Disclaimer: Do not own. Credit to Suzanne Collins. Title from Kevin Devine.

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What I knew about her was that she was the things I never was. She looks after other instead of being watched. She is brave. She has a fire in her. I heard before that in life, there is two halves of every soul. Each person makes up a half of soul. I wonder if she is my other half. She is everything I cannot be. She is everything she cannot allow herself to become.

She is the Mockingjay.

And I am bird that forgot how to fly years ago.

I'm nervous around her. I'm nervous because she looks like a young girl but she is capable of such wild things. I'm not sure how old she is, but she definitely is a few years younger than me. She seems unintimidating but she is so powerful. I'm intimidating too, or so Finnick says. That's only so because people are afraid of what I could do. Though not because I'm strong or persuasive. Mainly they are scared of what I can do to myself, not to them. I am defenseless to everyone. Everyone thinks that.

I'm sure Katniss Everdeen thinks that.

I was sure at least.

I think she was a little scared of me. I'd be afraid to get to know me. My tangled hair and wide eyes were enough to draw anyone away. Everyone's heard stories about me at this point. Everyone knows I can sit and stare at next to nothing for hours. They know I need to block out the noise around me because it just gets so…overwhelming. But no one knows what it feels like to be me. But it doesn't matter. No one could see past that except Finnick.

I remember when I first came to District Thirteen. We had been rescued, Johanna, Peeta, and I. There was group of men that came down the halls near our cells and picked our locks. I could hear them whisper urgent things to each other.

"Annie Cresta! Is that you? Annie get up we have to move fast!" I heard some half-whisper half shout in my direction. I tall boy with dark hair and alert grey eyes reached out a hand to me. "Come on!" he offered again. I grabbed his hand we took off. I saw a few other boys. They looked determined but something seemed to be scaring them. The most official one looked at me and frowned slightly.

"She's the only one conscious so far. The girl was already unconscious when we found her and the boy needed a sedative to calm down."

Boy? Girl? Who were they talking about? Who were these people? I didn't have time to think. They grabbed my arms and forced me into a sprint towards an exit I never had seen. Once outside I saw the hovercraft. The boy with dark hair still had a strong grip on my hand and hurried me aboard. He sat me down and belted me into my seat. I started to take sharp intakes of breath. My chest was hurting from nights of crying myself to sleep. It felt like daggers when I was forced to run just now. And I was frightened, I was just so frightened. I pulled my hand free and covered my ears and began to cry. More people were scurrying around me. I heard frantic boys talking about the girl and her condition. I didn't know if they meant me. I didn't care. The boy with dark hair patted my shoulder.

"Hey, hey. It's okay. We're here to help you. We're getting you back to Finnick. We're bringing you to Finnick Odair. He's in Thirteen." The boy said quickly. "We're all from Thirteen. You're safe. Fnnick's safe." He added.

Finnick? He was safe? I perked my head up when I heard this. Did this boy say he was from Thirteen? District Thirteen? That couldn't be possible. It was destroyed. How would Finnick get there and why? That's all I could think as why. I didn't understand this. Who were these people? How did they know about Finnick and me? They couldn't be Capitol folks, no way could they be. They were dressed in dark grey uniforms it appeared. Most of them looked like they trained for something like this. Except the boy with dark hair. He seemed different. H must have noticed me looking at his face because he smiled.

"You must have plenty questions." he said with a smile. I couldn't even nod my assent. But he began to tell me stories. He told me he was from District Twelve. He had to evacuate because the district was bombed. It was because he was from the same district as Katniss Everdeen. He voice was dull but he continued. Apparently there had been some kind of movement, a plan to get the tributes. Such tributes included Katniss, a fellow Twelve tribute, and my Finnick. It was mainly Katniss but all I cared was that people had worked to get Finnick out of the arena. I was grateful to these people now. I was still shocked at their surprise arrival. In the past few minutes the shock had settled but I couldn't believe I had been rescued. I couldn't believe I was out because of these people; these people that helped save Finnick. Did they save Finnick? This boy didn't say for sure, he just they tried to get him out. Panic overtook me.

"Finnick? Is he alright?" I begged. I looked for traces that something terrible happened. The boy only offered a small smile and took a hold of my hand again.

"He's fine, I swear. You'll see him soon enough." I nodded at his insistence and was even able to offer my own small smile. I was happy but I was impatient too.

"How long till I can see him?" I asked. He sighed and looked around the hovercraft.

