As this is the very last chapter of the first instalment in the story of Cato and Rose I just wanted to thank every single person who has made it this far. This is the first story I have ever properly finished and I cannot express how grateful I am to be able to share it with you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Especially to the people who have taken the time to review, most, or pretty much every single, chapter! Even to the silent followers of this story - thank you so, so much for choosing to read my work!

Here it is... the very last chapter of Reignition:

* Chapter Thirty-Two *

Ava is right about having to shake the mayor's hand. He doesn't bother shaking Katniss and Peeta's but when Ava delivers me back to Cato's side, the man is congratulating Cato heartily and pays me similar compliments. He even adds, "Hope we'll be seeing you around the District whenever possible, eh? I'm sure they'd love to have you mentoring at the Academies too! Keep her around, won't you, Cato, m'boy!"

Cato laughs while I smile and promise to do my best to visit as often as possible, but we both know that every move Cato and I make will only be because President Snow allows it. There's also a few older victors who are curious or famous enough to choose or be forced to formally congratulate and welcome Cato home. I'm grateful for Enobaria lingering nearby as Cato introduces me to them. She pops up to distract Brutus, a particularly vicious and unpleasant Career who slaughtered a record-breaking nineteen of twenty-three tributes in one of the shortest Games in recent decades. He's well-loved in the Capitol for his sadism and disliked even in his own district for his uncanny ability to say exactly the right thing to piss someone off.

"Pity you couldn't kill the rapist yourself," his smile is cold as he stares at me unblinkingly, "maybe you didn't hate him as much as you made out? Bet your district wishes they were getting your partner back instead of you."

"Bet your district wished the same thing when you won," I snap back, because Brutus is also infamous for stabbing his district partner quite literally in the back.

"Got yourself a smart one, did you Cato?" He sneers in response and turns his beady eyes to Cato, "I've been taking bets on how long it'll take for her to get caught in someone else's bed… but maybe she'll realise you're just better at hiding the monster you are and dump your pansy-arse faster than she spreads her legs."

Enobaria sails in just as Cato furiously lifts his fist and snaps her teeth angrily at Brutus, "You're still supposed to be on house arrest for picking a fight with Titus during the Reapings," she informs him sharply and drags him away by his ear, "play time is over!"

It seems like we have her in our corner and I think that makes us lucky because — no mater how unconventional — she's probably a valuable ally. It's not long after she leaves that the moment the crowds have probably lingered for arrives. It's Johanna who informs me it's time to leave. She's in a foul mood by this stage and can't even muster up the tact to inform me quietly.

"Alright, let's blow this joint! Get your sickening goodbye over with Thorns, I want to go home!" she yells from halfway down the platform.

Cato flips her off in acknowledgement and I grin at him approvingly. It makes me happy that he and Johanna get along, "I told you her bark was worse than her bite!"

Cato smirks slightly, but his heart isn't in it as we slowly turn to each other. Our true goodbye happened on the train in private, but this is the last time I'll see him and be able to touch him for months. We gaze at each other for a long moment, then he's crushing me to his chest in a tight embrace that envelops me completely in him. Breathing deeply and holding him just as tight I try to clench my eyes against the tears threatening to spill over.

"You gotta eat more," he whispers into my ear, "and you call me every time you have a dream. Every single time, you hear? I don't care if it's ten times a night."

I nuzzle my face further into his chest and sigh heavily, "Find things to keep you busy, okay? Promise me you won't stay in a big empty mansion all by yourself…"

"Thinking about you will keep me plenty busy," he teases and I lift my head to smirk at him through my tears.

"Have I given you enough to think about?"

He grins wolfishly, "You've been keeping me busy since the second I met you, baby."

"Good," I grin right back, lifting myself onto my toes to hover my lips close to his, "Now kiss me the way you're going to fantasise about doing for the next six months."

His hand knots in my hair and the force of his lips meeting mine sends me back to flat-feet as our body's meld together. It's the kind of kiss that makes me go weak at the knees and completely snatches my breath away. It's hot and hungry and completely filled with passion and desire. Both of us are breathing heavily when he lifts his head, but the kiss he places on my forehead is soft and sweet.

