Hey guys! Thank you all so much, I just reached 102 Reviews :') I absolutely love reading them, most of them make me laugh! Either way, they all make my day!

I had to get this chapter up, even though I have much more to do on this Sunday. I have so much homework piled up and I have spent the last two days doing nothing, so I have to spend today doing that :( I would much rather be writing for you guys, though.

Anyways, I hope you like the chapter. As you said, Elli, it's about time Finnick got up the guts to even buy a ring, hm? Well, he couldn't really before because of the Pres and such.

Oh, and another thing. You commented (Elli) saying there's no way I could let Finn die now after this, but that's exactly what happened to Annie, wasn't it? They got married and he died soon after… Pfft, I'm not foreshadowing at all.

I'm kidding! I don't know yet. Disregard all that has been said.

Anyways, I hope you all like the chapter! Let's see if I can get… 106+ reviews? It's only four more, lovelies :)

xXxXx

One way or the other. By the end of the day, they'll either be dead or with us. It's…more than we could hope for!


I stare at Johanna, unable to move or speak. A ring? Is he… is he going to propose to me? I mean, I love Finn more than anything in this world, besides Trixie, but… I never thought about us getting married in forever. That's one thing they never took away from me, his stories he used to whisper into my ears about all kinds of things. I remember how he used to say we would have a million little babies running around us on the beach after we were married surrounded by all of our victor friends… I guess that's out, now, though.

Johanna grabs the box from me, "Damn it. Gemma, you saw nothing. Oh no, Finnick's going to kill me…" She jumps up and starts pacing around the room.

"Johanna… is that what I think it is?" I mumble, still staring at the box now covered by her hands. I don't know how to react to this; I'm so happy, but I just feel like something bad is going to happen like always.

"No," She snaps, "You were obviously not meant to see that. Damn it!" She throws the box down on the bed, and covers her face in her hands. "Oh, Gemma, I'm sorry…"

I get up and crawl to the bed, gently taking the box in my hands. I lift the lid off, revealing the beautiful ring inside. I study it, not daring to touch it, and that's when it hits me.

I've seen this ring before, somewhere. In district one. My old home.

Flashbacks flood me; working in my parents shop, getting shunned when I was pregnant, seeing my mother's head in the box, leaving Carter, returning years later to find out about his marriage, seeing my father again, everything.

Then it hits me. Half of the people in District one could be dead. Gloss is dead. Cashmere could be dead. Esmeralda and Mitchell… their little babies… could be dead. Carter could very well be dead. Everyone could be dead.

I drop the ring and sink to the floor, overwhelmed by sudden grief. I need to know who survived; and if they did survive, why aren't they here.

I let the tears drip down my cheeks slowly, and I look up to Johanna. She's confused as to why I'm crying, I assume, but she doesn't say anything.

Completely forgetting about the ring, I get up and walk right out of the room without saying another word to her; she doesn't stop me. I need to find Haymitch, he'll know.

I start walking around the halls, and pretty soon I'm lost. I start to panic, and I start running and running. I don't find one person that can help me until I'm about to give up.

I've never seen the girl, but she obviously knows who I am. Her eyes widen in fear, "C-can I help you?" She asks me in a quiet voice; she looks around sixteen.

I look at her lazily, "Haymitch, the mentor from district twelve, you seen him? Or the girl on fire?" I figure Katniss knows where he is.

She nods and points down the hall; it turns out his room is just at the end. I thank her and continue on, hearing her give a sigh of relief. Seriously, what did she think I was going to do to her? Kill her? Go completely psycho on her? They'd have me locked up back in that hospital faster than I could even apologize.

Once I reach Haymitch door I bang on it, "Open up!" I screech. I need to know who's dead and who's alive.

A few minutes later I hear the lock click and the door flies open, "Oh, hey you." He mumbles, pointing his liquor bottle at me. I scrunch up my nose at the stench; It's so strong. I wonder how he even got liquor in here.

"Haymitch, I have a question. Can you please sober up for a few minutes, this is serious. I'm really scared." I say, looking down at my bandaged hands. He must know I'm being serious, because he puts on a fatherly voice as he brings me into his room.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" He asks me, sitting me down on the bed. I look up into his eyes, mine brimming with tears.

"Who's dead, Hay?" I whisper. He's completely confused.

"Dead? What do you mean?"

"In… In district one…" I trail off. He sighs, and I know he's debating lying to me. "Tell me the truth, please."

"There… aren't many survivors…" He says, looking to the ground. "After they turned to our side, the Capitol bombed them…"

I let out a squeaky noise of pain, "Who?"

He runs a hand through his hair, "Gemma…"

"Who Haymitch? Damn it! Carter?"

"He… he didn't make it, Gem…" He mumbles.

I feel my heart break right then and there. I haven't talked to him in so long, and the last time I did I was storming away from him. I clutch at my heart, feeling like a tiny bit of it has been torn out. Even though we were fighting the past years, I never ever wanted him dead… I spent my childhood with him, he was my Carter, my best friend. Tears over flow my cheeks, but I keep my voice steady, "Haymitch, please… Esmeralda… did she…." I can't say it. I can't think about it.

As an answer, Haymitch takes me in his arms, cradling me to him. I'm stunned for a second, but then I start sobbing. They take over my body, and I tremble against his chest, "W-why…" I wail. "Mitchell?" I hear him sniffle, thinking about his long time friends, and he slowly shakes his head. I pull away from him, looking at him frantic with my red blotchy eyes. "What about their kids? Cashmere?"

