This is the last real chapter of Rue Returns. I can't believe it's finally here! After this we have the epilogue, and that's it. Wow, time has flown so fast! I hope you guys have enjoyed the story so far and will continue to enjoy to the end. Here we go!

When Delilah embraces me, I feel like everything is right in the world. I finally have my twin back.

"It's so good to see you," Delilah said.

"You too," I reply, and we embrace again.

Delilah goes to hug our parents, and Rue comes over and taps my shoulder. "You didn't tell me you had a twin!"

"I wanted to surprise you," I plainly reply. Rue nods.

Delilah and my mother embrace for a long time, longer than I think I did after my Games. It was really hard for Mom to have two of her daughters in the Games one right after the other. I'm proud of how she handled it.

Then, my father and Delilah embrace. My dad is very, very strong, so he always almost squeezes the life our of my sister and me. But it's sort of our special hug, and I love that. I think Delilah does, too.

Delilah then hugs Spark. The two are almost as close as sisters. I have really gotten to know Spark well over the years. But Delilah is certainly closer than me to Spark.

We are all escorted to the Justice Building for lunch. I sit in between Rue and Delilah; a perfect spot. Delilah is right next to Mayor Undersee, and my parents are across from us.

"Oh, Delilah, I never introduced you to Rue!" I exclaim. "Rue, this is Delilah. Delilah, Rue."

The two awkwardly shake hands over me.

"Why is she here?" Delilah asks me.

"Long story. The Capitol is working on bringing people back to life for some purpose, I don't know exactly what. They had tested it on animals, but never a human. So, they picked Rue, since she's so small. They decided that they needed to give Rue a place to stay. Her family is in chaos because they have a lot of kids, and Katniss has baby Dalia. So they asked me to be her adopted sister of sorts, and I agreed."

"Aha. So she'll be living with us?"

"Until she turns 18, in which case she can decide whether she will live in 11, 12, or sort of bounce between the two."

"When does she have to decide?"

"No clue. I think around 18, maybe a bit later or earlier. I mean, if she lives in 11, they're going to build a little cottage for her. But she may find her love in 12. I just don't know."

"She'll probably have to do tests when she goes to the Capitol. I mean, she will mentor, right?"

"Naturally. I'm sure of it. I'm pretty sure that the scientists working with her from the Capitol told me that."

"That'll make it easy for us. 6 mentors for 2 tributes. We can rotate!"

"Yeah, but Rue is working with both 11 and 12. She'll have her work cut out for her. I doubt that she'll be working for 12 as much as 11, and I'm also sure that she's going to have a lot more work in 11 than 12. But she'll be with us for the rest of the year."

"And we'll see her in the Capitol. I have to say, even though I went to the Capitol to fight to the death, I really like it there. It's so pretty."

"I get that. I thought the same way."

"The Games didn't change you a bit, Lilac."

"You either."

I love having these conversations with my sister, but I feel like Rue is feeling excluded, so I turn to her next.

"How are you doing, Rue?"

"Portion control," she replies. "This is torture. You see Damian right there?"

"Yeah."

"He's been serving me. There's so much yummy food and I can barely eat anything."

"I'm sorry."

"At least I'm alive. That's all I can hope for, right?"

"Right."

As the meal winds down, two desserts come out. One is red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, and the other is crème brûlée. Unfortunately, I love them both, so I just have to have both of them.

Delilah, Rue and I finally get home after a long day. We open the door to our house, and Rue looks amazed at the size of everything. "So this is what a Victor's Village house looks like! They're so big."

"But they might be different specified to each district. For example, 10 houses may have bigger yards than here. You know, because of all the livestock."

"Yeah."

We go up to Delilah and my room. The three of us look up and down, trying to figure out how to fit a third bed into the room.

"Maybe we could just sleep in different rooms.." Delilah suggests.

"No, I want to be with both you and Rue!" I exclaim. "Is there any way to work with this room?"

"Maybe we can combine it with the next room over..."

"No clue how!"

"Well, maybe we can all sleep together for today but then switch rooms later."

"OK!"

We move a third mattress from another room into Delilah and my room. Rue helps me to make her bed with some light yellow sheets. Before we knw it, it's late, so we have a light dinner and get into bed.

Right when I'm comfortable, I hear Rue crying.

"Rue, are you OK?"

"No. I miss my mom and dad and siblings. I want to go back home!"

Rue comes into my bed and I hug her. "You'll be fine, Rue. I know you're homesick, I was too. But you'll go back home soon enough."

"I know," she says, and we snuggle until I feel her breath grows heavy.

It's hard to believe that Rue and I only met a few days ago. I feel like I've known her forever.

I feel like we're really sisters.

I'm sorry this is such a short chapter. I had wanted to make it the same chapter as the last chapter, but I wanted that element of surprise. But the chapter is 1,000 words!

Anyway, I can't believe that this is the last chapter of the story! The epilogue will be up soon and then, we're done! It really is bittersweet.

-goldie031