Hey guys! Fun chapter here. We got mean to Peeta in his first direct appearance but he lives at least through this whole chapter which is a nice change. You'll just have to see what happens I think we were even a lot more generous in the way we portrayed him. So start the story!

Soon enough we were all on board the train, and we were happy, which was a nice change. Katniss stayed close to Kawino the whole time. There's NO way those two won't get together. Then I remembered Peeta was back at the Capital. 'That'll cause some the tension. Huh, brain?'

"Yeah, but it should be fun."

'Yeah, I'll definitely have to see that.'

"Me too!"

'You'd have to if I do.'

"Right sorry, but I want to see it."

'I'll make sure.'

"Good, it'll be fun."

Before the train could leave the door opened again letting someone else in. "So what? You go to District 0 and just leave me there?"

Katniss froze and turned to the source of the voice. "Prim!" She gasped rushing over and hugging her sister.

"Katniss." The girl said laughing and crying as she was hugged.

Neither said anything more for a while just crying and holding each other. It was of course a very sweet moment but, 'How is Prim alive?' I thought.

"Those bombs were not real"

'So… it was the Capitol who dropped them?'

"Not, necessarily remember they had taken over 2 before that they had access to the Capitals weapons. Plus, they had Plutarch who obviously must have known about 0." It added.

'So, by accident they did not kill her?'

"Or on purpose."

'Maybe...'

"I'm so sorry, Prim. I tried to save you. I really did." I heard Katniss wail snapping my back into reality.

"I know you did it's okay I'm here now." She said.

"I know. I know." She said holding on for dear life.

Prim too looked extremely happy as well. There's really no way this could get any more perfect. "I missed you so much!" The small blonde said.

"I know but I'm here now and I swear I'll never leave you again."

"I will not leave you either."

"Good, I was honestly a complete mess when I thought you died."

"Yes, I was for a while down there too." She said.

"How bad?" Katniss asked worriedly.

"I did not want to do anything and you seemed so sad." She said.

"It was a lot worse before then though." She said with a sigh.

"Why what happened?"

"For a long time I had basically became what they called an emotional Avox."

"You shut down?"

"Well, yeah, what did you think would happen?"

"I didn't know." She said.

"It was a long while before I even said a word though."

"I'm sorry." Prim said.

"It's not your fault, Prim."

"I should have stayed behind."

"What were you even doing there anyways?"

"They needed medical officers."

"Coin had requested you didn't she?"

"Yes she did." Prim said.

"Figured," Katniss said with a growl that I assumed or at least hoped to be at Coin.

"Fortunately, I am safe."

"Yes but she clearly did that to throw me."

"It worked." Prim sighed.

"Until I killed her."

"You did?" Prim asked.

"Yeah, she was going to kill Catina."

"Oh! I want to meet her." Prim said.

"Well, I'm right here." I said simply.

"Oh! Sorry, I did not notice."

"It's okay. It's great to meet you, Prim."

"You too, you seemed nice."

"Well, thank you."

"No problem, thank you for taking care of my sister."

"My pleasure, we both really did help each other."

"Well, still, thank you so much." She said smiling.

"You're welcome. I guess she doesn't need me anymore though now that she has you back."

"Catina, that's not true." Katniss said.

"Yes it is. She obviously makes you much happier than I ever could."

"Catina, you both make me happy." She said.

"So you still want me around?"

"Of course, and I think Prim does as well." Katniss said.

"Do you?" I asked looking at Prim.

"Of course I do!"

"Well... alright, then I'll stick around."

Prim smiled and they both hugged me. Though surprised, I did try to return it. "Welcome to the family."

A smile found my lips and I said, "I'm glad to be."

"Good because you are stuck with us."

"Well, you're stuck with me."

"We like that."

I chuckled, "Good."

The train began to move. "This is so exciting! And when we get to the Capitol you can meet my boyfriend, Pius."

"He sounds cool!" Prim said.

