Changing the Game Chapter 13: They Picked RightPart 1, a hunger games fanfic

A/N: In Chapter 12 Peeta went to the feast and got Katniss her medicine. Thresh saved Peeta, promising to hold Cato off, ensuring Peeta enough time to get away unscathed. Wonder what happened in-between that time? Did Thresh make it out? And since we all know the mayor's home is bugged, I wonder if The Capitol was listening in on Grace/Maysilee's little confession?

Chapter 13 is finally here, and Katniss is no longer an incapacitated weakling, be prepared for her to make a comeback!

As always, thank you to my wonderful, amazing readers! Your reviews, follows and favorites brighten my day and inspire me to write, write, write!

Changing the Game

Chapter 13 : They Picked Right...Part 1

~ Katniss ~

"Thresh, is that you?" I poke my head out from the tree I'm hiding behind as I call out to Thresh in a loud whisper. When I heard someone calling out for help, I couldn't very well ignore their pleas, it's just not who I am. Once I poke my head out just enough to make out the form in front of me, I am certain that it is Thresh. I run over to him just as he trips over a stump in the ground, sending us both tumbling to the ground.

I hope Peeta doesn't wake up before I get to the cave, I wouldn't put it past him to venture out into the woods, worried another tribute has gotten a hold of me.

The last time I saw Thresh, he didn't have a single injury. His face was bright, full of color and life, and I even saw a smile or two glimpse across his lips on that first night while we were swapping stories about home. If I wasn't positive this was Thresh, I'm almost certain I would not recognize the boy in front of me. For this boy standing next to me is caked in blood, his face has been beaten to a pulp and his clothes are a mangled mess. But he didn't go down without a fight, that's for sure. I can see his defensive scars; whoever his opponent was is sure to be injured.

I pause for a moment to think about which of us remains. I know for certain there is me and Peeta, and then there is Thresh...but who else is there? District Two? The sky begins producing a light drizzle which causes me to break free of my thoughts and I shake my head, forcing myself to avert my attention back to Thresh; he is the one who needs me now.

"Thresh, what happened?" I rip a moderate chunk from the sleeve of my shirt and dip it in the small puddle of water the rain has left for me and proceed to clean the blood from Thresh's face.

"Katniss? Is that you Katniss? Are you there?" Thresh calls out, looking at me, but I get the distinct impression that it's not me who he sees. I begin wiping the dry, caked blood from his face and with his hand, he reaches up to touch my cheek. "Katn— Tell my mom—"

I suck in a deep breath, realizing that he believes himself to be dying. I stop cleaning his face, plop down on the ground and pull his head into my lap just as the rain begins to pick up.

"Hey, none of that now. You're going to be okay. I'm going to get you cleaned up and then we'll go back to the cave with Peeta." The moment our eyes meet we both know I'm lying through my teeth. By the looks of it, Thresh only has minutes left to his life.

"Ma? Is that you? Is Penny okay? Tell Penny I love her, okay ma? I love her so much ma, and tell her she was the best sis—" My eyes narrow in confusion, but then it hits me. He's hallucinating. I overheard mom telling Prim that oftentimes when a person is dying, they will enter this momentary state of confusion and see people who aren't there. Apparently, he believes he is speaking to his mother.

"It's okay Thresh sweetie, I'm here." It's the only thing I can think of that a mother might say to her son.

"Ma, I'm scared…Will you sing? Will you sing me not scared?" A tear rolls down my cheek at his request and a piece of my heart must certainly wither away.

Singing is one of my favorite things to do with my father, and he's told me on more than one occasion that my voice is so captivating, it has the ability to hypnotize even the finest kings and queens. I'm too shy to sing in front of an audience, so I only have his word to go on, but at the moment, I don't think that matters.

I know deep in my gut that Thresh will be gone in a matter of seconds, possibly minutes and I don't have it in me to deny his very last request. With tears streaming down my face, or maybe it's the rain, I'm unsure at this point, but I run through a list of songs in my head, searching for the one that might bring Thresh some comfort.

Finally, one song in particular sticks out, it's the song I sing to Prim when she wakes up with nightmares.

Deep in the meadow, Under the willow

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

Lay down your head and close your eyes

And when they open, the sun will rise

Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet, and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you

Thresh is gone before the song is over but I finish it for him anyway. Who knows what we can hear just after we die, and I wanted him to have all of it. I wonder if his mom and this sister he speaks of were watching as I held him in my arms and sang to him as he took his final breath. Did they hear him calling out for them?

The anger and rage that began to fester when at first I realized he was dying is now a heaping pit of lava, on the brink of an explosion. With nowhere for it to go but out, I get up, sobbing my eyes out and begin screaming out obscenities, taking my anger out on the defenseless tree before me.

Why did this happen? Why did Thresh have to die? Thresh was kind and gentle, he was so protective over Rue and he had his entire life in front of him. 'No, he didn't Katniss. His life was over the moment his name was drawn from that damn reaping bowl' I remind myself. The Capitol is to blame, it's their fault. They're the reason that people like he and I are in here, the reason that kind, compassionate, and wonderful people like Peeta are forced to kill. When is this going to end? It has to stop, I want it to stop, dammit!

'Katniss? Where are you? Who are you screaming at?'

"Peeta?" I pause my castigation of The Capitol when Peeta's soothing voice reverberates throughout my head.

'Thresh is dead Peeta! He just...he died in my arms…He..he—' My sobs consume my entire being, causing me unable to form even coherent thoughts.

I can't let Thresh become just another nameless tribute, I refuse to allow it. I need to show everyone how this has affected me so. 'You want games? Well, here's your game!' I think to myself.

'Peeta, I…I need to send him off right.'

'I know Katniss, I know. Where are you? Let me come to you.' I look around to see that I am surrounded by trees. How can I begin to explain my location to Peeta? I want him with me, I need him, but...but...

'I…I don't know Peeta…In the woods?' He chuckles at my description, over half of the arena is condensed with trees.

'After I send him off, I'll come back to you. I know how to get back; I just don't know how to get you here.'

'Okay.'

As I walk back to Thresh's body, I contemplate the best way to do this. I'm uncertain as to how it's done in the other districts, but in Twelve there is a specific custom we follow when our loved ones leave us.

