Before everyone left for the day, Finnick gave everyone a bunch of little cards that had their District number on it and was instructed to leave them on the little table next to the elevator on their floor.

Later that night they heard Finnick call all the Victors again. Katniss and Peeta went running out to the balcony.

"ALRIGHT VICTORS. THIS IS A RACE. YOU USE THE ELEVATOR TO GO TO ANY FLOOR. YOU GET OFF, RUN AROUND THE FLOOR, GRAB THE CARD AND THEN USE THE STAIRWELL TO BACK TO YOUR FLOOR. YOU USE THE ELEVATOR AND DO THE SAME THING. ONCE YOU HAVE ALL OF THE 11 CARDS THAT YOU NEED, GO BACK TO YOUR FLOOR, RUN AROUND YOUR FLOOR AND GRAB YOUR OWN CARD, GO DOWN THE ELEVATOR INTO THE LOBBY!"

"I'm not doing this shit," Haymitch said.

"AND YOU MUST STAY TOGETHER!"

"We're at a huge disadvantage though. We have to run up every floor," Katniss said and glared.

"We'll start all the way down on 1 and just go in order so we don't lose steam. Some of them are so old. We can easily outrun them. It's all about the elevator. With all of us pressing the button, the elevators gonna go crazy," Peeta told them.

"ON YOUR MARK…GET SET…GO!" Finnick yelled. Peeta slammed his hand on the button. And they lucked out with the elevator coming right to them.

"We'll waste too much time if we wait to get to the first floor. Get off at whatever floor we need," Katniss said. Peeta smiled.

"Alright, let's do this," Peeta said. The doors opened on four and Katniss and Peeta went flying out, hitting Finnick and Ron and running around the balcony. They grabbed their card and went running all the way back up to 12 and punched the button again, out of breath.

"Having fun yet?" Haymitch asked. Peeta and Katniss looked at him. He brought a chair and was sitting right in front of the elevator and had eggs.

"Oh my God are you seriously gonna throw eggs at them?" Peeta asked.

"Yep. This is how I'm contributing," Haymitch said. The elevator binged, letting them know it was coming to them. Katniss stood right in front of it as the doors opened. Peeta yanked her back as Blight flew off the elevator. Haymitch threw eggs at him, Johanna and Megan.

"DAMNIT HAYMITCH," Blight yelled as Peeta, and Katniss hopped back onto the elevator. Peeta looked at Katniss and wiggled his eyebrows.

"What?" she asked.

"I got a great idea," The elevator landed on 6 and Peeta hit the 12th floor as the doors opened and they ran out.

"Why'd you do that?" Katniss panted as the ran as fast as they could.

"It'll be sure to come back to us," Peeta said. That was pretty brilliant. They grabbed the 6th card and made the trek up to the 12th floor.

"No one's come back up yet. This is boring," Haymitch said as Peeta hit the button again. They had just enough time to catch their breath and the elevator came back up to them. No one was on it, and they waited to see where they were going. It went all the way down to 1, and Peeta hit their floor again. They burst out and ran face first into Cashmere, Gloss and three other Victors that she couldn't remember.

"This is the one that's gonna suck,' Katniss said. They grabbed their card and went running up the stairs. When they got to the 8th floor Marlah burst out of the door and knocked right into Katniss.

"Are you ok?" Peeta laughed as he helped them up. They both said yes.

"Are you by yourself?" Peeta asked as they all started running back up the stairs.

"Yeah, thank God. Chaff would have slowed me down. He's too drunk to play this," Marlah said as all three of them ran up the stairs. They got up to their floor and hit the button collapsing by Haymitch.

"Been running a lot?" Haymitch asked. They just laid there panting. After a few minutes the elevator pinged. District 5 ran out and Haymitch threw his eggs. They hopped on it went down to 3. They ran around the balcony, grabbed their card, and ran up the stairs. Brutus missed a step and went flying down a floor on his butt, making Katniss and Peeta burst out laughing, and even his own teammates.

They got back up there and waited for a minute when it pinged again. Katniss groaned and hopped onto the elevator with Peeta. They got to 6 and the morphlings got on and it went down to 2.

"God these lower one's suck," Katniss groaned as they went running out.

"I think they're confused about what we're doing," Peeta joked as the Morphlings sat there laughing. By the time they got back up to their floor Haymitch no longer had eggs. He had paper bowls with condiments in them.

"Are you throwing pickles at someone?" Peeta asked.

"And caviar?" Katniss asked. Haymitch laughed and waited for the doors to open, and he threw ketchup at the next team. They hopped back onto the elevator and went to 10. Then 8.

"Have a lot of people on this floor?" Peeta asked.

"Not enough," Haymitch asked.

"Well do you know how many?" Katniss asked.

"It's not like I was counting," Haymitch griped. They hopped onto to the elevator and Finnick was on it. Then they went down to 2 and the District 2 Victors got on. Then back up to 10. Then they got to 5 and bolted out. On the way back up to their floor, Peeta and Johanna ran right into each other, knocking themselves on their butts.

"Funny how we're always running into each other Lover Boy," Johanna said.

"Now is not the time. Come on Peeta," Katniss said and yanked him up.

"Do you think any of them figured out that strategy of just getting off on the floor you land on?" Peeta asked as they waited for the elevator to come back up.

"Possibly," Katniss said. They made it to 11 and then had to wait three floors before they landed on 7. Ran back up and barely could squish into the elevator and went to 9.

They ran back up the stairs, ran around their own balcony and pushed the elevator. They finally made it down to the ground floor and went running into the middle screaming like little kids.

"WE WON!" Peeta yelled. They barely moved in time before the pickle juice hit them from the top floor.

"How did they do it that fast? They had to go up the stairs the entire time," They heard Cashmere complain.

"THE WINNERS…KATNISS EVERDEEN AND PEETA MELLARK DISTRICT 12!" Finnick yelled.

One night after dinner, Katniss was laying on the couch with her feet in Peeta's lap. They were all sitting around, just sitting there in silence. It was nice. But it shouldn't be nice. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Why was Snow letting all this fun happen?

"You guys are all the Capitol's talking about. All the crazy running around and throwing things off the balconies is being shown to the Capitol. And they're loving every minute of it. Snow's giving them things to remember 23 of you by," Haymitch said. Katniss sat up.

"Just because I'm having fun, doesn't mean I want to be in an alliance with any of them," Katniss told Haymitch. He just looked at her. "I know if it was you in there, then you'd have no problem making an alliance. But no matter how you look at it, they're all coming after us first. They have no relationship with us. They're not going after their friends first. We're the number one target on everyone's radar. And playing and dancing with them isn't going to stop them from killing us," Katniss said. Haymitch nodded and then she looked at Peeta.

"We can't keep playing around with them. We're almost to the end," Katniss said. Peeta nodded his head.

On their last day of training, Katniss and Peeta walked in to see Finnick yelling up at Plutarch.

"We've been working hard on this for two weeks. We all agree that we should just forgo the individual assessment and have the cameras here to see our group dance. Come on Plutarch. It's a gold mine. The Capitol will LOVE IT!" Finnick yelled.

"Mr. Odair, as I've explained to you about rules and traditions. We cannot do what you're requesting," Plutarch said.

"Ok then bring the cameras in here and film this because this…this is gold. When have 24 Victors every gotten together like this to choreograph a dance. You know what I'm saying?" Finnick asked. Plutarch shook his head.

"You're denying the Capitol of watching all their favorite Victors come together in dance," Finnick said. The other Victors were laughing. "I'm gonna tell them in my interview. I'm gonna tell them that we made a dance, and Plutarch never wanted to show them, and they will ask for a new Head Gamemaker," Finnick said and pointed to Plutarch and walked back over to the group.

"Don't worry guys. He's weakening," Finnick said.

"I think I'm just gonna go at myself and see which Gamemaker caves and comes down to fuck me and I can shove my ax in his face," Johanna says. Katniss blushed horribly.

"Well that'll get their attention," Brutus laugh. It was weird seeing Brutus joking with them.

"I'm gonna do my new handstand moves," Blight said and got on his hands and started moving back and forth.

"I'm gonna pick my nose and flick it at them," Cashmere says. Peeta looked at Katniss during this conversation. She was starting to get that panicked look.

"Come with me," Peeta says to Katniss as he makes her sit on a table and he starts painting her face.

"Peeta, I'm still waiting for you to paint me," Johanna says.

"Maybe when the Hunger Games are over," Peeta calls back. Katniss smacks his arm. He started painting her face and then her arms.

"Maybe one day Peeta, you can't paint me," Katniss mocked Johanna, causing him to chuckle. He adored a laughing Katniss.

Plutarch didn't weaken though. Because the next day that had no group assessment, just individual. One by one they all left. Katniss and Peeta were alone. She was leaning against him. He was running his hand up and down her arm.

"These two weeks have flown by, haven't they?" Peeta asked. Katniss nodded.

"I'm scared. I don't want to go in there," Katniss said. He made her look at him.

"I know. Neither do I," Peeta said. They called his name and he kissed her on the lips. She was terrified to be by herself right now, waiting to be called. What if they would come in and take her right now. She shook until they called her name. She stood right outside the door.

Peeta walked out why she was walking in, and he hugged her.

"Remember you're stronger then they are," he pulled back and she walked in.

She let out a deep breath and smiled. "Wow. You guys are already paying attention. Last year I came in you were all pretty drunk by my time. But I'm not going for the bow and arrow. Can't do that two years in a row. Where would the fun int that be?" she asked as she got up to them, and then looked down.

Peeta painted something different this time. Her mouth dropped. He painted her and Peeta with the berries in their hands. He painted a red heart around it. She gasped and covered her mouth. This is the moment that went against the Capitol. This was the moment that Snow wanted her dead!

"Mrs. Everdeen. You have ten minutes to present your chosen skill," Plutarch says. She goes over and gets all of her things that she needs. She ties a noose around the dummy, and she starts to write. She put the S on the dummy, and then thinks, why not make it say Snow? Wait, what would Haymitch want you to do? He'd be so angry and who knows what would happen. She stuck with Seneca Crane and tied him up and then sat on the table and crossed her legs.

"Finnick Odair taught me how to make a noose. Do I still have much time left? I can add a few more people to hang," Katniss said and smiled.

"You may go now Mrs. Everdeen," Plutarch says. She hops off the table and does her bow. Then she turns and take the paint and throws it over her shoulder. Then she decides to take all of them and starts throwing them around the room. Then she bows again and leaves.

She takes the elevator up and sees everyone in the living room. A guilty look on her face and Peeta's. Haymitch was nursing his drink.

"What did you two do?" Haymitch asked without looking at them.

"I painted the floor. When me and Katniss were about to eat the berries," Peeta said. Everyone looked at him, shocked. Haymitch shook his head and smiled.

"Oh," was all he said. Then he reached over and smacked Peeta. "I thought you did something worse," he hissed at Peeta, but Peeta just shook his head.

"And you sweetheart?" Haymitch asked.

"Well, I told them that it was a waste to show them what I can do with a bow. Then I saw Peeta's painting. So, I hung a dummy up and painted Seneca Crane's name on it," Katniss said. Effie pretended to gasp. Haymitch tilted his head.

"And then I bowed, but then I saw all the paints and threw them around the room," Katniss told them. Cinna tried to cover up his laugh with a cough. Haymitch waved his hand, waiting for her to finish. He knew there was something else.

"I hesitated when I wrote the S…I thought I should put a different name," Katniss admitted softly. They all just stared at her. Haymitch held up his finger.

"Are you telling me you thought, before you acted?" Haymitch asked. Katniss nodded her head. Haymitch smiled and stood up and picked her up, spinning her around.

"I never thought this day would come. Katniss Everdeen is growing up," Haymitch said. Katniss shoved him away and then smiled, her shoulder shaking with soft laughter.

"Alright, well you guys probably screwed yourselves over. Go wash that paint off your hands and we'll wait for the scores to come out. When they give you the lowest score possible," Haymitch said.

After they had showered everyone sat around waiting for their scores.

"Has anyone ever gotten a zero?" Katniss asked.

"No, but I'm sure there's a first for everything," Cinna said.

Katniss rested her head on Peeta's shoulder as they watched. It came down to Peeta and Katniss each scoring a 12.

"Well, if you weren't sure if Snow was targeting you, you know now. He wants everyone to go after you. So, it's a good thing you're not making any alliances. Then you won't get one of my friends killed," Haymitch said and walked away.

