"Up, up, up! It's going to be a big, big, big day!" Effie's shrill voice comes through our door.

I groan and pull the covers up over my head. The blanket jerks up a little further and Peeta joins me.

"Think we can hide in here forever?" He asks, grinning at me.

"I'd like to give it a try."

Peeta kisses me on top of my head and pulls the cover off of us. "Like Effie said, we have a big, big, big day." He almost has to drag me out of bed to wash my face and brush my teeth. "I'm going to my room to get ready and then I'll be back."

I nod and keep moving the toothbrush around in my mouth, but not really paying attention to it. In just a few hours we'll be seeing Finnick face to face for the first time since we were down in the sewers. At first I was excited, but now a sickening feeling has rooted in the pit of my stomach. We left him for dead with those awful mutts and even worse, I blew up the holo and threw it down there. I wouldn't blame Finnick if he hated Peeta and me. This whole welcoming ceremony could turn out to be a huge disaster. Hopefully, he'll be too distracted with Annie and their baby to even notice me. Hopefully.

I comb my hair out and then braid it down my back as usual. No one has told me otherwise. Back in my bedroom someone has laid out a simple, shimmering blue dress. Tiny cap sleeves with embroidered silver waves and a waistline that falls just below my ribs. I pull on the dress and start hoping that it's not too cold in District Four. My eyes fall on the dandelion Peeta brought me last night and I feel a surge of warmth. I slip my feet into silver sandals and walk out into the hall. Peeta opens his door and steps out in a shirt like my dress, black pants, and his usual boots.

"Ready?" Peeta takes my hand and it helps steady me.

"I hope so. Are you nervous?" I ask as we set off down the hall.

"More for Finnick than me, he's been through so much these past few months. He might not even know he has a baby."

I push open the dining room door breathing in the delicious smell of fresh bread. Effie is attempting to straighten Haymitch's bowtie while he pours himself more wine. We'll be lucky if he's able to walk at all by the time the ceremony starts.

"Good morning." Effie chirps, pulling the glass out of Haymitch's hand and giving him a roll. "We have half an hour for breakfast and then it's off to the city square."

I groan in my mind. Half an hour stuck in the same room with Effie and Haymitch. This could be an even bigger disaster than I thought. Peeta pulls out the chair for me and I sink into it, feeling like I have a ton of coal weighing on me. He puts a plate of some sort of porridge in front of me, but I only move it around in my bowl. Thoughts of Finnick down in that sewer bang around in my head. How long was he down there before anyone bothered to look? Shame boils into hatred for myself and by the time we're getting up to leave I'm in a foul mood.

Haymitch stumbles off of the train and starts cursing about how bright it is.

"Oh, shut it will you?" I snap. Haymitch lunges at me but misses. Effie conveniently places herself between us and hooks one of her arms through mine. She's surprisingly strong. Peeta squeezes my hand and I take a deep breath of sea air.

I had forgotten how beautiful the sea is. Maybe I never realized, last time I was in District Four I had Snow's threat hanging over me, darkening everything I saw. Our rather tense party continues down the middle of the lane. It looks as if it used to be for transporting goods, but there are no wagons or trucks today. As we move closer to the town square we catch glimpses of banners and flags flying in the breeze. Cheery music is being played by a band on a platform and children go from dancing to chasing each other. I can't ever remember seeing anything so happy. They're anxious to welcome home their Victor.

"Welcome, welcome!" A tall, strong man waves us over. He has a harsh jaw and deep set eyes, but he's friendly enough with a huge smile on his face. "I'm Commander Boyd." He says, shaking all of our hands. Rough callouses have formed over his hands and I start to wonder what role he played in the war. "Finnick's train should be arriving any moment now. The rest of the welcoming committee is on the other side of the platform. Wait here and I'll bring them over."

"Who all is in the welcoming committee?" Peeta gives Effie and accusing look.

"As far as I know only the two of you, Annie, and their son."

I give a huge sigh of relief. Peeta seemed to read my mind, what if they had brought in all of the surviving victors. That would be a mess.

Boyd comes around the platform and my heart sinks. Trailing behind him is not only Annie and a little blue bundle in her arms, but Johanna, Cressida, and none other than Gale. Peeta wraps his arm around me and I hope he has no intention of letting go. Things were bad enough, but Gale complicates them.

Effie moves through the group arranging us. Annie and the baby right in the middle. Peeta, me and Haymitch on their right and Gale, Cressida, and Johanna on her left. I'm glad we got here only just in time. This way there's no time for hellos. Just as Effie steps back to make sure we're perfect we see a sleek train pulling up to the station. The crowd erupts in raucous cheers and my heart starts pounding. I lean my head onto Peeta's shoulder and give him a quick squeeze. He smiles down at me, but I can see the nerves are starting to get to him. The train doors open and Finnick steps out into the bright sunlight.