The Mockingjay Returns

by Puppyluv09

It's been 25 years since the success of the Rebel Army in Panem. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, along with the rest of the country have successfully established a republic and have steadily rebuilt their lives. However, now on the 100th anniversary of the "Dark Days," Katniss returns to the capital to remember those that have fought and died for such a peaceful future.

The Mockingjay Returns by Puppyluv09

Summary: It's been 25 years since the success of the Rebel Army in Panem. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, along with the rest of the country have successfully established a republic and have steadily rebuilt their lives. However, now on the 100th anniversary of the "Dark Days," Katniss returns to the capital to remember those that have fought and died for such a peaceful future.

A/N: Hello everyone, I was rereading the Hunger Games series to distract myself in my free time and as I was reading the end, I was unsatisfied with the ending a little bit so as I was laying down for the night, this came into my head. A lot of my what-ifs answered and a bit of a different scenario here.

I sat in the hovercraft writing down my speech President Paylor asked me to give at the Memorial. I still can't believe that it's been so long; 25 years of freedom really does fly. I don't know how to exactly do this, everyone who knows the real me knows I don't do well with scripted things but I'm doing my best.

The pilot of the hovercraft announces that the Capital is approximately 15 minutes out. I slowly pack up my things and then gaze out the window remembering, not necessarily one thing, one person or one event, just everything that has happened in my 42 years; my husband, my family, my father, my lost friends, my distant friends, my mother, my country, and my sister. I reflect on how our district, District 12, stopped mining coal and began producing medicines. The medicines make me think of my sister Prim, my baby sister who didn't live beyond 13.

This reunion is open to all of Panem, but there is a small group that will get front row seats and some are supposed to give speeches. Gale, my childhood friend, my fellow living tributes from the Hunger games, our President and our Secretary of Communications, district supervisors, and so on, each one telling a different story on how we got here. Suddenly, I don't know if I can do this, relive the deaths that I spent years running from. Sure, I had my own ways of dealing with it, just like my husband did. But that doesn't mean that they don't still haunt us occasionally. No, I have to do this, for my children.

It's been a few years since we told all of our children why this day is so important to us. Sure they learned about it in school, but until we opened up when they turned 14, it didn't really sink in how the day still holds its demons. Peeta and I have three children: the oldest, Addalyn Primrose, named for my sister just turned 17 and looks like me with Peeta's eyes. Our second child, Brody Fiddick, named for our mutual friend and rebel is 15, and looks like his father with my eyes. And of course the youngest Colotta Rue named for my friend, just turned 14, and looks like Prim. Each one reacted differently to our story, Addalyn didn't talk for a week, her younger siblings blind to what she now knew, Brody decided that he wanted to go hunting and ask me questions, which I did but some I refused to answer without his father present, and Colotta just hugged us telling us that it was okay, they were only ghosts now.

My family remained close to the now sober Haymitch Abernathy, our neighbor and very close friend; they've deemed him "Uncle Haymitch." At first he refused but he quickly warmed up to the idea. They know their grandmother of course, and are quite attached to her, even if she is 8 districts away. Thank goodness for telephones.

My friend Gale fell off the face of the earth after the fall of Snow, but wrote me a letter about a year later telling me of the success he was having rebuilding the old District 2. He never wrote on whom he was dating or anything of the sort and I never divulged that information either, an unspoken agreement of sorts. He knew I chose Peeta, he knew how that would end, there was no need to rub salt in his face for it. I did however tell him of my children and how they were doing. I would love to see him while I'm at the capital, to see how he is, how he has changed, or if he is just Gale. I'm hoping for the later, but we shall see.

I come to as the hostess comes around and asks if I am buckled for the hovercraft to land, even after all these years, they haven't found a way to best land a hovercraft without throwing your stomach into your brain. I nod the affirmative as the hovercraft begins its decent. I wait for the throw of my stomach before I unbuckle. I gaze out my window to see the Capital Building, formally President Snow's mansion, where Prim Died. I pull myself together as I move to leave the flying contraption. Upon my exit I see our President, Secretary of Communications, my mother and a few other government officials present.

"Welcome to the Capital Mrs. Mellark." The President welcomes.

"Thank you." I reply. I then turn to my mother, who I only see on holidays in her district 4. "Hi Mom."