"Oh, Gemma, I'm so sorry…" Is all he says. I can't be with him right now, I need Finnick. He's the only one that can make me feel better. I take off running as I continue sobbing, clutching at my stomach with my shaking hands. I hear him call after me, but I need to find Finnick. I need to hear him say it will be alright, I need to hear him tell me stories to make it better.

I run in not certain direction, just running and crying. I eventually make it back to Finnick's room, and thinking he's in there I burst in the door. That's when I realize he isn't in there though, he's in district two. Luckily I find Johanna, and she can help.

I sink to the ground, curling into a ball, and Johanna comes out of the bathroom. "Gemma? Oh my god Gemma! What happened?" She asked, reaching my side. Despite her being younger than me physically, she is so much stronger and stable. I really don't understand how she can do it; I'm such a blubbering crazy mess, and she's a rock. I just don't get it.

"They're… They're all dead!" I wail into her. I feel her body freeze.

"Who Gemma?" She whispers.

"E-everyone from District O-one!" I sob into her chest, and she cradles me to her just like Haymitch did.

"Sh, Gem, it's okay, it's okay. They are in a better place now, remember? With Ky?" That's right, Ky. They are up there with Ky. His family is probably with them, too. He will get reunited with Esmeralda and Mitchell, he'll get to meet their kids. This comforts me, knowing they are all up there together. I feel like I'm cheating on all of them, by living, but I know I can't try to end my life again. If Finnick comes back, knowing I've been trying but failing he'll blame himself. So will Trixie. I can't do that to him.

"That's r-right, I g-guess…" I say, calming down some. I reach up behind Johanna to the bed, grabbing the box. I open it, admiring the jewel on it; it's a tiny blue sapphire. I know if it was Carter it would have been a red ruby. I'm glad that they are opposites, I can't bare to look at rubies anymore, it's to hard. I toy with the ring in my fingers, and it makes me feel better.

"I don't think you should touch that…" Johanna comments about the ring. I ignore her, take it from the box and slip it down over my finger.

I gasp at how beautiful it is; it looks just right. I wonder how long he's had this, and how he's kept it from me for so long. As I slowly calm down with the help of the ring, I remove myself from Johanna's arms. I stand against the wall for a long time, just staring at the ring and thinking about my old mentor, my mother, Esmeralda.

Eventually I take it off and put it back in the box just as it was, before I leave the room.

It's been two weeks and I'm starting to worry.

I haven't done anything the past three days but stay curled up in my ball in my hospital bed; I can't do anything. I can't move, I can't eat, I can't drink. I just stay here, falling asleep randomly. Boggs doesn't bug me to train, he knows about me asking Haymitch about district one; everyone does. So many people have come to tell me how sorry they are, but I feel or hear nothing. I just see their figures by my bed, not even their faces. I block them out. I only want to see Finnick's or Trixie's face.

Trixie comes every day, and she just sits by my bed, holding my hand. She busy at the hospital, following Prim around. They have become very good friends, or so she's told me. Whenever she talks about their friendship, my mind drifts to Adalee and how she's probably dead, which just makes my heart hurt even more.

Why does life have to be so full of death?

Why does everyone have to die? In such cruel ways…

I hear hustle and bustle coming from outside my room, but I ignore it, staying in my ball. Suddenly Trixie's bursting in my room, "They're back! They're back Mommy!" She's screaming.

I seem to come back to life in an instant, and I slide off of my bed. I follow behind my daughter, holding her hand. She leads me through the swarms of people, and even though I start to shake from being in such close proximity of them, we make it to the E.R. "Why are we in here?" I ask her.

"Mommy… Daddy was… shot, along side of Katniss. He's find though, he was wearing a bullet proof vest. The impact broke a few of his ribs, and he's bruised badly, but he's fine." I start to panic at this, my Finnick was shot. Not the evil one, but mine. I rush her along, needing to see him.

I hear him before I see him, "Gemma! Where's Gemma!" He's screaming. I laugh to myself, knowing he's more concerned about myself than him. I bend down to Trix's level and kiss her cheek.

"I'll be back, okay baby? I just need to go talk to daddy. You go find Prim and help out some soldiers, okay?" She nods and runs in the opposite direction, calling out for Prim. I take off in search of Finnick, and then I see him.

He's fighting three or four nurses, trying to get them not to put the restrains on him. He's in a torn and burnt suit. "Finnick!" I call out to him. His eyes meet mine, and I grin, running forward.

"Gemma!" He says, still trying to reach me.

I get to the side of his bed and stroke his face, "Stop fighting, I'm here now." He leans up and kisses me, giving into the nurses long enough to put the restraints around his waist and ankles. "Oh Finn, I missed you so much…" I whisper into his ear, nuzzling my face in his neck.

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you…" He whispers back.

"No, I'm sorry for freaking out like that. I know nothing happened with Katniss, I shouldn't have accused you. I'm so sorry Finn…" He smiles.

"That was rather foolish, you have to admit, love. You're my one and only."

I laugh, "I know." After the nurses cleared away, I climb up onto the bed with him. He takes me in his arms, and I curl up against him. "Hey Finn?" I whisper after a while, not knowing if he's asleep or not.

"Yeah, baby?" He asks me, tightening his hold.

"I…" I'm not going to tell him I found the ring. I'll tell him after he proposes. "I found out about district one while you were gone…"

He strokes my hair, "Oh, love, I'm so sorry."

"I just wish you could have been here. I haven't moved the past three days, I was so worried about you…"

"I promised I'd come back to you while you were asleep the day before I left, and I always keep my promises. I'm never going to leave you." He says.

I feel sleep washing over me, "Never?"

"Never." And that's the last thing I hear before I fall asleep.


Aw, cutesy Gemmick (or Fimma?) moment. Hehe. Tell me what you think!