They were escorted to the Avenue of Tributes, which looked more bare than she had ever seen it. In the times she had viewed it in the past, it was decked out with flowers and wreaths, a sick sort of celebration to launch the Hunger Games. Now, however, Panem's citizens lined the avenue, all eyes locked on the man at the end of the path. Caius Snow was bound to a post while soldiers stood on all sides. Peeta insisted on standing with crutches rather than sit in his wheelchair and his brothers stood on either side of him. The rebel party stood off to the side, hands on their guns and eyes narrowed.

Katniss stood about ten yards away from Snow. Above them, Coin was speaking to the crowd, thanking everyone for attending and announcing the end of Snow's terror over the country. She spoke about how the Mockingjay had helped to bring about this time of peace, how she had come to admire the "fierce girl from a small district" and how together, they would all build a new Panem.

Katniss held her bow in her hands, feeling it almost purring as if it knew what was about to happen. She reached back and grasped an arrow, pulling it to the string.

Coin had finished speaking and was holding her arms out as if in welcome. Katniss's silver eyes drifted from Coin to Snow. He looked far too smug and a white rose had been pinned to his jacket. Katniss aimed the arrow at the rose but her eyes never left his face. Until they drifted back upwards.

She looked cold and calculating. Her arms were outstretched, inviting, but Katniss knew the woman's close-mindedness would doom the country worse than Snow ever could. And her ambition would be the end of her husband.

She paused and glanced back over her shoulder, to where Peeta stood. Her strong, brave, baker-turned-soldier, her Protector, her best friend. What would he say if he knew what she was thinking right now? What will he do when she throws her life away?

He'll be ok, she thought. He'll survive. He'll watch over Prim. He'll understand why I'm doing this.

His eyes locked on hers and held them with his unwavering adoration. His fierce loyalty, his determination, and his unyielding love for her shone brightly in those azure orbs and she felt tears at the corners of hers.

"Haymitch… look after him for me. Ok?"

"Thought that was your job, sweetheart." She glanced up at her mentor as the prep team adjusted the bow on her back. His gaze bore into hers and he sighed.

"Ok. I promise."

"You know what has to happen. You know why." He nodded but didn't say anything else. As they walked toward the Avenue, Haymitch grabbed her arm and

stopped them.

"Katniss. Remember who the real enemy is."

She knew already. She knew there were enemies all around her. She knew she wasn't likely to survive this.

But Prim would grow up in a world where she could be whatever she wanted to be. Peeta would never be experimented on again. Haymitch would never have to mentor another tribute. Gale would never have to hunt to feed his family. Her mother could be a real Healer with access to medicines and remedies.

That wasn't a world where Alma Coin was allowed to reign. And so Katniss did what she had to do.

The point of her arrow shifted upward and she released the string. President Coin collapsed over the side of the balcony and plunged to the ground. Dead.


There was buzzing in her ears and angry cries were deafening. The soldiers were all moving toward her but before they could touch her, she grabbed another arrow and fired. His laughter seemed to echo around the Capitol. The malicious grin slid off of Snow's face as her arrow found his heart. Flames erupted and quickly consumed him. Soldiers yelled and jumped away from the former president, turning to stare at Katniss with horror in their eyes.

Someone grabbed her and started tugging her backwards.

"Katniss!" She glanced over her shoulder and saw Peeta struggling to get to her. Bing and Bran were holding him back while Rye was rushing toward her.

"Soldiers, let her go!" Someone cuffed her hands behind her back while another forced a cloth over her eyes.

"No! Katniss! Let go of her, you son of a bitch! Katniss! KATNISS!"

"Peeta!"

Bing tried to calm him but Peeta continued to yell as the Capitol soldiers dragged her away. He transformed into a wild animal, kicking, clawing, biting, doing whatever he could to to free himself from the web of hands that separated him from his wife. He was using one crutch to stand and the other to hit the soldiers. He could see Gale, Cretus, and Haymitch all following the soldiers who held Katniss. Haymitch was yelling at someone, Gale was trying to knock the soldier's hands away from Katniss's shoulders and Cretus was speaking to someone, far too calmly in Peeta's opinion. Peeta tried to charge forward and Rye caught him round the middle.

"We can't make a scene right now," he hissed in his brother's ear.

"Let go of me! I need to get to her! I need to get to Katniss!"

