Ok here's another chapter! Thanks again to all my reviewers! In this chapter Katniss finally gets to meet Cato's family! So read, and if you have anything to say leave a review! Thanks!

Chapter 10: The Consolation Prize

District 2. Even the platform here is nicer than in district 12. There's no rot, no sense of despair choking the air. You can tell that most of the people here don't have to struggle like in the other districts. Kids grow up well fed and comfortable, trained to be killers. Here the biggest concern isn't starving to death, its learning to fight well enough to survive against 23 other opponents.

District 2 is stone masonry. As we ride along in one of the cars sent to collect us I peer out at the unfamiliar surroundings. What look like several small towns cluster around what I presume are the entrances to different mines. As we drive through what must be the main town I notice that most of the houses here are much larger and nicer than those at home. I crane my neck wanting to see more and an ugly brick building comes into view. It looks like an old warehouse, but you can tell by the new paint and lighted windows that it's not abandoned.

I turn to Cato, who is watching me critically, waiting to see my reaction to his home. "What is that?" I gesture out the window.

He raises an eyebrow, "That's the training center of course.

I let it sink in. That's were kids are trained in the arts of war. That's were monsters are created.

Cato must have seen the look on my face because he laughs, low and soft, so it sends shivers down my spine. "You must think we're so despicable? Don't you Katniss?" It's true, they are despicable. "You think we're the brutal vicious ones? We have no humanity?" His breath is hot on my face as he whispers in my ear, "Just remember that I'm not the only one who'll be standing up on that stage today."

I turn my head away so he can't see the shame that colors my cheeks. He's right; I can't act like I'm more innocent than him. I've played the capitols games right along with him. I've killed children too.

When we arrive at the justice building I'm surprised by the throngs of people that await us. Despite Cato's earlier fears that he was a failure, every man, woman, and child in district 2 has come to welcome their victor home. They press all around us cheering his name as we ascend the steps up to the stage.

The justice building here is a huge white pillared building. Unlike every other district we've visited it's well kept and clean, not falling into disrepair. In the other districts a temporary stage is build each year for the reaping, and later for the victory tour, but here a permanent stage has been added right on the justice building's front. They must need it, to welcome home all their many victors.

As we wait for the mayor to give his speech I look to the place usually set aside for the families of fallen tributes. Clove's family there. Her sobbing mother clings tightly to the hand of her father. I guess she had no siblings to mourn her loss. However, on the other side stands Cato's family. They smile, heads held high, gazing proudly at their son. I can tell just by looking at them that Cato takes after his mother. He has her blonde hair and blue eyes, were as the only thing he inherited from his father was his height. There are also two children. One is a boy with the same dark hair as his father, no older than ten who stands beaming up at the stage. But the other is a girl, fifteen maybe, standing sullenly while the rest of her family rejoices. Her hair is even lighter than Cato's, appearing almost white in the sun, but her eyes are the same cold blue. They rove across the stage. I wonder what she's looking for until they meet mine. She gazes at me with the same determination that I have seen so often in Cato. Then she turns away a vicious little smile twisting her pink lips.

"Katniss." Cato hisses in my ear and I realize the mayor has ended his speech and now it's our turn. I try to fix a smile on my face as I begin my prepared speech. Cato concludes it, adding in his own words to Clove's family. When it's done the crowd breaks out in a cheer that might have been heard in all 12 other districts. But it's not my name they echo, only Cato's. They are indifferent to me, I do not exist. As far as the people of district 2 are concerned Cato is the only victor.

I glance at him as he bathes in the adoration of the crowd. He looks the part so much more that I. Brutal, powerful, handsome even, he is the perfect victor.

When we are finally allowed to go inside I try to drop Cato's hand imediately. I expect we'll go get ready for dinner like we have in every other district, so I'm surprised when he refuses to relinquish my fingers.

"You can go play your wardrobe later Katniss, but right now there's something I have to do."

I try to protest but he just pulls me down a side hall and into a little room. There's nothing in there except a few dusty couches. Then it hits me. This must be were tributes go to say their final goodbyes. I wonder how many long broken promises of "I can win" were made here.

Cato points at one of the couches "Just sit there and don't say anything."

I've barely sunk onto one of the plush couches when the door bangs open to reveal Cato's family. His mother rushes forward to embrace him imediately and his father claps him on the back. Even his little brother congratulates him. The only one who hangs back is the girl who I saw earlier. She doesn't even look at Cato, just walks strait past him and sits down on the couch across from me. She looks at me skeptically, with a knowing glint in her eye.

No one else has even noticed me yet. Cato is talking with his father, and his little brother keeps blurting out random stuff about the games.

"It was so awesome when you killed the boy from 11! IT was the best fight I'd seen in the games since forever!"

"Now Jason," His mother looks sternly at the younger boy, "Remember what I said about bringing up the games. I'm sure Cato doesn't want to talk about-"

"Of course he does!" Cato's father cuts her off, "there's no point in winning if you can't brag about it."

His mother just sighs and sits down next to the daughter who is not glowering at her hands. I notice how similar they look, like reflections in the mirror.

"Invidia." She hisses, "Go talk to your brother! He has brought a great honor upon you. You are the sister of a Victor, act like it!" Her eyes soften as she says the word victor.

The girl, Invidia turns to look at her, "Of course mother, how could I forget that now my dearest brother has made a fool of himself in the arena I have to cater to his every wish." Her every word drips with sarcasm, and I recoil. What child would treat their mother this way? I may have shunned my own, but it is nothing to how she behaves. But his mother doesn't even react, as though she's used to such treatment from her daughter.

Then she turns and sees me for the first time, "Oh!" her eyes grow momentarily wide and then she smiles and extends her hand for me to shake, "I'm Livia, Cato's mother."

"I'm Katniss."

Behind her Invidia snorts, "The whore from 12 herself."

Livia turns, "That is enough young lady!" Invidia just rolls her eyes. "I'm so sorry for that. My daughter has a… will of her own." I smile but deep down I'm wondering what she meant by the "whore from 12".

Despite my dislike for the people of the career districts I actually Cato's mother. We make small talk for a while until she politely excuses herself and goes to stand by her husband.

Invidia takes the opportunity to lean in a whisper, "I bet you think your all high and mighty now? But don't worry when I become a victor I won't be weak like my brother. I'll exterminate you rats from the other districts. I don't need a consolation prize."

"What?"

She smiles, "Oh you know, a consolation prize, for everything Cato's been through in the arena. That's what you are, isn't it? Everyone knows he's the real victor and you're just a pet for him to play with when he feels like it." I narrow my eyes, is that how people here see it? Am I just another toy for Cato to play with? "But don't worry when I win the games, everyone will forget about you, and my brother. I'll be the favorite then." Her blue eyes glitter wickedly.

The way she acts, it's similar to the behaviors of children I've known. The kids that come from big families were they're over shadowed constantly by their sibling's wants and needs. Invidia has been eclipsed by Cato, and now she has everything to prove.

After they leave the rest of the night passes in a blur of dancing, kissing, and otherwise pretending to be madly in love. It's only later that night, when I lay in the darkness listen to Cato's steady heartbeat that I wonder, is that really what I am? Am I a consolation prize?