The next morning, they slept in as late as they could. They had the whole day to themselves.

"How about we go up to the roof and spend the entire day up there," Peeta said. Katniss agreed. They got to the breakfast table where Haymitch was sitting. Waiting for them.

"Good morning," Peeta told him as him and Katniss piled up their plates.

"Today is the last day we can go over everything. I still have Victors wanting to make an alliance with you. You won't make it in there by yourselves," Haymitch said. Katniss sat down and put her head in her hands.

"Why do I wanna be in an alliance with any of them? All they do is mock me. They think I'm a joke. Why am I going to trust them to protect me? They won't!" Katniss said.

"Do you not know how alliances work in the Games? Peeta was with the Careers. They were an alliance until they wouldn't need him anymore. They'll keep you alive to kill the others and before they can get you, you run. You've done it before," Haymitch said.

"I can't do it Haymitch," she said. He took his glass and threw it against the wall.

"You don't want to do it for yourself, that's fine. But you're sealing his fate by not teaming up with anyone," Haymitch yelled at her and left the table. Katniss sat there and Peeta squeezed her neck.

"Don't let him bother you. He's wrong. We don't need anyone," Peeta said. Katniss let a tear fall down her cheek and he made her look at him. He smiled and shook her head. He kissed away her tears.

"Just eat your breakfast and we'll pack a picnic and spend the day on the roof,"

It was a nice day like it was last time. Only this time they slept out there. They never wanted to be bothered with anyone.

Katniss' prep team is the one that woke them up and Peeta kissed her before they separated.

"Go and get beautiful you hideous thing," Peeta joked and pushed her away. Her prep team had to leave one by one because they were crying, and Cinna came in to save her.

Just when she got the dress pulled over her head, Peeta, Haymitch, Effie and Portia came in.

"I'm only half naked, it's ok," Katniss said as her whole back was exposed. Cinna started from the very bottom buttoning her dress up.

"Dress faster next time," Haymitch said and plopped down on the couch.

Peeta walked up to her and stared at her. "You really do look beautiful Katniss Everdeen," Peeta said. She smiled.

"What no insults about my work?" Cinna asked. Peeta smiled and laughed at him.

"No not today," Peeta said and kissed her cheek. He held out his arm for her to take when they walked backstage with the rest of the Victors. Everyone stared at her. Most of them already knew she was going to be wearing this. But some of them didn't have their memories.

"I cannot believe Cinna made you wear that," Finnick said. Katniss rolled her eyes.

"Well neither of us had a choice. Snow made us wear our wedding clothes," Katniss told him.

"Well, you look ridiculous," Cashmere said. Katniss had been here two weeks and she was done with hearing Cashmere complain and was still angry that she threw water at Johanna.

"Well so are you when you go out on stage crying all those fake tears about how much you love the Capitol and blah blah blah," Katniss snapped. Everyone stared at her. She rolled her eyes.

"I don't disagree with it. We all have to go out there and say something. Hit them at all angles. So, Cashmere will be playing the best for herself. So, I support it. But you still will look ridiculous. But please, for all our sakes, go out there and make it good!" Katniss said, trying to cover up her slip.

Johanna stepped up and smiled. She fixed the necklace around Katniss' neck. "Make him pay for it. Make him pay for everything!" Johanna told her.

Katniss never let go of Peeta's arm as they watch all the Victors go through their interviews. "I don't know how I'm going to do this. I wish they had let us go out there together, like they did for Cashmere and Gloss," Katniss said.

"You're gonna do great. You always do," Peeta said. Caesar called her name and Peeta kissed her cheek. "I'll see you in a few minutes," he told her. She walked out onto the stage and the crowd went wild. Caesar took her hand, and he started talking once the audience quieted down.

"Now Katniss…this is a very big, and emotional night. For all of us. Wouldn't you say?" he asked her.

"Oh, don't go crying on me now Caesar," she joked, getting the audience laughing.

"I can't make any promises you know me," he said fast.

"Haha you know I wouldn't believe you even if you did,"

"I LOVE IT! The Girl on Fire's so cheeky," he laughed.

"You know Caesar, I was just standing backstage with Peeta, and I went through all the different things I wanted to say. And every time I came up with something, one of my fellow Victors said it for me. There's just a million things that Peeta and I are feeling. There's so many emotions, and they're all so similar and different from the next emotion," Katniss said.

"Oh really? Tell me more,"

"Well, everyone really spoke for the both of us. Cashmere and Gloss told all of you how much they love you and how you're a part of their family. I know Peeta and I have only been with you all for a year, but we feel the same way and we're just so sad that you all don't get to be at our wedding and share with us, one the happiest day of our lives," Katniss said. Oh God, she wanted to puke. How could anyone believe that. The audience was crying. Well, she was about to take them on a ride with her. She put her hand on her stomach.

"Brutus and Enobaria stood here and said how they were going to fight to the death. And Peeta and I plan on going in, ready to fight," she said. The audience cheered.

"And then Beetee made such a great point, about how the Hunger Games were written into law by men, and they can be unwritten by men. It's very true," she said to the crowd. Oh, they were sad again. She hoped that got them thinking. They didn't listen to Beetee…but the Capitol was obsessed with Katniss. They'd listen.

"And Finnick's beautiful words to his love…well, that's how me and Peeta feel. We just want to spend every minute of the rest of our lives together," Katniss told them. Oh, the tears. They were devastated for her and Peeta. The love that is being cruelly ripped away from them.

"And District 6…they're numb to the pain of going back in…and that's how Peeta and I feel about going back into the arena," she told them. Oh no, more tears. Oh, this must be so hard for them. They can't bare the thought of her and Peeta being in pain.

"And then, I think Johanna's anger just speaks for all of us. She made a great point that goes with Beetee's point. They go right together. Victors were promised to live their lives in peace. But that contract has been broken. It's a law that was written by men, and it was now officially unbroken. So, why can't it be unbroken again, so you don't have to lose 23 of us?" she asked. Oh, the screams of pain, anguish, sadness! The next one was sad, but she wanted to really bring down the house…so she had to be honest.

"And then Cecilia spoke to her children," she had never moved her hand from her stomach. "Peeta and I never had the chance to have children," choking up. "But I've helped raise my little sister, Prim. So, the way she spoke to them…it's how I feel about Prim," Katniss said. Oh, they were falling on the floor. The Capitol loved Prim. Love the girl that Katniss saved. She was cherished…sadly as a trophy. But she was still cherished.

"And of course, Chaff raised a point that goes hand in hand with Beetee and Johanna. If President Snow wanted to, he could stop the Hunger Games right now. This very moment, as I stand on this stage," Katniss said. Oh, they agreed. Please cancel the Games they called.

Caesar quieted them back down, trying to move on from speaking poorly of Snow.

"Such beautiful words. Thank you for that. Now, on a more serios note. I think we're all here a little disappointed…more than a little disappointed…that a certain wedding did not take place. Aren't we folks…hmm. Alas…BUT. Am I correct in assuming, that this is the gown that you would have worn on that day yes, or no?"

"Yes, it is. Peeta and I felt terrible that you all couldn't join us when we got married, so we wanted you all to see my dress and his tux," Katniss said. Not giving Snow the satisfaction of taking the credit. Her and Peeta would take the credit. For including the Capitol.

The Capitol was touched. Her and Peeta thought of them.

Peeta's eyes widened, and he covered his mouth. "No way," he said and laughed.

"Oh, you and Peeta were absolutely right. I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT? DON'T YOU LOVE IT FOLKS? IT'S INCREDIBLE AND SO GORGEOUS!" Caesar laughed. "Please, Katniss. Would you do us the honor?" he asked, pointing to the stage. He wanted me to twirl.

"When he asks you to twirl, do NOT look at Cinna. Just smile and do it. It'll read on your face. He's going to live. We just have to follow the same path. So, smile, and twirl. And do NOT look at him," Haymitch ordered her.

So, she looked at her feet and started to twirl. She ignored Caesar and the crowd as she spun. She watched the beautiful white wedding dress burn and turn black. She turned into the Mockingjay.

"Then look at Cinna," Haymitch told her.

She made eyes with Cinna. The memories. "It's the Mockingjay,"

"Declare it!"

"I'm the Mockingjay,"

"And then, when it's done, leave them with something sad,"

She turned to Cinna. "Before I go. Peeta and I just wanted you to know, that we were going to ask you to officiate our wedding," Katniss said. Caesar got emotional and hugged me tightly. Oh, this poor man. Oh, these poor Capitol Citizens.

Caesar just sobbed when he let her go. She walked up the stairs and took her spot by Chaff. Everyone was staring at her, and she gave them an innocent face, like she had no idea what happened.

Caesar had to compose himself before he called Peeta out.

"Oh, my baker boy," Caesar said and hugged Peeta tightly. He pulled back. "I'm just an emotional wreck. I don't know what I'm going to do. I feel honored that you and Katniss would ask me to take part in your wedding," Caesar said. Peeta patted his shoulder.

"Well Caesar, Katniss and I absolutely love you. We couldn't think of anyone else better to stand up with us," Peeta said. Caesar cried on his shoulder again. "Oh, now, now Caesar. We can't waste my whole interview with you crying," he joked. Caesar stood back up.

"You're right. You're absolutely right. Did you just see what your fiancé did?" he asked. Peeta laughed and nodded his head.

"Yes, I did Caesar. There were feathers flying off stage," he joked. "She's always doing that in the house. She's always twirling around and setting everything on fire. She set fire to my couch!" Peeta said. Oh, don't we have so much fun.

"I thought we were gonna have some burnt poultry out here," Peeta joked.

"So, Peeta, what was it like when after all you've been through, you found out about the Quell?" he asked. He looked sadly out into the audience.

"I was in shock. I mean, one minute I'm watching Katniss try on all these wedding dresses…and she was just so beautiful, and I was just so in love with her in that moment…and in the next moment…"

"You realized there would never be a wedding. Never be a marriage," Caesar said. Peeta looked at him, devastated. He glanced to his right and looked at Katniss. She narrowed her eyes at him, and Caesar whipped around and saw her.

"Wait. What's going on?" Caesar asked.

"Katniss…" Peeta trailed off. "I'm sorry," he said.

"Your eyes are gonna start watering after a few minutes. Cinna added something to the fumes to make you start tearing. Real tears,"

She closed her eyes and let the tears fall. He turned back to Caesar.

"Katniss didn't want me to say anything. She didn't want to upset everyone…but Katniss and I got married. In secret," Peeta said. The audience gasped.

"A secret wedding?"

"We wanted our love to be eternal,"

"Of course. Tell us what happened. How can this be?" he asked.

"It's not a legal, official marriage. We didn't go to the Justice Building or anything like that. But in District 12 we have this marriage ritual. I don't know what it's like for the other Districts, but there's this thing we do, and they don't officially feel married, until they do it. When the couple gets married, on their wedding night they cut up some bread and toast it over a fire and give it to each other," Peeta said, glancing at Katniss. She looked down at him sadly. Another tear fell.

"You see, Katniss and I realized that when we had our official wedding in the Capitol…there would be a piece of us missing that day. We wouldn't feel married unless we would do a toasting in 12. So, we decided, let's do the toasting, and then when we have the wedding here, we can feel married. And we can enjoy the day with everyone," Peeta said, holding his hand out to the crowd.

"And to be honest, Katniss and I just couldn't wait to be married. So, one day, we grabbed her family, my family, AND Haymitch," Peeta joked, making everyone laugh.

"Well, you can't do anything without Haymitch!" Caesar said.

"We just had a little ceremony. Me and my dad made a cake. We just said a few words. Danced a little, and then we went back to my-OUR home, and we had our toasting," Peeta said and looked at her. Katniss knew her face was on the big screen, so she smiled a little.

"So, then this sounds like it happened before the Quell was announced," Caesar said. That's where Peeta became upset.

"Of course, it was before the Quell. I'm not sure we would have done it if we knew," he said, starting to get emotional. "But who could have seen this coming? No one! We went through the Games and won. We're Victors. Everyone was so thrilled to see us together. We're luckier than most people to find the kind of love we have. And then out of nowhere…I mean, how were we supposed to anticipate a thing like this?" he asked, choking on his words. Caesar put a hand on his shoulder.

"No, no…you couldn't Peeta. As you say, no one could have. But I have to confess, I'm so happy you both got to at least have a few months of happiness together," Caesar said. Oh, the applause. Oh, the tears. But Peeta shook his head.

