Author's Note: Before anyone asks ... no I will not post what was said between Ariana ans Snow, I'll leave that to your imaginations :P

Now let's see how Vivian is doing shall we?

thanks goes to Abbey for the review

Chapter 97

Detained

Paylor POV

Coin, dead.

President Snow, dead.

And now I'm sitting in this great big hall with Plutarch, and a circle of Coin's panel.

Not one person I recognize. These are her people not mine and I really don't want to listen to them.

But I have to.

Then again.

"Exactly why am I listening to you people again?" I raise my voice, something I am sure Ariana will smile at hearing when I tell Gale what I did. Mind no one is allowed to see either girl right now. They are under guard until we can figure some things out.

"We are your advisors" Plutarch says, "I'm secretary of comunica-"

"Were" I speak up again

"Pardon?"

"You were secretary of communications" I look at Plutarch, "under Coin and Snow, you had power, but y'know Heavensbee, I didn't see you get into the thick of it with us so sorry I'm not listening to you."

He puffs up indignantly, I am sure he'd pop if I poked him, but I have a point to make.

"You are all dismissed, find some useful thing to do in town" they all look angry and distrustful, personally I don't care, these were Coin's people not mine, when Plutarch means to leave, "not so fast capitol boy, I have a job for you."

Five days, five days is too long to wait but I have who I need. It took bargaining and promises and in one case liquor to get who I want to talk to.

The O'dairs were more than willing to come, in fact they needed only a place to stay and a little delay because Annie had a doctor's appointment.

Peeta Mellark was also an easy acquisition, his girlfriend and his semi-quasi sister are imprisoned I am sure he wants to help for those reason.

Gale was reluctant, though when I explained why he came away from an apartment close to the tribute tower where the girls are being detained.

Haymitch Abernathy asked for liquor, and as much as I dislike his penchant for being drunk all the time he knows these two pretty well.

Boggs wanted to represent Thirteen and I agreed since he was in the thick of it.

Ken came when I allowed Delly, Mav and Johanna would only come if his parents came. They are Ariana's family in all sense save blood in Maverick's eyes.

Amos Charring only came because he's looking out for Ariana. If I say anything against her he's walking out.

There are representatives from the other districts, it took some time finding someone each district trusted in a pinch, we'll have to choose more permanent people later...

Plutarch I accepted back in but he still wants the title of Secretary of Communication. It's a title I will not be using anytime soon, so I give it to him on the condition he doesn't let it go to his head.

"We have a problem" I bring the meeting to order not by banging a gavel, but stating in plain English why we are together.

"No kidding!" Ken says sarcastically, "everyone is wondering what to do now, no president, no second in line."

"That's what I'm getting at" I say, "we need someone to lead, Boggs I was thinking" but he shakes his head.

"I'm not one for that job, I'm a soldier Paylor, not a bureaucrat" he explains.

"But you're representing district Thirteen!" I argue, "surely you're used to working something like this with Coin."

Amos laughs, "Alma had her circle of cohorts Vivian, you have us, and we are more into this whole democracy thing in my opinion."

"So how is this going to work?" Finnick asks, "we all have slips of paper? It's gonna take a really long time to do it that way, it will be fair but it will be a very long process"

"Plus we need people to vote for, and I don't see anyone volunteering since the last two are dead" Haymitch says

"Why don't you do it Vivian?" Maverick asks, "you called us together, you won district Eight its independence, you know about democracy, and I know Ari would vote for you, she likes you, trusts you."

"I'm no politician!" I look stunned, "and I know Ariana would vote me in, but what is she?"

"Apart from Snow's murderer?" Gale says, "Mav called her a phoenix once, she's the angel of mercy to some."

"She's a disturbed young woman" Plutarch says, "remember what she did to herself."

I have to bark at Gale and Mr. Letorch to back down, because Plutarch was about to get his face punched in. As amusing as that would be it's not what we need.

"Plutarch maybe keep your mouth shut until I ask you a question directly" I point out, "what I mean to say, is one vote is not what will allow me to even think of humoring this."

Everyone is quiet for a while.

"How did it work?" Peeta asks and I look up, "I mean it wasn't always one person calling all the shots, I mean what was it like before the great disasters?"

Everyone is shrugging, I know about the wars, and I know a little bit on that subject but not enough to know what to answer with. Would there still be books on this?

Plutarch is about to burst so I nod him.

"The basic was a hall of senators, people who represented each State, or district" he says, "they would meet and discuss laws, but the President had his own cabinet, people who represented different aspects so he or she could confer with different areas. Lessening their own burden."

"So why don't we do that?" Ken says, "I mean all we have to do is elect representatives for each district, they vote on the president and the president creates their cabinet"

Everyone is grumbling agreement. It could work, it should.

Three months, it's three months too long for Ariana and Katniss to be incarcerated. The guards on their detail say neither one is fighting being in jail. They make sure they eat and sleep but otherwise they are kept to their respective levels. Ari on level Five, Katniss on Twelve.

I had ordered that those who came to the aid of the capitol to return to their districts, we even hire the jet pilots to make it easier. They held district meetings and their spokespersons were actually the capitol escorts, under my directive they explained what was to happen. They voted someone to represent their district on Panem wide issues. Those with no homes to go to we found a large enough building to have general assemblies, district Twelve didn't even need a large auditorium, my district was almost the same.

Surprisingly neither Peeta nor Haymitch are voted to represent district Twelve and Gale had turned it down. It's some old lady called 'Sae' who takes the position but she says it's only temporary.

Boggs is for Thirteen, Mr. Letorch is for Two (I have a feeling it's due to his relationship to Crane, apparently save for Enobaria she made an impression on that district, taking a bullet for the old man meant a lot I guess...), Murdock takes Eight, and so on, Thirteen men and women to vote for a president.

When all is said and done, when the last ballot is read.

Instead of Commander I'm being addressed as Madame President.

And they tell me to create my cabinet.

That's when I take Boggs aside and start asking questions.