Big things happening people. Sorry I'm so late. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Sincerely,

wisegirlindisguise

The train's doors opened and suddenly Katniss didn't mind so much being trapped inside their cage. Reporters were buzzing outside greeting everyone that was exiting the train. Yes, they were not the only ones that had been on the train. But, Katniss and Peeta were the biggest news. Well they were plus Gale and a boy that was with him, but they were only two cars over. The buzz was overwhelming and Peeta took Katniss's hand and then Gavin's. He shoved out into the crowd bravely. He answered the few questions he could hear over a cloud of voices and then continued on until they got into a car that had a chauffeur holding a sign with their name. He slid into the limo getting his family in then slammed the door behind them.

There was a knock on the window. Carefully, Peeta looked through the tinted windows and then pushed the door open. Katniss was about to yell at him for his utter stupidity when Gale and the boy she had only barely caught sight of slid into the space of the limo. "Do you mind if we catch a ride with friendly people?" Gale wondered as he sunk in happily on a faux leather seat. Katniss leaned over to him and hugged him tightly. "Whoa, Catnip, you're supposed to be all bitter."

"Shut-up Gale," Katniss sunk back into her seat smiling stupidly at him. She was glad to see him. He still had two arms and two legs. He had managed to keep his head on his shoulders and keep that glint of need for revenge in his eyes. No matter what they fought for there would always be something there. Something wouldn't be right and Gale would want to correct it. He would always want to correct it. Katniss knew she was the same way and so she kind of missed him just someone who would understand her. The two of them together almost spelled out trouble though.

The limo started to move and the doors locked. Peeta had a hand under his seat and soon even Gale seemed to be searching under the seats. They checked the entire chasm that was the back of the limo only finding a few microphones and cameras. They dropped them into a pile on the floor and Gale stomped on them making all of them crack and break into pieces. "Now's the time to talk," Peeta sunk back into his seat holding Katniss close. Katniss was holding Gavin's hand as if Gavin would run off.

"What do you think this is all about? I saw all the other surviving victors and some of the old generals. They're all here for this meeting and this party." Gale sat forward looking to his son worriedly and then to Katniss and her family. "This is my son Lucas. Lucas, this is Katniss Ever-," Peeta glared at Gale and Gale held up a hand, "Mellark, my bad. Lucas this is Katniss, Peeta, and..."

"Gavin and Primrose, Mellark," Katniss filled in for him. Gale rose his eyebrows as if he were surprised that the children were actually hers. Who else's would they be? Katniss had always been clear that she did not want kids. Gale had thought in a small part of his mind that she would change her mind if the world changed its mind, but still he knew her better. Katniss hadn't wanted kids because of the Hunger Games, but she also wanted to keep her freedom. Katniss was a free soul, but she was also accommodating. She had accommodated to Peeta and now they had a full-grown family. How times change.

Lucas looked bored when Gale looked to him for conversation. A heavy sigh escaped Gale and he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You look good Katniss, and Peeta I heard you were offered the position of Mayor out there in Twelve. You even got an offer from Thirteen? Did you take the jobs?" Gale asked just trying to keep the silence from encroaching on the group. Katniss had just started talking to him again and he wasn't going to allow it to be awkward because there was never a limbo of moods for Katniss. She either was angry or sad and not talking to him, or she was talking to him and happy. He hoped to stay on the latter of the choices.

"I didn't accept the position. I need time with my family and I wouldn't get enough of it pretending to be in charge of a group of people that can handle themselves." Peeta snaked an arm over Katniss' shoulders. He couldn't help but to be a little protective of her. Gale was a threat, always had been. The only time he had considered him good for Katniss was when Peeta had been psycho with the Tracker Jacker venom effects. Gale would've killed Peeta gladly. When Peeta had the dreams about what the venom had done to him sometimes he wished he had.

The nights Peeta had to leave bed were the worst of the dreams. He would roam around the house in normal day clothes before curling up on the couch with a steaming cup of milk. From their living room he would watch the sunrise to clear his mind of his disease. He would never be the same Peeta that he was. Though now he could control it, some memories would come back distorted with Katniss starring as public enemy number one. Before he discovered the calming, grounding effects of milk he had tried beating the sense into himself or running. He used to run for hours and hours, but once it got cold the prosthetic leg and his lung refused the ice. Handling the dreams quietly in the warmth of his own home was the best way.

"I can respect that. If I hadn't been so absorbed in my work and helped out Lucas' mother when she was pregnant maybe she would still be around." Gale looked to his son only to receive a glare from his icy eyes.

