A/N: Happy, happy, happy Saturday! We've made it to a thousand reviews, so I'm going to put up the next and FINAL chapter of this story right after I publish this one, so you can all read the final two one after the other. Which is good, because I wrote them as a single chapter but due to aesthetic reasons, decided to split them up into two. Anyway, THANK YOU to everyone who has reviewed, put this story on alert, on their favorites, put me on author alert, put me on their favorite authors list, or even just read this. I wrote this and I wanted others to read it and thank you to all of you who did that. I am sincerely touched by the way the fanfiction community has embraced this story. So, a hundred times thank you to you all.

I hope some of your questions are answered in this chapter. I do apologize in advance that there's no Peeta/Katniss interaction in this one as the reunion scene that you are all waiting for is in the next chapter. Gosh, I hadn't even really thought about that until just now. I think I might have been hunted down and killed if I didn't post the two chapters one after the other. But no worries.

Anyway, enjoy the story, I know I enjoyed writing it!

Chapter 21
The Boy who Won

The arena fills with cheers as the speakers begin to play the reactions of the Capitol crowds who were watching. Peeta lifts his head at the sound and there's an obvious look of wariness on his face. I can understand that, as I know I won't be able to fully relax until he's out of the arena. A hovercraft appears and lowers a ladder down to Peeta. He takes one last, long look at the area around him before he takes ahold of it and steps onto the lowest rung.

The camera holds on Peeta until the ladder raises him up into the hovercraft and he disappears from view. Then it fades to black and the seal of Panem fill the screens, and that's when I know that the Hunger Games are finally over.

"He won," I whisper, and I'm not entirely sure if I'm saying it to my companions or if I'm saying it to myself.

Haymitch nods. "Yeah, he did."

I'm having trouble convincing myself that he's safe, though. Most probably because I know that he really isn't; I haven't forgotten what Snow told me. I still don't know what his plan for Peeta is, but it's not difficult to surmise that I won't find it even remotely pleasant.

I am obviously not the only one who feels that way, as the joy over Peeta's winning is overshadowed by the uneasiness of not knowing what's going to happen next to the newest Victor.

A little while later, Effie bursts in the door with a cheery, "What a great, great, great day! Our Peeta won! Isn't that magnificent? I knew he had a chance when I saw how easily he overcame all of his disadvantages; talking to him, one wouldn't have known that he came from District 12!"

Haymitch and I exchange a look but Finnick saves us from having to pretend to be nice by saying, "How lovely to see you again, Ms. Trinket."

Effie turns red, and I try not to laugh at her obvious crush on Finnick. "Hello, Mr. Odair. You are looking well."

"You are too kind," he says, running a hand through his bronze hair. "I am sure I must look all a fright."

The escort of District 12 giggles and I can't help but roll my eyes. "I know you must be awfully busy coordinating appearances and events now that Peeta's won," I say as pleasantly as I can manage. "And it would be so selfish of us to take up anymore of your time."

"Oh, yes, of course," she says, seemingly brought back to reality. "Actually I was stopping by for a reason: since Peeta managed make it out of the arena with the bare minimum of injuries, his hospital stay is estimated to be a short one. It'll probably be only a couple of days to give him the full-body polish and make sure that well-fed and rehydrated."

"It's only a full body polish?" I ask, making sure. "There will be no enhancements, correct?"

Johanna smirks at me. "Oh, Katniss, you shouldn't worry so much. After Peeta's little strip show earlier, you're not the only one who knows that Peeta is more than adequate the way he is."

"As it so happens," Effie says as she looks down at the little portable computer in her hands to hide her blush. "President Snow has given strict instructions to keep Peeta just the way he is."

"Oh, that's…good," I say, but I can't say that I really feel as pleased about that as Effie expects me to be. "So when will I be able to see him? As soon as he gets to the hospital, I hope?"

"Actually, another one of Snow's directives is that you should stay away from Peeta until your reunion can be captured on television," Effie says, and I hate her a little less for the sympathetic look she gives me. "The crowning ceremony is tentatively scheduled for three days from now, so at least you won't have to wait for too long. After all, what is three little days after the ten that he spent in the arena?"

