A/n: I'm so sorry this is so late, but on the plus side, we're almost done and the epilogue should come out tomorrow.

A Hard Won Ending

As Plutarch promised, Peeta was shipped out to the frontlines. He kept repeating two lines to himself to keep himself sane. No word came for a few days. Then there was talk of a dual bomb outside the City Circle, killing children and rebel medical teams, including Prim. The nine remaining Victors were called to the Capitol.

Jeanetty stood over Katniss and Peeta as he slept with his head on her bed, her hand in his. She smiled down at the young couple before adjusting Katniss' leads and bags. She had been volunteered as a nurse when the medical teams had been killed.

A day later Katniss woke up and attempted to get up. "Hey, I need you to lie back, honey." Katniss struggled a little. "You're okay. Everything's gonna be okay." Jeanetty turned to a fellow nurse. "Can you get Dr. Everdeen and Mr. Abernathy? Tell them Katniss is waking up?"

An hour later Katniss was awake and functioning, her mother tending her burns. Her Mentors stood at the foot of the bed. "What happened?" Katniss looked to the other Victors for news.

"Fight was over after the Capitol dropped those bombs to defend the palace," Haymitch said. "The rebels walked right in."

Edith continued to tend to her daughters skin, making her jump. "Don't Katniss," She chided softly. "The ointment is working."

"Everybody felt it," Jeanetty continued. "Peacekeepers, Palace Guards. They had kids in there, too."

"It was..." Haymitch took a breath. "It was over after that."

Katniss let the words sink in before slowly looking at her mother. "Mom?" No words were spoken between mother and daughter.

It took a few weeks for Katniss to heal from her burns. She was relocated to the Presidential Palace with the other Victors and high ranking officers on a cold winters morning.

Jeanetty quickly found she was pregnant. Her stomach had become more firm as the weeks passed. The Capitol's medical centers were better equipped than District 13's and her suspicions were proven true. Haymitch had been more than pleased with the news.

The weeks passed before all nine surviving Victors sat in a circle with President Coin. Katniss was the last to arrive. "What's this?"

"The remaining Victors," Coin said with a smile. "Won't you join us?" The Victors sat and Coin continued. "I have invited you all here for several reasons. First to congratulate the Abernathy's and Mrs. Odair on their upcoming children." There was a round of congratulations before she continued. "Second, I have an announcement. I have taken the burden and the honor of declaring myself Interim President of Panem."

Haymitch scoffed and everyone looked to him. "'Interim'? Exactly how long is that interim?"

"We have no way of knowing for certain," Coin said shaking her head. "But it's clear that the people are too emotional right now to make a rational decision. We'll plan an election when the time is right. But I have called you here for a far more important vote. A symbolic vote. This afternoon, we will execute Snow. Hundreds of his accomplices also await their deaths. Capitol officials, Peacekeepers, torturers, Gamemakers. But the danger is, once we begin, the rebels will not stop calling for retribution. Thirst for blood is a difficult urge to satisfy. So I offer an alternative plan. Majority may approve it. No one may abstain. The proposal is this. In lieu of barbaric executions, we hold a symbolic Hunger Games."

Johanna was the first to vocally react. She laughed. "You wanna have another Hunger Games with the Capitol's children?"

"You're joking?"

"Not in the slightest," Coin said to Peeta.

Jeanetty scoffed. "Is this Plutarch's idea?"

"It was mine. It balances the need for revenge with the least loss of human life," she said calmly. "You may cast your votes."

"No." Peeta was the first to reject the notion.

"Not a chance in hell," Jeanetty agreed quickly.

"Obviously not. This is crazy," Peeta continued.

"Well, I think it's more than fair. Snow's got a granddaughter," Johanna approved. "I say 'yes'."

"So do I," said a Victor from District 4.

"Let them have a taste of it," another Victor from District 5 agreed.

"You guys, this way of thinking is what started the uprisings," Peeta pointed out.

"I vote 'no'," Annie said tearily. "So would Finnick if he were here."

"Well, he's not," Johanna snapped. "Because Snow killed him."

"No." Beetee gave no explanation or argument for a moment. "We need to stop viewing each other as enemies."

"It's down to Katniss and Haymitch," Coin urged quietly.

"I get to kill Snow."

"I expected no less of you."

"Then I vote 'yes'," Katniss said firmly. "For Prim."

"Haymitch?"

The two Mentors of District 12 looked over to the young woman. She looked back with a plan in her eyes. Haymitch looked down at his cup of coffee. "I'm with the Mockingjay."

"That carries the vote. Excellent. We'll announce the Games tonight after the execution." Coin adjourned the meeting.

Jeanetty and Haymitch readied themselves for Snow's execution. They made their way to the Avenue of Tributes and stood with Peeta and Johanna off to one side, the other Victors standing opposite them.

Katniss made her entrance, walking the entire length of the Avenue, and took her place between the two groups. Coin addressed the gathered crowd. "Welcome to the new Panem. Today on the Avenue of Tributes, all of Panem, a free Panem, will watch more than a mere spectacle. We are gathered to witness an historic moment of justice. Today, the greatest friend of the revolution will fire the shot to end all wars. May her arrow signify the end of tyranny and the beginning of a new era. Mockingjay, May your aim be as true as your heart is pure."

Katniss drew her arrow and took aim. She surprised none of the Victors from District 12 when she shot Coin, though shock did register on Peeta's face when she reached into her breastplate. Rebels and Presidential Security dragged Katniss away from the clamoring crowd as they made their way to Snow.

"Peeta!" Jeanetty pulled on the young mans' arm. "Let's go talk to Plutarch and see what can be done." He nodded numbly and allowed himself to be pulled off the Avenue.

"What did you take from her?" Haymitch and Johanna stood on either side of the pair.

Peeta opened his hand. "Nightlock pill." He let the words hang.

"Why would she have that?"

"Boggs gave them out to the squad Incase they were captured."

No one said anything. They all knew Katniss was mourning her sisters death. Haymitch spoke with Plutarch about what would happen to her while Peeta mulled over his options for his own recovery.

"I just want to be certain that I'm not going to be a danger to anyone."

"That doesn't mean you have to stay," Jeanetty argued.

"Just three more months."

"Then I'm staying with you."

"What about the baby?"

"What about the baby? It'll be nice to know if I'm gonna have a boy or a girl before I go home. Can't do that back in 12."

"What about Haymitch?"

"He's more than likely to go back with Katniss. No doubt Plutarch will get them a ride away from here."

Peeta sighed. "There's no getting rid of you is there?"

"Nope," She smiled.