"Peet, listen. Haymitch won't leave her. She'll be safe. But we need to get you out of here."

"I won't leave her! Let go of me, Rye!"

"Come on, Peeta." Johanna wrapped her arm around his shoulder and steered him away from the crowd. Bing, Finnick, and Rye were right behind them, gently

shoving him forward.

"No! I can't leave her! Please!"

"Eyes forward, Peeta," Finnick said sharply. "She's safe. You're not. Quit making a scene or you'll make things much worse." Peeta turned to see them leading him toward a black car. Angry tears stained his pale cheeks and he glanced over his shoulder one last time, but Katniss was gone. The crowd was moving in all different directions. Peeta released a choked sob as they shoved him into the car and Finnick climbed in beside him. Peeta blinked, staring through the window in shock.

"We'll see you soon, Peeta," Rye assured him. Johanna tapped the car and it lurched forward. Peeta twisted around to look out the back of the window.

"Cinna, have you heard from Haymitch?" Peeta gasped as the former stylist glanced up from the driver's seat.

"Cretus made contact. They're taking her to the Tribute Center. They're allowing Haymtch to stay at the Tribute Center but she's sentenced to house arrest in her

room until the trial."

"Trial?" Peeta gasped. "They're putting her on trial for killing that bitch?"

"She's being put on trial for assassinating the president," Cinna said gently. "District 13 is calling for her execution." Peeta blanched and Finnick set a hand on his shoulder.

"Peeta, I understand you're upset. But you need to calm down. She's going to be alright."

"How," Peeta sobbed angrily. "How do you know that?"

"Look, there's a plan. We couldn't tell you… and we still can't say much. But just know that we will get her out of this." Peeta gaped at the Victor, then turned to

Cinna.

"You're telling me you're all a part of this… and knew what was going to happen?"

"We suspected," Finnick said. "As soon as Katniss made her vote. I knew something wasn't right. Then when we heard what Coin was planning to do to you… I knew she'd made her decision." Peeta gritted his teeth. So it was his fault. Katniss had done this for him. Because he was too weak-

"Hey," Finnick tapped his shoulder and gave him a condescending look. "I don't know exactly what you're thinking but I know the gist. This isn't your fault. Katniss is her own person and she makes her own decisions. She knew Coin was bad news for our country, and she's the one who decided to do something about it. She wanted to protect you, that's true, but you can't control her actions. So don't blame yourself for this. I trust Haymitch. And he loves you guys like you're his own." This took Peeta by surprise and he forgot what he was going to say next.

"Hey Cinna, you think they will let Peeta in to see her?"

"Doubtful. Haymitch isn't even allowed in."

"He's her husband," Finnick said irritably. "Surely they'll allow them a few minutes."

"Perhaps but not right now. Haymitch wants Peeta taken out of the city and that's what I'm going to do."

"Wait… what? Take me out of the city? To where?"

"A safehouse, outside the Capitol. We'll wait for Haymitch and Cretus to make contact and we'll lie low until then."

"Finnick this is insane! I didn't murder Coin, Katniss did. Why do you think I'm the one who is in danger?"

"Because you committed crimes against Panem in the name of the Capitol and Coin was going to exploit that. We're not sure if she's spread word about your… condition," he moved his fingers to form quotations. "But that would be even more reason to keep you locked up in the Capitol. Haymitch instructed us to get you out of there. At all costs."

"Even at the cost of Katniss's life?"

"Haymitch and Cretus are both with her. Besides that, she's the Mockingjay. The girl who essentially ended this war. There are plenty of people higher up who won't let anything happen to her. You, on the other hand, don't have such guaranteed protections. Which is why Haymitch wants us to get you far away. You'll see her again soon. I promise."

When would it end? He had just gotten her back, only to lose her again. Was it always going to be like this? Always dodging danger and yearning to be in one another's arms?


Cinna drove in silence and Finnick stared out the window. Neither of them seemed to have anything else to say or if they did, they were keeping it to themselves. Peeta's mind raced as Cinna drove him further and further away from Katniss.

They finally stopped after nearly an hour of driving. Cinna drove up the path and parked behind the house. He opened the trunk and picked up two large bags.

"Come on, Peeta." Finnick helped him drape his arm around his neck so he could lean into the Victor for support. They slowly made their way up the path and around to the back of the house. Cinna quickly unlocked the door, looked around once, then pushed it open and gestured them inside.

