Catching Fire: Rekindling

by Jamie Sommers

A/U Peeta was determined to win Katniss back. Katniss needed to return to the person she was before falling in love with Peeta. Join them as they set fire to a nation on the verge of rebellion and try to rekindle the love they thought they had lost. Multiple POV's Sequel to 74th Hunger Games Challenge: We Always Were in which K/P entered the Games as a couple. A/U of CF!

26. Coming Together

Catching Fire: Rekindling

By: Jamie Sommers

Chapter Twenty-Five: Coming Together

Previously Effie was summoned by someone and took Haymitch's tiny computer, but he caught her with it and agreed to meet her at 2am. Viggo placed the order for a doctor to join the team D12 team to help Katniss out in the arena. Peeta said goodbye to Katniss only to have a bolt of lightning break up their little interlude, followed by Finnick.

In this chapter everything seems to be coming to a head. A new character is...sort of introduced. The next chapter you will find out much more about this person and how important this person was to the rebellion. Things are being set up for Mockingjay and I have decided on a title. I have gone through a ton of title options suggested by readers, my betas...myself and I want to thank THGpanem for suggesting Mockingjay: Broken Wings. I LOVE IT! So now y'all know the name of the next story. Sorry for not updating very quickly, but I was very sick. I do have the next chapter written, but I must tweak and then send it off to the betas. Only two more chapters to post before this story comes to an end. Sigh.

Thank you dear readers for your kind words, for reading and for your patience. Thank you S and A for...EVERYTHING! Again, thank you THGpanem for the name of the next story, Mockingjay: Broken Wings. What say we find out who's up to what in...

Catching Fire: Rekindling

"Didn't mean to interrupt you two," Finnick said as he stared out across the moonlit ocean.

Peeta took a seat with his back to him and said somewhat sheepishly, "It was probably for the best that you did or things might have gotten a little carried away."

"Looks like they had already gotten carried away," Finnick said quietly.

"Suppose they did," there was a hint of sadness in Peeta's voice knowing he'd never get to experience moments like that with Katniss again. "That ever happen to you before?"

"What? Getting caught up in the moment?"

A thoughtful expression crossed Peeta's face. "No. It's more than that. I mean…we've experienced things like that too…heat of the moment type of thing, but tonight was more like… I don't know," he sighed. "Ever been so in love with someone that the whole world faded away and the only thing that existed was you and her?"

Finnick knew exactly what Peeta was talking about. There were countless times that he and Annie had felt that way while walking along the beach in District Four. "Oh, yeah. There could be a thousand people surrounding you, but you don't even notice them because you're lost in the woman you love."

"Exactly," Peeta looked up at the moon. "I've loved her my whole life and just when I thought things couldn't get any worse for us she kisses me and all my troubles seem to melt away." Peeta swirled the tip of his knife in the sand. "There are a lot of people that don't understand Katniss…her temper or the way she acts sometimes, but I do. For some reason she let me into her world…into her heart and I swear Finnick, there isn't a happier man alive than me just thinking about how much of herself she trusted me with."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Finnick gave him a little grin. "The moment my true love told me she loved me too…it was like all the pain I ever suffered happened for a reason." Thoughts of Annie tucking her hair behind her ear and smiling at him made his heart ache. "I just hope she's all right."

"She is," Peeta placed a comforting hand on his back. "I know she is. As a matter of fact, I bet the Capitol is interviewing all of our family, friends, mentors…everyone right now."

Peeta sounded very convincing to Finnick. "Think so?"

"Absolutely. This is the Quarter Quell, Finnick. You know they're making a huge spectacle out of the interviews. Right now there are cameramen interviewing every single person we know. Everyone that's a member of our team. Hell, they're probably interviewing Haymitch even though he's probably drunk as a skunk and can't form one coherent sentence."

Finnick let out a little chuckle. "Yeah, he slurs a lot when he's drunk."

"They'll be interviewing both mentors from District Four. Annie and Skip. Especially since we're all allies. Plus, if I know our escort Effie, she's taking good care of your mentors. Effie Trinket is the best escort in the entire Capitol." Peeta said proudly. "The woman has been able to control Haymitch for over a decade, so taking care of Annie and Skip is probably a vacation for her."

"I bet they're enjoying that," Finnick let his mind wander to Annie and Effie sitting and talking. Finnick had heard some really great things about Effie's involvement with the rebellion and if anyone could take care of Annie, it would be her. "That's a nice thought. Annie doesn't really get out of Four very often."

"Well, she'll be spoiled rotten by the time Effie's done with her. After having Katniss as a tribute two years running, I'm sure Effie will be thrilled to have a more traditional girl to talk with," Peeta grinned. "Katniss used to drive Effie insane."

"Oh yeah?" Finnick asked. "What did she do?"

"Let me put it this way, I'm surprised Haymitch is the only drunk on our team." Peeta smiled.

"Yet you love her," Finnick gave him a little nudge.

"I'm mad about her. For all of those reasons and more. I love her fire, her passion, the way she won't put up with anyone's crap, how shy she is and how soft her heart is. She doesn't smile very often at people, but she does smile with me and when she does…it's like my heart starts to smile back at her. The best thing about her though is the way she loves me. She accepts me unconditionally. We're so different her and I but there's something…something inside of us that…"

"Compliments each other," Finnick finished for him, thinking about himself and Annie and how different they were too. He was so open and friendly. She was so shy and barely talked to a soul. "It's funny, but Katniss sounds a lot like someone else I know."

"Don't say Johanna, because Katniss would have a cow," Peeta gave Finnick a cautious look.

"Actually, Johanna and Katniss do have a bit of the same qualities…their tempers are a bit…" Finnick wasn't quite sure how to say it without sounding rude.

"They're both spitfires," Peeta remembered Effie's word for Katniss.

"Yeah," he let out a bit of a laugh. "They are, but that's where their similarities start and end." Finnick gazed out over the ocean and said, "No, I was thinking of a different girl. Someone…very special to me." His eyes became glassy as he spoke about Annie. "Never thought a guy like me would fall in love, you know. Yet this girl…" he turned to Peeta, "…there was something about her that touched me…made me feel alive again." He looked back towards the water. "She makes me feel worthy of living and that was a feeling that had been sorely lacking in my world for quite some time."

"It's amazing what a woman's love can do for you, isn't it?" Peeta's eyes swept the jungle to make sure they were alone and not being hunted down by the Careers.

"It's more than amazing. Miraculous is what I'd call it." Finnick wondered if Annie was watching the Games or if President Snow was torturing her. "Please be okay," he spoke softly with the hopes that Annie could hear him.

Peeta knew who it was that Finnick was worried about. He was sure that anyone watching the Games could've figured it out by now. Finnick Odair was head over heels in love with Annie Cresta. "She's fine, Finnick. She's watching you right now. In fact, if you close your eyes for a second, I bet you'll be able to feel her love wash over you." Peeta glanced over his shoulder and watched as Finnick took his advice.

He wasn't sure if Peeta was right or wrong, but he sounded so convincing that Finnick had to try. He shut his eyes and thought of Annie. He pictured her sweet face, her eyes glowing at him in the dark as she swam in the ocean of District Four. Suddenly a memory popped into his head and he opened his eyes. "I remember the first time I kissed her. It was only the second time we actually spoke to each other in private, but when we did…I felt like I could trust her…like I knew her my whole life."

The camera crews didn't stay long in District Four after Annie was crowned victor. Just long enough for the celebration banquets to end and to film Annie and her mother's initial reaction to their new home, then everyone from the Capitol was gone. Finnick had overheard the crew talking amongst themselves, complaining about how difficult it was to get usable footage of Annie because she cried so much. He had only seen her publicly and when he did they didn't actually speak to one another, he was too busy being the face for the cameras, but he watched her. Studied her every move and longed for the moment when he could talk to her again. The night the camera crews left, Finnick did his usual thing, tried to sleep and when it continuously eluded him he walked along the beach.

The water was so tempting, peaceful, but there was danger swimming alone, especially at night when no one could hear your cries if an undertow pulled you down. Though Finnick was a strong swimmer, the ocean was even stronger. There was a faint sound coming from the distance, splashing and… "Is someone…giggling?" Finnick said quietly. The sight of startling green eyes glowing at him from a few yards away had him catching his breath. "Annie?" He said softly and waded into the water till he was waist deep. "Annie!" He called out to her and saw her shocked expression at his presence.

"Finnick." She started to swim towards him, but stopped about five feet away. "What are you doing out here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing." He still couldn't believe she was right in front of him. "You really need to stop swimming by yourself at night. What if you got caught in an undertow or something?"

Annie started swimming towards shore, her voice clearly said she didn't appreciate being scolded. "I've been swimming after dark for as long as I can remember. If the ocean wants me…oh, well." She was almost to the sand when she faced him. "Better to drown out here than have your head sliced off."

By the end of her sentence Finnick could hear the unmistakable tremor of pain in her voice. "I didn't mean anything by… Hey!" He called out to her when she hit the sand and started running. The weight of the water felt like his legs were being held back as he ran through the sea in her direction. "Annie!" he called out to her. "Wait!" Once his feet hit land he caught up to her in no time. "Whoa," he reached around her waist and hoisted her off of her feet in order to stop her from leaving. "Where are you…" Finnick's sentence dropped off when he felt her whole body quaking and heard her crying. He stood her in front of him, keeping a light hold on her upper arms and faced her. "It'll be okay. It might not seem like it now, but it will get better with time."

Annie buried her face in her hands and let her tears flow. "No it won't. You weren't there. You didn't see it…smell it."

"No, I wasn't in your arena, but I had my own to deal with." Finnick swallowed the disgust the memories of his Games brought to his stomach. "You didn't kill one person in the Games, but I did." He looked away. "I murdered more children than I care to remember."

"And did it get better for you?" Annie asked accusingly. "The memories?"

All he could do was stare up at the sky and answer her honestly. "No."

"Then don't tell me that it'll get better, because we both know it won't." Annie rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands. "The worst part was the stench of blood. One minute there was nothing but the clean scent of water that had broken the dam and the next all I could smell was the overpowering scent of blood." Annie's tears were silent now. "Even the sight of seeing his head…" she couldn't seem to say 'sliced off.' "…that doesn't bother me as much as the stench. It's everywhere. When my mother cooks I can smell it in the kitchen coming from the meat. The fishermen with cuts in their hands from their labors… I can't seem to run away from it."

"For me," Finnick dropped his hands and sat on the wet sand. "It's the sound of my trident entering their bodies." He looked up at her. "And when I pulled it out…it was like a wet, sucking sound." Annie took up residence next to him. "You'd be amazed at how many things make that same noise in a district like ours."

"Mags says that there's always something that will trigger your memory of the arena and that sounds, smells and taste are usually the worst," Annie said softly.