"Well, we still have got away." He saw the disappointment in my eyes I'm sure because he nudged me and asked,

"Do you want to hear about District Thirteen? It's gotten a hell of a lot more interesting in the past few years." He grinned. For a second, he looked like Finnick. I looked at him more and nodded so he began. He talked about how he and Beetee from District Three were working on a few projects. He was sure the next thing they were going to build was going to be the thing to end the war. I couldn't really remember what exactly. He talked about someone named Coin and how she had a plan for the future and how things were going to be different and how it was going to change soon. I barely remember the details he told me except eh always landed back on the same thing. Everything he talked about, no matter what, he somehow mentioned Katniss. He talked mostly about how they used to hunt. They would talk about the future and she was always unsure that things would change. He laughed because she was the symbol of the rebellion. He said it ironic that she was the face of something she didn't believe in until recently. I wasn't sure. I could only focus on the tone of his voice, and how he seemed to be full of life when he mentioned her. He told me all sorts of things about her. He told me she always had a single braid down her back. He told me she sang sometimes and it always calmed him down. He told me she was funny but she rarely laughed.

I can only imagine why. I thought to myself. I wanted to hear more about this girl. His eyes gleamed whenever he described something wonderful she did. It was strange almost. We were sitting here in dark hovercraft, where I was freezing for the most part. I felt miserable and anxious but here this boy was. He was sitting and seemed the happiest he had ever been because he was talking about the girl he loved. I stared off and thought about this but then I asked him a question.

"What's your name?" I asked. Maybe he was expecting a question about her. I didn't want to ask about her anymore. There was name I was expecting to hear, but I knew it wasn't him. I knew they weren't the same person, this boy and the boy with the bread. He chuckled when I asked.

"Sorry, we didn't have much time for introductions. I'm Gale. " I nodded at him. I was curious about him. I wanted to know if Katniss loved him back. I thought back to the memory I always had of Peeta getting thrown by the force field. I thought about how she sobbed at his side once he was revived. She had feelings for him. Did she also love this boy? Could she love both of them at once? My head hurt. I was exhausted. I was still unsure of everything that was going on around me. These were complicated questions for me.

This was my first truly lasting memory of Katniss. I ignored everything I may have seen on television. I blocked out love stories Finnick had whispered to me about a the lovers from Twelve. I just thought of her as a desirable girl. She had Panem in the palm of her hand; She was the darling I never was. But I knew it wasn't real. I know what the Capitol does. I understand how they take someone and morph them into something to be bought and sold.

I understand something else to. I know what it's like to be in love. I know what it's like to light up when you talk about that one person. I don't know Gale, but I know that he has flames of his own for the girl on fire.

"You love her?" It sounded like a question. I had meant it to sound like a statement. I mean I was stating a fact wasn't I? It didn't really matter how I asked, I remember. Gale's face darkens and he looked past my face.

"We shouldn't, we shouldn't be talking about this." He said quietly. He looked to his left to see if anyone had picked up what I said. No one really seemed to be watching. I don't really recall anyone the hovercraft besides Gale and I., When he seemed satisfied that no one heard us talking. He cleared his throat and began again.

"You should try to sleep or something. We still have a bit till we get there. Try to relax," he offered a weak smile and tilted his head. Closing his eyes, he sighed again and I was left alone with these thoughts.

I thought about him.

I thought about her.

I thought of Finnick and everything I wanted to say to him. I wanted to ask him so many different things.

My reunion was perfect. It was perfect because I was with the one I love. I held him close to me and we were silent for a minute, just taking each other in. We were able to retreat quietly out and no one stopped us. And that is how the next few weeks went. I mainly stayed in my dormitory. Finnick stayed in mine at night. I heard he had gotten in trouble already for that but that didn't bother or stop him. It was perfect in those days, but my thoughts always drifted from him. I thought about Katniss. I hadn't seen her yet. I was curious to see her, to meet her, to put a face to the rebellion. Imagine my surprise when she offered to help me find a wedding gown. A wedding dress! I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe any of it. Plutarch had approached us and asked if we wanted to be married and to use it as a propo. I only heard him say married. I didn't care how it was done. I did want the tradition of home, but it didn't matter I just wanted to be married. Finnick felt the same. He wanted to get married immediately. He was wanted it quietly done, with only ourselves and our tradition. He needed some convincing to have it filmed. In the end, Plutarch won over President Coin and began planning a three day affair. As he talked on and on about who would sing, and who would preside over the nuptials, he mentioned what we would wear. He didn't believe we should wear our drabby gray uniforms. That's when I saw her raise her hand.