"Hello Katniss." She brings me into a bone crushing hug, "How is the family?"

"Excellent, as far as I can tell, they are on the next hovercraft here, there seemed to be a bit of an argument and Haymitch and Peeta stayed to deal with it before they arrived, they sent me ahead to, prepare myself."

"Is that Addy of yours still in pursuit of our young Mr. Odair?" Plutarch asks.

"Unfortunately for her father, yes," everyone smiles and lightly laughs.

"Shall we get you inside?" Paylor suggests.

We all follow but as we approach the building I slow down, this is the first time I've been to this building since I killed Coin, Paylor's predecessor. I take a few short breaths, and then walk with the group to the wing where I was recuperating before the fall of Snow.

"I wanted to give you your old rooms back, your children can stay in the adjoining room if they wish." Paylor says. "I want you to feel somewhat at home here, not a threat, or imprisoned."

"Of course. I'm sure the children will love it."

Paylor and Plutarch make their excuses and the guards follow them down the hall. My mother remains and looks at me slightly suspicious.

"Is this going to be okay?"

"Of course, the children will love it." I repeat.

"I'm sure, but is this a good thing for you and Peeta?"

"I'd like to think so." I look at her one more time, "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"If I'm not mistaken, this is your fist visit to the capital in 25 years too."

"It is."

"So are you… alright with this?"

"I've dealt with Prim's death Katniss, I know that the person responsible is dead and gone, and can't hurt anyone like that again. I was foolish to trust Coin, we all were."

This is a turn for me, I wonder what brought her out of her slump this time, last time it was the hope for Prim and I. As if reading my thoughts she answers, "It was you."

"What?"

"It was on your wedding day that I realized that I could get through this. I went through some counseling, did some writing and threw myself into my work, but I have faced my demons and I am ready to put the dead to rest."

"I'm proud of you Mom."

"And I of you my girl."

The rest of the day proceeds smoothly; I am walked through the two-day presentation, ceremonies events, I eat and chat with Capital residents and so on. Peeta and the children call to let me know that they will arrive tomorrow before the ceremony, the little situation just became a whole lot worse; yep those are my kids alright. In their minds, rules are meant to be broken. I am on my own for the night, for the first time in 25 years.

It isn't a problem until I am hopping into bed. Even when Peeta and I fought, I never kicked him out of the room, he kept my nightmares at bay, at least most of them, this wasn't going to be easy. Of course, I haven't had a nightmare in 5 years, not one from the gory past of mine anyway, some of them pertained to my children and mutts. I toss and turn for a while before I find sleep, but it is short lived. An hour later I am wide awake and dripping in sweat. Images from the arena, the rebels, and lost faces haunt me tonight. I calm myself and then realize that I can't be alone tonight and I walk across the hall to my mother's rooms where upon entering, I find her wide awake as well.

"Can't sleep?" She asks.

"Nope, you?"

"Not really." She ponders me for a moment, "Come here Katniss."

I am back to being that 17-year-old in the bunker when the Capital bombed District 13. I cuddle into her warmth and take deep breaths, willing myself not to cry. "I miss her Mom," I whisper.

"Me too Katniss, but she's alright, nothing can happen to her now, and we will see her again."

I nod and lie down and allow my mother to comfort me, while I return the favor. We eventually drift off to sleep and are later awakened by a knock at the door. I get up to answer it, its breakfast.

"Thank you." I say to the young house worker. She merely smiles and walks down the hallway. My mother and I exchange a few words as we eat but nothing is mentioned about last night. When we are through, we go our separate ways to prepare for day one, the greeting. Today we will have a giant meet-and-greet in the Capital Plaza, the place where they used to parade tributes back when we had Hunger Games. I wear a simple red dress, one Cinna designed for me for my "talent" after I won the Games. I had fallen in love with this dress a good number of years back and took the drawing to a seamstress in the Capital for it to be made. It's symbolic really, my first dress after I was introduced as a tribute was a pretty red one, I pull my hair back, now shorter than it was 25 years ago, only reaching my shoulder blades, into a braided bun. My finishing touch is my minimal make up, a bit of gold eyeliner and tinted red lip gloss. I take a deep breath and leave the room, the meet and greet is in 40 minutes.