Finnick had heard his mentor tell him that many times over the years. "Mags is a smart woman."

Annie started drawing circles in the sand. "She says she practically raised you after your family died." She hesitated before asking, "How did they die?"

"Boating accident." There was anger registering in Finnick's eyes when he answered.

"Did they go fishing?" Annie wondered why they would need to considering Finnick was a Victor.

"That's what I was told." He stood up and gave her a fleeting look. "Want to head back to the village? I'd like to get out of these wet clothes and get something to drink." What he really wanted was to avoid the topic of conversation.

"Sure." They walked side by side in silence until they entered Victor's Village. "Guess I should go home."

"If you want." Finnick was now regretting suggesting they come back to their little neighborhood. "Or…you could come back to my place? We could sit and talk like we did on the train."

Annie twisted her face as though she were thinking about it then said, "Can I meet you there? I want to change."

"Yeah," excitement bubbled out of his answer. "See you in a few, okay?" She nodded. Finnick watched to make sure she got into her house okay then jogged home.

'Tea,' he thought to himself. 'Annie likes tea.' He put a pot on to boil and got out some little cakes he picked up at their local bakery. "Honey," he turned towards his pantry and grinned remembering how she enjoyed the sweet syrup. 'What else?' He wondered. 'Don't want to look like you're trying too hard. She's just a girl. You've been with a ton of girls.' The thought of other women made him cringe. 'What are you doing, Finnick? Trying to woo this innocent woman when you can't even be faithful to her.' He was just about to reconsider his actions when he heard her voice.

"I knocked, but you didn't answer." Annie stood at the kitchen doorway wearing a long flowing cotton sundress. "Wasn't sure if you changed your mind or not."

Finnick shook his head slowly from side to side, mesmerized by how beautiful she looked in the light green garment. "You look lovely."

Annie glanced down at herself then back up again. "My mother threw away all of our old clothes. She told me I deserved to wear pretty things my whole life," she shrugged, "so now all I have are the outfits my mother picked out with my stylist's help and the clothes leftover from the Games."

Finnick placed everything he prepared on a tray and led her upstairs to the balcony that led off of his master suite. "This is my favorite part of the house." He set the tray down and pointed to the distance. "I have the only house in the Victor's Village with a view of the ocean."

Annie stood at the edge of the railing and looked out, "Wow. That's beautiful." She turned to him. "Bet you can see the whole sea from here during the day."

"You can," he nodded. "Come on," he pulled out a chair for her, "I made you some tea."

They talked about the things they did growing up. She about the extra work she and her mother had done trying to save up money for something to sleep on other than a blanketed floor. Finnick about his brothers and how they used to terrorize their mom with their practical jokes. Surprisingly, happy memories for both of them.

"It might seem weird that I liked to work on the side, but diving is my favorite thing to do, so it really wasn't work for me," Annie nibbled at her piece of cake. "These are really good. What are they called?"

Finnick shrugged. "No clue. I just go to the bakery and point at the stuff I want and say, some of those, some of those, some of those…a lot of those…" they both let out a little laugh.

"The next time you go, can I come with you?"

"Sure. We can go tomorrow if you'd like," Finnick gave her an encouraging smile.

"That would be nice." Annie finished drinking her tea and eating her little cakes in silence then walked over to the large hanging bench and sat on it. "We have one of these too." She pushed her foot against the ground to make it swing. "I like it a lot."

Finnick rubbed his hands on his thighs before asking, "Can I…um…would you mind if I…uh…" he flubbed his words.

"Want to sit with me?" Annie stopped the swing in its tracks.

"If you don't mind," he was relieved she asked him. At the rate he was going he was certain it would take him at least a year to get the question out.

The night sounds surrounded them and the smell of the salty sea was in the air as Annie quietly asked him, "What did you mean when you said, 'that's what I was told?'" She looked at him. "You acted like you didn't believe your family died on a boat."

Did he dare tell her his suspicions? There were very few people he shared that with. A few other victors as warnings to them regarding the power of President Snow and the consequences of not being compliant and Mags. Other than that… "I think they were murdered because I wouldn't…" he gulped. "I shouldn't be telling you this." He wanted to for some reason though. There was an unbelievable amount of trust he had in Annie and he wanted to share his worst fears…nightmares…his life with her. "If I tell you, can you swear you'll keep it to yourself? You can't tell another person. Not even your mother."

"Your secrets are safe with me," Annie gave the swing a little push. "Like mine are safe with you," she said it like there was no question about it.

"After my Games things were good for awhile. My family didn't have to work. We didn't have to worry about food or…anything, but then my sixteenth birthday was coming up and suddenly my mother and father started to act strange. I was looking forward to mentoring. I know that sounds strange, but if the Games were in play then I figured I could do everything in my power to help someone else try and win. Hell, Districts One and Two aren't the only Careers, right? We've got some really strong tributes…smart…tough…and I thought…maybe I could give their family the same chances I gave mine, but my parents didn't want me to go. Then one night…" Finnick felt a chill rush through him at the memory of his mother and father trying to save him from being a victor. "One night my parents woke me and my brothers. Told us to be quiet and follow them. We walked along the beach and I could see a small boat in the distance…knew that's where we were headed, but when I asked about it, my father put his hand over my mouth to shut me up and whispered for me to just keep walking. We got about ten feet away from it when the Peacekeepers turned their flashlights on us. They wanted to know where we were going with the backpacks on and my father made up a lie, said we were just going to take a family trek across the beach for the night. A camp out, but I was ordered to return to the Capitol for the Games in only two days time and during that time Peacekeepers never left my side." Finnick walked towards the balcony's edge and stared into the distance. "I went to the Games. Did the best I could as a mentor." He left out the part about President Snow selling him and how much he protested then finally cried his eyes out during the first time he was forced into being with a woman. "When I got home, my family was dead. The Head Peacekeeper told me they had a boating accident, but my father swore he'd never go out on one again unless he had to. He wasn't like me when it came to the water. My dad…he hated it." Finnick felt Annie's hand on his back. "They killed my family. Did something to them. I just don't know what."

"Because they didn't want you to be a mentor?" Annie was confused about that. "Seems a little harsh, running away in the middle of the night so you wouldn't have to help another kid get through the Games."

"No, not just because of that." Finnick didn't know how to explain it to her. "My parents found out what the Capitol really had in store for me upon my return."

"What?" Annie asked and received no reply. "Finnick, what did they do to you?" She studied the anguish in his eyes. "They hurt you, didn't they?" He nodded. "Did they…beat you?"

"No," his voice cracked. "It was worse. So much worse than that, Annie."

"Tell me," she turned him by his shoulder. "Let me help you."

"You don't want to help me. You shouldn't even be here with me. Not after the things I've done…the people I've been with," he was so ashamed of himself. "Go home, Annie. Pretend we never had this conversation."

"The people you've been with?" Annie tried to figure out what he meant by that. "Are you talking about…women?" Finnick nodded his head at her question. "Why would that make a difference?"

"You don't understand, Annie…what they've made me do."

She tilted her head to the side and asked cautiously, afraid of his answer, "Are you saying, they've forced you to be…with women?"

Finnick gripped the railing until his knuckles turned white. "He sells my body."

"Who does?' Annie was horrified at Finnick's confession.

"President Snow. He's been doing it since I was…" Finnick could barely get it out, "…since I was sixteen. That's why my parents wanted to escape. They were trying to save me."

"My goodness."

This was where she would be repulsed and storm out of his house. Finnick was certain of it. "Go ahead and leave now. I understand if you don't want to be seen with me anymore." Surprise then relief flooded through him when Annie wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.

"You poor thing." She stroked the middle of his back. "What have they done to you?" Her tears couldn't be helped for the man who had lost so much of his childhood for the Capitol's pleasure. "They killed your family so they wouldn't try and take you away again."

"No," he shook his head. "They killed them to let me know I had no choice but to play by their rules."

Annie held onto him, cried with him until his tears finally subsided. "Finnick," she led him back to the swing, "I'm not sure why you're blaming yourself for this. You've been repeatedly raped and that's not your fault. It's President Snow's fault." She placed her head on his shoulder. "No wonder," she said absently after a few minutes of silence.

"No wonder, what?" Finnick asked her.

She looked up at him and said, "No wonder you seem so different here than you did at the Capitol. It's like you're two different people. The one you pretend to be and the man you actually are." She gave him a timid smile. "I'm very fond of the man you actually are." She lifted her face to his and placed a small kiss against his lips. "I don't want to buy you, Finnick."

He sat there in utter shock. He had never thought she'd be the one to do something like that, to initiate a kiss between them. "Annie? Would it be alright if I kissed you again?"

"Yes."

It was the most innocent kiss of his life, and the most moving. In that moment, Finnick felt like he had instantly gone back in time to the age of sixteen and experienced his first kiss the way it was meant to be.

"My whole world changed with just one kiss," Finnick glanced towards Peeta.

"I know how that feels." Peeta sat upright and stretched. "With me, it was the sound of her voice. Hearing Katniss sing, even at the age of five…she washed away all the ugly that plagued my life."

Finnick recalled the conversation between Katniss and Peeta in the cave last year, during the Games, in which Peeta confessed to being abused by his mother, imagining a five year old boy getting struck with a wooden object. "It was a good thing you heard her sing then."

"Some people think I'm crazy for saying I've been in love with her my whole life, but…" Peeta grinned a little, "I think she was sent to me. That somewhere…something in this universe knew I'd never survive on my own and they sent me an angel named Katniss. She never knew, not until after we left the arena, how much she helped me. What loving her did for me." Peeta drew a pattern into the sand with the tip of his knife. "Katniss saved my life way before we ever entered the Hunger Games."

"Yeah, but…didn't you save hers too?" Finnick knew he had from the story with the bread. "You saved her and her family from starvation."

Peeta gave it some careful thought then said, "The universe sure knows what it's doing." With a dreamy look in his eyes he stared up at the sky and said, "We were sent to each other and even though our time is almost up…we got to share a lifetime of love."

There was no way Finnick could help ease Peeta's heartache by letting him know about the escape plan, but he wished he could. Even if they did get out of there, who knew what the future had in store for Peeta and Katniss. They could both die in the rebellion. There was one thing Finnick could do to help Peeta though. "I won't kill her, Peeta." Finnick turned to him. "You have my word on that. Even if it comes down to me and her in here, I'd let myself drown before I took her life."

"Wh…what?" Peeta couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Why? Why would you do such a thing?" He guessed it had to do with the rebellion, but when it came right down to it, most people would do anything to save their own lives in the arena.

Finnick had to do some quick thinking. He was sure the entire nation was asking the same question Peeta just had. "Isn't in my nature to kill an unborn child."

