-Haymitch:

Rachel gets back any minute. I've actually missed her a lot more than I thought I would. Boom! A cannon fires as the boy from district three is killed. Damn Games. I look over and see Beetee shaking his head; he had hopes for that kid. I continue my pacing.

"Relax Haymitch, you said she sounded fine on the phone" Seier tells me, I smile at her.

"Yeah, she did, it's just something feels, off" I mumble.

"Just your fatherly instincts" she teases, I wave her off as I laugh.

"Yeah, fatherly" I take a swig from the bottle in my hand.

The bottle soon crashes to the floor when I see Finnick with his arms wrapped around my daughter, and standing much to close for my liking, as an avox enters the room. Yeah, I've seen him hug her before, but that was like, I wasn't drunk. And like, it looked like more than a friendly hug that bitch.

I put a smile on my face as Rachel walks in; much to my fist's disappointment that jerk doesn't come in with her. She comes over and hugs me.

"Missed ya" she tells me.

"Missed you too."

After everyone else has greeted her we sit on the couch next to each other, watching the "wonderful" Hunger Games. As I plot on how to bring up the question on what's going on between her and Finnick I realize I have a lot of other questions. Like, where does she go almost every night? Or why she always moves so stiffly, she looks like she's in pain. And why she and Finnick are making their usual jokes, yeah it's embarrassing for me as a parent to have my kid joking with Finnick Odair about sex, but all the victor's miss it this year.

"So, are you staying after dinner tonight?" I ask warily. Instantly she stiffens and gets nervous.

"Ugh, yeah, I, I can" she mutters. I pretend not to notice, which I could never pull off drunk.

"That's good," I shrug, "since usually you just run off to god-knows-where, I would appreciate it if you told me where you go." I figure I'm on a role here, and I'd rather just get it all out on the table, so to speak. "I mean, I'm sure Finnick knows where you go, cause you always go to talk to him. And maybe you should get a massage sometime, you always move so stiffly since we got here."

Apparently I struck something close to home because she snaps at me.

"Nothing is going on okay! I'm fine! I'm perfectly fine!" she tells me very sternly and gets up to leave.

"Where you going? To Finnick?" I ask

"Actually yes" she snaps at me, she storms out and Chaff comes to sit next to me.

"You're a crappy father"

"thanks a lot" I take the bottle from his hand.

"Want me to talk to her?" he offers

"Knock yourself out" I groan, he grins at me and leaves.

-Rachel:

I run up the stairs, I have to get somewhere, because the truth is, I want to tell my father. So he can protect me. But I know he can't do that. I easily find Finnick in his room; he looks at me with a concerned face.

"What happened?" He asks as he puts his arms around me.

"Haymitch wants to know where I've been every night, why I always look hurt, and why I always go to talk to you about my problems" I tell him as I rest my head against him.

"Maybe he should know,"

"No! He can't! That will hurt him." I plead.

"Hurt who?" a voice asks, we both turn and see Chaff leaning up against the doorway. "I think we all had a little talk with each other. And both of you can tell me exactly what's going on here" he motions with his finger and circles the two of us. I feel Finnick's arms go away from me as he puts them behind his back; he looks like a puppy that just got caught stealing food. His innocent expression.

"Shit" I mumble under my breath.

"Yes, now how about we all sit and have a chat" Chaff grins.

"I don't think it's fair since I'm the only girl here" I complain, this backfires.

"You're right," he waves an avox over, "could you go tell Seeder to come up here?" he asks, the avox nods and goes off to go get here.

"Nice going smartass" Finnick grumbles, clearly he doesn't want another person involved either.

"Sorry" I roll my eyes.

As we wait for Seeder, Chaff tells Finnick and I to sit on the bed, we listen and do. Chaff positions two chairs right in front of where we sit. I feel like I'm being interrogated for a crime. Which I guess is partly true. A few minutes later Seeder appears in the doorway, her usual smile on her face, but it quickly goes away when she sees our little set-up.

"Finnick? What's going on?" she asks

"Ask mr judge man" Finnick grumbles pointing to Chaff.

"Chaff?"

"It seems these two are hiding whatever has been happening. And now we get find out why where she goes off to every night, and why she always walks like she's in pain, and why she always goes to Finnick and not Haymitch" Chaff smiles

"and I'm here why?"