"I love you Cato," I whimper and trace his jaw with my finger.

He whispers the words back and cradles me close again before I reluctantly peel myself away from him and step backwards towards the train, "Call me later tonight," he orders and eyes Katniss and Peeta distrustingly as Haymitch and some Peacekeepers usher them back onto the train. I nod and bite my lip to try and rein in my emotions, "Bye Cato."

"See you soon," he amends my farewell, "I'll see you soon, Rose."

I nod again, more bravely this time and wave specifically to his friends and then once more to the whole district and the cameras, "Bye Rose!" Dominick calls brightly showing that he hasn't become as hardened and jaded as Cato yet, "I'll keep him out of trouble for you!"

"Thank you!" I call back feeling a surge of affection for him and the strong desire to protect him from the Elite Training System. Perhaps Cato will be able to convince his brother to move into the Victor's Village with him.

I manage a proper smile for the cameras as I allow myself to be lead back to the train door by a Peacekeeper. Nobody else has lingered in the doorway, but I do. First I wave as jovially as I can to the crowd, then I let my smile soften as my eyes rest on Cato. Dominick and the others have moved to stand beside him, but he has eyes only for me as we silently swear to each other we are strong enough to get through this. The Capitol have already tried their best to break us. We've survived this long and we are strong enough to emerge triumphant from this too.

Even if they're making us do it alone.

...

Johanna's way of comforting me is by scaring everyone else out of the dining compartment and then silently sitting at my side. She even makes an exception for our concerned escort and tolerates Anariel's anxious hovering long enough to accept a cup of tea somewhat gracefully.

"Only someone from the Capitol would put that much milk in tea," she mutters, but not loud enough for the redhead to hear.

Anariel valiantly tries to engage me in conversation. She doesn't mention Cato or the Games or the Capitol, instead asking more about my family and the types of trees in Seven. She's almost more excited than me to find out whether Felicity has had the baby yet. I appreciate her trying to take my mind off things, but I'm also grateful when she falls silent and fiddles with my hair. She's plaited and twisted some of my curls together by the time Johanna's pointed glares and heavy sighs have become more frequent than the minutes passing. Clasping a hand to my shoulder briefly, she withdraws quietly before Johanna can chase her out.

It's not just Cato's absence weighing on my thoughts. I'm ecstatic to be going home, to be seeing my family, but I'm also terrified. I'm scared to see the hate and accusation on people's faces; not just for the Games, not just because I fell in love with the 'enemy', but because I am the reason Wren Barclay is dead. Wren and his brothers… and to some extent I have also scorned my district. Not all because I was manoeuvred to do so by the Capitol either. I'm scared the wider district will think I betrayed Seven. I'm terrified that despite my efforts and their promises, my family will be unable to look at me the same way. I want to go back to my life before the Reaping, but that will be impossible. Even without the Games things were changing at home. Now it won't just be Tillia moving out, it will be me too. With my family home almost an hour's walk away it just doesn't seem like it will be practical for anyone to move with me. Mum and Laina have the shop, Dad and Fletcher have their jobs and even Rob and Laurel have their friends and school. I think I'll be glad to have Johanna and a phone to call Cato - and Finnick at his insistence! Remembering Hillier's plea to have tea with him I feel a growing fondness for the sometimes grumpy old man. It was probably more for me than for him, though I imagine it must be lonely in the village. Blight and Cynthia, Seven's two other surviving victors, have never seemed particularly together. Cynthia especially is quite accurately described as unhinged, while Blight could probably outdrink Haymitch on a good day. It explains why I have never seen Johanna lose the plot with Hillier; he's probably a little like family now it's been three years since her victory.

I glance at the woman beside me and wonder about her family. I remember vaguely a sister and lumberjack parents, but I've not seen or heard of them since they were interviewed after her victory. Johanna looks almost peaceful though, so I don't shatter the silence by asking her about them. She seems content to watch the scenery go by with me, and she doesn't comment when after an hour I let my head fall to lean against her shoulder. I don't say a word when an hour later her head drops to rest on top of mine. We stay like that until slowly the colour green begins to dominate the landscape. The sun is dropping behind the trees by the time Anariel reappears and looks at us half expectantly and half sadly.