It would be 13 days; almost two whole weeks since I have felt his arms around me and his lips on mine. It almost doesn't sound correct as it feels like he's been gone for so much longer than that.

"Was there anything else, Effie?" Haymitch asks her when I don't make an attempt to speak again.

"We will have to schedule the farewell segment for Misu," Effie says, looking at me. "I was thinking we could do it tomorrow afternoon?"

I barely manage to cover up my groan with a cough. I hate the farewell segments as I see them as only another way to rub salt into the wound. Whenever a tribute dies in the arena, one of the mentors from his or her district is expected to say a few words about how wonderful the tribute was and give a little anecdote about the dead child. Then the mentor offers their condolences to the family and the entire district before ending the segment with a Capitol scripted line about how maybe next year the odds will be in their favor.

And it all feels so pointless. Because, for the most part, the farewell segments are aired during the middle of the night when no one is watching. And of course, it is mandatory for the people of the affected district to watch it, no matter what time it is on television. The only lucky ones that get a decent airtime are the final five and any other tribute who was popular enough with the Capitol citizens.

"Tomorrow afternoon will be fine for me," Haymitch says.

Effie looks surprised. Ever since I had started mentoring, the farewell interviews had been my job. Even last year, despite my overwhelming grief, I had handled the interview after Gale's death.

"Oh, I thought that Katniss would-" Effie starts, looking nervous and unsure of what to say about that.

"Katniss has her hands full with pining for her boy," he tells her, and I ignore his exact words long enough to shoot him a grateful look. I'm not sure I would be able to put aside my dislike for Misu to give her the proper send-off. Especially, since I didn't really think she deserved one.

"Of course," Effie says, giving me a nervous glance over her shoulder. I knew that she was going to get grief for bringing Haymitch to the taping instead of me, but I didn't have it in me to feel bad about that. I knew that she wouldn't get into too much trouble as Effie was as blindly obedient to the Capitol as they came. Besides, if they got rid of Effie, they would have to go through the trouble of finding another escort to work District 12.

Just then, the door opens again and in comes a large Peacekeeper. I feel my fellow Victors tense up all around me, but I know that they shouldn't be worried, as there was only one person for whom this visit could be for.

"Miss Everdeen?"

I sigh. "Yes?"

"President Snow has requested your presence," the Peacekeeper informs me. "Immediately."

Effie gasps, but she's the only one in the room surprised by the demand. I nod my head; I had been expecting the invitation to see him from the second that Peeta disappeared into the hovercraft.

"Of course," I say, getting up to follow the Peacekeeper.

But the uniformed official doesn't start. "I would like to inform you, Mr. Abernathy, that there is no need for you to wait for Miss Everdeen to start heading back to the training center. I'm sure Mr. Odair, Miss Mason, and Ms. Trinket will be more than enough to make up for her loss of company."

And with that, the Peacekeeper heads out of the room with such long quick strides that I have to jog to keep pace with him. I don't know why Snow commanded everyone else to leave the Games Headquarters without me and I don't like it. The uneasiness in my stomach grows when I realize that the man isn't leading me to the presidential suite. My anxiety hits its peak when I realize that I'm down in the garage. I have never been down here before as mentors were always dropped off right in front of the doors leading into the building.

The Peacekeeper leads me to a large black car with windows so dark that I can't see who is inside. The man opens the door for me and gestures for me to get into the vehicle. I enter the blood and rose scented car and suddenly find myself sitting across from President Snow.

His thick lips curl into a smile as I feel the vehicle start up and begin to move. "Miss Everdeen, how good of you to join me."

"How could I ever deny you such a request?" I ask him, trying to keep my voice as even as possible.

"So, I must offer my congratulations on your boyfriend's victory," he tells me. "You must be very happy."

"I am."

"Are you sure you are?" Snow asks me. "Because I have to admit that I am not exactly convinced about that."

"You must believe me," I tell him quickly, afraid that . "I am very happy that Peeta's out of the arena; I just would be happier if I didn't have to wait so long before getting to see him again."

"Oh yes," he says. "I can see why you wouldn't be thrilled with that. But you must understand that the Capitol citizens have become quite obsessed with your love story. As you can imagine, they would be most upset if they didn't get to see the lovers' reunion live on television."