My mother and I walk down to the Plaza together, bracing ourselves for lots of hugs and questions on our mental stability. Upon arrival, we take note that the place is already half full. We wander and talk to those that talk to us. Time ticks on and suddenly there is hardly any room to move, the place is so full of people. President Paylor makes a brief statement about the day's events and then we continue to mingle. Then I spot Gale, he is standing with a small group, which contains the remaining four tributes; Annie, Enobaria, Beetee, and Johanna. I excuse myself from my mother's grasp as she talks to district five doctors. I walk over and tap his shoulder.

"Hey Gale," I say as he slowly turns.

"Catnip!" He says hugging me. "How have you been?"

"I've been doing well."

"Those kids of yours staying out of trouble?" Johanna asks.

"As much as they can with my genes." The group laughs knowing how much truth rings in that statement. "Honestly I think they are more excited to see all of you with all of Peeta's and my stories."

"So Peeta's doing alright then, no more meltdowns?" Gale asks.

"Not as often, he gets them more around the time he was taken, but he's in better control of it now, he just walks away when he loses his temper to keep from hurting anyone."

"That's good."

"Yeah, it is."

"So hows…"

Gale's next question is cut off by a group screaming, "Mom!" I turn around and find my three teenagers running toward us, Addy of course in the lead, followed closely by her brother and Colotta brings up the end.

"Mom this place is amazing; the colors just blow my mind." Addy says.

"The manor is gorgeous as well," Colotta dreamily states.

"You already went to the Manor?" I ask, this is curious because Peeta told me that they'd come straight here.

"Yeah, Dad didn't want to leave our luggage on the hovercraft," Addy explains.

"The manor is really cool too, I bet there are a bunch of good hiding places," Brody adds.

"If there are, you won't be finding them," I state plainly.

"Isn't that the truth," Peeta's voice comes from behind us.

"Hello dear, have a nice flight?" I ask.

"Decent enough," Peeta states plainly.

"Would have been better if it weren't for all the bickering," Haymitch complains.

"Oh come on Uncle Haymitch, you started it." Brody states defensively.

"Did not," Haymitch retorts.

"Yes you did with your comment stating that if the Hunger Games were still going and Addy and Brody got picked at the same time, Addy wouldn't make it past the first skirmish." Colotta explains.

"What?" I ask, "We are not to discuss which of my children would survive the nonexistent Hunger Games. Ever." I turn back to the group now looking quite amused. "Don't say it."

"We didn't say anything Katniss," Johanna says attempting to hide her smile.

"Hi Aunt Jo," Colotta says with a smile hugging her.

"There's a sight we never thought we'd see." Beetee jokes.

"Johanna has always been good with kids; did you not watch her victory tour?" Haymitch states.

"Oh you mean the one where she got into it with her stylist and barreled over that little girl?" Enobaria asks mockingly.

"That was an accident, besides if I barreled over one of Katniss' kids, I'm sure I'd have an arrow in my spine."

"Actually I think I'd prefer the knife tactic." The tributes laugh lightly as we remember when Johanna and I first allied up in the 75th Hunger Games after she implied that I was responsible for Mags' death. That seems like a different lifetime now but for some; it is still so fresh in our memories. "I don't believe that my children have been properly introduced, Addy, Brody, Colotta, these are a few of the tributes from the Hunger Games. You know Johanna and Annie, but this is Beetee, survivor from District 3, Enobaria, survivor from District 2. And this is my childhood friend from District 12, Gale." My children respectfully say hello. "Guys these are my children, Addy, Brody and Colotta."

"Nice to meet you," Enobaria states.

"Mom can Lots and I go look around?"

"Don't call me that!" Colotta says.

"Yes go but stay together and be back here before the lunch." I state, and they instantly leave my side.

"Mrs. Odair, is your son here?" Addy asks.

"He is, he is over talking to the President." Annie states in her dreamy way.

"I'm going to go say hello," and Addy runs off.

"I don't like how close she is to that boy."

I chuckle as I grab his hand and lean into his side, "She'll grow out of it soon."

"He's ten years older than she is."

"So?" Johanna asks.

"So, it's not safe for her."

"It's not safe for her outside of her room," Haymitch jokes. His jokes have become a bit more suitable since he gave up drinking. Everyone laughs, except Peeta.