"Are we here?" I ask quietly, my voice cracking after having been silent for hours.

Johanna lifts her head and smiles broadly when Anariel nods, "Finally!"

As if on cue the train starts to slow and I begin to recognise the scenery. Peeta and Effie are already at the doors when Johanna and I burst through the corridor towards them. My mentor's excited anticipation is infectious and the promise of seeing my family in only a few moments chases away my sorrow at leaving Cato.

Effie frowns at my crumpled dress, but her expression softens as she notices the braids Anariel has added to my hair, "Katniss and Haymitch will be along shortly. Your hair looks much better but let's fix this for your big home-coming, why don't we Rosilda?"

I let her tug and smooth away the creases in my khaki shirt-dress, but Johanna bares her teeth when Effie tries the same with her. I catch Peeta's eye and we both hide a smile as Effie huffs and mutters about Johanna being worse than Haymitch. Peeta doesn't look happy at all, I realise, and his face notably falls to further misery when Katniss and Haymitch appear. Once again they only make it just in time and Katniss focuses solely on the doors as she takes her place beside him. Haymitch and Johanna exchange scowls and even Effie's bright smile loses some wattage, but I forget all about their problems as at that moment the doors of the train hiss open.

The noise hits me first. It's not quite as loud as District Two and the Peacekeeper presence is much heavier. It makes me wonder for a moment if people were rounded up and forced to act happy to welcome me home. Still the way the crowd smiles and roars approvingly as I step out into the dusk sunlight makes my heart soar. Maybe… maybe they were happy to welcome me home. Maybe they didn't blame me for all four of our mayor's sons being executed only days before… or maybe they believed that justice had been served?

The second thing to strike me is the fresh scent on the air. Pine and dirt. I inhale deeply and feel as if my very soul is being fed by the smell. My eyes find the forest and a wide smile stretches across my face at the sight. This forest is nothing like the arena's, this forest is mine.

Johanna bursts out of the train behind me and laughs out loud in delight, "WOODEN BUILDINGS! Fucking hell! We really are home, Thorns!"

I laugh with her as she seizes my arm and holds our hands up triumphantly for a moment. We pause impatiently to give the Capitol viewers their final performance and I wave, while Johanna bangs her chest in greeting. The noise lifts in approval at the sight of Johanna and I together, safely returned home and I kiss my hand and hold it out to them gratefully. It makes my smile widen impossibly to see many people in the crowd copy my action and offer the kiss back to me. Unlike the Capitol, Seven know the meaning of my gesture to be of true gratitude and respect. They honour me by responding and it heals some very old wounds deep in my soul.

"ROSE!"

Johanna doesn't even try to stop me as my head snaps towards the familiar voice, in fact she turns almost as fast as I do and her grip on my hand goes slack. I half-shriek and fly along the platform too fast for any of the Peacekeepers to grab me as Fletcher springs out of the crowd and up onto the platform. Their hands grasp thin air as he ducks past a restraining limb and I launch myself into his arms before they can reach for their guns. He spins me around in exactly the same way Cato did earlier that day and I laugh in pure, unadulterated joy. We simply cling to each other for a long moment and it makes my eyes burn with tears again to realise that even if everything else has changed, Fletcher still knows when a tight hug is all I need.

"You just couldn't do things properly, could you!" I tease him with a watery smile, because I know the rest of my family will be let up onto the platform shortly. A peek over my shoulder tells me that the cacophony behind us is indeed the cameramen desperately tripping over each other to get the new angle of my reunion with my brother and best friend.

"You can talk!" his voice is just a little choked too before he clears his throat and pulls back to try and ruffle my hair, "I am so proud of you, Rose!"

I dance away from him with a laugh even as I eye him hopefully, "Really?"

He nods sincerely before his eyes flash with familiar mirth, "Of course! I did teach you everything you know after all!"