First, the body must be cleansed in order to purify the soul. This is done by anointing a small amount of water on their forehead, and then sprinkling it across the rest of the body. I look around and spot a puddle of water, (silently thanking the gamemakers for the rain; this will be the only thing I EVER thank them for.) I scoop a handful of water into my hands and drizzle it on Thresh's forehead before sprinkling the remainder of the water along his arms, legs, and torso.

I have to think about what comes next, it's not like I've done this enough to have the routine memorized. Thinking back to when Gale's father died, I remember the next part is to make a circle around the body using rocks. Rocks, stones, and pebbles are a plenty in Twelve, making them easily accessible. The significance of this is to trap the person's 'negative energy' on our plane so that when the soul leaves the body can find peace.

I collect a handful of tiny pebbles that I find scattered on the ground and begin circling them around Thresh's body. They are not quite as large as I'd like, and I don't have nearly enough, but I make it work. Once I finish encasing the pebbles around Thresh, I kiss my first three fingers, and instead of holding them up as I would for our district symbol of thanks, I touch them to Thresh's forehead.

"My thanks to the citizens of District Eleven for the honor and privilege to know one of their own. Thresh will be remembered, always and forever in my heart."

The last step for Twelve's death rights is for the closest members of that person's family to takes turns sitting with the body until it is time for the burial. I'm not certain as to the significance of this tradition, but out of everything, I have been told this one is the most important.

Due to being in the arena and the games making it impossible for me to do this, I have to improvise. Since Thresh's body will be removed from the arena in a matter of minutes, I will give him something of mine to take with him. That way, he won't be alone.

But then it hits me; I don't have anything, as you're not allowed to enter the arena with any belongings. But wait, there is something. I have my district token. Madge's pin. I tell myself that if I make it out of here alive, I'll receive more money than I'll know what to do with and I'll buy Madge ten more pins to make it up to her. She'll understand, right?

'She'll understand' Peeta assures me. I nod slightly, hoping he's right.

"Forgive me, Madge." I enunciate my words for the cameras, hoping that my friend is watching at this very moment. And then I reach up to the collar of my shirt, remove my mockingjay pin and fasten it to the sleeve of Thresh's shirt.

"To look after you on your journey. May you leave your worries behind and find peace wherever you go." I whisper into Thresh's ear just before I get up and walk away. I hide behind a tree, putting enough distance between Thresh and I to allow the hovercraft the room it needs to retrieve his body.

Once Thresh is removed from the arena, I collect my bow and take off in a steady jog, more than ever needing the security of Peeta's arms wrapped firmly around my body. The hysterical bought of sobs wrack my body, making is hard to breathe, and of all things I get the damn hiccups.

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0o0o

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~ Madge ~

"Miss Madge, can I sit wit you?

Starting tonight, The Capitol called for mandatory viewing in the square until the end of the games. After mom's confession last night, I was more than optimistic to escape the confines of my home. I set my pencil down and look up from my journal to meet the sweetest little girls face, Posie. I give her a soft smile and nod my head. "Of course, Posie, I would love for you to sit with me! But don't you want to sit with your brothers?"

Her cheeks pinken when she shakes her head, smiling as she sways from side to side. "Gay-aw said if I wanted to sit wit you he would come wif me." Listening to Posie always puts a smile on my face and causes the burden on my shoulders to feel slightly less heavy, for I know one day she will grow out of her speech impediment and her 'L's' and 'R's' will flow smoothly from her lips.

"Oh, I see. Well come sit down." I tell her enthusiastically as I pat the blanket I have spread on the ground, motioning for her to sit and she plops down beside me with her legs 'criss cross, applesauce'. Her words, not mine.

"What are you doing here so ear-wy?"

Shocked by her question, I search my brain for an appropriate response. "I um…I just wanted to get some fresh air—"

"Posie, I told you to wait for me…Hey Madge, I can take her to sit with mom if she's bothering you." Gale comes to my rescue once again, saving me from needing to produce an explanation. I give him a timid smile as he sneaks up from behind Posy and scoops her up. He raises her high in the air and spins them around once before plopping down next to me.

"No, she's perfectly fine. Would you like to sit with us?"

"I would never pass up a chance to sit with the two most beautiful ladies in all of Twelve." I feel the heat rise in my cheeks and wonder if it's dark enough to hide the evidence from Gale.

The three of us sit together while Posie entertains us with intricate details of her day. Gale keeps sending me these strange looks that cause me to feel slightly uncomfortable. Hazel parks the remainder of the Hawthorne's a few feet from us just before the start of the games. Gale gradually inches his way closer to me until he is right next to me, our knees brushing against each other. Posie has planted herself in front of my lap, instructing me to braid her hair.

"She looks better." Gale states once the electricity is powered on and the games are aired. He's right, Katniss just woke up and she's rummaging through one of the backpacks looking for something to eat. Peeta is still asleep, or unconscious, I'm not sure which but Katniss doesn't seem worried, so I'll take that as a good sign.

Throughout the games I have noticed more and more often that Katniss and Peeta seem to be on the same wavelength with their thoughts. I've caught myself wondering about the time Katniss told me that she and Peeta shared some type of psychic emotional connection, at the time I thought she was crazy and it had everything to do with her denying her feelings for Peeta, but now I'm not so sure.

Once I finish braiding Posie's hair, I rip a few pages from my journal, offering it to Posy. She happily accepts it and begins doodling with my pencil. "Madge, are you okay?" Gale whispers into my ear so quietly I almost don't hear it due to the speakers as well as the chatter of everyone around us.

I shrug my shoulders, unsure how to answer him. I can't just blurt out, 'No, I just found out that everything I've believed for my entire life is nothing but a lie. My mother isn't who she has claimed to be all these years.' No, it definitely wouldn't be safe to speak those words aloud.

I jerk my head up in a panic...Holy crap...my mother made her confession to me last night in her room. What if they were listening in?

"Do you want to take a walk after?" Gale asks me, pointing to the screen in front of us. I must not be holding it together as well as I thought if Gale is this worried about me. I meet his eyes and bite down on the inside of my cheek to prevent the flood of tears that threaten to break out from his genuine concern.

"Okay." My mouth says for me. "Thresh, is that you?" Gale and I look up to see that Katniss has left the safety of the cave and is now in the woods where she has stumbled upon a dying Thresh.

