Cato

When I got back to 2, it was late at night. Slipping into the house, I closed the door behind me. I walked up to my bedroom and saw Katniss sleeping in bed. Smiling, I looked down at her and kissed her forehead. She mumbled in her sleep and I went to change into a pair of pajama pants. Slipping in bed, I hugged her and she wrapped an arm around me.

"Katniss?"

"Hmm?" She mumbled and cracked an eye open.

"I love you," I said and she nodded.

"I know. Me too, but it's late. I wanna sleep." I smiled and closed my eyes, breathing deeply.

~'~'~'~

I woke up before Katniss and went downstairs to make breakfast. It was a bright sunny day and was our last day in 2. We would head to District 3 next.

I made eggs, potatoes and sausages. Pulling jam and butter from the fridge, I set them down and made toast.

You're really excited, you dumb nut.

I scoffed and continued to set the table until Katniss came down. She wore one of my shirts and her hair was tied. "Morning," she smiled and I nodded.

"Good morning," I replied and she sat down.

"Wow, Cato, this looks delicious," she sat down and I sat beside her. We began eating and I felt the box in my pocket become heavier and heavier with each bite. Katniss seemed oblivious to how nervous I was and looked out the window.

Tick tock.

Each bite tasted like nothing and I was relieved when my plate was empty. I cleared the plates and Katniss helped me wash them. Katniss washed each plate while I rinsed them. Once everything was clean, I looked at the clock. It was almost time for Effie to come with Katniss' prep team.

I led her to the living room and sat her down on the sofa.

"Cato? Do you want to talk about something?" She asked and I cleared my throat.

"Katniss, we've known each other for quite a few years. When I was a Mentor in 12 and when you were a tribute. You've helped me gain a hold of my life and... And I love you."

I'm going to be sick. Just give her the stupid ring!

I knelt and pulled the box from my pocket. Opening it, I showed her the ring. Katniss raised her eyebrows and nodded. She motioned for me to continue.

"Katniss, I've already asked your mother for her permission, and she said yes. Now, I'm asking you and hoping you'll say yes. Katniss Everdeen, will you do the honor of-"

The front door slammed open and Effie burst in with her flock of idiots. "Cato! We've come for- oh my goodness," Effie's eyes widened as she took in the scene. Katniss rolled her eyes while I sighed.

Oh hot damn, this is too funny!

"One minute, Effie?" I asked and she nodded as the prep team began squawking in delight. "As I was saying before I was interrupted," I sighed. Katniss laughed and I smiled. "Katniss Everdeen, will you marry me?" I asked and she nodded and tackled me in a hug. I kissed her and slipped the ring onto her finger as Effie and the team burst in with their congratulations.

"Oh, it'll be the wedding of the year!"

"Remember when Allis married Nero? Oh, her dress was divine!"

"I bet you two will have the cutest babies!"

"People! We are on a schedule!"

~'~'~'~

I had to say good-bye to Katniss after the Capitol. I would return to 2 for the Quarter Quell.

"We'll be on separate teams," she whispered and I grinned.

"It's alright, I'll visit you," I said and kissed her. "See you in a bit, Mrs. Arckenson," I whispered.

"Not yet, Cato," she smiled and I raised an eyebrow.

"Well, very soon. I'll apply for a District Change and I can live with you in 12. Or you and I could live in the Capitol and alternate from 12 to 2. We can do anything," I hugged her and Katniss pressed her hand against my cheek.

"I love you, Cato Arckenson," she whispered and I chuckled.

"Not as much as I love you," I hugged her and she kissed my cheek. I boarded the train headed for 2 and smiled at Katniss one more time.

You're a lovesick idiot.

I scoffed and sat down. The ride to 2 would be quite boring.

Well, that's that.

That's that.

The train ride was long and arduous. I couldn't concentrate on what was going on. Something was different. Something was going to change.

~'~'~'~

I sat in front of the TV with Enobaria, Allis, Kelsa, Nero, Brutus, and Graff. We watched as President Snow stood and Father looked furious.

"When the first Hunger Games were made, the creators decided that every 25 years, there would be a Quarter Quell: to tell the people that even time will not contest the Games. Each Quell would be different and specially made to squash all rebellion!" Snow announced.

"What's he going to do?" Brutus growled. Enobaria shushed him and Snow continued.

"This year, to show that even the strongest must bow to the Capitol, the Tributes in this year's Hunger Games... shall be reaped from the existing pool of Victors regardless of age, injury, or current state of being!" My jaw dropped and Brutus swore. Katniss was going back into the arena. Katniss was going back into the arena.

Oh shit.

"What are we going to do?" Allis asked and I shook my head.

"I don't know."

Katniss was going back into the arena.

Katniss

My mother cried as Snow announced the Quarter Quell. I lost the ability to speak and sprinted to Haymitch's house. Slamming the door open, I walked in and he regarded me with cold eyes.

"Well, I guess you're here to talk game plans," Haymitch sighed and I scoffed.

"I'm here to drink," I took a swig of the clear liquid in one of the bottles. The liquid burned my throat and seared in my stomach.

"Nice ring. Guess you and Monster are against each other now," He sighed and I nodded. I knew Cato was going to enter the Games. He was probably already training. Becoming something he'd sworn off. I looked at Haymitch and he nodded.

"We need allies," He said.

Reaping Day: District 2

I stood on the stage with about fifteen other people. Enobaria stood on my right and Allis was on my left. She laid a hand on her large stomach and I sighed. If Allis was chosen, would anyone volunteer for her? Hyelle Fren stepped up on stage wearing a blue dress that was made entirely of feathers tied to mesh. Her hair was green and styled up.

