Hey guys! I sort of lied about the posting thing. But! to make it up I made this chapter extra long. it's more than all of the other chapters by atleast 2,000 words. I have been getting a lot of positve feedback for the story and that really puts a warm smile on my face when I see all of my notifications after i post a chapter. I have had midterms in the last two weeks and studying and esting was a bit insane there. Hopefully now posting schedules will be back to normal. In such a rush to get this chapter posted it may be poorly edited. For that I apologize. I will read it back again and update it again. if you guys could keep up the reviewing it would be amazing and for those of my anonymous readers/reviewers don't worry I love you guys all the same. We have about 900+ views on the story so far. Thank you! and last time I forgot my disclaimer because I was forgetful once again in my life. whoop... And I may be doing a new short story too, but this one may be on Divergent if you guys interested. R+R :)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Hunger Games Trilogy rights that all belong to the amazing Suzanne Collins that made this word of literature that much better!

Story time...

2 years later…

Rye POV

As soon as I heard the rustling of the grass, I knew that the hunt was on. A light thumping on the ground as the feet hit the ground drew me in even closer. The wind tugged at my blonde hair tickling my ears lightly and sending my scent the air. The fawns ears perked as I cursed under my breath and its eyes were bulging out of its sockets. The wind swirled around disorienting the deer on what direction I truly was so it froze to the left. Praying that I wouldn't slip and re-alarm the animal lightly I spiraled around the thick branches. Finally, getting the perfect and my fingers whipped back the string and released in seconds. A small ring of blood circled the arrow wound and the deer tumbled over. I scrambled out of the tree to examine if the blow was fatal and to my luck, it was. I had my first large kill! It only took 17 years for me to finally have a successful hunting session.

The sun was just about to set and I had skinned and cleaned the meat placing all the edible parts in my game bag stuffed to the brim and the rest in my traps. I ran to the bakery and knocked three times on the door and Blaze swung it open for me covered in batter.

"You scared me!" He chuckles, grabs my game bag, and places it on the counter. "So what's up Rye?" He raises his eyebrows in suspicion just like dad would do.

"Caught a deer today… nothing much." I shoot him a snotty grin and my little brother who is not so very little anymore scoops me up and spins me around.

"My little sister caught her first deer? Awww I'm so proud of her!"

"Excuse me Jay but I think I am the older one in this family. I was born first; I am superior to you and let's think have you shot a deer? No." He drops me onto the ground and sprints into the back of the kitchen as I chase him wildly. He throws flour at me to distract me and soon the kitchen is filthy.

"Now I'm not the toddler with stubby legs unable to catch up to you anymore." Blaze swept up the white flour and dumped it into the trash as quick as he could. "You should head back up to the house before that meat goes bad you know. But first, take a batch of cookies their fresh out of the oven especially for you."

"Blaze I love you! See you at dinner." I balanced the pan on cookies on my arm as I swung my bag onto my back and ran out the door. The light tinkling of the bells upon the door rang into the crisp air with the orange swirled sky. I made my way over to the butcher for my first act of business before I went home. We couldn't possibly eat all of this meat ourselves so I had a plan.

As I rounded the corner of the market, I noticed the butcher's son through the window of the shop. Perfect this was going to be a piece of cake. I knocked lightly on the window giving him a flirtatious smile. I swear it only took him seconds to open the door for me.

"Hey Rye! What brings you here at this time; I was just about to close the shop for the day? But no worries I can help one last customer if you want."

"Oh you don't mind! You're amazing Whim I don't what I would do if you weren't so nice. "I wink at him and bat my eye lashes a bit. I notice how he shifts uncomfortably playing with his fingers as his cheeks redden. He has always been so predictable. "I just have all this fresh deer meat I'm willing to trade for a couple bucks. Do you think that you could take it off my hands for me?" His eyes brightened at the offer to help me. I really don't know what about this boy is so attracted to me for because my features are overall extremely plain and dull. However, for the moment, I have to have faith in myself to score this trade then I can let my insecurities take over again.

"Well Rye that's a mighty fine size of quality meat. My dad will love to sell this or even eat it! How about I give you fifty dollars for this. Deal?" He extended his hand for the confirmation of the trade and instead I pull his arm in so I'm wrapping my arms around his in a warm embrace.

"You don't even know how great you are Whim. Tell you what tomorrow I'll swing by again and we spend lunch break together. I know I get awfully bored at the bakery eating all by myself you know? I can bring over some muffins and we can call it a-"

"DATE!" He interrupted me before I had the chance to even finish my sentence. And I was most certainly not going to say the word date. "Date" implies feelings beyond friendship, that implies romance, and that is not what I am looking for from Whim. Maybe he is a cool friend, but to kiss his puffy pink lips on that ruff unshaven face did not seem desirable in any way. So, I patted his arm, backed away from the boy a year older than myself, and smiled. I avoided the entire situation and time was slipping away from me almost too fast. My next destination would be the far end of the district. The far end is where the less fortunate stay and suffer even though we all started this new life off with just as much money and land as each other. The fact that there are no more Hunger Games makes the small village happier but somehow when businesses started popping back up in all the reconstruction they lacked the initiative to begin their own. Somewhere inside of all the mess, they were lost in a whirlwind of change and couldn't help but fall on the back burner jobless and foodless. Sure, the fences had been taken down and fees were decreased to practically nothing now that everyone had nothing to fear anymore but maybe they didn't know what to do. Some of the higher-class people of District 12 feel no pity for the poor and say they only did it to themselves, which isn't false information. They did have as much as a chance to make a dent in the new world too but my roots is too intertwined with the Seam and starvation that I can't let them just wither away.

