So here in Canada is Canada Day, a holiday. So this is a special update. For those who are Canadian, HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Chapter 3

Alex's 13th birthday has arrived. Alex rolls onto her stomach in her bed. Katniss slept over the night before and is currently poking Alex's side.

"No..." Alex groans slapping Katniss' hand away.

"Up." Katniss responds poking her again.

"No..."

"Now."

"No..." Katniss gets off the bed.

"Water bucket."

"N... AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Alex jumps into sitting position and turns around to see Jerry, Max and Justin each with a water bucket, "whose idea was it?"

Jerry and Justin points at Max. Max raises his left hand.

"MAX!" Alex takes off running after Max and they all hear them running down the stairs. Suddenly there is a bang and a thump.

"Breakfast." Jerry smiles and walks out of Alex's room. Katniss and Justin follow holding hands while laughing.

It is a dark time but you have to admit. Alex makes it brighter.

But with Max and Alex together... it's a never dull moment.

~K&A~

In the kitchen Jerry is pulling Alex off of Max.

Max is laughing as Alex is tickling him.

"I'm done." Alex smiles as Jerry puts his only daughter on the counter.

Katniss is still not used to such a beautiful and modern house. It's 100 times better than her's. Though, District 12 is the worse off compared to all Districts.

"Kat." Katniss head snaps to Alex to see her arms crossed, "stop it and come here." Alex pats the spot next to her, frowning. Katniss leaves Justin's side and joins Alex. Once Katniss is seated next to her, Alex rests her head on her shoulder, "Stop putting your home down. It's better than other's I've seen there. Remember, Snow rebuilt this District. It was more likely worse before."

"I know. But it still amazes me." Katniss answers honestly.

"I know it does. It amazes me too. It's better than my old home in New York." Katniss wraps her left arm around Alex's waist.

"Happy 13th birthday." Katniss kisses Alex's cheek.

"Thank you sis." Alex smiles and kisses Katniss' cheek in thanks.

~A&K~

The day of the reaping has arrived. All the previous victors are sitting on stools on the right of Coin. The seating goes:

Justin, Alex, a female winner, by the name of Serenity Dragomir and a male winner, by the name of Damien Redbird.

Serenity has red hair and grey eyes. She is 39 year olds. Serenity was 15 when she won for the District.

Damien has short spiky brown hair and blue eyes. He is 32 years old. Damien was 18 when he won for the District.

"Welcome back winners of the 51st, 61st, and 74th annual Hunger Games. This year is the 75th annual Hunger Games and there are a few changes. District 11, 12 and 13 are picked to try out the new rules. District 11 is sending 2 women and one man. District 12 is sending one woman and 2 men. However, we are sending 2 women and one man." Coin sneaks a look at Alex, seeing her surprise.

Alex knows that means she and Serenity are getting sent in. Same with Rue and Katniss.

"Alex Russo, Serenity Dragomir, come on over." Alex and Serenity walks over to Coin emotionless, "Now, let's see if Damien Redbird or Justin Russo will go in."

Coin grabs a sheet of paper and opens in.

"Damien Redbird."

Damien stands up and walks over to the 13 and 39 year olds.

"Happy 75th Hunger Games. May the odds ever be in your favour."

Coin leads the three tributes into the back and onto the train, not giving them the time to say goodbye to their families, just like the year before.

~K&A~

Katniss is sitting with Haymitch and Peeta on the train, knowing the Alex will be in the games, once again. Who the other girl and guy are, she doesn't know. She knows Alex, Justin, the girl from the 51st Hunger Games and the guy from the 61st Hunger Games won, but if it's Justin or the other guy is coming, she won't know... until now.

The door slides open and Katniss sees Coin leading the three tributes. Katniss sees Alex, the older girl and older guy walk in.

"Hey Kat!" Alex waves forcing a smile.

"You shouldn't be talking to the enemy!" The girl snaps at Alex. Alex rolls her eyes and walks over to Katniss. Alex sits down on Katniss' lap and puts her feet on Peeta's and Haymitch's laps.

"You are not the boss of me Serenity. Katniss and Peeta are my best friends. You are just an outsider looking with disapproving eyes." Coin's mouth drops open fighting a laugh as Haymitch, Peeta and Katniss bursts out laughing with the unknown guy.

"Who's this guy?" Peeta asks rubbing Alex's leg gently.

"I'm Damien Redbird. I won the 61st Hunger Games. Serenity won the 51st" Damien smiles.

"Nice. Congratulations."

"Thank you." Damien nods going back into his silent stage.

"Have you seen Rue yet?" Alex asks bending her left arm like Katniss is a couch. Katniss rolls her eyes knowing Alex is trying to get herself not to be worried.