"My husband is 7 years older than me," notes Johanna.

"You don't need to be her influence!" Peeta's temper is rising his grip on my hand is cutting off the circulation.

"Dear calm down, take a few deep breaths, breathe, she's just pushing your buttons." His grip loosens on my hand and I feel the circulation begin to flow. "So what has everyone been up to?"

Beetee explains that he has been working under the Secretary of Communications for about 5 years, putting all of the technology and the clips from the 75 years of oppression for this reunion. Enobaria has been running a fitness training center in District 2, where Gale is her assistant. Johanna has been enjoying a sit down life with her husband, District 4's Mayor. Like me she's been writing a book on those she lost, the only difference is that hers if for a text book for the classrooms where mine was just for therapy. Gale has been seeing someone, who is here, but is over talking with some others from District 2. Annie started teaching in District 4 to keep herself busy, she was seeing someone, but he found that he couldn't be second to a dead man and respectfully left the family be. They are still friends according to Annie.

Everyone asks about the medicines from District 12, Peeta, Haymitch and I relay how much we are enjoying it, the kids love helping gather the plant parts we need, Addy has been working part time in the apothecary so she still has time to be a kid and get her homework done. District twelve also houses individuals from Districts 3, 7, 8, 10 and 11 just looking for a fresh start and to bring a bit of new ideas to 12. It wasn't that uncommon since people just wanted a new life for our new world. Peeta and I still live in my Victor house but we bought a small patch of land from the government and, thanks to those from District 10, we have a small farm of animals that we can really call our own.

Others come over and mingle with us too, telling us how wonderful it is to see us, to meet our kids and so on. Effie, Hazelle, and old Rebels are among them. Gale eventually turns toward me and asks for me to take a walk with him. We walk away from the Plaza and just browse the Capital; we have about 20 minutes before the dinner anyway.

"So you seem happy."

"I am happy, are you?"

"Yeah, Marcy is wonderful; her family was all killed by Snow for opposing the Games. So we kind of share a bond that way."

"It's nice to have someone to share it with."

"I can agree with that." He pauses his speech but not his gait. "You kids are beautiful."

"Thank you."

"Colotta looks like Prim."

"Acts like her too." I say with a sad smile, "Peeta and Haymitch joke that I misnamed my children, Colotta should have had the middle name of Primrose, and Addy should have been Rue."

"Nah, you did good."

"Thanks."

"I just never thought you'd have kids."

"Neither did I, it took Peeta 10 years to convince me."

"I tried since before the Games."

"I know you did, but as for so many, that was a different time, different rules applied, when you first brought it up before the reaping, I never thought a rebellion could have happened in our lifetime."

"Before you went into the Games, I don't think anyone outside of 13 thought so either. You have a remarkable influence Catnip."

I smile, that's what Peeta always tells me. We walk in silence for a while just admiring how much change 25 years could bring to the city.

"Katniss, can I ask you something?" I only look at him. "What happened when you went to kill Snow?"

"When I changed my shot?"

"Yeah, I know the wind wasn't that bad."

"There wasn't any wind."

"Exactly, what changed your shot?"

I have to pause, everyone knew what Coin was capable of, that I was tried and found not guilty due to mental instability. But then I realize that he's not asking what the public knows, he's asking my reasoning. "I realized that a man that desperate to die or that close to it anyway wouldn't lie about something as severe as the bombings of the children, and of Prim." I take a shaky breath. "He wasn't lying and I knew it, I knew who was responsible so I took the shot at Coin, for Prim and for those kids."

"I never intended for my design to be used like that." Gale looks at the ground in shame.

Of course he didn't, he had no idea what Coin had in store for me, how she wanted me dead because I was a threat, how I got under her skin and she was out to return the favor. Of course he didn't know that, Boggs didn't even know that, and he was her second in command.

"Gale, that wasn't your fault, Coin betrayed us all."

"But it was my design that lost me the most important thing to me, you."

"Gale, after I lost Peeta once, I knew who I couldn't live without. You were my friend and confidant; we had so much in common with out temper and ability to disregard orders. I knew, after he started to come back that I needed someone with a leveler head then mine. And I don't think you would've been happy with living in District 12 for the rest of your life after everything that happened."

"I would have been happy wherever you were."

