Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games.

Author's Note" Please forgive me if I forgot things here and there in this story. It's been almost three years and I just really want to finish my stories up for my followers. Still nursing my broken heart. freezerdude really did a number on me. Sad thing is, he's the one. Some things a woman just knows in her heart and her gut, this I do know. But it's okay. I'm content. Like the old saying goes. It's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all. I was one of the lucky ones and I got to experience a great love, at least for a while. I wish I coud get it back. So hold onto your love a little tighter and be grateful for the joy they bring you.

Enjoy the story. I'm working on my book so these stories will be coming to an end. 3

Breathe

Chapter 14

Peeta POV

Today is Reaping Day and just like any other year, the feeling of death lurks over District 12. Katniss hasn't been able to rise from her bed the last few days. Her depression has reemerged and taken on a life of it's own. It's the calm before the storm. We know that Evan will more than likely be reaped. For revenge, for ratings, or just simply because it can be done. I have given ten years to the Capitol and it's still not enough. They want the daughter I just recently discovered that I had.

I have lost so much. We all have. It's not normally like Katniss to be down and out but she cannot help it. She keeps Evan at her side as much as possible, holed up in her room. I have been at my house with Haymitch, formulating as many plans and thinking out scenarios. Evan has visited and Haymith has bestowed advice onto her about the Games, hoping she doesn't have to use it.

But today, luck may have run out.

As I button my last button, the alarm in the center of District goes off, summoning us to this monstrocity. I open my door and step out onto my cement steps just as Haymitch does his. I walk over to Katniss's house and knock on the door, Prim anwering. "Where's Evan?" I ask.

"She's saying goodbye to Katniss. Katniss hasn't moved all 's like she's not in her body." Prim replies. Just then, Evan decends the stairs and I hold out my hand for her to take. I'm praying for a miracle as we walk out of gorgeous Victor's Village and into a ravished town. Haymitch and I exchange glances but there's no silent signal about another alternative. All I can hope for is that Evan isn't reaped and that if she is, she is smart enough to get away from the pack and use all of her talents to survive.

The Courtyard is full of children signing in and gambling with their fate. I turn to Evan and hold her head in my hands, hugging her to me tightly. "Kid, we're gonna figure this out. I swear to you. Just go sign in and pray. We've done all we can to prevent this. Now we just have to see if the odds are in our favor." I kiss the top of her head and she clings to me tightly, tears streaming down her face. "I will pray Dad. I will pray. But if I'm reaped, I'm coming out alive. Like you and Mom before me." Evan responds. I squeeze her tighter and then Haymitch interupts to wish her well. He pulls her aside and whispers into her left ear. She nods in acknowledgement. Then he hugs her so tight she almost turned blue. Evan leaves his grasp and joins the other kids in the courtyard and Haymitch takes his place beside me. "Get ready kid..." he whispers in my ear. I turn to my left and look at him and Haymitch winks at me. The ceremony is about to begin and the Great Hall doors open wide to reveal President Snow himself. The crowd is silent. Not a single clap or applause for our supposedly wonderful President of Panem. His silver eyes lock onto my blue ones and I feel rage beginning to whell within me.

Effie does her Capitol duty with the utmost respect for our President and proudly introduces him and then kindly steps aside for him to take the podium. "Greetings Citizens of Disitrict Twelve! Today is a marvolous day in our great nation of Panem as we kick off this 85th year of the Hunger Games!" This time, the crowd is urged to applaud with white peace keepers meandering through the throngs. Nobody wants to mess with a peace keeper and be thrown in the brig. "And now, without further adue, lets announce your honored tributes for this years Hunger Games!" President Snow steps aside and motions for Effie to assume her place and draw a name out of the glass bowl for a female tribute. I tense up, persperatin beginning to drip down my forehead from the etreme heat and nervous trepidation. I can't stand it. The overflow of emotion is pulsating in my finger tips.

Effie hesitates as long as she possibly can without gaining the ire of President Snow and selects a piece of paper. President Snow stands directly behind her. She holds it in her hand as if she knows whose name is already on the tiny white slip. Effie unfolds the paper and her emotion brings her hand to steady her mouth before speaking. Her voice shaking and tears starting to flow now, washing her mascara down her face, she holds up the piece of paper as she announces the name. "This year's female tribute for District Tweleve is Evan Mellark."

Just then, a lone arrow whizzes through the air, through that piece of paper and pearcing President Snow in his forehead.