A/N: Hey guys! Sorry about the delay! I am currently in Brazil having the time of my life, I was at the USA-Ghana game USA! USA! USA! and the Brazil-Mexico game which was amazing. Anyways, I've got an iPad now, which is how ive been working while I'm down here. I, not going to another game till Sunday, USA vs. Portugal! so hopefully I get this published before then lol. Moving on... 190 reviews?! Over 90 favorites?! And over 170 follows?! Seriously, you guys are awesome And I can't thank you all enough. This story is moving along swimmingly, and I can't wait for you all to see what goodies I have in store for you! In other news, I've received several messages and reviews about what my plans are after this story comes to a close... And I'll come out and say that I've started preliminary work on a most MJ telling of how Katniss and Peeta grow back together... I know those stories are a dime a dozen lately, but I hope you've all enjoyed my writing enough to give it a read when I publish it. I'll post more details about it as I get closer to releasing it. Anywho! Last time I saw you guys, Snow was plotting and Katniss came to fully understand who she's dealing with in President Coin. So let's find out what happens next, shall we? Not a ton of Everlark in this chapter, sorry about that, but I believe you'll understand why.

Change of Fate

Chapter Twenty: In Cold Blood

President Snow

Someone severely messed up. I'm steaming at the head of this long table in a meeting with my collection of military advisors, generals, and gamemakers explaining to me how this latest fuck up occurred. Every single one of them is yelling at me and saying the same thing, only in different words. Every single one of them is trying to be louder than the others. I choose to let them all continue, for I'm old now and I can tune out most of this. I'm far more preoccupied pondering my own failure in this matter... This was supposed to be the end of the line. Katniss Everdeen was not supposed to escape my grasp again. Her death was supposed to be assured. The end of the war is what was in sight in my mind. Now it is further away than ever, and support for the war in the Capitol is waning as well. People want results. I want results. "Enough," I say, very tired of listening to excuses. "We need a plan of action, and a way of executing that plan."

"Lets launch a draft of able bodied men here in the Capitol, we need more troops and fast!" Exclaims one of my many advisors.

"Nonsense!" Shouts another.

"It's better than doing nothing," says the first man.

"The people will never stand for it!"

"Why don't you suggest another idea?!" This just re-instigates the shouting match that had just ended. I simply roll my eyes and rest my head in my hand and watch as these men cannot speak in turn. Each of their egos is larger than the last. If the situation weren't so dire, I'd probably be amused by this show of too much testosterone flowing in the room. Yet things are quite serious, and the fact that these men, supposedly Panem's boldest and brightest, can only get into a pissing match irritates beyond belief. I wish I had a gun with me so I could shoot it at the ceiling to get their attention. Or into one of their brains.

Eventually, my Head Gamemaker Iago Saváge whispers in my ear, "Mr. President, it's not a long term solution, but why don't we just bomb District 13?"

I look at him with curious eyes. His pointed hook of nose, with sharp and narrow black eyes peer down at me. He is not without fault in our failure to end the life of Katniss Everdeen. Or at least keep her captive for longer than a day... But his point does have some value. It is certainly not a viable long term plan but at least it makes a point. Furthermore, it will at least make some good propo footage... Even with losses on both sides of the war, we still hold superiority with our aircraft. It might be the one thing keeping us from already having lost this war. I feel it is best to remind the rebels of this. I nod at him, before I stand up to end the bickering.

"Silence!" I command. Without fail, every single man falls silent. "Mr. Saváge has made a fair point. While you can all continue on with this debate for further hours upon the many hours of which we've already spent, I want something to happen now. Get the air force ready, I want to bomb District 13."

The silence persists. That is not what they had expected. But it's what I want. And it's what's going to happen.

"Mr. President," begins General Battenrock, "What good will that do in this particular intense?"

"It sends a fucking message!" I snap back at him and his ignorance. I stand and meet the gazes of the great generals of the Capitol. "We have failed much more than we have succeeded thus far, gentlemen. And I will not accept this any longer. We will bomb District 13 to remind the rebels that even though the odds might be tipping in their favor at the moment, our military might is still superior to theirs. I want to use the new bunker buster missiles, and I want it done as soon as possible!"

Silence permeates the room for a moment, before Battenrock nods and speaks once more. "It will be done sir. We need to fit the hovercraft to be able to launch the bunker busters, so it could be a few days. But it will be done."

I glare at my top general with disdain for a moment before I conceal my emotions once more. "It better be," is all I say before I turn on my heel and leave the generals to continue their arguments. I've heard enough for one day.