"I don't understand why it would make any difference to them if it was the first or hundredth time we saw each other after he came back from the arena," I say, because I really don't comprehend the logic behind it.

Snow lets out a chuckle and I don't know what I've said that has amused him so, because I find none of it even remotely funny. "The citizens are quite invested in the love you two have for each other and many of them feel entitled to witness as many of your first times as a couple as possible."

I feel my stomach twist at his words, afraid of what he means by that. "I am not sure I agree with that."

He ignores my comment and continues, "You should be happy to learn that I have finally managed to convince a large number of my powerful friends that you and Peeta did not have sex that night before he went into the arena."

"Does that mean that the auction is back on?" I ask him and I'm almost sure that I'm going to be sick.

"It does not," he tells me. "But it does mean that I have a way to make exponentially more money than I would have with your auction."

I don't know what to think. I am so nervous about his plan that I can't even be pleased that I'm not going to have my virginity sold to some disgusting human muttation from the Capitol.

"Aren't you going to ask me how I plan to get so much money?" Snow asks me, thoroughly enjoying this conversation. The truth of the matter is that I really would rather not know, but it is better for me to play along.

"How?" I ask, the one word being all I can get out.

"I am going to film you losing your virginity to Mr. Mellark," he tells me. "And then I will allow those with enough funds to buy the rights to view it."

Snow hands me a large bag and I promptly expel the little food I had in my stomach into it. With tears in my eyes from the exertion, I look up at him. "Please, tell me you aren't serious."

"Are you upset that I'm allowing you to express your affection for the boy you love?" Snow asks. "I would have expected more gratitude than this from you. Perhaps you would prefer if I sold the two of you separately?"

"No!"

"I thought not," he says, nodding your head. "You never did seem overly fond of the idea. But then, are you saying that you think I am asking too much of you after all the generosity I showed Mr. Mellark in the arena?"

"I didn't say that; your donation to Peeta's sponsorship account was greatly appreciated," I begin.

"Oh my dear Miss Everdeen," he says with a smug look on his face. "Money was but a small part of the total actions I did on your tribute's behalf. Did you not think it strange how easy Mr. Mellark had it in the arena? I know that you can be slightly obtuse at times, but surely even you must have wondered why the boy was given something so imbalanced as the armor, am I right?"

"I had suspected that you might have had a hand in the decision to send that to Peeta," I say, wishing that my assumptions had been incorrect.

"And you did see that special similarity between this year's and last year's games that the Gamemakers included at the end there?"

"If you are talking about the mutts, then yes," I tell him through gritted teeth. "I definitely saw it."

"It wasn't exactly like the situation with Mr. Hawthorne, of course," he tells me. "Mr. Mellark was never really in any danger when it came to the creatures, of course. They were programmed to completely ignore him."

I don't know what to say so I don't say anything at all.

"Miss Everdeen, let me explain this to you," he says, his eyes boring into mine. "Mr. Mellark had an easy time in the arena directly because of my conversation with Mr. Crane in which I made it clear that I wanted the boy to be the victor."

I swallow hard and I nod to show that I understand him.

"Are you not going to thank me for doing my best to keep Mr. Mellark unharmed?" Snow asks me.

"Th-thank you," I croak.

"The only way I wish to be thanked is by you agreeing to play by my rules," he tells me. "From the minute that you and Mr, Mellark reunite at the crowning ceremony, I want you to act like you can not bear the idea of being apart from him. I want no one to be able to doubt your affections for the boy."

"I can do that," I say.

"My other expectation is that after the final interview with Mr. Flickerman, you take Mr. Mellark to your room and consummate your relationship."

My eyes widen. "But that's so soon!"

"It is, but it has to be done before you leave the Capitol," he tells me. "You do understand that, I hope."

"What if he doesn't want to?"

Snow laughs. "Mr. Mellark is a teenaged boy. I sincerely doubt that he would turn down such an offer from the girl that he's loved since he was five."

My mind continues searching for a reason, any reason, to get him to postpone Peeta's and my first time. "But we won't have time after the final interview! I mean, aren't we scheduled to go back to District 12 immediately after it ends?"