"Yes, he really is."

"What about you Katniss?" Prim asked.

"I have Peeta waiting back in the Capitol."

I noticed, Kawino look slightly disappointed by that, and then everyone was caught off guard when Prim said, "Really still?"

"Well… yeah… I can't just…"

"It's just you two are both good people, but your so...opposite, honestly when the war started I expected you to just be friends since it did not matter anymore."

"So did I." She admitted awkwardly.

"Well then, break it off." Prim said surprising me by how straight forward she was being.

"That would kill him though."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because he at least clearly still loves me."

"Which is why he tried to strangle you?"

"That was because he was hijacked. That's all fixed now."

"So do you love him?" Prim asked.

She hesitated a while on that, "I don't know."

"Katniss it's not hard to figure out, when you are with him, do you enjoy it?"

"Well… not really…"

"Then the relationship is doomed to fail." Clove said.

"Yeah a good relationship is where all involved are happy." Said Mercy's mother.

"Well… alright, you're right. I'll break it off the next time I see him."

"You do not have to because we say so, if you choose to break it off, do it because you want to."

"No, I do. You guys are right."

"Alright then and we'll be here for support." Prim said.

"Good, thank you."

"No problem." She said looking at the others in the car. "So, who are all these guys?" She asked though clearly recognizing and surprised by a few which you could certainly imagine.

"Well, this is Mercy, her brother Alec, and their mother; I am sure you recognize Rue, Cato, Clove, and this is Cloves brother Kawino."

"Um… okay… why are the Careers here?"

"Well, we made up, and there is more to them." Katniss said explaining all.

"Really?" She asked looking at them just as much in shock.

"Yeah really." Clove said.

"That does explain a lot then. I'm sorry."

"It was not your fault."

"That's awful though."

"That is just how it was." Kawino said.

"At least in 2 a lot more tributes failed the brutality test then passed."

"Wow that is awful!"

"Yes it was and if they had become victor but still failed they wait until they get back so they have to watch as well as the rest of the district."

"That's sick."

"Exactly, there wasn't anything you could do about it though." Clove said.

"How did you all get through?

"We didn't."

"When you lived there I mean."

"We didn't." Cato echoed.

"What do you mean?"

"We didn't get through, no one could."

"So what did you do?"

"You do what you have to and try not to get shot."

"Sometimes it worked others it didn't." Kawino said.

"There were a lot of executions in 2. Break any law and you signed your own death certificate." Clove explained.

"And we mean any law." Kawino said.

"That's worse than Thread." Prim said looking down.

"Yes it is." Katniss said.

"They had more time to get used to it though." I pointed out.

"True for us it was life." Kawino shrugged.

"But in 12 until Thread arrived a while after my victory tour you could literally sell wild game you shot in the woods to the Peacekeepers. When that changed there were so many people being whipped, put in the stocks, or hung for crimes so long overlooked everyone forgot the were illegal." Katniss explained.

"That sounds like a drastic change." Cato said.

"It was." Katniss and Prim both nodded.

"Well, at least you survived."

"Snow couldn't have me dead anyways." Katniss said.

"Why not?" Kawino asked.

"He said then I'd just become a martyr and serve even more use to the rebellion dead than alive."

"Not sure that's true."

"I had the same thought in the 75th games though."

"That dying would be better?"

"Yes, I figured Peeta would do better alive and I would do better dead."

"Well, that was wrong. That guy is no leader."

"He knows how to work the crowd."

"That does not make him a leader." Kawino said.

"It does in that case."

"No, that makes him a cult leader."

"Well, what made me a leader besides they said I was one?"

"You inspired people."

"Not on purpose."

"Irrelevant, people will follow those who inspire them."

"They wouldn't need to be alive to do so."

"Dead they would have no inspiration."

"How not?" She asked.

"A dead inspiration might work for a while, but ultimately you lose the will."

"I guess." Katniss sighed.

"It's true."