Katniss

The past few days have been completely hectic. Ever since Finnick pulled the bait and switch, saving me and Peeta from getting married before we were ready, everything about everything is about Finnick and Annie's wedding. Everything. That's all anyone can talk about in District 13. Who's getting invited? Who's making the dress? Who's in te wedding party? These are the questions I hear multiple times every day.

I don't know who all is getting invited, nor do I know who is making Annie's dress, but I can say who's in the wedding party. Peeta and Haymitch are Finnick's groomsmen, while Johanna and I are Annie's bridesmaids, and Prim is the flower girl. I know. Me. A bridesmaid. I can't believe it either. But once Annie asked, and considering what she and Finnick did for me, I couldn't really say no. Besides, all of us have become as close as family over the past few months, so I really couldn't refuse. I'm sitting in the large cafeteria or mess hall - whatever we call it - with Haymitch, Finnick, and Annie. The later two have been nearly inseparable since we returned to 13. They both seem to be in some sort of dazed and confused state, I guess be separated from the one you love for an extended period of time can do that to you.

I'm suddenly snapped out of my thoughts as I see Peeta approach, and I realize how thankful I am that he and I weren't separated like Annie and Finnick were. I can only imagine the state my mind would be in if the Capitol had captured him and put him through the tortures Annie has experienced. I shudder at the very notion of it.

He kisses me softly on the forehead which elicits a smile from me. "How's it going?" He asks me as he sits down across from me at the table, lovingly looking on at me with his perfect blue eyes.

"Not bad, just a little lost in thought... You?"

"Same old stuff. Was with AC catching up with some of our old friends from 12. More of them survived than I had thought."

"Really?" I ask, my curiosity genuinely piqued. "Who?"

"You remember Delly Cartwright?" He asks, to which I reply with a nod. She was one of Peeta's oldest friends from the merchant quarter. I only say that because she was one of those girls that definitely had a little extra weight hanging around her, and no one from the seam could ever claim that. "Her and her younger brother made it. Then Omid Huckwell and Ivory Oakton, part of my old wrestling team, not sure if you'd remember them..."

I don't really, except for seeing them around Peeta occasionally. Seriously, apart from Gale and Madge, I really didn't have many friends at all. Hearing Peeta catch up with his old friends does make me long a little bit for the days when Gale would actually talk to me. Things have been so awkward between us since he kissed me a few months back, neither of us has really tried to close the gap.

My thoughts are interrupted by Haymitch speaking up. "Omid Huckwell? No relation to Colby Huckwell, is there?"

I laugh a little as Peeta rolls his eyes. "How many Huckwell's did you know back in 12?" He asks rhetorically. "Omid is his little brother." Then I'm reminded that Omid's brother was the District 12 tribute a few years ahead of us. He was killed in the opening bloodbath.

Haymitch grunts in response. "No need to be snooty with me lover-boy. His brother was hopeless in the arena. I hope your friend was a better wrestler than his brother was a tribute."

I scoff immediately at my mentor, as I find this to be an incredibly tactless thing to say.

Just as I'm about to speak up though, I feel an unusual yet familiar presence approach from behind me.

"Can I sit here?"

I whirl my head around to see Gale looking down at me. I am a little perplexed as to seeing him here, but I am pleased nonetheless. It's almost as if I willed him to appear. "Yeah, of course."

He gives me the familiar Gale half smile, half grimace before sitting down across from me, right next to Peeta. He flashes a glance at me, and I smile back to reassure him. I know that Peeta still harbors his insecurities when it comes to me and Gale, rightfully so in his mind, and I don't want to let them fester anymore than they already do.

Silence now dominates a once jovial atmosphere, Gale just brings that along with him it seems. It stays that way for a while before Finnick finally breaks it up. "So Gale, how goes active duty? We aren't likely to see much of that since our last little incident..."

Gale merely shrugs. "It is what it is. I haven't been on the front since we came to rescue you guys. I've been working a lot with Command lately, they have me working on some things with Beetee in the weapons department."

"Really? Like what?" I can't help but ask.

Gale looks from Finnick and back to me and just stares at me for a moment with his deep seam gray eyes. It's like he's trying to communicate with me silently as we used to be able to do, but I can't read him anymore. Something about him has definitely changed over the past few months. "Some things. We're keeping it pretty quiet, though I'm sure you'll all hear about it before anyone else," he quips.

I'm about to snap back at him, asking why he's being so hostile and secretive but I don't get the chance. AC walks over to us with his food tray in hand and sits down next to me, "How are things, everyone?" Then he notices Gale, "Hawthorne..."