"Not immediately," he tells me.

"No, of course, not immediately," I say, panicked. "I guess we would have a few minutes to collect our things from our rooms, but surely you don't think that's enough time!"

"I do not," he says. "However, your departure has been moved back until the following day to make sure the two of you have plenty of time to fulfill my request. Of course, if you are still not comfortable with the idea of being with the boy you love, you can always choose to give your virginity to Mr. Torrklin while Mr. Mellark is tasked to satisfy whoever it is that wins his auction. "

I blanch. I have no way out. I have to make a decision between two unpleasant options. I know that it shouldn't be so hard to choose because I love Peeta and I would rather be with him than with anyone else. But still, the thought of sharing something so private with sleazy Capitol citizens makes me furious. And I can't forget about Peeta's feelings in all of this. I know he wouldn't like knowing that our first time is being filmed and sold, but I think he'd might prefer it to the alternative.

Oh, how I wish Finnick was here so I could ask his advice.

"Miss Everdeen… your decision, please." Snow looks at me expectantly, his hands crossed over his knees.

"I don't want Peeta to know," I tell him.

"And what is it that you don't wish him to know, exactly?"

"Anything," I say. "I don't want him to know what was the other alternative, or that I was the one who chose this… and most importantly, I don't want him to know that we are being filmed."

"I understand why you would want to protect him from the knowledge," he tells me. "And I promise you that Mr. Mellark will be left completely in the dark about the situation. But judging from what you asked, does that mean that you are agreeing to fulfill my request, then?"

"Yes."

"I want to hear exactly what you are agreeing to, Miss Everdeen," he tells me. "Just to make sure that you and I are on the same page."

"After Peeta's final interview, I will take him to my room and I will seduce him," I indulge him. "Was that what you wanted to hear?"

"Yes, very much so."

We sit in silence for a while and the overpowering stench and the heavy knowledge of what I have agreed do to overwhelm me and I feel the urgent need to break the silence as quickly as possible.

"Those weren't the …" I can't manage to ask the question.

"The actual bodies of the tributes were untouched when the muttations were created," he tells me. "However we did use some genetic material that we had collected from the tributes prior to them entering the arena."

"What does that mean?"

"It is not at all necessary for you to worry about that right now," he tells me and my skin shudders with the implication. "Just know that I was pleased with the result and that I have no doubt that a special little project, which I have all my top minds working on, will be a complete success."

"What kind of project?" I ask.

"Oh, Miss Everdeen; you know I cannot tell you that," he says, smiling. "That would ruin the surprise; and I know how much you love surprises."

The car stops and a few seconds later the door opens and I can see that we are parked in front of the Training Center. I get the feeling that I'm supposed to leave now and I start exiting the vehicle.

"Goodbye, Miss Everdeen," Snow calls when I'm completely out. "I shall be looking forward to your performance."

I nod mutely at him, as I have nothing else to say. And then I watch a different Peacekeeper than the one from earlier close the door to the vehicle. I don't dare move until I see the car drive off and then I immediately turn on my heel and run into the Training Center. I don't even slow until I reach the elevators. I somehow manage to keep all my emotions in check all the way back to my room on the 12th floor; but the second that I close the door behind me, I break down. I throw myself on the bed and let just everything out. And I don't fight the exhaustion that hits me hours into my breakdown and I drift off into nothingness.

Hours later, I awaken to a knock at the door.

"Hey, Katniss," Johanna calls from the other side. "Are you in there?"

"Yeah," I tell her, going to wipe the remaining wetness from my face and finding that most of my tears had dried hours previous. "Come on in."

She steps in and sits on the bed. Her fingers tug nervously at her shirt. "I don't even know why I came here. We both know I'm no good at this stuff. But Haymitch is dealing with your boyfriend and Finnick… well, he's busy."

I nod to show that I understand what she meant by that. My heart goes out to Finnick. Now that the games were over, he would spend the next few days entertaining those with enough money to buy his company.

"You said that Haymitch is dealing with Peeta?" I ask, preferring to dwell on that topic. "Is there anything wrong?"

She shakes her head with a smile. "Nothing that a couple of days of sleep, food, and water won't fix. However, the boy is desperate to see you."

