Chapter Fifteen: Peace at Last

Katniss Pov

I blink as my eyes begin to focus on my surroundings. This is not what I expected when I stepped into the portal. I don't know really what I expected. All I knew was I was traveling into the past. But landing inside myself at such a critical time was a blessing.

I glance around the table seeing Johanna, Annie, Beetee, Enobaria, Haymitch, and Peeta. Peeta is alive again. I know he once again has Venom to deal with, but having dealt with him it'll be easier this time around. Everyone including Coin is looking at me. It was time I cast my vote for the last Hunger Games using Capitol children. I look at Haymitch and I can tell he's waiting for me to cast my vote. Coin all ready hated me, but she was about to hate me more.

"I vote...no."

"What...I expected you to want payback for your sister." Coin is glaring at me, and it's all I can do not to smile and laugh in her face.

"You don't know anything about me or my sister. She was all about saving lives not taking them away. She wouldn't want me to do something against what she stood for. I vote no."

Coin sighs and glances at a smiling Haymitch. "The last vote is yours, Haymiych."

"I'm with the Mockingjay."

If looks could kill, I'd be dead, but I give Coin a glare of my own. I just put a target on my back crossing her, but I didn't care. If things worked out like I hoped they would she and her son would soon be dead, then Peeta, Prim, and I could live our lives in peace.

The events played out as they had the first time. The major difference was this time I didn't kill Coin. I didn't need history repeating itself. That one event sent Thatcher on his course to kill not only me but Peeta as well. No, this time I needed to be free to roam Panem. Not only that, but I needed all the evidence I could find to bring Coin down.

The first thing on my agenda was to make sure Peeta was safe here in the Capitol and to find Prim. I knew Darius was in Thirteen, so it only made sense that Prim was as well but Coin could have brought her here with her. Once I found her all I had to do was put my case together. I spot Haymitch through the crowd of people. I make my way over to him then pull him away so we could talk in private.

"Nice shot Sweetheart, but I expected it to go in another direction."

"I did that all ready and it cost me Peeta, Josh, Miranda, Rue, and Finn. I didn't want to go through that again."

"Katniss, what are you talking about? Who are all those people you named besides Peeta?"

"They're Peeta and my kids, but that's not important right now, Haymitch. What's important is for Peeta to stay safe while he's here in the Capitol. I want you to put someone you trust who has no loyalties to Coin on duty to guard Peeta. I crossed Coin and she'll take it out on him if she can. And he doesn't deserve that not with him dealing with Venom right now."

"Okay, you lost me, Sweetheart. Who's Venom and what's this about you and Peeta having kids?"

"Haymitch, I don't have time to explain this now. Please watch after Peeta while he's here in the Capitol."

"I will, but where will you be?"

"Looking for my sister."

"But I thought she..."

"It was a Mutt, Haymitch. I'll explain everything later. Right now I have to find Prim and bring both Coin and her son Darius Thatcher to justice."

"Coin has a son?"

"There's a lot you don't know about our new President, Haymitch."

"But how do you?"

"I've lived this before. I traveled backwards in time so I could save my family. And I need your help to do it."

"Okay, what do you want me to do?"

"Stick to Peeta like glue. Don't ever let him out of your sight."

"And what are you going to do?"

"Find Prim..."

I clap Haymitch on the shoulder before walking away. I run into Beetee who was on his way to a transport. I convinced him he needed to come to stay in the Capitol with me first before going back to Three. He confirmed my theory about Coin using the bombs he and Gale created. But that wasn't all she had talked to him about. She had asked him about nano technology.

And with her dabbing in nano technology, it explained where Thatcher got his love of his enhanced Mutts. I had all ready changed the future when I didn't shoot Coin, so finding Prim was going to be difficult. I glance up at the balcony Coin still stood on and my heart nearly stopped. There stood Darius Thatcher talking with his mother. And by his facial expression, I could tell he wasn't happy about what he was hearing. He was the key to finding Prim.

I duck into a corner so I can keep my eyes on Thatcher without being seen. I feel my heart begin to race as his conversation comes to an end and he walks off the balcony exiting to the street below. I wait to move once he has past me and is a bit farther down the street. I easily track him to an older building on the outskirts of the city. I can hear Thatcher talking to someone as I quietly approach the building.

"Our little experiment worked like a charm. Everyone thinks you're dead. The problem we have now is your sister didn't follow the script. We expected her to vote for the final Hunger Games, but she didn't."

"What are you going to do with me now?"

Kill you of course. I'm sorry, but my mother just thinks it's necessary. We can't have you suddenly showing up alive when everyone saw you die in that explosion."

"Not happening today," I whisper under my breath as I open the door and pull a dagger from my suit.

The noise catches Thatcher by surprise. He spins around drawing a gun, but I've all ready released my dagger. The weapon lodges in his chest over his heart. He looks down at the dagger then at me in shock. He hits the ground with a thud, and I walk over to him checking for a pulse. Finding none, I sigh with relief before standing up and untying Prim.

"Katniss, you came for me."

"Of course I did, Prim. You're my sister."

"But he said everyone thought I was dead."

"They won't for long. Lets get out of here before we're spotted."

"What about him?"

"He's dead at last. He won't hurt anyone in my family ever again."

I take Prim and sneak back into the heart of the city. I find Tigris and get her help once again. Once Prim is in her disguise, we head back to the Presidential mansion. It was time I brought my case forward.