"Not yet. Seeder, Chaff and Rue are in the games since they are the only ones to fill the category. Same with me, Peeta and Haymitch." Alex nods.

"It was only luck that Justin wasn't picked." Katniss nods and kisses Alex's cheek.

"It was. But I will keep you safe just like last year." Alex grins.

"Are we going to blow up the food supplies again?" Alex asks excited. Coin shakes her head chuckling to herself knowing Alex is trying to make everyone to forget their worry.

"Maybe." Katniss smirks playing along, "hopefully this time we will not get blown out of hiding with fire and fireballs."

"Or falling flaming trees."

"Or people shooting arrows at us when we are in a tree."

"Or almost getting killed by knives or spears."

Katniss sees the fear in Alex's eyes as she remembers the bloodbath in Cornucopia last year.

"Remember Alex, I hit that bitch with the bag." Alex giggles remembering when Clove fell by the impact of the bag, and then Katniss ended up grabbing her arm and dragged her into the forest, "I will do that exact same thing to save you."

"I love you." Alex whispers wrapping her arms around Katniss' neck. Katniss hugs her back tightly.

"I love you too." Katniss kisses Alex's forehead rocking Alex back and forth.

"I hate to ruin this moment, but Alex, we have to go." Coin steps in. Alex nods and gets up.

"I'll see you three later." Alex waves.

"See ya Alex." Peeta, Haymitch and Katniss waves. Coin takes Alex's hand and the tributes and Coin heads out leaving the three tributes of District 12.

~A&K~

At 10pm, Alex is sitting in her room at the Capitol. District 13 gets half of the penthouse while District 12 gets the other. They all have to sit together for meals.

Alex lies down of the bed that she had last year, while Damien has Justin's old room.

"I can't wait until this all ends." Alex mutters to herself as she stands up and walks out of her room. She walks onto the balcony and sees Peeta, "what are you doing out here?"

Peeta looks up and smiles. He opens his arms and Alex accepts the invitation. She sits down on his lap and rests her head on his shoulder.

"I can't sleep and you obviously can't either." Peeta whispers, kissing her cheek.

"You're right. I really hate these games. I'm scared for Rue, you, Kat and Haymitch. I honestly don't care if I die; because that means you guys live." Peeta shakes his head.

"You know Katniss and I will not let you die. We will let ourselves die if it means we save you."

"Well, in 2 weeks and 3 days the Hunger Games begins. We have training for 2 weeks then in those last 2 days we get the scores and impress the Gamekeepers. Then the day before training we have interviews."

"You catch on quickly." Peeta teases.

"Well, it's called paying attention and asking very stupid questions." Alex smiles innocently back.

Peeta leans forward and the two of them kiss softly.

Alex's left hand disappears in Peeta's blonde hair while her right rests on his left shoulder.

"You know, I didn't come out here to see you two kiss. I came out here to see how my little sister and best friend are doing." They hear Katniss interrupt. They break the kiss and Alex leans back so she can see Katniss upside down.

"Nice to see you too Kat. Now why are you not sleeping?" Alex asks pretending to be innocent.

"I can ask you the same Ally." Katniss walks over and gently wraps her arms around Alex, lifting her up. Alex's legs swings over Katniss' left shoulder as she now looks down at a laughing Peeta.

Alex's hands grips Katniss' shirt as her black hair curtains her face.

"I love you." Alex says reaching for Katniss' shoulder shakily.

Katniss wraps her left arm around Alex's slim body and uses her right hand to grab Alex's hand.

She tosses Alex into the air and Alex lands in Katniss' waiting arms.

Katniss' right arm wraps around Alex's shoulders and her left wraps around Alex's knees.

"That was creepy." Alex mutters breathing heavily.

"I love you too." Katniss kisses Alex's forehead and sits down.

Katniss lays Alex down, with her head in her lap and her feet in Peeta's.

Katniss rubs Alex's stomach soothingly. Katniss feels Alex go calm immediately.

"Now what are you nervous about Alex?" Katniss asks while her left hand runs through Alex's hair.

"Well, I know for a fact that the arena will be different than the one from last year." Alex answers in a whisper.

"It will be. But you have me, Peeta and Haymitch to save you." Katniss whispers and watches as Alex's eyes begin to close.

10 minutes later, Katniss is carrying Alex to her room from last year. Peeta opens Katniss' door and closes it once she is in side. Katniss pulls the covers down and slides Alex underneath them. Katniss takes her clothes off and puts her nightgown on. She crawls into bed and turns the light off.

"Kat..?" Alex asks sleepily.

"I'm here." Katniss reassures, "you are sleeping in my room tonight."

"Good. I don't want to be alone anyway." Alex turns onto her right side and rests her head on Katniss' shoulder.

"I know." Katniss wraps both arms around the younger girl and just like that, they fall sleep peacefully.

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