"Not everything," I argue and then smirk as I elaborate, "You definitely didn't teach me how to fall in love."

"But I did teach you how to make someone fall in love with you," he taps his own forehead proudly, then spreads his arms as if to soak up some of the glory from the still clapping crowd, "Really, you owe me an apology for all the crap you've given me over the years!"

I laugh at him and shake my head disbelievingly. Teasing Fletcher might have been fun, but I tried not to be around when he was chasing after some girl and my active avoidance only increased when someone was chasing after him. If Fletcher had taught me anything, it was that hooking up with people you don't know very well was often a bad idea. I clearly hadn't learnt that lesson very well.

"Oi! You can't just barge over here like that, Aspen!" Johanna leads the charge of distressed officials and cameramen in reaching us and she fixes Fletcher with a supremely pissed-off glare, "There's a fucking procedure and you don't get to fuck it up just because you think you're a mother-fucking princess!"

Fletcher proves that he is 100% related to me, by grinning widely at her fury and responding without even a shred of fear, "Come on Johanna, I am a 'mother-fucking princess'!"

Her jaw goes slack in disbelief, then she steps forward and aggressively stabs her finger against his chest, "What I know is that you're an ass-faced, small-cocked bastard who I hope rots in the deepest fucking pits of hell!"

It would be more intimidating if she weren't a whole head shorter than him, but I'm not sure I would have the guts to hug her when she was screaming at me like that. Fletcher doesn't hesitate to do just that however. My eyes widen when after struggling for only a moment Johanna goes still and seems to lean into his embrace. When he lowers his mouth to murmur something in her ear and she actually smiles, I realise I'm gaping and awkwardly look away to give them a little privacy. The rest of the district isn't so polite and there are a few wolf-whistles when Fletcher takes the opportunity to place a smacking kiss on her cheek and then dance away from the half-hearted fist she swings at him.

"Mother of fucking elm, you two really are related!" She echoes my thoughts and throws a scowl at me as if this is my fault, "I'm still going to cut your tiny dick off," she warns him grumpily and then turns to bark instructions to the production team who have finally managed to relocate themselves to our new spot.

I fix a stern look on my face and shake my finger at Fletcher warningly, "Don't mess with Johanna Mason!"

"Hypocrite!" He scoffs, watching Johanna go with a wide smirk, "Start commenting on my love life and I'll start commenting on your sex hair!"

I refuse to let him bait me, but the cameras must have a field-day with how red my face goes, "I'm serious, Fletch! You mess with her and you mess with me!"

He finally turns away from her to flash me a smile, "Look at you making friends! Hate to tell you, but Johanna and I have already—"

I elbow him hard as he tries to sling an arm around my shoulders and roll my eyes when he groans dramatically in pain, "I know! And even you know that it's a bad idea to break someone's heart more than once!"

Fletcher gives me a funny smile, "Is that what she told you?"

I don't get a chance to answer because the officials are now directing me further along the platform. The looks they shoot Fletcher are filthy, but he's completely at ease as he walks along beside me. I make an effort to look apologetic and mutter at him to be quiet when he loudly observes Katniss and Peeta don't look very happy to be here.

"Yeah, shut your dumb face," Johanna agrees.

I gasp and don't hear Fletcher's reply as the rest of my family are ushered up onto the stage. Laurel leads the charge and drags Robin behind her so fast he almost stumbles on the stairs. My mother is openly crying and clutching my Dad's hand, but everyone else is absolutely beaming. They're all there, Willow balanced on Laina's hip, Tillia not far behind the twins, and Glen hovering protectively behind Felicity as they ascend to the stage last. I lift a hand to my mouth and gasp again in awe as I see my brother's wife is slimmer than when I last saw her and that she is holding a tiny bundle in her arms.

"Yeah, while you were busy making out in the cornucopia Glen became a dad," Fletcher helpfully pipes up, "It's a boy."

"Rose! Rose! Rose!"

