A/N- Chapter 10 is here; read it up, then write down your thoughts of this chapter/story in a review. Thanks!

((DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Hunger Games.))

Ch. 10:"Star-Crossed Lovers of District 12& Epilogue"

"A man named Gale Hawthorne was murdered during the 3rd Anniversary of the defeat of the capital celebration last night. He had noticed that Katniss "the Mockingjay" Mellark was in danger, so he jumped in front of her and then was hit by a knife in his stomach. The name of his killer has not yet been released. However, some people have been heard saying that it was an angered citizen from the former Capital that murdered him. There is no word on what Mrs. Mellark has to say about any of this.

"Gale Hawthorne was preceded in death by: his father, Emerson Hawthorne, who was killed in a mining explosion. And he is survived by: his mother, Hazel Hawthorne, his younger brothers: Vick and Rory Hawthorne, and his younger sister, Posy Hawthorne. His funeral will be an open casket ceremony and will be held inside the District 12 Justice Building tomorrow night."

said the announcer on the television.

There were probably pictures of Gale on the screen, but I didn't feel like getting up to look. Ever since we arrived home from the anniversary, I have remained in mine and Peeta's room with the door locked. Usually I cry, but sometimes I just sit in the corner without moving trying to avoid thinking about Gale. This is what I was in the middle of doing when the announcement came on; no use in trying to fight it now. So I let myself think about him

I think of the time he and I first saw each other, at the ceremony for both our fathers' death; I think of the time he and I hide inside a cave in the woods to keep out of the rain while we were hunting; I think of the day with Darius in the hob; I think of the day of the Reaping, when he almost told me he loved me; I think of the time he was beaten right in front of me, and how I was so afraid of losing him. And lastly I think of the time my best friend; the boy I hunted with; the boy who called me Catnip; died in my arms.

As Peeta and I enter the Justice Building, I see Hazel just in front of me. I notice she's wearing the same black dress that she wore to the ceremony after the mining explosion that killed her husband. She bumps into me and when she turns to apologize, she sees that it's me.

"Hi, Mrs. Hawthorne," I say.

"You know you can call me Hazel, Katniss," she smiles. "Where's Ivy?" I wonder if she knows that her son was a father.

"She's with my mother. She didn't think a baby had any business being at a funeral."

"Yes, I suppose she's right, but how come she didn't come?"

"She didn't think she could handle it."

Suddenly it's as if Hazel can't take it anymore and she throws her arms around me pulling me into a warm embrace. If any other person were even try to hold me like this I'd push them away, but Hazel at times was more of a mother to me than my real one was, so I let her hug me. "He loved you so much," she whispers so quietly that I almost don't hear her. I can feel her starting to cry.

"I know," I say back.

When she releases me, she looks like she wants to say something, but first she rubs her fingers across her face a few times trying to erase the tracks her tears have left. I look away not wanting to embarrass her.

"It should have been you!" I hear say. No, I'm wrong; it was Posy that said it.

"Posy!" Hazel scold, "How could you say that?!"

"Well, it's true!" she shouts back.

"Posy!" she grabs Posy by the arm and starts walking away, as she says, "I'm sorry, Katniss."

"I hate you! I hate you! I wish it was you!" Posy yells. By now everyone is watching us and they are whispering comments to each other, so I just don't care.

"I know it should have been me! Okay, Posy!? Do you know how many times I've replayed it, thinking about what I would have done differently?! I know that he didn't deserve to die! But he chose to jump in front of me! I didn't have the chance to stop him!"

I run out of the Justice Building crying as hard as I did the day Gale died. Before I can even attempt to calm myself, I feel someone touch my hand; it's Peeta. "I don't want to talk about it," I say.

"That's fine, but you need to come back inside." I turn and roll myself into his arms. He starts running his fingers through my hair; this simple act from him reminds me of why I chose him; he was the one the one I couldn't survive without; he made me feel safe. "He was your friend. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I nod my head, but don't move from my position in his arms. Finally, he pulls away but keeps hold on my hand and then leads me back inside.

Gale's casket is in the center of the room and even though most people are gathered around it, I stay away. I want more than anything to see him one last time, but I don't know if this is how I want to remember him. There are a few chairs on the side of the room that are empty, so Peeta and I go over to sit in them. We sit in silence until I feel like I have control of my emotions.

"Peeta?" I whisper.

"Yeah?"

