Disclaimer: All characters and things associated with The Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins and Lionsgate. This writing is for pure entertainment only.

Summary: Katniss finally thought everything was going to be alright and her children would grow up in a safer world then she and Peeta had, but something changes and a new set of games begins.

CHAPTER 35

KATNISS POV

I can feel Peeta tense next to me, Galen take a deep breath, and even Haymitch focus more on the screen in front of us. Not a sound is made in the penthouse; I am certain even the avox are silently watching now.

Regal is dead and two people will leave the arena. Now, all that is left are Emberly and Damir and the two tributes from District 2. Its only a matter of time before someone attacks; there will only be two of them walking away from this.

"What are they doing?" Galen asks after a long moment of Emberly, Damir, Mason, and Antu just looking at one another.

"Figuring out who is going to attack first," Haymitch says the truth bluntly.

Galen looks up at me and looks much older then he ever has. He has seen and felt more then any thirteen year old has since the Games have ended. "Emberly needs to do it first…"

"Emberly just needs to outlast Antu. She doesn't need to kill her," Peeta says softly, trying to shield our son from the fact that his sister is a murderer, but Galen has already seen it. Emberly has already taken lives; Antu's wouldn't be much different except that they were friends or at least allies. That will make it harder for Emberly to do and all of us to watch.

"Moves and counter moves…" Haymitch whispers.

"What?" I glance over at my former mentor.

"Whoever makes the first move…the counter move is what will matter the most. Emberly and Damir know that…it's why they aren't attacking yet," Haymitch explains, watching the screen with interest.

I glance over at Peeta who merely shrugs and then back to the screen, realizing that Haymitch does understand the thought process of a tribute far better then Peeta and I ever will. After all, we won, but we didn't mentor anyone. We didn't train children to die, and didn't analyze every decision made in a Game for years. We only worried about our own decisions in our own Games. Even in those, Haymitch was a voice of reason. He kept us alive, and so it shouldn't surprise me that he understands what Emberly and Damir are thinking right now, I just hope Haymitch is right. Emberly and Damir are both so close to coming home.

EMBERLY POV

It feels like we have been standing for an hour though its only been mere minutes since Regal was killed. Mason, Damir, Antu, and I all look around at one another and I know we are all thinking the same thing. This is our chance to see who is really going to stick to our plan, who is really in the alliance.

After the first few minutes when none of us jump down each other's throats and really start killing, I think we all relax a bit. It is clear we all have the same end goal in mind; we all will stick to the original plan.

Now the question turns to who starts the plan off. Surely, standing like this is adding to the entertainment factor that I know the Capitol and maybe even Districts are loving more with each second.

I raise an eyebrow at Mason, so slightly I doubt anyone watching notices.

He gives me a small smirk and then glances to Antu.

She takes a deep breath and nods. She knows what is coming next.

And it does; within seconds, Antu starts sprinting away from the group.

"She's running!" Damir yells, almost too convincingly.

I want to ask him when his acting got so well but I suppose we have all done better the longer we have been in the arena.

And now it's my turn to play. I take off after her but am surprised to see Mason run as well. He grabs her quickly and yanks her to the ground by her hair.

"Mason?! What are you doing?" Antu allows Mason to drag her to her feet by her hair. She puts up a fight but just enough to seem convincing.

"Only one girl can win, right?" Mason looks at me. "It should be you, Emberly…"

My brow furrows but I think he is playing a good part here, though it will make my decision between Damir and Mason harder now, especially if he makes the ultimate sacrifice for me.

And he does, the next thing I know, Mason has quickly plunged a knife into Antu's wrist, right near her tracker, though from any angle, and the way she grabs at it, it looks like it was to her abandon.

Mason then pushed Antu down, off the trail and into the brush. A minute later, a cannon goes off and Damir, Mason, and I stand there.

And it's written in stone now, that simple: I am going home. I am the last girl standing. That was always the plan, but now there is a twist to it, and it is in the form of Damir and Mason standing in front of me.

I take a deep breath as I watch the two boys in front of me both drop their weapons in a final act of defiance to the Capitol.

"Your pick, Emberly. You get to go home, you deserved it…and you get to pick who goes with you," Mason says.

Damir nods in agreement and I know that both of them will accept whatever choice I make. They both trust me to make the choice that will save us all, and I will, but I need a second to weigh out the pros and cons of each of them living, or me choosing who dies, of how I can play it to my advantage because I will need all the help I can get.

KATNISS POV

We all sit slightly shocked by Mason's sudden rush to kill Antu. She was his ally from District 2. They were partners, and he killed her like she didn't matter. In a way, I know I owe Mason my daughter's life. He has taken out her only competition.

