Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who first read it. Today I reread chapter 1 and seeing how good it actually was (I had kidded myself into thinking it was trash), had the inspiration to write chapter 2.

Disclaimer: Suzanne Colins owns everything.

Chapter 2

The next day, all Willow or Rye could talk about was the prospect of visiting the Capitol. They were curious about everything - from the architecture to the people - and annoyed Peeta and I to bits asking us a million questions.

"Do they have a Justice Building like in the districts?"

"Are the people there as friendly as the people here?"

"Why do you go to the Capital every month?"

"Do you know people who live there?"

"Is it as big as everyone says it is?"

"How do they get meat if they can't hunt?"

And on and on and on it went, with Peeta and I answering as best we could without seeming to vague or mysterious about the subject. The truth was, neither of us really wanted our children to set foot in the Capitol. Yes, everything had improved immensely after the war. Each district had a male and female representative, which was the reason we went to the Capitol every month anyways, and the rights of the Capitol people and the district people were equal, but the Capitol was still the Capitol, a place of parties and carefree living, not something I wanted my kids to experience.

After the war, I had been offered a home in the center of Panem, along with Peeta and others who had helped immensely in the war, but we had both turned down the generous gift, wanting not to live like queens and kings, but regular, common people. Luckily, the remains of 12 had been the perfect place for that.

12 had offered the freedom for us to do whatever we wanted - be not who the government wanted us to be (revoluntists eager to share their experience and inspire others) but a hunter and a baker, two more-than-friends who wanted to live a calming, freeing life. This was allowed by the new democracy, but only if we'd agree to be District 12's representatives and continue to show the world that we were standing strong.

And so we agreed, and lived life like that for fifteen glorious years. But then Peeta brought up an idea, an idea that seemed terrible to me at the time. Peeta suggested we have children. Before the games, children had been the last thing I wanted. Bringing a child into the world, watching them go through the reaping, possibly being chosen for the Hunger Games was too much for me. And then I became victor. A victor who only had one option if she wanted her family and friends to survive. A victor who was being forced to marry another victor. Now having children seemed even more revolting. A victor's child was almost inevitably in the games, but two victor's child was without a doubt going to be "randomly chosen" to partake in the Hunger Games.

After all that, having children seemed like an awful idea, an idea that just would not end well. And so I said no. But he persisted. Peeta could be stubborn and persuasive when he wanted something very much. He smoothed down the rumples that were my fears, convinced me our child - or children - would be perfectly safe. That all the bad was gone for now. I didn't really want to, deep down. But I wanted Peeta to be happy so I agreed.

This was how Willow was brought into the world. She had my grey eyes, his blonde hair. And she was my pride and joy. Something I never wanted to part from. Something I loved so much, it was easy to agree to have another one. Rye. Rye reminds myself a lot of me. He's smart, and loves the woods. One time, he told me that in the woods, he felt free and himself. That he felt so happy that he wanted to stay in the branches of the trees, in the waters of the lake forever. I was amazed. Finally there was someone who understood my love for the place. No - love was too weak a word for it. My absolute adoration is better.

"You are going to let us go, right Mom?" Willow's voice awoke me from me trance. Her grey eyes looked into mine with such hope, such eagerness I found my lips moving without me even thinking.

"Of course," I said before I knew what I was saying. Rye looked up from his examination of the crackling fireplace, a wide grin spread across his face.

"Really?" he asked, incredulous. It was this moment I realized exactly what I had just said. I had just told my children they were going to go to the Capitiol with Peeta and I, without even considering the consequences of my actions. Somehow, I knew Peeta was going to kill me. I knew what he thought of the Capitol - what we both thought of it - and I just knew he was going to hate me by telling our children they could tag along. Not to mention we'd have to explain everything to them, everything about our past. But I couldn't go back. Not with those cheerful expressions looking at me.

"Really," I said, nodding and forcing a smile myself. Willow sprang up from the chair she was sitting in and embraced me in a hug. Rye, being a little less touchy-feely than his sister, only clapped me on the back, exclaiming about how excited he was.

They then went up the stairs to their rooms, leaving me to run out the door, and scramble to the bakery where I knew I'd find Peeta.

He was kneading bread, pushing it down then rolling it up into a ball again before repeating the process. When I stepped into the kitchen, he looked up, and smiled when he saw me.

"What's up, Girl on Fire?" he asked. Peeta had been calling me "Girl on Fire" ever since I had burned my finger learning how to bake bread. He found it funny this classic nickname for me had been taken so literally in my baking lesson, which had been the first and last of its kind.

"Peeta, I just did something awful," I said, bracing myself for an angry outburst. He stopped kneading the bread and looked up at me.

"What did you do?" he asked.

"I might have.." I stopped, unsure if I wanted to continue. But finally, I decided honestly was always the best policy when it came to me and Peeta. "I told the kids they could come to the Capitol with us this weekend," I said, all too fast.

"You did what?" Peeta asked, more confused than angry. "But you always said -"

"I know, I know," I interrupted. "It was an accident. Willow just kind of popped the question randomly at me and I was so surprise I just kind of found myself saying yes."

Peeta, the bread now laying completely forgotten on the counter, wrapped his arms around my waist and put his forehead on mine.

"You do know what this means, right?" he asked me quietly.

"Of course," I said back, "it means we'll have to tell them everything."

There was silence for a second, this information processing fully in our brains. We were going to have to tell the kids our story. Our ugly, sad past, full of death and darkness. Tomorrow was not going to be a fun day. Not at all.

Author's Note: OMG, I finished the second chapter! It's a true miracle!