I brace myself just in time to catch Laurel as she barrels into me, but almost lose my footing when Rob hits me only a moment later. The three of us stagger a few paces before Rob pulls back to smirk at me, "Laurel thinks Cato's brother is cute!"

"Rob!" she shrieks in outrage, "I do not! I don't, Rose!" she promises me.

I laugh at them and feel a weight lift off my chest to hear their familiar squabbles, "But Cato… he's cute, right?"

Laurel stops scowling at Robin and instead fixes me with a beaming smile as she nods dutifully, "I have never been prouder to be your sister than when you finally got your act together and realised you were in love with him!"

Rob makes a face and rolls his eyes when I hug Laurel again, then wonders more curiously, "Can he teach me how to put someone in a headlock?"

Laurel scoffs and rolls her eyes at him while Tillia takes this as her chance to draw me away from the twins and squeeze me tightly. Just as with Fletcher, the way she holds me makes emotion rise in my throat and inhaling her familiar soap and herb smell is a reassurance that I really am home. She's sniffling when we part too and brushes back my hair affectionately, "You did it! Welcome home, Rose!"

"Auntie Rose!"

Willow's reaching arms wrap around my neck and I don't have much of a choice but to swing her from Laina's arms. The rest of the family have reached us now, but I take a moment to swing her around so she squeals in glee as I cuddle her close, "The Capitol gives you back!" she screeches in my ear.

I laugh as Laina winces and fix the little girl with my best shocked expression, "Did you get to see the pretty dresses the Capitol made me, Sweetie?"

She gives me a toothy smile and nods excitedly, "You looked like a fairy princess! Can I have a pretty dress, too?"

"Mummy's made you a beautiful dress for Auntie Tillia's wedding," I remind her and she claps excitedly, "You'll look like a fairy princess!"

Swinging her around so the cameras can get a better angle as she giggles joyfully, I add, "A very nice Capitol lady called Marcella made me those dresses. Do you want to wave to Marcella?"

Willow copies me as I wave to the cameras and helps me out perfectly by adding innocently, "Can I wave to the nice boy that gives you kisses too?"

Laughing I nod my head, "His name is Cato, Sweetie. Shall we blow Cato a kiss?"

She clumsily copies this action too and then hides her face in my shoulder when Fletcher pretends to catch her kiss and blows one back at her. She's happy enough to let him take her from my arms however and this gives the rest of my family room to crowd me excitedly. My mother clings to me and sobs as if she won't ever let go, while my father gets teary as he kisses my forehead and congratulates me while Laina squeezes my hand tightly.

"We are so, so proud of you," Dad promises me and mum nods her head firmly into my shoulder.

"I knew you could do it," Tillia pipes up, still beaming despite the tears dripping down her cheeks.

"She's our little fighter," Laina agrees, a little tearful herself as she gazes at me, "Our Rose is a victor! Oh honey, I am so happy for you!"

There's a murmur of agreement from everyone and I manage to extract myself from my mother's hold to grin around at my family and turn my attention to Glen and Felicity. For the first time in months it's Felicity smiling brightly and Glen with teary eyes. Knowing how hard they tried for a baby and how much heartache they went through with every miscarriage I feel my own eyes fill again as I move to meet them.

I hug my brother first, squeezing him tightly, "Congratulations Glen!"

He chokes out a little laugh and one of his hands comes to cradle the back of my head to keep me there a moment longer, "I'm so glad you're here," he bursts out and rubs a quick hand over his eyes before turning to his wife, "Rose… this… this is your nephew."

Felicity carefully pushes aside the blankets to show me the tiny face of their son and the tears finally spill over my eyes as Glen proudly slips an arm around his wife's waist, "He's b-beautiful," I choke out and beam at them as I carefully lean over to drop a kiss on his mother's cheek, "Oh Felicity! He's perfect!"

She nods happily, "And now he's lucky enough to have another doting Aunt to tell him how beautiful he is! It's so good to see you, Rose! We all missed you."

"What's your name?" I coo down at the little boy, who is somehow managing to sleep peacefully through the noise and drama around him.

"It's Briar," Glen tells me and I'm aware of the rest of my family crowding to peer over my shoulder at the newest addition to our family, "he's almost three weeks old now."