"I'm not," he whispered. Katniss put her head down and pretended to be crying. He shoulder shook softly, and she felt Chaff reach over with his good arm and rub her shoulder.

"I wish we hadn't of done it. I wouldn't have had any regrets…" Peeta jaw clenched. "If it weren't for the fact that Katniss told me she was pregnant. If it weren't for the baby," Peeta said. The crowd went ballistic. Katniss kept her head down and put her hand on her stomach.

"If we didn't find out the morning of the Reaping that we're supposed to be parents," Peeta says into the mic, but it's hard to hear.

"All I've ever wanted was to be a dad. And Katniss would make a wonderful mother. And us becoming parents has been stolen from us," Peeta said. Now no one could hear. Caesar had to push him away and he went running up the stairs.

Katniss grabs him tightly and hugs him. The cameras are still right on them. He pulls back and cups her face. He mouths I'm sorry to her, so the camera sees it. He put his hand on her stomach and she puts her hand over his. She nods her head. They both turn with their hands linked.

She reaches over and grabs Chaff's stump. All the Victors raise their hands…and then it happens! Every Victor on stage is set on fire! The lights go out and it's all you can see. 24 Victors on fire! The camera caught it. The Capitol caught it. It's not just the Girl on Fire. It's not the Star-Crossed Lovers or District 12 on Fire. It's 24 Victors on Fire. It's the 75th Hunger Games on Fire!

There's mass chaos. They're shoved into an elevator. Last time, Finnick and Johanna couldn't get on. But this time they made it on. "The mics aren't on. You did great Katniss," Finnick said. Katniss was shocked that they were talking to her and looked at the Peacekeeper. Finnick waved it off. He must be a Rebel.

"Just hold it together. Don't freak out now when we just have one more hurdle to jump," Johanna told her.

"Me and Peeta will be there every step of the way," Finnick said. They both squeezed her hands.

"Thank you," Katniss choked out. Finnick was pushed out by the Peacekeeper. He pushed Johanna off at her floor, and then shoved them out. Peeta pulled her down to his room. He sat her on the bed, panting. He bent down in front of her.

"I want you to breathe. Just breathe," Peeta told her.

"Why would Cinna do that? How?" Katniss panted. Last time only Haymitch and Effie made it upstairs. But this time, Cinna and Portia made it as well. "Why did you do that?" Katniss cried.

"I didn't. I didn't do that," Cinna said. They stared at him. "The only thing I did was your wedding dress. I didn't even make the Mockingjay turn into fire. We never touched Peeta's tux," Cinna said, scrubbing his face. Oh God! He was scared.

"There's no way we could get into 11 other Districts floors and change 22 tributes outfits. It takes too long. We have no access to them," Portia said. Katniss covered her mouth and shook her head. Haymitch roughly grabbed her shoulder and shook them and shook his head at her. She bit her lip.

"Everything's ok," Haymitch said and looked at Cinna and jerked his head. He walked forward and pulled up his sleeve and show her his arm. He took her hand and placed her hand on it. Her eyes widened. He had a tracker! This would save him. She looked at watched Haymitch, Effie and Portia all point to their arms. Katniss covered mouth.

"Alright. I have presents," Effie handed a box to Peeta, Haymitch, Cinna and Portia. "Gold hair for me, gold pin for Katniss. Gold medallion for Peeta," Effie said. Haymitch was scowling but when he opened his box he laughed.

"Gold flask for Haymitch," Effie said, rolling her eyes.

"Now this is what I'm talking about," Haymitch said and kissed her cheek. He did however pull out his gold bangle and rolled his eyes at her.

"Gold ring for Portia, and gold bangle for Cinna," Effie said. They smiled at her. "We're a team," Effie told them. They nodded at her.

"They won't cancel the Games. Snow won't do it. He doesn't care if he's sending a pregnant girl into the arena," Haymitch told them. Katniss closed her eyes. She had hoped that if they really stuck it to Snow, that he'd HAVE to cancel. She didn't want to go back in. Peeta put his hand on her back.

"But all of the Capitol doesn't want to lose any of us. They love us," Katniss said. Haymitch put his hands on her shoulder and glared at her. Don't. He mouthed to her.

"We have to go," Portia says. Cinna walks over to Peeta, and Portia walks to Katniss and gives her a hug. "I'll see you soon. Stay strong in there," she whispered. Katniss just let the tears fall freely. She slammed into Cinna and sobbed into his chest. Portia just hugged him tightly. Peeta wiped at his eyes.

"Don't you lose that faith my Baker Boy," she whispered.

"You're gonna be just fine Katniss," Cinna whispered and kissed her head. He pulled her back and wiped her tears. "I'll see you bright and early in the morning," he smiled, and they left. Effie took their hands.

"This just isn't fair. My Victors. My little pieces of coal that turned into my pearls," Effie whispered. Effie told everyone last year that if put enough pressure on coal, it turns into pearls. They never had the heart to tell her.

It was supposed to have a different effect. It was supposed to be sentimental. But Katniss and Peeta burst out laughing, clearing away any sadness.

"Why are they laughing?" Effie asked, totally shocked. Haymitch was chuckling into his hand.

"We're sorry Effie…but coal doesn't turn into pearls," Peeta said.

"But…"

"They really don't Effie," Haymitch told her sympathetically. She put her hands on her hips.

"You all could have told me. I was saying it to everyone. I told EVERYONE that!" Effie shouted at them. Outraged! That just made them laugh harder. Effie's tantrums hadn't been real with them in so long. But this was real. Peeta leaned forward and hugged her tightly. Then she moved over to Katniss and squeezed her so tight.

"I want you to stay strong. And know that we're all here waiting for you," she said. Katniss nodded her head and Peeta wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "I am truly sorry. You two deserved so much better," she cried and left.

Then it was just the three of them. Haymitch just stared at them. Katniss let out another sob and Haymitch grabbed her pulled her to him.

"I'm sorry. If I could trade places with you, I would in a heartbeat. I'm so sorry Katniss," Haymitch said. He gives Peeta a short hug and then kisses Katniss on the cheek.

You CAN do this! Haymitch mouthed. She nodded and Peeta pulled her back as they watched him walk away. She turned in his arms and grabbed onto his neck for dear life.

"It's alright Katniss. Everything will be ok," Peeta said. And that was true. They would both be ok. They just had to get through the arena. They just had to.

He got her to take the sleeping pills but pocketed his own. He laid down with her and waited until she fell asleep. Haymitch walked back in, and he stood up off the bed.

"Mics are off," Haymitch told him. Peeta nodded.

"Is Snow planning on just taking us out?" Peeta asked. Haymitch shook his head.

"No. He's not letting them add anything in to kill you. Like in the last arena when they started the fire out of nowhere. It's just the clock. He wants to enjoy watching you all die. He's never been more invested in a Game then he with this one," Haymitch said.

"I barely made it up here," Finnick said as he walked in. Haymitch held up the bracelet to him as he came up to them. Finnick took it and put it on.

"So. How'd we do with the 'Distract Katniss for two weeks' plan work out?" Finnick asked.

"Perfect. She was having fun. I don't know how you came up with all those crazy antics. And I don't know how Snow let it go on," Peeta said.

"He's angry at the Victors. He wanted them to have fun just to watch our friendships crumble. It's making the most exciting Games ever," Haymitch said. Peeta nodded.

"Peeta," Finnick said. Peeta looked at them. His whole body started to shake. "Peeta it's going to be ok," Finnick told him.

"Tell me again," Peeta said, gulping.

"Once you knock out Brutus, Enobaria is gonna come after you. She's gonna be stunned by her tracker. You and Johanna need to cut the trackers out of your arms, and then their arms. The hovercraft is coming in through a different side. You grab onto Brutus, and Johanna can grab onto Enobaria as the hovercraft picks you up. The hovercraft will take you right to District 13," Haymitch said.

"Again," Peeta told him. Haymitch had to say the plan five times before her grabbed Peeta's shoulder.

"Stop it. You know it's going to be ok," Haymitch told him.

"I promise you Peeta. We're- "

"Please don't leave me there," he whispered. Finnick grabbed him and hugged him tightly.

"I promise you Peeta. I'll come back for you," Finnick told him. They left him after a few minutes. He took his sleeping pills and fell asleep.

The next morning Cinna and Portia woke the two of them up. "We're sorry. But it's time to go," Portia said. Katniss shook her head, and Peeta helped her up. They brushed their teeth and then rode down the elevator. They had to part ways now.

Portia leaned forward and hugged Katniss, as Cinna hugged Peeta. Then Peeta and Katniss stared at each other. She smashed her body against his, clinging to him. Holding on for dear life.

"I want you to be strong ok. We'll be together in a couple of hours. You know that. Cinna will be ok I promise," he told her. But she was shaking terribly. "You get mad, you get strong. Wipe your hands, shake em off…say it," Peeta told her.

"Then you stand," Katniss said. Peeta pulled her back and smiled at her.

"We're going to be ok. I'll see you in a few hours," he said and kissed her. He turned around and walked with Portia, before he turned around and grabbed her he grabbed her and didn't let her go.

It was an awful hovercraft ride. His thoughts were solely on Katniss. He just needed her to be strong. He knew she could do this…but she was so broken, that she didn't think that she could. He was afraid that this Game was going to break her.

The morning went by too quick, and before he knew it, he was being pushed up into the arena.

"Those Peacekeepers are ours. They're going to take care of Cinna," Haymitch told her.

"CINNA!" She screamed. She knew they were rebels, but this brought back too many memories. Of Cinna being beaten to death. Oh God, why was she doing this again? No, no, no, no!

She crumpled to the ground as she was lifted into the arena. Just let someone kill her. She couldn't do this again. How was she in this arena again? This is where she lost Peeta. He was going to be taken away from her.

Finnick could see her. He could see her on her knees. He looked over at Beetee. Finnick couldn't see Peeta, but Beetee could. Finnick scratched his eyebrow. That meant Katniss wasn't ok. He tapped his knee and pointed to the floor. Beetee nodded and turned the other way to Peeta. He repeated the same motions.

Oh God, she wasn't ok. They needed her to run up to the cornucopia. He prepared himself to shout between gongs, so Katniss would hear him. he had to time it perfect.

"KATNISS!" he screamed. Gong! "STAND UP!" Peeta screamed as loud as he could.

Katniss heard him. Then you stand. Then you stand. Stand up Katniss. Stand up and go!

"Alright Katniss, if you can hear me, I need you to put your hair behind your ears," a voice in her head said. Oh God, she forgot about this. She put her hair behind her ears.

"Perfect. We need you to stand up. You can do this! And we'll be here when you need us!" that voice sounded familiar…It was Cressida! "I can tell you figured it out. I've been in 13 for a while. And I'll stay with you the whole time,"

It was Cressida! She missed her. It was so good to hear her voice. But she couldn't concentrate on that.

She stood up just in enough time and heard the gong and dove into the water. She got to the rocks and ran as fast as she could. She knew Brutus was behind her, but then stopped. She knew Gloss was running beside her and heard him trip.

She grabbed her arrows and spun around. Finnick was there, holding his arm up.

"Hi sweetheart. You like the arena?" he asked.

"Not particularly. But you must love it. They designed it for you," she said, still pointing her arrow at him.

"It's a good thing we're allies right?" Finnick said. She glared at him.

"Where'd you get that?" she demanded.

"From Haymitch. He said we're allies…right?"

"Right," she said.

"DUCK!" He yelled at her. She ducked, and Finnick threw the trident at the male tribute from 5.

"Don't trust 1 and 2. They'll slit your throat. I'll go this way. Grab what you want. I'll go find Peeta," Finnick says. Katniss runs to the other side. Grabbing more arrows, knives, an awl.

"Katniss! Mags found him he's over here," Finnick says and takes off running, with Katniss close behind him. He's fighting with another Victor. Oh God, please Peeta! She doesn't even think of what she's doing. She starts taking her stuff off to get him.

"Stop it! I'll get him. You can't. Not in your condition," Finnick says and jumps in. She puts her hand over her belly. That's right. The baby! They were playing this up harder than last time. She watches as Finnick swims over to him, just as the other Victor dies. Mags squeezes her arm. Katniss didn't even realize she was still crying. She shouldn't be crying. Peeta survived last time.

Finnick hauls him over to the rocks, and Peeta pulls himself up. "Hi sweetheart," he says and kisses her. "I didn't know we had any allies," Peeta says.