I can't help the blush on my cheeks. "Really?"

"Last I heard he had to be sedated because he tried to leave the room to go looking for you," she tells me. "Haymitch has been tasked to explain the situation to Peeta upon his waking."

"But other than that, he's okay?" I ask.

"I haven't personally seen him," she says, shrugging. "But I have no reason to think otherwise."

We are quiet for a moment and I can tell that she has something on her mind. There's only one thing that it could be. "You're dying to know what happened between Snow and me, aren't you?" I ask her.

"Am I that transparent?" Johanna asks in response. "I guess my acting has gotten as bad as yours if I'm so easy to read."

"Snow wants me to…" I stop not knowing how exactly to word it. "He wants Peeta and me to…"

"Have sex?" Johanna offers.

"Yes…" I say, slowly. "With each other."

"Well, that's creepy and weird, but in the grand scheme of things…" she starts telling me.

"Snow's going to have the… encounter filmed and distributed to those with enough money to afford it."

"He actually said that to you?" Johanna asks and I nod. She makes a face. "Okay, we moved past creepy and weird into vile and disturbing territory. So what did you say when he told you that's what he wanted?"

"Well, after he made it clear that the only alternative was for Peeta and I to be sold separately, I agreed to it."

She looks surprised at that. "You agreed to do it?"

"I didn't have a choice," I argue.

"I guess not," she says. "Although I never thought you'd agree to something like this without a fight."

"It would've just been worse for me in the long run," I remind her. "And who knows who would have been hurt in Snow's retaliation."

"It isn't easy having people you love," she tells me, a painful memory darkening her features. I wonder which of the many people the Capitol took from her is she thinking about. I take her hand and squeeze as a reminder that she still does have people left that care about her. She rolls her eyes at that, fighting a smile. "I wonder how much Snow will charge for it and if Finnick and I can get one if we pooled some of our excess riches for it."

The only thing I can do is glare at her as she laughs.

The following days were agony for me. Knowing that Peeta is so close but still not being allowed to see him, is driving me insane. It became worse for me when most of the other mentors were sent home, leaving just a small number us in the Capitol. Only those Victors with "entertaining appointments" were allowed to stay, as well as the mentors from the winning district. Johanna's departure had left me in a melancholy state that Haymitch described as insufferable.

The only highlights were whenever Finnick was free and he'd come to visit me. The time we spent together wasn't frequent, and it certainly wasn't lengthy, but it was better than nothing.

I keep expecting him to bring up the conversation we had that night before the mutt attack, but he doesn't. Dropping hints doesn't seem to work either, as it seems to just fly over his head.

Finally I've had quite enough of waiting. "Finnick, are you ever going to tell me what you meant?"

He looks startled at my outburst, before a smile creeps on his face. "I might, if I had any idea of what you're referring to..."

"Do you remember the night before the Games ended? You and I were talking about the incident with Annie and then you said that Peeta was more special that even I gave him credit for," I remind him.

"I remember," he tells me. "Your point?"

"You said you would explain that comment to me."

He raises an eyebrow. "I am somewhat disappointed that you didn't figure it out yourself."

"How would I be able to do that?" I ask him. "Your mind tends to work in a very odd way."

Finnick laughs. "Perhaps, but didn't you notice something about Peeta's time in the arena? Something that sets him apart from every other Victor?"

I think hard on it and that's when it hits me. I cup my hands over my mouth. "He didn't have a single kill, did he?"

Finnick shakes his head. "Not a one. I was wondering about the girl from District 5, you know the one who died from eating the berries? But no, the Gamemakers ruled her death a suicide."

"Winning the Games without killing anyone was a big deal."

Finnick nods. "It is, but the Capitol is trying not to call attention to it. Problem is, that people already saw the Kill Count and saw that he wasn't even on the list. And wouldn't you know it, everyone is going absolutely crazy over it," Finnick informs me. "Peeta Mellark: Lover not Fighter."

I roll my eyes at the overly dramatic ideas of the Capitol citizens. "Tell me the truth, should I be worried about this?"

"Truthfully?" He chews his lip while he thinks. "I would say no as long as you and your boyfriend don't piss Snow off."