"Nineteen days," Felicity agrees and the two new parents toss each other affectionate looks as she adds, "and we haven't messed up so far!"

"Well… you haven't, Felicity!" Fletcher receives a sound smack on the back of his head for this comment and I laugh for what feels like the hundredth time since I stepped off the train as my mother quickly intervenes to prevent a tussle between her two grown sons from being caught on national television.

"Naughty boys!" Willow agrees from her perch still in Fletcher's arms and swats him on the back of the head too.

"You're doing wonderfully!" Mum smiles encouragingly at Felicity and Glen, then throws me a meaningful look, "but babies really are a handful! They should definitely always be well planned!"

Fletcher snickers as my cheeks flush with heat and I moan in protest, "Mum! I haven't even been home five minutes!"

"Well, honey, the whole country can see that you've moved quite fast with that boy, I just hope you've taken the necessary precautions—"

"Mum! Maybe we should talk about that later," Laina saves me from further embarrassment by nodding her head to her curious daughter, "When we can properly hear all about Cato," she winks at me when I catch her eye and I smile shyly back.

My family all move off slightly and I know they're just waiting for the train to leave so they can sweep me away and we can reunite properly in privacy. Glen doesn't seem too happy about how close the cameras are getting to Felicity and the baby because with a whispered promise that he'll see me later, he sweeps her off the stage with Dad's help. Tillia has struck up a conversation with Anariel who has been floating anxiously close-by and I'm proud to see her smile shyly in response to Tillia's kindness. Fletcher sets Willow down and goes to harass Johanna who is with Haymitch and talking to the other victors from Seven. Sure enough Blight and Haymitch are laughing as if they've spent many days drinking together and even Cynthia looks somewhat alert for the media attention. Katniss and Peeta are a distance away shaking the hand of a few of our district officials — our mayor is notably absent, for which I am grateful. Katniss slips off quickly and heads to join Haymitch while Peeta moves directionlessly away from the group, his gaze on the trees.

"Laurel, why don't I introduce you to Peeta?" I suggest, my eyes narrowing on Katniss' back.

"Okay!" She agrees happily, "As long as I don't have to pretend to like her," she gives Katniss a similar harsh stare then leads off in Peeta's direction.

Rob rolls his eyes again, but wordlessly follows after us as Laurel excitedly chatters about how Peeta seems nice and wonders if he and I are friends since I helped him during the Games. It's the first time any of my family have really mentioned them and Rob sticks comfortingly close as she then amends her statement to reflect, "But then you tried to kill him after that? So maybe you're not really friends?"

"Laurel," her twin mutters warningly and she immediately looks apologetic as she turns to me guiltily.

I wave her apology off and try to control the intense flashback of Peeta in a chokehold, an arrow hitting Cato's hand and the pair of them toppling backwards into vicious jaws. The need to know Cato is okay has me looking around wildly even though I know he won't be there. Rob's hand on my arm makes me realise my breathing has notably sped up and clenching my jaw I consciously try to slow it as Laurel waves Peeta over. He looks surprised, then a little pleased, then concerned as he approaches and helpfully holds up his hands so I can see they are empty of weapons.

"Hey Rose," he greets me his voice low and soothing, his gaze strong and steady on mine, "Are these the twins?"

"Yeah," I choke out the word and nod woodenly, "Yeah, this is Laurel and Rob."

Laurel waves hesitantly, glancing between Peeta and I. He smiles at her and waves back, "Pleased to meet you," he nods to my brother and then with a glance at me adds, "You have a beautiful district. It's a pity Cato had to miss seeing it. I'm sure he's watching though; safe and sound back in District Two."

My breathing manages to even out at the verbal affirmation of Cato's wellbeing and I nod less robotically, "Y-yeah, he really wanted to see it, and meet everyone too."

Peeta smiles at me as I nod my gratitude to him, then notes with a light chuckle, "I bet he's fuming watching us on the television."