"Female testimony" Chaff laughs, Seeder nods and takes one of the seats in front of Finnick and I, Chaff closes the door and takes the other. He puts his elbows on his knees and stares Finnick in the eyes.

"Spill" he tells him simply. Finnick clenches his hands into fists and I take his hand.

"Nothing. Is. Going. On" he says between clenched teeth.

"Let's start simple then, since that's an obvious lie. What's this about?" Chaff points to my hand in Finnick's.

"I love her" Finnick says softly, he relaxes when he says this. I put my head on his shoulder. Seeder smiles at us, Chaff grins.

"Haymitch will get a kick outta this"

Seeder elbows Chaff, "I think it's wonderful" she smiles at us.

"You're a girl" Chaff points out.

"And you're a drunk, thanks captain obvious" she laughs. Chaff rolls his eyes and gets all serious again.

"Now, why are you acting like you're hurt all the time?" he asks. I stand up, may as well show them. I start to roll up my shirt to show the still evident bruises on my back. Finnick pulls my shirt down.

"You don't have to show them." He says quickly. I smile at him, "It's okay Finn, they'll find out sooner or later" he just nods slowly, I roll my shirt up again and turn around, showing them the semi-healed gash that runs along the middle of my back.

I see Finnick bite his bottom lip, a sharp cry escapes Seeder's lips, and I feel Chaff softly touch it, I guess he's just seeing if it's actually real, I wince as he touches it.

"Finnick you didn't," Seeder whispers.

"No! I would never do this to her!" Finnick says shocked that she would even think that.

"He didn't, but there's more" I tell them as I turn to face them, Chaff's face is emotionless.

"Show us" he orders.

Over the next fifteen minutes I show them my injuries, every time Finnick tells me I don't need to show them. Every time Seeder makes a sound of pain and shock. Every time Chaff just shakes his head like this couldn't have happened to me. I show them my legs, my arms, my hips, my neck, my head, and my chest. I sit back down on the bed next to Finnick, who wraps his arms around me.

"Doesn't that hurt?" Seeder asks concerned, referring to Finnick touching me.

"No, he's gentle" I smile, "sometimes Haymitch hurts though, but I can stand it for a few seconds" I admit.

Surprisingly it's Seeder who asks the question I know they both are wondering.

"How?"

"Zapher," Finnick growls, his grip on my hand tightens a bit.

"What?" Chaff questions Finnick further. Finn looks to me, asking if he should tell, I nod.

"That's who he sold her too; Snow sold her, like he does me. He's Enobaria's son, he's abusive, but you can see that can't you."

Seeder gets tears in her eyes; she takes my hand in hers. "I'm so sorry, I can't imagine"

"It's okay, he's only bad when I don't do what he says, and besides, I don't have to see him anymore. Snow said its different people every night now until he recovers, which may take a while."

They seem horrified that I'm saying it's not too bad since it's not him I'm being forced to sleep with, just other total strangers.

"So, you go tonight too?" Chaff asks me.

"Well, yes, but, I know who it is, and they don't hurt me. Finn convinced Snow to let him buy me until Tuesday, so I won't get hurt, until then."

"Finnick," Seeder goes and hugs him, "you're an angel"

"Yeah, I know" he laughs a bit.

"So, we tell Haymitch." Chaff states.

"No! We can't do that, not him." I plead.

"Why not! Their hurting you, their gunna kill you if this keeps happening!" Chaff yells.

"No, if I cause trouble, then Snow says he'll kill someone I love, I can't let Haymitch try to stop it and he may get killed. Please Chaff, don't tell my father."

After a minute he sighs, "Fine, but if you get seriously hurt, if you get a bone broken, I'm telling. Deal?"

"Deal"

He holds out his hand and I shake it firmly.

On Monday I'm surrounded by cameras as I sit in a chair in the victor's room. There's only ten tributes left now, and they've decided to interview me, last year's victor, to show the public. I hate it, but I didn't really have a say in it. I look past the cameras and see Finnick; he gives me a smile and a thumbs up. I laugh, Haymitch still doesn't know we're, I guess I can call it dating. Finnick never holds my hand or anything if Haymitch is there or anything. Caesar Flickerman struts in and sits next to me in another chair, I angle myself so I can look at him better and answer the questions.

"Just relax and have fun" he smiles at me.