"I still have dresses from the Victory Tour. I can take Annie to Twelve so she could pick something if she wants." She looked over at me. I couldn't tell what her face was. She looked strained, like she was trying really hard to be polite. She was being polite, I suppose. She looked mainly sad I think. I remember seeing her wondrous wedding dress that burst into flames. I wondered if she was thinking about that and it was making her sad. I must have been staring gain because I heard her say,

"Annie? Are you alright?" she sounded concerned. "You were just...um...not answering me. I thought something might have been wrong." She said awkwardly. I knew she thought I was crazy. Just like so many others. I didn't really know what to say to her. Besides thank you. It hit me that she was offering me a wedding dress.

"Thank you. It's very kind of you to offer…" I trailed off. She looked at me and offered another smile. It didn't look as strained. She didn't seem to notice I didn't finish my thought. I silently thanked her again. She nodded at me and spoke again.

"Well I was just asking when you wanted to go?" she asked, but I'm not sure how much the question was directed at me. She was looking over at Plutarch who was discussing things with Finnick. He looked at us and began to walk over. Smiling he asked Katniss when she wanted to leave.

"Whenever Annie want is fine." She gestured to me. I nodded.

"Now. Now is fine." I said nodding again.

And so we prepared to go. I kissed Finnick goodbye. Plutarch was taking him somewhere to get clothes altered. It seemed we were both getting our wedding garments today. Katniss asked me if I needed anything and I shook my head. Wait, yes. I did need something. Well, I didn't need it but I wanted to know why she offered to help me. She didn't even know me. She may have been friends with Finnick but she didn't owe me anything. Especially not since her own fiancé was absentee. I was unsure at the time what was happening, but I knew that things were not well with her and Peeta.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked shyly. I watched her stop walking and look back me. She looked at me with sad eyes. She seemed to be considering her answer. She didn't seem mad, but it was too intense. I gave a nervous giggle and hovered my shoulders. Her silence was making me more nervous.

"You deserve this Annie." She paused. I didn't know what more she wanted to say. I didn't what she wanted to say at all. She looked so hurt.

"Do you wish it was you?" I asked bluntly. Actually, I probably said even more bluntly then I imagined. She looked taken back. She bit her lip and nodded slightly.

"It's strange is all. I am happy for Finn, and for you. I look back at what's happened during this time and I'm happy something like a wedding can come from it." She answered looking down. "I wanted to help you guys. It's the most I could do. Your fiancé did save mine once. I do owe it to him."

Her face fell when she said "mine". She was thinking about him. She was going through something more personal than I thought. She was helping me have the wedding I never imagined despite all she was feeling. I don't know what she was feeling. She wouldn't tell me. I was just a mad girl. Maybe she told Finnick. But I know what she didn't need to tell me. She didn't need to tell me that she willing to help. Her actions proved that. She helped keep Finn sane. And I was grateful. I still grateful for all that she did. I could see she was hurting. I'm may not be able to get out of bed every day. I may not be able to hold a conversation. But I do know and understand emotions. I knew Katniss was broken about something. I just didn't know all what. I knew looking at her she was just the girl Gale told me about. She was strong, and able to rally people together, but she was still a girl. She had a loved Peeta, and maybe she loved Gale too. She had these emotions on top of everything else. My wedding was reminding her of all this. It was reminding her what she escaped, and whether she ever wanted it all.

"You loved someone didn't you?" I don't know why I said that. I am not even sure what someone I meant when I asked. I just needed an affirmation that she was capable of love. I knew she was I just needed to know it. I needed to see her say she had felt loved and not faked it. Her response was simple. She only nodded. She didn't say anything more. She didn't give any indication. I never asked again. Even as we sat on the hovercraft to Twelve, as I gave my nervous laugh looking at destruction. I never asked even these years later as she's married to Peeta. When we talk on the phone it's about Jonah and we carefully avoid the subject of any other kids. It makes me wonder, but I can never ask. She has given me so much. She has helped me so much that I cannot ask all the questions on my mind. I forget all the details from then to here. Our lives have been constructed so much. We have changed so much. I always will remember the destruction, and those that helped me get over it. I forget all the things Katniss have said to me to help me get out of shell and to feel normal again. I forget sometimes how broken she was, how we all were,

But I'll never forget that day where she forgot her broken wings and helped me fly.