It makes me laugh again, because no doubt he's beyond stressed watching me and being unable to comfort me when things get too much. Peeta's right that he's probably jealous too and I smirk at the thought, "Sorry Peeta, but if he were here then he would have got the first introduction."

"I can't wait to meet him!" Laurel pipes up, finding her excitement again as she realises I've pulled myself together, "It's good to meet you too though, Peeta! Is it true that in District Twelve you have no electricity?"

"We have it sometimes," Peeta replies and smiles as he thinks about home, "And when we don't, we have coal to burn. It's probably not as bad as it's been made out to be."

Laurel nods thoughtfully, "Did you get many burns cooking in a coal oven? It must be hard not to burn the bread."

Peeta dutifully answers her and soon he is talking animatedly and the pair of them are laughing easily together. This is Laurel's superpower; she has the ability to connect with almost everyone and her genuine interest in other people's lives is one of the reasons she's so popular and sociable. I leave Rob brooding at her side, knowing that he will rein her in if her questions get too personal and slip away to find Johanna. The Capitol get their trophy shot of me kissing Hillier's cheek and awkwardly being introduced to Cynthia and Blight. The former smiles vacantly and tells me she doesn't like dogs either, which I assume is a reference to the two types of canine mutts I faced in the arena, "But then I don't like District Two and you seem to like them a lot," she adds and tilts her head to the side as her smile becomes frozen and creepy, "Maybe we can't be friends."

"We can be friends!" Blight tells me, the hint of a slur in his voice as he plants a sloppy kiss on my cheek, "I like you! Don't you like her too, Haymitch?"

"She could be worse," Haymitch eyes me sardonically, "but she could be better too."

"You're just not drunk enough!" Blight frowns at him and kisses my cheek again before planting one on the side of Johanna's face too, "Two bloody fine victors, we got here! True District Seven girls! Right Johanna?"

She shoves him off with a glare, but it's not too rough and she doesn't bother chewing him out as Hillier agrees gravelly, "Two wonderful young ladies. It's good to have you both home," he pats my arm then begins shepherding the victors off, "Come on now, Cynthia dear, let's get back to the Village before it gets dark. Everyone will be leaving soon."

Cynthia earns brownie points for monotonously informing us she doesn't want to leave until Katniss is on fire again, "Burn like you're supposed to!" She yells abruptly, staring hard at Katniss who looks rather unsettled by this.

"Fire-Girl just burns the people in her way," Johanna tells Cynthia, not troubling to keep her voice down, "She's not all that interesting."

Katniss' mouth thins and she mutters something to Haymitch before heading back towards the train. I can't blame her for wanting to get home and after shaking Blight's hand Haymitch follows after her, pausing only to collect Effie on his way. Peeta and the twins have drifted closer, but they're still conversing happily and Peeta looks surprised when Effie calls his name brightly. He wishes the twins well and Laurel waves as he follows after the rest of his group. I've moved to intercept him before I realise it.

"Hey Peeta!"

If he's surprised he doesn't show it as he turns to me with an expectant smile.

"Umm… you'll have a telephone in your house too," I note needlessly, "So if you feel like it, give me a call anytime, yeah?"

He smiles at me now and touches a hand to my shoulder briefly, "I will… thank you, Rose. Take care, won't you?"

I nod and step aside to let him go. Seeing the train roll out of the station is a huge weight off my shoulders and I feel blissfully untethered for a moment as I gaze around the emptying platform. My family is waiting for me with relief-filled and accepting smiles and for a blessed six months I am utterly free from the Capitol's hold. Already there's a growing ache of longing for Cato and I know he will be anxiously waiting for my phone call, but now it's time to celebrate the fact I'm alive and victorious.

"Come on, Rose!" Fletcher urges and it's echoed more impatiently a moment later by Johanna.

I turn to them with a face-splitting smile. It's really over… I'm home.

...

The End... of Book 1!

It will probably take me a while to start posting the sequel, but rest assured - it is coming!

Once again THANK YOU for making this journey with me! Please let me know what you think! Favourite parts? Favourite characters? Anything you're especially hoping to see in the sequels?

Much love,

- xx