"That's not true Gale and you know it, you wouldn't have been as full of life as you are now, starting somewhere new with someone different." We pause our little walk.

"I spent years looking for someone like you, but never found her."

"Because you weren't really looking for me, you were looking for someone to mend your heart."

Gale pauses before he hugs me, "When did you become so smart?"

"I've always been smart; I just didn't know how to reason with people I couldn't understand."

"Motherhood certainly has changed you."

"Yes it has." We walk, arms linked back to the Plaza where we have only minutes to spare before the lunch begins. In those few minutes however, I am introduced to Marcy, from district 2. She's pretty of course, blonde hair, green eyes. She is a teacher at the District school. She seems nice enough but closely watches my reactions with Gale, I suspect a bit of jealousy.

At the meal, we are organized at our tables, usually by District but the tributes, Effie, my old Prep team, the President, Plutarch and major war figures and our families were all together at a front center table. Each person retold certain, mostly funny, moments in the war against the Capital. I tell of the time Finnick Odair Senior pouted because he couldn't go on the mission to film propo from District 8. How I told him I "forgot" about his new trident Beetee had for him, how he lit up at the simple word, how just before he left to go down to the Special unit, I reminded him to put on pants and he simply took off his gown leaving him in just his underwear and socks, asking me if his near nakedness distracted me and how uncomfortable it made Boggs.

Others had similar stories, tributes shared stories from the ring, and past reapings, Game Mentors and Gamemakers relived some of the good moments from the arena and training. My children laughed at the stories of the people they would never get to know, how even the strongest of people can goof up and make it look good. A lot of the Tributes stories feature our "favorite" person Ceaser Flickerman. All of how they tried to gain sympathy or play up their strategy at his questions. Everyone remembers how charismatic Peeta was with the camera. He in turn recalls making up his interview for the Quarter Quell about our first "marriage" and my "pregnancy." Everyone but Effie laughs at the lies we all made up to seem more personable.

"What if they found out she wasn't pregnant though, what if they made her do a test before the games and found out you were lying? That could have had serious repercussions."

"Of course it would have, but it was Snow who kept putting pressure on Katniss to prove to him that she loved Peeta more than life itself. If they had been caught in the lie, Katniss could have claimed that she lied to Peeta because her nerves made her sick." Haymitch defends jokingly. Everyone laughs at his pathetic defense.

"And then they would have been dead within the first 24 hours of the Games." Effie huffs.

"Oh no, we wouldn't have done that, after all, it was my call as to what went on in the Games." Plutarch states.

"Yes and then you would have ended up like Crane."

"Crane?" Colotta asks.

"He was the Gamemaster of the 74th Hunger Games," Addy explains, "He's the one that went against Snow and allowed Mom and Dad both to be victors of the Games."

"And thus the start of all our problems," Haymitch sighs.

The rest of the day went on like that, talking about happy moments, and some stressful ones, trying to keep away from anyone that we would have to talk about tomorrow. Today was to be happy, for tomorrow would be the day for letting go.

Later that night, Peeta and I crawled into bed, the children in the adjoining room. As the lights went out, Peeta wrapped me securely in his arms as he spooned behind me.

"How was your walk with Gale?"

"Normal, just talked about the kids and how they all turned out. A little bit about what happened the day Snow died, and so on."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I mean after the trial, it didn't seem to matter anymore, I did what I did out of revenge for my sister, she wouldn't live with that guilt because she was as bad as Snow, she saw her actions as a necessity.

"I meant about being here Kat."

"I'm fine."

"Your mother told me you had nightmares last night."

"Can you blame me?"

"No, I just want to make sure that you are okay."

"Now that you're here, everything is fine." The two of us fall asleep in peace, no dreams to haunt us, at least for tonight.

The next morning is here all too soon. The kids silently entered our room and woke us up when they crawled sleepily into bed with us. If someone didn't know any better, one would think that we had three adolescents instead of three teenagers. We laid there until breakfast came, where we ate in relative silence. Despite not knowing those honored today, it is clear that they understand what this day means for Peeta and I, along with every other adult out there. Peeta reads over my speech and makes minor corrections as I go over the itinerary for the day. Soon the children are off getting ready while Peeta and I do the same. He brought one of the suits he wore for his interviews with Ceaser while he brought me a dress he had made for me; it was a simple dress at first glance but at closer inspection after I put it on, it is a shorter, lighter version of the transformed wedding gown Cinna made for me at the Quarter Quell.