Actually, what they are showing us isn't a live feed of Katniss and Thresh. While Katniss and Thresh fill the screen before us, there is a tiny square on the bottom right corner of the screen that actually shows us the arena in real time. They just give us the highlights, what they deem to be interesting. Real time or not, I'm terrified all the same; and not just about the games in front of us.

I grab onto Gale's hand, needing his support as I watch my best friend comfort her fellow tribute as he takes his last breaths. Eleven's confusion leads him to believe that Katniss is his mother and he asks her to sing. I'm certain a piece of my heart dies along with him when he tells his sister that she was the best. The rain begins to come down harder as Katniss sings to Thresh. My heart skips a beat when his cannon fires and yet she doesn't stop singing.

Thresh is gone and Katniss is so upset, so angry and furious that she can't seem to contain her rage, so she starts kicking a tree. Suddenly, something changes within her and somehow, I've deciphered her intentions before she puts them into motion.

Images flash in my mind of Peeta holding a dying Rue in his arms, telling her a story, depicting an imaginary life that she would never live to see. If Peeta's actions moved the nation, I can't even begin to imagine what type of emotions this will stir up in the districts as Katniss performs District Twelve's 'death right of passage' to the best of her ability for Thresh.

When she kisses her first three fingers and presses them to Thresh's forehead, my lower lip begins to tremble and then I feel the tears sliding down my cheeks. She follows it up by circling him with the handful of pebbles she's collected. As shocking as her actions have been up to this point, it has nothing on the next thing she does.

In Twelve, the family of the deceased take turns sitting with the body, never leaving it unattended for even a second until it's placed into the ground. Being as Katniss cannot do this, she opts for the next best option.

"Forgive me Madge." It's as if Katniss speaks the words directly to me when she realizes what she must do. As if she can see me, I nod to her with a still quivering lip, telling her that it's okay and I understand what she needs to do. She reaches up to undo the pin and secures it to Thresh's sleeve. This is it. This is the moment. This is what the districts need, this is why she was chosen. I don't think it was ever intended to be this way, but it is. Katniss has just become the mockingjay.

"I can't believe she just did that." Gale whispers just when the power is shut off.

"Posie honey, come on. It's time for us to head home." Hazel walks over to us and reaches her hand out for Posie to take it.

"Mommy, wook at my hair! Isn't it pwetty? Miss Madge bwaided it fow me!"

"It is very beautiful honey; did you thank Madge for it?" Posie gleams proudly and nods, her cheeks pinkening again.

"Ma, I'm going to walk Madge home, I'll meet you back at the house later." Gale tells his mother and she smiles at me, nodding before waving goodbye to us.

Gale helps me fold the blanket up and tosses it over his shoulder. He takes my hand in his as we walk side by side in utter silence while he leads us toward the meadow.

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0o0o

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~ Haymitch ~

As I enter the roped off section filled with all of the other boys my age, I am powerless to hide the massive shit eating grin from my face. I'm certain that there is nothing in this entire district that could quell my happiness, or my intense euphoria and it's all because of her.

Gracie. She met me this morning at our usual spot before the sun rose because I wanted to give her something. When Grammy died last year, pa said she wanted me to have it, to give it to the girl I wanted to spend my life with. I was so nervous when I handed it to her, so anxious as I waited for her answer.

She knows the story behind the pin, and she knew how special it was to Grammy, so when I placed it in her hands she understood the significance of what I was asking, what I was telling her. My heart faltered as I waited for her answer, but then her eyes glistened with tears and then she circled her arms around my neck, planting her lips on mine. With that simple action, she just made me the happiest boy in the entire district.

I love her and she loves me, there is not a thing, not no one, not no-thing that can diminish the high that I am currently riding because of her. Nothing can keep me down today.

"Maysilee Donner!" Well, maybe there is one thing. My head jerks up in attention and my smile fades when I hear her sister's name escape the lips of our escort. No. It's impossible, there must be a mistake. The Donner's are from town, neither Maysilee nor Gracie have ever needed to sign up for tessarae. Even with double the tributes this year, this was the last thing I ever expected.

'Nothing can keep me down today.' My thoughts from earlier play on repeat in my head, as if laughing in my face. I push up on my toes, elongating my neck to peer over the heads that block my view. My heart stops for the second time today, but this time the reason is not a positive one, for the girl who marches up to that stage with so much confidence is not Maysilee Donner.

'No, no Gracie stop. Please don't do it, you can't' I scream to her in my head, but she isn't hearing me. She plants her feet firmly on the stage and faces the crowd with her head held high. I'm suspended in a state of shock, impervious to the echoes of my own name.

"Mitch. Hey Mitch, it's you." Standing behind me and poking my back is my friend Bradley.

As if someone else takes over my body, I walk in a trance like state onto the stage and plant my feet next to hers. When our escort instructs us to shake hands with the district partner who stands beside us, it's not until she lifts her hand up to take mine that I see it. The light from the sun bounces off the golden pin that she has fastened securely to the sleeve of her dress. Grammy's pin.

We are ushered onto the train and immediately, she takes on the identity of her sister, with no one the wiser. But I know differently. She's the love of my life, how can I not know her? She may be able to fool everyone else, but I know Gracie Annalese Donner inside and out, better than even I know myself. I could turn blind today and I would still know her. I have memorized every facet of her body, every perfect imperfection, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. She is everything to me.

It's hours before I have the opportunity to corner her, and the moment I do she feigns ignorance and it angers me to think that she believes I can be fooled so easily.

"Haymitch, Haymitch wake up. I think you need to come and see this." I open my eyes to see Portia standing before me, her eyes full of water. I halt to attention and am erect in record time. Together, we run to the control room and I can hear the most beautiful voice just on the other side of the door. For the first time in such a long time I feel a tugging on my heartstrings as I enter the room. It's the girl. She is crouched down in the mud cradling the District Eleven boy while she sings to him.

I'm so engulfed with this girl and her song that I barely notice Seedar and Chaff have joined us.

The intensity the girl puts into her words nearly paralyzes me. I find myself able to relate to her anger when she begins assaulting a tree, but it isn't until she turns back around, making her way back to Eleven that I see it. The moon casts its light on the golden pin, causing it to flicker.

"What the hell?" Where did she get that from? Has she had it on this entire time? I shorten the distance between myself and the screen to get a closer look.

