As previously mentioned, there is a time jump spanning a few hours. To catch you up, Gale has made it through the city relatively unscathed and Coin's assault has begun. Enjoy!


Gale's POV:

I lose my grip on my bow as I am tackled from behind. I turn to throw the person, but they go with me and I see long black hair. A Peacekeeper wouldn't have tackled me. They would have shot me. The only one who would have tackled me is Snowden. She's the reason I'm in the mansion. I have to find her before Boggs breaches it with his team. I roll again and my assailant jumps off me and I roll to my feet. I barely see Snowden's eyes and the wild look in the them before she is charging me again. There is a knife on her belt, her most deadly weapon in any situation. If she manages to get a hold of it and keep it, I am a dead man.

She punches me and I block the blow only to miss the one to my jaw. Stars dance in front of my eyes and I have to drop in order to avoid another hit. She moves to kick me and I grab her ankle. She falls and I get to my feet, hoping to pin her down before she can get up. But she gets up quickly and we are trading blows again, me regretting every blow I land on her. I don't want to be fighting with her like this. I came here to save her. I don't understand what is wrong with her. But that wild look in her eyes, it's got to be the brain damage from the hijacking. She punches me in the gut and I double over, which allows me to avoid the kick she has coming for my head. Is she trying to kill me? Did she truly change sides? No one really knows why she left. Her left fist comes at my face and I see my ring on her finger. I roll to avoid it and end up next to my bow. I grab it and get to my feet and we freeze, my bow armed and drawn, her knife ready to throw, aimed at my heart.

I know this scenario. It's happened before, over a year ago now. At the end of the Seventy-Fourth Hunger Games. She was a different person then. She was a spy from Thirteen on a mission to win the Games so she could lead a rebellion against the Capitol. She saved me so I could take her place. There was something deeper then, but I didn't recognize it. I think that is when I fell in love with her. I couldn't kill her then. And I can't do it now. And all because I love her. I loved her then. I've loved her since. I sure as hell love her now.

"Do it, Snow." I say the irrecoverable words; not knowing the effect they are going to have on her. "Kill me and go home."


Outside:

Boggs pulled Katniss out of the line of fire from a squad of Peacekeepers guarding the citizens. It was obvious that they had gathered their people in the middle of the city in the hopes of protecting them. Boggs knew that it was typical of Snowden. She had always cared more for the people than she had herself. It was why she had never questioned her having to be the flame for the moths. But now, he whished it had been different. When she had been chosen, only Coin had known that she was Snow's granddaughter. If the council had known that, she never would have been considered for the mission. It would have been too easy for Snow to take her and turn her, just like he had done. With someone else, he would have fought. He would have been more of an enemy. If Gale had been picked from the beginning, Snow would never have known about Snowden. She would have been forgotten. She never would have known the truth and nothing would have changed between them. She never would have been hijacked.

"Boggs, c'mon." Katniss said as she pulled him up. The Peacekeepers had fallen back and she was pointing to the roof where most of the squad had already taken their weapons and taken a position as snipers. Katniss climbed the ladder and Boggs followed. Katniss had been the first to notice Gale was missing when they woke this morning. Boggs had only told her that he was on a special mission for Coin. She had been skeptical, but couldn't argue it with her commander. She just hoped that Gale was okay. She and Boggs took up their positions on the roof and faced the City Circle, guns on the Peacekeepers as one of Coin's other commanders stepped forward to speak with Thread.


Snowden's POV:

"Do it Snow. Kill me and go home." Gale says and my heart stops. He's said those words before, over a year ago, he said those words to me. He could have killed me then. He can kill me now. But he wants me to kill him. He said those words when the Gamemaker, Seneca Crane, changed the rules on us and said that there could only be one Victor. Only one. But we both came out of it. We nearly killed ourselves to do it. Two victors or none at all. That's what we had done. We had started the rebellion that day. With his words, and mine. Grandpa showed me the video. He killed the people in Two. I told him I would kill him if he wanted to kill innocents. But isn't he just a piece in the Games being played by Grandpa and Coin. A pawn…just like me.