"I thought that you might like this since we can't find the gown from that night."

I smile at my reflection as Peeta wraps his arms around my waist. "Thank you." He kisses my exposed shoulder.

"We should probably start heading out," he mumbles against my shoulder.

He reluctantly pulls away while I continue to look at myself in the mirror, my hair, done by my mother in her usual braids, my nails black, I almost look like my younger self from 25 years ago, with a few wrinkles. The children come in raving about the dress. They are all in nice cloths, the girls in light blue dresses, like the one my mother left for me at the 74th reaping, and Brody is wearing black pants and an orange top.

"You all look great." I say.

"Not as pretty as you Mom," Colotta states.

"Nonsense, you are all just as wonderful." Peeta says. Addy blushes at his comment, she looks more like me every day. Brody stands tall like his father and Colotta almost makes me burst into tears, she's always looked like Prim, but today especially makes me a little emotional, for there she stands, a year older than what Prim was before she died and looking just as young as Prim was when I volunteered in her stead.

"Come on, don't want to be late, I'm sure Grandma is anxious to see you." I say.

We walk outside of our room where my mother is waiting. Tears come to her eyes upon the sight of my children; young versions of Peeta, me and Prim, the two that grew up too fast and the child that never saw adulthood. She quickly pushes them back and smiles at Peeta and I. "You both look wonderful," she says as she hugs us both. "Now do you have your speeches ready?"

"Yes," we answer.

"Everything alright body wise?"

"Yes," we answer again. I notice the children hiding their laughs as my mother treats me like I'm their age.

"Alright then, let's go."

We walk down the path that leads again to the Plaza. Peeta, My mother and I are all silent, but the children are talking excitedly about the Capital. We eventually reach the plaza and find it full already. Our seats, have thankfully been reserved ahead of time, we are with the rest of the speakers up front.

As the memorial begins, we start with speeches by the President, Plutarch, other government members and a few Capital residents. They are followed by Beetee's little presentation that he has been working five years on. A short narration opens the film; I recognize the voice as Haymitch's.

100 years ago, there was a rebellion for freedom and for justice, but with just pure anger at the Capital, there was no organization, and the cause fell short. The Capital, outraged by the audacity of being challenged, destroyed the farthest District, District 13, as a reminder and declared the Hunger Games, where the districts would offer up one boy and one girl as tribute. The 24 tributes would fight to the death for one victor, who would be another reminder of the Capitol's supposed generosity and forgiveness. (The video is the one played at the reapings, a reminder of why we were there. I grip Peeta's hand tightly and he reassuringly squeezes mine.) We do not forget the young lives reaped each year for the Games, over 1700 lives lost for the Capitols purpose of keeping the districts in line. (Picture upon picture of the 1701 lives lost flashes on the screen. Rue's death causes tears to come to my eyes.) However, those victors had their own struggles too, families lost for the ways they survived, and some had nightmares that continually attempted to trap them in that death filled arena. (Pictures and videos of the 75 victors flash on screen, the videos from their success at living come onto the screen in black and white. They are graphic but some are the same ones shown in school, with the exception of the one guy that ate his victim's faces off.) That is until the 74th Games when someone dared to defy being just another pawn in the games. (My face, along with Peeta's flash on the screen.) For the first time, there were two victors leaving the ring, both from District 12. They became known as the "star-crossed" lovers. Little did they know the price of their actions. (Peeta and my attempt to eat the berries and our interview after the Games comes up, listening to our answers about why we refused to let one of us win, we just couldn't live without the other.) It was this action alone that started our nation's successful rebellion. Despite the fact that the Capital bombed District 12 as another example (This time it is Gale and I returning to the rubbles of District 12, reliving stories, and just getting a chance to be ourselves again.) For in the rubble, we found our Mockingjay, the symbol of our time to rise. (There is the clip of my singing "The Hanging Tree" in the Meadow. The image disperses into shots of the rebellion.) We found strength in our hate and with the proper leadership; we worked our way into joining the districts against the Capital. (My speech at District 8 after the impromptu hospital was bombed is shown, my anger and strong hate for Snow is clear and very passionate.) We took the chance and invaded the Capital in search of our final goal, freedom! (The raid I led through the capital is shown, our struggle to not get caught, now fresh in my mind.) Eventually, the Capital was taken, but at a very high cost. Snow's manor was guarded by children, our own used our mutual hate for the President against us and bombed them, and our medics that ran in to help, including those that had just reached their teen years. (I sat there waiting for the footage of the bombing, but it never came, instead they trained it on a battle torn Capital.) We took our revenge judicially against the heartless man who sat in as our President. It was his truth told to the Mockingjay that confirmed those that turned on us are responsible for the events that unfolded in front of his house. As the country sat by and waited for the Mockingjay to take her justice, everyone was surprised by her own actions to take out the one we were supposed to trust, President Coin was taken out by the Mockingjay (The footage from President Snow's would have been assassination shows. My children grab my hand as they watch me shoot the 50 year old woman off of the second story balcony.) We found our redemption and our justice in the Mockingjay's actions. In a time so far in our past, some things can easily be forgotten, but let us never forget those we lost for our freedom we have today.(Collages of the dead flash on the screen as a soft background plays.20 slides, each containing over 100 faces stare back at us. And then it's over)