"I will" I put a smile on my face as a red light appears above all the cameras.

"Hello Panem! We're here with last year's victor Rachel Abernathy to get her view on the Games! So Rachel, what do you think of the Games so far?" He inquires at me, raising his eyebrows. I think it's a ton of bull shit and we should stop because the fucking Capital is unfair as always. I want to say that, but I don't. Instead I just respond calmly.

"It's a lot longer than last year" is all I say.

"Ah yes this time last year, well, you had won already!" he smiles delighted at me.

"Yeah, guess I did." This time last year Peeta had been dead for three days. Somehow Caesar seems to read my mind.

"Everyone's wondering, how are you coping with Peeta's death, it's been over a year now."

"I'm okay, I have support from friends," I smile at Finnick, "and I did go see him the other day."

"You went to see him?"

"Yes, I visited his grave, back home in Twelve. I was given a letter that he wrote for me." I look down sadly.

"What did it say?" he asks intrigued

"That I am his, that he is mine, and that he sure as hell will be the first one to greet me when I die."

Caesar actually gets tears in his eyes, god he's so emotionally, it gets annoying.

"That's so sweet; do you want to say anything else about Peeta?"

"No, I'd rather not"

Caesar nods

"Well, one last question."

"Shoot" I shrug

"Some say you are to blame for Peeta's death, any comment?" he asks. I just stare at him, my jaw drops open and my hands go into fists. I bolt up and grab the arms of Caesars chair. His eyes show me he's terrified, but he just puts up his hands so I can't get too close.

"I didn't kill him got it! It's not my fault. You know whose fault it is?" I yell and I feel arms on my shoulders now; they tug lightly on me as Caesar shakes his head slightly.

"Rachel!" Finnick demands my attention, but I ignore him.

"It's Cato's fault! No! Actually it's not even his fault, it's yours!" I spit out harshly. I'm jerked away from Caesar and I'm lifted into the air.

"It's not worth it Rach. Cut the fucking cameras dammit!" Finnick yells at the cameramen who are taping this live. Finnick sets me down a few yards away from Caesar, he still holds me back.

"It's all of you! It's the Capital! You send those kids to die every year! And you complain if it's quick and easy! You've nev-" my rant is cut short by something on my mouth. I try to pull away, but it follows so I can't, that's when I realize. It's Finnick. Finnick Odair is kissing me.

-Finnick:

I'm not prepared for Rachel's reaction to Caesar's question. I was expecting a simple, no, or maybe she'd start to cry. She bolts up and buts a death grip on Caesar's chair. No one in the room moves, no one says anything, Haymitch doesn't even do anything, but that's because he's drunk and on the other side of the room.

I react first and go and tug on her shoulders. "Rachel!" I demand, she doesn't do anything.

"It's Cato's fault! No!"

Shit, no, don't go there.

"Actually it's not even his fault, it's yours!" Shit she went there, I jerk her off the chair and lift her up. I set her down and make her face me. She turns and points a finger at Ceasar. I notice the cameras and still on her.

"It's not worth it Rach. Cut the fucking cameras dammit!" I yell, the live cameras go off, but other who aren't broadcasting live stay filming. Rachel continues her rant.

"It's all of you! It's the Capital! You send those kids to die every year!" I don't hear what she says next. I need to shut her up, and fast. I grab her face and put my lips on hers, she pulls back but I go towards her, keeping my lips on hers, successfully getting her to stop talking. I can tell when she figures out what's happening because she relaxes instantly, I feel her hands on my chest as I still kiss her.

Crash! A glass bottle is broken over my head, I fall to the floor. I clutch my head with one hand as I'm kicked again; I lash out with my other hand. Bringing Haymitch to the ground, I get up before he does and pose myself to take him on. He gets up and goes to punch me, but I grab his wrist and twist it. Another fist makes contact with my head and I topple to the floor.

"Chaff! You jerkface!" I hear Rachel yell before I black out on the floor.

... chapter end ...

Enjoyable chapter? I liked writing this a lot, i got stuck in some spots but I think they turned out well. Haymitch ain't gunna be too happy after what he saw, but how should I make him react? hmm so many possiblities, oh the power of the author. XD So anyways just a heads up, Zapher is a quick healer

Big, big, big thanks to booksandmusic97 and meganlucindaxo for the reviews! I LOVE REVIEWS!