Primrose looked at Lucas and then Gavin who was staring at Lucas in shock. They were both thinking the same thing. How could he be so rude to his father? He was lucky to have his father around. He was already missing a mother. Lucas should appreciate his father including the fact that Gale seemed to have it all together to a certain extent. Gale was a tough man, you could tell by his appearance. He reminded Primrose of Peeta. Looking between the two of them, there was definite resemblance in their looks, their looks that only screamed hatred for one another.

Was her mother completely oblivious? Of course not. Katniss was always aware of all around her whether or not she bothered with it was a matter of choosing her battle. From where Primrose was sitting she could tell that her mother was leaving this battle to the men. They would act civil around Katniss; they always had. It was just a fuse that continued to his in its path. It snaked its way to the bomb and it was only a matter of time before it reached the explosive and the war began.

They settled in for the ride after that. Small talk was passed but that was all it did, through one ear and out the other much like the hot breath in the cab. The driver never lowered the wall between them and he never seemed to acknowledge them. His job was simply transport. Katniss quietly measured the distance with time knowing that they would soon arrive at the household of the president. At the stop she had approximated she took a deep breath that did nothing to calm her. A comforting squeeze of her shoulders from Peeta allowed her stomach to fall back into place before had to climb from the car.

The cameras were sure to bombard them; it's what they had all expected. Luckily, the peace keepers had created a security line that no one could cross allowing all of the limos to safely empty themselves into the capitol building where President Markkus was standing on the steps with a brilliant smile lighting his face. He waved to the crowd that was applauding his mere appearance. The old capitol citizens were cheering as if he were some sort of movie stars. The ones that had lived in other districts previously just clapped to respect him. Katniss could only bring herself to nod to him.

In the foyer they were going to be split up. Katnis hugged Gale and Peeta slapped their hands together shaking it once. Gavin said goodbye to Gale and Lucas carefully, but Prim couldn't spare Lucas that pleasure; she only gave a gentle, practiced farewell to Gale. "We'll see you at the party." Katniss smiled widely waving to them as they were led away by a couple of peace keepers.

Gale had to shout at them as the halls seemed to elongate as they went: "See you then."

Primrose sat on the edge of the bed as Katniss glided around the room. A dress was still hanging in a garment bag on the side of the room in front of the window, Katniss hadn't even touched it. She was setting up all these different compacts, pencils, and brushes on the bathroom sink. There was a razor on the side of the bathtub, but this wasn't going to be Katniss' doing; a knock came on the door.

"Prim, answer that would you? If it's your father or your brother send them away and tell them to get ready." Katniss shouted from the bathroom. Primrose didn't have to give a typical yes ma'am. She got up and moved to the door sloppily dragging her feet the way that made her mother laugh.

When she opened the door she did expect it to be Gavin asking some stupid question, but in no way was this her little brother. This woman at the door was a capitol/district mutt though Katniss hate when Prim called them that. Her hair was a natural color, and Prim guessed it was natural. It was a blend of shades of blonde, but it was all hacked up as if someone had taken a razor to it. The Capitol side of her had silver eyeliner and feathered out giant eyelashes around her bright blue eyes.

None of those were her most shocking trait though. From what sh could see the tattoo stretched around to her back, but it curled over her shoulder and crept up her neck. The tattoo ended around the her features on the left side of her face. It was this brilliant swirling black tattoo the was shaped like vines and seemed to be alive on her skin. Where did that tattoo actually start? She didn't want to know. At the same time that she wished her curiosity would die about this woman she couldn't pull her eyes away.

"Hi," her voice wasn't sinister, no she couldn't place it quite yet. "My name is Leera. I came to help you and Katniss Ever- I mean Mellark - get ready for the party." She let herself in by sliding past Prim into the room. Katniss slipped from the bathroom and didn't even pause when she saw Leera. She flew to her and shook her hand. "Hi Katniss, I'm-"

"Leera, I heard the first time. It's good to have a stylist back on our side. I've already got the place set up for you and your team. It's set up like Cinna used to have it so you may have to move things around." Primrose caught Katniss giving Leera a once over, but Leera seemed to be doing the same with Katniss. There were two different intents behind it. Katniss was judging Leera for her style and her all around attitude. Leera was being a stylist, strictly a stylist.

"I learned some of my favorite techniques by looking at Cinna's work. Your recreation of his setup will be amazing I'm sure." Leera moved around Katniss and into the bathroom as if to give everything inspection. Primrose was going to move after her because Leera had caught her attention. Three people pushed into the door though buzzing happily as if everything were right with the world.