"What is it Haymitch?" Cinna asks inquisitively.

"That pin." I raise my hand toward the screen as if I could reach up and touch it.

"What about it? It's her district token." Cinna states proudly.

I am inept to what the girl does next, my focus zoomed onto my pin until she removes it from her person, securing it to the dead boy in front of her.

"What is she doing? Why is she giving her token to him?" Seedar questions, confusion overtaking her.

I snatch the remote and rewind it. To say that I am in awe of the girl is a massive understatement. She just performed the death rights ritual on her former ally. Unable to remain by his side, she gave him a piece of herself to take with him; to watch over him.

She is more than I ever expected, and she more than just earned her title. She has just become the mockingjay.

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0o0o

~ Peeta ~

Holding Katniss in my arms while she sobs her heart out, sends my heart shattering into a million pieces. I feel so helpless knowing that I am powerless to even lessen this pain that consumes her, so I offer her the only comfort that I can and continue rubbing circles onto her back while whispering soothing words into her ear. While my heart aches for the girl I love, it does something completely different at the cause of her pain.

The Capitol. I hate them. I hate the people who put us in here, the very people who gain pleasure by watching us hunt down and kill each other. The people who, for the fun of it, bet on us for their entertainment purposes. I know they are not all that way; it would be wrong to put everyone in their category just because of where they live. There are a few exceptions.

For example, our stylists, Cinna, and Portia. They are from The Capitol, and while they have made a career for themselves within the games, their intentions are to help. They long to make a difference. They see how absolutely detestable it is to force us into this, into these games and I'm pretty sure they're in league with Haymitch and his group of rebels.

"I'm sorry Peeta, I'm so sorry I'm such a sniveling mess." Katniss says as she lifts her head up from my chest to look at me. I give her a timid smile and stroke her cheek.

"You have nothing to be sorry for okay? Don't apologize for your feelings." She nods and uses part of her shirt to pat her face dry since her left sleeve is completely gone, having torn it off in her attempt to clean Thresh up. "Are you hungry? Thirsty?" She shakes her head, but I reach for one of our water bottles and hold it in front of her anyway, hoping that she will at least drink something. She accepts it and takes a few sips, having realized she was thirstier than she believed herself to be, she finishes the bottle off and then sets it down.

"I guess I was thirsty."

"Drink as much as you want, I've got two more bottles and we'll get some more once we get down to the last one. Why don't you try and eat a little something?"

She shakes her head again, informing me that she ate shortly after she awoke. She doesn't need to tell me what happened while she was gone, I saw everything. I must have woken up just moments after she left and when I couldn't find her, I remembered the time when she was able to see through my eyes. I sat down on the floor of the cave, concentrating with all my might, and I could not believe what I was seeing.

I saw everything from the moment she pulled Thresh into her lap, to the song she sang to him at his request, and every miniscule detail of her performing a condensed version of Twelve's death right's. Katniss is amazing, she is so incredible and as I watched her do those things, it became clear. Whoever picked her to inspire the people, to inspire the districts, they picked right.

"We should go ahead and refill the bottles."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." I tell Katniss, and together, we make our way to the entrance of our cave to let ourselves out but are unable to go any further.

"Well, I guess that's out of the question." I tell Katniss and she smiles at me. She sets her bow down, propping it up against the wall of the cave and wraps her arms around my waist, giving me a hug.

"I guess the gamemakers thought we were due for some rain." We walk back over to our 'makeshift bed' and I straighten the sleeping bag out for us to sit down.

"You call that rain? Katniss, that's not rain, that's a freaking hurricane!" The rain is coming down in torrents and the trees look as if the wind could rip them from their roots at any moment.

"Well, I guess we should drink sparingly…you know unless you want to drink the rainwater." I chuckle at her comment and take a seat, leaning against the wall of the cave and reach up for Katniss to join me. She sits down in front of me with her back against my chest and I wrap my arms around her middle to pull her closer.

"I love you Katniss." I whisper into her ear, placing a kiss on her shoulder. She puts her arms over mine to hug them back and it causes a fluttering in my heart.

'I love you Peeta, so much.' Her voice echoes in my head. A smile forms on my lips knowing that her words are meant for me and me alone.

"Will you tell me a story?" I quirk my head up, surprised by her request.

"Anything you want. What kind?"

"I don't know, maybe…maybe something happy, something fluffy." 'Something to distract me. And…maybe something that might entice the sponsors to send us some real food.'

I take a moment to think about what story I should tell, or what memory I could share. And then, I get the perfect idea.

"Once upon a time, in the district furthest from The Capitol, there lived a little boy.—"

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0o0o

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~ Effie ~

"Oh, there he is! Haymitch dear, I'd like to introduce you to the one and only, Nicodemus Arveaux, and his lovely wife, Fiora Primrose Arveaux." I spot Haymitch as soon as he enters the room and give him a look that says he better play this up. Haymitch places a kiss to the back Fiora's extended hand, stroking her ego perfectly.

After Haymitch pulled his self together after Katniss' incredible 'performance', he informed me that we needed to buy our children some time to heal. So, here we are, once again, in The Green Room.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Fiora—" Haymitch cocks his head and meets my eyes for a second before returning his attention back to Fiora. "—Did you say Primrose? Isn't that the name of Katniss' little sister?" Haymitch surmised, and Fiora falls into his trap.

"It certainly is." I confirm.

"Well, I must admit. you are much lovelier than your namesake, Fiora Primrose."

"She is a beauty, isn't she?" Nicodemus says with pride, as if her beauty was his doing. On second thought, it is quite possible that it very well could be.

"It's as if we were just meant to be! I mean, who would have thought that someone from District Twelve, of all places would think to use a name as eloquent as my own?" Fiora gushes and I get the distinct impression that she sincerely believes that Katniss' sister was named after her.

"Nicky and I were just admiring your pair of tributes this year; it seems as if you hit the jackpot with those two. I was just telling Nicky that we should place a few of our coins with them." Fiora says.

"Well, I wouldn't turn you down, that's for sure." Haymitch tells her.

"Now, now, let's not get ahead of ourselves." Nicodemus' monotonous voice bellows, causing my mind to wander, perhaps Haymitch was right.

"Who do you think we should hit up first?" Haymitch asks me as we walk side by side down the hallway, toward The Green Room.