"Thank you." Peeta had to swallow the lump forming in his throat. "Thank you," he repeated quietly as he let his eyes drift towards Katniss' who was curled on her side then began drawing patterns in the sand again. As he looked at the swirls he created, he knew anyone watching would think he was just being artistic, but Peeta had finally deciphered Cinna and Portia's code by drawing out the letters individually and spelling it out in his head. RESCUE MISSION PLANNED. He felt his heart pumping with blood at the thought. 'Do Katniss and I actually stand a chance at surviving this together? Will we really get out of the arena?' Only time would tell.

…..

…..

Peace. It was as rare as a pearl coming from a lump of coal as far as Katniss was concerned, but the warm, secure feeling of peace was exactly what she felt slipping over her like a veil of comfort and security. Vivid images of Peeta smiling at her, holding her in his arms, sharing a picnic together under their oak tree with a child toddling within a few feet of them, and their home… She could almost smell the sweet scent of brown sugar, taste something buttery in her mouth. A cursory examination of her surroundings brought a sentimental smile to her lips as she realized it was just another day in District Twelve. The sun was shining; a breeze fluttered the window coverings, the overly large living room where she and Peeta had said their toast, was cluttered with children's toys. Building blocks, colored scratches on a piece of paper from Peeta's sketchpad lay next to a handful of pencils and the familiar sound of her husband's laughter followed by the belly laugh of a child floated through the air. She could hear Peeta saying something about asking mommy if it was okay, and Katniss knew she was the mommy he spoke of. They were a family. Katniss looked down at herself and saw the large bump on her stomach could feel the pressure of a baby's kick within her womb. She laid her hand against her belly and watched as Peeta carried the toddler to her.

"Looks like mommy's already holding a baby," Peeta said to the little girl. "Guess daddy's going to have to keep banana nut a little longer." He placed his lips against the girl's neck and blew, causing a vibrating sound and obviously tickling the little one.

"Mommy. Mommy," the little girl held her arms straight out for Katniss to take her.

"You heard our little nut, she wants her mommy." Peeta handed the girl over to Katniss then placed his hand on Katniss' belly. "I'll hold this one instead." He placed a soft kiss against Katniss' temple. "Anything yet?" Katniss shook her head from side to side. "That's how I know this little one is a boy," he smiled at her. "He has the patience of a saint…just like his father." He touched the tip of the little girl's nose with his finger. "You on the other hand were just like your mommy. You couldn't wait to get out of there."

Katniss held Peeta's gaze and reveled in the feeling of his palm spread out across her large torso where their baby kicked and felt two soft, moist…tiny lips press against hers. "I'm like mommy." A surge of love shot through her as she held onto her daughter and rested her head against Peeta's shoulder. This used to be her nightmare…marriage…children…now it was a dream come true. "I wanna go for wawk mommy. See gampa an gamma."

"What do you say?" Peeta asked her. "Your mom told you walking might bring on labor. Feel like seeing Haymitch?"

Yes, Katniss tried to say. She wanted to see her mentor. Talk to him. She had so many questions for him, but no sound would come out. A head nod was all she could muster up, but seeing Haymitch seemed essential to Katniss at that particular moment in time. 'Maybe I could ask him what's going on in the arena and why everyone's so willing to put themselves in harm's way for me and Peeta?' She thought. 'Mags died. Priscilla saved my life. Finnick brought Peeta back from the dead… everyone was acting like mine and Peeta's lives mean more than their own. Why? What makes us so important?'

"We're the faces of the rebellion, Katniss," Peeta answered her question. Their daughter was gone as was the baby bump. "Without us, our children…everyone's children will have the constant threat of being reaped looming over their heads. We stand for freedom. For what's right in this world."

They were standing under the oak tree now, but it wasn't Peeta Katniss was standing with, it was Rue. "Remember when I told you that you had to win the Games?" Katniss nodded at her late friend. "This is why. Because you'll make a difference in this world." She pointed to Peeta who was walking, surrounded by a fuzzy haze way off in the distance, with herself and their daughter towards Haymitch's house. "If you want to have that future, you must survive, Katniss. You must both survive and go on to fulfill your destiny."

"What destiny?" Katniss asked, but Rue was fading away as was everything surrounding her. "What destiny?"

"Remember who your enemies are, Katniss," Rue turned into a mockingjay, then flew up towards a tree branch and sat next to two birds. A white mockingjay and a white jabberjay, neither one of these things existed. Both birds were black, but a mockingjay had a strip of white under its wing.

"We are the symbols of the future," the jabberjay spoke to Katniss with Peeta's voice. "We are what this country is fighting for right now and they," the bird turned its neck, pointed towards Beetee, Johanna, Finnick, Wiress and Mags, "they are here to make sure we survive."

"That's why they died for you," the mockingjay spoke with Katniss' voice. "That's why they're all willing to die for you."

Katniss' eyes flew open. Her heart was racing, her breath was ragged. She felt like she had just run a mile. She tried to remember the dream she had, but the only thing she could recall was the feeling of happiness associated with Peeta. "Pe…" she cleared the frog from her throat, "Peeta?" She peered around the makeshift campsite and noticed that everyone was awake and by the beach staring up at something. A silver parachute was making its way down towards them. "Hey," she rubbed Peeta's back. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"You were smiling in your sleep. You even laughed a few times." Peeta put his arm around her waist. "It's so rare when you dream about something happy…I didn't have the heart to wake you."

The parachute was filled with more rolls from Beetee's district. "Twenty-four," Finnick's eyes flashed between Beetee and Johanna.

"Twenty-four," Johanna repeated.

They sat down to breakfast only to have Katniss getting up within a few bites of fish and ran towards the first tree in her path. 'This is how it is then,' she realized. 'I'll need to eat a few bites before everyone else from now on so I can throw up and then go back for my actual meal.'

Peeta rubbed his palm up and down her spine, held her hair back as it was still down from the night before and spoke softly to her. "Don't know about you, but I think I'm seeing a pattern here."

Katniss gave her head a little nod before expelling the last of…everything in her system. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and fell to her knees. "Remember when I said I wished I'd puke for the next nine months? I take that back."

"Anymore in there or do you think you're done till lunch?"

"Done." Katniss felt her hair being bunched together. "I don't know where my band is. I think I left it…"

"I have it." Peeta said as he took the elastic band off of his wrist and put her hair in a loose ponytail down her back. "Took it out of your hair last night."

She inhaled a breath of fresh air through her nose and blew it out of her mouth. "I need to wash up."

"Want to rinse off first or brush your teeth?"

"Wash first, then brush." Katniss felt herself being lifted in Peeta's arms and taken to the sea. "I'd argue with you about carrying me, but I'm feeling a little pooped right now." Katniss completed the washing ritual, hair, body, and mouth then felt her hair being braided. "Here it comes," she said to Peeta.

"Are you going to throw up again?" He asked, not understanding her meaning.

"No. The parachute." Katniss lifted the tiny silver container that held the soda crackers she was being sent after every bout of sickness. "Thank you," she said to whoever sent them to her.

"Crackers?" Finnick made a gesture with his chin towards the tiny parachute Katniss held in her hands.

"Yeah." She set them down and picked up a shell of fresh water. "I need to brush my teeth." Her allies lifted their eyes towards her. None of them wanted to share her starchy treats, but she knew all of them would love the opportunity to use a toothbrush. "I was thinking, I don't have a lot of toothpaste, but I don't mind sharing it if you guys want some. Maybe put it on a finger or a leaf and give your mouths a cleaning?"

"Yeah. Sure. Why not?" Johanna nodded. "My teeth feel like they're wearing a sweater."

"Mine too," Finnick smiled.

"I will admit, the prospect of a little personal grooming, though in the norm for many, is a welcomed treat for me," Beetee wrapped up the extra rolls in a parachute and tied them closed.

"Christ, Volts. Can't you just say yes like a normal person?" Johanna leaned back on her hands as their group, including Beetee allowed themselves a little laughter.

"Yes. I'd very much like to take advantage of your most generous offer, Katniss," Beetee said it like it was a regular, yes.

Everyone burst out laughing only this time Beetee didn't get it. "Still not a normal yes, but I guess that's the best you can do, Volts," Johanna rapped him against the shoulder as she got up. "Come on, fireball. Let's go brush while Peeta eats."

Mealtime was becoming something of a routine. It made Katniss feel uncomfortable, like during training, becoming closer to her allies. They couldn't remain that way much longer. Other than her group, there were only three remaining tributes left in the Games and once they were gone it would be time to turn on the people she was becoming close to. "Come on." Katniss stuck her hand out to Peeta after she was done with her third helping of fish. "It's time for your birthday present."

"It's your birthday, Peeta?" Finnick asked.

"No," Peeta's expression was filled with curiosity. "Katniss promised to teach me how to swim for my birthday, but we never made it to the lake."

"The lake," Finnick gave Katniss a wry grin. "And here I thought you really did have a big bathtub."

"I do," she threaded her fingers through Peeta's. "It's huge."

"But that's not where you learned to swim," Finnick cocked his brow.

"My dad taught me how at a lake back home," Katniss didn't think it mattered anymore about sharing the information. Even though the lake was a private place she had only told Peeta about, she found herself enjoying the memory of her childhood adventures with her father. "When I was little he brought me there…showed me the katniss root I was named after…taught me about the different forms of plant life and waterfowl that lived around there. It was some of the happiest moments of my childhood."

"Your father was remarkably ingenious, Katniss" Beetee looked over the gold wire he had in his hand as he spoke. "By teaching you about plants, animals…even swimming…" he finally lifted his eyes, "Can I presume he was the one who taught you how to use a bow and arrow?" Katniss nodded. "Those lessons provided you with a skill set for the arena. One the Careers never bother with in their special schools." Beetee went back to playing with his coil. "Enjoy your swim."

"He's right you know?" Peeta said to Katniss as they headed towards the beach. "Your dad instilled the need to survive in you while teaching you about the land you lived off of. The majority of Careers have never bothered to learn something as important as that in their training camps. You know, Glimmer told me, she was the only one of the Careers last year that took the courses in her district on how to live off of the land. She couldn't identify as much as you could, and the others had no clue about her skill, but she would've been able to feed herself out there if she had to." He smiled as he waded into the water. "Your dad raised you like a Career Katniss."

Katniss understood Peeta's message. She had been taught to fight, but in a loving way, and Peeta wanted her to raise their child in the same manner. "You might not know it, but yours did the same thing. He taught you how to decorate cakes. Some people might think that's a silly thing, but it saved your life. Plus you built up strength by unloading the delivery trucks."

"You might be right about that, Katniss," Peeta grinned. "Thank God for a father's knowledge, huh?" He didn't realize what he had said until the expression on Katniss' face morphed into sheer delight.