I get the feeling that the tension between these two is still simmering, but then Gale speaks and proves me wrong. It's not simmering. It's on fire. "What the hell are you doing here?" He asks, his voice having risen loud enough that other people around us are taking note.

"About to eat lunch with some friends, what's it to you?" AC replies defensively, his tone nearly matching that of Gale's.

Instead of responding to AC though, Gale turns his fiery gaze upon me, "You're friends with this guy now, Katniss? After what he did to me?" He is almost yelling.

I don't get to say anything though, because AC amps up the volume even more. "For the love of god, shut the fuck up about that already Gale! Why don't you grow up? You're almost twenty years old, how many fucking times am I going to have to apologize for you to move on?" All the tables around us are now staring at these two. A scene has officially erupted around us.

Gale stands up quickly, as if to move toward AC, but Peeta stands just as quickly and holds him back. "No, I don't think so Gale," he says quietly, trying to end this little debacle unfolding.

Gale shoves Peeta in the face as he moves around him and makes his way to my side of the table, to which AC responds to by standing as well. Damnit this happened so fast...

"Did you just punch my friend in the face?!" AC asks incredulously.

"AC I'm fine, so sit your ass down," Peeta says as he more forcefully steps in front of Gale to prevent him from advancing, with both Haymitch and Finnick now standing as well. "Gale, don't do anything stupid."

"Go to hell Peeta, I know you're friends with this scum!" He hisses with loathing dripping on every syllable. "You merchant quarter types always stick together!" He is now forcefully trying to shove Peeta out of the way to get a shot at AC, while Finnick is holding the latter back.

"Gale, god damnit stop!" I yell, officially drawing the attention of every soul in the hall.

Haymitch joins me in the middle of these two idiots making an effective wall between them. "You two sissies done bickering?" He asks mockingly. "I thought we'd settled all this crap a few days back, you two have some serious growing up to do..."

"He's the one who still has a problem! I ain't got shit to do with it this time!" AC says while still squirming under Finnick's grasp.

Haymitch meets the young soldier's gaze. "Oh really? You're over there trying to break free to punch him in the face, same as he is. I'd say you're both guilty of still acting like seven year olds."

"Screw this," Gale says, finally relenting under Peeta's firm hold. "I'm going back to work." He says picking up his tray and walking off to the edge of the mess hall, with every set of eyes directly on him.

I let out a sigh, as Finnick let's go off AC who scampers off in the other direction. Everyone in the cafeteria goes back to their business, as Peeta moves towards me and pulls me into a warm embrace. He whispers in my ear, "Why don't you go talk to him? And I'll go check on AC..."

I smile slightly and nod as he gives me a quick peck before moving off to follow his friend. I sigh again as I prepare to go after Gale.

As I walk I can only think about how ridiculous the past few years have been and how much has changed. If you would have asked me two years ago where I'd be right now, I probably would've said still in the seam fighting to keep myself and my little sister alive. If you'd have told me I'd: survived not one, not two, but three rounds of the Hunger Games, be the face of a national revolution; and to top it off, be in love with Peeta Mellark, I probably would have laughed in your face before launching an arrow straight through your eye. Yet here I am. Off to try and figure out how to repair a relationship with the one person other than Prim I'd be sure would've stood by me through this whole process. I know Gale has his feelings for me, but I'd figured he'd be able to put that aside by now and be able to remain my friend. To this point, I've been severely disappointed by him.

I check his room where I find Hazelle, who is pleased to see me, but informs me that she hasn't seen Gale since the morning. I check his assigned barracks area, but no one there has seen him either. I then remember that he told me about working a lot with Beetee lately, so I head down to the weapons department. Deep below the surface, in Beetee's perfect little dome, Gale stands huddled over a work bench with Beetee right beside him. After I pass through the necessary checks to get in, I waste no time in approaching the two of them.

As I approach, quite stealthily I might add, Gale says without looking at me, "I didn't think you'd come..."

"Who says I came to see you?" I snap back. "Hey Beetee, how are you?"

Beetee gives me an awkward smile, "I'm doing well Katniss, it's nice to see you. How are you doing?"

"Not terrible, all things considered. What are you two working on?" I ask, genuinely interested. I peek down at the table and see some schematic drawings that look vaguely familiar to me.

Yet it is Gale who answers. "I told you before, some things..."

I glare at him as he meets my gaze. It would appear he doesn't seem comfortable with my presence here right now. I could really care less though. Beetee gives me a real answer, "Bombs, quite frankly. And how to use them to the best effect. Gale here is quiet the strategic mastermind."