Their hair was bright colored or the skin was colored. Some had bigger chosen scars than Leera. The only way primrose could describe them was overwhelming. One grabbed her by the shoulders and she fought them off quickly backing into her mother accidentally. Katniss told Prim what was going on and soothed her before Katniss vanished all together into the bathroom with one of the little minions. Primrose was quickly rushed in as well but was now under the close watch of Leera. The work began.

Peeta straightened his sons tie making sure it was tucked into his waist coat just right. They almost matched except for the fact that Peeta had a bow tie and Gavin was much, much...much shorter. They moved down the hall to wait outside of the girls door finally having gotten themselves together in a "suave demeanor," as their stylist Marquis had put it.

The first of the girls to emerge was Katniss. She had on a gorgeous black evening dress that was very simply but stunning, and very much Katniss. It didn't show too much, which probably made Katniss more comfortable than anyone would even think to believe. To hold up the folds and folds of skirts was a remake of the mockingjay pin while the real one had been fashioned into her hair.

"You're gorgeous, as always," Peeta smiled at Katniss and lifted one of her white gloves hands to kiss the back of it. Katniss smirked at him as if she had already known she looked amazing. Gavin was gushing in his small child way just trying to get favor points with all the compliments. He didn't understand dressing up, but he knew it made Mommy look different, in a good way.

Next was Primrose... Katnis had her doubts and worries about the outfit. Prim had picked it out herself from a collection of drawings at home. She had stared at the picture for hours and hours as if she could wish it real, or reincarnated since Katniss was sure the original had been destroyed. Leera's mind was in very much the same place as Prim's though and had made a dress so similar that Cinna would've been proud. Katniss expressed her worry openly though:

"If Markkus doesn't side with all of the changes we've made to the Capitol and their ways, you know what will happen to you," Katniss had whispered as Primrose danced about the room in pure joy. She was so ecstatic about the dress she hadn't even allowed them to finish her hair or make up, other than they dress she was still raw from the waxing and hot shower that smoothed out her skin.

"To die like my idol did would be a pleasure. Cinna did right by us all, and this dress deserves to see the light." Leera seemed so confident in her choices as if she knew that Markkus was no good just like Katniss' gut had told her.

Now Prim stepped from the enslavement of the room that kept the stylist's work hidden. A shortened version of Cinna's dress stood before Peeta. The ends were uneven reaching out into pointed that only feathers could make, and that was what the dress seemed to be made of, feathers. There were bands across each of her arms in three places that were gorgeous black silk ribbon. When she lifted her arms she had wings that had white marks that a mockingjay wore on its wings. The bodice didn't have feathers reaching up to his but that was only to let a braid hand down over her shoulder.

Their stylist came from the room as peace makers came to escort them to the ball. The stylist was in a red tight fitting dress but Peeta didn't give her a second glance as he spoke to her. "So, you think the same thing that Katniss and I do?" She didn't answer. "This is a mark against the President and a sentence to death if he reinstates old laws."

"Mr. Mellark, all I'm doing is expressing my side." They entered the ballroom and Leera broke off heading toward other stylists that were buzzing and pointing out their dolls in the crowd. Leera didn't have to point, she simply took a glass of champagne and watched the shock on everyone's faces and Primrose and Katniss Mellark joined the floor and the talk. Everyone would know and did know because they were the talk. Sure, rumors had started to carve themselves into the ruts of rebellious minds. Now it was out: There were doubts about President Markkus.

When Markkus decided to join his party he dove into a pit of laughter from those that had had a little too much of their favorite mix or brew. From when he could see everyone was having a good time, and he would soon be having the best time of his life. The outfits Leera had chosen did not bother him. The Mockingjay herself promoting them did not leave a dent in his pride. Tonight, he would leave on top. There was no doubt in his mind about it. The party was just one more step.

He glided his way, in a fox like prowl, to Katniss where she stood talking among none other than Gale Hawthorne. The Hawthorne's came in at a close second to his favorite guests at their get together. The Hawthorne's wouldn't bother him yet though, they wouldn't really get to action unless the Mellark's took the first step. In Markkus's studies he discovered it had always been that way. Gale always followed Katniss, always.