"See," she rubbed her hand across her stomach, "there are some things that only a father can teach their child." She left him with that thought as she moved towards waist high water and showed him how to do a basic swim stroke. As she watched him she noticed her scabs starting to peel off and ran some sand across her skin. "Hey," she called out to him. "Come here." She scooped up a handful of sand and rubbed his arms with it. A soft moan escaped him. "Feels good, huh?"

"Yeah." Peeta noticed the pale flesh underneath his scabs. "Want me to get your back?"

"Mmmm hmmm," she turned around and noticed Johanna staring at them from the edge of their camp. "Peeta, we need to break up this alliance," she said in a hushed tone before turning to face him. "There are only three other tributes out there besides us and I'd rather leave now and let them fight it out with our group than have us fighting amongst ourselves." Even as she said it, there was something nagging at her. Something that told her this wasn't the right move to make.

Peeta shook his head slowly from side to side then began a silent conversation with her. "Do you really want to leave them now, Katniss?" His lips moved.

Hers responded in the same way. "What do you think?"

"I don't know what to think. Something about these Games…our allies…" he narrowed his stare, "…Finnick saving me…do you have the feeling something else is going on here? Something we don't know about?" After cracking the code and Finnick's comment about letting himself drown before killing Katniss, Peeta knew it was imperative for their alliance to last until the bitter end. However, it was too risky to even mouth about his suspicions to her about a rescue mission.

That's when she remembered her dream. Rue's message to her about them being the faces of the rebellion. "Peeta, can Johanna be…trusted? Is she a…" Regardless of them not making any sound, Katniss still didn't want to use the word, rebel in the arena. "Is she a person that you trust?"

"Yes," he ran his hand down her braid. "They all are, Katniss."

Peeta's words confirmed her suspicions; her allies weren't allies at all. They were rebels hell bent on protecting her and Peeta from President Snow and the Capitol. "Tell you what," Katniss finally used her voice. "Why don't we wait until the Careers are dead and then we can make the break?"

Peeta lifted the corner of his lip in a slight grin. "I'm pretty sure Beetee's coming up with a trap for them anyway," Peeta said to her. "If you're comfortable with waiting then so am I." He was never going to let her end their alliance with their group. Not if he wanted her to live.

"Let's wait till Brutus and Enobaria are dead, then we go," Katniss still didn't know if she'd leave at that point, or if Peeta would. As far as she was concerned, she now had three other people doing everything in their power to make sure she and Peeta got out of the arena alive. "Think we should tell Finnick how to make himself pretty again?" She lifted a handful of sand and let it run through her fingers.

"He did bring you extra food this morning," Peeta kissed her forehead. "And the meal before that…and the one before that…and…"

"Shut up," Katniss swatted playfully at his arm and called Finnick into the water.

…..

…..

The Capitol hideout was dimly lit and quiet when Effie entered wearing a man's wig, moustache and suit. The streets were crowded even at two in the morning with the excitement of the Games in the air. She sat in a chair and pressed the tiny music chip to begin her recording. The message she left was meant for Katniss and Peeta and when she was through she found the tiny music box she had left there months earlier and tucked it away inside of it knowing they would understand what to do with the music box that played the familiar song, Beautiful Dreamer. "Please," she said quietly, "stay safe my darlings." She placed the music box back on the shelf just as Haymitch entered the room.

"Effie?" The sight of her dressed like a man had him taken aback.

"Hello," she turned around. "I wasn't sure if you'd be able to make it."

He flashed her a cocky grin and said, "Hell of a disguise you got there."

She flustered a bit at her appearance. "It was necessary for me to come incognito. As I am now being followed by the president's private guards."

Haymitch took a step back and said, "What?" He rushed to her side, panic soaring through him. "He found out about you, didn't he?"

"On the contrary, he assumes I am as loyal to him as one of his elite Peacekeepers." Effie pursed her lips and clenched her hands together. "There's much to say and little time to say it in." She motioned for him to take a chair. "Shall we sit?"

"What's going on, Effie?" Haymitch was worried out of his mind. "What the hell did that bastard Bettes want with you earlier?"

"My meeting this morning was with President Snow himself not Viggo." Effie began telling Haymitch about the events that had occurred when she was beckoned to the president's office.

"Miss. Trinket, there has been some, shall we say, rumors floating around about a Senior Capitol Official that has been working for towards…shall I say treasonous acts against the government?" President Snow sat across from Effie and kept constant eye contact with her. "Up until early this morning I wasn't sure who it was, but now I have my suspicions and I believe you do too." He waited for Effie to respond.

Effie sat up straight, with her legs crossed and a serious expression. "Mr. President, I too have an idea of who it might be, but I must say…I fear for my own safety if I reveal his name."

"Has this person threatened you in any way?" The president asked.

"Threats have never bothered me one bit sir, but actions…I have been on the receiving end of them and do not wish to be there again," she answered.

The president gave her a sly look. "Now I am certain we are speaking of the same individual." He sat silently for a moment then made a proposal to her. "What if I could guarantee your safety Miss. Trinket along with a lucrative promotion?"

Effie's eyes lit up. It was widely know that she had wanted a promotion for years and knew that she had to act like this was the opportunity of a lifetime. "A promotion sir?"

"Tell me…are you enjoying your position as an escort to…District Twelve?" he said it with an enormous amount of distaste, his puffy lips snarling.

Effie looked like she had swallowed a bug when she said, "District Twelve is like a boil that never festers, but it is not my place to complain."

"I'll take that as a no." The president said with a hint of pleasure in his voice. "And what about the tributes you have this year? How do you feel about them?"

"The way I feel about all of the tributes I am assigned. It is my job to promote them to the best of my abilities." She lifted her chin a bit. "It has always been my understanding that if I perform my duties well enough I would be rewarded with a better district."

The president stood up and walked around his desk, lifted up a portrait and held it up for Effie to view. "Then may I ask why this was in your home?"

The picture Peeta had given her of himself at the age of eleven with a black eye was staring her straight in the face. Effie didn't let it faze her one little bit. She gave the president a hint of a smile and said, "Like all of the residents of the Capitol last year, I admit I was smitten with the idea of puppy love in the arena. However, I have since come to my senses and keep that portrait as a reminder that even a puppy has the potential to grow into a mongrel."

The president let out a small laugh and said, "Right you are, Miss. Trinket. Right you are." He walked back to his seat and set the painting down next to her. "I was a bit concerned this morning when I overheard a conversation between you and one of my officials regarding Miss. Everdeen." The president sat back a bit in his chair. "It seems that the man I have trusted for quite sometime now has developed sympathies for her."

Effie pursed her lips and said, "Yes," she gave her head a little shake. "I noticed that as well."

"How do you feel about that?"

"As I said to Viggo this morning, what's the point in helping her?" Effie leaned a little closer to the president and said quietly, "I do realize that it's my job to bring one of them home, but really, they have both been such thorns in my side since the start of the Victory Tour. Their behavior in public was…" Effie looked like she was sucking on a lemon, "well, I am sure you are quite aware of their lack of education and verbal communication skills or they never would have had to have someone from the Capitol staff professionally write their speeches for them prior to every appearance." Effie sat upright, took a deep breath, placed her fingertips against her throat and said, "Though I shan't go into specific details, all I will say is…while onboard the train I did everything in my power to maintain a respectable environment only to be ignored by, not only Katniss and Peeta, but Haymitch as well. Thorns I tell you…prickly thorns in my side, and neither one of them have any respect for the way the Games should be played." She sat back. "In my opinion, Finnick Odair would be an excellent victor this year. He has always played by the rules. Always understood his place."

"My thinking exactly," the president agreed. "Miss. Trinket, how would you like to help me succeed in making sure the proper victor wins the Quarter Quell this year?"

"And how can I do that?" Effie's fingers went to her chest.

"There shall be no more sponsor gifts sent into District Twelve from Haymitch Abernathy." The president gave her an evil grin. "Hide his computer…destroy it…do what you must, but nothing more should be sent in from that man."

Effie held her head up with pride. "Consider it done sir."

"As for our other problem…Mr. Bettes…" The president pondered for a moment. "I must think of a way to find out what he has been up to. Though I have no problems with taking action against Mr. Bettes for his…emotional attachment to Miss. Everdeen, making certain he is the traitor is of the utmost importance."

"Sir," Effie paused. "He trusts me. If you give me the opportunity, I'm sure I can come up with something, perhaps make him say or do something that will prove to you he is the treasonous offender you've been looking for. Perhaps find out his ulterior motive."

"Do you think you have that capability Miss. Trinket? My officials are trained in the art of deception as well as reading those who are deceiving them."

Effie gave the president her trademark smile. "Never underestimate the power of a woman."

The president returned her smile and said, "You're absolutely right, Miss. Trinket. I do believe you may be Mr. Bettes' downfall after all."

Effie cleared her throat then said, "Sir, you did say something about…a promotion?"

"Why yes I did," he stood up and walked towards a door. "I currently have a business assistant, but I have been thinking about a more personal one. Someone like yourself that shares my beliefs…understands the importance of the Games. A confidant." He turned to her, "I've been keeping exceptionally close tabs on you for quite sometime and I'm pleased to say you and I share many of the same values. If all of this works out. I think this would be a perfect position for you."

"Sir," Effie acted flustered and flattered at the same time. "It would be my honor to perform such a service for you." She walked towards the exit. "I will get right on the task at hand."

"Wonderful," he said.

"There's just one thing I'll need to do," she gave him an evil grin. "Is there a way I can speak with someone in your television department? I'd like to get Viggo on tape." She had already done this, but the president had no clue.

"Let me have someone take you to the Gamemakers' station. I'll put you in touch with the Head Gamemaker himself."

Confusion crossed Effie's face. "The Head Gamemaker? Why would I need to see him?"

The president walked Effie to the door and said, "Miss. Trinket, the position of Head Gamemaker is more than what you think. He is not only responsible for what is being broadcast around the world, but everything that is being broadcast without your knowledge as well." He stopped a few feet away from the exit. "As I'm sure you are aware of, certain areas of the Capitol require higher levels of security which we use cameras for, and those pictures are sent to the security division of the Capitol which falls under our broadcasting system."

"Oh," Effie nodded her head, "And the Head Gamemaker is in charge of the broadcasting system."

"Precisely, Miss. Trinket." The president shook Effie's hand. "Till we meet again."

Effie waited for the Avox to return then barked an order at her, "Pick up that portrait. You don't expect me to carry it myself, do you?" From the corner of her eye she could see the president's approving smile. The president didn't tell her anything she didn't already know about Plutarch. When it came to surveillance footage in the Capitol, he was the man in charge. In fact, when it came to anything recorded in the Capitol, Plutarch was in charge. There was the news department, security, surveillance, advertisements and the Games. Each department had a manager that reported to Plutarch and a staff. Most of the Head Gamemakers never bothered with any department other than the Games until Seneca Crane came along and now Plutarch.

