Chapter 6: Live On
Finnick is crowned the Victors of Victors. The girl shriek and chant his name as President Snow places the Crown on his head. I am still bitter about Cassiope and Haymitch's deaths; Peeta and I will receive their silver and bronze medals in a private ceremony with Snow later.
When the Victors are made to shake Finnick's hand, as is custom, Finnick smugly smirks at me when he takes my hand.
"Like the arena, Girl on Fire?"
I make a big show of wiping my hand on my dress, even though Peeta would want us to be good sports. "Not particularly. But you should. They must have built it especially for you." I say this with an edge of bitterness.
Returning to the Victors' Village, I one day bang on Peeta's door and impulsively propose marriage. "Let's have a Toasting," I demand. "No Capitol. Just we two. And maybe our families and Effie."
Peeta is surprised by my forwardness, but agrees. We marry in a private ceremony in the woods beyond the Meadow. It takes Capitol months to learn of the wedding.
They play in the Meadow. The little boy and little girl. They don't like their names, especially when I use them for scolding, but I tell them they should be proud of their names. They're named for Victors, and the children of two others.
"Cassiope Fletch Mellark, stop chasing your brother! Haymitch Abernathy Mellark, slow down!" I order.
I know my children are only playing a Game, but there are much worse Games to play. In my arms, is Peeta's and my new baby daughter... Rosemary.
The Second Rebellion started right after the Third Quarter Quell, which was deeply unpopular. It resulted in the abolishment of the Games, and the eventual takeover of Panem into a democracy. To his credit, Finnick fought for the rebels. He even married Annie Cresta, his fellow Victor who had escaped with us, and produced a son. But the father died too, in the fighting. So did all of Peeta's family, including Julie Fairchild Mellark. My sister, Prim. Mother is still alive, but we hardly speak now from where she is working on a hospital in District 4 and keeping an eye on Annie. She is re-married, last I heard, and is forging on. Happy, somewhat.
Oh, yes. There are much worse Games to play.