** I apologize for the long delay - have been very uninspired i'm afraid. This isn't a long chapter but the following chapters will provide the introduction of some other beloved ND members. Would love for any feedback to help the motivation kick in and stay :)

Rachel remained unmoved on her bed, her mind was moving at a million miles an hour keeping pace with the speed of the train she was currently aboard. She had returned to her bedroom about an hour ago, her afternoon spent with Finn, and now she was waiting for the official announcement of their imminent arrival into the Capitol. After spending half an hour trying to learn a single knot - her and Finn both mutually agreed that she wasn't getting anywhere and maybe it was time to give it up and move along to their singing lesson. She had been surprised, he was good, really good. However then again this was Finn they were talking about, typically everything he tried he excelled at. She had taught him a duet that her parents used to sing together, and she was surprised at how well their voices blended together. Their lesson had attracted some attention, as at one point both Mr. Schuester and Ms. Pillsbury had sat observing them, whispering behind their hands. She was unsure what that was about. Regardless how amazing her afternoon singing with Finn had been, it had to come to an end and with that bought the reality of their arrival into the Capitol. Miss Pillsbury had come in and indicated it was time to go back into their quarters, pack up their belongings as they would be departing the train with the hour. Rachel was so lost in her thoughts that she almost didn't hear the feint knocking at her door.

"Come in" she yelled, bringing herself up to be seated on the edge of her bed.

"Hello Rachel, it is just me Ms. Pillsbury. But please call me Emma." Rachel shifted as Emma sat down beside her on the bed.

"Alright. Emma is there something wrong?"

"Oh no dear there is nothing wrong" she patted Rachel on her hand. "On the contrary, I just wanted to talk to you about your singing."

"What about it?" she asked, nervous.

"In all my years I have never heard a voice so beautiful as yours. It's just such a shame, i mean so much talent in someone who is..." she left her sentenced unfinished, but Rachel knew exactly what she was implying someone who is to be sentenced to death. She held no illusions about her survival chances when in the arena.

"Thank you Miss. i mean Emma. I just wish i had the chance to live out my dream to perform in the Capitol. I mean that's all i've ever wanted to do, my poor father has been trying to talk me into something else - a nice housewife for a well to do man. Ever since my mother died he has been trying to dissuade me from this so-called silly notion i have. But he doesn't understand that this is what i want to do - i want to sing and i want the world to hear me when i do." she looked over to Emma, feeling vulnerable, she never opened up to anyone before, she was unsure why she chose to do so now and to Emma. She had never had a best friend, and wondered if this is what friends did - share their secrets, their dreams, things that she could never share with anyone else before now.

"Hmmm. Well i have been thinking...Mr. Schuester actually came up with the idea, but we were thinking of showcasing your talent. We want the Capitol to see the real you - your powerful voice. This is how we want the Capitol and the other tributes to see you - the singing star from district 4."

"How would we do that?" she asked, unsure of what Emma was asking her to do.

"Well i'm not sure it's possible yet - but I can talk to the President Sylvester and see if we can get you to perform something at the Opening Ceremony. I will have to embellish your performance history and your status as a star of sorts in district four. But i think i can be persuasive enough if you are on board with it?"

"Really, i would be able to sing in front of a live audience?"

"Yes of course, a live audience and televised to all the homes in all twelve districts - this kind of exposure would be fantastic."

"Oh that would be wonderful. Thank you Ms. Pillsbury, i mean Emma, sorry. I can't believe it - singing in front of so many people, and my dad would be able to see as well." she couldn't hide the excitement in her voice.

"Well i will take that as a go ahead of sorts. I will see what i can do Rachel. In the meanwhile you prepare as we should be arriving in the Capitol very shortly. Goodbye Rachel" Emma stood off the bed, leaving an excited Rachel with even more to think about.

The train had come to a stop over half an hour ago, however Rachel still paced her small room awaiting for the knock on her door advising it was time to depart. A knock that was taking far too long to come. What could possibly be taking so long she thought, she suddenly had an idea, she dragged the chair over from the corner of the room giving her the height to see out the window. She stood on the plush chair her finger tips gripping the window sill tightly for support as her eyes adjusted to the brightness that was the train-station. Everything was white - the wall tiles were a bright white, the floor tiles were white, even the peacekeepers uniforms here seemed whiter than usual. She could see hundreds if not thousands of Capitol citizens barricaded off to one side as she observed people walking escorted into a building of sorts, it bore a slight resemblance to the Justice building back in her district and she could only assume this was the extravagant Capitol Justice building. It finally dawned on her who she was viewing walking into the building - it had to be the other tributes. She had no idea they were all on the same train, but then again, she shouldn't have been surprised. She narrowed her eyes trying to get a better look at the tributes, hoping to learn something. She ended giving up in frustration, she could barely see a thing, and she wasn't going to do herself any favors if she fell off the stupid chair injuring herself. The sudden loud knock on her door - indicated it was now her turn, she collected her bag along with her courage and opened the door.

"Rachel" Mr. Schuester greeted her, Emma and Finn smiled at her.

"Alright now Finn, Rachel this is the first time the Capitol citizens are going to catch a glimpse of you - remember first impressions count." Rachel took a breath to steady her racing heart as Emma grabbed her bag off her as they stood in front of the large steel doors awaiting them to open.

"Here we go" Finn mumbled as he stood next to Rachel as the doors slid open and the roar of the crowd erupted.

"Here we go" she said back to him as they took a step out of the train and onto the platform. The cheers were a little overwhelming, people were yelling out their names, Rachel at first a little shy, began to wave to the crowd, this exactly what she wanted an adoring public, people knowing who she was, if only it were under different circumstances. She looked over at Finn who was also smiling happily engaging the crowd, she knew exactly why they would love him, he was someone everyone loved. She noticed there were a lot more peacekeepers here, wondering if they were here to keep the public out of them in. Rachel and Finn finally arrived at the door of the Justice Building together.

"Shall we give them one last farewell?" Finn asked Rachel. "Sure why not?" she replied not really sure what he was implying. He grabbed her hand, intertwining his fingers in hers as he then lifted their hands together in a signal of triumph and began waving with his other hand, unsure of what to do Rachel followed his lead. This seemed to create even more of a frenzy with the Capitol citizens as their cheers reached a new octave.

A/N - Anyone have any suggestions on which of your fave characters you would like to see me include?