Once inside of the Gamemakers' station Effie met with Plutarch in private who showed her how to manipulate Haymitch's computer and confirmed the times for the escape. It had taken a few hours, but by the time they were done, Effie had become adept at handling the tiny device and now had a much bigger role in the rebellion than she had ever imagined. The tiny computer was now linked to the Gamemakers' station and gave her the ability to control the on air activities once Plutarch made his escape.

"You see, Haymitch? I'll have to remain in the Capitol after the Games. Not only will I be working hand in hand with the president, but I'll be able to control the television broadcasts without detection. No one will know a thing." She explained to him.

"No," Haymitch said quietly. "You promised me, Effie. You swore to me that you'd meet me and I'm holding you to that."

"I will meet you, but I can't leave with you. I simply can't." Effie held his hand. "Think of what I can do for the rebellion from here. No one will be as close to the president as me. I can even throw him off of Plutarch's trail claiming that Viggo planned his kidnapping to break into the television broadcasts."

"Damn it, Effie!" Haymitch hated that she was making sense, but he refused to let her risk anymore than she already had. "How much more do you expect me to give up? I've got to watch those kids kill people in that arena. I had to watch Maysilee die! And now you? You want me to just stand back and agree to this?" He ran his hand down his face. "Hell no! NO!"

Effie lowered her voice down to just above a whisper, "It's not your choice to make, Haymitch. It's mine."

"Fine," Haymitch agreed. "You stay. I stay."

"No!" Her eyes filled with fear. "They'll kill you without hesitation."

"And what do you think they'll do to you?" Haymitch began pacing. "Woman, you have been the biggest pain in my ass for over ten years and if you think I'm letting you walk out of my life now…you've got another thing coming."

She wanted to fight with him, but there would never be an end to it. No one would be happy with the outcome. "There's more, Haymitch."

"More? More!" Haymitch had already felt like the sky was falling on top of him. "What else is there?"

"I need you to take some people with you when you leave," Effie said with determination in her voice.

"Who?" He threw her a glare.

"Dr. Valero and the father of her child," Effie continued ignoring Haymitch's grunts. "As well as the male and female Avox that have cared for Katniss and Peeta while they were in training."

"Fine! I'll take them, but not the damn doctor." Haymitch had no problem with Darius and the other girl.

"You must take the doctor and the father of her child," Effie pleaded. "Katniss will need medical attention and I trust her."

"Why the hell do you trust some Capitol doctor?" Haymitch bellowed.

"Because the father of her child is also an Avox," Effie said with sadness in her voice. "Haymitch, I wasn't supposed to find out, but I did. I walked in on them when they were in our suite alone and…Please Haymitch. I know she can be trusted to care for Katniss." Effie took hold of his arm. "Haymitch, I have no clue who any of these people from District Thirteen are and I'll tell you what I told Plutarch, I am not very impressed with this President Coin. The woman has had absolutely no problems using Katniss and Peeta to her benefit for this rebellion much as President Snow has used them in the arena. Now that Katniss is pregnant, how do you know she won't still try and use her in the war? The girl cannot go into battle."

"Shit, Effie. I know that." Haymitch hadn't even considered what Coin would do about the pregnancy situation. "I'm sure she won't try and make Katniss fight."

"Are you?" Effie asked. "How well do you know this woman? Because she didn't think twice about using children as the faces of the rebellion so what makes you think she won't try and use Katniss in her current condition or try and…and threaten their baby to get her way?" Effie's throat began to tighten. "Take Dr. Valero. She will care for Katniss the way I would if I were a doctor."

Haymitch had no choice but to agree. Effie's arguments were too damn valid. "Okay. I'll take the doctor and her Avox."

"Thank you," she breathed a sigh of relief. "Now I shall meet you with Portia, Annie and the Avox from the Tribute Center. You bring the doctor, her Avox and Skip. Flavius is going to bring Venia and Octavia and Plutarch will meet us there with the others."

"And the bombing of Viggo's computer room? Who's in charge of that?" Haymitch asked, giving her a deadly warning glare clearly stating that it better not be her.

"There are three separate teams disguised as Peacekeepers that will infiltrate his home. If something happens to the first team, the other two are there as backups. They will blow the computer room up, then the pilots will take three hovercrafts all going in various directions, but only one will meet us. It will have cloaking capabilities so we will be able to get to District Thirteen undetected."

Haymitch felt a hint of hope when he heard her say "we" regarding their escape. "This all starts after the last delivery of bread, right?" Haymitch asked.

"After the last delivery of bread, Plutarch will disable the Capitol's surveillance, but not until you and I have our argument. It must be very loud and very real." Effie gripped Haymitch's hands in hers. "Please, whatever I say, know that I don't mean a word of it, Haymitch."

"Me either, Trinkie." He squeezed her hands in his. "And about earlier…I didn't mean that either. I know you've got a show to put on. You're not a bitch." Now that sobriety had set in guilt had reared its ugly head. "Damn it, Trinkie, you're one of the best people I've ever known."

She gave him a soft smile and said, "Of course I am, my vile little man. Apart from Katniss, Peeta and I, you only know degenerates."

Haymitch let out a chuckle and dropped her hands. "You ready for all of this?"

"No," she answered honestly. "Are you?"

"Hell no," he said too.

"Well…" she hesitated. "It's time for me to go."

"Yeah, me too." He stood back. "I'll wait a few minutes so we don't leave together."

"Very well," she headed for the door then stopped. "Haymitch," she turned to face him. "If everything doesn't work out the way we planned…"

"It will," he tried to lie, but he knew there was a very good chance they were going to lose a lot of people in the rescue attempt.

"Just in case," she walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. "I'd rather not have any regrets. It has been quite an adventure knowing you and I can honestly say you have…enhanced my life. Give Katniss and Peeta my love."

As she turned to walk away he yanked her back and held onto her, hugging her close to him. "Don't let me down, Effie. Be there."

"Have I ever let you down?" She asked him quietly.

Effie held her head up high as she walked out of the room, dressed like a man, blending into the Capitol crowd that was still having the party of their lives while Haymitch sat on a chair in the hideout hoping that he didn't lose her. Other than Katniss and Peeta, Effie Trinket was the only person that meant more to him than his own life.

In the morning Effie continued to send in items to the arena from other districts. District Four was now taking care of Katniss' needs and after Finnick's comment about not taking the life of an unborn child; sponsors were tripping over themselves to provide donations to Four requesting to send Katniss something as a gift from Finnick. He may not have known it, but Finnick Odair had saved Effie Trinket's behind.

…..

…..

"Sniff your little stick," Peeta held it out to Katniss for her to take a whiff. "Okay, now don't puke," he ordered her as he rubbed her down with some ointment.

"Yes sir," she gave him a salute and rolled her eyes. "If only you telling me not to do it would actually work." Fortunately the little stick was keeping her sense of smell at bay. "Come here Finnick, I'll do your back for you."

"I'll do his back." Peeta squirted a blob of ointment into the palm of his hand. "The last thing I need is my wife running her hands up and down Finnick Odair's body while she's got raging hormones."

Finnick chuckled at Peeta's comment. "Don't trust me with Katniss, Peeta?"

"I wouldn't trust you with my brothers so what make you think I'm going to trust you with my wife," there was laughter in Peeta's voice as he said it.

Beetee pushed his glasses up on his nose and said, "If you could all gather around I'd like to speak with you." Everyone joined them with the exception of Johanna who was lying down. "I think we can all agree that our next move is to get rid of District Two." They all nodded. "Good, I believe I've come up with a way in which to do such a thing."

"Wait a minute," Finnick interrupted him. "I better wake Johanna so she can hear this."

Katniss made a snide remark under her breath. "Yes, we wouldn't want Johanna missing out on this."

Johanna walked towards the crude diagram of the arena that Beetee had drawn in the sand and said, "Goody, show and tell."

Ignoring her comment, Beetee went straight into describing the plan he came up with in regards to getting rid of the Careers. He asked them questions regarding their location and the safest place to be in the arena, what they thought the Careers were doing since they obviously weren't hunting them down, and then spelled it all out. "It's obvious by watching us that the ocean is the main source of food within the arena and since the Gamemakers provided us with nothing but weapons inside of the Cornucopia this year, unless the Careers have the ability to hunt like Katniss or sponsors that are willing to provide them with every meal, we are monopolizing the food within the arena. Here is what I am suggesting…we run my wire from that tree to the salt water, which is highly conductive. When the bolt strikes, the electricity will travel down the wire and into not only the water but also the surrounding beach, which will still be damp from the ten o'clock wave. Anyone in contact with those surfaces at that moment will be electrocuted. Since we are currently occupying the beach, we know the Careers are at the edge of the jungle. Once we move into the jungle…"

"The Careers will take to the beach," Peeta finished. "Just one question. Will that wire really be able to conduct that much power? It looks awfully fragile, like it would just burn up."

"Oh, it will, but not until the current has passed through it. Consider it to be somewhat similar to a fuse except the electricity will simply travel along it," Beetee said with certainty.

"Yeah, real simple," Johanna said in disbelief. "How do you know what this wire will do?"

"Because," Beetee appeared to be exacerbated. "I invented it."

"Okay, Volts," Finnick said, "Let's say this thing does work, where will we be when all this happens?"

"Far enough into the jungle to be safe," Beetee replied.

Katniss realized something was slightly off with his plan. "The Careers will be safe too unless they're in the vicinity of the water."

"True," Beetee agreed.

Peeta pointed out a very important fact. "Yeah, but all the food will be cooked."

"More than cooked," Beetee told them. "Eliminated for good. We will no longer be able to use the ocean as a food source, but you did find other edible things in the jungle, did you not, Katniss?"

"Yeah," she scratched at her temple. "Nuts and rats and…we've got great sponsors."

"Well, then." Beetee stood up from his diagram of the arena and said, "I don't see this as a problem, but since we are allies, and this will require all of our efforts, the decision will be up to you four."

Katniss lifted her eyes to Peeta's and began speaking with no noise, "If it fails, there's no harm done."

"If it works then there's a decent chance that we kill the Careers," Peeta responded in the same manor.

"Even if we don't…" Katniss started.

"Knock that shit off!" Johanna yelled at them. "If you're going to talk, use your freaking voices. I hate that shit."

"Sorry, Johanna. Katniss and I are used to discussing things amongst ourselves before voicing our opinions when it comes to things this important," Peeta said to her. He looked to Katniss and questioned her with his eyes getting a nod of approval in reply. "We're fine with it. If it works, we kill the Careers, if it doesn't, then we kill their food source, thus killing them eventually. We're willing to try it."

Johanna and Finnick exchanged looks then finally Johanna said, "All right. It's better than hunting them down in the jungle and I doubt they'll figure out our plan, since we can barely understand it ourselves."