"Definitely a mockingbird." I smiled.

"What?" Kawino asked.

"I concluded at the beginning of the tour that Katniss is a mockingbird."

"Well she is."

"How?" Kawino asked.

So I explained everything I had said again.

"Oh… I guess that makes sense."

"Yeah it does." Katniss said finally taking a seat beside Kawino as Prim squeezed in on her other side.

'Perfect,' I thought with a smile taking a seat right across from them.

"So, Kawino, what games were you in?"

"The 73rd. Made it to the final two before being beaten to 'death' with a steel baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire."

"You lost?" She asked.

"Of course, otherwise I wouldn't have been in 0."

"Right, sorry." She said.

"But yes, I lost. I obviously passed though since Clove is here."

"So, no one special for you?" Prim asked.

"Not that way… yet at least."

"Oh, so you like someone?" Clove asked surprised.

"Well yeah, I'd rather not say who though."

"Oh, Okay?" Clove said looking suspicious.

"Is it not obvious?" I asked her.

"What?" She asked.

Since she was right beside me I whispered in her ear, "He likes Katniss."

"Really?" She whispered.

"Definitely, did you see how he reacted when she said she's still with Peeta?"

"He seemed sadder." She said.

"Exactly." I whispered.

"So, do you think they will get together?"

"Yes I do. Besides, it would help a lot for both of them."

"Yeah? She does not seem like she needs the help now."

"Not as much but you'd be surprised. Besides, I promised Manius to help her find a better boyfriend."

"Really?" She asked.

"Yeah, back at the parade."

"We should work together."

"I agree." I smiled. She offered me her hand to shake. I shook it likely confusing everyone else.

"Okay..." Prim said.

"Don't ask," I said simply.

"Why not?"

"Just don't." She still was eyeing us both. I realize that she'd probably want to help anyways but I doubt Katniss is going to be willing to let her out of her sights anytime soon for us to ask her. I shrugged and we continued on back home.

A short while later the train arrived in the Capitol. I stretched smiling it was nice to be home. "Quite the trip, huh?" Katniss asked me.

"Yeah, really, I can't believe..." I started and then I saw Peeta looking at all of us stunned as we got off the train.

"How are they…?" He started it being obvious where he was going with it.

"Alive?" I asked.

"Yeah… that…"

I explained District 0 to him.

"That's incredible." He said his eyes wide.

"Yeah, it really is." Katniss said.

"I need to talk to you though." She added.

"Oh? Okay, here or in private?" He asked.

"In private." She requested.

'I'll have to follow her again, huh?'

"Of course!" My brain said.

She pulled him to the side and I followed. "Peeta listen carefully please." She said.

"Umm… okay."

"I think...we need to break this off."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sorry, Peeta, you're a great guy but were just so different and now that there's nothing hanging over us having to be together. I realized that I'm not really happy with the way things are."

"I thought things had changed?" He said.

"Not really," She admitted. "At least not in the way you're hoping."

"What do you mean; I'm just a friend to you?"

"That is what I mean."

"So, I have no chance?"

"Not really no."

"That's not fair." He said.

"How would it have been fair for me otherwise?"

"After all I have done for you, Katniss I love you how am I not worth it!?"

"I know you did a lot to help me and I am nothing if not grateful for it but that doesn't mean that I automatically have to love you that way for it!"

"You should though!"

"But I don't! And I have the right to love who I want to love!"

"Who could you possibly love more than me?! Is it Gale?!"

"No, it's not Gale!" She said defensively. "Especially not with the way he's been acting."

"Oh please, it has to be him! He has been trying to take you from me for two years now!"

"That doesn't mean I have to love him either!"

"You do though don't you!?"

"No I don't!"

"Oh please! I was tortured for you!

"You can't seriously pull that up as if it's either of our faults. It's not fair."

"Yeah well we both know very well life is not fair!"

"WILL YOU SHUT UP?!" Kawino shouted over.