I give Gale a wondering look, "Really? I was unaware his hunting skills could be put to use on the battlefield." His steely gaze doesn't faze me, although I do truly wonder where my best friend has gone.

"He's a natural! Come take a look."

And so I do, and as I take a closer look at their work, I can see Gale's fingerprints all over it. All of these bombs and traps are based off of the same concepts he would use while hunting. It really is quite brilliant at its core. But it's not so much the mechanics of the traps that shows Gale's influence, as I'm sure Beetee is clever enough to come up with much of that on his own. No, it is the psychology and manner in which they would be execute that tells me just how involved Gale has been. Rigging an area near a vital resource, like fresh water, that draws the enemy in. Small scale mines would go off with the sole intention of wounding the soldiers, thus luring in more of the enemy to try and help their wounded comrades. Then BOOM! The real bomb goes off, killing dozens more. I'm actually appalled that Gale would use his hunting abilities to potentially murder so many people.

"Does this not cross some moral boundary, or something?" I ask. "Are we so determined to win this war we may become the very enemy we seek to rid ourselves of? Are there no rules anymore?"

My questions seem to hit Beetee right in the gut, as he shows signs of doubt, but the exact opposite reaction comes out of Gale. His drive and fire burn brightly in his eyes as he stares right at me.

"Sure there are rules. We're playing by the same rule book that Snow plays by." He says this so un-compassionately, so dismissively it hurts. He doesn't see that he is becoming the epitome of what he stood against for his entire life. My face must display my thoughts because then he says, "Come on Katniss, this is war."

"And there are rules in war! Rules that work to prevent the loss of human life!"

"I'm playing by the same rules that Snow used when he had Commander Thread blow Peeta's arm off on national television!" His voice steadily raising. "I'm playing by the same rules he played by when he had his career pack clone thugs beat Peeta to within an inch of his life!" Again, his voice is getting louder, to the point it clearly unsettles Beetee. His bluntness somewhat blinds me for a moment. I'm unable to respond. "I'm playing by the same rules he played by when he sent hundreds of children off to their deaths in 75 years of the Hunger Games!" He is fuming and huffing, but after a moment he calms down, which brings the tension down tenfold as well. He speaks again in a much calmer but colder and darker tone. "This is war. I will show no mercy because we've been given no mercy for our entire lives."

I just stare at the man before me. The man who was once was my best friend has become a complete shell of that person. They look the same, and they sound the same, but they are not the same. The Gale Hawthorne I knew was better than this. "I cannot believe what I'm hearing... You know Gale, I came down here to try and repair our friendship but I'm coming to realize that I'm not even sure if it's worth it. Not if this is who you are and what you believe now. You always talked about revolting from the Capitol when we were younger and I almost dreamed about it, if only as a way to keep Prim alive and out of the Games. But if this is the revolution you wanted all along, then I wish I hadn't been so naive..." I pause as I feel tears beginning to swell in my eyes but I blink furiously to fight them off. "The rebellion I assumed you spoke of would not do anything in order to win. It would not sacrifice lives. That rebellion would not descend to the level of the Capitol, because that was the difference between us and them. You were an idealist before Gale, you wanted to change things, way more than I did. But it seems as if you've forgotten the most important part about the reason for rebelling in the first place: It's possible to fight because you love your family and friends, not just because you hate your enemy."

Without another word, I turn my back to Gale and leave him to his thoughts. I pray that somewhere deep beneath his hardened surface, the good man I once knew heard what I just said. But somewhere deep inside of me, I know that is not the case. And that breaks my heart.

So what'd you guys think? Are you worried about when the bombs are gonna fall? Are you sad about Gale's descent into darkness? You still curious about AC and Gale? What about when Peeta finds out that Katniss and him were originally supposed to be the lucky newlyweds? Can you wait for Annie and Finnick's wedding? Let me know with a review! Also, I've gotten a few messages regarding the length of this fic; while it had been my original intention to make it exactly 27 chapters just like the books, it would appear as if I'm running out of room haha. Which is fine, and I hope you guys don't mind. I'm now aiming for about 30 chapters, give or take, plus an epilogue which I've had planned out for quite some time now lol. Please let me know what you guys are thinking, as I love to get feedback, and I am writing this for all of you as much as I am for myself ;). And remember to watch the game on Sunday! If the US wins, and Ghana is unable to get a point vs. Germany, then even if we lose to the Germans, we advance to the next round! Things are getting very exciting down here in Brazil, so keep me in your thoughts as you watch haha.