"Good. Good," Beetee sounded slightly encouraged by their decision. "I must inspect the lightning tree before noon and since we'll need to leave this area prior to the tidal wave, may I suggest we head out."

They headed for the section of the beach that held the noon hour and began their trek towards the towering tree with Katniss in the lead tossing nuts ahead of her. She didn't think there were force fields anywhere near them at the moment, but after the incident with the jabberjays, it was obvious that the Gamemakers could separate them even without a force field. The arena was swelteringly hot, sweat was pouring off of Katniss, and her undershirt was sticking to the spot between her shoulder blades when suddenly the world started to swoon. She stopped walking and felt Peeta bump her. "I need a second."

"You okay?" Peeta noticed their group of allies standing in a circle around him and Katniss when they stopped.

"Just a little dizzy from the heat." She wiped the sweat from her brow. Katniss met Peeta's worried expression. "Is it me or are they surrounding us?" She mouthed to him.

"It's not you," he mouthed back.

The longer she was with these people the more her suspicions were being confirmed. They were protecting them. "Let's go. It's not too far ahead," Katniss continued to lead the way.

Once there Beetee decided he needed to scurry to the top and examine the large tree. "I'll have to take note of what the bolt of lightning is hitting up there," he said to his allies.

"I've got your back, Volts," Finnick stood guard over him. "Go on up."

"Give me the spile," Johanna said to Katniss, "I'll tap a tree for some water."

"I'm going to go hunting," Katniss suggested and everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at her. "I'll take Peeta with me. I noticed those rat type of creatures we ate didn't even flinch while we were walking here, so it won't matter if he's noisy or not."

"Okay," Peeta was fine with that. "I can grab some nuts."

Johanna and Finnick exchanged looks then Finnick said, "Why don't you stand guard here Peeta and I'll go with Katniss?"

"I appreciate the offer, but I'd rather go with her. I've got this thing about protecting her," he gripped his knife in his hand.

"I'll go with her," Johanna suggested. "You tap the tree. You're better at it anyway," she said to Peeta.

Katniss turned to Peeta, "They don't want us out of their sight," she mouthed. Peeta nodded in agreement.

"Finnick," Peeta walked up to him. "We're going to be fine. We'll stay on a straight path so you can keep an eye on us, but I'm not leaving Katniss again. Not after the jabberjays." He put a hand on Finnick's shoulder. "I know you understand where I'm coming from."

Finnick nodded and said, "Everyone stay close. We don't know where the noon hour ends and the eleven or one o'clock hours start."

"Be careful of the force fields, Johanna," hearing the warning come from Katniss probably drove Johanna insane, but the thought of her dying was actually bothersome to Katniss. "Let's go, Peeta."

They traveled for a few minutes without seeing one of the rat like animals, but Peeta was able to cut down several large bunches of nuts. "You sure I'm not scaring those things off, Katniss?" He asked her.

"Yeah," she turned to face Peeta. "They were all over the place while we were walking up here. I should've shot a few then, but I figured since they were so plentiful…" Katniss' head whipped around and she held up a hand to Peeta in order to silence him. Her arrow was at the ready when she heard the unmistakable sound of a footfall in the jungle. "Someone's out there," she whispered to Peeta who sat the nuts carefully on the ground and took the spare knife out of his belt. In the distance, Katniss could see the shape of another human being. It wasn't Johanna, this much she could determine by the height of the person. It could've been…

"Chaff!" Peeta hurried towards the man, Haymitch's friend, who was clearly suffering from a mild case of dehydration. "Katniss we need to get him something to drink."

She wasn't sure how she felt about the obviously newest member of their alliance, but Peeta was drawn to the man for some reason and Katniss trusted Peeta more than anyone in the world. "Johanna has the spile." Katniss lifted her head to the trees, "Haymitch, we need another spile." It was the first time no one responded to their request.

Peeta was tapping at a tree, eagerly digging a hole deep into its center. "Did he send a spile?"

"Nothing," Katniss began scouring the jungle with her eyes for something she could shove into the hole for Chaff to drink from. "The nuts! Peeta cut down some nuts for me."

"What are the nuts going to do?" Peeta swiped his knife across the thick stem that held the group of nuts onto the tree.

"Just dig a hole and make sure you get it as deep and thick as you can." Katniss began stripping the nuts from the wooden branch and checked for the strongest, longest one. "How's it going?"

"The tip of my knife is wet, so I must've hit a water vein," Peeta answered.

"Good. Get Chaff," she looked over at the man who had collapsed onto the ground once Peeta reached him.

"Katniss what are you going to do?" Peeta put his arm under Chaff's and lifted him to his feet. "We're going to get you some water." Chaff tried moving his dry, cracked lips to form a word, but it looked like his mouth was frozen in place. "Don't talk. Just…" Peeta's eyes whipped towards Katniss when he heard her cry of success. "Holy cow. Look at that." Katniss had shoved a thick stalk into the hole he had dug and water was now flowing freely down the shoot and onto the ground. "Damn, Katniss, that's impressive. That brain of yours blows me away." Peeta felt Chaff pulling himself towards the water. "Go ahead, Chaff. Drink up."

"Not too quick," Katniss warned him. "You'll get sick." But the man paid her no mind.

After about one straight minute of quenching his thirst, Chaff finally spoke. "I was wondering when I was going to run into you guys." He lifted his mouth to the water again and began swallowing mouthful after mouthful.

"How long have you gone without water?" Katniss asked him.

"I broke open a coconut looking thing with my sword on the first and second day and that had some fluid in it, but I only found a few of those and whatever was inside of it did nothing to help my thirst. It kept me hydrated, but caused me to be even thirstier than I already was." Chaff couldn't get enough water. He continued to gulp then let it flow over his hands and lifted some to his face. "Think it was designed to make you crave water but still keep you going."

"Peeta," Katniss lifted her view towards the sky. "How far away do you suppose we are from the lightning tree?"

"Not very. We stayed pretty much in a straight line while we were walking. Why?"

"We were on a straight path, but not anymore," Katniss glanced in his direction. "And by the position of the sun, I'd say it's almost eleven."

Both of them reached for Chaff and began pulling him away from the tree. "Hey!" Chaff bellowed. "I'm still drinking."

"We need to go," Peeta rushed him along.

"What's going on?" Chaff was much more stable than when he had first run into them. "Someone coming?"

"Yeah," Katniss said. "The Gamemakers." With her bow and arrow at the ready she raced towards the piles of nuts Peeta had left on the ground when they had first heard Chaff, but was stopped by the Gamemakers' tricks. "Barrier," she turned towards Peeta with a furrowed brow.

"Have you been here before?" There was insistence in Peeta's voice. "Chaff, think! Have you been in this part of the arena before?"

"Don't think so, but I'm not sure. It all looks the same to me." He put his sword through his belt and lifted his hand to the translucent partition. "What the hell is this thing?"

"It's how the Gamemakers are going to make sure we stay in this portion of the arena," Katniss answered. "We should walk up the hill towards the lightning tree. We may not be able to escape, but at least the rest of our alliance will be able to see what the eleven o'clock hour holds."

Peeta pulled Katniss in for a hug and placed a kiss on her head. "We'll make it through this. I know we will."

As they headed up the hill in anticipation of the next trick they began explaining to Chaff how the arena worked and what was in the other wedges.

"One of them has pyroants," Chaff told them. "There was a swarm of them attacking someone on the first night."

"How long after the bongs?" Katniss asked.

"Not too long, maybe an hour or two," he answered.

"That has to be the one o'clock hour," Peeta said to Katniss. "We already know what's in the two o'clock hour and there were no pyroants."

"Stop," Katniss held up her hand. "Do you smell that?"

"Smell what?" Chaff asked and began sniffing the air.

Peeta began looking around, holding his knife out in anticipation. "What's it smell like, Katniss?"

"I'm not sure but I think it's…honey."

Things associated with honey began going through Peeta's mind. "Bees? Bears?"

"Bears in the jungle?" Katniss shook her head. "Maybe a mutt version of… Oh my God." Her eyes landed on what the Gamemakers' had in store for them. "Tracker jackers."

"Where?" Peeta began to panic.

"I don't know, but there's the nest," Katniss pointed to a hive hanging off of a tree branch. "That smell is getting worse."

"I can smell it now," Peeta lifted his hand to his head which was beginning to throb. The ground began to morph and glow. The rubbery trees covered in moss with vines hanging down reached for the sky, the bark turned rough…crackly with a sparkling orange hue around the edges. Pine trees stood in place of the water trees. The large palm type leaves changed into smaller maple, oak and birch. Crickets were chirping. Rabbits scurried in the bushes. The sky was growing dimmer as Katniss and Peeta headed towards the Cornucopia. "We should really keep it down," Peeta whispered to Katniss taking in the odd colors of the woods they were trapped in and the way it was twinkling.

Chaff wandered downhill in search of more nests and said, "There's another one up there."

"Have you seen him?"

"Who?" Katniss turned to Peeta who was shaking his head like he was trying to ward something off.. "Chaff?"

"Cato. He's here, Katniss. I can feel it in my bones," Peeta's voice was low and worrisome. "Be careful," he whispered to Katniss as his eyes began to roam their surroundings.

Katniss squinted at Peeta and wondered what the hell he was talking about. "Peeta, Cato is dead. I killed him."

"When?" Peeta was thrilled when he heard the news of the tribute's death. "Then we won, Katniss. Unless…he's not dead. When did you kill him? Tell me," Peeta insisted.

"Last year." Katniss lifted her hand to Peeta's head checking for a temperature. "You feel okay," she ran her hand down his arm and checked his pulse. "Geez, Peeta. Your pulse is racing."

"We need to find someplace safe to hide. He's not dead, Katniss. If he were then we would've heard the cannon." Peeta glanced around the arena then saw his worst nightmare standing yards away. "Cato," he grasped Katniss by the upper arms and said, "Climb, Katniss! Climb!"

Chaff was charging in their direction, his hand on his sword and murder in his eyes, "Kalian! Devine!"

"Cato!" Peeta screamed out and raced towards the Career with his knife drawn and ready.

Katniss had no clue what was happening. Peeta seemed to be under the impression that Cato was in the arena and the names Chaff called out were two Careers from his Games. She looked up at the tracker jacker nests that were now in almost every single tree and climbed upwards towards one of them determined to find out what they were doing in the arena. If they were going to be attacked by the genetically engineered insects, it would've happened by now. 'No,' Katniss thought to herself, 'this is something else entirely.' The sound of metal clashing against metal caused Katniss to turn to see Chaff and Peeta locked in combat, each trying with all their might to kill the other. Katniss loaded her bow. "CHAFF!" She yelled out a warning, not wanting to have to kill Haymitch's friend. "LEAVE HIM ALONE OR I'LL SHOOT!"