"Nicodemus Arveaux and his lovely wife, I'm certain we can reel them in."

"There is no way in hell that man will sponsor our kids, he's a career lover through and through."

"But his wife isn't." I state, knowing something Haymitch does not.

"So?"

"Oh, seriously Haymitch. That man is putty in his wife's hands, he is practically incapable of telling that woman no. When I introduce you, just...pay attention to her name. Butter her up, gush over her, compliment her. I assure you, by the end of our conversation, they will be begging to sponsor our kids."

Haymitch's lips quirk up in a half smile and I raise an eyebrow at him, questioning his lopsided grin.

"You just called them 'our kids'."

"Oh, Nicky, please, please. I just know it was meant to be…and…and I just have a feeling!" Fiora begs her husband, who is all too happy to please her.

"Let me think about it and I'll get back to you." Nicodemus says, eyeing Haymitch.

"Well, we figured you'd want in on the record breaker, but if you're hesitant then we'll go and ask—" For once Haymitch does not let me down, and I suppose I am grateful since I was lost in a daydream.

"What once in a lifetime event?" Nicodemus inquires, his curiosity getting the best of him.

"You didn't tell them Effie? What have you been doing this whole time?" Haymitch pretends to seem exasperated with my lack of effort.

"I suppose it slipped my mind." I say, appearing aloof.

"Well you see, Haymitch and I are planning to send in the record-breaking sponsor gift of all times, the gift that will finally put Finnick Odair and his trident to shame."

Nicodemus cocks his head and raises an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Huh, record breaker, you say? Well, why didn't you say so? I must get in on this…How many other contributors?"

"Well Nicodemus, you see, our goal is to have as few sponsors as possible, I mean, if it were me, I wouldn't want to share the bragging rights with…how many people did you say went in on Finnick's trident?"

"I didn't, but there were twenty-two of us. - I would know, I happened to be ranked in the top five." For some odd reason, Nicodemus reminds me of a peacock fluffing his feathers.

"Man, that's gotta suck. Well, you see, our goal is to keep it under ten sponsors."

"May I ask, what could possibly cost more than a golden trident?" Fiora asks us with an air of superiority in her tone.

Haymitch draws a blank, but I am quick on my feet and come to his rescue at once. "Why, a picnic of course." I give the pretentious pair my best gleaming smile.

Fiora's eyes narrow at my admission. "A picnic? That is just preposterous!"

"It's not just a picnic Fiora Primrose, but the mother of all picnics. The picnic to end all picnics, the most romantic picnic with plates and—"

"China." I correct Haymitch.

"Yes, china, and silverware—"

"Flatware."

"The best china and flatware, only the best for our tributes! And lamb stew, yes, lamb stew and maybe even some of that chocolate stuff."

"Yes, yes Haymitch, we definitely want in. Now, I want you to make sure you sign me up for a hefty amount, I want my name at the top of that list when it gets recorded in the album."

"Of course, of course." I say, stroking their ego's.

"But…but I have a stipulation. Only if you send in a replica of the china from our wedding!" Fiora adds with a smile, as if it was the most brilliant idea.

"I wouldn't have it any other way!"

Haymitch and I small talk our way out of the green room and make our way back to the control room where we will send in the most expensive picnic in the history of the games. It is sure to remain the record breaker until the end of time or the end of the games, I'm hoping for the latter.

| . | . | . | . | . | . | . |

0o0o

| . | . | . | . | . | . | . |

~ Dylan ~

I can't even begin to describe the immense levels of pride that shot through my body once the power was cut after the viewing of the games tonight. From the very first moment I laid eyes on my daughter, I knew that she would grow to be an extraordinary human being, but...but I don't even have the words for the way I am feeling. One thing is for certain, I am in awe of my daughter, she has completely bewildered me ...As I watched her perform Twelve's death rights on her former ally in the arena, I...I...I don't know.

Had it been me in there, I don't think it would have ever crossed my mind to do something of that magnitude. I wonder if Coin was watching tonight and if she saw my girl. As guilty as I feel for my part in sending her into that hell, watching my daughter tonight confirmed that she was the right choice all along.

The people all throughout the districts who witnessed my daughter's actions tonight must certainly have been stupefied into submission by her heartfelt sentiment toward her ally. In all my years of watching the games, I can't recall one time when an opposing tribute showed any amount of sympathy or remorse. I hope this is the first step in getting people to open their eyes.

"Dylan, do you have a moment?" I run into Ric as I make my way home with my family and look at my girls, giving them a reassuring smile.

"You guys head on home and I'll meet you back there in just a bit, okay?" Lilly has a look of concern written on her face, but she simply nods her head and pops a kiss onto my cheek.

Ric waits until the girls are out of earshot before speaking. "How about a walk? It's a lovely night for one, wouldn't you say?" Rick asks me, implying that his words are not meant for the microphones. I give him a nod and we head out of town and toward the woods.

Once we are far enough away, Ric looks me in the eye, worry plaited all over his face, sending me in a panic. "What's wrong?" I ask him.

"Last night Madge and Grace were watching the games together and…and Grace revealed a secret to Madge."

"A secret?" Ric nods, his eyes growing wide.

"A pretty massive one in fact. I'm afraid The Capitol was listening in, actually, I'm almost certain of it. Between that and...and after what Katniss did tonight, I fear that our lives are in danger, mine and Grace's that is. If—"

"What kind of secret could possibly warrant your death Ric?" He hesitates, fumbling with his fingers as if he's trying to decide whether or not he should tell me.

"Grace um…She uh…Well, do you remember that she had a twin sister who died in the 50th games? In the Quell with Haymitch?"

"Yeah, Lilly was friends with her when they were kids. What of it?"

"It was supposed to be Grace, but…you see…well, her sister took her place. Grace is actually Maysilee." My jaw nearly drops to the ground at his revelation.

"Holy shit. Damn. Yeah, you're right…that is one massive secret. Damn Ric, I'm sorry. Why did she tell her in the house?"

"She isn't...wasn't aware of the extent of the surveillance in our home is. She has been so out of it for so long…She didn't know and it's probably going to get us killed. But that's not why I asked to speak with you Dylan." Ric pauses for a moment, rubbing his forehead.