"Who the heck are you?" Peeta snapped when he came over.

"I'm Kawino Yetter and you need to shut up."

"Why should I?!"

"She said she does not like you that way, and you need to accept it."

Peeta turned to Katniss and pointed to Kawino, "It's him isn't it? That you love?"

She blushed and snapped, "That's none of your business."

"So, it is him then?" Peeta said glaring at Kawino who did not look remotely afraid.

"I'm going to give you one more warning to stop glaring and shut up."

"Or what?"

"Or I'll be getting in my second fight today."

"You're going to fight me?"

"If you don't stop."

"Bullshit." He said.

"Wanna find out?"

"She. should. love. me." Peeta said. Kawino didn't say anything and stepped up punching him in the nose. Peeta growled and tackled Kawino. They both went down but Kawino managed to use Peeta's weight again him to flip it over so the Kawino was on top. He started punching Peeta in the face again until Peeta managed to get a hit of his own in knocking Kawino off him. They both got up to their feet and circled around each other a few times, "I'm more than used to taking a hit, 12."

"Not hits like mine." Peeta said.

"You'd be surprised." Kawino said and kicked him in his remaining knee. Peeta fell forward catching himself on his hands. While he was down Kawino kicked him in the gut. He rolled over clutching his gut. "Get up and fight." Kawino demanded. Peeta struggled to his feet. "Ready to give up?" Kawino asked.

"Why do you care?" Peeta asked.

"That's not really your business."

"I think it's a fair question."

"Because I don't want to be a monster." Kawino said. Knowing his childhood, I knew that pretty much translates to that he doesn't want to be like his parents but he was clearly avoiding that part with Peeta. Peeta did not know what to make of that. "Now answer my question." Kawino said.

"Which was?"

"Are you ready to give up?"

"Fine." He grumbled.

"Alright then," Kawino said and stepped back. "I stop as long as you do."

"Alright, I get it. Where did you learn to fight like that?" Peeta asked and it clicked that Peeta really only knows his name and that he doesn't want to be a monster… and that Katniss likes him.

"The Special Academy. Where else?"

"You were a Career?"

"Yeah, District 2 but that doesn't mean what you think it does."

He raised a clearly doubtful eyebrow given his history with Cato.

"It doesn't. None of it."

"Really, you say you're not bad? It's Cato's fault I only have one real leg!" Peeta said.

"You would too if the Peacekeepers had your parents and little sister at gunpoint dependent on it!"

"They what!?"

"Every year they captured both families and if they don't 'volunteer' or if they decide they weren't brutal enough in the arena they killed them in front of the whole district."

"Well, that would explain a lot." Peeta admitted.

"You believe me then?"

"Yeah, it makes sense."

He looked back over to where the others are but it was most likely more for Cato and Clove. "I think you should go." Katniss said looking to Peeta.

"Fine," He sighed. He walked or rather limped away in defeat.

"That went a lot better than expected." Kawino said.

"It did?" Katniss asked.

"Well, when I stepped in at least."

"I suppose." She said.

"You okay?" He asked her.

"Surprised but yeah. Thank you." She said blushing.

"It's my pleasure. I didn't like him talking to you like that."

"You care?" She asked.

"Well, yeah, of course I do."

"Well...I do not know what to say."

"Well… what do you think of me?" He asked instinctually preparing for the worst.

"Well I think you're nice and fun, and sweet." She admitted.

"Really?" He asked.

"Really." She said.

"Well, so are you."

"No... not really"

"Yes you are. At least to me."

"Well, that's really sweet of you to say."

"Thank you, so was it of you."

"You maybe...want to hang out?"

"Yeah, I would like that."

"Good we can make a plan then."

"Alright,"

I smiled. 'Whether the mean a date at the moment definitely a huge step forward.'

"Yes it is." My brain said.

'I should tell Clove.'

"Go hurry."

So I hurried back to where she and the others were. "Clove, good news!"

"What?" Clove asked getting excited.