"Welcome to the 75th Hunger Games. This year we will be selecting our tributes from the Victors of the past games. Ladies first," her shoes clicked as she made her way to the bowl. Swirling a gloved hand, Hyelle snatched a slip of paper and opened it. "Allis Siln!"

Are they going to let a pregnant woman into the arena?!

Allis' jaw dropped and she gasped. The crowd began to murmur and Nero, her husband, tried to run towards her side of the stage.

"Do we have any volunteers?" Hyelle asked and Enobaria raised her hand.

"I volunteer as tribute," she said and went to hug Allis. "Go to your husband. Sh, sh, it's alright. Go to your husband," she whispered and a sobbing Allis was allowed off stage. Enobaria went to stand by Hyelle.

"Now for our gentlemen," she snatched a slip of paper up and read the name. "Graff Varss!" Graff nodded and stepped forward. "Do we have any volunteers?"

"I volunteer!" I raised my fist and stepped forward, smiling. I shook hands with Graff and walked up to Hyelle. Smiling, I shook hands with Enobaria who knew better than to show disappointment. We raised our fists to the crowd and I grinned in victory.

You need to prepare for what's to come.

We boarded the train and Enobaria slapped me. "You fucking idiot!" she hissed and I glared at her.

"What?! You think I'm going to let you into the same arena as my fiance?! Do you think I would have let Graff in there? He had one of the shortest games of all time and you know why!"

"Fine," she sighed and sat down. "We'll have plenty of Sponsors and nearly half the Victors are coming to Mentor, not that we need it. Cato, we need to prepare," she said and I nodded.

"I know."

Reaping Day: District 12

I stood beside Haymitch as we waited for Effie to finish her speech. No one really cared for the Reapings. Everyone knew we were returning to the arena.

"Our Mentors and Tributes for District 12..." Effie sighed. "Katniss Everdeen and Haymitch Abernethy," She wiped her eyes and we shook hands. Then, it began. The people of 12 raised their hands in the final good-bye. Haymitch and I copied them and we were ushered onto the train.

"Wait! I have to say good-bye!" I shrieked and clawed one of the Peacekeepers. Turning to Prim, I screamed, "Good-bye!" and was pushed onto the train.

Haymitch and I walked to the TV car and we sat down. We needed to see what we were up against. He turned the TV on to the Reapings and he began explaining things to me.

"District One, Cashmere and Gloss Hardying. Siblings that won back to back Games and are lethal," He said and I nodded. They were both way too beautiful for their own good.

"District Two, Cato Arckenson and Enobaria Cohere. Katniss, they'll be the front leaders of the Career pack. You need to be prepared with Cato. He's unpredictable. He may be your fiance, but in the arena, he's no one's ally except Enobaria. Got it?" He asked and I nodded. I watched as Cato volunteered for a large man and stepped forward, an easy grin on his face.

"What's up with Enobaria's teeth?"

"She had then filed down so she could rip people's throats out," Haymitch said and I nodded.

"She's committed," we chuckled at my antics. District Three held people that weren't severely interesting.

"District 4, Finnick Odair and Mags Cohen. Finnick is the youngest Victor of all time. He was like, fourteen when he won. Mags, she's the oldest Victor," Mags volunteered for a sobbing red headed girl.

"When it comes down, he won't protect her," I said and Haymitch frowned.

"Well, I just hope she dies quickly and easily because she is a wonderful woman," We watched until we reached 7.

"Who're they?" I asked and Haymitch looked up from his drink.

"Ah... Blight Fulcrum and Johanna Mason. He's not much, but she is very dangerous. Keep an eye out for her," He said and we finished the Reapings. "Now we move on to the Games. Katniss, some of these Games are extremely brutal. Cato's is listed under the Top 10 Best Games and he's a Capitol favorite along with Finnick Odair," He explained and I nodded.

"Anything else?"

"Only that he's one of the expected Victors," Haymitch said and I raised an eyebrow.

"Any other expected winners?"

"Finnick Odair and Gloss." The Career Pack males. Typical.

"We'll start with District 1," I said and slid the disc in.

Both Cashmere and Gloss were quite vicious in their Games, but not very noteworthy except that they were beautiful and twins.

Enobaria had a particularly bloody Games and she ripped her Final Frontier's throat out with her teeth. I chewed on the inside of my lip and continued to watch. I remembered my mother not allowing me to watch Cato's Games when they were aired. Now I understood why.

Cato was a ruthless killer. He hacked, sliced, and beheaded. His first kill was the girl from seven. It was chaos during the bloodbath, so she was beheaded. Others were given mortal wounds an left to bleed out. Then there was Mellie Jecka, the girl from 12. She was thirteen and had tried to grab a pack and run but Cato caught her. He had his District partner hold her while he stabbed her repeatedly.

Then there was the finale. Peeta's oldest brother, Rye, was part of the final two. They'd met in single combat and Rye managed to give Cato a deep wound to his arm. Cato responded by hacking Rye's limbs off. I felt nauseous as he mutilated the other boy. When the canon sounded, Cato raised his fist in triumph and then collapsed.

"That's what you're marrying?" Haymitch asked and I sighed.

"I don't think they'll let two Victors out of the arena," I said and we went to the other Games. How could I face Cato? I knew he wouldn't kill me, but would he be able to prevent people like Enobaria killing me? Could I be able to get him out alive?