"Dylan...I consider you a friend, not just a co-conspirator in taking down the government...and our girls, they're friends, they love each other. Dylan, I need you to promise me that you'll keep an eye on Madge if something happens to me."

"Of course, Ric, it goes without saying. Lilly and I love Madge as if she were ours. You have my word, but—"

"Thank you, Dylan. Thank you. Now that that's out of the way, why don't we walk a little further and see if we can get in touch with 'Her Highness'. Ric chortles, and I laugh at the euphemism he bestows upon this 'President Coin.'

| . | . | . | . | . | . | . |

0o0o

| . | . | . | . | . | . | . |

~ Peeta ~

"Once upon a time, in the district furthest from The Capitol, there lived a little boy.— The little boy—"

"What's his name?" Katniss arches her neck up to look at me.

"Huh? What?" I ask, cocking an eyebrow.

"The little boy, what's his name?"

"Um…his name is…let's…call him…banana nut. Yes, so, Banana nut had just turned five years old and he knew that his first day of school was just around the corner. He put an 'X' on the calendar at the end of each day, alerting him to how many days remained until school began. Each day Banana nut marked out he got more scared, and anxious.

You see, new people frightened him, and there would be so many new people at school. But one day, he got a brilliant idea and asked his daddy if he could just stay home and work with him in their family bakery. Banana nut loved helping his daddy bake cookies, but his most favorite thing was frosting the cakes. He was more than just a little disappointed when his daddy said no.

When there were no more 'X's' left to mark out, Banana nut knew that it was time to go to school. Banana nut's daddy walked him to school on his first day, and each step that brought him closer to the school, the more scared he became. By the time they reached the flagpole, Banana nut was near terrified.

Sensing his son's fear, Banana nut's daddy stopped them at the flagpole and squatted down to Banana nut's level, looking him in the eye. He put his face next to Banana nut's face and turned their faces toward the entrance of the school, pointing to something.

The daddy says 'Nut, do you see that little girl over there? The little girl in the pretty red dress?'

Banana nut looked to where his daddy was pointing and nodded, with trembling fingers in his mouth he says, 'The pretty girl with the two braids in her hair?'

The daddy nods and says 'Yes, her. Well, you see Nut, when I was just a little boy, not too much older than you, I loved her mommy. I hoped to marry her one day, but she fell in love with a coal miner and married him instead.'

"What! You're making this up." Katniss' outburst startles me.

"Of course, I am. Didn't you hear the 'Once upon a time' at the beginning? I retort and she cranes her neck again, but this time to scowl at me.

'Really?' She asks me, seeking the truth.

'I'm just telling it how I remember.' "Where was I? Oh, right. So, Banana nut's jaw hung to the ground, flabbergasted by this revelation. Not that his daddy wanted to marry someone different than his mommy, but that someone wouldn't want his daddy, for his daddy was the best daddy in the entire district. He just could not fathom how or why anyone would choose someone…anyone over his daddy.

So, he asked his daddy in his squeaky little five-year-old voice, 'Why would she choose someone else if she could have you?'

The daddy smiled and said, 'Because his voice is magical. Because Nut, when he sings, even the birds stop to listen. The little girl, her name is—"

I pause for a second, scrunching my nose up as I think of what to name my five-year old version of Katniss. "I'm going to call her 'Kat-kin for the sake of the story."

"Very original." Katniss says, but I can hear the smile in her voice.

"Where was I? Oh right."

"So, the daddy says, 'Her name is Kat-Kin. And I bet if you ask Kat-Kin to be your friend, I bet she will, and then you won't be so scared anymore.' Well, Banana nut did not believe someone's voice could be magic enough to make the birds fall silent, that was just the silliest thing he ever heard! He thought his daddy must certainly be telling a lie, for it just wasn't possible.

Banana nut almost forgot about what his daddy said about the pretty girl's daddy until later that day in music assembly when their teacher asked the class if any of them knew the valley song. Kat-Kin's hand shot straight up in the air, excited and eager to share it with the class. And she did, she marched confidently to the front of the class, proud that she was the only one who knew all the words and sang the song to her little heart's content.

Banana nut was mesmerized as he listened to Kat-Kin sing, and while the entire class listened to her song, hypnotized by her angelic voice, Banana nut listened instead to the birds who were perched outside on a nearby tree. It was so hard to concentrate because all he wanted to do was to listen to Kat-Kin's beautiful voice.

Banana nut's face lit up. He couldn't believe it, his daddy was right, he actually wasn't telling a lie. Because when Kat-Kin sang her song, all the birds fell silent, just like her own daddy. Once Kat-Kin was finished with her song, Banana nut could hear the mockingjay's continue her melody for hours on end.

It was at that moment when Banana nut knew. He was a goner, and he would only ever love this one girl, and he silently vowed to himself that he would someday win the heart of the girl whose voice was majestic enough to make the birds fall silent. But unlike his own dad, he planned to succeed. The End."

"You never asked me to be your friend." Katniss says after a moment of silence.

"I was afraid you'd say no. I would rather love you secretly from a distance rather than risk the possibility of your rejection. What if you said no and told me never to speak to you again? My poor five-year-old self wouldn't have been able to handle that."

"So, you saved my life instead." Katniss says in a hushed tone and before I know it, she flips her body around so that she is straddling my lap, her deep pools of grey whispering into my own eyes.

"What did she use, Peeta?" She grazes her fingers over the remnants of the scar that I received that day.

'Are you sure you want me to say?' I silently ask her.

"Tell me what happened that day. What was going through your head? What did she do to you, Peeta?"

'A happy story followed by a sad one?'

| . | . | . | . | . | . | . |

0o0o

| . | . | . | . | . | . | . |

~ Madge ~

Instead of ascending a tree as we normally would when we reach the meadow, Gale takes the blanket from his shoulder and spreads it out on the ground and then sits down. He looks up at me and reaches for my hand. When I take his hand, he pulls me down next to him.

Why is he being so nice to me? It's too much…After everything that I've found out, his kindness overwhelms me and I'm powerless to prevent the sobs that escape from my body. He lets me cry onto his shoulder, pulling me close and wrapping his arm around me. He doesn't ask any question, he's just there. For me.

Once I regain my composure and wipe my face dry, I'm more than embarrassed. "I'm sorry." I tell him. He continues to rub circles on my back, and it feels so good.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"It's just…I don't…I feel so guilty Gale, I mean, Katniss and Peeta are trapped inside of the arena fighting for their lives, so, it just feels wrong to be upset or to complain about anything!"