"Why did you stay with me?"

"Because I love you, Katniss."

"Not anymore," I huff at his obvious lie.

"No, I still do."

"But I cheated on you." He goes silent for a while. "Peeta?"

"Katniss, do you really want to do this here?" he spits back in a whisper.

"Yes."

"Okay, fine! I stayed because I thought it was just a stupid mistake; a onetime thing! But it wasn't, you loved him."

"Then why did you stay with me?"

"I don't know, because everyone expects us to be together. We're Katniss and Peeta; the girl on fire and the boy with the bread; the star-crossed lovers of District 12; we belong together."

"You're lying, that can't be the real reason."

"It's one of them."

"What's the other one then?!"

"It's not important." I give him a look of pure frustration and he continues, "I wanted to punish you and Gale, for what you did... and myself because I must not have loved you enough... What other reason would you have for doing that to me?"

"Oh, Peeta—" I'm almost crying again.

"Just— don't. I have to go; before I say something we'll both regret." He gets up and walks out of the Justice Building and I stay seated.

Once he is gone, I feel the crushing weight of my loneliness, normally this would be the time where I'd run to Gale for comfort, but I can't. I realize I'll never feel his embrace again or see that smile I love so much ever again. I make my way towards Gale's casket. When I see him, he doesn't look like he's asleep, like people always say dead people look. He looks fake; like a statue of himself. I know this isn't how I'll remember him; I'll remember him the way he looked when I was sixteen. He was strong and proud, with an ever glowing light in his smile and in his eyes. That is how I'll remember him.

Suddenly feeling out of place, I head for the exit but before I walk through the doorway, I whisper, "See you soon, Gale." And I will; I'll see him in my dreams; in the woods; random men in the street; and in Ivy every time she smiles.

"Peeta," I say walking into our house in Victor's Village.

"Katniss," he smiles and holds his arms out towards me. I go to him and when he hugs me I realize everything's going to be okay.

"EPILOGUE: theeShadyLady Edition"**

They play in the Meadow. The dancing girl with the dark hair and blue eyes;Ivy, who just turned sixteen. The same age I was the day my life changed. People say that the blue of her eyes is so blue that it's almost unnatural; but that's because they don't remember. They don't remember that she had gray when she was young; we had them colored so no one else would know our secret. The few that do remember believe that it was Peeta's idea, but really it was mine. A small gesture for him, so hopefully he wouldn't have to hear her ask why she doesn't look like him.

The boy with the blond curls and gray eyes, struggling to keep up with her on his chubby toddler took nearly ten years for me to agree. But Peeta wanted him so badly; he wanted one he could call his own. He loves Ivy just as if she was his, but I know it's still not the same. When I first felthimstirring inside of me, I was consumed with a terror that felt as old as life itself.Carrying Ivywas different, I felt guilty, but not scared. It's hard to explain the difference; I wanted so bad to do this one right for Peeta. And once I had him and the doctor had placed him in my arms, I felt like everything was going to be fine.

The questions are just the beginning. The arenas have been completely destroyed, the memorials built, there are no more Hunger Games. But they teach them at school, and the girl knows we played a role in them. She knows about the anniversary celebration that we go to every year to remember the past; and she knows about all the friends that Peeta and I lost because of the Games. The Games, that to her are simply stories she is told about. The boy will know too in a few years. But for now he is too young, to know of the horrors of our past. These are my children, who don't know they play on a grave yard; my children who don't know they have different fathers.

Peeta says it will be okay. We have each other. We can make them understand in a way that will make them braver. But one day I'll have to explain about my nightmares. Why they came. Why they won't ever really go away.

I'll tell them how I survive it. I'll tell them that on bad mornings, it feels impossible to take pleasure in anything because I'm afraid it could be taken away. That's when I make a list in my head of every act of goodness I've seen someone do, it's like a game. Repetitive. Even a little tedious after so many years.

But there are much worse games to play.

~theeShadyLady~

A/N- This is NOT the last chapter anymore. The next chapter (Chapter 11) begins Part 3.


I have posted the PREQUEL to I.W.N.S.G. which is titled, "Her Name Was Katniss". You can find it on my profile page. :)

**P.S.- my Epilogue is taken directly from the Mockingjay Epilogue, except revised to fit my version of the story, not meant to be a copy. The italicized sections of the epilogue are quotes directly from the book, which as we all know was written by the amazing Suzanne Collins.