"Gale…no." I say. "I don't want to kill you." The words are familiar on my tongue. Those are the words that started this whole thing. I throw my knife into the floor and it sticks up, having found a seam to fit into. I look at Gale. "I don't want to kill you." I say again. He throws his bow down and walks over to me and takes my left hand, his thumb rubbing the emerald before he squeezes my hand and then pulls me into a hug. I hug him back. He rubs my back. "I'm sorry." I barely get out as I try to ground myself as the haze starts to come back. "Don't leave me. Remind me that you're real." He takes my face in his hands and pulls it up to his and I feel his lips on mine. The sensation breaks through the haze and I return the kiss, tasting the woods on him, remembering Twelve and the life we were creating there, away from the Capitol. Away from Thirteen. We had the chance to run away. We didn't. I told him the truth because I love him. He came back for me because he loves me. I break the kiss and look at him. He is smiling and I rest my head on his chest.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him.

"I came for you, Snow. I came to save you. You and I, we are of more use to Coin dead than we are alive now. Especially since you came back to the Capitol." I snort.

"I came back because it was what I had to do. Coin would have killed all the people here. If she wins, she'll keep using people. I knew Grandpa would be the only able to stop her." Gale stiffens a moment and then relaxes.

"Snow, we've got the city surrounded. Thirteen is making their way here right now. They're going to kill those people outside just to get to you and your grandfather."

"I know." I sigh. "They've gotten through all of the traps and pods we set. I must have missed a spy."

"It's done now." He says. "Can you talk him into surrendering.?" I nod against his chest. Surrender is our only option now. But we have a plan up our sleeves. One last trap that will depend solely on Coin. I look into my husband's eyes.

"I need you to do me one last favor."

"Anything."

"Come with me to Grandpa. We'll surrender only to Coin. But first, you need to meet my family." I take his hand and we start walking.


Snow's POV:

The door to the garden opens and I sit and wait. Snowden left to check on the situation. That was a while ago. I hope she didn't run into any trouble.

"Grandpa?" She calls out. Her voice is different. Softer. "Grandpa?"

"I'm here, Darling." I call and Snowden rounds the corner into the center of the garden. Holding her hand is the other Dragon, Gale Hawthorne. I don't say anything, but I can see the giddiness in her eyes again. The same giddiness that had disappeared when I visited her in Twelve, before the Victory Tour. That seems so long ago now.

"Grandpa, this is my husband, Gale Hawthorne." Snowden says. I stand up and approach the couple. Gale stiffens, but Snowden remains relaxed. I hold out my hand. Gale doesn't take it. Snowden takes it in both of hers. When she appears fine, Gale takes my hand.

"A pleasure to meet you, Sir, formally." He finally says.

"I assume you have come for my granddaughter." I say, dropping his hand. "And our surrender."

"Yes," he answers slowly.

"Very well. Take a walk with us." I walk out the door and they follow. We go to the council room where I stop in front of the doors. Just hours ago, we'd watched as the rebels tired to destroy our city.

"What is this?" Gale asks. Snowden steps away from him and stands by me.

"We are only going to surrender to Coin." She says. "President to President, Dragon to Dragon." There is strength in her voice. She knew this was the end. It was why she had laid the trap the way she did. "Bring her here so we may discuss the terms."

"Okay," Gale agrees and I can see that he is as tired of all this fighting as Snowden is. "I'll be back." He kisses her and disappears down the hall. Snowden and I enter the room.

"Do you think he'll keep his word?"

"Coin wants to gloat over your defeat. Whatever terms you decide on, I'll support." She says as I sit in my chair and she stands behind me. My terms. Oh Snowden, how you've changed those since this whole thing started.


Gale's POV:

"Boggs," I say as I place the earpiece back in my ear and turn on the wire. "Boggs, can you hear me."

"I can." Haymitch sneers and I can picture his face. No one knew of my "mission" to the center of the city.

"Are you here, Haymitch?"

"Incoming with Coin." He answers.

"Soldier Hawthorne," Coin's voice comes over the wire, "why are you not with your squad?"

"I have made contact with President Snow and Agent Caltrit." I say, ignoring her question. "They have agreed to surrender, but they wish to surrender to you, Madam President. President to President, Dragon to Dragon." I wait for the response. They must be weighing the options of just bombing the mansion and killing the two of them or hearing them out.

"Wait for us in the Circle." Haymitch says. "The city is ours. You should be safe enough to exit."

"How many am I meeting?"

"Coin and a small squad to arrest the two. Wait for them outside the mansion. Finally, this damn thing is over." He sighs and the line cuts out. I go to the doors and walk out into the new day. Haymitch has one thing right. At least this war is finally over.


The war may be over, but there is still much to be said and done. It's not over yet. Hehehe. Thanks for reading and please review.