"Hey…If you're upset, then you're upset. It's not wrong to feel any kind of way just because you know someone else is going through hell. Don't dismiss your feelings, okay?" I give him a nod, wondering why he is being so wonderful to me?

"Why are you being so nice to me Gale?" He quirks an eyebrow up and looks at me as if I have just grown two heads.

"Seriously? Because Madge, you are my friend. And friends are there for each other, they listen when their friend needs to talk, and I can tell by looking at you that something is eating away at you." When did Gale come to know me so well?

I hesitate for a moment, wondering if I should confide in Gale. One look deep in my eyes is all it takes, and I begin.

"Last night after the feast, my mom said she wanted to tell me a story." I manage to get the words out, and then take a deep breath to continue retelling the events from last night. Once I started talking, the words just seemed to flow out all on their own. When I reveal my mother's true identity, Gale's eyes go wider than I've ever seen, but he remains silent, allowing me to speak without interruptions.

Once I am finished, silence fills the air as I wait for Gale's reaction. He pulls me even closer to his body and wraps both of his arms around me, smushing his face into my messy hair. "No wonder you seemed so upset, I had no idea…I'm so sorry Madge."

"It's just…I'm so angry at her for keeping the truth from me all this time but at the same time I understand why she did it. It makes sense now, the reason she is the way she is, doped up on Capitol medicine to dull her pain, her guilt. But then that makes me angry because then I wonder if she had just told me, told anyone, then maybe she wouldn't need the medicine, and she could've been my mom. I could have had a mom all this time and that's what makes me the angriest." Oh, woops. I just revealed way more than I meant to.

"What do you mean, 'She could've been your mom'? I forgot that Gale doesn't know about my mom, or lack thereof.

"My mom…Ever since I can remember, mama spends the majority of her days doped up on morphling due to these massive headaches that incapacitate her. So...When I see you with your mom, or the way your mom plays with Posie, snuggles with her, and even something as simple as when she tells you guys she loves you, I fill up with this insane, intense ravenous jealousy…"

"Oh Madge, I'm so sorry. So sorry." Gale pulls my head to his chest and places a kiss on the top of my head.

| . | . | . | . | . | . | . |

0o0o

| . | . | . | . | . | . | . |

~ Katniss ~

'A happy story followed by a sad one?'

"It led me to you" I say to Peeta.

"Okay, turn back around so I can keep playing with your hair." I do as he asks and feel his fingers running through my hair.

"Once upon a time, in a district far, far away, there lived a boy who loved a girl. But she wasn't just any girl, she was the most beautiful, stunning, exquisite, brave, strong and fearless girl in all the districts. But you see, the girl had no idea this boy existed, and the boy was much too shy, and not nearly brave enough to approach her.

He spent his days fantasizing about one day rescuing her, imagining that she would run into his arms and proclaim her love for him. The boy knew that if his beautiful girl would just give him a chance, he would promise to always love her, protect her, take care of her, and most of all, he would always cook, bake, roast, and feed her to her heart's desire; never letting her to ever feel the pains of hunger for the rest of her life. The boy knew it was just a fantasy, but hey, a boy can dream right?

You see, the boy was just that; a boy. What can 'just a boy' do when that is the sum of his parts?

It was on a dark, cold, and rainy day when his fantasy became a reality. His family owned a bakery, but he was never allowed to just take food from it. On this dark, cold, and rainy day, the boy heard his mother screaming. See, his mother was actually the wicked witch in disguise, so the boy was always frightened when he heard her screaming, for her screams usually meant he had displeased her. As the mother went about her tirade, the boy realized his mother was not screaming at him, but rather at someone outside. The boy let out a breath of relief until he realized who his mother was screaming at.

It was her; his beautiful, fearless, and brave girl rummaging through their trash cans just outside. She was soaked from head to toe, and remember, it's freezing out there. All she wanted was a few scraps of food to take home to feed her and her little sister.

The boy knew that her father was one of the lucky ones to have survived to explosion in the mines just a few months prior, but her father had not yet awoken from his deep slumber. The beautiful girls' mother was so focused on nursing her ailing husband back to life, that for a moment, she forgot that she had two little girls who desperately needed her.

The little boy wanted so badly to help his beautiful girl, he just had to, but what could he do? Remember, he was after all, just a boy. His body itched with an intense desire to help his girl. And just like that, it came to him. The witch-mother was baking some loaves of bread and they were due to come out of the oven at any moment.

At the perfect moment, a customer walked into the bakery, giving the boy plenty of time to put his plan into action. The boy told his witch-mother that he would be responsible for removing the bread from the oven. At first the witch-mother hesitated, but after a moment, she finally agreed and proceeded with talking to the customer.

Just as he promised his mother, the boy removed the loaves from the oven. All of them, save two loaves in which he held over the hot coals of the oven to scorch the outer layer. The boy knew his actions would anger his mother, but he also knew that she would insist that he feed the ruined bread to their pigs.

And that is exactly what happened. Well, sort of. After screaming obscenities at him and demanding he take the loaves to their pigs, the boy tucked the loaves inside of his shirt and went out the back door as if he were going to the pigs. He first made sure his mother wasn't looking as he veered off and made the sharp turn away from the pigs, and to his broken and frail girl who had taken shelter beneath their barren apple tree.

The boy placed the two loaves of bread into his girl's arms. He apologized for their burnt appearance, saying it was the only thing he could think to do in order to get her the loaves. He informed her that he was careful, making sure to only burn the outside layer.

The girl was shocked by the boy's kindness, had it not been for the heat from the loaves burning her arms, she would believe she was dreaming. The bread was still hot, and if she ran home right then, it would still be warm for her and her sister. The boy explained to her that once she gets home, all she needs to do is scrape the black off, and the bread will taste 'good as new.'

Knowing his actions would anger his mother, the boy accepted his punishment with pride. He thought of his blackened eye as a battle scar, as an injury acquired for saving his girl and he would gladly do it again and again, until the end of time if it was necessary, for he had fulfilled his wish and provided his beautiful girl with the sustenance that rid her of hunger.