"You know how hard I'm trying to keep him on my good side," I tell Finnick, thinking again about the difficult decision I had made to allow Snow to film and sell Peeta's and my first time together.

Finnick nods. "I know."

He had left not long after that, having to rush off to spend time with a "lady friend." I had spent the rest of that night alternating between being impressed with Peeta managing to not kill anyone and being worried about all the repercussions that could possibly stem from that.

The following afternoon, which was the third day after Peeta left the arena, I am making my way from the dining area after having some lunch by myself, when I see a familiar face that I haven't seen in too long.

"Cinna!" I cry, running down the hallway towards him.

He grins as he pulls me into his arms and gives me a warm hug. "Well, hello to you, too."

"Have you seen him?" I ask.

His green eyes twinkle with amusement "Who?"

I elbow him in the stomach in response to him trying to be funny. "You know who. Peeta! Have you seen him?"

"I have not," Cinna tells me, rubbing at his abs. "But I have been very busy these last few days, you know."

"I know, I'm sorry," I tell him. "It's just that I'm going crazy just sitting around and waiting."

"Well, then you should be happy to hear that the crowning ceremony is tonight," he tells me.

A smile spreads across my face; I'm going to be seeing him tonight! "So I take it you're here to get me ready, then?"

He nods and he hugs me again, lowering his mouth so that it's near my ear. "Katniss, there's something you should know: President Snow commissioned a special outfit for you to wear tomorrow."

"So? That wouldn't be the first time he had a hand in what dress I wore." I can't believe Cinna forgot all about the cleavage bursting dresses I had been stuffed into the past few weeks.

"It is the first time that he was concerned about what you would be wearing underneath your dress," he whispers.

I stiffen. "Oh."

He studies my face for a minute. "I can tell by the fact that you don't look surprised that you knew about this?"

"I didn't know that Snow was going to be designing my under things," I say, shuddering in disgust. "But I guess I did know that there was a reason why he would have been interested in them."

Cinna frowns at me, a pitying expression on his face. "I am so sorry. I had thought that the auction had been canceled."

"It has been," I tell him. I debate whether to tell him the whole story about what happened with Snow. I decide that now would not be the best time to disclose everything and instead say, "I'm positive that the President just wants to make sure that I look special for Peeta, is all."

A look of recognition crosses Cinna's face and he nods. I'm not sure how much he understands, but it's enough that he still feels sorry for me. "Well, then let's make sure you look your best when you see him tonight!"

He takes my hand and leads me back to my room where my prep team is waiting for me. Cinna and I share a look as the three of them babble on about how happy they are for me now that Peeta is back. They can be a little overwhelming at times, but their joy for me is genuine and even I can't help but appreciate them for that.

It takes a few hours for them to finish my hair and makeup and Cinna brings out a simple yellow dress for me. He helps me slip it on and then Venia assists me as I step into the matching shoes.

The dress doesn't show off as much of my bust as most of the outfits I've been wearing lately, and I'm grateful. This is purely Cinna's work and I can see the elegance in the design. The sheer fabric seems to give off the impression that it's made out of pure, soft light.

"He's going to love you in this," Flavius says.

"He's going to love her even more out of it," Octavia giggles.

"Hold on... Don't forget the finishing touch," Venia says, handing something dark to Cinna.

He meets my eyes in the mirror and helps me into Peeta's jacket. "We thought you might want to give it back to him."

I blush as I nod. "Thank you."

My prep team says their goodbyes as Cinna walks me to the elevators. "You do look lovely," he says.

"Only because of you and your amazing talent," I tell him.

"If only I could take all the credit," he says. Then he drops his head so the two of us are at eye-level. "Are you okay?"

I know what he's asking me. It is so sweet that he's so worried about what is going to happen tomorrow. I give him a kiss on the cheek and give him a reassuring smile. "I'm okay; just nervous. I wish that you were coming to the ceremony with me. I mean, I know you're going to be there but-"

"I know what you mean," he tells me. "But don't worry, you and I will see each other tomorrow."

I nod. Of course, Snow would have Cinna help me get ready. I needed to look my best for the cameras.

The metal doors open and he gently pushes me into the elevator. "Go. All of Panem is waiting for your reunion."