"She asked him out."

"Really? That's great."

"Yeah, they are working out a plan now."

"Perfect then." She said smiling widen.

"So, do we follow them or just wait to see what happens?"

"I think we should follow."

"Cool it'll be fun." I said.

"Then it's agreed."

She nodded. "Any idea when that would happen?" She asked.

"No, I will get it out of her."

"That's a little creepy when you say it like that."

"Sorry, but you know what I meant."

"Yeah, you really think you could?"

"Yes, I really do."

"How? Just ask her?"

"Yeah, basically plus she lives here now."

"Alright then."

"Good." I nodded.

"How soon can you?" She asked.

"As soon as she is home."

"Okay, good, let me know right away."

"I will you all need a hotel."

"A what?" Clove asked sounding more like her brother.

"A hotel a place where people who do not live here stay."

"Oh, okay."

"Yeah, should be easy."

"Lead the way then." I smiled and we headed out.

I went along trying to pick out a good one. Which I did find in the Capitals best hotel. "Oh my Capitol," Rue breathed staring up at it. It was a large white and gold building with the name High Class. "Um… are you sure about this, Catina?"

"Yes I am." I said.

"Seems expensive," Clove said looking it up and down.

"It is, but it was decided that I actually do get a victors pay, new leader new order."

"Who is the new leader?" Clove asked.

"They held an emergency election. Apparently no one else liked the idea of Katniss for president so they elected District 8's former rebel leader Paylor. Not a bad choice." I admitted.

"Sounds like it." Clove said.

"Yeah, so you all can stay here for a while"

"Thank you, Catina."

"It's no trouble."

"Come on. Just wait until you see inside!" They nodded and followed here through the spinning door.

The lobby was pretty typical high class with pristine white velvet chairs and sofas, dark mahogany furnisher and floors, a large crystal chandelier overhead, and pearl colored walls. "Wow!" Rue said looking around.

"Yes, it is rather regal."

"Very impressive."

"Yes it is." I smiled and headed up to the counter.

"We need three rooms please."

"Of course, just give me a… what the heck?"

"What?" I asked. She just pointed back to the others. "They need a place to stay." I said.

"How are they alive though?"

"It's a long story."

"Um… okay," She said and put it in not asking any more.

"So three rooms?" I nodded in response, "Okay, at least one family?"

"Two families, one of two, one of four, one singular."

"Got it."

"You want them to be close?"

"Yes preferably." Clove said thinking of Cato.

"No problem then. I have three open rooms right by each other. Any idea how long they will be staying?"

"Not really."

"Fair enough, you can cover it in check out."

"We can."

"Aright then," She said getting the keys.

"Thank you lets go." I said. I took them over to the elevator. "Floor 24." I said. "Ever been on an elevator?" I asked Mercy and Alec since the others obviously were in the training center at least as I hit the button. They shook their heads. "Well, then this is a great new experience." It started and they shot upwards. I chuckled slight and said, "It's okay."

"It's weird." Alec said.

"You get used to it." I shrugged.

"I hope so."

"You will. I promise."

Soon we got out at the 24th floor. We headed out to find their rooms. They were gold carpeted with the same white furniture and beds. There were large gold marble bath tubs as well. They were speechless looking at the rooms. "It's amazing."

"I figured you'd think so."

"Yeah, it's very...wow." Rue said.

"Well, it is the Capitol."

"Even so, it's incredible!"

"Yes, it really is."

"Well, get settled in sleep if you need to." I said.

"Alright," They said and headed to their own rooms."

"See you later?" I asked them.

"Most likely." I nodded and headed to the elevator. "That went very well." I noted pushing the button for the ground floor.

See, I told you we were actually a lot nicer to Peeta this story… relatively speaking of course. I mean look at Timing is Everything. THAT was fun to write. Seriously though, you should read it if you haven't already. You should also review both stories (*all stories) if you haven't even if you flame the heck out of them.