"Emberly is coming home…" Peeta smiled softly and then laughed, nearly jumping off the couch and pulling me up into a strong hug, kissing me softly a dozen or so times.

I can't help it; I laugh in Peeta's arms as he twirls me around the room. He is right, she is coming home. Our daughter is a Victor. She is coming home.

After a long moment, Peeta puts me to the ground and I feel Galen wrap his arms around my waist.

I pull Galen close and kiss him on the head. it is then that I realize I am crying tears of joy, tears of confusion, I am not sure, but all I know is my child is a survivor. I nearly forget Haymitch is in the room and still waiting to see if his son survives.

After a long moment, my eyes move from my son and husband to the screen. Mason and Damir are standing in front of Emberly, both have dropped their weapons.

"The boys…" My smile fades as I let go of Galen.

Immediately, Peeta and Galen both look back at the screen and I can see from the corner of my eye Haymitch is watching intensely.

"What is she doing?" Galen asks.

"Making her choice," Haymitch says as if he is simply intrigued rather then the fact that his son's life is completely in my daughter's hands right now.

"Choice? What choice?" Peeta asks.

But any smile I had completely is gone now. I know exactly what Haymitch means and I am scared because I know Emberly is so much like me. She will chose one because she has to, and it will be, as Gale put is about me so many years before, the "one she cannot survive without." It won't be out of love, it will be out of necessity.

"Why is she taking so long?" Galen asks. "She just needs to pick Damir. Its almost over."

Haymitch shakes his head. "Its not that easy for her. It's never going to be easier for her again."

Haymitch doesn't sound bitter or angry that Emberly is weighing his options. If anything, he can understand her in the same way I can and in the way Peeta cannot because Emberly is selfish, just like me, just like Haymitch. She will make a choice based on herself, no one else, and she will weigh her options but in the end I know my daughter well enough to know that she needs Damir. Mason may have killed Antu to appeal to her, but she doesn't know him. Deep down she knows that, and so deep down I know that in a few hours I will have to face Gale knowing my daughter has killed his son.

EMBERLY POV

My eyes dart back and forth between Mason and Damir. I know I am expected to choose, but how can I? Damir is my best friend; he has taken care of me in so many ways since before I even knew what a best friend was. He is my rock and I am his and if we had never ended up in these Games I guess he was right in assuming we would end up together. It only made sense.

But Mason is new and exciting and I feel like, even in the short amount of time we have had together, he knows me better then I know myself. I trust him, and he is a strong ally. I hate the Games for what they are but I can't say I hate them for bringing Mason to me.

But the most important decision I have is not whom I feel more loyal to, but who, in the long run, is the better ally to make. Who do I want to continue down this journey with? Whoever I walk out of the arena with will be connected to me for life.

Or rather, whomever I walk out of the arena with, the Capitol will expect me to be connected to. I need the man who leaves with me to be able to play the part along side of me.

The choice is clear to me as I look between Damir and Mason. I know who I need by my side.

And so I walk up to Mason and smile softly at him before pulling his lips against mine. It is a chaste kiss, far different from the scene we had in the bedroom only a few days earlier, but something about this kiss is softer, even seems more real.

I pull away and look at Mason. "I am so sorry you had to kill Antu…I am so sorry for all of this."

Mason nods and I even see him force a tear, which I am impressed with. "It's okay…"

I wipe the tear away and then motion to Damir to bring me the knife near his foot.

Damir wordlessly hands me the knife.

"I love you," I tell Mason, my eyes still locked on his. I am not sure if the words are true or not, and I know they hurt Damir, but they could be true. If we weren't here, if things were different, maybe I could love Mason; maybe I will. I realize now, as he nods and stands in front of me that possibility could be realer then ever. Even if it isn't real, the Capitol will love it; I know the words will resonate throughout the Districts in a different way then my mother's proclamation of love for my father. I actually slept with Mason; I showed them all that maybe I do love him.

"I love you too," Mason tells me. I cannot tell if he is acting or speaking some truth. Like my words, maybe there is some real meaning behind his. Only time will tell.

I nod and give him one final kiss before bringing the knife high above my head. This is it.

"I am so sorry," I say one more time.

Mason nods and braces himself for a blow he will never receive because I swing around and plunge the knife into Damir's ribs. I miss his heart and all of the main arties but I can still see the blood flow out of the wound as Damir staggers back. His face is full of surprise as I follow him and he falls into a bush.

I have made my choice. I have let Panem see it. I have decided that Mason is the one I need; Mason will be the Victor by my side.