"Rye is that you darling?" A slim woman with graying hairs waves a rag into the air with a smile on her face. Maybe having less made the person more of a person, with a heart instead of a judging mind. Her simple smile warmed my whole body. "What are you doing out so late, dinner time is just around the corner for your family I'm sure?"

"Don't worry about me Sage. I'm going home in just a couple minutes I just had to make a few stops on the way."

"But you and I both know that your home is certainly not on the way to the village! What brings you here today?"

"I brought you some meat in celebration of my first deer hunt."

"Oh darling, that is fantastic! You are too kind; bless your soul for your never-ending donations. I will be sure to give some to each family; this is so much to feed us all! But, you go run along to your home. Goodbye!" I smiled as she brushed me off and ran to the neighbor's house shouting something.

Now all I had to do was make one last stop and my day would finally be over.

When the cobblestone path appeared, again I walked until I found the brick house with puffy clouds of smoke rising out of the chimney. The light was flickering softly out of the glass windows and the little garden growing next to the porch was almost fully-grown. I skipped up the steps to the tiny little home and knocked a bit.

"Hello?" The soft little voice carried through the open crack of the doorway.

"It's me Rye Mellark, don't worry Laurel. I brought you some goodies!" She swings the door open quickly and pulls me in. "So, where's the family at this time of night?"

"They all went out to district 6 to visit the relatives and stuff. I really didn't want to travel or leave because it too much of a hassle. Mom insisted that change is good but I don't mind staying here where I don't have to mingle." Her light brown hair was swept up into a messy bun and her green eyes sparkled. Her nose was sprinkled with light freckles and her lips were a light peach. Everything about her screamed perfection but to be honest no guy in the district ever asked her out or anything. She wasn't particularly odd and she didn't seclude herself from people so the entire situation posed as a mystery to me.

"Oh, well I know what you mean." I shrugged and plopped down into one of the wooden chairs at the tables. I dug into my back pulling out the cookies and a good chunk of meat. "The trains remind me of the past and in my opinion give me headaches."

"Oh please miss adventure! You used to be flying in and out of the district every other weekend two years ago!" I shuddered a bit at the thought and pasted on a smile.

"Times have changed grandma moved back now and I have no reason to go out of my way to leave the district. I brought you something Blaze made for you." I accentuate the last word to tease her a little and get her off the topic of me leaving.

"B-Blaze made me something? Just for me? "

"That's right now don't you want them?" I taunt her raising my voice to a higher octave waving them in the air.

"Of course, hand them over Rye!" Blaze and she have been friend ever since things settled down at the home and the entire district 2 situation faded. They're the same age and now that they have been growing older and more mature, I catch them sneaking more than just "friendly" looks at each other. So, now and then I try to spice up the playing field making one of them say or do something they might not have done like the cookies. If the feeling wasn't mutual between the two of them, I wouldn't but now I can't help but watch them trip over each other and their faces go red. Plus, it's what a good sister is supposed to do right?

"Sure, I gave you some deer meat too. It's fresh so it will best to cook tonight but tomorrow it might still be fine. I have to go my family is going to have my head if I'm not back in five minutes. See you later Lor!" I wave a bit and hear her shout a muffled farewell.

Blaze POV

Where could she be? Rye left the bakery before me and still managed to be late. I'm really sick of stalling for her. I pace the living room a bit until I hear the footsteps of someone. I can't reveal my anxiousness or else they really will know something is up.

"Hey Blaze, how was the business today? Get any special sales?" At that remark, he winks. I think he knows that I have a crush on someone in the district but can't peg it right now.

"Nope, why? I did sell a cake but I wouldn't consider it a special occasion cake." I smirk because I know I have won again in the conversation. Then the inevitable question comes.

"Have you seen Rye?" I think that over time my lying skills have became worse because now my palms grow sweaty and my heart skips a few beats. Darn mom for having such bad people skills. "Um, yeah at the bakery I did. I think she will be home any second."

"She's still out?" His eyes widen a bit at the thought of the purple sky looking out to see the darkness settling in. "I should go find her."

"Dad, she's seventeen now and mom was running around doing this kind of stuff and the world wasn't as safe back then." I know it was a low blow but the truth wasn't to be sugarcoated, it was dark times and now it's not. "Besides I just talked to her about an hour ago, she should be home any second."

Just then, the doorknob wobbles and Rye comes blasting through the door with a wild grin on her face. "LOOK WHAT I SHOT EVERYBODY!" Mom comes down the stairs quickly and dad rushes in and I just stand incredulously in the living room Of course Rye would make her very late arrival a big show. I don't there's one time in her life that she's been early for anything. Even her own birth she was late for.