At the end of the movie, I hear some crying, sniffling and sobs. I myself have tears running down my face. So many lost; some of them for me, and my own targets. Peeta wraps his arms around me protectively. Now it's time for the speeches. The remaining 6 tributes speak, lead medics speak of the horrors they witnessed during the uprising, there were others I couldn't quite focus on, and then, before I knew it, it was my turn.

Peeta reassuringly squeezes my hand and then I slowly approach the stage. At the podium, I take a deep breath and pause before I begin my speech.

"I don't know how everyone else could follow that video, but I will certainly do my best." I pause looking down at my prewritten speech and find that I don't have words for this and I push aside my speech. "I remember at the age of 11, my father was taken from this life, leaving my mother and my sister in my capable hands. At the time, I didn't feel very capable at all. I wasn't old enough for rations to trade for a few extra names at the reaping for the Hunger Games; we were slowly starving to death. I thought that dying by starvation was worse than being a dead victor at the Games. It was in that state that someone showed me true kindness." I looked at Peeta and smiled. "He took a beating for me so I could have some bread that I could never hope to afford. I took it home and we went to bed with something in our stomachs for the first time in a long time. In my quest to try and thank him, I found hope in a single dandelion. I learned to hunt and trade in the local Hob.

"It was these actions that lead me to be a tribute in the 74th Hunger Games. Those old enough remember that my sister was chosen first and I volunteered in her stead. It was my promise to her before I left that I would try to win. Along the path to my victory, I discovered a sudden love, and made some new friends; Cinna, Rue, even Haymitch. My friend, and ally, Rue from District 11 died in my arms after being killed by a Career Tribute, I knew then that I was too close to the end to give up. I fought until it was just Peeta and I remaining. I defied the Capital, I won, and I was able to feed my family. But I had angered some people along the way; President Snow was at the top of that list. He came to me personally and told me to prove to him that I cared for Peeta and to diminish the growing rebellion amongst the districts or else he would destroy everything in District 12 that I hold dear. I tried and thought I failed, but it was later that I learned that I didn't fail at all, I only revealed my one vulnerable weakness to the man bent on destroying me, my beloved Peeta.

"We were then thrown back in the arena for the 3rd Quarter Quell with past victors, again leading to strange friends and allies. Only a handful of those allies remain, but after the bombing of District 12, three of us arrived at 13 to find a whole new challenge, a hidden district with a president who thought I was wrongly chosen. I acted and spoke on screen in an attempt to raise the rebellion, to show that we were no longer pawns, but free people. I agitated President Coin and openly tolerated her. In her eyes, my job was to provide the flames for the Rebels to expand on, and I did, but I had my own agenda.

"After seeing the remains of my home in ashes, my friends, and lifestyle destroyed by a man who couldn't bear to be shown up, I wanted blood, his blood. He held my friends captive, their minds, much like the rest of us, already vulnerable from their times in the arena. He tortured them for information they didn't have, and causing their already fragile states to crack. Peeta, once retrieved tried to kill me on numerous occasions, becoming a weapon for both Presidents. Johanna became hooked on Morphling to help with the pain that resided only in her mind, Annie was only supposed to be bait for Fiddick, but even in her state of mind, they used that to their advantage."