It was quaint and cozy inside. Cinna set the bags on the counter and stretched.

"You're sure this is ok, Cinna?"

"Positive. I'm happy to have you both here." Peeta looked around, bemused.

"This is your house?" Cinna smiled.

"I bought it shortly after Chase and I started dating. We wanted a place to escape, when we needed to get away from the Capitol. Our families were so against us being together and we wanted a place to call our own. We come here on the weekends mostly but I have a maid clean it when I'm not here and no one will think to look for us here."

Cinna directed them to separate bedrooms and set to cooking a small dinner for them. Not long after they sat down to eat there was a knock at the door and Peeta stiffened.

"It's ok," Cinna said, hurrying to open it. Chase and Madge entered, shaking their wet hair.

"Of course it decided to rain its ass off on the way here," Chase scoffed.

"Language Chase," Cinna chided, making his husband roll his eyes. Madge smiled and rushed to embrace Peeta.

"Are you alright?"

"No," Peeta wasn't about to lie to her. "I need to be with her. Have you heard anything? How is she?"

"She's under house arrest but they're taking care of her. Making sure she eats, gave her clean clothes and medicine for the bruises she got while fighting the guards."

"Madge, sit down. Have something to eat."

"Thank you, Finnick," Madge smiled as the Victor jumped to his feet to make a plate for Madge.

"Did you know, Madge? Did you know what she was planning?"

"Of course not, Peeta. But we knew she would never go along with that vote unless she was planning something. Haymitch said we needed to be ready, in case she did do something. I don't think any of us actually expected her to do that."

Peeta had known something wasn't right and he hadn't said anything. Did that make it his fault? He hadn't tried to stop her.

"Peeta, you couldn't have known what she was planning," Madge said firmly.

"He keeps doing that," Finnick said as he shook his head. "Blaming himself."

"I haven't said anything," Peeta threw his hands into the air.
"But you have that look on your face. Guilt. You're thinking you could have stopped her but the fact is, she did what needed to be done. She's a soldier. She followed in her father's footsteps as the leader of the rebellion." Cinna nodded but said nothing. The others ate in silence and Peeta stared at his plate.

Why couldn't he protect the love of his life? Why did it seem like she was the one putting her life on the line for him lately?


They stayed in hiding for two days before they received another visitor. Doctor Everett came to check on Peeta and bring Peeta's customized prosthesis. Peeta

tried to be patient while Everett fit him with the leg but Everett had to snap at his patient to calm down several times. Finally, the doctor stood up and nodded.

"Try taking a step." Peeta's eyes widened as he looked around for something to hold onto. He braced his palm against the wall and took a step. It felt… normal. It didn't hurt and he moved with ease. He took another step.

And another. And another. He turned to face the doctor, who was across the room.

"Great job, Peeta."

"Is it supposed to happen this fast?"

"As I said, everyone is different. It will take time to get used to it fully. But at least you don't have to use a wheelchair or a walker. I brought you a cane, to help you along because I know you don't like depending on people. The prosthesis adjusted to your body well, though. Ths one will be easy to wear under your clothes too. In time, it will fuse to your nerves and you will barely notice it. The power of Capitol technology and medicine." Peeta tapped his foot. It felt like his foot. He leaned down and rapped his knuckles against his knee. He felt it.

Such a strange sensation. This morning he had woken up without a leg and now he was walking around the room.

"Now I can go be with Katniss."

"Peeta, Mr. Abernathy wants you to stay away from there. You need to let people protect you. You don't always have to protect them, you know."

"I am literally The Protector, Doctor. It's my job to keep Katniss safe. I need to be with her. Maybe Cinna will drop me off at the Tribute Center."

"The last I heard, she was transported from the Tribute Center to the President's Mansion. She is being held in the cells down below." His eyes widened in horror.

"What? Why? I thought they were keeping her under house arrest until the trial." Doctor Everett shifted uncomfortably.

"That… was the plan. The last I heard."

"Then what-" the door burst open and a wide-eyed Finnick stood in the doorway. Cinna and Madge stood behind him, looking stricken. Peeta took in their

expressions and felt weak in the knees.

"What has happened," Everett asked.

"Haymitch just called. He needs you at the President's mansion right away." Everett frowned and opened his mouth to speak when Finnick beat him to it.

"Katniss tried to kill herself."


Please don't hurt me! Next chapter will be up next weekend! XOXO