AN: I know Lex winning was not what my few readers wanted, and I'm sorry for that. But for the sake of the story he needed to win, and I hope these last few chapters make up for that. Also, a big thank you to my readers and those who are reviewing! I will be writing a second story, and Gabriella will be in it! That is why I made her the speaker of the last chapter, the introduce the character just a little bit. And now, for the Crowning of the Victor!

Crowning the Victor

Lex Grovenstin POV

It's been three days since I've won. Now the President will be crowning me. My stylist has me dressed in a white suit with black pinstripes. Over the past couple days she's been begging me to get a prosthetic hand, she says mine looks ugly. She doesn't believe in sugar coating things.

I don't want a prosthetic hand. I don't deserve it. I had to sit and watch the video of Topanga's mother being whipped. She died, right there on camera, just like all the tributes, just like her daughter.

I am the Victor of the 30th Annual Hunger Games. And now, I'll have to live with the fact that twenty three other tributes died in order for me to win, and two of those tributes killed themselves for me. One of them was my friend. Right now she'd be happy she grew up in a group home, because if she hadn't her family would have died because of her sacrifice.

Wide doors open and I step through them, there is cheering and clapping. The President sits off to my right. He grins at me.

I step up to my spot and wave. Slowly the President stands and walks over to the microphone beside me. "We are gathered here today to crown the Victor of the 30th Annual Hunger Games. This year showed the bravery of the children in Panem. With many twist, rule changes, and challenges, one tribute was able to make it out alive. He has many fans because of his high score, he has many fans because of his disability, and he had many fans because of his brains. I am honored to stand here today and crown fifteen year old Lex Grovenstin, as the Victor of the 30th Annual Hunger Games!"

Then he steps over with the golden crown. I keep my chest high, just like Lila, my escort, instructed me too. The President places the crown on my head then holds his hand out. I shake it. For a second we catch each other's eye contact, he doesn't look too impressed. But he turns around and beams at the crowd. They clap and cheer.

I give one last wave and walk back inside. Lila is waiting for me, and she claps her hands together quickly before giving me a hug.

"Good job, good job!" She says. "Your family is here, they can't wait to see you!"

My family! I haven't seen them since I told them goodbye after the reaping. My brother comes rushing into the room.

"Lex!" He yells from excitement. He wraps his arms around me. "You came back! Just like you promised you would!"

"I did." I say, tears in my eyes. Mom and Dad walk in the room and suddenly we are all hugging and crying. Mom kisses my head over and over, making my new crown fall to the floor. I hardly notice Lila complaining about it loudly.

"I'm so glad they didn't hurt you guys." I say, suddenly relieved that the President and Gamemakers were aware that I had nothing to do with Topanga and Zila taking their own lives for me. We can all go home, we can all live in the Victors Village together.

"Are you going to get your hand fixed?" Stephan asks. I shake my head. He looks confused but I just ruffle his hair and tell him I'll explain it to him later. "Can we see our new house?" He ask. I shrug and look over at Lila, who is standing in the corner admiring my crown. She glances up at me.

"The house, why yes. The train should be here soon to take us back to District 5." She steps over and hands me my crown. "Then you can all move into your new home." She smiles.

"So I really don't have to do anything else?" I ask, relieved to be done for six months.

"Not until the tour." Lila says, "I'm so excited for the tour, I've never been in one before!"

"No one should be in one." I say quietly, only Dad hears me, and he wraps his arm around my shoulders and squeezes slightly.

"Careful." He says quietly, because just then the President walks in.

"You must be Lex's family." He says, walking over and shaking my parents hands. My parents play nice and smile at him, telling him how honored they are to be meeting him. "You must be very proud of young Lex." He says.

"Very proud." Says Mom in her fake happy voice.

"He's so," The President searches for the right word, "Smart." He finally says, a slight snarl in his voice.

"Like all tributes should be." I say, standing taller. He narrows his eyes at me.

"It's very interesting to have a tribute who didn't kill anyone." The President says.

"If I remember right, which I'm sure I do, I killed a Career girl. Because I'm smart." I keep my voice even, just like Topanga always did when she was speaking to someone she didn't like. What would she say to the President right now?

"Ah, yes. The little stunt that resulted in the rule change. Many, many, people did not like that. You are lucky the rule change was the only thing that happened."

"Really? I heard people liked it. I think because of that I won some fans."

"But what else did you do?"

"Don't talk to my son like that." Dad snaps. I turn to my dad, he doesn't need to speak up for me. The President can still order for him to be killed.

"It's ok, Dad." I say, then I turn back toward the President. "He's right, I didn't do much else." At that the President shows a hint of a smile. "I just watched children die for me."

"Goodbye, Lex, see you in six months." The President says, then he leaves. I watch as the doors behind him close. I am the Victor of the 30th Annual Hunger Games, and I'm actually happy that the President is not happy with the Victor.