I pause, trying to regain my thoughts. "That man, was pure evil and sick, and sadistic. I demanded his head, and the chance to kill him myself, he wouldn't take another person from me. However, even in my anger, we found much to celebrate; we were alive, Fiddick and Annie exchanged vows to love each other for eternity, and we were winning. All our joy only fueled our cause.

"It would be in the cold season that we took our flight into the capitol to seize it. It would be there that I would lie to my fellow squad members about a fake mission to kill President Snow for President Coin after Boggs, the team leader was shot. It would be on that mission that I would lose all but 5 members of that team. It would also be there that my heart would be torn in two, I would watch my sister rush to the aide of bomb targeted children and be killed for her efforts. I still have that image clearly in my head, my name forming at her lips, and the flash that took her from my mother and me.

"I talked with President Snow after his trial, my first words in weeks, and he would truthfully reveal to me the true mastermind behind that heartless deed. President Coin was responsible, and I took care of my revenge, but it brought me nothing but a trial and emptiness. Some say it was easy to walk away and put the images of war in the back of our minds. For me, it wasn't, I still have nightmares 25 years later. Faces of the dead that faithfully stood behind me, believing in me, dying for our cause haunt my thoughts day and night. Today I can do nothing but remember their names, their faces, their belief in the cause and let them enter my mind. I still struggle with the question 'why me?' I still wonder why wonderful, loving people like Rue, Fiddick, Boggs, Cinna, Portia, lost tributes, lost members of District 12, my squad, my friends, my sister and other good hearted Rebels lost their lives and I got to live.

"Watching that video was a heartfelt reminder of that answer. Some of us will forget the faces and names of that rebellion; they will only live in happiness of the freedom that those people died for. It is my quest to ensure that my children remember why their aunt and their parent's allies are not here today in hopes that they will pass it onto their own children for generations.

"I am truly thankful for my friends and family, as I hope many of you are. Let there be no more grieving for the lost, instead let us be thankful for what they gave up for us, something no amount of money can repay.

"There's really nothing more I can say, except for this, there is a phrase that many people my age and older, and maybe a few younger will remember, so I have changed it to fit our current situation: Happy travels with no more hunger games, and may the odds…"

"Be ever in your favor!" cries numerous voices from the crowd.

I look out around me and realize that more than one person is crying. I nod my head finally taking note of my own tears, and move to retake my seat. The President retakes the stand to thank us all for coming, and to dismiss us to eat a large prepared feast.

The group of tributes, my children, and our families and friends walk up to the table and grab our food, but we do not move over to the designated table, instead, we wander out of the plaza to the hill where Rebels camped to take over the capital. We eat in silence, after all, what could we say, sorry that we lost so many? They were words we had no desire to her after it has been heard so many times before, so what good would that do.

After the plates are cleared, we all lean back in the grass and ponder our lives now. It is Annie that breaks the silence. "Good-bye Fiddick." Tears roll down her cheeks as she closes her eyes, face up toward the sky, the wind is blowing her hair just so. Johanna follows by saying goodbye to her family, followed by Haymitch, then Enobaria, Peeta, Mom, Beetee, and finally me.

"Good-bye Little Duck, Cinna, Fiddick, friends and family. Thank you."

Peeta pulls me into his embrace as we comfort each other. Our pain has subsided but there is nothing in this world to fill those voids of pure emptiness. Each one of us looks to another for comfort: Peeta and I, Mother and my children, Gale and Marcy, Johanna and Beetee, Enobaria and her husband, Haymitch and surprisingly Effie.

The children ask questions that we do our best to answer, and we complete the day by ourselves. We then retire to our designated housing to climb into bed. Peeta holds me as I cry, that was the first time I relived the events of those years 25 years ago, although I've healed, it didn't make it necessarily easy for me. I feel Peeta tremble behind me and know he's crying. I turn around and hold him just as he is holding me.

"Real or not real: We're going to be okay?" I ask between my sobs.

"Real." Peeta replies before he passionately kisses me.

~Fin

Written back in 2012, please be gentle! Thanks for reading!