"Haymitch did it. He always gets his way in the end," Katniss panted as he started throwing over his shoulder the extra arrows, and taking the extra knives that she had, and handed the awl to Mags.

"Remind me, did we make deals with anyone else?" Peeta asked.

"Mags," she said.

"Well, I'd never leave Mags behind. She's one of the few people that like me," Finnick joked as he grabbed his tridents.

"Katniss wanted Mags from the first day," Peeta told him. Finnick chuckled and hoisted Mags over his shoulder.

"Well, for the first time I finally think Katniss has good judgement. Let's go" Finnick says as they start running. "Katniss run ahead of me," Finnick orders her. Peeta takes the lead, and they run. They run as fast as they can. They run up for a while before Finnick tells them to stop. They bend down and pant.

Katniss holds her head in her hands. Cinna. All she can think about is Cinna. Is he ok? Is he dead? They told her he'd be ok. But she needed to know. She needed to know now.

Her breath was coming out ragged. Finnick eyed Peeta. This was the beginning of a panic attack. Peeta put his hand on her back. "Just catch your breath Katniss. You're ok," Peeta told her.

"Katniss you're ok. Just breathe. Just concentrate on where you are and what you're doing. Just take it one step at a time," Cressida said in her ear.

They hear the cannons go off. Finnick laughs.

"Well, I guess they're not holding hands anymore. No more joining hands. No taking a vow of nonviolence. No one tossed their weapons in the sea in defiance of the Capitol," he chuckles. She remembered what she was supposed to do. She picked her head up.

"You think that's funny?" Katniss demanded.

"Every time that cannon goes off its music to my ears. Whatever happened in the past, is in the past. I don't care about any of them," Finnick told her. She reached back and pulled her knife out.

"Good to hear," she said and stared at him.

"You wanna face the Career pack alone? Go ahead. But what would Haymitch say?"

"Haymitch isn't here," she said deadly. Peeta moved in between them, and her eyes widened.

"No one in this arena is a Victor by chance," Finnick says. But then he looks at Peeta. "Except for him," Finnick said, which surprises them.

"He's better than all of us," Finnick said.

"Let's keep moving," Peeta said. Finnick pulled Mags back onto his back and stood up.

"I think Haymitch is right. You are angry and grouchy. And you're moody to," Finnick said and looked at Peeta. "Was Haymitch exaggerating that she's like this all the time? Or is it worse because of the hormones?" Finnick asked him. Katniss gasped.

They walked for a little while longer, but into the jungle.

"Alright Peeta. We're not telling Katniss yet. We don't want her to get upset. But you're coming right up to the forcefield. You know what to do," the voice said.He couldn't place it, but he knew this voice. But who was it?

"Stop playing with your ear and making that face. It's Messalla," he said. He was Cressida's assistant. He took his finger away from his ear. He needed a friendly voice right now.

Peeta scratched his eyebrow. He could see it shimmering. He got close to it and screamed, jumping back. He knocked into Finnick, and he knocked into Katniss. They all fell down. That wasn't part of the plan.

"Oh my God Mags are you ok?" Finnick asked. Katniss cringed and held onto her stomach.

"Oh no Katniss. Katniss are you ok?" Peeta asked as he pulled himself up and crawled to her.

"Her foot," Katniss groaned. Mags' foot must have hit her right in the stomach.

"Katniss are you ok? Is the baby ok?" Peeta asked. She nodded her head.

"I just..got the wind…knocked out of me…like when Ryee hit me," Katniss panted.

"Who's Ryee?" Finnick asked stupidly. Peeta looked at him. Did Finnick really not know his brother's names?

"He's my brother,"

"Wait, why did your brother hit Katniss?" Finnick asked.

"We were practicing hand to hand combat. They were just goading each other, and she didn't listen to him and plant her feet the way he told her to, and he knocked her down to the ground," Peeta said.

"Wait. Your brother's name is Ryee? As in rye bread?" Finnick asked. Peeta stared at him. Why the heck was he talking about that?

"Yes," Peeta told him. Finnick laughed.

"Ok wait. You're a baker. And your father names his two sons, Ryee and Peeta? Rye and pita bread," Finnick says, grinning widely. Katniss hold up her hand. Three fingers. "Wait there are three of you? Ok let me guess. Roti? Oh, White bread. Pumpernickel," Finnick guessed. He was laughing at his own jokes.

"Wheet," Katniss breathed. Finnick burst out laughing.

"Like whole wheat? Oh God, I wanna meet this man. What's his name?" Finnick asked.

"I'm not telling you," Peeta said.

"Breeoshe," she whispered. Peeta looked down at her. Finnick held his stomach and laughed.

"They're all bread names. Why has Haymitch never told me this?" Finnick continues to laugh, and Peeta shoves his shoulder.

"What happened?" Katniss asks, pointing to where he was standing. She looked over and kicked Finnick. "Pay attention," she snaps at him. He sits up and his laughing dies down. They give him a minute before it stops.

"Ok. So, why did you shove as all down?" Finnick asks.

"That forcefield in the training center. It's right there," Peeta said pointing to where he almost ran right into it. "See it shimmering," Peeta said. Finnick and Katniss look closer and see it. Finnick whipped his head around to stare at it.

"You saw that?" Finnick asked. Peeta nodded.

"Oh my God. You were dead. You were dead, your heart stopped,"

Katniss shook her head. He almost died. Had Finnick not been with them, Peeta would have died. She didn't realize she was crying until she felt Peeta's hand on her cheek. She looked up at him and he was smiling.

"I'm alright Katniss. I saw it first," Peeta said gently. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"Man, your hormones make you all wacky," Finnick said as he stood up.

"One of the reasons why we're pushing the pregnancy a little harder this time is because of her mood swings. Now, we can just blame it on the pregnancy," Haymitch told him.

"You ok to keep going?" Finnick asked. She nodded her head and looked at Mags.

"Mags don't eat that. it could be poisonous," Katniss told her. Mags ignored her.

"Well, I guess we'll find out," Finnick said as he grabbed a bunch of nuts. "Let's throw them at the forcefield. Make sure we don't run into it," Finnick said. Peeta led the way, and her and Peeta threw nuts at the forcefield to make sure they didn't hit it. Of course, the little voices inside their heads would make sure that they didn't hit it.

"Hold up. Let me climb the tree. I'll see if I can find some fresh water," Katniss said as she started climbing.

"Be careful," Peeta warned her. She made it to the top and pretended to look around. She saw nothing. She looked at the arena. It was beautiful. Why does the Capitol take something so beautiful and twist it into something ugly. Something evil. She shot the arrow into the sky and watched to forceful light up, and then looked back down.

But that's what Snow did to all of them. The most beautiful person in the world, the only person who was a Victor by chance, was turned into a monster. Was forced to kill the girl from 8 in their first Games, after Cato failed to finish the job. And then he was forced to kill Brutus.

The Capitol corrupted everything they touched. She just wanted to go home. She was tired. She was tired of pretending. She was tired of lying.

"We're so close to being in District 13. We just have to get through the Quell. That's it. Once last hurdle. Then we don't have to pretend. We can be with our family and our friends. And we can be with each other. Out in the open. No more lying about us,"

She could just fall of this tree right here. End all of it. She was just so tired.

"KATNISS IF YOU DON'T ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW, I'M COMING UP THERE!" she heard Peeta yell. She cleared her throat. She wondered how many times he called her name.

"I'm coming down!" she told him. She made her way down the tree, to her amusement, to an angry Peeta.

"We called your name a dozen times. What happened?" Peeta asked. She shook her head.

"I'm sorry. I just zoned out. It's a dome. We're at the edge of the arena. And there's no sign of fresh water," she pushed her hair back. Then she felt it. The queasiness in her stomach.

"Your trackers won't be of much use as a pain blocker. Their to help you sleep. But for Katniss, we're playing up the pregnancy card. Like your bracelet, it's going to make you nauseous. And sometimes it'll make you throw up," Haymitch told her.

She put her hand to her stomach and leaned down. "Oh God not now," she whispered.

"What's wrong?" Finnick asked. Peeta turned and sped over to her, putting his hand on her back.

"Are you sick again?" he asked her. She nodded her head, but then fell to her knees to throw up what little food she had in her stomach. Oh, that was just great. Peeta squatted down and rubbed her back while she dry heaved. Assholes!

"It's ok Katniss. Just relax a minute," he told her. She ended up sitting down and resting her head in her hands. Mags handed Peeta some moss and he took it and sat down next to Katniss. He handed her the moss so she could wipe her mouth.

"You ok?" he asked sympathetically. If she really was pregnant right now, she'd be so angry. She'd be so angry that Snow would send her in to an arena, with a child in her belly…but she wasn't pregnant. And she would never get pregnant.

"Yeah, I'm ok," she said and stood up. "I'm really hungry. I'm gonna do some hunting," Katniss said.

"Let me come with you," Peeta said, rubbing her arm. She chuckled.

"I won't go far. And besides, you're way too loud. You'll scare everything away," she told him. She went to kiss him but then stopped, covering her mouth.

"God, puke breath," she heard Finnick mumble.

"I'll be back," she said and walked into the jungle. Peeta huffed and sat down.

"You ok?" Finnick asked. Peeta nodded his head and rubbed his forehead from the oncoming stress and dehydration headache. All he could think about was getting left behind. What if he was left behind?

"Think she'll be ok to keep going through this?" Finnick asked. Peeta knew what he was asking. To the audience, Finnick was asking if her pregnancy would hold her back. But Peeta knew what he was really asking. If it looked like she was gonna another episode.

"She surprises me with how strong she is. Just when I think she's had enough…she wipes her hands, shakes it off, and then she stands back up," Peeta said. Finnick smiled and nodded. Peeta looked down at Mags, and she was smiling.

Peeta gathered a bunch of nuts while Finnick and Mags went to work on making their camp. And before they knew it, Katniss was back with a weird animal. And they sat around for a while, feasting on nuts and tree rat.

"So did you bake the bread that you used for your toasting?" Finnick asks as he pops a nut into his mouth. Katniss smiles and chuckles.

"Peeta's a baker. Do you think we just made that gross bread with the grain we get when we sign up for tesserae? Please," Katniss said.

"You had to sign up for that?" Finnick asked. Katniss gulped. She ate a piece of tree rat.

"I take it you didn't," Katniss said. Finnick shook his head. "Lucky you,"

"How many times was your name in the bowl?" he asked her.

"Twenty times," she told him without looking at him. He didn't even sign up for tesserae and he still ended up in the arena.

"What about you?" Finnick asked Peeta. Peeta looked guilty.

"Five times," Peeta said, not looking up. His family didn't exactly starve, but there was no need for towns families to put their names into the Reaping bowl more than they had to. Katniss nudged him with her shoulder, and she smiled softly. He smiled back.

"I feel bad for the families that have a lot of siblings," Finnick said.

"There was one family that had ten kids. All of them took tesserae out. The oldest kid by his second year had his name in there 24 times. By the time he was 18 years old, his name was in there 84 times. But it doesn't matter. It only takes one slip…" she trailed off.

"If that one slip wasn't pulled, you wouldn't be here right now," Finnick finished for her. She started crying and covered her eyes. It was the truth. She wouldn't be here…but neither would Peeta. And then none of them would be in the Quarter Quell.

Peeta looked at Finnick and shook his head. "The silver lining to all of this, is that we found each other," Peeta said, slipping his hand under to grab her other hand. Katniss looked over at him and gave him a sickening look. He knew she hated when he talked like that. That meaning gushing for the Capitol.

Once they finished, Finnick stood up and yawned. "We should settle down and take turns sleeping. I'll take first watch," Finnick said. Katniss laughed sarcastically.

"Not a chance," she said. Finnick stood up.

"Honey. That thing I did back there at the cornucopia for you, and then Peeta, that's called saving your lives. If I wanted to kill either of you, I would have done it by now," Finnick said and stared at her for a moment, and then went over to a rock to sit down with his trident. Katniss rolled her eyes.

"Why don't you try and get some sleep. I'll take the first watch," Katniss said. Peeta scrubbed his face.

"I'd rather take the first watch. You get some sleep," he said. Katniss shook her head, but Peeta stopped her. "Please?" he asked her. She relented and nodded her head. He leaned over and kissed softly on the lips and placed his hand on her stomach.

Finnick helped Mags lay down, and Katniss laid close to her. She felt sleep easily take her, thanks to her tracker.