"Rye! Oh my sweet child, I thought I would have to go out and find you." Dad practically coos over her like a baby. His eyes have softened from the anxiousness and his pupils have finally stopped dilating.

"Dad, relax for once I swear you'll get an ulcer from all the times you've worried over me. Now who wants to know what I shot?"

Slowly she pulls out a large deer head and waves it around in the air. I thought that she would at least have the decency to get rid of the putrid thing. Mom's eyes practically explode at the picture and I am expecting her to start yelling about bringing the deer into the house when it happens.

"Rye Mellark you don't even know how proud of you I am. My little girl has had her first big kill! I remember that me and well, I remember when I shot down my first deer and used the money to buy Prim's goat lady. How was the overall shot? How did you do it and track it? Where's the meat did you sell any? I'm so glad the hunting gene has been carried onto you and Blaze!" I watch dad snicker under his breath and chuckle a bit myself as well. Rye's cheeks have gone red and the way mom is freaking out about a kill over anything else we ever have done. But, secretly I'm positive that if Rye or I made wedding cake dad would gloat to the entire district.

"Mom, take a breath. Yes, I killed the deer with my arrows. I was in a tree so that I could get a good prospective on the kill. I kind of just stumbled onto the deer it was just there. Yes, I did sell some of the meat, and I gave a lot to the poor part of the district and then a bit to Laurel but I still have enough for a week left. " Mom's eyes brightened even more as she noticed her daughter's generosity that she possessed too when she was in that situation in the Seam. Rye looks almost like she's suffocating by the hug mom is giving her and as jealous as some people might think I might be for her getting the attention I'm loving this even more. I really wish I had some type of camera to capture this precious moment. But, then I remember who she gave the deer meat to and I feel heat rush into my cheeks. She thinks she's so smart to try to trick me like this. I bet she said that the meat was from me or something and then I remember the cookies I gave her and how she doesn't have any of them now.

"Where are the cookies I baked you Rye?" I arch my eyebrow at her in suspicion. A sly little smirk appears on her mouth and her grey eyes squint at me making her look all the more devilish.

"I gave them to Laurel because her family all left her in the district alone. I felt bad. Do you mind?" Her tone takes on an innocent tone, she bats her eyelashes a bit at me putting her lip, and I know it's only because mom and dad are in the room. If they weren't I would tackle her on the spot and probably pull her hair a bit. Mom just looks a bit dazed with all her emanating pride but I can see something click in dad's brain.

Peeta POV

Laurel. Laurel is the girl Blaze is enamored with. It should have been obvious but I couldn't figure out until Rye just pulled her little stunt. Obviously, I have to talk with her about the situation now without Blaze finding out that I know any more details. I knew that he had to carry the Mellark gene somewhere. So far, all the last of us have fallen in love with a girl hopelessly. Generally, we go for the Everdeens but now that I am married to my very own Everdeen. Laurel is a very pretty girl though so I'm proud my son has a good taste in his women. Laurel looks nothing like any girl originally from district 12 so I know that her family just wanted somewhere completely new to settle. Her hair is darker than my ash blonde locks and lighter than Katniss's. The only color eyes in District 12 are a range of blues. Her piercing green eyes remind me of our dear old friend Finnick. However, the freckles are unlike anyone I have ever seen around the districts, maybe I just didn't pay enough attention.

Now I have the perfect wife and two amazing children. Times are better. There's no Hunger Games to swoop them away from us and leave us with empty hearts. The worst things left are the nightmares and memories but our children will never go through that. Maybe district 2 is like the capitol to us now because of all the terror that is connected to it. I know that Gale would just bring up bad memories and we'll never know if that was his bomb or not that killed Prim. For Katniss He may be unforgivable but I have gotten over anger towards him. I know that he is probably married as well by now to someone and that every time he closes his eyes he still sees Prim's death and Katniss crushing him. For that, I have this mental acceptance for him. Prim is still a sore subject to Katniss and even me but that will never change. I lost everyone but Katniss in the death of district 12. Therefore, I just wrap my arms around my beloved wife and walk her into my kitchen to cook for my family.

Rye POV

Mom and dad left the room suddenly. I think I may have let dad know that Blaze is practically in love with Laurel and now I feel bad.

"Sorry, Jay I just know that you like her and she likes you and I thought that you guys need some push."

"Wait? She likes me too! Why did you never tell me this until now? We could be together and everything that goes along with it." He really has too much enthusiasm right now almost like a young puppy.

"Slow down! You are still young, hold off on the marriage and love until you're at least my age. Mom and dad didn't have us until they were in their 30's."

"Are you crazy I just wanted to bake for her? I can wait a long time before I have children and get married. I never said I loved her either. I just think she's gorgeous that's all. "We both laugh and talk on the couch about our day when we hear a knock on the door. I think that Haymitch is coming over for another real dinner this week.

"I got it!" I run over to the large door and swing them open without checking to see if it was Haymitch. "Haymitch, if you want dinner then just come over every night instead of walking over every now and then…" Then I look up and I do not see Haymitch.

Sorry for the cliff hanger. I will post as soon as possible.

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