"These aren't just regular tributes; they aren't scared teenagers. They're experienced, smart victors. This isn't going to be the same game." Haymitch started their strategy meeting by stating the obvious.

Katniss wanted this to be over, "Just tell us who we need to look out for."

They had a vague idea, but Haymitch actually knew everyone, had seen a lot of their games. He knew their strengths and weaknesses, who to avoid and who they needed to warm up to.

"Everyone," Haymitch said; Katniss and Peeta really hoped that wasn't true.

"Who in particular, Haymitch?" Katniss wasn't in the mood for his humor. "You can't tell me that every single one of them is a huge threat."

"Obviously the careers," Haymitch pointed at the brother, sister duo on the screen. "Gloss and Cashmere, District One, first sister and brother to win back to back games. They're in their early 30s, skilled with knives. I would not make enemies of them, but don't trust them. They will each be each other's weaknesses, they're extremely close. "

Katniss cringed and quietly thought they would be trouble, she couldn't image having to go into the arena with Prim. It was already bad enough Peeta was going with her. Haymitch didn't wait for questions, he just immediately went to the next district. "Brutus and Enobaria, District Two. Brutus is in his late 40s, but don't let that fool you; he's just as bloodthirsty as he was in his own games. Enobaria, late 20s, she-"

"Ripped out another tribute's throat with her teeth." Katniss knew what Haymitch wanted them to know. Enobaria's games were probably the first games Katniss remembered and they had haunted her dreams for weeks after. "Trust me we remember."

"Yeah," Haymitch nodded. "Following her victory, she had her teeth filed into points, so watch out for the biters. Just watch out for the Careers."

He then named the two victors from three: Wiress and Beetee, who were older, but extremely smart. Haymitch believed they weren't as big a threat as others such as Finnick.

"Finnick Odair, District Four," Haymitch paused on his reaping. Everyone knew who Finnick was. He had beautiful bronze skin, golden hair tousled hair, sea green eyes. He looked gorgeous, but looked like trouble. He constantly was with Capitol women and occasionally a very fabulous man. They couldn't get enough of him. "He won his Games at fourteen, youngest ever. He's extremely humble."

Katniss fixed Haymitch with a hard stare, "You're kidding?"

"Yes, of course!" Haymitch held his hands up in defeat. "He's a peacock, a total preener, but the Capitol adores him as much as they love you too. Maybe more. He's a favorite already to win the games."

Peeta spoke up for the first time in a while, "Any weaknesses?" he looked stupidly hopeful.

"His district partner: Mags," Haymitch pointed to the elderly woman next to him. Katniss felt sick. That woman was probably eighty years old and needed assistance from Finnick to walk across the stage. "She's no threat, but she practically raised him. She's actually a very sweet lady, I just hope when she goes, it's quickly."

Haymitch glossed over the tributes from Five and Six, they weren't threats. All of them had turned to one drug or another. Katniss barely paid attention, but knew Peeta would remember for the both of them. Then came the District Seven tributes.

"Blight is strong, but not very smart and he'll follow his partner: Johanna Mason. Besides you guys she's the youngest in the games. You probably remember she pretended to be weak and hid until the number of tributes was smaller and then she turned out to be deadly with an axe. She has quite a temper and might just get sucked into the bloodbath."

Katniss did not like the looks of Johanna at all. They saw the tributes from Eight: an elderly man named Woof, who would be no threat and a mother, Cecelia. Katniss didn't feel right about a mother of three going into the games. And then Haymitch showed Emmer's reaping.

He paused the television so that Katniss was forced to look at her defeated form. Actually, she was probably the prettiest of the female tributes except for maybe Cashmere. Emmer wasn't tall but wasn't short. She had long flowing hair that wasn't brown or blonde but somewhere in the middle and a heart shaped face that had no flaws and full lips. Katniss couldn't see much of her eyes because she was sobbing throughout the ceremony. She also was wearing a pair of glasses with thick black frames, but all they did was add to her beauty. Glasses weren't very common: in the Districts they were too expensive and in the Capitol they weren't fashionable. Her district was grain and she clearly worked outside in the fields, not in one of the granaries judging by her tan and she had on a beautiful black dress. It was then that Katniss noticed that all five of the victors from Nine were in black.

Haymitch pointed at the screen, "Emmer Buckwheat. As you probably already know is better known as the Emmer the Reaper. The capitol adores her." He said sarcastically, "of course, but she's also extremely resourceful and she does a lot of medical research for the Capitol."

"Um, Haymitch, why are they all dressed in black?" Peeta asked the question Katniss wanted to. She thought they both probably already knew the answer.

"I think it's a statement about this year's games." Haymitch began unsurprised by the question. He also seemed a bit impressed. "It's custom funeral attire in the Capitol."

Political statements and talk of rebellion was really starting to put Katniss on edge so she quickly changed the subject. "So what should we do about her? Steer clear and not make eye contact?"