"How's Katniss?" Finnick asked. Peeta let out a deep breath.

"She's ok, I guess. Just dehydrated like the rest of us," Peeta said. Wiping more sweat away from his face.

"I can't imagine what you must be going through right now," Finnick said. Peeta looked over at him and furrowed his eyebrows. "I don't know how you go into an arena, knowing that no matter what the outcome is, you'll never meet your baby," Finnick said and put his head down.

He wasn't saying that to Peeta. He was saying it for himself. That wasn't fair. That was so unfair. Annie didn't even know she was pregnant when Finnick left to go to the Capitol. He died, not knowing that he was going to be a dad. He wondered what he did when he found out that Annie had his son.

"I want you to have a heart to heart with Finnick. The Capitol loves both of you. And having the two of you right there…they don't know who to choose. They're torn because they love you both. So, make it harder for the Capitol to stand behind Snow,"

"Can I ask you a favor?" Peeta asked. Finnick looked at him. "I don't know how everything is going down…but can you try not to let me, or Katniss die alone?" Peeta asked. Finnick fell silent.

"I want her to be with me…or be with her," Peeta asked, pretending to wipe away tears. "And if I'm already gone…and she's dying. Just stay with her. Please?" he asked and pretended to cry. "I just don't want her to die alone," Peeta said. Finnick looked away and pretended he had his own tears.

"Ok," Finnick whispered. The anthem started to play then, showing them who they lost. It ended.

"Eight," Peeta whispered.

"Be well my friends. Be well my fellow Victors," Finnick said and dug his fingers into his eyes.

"I'm sick of this," Katniss said and stood up. "Damnit Haymitch get off your drunken-"Katniss didn't get to finish her sentence, because the parachute came down.

"What are you yelling at him about now?" Finnick asked.

"She's always yelling at Haymitch about something," Peeta chuckled.

"Who's do you think it is?" Katniss asked. Finnick grabbed the parachute and opened it. He pulled out the spile and stared at it in confusion.

"Oh, this is definitely for me. Muscida had to of sent this," Finnick rolls his eyes and tosses it to Katniss. "That woman hates me. She was pissed that they dragged her crotchety old butt down to the Capitol to be a mentor again," He looked up at the sky.

"Thanks, you old bag of crap. I hope I come back just to make the rest of your days miserable!" Finnick yelled.

"Why are you so rude to her? She's old," Katniss snapped at her.

"Don't defend her. She thinks you're an ugly, useless whore who scowls too much and has scowl lines on her face," Finnick said, rubbing his forehead. Katniss straightened up.

"She said that?" Katniss asked. Finnick nodded. Katniss looked up into the air.

"Well, I think you're an ugly old lady who smells of moth balls you dumb hag," Katniss yelled into the air. Peeta grabbed the spile.

"That's nice you two. Just announce to everyone that we're here," Peeta told them.

"She started it," Katniss mumbled. Peeta stared at her.

"She started it? She's not even here,"

"She sent us a stupid hunk of metal,"

"We should make a pact that whoever gets out of here holds a pillow over her face and puts us out of our damn misery," Finnick said. Katniss spun around.

"Why didn't they make her stay home? I'm surprised she made it all the way to the Capitol without keeling over and croaking," Katniss argued.

"Believe me, I was hoping for it. I even encouraged her. Just die already, I told her," Finnick told her.

"How old is she? 92? Is she the Victor from the first Games?"

"Supposedly the 12th. But she looks as old as dinosaurs," Finnick grumbled. They all of a sudden looked at Peeta holding a leaf to Mags mouth.

"Are you drinking water?" Katniss asked frantically.

"If you two are done insulting an old woman, that thing, that I guarantee Muscida did NOT send, but Haymitch and Ron, is stuck in the tree. It's a spile. So, go drink some water," Peeta said. Katniss and Finnick went running to the tree to drink from it.

They all had their fill of water, and Katniss took it out and secured it tightly in her belt. Peeta and Finnick went to sleep. Katniss dozed off.

"Katniss. It's time to wake up," Cressida said. She picked her head up. "The fog's coming," She looked over and saw it coming in. God, this was going to hurt. She put her hand out and screamed as she fell.

"RUN! RUN! THE FOG IS POISON!" Peeta and Katniss got up and ran while Finnick threw Mags over his shoulder and followed them down the hill. Peeta remembered this pain. And he had to endure it all over again. He had to get 'caught' but the fog.

Katniss fell, and Peeta went back to get her, getting the brunt of the fog so she wouldn't. And that was when the uncontrollable jerking of their bodies happened. He couldn't even see straight and fell down.

Finnick caught up to them. Katniss tried to carry Mags for a while, while Finnick carried Peeta. But Katniss couldn't do it anymore. She started crying as she watched Mags kiss Finnick on the lips and start walking away.

"MAGS! MAGS!" Finnick screamed as the cannon went off. Katniss shook his arm.

"Please Finnick. We have to go," Katniss cried. They picked Peeta up and carried him. Their bodies shaking uncontrollably, trying to outrun the fog.

"Keep going guys. You're almost to the hill," they heard Cressida tell them. The fog caught up to them, and they fell down the hill. No one bothered to watch the fog get caught by the invisible wall and disappear.

She looks up, knowing that they're almost to the beach, so she crawls herself over there and howls in pain as the water starts to draw out the fog. "The water. The water will take the fog out," Katniss calls. She strips off her wet suit. Peeta crawls over and she helps Peeta unzip his and take it off.

They spend the time getting the fog out of their bodies. Katniss hated opening her eyes underwater. Sniffing it through her nose. Gurgling it. It was the most painful thing she ever had experienced.

"Let's go get him," Peeta said. They went back to Finnick and peeled his wet suit off him. They dragged him until his feet were in the water. Peeta grabbed some seashells and they started working on his arms and his chest a little a time. They pulled him into the water up to his shins, and slowly went back to work. Little by little until his whole chest was submerged and Finnick's head was in Katniss' lap.

"I think he got the worst of it," Peeta said. Katniss nodded her head. Peeta put his hand on her stomach and rubbed it. "You feel ok?" Peeta asked.

"I think so. If I swallowed it, I'd be feeling it in my body, wouldn't I?" Katniss asked. He looked at her sadly.

"I don't know. I guess that's a question for the Gamemakers," Peeta asked. She snorted.

"Well maybe if I offer an archery lesson again, they'll come into the arena and we can ask what the poisonous fog does to someone who's pregnant," she said bitterly. The Capitol must be dying right now.

"Your job is to keep reminding the Capitol of who you are to them. One of the biggest ways to do that, is by talking about the pregnancy. Keep reminding the Capitol that Snow sent a pregnant 17-year-old into the arena. It's everyone's job to remind the Capitol of this," Haymitch told them.

"Well, when you get out of here you can ask the doctors," Peeta said, looking away. After a few minutes he looked back down at Finnick who was raising his arms.

"Your head is the worst of it. Come on, we'll help you," Peeta said. They helped Finnick stand up and held his hands has he dunked himself under the water and let go once he was able to do it on his own.

Katniss fell into the water and let herself float on top of the water. She closed her eyes and just escaped for a few minutes. Alright, so one day is down. One attack down. Why couldn't this be over with already? Why was she the one who constantly had to fight for everyone? Didn't they know how tired she was? She was exhausted. She wanted to lay down in bed and never get up again. She wanted to drown.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't realize it had gotten so quiet. She stood up and looked around. Where did they go? She bent down and was about to go under water, when Peeta and Finnick's faces appeared right in front of her and she screamed, falling backwards into the water. They were both laughing when she stood back up.

Last time Peeta was getting water when she was floating, and Finnick popped up in front of her.

"You so deserved that. I'm just getting you back for doing it to me back home," Peeta said. Her mouth dropped. But she remembered that day. They were at the lake. A million miles away from everyone.

"That was an accident," she reminded him. The two of them just laughed though. But it was nice to hear them laughing. It was one of her favorite sounds, and she wouldn't take that for granted. Finnick had died, and she was never going to hear it again. And Peeta was hijacked, and she knew she wouldn't hear it again. So, it was two of her favorite sounds.

She rolled her eyes. "Peeta will you just go tap a tree?" Katniss asked. He laughed and leaned over to kiss her.

"Yeah. I'll make the hole and you just bring the spile up to me your majesty," he joked. Peeta went and put his wet suit back on and disappeared. Katniss and Finnick followed him. All three taking their weapons. Katniss and Finnick saw them at the same time.

"No one can just go through this arena and not get attacked. If you avoid everything, then Snow will get angry and start taking you out. You have to, especially if that's how someone dies. You have to go through the fog, because that's how Mags dies, and then it leads you to the monkeys. Johanna has to go through the blood rain, because that's how Blight hits the forcefield. This will keep the audience happy, and in turn, Snow will be happy, and he won't interfere," Haymitch told her.

God the monkeys. Why monkeys? But she knew she had to go through with it again. Snow was happy that she almost died, and we needed to go through it so the Morpling would jump in front of Peeta and save him, taking her own life in the process.

"Peeta. Will you walk over here so I can show you something?" Katniss asked calmly. Peeta looked at her and slowly stood up. "Only, walk over here slowly," she said.

The monkeys attacked. Just like before. Just like before, she knocked Peeta to the ground when a monkey went to attack, and the Morphling from 6 jumped out to save him. They finished the attack of the monkeys, and then Katniss and Finnick ran out to the ocean where Peeta was holding her.

"Shh, shh, shh it's ok. You're ok. Calm down, you're ok," Peeta told her. Finnick took her hand and squeezed it and Katniss bent down.

"Just look up the sky. Look at all the different colors. Look how beautiful it is," Peeta said. The Morphling reached her hand up and drew something on his face. Last time it was a flower. This time it was a heart.

"Thank you. It's beautiful. I'll always have you with me now," Peeta said. Finnick leaned forward and kissed her forehead. She let out her last breath and the cannon fired.

"Goodbye my friend. Be well my friend. Be well my fellow Victor," Finnick said, getting choked up and stood up, walking away. Peeta leaned down.

"Thank you, Alexa," he whispered. He stood up and Katniss walked him back to the beach. Finnick wouldn't turn around and watch the hovercraft, but Peeta and Katniss did.

"She sacrificed herself for me and I don't even know her name,"

"You think she sacrificed herself?"

"Looked like it,"

Katniss wiped a tear and hugged him tightly. Alexa had sacrificed herself for Peeta, without a second thought. Just so he could go on with Katniss and fight the Rebellion. He buried his face in her shoulder. After a few minutes they pulled apart and followed Finnick back into the jungle to drink their fill on water.

They went back to the beach, and she noticed both Peeta and Finnick were scratching their scabs. "Don't start scratching. You'll only cause infection. And that's the last freaken thing we need out here," she said and collapsed on her stomach into the sand. Peeta sat down and started rubbing a tense spot between my shoulders and she groaned.

"Don't start that now," Finnick said. Peeta glared at him, and Katniss picked her head up and looked at him.

"Don't start what?" Katniss asked. Finnick laughed and shook his head. Katniss rolled her eyes.

"I'm too tired to care," Katniss complained. Peeta went back to rubbing her shoulders and eyed Finnick. Finnick's shoulders shook with quiet laughter. After a few minutes, Peeta stopped and ran the back of his knuckle across her cheek.

"Well, she's out. I never thought I'd see Katniss just fall asleep like that in the arena," Peeta said.

"It's the baby. It's taking all her energy," Finnick said. That was true that it could happen. But Katniss wasn't really pregnant. "Why don't you two go to sleep for a while," Finnick said. Peeta nodded and fell asleep the instant his head laid down on his arm.

Katniss was the first to wake and saw how much Finnick had done for their little camp on the beach. He had made a little tent over them to block out the sun. He made bowls for them. She smiled. And she remembered a time when she wanted to kill Finnick Odair. She looked over at the food.

"Better to eat it fresh," he told her. She went to grab it and saw her hands. She forgot that she had been scratching herself raw.

"Don't scratch. It will bring infection," Finnick mocked her. She rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah so I've heard," She washed off the blood and then went back to the beach and looked up at the sky.

"Haymitch Abernethy. Get off your drunk ass and send us some medicine!" she ordered him. And then, the parachute came. "About damn time!" she grumbled as she pulled out the medicine and started rubbing it on her body. She tossed it to Finnick.

"Looks like you're decomposing. God, you look so ugly," Finnick said as he started rubbing it on his own body. She just laughed.