"Stay up there, Katniss!" Peeta called out to her as he got hold of Chaff's weapon, threw it to the side, took the man in a headlock and began squeezing the life out of him.

"Peeta that's not Cato. It's Chaff!" Katniss looked up at the hive saw a tiny screen over the opening of it. The overbearing scent of honey was coming from inside of it. She instantly put two and two together. The tracker jacker nests…the figment of Peeta and Chaff's imagination… the overbearing smell of honey, obviously used to disguise the chemicals the Gamemakers were using on them. They were trying to cause the same affects as the tracker jacker stings she had last year without using the actual insects. She began to slide down the tree running towards Peeta and Chaff who were now tumbling around on the ground. "It's gas Peeta! They're gassing us! That's not Cato! It's a hallucination!" But it was too late. Katniss watched as Peeta plunged his knife deep into Chaff's throat and turned it causing blood to spurt out all over his hands.

"DIE YOU BASTARD! DIE!" Peeta bellowed until the cannon's fire boomed through the air. He was panting as he stumbled towards a shocked Katniss. "We won, Katniss." His hands were dripping with blood as he fell to his knees in front of her. "We won." Peeta wrapped his arms around Katniss' trembling legs and stared at his dark red, stained hands shimmering with gold around the edges. "We can go home," he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Peeta?" She looked down at the top of his head, her eyes wide with fear. "Where are we?"

"In the arena," he looked up at her as though there was something wrong with her.

"What Games are these?" Katniss knew how he would answer even before it left his mouth.

"The seventy-fourth." Peeta closed his eyes in an attempt to get rid of the headache that was pounding in his temples. "My head hurts so badly, Katniss." He stood up and walked a few feet away towards the lake the Gamemakers had forced him and Katniss to.

There was a sudden drop in temperature as Katniss stopped Peeta from lifting a handful of dirt to his lips for a drink. "That's not the lake, Peeta."

"Yes it is." He let the glistening water flow through his fingers. "Katniss I'm worried about you. Are you okay?" He began examining the spot where Clove had hit her in the head. "You might have a concussion."

"It's gone," Katniss began sniffing at the air. "The honey smell…it's gone." The wedge of the arena they were in must've dropped down to about sixty degrees and a faint chemical scent lingered in the air. The only thing she thought it could be was the residual effects of the tracker jacker gas. "Come here," she pulled into her arms and held him hoping the gas wouldn't last as long as the actual tracker jacker venom. His breathing was so heavy it stirred the loose strands of her hair. Eventually the wedge of the arena they were trapped in grew hot and Peeta's pulse slowed down.

"Katniss?" Peeta's voice was shaking as his eyes darted around the jungle. "Why do I have blood and dirt on my hands?" Chaff was lying dead a few yards away. "Chaff!"

"No, Peeta!" Katniss put her hands against his chest to keep him in place. "He's dead." She cupped Peeta's cheeks and searched his eyes. "What do you remember?"

"Huh?" Confusion had set in. Peeta didn't know what the hell was happening. "One minute we were walking up the hill and the next…" he looked at his hands, "…Cato? Was Cato here? No. No." Peeta began talking to himself. "Cato's dead. He couldn't be in the arena, but…"

Katniss could see him putting things together. "Let's go, Peeta. Come on." She grabbed his arm and started lugging him up the hill towards the lightning tree. She could hear the sounds of Johanna and Finnick calling to them. "Peeta, the barrier is gone. We need to get out of here."

"What did I do?" Peeta couldn't drag his eyes away from Chaff. "Katniss, what did I do?"

"Come on!" She pulled him harder, farther away from the sight of Chaff's body. "The hovercraft is coming."

"Where the hell have you two…" Johanna stopped speaking when she saw Peeta looking as though he had just had a battle with another tribute. "Who was it?" She asked Katniss as Peeta collapsed under a tree.

"Chaff." The look of shock on Johanna and Finnick's faces had Katniss quickly coming to Peeta's defense. "The eleven o'clock hour is tracker jacker gas. It affected Peeta and Chaff…gave them hallucinations."

"But not you?" Finnick's curiosity was peaked.

It took a moment to register what Finnick had said. The entire time she was stuck in the wedge it didn't even cross her mind that the gas wasn't affecting her like it was Peeta and Chaff. "No." Katniss fingers began to rub against her bow. "It didn't do a thing to me. I smelled it, but that was it."

"Wait a minute," Johanna put up her hands. "Gas? I've never heard of tracker jacker gas."

"It's the only thing I can think of," Katniss knelt down next to Peeta and began pouring water over his hands, cleaning them of the filth. "Peeta?" She lifted his chin with her finger. "It wasn't your fault. You thought he was trying to kill me. He was trying to kill me…both of us."

"But I thought he was Cato, Katniss. Why?"

Katniss began explaining her theory to everyone. "When I saw the hive up close I noticed a tiny screen covering the opening of the nest. It was obvious to me by the smell coming from it, that it had to be some type of gas and since it was coming from a tracker jacker nest…" She let the rest of her group put two and two together.

"You say it didn't bother you at all, Katniss?" Beetee asked.

"Only the smell, but I seem to be able to sniff things out like a bloodhound lately."

"Hmmm," Beetee studied her for a moment then asked Peeta, "What were your symptoms?"

Peeta lifted his gaze and said, "Everything was…shiny…kind of glowing except for Katniss. It was like she was the only thing that was real in there."

"She may have been." Beetee said. "Did Chaff let onto what was happening with him?"

"He thought we were Careers from his Games," Katniss answered. "What are you thinking Beetee?"

"Peeta, if I ask you what your greatest fear as far as the Games go, what would your answer be?" Beetee waited for Peeta's obvious response.

"For Katniss to be killed."

"And who, in particular, did you fear the most while in the arena?" Beetee continued on his verbal quest for information.

"This year or last year?" Peeta asked then immediately answered, "Doesn't matter. Cato was always my biggest fear as far as competitors go. He was ruthless. The entire time we were in the arena all he cared about was killing Katniss. Not just killing her…torturing her."

"That explains quite a bit." Katniss and Peeta exchanged looks because Beetee hadn't explained a thing to them. "You see, the gas, if that's what it was, let's assume for the sake of argument that is was, caused you to live out your greatest fear and Chaff his. That's why everything was glowing, as you said, with the exception of Katniss."

"Can you try speaking English just once, Volts," Johanna said on an exasperated sigh.

"Ever been stung by a tracker jacker, Johanna?" Katniss asked her.

"Nope," she answered.

"They cause hallucinations….delusions. Last year I thought ants were boring out of my eyes and Glimmer was covered in green slime." Katniss paused before continuing, "Everything kind of sparkled, like Peeta said, because of the venom coursing through my veins."

Beetee pointed a finger in the air, "Exactly!" he declared. "The tracker jacker gas caused a similar affect on Chaff and Peeta."

Finnick was finally catching up. "Okay, I can get that part, but what about Katniss? Why wasn't she bothered by it like they were?"

All eyes were on Beetee waiting for an explanation. "Now that gives me pause." Beetee wondered for a moment then said, "You would think the chemicals would affect all of us in the same way." His eyes opened wide then he began nodding his head slowly. "Can any of you tell me what makes Katniss different from the rest of us?"

"She has bigger boobs than the rest of us," Johanna said in frustration.

"She's pregnant," Peeta answered.

Beetee almost smiled, "Right again."

"Are you saying that stuff didn't bother me because I'm pregnant?" Katniss didn't believe it for a minute. "Why not? You'd think I'd be more susceptible to things like that."

"On the contrary, a pregnant woman has specific proteins in her body that the rest of us lack. Your immune system is quite powerful. A woman's body automatically builds up a defense mechanism, if you will, to protect their growing fetus. It's only logical that this is why you weren't affected the same way as the men were, Katniss."

Peeta gripped her hand. "The baby saved you."

"Are you sure about this, Beetee?" Katniss cupped the spot under her navel.

"You must admit there are changes you've been going through. We have all been privy to your bouts of nausea and sickness immediately prior to your meal consumptions," Beetee explained, "as well as, and forgive me for pointing this out as it is quite impolite, your outbursts of tears or anger. Those noticeable changes aren't the only thing happening inside of your body. Your chemical composition is also going through vast changes which is why, I believe, you were spared the same side effects that Peeta and Chaff went through."

"Meanwhile, I wound up killing Chaff…Haymitch's…" Peeta buried his head against Katniss shoulder. "What did I do?" he spoke softly against her neck.

Katniss lifted his face to hers. "You saved my life. Chaff was going to kill me and you stopped him."

"Listen to Katniss, Peeta," Beetee said. "There was no way of avoiding your actions. You were experiencing a momentary spiral into a world where delirium and actuality were indistinguishable."

"You did what you had to do," Johanna picked up the empty shells and walked to the tree she had tapped to refill them.

Finnick placed a hand on Peeta's shoulder, "It could've been any one of us, Peeta. The important thing is that you and Katniss walked out of that hour alive."

The lightning struck the tree causing all of them to look upwards, bringing their thoughts back to Beetee's plan.

"Did you find out what you needed to about the tree, Beetee?" Katniss asked him.

The man pushed his glasses which were perched on the bridge of his nose, up. "There is still much more I'll need to examine, but…yes, I did find out some very important information."

"Good," Katniss noticed that the rats were roaming around the base of the trees again several yards away. "Peeta, I'm going to kill some of those so we can eat. Why don't you wash the rest of this…" she stopped herself before she said, blood, "…off of your hands." She looked around and saw Johanna walking up to them. "Johanna, would you mind taking Peeta to the tree you tapped so he can clean up?"

She set down the shells full of water and said, "Nah. Come on, cinnamon buns. We'll get you washed up and looking as pretty as Finnick again."

Peeta was still a bit out of it. He followed Katniss' directions when she told him to stand up and go with Johanna. Katniss was concerned that he might be in shock until she overheard Peeta say, "Cinnamon buns?" and Johanna's explanation of the nickname immediately following which brought a hint of a smile to Katniss' lips.

Katniss shot four of the strange rat like creatures and brought them to Finnick who was standing guard over Beetee as he examined a piece of bark from the lightning tree. "Know how to skin and clean something like this?" She asked him.

Finnick gave her a nod of his head. "Want me to do it away from you?"

"Doesn't really matter," Katniss answered. "I'm just going to throw up before lunch anyway. Might as well get it out of the way now. I just can't clean these things myself." She could feel the tears burning in the back of her throat at the thought of skinning the creatures. She threw them to the ground and blew out a breath. "Friggin' hormones."