"Why if it isn't my favorite guests, Katniss and Peeta! You both look ravishing tonight." President Markkus smiled his biggest fake smile and Katniss just waiting for him to crack, but he bent like uncooked dough so Katniss had to smile back and slightly raise her champagne flute. "Gale, it is astonishing how well you clean up. I wish I could say the same for your son, but I haven't seen him running about yet. He isn't stirring up any trouble is he?"

"We fixed his trouble problems in District Two, President Markkus, and we don't wish to air that laundry here if you don't mind." Gale's voice was bitter to an extent where Markkus already knew he had been expected for deceit and overall treacherous acts. Gale would not be fooled. Markkus didn't need fooled though, he needed a withhold. Katniss would be that restraint.

"Sorry, sorry, did not mean to strike a chord with that one. Gale, even though I haven't seen your son there was no missing the young Mellark. Katniss, your daughter came in with the gorgeous dress and turned about every head. She seems to be getting the attention she likes." Markkus motioned to Prim who was talking to a group of slightly older boys, and though Gale searched, Lucas was not among them. Prim was basking in her glory though. She was obviously born to take the lime light for herself. Good, thought Markkus in a twinge of satisfaction, her fall will be that much more satisfying to the people. Oh Markkus had done his homework well. "She's as beautiful as a rose, that one. That's why you name her what you did? For the rose."

"No," Katniss spat having to force the deathly intent of her glare at him to the back of her mind, "she was named after my sister who died."

"You mean was murdered, by your own people too." Markkus mad a low "tsk" noise with his tongue and then glided away as soon as he buried his dagger of words deep into their chests. He went on enjoying his party though as if he had never even spoken to them. The only evidence of the encounter was the ultimate glee that churned a boiled inside of him with the laughter that he wanted to let loose for everyone to hear.

When the time came he returned to Katniss and asked her if she would like to join him outside on the stage for a press announcement. When she refused to join him in front of the crowd he shrugged it off. she had dismissed the offer as kindly as possible and then did agree to going out a listening to the announcement. She was mostly just hoping to get some information on why everyone was there. So they gathered.

Everyone that had been out in the part melted into the crowd only making themselves stand out by their apparel. Primrose still got a fair amount of stares. She got compliments from all. The capitol purists with their crazies colors asked all sorts of questions Prim didn't know the answers to. Those who moved there after the rebellion nodded with some of the purist smiles she had ever seen lighting their features without even having to show their teeth. Peeta kept track of Gavin and kept his fingers on the small of Katniss' back as she spoke to Gale and Leera who were trying to discuss the announcement out in their little group. They tried every possibility they could think of. Nothing would have prepared them for the actual announcement.

"Ladies and gentlemen," President Markkus said it as if he were an announcer for a huge event and immediately lost Peeta's respect, "we have an announcement for you all from all of us here that make the decisions of the people. We've gotten these people together for this party for a celebration!" The crowd went into cheers, but one could tell it wasn't the whole crowd; it was Markkus' followers. "By popular vote from some of our top leaders like Peeta Mellark and other past victors we have brought back a tradition to only last one year, to celebrate our past!" The cheers lowered as realization hit. Only a few continued to clap and even theirs slowed into nothingness. "After 25 years we will bring it back for what would have been the 100 Hunger Games!" Dead silence. Katniss pushed through the crowd and people began to stare at her. A spotlight hit her but she didn't stop. Katniss would end this man now in front of everyone. She had done it before, hadn't she? "There she is: formerly Katniss Everdeen our Mockingjay who made the deciding vote!" She froze and looked at him and his evil glee as everyone turned on her as if to shoot her down with just their looks alone. "She of course will be the first to offer her daughter up to the Hunger Games just as will all my party guests will to make up all 26 tributes. Two from every district just as tradition says, and just as tradition says there will be none from the Capitol." There was still no words among the crowd.

It could get no worse. Katniss felt herself sinking into the whole that was well past six feet. Every glare felt like another ton of dirt dumped onto her. Soon she would suffocate. An ear piercing scream hit the air and Katniss whipped around to see peace keepers taking away Primrose. "Prim!" An uprising hit that section of the crowd around Prim where Leera and Peeta tried to get her. Gale was already trying to get to his own son who was being led away. The peace keepers created a lace pattern making a box design around their targets. The others among the crowd were there to stop people like Katniss who was forced back and to the stage where Markkus put and arm around her as if she were a good friend. Fighting back was no good so she stood there and she cried as the crowed tried to decide what to do other than hate her.

"Let's thank Katniss Mellark for this momentary return of our great tradition!" Translation: Let's kill Katniss Mellark for sentencing twenty six of our children to death.