"Poor Finnick. Is this the first time in your life you haven't looked pretty?" she asked.

"It must be. The sensations completely new to me. How have you managed it all these years?" she shrugged.

"Just avoid mirrors. You'll forget all about it,"

"Not when I keep looking at you. You're hideous,"

"You better stop calling me ugly. The Capitol happens to think I'm beautiful," she said indignantly. Finnick scoffed.

"And they're all taking it back now," Finnick laughed. Katniss couldn't help but laughing back.

"Turn around you jerk. I'll put this on your back," Katniss said. They helped each other with the spots they couldn't reach. Katniss stood up.

"I'm gonna go wake Peeta up before he scratches off anymore of his skin," Katniss said.

"Wait. Let's do it together. We'll put our faces right in his," Finnick laughed. He ran over and got some leaves and sticks. They put the leaves on their faces, sticking to the ointment. And then the sticks in their hair. They bent right over his face.

"Peeta. It's time to wake up," Katniss sang to him, shaking him lightly.

His eyelids flutter open, and he jumped a mile high. Knocking both her and Finnick onto the sand.

"AH! Stop doing that!" he orders them. The three of them laughed. It was good to laugh. She missed laughing with the two of them. They never got a lot of opportunities to laugh with each other, but they were laughing again. And it felt good. It made her think about the future. The three of them old and gray, laughing about this exact moment of fond memories.

Peeta and Haymitch constantly told her to think of memories like that. It will be what gets her through this war. But it was hard, when all she wanted was death to take her. She shook her head.

This moment last time was where she realized she liked Finnick. And deep down inside, she knew that Finnick Odair was meant to be her best friend.

Katniss helped Peeta with spreading the ointment on his back and dug her fingers into his muscles.

"Hey that's not fair. You just rubbed the ointment on me. I didn't know that massages were a part of the deal," Finnick said. Katniss chuckled.

"Well, you know, if you hadn't of called me ugly and hideous, maybe I would rub your back to," Katniss said and smiled at him.

"Did you really call her ugly and hideous?" Peeta asked him. Finnick smiled proudly and nodded her head.

"You do realize that you called my wife ugly. With me sitting right here," Peeta said.

"You were asleep," both Katniss and Finnick said. The laughter began again. Finnick gathered everything together, and then heard the scream. They watched as the wave came and killed one of their own. The cannon sounded and the hovercraft came and took her away.

"Be well my friend. Be well my fellow Victor," Finnick said sadly and turned around and walked back up to the beach.

"Watching them all die is too painful for him. We didn't know them…but he does," Peeta said and looked at Katniss. She nodded.

"I thought the same thing. He tried to say he didn't care about anyone. And he cares about all of them," Katniss said.

"Alright guys. Go back up to the beach with Finnick," Messalla told them. They looked over at Finnick. He heard it to, and he started moving their weapons up out of the water. They came back to their little hideout at the edge of the woods. Katniss noticed her first.

"Someone's here," she said, and she pulled out an arrow. They watched as Johanna came out, and then Beetee, pulling Wiress with him.

"It's Johanna. JOHANNA!" Finnick yelled and went running to her.

"Is that Wiress and Beetee?" Katniss asked. Peeta chuckled.

"Nuts and Volts? I gotta hear how this happened," Peeta said and went to walk but Katniss stopped him. "We can't just leave Finnick. He's our ally. If we leave now, they'll come after us. Besides, you wanted Wiress and Beetee. All three of them trust Johanna," Peeta said. Katniss gave him that look that she knew he was right.

"Well, I guess we have more allies," Peeta said as they both went running over to them.

"Well, I got em out!" they heard Johanna say as they caught up to them. Beetee and Wires were in the water getting the blood off of them.

"We were all the way deep in the jungle where I thought it was safe. That's when the rain started. And we were so thirsty. I thought it was water. It turned out to be blood- "oh the stench. Before she could continue Katniss turned around and threw up again.

"Why is she puking?" Johanna asked. Peeta bent down next to her and rubbed her back.

"She likes to do that," Finnick said dryly. "Now I'll have to catch more fish. She always pukes up everything she eats," He said. Katniss took a deep breath. That wasn't even fair that the rebels just made her throw up after every time she ate.

"Just…continue with your story," she breathed.

"It was hot, thick blood. It was just coming down…it was choking us," Johanna said, pushing off Wiress who kept saying 'tick tock'. "We were just staggering around, trying to get out of it but choking on it. We were stumbling around gagging on it blind," Johanna said. She gulped.

"That's when Blight hit the forcefield," she closed her eyes and then scoffed. "He wasn't much but he was from home," she said.

"I'm sorry Johanna," Finnick said. He looked down at his hands. "Be well my friend. Be well my fellow Victor," Finnick said softly. Wiress was still going around with her 'Tick tock tick tock'.

"And he left me alone with these two," she grumbled.

"What's wrong with her?" Katniss asked.

"She's in shock. Dehydration isn't helping. Do you have fresh water?" Beetee asked. Katniss wondered what happened at the cornucopia, because last time Beetee had been hit in the back with a knife. Now, he wasn't.

"We can get you some," Peeta told him.

Wiress started bugging Johanna again when she shoved Wiress. "Stay down," Johanna ordered. Show time!

"Johanna told me to tell you, that she's looking forward to having another fight with you," Haymitch told her.

And to be honest, so was she. She ran at Johanna. "HEY. Leave her alone," Katniss said and attacked her.

"You stupid bitch. I got them out for you!" Johanna screamed as they started hitting each other. Katniss tried to choke her, but never squeezed her hard. They fell to the ground and started rolling around before Finnick and Peeta were able to pull them apart.

"I don't care if you're knocked up. I will KILL you. Haymitch told me that you said if I got Wiress and Beetee out, we'd be on the same damn team," Johanna said as Finnick threw her over her shoulder and brought her into the ocean. He was careful this time not to dunk her because of her fear of the water, but he convinced her to calm down, and he helped her get the blood off.

"What does she mean she got them out for me?" Katniss demanded.

"You wanted Wiress, Beetee and Mags from day one. You had Mags, and now you have Nuts and Volts," Peeta said. She put her bow down and walked over to Wiress.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up," Katniss said. She pulled her into the ocean near Finnick and Johanna and started helping Wiress get the blood off of her. She glared at Johanna.

"You need to calm down or one of the Careers are gonna win. And I'll be damned before one of those four gets to go home," Finnick said and pushed on Johanna's shoulder and walked away. They stayed there for a few minutes, washing the blood off, when Katniss looked at Beetee.

"What is that?" Katniss asked. Johanna looked over at Beetee.

"It's a coil? Some sort of wire. He almost took a knife in the back to get it. He's lucky Blight was there," Johanna said. Katniss wrinkled her nose slightly before she could stop it. Johanna laughed.

"You really can't still be mad at him for grabbing your ass. He's dead now," Johanna said.

"I'm not," Katniss said. She didn't sound too convincing, so Johanna chuckled.

When they got back to the beach, the sun was just starting to set. Finnick was working on more mats for them all to sleep on. Finnick had gotten more fish and oysters for them to eat. Peeta was sitting next to Katniss as he broke one open. He smiled and tapped her shoulder.

"For you," Peeta said, holding his hand out to her. He dropped it in her hand, and Katniss just stared at it. Her eyes welling up with tears. Her pearl. The pearl Peeta gave to her. The pearl that she held onto for dear life. Pressing it against her lips, pretending that she was touching his lips. This little pearl meant more to her now…more than ever.

Everyone was watching her as a tear dropped into her hand as she stared at her pearl.

Peeta rubbed her shoulder. "Katniss," Peeta said softly. She squeezed the pearl in her fist. Finnick and Johanna eyed each other.

"You know you two make me wanna throw up," Johanna said. Peeta and Katniss looked up at each other. "You're a little hard to swallow. Why don't you two just go have sex in the jungle and get it all out of your system. Like a last hoorah!" Johanna said. Katniss' mouth fell open. Finnick laughed.

"Sex in the arena. Well, that would be a first," Finnick laughed. Katniss cleared her throat and cleaned off the pearl and stuck it in her belt for safe keeping. Peeta looked over at Finnick.

"You know, if you put enough pressure on coal it turns into pearls," Peeta said earnestly. Finnick gave him the dumbest look.

"No, it doesn't. You've said that before. Why do you think that?" Finnick asked. Of course, he said it the last time they were in the arena. They've all been more careful about that, but you forget sometimes when something so stupid is said. Katniss and Peeta burst out laughing.

"Why are they laughing?" Johanna asks.

"Effie's going to be so mad at you," Katniss aid.

"Ok will you two shut up and just tell me already," Finnick demanded.

"Effie will kill us if we talk about it for all of Panem to hear it," Peeta said. Finnick rolled his eyes.

Peeta suggested that Johanna, Wiress and Beetee go to sleep. But Johanna had too much adrenaline. She needed some time before she calmed down to sleep.

"Want me to stay up with you?" Peeta said, squeezing her shoulder. Katniss shook her head.

"That's ok. Just get some sleep," Katniss said and kissed him softly. She went to pull back, but Peeta wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a lazy, sweet kiss. Then he put his forehead against hers.

"I haven't done that since we got here yesterday morning," he whispered. She wrapped her arms around her neck and buried herself in Peeta's neck. His arms felt strong around her. She felt safe in his arms. She never wanted to be away from these arms ever again.

"Oh, why don't you just go to sleep with him. I'm trying not to gag," Johanna said. They pulled apart, and he gave her another kiss.

"Come wake me in a little while," Peeta said. She nodded her head, and she went and sat with Johanna. They waited till everyone was asleep before they started talking.

"How'd you lose Mags?" Johanna asked. Katniss told her the story about the fog, and Mags sacrificing herself.

"Mags raised him. She was his mentor. And she took care of him. Even after his family died…Mags was like his mom," Johanna said.

"What, Muscida didn't want the job?" Katniss asked. Johanna smiled and then laughed.

"That woman is so evil. She was mean going into the Games and mean coming out. We all just live to torture the woman until she just dies. We're all waiting for that party," Johanna laughs.

"I like the other three from his District," Katniss said. Johanna nodded.

"Finnick's really the only one that they show off. Mags and Muscida were older. And Muscida is the spawn of Satan. Ron has all those burns, and Snow doesn't want anyone who's not pretty," Johanna said in a funny voice.

"And Annie and Librae are…"

"Snow doesn't like to show off crazy Victor's as well. Only when he has to. Snow had to send Ron and Muscida here this time for Finnick and Mags. They couldn't send the other two," Johanna said.

"Haymitch was really sweet with Librae," Katniss commented.

"You didn't get to be around us very long. But you would have done the same thing. We take care of our own. Librae's one of us. And we'll take care of him. There's a Victors code," Johanna said. Katniss wanted to ask more, but then Wiress started talking in her sleep.

"Tick tock!" she said. Johanna rolled her eyes and stood up.

"I can't. I can't listen to her anymore. She can help you keep watch. Have fun with Nuts," Johanna said and laid down between Finnick and Peeta.

Wiress wasn't awake. So, Katniss watched by herself. The sun just started to rise when she heard a voice.

"Doing alright there sweetheart?" she heard Haymitch. She smiled. "I thought I'd let you know that Cinna's well, and safely hidden. Everyone's in their right places. We're all ready to leave," Haymitch said. She put her head down on her knees and nodded.

"I wish I could take your place. But you're doing perfect. You're almost done. It's so close you can taste it. So, start muttering tick tock, and wake them up," Haymitch told her.

Wiress muttered it again and Katniss picked her head up. "Tick tock," Katniss whispered. She stood up and walked closer to the water and looked around. She pretended to move her hands, counting the spokes and pedestals.

"Tick tock. Tick tock," she ran over to Wiress to wake her up and she grabbed her face. "Wiress you're a genius. It's a clock," Katniss said. Wiress smiled and nodded. She went over to the other three and shook them.

"Wake up. It's a clock. We're in a clock. That's what she's been saying," Katniss said, making them all sit up. She went about explaining everything about the clock. They made it to the cornucopia. They all looked at each other nervously. This moment was the moment that Gloss kills Wiress. Katniss kills Gloss. And Johanna kill Cashmere.

Finnick walks over and kisses Wiress on the cheek. "You my darling, are a genius," Finnick said. Beetee squeezed her hand.

"Yeah absolutely. Good job Wiress," Peeta said.