As she feared, Haymitch shook his head. "This time around you need to make allies and she might be your best bet: she's extremely skilled in medicine and tracking and knows a thing or two about combat. She already is a huge fan of the star-crossed lovers that is Katniss and Peeta," he gestured between the two of us. "And she's been looking forward to meeting you guys since you won, but was ill during your victory tour."

That sounded like a lie. Katniss and Peeta hadn't met a single victor during their tour, so unless all of them were sick or in other parts of the district something was going on.

"I don't know. She could just be pretending to like us to get close to us," Katniss didn't know what to think of this woman. She seemed like the perfect victor: strong, talented, beautiful, and deadly.

"Regardless," Peeta countered, giving Katniss a meaningful look, "we should get to know her first before we decide what to think of her."

"Okay," Katniss said not sounding happy at all.

"Peeta, you're not the one I'm worried about," Haymitch laughed, pointing at Katniss.

She scoffed, fed up with this conversation and left to go to her compartment, not bothering to finish hearing about the other tributes.

Remake Center (later that day)...

District Nine's train had gotten into the Capitol very late the night before and as per usual they went to the ninth floor of the tribute center and I collapsed in the appropriate bed. District Nine was always among the first districts to arrive and that worked in my favor because I hated being on the trains. I would never sleep on them willingly. They gave me so much anxiety, I struggled to breathe just thinking about them. I guessed that it had to do with first my experience as a tribute and then having only been on them as a victor and mentor and all they brought was reminders of death. Tributes I killed and the ones I failed to mentor successfully. They also reminded me of Seb.

But I had long ago accepted that was a wound that wouldn't heal properly. No matter how happy Finnick made me, and he did make me the happiest; I might never forget my first love. I fell asleep wondering, as I often did, what would have happened if he had won his games. Would I still be with him? Or would I be with Finnick regardless? I still hoped it was the latter. Finnick was in my life even with Seb was.

I was roused from my sleep around ten o'clock the following morning to the cries of my prep team. I groaned from under the sheets of the bed and quickly formed a smile: my mask for the Capitol.

"I thought the games were supposed to be an exciting time, my loves?" I said roping them into a group hug. I never bothered to remember their names. I didn't care that much and they seemed to like my pet names for them over whatever their real names were.

"They are," one of the males said. That felt like a wrong answer to me but I said nothing. "But you aren't supposed to go back, Emmer."

Inwardly I cringed. I wanted to say, I know but that's the Mockingjay's fault. Instead I said with a sad sigh, "I know, darling," and grabbed his hand. "But I guess that's not the plan for me. It's not the first time I've been disappointed by the games."

I would never forgive anyone in the Capitol for that. First I was throw in the games, then my boyfriend, no technically my fiancé, and then to make it worse me childhood best friend, Blaze were all sent into the games. Granted two of us were able to walk away, but it didn't mean we deserved to be there in the first place. And now I had to die along with Finnick for the Mockingjay to live. God I really did have the worst luck.

The prep team didn't seem to know what to say after that, but the female hugged me back just a bit tighter and wiped her tears and said, "Come on, let's make you prettier."

I hated how they had dressed me, really I was almost naked but in the most ridiculous costume nonetheless. How was anyone, especially the Mockingjay, supposed to take me seriously when I was dressed as bread. Actual literal bread. I was supposed to hold a baguette and I had a golden brown hat that looked like a muffin on my head. I was wearing a dress that horrifyingly short and extremely low cut but still bread themed.

I liked my prep team about as much as I could like anyone from the Capitol. But I had a special place in my heart for the loathing I held for my stylist. He only dressed me in either bread or like the Reaper. He was the one who suggested I get contact lenses on my eyes so I didn't have to wear glasses and I could 'finally be sexy.' They irritated my eyes to no end.

I like my glasses so much more, even if the lenses had been more comfortable. I could think clearly while wearing them. They helped me think and stay grounded, but I was never allowed to wear them in the Capitol because they seemed like an imperfection.

I spotted Peeta walking out from an elevator wearing yet another black jumpsuit. I mean we get it, coal makes fire. Good for you, you have a cool stylist. Despite my jealousy, I made my way towards him.

"Peeta, hey!" I hugged him like an old friend.

"Hello, Emmer," he didn't seem uncomfortable at all by the affection, and he smiled at my costume. "So nice to finally meet you. I know I've seen you on tv before and we talked on the phone, but it strange to being meeting you in person."

I laughed having to agree, it was like meeting the author of your favorite book, you know so much about them and understand them, but you've hardly scratched the surface. "I understand completely, but I decided that I'd dressed like an adoring fan as your favorite food."

We were walking towards his chariot and presumably Katniss and he laughed as well, "I can't disagree. That outfit," he whistled, "doesn't look like fun."

"Listen we'll talk later, but definitely know you have my unwavering support in there," I knew it was bold, hinting for an alliance but I also knew what I was here for.
We stopped and then I was face to face with not just the Mockingjay but also Finnick. Finally.

Peeta was trying to perform introductions for me and Katniss but I couldn't tear my eyes from Finnick. We rarely saw each other as it was and this was not how I hoped to be seeing him this time around. I knew he had been reaped, it was like Snow had hand-picked who to take down which was probably true. I wanted to fall into his arms and kiss him, but we had a game to play before we could be totally in love. I hadn't even told him the extent of my feelings for him. It would hurt too much.