I find Beetee and we head for the broadcast booth. There we find President Coin addressing all of Panem. I glance at Beetee and he nods his head. He was behind me and would make sure the broadcast was not interrupted.

"President Coin, you talk about Panem at peace, but that's a lie."

"What are you talking about? Turn the camera off and lets discuss this Miss. Everdeen."

"Why? I think Panem deserves to know what you are all about."

"And what's that Miss. Everdeen?"

"A fake, a fraud, a kidnapper, and a murder."

"That's charges punishable by death if you can't support them."

"But I can, Madam President. All of Panem watched the Capitol bomb their own children, and among the victims was my sister Prim."

"Yes, it was very distasteful and a great tragedy."

"I agree it was a tragedy, but you faked my sister's death."

"What do you mean?"

I smile seeing the beads of sweat suddenly appear on Coin's forehead. "My sister is alive, Madam President. Prim," I call out holding out my hand.

Prim pulls off her disguise and joins me inside the booth. Coin's face seems to twist into sudden rage before snapping back to normal. But the damage was all ready done. All of Panem had just witnessed their new President's darker side. And before I was finished they would know the whole story.

"I'm so relieved to see she's alive and well."

"You knew she was alive because you kidnapped her and cloned a Mutt to look and act like her."

"I did no..."

"Such thing...then why did I find my sister tied up in an old abandoned building on the outskirts of the city guarded by your son?"

"I don't have a son."

"Now you don't, but you did this morning."

"What have you done to Darius?"

"So, you do know him. I'm sorry to tell you, but he's dead. It was self defense. I was rescuing my sister when he pulled a gun on me. I had to protect myself."

I could see Coin's nostrils flaring and I knew she was going to snap. I gently push Prim out of the booth as Coin charges me. Being younger and well trained, I easily grab her hands and pin them behind her back. She struggles in my strong grip, but I hold tight.

"Did you mention the Hunger Games yet?"

"You voted it down don't you remember."

"Yes, I remember very well, but did you mention it was your idea. That it wouldn't be the last Hunger Games. That it would be a new beginning for them. You had no intention of ever stoping them. You just wanted Snow out of the way so you could simply take over. This was your plan all along, and I for one don't want you as my President."

I shove her away from me and she spins on her heels and glares at me. "I will have you charged with treason."

"I don't think so, Coin. Look around this booth at the parents of the children you murdered. I think they will want to charge you with treason. All I've done is come forward and told the truth."

"It was the Capitol's hovercraft not ours."

"But it was our bombs. Snow didn't have any like them. If he did he would have used them before then. He had no reason to kill Capitol children. The war was over. You had won, but you wanted to make sure it was over and that Snow would be executed. And the easiest way was to make it appear as though President Snow was the one behind the killing."

I turned my back on the older woman, but I was on high alert. I was expecting her to attack me again, but what I got surprised me. I glance over my shoulder to see her slumped on the floor crying. It appeared she had a heart after all. Was she crying for her lost son or her loss of power? I didn't really care as long as she out of my life once and for all.

I step out of the booth and wrap my arms around Prim. She lays her head on my shoulder as we walk away leaving Panem's war and the Mockingjay behind. We find Haymitch and Peeta and they both stare at me in shock. I smile and shrug my shoulders hugging Prim close. I spend the next two hours explaining everything to everyone. The only one who I think believed me is Peeta and Venom.

I stay in the Capitol and watch after Peeta's recovery. Venom makes his presence known, but seemed bored once he realized I knew he was around. I never expected him to leave, but he surprised me one day. He appeared after one of Peeta's sessions with Dr. Aurelius.

"You love him very much don't you?"

"What...Venom"

"In the flesh so to speak. You love him don't you?"

"Peeta...yes, I love him with all my heart."

"I can see it. I've seen it from the first day I took him over. You always fought for him no matter what I did."

"I'll always fight for him."

"I think you would. That's why I'm leaving."

"What?"

"Ah, you didn't think I would leave did you?"

"To be honest no, I didn't."

"Snow created me to torment you, then Coin used me to continue where Snow left off. Snow is dead and Coin is being executed for her crimes. I have no reason to be here."

"You won't kill Peeta..."

"No, I won't kill him although that's what Snow would have wanted. I've come to care for you as Peeta does and like him I couldn't put you through that. Goodbye, Katniss." Venom touches my face before Peeta's eyes return to their normal blue color.

In time the last of the Tracker Jacker venom leaves Peeta's body. He still has nightmares but I'm there to comfort him. It's no surprise to me when he asks me to marry him. But I surprise him when I say yes. Cinna comes out of hiding once Coin is gone, and Paylor is elected the new President. He designs me the most beautiful wedding dress to wear.

Haymitch walks me down the isle and also stands in as Peeta's best man. Life couldn't be better for all of us. My mother and Prim are in Dustrict Four helping to start a clinic. I've only spoken to Gale once since the wedding. He's still hurting that I married Peeta instead of him. I can't blame him any more than I can help who I fell in love with.

Nine months after the wedding I brought Josh and Miranda into the world. They were the most beautiful twins I had seen in a very long time. I knew without a doubt that this time I would get to cherish every moment with them. There would be no one taking them away or trying to hurt them. And in a few years Rue and Finn would be joining our happy family making it complete. Life in Panem was finally and truly at peace.