"Smart thinking Nuts!" Johanna said. They pretended to talk. And then they heard Wiress gasp. Katniss shot her arrow at Gloss. Finnick protected Peeta, as Johanna protected Katniss. Johanna killed Cashmere, and Katniss went running.

And then, the island started spinning. Maybe she could hold on longer this time. Johanna really tried, but she went flying any way into the water. She pulled herself out and laid there coughing. Johanna patted her back, getting her to cough up as much water as she could while Peeta ran as fast as he could to her.

"Katniss are you ok?" he asked frantically. She held her thumb up. He helped her back to shore and sat with her. He kissed the side of her head and kept his hand on the back of her head, and the other on her stomach.

"Are you really ok? God, you scared me. I couldn't get to you," Peeta choked. Katniss looked at him. That was true. Peeta wasn't acting. That was how he felt before, and today. She leaned into him and buried her head in his chest, closing her eyes.

"I wanna go home," she whispered before she could stop herself. Peeta kissed the top of her head.

"I know. I know," he told her. The others joined them, and then they sat there for a while in silence.

"Beetee, I'm sorry about Wiress," Peeta said. Beetee nodded his head sadly.

"Be well my friends. Be well my fellow Victors," Finnick said. Peeta wondered if that's what Finnick was thinking the last time. Every time he lost someone that didn't make it to the end, it broke his heart. But Peeta knew why he didn't say that last time. They didn't want to tempt fate. He was afraid Snow would intervene and do something to hurt them.

Suddenly Katniss stood up.

"Is that all you got?" Katniss shouted. "Come back out and try to get us. You thought you were so tough sneaking up on us. We only lost one, but you lost half your team. We still have five people. So come at us now," Katniss shouted to Brutus and Enobaria, holding her arms out.

"Sweetheart just-"Peeta tried to say, but she started shouting again.

"You think you're so awesome because you volunteered to be in the arena. Both times. Neither of you are awesome. That just makes both of you the two biggest idiots in the damn world. NO ONE SMART VOLUNTEERS TO BE IN THE ARENA!" Katniss screamed.

"Do you think we should remind her that she volunteered for her sister? Or the fact that Peeta volunteered for Haymitch just so he could be with her?" Johanna asked.

"Now's probably not the best time to mention that" Finnick told her. Katniss sat back down. Peeta rubbed her back.

"I want some ice cream," Katniss said, staring at the water. The four of them looked at each other, and Finnick and Johanna smiled.

"So um, with your pregnancy, are you experiencing any mood swings?" Johanna asked, just smiling widely.

"All I want is ice cream. The pink one with the chocolate and cherries in it," Katniss said.

"It's cherry amaretto," Finnick told her. She stood back up again.

"HAYMITCH! All I'm asking for is a little ice cream. Go ask our sponsors to please give me that pink ice cream!"

"Cherry amaretto," Finnick reminded her.

"CHERRY AMARETTO! YOU OWE ME HAYMITCH!" she screamed loudly, and then the parachute appeared.

"No way!" Johanna said and she sat up.

"Apparently she has the magic touch. She just asks Haymitch, and he gets her anything she wants," Finnick said. Katniss sat down and opened the container. Inside, was ice cream.

"Oh my God. He actually did it," Johanna said. She took the spoon and dug into it and put it in her mouth. It was so cold. She closed her eyes.

"Mmmmm. This is so good," Katniss said.

"If I ask Muscida for anything, she'll send me arsenic," Finnick laughed.

"Can mentors send poison into the Games?" Johanna asked.

"It's highly unlikely. If they did, they'd be executed. So would their tribute," Beetee said.

"Can I have a bite?" Peeta asked. She sunk her spoon into the ice cream and spooned it into his mouth. "Oh wow. That is good," Peeta said.

"What about the rest of us?" Finnick asked. She rolled her eyes and handed it to him. They passed it around until it got to Katniss again who kept eating it. She'd feed Peeta every once in a while.

"So why does Haymitch owe you?" Johanna asked. Katniss blushed and looked over at Peeta. He stared at her for a moment and realized that Haymitch had stormed in on them while they were in bed together. Peeta burst out laughing.

"Now I remember. Yep, there's no way you're gonna get that out of us. But he owes me to," Peeta said.

"You gonna ask him for ice cream to?" Johanna laughed.

"Nah. I'll wait for something better," Peeta joked.

"I'm not going back in with the jabberjays," Katniss told him.

"You have to. You can't stay away from all the threats in the jungle. Snow wants to see you and Finnick in there. You can't avoid it. I've already told you; this keeps the audience and him entertained. And I've already told you. This keeps him from interfering," Haymitch said.

They heard the scream. "KATNISS!"

"PRIM!" Katniss yelled and went running after it. She found the jabberjay and killed it. Finnick followed and went searching for Annie.

Then she heard a new voice. "HAYMITCH!" she screamed, searching for him. Oh God, did they get Haymitch to? Is Haymitch dead?

They both ran back and hit the wall. They had to wait a whole hour. She laid there, curled up next to Finnick, both blocking their ears.

She knew Peeta had found her when she felt herself being carried out of the jungle and felt the sand.

"It's ok sweetheart. It's ok. The hours up. I got you. I'm right here," Peeta whispered to her. She clung on to him for dear life. She heard everyone. Prim, her mom, Gale and his whole family, Madge and Haymitch. She sobbed into his neck.

"They have Haymitch to," she sobbed. "They have everyone,"

"No, they don't. We're at the final 8. All of our families getting interviewed. And the cameras are all over Haymitch. It was fake. Right Beetee? They can do that stuff?" Peeta asked.

"I absolutely believe that it was fake. All of the voices. They take pieces of interviews and doctor it up and make it sound like anything. I believe that your family, and Haymitch are just fine," Beetee said and patted her hand.

"No one would hurt Prim. Prim's safe honey," Peeta said.

"You're husband's right. The whole country loves your sister. If they tortured her…killed her. If they did anything to her, the Districts would all start having uprisings. And the Capitol…well there would be, riots in the streets of the damn Capitol," she said and looked up.

"And we wouldn't want that would we? The whole country in rebellion," she looked back over at all of them and smiled.

"Hey, how does that sound Snow? What if we set your backyard on fire? You know, you can't put, everybody in here!" she yelled and then looked back down. "I'll get you both some water," she said.

"No, Johanna don't. The birds," Katniss choked.

"What? They can't hurt me. There's no one left that I love," she said sadly, and turned and walked back into the jungle.

Katniss was just sitting there, and she couldn't help it. She burst out crying and sobbed again into Peeta's shoulder.

"I don't know how much more of this I can take Peeta," Katniss cried. Peeta eyed Finnick. This is the broken Katniss. The one that he has to coax into getting some sleep. The one that Prim gets into the bathtub first to calm her down-the bathtub. Water. The ocean.

"Come on Katniss. Let's go," Peeta said as he went to stand up, but Finnick jumped up to help them stand her up. "Come on," Peeta said and took her into the ocean, and walked out until it was almost to their chests.

"Katniss we're almost done. We have one more day," he whispered. "We've been fighting for this one day. Just hold on," Peeta said.

"I'm so tired. I can't take anymore," she whispered. He let her cry for a few minutes and then cleared his throat.

So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place
When I'm gone, you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face
If a great wave shall fall
It would fall upon us all
And between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own?

He sang to her. He went to sing the next verse but was surprised when she started singing.

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

He smiled. Her voice was beautiful. And he was getting through to her. He went ahead and started singing again.

And maybe I'll work out
A way to make it back some day
To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your days

If a great wave shall fall
It would fall upon us all
Well I hope there's someone out there
Who can bring me back to you

He wrote this song for her when he thought he'd be dying for her. Before he knew that she loved him. He left this in his room, on his bed. He wanted her to come home, and maybe need some closure, and find this. He wrote her a long letter to. She started singing again before he could get too lost in thought.

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

He couldn't get over her voice.

Run away with my heart

He sang. She really did run away with his heart.

Run away with my hope

She sang. Peeta knew that whenever she did run away, she ran away with any hope that they'd end up together. But he wondered, is that what happened to her? That when he was captured, and came back hijacked, did he run away with her hope?

Run away with my love

I know now, just quite how
My life and love might still go on
In your heart, in your mind
I'll stay with you

He sang, and she finished the line.

for all of time

Peeta wanted nothing more, then to spend the rest of time with this woman. They sang the next part together.

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high, or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

It just dawned on him that she knew this song perfectly. He wondered if she stared at this and sang it over and over in her head.

If I could make you mine
I'll go wherever you will go

He sang to her.

If i could turn back time
I'll go wherever you will go

She sang.

I'll go wherever you will go

They ended the song together. He kissed her forehead again.

"Do you think the mics picked up on that?" Johanna asked from the rocks. They had walked over to see if Katniss was ok.

"I hope not," Finnick said. He looked at Beetee. "Could they have?" Finnick asked as the three of them started walking away.

"Peeta walked them over to the perfect spot. I'm sure there are microphones and cameras in all the trees, on the rocks, the cornucopia and on the pedestals. But the distance and the sound of the ocean it's hard for the mics to pick up. We couldn't even grasp it," Beetee said. They stood there and watched them from the beach.

"Good. I don't want the Capitol having that moment," Finnick said.

Peeta pulled back from Katniss and made her look at him and he smiled. "Hi. It's good to see your eyes again," he said and pushed some hair back and cupped her cheek.

"I'm so tired," she whispered. He nodded his head, and he pulled the chain out from around his neck.

"I want you to remember what you're fighting for," he opened it, and it was a bit different. The outside pictures changed. She saw her family, Gale's family, Madge, Haymitch, Finnick, Johanna, Annie. All their friends and family. She was shocked when she started seeing their friends who were supposed to be dead, like Cinna, Rue and Thresh. And then their friends from District 13 like Boggs. And then their friends who escaped the Capitol to go to 13, like Cressida.

But it was the middle picture that made her gasp. It was of her and Peeta. Someone had snapped a picture of them kissing when they were in District 4, in the ocean. It was a moment that was theirs. It wasn't for the cameras; it was for them.

She looked back up at him and just kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her and picked her up, so he wasn't bending down.

"It's kind of sad," Johanna says. Finnick and Beetee look at her. "If one of those two is the winner, one of them won't get to meet their baby," Johanna said, crossing her arms.

"No one deserves to die and not meet their baby," Finnick said. Johanna rubbed his arm.

"You'd think Snow would have wanted them to get married. They'd have a Victor baby. And then we'd get to watch any of their kids get sent into the arena. And if they were lucky, they'd come out as Victors. One big happy Hunger Games Victor family. Snow really fucked that one up didn't he," Johanna said. Finnick and Beetee smiled at her.

Peeta rested his forehead against hers. "We're almost done," Peeta said.

And they were. Beetee went over the plan. And they started their trek up to the tree. Katniss was shaking. Peeta held her hand tightly as they went up. Finnick, Johanna and Beetee would glance at them constantly. It wasn't just Katniss they were worried about. For once, it was Peeta to.

He couldn't show weakness in front of Katniss though. He had to be the strong one. If he showed any sight of weakness in front of her, that would be it. She would crack. She would crack in front of the Capitol, and the rebels may not be able to get them out.

So, he took a deep breath and kept going. They were going to be fine. Everyone was going to be fine.

Once they got to the tree, Peeta and Katniss squeezed each other's hands for dear life. This was it. This was the moment. The scariest one in his whole life. They weren't listening. Nothing anyone was saying was making its way to their brains.

It was Finnick shaking the two of them. "Have either of you been listening?" Finnick demanded. Peeta dug his fingers into his eyeballs.

"No. I'm sorry. What did you say?" Peeta asked.

"Katniss and Johanna take the coil to the beach and leave it there. Get as far from it as you can," Beetee said. He said where to meet them, but that was never going to happen. Peeta gulped.

"I'm gonna go with them as a guard," Peeta said. Then the arguing happened. Why they needed to separate. Katniss shook her head. They had no choice. This is where they lost each other.

"I promise you. We all promise you. It won't happen again. We won't leave Peeta behind. But he's the one who killed Brutus. We can't just let Brutus run around. He could ruin it and separate everyone further. But I promise, we won't' leave you behind. We all promise you both," Haymitch said.

"Fine. I'll go," Katniss whispered. Peeta pulled her by the neck and kissed her passionately. The Capitol be damned. These types of kisses were for them, and never for the Capitol. But this was real. This was a real moment. He pulled back and used his thumbs to wipe away her tears.