I snapped out of it and saw that Katniss had been holding out her hand for me to shake. Instead like usual, I went in for a hug. "Girl on Fire, what a pleasure," and I kissed both of her cheeks which she seemed shocked by and completely uncomfortable with.

"Nice to meet you, too, Emmer the Reaper," she had venom in her tone and god she was cold. I hated the nickname. What happened to the schoolgirl act? Finnick laughed at the Mockingjay's bluntness.

To cover up my growing dislike for her, I explained, "Sorry, darling, it's a gesture of friendship in my district. Sometimes I forget we all have our own customs. Like in Finnick's district, apparently they use, fish net as clothing." I gestured to his costume, which to myself I admired, but despite's that it was all for the Capitol, a reminder that not even our bodies were ours after the games.

Peeta laughed and Katniss tried in vain not to smile she said nothing though.

"Well, we'd love to stay and chat, but I don't think that's what someone wants to. I look forward to seeing the both of you in training tomorrow." We all knew I was referring to Katniss, Finnick laughed again and handed me a sugar cube. And we left the two to mull over the last five minutes.

"Em, how are you?" Finnick began with a question he already knew the answer to. I groaned and discreetly, grabbed his hand quickly and squeezed it. That was our way sign. I'm not fine but I will be.

"You know the usual. Just another exciting Hunger Games," I said. Finnick always joked that my sarcasm was going to get me into trouble, but it didn't matter anymore. I already was in trouble. We were walking as slowly as possible trying to stay together just a moment longer before we had to get in our chariots.

"Don't be scared, it's me and you, kid," I rolled my eyes. I was 22, just two years younger than him, but he never let me forget it. We teased each other constantly though, we loved bad jokes. God, I loved him.

"Hey, you have nothing to worry about, I trained this year, I don't know about you, but I can now use a practical weapon or two," I always thought fighting with a scythe or a trident was kind of ridiculous.

"Really?" His eyebrows shot up in surprise after my games, I had told him before I never wanted to touch another weapon, but times were changing. We all knew that and I knew one way or another I would need to be able to defend myself and others this time.

We were right next to my chariot and Finnick didn't want to leave yet, but he was in one of the first chariots so he had to. Quickly before anyone important could see he gave me a quick peck on the lips and smiled, "That's just a gesture of friendship in my districts."

I laughed and playfully shoved him, "Get going, I will not be late because of you, sir." He walked off smiling. We would meet later and then really talk and 'say hello'.

"You kids make me sick," Jem laughed and I climbed up. "It's refreshing."

"Shut up and get ready for another exciting Hunger Games." The second Finnick left I felt cold and dark inside. He gave me light and life.

Five years earlier…

"Wow, wait. What?" It was unbelievable, I didn't believe Four. "You kissed Finnick Odair?"

"Oh god, shut up Nine." Four was blushing hard and looking down at the fishhooks at the fishing station. I wasn't learning anything at this station other than gossip.

"No, if you except an alliance, I demand details," I was laughing so hard. A career, a girl who had trained her whole life in case she ever got picked for the games, wanted an alliance with me because I knew more than anyone here about plants, animals, and food in general and she thought I would be useful to her.

"We were in the same orphanage back in Four and really close. I was like twelve and he was thirteen." She was so embarrassed, but so in love. I could tell. "I don't know it was both of our first kiss."

"So you're dating Finnick Odair," I knew I had a boyfriend back home and I loved him. We had been together for two and a half years, but who didn't secretly wish they were with Finnick just a little bit.

"Have you seen Finnick?" Four rolled her eyes. "He's perfect and I think he forgot about me until the day I was reaped."

This kind of sucked, I wanted to make her feel better, but it didn't feel so great making friends with someone when it was certain that one or both of you would be dead in three weeks. But against my better judgment I said, "He definitely knows who you are now. And if I don't win, you will and then he love you forever."

"Oh my god," and she laughed, we were like schoolgirls. Anything to distract from the fact that we were going to be fighting for in less than a week. "What about Seb? What's he like?"

"I love him, right?" I smiled, I missed him so much. "He's the reason, I have a job and I'm alive. We were friends before my mom and dad died and then he would give my brother rations when he saw him and after I left school before the reaping, he helped me study whenever we had free time." I could talk about him for hours we were always together. "He's the mayor's son and he has a huge and loving family and he chose me. I don't know why, but besides Jake, he's all I have left."

"Wow," Four said thoughtfully. "I hope if I win that Finnick loves me like that."

I didn't if our love was one she would want, she would want more passion. The mood felt melancholy so I added, "If you win Finnick wouldn't be you're only option, hun."

Thanks so much for the favorites and follows I'm getting trust me those don't go unnoticed. I promise in the next chapter and the following you'll learn more about Seb and Emmer and Finnick and Emmer and the status of their relationship. Also please comment if you think Finnick or Emmer or neither should be picked up by the Capitol at the end of the games. Thanks!