This is the last chapter :3
it's been totally awesome! (Starkid reference) And I may put up a pole sometime soon over which fic I should do next, so check it out if I bother to do so :3

For the last time, enjoy.

Born to Die

Chapter Thirty-Four: Epilogue: Born to Die

Disclaimer, Point's of View, Characters (including O/C's) and Pairings list:
See Chapter One.

-A few months after Chapter Thirty-Three-

There she stood, in green silk and dainty shoes – stood along with her sisters, Ira and Irene. Iris Everett, my brave younger sister, cautiously approached a set of thin, fine knives.

"I still don't want to, Clove,"

"Yes, I know – but you never know..." Trailing off, I glanced at Cato – who stood behind me a few feet away, observing Iris and I in our garden – as the youngest Everett prepared to throw her first knife.

My mother hadn't spoken me since that fateful day. I assumed it would be no different, she showed me next to no affection before the Games...But it hurt. Tore me apart.

That didn't mean I'd stop caring for her, or my sister's.

I tried to copy my mother's words.

"Alright, Iris – pick up a knife," she lifted it, her expression proving her easily identified shock.

"It's like a knife at dinner...But heavier!" She exclaimed, causing me to wince. Those were the same words I'd used when I first held a knife.

"Yes..." I breathed, lifting my own knife.

"Do not copy, but observe Iris," I pulled my wrist back – with a quick, familiar flick – it hit the centre of a familiar target pinned against the fence.

"Now, pull back your wrist and flick it forward, but do not let go," I commanded, repeating mother's words. Iris took, as I did, half an hour to get used to the blade.

She looked so much like a younger me.

"Next sweetie-" I took a deep breath, reminiscing, "-You let go," Iris inhaled, closing her eyes; completely in the zone.

With a focused expression, she pulled her wrist back, flicked – and let go.

The blade spun forward, almost in slow motion, before it landed towards the edge – barely touching the white.

"I'm nowhere near as good as you, Clove," she pouted.

"You'll get good," Irene smiled.

"Yeah Iris, I couldn't throw at all my first time!" Ira beamed.

"Nor could I Ir," I confirmed, getting down to her eye level. "Besides, you're starting a little late." Per instinct, I ruffled her unruly black curls – that were uncannily like mine when I was her age.

"You'll be an amazing knife thrower, whether you enter the Games or not," she grinned widely.

"I'd like that," Iris promised.

Scuffing the ground with her toe, Irene looked up to me and asked:
"Clove...Can we stay tonight?" The only blonde Everett was frowning for some unknown reason.

I hummed. With all my heart, I loved my sisters – but I wanted to spend some time with Cato.

"How about you stay with Cassidy's family tonight?" I suggested, their eyes lit up – nodding manically.

"Alright, I'll give her a call."

-LineBreaker-

Cato and I sat, curled up, on our sofa. The old worn leather creaked lazily, lights flickering where they were dimmed so low.

"You know, Clove, before I met you I was certain my ideal future was to come home and bathe in glory," I looked up to Cato – who was smiling softly.

"But, from the second I locked eyes on you, my subconscious decided that this was the perfect victory," softly, I smiled – entwining my hand in his.

"And we'll have many years like this to come, Cato." The blonde grinned.

"Do you think Ira will volunteer?" He wondered spontaneously. I shrugged.

"Maybe, she is the perfect little Victor. I'll have the honour to train her during the Quell, whatever the twist."

"With me by your side,"

"As if I'd let you leave me."

"Since when were you the over-protective girlfriend?"

Inwardly, I was soaring. Our usual chatter gave me hope and comfort. It was us.

"I'll ignore that," crookedly, I smiled.

Cato smiled wryly, silence taking over.

"Cato...?"

"Yes...?"

"You know, when I first met you, I hated you. Thought you were annoying, arrogant."

"I suppose I was," he admitted.

"No, I discovered the day of the Chariot Rides with that simple comforting smile, that you were so much more than your seemingly obviously large ego," Cato faked shock.

"I resent that!"

"Sure you do,"

Instead of replying, he just looked into my eyes adoringly. I'd never get over those amazing blue spheres of perfection.

"I love you,"

When I first heard him say that – or rather, when he told me he 'liked' me – I was slightly scared. But now, it made me feel safe, secure.

Mother had walked out of my life; no matter how painful that is, it's for the best.
Iris had thrown her first knife today.
Ira was going to be part of the reaping for the first time this year.
Irene was preparing for her first reaping for the Seventy-Sixth Games.
Cassidy had found herself a boyfriend.
Even Lusa, Enobaria and Brutus had begun to tolerate each other.

Everything was changing. Moving on.

Time for me to do the same. Time for me to live my new life in my new dream, in my new world.

Once, my idea of perfection was my mother's praise and approval – even her love and affection.
Now, my personal perfect had elaborated so much more – in the space of a few months.

Leaning in, I kissed Cato deeply. Never would I ever get over the sensation of pressing his lips against mine – the confidence, safety, energy, spark...Everything.

We broke apart and pulled back in. When we pulled back together I realised that once I believed I was Born to Die.
Now I knew life was so much more than just The Hunger Games, and its outcome

Pulling apart for a fateful second, my lips brushed against his as I whispered:

"And I love you,"

So...That was it. Born to Die – a 'the Hunger Games' fanfiction by Catnipisnotonfire12.

Did you like it? I hope so :3 This has been so much fun :')

I'll see you (hopefully) when I write a new fanfiction!
It will probably be a The Hunger Games multi-chapter fic, though I may do little one-shots of other fandom's :3
(To see which fandom's I write for, go onto my profile and look up which fandom's I'm in :3)

Make sure you come back tomorrow to read the acknowledgements!

THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THIS MY MOST SUCCESSFUL FANFICTION EVER.

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-Catnipisnotonfire12