring said.

Kawino nodded his throat threatening to close. "I'll take care of all three."

"Thank you, Kawino, if you ever need us we are just a phone call away," he said.

"I'll keep that in mind."

To his surprise they both hugged him. "Though you say it's not my fault, I'm still sorry you and your sister had to go through all of that," Mayor Haring told him.

"Well, thank you for saying that, and for all this." Kawino said awkwardly

"It's our pleasure." They let him go and went over to their daughter and of course both hugged her.

"You be good for Kawino dear, and keep safe." Her mother said

"I will, Mommy. I promise," Cady said, hugging them back.

"Be nice, and try to make friends okay?" her father asked.

"I will."

"Remember, Kawino is your guardian now, listen to him."

"I will."

"I can't think of anything else to say." her dad said.

"We love you Cady." they both said.

"I love you guys, too." She smiled holding them both as close as she can.

Kawino smiled as he watched them, feeling both happy Cady was coming and bad for taking her from her family. He looked back at Katniss and whispered, "Is this wrong?"

"What do you mean?" She asked looking at him

"Taking her away from them?"

"Well, that depends if we were forcing them to give her up, or her to leave then yes, but she seems to want to go with you."

"You're sure?" he asked, still not really sure himself.

"Yes, if she wants to go and they want to let her it's different."

"Okay, I believe you."

"It's alright, Kawino," Katniss said.

"Thank you, Katniss."

"No problem, but there's a little girl who is going to want your attention," Katniss said.

"She's saying goodbye now."

"I know, but I meant later," she said.

"Oh, I understand she will."

"Good, I just wanted to make sure."

"I won't mind though."

"I'm sure, you clearly care for her."

"I really do. She's like a little sister to me."

"Well, I'm glad for that." Katniss said, as Cady's parents let her go.

"Okay, I'm ready," Cady said.

"You got everything?" Kawino double checked kneeling so he could look her in the eyes. Cady nodded with a small smile. "You want to walk?"

"Could you carry me?"

"Sure, I can if you want."

"Please," she said, and reached her arms out for him.

"Of course, Cady." He said smiling and picking her up.

"I love you, Kawino," she said, holding close to him.

"I love you, too, Cady," he said, patting her back.

"You sure you're ready?" he asked.

"Yeah, I think so," she said.

"If there's anything else you need it's okay to get it."

"No, I think I have everything."

"Then let's get going."

"Yeah, okay," she said, holding on to him as he picked up her bag.

"You ready, Katniss?" he asked her.

"Yeah, I'm ready," she said.

The three of them headed out. "Good Luck you three!"

"Thank you," they called back.

"So, are we all going to live together?"

"Well… we hadn't gotten that far actually," Katniss realized.

"Well, maybe we should talk about that now?"

"Yeah, probably."

"I think we should." Cady said right off the bat.

"Does seem like a good idea," Kawino said after some thought.

"Well, if you two don't mind my family, I have no problems."

"Of course your family, too."

"Thanks, Cady."

"So it's agreed then?"

"Yes, if your family wants to live with us, too."

"I'm sure they will."

"I hope they like me," Cady said.

"I know they will love you," Katniss told her.

"You think so?" Cady asked sounding a bit hopeful.

"Yeah, I know my mother and sister."

"Well okay."

"You trust me?"

"I have to."

"No you don't really."