The next day at school, the boy finally gathered enough courage to write his beautiful girl a note, asking her to meet him after school. It was everything he'd ever dreamed of when he saw her standing there, waiting for him after school that day. They became friends that day and it was more than he had ever hoped for. And they lived happily ever after. The End."

Silence fills the air for a moment before I decide to speak.

"While the girl was standing by the oak tree, waiting for the boy she looked down. She smiled when, right by her foot, standing all alone was a single dandelion. To her, it was a sign, a symbol of hope. And to her, it was no accident when her father woke from his coma the very next day. Ever since that day, whenever the girl sees her boy, she associates him with hope. He is her dandelion in the spring." I add to Peeta's story, wondering if he knew that part.

He gives my arms a squeeze and places a kiss to my forehead. We are quiet still, for another moment or so before I ask my initial question again.

"What was the boy's punishment? What did she use?" Peeta looks ashamed when I turn back around to face him and touch his scar with my fingertips again.

"A—r—rolling pin." He finally confesses.

I lean up onto my knees to have our eyes level. "Peeta, I will never let her touch you, not ever again. Do you understand me? No one will ever lay another hand on you ever again" I promise him, my voice quavering with anger.

His hands grab the back of my head, he pulls me to him with slight force and slams his lips onto mine. Our tongues dance around the other for a moment, and we are completely oblivious to the parachute that lands next to us on the floor of the cave.

For the next few minutes, time stands still. Nothing exists, only the two of us wrapped up in each other. Peeta is the first to pull back.

| . | . | . | . | . | . | . |

0o0o

| . | . | . | . | . | . | . |

~ Gale ~

"A—r—rolling pin." Peeta says just before the screen goes black. I turn to face Madge whose eyes are filled with tears, letting me know that Peeta's story was no fairy tale, but a vivid recollection of past events.

"What an imagination that boy has!" I turn around to face the idiot behind me and glare into her eyes. I have no clue who this woman is, but she would have to be a fool not to know that Mellark didn't make that 'story' up.

"You're kidding right? You must be a blind idiot if you believe that was a story! I mean really! His mother ISthe wicked witch, and she used that damn rolling pin of hers to knock him into next week because he ruined a piece of bread! A piece of freaking BREAD!" Madge places her hand on my shoulder just as the woman has the good sense to look contrite. She turns her back to walk away, her head hanging down in shame.

I meet Madge's eyes and then I am ashamed. How did I not know this? "Madge, I…I never…knew. Catnip…she never told me. I should have known, all the signs were there!"

"Gale, no one knew. While Mrs. Mellark's dislike for Peeta was always made clear, her physical abuse was never public knowledge. No one knew, not even his dad. Peeta was good at hiding it, he excelled at concocting cover stories for his cuts and bruises."

"But…you knew…didn't you? And Catnip's family, I could see it in their eyes, they weren't surprised. Maybe a little shocked when Peeta announced his dad loved Katniss' mother." Madge lets out a little chuckle, agreeing with me.

Somehow, Madge pulled me away from that woman in town and we ended up back in the meadow. How is it that Madge is the one person who has the ability to ignite my flames, yet she also has the uncanny aptitude to extinguish them?

Madge's blanket is still here from the other night, so I sit down on the blanket and lie back with my hands behind my head to prop myself up. Madge joins me, and we lie in silence staring at the night sky.

"It's so beautiful." Madge is in awe of the flurry of stars above us. "You can't see this much from my house."

"It's all the lights. It pollutes the sky."

"It's amazing, don't you think? I mean, I think I could just lie here and stare at the stars for the rest of my life and be content with just that."

I get an idea and point out a few of the constellations that I know to Madge. When I turn my head and see her face as I am trying to direct her to the correct stars, I notice the exhilarating expression on her face and she almost looks as if she's glowing. I feel the heat radiating throughout my body from the inside out and I am not sure what comes over me when I lean over and plant my lips against Madge's.

She does not push me away, instead, she wraps her arms around my neck to pull me in, and I do the same. The kiss is intense and not nearly long enough when I return to my side of the blanket.

Neither of us speaks and frankly, I'm almost afraid to. Instead, Madge reaches her hand over and hooks her pinky around mine.

| . | . | . | . | . | . | . |

0o0o

| . | . | . | . | . | . | . |

~ President Snow ~

'The show's not over until the mockingjay sings.'

"President Snow? Excuse me, President Snow, sir?"

I open my eyes to find Eulyce standing before me looking frightened as she wakes me.

"What is it Eulyce?" I snap at my secretary and she winces back timidly.

"It's Mr. Crane sir. He has arrived at your request."

"Well, don't just stand there. Send him in." She nods and then closes the door behind her.

Those blasted mockingjay's. Why won't they just die off already? She's a ghost from my past and she continues to haunt me. When she is not haunting my dreams, she's haunting me through the tributes. Through Katniss Everdeen.

The door opens with Seneca Crane in tow, a wicked smile on his face.

"President Snow? You requested a word?"

"Yes, have a seat." I take a deep breath to calm my nerves and when that fails, I inhale the aroma from the rose on the lapel of my suit. Ahhh, that's better. Its' effects are instantaneous, allowing me to relax.

"What is your plan to rid the world of Katniss Everdeen?" I spit her name out in disgust. After her performance with the District Eleven boy, I am certain that it is she, who must be eliminated.

"Oh, I do believe that what comes next, you will find to your satisfaction, Sir."

"Yes, yes, now get on with it." I demand, rowing my hand in a circular motion, insinuating that he hurry up and get to the point.

"Well, President Snow, we are going to allow the lovebirds from Twelve time to heal and offer The Capitol a bit of their romance. The remaining tributes from Two and Five will be eliminated, leading those two to believe they have won. After the last body is retrieved from the arena, Templesmith will announce that the current rule change is no longer in effect. Realizing what this means, they will immediately turn their backs on each other—"

"And you are certain the girl will die?" Seneca nods his hand and folds his hands under his chin where his fingertips meet them.

"I will personally see to it that she dies." The calculating look in his eye says he will enjoy her demise. Perhaps my previous assumptions about the gamemaker were incorrect. Perhaps.

I lean back in my chair with a grin on my face. "I must say Mr. Crane, you have thoroughly impressed me this year. Perhaps a promotion is in order?" He lets out a cackle as he gets up to stand.

"It certainly wouldn't hurt."