"I'll see you at midnight," he whispered and smiled at her. She nodded her head.

"Let's go already," Johanna snapped. They started walking down when Katniss spun around.

"Finnick," she called out to him. Finnick looked at her in surprise. She opened her mouth a few times, not being able to say anything. Then she cleared her throat.

"Please just keep him alive," she cried. She cleared her throat again. "I don't want him…to die alone. And I don't wanna be alone when I die either. So just please keep him alive," Katniss cried. Johanna eyed Finnick worriedly.

"Please Finnick," she begged him. He nodded his head.

"Yeah Katniss. I'll keep him alive," he said. She looked at Peeta one last time and turned and started walking with Johanna. Her breathing was heavy.

"He's going to be fine. You and your husband will be able to die together when I win the damn Hunger Games. I'll make sure as a double Victor," Johanna said dramatically. Katniss just stared at her and then laughed. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

"You're a terrible person," Katniss laughed and tried to sniff through her nose, but it was to stuffed up from crying.

"I find it generous that I would wait to kill you until you're both together. I can't go back home knowing that I let you both die without each other. So, I'm a kind person," Johanna said. After a little while, the coil snapped. They stared at each other. Show time!

Johanna hit her on the back of the head and Katniss fell. Johanna cut her arm with the fake tracker and wiped the blood on Katniss face.

"You'll have two trackers in your arm. The one from the Capitol, and the one from us. You guys will need to pull the fake ones out," Haymitch told them.

"Stay down," Johanna reminded her. She waited until Brutus and Enobaria saw her, appearing dead, before she got up and made it all the way back to the tree, where Beetee just electrocuted himself.

Oh God. Oh God she was back. She was back in the arena. Finnick and Johanna were trying to kill her. They're trying to kill her and Peeta.

"Katniss!" Finnick calls out. Katniss grabs her arrow and points it at him, and he's shocked.

"Katniss, take a deep breath and think…remember who the real enemy is," Finnick said. She put her bow and arrow down, and just stared at him. She dropped it on the ground. She was tired. She put her hands up to her face. She should just die. Right here, and right now.

"You get mad Katniss," Finnick said. Why did that sound familiar. "You get strong," he said. Peeta said that. Peeta wrote that. Katniss looked back up at him.

"You wipe your hands and shake it off…and then you stand," Finnick told her. She nodded her head. Peeta's words were coming back to her. She had a job to do.

She looked around for the wire and attached it to her arrow. "Katniss hurry up!" Finnick told her. She shot the arrow into the sky and ran into Finnick's arms as everything exploded.

"I got you. It's ok," Finnick said drowsily. They both went flying. She didn't know how much time passed when she saw the hovercraft coming to get her. It grabbed her and Finnick at the same time. And she lost consciousness.

She didn't know how long it took before she woke up. She felt someone brushing her hair back.

"Hey sweetheart," she heard Haymitch. She opened her eyes, and realized it was Finnick that was patting her hair.

"Hey best friend. You did it. Again," Finnick said and kissed her forehead.

"Just give yourself a minute to wake up," Haymitch said. After a few minutes they helped her sit up. Beetee was there at the other end. Someone was working on him.

"They're making sure he won't be paralyzed again. That's all," Haymitch answered her unspoken question. Plutarch came in next, and she couldn't focus on what he was saying. She put her hand up to him.

"You…go away," Katniss breathed. Haymitch and Finnick chuckled.

"Peeta. Where's Peeta," Katniss instantly started crying.

"Sweetheart don't do that. Come on," Haymitch said as her and Finnick helped her walk up to the front of the hovercraft, and into the cockpit. They sat her down and put the headphones on her head.

"Will you call the other hovercraft now?" Haymitch asked. After a few minutes she heard his voice.

"Katniss," Peeta said.

"Where are you?" she breathed.

"I'm in the hovercraft going to District 13. We're a little bit behind you," Peeta said. Katniss burst out crying. Finnick bent down and hugged her.

"I promised you. I promised I'd get him out," Haymitch said as he bent down as well.

"I'm ok Katniss. We're gonna be ok. I'm gonna see you in 13 in a little while," Peeta told her. Katniss just kept crying. "Johanna's here to. So is Enobaria and Brutus. They already have Brutus up and about. They had to restrain him for a little bit before he realized that he wasn't in the Games anymore, and he couldn't kill me and Johanna anymore," Peeta said. Katniss couldn't say anything. She just kept crying.

"It's ok sweetheart. We're gonna be ok now. You're gonna be able to take a break for a little while," Peeta told her.

"Thank you for saving him," she told Finnick and Haymitch.

"Katniss I gotta go now. They need the radio. But I'll see you soon, ok?" Peeta said. She made some weird sound in her throat.

"I'll see you soon," she said. Haymitch took the headset off her, and she threw herself at the both of them.

"Thank you…thank you," she cried. Peeta was alive. And he wasn't going to be hijacked. They were both gonna make it to District 13. Peeta was ok. Peeta was going to be ok.

Haymitch and Finnick looked at each other. Haymitch got choked up.

"It was a wrong that we had to make right," Finnick whispered.

"I broke my last promise to you…and I swore I'd never break another one," Haymitch told her.

They got her to settle down and sit at the table to eat. "What about our District?" Katniss asked. Haymitch smiled.

"Every single person got out. And they have all the Peacekeepers in custody," Haymitch said. Katniss breathed a sigh of relief. "It's gonna be a few days before everyone's brought to 13. They're going as fast as they can, but now they have to be careful with the Capitol on high alert. But everyone will be here safe and sound," Haymitch said proudly.

"They got all the Victors out. And all their families. All of the stylists, prep teams and escorts. They're all out. So, Snow can't hurt them. I talked with Annie already. She's safe," Finnick said, giddy.

"There's a hovercraft on its way to 13 that has all the Victors from the arena. We had to wait till they were all dead before we could move them," Plutarch said.

"We have a few more acting jobs for you when you get off the hovercraft," Haymitch said. Katniss glared at him. "You were sedated last time. So, Cressida couldn't film your arrival to 13. And Finnick was a mess. So, when you get out of the hovercraft, we're going to follow Plutarch over to Coin. You'll shake her hand, make pleasantries, and then she'll go. And we'll wait for Peeta's hovercraft," Haymitch told her. She rolled her eyes. She could do that. It wasn't a hard thing to do.

"We're gonna wait till the second hovercraft lands for the other Victors to come out and greet you. We wanna get it all on camera," Plutarch said. Katniss just shook her head. Some things will never change.

She was anxious as she waited for the hovercraft to land. Beetee was already back on his feet. A little woozy, but nothing sleep, and rest wouldn't cure.

The door opened and they started walking down. Finnick wrapped his arm around her. "Everything's gonna be ok now," Finnick said and kissed her head.

"FINNICK!" Annie yelled.

"ANNIE!" Finnick screamed back and the ran to each other, kissing each other passionately. She would get that reunion this time with Peeta this time.

"Madame President. May I present you with our Girl on Fire. The Mockingjay," Plutarch says. She has to stop herself before she barfs. This woman killed her sister.

"When you meet her, you can't look at her with disgust. If you have to, just answer by shaking your head yes and no if you can't speak to her," Haymitch told her.

Coin shook her hand. "What an Honor it is to meet you. You're a courageous young woman. I know how disorienting this must be. And I can't imagine what it must feel like to live through the atrocities of those Games,"

"Katniss. This is President Alma Coin," Plutarch said. Katniss wouldn't speak. Why should she? All she had to do was pretend she was having a nervous breakdown. The rebels could back up that story. Since they had to turn of the mics so many times when she had an episode.

Coin stepped closer to her and put hand on Katniss' shoulder. 'Get away from me your murderer'.

"Just know, how welcome you are. I hope you find some comfort with us. We've known loss in 13 to," Coin said. She sounded sincere at the beginning. She never did find comfort last time. And it was all because of Peeta. Peeta being gone, and then when he came back. Tears sprang to her eyes, but she wiped them away.

Plutarch and Coin started talking to her then. But she wasn't listening. She was just looking all around. Where did Haymitch and Finnick go?

"I think you might have to give her a little time. Katniss just got out of the arena. She needs sleep," it was Annie who stepped up and squeezed her hand. She gave Katniss a reassuring smile, and then turned back to Plutarch and Coin.

"She needs to rest. Once Peeta gets here, they all need to sleep. It's the first thing any Victor does," Annie said. She sounded strong.

"Of course. We'll speak later," Coin said, and disappeared with Plutarch. Annie reached over and hugged her.

"I'm so glad you're ok now," Annie said. Katniss nodded and pulled back.

"Thank you for doing that," Katniss told her. Something caught her eye. There was Cressida and her team, filming. She knew it was going to happen. But standing next to them, was Boggs. Annie cleared her throat, and Cressida waved at Pollux and Castor to stop filming. Cressida nodded her head, and Katniss ran over and threw herself at Boggs.

"It's good to have you back Katniss," Boggs said as he wrapped his arms tightly around her.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry," Katniss cried. He pulled her back.

"I never wanna hear you say that again. I'm a soldier. And I made my choice. My choice was to fight for our Freedom, even if that meant dying. Our whole unit did," Boggs said. She looked over and hugged Cressida. Then she moved over to Messalla.

"Me to. Don't say you're sorry," he whispered to her. She hugged Pollux, and then hugged Castor.

"Same for me," Castor said. Their unit showed up next. She hugged them all. They were all alive.

"What's going on?" Cressida asked. Katniss followed her eyes and saw Haymitch and Finnick talking to someone. They were heated. Finnick put his hands behind his head and squatted down. Haymitch covered his face, and she ran over to them.

"What's going on?" she demanded.

"Oh God," Finnick said as he stood up and turned away from her. He couldn't face her. Haymitch's face had no color. She looked around.

"Where's Peeta's hovercraft?" she demanded. Finnick turned around. His face said it all. "WHERE'S PEETA?" She yelled.

"They lost contact with the hovercraft," Haymitch whispered, putting his head down.

"They heard guns being fired and then nothing," Finnick said. Katniss stared at them. Just staring.

"Katniss that doesn't mean- "Haymitch tried to say, but Katniss fell to the ground. She covered her ears and just screamed. One loud, long scream. Then she screamed again, this time a word.

"NOOOOOOOO!" Katniss screamed hysterically. Haymitch and Finnick tried to hold her. Tried to calm her. But there was no calming her down.

Boggs came over a moment later with a syringe and looked at Haymitch.

"Just do it," Haymitch said. Boggs stuck the needle in her back.

"PEETAAAAA!" She screamed. The screaming got quieter and quieter, until she collapsed against Finnick and Haymitch.

"What are we supposed to do?" Finnick choked. Haymitch covered his face. He failed Peeta. Again. Haymitch just shook his head.

"You gotta take her to the infirmary. We have hovercrafts from 12 coming in. We'll take those and start looking for the others," Boggs told them. Haymitch and Finnick stood Katniss up and Finnick carried her in his arms. Annie rushed over to them.

"Is he dead?" Annie cried out.

"We don't know," Finnick answered. Peeta couldn't be dead. What was the point of coming back, if Peeta was going to die?

"Once she finally wakes up, she's not gonna handle this well," Haymitch said, scrubbing his face.

"You haven't slept in three days Haymitch. You need to get some sleep," Emily told him. But Haymitch shook his head.

"They haven't found anything?" Prim asked, tears in her eyes. Haymitch shook his head.

"The hovercraft caught on fire. There was nothing left," Boggs said.

"She won't be able to handle this," Gale said.

"She's in too much of a fragile state. Peeta will just break her," Cinna said. They stood in the circle, silent.

"How's Peeta's family?" Annie asked.

"Wheet and Ryee are taking care of their father. He's in pretty bad shape. And his mother…" Portia trailed off.

"Is a super vicious cunt as usual," Haymitch said. Everyone just stared at him. He looked at Prim and Emily. "Sorry," he mumbled. Emily put her arm around Prim.

"They only allow two people in her room until she's awake…you both should be there when she wakes up," Emily said and wiped her eyes.

Haymitch and Finnick went and sat back in her room. Haymitch put his elbows on his knees and hid his face in his hands.

"I promised him. I promised him I'd save him," Haymitch said.

"We all did Haymitch. It's not just on you. It's on all of us. For him and Johanna," Finnick said, and hid his own face.

"I promised him. I let him down," Haymitch whispered.