The sight of Katniss leaning over by the side of a tree caused Peeta to run to her aid. "Katniss?" He immediately started rubbing between her shoulder blades and pulled her dangling braid towards her back. The sight of Finnick cleaning their lunch and cutting it into little cubes caught Peeta's eye. "I think we're going to have a girl," Peeta said to Katniss in a soft tone as her fingers dug into the bark of the tree she held onto for leverage. "It has to be a girl," a tender swirl of his hand against her back before the last of her, now dry heaves, shook her body. "If it were a boy, it would be like me. Very sweet. However, a girl would be just like you…a feisty little thing, full of fire and wreaking havoc." Peeta went down on his knees and cradled Katniss in his arms after she collapsed. "There you go." He stroked her head. "It's all over now. You're so strong, Katniss. Look at what you have to go through in here and then you turn around and keep up with the rest of us. Hell, you outshine the rest of us." He lifted her up in his arms and kissed her temple. "We'll get you some water and I'm sure you'll get your crackers soon, okay?" He could feel her nod as she tucked her head under his chin. The sight of the silver parachute floating down towards their group had Peeta saying, "See. There it is."

Johanna was ripping open the chute just as Peeta knelt on the ground and set Katniss down. "Got her crackers here," she gave Katniss an almost concerned look. "She okay? That was a bad one."

"She's fine." Peeta stroked Katniss' head and followed it up with a kiss. "Let's get you some water."

Johanna handed him a shell. "Here, she can rinse with this."

"I'm tired," Katniss spoke into Peeta's chest. There was no life left in her body. She felt like all the blood had been drained from her system.

"Suck it up, fireball," Johanna ordered her. "Grow some balls and let that kid know who's boss."

Peeta gave Johanna a little smile. "You heard her. Better show the baby who the parent is otherwise it'll be walking all over you when it gets older."

"You two suck," Katniss said to the duo as she sat up, wanting nothing more than to lie down and curl into a ball. She took the cup of water and began her little ritual. By the time Johanna and Finnick had the meat and nuts ready to eat, Katniss was ready to devour an entire cow by herself.

After lunch they headed back towards the ocean. Beetee gave them the afternoon off so he could work out the last of his plan. Finnick built a little hut out of some poles and grass mats. Peeta and Johanna collected water while Katniss stood guard. Once everyone had done their jobs they all took turns washing up. Finnick and Johanna chose the ocean while Katniss and Peeta chose to stand under the stream of fresh water from the tree he had tapped. When Finnick suggested that they rest since they had had the roughest morning, neither one of them complained.

Peeta lay on his back with his arm over his eyes and Katniss' head against his chest, staring up at the mixture of dark green and brown, in the grass mat that was being used as a roof. He could see himself plunging the knife into Cato's… 'Chaff's,' he corrected himself, throat. Feel the warm blood spilling over his hands as he twisted the blade around in his jugular. 'I'm sorry, Haymitch,' Peeta couldn't rid himself of the guilt over killing his mentor's friend. 'I know how much he meant to you. I'm so sorry.'

His body was tensing up underneath her chest and the sound of his heart was beginning to race. Katniss lifted her face to Peeta's, saw the clenched jaw, the tears dripping down the side of his cheek pooling in his ear and his arm hiding his eyes. There were countless times that he came to her aid not only in the arena, but at home, in the woods…her whole life Peeta had been there to take care of her and now he needed her. Chaff's death was weighing heavily on his mind. Regardless of the reason why Peeta killed him, the fact was, he took the man's life and that wasn't an easy thing for Peeta to deal with. Katniss scooted herself upwards until her face was lined up with his then gently lifted his arm away from his face. She had no clue how to help him and then it hit her. "Look at me Peeta," her voice was kind and loving. Peeta was unmoving until Katniss slowly turned him towards her. "Look at me," she quietly urged him. His tear filled blue eyes met her sorrowful grey ones. "What makes you happy, Peeta?"

He swallowed lump after lump that was in his throat, fighting the onslaught of emotions that threatened to spill out of him. "You," he whispered hoarsely.

Katniss brushed away his tears with the pad of her thumb, "Okay…me…" she wasn't as good at this as he was, but she was willing to give it her very best try. "Um…and when you think of me where am I?"

"At home," he barely got the words out.

"Okay, I'm at home…with you?" She asked and saw him nod. "What time of day is it?"

Peeta placed his hand on her hip and sniffed. "Nighttime. Right before we go to sleep."

The expression on Katniss' face softened into one of a woman in love. "Close your eyes, Peeta." She reached out and gently pulled him by the hip so he could lie on his side and face her. She lifted her leg and wrapped it around his. "We're home Peeta. We just finished eating dinner, which you cooked and I had three helpings of," she saw a little smile lift at the corner of his lips. "We're going to take a…shower or a bath tonight?"

Peeta wrinkled his eyes a little then said, "Shower."

"Okay, we're going to take a shower tonight. Can you see our bathroom?" Katniss asked him as she brushed her nose against his. They had both a shower and a tub. The tub had a shower inside of it, but it wasn't like the walk-in shower that was bigger than Katniss' bedroom in her house from the Seam. "Tell me about it."

"The walls look almost like stone when we step into it, but once we're inside, the glass windows are like thick cubes of ice letting the light in. We're going to use the overhead shower tonight."

"I love that one," Katniss kissed his cheek and ran her hand down his back.

"Me too," Peeta sighed.

"What shampoo are you using on me tonight, Peeta?" Katniss asked him.

He inhaled through his nose as though he smelled it, "Lavender." He began to run his hand over her hair. "Whenever I smell that, I think of you."

"No matter how many times I wash your hair or use that bar of soap you like so much," Katniss closed her eyes and imagined them together at home, "you always smell like a freshly baked cake." She cupped her hands behind his head and felt his lips press against hers. "We're getting dressed for bed now, Peeta. What are we going to wear?"

"What we always wear," he said with a smile. "My pajamas."

"Which ones?" Katniss could see him standing at their dresser drawer pulling out their garments for bed.

"The red and white striped ones," Peeta opened his eyes and gazed at her. Even though he was in the arena, in his heart he was still in the confines of their bedroom holding out a soft shirt for her to put on. "We wore those on our wedding night. I love the way you look wearing my shirt. Do you remember that night?"

Katniss met his gaze and kissed him softly before saying, "I remember. I'll never forget that night."

"Me either," he pulled her closer to him and trailed his lips across her cheek until he reached her ear. "Let's go to bed now, Katniss."

"Okay, Peeta," she threaded his blonde curls through her fingers. "Have I ever told you that this was my favorite part of the day?"

"This is my favorite part of the day too," he spoke against her lips. "In this moment, when the worries of the day end, before the prospect of nightmares begin, life is perfect." They shared a kiss with their eyes delving into the others. "There's something I want to tell you…about the baby…" this was always the time of day in which they shared their thoughts…their secrets and he needed to let her know something important. "Katniss, I know we never wanted to have kids and when I found out about the baby I wasn't fair to you. I expected you to respond the same way I did at the news and when you didn't…"

"Peeta," she tried to stop him from speaking.

"It's okay, Katniss." He rested his forehead against hers. "Being a parent will grow on you…literally."

"Peeta, I do want the baby." She told him. "I mean…it's here so of course I want it."

"That's good, Katniss. I'm glad." He held her against him and thought, 'Wanting it and loving it are two different things.'

Katniss could see the jungle now, their little fantasy world was gone, shattered by Peeta's jolt of reality. Sounds of Finnick and Johanna splashing around in the ocean came from behind her. "Want to go in the water with Finnick and Johanna? Sounds like they're enjoying themselves."

"Yeah. Sure." As they headed towards the sea Peeta said, "Thanks for that, Katniss. It helped."

"Anytime."

Finnick and Katniss dove for oysters, clams and mussels while Johanna and Peeta collected them in several bowls that Finnick had weaved. There was an overabundance of them on the ocean floor and Katniss was truly enjoying herself with Finnick who was constantly making funny faces at her beneath the water. At one point Katniss had to propel herself to the surface for air because she wanted to laugh. Of course Finnick popped up by her side, worried that he had gone too far, but Katniss only splashed him in the face prior to going back to work. When they collected more than enough food to feed them they sat down and began cleaning the shellfish. The mussels were a bit harder to clean than the clams and oysters so the group decided to leave those to Finnick.

"Why do I have to do these?" He complained. "I can teach the rest of you how to do it."

"Quit whining," Katniss and Johanna said at the same time and gave each other approving looks.

"Better watch out Finnick, they're ganging up on you now," Peeta teased him. "If I were you, I'd shut up and clean those things without complaining."

"Good idea," Finnick agreed. "If there are two women in this world I wouldn't want as enemies, it's those two."

"You know Odair, you're not that stupid for a pretty boy," Johanna gave him a flirtatious wink. "Although I prefer it when you don't speak. I like my men to be gorgeous and obliging." she turned to Peeta, "Kind of like you cinnamon buns."

Katniss let out a little laugh. "Back off, Johanna. Those buns belong to me."

"Fireball, I was just admiring from a distance." Johanna leaned her head in Peeta's direction. "Though you do have a tight ass. Mmmm, mmm, mmm."

Peeta let out a noise through his nose while he held back his laugh. "Katniss aren't you going to threaten her life or anything?"

Katniss shrugged her shoulders. "Can't really argue the point. You've got a great butt. As your wife I think I'm going to take it as a compliment."

"Now that's the sign of a secure relationship," Finnick grinned at Katniss when she didn't jump at Johanna's taunts.

"Hey! Look at this!" Peeta opened up an oyster and in the center of it was a pearl. He held it in the palm of his hand and bent down in front of Finnick. "Did you know if you pressed on a lump of coal hard enough you got a pearl?"

"No you don't," Finnick gave him a look like he was crazy.

Katniss let out a little huff of laughter. "Stop it," she said in Effie's defense.

"I said that with love," Peeta knelt in front of Katniss and held the pearl out to her. "I know I promised to get you a ring, but would you consider accepting a pearl instead?"

Peeta had told her on their wedding day that they would get rings after they had their wedding ceremony for the Capitol audience. Thoughts of that day flashed through Katniss' mind. The service that seemed like a business transaction. The hesitation on her part when it came to changing her name, Katniss smiled a little thinking how glad she was that she was a Mellark now. Their toasting popped into her mind…the things Peeta had said to her…the things she had finally confessed, not only to him, but to herself as well. She looked into the startling blue eyes of the man she loved…the father of her child, and like the bolt of lightning that hit the tree, Katniss came to a shocking realization. "Peeta," she said softly as she closed her hand over the pearl he held out to her, "I love you. I love our baby."

He questioned her with his eyes. After the things he had said to her earlier, Peeta wasn't sure if this was for the cameras or if this was actually Katniss telling him the truth. He wanted to believe it was the truth, but… "Katniss?"

There was only one way to let him know she meant it from the deepest region of her soul. "Read my lips, Peeta." Her mouth moved but no sound came out, "I love this baby." A loving smile played at the corner of her lips, grey eyes sparkled into a pair of elated blue ones, as Katniss silently confessed, "I love our little banana nut."